BERNIE HOLLAND PHOTO ARCHIVE -THE STRATFORD TO CHELTENHAM LINE http://bernieholland-honeybourneline.fotopic.net/ 12 rows en-gb 60 A TRIBUTE TO JOAN POTTER http://bernieholland-honeybourneline.fotopic.net/c1680155.html When I visited my mother in Bishops Cleeve in April 2009, she showed me an obituary notice in 'The Gloucestershire Echo" of Friday April 3rd 2009, reading: "JOAN POTTER - passed away peacefully on 24th March 2009 at Orchard House Nursing Home, Bishops Cleeve, aged 88 years. Her funeral service was held at Bishops Cleeve Methodist Church on Thursday 9th April at 2.00 pm. Joan was the widow of Bill Potter who died twelve years earlier in 1997. This small selection of photographs, most of which had been taken by Bill, is intended as a tribute to a friend who is now sadly missed by all who knew her. She loved travelling, writing poetry and drawing and painting scenes from nature and I have many poems that she sent to me along with the many letters she wrote to me over the years. She lived with Bill in a house in Meadoway Bishops Cleeve and continued to live there for several years after his passing, but unfortunately after suffering a series of falls at home she had to be admitted to Orchard House Nursing Home in Bishops Cleeve where she was cared for until her passing. This tribute is posted here in the hope that it may remind others who knew her that she was a kind soul who does not deserve to be forgotten. Friday 10 April 2009: When I visited my mother in Bishops Cleeve in April 2009, she showed me an obituary notice in 'The Gloucestershire Echo" of Friday April 3rd 2009, reading: "JOAN POTTER - passed away peacefully on 24th March 2009 at Orchard House Nursing Home, Bishops Cleeve, aged 88 years. Her funeral service was held at Bishops Cleeve Methodist Church on Thursday 9th April at 2.00 pm. Joan was the widow of Bill Potter who died twelve years earlier in 1997. This small selection of photographs, most of which had been taken by Bill, is intended as a tribute to a friend who is now sadly missed by all who knew her. She loved travelling, writing poetry and drawing and painting scenes from nature and I have many poems that she sent to me along with the many letters she wrote to me over the years. She lived with Bill in a house in Meadoway Bishops Cleeve and continued to live there for several years after his passing, but unfortunately after suffering a series of falls at home she had to be admitted to Orchard House Nursing Home in Bishops Cleeve where she was cared for until her passing. This tribute is posted here in the hope that it may remind others who knew her that she was a kind soul who does not deserve to be forgotten.

Joan and Margaret stand beside 0-6-0T 47308 at Gloucester Eastgate Station on 7th July 1963 (Picture by Bill Potter) Joan Potter enjoys lunch at the Pheasant Inn, Toddington on 19th October 1997. (Picture by Bernie Holland) Joan stands beside Joan stands beside Joan and Margaret on the Butterwalk, Dartmouth on 25th June 1960 (Picture by Bill Potter) Joan is seen sitting on the seawall at Teignmouth on 31st August 1963 (Picture by Bill Potter) Joan and Margaret are seen aboard the Joan and Margaret are pictured on the recently completed Saltash Road Bridge on 13th August 1962 (Picture by Bill Potter)

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]]> Fri Apr 10 2009 Geoff Sanders http://bernieholland-honeybourneline.fotopic.net/c1671912.html These are some pictures which have kindy been contributed by Geoff Sanders who is a member of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. Tuesday 24 March 2009: These are some pictures which have kindy been contributed by Geoff Sanders who is a member of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway.

2820 works south off the Honeybourne Line at Cheltenham Spa Lansdown with a train for South Wales (undated) (picture kindly contributed by Geoff Sanders) 31626 departs from Cheltenham Spa Lansdown with a train for Andover (undated) (picture kindly contributed by Geoff Sanders) 4094 Dynevor Castle on The Cornishman at Hatherley 1957 (Picture kindly supplied by Geoff Sanders) 4980 Wrottesley Hall on a Bristol City FC Supporters Special to Birmingham at Hatherley 1957 (Picture kindly supplied by Geoff Sanders) 5157 on a Chelt - Glos train in the snow at Hatherley Dec 1956 (Picture kindly supplied by Geoff Sanders) 6330 on a Glos - Chelt train at Badgworth Jan 1957 (Picture kindly supplied by Geoff Sanders) 7009 Athelney Castle on a Swansea - Birmingham express at Hatherley Jan 1957. (Picture kindly supplied by Geoff Sanders) WD 2-8-0 with Gloucester bound goods at Hatherley 1957 (Picture kindly supplied by Geoff Sanders) An unidentified

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]]> Tue Mar 24 2009 Colour Views by Michael Mensing http://bernieholland-honeybourneline.fotopic.net/c1601335.html Michael Mensing very kindly provided me with several colour prints of the Honeybourne Line. There are four views at Winchcombe, three in the Hunting Butts area near Cheltenham Race Course and one at Honeybourne Junction. Sunday 26 October 2008: Michael Mensing very kindly provided me with several colour prints of the Honeybourne Line. There are four views at Winchcombe, three in the Hunting Butts area near Cheltenham Race Course and one at Honeybourne Junction.

6953 (formerly Having passed under Swindon Lane Bridge, 6953 (formerly This view should be of some interest to all the GWSR volunteers who were involved with the rebuilding of Monmouth Troy station at Winchcombe because in this view taken on 31st July 1965 there is little evidence that any station existed there! Standard Class 8 No.70053 (formerly 7019 7019 Since the line has been reinstated under the auspices of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, there must have been countless photographers who have occupied this very spot from where Michael Mensing took this shot of 7815 Hawker-Siddeley 2,750bhp Co-Co diesel-electric locomotive D1589 heads the 2:30 pm Paignton to Wolverhampton Low Level service north towards Honeybourne Junction on 14th August 1965. The photographer is standing on the embankment of the Oxford to Worcester line under which this train is due to pass. In the distance can be seen the bridge which carries the road from Church Honeybourne to Mickleton. (Photo courtesy of Michael Mensing) B.R. Sulzer Production 'Peak' 2,500bhp 1Co-Co1 diesel electric locomotive D30 heads the 7:32 am Derby to Bristol Temple Meads between Cheltenham Race Course and Hunting Butts on Sunday 1st May 1966. This service was diverted via the Western Region route due to an engineering track possession on the Midland Region line near Eckington. (Photo courtesy of Michael Mensing)

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]]> Sun Oct 26 2008 Cheltenham St James and Lansdown Junction http://bernieholland-honeybourneline.fotopic.net/c1592489.html Cheltenham St James and Lansdown Junction Wednesday 8 October 2008: Cheltenham St James and Lansdown Junction

The fireman breaks up the coal on the tender of 2801 as the train approaches Cheltenham Lansdown taking the 'Honeybourne Line' via Malvern Road (Picture kindly contributed by Geoff Sanders) 31625 approaches Cheltenham Lansdown with a train from Andover c.1955 (Picture kindly contributed by Geoff Sanders) Class 4F 0-6-0 No.44209 works south through Cheltenham Lansdown on 25th August 1953. (Picture kindly contributed by Geoff Sanders) View taken from St Georges Road Bridge looking north east over the expanse of the goods yard at Cheltenham St James in 1940. This view was taken prior to the big storm which removed the spire of St Matthews Church.(Courtesy of Mowat Collection) The quadrupling of the Cheltenham to Gloucester line was a strategic wartime measure and involved the doubling of many bridges on the line south of Lansdown Junction. This is a view of work in progress at Up Hatherley and the four-track layout came into use here on 9th August 1942. Traffic from the Honeybourne Line would eventually pass through the arch under construction in this picture dated earlier in 1942. (M.P. Barnsley Collection) 2-6-2T No.4101 waits to depart with a local train for Gloucester Central in May 1962. (J.R. Besley) 2-6-0 No.6365 waits at Cheltenham Spa (St James) with the 3:25 pm to Gloucester Central on 1st August 1963 (B.J. Ashworth) 2-6-2T No.4564 starts the 2:35 pm train to Swindon from Cheltenham Spa (St James) on 7th May 1964. Many thanks to Julian Parker for advising me that the church that lost its spire was in fact St Matthews and not St Marks as originally captioned. (B J Ashworth) The quadrupling of the Cheltenham to Gloucester line was a strategic wartime measure and involved the laying in of new connections between the GWR and LMS lines at Lansdown Junction. The signalling was also modified as can be seen by the impressive new gantry here. This is a view of work in progress at Cheltenham Lansdown on 25th August 1942. The new layout came into use here on 9th September 1942. Traffic from the Honeybourne Line would eventually be able to gain direct access to Midland metals and vice-versa, an indispensable facility if ever there were a need for diversions either way. (Photographer as yet to be identified here) The 5 pm passenger train from Gloucester provided the locomotive for the return freight working, in this case 2-6-2T No.4100 seen working bunker-first on a rake of vans bound for Gloucester Yard on 6th August 1965. (Bill Potter) Whenever I see a Stephenson Locomotive Society headboard, I immediately think of a really wonderful gentleman and good friend of mine, John Aylard, who I first met about 15 years ago when he booked me to present a slide-show for the SLS Barnet Group. However, a gentleman from Bristol by the name of Rex Conway sent me a pack of black and white prints in which I found this shot of the 'doyen of the Dukedogs' 4-4-0 No.9000 preparing to depart Lansdown Station with a SLS Special in 1952. The headboard appears to have been rather hastily drawn up on a sheet of board ! This is a view of the turntable at St James, taken by Bill Potter in June 1951. It was a manually operated turntable and would be moved at one end by the driver and at the other by the fireman. In the background can be seen St Gregory's School where I was a pupil from 1956-60. We scraped out small recesses in the mortar of the brick wall (seen behind the turntable) so as to provide a foothold in order to be able to climb high enough to see over the wall as the locos were being turned. I can remember seeing many classes of loco on that turntable including Believe it or not, they did turn the 'Prairies' at St James as this equalised tyre wear. In this view taken by H.C Casserley, 2-6-2T No.4101 is seen on the turntable road on 1st October 1960. Note the unusual signal with a white ring affixed. A couple of years earlier, aged 10 years old, I was walking through the station on my way to St Gregory's School where I was a pupil from 1956-59, and I witnessed the sight of 2-6-2T 4573 which had fouled the points at this same location and had derailed. A railway crane was brought in to re-rail the loco - I often wonder if anyone took a photo of that! This is a picture by another of my fellow RCTS members, the late John Baker. Having just called at Malvern Road, 5031 Displaced from their 'Cambrian' habitat, the 'Dukedogs' often made apperances at Cheltenham in the late 1950s. In this view taken by Bill Potter at Cheltenham Spa (St James) 4-4-0 No.9017 has arrived from Gloucester on 20th April 1958. The retaining wall and walkway adjacent to Dean Close School provided access to the railway 'hotspot' of Cheltenham - Lansdown Road Bridge, where it was possible to see traffic from both the Midland Line and the Western Line. I can remember seeing locos from all regions appearing here at one time or another during the late 1950s and early 1960s. A Derby to Bristol could produce a B1, as well as the usual Midland Region fare of 'Black 5s', 'Jubilees' and 'Royal Scots'. The Western Region also offered Southern engines such as the Maunsell

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]]> Wed Oct 8 2008 Views at Cheltenham (Malvern Road) http://bernieholland-honeybourneline.fotopic.net/c1592180.html Views at Cheltenham (Malvern Road) Wednesday 8 October 2008: Views at Cheltenham (Malvern Road)

This puts paid to a fellow who once argued with me that 'County’ class engines were never seen on the ‘Corny’! Hawksworth 4-6-0 No.1004 “County of Somerset” prepares to depart from Malvern Road with the up ‘Cornishman’ in 1959. (photographer unknown) A view of Malvern Road station exterior taken in 1967 after closure. The station opened on 30th March 1908 as part of the GWR'S route from Birmingham to Bristol. The station had its own approach road off Malvern Road aznd had an island platform with a bay at the north end which was used by Honeybourne auto-trains coming in and out of St James station. (Bill Potter) 0-6-0PT No.9445 in the bay platform at Cheltenham (Malvern Road) station, with an evening local train 23rd May 1959 (M.Mensing) On 8th May 1964 the 'up' Cheltenham Spa Express makes an explosive start from Cheltenham Malvern Road (West) with 2-6-2T No.4564 hauling the train to Gloucester (Central) from where it will reverse and be diesel-hauled to Paddington. The reason it was hauled from St James by a ‘Prairie’ was because a ‘Castle’ plus its tender was too long to fit on the turntable. (Photo by B.J.Ashworth) No.7001 Stanier Class 5 No.45006 about to take the Honeybourne line at Cheltenham Malvern Road East Junction with the (SO) 11:22 am from Newquay to Birmingham Snow Hill. The Black 5 would have taken over from a W.R 4-6-0 at Bristol. The line to the left is the spur leading to the terminus and goods yard at St James (B.J.Ashworth0 With Great Western Road in the foreground, the 'down' Cornishman headed by 7001 GWR 'Aberdare' Class 2-6-0 No.2673 departs from the north end of Cheltenham (Malvern Road) in March 1945 while sister engine No.2638, allocated to Chester, sits on the back road of the loco shed, having broken a crankpin. The loco was not repaired and was still here in September 1945 when it was condemned. (Bill Potter) Gloucester RC&W diesel railcar M55002 departs Malvern Road with a Gloucester to Leamington service on 24th July 1965 (Bill Potter) Viewed from the reception sidings outside Malvern Road Shed, 0-6-0PT No.3759 prepares to depart with a local service from Gloucester Central to Cheltenham Spa St. James in August 1963 (Bill Potter) 5418, 4358 and 6381 are seen stabled at Cheltenham Malvern Road Shed in 1956 (R.S. Carpenter) Cheltenham Malvern Road East Junction as viewed c.1965 from St George’s Road bridge (G.H. Tilt) ‘Bird’ 4-4-0 No.3447 “Jackdaw” reverses light-engine towards the shed at Cheltenham, Malvern Road in September 1944 (Bill Potter). ‘Aberdare’ Class 2-6-0 No.2673 passes through Cheltenham Malvern Road station with a northbound mineral train in March 1945. In the background sister engine No.2638 languishes by the shed with a broken crank-pin (Bill Potter). The date is 1912, a mere four years after the opening to traffic of Cheltenham Malvern Road Station. Film exposures had to be fairly lengthy in Edwardian times so the station staff would have had to keep perfectly still for a few moments when posing for what could have been an official picture. When one visits this site nowadays, it's hard to believe that this sprawling railway site ever existed (photographer unknown, but anonymously immortalised by this precious image) During the mid-1960s most of the ex-GWR locomotives had been stripped of their cabside numberplates and nameplates as non-ferrous metal held a high value as scrap. At this time people really had no inkling that, some forty years hence, these ornaments would be fetching unbelievable prices at auction. Devoid of cabside number-plates and nameplate and identified only by smokebox numberplate, 6827 (formerly View taken from Malvern Road Bridge looking north east towards St Georges Road Bridge. In the distance on the right can be seen Malvern Road East Junction Signal Box where the lines diverge - on the right into St James and on the left to the Honeybourne Line. General view over Malvern Road Station and Yard looking south-west from Malvern Road Bridge in 1940 (Courtesy of Mowat Collection) View from Queen's Road Bridge looking north east towards Malvern Road Station. The row of houses on the right is on Eldorado Road. c.1940 (Courtesy Mowat Collection)

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]]> Wed Oct 8 2008 BILL POTTER http://bernieholland-honeybourneline.fotopic.net/c1590335.html Bill Potter was born in Manchester in 1911 and during the latter half of the 1920s he served an apprenticeship at the firm of Beyer Peacock. In the early 1930s he worked as a boilersmith for Beyers, however, the firm had to cut back on their workforce and he was made redundant. Fortunately he was able to find further employment with the Clock and Watch Division of Smiths Industries in Manchester. After the War he was relocated by Smiths Industries to a new factory they had opened near Bishops Cleeve in Gloucestershire where he worked until his retirement in 1976. His interest in railway photography began in the 1930s and his collection of black and white photographs eventually covered a span of sixty five years. However, it was not until the 1950s that he started taking colour transparencies and so the greater part of the Bill Potter Collection consists of black and white negatives. I knew both Bill and Joan Potter personally for a number of years as they lived in a house next door to my brother Pete, in Meadoway, Bishops Cleeve and whenever I visited my family there, I would always pop in and spend an evening with Bill talking about the railways of yesteryear. Bill would always pull out a tray of slides or prints for me to look at and I was always amazed by the quality of his pictures and of the wide variety of subject matter that had accrued from his illustrious photographic career. Following his tragic death in 1997, his remarkable collection of slides and photographic negatives was, eventually, transferred to the Kidderminster Railway Museum. In accordance with Bill’s last wishes, the collection is now available for inspection by researchers, historians and enthusiasts and, following Mrs Potter’s instructions, the Trustees at Kidderminster Railway Museum have adopted an open access policy regarding those items of the collection which, so far, have been fully, listed, collated and catalogued. This lengthy and time consuming task is being undertaken by a specialist team of volunteers at Kidderminster Railway Museum, currently (2008) under the supervision of David Postle and Audie Baker. With respect to the profusion of Bill Potter material which is shown in this gallery, I am grateful to Mrs Potter for having allowed me access to the collection in order to obtain copy prints of black and white photographs and to have duplicate colour slides made from the originals which have since been transferred to the safe custody of the Kidderminster Railway Museum. I am also grateful to Mrs Potter for the many letters she has sent me over the years and for granting me permission to use this material in my public slide show presentations and here, in this fotopic gallery. Sunday 5 October 2008: Bill Potter was born in Manchester in 1911 and during the latter half of the 1920s he served an apprenticeship at the firm of Beyer Peacock. In the early 1930s he worked as a boilersmith for Beyers, however, the firm had to cut back on their workforce and he was made redundant. Fortunately he was able to find further employment with the Clock and Watch Division of Smiths Industries in Manchester. After the War he was relocated by Smiths Industries to a new factory they had opened near Bishops Cleeve in Gloucestershire where he worked until his retirement in 1976. His interest in railway photography began in the 1930s and his collection of black and white photographs eventually covered a span of sixty five years. However, it was not until the 1950s that he started taking colour transparencies and so the greater part of the Bill Potter Collection consists of black and white negatives. I knew both Bill and Joan Potter personally for a number of years as they lived in a house next door to my brother Pete, in Meadoway, Bishops Cleeve and whenever I visited my family there, I would always pop in and spend an evening with Bill talking about the railways of yesteryear. Bill would always pull out a tray of slides or prints for me to look at and I was always amazed by the quality of his pictures and of the wide variety of subject matter that had accrued from his illustrious photographic career. Following his tragic death in 1997, his remarkable collection of slides and photographic negatives was, eventually, transferred to the Kidderminster Railway Museum. In accordance with Bill_s last wishes, the collection is now available for inspection by researchers, historians and enthusiasts and, following Mrs Potter_s instructions, the Trustees at Kidderminster Railway Museum have adopted an open access policy regarding those items of the collection which, so far, have been fully, listed, collated and catalogued. This lengthy and time consuming task is being undertaken by a specialist team of volunteers at Kidderminster Railway Museum, currently (2008) under the supervision of David Postle and Audie Baker. With respect to the profusion of Bill Potter material which is shown in this gallery, I am grateful to Mrs Potter for having allowed me access to the collection in order to obtain copy prints of black and white photographs and to have duplicate colour slides made from the originals which have since been transferred to the safe custody of the Kidderminster Railway Museum. I am also grateful to Mrs Potter for the many letters she has sent me over the years and for granting me permission to use this material in my public slide show presentations and here, in this fotopic gallery.

Bill Potter is seen here with his camera on the embankment near Cheltenham (Malvern Road) station in 1965. See Commentary to this collection. (Bernie Holland Photo Archive) Over the years I had met Bill on several visits to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway but during the mid-1990s he was less happy about driving so on a couple of occasions I acted as 'chauffeur' to Bill and Joan for photographic trips to Toddington and Winchcombe. I took this photo of Bill during a Steam Gala at Toddington on 19th October 1996. Bill is seen here with Mike Belham, who at that time was the Marketing Manager of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. Sadly, this was the last time I was to see Bill as he passed away in April 1997. (Bernie Holland) Standard Class 9F No.92227 heads south under Southam Road Bridge with a down iron ore working on 11th June 1963. This train would have worked across from the Banbury iron-fields along the former Stratford & Midland Junction Railway taking the south curve at Stratford Racecourse to access the Honeybourne Line. (Bill Potter - Courtesy Kidderminster Railway Museum) WD 2-8-0 No.90403 heads a load of steel-bar bolster empties northbound between Southam and Bishops Cleeve on 6th June 1962 (Bill Potter - courtesy of Kidderminster Railway Museum) Standard Class 9F locomotives were also seen on the iron ore workings to South Wales. 92208 is seen southbound through Bishops Cleeve on 27th July 1963 in a view probably taken by Bill from the signal box. (Bill Potter - Courtesy of Kidderminster Railway Museum) The main local traffic had been fruit from the Vale of Evesham ( and I remember a day of plum picking in Pershore!) livestock and dairy produce for local markets. 0-6-0PT No.9471 is seen working north on the approach to Bishops Cleeve with a consignment of agricultural equipment on 27th July 1963 (Bill Potter - Courtesy of Kidderminster Railway Museum) Standard Class 9F No.92152 heads an up goods train past the former weigh-house at Bishops Cleeve on 27th July 1963. By this time the nest of sidings there had been removed. (Bill Potter - Courtesy of Kidderminster Railway Museum) By the mid-60s, Stanier Class 8F 2-8-0s were a fairly common sight on the iron ore trains from the Warwickshire iron-fields. 48109 works north between Southam Bridge and Bishops Cleeve with a rake of empties on 26th August 1964 (Bill Potter - Courtesy of Kidderminster Railway Museum) 1020 6803 The 1950s were the heyday of the Honeybourne Line as a holiday route to Devon and Cornwall, but by the 1960s the services had been cut back considerably. 7024 The 5th March 1960 was the last day for the 7029 Oh how we hated these Swindon-built 6-car diesel multiple units when they appeared on the scene in the early 1960s. We used to refer to them disparagingly as Although there were never any really fierce gradients on the Cheltenham to Stratford Line, it was mostly uphill all the way from Racecourse Station to the summit of the line at Winchcombe. This occasionally brought about instances of double-heading on 'up' express passenger workings as is evident here. 6917 7024 Not much more than a mile from Bill's house in Meadoway, Bishops Cleeve, this shot was taken from the fields along Kayte Lane midway between Southam Road and Two Hedges Lane. 250 million years ago, this location would have been about 800ft under a shallow Jurassic Sea and the limestone ridge visible on Cleeve Hill, in the background, would have been no more than a coastal cliff-face. Aeons later, this is now the majestic face of Cleeve Hill which provides an impressive background for this classic broadside shot of the 09:00 ex-Penzance to Wolverhampton Low Level 7026 Worcester Shed had a reputation for turning out smart engines and the cleaners have spared no effort to get 7005 5046 And then, the diesels came.....I distinctly remember groups of us cursing these Sulzer nasties that had displaced our beloved Churchward, Collett and Hawksworth machines, but these days I'm out with my camera any time a 'Spoon' is due to pass by. The date is 18th June 1967 and D1611 in the original two-tone livery, is seen passing through Cheltenham Race Course Station with an 'up' Sunday diversion due to a track possession on the Midland Region north of Cheltenham Spa (Lansdown) Station. (Bill Potter - Courtesy of Kiddeminster Railway Museum) Standard Class 5 No.73014 is seen making a bit of a fuss of things approaching Two Hedges Road Bridge, Bishops Cleeve, with a diversion from the Midland Line on 21st August 1965 (Bill Potter - Courtesy of Kidderminster Railway Museum) One of the rare occasions when Bill actually ventured as far north as Toddington was on Saturday 24th July 1965 when he got this shot of a Stanier Class 5 No.45263 working a Saturdays Only 10:05 ex-Wolverhampton Low Level to Kingswear holiday express. Judging from the high angle here, I would think this shot was taken from the steps of the signal-box, producing a view that, apart from the lack of lineside vegetation over 40 years ago, is not a lot different from what one would see today. (Bill Potter - Courtesy of Kidderminster Railway Museum) Formerly named This shot of Standard Class 9F 2-10-0 No.92150 a 'down' freight through the cutting at Dixton was taken by Bill from the bridge there on 17th July 1965. Again, for those who have visited this location in recent years, the absence of lineside vegetation provides a remarkable contrast to the present day scene. (Bill Potter - Courtesy of Kidderminster Railway Museum) Formerly named Having just passed through the remnants of the closed station at Gotherington, Hawksworth 'Modified Hall' No.7915 The final build of Hawksworth's 'Modified Hall 5026 The 'Granges' were remarkable engines for a number of reasons. They were very free steamers, had great powers of acceleration, and could make mincemeat of any gradient. During the latter years of steam, most of the former GWR 4-6-0s lost their nameplates and cabside numberplates. In this instance the only means of ideentifying this example of the class was by it's smokebox numberplate, 6803. One can only wonder where the 7014 This shot of Standard Class 9F 2-10-0 No.92242 pounding its way up the bank between Bishops Cleeve and Gotherington with an 'up' freight was taken by Bill on 27th July 1963 and was a sight I remembered very well as a 15 year old at the time. Just above the heap of coal on the tender, can be seen the tower of the Church of St Michael and All Angels at Bishops Cleeve. (Bill Potter - Courtesy of Kidderminster Railway Museum) The dieselisation of the 1960s relegated many former express passenger classes of steam locomotive to more humble duties as is the case here with 7022 70053 (Formerly 6937 (Formerly 6803 Stanier Class 5 No.45186 heads a southbound holiday special on Saturday 7th August 1965 (Bill Potter - Courtesy of Kidderminster Railway Museum) 70045 (formerly 4923 This is a view of the signal box at Bishops Cleeve as seen on 4th September 1965. It had been closed and decommissioned a month earlier on 11th August. It had a stud type locking frame with 31 levers and the base was built out of local limestone. (Bill Potter - Courtesy of Kidderminster Railway Museum) The last day of the 'Coffeepot'. 0-6-0PT No.8488 and a single coach are seen en route from Cheltenham to Honeybourne approaching Bishops Cleeve Station on 5th March 1960 (Bill Potter - Courtesy of Kidderminster Railway Museum) For some black and white shots of this service see the Class 9F No.92234 heads a rake of empty coal wagons through Bishops Cleeve on 4th September 1965. Clearly visible on the right is the track bed from which the up refuge siding had been lifted. In earlier times, this refuge would be used by northbound goods trains which would set back in order to allow the free passage of up passenger trains. (Bill Potter - Courtesy of Kidderminster Railway Museum) 6842 6944 6953 70053 Photographed from Two Hedges Road Bridge, 7816 Stanier Class 5 No.44691 heads a Wolverhampton to Ilfracombe service through Bishops Cleeve on 24th July 1965 (Bill Potter - Courtesy of Kidderminster Railway Museum) 4949 6823

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]]> Sun Oct 5 2008 Views at Cheltenham St James and Lansdown Junction http://bernieholland-honeybourneline.fotopic.net/c1589964.html Views at Cheltenham St James and Lansdown Junction Sunday 5 October 2008: Views at Cheltenham St James and Lansdown Junction

0-4-2T No.1413 heads the Honeybourne Auto Train towards Cheltenham Malvern Road in 1953 (Picture by Courtesy of Geoff Sanders)

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]]> Sun Oct 5 2008 Views at Southam, Cheltenham Race Course and Hunting Butts http://bernieholland-honeybourneline.fotopic.net/c1589962.html Views at Southam, Cheltenham Race Course and Hunting Butts Sunday 5 October 2008: Views at Southam, Cheltenham Race Course and Hunting Butts

Ex Great Central Robinson 2-8-0s operated during the war as part of the Railway Operating Division. Thge GWR later purchased a number of these ex-ROD locos, one of which (No.3028) is seen rounding the curve near Southam on 26th August 1953 (Picture by courtesy of Geoff Sanders) 7019 This photograph was taken by the father of Humphrey Household in July 1924. 'County' 4-4-0 No.3825 “County of Denbigh” is seen near Cheltenham Racecourse approaching Southam Road bridge. This photograph was taken by the father of Humphrey Household in July 1924. The ‘517’ Class 0-4-2Ts were introduced on the GWR in 1876 and Collett developed this design for his 4800 Class 0-4-2T which appeared in 1932. No.562 of Gloucester Shed is seen with a southbound train approaching Southam Road bridge in July 1924. It was withdrawn from Kidderminster Shed in April 1929 Standard Class 9F 2-10-0 No.92227 is seen heading a iron-ore train, bound for the foundries of South Wales, passing under Southam bridge on 11th June 1963 (Bill Potter) Photographed from Swindon Lane bridge, 4-6-0 No.6827 4-6-0 No.5042 5054 An unidentified Sulzer Type 4 diesel heads a southbound train through Cheltenham Racecourse Station on 23rd July 1966.(Photo by B.J.Ashworth) ‘Star’ Class 4-6-0 No.4061 “Glastonbury Abbey” is seen on a Wolverhampton to Cheltenham Gold Cup Race Special near Southam on 17th April 1952. (Bill Potter ) A veteran GWR lccomotive is seen here in the form of ‘Duke’ Class 4-4-0 No.3289 on a goods train passing under Southam Road bridge in May 1946 (Bill Potter) ‘Castle’ Class 4-6-0 No.5089 “Westminster Abbey” heads the down ‘Cornishman’ south of Hunting Butts Tunnel, on 9th January 1960 (Gordon England)

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]]> Sun Oct 5 2008 Views at Bishops Cleeve http://bernieholland-honeybourneline.fotopic.net/c1589961.html Views at Bishops Cleeve Sunday 5 October 2008: Views at Bishops Cleeve

'Black 5' 4-6-0 No. 45006 passes the stone-built signal box at Bishops Cleeve with a northbound summer excursion on 14th August 1965. By this time the signal box has closed, the signal arms have gone and the goods shed, sidings, and connection have disappeared. (T. David - C.L. Caddy collection) The photographer must have scaled the heights of one of the tall pine trees above the station at Bishops Cleeve to obtain this unusual view on 18th July 1964. The platform slabs have already been removed but the distinctive stone built signal box remains. No.7023 This photo taken on 5th March 1960 was on the final day of service for the 'Coffepot', the local train between Cheltenham and Honeybourne. 0-6-0PT No.8488 works the 13.17 ex-Honeybourne into Bishops Cleeve. See the “Dennis Bath” Collection in this gallery for more pictures taken on this day. (Photo by Bill Potter) No.6953 Gloucester R.C. & W. railcar unit M55004 passes the site of Bishops Cleeve station with a Leamington-Gloucester service on 4th September 1965. This picture offers a fine view of the stone built signal-box. (Bill Potter) Taken in July 1941 this is a wartime photograph of 2-6-2 No.5538 on Honeybourne to Cheltenham train passing Bishops Cleeve. (Bill Potter) Taken in November 1940 from Two Hedges Road bridge looking towards Southam, this is a wartime photograph of R.O.D 2-8-0 No.3006 with an up freight approaching Bishops Cleeve. (W. Potter) The date of this photograph is uncertain but it was probably taken in the late 1950s. Standard Class 9F 2-10-0 No.92247 works north approaching Bishops Cleeve with a train of bolster wagons. (Bill Potter) A post-war scene at Bishops Cleeve with 0-4-2T No.4841 travelling south with a pair of push and pull auto trailers in 1947. (W.Potter)

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]]> Sun Oct 5 2008 Views at Gretton and Gotherington http://bernieholland-honeybourneline.fotopic.net/c1589960.html Views at Gretton and Gotherington Sunday 5 October 2008: Views at Gretton and Gotherington

Churchward 2-8-0 No.2880 crosses the road from Gretton to Gotherington near Far Stanley with a southbound freight in January 1957 (Picture by courtesy of Geoff Sanders) 6851 0-6-0PT No.8731 seen east of Gotherington with the 2-45 pm Broadway-Cheltenham Spa (St James) on 20th February 1960. (M.Mensing) 2,750 HP Hawker Siddeley Co-Co Diesel Electric Loco No.D1590 seen half a mile east of Gotherington with the 11.10 Ilfracombe-Wolverhampton (LL) (reporting code 1M 35) on 14th August 1965 (M.Mensing) Almost broadside/¾ front view of 4-6-0 No.7011 View of Gotherington Halt looking south c.1960. This location once boasted a small goods yard for serving the pig and cattle markets of Gloucester but traffic was never extensive and the station was demoted to the status of 'halt' from 1st January 1949 and was finally closed in June 1955. (Lens of Sutton) Brush Class 4 No.D1600 approaches the skew bridge north of Gotherington station with the 08.20 Wolverhampton to Plymouth train on 23rd July 1966.(Photo by B.J.Ashworth) No. 6803 6924 A view of Gotherington Station looking north-east taken by Clarence Gilbert on 5th September 1932 (Courtesy of Roger Carpenter) A view of Gretton Halt looking east c.1950. (H.C. Casserley)

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]]> Sun Oct 5 2008 Views at Hayles Abbey and Winchcombe (Greet) http://bernieholland-honeybourneline.fotopic.net/c1589959.html Views at Hayles Abbey and Winchcombe (Greet) Sunday 5 October 2008: Views at Hayles Abbey and Winchcombe (Greet)

Water spills out of the overfilled side tank of 0-4-2T No.1424 (with autotrailer W238W) as it starts away from Hayles Abbey Halt working the 1:17 pm Honeybourne to Cheltenham on 27th August 1960. (Courtesy of my fellow RCTS colleague, Hugh Ballantyne) 2-8-2T No.7214 passes Hailes Abbey Halt with a down train of bolster wagons on 21st September 1955. (R.C.Riley) ¾ rear view of 4-6-0 No.7011 ¾ front view of Modified Hall No.7908 ¾ front view of 'Britannia' 4-6-2 No.70045 ¾ rear view of 'Britannia' 4-6-2 No.70045 W.R. (Glos) diesel-car No.W55007 having just passed the site of Winchcombe station (in view under bridge) with the 15.45 Leamington Spa-Gloucester Central on 26th June 1965. (M.Mensing) 2,750 HP Hawker Siddeley Co-Co Diesel Electric Loco No.D1642 seen passing the site of Hayles Abbey Halt with a train of three brake-vans (reporting code Z30) diverted from the M.R. route due to p.w. work between Eckington and Defford on Sunday 15th May 1966 (M.Mensing) 2,750 HP Hawker Siddeley Co-Co Diesel Electric Loco No.D1674 Unidentified Brush Class 4 diesel locomotive hauls a 10-coach load northbound up to the summit at Greet Tunnel (South) on 3rd Sept. 1966 (Photo by B.J.Ashworth) A passenger service of sorts still survived between Stratford-on-Avon and Gloucester in 1966 although all the intermediate stations and halts had been closed with the final withdrawal of the 0-4-2T (or 0-6-0PT) hauled auto-trains between Honeybourne and Cheltenham Spa (St James) in 1960. A single railcar (built Glos. R.C&W Co.) leaves the southern portal of Greet Tunnel with the 15.45 from Leamington Spa on 3rd September 1966, this service running 36 miles non stop from Stratford-on-Avon to Gloucester (Central). (Photo by B.J.Ashworth) 7912 In the final year of the steam-hauled West-of-England expresses over the former G.W. route from Birmingham No.7912 Britannia Class 4-6-2 No.70045 A view of Winchcombe Signal Box and yard taken from the east end of the station platform in 1952. (Joe Moss - courtesy of Roger Carpenter)

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]]> Sun Oct 5 2008 Views at Stanway, Toddington and Didbrook http://bernieholland-honeybourneline.fotopic.net/c1589958.html Views at Stanway, Toddington and Didbrook Sunday 5 October 2008: Views at Stanway, Toddington and Didbrook

5907 0-6-0PT 9727 calls at Toddington with the 1:00 Cheltenham to Broadway on 27th February 1960 (Hugh Ballantyne) A cross-country dmu passes Toddington working the 12:25 Birmingham Snow Hill to Carmarthen on 27th February 1960 (Hugh Ballantyne) Unidentified Hall Class 4-6-0 (devoid of cabside and nameplates) heads north across Stanway Viaduct with 11:10 Ilfracombe to Wolverhampton train on 3rd July 1965. The viaduct was 630ft long with fifteen arches. (B.J.Ashworth) On 8th January 1956, Stanier Class 5 No.44744 (fitted with Caprotti valve gear) passes through Toddington with the 09:10 hrs Derby to Bristol which was diverted via the Honeybourne Line due to track-blanketing work being undertaken at Cheltenham Lansdown (H.A.Staight) A view taken in 1959 by John Chamney of an unidentified 'Castle' Class 4-6-0 seen at speed on the northbound 'Cornishman' passing Toddington Yard. This would have been the return afternoon working. (J.Chamney) In this view taken by H.A.Staight in 1957, Collett 0-6-0 No.2248 is seen from the road bridge at the north end of Toddington station with a down pick-up goods train. Evidence is provided here of the extensive track blanketing that was undertaken on this stretch of the line around 1956-7. (H.A. Staight) The date is 7th March 1963 and coaches from the Royal Train are seen stabled in Toddington Yard during a Gold Cup Race Meeting at Cheltenham. The nearest three coaches are in chocolate and cream livery and the fourth coach, in maroon livery, is the Royal Saloon. (H.A. Staight) A closer view taken on 7th March 1963, in Toddington Yard, of the Royal Saloon coach which was used by H.M. Queen Elizabeth during the Cheltenham Gold Cup Race Meeting. (H.A. Staight) A view of Toddington Station looking north on 9th June 1930 (Clarence Gilbert - courtesy Roger Carpenter) A view from the footbridge at Toddington Station looking south on 9th June 1930 (Clarence Gilbert - courtesy Roger Carpenter) 5368 heads a southbound freight through Toddington Station in 1952 (Joe Moss) GWR 2-4-0 Metro-Tank propelling a 2-coach autotrain, whilst towing a goods van. The consist is travelling north on Didbrook Curve in 1930 (Courtesy of Roger Carpenter Collection) GWR Churchward Mogul No4347 heads a down freight southbound on Didbrook Curve in 1930 (Courtesy of Roger Carpenter Collection) GWR Class 517 0-4-2T heads the Honeybourne to Cheltenham autotrain southbound on Didbrook Curve in 1930 (Courtesy of Roger Carpenter Collection) 4100 takes water at Toddington on the 11.30 Cheltenham to Honeybourne service on 26th April 1958. Apart from the watering arrangements, this is very much how things look at Toddington today. (Picture by courtesy of Chris Gammell)

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