The Bristol Railway Archive

Oooo I don't know about 18:00 on a Monday eve 20years ago I remember 56's pulling into Stoke Gifford yard at the head of a rake of ARC hoppers with a rake of empties a waiting to depart on the siding which is now (was) the Royal Mail distribution centre.

They always made a great noise...

Rich_Eason wrote: I remember 56's pulling into Stoke Gifford yard...

They always made a great noise...

The only "56's" I remember at Stoke Gifford were 0-6-2 tanks.....

During their years in service a number of class 56s were based at Bristol Bath Road. They ran to Tytherington (stone traffic), Avonmouth (LPG traffic), and Westerleigh (the 'binliner'). The 'BR' locos also hauled the mendip stone trains and then ran to Bath Road for servicing. <BJ>

What i meant was we didnt actually get many go on up to Gloucester, Living in yate Celestine road next to the line I dont recall seeing very many at all, except like i said on the tytherington line. I n fact in my old 1984 Abc I only have 17 underlined.

56's actually came to Bath Road about 30 years ago. Myself and a colleague were called into the Depot Engineer's office with about a week's notice and told we were running the training courses for artisan staff. He did all the mechanical bits i.e. the engine and cooling system while I covered the electrical and electronic systems. Fortunately, most of the electronic equipment was very similar to that on HST's with which I was fully conversant. In fact some of the plug in modules for the load regulator, voltage regulator and battery charger were directly interchangeable.

We also set up a bodyside cleaning facility so we could do a better job by hand than the automatic washer, which just seemed to move the dirt and grime around. The first loco off main exam (56032 I think) worked a late afternoon West Depot - Pengam Freightliner. I just caught her passing the bottom of my garden winding up for the climb of Filton Bank. She sounded in fine fettle and looked an absolute picture. Just a shame I didn't have my camera to hand.

tonyperks wrote:What i meant was we didnt actually get many go on up to Gloucester, Living in yate Celestine road next to the line I dont recall seeing very many at all, except like i said on the tytherington line. I n fact in my old 1984 Abc I only have 17 underlined.

Hello Chris, during the late '80s, I was also living in Yate.
One evening, I'd walked across Westerleigh Common to the allotments (and pigs!) near where the GW line used to cross the LMS line at Nibley.
A 56 had come out from Tytherington with a loaded stone train of PGAs, and was approaching me from the site of Yate station quite slowly.
Suddenly, all went quiet and it stopped - the loco had failed.

With the train blocking the line, and 1E38 (Newcastle TPO) held at Westerleigh West, the decision was made to use 47608 on the TPO to push the failed 56 and train back onto the Tytherington branch!. That was the only time I saw the TPO there! I wish I'd kept my slides ...

Very Best Wishes,
Bob.

Caught a glimpse of this drifting down Filton Bank again this morning. (17.10) Anyone have the times for the return working please?

bristolian wrote:

tonyperks wrote:What i meant was we didnt actually get many go on up to Gloucester, Living in yate Celestine road next to the line I dont recall seeing very many at all, except like i said on the tytherington line. I n fact in my old 1984 Abc I only have 17 underlined.

Hello Chris, during the late '80s, I was also living in Yate.
One evening, I'd walked across Westerleigh Common to the allotments (and pigs!) near where the GW line used to cross the LMS line at Nibley.
A 56 had come out from Tytherington with a loaded stone train of PGAs, and was approaching me from the site of Yate station quite slowly.
Suddenly, all went quiet and it stopped - the loco had failed.

With the train blocking the line, and 1E38 (Newcastle TPO) held at Westerleigh West, the decision was made to use 47608 on the TPO to push the failed 56 and train back onto the Tytherington branch!. That was the only time I saw the TPO there! I wish I'd kept my slides ...

Very Best Wishes,
Bob.

So do I Bob that i would have liked to see. Hope the route is working fine now for you.

madhattie wrote:Anyone have the times for the return working please?

It normally returns on a Thursday at approx 17:30 (Narroways). I was at the Malago today to see it head west. The sun shone for the first time in nearly an hour as the train came into view .....lucky. <BJ>

tonyperks wrote:

bristolian wrote:

tonyperks wrote:What i meant was we didnt actually get many go on up to Gloucester, Living in yate Celestine road next to the line I dont recall seeing very many at all, except like i said on the tytherington line. I n fact in my old 1984 Abc I only have 17 underlined.

Hello Chris, during the late '80s, I was also living in Yate.
One evening, I'd walked across Westerleigh Common to the allotments (and pigs!) near where the GW line used to cross the LMS line at Nibley.
A 56 had come out from Tytherington with a loaded stone train of PGAs, and was approaching me from the site of Yate station quite slowly.
Suddenly, all went quiet and it stopped - the loco had failed.

With the train blocking the line, and 1E38 (Newcastle TPO) held at Westerleigh West, the decision was made to use 47608 on the TPO to push the failed 56 and train back onto the Tytherington branch!. That was the only time I saw the TPO there! I wish I'd kept my slides ...

Very Best Wishes,
Bob.

So do I Bob that i would have liked to see. Hope the route is working fine now for you.

It's not yet - but thanks anyway .

madhattie wrote:Anyone have the times for the return working please?

56094 to work 6Z53 loaded log train 14:41 Teigngrace to Chirk Kronospan. 18/10/2012.

Newton Abbot 15:06-15:26
Teignmouth 15:33
Dawlish 15:36
Dawlish Warren 15:37
Exeter St Davids 15:48
Cowley Bridge Jn 15:50
Tiverton Loop 16:05
Tiverton Parkway 16:07
Whiteball 16:11
Norton Fitzwarren 16:20
Taunton 16:22
Cogload Jn 16:27
Bridgwater 16:34
Uphill Jn 16:48
Worle Jn 16:56
Parson Street 17:11
Bristol West Jn 17:14-17:32
Bristol Temple Meads 17:34
Bristol East Jn 17:35
Dr Days Jn 17:36
Narroways Hill Jn 17:38
Filton Abbey Wood 17:43
Patchway 17:49
Pilning 18:00-18:18
Severn Tunnel East 18:20
Severn Tunnel West 18:26
Severn Tunnel Jn 18:27
Llanwern West Jn 18:35
Maindee East Jn 18:38
Maindee North Jn 18:40
Panteg 18:59-19:33
Little Mill Jn 19:41
Abergaveny 19:49
Pontralis 20:04
Tram Inn 20:10
Hereford 20:20-20:22
Ship 20:25
Moreton On Lugg 20:28
Leominster 20:37
Wofferton 20:44
Bromfield 20:51
Craven Arms 20:57
Marshbrook 21:03
Dorrington 21:13
Shrewsbury 21:23
Harlescott 21:27
Wemm 21:36
Prees 21:39
Wrenbury 21:50
Nantwich 21:56
Crewe Gresty Lane 22:24-22:28
Crewe 22:33
Crewe Steel Works 22:36
Beeston 22:48
Chester 23:06
Chester South Jn 23:07
Saltney Jn 23:16
Wrexham General 23:29-23:34
Chirk 23:44 23:54
Chirk kronospan 23:57

Thanks to Driff47844 at SWRG. <BJ>

Sunset 18.10.

mow wrote:Sunset 18.10.

Then head west young man. <BJ>

Thanks for the detailed timings. Unfortunately we had a bereavement overnight and I wasn't able (or felt like I wanted to) get out and get any photos.

But thank you, appreciated.

I'm sorry to read that bad news Pete, my thoughts are with you.



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