Prototype Bristol Area 1970s and 80s

[Devonbelle]

Thanks for the comments. I have some more of Wapping that Steph enquired about - I haven't got to them yet! I will post some of fathers shots on the BR Devon 60s/70s thread of Buckfastleigh in 1967.

Jaunt south of Bristol tonight.

First Yatton Signal Box on its last day 30th Jan 1972 taken by father. Note the line still into the bay, but the Clevedon branch has only just gone with a forelone signal post.




The Weston Super Mare October 1985. I was experimenting with night shots. The King and Hinton Manor did a re-run of the ill fated April 85 Bristol Plymouth run, when KGV failed at Taunton with a hot box, leaving game Hinton Manor to go it alone, until it too failed at Exeter with a hot box. The rerun in October was much better - with a rousing departure from Weston.



Flax Bouton - with the oil sidings in view (home then to a Fowler 0-4-0 diesel) on the last day semaphores were operable - 4th December 1971


Finally - Winscombe on the Cheddar Valley in Summer 1967 looking toward Axbridge - services having ceased 4 years earlier.

 

[Devonbelle]

Of this trio two are on the Wapping Wharf branch. the third one at BTM - all taken the same day in June 1983.

The SVR (NRM) black 5 worked a special Wapping Wharf to BTM (I think it was the wine festival?) and King George V worked Swindon to BTM. My father who worked in the Divisional BR Office at BTM it was a tester for the GWR 150 events to follow just under two years later.

After the King and Black 5 met on the Saturday, the next day the King worked BTM to Hereford - my first main line steam trip - it knocked out 73mph max on the Marches. It called Newport plat 1. then turned on the triangle. A Bristol Bath Rd crew worked it BTM to Newport under the watchful eye of Eric Webb Chief Traction Inspector (Eric started on panniers on the Blowers Green line in the Black Country). The Hereford crew of course really had the measure of the King. 5000 took over from Hereford and ran via Colwall to Worcester - specially permitted through Ledbury tunnel as the train was the SLOA Pullmans with inward opening doors.

In the first shot (all 3 by father), Ive spotted a Hillman Imp and a brand new allegro! Paul

 

[Devonbelle]

Last upload tonight and I was chuffed to find these - father took them in Summer 1964 at Yatton of a Clevedon branch service - with Yatton church in view in the first shot. Note the goods yard still in use - albeit Cheddar valley services ceased the previous year. The Clevedon branch clung on for another two years. In the second shot looking toward Clevedon the bubble car is coming into Yatton - past the Caperns bird seed factory private siding which was only used for a few years. The track was still there in concrete when I was a nipper in the 70s, they had a big fleet of Commer vans which used to park up over the track.

 

[lancer1027]

Great pics

It looked like track used to go off to the right? Is that an old loco shed tucked behind the concrete block building?.

Rob

 

[adrian]

Thanks for posting those - very evocative! I like the first one in #23 showing the rear of the Yatton signal box, it looks more like a couple of semi-detached houses than a signal box.

 

[Devonbelle]

As to the B&W Yatton shots - couldn't agree more with Adrian as to Yatton SB (I just about remember it). Rob asked about the shot of the Bubble Car back from Clevedon. The formation discernible going off to the right went into the Wake and Dean Works (later became Avalon furniture).

The B&W shot with Yatton SB in view shows where the line (far right of shot) led to Yatton shed - one road shed with blackened formation where engines used to coal up - drop fire. Paul

 

[Steph Dale]

Paul,
I've spent a couple of evenings in the last week looking for further photos of the Bristol Harbour Railway and chanced across the website of the current BHR. They are now, of course, part of Bristol's industrial museum 'M-Shed' and owners/operators of the two ex-Avonmouth saddletanks 'Portbury' and 'Henbury'. Anyhow, here's a page showing old shots of the centre of Bristol from the air. It's amazing but the whole area seems to be either railways or water. These days it's mostly expensive flats...
Anyhow, here's the link. Third shot down even features the coal concentration depot and Wapping Wharf: http://bristolharbourrailway.co.uk/2013/11/06/bristol-harbour-history-aerial-photos/
Steph

 

[Devonbelle]

Thats excellent Steph - some excellent vintage shots on the link. Only through posting the Henbury 1981 shots the other day, I twigged Ive seen both Henbury and Portbury working on national rail network - so Henbury in 81 then 20 years later - almost to the week sister engine Portbury - I was involved with some EWS colleagues to get Portbury cleared to haul the opening train to Royal Portbury Dock along the refurbished Portishead branch - it didn't are go well - as my video on you tube Avonvisde Along the Avonside shows.

Anyway tonight we stick on the Bristol BR division - both taken early 1967 by father at Ashchurch - at the Dowty Railway Preservation Society site. The first one shows Cookham Manor - in original BR livery. the second shot shows GWR 062 tank 6697 (not steamed for very many years) - being painted by 'celebrity' MP Sir Gerald Nabarro - who for a short time was SVR chair if I recall correctly father advising me (Google him - very interesting read). Note he is replete with a Jimmy Edwards handlebar moustache.

Paul

 

[Steph Dale]

Paul,
I think I just found the video:

Looks like a great run. This would have been a year or two before I came to Bristol and like other comments on You Tube, it'd be nice to think something like it might happen again.
I'm looking forward to Portbury coming back into service on the harbour railway. And soon we hope, Henbury's boiler ticket expires in the summer.
Steph

 

[Devonbelle]

With long days, excuse to get in garden or go cycling this summer - haven't dipped in WT for many many weeks - shorter days now -mean more scanning - here goes for your delight. Ive included the Westbury area - as from 1986 with the abolition of the Area Manager Westbury - it was taken operationally into the Bristol area.

A few shots of a Clan Line in May 1974 - when it worked a rail tour from the Southern as far as Westbury. The signal boxes had 10 years to to go before Westbury Panel Signal Box opened. When I found the Dilton Marsh shot I was tickled by the cars - next time I went under the road bridge was 40 years later - in July this year doing a charity bike ride Chip - Bomo - forcing me to miss Larkrail.

The loco turned on the triangle Hawkridge/Heywood Rd - whilst the Westbury pilot dealt with the coaching stock.

Then 2 shots at Merehead Quarry Sept 1982 at a special open day for employees (Dad planned Merehead stone trains and his pal Alan Taylor was Head of Rail at the Quarry) - brother and I on a Yeoman 08 had and of interest is the Whizzo - just been renamed Western Yeoman - by John Yeoman IIRC. The original was scr Swindon 1976.

Merehead highlight however was Black Prince - hauling 2178 tonnes loaded stone wagons - load was increased over a number of runs. its been done since - but never has the tonnage been equalled - so it has made it the heaviest UK steam hauled train - Ray Massey was the driver (featured in splendid John Betjeman trip over the Glasto-Highbridge line driving a 22xx IIRC). Alan took my brother and I into the 9f cab after the run - David Shephard was beaming - Ray said to us, they had the fire white hot before the first run - as it got under way - firebox doors shut, the flames were forcing their way through touching the cab roof - suits you sir!

Paul

View attachment 36357

View attachment 36357

 

[mth]

That takes me back.
As the saying goes 'I was there' my farther being a driver at Westbury.

 

[Corbs]

Devonbelle - these photos are amazing, as a Bristol boy it's incredible to see how things were not that long ago.

I write the blog bristolharbourrailway.co.uk which I'm attempting to make into an archive of all things to do with the BHR and Avonmouth Docks railways. Please might I be able to post some of your photographs (credited accordingly) on the blog? Every thursday I try and do a 'throwback thursday' post with a picture or some information of times gone by on the BHR.
Would that be ok?

 

[queensquare]

Fabulous stuff. I was a regular young spotter at Westbury in the 70's, brings back lots of memories of my yuff!

Jerry

 

[Devonbelle]

Thanks for comments.

Corbs - yes you may use them, credited. I took the shot of the Western Fuels Hudswell, so credit to Paul Stanford. Other shots, black 5 at the Cut, Henbury on coal trains were by my late father John Stanford. As I said to Simon on Saturday last I'm happy to share, with relevant credit.

Probably too modern but I have a shot of Avonside loco Portbury alongside a class 66, at Royal Portbury - after it's epic run from Bedminster - 21st Dec 2001, PM me and we can swap emails and I'll send. I have some shots of the Ivatt on Wapping line too, in 1985.

More phots to follow but Tinternet link from PC is playing up (

Paul

 

[Corbs]

Thanks Paul! I've just sent you an email

 

[Devonbelle]

And another at Westbury of Clan Line - I likes the 47 on vac freight stock….



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.



Finally, off the Bristol patch - but same roll of film at Clan Line and HST in Spring/Summer 1974 - Didcot avoider line and a Hymek passing on what I assume is a Oxford Padd service, as we were visiting Didcot railway centre

 

[Devonbelle]

Few more this morning - as a consequence of more scanning - plus some newbies will drop into North Devon Thread and Devon 60s/70s, plus Dorset.

First week of January 1985 and I had some time off work, and spent a (very chilly) morning around Avonmouth - here a DMU ex Severn Beach heads into St Andrews station, behind me. This area is now a mass of lines after the Bristol Bulk Handling Terminal opened in 1993. The siding next to the DMU is St Andrews Tip siding, spoil off ballast jobs would sometimes go into there.



Then wind forward two years 1 month and on 20 Feb 1987 and Chris the Bridgwater railman has just reset the ground frame, as a 47 has come out of the yard (left) and is pushing back onto the Down main, to then head to Taunton - with two Transfesa box vans of oranges ex Spain, for Taunton cider. On the left is a few VDA vans for loading with Babycham - and empty caustic soda tank wagons picked up an hour earlier from British Cellophane - the tower of which is generating the smoke with that 'eggy' smell, behind the class 47.

 

[Devonbelle]

When I found the following this afternoon I was delighted - a visit to Droitwich in January 1987 saw me track down a working industrial diesel, a 48DS Ruston, named the Sheriff. This was the last year that rail borne coal was handled at Droitwich - rail borne house coal was in sharp decline - such that only a handful of depots nationally remained at privatisation in 1994. As I was visiting with pal Mike Organ, 37187 came in and picked up two empty HEA hopper wagons.



Keep calm Simon here it is, and for other 48 DS Ruston lovers...

 

[Devonbelle]

Few more from Droitwich visit -



Coming a few miles south brings us to Cheltenham, which until 1986 used to receive house coal from South Wales - on the day I was there (April 1985) a train had arrived that morning from Maerdy Colliery - which itself closed in August 1986. Th site was never modernised to receive air braked wagons, so with the disappearance of vac braked coal wagons (in this case lovely grotty HTV wagons) the site ceased taking coal and closed. the site had two locos a 0-4-0 Fowler rebuilt by Thomas Hill which I never saw working and a neat YEC 0-4-0 DE. As ever with small industrial sites Id go and introduce myself to the boss, put my BR orange vest on, and so often drivers would kindly give me a cab ride. In this case John the driver took me round every line in the depot and right uptp the headhunt on BR land by the road bridge.

 

[Pugsley]

More wonderfully atmospheric pics - more, please, if you have them!

Am I right in thinking the location of the yard in the pics was here? :
http://binged.it/ZWXzlV