On Thursday 20th August 2020, steam tug ‘Mayflower’s boiler was lifted back into place. As the museum and working exhibits have been closed during the Coronavirus crisis, it was nice to be able to have them alive again. All volunteers taking part were complying with COVID-19 restrictions throughout. The lift went very smoothly, a credit to all involved. Hopefully this means the 159-year old Mayflower can be in steam again soon!
Nicholas Tozer published this rather lovely video of a blue ‘Portbury’ operating trains in the early 1990s. It’s amazing to see the differences in the background, like the old sidings, the sleeper wall where the flats near SS GB halt now are. Also note the W.Vincent wagon being used for passengers, these days it is back to being a coal wagon.
The newest video on the Railway Mania Channel features a snippet of info about the museum’s capstan, seen in action at Docks Heritage Weekend.
Full video here:
Some rather excellent news to round off the year, Henbury’s boiler passed its steam test this week. Next comes the task of reassembly.
Thanks to Bill Drewett for the photos.
In 1998, ex-Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway 0F ‘Pug’ No.51218, now based at the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway but once allocated to Bristol Barrow Road shed, ran on a special photo charter at Bristol Industrial Museum.
Robert Tarling was there to capture the occasion, these are his photos and I am very grateful to Robert for allowing them to be reposted here.
Please click here to see more of Robert’s work
The sun has come out for the last running day of the year. The BHR will re-open for passengers in spring 2020.
Henbury’s boiler out of the shed, with a warming fire in it, yesterday.
DHW took place last weekend, with plenty going on at M Shed, SS Great Britain and Underfall Yard.
On Saturday, the Capstan was also in operation again. This device enables people to move wagons along the quayside without needing a locomotive. I made this video of the Capstan in use back in 2014.
Two electric cranes were also in operation, one giving tours and one loading/unloading goods to and from the lorry and rail vehicles.
In 2006, Bristol Industrial Museum was host to a 1940s event. One of the highlights saw Fairbairn Steam Crane, built in the 1870s, lift up a restored Sherman M4A4 tank and place it on a goods train. The immense strength of the Fairbairn design is evident, and the crane is still in operation to this day as part of M Shed.
Passenger services are running every day this weekend. Portbury is shown here warming up for Saturday morning…
