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Titfield Thunderbolt country
A few pictures taken in the area around ^Titfield^ (Monckton Combe station and Freshford village), largely courtesy of two Railway Ramblers walks.
Ken Strachan
![This heavenly view was taken from the S&D trackbed, looking down at the GWR Camerton branch. The viaduct in the centre of the picture provided the location for about half of the action shots in 'The Titfield Thunderbolt'. The pub by the S&D station, the Hope and Anchor, is highly recommended.<br><br>[Ken Strachan 21/03/2008]](/images/25000/25898.jpg "Midford")
![Paulton Halt closed twice to passengers - once in 1915, then finally in 1925. No wonder there isn't much platform left. View looks West towards Hallatrow see image [[38370]]. There is also little left at Camerton, which was opened as a terminus for services from Hallatrow; became a through station when services were extended to Limpley Stoke; then became a terminus in the opposite sense when the line to Hallatrow closed!<br><br>[Ken Strachan 06/04/2012]](/images/39000/39005.jpg "Paulton")
![The purist might object that this carriage is not just the wrong colour, but also some 15 metres across from, and 4 metres up from, the trackbed of the Bristol and North Somerset Railway, in the garden of the Station Hotel. The purist might just miss out on a good lunch!<br><br>[Ken Strachan 06/04/2012]](/images/40000/40795.jpg "Hallatrow")
![This very steep tramroad was built to link a colliery with the Paulton Basin on the Somerset Coal Canal. The ridge in the field would be barely noticeable but for the two 'kissing gates' kindly provided by the local council. Presumably, a fence will follow when finances are less tight than at present.<br><br>[Ken Strachan 06/04/2012]](/images/41000/41747.jpg "Paulton")
![The viaduct at Dunkerton was demolished with explosives in about 1981; but both embankments are still visible. View looks substantially East on 6th April 2012.<br><br>[Ken Strachan 06/04/2012]](/images/42000/42300.jpg "Dunkerton")
![Some way South of Pensford viaduct see image [[26020]], there is an industrial estate, which happens to contain the remarkably well preserved station of Hallatrow, seen here in April 2012. The apparently inflated signal box is an extension built between the platforms; the aged Land Rover is a nice touch. This station was the Western junction station for the Cam Valley branch, of 'Titfield Thunderbolt' fame.<br><br>[Ken Strachan 07/04/2012]](/images/38000/38370.jpg "Hallatrow")
![The word 'idyllic' was probably invented for places like this. A location between Freshford and Bath is a good start; also being the Eastern junction for the Cam Valley line (of 'Titfield Thunderbolt' fame) is a bonus. Limpley Stoke station is long closed but currently lived in, with its small car park being used by a pub; so not all is lost. View South West across the River Avon on 7 April 2012.<br><br>[Ken Strachan 07/04/2012]](/images/38000/38385.jpg "Limpley Stoke")
![The iron gateposts on either side of the garage are the sole remains of Monkton Combe station in April 2012. A through station better known as Titfield (a terminus), of Titfield Thunderbolt fame. The posts were on either side of the approach road, and can be clearly seen in the film.<br><br>[Ken Strachan 07/04/2012]](/images/38000/38531.jpg "Monkton Combe")
![Looking West, away from the Monckton Combe station site see image [[38531]], towards Hallatrow in April 2012. No railway remains, but it's clear where the track went in this peaceful and beautiful place.<br><br>[Ken Strachan 07/04/2012]](/images/38000/38583.jpg "Monkton Combe")
![On the left, we see the trackbed of the Cam Valley line immortalized in 'The Titfield Thunderbolt'. In the distance, we see the road viaduct for the A36. And on the right, the cricket pitch used in the classic Ealing comedy; now used by Monkton Combe school.<br><br>[Ken Strachan 07/04/2012]](/images/38000/38807.jpg "Monkton Combe")
![A view looking North at this former junction station for the Cam Valley line, of 'Titfield Thunderbolt' fame in April 2012. see image [[38385]]<br><br>[Ken Strachan 07/04/2012]](/images/38000/38932.jpg "Limpley Stoke")
![Ignore the modern plasticky stuff and Disabled Parking sign. Just look at that corrugated iron roof, and the partly-refinished paintwork, and imagine the occupant drying his face on the curtains - like Dan Taylor in <I>The Titfield Thunderbolt</I>.<br><br>[Ken Strachan 20/07/2013]](/images/45000/45532.jpg "Sible and Castle Hedingham")
![This facsimile on steel of the 1949 S&D working timetable could be handy for programming your TARDIS if planning to travel to one of the tastier destinations in the past that I could think of. It is facing the pub car park at the North end of the viaduct at Midford, made famous in the opening sequence of the 'Titfield Thunderbolt'.<br><br>[Ken Strachan 25/08/2018]](/images/65000/65719.jpg "Midford")
![Titfield Thunderbolt fans will undoubtedly recognize this bridge, where the A36 Warminster Road crosses over the Cam Valley line [for an opposed view, see image 38807]. This part of the trackbed belongs to Monkton Combe school, who can close it using the pair of 5-bar gates just visible in front of the bridge.<br><br>[Ken Strachan 26/09/2020]](/images/74000/74603.jpg "Monkton Combe")
