Whapping Wharf Building work update – March 2014

Work is forging ahead next door to M Shed, on the Wapping Wharf housing scheme. This includes the resurfacing of the square outside the engine shed, seen here:

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The disused loop line has been cut into for drainage.

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This scene is soon to change drastically, with the roadway being taken alongside the running line, to a new level crossing just out of sight.

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‘Container city’ on the right.

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TBT – USA Tank 30075 (Video)

Today’s Throwback Thursday post – back in September 1997, ‘USA’ tank 30075 (Built in 1960 in Yugoslavia to a WW2 design) ran some photo charters.
Ian Silvester took this video, and has given permission for it to be reproduced here.

All change at Butterfly Junction

The track gangs (Usually a team of no more than 6 people) have been extremely busy in modifying the layout at Butterfly Junction.

This was the view today – the line through the station has been lifted, as has the loop, and the sleepers from the Ashton Meadows Spur have been recovered.

Perhaps aptly, the station information board is rather lopsided.
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In the shadow of the tobacco bond warehouses, the crane lifts the last few remaining rails from the station area.
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Larry the loader assists
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The foreground is where the spur to Ashton Meadows used to run – this is planned to form part of the Metrobus route
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Just around the corner, the new shed and yard is taking shape. Compare these photos to those taken in January, another set of points has been laid on the approach to the Barn, which is already half assembled.

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

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

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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….

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… 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.

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Henbury’s Christmas Holiday

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.


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!