Tuesday 31st May - Aloha Severn Beach
I make no apologies for the musical reference in the title of today’s trip, namely Adge Cutler's 1968 Hawaiian song, complete with Hawaiian guitar and backing vocals by the Wurzels. The lyrics describe "a little corner of heaven, down there by the River Severn". While not typical of the Scrumpy and Western normally associated with the late, great Adge Cutler, it does give a subtle clue as to where I ended up today.
Being Bristol born and bred, even though I left almost 40 years ago, I still have an affinity for the home town. But equally, I was embarrassed by the fact that there was a stretch of line within the area [Ed: should that be Aeriawl?] that I had never recorded in The Haulage Book as traversing along with several shacks that were still on the wants list. Admittedly, when I were a Brizzle lad, I was not into shack scratching but thankfully some of my records survive so I can log early shack scratches. The offer of some cheap advances to get me out of Paddington in the morning peak was just too good to refuse – in fact it would have been extremely rude of me!
Leaving home somewhat earlier than if it had been a normal “day in the factory”, I headed for Morden station where 1995ts
51511+51512 were waiting to take me north to Stockwell. From here, it was dud 2009ts onwards to Oxford Circus followed by 1972ts
3252+3452 onwards to Baker Street. With Paddington’s Bakerloo platforms being out of action, it was a noticeable hike to get to the westbound Hammersmith & City platforms where
21523+21524 soon arrived to whisk me to Paddington.
Picking up the necessary tickets for the day, I soon located my train with
43030+43171 providing the motive power although before I boarded I espied 43172 in the adjacent platform and paid my respects to Harry Patch as well as grabbing a photo or two. A prompt departure soon saw us heading west. This was my first trip out of Paddington this year and the railway scenery has definitely altered, especially with all the ongoing electrification works; I suppose the arrival of Crossrail in a little over two years has provided some added impetus to get this moving along. There’s a significant gap between Maidenhead and Reading but I should imagine that this will not take too long to fill. From Reading westwards to Didcot, the electrification works are almost complete and it was surprising to see Reading Depot almost completely empty – Great Western must work those Turbos very hard in the peak hours yet I passed very few green 166s. Didcot was almost deserted although evidence of the diesel event at the Didcot Railway Centre were still evident as there was a bright blue sixteen-wheeled dinosaur sitting near the gates waiting a tow.
Alighting at Swindon, I was pleased that I had all the tickets for the day as one of the few Great Western DMUs from the “provincial” fleet that I still needed sitting in the bay platform waiting to go westwards to Melksham and Westbury. When I left home, I was after three each from classes 150, 153 and 158; 2*150 and 1*158 being all time winners with the remainder being mileage requirements. I was therefore pleased to fall straight onto
153305, especially given how far and wide the 153s can be spread, on the Trans Wilts Shuttle (Swindon to Westbury). I could not resist a Tin Rocket being thrashed along the main line to Chippenham. But first we had to wait for Harry Patch and friend to clear the main line (it had followed my train out of Paddington). Once that had cleared Swindon, it was all systems go for the Tin Rocket to thrash its way down to Chippenham on what is normally a 125mph railway. With the job done with 153305, I alighted at Chippenham for a short wait before the following Bristol-bound train appeared with
43156+43197. I stayed with this for the short distance to Bath Spa where I alighted.
43172 Harry Patch @ Swindon
I noted 153368 leaving unaccompanied for Westbury [Ed: that was close with 153369 being on my lists] but decided to leave the Avon Valley for another day. And what a good choice that was as a winning
158959 rolled in soon afterwards having made its way up from Portsmouth. I gleefully boarded and headed for Bristol where I was very much now on familiar ground. I left the winning 158 at Bristol Temple Meads, a place where I cut my early “railway teeth” and wondered how I’d fill the next hour and a bit. Cross Country soon made that decision for me as a winning
221131 was soon to leave for Manchester. At least the short leap up to Bristol Parkway would get it in the book.
On the way up to Parkway, I worked out that I could bag two shacks before I needed to be back at Temple Meads so upon arrival at Parkway, I quickly crossed over to a dud
158766, retracing my steps to Temple Meads and beyond. I quickly alighted from 158766 at Temple Meads to grab a photo of 43146 which was advertising “Building a Greater West” and reboarded seconds later. A few minutes later, I alighted at the first shack score of the day,
Parson Street. Like so many stations, I had passed through here many times but never alighted. I quickly switched platforms as I knew it was only minutes before my train was due. While switching platforms, I’d noted a photographer on the bridge and wondered what he was waiting for. Within a few seconds, I had my answer as 66731 approached on a stone train from the north and sat in the station waiting to access the Portishead branch. I had enough time for another quick snap before
150244 arrived to whisk me northwards. Instead of alighting at Temple Meads, I stayed on to
Lawrence Hill for the second shack score of the day. While I had used Lawrence Hill many times, I have no records of so doing so in my book, I have to visit and record it properly. The use of Lawrence Hill was part of a standard move in my youth. An afternoon would be spent watching trains at Temple Meads then I’d get the Beach Buggy one stop to Lawrence Hill, visit the adjacent model shop and then get the bus home – invariably one of Hanham depot’s Bristol FLFs.
66731 @ Parson Street
150244 @ Parson Street
I had enough time to cross over to the opposite platform before
150926 rolled in to take me to Temple Meads. I stretched my legs at Temple Meads and photographed the formerly preserved 37254 which is now part of the Colas fleet before re-joining
150926. As with Lawrence Hill, I have no formal record of any visit to the remote end of the City-Severn line, aka Severn Beach. I know that in my youth, a mate and I went all the way on the Beach Buggy but no records exist so it was still on the required list. Until today, that is. I’d done most of the line since on a railtour which covered the Henbury loop so the track need was from
St Andrews Road up to Severn Beach itself. The ‘Beach was of course also a shack score! And more recently, I’d been up to Clifton Down (and other intermediate stations) in the name of DMU bashing.
Colas 37254 @ Bristol Temple Meads
Quickly alighting at
Severn Beach, I managed a couple of very quick snaps before joining
150926 for a third time. I did not head back to Bristol as you might expect but instead chose to go only one stop to
St Andrews Road which of course is yet another required shack. Elsewhere on the forum, I’d seen discussion as to whether St Andrews Road was still a request stop or not. A quick conversation with the guard stated that as far as traincrew on the line are concerned, it’s definitely a compulsory stop now and has been for some while. However, when I got off, what was the first thing that I was confronted with? A notice which stated “Trains stop here on request ….” Hmmm? With no trains being due to stop for almost two hours, the best way out was Shank’s Pony. Google Maps told me that Avonmouth was only 17 minutes away so after another couple of quick snaps, I staggered over the footbridge and made for Avonmouth. Walking alongside a busy road, I was pleased to reach Avonmouth village and was in plenty of time for the next train. In some respects, I should have stayed longer as I was never really familiar with the ‘mouth as it was the remote side of Bristol to where I was brought up.
Aloha Severn Beach
Do I Need to put my hand out or ask the guard?
150120 soon rolled in to
Avonmouth and about a dozen folk boarded whilst the drive changed ends and we were off, this time following the banks of the Avon to
Sea Mills and another shack score. I had fifteen minutes before the next train was due so went for a quick walk around. Nothing special although I did not stray too far from the station and my wait was over when now ultra-dud
150926 returned to take me the mile or so to
Shirehampton. Again there was a 15-20 minute wait and I was sorely tempted to nip down to the nearby Lamplighters pub for a cheeky half but thought better of it and sat on the station scoffing my sandwiches instead.
150926 returned from it little excursion to Avonmouth and whisked me back to Temple Meads [Ed: That’s an overstatement as it implies great speed, for which the City-Severn Line is not renowned]. At long last, I’d cleared the Severn Beach Line for both shacks and track!
With the main objective of the day achieved, what next? I took a look at various DMU worked services but initially nothing attracted my attention sufficiently to warrant me taking a trip. Then a delayed service from Portsmouth appeared with two three-car 158s which was to be split at Bristol. The rear unit was certainly of interest as it was GWR’s only genuine three-car 158, i.e. 158798, the rest being hybrids formed from two-car 158s. My interest in 158798 was limited to its advertising livery for a local charity. Last time I’d seen this unit it was proclaiming the benefits of a retail emporium in Portsmouth so I definitely had to get a few snaps! Then the station PA caught my attention and effectively reminded me that I still needed one shack within the confines of the City of Bristol. Thankfully I had sufficient time to switch platforms before
158766 left for Weston-super-Mare. Three minutes after boarding, I was jumping off the now super-dud 158 again, this time at
Bedminster and so completing Bristol’s shacks. A slow trot through the subway to the opposite platform saw me board
150244 for the second time in the day so this was now also super dud and minutes later I was back at Bristol Temple Meads.
158798 Springboard @ Bristol Temple Meads
A required Vomit Comet caught my attention as did one of now only two Skateboards required for 10 miles. The Skateboard would be back in around two and a half hours as it was on the Cardiff- Taunton circuit but the Vomit Comet would not reappear that day so it was a winning
220006 that won the day and saw me heading to Bristol Parkway for a second time in less than a few hours. The safe option would be to return to Temple Meads straightaway but that was a super-dud 150244. If I waited a further ten minutes then there was a Gloucester to Westbury service and shortly after that another Voyager. The Gloucester rolled in and I could see that it was a plain blue Skateboard so I was in with a chance of what by now was the only GWR 153 that I did not have a fix on. Alas, it was the wrong one. 153361 with its plugs for the Trans Wilts service was no good to me as I was looking for 153369. However, behind was
200030. While not a winner, it was deficient in mileage as I had only done a short leap with it before. A trundle down Horfield Bank (aka Filton Bank to some folk) to Temple Meads would see another 220 completely eradicated from my lists.
Back at Temple Meads, I noticed 150216 sitting in the platforms. And more interestingly, prospective passengers gathering around it and traincrew approaching it. Hopefully, it would be going somewhere soon. The departure boards, station announcer and RTT all confirmed that this would indeed be the case. It was off to Avonmouth. My only previous run with 150216 was a short run from Temple Meads to Clifton Down so it would be good to get this out of the way. But I did not fancy going all the way to Avonmouth and as by now, time was marching on, I had to formulate a move to get me back to Swindon in time for my booked train. Add in the need to procure supplies for the journey home meant that the best way to deal with the issue was to take
150216 up to Clifton Down and visit the adjacent shops before returning to Temple Meads. I had about 30 minutes at Clifton Down which was ample time for a PNB and a visit to Sainsburys for some supplies before returning to Clifton Down station to await
150216’s return from the ‘mouth. Walking down to the Bristol-bound platform, I noticed a sign for the City-Severn Line. That must have been absolutely ancient but was definitely worth a snap. Before long, 150216 was back from its coastal excursion and I jumped on board. By the time we reached Temple Meads, 150216 had become eligible for super-dud status but more importantly, eligible to apply for membership of the Ten Mile Club.
Plugging the City-Severn Line!
At Temple Meads, it was only a matter of minutes before my required Skateboard returned from its excursion to Taunton – I was very pleased to see 153380 rolling in with 150104 tagged on the rear. By now it was peak commuter time so by the time
150104+153380 left Temple Meads bound for Cardiff it was comfortably full. I could have bailed at Filton Abbey Wood but I elected to stay on until
Patchway as the South Gloucestershire shack was required. I naturally sat in the Tin Rocket and somewhere on the approaches to Flabby Wood, 153380 tipped the 10 mile balance. At Patchway, I bailed for a service back towards Bristol but as there was a few minutes before it was due, I took a quick look around. The brick-built platform shelters caught my attention and in particular, some of the very pleasant mosaics therein which do not seem to have attracted the attention of the local low-life. Before long,
150120+150124 rolled in. Both were dud but at least I was on the move again. Within minutes I had alighted at Filton Abbey Wood as the dodgy +2 onto a Gloucester bound train was in reach so it was a quick stagger over the footbridge and as I hit the platform, a rather wedged
150265 was rolling in. Again it was another Bus Stop Bash, this time for my third visit of the day to Parkway.
Mosaic no 1 @ Patchway. Pretty
Mosaic no 2 @ Patchway. Very pretty!
On the way into Parkway, I got a good look into the new IEP depot being constructed in the Filton/Stoke Gifford triangle. There was even one of the new-fangled IEP trains parked up there. I bailed at Parkway and once 150265 had staggered out of the platforms, the next London service was being announced. It rolls in with 43069 on the front but on the back was no less than retro liveried power car 43002 carrying the original Inter-City 125 Blue & Yellow colours, albeit with Sir Kenneth Grange nameplates. So in a matter of minutes I’d seen the first of the current generation and also the first of the next generation of long distance trains. I fancied a photo or two of 43002 and Parkway is not the ideal place so I jumped on board and headed for Swindon. At least, Swindon’s platforms were wider than Parkway’s. Leaving
43002+43069 at Swindon, I leapt off the train and immediately made for the rear of the train to grab my snaps. It seems that someone else had exactly the same idea as me – they wanted to photograph their enthusiast young lad by the retro-liveried power car. And the young lad was asking all about the power car and HSTs more generally – the embryonic stages of the next generation enthusiast?
43002 Sir Kenneth Grange @ Swindon
I had half an hour before my booked train was due which gave me time to observe a few comings and goings. Nothing particularly interested me on country-bound services – they were all bog-standard “First blue” HSTs. The next London–bound service was different though. Ordinary 43125 was leading but bringing up the rear was 43126 in its Bristol 2015 European Green Capital livery. Another one for the camera to get busy with. Before long, the station PA was heralding the arrival of my train home and as it approached the front power car appeared to be black but soon it dawned on me that it was not black but dark green – I’d fallen into the GWR green liveried set. Before the set left I managed a few snaps of the rear power car, having got a couple of the front as it trundled into the station. I jumped on board and sat back in the refurbished set, enjoying
43187+43188 as my motive power back to Paddington. Three trains in a row with celebrity power cars cannot be bad and also catching the Greater Western billboard at Bristol earlier cannot be bad – and I almost forgot, I also espied 43163 with its Plymouth Ocean City vinyls during one of my many passages through Temple Meads along with such celebrity power cars as 43003 Isambard Kingdom Brunel and 43127 Sir Peter Parker during the course of the day.
43163 Visit Plymouth @ Bristol Temple Meads
All too soon, my first trip on the GWR HST set was over thanks to an on-time arrival at Paddington. I made for the Hammersmith & City platforms and had literally seconds to wait before
21419+21420 arrived to take me to Baker Street. Although London Underground were giving out dire warnings of disruption on the Bakerloo Line, I still made for the Bakerloo (having the Jubilee Line from the adjacent platforms as a fallback) but a two minute wait was more than satisfactory before 1972ts
3232+3444 rolled in to take me on to Oxford Circus where I crossed over to the Victoria Line. Low mileage 2009ts
11001+11002 took me on to Stockwell where it fell to 1995ts
51596+51597 to take me south to Morden and onwards to home.
I had the opportunity to think about the day. My main objective was to rein in the required track and shacks on the City-Severn Line and that was definitely “job done” Add in three other shacks scored for the day, three outright winners (220006, 221131 and 158959) and five units cleared for 10 miles (150216, 153305/380, 158959 & 200030) then it wasn’t too bad a day out. These exploits leave me with Nailsea & Backwell as my nearest required shack to Bristol followed closely by the limited service Pilning. On the Great Western DMU front, all that is needed from the provincial fleet now are 150121, 150938, 153369, 158951 and 158960 (the two 150s are outright winners while the others are simply mileage needs). Definitely it’s now a case of pretty thin pickings in Bristol on future visits!
