Chippenham to Swindon plus Swindon Works visits
Please note that coverage of the various visits to Swindon Works and 'Steam' at Swindon is rather 'piece meal' and you'll have to patiently scroll through.
Please note that coverage of the various visits to Swindon Works and 'Steam' at Swindon is rather 'piece meal' and you'll have to patiently scroll through.
From Chippenham to Swindon
Chippenham
Christian Malford Halt Closed passengers 4th January 1965 Closed Approx four miles from Chippenham.
Dauntsey Closed 4th January 1965 From Wikipedia The station site is a mile and a half south of Dauntsey village and is near Dauntsey Lock which suggests that the station was important to the Wilts and Berks canal. Dauntsey was a small station with three platforms, The station had a main building with a canopy on the up platform (towards London) with a bay serving the Malmesbury branch. and the platform on the opposite side had a small brick shelter, also with a canopy.
Dauntsey station became the junction for the branch line to Malmesbury in 1877. The up platform was extended west of the road bridge with a bay platform to accommodate trains on the branch line. When the GWR built the South Wales line in 1903 it passed a few miles north of Dauntsey. In 1933 the connection between the Malmesbury branch and the main line was moved to Little Somerford on the newer main line, and the redundant section between Dauntsey and Somerford became a siding. The canopy used for the branch line platform was moved to Yatton station where it can still be seen today.
Most of Dauntsey station was demolished in 1977 although the station house and the up platform remain. It was also used by RAF personnel from nearby RAF Lyneham, KJ getting off here once in about 1955.
Dauntsey station became the junction for the branch line to Malmesbury in 1877. The up platform was extended west of the road bridge with a bay platform to accommodate trains on the branch line. When the GWR built the South Wales line in 1903 it passed a few miles north of Dauntsey. In 1933 the connection between the Malmesbury branch and the main line was moved to Little Somerford on the newer main line, and the redundant section between Dauntsey and Somerford became a siding. The canopy used for the branch line platform was moved to Yatton station where it can still be seen today.
Most of Dauntsey station was demolished in 1977 although the station house and the up platform remain. It was also used by RAF personnel from nearby RAF Lyneham, KJ getting off here once in about 1955.
Wootton Bassett Closed 4th January 1965
Some more information kindly researched by Guy Vincent :-
7E36 0250 Severn Tunnel Junction - Temple Mills. 7V45 1022 Temple Mills - Severn Tunnel Junction as far as Swindon. 1C61 1300 Paddington - Swansea from Swindon to Cardiff piloting failed class 47. 0V45 Light Diesel Cardiff to Swindon where it returned to 7V45, working this to Severn Tunnel Junction. See: westernlocomotiveresearchsociety.com for just about anything you may wish to know about 'Westerns'.
This date coincides with the Whitsun school half-term holiday and so accounts for the family group watching proceedings at the lineside!
Regards. Guy Vincent Many thanks Guy
7E36 0250 Severn Tunnel Junction - Temple Mills. 7V45 1022 Temple Mills - Severn Tunnel Junction as far as Swindon. 1C61 1300 Paddington - Swansea from Swindon to Cardiff piloting failed class 47. 0V45 Light Diesel Cardiff to Swindon where it returned to 7V45, working this to Severn Tunnel Junction. See: westernlocomotiveresearchsociety.com for just about anything you may wish to know about 'Westerns'.
This date coincides with the Whitsun school half-term holiday and so accounts for the family group watching proceedings at the lineside!
Regards. Guy Vincent Many thanks Guy
Guy Vincent writes :- Here are some modern images for Martin Baker to compare against his father, Terry's, stunning shot of D1036 assisting an ailing Brush 4 in what I guess was probably the early summer of 1976. D1036 was withdrawn on 29th October of that year with final disposal at Swindon Works recorded as 24th February 1977. The first of four more recent views dates from August 2014 and looks towards Swindon with the up goods loop to the left and the modernised signal (SN145) and milepost 83 visible. The area formerly occupied by the station building is used as a dumping ground by Network Rail, on the opposite side of the line is the Hill's Aggregates terminal which receives stone from Merehead quarry 3-4 times a week. Of course electrification has radically altered even this view with three later pictures from February and April 2018 showing the masts in place and awaiting full wiring-up, also the electricity supply sub-station and a line of new houses beyond the loop close to the station site (I hope they like fast electric trains 24/7!) Finally a view looking west (or down) towards the actual junction. For almost 40 years there have been numerous calls and campaigns to reopen the station here (as at Corsham) but, as can be seen, no progress has been made so one can only conclude there is no real will on the part of the authorities to actually do anything..
Guy Vincent
Guy Vincent
Wootton Bassett Station and Junction.
The station closed 4th January 1965. The line to the right is to Swindon - the lines to the left are upper left to Bristol Parkway and Wales. Lower left to Chippenham, Bath and Bristol. The map courtesy National Museum of Scotland 25" OS Map. Non commerecial use.
The station closed 4th January 1965. The line to the right is to Swindon - the lines to the left are upper left to Bristol Parkway and Wales. Lower left to Chippenham, Bath and Bristol. The map courtesy National Museum of Scotland 25" OS Map. Non commerecial use.
It's the 10th August 1987 - thought I’d start at Wootton Bassett.
At the time when visits to such sites were normally available following a polite request.
In the days when two trains normally ran per day from Merehead.
Loaded trains had to run to Swindon to run round to enter the yard from the east.
59004 slowly draws the train through the discharge facility.
At the time when visits to such sites were normally available following a polite request.
In the days when two trains normally ran per day from Merehead.
Loaded trains had to run to Swindon to run round to enter the yard from the east.
59004 slowly draws the train through the discharge facility.
Four pictures taken while Neil Phillips was serving at nearby R.A.F. Lyneham.
- D1051 'Western Ambassador' in the Wootton Bassett stone terminal sidings on 19th March 1976. The loco was withdrawn on 2nd September that year after an underside ballast strike at Cogload Junction while heading the previous day’s 1B15 08.30 Paddington – Plymouth wrecked wiring and AWS equipment – unfortunate as D1051 had not long emerged from an ‘F’ Exam and had been expected to last until the end.
- D1022 'Western Sentinel' approaches Wootton Bassett Junction on 16th January 1977 with 1B33 14.30 Paddington – Penzance (evidently via Bristol). By this time she was one of the last seven Westerns in service but upon its return to London (on the 17th/18th overnight 6A21 St Erth – Acton milk service) D1022 ran over some debris at Old Oak Common dropped by 31420 which had just suffered a collision incident and this damaged the Western’s brake gear, resulting in its withdrawal. Therefore my photo captures D1022’s last-ever outward run from the capital.
- Deltic 55003 'Meld' presents an extraordinary sight at Wootton Bassett Junction at the head of the Paddington - Cardiff ‘Deltic Debut’ special on 12th October 1975. The Class 55 had been borrowed from the ER for high-speed dipped rail joint tests ahead of the HST introduction the following year and the ever-inventive WR railtour office decided to take it for a spin to South Wales and back!
- Deltic 55003 'Meld' approaches Wootton Bassett Junction on the returning ‘Deltic Debut’ tour of 12th October 1975. Since the WR was still using operational headcodes at the time this was surely the first time a ‘Domino’ panel was seen on the Region.
Many thanks Neil.
An interesting link for Wotton Bassett click here :- http://www.royalwoottonbassett.gov.uk/wp-content/themes/totw/files/assets/downloads/page0011.pdf
From the Rail Approach to Swindon
Rail enthusiasts approaching from the Bristol or Cardiff directions always looked to the left on the approach to Swindon Station where, for many years the scrap yard has aroused great though sad interest.
Rail enthusiasts approaching from the Bristol or Cardiff directions always looked to the left on the approach to Swindon Station where, for many years the scrap yard has aroused great though sad interest.
Early scrap - the first Blue Pullman
Just outside the works.
To take a look at a run past Swindon works, and up to Swindon Town many many years ago click here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dt9uW3k_tEU
Swindon Station
Close by the old Museum
The original Railway Museum at Swindon
Model lodging house, 1849-1852 for GWR, converted to family hostel 1861, and to Weslyan Chapel 1869, then in 1960 converted to a museum and opened on the 22nd June 1962. It was closed in 2000 on the opening of the Steam Museum on the old GWR Swindon Works site.
Model lodging house, 1849-1852 for GWR, converted to family hostel 1861, and to Weslyan Chapel 1869, then in 1960 converted to a museum and opened on the 22nd June 1962. It was closed in 2000 on the opening of the Steam Museum on the old GWR Swindon Works site.
A marvelous display in the museum though one of the problems was getting a good position for a photograph.
Outside the museum stands - the Railway Village
In 1966 Swindon Borough Council purchased many of the properties in the Village from British Railways and began to renovete them. It was decided to turn one of the cottages into a 'Living Museum' to show what life was like in the Railway Village in 1900. After much public consultation about how the cottages would have looked, No. 34 Farringdon Road opened for visitors in March 1980. Exhibits were collected specially for the purpose by Swindon Museum Service.
In 1966 Swindon Borough Council purchased many of the properties in the Village from British Railways and began to renovete them. It was decided to turn one of the cottages into a 'Living Museum' to show what life was like in the Railway Village in 1900. After much public consultation about how the cottages would have looked, No. 34 Farringdon Road opened for visitors in March 1980. Exhibits were collected specially for the purpose by Swindon Museum Service.
Swindon Works Collection
The following are a collection of pictures taken at Swindon between 1963 and
The following are a collection of pictures taken at Swindon between 1963 and

5971 Merevale Hall. Class Code, 4900. Picture 29th September 1963 Copyright Sid Sponheimer .
Built April 1937. First shed allocation Weymouth. August 1950 shed allocation Westbury. March 1959 and May 1965 shed allocations Worcester. Last shed allocation Oxford. Withdrawn December 1965. Scrapped at Cashmore's, Newport.

In contrast here is 4079.Pendennis Castle on the scrap lines at Swindon on the 29th September 1963 Copyright Sid Sponheimer 4079 Pendennis Castle was repatriated from Australia in 2005 having spent 23 years of ownership under Hammersly Iron's parent company Rio Tinto Group. Following restoration since 2005 it is anticipated that the locomotive will return to steam within the next 2 or 3 years.
The 1980 Swindon visit.
On the 29th March 1980 the Cornwall Railway Society organised a trip to Swindon works, we had reserved seats on service trains our party numbering over 100. Our route was on board a Penzance - Bristol service and then catching a London train to get from Bristol to Swindon. Our return journey took us via an unusual route. Swindon to Bath, Bath to Taunton and Taunton to Penzance.
On the 29th March 1980 the Cornwall Railway Society organised a trip to Swindon works, we had reserved seats on service trains our party numbering over 100. Our route was on board a Penzance - Bristol service and then catching a London train to get from Bristol to Swindon. Our return journey took us via an unusual route. Swindon to Bath, Bath to Taunton and Taunton to Penzance.
The Late John Fill
Many of you will remember John Fill, who while he lived at St Ives was a regular attender at our Redruth meetings and was joined by his wife Mary on several outdoor events. A loss occurred to the CRS when John and Mary moved away to Upwey to be near their family. Recently in the spring of 2015, after a short illness John passed away. John was renowned in the photographic world taking many pictures in black and white and we are most grateful to Mary for giving us a considerable amount of material both as prints and negatives. Those he took on our Swindon visit follow.
Many of you will remember John Fill, who while he lived at St Ives was a regular attender at our Redruth meetings and was joined by his wife Mary on several outdoor events. A loss occurred to the CRS when John and Mary moved away to Upwey to be near their family. Recently in the spring of 2015, after a short illness John passed away. John was renowned in the photographic world taking many pictures in black and white and we are most grateful to Mary for giving us a considerable amount of material both as prints and negatives. Those he took on our Swindon visit follow.
The original intention had been to fit in a visit to the Swindon and Cricklade Railway, unfortunately as this railway was in its infancy, we felt that it was not ready for a group tour. Instead we fitted in a visit to the old railway museum as the last item on our busy days schedule.
Back now into the works - other photographs
Mick House
Visits Swindon Works
Late 70's
Visits Swindon Works
Late 70's
Swindon Works visit. By Mick House.
First off, I must apologise for the quality of the photos, I did not have the technology then that I have now. Back in the seventies I was involved with a project involving preservation and restoration of all forms of rolling stock at the former Pullman car works in Brighton. One of the projects I was participating in was to preserve a 08 shunter, 08471 to be exact (photo 1); this involved a trip to Swindon works to see it and a tour of the site, at the time of the visit there was a large quantity of 08s to be seen on site and a lot of them were being scraped. The highlight of the tour was the vast part of the works that was (A) Shop and some of the side shops attached to it. The main erecting shop with its many Traversers (photos 2 & 3), one of its many overhead cranes (photo 4), side shops (photos 5 & 6), also not forgetting the machinery therein, multi head oxy-acetylene cutter (photos 7), vertical milling machine (photo 8) and small traversing crane for lifting smaller components (photo 9). The work being carried out at the time of my visit was quite varied from Shunters, DMUs, P Way cranes, Wagons to Mainline locos. Class 03 170 was about to be reunited with its gearbox and transmission (photo 10), some DMUs receiving attention (photo 11) and a Peak standing next to a Class 31 with its cab missing, possibly a head-on collision or maybe just rotten bodywork! (photo 12). Hope you have enjoyed my short trip around Swindon works.
These pictures were taken in the late 70’s
First off, I must apologise for the quality of the photos, I did not have the technology then that I have now. Back in the seventies I was involved with a project involving preservation and restoration of all forms of rolling stock at the former Pullman car works in Brighton. One of the projects I was participating in was to preserve a 08 shunter, 08471 to be exact (photo 1); this involved a trip to Swindon works to see it and a tour of the site, at the time of the visit there was a large quantity of 08s to be seen on site and a lot of them were being scraped. The highlight of the tour was the vast part of the works that was (A) Shop and some of the side shops attached to it. The main erecting shop with its many Traversers (photos 2 & 3), one of its many overhead cranes (photo 4), side shops (photos 5 & 6), also not forgetting the machinery therein, multi head oxy-acetylene cutter (photos 7), vertical milling machine (photo 8) and small traversing crane for lifting smaller components (photo 9). The work being carried out at the time of my visit was quite varied from Shunters, DMUs, P Way cranes, Wagons to Mainline locos. Class 03 170 was about to be reunited with its gearbox and transmission (photo 10), some DMUs receiving attention (photo 11) and a Peak standing next to a Class 31 with its cab missing, possibly a head-on collision or maybe just rotten bodywork! (photo 12). Hope you have enjoyed my short trip around Swindon works.
These pictures were taken in the late 70’s
Many thanks to Mick House for these pictures of an official visit to Swindon Works in the late 70's.
Paul Barlow
Visits Swindon Works
6th June 1981
Visits Swindon Works
6th June 1981
Many thanks Paul - a good but sad day.
Guy Vincent
Visits Steam at Swindon.
This was on the occasion the HST Power Car 43002 spent three days here en-route from Laira to York
Visits Steam at Swindon.
This was on the occasion the HST Power Car 43002 spent three days here en-route from Laira to York
The 'Avon Explorer'
The Cornwall Railway Society had a good relationship with British Rail and through the our contacts with them and in particular the Late Mr. Reg James, Travel Centre Manager at Penzance we were able to organise several trips. At first these were B.R. Merrymakers (What wonderful trains they were) where coaches of trains were reserved for Merrymakers use and road coaches organised for later in the days to take us to places of interest. The CRS started to sell tickets for these trains and the progression from this was that Reg was asking us where we would like B.R.'s trains to go. Permission was granted for us to fit the CRS headboard on these trains. Trips were organised to the Bluebell Railway, and the Isle of Wight - we made a substantial profit on these trains. Further progression from this was that Reg suggested that we should charter a complete train ourselves, in fact should our charter fail B.R. would take it over and cover our losses. The first of these charters was the 'Avon Explorer' this ran from Penzance to Bristol and thence to Avonmouth and Filton Junction, heading for Dr Days Junction and Bath. We offered a day in Bath as one of the options. From Bath we travelled on to Swindon for the works - sadly at that time the complete closure of the works was announced.
Now for a collection of photographs taken around the works on the occasion of this visit.
The scrap yard was at the west end of the works, somewhat happier sights at the east end!
STEAM GWR The new Museum
Thankfully 'Steam' is still open - so why not visit it?
Brakevan - the last of the train!!! (Of pictures)
GWR Steam at
Swindon Museum
Roger Winnen
Swindon Museum
Roger Winnen
If you have a couple of hours free when visiting Swindon, a visit to this museum is well worth it. Turning right outside Swindon Station and walking for just over 10 minutes will take you to the entrance, its also signposted!
Guy Vincent
Visits Steam at Swindon
Visits Steam at Swindon
Swindon Town
Closed Passengers 11 September 1961 Goods 1st November 1966
Closed Passengers 11 September 1961 Goods 1st November 1966
From Wikipedia Swindon Town was originally planned under an Act of 1873 for a different site to the east of the eventual station, with a tunnel to be built under the hill on which the Old Town sits. But money ran out and the line was realigned to run south of the hill. The Swindon, Marlborough and Andover Railway opened between Swindon Town and Marlborough on 27 July 1881; in early 1882, the line was extended northwards from Swindon Town to a junction with the Great Western main line at Rushley Platt, and services were started between the two Swindon stations. Rushey Platt became a junction the following year with the opening of the Swindon and Cheltenham Extension Railway as far as Cirencester Watermoor. The SM&AR and the S&CER combined to form the M&SWJR in 1884. Services between the two Swindon stations ceased in 1885 because of the high charges the GWR imposed on M & SW Jct Railway trains. Finally, the northern section of the M&SWJR was extended in 1891 from Cirencester to a junction with the GWR Banbury and Cheltenham direct railway line at Andoversford station, so that through services could be run from the north to Southampton and the south coast.
Swindon Town was seen as the most important station on the line, and housed the M&SWJR's offices. There was a loop line, a locomotive turntable and a loco shed at the site. The loop line platform was used for the shuttle services to Swindon's GWR station when these were reinstated following the takeover of the M&SWJR by the GWR at the grouping in 1923.
Swindon Town station was heavily used in early years, but increasingly suffered from the concentration of traffic at the main GWR station as the focus of the town shifted away from the Old Town area to the newer parts that developed around the GWR station and the railway works there. Passenger and goods traffic on the M&SWJR fell very steeply after the second World War and the line closed to passengers in 1961, with goods facilities being withdrawn in March 1964, though a private siding remained for some years after that. (N.B. Looking at a current Google Earth picture nothing remains)
Swindon Town was seen as the most important station on the line, and housed the M&SWJR's offices. There was a loop line, a locomotive turntable and a loco shed at the site. The loop line platform was used for the shuttle services to Swindon's GWR station when these were reinstated following the takeover of the M&SWJR by the GWR at the grouping in 1923.
Swindon Town station was heavily used in early years, but increasingly suffered from the concentration of traffic at the main GWR station as the focus of the town shifted away from the Old Town area to the newer parts that developed around the GWR station and the railway works there. Passenger and goods traffic on the M&SWJR fell very steeply after the second World War and the line closed to passengers in 1961, with goods facilities being withdrawn in March 1964, though a private siding remained for some years after that. (N.B. Looking at a current Google Earth picture nothing remains)
Highly recommended - Utube Journey from Swindon Junction to Swindon Town - last train. Click below https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dt9uW3k_tEU

A view of all that remained of Swindon Town station on the 23rd February 1980 With grateful thanks to a member of the Swindon & Cricklade Railway giving me a guided tour after the visit to Blunsden. Copyright Roger Winnen. Trains would have headed off the right of this picture towards Marlborough an, below us, under the bridge towards the north.
Swindon Panel
- an article and photographs taken on a visit on the 30th November 2022.
John Roberts
- an article and photographs taken on a visit on the 30th November 2022.
John Roberts
Subject: CRS Swindon Panel
Keith, on Wednesday 30th November 2022 I joined an IRSE (Institution of Railway Signal Engineers) visit to Didcot where the Railway Centre has built a small signalling museum which includes an exhibit by the Swindon Panel Society.
During resignalling mania in the 1960s, most of the contractors were busy with West Coast Electrification, so the Western Region signal works at Reading designed its own Turn & Push NX (Entrance-Exit) Panels based on the Swiss Integra system. They used the Domino mimic panels manufactured by Henry Williams and were installed at Old Oak Common, Slough, Reading, Swindon, Gloucester, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Port Talbot. Birmingham and Plymouth were the precursors to all of these, designed in the 1950s. In the 1970s BR imposed standardisation and Oxford was a later addition with a Push-Push Panel, while Westbury and Exeter were provided by Westinghouse. This substantially completed the conversion of the WR from Absolute Block to TCB (Track-Circuit Block) with MAS (Multiple-Aspect Signalling), and resulted in the closure of about 90% of some 2000 GWR mechanical signalboxes which were extant at nationalisation.
Swindon opened in 1968 and was staffed by two signalmen operating the station area, and Wootton Bassett and Thingley Junctions, whereas the rest of the area from Uffington to Badminton could be set to automatic. In the 1980s bidirectional working was installed, and the WR mechanical train describers were replaced by LEDs, and later by VDUs. The system was not immunised against electrification so was replaced by the Thames Valley Signalling Centre aka Didcot ROC (Rail Operating Centre) in 2016.
Network Rail sold the panel for a pound, and the Society has set up a computer simulator so that the panel can be operated in real time. Ironically, they've also sold sessions back to NR to train professional signalmen. The current panel layout predates the new Down Platform at Swindon, so it's easy to lock up the route waiting for a Down HST to stop at the Up Platform, a Down Freight crossing Wootton Bassett, or an Up Westbury crossing Thingley. Great fun - maybe an idea for a CRS visit?
It was great to catch up with everyone at the November meeting and good to see the Society bouncing back from the Covid closures. Season's greetings, John.
Keith, on Wednesday 30th November 2022 I joined an IRSE (Institution of Railway Signal Engineers) visit to Didcot where the Railway Centre has built a small signalling museum which includes an exhibit by the Swindon Panel Society.
During resignalling mania in the 1960s, most of the contractors were busy with West Coast Electrification, so the Western Region signal works at Reading designed its own Turn & Push NX (Entrance-Exit) Panels based on the Swiss Integra system. They used the Domino mimic panels manufactured by Henry Williams and were installed at Old Oak Common, Slough, Reading, Swindon, Gloucester, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Port Talbot. Birmingham and Plymouth were the precursors to all of these, designed in the 1950s. In the 1970s BR imposed standardisation and Oxford was a later addition with a Push-Push Panel, while Westbury and Exeter were provided by Westinghouse. This substantially completed the conversion of the WR from Absolute Block to TCB (Track-Circuit Block) with MAS (Multiple-Aspect Signalling), and resulted in the closure of about 90% of some 2000 GWR mechanical signalboxes which were extant at nationalisation.
Swindon opened in 1968 and was staffed by two signalmen operating the station area, and Wootton Bassett and Thingley Junctions, whereas the rest of the area from Uffington to Badminton could be set to automatic. In the 1980s bidirectional working was installed, and the WR mechanical train describers were replaced by LEDs, and later by VDUs. The system was not immunised against electrification so was replaced by the Thames Valley Signalling Centre aka Didcot ROC (Rail Operating Centre) in 2016.
Network Rail sold the panel for a pound, and the Society has set up a computer simulator so that the panel can be operated in real time. Ironically, they've also sold sessions back to NR to train professional signalmen. The current panel layout predates the new Down Platform at Swindon, so it's easy to lock up the route waiting for a Down HST to stop at the Up Platform, a Down Freight crossing Wootton Bassett, or an Up Westbury crossing Thingley. Great fun - maybe an idea for a CRS visit?
It was great to catch up with everyone at the November meeting and good to see the Society bouncing back from the Covid closures. Season's greetings, John.
Many thanks to you John for your detailed article and photographs.
The Swindon & Cricklade Railway
The Swindon & Cricklade Railway Preservation Society was formed by a group of enthusiasts in November 1978 to reconstruct and preserve a section of the Midland & South Western Junction Railway that ran from Andover, Hampshire, to Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
The volunteer-operated railway has reopened three stations: Hayes Knoll, Taw Valley Halt and Blunsdon, the headquarters of the line. Hayes Knoll features a restored signalbox that is operational during special events and a running/restoration shed. The length of the restored line is a little under 2.5 miles (4.0 km).
The line extends north to South Meadow Lane (a few hundred yards from the site of a proposed Farfield Lane halt) near Cricklade, and south to Taw Valley Halt on the outskirts of Swindon, near Mouldon Hill Country Park. A southern terminus, Mouldon Park, is proposed within the park. The foregoing courtesy Wikipedia.
For much more information please click here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swindon_and_Cricklade_Railway
The volunteer-operated railway has reopened three stations: Hayes Knoll, Taw Valley Halt and Blunsdon, the headquarters of the line. Hayes Knoll features a restored signalbox that is operational during special events and a running/restoration shed. The length of the restored line is a little under 2.5 miles (4.0 km).
The line extends north to South Meadow Lane (a few hundred yards from the site of a proposed Farfield Lane halt) near Cricklade, and south to Taw Valley Halt on the outskirts of Swindon, near Mouldon Hill Country Park. A southern terminus, Mouldon Park, is proposed within the park. The foregoing courtesy Wikipedia.
For much more information please click here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swindon_and_Cricklade_Railway
For the history of this locomotive please see https://preservedbritishsteamlocomotives.com/hudswell-clarke-works-no-1544-slough-estates-no-3-0-6-0st/
Friends,
On my home from Purton todat the 24th October 2020 I called in at the Blunsdon depot of the above railway. They are open today and tomorrow - hopefully today with diesel trains, tomorrow with steam.
My photos show 35011 named 'Great Steam Navigation'. In green [0531] is its boiler whilst the frame [0533 and 0538] was in quite a difficult position to photograph.. The plan is to complete this loco in its ORIGINAL condition as a 'Spam Can' i.e. as it was built around the time of the end of World War 2. It's a fascinating story of what they have to do.
Kind regards,
Ken Mumford - Swindon Camera Club member.
On my home from Purton todat the 24th October 2020 I called in at the Blunsdon depot of the above railway. They are open today and tomorrow - hopefully today with diesel trains, tomorrow with steam.
My photos show 35011 named 'Great Steam Navigation'. In green [0531] is its boiler whilst the frame [0533 and 0538] was in quite a difficult position to photograph.. The plan is to complete this loco in its ORIGINAL condition as a 'Spam Can' i.e. as it was built around the time of the end of World War 2. It's a fascinating story of what they have to do.
Kind regards,
Ken Mumford - Swindon Camera Club member.
This loco was/is actually named 'General Steam Navigation' after the shipping company of the same name which used to operate vessels from Three Quays in Lower Thames Street in the City of London and which subsequently as taken over by P&O.
Many congratulations on an excellent website which I view with great interest daily.
Keep up the good work.
Phil Nall Many thanks to Phil for this additional information.
Many congratulations on an excellent website which I view with great interest daily.
Keep up the good work.
Phil Nall Many thanks to Phil for this additional information.
New arrival at the Swindon and Cricklade Railway
19th November 2021
19th November 2021
Operational. Originally built by Hunslet as Austerity-type 0-6-0ST saddle tank 3781 of 1952, later named Linda on the Kent & East Sussex Railway. Converted to a side-tank locomotive in order to create a lookalike LB&SCR E2 class No. 1 "Thomas"No. 1 "Thomas" (works number 3781 of 1952) in 1994. The loco is commonly referred to as "Dave" when not carrying the Thomas identity.[1]
Information from the Watercress Railway stock list.
All the best
Roger
Information from the Watercress Railway stock list.
All the best
Roger
Early Christmas at
Blunsdon
Ken Mumford
Blunsdon
Ken Mumford
Ken Mumford visits the
Swindon and Cricklade Railway - March 2022
Swindon and Cricklade Railway - March 2022
[1] 6695 undergoing overhaul - see the 6695 website for mroe details
[2] 35011 undergoing restoration to a MN original unrebuilt condition!
[3] Interesting brake van
[4] Ex-Suthern Region dmu. Next to it is an enginering track machine - can send photo if you wish..
[5 ]Blunsden station 'furniture.
[6] General view of the yard at Blunsden.
[2] 35011 undergoing restoration to a MN original unrebuilt condition!
[3] Interesting brake van
[4] Ex-Suthern Region dmu. Next to it is an enginering track machine - can send photo if you wish..
[5 ]Blunsden station 'furniture.
[6] General view of the yard at Blunsden.
Many thanks to Ken Mumford for the above collection.
Ken Mumford visits the
Swindon and Cricklade Railway. Late June 2022.
Swindon and Cricklade Railway. Late June 2022.