Delightful Didcot in a Downpour (1)

Didcot, 55 miles from London, used to be a quiet village.

... where you could, at one time, buy a postcard showing its rural delights.

Bits of "Old Didcot" remain, but the bottom right hand picture (above) is of neighbouring East Hagbourne.

Without doubt, Didcot developed as a railway town with substantial ferroequinilogical infrastructure.

The Great Western main line crosses bottom right, just west of the station platforms. The two lines to Oxford can be understood from the top map, one takes trains through the platforms, the other avoids Didcot altogether.

In 1932 a brand new "state of the art" engine shed was build to replace more limited facilities ...

... providing the station with its most prominent landmark, the water tower and associated coaling line. The water tower is still there!

It provides an excellent advertising hoarding for the splendid Didcot Railway Centre which has taken the place of the working loco shed.

The one line that no longer exists is the one that turn south. This was the Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway which ceased to be in 1964.

The usual scar of foliage remains in the town to remind anyone who cares that there was, once, a railway there.

The occasional bridge remains ...

... on what is now a footpath and cycle way continuing south to the village of Upton.

The first station south from Didcot was Upton and Blewbury ...

... where the station  building still stands but much extended.

Its address adds a hint of irony to the location.

fbb's No 1 son and family live in Wantage and, on Saturday last, discussions developed as to what entertainment might be made available to your ancient blogger. Mrs fbb was off to as Pam Ayres "do" so Pops, Son and Grandson sought a possible and mutually acceptable outing.

It was raining.

fbb had commented that he had not had an opportunity to see First Great Western Railway's new slug-green trains in operation, except drawing slowing into Exeter st Davids. The road bridge near The Volly (fbb's B & B) is rendered useless by Notwork Rails bridge parapet paranoia.

But careful perusal of maps revealed one tantalising possibility. A footpath from Denchworth to Grove is shown as crossing the railway.

The road overbridge was deemed unsafe by No 1 Son, understandably, with blind bend and no footways.

But Google Maps suggested that the footpath would be ideal for a bit of fast train observation./

The foot crossing would not be needed, but visibility from footpath and field looked ideal. But was it still there? Had high fences been installed? Had it been closed because of electrification - Google showed no overhead! Notwork Rail do not like such dangerous crossings, especially those which rely on the common sense of the pedestrian to phone the signalman or observe a set of miniature "traffic lights".

But Notwork Rail's publicity said it was still operational, although fbb could not find an explanation of a risk level of C6!

But it was raining.

Suddenly No 1 son had a massive brainwave.

"We'll go to Didcot," he gleefully announced, "I know just the place. It's under cover, it provides an excellent view of the tracks and we won't even have to buy a ticket."

So they went!

Here Is An Irrelevant Puzzle : What Is It?

It is very much transport related with a Spanish connection. Answer tomorrow.

 Next Delightful Didcot blog : Tuesday 29th October 

Weekend Stuff (2)

Donald Percy Clapp

This blog oft makes much of the Bus Industry's sometimes unfathomable management decisions, but rarely is there an opportunity to focus on the front-line staff who actually do the work! 

The Clapp dynasty is well known in East Devon. Clapps ran the taxi service in Seaton until a few years ago and in nearby Beer we find ...

... Clapps Lane. Don knew of no direct familial link!

fbb was honoured to be invited to lead Don's funeral which took place last Thursday on the Isle of Wight. His career with the railways was interrupted by the Second World War where he trained in the Catering Corps. Whilst based at Hitchin, he met his future wife, the late Mollie, who was based at Henlow Camp.

He returned to the railway post-war and it was always "The Southern Railway" for Don - he wanted nothing to do with the Great Western!

A highlight of his signalman's career was when he "saved" the Devon Belle from disaster.

This prestigious express was speeding westwards when one of the coaches developed a "hot (axle) box" with the obvious danger of a serious fire. From his command post at Wilton South signalbox ...

... (seen here being transferred to the "Watercress" preserved line) he was able to organise the removal of the offending coach in just 20 minutes; followed by the safe onward progress of the train. That was, of course, back in the days when staff were allowed, nay expected, to use their skill and initiative to keep the trains running.

The Clapps settled in Axminster and accumulated four children (No 5 was born on the Island). Family duties called and they upped sticks and moved to the Isle of Wight to provide care and support for Mollie's mother.

Faced with a lack of opportunity on the Island's railways, Don started work as a conductor with Southern Vectis (Southern as in Southern Railway - of course) later promoted to driver.

He became shop steward (more officially "staff representative") where he was respected by staff and management alike. His negotiating skills were recognised as being calm and fair. He most definitely was not a whistle blowing Miriam Karlin clone shrieking "everybody out!" at the slightest provocation.

He become one of the leadership team at Clarence Road Evangelical Church where fbb was often invited to preach and eventually joined the leadership team himself.

Don had a simple faith of service and commitment.

Living a few doors from the church, he held the keys, turned on/off lights and heating and provided access for tradesmen. He ferried children and adults to the church in minibus and car and, using his skills from military training was a dab hand at baking gorgeous cakes for church events.

Don was an utterly committed servant of the railway, the bus company and his Lord Jesus Christ; a rare combination in today's transient world.

After a long period of illness and decline, he will be overjoyed to be with his Saviour  and God in heaven!

Hallelujah!

Don died peacefully in a nursing home at Wootton on 4th October, aged 95.

fbb Buys a Bus
Fortunately for the family finances, not a full sized one but a model. Corgi Original Omnibus produced a delightful model of a Northampton Corporation Daimler CV6 in its tradition crimson livery, buses with which fbb was familiar in his youth.

When the model first appeared, your stingy blogger considered it too expensive for a simple piece of very personal memorabilia.

But a couple of week ago one came on to the second hand market at a bearable price. So fbb bought it.

There were many variants of the basic livery from three wide stripes ...

... via three narrow stripes ...

... and, in fbb's day, one broad stripe.

The stripes were always white (?). The final scheme before more modern designs of vehcile took over began life like this ...

... with cream (?) round the windows of both decks. Finally, finally, the lower deck reverted to the one broad stripe and this version appears of bus 246, the model for the Corgi model/

The town crest placed centrally on the lower panels was replaced with the lettering style also shown on the model.

fbb does think, however, that the Corgi cream is too cream!

The BooBees Bus

fbb does not refer to a certain painting by van Klomp as featured on the TV series "Allo Allo". But there is a link.

The BooBees is a collection of women who have recovered from breast cancer and this charity featured recently in Manchester. A bus, manned (peopled?) entirely by folk who had, in one way or another, been affected by breast cancer has been touring the city.

The bus was/is and ADL (Alexander Dennis Ltd) demonstrator, seen here it its demonstration livery conveying spectators to the Silverstone Motor Racing Circuit.

It was vinyl-wrapped in pink plus logos and looks very distinctive.

Stagecoach Manchester supplied driver and maintenance facilities.

Signs of the Times - Wrong Times
Last week a Sheffield contact was ambling along West Street towards the city when he espied this electronic display.

Readers with superb memories may remember that service 6 changed at the end of September. The Millhouses Tesco to Sheffield is still operated by T M Travel but only runs as far as the City Centre (Arundel Gate).

T M Travel buses approach their city TERMINUS via West Street. Buses to Darnall etc, are run by First Bus ... 

... leave from the Interchange and never travel via West Street.

Well done Travel South Yorkshire YET AGAIN; more wrong infromation to encourage opeople NOT to travel by bus.

Beyond belief!

 Next Didcot blog : Monday 28th October 

Weekend Stuff (1)

Bijou Bi-Passenger Bus?

Arriva's green a bluer livery? This extract was from The Star (National daily, not Sheffield's evening periodical) so standards of truthful journalism might just be a tad on the slack side.

The two shades of blue with a yellow dividing line seeks to replicate one of the many now abandoned Arriva paint schemes.

The article also tell us that Jason's bus has "a working 'not in service' sign" although the picture of TIG clear offers rides to "town centre" on route 38.

It also has a gorgeously vintage electronic ticket machine and space for TWO passengers,

fbb guesses that it is NOT a bus, i.e. registered as a Passenger Service Vehicle, but simply a private car looking interesting.

Bristol Bulletin No 1

Plenty this week from the home of Cream Sherry in Blue bottles. The QBusters, extra buses to cope with heavy traffic and extra pre-Christmas traffic, have begun to appear on the streets. Oddly for a big national company they don't come from First at all but are hired from dealers.

In his piece in this week's staff bulletin, James Freeman refers to the vehicles "striking livery". The 100 on the side gives the games away. This particular batch oif Q Busters has come from Nottingham City Transport where they used to operate ...

... route 100; which no longer exists.

It has been renumbered 26 and incorporated fully in the Carlton Road group of services.

fbb's memory is shaky here, but wasn't "Pathfinder" a brand used to see off a competitor?

It's All A Gas, Man! (Bristol Bulletin No 2)

A phrase from fbb's time as a hippie.

No. not really.

First Bristol will soon be taking a small fleet of gas powered buses and work is progressing at Lawrence Hill depot to provide gas tanks and refuelling equipment.

The project will represent one of the biggest investments in gas power in the UK. More when it all starts up.

Politicians Promote Public Transport (Bristol No 3)

A recent Bristol City Council cabinet meeting approved a bus favourable policy.

In simple terms the "deal" involves First in improving frequencies on main corridors 0doubling is the aspiration!), low emission vehicles (e.g. Gas, see above) and reduced fares. In return the Council will spend oodles of money on bus priorities on the main roads in the city.

Impressive, eh? Now we all wait to see what happens in practice. Like for example the reduction of Metrobus M1 from every ten minutes to every 12!

Of course, the M1 is not, technically, a First Bus route - but it is operated by them under contract to a group led by ...

Bristol City Council!

Hmmm?

Historic B & B

Last night and tonight the fbbs are staying near Wantage where No 1 son, wife and No 2 grandson reside. (No 1 grandson also resides but is away at the Varsity in Sheffield). They are B&B guests of "The Volly".

For many, many years The Volunteer Inn adjacent to the former Wantage Road station was well known in the area.

The Wantage Tramway terminated to its left ...

... whence it carried passengers from the Great Western main line along the roadside to Wantage. The pub closed, briefly became and American Diner ...

... then closed again. It has re-opened as a pub under its old name.

The pub is bottom left in the aerial view below and the former tramway terminus is where the light coloured unmade track reproduces the old station area.

Trainspotting isn't easy as access to the former station site is locked and barred and Notwork Rail's safety paranoia has added an extra chunk to the bridge parapets making viewing from the bridge less than ideal.

More tomorrow, perhaps?

But the WiFi in "The Volly" is vastly superior to the Premier Inn at Lake so the blogs can be done proper like.

 Next blog of "Stuff" : Sunday 27th October