Four members and a guest attended this fixture to the capital of the West Country, some travelling from the North West by the Marches line and some through the Midlands via Birmingham.
On arrival in Temple Meads we first inspected the brand new entrance on the east of the station which had been inaugurated the previous day. This will give much-needed public access to and from that side of the station and will be particularly useful for Bristol University students. A smart addition to Temple Meads!
The main purpose of this fixture was to ride the branch line out to Severn Beach. For some members this was a trip of nostalgia, for others discovery!
The main impression was that this was far from being a minor branch line; the regular service provided by class 165 and 166 units is extremely well frequented, especially to Clifton Down, Sea Mills and Shirehampton; thereafter the passengers thin out to the terminus at Severn Beach, which has some newish housing and a couple of cafes, but that’s about it. The view across the Severn mudflats at low tide cannot be described as inspiring!
It was also noted by those who had ridden the line before how much the trees had overgrown at the lineside, cutting out a lot of the views particularly in the Avon gorge. It has to be said, however, that this is a phenomenon common to large parts of the UK rail network.
After a dark and drizzly morning the sun came out on our return to Temple Meads and this brightened up the landscape no end.
The remainder of the afternoon at Bristol was largely uneventful with the routine passing of mainly class 800 units, assorted Cross Country voyagers and class 165 and 166 units, although those members who returned home via the Marches line did note some freight traffic at Newport as you would expect.
Overall, an interesting and different day out for our branch members.
