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Views From Gloucester Panel Box
On his return trips to the UK, Robin would spend time visiting Gloucester Panel Box, taking pictures of the all diesel scene. None of the photos have any dates or information. I will leave it to others with more knowledge than I have of BR diesel operations to fill in the gaps.
Signalling modernisation in the Cheltenham and Gloucester area was introduced in stages from late 1966 with the brand new Gloucester Panel Box taking over functions previously performed by various boxes. It was built adjacent to Horton Road level crossing and became fully operational in May 1968. In 2025 it was still controlling an area covering approximately from just north of Ashchurch through Cheltenham and Gloucester - then on the Swindon line to just west of Kemble; on the Bristol line to Berkeley Road and the Sharpness branch; on the South Wales main to around Awre. The Panel Box's wiring underwent extensive modernisation in October 2025, with Gloucester station lines closed to all trains for several days while the work took place.
Robin took this photo in the mid-1960s from Gloucester Goods Junction Signal Box. Horton Road still had plenty of steam on shed as D34 passes by on 1V31 Nottingham - Bristol heading for the stop at Gloucester Eastgate station. By the time the Panel Box was operating, steam was no longer around locally, it was all diesel.
The scene in early 1968 when Tramway Junction box controlled the crossing at Horton Road is nicely seen in this photo https://www.flickr.com/photos/curly42/7766709512
Changes are underway with destruction of familiar landmarks such as signal gantries and the loco shed. Bonfires have nearly blotted out Gloucester Cathedral. A class 08 shifts coal wagons with Gloucester Mileage Yard signal cabin visible beyond. In early 1968 Gloucester Eastgate station was reduced to one platform.
On a clear day the Cathedral looms in the background. A class 45 diesel is waiting in the sidings as are blue and grey carriages at Eastgate station. The platform extension at Gloucester Central can be seen. More tracks have been removed compared with the previous picture.
As well as trains arriving at and leaving the two Gloucester stations, there were lots of shunting movements across Horton Road to hold up road traffic, cyclists and pedestrians. In this scene Hymek D7075 looks to be engaged in reversing parcels train 3B73 back towards the station having pulled out over Horton Road . A good mix of power and liveries on shed.
A 'Western' hydraulic departs on a passenger working. A couple of 'Peak' diesels and a Brush type 4 await duty on the remains of Horton Road shed.
'Baby Warship' D6331 is seen from the Panel box. In the cab is the driver and a guard, so it may have left a freight at Gloucester New Yard. It was allocated to Bristol Bath Road but based at Horton Road for some time working local and branch line freights before withdrawl in March 1971. Barnwood freight yard is crammed with wagons.
'Peak' diesels started hauling cross-country services such as 'The Devonian' in Summer 1961 and were still hard at work on these services into the 1980s. A long line of redundant wagons sit in what remains of Barnwood yard.
A later view from Gloucester Panel Box towards Gloucester station and the Cathedral. Sadly Gloucester Eastgate station which went off left had been completely obliterated by this time.
Another view with the entry line to Horton Road depot curving round to the right with more development by the yellow fronted warehouse.
A two car first generation DMU waits in the siding for its next turn to Bristol Temple Meads while an Intercity HST passes by.
Two different generation Brush diesels set off from Horton Road, 60 002 'Capability Brown' and a 47 1xx
Approaching Horton Road Crossing, the 60 opens up.
The duo head north towards Cheltenham with the 60 emitting lots of exhaust!
A 'Peak' diesel approaches Horton Road crossing probably on a cross-country working after Gloucester Eastgate and the Tuffley Loop were closed in late 1975. Another 'Peak' is on the line northwards. Note Barnwood yard is now empty.
High Speed Trains gradually took over Intercity services from the late 1970s eventually replacing loco hauled cross-country trains. A drawback for Gloucester passengers was that many cross-country services bypassed the city taking the direct line from Cheltenham to Bristol.
Freight trains were further modernised after the steam era and Gloucester saw plenty of freights especially from and to South Wales with steel and coal. A class 56 waits in the down loop at Barnwood with a train of high capacity coal hoppers while a class 37 hovers on the up side.
The Panel Box has a good view of Horton Road loco depot. Left above are some class 31 diesels in BR blue livery. Right above is Brush 47 451 sporting the large BR logo, with two classmates displaying two more liveries. A class 37 on the right has yet another livery variety.
Left below A class 60 hogs one of the shed roads, with a class 37 and 47 behind it. The shed is so different from steam days - the buildings have nearly all gone and everything is visible from the public road. Right below The Civil Engineers yellow liveried Ruston & Hornsby 0-4-0 diesel shunter 97 651 is stabled at the stop block. It was originally PWM 651 - the first of the class was PWM650 which was regularly seen on engineering duties in the area in the 1950s.
Robin was around during the Great Western Railway 150th anniversary celebrations in 1985 when Gloucester was very much involved. He took pictures from the Panel Box.
Top left is 6000 'King George V' at Horton Road, but without name and number plates and its famous bell.
Above left shows 7819 'Hinton Manor' and 4930 'Hagley Hall' at Horton Road.
Top right: 'Hagley Hall' departs Gloucester station wirh a special.
Above right: BR Standard 75069, Swindon built, passes the Power Box with a GW loco plus support coach and 'The Devonian' headboard. Barnwood freight yard has completely vanished by this time.
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