Overhauls and Maintenance

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There’s plenty going on at M Shed at the moment. Henbury is in the shed being dismantled for overhaul.

If you are visiting M Shed and would like to make a donation to help Henbury steam again, there is a donation box in front of the viewing window. All donations are welcome!

The TOAD brake van, meanwhile, is outside the workshop receiving new boards and a lick of paint on the door.

Much further down the line, Ashton Avenue Bridge is inside its cocoon, being repaired for use by MetroBus.

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Operating days for 2016, Larry gets a new look

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The planned railway operating days are now up on the M Shed website, click here to take a look!

Judy was out on the line today getting warmed up for the first operating weekend of the year – 19/20th March.

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Also out in the sun was resident front loader ‘Larry’, looking resplendent in a fresh coat of paint!

 

TBT – GWR 813 in Bristol

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Another Throwback Thursday to 29th July 2001, when GWR 813 was visiting Bristol. This locomotive has just celebrated its centenary, having been built in June 1901.

You can learn more about GWR 813 and if you like, contribute to the upkeep of this lovely locomotive at http://www.gwr813.org/

Credit for these photos goes to K R Bayley, with huge thanks to Nick Baxter for sending them to me.

New year, new developments

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This shot from Vauxhall Bridge shows that the majority of the fencing between Cumberland Road and the railway line has been removed. This is to be replaced and strengthened to prevent a metrobus going through the fence in the event of a collision.

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Down at Sugar Quay/Whapping Wharf, the first phase of the new housing is nearly completed. This features a walkway that connect Gaol Ferry Bridge to Museum Square.

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Conflat Maintenance – 1

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The small open passenger wagon, based on a ‘Conflat’, is currently outside the workshop for some maintenance.

The advantage of basing this vehicle on a container wagon is that the whole passenger ‘tub’ can be lifted off, making access easier. Another flat wagon has been brought up to accommodate the tub. It’s handy having huge cranes about the place!

End of the Season

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Well, that’s the end of the 2015 operating season on the BHR. Plenty of exciting updates to come, with the ongoing metrobus and Whapping Wharf/Sugar Quay developments, and M Shed’s own projects.

Here’s a photo of a scene that won’t be repeated again, the old Butterfly Junction halt with ‘Judy’ on the passenger train.

Photo courtesy Tim Symons

Photo courtesy Tim Symons

 

Cranes and Boats and Trains

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The last operating weekend of the season is this coming Saturday and Sunday on the BHR, before the winter shut down begins. M Shed museum will be open as normal.

The steam tug Mayflower will also be giving rides.

One of the electric cranes is open to visitors from 11am-4pm today, if you want to go up in the cab and see the controls!

 

Butterfly Junction Redevelopment – 2

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The above diagram (available via the MetroBus website) shows the intentional junction for the guided busway with Cumberland Road, and the re-routing of the harbour railway as a result. The large sweeping curve into Butterfly Junction is gone and replaced with a halt alongside the Bond Warehouse, whilst the ‘Barn’ is retained.

This was the view this morning, the platform in the final stages of removal, and the pointwork rails removed.

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The track has been removed as far as the foot crossing to the chocolate path.

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