Bristol and Gloucester Railway - History

History

In the early nineteenth century, Bristol was an important port. In 1824 a meeting was held at the White Lion Inn in Bristol to discuss the idea of a railway to be known as the Bristol, Northern and Western Railway. This was the period around the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825, when many ambitious schemes were being floated, between London and Bristol and Birmingham and also the East Midlands.

Although there was a great deal of initial enthusiasm, there were technical difficulties and a financial crisis, and the plans were never carried through. Towards the end of the decade the country was in an economic recession, but two horse-drawn tramways were built, between 1832 and 1835, the Avon and Gloucestershire and the Bristol and Gloucestershire. These were locally known as The Coalpit Heath Dramway, serving among others, the Ram Hill Colliery.

In spite of the problems, interest remained high. Through the 1830s lines were in active construction, not only the Birmingham and Gloucester, but others from Birmingham through the Midlands to Yorkshire. A railway would give access to the coal and minerals - and the manufactured riches - of the North, and provide an export outlet for Birmingham through the port of Bristol.

In 1839 the Bristol and Gloucester Railway Bill was passed by Parliament. At Gloucester it formed a junction with the broad gauge Cheltenham and Great Western Union Railway running into the town on mixed gauge tracks. The Bristol and Gloucester Railway had itself been built as broad gauge, but was narrowed to standard gauge and the rolling stock sold to Thomas Brassey for use on the North Devon Railway.

In 1844 the Bristol and Gloucester merged with Birmingham and Gloucester Railway to form the short-lived Birmingham and Bristol Railway, becoming a pawn in railway politics between the Midland Railway and the Great Western Railway. In 1877 the joint Great Western and Midland Clifton Extension Railway in Bristol gave access to Avonmouth Docks, providing the docks with a route to the midlands.

The line remains part of one of the UK's important routes. The Midland Railway later became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway in the rationalisation of 1923. The LMS, along with the rest of the UK's mainline railways, became part of British Railways when it was nationalised in 1948 by the Labour government. Today it carries a frequent service from Birmingham to Penzance.

However the section between Yate and Bristol through Mangotsfield is closed. It was due to close on 3 January 1970, but in fact closed a week early after a landslip blocked the line at Staple Hill. Traffic now diverts at Westerleigh Junction and passes through Bristol Parkway and Filton (as shown on diagram).