NINETEEN SIXTY FOUR – PART 78
Great Western Countryside
Michael L. Roach
The Great Western Magazine was published monthly and through the 1930s it reflected an increasingly confident and successful company sadly cut short by the start of the Second World War, when it was busier than ever under government control. On the first (frontispiece) page the editor would sometimes choose a photo of a town or village in the Great Western operating area. For the benefit of overseas readers who might be a bit hazy on British geography this was GW territory. Draw a line from the centre of London to Exeter; and a second from London to Birmingham and on to Chester and across to Portmadog – this huge slice of England and Wales between the two lines was GW territory. Yes, there were incursions by other railways around the periphery, and even some right across the middle to South Wales but these were mainly single routes and often single track. With the demise of coal mining in the last years of the twentieth century 98 percent of that slice of Britain is all very pleasant countryside and the Magazine caught that rural atmosphere in the photographs it published in the 1930s. Many of the photos were sent in by members of the public rather than a GW staff photographer. One of those was FR Winstone a professional photographer with a studio in Bristol, and I hope to return to Winstone one day. If you like seeing these atmospheric photographs you are welcome to tell the editor or the writer direct if you know my email address and more will be published occasionally. In this first instalment there will be just three all in Devon and Cornwall.
Although the train gives great access to the countryside and allows rural dwellers to get into town it was not universally welcomed by some when the rails were spreading across the land in early Victorian times. The last image was taken from a poster in the then Great Western Museum who obviously did not want the GWR to build another line across The Cotswolds. In 1852 the O,W and W was already being built across the north end of the Cotswolds; and the existing line from Swindon to Gloucester and Cheltenham through the Stroud Valley had opened in 1845. The other lines that did get built started to appear from 1861 onwards. One can only speculate that the new line that was being opposed was being planned right across the middle of The Cotswolds through Northleach, Burford and Witney roughly following much of the later A40 road. The Witney Railway opened from Oxford to Witney in November 1861 and the line from Cheltenham to Andoversford Junction opened in June 1881. The 23-mile gap between Andoversford and Witney never received a railway and the railways at each end closed in the 1960s. The resistance to a line across The Cotswolds had been successful and the GWR probably spent its money elsewhere. The leader of the opposition and the person who put his name to the 1852 poster was William Henry Gwinnett (1809 – 1891) a Cheltenham solicitor. For the last few years of his life he appears on the Register of shareholders of the Great Western Railway.
Although the train gives great access to the countryside and allows rural dwellers to get into town it was not universally welcomed by some when the rails were spreading across the land in early Victorian times. The last image was taken from a poster in the then Great Western Museum who obviously did not want the GWR to build another line across The Cotswolds. In 1852 the O,W and W was already being built across the north end of the Cotswolds; and the existing line from Swindon to Gloucester and Cheltenham through the Stroud Valley had opened in 1845. The other lines that did get built started to appear from 1861 onwards. One can only speculate that the new line that was being opposed was being planned right across the middle of The Cotswolds through Northleach, Burford and Witney roughly following much of the later A40 road. The Witney Railway opened from Oxford to Witney in November 1861 and the line from Cheltenham to Andoversford Junction opened in June 1881. The 23-mile gap between Andoversford and Witney never received a railway and the railways at each end closed in the 1960s. The resistance to a line across The Cotswolds had been successful and the GWR probably spent its money elsewhere. The leader of the opposition and the person who put his name to the 1852 poster was William Henry Gwinnett (1809 – 1891) a Cheltenham solicitor. For the last few years of his life he appears on the Register of shareholders of the Great Western Railway.
Polperro from the April 1933 Magazine
Thurlestone from the May 1933 Magazine
Coverack from the August 1933 Magazine
This poster dated from 1852 and also appeared in the April 1933 Magazine.
Exeter HST
Paul Barlow
43004 and 43156 with the 0745 Penzance to Exeter cross Okehampton street bridge, Exeter. 24.11.2025, copyright Paul Barlow.
An unexplored angle - many thanks, Paul.
A bit of everything
Mark Lynam
175007 arrives at St. Austell with a crew training run. 25.11.2025, copyright Mark Lynam.
A crosscountry Voyager heads east at St. Austell. 25.11.2025, copyright Mark Lynam.
66051 passes Middleway with the Goonbarrow - Fowey clay. 25.11.2025, copyright Mark Lynam.
66051 passes through Golant in a very lucky spot of sun. 25.11.2025, copyright Mark Lynam.
43186 and 43187 cross Liskeard Viaduct with the 1340 Plymouth - Penzance. 25.11.2025, copyright Mark Lynam.
150266 calls at Coombe Junction Halt. 25.11.2025, copyright Mark Lynam.
Many thanks Mark, a productive days photography.
The Bodmin Railway
Christmas Market
Jon Hird
The Bodmin Railway held the first of two Christmas Markets yesterday evening. The event was well attended and featured lots of interesting stalls as well as catering options. Small Prarie 5552 and Bagnall 'Judy' were platformed providing steam heat to the coaching stock.
Another market is due to be held on December 16th - info on the Bodmin Railway website.
Another market is due to be held on December 16th - info on the Bodmin Railway website.
With a brass band playing in the background, 5552 and 'Judy' look the part beneath the soft lights at Bodmin General. 25.11.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
A very festive scene at Bodmin. 25.11.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
Bodmin General nicely illuminated beneath a great cresent moon. 25.11.2025, copyright Jon Hird.