On The Footplate 3

Horton Road shed to Cinderford and Whimsey

On Saturday 11 December 1965, I was privileged to have a footplate ride on 0-6-0PT 3675, leaving Horton Road shed at 7.0am light engine to New Yard, with Driver Dennis Cole and Fireman Dave Smith.

The train consisted of three Berry Wiggins tanks, one van and a brake van. We travelled through Gloucester Central on the main line to South Wales as far as Bullo Pill, where we took the Forest of Dean branch to Bilson Junction, through the ex tramroad Haie Hill tunnel -1064 yards long and unventilated - said to be the oldest railway tunnel in the country, originally used by a 4 foot gauge tramroad, then enlarged to broad gauge, finally on standard gauge from 1872.

After shunting at Bilson, we carried on to Cinderford for more shunting then returned to Bilson.

Further shunting took place before traversing the short distance along the branch to Whimsey, where the Berry Wiggins bitumen tanks were left at the plant.

On the return journey to Gloucester, we diverted off the main line at Over Junction and shunted at Docks Branch Sidings before reversing to the main then right away for New Yard, where the train was stabled and 3675 went light engine to shed, arriving at 1.45pm.

Working Time Table for the Forest trips in force from September 1964 to June 1965.

Workings would vary from day to day according to traffic requirements and probably the turns had altered by December 1965. On the day of my footplate ride the turn bore some resemblance to the Saturdays Only turn 706A, due off shed at 7.25am, returning at 3.25pm. But as we did not go to Northern United Colliery, we had an early finish - always welcome to crews on a Saturday!

Below: A cabside number plate from 3675 is preserved at the Dean Forest Railway museum, Norchard. 3675 was the last B R steam loco to work on the Coleford branch, on 31 December 1965, according to the museum.