Bristol-Chippenham Shuttles 24/March/2008
24th March 2008

Bank Holiday Monday 24-march-2008 saw FGW utilise "top&tail" class 67's and coaches on a series of hourly shuttle trains between Bristol TM and Chippenham due to a major blockade of the London line east of Chippenham for essential engineering work.Through trains were catered for by HST's via the B&H and these shuttles were used to fill in the "Gap" between Bristol-Bath and Chippenham.
Although the weather was rather dull here are a few photos to record these subtitutions.Two sets were used,one set with both "Royals" on,the other with EW&S liveried versions. Both were full of window hangers,probably more than genuine passengers!

Sets are:
67021 (CPM end) 9507 6176 5952 5997 5961 6024 1250 5987 6067 67016 (Bristol end), all ex-Virgin stock
67006 (CPM end) 3295 3277 (both ex-Anglia stock) 1200 Amber (Riviera blue & cream) 5937 6051 6027 6138 9520 (all ex-Virgin, 5937 still with Virgin branding) 67005 (Bristol end).

<-- Index | Showing 1-10 of 10 pictures | Index -->
Thundering out of
Thundering out of "Middle-Hill Tunnel" past the site of the old station at Box 67016 heads towards Bristol TM with yet another shuttle train from Chippenham ..24 march 2008..
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Against the backdrop of the Georgian City of Bath 67021 heads out towards Chippenham,viewed here passing
Against the backdrop of the Georgian City of Bath 67021 heads out towards Chippenham,viewed here passing "Meadow Farm" Bathampton..24 march 2008..
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On an early morning working 67016 rathers speed having left Chippenham about 5 minutes before. Heading to Bristol with one intermediate stop at Bath-spa.Location is between Thingley-Junction and Corsham..24 march 2008..
On an early morning working 67016 rathers speed having left Chippenham about 5 minutes before. Heading to Bristol with one intermediate stop at Bath-spa.Location is between Thingley-Junction and Corsham..24 march 2008..
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67016 exits the western portal of Box-Tunnel.By now (late afternoon) light was extremly dull and no further photographs of fast moving trains was possible..24 march 2008..
67016 exits the western portal of Box-Tunnel.By now (late afternoon) light was extremly dull and no further photographs of fast moving trains was possible..24 march 2008..
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Tagged on the rear of yet another shuttle 67021 (67016 on the front) slowly draws through
Tagged on the rear of yet another shuttle 67021 (67016 on the front) slowly draws through "Sydney-Gardens" in Bath due to a signal check caused by an HST calling in Bath-Spa ahead of it.Marvellous place this,timeless atmosphere,unchanged since the 1900's.Probably due to the refreshing absence of that ugly galvanised pointy crap that now afflicts most of the current railway network..24 march 2008..
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Rolling through
Rolling through "Sydney-Gardens" under the Brunel designed wrought-iron bridges 67016 prepares to stop at Bath-Spa.Note the window hangers doing a bit of flailing!..24 march 2008..
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67021 on a Bristol-Chippenham shuttle runs through Sydney-Gardens on the outskirts of Bath.Spring is in the air as can be seen from the flowering bushes in evidence..24 march 2008..
67021 on a Bristol-Chippenham shuttle runs through Sydney-Gardens on the outskirts of Bath.Spring is in the air as can be seen from the flowering bushes in evidence..24 march 2008..
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Royalty in the shape of 67006 draws a mixed rake of mk-2 coaches through the old Box station site running towards Chippenham..24 march 2008..
Royalty in the shape of 67006 draws a mixed rake of mk-2 coaches through the old Box station site running towards Chippenham..24 march 2008..
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Bursting out of the very long Box-Tunnel 67006 is viewed approaching the site of another former station at Corsham.There was a lot of hope that this station was going to re-open but when the Bristol-Oxford service died a few years ago so did the hopes for Corsham and its new station..24 march 2008..
Bursting out of the very long Box-Tunnel 67006 is viewed approaching the site of another former station at Corsham.There was a lot of hope that this station was going to re-open but when the Bristol-Oxford service died a few years ago so did the hopes for Corsham and its new station..24 march 2008..
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Thingley Junction is now an official
Thingley Junction is now an official "Rail and Track" Reprocessing site used to salvage old rails etc.67005 runs past this eyesore complete with derelict burned-out coaches and rubbish with one of the early morning services from Chippenham to Bristol,67006 was on the rear..24 march 2008..
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