Great Western Coffee Shop

A location that was once a hive of railway manufacturing activity.

(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/DSCN4142_zps1208bd13.jpg)

The footpath itself was not a railway line although a couple of lines crossed it on the level.

I'll offer an educated guess at Highbridge, being the location of the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway's workshops, although I'd never have been able to suggest that from the photo!

Sorry no.

You are fallible after all, brooklea!  :P ;) ;D

Swindon?

More precisely, is that the cycle path that runs behind John Lewis at Mannington in Swindon?

Sorry, not Swindon either.

That's reassuring I spent some time trying to identify anywhere in Swindon that might fit - and failed.

I'll give it until the morning then offer another clue if needed.

Hmmm ... having eliminates Swindon, my mind turned to Westinghouse Signal and Brake at Chippenham but to be frank that doesn't look right either.   Would I be correct if I suggested that Chippenham is wrong too?

You're right. You are wrong.  :D

St Bees?

Huh? Cumbria? Not been that far away from home.  ???



EDIT: Oh, I see. Got it while typing. "a hive of... activity". You're pollen my leg aren't you? ::)

No. Not St Bees. It isn't Honeybourne either.

Sorry. I'll buzz off then. :-)

Here's another picture of the same general area:

(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/DSCN4140_zps99e641c9.jpg)

Was it a private buider say Avonside Bristol. Pure Guess.

Sorry, no. And we're not talking rolling stock manufacture.

Perhaps we talking about Llanwern / Port Talbot Steel works or some such, with the manufacture of rail.   Somehow the picture doesn't look like a quarry for Ballast, nor a forest for sleepers!

This location produced many composite material items, large and small, for British Rail.

I  considered the former LSWR precast concrete works at Exmouth jn but couldn't find any suitable location. Wasn't there a BR precast works at Taunton or somewhere?

Are you asking me or telling me, ellendune?  ;)

I'll give it ya. Photos were taken at the location of the former Taunton Concrete Works just to the east of Taunton station. The main site is now housing, while the former sidings area, known as Obridge Yard, in the second picture is used by Network Rail and other rail contractors. This land is on the market and will likely also see housing in the future.

http://www.alderking.com/property/85974/Obridge-Yard

Brief history of the Concrete Works:
http://83b.weebly.com/taunton-concrete-works.html

I was hedging my bets because being on the 17:00 Paddington to Bristol TM I was not getting enough signal to look at google street view to check before I answered!  I had thought of Exmouth Junction the other night, but only remembered Taunton today.

I know that feeling: of course, it's Taunton.  ::) :o ;D