Summer Saturday Surveys at Cheltenham 1957 – 1965

Inspired by 'A MIDLAND TRAFFIC SURVEY' published by the Railway Correspondence & Travel Society*

and 'SUMMER SATURDAYS IN THE WEST' by David St John Thomas and Simon Rocksborough Smith

On Saturday 7 August 1954 the RCTS conducted a survey of trains on the Midland Division of the London Midland Region, including the West of England main line through Cheltenham. The results were subsequently published in a booklet entitled 'A MIDLAND TRAFFIC SURVEY'.

Seventy-one class 'A' express passenger trains were due through Cheltenham between 8am and 8pm, 42 up and 29 down, reflecting the end of the traditional holiday fortnight with many services heading north with homeward bound holidaymakers. This total does not include trains using the ex-GWR Honeybourne route which were not covered by the survey - but I have added some details about workings on that line, as I have a Service Time Table for the period 14 June to 19 September 1954.

Sixty-four different locos were involved, of which nine on down trains came back later in the day. The locos were two '2P' 4-4-0s; one 'Compound'; four 'Crabs'; nine '4Fs'; twenty-eight 'Black Fives'; fourteen 'Jubilees' and six BR Standard class 5s. Most of the engines were from the usual depots which supplied power on the line, five 'Black Fives' came from sheds in the north-west, as did 'Crab' 42703 from 26A Newton Heath, while '4F' 44463 was from 16C Kirkby-in-Ashfield.

Timekeeping was affected by a couple of failing engines with most up afternoon services running between 20 and 60 minutes late. Quite a number of down afternoon trains also had problems, sometimes delayed by preceding services and congestion at stations. The schedules for holiday services tended to be pretty generous and average speeds were nothing to get excited about. Loads were often heavy with trains having 11, 12 or 13 carriages, with 14 on one service.

'Crab' 2-6-0 42756 of 17B Burton-on-Trent heads up train M824 - possibly bound for Leeds or Bradford - at Cloddy bridge on 18 September 1954, last Saturday of the summer timetable.

4F 0-6-0s were pressed into passenger duties on holiday trains as here with 44520 of 21A Saltley on 18 September 1954. Reporting number is M226, which makes it the 9.52am Weston-Super-Mare to Birmingham via the Midland line. A service between those two places also ran over the Honeybourne route.

On the Honeybourne line, 13 down trains and 14 up services were shown in the time table - possibly there were extras as well. Of course, there were also the Honeybourne Auto trains several times a day in each direction.

Two trains from Wolverhampton called at Malvern Road between midnight and 1am, bound for Penzance and Paignton respectively. Another seven expresses were seen between 8am and midday, originating at Birmingham Snow Hill or Wolverhampton Low Level - four went to the West Country, one to Weston-Super-Mare, one to Cardiff and another to Pembroke Dock. Three appeared from midday to 1pm, two heading for Paignton, with the other for Ilfracombe. The last express was the daily 3.45pm Birmingham - Swansea, calling at Malvern Road at 4.53pm.

On the up, there was nothing until the daily 9.35am Swansea - Birmingham, stopping at 12.39pm. Six called between 3pm and 5pm, originating at St Austell, Paignton (two services), Penzance, Weston-Super-Mare and Ilfracombe. There were three in quick succession from 5.30pm to 6pm, starting at Kingswear, Paignton and Newquay. The 11.10am Penzance - Wolverhampton called at 6.25pm; the daily 5.7pm Cardiff - Birmingham passed non-stop at 6.45; then two originating at Paignton and destined for Wolverhampton arrived at 7.15pm and 7.36pm.

Motive power would have been mainly 'Halls' with a smattering of 'Castles' and 'Granges', maybe a 'County', possibly a 'Mogul' 2-6-0 if the loco situation was tight. A 'Star' class 4-6-0 was possible - there was still one at Bristol, 4056 'Princess Margaret', with another at Wolverhampton, 4061 'Glastonbury Abbey', and they were certainly spotted on the Honeybourne line. There were recorded instances of Churchward 28XX 2-8-0s on these summer trains, but they had difficulty keeping time!

SUMMER SATURDAYS 1957 - 1965

The RCTS survey inspired me to look at my own observations on summer Saturdays over a number of years and the following information is mainly based on my notes.

The four tracks – two up and two down - between Cheltenham and Gloucester were particularly busy on summer Saturdays, with passenger trains at peak times of the day in the 1950s and early 1960s running side-by-side on the main and relief lines. Two routes from Birmingham converged at Lansdown Junction, Cheltenham - the ex-Midland line via Bromsgrove and Ashchurch and the ex-Great Western route via Stratford-upon-Avon, generally known as the Honeybourne line. The RCTS survey only covered the ex-Midland route, but mine cover both.

Summer Saturdays saw lots of holiday trains in addition to the daily expresses with, hopefully, the added interest of rare loco types and engines from far off loco depots. From my notes I have picked one Saturday in 1959, when the only diesels were DMUs or ex Great Western railcars, and then one Saturday each summer until 1965, when you needed knowledge of the times of the few remaining steam workings to see them. Over those years, there were changes in the steam classes seen, as well as the introduction of main line diesels in 1961.

In 1959 private car ownership was relatively modest, so many people used trains for their holiday journeys. However, coach travel was also popular and very noticeable at Cheltenham where the Associated Motorways coach station was absolutely crammed on Saturdays, as it was a main interchange point for cross-country travel in those pre-motorway days. There were coaches from all over the UK coming and going through the back streets of Cheltenham, with plenty of colourful liveries and lots of different coach companies. Look at http://blackandwhitemotorways.org.uk.for more information on that era.

SATURDAY 3 AUGUST 1957

As an appetiser to my own observations, here are those of Ben Brooksbank who was a meticulous recorder of passing trains. His stint by the lineside at Churchdown, between Gloucester and Cheltenham, produced no less than 115 trains between 10.20am and 6.30pm on this peak Summer Saturday. It was probably at the end of the traditional two week holiday period for the industrial regions 'up north' , with many extra trains running to cope with the masses. Even with two down and two up tracks, there were times during the day when there was a steady procession of trains following each other 'on the block'.

104 trains were passengers, with just five freights and six light engines.

47 were down passengers: 30 came via Ashchurch, ten out of St James and seven from the Honeybourne line.

Regarding the 57 up passengers, 35 went north via Ashchurch, 11 terminated at St James and 11 headed towards Honeybourne.

                                           42976 of 3A Bescot has passed Elm Bridge Signal Box and is heading north on a summer extra in August 1957.Photo Stephen Mourton collection

Three 4-4-0s were seen, two 2Ps and one Compound, all on local passenger duties. One of the large older GW Prairie tanks, 3180, worked a passenger in and out of St James, though based at Gloucester for Sapperton banking duties.

While Birmingham – Bristol was, in 1957, mainly worked by locos from the LMR's Midland Division depots, as usual on summer Saturdays quite a number of engines from the Western Division appeared. 9A Manchester Longsight Stanier 2-6-0 42960 was notable, down light. Hughes 'Crab' 2-6-0 42941 from 6C Birkenhead, had an up afternoon working. Quite a number of trains with rare locos came down from the north and north-west during the night. The rarest 'Jubilee' this day was 45591 'Udaipur' of 5A Crewe North

9F 2-10-0s were still a novelty on passenger workings in 1957 and Saltley's 92048 had a down relief train, whilst a clean 92106 of 15B Kettering and less than a year old headed an up afternoon passenger with thirteen coaches, depicted below, a Ben Brooksbank photo.

Otherwise Midland trains had plenty of Stanier 'Black Fives', the regular 'Jubilees', 73XXX 4-6-0s and one or two 'Crabs' with Ivatt class 4 2-6-0 on some locals.

On the Western side, only one 'Castle' was seen, 5092 'Tresco Abbey' of 81A Old Oak Common, with other long distance workings being headed by 'Halls', 'Modified Halls' and 'Granges'. 6873 'Caradoc Grange' from 83D Plymouth Laira worked train 671 a relief from Newton Abbot to Wolverhampton.  An exception in terms of GW motive power was train 830, 10.50am Wolverhampton – Minehead, which had 'Mogul' 6331 of 84C Banbury.

SATURDAY, SUMMER 1958

Unfortunately I don't have any notes from summer 1958. However I clearly recall myself and my mate Dave doing a vigil one peak Saturday at Hatherley, from about 7am to 8pm. I still remember the number of different locos we saw - 161, all steam; additionally quite a number of locos appeared more than once. The sequence of trains would have been similar to that of 1957. Being at Hatherley, we missed trains going to and from Andoversford on the Kingham and MSW lines, which diverged at Lansdown Junction. That caveat applies to all the years described here.

Stanier 'Black Five' 4-6-0s were the most common motive power on summer Saturday trains for many years, the interest lay in seeing ones from far-off depots. Like 44903 here, shedded at 12A Carlisle Kingmoor at Churchdown on 9 August 1958 with M250 10.15am Teignmouth - Bradford. This train used the ex-Midland line through Ashchurch. Photo Ben Brooksbank

Another train from the West Country at Churchdown on 9 August 1958, this is 873 11.15am Newquay - Wolverhampton with 84E Tyseley's 5912 Queen's Hall, which headed north up the Honeybourne line. Looks like green liveried Southern coaching stock adding to the variety. Photo Ben Brooksbank

SATURDAY 4 JULY 1959  

A very busy Saturday, though by no means the busiest, which were later in July and early August to coincide with the traditional holiday fortnight for factories and industries in the Midlands and North of England when thousands of workers headed for seaside resorts like Weston-Super-Mare, Minehead, Paignton and Bournemouth to enjoy their well-earned holiday. Apart from the daytime trains, there were a goodly number of Friday night services starting from places such as Wolverhampton, Leicester, Nottingham, Manchester, Sheffield, Hull and Bradford. There were also extra trains through Cheltenham heading to and from South and West Wales. All these services travelled via Birmingham either on the ex-Midland route or the ex-GW Honeybourne line. Some trains on the Midland line avoided Birmingham New Street, using the Camp Hill route, and some, in particular West Country bound trains to and from the Honeybourne line, traversed Gloucester South, bypassing the stations. 

The British Railways Western Region Gloucester District working time table in use for 4 July shows a total of 70 class 'A' cross-country trains between 8am and 8pm, all steam worked, of which 53 traversed the ex-Midland route with 17 on the Honeybourne line. There were extras as well – two Honeybourne line trains seen were not in the working time table. The total excludes the DMUs which operated between Birmingham Snow Hill and South Wales, also Cheltenham – Swindon- Paddington trains and all class 'B' locals. 

Surveying the Honeybourne line first, there were a couple of holiday trains from Wolverhampton Low Level to the West Country which called at Malvern Road station in the early hours. But the first daytime train at 8.45am was 318, 7.30am Birmingham Moor Street to Paignton, hauled by 4941 of 87F Llanelly. This was not scheduled to start running until 18 July, so can be regarded an as extra today. 9am saw train 320, 6.55am Wolverhampton – Paignton headed by 6975 'Capethorne Hall', appropriately an 84B Wolverhampton Oxley engine. This was followed by the usual DMU from Birmingham Snow Hill to South Wales.

After that came an extra, train 204 for Weston-Super-Mare with 6930 'Aldersey Hall' of 84F Stourbridge Junction. Train 710, 9.10am Birmingham Snow Hill to Pembroke Dock, was in charge of 6971 'Athelhampton Hall' shedded at 84E Tyseley and due away from Malvern Road at 10.44am. Twenty minutes later came train 428, 8.55am Wolverhampton – Penzance, for which 5960 'Saint Edmund Hall', an 81F Oxford based loco, was used. This working was basically 'The Cornishman' but without the name on Saturdays.

The hour after midday had train 334 to Paignton and 335 to Ilfracombe, but I have no notes of the locos. Train 822, 9.35am Swansea – Birmingham at 12.45pm had 87E Landore's 4923 'Evenley Hall'. This working was in addition to the regular South Wales – Birmingham DMUs.

More afternoon holiday trains home to the West Midlands started at 1.55pm with the non-stop 830, 8.30am Pembroke Dock – Birmingham Snow Hill hauled by 5993 'Kirby Hall' from 82C Swindon. At 3pm was train 836, 7.40am St Austell – Birmingham Moor Street, hauled by 7026 'Tenby Castle', a regular from 84A Wolverhampton Stafford Road. Literally on its heels was train 837, 10.35am Paignton – Wolverhampton with 6933 'Birtles Hall' of 83D Plymouth Laira shed. About an hour later, 4pm, was train 845, 2.5pm Weston-Super-Mare – Birmingham Snow Hill, followed in half an hour by 848, 10.55am Ilfracombe – Wolverhampton, neither train was seen, nor was 728, 3.45pm Birmingham Snow Hill – Swansea or 851, 12.15pm Kingswear - Wolverhampton.

At 6pm came train 855, 11.15am Newquay – Wolverhampton powered by 6928 'Underley Hall' of 86G Pontypool Road depot. The service had been seen with Southern Region green liveried carriages in the summer of 1958, don't know if this was a regular occurrence. The 11.10am Penzance – Wolverhampton, train 858, had 81A Old Oak Common's 5074 'Hampden', due at 6.30pm. Due at 7.15pm was train 862, 2.55pm Paignton – Birmingham Moor Street hauled by 7018 'Drysllwyn Castle' of 82A Bristol Bath Road. At 7.36pm was train 863, 3.10pm Paignton – Wolverhampton with 4960 'Pyle Hall' of 83C Exeter. Squeezed in between the latter two services was the 'Cheltenham Spa Express', 4.55pm off Paddington, so a busy twenty minutes at Malvern Road.

Three 'Castles' and ten 'Halls'/ 'Modified Halls' were on the thirteen workings noted. Remarkably thirteen motive power depots were represented, from Plymouth to Wolverhampton and London to Swansea. 

Thus the Honeybourne line was kept pretty busy with holiday traffic on summer Saturdays. On weekdays the 'Cornishman' was usually the only steam-hauled class 'A' train, as the daily Birmingham – South Wales trains were already DMUs in 1959. 

The Midland line from Birmingham through Bromsgrove and Ashchurch was always much busier and saw a great number of holiday trains. A couple of Friday night only trains from Sheffield to the west had already called at Lansdown by midnight. Between midnight and 6am on 4 July, nine passenger trains were shown in the working timetable, compared with two on other weekdays (three on Mondays). These originated at Nottingham, Sheffield, Bradford, Newcastle and Manchester and were heading for the west or Bournemouth. All these trains gave plenty of scope for rare engines to pass through in the early hours - luckily most of them reappeared heading north later in the day. While my notes for Honeybourne line trains were reasonably comprehensive, on the Midland route I mostly only noted engine numbers but not the services they worked though I probably saw around 85 - 90% of the 53 scheduled trains.

The procession of holiday trains after 8am started with M269, 6.35am Walsall – Kingswear, due away from Lansdown station at 8.42am. This used the down main line and stopped at Gloucester. If it was a few minutes late, it might have run parallel with train 318 off the Honeybourne line which used the down relief from Lansdown Junction and curved off to Gloucester South at Engine Shed Junction. The next arrival at Lansdown, due 8.48am, was M213, 7.42am Birmingham New Street – Bournemouth, again calling at Gloucester Eastgate on its way to Bath and passage across the Mendips on the Somerset & Dorset route. My notes indicate that both trains had 21A Saltley 'Black Five' 4-6-0s.

Meantime there was an arrival on the up side, M214, 7.40am Bristol – Bradford, one of the daily expresses, probably hauled by a BR Standard class 5. A down local, 7am Birmingham – Gloucester was next, due away at 9.15am, with Ivatt class 4 43012. About ten minutes later was M221, 6.40am Leicester – Paignton, which had 'Black Five' 44690, a 15C Leicester engine. Another twenty minutes or so saw M219, 6.40am Derby – Weston-Super-Mare, which had also stopped at Ashchurch. Then on the up side, M304, 8.40am Bristol – Newcastle arrived. This ran during the week, but only as far as Sheffield.

On the down was M223 from Birmingham due at 10.10am and bound for Bournemouth. Just as it was leaving Lansdown, another regular working was approaching from Gloucester, M308, 8.30am Cardiff – Newcastle. There was still a vestige of the old order with this train which was heavily loaded and had two locos - LMS Compound 4-4-0 40907 and Standard 73004 both of 41C Sheffield Millhouses shed. Indeed, the down working in mid-afternoon, M287, 8am Newcastle – Cardiff, was also doubleheaded, with Compound 41123 of 85E Gloucester Barnwood and 'Jubilee' 45610 'Ghana' 0f 17A Derby – a fine sight.

And so the procession of trains carrying thousands of holidaymakers went on throughout the day. On the Midland line between 12.30pm and 2.30pm there were nine down passenger trains, with twelve heading north, including 'The Pines Express' and 'The Devonian' in both directions which ran in several parts. The flow north with homeward bound passengers continued until around 7.30pm, with the Honeybourne line being the busiest of the two routes in the evening. 

One interesting train during the late afternoon was M256, 11.40am Sidmouth – Cleethorpes, which was often composed of green liveried Southern Region carriages. Its counterpart was M241, 7am Cleethorpes – Sidmouth which passed through at lunchtime. Both services were routed via Bath Green Park and Templecombe.

Motive power on the Midland trains was, as one would expect, mainly 'Black Fives', many from 21A Saltley, BR Standard class 5s and 'Jubilees'; also three 'Crab' 2-6-0s from 21A which were more than capable of working these holiday trains and one 'Patriot' 45519 'Lady Godiva' of 82E Bristol Barrow Road.

It seems to have been something of a tradition in the 1950s for LMR locos from other divisions to turn up at Cheltenham on summer Saturday workings and today was no exception. Probably the most interesting locos seen were Stanier 'Moguls' 42947 of 3D Aston and 42966 of 5A Crewe North, a class which had no regular work on the Birmingham – Bristol route, both heading north, perhaps having come down overnight. 'Rare' 'Black Fives' were 44872 from 3D, 45134 from 5B Crewe South and 45329 from 12A Carlisle Kingmoor.

The fifteen BR Standards and twelve 'Jubilees' on the other hand were all from the usual depots – Bristol Barrow Road, Bath Green Park, Derby, Sheffield Grimesthorpe and Millhouses, Leeds Holbeck.

Sadly this was the last summer for the Compounds which had been a feature at Cheltenham for so many years. Also not to be forgotten is Midland 2P 4-4-0 40489, another Gloucester Barnwood engine, which was out on the line. An educated guess is that it was on the 2.45pm Worcester – Bristol stopping passenger, due Cheltenham at 3.29pm. 40489 was certainly still engaged on such work, I have a good colour photograph of it on an up local passenger at Barnt Green during July.

As well as Saturdays only trains and regular expresses, paths were still found for local passengers, DMUs, and some freight as well.

In total I saw 93 steam locos, 1 Great Western railcar - W19W on local services - and several DMUs.

The 33 GW locos included three 'Castles'; eleven 'Halls'; two 'Modified Halls'; four 'Moguls' - with the rest being 2-8-0s and various tank locos engaged on freights and local passenger workings.

The 44 LM locos were one 2P 4-4-0; two Compound 4-4-0; three 'Crabs'; two Stanier 'Moguls; two Ivatt class 4 2-6-0; four '4Fs'; seventeen 'Black Fives'; one unrebuilt 'Patriot'; twelve 'Jubilees'.

Also fifteen BR Standard class 5s and one BR Standard class 4.

TRAIN REPORTING NUMBERS

Reporting numbers identifying individual services and displayed on loco smokebox fronts were particularly useful on summer Saturdays, especially when trains ran late and out of sequence. In the later 1950s and early 1960s changes were made to the system.

Taking 'The Cornishman', Wolverhampton – Penzance, as an example: prior to September 1958 the down train's reporting number was 825, with '8' showing the starting point as being Birmingham or Wolverhampton.

From September 1958 it became 428; the '4' indicated the train's destination as being Plymouth or beyond.

In June 1960 'The Cornishman' changed to 1C33 which reflected the 'Four Character Train Identification System' being introduced across most BR regions, with '1' being an express train and, as this was purely a Western Region service, 'C' indicated a destination in the Exeter and Plymouth districts. Only 'C33' was carried by the engine.

From June 1962, another alteration was implemented, to 1C35. This proved short-lived as in September 1962 it became 1V33 when 'The Cornishman' started from Sheffield, not Wolverhampton, and the 'V' meant it was an inter-regional service destined for the Western Region.

There appeared to be some inconsistency with reporting numbers in summer 1960. For instance, the Gloucester District working time table showed the 7.40am Bristol – Bradford as being 'M214' which was the traditional system on the Midland Region – one letter and three numbers - but on 23 July 1960, the loco on this train carried '1N32' which was the new system, with 'N' being a destination on the North-Eastern Region. However, most Midland Region services displayed the old system, M223, W242 (a train from the Western District of the Midland Region) etc.

Just to confuse things even more, one or two Midland services displayed a four number code, such as 1411. 'The Pines Express' managed to embrace all three systems according to the working time table - the down Monday – Friday working was 1H41, on Saturdays it was W220, though actually carrying the four number code 1411 on 23 July, while the up 'Pines' was 1525 from Monday to Saturday.

Western Region services on the other hand consistently used the 'Four Character Train Identification System' with steam locos normally displaying only the last three characters.   

SATURDAY 23 JULY 1960

The working time table in use for 23 July shows a total of 80 class '1' cross-country trains between 8am and 8pm, all steam worked, of which 57 traversed the ex-Midland route with 23 on the Honeybourne line. There were numerous relief trains as well to cope with the volume of peak time holiday traffic - I saw thirteen and there were probably more. Relief trains were listed in the weekly 'Notice of Passenger Train Arrangements' along with any retimings of regular workings to accommodate the extra movements.

Train 1C61, 7am Birmingham Snow Hill – Paignton was the first holiday train to pass after 8am with 6970 'Whaddon Hall' due off Malvern Road at 8.18am. This was a dated train, running on six Saturdays, 16 July – 20 August inclusive.

Two reliefs were next, 1N29 going north up the Midland line with 'Black Five' 45272 and 1C53 down from the Honeybourne line with 6934 'Beachamwell Hall'.

After a couple of DMUs, the regular 7.40am Bristol – Bradford, 1N32, was headed by 'Black Five' 45040, due into Lansdown at 8.53am.

Another down extra had 5996 'Mytton Hall' with train number 1O56. The reporting number would indicate a destination on the Southern Region, Exmouth or Sidmouth, possibly both places. Two more trains for which I have no information had 44839 and 'Jubilee' 45699 'Galatea' as motive power.

M209, 6.35am Walsall – Kingswear ran every Saturday in the summer and was hauled today by 44812. It was followed by another regular, 1C63, 6.40am Wolverhampton – Paignton, with 7915 'Mere Hall'. The 8.55am Cheltenham St James – Swindon managed to squeeze onto the section, hauled by 0-6-0PT 9453. It was still only about 9am and there had already been a lot of activity.

1C23 7.30am Birmingham Moor Street – Penzance was another dated train, with 6856 'Stowe Grange', and then came M213 7.43am Birmingham New Street – Bournemouth with 44663. 1B26 with 6967 'Willesley Hall' appears to have been a relief, possibly heading for Weston-super-Mare as the letter 'B' indicated the Bristol district. After a couple more DMUs, M221, 6.40am Leicester – Paignton, appeared with 44848, due away from Lansdown at 9.27am.

But the first real motive power excitement was on M304, 8.40am Bristol – Newcastle, which arrived with 'Patriot' 45541 'Duke of Sutherland' of 2A Rugby, a rare visitor to the area, pictured below at Gloucester Eastgate.

The next two hours, between 10am and midday was also busy. First was a service for northbound holidaymakers, M306, 8.10am Cardiff – Filey Camp with 'Black Five' 44813. M219, 6.40am Derby – Weston-Super-Mare with 44825 provided a service for a number of stations on the way down from Birmingham New Street to Bristol, stopping at Barnt Green, Worcester Shrub Hill, Ashchurch, Cheltenham Lansdown, Gloucester Eastgate, Stonehouse Bristol Road and Charfield. Coming off the Honeybourne line was a relief, 1C29, with 5912 'Queen's Hall' running ahead of the 10.15am DMU from Cheltenham to Gloucester. M223, 9.8am Birmingham New Street – Bournemouth ran for the first time today with 'Black Five' 45217 from 16D Annesley, straying away from its usual duties on the ex-Great Central route between Nottingham Victoria and London Marylebone. 

Another relief, 1B25, had 5930 'Hannington Hall' ahead of 1F16, 8.50am Birmingham Snow Hill – Swansea with 6930 'Aldersey Hall'. Then an up regular express, M308, 8.30am Cardiff – Newcastle, doubleheaded with Gloucester Barnwood's BR class 4 75009 and Millhouses 'Jubilee' 45656 'Cochrane'. The class 4 Standards had finally replaced the Compounds. Due in Lansdown at the same time, 10.18am, was M225, 8am Derby – Bristol, which had another example of BR Standard power, being hauled by 9F 92127 of 15A Wellingborough. 9Fs proved very useful on passenger services, first appearing on such duties through Cheltenham in the summer of 1957.

Glimpsed in the picture of 45541 at Eastgate is a GW Prairie tank on the 10.15am all stations to Worcester Shrub Hill - this was a regular GW loco turn. A note in the working time table states the train 'Calls at Elmbridge to set down water'. Elmbridge was the small signal cabin just north of the large Engine Shed Junction box at Gloucester.

'Black Five' 44918 had the next down working, M227, while 5994 'Roydon Hall' was on a service going to Swansea, 1F14. M229 was a daily train from Nottingham to Bristol, but extended to Plymouth on summer Saturdays, headed by 45610 'Ghana'.

An up service, M216, 9.15am Weston-Super-Mare – Sheffield provided a rare loco, 'Jubilee' 45702 'Colossus' from 12B Carlisle Upperby shed, which would have worked down overnight.

Next to appear was locally based 5951 'Clyffe Hall', a long-time resident of 85B Gloucester Horton Road, on 1F18 9.10am Birmingham Snow Hill – Pembroke Dock. Horton Road engines were sometimes loaned to other sheds, including those in the West of England, to help out in the summer.

Another rare LMR loco was 'Black Five' 45275 of 6B Mold Junction on a relief, 1V71. Meantime 7917 'North Aston Hall' headed 1C32, a relief to 'The Cornishman' which itself was not far behind with 5088 'Llanthony Abbey'. M218, 6.50am Paignton – Bradford went north behind BR Standard 5 73170, before train 1086, a relief probably bound for the Somerset & Dorset line to Bournemouth, appeared with 'Black Five' 45351, another visitor from 12B Carlisle Upperby, which would have passed shedmate 45702 not far north of Cheltenham.

The regular 10.20am Bristol – Newcastle, M310, provided another doubleheader, Caprotti Standard 73136 and Barrow Road 'Jubilee' 45651 'Shovell'. A northbound relief, IM00, followed with 73043. Then came M233, 8am Sheffield – Kingswear, with another Barrow Road 'Jubilee' 45662 'Kempenfelt'. M222 was the 9.52am Weston-Super-Mare – Birmingham with another 16D loco, 'Black Five' 45450. The two latter trains both passed through Lansdown non-stop.

Meanwhile over at Gloucester rare 'Black 5' 45242 0f 8A Edge Hill took the midday stopper from Eastgate to Bristol Temple Meads.

Things had now gone relatively quiet, with time for 4F 43940 to travel from Gloucester to Ashchurch and onto Evesham with a brake van for the regular freight to Water Orton. 4990 'Clifton Hall' was on down relief train 1C82, while ex-LNER 'B1' 61370 of 41D Canklow went up on M314, 7.45am Paignton – Newcastle, due to pass through Lansdown at 12.30pm. Two weeks earlier, on 9 July, this train had what was one of the rarest of the rare locos seen in the area, being hauled by BR Standard class 6 72005 'Clan Macgregor' of 12A Carlisle Kingmoor, the first recorded appearance of this class on the Birmingham – Bristol line. It had arrived overnight with M347, 8.45pm Bradford to Paignton. And I missed it! 

About 2pm train 1H16, 8.30am Pembroke Dock – Birmingham Snow Hill up the Honeybourne line, had a non-GW loco in the shape of BR Standard 73035, though it was shedded at 84G Shrewsbury. 44947,a long time 24E Blackpool engine, had an up express.

Also noteworthy around the same time was 4F 43882 of 41D Canklow on 1V37, a Rotherham – Paignton relief which it presumably worked through from the starting point.  Despite the introduction of diesels elsewhere and express steam locos being spread to more depots, 4Fs were still being called on for passenger work when resources at motive power depots were stretched to breaking point. They were perfectly capable of course and had worked relief and excursion trains for many years, as well as stopping trains, though speed was not their forte.

Another 'B1' 61312 was on an unspecified service before one of those displaced express locos , 'Royal Scot' 46164 'The Artists' Rifleman' hauled 'The Devonian' M251,9.5am Bradford – Paignton. On Saturdays, the service bypassed Birmingham New Street and Gloucester Eastgate, and went non-stop through Cheltenham. 46164 was a 41C Sheffield Millhouses engine, transferring there in February 1960, having been a Liverpool Edge Hill based loco for many years. The loco returned north on the 7.25pm Bristol - Newcastles mails. 'Royal Scots' became a familiar sight for a couple of years.

I missed the late afternoon workings, including 73171 of 55A on M318 8.5am Newquay - Newcastle (photographed by Peter Doel at Bristol Temple Meads), but was back for an evening train due into Malvern Road at 6.25pm, 1H37, 11.10am Penzance – Wolverhampton, hauled by 6869 'Resolven Grange' a rare visitor from 83G Penzance shed. One wonders whether it worked all the way from the start, about 250 miles away. The 2.55pm Paignton – Birmingham Moor Street, 1H42, due at 7.15pm, also had one of the class, 6863 'Dolhywel Grange' of 83D Plymouth Laira depot. Another train from Penzance which left there at 10.45am was M272 to Sheffield passing through Lansdown at 7.21pm with the previously mentioned rare 'Black Five' 45242. 

So another busy Saturday, with much of interest on the motive power front. In total I saw 91 steam locos and several DMUs. The GW locos included two 'Castles'; eleven 'Halls'; four 'Modified Halls'; four 'Granges; one 'Mogul'. The LM locos included one Ivatt class 4 2-6-0; five '4Fs'; nineteen 'Black Fives'; one unrebuilt 'Patriot'; nine 'Jubilees'; one 'Royal Scot. Also two 'B1s'; plus twelve BR Standard class 5s; two BR Standard class 4s; two BR Standard '9Fs'. The rest were a mixture of 2-8-0s and tank locos.

SATURDAY 12 AUGUST 1961

The railway scene in Cheltenham was changing. From the start of the summer time table, 12 June, main line diesels commenced working some trains between Birmingham and Bristol on the Midland route. A few miles away at Ashchurch last rites were performed today with the cessation of passenger services to Tewkesbury, Ripple and Upton-on-Severn on the erstwhile line to Great Malvern.

In 1961 a new 'Peak'  - looks like D104 - is about to pass under Hatherley bridge with train 1N68 9.5am Penzance - Bradford (on Sundays 1N68 started at Truro at 10.53am) . I first saw D104 here on 15 July 1961. On 12 August 1961, IN68 was hauled by '9F' 92139. Photo Robin Stanton

The working time table in use for 12 August shows a total of 80 class '1' cross-country trains between 8am and 8pm, no longer all steam worked, of which 56 traversed the ex-Midland route with 24 on the Honeybourne line. There were 24 booked relief and excursion trains as well to cope with the volume of peak time holiday traffic, of which eight were on the Honeybourne line. Sixty-seven of these 104 trains were in the up direction reflecting the end of the holiday fortnight for many passengers returning north. Additionally there were five down and one up empty stock workings between 8am and 8pm, with another six down and one up later in the evening. It was a very busy day. 

My first train today was a down excursion, 1X36, with 'Black Five' 44811, due through at 8.51am. Following closely behind was 1O88, 7.43am Birmingham New Street – Bournemouth, hauled by a named BR Standard 73087 'Linette' from 82F Bath Green Park shed. 1V27, 6.40am Leicester – Paignton, had 'Jubilee' 45575 'Madras' of 14B Kentish Town, quite rare at the time, though it moved to Derby at the end of 1961 and then Burton-on-Trent when it became common.

The next noteworthy movements were regular trains 1N28 with 'Royal Scot' 46164 'The Artists' Rifleman' and 1V31 with classmate 46112 'Sherwood Forester' from 16A Nottingham which passed each other near Cheltenham.

Saltley based 'Black Five' 44812 was unexpected power on a Honeybourne line train, 1F18, 9.10am Birmingham Snow Hill – Pembroke Dock, which ran ahead of 'The Cornishman'.

Annesley shed, 16D, provided 'Black Five' 45234 for a down relief working 1V32 just after 11am. A northbound relief, 1M85, had 'B1' 61155 of 41A Sheffield Darnall  about the same time - the only class member I saw that day. (Photo below at Cloddymore bridge, R Wales)

An up relief, 1N15, had another loco from the north-west, 'Black Five' 45220 of 26A Newton Heath (above passing Hatherley Box, photo Robin Stanton). 61155 and 45220 were my only steam 'cops' that day!

A down pigeon special, 3X08, was doubleheaded by Saltley '4F' 43963 and Caprotti 'Black Five' 44745 of 27A Bank Hall, Liverpool, thus keeping up the tradition of these workings having locos from distant sheds. It was always something of a disappointment if a pigeon special turned up with a 'common' engine.

One of the regular trains, 1N70, 10.20am Bristol – Newcastle, came next with, at last, a diesel, D34, one of the Bristol based 'Peaks'. This passed another 'Royal Scot' 46143 'The Northamptonshire Regiment' from 41C Millhouses on 1V33, 8am Sheffield - Paignton.

Notable on 1C82, 10.18am Wolverhampton – Kingswear, off the Honeybourne line just after midday was 1014 'County of Glamorgan' from 82B Bristol St Philips Marsh.

The procession of northbound passenger trains increased in the afternoon, with thirteen reliefs between 1pm and 5pm in addition to the twenty-five workings in the time table for that period.

1H35 produced 1002 'County of Berks' of 81E Didcot.

The up 'Pines Express' was hauled by 46103 'Royal Scots Fusilier', one of the ten 'Scots' allocated to 21A Saltley during this summer, along with a couple of 'Rebuilt Patriots' and three 'Jubilees'. But even this influx of express power did not stop Saltley turning out a freight engine, '9F' 92136, for the down 'Pines',1O95, with the reporting number neatly chalked on the smokebox. ( Photo below on the Lickey Incline, Gerald Robinson). Both workings bypassed New Street on Saturdays and were scheduled to change engines at Walsall.

The 'Devonian' 1N37 had D90 on the up service, whilst the down one, 1V39, was also diesel with D21.

Train 1M06,10.5am Bournemouth – Derby, had 'Black Five' 45238 from another 'rare' shed for the line, 14A Cricklewood. Later came another rare 'Black Five' 45324 on 1M22,2.40pm Bristol – Nottingham, either from 5D Stoke or 2A Rugby – it was transferred between the two during August. Following on 1X57 was a visitor from a more distant depot, Caprotti 'Black Five' 44742 of 6G Llandudno Junction, definitely a long way from home and the second rare 'Caprotti' of the day.

Another Saltley '9F' 92139 headed 1N68, 3.50pm Bristol – Bradford, about 5pm and an hour later shedmate 92138 was in charge of 1M24, 4.45pm Bristol - Derby. Between the '9Fs' was another freight engine, Churchward 2-8-0 2839 on a down empty stock train, 3Z83, and about twenty minutes later came Collett 2-8-0 3825 on 3Z57. Immediately after that was an up empty stock working, 3X10, with Stanier 2-8-0 48410.

Soon afterwards a down local, 4.35pm Birmingham New Street – Gloucester, turned up with rare '4F' 44066 from 41E Staveley Barrow Hill. This service connected at Ashchurch with the last ever passenger train to Tewkesbury, due away at 6.20pm, hauled by long-time branch engine '3F' 43754 of Gloucester Barnwood.

I saw seventy-two cross-country trains and just seven were diesel-hauled, on the regular expresses rather than holiday trains. For the record, apart from the 'Peaks' already mentioned, they were D36 on 1V36, 7.32am Bradford - Bristol; D77 headed 1V70, 8am Newcastle - Cardiff ; D94 with 1N87, 5pm Bristol – York ; and D68 had 1V45, 12.37pm Newcastle - Bristol.

In the time table eight down and eleven up trains through Cheltenham went over the Somerset & Dorset line between Bath and Bournemouth, and it is likely some of the northbound relief workings had also traversed that route.

Western Region engines came from a goodly number of depots including 81D Reading, 83D Plymouth Laira, 84G Kidderminster and 87F Llanelly.

In total I saw 110 steam locos and seven diesels. The GW locos included two 'Counties'; three 'Castles'; twelve 'Halls'; three 'Modified Halls'; five 'Granges; one 'Mogul'; one Collett 0-6-0. The LM locos included one 'Crab'; six '4Fs'; twenty-two 'Black Fives'; thirteen 'Jubilees'; four 'Royal Scots'. There was also the solitary 'B1' as noted; eight BR Standard class 5s; two BR Standard class 4s; seven BR Standard '9Fs'. The rest were a mixture of 2-8-0s and tank locos.

SATURDAY 11 AUGUST 1962   

The pace of change was accelerating. More diesels were around and had taken over many of the regular class '1' expresses on the Midland route and some parcels and freights as well.

This was the last summer for trains from the Midlands and North to Bournemouth over the Somerset & Dorset line from Bath Green Park and the last summer of 'The Cornishman' using the Honeybourne line. But there was still plenty of work for steam on summer Saturday holiday trains. 

The working time table in use for 11 August shows a total of 68 class '1' cross-country trains – 29 down and 39 up - between 8am and 8pm, of which 50 traversed the ex-Midland route with 18 on the Honeybourne line, which also saw some DMU services. In addition there were 19 booked relief passenger trains – five down and 14 up - plus at least six empty stock workings and pigeon specials.

As mentioned this was the last summer for through trains over the Somerset & Dorset route to Bournemouth so listed here are the services which came through Cheltenham on this peak traffic date.

The first three passed in the hours of darkness, these were reporting number 1O81,11.10 pm from Derby; 1O82, 8.25pm from Bradford; 1O84, 10.28pm from Manchester Central.

Train 1O90 was due away from Lansdown at 10.12am, having originated at Birmingham New Street at 9.8am with motive power being 'Black Five' 44776. Train 1O91, 7.32am from Nottingham was due 35 minutes later and had another 'Black Five', 44918. 1O92 was the 7am Cleethorpes – Sidmouth and Exmouth which passed through at 12.43pm, having stopped at Ashchurch, with 'Black Five' 44966.

1O94 was 7.45am from Bradford, leaving Lansdown at 1.21pm with 'Jubilee' 45658 'Keyes'. 'The Pines Express', 10.25am from Manchester Piccadilly, was train 1O95 hauled by D127, non-stop at 2.10pm. The second part left there at 10.55am, reporting number 1097, stopping at Lansdown and due off at 2.41pm with 'Black Five' 44666.  

In the up direction, the first train from Bournemouth was 1M66, leaving there at 8.40 for Derby. It was due to pass through Cheltenham at 12.43pm, the loco was 'Black Five' 44825. Train 1M02 was scheduled to stop at 1.15pm and had coaches for Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Piccadilly. Next was 1M04 which was the non-stop 'Pines Express' headed by BR Standard 73054 and travelling along the Camp Hill line in Birmingham, avoiding New Street station. 1N66 for Bradford was another service not stopping at Cheltenham, due to pass at 2.18pm with 'Black Five' 44943.

1M07 was the 10.32am Bournemouth – Manchester Victoria and had rare 'Black Five' 45312 of 8C Speke Junction. About 3.30pm was train 1E58 bound for Sheffield with BR Standard 73051, running 29 minutes late. 1E59 started at Exmouth and went to Cleethorpes, due to pass through Lansdown non-stop at 3.37pm - this train may have been formed of green Southern Region stock. Finally at 4.20pm was 1M09, heading for Nottingham, though not observed. That was nine down and eight up trains to and from the S & D, and some of the up reliefs may also have originated at Bournemouth.

It was also the last summer for 'The Cornishman' using the Honeybourne line". On Saturdays it ran from Birmingham Snow Hill to Penzance without the name, with another part from Wolverhampton to Kingswear. On 11 August the first part, 1C35, was headed by 4952 'Peplow Hall' of 88A Cardiff Canton and the second, 1C73, by 5089 'Westminster Abbey' one of the regulars from 84A Wolverhampton Stafford Road. Within a month, 4952 was withdrawn from service.  

The half hour between 1.30pm and 2pm produced three loco types that were not seen in my 1959 survey. 'The Devonian', 1N37, had 'Peak' diesel D14; 1E69, 12.45pm Bristol – Sheffield had 'B1' 61150 of 41A Sheffield Darnall; 1E68, 12.15pm Weston-Super-Mare – Sheffield had 'Royal Scot' 46164 'The Artists' Rifleman'.

A fine impression of speed as the last ever northbound 'Pines Express' from the S & D through Cheltenham is pictured on Saturday 8 September 1962 at Hatherley with 'Black Five' 44659 at around 1.25pm - motive power actually should have been a diesel.  The train did not stop at Lansdown in either direction on summer Saturdays, but did so at Gloucester Eastgate. Photos Robin Stanton

Of the eighteen 'Peak' diesels seen, eleven were on regular expresses and five on Saturdays only holiday trains. D113 was on 2V73, 7am Birmingham New Street – Gloucester Eastgate stopping passenger, while D157 had a freight, 5V13, 8.25am Washwood Heath – Westerleigh.

Twin GW railcars W33W/W38W were on 2H73, 10.15am Gloucester Eastgate – Worcester Shrub Hill local passenger – they were quite regularly seen in this period. On the other hand, a DMU turn was handled by steam today, 2H81, 9.26am Cardiff – Cheltenham St James was loco and coaches, the engine being 6932 'Burwarton Hall' of 88A Cardiff Canton.

Holiday trains were not the only extra workings. There was at least one pigeon special, 3X12, which had '4F' 44577 of 16A Nottingham hauling sixteen vans, running four hours behind its scheduled time. Other extras were empty stock workings in the late afternoon and evening which included 5901 'Hazel Hall' with ten carriages, 'Mogul' 5336 with eleven, 4910 'Blaisdon Hall' with twelve and 92247 with seven coaches.

Timekeeping was reasonable, certainly compared with the RCTS survey in 1954. A couple of passenger trains in mid-afternoon were between 20 and 30 minutes late while some trains turned up a few minutes early thanks to easy schedules.

Talking of RCTS surveys, one was conducted on this date by the Society. The trains seen at both Sheffield and Cheltenham show that the same loco worked throughout. One difference was 1N20 10.50am Exeter- Bradford hauled at Cheltenham by 'Crab' 42798 - this arrived in Sheffield with 42798 being assisted by 'Black Five' 44777.

I saw 80 steam locos, 18 diesel locos and two ex-GW railcars. The GW locos included one 'County'; five 'Castles'; ten 'Halls'; one 'Modified Hall'; four 'Granges; one 'Mogul'; two Collett 0-6-0s. The LM locos included two 'Crabs'; two Ivatt class 4 2-6-0s; three '4Fs'; sixteen 'Black Fives'; seven 'Jubilees'; three 'Royal Scots'. Also there were two 'B1s'; seven BR Standard class 5s; four BR Standard '9Fs'. The rest were a mixture of 2-8-0s and tank locos.

SATURDAY 10 AUGUST 1963

The working time table in use for 10 August showed a total of 53 class '1' cross-country trains – 24 down and 29 up - between 8am and 8pm, of which 44 traversed the ex-Midland route with nine on the Honeybourne line. In addition I saw eight relief passengers – there were certainly others not seen.

The reduction in the number of services through Cheltenham compared with a year earlier was mainly due to diversion of trains away from the Somerset & Dorset line.

The Honeybourne line also had less trains than the previous summer, with 'The Cornishman' starting from Sheffield and using the Midland route from Birmingham; a Pembroke Dock service from Derby instead of Birmingham Snow Hill; and a Fishguard Harbour train starting at Birmingham New Street, rather than Snow Hill. DMU weekday services between Snow Hill and South Wales were diverted onto the Midland route in September 1962, with the only daily service now being a DMU between Gloucester Central and Leamington Spa General. 

The four trains off the Honeybourne line in the morning were all hauled by 'Castles'. 1C64 6.35am Wolverhampton – Paignton was headed by 5063 'Earl Baldwin'; 1C23 6.55am Wolverhampton to Newquay and Penzance had 7014 'Caerhays Castle'; 1C72 8.2am Wolverhampton – Minehead & Ilfracombe was hauled by 7019 'Fowey Castle'; 1C79 10.5am Wolverhampton – Kingswear had 7024 'Powis Castle'. All were 84A Wolverhampton Stafford Road engines, though a month later the end of the summer time table saw the closure of that shed. 

On the Midland route, there were many more diesel workings than in 1962. One noticeable difference from the previous couple of summers was the lack of 'Royal Scots' as they had been withdrawn or moved away from depots such as Saltley, Derby, Sheffield and Leeds Holbeck. But 'B1' 4-6-0s from the Sheffield area still maintained a good presence through Cheltenham on Saturdays. Train 1E69, 12.45pm Bristol – Sheffield was often a 'B1' and today it was 61138 from 41F Mexborough.

Locos from Western Division sheds still featured, with 45344 of 5A Crewe North on 1N84, 2.15pm Bristol - York – this working was a regular diesel turn from Monday to Friday, but steam on summer Saturdays; Stanier 'Mogul' 42974 of 21B Bescot was on another up passenger, 1E60.

There was still one train through to Bournemouth, 1O91, 7.35am from Nottingham which went via Westbury and Salisbury, hauled to Bristol by 45685 'Barfleur', one of Barrow Road's three 'Jubilees'. 'Black Five' 44814 headed a relief train, 1O53, only six coaches, also destined for the Southern Region, but I have no further information on it.

Timekeeping was generally reasonable, just one or two trains were around 20 minutes late. The exception was 1V38, 7.30am Newcastle – Paignton, which was 67 minutes late with 'Jubilee' 45712 'Victory'.

A freight train with an interesting journey was 5E09, 1pm Neath – Cambridge, going up to Ashchurch, then on the branch to Evesham, along the Oxford line as far as Yarnton Junction, before using the cross-country route through Bletchley and Bedford. It passed Cheltenham at 8pm and was hauled today by 7013 ' Bristol Castle' of 85A Worcester, presumably only as far as Yarnton. Changes would soon affect this train, as the line from Ashchurch to Evesham was closed at the end of the summer service on 8 September. The remaining passenger service on the section had ceased on 15 June.

I saw 56 steam locos but have no record of the diesels seen. Probably around 50% of workings were now diesel loco hauled or DMU. The GW locos seen were five 'Castles'; two 'Halls'; one 'Modified Hall'; two 'Granges; two 'Moguls'; two Collett 2-8-0s; five 'Prairie' tanks. The LM locos were one Stanier 'Mogul'; two '4Fs'; ten 'Black Fives'; eight 'Jubilees'; two Stanier '8Fs'. Also there were four 'B1s'; three BR Standard class 5s; and seven BR Standard '9Fs'.

SATURDAY 8 AUGUST 1964

Patrick O'Brien's listing of trains at Bristol on this date makes it possible to include details of overnight steam workings which came through Cheltenham and Gloucester.

1V49 7.30pm  Sheffield - Paignton, due in Temple Meads at 14 minutes past midnight had 'Black Five' 45399 of 10A Carnforth. 1V10 10.8pm Sheffield - Paignton, in at 2.35am, was headed by B1 61050. 1V14 8.45pm Bradford - Newton Abbot was 'Jubilee' 45602 'British Honduras' arriving at 3.25am. 1V23 9.5pm Newcastle - Paignton was Stanier 4-6-0 45273, due at 4.50am. The north and west route from Shrewsbury to Bristol also saw overnight steam passengers.  By this date,trains would normally be diesel west of Bristol.

The working time table in use for 8 August shows a total of 50 class '1' cross-country trains – 22 down and 28 up - between 8am and 8pm, of which 41 traversed the ex-Midland route with nine on the Honeybourne line. In addition I saw six relief passengers – there were a few more not seen.

Increasing dieselisation since summer 1963 had seen the closure of motive power depots such as 85C Gloucester Barnwood, 82B Bristol St Philips Marsh and, as previously mentioned, 84A Wolverhampton Stafford Road along with many sheds being recoded or transferred to other regions  - the Western's 84B Wolverhampton Oxley became the London Midland Region's 2B. The allocation of Bristol's remaining steam depot, 82E Barrow Road, included locos of Great Western origin, while 85B Gloucester Horton Road had ex Midland '4Fs'.

Train 1V69, 7.5am Derby – Pembroke Dock, was worked by rare 'Black Five' 45427 of 6A Chester. A DMU turn, 10.15am Cheltenham St James – Cardiff was loco and coaches with 6947 'Helmingham Hall'. 1V53, 8.2am Wolverhampton – Ilfracombe was headed by 5026 'Criccieth Castle' of 2B Oxley. Around midday was 1V54, 10.5am Wolverhampton – Kingswear, with 5056 'Earl of Powis', another Oxley allocated loco.

A relief train going north to Bradford in the morning, 1N01, had '9F' 92160 of 15C Kettering. A classmate, 92125, was on 1N40, 10.20am Newton Abbot – Bradford and this was immediately followed by 92000 of Bristol Barrow Road on an up relief service to Bradford, 1N14. Another relief though, 1M00, had a 'Peak' diesel. Not seen by me was 'B1' 61050 on 1E68, 12.5pm Weston-Super-Mare – Sheffield, which came down overnight as noted earlier.

As in summer 1963, train 1N84, 2.15pm Bristol – York, was steam-worked on Saturdays and on this date had BR Standard class 5 73028, of 85B Gloucester Horton Road.

Four up Honeybourne line trains were observed in the afternoon and evening. 1M34, 10.5am Kingswear – Wolverhampton, was hauled by 7023 'Penrice Castle'. 1M35, 11.5am Ilfracombe – Wolverhampton, composed of fifteen coaches, was headed by 5063 'Earl Baldwin', which had worked down earlier in the day with 1V52. There were two reliefs; 1M69, a Weston -Super-Mare - Wolverhampton service, with 5955 'Garth Hall' of 82E Bristol Barrow Road and 1M36 with 4082 'Windsor Castle', newly transferred to 85B Gloucester Horton Road. To complete the picture with the aid of Patrick O'Brien's listings, there were three more up evening trains - 1M37 had 7019 'Fowey Castle'; 1M38 was probably 5026 'Criccieth Castle'; 1M39 12.10pm Penzance – Wolverhampton Low Level had 5056 'Earl of Powis' **.

Another north-west based loco appeared in the form of BR Standard Caprotti class 5 73131 from 9H Patricroft on 2V74, 5.25pm Birmingham New Street – Bristol stopping passenger.

I saw 35 steam locos but have no record of the diesels seen; undoubtedly the latter were now in a majority on passenger workings on the Midland route. The GW locos seen were six 'Castles'; two 'Halls'; one 'Manor; one 'Mogul'; five tank locos – one being ex-works 2-6-2T 6106 in unlined green livery. The tanks were on local passenger services. The LM locos were two '4Fs'; six 'Black Fives'; two 'Jubilees'; two Stanier '8Fs'. Also there were two BR Standard class 5s; and six BR Standard '9Fs'. This was the last year that 'Castle' locos were seen on these services - apart from a special rostering of 7029 in September 1965 - as they were withdrawn from Oxley shed in late 1964 and early 1965.

SATURDAY 17 JULY 1965

The first working time table that reflected the twenty-four hour clock, with 6.55am now shown as 06.55.

The WTT in use for 17 July shows a total of 49 class '1' cross-country trains – 22 down and 27 up - between 8am and 8pm, of which 40 traversed the ex-Midland route with nine on the Honeybourne line. It showed for the first time the rostered motive power for most workings and the only class '1's noted as 'SH' - for steam hauled - on summer Saturdays were the nine trains on the Honeybourne line, four down and five up, though at least two,1V51 down and 1M36 up, were regularly diesel hauled, by the 'D15XX' class , the then newish Brush Type 4s. Services on the Midland route were rostered for 'Peaks' or 'D15XX'. 

I saw just eleven steam locos, now very much in the minority on all types of workings. The GW locos seen were one 'Grange', one 'Manor' and one 'Modified Hall'. The LM locos were two 'Black Fives' and two Stanier '8Fs'. Also there were two BR Standard 'Britannias' and two BR Standard '9Fs'. Three 'Britannias' stationed at 2B Oxley – 70045, 70047 and 70053 – were regularly used for 1965 summer trains on the Honeybourne line, bsfore being transferred north to Carlisle. 

'Britannia' 70053 'Moray Firth' - devoid of nameplates - heads a down summer Saturday train through Bishop's Cleeve on the Honeybourne line. 70053 was a regular on Saturdays from 10 July until the end of the summer service. The other two regular 'Brits' - 70045 and 70047 - had been seen in earlier weeks. Photo Bill Potter

Another 'Britannia' 70030 'William Wordsworth' of 5B Crewe South had 1V52, 06.55 Wolverhampton – Penzance, on 19 June - the only day I saw it -  but on survey day 17 July 1V52 was hauled by 'Black Five' 45006, a 2B Oxley engine. The next steam was 7915 'Mere Hall' of 2A Tyseley on an extra not in the WTT^, 1V58 to Weston-Super-Mare. An up freight had '9F' 92224 shortly before 1V53, 08.00 Wolverhampton-Ilfracombe passed with BR 'Britannia' 70045 'Lord Rowallan'. That was all the steam seen in an hour's observation starting at 09.15.

An hour or so from just before midday saw '8F' 48220 on an up empty wagon train – the loco did not go far as it returned light engine an hour later. The next steam was 'Britannia' 70053 'Moray Firth' on 1V54, 10.05 Wolverhampton – Kingswear. '8F' 48503 shedded at 9F Heaton Mersey kept up the tradition of north-west based locos on a summer Saturday, albeit only light engine northwards. 'Black Five' 44663 had 5M74, a 'Company' train, 09.35 Llandarcy – Rowley Regis, a working where the type of power was not specified in the time table. Gloucester engine 7816 'Frilsham Manor', still displaying the letters 'GWR' on its tender, worked a down part-fitted train.

Later in the afternoon I observed 1M34, 10.05 Kingswear – Wolverhampton with 7915 'Mere Hall', due 14.43 at Malvern Road, but running 48 minutes late due to a derailment elsewhere. About the same time '9F' 92150 passed on a down unfitted freight. 

A loco failure occurred in the evening. Brand new Brush diesel D1881 came to a stand on the up relief line opposite Hatherley signal box while working 1E70, 13.00 Paignton – Sheffield. Another Brush, D1694, was called to the rescue and the train left at 18.20, an hour behind schedule. Both locos were replaced by another for the journey north from Lansdown station.

The derailment mentioned earlier was still affecting trains in the evening, with 1M37, 11.25 Newquay – Wolverhampton  hauled by 6803 'Bucklebury Grange', an Oxley engine, being 35 minutes late and passing Hatherley box on the up main line a few minutes before train 1E70 got underway.

While there was no rostered class '1' steam haulage on the Midland line on summer Saturdays, Sundays only train 1V53 was booked for steam, I believe with an engine from Oxley shed, in the early hours of Sunday morning on part of the route. In this case 1V53 was the 00.05 Manchester – Plymouth^^, which came down via Bescot to Worcester Shrub Hill, due to depart from there at 04.25, going through Cheltenham non-stop, then Gloucester South where it was booked to take water, before arrival at Bristol Temple Meads at 06.15. This service included a sleeping car! Sadly I was never able to rouse myself to observe it around 05.00(!) but I have a report from a railwayman friend that it was indeed steam hauled.

There was a steam rostered parcels train 3M00 Bristol - Crewe leaving Temple Meads at 22.57 on Saturday night, stopping at Gloucester Eastgate  then via the Midland route to Worcester Shrub Hill. 3M00 also ran Tuesdays to Fridays, stopping additionally at Cheltenham Lansdown and was again shown as steam hauled, and I know a fireman who worked it with steam. A number of daily freights were also regularly steam-hauled.

SATURDAY 7 AUGUST 1965

On this day I took a trip from Cheltenham Malvern Road to Bristol Temple Meads, travelling on 1V53, 08.00 Wolverhampton – Ilfracombe. Motive power was 'Britannia' 70045 'Lord Rowallan', load eleven coaches. Departure was at 10.09, four minutes late. The route was via Gloucester South and by the time the train reached Standish Junction, 1V53 was a couple of minutes ahead of time. Travelling via Yate South and Stoke Gifford, arrival at Temple Meads was achieved at 11.17, ten minutes early, a reflection of a generous schedule rather than outstanding locomotive effort.

I had a trip behind BR Standard 2-6-2T 82041 from Temple Meads to Bath Green Park to view the few workings over the Somerset & Dorset line - a shadow of what it had been like on a summer Saturday up to 1962. Returning with the same loco I intended to travel home to Malvern Road on 1M37, 11.25 Newquay – Wolverhampton, due away from Temple Meads at 16.32. However it transpired that relief train 1M17 from Paignton to Derby was going to be steam worked, by 'Black Five' 45058 of 2J Aston. I opted to return on this so as to have steam on a class '1' train going up the Midland route through Cheltenham. A note made by me at the time claims this was the first up steam-hauled summer Saturday express in this year on the Midland main line to Birmingham. It seemed that the footplate crew were as surprised as me to have steam on this working, with the driver wearing his diesel driver's green jacket.

Departure was at 15.55 and with a twelve coach load, a banker from Barrow Road up to Fishponds was provided in the shape of 6876 'Kingsland Grange' of 86B Newport Ebbw Junction shed. After passing through Mangotsfield at 16.12, Berkeley Road at 16.39, Standish Junction at 16.50, arrival at Gloucester Eastgate was at 17.00. After a stay of fifteen minutes, departure was 17.15 with Lansdown station reached at 17.32. Not exactly a sparkling performance, with a time of one hour 37 minutes. For comparison, the steam worked 1N84 in the previous summer was scheduled to do the same journey, also stopping at Gloucester, in one hour eleven minutes. A good ten minutes on 1M17 must have been lost at Gloucester with a fifteen minute stop there.

The train I had originally intended to catch, 1M37, was allowed one hour ten minutes from Bristol to Cheltenham Malvern Road, via Mangotsfield and Gloucester South. This turned up just under twenty minutes late at 18.00 behind 6999 'Capel Dewi Hall' of 86E Severn Tunnel Junction depot with eleven coaches. Earlier in the day 6999 had gone down to Bristol with relief train 1V50.

Other holiday trains seen were 7924 'Thornycroft Hall' leaving Temple Meads about 14.45 with a Wolverhampton service and another relief departing at 15.00 with 5932 'Haydon Hall'. Later, 'Britannia' 70053 'Moray Firth' was also booked to take a Wolverhampton train. 

The following Saturday, 14 August, around midday at Cheltenham saw 'Black Five' 44808 of Oxley on a class '1' train of eight coaches which came down the Midland route, so there were no doubt other steam workings I never knew about. 

Former Saltley engine 45006 moved to 2B Oxley earlier in 1965 and worked over the Honeybourne line on several summer Saturdays that year. This is it passing Toddington Signal Box on 28 August 1965 with 1M35 11.10 Ilfracombe - Wolverhampton, which it hauled from Bristol. The loco had gone down that day on 1V54 10.05 Wolverhampton - Kingswear, due Bristol at 13.30, with both trains only stopping at Temple Meads to change engines. As 1M35 left at 15.10, 45006 had a swift turnround, not the norm for steam workings, but was possibly the actual diagram for the loco as the same happened on at least three other dates. Any visit to the remaining steam shed at Bristol, Barrow Road, for servicing would have to be swift. Photo Bill Potter

SATURDAY 4 SEPTEMBER 1965

This day was the last for summer holiday trains and the last official steam passengers on the Honeybourne line through Cheltenham. 'Britannia's 70045 and 70053 were active on 1V52 and 1V53, returning with 1M34 and 1M35, the latter being 11.10am Ilfracombe - Wolverhampton.

But the last up working, 1M39, 12.30 Penzance – Wolverhampton, was especially rostered for 7029 'Clun Castle' which was a Gloucester Horton Road engine. Arrival at Malvern Road was on time and a crew change took place with Driver Pat Eskins and Fireman Ted Joines from Horton Road shed taking charge as far as Birmingham Snow Hill. Departure was on schedule at 19.22. (Sad to report that Pat and Ted died within a few weeks of each other in 2013.)

7029 was preserved at Tyseley after withdrawal from BR and worked through Cheltenham and Gloucester on numerous occasions over the decades. Sixty years after the above picture it travelled through Gloucester and Cheltenham light engine with 45596 'Bahamas' on Saturday 6 September 2025 after working a railtour between Bristol and Plymouth. It went through Lansdown station very late that night. 

STEAM LOCOS THAT WORKED SUMMER SATURDAY PASSENGER TRAINS ON THE HONEYBOURNE LINE  IN 1965

Here are the ones I know about, there were probably others:

5932;6803;6827;6855;6918;6953;6999;7029;7908;7912;7915;7924;7925;

44691;44808;45006;45040;45042;45050;45237;45263;45283;

70030;70045;70047;70053;73014

SUMMER SATURDAYS 1966

I have no confirmed reports of any class '1' trains through Cheltenham having steam haulage in summer 1966.

Norman Preedy took a photo on Saturday 16 July of 'Black Five' 44780 of 2A Tyseley hauling an empty stock working, 3X33, at Gloucester South and heading north. Whether it worked down as a passenger I do not know.

Intriguingly, movie footage taken from the footplate of 7808 'Cookham Manor' on Saturday 13 August when it left Horton Road for preservation at Ashchurch includes a brief glimpse of a 'Black Five' at Engine Shed Junction, Gloucester heading passenger stock on a down working - what was it?

Footnotes:

* The Railway Correspondence & Travel Society was founded in Cheltenham in 1928 by Les Lapper and Aubrey Broad. It became a nationwide organisation for railway enthusiasts and is still going strong to this day.

" On 23 June 1962, brand new - that week! - maroon liveried Diesel Hydraulic D1005 'Western Venturer' built at Swindon doubleheaded with 'Castle' 5089 'Westminster Abbey' on 1H22, 10.5am Kingswear - Wolverhampton. D1005 had been allocated to 83D Plymouth Laira just a few days earlier on 18 June 1962 when it came into traffic. There may have been other occasions in the summer of 1962 or later when diesel hydraulics appeared on Honeybourne line Summer Saturday trains. 

^ Weekly notices were issued to inform staff about extra and amended workings.

** The previous Saturday, 1 August, 1M39 was worked north from Bristol by 'Jubilee' 45721 'Impregnable' .

() See section '31 October 1964' for a picture of a 'Castle'  - 4093 - working a ballast train at this location on the same day, 29 August 1964.

^^ This service had been running on the route since September 1958, per the SLS.

+44966 was a Saltley engine for most of its existence.

Chris Baldwin took a picture of 70030 at Tuffley Junction, Gloucester, when it worked 1V52 on 19 June 1965.