BATH RAILWAY SOCIETY

President: Pete Waterman OBE DL

Chairman: John Froud    

 Email: bathrailwaysociety@gmail.com

OCTOBER  2023  NEWSLETTER

Dear Member,

SOCIETY MATTERS

We started our meetings of the 2023/4 season with guest speaker Colin Brading. He gave us a most interesting presentation entitled ‘Confessions of a Narrow-Minded Enthusiast (Miniature railways)’. Colin took us around the country showing miniature railways from 7¼” gauge upwards, going back to the early days and a number that don’t now exist. We finished the evening presentation looking at his favourite railway, the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway. It was certainly a very warm evening weather wise, but hopefully those of you present enjoyed this slightly different railway related subject.

For our next meeting on Thursday October 5, we will be taken on a journey, starting at Swindon and travelling to Saigon. Presented by guest speaker John Sreeves, this is believed to be the furthest distance one can go from the UK by continuous railway. The journey used 43 trains on three gauges to pass through 12 countries, 10 capital cities and 7 time zones. Estimated distance 9000 miles. The talk provides an insight into route choices, planning, diverse infrastructure and railway operations, with a sprinkling of history and politics!" Doors open at the Bath Museum of Work at 7pm for a 7.30pm.

Just a reminder, if you have not already done so, membership fees are now due for renewal. It is £22.00 for normal membership with a guest fee of £5. If you choose to receive the newsletter by post instead of electronically, then there is an additional £10 to pay to cover postal and printing costs, making that membership £32. It can be paid by bank transfer to Acc.  No. 02294977 Sort Code 30 – 94 – 80 Bath Railway Society, and please state in the reference box your surname. Cheques can be accepted at the meeting, but a bank transfer is preferred.

In the competition in the last issue of the newsletter you had to find the name of the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway steam locomotive. This was called ‘Samson’.

We thank Graham Vincent for providing CD copies of Footplate Rides in the 1960’s. If you would like a copy please contact Graham on 01225-571198, text 07949-191350 or email grathetrain@gmail.com He will be happy to do you a copy.

At our June meeting Tom Rogers, Chris Alden, Brian Holder and Rob Irving joined the Society. We welcome them as members. 

We were sorry to hear that longstanding member David Macey has passed away. Dave started a railway career as a cleaner at Bristol Barrow Road shed in 1961 and subsequently was promoted to Fireman and transferred to Bath Road in December 1964. When the future for ‘second men’ didn't look good, he decided to leave the railway and later started work at Fry’s chocolate factory in Keynsham, becoming a shunter on their railway system. When the Driver there retired he became their Driver, which saw him keep contact with ex colleague's from his BR days when they came in with the local trip working, Dave continued driving until they closed the railway system down, and he then worked in the factory until he retired. He never lost his love of railways went to all the West Somerset Railway Gala's, and also visited other Heritage railways. Being a former Barrow Road man his preference was for ex Midland/LMS locos, anything else was second best! Dave looked forward to our BRS meetings and always enjoyed them, but due to his ill health, he was unable to attend the last several meetings. He died at home on August 1.  Our thanks to his Best Friend, Bruce Parkin, for providing this information about Dave.

NEWS ITEMS

The Heart of Wessex Line will be closed south of Yeovil Pen Mill from October 16 to 20. This is for track replacement works between Maiden Newton and Chetnole, together with other works. Buses will be replacing trains between Yeovil and Weymouth during this period.

Pensford Viaduct, on the former GWR Bristol to Frome line via Radstock, celebrated its 150th birthday last month. The 330 yard long viaduct was Grade II listed in 1984 and is now under the responsibility of the Highway’s Agency Historical Railway Estate. They have been carrying out maintenance work on the structure from April through to September this year. Pensford station and the line closed to passenger traffic on November 2, 1959. The line from Marsh Junction (Bristol) continued to carry coal traffic from Radstock, and the occasional rail tour, until an embankment near Pensford was washed out in the summer of 1968 after very heavy rain fall. It was considered uneconomic to reinstate it and coal traffic which then ran from Radstock via Frome.

With the use of GWR Castle Class sets and the Cross-Country High Speed Trains (HSTs) in the southwest gradually drawing to a close, HST vehicles are now making their way from mainline use into preservation. One such home for retired HSTs is the Colne Valley Railway and this is the base of the 125 Heritage group www.125heritage.co.uk It currently has 5 HST power cars in residence. These include three former GWR power cars, 43071, 43023 and 43165. The last Cross Country set ran on normal passenger service on September 18, and its very final working was a special from Leeds to Swanage on September 26, with a ‘fill in’ run from Swanage to Bournemouth and return.

LOOKING BACK

50 years ago on October 16, 1973, the last train load of coal was taken out from Writhlington Colliery near Radstock,  using the short  remaining section of the Somerset & Dorset line down to Radstock, that was still in place after the S & D closed in March 1966. The colliery had actually closed on September, 28, 1973, along with the nearby Kilmersdon Colliery, bringing an end to coal production in the Somerset coal field.

Ten years later on October 8, 1983, the Monmouthshire Railway Society ran ‘The Coed Bach Connection’ a rail tour that commenced at Newport formed of a 3 car Class 117 DMU (Set L416) comprising  51353 + 59505 + 51395. The train ran through to Cardiff and then covered freight and loop lines in the South Wales area including such destinations as Aberthaw Power Station loop,  Clydach On Tawe, Cynheidre Colliery, Llanelli  to  Kidwelly &  Coed Bach Washery, returning to Newport via Jersey Marine North Junc., Court Sart Junc - Port Talbot - Bridgend  (via Miskin) and Cardiff Central. The train had departed from Newport on time at 0940 and returned there at 1919, six minutes ahead of its book time. This DMU set was used on numerous rail tours and ended its service days in Scotland. 51353 still survives and is used by a community group on the Wensleydale Railway where it can be moved to stations along the Railway as required. The fate of 59505 and 51395 cannot be confirmed. The latter was noted as stored at Butterly and then Lydney Town in a derelict condition.

MORE NEWS ITEMS

The Severn Valley Railway has been selected as a finalist in the ‘Visit Worcestershire 2023/24’ awards for excellence in tourism. The judges have shortlisted the Railway as a finalist in the large visitor attraction category with the final stages of judging taking place during an unannounced mystery visit. The winner will be revealed at a ceremony in March 2024. The SVR has also made two new announcements for next year. An unusually early event for 2024, will be a Winter Steam Gala on Saturday January 6 and Sunday 7. At least five steam locomotives are planned to operate a busy timetable on both days of the event.  Also, for its Spring Gala next year, which takes place between April 18 and 21, No 72 ‘Fenchurch’, the Class A1 Terrier 0-6-0T from the Bluebell Railway, has been named as the first of the guest line-up of locomotives.

On October 28, the Bristol & Somerset Group HRCA will hold the 13th Vintage Hornby Model Train Show at the King Alfred School (B Block), Burnham Road, Highbridge, Somerset. There will be 10 layouts, with an emphasis on Hornby, both O and OO-Gauge, and six trade stand in attendance.

MEMBERS CONTRIBUTION

“The Ob” by David Read

8 September 1962 is a date that will live long in the memory of any railway enthusiast who has an interest in the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway as being the sad occasion when the last Pines Express ran over the route hauled of course by Swindon’s finest 92220 Evening Star both northbound from Bournemouth and southbound from Bath Green Park.

I remember it like yesterday, we boys were banished from our usual spotting place, the tump opposite the S and D shed throat to the road below which somewhat spoiled the view. The detonators placed on the track made quite a din. I have long forgotten of course the locomotive that took the train on to Manchester, but I do recall a dirty Peak brought the southbound train in from Manchester. Do I recall the number, no: do I care, no!

4 September 1962 is a far less memorable date, but it was significant for me and maybe about another 90 boys as it was our first day at the City of Bath Boys School, the educational establishment that morphed long ago into Beechen Cliff School. Although we did not know it at the time there were enough of us lads interested in train spotting, or railways more generally, to form what became known as the Observatory, or the “Ob” for short.

But back to that first day: lunch (although that is giving it a status that it barely deserved) was served sometime around noon and after 30 minutes or so of feasting or squashing the lumps in the cold custard we burst out only to view, on the horizon, a puff of steam: nothing less that the 12:35 down goods. The puff of steam moved slowly towards us and we quickly realised this could be viewed from the far side of the first XV rugby pitch. Within a few days the tenuous first steps of the Ob were formed.

It did not take long for us to realise that a better viewing point was in Greenaway Lane, directly opposite steps leading down from the grounds of the school and it was there that we gathered virtually every day to witness, the down goods mentioned above, normally 7F hauled, but not always with a banker, the 1:10 down semi fast, the 1:40 up semi fast and the 1:50 up stopper. Almost inevitably these were Standard Class 5 or Standard Class 4 4-6-0 hauled: only towards the end did the Standard 2-6-0 and the 2-6-4 tanks put in an appearance.

The 1:50 was a bit of a challenge as it was about the same time as the bell would toll for the afternoon’s learning delights: what to do if it was late: risk the wrath of Mr Kirkpatrick, the maths master and his dab “Old Faithful” or miss the train which was very unlikely to provide a cop in any event. We generally took the latter option.

We did not actually seek permission from the owner of the property whose entrance gate we frequented, though on occasion we would be invited down to her decking which gave us a much better and closer view of the line through Lyncombe Vale, but this seemed to vex an old lady neighbour who we brazenly referred as the “old bag” though none of us were brave (or foolish) enough to call her this to her face.

The Ob’s leader was one Alan and we had our own set of rules, which were probably not much different from the Ian Allen train spotters club; basically not to make a nuisance of ourselves but equally to take every opportunity to cab any locos we could. In fact we did manage to make friends with Dave Massey who I think was acting shed master in the latter years and who would sometimes invite us into his lair on cold winter afternoons.

We did all take turns in being the leader during a couple of weeks one term, each for a day. My turn was the third and I had the very bright idea of lining up all the participants against an adjacent wall so that I could determine the best way for us to be set up to ensure the best possible view. This idea was then copied by all subsequent leaders. I was marked down because it was foggy and so we did not have a good view. An early experience, coupled with being dropped from the first XV before the annual grudge match against Oldfield Boys on the eve of the game that life is not always fair.

It was standard (no pun intended) to select a favourite locomotive and mine was 73047: one lunchtime we ventured down into Watery Bottom in Lyncombe Vale and climbed up to be level with the track bed, I had my Brownie 127 to hand to record the 1:10 down and lo and behold the train appeared behind that very standard. I have the photo to this day which thanks to the wonders of modern technology is far better than the original!!!

As well as school lunchtimes members of the Ob would gather most weekends and holidays at the Bath sheds. There was always some action taking place, a Jinty or a Pannier shunting the endless wagons: the arrival and departure of goods and passenger trains and the odd light engine movements. I think I witnessed almost the last movements of 7F 53807 as she was reversing to the scrap line in Tommy’s siding propelling a dead 8F. I may be mistaken but if makes a good story. A footplate ride on the last surviving pannier (?3642) at 82F late in 1965 will always bring fond memories.

As well as the local environs we also tried a few excursions: the two Bournemouth stations were visited on two occasions as a group as well as Templecombe, The lure of course was the Bullied Light Pacifics, (the Spam Cans, the rebuilds) and the Merchant Navy’s. And the extraordinary performance of the local trains and the arrangements to bring them to Templecombe platform 3 and to enable them to depart also provided great entertainment.

We would generally travel on the 9:50 down and the 3:40 off Bournemouth and mostly these ran to time. This was important as our parents were not always completely in the know as to where we were. I would leave home with a vague “see you later I am off to Green Park” without necessarily specifying that I was not staying there all day but venturing further afield

This vagueness worked fine until we decided to go to Burnham on Sea to plant an S and D flag (homemade) on the beach. Change at Evercreech Junction for Highbridge and then a walk along the old track bed. As an aside how different the scenery was on the levels compared with the Mendips. Anyway the plan was to catch the stopper back to Bath from Evercreech: it arrived late behind a forlorn looking Fowler 4F, she was clearly ailing. Off we went up the southern slopes but not very far until the brakes came on and we stopped for a blow up. Eventually we set off again, not very far until the brakes came on again as another blow up was required. 2 hours late into Bath the excuse “sorry mum I forgot my watch and did not realise the time” was not considered satisfactory as an excuse.

Various members of the Ob also sorted out independent trips where one or two of us would venture away from the S and D and visit other destinations. Bristol Temple Meads and the three sheds were like magnets to iron filings though I never managed to bunk Bath Road or Barrow Road: St Philips Marsh seemed reasonably accessible on Sundays but then a dad was required to provide a lift and accept his son and mates were going to be trespassing on railway property.

I recall trips to Gloucester and a procession of steam hauled summer Saturday extras as one of the highlights: a B1, a 9F and a black 5 appearing in quick succession all heading north: the freights heading to South Wales and a recently out shopped Jubilee on the down Devonian. Also Salisbury, where we had our first proper siting of a Q1, ugly but a runner: for any golfers amongst the members, this would now be called a “Sally Gunnell”. Newport, Cardiff and of course Barry scrapyard were visited as well. I took a picture of the two dead Kings, but the lens fell out of my camera on the way back to the station at Barry and that was that. Who would have thought 6023 (especially) and 6024 would still be with us

Right at the end of the normal S and D timetable Alan and I went to Bournemouth Central on New Year’s 1965: Central was alive with steam: the state of 76026 on the home bound train summed up the state of the S and D: sad.

Not all trips were successful. A very dull and uninteresting day was spent at Mangotsfield and Andy and I took a trip to Beaulieu Road in the New Forest in August 1967 in the hope of seeing some Southern steam. We were about six weeks too late, though I am sure I saw a Standard Class 4 on a breakdown train stabled in a siding just west of Southampton Central.

So who do I remember from those days: Alan Webber, Andy Serjeant, David Russe, David Smith, Colin Sherrif, David Wood and a few more whose names I have forgotten? So anyone who wants to wallow in nostalgia from the Ob days, feel free to e mail me d.davidreed70@googlemail.com

We thank David for his article, which certainly brought back memories of the S & D! We do need more stories for future newsletters, so if you have one to tell, anything railway related, please do send it in so it can be shared with members. We look forward to hearing from you.

MORE NEWS ITEMS

LSWR T3 No. 563 is due to haul its first trains on the Swanage Railway on October 7 & 8 for private use only for invited guests. It is then scheduled to be in use for the public on October 21-29 Inclusive, (subject to availability). Bookings are now being taken for these trains, see the website for details.

The Westonzoyland Pumping Station Museum near Bridgwater is extending its railway. The track bed is being prepared to extend the 2’ gauge line to the far end of the museum site and the work will involve creating a level crossing and the provision of two points. One will serve a wagon storage siding while the other will be a siding for an unloading/loading area for visiting stock. The Museum will be holding an ‘End of Year Steam Up’ on  October 1, from 11:00 to 1600, and this will be their last steam up of the year with  lots of running stationary steam engines & pumps, belt driven water pumps and a water wheel display. The narrow gauge railway will be giving rides.

The Memoirs of our former member, the late Terry Nicholls, have been published by Transport Treasury. 'Saltash Auto to the High Speed Train' is 108 sides of unashamed nostalgia and it includes colour slides from his collection. Terry was a well know speaker having a great knowledge of railway workings. He started his railway career in Plymouth and eventually moved to Bristol to a position in control. The book is available from Transport Treasury and costs £24.99 for a printed copy or £23.50 for a digital version. Go to https://ttpublishing.co.uk/product/saltash-auto-to-the-high-speed-train  for further details. Terry passed away in August 2021.

The group Greenways and Cycle Routes, in conjunction with Mendip and Somerset Councils, have announced that the trackbed of the S and D between Shepton Mallet and Emborough will be turned into a cycling/walking route starting at Ham Wood viaduct through Windsor Hill Tunnel, passing over Ham Lane and Forum Lane then over Bath Road Viaduct before ending the journey at the A37 Kilver Street Hill. Not sure of the opening date for this at the moment. There are also further extensions to the Strawberry line under way at Easton and Dulcote.

Class 31 - 31 270 has arrived at the Didcot Railway Centre from the Colne Valley Railway. Privately owned and in full working order, it is in Regional Railways livery, and likely to be a long-term resident at Didcot. Class 14 - D 9516 has left for the Epping and Ongar Railway with 4952 Pitchford Hall visiting in return. A new addition to the centre’s Signalling Centre is the 1943 Launceston signal box illuminated diagram which is connected to a simulator showing a range of train movements. During October there will be ‘steam days’ on October 21, 22, 25, 28 & 29. Check the website for details. We hope to organise a BRS visit to Didcot next year.

COMPETITION   

The LNER A4 Class were introduced in 1935, being designed by Sir Nigel Gresley for use on the East Coast main line. Thirty five members of the class were built, and the last of these was withdrawn in 1966. 2509 (60014) ‘Silver Fox’ twice achieved a speed of 112.5mph, but it was of course 4468 (60022) ‘Mallard’ that still holds the world speed record for steam at 126mph, recorded on July 3, 1938. Of the class, six are preserved with two of these being overseas. Only one is currently operational and that is 60007 ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’, which can still be seen on the mail line. 60019 ‘Bittern’ is due to be moved to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway next year for a full overhaul to main line standard. In this month’s competition you have to find the name of one of the A4’s but answering the questions and taking the first letter of each answer, then un-scrambling them to find the name. There are no prizes, it’s for fun!

• Kings  ? Station, a halt on the Barnstaple (Tarka) Line

• The name of a military railway in Hampshire that had its northern terminus at Borden

• A heritage railway that has an interchange with main line services at Duffield station

• Name of West Country Class 34017

• Name of the main line terminus in the film The Titfield Thunderbolt

• A ‘platform’ (station) on the Tetbury branch between Jackament's Bridge & Church’s Hill Halts

MORE NEWS ITEMS

The 149-year-old London and South Western Railway 2-4-0T No. 30587, is returning to the Bodmin Railway from the National Railway Museum, where it is currently exhibited. It will move from York to Bodmin on an initial 3-year static loan agreement, which may lead to an overhaul and running agreement in the future. 30587 will be displayed in Platform 2 at Bodmin station on selected days over the next 3 years and it will be housed in the running shed the rest of the time. The railway is looking to raise £7,000 to transport the loco from Yorkshire to Cornwall, and donations can be made at https://www.paypal.com/donate?campaign_id=8K42YEL9JHFWW

The North Dorset Railway at Shillingstone Station are currently restoring their 20T BR brake van at an estimated cost of £12,000. Although the chassis and running gear were in good condition, the wooden cabin had been previously repaired to a poor standard and was structurally unsound.  It was therefore decided to take this down and rebuild with new wood, whilst saving all the metal components for restoration. The vacuum braking system will also be overhauled, and it is hoped when restoration is completed, brake van rides will be possible when the running of trains commences.

Two further ASLEF strike dates have been announced for Saturday September 30 & Wednesday October 4 at train operators across England, including GWR. ASLEF has also announced a ban on overtime working on Friday September 29, and from Monday to Friday October 2 to 6. Do check before travelling, and for GWR services go to www.gwr.com/check

The Avon Valley Railway has introduced a new ‘local’ membership scheme for anyone living within a three mile radius of Bitton station. For £10 per year it gives 50% of standard train travel, 10% of buffet purchases and more! The railway also has its Christmas Menu available now running between November 25 and December 22. A two course meal is £27.50 and a three course £29.95. For full details of the meals, go to the AVR website. These are likely to sell out quickly.  If you qualify for the ‘local’ membership go to: www.avrht.org/localmembership  for more details.

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