Bristol Harbour Railway - Updates and Goings on

Try this - http://maps.bristol.gov.uk/kyp/?edition=

 

http://maps.nls.uk/view/102347323

 

That is a great map. We often stay at Baltic Wharf with our motorhome when travelling on the Torbay Express and love mooching about the old docks. Thanks for posting the link.

 

This one is from the floating harbour website.

 

I think it's great. There are maps for Bath, Wiltshire and Somerset too (http://www.kypwest.org.uk/). The maps from 1947 are interesting. I've spent hours exploring the lost lines of Wiltshire using it

 

GWR Man - Thanks for you're reply to my question, a real bugger that connection was severed but hey hum such is life. Bristol docks line is on my to do list for 2017, what is the ruling gradient over the line? Seems pretty damn steep in places!

 

I honestly have no idea what the actual ruling gradient is, but the operational section is roughly consistent with the water level in the harbour, so I would say it's pretty level.

 

Think it's from the youtube footage i've watched it looked steeper for some reason. Is there any scope for extension of the running lines they've already got or are they hemmed in by developments?

 

Very much hemmed in! When the line was still connected to the national network about 20 years ago there wouldn't've been much scope for extension unless they could've operated up to Parson Street station, having to work around any workings on the Portishead line! But since the line was disconnected some time ago (unsure as to when exactly) and with the MetroBus developments any scope for reconnection is pretty much dead and buried. And any idea for going the other way towards Temple Meads would involve bulldozing a whole host of housing!

 

Lots of housing, a big hotel, and then a rather large Network Rail office block before you reach Temple Meads. I suspect the cost would be into the hundreds of millions.

 

Martin Creese has added a few pics and vids from a night time photo shoot with Portbury
https://bristolharbourrailway.co.uk/2017/02/19/night-shoot-with-portbury/

 

Cycled past the Create Centre at Cumberland Basin this morning. The conversion of the Ashton Gate swing bridge for busway operation looks near enough complete and the busway through to Avon Crescent is also done, but there's no sign of the railway returning as yet. The slipped section of river wall alongside the Chocolate Path which has necessitated the temporary diversion of the cycleway onto the railway formation looks to be getting worse. Does anyone know what the plans are for railway reinstatement?

 

Bristol Canon Marsh Goods Shed and yard in the early 1980's when the goods yard was used as a car park. It surprised me one day a few years ago when I realised the original part of the goods shed was built into @ Bristol and not knocked down.


I have got other photos of buildings on the Canon Marsh side of the floating harbour if you are interested and if so I will see what I can sort out for you.

 

Hello GWR Man, sorry I'd completely missed your post! Thank you for sharing the pictures, I certainly would be interested in seeing more. Would it be possible for me to repost them on my little blog (credited to you of course)?

40th Anniversary Celebrations (Video)
On Saturday March 24th 2018, the Bristol Harbour Railway celebrated 40 years of operation on Bristol’s Harbourside, accompanied by the Lydney Town Band and of course a cake to commemorate the occasion! 101-year old ‘Portbury’ did the honours, pushing and pulling the freshly-refurbished passenger train up and down all day. What started as a group of enthusiasts, one locomotive (Henbury) and a brake van has seen dozens of changes on the harbourside, with the disused industrial area changing into a vibrant tourist hotspot. Long may it continue to bring delight to passengers, giving a unique experience in UK preservation.

 

I got a chance to go to Bristol with a friend of mine from Finland, and we just so happened to pick the weekend the railway ran, very fortunate timing on my part.






I think the most fascinating part for me, was the fact I could step behind the train almost as soon as it left and take shots of it going on its merry way.

 

I notice that Portbury will be visiting Bodmin (1-3 June) and Dean Forest (15-17 June) for their galas. Will Portbury be coming back for the BHR running weekend on 9&10 June or will another loco be in use?

 

Hi Paul,
I'm not certain about these visits. As far as I know Portbury is working all the BHR trains for this season (subject to change as with all these things). Apologies I can't give more info about loco movements.
Don't take my word for it though, I'm not at the railway all the time so things can change and I don't hear about them. I'm wary of giving out the wrong info by mistake, hope you understand.

 

Portbury's visits aren't happening anymore. It has been replaced by L92 at Bodmin and Swiftsure at Dean Forest.

 

Weymouth could’ve done with something like BHR