Weston Super Mare info and maps?

[madhattie]

Does anyone have any old maps (1940s-1960s) of WSM that show Locking Road station and/or the gas works area that they can post here or otherwise get to me so I can have a look at what was what? The usual online sources are falling somewhat short of what we need to get the new website as accurate as possible.

Also Google Earth clearly shows rails across tarmac in the industrial estate to the east of Winterstoke Rd ( 51â–‘19'54.20"N, 2â–‘56'58.27"W) but I can't find any references as to what they served. Any ideas? Airfield?

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ll=51.331 ... &t=h&hl=en (Google Maps)

[stuartjenkins]

I have a scan of an OS map from Weston from 1936 if that is of any help - the scale is 208 feet to an inch & it shows nearly the whole station area but just misses off the gasworks. It also shows the terminus of the WC&P. Let me know if you want it as I'll have to email it

I can't help with the tracks at the airfield as the only map I've got from that area pre-dates the airfield but it is quite close to the main line so I guess it's possible it was connected

Stuart

[tugboatcharly2]

Pete if you are refering to some track near the down main line there was a conection off the the down main I first saw it when I was on the Yatton pilot which used to deliver the coal and parafin for the signal lamps and ther was a western brake van there in 1950 or 1949 the siding went into the air craft factory i believe hope this helps, by the way the conection was nearer Uphill and I have a vague idel there was a signlal box called Hutton.

[madhattie]

Stuart, yes please to that map! I'd appreciate having a look at it.

Tugboat. I have a feeling the track will be a connection to the airfield, possibly because of the amount of US soldiers stationed thee during the war.

[Roger]

Pete

I have a book (published in 1990) - "The Norman Lockett Collection - Great Western Steam in The West Country" that contains a number of colour plates showing WSM General, Locking Road and the overall layout of both stations.

You may already have such info, but I could lend you the book if it would help. Unfortunately the gas works do not feature.

Roger

[horace]

1957 A to Z on flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mao_zhou/2227747369/

[BristleGWR]

Thanks Horace. That's interesting, the 1887 and 1904 maps (see www.old-maps.co.uk) show the line to the gas works similar to the 1957 A-Z, however the 1931 and 1939 maps (again see www.old-maps.co.uk) show the line being extended to another building (the one adjacent to the O and K in Winterstoke Road on the 1957 A-Z). Any idea what that building/line was for?

[horace]

As far as i can see that was also a part of the gas works, if you look closely at the 1957 a to z the buildings are also shown along with a circular structure in the south east corner of the site, a gasometer i am presuming. This area is still part of the gas works, if you look on Google earth you will see that the long modern gas storage tanks are now in this area.

This area for me brings back many memories, having spent a lot of my childhood visiting mt grandparents in Worle.

[stuartjenkins]

Possibly a siding to the potteries that used to be on Winterstoke road?

[horace]

And before anyone asks i have now scanned and placed a copy of the 1957 A to Z page for Bath Gasworks as well!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mao_zhou/2227974327/

[jolly47roger]

I've sent to Pete a piece of a 1960 2.5" map showing the sidings east of Winterstoke road. I don't want to post it on the web because of OS copyright....

There was a sizeable Westland factory at Oldmixon in the 1950s/60's - maybe the tracks were for that? Also, I think I remember a mailbag apparatus at the site of the old junction.