Avon Street

<googlemap lat="51.452456" lon="-2.578354"> 51.451627, -2.579019, Avon Street </googlemap>

To Temple Meads (GWR): River Avon
Mainline out of Bristol (GWR): Oxford Street
To Lawrence Hill Junction (MR): Barton Road

History

This was the terminus of the Bristol & Gloucestershire Railway, a line built to bring coal from the coalfields north of Bristol to the heart of the city. It's a shame that nothing stands here to inform the casual observer of the historical importance of the area. In modern times the line became a branch from Lawrence Hill to a cement terminal and was worked by Class 03 locomotives from Bath Road Depot.

Track Plan

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  A track plan of the Avonside area from 1902.

1950s & 1960s

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  Avon Street in the late 50s early 60s. 16ton mineral wagons stand at the wharf's edge. © Clive Moore
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  Under the arches. © Clive Moore
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  A booking office in the shadows. © Clive Moore
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  Railway workers under the arches at Avon Street. A brilliant photo that looks like a scene from a horror movie :) © Clive Moore
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  The United Yeast factory that stood on Avon Street before the cement plant was built. © Clive Moore

1970s

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  Flag men stand on the road and protect the railway from traffic. © Dunstable Dasher
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  03382 waits to bring wagons across the road. © Dunstable Dasher
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  Closer to the camera. © Dunstable Dasher
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  03382 brings wagons across the street. © Dunstable Dasher
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  The driver and flagmen exchange words. I can imagine it went something along the lines of 'hurry up mate, it's bloody freezing stood here' © Dunstable Dasher
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  © Dunstable Dasher
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  Entering the cement depot. © Dunstable Dasher
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  A great look at some of the structures at the Blue Circle cement depot. © Dunstable Dasher
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  The 03 proceeds into Blue Circle Cement and shunts the depot. In the distance an 08 shunts the sidings at Temple Meads. © Dunstable Dasher
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  Looking in the opposite direction along Avon Street. © Dunstable Dasher
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  03382 crosses the road again. The sign behind shows that other sidings along Avon Street where operated by Habgood & Co Ltd. Scrap Iron & Metal Merchants, Weighbridge & Railway Sidings. © Dunstable Dasher

1980s

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  08949 works the London end of Temple Meads station. Viewed from outside Habgood's yard on Avon Street. The line to the cement works crossed the road behind where I was stood when I took this shot. 20.5.88.
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  Looking towards Barton Road. The branch was originally worked by 0-4-0 saddle tanks shedded at Barrow Road MPD, nos 51217 & 51218. In modern times only Class 03s could negotiate the tight curves. In the distance, you can just see a crossing gate. The gate survived in Nov 2003.

1990s

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  The pipes in the ground are so water levels can be monitored in the now filled in wharf. The buffer stop in the 1950s photo (above) is still in place. © Clive Moore
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  These are the tracks that went to the cement works. © Clive Moore
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  This line ran under the arches to the Midland goods shed beyond. © Clive Moore
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  Looking across Avon street. The pair of lines to the left went through the arches to the midland goods shed, while the lines on the right went to the buffer stop again where the wagons are stood in Clives 1950s photo. © Clive Moore

2003

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  This photo is taken from the same spot as 08949 in the above photo in November 2003. The rain beats down on a couple of 150s that are awaiting their next turn of duty.
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  Looking towards Barton Road. Nothing is left except rails embedded in the tarmac. Just visible in the background is the white building seen in a previous photo. This area has become housing.
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  All that's left of the cement terminal that stood on this spot is a fan of track across the road.

2004

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  The view along Avon Street showing no less than six tracks crossing it. Both sides of the road are fenced off as this area is transformed and the railway finally gives back the land in this area.
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  Looking in the direction of Barton Road once again and the only remnant of the past left is this weighbridge.
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  A general view of the area before the new buildings went up.
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  The bridge carrying the mainline over Avon Street.
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  A view of the arches looking in the direction of Temple Meads. The railway passed under here to reach a Midland Railway goods shed.
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  Half way under the railway and the original viaduct is hidden behind an extension.
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  There's also a doorway under here.
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  A glimpse through the crack in the doors.
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  Looking along Avon Street.
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  The viaduct that carries the tracks into Temple Meads.