45. Trip to Bristol-01.10.16

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2016 > 45. Trip to Bristol-01.10.16

During a weekend stay with my mum and her partner back in the West Country, my wife son and I took the train from Frome to Bristol for a day out. I left them for an hour or two and took a journey that I have never done, despite cutting my spotting teeth on Temple Meads station, out to Severn Beach.

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Images 1-28 of 28 displayed.

43183, GW 07.47 Plymouth-London Paddington (1A77) & 66155, engineer`s train, Westbury station
On arrival at a very wet and miserable Westbury station, 43183 is ready to leave with the 07.47 Plymouth to Paddington working. Behind it, 66155 waits at the head of an unidentified engineer's train.
Keywords: 43183 07.47 Plymouth-London Paddington 1A77 66155 engineer`s train Westbury station

70801 & 70806, stabled, Westbury station
The Colas livery of these two class 70s certainly cheers up the grey, drab and wet morning weather at Westbury station. 70801 and 70806 were introduced two years ago and have been put to use on various trains throughout the network. They are noisy locomotives and have a very North American look that wins nothing in the style awards!
Keywords: 70801 70806 stabled Westbury station

158798, GW 08.23 Portsmouth Harbour-Bristol Parkway (1F10), Bristol Temple Meads station
158798 sits under Temple Meads' fine trainshed having just arrived with the 08.23 from Portsmouth Harbour that will soon reverse to complete its journey at Bristol Parkway. My wife, son and I travelled on this train from Westbury,
Keywords: 158798 08.23 Portsmouth Harbour-Bristol Parkway 1F10 Bristol Temple Meads station

Brunel train shed, Bristol Temple Meads station
This is the first station to open in Bristol. It was designed by the famous Brunel to accommodate his broad gauge lines from London and was opened in 1841 for the GWR. It remained in use until 1965 when it was turned into the car park that is still in use today. As the structure is grade I listed, its future is secure but, let's hope that a better use can be made of it in the future. There is talk of it being used by the terminating IEPs whenever they are introduced .
Keywords: Brunel train shed Bristol Temple Meads station

Brunel train shed & former signal box, Bristol Temple Meads station
The former signal box inside Brunel's broad gauge train shed at Bristol Temple Meads. The box was a later addition due to the original one, that was situated at the entrance to the station, proving to be inadequate due to the huge increase in traffic. The designer, Francis Fox, cleverly built the box in between the existing arches of the structure.
Keywords: Brunel train shed signal box Bristol Temple Meads station

Brunel train shed, Bristol Temple Meads station
A view looking from the entrance of Brunel's 1840 broad gauge train shed at Bristol Temple Meads. This is not its full length, it extended beyond the participation wall at the end to where the main building and grand facade are located now on Temple Gate. Behind the fencing to the right of this image is the Bristol PSB that was opened in 1971 and is now in the process of being shut. It will eventually be demolished allowing the exciting prospect of trains having access to the train shed once again.
Keywords: Brunel train shed Bristol Temple Meads station.

220016, XC 10.25 Plymouth-Newcastle (1V47), Bristol Temple Meads station
CrossCountry train crew take advantage of a generous dwell time at Temple Meads to stretch their legs and have a chat on platform three. 220016 is working the 10.25 Plymouth to Newcastle, I could think of nicer ways to complete this journey than in a Voyager!
Keywords: 220016 10.25 Plymouth-Newcastle 1V47 Bristol Temple Meads station

153382 & 158958, GW 09.00 Brighton-Great Malvern (1V94), Bristol Temple Meads station
A very busy scene on Bristol Temple Meads' platform three as 158382 coupled to 158958 pauses and make ready to reverse back out again working the 09.00 Brighton to Great Malvern train. I really do think that the travelling public should be given a better railway experience that making this cross-country journey in a single-car class 153. If they could get a seat in the adjoined class 158 then the journey would be marginally better I suppose!
Keywords: 153382 158958 09.00 Brighton-Great Malvern 1V94 Bristol Temple Meads station

221136, XC 13.00 Bristol Temple Meads-Manchester Piccadilly (1M45), Bristol Temple Meads station
221136 waits to leave Bristol Temple Meads forming the 13.00 to Manchester Piccadilly. It is sitting just outside of Temple Meads' grand an imposing train shed. I spent many hours wandering this station in the 1970s collecting hundreds of numbers but then of 'proper' locomotives rather than glorified DMUs!
Keywords: 221136 13.00 Bristol Temple Meads-Manchester Piccadilly 1M45 Bristol Temple Meads station

153373, stabled & class 43, GW 13.00 Bristol Temple Meads-London Paddington (1A18), Bristol Temple Meads station
153373 sits stabled in one of the bay sidings at the eastern end of Temple Meads station. In the background, a class 43 HST leaves, as it has done thousands of times, with, in this case, the 13.00 to London Paddington. Notice to the left of the class 153 the mechanical levers named as Bristol TM East GF. It's an amazing survival and one that I photographed from the reverse angle 41 years ago in 1977, see..... https://www.ontheupfast.com/v/photos/21936chg/23615765204/you-can-see-that-this-negative-has
Keywords: 153373 class 43 13.00 Bristol Temple Meads-London Paddington 1A18 Bristol Temple Meads station

150926, GW 13.14 Bristol Temple Meads-Severn Beach (2K24), Bristol Temple Meads station
150926 has just arrived at Bristol Temple Meads and will soon re-trace its steps to Severn Beach leaving at 13.14. This is the train that I travelled on all the way to its destination, a route that I had never taken before. In my years of spotting at Temple Meads during the 1970s, this service was usually operated by a single-unit bubble car that used to arrive and depart from the bay platform one.
Keywords: 150926 13.14 Bristol Temple Meads-Severn Beach 2K24 Bristol Temple Meads station

150926, GW 13.54 Severn Beach-Bristol Temple Meads (2K25), Severn Beach station
The arrival at a rather desolate Severn Beech station coincided with a torrential rainstorm. I dashed from the train to take a picture of 150926 it before it returned as the 13.54 to Bristol Temple Meads. On the return journey there was a children's party in full swing complete with cake, drinks and presents. All very nice for the dozen youngsters but the noise level was best described as excitable! It's nice that TOCs such as FGW permit and encourage such activities and that the on-board staff got involved in the fun!
Keywords: 150926 13.54 Severn Beach-Bristol Temple Meads 2K25 Severn Beach station

St. Andrew`s Junction signal box (GW, 1910)
After the rain came the sun! A terrible picture of St. Andrew's Junction signal box. It is a GWR Type 27C box dating from 1910. It contained a 53 lever frame but now only has a mini-panel controlling the Severn Beach line and access to the Bristol Bulk Handling Terminal. It also controls the level crossing just seen behind it. It's good to see that it has been in receipt of some recent attention and that it has been painted in the correct heritage colours and retains a GWR style nameplate on the front.
Keywords: St. Andrew`s Junction signal box

43196, GW 15.00 Bristol Temple Meads-London Paddington (1A22) & 43183, GW 14.33 Bristol Temple Meads-London Paddington (1A21), Bristol Temple Meads station
Two HSTs stand at the eastern end of Temple Meads station ready to work services to Paddington. 43196 will form the 1A22 15.00 departure, whilst 43183 will leave first with the 1A21 14.33 service. Notice in the background the derelict remains of the former Royal Mail sorting office that was rail connected via a ghastly bridge that totally spoiled the eastern approach to the station until its recent demolition.
Keywords: 43196 15.00 Bristol Temple Meads-London Paddington 1A22 43183 14.33 Bristol Temple Meads-London Paddington 1A21 Bristol Temple Meads station

150122, GW 12.41 Worcester Foregate Street-Weymouth (Cancelled from Yeovil Pen Mill) (2O90), Bristol Temple Meads station
The crew of 150122 will have changed ends as it is now ready to leave Bristol Temple Meads with the 12.41 Worcester Foregate Street to Weymouth. However, through passengers will have had a disrupted journey as the train was cancelled at Yeovil Pen Mill.
Keywords: 150122 12.41 Worcester Foregate Street-Weymouth 2O90 Bristol Temple Meads station

150925 & 153373, GW 12.27 Southampton-Great Malvern (2M98), Bristol Temple Meads station
With the recent removal of the Royal Mail conveyor bridge that was linked to the adjacent sorting office the vista at this end of Temple Meads has really been opened up with the end of the train shed is now in full view. The black tarmac to the left of the image marks the footprint of the base of the old sorting office bridge. 150925 and 150373 leave the station working the 2M98 12.27 Southampton to Great Malvern.
Keywords: 150925 153373 12.27 Southampton-Great Malvern 2M98 Bristol Temple Meads station

43196, GW 15.00 Bristol TM-London-Paddington (1A22), 43029, GW 12.57 London-Paddington-Bristol Parkway (Severn Tunnel Diversion) (1C15) & 150122, GW 12.41 Worcester Foregate Street-Weymouth (Cancelled from Yeovil Pen Mill (2O90), Bristol TM station
Under dramatic skies at Bristol Temple Meads three First Great Western trains are pictured. To the left, 43196 will soon leave with the 15.00 to London Paddington. Next to it, 43029 is preparing to leave to make the short journey to Bristol Parkway as the 12.57 from Paddington. This train was routed via Bath and terminated at Parkway due to engineering works on the Badminton route and the closure of the Severn Tunnel. Finally, to the right, 150122 is waiting to leave forming the 12.41 Worcester Foregate Street to Weymouth that was, unfortunately, terminated at Yeovil Pen Mill. This scene is dominated by the hulk of the former Royal Mail sorting office. The remains of this building have dominated and blighted Temple Meads (and this part of Bristol for that matter) for many years since its closure with various plans for its redevelopment never coming to anything.
Keywords: 43196 15.00 Bristol TM-London-Paddington 1A22 43029 12.57 London-Paddington-Bristol Parkway Severn Tunnel Diversion 1C15 150122 12.41 Worcester Foregate Street-Weymouth 2O90 Bristol TM

150128, GW 14.07 Taunton-Bristol Parkway (2U20), Bristol Temple Meads station
On a day of extremely changeable weather it looks like another storm is brewing in the distance! 150128 has just arrived working the 14.07 from Taunton to Bristol Parkway. It stands inside the grand train shed that was opened in the 1870s following the need for expansion and through trains. It was funded jointly between the Great Western, the Bristol and Exeter and the Midland Railways who also had operating rights.
Keywords: 150128 14.07 Taunton-Bristol Parkway 2U20 Bristol Temple Meads station

Class 220, XC 12.07 Manchester Piccadilly-Exeter St. David`s (1V55), Bristol Temple Meads station
A class 220 leaves Bristol Temple Meads forming the 12.07 Manchester Piccadilly to Exeter St. David's. In the past, this scene would have revealed Bristol Bath Road depot to the left in front of the tree topped wall. The site of the former depot remains fenced off with a use not identified despite several failed attempts to develop it.
Keywords: Class 220 12.07 Manchester Piccadilly-Exeter St. David`s 1V55 Bristol Temple Meads station

150128, GW 14.07 Taunton-Bristol Parkway (2U20), Bristol Temple Meads station
150128 is somewhat dwarfed by the train shed at Temple Meads. It is waiting to leave with the 14.07 Taunton to Bristol Parkway. Whenever I visit Temple Meads, it always feels like I am coming home as I spent much time in my early spotting years at the station. One thing I really miss is the station announcer. Now it is an automated series of announcements in line with the rest of the network. Back in the 1970s there was an announcer sitting in a room somewhere who had a superb Bristolian accent who I still have on some tape recordings made at the time.
Keywords: 150128 14.07 Taunton-Bristol Parkway 2U20 Bristol Temple Meads station

43194, GW 15.32 Bristol Temple Meads-London Paddington, 159010, stabled & 150104, GW 15.26 Bristol Temple Meads-Weston-super-Mare (2Y22), Bristol Temple Meads station
A scene looking through the platforms on the eastern side of Temple Meads station. 43194 is at the rear of the 15.32 departure to London Paddington. South West Trains' 159010 is stabled between duties whilst passengers are boarding 150104 that will soon leave as the 2Y22 15.26 to Weston-super-Mare.
Keywords: 43194 15.32 Bristol Temple Meads-London Paddington 159010 150104 15.26 Bristol Temple Meads-Weston-super-Mare 2Y22, Bristol Temple Meads station

153327, AW 12.20 Cardiff Canton-Bristol Barton Hill ECS, Bristol Temple Meads station
153327 has just arrived in the centre road at Temple Meads station and is about to reverse and make the short journey to Barton Hill depot. It was working the 12.20 ex Cardiff Canton ECS that took a circuitous route via Chepstow and Gloucester due to the closure of the Severn Tunnel for electrification engineering works.
Keywords: 153327 12.20 Cardiff Canton-Bristol Barton Hill Bristol Temple Meads station

220002, XC 13.25 Plymouth-Newcastle (1S53), Bristol Temple Meads station
220002 pauses at Bristol Temple Meads with the 13.25 Plymouth to Newcastle service. In years gone by, this service would have been composed of a long rake of loco. hauled stock with everybody having a comfortable seat and space to spread out; quite the anthesis to the situation on a Voyager as seen here.
Keywords: 220002 13.25 Plymouth-Newcastle 1S53 Bristol Temple Meads station

159010, SW 15.51 Bristol Temple Meads-Salisbury & London Waterloo (1O60 & 1L60) & 150265, GW 15.08 Weymouth-Gloucester (2E26), Westbury station
On arrival at Westbury it had just rained again (as it had done on and off throughout the day). We had just travelled from Bristol and had alighted from 159010 that was working the 15.51 Bristol to Salisbury and then London Waterloo. On platform three, 150265 is waiting to depart forming the 15.08 Weymouth to Gloucester.
Keywords: 159010 15.51 Bristol Temple Meads-Salisbury London Waterloo 1O60 1L60 150265 15.08 Weymouth-Gloucester 2E26 Westbury station

159010, SW 15.51 Bristol Temple Meads-Salisbury & London Waterloo (1O60 & 1L60), Westbury station
159010 just catches some late afternoon sunshine that is also creating the rainbow in the sky above it at Westbury station. My wife, son and I had just alighted from the South West Trains service from Bristol to London Waterloo via Salisbury.
Keywords: 159010 15.51 Bristol Temple Meads-Salisbury London Waterloo 1O60 1L60 Westbury station

159010, SW 15.51 Bristol Temple Meads-Salisbury & London Waterloo (1O60 & 1L60), Westbury station
With the feather illuminated indicating that the route is set for the Salisbury route up past Dolton Marsh, 159010 leaves Westbury working the 15.51 Bristol Temple Meads to London Waterloo. We had just alighted from this service at Westbury having travelled from Bristol. My wife was impressed with the comfort, space and ambiance on-board this class 159, it must have been good as it takes a lot to impress her!
Keywords: 159010 15.51 Bristol Temple Meads-Salisbury London Waterloo 1O60 1L60 Westbury station

Tickets, Westbury-Bristol Temple Meads-Westbury
Our return tickets from Westbury to Bristol Temple Meads, at £17 for all three of us I suppose that it was not too bad value considering that it was a walk-on fare.
Keywords: Tickets Westbury-Bristol Temple Meads-Westbury

Tickets, Bristol Temple Meads-Severn-Beach-Bristol Temple Meads
My return tickets for my run out to Severn Beach.
Keywords: Tickets Bristol Temple Meads-Severn-Beach-Bristol Temple Meads

Images 1-28 of 28 displayed.