Colonel Holman Fred Stephens (31 October 1868 – 23 October 1931)

[whole diary]

[Lee]

Article on the former Weston , Clevedon and Portishead Railway (link below.)
http://thisissomerset.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=147472&command=displayContent&sourceNode=242195&contentPK=17998731&folderPk=113662&pNodeId=242222

[Lee]

Members of Weston , Clevedon and Portishead Railway Group are planning to mark the 100th anniversary of its completion on Tuesday (07/08/2007 , link below.)
http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=145365&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145191&contentPK=18014158&folderPk=83726&pNodeId=144922

[Chris from Nailsea]

I would like to say that 'her indoors', who is generally not a particular fan of anything to do with the railways, produced a lovely Christmas gift for me: a DVD entitled 'Somerset's Lost Railway' - the story of the Weston, Clevedon and Portishead Railway.

We sat down and watched it earlier - and we agreed, it's a fascinating tale, of a quirky branch line which spent most of its time (over 30 years!) in receivership, but provided a much loved service between those three Somerset towns between 1897 and 1940. It had 19 stations over its 14 mile length - most of them just huts at level crossings!

I recommend this DVD to anyone with an interest in the good old days of the light railway branch lines.

C. 

[Chris from Nailsea]

There is an excellent website for the Weston, Clevedon & Portishead Railway, by the way: see http://www.wcandpr.org.uk/   

[grahame]

From WikiPedia

Colonel Holman Fred Stephens (31 October 1868 – 23 October 1931) was a British light railway civil engineer and manager. He was engaged in engineering and building, and later managing, 16 light railways in England and Wales.

In our area, the Weston Clevedon and Portishead, and not too far away the Shropshire and Montgomershire were amongst his motley collection.  I have posted in "Heritage" because he had involvement with the Kent and East Sussex and the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland, open today (or at least in summers)  in a heritage mode.  I don't think any of his lines are in the national network these days .

[Chris from Nailsea]

I'm going to post a rather butchered reply here, but I do remember that I read about this story from, I think, our local rag, the Mercury:

A lady in the station at Weston-super-Mare allegedly approached an official on a platform to ask, "Please, where can I find a convenience?"

He replied, "Just go over there, to the W C & P ".

 

[chuffed]

My recollection of the joke was that the official was a policeman and she hit him over the head with her umbrella.....readers of a certain age may see Giles' Grandma from the Express in their minds eye.....

[Andy]

From WikiPedia

Colonel Holman Fred Stephens (31 October 1868 – 23 October 1931) was a British light railway civil engineer and manager. He was engaged in engineering and building, and later managing, 16 light railways in England and Wales.

In our area, the Weston Clevedon and Portishead, and not too far away the Shropshire and Montgomershire were amongst his motley collection.  I have posted in "Heritage" because he had involvement with the Kent and East Sussex and the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland, open today (or at least in summers)  in a heritage mode.  I don't think any of his lines are in the national network these days .

I think Bere Alston-Calstock-Gunnislake (PDSWJR) was one that he was involved in, though not sure in what capacity.

[grahame]

From WikiPedia

Colonel Holman Fred Stephens (31 October 1868 – 23 October 1931) was a British light railway civil engineer and manager. He was engaged in engineering and building, and later managing, 16 light railways in England and Wales.

In our area, the Weston Clevedon and Portishead, and not too far away the Shropshire and Montgomershire were amongst his motley collection.  I have posted in "Heritage" because he had involvement with the Kent and East Sussex and the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland, open today (or at least in summers)  in a heritage mode.  I don't think any of his lines are in the national network these days .

I think Bere Alston-Calstock-Gunnislake (PDSWJR) was one that he was involved in, though not sure in what capacity.

https://colonelstephenssociety.co.uk/the%20colonels%20railways/bere%2520alston%2520to%2520calstock%2520light%2520railway/ - fascinating read.

Holman Fred Stephens, a light railway pioneer, was appointed consultant engineer. [snip] Stephens advised the PD&SWJR board of director about all aspects of the lines construction and conversion being reasonable for all station design and construction, acquiring rolling stock (both goods, passenger and locomotives) and the signalling for the whole branch. The branch eventually opened officially to passenger traffic on 2 March 1908 and Stephens was appointed as engineer and manager with a salary of £250

Also from that site

The Railways of Colonel Holman Fred Stephens
Ashover Light Railway
* Burry Port & Gwendraeth Valley Light Railway
Cranbrook & Paddock Wood Railway
East Kent Light Railway
Festiniog & Welsh Highland Light Railway
** Bere Alston to Calstock Railway PD&SWJR
Edge Hill Light Railway
* Selsey Tramway - West Sussex Railway
Weston Point Light Railway
** North Devon & Cornwall Junction Light Railway
Rye & Camber Tramway
Snailbeach District Railway
** Weston Clevedon & Portishead Light railway
Sheppey Light Railway
* Shropshire & Montgomeryshire Light Railway
Rother Valley Railway - Kent & East Sussex Railway

My geography suggests ...
** - "core" GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) area
* - wider (ex, old) GWR area

[grahame]

It has never been quick or easy to get a railway to Portishead ... again from The Colonel Stevens Society

The WC^▸ (Wiltshire Council (Unitary Authority))&PR^▸ (Public Relations) was originally proposed as a standard gauge tramway in 1884 by the Weston-Super-Mare, Clevedon & Portishead Tramways Company to link the three small coastal towns ...

Building of the Weston-super-Mare to Clevedon section of the railway began in 1887 but due to various legal and financial problems, progress was very slow ...

The extension to Portishead had been planned from the beginning, but financial constraints delayed its construction. It required another Act of Parliament, which was passed in Aug1899, There were many objections to the proposed extension, one of which was that the line was to run through the streets in Clevedon. These objections were overcome, but a man with a flag had to lead trains across the street at 4 mph. The extension to Portishead was built as a light railway and opened on August 7, 1907.

This, be it noted, before Col. Stephens got involved ...

[Chris from Nailsea]

I've managed to dredge up a previous topic relating to the Weston, Clevedon and Portishead line which I posted on, many years ago, and merged it here in this latest discussion.

Purely for continuity - I hope this helps! 

[grahame]

I've managed to dredge up a previous topic relating to the Weston, Clevedon and Portishead line which I posted on, many years ago, and merged it here in this latest discussion.

Purely for continuity - I hope this helps! 

Mucks up "on this day" for 31st October, as on this day works by thread ID, but easily (and already) fixed, Likes work by post number and merger properly.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Oh, sorry!

I'm a Luddite. 

[grahame]

Oh, sorry!

I'm a Luddite. 

I'm not bothered - easily fixed and I usually spot such things - just noting some of the archiving stuff that goes on in the background, and asking folks to let me know of any broken links within our site.  They can usually be fixed very quickly.

[Chris from Nailsea]

I now have that DVD on the desk in front of me: I shall watch it again this evening, so you will all be able to enjoy 90 minutes without me breaking the Coffee Shop forum (again). 

CfN