Severn Beach - was it a dead end pre-Beeching?

[Ian L Jamieson]

My first acquaintance with Severn Beach was circa 1952 when we took a train from Redland [via Avonmouth], and my lasting recollection is that we arrived at a dead-end platform at 90 degrees to the beach.

Subsequent study of relevant maps shows that the line via Avonmouth continued up to Pilning and beyond until the closure of this latter section - suggesting that Severn Beach was indeed a through platform, even though it might not have often been used as such.

Am I missing something here, or is my memory at fault? I was last there ten years ago, and it was then exactly as I remember it from 1952.

[Robin Summerhill]

Have a look here: http://www.old-maps.co.uk/maps.html enter "Severn Beach in the search box, then move the cursor to the station by clicking, say at the station entrance. I looked at the 1972 1:2500 scale map which will be in the list on the right hand side of the page.

You will see that there was an island platform - one face was a bay and the other face was on the through line to Pilning Low Level.

[Ian L Jamieson]

Have a look here: http://www.old-maps.co.uk/maps.html enter "Severn Beach in the search box, then move the cursor to the station by clicking, say at the station entrance. I looked at the 1972 1:2500 scale map which will be in the list on the right hand side of the page.

You will see that there was an island platform - one face was a bay and the other face was on the through line to Pilning Low Level.

Thanks for that, Robin. I was clearly wrong on the orientation as I can see that the railway came in parallel with the beach. It was obviously the bay in which our train terminated.

[oldchapie]

As a young fireman I worked aa 4/25 temple meads right round the circle aia Clifton down and piling low. Level up to patch way then back down to temple meads.

[Robin Summerhill]

I can see that the railway came in parallel with the beach....

Wouldn't you say that the use of the term "beach" in this context is a little over-complimentary?

[AndyK]

My first acquaintance with Severn Beach was circa 1952 when we took a train from Redland [via Avonmouth], and my lasting recollection is that we arrived at a dead-end platform at 90 degrees to the beach.

I wonder whether your recollection was influenced by the unusual configuration of the station , with the main building at right angles to the line.

These pictures make it clear
http://bristol-rail.co.uk/wiki/File:Severn_Beach20.jpg
http://bristol-rail.co.uk/wiki/File:Severn_Beach1.jpg
http://bristol-rail.co.uk/wiki/File:Severn_Beach3.jpg

[oldchapie]

Trains from avonmouth royal Edward yard to South Wales ran to piling low level run round then backed up to the main line. At Severn beach station there was a level x and the line went on to piling.there was a siding off the branch to serve a pump house and a halt I think was called new passage.

[Robin Summerhill]

Trains from avonmouth royal Edward yard to South Wales ran to piling low level run round then backed up to the main line. At Severn beach station there was a level x and the line went on to piling.there was a siding off the branch to serve a pump house and a halt I think was called new passage.

There were two halts between Severn Beach and Pilining - Cross Hands and New Passage. How much trade they did is open to question!

[oldchapie]

Not. Bad to lonely forget or halt as it was 63 years ago I last work that bit of line.

[oldchapie]

Will get better very touchy these key boards.

[Ian L Jamieson]

Andy - Thank you for the links, and I found the three photos of great interest. It probably was the orientation of the station building that made me recollect that the line arrived at ninety degrees to the 'beach'

Robin - Yes. When I typed the word 'beach' I thought that it was overstating the thing. I've probably told this story before, but a family friend was walking on the 'beach' in the 1950s when a visitor asked him where everything was. When told that this was 'it', the poor fellow said that it had been described in the advert as 'the Blackpool of the West!

That said, give me Severn Beach over Blackpool, any time.

[the green mile]

If I am not mistaken, the chap in yellow trousers in the second photo looks like a fireman. Also it looks as if the dmu has done a whoopsy by taking out the platform canopy. This was not the only occasion when a dmu failed to stop before hitting the buffers.

Many years ago as an apprentice maintaining station lights in the area, the chap I was working with pointed out to me a warning sign at the end of the platform. One of the cast ones warning passengers not to cross the line etc. What was interesting was the piece of rail it was mounted on which he reckoned was a length of Brunel bridge rail from the original line to New Passage. He told me he was going to 'acquire' it as he thought it could be worth a bob or two.

[Robin Summerhill]

What was interesting was the piece of rail it was mounted on which he reckoned was a length of Brunel bridge rail from the original line to New Passage. He told me he was going to 'acquire' it as he thought it could be worth a bob or two.

If it looked like this: http://www.panoramio.com/photo/73465486 then it is Broad Gauge rail, but I wouldn't rate his chances of getting any more than scrap value for it. You'll find it in use as fence posts all over the former GWR area.

Indeed, there is one particular section I noticed that has been used to strengthen an occupation bridge over the Kennet & Avon canal near Kintbury

[43126]

I remember working the Severn Beach bus service in the early 1970's and two people from Norway got on the bus and asked for Severn Beach, They were the only two people on the bus at the time from the bus station, I asked them if they were visiting friends, They said no they had a brochure that they picked up back in Norway and the picture's made it look a nice place to visit, They showed me the brochure showing the beautiful blue sea, The blue Marine swimming pool and the blue boating lake, Everything looked lovely, I did tell them its not quite like as advertised and they may be a little disapointed, Off we went on our journey to Severn Beach, They asked when they got off the bus how often the bus run back to Bristol, Every hour i said but i am going back in about 15 minutes, Sure enough they were there on my return 15 minutes later and yes they were not impressed, There's not much left nowadays but there is a lovely walk along the sea wall, I can remember the level crossing, The small fairground, The Fish and Chip shop, The Cafe, Even Swimming in the sea so long as you don't mind going home up to your knees in mud, Happy Days, J M H .

[AndyK]

I've read that there used to be a miniature railway at Severn Beach, although I've no memories of it myself so it must have gone before 1970.

Does anyone remember what it was like?