IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Birchwood Fields, GLOUCESTER, GL4 0AL

This used to be four tracks. The right hand two line were the former GWR main line to Paddington, whilst the left hand pair were the ex-LMS main line to Bristol. Whilst the two routes ran parallel south from here to Standish Junction, there was no connection between them at this point. The LMS line curved left beyond the bridge in the distance along the now abandoned route into Gloucester Eastgate Station. Just beyond the point at which the bank on the left finishes a single track branch from Hempsted and the Gas Works converged with the LMS lines. The tracks were reduced to the current two in the 1960s and the route to Eastgate closed in the 1970s.

This newish fence protects the pupils at the Crypt School from those using the public footpath across the grounds. Behind it on the left is the route of a former railway line.

By the roundabout at the junction of Stroud Road and Cole Avenue.

The A4173, heading out of Gloucester on the Stroud Road. The road to the left is Oakbank.

Looking south towards the bridge from which Image was taken. The line diverging to the right ran parallel to the main line as far as Quedegely serving the MoD and the former Dowmac concrete works just north of Naas Lane. The brick base of the former Tuffley Junction signal box can be seen to its right and the cutting just visible to the right of that was the former loop line to Gloucester Docks, with a spur which served Gloucester gasworks alongside the Bristol Road until the 1960s.

A slightly indistinct view of the signal box whose remains can be seen in Image This was before the box was replaced by the new Gloucester Power Box. At this point there were 4 main line tracks. The furthest two, signalled with lower quadrant signals, were the former GWR lines from Gloucester Central to Swindon whilst the nearer two, signalled with upper quadrant signals, were the ex-Midland Railway route from Birmingham to Bristol via Gloucester Eastgate. The two sets of lines ran parallel as far a Standish junction and were operated a more or less independent railways! With the resignalling and track rationalisation this stretch was reduced to 2 tracks when the signal boxes closed. The signal box itself was a WWII era structure. Notice also the large telegraph pole routes, one on each side of the tracks, carrying the signalling and telephone circuits.

The school was founded in 1539 at the Church of St Mary de Crypt in the centre of Gloucester (see Image). The school moved to these premises in 1944 as the Crypt Grammar School, and today has a special status in Science. See:- http://www.cryptschool.org/ On the day the photograph was taken a bring and buy sale was in full swing on the playing fields. In the distance the clump of trees on the top of May Hill can be seen.