The Bristol Railway Archive

The Top of the Pops from BTM was in fact 30.08.1984

Jimmy Saville was on the HST and Howard Jones performed Like to Get to Know You Well on Platform 3.

My father in full GWR Uniform (circa 1900) greeted the train into the station, I know he has it on video somewhere, along with the Queens visit to the open up the old train shed after its refurb.

Be good

Robin Summerhill wrote:
It was in June 1977, and shortly after the HSTs were introduced (I was at Bath Road until September 1976, and the HST depot at St Phillip's Marsh was just being completed at the time, so presumably the full HST service would have started with the commencement of the summer timetable that year)

Indieras wrote:The Top of the Pops from BTM was in fact 30.08.1984

Jimmy Saville was on the HST and Howard Jones performed Like to Get to Know You Well on Platform 3.

My father in full GWR Uniform (circa 1900) greeted the train into the station, I know he has it on video somewhere, along with the Queens visit to the open up the old train shed after its refurb.

Be good

There was clearly more than one speed record attempt then!

I presume therefore that the 1977 one was purely to publicise the new service.

Robin Summerhill wrote:

Andrew wrote: quote="Hobbler"

Robin Summerhill wrote:
On the subject of special trains did anyone else go on any of the specials that started from BTM or passed through in the 1960's and early 1970's ? . I particularly remember the series of trains organised by the S & D Circle . BTM to Horsted Keynes for the Bluebell Railway (6 car Dmu) and a trip behind the Dukedog , Taunton and BTM to Kidderminster for the Severn Valley Railway and 3205 for Bridgnorth to Hampton Loade , BTM to Keighley for the Worth Valley Railway , BTM to Diss for a visit to Bressingham , BTM to Romney for a ride on the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch.

The RH & D trip must have been pre-1967 if you went to "Romney" as New Romney & Littlestone BR station closed that year. Nearest open railhead after that would have been Appledore (Kent)

That was Hobbler's post, not mine!

Dunno how that happened-sorry. Sandling is obviously nearer for Hythe. Appledore would be nearer to New Romney

Andrew wrote: Appledore would be nearer to New Romney

But its a longer walk

Robin Summerhill wrote:

Andrew wrote: Appledore would be nearer to New Romney

But its a longer walk

Granted - About 8 miles Appledore - N/R as opposed to circa 1.5 Sandling-Hythe. However, Sandling-N/R is nearer 10!

Indieras wrote:The Top of the Pops from BTM was in fact 30.08.1984

Jimmy Saville was on the HST and Howard Jones performed Like to Get to Know You Well on Platform 3.

My father in full GWR Uniform (circa 1900) greeted the train into the station, I know he has it on video somewhere, along with the Queens visit to the open up the old train shed after its refurb.

Be good

Any chance of you talking nicely to your father about this Indieras please?
It would be fantastic to include.

Roger wrote:
A visit was never complete without a visit, via the back wall, to Barrow Road shed and of course The Marsh. Bath Road to me was a "no go" depot for bunking.

Perhaps Bath Road got easier as the years progressed. Up to the Three Lamps, down the footpath that led to Albert Road, and in over the back wall and across the avoiding line - I never got chucked out! (It was a waste of time going to the main entrance - you didn't stand a chance!)

Roger wrote:
I often wonder whether some of the staff today would cope with all the numerous loco changes that took place in those days with the North to South West workings. No radios, just good old solid working practices. (Hope I don't upset anyone there).

The railway is a different place today. Even in my day (up to 1979), there were shunters almost wholly employed on uncoupling and coupling engines.

In those days, when the driver had a board against him, somebody had to get down and phone the signalman. I found it a little incongruous some years ago when I went to Bath to see the V2, and noticed the driver on to Control on his mobile phone!

As one old driver said to me over 30 years ago - "in steam days it was a proper railway - not the Hornby Dublo rubbish we've got today!"

Lulu, Indieras,

I was there when the Top of the Pops special rolled in, saw Howard Jones. Thanks for the date Indieras, I've been able to date my photo taken on that night, click on the linkhttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3509/346 ... f023_o.jpg.

Lulu, memories of Temple Meads (1980's/90's) include gathering on the end of the paltform nearest Bath Road sheds. I remember it was usually cold on the platform, often because it was windy, and was glad when trains were on either side of the platform, so I could shelter from the wind! There was a hardcore of 'spotters, some virtually lived there! Occasionally I would go there on an evening to take photos in the dark, the same people were there. Eating pasties in the buffet on platform 12. Also remember thousands of Starlings flying about the station. Never see them now.

mangotsfield_mauler wrote:Lulu, Indieras,

I was there when the Top of the Pops special rolled in, saw Howard Jones. Thanks for the date Indieras, I've been able to date my photo taken on that night, click on the linkhttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3509/346 ... f023_o.jpg.

Lulu, memories of Temple Meads (1980's/90's) include gathering on the end of the paltform nearest Bath Road sheds. I remember it was usually cold on the platform, often because it was windy, and was glad when trains were on either side of the platform, so I could shelter from the wind! There was a hardcore of 'spotters, some virtually lived there! Occasionally I would go there on an evening to take photos in the dark, the same people were there. Eating pasties in the buffet on platform 12. Also remember thousands of Starlings flying about the station. Never see them now.

I seem to recall that in the 60's / 70's an attempt was made to scare the starlings away by means of a bloke wandering around on the roof of the buildings (presumably not the train shed!) banging dustbin lids together - I remember a news item on 'Points West" about it.

Hobbler wrote:

horace wrote: I will always remember the day Mallard made a visit, just a memory now my ex wife binned the photograph i took. I remember cycling like crazy to go and see Brittania on shed at Spam only to get there just after it had left. But the one thing that always stuck with me was the wagons being shunted up and down the slope to the Goods Yard, later with deisel shunters, but i have vague memories of seeing it done with a matchbox(ex GWR pannier) as well. What really makes me think is that in 1961 i was ten, and was cycling on my own to here, and my parents knew, how things have changed.

I used a whole film from my trusty Brownie 127 on Mallard that day and kept the photos for many years until they vanished during a house move.
I was trying to remember the Tour organisation - I think it was something like the Hampshire Locomotive Society - anyone know ?

The shunters truck/pannier combination at Bristol Goods was fascinating to watch , I doubt whether the staff would be allowed to do it these days with H & S regulations. I think the trucks were used with diesels as well for a short while but then I presume went out of fashion when it was realised the shunter could ride on the loco steps.

I thought the "runner" truck was to help with track circuit operation given the short wheelbase of the shunting locos...?

Robin Summerhill wrote:Another memory just crossed my mind:

By 1962 all the regular trains to London were diesel hauled, usually by Warships, but once a year there was a Hockey special taking those interested in such things up to a cup final (or whatever they call it in Hockey).

I/ we were just at that difficult age - not knowing whether we were there to look at the engine (4920 Dumbleton Hall was a regular as I recall), or the teenage girls that were getting on the train

Which reminds me - there was a very attractive young lady, who wore VERY short skirts, who worked at TM in one of the offices, who used to travel in from Montpelier on the same ttrain as me. i wonder where she is now..........

Andrew wrote:

mangotsfield_mauler wrote: Also remember thousands of Starlings flying about the station. Never see them now.

I seem to recall that in the 60's / 70's an attempt was made to scare the starlings away by means of a bloke wandering around on the roof of the buildings (presumably not the train shed!) banging dustbin lids together - I remember a news item on 'Points West" about it.

I remember that as well. It was more "environmentally friendly" than shooting the buggers!

When I worked in the Paybill Office above Temple Meads Motors, the sky would go literally black with the huge flocks of them. They seemed to enjoy flying under the bridge and gaining height rapidly afterwrds.

mangotsfield_mauler wrote:Lulu, Indieras,

I was there when the Top of the Pops special rolled in, saw Howard Jones. Thanks for the date Indieras, I've been able to date my photo taken on that night, click on the linkhttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3509/346 ... f023_o.jpg.

Would you allow me to use this still in the programme please MM?

Lulu, memories of Temple Meads (1980's/90's) include gathering on the end of the paltform nearest Bath Road sheds. I remember it was usually cold on the platform, often because it was windy, and was glad when trains were on either side of the platform, so I could shelter from the wind! There was a hardcore of 'spotters, some virtually lived there! Occasionally I would go there on an evening to take photos in the dark, the same people were there. Eating pasties in the buffet on platform 12. Also remember thousands of Starlings flying about the station. Never see them now.

So where is everybody nowadays? I am past 12 hrs filming on the platforms mark at all sorts of hours/days and not seen a single spotter.........Unless everyone is disguised as passengers.

Surely the newish regs are not the cause of this.

So where is everybody nowadays? I am past 12 hrs filming on the platforms mark at all sorts of hours/days and not seen a single spotter.........Unless everyone is disguised as passengers.

Since Bath Road closed, they seem to now gather at the London end of the station platforms 5/7. My friend Jane tried to interview a couple of them while we were making the FOSBR film, but they were very cagey.

Lulu,

You may use the Top of the Pops picture, if you need name for credits then I'll email you separately. I'm happy to be interviewed on camera, but I have nowhere near enough to say as the other chaps here.

I was an occasional visitor to BTM in 80's and early 90's until girls and alcohol became more important! This also coincided with changes in the railways. I liked the blue and yellow colours that 70/80's BR used, but when they went, and lots of locomotives made way for new diesel railcar stock, it lost it's attraction. The fact that Bath Road engine shed was demolished was another factor, no more straining with binoculars to see the numbers of the engines at the shed. There was always a number of "unique" characters at the end of platform 12 watching the shed.

I still like to watch trains, my nephews of course love Thomas, so a Hornby train set often appears when they visit. BTM as a place always fascinated me as it's more like a cathedral than a station. Funnily enough my wedding reception was held in an old train station in the USA, in my wife's home town, but now we've settled back in Bristol. I no longer walk the platforms of BTM, unless I'm on the train to London for a meeting. I'm not even sure of the rules now for going on the station, whether you need a platform ticket etc.. It seems less friendly there somehow...