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The Severn Tunnel requires a lot of maintenance and over the years it has often been closed on Sundays for essential engineering work including upgrades such as preparation for electrification. One batch of Sunday closures occurred in the winter of 1957/58 with trains diverted as shown in an article in the 'Gloucestershire Railway Society News' at the time.
The Severn Bridge was still extant in 1957/58 so some trains were diverted that way, but many more came up from Severn Tunnel Junction through Lydney to Gloucester then on through Stroud to regain their normal route at Swindon. Others came from the North-West via Hereford and Ross-on-Wye then through Gloucester to Bristol and the West of England.
An impressive number of specials! The date of this match was 18 January 1958, the final score was 3 - 3.
One bonus of diverted South Wales trains going through Gloucester was the sight of immaculately maintained 'Castle' 4-6-0s shedded at 87E Landore, Swansea. Here is one waiting to depart Swindon for its journey down through Kemble, Stroud and Standish Junction to Gloucester Central, then onwards through Lydney, Chepstow and Severn Tunnel Junction. This train, 1F41, is the 12.55pm Paddington to Carmarthen, which stopped for water at Gloucester Central from 3.43pm to 3.50pm. The 'Castle' could be 5077 'Fairey Battle' which was a Landore engine. Photo Robin Stanton
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