Portbury in Preservation

Avonside No. 1764 ‘Portbury’ was built in 1917 for the war effort, destined to work at the Portbury shipyards. The end of the war in 1918 meant the shipyard never actually built a vessel.
She eventually moved into the fleet of shunters based in Avonmouth and worked there until replaced by diesels.

Here are a few photos from across the internet of her life in preservation.

In the early 1970s, all three of the BHR’s steam locomotives were to be found at Radstock station in Somerset. This was part of a preservation effort to save and operate a section of the Somerset and Dorset Railway.

Here she is outside the shed, looking rather forlorn.
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Source: http://www.geoffspages.co.uk/raildiary/radstock.htm

and another pic inside the shed next to 7F 53808

Portbury sharing space in Radstock Shed

Portbury sharing space in Radstock Shed

Unfortunately, the project at Radstock was unsuccessful and the Somerset and Dorset Railway Heritage Trust relocated to Washford on the West Somerset Railway.
‘Henbury’, ‘Portbury’ and No. 242 found their way to the Bristol Harbour Railway, opened in 1978.

‘Portbury’s restoration was completed in Bristol and she was in brought into operation on the BHR.
Here she is in lined blue livery back in 1992.

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Original source:
http://www.geolocation.ws/v/W/File%3APortbury%202.jpg/-/en

and in operation in 1996
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Source: http://bit.ly/1erjN1L

After another overhaul, she emerged in 2001 in a livery akin to the one she first wore, the initials ‘I W & D’ stand for ‘Inland Waterways and Docks’.

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Source: http://www.bristoljpg.co.uk/2004/portbury.jpg

Now, in 2013, this livery has been adapted to more accurately represent her 1917 condition – note the lack of nameplate (She was not named ‘Portbury’ until her time at Avonmouth Docks) and the black wheels.
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End of Season – 2013

Today was the last day of operation for the M Shed working exhibits. ‘Portbury’, the steam tug ‘Mayflower’, and the steam crane were all in service.

Portbury was given a clean before collecting the passenger train.

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I spent the morning on the train – mostly trying to keep seats dry in between showers!

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The afternoon was spent dismantling the fence and gateway across the shed road, this is where the new access road is going to go. The point nearest the camera (To the now defunct line around the back of M Shed) is coming out and being replaced with plain rail and concrete sleepers.

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This cake was the best thing I’ve seen this year, made by Emily.

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At the end of the day, ‘Portbury’ pulled the goods rake out from the long siding and coupled the NE brake van to the passenger train…

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..before heading back to the shed.

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Services begin again in Easter, but there’s a lot of work to do in between now and then, so keep checking back for updates!

Yard remodelling and site clearance

The Barn has now been dismantled and stored on wagons in the yard, allowing the headshunt to be reconnected to the shed road once more.

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Down at A Bond, site clearance has taken place with a view to the proposed remodelling.

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The war between the pro and anti bus route campaigners has spilled onto the paths.

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Finally, a giant lottery ball hit L shed.

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Dismantling ‘The Barn’

A lot can change in a week! There is a hole in the sky as ‘The Barn’ is dismantled. In the current redevelopment plans, the siding on the right will be reconnected to the shed road on the left, forming a loop into the yard again. The stone setts on the right (under the telehandler) are to be replaced with an access road, which will cross both lines roughly where I am standing to take the picture. This will take traffic away from the current choke point around the front of the Olive Shed.

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Alfred and Judy Operating Weekend: Highlights

Just a little compilation of photographs and video from 14th-15th September 2013, when Port of Par twins ‘Alfred’ and ‘Judy’ worked trains together with resident ‘Portbury’.

Here’s a few videos on Youtube of the trio in action:

Saturday’s operations by 47840chaser

theonlyadzrulz recorded Sunday’s workings

Sunday saw Portbury develop a small steam leak which should be fixed soon.

Shunting taking place on Friday in the pouring rain (A large roof hatch is good for visibility but not ideal for stopping drips!)

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Lastly, some photos from Sunday’s workings.

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A huge thanks must go out to all those involved in arranging for the twin engines’ visit.

Alfred and Judy’s Photo Charter

Bagnall locomotives ‘Alfred’ and ‘Judy’ took part in a photo charter with resident Avonside ‘Portbury’ on Thursday 12th September. Martin Creese of 30742 charters took the following images and has kindly given permission for them to be reposted here.

Portbury and Par Twins on the dockside






You can see all the pics on Martin’s flickr set here:

Along the harbourside

Additionally, flickr user ‘Mangotsfield Mike’ took some pictures of the prep, visible at the following link:
Alfred & Judy Bristol Harbour Railway

Finally, here’s a small clip of the two locos parallel running on the dockside.

Alfred and Judy arrive at the BHR!

The diminutive Port of Par twin engines ‘Alfred’ and ‘Judy’ have arrived in Bristol.

Thursday September 12th will see them operating photo charters, and as an added bonus, they will be operating service trains in conjunction with the BHR’s own ‘Portbury’ this coming weekend.

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The charter and the visit has been organised through 30742 Charters with the Bristol Harbour Railway, the Locomotive’s owners, and the haulage company.

To find out more about these locomotives follow the link:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagnall_0-4-0ST_%22Alfred%22_and_%22Judy%22

Portbury returns to service

August Bank Holiday Weekend saw the re-introduction of Avonside 0-6-0ST ‘Portbury’ into service. She top and tailed services with Peckett ‘Henbury’ all weekend.
All photographs are reproduced here with the kind permission of Rob Skuse.

Morning prep, shunting and down the branch

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Stalwart locomotive ‘Henbury’, and the two stablemates at the end of the day.
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Portbury Overhaul Update 6

In order to rearrange the two saddle tanks, and to get ‘Henbury’ over the inspection pit, it was necessary to do some shunting using the Ruston diesel shunter, not often seen on the line.
The Ruston itself was in the ‘Barn’, behind the line’s self-propelled crane.

The crane shunts the coal wagon back out of the way.

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With a growl and a puff of smoke, the Ruston creeps out of the barn, collects the two vans (Which double up as a good way of preventing people falling into the pit), and deposits them back outside the shed before heading down to M Shed.

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Dragging the two steam locos out, Portbury deposited in the siding while Henbury heads to the pit.

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Henbury is pushed back into the shed first….

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and Portbury basks in the sun

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This week, she’s been treated to warming fires to test the boiler for any leaks. Sunday saw her courting attention on the quayside.

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