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Bristol Harbour Railway - Updates and Goings on

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Corbs, Jul 10, 2009.

  1. Corbs

    Corbs Well-Known Member

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    It's the first of three planned schemes, so will effectively be the test bed for the others. In the original report, it explains the reasons for choosing the trackbed between Ashton Junction and over the swing bridge, to Cumberland Road. This route does preclude the railway from ever joining back up with the Portishead Branch, but the argument was that a reinstated link would serve only the harbourside rather than the rest of the bus route, and regular train services would mean the BHR would have to cease or limit steam workings along the main line.
    It's a catch-22 situation, the railway could not afford to repair the bridge for trains, the metrobus plans include a renovation of the bridge, but in doing so that results in the trimming of the railway.

    What I am wondering is why the plan is to run across the lower deck of the bridge, rather than across the top deck as it was originally built, linking up with Smeaton Road on the upper level, effectively reinstating the road which was originally there. The current plan is sure to limit workings to single deckers only.
    Furthermore, a double deck bridge would have the potential to be mixed use rail/road/cycle/footpath in the future. 'tis a shame but on the whole I am personally glad of the railway being able to retain the main line along the New Cut without having to share it with the bus network.
     
  2. Corbs

    Corbs Well-Known Member

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  3. Corbs

    Corbs Well-Known Member

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  4. Rumpole

    Rumpole Part of the furniture

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    That's a nice looking little loco. While a return to steam may not be on the cards, are there any plans for a cosmetic restoration at least, going by the last photo?
     
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  5. Corbs

    Corbs Well-Known Member

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    It's been mooted but not confirmed. Manpower and funds are always a factor, and the shed it's currently in does not lend itself to that kind of work. I hope so though!
     
  6. Rumpole

    Rumpole Part of the furniture

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    Understood, thanks for the reply.
     
  7. Corbs

    Corbs Well-Known Member

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  8. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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  9. Corbs

    Corbs Well-Known Member

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  10. Corbs

    Corbs Well-Known Member

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  11. Western Venturer

    Western Venturer Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the updates Corbs.. is there a list of running days for 2014 out yet?? Your line is still high on my to do list...
     
  12. Corbs

    Corbs Well-Known Member

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    Here's the ones for the first 4 months (Taken from the FB page) - hope you can make it! At some point the prep work for Metrobus is bound to start this year so operations after about July time might be subject to track availability.

    5/6 april BHR

    19/20/21 april BHR

    3/4/5 may BHR

    24/25/26 may BHR

     
  13. Corbs

    Corbs Well-Known Member

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  14. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    Thanks Corbs , pace of change is frightening . Where will the halt at the end of the line now be ?
     
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  15. Corbs

    Corbs Well-Known Member

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    I believe it will be alongside the Northernmost wall of the warehouse. In the upper of the two photos in my above post, I think the mainline on the right will be slewed over to the left (allowing for metrobus to join Cumberland Road on the extreme right), so instead of cutting right, then left as it does in the picture, it will more or less carry on through where the bushes and trees currently are, to halt at the side of the warehouse.
    No more screaming flanges through here!

    I believe the logic behind changing it all now is to cause the minimum amount of disruption to steam services in the summer season, when the initial works on Metrobus may begin. As far as I know, most of the stock in the Smeaton Road shed (Under the bridge) will be relocated into the Barn. The Fox, Walker No. 242 might end up in L shed (Not rail connected), but we shall see if that goes ahead.
     
  16. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    Does that mean the railway loses the store under the road ?
     
  17. BristleGWR

    BristleGWR Member

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  18. Corbs

    Corbs Well-Known Member

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    Yes, partly due to the way the Metrobus route is planned, as it would mean the railway and shed would be on opposite sides of the busway. As you can see, the Barn is being rebuilt as a 2 road shed, so more stock can be fitted in :)

    I believe the Smeaton Road shed is going to become an overbridge once again, with a combined cycle and footpath through from the Chocolate Path toward Underfall Yard running underneath, along the former Hotwells branch route.
     
  19. siquelme

    siquelme Well-Known Member

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    Really interesting reading. Love that shot of 1369
     
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  20. Corbs

    Corbs Well-Known Member

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