Important Green Park drawings are now on show in the city

Railway enthusiasts and amateur historians are being invited toshare in the latest collection to arrive at Bath & North EastSomerset Council's Bath Record Office.

The council has received 80 drawings depicting a range of oldrailway buildings and equipment around Green Park Station goods yarddating from 1869 to 1934. The detailed architectural drawingsinclude an engine shed, turntable, oil lamp room, fish house, cabstand and stabling for horse-drawn taxi carriages.

The sketches were returned following an inventory check by theSomerset and Dorset Railway Trust which had borrowed them in 1982from Bath City Council, the predecessor to Bath & North EastSomerset Council.

Colin Johnston, the Council's Principal Archivist, said: "It wasa great surprise when they were returned to us after nearly 30years. "They were given to the old Bath City Council by British Railback in the 1980s. They all have the stamp of the 'British RailwaysEngineering Office, Paddington" and they've been well looked afterand carefully wrapped in tissue paper. It's a fascinatingcollection, and all in very good condition.

"They are mostly late 19th to early 20th century drawingsproduced by the railway company for buildings, alterations,extensions, rebuilds and changes on the site across the river fromthe main station, which used to be the railway goods yard. I believePinesway and the Homebase store are on that site now.

"We have virtually nothing in the way of railway drawings here soit's really pleasing for this to come in as 80 drawings can offer awealth of information on one topic. I'm sure it will be wonderfulsource material for railway enthusiasts."

Bath Record Office, in the Guildhall, collects and preserveshistorical records relating to Bath and makes them available forresearch to anyone who wishes to use them.

Councillor Cherry Beath (Lib-Dem, Combe Down), Cabinet Member forSustainable Development, said: "Bath & North East Somerset Councilis pleased to retain these interesting records of the city's railwayheritage for the appreciation of our residents and visitors. Thiscollection could be of particular interest to people whose relationsmay have worked on the line or at the station, as well as localrailway enthusiasts, who could come into the Bath Record Office andoffer any additional information from their own findings."

The Bath Record Office is open for research from Tuesday toFriday each week, except the third full week of the month.

Opening times are Tuesday to Thursday from 9am to 1pm and 2pm to5pm and on Friday from 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 4.30pm.

For more information, contact Bath & North East SomersetCouncil's Bath Record Office, Guildhall, High Street, Bath BA1 5AW,telephone 01225 477421 or email archives@bathnes.gov.uk.