Here’s a fascinating look at Bristol Temple Meads through the years
Bristol Temple Meads, built back in 1840, must go down as one of the most historic buildings in the city despite its expansion and rebuild in 1870 and continual upgrades and redevelopments.
Starting as a station providing services only as far as Bath, today passengers can catch a direct train to places as far as Edinburgh and Penzance. Its success means around 10 million passengers use the station every year.
So much to choose from behind the counter at the refreshment room at Temple Meads in the 1930s. Today, passengers have Hart’s Bakery, M&S, Starbucks and Upper Crust to choose from.
14. Blue Pullman 'luxury’
Passengers travelled in luxury on the Blue Pullman by British Rail. Here is the 1.15pm from Bristol to London Paddington standing at platform before departure on February 8 in 1967. The trains, which could reach a maximum speed of 90mph, were withdrawn by 1973.
15. Engine shed
The extension to the engine shed, which itself was opened 1841 in an expansion to the station. In this picture, in 1909, a line of GWR carriages await a locomotive whilst milk churns can be seen on the opposite platform. Taken out of use in 1968, the engine shed is now an exhibition space which has been earmarked for redevelopment under the current Temple Quarter plans.
16. And now out of use
The extension is seen here being demolished in 1968.
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