The tanker was picked up and turned 90 degrees today to get it into L Shed. The plan is to give the tank a spruce-up as it’s suffered more than the chassis out in the open and the paint is looking rather tatty. The Coles Crane slewed the wagon around by picking up the end and moving it over a piece at a time.
Thanks to Chris E for the photos.
That’s it! Another season of passenger operations finished. Now the winter maintenance can begin.
This includes getting the tank of the Sulphiric Acid Tanker rubbed down and repainted. The chassis is still in good condition but the tank has suffered a bit from flaking paint and rust bubbles.
The Coles Crane was used to bring the tanker out of the yard and set it down on to Henbury at the end of the working day. The steam loco then propelled it onto the quayside to be pressure-washed. Earlier in the day we did a test lift to ensure the crane would be able to slew it into the warehouse.
Henbury was then ashed out (the plates in the ashpan were removed at the same time) and taken back to the shed as the light faded.
Thanks to Katie Richards for the photos.
Tomorrow is the last day of passenger services on the BHR this year. This morning there was quite a bit of shunting to do to put the Toad back on the train after fulfilling its ‘waiting room’ duties for Have-A-Go week. Similarly the BD and red flat wagon were put back into the yard having been used to limit the area of quayside Henbury could shunt up and down on.
It was also David’s final day as a driver on passenger trains. David’s been a key part of the preserved railway on the docks since the very beginning in 1978.
A few more pics from the day – thanks to Jay Parker and Katie Richards for some of these.
A big shunt also took place at the end of the day to release the sulphuric acid tanker, which is getting some TLC over winter. Henbury had to pull most of the stock out of the back road and towards the shed before propelling it into the middle road. Thanks to Katie for these photos.
One of my favourite events of the year, DOCKS HERITAGE WEEKEND took place over 28th and 29th September.
This event featured our friends at the Show of Strength Theatre Company once again, this time with a new storyline (featuring George and Sheila of course) with more jeopardy and a longer run time (and some singing!).
Sheila’s ordered a new television on hire-purchase, but she’s not told George about it! Will he find out?
John King was on duty giving rides around the harbour, 2 cranes were working (one for visitors and one loading the lorry), the capstan was in operation again and Henbury was in steam for cab visits. Saturday also featured live performances from the choir in L Shed.
Thanks to Katie Richards and Bob Edwardes for these photos.
Ex-PBA wagon and former BHR resident, 4-wheel open No. 66045, is now the property of the Talyllyn Railway and will be on display at Tywyn Wharf station.
The wagon has been cosmetically restored in Cambrian Railways livery and will be on a short piece of standard gauge track to show how slate was transhipped from the narrow gauge trucks.
Thanks to Luke Ryan for the photo
See more about this ex-Bristolian wagon in the video:
A few atmospheric shots from the bank holiday weekend.
Meanwhile, work on the branch has started with a view to running passenger trains once more. The Coles Crane was set to work with a runner wagon to assist with cutting back the hedges on the bridge curve.
Thanks to Katie Richards for the photos.
Trains are running every day this bank holiday weekend, but on Friday an unusual shunting move took place to retrieve one of the flat wagons from the headshunt at SS Great Britain Halt.
Alex was on hand to capture these shots.
A few photos from this year’s Harbour Festival (20th/21st July). We survived another year with lots of volunteers working together to deliver the boat and train service. Pyronaut, still fresh from overhaul, did its part in the displays showing off its pumping ability, with stalwart John King providing passenger trips. The steam launches were a personal highlight. Mixed weather didn’t appear to put too many people off as can be seen from the crowded quayside!
Thankfully on these occasions extra volunteers are deployed for crowd safety.
Thanks to Bob Edwardes and Ned Minns for the additional photos.
It’s have-a-go week and there are slots available for you to come and try your hand at driving ‘Henbury’ and one of the electric cranes on the quayside.
The price is £80 per person for 20 minutes on each machine getting one-on-one tutoring.
Book your tickets here:
https://www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/m-shed/whats-on/train-and-crane-driving-experiences/
If you go down to the docks today, you’ll find a host of celebrations and displays about firefighting in the docks as it’s fire float PYRONAUT’s 90th Birthday!
She has recently undergone a heavy overhaul at Able’s Yard and the paint is still drying!
Bristol Harbour Railway Blog 