The Great Western Railway in the Stroud Valley Volume 2

The Great Western Railway in the Stroud Valley Volume 2

Mike Fenton

180 pages. 275x275mm. Printed on gloss art paper with colour laminated board covers.

ISBN13 : 9781915069580

£45.00

Following from Volume One, this second treatise on the history of the GWR in the Stroud Valley chronicles the important developments of the post-broad gauge period – the signalling, the addition of Chalford station, the early railmotor services, the GWR motor bus services, the disappointments of trying to build a railway to Painswick, and the emergence of Kemble from a basic changing-point for Cirencester to fully-fledged junction station.

The Great Western Railway in the Stroud Valley Volume 2 - Sample Images

Chalford station in its pristine glory at some point in its first year of operation, looking west towards Stroud. Brunel’s timber bridge carrying the Cirencester road is still in use, and the smart iron spear fencing and weedless gravelled platforms reflect pride and regular upkeep. The portly figure at left is Chalford’s first station master, John Henry May (1856-1920), who hailed from St. Winnow in Cornwall, an unusual appointment being from so far afield, and it may be that the GWR were looking for an experienced hand to develop the new station. On the right of the group, sporting his new company uniform, is the lad porter.

Steam railmotor No. 5 is seen at Stroud’s Up platform. The goods shed is visible to the right, by which the starter signal is ‘off’ to signal the railmotor’s departure for Chalford. There are some fairly aggressive poses present here amongst those facing Stroud photographer William F. Lee. The fireman in the doorway of the power section of the railmotor is thought to be Herbert Saunders, who had transferred from Swindon shed on 13th October 1903 and was on the railmotors until 8th May 1905, before eventually emigrating to the USA.