I was out on a jolly today and decided to try the recently introduced South West Trains services that call at both Yeovils.
I took the Waterloo bound service from Exeter St Davids at 1425 (1L56) as far as Sherborne, which is one stop past Yeovil Junction. As noted elsewhere I briefly alighted at Devon's newest station,
Cranbrook.
Quick visit to Sainsburys in Sherborne to pick up a late lunch then back to the station for the 1607 (1L39) to Yeovil Pen Mill calling, and reversing, at Yeovil Junction. There was a brief wait outside Yeovil Pen Mill for a slightly late running
GWR▸ to Weymouth. The track layout at Yeovil Pen Mill doesn't permit a simultaneous arrival from Yeovil Junction and departure toward Weymouth.
Into Yeovil Pen Mill at 1628 and a swift about turn for the 1630 (2V14) departure to Yeovil Junction calling at Yeovil Junction only.
Outside Yeovil Junction we had a short wait for a late running service from Exeter St Davids to London Waterloo. 2V14 arrived at Yeovil Junction 4 minutes late.
Reversal again to become the 1648 (1O64) Yeovil Junction to London Waterloo via Yeovil Pen Mill, Frome and Salisbury (reversing at Westbury). Our start was nearly delayed as the driver couldn't key in the front cab. Reason being he'd parked it over the
AWS▸ grid on the way up (or is it down...?) from Yeovil Pen Mill. So driver did a quick sprint to the rear cab, Guard locked the doors and we eased back a few feet. Driver back to the front (confused yet?
) doors released briefly, then re-closed, two on the buzzer and away to
infinity and beyond London Waterloo via Yeovil Pen Mill, Frome... etc.
Three different passenger service headcodes in the space of 20 minutes for the one unit, 159021. Oh and a final headcode change at Salisbury where 1O64 becomes 1L64 after joining up with the 1624 from Exeter St Davids.
1L39 on arrival at Yeovil Pen Mill. Unit 159021:
2V14 on arrival at Yeovil Junction. Unit 159021:
1O64 has the road to depart Yeovil Junction. Unit 159021: