top of page

My Story - Part Sixteen
By Coach to the West

At the beginning of May 1961 a few enthusiasts from school booked on to a coach trip to the west. I have a vague recollection that we joined the coach at Victoria very early, but I can’t remember which organisation ran the trip.

 

We headed first for Swindon, works and shed, then to Cheltenham. From Cheltenham our coach followed the rolling English road to both Gloucester sheds, Ross on Wye, Hereford, Worcester, Evesham and Honeybourne. With no motorways to speed our journey it was a long day and a late return to London!

​

All Photographs by Alan Lewis Chambers ©

GWR 5100 2-6-2T No 5103 poses at Swindon Works on 7 May 1961.

GWR 5100 2-6-2T No 5103 poses at Swindon Works on 7 May 1961.
© Copyright Alan Lewis Chambers

GWR 4200 2-8-0T No 4203 poses at Swindon Works on 7 May 1961.

GWR 4200 2-8-0T No 4203 poses at Swindon Works on 7 May 1961.
© Copyright Alan Lewis Chambers

GWR 0-6-0ST No 1361 stored at Swindon Works with GWR streamlined diesel railcar W8 on 7 May 1961.

GWR 0-6-0ST No 1361 stored at Swindon Works with GWR streamlined diesel railcar W8 on 7 May 1961.
© Copyright Alan Lewis Chambers

Much damaged and about to be scrapped crash victim, GWR Hall 4-6-0 No 6902 'Butlers Hall' stands at Swindon Works on 7 May 1961,

with North British Type 2 and Warship diesels in the background.

Much damaged and about to be scrapped crash victim, GWR Hall 4-6-0 No 6902 'Butlers Hall' stands at Swindon Works on 7 May 1961, with North British Type 2 and Warship diesels in the background.
© Copyright Alan Lewis Chambers

GWR 5100 Class 2-6-2T No 4143, complete with the Cheltenham Spa Express headboard in an unusual position, on Cheltenham shed on 7 May 1961.

GWR 5100 Class 2-6-2T No 4143, complete with the Cheltenham Spa Express headboard in an unusual position, on Cheltenham shed on 7 May 1961.
© Copyright Alan Lewis Chambers

Cheltenham GWR shed on 7 May 1961 with GWR 2-6-2Ts Nos 5173 and 4143.

Cheltenham GWR shed on 7 May 1961 with GWR 2-6-2Ts Nos 5173 and 4143.
© Copyright Alan Lewis Chambers

GWR 1600 0-6-0PT No 1605 at Gloucester GWR shed on 7 May 1961.

GWR 1600 0-6-0PT No 1605 at Gloucester GWR shed on 7 May 1961.
© Copyright Alan Lewis Chambers

GWR Manor 4-6-0 No 7805 'Broome Manor' on Gloucester GWR shed on 7 May 1961.

GWR Manor 4-6-0 No 7805 'Broome Manor' on Gloucester GWR shed on 7 May 1961.
© Copyright Alan Lewis Chambers

MR 0-4-0T No 41535 shelters inside Gloucester Midland roundhouse with sister engine No 41537 and a S&DJR 2-8-0 on 7 May 1961.

MR 0-4-0T No 41535 shelters inside Gloucester Midland roundhouse with sister engine No 41537 and a S&DJR 2-8-0 on 7 May 1961.
© Copyright Alan Lewis Chambers

End of the line for MR 4-4-0 No 40540 outside Gloucester Midland shed on 7 May 1961.

End of the line for MR 4-4-0 No 40540 outside Gloucester Midland shed on 7 May 1961.
© Copyright Alan Lewis Chambers

No engine in sight - this is Ross on Wye shed on 7 May 1961. Note the interesting re-use of the Toad body.

The last time I looked, this building itself was re-used as part of a garden centre.

No engine in sight - this is Ross on Wye shed on 7 May 1961. Note the interesting re-use of the Toad body. The last time I looked, this building itself was re-used as part of a garden centre.
© Copyright Alan Lewis Chambers

GWR King 4-6-0 No 6018 'King Henry VI' waits to leave Hereford shed on 7 May 1961.

GWR King 4-6-0 No 6018 'King Henry VI' waits to leave Hereford shed on 7 May 1961.
© Copyright Alan Lewis Chambers

GWR 1600 0-6-0PT No 1661 with spark arresting chimney in Worcester shed yard on 7 May 1961.

GWR 1600 0-6-0PT No 1661 with spark arresting chimney in Worcester shed yard on 7 May 1961.
© Copyright Alan Lewis Chambers

GWR 5100 Class 2-6-2T No 4124 outside Evesham shed on 7 May 1961.

GWR 5100 Class 2-6-2T No 4124 outside Evesham shed on 7 May 1961.
© Copyright Alan Lewis Chambers

GWR 2251 Class 0-6-0 No 2273 by the coaling stage at Honeybourne shed on 7 May 1961.

GWR 2251 Class 0-6-0 No 2273 by the coaling stage at Honeybourne shed on 7 May 1961.
© Copyright Alan Lewis Chambers

I’m sure the coach looked a bit like this, although this photo was taken a few weeks later on a school geography trip to Corby steel works

and the ironstone mines – why didn’t I photograph the ironstone railways?

I’m sure the coach looked a bit like this, although this photo was taken a few weeks later on a school geography trip to Corby steel works and the ironstone mines – why didn’t I photograph the ironstone railways?
© Copyright Alan Lewis Chambers
Comments on This Page
Couldn’t Load Comments
It looks like there was a technical problem. Try reconnecting or refreshing the page.
bottom of page