Yeovil Steam Centre and Yeovil Junction Station

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@lionelmarytravels6003 3 ай бұрын

Thanks for that look at their unique turntable. I've been over by it before, some years ago, but I didn't know how it was operated. On that day I was waiting for an Exeter bound steam special. I wanted to film it again at Axminster, so by studying the timings I decided the next service train for Exeter would arrive before the special . So although I was able to watch the steam train leave, I also knew we would pass it in the siding at Chard Junction. Southwest Trains (as it was) ran through services from Waterloo, via Salisbury, which h I used on a couple of occasions. Also ran through services to Plymouth and also Paignton on cerain days. Now it's South Western Railway, it's still encroaching into GWR territory with a direct service to Frome via Westbury, where it has to reverse. They seem intent on making unusual journeys, like the Waterloo to Weymouth via Salisbury and Yeovil Pen Mill, some years ago.

@westcountrywanderings 3 ай бұрын

Thank you Lionel & Mary. Yes, South Western Railway pre-cursor, South West Trains, used to run trains right down to Penzance from L. Waterloo; such a shame they still don't - seems odd ending at Exeter SD. I remember seeing South Western Railway trains at Westbury on the Frome run. I like the sound of Weymouth to Salisbury on SWT - the GWR trains from Weymouth heading to Gloucester are often bursting to capacity - though I expect the single line section north of Dorchester West prevents more services. Hopefully Chard Jct/Chard Parkway will be reopening again. Hope all is good with you both. Take care, Paul

@malcolmrichardson3881 3 ай бұрын

Fascinating Steam Centre - especially the vacuum-operated turntable and the museum. I hope they get to extend the line further south. I've always thought it strange that a town the size of Yeovil has two rail stations, neither of which is particularly close to the town centre. As I found, it's a bit a foot-slog up a hilly and busy main road from the Junction. Yet, there was a station much nearer the town centre which was closed - albeit trains had to reverse back out again to continue their journey. It still seems to me a rather odd decision to close this station - particularly as I think most of the trackbed remains in situ.

@westcountrywanderings 3 ай бұрын

Thank you Malcolm! Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, I think the turntable demonstration was my favourite bit, but it is a really interesting railway centre, I feel. As you say, Yeovil Jct Sta is badly sited to serve Yeovil - a quirk of railway history, I guess. Maybe they should have had a Parry People Mover shuttle like at Stourbridge in the West Midlands right into the town centre. The busses are infrequent and non existant on Sundays, and the walk into town is awful. The road access isn't much better! OK if you live in Exeter and East Devon areas or South Wiltshire (Salisbury/Tisbury) and North Dorset (Gillingham) and South Somerset (Crewkerne) though. I think there are plans to open a Chard Parkway Station, which will be useful. Cheers! Paul

@davidberlanny3308 3 ай бұрын

Hi Paul, fascinating to see the turntable in action. I suppose its obvious really but I thought they were all manually operated. Whilst I knew the junction is used as a watering hole I thought they turned the engines on a triangle. Great to see Pectin in action it looks superb. Very well captured on video, well done. Your smile indicated how much you enjoyed the day!! Back to work for me tomorrow!! I'll catch up with the recent videos soon, you have been really busy!! All the best!!

@westcountrywanderings 3 ай бұрын

Thank you David! Hope you are well, and great to hear from you. It was a fab day, but not that easy to get to, especially on a Sunday! Yes, it was super to see the turntable in action - both manual and vacuum operated. Take care, Paul

@dianarolph1770 3 ай бұрын

I think they only travel a short distance- reminds me of the ride at Quainton Railway Centre ( only just out of your area) ‘Pectin’ is so dinky would it be capable of pulling extra coaches if their visitor numbers increased? I have to admit that I didn’t understand the vacuum pump system to move the turntable. But interesting to see it in action. They have a turntable at Minehead Station on the WSR. They don’t utilise it all that often- sending the engines backwards most of the time. I like the model railway& the museum. It looked a nice ‘day out’. I never knew we had so many steam railways- it’s amazing! Thanks Paul!

@westcountrywanderings 3 ай бұрын

Thank you Diana! Yes, I am trying to get around all of the heritage centres in 'my' area - I have still have many to cover, including some big ones, like Swanage Railway and the South Devon Railway and lots of little ones like Shillingstone Station, in Dorset. There are many, many more! They do have a couple of other steam locos there; I am not sure what the loading capacity would be. Be great to open a longer section of line, as it is a bit too short at the moment. Thanks so much Diana! Take care, Paul

@michaelpilling9659 3 ай бұрын

Hello Paul. Greetings from Poland. That was delightful. What a lovely video. A small railway heritage centre run by a Very keen team of dedicated volunteers. Loved Pectin and the turntable. I hope the line can be eventually extended.

@westcountrywanderings 3 ай бұрын

Thank you Michael. Hope everything is OK with you and your family. Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, a very hard working bunch of committed volunteers there. A friendly heritage line too. Always nice to hear from you. Take care, Paul

@PhilipOlsen11 3 ай бұрын

That was great Paul. I’ve worked in Yeovil many times as I lived 10 years in chard. Been to Penmill but never knew there was a heritage centre near there 🤷🏻‍♂️

@westcountrywanderings 3 ай бұрын

Thank you Phil! Yes, the railway heritage centre opened in 1993. The only downside is that it is difficult to find via road (narrow roads and poorly signposted from town centre) and there are very few trains and buses from Yeovil Pen Mill Station to Yeovil Junction Station. It is convenient by train to here if you live in the Exeter, Honiton, East Devon or Salisbury areas though. Hopefully, Chard will be getting a 'Chard Parkway' Station soon! Cheers Phil, Take care, Paul

@carolinecleaveley-q1r 3 ай бұрын

Hi Paul. back in the early 1980s i was on the steam crew at the Severn Valley and we had several trips from Bulmers north to Manchester with 5000 and 43106 also 80079 . Saw a steamer there apart from King George the 5 could have been Pectin. Caroline

@westcountrywanderings 3 ай бұрын

Yes, I remember going to Bulmers Steam Centre in the late 1970s, and again in the early 1980s just before I left for Cornwall. I remember seeing King George V there in Hereford. Shame it closed. Take care, Paul

@DarylW426 3 ай бұрын

Well that was a change of pace. What a nice station. I really enjoyed the tutorial on the turntable. The model railroad is amazing and it makes me smile just to watch. It also makes me wish I was a kid again! Thank you Paul.👍

@westcountrywanderings 3 ай бұрын

Thank you Daryl! I like to mix it up a bit here on Westcountry Wanderings! It was very, very windy that day, which wasn't ideal, as it meant there was some wobbly footage, which is not idea. Tripod nearly fell over a couple of times! However, it was a great day! Cheers, Paul

@SouthWestSundays 3 ай бұрын

That was delightful- thank you Paul! Having visited there recently for a day with a steampunk focus, it was interesting to see it on a normal open day. I really enjoyed seeing the turntable in action. Yeovil Junction station looks very nice too.

@westcountrywanderings 3 ай бұрын

Thank you Louise! Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, very different atmosphere on a normal running day compared to steam punk. I think they have another similar event later in the year. I think it is a cosplay/role play costume sort of thing. Yeovil Junction Station is well cared for too and that waiting room is lovely. Paul.

@shaunspencer6437 2 ай бұрын

I'm here now . What a well cared for waiting room . And great to see the turntable in action .

@westcountrywanderings 2 ай бұрын

Yes, it certainly is Shaun.

@faithg9766 3 ай бұрын

Yeovil Junction is home to a great display of orange dahlias. The museum & model railway looked good. Thanks for showing the turntable in action at Yeovil Steam Centre, I think they need some younger volunteers.

@westcountrywanderings 3 ай бұрын

Yes! Those dahlias! Such a lovely station for a mainline 'ordinary' station - much heritage there too, including the clock and footbridge. Yes, I think a lot of the heritage centres could do with some 'young blood' - a few have some (like Dean Forest in Gloucestershire), but overall they are all struggling with a lack younger volunteers. I do wonder what will be their fate when the stalwarts can no longer volunteer their services. It was a most enjoyable day here. Take care Faith, Paul