NINETEEN SIXTY FOUR – PART 7
The Bromyard Branch
Michael L. Roach
Sixty years ago, I travelled overnight from my home in Plymouth to Herefordshire and Worcestershire in search of steam, and at the end of the day I would again travel home overnight. The first steam of the day was Standard Class 5 no. 73025 from Gloucester Central to Ross-on-Wye, followed two hours later by large prairie 4107 from Ross to Hereford. At the end of the day, I caught the last train of the day from Hereford to Gloucester behind 7814 Fringford Manor of Gloucester Shed and formerly of Laira Shed in the Nineteen Fifties. The date of the trip was Saturday 5 September 1964 and the principal reason for the trip was to attend the last day of passenger services on the Bromyard Branch. Bromyard was previously a through station on a line heading west to Leominster on the Welsh Marches line but the Bromyard to Leominster section had closed some 12 years earlier. Having left Plymouth at midnight I finally reached Worcester Shrub Hill at 3.00pm having travelled the 29-miles from Hereford behind a Hymek hauling 4C. As an aside I believe that this was the last weekend that the Western Region used the 12-hour clock before going over to the 24-hour clock.
I caught the 4.10pm out from Shrub Hill to Bromyard. The branch had a really strange timetable; had this been a weekday the 4.10pm would have been the first train of the day in this direction, and the first of only two. On Saturdays there were five trains with six in the other direction. The train was a well-loaded bubble car no. W55018 which gave enough time at Bromyard to take some photos before returning at 5.15pm. I alighted at Henwick Station on the main line where I had just eight minutes before the 5.45pm from Shrub Hill to Bromyard arrived. BR and the Worcester shed master had turned up trumps by putting on a pannier tank with six well-loaded coaches. This was the penultimate train, as there was one last train on Saturdays at 10.15pm off Shrub Hill but I would not be there to see it. Leaving Henwick on time pannier 8793 did well with the six coaches but arrived Bromyard 7L. This gave the photographers fourteen minutes to take photos as the engine took water and ran around its train. 8793 did even better on the return trip leaving 2L and arriving Shrub Hill 4L a really good achievement considering that there was a lengthy 15mph permanent way restriction between Bromyard and Suckley, and this was a loaded train on the last evening of passenger services. 8793 was withdrawn at Worcester Shed just three months later.
I arrived back in Plymouth at 5.26am the next morning. Including an early morning side trip from Bristol Temple Meads out to Portishead in a DMU (also on the last day of passenger services) I had travelled a total of 526 miles in a little under 30 hours of which just 88 miles were steam hauled. This was typical of the time, but definitely worth it.
I caught the 4.10pm out from Shrub Hill to Bromyard. The branch had a really strange timetable; had this been a weekday the 4.10pm would have been the first train of the day in this direction, and the first of only two. On Saturdays there were five trains with six in the other direction. The train was a well-loaded bubble car no. W55018 which gave enough time at Bromyard to take some photos before returning at 5.15pm. I alighted at Henwick Station on the main line where I had just eight minutes before the 5.45pm from Shrub Hill to Bromyard arrived. BR and the Worcester shed master had turned up trumps by putting on a pannier tank with six well-loaded coaches. This was the penultimate train, as there was one last train on Saturdays at 10.15pm off Shrub Hill but I would not be there to see it. Leaving Henwick on time pannier 8793 did well with the six coaches but arrived Bromyard 7L. This gave the photographers fourteen minutes to take photos as the engine took water and ran around its train. 8793 did even better on the return trip leaving 2L and arriving Shrub Hill 4L a really good achievement considering that there was a lengthy 15mph permanent way restriction between Bromyard and Suckley, and this was a loaded train on the last evening of passenger services. 8793 was withdrawn at Worcester Shed just three months later.
I arrived back in Plymouth at 5.26am the next morning. Including an early morning side trip from Bristol Temple Meads out to Portishead in a DMU (also on the last day of passenger services) I had travelled a total of 526 miles in a little under 30 hours of which just 88 miles were steam hauled. This was typical of the time, but definitely worth it.
Bromyard looking towards the buffer stop with passengers waiting to board W55018 forming the 5.15pm to Worcester. The station area retained a good number of Great Western fir trees in 1964. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Bromyard Station from the road bridge carrying the B4203. The area is now an industrial estate and retains a couple of Great Western fir trees. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
8793 has arrived at Bromyard with the six coaches of the 5.45pm from Shrub Hill. The time is 6.36pm. Part of the platform edging has been removed and is growing a good crop of weeds. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Another view of 8793 before it came off the train to take water and run round. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
8793 takes water. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
8793 is ready to take out the 6.50pm to Worcester Shrub Hill, the penultimate train to leave Bromyard. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
A last view of 8793. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
A wet evening at Hereford Station on 5 September 1964 sees 7814 Fringford Manor on the 9.42pm to Gloucester. The camera was held on top of a post with the shutter held open for five seconds at f4. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Full Moon at Goonbarrow
Craig Munday
A shift up at Goonbarrow saw the area mystically lit after dark by a full moon. After the last train, a study was taken of the box and semaphores against a well lit sky.
I'm pleased to say, this view should remain relatively unchanged after the forthcoming signalling enhancements for the line.
I'm pleased to say, this view should remain relatively unchanged after the forthcoming signalling enhancements for the line.
Goonbarrow by night on the 18th September 2024. A wonderful study with the bright moon above in a cloudless sky illuminating the signalbox and trackwork. Copyright Craig Munday.
Many thanks to you, Craig - stunning.
Lostwithiel Interlude
Roger Winnen
The new (temporary) footbridge at Lostwithiel on the day of its opening to the public, 18.09.2024. Copyright Roger Winnen.
Viewed from the footbridge, a GWR IET departs eastwards passing the former signal box. 18.09.2024, copyright Roger Winnen.
66152 arrives with China Clay for Fowey. 18.09.2024, copyright Roger Winnen.
66152 leads her train of 11 JIA wagons over the level crossing and into the up goods loop. 18.09.2024, copyright Roger Winnen.
The loco runs back into the station light engine so that the driver can change ends and complete the run round. 18.09.2024, copyright Roger Winnen.
A class 158 DMU heading west calls at Lostwithiel. 18.09.2024, copyright Roger Winnen.
The Class 158 continues on its journey to Penzance. 18.09.2024, copyright Roger Winnen.
Crewkerne Route Learners
Bill Elston
There has been some interesting activity through Crewkerne over the last three days, ie GBRf route-learners, working from Eastleigh to Honiton and back as 0Z47 AND 0Z48 respectively.
On Monday 16 Sep it was 66727 in Maritime blue livery. Copyright Bill Elston
On Tuesday it was 66770, which I didnt get to see
On 18.09.2024, GBRf obliged by sending 69006, which I caught west of Crewkerne station. Copyright Bill Elston.
.. then on the return trip at Chard Jct. Copyright Bill Elston.
69006 at Chard Junction, 18.09.2024. Copyright Bill Elston.
69006 at Chard Junction, 18.09.2024. Copyright Bill Elston.
Many thanks to you, Bill