Wheeltapper Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 On behalf of a friend of mine who is considering building a model I am looking for any photographs of the large stone building which stood in the goods yard at Binegar on the S & D. The building was latterly used by a coal merchant before the line closed but was previously an interchange facility for the S & D and the Oakhill Brewery Narrow Gauge Railway where the barrells of stout from the brewery a couple of miles away were loaded on to standard gauge wagons for onward shipment. It was a building I often meant to photograph but never got around to it - I think its still in existance but has been much altered and may now be used as a residence. There seems to be very little information available on the Oakhill Brewery Railway and the two engines a Peckett and a Bagnall that were its loco fleet and the only reference work I know of about it are a couple of articles that have appeared in British Railway Journal by M E J Deane and the Industrial Archive Quarterly magazine. Any help would be appreciated. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalo Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 When I asked about sources for Oakhill Brewery on Chris Nevard's blog, the following were suggested: 'Brewery Railways' - Ian Peaty Railway Bylines - volume 8 issue 3 February 2003 Industrial Railway Record 159 The S&D Files No.4 by Irwell Press SDJR Bath to Evercreech by Mitchell and wotsit Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Blandford1969 Posted July 21, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 21, 2011 When I asked about sources for Oakhill Brewery on Chris Nevard's blog, the following were suggested: 'Brewery Railways' - Ian Peaty Railway Bylines - volume 8 issue 3 February 2003 Industrial Railway Record 159 The S&D Files No.4 by Irwell Press SDJR Bath to Evercreech by Mitchell and wotsit Nick A quick web search provided the following My link My link My link There is also this on Flickr My link You could also contact the Kidderminster railway museum to see what they have. I understand the building is still standing. The SDRT has not got its photo collection sorted yet and is not electronic so that would probably be a non starter. There are no additional views of the goods shed in the members area that could help you. Although you could write to the trust to see if any of the Rimmer images show the goods shed - I will have a look through the list as well and if there is one talk with Andrew Marsh about getting it added into the members gallery on Binegar. You could also look at the RCTS to see what they have. Kind regards Duncan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheeltapper Posted July 21, 2011 Author Share Posted July 21, 2011 Thanks chaps thats helpfull I understand the building was substantially altered to provide general goods facilities for the standard gauge when the narrow gauge railway closed.I have yet to find anything relating to how the track layout was laid out where the narrow gauge met the standard gauge or even where the narrow gauge entered the goods yard . Did for example both gauges have lines inside the building ? or was the building just used for storage and transfer took place in the open ? From memory latterly the building was open sided for about two thirds of its length but in the photo unfortunately that section is hidden behind the Stationmasters House which when the photo was taken was occupied by Norman Down and his wife. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malc2085 Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 Following a open weekend at their club room on the 23/24 July, I understand that Shepton Mallet model railway club have almost finished a layout of Binegar Station which also includes the "Beer and Bitter" narrow gauge line. I am not sure how much modellers licence has been used as I don't know which era they are modelling in. I am also given to believe they have an "N" gauge model of the Camerton Branch including Midford. Did for example both gauges have lines inside the building ? or was the building just used for storage and transfer took place in the open ? Whilst it was being used by the Oakhill Brewery only the narrow gauge lines where inside the shed, there was a wooden platform which was used to tranship the goods to standard gauge wagons which were on a track outside the shed. This would account for the shed having stone piers and being open for the majority of its length on the station side of it. The field side of the building was just a plain stone built wall running for the whole length without doors or windows. If I remember rightly the area between the wall and the field fence was Norman Down's allotment. A friend of mine has been searching for a while now for early maps without much success. I would post a photograph if I knew how to do it (Just apprentice at this posting malarky) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Williams Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 There is also this on Flickr My link You beat me to it :-) Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheeltapper Posted September 9, 2011 Author Share Posted September 9, 2011 I have managed to locate quite a good deal of information and photographs of the line and stock . The reason that maps are hard to find was firstly being the fact the line was built on private property and didnt need a Light Railway Order and secondly the line was built and dismantled between visits by the Ordnance Survey surveyors so they never actually saw it to include on their maps. I have yet to find any pictures of the narrow gauge and standard gauge in use together at Binegar . Just one picture of a narrow gauge wagon stood in Binegar yard. Nor have I found any reference or pictures of the goods vehicles used by the S & D to move the 2500 barrels a week the brewery produced so have no idea if there were special Beer wagons as used by other railways , if covered vans were used or if open wagons were used . It was probably not open wagons in the interests of security but it would be good to know how the traffic was handled and in view of the quantity if special trains were formed or were the regular scheduled goods arrangements utilised. My thanks to everyone who has contributed to this thread which has dramatically increased my knowledge of this relatively unknown Somerset Railway . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Nevard Posted September 10, 2011 Share Posted September 10, 2011 My view is that if there is no record of what it was really like, then a certain amount of modeller's license can creep in with little worry. The key feature of the shed is the curved roof profile in corrugated iron and the white Lias limestone walling/pillars. Thinking about it, Mac Hawkins' 'SDJR Then and Now' books have a few shots of the shed, pre and post closure. They're out of print now but often pop up second hand. I'll have a look at my copy to see if there's anything worthwhile when I'm next at home. The narrow gauge wagons for the brewery line look rather like the Parkside Dundas 009 WD open bogie wagons. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Combe Martin Posted September 10, 2011 Share Posted September 10, 2011 My view is that if there is no record of what it was really like, then a certain amount of modeller's license can creep in with little worry. Ah, but you know what happens then, you'r exhibiting it in 3 years time when it's finished (or publishing photos on here) and some clever b..... comes along and says this and that is wrong and he knows because his uncle who used to work there built a model in 1955 which he's still got in his loft ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted September 11, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 11, 2011 Ah, but you know what happens then, you'r exhibiting it in 3 years time when it's finished (or publishing photos on here) and some clever b..... comes along and says this and that is wrong and he knows because his uncle who used to work there built a model in 1955 which he's still got in his loft ! Indeed, and in this game, you just can't win, so you might as well go ahead with what you've got now, and have fun in the process! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheeltapper Posted September 12, 2011 Author Share Posted September 12, 2011 Ah, but you know what happens then, you'r exhibiting it in 3 years time when it's finished (or publishing photos on here) and some clever b..... comes along and says this and that is wrong and he knows because his uncle who used to work there built a model in 1955 which he's still got in his loft ! We live in the Litigation age and I wonder how long it will be before an exhibition organiser or layout owner are sued by an irate visitor to a show who travelled 300 miles to view a layout advertised as being of Little Snoring on Sea in 1932 but when he got there he found it was of Little Snoring on Sea in 1935 and of no interest to him. It may be good policy to stop describing models as being of anywhere definite unless it is a slavish copy and use terms such as "Inspired by.........." or "As a Tribute to........." in case of an angry anorak. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RailWest Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 "the line was built on private property and didnt need a Light Railway Order......." I wonder how it got around the need to cross the public highway not far from the Mendip Inn ??? Or would that have been covered by separate legislation? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted September 12, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 12, 2011 I wonder how long it will be before an exhibition organiser or layout owner are sued by an irate visitor to a show Well, they can try.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Blandford1969 Posted September 12, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 12, 2011 If you wait to get all the information, you will probably end up waiting forever. Go with what you have got, it will make a really interesting model. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
R A Watson Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 "the line was built on private property and didnt need a Light Railway Order......." I wonder how it got around the need to cross the public highway not far from the Mendip Inn ??? Or would that have been covered by separate legislation? If I remember rightlyit crossed the road on an underbridge. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheeltapper Posted September 13, 2011 Author Share Posted September 13, 2011 If I remember rightlyit crossed the road on an underbridge. I think you may be thinking of where the line crossed Binegar Bottom on a very attractive looking span bridge which was followed by an accomodation underbridge. All the information I have found about the Mendip Inn area is that the line crossed the road through gates at an angle but its not clear on any of the descriptions if they were conventional level crossing type gates or whether it means that there was a gate in the fence line fo the railway and the actual road crossing itself was ungated. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold phil_sutters Posted November 23, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 23, 2016 A quick web search provided the following My link My link My link There is also this on Flickr My link You could also contact the Kidderminster railway museum to see what they have. I understand the building is still standing. The SDRT has not got its photo collection sorted yet and is not electronic so that would probably be a non starter. There are no additional views of the goods shed in the members area that could help you. Although you could write to the trust to see if any of the Rimmer images show the goods shed - I will have a look through the list as well and if there is one talk with Andrew Marsh about getting it added into the members gallery on Binegar. You could also look at the RCTS to see what they have. Kind regards Duncan Referred here from another RMweb thread - but this seems too old to be relevant. Only the first link seems to work for me - the Flickr one's need me to sign in and it's so long since I left, I can't remember my log-in details. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Blandford1969 Posted November 23, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 23, 2016 Referred here from another RMweb thread - but this seems too old to be relevant. Only the first link seems to work for me - the Flickr one's need me to sign in and it's so long since I left, I can't remember my log-in details. Are you looking for the transfer shed? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold phil_sutters Posted November 23, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 23, 2016 Are you looking for the transfer shed? Someone was looking for details/drawings of the Oakhill Brewery bogie wagons. I had found some useful photos and was following another contributor's links to see what else there was on the subject. I used to live a few miles from the brewery - but in the late 50s earlly 60s, so it was just curiosity that brought me here. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hando Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 Would have been a lovely little railway! If it was preserved I would certainly want to be the first to have a ride! I wonder why they didn't have a passenger service? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted January 11, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 11, 2018 I wonder why they didn't have a passenger service? I suspect it was purely a local, industrial undertaking with a very specific purpose, to transport the products of the brewery. Visitors and staff going to the brewery would use other means. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon A Posted January 11, 2018 Share Posted January 11, 2018 Someone was looking for details/drawings of the Oakhill Brewery bogie wagons. I had found some useful photos and was following another contributor's links to see what else there was on the subject. I used to live a few miles from the brewery - but in the late 50s earlly 60s, so it was just curiosity that brought me here. Construction drawings for the Oakhill wagons and Oakhill's first loco can be found in Stafford archives for Bagnalls. Gordon A Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.