Bristol Harbour Railway: Difference between revisions

Bristol Harbour Railway
Bristol Harbour Railway
	Train near the Fairbairn steam crane
Locale	Bristol
Terminus	Prince's Wharf
Commercial operations
Built by	Great Western Railway
Original gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Preserved operations
Stations	3
Preserved gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Commercial history
Opened	1872 and 1906
Closed	1987

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The Bristol Harbour Railway (known originally as the Harbour Railway) was an industrial railway that served the wharves and docks of Bristol, England. The line, which had a network of approximately 5 mi (8.0 km) of track, connected the docks of the Floating Harbour to the GWR mainline at Bristol Temple Meads. Freight could be transported directly by waggons to Paddington Station in London. The railway officially closed in 1964.

In 1978, a heritage railway named the Bristol Harbour Railway was opened operated by Bristol Industrial Museum. It uses approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) of the preserved line that runs adjacent to the River Avon. The line is a very popular visitor attraction in the city.

Industrial line

The original Harbour Railway was a joint venture by the GWR and sister company the Bristol and Exeter Railway/ The first part of the network opened in 1872 between Temple Meads and the Floating Harbour. The route required a tunnel under St Mary Redcliffe church and a steam-powered bascule bridge across the entrance locks at Bathurst Basin. In 1876 the line was extended by 1⁄2 mile (0.80 km) to Wapping Wharf.

In 1897 a Private Act of Parliament, the GWR was authorised to make a westwards connection between the Harbour Railway and the Portishead Railway. This created the West Loop at Ashton Gate which permitted southerly travel towards Taunton and Exeter St Davids. The connection also permitted the double the rail capacity to the Great Western main line.^[1]

In 1906 another authorised extension created new branches from the south via the Ashton Swing Bridge to Canons Marsh on the north side of the Floating Harbour and to Wapping via a line alongside the New Cut.

In 1964, the Harbour railway connection to Temple Meads was closed and the track lifted. The steam engine from the link's bascule bridge is now preserved at Bristol Museum. The following year, the Canons Marsh line closed. The branch from the Portishead line and Wapping marshalling yard to the Western Fuel Company continued remained open for commercial coal traffic for another 20 years. It was officially closed in 1987.

Heritage railway

Bristol Harbour Railway

Legend

to the Southwest

Butterfly Junction

Royal Portbury Dock

Ashton Swing Bridge

Severn Estuary

CREATE Centre

Parson Street

Old & New Junction Locks

Vauxhall Bridge

Albion Dockyard

Cumberland Road Bridge

SS Great Britain

Malago Colliery

Canons Marsh

Bedminster

Floating Harbour

Western Fuel

Concentration Co

Princes Wharf

Pylle Hill Parcel Depot

Bathurst Basin

Redcliffe Tunnel

River Frome

River Avon

(New Cut)

Redcliffe Goods

A4 Bath Road

(Redcliffe Viaduct)

Temple Meads

(Original station)

A4044 Temple Way

(Victoria Street Bridge)

Bristol Temple Meads

Temple Meads Goods

River Avon

to London, Wales & the North

In 1978, the Bristol Industrial Museum reopened part of the line as preserved railway using locomotives built in Bristol and formerly used at Avonmouth Docks. At first, it connected the museum with the SS Great Britain, but when commercial rail traffic ceased in 1987 on the remaining branch line, the museum railway expanded to use the branch alongside the New Cut. However, when the Portishead Railway was relaid, this severed the connection to Ashton Junction.

The line now runs along the south side of Bristol Harbour, starting at M Shed (the former Bristol Industrial Museum (51°26′54″N 2°35′49″W / 51.4483°N 2.5969°W / 51.4483; -2.5969)), stopping at the SS Great Britain, and ending at B Bond Warehouse (home of the CREATE Centre), one of the large tobacco warehouses beside Cumberland Basin (51°26′48″N 2°37′17″W / 51.4466°N 2.6213°W / 51.4466; -2.6213). The line follows the south side of the harbour the railway crosses Spike Island, the narrow strip of land between the harbour and the River Avon The former route east over the Swing Bridge is now the Pill Pathway rail trail and cycleway.

The railway operates on selected weekends on standard gauge track over 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km). The railway runs along the south side of Bristol Harbour, starting at M Shed (the former Bristol Industrial Museum (51°26′54″N 2°35′49″W / 51.4483°N 2.5969°W / 51.4483; -2.5969)), stopping at the SS Great Britain, and ending at B Bond Warehouse (home of the CREATE Centre), one of the large tobacco warehouses beside Cumberland Basin (51°26′48″N 2°37′17″W / 51.4466°N 2.6213°W / 51.4466; -2.6213).

In 2006, Bristol Industrial Museum was closed and the site redeveloped into M Shed Museum of Bristol. The railway continues to operate between SS Great Britain Halt and the CREATE Centre, and in 2011 the railway became part of M Shed's working exhibits.^[2]

In 2010, Bristol City Council, in partnership with other local councils in the area, proposed that the route of the railway should be used for a bus rapid transit route to serve the south-west of the city.^[3] In early 2013, a review of alternative routes recommended a route along Cumberland Road, Commercial Road and Redcliff Hill as the best alternative. This change of route means that the rapid transit buses would no longer use the railway.

Currently (March 2017) the track and platform at Butterfly Junction (by the CREATE Centre) has been removed due to work on the Bristol Metrobus system. Trains can only run from outside the M Shed as far as Vauxhall Bridge.

Rolling stock

Number and name	Built	Description	Current status	Livery
242	1874	Fox, Walker and Company 0-6-0 ST	Stored unrestored
1764 Portbury	1917	Avonside Engine Company 0-6-0 ST	Operational, boiler ticket expires in 2023.	IW&D grey and black
1940 Henbury	1937	Peckett and Sons 0-6-0 ST	Undergoing overhaul	PBA green
418792	1959	Ruston & Hornsby 0-4-0 DM Seabank Gas Works (Avonmouth) shunter	Operational	Green

The steam locomotives were formerly part of the aborted preservation scheme at Radstock North. There is also a collection of wagons, some of which have been converted for passenger use while others are used for demonstration goods trains.

References

^ MacDermot, E. T. (1931). The Great Western Railway. Vol. 2. Great Western Railway, London.
^ "M Shed Working Exhibits". Official M Shed Website.
^ "Ashton Vale to Temple Meads rapid transit route consultation information". West of England Partnership website. Retrieved 7 November 2010.

Sources

New page for M Shed Museum "M Shed Working Exhibits". Official M Shed Website.
Old version of the museum's web page, now located at "Bristol's Industrial Museum". Bristol City Council: leisure and culture. Archived from the original on 1 March 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2005.
Unofficial behind the scenes blog on Bristol Harbour Railway "BHR Blog". Bristol Harbour Railway Blog.

External links

Map all coordinates using OpenStreetMap

Download coordinates as:

Bristol Industrial Museum
Fray Bentos (6 June 1974). "Victoria Street Bridge, linking Temple Meads" (photograph). 1970s photographs of lost Bristol.
Fray Bentos (6 June 1974). "Victoria Street Bridge, linking Temple Meads" (photograph). 1970s photographs of lost Bristol.

51°26′48″N 2°36′33″W / 51.4468°N 2.6092°W / 51.4468; -2.6092

[macd2-1] MacDermot, E. T. (1931). The Great Western Railway. Vol. 2. Great Western Railway, London.

[2] "M Shed Working Exhibits". Official M Shed Website.

[3] "Ashton Vale to Temple Meads rapid transit route consultation information". West of England Partnership website. Retrieved 7 November 2010.

[1]

[2]

[3]

@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 | headquarters =
 }}
-The '''Bristol Harbour Railway''' <!--({{gbmapping|ST585722}})--> is a [[heritage railway]] in Bristol, England operated by Bristol Museums Galleries & Archives. It runs for approximately {{convert|1|mi|km|abbr=}} along the south side of [[Bristol Harbour]], starting at M Shed (the former [[Bristol Industrial Museum]] {{nowrap|({{coord|51.4483|-2.5969|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline|name=Bristol Harbour Railway (Prince Street end)}})}}), stopping at the {{SS|Great Britain}}, and ending at [[B Bond Warehouse]] (home of the CREATE Centre), one of the large tobacco warehouses beside [[Cumberland Basin (Bristol)|Cumberland Basin]] {{nowrap|({{coord|51.4466|-2.6213|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline|name=Bristol Harbour Railway (Cumberland Basin end)}})}}.
+The '''Bristol Harbour Railway''' (known originally as the '''Harbour Railway''') <!--({{gbmapping|ST585722}})--> was an industrial railway that served the wharves and docks of [[Bristol]], England. The line, which had a network of approximately {{convert|5|mi|abbr=on}} of track, connected the docks of the [[Floating Harbour]] to the [[GWR]] mainline at [[Bristol Temple Meads]]. Freight could be transported directly by waggons to [[Paddington Station]] in London. The railway officially closed in 1964.
-{{Bristol Harbour Railway RDT|collapse}}
+In 1978, a [[heritage railway]] named the Bristol Harbour Railway was opened operated by [[Bristol Industrial Museum]]. It uses approximately {{convert|1|mi|km|abbr=}} of the preserved line that runs adjacent to the [[River Avon]]. The line is a very popular visitor attraction in the city.
-==History==
-The original Bristol Harbour Railway was a joint venture by the GWR and sister company the [[Bristol and Exeter Railway]], opened in 1872 between Temple Meads and the Floating Harbour. Its route included a tunnel under [[St Mary Redcliffe]] church and a steam-powered bascule bridge over the entrance locks at Bathurst Basin. In 1876 the railway was extended by {{convert|1/2|mi}} to Wapping Wharf.
+==Industrial line==
-By Act of Parliament of 1897, the GWR was authorised to make a westwards connection between the BHR and the [[Portishead Railway]], and then create the West Loop at {{stnlnk|Ashton Gate}} which would face south towards {{stnlnk|Taunton}} and {{stnlnk|Exeter St Davids}}. This connection would allow a doubling of BHR rail access capacity to the [[Great Western main line]].<ref name = macd2>E T MacDermot, ''The Great Western Railway'', volume 2, published by the Great Western Railway, London, 1931</ref> In 1906 this authorised extension was constructed, with new branches from the south via the [[Ashton Avenue Bridge|Ashton Swing Bridge]] were built to: [[Canons Marsh]] on the north side of the Floating Harbour; and to Wapping via a line alongside the New Cut.
+[[File:Bristol RJD 9.jpg|thumb|left|The Harbour Railway on a 1911 Bristol railway map]]
+The original Harbour Railway was a joint venture by the GWR and sister company the [[Bristol and Exeter Railway]]/ The first part of the network opened in 1872 between Temple Meads and the Floating Harbour. The route required a tunnel under [[St Mary Redcliffe]] church and a steam-powered bascule bridge across the entrance locks at Bathurst Basin. In 1876 the line was extended by {{convert|1/2|mi}} to Wapping Wharf.
+In 1897 a [[Private Act of Parliament]], the GWR was authorised to make a westwards connection between the Harbour Railway and the [[Portishead Railway]]. This created the West Loop at {{stnlnk|Ashton Gate}} which permitted southerly travel towards {{rws|Taunton}} and {{rws|Exeter St Davids}}. The connection also permitted the double the rail capacity to the [[Great Western main line]].<ref name = macd2>{{cite book|first=E. T.|last= MacDermot|title=The Great Western Railway|volume=2|publisher= Great Western Railway, London|year= 1931}}</ref>
-The Temple Meads connection was closed and the track lifted in 1964 (the bascule bridge engine survives in Bristol Museums). The Canons Marsh branch closed the following year, with the Canons Marsh goods shed is now the home of Explore [[At-Bristol]], a hands-on science centre. The Western Fuel Company continued to use the branch from the Portishead line and Wapping marshalling yard for commercial coal traffic until 1987.
+In 1906 another authorised extension created new branches from the south via the [[Ashton Avenue Bridge|Ashton Swing Bridge]] to [[Canons Marsh]] on the north side of the Floating Harbour and to Wapping via a line alongside the New Cut.
+In 1964, the Harbour railway connection to Temple Meads was closed and the track lifted. The steam engine from the link's bascule bridge is now preserved at [[Bristol Museum]]. The following year, the Canons Marsh line closed. The branch from the Portishead line and Wapping marshalling yard to the Western Fuel Company continued remained open for commercial coal traffic for another 20 years. It was officially closed in 1987.
+==Heritage railway==
+{{Bristol Harbour Railway RDT|collapse}}
+In 1978, the [[Bristol Industrial Museum]] reopened part of the line as preserved railway using locomotives built in Bristol and formerly used at [[Avonmouth Docks]]. At first, it connected the museum with the SS ''Great Britain'', but when commercial rail traffic ceased in 1987 on the remaining branch line, the museum railway expanded to use the branch alongside the [[New Cut (Bristol)|New Cut]]. However, when the [[Portishead Railway]] was relaid, this severed the connection to Ashton Junction.
+The line now runs along the south side of [[Bristol Harbour]], starting at M Shed (the former [[Bristol Industrial Museum]] {{nowrap|({{coord|51.4483|-2.5969|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline|name=Bristol Harbour Railway (Prince Street end)}})}}), stopping at the {{SS|Great Britain}}, and ending at [[B Bond Warehouse]] (home of the CREATE Centre), one of the large tobacco warehouses beside [[Cumberland Basin (Bristol)|Cumberland Basin]] {{nowrap|({{coord|51.4466|-2.6213|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline|name=Bristol Harbour Railway (Cumberland Basin end)}})}}.  The line follows the south side of the harbour the railway crosses [[Spike Island, Bristol|Spike Island]], the narrow strip of land between the harbour and the [[River Avon, Bristol|River Avon]]
-===Preservation===
+The former route east over the Swing Bridge is now the Pill Pathway [[rail trail]] and [[cycleway]].
-In 1978, the preserved railway was established as an element of [[Bristol Industrial Museum]] using locomotives built in Bristol and formerly used at [[Avonmouth Docks]]. At first, it connected the museum with the SS ''Great Britain'', but when commercial rail traffic ceased in 1987 the museum railway expanded to use the branch alongside the [[New Cut (Bristol)|New Cut]]. When the [[Portishead Railway]] was relaid the connection at Ashton Junction was severed.
-Today the railway operates on selected weekends on [[standard gauge]] track over {{convert|1+1/2|mi}}. The railway is currently in use as far as [[B Bond Warehouse]] (home to the CREATE Centre and [[Bristol Archives]]), {{convert|1|mi|km}} from the museum. On the south side of the harbour the railway crosses [[Spike Island, Bristol|Spike Island]], the narrow strip of land between the harbour and the [[River Avon, Bristol|River Avon]], and clings to the side of the river as far as the junction with the northern branch at the Cumberland Basin. The former route east over the Swing Bridge is now the Pill Pathway [[rail trail]] and [[cycleway]].
+The railway operates on selected weekends on [[standard gauge]] track over {{convert|1+1/2|mi}}. The railway runs along the south side of [[Bristol Harbour]], starting at M Shed (the former [[Bristol Industrial Museum]] {{nowrap|({{coord|51.4483|-2.5969|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline|name=Bristol Harbour Railway (Prince Street end)}})}}), stopping at the {{SS|Great Britain}}, and ending at [[B Bond Warehouse]] (home of the CREATE Centre), one of the large tobacco warehouses beside [[Cumberland Basin (Bristol)|Cumberland Basin]] {{nowrap|({{coord|51.4466|-2.6213|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline|name=Bristol Harbour Railway (Cumberland Basin end)}})}}.
 In 2006, [[Bristol Industrial Museum]] was closed and the site redeveloped into [[M Shed]] Museum of Bristol. The railway continues to operate between SS Great Britain Halt and the CREATE Centre, and in 2011 the railway became part of M Shed's working exhibits.<ref>{{cite web | title=M Shed Working Exhibits | work=Official M Shed Website | url=http://www.mshed.org/ }}
@@ Line 51: / Line 59: @@
 {{-}}
-==Rolling stock==
+===Rolling stock===
 {| class="wikitable"
 ! Number and name

v t e Culture in Bristol
Venues	Ashton Gate Bristol Arena (proposed) Bristol County Ground Bristol Hippodrome Bristol Old Vic Bristol Beacon Cube Microplex Exchange Memorial Stadium O2 Academy Bristol QEH Theatre Redgrave Theatre St George's, Brandon Hill The Thekla Tobacco Factory Victoria Rooms Watershed Whiteladies Picture House Wickham Theatre Winston Theatre
Festivals	Afrika Eye Bristol Festival of Ideas Bristol Harbour Festival Bristol International Balloon Fiesta Bristol Shakespeare Festival Festival of Nature Kite Festival Pride Bristol Slapstick Festival St Pauls Carnival
Museums, galleries, archives and public art	Arnolfini Blaise Castle Blaise Hamlet Banksy Bristol Archives Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery Bristol Harbour Railway Bristol Zoo Clifton Observatory Georgian House Glenside Museum Kings Weston Roman Villa M Shed Red Lodge Museum Royal West of England Academy See No Evil SS Great Britain We the Curious Wild Place Project
Parks & Open Spaces	Parks of Bristol Ashton Court Blaise Castle Brandon Hill Castle Park College Green The Downs Eastville Park Kings Weston Hill Lamplighters Marsh Redland Green Oldbury Court Estate Queen Square Snuff Mills St George's Park Stoke Park Victoria Park
Churches	All Saints' Church Bristol Cathedral Bristol Community Church Broadmead Baptist Church Buckingham Baptist Chapel Chapel of the Three Kings of Cologne Christ Church, Clifton Down Christ Church with St Ewen Church of All Saints Church of Holy Trinity, Hotwells Church of Holy Trinity, Stapleton Church of the Holy Trinity with St Edmund Church of St John the Baptist City Road Baptist Church Cotham Church Counterslip Baptist Church Clifton Cathedral Crofts End Church John Wesley's New Room Holy Trinity Church, Kingswood Holy Trinity Church, Westbury on Trym Horfield United Reformed Church Hope Chapel Lewin's Mead Unitarian meeting house Pro-Cathedral of the Holy Apostles St Mary Redcliffe Redland Chapel St. Augustine's Church, Whitchurch St Augustine the Less Church St George's Church St James' Presbyterian St James' Priory St John the Baptist St Luke's Church St Mark's Church St Mary le Port Church St Mary on the Quay St Mary's Church, Henbury St Matthew's Church St Michael on the Mount Without St Nicholas St Paul's Church St Paul's, Clifton St Peter and St Paul St Peter's Church, Bishopsworth St Peter's Church, Castle Park St Philip and St Jacob St Stephen's Church St Thomas the Martyr St Werburgh's Church Temple Church Trinity Centre Tyndale Baptist Church Whitefield's Tabernacle, Kingswood Woodlands Christian Centre
Pubs	Black Castle The Crown The Coronation Tap The Famous Royal Naval Volunteer Hatchet Inn King William Ale House The Lido Llandoger Trow Mauretania, Bristol Nova Scotia The Old Duke Old Post Office Palace Hotel Printers Devil Pump House Seven Stars Shakespeare Inn The Shakespeare Stag and Hounds
Former attractions	Ashton Court Festival Bierkeller Theatre British Empire and Commonwealth Museum Bristol Industrial Museum Jacobs Well Theatre Redcliffe Hall