1269

[BLN 1269]
X.183] Guess the (Specific) Location: (BLN 1268.X174) ABOVE: For those who did not see this at our
AGM evening presentation it is not underneath M60 Barton Viaduct, the M6 Thelwall Viaduct or
anywhere off the Portishead branch as some thought! Reinstatement of the right hand border gives a
clue that 'PBA' on the loco stands for 'Port of Bristol Authority'. This actually is Avonmouth Docks the
end of line under the M5 Avonmouth Bridge where the motorway crosses over the River Avon (behind
the loco - the Portishead branch being on the other side of the river but significantly inland at this
point.) The Severn Beach line is just behind the photographer, this (8m 26ch) is about half way
between Shirehampton (left) and Avonmouth (right). (Ian Mortimer Aug 1979)
BELOW: 1953/61 one inch 7th Series map. The M5 bridge is now more or less where the minor (white)
road level crossing is shown on the then double track Bristol to Avonmouth line, near the 'n' in 'West
Town'. The internal Avonmouth Docks lines then ended on the picture approximately where shown on
the map. The first series 1:50,000 map, dated 1974, shows the line proceeding about 0.2 miles south
east under, and past the M5 bridge, with a backshunt to some sidings alongside the River Avon.
This suggests that the system was extended after the date of the map below, then cut back again
before Ian Mortimer's Aug 1979 visit. His photo would seem to back this up as the track does end
abruptly and the fence looks quite new. The connection shown on the map at this end of the docks
(Dock Jn) went in Jul 1967 when all access was from Holesmouth Jn (off the map to the north), as now.

X.184]: Hidden London Tours: More of these excellent and very popular tours are due to be released
initially to London Transport Museum Newsletter subscribers see https://goo.gl/tWdkaZ (it's free!) on
Tuesday 22 Nov at 10.00. They include Highgate Northern Heights project, Euston station for
Photographers, (both new for 2017), Down Street (Churchill's secret station), Clapham South
(subterranean shelter), the ArtDeco 55 Broadway (London's first skyscraper) and the Lost Tunnels of
Euston. Prompt booking advised, there is an efficient email queuing system which advises when it is
your turn to book. Any remaining spaces are released to the general public on Wed 23 Nov at 10.00.

X.185] ABOVE: Part of our recent AGM long weekend of fixtures in the southeast; the west end of
Bodiam station on the Kent & East Sussex Railway during the late afternoon of Sun 6 Nov. The
Norwegian State Railway (originally No19) '376' steam loco and brakevan were used to traverse the
'Cattle' line (far right). The two-car DMU (shown in the normal passenger platform) covered the nearer
'Back Road' immediately behind (to the right of) the passenger platform. Left is the loop which was
also taken on this very comprehensive tour. Our FS has only just stepped over the line! (Ian Mortimer)

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