Bristol Harbour Railway - Updates and Goings on

Thank you! That's very kind of you to say. I try and give a heads up of events when I know they are occurring - this year I added an 'operating days 2014' page to the blog itself to show what days the railway (and railway-related events) are working, and if there are any special events then I try and post about them in advance. It's something I'm working on improving, asking the right questions to the right people at the right time is key, and keeping my hand in volunteering-wise is essential.

 

A few pics from today's services are on the blog - http://bristolharbourrailway.co.uk/2014/10/11/autumn-sun-and-rain/

Here's a bonus .gif of Portbury, showing the extent of the construction on the old Fuel Depot.


Operating weekends for next year are not finalised yet, but I will try and update the blog when I find out. There's still tomorrow, and two more weekends left in the season

 

End of season has been and gone now, and work has resumed on building the new level crossing. This area has had concrete sleepers put in, presumably as concrete is now going to be poured over the formation.
http://bristolharbourrailway.co.uk/2014/11/15/level-crossing-work-3/

I've also added a post giving some information about some of the locos that used to work at Avonmouth, including some photos of the steam fleet courtesy of the RCTS
http://bristolharbourrailway.co.uk/2014/11/13/the-engines-of-avonmouth/

Some surplus track has gone to the Helston Railway to help with their line building
http://bristolharbourrailway.co.uk/2014/11/08/helston-railway-collects-trackwork/

... and new barriers have enabled the quayside to be exposed once more
http://bristolharbourrailway.co.uk/2014/11/07/open-quayside/

Have a look at the blog, more information is being added all the time!

Thanks

 

As reported elsewhere, 'Portbury' is going on tour in 2015, kicking off with Rowley Station at Beamish in February!
http://bristolharbourrailway.co.uk/2014/11/21/portbury-is-going-to-beamish/

 

So what does that mean for operations at Bristol?

 

Until the Metrobus build dates and locations are confirmed, it's still to be seen whether we can use the branch line or not. However the plan is still to run steam services on bank holiday/high season weekends, motive power TBC.

 

Is Henbury out of traffic now?

 

Yes, on display at the back of the shed. Has been out of traffic since July.

 

It's Thursday, which means a new post about the history of Bristol's harbour railways. Today we look back to 1981, when 'Henbury' was pressed back into revenue earning service pulling coal trains for the Western Fuel Co. and BR. Featuring a video showing 'Henbury' venturing on to the main line to be turned at Bristol Bath Road!

http://bristolharbourrailway.co.uk/2014/11/27/tbt-henbury-makes-history-coal-trains-in-1981/


(Photo above by John Stanford and appears here with the kind permission of Paul Stanford)

 

And the trains ran at high tide to stop the railway line slipping into the River Avon.

 

Today I've featured some pics taken by Michelle Scoplin back in May, when the stock in Smeaton Road shed was shunted into the barn. This was a rare occasion to see the Fox, Walker in the open air

Here's the post:
http://bristolharbourrailway.co.uk/2014/12/04/the-fox-walker-sees-daylight/

 

Here's a few pictures from the Xmas Steam Up event, where for £25, one could have a go at driving both 'Portbury' and the steam crane!
http://bristolharbourrailway.co.uk/2015/01/17/photos-from-xmas-steam-up/

 

£25??? Back in the summer a go driving Portbury on her own was only a fiver - that's an expensive crane!

 

The 'driver for a fiver' was only to the end of the long siding in the yard as it was held on operating days. The 'xmas steam up' was on a dedicated day allowing the use of not just the yard but also the branch line.
Much more time on the loco as well as the crane to boot!

 

As posted on the Beamish facebook page, Portbury has now arrived at Rowley!
http://bristolharbourrailway.co.uk/2015/02/03/portbury-arrives-at-beamish/

 

So, are trains running in Bristol at all this year? Is Portbury just away for the off season?

 

Portbury's away until (I believe) September.

Next running day at the BHR is 4-6th April with more dates TBC

Harbourside steam will be in action this year with visiting motive power (also TBC)

 

Portbury now unloaded at Beamish and in steam! A few pics showing delivery and shunting the yard
http://bristolharbourrailway.co.uk/2015/02/05/portbury-at-beamish-in-steam/

(Photos courtesy of Paul Jarman)

 

Portbury seems to be settling in well at Beamish....
http://beamishtransportonline.co.uk/2015/02/ti-news-week-56-2015/

(Photo is property of Dave Hewitt and appears here as a link from the Beamish blog)

 

Good morning from a rather dark and gloomy Bristol!

A few updates on the blog, the Toad Brake Van is undergoing winter maintenance
http://bristolharbourrailway.co.uk/2015/02/26/toad-in-the-works/



and work on clearing the old trackbed for Metrobus has begun
http://bristolharbourrailway.co.uk/2015/02/23/metrobus-vegetation-clearance/