As has been said many times before, we are lucky that there are a number of volunteers in the department (and across the whole railway) that can remember the later years of the line in BR ownership, and have photos that document this.
One of those volunteers is a gentleman by the name of Tom Cullimore. Tom has been a member of the railway for a significant time and was a pioneering member of the early diesel groups, working on the restoration of 37215 when it arrived from Inverness TMD in 1994. Tom is also the owner of a huge number of photos, from his own and other collections acquired over the years, showcasing the 'Honeybourne Line' during the 1960s and 1970s. With the new Covid lockdown in full swing, with little to no work at Toddington, it was time to take a look back in time. Here are a trio of pictures, courtesy of Tom, from the collection of the late Bill Potter.
All were taken at Winchcombe on a very sunny 24th May 1970.
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| BR green liveried EE Type 4 (later TOPS Class 40), D316, climbs out of the remains of Winchcombe Station towards Greet Tunnel with a southbound coal train. Class 40s were never really common in the South West but would work services to Severn Tunnel Junction and Gloucester. This loco became 40116 under TOPS and was withdrawn in 1983. |
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| A picture that demonstrates that, even in the 1970s, the line was still regularly used for passenger diversions as well as freight. Sulzer Type 4 (later TOPS Class 45), 12, races past the goods shed at Winchcombe with a southbound express - probably from the North East. At this point the line speed would have been 70mph. This loco was to become 45011 under TOPS and was withdrawn in 1981. |
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| A little further down the line, this time at Prescott Road bridge, with some hazy sunshine permeating over the distant fields. Brush Type 4 (later TOPS Class 47), 1853, still wearing BR two tone green with full yellow ends, powers along with a coal train. Given the headcode, 8Z84, this would have been a special probably to meet extra demand. 1853 became 47203 under TOPS and was withdrawn in 1989. At the time of the photo it was based at Crewe (Stoke Division). |
Bill lived in Bishops Cleeve and amassed a huge collection of photographs of the 'Honeybourne Line' stemming from the 1950s right through to closure. Many of these, particularly of steam on the line, are held at the Kidderminster Railway Museum. Tom regularly posts the diesel photos onto social media, so always a good excuse to keep an eye on all of the railway's social media outlets.
