BATH RAILWAY SOCIETY

President: Pete Waterman OBE DL

Chairman: John Froud    

 Email: bathrailwaysociety@gmail.com

FEBRUARY  2026  NEWSLETTER

Dear Member,

SOCIETY MATTERS

Our meeting numbers on January 8 were unfortunately affected by Storm Goretti, with a lower attendance than usual, but we thank those who weren’t deterred and attended the meeting. We also thank Mike Beale, who presented the photographs from The Langford Collection Part 1, Western Region 1956-65.  We were unable to hold a committee meeting that evening, and this has now been rearranged to take place before our February meeting (see below). If you do have anything you want to raise for discussion, you do now have more time to send in.

For our next meeting on Thursday February 5, we will be travelling over the River Severn Estuary and the Bristol Channel to hear about Industrial Steam in South Wales from the late 1950s to the 1970s. Peter will be using slides from the late John Wiltshire and Derek Chaplin’s collections. As usual doors open for 7pm for a 7.30pm start.

For the competition in the January Newsletter, you had to find the names of the fictitious stations in the 1958, railway training film called ‘Mishap’. The names were AYBURY which was in fact Cheltenham Leckhampton and Andoversford became BEATON. Both stations were on the former GWR Cheltenham to Kingham Line and also served by MSWJR services to Swindon and Andover. They both closed from October 15, 1962, when the line was completely closed. The M&SWJR line had closed to passenger traffic in September 1961.

We have received an enquiry regarding a Bristol (?) based photographer, David Hucknall. Does anyone know of this photographer or where his collection of railway photographs might be. If you can help with any information, please email us at bathrailwaysociety@gmail.com

A further request. We are still looking for members to give a short presentation, about 20 minutes in length, after the AGM in June and we are currently drawing up a list of presentations. Please do get in touch if you would like to put your name down or want any further information.

NEWS ITEMS

After years of avoiding the up-to-date requirements of Health & Safety, the Puffing Billy Railway in Australia has finally succumbed and has to follow modern day safety procedures. Orange high visibility (Hi Vis) vests now have to be worn in yards, workshops and for any workplace participants. Employees and volunteers on platforms, who are not performing customer-facing duties in heritage uniform such as Station Masters, Conductors, Passenger Guides, Train Crew are exempt from wearing Hi-Vis while performing those duties. However, they must wear Hi-Vis when working in yards or workshops, including pre- and post-service tasks. This has certainly caused an upset ‘down under’!

GWR has applied to increase the number of services it operates between Bristol Temple Meads and Oxford. Currently it runs two return services on Saturdays between the two cities, but it wants to increase the services to hourly, six days a week by 2027. The services would be formed using IET sets.

West Oxfordshire Council has launched a public consultation to determine what support there would be to reopen the line to Witney and Carterton. They cite the serious congestion and short comings of the A40 trunk road into Oxford as the main reason for rebuilding the line and consider that it would be viable. The line originally closed to passenger traffic from June 18, 1962, but remained open for goods until November 2, 1970. The Council is also safeguarding the route of the new proposed line. The very last passenger carrying train ran over the branch two days before its final closure when BR (WR) ran The Witney Wanderer rail tour on October 31, 1970, from London Paddington formed of a nine car DMU. This also visited the Abingdon branch and then the line to Morris Cowley from Kennington Junction, the latter also being scheduled to reopen.

LOOKING BACK

On February 2, 1916. One hundred and ten years ago, probably the only accident to take place on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway line, at Penistone occurred. At the end of the viaduct, which takes the tracks northward from the station, L & Y R 2-4-2T locomotive, No. 661, was standing when the embankment subsided below it. The collapse was slow and the crew jumped to safety before an arch of the viaduct fell down. The cause of the collapse was stated to be scouring of the foundations after prolonged heavy rain; the parapet of the viaduct had been observed to be cracked some days earlier.

Ten years later on February 18, 1926, a wagon examiner named Daniel Alway suffered a fatal accident in the sidings at Mangotsfield. Alway had been walking along the siding while a train was shunting, in the same direction as he was walking, when he lurched towards the train "as though his ankle had given out, or that he had trodden on loose metalling". Alway was hit by the train and run over by it. He was rushed to the Bristol Royal Infirmary, where his lower legs were amputated, however he became septic and died from heart failure eight days later.

On February 18, 2006, a mere 20 years ago, Past Time Rail ran the ‘Midlander’ rail tour from St Albans to Bristol Temple Meads. Class 67 - 67027 hauled the train from St Albans via MML to Derby, where it was replaced by steam, 6201 'Princess Elizabeth'. This then took the train forward to Gloucester where it was replaced by Class 66 - 66175 for the run down to Bristol TM via Parkway. Meanwhile, 6201 then ran "light" to Bristol via Chepstow & Severn Tunnel Junction to haul the return working from Bristol to Derby with 66175 being added on the rear at Gloucester to bank up the Lickey Incline. From Derby, 67012 returned the train to St Albans where arrival was at 2251, two minutes early!

MORE NEWS ITEMS

Meldon Aggregates Ltd., owners of Meldon Quarry in North Devon, have indicated that they propose to start up stone train operations again and hope to have them running once more in the autumn of 2026. The last use of rail to transport stone from the quarry was in 2011.

British-Thompson-Houston Type 1, D8233, has been lifted onto jacks at the East Lancashire Railways and the temporary DMU bogies it has been sitting on have been removed from it. With the underside of the loco now fully accessible and exposed, the final areas of the underbody prepping and painting, as well as the remaining air pipe system restoration will be completed. The actual locomotives bogies are very close to being completely restored and should be ready to move back under the locomotive in the first quarter of 2026. D8233 ran for less than 9 years on British Railways before being withdrawn in February 1969. It was later one of the four locos to avoid scrapping, being converted to a carriage heating locomotive ADB968001 spending a brief period at Bristol Bath Road Depot with sister locomotive ADB968000 (D8243). This saw longer service there but was subsequently scrapped. Surplus to requirements, D8233 (ADB968001), was stored in Healey Mills yard, before being saved for preservation in 1984, as the only remaining member of the class.

The North Dorset Railway at Shillingstone are now in consultation with Dorset Council about extending south of the station to create nearly 1.25 miles (2km) of track. The railway wants to extend to Holloway Lane at the southern end of Shillingstone village, and they are also talking with the council about acquiring some land for restoration and storage sheds. They are not able to extend any further north beyond their current limit towards Sturminster Newton, as the land owner of the track bed has refused permission and is not now negotiating with them.

The Didcot Railway Centre will be holding ‘Steam Days’ on February 14, 15, 18, 21 and 22. Trains will be operating on at least one of the Centre's two demonstration lines giving unlimited rides.

The Severn Valley Railway held a gala over the weekend of January 3 and 4, 2026, which featured GWR locomotives 1450, 7714, 7802, 4930, as well as BR 75069, LMS 13268, plus the Class 108 DMU. Almost 2,400, passengers were carried during the event beating the figures for a similar gala in 2025. The SVR will next be running services on February 14 and 15, 17 to 19 and 21 & 22.

Bristol’s Ashley Down station saw over 100,000 journeys in its first year of operation. A new station at Henbury will now be built on land just off Gainsborough Avenue and initially one train an hour will run from Henbury into Bristol Temple Meads with average journey times of 26 minutes. These services will call at North Filton (another new station), Filton Abbey Wood and Ashley Down, Stapleton Road and Lawrence Hill. Other new stations in the area include Charfield, Pill, and Portishead. Vegetation clearance work has now commenced at Portishead in preparation for re-instating this line.

MEMBERS CONTRIBUTION 

This month we have another contribution kindly supplied by Colin Maggs. It is an extract taken from his book The Wilts, Somerset & Weymouth Railway: Bath & Thingley to Weymouth, published by Oakwood Press. ISBN 978 0 85361 Priced £24.95.

Trowbridge Engine Driver’s Frightening Experience

It’s not generally realised the appalling violence that existed in the UK in Edwardian times – for instance a Trowbridge engine driver was almost murdered by fellow railwaymen. Driver Cummings who lived at 17, West Street, Trowbridge was a well-built man of about 50, a typical engine driver. When seen by a Wiltshire Gazette reporter on 22 August 1911, 'he bore distinct evidence of being severely handled, his left foot was heavily bandaged, his face was cut in several places, and he showed the writer a few of his bruises about his body which was very badly bruised indeed. It is only to be expected that Mr Cummings is suffering from shock, and it will be a considerable time before he will be able to resume duty'.

In answer to inquiry Mr Cummings stated that he had been employed by the GWR between 31 and 32 years and had been a driver for over 16 years, 14 of which had been at Trowbridge.

‘You left Trowbridge, I think, by the 8 o’clock train on Saturday (19th August) morning?’ ‘Yes, by the 8.06 to Cardiff, where I was ordered to take the train on further to Carmarthen.’ ‘You had a safe journey to Llanelly?’ ‘Yes, quite safe to there. After leaving Llanelly for Carmarthen, I should think a few hundred yards from the station, we were pulled up through iron gates being put across the road, which had been put there by rioters. My vacuum brake was cut, and I was pulled off the engine.’

‘Did the rioters mount the engine then?’ Yes, when I came to a dead stop, the rioters threw stones at me and the fireman from all directions. Some then jumped on the engine and I was knocked into a corner by a stone. Then I was literally thrown onto the line. After being thrown off, I was dragged along the line for some considerable distance and pushed, knocked and bumped to all shapes and forms.’

Mr Cummings added that the fire in the fire box was knocked out and of course the engine could not then be driven. He was attended by a doctor at Llanelly.

‘Were you conscious all this time?’ ‘I lost consciousness for some hours. They intended to throw me into the dock, but some kind friends of railwaymen, so I have been informed, persuaded them to help let them get me to the Police Station under protection.’

‘About what time did this happen?’ ‘Between 3 and 3.30pm, we left Llanelly at 3.4pm.’ ‘Did they get you safely to the Police Station?’ ‘Yes, they did. I was kept there until 11.45pm when a picket of soldiers came there. They numbered between 35 and 40. They asked me whether I would go with them to the railway station and I said I would. They dressed me up in a soldier’s uniform and conducted me to the railway station where I remained in their charge until 3pm when I was able to come home, reaching Trowbridge at 11.30pm.’

Davis, his fireman, also received a number of bruises and at the time of writing had not yet been able to go back to work.

We thank Colin for his contribution to the Newsletter, and we do have another to follow. If any of you have an interesting story or a favourite memory which would be of interest, please do send it in to  either  bathrailwaysociety@gmail.com or bob.bunyar@outlook.com 

COMPETITION

Over the years many songs, both classical and popular, have been written about railways and trains. In this month's competition you have to unscramble the letters to find the names of the three songs. It is all for fun and no prizes are given. Answers in the April newsletter. (see Looking Forward below)

TSLA NTARI OT ODNONL           YLFIEHCN TNLCRAE                    GNLO RTINA NNNIUR

MORE NEWS ITEMS

The Swanage Railway will be staging a Community Weekend on February 14 and 15.  You can visit the demonstration Signal Box and Museum at Corfe Castle, tour the Mining Museum at Norden, learn how the railway’s telecoms work, and travel on steam and diesel-hauled trains. You can also book onto a range of hands-on experiences, including Guard, Diesel Driver, Signal Box and TTI sessions. This year also marks 50 years since the restoration of Swanage Station commenced, with a special exhibition and plans to have Beryl, the first locomotive on the railway, gleaming and on display for the occasion. The Railway 200 Exhibition Train is also visiting the Swanage Railway for three days from February 16. This will be on display at Corfe Castle Station. See the Swanage Railway website for details and booking for these events. https://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/events

On February 7 and 8 the Cale Rail Society hold their 20th Model Railway Exhibition at the Gartell Light Railway, Common Lane, Yenston, Nr. Templecombe. 11 layouts are expected plus 3 trade stands. Refreshments will be available and train services will run on the GLR (2ft gauge) for an additional charge.   Admission to the exhibition is:  Adults £6.00, Children £1.00.    On February 14 and 15 the Burnham and District Model Railway Club hold their Weston-Super-Mare Model Railway Show at Priory Community School, Queens Way, Weston-Super-Mare. 22 layouts are due at this show with 11 trade stalls and refreshments will be available. Worle railway station is 0.31 miles from the venue.

Work is continuing on the new build Standard 2MT No. 84030 at Sheffield Park on the Bluebell Railway. Over the course of Summer and Autumn of 2025 the locomotive’s bunker was completed along with the installation of all steps up to the running plate, cab sides, and bunker. Work is also progressing on the supports for the cab floor, but before bolting down in their final position’s, attention was focused on the rear balance pipe between the two side tanks as this runs under the floor. 84030 is a rebuild of BR Standard 78059 which was purchased from Barry scrapyard.

Due to a bridge replacement near Plymouth, no services will operate between Totnes and Plymouth between February 21 and March 8. Cross Country services will terminate and start at Exeter St Davids, with GWR services running through to and from Totnes. During the closure period, the Night Rivera sleeper services are suspended. Replacement road transport is planned between Tiverton Parkway and Plymouth (non-stop) and Totnes, Ivybridge and Plymouth. Over the weekend of Saturday February 28 and Sunday March 1, no train services will operate between Teignmouth, Newton Abbot, Totnes, Ivybridge and Plymouth, and again replacement road transport is planned. Services between Plymouth and Penzance will be running as normal.

From January 26 until February 6, and on February 8, Network Rail will be renewing track and points and also refurbishing the Landore Viaduct outside of Swansea. Great Western Railway services to/from London will finish and start at Port Talbot with buses replacing trains to/from Swansea. Transport for Wales services will also be affected by the works.

The Belmond British Pullman is scheduled to visit Bath Spa on Thursday February 12 and Friday February 27 from London Victoria, Class 67 hauled. 

LOOKING FORWARD

Our meeting on Thursday March 5, coincides with the 60th Anniversary of the closure of the Somerset & Dorset Line. Our guest speaker will be Prof. Colin Divall, and his presentation will be “The Puffing Billy of the Hedgerows” politics of the Somerset & Dorset closure ca 1951-1967.

The North Dorset Railway at Shillingstone will be open on March 7 & 8, with 30075 in steam to mark the 60th anniversary.  Due to holidays, the March newsletter will be shorter than usual, but it will be back to normal in April. On March 14-16, GWR Rail Car W22 from Didcot will be visiting the East Somerset Railway at Cranmore. It will join steam 7754, 4110 and 4555 for a GWR gala. The Swanage Railway is holding a Gala March 27-29. It will feature home fleet locomotives plus Austerity Tank Engine WD152 "Rennes" and  6880 "Betton Grange".

Bob Bunyar

Newsletter Editor

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