Great Western Railway V Midland Railway Races
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- Опубліковано 15 жов 2024
- When the Great Western Railway joined the Midland Railway in track laying between Standish Junction and Gloucester laying them side by side, it was inevitable that the engine drivers would indulge in unofficial races. The ‘unofficial’ start/ finish posts, were between Nass Lane signal box and Grange Road Bridge in Tuffley.
Going south the race had to terminate at Naas Lane to give the trains time to reduce to a respectable speed before entering Harefield Station. And north bound to slow before the rail complex around Gloucester. The prise for winning southbound was glory, but the prise going north was the right of way around Gloucester, leaving the loser waiting until the winner had cleared the section.
Races going south are widely known about, considering they were supposedly secret, but racing north, with the bigger prise not so much so. The issue being how did the signalman at Tuffly Junction know who had won, bearing in mind that he would have to set the signals and points to give the road to the winner. There are three possibilities; one was line of sight, so he could see the Grange Road Bridge. Two, a system of whistle codes from the trains or three and most likely, track circuiting, where the signalman would have an electronic indication which train had entered the last section first.
This film looks for clues to solve the mystery.
Hello Ron, I believe the Kemble to Gloucester Railcar shuttle service that ran in the 1950s and 1960 sixties used to slow down near Standish Junction and wait for an up midland express, so that they could race it to Gloucester.
The other thing to mention is that close to the crossing at Naas Lane on the up side to Gloucester was the Dowmac concrete sleeper company and so I believe they had a siding for this.
Most enjoyable Video!
Thanks for posting George, as I said, boys will be boys! Ron
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have never noticed the different brick work on grange road bridge, Ron never misses the detail! Also great detective work, bring on the next video!
Glad you enjoyed it Danny. Ron
Good video Ron. Decent amount of interesting relics lying around, quite a few of which would look good in the garden. The old buffer especially, very nice indeed.
You need to tell my wife David. Ron
Hi Ron, I've left it until tonight to relax and watch your video, I never like hurrying it! Another interesting video again. The track being circuited sounds like the only way the signalman would know. The siding buffers looked very old due to the nice, fussy curves incorporated in the design. It was made out of bullhead rail, the type that could be turned around to reuse, but was not very successful due to the chairs causing slots of wear. The flat chairs were used for the more modern flat bottom rail used from around the mid 1950's, so the DR you read on it was more likely to be BR. Hope you are keeping well and thanks again. Best Wishes....Tim
Thanks for sharing that knowledge Tim, I didn't know any of that. By the way, you figure in this weeks Vlog again. Sorry. Ron
@@ParkinsonsWalks You're welcome anytime Ron. I forgot to mention that building you thought might have been a signal box just looks a bit too clean for an old box, The traditional boxes where a little bit more ornate, they had windows in the brickwork and also a cut out at the bottom for points rodding and signal wires to emerge, which you would see bricked up. On the other hand it might have been a more modern power box, but who knows? A transformer building or electrical/communications equipment? Please don't apologise for the mention as I can't thank you enough, you've helped me achieve my life long ambition to become a celebrity, Ron! 👍
Hi, you are already a celebrity to me Tim! On the building, it does look signal box shape. I wonder if it was built on the site of the old box. It would make sense as there would already be services available, and planning would be a breeze, if in fact they needed it. Stay well. Ron
@@ParkinsonsWalks Already a celebrity?.....well I just don't know what to say Ron! ;-) I reckon you have the best answer yet that the building was built on the old foundations. As you say it makes sound sense having the planning and all the services ready on site. Keep well too......Tim
You have the gift Ron of making the most mundane seem interesting. This brought back many memories. Thank you
Wow, thank you Peter, my wife thinks its the other way round!. Ron
Another good piece of railway detective work Ron. Thank you. Seeing the foot crossing at Haresfield again brought back memories.
Glad you enjoyed it Paul. Ron
Thanks Ron, that was most enjoyable.
Very welcome Derek. Ron
Ron, Going North from Standish Junction to Tuffley Junction it quite feasible for the GWR and the Midland trains to race. The track layout at Tuffley Junction until 4th August 1968 allowed the Midland trains to get to Gloucester Eastgate Station without conflicting with the GWR trains going to Gloucester Central Station. The Tuffley Junction Signalman would be able to pull off both the Midland and the GWR Home, Inner Home, Starting, Advanced Starting and Distant Signals providing he had line clear from the box ahead on both the Midland and GWR lines. As mentioned in my previous comment the signalman at the box in rear (Quedgeley) would then know which train had arrived first as the Tuffley Junction Signalman would send Train out of Section to Quedgeley Box in the order the trains cleared the section. Tuffley Junction did not have crossovers to route trains to and from the Midland and GWR trains to the opposing companies lines that could only be done at Standish Junction. It is a really interesting video you have done please keep your excellent standard up!
Thanks for your very helpful and informative comments Andrew, much appreciated. Ron
Loved your video. The old buffer stop with it's rails still in place. i wouldn't mind having that in my garden. Any idea what that loop is for? Beautiful old bridges to.. When they build new motorway bridges, they have often got to be repaired within a few years, yet these proper bridges have been unaltered for over 100 years. the is one of those pedestrian crossing lights on the Berks and Hants line near Crofton.
Hi Lionel, there are always mysteries to be solved on these old railways. Ron
Another great video Ron, thanks for your hard work
My pleasure Steve, thanks for watching. Ron
A friend & I used to trainspot on the bridge just past Haresfield station & then go on to Moreton Vallance airfield to watch Gloster Javelins & Meteors taking off & landing.The former runway is now part of the M5;-a rare example of utilising what is already there!
Hi Paul, I used to ride my bike to Morton Valance to watch the Javelins take off and land as well. We might have bumped into each other! Ron
That was a great outing Ron, thank you. You reminded me of pennies on tracks. I had the tiny Canadian pennies but they turned out quite well in spite of their small size. English pennies must have ended up really large (maybe you could demonstrate sometime?) When I was a kid, the station agent at the nearby station said I should stop because I could derail a train..likely a bit of a stretch!
Thanks for sharing your memories James. I think I might get into trouble putting pennies on the line these days. Ron
Fascinating - thanks so much Ron for making such an interestinf video. Imagine a King class and a Royal Scot class going head to head for 2 miles - fantastic. I only wish my Mums brother Freeman was still alive. As a GW fireman based at Gloucester, I'm positive he could have told us everything we would want to know. about the "races". I could have a word with Pauline if you like viz a viz siting the buffers in your garden!
I would love to have heard tales from your mothers brother, I bet they were worth listening to. Re Pauline and the buffers, I fear it is a lost cause Michael, but thanks for the offer. Take care. Ron
My brother used to have a GWR ringed siding signal in our garden at Malvern. It came as a birthday present from "Malvern Grandad" who had retired from the railway by then, but used his connections to acquire it from B.R. Hereford as firewood and scrap metal for £4 5s. I think it was even delivered by one of those funny little Scammel lorries. But we made the mistake of concreting the post in, so we could not take it with us when we later moved house.
Good one, Ron - looking forward to the next! Keep safe!
Thanks, will do Jim. Ron
Hi Ron, Thanks for another great video. About the chairs by the buffer stop - the 1956 one was an early flat bottom rail base plate, namely a BR 1 - & the rail was held in the base plate by an 'Elastic Spike' one of which you highlighted. The chair was a standard GWR 'Bullhead' rail chair & the 95 was for indicate the weight of the rail for that particular chair - in this case rail that was 95 lbs per yard in weight. I hope this is of help to you.
Fantastic, I love it when someone who knows what they are talking about, takes the time to share with us. Thank you. Ron
@@ParkinsonsWalks My pleasure Ron, any time you need a any info on things like that, just ask. I used to be a plate layer on BR Western Region in the 70s. I'm passionate about all things railway related, but especially GWR!! Cheers, Steve.
Hi Ron . What a shame it is that the authorities deem it necessary that we must protect ourselves by erecting those monstrous steel fences, when in our day a simple split wooden sleeper post and wire barrier would suffice.
I'm sure it comes down to money somewhere. Ron
Good Morning, Ron. Another absolutely fascinating vlog, thank you for sharing. Strange to see the Grange Road bridge blue engineering brick patched with GWR ‘ashlar’ style stonework. Whatever was available at the time, I guess. Well, the snowdrops are in bloom, and the early daffodils are in bud, so spring is out there somewhere, just can’t see it for fog, at the moment! Take care, Mate.
Ron, you seem to have the knack of making me laugh, thank you. Ron
Grange road is 5 minutes from my house. I'll have to see what I can see myself.
Take care. P.W.
Fantastic viewing Ron loved it, pity you did not get to Standish and beyound where the lines seperate near what they call the black bridge. More of this please really enjoyed it. Take care and stay safe..
Guess what the next film is about John. Ron
@@ParkinsonsWalks Really looking forward Ron.
Racing trains, could you imagine that happening today.Great video Ron much enjoyed.I don't think there are many wives who truly believe that at times their husbands really ever grew up.I know I get that look sometimes 😄
Not just me then Dave. Ron
Another great adventure , see you are using a bic pen rather than your finger, also subtitles great bonus although spelling . Can't be any help about The Race but know the area well. Looking forward to the next episode 🤠 Did you find any of the bird related shots?
hi Christopher, I actually have a film of our garden birds, I might give it an airing one of these days. Ron
Have you caught up with Paul Statham West Country Wanderings Yet. Excellent presentation of map work.
I know there are so many on UA-cam.
@@christopherrobin1517 Thanks Chris, I'll take a look. Ron
Very enjoyable, especially living in Grange Road opposite the new houses that are in the fields you remember. The trees and undergrowth alongside the railway when you walked up the path from Grange Road bridge have a been cleared and you can see the track all along there. Wasn't the Grange Road bridge originally a farm accommodation bridge a well?
Hi Graham, I used to live not far from here, it was always a road bridge as far as I can remember. Happy days. Ron
The old railcar service used to race the midlands express. I used to pester Mum to catch a particular one, come on mum lets catch the racing train I forget the time, as we made our way back to Stroud after a day out in Gloucester in the 50s
Derrick what a wonderful story, I'll refer to that in the Vlog if I may. Ron
@@ParkinsonsWalks : That will be fine, thank you. Young people today simply do not realise just how important the railways were in the fifties, few cars, only busses and trains.
I live not far from here I live in kingsway could tell you a lot about RAF kingsway and the railway
Special memories I would think Jordan. Ron
A caution for readers who are Millennials: If you try putting a penny on the rail; please count the number of rails first, particularly if you're in the South of England. If there are 3 or 6 rails then 'chances are that there is a third rail which is alive with 750 volts of DC electricity and which could turn out to be fatal to you if touched. It's not such a good idea to put a penny or anything else on a live rail.
Thanks for that timely warning Sharron. Ron
Glad it still remains a mystery🤪
Thanks Julian. Ron
Hi Ron, I look forward every week to your vlog and walks, especially if there's a railway involved! However as a train driver myself can I please ask you not to wander about on a live railway line as you did this week, only too often do myself and my colleagues have to deal with the consequences of people on or about the railway who should not be there, I'm not trying to be a "kill-joy" or a "Dudley do-right" Ron. By all means film the trains but please do so from a safe place, I don't want to read that you've been skittled while trying to take a picture of some obscure piece of railway infrastructure .
I hope I haven't offended you with this, just stay safe please. best regards Nige.
You are absolutely right. Where possible I leave the camera on a tripod and stand back, I usually wave at drivers so that they can see I am non threatening and stay very aware. Those trains travel fast. Thanks for the concern Nige. Ron
Hi Nige, I have decided to include rail safety in next weeks Vlog with reference to your comments. Thanks again. Ron
@@ParkinsonsWalks That's brilliant Ron, thank you! As I said by all means carry on filming the trains, but from a position of safety as I wish to keep on following your vlogs and walks for some years to come. It's a pity we live so far apart ( I'm up in Derbyshire) as I would have liked to accompany you from time to time, you always manage to find interesting things to look at! Best regards, stay safe, Nige.