3. Bath Spa-20.03.76

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-1976 > 3. Bath Spa-20.03.76
A Saturday at Bath Spa station saw some interesting workings. I would probably have travelled the short distance from Avoncliff or Bradford-on-Avon by train. I could even have taken the 264 Trowbridge to Bath bus, possibly a Bristol Lodekka, as it stopped just outside the family home and terminated at the bus station opposite Bath's railway station. Again, apologies for the quality of some of the images. However, it's very odd how some have survived far better than others.
Click here to search The Archive Files


Images 1-9 of 9 displayed.

D1071, unidentified down working, Bath Spa station The first train I photographed would have pleased me! D1071 'Western Renown' passes through Bath station without stopping on an unidentified down working. If anybody has gen going back this far, I would appreciate any information as to this working. D1071 had just seven months remaining in service at the time that this picture was taken and the next time that I would see it be at Swindon Works on the scrap lines, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/v/photos/21936chg/23615749204/my-friend-simon-yellow-jacket-stride. Notice the motion blur, the Exa camera had a maximum shutter speed of 1/150sec! Keywords: D1071 Bath Spa station
B578, unidentified Weymouth-Bristol Temple Meads working, Bath Spa station A Gloucester R C & W class 119 DMU composed of W51064, W59423 & W51092 leaves Bath Spa station working an unidentified Weymouth to Bristol Temple Meads working. These units were the backbone of this cross country route augmented by a few locomotive-hauled services in the hands of class 31s. There were also some Portsmouth services that were operated using class 205 Hampshire and Berkshire DEMUs that I have precious few pictures of. Keywords: B578 Weymouth-Bristol Temple Meads working Bath Spa station
Class 46, down LE, Bath Spa station A light engine class 46 trundles through Bath Spa station heading towards Bristol. I am pretty sure that it would have originated at Westbury. Note its 0000 headcode display. The policy to display the trains proper headcode in this panel had been abandoned at the start of 1976.
31284, up parcels, Bath Spa station 31284 gets an up parcels working underway out of Bath Spa station. 31284 was introduced in September 1961 eventually being withdrawn in August 1989 and cut-up at MC Metals in Glasgow. This was one of my 'low-angle' shots that I had a propensity to take at this time. In this spot, looking in this direction at this time of day it was about the worst choice of angle as it was looking bang into the afternoon light! Oh. well, I was young and naïve about such things then! Keywords: 31284 Bath Spa station parcels working train
B578, unidentified Bristol Temple Meads-Weymouth working, Bath Spa station Having earlier run to Bristol Temple Meads, and been photographed with B578 leading, now it is on the rear of this six-car formation. It is seen leaving Bath Spa heading for Weymouth. It's crossing the River Avon and will then continue over a viaduct above some terraced streets and past the cricket ground. Some of Bath's magnificent Georgian houses can be seen on the hillside in the background. Nearly forty years later, I stood in a nearly identical spot to photograph an HST on the down line, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/30049682220/x43175-11-30-london-paddington-bristol. When I captured that image the arrival of the HSTs was just six months away and they have been on this route ever since (at the time of writing that is). Keywords: B578 Bath Spa station
50 017, unidentified up working, Bath Spa station The driver looks on, no doubt wondering why this young lad is taking a picture of his fine engine looking up and directly into the afternoon sun? 50017 in pre-named and pre-overhauled condition sits at the head of a Paddington Express at Bath Spa. By early 1976, the 50s were in squadron service on the GWML having largely ousted the Westerns and just a few months prior to the introduction of the HSTs. However, they were worn out from their use on the WCML and the Western Region maintenance staff had not really got to grips with looking after them so their reliability at this time was pretty awful. Keywords: 50 017 Bath Spa station
Class 50, unidentified down working, Bath Spa station An unidentified class 50 comes, rather smokily, into Bath Spa station at the head of a down express from London Paddington. At this time, the class 50s or 'Hoovers' as they were known by spotters due to the sound that their forced air induction system made, were not highly thought of by crews and maintenance teams. Notice in the background the large Bath Spa running-in sign. I bought my own on Ebay and and it is proudly displayed in my garden, see the last image on this section. I have often wondered if it this particular one seen in this picture? Keywords: Class 50 Bath Spa station
Class 50, unidentified down working, Bath Spa station A class 50 waits to leave Bath Spa with a down working for either Bristol Temple meads or Western-Super-mare. These trains were long having eleven or twelve coaches and the 50s would draw a fair way forward of the platform ramp in order that all of the stock was accommodated on the platform. The down platform was (and still is) also almost completely blind because of a very sharp curve. Even today, long trains often have three dispatchers because of this. Keywords: Class 50 Bath Spa station
Bath Spa running-in sign This Bath Spa running-in sign is proudly displayed in my garden here in Roade in Northamptonshire. I have made mention in the images taken at Bath that the signs on view could well be this particular one......I will never know but it's nice to consider it! Keywords: Bath Spa running-in sign

Images 1-9 of 9 displayed.