Dibden Valley Railway Digital Archive Septmeber 2003 onwards

[SillyBilly]

Great photos, the meccano bridge is very cool.

[cjallenby]

Work begins on the extention. This gap will be bridged by a double track viaduct.



Work continues with spoil from the foundations being used to backfill the walls and minimise soil importation...

[cjallenby]

Some more work and the first concrete. The plastic is used to help stop the frost damage to the concrete as it sets.



The truly monumental task ahead... and the pile of soil in the foreground isnt even up to the full height of the top of the planned second tunnel...

[cjallenby]

Back to the trains now and Roundhouse Millie rebuilt with open cab heads a goods train into Dibden.



Here you can see the modifications carried out to the back of the loco. This includes the fitting of a driver that does not foul the radio arm and a coal bunker. This is simpley a piece of card board over the gas tank which is covered in coal. The back is some old 00 gauge tinplate fence bent and fixed in place with plastic glue. Using plastic glue means that it can be removed without too much effort. The cab has also been painted white.

[cjallenby]

Diesil hauled works train approaching the viaduct



At long last at the end of 2007 a train poses on the viaduct. Now the real work begines to lay the new extention and get it ready and tested (lots of testing) for the summer open day!

[cjallenby]

Snow returned to the line again and this picture shows a veiw across the extention. The bricks are holding down the roofing felt which acts as a sort of ballast and hides the concrete from veiw.



Roundhouse millie heads a train across the recently finished viaduct. The lack of a snow plough is evident.

[cjallenby]

By easter 2008, the line was open for testing!



Roundhouse millie in charge of another goods train crosses the viaduct.



Rounding the corner after the tunnel.

[mhlr]

What a fantastic line you have there, looks like it's a fun layout to run and modify etc! Good to see some live steam amongst those live steamers, love the blue Caradoc! Look forward to more piccies!

[cjallenby]

Rounding the corner into the station which when opened will be know as Somerton.



The line is so new that only the loop line has been completed! The platform road is still yet to be finished. Here, a new commer occupies one of the headshunts. Owed again by the wealthy landlord (my dad!) it is an ancient Beck Anna.

[cjallenby]

Water levels reach a dangerous high...



Train running beside a new river forged by the rain!

[cjallenby]

Another engine from the wealthy landowner... A radio controlled Cheddar Samson! This really is a powerful engine and also rather large too. Most LGB stock looks almost small compared with it!



Seen here emerging from the new tunnel at the back of the new loop working hard to reach the junction and double track back towards Dibden.

[cjallenby]

2008 open day... and a bit of a success!



Visiting Baugley and coaches



Visiting engines fill the station at Somerton... Still no platform!

[cjallenby]

Busy station scene with visiting locos!




Two resident locos race across the viaduct. The general manager was not impressed!

[cjallenby]

The Millie and the Cheddar in a late autum steam up



Cheddar Samson rounds the curve into Dibden. The loop here has been extended a bit and now sports a headshunt again and a reworked engine shed siding.

[cjallenby]

2009



Millie rounds the corner into Somerton with an early winter mixed train.



Samson in Somerton station with all available stock behined. Thats 5 coaches, 5 open wagons, two tanker wagons, one box van and two small fourwheeled wagons as well as 5 skip wagons and a ballast hopper... There was no way that would fit in the loop!

[cjallenby]

With most trains and other public transport suspended due to "Inclemet Weather Conditions" The DVR was proud to run trains even in the heaviest snow yet seen on the line. Here a goods is headed by Caradoc.



The same train seen here rounding the corner into Dibden Station.

[cjallenby]

The roundhouse millie made a run the next day in even worse conditions with a temporary plasticard snow plough attached. Unfortunatley I was too busy running trains to take pictures. The Millie did not like the snow at all, and managed only a few laps before the gas ran out. This is the barely recognisable station at Somerton.



Samson saves the day and is seen here heading a short mixed train away from Dibden

[cjallenby]

Heading across the viaduct.



Heading out towards Somerton the train ran into heavy snow drifts...

[cjallenby]

And it doesnt get any better after leaving Somerton!



Thankfully the weather becomes bright, sunny and dry in time for the open day preparations. Here Somerton station has been rearranged to give an engine shed siding, a cattle dock and a longer passing loop.

[cjallenby]

Looking along what will become a road. When I get round to it there will be a church on the left. The new building is constructed from plywood that had been lying around for ages...



Samson tests the engine shed for size