The Bristol Railway Archive

can any one remember a signal box on the wall just past the colston hall.it controlled movements to park row? and down pass the infirmary.the tram routes were i believe were to west-bury-on-trym and and up the Gloucester road.

oldchapie wrote:can any one remember a signal box on the wall just past the colston hall.it controlled movements to park row? and down pass the infirmary.the tram routes were i believe were to west-bury-on-trym and and up the Gloucester road.

I am too young to remember it but have seen pictures of it - almost opposite Christmas Steps I think. It must have been a very sharp and potentially troublesome U-bend round into Park Row....

Thinking about it, I now find that this was the original tram route and initially ran from Park Row to the foot of Blackboy Hill. The hairpin bend down into Colston St was a later addition (1875 or thereabouts?)

If you can get hold of Buses, Trolleys, and Trams, by Chas Dunbar, there is a nice picture of the signal box, and trams going around, on Page 65.

First of all, I must say hello. Been a watcher here for a long time and what a great site it is!

As a youngster (I'm 33 now) I used to perform regularly at the Colston Hall and if my memory serves me correctly there used to be an old semaphore signal outside the foyer. Have I just imagined this or would this once have been part of the tram system?

Hello Noiseboy,

I've just joined too, and it is a very good site indeed. Much better than others I have tried - and we are allowed a bus thread as well - the icing on the cake.

I was resident in Bristol from 1950 to 1978, and I used to spend a lot of my time in the Colston Hall - but I don't remember a signal outside the Hall - but there was one approaching the junction of Colston Street and Park Row/Upper Maudlin Street. Could this be the one you are thinking of?

Hi Ian,

Thanks for that. I remember the signal you've mentioned, this must be the one I'm thinking of. Funny how I have a clear picture in my head of it outside the Colston Hall!