Then & Now

[jules]

A comment in one of the replies refers to a wharf by the new bascule bridge as belonging to the Middland Rly. I don't dispute the ownership but if they did they had no rail connection to it.

Correct. They had no rail connection to Redcliffe - MR was a bit behind the GWR in getting rail around Bristol Docks, but they operated numerous small boats, or "lighters" that plied the docks from the MR rail base at Avonside Wharf. In that manner, MR was able to compete for traffic throughout Bristol Docks.

You can read about MR Bristol facilities in a 1905 Freight Agent's report here http://books.google.com/books?id=ZD5OAA ... &q&f=false, which also mentions the Redcliffe caves Being as the agent mentions nothing at all about the GWR in Bristol, I am guessing he was "on the Midland's payroll"!

EXTRACT:

RAILWAY ACCOMMODATION.

The Midland Railway's depots arc situated on the Bristol docks, and by means of first-class lighters they convey goods free between the vessels and their cars. This, in many instances, is a distinct advantage to the trader, as the process of handling goods overside to the lighters is cheaper than transferring to quay and thence to cars. A splendid service of express goods trains runs to all points, and goods can be delivered at almost any destination within 4 hours of arrival at the port.

STORAGE AND WHARFAGE ACCOMMODATION.

The Midland Railway Company have excellent storage accommodation for grain and flour at exceptionally low charges, and frequently have as much as 50,000 bags of flour in store at one time. They also provide separate storage accommodation for cheese, bacon, eggs, &c, in well ventilated warehouses, capable of holding 50,000 boxes, and at moderate charts. The railway cars run direct into the warehouses, so that loading or unloading can be safely performed in all weathers.

For the storage of oil, and other goods in casks, they have extensive rock cellars which are maintained at almost uniform temperature of 54 degrees.

AVON MOUTH.

Avonmouth is an integral part of the port of Bristol, the dock and railway facilities there being of a first-class nature, and the Midland Railway Company's express trains convey goods from that dock with the same despatch, and at the same rates, as from Bristol itself.

[Robin Summerhill]

A comment in one of the replies refers to a wharf by the new bascule bridge as belonging to the Middland Rly. I don't dispute the ownership but if they did they had no rail connection to it.

Correct. They had no rail connection to Redcliffe - MR was a bit behind the GWR in getting rail around Bristol Docks, but they operated numerous small boats, or "lighters" that plied the docks from the MR rail base at Avonside Wharf. In that manner, MR was able to compete for traffic throughout Bristol Docks.

You can read about MR Bristol facilities in a 1905 Freight Agent's report here http://books.google.com/books?id=ZD5OAA ... &q&f=false, which also mentions the Redcliffe caves Being as the agent mentions nothing at all about the GWR in Bristol, I am guessing he was "on the Midland's payroll"!

EXTRACT:

RAILWAY ACCOMMODATION.

The Midland Railway's depots arc situated on the Bristol docks, and by means of first-class lighters they convey goods free between the vessels and their cars. This, in many instances, is a distinct advantage to the trader, as the process of handling goods overside to the lighters is cheaper than transferring to quay and thence to cars. A splendid service of express goods trains runs to all points, and goods can be delivered at almost any destination within 4 hours of arrival at the port.

STORAGE AND WHARFAGE ACCOMMODATION.

The Midland Railway Company have excellent storage accommodation for grain and flour at exceptionally low charges, and frequently have as much as 50,000 bags of flour in store at one time. They also provide separate storage accommodation for cheese, bacon, eggs, &c, in well ventilated warehouses, capable of holding 50,000 boxes, and at moderate charts. The railway cars run direct into the warehouses, so that loading or unloading can be safely performed in all weathers.

For the storage of oil, and other goods in casks, they have extensive rock cellars which are maintained at almost uniform temperature of 54 degrees.

AVON MOUTH.

Avonmouth is an integral part of the port of Bristol, the dock and railway facilities there being of a first-class nature, and the Midland Railway Company's express trains convey goods from that dock with the same despatch, and at the same rates, as from Bristol itself.

Of course, they didn't have the Trades Descriptions Act to comply with in those days

goods can be delivered at almost any destination within 4 hours of arrival at the port.

They had some bloody fast goods trains to Leeds and Carlisle in MR days, then

[Geoffers]

Bridge 10, Rose Green Road.

Easily recognizable! What a tragic waste of a damned good piece of railway

Yes, I often walk through there en route to Bitton, but I think the "10" is no longer there, or if it is it's become hidden by shrubs or boarding up or something.

Great shot, anyway!

[Injector]

The wharf is redcliffe wharf and was a council yard in 1965 belonged to the engineers department but I can remember that in 1955 there were a lot of barges moored there at weekends
Hope that helps

[carpetcone]

When refering to Peaks do you include class 46?
Laira did have an allocation of this class.

Any idea what date they were allocated to LA?

During 60's/70's, anything 44/45/46 were referred to as "Peaks" without regard to technical differences .. though D1 to D10 were obviously a bit of a "Holy Grail" for those of us based in Bristol.

According to a well respected web site, derbysulzers, six Class 46 were allocated to Laira in October 1972, and by October 1975 twenty seven were there.
There were also ten class 45 allocated to Barrow Road in April 1961.

[Hobbler]

The most frightening rail journey ever could open up a big new thread , so I'll put my two top ones in for starters:

1. The speed at which a Standard class 5 plus 3 coaches could come down from Devonshire tunnel towards Bath junction was always something to get concerned about.

If ever I came through there on a train that seemed to be going a tad fast I always remember thinking that I had hoped the crew had not been overcome by fumes as it was a regular occurrence for those on the footplate to emerge from the tunnel on the floor of the cab gasping for air and at least on one occasion with a 7F on a freight the crew were completely overcome and the engine derailed near Bath Junction with fatalities.