Magazine
The magazine is a place for nostalgia and anecdotes.
Since FOSBR was founded it has encouraged fun, games, drama and song on the Severn Beach line.
Other organisations, like the Ramblers' Association with its Wessex Wanderers and Severnside Saunters programmes, have also ensured that our railways are not just the last resort of grim commuters.
Videos
- FOSBR video: part 1, part 2, part 3
- The Severn Beach Line Song
Pilning Extravaganza 2009
Parliamentary Trains are alive and well today! Here in the Bristol area there is a station that is only visited by one train a week in each direction on a Saturday, namely PILNING. According to a recent BBC Teesside programme, it is cheaper to keep such stations open than to shut them.
On October 17th, a group of 16 people met on the Severn Beach train and went to the end of the line. We then had a walk to Pilning (via the post office) to a good pub, where we had a pleasant lunch. We then went to the station (not exactly an urban stop!) and awaited the train to Newport. As you will see from the attached photos, the station has the full facilities of a well used station.
Anyway, see the timetable on the photos and take a trip there. It is all harmless fun!
Bernard
Northumberland Rail
- is it tougher up North?
On a recent holiday to Northumberland I had the chance to use rail services in that area. I had to return to Bristol for a job interview and travelled from Morpeth to Shirehampton and return. Apart from needing a mortgage (£120), I wanted to travel from Widdrington Station. However, Widdrington only has two trains a day to Newcastle and one back. Echoes of Pilning (tho' at least it has a daily service!) So we went to Morpeth.There is a well used station here - the car park was full and we had to park on the road. Our train was a refurbished 142 unit, which make the ususal Severn Beach trains feel luxurious!
Newcastle Central is a gem architecturally and well worth a look at.
My journey to Bristol from Newcastle was on Cross Country and uneventful apart from being turfed out of my seat at Darlington by a passenger who had reserved it part way. (Beware: on Cross Country reservations are done electronically and only appear on the screen above the seat at the station where the reservation starts, so if you travel long distance you have to check the reservation on the seat you occupy at every station - pieces of paper do have advantages! Oh yes, of course there was a change at Birmingham New Street (the worst station on the network surely) where I had to do a jog across the bridge to find platform 1.
The journey back was fine - though 6 hours was hard on the posterior! It also stopped at Morpeth, so no changes.
There are real opportunities there for expansion of routes and service improvements (not just to Widdrington and stations to Chathill). Ashington has rails and no trains. Services could so easily be reintroduced from Newcastle to Morpeth via Ashington with no new rails needed. With minimal relaying, the branch through Lynemouth and on to Ellington could also be brought into use. and why the Washington/Leamside line remains unused is totally uncomprehensible. Is it surprising that some rails were removed for scrap by unauthorised people? It appears no one cares and the line has no future.
I do recommend Northumberland for a holiday though. Just a shame I did not get the job.
Bernard
Change at Stapleton Road
A long time ago, I used to watch trains at Stapleton Road. In those days, there were station buildings and even a refreshment room. As a junction it was in decline then, but as a junction, this bleak, ravaged station may have a future.
Occasionally, travelling from Cam & Dursley or Yate I do still change at Stapleton Road for Clifton Down, catching a train I would miss at Temple Meads. Last week, the change was for a more complicated journey.
The destination was Newport: Britain’s least known Newport, the one in Shropshire. Traveline suggested trains to Telford, two buses, the Crudginton Roundabout, and a left turn on foot to “unknown”. Traveline had also suggested travelling via Warminster, probably to the Isle of Wight. As Traveline also regularly suggests a trip to Swindon using a ferry, presumably to cross the stripling Thames at Bablock Hythe, I don’t take it as Gospel. So rather than catch the X14 to Westbury-on-Trym, change buses for Parkway, buy a few cleft sticks, engage a native bearer and head for Crudginton, which I had assumed was a joke devised by Bill Tidy for his CAMRA cartoons, I used my intelligence. Start from Clifton Down, change at Stapleton Road for Newport (Cas Newydd) , whence to Shrewsbury for a bus to the entrance gate of the Agricultural College outside Newport.
Sadly I was offered a lift so I don’t know whether this would have worked. However, I do now know that momentary inattention on the M6 can take you to Northants when you should be in Glos. (“Oh Mr Porter, what shall I do?”)
The serious point is that Stapleton Road and Parson Street could be promoted as junctions to make journeys easier and reduce congestion at Temple Meads.
Conspiracy Theorists might care to pursue the idea that Traveline has been infiltrated by the car industry, Lord Mandelson, the CIA and of course the Milk Marketing Board.
Peter
The Day we went to Pilning - and returned to Bristol via Newport
The day began when Jill Carr and Martin Garrett caught the 12:08 (from
Temple Meads) train at Montpelier. They left the train at Avonmouth and
walked to St Andrew's Road where they arrived with plenty of time to spare.
Derek Carr and Bryony Carr took the 13:08 (from Temple Meads) train at
Montpelier.
Meanwhile Simon Meeds and Alison Leach arrived at St Andrew's Road where they met Jill and Martin. St Andrew's Road is a request stop, so they were poised to hail the train bound for Severn Beach. They were surprised to see the Bristol-bound train slow down and the driver invite them to hail him -they politely turned him down and waited for the correct train.
There was no trouble attracting the attention of the driver of the Severn
Beach service, and they joined Derek and Bryony in the front coach.
On their arrival at Severn Beach station, Peter Gould of the Ramblers'
Association and Friends of Bristol Suburban Railways, introduced himself. I assume he had been on the train from Clifton Down, but he seemed to appear from nowhere.
The group of seven made their way on foot down Church Road, over the M49 footbridge and to the A403. They passed through Pilning village, with a brief stop at the Post Office for some, and then down Bank Road, admiring various remaining artefacts from the old low level railway line, to The Plough where they managed to catch a quick drink before closing time (3pm).
A short walk brought them to Pilning (formerly High Level) Station, where some young men in a car were engaging in no-doubt nefarious activities.
There was some surprise to see a bicycle at the station locked to a very
smart, new rack - maybe we weren't the only people to use the station today?
There was time for a group photograph before the train arrived. One person was seen to leave the train - so there was another customer today! We boarded to find that our reserved seats had not been marked and were
therefore taken. Undaunted we found a group of seats and occupied them. One of our party overheard another passenger saying that she intended to leave the train at Pilning; it would be a long and expensive taxi ride for her, since the next train to stop at the station was not for another seven days!
Unlike the rest of us, Peter had not pre-booked his ticket and needed to buy one on the train. Honesty being the best policy, he went looking for the guard. Apparently though, she had left her machine at Westbury and wasunable to issue him with a ticket. He would have to buy his ticket on the Newport to Bristol leg of the journey - we anticipated some fun!
The train arrived at Newport with no further fuss. We made our way to the new Platform 4 and Martin remarked how smart and well-kept the station was. Derek pointed out that, being in Wales, it had nothing to do with FirstGreat Western, although their trains run through it.
The train to Bristol Temple Meads arrived on time and we boarded coach A, where most of us had reserved seats. Again there were no reservation tickets on the seats and the coach was fairly full. Martin went into coach B to find his reserved seat; he later reported that this coach was half empty and he didn't even bother to check whether or not his reserved seat was occupied.
Coach A was stiflingly hot, with some people reporting burnt ankles from theunder-seat heating. When the guard came around there was none of the
expected drama; Peter was able to buy his ticket from Pilning to Clifton
Down with no more than a little jollity ("...that's the Severn Beach
Express?"). The guard didn't even seem to look twice at the rest of our
tickets.
We arrived at Bristol Temple Meads and joined the Severn Beach Train. The others left at Montpelier and Clifton Down while Alison and I remained until St Andrew's Road. Alison informed the guard that we needed St Andrew's Road while the train was stationary at Avonmouth; apparently he was about to ask whether anyone wanted to stop there. At St Andrew's Road we left the train,thanked the guard and drove home to Easter Compton.
Despite (or maybe because of) a few small excitements, I think an enjoyable afternoon was had by all, and just maybe we increased Pilning Station's customer figures by a few hundred per cent this week!
Verse
Joyful, Satirical, Topical, Miserable: the whole gamut of railway experience may be here in verse or worse
STRANDED AT THE BEACH
or
It started out so well
Good Friday being fine this year
And with no hint of rain,
We thought we’d visit Severn Beach
On our splendid local train
We sat upon the estuary wall
With a just-baked hot cross bun,
And listened to the sound of peace
In the clear bright air and sun.
We walked out to the headland
where a nature path is planned;
Saw celandines and badger scrapes
Heard curlews on the strand.
There could not be a better place
Than this to spend the day.
The headlines of a manic age
seemed half a world away.
It was when we reached the station
And no train on the track
That we began to wrack our brains
As to how we would come back.
The Info Point still babbled on
With the message all was well,
The absence of our homeward train
Told a very different tale.
As we thought that we’d be sleeping
With the pebble s on the shore,
We were rescued by South Glo’shire
And their service 624.
So we say to Andrew Griffiths
That we wouldn’t want to preach
But we lack of sense of humour
When we’re stranded at the Beach.
And whilst we all acknowledge
That emergencies arise
We’d prefer updated info
To a horrible surprise.
Jill Sheppard
FATE’S TRACKS
We start in second place, behind the car
And none of us are going far
Through the sleeping city, above the urban plain
Our window shows life from the train;
We had the vision, dodged Beeching’s aim
In downbeat circles we rose to fame
Support was our saviour, our branch’s dove
As we soared into legend, we challenged powers above
But now rubber wheels threaten Severnside’s lifeline
Inevitably, now begins our railway’s decline
Towards a world of hypocrisy and hate
All I can do is ride my fate.
Alas, too many opt for the dare,
They catch the train but dodge the fare,
Then a peal of laughter at the destination
Fuelled by an earned can of intoxication
And meanwhile, our image declines:
A dead loss, be these parallel lines
Why can’t the dove wield its axe?
Then, at last, some more car tax
Could fuel the need for roads and streets
And then, concluding such rash feats
The opposition will strike, launch its attacks -
Look back — why didn’t we save fate’s tracks?
Drowning our city in silent pollution
No-one noticed the existing solution
Right on our thresholds, else a short stroll away
Running like clockwork, day after day
Even now, in the evening, where the lamps are lit
As the publican realises he’s spilt a bit
The men are oblivious as they cry into their beers
For their guardian’s loss has sparked their tears
They know the consequence of the death of the line:
Worse than self-sufficiency, or a need to redesign,
For there’ll be no bustling gangways, no bags on racks
When the dove has released my own fate’s tracks.
George Buxton
March 2006
THE TRAIN
The train is really slick,
Because it is so quick,
Should we be forced
To make more exhaust?
The train comes down the tracks,
There are lots of bags on the racks,
People crowd onto the train,
The train is taking the strain.
Benjamin Judd
THE BARD TO THE GUARD
If you travel on the Beach line
There’s one thing sure to please;
The driver won’t slam on the brakes
And bring you to your knees.
Instead of sullen scowls
You’ll be instantly beguiled,
As you hand the guard your money -
Ticket’s issued with a smile!
You’ll not be stuck in traffic jams
Or breathe in poisoned air,
You can read or do your crossword,
Or simply sit and stare.
You can gaze out of the window
At the butterflies and bees,
When the buddleia at Sea Mills
In August’s full of these.
From on ancient Roman harbour,
From the estuary to town,
From blackthorn in the springtime
To the frost on snowy ground.
However
If you travel on the Beach train
Watch out for any sign
That the destination’s pointing
To the ending of the line.
And we ought to say in closing
To the drivers and the guards,
Like that famous Bristol duo:
“Job well done, lads” - our regards.
Gill Sheppard of Shirehampton
The Cable Song
Friday 5 September 2008
First Great Western apologises for the cancellation of trains to Severn Beach. Disruption to the service is due to vandalism
Was it an Avonmouth man
with a solid business plan
To exploit the entrepreneurial skills
Of an engineer from Sea Mills
Who managed to inspire
A lorry driver based in Shire
That the market price would not go higher
For copper coated wire?
Late on Thursday night
Someone took a stealthy bite
At a length of cable
Which meant the signal was not able
To let trains proceed.
This caused consternation
At each and every station
Since the train is our salvation.
If you’re tempted to the crime
Of ripping up a branch line
Look carefully at the label.
There is no profit in fibre optic cable.
Julie Boston Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways (FOSBR)
NB Thanks to Network Rail whose workforce restored the service by mid-day.
The Real Feel
When the city hustle-bustle
Has become an awful pain,
Take a trip out to the seaside
On our now augmented train,
The fishermen are on the shore
And casting out their lures,
For exhausted city dwellers
What could be a better cure
Than to walk along the estuary,
Breathing fresh sea-salted air;
And gifted with a calm and peace
We otherwise find rare.
The curlew and the cormorant
Have joined in the refrain;
There’s the far-off eerie hooting
Of the 14.06 train.
In May the scent of hawthorn
Still hangs heavy in the air;
Look for chicory in August –
It’s outside a fox’s lair.
Take a coffee break at Shirley’s,
And step back into the past,
Unlike Costa’s it won’t cost you
And the price leave you aghast.
If it wasn’t for the Beach Line
Most of this would be in vain;
So please all raise your glasses
And let’s hear it for THE TRAIN !
Gill Sheppard
Shirehampton 2008
A few Songs
The Severn Beach train (C)
T'was in the year of '89 on that First Great Western line,
When the winter wind was blowin' shrill,
The rails were froze, the wheels were cold, then the air brakes wouldn't hold,
And the train came roaring straight through Lawrence Hill -- oh!
The Severn Beach train came down the track and she blew x2
The Severn Beach train came down the track, her whistle wide and her throttle back,
And she blew, blew, blew, blew, blew.
The engineer said the train must halt and she blew x2
The engineer said the train must halt -- he said it was all the fireman's fault,
And she blew, blew, blew, blew, blew.
The fireman said he rang the bell and she blew, x2
The fireman said he rang the bell -- the engineer said "You did like h***!"
And she blew, blew, blew, blew, blew.
The porter got an awful fright and she blew x2
The porter got an awful fright -- he got so scared he near turned white,
And she blew, blew, blew, blew, blew.
A donkey was standing in the way and she blew x2
A donkey was standing in the way and all they found was just his bray,
And she blew, blew, blew, blew, blew.
The conductor said there'd be a wreck and she blew, x2
The conductor said there'd be a wreck and he felt the chills run up his neck,
And she blew, blew, blew, blew, blew.
The Severn Beach train went over the hill and she blew,x2
The Severn Beach train went over the hill and the last we heard she was going still,
And she blew, blew, blew, blew, blew.
Last Train To Clifton (A)
Tune Last Train to Clarkesville by the Monkees
Take the last train to Clifton
And I'll meet you at the station,
You can be here by four-thirty,
'Cause I've made your reservation, don't be slow,
Oh, no, no, no, Oh, no, no, no.
'Cause I'm leaving in the morning
And I must see you again,
We'll have one more night together
'Til the morning brings my train and I must go,
Oh, no, no, no, Oh, no, no, no,
And I don't know if I'm ever coming home.
Take the last train to Clifton,
I'll be waiting at the station,
We'll have time for coffee-flavored kisses,
And a bit of conversation, oh,
Oh, no, no, no, Oh, no, no, no.
Da-da-da-da-da-da, etc...
Take the last train to Clifton,
Now I must hang up the phone,
I can't hear you in this noisy railroad station,
All alone, I'm feeling low.
Oh, no, no, no, Oh, no, no, no,
And I don't know if I'm ever coming home. Oh...
Take the last train to Clifton,
And I'll meet you at the station,
You can be here by four-thirty,
'Cause I've made your reservation, don't be slow,
Oh, no, no, no, Oh, no, no, no,
And I don't know if I'm ever coming home.
Take the last train to Clifton,
Take the last train to Clifton,
fade out...
Gospel train (D)
The gospel train is coming
I hear it just at hand
I hear the car wheel moving
And rumbling through the land
Oh Get on board little children
Get on board little children
Get on board little children
There's room for many and more 2x
I hear the bell and whistle
She's coming round a curve
She's loosened all her steam and power
And straining every nerve
The fare is cheap and all can go
The rich and poor are there
No second class on board this train
No difference in the fare
It's nearing down the station
Oh sinner don't be vain
But come and get your ticket
And be ready for this train
Tune Morning Town Ride (The Seekers)
Train whistle blowin', makes a sleepy noise
Underneath their blankets go all the girls and boys
Rockin', Rollin', Ridin', via Montpelier
All bound for Severn Beach, not so far a-way
Driver at the engine, Fireman rings the bell
Sandman swings the lantern to say that all is well
Rockin', Rollin', Ridin', via Montpelier
All bound for Severn Beach, not so far a-way
Maybe it is raining where our train will ride
All the little trave'lers are warm and snug in-side
Rockin', Rollin', Ridin', via Montpelier
All bound for Severn Beach, not so far a-way
Somewhere there is sunshine, somewhere there is day
Somewhere there is Severn Beach, not so far a-way
Rockin', Rollin', Ridin', via Montpelier
All bound for Severn Beach, not so far a-way
All bound for Severn Beach, not so far` a-way
Choo Choo Ch'Boogie (D)
Headin' for the station with a pack on my back
I'm tired of transportation in the back of my hack
I love to hear the rhythm of the clickety clack
And hear the lonesome whistle see the smoke from the stack
to pal around with democratic fellows named mac
So take me right back to the track, jack
Choo-choo, choo-choo, ch'boogie, woo-woo
Woo-woo, ch'boogie, choo-choo, choo-choo, ch'boogie
Take me right back to the track, jack
You reach your destination but you don't go back
You need some compensation to get back in the black
You take a morning paper from the top of the stack
And read the situations from the front to the back
But the only job that's open needs a man with a knack
So put it right back in the rack, jack
Choo-choo, choo-choo, ch'boogie, woo-woo
Woo-woo, ch'boogie, choo-choo, choo-choo, ch'boogie
Take me right back to the track, jack
Gonna settle down by the railroad track
Live the life o'riley in the beaten down shack
When i hear a whistle i can peep thru the crack
Watch the train rollin' when it's ballin' the jack
Love to hear the rhythm of the clickety clack
So take me right back to the track, jack
Choo-choo, choo-choo, ch'boogie, woo-woo
Woo-woo, ch'boogie, choo-choo, choo-choo, ch'boogie
Take me right back to the track, jack (bis)
The Ros Rap
This quaint little branch line needs our support,
So why not organise a creative group outing I thought?
Lawrence Hill, Stapleton Road, Montpelier, Redland, Clifton Down
Hop on for a day trip taking you right out of town
Come on board! Join Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways
For 8th August, next Wednesday is the day,
of raising the profile of the Severn Beach line
Creating verse that rhyme….. sometimes.
A GREAT DAY OUT WAS HAD BY ALL
An ambitious idea but wholly achieved
We bought new travellers on Board
The Severn Beach Branch line hooray!
3 visitors from Spain
Travelled with us that day
Identified through FOSW stickers
Julie Boston did bring with her
The sun came out and shone for us
O yes it did!
18 of us in all assembled
4 sadly missing their connection
could not be with us to their dismay
The next train being 2 hours away
Note 1st Great Western this is not good enough!
Children attentively drew
One or two of us wrote.
Arriving at the beach we found a spot
for a group picnic we had got
Finished off pieces,
Chilled out and explored the mudflats
That needed detangling from the children
Returning happily mud bound
On the home bound 15.54 train.
Dominic volunteered,
his brilliant creation to perform
on train on the route back home again
All declared we will in deed come here again
Ros Martin
Our outing on trains
All packed for a day at the Beach
Food to share, winter and summer wear.
Ros and friends on board
greet the Montpelier huddle bubble hoard
Carers and kids with bright yellow stickers
Heads down
clutching pencils
As we clunk through Sea Mills
I want to shout out look
This is magic for Thomas Cook.
Ruth smiles at thought of
Walking the blackberry route
For cake at Kingsweston House
We reach the Beach
Adults settle on a concrete arena
Spread out food and drinks in the sun
gazing at the River Severn
relaxed that the children are having faraway fun.
Then it hits me with a thud
My name will always be mud.
Julie Boston 06 August 2008