1 May 2026, ‘My Father’s Pictures’ – Bristol, Bath & the S&D presented by David Cross.

Bristol  On 1st May David Cross presented a selection of his Father’s pictures, starting with a view of Bristol Bath Road showing examples of Class 45, 47, 50 and 52. A Class 47 was on a Newcastle train at Bristol Temple Meads and in 1985 we travel on the Portishead line behind Ivatt 2 No 46443, which was part of the GW150 celebrations. We then moved on to Avonmouth where GW 6841 ‘Marlas Grange was on a ‘special’.  Moving on to Bath a Warship in experimental blue was captured in Sydney Gardens and a Class 47 on a Paddington was in the station.  Various trains were spotted at Bathampton Junction including D1048 ‘Western Lady’ on a stone train.  Moving on to the Welsh Marches line GWR Hall No 4918 ‘ Dartington Hall’ was seen at Hereford and a Std Class 5 No 73095 was seen at Church Stretton. At Shewsbury various trains were recorded including GWR King Class No 6015 ‘King Richard 111 on the Cambrian Cost Express.

We now moved on to S&D where we saw an interloper in the guise of GWR Castle No 7023 ‘Penrice Castle’ at Bath Green Park on a ‘special’.  On Devonshire bank a Cleethorpes to Exmouth train was double headed by ex Midland 2P No 40564 and Bullied No 34041 ‘Wilton’.  We moved down the line to Evercreech where a ‘Pigeon Special’ was powered by a 4F  No 44560 and 7F No 53803.

We now go further west to Dawlish where various steam and disels were recorded.  Continuing our journey west we ended up at Penzance where Westerns No D1012 ‘Western Firebrand’ and D1036 ‘Western Emperor’ were recorded. This brought an end to an evening of excellent pictures which brought back many happy memories.