The ‘Toad’ brake van is receiving some attention this winter. The rather tired door is being renewed, and the van has been jacked up, the springs removed, and packing wood in place.
Pictured here is the former harbour plug, used from 1804-1935 when it was replaced by one made of rubber. The harbour needed to be drained fully to allow the plug to be removed, restricting navigation for 2 days.*
*This is not true, just a joke!
‘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!
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.
Here’s a little post on some of the remaining items of the old BHR, which ran from Ashton Junction all the way through to Bristol Temple Meads.
Eerie fog in the morning at Wapping Wharf Car Park (Formerly the coal depot)
Steam crane just visible through the mist
Bristol Temple Meads – The old grosvenor hotel on the left, the goods only line to the docks passed over the road, on top of the building in the centre. This line was last used in 1962.
And the other side, BTM is behind the camera
The old station, still very imposing!
Back at the docks…
The Eastern extent of the BHR
Well, yesterday was my first day of work on the BHR. The main task was to prep the Peckett ‘Henbury’ for the weekends work, among others!
Bristol harbour has a military visitor
I arrived to find Henburys fire lit having been dragged out of the shed.
The wagons covering the pit had to be shunted out of the way before oiling could be completed, once the loco had steam up and I ineffectually tried to clean some grease off the wheels!
Rob dropped the clinker out
All oiled up and ready to go, Rob collected the coal wagon from the middle siding and brought it back to the crossing where coal was loaded into the excavator bucket
Then brought the train forward to the crossover to load the coal into the bunker
Then a short jaunt down to the end of the line (By Ashton Swing Bridge) to collect the flat wagon of sleepers Rob and David had sorted previously in the week.
Before bringing the lot back to the yard and stashing them in the middle siding.
Henbury dragged her stablemate out of the shed to drain the water and remove a pipe.
Then I had to run off to the office! But a very enjoyable day, thanks to David, Rob, Philippa and Rodney (For the loan of boots!)
Bristol Harbour Railway Blog 