News Archive for April 1964

On Shed - Taunton 1946

Published on 22nd April 1964

We are pleased to be able to bring you another set of archive steam images featuring a Taunton Shed visit on the 22nd of April 1964.

The images were taken by Derek Harrison during an organized visit just prior to the proposed end of steam operation. Some of the locomotives in these images have just months left in traffic, and by the end of the year, many will have already been cut up. This wonderful collection of images shows some of the variety of steam locomotives that frequented Tauntonat the time.

We would like to thank Mark Rose from Old Rail Pics who very kindly allowed Taunton Trains to display relevant Taunton images from the Derek Harrison collection on this site. We have placed a link above should anyone wish to look at some of the more superb images hosted on the Old Rail Pics website.

(Photo: Derek Harrison)

(Photo: David Harrison)

(Photo: Derek Harrison)

Taunton Memories - 1964

(Photo: Peter Slater)

by Peter Slater

Published on 14th April 1964

On the 14th April 1964, as a 15-year-old, I embarked on a day trip by train to Weymouth, traveling from his home in Tiverton via Tiverton Junction, Taunton, Yeovil Town and Yeovil Pen Mill.

While steam ruled still at Weymouth, it had become very rare in the Western Region and on my way home was the seaside town he was amazed to see Modified Hall No. 7916 'Mobberley Hall' sat in Platform 4 at Taunton on an unidentified heavy milk train. I dashed from his arrival platform to Platform 5 and got there just as No. 7916 'Mobberley Hall' was given the road and began to get its train on the move. It was obviously in not the best condition, leaking steam badly, as this image shows. After taking this image I then caught the late-afternoon train from Yeovil Town to Taunton was hauled by Southern Region U Class 2-6-0 No 31632.

To view news stories from March 1963 click here, or for news from June 1964, click here.