A little animated teaser for Portbury….
Portbury Overhaul Update 4
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M Shed Working Exhibits Facebook Page
To see even more updates and pictures not only from the BHR but also the other working exhibits at M Shed, including the steam and electric cranes, tug ‘John King’, fire boat ‘Pyronaut’ and more, it’s well worth checking out the facebook group on the following link:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/198001523638936/
(You will need a facebook account to see this page)
Bristol Harbour Festival 2013
Harbour Festival is always busy down at Bristol Docks. I was volunteering on the Sunday (Saturday had seen torrential downpours, we were lucky on Sunday).
A couple of views from 8am before the crowds arrived.
The ever faithful ‘Henbury’ was on duty today.
As steam was raised outside the shed, I was tasked with polishing up some of the brasswork, including climbing up on the saddle tank to do the whistles, safety valve cover and chimney cap.
Then Driver Bob eases her over the pit for oiling.
The harbour area was packed full of interesting vessels and activities, and the museum’s own fleet was out in force.
The main challenge of the day was traversing the extremely busy area on the wharf. Trains proceeded along this section at a snail’s pace. Museum volunteers in high-vis made sure members of the public didn’t stray on to the running line.
Services were between M Shed and the SS Great Britain halt. The rain did eventually come, thankfully only toward the end of the day.
‘Henbury’s fire was dropped and she backed into the shed after another day’s work.
Portbury Overhaul Update 3
‘Portbury’ with chimney fitted, steam tests due next month
Birthday Special
On Saturday 29th June the BHR team celebrated one of our volunteers’ 18th Birthday. ‘Henbury’ was renamed ‘Emily Anne’ for the day and wore a ‘Birthday Special’ headboard.
Here’s a few photos from the day.
Henbury is dragged out of the shed by the front loader.
Morning checks, and the fire is lit.
Some shunting was necessary as the Weltrol wagon used for ‘Gromit Unleashed’ on Friday needed to be shunted back into the long siding, and the passenger train reassembled.
The birthday girl
The belly of the beast
The last service of the day was a special train for volunteers, running down to the Create Centre and back
At the end of the day, the fire is dropped and Henbury/Emily Anne uses the last of her steam to return to the shed.
Unfortunately, ‘Portbury’s return to service has been delayed a bit. Hopefully she’ll be back in steam before the end of the year and ready to take over from her stablemate, as ‘Henbury’ will be withdrawn for her ten-year overhaul in July 2014.
Gromit Unleashed!
Cycled down to the quayside in my lunch break as a launch party for Visit Bristol’s ‘Gromit Unleashed’ project was underway.
Several decorated Gromits were on a flat wagon pulled by ‘Henbury’.
Wallace and Gromit creator Nick Park was there being filmed by a tv crew
Follow the link to the official post on the M-Shed website
http://mshed.org/about-us/news/gromits-make-a-grand-entrance-on-the-henbury/
Visit England made this short news piece on the launch:
Portbury Overhaul Update 2
I called in at ‘The Cathedral’ (M Shed MPD) on the way from work today and met Chris, who will be taking on the role of General Manager from David Martin, who has been there since the railway’s inception in 1978.
Chris was repainting much of ‘Portbury’ as she was being reassembled. The hope is to get her ready in time for the Harbour Festival, but the aim is not to rush unnecessarily as ‘Portbury’ will be taking over from ‘Henbury’ as the sole steam locomotive when ‘Henbury’s boiler ticket expires in July 2014.
Pics showing the progress:
June 2013 update
2012 saw the double track section from the main yard to SS Great Britain Halt singled. The dock-side line has not been used for years (part of it is used for residents parking and it runs very close to Brunel’s Buttery).
In order to make the road safer for cyclists, the rails on the disused line have been infilled and the set of points at the halt have been removed for re-use elsewhere.
The new layout at SS GB Halt
A closer look at the end of the disused line
Running line on the right, cycle-friendly route on the left
Outside M Shed, this sign arrangement provides visitors with information on their surroundings. The placement has meant the track directly outside the museum is now largely out of use
Tragically, in March this year a cyclist lost control and fell into the harbour, 2 bystanders jumped in to help but he died at the scene. The man was a well known charity fundraiser, and was without his personal trainer on a route he was not familiar with, early in the morning.
This is a very unfortunate occurrence and deeply saddening. Temporary fences have been installed along the quayside outside M Shed while the debate on building permanent barriers is reviewed.
Link to news story:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-21682878
‘Portbury’ Returns!
‘Evening all.
A few pics of what’s been going on…
Demolition of the former coal yard/car park is proceeding rapidly. The half of the car park that is left will keep functioning for 18 months, then the bulldozers will move in
The site seen from the mud dock deli toward M/L sheds and the former goods platform (Now roofless)
About 2 weeks ago an old friend returned to ‘The Cathedral’, seen through the glass here…
…and inside the shed here.
‘Portbury has returned from Buckfastleigh workshops on the South Devon Railway after her overhaul, and is being reassembled. It is hoped she will be back in traffic for the Harbour Festival later this summer
At the time of these photos, ‘Henbury’ was outside getting steam up for the bank holiday weekend
There are more updates and track modifications up the line toward the SS Great Britain which I hope to report on later in the week.
That’s it for now!
2012-2013 Updates
Found the phone cable and uploaded a few pics from the last six months or so.
The olive shed building has been re-roofed, which has resulted in the little goods platform around the back losing its roof (This used to be a sleeping spots for some of Bristol’s homeless population, I doubt they’ll want to rest here with no cover)
Before
After
A large part of the pay and display car park has been dug up as part of an archaeological survey, and the disused warehouse at the back of the old Western Fuel Depot has had a roof cave-in (It was sagging a lot for as long as I can remember)
This may well lead to the building’s demolition sooner than expected, who knows?
As discussed here:
The GUV that stood at the SS Great Britain Halt has been sold to the WSR to be dismantled and used as spares and storage.
It was dragged out on to the quay for its last few weeks in Bristol
A few assorted pics from 2012
The line that the coal wagon is standing on has now had bollards welded to the rails to act as a pedestrian walkway (The loop line around the back of M Shed is now useless, as M Shed’s foyer has taken the place of the back doors and crossover track into the shed).
The Matthew giving tours in the harbour
Crane 30 striking an impressive pose
Henbury on-shed back in June. The area of car park where I am standing in this photo has now been completely excavated.
Bristol Harbour Railway Blog 