We Start At The Station
Once upon a time, Taunton used to be a busy busy junction. It was not long before some of those branches were closed ...
... leaving only a junction at Norton Fitzwarren for Minehead. No National Rail trains junct there, but occasional rail tours take the right turn.
Things have changed somewhat.
Two freight yards have also vanished. The track diagrams - sadly a bit fuzzy - shows the west yard ...
... seen below in an aerial view.
At the opposite end of the station was the east yard ...
... viewed here across the main lines.
Whilst enjoying the above nostalgia, note the water tower top centre.
The west yard was still under development when Google Earth flew by ...
... but the east yard has been replaced by a trendy housing estate.
Above, we note again the water tower and a piece of even older transport infrastructure.
Here the rather turgid waters of the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal join the fairly turgid waters of the sleepy River Tone. The remnants of the lock and humpback bridge still stand as part of a footpath network.
Because of canal and railway, the area was cluttered with all sorts of industry some of which remained, until quite recently, around the water tower.
The tower, accompanied by a pumping station, limekilns and lots of industrial stuff, was a major visual hub in the area.
Perhaps the tank might become Taunton's first Infinity Pool?
Maybe not!
The area is called Firepool ...
... with a large white area on modern maps. This white area has remained undeveloped and somewhat tatty for many years, but Google Earth reveals some activity.
Now fbb can take off in his personal gyrocopter and overlook the area whilst hovering over the station.
We may be crossing the Tone, using a brand new route across that wasteland.
The now-open path crosses the road outside the new multi- storey ...
... takes you down a choice of two sets of steps, doubtless needed to handle the crowds walking from the station (?).
Here both sets looking back up the hill.
We Finish In The River?
Some pictures also look north across the Tone to a lonely collection of paving slabs ending in the middle of nowhere ...
... and leading nowhere.
All this is a long long way from the "artist's impressions" ...
... showing a broad tree-lined walkway along the river bank.
A drone shot of the Firepool Boulevard as opened shows a ramp down to a narrow riverside path ...
Some plans show a footbridge at that point.
So it will look fantastic when it is all finished.
But, without a bridge, where do you get to?
According to the Council, this is part of a major pedestrian (and cycle?) route right across the town.
According to the BBC, it will be a much faster way to get from station to the town; rather than a somewhat tedious walk along the main road and bus route.
So despite our eager anticipation, we still haven't traversed the Tone.
Maybe we will make that crossing tomorrow.
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The ends of the body require more detail to match the prototype ...
... so they and the buffer beams are resin moulded and have to be glued on.
The YouTuber uses two part epoxy resin (e.g. Araldite) which has a horrid stink about it.
Still a lot to do!
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Next Tone Traverse blog : Friday 17 April
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