Diesel Hydraulics at St Philips - 1970's

jules · Post by **jules** » Mon Aug 30, 2010 11:12 pm

Some on here will recall the languishing diesel hydraulics dumped in St Philips during the early 1970's, including D6319 (see link):

http://western-champions-pics-online.fo ... 49540.html

But from collective memories and records, could we come up with a definitive list of locos stored there (and even dates in and out)?

Jules

Robin Summerhill · Post by **Robin Summerhill** » Tue Aug 31, 2010 12:35 pm

Are you sure its as late as the early 70s?

I was at Bath Road from 1971 to 1976 and from time to time had cause to go down to the DMU servicing sidings which were on the other side of the bridge, and I can't remember seeing them in the former MPD at all.

In addition, she who was to become wife no.1 was working at the fruit market (which was built on the site of 82B) before we got married in 1972

jules · Post by **jules** » Tue Aug 31, 2010 5:48 pm

Yes, it was definitely early seventies - up to about 1974 I'd say. When the D63xx, Warships and Hymeks were being withdrawn. There were several Warships and D63's there - and I think one or two Hymeks passed through. Never saw a Western there.

They were not as far towards the DMU depot as you have mentioned. They were stored in Victoria Road sidings, the first bit of railway real estate you came to after crossing the Avon from Bristol West on the avoiding line on the up side - set down in level a little and directly abutting Victoria Road.

There was a hole in the fence, a small bank to climb, four sets of buffers - and then the locos. Never, ever got chased out of there ... and back then it was particularly dead on a Sunday afternoon.

Robin Summerhill · Post by **Robin Summerhill** » Tue Aug 31, 2010 5:53 pm

That makes more sense, stored in the old yard.

IIRC, 82B depot was demolished shortly after closure and the the site sold to build the (then) new fruit market

jules · Post by **jules** » Tue Aug 31, 2010 6:13 pm

IIRC, 82B depot was demolished shortly after closure and the the site sold to build the (then) new fruit market

That's correct. There was also another set of sidings nearby, at 90 degree angle to Victoria Road sidings (at up end), called the Coal Yard I believe.

jules · Post by **jules** » Wed Sep 01, 2010 10:06 pm

Answering my own question here, but I've got a positive confirmation from elsewhere on another two of the Victoria Sidings locos:

D6323, stored at St Philips, towed to Swindon Feb 72
D7040, stored at St Philips, towed to Swindon Apr 72

Both cut up early August 72