Winter Progress, or ‘Where’s the Point?’

Posted on February 9, 2014 by corwinb

Down at Butterfly Junction on a windy January day, the simplification of the track layout has seen the point to Ashton Swing Bridge removed…

Meanwhile, round the bend, the pointwork salvaged from defunct lines is being relaid at the end of Cumberland Road.
The self-propelled crane was in the process of bringing rail down from the junction….

… allowing the track layout to take shape before rain stopped play for the day. The area in the foreground is planned to become the entrance to the rebuilt ‘barn’ building.

Water, water, everywhere…

Posted on February 1, 2014 by corwinb

The recent flooding has not left the BHR untouched. This was the view on 1st February 2014. (Reproduced from the ITV website – http://www.itv.com/news/update/2014-02-01/parts-of-bristol-submerged-by-floodwater/ )

Shunting

Posted on January 25, 2014 by corwinb

A little gif from last year of Portbury shunting the goods stock.

Henbury’s Christmas Holiday – More Photos and Videos

Posted on January 14, 2014 by corwinb

Here are a few more pics and vids from Henbury’s trip to Midsomer Norton.

The following are from the Somerset and Dorset Railway’s web site:

This video was posted by YouTube user Steam trains by XxBec3509

Henbury’s Christmas Holiday

Posted on December 23, 2013 by corwinb

M Shed’s Peckett ‘Henbury’ is in operation this festive season, at the Midsomer Norton headquarters of the Somerset and Dorset Railway Heritage Trust.
Henbury was previously based at Radstock station on the S & D for a short while, as seen here:
http://www.sdrt.org/trust/history/radstock_images/index.htm

Henbury was in operation 14th/15th December (In conjunction with the ‘Santa at the Station’ special event), and again on 21st-22nd, before returning to Bristol.

Youtube user swearingkevo uploaded this footage of Henbury tackling the gradient.

as did Youtube user andy collett

The following images appear here with the kind permission of the Somerset and Dorset Railway Heritage Trust.

The Ruston drags Henbury and Portbury into the open air, in order for Henbury to be prepared for travel.

Departing the station with Mark 1 coach and Queen Mary brake van in tow.

Taking on the incline out of Midsomer Norton Station (SDJRT)

Ready to attack the incline

Storming out of Midsomer Norton in rather sunnier conditions, during the 2nd operating weekend.

The visit has been well-received, and even made the local news.

Rob Skuse has added a great set of pics and video clips to the M Shed Working Exhibits Facebook Page, click on the photos to see the whole set!

Locomotive No.3 – (Fox, Walker and Company No. 242)

Posted on December 3, 2013 by corwinb

A little known and lesser-spotted member of the M Shed Collection is Fox, Walker and Company 0-6-0ST Locomotive Number 242.

Built in 1874, it is the oldest of the three steam locomotives, being 43 years older than ‘Portbury’ (and 63 years older than ‘Henbury’!) and enables the museum to represent all the major engine builders in the Bristol area.

Fox, Walker and Company was taken over by Thomas Peckett in 1880 and became Peckett and Sons, the builders of ‘Henbury’ and her sisters.

242 was the first locomotive to arrive in the museum’s collection. It was donated by the National Coal Board in 1962, having previously worked at Mountain Ash Colliery in Wales, where it was No.3.

These two photographs were spotted for sale on ebay, unfortunately only the thumbnails were available to view online. They show 242 while still at Mountain Ash.

This photo is copyright Malcolm Williams and was found on steamlocomotive.info
It shows NCB Mountain Ash No.3 in detail before departing for Preservation.

Prior to the preserved BHR opening in 1978, she, along with ‘Henbury’ and ‘Portbury’, was to be found at Radstock Station. This was the hub of the initiative to re-open a section of the famous S and D route, spearheaded by the Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust. As previously mentioned, the SDRT moved to Washford station on the WSR in 1976.
Geoff Cryer took these pictures of 242 in the shed at Radstock in September 1975.

: Copyright Geoff Cryer

: Copyright Geoff Cryer

Source: http://www.geoffspages.co.uk/raildiary/radstock.htm and http://www.geoffspages.co.uk/monorail/gc01.htm

When the Radstock project was disbanded, Number 242 went to Bitton (on what is now the Avon Valley Railway) between 1977 and 1986, when she returned to Bristol and was stored in L Shed.
As preparations were made for Bristol Industrial Museum’s conversion into M Shed Museum, the locomotive was made ready to move to another secure location.

Larry the Loader tows 242 out of the workshop.

Photo courtesy Rob Skuse
Source: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.198379386934483&type=1

As for the future, at nearly 140 years old, there are no current plans to return 242 to steam. Her current storage space may be repurposed due to planned development, so a move might be on the cards. Watch this space…

A Pannier in the Port – 1996

Posted on November 30, 2013 by corwinb

Back in 1996, ex-GWR pannier tank 1369 (Now based at the South Devon Railway) paid a visit to Bristol Harbour.
The Weymouth Docks shunter, last survivor of the 1366 class, was reminiscent of panniers formerly used on the harbour lines.

Here are a collection of photos from the visit. All photographs are copyright of their respective owners, a huge thank you goes out for allowing them to be reproduced here.

gordon-edgar-gwr-1369-1
1369 on the shed road while ‘Henbury’ stands by.
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/12a_kingmoor_klickr/5809563945/
Copyright Gordon Edgar

Performing a runpast with the goods.
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dorneyphoto/10691844086/in/photostream/
Copyright Ian Silvester ( http://www.dorneyphoto.com/ )

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8523292@N03/4081645814/sizes/z/in/photostream/

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8523292@N03/4081645892/sizes/z/in/photostream/

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8523292@N03/11090871735/in/photostream/

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8523292@N03/4080884331/sizes/z/in/photostream/

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8523292@N03/11090975914/in/photostream/
Above images are all Copyright Geoff Hartland

The charter featured Ashton Avenue Swing Bridge, still available for use at the time. The area behind the loco is the current site of Butterfly Junction Halt. In 1996 there was a run-around loop in place at Ashton Meadows.
The swing bridge’s deteriorating condition meant that it was taken out of use in the late 1990s, and the track on the South side of the New Cut was lifted to make way for new housing (The houses do not occupy the permanent way, but the trackbed was used for site offices and vehicle parking during construction).

Bristol Metrobus – Revised Plans

Posted on November 28, 2013 by corwinb

The Government has approved Bristol’s rapid transit Metrobus scheme, as reported by the BBC here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-24835593

Previously, the plans called for the railway line along the New Cut to be rebuilt into a combined busway and railway. This route has now been amended so that buses will use Cumberland Road, and will not run along the harbourside.
The current plans envisage a remodelling of the railway near the Create Centre to accommodate the busway as it crosses a rebuilt Ashton Avenue Bridge. The plans have the busway utilise the current railway alignment in order to join Cumberland Road on the level, with the railway being re-aligned.

Details of the plans (Including the amended route) are available on the Metrobus website:
http://www.travelwest.info/node/526

Here is a plan of the proposed works. Please note that the revised route for the BHR is not shown, as it is yet to be decided.

Portbury in Preservation

Posted on November 24, 2013 by corwinb

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.

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

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.

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

and in operation in 1996

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’.

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.

End of Season – 2013

Posted on November 3, 2013 by corwinb

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.

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

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.