GGLHS TRANSPORT HISTORY GROUP

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1 GGLHS TRANSPORT HISTORY GROUP Newsletter 40 Autumn 2015 Edition We are in the last glimmerings of summer as I write. I am so relieved that the Waverley voyage on Thursday September was blessed with tolerable weather. We had a record 38 booked! June, July and August have brought us some memorable trips to the Isle of Wight and the Beeches Railway. In June we all went to Berkeley Castle on the GSLHS annual outing, I managed to find a tenuous Transport link to justify its inclusion. The Needles 15 July 2015 Thanks to David and Susan Biggin we had a seamless journey by rail, ferry and open top bus to see the Saunders Roe rocket testing site above the Needles. This and the chair lift at the Needles were our transport justification for a rich and varied day. Susan and Dave had done a reconnaissance and it showed! Awaiting the ferry at Lymington: L/R Edward and Celia Lines, David Biggin, Pauline Garrett, Susan White, Gill Cranshaw, Alan Jones, Cynthia and Max Felstead and Alan and Sue Winchcomb. Pay attention ladies!! Getting this picture was like herding cats. This was the best of 3 attempts! We went on the Bournemouth train from Reading but changed at Lyndhurst for the branch-line to Lymington Pier. Unusually the waiting area there has been transformed and now is a garden overlooking a nature reserve! We had a very calm crossing and got a good view of Hurst Castle (had to mention that) before docking in the quiet town of Yarmouth where our Breezer bus awaited us. GSLHS THG Newsletter

2 Waiting for the ferry Lymington Pier from the ferry Cynthia, Max, Gill and Alan as we arrive at Yarmouth, The amazing disappearing Winchcombs about to board the bus or so we thought Here the Winchcomb comedy duo kept us entertained and guessing. Sue uncharacteristically wanted a quick look round the shops before we set off and wandered into town whilst my group (the rest had gone to the pub!) bought the bus tickets. 15 minutes passed but no Sue, so Alan went off to look for her only for her to appear from the opposite direction. There was much gesticulating when they met and they came to get on the bus. I took the picture above. The bus set off but nobody came up the stairs, in fact they had vanished! It later transpired that Sue had dragged Alan off the bus to show him something in a shop! Pauline Dave and Sue just off the Breezer bus at The Needles Battery. The Saunders Roe Black Knight test site at the New Battery 2

3 The open top bus trip to Alum Bay was an unexpected pleasure passing through picturesque villages and woods and then running up to the New Battery overlooking Alum Bay before returning downhill to the Old Battery and the fleshpots of Alum Beach. Pauline Garrett, Susan White, Dave Biggin and myself alighted at the top and then worked our way down. The Old Battery was built in 1861 to protect the Western approach to the Solent. The New Battery was built higher up in 1895 as the cliff was crumbling beneath the big guns of the Old Battery. At the New Battery there was a display on the rocket testing that went on there in the Cold war. We were pleased to find that the presentation was narrated by Ray Wheeler then of Saunders Roe.Ray unveiled the Sam Saunders plaque in Goring a few years ago. Rocket testing later went to Woomera in Australia. Wandering down to the Old Battery above the Needles Pauline and Dave by the rescued guns at the Old Battery Susan and Pauline paddle on Alum Beach We are returning to Alum landing stage Dave and Pauline leaving Alum Beach 3 The boat we missed. Seen from Yarmouth

4 Both batteries of course had guns. The big 9 muzzle loaders at the Old Battery were simply thrown off the cliff when no longer needed. They were later lugged up again for display which explained why they were rather corroded. We lunched in the 1940 s themed café at the Old Battery. (Carrot cake anyone?). During WW2 both batteries engaged marauding E boats. We then hopped on the Breezer to the touristy Alum Bay complex. We walked down to the beach to view the coloured cliffs where the ladies paddled. Then my carefully considered itinerary went out the window when Pauline said she fancied a boat trip - so we did. None of us fancied the trek back to the top so we had the startling experience of being whisked up the cliff on the chairlift. We arrived at Yarmouth just in time for the planned ferry but we were hungry so we ate by Yarmouth pier and watched the rest of the group sail for Blighty. We waved but no one saw us. We met the rest of the gang on Reading station where a shout from Max Felstead prevented us from going non-stop to Oxford. At the time I was holding the doors open for the others. The Beeches Railway, Steeple Ashton Oxfordshire 9 August 2015 The group was very lucky be able to visit this charming garden railway owned by Adrian Shooter former chairman of Chiltern Railways. Like Fawley it is not open to the general public and it is by invitation only. The Royal Train hauled by Robert Hudson diesel tractor David Watts, Janet Hurst and Susan Warden board regally. The big loco no19 appears and takes our breath away 4 The Model T comes out for the lunch break Parking at the Beeches is limited so I hired the Streatley Carebus which cut our number of vehicles. As ever there was a good spirit and lots of chatter in the bus both ways but fortunately no singing. It also meant that some of our less mobile members could come along. We arrived to find the Himalaya Railway Royal Carriage on the line hauled by a remarkable Robert Hudson of Leeds 1929 adaptation of a Fordson tractor. This loco is owned by the Leighton Buzzard railway but has been restored by the Beeches workshop.. The Beeches is not called the Himalya Railway for nothing for its star locomotive no 19 was built by Glasgow firm Sharp Stewart in 1889 for the Calcutta Darjeeling Railway in India which is still running and has been the subject of recent TV

5 documentaries. No 19 arrived at The Beeches for restoration via the USA in The coaches were built new at the Ffestiniog Railways works at Boston Lodge.The railway itself is 2 foot gauge and set in a figure 8 with side links between the loops like my old Hornby O gauge carpet railway. This enabled trains to change direction during a run. This caught a number of photographers out including me. Inclines of 1 in 22 and 1 in 44 make for spectacular slipping and sound effects! The train looked wonderful. Susan Warden has blagged a lift for herself, David and June Cryer The photogenic no19 at the bottom of the garden During the pause for our hog roast lunch a curious vehicle emerged-a Model T Ford based on those used for railway inspections. We were picnicking by the line when we heard a clatter and Yoo-Hoo Susan Warden had only scrounged a lift. This is the lady who has wangled a ride in the Rolls Royce at Fawley! A lovely day! GSLHS Annual Outing to Berkeley Castle and the Jenner Museum 24 June 2015 Jenner s Little Hut - Maids of the GSLHS line up to be inoculated: Janet Steel, Jan Connors, Doreen Godley, Christine Clarke, Janet Hurst and Jane Gilmour 5

6 As is customary the GSLHS annual outing filled a coach. This time we went to Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire- a place with a colourful history. I even managed to find an item of Transport interest to justify mention in this Newsletter. As a microbiologist I was especially interested in Dr Jenner s house where Edward Jenner experimented with inoculations (very unethically it must be said) in the late 18 th century. They have even kept the quaint little hut where he inoculated the local milk maids and began the war on smallpox. There had to be a railway link Pauline Garrett and Janet Jones making a laughing stock of themselves. Holiday in Minehead June 2015 This year we stayed in Minehead for a few days and made the most of the West Somerset Railway to get around. From our hotel we could not only see the terminus but also trains in the far distance at Blue Anchor Bay. On our first day we went on a WSR outing to the far end at Bishops Lydeard and then an open top bus to the other side of Taunton to Hestercombe House and its Lutyens garden. Then suddenly it was Thomas time. We took the short run away from the small people to Watchet (our only choice of transport as the town was all but isolated by road works-cunningly timed as usual to coincide with holiday traffic). We had a superb lunch in an incongruous Guest House close to the harbour. Do look out for it all the locals go for their lunches there! Close by the station is the Watchet Boat Museum. The lady in charge was so pleased to see us that we missed our train and decided to walk along the old Somerset Mineral Railway footpath to Washford. It was further than I thought! We visited the Somerset and Dorset Railway Museum at Washford a couple of days later. Henry the green Engine taken from inside Watchet Boat Museum Watchet Boat Museum Another day we drove east to have a look at Lynton and Lynmouth. Luckily, put off by the coaches at Lynmouth, we parked (easily) in charming Lynton and went down the stupendous and unsung cliff railway to 6

7 Lynmouth to glance at the gift shops and watch the wagtails in the stream of disaster ill repute. A visit to the revived Lynton and Barnstaple Railway was of course a must and I even got a cab ride in Tor. Tor about to coal at Woody Bay Lynton and Barnstaple railway At the foot of the Lynton Cliff Railway O Our train awaits at Bishops Lydeard Janet reflects on the Somerset and Dorset carriage at Washford Novel use for old buffers at Washford. Could be useful in Goring The S&D Museum also has a ceremonial barrow. We have 2 at Fawley! Our last run on the WSR took us to Washford to see the S &D Museum there. We had a great welcome in the workshop where the drilling stopped and we were proudly taken round by the head of the restoration team. 7

8 Transport Odds and Ends in July August and early September July was the centenary of Thames Valley Bus services and was celebrated in style. Pauline Garrett went with Janet and I to Reading Station to view the display. We then caught the vintage bus service back to Goring. We have written this up in more detail in the Goring Gap News Janet and Pauline attempt to start Streatley s first bus The bus service terminated at Goring Station not Streatley The Thames Traditional Boat Rally at Henley was blessed by good weather of which we took full advantage and got slightly sunburned watching gorgeous boats parade past. Malcolm Campbell s Blue bird K3 of 1937 was there, lovingly restored by Karl Foulkes Halbard. Powered by a Rolls Royce Schneider Trophy aero engine she was a fascinating contrast with the Consuta separated from her only by Tony Hobbs Enchantress. Both Bluebird and Consuta were of course Saunders (Roe) boats and we were delighted to find that Bluebird s construction was clearly descended from the Consuta plywood. Bluebird was fired up to have a fast run on the river and sounded like a Spitfire! Unfortunately a fuel leak caused her engine to catch fire further down the river. Luckily not enough to cause damage but enough to stop the high speed run we were expecting. y Sir Malcolm Campbell s Bluebird K3 of 1937 passes an amphibious car. Consuta and Enchantress Withymead built built 15 years apart One day in Consuta we cruised to Caversham Marina to lunch with some steamers returning from a Steam Boat Association rally. I asked for news of the second ever Sam Saunders boat the University College barge of 1878 which I heard still existed there. She is now out of the water but exposed to the elements on a hardstanding alongside the entry road to the Marina from the Henley Road. I was told there was no reason why I should not go and photograph her some time so I will! 8

9 En route to Caversham we sailed through the Reading Rock Festival to much applause and requests from the bank side queues for a toot. We obliged. The bridge that carries the fans over the river to the Reading bank from the campsites at Mapledurham was an impressive structure and it was surprising to realise that it is taken down every year. From a distance it looks as permanent as the Tyne Bridge at Newcastle which it resembles. And then a real surprise a new permanent bridge over the Thames which most of us did not know existed. It has not been mentioned in the Henley Standard to my knowledge. This was the new foot and cycle bridge that takes travellers arrow straight from Caversham towards the station, - only to come to a stop just over the River where users have to bear left on the tow path and climb up to the Reading Bridge to continue. The properties between the bridge and the station looked pretty permanent to me. The temporary Festival bridge taken from Consuta And the new Caversham footbridge News from Fawley Hill We have had the usual busy summer and are receiving increasingly favourable comments on the revamped Museum from visitors. It makes it all worthwhile.my thanks to our indefatigable team of stewards some of whom are becoming expert at their specialities and are even studying them at home. The Museum crew are also branching out with Susan White and Mick Connors joining Dave Biggin and myself as guards, Susan (and Kat Higgins when she is here) have been seen painting and cleaning rolling stock. Susan has even been given a set of overalls by Dave (so romantic). And then of course we have a newly qualified Carousel Operator our very own GGLHS Secretary Janet Hurst. I must also mention that Janet Jones and Liz Janes bring youth and verve to the tea ladies at times when off duty from stewarding. Back room, boys Pauline Garrett and Terry Jones continue cataloguing the collection (sorry Pauline) as well as their stewarding duties. A good year! They have a new GGLHS trained Carousel operator at Fawley 9 And engine cleaner in Kat Higgins the GGLHS youngest member

10 Forthcoming Visits On October 21, Pauline Garrett is leading a party to the fascinating Milestones Museum at Basingstoke. This recreates a Victorian and 1930 s town inside a large hangar. You can go to school with your slate, buy old fashioned sweeties or have a beer in the pub. Do come! Then on November 12 we will be taken on a tour behind the scenes at the Heritage Motor Museum at Gaydon courtesy of Head of Collections Tim Bryan whom I met at Fawley at a Transport Heritage Trust meeting. Tim was formerly at Steam Museum at Swindon and is author of a number of superb books on the GWR some of which I have! In the next issue On Friday 17 September we sailed from Bournemouth Pier to view Swanage and the Jurassic Coast on the paddle steamer Waverley. It was an exceptional day. I do not have room to feature the pictures here so you will have to wait until next time. Here is a photo to whet your appetite. Waverley approaches Bournemouth Pier never to return! (Wait and see) 25 September 2015 Mike Hurst mhurst@w-mark.demon.co.uk 10