In December 2021 we said goodbye to ex-PBA, ex-LMS open wagon No.66045. After years spent looking rather forlorn in the yard it is going to a new home at the Talyllyn Railway in Tywyn. It is due to be restored and placed in the re-laid standard gauge siding at Wharf station to demonstrate how slate was once transferred from the 2’3″ gauge stock to the rest of the network.
Crane 32 undertook the lift with ease thanks to its 10 ton rating. Thanks to Bob Edwardes for the photos.
With thanks to a member of the Avon Valley Railway group who passed on this photo via Bob Edwardes.
Believed to have been taken by Rex Coffin in around 1952 (judging by the fact that Crane 32 looks brand new) it shows 5700 class pannier tank No. 7790 at the head of a train of loaded conflats on the quayside line.
The loco is still in faded G W R livery and has a GW shunters’ truck attached to the front.
On the extreme right of the photo it looks as though a road wagon is parked across what is now the main running line.
In the background to the left can be seen the crane whose pedestal still stands at the edge of Lloyds Amphitheatre.
For a couple of days in ‘Have a Go Week’, Henbury was out on the quayside as the kinks are ironed out.
Thanks to Bob Edwardes for these two pics! Very nice framing through the cranes.
Aaand here are a few I took including a trip up in the crane.
Portbury is out on the quayside this week as part of the chance for members of the public to try driving a steam loco and an electric crane.
Find out more and book an experience here
The M Shed website states:
Our one-to-one tuition gives you the thrill of being the driver whilst testing your skill in controlling the hook.After taking both machines for a spin, you’ll receive a certificate of achievement.
Timeslots are available every 40 minutes. Please report to reception 15 minutes before your allocated time slot where a buddy will show you to the working area.
Price is £50 per person
It’s been a week since the first public outing for the working exhibits in over a year, Docks Heritage Weekend. What a blast! So great to have the volunteers working with the public again. Both Portbury and Henbury were on display and the capstan was back in operation both days, and crane 30 was kept busy loading and unloading the lorry.
Quayside operations were bolstered with audience interaction from the Show of Strength Theatre company.
Thanks for Bob, Bruce and the M Shed social media channels for these photos of the weekend.
The active fleet seen outside the shed today as ‘Portbury’ warms up ahead of DOCKS HERITAGE WEEKEND making a comeback after the pandemic.
Activities at M Shed
Trips on electric crane No.31 (charges apply)
Trips on the John King tug (charges apply)
Cargo handling demonstrations with Crane 30 and the electric capstan
Dramatic interludes from Show of Strength Theatre Company exploring characters from the docks’ past, Saturday and Sunday, 11am – 4pm
Visit the Fairbairn steam crane
Trips to see a stationary steam locomotive (charges apply) – Portbury is rostered for this
Visit the Bristol Port Company stand
See a Bristol Steam Navigation Company display
Events at SS Great Britain
Pre-booked free tours of the Albion Dock
Brunel Institute will be open (free) between 11am to 3pm on both days for visitors to drop in to meet a curator and see some of the collection objects celebrating Bristol’s docks heritage
Victorian street games on Brunel Square on Saturday
Shanty Festival performances on Brunel Square on Sunday
‘Mr Brunel’ will be on Brunel Square both days
Photography festival ‘Opening Up’ on Brunel Square both days
Activities at Underfall Yard
Demonstrations of traditional blacksmithing skills
Appreciate engineering in miniature with model steam engines and workshops
Discover the tools of yesteryear with the Tools and Trades History Society
Try your hand at nautical knots
Watch the pumps that powered a port running throughout the weekend
See our magnificent machinery workshops in action
Enjoy songs of the sea performed by several sea shanty groups as part of Bristol Shanty Festival (Sunday only).
See you there!
https://www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/m-shed/whats-on/docks-heritage-weekend/
Back at the start of the month, Crane 30 was used to lift off the wheelhouse to Bristol tug ‘John King’ so it can have some tender loving care.
Thanks to Bob Edwardes for these photos!
Bob says “Whilst up the crane I also had a cracking view of the recently restored Thames sailing barge (S.B. Gladys) making her way from Gloucester back to London via Bristol Harbour.”
With great sadness I report that Andy King, curator of Bristol Industrial Museum and M Shed, passed away this week. The jibs of cranes 31 and 32 have been lowered and crossed in honour of Andy’s work.
Andy joined Bristol Museum’s curatorial team 40 years ago. Part of the group tasked with getting ‘Mayflower’ back into working order, he went on to become the driving force behind many of the working exhibits and ensuring that they continue to entertain and educate thousands of people for years to come.
He will be greatly missed by all the volunteers and staff.
A recent visit to M Shed and the BHR (under supervision and within Covid restrictions) by members of the Appleby Frodingham Railway Preservation Society. Thanks to Andrew and Chris for taking the time to visit and do the write-up!
Last week, after a few discussions, 2 of our members visited the currently closed Bristol Harbour railway whilst on holiday. This unusual railway is part of the M Shed (Bristol Museums group). Based in L shed as part of the transport division, the L shed team look after all forms of transport items owned by the M Shed. We were greeted by Chris and taken through the transport section (including the first Concorde crew cabin mockup) to the locomotive workshop.
Currently stored at the main shed are locomotives “Henbury” (Peckett No.1940 of 1937), “Portbury” (Avonside No.1764 of 1917) and the Coles rail crane (14090). Portbury and the Coles Crane are both operational.
“Henbury” is an 0-6-0 Peckett locomotive and has just been rebuilt and testing is on-going. “Portbury” is one of “Cranford”‘s Avonside sisters. Being an early type of the same design but with a curved saddle tank instead of flat sides.
Also part of the collection is Fox Walker (No.242 of 1874) completing a collection of locomotives built in Bristol, in Bristol! And finally aRuston Hornsby 165dm “the bug” (418792 of 1959) however these two are stored in a different location.
The railway usually operates with a Conflat and BR Bogie Bolster E later rebuilt as a Turbot ballast wagon, both modified to carry passengers, followed up with a toad brake van. And on special occasions, demonstration freights are operated. The railway hopes to reopen this year in September/August however much of the track needs work and reopening may not take place until 2022. We kindly thank Chris Ecclestone, Corwin , and the team at the M Shed for allowing us this private visit and have given a donation to support the railway. If you would like to visit like us, contact the M Shed by email. Alternatively you can wait until the railway reopens, Or you might like to volunteer. If so you again contact the M shed. You can find more information on https://www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/m-shed/
A video from Clive Hanley on YouTube featuring Portbury on a night time photo charter back in 2017.
Bristol Harbour Railway Blog 