Railways around Bath

I've just got back from a week away with the family, near Bath. I came across the Avon Valley Railway on the outskirts of Bristol, so of course a visit and a ride was in order. Based out of Bitton station, the line was part of the Midland Railway route from Bristol to Bath, where it linked to the Somerset and Dorset. 

Our train was steamed hauled by this superbly turned out 060 tank. Apparently this Polish-built loco worked in a steelworks before being bought for preservation and brought to the UK. 

It's quite a chunky machine and, it has to be said, looks a little "overscale" - apparently it is larger than UK loading gauge. Since the preserved line is single on a double-track formation (the remaining space being a footpath and cycle path), I presume the rails can be slewed slightly to enable sufficient clearance for the cab. 

Like all preserved standard gauge railways, the goods yard is full to overflowing with interesting locos, wagons, coaches, and even a crane. Sadly (and not unexpectedly) there was no viewing area so I'll have to make do with what I could see from the train. 

While in Bath I found the former S&D Green Park station. It's nice to see the station roof and building in good condition, and being used as a market and entertainment space, even if the far end is a supermarket car park.

Having passed through the village of Box a couple of times, I stopped to photograph the famous Box tunnel portal, part of Brunel's original London-Bristol line. In digging the tunnel a valuable source of Bath stone was discovered, and so alongside the other portal a third line entered underground quarries to facilitate the extraction of stone. The extensive underground quarries were taken over in WWII to create armaments storage and part of the Bristol aircraft factory. Later, a Cold War bunker was developed, able to accomodate 4000 people including UK government headquarters. This was all hidden save the extra tunnel portal, and a few concrete structures dotted around covering entrance and ventilation shafts.

Back to normal life, and hopefully some modelling...