In Memory of my friends Dave Smith who was a fireman at Gloucester Horton Road 

and the many adventures we shared on British Railways; and Robin Stanton, signalman at Hatherley Junction 

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to Gloucestershire Railway Memories.

I intend to publish articles mostly written by me and compiled from various sources including my own memories and notes, mainly from the 1950s through to the demise of BR steam in the area in 1966, but covering other eras as well. The articles will incorporate information from: official railway publications, such as working time tables and traffic notices; the small circulation Gloucestershire Railway Society* News which published local observations and articles; The Railway Observer, magazine of the Railway Correspondence & Travel Society - formed in Cheltenham in 1928 - which had regular news about the local area. Books written and published by me include Steam Routes Around Cheltenham, Steam Routes Around Gloucester, Gloucestershire Steam Finale, Birmingham - Bristol Portrait of a Famous Midland Route and Steam Locomotive Casualty Reports, all now out of print (see Runpast book covers page).

One advantage of publishing on the internet is that it is basically a continuous work in progress, where adding and amending information can be done easily, unlike a book, which, once printed, has to wait for a second edition (which rarely appears) to add information and correct errors. So please check regularly for new articles and updates.

This website is completely non-commercial and compiled purely as a hobby, I hope that readers will find it of interest.

All articles are copyright of the author and may not be reproduced without permission.

Photos credited to Robin Stanton, Stephen Mourton and Stephen Mourton collection are also copyright of the author. I don't mind others using my copyright pictures on another website PROVIDED THAT:

It is non-commercial use. But if you are making money from using my pictures, I want my share!

You credit the source of the picture as Stephen Mourton collection.

Where I have the information, I have credited the photographers - some copy prints are anonymous and I don't know who took the picture. If any copyright holders have an objection to the use of their picture on this site, please let me know.

If you have any relevant information or your own 'Gloucestershire Railway Memories' , comments can be sent to glosrailwaymemories@gmail.com.

I wish to thank my friend Richard Etherton for additional information which has enabled me to correct some errors on my part.

I have another Google Site about my worldwide railway travels, find it at  sites.google.com/site/railwayselsewhere  (you may need to copy and paste into your browser address bar if clicking on the link doesn't work.) The site includes trips outside Gloucestershire to other parts of England, Scotland and Wales for B R and industrial steam. 

Thanks for looking,

Stephen Mourton

The back road at Gloucester Barnwood loco depot in January 1962 stabled two ex-Midland Railway 2P 4-4-0s, 40540 and 40537, in storage.

Both were constructed in 1899, though heavily rebuilt in subsequent years. Whilst 40540 was withdrawn in February 1962, 40537 had

another lease of life, working from Templecombe on the Somerset & Dorset line from April until withdrawal in August 1962.

The author is one of the lads 'cabbing' 40540, the other is Dave Smith and the photo was taken by Jim Irwin, whose shadow can be seen.

Dave and Jim later became locomotive cleaners and then firemen at Gloucester Horton Road shed.

The author spent many happy hours of his young life at this spot in Hatherley Lane, Cheltenham, by the bridge, watching trains go by,

also attending school on the other side of the tracks.

This photo from 1 August 1964 shows 'Jubilee' 45658 'Keyes' with an up express, 1N40 9am Paignton - Leeds, a summer Saturday working.

'Keyes' had the distinction of spending its entire life - from 1934 to 1965 - allocated to just one shed, Leeds Holbeck.

The signal gantry has been stripped of quite a few of the 'pegs' it had when erected in 1942, with the widening here from two to four tracks.

Four tracks lasted until steam working ceased in Autumn 1966, then reverted to two tracks.

Note the fogman's hut in the centre of the picture, probably sited there in 1942.

The footpath along the top of the embankment is still extant, but it is hard to see trains passing as the banks are totally overgrown.

The footbridge in the background going to the 'Humpty - Dumps' and The Reddings is still well used today. Photo Stephen Mourton

This picture shows part of my old school at Hatherley Lane, where some of us used to stand by the fence and watch

trains go by. The loco is one of the 20 ex-GW 'Mogul' 2-6-0s with a side window cab. Photo Robin Stanton 

I remember when all this was fields....View off the old Hatherley Lane Bridge as a 41XX 2-6-2T approaches on the up main hauling a class 'A' passenger, with another train signalled on the up relief line. See article 'Bridge At Hatherley Lane' in the 'Way and Works' section. Photo Stephen Mourton

Footnote:

* Sadly the Gloucestershire Railway Society, formed in 1951, is now defunct.Although having only around 100 members, it was well connected with the local BR hierarchy and was noted for its annual railtour, featuring interesting routes and motive power.

https://sites.google.com/view/gloucestershirerailwaymemories/home