The changing face of Bristol

[flex2wees]

52 minutes ago, Steadfast said:

Neil has also put this picture of the BBHT mid demolition on Flickr.

https://flic.kr/p/2mZaRUr

 

 

Jo

 

That’s a great photo in exactly the same spot i was in today! They haven’t made much further progress but the conveyor does get substantially higher past that point so I’m sure they’ll have to bring some kit in to get it down. 

[Andy Kirkham]

On 08/02/2022 at 16:44, Tim V said:

It's been a while since I was there! Both of these from 1978.

 

 

 

And again

 

[The Stationmaster]

Here we are with the first  clearance tests through the loading bunkers at BBHT back in 1993.   Much to my personal disgust. Trainload Coal insisted on using one of their shiny Class 60s for the trial while all my hopes had been pinned on using a pair of 37s as I had planned all the lengths of sidings, loading lines, and the run round spur and wanted to see if my planning was as good as I thought it was.  Mind you when I had carried out a trial looking at (dis)proving various options for the running round at the Didcot end I'd 'borrowed' a full length train of HAAs etc (most were what were then HBAs with hoods) and it had come with a Class 60 which was handy because the cab windows gave a much better view than a 37  

 

 

 

[JZ]

2 hours ago, The Stationmaster said:

Here we are with the first  clearance tests through the loading bunkers at BBHT back in 1993.   Much to my personal disgust. Trainload Coal insisted on using one of their shiny Class 60s for the trial while all my hopes had been pinned on using a pair of 37s as I had planned all the lengths of sidings, loading lines, and the run round spur and wanted to see if my planning was as good as I thought it was.  Mind you when I had carried out a trial looking at (dis)proving various options for the running round at the Didcot end I'd 'borrowed' a full length train of HAAs etc (most were what were then HBAs with hoods) and it had come with a Class 60 which was handy because the cab windows gave a much better view than a 37  

 

 

 

When I went to the Beach on Friday, I saw that they have made a start on removing the conveyer.

[SP Steve]

On 11/02/2022 at 14:22, The Stationmaster said:

Here we are with the first  clearance tests through the loading bunkers at BBHT back in 1993.   Much to my personal disgust. Trainload Coal insisted on using one of their shiny Class 60s for the trial while all my hopes had been pinned on using a pair of 37s as I had planned all the lengths of sidings, loading lines, and the run round spur and wanted to see if my planning was as good as I thought it was.  Mind you when I had carried out a trial looking at (dis)proving various options for the running round at the Didcot end I'd 'borrowed' a full length train of HAAs etc (most were what were then HBAs with hoods) and it had come with a Class 60 which was handy because the cab windows gave a much better view than a 37  

 

At one time I used to work in Thornbury so often took the road up through the docks rather than the M5. More by luck than judgement I came across 56.114 "Maltby Colliery" and 37.887 "Caerphilly Castle / Castell Caerfili" on the 25th June 1993. On the slide mount I have written "Gauging trials for new terminal - awaiting Class 60" which I presume is the subject of your image.

 

 

 

On the 27th July 1993 I recorded 60.056 "William Beveridge" with a note on the mount stating "First load of coal from new terminal"

 

 

Edited March 31, 2022 by SP Steve

[KeithHC]

26 minutes ago, SP Steve said:

 

At one time I used to work in Thornbury so often took the road up through the docks rather than the M5. More by luck than judgement I came across 56.114 "Maltby Colliery" and 37.887 "Caerphilly Castle / Castell Caerfili" on the 25th June 1993. On the slide mount I have written "Gauging trials for new terminal - awaiting Class 60" which I presume is the subject of your image.

 

 

On the 27th July 1993 I recorded 60.056 "William Beveridge" with a note on the mount stating "First load of coal from new terminal"

 

That last shot should be in Photos looking like models thread. Layout looks like it needs some more ballast.

 

Keith

[young37215]

On 10/02/2022 at 20:37, Andy Kirkham said:

And again

 

 

Terrific pictures but with the peak appearing to have a pre tops number, I question the 1978 timeline and guess it is an early to mid 70's date?.

 

[justin]

Have both the Strachan & Henshaw coal stacker/reclaimers gone from the coal stacking ground at Portbury? I can see from Google Maps that one has been removed (as scrap or for further use elsewhere) but one can still be seen in this view.

 

 

Edited February 14, 2022 by justin
photo

[justin]

To answer my own question - they have both gone. WRONG! There were three and two have been demolished, see link below. One seems to survive, does anyone know why?

 

http://www.obrienscs.com/bristol-port/

 

The video was posted in November 2020 so quite a while back now.

Edited February 14, 2022 by justin
Inaccurate information in original post

[Mike Buckner]

Good Riddance to the BBHT. Assurances were given when the thing was installed that it would not generate significant coal dust pollution for the residents of Avonmouth. False. My poor old Mum was constantly having to clean a semi-permanent black smear from the windows of her house. Heaven knows what particulates were in the air people were breathing.

 

 

Edited February 14, 2022 by Mike Buckner
smelling pistake

[The Stationmaster]

On 14/02/2022 at 09:00, Mike Buckner said:

Good Riddance to the BBHT. Assurances were given when the thing was installed that it would not generate significant coal dust pollution for the residents of Avonmouth. False. My poor old Mum was constantly having to clean a semi-permanent black smear from the windows of her house. Heaven knows what particulates were in the air people were breathing.

 

 

I doubt the coal dust came from BBHT - the nearest houses were over a mile away from the loading bunkers and there would have been very limited dust from them due to the screening.  And the predominant wind direction at Avonmouth is sou'westerly thus any dust from BBHT would have gone in the opposite direction from the most immediate housing in the area and towards Almondsbury village, several miles away,.  The most likely source would be the stacking ground at Portbury or the conveyor system although that was largely enclosed.  

 

In view of the number of vehicles stored in the area I doubt coal dust from the terminal was much of a problem or there would have been numerous complaints from theose businesses downwind of the terminal.

[Mike Buckner]

1 hour ago, The Stationmaster said:

I doubt the coal dust came from BBHT - the nearest houses were over a mile away from the loading bunkers and there would have been very limited dust from them due to the screening.  And the predominant wind direction at Avonmouth is sou'westerly thus any dust from BBHT would have gone in the opposite direction from the most immediate housing in the area and towards Almondsbury village, several miles away,.  The most likely source would be the stacking ground at Portbury or the conveyor system although that was largely enclosed.  

 

In view of the number of vehicles stored in the area I doubt coal dust from the terminal was much of a problem or there would have been numerous complaints from theose businesses downwind of the terminal.

 

 

The conveyor system, operating over a distance of 1.37 miles on the Avonmouth side of the river, was the cause of the problem. Smuts could be seen on washing lines.

[Ben B]

On 11/02/2022 at 19:55, SP Steve said:

 

 

One for the 'when the real thing looks like a model' thread?  Really good effort, nicely laid concrete-sleeper trackwork and nice use of Plastruct for the gantries, but could really do with a weathering pass from the airbrush

[JZ]

5 hours ago, Mike Buckner said:

 

 

The conveyor system, operating over a distance of 1.37 miles on the Avonmouth side of the river, was the cause of the problem. Smuts could be seen on washing lines.

On the section that followed the railway, there was trail of coal dust beneath.

 

[JZ]

More photo's 'between the arches'

Courtesy Network rail.

[JZ]

And some taken from the back cab of the conveyor.

[Rivercider]

Contrasting the last photo, this was the view in 1993 during construction.

BBHT ??/??/93

 

cheers

[JZ]

Latest on the deconstruction of the coal conveyer.

 

[Andy Kirkham]

I have been volunteering recently in the British Heart Foundation bookshop on Blackboy Hill. It may be of interest to some of you that a large number of railway books has recently been donated and are currently on sale. I should say that there are not all that many specialist or "quality" books, mainly popular photo albums such as Bradford Bartons, The Best of Eric Treacy, Great Western Steam in the West Country etc.

 

But among the more interesting is Essery & Jenkinson's Locomotive Liveries of the LMS which I placed in the window as a lure.

[Cheekypaul]

3 hours ago, Andy Kirkham said:

I have been volunteering recently in the British Heart Foundation bookshop on Blackboy Hill. It may be of interest to some of you that a large number of railway books has recently been donated and are currently on sale. I should say that there are not all that many specialist or "quality" books, mainly popular photo albums such as Bradford Bartons, The Best of Eric Treacy, Great Western Steam in the West Country etc.

 

But among the more interesting is Essery & Jenkinson's Locomotive Liveries of the LMS which I placed in the window as a lure.

I love that shop! I always see good quality books on railways

[Tim V]

Just got back from being in town - and now I see this message ...

[Rivercider]

Sadly it seems like the Changing Face of Bristol still won't be seeing any passenger trains from Portishead for some while. A decision on the Development Consent Order was expected by 19th April 2022, but this has now been put back again to 19th February 2023 to give North Somerset Council 'further time to demonstrate funding for the entire scheme has been secured.' The cynic in me thinks that by February 2023 costs will have risen yet again so the whole scheme will have to justify itself all over again.

 

cheers 

[Northmoor]

7 minutes ago, Rivercider said:

Sadly it seems like the Changing Face of Bristol still won't be seeing any passenger trains from Portishead for some while. A decision on the Development Consent Order was expected by 19th April 2022, but this has now been put back again to 19th February 2023 to give North Somerset Council 'further time to demonstrate funding for the entire scheme has been secured.' The cynic in me thinks that by February 2023 costs will have risen yet again so the whole scheme will have to justify itself all over again.

 

cheers 

Where's the "Head in hands" button?

When this project is finally finished, anyone who has been involved for any significant period in approving or managing it, either as part of the railway industry or in local government, should be disqualified from responsibility for ANYTHING more than making the tea, ever again.

[martinT]

1 hour ago, Northmoor said:

Where's the "Head in hands" button?

When this project is finally finished, anyone who has been involved for any significant period in approving or managing it, either as part of the railway industry or in local government, should be disqualified from responsibility for ANYTHING more than making the tea, ever again.

What have you got against tea drinkers?

[Mike Buckner]

wouldn't want them p*ssing on that