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A footbridge was erected at Cloddymoor Crossing in 1942 to replace the foot crossing when the two track section between Cheltenham and Gloucester, jointly owned by the GWR and LMSR, was widened to four to cope with increased traffic during wartime. The lines were (in BR days) designated as down relief, down main, up main, up relief. Four tracks remained until 1966 when the route reverted to two running lines with the up relief taken out of use on 5 September 1966, while the down relief became Lansdown Loop, just under half a mile long, between Lansdown Junction and Hatherley Junction from 20 November 1966. It was also on this date that Hatherley Junction Signal Box closed.
Freights, light engines and track machines are looped to allow faster trains to overtake on this busy section and in more recent years even the occasional passenger train has paused here, including at least one steam special. The Network Rail Network Measurement Train, a former HST, often stops in the loop on its regular weekly run from Derby to Paddington. In the autumn the Railhead Treatment Train, hauled in October 2024 by two class 67, sometimes stops in the loop.
Over the weekend of 28 and 29 September 2024 twelve engineering trains were engaged on work between Gloucester and Ashchurch which included renewing Lansdown Loop. Possibly the bullhead rails on the loop dated back to 1942. The last train in the loop before renewal was Vintage Trains special passenger 1Z20 Birmingham -Plymouth around 8am on Friday 27 September 2024 hauled by class 20s 20142 and 20189. On the Saturday the old rails and chairs were removed, wooden sleepers ripped up and ballast scooped out. On Sunday fresh ballast and sleepers were installed along with new flat bottom rails. At one stage on Saturday, four engineering trains were in view on the down main line, including one headed by class 56 56105 (below). Two other locos noted were 66305 and 66791.
Engineering work carried on between Queens Road bridge, Lansdown and Hatherley footbridge over the following weekend when the loop points were replaced. Five engineering trains were in attendance with locos including 66415,66541 and 66585. The last blockade weekend was 12/13 October when the down main line at Cloddy had all the old rails and ballast removed and replaced with new. Five engineering trains were sent from Westbury, one ballast train, 6C22, had Colas Rail loco 70817, another, 6Y45, had Freightliner's 66601 heading a mixed train of ballast and sleepers. A Plasser-Theurer track tamper was also employed along with many road-rail diggers and was still working after dark on Sunday 13 October.
Lansdown Loop was reopened on Monday 14 October. One train to use it that week was 6V51 Burton-on-Trent to Cardiff Tidal scrap train on Friday 18 October. A railtour with two Class 33 and a Class 47 diesel stopped in the loop for a few minutes in the late evening of Saturday 15 February 2025 on 1Z76 Acton Canal Wharf to Bristol Temple Meads.
With the up main line having new rails laid in May 2023, the new footbridge installed in March/April 2020 to replace the original, plus drainage work at Hatherley Brook which flows under the railway here, the Cloddy area has had quite a bit of attention in recent years.
Network Rail shows the bridge as being 87 miles 21 chains from Derby.
Up trains use the loop at Cheltenham High Street north of Lansdown station. As well as freights, numerous empty stock trains stable there every day between passenger turns at Lansdown station. The loop is used as an overflow for Alstone Carriage Sidings, which had a down freight loop until 1966 when it was converted to a dead end siding.
Footnote:
While trains ran through Cheltenham as usual on Saturday 19 October 2024, the line north of Lansdown station was closed for engineering work on Sunday 20 October. Trains were arrivng from Swindon and South Wales, but services from Bristol were only going as far as Gloucester.
Colas Rail 56105 waits 'wrong line' on the down main with wagons to be loaded with old ballast from the loop(situated to the left of the wagons) at Cloddy Bridge on 28 September 2024. The rails and wooden sleepers have already been lifted. Four engineering trains were here at the time and numerous road-rail diggers were busy scooping up the old ballast from the loop to dump in the wagons. All the work being done in the area meant a complete blockade with no trains over the weekend between Gloucester and Bromsgrove. Photo S A Mourton
On 5 October 2024 at Cloddy Bridge Freightliner's 66541 heads a train on the up line being loaded with spent ballast removed from the down line with the point at the end of the loop being taken out to be replaced. The loop with new rails, sleepers and ballast is on the left. As with the previous weekend a complete blockade was in force with no trains over the weekend of 5/6 October between Gloucester and Bromsgrove. Photo S A Mourton
Left, On 12 October 2024 Colas Rail 70817 is on the up line with a train of ballast for the down line where the old ballast has been removed and taken away in an earlier trainload.
Below left, After 70817's train of ballast was used up Freightliner loco 66601 arrived from Westbury with a mixed train of more ballast and concrete sleepers for the down line .
Below centre, new ballast in place on the down main trackbed spread by road-rail machines.
Below right, the ballast is being compacted with a kind of triple roller. Photos S A Mourton
On 6 May 2023 work was underway to install new rails on the up line. A works train sits in Lansdown Loop with various track machines on the down line. The class 66 is standing adjacent to the site of Hatherley Junction Signal Box, built in 1942 and closed in 1966. Photo Guy Sheppard
Another view of work on 6 May 2023 on the up line with a new base of sand and a membrane for drainage going on the trackbed. A 66 on a works train with wagons of sand is on the down line. The loop is on the left. Photo S A Mourton
Double steam at the old Cloddy Bridge on 24 August 2019 as 46233 heads for Worcester on The Cathedrals Express while 7029 is just leaving Lansdown Loop on a special from Birmingham to Gloucester. The loop has plenty of weeds on it. Photo S A Mourton
6233 is at the new Cloddy Bridge on 5 September 2022 in Lansdown Loop on the way to Bristol with a support coach. With this being a very busy main rail route all the tracks look in need of replacement! Photo S A Mourton
The new Cloddy Bridge is nearly complete on 21 April 2020. It is taller than the old bridge to allow for electrification of the line and the steps seen here on the up side face Hatherley, on the old bridge they faced Lansdown Junction. Photo S A Mourton
The old Cloddy Bridge is being dismantled on 20 March 2020. The loop line is in the foreground. Signals on gantries were attached to the bridge for the two up and two down lines when there were four tracks. Photo Guy Sheppard
A similar viewpoint of Cloddy Bridge in September 1955 showing the signals. 'Jubilee' 45626 'Seychelles' is on the down main with the 7.35am Nottingham - Bristol whilst a train is also signalled on the down relief. Photo S A Mourton collection
In 1964 a mineral freight hauled by a Black Five steams along the down relief approaching Hatherley Junction box with Cloddy Bridge in the background. This section of line became part of Lansdown Loop in November 1966. Photo Guy Sheppard
Where the down relief on the right was altered to become Lansdown Loop the signal gantry spanning the lines was replaced by a colour light gantry which is still in use in 2024. This view dates from 1960/61 with BR Standard Caprotti class 5 73139 working an express on the down main past Hatherley box. Photo R Stanton
In the early 1960s at Hatherley Junction Signal Box the track gang is at work with rather more primitive equipment than in the 21st century. And no hi-viz clothing.
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