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(Meldon Quarry) Train ballast, Heavy trains plus old Wrought iron viaduct bridge)! Frequent heavy loads on the old Southern region! I abandon the lighter 31 sort EG- (31874 on Swanage) for the twin bogy 30841 S15, Be it Urie or Maunsell? The quarry is near Okehampton! Dartmoor SW England! I may come through with 257 or 92 Squadron? But get wet with the Maunsell S15 instead! I hang up a heavy Tarpaulin sheet, But we plough Snowdrifts? The steel rails are still in place! What a Heritage line back to Exeter St David’s that could be for steam? The High wrought iron viaduct is now for walkers or bikes! We would go out over it to put our trains together! I once spoke of the shunter commenting on my gaze up to the clouds? Expecting rain he says? No i reply, I just don’t like to look down that’s all! (That Viaduct was very high)! And rather flimsy i thought? And them ballast trains were very heavy! Plus on arrival in Exeter, We would have to hump them up the steep St David’s Bank to Central! In the late fifties / early 60s i would push these trains up the said steep Bank with the Z class eight drive wheel ‘banking’ engines! And i don’t spose many have done that Plymouth route with the 63? The 1st smaller Warship? The 22 class? None survive?
