Ex SDJR 2-8-0 No.53809 (the engine involved in the Combe Down Tunnel runaway incident crosses the eight arch Midford viaduct with a Bournemouth West - Derby empty stock train, 11th July 1960. Note the track bed of the ex GWR Camerton - Limpley Stoke line to the right of the locomotive. No.53809 was rescued from Barry scrap yard by the late Frank Beaumont. It has been restored and has done some main line running over BR in recent years, currently being at Butterley, Derbyshire.

© R. C. Riley
The Colour Of Steam Vol. 2 - The Somerset & Dorset Line

The late Signalman Percy Savage, a kind and dedicated railwayman, puts ready for action the tablet exchanging apparatus patented by Alfred Whitaker in 1905, during his 1889-1911 period as Locomotive Superintendent of the Joint Line.
Midford signal box had been rebuilt after partial demolition by errant 3F 0-6-0T No.7620 in 1936, due to the crew having failed to close the regulator and leaping from their engine to protect themselves from a collision that seemed inevitable but did not actually take place at Writhlington Colliery Sidings, near Radstock. The rebuilt Midford signal box was maintained immaculately right to the closure of the line.

© R. C. Riley
The Colour Of Steam Vol. 2 - The Somerset & Dorset Line

Class 4F 0-6-0 No.44523 assists ex SDJR 2-8-0 No.53801 on entry to the double line section at Midford with the 9.8am Birmingham-Bournemouth West, 5th September 1959. Although at this time Class 2p 4-4-0s were the regular assistant engines, Class 4F 0-6-0s were pressed in to service at times of heavy traffic. The powerful freight 2-8-0s did not appear on passenger trains until the 1950s when there were allowed to take ten coaches unaided over the Mendip Hills,

© R. C. Riley
The Colour Of Steam Vol. 2 - The Somerset & Dorset Line

D802 Formidable, last of the Pilot Scheme locomotives, enteres Saltash with an Up Service in August 1959.

© R. C. Riley
The Heyday Of The Hydraulic

Tiverton Junction as an auto train bound for Tiverton departs propelled by 1400 Class 0-4-2T 1451 on a sunny 15 June 1962.

© R. C. Riley
Western Steam In Devon And Cornwall