The English Riviera Express

My birthday treat from the family was a trip on the English Riviera Express from Bristol Temple Meads to Kingswear on Sunday 7^th July. A good day out was had by all.  Here are a few photos of West Country Class No. 34046 Braunton, at Bristol, Kingswear and taking water at Taunton.


I had last stood on the platform at Taunton in the summer of 1963. When the bus taking me into town from our farm house holiday slowed as it approached the underbridge below the station, I descended the stairs and stood on the open platform at the back of the bus. As I was about to alight at what I though was the bus stop, the bus suddenly speeded up again and I fell off into the middle of the road. I picked myself up and scuttled off for a day’s train spotting on the station, along with a few new cuts and bruises, none of which took the shine off seeing half of all the 800 Class Warships and Castle Class No. 7010 Avondale Castle putting in a cameo appearance to round off the day, as steam was eclipsed from main line duties by the WR’s hydraulic diesels.    

Brunel

Viewing Brunel’s SS Great Britain in Bristol docks, you can’t help being struck by the achievements of a man who died at the age of only 53. He was, perhaps, better known for his work on the Great Western Railway, than for his three distinctive steam ships.

The Great Britain made her maiden voyage from Liverpool and now survives as a major tourist attraction. The Great Western lasted only until 1856. The Great Eastern was towed onto sand banks at Rock Ferry in the Mersey, where she, too, was broken up for salvage. My great grandfather photographed her there in 1888 or 1889.

 

Tyer and Company

Founded by Edward Tyre in 1850, Tyer and Company of London and Carlisle produced a prodigious amount of mechanical signalling equipment for the railways. This example is at the dockside in Bristol.

There appears to be relatively little information online about what must have been a highly influential operator for many decades. It is a name that crops up regularly at railwayana sales.

Leasowe Castle Hotel

Built by the Earl of Derby in 1593, it was bought in 1910 by the Trustees of the Railwaymen’s Convalescent Homes. Retired railwaymen lived there until 1970. It is an historic building with a colourful past.  

It is now an excellent and tastefully restored hotel, boasting clean sea air, expansive coastal views, easy access to the coastal paths and reminders of its own intriguing history around every corner.

    

Bun fight at the old alma mater

I was invited back to my old college in Liverpool. As Hope University, it is clearly now going from strength to strength. I searched through the names of my contemporaries from over 45 years ago and found only one person that I could remember. I tracked him down and we chatted briefly about our time there.

From the 78 bus along Wavertree Road on the way out, I noticed Tiverton Street and the former entrance to Edge Hill sheds. I can remember a lot more about that, I thought. Perhaps that’s just one of the reasons that only one of these men has an MBE. Congratulations, Dr John Buttrick.