27. Avon Valley in the snow-20.12.78

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-1978 > 27. Avon Valley in the snow-20.12.78
December 21st 1978, as well as being the shortest day, was the first day of the Christmas holiday and I awoke to a cold and snowy morning. I took the decision to get my bike out and ride down to the railway in an effort to see what was about and to get some seasonal pictures in the superb Avon Valley close to home. The photographs and the notes in this section was reproduced as a photo feature in Traction magazine number 245.
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Images 1-9 of 9 displayed.

31213, 09.15 Weymouth-Bristol Temple Meads, Bradford-on-Avon number 1 foot crossing With last night's snowfall in evidence, 31213 roars away from Bradford-on-Avon station with the 09.15 Weymouth to Bristol Temple Meads. It has just crossed the River Avon that it will follow all the way to its final destination crossing it a number of times on the way. The charming town of Bradford-on-Avon is in the background where I grew up. Indeed, the snow-covered roof just visible through the shrubs on the far left of the image is the house that I spent the first five years of my life in. In its later life, this Class 31 was renumbered 31465 and fitted with ETH and then, even later to emerge in a bright yellow paint scheme as one of Network Rail's dedicated fleet, see..... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/30014133186/x31465-15-30-derby-euston-down-carr Keywords: 31213 09.15 Weymouth-Bristol Temple Meads Bradford-on-Avon
33027, 08.56 Portsmouth Harbour-Bristol Temple Meads, Bradford-on-Avon station Complete with a set of mini snow ploughs 33027 is sporting the wrong Southern Region reporting code heading the 08.56 Portsmouth Harbour to Bristol Temple Meads working. 85 was a Portsmouth to Southampton/Romsey slow working, it should have been 89 for the working pictured. The driver peers back waiting for the right away from Bradford-on-Avon station, next stop would be Bath Spa. Notice the collection of 1970s cars in the station car park dominated by the VW camper. No fewer than five of the cars seen are Fords of various types. Keywords: 33027 08.56 Portsmouth Harbour-Bristol Temple Meads Bradford-on-Avon station
50035, up engineers train (inc. Departmental Siphon G), Bradford-on-Avon station The Bradford-on-Avon signal BJ102 turned green as I was about to leave the station indicating a working on its way towards me along the Avon Valley. After a short wait, this unusual working appeared. 50035 'Ark Royal' ambles along from the Bristol direction towards Westbury with a short PW train. Notice a departmental ex. GWR Siphon G van in the consist. Indicative of how gloomy the morning was is how brightly the domino-style headcode box lights are glowing. Keywords: 50035 engineers train Siphon G Bradford-on-Avon station
33005, 11.15 Bristol Temple Meads-Portsmouth Harbour, Bradford-on-Avon Greenland Mill Crossing 33005 emerges from the short tunnel at Bradford-on-Avon and is about to cross Greenland Mill level crossing with the 11.15 Bristol Temple Meads to Portsmouth Harbour working. The apex of the roof that can be seen in the trees above the tunnel was the home to the 1st Bradford-on-Avon scouts of which I was a keen member. We met in the hut on Friday evenings and if it was quiet, the vibrations of trains passing through the tunnel below could be felt in the hut. As it had just begun to snow again I decided to head for home along the Avon Valley. Keywords: 33005 11.15 Bristol Temple Meads-Portsmouth Harbour Bradford-on-Avon Greenland Mill Crossing
45007, down freight, Bradford-on-Avon station from station car park Another unusual working was observed from the station car park at Bradford-on-Avon. 45007 leads a long freight of mixed empty wagons heading in the Bristol direction. Looking at the age and type of wagons I wonder if they had been selected for scrap and were making their final journey to the cutters? The Peak (ex. D119) lived on until 1988 after which it was cut up by MC Metals in Springburn. I bet that the rare two-door Morris 1100 in the station car park did not last that long before rusting into an oblivion! Keywords: 45007 down freight Bradford-on-Avon station from station car park
47055, up parcels, Bradford-on-Avon number 1 foot crossing 47055 leads an up parcels working along the Avon Valley. It is approaching Bradford-on-Avon taken from one of the two foot crossings in this area. Both are now tricky to take pictures from as, like so much of the railway, they are chronically overgrown. 47055 is still active on the network today. It went through a number of changes in its life ending up as one of Virgin's red Thunderbirds. It is now a DRS machine numbered 57304 'Pride of Cheshire' and one that I have photographed at various locations and one that, at the time of writing, is coming up for 54 years old, just a year younger than me! Keywords: 47055 parcels, Bradford-on-Avon foot crossing
31257, 10.42 Portsmouth Harbour-Bristol Temple Meads, Turleigh Hill ST813604 The snow is now falling again with some intensity as 31257 leads the 10.42 Portsmouth Harbour to Bristol Temple Meads. It is pictured approximately half way between Bradford-on-Avon and Avoncliff halt. I was the wrong side of the fence taking this picture, not something that I would ever do today but there was a somewhat different attitude back in the 1970s. Keywords: 31257 10.42 Portsmouth Harbour-Bristol Temple Meads Turleigh Hill ST813604
B581, 12.15 Bristol Temple Meads-Weymouth, Avoncliff station A six-car DMU combination with class 119 set B581 on the rear pauses at Avoncliff halt. With a six-car DMU the arrangements for alighting passengers were a little long winded. Initially, the middle coach of the front set would be stopped at the platform for passengers from the front set to alight. Then, the guard would call the train on enabling anybody to alight from the rear set. The guard would sometimes also take the opportunity to join the other half of the train in order to complete his ticket inspection. The photograph is taken from the Avoncliff Aqueduct that spans the entire valley carrying the Kennet and Avon canal and a small road over the railway and the river allowing access to the excellent Cross Guns pub that was obviously of no interest to me in 1978! Keywords: B581 12.15 Bristol Temple Meads-Weymouth Avoncliff station
31246, Westbury Cement Works Presflo working, Limpley Stoke In conditions that were now very difficult, 31246 is seen passing the site of Limpley Stoke station. It is leading a train of Presflo wagons destined for Westbury Cement Works. This working could have originated from a number of places including, Tutbury, Portishead, Toton or even Exeter Central; I never have identified the origin of this actual working. The remains of Limpley Stoke station (Closed 1966) can be seen on the left. This station's claim to fame was that it featured in the 1953 film, The Titfield Thunderbolt. Today it is a private dwelling but I suspect that it may be a little small or 'compact' as an estate agent may describe it! Keywords: 31246 Westbury Cement Works Presflo working Limpley Stoke

Images 1-9 of 9 displayed.