Anoraks Corner .. St Swithins Day and its already raining here! .. Remember, its best to go before you go out! .. Somebody in administration whose name I shall withhold, but he does have his own lamp up in Montpellier, has suggested a change of name to these postings .. hes just made up, Jocks Journal all on his own! .. what do you reckon, eh? . I used to present a fill in afternoon music programme on ye olde steam radio, which I christened in haste one day, Jocks Box .. for some reason everyone at the radio station, especially the ladies, used to snigger whenever I said it ..what was their problem? .. Ive a busy day ahead, hospital crap and other boring stuff, so itll be a quickie this morning! .... Oh!, that reminds me, have you ever seen the British film, Rita, Sue and Bob Too, I watched it on the telly earlier this morning (snigger, snigger!) .. I think this is one of the finest photos ever taken at Malvern Road Station and from a very interesting and original angle. . A man whose name frequently appears in my inane ramblings is W. Potter. . Mr Potter was pottering about in the middle of the up avoiding line (EEK!) at around 5.30pm on the 29th July 1965 awaiting the 5pm local passenger service from Gloucester (Central) to Cheltenham (St James) .. By this date, the BR Western Region had rid itself of all, but one, scheduled steam working .. and this was it! .. A variety of remaining steamers could turn up on this short passenger run and on this particular day, it was Horton Roads 4-6-0 Castle, #7029 Clun Castle (long in preservation). . On her arrival at the Cheltenham Town Terminus, this magnificent locomotive designed by Charles Collett, but sheer Churchwardian, would have to suffer the indignity of hauling a freight back to Gloucester .. and tender first, if you dont mind! .. An engine of her breeding should never have to show her bottom in public! .. Ive never seen Malvern Road looking so quiet and deserted. . I loved that station and spent many happy hours there as a youngster and often wandered around the engine sheds as well.. It was seldom any members of staff ever chased me away, except the miserable old git in the trilby hat! . I still have my treasured wad of brand new cotton waste I nicked from the store room there! .. Along the embankment in the distance to the right, spruce trees grew and folks kept chickens and pigs.. It was a much simpler world we were fast loosing! ..The building on the platform, to the left of where the loco is seen, housed the refreshment room, but I doubt if it was still operational by the time this picture was taken? .. On the last day of 1965, Clun Castle would again work this service, but, on that occasion, it would mark the complete end of steam in our area!.. BAH! .. . Hearts will never be practical until they are made unbreakable
Posted on: Tue, 15 Jul 2014 05:45:26 +0000