The Midland in Gloucestershire
Ian Thomas
The Midland Railway arrived in Gloucestershire when the Birmingham and Gloucester and Bristol and Gloucester were absorbed by the Midland Railway in 1846, thus acquiring a through route to the west from Derby to Bristol.
There were a number of branch lines from various towns connecting with the main line. Towns such as Thornbury, Dursley, Nailsworth, Stroud, and Tewkesbury were all rail-served at one time in the past and, interestingly, all closed to passengers before the Beeching Report of March 27th 1963. However, goods traffic continued on some until the 1960s, and Dursley until 1970.
Part of the Thornbury branch has been reinstated since 1972 for the quarry at Tytherington, although it has had quiet moments in recent decades.
The first to open was the Dursley Branch from Coaley Junction to Dursley. The shortest passenger branch line in Gloucestershire, at just over 2 miles long, with an intermediate station at Cam, it opened in 1856 and closed to passengers in 1962, with goods traffic continuing until 1970.
Next, in 1864, came the line from Ashchurch to Great Malvern, a delightful branch line crossing the Severn at Ripple and, of course, serving Tewkesbury. The section from Upton-on-Severn to Malvern lost its passenger trains in 1952, and the rest finished in 1961.
Third in line was Stonehouse Bristol Road to Nailsworth in 1867, and a short branch from Dudbridge to Stroud Cheapside in 1886. This was followed in 1872 by a branch line from Yate to Thornbury. This succumbed to passenger traffic as early as 1944, with the Nailsworth and Stroud lines suspended as an economy drive in 1947, before their official closure in 1949. Goods traffic remained until 1966.
The local main line stations between Worcester Shrub Hill and Bristol T/M lost out in January 1965, giving the county no station between Bristol and Gloucester Eastgate.
This partly changed in May 1972 when Bristol Parkway opened its doors. Yate reopened in 1989, Cam & Dursley (formerly Coaley Jnc) in 1994, and Ashchurch in 1997. Charfield will open again later this year, with work well under way.
There were a number of branch lines from various towns connecting with the main line. Towns such as Thornbury, Dursley, Nailsworth, Stroud, and Tewkesbury were all rail-served at one time in the past and, interestingly, all closed to passengers before the Beeching Report of March 27th 1963. However, goods traffic continued on some until the 1960s, and Dursley until 1970.
Part of the Thornbury branch has been reinstated since 1972 for the quarry at Tytherington, although it has had quiet moments in recent decades.
The first to open was the Dursley Branch from Coaley Junction to Dursley. The shortest passenger branch line in Gloucestershire, at just over 2 miles long, with an intermediate station at Cam, it opened in 1856 and closed to passengers in 1962, with goods traffic continuing until 1970.
Next, in 1864, came the line from Ashchurch to Great Malvern, a delightful branch line crossing the Severn at Ripple and, of course, serving Tewkesbury. The section from Upton-on-Severn to Malvern lost its passenger trains in 1952, and the rest finished in 1961.
Third in line was Stonehouse Bristol Road to Nailsworth in 1867, and a short branch from Dudbridge to Stroud Cheapside in 1886. This was followed in 1872 by a branch line from Yate to Thornbury. This succumbed to passenger traffic as early as 1944, with the Nailsworth and Stroud lines suspended as an economy drive in 1947, before their official closure in 1949. Goods traffic remained until 1966.
The local main line stations between Worcester Shrub Hill and Bristol T/M lost out in January 1965, giving the county no station between Bristol and Gloucester Eastgate.
This partly changed in May 1972 when Bristol Parkway opened its doors. Yate reopened in 1989, Cam & Dursley (formerly Coaley Jnc) in 1994, and Ashchurch in 1997. Charfield will open again later this year, with work well under way.
3F No. 43754 at Ashchurch circa 1961. From Ian Thomas's Collection.
3F No. 43754 at Ashchurch circa 1961. From Ian Thomas's Collection.
3F No 43754 at Tewksbury on 29.04.1961. From Ian Thomas's collection.
7920 at Ashchurch on the diverted Wolverhampton to Penzance express. From Ian Thomas's collection.
43754 at Ashchurch - Tewkesbury. From Ian Thomas's collection.
Ashchurch in the 1960s. From Ian Thomas's collection.
Midland 1P 1365 at Ashchurch on Christmas Eve 1948. From Ian Thomas's collection.
Tewkesbury branch last day. From Ian Thomas's collection.
Tewkesbury station last day, August 12th 1961. From Ian Thomas's collection.
Many thanks for this fascinating article Ian, great research and a nice selection of images - much appreciated.
Marsh Mills bridge works
Clive Smith
The bridge over the River Plym at Marsh Mills in Plymouth that carries the south Devon main line is to close for sixteen days from this Saturday 21st February. The project requires access from the River Plym, and temporary dams and pumps have now been installed at the site.To ensure fish aren’t disturbed, only half the river will be dammed at any time maintaining the flow of the river. I popped down to the nearby footbridge and foreshore to take a few photos of the works and passing Cross Country trains. A bit of a grey afternoon but it wasn't raining so mustn't grumble. The bridge is actually called Crabtree Viaduct, but rarely seems to be called that.
Aerial photos and a Network Rail video are in the two links below.
Passengers urged to plan ahead as River Plym bridge gets major upgrade to support growing rail traffic
Plymouth passengers told to plan ahead for major rail disruption
Aerial photos and a Network Rail video are in the two links below.
Passengers urged to plan ahead as River Plym bridge gets major upgrade to support growing rail traffic
Plymouth passengers told to plan ahead for major rail disruption
A crosscountry Voyager crosses the Marsh Mills bridge. 19.02.2026, copyright Clive Smith.
A second voyager crossing the bridge / 'Crabtree Viaduct'. The temporary pontoon and power boats in the river to enable access to the undersides of the bridge. 19.02.2026, copyright Clive Smith.
Many thanks Clive. A big project - hope it all goes to plan.
Test trains of the past
Michael Forward
You were asking recently what test/monitoring trains looked like in the past.
I have sent this picture some years ago, but it will be an appropriate moment to look again, and besides, who can resist seeing 50007!
I seem to recall that some trains then had Serco branding on the coaches.
I have sent this picture some years ago, but it will be an appropriate moment to look again, and besides, who can resist seeing 50007!
I seem to recall that some trains then had Serco branding on the coaches.
50007 stabled at Penzance with a test train on a glorious morning of 10 September 1987. Copyright Michael Forward.
A lovely photo Michael - many thanks
Westbury Variety
Guy Vincent
Three type 5 diesels at Westbury on 18th with a fourth shunting the previous day.
66050 'Yorkshire Rose' , a recent arrival for yard shunting duties. This loco was formerly named 'EWS Energy'. 18.02.2026, copyright Guy Vincent.
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66050 details. 18.02.2026, copyright Guy Vincent.
66551, currently on long term hire to Colas from Freightliner. 18.02.2026, copyright Guy Vincent.
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70816 looking very smart following recent cosmetic attention. 18.02.2026, copyright Guy Vincent.
66098, a recent visitor to Cornwall, now also a yard pilot and carrying out shunting. 18.02.2026, copyright Guy Vincent.
Many thanks Guy - plenty to see at Westbury.
Treesmill 175's
Jon Hird
175001 descends through Treesmill working the 1340 Plymouth - Penzance. 19.02.2026, copyright Jon Hird.
Exactly 5 minutes later, 175007 appears working a Plymouth - Plymouth via Par crew training run. 19.02.2026, copyright Jon Hird.