13th May 1986

(1) Here is a sequence of five images recording the once weekly (Tuesday Only) Gulf oil train to Waterston Sidings in West Wales. Booked to arrive as the 6B05 COY (Company) 03.45 Waterston to Heathfield service, it was due to arrive at Newton Abbot at 07.53. After the loco ran around it went up to the terminal on the Heathfield branch, and was due to return later in the late afternoon, forming the return service 7C13 (COY), booked to depart as the 19.50 Newton Abbot to Waterston Sidings return empties. On this day it returned early, as the time on the station clock says 13.35. 47354 is running in from Heathfield on the avoiding line alongside what was then platform 4. I see a lady is making call from the "modern" telephone kiosk on the platform: not a noteworthy occurrence back then, but how often do you see someone making a call from a telephone box nowadays?