Last Pines Express - 50th Anniversary

[john2006]

FIVE decades after the last Pines Express passenger train passed through Bitton, near Bristol, the journey is to be re-created on the anniversary.

It was Saturday September 8 1962 when the Pines Express working between Bournemouth and Manchester ran for the last time.

And on Saturday September 8 2012, the Avon Valley Railway will be amending its timetable to match as closely as possible the Pines Express workings through Bitton.

John Lanchester, AVR spokesman, said: ôBoth the Up (to Manchester) and Down (to Bournemouth) trains will be recreated with express, non-stop, steam-hauled passenger trains between Avon Riverside and Oldland Common and vice versa.

ôIn addition to the steam hauled service, our heritage diesel railcar will also be operating, giving you a glimpse of what was to take over from steam on many of our local lines.

ôOur usual steam fares will apply; not only offering travel on two trains for the price of one but also offering the chance to relive the experience of the Pines Express passing through Bitton Station.

ôLimited edition souvenir tickets, just like those issued in 1962, will be available for those that purchase travel tickets. A limited number will be available and will be issued on a first come, first served basis û so arrive early on the day to secure your unique ticket.ö

The Pines Express first ran in October 1910 and was run jointly by the Midland Railway and LNWR (London and North Western Railway) û the heart of Avon Valley Railway is Bitton Station an original Midland Railway station, which like the locomotives, carriages and track, has been restored by a team of dedicated volunteers.

There is no need to book tickets, just turn up on the day. For more information please see http://www.avonvalleyrailway.org/events ... es-express

[john2006]

Please note for operational reasons; a diesel-hauled service will now operate in place of the diesel rail car. It's likely to include Ruston Hornsby 0-6-0DH No. 429. The Pines Express will continue to be steam-hauled by a member of our home fleet, likely to be RSH No. 7151. Keep an eye on our website for up to date details.

[Robin Summerhill]

Pity you haven't got a Black 5 kicking around the place this coming weekend

[free2grice]

Pity you haven't got a Black 5 kicking around the place this coming weekend

Or preferably, IMHO, the loco that hauled the final train, 92220 'Evening Star'.
That is at the NRM at York. <BJ>

[Robin Summerhill]

Pity you haven't got a Black 5 kicking around the place this coming weekend

Or preferably, IMHO, the loco that hauled the final train, 92220 'Evening Star'.
That is at the NRM at York. <BJ>

I must choose my words carefully because, having spent a number of years as a pub entertainer, I am aware that there were many blokes in pubs who thought they could do the job better than I could I understand that footballers get the same problem, and I would like to avoid a situation where people who operate heritage railways are given a dose of the same thing!

Whenever you put on an event for the public, there is some element of "showmanship" involved, something that makes the potential punters sit up and take notice, and helps to make sure that they put their bums on your seats.

Recently the North Norfolk ran a "Titfield Thunderbolt" recreation (what the devil it had to do with Norfolk, given that it was filmed between Limpley Stoke and Camerton and at BTM is another matter, but they did it all the same). They hired in a Collett 0-4-2T, renumbered it 1401, got hold of a virtually identical coach to "Dan's house" in the film, and dug up a Bedford OB from somewhere for "Pearce and Crump" to compete with the train.

The 55F men's marketing section recently recreated that last train on the Abergavenny to Brynmawr line on the KWVR, getting hold of the LNW 0-8-0 and the Coal Tank to do it.

The WSR is running an S&D themed weekend in October. They have hired in a 9F and a Black 5 for the event. There have been previous S&D themed events down there, including of course the marking of the 40th year since closure by getting hold of both surviving 7Fs.

The Avon Valley Railway is ideally suited and placed for a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the diversion of the Pines because they operate on the only section of the line that is still there(other than the couple of hundred yards at Midsomer Norton of course, and the Gartell Light Railway doesn't really count ). Even the day of the week coincides, the 8th of September being a Saturday in both 1962 and 2012. Nobody is expecting the AVR to get hold of a rake of a dozen LMS coaches and a Jubillee to recreate the entire "Pines experience" going through Bitton, but shoving a "Pines Express" headboard on the front of an ex-CEGB shunter is unlikely to attract serious railway enthusiasts from around the country to participate in the event.

I am aware of the old saying "if you want a job done properly, do it yourself" but I cannot help but think that the AVR have "missed a trick" here.

[free2grice]

[I am aware of the old saying "if you want a job done properly, do it yourself" but I cannot help but think that the AVR have "missed a trick" here.

My sentiments exactly. It's such a shame. <BJ>

[Pines Alan]

Just to place on record that the last Northbound Pines out of Bath Green Park was hauled by "Black 5" No. 44659 (not 44859 incorrectly transposed from an earler article of mine on another website). On Summer Saturdays the Pines avoided Birmingham New Street and my understanding is that 44659 went as far as Walsall.
The last Southbound train was worked in by "Peak" No. D106.
Regards

[the green mile]

My railway club, The Wells Railway Fraternity, celebrated on Saturday with a coach trip down the line. It was also a week after the 150th anniversary of the formation of the S&D.

We used an old Bristol Greyhound coach starting off with a guided tour of the site at Midsomer Norton followed by visits to the remains of several former stations, mid morning break at Evercreech Junction, lunch at the Gartell Light Railway near Templecombe plus a trip on this line. We eventually reached the site at Shillingstone.

The grand finale was a visit to a spectacular O gauge model railway based on Evercreech Junction run with full dcc sound. There are several YouTube clips of this available if you put Nevercreech Junction in your search engine.

[Robin Summerhill]

My railway club, The Wells Railway Fraternity, celebrated on Saturday with a coach trip down the line. It was also a week after the 150th anniversary of the formation of the S&D.

Somehow we managed to miss each other!

On Saturday I took a drive down that way for old times sake visiting, amongst other places, the car park that was once Bournemouth West station, Shillingstone, Templecombe to see first-hand the new platform arrangements, Midsomer Norton, Bath Green Park and the Avon Valley Railway. To maintain tradition, albeit accidentally, I did manage to take three and a half hours to get from Bournemouth West to Bath Green Park, but that's another matter!

The "engineers occupation and single line working" at the bridge at Sturminster added about 15 minutes to the trip, but most of the delays were caused by trying to precisely pinpoint the location of Bailey Gate (despite having an Ordnance Survey 1" map with me with the station still being shown as open!), a 20-minute lunch break at Blandford (the "long stop" really ought to have been at Templecombe!) and visiting Shillingstone and Midsomer Norton stations.

And although I was tempted, I decided not to reverse up the approach into the car park at Templecombe, but drove straight in and out again

[the green mile]

I was impressed with what is going on at Midsomer Norton. I am a member of the S&DHRT there but not yet a volunteer. I came away from Shillingstone with the impression that the whole project lacked vision. What did you think Robin?

[Robin Summerhill]

I came away from Shillingstone with the impression that the whole project lacked vision. What did you think Robin?

I didn't actually speak to anybody down there - I just went and had a quiet "nose around." However, on another forum, one of our other members has written this (hope he doesn't get annoyed that I've lifted it from elsewhere )

Incidentally, as Robin may have found out, if anyone is thinking of going to Shillingstone station to look at their signal-box recreation, be aware that the inside has been stripped (except for the lever-frame) and no longer looks like the pictures on their website. I gather there have been 'problems' down there and some members departed recently, allegedly taking with them the various items which they had loaned/donated.

[the green mile]

I see what you mean! I would have been even more disappointed if I had looked at their website beforehand because it paints quite a rosy picture of work in progress. I know a project like this has to start somewhere and needs to recruit members with suitable skills, both practical and organisational, but it did remind me of a scrapyard. The two classic commercial vehicles in the yard were worth a close look if you are into that sort of thing.

I did not venture inside the signal box. The OO gauge model railway was not even up to train set standard but the one highlight was the fledgling O gauge layout under construction and laid out on the platform for the day.

I think it will be quite some time before I attempt a return visit.