What kindled your interest in railways?

[Ian L Jamieson]

Something that does emerge quite strongly from previous posts is that the slightly younger ones amongst us were all doing what they should have been doing in the 1960 to 1968 period - chasing steam and threatened lines while they were still around. Me, fool that I was, spent all my time chasing women and thus missed out on that crucial era in the history of the railways.

I never cease to lament the fact that I didn't sample the S&D while it was still there, and as I was earning, I could have afforded to travel around the country to see sights that have long since gone.

Cupid has much for which to answer!

[Robin Summerhill]

Something that does emerge quite strongly from previous posts is that the slightly younger ones amongst us were all doing what they should have been doing in the 1960 to 1968 period - chasing steam and threatened lines while they were still around. Me, fool that I was, spent all my time chasing women and thus missed out on that crucial era in the history of the railways.

Funny you should say that .....

Steam ended in August 1968 and, whilst I had the odd minor girlfriend or two in the previous couple of years, I didn't let them distract me from my "work," as it were!!

I met the woman who was to become wife no.1 in December 1968.

Priorities, dear boy, priorities!!

[jules]

Ahh, yes. Westerns and Warships, the pride of the Premier Region

Absolutely! I'll second that - but don't forget the Hymeks (and even the North Brits ... ).

As to steam in the late '60s, it was a regular pilgrimage for me to go to Ashley Hill and catch the freight that ran every Sunday morning with half a dozen or so scrap steam locos in the consist. We all got very excited and would all wildly shout "Steamers, steamers, steamers!" as the train approached - even though the locos were all dead. We dutifully recorded this rather sombre parade each week (if we could make out the numbers) - a sad sight indeed.

Most of them were from the Southern region (it was 1968) and were either heading to South Wales or up north. With steam having been gone from the WR for quite a few years by then, for the younger kids this was their first and last chance to see steam on BR (until main line preservation many years later that is).

[Roger]

The discussion involving girl friends reminds me that my first date with the girl that I have since been married to for 42 years was in February 1967. She asked me what we were doing the next Sunday but I told her I was booked onto a coach tour of railway sheds (Salisbury, Eastleigh, Southampton Docks, Bournemouth and Weymouth).

One must have priorities in life!!!!

[buxton4472]

Ahh, yes. Westerns and Warships, the pride of the Premier Region

So much more class than the Peaks! I remember seeing my first Warship at TM in 1959 (would it have been?). Whilst waiting for the Gloucester local in the buffet adjacent to Platform 9 (old numbering) in came D805 'Benbow' on a London train.
Talking of station refreshments, does anyone remember the milk machine on P.9? Sixpence in the slot and out tumbled one of those impossible to open tetrahedrons - but the milk was so cold after a hot summer's day spent at the south end of Platform 4!

[buxton4472]

Ahh, yes. Westerns and Warships, the pride of the Premier Region

As to steam in the late '60s, it was a regular pilgrimage for me to go to Ashley Hill and catch the freight that ran every Sunday morning with half a dozen or so scrap steam locos in the consist....
Most of them were from the Southern region...

My albeit patchy records for summer 1965 - Jan 66 show the following northbound 'scraps' through Charfield:
29 Jun: 92226 hauling 31862, 31620, 80018
3 Aug: 3863 hauling 82010, 82017, 30545
11 Oct : 6876 hauling 76017, 82016, 31401, 35021
19 Nov: D1007 hauling 34084, 3844, 41324
20 Nov: Stanier 8F hauling 5932, 6965, 3862, 3836
20 Nov: 92209 hauling 3696, 30133, 9790, 4630
24 Nov: D1593 hauling 31627, 31800
16 Jan: D1910 hauling 82002, 34087, 34042
16 Jan: D1727 hauling 80150, 34046, 76055
16 Jan: D7037 hauling 76015, 34103, 35005, 82021

These were just the tip of the iceberg and it was not unusual for two or three rakes of locos to pass through on any given weekend in 1966, by which time I had ceased to record their movement. Often they would be held in the up loop for examination or for expresses to pass, thus 'allowing' us to clamber all over them. Naturally, the Bulleid Pacifics were the stars! I wonder whether when hauled by steam, the towing loco would on occasion suffer the same fate as their unfortunate payloads.

[Robin Summerhill]

I wonder whether when hauled by steam, the towing loco would on occasion suffer the same fate as their unfortunate payloads.

Yes they often did.

It was fairly common practice to select the most serviceable of the withdrawn engines, steam it and use it to tow the rest to the scrapyard.

[Ian L Jamieson]

She asked me what we were doing the next Sunday but I told her I was booked onto a coach tour of railway sheds (Salisbury, Eastleigh, Southampton Docks, Bournemouth and Weymouth).

One must have priorities in life!!!!

But of course! And I did get one thing right. I arranged our honeymoon in Bournemouth [September 1966] and we spent our days on the station.

Forty-six years on - and we are still together!

[trafalgar45682]

20 Nov: Stanier 8F hauling 5932, 6965, 3862, 3836
20 Nov: 92209 hauling 3696, 30133, 9790, 4630

The 8F was 48266 and can be seen leaving Barrow Road engine sidings at 9.00 on Saturday November 20 1965 towing the engines that you describe

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bristolsteam/5231042465/

The second train which left at 11.00 was hauled by 92209. There is a set of photos of it and the engines it was due to tow on a thread on this website "Barrow Road 40th anniversary of closure" posted by BristleGWR

[nickt]

My interest in railways was kindled by being taken by mother down to bridge by Miners Arms in Farrington Gurney to watch a train come through from Radstock or Bristol direction. I cant remember what they were hauling now but would guess probably coal wagons to or from the local coalfield. These treks were soon accompanied by my sister who was still in pram so never realy got to see what trains were all about.
I remember one time when I wanted to see trains come through but all there was were a group of men and a crane lifting the track. I was convinced they were just replacing it but they never did . The trackbed was an interesting explore for porcelane insulators and track clips and bolts. A number of years later the cutting was infilled and the bridge demolished then that was infilled.
I allways had a healthy interest in railways and have been involved in heritage railway for a number of years .

[oldchapie]

My dad was a shedman at yatton so when he told me there was a job in the signal box as a booking boy i jumped at the chance i was 14 years old knowing that when i was 16 i might get the chance to get on the footplate to be a driver the rest is history

[buxton4472]

The 8F was 48266 and can be seen leaving Barrow Road engine sidings at 9.00 on Saturday November 20 1965......The second train which left at 11.00 was hauled by 92209.

Did the trains of withdrawn Barrow Rd locos travel via Fishponds? I suppose once Barrow Rd was closed, the scrapped locos coming up from the SR would stop off at East Depot for examination, etc. then proceed via Dr Days Jcn and Stoke Gifford. Do you know if this was the case?
Sorry this is getting a bit off-topic!

[jules]

I suppose once Barrow Rd was closed, the scrapped locos coming up from the SR would stop off at East Depot for examination, etc. then proceed via Dr Days Jcn and Stoke Gifford. Do you know if this was the case?

Certainly by 1967 the locos for scrap were running via Filton Bank. They always used the up main, never the up relief, suggesting they were heading north via Stoke Gifford and not to Wales, though they could have done a last minute switch at Filton Junction.

[trafalgar45682]

Buxton4472 wrote

Did the trains of withdrawn Barrow Rd locos travel via Fishponds?

I can only assume that they did. The photo of 48266 shows it heading up to Lawrence Hill Junction and onto Fishponds Bank. It would be unnecessary to reverse down past the shed almost into Temple Meads and then go via Filton Junction. Once the shed closed locos in transit were stored elsewhere such as East Depot and would go via Filton

The 20 or so engines withdrawn when the S&D closed in March 1966 appeared at Barrow Road goods yard (St Philips) first, but were then towed down to Pylle Hill depot, where they were despatched in April and May 1966.

[buxton4472]

Certainly by 1967 the locos for scrap were running via Filton Bank. They always used the up main, never the up relief, suggesting they were heading north via Stoke Gifford and not to Wales....

I have a feeling that scrapped loco convoys were barred from using the Severn Tunnel hence the 'long way round' via Yate, Gloucester South Jcn and Lydney Jcn to Cashmore's and Barry. Our friendly signalmen at Charfield used to let me have a read of the weekly traffic notices and I don't recall seeing any timings for convoys routed via the Tunnel.