Tag Archives: cranes

Docks Heritage Weekend this Saturday and Sunday!

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This weekend is the time when we get all the interesting bits and bobs that you don’t usually get to see out on the wharf and bring a 1950s working quayside back to life!
Whats on:
Cargo loading
M Shed in Miniature (OO gauge model railway with working cranes)
Hook-a-duck (win a prize) and model boats
Bristol lorry on display
Steam locomotive on quayside and doing shunting
Docks and docker history
Boat trips on John King (tugboat)
Crane rides
Capstan demonstrations
Actors from Show of Strength Theatre Company interacting and explaining
Cake

Bob’s model railway will also be shown alongside his models of the DD2s formerly on Wapping Wharf.


Today we were preparing the last few bits and pieces.
With the long siding out of use due to trackwork, most of the stock is trapped, so the CONFLAT from the passenger train has been un-passengered by removing the tub, and it will be pressed into use on the quay along with the newly-restored MOGO.
Meanwhile much R&D has gone into making ‘hook-a-duck’ challenging and rewarding (without all the ducks getting stuck).

Come on down this weekend!

Night Shoot with Portbury

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Last night the BHR was host to another of the popular photo charters organised by 30742 Charters and M Shed Museum.

This time it was a night shoot on the quayside, where Portbury shared the limelight with the museum’s Bristol lorry.

Here’s a video posted by Martin Creese on the 30742 facebook page:

and a couple of snaps from the evening from the same page:

Cranes and Boats and Trains

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The last operating weekend of the season is this coming Saturday and Sunday on the BHR, before the winter shut down begins. M Shed museum will be open as normal.

The steam tug Mayflower will also be giving rides.

One of the electric cranes is open to visitors from 11am-4pm today, if you want to go up in the cab and see the controls!

 

Docks Heritage Weekend and Crane Dance

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This coming weekend  is the excellent Docks Heritage Weekend. Here’s a couple of pics and videos from last years event in case you missed it.

Freshly painted MOGO

Freshly painted MOGO

Here’s what the Official M Shed Website has to say about the event:

A weekend of activities across two sites exploring the history and working life of the old City Docks.

Stroll around the fantastic Underfall Yard as its restoration programme gets into full swing and take part in activities at M Shed including boat trips, crane visits, have a go experiences and performances.

Events at M Shed

  • Mosaic Madness will be helping visitors create mosaics inspired by Bristol’s working docks and the river Avon
  • Screenings of historic films about the port
  • Dramatic interludes from Show of Strength Theatre Company exploring characters from the dock’s past Saturday and Sunday at 11am, 11.30am, 2pm and 2.30pm
  • Visit an electric crane (charges apply)
  • Cargo handling demonstrations
  • Trips on the tug John King (charges apply)
  • Visits to Balmoral, once part of the P & A Campbell fleet
  • Visit the Fairbairn steam crane
  • Drive a steam locomotive (charges apply)

Events at Underfall Yard

  • Demonstrations of traditional skills
  • Pop on a hard hat and take a look behind the scenes of the restoration works
  • Visit the viewing platform for spectacular harbour views
  • Family activities
  • Dramatic interludes from Show of Strength Theatre Company exploring stories from the yard’s past, Saturday and Sunday at 12.30pm and 3.30pm
  • Guided walks to Brunel’s Other Bridge, Sunday 1pm and 3pm
  • Explore reuse and recycling stories from Bristol’s boating communities and make your own floaty boaty (run in partnership with Bristol Green Capital), Sunday 2-4pm

 

A special event will also be taking place on Saturday evening. This is the Crane Dance performance, devised by Laura Kriefman. Starting at 8pm, this will combine  lights, boats, choirs, live bhangra band music, and choreographed synchronised cranes!

This event is completely free and best viewed from the Arnolfini or Lloyds Amphitheatre.

Exciting stuff!