56XX/66XX Locomotives that were in the Bristol area

[Hobbler]

I have come across a reference to a couple of 56XX/66XX class engines being allocated to Bristol St Phillips Marsh shed . This class was mainly to be found in the South Wales valleys but there were a few allocated to other sheds . I presume they were at Bristol for use on coal traffic and I wonder if anyone knows why the Marsh needed them ? Were they used on the North Somerset line coal traffic for example ? I would be surprised if they were used on south wales traffic as Severn Tunnel Junction had a number of the class and it would have been easier to use one of those.

[Robin Summerhill]

I can't help for certain regardimg what they were used for, because I was a young "number taker" back then rather than a matured railway enthusiast, although I do seem to recall seeing them at Stapleton Road for banking work. I also have a vague recollection of seeing them on the Avonmouth line

My research on steam allocations for the last eight years (1960 to 1968) tells me that there were quite a few of them, but they had all gone by the end of 1962. From March 1960 onwards, allocations of these engines at 82B were as follows:

5640 - Sept 60 to Sept 62
5697 - Transferred away May 60
6601 - Transferred away Jan 62
6630 - Transferred away Feb 62
6654 - June 60 to Nov 62
6670 - Transferred away Sep 61
6671 - Transferred away Sep 61
6681 - Transferred away Mar 62

[Hobbler]

Thanks Robin .

I have a note that at least two (one of which was 6600) were allocated to the Marsh as far back as 1934 not long after the class was introduced so it would seem there was a particular type of turn they were needed for .

Now you mention it I think I have a vague memory of seeing them on the Avonmouth line as well , cant think why as most of the bigger freights seemed to be handled by 2-8-0's or 2-10-0's in those days which wouldnt require banking assistance .The only section of the line that was ever a problem as far as I recall was the bank from Sea Mills upto Clifton Down Tunnel and then the only engines which seemed to have difficulty was anything that was short of steam or had a mechanical defect of some sort.

[Robin Summerhill]

The banker provided at Stapleton Road was for the ascent to Filton. Athough this wasn't one of my regular haunts, I never saw one used to bank anything on the Clifton line, but that is not to say that they never were used for it.

The vast majority of freight out of Avonmouth in those days went via Hallen to Stoke Gifford, unless it was destined for Westerleigh or Bath GP in which case it went via Ashley Hill junction and Kingswood junction. Excluding engine and brake van workings, my 1959 working time table only shows the following freight trains using the line between Montpelier and Stapleton Road:

1205 No.7 transfer Clifton Down to Lawrence Hill
1355 Avonmouth to East Depot
1718 Royal Edward Yard to West Depot

[Hobbler]

As far as I remember the majority of freight traffic I used to see passing through Sea Mills in that period was destined for or originated from Westerleigh , with some for Green Park .Much was short notice traffic , for example there would be a flurry of activity after a Banana boat docked at Avonmouth as obviously the cargo had to be off loaded and moved as fast as possible . The long trains of vans for this traffic was usually in the care of a 9F as far as I recall.

[tugboatcharly2]

These locos at SPM were mainly used on the Avonmouth and Stoke Gifford diagrams also transfer work Avonmouth to West Depot I have no record of any of these locos working over the Radstock branch I remember that we had daytime diagram Avonmouth to Stoke Gifford in the Plymouth link. Hope this helps.