Gloucestershire Railway Society Reports

Items about local train services and various specials as reported in 'The Gloucestershire Railway Society News'. Reports about diversions are in the 'Way and Works' section.

Summer 1954 Due to engineering work on Sunday 16 May, a well patronised half-day excursion from Paddington to Gloucester was routed via Oxford, Kingham and Hatherley Loop,hauled by two ex- GW 'Moguls'.

Autumn 1954 A special was run to Cinderford from Gloucester on Saturday 25 September for an F A Cup tie between Cinderford Town and Gloucester City, hauled by 0-6-0PT 4627 with five coaches. Special excursion tickets were printed and the train was well filled, providing heavy work for the loco. The match was in the First Qualifying Round and the score was Cinderford Town 0 - Gloucester City 3.

Spring 1955 A short article noted that the very first through coaches from Gloucester to London were operated by the Birmingham & Gloucester and London & Birmingham Railways on 14 November 1842 via Birmingham Curzon Street. Departure from Gloucester at 1pm gave an arrival in Euston at 9pm. In the other direction, the coach left Euston at 9.45am with arrival in Gloucester at 5.15pm. It stated that until recently it was possible to book from Gloucester Eastgate to London Euston via Birmingham New Street for the same price as from Gloucester Central to Paddington. A recent journey from Gloucester to Euston was described, leaving Eastgate at 12.7pm to New Street arriving 2.10pm; leave there at 2.30pm, arrive Euston at 4.38pm.

Winter 1955/56 On 3 December 1955 a buckeye coupling broke on the 4.55pm from Paddington, at Brimscombe, and the train arrived at Gloucester two hours late.

On 10 December a good run by 7035 'Ogmore Castle' was had on the 8.20am from Gloucester, with arrival in Paddington three minutes early.

Spring 1956 A report giving a flavour of the Gloucester - Ledbury branch. The 8.40pm from Ledbury, fairly well patronised, was an auto-train, with the 0-4-2T pushing. Departure was 20 minutes late due to points failure at the junction to the Newent and Gloucester branch. At Dymock the guard locked the approach gates to the station and switched off the electric lights. At Newent, the train was 'invaded' by a crowd who had spent the day in the nearby daffodil fields. Before joining the main line at Over Junction, a dead stand was made for token exchange at the signal box. In spite of the late departure, arrival at Gloucester Central was about five minutes late, including a further check at West Box.

Summer 1956 Western Region trains will appear in the former GWR colours of chocolate and cream from the Summer Time Table starting on 11 June. Some services will be accelerated - though no mention of Paddington - Gloucester - Cheltenham trains being speeded up! The cross-country 9.5am Saturdays Pembroke Dock to Birmingham via Cheltenham will have 38 minutes cut from its schedule.

Following a suggestion by the GRS, the 8am Cheltenham - Paddington and 4.55pm return have been named 'Cheltenham Spa Express'. It is still running with cream and maroon coaches but probably next year it will have stock in the old GWR colours.

On the LMR, the usual pigeon specials from the Western Division have caused interest. These usually go through early on Friday or Saturday mornings and return about 9.15pm on Saturday night, often with locos from rare sheds.

Autumn 1956 The centenary of the Dursley branch on 25 August 1956 was marked by a Stephenson Loco Society railtour with Ivatt 2-6-2T 41208 of 22A Bristol Barrow Road, assisted on the Stroud and Nailsworth branches by 0-6-0T 41748 and on the Dursley branch by 41720. The train also traversed the Thornbury branch with 41208.

Winter 1956/57 In connection with Independent Television programme '£1000 Diamond Rush' BR ran special trains to Cheltenham from Paddington, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield on Saturday 8 December 1956.

Express Diesel Car services will be introduced between Birmingham Snow Hill and South & West Wales from 17 June 1957. There will be four fast services each way, with an additional semi-fast between Gloucester and Birmingham.

Autumn 1957 In the Winter time table, there is a new through Bristol - Newcastle service complete with Restaurant Car. Formerly the Bristol portion was added at Gloucester to the Cardiff - Newcastle train.

The Gloucester - Cinderford service is now a 0-6-0PT with two coaches, replacing the one coach Auto train; similarly on the Gloucester - Ledbury service, with a pannier tank and two coaches in lieu of diesel railcar W19W while the latter was away at Worcester Works for attention.

Winter 1957/58 Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays sees a relief run to the 12.10pm Cardiff - Birmingham Snow Hill Inter-City DMU in the shape of a three car suburban DMU.

Summer 1958 Cheltenham, Churchdown and Gloucester are to have their first Holiday Express this year. Known as the 'Gloucestershire Holiday Express' this train, complete with Cafeteria Car, and all seats reserved, will visit Oxford, Weymouth, Portcawl, London and Weston-super-Mare during the week 4 - 11 August. Over 900 miles will be covered for an inclusive fare of 65/-.

Rail buses are to be introduced on the Tetbury and Cirencester branches and on the main line from Kemble to Swindon.

First and second class sleeping cars have been introduced on the 11.55pm Manchester London Road - Plymouth which comes through (but does not stop for passengers at) Cheltenham and Gloucester - though the loco takes water at Gloucester South.

Summer 1959 Members will no doubt have seen the official Notices displayed that the Gloucester - Ledbury branch will be closed to passenger traffic after 11 July.

Spring 1960 Cheltenham - Honeybourne local services ceased on and from Monday 7 March, the last trains being on the previous Saturday. Completely closed were halts at Gretton, Hayles Abbey, Laverton, Willersey and Weston-sub-Edge. Stations at Bishop's Cleeve, Winchcombe, Toddington and Broadway remained open for collection and handing in of parcels and freight.

A new halt, Park Leaze, was opened between Kemble and Chesterton Lane Halt on the Cirencester branch on 4 January.

There are two daily freights, Monday - Friday, between Ross-on-Wye and Lydbrook Junction. The section beyond, to Monmouth, is now disused.

Passenger traffic on the Ashchurch to Upton-on-Severn branch, worked by 0-6-0PT 7723, is very light.

There is one daily freight on the Ledbury branch,except Saturdays, from Over Junction to Dymock.

Summer 1960 Services under threat of withdrawal include Ashchurch to Evesham; Ashchurch to Upton-on-Severn; Cheltenham - Kingham; Cheltenham - Southampton.

The Moreton-in-Marsh to Shipston-on-Stour branch was closed completely on 2 May.

As from 13 June a new Summer Saturday train runs from Cleethorpes and Lincoln to Exmouth via Gloucester, the Somerset & Dorset and Templecombe.