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Title: Fletcher On Tour - April 2008 Post by: Lee on April 13, 2008, 08:19:59 I try my best to get out and take a closer look at the issues that might be of interest to members/site visitors. In this topic, I will post some of the photos of my travels, with the aim of showing both good and bad.
For photos from previous months, click on the links below. http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=1592.msg10419#msg10419 http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=1943.msg14391#msg14391 11/04/2008 : Upwey. http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/110408upwey1.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/110408upwey2.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/110408upwey3.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/110408upwey4.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/110408upwey5.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/110408upwey6.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/110408upwey7.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/110408upwey8.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/110408upwey9.jpg Your Global Moderator tries a variation on the breakfast theme (Wetherspoons, Bristol Temple Meads.) http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/110408btmdinner.jpg Title: Re: Fletcher On Tour - April 2008 Post by: Lee on April 13, 2008, 08:26:13 11/04/2008 :
Temple Quay car park, next to Bristol Temple Meads station. http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/110408tempquaycp.jpg Severn Beach (including new signage.) http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/110408sbeach1.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/110408sbeach2.jpg Title: Re: Fletcher On Tour - April 2008 Post by: grahame on April 13, 2008, 08:59:08 (http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/110408upwey5.jpg)
Good to see acknowledgement of the passenger flows to Cardif and Swindon from the Weymouth area. When is the next scheduled train to Swindon? :-\ Title: Re: Fletcher On Tour - April 2008 Post by: smokey on April 13, 2008, 09:06:45 Good to see acknowledgement of the passenger flows to Cardif and Swindon from the Weymouth area. When is the next scheduled train to Swindon? :-\ [/quote] Grahame, I know you have Issues with the Melksham service (RIGHTLY SO) but as Upwey is a SOUTH WEST TRAINS station, it's not in SWT hands to improve the Swindon Service, Now if stagecoach had won the Greater Western franchise!!!! Title: Re: Fletcher On Tour - April 2008 Post by: grahame on April 13, 2008, 09:58:29 Grahame, I know you have Issues with the Melksham service (RIGHTLY SO) but as Upwey is a SOUTH WEST TRAINS station, it's not in SWT hands to improve the Swindon Service, Now if stagecoach had won the Greater Western franchise!!!! I didn't intend to call on South West Trains to improve the services from Upwey to Melksham / Chippenham / Swindon - rather I was pointing out a traffic flow that's acknowledged by the sign (and it's one of many such traffic flows) to and from the South coast - from Weymouth to Southampton, and the intermediate hinterland such as Yeovil and Salisbury, up to these major population centres in North Wilts. And yet ... having said that I didn't intend to call on South West Trains, there would be a huge logic to them providing a service to North Wilts via Trowbridge. After all, they have a full diesel depot for servicing suitable trains at Salisbury. I won't go too far in this thread on that technical logic - it has been raised in the past and I expect it will pop up again! Title: Re: Fletcher On Tour - April 2008 Post by: Lee on April 14, 2008, 08:56:19 11/04/2008 :
Stapleton Road. http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/110408staproad9.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/110408staproad10.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/110408staproad13.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/110408staproad14.jpg Mural at Stapleton Road. http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/110408staproad11.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/110408staproad15.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/110408staproad16.jpg Disused railway bridge near Stapleton Road. http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/110408staproad7.jpg More Stapleton Road photos taken on 11/04/2008 can be found in the links below. http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=2438.msg18306#msg18306 http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=2382.msg18310#msg18310 Title: Re: Fletcher On Tour - April 2008 Post by: eightf48544 on April 14, 2008, 13:47:41 Lee
Staproad7 which bridge is that? I originally thought it was the Midland link to the Avonmouth line, but I've found a photo of a 4F moving! (very rare) across this bridge and it's a simple plate girder structure. So am I right in assumming that this is the Midland mainline bridge nearer Lawrence Hill? Title: Re: Fletcher On Tour - April 2008 Post by: Lee on April 14, 2008, 15:31:33 Lee Staproad7 which bridge is that? I originally thought it was the Midland link to the Avonmouth line, but I've found a photo of a 4F moving! (very rare) across this bridge and it's a simple plate girder structure. So am I right in assumming that this is the Midland mainline bridge nearer Lawrence Hill? The bridge pictured in staproad7 used to carry two lines towards Filton across Stapleton Road and the M32. The photo was taken from the Bristol-bound platform at Stapleton Road. If you want to see it in better days, click on the links below, from the excellent Bristol Railway Archive. http://www.bristol-rail.co.uk/images/stapletonroad24.jpg http://www.bristol-rail.co.uk/images/stapletonroad26.jpg http://www.bristol-rail.co.uk/images/stapletonroad25.jpg I believe that the Midland bridge near Lawrence Hill you are referring to may well be this one (links below.) http://www.bristol-rail.co.uk/images/midlandrailwaybridge1.jpg http://www.bristol-rail.co.uk/images/midlandrailwaybridge5.jpg The Midland link to the Avonmouth line (or rather the abutments) is pictured in the link below. http://www.bristol-rail.co.uk/images/narroways1.jpg Title: Re: Fletcher On Tour - April 2008 Post by: eightf48544 on April 14, 2008, 15:47:22 So it's the Relief line bridge put in during the widening?
The Lawrence Hill bridge looks ideal for trams! Title: Re: Fletcher On Tour - April 2008 Post by: Lee on April 14, 2008, 18:31:40 So it's the Relief line bridge put in during the widening? The bridge pictured in staproad7 was added when the lines were quadrupled. The original bridge is still in use, and is pictured behind the "staproad7" bridge in the link below. This Bristol Railway Archive photo was taken looking along Stapleton Road. http://www.bristol-rail.co.uk/images/stapletonroad1.jpg Quote from: Bristol Railway Archive The lines through Stapleton Road were quadrupled in the 1930s with the laying of two lines east of the original formation. The new lines became the Main, while the original lines became the Relief. Despite their names, passenger trains were usually sent via the relief lines, while freight took the main. The Lawrence Hill bridge looks ideal for trams! The Lawrence Hill bridge is also part of the Bristol & Bath Railway Path, and it would be interesting to see if a tram scheme fares any better than the recent Bus Rapid Transit proposal..... http://www.bristolbathrailwaypath.org.uk/map1.shtml http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=1608.msg10568#msg10568 Title: Re: Fletcher On Tour - April 2008 Post by: Lee on April 15, 2008, 09:22:28 13/04/2008 :
The day started off well, with a 2-coach Class 150 unit deployed on the 0908 Portsmouth Harbour-Bristol Parkway service. As a result, we were packed from Southampton-Bristol. http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408portbris1.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408portbris2.jpg 4 cyclists were chucked off at Westbury, but we still left behind passengers at Bradford-on-Avon. Freshford, including the station gardens. http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408freshford1.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408freshford2.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408freshford3.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408freshford4.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408freshford5.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408freshford6.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408freshford7.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408freshford8.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408freshford9.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408freshford10.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408freshford11.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408freshford12.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408freshford13.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408freshford14.jpg Title: Re: Fletcher On Tour - April 2008 Post by: Lee on April 15, 2008, 09:49:27 13/04/2008 :
Yate. http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408yate1.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408yate4.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408yate5.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408yate6.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408yate7.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408yate9.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408yate16.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408yate17.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408yate18.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408yate19.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408yate20.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408yate22.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408yate23.jpg Possible location of Yate turnback, which would also involve removing a section of the car park. http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408yate2.jpg The station layout at Yate is staggered, with a platform either side of the road bridge. http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408yate14.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408yate8.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408yate11.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408yate13.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408yate15.jpg Former goods shed at Yate. http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408yate10.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408yate12.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408yate21.jpg Tytherington Quarry line junction. http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408yate3.jpg Photos of Nailsea & Backwell station, taken on 13/04/2008, can be found in the link below. http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=2382.msg18460#msg18460 Title: Re: Fletcher On Tour - April 2008 Post by: Timmer on April 15, 2008, 17:31:13 13/04/2008 : Sadly this is nothing new with both the 0908 and 1108 ex Portsmouth having real overcrowding problems especially since SWT moved their Waterloo-Bristol service to later on a Sunday afternoon which used to fill the two hour gap between Salisbury and Bristol. Still not long to go now before three car 158s operate on all Portsmouth services. Despite this happening, I was hoping though that FGW would fill this two hour gap in services in the new summer timetable. People want to travel on a Sundays which has become just like any other day of week now.The day started off well, with a 2-coach Class 150 unit deployed on the 0908 Portsmouth Harbour-Bristol Parkway service. As a result, we were packed from Southampton-Bristol. http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408portbris1.jpg http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/130408portbris2.jpg 4 cyclists were chucked off at Westbury, but we still left behind passengers at Bradford-on-Avon. Title: Re: Fletcher On Tour - April 2008 Post by: Lee on April 17, 2008, 19:47:32 Disused railway bridge near Stapleton Road. http://www.raildocuments.org.uk/apr08photos/110408staproad7.jpg Lee Staproad7 which bridge is that? I originally thought it was the Midland link to the Avonmouth line, but I've found a photo of a 4F moving! (very rare) across this bridge and it's a simple plate girder structure. So am I right in assumming that this is the Midland mainline bridge nearer Lawrence Hill? The bridge pictured in staproad7 used to carry two lines towards Filton across Stapleton Road and the M32. The photo was taken from the Bristol-bound platform at Stapleton Road. If you want to see it in better days, click on the links below, from the excellent Bristol Railway Archive. http://www.bristol-rail.co.uk/images/stapletonroad24.jpg http://www.bristol-rail.co.uk/images/stapletonroad26.jpg http://www.bristol-rail.co.uk/images/stapletonroad25.jpg So it's the Relief line bridge put in during the widening? The bridge pictured in staproad7 was added when the lines were quadrupled. The original bridge is still in use, and is pictured behind the "staproad7" bridge in the link below. This Bristol Railway Archive photo was taken looking along Stapleton Road. http://www.bristol-rail.co.uk/images/stapletonroad1.jpg Quote from: Bristol Railway Archive The lines through Stapleton Road were quadrupled in the 1930s with the laying of two lines east of the original formation. The new lines became the Main, while the original lines became the Relief. Despite their names, passenger trains were usually sent via the relief lines, while freight took the main. Additional info from Joe Patrick of Friends Of Suburban Bristol Railways : Quote from: Joe Patrick There was a national program at the time of the introduction of the current types of trains of track rationalisation. The thought at the time was that the new trains are faster accelerating than the old, so two sets of tracks in some areas were no longer thought necessary. Secondly, the bridge over the M32 was not suitable for four tracking, which hastened the old lines demise. This would presumably need to be repaired or replaced if additional tracks are to be laid, or possibly even some sort of signalling to stop two trains being on the bridge at once? This page is printed from the "Coffee Shop" forum at http://gwr.passenger.chat which is provided by a customer of Great Western Railway. Views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that content provided contravenes our posting rules ( see http://railcustomer.info/1761 ). The forum is hosted by Well House Consultants - http://www.wellho.net |