The Bristol Railway Archive

Yes it seems I have indeed! I've even solved the inter-regional rivalry issue. It'll have 22A on one side for the Midland men, and 82E for the Western chaps.

Can't fail to do the job that way!

buxton4472 wrote: .... and there's the small matter of a 324-mile round trip ....

Where there's a will there's a way

Mind you, it was easier in the old days when you could "pour yourself" (literally, after a night out!) on to the 0015 Manchester and get out with an aching head at Stockport at 0530 next morning

Will aim to be there between 1930 and 2000. Could always try a copy of Railnews rolled up under the left arm or my usual attire in this area which is a HV vest with a whistle on a chain around my neck. For those who cannot make it for whatever reason, I'm sure there will be feedback on this thread. Is everyone happy with how to find the venue?

I will try to be there.

the green mile wrote:Will aim to be there between 1930 and 2000. Could always try a copy of Railnews rolled up under the left arm or my usual attire in this area which is a HV vest with a whistle on a chain around my neck. For those who cannot make it for whatever reason, I'm sure there will be feedback on this thread. Is everyone happy with how to find the venue?

The 55F men will aim to be there not long after 7 then bearing a 12ft X 6ft portrait of Sir Henry by way of identification.

Looking forward to seeing you.

R

Presumably you will be getting the first round in then! In my circles, that means you get the first one in before too many people turn up.

the green mile wrote:Presumably you will be getting the first round in then! In my circles, that means you get the first one in before too many people turn up.

May as well mention it now seeing as the matter has been brought up ....

I have spent a lifetime avoiding the "rounds" system because it means that everybody drinks at the speed of the fastest drinker.

I had a salutary lesson in this in the early 70s - got involved with a group of blokes buying rounds in Reading and caught the "Waker" home to Bristol. When I woke up we were just passing Cowley Bridge Junction .....

A bloke I used to know told tale of having a skinful in London one night and getting a late train home to Dagenham. He woke up at Southend. Got on the next train back to Dagenham (there was an hourly night service in those days - I think there still is), and this time woke up in Fenchurch Street!

I have no intention of waking up at Paddington on the evening of the 14th

So don't take it personally if I don't offer you a drink and I say no if you offer me one

Only joking Robin. I am a very light drinker myself and have to remember that I need to drive home from Weston station. A bit different if you only have to stagger around the corner to your hotel.

I'm getting a bit apprehensive about my forthcoming retirement do's as you are obviously under some sort of pressure to get "bladdered". I even considered not celebrating at all in this manner, and to avoid accusations of short arms and deep pockets, to make a donation to a railway charity instead. In the end, I have settled for middle ground.

I have long been a financial supporter of 'Railway Children'. Back in 2007, something like 6 teams of railwaymen and ladies from the Bristol area completed their 3-Peaks Challenge by Rail and some repeated the event the following year. That was teamwork at its best because the teams were made up from all grades.

Has anything definite been arranged?

If so where?

mow wrote:Has anything definite been arranged?

If so where?

When I stop and think about it, we've been nattering away on this thread about this but we haven't actually spelt it out

Short answer - Yes its been arranged.

Longer answer:-

Monday 14th May (to tie in with the visit to Bristol of the "55F men" -see elsewhere on this thread).

Location - Barley Mow, Barton Road, "The Dings" and people will begin to arrive around 1900. I shall be there about 2020 if my train is running and on time. The pub shuts at 2300 but some of us will be leaving a bit earlier to get the last train home.

Jules has been volunteered to make a 22A/ 82E replica shedplate to aid identification of the group, and the 55F men have threatened to bring a 6-foot poster of Sir Henry Fowler (although I think the shedplate might be easier to carry in the pocket)

If you are coming by train, leave through the old station and through the uncovered car park on the site of Bristol Goods, turn right virtually straight away and go over the new footbridge. Go straight across Avon Road and straight on until the road turns into a footpath/ cycle track (more of this later) then turn left. The Barley Mow is just around the corner as that road bears right. Its less than 10 minutes walk from BTM.

I was down there this afternoon (purely by coincidence, taking some photographs for a book I've written about cycling from the Severn Bridge to Limehouse basin in London - details will appear on the website when its in a fit state for publication ).

Now the side issue - whilst down there this afternoon I noticed that there is something amiss with the new signage from BTM to the Bristol to Bath cycle track. If you go where the signs tell you to go, you go up this new piece of cycle track beyond Barton Road and they appear to lead you into a cul de sac, and you need to watch carefully for the signs to tell you the way out. Even then, you are on the wrong side of the stub branch down from Lawrence Hill, and you won't be able to get back on to the cycle track proper without joining St Phillips Causeway for a short length. I would recommend carrying on using the "old" route from Midland Road up St Phillips Road which takes you more directly to the cycle path.

On the positive side, this new route takes you through the site of 82E, but I would challenge anybody to know where they were in relation to where the old shed buildings were!

I would have a pretty good idea Robin because I can still identify where the old house stood in Barrow Road. When that rank of houses was demolished, it was replaced by a carpet warehouse.

Very sorry; I was hoping to make an attempt to attend but I now find that I will not be in Bristol that evening.
Perhaps if it is a success there can be another get-together at a future date.
Regards

Just a quick reminder to all - it's tomorrow night (or tonight if you're reading this on Monday )

Monday 14th May, The Barley Mow, Barton Road (off Midland Road) St Phillips. Kick-off appears to be around 1900 but some of us will be a bit later.

What a pleasant evening! Was great to finally meet you all and finally put faces to names.

I think the otherwise empty pub probably appreciated our beer drinking too!

A very enjoyable evening with good company.

Great to meet you all.