East Depot

To Bristol, the North or Wales: Whitby Road
To Bath:Langton Road (Bristol No1 Tunnel)

History

Bristol East Depot was opened in 1890 to cope with extra traffic brought about by the opening of the Severn Tunnel. Closed on the 7th August 1967, the down yard remained in use as storage for engineering wagons before being lifted at the end of 2004. In 2005 new sidings were laid and the Bristol Steel Terminal opened at a cost of £400,000.

Track Plans

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  A track plan of East Depot from 1988.

1962

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  The Blue Pullman heads east with a service for London and passes Bristol East depot. The Up yard is still in use and the signal box controlling it can just be seen on the right. A trackgang can be seen sandwiched between the two trains. Not a yellow vest or other safety device to be seen! © Roger Porch

2003

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  A general view of what's left of the down yard on the 28.11.03. Not a lot of stock was kept here by this date, just some crippled wagons, some engineering equipment and the Tunnel Inspection Train. In the far distance St Philips Causeway (or the Spine Road if you prefer) can be seen crossing the railway at North Somerset Junction.
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  A closer view of the Tunnel Inspection Train.
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  An industrial estate now occupies the site of the former Up yard at Bristol East. All the photos on this page were taken from the Langton Road overbridge.
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  A view along Langton Road. It looks like summer in this pic.. it's November :)
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  One of the pavements at Langton Road crosses the railway on an extension to the main bridge.
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  Looking East towards the overbridge at Wick Road with Bristol No2 Tunnel beyond.

2004

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  This stage of Bristol East Depot came to a close during 2004. The track was ripped up and the yard dismantled.

2005

February-March 2005

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  Trackwork and infrastructure going down at what was to become the Bristol Steel Terminal. © Alan Weeks
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  Tarmac was laid to facilitate unloading of wagons. © Alan Weeks
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  Another view of the sidings. © Alex Ford
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  The view of the new sidings from the window of a passing HST. © Andrew Ross

26.4.05

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  A general view across the yard taken from Langton Road.
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  A close up of wagons being unloaded. There's nothing particularly expensive at the depot, just a couple of giant forklifts.
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  An HST storms past on the mainline. It's interesting that there's what looks like a three-way point at the throat of the yard. The 66 on the right was 66079.

21.10.05

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  Engineers were getting ready to install a new crossover and a set of catchpoints on the mainline.
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  Getting everything ready for the engineering possession.
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  A few weeks later the work is completed. The crossover on the mainline was replaced on the weekend of 22nd October and the points into the yard on the 29th. (2.11.05)

2006

29.8.06

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  A year later and the yard is busy with plenty of stock lying on the ground.
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  66090 shunts wagons.