Bristol Bath Road - Recollections from a Depot's Lifeblood

Bristol Bath Road started life as a works from the Bristol & Exeter Railway later becoming a major steam shed for the GWR. In turn that changed to the base for locomotive hauled services in the diesel era. In addition, it serviced DMUs and the Blue Pullman sets on the WR. Over the years it gave employment to hundreds perhaps thousands of men and women and in a huge variety of roles from foreman to fitters, footplate staff, cleaners and office staff. Latterly train crews including guards and conductors were also based here. Lynne Davies and Roy Kethro have gathered together over 100 stories from those staff associated with the depot and in a variety of grades in both the steam and diesel eras. These stories relate both the operational life of the railway and also the human aspect.