Do you have BTM connections?

Lulu · Post by **Lulu** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 12:44 am

I'm making a documentary about the history of BTM station and I'm looking for people who have worked there, travelled regularly through BTM or whiled away a Saturday afternoon or three noting down the odd loco number or two. Having lurked for a while

I know there are quite a few out there with links to BTM.

Please PM me if you#d like to share your story,

Thanks, LLx

horace · Post by **horace** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 1:20 pm

Lulu, come on do us some justice, a Saturday afternoon or three, my my it was every Saturday. Either catch the train there from Mangotsfield, or cycle there and buy a platform ticket.

By the way, your not that wee Glaswegian lassie of my teenage dreams are you!!

Lulu · Post by **Lulu** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 11:28 am

I knew it would be more than three Saturdays Horace, more like...oooo four or five.

"By the way, your not that wee Glaswegian lassie of my teenage dreams are you!!"

Wee - no
Glaswegian - no
Lassie - once upon a time, aged now

Sorry to disapoint on almost all fronts

jolly47roger · Post by **jolly47roger** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 5:19 pm

Can't PM you - 'disabled on this board'

Have a look at www.the-thorns.org.uk/1887.jpg for an 'aerial' view from 1887 of BTM. In the 1950's I was always fascinated by the board in the subway where you could press a button from an index and the attraction would light up on the map.

Lulu · Post by **Lulu** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 5:52 pm

Thanks for the PM tip jolly47roger - I can be contacted at

filmingcontact-AT-gmail.com

The 1887 image is wonderful, BTM has changed a tad since then!

Lulu · Post by **Lulu** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 12:46 pm

I cannot believe how shy you all are!

BTM is not just architecture and engineering - it's about the people and their different activities. I really would like to include a few words from spotters of all (or even any) era and those who worked in and out of BTM in this doc.

To me, BTM is special - magnificent and majestic, a really awe some building full of life and hustle and bustle. As a child it meant the start of the summer holidays changing at BTM to go to South Wales.......always seemed like long waits, but I didn't care, there was so much to look at having travelled up from the backwaters of Cornwall.

Can anyone help, please?!

Lulu · Post by **Lulu** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 10:15 am

Hello again

As you are all so shy about talking on camera.......can any of you make any suggestions about good locations outside BTM to film the lines and station from.

Perhaps areas known to spotters, but less obvious to someone 'non-local' - my parents lived in Bristol for years and ran a toy shop in the 1950's, but I'm not THAT old :-}

thanks
LLxx

WR Tim · Post by **WR Tim** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 4:11 pm

The A4 overbridge has quite good views of the south end of the station but you may need to be tall to see over the parapet.

http://maps.google.co.uk/?ie=UTF8&ll=51 ... 9999999999

Lulu · Post by **Lulu** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 4:39 pm

Thank you WR Tim, I didn't realise there was a lovely big pavement there.

I have also been looking at Cattle Market / Feeder Rd, Avon St and Friary.

Anyone know if there is a path along the river too?

jules · Post by **jules** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 5:11 pm

There is a long path along the opposite side of the river berhind what was Bath Road shed.

To get to it, walk under Cattle Market Road bridge in direction away from TM public entrance and after the bridge, cross to the the river side of the road - the path entrance is right there opposite the old Cattle Market Tavern. Watch out for speeding cyclists!

There is also an interesting footpath from Three Lamps, just up from the old Bath Road depot entrance, which crosses the river and joins the riverside path. Check it out

) It was a very regular walking route for crews going between Bath Road and St Philips Marsh depots ....

Lulu · Post by **Lulu** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 5:29 pm

jules thank you so much for this, you have been a great help and we'll definitely check it out.

Hobbler · Post by **Hobbler** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 8:57 pm

Some of my favourite memories of Temple Meads .

Being taken to see the dray horses in the stables under the station approach.

Exploring the tram lines at the back of the Staff Association Building just off the incline .

Watching the shunting operations in the Goods Depot from the end of the old Platform 14 .

Special Exhibition Trains in the bay with locos such as City of Truro and the Caley 123.

The Open Days at Bath Road Shed.

Visiting my late Dad in his office in the Bristol & Exeter Building (never seen so many stacks of paperwork) and again when he transferred to Bristol Goods Shed.

A coin operated locomotive in a glass case on Platform 9.

The Fresh Milk Machine which dispensed the luxury of flavoured milk outside the main refreshment rooms .

Happy Days

Lulu · Post by **Lulu** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 9:11 pm

Hobbler

Those are really evocative memories of a bygone era when the world seemed a much nicer place.

Just the sort of thing I would love someone to say on camera.

Thank you for sharing.

Hobbler · Post by **Hobbler** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 10:56 pm

A few more memories

The Goat that ate its destination station label tied round its neck and was kept in the Lost Property Office being fed and milked by the staff until the owner enquired as to why it hadnt arrived .

Scenes from the film "The Titfield Thunderbolt "being shot in the fish dock siding.

Cars being loaded for the Overnight Scottish Motorail Service.

The visit of A4 Pacific " Mallard" to BTM

Ex GWR Diesel Railcars on the Bristol TM to Portishead service.

Bristol Omnibus Half Cab single deckers on the City Centre to TM service

Saving 5 weeks pocket money to buy an Ian Allan Combined Volume (the train spotters bible) for ten shillings and sixpence from the bookstall on platform 9

Post by **James** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 11:46 pm

Hobbler wrote:A coin operated locomotive in a glass case on Platform 9.

Still there, albeit now next to the vending machines between the ticket gates and subway stairs.