Bristol Harbour Railway - Updates and Goings on

Looks like a fun job ?

Peeling paint can be a real problem ---

two bits of advice, if it helps and assuming I'm not teaching granny to suck eggs.
A) preparation is the key, shortcuts will come back and bite, especially with stuff that's outside. Proper chemicals for rust treatment / prevention are getting more cost-effective all the time.
B) Personally I prefer to use all oil-based paints, but I would advise against mixing with water-based. Although using oil-based means damp / temp control. Oh, and make sure whatever you use has enough drying agent in it.
{I've just painted some stuff, without having put in adequate additive and the paint, whilst more than touch dry, it took a long time to properly "cure"}

 

Yes totally agree. In this instance we think the main problem may have been moisture and corrosion on the inside of the tank causing the exterior to degrade quicker.

The tanker is now back out on the quayside.

https://bristolharbourrailway.co.uk/2025/01/15/sulphuric-acid-tanker-refurbished/

We did some more work on the Toad the other day including a lot of rust removal and treatment.

https://bristolharbourrailway.co.uk/2025/01/12/henbury-holiday-coles-controls-and-toad-tlc/

and a Swindon-built visitor has arrived for a while...

https://bristolharbourrailway.co.uk/2025/01/19/a-pannier-in-the-port-again/

 

are there any plans to use 1369 on normal days and will trains be able to run down the cut again

 

Both! (sort of)

Brake Van Rides with Pannier 1369 – 1 day only!

If you'd like the chance to ride behind GWR Pannier Tank No. 1369 on the Bristol Harbour Railway, there will be a one-time chance to do so.
To celebrate RAIL200, on Friday 14th March 2025, 1369 will be running short trips with the newly-outshopped Toad Brake Van up to Vauxhall Bridge and back on the branch. There may be the opportunity to dismount at Vauxhall Bridge and take photos.
Places are limited to 10 people per trip and the price is £10 per person for 1 round trip (cash or card, payable on the day).
Spaces are on a first-come, first-serve basis on the day and the first trip will be at 11am. There will be approximately 4 trips on the day (depending on demand and staffing).
1369 will be returning to the South Devon Railway soon so this may be the only chance to travel behind it and a rare opportunity to ride on the New Cut Branch.
Please note that as the Toad is the only passenger vehicle on this service, it will be difficult to provide wheelchair access due to the width of the doors.

https://bristolharbourrailway.co.uk/2025/03/07/brake-van-rides-with-pannier-1369-1-day-only/

 

Lovely, really enjoyed my one ride on the railway (in the honking rain a few years ago).
I know it's been asked before, but how do you get around the skirt requirements?

 

How you dress yourself at weekends is up to you

 

Very nice. I have fond memories of a number of charters I ran there some years ago. Would like to have done one of the two you’ve just done with 1369 but things got in the way.

 

A few snaps of the portside pannier, still scuttling about as I crossed the harbour on the way to a pint after work

 

A few of mine from last Friday's runs. At the quayside and running alongside New Cut.

 

1369 has now returned home to the SDR, meaning Henbury is back at M Shed and has been put to work straight away, moving the 'new' concrete sleepers in readiness for more arrivals and the prospect of more trackwork!
https://bristolharbourrailway.co.uk/2025/03/30/henbury-back-at-work-already/

 

I’m looking forward to going under the bridge I’ve never had a chance to go all the way under it. How much track is reopening and is there any more rooms to extensions to any other places

 

One thing we get asked about all the time is whether the branch up the New Cut will reopen. The answer is YES as soon as possible.
See the latest blog post for news on this front:
https://bristolharbourrailway.co.uk/2025/08/26/bringing-back-the-branch/

 

More progress on the overhaul of the GWR G43 MOGO van:
https://bristolharbourrailway.co.uk/2025/08/29/more-mogo-overhaul-progress/

 

Steam Loco/Electric Crane Driving Experiences in October

Back by popular demand are the HAVE-A-GO experiences at M Shed.

YOU can have a go at driving steam locomotive 'Henbury' as well as one of the electric cranes.
For just £80 you receive 20 minutes one-on-one tuition on each machine as well as a certificate of achievement (you might even get a free cup of tea!).

Have-a-go is running from Monday 13th to Friday 17th October 2025

Click here for more information.
or
Click here to book your driving experience.

 

The volunteers have been working flat out recently and managed to get the MOGO van painted up ready for Docks Heritage Weekend this coming Saturday and Sunday, phew!

https://bristolharbourrailway.co.uk/2025/10/02/mogo-out-in-time-for-docks-heritage-weekend/

 

Looks great. How do you get it out from the workshop and onto the tracks? Use the big cranes? When I passed the MShed on Tuesday the van was sitting inside the workshop at 90 degrees to the track.

 

Just a quick note to say the Have-a-go is operating this week, and it's absolutely superb. Despite the grey day yesterday, I did the afternoon session. Very well run. The people running the event are great.

Pleased to hear it's been popular with people.

I'm conflicted, as to whether I enjoyed the crane driving more than driving the Peckett, the latter I have a soft spot for ever since I saw it hauling coal trains in 1981 as a school boy, when it covered for the Western Fuel Co diesel when it broke down, October that year.

Some shots from yesterday attached.

 

Anybody know what progress is being made with Balmoral?

Their website is rarely updated and their FB page has little about the ship itself.
https://www.thebalmoral.org.uk
https://www.facebook.com/thebalmoral1949