Railway Herald
Devon and Cornwall Railways (DCR) Class 31s Nos. 31601 and 31452 top and tailing two PNA wagons and a Swedish-built Rail Vac vehicle are captured parked up in the down siding at Chard Junction on 30th September 2014. The consist had arrived during the early hours running as the 22:08 Eastleigh T&RSMD to Chard Junction in preparation for overnight engineering work along the former LSWR line, eventually returning to Eastleigh on 3rd October. This rare shot gives a hint to the importance of the railway at this location in days gone by with the Dairy Crest milk and cheese production facility dominating the background, a factory that today, no longer exists! This siding that was once a direct connection from the factory to the main line was originally used by daily milk trains to the capital.
Stephen Ginn
