The Midland in Gloucestershire
Part 4
Ian Thomas
In this part, let’s have a look at the Yate to Thornbury branch line and what is left of the former Midland main line at Westerleigh Murco.
The Thornbury branch was opened by the Midland Railway on September 2nd, 1872, running from Yate to Thornbury with two intermediate stations at Iron Acton and Tytherington, over a length of 7.5 miles. There was valuable merchandise to be had from a quarry at Grovesend (Tytherington), just before the line dived under the A38 trunk road (as was). The services were fairly sparse when compared with, say, the Nailsworth and Dursley lines, with only four trains in either direction at best, of which the first and last ran through to Bristol Temple Meads via Mangotsfield and Fishponds—the true Midland route to Bristol.
Goods traffic was abundant and saw later use, long after the passenger service finished. The passenger service lasted 72 years, with the final day being Saturday, June 17th, 1944. Motive power was predominantly Midland veterans, although Great Western types appeared as well, plus BR 3MT 82001, Standard 4 4-6-0 75001, and Standard 5 4-6-0 73015. The Class 1P 0-4-4 1300 tanks were used on passenger services, and Midland 3F and 4F from time to time. Accordingly, Class 5 4-6-0 45280 and 8F 2-8-0 48458 worked the goods, one on each occasion in the 1960s.
Western locomotives saw 16XX and 57XX 0-6-0PTs, 2251 Class 0-6-0 No. 2229, and 5101 Class 2-6-2T No. 4103. Diesel locomotives arrived in the 1960s, with Hymeks first and Class 14 9500 centre cab 0-6-0s.
Overnight blizzards on March 3rd–4th, 1965 saw 6–9 inches of level snow and huge drifts across much of the West Midlands, East Wales, and parts of the south-west. 57XX No. 3696 was seen in action on Thursday, March 4th, 1965 on snowplough duties on the branch—probably the first time in March since 1947.
Goods traffic carried on after the passenger services finished and continued until closure in 1967. In the early 1960s, Prestflo hoppers were in use on the branch conveying cement for the building of both the first Severn Road Bridge and Oldbury Nuclear Power Station. However, with motorway construction well underway in the south-west, a decision was made to reopen the line to Grovesend Quarry to move the stone products by rail to various locations.
Relaying started in 1972, and the line was opened by BR chairman (then) Richard Marsh in September 1973, all in conjunction with ARC (Aggregates). The line was again mothballed and out of use, but happily still survives today. Diesel classes 25, 31, 33, 37, 45, 46, 47, 52, 56, 58, 59, 60, and 66 have all appeared at some time.
Railtours have proved popular, and I have visited the line on two occasions. First up, F & W’s “The Severnsider” tour of Sunday, July 15th, 1979, with 20-154 up front, also visiting the Berkeley Road–Sharpness branch into the bargain, plus Gloucester Docks with 08-826—what a brilliant Sunday tour! Next up, the “Bristol Branch Explorer”, a series of weekend tours in conjunction with the Bristol Evening Post (1Z39/40/41/42), throughout Saturday and Sunday, March 20th/21st, 1999, featuring 4MT 2-6-4T No. 80079, from Yate up to the quarry and back, then onward to Westerleigh and back to Yate. I was aboard 1Z41, and a nice late afternoon jaunt it was, departing Yate at 16:15.
UK Railtours also ran a tour on Saturday, July 2nd, 2011 from Stevenage (Herts) to Bristol and then up to Gloucester before traversing the Sharpness branch and later that day the Thornbury branch. It featured Class 60s top and tail, with 66-050 and 66-207 with headcode 1Z27. I photographed it passing Cam & Dursley around lunchtime and later at Tytherington, Latteridge crossing, Iron Acton, and Westerleigh Murco depot.
For a branch line that has always been in the background, quite an interesting and varied career, I think!
Thanks to Oakwood Press “Yate to Thornbury Branch” for research purposes, and hearty thanks to Peter Watts (F & W and Pathfinder) for the excellent tours.
The Thornbury branch was opened by the Midland Railway on September 2nd, 1872, running from Yate to Thornbury with two intermediate stations at Iron Acton and Tytherington, over a length of 7.5 miles. There was valuable merchandise to be had from a quarry at Grovesend (Tytherington), just before the line dived under the A38 trunk road (as was). The services were fairly sparse when compared with, say, the Nailsworth and Dursley lines, with only four trains in either direction at best, of which the first and last ran through to Bristol Temple Meads via Mangotsfield and Fishponds—the true Midland route to Bristol.
Goods traffic was abundant and saw later use, long after the passenger service finished. The passenger service lasted 72 years, with the final day being Saturday, June 17th, 1944. Motive power was predominantly Midland veterans, although Great Western types appeared as well, plus BR 3MT 82001, Standard 4 4-6-0 75001, and Standard 5 4-6-0 73015. The Class 1P 0-4-4 1300 tanks were used on passenger services, and Midland 3F and 4F from time to time. Accordingly, Class 5 4-6-0 45280 and 8F 2-8-0 48458 worked the goods, one on each occasion in the 1960s.
Western locomotives saw 16XX and 57XX 0-6-0PTs, 2251 Class 0-6-0 No. 2229, and 5101 Class 2-6-2T No. 4103. Diesel locomotives arrived in the 1960s, with Hymeks first and Class 14 9500 centre cab 0-6-0s.
Overnight blizzards on March 3rd–4th, 1965 saw 6–9 inches of level snow and huge drifts across much of the West Midlands, East Wales, and parts of the south-west. 57XX No. 3696 was seen in action on Thursday, March 4th, 1965 on snowplough duties on the branch—probably the first time in March since 1947.
Goods traffic carried on after the passenger services finished and continued until closure in 1967. In the early 1960s, Prestflo hoppers were in use on the branch conveying cement for the building of both the first Severn Road Bridge and Oldbury Nuclear Power Station. However, with motorway construction well underway in the south-west, a decision was made to reopen the line to Grovesend Quarry to move the stone products by rail to various locations.
Relaying started in 1972, and the line was opened by BR chairman (then) Richard Marsh in September 1973, all in conjunction with ARC (Aggregates). The line was again mothballed and out of use, but happily still survives today. Diesel classes 25, 31, 33, 37, 45, 46, 47, 52, 56, 58, 59, 60, and 66 have all appeared at some time.
Railtours have proved popular, and I have visited the line on two occasions. First up, F & W’s “The Severnsider” tour of Sunday, July 15th, 1979, with 20-154 up front, also visiting the Berkeley Road–Sharpness branch into the bargain, plus Gloucester Docks with 08-826—what a brilliant Sunday tour! Next up, the “Bristol Branch Explorer”, a series of weekend tours in conjunction with the Bristol Evening Post (1Z39/40/41/42), throughout Saturday and Sunday, March 20th/21st, 1999, featuring 4MT 2-6-4T No. 80079, from Yate up to the quarry and back, then onward to Westerleigh and back to Yate. I was aboard 1Z41, and a nice late afternoon jaunt it was, departing Yate at 16:15.
UK Railtours also ran a tour on Saturday, July 2nd, 2011 from Stevenage (Herts) to Bristol and then up to Gloucester before traversing the Sharpness branch and later that day the Thornbury branch. It featured Class 60s top and tail, with 66-050 and 66-207 with headcode 1Z27. I photographed it passing Cam & Dursley around lunchtime and later at Tytherington, Latteridge crossing, Iron Acton, and Westerleigh Murco depot.
For a branch line that has always been in the background, quite an interesting and varied career, I think!
Thanks to Oakwood Press “Yate to Thornbury Branch” for research purposes, and hearty thanks to Peter Watts (F & W and Pathfinder) for the excellent tours.
Please click any image below for an enlargement and caption/details.
Many thanks Ian, another excellent article - very much appreciated.
Back to work for refreshed class 60's
Guy Vincent
Recently returned to traffic after several years out of use, DC Rail's immaculate 60099 'Ben More Assynt' passing Clink Road Jcn, Frome, and then during a booked pathing stop at Westbury with the recently introduced 6M51 0945 Merehead - Willesden loaded stone. 70811 passed by the 60 at Westbury so offering a comparison of the respective designs. My personal view is 'British is best'!
Three more '60s' (60013, 60022 and 60060) are reportedly undergoing extensive refurbishment which should result in a total of eight in the DC fleet once they re-enter service.
Three more '60s' (60013, 60022 and 60060) are reportedly undergoing extensive refurbishment which should result in a total of eight in the DC fleet once they re-enter service.
60099 'Ben More Assynt' passing Clink Road Jcn, Frome, with the recently introduced 6M51 0945 Merehead - Willesden loaded stone. 19.03.2026, copyright Guy Vincent.
60099 pauses at Westbury. 19.03.2026, copyright Guy Vincent.
 60099's nameplate. 19.03.2026, copyright Guy Vincent. |  Cooling equipment seen through the radiator grille. 19.03.2026, copyright Guy Vincent. |
Colas Rails 70811 alongside 60099 at Westbury. 19.03.2026, copyright Guy Vincent.
Many thanks Guy, a great set of photos.
66798 "Britannic" crew training
Steve Widdowson
66798 stabled at Worcester overnight, seen early this morning (19.03). The trip was for crew training for the "Britannic" train 66798 started at 1213 on 18th March from Llanelli Dock Jn East to Worcester Yard , where it stabled overnight then continued as 0O60 1047 Worcester Yard to Tonbridge West Yard via Cotswold line. 19.03.2026, copyright Steve Widdowson.
Many thanks Steve, a great night shot beneath the semaphores.
The Britannic Explorer is soon due to visit Cornwall - times and paths now available in our Railtour Calendar.
The Britannic Explorer is soon due to visit Cornwall - times and paths now available in our Railtour Calendar.
St. Ives in the sun
Mark Lynam
150219 hugs the coast line as it heads to St. Ives on a sunny 19.03.2026. Copyright Mark Lynam.
150219 returning to St. Erth from St. Ives. 19.03.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.
150219 near Carbis Bay. 19.03.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.
Another service from St. Erth approaches St. Ives. 19.03.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.
150219 pulls away from Carbis and heads on to St. Erth. 19.03.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.
A final shot from above St. Ives viaduct as the unit departs on yet another trip to St. Erth. 19.03.2026, copyright Mark Lynam.
A smashing set of photos Mark, well done and many thanks.