Bristol - S Wales freights via the Severn Bridge

[buxton4472]

Can anybody tell me what motive power was used on the couple of Bristol area to Rogerstone freights that were routed via the Severn Bridge in the late 50's and which were obviously curtailed when the two spans were knocked out of the bridge? They were scheduled to pass Charfield at around 7:30 and 10 p.m. respectively. There were two balancing workings back to Bristol late evening from STJ and Lydney.

Berkeley Rd South Jcn SB was opened each weekday evening from 7 p.m. until the last branch traffic cleared to handle these trains. I recall cycling to Breadstone (close to the junction) a couple of years after the box closed and finding the lever frame intact but the block shelf devoid of instruments. Can anybody tell me exactly when the box closed? Presumably its reason to exist was wiped out along with the two bridge spans.

[Robin Summerhill]

I can't tell you what engines were actually used, but I can tell you what engines were allowed over the Severn Bridge.

WR engines - All yellow and uncolured groups (which basically means the small stuff up to and including the 43XX 2-6-0s)
BR standard - classes 2, 3 and 4
LMS - Class 2 tanks and ex-MR clas 2F 0-6-0.

Thanks to the internet, you can check it yourself these days. One Michael Clemens has done a fantastic job uploading WTT informtaion in .pdf format on his website.

http://www.michaelclemensrailways.co.uk ... px?atk=560 You'll need file B from the menu on the right hand side and its on page K183 (page 87 on the .pdf - its a big file!!)

[buxton4472]

Yes, Robin, I have seen that info on loco route availability in my own 1960 Gloucester Area WTT. I also agree that Michael Clemens' downloadable WTT's provide a wealth of information.

I suspect that the locos used were GW Moguls which I used to see fairly frequently on the ex-LMS Glos - Bristol route, but as I was only a lad I wasn't particularly interested in which trains they were actually hauling, besides which those particular freights ran for the most part after my evening 'curfew' at 9 years old (those were the days when you did not argue with parents!). I also suspect that the motive power was supplied by StPM and not Barrow Rd, because the trains originated at East Depot and Stoke Gifford and ran via the Westerleigh chord.

Strange that they did not take the far more direct route via the Severn Tunnel. Was it a ploy to help justify keeping the Severn & Wye open?

[Robin Summerhill]

Strange that they did not take the far more direct route via the Severn Tunnel. Was it a ploy to help justify keeping the Severn & Wye open?

It was probably more to do with retaining route knowledge.

Prior to it being severed, the Severn Bridge was used as the normal diversionary route when the tunnel was closed for engineering work etc.

There was a time when the tunnel was closed every Sunday during the winter for engineering work and virtually everything between Bristol and Cardiff ran that way.

[buxton4472]

There was a time when the tunnel was closed every Sunday during the winter for engineering work and virtually everything between Bristol and Cardiff ran that way.

Yes , I remember those diversions well. The only diverted passenger trains between S Wales and Bristol that didn't use the bridge were the winter Sunday Liverpool - Plymouith (and vice-versa) expresses which instead occasionally used the equally interesting route between Rotherwas Jcn and Grange Court then Gloucester Central, Standish Jcn and Filton Jcn to avoid the Severn Tunnel. From memory, I made the trip from Hartford (Cheshire) to Bristol on such a winter Sunday. (I particularly recall some pretty smart token exchanges taken at a bit more than 15 mph along the Hereford - Grange Ct single line section!)

One of the interesting operational requirements for the Severn Bridge was the stipulation that 'no engine or train should cross the iron portion of the bridge in less than 3 minutes'!