Lots of new Stuff on the Website!

[madhattie]

Just a note to say that there's been tons of new stuff added to the archive!

The line from Midsomer Norton to Frome via Radstock has been explored, as well as the line from Chepstow to Tintern. There are loads of new photos and pages as a result with more being added as I type.

Also a look at the new Ashley Down station, new photos from around Patchway, Filton Abbey Wood and Bristol Parkway.

Over a thousand new photos added in the last couple of weeks

[jules]

Hi Pete

I'm still here if nobody else is!

They'll come back. Keep up the good work!!

- Jules

[madhattie]

That shocked me! A reply

I'll keep plugging away, I've been enjoying adding stuff to the website and the forum is a great place to store news stories and suchlike, so i'll keep posting here too.

Only negative is discovering my film and slide scanner is broken so I'll have to go buy something to replace it. Got loads of stuff in drawers waiting to go live

Nice to see you pop up Jules, thanks!

[madhattie]

Got lots of new stuff to add to the website. Bought some slides off ebay, got loads of negs hanging about waiting to be scanned etc. Just bought a new laptop and am awaiting a card reader so I can get photos off my camera! Once that's done, away we go!

[the green mile]

Purely by accident I discovered just now that the archive is alive and kicking. Spent many an hour on here in the past reminiscing about my involvement with the railways of the Bristol area.

Lots happened in the past few years. Wrote my memoirs entitled 'The Bristolian' to keep me sane during lockdown. Delivered a few talks to clubs on Bath Road depot and to commemorate the 40th anniversary of HSTs 1400 Tomorrow (Sept 26) I am presenting an updated version HST50 to the HMRS at Saltford and I am booked to repeat at the Bath Railwway Society on Nov 5 and Bristol RCTS next September.

Last week a new book on Bath Road depot was released by the Transport Treasury. This was a joint effort telling the story of the depot in the steam and diesel era through the eyes of many who worked there in various grades. Sadly one of the co-authors David Hardy who had been a chaplain with the Railway Mission passed away last week but not before he had managed to hold a copy in his hand. It was his idea.

I am currently working on the History of the HST on behalf of the RCTS. What a challenge! But then what else can you do in retirement when the body starts telling you it can't do what the brain still wants to do.

I take it that the commemorative HST run from Paddington to Swansea via Temple Meads on Saturday 3 October has been well prublicised.

Roy

[madhattie]

Wow, you sound really busy for a retired person Roy! And well done for getting books published, there's a lot of hard work involved in the process.

Lockdown was super busy for me. I work as a driver for Royal Mail and ended up doing 12 hour shifts with vans stuffed to the roof with the upturn in home deliveries. Was easy in some ways, no traffic and everyone home. But I wouldn't want to repeat it. RM threw away all that quality of service since, people are lucky to get deliveries once a week of late.

Lovely to see another voice on here again, really appreciate you popping in

[the green mile]

A very small turnout for the talk at the HMRS yesterday but that seems to be a growing trend of late. Even so I think those who were there found it entertaining. One member turned up with a copy of the new Bath Road book and asked me to sign it. It was the first time I had seen a physical copy as I am waiting to collect my complimentary copy in a few weeks. I did mention that the Archive including all the original postings and discussions is up and running again. A few eyes lit up recognising what I was talking about so fingers crossed we might see a few more returnees.

There is so much material available on YouTube these days so it might be worth adding a new thread for contributors to add a reference to anything of relevance which comes up. I can kick that off when I have an hour to spare. There's a young lad who lives down the road from me near Yeovil who is always out and about with his camera. He posts as 'The Somerset Trainspotter'.

Could also publicise model railway shows coming up. It's the Taunton show in a few weeks. I went last year for the first time and found it excellent including the impressive school canteen which is more like a restaurant.

I'll do my best to put the word around. I am still in contact with 'The Strawberry Line' as we are both members of the Wells Railway Fraternity.

Roy