Bristol Harbour Railway - Updates and Goings on

It's the first of three planned schemes, so will effectively be the test bed for the others. In the original report, it explains the reasons for choosing the trackbed between Ashton Junction and over the swing bridge, to Cumberland Road. This route does preclude the railway from ever joining back up with the Portishead Branch, but the argument was that a reinstated link would serve only the harbourside rather than the rest of the bus route, and regular train services would mean the BHR would have to cease or limit steam workings along the main line.
It's a catch-22 situation, the railway could not afford to repair the bridge for trains, the metrobus plans include a renovation of the bridge, but in doing so that results in the trimming of the railway.

What I am wondering is why the plan is to run across the lower deck of the bridge, rather than across the top deck as it was originally built, linking up with Smeaton Road on the upper level, effectively reinstating the road which was originally there. The current plan is sure to limit workings to single deckers only.
Furthermore, a double deck bridge would have the potential to be mixed use rail/road/cycle/footpath in the future. 'tis a shame but on the whole I am personally glad of the railway being able to retain the main line along the New Cut without having to share it with the bus network.

 

New blog post takes a look back to 1996, when ex-GWR No.1369 visited the museum.
http://bristolharbourrailway.wordpress.com/2013/11/30/a-pannier-in-the-port-1996/


(Photo is Copyright Ian Silvester http://www.dorneyphoto.com/ )

 

Today's post sheds some light on the oldest locomotive in the Bristol Museums collection, Fox, Walker & Co. No.242 of 1874.

http://bristolharbourrailway.wordpress.com/2013/12/03/locomotive-no-242-fox-walker-and-company/


(Image appears courtesy of Geoff Cryer)

 

That's a nice looking little loco. While a return to steam may not be on the cards, are there any plans for a cosmetic restoration at least, going by the last photo?

 

It's been mooted but not confirmed. Manpower and funds are always a factor, and the shed it's currently in does not lend itself to that kind of work. I hope so though!

 

Understood, thanks for the reply.

 

When there is progress, I shall endeavour to report it

 

I remember running a photo charter with that wee beastie at Bristol. Is it really 17 years ago?

 

Long-time BHR resident 'Henbury' has recently been on hire to the S&DRT at Midsomer Norton, working Santa Specials and service trains over two weekends.

Click here to see the blog post:
http://bristolharbourrailway.wordpress.com/2013/12/23/henburys-christmas-holiday/



Also, Rob Skuse has uploaded several great pics to the M Shed working exhibits facebook page, visible here:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.461319567307129&type=1

 

Today's post gives an update on relaying track from Butterfly Junction up at the planned location for the new shed...

http://bristolharbourrailway.co.uk/2014/02/09/winter-progress-or-wheres-the-point/

 

Thanks for the updates Corbs.. is there a list of running days for 2014 out yet?? Your line is still high on my to do list...

 

Here's the ones for the first 4 months (Taken from the FB page) - hope you can make it! At some point the prep work for Metrobus is bound to start this year so operations after about July time might be subject to track availability.

5/6 april BHR

19/20/21 april BHR

3/4/5 may BHR

24/25/26 may BHR

 

A lot of work has taken place over the last few weeks in spite of the weather. The writing is on the wall for the current Butterfly Junction Halt, and the rebuilding of the 'Barn' with associated trackwork is forging ahead... click the link for more:
http://bristolharbourrailway.co.uk/2014/02/16/all-change-at-butterfly-junction/

 

I believe it will be alongside the Northernmost wall of the warehouse. In the upper of the two photos in my above post, I think the mainline on the right will be slewed over to the left (allowing for metrobus to join Cumberland Road on the extreme right), so instead of cutting right, then left as it does in the picture, it will more or less carry on through where the bushes and trees currently are, to halt at the side of the warehouse.
No more screaming flanges through here!

I believe the logic behind changing it all now is to cause the minimum amount of disruption to steam services in the summer season, when the initial works on Metrobus may begin. As far as I know, most of the stock in the Smeaton Road shed (Under the bridge) will be relocated into the Barn. The Fox, Walker No. 242 might end up in L shed (Not rail connected), but we shall see if that goes ahead.

 

If you scroll down a bit on the page below, you can see the line submerged due to the tidal surge a few weeks back.
http://www.itv.com/news/topic/bristol/

 

Yes, partly due to the way the Metrobus route is planned, as it would mean the railway and shed would be on opposite sides of the busway. As you can see, the Barn is being rebuilt as a 2 road shed, so more stock can be fitted in

I believe the Smeaton Road shed is going to become an overbridge once again, with a combined cycle and footpath through from the Chocolate Path toward Underfall Yard running underneath, along the former Hotwells branch route.

 

Really interesting reading. Love that shot of 1369

 

Today's throw back thursday item - video taken in 1996 of Pannier tank 1369 on a photo charter!
http://bristolharbourrailway.co.uk/2014/02/20/tbt-pannier-1369-video/