Prototype Bristol Area 1970s and 80s

[simond]

Given the effects of Covid on the commuting classes, I think Mr Dylan may have it right, the times they are a changin’.

I can imagine that despite the imprecations of government, many staff will not feel like returning to the office, and many companies will see the financial advantages of paying their staff to work from home. It’ll have a profound effect on the commuter cities, and similarly on suburbia, which might, I hope, lead to the regeneration of many smaller high streets, and if we’re really lucky, independent retailers who do what mail order can’t do.

On balance, I see it as a good thing, though I understand others may have different views. I doubt it’ll do anything helpful for the railway companies’ profits.

And a plague of camel fleas on those who destroyed interesting, varied high streets and turned them into faceless characterless concrete wastelands.

Atb
Simon

 

[cbrailways]

Ahem. Back to railways.

Here is another one of Bristol East Junction looking towards BTM I think. You can see a couple of GWR GRS Style shunt signals. They displayed a miniature Red or Green aspect side by side, and most had stencil type route indicators below the shunt aspects.

Oh for coach droplight windows.......

 

[cbrailways]

Lots of info on signalling in Bristol here: Alextrack: Railways: Signalling

 

[Devonbelle]

I hadn't appreciated this thread had carried on, boy some great pictures posted around Bristol this summer - marvellous - stoking many memories at BTM. Well the book is all finished (although I've snuck in a few extra photos such as BTM in the peak this summer - deserted station and people mask wearing ).

I see the advertising of the book has begun - hope mods don't mind me posting below. Plus I'm on with the 3rd book, something like 50 Years of Railways in the West Country. All my books see the royalties not going to me but to a mental health charity Mates in Mind.

Stay safe and hopefully see some of you at Simon's event next Summer. Paul

5669 - 50 YEARS OF RAILWAYS AROUND BRISTOL | Mortons Books

 

[adrian]

I see the advertising of the book has begun - hope mods don't mind me posting below. Plus I'm on with the 3rd book, something like 50 Years of Railways in the West Country. All my books see the royalties not going to me but to a mental health charity Mates in Mind.

Hi, - no problem at all with advertising the book, especially as it will raise money for a good cause.

However is that really the publication date? Not being involved in the printing industry I have no idea of timescales - just seems a long time if the book is finished.

 

[AJC]

Hi, - no problem at all with advertising the book, especially as it will raise money for a good cause.

However is that really the publication date? Not being involved in the printing industry I have no idea of timescales - just seems a long time if the book is finished.
View attachment 130719

Well - as someone who is involved in publishing (ok, academic publishing, but still) - there's different levels of 'finished'! Content submitted; edited; edits accepted/debated; proofs signed off, etc. A year from submission would be about right, a year from proofs signed off does happen, it depends what else a publisher has on and I can't speak for Silverlink on that - they may be holding off.

Personally, I only reckon these things 'finished' when the physical book is in hand with the right number of pages (and we do check, because it has happened...).

Adam

 

[Devonbelle]

Thanks Adrian and Adam.

Like a lot of us, Im sure, we are still learning the effects of COVID; the book was due out June this year. Aside from impact on book sales (which took a hit but thankfully going the right way now); COVID has had a huge impact on print works. The book is in a queue behind 22 other other UK rail/transport books if I recall rightly and the printers process non-transport books too. In the meantime, another picture (low res) from the book to whet the appetite I took 36 years ago at a foggy Bristol TM.

 

[Devonbelle]

I thought members of the group may be interested in the attached link - covering a talk I’m giving on Bristol’s railways over the last 50 years. That’s in the same day the book with the same title comes out. Meanwhile a few photos from the book to whet your appetite on a hot Monday afternoon. Regards Paul

Railways around Bristol through the eyes of a life-long worker | M Shed

 

[Steph Dale]

Cheers Paul,
All done - I'll be there on the 24th. Thanks for posting to let us know.

Steph

 

[Captain Kernow]

Paul - it describes you as a 'former railway worker!'

Surely not (yet)?

 

[Devonbelle]

Whaaaaatt - ‘said in the style of Frankie Howerd in the Great St Trinians train robbery - when Arfur Mullard threw the point lever in the pond. I’m still very much employed! All the best Paul

 

[Steph Dale]

Hi Paul,

Really enjoyed the presentation - and thanks for answering my question!

Steph

 

[Devonbelle]

Steph. Thanks so much and a pleasure to answer your question. The book is delayed - now they tell me! It’s on its way this week from the printers in the Czech Republic.

All the best Paul

 

[Devonbelle]

So the book is in the shops - people have a copy in their hands! I’ll do a 4 figure sum as a donation to great mental health charity Mates in Mind. The book features from Bridgwater to Tytherington Quarry via BTM, Bath, Avonmouth. I’ve conscious included real byways including industrial locos - now long gone. So if you buy a copy you’ll be helping a charity (and I rather hope you’ll enjoy the book). Few other Bristol Area Archive shots to whet the appetite. Dr Days Jn in 1969 and British Cellophane at Bridgwater in 1988 by father and self respectively. Paul

 

[Devonbelle]

I hadn't appreciated this thread had carried on, boy some great pictures posted around Bristol this summer - marvellous - stoking many memories at BTM. Well the book is all finished (although I've snuck in a few extra photos such as BTM in the peak this summer - deserted station and people mask wearing ).

I see the advertising of the book has begun - hope mods don't mind me posting below. Plus I'm on with the 3rd book, something like 50 Years of Railways in the West Country. All my books see the royalties not going to me but to a mental health charity Mates in Mind.

Stay safe and hopefully see some of you at Simon's event next Summer. Paul

5669 - 50 YEARS OF RAILWAYS AROUND BRISTOL | Mortons Books

Hello = well third book goes to publisher encd of this month - 280 photos and 4o pages of text; it morphed into 'From Chocolate to Cider; a virtual train journey through time mapping to our family railway history from 1875 at Kidderminster to 2021 at Penzance - my last piece of work was on running the railways better; and I used a case study of Cornwall. The publisher will start building the book next month merging the photos and the text

Anyway I invested in a top notch scanner in 2022 and gone very high resolution with the shots. Below gives a taste of what to expect from May when the book is launched. They are screenshots of high resolution prints. Also in the book is hydraulics, Castles, Black 5s, Cadbury Bournville Avonside locos (Great Grandfather was Foreman responsible for the railway)

Photos below copyright Paul Stanford at Hallen Marsh Jn, Cheltenham Coal Depot and Bradford on Avon - enjoy