Bristol On 20th May 47245+70013 Oliver Cromwell worked 12.00 ECS to Southall following the previous day’s railtour to Plymouth and 47826+47804 top and tailed a 13.00 ECS to Carnforth with the stock of the previous day’s trip to Holyhead. On 3rd June 47580, repainted in 1970’s Stratford livery with Union Jack, silver roof, old style emblem and cockney sparrow logo was stabled in the down through line with 47854 and ECS which had worked a Newport to Carlisle Statesman trip the previous day. On 9th June 43002/03 worked a special HST 08.10 Bristol to York for First Great Western Staff and guests and 37609+37606 worked a 05.17 Crewe to Parkandillack down at 09.21, returning at 19.55.

	37609 and 37606 worked a 05.17 Crewe to Parkandillack special on 9th June 2012. At Plymouth the 37s were split to work top & tail in Cornwall. After uncoupling the locos and placing the traditional Cornish Pixie on the lamp bracket, Bristol Branch member Mike Goodfield walks forward to the front cab to complete the run round.   Paul Udey

Bristol West Depot Six locomotives were noted in or near the Depot at 19.50 on 9th June. 66536/589 were in the container terminal, 37606/609 were stopped at the up mainline signal on a returning Heathfield to Crewe Railtour and 66105 and 66001 top and tailed an HBOC train on to the branch at Parson Street at 19.50. 66105 was noted 30 minutes later passing Temple Meads up LE at 20.21. Other freightliner locomotives noted were 66502/536/539/542/564/571.

Barton Hill On 17th June 56312+31601 arrived at 12.47 LE from York.

Bristol Parkway On 21st May Colas 66850 worked down at 09.20 with Gloucester to Baglan Bay empty log train which on Mondays during June ran via Lydney. On 23rd May 37608 worked up at 10.00 with a Keyham to Crewe train, 66715 worked down LE at 15.50 and 57003 + 50026 worked up LE at 15.22 en route from Eastleigh to Lydney via Gloucester. On 26th 47851/854 worked a charter to Carlisle up at 07.43. Later 37601/611 worked a test train from Eastleigh to Derby RTC up at 11.20. On 8th June 70010 and 70016 (dead in train) passed at speed at 16.45 on a very late 4F56 10.46 Fifoots Power Station-Stoke Gifford sidings (via Chipping Sodbury goods loop), the late running was caused by the failure of 70016. On 9th June 47790+47832 worked down at 10:33 with a Doncaster to Bath Spa charter. On 15th 153373+153333 (LM Livery) +153329+153380 were a very unusual quartet on the 12.41 Gloucester to Bristol Temple Meads. On 16th 37603/611 worked a test train from Exeter to Derby RTC up at 10:56 with stock 72639, 72616, 977997, 9481. The Bridgwater to Sellafield nuclear flask train was worked by 37038/606 at 12.45 on 24th May, 57007/9 at 13.00 on 28th, 20309+37606 at 12.53 on 31st, 20301/305 at 14.15 on 7th June, 37605/8 at 15.17 on 11th. The Theale to Robeston empty tanks were worked by 60074 and 60079 during the month. The Wentloog to Millbrook freightliner was worked by 66414/418, and 66501/517/539/558//563/571/587592/593, 66954 during the month.

Stoke Gifford Locos noted here were 66510/522/525/529/544/548, 66604, 66951/957, 70002/10/13/14.

Westerleigh The Robeston tanks were worked by 60063/074/079 and the Lindsey tanks by 60007/015/071/099 during the month.

Filton On 25th May and 15th June 59202 worked empty Hanson hoppers to Machen at 06.25, returning loaded at 13.50. Similar trains to Avonmouth were worked by 59104 on 30th May and 59101 on 1st June. On 1st June 47580+47854 worked down ECS at 15.17. On 7th June 70016 worked up coal at 11.45, 66846 the Teigngrace to Chirk logs up at 17.44 and 66622 and 66619 top and tailed an HBOC from Fairwater Yard up at 19.45. 66846 worked the logs up again at 17.45 on 14th.

Pilning On 27th May 47851+47854 top and tailed a down ECS from Bristol to Carnforth at 12.55.

Avonmouth (Hallen Marsh Junction area) Coal trains have been noted with 66031/069/090/112/230.

Bradford-on-Avon On 27th May Freightliner locos 66548/566/567/596 and 66614 passed at 21.18 as 0Y12 20.22 Stoke Gifford-Westbury ready for Sunday engineering trains from Westbury to the Theale area.

On 15th 153318+153373+LM green-liveried 153333 formed the 0853 Weymouth-Gloucester, 153318 having been added at Westbury. On 16th 66087+66194+66019+66130+66050+66025+66069+66145 passed at 15.00 as 0O12, 11.06 Margam-Eastleigh.

Portbury Branch Relaying and drainage work between Ashton Junction and the site of the former Clifton Bridge station has continued at weekends up to 10th June. Autoballaster trains have been noted with 59203+66040 on 27th May, 59202/3 on 2nd June, 59201/2 on 3rd and 59103+66019 on 10th. On 17th 59003/5 were noted at Ashton Junction at 11.45 with a 5-wagon autoballaster and was then seen at Bristol East at 13.04 returning to Westbury. The Warrington car train was worked by 66140 on 22nd May, 66060 on 31st May, 66018 on 7th June and 66006 on 14th. Coal trains were noted with 66018/069/134, 66510/513/514/529/544/546/548/566, and 70005/10/14/16.

Bath On 13th June 35028 arrived with the VSOE at 13.04 with 67005 on the rear. The return working left Temple Meads at 16.45.

	35028 on the return VSOE from Bristol to London on 13 June 2012, passing the bridge that carried the Midland Railway Mangotsfield to Bath line over the River Avon at Newton Meadows near Bath   Jon Hughes

Melksham On 23rd May a 1Q13 08.39 Didcot-Exeter Riverside radio survey train via Westbury, Bath Goods, Weymouth, Westbury, Swindon, Bristol TM and Yatton passed at 09.40, formed 37601 1256 5981 977997 9481 37611. Several of these trains have run this year and continue to do so in connection with the introduction of GSM-R radio throughout the former Western Region area, a project begun some 4 years ago and is the reason for the large communications masts that have been erected approximately every 3-5 miles throughout the region. On 27th the Golden Jubilee liveried FGW HST power car 43186 headed north east at 13.15 on the 08.35 Penzance-Paddington with 43136 at the rear. 66567 passed at 13.35 on 6Y13 10.00 Southcote Junction-Westbury engineers. Paddington-West of England services have been routed this way on most Sundays since early April due to major renewals ahead of electrification between Newbury and Reading on the Berks and Hants line.

Avoncliff On 23rd May 67029 passed at 12.45 on 1V80, 09.44 Victoria-Bath Spa VSOE charter. 57003 and 50026 Indomitable worked up at 14.15 as 0Z76 12.28 Eastleigh Works-Lydney in connection with the latter's appearance at the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway's diesel gala.

Westbury On 11th June the 10.14 Westbury-Eastleigh engineers freight was unusually worked by 60011 piloting 66182. On 14th the same train was worked by 66088/046/182. On 12th June 37603+37611 top and tailed 72639, 72616, 977997, 9481 at 06.30 on a Radio survey train to Exeter via Yeovil and Honiton, then Yeovil, Castle Cary and Taunton to Exeter Riverside Yard. On 14th 60039 arrived here light at 18.20 from Didcot via Melksham for use as a 'super shunter' owing to problems, thought to relate to the axle boxes with yard pilot 08633 which was parked out of use in the down engineers sidings. South West trains 158s on hire to FGW were 158880/6/7.

Dilton Marsh The Halt celebrated its 75th anniversary on Saturday June 2nd. Photographic displays, refreshments, and other entertainments were provided on the up platform for two hours in the afternoon. 153368/377 on the 15.11 Westbury to Warminster and 15.28 return carried a headboard celebrating the anniversary of the opening on 1st June 1937.

Yatton On 23rd May 31601+37611 top and tailed a test train from Didcot to Exeter down at 20.16, the train returning on 26th at 10.50.