Is this Ashton Gate?

[mangotsfield_mauler]

Photo from a deceased relative's collection. Is this Ashton Gate station?
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2302/224 ... 2b4a_o.jpg

[madhattie]

No doubt about it! Love that cast iron sign!

[andy hole]

Just Wish I was living down by it years ago from what I can tell the bridge is long gone

[Splodge]

from what I can tell the bridge is long gone

Both bridges in the picture are still very much there, it looks a little more over grown now though!

Heres a more recent view taken from this site:

http://www.bristol-rail.co.uk/images/ashtongate10.jpg

[jules]

Yep. The points to leading off to the right went to a couple of carriage sidings. Remains of these were still there until the 90's, but very heavily overgrown and out of use.

I guess the carriage sidings were used for stabling stock during Bristol City games ....

J.

[andy hole]

Thanks. I havent been that far up the line

[tugboatcharly2]

Jules I was just looking through the topics and came across yours dated 12 march about Ashton gate The sidings refered to was also the main line under the Ashton swing bridge to Ashton jct where the lines diverged one line to Cannons marsh yard via Hotwells rd, the other line along side the cut to Wapping Wharf then up through the Redcliffe tunnel to Temple meads high level yard and yes in the good old days the football specials were stabled there when steam prevailed the locos went to Bath rd or Barrow rd, in the diesel days which were very short lived the loco stayed on train aftr running round.The yard had the smallest cabin on the system enough room for three so the fireman stayed on the engine ,there was quite a lot of shunting taking place there. on three shifts mondays to saterdays. Hope this is of interest to you.

[Mitch]

Back in the '80's the sidings at Ashton were in use by the engineering department. I was a guard at Bath Road in those days and we had a tripper job to Ashton on Fridays to form up trains and take them to East Depot for weekend engineering work. Hard work, what with ancient wagons and vacuum brakes.

[Injector]

tugboatcharly2 says's it all.
I used to walk there from West Depot sometimes

[jules]

Tugboat ... I was thinking of the two carriage sidings just after the junction to Ashton Meadows. I think there were two stations at Ashton. Ashton Gate Platform and Clifton Bridge (by the police dog station). The carriage sidings were between the two stations on the up side.

They were still there in the early 90's but completely overgrown and disconnected. Do you remember their use? I am sure they would have been for football specials, possibly from Clifton Down?

As far as I know, the last time a passenger train called at Ashton Platform was for Billy Graham's attendance at Ashton Gate back in the 80's.

Then it was freight only. Portishead Docks to East Depot for the board mills is one I can remember with a Class 31.

[tugboatcharly2]

Jules if I remember corectly there were 4 or 5 sets stabled over night .T hey were non corridor sets for the Avonmouth and Portishead services,they went out in the early morning services . one turn was take empty stock to work a 5/25 Parson street to Aonmouth via Henbury the same stock worked a 4/45pm to Portishead via Henbury and Avonmouth that roster was booked an old standard goods 0-6-0 numbers 23xx my driver would have his first Bass pint in no 4 refreshment rooms atTtemple Meads I had mine at Portishead in the White lion.

[jules]

Tugboat - Thanks for that info. I thought it would have been worked like that - so the carriages were stabled there regualrly then? I wonder if anybody worked there to service and look after them?

If only we could have rail services as you describe back in Bristol today!!

[tugboatcharly2]

Jules I do not remeber if there was staf all the time to clean the but as if in magic they were always clean they had to be, what went on in them lol nudge nudge!!!!!

[jules]

Tugboat. What you said about what used to go on in those carriages reminded me of a few verses of that immortal song:

Newlyweds within the carriage,
Please don't consumate your marriage,
Whilst the train is standing here at Crewe;
Please restrain that nat'ral function,
'Til we get to Clapham Junction,
Where there's really sod-all else to do.

And of course my favourite verse:

If twenty pounds you can afford,
Please do pull the communication cord,
'Though you'll be that much poorer if you do.
But, if twenty pounds you do not own,
Then leave the F---ing thing alone;
And that, my friend, is my advice to you !!

[Wilson]

Back in the '80's the sidings at Ashton were in use by the engineering department. I was a guard at Bath Road in those days and we had a tripper job to Ashton on Fridays to form up trains and take them to East Depot for weekend engineering work. Hard work, what with ancient wagons and vacuum brakes.

What kind of loco typically did the tripper job and what kind of facilities did Ashton have?