Memories

[pannier 57]

Just a few words from an ex-bristolian. Just trawling through the net when I came upon this site. And very good it is!....Anyway, my memories go back to quadrupled running lines at Ashley Hill station, from which I took many a trip with my parents, one was to Hampton Court, and I even retain the little book we made at school to memorise the event! Unfortunately, the station has gone, along with its island platform, gas lamps, the quadrupled track, and of course the steam traction. And does ANYONE remember the coal and brick sidings at Ashley Hill/Muller rd. ? I spent hours and hours at my dads allotements watching the yard being shunted by a pannier tank. The allotements also have gone, along with the yard. I think there are houses there now. (end of Dovercourt rd) I was just a young kid, but Im so glad I grew up to witness steam traction as the NORM and not as relics or preserved, albeit beautifully clean and looked after!....Does anyone remember the footbridge between Ashley Hill and Lockleaze Rd bridge???
I spent nearly EVERY day truanting on that footbridge when I got 'upgraded' to a secondary school (Lockleaze S.M.) And that's where I met two other boys from St.Thomas Moore R/C school who taught me what the game of 'chicken' was. I was SO bloody naieve, I had NO idea what 'playing chicken was!!! They taught me! Well I had to get through the the wire strand fence that ran along the side of the footpath and then we all had to choose a track (remember there were 4 then!) so we sat on the
down slow/down relief (so I found out later!) and the idea was that we sat there until a train came, and the first to get up and run was the "chicken" Well we didn't have long to wait....a long freight came towards us and the driver duly whistled up to tell us to 'get the hell off of it!'but I was persuaded to 'hold my ground' ....this I did, as the train was very slow anyway......BUT then it stopped! Both driver AND fireman leaped out and started running towards us!! Well, I was not at all easy about playing this stupid 'chicken' game anyway, and I knew it was wrong, so without a care about being subjected to ridicule by my 'friends' I leapt up and ran through the fence at top speed (which was quite fast back then!!) I don't know what those enginemen would have done to me if they had caught me, but needless to say I NEVER ever did such a stupid and downright dangerous thing again!! I can only apologise profusely, even now if by some chance either or both those men are still with us..Sorry! [/b]

[madhattie]

Does anyone remember the footbridge between Ashley Hill and Lockleaze Rd bridge???

I was up there today and thought of you


Pete