This is the original forum of the Bristol Railway Archive that existed between 2003 and 2013. I finally rescued it after it seemed unrecoverable after a large crash. I have made it available for viewing. It is locked, all posts to the new version please!
Use this forum to talk about the railways in and around Bristol, or for any off-topic stuff you want to share. Also request photos and information that you are missing.
Just a quick note to say that the crossover and headshunt at Flax Bourton depot (aka Tynesfield sidings) was removed this weekend by Jarvis.
All that is left at this site now is the up and down main (just plain track,) the track within the compound fence plus the groundframe and S&T location cabinets.
Looks like the plans that were floated a year or two back for installing a convaor belt to the quarry up the road and using it as a railhead have been permanently by the NIMBYs whoÆd preferred 100Æs of lorries per week instead.
you mentioned in your post that they were considering installing a conveyor belt to the quarry in Flax Bourton. Would this happen to be the Tarmac Quarry just up stancombe lane?
I would also be interested in visiting both the Flax Bourton Station and Tyntesfield sidings sites..would it be possible to post some directions perhaps?
I would also be interested in visiting both the Flax Bourton Station and Tyntesfield sidings sites..would it be possible to post some directions perhaps?
Have a look at this map. (He said, hoping the link would work...)
Coming back from Bristol on the late train, just after the floodlights at Flax Bourton station flashed past, the train became perfectly still, it was so smooth it was like flying
Of course this only lasted a second or two and then it was back to the bouncy castle ride
The new section of track really makes a difference though
I just remembered I have some pics of Crowcombe station taken in summer 1997...
They're not particularly good, a little blurry and some into-the-sun shots...it was a really cheap camera and I was a pre-casual-amateur-photographer...heh
A few shots feature "something" Hall (name + number blurred..) working tender-first with a southbound train towards Bishops Lydeard, and King 6024 heading north, but the real interest comes from the station shots, featuring the building, signal box, and of course what i now know as Flax Bourton's wooden shelter!
Although I believe it's on the up platform, not the down.
Fantastic pic of Flax Bourton in the 60's, though it is sad to see the contrast between then and now
On the Flax Bourton page there's a note saying that the waiting shelter is now at Crowcombe on the WSR, but the small brick-built down platform building shown in the 60's isn't like anything at Crowcombe...
It's also missing from the current scene...was it moved elsewhere or just demolished like so many other railway buildings
James wrote:On the Flax Bourton page there's a note saying that the waiting shelter is now at Crowcombe on the WSR, but the small brick-built down platform building shown in the 60's isn't like anything at Crowcombe...
Good call! I read about the waiting shelter being moved in one of Colin Maggs books. As you say, now that we have a picture to compare the two it looks completely different to the one at Crowcombe!
So, I don't know. A respected author says it is the one, but it's clearly changed identity if it is. I guess we need someone from the WSR to jump in and let us know
But as you say, a fantastic pic This kind of thing really elevates the website.
"If I remember correctly its the corrugated lamp shed that we recovered from Flax Bourton not the Waiting shelter. I think it was located in the yard not on the platform. There are some pics of it being moved from Up to Down platform at Crowcombe on the Crowcombe station site."
Mystery solved! Looks like the respected author got it wrong
The station building is open to the elements trackside, but the other side boarded/bricked up? I want to go and see the station close up and would like to stick my head/camera into the interior if possible!
Last time I was there it would have been possible to get a pic of the inside if you were prepared to fight it out with some rampant buddleia and brambles.
Not sure what the situation is at the mo. Will try to find out before this week is out. I'll probably be down there either tomorrow or friday.
