www.hullavington.info

Memories of Hullavington Railway
From an article by Mary Greenman that first appeared in the Hullavington News

 

What a sad day that was when Hullavington Station closed, and those beasts of steam were never to be seen again!

During 1957, I would sometimes take a half day's leave, and meet Vin from University of Bristol. After morning lectures, he would catch the mid-day stopper-train from Stapleton Road, Bristol to Swindon - Stapleton Road; Lawrence Hill; Filton; Winterbourne; Coalpit Heath; Sodbury; Badminton; Hullavington; Somerfords; Dauntsey; Wootton Bassett and Swindon. The 'Western National' bus from Chippenham would drop me at cemetery corner, from where I would walk to the station. A chat with Dave Broome and Dick Neal would often keep me occupied while I waited.

I remember one afternoon, Bob Neal, who was signalman at the station, told us that if we waited a while, the Bristolian (Bristol/Paddington non-stop) would be going through the station, close on 100 mph. The rail-track from Badminton to Hullavington was straight enough to make this speed possible. We waited -standing well back! That was a sight to make the adrenalin flow -1 shall never forget it. The Bristolian rocked, and it seemed that the engine would touch the platform!


It's interesting what Mary says about train speeds of close  to 100mph. Below are a train driver's recollections on the speeds he got up to during the steam age. In the period Mary speaks of  there were no speed restrictions on the line and the section of track through Hullavington was ideal for speed. This train driver achieved his highest speeds  on this line clocking  98mph in  1958  with a train named Earl of Mt Edgcume  and 92 mph in 1964 with a train named Earl of Ducie. Below is a page from the Train Driver's webpage

My highest speeds behind Steam

I know of nothing as exciting as travelling at high speed behind a steam locomotive. Whilst a climb to Shap, Stoke, Dainton, or Honiton, summits with a heavy train might require a higher output from the locomotive, it cannot compete with the possibility of "doing a ton".

I have never actually reached 100 mph behind steam, but in the late 1950's and early 1960's,  I have come pretty close. In more recent times, in what is known as the "Main Line Steam" era, high speeds have been less frequent by the imposition of firstly, a 60mph speed limit, and more recently, a 75 mph speed limit. The highest speed I travelled at in the 60 mph era was 86 mph, and the highest speed I know of during the same period was 93 mph (Bullied Unrebuilt Light Pacific). In the 75 mph era, I have in fact travelled at 85 mph, but it would be irresponsible of me to disclose the details. The highest speed I know of is 95 mph or 96 mph depending on who you talk to. Again, no details.  To visit the train driver's web site, click (here) 

 
mph

Loco no/name 

Location/Direction

Year
          
88  35023 Holland-Afrika Line Hook (Up)

1965
88  6006 King George I Haddenham (Down)

1958
89  45074 & 45310 Wembley  (Up)

1957
89  35023 Holland-Afrika Line Crewkerne (Up)

1955
89  35022 Holland-America Line Broad Clyst (Down)

1965
89  35022 Holland-America Line Gillingham (Down)

1965
89  35022 Holland-America Line Templecombe (Down)

 1965
90  45721 Impregnable Houghton Conq't (Dn)

1964
90  5043 Earl of Mt Edgcumbe Wantage Road (Up)

1958
90  46251 City of Nottingham Cosford (up)

1964
90  35022 Holland-America Line Porton (Down)

1965
90  35022 Holland-America Line Sidmouth Jc (Down)

1965
92  5054 Earl of Ducie Honeybourne (Down)

1964
92  35022 Holland-America Line Sherborne (Down) 

1965
92  46251 City of Nottingham Blackthorne (Up)

1964
92  5054 Earl of Ducie Hullavington (Up)

1964
95  60051 Blink Bonny Essendine (Up)

1964
98  5043 Earl of Mt Edgcumbe Hullavington (Up)

1958