July Newsletter 2020
BATH RAILWAY SOCIETY
President: Pete Waterman OBE DL
Chairman: John Froud
Email: bathrailwaysociety@gmail.com
JULY NEWSLETTER 2020
Dear Member,
I trust you have all managed to remain safe and well at these difficult times. As previously mentioned, this is an addition Newsletter being sent out to hopefully keep you informed of any developments or of items of interest etc.
Firstly may I thank those of you who take part in our online AGM by completing the form sent out by Survey Monkey with just over 50% of membership responding. I can confirm that the Committee have been re-elected and membership subscriptions remain at £18. There were no notifications of any other business.
It is with sadness that I have to announce the passing of former BRS member Andrew Sillet. He died from cancer in Taunton on Tuesday June 16, and his private funeral service was held on Thursday June 25. Andrew was a BRS member for several years while his wife was a Chaplin at Bath University. He was always so enthusiastic and friendly, and was happy to have a chat and tell you what he had been doing at the Avon Valley Railway, where he volunteered in the locomotive department. His wife Angela was moved from Bath to take up duties as the Rector of the Quantock Towers Benefice in West Somerset and Andrew then started working in the locomotive department of the WSR, where he was highly thought of. He did come back to attend our 60th Anniversary Dinner at the Avon Valley Railway and we know he appreciated the camaraderie he had found from fellow members whilst at BRS. Angela is planning to hold a celebratory party for Andrews’s life when circumstances permit. He was a true gentleman and will be missed by all those who knew him. A card of sympathy was sent on behalf of the Society.
I would like to make a correction, as in the last Newsletter I mentioned the film ‘The Ghost Train’ being filmed with views of Monkton Combe station and signal box. It is in fact Camerton station (just as interesting) and I thank John Lakey for notifying me.
A number of our heritage railways are now planning on re-opening following the Covid 19 pandemic forced closures. Please do try to support them, as many are struggling financially. Do however check before visiting any, as conditions and ticket requirements will vary and be different between railways.
Forty years ago the two remaining diesels at Dai Woodham’s Barry scrapyard were cut up for scrap. These were Class 21 – D6122 and Class 41 ‘Warship’ D601 ‘Ark Royal’. Both were the only remaining members of their classes as all other examples had by this time been scrapped. D6122 had been withdrawn in August 1968 and it was the only member of its class to go to South Wales. All other examples of the class were scrapped in Scotland, where they were allocated. All the Class 41’s were withdrawn from Plymouth Laira on 30th December 1967. D600 and D601 went to Barry scrapyard, while the other three remaining class members were cut up at Cashmores of Newport.
Fifty years ago on July 5, British Rail ran four round trip ‘Enthusiast & Photographers Specials’ from Newton Abbot to Heathfield and Bovey Tracey formed of a DMU. These were the last passenger trains to run up to Bovey Tracey as the line beyond Heathfield was closed for freight the following day, having lost its passenger service back in 1959. The section from Bovey Tracey to Moretonhampstead was already closed completely. This line is still in situ to Heathfield and could become part of the Devon Metro. Later that month, a special train ran from Romsey to Exmouth via Salisbury and Exeter Central. It was formed of 11 x Mk I coaches top ‘n’ tailed by D6505 and D6509. This was a staff outing for Strong’s Brewery in Romsey which is now Flack Manor Brewery. On the Exmouth branch it took the paths of service trains with one coach on the special set aside for the public to use.
Work to stabilise an embankment at Templecombe on the former SR mainline was undertaken during June. Pins have been inserted into the embankment and a retaining wall constructed. Further works will need to be undertaken lasting through until September, and this will enabled the lifting of two temporary speed limits in the area. Also on the same route, part of the roof at Sherborne station has been replaced and new track laid in the Gillingham area,
The redundant signal box, which controlled the level crossing at Stoke Canon, is set to get a new lease of life on the Cholsey & Wallingford Railway. Situated on the main line between Taunton and Exeter, it is of Bristol & Exeter Railway origin and closed as a crossing box on December 9, 1985 when the control of the crossing was switched to Exeter Panel Box. It will form part of the development of the northern terminus at Wallingford station following the acquisition of additional land by the C & W Rly.
Just down the line from Stoke Canon towards Exeter a new flood defence barrier has been installed at Cowley Bridge Junction as part of a scheme costing £25.5 million. The metal barrier can quickly be installed across the tracks if inclement weather is predicated, and levels on the River Exe are likely to rise flooding the tracks. Cowley Bridge Junction is where the Exeter to Barnstaple line diverges from the G W main line, and serious washouts have occurred here in the past closing the lines for days.
The Dean Forest Railway and The Gwili Railway both want to build new carriage sheds. In order accommodate coaches that are stored in the open at Whitecroft, the DFR wants to provide a shed at its Lydney Junction site. Over in Wales, the Gwili Railway is planning to build a two track shed at Abergwili Junction, its southern terminus near Carmarthen. The shed would hold 4 Mk 1 coaches on each road. The railway also wants to provide proper buildings for the station and a car park.
A number of station name signs have sold recently at auction. A black and white enamel sign from Frome station fetched £700 while a totem sign from Chippenham went for £800. The highest priced totem sign was from Blandford Forum which reached £7,500 closely followed by a Bath Green Park one at £7,100. A Templecombe station totem also sold for £1,500. Locomotive shed plates from Bristol Bath Road (82A) fetched £240 while a Bristol Barrow Road plate (82E) went for £220.
With the easing of Covid 19 restrictions, the Avon Valley Railway has announced that it will be re-opening its buffet at Bitton station on selected dates. (See website for details).
At the present time we still do not know if we will be able to resume our monthly meeting in September. The committee are of course keeping the situation under review and awaiting further announcements from the Government. An additional Newsletter will again be published in August to keep you update on developments and happenings.
Bob Bunyar – BRS Vice Chairman
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