History of Tetbury Society ‘Coming of the Railway to Tetbury’ was the title of John Thomas’ talk to HOTS on the 3rd of October. He explained that he and a group of fellow railway enthusiasts from Cirencester had spoken with ex-railway staff collecting information and anecdotes. His talk was sprinkled with their reminiscences - and he illustrated it with a collection of historical photographic slides of Kemble Station and the route to Tetbury. He began by outlining the various schemes that were considered and said that objections and demands by landowners and influential people had a real bearing on the decisions. Robert Gordon of Kemble had a great influence on the line and
station there. Schemes that were never developed included a line from Nailsworth (Midland Railway) to join the Great Western main line SW of Swindon. That foundered when it was realised the GWR track was wider. A line from Kemble via Tetbury to Sharpness and then over the Severn to Lydney was probably never more than a ‘pipe dream.’ Most of the Tetbury Branch was constructed in Wiltshire and roads to Kemble were improved when the airfield was constructed. John was enthusiastic about the Victorian Pumping Station that used to stand close to Kemble station and had several photographs of the substantial steam engine and pumps. Its function was to raise water from a well to the water tank that still stands at the end of the platform; from there it flowed in pipes to Swindon station. He spoke of the reduced use of the railways. Freight traffic was more important to railways than passengers, but the rail strike in 1956 resulted in a permanent reduction
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