Bristol Harbour Railway
Encyclopedia
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
), stopping at the , and ending at B Bond Warehouse
(home of the Create Centre), one of the large tobacco warehouses beside Cumberland Basin
.
The original Bristol Harbour Railway was a joint venture by the GWR and 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 1/2 mile to Wapping Wharf. In 1906, new branches from the south via 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. 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 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 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. The railway operates on selected weekends on standard gauge
track for half a mile. 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. Here the old railway turns and crosses the river, merging first with the Portishead Railway
and then the Great Western main line
. Ashton bridge is an iron swing bridge that was, before the construction of new main road nearby, a double-deck bridge carrying a road carriageway above the railway. The top deck has now been dismantled and one of the tracks lifted to make way for a footpath
and cycleway, while the other track has become overgrown.
Bristol City Council, in partnership with other local councils in the area, are currently proposing that the route of the railway should be used for a guided bus
route to serve the south-west of the city, implying that, should the guided bus scheme go ahead, the railway will be closed.
s:
There is also a collection of wagons, some of which have been converted for passenger use while others are used for demonstration freight trains.
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
operated by Bristol Museums Galleries & Archives. It runs for about a mile along the south side of Bristol Harbour
Bristol Harbour
Bristol Harbour is the harbour in the city of Bristol, England. The harbour covers an area of . It has existed since the 13th century but was developed into its current form in the early 19th century by installing lock gates on a tidal stretch of the River Avon in the centre of the city and...
, starting at M Shed (the former Bristol Industrial Museum
Bristol Industrial Museum
The Bristol Industrial Museum was a museum in Bristol, England, located on Prince's Wharf beside the Floating Harbour, and which closed in 2006. On display were items from Bristol's industrial past – including aviation, car and bus manufacture, and printing – and exhibits documenting Bristol's...
), stopping at the , and ending at B Bond Warehouse
B Bond Warehouse
B Bond Warehouse was a Bonded warehouse serving Bristol Harbour.It dates from 1908. It was designed by the Docks Committee engineer, and built by William Cowlin and Sons. It is made from reinforced concrete, with the ground floor in black brick with a low plinth and patent red bricks, blue...
(home of the Create Centre), one of the large tobacco warehouses beside Cumberland Basin
Cumberland Basin (Bristol)
The Cumberland Basin is the main entrance to the docks of the city of Bristol, England. It separates the areas of Hotwells from the tip of Spike Island.The River Avon never flowed through the Cumberland Basin...
.
The original Bristol Harbour Railway was a joint venture by the GWR and the Bristol and Exeter Railway, opened in 1872 between Temple Meads and the Floating Harbour. Its route included a tunnel under St Mary Redcliffe
St Mary Redcliffe
St. Mary Redcliffe is an Anglican parish church located in the Redcliffe district of the English port city of Bristol, close to the city centre. Constructed from the 12th to the 15th centuries, the church is a Grade 1 listed building, St...
church and a steam-powered bascule bridge over the entrance locks at Bathurst Basin. In 1876 the railway was extended by 1/2 mile to Wapping Wharf. In 1906, new branches from the south via 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. Canons Marsh goods shed is now the home of Explore At-Bristol
At-Bristol
At-Bristol is a public science and technology "exploration" and education centre and charity in Bristol, England.As a visitor attraction, At-Bristol has hundreds of hands-on exhibits, and a Planetarium with seasonal shows for the over fives, and a 'Little Stars' show for children aged five and under...
, 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 1978, the preserved railway was established as an element of Bristol Industrial Museum
Bristol Industrial Museum
The Bristol Industrial Museum was a museum in Bristol, England, located on Prince's Wharf beside the Floating Harbour, and which closed in 2006. On display were items from Bristol's industrial past – including aviation, car and bus manufacture, and printing – and exhibits documenting Bristol's...
using locomotives built in Bristol and formerly used at Avonmouth Docks
Avonmouth Docks
The Avonmouth Docks are part of the Port of Bristol, in England. They are situated on the northern side of the mouth of the River Avon, opposite the Royal Portbury Dock on the southern side, where the river joins the Severn estuary, within Avonmouth....
. At first, it connected the Museum with the s.s. Great Britain but when commercial rail traffic ceased the museum railway expanded to use the branch alongside the New Cut. When the Portishead Railway
Portishead Railway
The Portishead Railway was a branch line railway running from Portishead in Somerset to the Great Western Main Line in Bristol, England. It was constructed in the 1860s by the Bristol & Portishead Pier and Railway, which was incorporated to build a pier and a broad gauge link to the Bristol and...
was relaid the connection at Ashton Junction was severed. The railway operates on selected weekends on standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
track for half a mile. The railway is currently in use as far as B Bond Warehouse
B Bond Warehouse
B Bond Warehouse was a Bonded warehouse serving Bristol Harbour.It dates from 1908. It was designed by the Docks Committee engineer, and built by William Cowlin and Sons. It is made from reinforced concrete, with the ground floor in black brick with a low plinth and patent red bricks, blue...
(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
Spike Island, Bristol
Spike Island is an area of the English port city of Bristol, adjoining the city centre. It comprises the strip of land between the Floating Harbour to the north and the tidal New Cut of the River Avon to the south, from the dock entrance to the west to Bathurst Basin in the east...
, the narrow strip of land between the Harbour and the River Avon
River Avon, Bristol
The River Avon is an English river in the south west of the country. To distinguish it from a number of other River Avons in Britain, this river is often also known as the Lower Avon or Bristol Avon...
, and clings to the side of the river as far as the junction with the northern branch at the Cumberland Basin. Here the old railway turns and crosses the river, merging first with the Portishead Railway
Portishead Railway
The Portishead Railway was a branch line railway running from Portishead in Somerset to the Great Western Main Line in Bristol, England. It was constructed in the 1860s by the Bristol & Portishead Pier and Railway, which was incorporated to build a pier and a broad gauge link to the Bristol and...
and then the Great Western main line
Great Western Main Line
The Great Western Main Line is a main line railway in Great Britain that runs westwards from London Paddington station to the west of England and South Wales. The core Great Western Main Line runs from London Paddington to Temple Meads railway station in Bristol. A major branch of the Great...
. Ashton bridge is an iron swing bridge that was, before the construction of new main road nearby, a double-deck bridge carrying a road carriageway above the railway. The top deck has now been dismantled and one of the tracks lifted to make way for a footpath
Rail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
and cycleway, while the other track has become overgrown.
Bristol City Council, in partnership with other local councils in the area, are currently proposing that the route of the railway should be used for a guided bus
Guided bus
Guided buses are buses steered for part or all of their route by external means, usually on a dedicated track. This track, which often parallels existing roads, excludes other traffic, permitting the maintenance of reliable schedules on heavily used corridors even during rush hours.Guidance systems...
route to serve the south-west of the city, implying that, should the guided bus scheme go ahead, the railway will be closed.
Rolling stock
The railway has several small steam locomotiveSteam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s:
- Peckett and SonsPeckett and SonsPeckett and Sons was a locomotive manufacturer at the Atlas Works in St. George, Bristol, England.-Fox, Walker and Company:The company began trading in 1864 at the Atlas Engine Works, St. George, Bristol, as Fox, Walker and Company, building four and six-coupled saddle tank engines for industrial use...
0-6-0ST No. 1940 Henbury, 1937. (Operational) - Avonside Engine CompanyAvonside Engine CompanyThe Avonside Engine Company was a locomotive manufacturer in Avon Street, St. Philip's, Bristol, England between 1864 and 1934. However the business originated with an earlier enterprise Henry Stothert and Company.-Origins:...
0-6-0ST No. 1764 Portbury, 1917. (Operational) - Fox, Walker and Company 0-6-0ST No. 242, 1874 (Undergoing long-term restoration.)
There is also a collection of wagons, some of which have been converted for passenger use while others are used for demonstration freight trains.
External links
Sources
- Old version of the museum's web page, now located at