If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Bristol Harbour Railway - Updates and Goings on

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

  1. mdewell

    mdewell Well-Known Member Friend

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2005
    Messages:
    1,653
    Likes Received:
    2,564
    Occupation:
    UK & Ireland Heritage Railways Webmaster
    Location:
    Ruabon, Wrexham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    That's good to hear, but that chassis the boiler is mounted on still needs a bit of work. ;):D
     
  2. Bill Drewett

    Bill Drewett Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2015
    Messages:
    277
    Likes Received:
    845
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Bristol
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    A passer-by this week asked if it was an 0-4-0. 'It is at the moment', we said.
     
    jnc and 30854 like this.
  3. Kingscross

    Kingscross Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2009
    Messages:
    711
    Likes Received:
    484
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    South West
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
  4. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2017
    Messages:
    12,172
    Likes Received:
    11,493
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Brighton&Hove
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    If looking for a silver lining amidst the gloom, this may prove one of those defining moments which forces some much needed viable objective long term decisions onto the agenda.
     
    jnc and Kingscross like this.
  5. Bill Drewett

    Bill Drewett Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2015
    Messages:
    277
    Likes Received:
    845
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Bristol
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    The decision had been made, repair designed and money found. But this will hopefully shorten the timescale. Bristol could live without the railway and footpath for four years but I expect that reopening the Cumberland Road will be deemed much more urgent.
     
    Corbs and Kingscross like this.
  6. Corbs

    Corbs Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2008
    Messages:
    1,713
    Likes Received:
    727
    Thanks for the link, I cycled past this morning and didn't even notice the road closure! Guess we shall have to wait and see what happens. I do hope the line can be reinstated all the way back to the bonded warehouses.
     
    Bill Drewett and Kingscross like this.
  7. Corbs

    Corbs Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2008
    Messages:
    1,713
    Likes Received:
    727
    This isn't a new video (shot in 2014) but I've added a little commentary if anyone's interested in how the capstan works...
     
  8. Corbs

    Corbs Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2008
    Messages:
    1,713
    Likes Received:
    727
    3ABescot, Robkitchuk, mdewell and 6 others like this.
  9. Corbs

    Corbs Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2008
    Messages:
    1,713
    Likes Received:
    727
  10. City of truro fan

    City of truro fan Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2015
    Messages:
    783
    Likes Received:
    84
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Honiton
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
  11. Corbs

    Corbs Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2008
    Messages:
    1,713
    Likes Received:
    727
    August 2020 - The 1861-built Steam Tug 'Mayflower' takes another step in the progress of its overhaul as the boiler is lifted back into the hull. Assisting in the operation is 1917-built Avonside 'Portbury' and 1951-built Stothert and Pitt 'Crane 32', both working exhibits and still earning their keep at M Shed Museum. Whilst the superstructure was off I took the opportunity to film some shots of the engine room with natural light, a rare occurrence! The lifting operation was undertaken by a minimum number of volunteers due to the COVID-19 situation and working regulations.

     
  12. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2015
    Messages:
    9,185
    Likes Received:
    7,226
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Thorn in my managers side
    Location:
    72
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Its a bit shades of the S&D at Highbridge Wharf because they used to take the boilers out of their ships for maintenance at Highbridge Works.

    As far as I understand it Marine boilers usually stayed in the ship for life.
     
    3ABescot and Corbs like this.
  13. Kingscross

    Kingscross Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2009
    Messages:
    711
    Likes Received:
    484
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    South West
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    BHR2.jpg
    Good to see work finally taking place at the retaining wall collapse on the New Cut branch today.
    BHR1.jpg
    I can't wait to see a platform constructed here to replace the one lost to the busway just around the corner. Plenty of track stacked up, just needs a giant hand from the sky to clip it all together!
     
    Bluenosejohn, Robkitchuk and Corbs like this.
  14. Corbs

    Corbs Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2008
    Messages:
    1,713
    Likes Received:
    727
    jnc and Bluenosejohn like this.
  15. Corbs

    Corbs Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2008
    Messages:
    1,713
    Likes Received:
    727
    ghost, Johnme101 and Bluenosejohn like this.
  16. Kingscross

    Kingscross Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2009
    Messages:
    711
    Likes Received:
    484
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    South West
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I was recently browsing the Bristol Flood Strategy (https://bristol.citizenspace.com/growth-regeneration/b27a1658/) and came across proposals for the New Cut Branch. One of the options (screengrab below) is to turn it into a tramway, shared with pedestrians. Given recent hysteria over the alleged dangers the Weymouth tramway posed to pedestrians and cyclists, a new version seems a stretch of the imagination, despite the success of tramway operations in the M-Shed area. I wonder what @Corbs and chums think of this plan?


    natpres24.jpg
     
  17. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2017
    Messages:
    12,172
    Likes Received:
    11,493
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Brighton&Hove
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    There's a pretty big difference between railway rails set into a roadway, as was the case at Weymouth and tramway rail, with a much less fearsome drop. Perhaps the best way to illustrate this is that the old Glasgow system's odd 4'-73/4" gauge was specifically chosen to permit the flange edge of railway wagons to run in the groove of the tramway's 'crescent' rail, allowing operation over the tram network, not possible had standard gauge been adopted, although this was only a very limited feature of certain specific operations rather than ever becoming a comprehensive urban freight distribution system.
     
  18. Bill Drewett

    Bill Drewett Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2015
    Messages:
    277
    Likes Received:
    845
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Bristol
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I'm struggling to understand the reasoning. There's already a footpath for pedestrians and cyclists, separated from the railway line by a fence, so this scheme provides no extra access. I suppose the idea is to attract more visitors by making it a more pleasant environment. But it will never be able to compete with the existing walk along the harbourside from the M Shed to Underfall yard. It's an alternative route between the same two places, but less attractive.

    And what's it going to cost? Tramway is eye-wateringly expensive. Does Bristol City Council really have so much spare cash at the moment that it can afford a scheme like this, where the benefits are so questionable? I could suggest one or two higher priorities...

    I reckon it's also unattractive from a railway operating perspective. A lot of our system is already tramway, and while that's part of its appeal, it's challenging for drivers and guards. You never know when a pedestrian (typically wearing headphones and oblivious to their environment) is going to change direction or a car reverse out of a parking space in front of the train. That's OK. We move slowly (walking pace near the museum) and stay alert. But the New Cut is the one bit of the system where crews can relax a little, and the loco can stretch it's legs. It would be a real shame to lose this.
     
    Last edited: Jan 30, 2021
    ross, Romsey and Kingscross like this.
  19. Romsey

    Romsey Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2007
    Messages:
    3,618
    Likes Received:
    1,636
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired SPM
    Location:
    Close to Spike Island
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I expect the ORR will have a few comments about the proposed arrangements as well. ( Were they ever consulted for guidance?) The normal mantra in railway safety is to keep pedestrians and cyclists away from railways with a physical barrier.

    Cheers, Neil
     
    ross likes this.
  20. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2005
    Messages:
    9,634
    Likes Received:
    8,302
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Alderan !
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    What is our urge to destroy heritage and replace with something half a***d
     

Share This Page