The Bristol Railway Archive

Following on from football specials, anyone remember the Mystery Trains that operated from TM during the late 60s / early 70's?
They were always good value; I went on several ending up in Kent for a few hours. On one occasion, a group of us jumped on a local train to Ashford when that preservation centre was open.
The last one I travelled on went to Clacton. I am assured one once went to Manchester on the day City were away to Bolton.
Anyone else ever travel on one of these tours?

I never actually went on one of those Mystery Trips, but I had an uncle working in the Enquiry Office at Temple Meads at the time who confirmed their immense popularity.

The destination of these trains were kept a closely--guarded secret, something that is rather more diffficult today given sites like Realtime Trains

Yes, I remember Mystery Trains, and travelled on several in the early 1970s. The destinations that come to mind are Southport, Chester, somewhere that was near enough to the Bluebell Railway for us to visit it, and either Broadstairs or Margate (can't remember which).There were often Bristol Railway Circle people on the train who seemed to have a mental map of the entire railway system, including obscure chords, in their heads (Mark Warburton comes to mind). As we progressed they would predict our broad destination, then narrow it down each time we passed a key junction. (This is where the value of knowing about obscure chords became clear).

On one occasion the surviving Gresley Buffet was in our consist, sporting the unsuitable blue and grey livery of the time.

The wonderful railtour database at https://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/ shows some mystery tours; I haven't found any that started from Bristol - but I haven't looked very hard.

Thinking more on this subject, we always seemed to be hauled by a Bath Road long range class 47. Bearing in mind we were enthusiastic teenagers, we tried counting the time interval between mile posts on some sections and convinced ourselves the train was travelling at 100mph.
As 76026 posted, there are mystery trains and football specials listed on Six Bells, but none from Bristol.

Thread drift; I found this tour detailed on six bells; https://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/60s/680629lc.html
TM - Yate - Henbury - Avonmouth - Portishead - Radstock Bath - TM. It was scheduled for 29thJune 1968, but asks if the tour did actually run.
Anyone know for definite please?

Class 47's were officially rated at 95 mph but there was no speed limiting device fitted as there was with HST's. Class 50's were rated at 100mph but I once timed one at 104. Speedometers were calibrated to within 3mph at 100 if my memory serves me correct. I'm not convinced that mileposts were that accurately positioned.

The rule of thumb I was taught was to count the number of rail joints in 10 seconds then multiply by 4, which if my calculations are correct gave a figure around 2% below actual speed.

15 rail joints in 10 seconds gave an estimation of 60 mph. That was 1800 yards in one minute equating to around 62 mph.

Of course, it didn't work when continuous welded rail was introduced.

Roy

I recall a "mystery" trip to Eastbourne in 1968 or 69. There must have been a set swap as we seemed to be a seat short (we weren't affected). During the conversation a member of staff was heard to say "when we get to East........" so as the the 13 Arches had been demolished it was a fairly safe bet that we weren't going to have a look at Eastville Gasworks!
The Mumbles Tramway was still operating prior to its move to Seaton.

>>>The Mumbles Tramway was still operating prior to its move to Seaton....

Must have been a mystery trip to a parallel universe then The Mumbles Railway (never Tramway) closed in 1960 and never went to Seaton anyway.

Sorry Crumbles. WhatÔÇÖs one letter between (presumably) friends? IÔÇÖll get my coat..........

Picking up on Roy's point on mileposts, they certainly were not equidistant. It was possible to make an enquiry via the GEOGIS system to establish their positions.

>Sorry Crumbles. WhatÔÇÖs one letter between (presumably) friends?

I make that two letters But still friends....