BATH RAILWAY SOCIETY

President: Pete Waterman OBE DL

Chairman: John Froud    

 Email: bathrailwaysociety@gmail.com

MAY  NEWSLETTER 2022

Dear Member,

At our April meeting at the Bath Museum of Work, Gerry Nichols entertained us, looking back, with his presentation ‘Around Bristol’. It certainly was an enjoyable evening for those present looking back at the good old days.

Our next meeting will be on Thursday May 5 at the Bath Museum of Work, starting at 7.30pm. We have a late change of speakers and we will now have a presentation by member Mike Beale. He will be giving us his show titled "1966 - Farewell to Steam".   Mike will take us on his personal farewell tour of steam around the UK in 1966. We are very grateful he was able to step in at short notice, and our thanks also go to Robert, our Secretary, for his efforts re-arranging the speakers.

Looking ahead, and to give you notice, our June meeting will be on Thursday 16. (Note change of date). This will be our Annual General Meeting and will take place at the Museum at 7.30pm. Nominations for the committee are welcome and if you have any questions or issues you want raised at the AGM, please forward them to the Chairman or Secretary using the above contact details. As always we intend to keep the meeting as short as possible, and this will then be followed by a guest speaker.

The answer to the competition in the April Newsletter, when you had to find the name of the film was ‘Sherlock’. Well done if you manage to find the answers and unscramble the letters. There’s another competition for you on the last page. An apology to those of you who receive the Newsletter by post, as the questions for the quiz were inadvertently omitted from your copies, and the mistake was not noticed until just before the email copies were sent out.

If you have £1.2m to spare, and fancy owning an old railway station, then look no further than up the A46 as the old 1867 built station at Nailsworth in Gloucestershire is up for sale. The station has been a 4 bedroom residence for over thirty years and the original platform still remains. The branch line down to the terminus at Nailsworth had its last passenger train call on June 16, 1947, when services were suspended for economy reasons.  Passenger services were not officially withdrawn until June 8, 1949. Goods traffic remained serving Nailsworth, and this was finally withdrawn on June 1, 1966.

Also in Gloucestershire, Charfield is due to be getting its station back. Situated on the Bristol to Gloucester main line, building work for the new station will hopefully commence next year with completion and opening in late 2024. Funding for the station is coming from the Department for Transport who have awarded the West of England Combined Authority £540m for transport projects.  The location for the station will be in the centre of the village (off the old Station Road) within a 10 minute walk for all residents. South Gloucestershire Council are currently working with Network Rail on a design for the new station. The original station closed to passengers in January 1965 and the station building and the station master's house still remain, in residential use. Freight services at the station were withdrawn in September that year. Charfield is of course the location of a terrible railway accident that occurred on October 13, 1928 15 people were killed, including two boys, who were never identified. Their bodies were buried at the local church. 23 people were also injured in the crash.

Network Rail has donated old track and points to the Plym Valley Railway. It has come following recent work and recovery of the items at Lostwithiel in Cornwall.

The Swanage Railway is holding a Diesel Gala this month. This will take place May 6 to 8 inclusive and will feature visiting locomotives D7612, 31 128, 37 703, D4 ‘Great Gable’, and D182. Home fleet locomotives will be 33 012 and 33 111. (All subject to availability). For full details see the Railways website at www.swanagerailway.co.uk/diesel-gala 

Another gala taking place from May 5 to 8 is on the West Somerset Railway. In addition to their home fleet locomotives, also taking part will be Caledonian Railway 0-4-4T 419 along with BR Standard 75069 from the Severn Valley Railway. Full details are available on the WSR website.

50 years ago this month on May 27, 1972, BR (WR) ran an excursion train to York which started from two destinations. Five coaches were hauled by D1050 ‘Western Ruler’ from Plymouth to Newton Abbot, while seven coaches came up from Paignton to Newton Abbot (where the coaches combined) behind D1007 ‘Western Talisman’. From Newton Abbot to Bristol D1050 hauled the now 12 coach train to Bristol where D172 took over for the run to York via Cheltenham Spa and Birmingham. The return train from York was hauled by D60 taking the route from Birmingham via Leamington Spa, Oxford, Didcot North Junction, Swindon and Bath Spa to Bristol. Here D1050 again took over to Newton Abbot where the train split and it then took on the portion to Paignton. D812 ‘Royal Naval Reserve 185 – 1959’ took the five remaining coaches from Newton Abbot back to Plymouth.

Also 50 years ago this month on May 8, a serious crash occurred at Chester station (then known as General) at 20:50hrs. The 19:31 freight train from Ellesmere Port to Mold Junction, consisting of 38 wagons hauled by a Class 24 D5028 had brake failure on the 1 in 100 falling gradient into the station and passed a red signal and went through a set of points. These were set for bay platform Number 11, where an empty DMU was standing. The first five wagons contained kerosene, petrol and gas oil, and unable to stop, the driver jumped out of the cab before his train hit the DMU destroying its first coach with the second coming off its bogies and being thrown onto the platform. A major fire broke out when the burst fuel tanks of the freight train ignited, and this was not extinguished until 00:20 the following day. Several people were rescued by the fire brigade after a wall of a refreshment room collapsed, but there were no serious casualties following the crash. The cause was recorded as brake failure, as the guard had forgotten to connect the vacuum brake pipes following shunting at Helsby, and the driver had also failed to carry out a brake test before departure from there. The DMU and D5028 suffered irreparable damage, and the latter was officially withdrawn from stock on June 4, being broken up at Crewe Works in September that year.

More News

A further lunchtime film show will be taking place at the Bath Museum of Work on Wednesday May 11. There will be two films – ‘Sunday by The Sea’ and ‘Holiday’ (1953 and 1957). These two British Transport Films show trips to the seaside hauled by steam. The show starts at 1p.m. (lunch from 12.30 pm).  See the Museum’s website for full details.

As mentioned in previous newsletters, the Highways Agency have infilled a former railway bridge at Great Musgrave in Cumbria using stone infill and concrete, and there has been national outrage at their actions. The Highways Agency is now being made to apply to Eden District Council for retrospective planning permission, and this is due to be heard in May.  The HRE Group are campaigning against the work by Highways England, and in general, the infilling or demolishing of other old railway structures. They are asking people to write to oppose the planning application by HE for the Great Musgrave Bridge and objections can be made up to May 4. If you would like to put in an objection, the Planning Number is Application 22/2022 for the Bridge on the B2695 at Great Musgrave. Objections can be sent to customer.services@eden.gov.uk or posted to The Planning Department, Eden District Council, The Town Hall, Corney Square, Penrith. Cumbria. CA11 7QF or via their website under planning. You must quote the application number and include your name, address and email if you have one. You do not have to be a resident of Cumbria to make an objection. If Highway England’s application is refused, they could be made to remove all the infill and restore the area to its original condition. You can see a news item about the infill at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-57927098

The East Somerset Railway will be staging a diesel day on May 25 using a Diesel Multiple Unit. This will run at 11am, 12.30pm, 2pm & 3.30pm. Standard ticket prices apply and you will be able to ride the train as many times as you like, look around our Engine Shed and Workshop. The shop and the Whistlestop Café will be open.

On May 30, the S & DRHT at Midsomer Norton are also holding a DMU day using their newly arrived two car set. Trains depart at 11:00, 11:35, 12:10, 12:45, 13:20, 14:15, 14:50, 15:25 and 16:00. The all-day rover ticket allows you to ride as many time as you wish. Further details are available at https://sdjr.co.uk/events/view/dmu-services

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A DAY OUT WITH 30075 by Bob Bunyar

In August 2010, I had the pleasure to be the owner’s representative for a day on the footplate of locomotive 30075 which was visiting the then Dartmoor Railway at Okehampton on a six weeks loan period.

30075 was built in Yugoslavia in 1960 to the design of the Unites States Army Transportation Corps (USATC) and worked at the Store Steel Works, along with other members of its type. They were known at Class 62’s. It was withdrawn in 1990 after only 25,000 miles service, and purchased by a group which became known as ‘Project 62’ who exported it to the United Kingdom. I am a shareholder/owner of 30075, which was initially brought to the Swanage Railway to be returned to working order. It is very similar to the USA tanks purchased by the Southern Railway after WWII which later went into BR(S) ownership.  30075 was given the next BR number of the class with a second loco purchased by the Group being numbered 30076.

I decided to travel to Okehampton by public transport, going by train to Exeter, and then by bus to Okehampton with a walk up the hill to the reach the station arriving mid-morning. 30075 was already working the first service of the day when I arrived, and was south of Okehampton on the stretch to Sampford Courtney.  I made myself known to Graham Ipsom, the Responsible Officer for the day, who welcomed me and introduced me to other Dartmoor Railway staff.

30075 duly arrived back into Okehampton station pushing its train, which was an interesting formation, of a DMU centre car and an LMS goods brakevan. Shades of the ‘Titfield Thunderbolt’ maybe? I joined the footplate and was introduced to driver Gerald Smallacombe and fireman Trevor Knight, both of whom were ex-BR steam crew. Gerald had been based at Okehampton and had worked on shunting duties at Meldon Quarry on USA Tank DS234   (30062 - withdrawn from capital stock 01/12/62), while Trevor had been based at Bude shed. Both were volunteer loco crew on the Bodmin & Wenford Railway, and I also knew Trevor, as he was also a fellow volunteer on the Swanage Railway. Sadly both have now passed away.

The next train was the 12 noon service up to Meldon and we pushed our train at a leisurely pace up the line past cyclists and walkers on the ‘Granite Way’, their path fenced off from the now single line railway, but built on the original double track formation. A few minutes stop was taken at Meldon Halt before we trundled back down to Okehampton station for a lunch break.

Here I made the mistake of tucking into an excellent ‘all day’ main line breakfast with toast and several mugs of tea, not realising what was to come!

At 2pm we were off again, this time heading along the old Southern main line in the Exeter direction. Unlike heritage railways, the Dartmoor Railway was not restricted to a 25mph speed limit and it is all downhill to Sampford Courtney and Gerald just let 30075 go. Both he and Trevor were sat down, whilst I was hanging on for dear life, as the short wheelbase 0-6-0 bucked, banged and oscillated over the rail joints reaching speeds up to 45mph, before Gerald checked the speed with short brake applications. I was quite relieved when the station came into view, and we came to a stop. I felt as if I had been at sea, in a small boat, in a force 9 gale!

However, there was no time to recover as we were soon heading back up to Okehampton and Gerald kindly offered me a turn on the regulator, as we headed back. I was maintaining a steady 30mph uphill, with Trevor now having to do some firing. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would have the opportunity to be on the footplate of a steam locomotive on the former Southern main line, let alone driving it, and the feeling of nausea in my stomach soon passed. All too soon we were back at Okehampton and I had to leave the footplate and bid my farewell.

The Dartmoor Railway enjoyed 30075’s visit, and wanted to have it back again, but alas, that can’t happen now. The railway sadly went into administration and closed, and of course it was taken back into Network Rail ownership and has now re-opened as The Dartmoor Line. Today it provides a service to Exeter, which is of course far more beneficial to the people of Okehampton and North Devon & Cornwall, but I shall always have fond memories of my day spent on the footplate of 30075, the friendliness of the staff, and the big breakfast in the buffet!

Next month we have an article by Ken Ayers, but if you also have a story to share, please send it in, we’d be only too pleased to include it in the Newsletter.

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

The Jubilee Class steam locomotives were designed by William Stanier for main line passenger work, with 191 locomotives being built between 1934 and 1936 for use on The London Midland and Scottish Railway. (LMS). 45637 ‘Windward Islands’ was the first to be scrapped in 1952 due to accident damage, with the remainder of the class being withdrawn between 1960 and 1967. The last engine to be withdrawn was No. 45562 Alberta from Leeds Holbeck shed (20A) on November 4, 1967. Four members of the class are preserved, these being:-  45593 ‘Kolhapur’, 45596 ‘Bahamas’ 45690 ‘Leander’ and 45699 ‘Galatea’. For this month’s competition you have to find the name of one of the class members. As usual, take the first letter of the answer (unless otherwise specified) and re-arrange the letters to find the answer. No prizes are given, it’s just for fun. The answer will be given next month.

• The name carried by Class 50 – 50025 (originally D425)

• Once the junction station for the Lyme Regis Branch on the Salisbury to Exeter line

• This South Wales shed had the code 87E between 1948 and 1969

• The surname of the designer of the LSWR T3 Class

• West Country Class 34006 carried this name

• The headquarters of the now Nottingham Heritage Railway, formerly Great Central Railway Northern

• The device used to face locomotives the other way round, usually steam

• The station between Montpelier and Clifton Down on the Severn Beach line

• The first station after Paignton on the Torbay & Dartmouth Railway with Sands in its title

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