Inspection work
Portishead Branch
Mark Howells
Portishead Branch
Mark Howells
Afternoon Keith,
Last week my team and I completed a full inspection of drainage assets between Ashton Gate level crossing and Portbury Jn.
Two pictures attached including Brunel’s Clifton Suspension Bridge and Clifton No.1 tunnel (built for double track) and Portbury Jn which is just beyond Pill station.
Hopefully at some point in the relatively near future we will see passenger services to Portishead.
We had fantastic weather and great scenery.
Kind Regards,
Mark Dennis Howells BEng (Hons) MPWI MIAM
Senior Asset Engineer (Drainage & Lineside)
Last week my team and I completed a full inspection of drainage assets between Ashton Gate level crossing and Portbury Jn.
Two pictures attached including Brunel’s Clifton Suspension Bridge and Clifton No.1 tunnel (built for double track) and Portbury Jn which is just beyond Pill station.
Hopefully at some point in the relatively near future we will see passenger services to Portishead.
We had fantastic weather and great scenery.
Kind Regards,
Mark Dennis Howells BEng (Hons) MPWI MIAM
Senior Asset Engineer (Drainage & Lineside)
An amazing view of both the Brunel Bridge and the tunnel. Clifton Suspension Bridge and Clifton No.1 tunnel (built for double track) taken at 13.06 on the 28th March 2022. Copyright Mark Howells, Network Rail.
Portbury Junction, just beyond Pill station. This picture taken at 11.37 29th March 2022. Copyright Mark Howells, Network Rail. Another most interesting view of the branch. This is the location where the branch to Portbury dock left the one time main route to Portishead straight ahead. Much of the track remains in position towards Poertishead station on the route straight ahead. In fact the rails and sleepers for the point lie on the site.
Many thanks to Mark for finding the time to keep us up to date with work on the branch. As Mark says, we hope in the not too distant future to have passenger trains running this way once more.
Tracing the track. If you have the time a most interesting occupation is following the route onwards from Portbury Junction towards Portshead using Google Earth and street view from the various bridges. You will find much of the track is still in position albeit heavily overgrown.
A memory of the past. Portishead was on the itinerary for the Cheddar Valley Railtour on the 18th November 1968. However this is about as close as we got to Portishead station. Copyright Keith Jenkin.
Taunton
Paul Barlow
Paul Barlow
B800 leavesTaunton with a train to Bristol. 3rd May 1986. Copyright Paul Barlow.
Many thanks Paul - a good old heritage set.
St Austell Signalbox
David Anthony
David Anthony
A trip via St Austell today (6th April 2022) reveals the old signal box is not fairing well with apparently no maintenance being carry out unlike the recently refurbished footbridge.
I wonder how long it's got...
Cheers
Dave Anthony
I wonder how long it's got...
Cheers
Dave Anthony
St Austell Signalbox in decline 1 6th April 2022. Copyright David Anthony
St Austell Signalbox in decline 2 6th April 2022. Copyright David Anthony
St Austell Signalbox in decline 3 6th April 2022. Copyright David Anthony
A sad sight - thought there had been an interest in it for a model railway. Many thanks David anyway.
Now own up - are they yours? Treasure Trove
Ross Griffiths
Ross Griffiths
4319 at Dawlish Warren 18th August 1984 Copyright ?
Very interesting 50002 Superb enters Exeter St Davids with an MOD Freight 20th May 1984. Copyright ?
33057 and 33011 at Exeter Saint Davids 4th August 1984. Copyright ?
45005 Newton Abbot 18th August 1984. Copyright?
Thanks Ross - are these yours?
Request for speakers on
Meldon Quarry
Charlie Stone
Meldon Quarry
Charlie Stone
Hi there
I’m a producer for a UK production company. We are currently developing a format that would see two well known TV personalities restoring a train.
As part of our research, I would be incredibly grateful if I could chat to somebody in your society over the phone about the abandoned Meldon Quarry, and wondered if there was somebody suitable who would have ten minutes at some point today or tomorrow?
My contact number is below, any help you could provide would be really appreciated!
Best
Charlie Stone Producer
Email [email protected]
Mobile +44 7717 665384
I’m a producer for a UK production company. We are currently developing a format that would see two well known TV personalities restoring a train.
As part of our research, I would be incredibly grateful if I could chat to somebody in your society over the phone about the abandoned Meldon Quarry, and wondered if there was somebody suitable who would have ten minutes at some point today or tomorrow?
My contact number is below, any help you could provide would be really appreciated!
Best
Charlie Stone Producer
Email [email protected]
Mobile +44 7717 665384
Meldon Quarry Dust hangs over the workings. There were two class 33s there at the time. 5th May 1990 Copyright Ron Kosys
Meldon Quarry sidings 1) Meldon Quarry Sidings, 22 May 2007 overall view Copyright Brian Pibworth
This seems to be an urgent request - can anybody help Charlie? Please get in contact direct.