Don't miss our next indoor meeting:
Nigel Tregonning & Ian Cavill present:
A railway photographic evening.
January 10th, at the Memorial Hall, Redruth Methodist Church
A railway photographic evening.
January 10th, at the Memorial Hall, Redruth Methodist Church
Members free. Guests welcome at £3. Refreshments available.
We hope to see you there!
We hope to see you there!
GWR HST's to Ely
Paul Barlow & Guy Vincent
43186 and 43187 approach Sandy crossing Stoke Canon on 0810 Laira to Ely 5Q40 ECS. 07.01.2026, copyright Paul Barlow.
43186 (formerly Taunton Castle) leading 49105 48126 48117 48118 and 43187 (Cardiff Castle /“The Welshman”) as 5Q40 0810 Laira - Ely Papworth sidings up past Berkley Marsh this morning, 7th January. The headboard reads ‘GWR Angel Trains HST Farewell’. Photo by C. Vincent. 07.01.2026, copyright Guy Vincent.
Many thanks to you both. End of an era.
Bristol Harbour Railway Developments
Simon Hickman
I thought your readers might be interested in some photos that I took yesterday on the way to work, on the progress of reinstating the Bristol Harbour Railway's New Cut Branch.
Readers may be aware that the branch was truncated some years ago when a new busway was constructed over the Ashton Avenue bridge. The plan was to move the former Butterfly Junction station (which sat on the present busway alignment) to a new position alongside the A-Bond warehouse, but one of the retaining walls on the New Cut then collapsed. This has since been rebuilt.
Subsequently Vauxhall Bridge, a Grade II listed pedestrian route from South Bristol over the New Cut, was closed for refurbishment. These works prevent rail access to A-Bond.
However, the Bristol Harbour Railway team have been busy reinstating some of the track removed for the busway works.
A Bristol Harbour Railway volunteer maintains a good blog about the line with updates and goings-on. You can view that here: Bristol Harbour Railway Blog | An unofficial blog site about the BHR and industrial railways in Bristol
Readers may be aware that the branch was truncated some years ago when a new busway was constructed over the Ashton Avenue bridge. The plan was to move the former Butterfly Junction station (which sat on the present busway alignment) to a new position alongside the A-Bond warehouse, but one of the retaining walls on the New Cut then collapsed. This has since been rebuilt.
Subsequently Vauxhall Bridge, a Grade II listed pedestrian route from South Bristol over the New Cut, was closed for refurbishment. These works prevent rail access to A-Bond.
However, the Bristol Harbour Railway team have been busy reinstating some of the track removed for the busway works.
A Bristol Harbour Railway volunteer maintains a good blog about the line with updates and goings-on. You can view that here: Bristol Harbour Railway Blog | An unofficial blog site about the BHR and industrial railways in Bristol
The first photo shows the new curve heading from the site of the New Station back towards the New Cut. 06.01.2026, copyright Simon Hickman.
The second looks in the other direction towards the site of the new station and A-Bond warehouse. 06.01.2026, copyright Simon Hickman.
The third picture is taken a little closer at the end of the current railhead; there will presumably be a turnout here to access the shed in front of the bonded warehouse, which still contains a couple of locos and a brakevan. 06.01.2026, copyright Simon Hickman.
This image shows the rebuilt riverwall, path, and rail formation. Track has yet to be reinstated. The path is called the Chocolate Path locally because of the characteristic paviours it was surfaced it. When it was reinstated, the paviours were used to line the path but the central section was tarmaced as this is a better surface for cyclists. Note the replica spear-point fencing, too. 06.01.2026, copyright Simon Hickman.
Then we move on to Vauxhall Bridge and see the obstruction across the tracks. The bridge is being comprehensively refurbished and has been closed for over a year. It once swung to allow masted vessels up the New Cut, but has been fixed shut since the 1940s. 06.01.2026, copyright Simon Hickman.
Many thanks, Simon - this is absolutely fantastic to see. Good luck to the Bristol Harbour Railway team in restoring this line.
David Thomas Illustrated Talk
Received from Philip Gilbert:
I’m wardens at Holy Trinity Church, Penponds, Camborne. David Thomas is delivering the illustrated talk as advertised below. I believe that he has presented this to your society already, but just in case there are one or two folk who might be interested in attending, I thought I would forward these details.
I’m wardens at Holy Trinity Church, Penponds, Camborne. David Thomas is delivering the illustrated talk as advertised below. I believe that he has presented this to your society already, but just in case there are one or two folk who might be interested in attending, I thought I would forward these details.
Thanks Philip - a great show, well worth viewing.
Another Western Identified
Guy Vincent
Re yesterdays Western photos, another great selection from Roger who must have seen all the remaining locos around Penzance in 1976. The unidentified ‘Air Conditioned’ loco, now displaying 0O00 in the headcode box, is D1071 Western Renown. Note the lack of headboard clips. These were lost when D1071’s ‘B’ end was rebuilt following a serious collision at St Anne’s Park Tunnel, Bristol, on 11th January 1967.
D1071 Western Renown passing Long Rock. 31.01.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
Many thanks as ever, Guy.