BATH RAILWAY SOCIETY

President: Pete Waterman OBE DL

Chairman: John Froud    

 Email: bathrailwaysociety@gmail.com

NOVEMBER  2026  NEWSLETTER

70th Anniversary Year of Bath Railway Society

Dear Member,

SOCIETY MATTERS

It was another excellent turnout of 32 members and 9 guests for the October meeting. We welcomed Chris Austin back after a few years to present "Tales of the West Somerset Railway". Chris gave a superb presentation covering the WSR from inception in 1862 right through to the present day - including a very early photograph of Minehead pre-railway when it was a very small coastal village! In addition to the historic aspect, he also explained the trials and tribulations of running a heritage railway in 2026. Following the presentation Chris led a question-and-answer session which was most informative.

‘HST’s @ 50’ is the subject of our next meeting on Thursday November 5, presented by Roy Kethro.  Roy will be telling us about the development and the operational life of the High-Speed Trains that operated at speeds of up to 125mph. Some of the HSTs are still operating at home and abroad in various capacities. As usual, doors open at 7pm for a prompt 7.30pm start at the Museum of Bath at Work.

Thank you to those who have responded and sent in stories for our ‘Members Contribution’ section. Please keep the stories coming, anything loosely connected with railways etc. Please send to the address at the top of the page or to bob.bunyar@outlook.com  About an A4 side or just bigger (500 to 1000 words) would be great, and if you can, but not essential, include a photograph.

The answers to the competition/puzzle/quiz in the last newsletter, when you had to answer the following questions are:

1/ How many route miles of railway were there in Britain in 1960.  Answer 18,269

2/ In which month and year was the report on the “Reshaping of British Railways” Published.  Answer March 1963

3/ How many railway stations were there in Britain at the end of 2020. Answer 2,567

NEWS ITEMS

At the Spetisbury Station Project, the former Somerset & Dorset Railway Station, a second running-in board has been installed on the ‘up’ platform. It was made in the workshops at the North Dorset Railway at Shillingstone station, using hardwood timber left over from a wagon restoration project there. Spetisbury Station (Halt) closed on September 17, 1956. The last ‘down’ passenger train to call there was the 4.10pm from Evercreech Junction to Bournemouth (West) and the last ‘up’ train was the 5.18pm to Evercreech Junction. Stourpaine & Durweston, Charton Marshall and Corfe Mullen, all halts, also closed that day. Spetisbury station had become an unstaffed halt in August 1934.

From Saturday October 31 to Sunday November 29, 2026, Network Rail will be carrying out essential renewal work on the Isle of Wight (The Island Line operated by South Western Railway). Buses will replace trains whilst these works are carried out.   From Saturday October 31 to Sunday November 15, buses will replace trains between Ryde Pier Head and Shanklin and then from Monday November 16 to Sunday November 29, they will replace trains between Ryde Pier Head and Ryde St Johns Road.

During the weekend of November 28/29, Great Western Railway services will be diverted from London Paddington to Euston. This is to allow Network Rail to undertake junction renewal works between Slough and Langley at Dolphin Junction. Work includes remodelling of the Junction, installing new overhead line equipment and points renewal. Services to/from London will use the West Curve at Didcot and run to Oxford and then the East-West line to Bletchley. At Milton Keynes Central they will reverse to continue into Euston Station and vice versa.

The Annual Thornbury & South Gloucestershire Model Railway Club Exhibition takes place on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 November 2026 at the Turnberries Community Centre, Bath Road, Thornbury, Bristol. BS35 2BB. The two-day event commences at 10am on Saturday 21 and concludes at 5pm. The second day it will run from 10am to 4pm. There will be a range of model railway displays and activities on show. Admission prices have been set at £8 for adults, £3 for children and £18 for a family ticket covering two adults and two children. Refreshments will be available on site during the exhibition and there is free parking at the venue.

The National Festival of Railway Modelling, at the NEC Birmingham, (Hall 5) also takes place the same weekend as the Thornbury event. This is the country’s biggest model railway exhibition, sponsored by Rapido Trains UK. In addition to the model layouts, there will be 120+ manufacturers, retailers, clubs and societies exhibiting at the event. Opening times are as above, and ticket prices are Adult - £25 (£30 on-the-day) Weekend: £45, Child: £8 Family: £58.  Pre-booked ticket holders (book online) can secure parking for just £10 by booking before 23:59 on 20/11/2026.

Information released by Network Rail and the British Transport Police shows that 9,437 minutes’ worth of delays were caused by trespass incidents to South Western Railway services for the 2025/26 period. The SWR network also had the third-highest rate of vandalism and obstruction across Network Rail's 14 routes, including deliberately placed items such as debris, and other items on the railway.

The Belmond British Pullman will be visiting Bath Spa on Saturday, November 28, from London Victoria. This will be hauled by a Class 67.

The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway will be hosting a Remembrance service at Woody Bay station from 10am on Sunday November 8, with a limited train service also operating that day.

The Avon Valley Railway will be running a steam hauled service on Sunday November 1, with the first train departing from Bitton at 1045. On November 22, 28 and 29, their Santa Specials will be operating.

The National Railway Museum in York has launched its first-ever ‘Adopt an Object’ scheme. It gives railway enthusiasts a way to support the Museum by adopting one of six historic objects from the collection for a 12-month period. The items up for adoption are 92220 ‘Evening Star’, the Japanese Railways Shinkansen ‘Bullet Train’, the Queen Adelaide’s Saloon (which is the oldest surviving royal railway carriage in Britain), Furness Railway 'Coppernob’, GWR Diesel Railcar No. 4 and a Model 3rd Class Smoking Carriage.  Adoptions cost £3, £5, or £10 per month for a year, but you can pay a lump sum upfront annually.  You will receive a personalised digital adoption certificate, a thank you letter from the museum and email updates throughout the year. For more details go to the website at https://www.railwaymuseum.org.uk/adopt-an-object

Plans for a station at Corsham are slowly going forward as discussions have taken place between Wiltshire Council, GWR and Network Rail with AtkinsRealis being commissioned to update the business case for the proposed new station (This will use plans originally submitted in 2022). This work is due to be completed by the end of this month, and it will focus on updating existing evidence and improving the business case rather than redesigning the scheme.

A Belgian built 0-4-0 Vertical Boiler locomotive called ‘Lady Lisa’ has arrived at the Swindon & Cricklade Railway, giving it working steam once again. Moving out from the S & C to the North Norfolk Railway is a BR Mk1 Buffet Car number M1569. 

The box was Grade II listed but was demolished in 2013 as the structure became unsafe. Teignmouth Signal Box was also a casualty that day, but a detailed replica of this box in 1:76 scale is available from Gaugemaster. Finally, Exminster Signal Box, another Grade II listed, became redundant. This stood derelict until September 2006, before being carefully dismantled with the intention of re-erecting it at Broadway on the Gloucester & Warwickshire Railway. However, this did not occur, and it is believed it has been scrapped. The resignalling programme phased out the mechanical semaphore signals replacing them with colour light signalling controlled centrally by the Exeter Panel Box.

On November 24, 1960, 66 years ago, a head-on accident occurred between Pontrhydyfen and Cwmavon in the county of Glamorgan. This involved the 4.55pm Swansea High Street to Barry Island passenger service formed of a 3-car Class 116 DMU, and a runaway, 620-ton unfitted goods train hauled by Pannier Tank, 9737, running bunker-first. The ‘goods’ was moving at roughly 20 mph, and the passenger train was travelling between 15 and 20 mph when they collided. The impact caused considerable damage to both trains and resulted in the driver of the passenger train and the fireman of the freight train being killed.  Three passengers and the driver of the freight train sustained serious injuries, while 20 additional passengers and the guards of both trains suffered minor injuries. As a result of the collision, 9737, from Duffryn Yard Shed, was officially withdrawn on December 14, 1960, and was scrapped during March 1961.

On November 13, 1966, 60 years ago, the Southern Counties Touring Society ran the ‘West Country Special’ which originated at London Victoria Station. The seven-coach special hauled by 73065 of Nine Elms shed, made its way around the London suburbs to reach Reading General before taking the Berks & Hants Line to Westbury. Here there was a change of motive power as 73065 was replaced by 34019 ‘Bideford’, also allocated to Nine Elms, for a run via Castle Cary to Exeter St Davids, Exeter Central and to Yeovil Junction. Here there was another locomotive change to 35023 ‘Holland-Afrika Line’ of Weymouth shed. This then took the train back to London Waterloo via Salisbury, arriving in the capital just three minutes late of its booked time. Both 73065 and 35023 ‘Holland-Afrika Line’ lasted in service until the end of Southern steam being withdrawn on July 9, 1967.  34019 ‘Bideford’ was withdrawn on March 19, 1967. 73065 and 34019 were scrapped at Cashmores of Newport while 35023 was disposed of at the adjacent scrapyard yard of J. Buttigieg. A 16-minute video of the rail tour can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJUodjTjGZA

On November 5, 1966, the Society had the pleasure of guest speaker Mr William (Bill) Hoole who had been a top link driver on the Eastern Region of British Railways at the time high speed trials were undertaken. He had driven A4 Pacifics on some of the most spectacular of these runs and told members some exciting stories. After his retirement from BR, he continued driving steam at a much slower pace on the narrow-gauge Ffestiniog Railway.

MEMBERS CONTRIBUTION  

‘A Royal Visit to the Severn Valley Carriage Shops’ by John Beck

It was April 2016 and I had been volunteering in the paint shop in the carriage works of the Severn Valley Railway at Kidderminster for several years. I mainly did lining out and sign writing (my career has been in Art and Design) including quite a bit of gold leaf work at one stage.

I had worked on several of the SVR’s many and varied carriages; LMS First class; LMS Corridor 3rd; BR Mark 1’s; 1912 Great Northern Teak; GWR Open thirds; Break carriages.

The close of the lengthy renovation of this carriage had coincided with a Royal visit of HRH Princess Anne to mark the SVR 50-year Celebrations. It was looking terrific and beautifully turned out.

At the end of the previous day, as was sometimes the case, I wanted to photographically record progress for my own amusement. Not knowing that the fourth and final coat of varnish was still tacky, I had propped up a (padded) ladder for photographic effect.

Hugh, my boss (nickname, Huge), arrived at the paint shop on the morning of the Royal visit and had discovered my unintended ‘intervention’. Despite apparent last minute mostly unsuccessful efforts to disguise the blemish by further cosmetic sanding of the area, time ran out.

HRH duly had her tour of the paint shop, accompanied by Hugh and various dignitaries, and had apparently stopped to ask some questions at the exact spot, and looked up at the ‘horizontal mohair strip' for a while. She was heard to say ‘erm’ before Hugh (in blue jacket) moved her on to talk to fellow volunteer Richard, as depicted, having being effectively placed as a decoy.

Hugh was very dry at the best of times, and ‘thanked’ me for my contribution the next time I was in.  From thereon I was rather more careful about any photographic recording at the end of my days’ work. But they do make a rather nice little series of photos.

We thank John for sending in his story along with the excellent photographs of HRHs visit to the SVR Paint Shop. A most interesting event! 

If you have a story, please do send it in, we’d love to hear from you and share it with members. Send to: bathrailwaysociety@gmail.com or bob.bunyar@outlook.com

COMPETITION / PUZZLE / QUIZ

On the railway line from Camerton to Limpley Stoke, there were passenger stations at Dunkerton Colliery Halt, opened in 1911, and Monkton Combe, opened in 1910. There were three more stations in between these, can you name them? The passenger service was finally abandoned on the line from September 21, 1925, but goods and mineral traffic continued, accessed from Limpley Stoke, but that ceased on February 15, 1951. The track was finally taken up in 1958, but not before sections of the line were used for the filming of the famous film ‘The Titfield Thunderbolt’ in 1952.

FURTHER NEWS ITEMS

A Strategic Investment Plan, published by the Western Gateway Sub-National Transport Body, which brings together eight local authorities across the south west, has identified 53 regionally significant transport projects that could be prioritised for future funding. Rail improvements form a key part of the strategy, with enhanced services on the Heart of Wessex Line among the highest-priority schemes. The enhancements could see an hourly service on the route, improving connections across Dorset, Somerset and Bristol while increasing reliability and capacity for communities including Dorchester, Maiden Newton and Yetminster. The project would include a new passing loop between Castle Cary and Yeovil Pen Mill, a new platform at Westbury and signalling upgrades. No cost estimate or delivery timeline has yet been set. The strategy also includes plans to expand the Port of Poole and reopen the Hamworthy Branch for freight use, alongside improvements at Bournemouth station.

At the Bluebell Railway work has progressed on the building of the cab of BR Standard Class 2, 84030. This locomotive is being built using donor locomotive, 2-6-0, 78059, also a BR Class 2, but a tender fitted locomotive, which was purchased from Barry Scrapyard in 1983. The first area of the cab to be completed was the rear balance pipe that runs under the cab floor between the two side tanks, and steel pipe as opposed to copper was used which meant the supports and clamps had to be modified. The assembly of the cab side panels to the base frame and side tanks has commenced together with the back panel on the driver’s side, along with the fitting of the roof panels. The side tanks have already been fitted to the rolling chassis, but no estimate has been given when 84030 will be completed.

The Bideford Railway Heritage Centre are now able to offer brake van rides once again at Bideford Station, North Devon. They have completed restoration of BR Std. 20T brake van B954757 and can give rides on their short running line using Planet      0-4-0 DM No. 3832, which originally worked in industry, and which has been painted black and now has the number DS1170. 

Museum of Bath at Work

On Sunday 8th November 3.00pm the Museum (in partnership with the Little Theatre Cinema) is screening the film ‘Battle of the Somme 1916’ at the Little Theatre Cinema, Bath. Doors 14.45, Film starts 15.00 with introductory talk (programme lasts about 90 minutes). This unique and important silent film is being shown on Remembrance Sunday having been first shown in Bath in September 1916 at The Vaudeville, Westgate Street and The Picturedrome, Southgate Street.  It comprises mainly documentary footage, although it was edited to create a narrative and there were some re-constructed scenes.  This was the first time that people saw a prolonged and close-up view of the trenches of northern France and Flanders.  The film has been digitally remastered with specially composed music. Tickets are available from the Little Theatre Box Office.

On Saturday November 14, at the Museum, there will be a screening: of ‘A Mystery Film’ which can be revealed as ‘Home Alone’. The public have voted for this film, and doors open at 18.00 with the film starting at 18.30. You can pay on the door £10 or via Eventbrite booking link on the Museum’s website.

There will be a Silent Film Night on Saturday November 21, 6.30pm for 7pm, with live improvised organ accompaniment, at Christ Church, Julian Road. This is adjacent to the Museum.

During November the Museum is only open on weekends 10.30am to 5.00pm with the last admission at 4.00pm. Details of events can be found at https://museumofbath.org/

MORE NEWS ITEMS

Class 31 – 31105 has been named Radio Caroline at the Mangapps Railway Museum, Essex after the famous pirate radio station which once operated off the Essex coast.

The Lynton and Barnstaple Railway is holding its first-ever model railway show at Woody Bay Station on Sunday November 15 from 10 am to 4 pm. The show will feature a selection of layouts in a variety of different gauges, including H0m, 009, OO, O and Japanese HO. Entry is by donation to the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway on arrival, and visitors can park for free at Woody Bay station. No passenger services will be running on the railway that day, but some locomotives might be on display in the yard.

The Avon Valley Railway at Bitton was to host a special event to commemorate 40 years of Badgerline Buses on November 8, but this has now been cancelled. Meanwhile, Hunslet of Leeds built (Works Number 1589), ‘Newstead’, built 1929, arrived at the Railway on October 27 and will be providing cover for Santa and other Christmas specials and then into the New Year.

The Churchward County Trust is appealing for donations to continue its work in building GWR 4-4-0 ‘County’ No. 3840 ‘County of Montgomery’. It has now launched a Buffer Beam Appeal, which it hopes will raise £12,000 towards the cost of the final section of the locomotive’s frames, which extends forward to the buffer beam. 3840 is being constructed at the Tyseley Locomotive Works.

According to reports in the press, the West Somerset Railway is currently losing £4,000 per week. The Railway is also coming to terms with the sudden death on Sunday, October 11, of its chairman Jonathan Jones-Pratt at the age of 42. A temporary chairman has been appointed to the role. 

LOOKING FORWARD

Our next meeting will be on Thursday December 3, at 7.30pm when we go ‘down under’ with our guest speaker Alan Price. His subject will be the ‘Australian Heritage Railway Steam Scene 1988 – 2025’.

Bob Bunyar

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