Prototype Bristol Area 1970s and 80s

Devonbelle

Western Thunderer
Thanks for the comments, and Pugsley is spot on as to location of Cheltenham coal depot - you asked for more and you've got them - all on the Bristol patch.

First 3 taken by my Dad - he took brother and I to Swindon Works 5th Oct 1980 - the only time I went round the works when it was open - guest engine was the SVRs Erlestoke Manor - we enjoyed ourselves going round the Dump. And yes the tartan flask Im carrying I managed to drop - glass lined so had the familiar clinking sound - on the subject of glass lined, note the 6 wheel milk tanks on the dump for scrapping - around this point saw the cessation of milk traffic - places like Torrington sending their last milk by rail - although the milk marketing board had some 4 wheel tanks refurbished and stabled at Swindon for a long time in the mid 80s on the Down Refuge - I don't believe they were ever used. Behind the manor, looks like 08749. Swindon Wks Dump-DMU-5-10-80.jpg Swindon Wks dump-5-10-80.jpg

Swindon Wks-Paul&Mark-Erlestoke Manor-5-10-80.jpg

Next one is Weston Super Mare June 1969 - apologies I feature in the shot again - but Ive included for sheer rarity - Ive never seen a colour of a Western at Weston - I assume its a WSM - Padd service and its stabled in Locking Rd sidings which quietly were nibbled away in the 80s to nothing.

There's a plethora of vanfits in shot - I assume for storage. The regular traffic at Weston latterly (by mid 1960s) was coal for the gasworks - note line curving out of shot on the right. Plus second line to the right of my Grandad is the through line between the platforms - which was removed when the area was resignalled and controlled to Bristol PSB.

WSM-Paul & Grandad-June 1969.jpg

Same year now, Dr Days Junction signal box in its twilight as preps for Bristol PSB go-live occur. Note the new formation for lines to and from BTM - the side nearest the camera. Line curving off to the left toward North Somerset Jn - with a Cross Country DMU in shot.

PICT0490.JPG

Last one this morning - Avonmouth Docks 1973 - father was doing coursework for his Chartered Institute of Transport Exams and study location was Avonmouth - note internal user wagons on quayside - sheeted. the railway on the dockside had another 10 years to go before closure. the cargo vessel was registered in Bombay.

PICT0609.JPG
 

Captain Kernow

Western Thunderer
A
Now then, same year (1974) and the prototype HST - Ive included it as it was on a test run from the Bristol area, seen here at Padd - Id quite forgotten the taxis used to drive down onto the platform, my Dads BR colleagues from the passenger train planning section in shot - some great 70s purple in evidence.

View attachment 36545

Is that Jim Ashton on the left, Paul?

Amazing!
 

GWR Jim

Western Thunderer
Paul.
As my Manager away for a long weekend doing her 'Red Hat Society' stuff have had some time to look around and pleased to say found your posts. Having grown up in Bedminster with lots of time spent in Victoria Park, Windmill Hill overlooking Pylle Hill yards, wonderful time.

All that said now wondering if you, I know your last post was Nov 2014, you have more photos which I'm sure will help bring back a lot of happy memories for me and I'm sure others.

Understand if you have moved on but would like to ask the question!!!

Many, many thanks for sharing the above, loved them.

James.
Bristol, UK.
 

Chris Klein

Active Member
I am very happy to have found this thread. I was born and brought up in Bristol. Our first house was in the quaintly named district of Coombe Dingle (with the long-gone Mazda House at the end of our road) before moving to Westbury-on-Trym and ultimately Bishopsworth. I attended the Sea Mills Infant School School followed by Elmlea Primary School and Cotham Grammar School. I have memories of steam traction in the city, but my serious spotting interest was during the hydraulic era from 1969 to 1975 +when I was allowed more independence to travel. Many a Saturday was spent at the down end of Temple Meads Platform 12 with its unbeatable view into Bath Road Depot, punctuated by visits to Newport and Cardiff to see Class 37s.

Sadly, I have only a handful of photographs taken on a very basic instamatic camera, but here is my first ever railway photograph taken in 1970 when I was eleven. It shows Hymek 7039 (I think) entering from Temple Meads with a parcels train.

This thread is now firmly on my watch list.

Chris K

PICT0014.JPG
 

Devonbelle

Western Thunderer
Thanks for the comments from James and Chris. Many more photos exist of the Bristol Area I took; and will feature in my next book; by Silver Link Publishing due out circa February 2020; title something like 50 Years of Railways Around Bristol.

I’ll share some low res teasers in days to follow. Paul
 

Chris Klein

Active Member
Thanks for the comments from James and Chris. Many more photos exist of the Bristol Area I took; and will feature in my next book; by Silver Link Publishing due out circa February 2020; title something like 50 Years of Railways Around Bristol.

I’ll share some low res teasers in days to follow. Paul
I'm already looking forward to my copy! I suspect my photo here from 1970 isn't quite good enough to get in, but just look at all those young gricers on the down end of the legendary Platform 12 at Temple Meads.

Chris K
PICT0018.JPG
 

Captain Kernow

Western Thunderer
Many more photos exist of the Bristol Area I took; and will feature in my next book; by Silver Link Publishing due out circa February 2020; title something like 50 Years of Railways Around Bristol.
I'll also look forward to that book, Paul.

And now, here's a cheeky plug for my own book, co-authored with John Stretton and forming part of the Silver Link 'Then and Now' series, and due out in the Autumn of this year, covering the Swindon to Bristol TM routes, including many views of the recent blockades and enhancement works in this area.
 

Devonbelle

Western Thunderer
I am very happy to have found this thread. I was born and brought up in Bristol. Our first house was in the quaintly named district of Coombe Dingle (with the long-gone Mazda House at the end of our road) before moving to Westbury-on-Trym and ultimately Bishopsworth. I attended the Sea Mills Infant School School followed by Elmlea Primary School and Cotham Grammar School. I have memories of steam traction in the city, but my serious spotting interest was during the hydraulic era from 1969 to 1975 +when I was allowed more independence to travel. Many a Saturday was spent at the down end of Temple Meads Platform 12 with its unbeatable view into Bath Road Depot, punctuated by visits to Newport and Cardiff to see Class 37s.

Sadly, I have only a handful of photographs taken on a very basic instamatic camera, but here is my first ever railway photograph taken in 1970 when I was eleven. It shows Hymek 7039 (I think) entering from Temple Meads with a parcels train.

This thread is now firmly on my watch list.

Chris K

View attachment 103394
I’d very much like to include your Hymek shot Chris: and I’d be interested what other material you have. I’d square a copy of the book for you if your photo(s) included. Best wishes Paul
 

Devonbelle

Western Thunderer
Absolutely superb photo Dave. Thank you for sharing.

The book I’ve written (50 Years of Railways Around Bristol) was / is delayed as a result of COVID 19; so will come out May 2021. It’s in the same vein as my first book - the Transformation of the Western Region; with words and pictures and maps.

Stay safe
Paul
 
View attachment 119504
Avonmouth Dock pilots PBA40 & PBA41 assisting with the preparation for shipment of Pendennis Castle to Australia on 30th May 1977. Bill McAlpine's inspection saloon (GE1) is to the left of the picture. Now retired at Fawley Hill. My picture.

I can remember the evening of this day. My Grandfather was an engine driver on the PBA and during the school holidays I got to ride on the footplate of the Sentinel and Hudswell Clark locos, its where I get my industrial interest from. This particular evening my grandfather took me on to the system where Pendennis Castle was parked next to the coaling stage of the PBA engine shed. From a distant memory, the events of earlier in the day saw some damage to the front of Pendennis Castle.

Great picture by the way
Regards,
 

Renovater

Western Thunderer
I thought i'd post my first photo on this forum here on this thread. I took this at BTM back in 1974. Taken when i was 15 with a handed down 6X6. Funny how looking back at old photos makes things spring back to mind, looking at this one i can remember thinking at the time that i prefered the old numbers better......45050.

vvb_0010.jpg
 
Last edited:

cbrailways

Western Thunderer
This one of mine has gone a bit of a funny colour due to ageing of the slide. Taken at BTM in early 1970 before the resignalling (you can see one of the old searchlight signals behind the Western, and for the technically minded, a GRS Model 5A point machine in the left foreground):

IMG_0025.jpg
 
Last edited:
Top