Vale of Berkeley Railway

Having looked at that SDC submission and being familiar with the area I can't see a cat in hell's chance that any TOC would want to operate a passenger service to Sharpness without massive, completely out of proportion subsidy let alone the laughable motion of an hourly service.
The heritage railway scheme is also flawed as the line runs from nowhere to Sharpness (makes Minehead look like the Cote D'Azur) through uninteresting countryside in a non tourist area. There are a number of other established heritage railways withing one hours travel - all already competing for passengers, volunteers and finance. This is quite simply a scheme to far.

 

While I kind of agree with your scepticism, there are 2400 homes planned in the Vale of Berkeley by 2040, and another 2500 thereafter.

With the railway society, I wonder why the emphasis is on the branch line, rather than Sharpness Docks? The docks are a remarkable place with much surviving infrastructure, interesting surroundings, and considerable potential. They are pretty sleepy at the moment, but should get busier with leisure boaters once the Stroudwater canal reopens around 2025.

 

There was a video posted of a rather rough shunt at Berkley round run, which I very much doubt DRS appreciated.....

 

Canal wise Sharpness is a dead end. Taking a narrow boat beyond into the estuary would be dangerous. The Cotwold Canal link at Saul is now scheduled for 2026 opening though quite a lot still needs to be done to meet that. I don't see that altering traffic to Sharpness but will no doubt increase traffic between Gloucester & Saul Junction.

 

Sharpness is pretty much a dead end however you look at it!

 

Alas we run the risk of going off-topic, but I suggest that the reopening of the Stroudwater Canal should make Sharpness more viable as a destination on canal holidays. It's only 8 miles South of Saul Junction with no locks, and a potential destination in its own right. It also has the RSPB reserve at Slimbridge (210,000 visitor numbers per year) just to the North. I'm not claiming that the Stroudwater Canal reopening will bring thousands of new visitors to Sharpness, but I do think that there will be quite a few more boat movements on the Southern part of the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal once that happens. And that could hopefully stimulate the development of Sharpness as a destination.

 

Slimbridge is a pain to get to from Sharpness, and if you're getting there by canal you might as well just stop at Slimbridge. Other then the industrial heritage, the only interesting parts of Sharpness itself are the frequently beautiful views of the estuary and the Severn railway bridge, which most people I speak to don't know existed

 

I seem to remember a nice, if small pub by the lock where the canal enters the river. Used to go there 40 odd years ago when my wife(then girlfriend) lived in Gloucs

 

Severn Railway Bridge?

 

over to Lydney - collapsed in 1960, a few bits left if you know what you're looking at.

 

And http://www.forgottenrelics.co.uk/bridges/severn.html is worth a read, covering cradle to grave

 

definitely - for something quite substantial to look at, and the best part of a mile long, it has vanished from consciousness to an impressive extent

 

It easily stood alongside the likes of the Forth, Tay or Royal Albert, but sadly almost lost to the mists of time now. If the VoB does ever happen, it'd be nice to think that an extension to the canal side could include an exhibition or display about it

 

I knew what the bridge was, where it went and its demise. Just didn't realise there was owt left to see.

 

Is there anything in the Museum at the Dean Forest Railway about the bridge?

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Neil Parkhouse has excellent pictures of it in his colour photographs of the railways of the area.

 

The excellent museum at Norchard does cover the story of the bridge as well as the rest of the Severn and Wye Railway.

 

Thanks for the information. I did visit the museum several years ago. I will have to visit again.

I have a friend whose uncle was working on the bridge the night it was rammed. Fortunately they were having their meal break when the collision occurred.

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