Warship near Crewkerne
John Cornelius
John Cornelius
This loco to traffic 8th February 1961 and was in BR service until 16th December 1972. Onslaught as been on the West Somerset Railway for a time, However it has now returned to the East Lancashire Railway. Class 42 Warship 'Onslaught' came home in mid 2016. Owned by the Bury Hydraulic Group it will be based on the ELR. Copyright John Cornelius
Avon Valley Railway
Guy Vincent
Guy Vincent
Good evening Keith,
A visit to a family friend this afternoon at Bitton near Keynsham took us past the entrance to the Avon Valley Railway preservation site so, naturally, it made perfect sense to stop for twenty or so minutes and have a quick look at what was going on. Bitton station lies on the former Bath Green Park-Mangotsfield-Yate (or Bristol Temple Meads via Fishponds) section of the former Midland Railway route from Derby to Bath, which of course until 1966 fed the lamented Somerset & Dorset line that ran southwards out of the city towards Shepton Mallet and Bournemouth. Just running in was D5518 (31101) with four maroon Mk 1 carriages complete with working steam-heating ready to form the 1445 departure to Oldland Common and back to Bitton before then heading south to Avon Riverside and returning again to Bitton. The loco was immaculate and reminded me of years gone by when such a sight was common on Bristol-Weymouth off-season local stopping trains. In the yard beyond the station were diesels 07010 08202 31130 and DMU cars SC52006 and SC52025 along with an assortment of industrials, small steam locos, carriages and wagons. SC52025 was actually a 'cop', never having been seen by me in BR service! A return visit is definitely planned for March 2017 when diesel services recommence after the winter 'Santa' season and winter break. There is a wide footpath adjacent to the line for it's entire length which continues in one direction to central Bristol and the other to the outskirts of Bath while Keynsham is the nearest mainline station approx 1.5 miles away. Bitton station has all the usual visitor facilities one would expect (cafe, souvenir shop, displays etc) and the staff we met during our brief stay were very friendly and approachable.
Guy Vincent Frome, Somerset
A visit to a family friend this afternoon at Bitton near Keynsham took us past the entrance to the Avon Valley Railway preservation site so, naturally, it made perfect sense to stop for twenty or so minutes and have a quick look at what was going on. Bitton station lies on the former Bath Green Park-Mangotsfield-Yate (or Bristol Temple Meads via Fishponds) section of the former Midland Railway route from Derby to Bath, which of course until 1966 fed the lamented Somerset & Dorset line that ran southwards out of the city towards Shepton Mallet and Bournemouth. Just running in was D5518 (31101) with four maroon Mk 1 carriages complete with working steam-heating ready to form the 1445 departure to Oldland Common and back to Bitton before then heading south to Avon Riverside and returning again to Bitton. The loco was immaculate and reminded me of years gone by when such a sight was common on Bristol-Weymouth off-season local stopping trains. In the yard beyond the station were diesels 07010 08202 31130 and DMU cars SC52006 and SC52025 along with an assortment of industrials, small steam locos, carriages and wagons. SC52025 was actually a 'cop', never having been seen by me in BR service! A return visit is definitely planned for March 2017 when diesel services recommence after the winter 'Santa' season and winter break. There is a wide footpath adjacent to the line for it's entire length which continues in one direction to central Bristol and the other to the outskirts of Bath while Keynsham is the nearest mainline station approx 1.5 miles away. Bitton station has all the usual visitor facilities one would expect (cafe, souvenir shop, displays etc) and the staff we met during our brief stay were very friendly and approachable.
Guy Vincent Frome, Somerset
Bitton, the station building, looking very smart. 29th October 2016 Copyright Guy Vincent
Just running in at Bitton D5518 (31101) 29th October 2016 Copyright Guy Vincent
33101 ready to start with the 14.45 departure for Oldland Common. 29th October 2016 Copyright Guy Vincent
The 07010 at Bitton 29th October 2016 Copyright Guy Vincent
31130 with SC52006 at Bitton on the 29th October 2016 Copyright Guy Vincent
Bitton 29th October 2016 Copyright Guy Vincent
A general view looking towards Oldland 29th October 2010 Copyright Guy Vincent
Trial of strength at
Merehead
Mike Morant
Merehead
Mike Morant
Class 9Fs 92212 and 92203 "Black Prince" with owner David Shepherd in the cab, flat out - accelerating a 1700 ton stone train through the sidings towards the junction with the branch. For a video of this click here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uDf7cmnn4E
92212 & 92203 at Merehead Quarry on the 28th June 1998
A view from the far side. 28th June 1998 Courtesy the Mike Morant Collection