S&D rail tours January and March 1966

Pines Alan · Post by **Pines Alan** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 11:37 am

Dear all, in oder to mark the sad anniversary of closure of the S&D 45 years ago, I am attempting to put together an item on the January and March 1966 rail tours for the next Avon Valley Railway magazine. Much information is already to hand in the form of previously published photographs, articles, and items on the web. However, I am a little in the dark about a few things. First of all, I would like to publish anyone's recollections if they went on any of these tours, particularly if they took notes of the train formations or timekeeping, although some gen is available on the "sixbellsjunction" website.
Secondly, on Saturday 5th March, the Great Western Society ran a special train from Bath to Bournemouth, but it originated elswhere, as D828 was photographed approaching Bath with a loaded train. Does anyone know the arrangements for this working prior to arriving at Green Park, and where the train eventually returned to?
Third and final: on Sunday 6th March, the SLS also ran a special from Bath Green Park to Bournemouth and return, with a dmu connection from and return to Birmingham. Does anyone know the ECS arrangements for the main train? It would have to have got to and from Green Park somehow as I would not have thought they would have had much stock on hand there.
Thanks in anticipation
Regards

Robin Summerhill · Post by **Robin Summerhill** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 7:59 pm

I was on the SLS special on 6th March, but I am afraid all my notes from those days got lost/slung out by my parents c.1970 (I think they wanted my old bedroom back

)

As regards recollections, much the same as anybody else on the trip I suppose - 48706 and 80059 as traction, passed a northbound special with a Merchant Navy in charge at Blandford.

And my "unpublished photographs" have all been published in far better quality by others because they happened to be standing very close to me when I took mine

Robin Summerhill · Post by **Robin Summerhill** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 5:02 pm

As Alan has just pointed out to me off group, it was 80043 and 48706 on the SLS special.

I must be losing me marbles .....

Or - "I was wondering who would be the first to spot that, Sgt. Wilson"

Robin Summerhill · Post by **Robin Summerhill** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 9:33 pm

I've found my excuse - a 45-year-old cock up in the caption on the back of the photograph!

It looks like I was adding captions on the same day as I added one to a shot of an excursion that ran from Bristol to Bournemout on August Bank Holiday Monday 1965. 73068 was train engine with 80059 as pilot to Evercreech, and I have a shot of both of them as 80059 ran back through the station after coming off. This must have been one of the last occasions that a train intended for the general public (as opposed to enthusiasts specials) was double headed over the northen section.

I must have had 80059 "on the brain," as the saying goes.

Doesn't stop me looking a nit 45 years later over the SLS special though .....

Pines Alan · Post by **Pines Alan** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 11:02 am

Robin, thanks for replies.
I have been directed to some photos/articles and it seems the GWS train of Saturday 05 March originated at Bristol (D828). The train returned from Bath GP to Bristol behind D7030.

On 06th March the SLS special was photographed leaving one of the centre roads at Bath GP. I wonder how the passengers on the dmu connection - and indeed yourself - gained access to this train. Any memories?

Robin Summerhill · Post by **Robin Summerhill** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 1:28 pm

Pines Alan wrote: On 06th March the SLS special was photographed leaving one of the centre roads at Bath GP. I wonder how the passengers on the dmu connection - and indeed yourself - gained access to this train. Any memories?

I'm having a senior moment ......

If I remember correctly, the SLS special left from platform 1. It was of course commonplace to stable stock in the centre road, so all I can assume is that the photograph is of an ECS shunt. I would certainly have remembered if we all had to get off the platform and join the train on the centre road

As regards "how did I get to Bath that morning" I simply can't remember for certain. However, by that time I had moved from Staple Hill to Stockwood, so the easiest way would have been for me to walk down to Stockwood Vale (by the transport cafe on the western approach to Keynsham - about a 15 minute walk), and caught the 33 bus. I certainly walked that way to Keynsham station on a large number of occasions.

jules · Post by **jules** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 2:43 pm

caught the 33 bus

I don't wish to hijack this thread, so I'll start a new one about the 33 bus (and others) a little later today

Robin Summerhill · Post by **Robin Summerhill** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 10:57 pm

jules wrote:
caught the 33 bus
I don't wish to hijack this thread, so I'll start a new one about the 33 bus (and others) a little later today

Still waiting

Robin Summerhill · Post by **Robin Summerhill** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 9:08 pm

trafalgar45682 in the 33 bus thread wrote: I travelled on the last S&D service train from Bournemouth to Bath on Saturday March 5, 1966. The train was hauled by 80041 and 80043. It arrived at Green Park an hour late and as I ran to catch the last 33 to Bristol, it was just pulling out. I had a few hours wait on Bath Spa Station to get to Bristol.

I was down there on 5th March but I didn't go on the last up train because, even if it was on time into Green Park, it would still be a bit tight for the last bus back to Bristol.

I left Bath for Templecombe on the 08.15 (first travelling from Keynsham to Bath Spa on the 07.27 departure), went on to Blandford on the 1230 returning at 1405 to Templecome arriving at 1442. I returned to Bath on the 1618 departure, arriving at 1757 (all of these were booked times as per the emergency service that was running for the last two months). I can't remember what the actual times were, but I don't think they were too far off.

I remember we had 48760 on the outward leg to Templecombe

Robin Summerhill · Post by **Robin Summerhill** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 11:44 pm

I've been thinking about this all day but just remebered it now:

Not only is it 45 years to the day since the SLS special and the LGCB one running north, today is also a Sunday as well

So, if anybody is really that interested, that makes it 2,348 weeks exactly since tha vast majority of the S&D closed

Robin Summerhill · Post by **Robin Summerhill** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 10:09 pm

Pines Alan wrote: On 06th March the SLS special was photographed leaving one of the centre roads at Bath GP. I wonder how the passengers on the dmu connection - and indeed yourself - gained access to this train. Any memories?

I've resurrected this thread because this evening I found these on Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/16749798@N ... otostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/16749798@N ... otostream/

Proving that the train left from the platform

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