The Bristolian route around 1960?

[fritspoulsen12]

Hi all,
I have searched this information for years without luck, so will appreciate any help I can get here from you experts.
I'm trying to figure out the route, that "The Bristolian" used around 1960, during the period when the "Warship" class engines were used. Specifically, I'm trying to find a double track tunnel into a hill with a siding shortly before the tunnel entrance. A river with a barge is flowing a little lower on the right. The siding line has a viaduct over the river.
I have seen a picture of this many, many years ago, and it will mean a lot to me, if I could find out, where it is or was.

Thanks

 

[HowardGWR]

Down via Bath, up via Badminton.

Edit: sounds like Foxes Wood tunnels next to the Avon if by 'viaduct over the river' , you mean 'next to the river'. There are two of those, one had a siding for the pumping station, which would have been still there in 1960.

 

[John Webb]

Down via Bath, up via Badminton.

Edit: sounds like Foxes Wood tunnels next to the Avon if by 'viaduct over the river' , you mean 'next to the river'. There are two of those, one had a siding for the pumping station, which would have been still there in 1960.

I don't seem able to find any Foxes Wood tunnels on my railway maps - can you give me any more information (grid ref, between which stations) please?

Thanks,
John Webb

 

[Zoidberg]

I don't seem able to find any Foxes Wood tunnels on my railway maps - can you give me any more information (grid ref, between which stations) please?

Thanks,
John Webb

I wonder if the info here helps

http://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1409150

Fox's Wood Tunnel West Portal (MLN111622)

List Entry Summary
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Name: Fox's Wood Tunnel West Portal (MLN111622)
List entry Number: 1409150
Location
North of Eastwood Road, Conham, Bristol
The building may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:
District: City of Bristol
District Type: Unitary Authority
Parish: Non Civil Parish
National Park: Not applicable to this List entry.
Grade: II*
Date first listed: 17-Jul-2012
Date of most recent amendment: Not applicable to this List entry.

 

[fritspoulsen12]

Thanks for the replies already, amazing. Pretty close, but not quite sure about Foxes Wood. Have googled images, looks almost right, but they seem mirrored, compared to what I remember.

Let me be more specific:
I see a Warship class engine coming towards me on a double track line. In the far background I see the tunnel entrance(s), not sure if one or two, into the hill, almost just like Foxes Wood but mirrored.
However, before the entrances is a double track siding to the right and I can see the trains last carriages on the siding, so that seems to be the mainline. A little further to the right, the line crosses a viaduct of the river below with a small cargo barge landing site - maybe a small town down there too.

Does that ring more bells

 

[fritspoulsen12]

Finally - I found the photo.

http://www.railforums.co.uk/album.php?albumid=614&pictureid=3923

Look in my album Bristolian. Is it a real place or fantasy?

 

[coppercapped]

Finally - I found the photo.

http://www.railforums.co.uk/album.php?albumid=614&pictureid=3923

Look in my album Bristolian. Is it a real place or fantasy?

I can't locate anywhere on the Bristol to London route, either via Chippenham or Badminton which matches the image.

It looks to me to be a photograph of an advertising poster or mural. Possibly the right hand side of the poster or mural is missing as the nose of the 800 is incomplete. Could it be advertising days out for rambling somewhere in the generic 'West Country'?

As for the river, there is a poster in the National Railway Museum's collection showing the Wye Valley which is not dissimilar but it shows no trains!

 

[30907]

I agree it's almost certainly fictitious - the train coming off the branch for a start, another clue being the length. The Bristolian was a limited load service (and formed of BR Mk 1 stock well before the diesel era).

 

[70014IronDuke]

I agree it's almost certainly fictitious - the train coming off the branch for a start, another clue being the length. The Bristolian was a limited load service (and formed of BR Mk 1 stock well before the diesel era).

Well, it is Mk 1 stock in the piccie, surely - but yes, about 14 carriages by the looks of the train. (wasn't the Bristolian limited to 8 or 9?) Interesting, they seem to be blood and custard - surely the Bristolian would have been BR(W)'s flagship express - and allocated chocolate and cream Mk 1s.

Also, if it were a real branch line situation, surely there would have to be a facing crossing, to get trains off the 'up main' (IYSWIM) - there is none.

 

[30907]

Well, it is Mk 1 stock in the piccie, surely - but yes, about 14 carriages by the looks of the train. (wasn't the Bristolian limited to 8 or 9?) Interesting, they seem to be blood and custard - surely the Bristolian would have been BR(W)'s flagship express - and allocated chocolate and cream Mk 1s.

Also, if it were a real branch line situation, surely there would have to be a facing crossing, to get trains off the 'up main' (IYSWIM) - there is none.

Sorry, I took it to be Hawksworth stock from the slab sides, but looking again it's probably meant to be a Mk 1 - the front coaches look (correctly) chocolate and cream to me, but the rear few more like maroon and cream.

I think I can detect a hint of the facing point by the box.

But all this goes to show that railway artists were sometimes a bit inaccurate.

 

[Busaholic]

But all this goes to show that railway artists were sometimes a bit inaccurate.

I think painting an idyllic scene must almost always have some fantasy obscuring microscopic accuracy.

 

[fritspoulsen12]

Hi all,
Thanks a lot for your comments. Sorry to realize, that this place seems to be pure fiction. Would have liked to see it in real.
To coppercapped: The photo is printed on a box so the last inch or so, showing the rest of the nose is on the side of the box, so here it's not a part of a mural or an advertising.
To 70014IronDuke: The siding is double-tracked, and there is a branch and crossing from the left track too, but the copy of the photo is so blurred, that it is invisible.