Normally traveling by the more direct route to Paddington, I did occasionally visit Bristol en route, but you could not break your journey on its outward leg in those days – and I’d normally be going the cheapest way possible, with dedicated train and seat. Also, my traveling time was long enough anyway, often with people awaiting my arrival, let alone the prospect of hauling my bags with me wherever I’d go. I would choose the back of the train to see from so I was traveling slower as I passed things when we were entering the station, and if I thought I could get back aboard in time I’d make a quick dart along the platform for a better view of what was there. Once on the move, I’d crane my neck from the drop down window to see everything I could until we were out in the countryside again – ending up with hair tousled and eyes streaming, but exhilarated.
I knew from what I’d heard or read, plus variations in loco headcodes, that Bristol was a change-over post for Midland services, and that this had been so from steam days. 44965 is pictured by a railway employee in 1953 in the gloom of Bristol Temple Meads Station. 5304#AA01-BRI-44965-PAS_U
Another picture by the same railway employee (initials RJS?) at Easter 1953 of a loco in the curve of the main train shed at Bristol Temple Meads Station: this time ex-GWR 6102 with large cycling lion emblem either on a local service, or merely shunting stock. 5304#AA02-BRI-s6102-PAS_U
4539 is parked with another class member before the sheds on Bristol Bath Road depot, with fire irons lying on the hard-packed ground before it. It has no logo on its tanks. Smoke and steam drifts around the other locos on shed, partially obliterating the housing behind. 540613A01-BBR-s4539-PARKD
One of the later build, 7014 “CAERHAYS CASTLE”, in green livery is pictured before Bristol Bath Road shed with a ‘Hall’ displaying the same tender emblem, but on black paintwork. The all important timekeeping clock is clearly seen on the front of one of the buildings. 5####BT01-BBR-s7014-PARKD
The lights go on as evening sets in on Bristol Bath Road Shed on 10th October 1959. An array of steamers are parked to the left and sentinel in the middle is the huge coaling stage with water tank on top of it. The running shed seems to be awaiting locos. 591010A01-BBR-DEPOT-VI__E
The eye is drawn to the cluttered front end of this ‘Warship’ as it draws into Temple Meads Station from the east – the eight horizontal vents and reporting code frame are flanked by discs, handles, lamp brackets and headboard fixing points, plus small rectangular ‘Overhead Wires’ signs. A man and what appears to be his son and daughter use a trolley as a base for their sightings. 6####AU01-BRI-D8##-PAS_U
The construction of the diesel-era Bristol Bath Road depot in 1960 continues around the loco rosterings as a pair of recently-built Hymeks and three slightly older Warships are parked together on shed. The closest warship shows the steam-age headcode of white discs with framed numbers, and the nearest Hymek the newer 4-digit recessed display. 6####HS01-BBR-D_LCO-PARKD
Among many empty tracks and in the early years of its life, the first of its class, D800 “SIR BRIAN ROBERTSON’ arrives light engine at the east end of Bristol Temple Meads Station. It has not had yellow warning panels or headcode boxes on its front ends. 60###AG01-BTM–D800-LIGHT
Sights on Bath Road Depot take train spotters’ attention from D853 “THRUSTER” as it is unloaded at the end of it’s inter-regional working. In the background to the left is a Hymek, and to the right the end of the depot’s Signal Box. Photo: Peter Noonan. 6####GX01-BTM–D853-PAS_D
Heading a “Midland” service, D850 “SWIFT” runs into view between two other trains, attracting train spotters at the west end of Bristol Temple Meads Station. An hatch in the ventilation grille for filling the steam boiler is open on the loco’s side. Photo: Peter Noonan. 670902A01-BTM–D850-PAS_U
The second-man has his feet up on the control desk as D868 “ZEPHYR”, one of the late batch of Swindon-built ‘Warships’, rolls away towards Bristol Bath Road depot in the 1960s. Its green paintwork shows substantial weathering, but remarkably not the bodyside stripe and number added later – suggesting the quality of the dominant paint used is below par. 6####IJ01-BRI–D868-LIGHT
Below lighting towers and before an inspection pit, new-to-traffic D1857 and D1858 are pictured with older class mates at Bristol Bath Road in 1964, all in two-tone green livery, with a glimpse of a ‘Western’ behind them. With so many diesel electrics together, it appears “the writing is on the wall” for hydraulics. Photo: William Kerry. 64##AH01-BBR-D_LCO-PARKD
D817 ‘FOXHOUND’ releases itself from its inter-regional coaching stock prior to reversing eastwards light engine. and them coming back before the Loco Yard signal box in the background. ‘FOXHOUND’s’ maroon livery is in good shape, and its yellow front end only lightly covered in grime. 670408A01-BTM–D817-PAS_D
With the platform signal cleared for departure, D805 “BENBOW” sits at the east end of Bath Station with a train of maroon and rail blue coaches in tow. Beside the tracks there is detritus of track repairs, and children huddle in a group to the left. Photo: Peter Noonan. 670902A02-BTH–D805-PAS_U
D7097 takes a maroon-liveried special westwards through Sydney Gardens, Bath, in July 1967 This must be the finest example of a railway breaching gardens as the graceful stone and ironwork demonstrate – permitting Brunel to bring the line into the city by this most suitable route. The curves and livery of the Hymek in the dappled sunlight helps too! 6707##A03-BTL-D7097-PAS_D
Early arrivals at Bristol Bath Road depot for the open day finds 7808 “COOKHAM MANOR” parked with a Jubilee, D860 “VICTORIOUS”, a ‘Western’ and D63XX. This view clearly shows the extractor fans on the shed roof, and the maintenance shed. 681019A01-BBR-LOCOS-PARKD
D1039 “WESTERN KING” leaves Bristol Temple Meads Station with a passenger service in matching maroon livery. Steam age infrastructure is still in situ and short wheelbase vans. The water tank sign of Smith, Stone & Wright protrudes above the loco. 65###AA01-BRI-D1039-PAS_D
D822 “HERCULES” sprints into Bristol Temple Meads opposite Bath Road depot with an eastbound passenger service. The motley collection of industrial buildings behind always made this a poor impression on my arriving at such an esteemed railway location. 69###AI01-BRI–D841-PAS_U
The second man strains to see the road ahead from the cab of D864 “ZAMBEZI” as it runs towards Bristol Bath Road from active service, passing a railman on foot. The large building to the left background is the PO sorting office, connected to the station platforms. 69###AF03-BRI–D822-PAS_U
Class 43 Warship D841 Roebuck is coupled to a ‘Peak’ beside Bristol Bath Road in 1969. Above them is the depot’s water tank, and in the background a ‘Western’ and ‘Peak’ in green livery. The depot building is very distinctive, and a worthy successor to the former one. 69###AG01-BBR–D841-PARKD
With a cab door open and a droplight window gaping, parked up on Bath Road depot, Bristol, on 21st October 1967 is D6338 awaiting reuse while a classmate starts up behind, issuing a cloud of exhaust. The typical detritus of oil drums is spread around and a fitter walks towards it across the shed mouth. 671021A01-BBR-D6338-PARKD
With a Hymek behind it and a Peak to one side, D6310 in green and yellow livery waits on No 8 road outside Bristol Bath Road shed. Its front has been modified with four-leaf connecting door and inset headcode boxes, which cover the now plated-over lozenge-shaped horn recesses. Copyright: Joma Enterprises. 6###CM03-BBR-D6310-PARKD
A selection of diesel hydraulic locomotives await duties at Bristol Bath Road depot in the sixties. The water tank is in clear view, along with a recently completed building immediately behind it. Crew men carry their tea cans at bottom left and the ‘Westerns’ smoke away suggesting imminent departure. Copyright image: Joma Enterprises. 68###AG01-BBR-DLOCO-PARKD
Passing nearly deserted platforms, a D6308 in final blue livery is pictured in the background as it runs light engine towards or from Bath Road depot. Trolleys, Brutes and a tractor are on the far platform, and a clear running in board is suspended above the middle one. I really admired such early corporate identity, and was sorry as it later changed. 7####FY01-BTM-d6308-LIGHT
D7023, with the ‘D’ prefixes of its aluminum relief numbers painted over, rolls towards Bath Road depot from the access roads beside Bristol Temple Meads station. The loco’s bodysides are largely clean and respectable but, out of reach of the cleaners, its roofline is caked with exhaust deposit. 7####CL01-BRI-d7023-LIGHT
6954 “LOTHERTON HALL” oozes steam as it awaits recall at St Philip’s Marsh shed at Bristol in 1962. Before it the cast iron fencing has been reinforced with corrugated iron to shield passers by from hot ashes, and behind it in the background is where the scrap destined hydraulics would one day assemble. 62###AJ01-SPM-s6954-PARKD
These sidings at St Philip’s Marsh contain 6319 in presentable blue livery, D815 in pock-marked maroon and 867 apparently hit by a paint pot, all due for disposal. The building at far left is the Royal Mail facility next to Temple Meads Station, further west. 72###AD01-SPM–D8XX-PARKD
Three ‘Hymek’s have been shunted together at St Philip’s Marsh awaiting a trip to Swindon for breaking up. They still retain relief lettering and builders plates, not yet removed by souvenir hunters. Concrete beams and a new sleeper lie in a heap before them. 72###AC01-SPM-D7XXX-PARKD
Various diesel hydraulics are parked together at Bristol Marsh Junction stored awaiting disposal on 27th November 1971. As soon as I heard of the mass withdrawals I longed to see them before they finally disappeared, but without funds, that was not to be. 711127A01-BMJ-d6348-PARKD
At St Phillips Marsh, Bristol, a train of withdrawn Hymeks are parked up on an overgrown siding beside the depot, where a Metropolitan-Cammel Pullman unit is being attended to. Withdrawn 7 months earlier, the headcode of D7054 is damaged and it carries rust and deposits from its outdoor exposure. It was always a pleasure to see Hymeks in this green livery. 72###AG01-UNK-D7###-PARKD
D1018 “WESTERN BUCCANEER” and D7010 are parked together on Bristol Bath Road Depot. The former has extensive side damage incurred some time previously, and the latter is in blue livery, but with white window frames and small warning panel. 7####BC01-BBR-D1018-PARKD
With the carriage door and exterior demonstrating the normal underinvestment of this period, D1001 “WESTERN PATHFINDER’ waits to resume its passenger service eastwards. The metal retaining walls of the station and Bristol’s townscape lie behind. 7####DZ01-BRI-D1001-PAS_U
At dusk D1052 “WESTERN VICEROY” is parked on Bristol Bath Road depot – sandwiched between two Brush Type 4’s – the nearest of which is 1716, that has lost it’s ‘D’ prefix. Unlike the ‘Western’, they are both still in green livery – an unusual sight at the time. 740602A01-EXD-D1028-PARKD
Exhaust drifts from companions of D7004 parked up on Bristol Bath Road Depot. It is in fine external condition and its red circle coupling code stands out in the advancing gloom at the end of the day. A stylised old, and functional modern, shed lie behind them. 69###AR01-BBR-D7004-PARKD
I was scarcely ever out after dark at the railway because there was little chance of identifying locos with the low lighting of the time – and there were numerous trip hazards in the darkness. One memorable exception was passing Bristol Bath Road en route to a Scout camp, that was all lit up with interesting diesels. Here 45048 is parked up similarly in the 80s. 8###AB01-BBR-45048-PARKD
In gleaming rail blue livery, 45048 looms out of the darkness between two lighting columns at Bath Road depot. The line of diesels behind is headed by a Class 31 that, unlike the 45 with replaced nose, still has characters wound up in its headcode. To me, this picture shows the British Rail corporate identity at its best, with a neat contrast of visual components. 7###AB02-BBR-45048-PARKD
37224 and a classmate are paired together, running light engine into Bristol Bath Road depot past the signal box, specially rebuilt in robust style in WW2, and later demolished as part of the 1970 Bristol MAS re-signalling project. The Royal Mail sorting facility is in the left background, and gas holders to the right. 7####FT01-BRI-37XXX-LIG_D
The limestone escarpment running down from the Mendips fronts onto Bristol railways, including this cliff at St Phillip’s Marsh requiring periodic maintenance. These pictures show work in connection with this, that you wouldn’t normally associate with the system. 890929A01-BTL-TRACK-VI__W
When the Western Region 7-car High Speed Train sets were extended by 2-cars, St Philip’s Marsh depot had to be enlarged and extended to cater for them properly. These pictures show the work in various stages of completion, both internally and externally. 890929A06-SPM-HSTDT-VI__W
The Eric Curnow Collection 