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THIS WAS THE AGE OF THE TRAIN

A Bristol group is holding a special event to mark the end of the steam train era in the city. The Barton Hill History Group will be commemorating the 40th anniversary of the closure of the Barrow Road Engine Shed next week.

They will hold a tribute to the former Midland shed and are hoping to get many of the former employees together.

It is planned to be a night of photos, memories and reunions, including dozens of pictures featuring Barrow Road through the years.

There will also be railway memorabilia and a slide presentation by Bristol historian and author, David Cheesley.

It will be the chance for people of Barton Hill to take a look at David's book, Bristol Transport and the history group's new book, Barton Hill Revisited, featuring more than 200 pictures of old Barton Hill.

The meeting is being held at The Settlement, Ducie Road, Barton Hill, on Wednesday, November 16.

It starts at 7.30pm and costs ú1.50 to non-members.

James wrote: A Bristol group is holding a special event to mark the end of the steam train era in the city. The Barton Hill History Group will be commemorating the 40th anniversary of the closure of the Barrow Road Engine Shed next week.

Strictly speaking, I believe the closure of Barrow Road shed did not mark the end of steam trains in Bristol. I have read in one of Colin Maggs's books that steam-hauled freights continued to reach Bristol until the summer of 1966, even though there were no longer any loco-servicing facilities.

Does anyone have more exact details? Was the very last BR steam train to Bristol acknowledged in any way?

A further thought. Bath Green Park shed would have remained open for steam until the S&D closed in March 1966. How late did any of the Temple Meads-Green Park trains remain steam-operated?

Nothing to say Pete?

I can only speak from memory.

First visit to Bath GP was in April 1965 - steam 82041 on duty.
Last visit to Bath GP on a timetabled train was 19 February 1966 - Warship D856 on the 06.00 from BTM. This was the first time Im saw a diesel on this line. The S&D trains were all steam.

Helloooooooooooo Peeeeeeete??? You going?

James wrote:Helloooooooooooo Peeeeeeete??? You going?

Don't know the answer! I was only two years old at the time

There's a picture on the Bath Green Park page that shows 82044 at that station in Oct 1965. That's the oldest dated steam train photo I have. can't find any other references in any of my books.

madhattie wrote:Don't know the answer! I was only two years old at the time

I meant are you going to the meeting

James wrote:

madhattie wrote:Don't know the answer! I was only two years old at the time

I meant are you going to the meeting

Ah, right!

I can't, the wife goes to nightschool on a Wednesday. I'm looking after the sprogs!

It is nearly six years since the last reply on this thread, but these are some of my observations of steam in Bristol after the closure of the shed on November 20, 1965.

On Sunday 21 November there were three engines on shed, 9680, 92209 and 48751

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bristolste ... 5157165429

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bristolste ... 5157165429

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bristolste ... 5157165429

Both tender engines had left by Monday afternoon, but 9680 remained on shed until Thursday 25 November.

One Bath Green Park turn remained steam hauled until January 1, 1966. It was 2B93 10.49 arrival from Bath, forming the 12.12 Bristol to Bath Green Park. 82001 was a frequent performer on this train.

On Wed December 8 at Lawrence Hill I saw 48120 and 45061 coupled gong north LE to Gloucester at 10.30 and half an hour later 90706 and 48201 came south to Bristol from Gloucester.

My last photo of steam in Bristol was 92230 which was on Bath Road Depot and moved off at 11.50. 44858 was also there.

Steam engines continued to penetrate to Bristol after the end of steam on Western Region on January 1 1966. Black 5's or 8F's were often to be seen on Bath Road in January.

The last steam engine I saw in normal service at Temple Meads was 48309 LE through the station on Saturday March 5, the weekend of the closure of the S&D.

I believe that in the Summer of 1966 a number of steam hauled freights reached Stoke Gifford Yard before returning LE to Birmingham.

trafalgar45682 wrote:It is nearly six years since the last reply on this thread,

Im glad you said that.... i was going to pop along, 6 years late.

Splodge wrote :

Im glad you said that.... i was going to pop along, 6 years late.

Perhaps we should start to arrange Barrow Road's 50th anniversary celebrations in November 2015.

Perhaps we should start to arrange Barrow Road's 50th anniversary celebrations in November 2015.

Maybe we should do one for Bath Road too?

I guess, technically, St Philips Marsh is still operational ....

We are a little too late for the 50th anniversary for the closure of Bath Road to steam. I believe that was in September 1960. Ironically, when Barrow Road closed in November 1965, steam engines that reached Bristol were serviced on Barrow Road.

trafalgar45682 wrote: Ironically, when Barrow Road closed in November 1965, steam engines that reached Bristol were serviced on Barrow Road.

I'm not quite sure what you are saying here.

After Barrow Road closed in November 1965 then depots on the Western Region still able to deal with steam locomotives were very few and far between. Gloucester Horton Road and Worcester closed in December, and Oxford in January 1966. Bath Green Park and Templecome soldiered on, of course, until March 1966, but that was due to special circumstances (ie. Wakes bus services preventing the S&D closure in January by withdrawing their replacement bus licence application).

I was under the impression (from memory, so quite happy to be proved wrong) that nothing ran LE from Bristol to Bath for servicing post November 1965, and that any steam locomotives penetrating as far as Bristol post-November 1965 worked back north straight away.

Are you saying that shed staff were retained at an ostensibly closed Barrow Road in order to service visiting locomotives?