A railway crossroads, Westbury has long been an important rail hub and remains a major centre for a varied selection of passenger and aggregate traffic, as EVAN GREEN-HUGHES describes.
There are few railway locations today where a steady flow of heavy freight mixes in with prestige express trains as well as inter-urban passenger workings. Westbury is one of those and as a result it is a location which attracts much interest from enthusiasts as well as those looking for a prototype from the modern era.
Today the station plays host to some of the heaviest aggregate trains running on Network Rail, many on their way to construction sites in London and the Home Counties from extensive quarries in the nearby Mendips. Passenger workings see the latest Hitachi Class 800/802 bi-mode units travelling from London to the west, while many varieties of Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) can also been seen on north to south duties, travelling to destinations such as Cardiff and Portsmouth.
Above: DB Cargo 60024 Clitheroe Castle heads away from Westbury towards Fairwood Junction with 6C58 11.45am Oxford Banbury Road Sidings to Whatley Quarry stone empties on August 21 2019. Paul Biggs.
The station has not always been a junction. In fact, it started li…
