Information sought about D4021 08853 0-6-0 Diesel Electric Shunter

[Bobcat888]

I am trying to gather information and images about class 8 Diesel Electric 0-6-0 Shunters that were in use on the GWR Yeovil or Chard to Taunton lines in the 1950’s -60’s

In the book ‘Branch Lines Around Chard & Yeovil’, Illustration No 56 shows the Wabtec hire Diesel Electric Shunter D4021 (08853) a long way from home on the Yeovil Hendford line on 13th October 1966.

In an article dated 15th Feb 2015, Keith Jarret noted on a visit to Doncaster that the same Shunter D4021 (08853) was still working as part of the Wabtec fleet and I believe that I have seen a reference to the Shunter still working at Doncaster more recently

If anyone can perhaps tell me where D4021 08853 was based back back in the 60’s, (presumably at Yeovil or Taunton ?) or offer any further information about this particular Shunter’s life , I would be extremely grateful. John

 

[Ash Bridge]

Can’t provide a detailed list of allocations unfortunately, but according to BR Diesel & Electric Locomotive Directory its first allocation from new was to Bristol St. Philips Marsh during 1961, can’t find anything later than that currently I’m afraid.

 

[70014IronDuke]

I don't know, but suspect D4021 was only built in 1961 or possibly 1962.

As such, it could not have been around in the 50s. Someone will know how to check this.

 

[Gloster]

BRdatabase gives it as as allocated to Westbury from 04-11-1961 to 27-07-1968: I am fairly sure that Westbury would have been the responsible depot as Yeovil was closed. Chard Junction-Chard was closed to goods 03-10-1966 according to Pryer.

D4021 entered service 19-06-60 at St Philips March (BRdatabase).

 

[Ash Bridge]

I don't know, but suspect D4021 was only built in 1961 or possibly 1962.

As such, it could not have been around in the 50s. Someone will know how to check this.

Quite correct, directory states BR Horwich June 1961.

 

[randyrippley]

Very unlikely that an 08 was used on Yeovil-Taunton services unless in an emergency. That line retained steam to the end, with pannier tanks doing any shunting at Yeovil. I suppose it's possible that one was used during the line demolition? That would match the claimed date of 13th October 1966. Yeovil-Taunton closed 1964, Yeovil Town closed to passenger traffic on 3 October 1966, but freight and parcels traffic continued to use the station until 3 March 1967. In 1966 Hendford Halt would have been closed, but what I don't know is whether the goods yard at the old original separate Hendford station remained open after the rest of the line closed (Bradfords coal and building supplies merchants were based there). So my guess is it was either a demolition train, or a few coal wagons up the rump of the line to Hendford
Yeovil Town loco shed closed in 1965, so the 08 couldn't have been allocated there. Maybe it was outbased at Yeovil for any residual jobs pending closure?

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This page (multipage PDF) mentions a sighting of D4021 at Westbury SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4TH, 1964 https://www.whatreallyhappenedtosteam.co.uk/pdf/WRHTS-ESS-Dont-Forget-to-Bring-A-Torch-106.pdf

(and no, trying to copy and paste a summary isn't practical)

 

[Gloster]

Firstly, a WR engine would not have been based at Yeovil until after the change of regional boundaries in 1963 (I think my recollection is correct that from circa 1955 to that date the SR controlled up to Langport and Castle Cary). The 09-09-1963 and on Trip Book shows the Taunton-Yeovil and return goods being worked by an 82XXX. The morning Taunton-Chard Junction and return goods was worked by a 57XX and the afternoon by a 82XXX. I have a feeling that 45XX were preferred for the passenger trains.

It is quite possible that with the number of 350 h.p. that BR had one was based at Yeovil for a while for shuffling around to Junction and Hendford, particularly once the line to Langport was closed. Whether it trundled down to Chard Junction is another matter.

 

[Taunton]

Never saw a diesel shunter on the Yeovil-Taunton line, but this closed in September 1964, and by 1966 there was just a long siding from Pen Mill to as far as there was goods traffic, sidings at Hendford and some industries just beyond. Your photo being 10 days after the railbus service to Town station closed would make one think it was in some way connected. What local freight services remained by then, and there wasn't much left, were often handled by D63xx locos.

The three Class 08 at Taunton were D4163-5, arrived together in summer 1962 and cleared out many of the pannier tank shunting turns.

Odd diesels, both locos and multiple units, even pioneer GWR railcars, turned up on the Yeovil to Taunton line very occasionally, but it was mostly steam to the end. The Chard line closed in September 1962, I don't think it ever saw a diesel.

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Firstly, a WR engine would not have been based at Yeovil until after the change of regional boundaries in 1963 (I think my recollection is correct that from circa 1955 to that date the SR controlled up to Langport and Castle Cary). The 09-09-1963 and on Trip Book shows the Taunton-Yeovil and return goods being worked by an 82XXX. The morning Taunton-Chard Junction and return goods was worked by a 57XX and the afternoon by a 82XXX.

In fact there were a lot there, regardless of the Regional boundary going back and forth. Yeovil Pen Mill shed was all Western types, it closed about 1958, and the loco stock was moved over to the old Southern shed at Yeovil Town, which then until that closed, about 1965, was always very mixed "half and half" between Western and Southern locos, an unusual combination, with such notable things as a 45xx tank shunting a Bulleid Pacific.

The 09-09-1963 and on Trip Book shows the Taunton-Yeovil and return goods being worked by an 82XXX.

Not if the Taunton crews could help it ...

 

[Gloster]

In fact there were a lot there, regardless of the Regional boundary going back and forth. Yeovil Pen Mill shed was all Western types, it closed about 1958, and the loco stock was moved over to the old Southern shed at Yeovil Town, which then until that closed, about 1965, was always very mixed "half and half" between Western and Southern locos, an unusual combination, with such notable things as a 45xx tank shunting a Bulleid Pacific.

Sorry, I should have said WR allocated diesel-shunter. Until the boundary change the provision of a shunter, whatever its purpose, would be a SR responsibility.

 

[70014IronDuke]

Not if the Taunton crews could help it ...

I thought you'd said in the past that Taunton crews positively adored their 82xxx Standard tanks, @Taunton?

Like a 61XX but even more comfortable, summat like that?

Sorry, a bit of topic here.

(What me, wind someone up? Perish the thought.)

 

[Taunton]

The 09-09-1963 and on Trip Book shows the Taunton-Yeovil and return goods being worked by an 82XXX.

I didn't notice this at first, but a bizarre feature of the line was the goods trains were worked from Bridgwater rather than Taunton. They came down from Bridgwater to Durston, reversed there in the goods sidings, and took the "old line" to Langport, and down the Yeovil branch. It had always been like this, from Victorian times, and had something to do with the GWR using every ruse to prevent the LSWR getting running powers over their lines to Taunton.

There was a slight logic, in that the majority of the goods traffic across the South-West always came down the Bristol line from the north, etc, rather than from Paddington, so there was a bit of mileage saved in working through Bridgwater.

Here's a working timetable from the line, around 1950, showing the daily freight known as the "Bridgwater Goods", leaving Yeovil at 1pm and getting back to Bridgwater at about 8pm. It might almost have been as quick to walk! I've put the whole page in, as it may interest other aspects of this thread.

 

[Gloster]

I didn't notice this at first, but a bizarre feature of the line was the goods trains were worked from Bridgwater rather than Taunton. They came down from Bridgwater to Durston, reversed there in the goods sidings, and took the "old line" to Langport, and down the Yeovil branch. It had always been like this, from Victorian times, and had something to do with the GWR using every ruse to prevent the LSWR getting running powers over their lines to Taunton.

There was a slight logic, in that the majority of the goods traffic across the South-West always came down the Bristol line from the north, etc, rather than from Paddington, so there was a bit of mileage saved in working through Bridgwater.

Here's a working timetable from the line, around 1950, showing the daily freight known as the "Bridgwater Goods", leaving Yeovil at 1pm and getting back to Bridgwater at about 8pm. It might almost have been as quick to walk! I've put the whole page in, as it may interest other aspects of this thread.

The 1963 timetable shows the trains coming straight out of Fairwater Yard and going back in again when they returned. Presumably nationalisation put an end to tricks like that.

 

[Bobcat888]

Can’t provide a detailed list of allocations unfortunately, but according to BR Diesel & Electric Locomotive Directory its first allocation from new was to Bristol St. Philips Marsh during 1961, can’t find anything later than that currently I’m afraid.

thank you Ash that's helpful. Bristol is not too far from Taunton so it may have been hired from Wabtech and transferred from Bristol to Taunton perhaps.

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I don't know, but suspect D4021 was only built in 1961 or possibly 1962.

As such, it could not have been around in the 50s. Someone will know how to check this.

Sorry i should have said that I already knew that D4021 (Tops 08853) was built at Horwich Works 19/06/1960. https://www.brdatabase.info/locomotives.php?loconum=08853

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BRdatabase gives it as as allocated to Westbury from 04-11-1961 to 27-07-1968: I am fairly sure that Westbury would have been the responsible depot as Yeovil was closed. Chard Junction-Chard was closed to goods 03-10-1966 according to Pryer.

D4021 entered service 19-06-60 at St Philips March (BRdatabase).

Thats great info Gloster thank you. Could you please give me the link on BRdatabase as I can't seem to locate it .

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Very unlikely that an 08 was used on Yeovil-Taunton services unless in an emergency. That line retained steam to the end,

Well they say that a Photo never lies
here is D4021 on the 13th October 1966 on its way to Hendford . Part image scanned from pg 56 'branch Lines Around Chard & yeovil Vic Mitchel & Keith Smith ISBN 1 901706 30 3

 

[Gloster]

Sorry i should have said that I already knew that D4021 (Tops 08853) was built at Horwich Works 19/06/1960. https://www.brdatabase.info/locomotives.php?loconum=08853

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Thats great info Gloster thank you. Could you please give me the link on BRdatabase as I can't seem to locate it .

It is on the same page as the other information. If the link that I have repeated above seems inadequate, try tapping on the numbers (D4021 over 08853) in the Number column in the table as that will lead to more information.

I am a bit bemused as to where Wabtec comes into this: Wabtec UK was only formed in 1994 (as RFS) and became Wabtec in 2000.

 

[Bobcat888]

This page (multipage PDF) mentions a sighting of D4021 at Westbury SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4TH, 1964 https://www.whatreallyhappenedtosteam.co.uk/pdf/WRHTS-ESS-Dont-Forget-to-Bring-A-Torch-106.pdf

very interesting article thank you for posting the link. So it looks like D4021 was probably on hire from Wabtec to Westbury until at least 1964 and possibly still based there in 1966 when seen at Hendford. i suspect that you are right about D4021 gathering up abandoned wagons after the freight yards had closed . There is a picture of Chard Town Station 30th May 1966 in the book previously mentioned which shows abandoned wagons awaiting collection after the yard had closed .

 

[Harvester]

Sorry i should have said that I already knew that D4021 (Tops 08853) was built at Horwich Works 19/06/1960. https://www.brdatabase.info/locomotives.php?loconum=08853

08853 appears to have been allocated far and wide during it’s career! After leaving the WR for Scotland (Eastfield 1975, Hamilton 1977) shown in the BRDatabase, platform 5 publications report it based at Eastfield (1984), Motherwell (1990), Bounds Green (2003) and Wabtec Doncaster (2012).

 

[Bobcat888]

It is on the same page as the other information. If the link that I have repeated above seems inadequate, try tapping on the numbers (D4021 over 08853) in the Number column in the table as that will lead to more information.

I am a bit bemused as to where Wabtec comes into this: Wabtec UK was only formed in 1994 (as RFS) and became Wabtec in 2000.

well apologies if I have confused you Gloster , this is all very new to me ie 1x months MR interest .
I assumed that you would realise that all late references to D4021 when Tops renumbered 08853 are for Wabtec .The original Company would I presume have been Westinghouse but perhaps you will correct me on that
Anyway we both know which Shunter I am referring to don't we .!

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08853 appears to have been allocated far and wide during it’s career! After leaving the WR for Scotland (Eastfield 1975, Hamilton 1977) shown in the BRDatabase, platform 5 publications report it based at Eastfield (1984), Motherwell (1990), Bounds Green (2003) and Wabtec Doncaster (2012).

blimey 08853 certainly got around didn't it ! thank you Harvester that's very interesting information. I have in the past few months taken up an interest in MR after a break of some 66 years ! I have constructed an Inglenook shunting layout loosely based on a local Station Hatch and was looking for a 0-6-0 Diesel Electric Shunter that might have worked this GWR line . I came across D4021 and kinda adopted it for my MR layout so I'm trying to do a little research on its working life.

 

[WesternLancer]

well apologies if I have confused you Gloster , this is all very new to me ie 1x months MR interest .
I assumed that you would realise that all late references to D4021 when Tops renumbered 08853 are for Wabtec .The original Company would I presume have been Westinghouse but perhaps you will correct me on that
Anyway we both know which Shunter I am referring to don't we .!

This Class 08 loco would have been a British Railways owned asset when it was built and for many years afterwards, surely.

It would only have come into wabtec ownership (or any other private company the proceeded them) when Class 08's started to be sold off by BR due to the decline in the sort of work they were built for. - eg the end of branch line freight, shunting duties, decline of industrial customers etc. But I don't think that would have been in the 1960s - would have probably been much later than that I would think.

I'm sure experts on this forum will have information on when locos like this / this loco were sold by BR and what happened to them in terms of ownership.

BR database link above gives this list of BR depot allocations up until 1977 - so I would assume it did not enter private ownership until after 1977 at least (but maybe not until the 'modern' privatisation era though I don't know that for sure), and it was renumbered in 1974 by BR - so the renumbering has no relationship to any change of ownership in my view, just to do with the rolling out of the whole BR renumbering system in that era.

But the loco was allocated to depots in the South West (Bristol and Westbury) until moving to South Wales in 1971 by the looks of it.

Start	Event	Details	Source	See Also
19/06/1960	To Service	To service as British Railways number D4021 Built at Horwich Works Allocated to St Philips Marsh (82B)
04/11/1961	Allocation	Reallocated to Westbury (82D)
27/07/1968	Allocation	Reallocated to Bristol Bath Road (82A)
22/05/1971	Allocation	Reallocated to Ebbw Junction (Newport) (86B)
03/1974	Renumbered	Renumbered to 08853
14/06/1975	Allocation	Reallocated to Eastfield (ED)
07/1975	Modification	Modification: Radio telephone removed
12/1975	Livery	Change of livery to BR Blue bodywork, full yellow cab front
01/1976	Modification	Modification: Air Brakes fitted
06/1977	Allocation	Reallocated to Hamilton (West) (HN)

 

[Gloster]

D4021/08853 was owned by British Railways/Rail up into the 1990s when the ROSCOs were formed. It would have been used by BR for its own purposes and would probably not have been hired out. The two possible, but rare, reasons for BR to hire it would have been to an industry that needed a loco (usually when their own loco was under repair) or to contractors lifting a closed: both of these seem unlikely, particularly when we are talking about a 350 h.p.

Lokking at the photo, I would say that the loco was outbased at Yeovil by BR and was going to or from Hendford for goods shunting. A slight possibility is that it was being used to work trains for the lifting of the line to Langport.

 

[Bobcat888]

This Class 08 loco would have been a British Railways owned asset when it was built and for many years afterwards, surely.

It would only have come into wabtec ownership (or any other private company the proceeded them) when Class 08's started to be sold off by BR due to the decline in th sort of work they were built for. - eg the end of branch line freight, shunting duties, decline of industrial customers etc. But I don't think that would have been in the 1960s - would have probably been much later than that I would think.

I'm sure experts on this forum will have information on when locos like this / this loco were sold by BR and what happened to them in terms of ownership.

Yes it looks like i have got this all wrong either that or i am not explaining myself clearly enough. one of the pitfalls of typing lots of messages with 2x fingers i read an article somewhere about the origins of the design of the Gronks which was Westinghouse a Company which was eventually taken over by Wabtec. As the Shunter D4021 (08853) has been owned by Wabtec and based at Doncaster for a large part of its later life I thought it best to refer to it as a Wabtec loco. I was aware that D4021 was probably commissioned by BR back in 1960 but am looking tom fill in all the gaps of ownership and use over its lifetime

 

[Gloster]

None of my books give a date, but that is likely to mean that it was solely owned by BR from new until the creation of the ROSCOs in March 1994.

 

[WesternLancer]

Yes it looks like i have got this all wrong either that or i am not explaining myself clearly enough. one of the pitfalls of typing lots of messages with 2x fingers i read an article somewhere about the origins of the design of the Gronks which was Westinghouse a Company which was eventually taken over by Wabtec. As the Shunter D4021 (08853) has been owned by Wabtec and based at Doncaster for a large part of its later life I thought it best to refer to it as a Wabtec loco. I was aware that D4021 was probably commissioned by BR back in 1960 but am looking tom fill in all the gaps of ownership and use over its lifetime

Thanks - I'm no expert on them but the origins of the 08 shunters are probably worth a separate thread - I thought in broad terms the design originated with pre world war 2 LMS diesel shunter types* and the design developed further by BR into the Class 08 - they may have had some Westinghouse equipment fitted to them however (braking system maybe?).

I'm sure there will be people who know more about different ownerships and locations post 1977 to help you with that info, although it seems likely from Gloster's post that it only came into private ownership with the privatisation of BR in the 1990s and the sale of all their rolling stock.

Thanks for posting the thread though - as it has generated some interesting replies that helps with learning new info.

It's a Class 08 with a very long operational life by the looks of it!

Good luck with your research into these locos - it's an interesting subject.

*Edit - thanks to @Taunton for explaining the origins and English Electric link

 

[Taunton]

Yes it looks like i have got this all wrong either that or i am not explaining myself clearly enough. one of the pitfalls of typing lots of messages with 2x fingers i read an article somewhere about the origins of the design of the Gronks which was Westinghouse a Company which was eventually taken over by Wabtec. As the Shunter D4021 (08853) has been owned by Wabtec and based at Doncaster for a large part of its later life I thought it best to refer to it as a Wabtec loco. I was aware that D4021 was probably commissioned by BR back in 1960 but am looking tom fill in all the gaps of ownership and use over its lifetime

These locomotives were actually a pre-WW2 design by English Electric, who built some themselves as well as supplying the engines and transmissions to BR (and indeed a number of the pre-nationalisation companies beforehand) to build the locos in their own works. The Dutch railways bought a large number which look pretty indistinguishable from the BR ones; these were built by EE both at their Vulcan works and their original factory in Preston.

 

[Bobcat888]

D4021/08853 was owned by British Railways/Rail up into the 1990s when the ROSCOs were formed. It would have been used by BR for its own purposes and would probably not have been hired out.

Lokking at the photo, I would say that the loco was outbased at Yeovil by BR and was going to or from Hendford for goods shunting. A slight possibility is that it was being used to work trains for the lifting of the line to Langport.

I am beginning to get a better picture of the History of this loco's ownership now thank you. The reason that i mentioned Wabtec hire was because i saw it listed on railway-Centre.com
The last day of passenger service was apparently 13th June 1964 but freight handling on the line didn't end for a further 3 years ending 9th October 1967




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These locomotives were actually a pre-WW2 design by English Electric, who built some themselves as well as supplying the engines and transmissions to BR (and indeed a number of the pre-nationalisation companies beforehand) to build the locos in their own works. The Dutch railways bought a large number which look pretty indistinguishable from the BR ones; these were built by EE both at their Vulcan works and their original factory in Preston.

yes I seem to have got the origins of the Gronks all wrong. Somewhere I am sure that i read that they were originally a Westinghouse design ?? just found this article on the NYNR North Yorks Railway site that say ' .................p.s (don't know why these 2x messages are being automatically merged grrrr )

'BR Class 08 Shunters No. 08556 & 08850​

The basic design of the Class 08 diesel shunter goes back to the 1930s when the LMS were experimenting with the idea, and was more specifically based on the LMS’ 1945 batch of diesel shunters that later became the Class 11s. Built over 10 years between 1952 and 1962, an astonishing 996 examples were turned out by the BR works in Crewe, Darlington, Derby, Doncaster and Horwich and could be seen at every station of any size.'

BR Class 08 Shunter Nos. 08556 & 08850

Operational

www.nymr.co.uk

 

[randyrippley]

Yes it looks like i have got this all wrong either that or i am not explaining myself clearly enough. one of the pitfalls of typing lots of messages with 2x fingers i read an article somewhere about the origins of the design of the Gronks which was Westinghouse a Company which was eventually taken over by Wabtec. As the Shunter D4021 (08853) has been owned by Wabtec and based at Doncaster for a large part of its later life I thought it best to refer to it as a Wabtec loco. I was aware that D4021 was probably commissioned by BR back in 1960 but am looking tom fill in all the gaps of ownership and use over its lifetime

The only connection Westinghouse had with the 08 design would have been to supply braking systems and just possibly engineroom auxiliaries (pully belts, pumps, filters...). The 08 is an English Electric diesel in a British Rail built chassis and body, evolved from an English Electric design. Neither Westinghouse nor Wabco were involved in design or build. It was built by BR at a BR workshop for BR use. How it got to Wabtec later we don't know, but it could have been sold off by BR as redundant, or it could first have become under the control of one of the privatised rail freight companies before being sold on.

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View attachment 150895

All that shows is that D4021 was disposed of at an unspecified date and came into the ownership of Wabtec and was being used as a hire loco. Interesting that there's no date given for the disposal

 

[Magdalia]

08853 appears to have been allocated far and wide during it’s career! After leaving the WR for Scotland (Eastfield 1975, Hamilton 1977) shown in the BRDatabase, platform 5 publications report it based at Eastfield (1984), Motherwell (1990), Bounds Green (2003) and Wabtec Doncaster (2012).

I can add that 08853 was still at Motherwell in 1993 but by 1996, around the time of privatisation, it was at Craigentinny and in a pool of 5 class 08s for East Coast TOU (Train Operating Unit?).

I have vague recollections of seeing 08853 at Bounds Green when it was based there and used to shunt MarkIV coaches.

Is it possible that one of the historical East Coast TOCs did a sale and leaseback or hireback deal with Wabtec?

 

[WesternLancer]

All that shows is that D4021 was disposed of at an unspecified date and came into the ownership of Wabtec and was being used as a hire loco. Interesting that there's no date given for the disposal

Good point - the other dates (well the ones with dates in the screen grab) look like scrapping dates and scrap yard locations / contractors - so the 2 in the list shown have not been scrapped so no dates in that column.

It's rather easy to see why the confusion could have arisen. Westinghouse supplies kit fitted on the 08's when built (brake systems), Westinghouse becomes 'Wabtec' in the modern era. Separately Wabtec takes over parts of the former BR railway works at Doncaster. This 08 is hired or bought by wabtec to work at the Doncaster site (a few pics on flikr show it operating there)

 

[randyrippley]

according to https://www.yeoviltown.com/history/railway.aspx

Hendford Goods line remained until 29 May 1968

Presumably for the coal yard at Hendford.
Unless the private siding to Westland Aircraft was still in use?
==edit==
according to the map on here https://legacy.southsomerset.gov.uk/media/348971/railways_of_yeovil3.pdf
the Westland sidings were open until 1967




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I can add that 08853 was still at Motherwell in 1993 but by 1996, around the time of privatisation, it was at Craigentinny and in a pool of 5 class 08s for East Coast TOU (Train Operating Unit?).

I have vague recollections of seeing 08853 at Bounds Green when it was based there and used to shunt MarkIV coaches.

Is it possible that one of the historical East Coast TOCs did a sale and leaseback or hireback deal with Wabtec?

Did the TOCs own shunters? Would it not have gone to a ROSCO anyway?

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View attachment 150891

Been trying to work out what's what in this photo. As far as I can see, the right hand track is the old LSWR line between Town station and Hendford. The left hand line is the rump of the closed single track Yeovil-Taunton line.
As the LSWR/SR had long given up running to Hendford it must have been rarely used. Yet for some reason the Taunton line has been cut and and slewed to join the LSWR line via a new set of points. What was the point given the line had such a short time to exist? Was it to create a new siding to aid track removal?
Location appears to be looking east towards the leatherworks at the bottom of Stars Lane

 

[Gloster]

according to https://www.yeoviltown.com/history/railway.aspx


Presumably for the coal yard at Hendford.
Unless the private siding to Westland Aircraft was still in use?
==edit==
according to the map on here https://legacy.southsomerset.gov.uk/media/348971/railways_of_yeovil3.pdf
the Westland sidings were open until 1967




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Did the TOCs own shunters? Would it not have gone to a ROSCO anyway?

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Been trying to work out what's what in this photo. As far as I can see, the right hand track is the old LSWR line between Town station and Hendford. The left hand line is the rump of the closed single track Yeovil-Taunton line.
As the LSWR/SR had long given up running to Hendford it must have been rarely used. Yet for some reason the Taunton line has been cut and and slewed to join the LSWR line via a new set of points. What was the point given the line had such a short time to exist? Was it to create a new siding to aid track removal?
Location appears to be looking east towards the leatherworks at the bottom of Stars Lane

What happened was:

06-07-1964 The line closed beyond 143.35 (just west of Westland’s siding).
12-09-1965 The short siding on the north side of the line east of the halt, the west part of the long siding south of the line and the connections from the long siding to the yard taken out of use; Hendford signal box closed. A connection between the running line and the siding put in just on the Pen Mill side of the entry to Hendford goods yard and a second put in just on the Pen Mill side of the bridge adjacent to the long-closed station; both connections, as far as the former running line are concerned, were facing to trains out of Westlands. Between the eastern connection and Town the single line was put out of use and the through siding used. Goods shed siding and those beyond at Town taken out of use.
01-03-67 All track at Town taken out of use except for the Pen Mill-Hendford running line, the remaining sidings north of the line, and a short loop; the signal box closed.
06-05-1968 All remaining track taken out use, except for a short stub at Pen Mill.

My guess is that the photo was taken looking east from the Hendford Hill bridge. The point is at the east end of the new loop and the buffer stops are on the old single line. However, I don’t know if that fits the surrounding environment.

 

[randyrippley]

What happened was:

06-07-1964 The line closed beyond 143.35 (just west of Westland’s siding).
12-09-1965 The short siding on the north side of the line east of the halt, the west part of the long siding south of the line and the connections from the long siding to the yard taken out of use; Hendford signal box closed. A connection between the running line and the siding put in just on the Pen Mill side of the entry to Hendford goods yard and a second put in just on the Pen Mill side of the bridge adjacent to the long-closed station; both connections, as far as the former running line are concerned, were facing to trains out of Westlands. Between the eastern connection and Town the single line was put out of use and the through siding used. Goods shed siding and those beyond at Town taken out of use.
01-03-67 All track at Town taken out of use except for the Pen Mill-Hendford running line, the remaining sidings north of the line, and a short loop; the signal box closed.
06-05-1968 All remaining track taken out use, except for a short stub at Pen Mill.

My guess is that the photo was taken looking east from the Hendford Hill bridge. The point is at the east end of the new loop and the buffer stops are on the old single line. However, I don’t know if that fits the surrounding environment.

I think you must be right over the location. There was a footbridge around the bottom of Stars Lane, but don't remember another between that and Hendford Hill.
Thanks for clarifying the rest of it.