Paul Negus advises us to make sure you watch this...
Bristol Temple Meads
Tim Dunn is seen talking to Simon Gyde
Bristol Temple Meads
Tim Dunn is seen talking to Simon Gyde
Bristol Temple Meads features on the Yesterday channel on Tuesday evening at 8pm in The Architecture The Railways Built. Tim Dunn is seen talking to Simon Gyde, a good friend of mine, who boned up on the history of Temple Meads in preparation for the programme. Simon tells me that he was amazed by Tim's knowledge of the station - far better than anything he had read! Incidentally, Simon was responsible for the "refurbishment" of Dawlish station footbridge a few years back where a wholly fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) look-alike was installed as refurbishing the original and making it durable was not cost effective. It became the first wholly FRP bridge structure to be Grade II listed.
I would also like to say that I have been to a few meetings in the GWR Board Room (which you will see in this episode) and I always feel the presence of those pioneers including IKB. It will be a very nostalgic programme for me ...
Here are a couple of shots to remind us of the impressive train shed and the additional platforms tacked on the outside, so to speak. The first is Harry Patch on 18th November 2019 on a Taunton to Cardiff service and the other is Flying Scotsman ready to meet her public on 8th October 2018 on The Cathedrals Express.
Enjoy watching! Paul Negus
I would also like to say that I have been to a few meetings in the GWR Board Room (which you will see in this episode) and I always feel the presence of those pioneers including IKB. It will be a very nostalgic programme for me ...
Here are a couple of shots to remind us of the impressive train shed and the additional platforms tacked on the outside, so to speak. The first is Harry Patch on 18th November 2019 on a Taunton to Cardiff service and the other is Flying Scotsman ready to meet her public on 8th October 2018 on The Cathedrals Express.
Enjoy watching! Paul Negus
Bristol Temple Meads Harry Patch on a Taunton to Cardif service. 18th November 2019. Copyright Paul Negus
Bristol Temple Meads Flying Scotsman ready to meet her public on the Cathedrals Express, 8th October 2018. Copyright Paul Negus.
Many thanks to Paul Negus for this strong reminder - now don't forget!
Fully protected at
Saltash
Clive Smith
Saltash
Clive Smith
43158 leads the 08.00 Cardiff Central - Par into Saltash station with 43004 on the rear. The train terminated at Par due to lengthy engineering line closures in west Cornwall. There are five people on the station. All of them wearing masks. Well done.
The refurbishment of Saltash station is nearing completion and with covid restrictions being gradually lifted it will start to become the new communal space that it has been intended for. A preview of the interior was shown on the excellent TV series 'The Architecture The Railways Built' shown on the Yesterday Channel back in late January fronted by the enthusiastic Tim Dunn. Regards, Clive Smith.
The refurbishment of Saltash station is nearing completion and with covid restrictions being gradually lifted it will start to become the new communal space that it has been intended for. A preview of the interior was shown on the excellent TV series 'The Architecture The Railways Built' shown on the Yesterday Channel back in late January fronted by the enthusiastic Tim Dunn. Regards, Clive Smith.
Saltash 43158 leads the 08.00 Cardiff Central - Par into Saltash station with 430045th March 2021. Copyright Clive Smith.
Many thanks Clive.
Highworth branch
Ken Mumford
Ken Mumford
The junction for the Highworth branch is situated about a mile east of Swindon station, however there is little left of the branch just a stub. Beyond the scrap terminal a number of sidings still exist apparently disused.
HIghworth branch 66051 on the scrap train 2 5th March 2021. Ken Mumford
The scrap being unloaded. 5th March 2021, Copyright Ken Mumford.
Many thanks Ken.
A query was made concerning operation of scrap trains on the stub of the Highworth branch.
We are not sure how this branch is operated these days. Andrew Crawley advises us that the disused sidings beyond the scrap yard were for BMW and are where the Longbridge train used to load up. The train could go right in, run round and then pull the train through a wagon at a time past EMR for loading but I'm not sure of track condition at the far end so don't know if it is used for that anymore as I've never seen it going in, but I wouldn't be surprised if it probably propels it in and then just draws forward a wagon at a time, staying with the train all day.
We are not sure how this branch is operated these days. Andrew Crawley advises us that the disused sidings beyond the scrap yard were for BMW and are where the Longbridge train used to load up. The train could go right in, run round and then pull the train through a wagon at a time past EMR for loading but I'm not sure of track condition at the far end so don't know if it is used for that anymore as I've never seen it going in, but I wouldn't be surprised if it probably propels it in and then just draws forward a wagon at a time, staying with the train all day.
Thought for the day!
Penzance & Didcot Coaling stages
Trevor Tremethick
Penzance & Didcot Coaling stages
Trevor Tremethick
Hi Keith and Roger
Just to keep you on your toes!
Looking at Great Western coaling stages (for example, Penzance or Didcot) they tend to follow a fairly standard pattern as would be typical of the GWR. The coal wagons were propelled up the ramp and the coal transferred to wheeled tubs which were run out and tipped into the loco bunkers or tenders (not from a great height, as the Welsh coal was soft and would tend to break up with a long drop).
All well and good, but what tends to be ignored in captions to pictures of coal stages (and, indeed, descriptions generally) is the 'ground floor'. There generally seems to be, on the lower level, a door and at least one window (reference the pictures of PZ coal stage on the CRS site). So, what was on the ground floor? Was it just a 'bothy' for the coal men or was it an office where they kept tallies for coal supplies, ordering paperwork, that sort of thing? The internet appears to be largely silent on this.
I'd like to know, both for modelling purposes and general interest. Well, the devil makes work for idle hands in a pandemic, as you know!
Any help gratefully received!
Regards to all
Trevor T
Just to keep you on your toes!
Looking at Great Western coaling stages (for example, Penzance or Didcot) they tend to follow a fairly standard pattern as would be typical of the GWR. The coal wagons were propelled up the ramp and the coal transferred to wheeled tubs which were run out and tipped into the loco bunkers or tenders (not from a great height, as the Welsh coal was soft and would tend to break up with a long drop).
All well and good, but what tends to be ignored in captions to pictures of coal stages (and, indeed, descriptions generally) is the 'ground floor'. There generally seems to be, on the lower level, a door and at least one window (reference the pictures of PZ coal stage on the CRS site). So, what was on the ground floor? Was it just a 'bothy' for the coal men or was it an office where they kept tallies for coal supplies, ordering paperwork, that sort of thing? The internet appears to be largely silent on this.
I'd like to know, both for modelling purposes and general interest. Well, the devil makes work for idle hands in a pandemic, as you know!
Any help gratefully received!
Regards to all
Trevor T