GSLHS TRANSPORT HISTORY GROUP

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1 GSLHS TRANSPORT HISTORY GROUP Newsletter 36 Summer 2014 River Edition I seem to have spent a lot of time on the river this year so here is a record. And this doesn t include a Probus trip on a Salter s Steamer to Benson in July where I forgot to take my camera- a good thing you might say. Windsor Marlow by Salter s Steamer 18 August 2014 This, the long anticipated summer cruise, covered a section of the Thames that most of us had not visited before. A dummy run had proved that it was possible to travel by rail to Windsor, spend the morning in Windsor or Eton, have lunch and travel on the Mondays only Salter s boat up to Marlow and then come home using the Marlow Donkey train and the FGW mainline from Maidenhead. I am pleased to say that more than 30 of us had a memorable day a sudden summer squall on the river notwithstanding Jane Gilmour, Jenny Emerton, Rosemary Mitchell and Janet Hurst pause in the chapel of Eton Church Reading and Mapledurham at the Salter s Windsor berth i The Clucae may have thought it was dry under the cover! As It certainly wasn t here!.on the poop deck before the deluge Some members morninged in Windsor and were rewarded with the Changing of the Guard whilst others opted for a quiet stroll up Eton High Street. The remarkable Eton Parish Church which is now part church, part doctor s surgery and partly Eton College s Sanatorium was having one of its rare open days. Well worth a visit. GSLHS THG Newsletter

2 After setting off Reading was soon hit by a squall that emptied the open upper deck (into the bar naturally) but that soon cleared up as we made gentle progress up stream past Windsor Racecourse, Bray Studios (home of Hammer Films and used as Dracula s castle in their movies) and many riverside mansions of the rich and famous. We passed the newly restored former Salter s Steamer Streatley now owned by French Brothers of Windsor and powered by steam once more. THG members may recall her lying near derelict at Mapledurham not that long ago and the subject of GGN correspondence as to her fate. One problem encountered by many was the Reading s fearsome vacuum toilet pump! Never sit on the toilet when using it is all I can say not that I did. Dracula s Castle the Hammer Studios at Bray The Streatley restored to steam by French Brothers Approaching Brunel s Legendary Maidenhead Bridge Boulter's Lock: clockwise: Max Felstead, Alan Jones, Phil and Rosemary Mitchell, Richard Lomas, Derek Lello, the Bidwells, Jan and Mick Connors Janet Hurst, Jane Gilmour, Adrian Harris and Jenny Emerton with the giggles Later we came to the famous Boulter s Lock in Maidenhead - scene of many Victorian illustrations showing the lock full of revelling boaters. It seemed much smaller than in the paintings artistic licence? Then it was through Cookham Reach to the Cliveden stretch. I have heard several boaters say that the two most beautiful stretches of the Thames are at Cliveden and Goring and Streatley and, do you know, they are right! When we reached Marlow our kind skipper negotiated with the DEFRA Lock Keeper for some of our party to disembark and cross the lock gates as it was a shorter walk to the station. The remainder not necessarily the youngest - opted to stay onboard for the few hundred yards up river to the official landing place at Court Gardens and were rewarded by the view from the river of the exquisite Marlow Bridge. 2

3 Cookham Bridge remarkably similar to Whitchurch Bridge before rebuilding The toilet pump that gave so much trouble Where Profumo fell from Grace: Stephen Ward s house near Cliveden The exquisite Marlow Bridge Adrian Harris, Jennifer and Douglas Bending, Di Kerr, Helen Lee, Richard Ling, Arthur Caines, Jane Gilmour, Jenny Emerton, Anne Caines, Janet Hurst and Sue Ling abandon ship at Marlow lock thus missing Marlow Bridge 3

4 Garden Party for Blue Plaque Volunteers Nuns Acre 29 August Front compartment Dave Biggin Susan Warden, Colin Jefferies. John Jones and Sue White Tourist class Ann Sherwood, Arthur Caines, Ann Caines, Paul Smith, Andy Richards, Martin Sherwood and Lynne Smith As belated thank you for their efforts Janet and I arranged a Consuta Lunch for those who helped at last year s Blue Plaque Day and some of our Museum Stewards as well.consuta gave short forays above Cleeve Lock. Fawley Museum Team Outing to Shillingford 11 September 2014 A couple of weeks later, we had a longer run from Nuns Acre up to Shillingford for lunch. As the crew were depleted I went to Beale Park to help get the Consuta through the swing bridge that seals the lake. As a result I had the pleasure of throwing mooring ropes at my Fawley colleagues at Nuns Acre. We arrive at Nuns Acre to an expectant group Benson Lock. Mick supervises the lock keeper We had a serene voyage up through Cleeve and Benson Locks with Mick Connors acting as lock keeper at the unmanned Cleeve Lock. It was gratifying to see Brian Lee come along as he has been keen to have a ride on Consuta for ages. Brian runs the miniature railway at Beale Park but has a long association with the Thames. His dodgy leg had meant he had to miss the Marlow voyage but the Nuns Acre start enabled him to join us. He was very suitably clad in a1920 s outfit with boater hat. This became significant when we reached Shillingford to find the lawn populated with extras in 1920 s dress who were taking a lunch break from filming a new version of LP Hartley s The Go Between. If we had stayed I think he might have got a job as an extra - as could Consuta I suspect!. The chap I was talking to was the umpire in the Toffs vs Villagers cricket match in the film. 4

5 We lunch at Shillingford Sue White and David Creasey ease us through Goring Lock back to Beale Jan Connors, Rob Small, Janet Steele, Brian Lee s hat, David Creasey, Chris Gilbert, Nikki Laurence, Sue White, Tony Laurence, Dave Biggin s hair and Mick Connors at Nuns Acre on disembarkation. They would keep moving about! Having left my car at Beale I had to go back down through Goring Lock and that darn swing bridge to get it back. Sue White came with me whilst we picked up Chris Cox and her Mum who were sipping wine by the river when Consuta turned up. My thanks to Brian Smith and the skeleton Consuta Crew including our David Creasey for once again bringing the fabulous Withymead boat to Nuns Acre for us. If anybody wants more voyages then join the Consuta Supporters. The sub is not expensive. We all look forward to seeing the new Museum at Beale develop now that planning permission has been obtained. What an amenity that will be! With Consuta (again) up the Kennet 18 September 2014 Just a week later the Consuta Supporters took her up the Kennet for the first time- an irresistible opportunity to see the centre of Reading from the water. I even skipped Probus. Pictures follow:- 5

6 Whitchurch Bridge which reopened next day Kennet Mouth Reading Brunel s forgotten bridge over the Kennet Signs of the bridge being doubled in 1892 just like Basildon Bridge Blake s Lock tranquillity in the heart of Reading Canal navigation entrance in Central Reading: Note low bridge ahead We had fun startling the natives in the shopping centre and then discovered that some of the houses on busy Basingstoke Road have lovely riverside gardens. You would never know. We lunched at the Cunning Man on Burghfield Road before returning 6

7 Funnel lowering because of low bridge. Gloves needed The Oracle from the water Basingstoke Road back gardens - Reading Cunning Man Bridge Burghfield Road Steam Special to Dartmouth 25 September 2014 On 25 September the station was packed with expectant travellers for the much heralded Steam Dreams special to Dartmouth. The chairman of Steam Dreams was even there to show his appreciation to the Goring Gap travellers. That means we got the bad news before anybody else. The vintage diesel loco that had hauled the carriages through Goring to Oxford a few hours earlier had failed to restart after being switched off (to avoid upsetting Oxford residents). The trip was off. Ironically I received a what s happening? text from a Didcot colleague who was fireman on our steam locomotive that was raring to go at Westbury. These diesels! I heard that the numbers of passengers joining at Goring (86) was only exceeded by those from Newbury (91). The special will now run on April 1 st (I know!)2015 but those disappointed can go on either of the coming trips to Shrewsbury or Sherborne instead. Railway buffs might like to note that the intended engine for the April run is LNER Class B Mayflower newly returned to the main line. I intend to go to Sherborne for the Carol Service on December 20 th. This will be double headed by 2 LMS Black Five locos and be steam all the way! In his letter of apology Steam Dreams Chairman Marcus Robertson said of all our village pickups that we do across Southern England Goring is easily the best supported and we do not like to let you down. 7

8 A Black 5 tears through Goring a few years ago Mayflower Swanage September 2014 In late September Janet and I took our usual holiday in Studland near Swanage. As we had spare rooms this year we invited Pauline Garrett and Jane Gilmour. Pauline and I soon found ourselves on the Swanage Railway. Bullied Battle of Britain Class Manston departs Corfe Castle for Norden Manston returns to Corfe Castle - note signal box The Devon Belle Pullman Observation Car leaves Corfe Pauline Garrett in the Clay Mining Museum workings at Norden We had a ride up to Corfe to check out their Museum (small but excellent) travelling in the restored Devon Belle Pullman Observation Car. As a fellow volunteer I managed to talk the signalman into showing us the 8

9 impressive signal box (bigger than the Didcot one I show school kids round). We then walked the track side footpath up to Norden, the current terminus, where we were lucky to find open the superb new museum on the local clay mines and their narrow gauge railways that took clay down the hill to quays in Poole Harbour. These only ceased in the sixties With the Swanage Railway reopening to the main line at Wareham next year a THG outing beckons! Next day Pauline, Janet and I trekked across the Heath to find signs of the tramways Next Outing Mid Hants Railway Autumn Gala October Just to remind you that Pauline Garrett has organised our next trip to the Mid Hants Gala. We will be going by train but at least one car is going and if anyone fancies a lift please get in touch with myself or Pauline. You should already have a form. Mike Hurst October mhurst@w-mark.demon.co.uk 9