Some Early Lines – Stations to the Welsh Border

Some Early Lines

Stations to the Welsh Border

With a payload never envisaged by the line’s promoters, Great Western pannier tanks Nos. 8787 and 8722 leave Hay with a train load of ammonia tank wagons for the ICI works at Dowlais on 26^th May, 1959  (D.S.Fish

Today there are few of the original GWR streamlines diesel railcars left in service though some, painted green or BR red and cream, still operate in the Worcester – Kidderminster area.  These cars, introduced in 1934, have often been hired by private organizations for special trips.  Still in chocolate and cream, this 1936-built car stands at Coleford Severn & Wye Station with a load of enthusiasts from Birmingham  (P.B.Whitehouse

January, 1959, saw the final abandonment by the Western Region of all passenger services out of Monmouth.  To mark the occasion the Stephenson Locomotive Society ran a special train (with a spotless pannier tank at each end) over the two branches concerned – Monmouth – Chepstow and Monmouth – Ross.  Snow had fallen the evening before but the trip took place on a gloriously sunny winter’s day.  Here the train pauses at Lydbrook Junction on the way from Monmouth to Ross.  The old Severn & Wye line ran to the right of the platform.  R.O.Tuck

The branch from Worcester to Bromyard still has a form of passenger service (closed 1964), but that beyond Bromyard station on to Leominster has been closed and taken up.  Western Region ‘5800’ class 0-4-2 tank No. 5807 takes water before leaving for Leominster in September, 1950.  These engines were a continuation of the ‘1400’ (late ‘4800’) class but were not fitted for auto-working.  (P.B.Whitehouse