Autumn Highlights 2023

Posted on October 28, 2023 by corwinb

It’s the last operating day of the season tomorrow, so here’s a little round-up of things that have been happening.

Docks Heritage Weekend took place over 30th September/1st October.
Good turnout of volunteers in period dress, along with the Show of Strength Theatre Company interacting with the public. Henbury was in steam both days and collected the BD wagon (which had been in use with the capstan) on the Sunday after the toys had been put away.

Steam tug ‘Mayflower’ has made a return to service following repairs to its engine. It’s been great to see it working on the harbour again over the past two weekends.

‘Have a go’ week took place over the October half term, where customers can pay to have 20 minutes learning to drive the steam loco on the quayside line, followed by 20 minutes on the crane. I was firing on Thursday, Bob Edwardes took some pics too.

Henbury has been running services single-handedly this season. In the shed, Portbury’s strip-down is ongoing.

Portbury is waiting for a free slot in the workshop, currently occupied by the GWR O18 wagon. Bob lettered it up into PBA condition as 61110 earlier this month. Hopefully not long until it’s back on display.

Re-Sleepering in the Yard

Posted on October 8, 2023 by corwinb

I’ve been a bit lax in updating the blog this year, so there may be a few late uploads.
On the weekend of 28th August some of the volunteers and staff were undertaking sleeper replacement in the yard. This has been on the cards for some time as the old ones were life-expired.

Corrie Nash 2023

Posted on May 9, 2023 by corwinb

The railway and diesel tug ‘John King’ were operating over the Chazza Cozza weekend, with the train suitable carrying flags and bunting for the occasion.
Of course the skipper of ‘John King’ had been revising their morse code for a 12:00 sound-off!

Aerial Footage of the Portishead Branch

Posted on April 5, 2023 by corwinb

Youtube channel ‘Stef’ posted this interesting video of the line from Portishead to the junction at Portbury, passing the site where the locomotive now known as ‘Portbury’ once worked.
Also visible is the loop that was used for steam specials to Portishead back in 1985.

First operating weekend of 2023

Posted on April 2, 2023 by corwinb

‘Henbury’ was out and on the quayside line this weekend. Despite a late start on Saturday due to the awful weather in the morning, things brightened up considerably!
Thanks for Beth for sharing these photos of the weekend’s running.

Canons Marsh Gas Works Peckett ‘Fenwick’

Posted on February 11, 2023 by corwinb

Fenwick was built in 1911 as Peckett Works Number 1221 and worked at Canons Marsh Gas Works.
Thanks to a heads-up from fellow volunteer Bob, I acquired this photo from eBay which is dated on the back as 11th August 1949 and shows Fenwick between duties with the mighty gasometer in the background.

Henbury – First Steaming of 2023

Posted on January 10, 2023 by corwinb

Peckett 0-6-0ST ‘Henbury’ was out on test last week, the annual boiler exam is just around the corner, so there was a need to test the operation of the vacuum ejector beforehand. Last season ‘Portbury’ supplied the vacuum but with that loco now out of service for overhaul, Henbury needs to be able to operate solo.

Thanks to Beth for the photo.

eBay Find – Docks Railway Operation Handbook

Posted on November 20, 2022 by corwinb

Thanks to Paul Atkinson for sending me the link for this, it’s a really interesting piece of reference material.
I’ve scanned in the booklet and it can be downloaded for your perusal here.

It’s available on the reference page here.

Last Day of the Season and a Farewell to Portbury

Posted on November 5, 2022 by corwinb

Last Sunday (30th October) was the final operating day of the 2022 season for the working exhibits. Pyronaut was givng rides in the harbour and Portbury was working its final shift before being withdrawn for the upcoming 10-year overhaul.

… And that was it! ‘Farewell Portbury’ chalked on the smokebox door, ashed out over the pit, fire dropped, then back on shed. I couldn’t resist putting the Patrick nameplates (in honour of a friend) back on for a quick photo.

The team have wasted no time in starting the stripdown for overhaul, making the most of a gap in the weather this week. Thanks to Beth for these pics.

Docks Heritage Weekend 2022

Posted on October 13, 2022 by corwinb

Last weekend saw the annual Docks Heritage event where we try to give a flavour of cargo handling and other activities for the public to see. Sadly we were sans actors this year but the volunteers put in a good shift in demonstrating the exhibits, including rides in Pyronaut, crane 31, and loading demos with crane 30 along with a few shunting actions using the capstan.
Thanks to Emily for these pics.