Temple Meads is the Main Bristol station and the terminus for the Severn Beach line. The station was opened at the end of August 1840 and trains could go as far as Bath. Traffic to Clifton Down started in 1874 and to Avonmouth in 1885.
Unfortunately Temple Meads was not built in the centre of the city, which has since caused the modern problem of not having rail access to the main shopping and commercial areas of Bristol. The line from Avonmouth was originally built to Hotwells, almost under the Suspension Bridge, but they did not think to extend it into the City Centre. By the time they decided they wanted a link to Temple Meads it was too late, there was no spare land. This explains why they went to such bother to build the tunnel under The Downs. Just think if they had built the line in time - there would now be a station in the Centre and one at Broadmead.
This is an unusual photograph. Here you can see TWO Severn Beach trains at once!