RUNPAST BOOK COVERS
A locomotive type rarely seen on the Birmingham - Bristol line until the final years of steam was the 'Royal Scot' 4-6-0.
46118 'Royal Welch Fusilier' accelerates away from Lansdown Junction, Cheltenham on the four track section to Gloucester with a down express. The signals on the up side gantry are, from the left: up relief home for Lansdown station; up relief home for Malvern Road; up main home for Lansdown station; up main home for Malvern Road. Photo Roger Wales
A Mogul hurries a passenger train from Hereford up the South Wales line - engineered by Isambard Kingdom Brunel - at Over Junction, Gloucester. The branch on the left went to Gloucester Docks. Just in front of the signal box is the branch to Ledbury where a diesel shunter stands at the signals with a freight train. On the right is the handsome road bridge designed by Thomas Telford and opened in 1831. Photo Alan Jarvis
On 27 August 1961 'Jubilee' 45651 'Shovell' roars towards Brockhampton crossing at Swindon Village just outside Cheltenham on a Derby - Bristol express. The cossing keeper's house is an original Birmingham & Gloucester Railway building. Photo Bill Potter
Gleaming Gloucester Horton Road based 7035 'Ogmore Castle' heads the 11.45am Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington express at Brimscombe in July 1962. Photo Alan Jarvis
Lines in the Forest of Dean fed lots of traffic into Gloucester over the years and an ex-GWR 0-6-0PT provides power for this working on the Cinderford Branch at the relatively substantial Ruspidge Halt in September 1965.
The Midland presence at Gloucester is represented by the last of Barnwood's Compound 4-4-0s, 41123, which, coupled to a 'Jubilee' 4-6-0, waits to go to shed having brought the Newcastle - Cardiff train into Central station in the late 1950s. Photo John Tarrant, Kidderminster Railway Museum
Birmingham to Bristol was an important and busy route for the Midland Railway and is still a vital part of today's rail network. This two volume work looks in depth at the route in steam days. Part One covers Birmingham to Cheltenham, including the loop through Worcester, while Part Two surveys the section between Cheltenham and Bristol, also the connection from Mangotsfield to Bath, which witnessed much onward traffic for the Somerset & Dorset line to Bournemouth.
This book is a fascinating examination of a rarely touched upon subject - steam locomotive casualty reports. These were made out when a loco failed in traffic, either because of a mechanical defect or a shortage of steam, often due to lack of proper servicing. It was compiled from around 400 reports filed at Gloucester Barnwood depot, mainly covering the 1960 - 63 period and relating to many different locos from a wide range of sheds. A lot of background is given including copies of reports written by drivers when they got to the depot, showing insights into the condition of locos in the late steam era. Photo H C Casserley