1st April 2022 – Late BR Steam around Bristol

RCTS Meeting 1st April 2022

Held at St Theresa’s Hall in Filton, our speaker was Ian Bennett, showing slides taken by the late Maurice Deans and some he had purchased, the slides were mostly colour with a few early ones in black and white. Maurice had worked as a bank manager and drove an Austin A30, which featured in a few slides.
The slides started on the English side of the Severn Tunnel, showing Pilning High level and Pilning Junction, with the signal box for the low level in the distance. We then approached Patchway, going through the tunnels. After Patchway we followed the Bristol Line, on the left the Badminton line diverged towards Stoke Gifford. We saw the famous City of Truro at Filton Junction, on a stopping train from Swindon. Next was Narroways Hill Junction, Where the line to Avonmouth diverges on the right. We were treated to several slides of Stapleton Road Station in its prime with a full set of buildings including a buffet, as well as shots of Lawrence Hill, also in it’s prime.
Slides of Temple Meads, Fishponds, Mangotsfield, and out on the Midland line through North Bristol Slides also showed Avonmouth Docks with PBA tanks 7,8, and 10, as well as an image of a boat train with a Pannier tank. We then went over to the Frome and North Somerset line through Brislington we return to Bristol via Keynsham and St Annes Park, Bristol Temple meads East and Barrow Road sheds brough us to the break.
We resumed at the West End of Temple Meads, City of Truro arriving at the station, slides of Bath Road Shed, Travelling via Parson Street, Bedminster to Yatton Junction branch to Clevedon and Cheddar Valley line to Witham through Wells and Shepton Mallett, showing the last passenger train in several cases.
In several cases current day slides were shown for comparison.
The was an excellent collection of slides, presented with excellent commentary.