Docks Heritage Weekend 2021

Posted on October 16, 2021 by corwinb

It’s been a week since the first public outing for the working exhibits in over a year, Docks Heritage Weekend. What a blast! So great to have the volunteers working with the public again. Both Portbury and Henbury were on display and the capstan was back in operation both days, and crane 30 was kept busy loading and unloading the lorry.
Quayside operations were bolstered with audience interaction from the Show of Strength Theatre company.
Thanks for Bob, Bruce and the M Shed social media channels for these photos of the weekend.

Portbury in Blue

Posted on June 1, 2021 by corwinb

Thanks to Archie Beale for these photos of Portbury ex-works in either 1988-89 or the 1990s doing passenger trips on the harbourside.

Festival of the Sea 1996

Posted on January 30, 2021 by corwinb

From the 24-27th May 1996, Bristol Harbour was host to the International Festival of the Sea. This was a huge event featuring many guest ships and attractions, and of course the BHR played a part. A shining and fully-lined out ‘Henbury’ and ‘Portbury’ were joined by LB&SCR E1 class 0-6-0T No.B110, then based at the East Somerset Railway (Now being restored to service on the Isle of Wight as No.W2 ‘Yarmouth’). The two locos operated a shuttle service between the station at Ashton Meadows and the Bristol Industrial Museum with 3 loaned coaches.

Thanks to Eric Gates for these photos.

Phil Cass was also there to capture these photos, thanks to Phil for sharing them.

Before the BHR

Posted on October 18, 2020 by corwinb

Before the Bristol Harbour Railway as we know it today was opened, the locomotives ‘Henbury’ and ‘Portbury’ travelled around a bit, spending some time at Radstock before relocating to Bishop’s Lydeard on the West Somerset Railway.

Whilst looking through the Cornwall Railway Society’s website I found these two photos by Ron Kosys showing the motley collection of industrial locos in 1976.

Click the images to go to the website. The photos are the copyright of Ron Kosys.

Poor Portbury looks in a rough state, Henbury had last been in steam at Radstock in 1973, and would not run again until the opening of the BIM’s line in 1978.

Mayflower’s Boiler Lift

Posted on August 22, 2020 by corwinb

On Thursday 20th August 2020, steam tug ‘Mayflower’s boiler was lifted back into place. As the museum and working exhibits have been closed during the Coronavirus crisis, it was nice to be able to have them alive again. All volunteers taking part were complying with COVID-19 restrictions throughout. The lift went very smoothly, a credit to all involved. Hopefully this means the 159-year old Mayflower can be in steam again soon!

Cranes stand ready in the morning, the weather held out for us thankfully (photo courtesy Bob Edwardes)

‘Portbury’ was in steam again, seen here shunting the yard to enable the boiler to be brought out of the running shed

Crane 32 was in charge of the lift, its higher capacity of 10 tons being ample for the 8-ton boiler

The first task was to lift off ‘Mayflower’s wheelhouse, exposing the engine room below.

‘Portbury’ brought the boiler down to the quayside

The boiler awaiting fitting of the smokebox

The boiler alongside Crane 32, showing the fresh lagging (photo courtesy Bob Edwardes)

The smokebox (which has been renewed with fresh metal to replace rotten parts) fitted to the boiler.

The boiler is eased into ‘Mayflower’ (photo courtesy Bob Edwardes, with thanks)

Lined up successfully with its mounting points

Crane 32 getting ready to detach from the boiler and lift the superstructure back on (photo courtesy Bob Edwardes, with thanks)

Job done for the day, ‘Portbury’ did some more shunting before heading back to the shed.

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 2019

Posted on October 4, 2019 by corwinb

DHW took place last weekend, with plenty going on at M Shed, SS Great Britain and Underfall Yard.

On Saturday, the Capstan was also in operation again. This device enables people to move wagons along the quayside without needing a locomotive. I made this video of the Capstan in use back in 2014.