Waiting time - a photo on Flickriver

Waiting time

A record shot from 1977 captures Bristol allocated class 118 DMU, set B467, waiting at Gloucester station with an unidentified service.

Two years prior this station would have identified as Gloucester Central - this to avoid confusion with Gloucester Eastgate station which lay some 200-300 yards away and to which it was connected by a long enclosed wooden footbridge.

Gloucester Eastgate lay on a loop off the Birmingham to Bristol line, and endured the challenge of crossing a number of busy roads in the city. So, whenever a train passed through, several level crossings had to close simultaneously thus causing traffic disruption. In 1975 Gloucester Eastgate, together with the offending loop, was closed and all services routed via Gloucester Central which was then renamed simply Gloucester. The rationalisation, which made a lot of sense for both railway and community, did come at a price however with those Birmingham - Bristol route trains calling at Gloucester now having to reverse with the locomotive changing ends.

Gloucester station meantime was being re-developed and, in 1977, re-opened with all through services now focused on platform 2, which had been extended to 1,977 feet in length, enough to accommodate two inter-city express trains. What used to be the Up platform (visible on the right in this image) was relegated to parcel trains only use.

In this shot, taken not long after the new facilities had been opened, there's no shortage of mail-bags and parcels likely awaiting conveyance on regular passenger trains. A buffet was also available, although I have no recollection using it. The DMU, a BRC&W-built 3-car suburban unit of early 1960s origin, was likely numbered W51309, W59476, and W51324 (thanks to the ever helpful www.railcar.co.uk website) - scrutiny of the image suggests power car W51309 was nearest the camera. Note the Driver dressed in British Rail's typical uniform of the day, complete with tie and hat.

Although there's a headcode showing, I'm guessing it's a remnant from some time previously when they were still being regularly displayed - possibly a Bristol to Weymouth train, or similar destined for Southern Region metals. Photos from the period show that within a couple of years the now redundant headcode panel on this unit had been given the domino treatment.

Agfa CT18
9.50am, 27th August 1977

Taken in: UK / England / Gloucester District / Gloucester (show map)

Taken on: August 27, 1977

Tags:

Class118

DMU

Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon

Suburban

Slam door

Gloucester

Gloucester Central

Summer

1977

Film

Agfa

CT18

W51309

W59476

W51324

Mailbags

Parcels

Post

Post Office

Gloucestershire

Driver

Crew

Train Driver

B467 « less

Sets appears in: • Britain's railways

Groups appears in: • British Rail 1977 (N0 30/60 Limit) • The Strange Fascination With Railroad Tracks Club - no 30/60 more » • Great workmanship - past & present « less

Camera: Nikon LS-5000 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon LS-5000
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	Topaz Photo AI 1.0.5
Show full info

Stats: 5,299 views / 26 comments

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