Christmas wishes from
Middleway
Driver Alan Peters
Middleway
Driver Alan Peters
A festive picture to wish everyone a Merry Christmas from Colas Rail Driver Alan Peters, a snowy scene not far from home, Middleway Crossing taken on 3rd February 2009 , and for me Christmas Day means Engineering work, this year at Lipson Junction!
Best wishes from Middleway. Copyright Driver Alan Peters.
A superb 'Christmassey Scene' taken at Middleway Crossing on the Newquay branch. Many many thanks for this and all the other pictures you send in.
Near
Bodmin Road
Paul Barlow
Bodmin Road
Paul Barlow
A classic scene as 37181 approaches Bodmin Road complete with a short train of six hoods plus brakevan. 6th July 1985. Copyright Paul Barlow
Many thanks Paul for this an unrepeatable scene with, in the back ground a property currently for sale at M£3.25.
Pinhoe
Bill Elston
Bill Elston
Hi Keith,
Nothing much to report on up here at the moment, except dull weather and dull train liveries (mostly)
Attached are a couple of views of Pinhoe when things were much brighter then, showing 47716 on what was probably the final loco-hauled Exeter to Waterloo working – ( I wonder who the photographer was !! - Answer below) The date, 10th July 1993.
All the best to you all, for Christmas and beyond
Stay safe, Bill Elston
Nothing much to report on up here at the moment, except dull weather and dull train liveries (mostly)
Attached are a couple of views of Pinhoe when things were much brighter then, showing 47716 on what was probably the final loco-hauled Exeter to Waterloo working – ( I wonder who the photographer was !! - Answer below) The date, 10th July 1993.
All the best to you all, for Christmas and beyond
Stay safe, Bill Elston
Pinhoe with the last 47 working 47716, 10th July 1993 Copyright Bill Elston
47716, about to pass over the level Crossing. 10th July 1993. Copyright Bill Elston
N.B. Hi Keith,
Many thanks for your comments re-Pinhoe
.The 'phantom photographer' in the lower photograph is of course your friend and mine, David Tozer.
At that time I was still living in Pinhoe next to the railway line, not far from the station, enabling me to obtain many shots of 33s, 47s and 50s during the 1980s and 90s.
Best regards, Bill
Well done Bill and David - old friendships renewed.
Many thanks for your comments re-Pinhoe
.The 'phantom photographer' in the lower photograph is of course your friend and mine, David Tozer.
At that time I was still living in Pinhoe next to the railway line, not far from the station, enabling me to obtain many shots of 33s, 47s and 50s during the 1980s and 90s.
Best regards, Bill
Well done Bill and David - old friendships renewed.
Hi Bill hope you and Chris keep well too - many thanks for your support over the years.
Request for info on
Clifton Downs tunnel
Guy Vincent
Clifton Downs tunnel
Guy Vincent
Guy, a much respected historian and photographer provides the following valuable input.
Having read appeal for information on the waste water drainage system that is apparently now hidden below the trackbed inside Clifton Down Tunnel I was unable to find anything specifically relating to the tunnel drains but in the course of searching some other facts came to light.
The Bristol Rail Archive (bristol-rail.co.uk) website has a small number of photos of Clifton Down tunnel air ventilation shafts and one of each portal. The two round, castellated masonry air shafts are located 1) on the Downs close to Bristol Zoo (Upper Belgrave Road / Pembroke Road area as Keith mentioned and provided a photo of) and the second, much smaller one in Walcombe Slade. The Walcombe Slade shaft is topped by a round wire mesh 'cage' to prevent objects being dropped down into the tunnel.
Colin G Maggs's book 'Bristol Railway Panorama' published by Millstream Books in 1990 has information on the tunnel on page 99. Maximum depth below ground is quoted as 160 feet. According to Maggs ''To improve the ventilation provided by the two vertical shafts, in 1950 an old shaft leading out to the face of the gorge was reopened after having been blocked for many years. Originally it had been used as a stable for ponies employed in tunnel construction. A ganger's cabin was hewn out of the side of the tunnel on the Down side, approximately midway''.
According to the Regional Appendix to the Working Timetable dated October 1960 the tunnel is1738 yards long and
today contains just the former 'Down' running line of continuous welded rails on steel sleepers. Singling was carried out in October 1970. Milepost reference mileages are 4m07.5ch and 5m 05.5 ch and there is a falling gradient of 1 in 64 towards Sea Mills throughout. Line speed through the tunnel is 50 mph and in the 'Up' direction there is a distant signal (Y-G) at the Sea Mills end and a 3 aspect R-Y-G just inside the tunnel at the Clifton Down station end where a passing loop is located.
On emerging from the tunnel at the Sea Mills end directly to the left is the A4 Portway which runs adjacent to the river Avon as it winds down towards 'the horseshoe' bend and Avonmouth. On the opposite side of the river runs the Portbury / Portishead branch through Leigh Woods although this is very hard to spot.
Sadly it seems that Network Rail may only find their drainage system inside this tunnel by digging out the ballast formation and then probing around for any openings or voids that might exist. Clifton Down is a relatively 'dry' tunnel with little evidence of long-term water seepage, unlike Saltford Tunnel between Bath and Bristol which has a spring-like constant flush of water running out of the down-side wall midway through!
With regards
Guy Vincent.
The Bristol Rail Archive (bristol-rail.co.uk) website has a small number of photos of Clifton Down tunnel air ventilation shafts and one of each portal. The two round, castellated masonry air shafts are located 1) on the Downs close to Bristol Zoo (Upper Belgrave Road / Pembroke Road area as Keith mentioned and provided a photo of) and the second, much smaller one in Walcombe Slade. The Walcombe Slade shaft is topped by a round wire mesh 'cage' to prevent objects being dropped down into the tunnel.
Colin G Maggs's book 'Bristol Railway Panorama' published by Millstream Books in 1990 has information on the tunnel on page 99. Maximum depth below ground is quoted as 160 feet. According to Maggs ''To improve the ventilation provided by the two vertical shafts, in 1950 an old shaft leading out to the face of the gorge was reopened after having been blocked for many years. Originally it had been used as a stable for ponies employed in tunnel construction. A ganger's cabin was hewn out of the side of the tunnel on the Down side, approximately midway''.
According to the Regional Appendix to the Working Timetable dated October 1960 the tunnel is1738 yards long and
today contains just the former 'Down' running line of continuous welded rails on steel sleepers. Singling was carried out in October 1970. Milepost reference mileages are 4m07.5ch and 5m 05.5 ch and there is a falling gradient of 1 in 64 towards Sea Mills throughout. Line speed through the tunnel is 50 mph and in the 'Up' direction there is a distant signal (Y-G) at the Sea Mills end and a 3 aspect R-Y-G just inside the tunnel at the Clifton Down station end where a passing loop is located.
On emerging from the tunnel at the Sea Mills end directly to the left is the A4 Portway which runs adjacent to the river Avon as it winds down towards 'the horseshoe' bend and Avonmouth. On the opposite side of the river runs the Portbury / Portishead branch through Leigh Woods although this is very hard to spot.
Sadly it seems that Network Rail may only find their drainage system inside this tunnel by digging out the ballast formation and then probing around for any openings or voids that might exist. Clifton Down is a relatively 'dry' tunnel with little evidence of long-term water seepage, unlike Saltford Tunnel between Bath and Bristol which has a spring-like constant flush of water running out of the down-side wall midway through!
With regards
Guy Vincent.
The east end of Clifton Down Tunnel 26th February 2021 Copyright Guy Vincent
Clifton Down Tunnel west end 29th June 2018 Copyright Guy Vincent.
Many thanks Guy, a valued and impressive answer as usual. All the very best for 2022.
More on
Clifton Down tunnel
Mark Howells
Clifton Down tunnel
Mark Howells
Mark Howells how is Senior Asset Engineer (Drainage & Lineside)
Western Route, Network Rail very kindly supplied the following additional pictures for our use.
Western Route, Network Rail very kindly supplied the following additional pictures for our use.
Clifton Down tunnel Vent shaft 2 in Walcombe Slade. Copyright Mark D. Howells Senior Asset Engineer Drainage and Lineside. (2)
Re quote from the Guy Vincent report - in 1950 an old shaft leading out to the face of the gorge was reopened after having been blocked for many years. Originally it had been used as a stable for ponies employed in tunnel construction. A ganger's cabin was hewn out of the side of the tunnel on the Down side, approximately midway''.
Clifton Down tunnel Horizontal vent 1 Copyright Mark D. Howells Senior Asset Engineer Drainage and Lineside. (3) The horizontal vent.
Clifton Down tunnel Horizontal vent 2 Copyright Mark D. Howells Senior Asset Engineer Drainage and Lineside.
Oborne
Ron Kosys
Ron Kosys
47551 passes Oborne One mile NW of Sherborne 1V08 0815 su Basingstoke-Exeter 24th May 1992. Copyright Ron Kosys
Many Thanks Ron for your continued and much valued support. To you especially, good health for 2022.