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Tim V

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Blog Comments posted by Tim V

    RonnieS

    Posted

    1 hour ago, RonnieS said:

    In My “Alterative History” much of the line became double tracked. In reality this was always the designed intention with (for instance) Pensford Viaduct being built with sufficient width for this. Parts remained single track (i.e., the bit through Old Mills) making it a bit like the S and D.

    In summer months the S and D coped with enormous amounts of traffic. This makes the real 1959 pm timetable (for the North Somerset line) seem laughable.

    7.png.0b197eed7763ec240dede9ea26b4c9fd.png

    Continuing my fictional post-war engineering changes in the area; it would have made sense to add a connection South of Westbury.  This would have allowed O58 (the Cardiff to Portsmouth express) a quicker route. The Fawley to Bromford Bridge oil trains and Southampton Banana specials would have benefited too. And the race special I run to Salisbury would be justified.

    Picture1.png.78512591d5a9d32e714aed9474304f88.png

    Not quite a fair comparison. The BN&S shows local traffic, while the S&D includes all the through traffic. Pull out the through traffic (i.e. not originating on the line), and you end up with a very similar timetable.

     

    One of the reasons why the S&D closed, it had no sustainable traffic originating on the line.

    • Thanks 1
    RonnieS

    Posted

    On 09/11/2021 at 19:06, RonnieS said:

    The Bristol and North Somerset Railway had a rather convoluted history. Opened in 1873, it joined an existing branch from Frome to Radstock North.

    Passenger stations on the line

    Brislington

    Whitchurch Halt

    Pensford

    Clutton

    Hallatrow

    Farrington Gurney Halt

    Midsomer Norton and Welton

    Radstock

    Mells Road

    ……………………………………………………………………………………………….

    Old Mills  was situated between Midsomer Norton and Farrington Gurney Halt

    ………………………………………………………………………………………………..

    The line's main traffic was coal and commuting in and out of Bristol. There was also cattle, stone traffic, profitable parcels traffic and a wagon works at Radstock. Passenger traffic ceased on the line in 1959, with complete closure of the line in 1973 following the closure of the last colliery in the Somerset Coalfield at Kilmersdon. However circa 1966 a connection to the S and D line at Radstock was built!

    According to various sources it was a Dotted Red or Dotted Blue route restriction? I think Dotted Red as 42xx and 56xx tanks were noted working the line. In any event later in its history Western Diesels worked some traffic. Therefore route 5?

    As a pre-teen I remember reading that that railway modelling was a hobby “where realism and imagination are friends” so taking the alternative history path I have taken liberties.

     

    Assumptions (or the tongue in cheek history)

     

    Realising that Bristol-Frome was a useful diversion route BR(WR) upgraded the line to Red in 1955. At the same time the connection to the S& D was installed. Unlike reality the connection also allowed traffic from Bath to Bristol. A useful alternative for light engines to and from St Phillip’s shed and empty stock from Green Park to Temple Meads.

    Instead of abolishing local passenger traffic on the line it was reorganised and rationalised by replacing the spaced out 2/3 coach trains with more frequent 1 coach autos and single car DMUs. The ex GWR AEC units operated in reality (timetabled as the Bruton Diesel) but the class 122 and the 128 parcels cars are a work of fiction. However, both would have been justified.

    Dotted blue actually (source 1961 WTT). Certain 'Red' engines permitted at no more than 20mph throughout. And another minor point, the line closed in 1968 after the storm.

    Of course the real Old Mills was not a blockpost, so could not pass trains as you are showing, but hey, whose model is it! It certainly looks like Old Mills - which is what counts!

    • Like 1
    alanbuttler

    Posted

    The J4s we had were both petrol and diesel - both were rubbish!

     

    Change that diesel spill into a wash of petrol, petrol was a lot less than £1, even 50p a gallon in the 70s. Although when the rationing cards were sent out (but not used), we all became more aware of our petrol use. Even today I still tap the nozzle to get the last drips out - a legacy from those days.

    • Like 1
    Mikkel

    Posted

    12 hours ago, Mikkel said:

    Thanks Tim!  What a unique collection you've got - and those are just the stable blocks. It was foresighted of you to take those shots back then. Even in the early 80s, I doubt many people would have gone to the trouble of capturing the details of lowly stable blocks.

     

    Interesting details again, including the - can't remember the English word - ring on the wall (first photo).

     

    There's a 1989 photo of the Abingdon stables here: http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/a/abingdon/index26.shtml

     

    By the early 80s such architecture was fast disappearing. Film was cheap (relatively) so I invested in doing my own processing. That meant I could fire away on the camera (OM1 by this point). Very few of these pictures were printed. With the advent of computers and scanners, I was able to scan my entire negative collection, producing some gems like these.

    • Like 2
    • Craftsmanship/clever 2
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