Items added on the 14th August 2016 Those added most recently come first

50 years ago today
​on Honiton bank
Mike Roach

​Hi Keith
Fifty years ago on Sunday 14 August 1966 the LCGB A2 COMMEMORATIVE RAIL TOUR ran from Waterloo to Exeter. The train was hauled by 60532 Blue Peter, which was then still owned by British Railways. The loco must have been in difficulties because it gradually fell further and further behind the scheduled times, finally stopping on Honiton Bank short of steam. It was there for nearly half an hour building up steam pressure until it managed to restart its 9 coaches. I was lucky to be in the right place to photograph it.
Regards,  Mike. Many thanks to Mike for sharing his pictures with us.

The A2 Commemorative Railtour at a standstill on Honiton bank. 14th August 1966. One wonders what the conversation was between the guard and the engine crew? "Shall I go back and put down detonators"? Copyright Mike Roach

A2 Commemorative Railtour, stalled on Honiton bank. 14th August 1966

60532 restarts its train on the 1 in 80 gradient. Again one wonders what the conversations were within the train? But look to the right, not only is the fellow taking the picture trespassing but he is also in a very dangerous position back to the oncoming traffic on the up line. Copyright Mike Roach

Many thanks indeed to Mike Mike Roach for remembering and capturing this moment in time and also for sharing it with us.

Portishead branch Progress report.

​Project Overview
The project to re‐open the Portishead line to passenger rail services is now part of the MetroWest programme to improve local rail services across the West of England. This programme will use both existing and disused rail lines that feed into and across Bristol, operating half-hourly services subject to a proven business case being made and infrastructure constraints. Phase 1 of the programme includes re‐opening the Portishead rail line to passenger services and increasing the frequency of services on the Severn Beach and Bath lines. The project is being led by North Somerset Council on behalf of the four West of England councils (Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol City, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset). A further MetroWest Phase 2 project is also being progressed by the councils.
Ashton Vale Road and Pill Station Consultations
In February/March 2016 we undertook two micro-consultations. One concerned Pill Station, the other Ashton Vale Industrial Estate alternative access. The consultations ran for 28 days and drop in exhibitions were held locally. The Pill station consultation included 4 options for the station forecourt. The Ashton Vale Industrial Estate alternative access consultation included 6 options. A total of 21 responses were received for the Pill consultation, and 45 for Ashton Vale. The majority responded online using the dedicated link, with the rest emailing or writing. Further information is set out in the Consultation Report which is available at
www.n-somerset.gov.uk/prs
The two micro-consultations were successful in highlighting issues and gauging levels of support for the options. The consultation has raised some important issues that will help inform the development of the Outline Engineering Design. When the Outline Engineering Design has been completed, a further consultation exercise will be launched in spring 2017 to give members of the public, statutory bodies, affected parties and wider stakeholders an opportunity to comment on the Portishead Branch Line DCO Scheme proposals, before a Development Consent Order application is submitted to the Planning Inspectorate.
  We wish them well and look forward to the re-opening.

5552 at Bodmin General
David Antony & Roger Winnen

Dave Antony kindly sent in these pictures of 5552 in a very sad state just having arrived from Barry in June 1986.  Since then she has been superbly restored, full credit, to the Bodmin and Wenford.  Entering traffic in 2003 she was withdrawn at the end of its boiler certificate at the end of 2012. Having been stripped to the bare bones it is now being re-assembled for service again in the not too distant future. On receipt of David Antony's pictures Roger made a trip to Bodmin especially to see what progress had been made,  Many thanks to David and Roger. 

5552 as it arrived at Bodmin General in June 1986. Copyright David Antony

Red with rust and minus buffers and many other things 5552 stands at Bodmin General in June 1986. Copyright David Antony.

160813a 47306 The Sapper and the boiler of 5552 protrude from the Bodmin & Wenford Workshops. Copyright Roger Winnen

160813b 5552 Boiler outside of the shed at Bodin General. Copyright Roger Winnen

160813c The frames etc of 5552 in the workshop at Bodmin. Copyright Roger Winnen

160813d The bunker etc of 5552. Copyright Roger Winnen Note the 'Bodmin Road' station name boards carefully preserved on the workshop walls.

Oathe 'Galetta'
John Cornelius

Hi Keith, Some pics I took this morning of 45699  near Langport heading a railtour to the West Somerset Rly, and one of 47530 bringing up the rear. We had dull weather and light rain at Oathe so the pics are a little bit on the dark side. The engine was going well and only a few minutes late past me.
cheers JOHN C

Looking great despite the weather. Copyright John Cornelius.

Copyright John Cornelius

Patriotic 47530 provides assistance if needed. Copyright John Cornelius

Exeter Central
Mike Morant

_ S_BR_34045_Exeter_Central Bulleid original light pacific no. 34045 Ottery St. Mary at Exeter Central. 34045 is in malachite livery without the BR branding on its tender but acquired its BR number in August 1948 which is probably when this shot was taken. Modification to the Jarvis standard was applied in 1958 but to little avail as it was one of the earlier withdrawals of this class in June 1964 whilst allocated to Bournemouth mpd.
[Mike Morant collection