9. Bath Spa station study-??.05.79

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-1979 > 9. Bath Spa station study-??.05.79

As part of my Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme I decided to undertake a study of the railway line through the Avon Valley from Bradford-on-Avon to Bath Spa station. Part of this involved a more detailed look at Bath station so on an unknown day in May, I visited and took a number of detailed pictures to illustrate my piece.

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Images 1-11 of 11 displayed.

Base of former signal box, Bath Spa station
This unusual structure sitting on top of the canopy of Bath Spa's down platform is the remains of the base of the Bath's old mechanical signal box. It was an extraordinary structure that sat very high above the station providing commanding views in both directions for the signalmen. The box was closed in January 1968 when MAS was introduced on this section of the GWML.
Keywords: Base of former signal box Bath Spa station

St. James` bridge & Dolemeads viaduct
In common with much of the architecture in and around Bath, including the station, the St. James' bridge is constructed of Bath stone that is an oolitic limestone. It also has some brick components but is an attractive structure none-the-less. It is seen crossing the River Avon just to the east of the station. Beyond the arch is the Dolemeads viaduct that carries the GWML above the houses of Bath before crossing the A36 road and plunging into the tunnels of the famous Sydney Gardens.
Keywords: St. James` bridge Dolemeads viaduct

Class 43, unidentified up working, Dolemaeds Viaduct
An unidentified class 43 HST leaves Bath with a working for London Paddington. It is crossing the Dolemeads viaduct with some of Bath's world renowned architecture clearly visible on the hills above the city in the background. I for one am thankful that the government's decision to halt the GWML's electrification 'indefinitely' in July 2017 meant that this scene, essentially the same as when this picture was taken, will remain the same and not be blighted by the electrification infrastructure.
Keywords: Class 43 up working Dolemaeds Viaduct

Rear of down side, Bath Spa station
In interesting view of the eastern end of Bath Spa station showing the former good loading bay and, what I believe to be, the retaining wall of the old turntable to the extreme right; confirmation anybody? Some interesting period cars in the rather empty station car park, the bronze 1973 registered Simca 1100 had another three years on the road. There is also a Landcrab, a Mk. III Cortina and a Saab 99 in the scene.
Keywords: Bath Spa station

Rear of down side, Bath Spa station
To rear of Bath Spa station from the down side looks a little run-down. The car park is virtually empty apart from a rare Singer Vogue (based on a lowly Hillman Hunter), a BMW 6 series, a Porsche 928, an Austin Maxi and at the bottom, past the Leyland Sherpa is a Daf 33. The rear of Bath station looks very similar today but has been tidied up somewhat and the car park is a lot more full!
Keywords: Rear of down side Bath Spa station

Former up bay platform, Bath Spa station
The former up bay platform at Bath Spa was taken out of use in 1967 just twelve years prior to this picture was taken. I am not absolutely what trains used the bay platform, possibly locals to Chippenham and Swindon or some along the Avon Valley towards Westbury. If anybody has any information on its past use it would be appreciated.
Keywords: Former up bay platform Bath Spa station

West end, up platform, Bath Spa station
The car park seen here at the western end of Bath Spa station on the up platform used to be a small goods shed and yard. Access was from the east and necessitated a rather complicated reversal and crossover. This was all removed in 1960 and was the first of a number of major and considerable changes to the layout of Bath station. On this gloomy evening there are a number of 1970s cars in the car park. There's a pair of VW caravanettes with the foreground dominated by a Fiat 128 and an Austin Maxi with another Maxi behind the Fiat. Behind and to the right of the Beetle is a relatively new and modern design in the shape of a Renault 20 or possibly a 30 as I can't see the headlights. To its left is the rear end of a Triumph 2000 or 2500 next to a Morris Marina. Behind the Maxi on the right is a Hillman Avenger estate. Enough of the cars, notice the parcels trolleys on the platform complete with their netting to contain the packets and sacks. These were once so common wherever we spotters went and became our temporary homes when collecting numbers!
Keywords: up platform Bath Spa station

Under-canopy, down platform, Bath Spa station
The under-canopy of Bath Spa's down platform reveals a quiet scene. The roof seen here is a later addition with the original Brunel designed overall timber roof having been removed as early as 1897. Notice in this scene, the Godfrey Davis car hire sign. This was a familiar name from this era but one that was absorbed by Europcar in 1981.
Keywords: Under-canopy down platform, Bath Spa station

Looking west, Bath Spa station
Looking west from the end of Bath Spa's platform one reveals empty platforms! The gap in the centre of the image once had two passing-lines and a series of crossovers that allowed wagons to pass from the small turntable to my left to the goods yard and shed at the far end of platform two. It was a complicated affair but one forced on the station due to its chronically constrained site. Ironically, it is these constraints that have led to the station retaining so many of its original features.
Keywords: Looking west Bath Spa station

Doors for access over footbridge (removed 1946) to Royal Hotel, Bath Spa station
An anonymous pair of doors on the first floor of Bath Spa station appear to go nowhere! They used to give access to a bridge that crossed the station forecourt straight into the Royal Hotel that is behind me. This bridge, that was removed in 1946, reminds us of a time when the railways and accommodation were far more closely associated than today.
Keywords: Doors for access over footbridge Royal Hotel Bath Spa station

Frontage, Bath Spa station
A scene that has changed very little today from when I took this picture in 1979. The frontage at Bath Spa taken at 20.00 reveals a quiet scene with just three cars at the front of the station. To the far left is a Mk. IV Ford Cortina, then a two-door Triumph Toledo and finally, complete with a surf board on the roof a Hillman Hunter. Bath Spa station was built in 1840 for the Great Western Railway by Brunel and is a grade II listed. It is in an asymmetrical Tudor style with curving gables located on the north bank of the River Avon. It was opened on 31 August 1840 and named Bath but was renamed Bath Spa in 1949 to distinguish it from Bath Green Park station, which did not have its name altered from Bath until 1951.
Keywords: Frontage Bath Spa station

Images 1-11 of 11 displayed.