Loco and Crane Driving Experiences

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

Docks Heritage Weekend 2021

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.

Docks Heritage Weekend is back – 9th & 10th October

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/