br2975 Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Whilst conducting research for the new project, BR (WR) South Wales in the early 1970s I've pored over several photo albums of the area, and further afield on western territory. . It has become apparent that the GWR also employed concrete in certain infrastructure designs, but not to the extent of the SR. . Some items built by the GWR bear strong similarities in design to SR Exmouth Jct products. e.g. 1 Concrete footbridges; those at Castle Bar Park and Maesteg Castle St. to name but two, look very similar to SR products. e.g. Concrete lamp standards on the platforms at Wednesbury and West Bromwich also strongly resembled the SR single lamp columns. . In addition, some small huts used across nationwide have strong similarities - which I suspect may result from their purchase from outside manufaturers, or contractors. . So, was their any co-operation between say the GWR and SR, or the other 'Big Two' ? . Does anyone know of other similar infrastructure that has a foot in both camps ? . Brian R Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Whilst conducting research for the new project, BR (WR) South Wales in the early 1970s I've pored over several photo albums of the area, and further afield on western territory. . It has become apparent that the GWR also employed concrete in certain infrastructure designs, but not to the extent of the SR. . Some items built by the GWR bear strong similarities in design to SR Exmouth Jct products. e.g. 1 Concrete footbridges; those at Castle Bar Park and Maesteg Castle St. to name but two, look very similar to SR products. e.g. Concrete lamp standards on the platforms at Wednesbury and West Bromwich also strongly resembled the SR single lamp columns. . In addition, some small huts used across nationwide have strong similarities - which I suspect may result from their purchase from outside manufaturers, or contractors. . So, was their any co-operation between say the GWR and SR, or the other 'Big Two' ? . Does anyone know of other similar infrastructure that has a foot in both camps ? . Brian R Could be a case, at least in some instances, of 'form follows function'? If you're going to make a prefabricated footbridge, or a lamp-post, in cast concrete, there are only a limited numbers of designs that'll work, given the nature of the object and the constraints of formwork or moulds. There would probably have been a degree of collaboration of ideas, via organisations such as the Institute of Civil Engineers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenton Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Purely guessing - but I would say it probably depends more on dates. If these structures pre-date BR(W) then they could well be LSWR? or if later during close BR(W) then it could simply be availability and cost. In the market for a relatively unspecific footbridge or hut they may well have purchased local and that local may have been SR which does run alongside most of GWR southern borders and even crosses occasionally. such proximity may well have been the deciding factor across most of the country. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted March 25, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 25, 2015 The concrete works of the two Companies/BR Regions were of course not very far apart and some cross-fertilisation of ideas, if not designs, might have resulted. I'm fairly sure too that the Western's concrete works at Taunton outlasted the Southern's works at Exmouth Jcn. As far as concrete lamp posts are concerned I believe that some used by the WR came from outside contractors. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beatty 139 Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Don't forget the GWR also had prefabricated concrete platforms, where the lamp posts, fencing etc were all intergrated. I have been slowly drawing up the GWR concrete shed that's still at Rowley Regis, the only detail I'm not certain about is what the orignal door was like. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenton Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 the GWR concrete shed that's still at Rowley Regis ???? ???? ???? ???? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Exmouth Junction Concrete Works closed in 1963, the site then became a Coal Concentration Depot. Work was transferred to Taunton Concrete Works which had gained the ability to manufacture pre-stressed concrete, Taunton Concrete Works remained in use until at least the early 1980s. Rail Centres No.5 Exeter by Colin Maggs has a section on Exmouth Junction on page 108, in it he writes:- 'In BR times Exmouth Junction products went further afield, one concrete bridge going to Maesteg and another to Hull.' edit - this footbridge at Maesteg Castle Street? https://uk.images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=A2KLj9KZKxNVDzsAj2dNBQx.;_ylu=X3oDMTIyZmE4ZmwxBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1nBG9pZAM4MDBiNGE1NzBlZDZkMjA4MDgyNDYxYThhOTA1MjZkNQRncG9zAzEEaXQDYmluZw--?.origin=&back=https%3A%2F%2Fuk.images.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3Dmaesteg%2Bcaastle%2Bstreet%26fr%3Dmcafee%26fr2%3Dpiv-web%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D1&w=500&h=368&imgurl=farm9.staticflickr.com%2F8087%2F8442553978_dd4c88bcc0_z.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fcamperdown%2F8442553978%2F&size=95.3KB&name=%3Cb%3EMaesteg%3C%2Fb%3E+%28%3Cb%3ECastle%3C%2Fb%3E+%3Cb%3EStreet%3C%2Fb%3E%29+Station&p=maesteg+castle+street&oid=800b4a570ed6d208082461a8a90526d5&fr2=piv-web&fr=mcafee&rw=maesteg+castle+street&tt=%3Cb%3EMaesteg%3C%2Fb%3E+%28%3Cb%3ECastle%3C%2Fb%3E+%3Cb%3EStreet%3C%2Fb%3E%29+Station&b=0&ni=21&no=1&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=11jlnvf5b&sigb=13gfq8e80&sigi=11nne2vi0&sigt=11k422c1m&sign=11k422c1m&.crumb=fdAtepRAUPW&fr=mcafee&fr2=piv-web looks Southern to me cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beatty 139 Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 ???? ???? ???? ???? Yes on the Birmingham side platform, it's about the only orignal thing that's old on site other than the 1930's ticket office on the bridge and retaining walls formed of slag blocks. Looking at old photos of the black country they were at one time quite common. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 Exmouth Junction Concrete Works closed in 1963, the site then became a Coal Concentration Depot. Work was transferred to Taunton Concrete Works which had gained the ability to manufacture pre-stressed concrete, Taunton Concrete Works remained in use until at least the early 1980s. Rail Centres No.5 Exeter by Colin Maggs has a section on Exmouth Junction on page 108, in it he writes:- 'In BR times Exmouth Junction products went further afield, one concrete bridge going to Maesteg and another to Hull.' edit - this footbridge at Maesteg Castle Street? https://uk.images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=A2KLj9KZKxNVDzsAj2dNBQx.;_ylu=X3oDMTIyZmE4ZmwxBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1nBG9pZAM4MDBiNGE1NzBlZDZkMjA4MDgyNDYxYThhOTA1MjZkNQRncG9zAzEEaXQDYmluZw--?.origin=&back=https%3A%2F%2Fuk.images.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3Dmaesteg%2Bcaastle%2Bstreet%26fr%3Dmcafee%26fr2%3Dpiv-web%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D1&w=500&h=368&imgurl=farm9.staticflickr.com%2F8087%2F8442553978_dd4c88bcc0_z.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fcamperdown%2F8442553978%2F&size=95.3KB&name=%3Cb%3EMaesteg%3C%2Fb%3E+%28%3Cb%3ECastle%3C%2Fb%3E+%3Cb%3EStreet%3C%2Fb%3E%29+Station&p=maesteg+castle+street&oid=800b4a570ed6d208082461a8a90526d5&fr2=piv-web&fr=mcafee&rw=maesteg+castle+street&tt=%3Cb%3EMaesteg%3C%2Fb%3E+%28%3Cb%3ECastle%3C%2Fb%3E+%3Cb%3EStreet%3C%2Fb%3E%29+Station&b=0&ni=21&no=1&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=11jlnvf5b&sigb=13gfq8e80&sigi=11nne2vi0&sigt=11k422c1m&sign=11k422c1m&.crumb=fdAtepRAUPW&fr=mcafee&fr2=piv-web looks Southern to me cheers Taunton products also travelled; one site shows some large road bridge components being prepared for transport to New Cross, which was on the SR when I looked last. (http://83b.weebly.com/taunton-concrete-works.html ) I think Taunton may have survived longer than you say, perhaps almost until privatisation. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 Taunton products also travelled; one site shows some large road bridge components being prepared for transport to New Cross, which was on the SR when I looked last. (http://83b.weebly.com/taunton-concrete-works.html ) I think Taunton may have survived longer than you say, perhaps almost until privatisation. Yes thinking about it the Concrete Works at Taunton did last much longer, but I did not try to check yesterday. When I returned to work in Bristol TOPS in 1992 there was still some sporadic traffic from there in air braked engineer wagons, the Taunton pilot was still there but now one one turn and only shunting the Concrete Works, and Taunton Cider. The site of Taunton Concrete Works is now a housing estate. edit possibly closed in 1994, here is a photo showing Taunton Concrete Works with one of the hoppers that delivered chippings, originally from Stoneycombe, later from Merehead https://www.flickr.com/photos/83763404@N07/9979886446/in/photolist-7isCDB-7iwwq1-4MuXus-4N2DS8-7irZmK-owVudg-9CHGoi-ofqCsw-dURq4m-oca6K5-4pDMVe-9YhqaM-mTUuPg-dY1SYA-a44392-ouqH35-ocXkVg-qtjuEi-4MqMiT-gcTwxG-drHqKP-dXHF9p-4puepz-5r5Ghx-8WA9mS-ouzphd-oujiwL-6RwRNU-owauWr-8ZS7y9-oeHB5G-69UL1G-6RQYaP-ow1VsM-69Qzui-9vxdzw-ou954y-69UKFm-ouc1ty-ocUcEN-69QxUc-8NMbZn-9rMu2E-r8Q9o5-r8Pb1J-csdgzw-egyZjH-f2JrBb-cr5ooq-cr5nBW cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted March 26, 2015 Share Posted March 26, 2015 Yes thinking about it the Concrete Works at Taunton did last much longer, but I did not try to check yesterday. When I returned to work in Bristol TOPS in 1992 there was still some sporadic traffic from there in air braked engineer wagons, the Taunton pilot was still there but now one one turn and only shunting the Concrete Works, and Taunton Cider. The site of Taunton Concrete Works is now a housing estate. edit possibly closed in 1994, here is a photo showing Taunton Concrete Works with one of the hoppers that delivered chippings, originally from Stoneycombe, later from Merehead https://www.flickr.com/photos/83763404@N07/9979886446/in/photolist-7isCDB-7iwwq1-4MuXus-4N2DS8-7irZmK-owVudg-9CHGoi-ofqCsw-dURq4m-oca6K5-4pDMVe-9YhqaM-mTUuPg-dY1SYA-a44392-ouqH35-ocXkVg-qtjuEi-4MqMiT-gcTwxG-drHqKP-dXHF9p-4puepz-5r5Ghx-8WA9mS-ouzphd-oujiwL-6RwRNU-owauWr-8ZS7y9-oeHB5G-69UL1G-6RQYaP-ow1VsM-69Qzui-9vxdzw-ou954y-69UKFm-ouc1ty-ocUcEN-69QxUc-8NMbZn-9rMu2E-r8Q9o5-r8Pb1J-csdgzw-egyZjH-f2JrBb-cr5ooq-cr5nBW cheers Those hoppers travelled a long way to get there; they were originally built for the Glasgow (General Terminus Quay)- Ravenscraig iron ore traffic. In the text of the link I posted, there was mention of an ex-SR shunter (DS1169)- did that come from Exmouth Jct, I wonder? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted March 27, 2015 Share Posted March 27, 2015 Those hoppers travelled a long way to get there; they were originally built for the Glasgow (General Terminus Quay)- Ravenscraig iron ore traffic. In the text of the link I posted, there was mention of an ex-SR shunter (DS1169)- did that come from Exmouth Jct, I wonder? I am not sure if Exmouth Junction Concrete Works ever had a pilot loco. DS1169 had been the resident shunter at Broadclyst Permanent Way Depot on the Salisbury - Exeter Route from 1959 until the depot cosed in 1964, it had previously worked on coast defence work at Folkestone Warren, and had replaced a petrol driven machine at Broadclyst, cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenton Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Yes on the Birmingham side platform, it's about the only orignal thing that's old on site other than the 1930's ticket office on the bridge and retaining walls formed of slag blocks. Looking at old photos of the black country they were at one time quite common. Either you need some kind of award, or this one was known by another name and escaped all the reference sources but we thought we had them ALL (1881) recorded. If you have any further details of this new shed in particular to a reference or photograph, build/closure/construction/etc we would welcome them and the opportunity to add them to the database. Are we certain this was an engine shed and not a goods shed, which from a construction perspective were very similar. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalo Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Crossed wires, methinks. Shed as in hut or storage shed, not engine shed. Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenton Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Crossed wires, methinks. Shed as in hut or storage shed, not engine shed. Phew that's a relief, I was pretty certain we had them all! Hut as in lamp hut, platelayer's hut I understand. Shed as in engine shed, goods shed I understand. I'll stop panicking. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
br2975 Posted March 28, 2015 Author Share Posted March 28, 2015 Bit of concrete renewal here, at Bedlinog . One of those scenes we'd likely 'pooh,pooh' if it was a model. http://treharrisdistrict.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/bde.jpg . Brian R Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beatty 139 Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 Ah but a shed is a shed in the Black Country.... Like folk tell us to spell tata with a 'p' and that islands are called roundabouts! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparks Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 My favourite GWR concrete structure has always been the 'half' footbridge at Cefn On Cefn On Halt & Tunnel by Capt' Gorgeous, on Flickr They also did a nice line in precast halts, such as Mitchell & Newlyn or Trewerry & Trerice on the Chasewater-Newquay line (photos here http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/cornwall-railway-gallery-st-ives--hayle-wharf-branches.html). Several of these still survive, such as Heath High Level, Aber and Rhiwbina on the Valley Lines network. Rhiwbina has an interesting composite concrete/steel footbridge:- Rhiwbina Railway Station by Stuart Herbert, on Flickr Heath High Level also has(?) an interesting little precast ticket hut glimpsed here https://www.flickr.com/photos/27045884@N05/12409363305/ along with the original concrete framed, corrguated iron clad shelters. Tonfannau on the Cambrian Coast line had a larger version of the office building (http://www.ipernity.com/doc/300373/32511323/). I would be very interested to know if these offices were GWR or BR(W) period - anyone know? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
br2975 Posted March 29, 2015 Author Share Posted March 29, 2015 The concrete 'ticket office- at Heath (Halt) High Level, April 2005. . As for Rhiwbina - I'm embarrassed to admit, having lived in Cardiff all my life I have never set foot on that station. . Brian R Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
br2975 Posted March 29, 2015 Author Share Posted March 29, 2015 Tonfannau on the Cambrian Coast line had a larger version of the office building (http://www.ipernity.com/doc/300373/32511323/). Imagine what it must have been like for the 'Ugandan Asians' kicked out by Idi Amin in 1972/1973 and coming to the U.K. then taken by the trainload to ................ Tonfannau, wild, windswept, wet Wales . Brian R Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium corneliuslundie Posted March 29, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 29, 2015 "Bit of concrete renewal here, at Bedlinog .One of those scenes we'd likely 'pooh,pooh' if it was a model." Thanks, but that actual station and bridge will feature on my next layout, albeit moved to another (imaginary) valley. Jonathan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparks Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 The concrete 'ticket office- at Heath (Halt) High Level, April 2005. . As for Rhiwbina - I'm embarrassed to admit, having lived in Cardiff all my life I have never set foot on that station. . Brian R Thanks for the pictures Brian. I've only actually got off at Rhiwbina once, and until I went looking for photos I could have sworn the footbridge had concrete stair towers with a lovely steel bow girder in between. Maybe I'm thinking of somewhere else...?! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
br2975 Posted April 14, 2015 Author Share Posted April 14, 2015 From one of the most remote locations on the South Wales network, we bring you:- https://www.rcts.org.uk/features/mysteryphotos/show.htm?srch=Y-36-20A&img=Y-36-20A I suspect this was installed during the 1960 rationalisation and resignalling. . Brian R Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad_Hatter Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 The Taunton concrete works was closed when it was realised that you could sell for money for housing than as a concrete works which was making a profit. I shut in 1995. More information here about the works. http://83b.weebly.com/taunton-concrete-works.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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