Archive
Bath Railway Society Founded 1957
The first entry in the Minute Book of the Bath Railway Society records an informal meeting held on 24th April 1957 at the Midland Hotel to discuss the formation of a Railway Society in Bath.
The programme for the first season (1957-58) included technical presentations on signalling and locomotive valve gears as well as first hand experiences of railwaymen.
The format of the annual meeting card has remained virtually unchanged to this day. From 1959 it included a line drawing of the front-end profile of GWR City class no. 3433 ‘City of Bath’ drawn by the Society’s first secretary Ron Hurst.
The first meetings of the Society were held at the Midland Hotel, a stone's throw from the concourse of Bath Green Park station, the later venue for meetings held between 2003 and 2014. Photo: Don Froud
From the 1960-61 season meetings were held at Smith’s Assembly Rooms, Westgate Buildings, seen here most likely in the early 1970s.
Society Outings
Impressive view taken during the Society outing by brake van on the Somerset & Dorset from Bath to Evercreech Junction on 26th September 1959. Photo: Ivo Peters
On 9th March 1959 members of the Bath Railway Society visited the 'Roads Reconstruction Works' at Vallis Vale near Frome, Somerset where members were able to ride in the cab of Sentinel Locomotive No. 3. It is seen arriving at Hapsford from Whatley. BRS members Ivo Peters is leaning out of the cab (left) and Ken Padfield is looking out of the left cab window. Ron Hurst can just be seen looking out of the right hand window. Photo: Rev. Alan Newman/BRS Archive
In 1960, members visited the Byfield Ironstone Quarry in Northamptonshire. The Rev. Alan Newman and Norman Lockett can be seen standing alongside derelict Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0 tank locomotive 'Byfield'.
Photo: Ivo Peters/BRS Archive
Ivo Peters, Ken Padfield, Norman Lockett: BRS Archive
Ivo Peters and Norman Lockett: BRS Archive
Visit to Bass Worthington Brewery, Burton-on-Trent, 21st May 1960. Bath Railway Society headboard being carried on front buffer beam.
Photo: Ivo Peters
In April 1968 a visit was organised to see GWR no. 7808 'Cookham Manor' in steam at Dowty's private siding at Ashchurch, Gloucestershire. The locomotive was initially stored there after withdrawal before moving to the GWS at Didcot in August 1970.
A trip to Tyseley depot a year later saw LMS no.s 5428 'Eric Treacy' and 5593 'Kolhapur' in steam. The former had just been named after the Bishop of Wakefield, the eminent railway photographer. Photograph circa August 1969. Photos: Don Froud
Our first president was the celebrated railway author and Bath resident Ossie Nock who held the office from 1957 to 1994 and with over 100 railway publications to his name addressed the Society on a variety of subjects on many occasions.
He was followed by David Shepherd (left) who first visited the Society in early 1970. This was when the railway preservation scene we know today was almost unthinkable and yet David had plans to establish a steam railway on our own doorstep at Cranmore.
By 1974 that dream had become reality and the Society made a memorable evening visit to Cranmore on 13th December that year with David as our host.
Sadly, David passed away in September 2017; a great loss to the railway scene and animal conservation.
Photo: Graham Vincent
A ticket for a Charter Train to the Severn Valley Railway at Kidderminster which the Society organised on 9th September 1978. Following the success of this trip, a further charter train was organised to the SVR running through to Bewdley in 1981.
Correspondence from the Divisional Manager's office Bristol confirming timings and details of the charter train using a 3 car Cross Country unit.
Almost 50 years after taking a brake van ride on the Somerset & Dorset, Society members are able to do so again and enjoy the experience during a visit to Midsomer Norton station on 17th June 2007. The photograph shows the immaculately reconstructed Signal Box and Greenhouse. Our late member Andrew Sillett has a go at pulling the signal levers.
Photos: Bob Bunyar
Memorable Occasions
Richard (Dick) Hardy presented ‘The Hardy Annual ‘ each year from his first visit in March 1961 to 1976. Guy Williams of Pendon fame and then Chairman offers a vote of thanks on a subsequent visit on 21st March 1983. Another regular speaker was Kenneth Leech who is seen far right with Dick on the same occasion. Kenneth Leech spoke in the Society's very first season on 5th February 1958 on the topic 'Pre – 1919 experiences', which no doubt looked back to his time as an officer in the Royal Engineers working for the Railway Operating Division in France during the First World War. Photos: Graham Vincent
Dick Hardy returns to present ‘More Nostalgia’ at a meeting held on 19th March 1990. On the same occasion are seen (left to right) Treasurer, Jack Newton, former Hon Secretary, Ken Payne and Chairman, John Taylor. Photos: Graham Vincent
Past Chairman Gordon Dodge chairs the 40th AGM held at the Midland Hotel on 16th June 1997. Founder members Ron Hurst and Rev. Alan Newman reflect on the continuing success of the Society and Alan shares reminiscences from one of his record books from 1935 of workings at Bath Queen Square station (Bath Green Park). Photos: Graham Vincent
Golden Jubilee 2007
2007 marked the 50th Anniversary of the Society and we held a Golden Jubilee Celebratory Dinner at Green Park Station where our then Vice - President Pete Waterman addressed the Society.
Photo: Graham Vincent
We were also honoured to be invited to a civic reception at the Guildhall, Bath hosted by the Mayor of Bath, Cllr Sharon Ball to mark the occasion. We were delighted to welcome founder secretary, Ron Hurst and first Chairman Pip Williams to join us at the event, reported in the Bath Chronicle, below.
This photograph taken by Hon Treasurer, Jon Hughes shows the rest of the 2007 committee of the Society with City of Bath Mayor, Cllr Sharon Ball.
L to R (back) Bob Bunyar, John Froud, Nigel Bruce – Robertson and Mike Ware.
L to R (front) City of Bath Mayor Cllr Sharon Ball and John Hampton.
Presentation
A presentation of a framed railway print was made to the former Hon Secretary John Hampton on his retirement from the post and in appreciation of his long service to the Society. John had been a member for 30 years and held the position of secretary for 21 years. Making the presentation at the St Philip and St James Elderly Persons home in Keynsham on 1st September 2010 is current Chairman John Froud.
Diamond Jubilee 2017
To mark our Diamond Jubilee a celebratory dinner was held on board the dining train at the Avon Valley Railway, Bitton. Photos: Mike Ware
Presidential Address 2019
Pete Waterman's inaugural Presidential address to the Society at the Museum of Bath at Work, 5th September 2019 - Pines Express headboard in background. Photo: Robert Coles
Line that Became a Legend
To accompany our March 2022 Newsletter and to mark the 56th anniversary of the closure of the Somerset & Dorset Line, Mike Ware kindly sent in an article taken from 'The Times' newspaper dated March 4, 1966.
