Have-A-Go, Mogo’s Out and Shuffling About!

This week has seen the return of the very popular ‘have-a-go’ event, where you can book a 20 minute one-on-one training session on the steam locomotive followed by 20 minutes of tuition on how to drive one of the electric cranes, we think this may be a unique offer in the UK!
Henbury was doing the honours on the quayside line with Crane 30 in operation overhead. Thanks to Bob Edwardes for these photos.
Keep an eye on the M Shed website for more have-a-go events.

Recently, the newly-overhauled GWR MOGO van has been moved back out on to the quayside looking very fresh with a fresh coat of paint on the underframe. Just the finishing touches and signwriting left to do. The passenger train has also been getting some TLC outside L shed, with seat timbers being replaced and the whole train being cleaned.

Last Saturday the inclement weather meant train services finished early, but as always there was still plenty to do. L Shed will be hosting the popular droids event in a few weeks time (hence the MOGO going out again to clear space). This also involved shuffling the large Bristol lorry through 90 degrees to form the backdrop for the event space. It was a tight fit but got there ok!

MOGO – Out in Time for Docks Heritage Weekend!

Looking very shiny on the quayside today was the freshly-painted GWR MOGO van, in the nick of time for Docks Heritage Weekend this Saturday and Sunday!
The volunteers have been working flat-out the past few weeks to get the van stripped, re-clad in new marine ply and primed, then painted. Some touching-up and signwriting still to do but it is looking excellent.
Compare this to the rather sorry state it was in earlier this year:

Here’s some photos from last weekend with normal train running at the same time as work went on inside L Shed:

As above, don’t forget it’s Docks Heritage Weekend on the quayside, with cranes, capstan, boats and the steam locomotive all in use with support from the Show of Strength Theatre Company.
It’s one of the best events of the year at the museum!

More photos from the night shoot

Alistair Grieve took these great photos at the recent night photo shoot with Portbury, and has kindly given permission for them to be reproduced here.

You can see all of Ali’s photos on his smugmug site.

‘MOGO’ Van Restoration – 1

One of the railway’s goods wagons is currently having a bit of TLC. This van has previously been the victim of graffiti tagging, and while the worst was quickly cleaned off, the remnants were still visible.

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It’s Bristol Harbour Festival this weekend! The railway will be in operation both days. Various ships are arriving at the docks, including this tugboat.

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