50th anniversary of closure Mangotsfield-Bath-Bournemouth

Robin Summerhill · Post by **Robin Summerhill** » Tue Sep 11, 2012 8:21 pm

Following the "festivities" of last weekend, can I just give some advance notice to anybody who might run a heritage railway over any part of the former line between Mangotsfield, Bath Green Park and Bournemouth, that the 50th anniversary of the closure happens in March 2016.

Could I also add that the days of the week coincide as well (after Leap Year's Day, 29th February 2016). Therefore, the 5th and 6th March 2016 will be on Saturday and Sunday respectively, the same as they were in 1966...

Has anybody got an Ivatt class 2 tank for hire plus a rake of 3 green coaches?

Just a thought .....

(PS - don't let Jules read this - he'll want a Hymek on the job)

jules · Post by **jules** » Tue Sep 11, 2012 10:36 pm

(PS - don't let Jules read this - he'll want a Hymek on the job)

I still feel mildly guilty about the part Hymeks played in the final demise of the S&D

horace · Post by **horace** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:36 am

Please a Riddles BR standard class 3 with maroon coaches.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mao_zhou/293773345/

the green mile · Post by **the green mile** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:42 am

A lined green one but with a Maunsell 3-set or a Bulleid shortie set for me.

the green mile · Post by **the green mile** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:50 am

On second thoughts, maybe we could organise a sponsored bike ride or walk along part of the route for the benefit of one or more of the preservation groups. That's assuming I am not using a zimmer in 3 years time of course. Maybe one to discuss at the pub night.

Robin Summerhill · Post by **Robin Summerhill** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 12:17 pm

horace wrote:Please a Riddles BR standard class 3 with maroon coaches.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mao_zhou/293773345/

But will 82045 be ready in time?

Robin Summerhill · Post by **Robin Summerhill** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 12:36 pm

the green mile wrote:On second thoughts, maybe we could organise a sponsored bike ride or walk along part of the route for the benefit of one or more of the preservation groups. That's assuming I am not using a zimmer in 3 years time of course. Maybe one to discuss at the pub night.

Not a bad idea at all.

For those that don't know, sections of the line between Mangotsfield and Holes Bay sections have been already turned into footpaths/ cycle tracks, and some other sections are also accessible:

1. Mangotsfied - Brassmill Lane. Part of the Bristol to Bath cycle path

2. Oldfield Park - Wellow. Open as far as Devonshire tunnel as a linear park, footpath/ cycle track from Tucking Mill viaduct onwards to Wellow. The "Two Tunnels" route between Devonshire Tunnel and Tucking Mill is being worked on now, and I hear that it is planned for opening shortly.

3. Shoscombe - Midsomer Norton. Certainly open as a cycle track along the S&D as far as Radstock, and then the GW formation towards Midsomer Norton North. I saw a sign when I was down there last Saturday that suggests its also been opened up the bank towards Midsomer Norton South, but whether it has and if so how far it goes has yet to be checked out.

4. Parts of the route between Chilcompton and Masbury are (unofficlally) accessible but you could never ride a bike along there

5. About half a mile at Stalbridge is now a footpath

6. Sturminster Newton to Stourpaine is open as a footpath/ cycle track (the "North Dorset Trailway")

7. About a mile or so of the trackbed from the northern outskirts of Blandford to (more or less) the site of the station is open.

8. Blandford St Mary (just beyond Tesco's on the A350) to Spetisbury is open.

9. Broadstone to Holes Bay. The "Castleman's Trailway" comes in from Wimbourne north of the station site. There is nothing left of Broadstone station but the cycle track goes around the western edge of the former railway land. There is a cycle track for the first half mile or so south of Broadstione station site, but that actually follows the former Wareham line. The route that S&D trains took towards Holes Bay is now a road (Broadstone Way).

Take your pick from that lot

nickt · Post by **nickt** » Thu Sep 13, 2012 9:52 pm

Once in Radstock you can cycle along formation of north somerset branch to 5 arches where you have to make your way out to Somervale road and using the pedestrian / cyclist crossing cross road and cycle up slope onto S7D track bed. This takes you to siver street in Midsomer Norton on opposite side of road from MSN South.Very well laid cycle path / walk way.

Worth noting is that you can walk up S&D formation out of Radstock up over 5 arches but thats as far as you can go on that side. You will also note concrete squares in track bed with numbers in but I am not sure what they were for.

nickt · Post by **nickt** » Thu Sep 13, 2012 9:58 pm

Wellow trecking center to somewhere between shoscome and the former writhlington pit is either infilled or private property (gardens /farm etc ) so cycle around narrow lanes is called for. Bits of ailway infrastructure still visible in places.

Robin Summerhill · Post by **Robin Summerhill** » Fri Sep 14, 2012 3:32 pm

nickt wrote:Once in Radstock you can cycle along formation of north somerset branch to 5 arches where you have to make your way out to Somervale road and using the pedestrian / cyclist crossing cross road and cycle up slope onto S7D track bed. This takes you to siver street in Midsomer Norton on opposite side of road from MSN South.Very well laid cycle path / walk way.

Worth noting is that you can walk up S&D formation out of Radstock up over 5 arches but thats as far as you can go on that side. You will also note concrete squares in track bed with numbers in but I am not sure what they were for.

Nick

Do you know anything about the line beyond Chilcompton?

Looking at Google Earth, and also some photographs that have been attached there by somebody calling themselves "mebrookbank," it looks like a fair amount of the line might be walkable as far as Shepton.

This also of course begs the question whether the likes of Sustrans or anybody have any long term ideas for this section which, from a cycling point of view, would be a remarkably better option than the main road. But that question would probably be better aimed at Sustrans rather than being posted on here

nickt · Post by **nickt** » Fri Sep 14, 2012 9:34 pm

A tiny bit but after crossing frys well bridge then most of track has been infilled and / or dug away ( mullbery factory). I have not explored much in that side of Chilcompton.
Most bridges have been removed and where the line crossed fields they appear to have been graded so difficult to trace. TBH it would probably be a case of cycling around lanes etc to join the dots so to speak. There is a selection of railway architecture to be seen and other interesting industrial things.
Maesbury station is a private dwelling but site is viewable from road bridge.