Branch BTL Bristol – The Railway Correspondence & Travel Society

Bristol Branch

5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe on the up Bristolian at Bristol Parkway in 2010. Image credit Paul Udey

We have an extensive selection of new and second-hand railway books on sale at every meeting, at bargain prices.

Our current programme is detailed below. All are welcome to join us and to share their interest.

Welcome to the Bristol Branch page of the RCTS website.

We meet once a month from September to May, on the first Friday, at St. Teresa’s Church Hall, 71 Gloucester Road North, Filton, BS34 7PL, next to Esso Tesco.

Our meetings generally take the form of slide shows, videos or talks with lively discussion on all aspects of railway history and operational practice.

Our members' interests range from the pioneering years of the railway through to the present day, in the UK and overseas.

Brian's Bookstall is open for business at each meeting. Image Credit Stewart Jolly

What's on

Venues

Click the venue name to see more

Contacts

Chairman

Brian Arman

Secretary

Paul Udey
tel: 01225 427779
email: bristol@rcts.org.uk
18 Hensley Road, Bath, BA2 2DR

Bristol Area Gallery

Two services for Plymouth are pictured departing simultaneously from Bristol Temple Meads on 26th February 2010. 43303 heads the slightly-delayed 06.00 from Leeds, while 150239 forms the 09.00 stopping train from Cardiff Central. Although this might be regarded as a 'modern' image, the motive power pictured here has all been superseded: Cross Country services to the South West are now worked exclusively by Voyagers, while IETs have not only replaced the Paddington-bound HST in the background, but have also taken over most of the stopping services between Cardiff and the South West - levelling up indeed! Image credit: Stewart Jolly

Mid-July 2023 saw several ballast workings from Westbury to Pontypridd in connection with the Core Valley Lines upgrade. On 20th July, returning empties running as the 13.00 from Pontypridd are seen approaching Filton Abbey Wood headed by 66550, with 66514 just visible at the rear. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

A rare visitor to Bristol Temple Meads. The English Electric ‘whistle’ reverberates around the station as 40069 awaits departure with 3S15, the 12.10 SX Penzance to Glasgow parcels on 25th March 1983. The class 40 had just coupled to the train, having spent much of the day on Bath Road depot. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

Headed by power car 43086, the 06.20 Plymouth to Newcastle 'Armada’ passes beneath the A38 road bridge at Parson Street on 31st May 2002. The bridge was rebuilt in 1933 as part of a scheme to widen the railway through Bristol, which included construction of the platforms on the eastern side of Temple Meads outside the main overall roof. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

During the Winter 2001/Spring 2002 timetable, prototype ETS-fitted class 57 conversion 57601 regularly worked a Monday to Friday diagram comprising the 06.30 Plymouth to Paddington and the 15.42 Paddington to Exeter St. David's, both via Bristol. On 24th April 2002, the down working is pictured passing Bedminster as it accelerates away from Temple Meads. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

37796 & 37702 make an impressive sight (and sound!) as they head up Filton bank past Narroways Hill Junction with 6B12, the 14.35 SO returning coal empties from Westbury Cement Works to Barry on 1st June 1996. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

Throughout the Summer of 2023, Transport for Wales Stadler class 756 units have worked test/mileage accumulation runs between Cardiff and Swindon. 756007 & 756006 are pictured on 1st June on the split level track between Patchway and Pilning, running as 3Q41, 16.14 Swindon to Cardiff Canton Sidings. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

On 13th September 2023, a few days before Cross Country withdrew its HST fleet from regular service, 43304 and 43303 are pictured approaching Parson Street station with 1V50, the 06.06 Edinburgh to Plymouth. The overgrown land to the right of the picture was formerly Malago Vale carriage sidings. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

Between December 2008 and November 2010 FGW operated a topped-and-tailed loco-hauled set on one of its Cardiff - Bristol - Taunton diagrams. 67016 & 67017 were nominally allocated to the service during the initial period of operation by DB, though other members of the class would often appear. On 3rd July 2009 the 14:00 Cardiff Central to Taunton arrives at Patchway headed by 67017 with 67016 dead at the rear. Today this view is dominated by lineside shrubbery and OLE. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

Pilning before electrification. Immaculately turned-out 60002 heads down towards the Severn Tunnel with 6M51, the 16:34 TThO Exeter Riverside to Chirk timber on 2nd July 2015. Image credit: Stewart Jolly