Newsletter

BATH RAILWAY SOCIETY

President: Pete Waterman OBE DL

Chairman: John Froud    

 Email: bathrailwaysociety@gmail.com

MARCH NEWSLETTER 2021

Dear Member,

It is hard to believe that it is now a year since we last had a meeting, but we can now say that “there is light at the end of the tunnel” following the Prime Ministers statement on February 22. Hopefully restrictions will be lifted in June, and we can start a new season in September. Fingers crossed!

Thank you to those of you who have sent in and contributed items for the Newsletter, it is appreciated. Please do keep them coming, and if you feel like putting an article together (up to one side A4 size), it will be most welcomed. As you will see in this issue, Colin Maggs has kindly contributed, and I hope you enjoy reading his article on the S & D.

The answer to the quiz in the last Newsletter was the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. A new quiz is included at the end of this newsletter, and I hope you enjoy working it out. It’s all just for fun!

On Sunday March 7, there will be major disruption to GWR services due to engineering works. Trains will run between Cardiff Central and Bath Spa, then between Westbury and Portsmouth Harbour and between Westbury and Dorchester West. Buses will replace trains between Bath Spa and Westbury, Westbury to Chippenham and Dorchester West to Weymouth. Paddington station will also be completely closed and no trains will run beyond Ealing Broadway. Passengers are being advised to change trains at Reading and take a service to Basingstoke and use a South Western Service to London Waterloo. The closure is for the upgrading of the overhead wires in the Paddington area to improve reliability.

The Great Western Society at Didcot have recently started the project to rebuild Heyford station building at the end of their running line and to be called 'Oxford Road'. Heyford was opened as mixed gauge with the Oxford to Birmingham Railway on October 1st.1852.  The line was engineered by Brunel and the building is typical of his company's later designs with ashlar quoins, cills and lintels infilled with graded Oxford wragstone. The distinctive flat awning surrounds the building extended to cover the platform on that side supported on gallows brackets which are neatly ended with a distinctive lion mask cover.  Another feature of this design being an end bay window in the main waiting room facing oncoming arrivals.  The exterior walls, woodwork, awnings and roof of the building were dismantled by the GWS's East Midlands Group in the 1980s and have been stored at Didcot pending sufficient resources for what will be a rather long an expensive project. The new location for the building has been cleared, the area that will form the station approach has been raised and the stored stonework given an initial sorting to assess its condition and what needs to be replaced. The intention is to rebuild to the original design and using the original materials. Information about the project can be found at http://www.gwsheyford.org.uk/ Thanks to Alan Price for the information.

Just up the line from Didcot, the Cholsey & Wallingford Railway is looking into the possibility of introducing some form of commuter service to link in with GWR services at Cholsey. GWR and Network Rail are backing the idea, but there is no support from Oxfordshire County Council who are supporting plans elsewhere in the county to reopen the Oxford to Cowley branch. Hopes to reopen the Witney branch have also received a setback as the council is also not supporting this and is instead going to carry out improvements to the A40 trunk road, The Witney Oxford Transport Group will be continuing to push for the lines reinstatement, and the local MP has asked them to provide more details so the case can be pushed forward.

Two separate funding appeals are hoping to each secure £80,000. The Bodmin and Wenford Railway wants to raise this sum to return Small Prairie 5552 to working order having been out of traffic for ten years. The same amount of money is needed to complete work on the new build 6880 Betton Grange. It is hoped that this locomotive can have its first public steaming in September this year.

It was 35 years ago this month that the former Great Western Railway works at Swindon finally closed on March 26. Construction of the works started in 1841 and it became operational on January 2, 1843.  On October 31, 1969, the works became part of British Rail Engineering Ltd (BREL). Unable to win maintenance work against the internal competition of Crewe and Derby Works the decision to close the works was taken.  This was also due to the fact that Swindon was expanding as a town, with the need for land close to its centre for development. It was not quite the end of steam locomotive maintenance  at the works, as between 2000 and 2006, the rolling chassis of GWR no.7200 were restored in the former iron foundry (J Shop), making it the final Great Western steam locomotive to receive attention at Swindon. (7200 is still under restoration at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre).

40 years ago on March 28, the Plymouth Railway Circle and the Great Western Society (South West Group) ran a special train from Plymouth to Kidderminster for the Severn Valley Railway. The eight coach train was hauled outwards by D1027 Western Lancer, but this was failed at Bristol Temple Meads and replaced by D1912. Despite the loco change, the train arrived at Kidderminster at 1242, 19 minutes ahead of its booked time. It departed back to Plymouth at 1805 hauled by D1912 throughout.

Changes have been revealed for a pathway that has linked communities in east Bristol and beyond for more than 40 years. Proposed new designs are the culmination of more than two years of consultation with different users of the Bristol and Bath Railway Path (former Midland Line) in a bid to tackle existing issues, while improving safety and accessibility for everyone. You can read about the changes here: https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/major-changes-to-bristol-and-bath-railway-path-revealed/?ct=t(B247_newsletter_030221)&mc_cid=d9f2c0e7a9&mc_eid=1e28bd5695

Although we have been in lockdown, the Avon Valley Railway have still managed to carry out maintenance works. The ramps at either end of Avon Riverside Station have been receiving some attention as they had started to subside, and track work just south of Bitton station is being carried out ready for the resumption of services. The station buffet at Bitton is remaining open for takeaways if you are having a walk in the area.

The Swanage Railway has reached agreement with the National Railway Museum for LSWR T9 locomotive 30120, to remain at Swanage, hopefully for a return to future running. An assessment will be carried out as to the practicality of carrying out an overhaul. The loco’s boiler certificate expired in August 2020. The boiler on ’U’ Class 31806 has been swapped with a refurbished boiler from ‘N’ Class 31874. The ‘U’ can be return to service quickly, and it’s also keeping its main line ticket. At the Flour Mill in Gloucestershire, good progress is being made on the overhaul of the Railways T3 563.

Can anyone help with an appeal regarding the old Somerset & Dorset lines Windsor Hill tunnels? After closure, British Sidley took over the ‘down’ tunnel in 1968 and during 1969 destructive tests were undertaken on the Olympus engines for Concorde after which the tunnels were gated off for many years. Local campaigners would now like to claim a public Right of Way through the tunnels based upon established usage over a period of time. If you have evidence of walking through the tunnels (and over Ham Wood/Bath Road viaducts) many years ago, they would appreciate hearing from you. If you have evidence please email windsorhilltunnels@gmail.com

At Shillingstone station, contractors have been on site replacing the leaky Gents' toilet roof. Once the present restrictions are lifted the station team will be giving the toilet a bit of a makeover, but without destroying the heritage interest of the building. North Dorset Railway’s planning application for engineering and landscaping works and the relaying of track to Bere Marsh, has now been registered by Dorset Council. It is available for public viewing in the North Dorset section of the Council’s website at www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/planning   reference is P/FUL/2020/00440. Subject to the outcome of the consultation period, and the Planning Officer’s assessment of the proposals, the trust hope to receive a decision on the application by early summer.

From April 2, the Severn Valley Railway plans to open along the length of its line, and catching the Easter break market. The 2021 spring season already has two special events in the calendar for the first months of reopening.  There will be a Spring Steam Up four-day event from 15th April with the chance to clock up 96 miles of steam travel behind seven different locomotives. Tickets for the day enable visitors to enjoy three round trips of the line, with each leg of the journey hauled by a different locomotive, including one double-headed leg. There will be a Spring Diesel Bash for four days from 13th May. All dates for your diaries! Tickets have already been put up on sale for the April reopening and sales are strong for the Steam Up event with more than 30% already sold.

 

It is now fifty five years ago this month that the Somerset & Dorset line closed. Colin Maggs has kindly sent in his reminisces of two journeys he undertook over the line.

BATH to EVERCREECH JUNCTION by COLIN MAGGS

Back in 1960 I was able to secure from BR’s Public Relation Department two exciting trips between Bath and Evercreech Junction. The first was in a brake van.

Meeting Station Master Paul Pearman at Green Park station, we walked along the tracks to Midland Road sidings. I was pleased to learn from him that the train I was to travel on had more than 23 wagons and so would have a banker up to Midford Tunnel. After being introduced to Guard Elkins, I climbed into the van.

Class 4F 0-6-0 No. 44146 drew the train out of the sidings and the train engine, Br Standard Class 5 No. 73047 backed on the front. We laboured up the 1 in 50 towards Devonshire Tunnel at a steady 18 mph.

Passing through Lyncombe Vale I felt a jerk as the banker dropped off at the entrance to Midford Tunnel. 10 chains beyond the mouth, the gradient fell and there was a shriek as the guard screwed down the brake. We rushed through Shoscombe & Single Hill at 39 mph.

At Radstock Class 3F 0-6-0T 47496 was coupled behind us and we made a momentary stop at Binegar to uncouple 47496 and replace the tail lamp. The banker dropped off at Masbury and below Windsor Hill Tunnel speed reached 39 mph.

At Evercreech Junction No. 73047 was turned and coupled to 19 empty wagons. Setting off, beyond Evercreech New speed fell to 12 mph. I discovered the driver to be Harry Starkey whose son I’d taught a year before.

A week later I caught the 9.53am from Green Park, 4 coaches headed by Class 9 2-10-0 No. 92204. I met inspector McArthy who in turn introduced me to Driver Gunning and Fireman Ryle.

We climbed through Oldfield Park at 25 mph. I had expected the fireman to be continuously at work, but he only needed to put on 6 shovelfuls of brickettes at the foot of the gradient and another six before we entered Devonshire Tunnel. In Midford Tunnel I took the precaution of breathing through my handkerchief, even so, the fumes were choking.

6 more shovelfuls were put on at Midford and the same quantity at Wellow; steam was blowing from the safety valves before we reached Radstock.

I noted that from the inside of the cab I could see the last coupled driving wheel and track through quite a large gap between the firebox and floor.

The roof was so low that standing I could see over the top. Sitting down, visibility through the front window was surprisingly good, despite the large boiler ahead. Rushing down from Masbury at 55-60 mph we enjoyed an extensive view over the Vale of Avalon towards Glastonbury Tor and beyond.

I returned from Evercreech Junction on the 1.50 pm goods headed by Class 7 2-8-0 No.53805, its cab open and airy compared with the Class 9. The driver was George Tucker, whose sons I’d taught a few years before. We had a load of 14 cripples for repair at Radstock. We pounded up to Masbury at 12 mph. The fireman did little firing and was mainly concerned with feeding the boiler with water. “Give her water and she’ll make steam Alright” he said. We drifted down to Midsomer Norton at 35 mph.

In Midford Tunnel, as the smoke was higher above my head than with the Class 9, I found it more convenient to stand with my back to the boiler and not use my handkerchief at all because the air was quite breathable. I watched the glow from the partly opened dampers flickering on the tunnel wall. We passed through Devonshire Tunnel and into the shunting neck at Bath a WR Pannier tank was ready to deal with our train. We proceeded to the turntable in steady drizzle, my day’s excitement over.

Thank you very much Colin.

Next month John Lakey will kindly be providing an article on the Great Western Society. If you would like to send in a story, rail related, do please get in touch.



A new effort is under way to reopen the Bridport branch in Dorset. The promoters are saying it would be a narrow-gauge line, more like a tram than a railway. Passenger-carrying trains would be powered by battery and hydrogen, according to the plan. The Bridport Renewal group is trying to raise £50,000 to fund a full feasibility study.  Further details here:  http://www.bridportrenewal.org.uk

From March 6 to 26, Platforms 3-6 will be out of use at Bristol T. M. Scaffolding is being erected.

Another Heritage Railway to get a Pacer unit is the Plym Valley Railway at Marsh Mills. The unit, 142023, is from Northern Rail, and it was moved by road from Heaton depot.

Further to the information on Station Master Albert Stowe (see previous newsletters), he came from Devizes Station, as had his predecessor, Station Master Bray to Bath Spa. Albert was to be the last Station Master at Bath Spa. One story that is told is that prior to Albert taking over the station, the Ambassador of Peru, was in the habit of coming down to Bath from London to bring back his sons for their school holidays from the Downside Roman Catholic School. On arrival at Bath he was always invited into the Station Masters office to wait for their arrival. In winter time it was a very warm and comfortable place to be with a fire half way up the chimney!  Every Christmas holidays he would give the Station Master, a large bottle of Whisky, and a packet of 200 cigarettes to share out to the station staff.  Albert Stowe would have none of that, and kept all the kind gifts for himself!! It’s almost certain that Albert’s Brother Alex, was at Evercreech Jct and went on to work in the WR offices in Bristol. Our thanks to Tim Hughes and ex Bath Spa signalman Bob Cannon for the information and story.

Bob Bunyar – Vice Chairman

Please note:    All events and special trains etc are mentioned in good faith and hopefully details are correct at the time of publication of the Newsletter.      Please however, do check before travelling or attending events as things can change

<<<<<<<< COMPETITION >>>>>>>>


Take the first letter only from each answer (first word unless indicated otherwise), and then unscramble them. These letters will make up the name of a diesel locomotive. I ‘copped’ this loco at Bath Green Park in 1965 working a service to Bristol! The quiz is just for fun and no prizes are given. Hope you enjoy it? The Answer will be given in the next newsletter.

Answer is the name of a Diesel Locomotive

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