7th May 1987

Standing in the old civil engineer's spoil sidings at the east end of the station, off the line to Pen Mill, is 50047 "Swiftsure", having arrived on the 7Z11 13.00 Taunton Fairwater Yard to Yeovil Junction spoil train. I''m standing on the steps of the signal box, an arrangement courtesy of the kindness of Pen Mill signalman Ken Christmas (what a wonderful surname!).

I met Ken earlier in the year after knocking on the door of his box to ask if I could take a look. He could not be more welcoming, and made me a cup of tea. He went on to tell me that I had caused him to panic a little at the time because he thought that I was an inspector making an impromtue visit. This unwelcome possibility gave him big worries, and he admitted, after he let me in, that he was frantically trying to hide his TV in a cupbaord! Life was quiet at Pen Mill! I went on to visit Ken from time to time for a while and he would furnish me with details of any special workings. This particular train ran only occasionally I think, and his tip off enabled me to capture it arriving at Pen Mill, and by arrangement with his collegaue at the Junction, I was able to drive over and see the train there too. This particular day relief signalman Bill Love was on duty, and like his mate at Pen Mill, gave me a welcome on my arrival, complete with more tea! I took a number of shots of the train manoeuvring around the sidings, and then leave for Taunton. I'm guessing that the train ran via Westbury, as I could not imagine that the loco would run-around at Castle Cary. I might be wrong.

To me this is a lovely scene, with a varirty of rolling stock stabled in the sidings, and a couple of p-way staff in their old van 'bothy'. All this track has now gone, as has the signal box. Sadly, I believe that Ken Christmas passed away too, a few years ago.