Great Swilling
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Designed and created by the late David Burnett (ex chairman)
Bristol and Gloucester
A natural progression from the Bristol to Coalpit Heath tramway was to reach
Gloucester. Engineered by Brunel to Broad Gauge, The Bristol and Gloucester
Railway opened in 1844. Soon to join forces with the Birmingham to Gloucester to
form the Bristol to Birmingham. Absorbed by the Midland Railway In 1846,
supported by the LNWR whose directors were horrified at the thought of Broad
Gauge reaching their territory if taken over by the Great Western! Hence Midland
working into Bournemouth.
Situated a few miles west of Michaelwood Services on the M5 Great Swilling was
one of two junctions, together with Berkeley Road, for traffic to Severn docks. To
avoid congestion, an avoiding loop was laid to the east in 1939. The station was then
only used for local and docks traffic. A tramway links the rear lines to Suppings Hole
sidings and Sharpness docks.
Built to EM Gauge standards most of the layout is scratch built.
Rolling stock from kits and modified RTR with some scratch building.
Swillings Brewery is still independent, ‘The Beer Pint’.