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Also see Michael J Davis' Gloucestershire Railway Memories 'Gloucester Horton Road Fireman - 1965'
Horton Road Fireman 1965
1965 was the last year of Western Region steam, the ex GWR locos were in a deplorable state and being replaced by ex LMS or Standard types. The branch lines including those in the Forest of Dean were still open for goods traffic. 55% or more of the main line freights were now diesel hauled.
6-1-65
44560 early morning Quedgeley tripper and Hempsted Gas Works. This was a Barnwood shed turn before it closed. The diagrammed loco was still a '4F' with the crew booking on 5.0 and off at 1/5.
7-1-65
44560 early morning Quedgeley tripper and Hempsted Gas Works.
16-1-65
6917 6/15 Cardiff-Stourbridge. The Working Time Table shows this as 6M60 stopping at Gloucester Central for water and crew change, due away at 8/40.
19-1-65
6993 light engine to Worcester Works for attention. This establishment had quite a few Horton Road locos in for repair over the years, as both Worcester and Gloucester were in the '85' shed code area. It closed later in 1965.
20-1-65
4929 light engine to Cheltenham Malvern Road for engineers train to Leckhampton on the closed Kingham line. But the working was cancelled due to a heavy blizzard and we returned light to 85B.
Though the line through Leckhampton closed in October 1962, it was quite some time before all track and fittings were recovered. By 20-1-65 this was probably the end of the line up from Cheltenham Lansdown Junction.
4100 to Lydney with engineers crane, return light engine to 85B.
22-1-65
3616 8.50 Docks Branch Sidings - Bilson to Bullo Pill, return with 4698 on 1/15 Cinderford to Docks Branch Sidings. The Cinderford branch went from Bullo Pill on the South Wales main and through Bilson Junction. For this turn the Gloucester locomen booked on at 7.25, leaving Horton Road depot at 8.25 to collect their train.
23-1-65
5955 1.00 Tavistock Junction - Crewe to Stourbridge fully fitted freight. This was 4M47 which left Gloucester South Junction at 8.17 after a crew change and water. It headed north via Ashchurch and Worcester.
27-1-65
92236 on 5M73 1.10 Cardiff-Soho Pools tanks to Worcester, back with 48738 on 4V49 3.00 Carlisle-Stoke Gifford class D, due into Gloucester Eastgate at 2/48 for water and crew change.
28-1-65
6906 1/00 Cardiff - Banbury to Honeybourne, 3850 back on 5V55 3/00 Banbury iron ore - Llanwern, due Gloucester Central at 6/29 for water and crew change.
1-2-65
6947 7.50 special freight Honeybourne-Stoke Gifford.
3-2-65
4698 5.30 Docks Branch Sidings - Lydney (I drove)
5-2-65
3616 5.30 Docks Branch Sidings - Lydney (I drove)
Cheltenham Leckhampton Signal Box with track lifting underway.
Photo J Irwin
Below: Two pictures of 6848 'Toddington Grange' at Engine Shed Junction Gloucester ready to take over LCGB railtour 1Z40 on 6 February 1965. Jim was 6848's fireman from here to Stourbridge. Photos Robin Stanton
6-2-65
6848 Gloucester Engine Shed Junction - Stourbridge 1Z40 special. This was a Locomotive Club of Great Britain enthusiast trip called 'Western Venturer' destined for Birmingham Snow Hill. The tour started at Paddington with 7029 'Clun Castle' and went via Bath and Dr Day's Junction, Bristol, to arrive Gloucester where 7029 was replaced at Engine Shed Junction by 6848. Like many a railtour it was late, 34 minutes behind schedule when seen passing through Cheltenham. 7029 actually left Gloucester light engine ahead of the railtour bound for Worcester and later in the day took 1Z40 back to Paddington.
8-2-65
4100 light engine to Cheltenham St James - return with 7/10 goods to Gloucester.
9-2-65
6113 light engine to Cheltenham St James - return with 7/10 goods to Gloucester.
10-2-65
6113 light engine to Cheltenham St James - return with 7/10 goods to Gloucester.
11-2-65
6113 light engine to Cheltenham St James - return with 7/10 goods to Gloucester.
12-2-65
6113 light engine to Cheltenham St James - return with 7/10 goods to Gloucester.
13-2-65
6113 5/31 Gloucester – Stroud, 6/53 Stroud-Gloucester, 8/10 Gloucester-Cheltenham, 9/25 Cheltenham – Gloucester. I drove on the 5/31.
16-2-65
92238 Avonmouth - Bromford Bridge tanks to Landor St, Birmingham. This was a heavily loaded train which would require two bankers up the Lickey Incline.
17-2-65
48192 1.30 Barnwood-Washwood Heath to Landor St.
18-2-65
48538 8V19 2.55 Washwood Heath - Gloucester New Yard from Bromsgrove (I drove). As per the diagram, this changed crews at Bromsgrove. The time table shows a lengthy stay at Ashchurch and about 40 minutes at Cheltenham High Street too, whilst a note says 'Calls Tredington and Swindon Road Crossings when required to exchange oil containers ex Ashchurch.' Time due in New Yard was 9.12.
19-2-65
44841 4.15 Washwood Heath -Gloucester New Yard fully fitted freight 4V43, due 6.18. This train and the previous day's 8V19 illustrate contrasting freights!
22-2-65
92125 2/30 Washwood Heath -Severn Tunnel Junction.
24-2-65
48198 7.45 Branston -East Usk, Newport, then light to Ebbw Junction loco shed.
25-2-65
3816 7/30 Woodford Halse - Stoke Gifford, light to Barrow Road shed, 82E (I drove)
26-2-65
44840 7/30 Woodford Halse - Stoke Gifford, light to Barrow Road shed, 82E
27-2-65
73090 2/30 Washwood Heath -Severn Tunnel Junction.
2-3-65
92225 12.10 Rogerstone-Swanbourne via Honeybourne to Oxford.
3-3-65
92226 12.10 Rogerstone-Swanbourne via Honeybourne to Oxford.
4-3-65
3677 steam heat stock at Cheltenham St James then 8.10 to Paddington, the 'Cheltenham Spa Express' which it worked to Gloucester Eastgate. A very noteworthy occurrence!
Normally the train was diesel-hauled throughout from Cheltenham – the days of a tank loco from Cheltenham, with a big tender loco or a diesel taking over at Gloucester Central had ceased on 31 October 1964, when the service started using Eastgate station with no train reversal being needed. But there were exceptional circumstances this day. Due to bad weather the incoming diesel loco was running too late to get to Cheltenham. So 3677 was called upon to do the honours to Gloucester on this prestige service of probably seven or eight carriages. Quite possibly the last time the 'Cheltenham Spa Express' was steam-hauled.
9-3-65
3863 11.30 Portishead - Oldbury to Worcester
10-3-65
92219 11.30 Portishead - Oldbury to Worcester
15-3-65
78001 Nailsworth goods. This was turn 755A, with the enginemen booking on duty at 6.55, off at 3/10. It was diagrammed for the B R Standard Class 2 2-6-0s. After leaving the loco depot, the freight was collected at New Yard. Shunting was done as needed at Stonehouse, Dudbridge, Woodchester and Newman Hender's Siding before arrival at Nailsworth, due just after midday. The return was away at 12/50 with time allowed at Dudbridge and Stonehouse, due New Yard at 2/30, then light to 85B.
19-3-65
78001 Nailsworth goods
20-3-65
6978 Barnwood - Long Marston freight, return light engine to 85B
29-3-65
8745 8.50 New Yard - Bilson to Bullo Pill, back with Cinderford to New Yard, loco 4698
30-3-65
3675 8.50 New Yard - Bilson to Bullo Pill, back with 4698 on Cinderford to New Yard
31-3-65
3677 Cheltenham High Street engineers train
Jim fired ex GW mixed traffic locos on freights, 85B had quite a few Modified Halls on its allocation. Left is one of the class on a down working. Horton Road didn't have 'Grange' 4-6-0s allocated but they were regularly footplated by 85B crews such as on this up empty iron ore train, above. Jim fired 6848 on an enthusiasts special between Gloucester and Stourbridge.
3-4-65
3677 8.50 New Yard – Lydney, light engine back to 85B
5-4-65
6993 8/40 Gloucester - Paddington 5A04 class C fully fitted freight to Swindon, one of the top freight workings of the day. Assisting engine attached at Brimscombe in front of the train engine for the climb up Sapperton.
14-4-65
92238 11/10 Neath- Yarnton to Honeybourne. 92218 10.45 Banbury Oxfordshire Ironstone Co (OIC) - Llanwern back
15-4-65
92223 6.30 Ebbw Vale - Dudley to Stourbridge
27-4-65
92243 4.10 Grimsby -Cardiff
29-4-65
92000 8/35 Wareham-Ellesmere Port tanks to Worcester
3-5-65
6984 11/15 Priestfield – Seven Tunnel Jc
5-5-65
48444 11/15 Priestfield – Seven Tunnel Jc
13-5-65
92028 light engine to Tyseley (for repair to fallen brick arch)
15-5-65
6827 10/45 Crewe-Bristol parcels, return with 44829 on 1.0 Tavistock Junction - Crewe from St Philips Marsh
19-5-65
48474 1/40 Hallen Marsh - Widnes to Landor St.
20-5-65
92004 10.45 Banbury OIC -Llanwern to Seven Tunnel Jc
31-5-65
48057 go to Docks Branch Sidings to work forward a Margam - Lye emptys to Worcester.
1-6-65
92244 11/20 Gloucester New Yard - Cardiff Pengam. Back on 75009 light engine to 85B
2-6-65
92128 11/20 Gloucester New Yard - Cardiff Pengam.Turned engine at Cardiff East Dock, continued with 2.0 Llandillo – Ebbw Junction, then light to 85B.
3-6-65
92128 11/20 Gloucester New Yard - Cardiff Pengam.Turned engine at Cardiff East Dock, continued with 2.0 Llandillo – Severn Tunnel Junction, then light to 85B.
4-6-1965
92230 11/20 Gloucester New Yard - Cardiff Pengam. 48401 10/10 Llandilo - Rood End, Oldbury, steel train to Gloucester.
8-6-1965
48332 3.05 Barnwood -Washwood Heath, then light to 21A Saltley shed.
10-6-1965
44966 11/50 Severn Beach - York tanks to Landor St, Birmingham.
12-6-1965
48122 2.50 Barnwood - Washwood Heath.
14-6-1965
82042 1/30 New Yard - Dursley branch goods. This was one of five B R Standard Class 3 2-6-2T that were recent arrivals at Horton Road from Bristol. They were not much utilised and were mostly out of use after a few weeks.
16-6-1965
7808 12/30 Gloucester New Yard - Ross-on-Wye engineers train doing track removal between Ballingham and Holme Lacy. The section being removed was between Ross and Rotherwas Junction for Hereford, which saw its last public trains on 31 October 1964. Freights still ran from Gloucester to Ross and on the branch to Lydbrook until the end of October 1965.
17-6-1965
7808 12/30 Gloucester New Yard - Ross-on-Wye engineers train doing track removal between Ballingham and Holme Lacy.
19-6-1965
82040 Quedgeley tripper. As well as a trip from New Yard to Quedgeley for the Ministry sidings, there were trips to Upper Yard and Barnwood Yard included in this turn, which was rostered for an ex-GW 0-6-0PT.
21-6-1965
3643 local goods trips.
22-6-1965
3643 local goods trips.
23-6-1965
3643 local goods trips.
24-6-1965
5932 light engine to its home shed Bristol Barrow Rd (with repair card). Something wrong with the loco, but it was able to return under steam to its home shed for attention.
26-6-1965
7029 4.0 New Yard - Frampton Mansell - Sapperton engineers train.
28-6-1965
3863 10.30 Bridgwater - Runcorn tanks to Worcester.
30-6-1965
6837 12/45 Bilston -Severn Tunnel Junction.
Above: When the two Gloucester sheds merged in May 1964, three B R Standard class 2 2-6-0s transferred from Barnwood to Horton Road. One of their regular jobs before and after was the goods on the ex-Midland branch from Stonehouse to Stroud, Dudbridge, Woodchester and Nailsworth. Jim had 78001 on the duty. The picture is at Stroud Wallbridge.
Above left: Horton Road's ex-GW 0-6-0PT weren't just for shunting or branch lines, they performed a lot of main line duties as well, including the 'Cheltenham Spa Express' as mentioned earlier. 3775 is on the evening goods from Cheltenham St James at Hatherley making for Gloucester, basically a transfer trip which could be quite heavily loaded. When Jim worked this turn in early 1965 he had 2-6-2Ts, but had fired 3775 on the Cinderford branch.
Left: In May 1965 Jim fired ex-Crosti 2-10-0 92028 when it travelled light engine to Tyseley loco depot for repairs to a fallen brick arch. Here is 92028 gainfully employed on an up freight at Hatherley.
1-7-1965
90695(50B) 10.15 Bridgwater-Runcorn tanks to Worcester, back with 48697 on 9.30 Hookagate - Hackney (I drove both ways). Hookagate, Shrewsbury , was the location of the BR Western Region Civil Engineers welded rails depot.
2-7-1965
48620 10.15 Bridgwater-Runcorn tanks to Stourbridge.
6-7-1965
4100 Barnwood engineers train.
9-7-1965
78001 Nailsworth goods (I drove)
12-7-1965
4100 Lydney engineers train
14-7-1965
92217 8/00 Avonmouth - Hartlebury tanks to Worcester
19-7-1965
4920 12.35 Tavistock Junction – Washwood Heath to Landor St
20-7-1965
44269 Sharpness branch goods. Enginemen's turn 753A, between 9.30 and 5/53 according to the Working Time Table. The working, still the preserve of ex-LMR 4F 0-6-0s, left New Yard at 10.10 via Stonehouse and branching off the main line to Bristol at Berkeley Road. Three hours was allowed at Sharpness for shunting including nuclear 'flasks' for the power station.
10-8-1965
44269, prepared engine and took to Eastgate Station for 2.44 Birmingham Moor St via Honeybourne 'BRUTE' parcels. ('BRUTE' refers to the containers which were basically cages on wheels loaded with parcels and were a fairly recent innovation on parcels trains). At Eastgate 44269 was taken over by another 85B crew including fireman Dave Smith. This sounds like a replacement for whatever loco had worked the train, which was 3M06, from Bristol Temple Meads at 1.35.
11-8-65
73019 7/10 Worcester - Cardiff Newtown fully fitted freight, back light to Ebbw Junction shed.
12-8-1965
48016 light engine to Saltley, its home depot (I drove)
13-8-1965
48325 9.35 Hookagate - Taunton welded rail train to Bristol East Depot and light to 82E Barrow Road shed. Loco had probably worked through as it was based at 6C Croes Newydd, Wrexham.
17-8-1965
6876 11/35 Bristol - Crewe Parcels to Worcester where the loco was failed, it was not steaming due to leaking tubes. Replaced by 5971 Worcester – Stourbridge. 6876 was withdrawn from service three months later.
18-8-1965
75008 11/35 Bristol - Crewe Parcels to Stourbridge
19-8-1965
45006 11/35 Bristol - Crewe Parcels to Stourbridge
21-8-1965
45006 11/35 Bristol - Crewe Parcels to Stourbridge
Now we come to September 1965, with 80% dieselisation of services
7-9-1965
45385 light engine and van to Evesham (via Honeybourne as the Ashchurch -Evesham line was no more) then 1/50 Water Orton fully fitted freight. 45385 was a fair way from its home of Springs Branch, Wigan. The train was for perishable goods from the Vale of Evesham, connecting at Water Orton with services heading further north, so needed to run on time.
13-9-1965
3675 7.35 Gloucester – Bilson and Cinderford.
14-9-1965
4698 7.35 Gloucester – Bilson and Cinderford.
17-9-1965
92127 11/00 Neath - Swanbourne to Honeybourne, 92213 10.45 Banbury-Llanwern. Swanbourne on the Bletchley – Bedford branch was the site of sidings put in during World War 2.
25-9-1965
7816 11/00 Lydney Gatcombe ballast train (I drove)
27-9-1965
45051(1H) 1.0 Tavistock Junction - Crewe to Worcester. Shed code 1H was Northampton, though around this time 45051 moved to Tyseley depot.
28-9-1965
73028 1.0 Tavistock Junction - Crewe to Worcester
30-9-1965
7924 1.0 Tavistock Junction - Crewe to Worcester.
A day's work would often include light engine running to and from sheds and yards. Sometimes the duty would be taking a light engine back to its home depot which Jim did on 12 August 1965, with 48016 from Gloucester to Saltley; on that occasion he drove the loco.
1-10-1965
73028 1.0 Tavistock Junction - Crewe to Worcester
2-10-1965
45292 1.0 Tavistock Junction - Crewe to Worcester, 48077 back7.35 Branston - East Usk.
6-10-1965
78004 1/30 Dursley goods.
7-10-1965
48194 8.35 Barry - Oldbury to Worcester, 48254 back 7.35 Branston - East Usk
8-10-1965
48381, ex works, with the 4/00 Washwood Heath - Stoke Gifford to Gloucester.
12-10-1965
6956 11/35 Bristol - Crewe Parcels to Stourbridge
13-10-1965
73067 (6D) 11/35 Bristol - Crewe Parcels to Stourbridge. 6D was Shrewsbury loco shed.
14-10-1965
73040 (6C) 11/35 Bristol - Crewe Parcels to Stourbridge
16-10-1965
3643 5.00 New Yard – Lydney, then light to 85B.
19-10-1965
92030 8.40 Cardiff - Banbury to Stratford.
20-10-1965
92132 8.40 Cardiff - Banbury to Stratford.
21-10-1965
92235 8.40 Cardiff - Banbury to Stratford.
22-10-1965
45111 (6A) 8.40 Cardiff - Banbury to Stratford. 6A was Chester.
27-10-1965
73019 light engine Bournemouth - Crewe Works to Stourbridge. 73019 had been a Barnwood and Horton Road loco in its time. After overhaul at Crewe, it was allocated to Bolton.
28-10-1965
6856 3.20 Carlisle-Stoke Gifford fully fitted freight from Worcester to Gloucester. 6856 was withdrawn from service the following month.
Jim wasn't on duty this day but took a picture of an SLS railtour which came from Worcester with two preserved locos, 0-4-2T 1420 and 0-6-0PT 6435, on 17 October 1965. 1420 was an 85B loco for a very short time before the Chalford auto ceased a year earlier, but Jim didn't get to work on it. Seen here at Lansdown Junction.
5-11-1965
48332 7.40 Branston - East Usk from Worcester to Gloucester.
8-11-1965
6923 6.45 Patchway - Hookagate rail empties to Worcester, loco in deplorable state. As was the fate of most of the remaining ex-GW locos, it was withdrawn at the end of 1965.
13-11-1965
45135 11/10 Neath - Swanbourne to Swindon. 45135 was another loco a long way from home, allocated to 12A Carlisle Kingmoor.
16-11-1965
44846 (9D) 1/55 Cardiff- Washwood Heath to Landor St. Loco was shedded at Newton Heath, Manchester. Towards the end of steam in the area quite a lot of locos from distant depots could turn up.
23-11-1965
7808 10.10 New Yard – Sharpness freight. The loco had acquired a 4000 gallon capacity tender, previously it was paired with the 3500 gallon type. Jim's driver was Tony Jenkins, mentioned elsewhere in this website.
24-11-1965
9672 light to Lydney then two trips up the Coleford branch coupled with 4698.
10-12-1965
48208 3/20 Runcorn-Bridgwater tanks to Bristol West Depot, back light to 85B.
Loco was from Heaton Mersey shed, so probably worked through.
28-12-1965
44661 Grange Court - Exeter Gas Works coal train to Gloucester Central.
That’s it for 1965. Even though the Western Region had now finished with steam they forgot to tell Saltley as for several months, especially on Sundays, it still sent steamers down to us so I’ll continue into 1966.
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