Sally Helvey’s graphic picture of a half sunken boat, to one side of the span of Brunel’s St James railway Bridge, has brought a response from local photographer Rob Coles:
He writes:
Nice ‘Pic of the Day’ by Sally of the rather neglected St James’s Bridge with its Brunel-designed flamboyance which is probably being damaged by vegetation.
At the top of the photo, you can see the posts of the wire fence on the parapet of the bridge. I am told that the fence was put there after a serviceman alighted from a train in the WW2 blackout onto the bridge parapet and then into the river.
Trains were longer in those days and the platform shorter, trains often had to “pull up” to allow passengers in the back coaches to alight.
Attached is a print of the north side of the bridge as built from JC Bourne’s monumental work, The History and description of the Great Western Railway 1846
Meanwhile, at the other end of the station, I noticed that Lower Bristol Road has “gone Green”
Meanwhile, have you noticed that the hot weather has caused people to seek out shade anywhere they can, like the kerb in Abbey Green?
Thanks Rob. Glad to see it’s a little cooler today.
While we’re sort of messing about on the river, thanks to Martin Mitchell for this lovely shot of the electric-powered and beautiful Lady Lena.
He writes: “I’m sure you receive many, many photos but here’s one I took of the lovely ‘Jenks’ at the helm of his Lady Lena on the Kennet & Avon earlier this afternoon.
He’s about to go under the bridge at Ferry Lane, Claverton.”
This little canal cruiser offers chartered trips with food and bubbly. I enjoyed one myself with my family a year ago! Apparently, it’s the oldest electric river launch in existence.
More info via ladylena.co.uk
