68. The Christmas Special-The City of Bath-13.12.14

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2014 > 68. The Christmas Special-The City of Bath-13.12.14
Whilst working at my later father's house I took a lunchtime break popping out to see the passage of a charter on the nearby GWML. I chose a spot just west of Box on a doomed footbridge that was about to be removed in preparation for the forthcoming electrification.

Please note, of course as it was to turn out, the works to remove the bridge was a total waste of time with the cancellation of the electrification west of Thingley Junction announced in November 2016.
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Images 1-8 of 8 displayed.

Class 43, GW 11.00 London Paddington-Bristol Temple Meads (1C11), Middlehill footbridge ST805680 On a cold but bright winter's day, an unidentified Class 43 HST passes Middlehill footbridge working the 1C11 11.00 Paddington to Bristol service. This location is approximately halfway between Box tunnel and Bathampton Junction just east of Bath. Keywords: Class 43 11.00 London Paddington-Bristol Temple Meads 1C11 Middlehill footbridge ST805680 HST First Great Western Railway
47245, outward leg of The Christmas Special-The City of Bath, Skegness-Bath Spa (1Z36), Middlehill footbridge ST805680 Unfortunately, I have not quite positioned the train correctly in this photograph with the front of WCR's 47245 largely in the shade. The locomotive is leading the outward leg of the rather clumsily named 'The Christmas Special-The City of Bath' charter that started out from Skegness and was running as 1Z36. Passengers would be able to enjoy a few hours wandering around Bath's huge and popular Christmas market. Keywords: 47245 The Christmas Special-The City of Bath, Skegness-Bath Spa 1Z36 Middlehill footbridge ST805680 WCR West Coast Railway
Middlehill footbridge, 102 miles, 46 chains from London Paddington, just prior to demolition (For GWML electrification) ST805680 The doomed Middlehill footbridge just west of Box has just over two weeks left to stand with it to be demolished over the Christmas period during a prolonged possession of this section of the GWML. The demolition is in preparation for the forthcoming electrification of the route. NB The demolition was a complete waste of time and resources as was much other work as the electrification west of Thingley Junction (Chippenham) was to be cancelled by government dictate in November 2016 Keywords: Middlehill footbridge 102 miles, 46 chains from London Paddington just prior to demolition GWML electrification ST805680
Middlehill Footbridge, 102 miles, 46 chains from London Paddington, just prior to demolition (For GWML electrification) ST805680 As can be seen from the stencilled letters, the soon to be demolished Middlehill footbridge, that carries a footpath across the GWML between Box and bath is just over one hundred miles from London Paddington. Whilst it is in need of a little care and attention it seems a shame to demolish the structure that has been a popular spot (particularly for up services) for photographers for many years. NB The demolition was a complete waste of time and resources as was much other work as the electrification west of Thingley Junction (Chippenham) was to be cancelled by government dictate in November 2016 Keywords: Middlehill Footbridge 102 miles, 46 chains from London Paddington just prior to demolition GWML electrification ST805680
43198, GW 12.30 Bristol Temple Meads-London Paddington (1A17), Middlehill footbridge ST805680 Last numbered 43198 'Oxfordshire 2007' leads the 1A17 12.30 Bristol to Paddington FGW service on the climb from Bathampton to Box tunnel. It is about to pass under Middlehill footbridge. Whilst not a fan of 'glint shots' I quite like the winter back lighting of this photograph. Keywords: 43198 12.30 Bristol Temple Meads-London Paddington 1A17 Middlehill footbridge ST805680 Oxfordshire 2007
Class 43, GW 12.30 Bristol Temple Meads-London Paddington (1A17), Middlehill footbridge ST805680 By way of comparison, the same train seen in the last photograph is seen again going away from the camera. The previous image was very much into the low winter sunshine creating a 'glint shot' whilst this one, with the light square behind me, gives some very different lighting conditions. An unidentified Class 43 power car propels the 12.30 Bristol to Paddington service on the steady climb towards Box tunnel passing Middlehill footbridge. This location is just adjacent to the A4 road that can be seen to the left along with the tower of Colerne's St John the Baptist church on the skyline. Keywords: Class 43 12.30 Bristol Temple Meads-London Paddington 1A17 Middlehill footbridge ST805680 First Great Western HST
Middlehill Footbridge, 102 miles, 46 chains from London Paddington, just prior to demolition (For GWML electrification) ST805680 A footbridge that has stood for many years spanning the GWML between Bath and Chippenham basks in the winter sunshine a week or so prior to its demolition and replacement by a modern green and massively over-engineered structure. The reason for this architectural vandalism is so the electrification of the line from London to Bristol can be constructed unhindered. I suppose that if technology dictates then things have to change but it does seem a shame that such a characteristic structure has to succumb as a result. NB The demolition was a complete waste of time and resources as was much other work as the electrification west of Thingley Junction (Chippenham) was to be cancelled by government dictate in November 2016 Keywords: Middlehill Footbridge 102 miles 46 chains from London Paddington GWML electrification ST805680
Middlehill Footbridge, 102 miles, 46 chains from London Paddington, just prior to demolition (For GWML electrification) ST805680 At just over one hundred and two miles from London Paddington Middlehill footbridge is seen just a week or so prior to its demolition and replacement. The footbridge has stood at this spot for many years but does not provide sufficient clearance for the forthcoming electrification of the route. I suspect that the replacement will be one of Network Rail's ridiculously over-engineered green structures that they seem so keen on. NB The demolition was a complete waste of time and resources as was much other work as the electrification west of Thingley Junction (Chippenham) was to be cancelled by government dictate in November 2016 Keywords: Middlehill Footbridge 102 miles 46 chains from London Paddington prior to demolition GWML electrification ST805680

Images 1-8 of 8 displayed.