Charfield 'Pickup' Freight

buxton4472 · Post by **buxton4472** » Wed Nov 07, 2012 7:45 pm

I am trying to determine when the Charfield 'pickup' freight train last ran. Goods services at Charfield survived the passenger station closure but for how long? I seem to recall that in its final year or two, that particular trip had North British Type 2 motive power plus occasionally a D95xx or a Hymek, but I would welcome any further information. Presumably the trip originated from Stoke Gifford latterly, once Westerleigh yard had closed, or have I got my timeline scrambled. Whilst on the subject, when exactly did Westerleigh close?

jules · Post by **jules** » Wed Nov 07, 2012 8:45 pm

According to WikiPedia:

Passenger services were withdrawn from Charfield in January 1965 with the removal of stopping services on the Bristol to Gloucester line. Goods services were withdrawn in the September of the same year.

There are also a few interesting pictures at this site:

http://charfield.org/gallery

According to it, the pick-up freight ran thrice weekly. There was also a brickworks apparently, still operating in 1964 and no doubt a source of traffic.

buxton4472 · Post by **buxton4472** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 1:50 am

jules wrote:According to WikiPedia....Passenger services were withdrawn from Charfield in January 1965 with the removal of stopping services on the Bristol to Gloucester line. Goods services were withdrawn in the September of the same year.

Hmm - never thought to look on Wikipedia!

There are also a few interesting pictures at this site....
According to it, the pick-up freight ran thrice weekly. There was also a brickworks apparently, still operating in 1964 and no doubt a source of traffic.

Glad you think they are interesting 'cos I took 'em on my cheap and cheerful Coronet Viscount camera (828 size film - 35mm without the sprocket holes!) Yes - the pick-up did run MWFO pre-1965. But I am not sure what happened near the end. The brickworks (operated by W H Downing of Stoke-on-Trent) did have a private siding making a trailing connection into the down loop - there was a ground frame controlling the points - but I do not recall any outgoing traffic post 1960 or even earlier. [/url][/quote]

jules · Post by **jules** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 7:34 pm

Glad you think they are interesting 'cos I took 'em on my cheap and cheerful Coronet Viscount camera

It's a small world, eh?