Passenger Rides with an ex-PBA Diesel

Posted on July 29, 2025 by corwinb

This weekend there will (hopefully) be the chance to ride behind an ex-PBA diesel shunter, in Norfolk!
From the Whitwell and Reepham Station Facebook Group. Photo Credit: Dan Knights
Operational notice! We have been dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s but this Saturday, we plan to haul the first passenger official passenger trains with D1171.
Part of our Vintage Transport Weekend. Diesel Saturday and steam Sunday.
D1171 was built by Hudswell Clarke in 1959 and delivered to the Port of Bristol Authority (PBA), being registered by the British Transport Commission (BTC) to operate over parts of the nation railway network as required in the Bristol area. Although delivered in 1959 it was built in 1958. PBA had many locos constructed by Hudswell clarke.
Initially working for the PBA at Avonmouth docks, she later worked at Portishead docks. The loco was then sold to British Fuels LTD moving to their coal handling facility at Princes Wharf in Bristol City Centre. Then moving to Filton site after the Wharf closed. Named Western Pride. D.1171 made her last trip along the BHR in May 1987, on an overnight move to the coal depot at Filton. Purchased privately in April 1989 with the long term intention of being moved to the Avon Railway at Britton. The loco never reached Bitton and was moved to the MOD site at Long Marston in September 1990 for storage and saw limited use. The loco was fitted with vacuum and was finally laid up due to a gearbox issue. The gearbox was fixed in 2006 and work was undertaken again to restore. But again sadly later stopped. She was eventually moved to Whitwell in 2017 where restoration has continued, including a new clutch and painting it back to its PBA guise.
D1171 is powered by a 204 hp Gardner 8L3 engine and is very similar to a Class 03/04.

More trackwork and first running weekend of the year

Posted on April 11, 2025 by corwinb

Last weekend more preparation for the relaying of the New Cut branch to A Bond warehouse took place along with track maintenance ahead of the first running weekend of the year this coming Saturday and Sunday.

The sleepers were unloaded on to one of the flat wagons earlier in the week. The Coles Crane was to be used but needed to be on the East side of the wagon, so Larry was used to push the truck up the quayside and enable the Coles to couple up. The Coles then propelled the wagon up the branch to the siding alongside Cumberland Road bridge.

We put our cargo handling and crane direction training as seen at Docks Heritage Weekend to good use. Using the brothers (dual chain hooks) enables 2 sleepers to be loaded at a time and stacked neatly on the siding.

With that done and the wagon returned to the yard, in the afternoon the team were jacking and packing sleepers on the running line by the steam crane, as well as slewing the rails to ease the curve either side of the rail join. This required multiple jacks and a lot of sweat!

HENBURY will be in steam tomorrow morning so come on down and enjoy a train ride in the sunshine.

March comings and goings

Posted on March 25, 2025 by corwinb

There have been arrivals and departures at the BHR recently.
We said goodbye to pannier 1369 after three very successful events (two photo charters organised by 30742 Charters and one brake van running day). 1369 was a popular engine with visitors and it was nice to crew something different for a change. It’s back to its home at the South Devon Railway, from where ‘Henbury’ also returned. It had been hoped for the Peckett to star at the SDR’s winter gala but sadly this was not to be due to mechanical issues.
The rigours of continuous running over a long period are quite different to shunting up and down the quayside.
Thanks to Bob Edwardes for the photos of the two green locomotives swapping places, Larry and the Coles Crane doing the honours of shunting on the quayside.

In the same week, two wagons were readied to receive a load of concrete sleepers, recently purchased for the upcoming task of track renewal, especially on the New Cut Branch (currently blocked half way due to repair work at Vauxhall Bridge).
Thanks to Bruce for the photos of the loading process taken from the drivers cabin of the crane!

Hoping to share some of the wonderful photos and videos that people took over the course of No. 1369’s stay soon!

Docks Heritage Weekend 2024

Posted on October 19, 2024 by corwinb

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.

BHR in 1991 – Video

Posted on May 10, 2020 by corwinb

Nicholas Tozer published this rather lovely video of a blue ‘Portbury’ operating trains in the early 1990s. It’s amazing to see the differences in the background, like the old sidings, the sleeper wall where the flats near SS GB halt now are. Also note the W.Vincent wagon being used for passengers, these days it is back to being a coal wagon.

Docks Heritage Weekend 30th Sept-1st Oct

Posted on September 29, 2017 by corwinb

It’s Docks Heritage Weekend tomorrow and Sunday, featuring a variety of attractions, one of the most varied weekends of the year.

Portbury was warming up outside the shed earlier this week.

Take a look at Will Stratford’s video of last year’s event showing some crane and goods action on the quayside:

Docks Heritage Weekend

Posted on October 7, 2016 by corwinb

Will Stratford captured these images (posted on the M Shed Working Exhibits Facebook Page) of the Docks Heritage weekend.

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and also this timelapse!

With thanks to Will Stratford.

Docks Heritage Weekend and Crane Dance

Posted on October 1, 2015 by corwinb

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

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!

Docks Heritage Weekend 2014 – Photos and Video

Posted on October 5, 2014 by corwinb

Plenty of action on the dockside. 3 cranes in operation, along with the electric capstan shunting wagons. Actors from Show of Strength Theatre Company in character, loading demos, the Bristol Lorry, Portbury in Steam, and rides on tugboat John King to boot!