The Gulf Oil Branch Line

The first part of the December Meeting was the AGM and this was followed by a presentation and video on the building of the Gulf Oil Branch Line by Dick Watts. The Refinery located on Milford Haven was opened in 1968 and a Branch Line was constructed to enable refined oil products to be distributed within the UK via the railway. The Branch line was designed by the Civil Engineering Department at Paddington which in 1967 appointed Turriff as the main contractor. Dick Watts was a Western Region resident engineer during the construction from when the work started in 1967 to completion in 1968. Despite one of the wettest winters, the line was completed in 10 months. Although a short branch, there were significant earth works with a deep cutting, substantial embankment and two road bridges. Most farmers cooperated with the work however one proved difficult, and an additional occupation bridge was required at the last moment. The line operated until 1997 when the refinery closed. Of interest was that the original permanent way was recovered from the Somerset and Dorset Railway. The video included film from the building of the line, 1995 and 2016 when the line was still in place but unused. The presentation was very interesting and showed the difference in railway organisation, planning procedures and Health and Safety legislation since the 1960’s.