Tytherington Quarry Excursion

[Sprinter]

Does anybody know if a special excursion ran from Tytherington Quarry to Weymouth back in past years (I guess the 1980s?)

My memory could be cheating me, but as a young lad I seem to remember someone at school talking about it.

Could have been just pulling my leg I suppose...

[horace]

I remember a couple of specials running up to the quarry, one was pulled by i believe a standard BR tank, another by an ex GWR engine. Cant really remember when or much more detail, but it would of been pre 2000.

[BristleGWR]

Looking on www.uksteam.info BR 4MT Standard Tank 80079 ran a number of shuttles from Yate to Tytherington Quarry on 20th March 1999. On 9th May 2004 GWR 5029 Nunney Castle made a trip to the quarry from Bristol, unfortunately the castle stalled on the climb to the quarry and had to be rescued by a diesel.

I'm sure someone out there can help regarding pre 1999.

[Sprinter]

Thanks for the swift replies folks. I didn't know about those visits.

Yeah if anyone can confirm any early 80s excursions that would be grand.

It's good that the need for freight has kept this line alive. Even though the section running up to the edge of the A38 is overgrown I think there are rusty rails still down there. This is really quite near Thornbury. I know it may be silly to say such things but I wonder if the line will ever see passenger traffic again. The quarry (when disused) would make a bloody big car park!

[tugboatcharly2]

Yes prior to 1985 there was a special platform built for a special to? if my memory serves me right 2 class 37 s was the traction it had to be prior to 1985 because I was in the link that worked the quarry turns it was for the quarry employees annual trip out hope its starts a detective investigation

[Sprinter]

Ahh! So it was true then!

In fact there is a retired quarry worker that lives nearby me. My dad sometimes has a chat to him so maybe I'll do some investigating there.

Cheers for the info to both my posts tugboatcharly2.

[Mitch]

I recall working a rail tour to Tytherington back in the mid 80's, under the watchful eye of guards inspector Roy Platten. The train had covered some freight lines in South Wales before I took it over at Bristol Parkway for the trip to the quarry and then on to Salisbury where a Southern crew took over. I can't for the life of me remember the traction, only that the train consisted of eleven mark 1 corridor carriages.
Andy

[Sprinter]

Cheers Andy!

I got talking to my mum tonight about this subject and she remembers a woman down the road whose husband worked at Tytherington Quarry, and that it was an annual thing that the company 'ARC' put on for workers and their families. Lucky them!