NINETEEN SIXTY TWO – PART 84
Portishead Junction Box Pet
Michael L. Roach
It’s not often I get to Bristol in these articles so it is nice to go there with a short story from 1909, especially as it is finally looking more certain that the town of Portishead will get its rail link to Bristol. A planning application for the proposed passenger station at Portishead was made in March 2024, and the details can be found on the Portishead Rail Group's own website.
The station cat is still alive and well in 2024 with some becoming famous on the internet; but how about the signal box cat, does it still exist? However, this short piece is not about a cat, but a common rat which became the pet of a signalman (until the said signalman decided that the rat's life should be ended by him rather than someone else).
The attached scan comes from the Great Western Railway Magazine for December 1909. When the new box mentioned in the accompanying article was finished it was given a new name as well, becoming Parson Street Junction Box. The box was about 10 chains (one eighth of a mile) west of the centre of Parson Street Station.
The station cat is still alive and well in 2024 with some becoming famous on the internet; but how about the signal box cat, does it still exist? However, this short piece is not about a cat, but a common rat which became the pet of a signalman (until the said signalman decided that the rat's life should be ended by him rather than someone else).
The attached scan comes from the Great Western Railway Magazine for December 1909. When the new box mentioned in the accompanying article was finished it was given a new name as well, becoming Parson Street Junction Box. The box was about 10 chains (one eighth of a mile) west of the centre of Parson Street Station.
Scan from the December 1909 GWR Magazine. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Many thanks Michael - an unsual choice of companion!
For more of Michaels articles, please click here.
For more of Michaels articles, please click here.
More memories of SW Freight Trains
Roger Geach
Class 45, 45063, heads a Severn Tunnel Junction to St. Blazey speedlink service with a good mix of wagons.
From memory, class 45's would stop working into Cornwall from the October 1985 timetable change, I may be wrong - quite a while ago now.
1985 was the year of GWR 150, and Severn Tunnel Junction yard was on borrowed time too.
Speedlink was shut down in July 1991.
Roger Geach
From memory, class 45's would stop working into Cornwall from the October 1985 timetable change, I may be wrong - quite a while ago now.
1985 was the year of GWR 150, and Severn Tunnel Junction yard was on borrowed time too.
Speedlink was shut down in July 1991.
Roger Geach
Class 45 'Peak' 45063 heads West at Dobwalls on 12.09.1985 with a Speedlink service from Severn Tunnel Junction to St. Blazey. Copyright Roger Geach.
Many thanks Roger - another wonderful image.
Class 59s at Westbury and Reading
Michael Forward
Michael Forward
Hello Roger, I hope you are well . Nice pictures from the steam rally in Camborne,hope you have dried out. Seeing Alan Peter’s picture of 59003 has prompted me to send this one of 59003 at Westbury with an Acton to Merehead train on 9 December 1986,looking quite smart after just over a year in service. Copyright Michael Forward
Roger, Now we see fellow class 59002 at Reading on 3 May 1990 with another Acton to Merehead quarry train of empties. Copyright Michael Forward Michael
Many Thanks Michael
Tinsley's 'Pet' on tour
Phil 'Shattered' Smith
47145, one of Tinsley depots 'pet' locomotives, is away from home as it works a short freight through Exeter St. Davids in 1991. Copyright Phil Smith.
Many thanks indeed, Phil
A Westbury query, from one of our readers
Can you help?
I’m not sure if this is allowed, but I shall be staying in Minehead at the end of May and would like to catch the bus to Taunton and then the train to Westbury. Having not been there before, are any locos stabled there on Sunday easily seen? If not, can anyone give me the best way to see what is there?
Westbury is not an area which I am personally too familiar with. Can any of our readers with some local knowledge help? If you have any pointers, please email in to - [email protected]