Yate Railway Station

railway buildings; the main railway building was accessed off Station Road, complete with passenger hall, ticket office and other offices. Platforms were reached via a pedestrian bridge, with no requirement to cross a busy main road, as one must today.

TODAY, the rail traveller at Yate is faced with two platforms, one on each side of the A432. There are electronic screens, help points, shelters and, normally, adequate car parking.

Apart from the rush hours in the morning and late afternoon, the station is quiet.

In the morning, a lone rail employee is tucked away in a kiosk on Platform Two, to sell tickets and provide information.

The modern station contrasts markedly with the station of the early post-war period. Before the mid-1960s, the traveller would be guaranteed to see railway staff on even the shortest of visits. Yate station in the 1950s and 1960s was not labour-intensive compared to larger sites, yet could boast junior and senior porters, a station master, three office clerks, two truck drivers and three signal box staff. At different times there were also parcel and ticket office staff.

The key difference, however, was the existence of permanent

Before the mid-1960s, the noises, sounds and smells were also different to the hushed atmosphere of today. Large railway locomotives were inevitably noisy. Heavy, industrial traction, whistles and the shouts of railway staff rang out as trains departed the station. The inevitable, reassuring aroma of coal and steam filled the air for much of the time.

Then, as now, passenger numbers ebbed and flowed. Yate was an industrial hub. Before the 1960s, scores of factory workers descended on Yate from the Bristol area to work at the Newman’s and Parnall’s factories in the morning. Today, this is barely a trickle.

In the inter-war period, the railway station was inextricably linked to market day at Yate, which took place close to the railway line and sidings for many years. Cattle, sheep and poultry were partly transported by rail.

The savage service cuts of the 1960s did for Yate Station. Passenger traffic ended in 1965 and freight soon after. The old station buildings perished in 1979.

The absence of a railway station in a growing town such as Yate was clearly unsustainable, and the station re-opened in May 1989.

Right: Railway staff, 1930s, including Jack Parsons and Sid Nelson.

Diary dates

Until May 13: The Office - exhibition on the history of office life in and around Yate and the office equipment people used in the 20th century. May 13: Family History Day. Discover your family history with our team of family historians.

May 16, 7pm: Guided tour of North Road and Engine Common.

May 16-June 4: Yate Art Open exhibition

May 23, 7.30pm: Yate Lecture Series, Bedminster Coal - Blood, Sweat and Coal, with Garry Atterton. For more details of events visit www.yateheritage.co.uk or call 01454 86220