5th October 2023

A busy afternoon at 
Bath Sydney Gardens
Neil Phillips

Hello Roger and Keith,
 
According to my notes on 28th June 1975 I had hoped to travel from Swindon to Bath on the prototype HST working 1B46 for my one and only visit to Sydney Gardens, but it failed to appear – I had 50027 instead, which had been the first Class 50 into Cornwall around 15 months earlier. However it was worth the effort to capture three different Type 4s, even if the sun couldn’t stay out - I don’t recall the summer of 1975 being particularly good, although it was better than 1974 – 1976 was of course something else entirely! Following a pleasant afternoon there I returned to Swindon behind 50038 on 1A60.
 
Best regards,
Neil Phillips

1 – A recently outshopped 50050 (ex-D400) with appropriate headcode heads for Bath Spa and Bristol TM 28th June 1975. Copyright Neil Phillips.

2 – Watched by one man and his dog 47097’s headcode indicates an imminent right turn towards the SR at Bathampton Junction 28th June 1975. Copyright Neil Phillips.

3 – Following closely behind 47097, man and dog still present to see D1059 ‘Western Empire’ roar past with a London-bound parcels service 28th June 1975. Copyright Neil Phillips.

4 – The sun is breaking through as 47479 slows for its Bath Spa stop 28th June 1975. Copyright Neil Phillips.

5 – As I prepare to leave the gardens D1034 ‘Western Dragoon’ nearly catches me out, emerging from the gloom with a Paddington service 28th June 1975. Copyright Neil Phillips.

Very many thanks Neil - Lots of detail - from a very nice location.

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A Very early Christmas present.
Sydney Gardens
Guy Vincent

The above Sydney Gardens collection brought a very rapid response from Guy Vincent.

Hello Keith,
                                  It may only be early October but an early Christmas present from Neil Phillips today with his super offering of five trains passing through Sydney Gardens, Bath on Saturday 28th June 1975.
During the summer of 1975 the Wootton Bassett Junction - Westerleigh Junction stretch of the South Wales main line (also known as 'the Badminton route') was closed for major upgrade works in preparation for the arrival of the new HST fleet in 1976.  This led to the diversion via Bath, Dr Day's Jcn and Filton of all traffic that would normally use that route.  I have a copy of the Section PB  BR Working Timetable for the period 5 May - 5 October 1975 and can identify the trains Neil recorded from their headcodes.    1975 was the last year of working headcodes;  from 1st January 1976 there was no requirement to do so hence the later widespread use of 0O00 and the display of individual loco numbers in the redundant panels on classes 50 and 52.

In order, here are Neil's trains.

1) 50050 on 1B50 1215 Paddington - Bristol Temple Meads.  Due Bath Spa 1414-1417

2) 47097 on 2O60 1603 Bristol Temple Meads - Weymouth. Due Bath Spa 1622 - 1624.  An all time personal favourite working of mine from the mid 1970s and well into the 80s with some retiming.  Likely to produce almost anything from shabby Bath Road allocated class 31s to 37s, 45s, 46s, 47s 50s and 52s.  I believe a class 25 made it through to Weymouth on at least one occasion too!      

3) D1059 on 5A06 1352 Swansea - Old Oak Common empty vans. Note that the headcode displayed reads 5A15 so the last two characters are each one digit out, possibly stuck?   Due to pass through Bath Spa non stop at 16/37.

4) 47479 on 1C77 1450 Paddington - Swansea, due non-stop through Bath Spa at 16/35.

5) D1034 on 1A41 1447 Swansea - Paddington.  Again, slightly incorrect display with a 2 almost in place of the first character which should be the partly displayed 1.  Due through Bath Spa non-stop at 16/52.

Thanks again to Neil for sharing these images.

Best regards
Guy Vincent 

What memories - what a record - many thanks Guy for your full and detailed commentary.

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​Castle Class HST Update
4th October 2023
Guy Vincent

Another Castle class HST set destined for overseas transfer to Mexico left Bristol this afternoon.  5Q25 1332 St Philips Marsh - Great Yarmouth formed of vehicles  43172 49114 48140 48141 48142 (GW14) & 43040 seen passing Charfield (Glos) heading north at 1406hrs.   Captured by my friend & colleague Adrian making their final journey on UK soil.  Both power cars were former celebrities:  43040 was for several years named 'Bristol St Philips Marsh' then latterly 'Berry Pomeroy Castle' while 43172 carried WW1 commemoration livery and the name 'Harry Patch' before later receiving 'Tiverton Castle' plates. 

Guy Vincent  (with photo by Adrian)

Charfield 43172 GW14 43040 5Q25 1332 SPM-Gt Yarmouth 4th October .2023 Copyright Adrian . Supplied via Guy Vincent

Many thanks to you Guy for all the detail and to your colleague Adrian for the photograph.

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Sad News
Ivor Bowditch

I was saddened to read in the West Briton today that Ivor Bowditch has died at the age of just 74. He gave the CRS a good day out travelling around the clay pits by coaches on numerious occasions

Regards, Mike Roach.

Yes sad news indeed - Ivor took us on a memorable marathon coach tour. I don't think any place was left unvisited.
Our sympathies to his family.
Keith Jenkin and Roger Winnen and members of the Cornwall Railway Society

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Above is Image 9 from this expanding record of this railway almost lost in the mists of time. The Crabtree Inn, at Lower Crabtree, with the Lee Moor Tramway on the left. It is hard to imagine that the above twisty road constituted the main thoroughfare to London; it has now been obliterated by a six-lane Plymouth Road A374. Taken from “Old Plymouth Uncovered” Facebook page but also printed in “Plymouth River: A History of the Laira and Cattewater”, Crispin Gill, 1997.

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