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Coordinates: 51°26′48″N 2°36′33″W / 51.4468°N 2.6092°W / 51.4468; -2.6092
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==Preservation==
==Preservation==
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 ''[[S.S. 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.
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|1.5|mi}}. The railway is currently in use as far as [[B Bond Warehouse]] (home to the Create Centre and [[Bristol Record Office]]), a mile 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]].
Today the railway operates on selected weekends on [[standard gauge]] track over {{convert|1.5|mi}}. The railway is currently in use as far as [[B Bond Warehouse]] (home to the Create Centre and [[Bristol Record Office]]), a mile 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]].
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The three steam locomotives were formerly part of the aborted preservation scheme at {{stnlnk|Radstock}}. There is also a collection of wagons, some of which have been converted for passenger use while others are used for demonstration goods trains.
The three steam locomotives were formerly part of the aborted preservation scheme at {{stnlnk|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 ==
== References ==

Revision as of 16:23, 2 January 2014

Bristol Harbour Railway
Tourist train on the railway
Commercial operations
Original gauge56.5
Preserved operations
Preserved gauge56.5

The Bristol Harbour Railway is a preserved railway in Bristol, England operated by Bristol Museums Galleries & Archives. It runs for about a mile 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 (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 (51°26′48″N 2°37′17″W / 51.4466°N 2.6213°W / 51.4466; -2.6213 (Bristol Harbour Railway (Cumberland Basin end))).

Bristol Harbour Railway
Legend
to the Southwest
Butterfly Junction
 Royal Portbury Dock
Ashton Swing Bridge
Severn Estuary
 CREATE Centre
National Rail Parson Street
Old & New Junction Locks
Vauxhall Bridge
Albion Dockyard
Cumberland Road Bridge
SS Great Britain
Malago Colliery
Canons Marsh
National Rail 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)
National Rail Bristol Temple Meads
Temple Meads Goods
River Avon
to London, Wales & the North

Template:Bristol railway map/collapse

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 .5 miles (0.80 km) to Wapping Wharf.

By Act of Parliament of 1897, the GWR was authorised to make an eastwards connection between the BHR and the Portishead Railway, and then create the West Loop at Ashton Gate which would face south towards Taunton and Exeter Central. This connection would allow a doubling of BHR rail access capacity to the Great Western main line.[1] In 1906 this authorised extension was constructed, with new branches from the south via the 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.

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.

Preservation

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. 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 1.5 miles (2.4 km). The railway is currently in use as far as B Bond Warehouse (home to the Create Centre and Bristol Record Office), a mile from the museum. On the south side of the harbour the railway crosses Spike Island, the narrow strip of land between the harbour and the 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.

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, meaning that the BHR was no longer threatened by rapid transit buses.

Rolling stock

Number & Name Year Built Description Current Status Livery Image
No. 242 1874 Fox, Walker and Company 0-6-0ST Stored
No. 1764 'Portbury' 1917 Avonside Engine Company 0-6-0ST Operational IW&D grey and black File:Portbury-steam-loco-2013.jpg
No. 1940 'Henbury' 1937 Peckett and Sons 0-6-0ST Operational Lined green File:Henbury-steam-loco-2013.jpg
No. 418792 1959 Ruston & Hornsby 0-4-0DM

ex-Seabank Gas Works shunter

Operational Green File:Ruston-shunter-m-shed-2013.jpg

The three 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

  1. ^ E T MacDermot, The Great Western Railway, volume 2, published by the Great Western Railway, London, 1931
  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.
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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. Retrieved 22 March 2005.
  • Unofficial behind the scenes blog on Bristol Harbour Railway "BHR Blog". Bristol Harbour Railway Blog.


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

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