BATH RAILWAY SOCIETY

President: Pete Waterman OBE DL

Chairman: John Froud    

 Email: bathrailwaysociety@gmail.com

MAY  2024  NEWSLETTER

Dear Member,

SOCIETY MATTERS

We welcomed back Simon Foote at our April meeting, and he provided a most entertaining  evening of 'BR Steam Nostalgia: Sights and Sounds covering 50 years’. Simon adds his sound recordings to his photographs, some of which go way back to the 1960’s, giving a very atmospheric and unique show.

The next meeting will be on Thursday May 2, when our Secretary, Mike Beale, presents ‘Over the Mendips 1874-2024: 150th anniversary of S&DJR Bath extension’ As usual, the doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start at the Bath Museum of Work. A must for S & D fans!

Our June meeting on Thursday 6 will be our AGM, which as usual we will hope to keep as short as possible. This starts at 7.30pm at the Bath Museum of Work. There will be changes to the committee with two vacancies arising which we do need to fill. If you are interested in joining the committee and would like further information, please do speak to John Froud, contact details above. It is certainly not onerous or time consuming and only involves a couple of meetings per year, usually via zoom. Also, if you wish to raise any questions or issues at the meeting, please do send them in advance either by email or letter, again to the contact details above.

We are also looking for volunteers to help with the catering on the night of the meetings. This is not a committee position and will only involve helping to serve the teas/coffee and tidy up etc. Again, please contact John Froud if you are interested in helping.

Those of you going on the visit to the Didcot Railway Centre on June 12 will be receiving communication about the visit separately. Bookings for this closed on April 20.

In the last Newsletter, the competition was a brain teaser relating to the Somerset & Dorset Railway. Asking how many stations there were on the whole of the S & D system which had their name starting with the letter ‘S’. The answer was seven. These were: Shoscombe & Single Hill, Shepton Mallet, Stalbridge, Sturminster Newton, Shillingstone, Spetisbury and Shapwick.

NEWS ITEMS

GWR are going to re-introduce Bristol to Oxford through services from September to December this year. These will only run at weekends as there is not enough stock at present to run weekdays services. One of the benefits of these services will be for the Bath Christmas Market boosting capacity and giving a direct service from/to Oxford.

Oxford City Council have commissioned a further study into reopening the Cowley branch for passenger services. This is independent of an engineering study being undertaken by Network Rail.

The annual Swanage Railway Diesel Gala will take place between May 10 to 12 incl. Visiting locomotives are a GB Railfreight Class 69, (number TBC), Class 24, D5054 "Phil Southern", Class 52, D1015 "Western Champion", Colas Locomotive (Class 37 requested), Class 20’s, 20 302 & 20 311, and Class 50, 50 021  (All are subject to availability). On Thursday May 9, there will be a service using one of the visiting diesels operating a service alongside the normal steam service between Swanage and Norden. This is likely to be D1015. On both Friday and Saturday evenings there will be a “Beerex” train in operation to a Beer Festival at Corfe Castle. Swanage’s home fleet Class 33’s will also be in operation with D6515 (33012) working a rail tour to/from the event from Eastleigh to Swanage via Guildford and London Waterloo, with the return tour running from Swanage to Eastleigh via London Waterloo. This is bookable via the Branch Line Society, and it is using the London Underground 4TC set plus a GB RailFreight Class 69. 

The Gartell Railway are due to be holding open days on each of the bank holiday Mondays this month. Situated just south of Templecombe at Yenston, the narrow-gauge railway runs over part of the former Somerset & Dorset Railway track bed. The railway operates an intensive train service on open days with trains departing from their main station at Common Lane every 25 minutes between 10:30 and 15.55. Do check before travelling to ensure the railway is operating. http://newglr.weebly.com

The Severn Valley Railway is holding a Diesel Gala this month from May 16 to 19 incl. Visiting locomotives are to include 37 409, a Class 59 and more! Details www.svr.co.uk

The Cotswold Festival of Steam will be taking place at the Gloucester & Warwickshire Railway from May 25 to 27 incl. In addition to their home fleet, visiting locomotives, subject to availability, will include 6880 Betton Grange, 2999 Lady of Legend and Mogul 9351. The locomotive & carriages sheds will be open, and a goods train will be running. Narrow gauge steam rides will be in operation and traction engines on display. There will be a free bus link from/to Cheltenham Spa station.

The Bristol Model Railway Exhibition will be taking place at the Thornbury Leisure Centre, Alveston Hill, Thornbury, Bristol, BS35 3JB between May 3 and 5 incl. (Further details not known). On Saturday 18 and Sunday 19, the Salisbury Model Railway Exhibition 2024 takes place at the Michael Herbert Hall, South Street, Wilton, Wiltshire SP2 0JS, open 10.30am to 4,30pm, with 11 layouts and 2 trade stands.

LOOKING BACK

60 years ago this month, on May 16, 1964, the Oxford University Railway Society and the Stephenson Locomotive Society (Oxford Branch) ran a joint rail tour. This was the ‘Castle Farewell Tour’ featuring 5054 'Earl of Ducie' with departure from London Paddington one minute late at 1301. The special ran via Reading - Didcot avoiding line - Oxford - Worcester Shrub Hill - Ledbury and Hereford, arriving at 1620. After a quick turn round and departing at 1649, 5054 then took a route back via Pontypool Road - Maindee North Jn - Maindee East Jn - Severn Tunnel Junction - Badminton – Swindon and Reading to London Paddington. The fastest part of the whole day was when 94mph was reached running down past Hullavington on the return run.

On May 1, 1994, 30 years ago, Pathfinder Tours ran The Plym Exe-Cursioner rail tour, which started at Manchester Piccadilly behind 56 125. This ran via Stockport - Stoke-on-Trent - Stafford - Bescot - Birmingham New Street - Bromsgrove - Cheltenham - Bristol Parkway - Dr Days Jn - Bath and Westbury where a locomotive change took place. Here 59 004 took over running via Castle Cary - Taunton - Exeter St Davids to Laira Jn - Laira depot to Mount Gould Jn. 08 648 was then used to haul the formation of 11 coaches + 59 back into Plymouth station. 59 004 hauled the return train via Taunton & Bridgwater to Bristol Temple Meads, 56 125 again took over back to Manchester via the same route as used on the outward journey.

MEMBERS CONTRIBUTION

Rail Rover 1965 by Neil Butters

One of my most interesting railway weeks was towards the end of July 1965, when I bought a "WEST OF ENGLAND RAILROVER TICKET SECOND CLASS". This offered "SEVEN DAYS UNLIMITED TRAVEL on BRITISH RAILWAYS in CORNWALL, DEVON & SOMERSET on THE SOUTHERN & WESTERN REGIONS". Cost: £5.10s 0d. On the back, British Railways wished me pleasant journeys and interesting visits!

My penultimate day found me at Evercreech Junction. I made my way to the engine and asked whether there was any chance of a cab ride on my last day - the 29th - through the tunnels to Green Park.  Somewhat to my pleasant surprise, the answer was positive! I was however advised to present myself at Evercreech New in order to reduce the chances of being caught by someone in authority.

Off we set, at 21.23. Up through Wellow and Midford and on into Combe Down and Devonshire Tunnels. Dark whether in or out. A pretty fiery experience!

We pulled in on time at 22.23. I climbed down from the cab - and was almost immediately confronted by an official, who demanded to see my ticket... (He seemed less bothered by my travelling in the cab!) I showed him my Railrover. "Ah", he said. "I see it expires in half an hour's time! I'll take that!"

Oh no, I couldn't believe it. Fortunately, he can't have been all bad as he did in fact relent and I did get my ticket back. But it was a close-run thing..."

We thank Neil for his contribution. If you have a story to tell, please do send it in.

MORE NEWS ITEMS

A business case application has been submitted to the Department for Transport for approval for a new station at Wellington, Somerset. The DfT will be funding the station at a cost of £15m. A planning application has also been submitted to the council for the project, and a decision is expected later this year. The project to re-open Wellington Station is part of a wider project to create a Devon and Somerset Metro network. This includes reopening a station at  Cullompton in Devon as well. The original station at Wellington closed in 1964.

Network Rail (Wales & West) has announced that in its next five-year expenditure plan it intends to replace the South Junction at Westbury (Wilts) and re-signal Plymouth. Bristol Temple Meads and Exeter St Davids stations will see major building works undertaken, while in the Severn Tunnel the overhead conductor will be replaced. Other works on the GW main line will be undertaken in preparation for HS2, and the ETCS (signalling system) on the Cambrian Line will be renewed.

National Railway Museum owned Class T9 30120 (LSWR 120) is moving to the Flour Mill workshops in Gloucestershire for assessment. This is to see if 30120 can be returned to working order. It is currently under the custody of the Swanage Railway, and the group that restored LSWR T3 563, have agreed with the NRM to fund restoration of 30120 if it is feasible to do so.

At Shillingstone station, North Dorset Railway, 0-6-0 Tank 30075 will be undertaking ‘in frames’ steam tests very shortly. This will be the first steam locomotive seen ‘in steam’ at the station since the last train ran through the station on March 6, 1966. This was 34057 Biggin Hill hauling 75072 and 75073 southbound. 34057 had worked a LCGB special down from Bath Green Park with 34013 Okehampton to Templecombe, and it then hauled the two dead locomotives from Templecombe shed to Blandford Forum. They were destined to go to Wards scrapyard at Ringwood where they were cut up.

ASLEF has announced that its members will be on strike at GWR (as well CrossCountry, Chiltern Railways, West Midlands Trains and other operators) on Wednesday May 8. Many parts of the GWR network will have no service whatsoever, and where it is possible to run, services, these will start late and finish much earlier than usual. There may also be alterations to services on the evening of Tuesday May 7 and the morning of Thursday May 9. It is advised that if you do wish to travel you should check first at www.gwr.com/check

A considerable amount of work has taken place over the winter/spring period at the Swindon & Cricklade Railway on Rail Bus W79978. Originally built in 1958, restoration work has involved re-panelling and fitting of new windows. Seat backs have been re-upholstered and refitted to their frames and have been completed in a 1950’s style with ashtrays fitted in their backs. Just one week after the last exterior panel was refitted, W79978 was in service at the S & CR on April 6 & 7 to commemorate 60 years since the closure of the Kemble to Tetbury and Cirencester branch lines. (This was mentioned in LOOKING BACK in the last Newsletter).

At the Severn Valley Railway’s workshops, the group behind the project of new build - 82045, The 82045 Steam Locomotive Trust, are making steady progress. The boiler is now on site and will be completed this year, and the remaining motion components are due to be delivered by the autumn. The locomotive’s frames are also expected to be ready to take the boiler by the end of the year. There is a possibility that 82045 could be steaming in 2025. As always, funds are needed to complete the work! See http://www.82045.org.uk for further information.

Engineering works will affect GWR services on Saturday May 4 and Sunday 5. when buses will replace trains between Reading and Guildford. A reduced, hourly train service will run between Guildford, Redhill and Gatwick Airport. On the Sunday, a few trains will only run between Guildford and Redhill. It is being advised that passengers should use other operators’ services to travel to / from Gatwick Airport. On Sunday May 12, Sunday - All day, services to and from London Paddington are subject to retiming for all or part of their journey. Some trains may depart EARLIER than usual. Most fast trains between London Paddington and Oxford will not call at Slough. Most trains between London Paddington and Swindon / Bristol Parkway / Cardiff Central will call additionally at Slough, Maidenhead and Twyford. Local stopping services between London Paddington, Reading and Didcot Parkway will run between Reading and Didcot Parkway only. Also on May 12, services in the Cheltenham area will be subject to alteration due to track renewal, and this will also affect services in the Cheltenham/Worcester area all the following weekend. Do check if you are planning on travelling on services in these areas.

GWR and Network Rail have announced improvements to services on the Newquay branch in Cornwall, which should be completed by the end of 2025. A second short’ platform will be brought back into use at Newquay, and a new additional passing loop is to be installed on the line. Once the infrastructure works are completed, GWR will increase services over the branch.

On May 10 & 11, Tysley based Vintage Trains will be running The Great Western Railway (1Z48) to Plymouth, returning to London Paddington. This will be using 7029 Clun Castle.  The outward run on Friday May 10 will see 7029 take the train from Birmingham Snow Hill and be routed via Oxford and Bristol to Plymouth. Returning on Saturday May 11: 7029 will haul the train throughout from Plymouth to Bristol and London Paddington. It will then return diesel hauled from London to Birmingham. This tour will mark 60 years since Clun Castle achieved the then-fastest-ever run from Plymouth to Bristol, when it will again run at speed over the line. (It is not known currently if the train is routed via Bath or the Badminton route either way).

On Friday May 3 and Saturday May 4, the Branch Line Society will be running tours, both of which will pass through Bath. On May 3, a Freightliner Class 59 will be passing through Bath Spa when it hauls a section of the tour from Bristol Parkway (Up Passenger Loop) to Westbury. (Passing time believed to be 1950?). The following day, May 4, a GBRf Class 59 together with Class 33 – 33012 and a GBRf Class 73/1 in top and tail mode will unusually run through the down Bath goods loop near Oldfield Park station en-route to Bristol and Exeter. The stock for this train is the London Transport Museum’s Class 438 – 4TC set. (This train is due to depart from Westbury at 1007).

A fully restored S&D Coach from 1886, belonging to the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust, has been delivered to Margate to become part of the new Hornby One Museum being developed there. The coach is on a short-term loan and will be on display as soon as the museum opens. Two other unrestored S&D coaches are now at Shillingstone and will be restored over the coming years to then form a three-coach set of original S&D passenger coaches. The second cylinder from 7F 53808, which was replaced in the major overhaul of some 20 years ago, was also delivered to the museum. This will be restored and will show visitors how this part of the locomotive works.

COMPETITION

As you will have seen earlier in the newsletter, D1015 Western Champion is visiting the Swanage Railway this month for their annual diesel gala. The Class 52 is main line registered and has been undertaking test runs and it will be hauling tours this year. In the competition this month, you have to find the name of another of the Class 52’s which is long gone. Just answer the questions and take the first letter of each answer and then un-scramble the letters to give you the name. It’s all for fun and no prizes are given. The answer will be announced in the next Newsletter.

• The name first carried by Class 47, D1666. It came from Norse mythology.

• First name of the train services that run through the Channel Tunnel between England and France, both passenger and motor vehicle services

• The name of a former three platform junction station on the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway and Witney Railway, north of Oxford, closed in 1962

• The name of the station on the former Gloucester (Over Junction) to Ledbury line between Dymock and Barber’s Road, closed to passenger traffic in July 1959

• The London Terminal station in the City of Westminster, the terminus of the Brighton Main Line and services to Gatwick Airport

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