pwilson

This is certainly an interesting discussion I've provoked. Looking again at the map and going into pure hypotheticals, if an airport station - "Bristol International" was to be built, would situating the station on the Stoke Gifford / Avonmouth line even work? My initial comment suggested reversing mainline trains using the spurs but would train operators allow for this? Or would a passenger transfer at Parkway onto a sprinter / 158 shuttle work if it can't even justify its operating costs? Bristol Parkway' location itself presents issues as an airport station as trains from the south west to Wales don't stop there unless they reverse? Personally, I thought transfer from Parkway would be the most likely using trains down the line to Avonmouth or trams / monorails right into the aiport complex. Or....Purely hypothetical. Would a re-modelling of the entire track layout have worked better so as to allow no reversing and all main line services to stop and carry on? The diamond area between the tracks used to be FIlton CE tip and lots of waste land so it could have been very different. Thoughts? I like the idea of Bristol becoming the equivalent of Manchester, claiming Lulsgate and Rhoose traffic and maybe some other stuff. Also the idea of a station beneath the runway like Zurich would have been amazing but not really the best potential model railway. All a dream now anyway as they're just going to build houses on it.

Started this thread in 2012. Never did get round to building the model but great to read back through it again. Found this amazing video of Henbury working the coal trains and running around at Ashton Meadows. https://bristolharbourrailway.co.uk/2014/11/27/tbt-henbury-makes-history-coal-trains-in-1981/

Did you ever proceed with this layout?

Seems like I’ve promoted a real discussion...I did have a question too though. Had the airport been built, would mainline train have run to the station using the 3 links from Wales, Parkway and the South West (requiring reversing) or would a shuttle service have run from Parkway to the airport station? Or would it have been a mix of the two?

Many things annoy a Bristolian about being from Bristol! A fine opportunity would have been for Bristol airport to have been situated at Filton in north Bristol where it would have shared the site with BAE systems. The Henbury Loop line / Filton to Avonmouth double track line runs right alongside the southern length of the runway and a station complex could have been built to serve the airport. North Filton platform still exists south of the runway (built in 1926 to replace 1910's Filton Halt) and was closed in 1986. It could have been the site for a potential airport station complex but may have needed to be extended for lengthier trains or relocated to allow for transfer facilities into the airport complex. The airport terminal(s) themselves would most likely have been built on the land north of the runway which is now housing estates etc as the land south of the railway line is all utilisied by BAE systems and Airbus. East of the potential station, the line splits into 3 with the main line travelling east to Bristol Parkway at Stoke Gifford Junction whilst northerly link joins the Bristol to Wales line at Patchway junction and a southerly link joins at Filton Junction. Had the airport been built, would mainline train have run to the station using the 3 links from Wales, Parkway and the South West (requiring reversing) or would a shuttle service have run from Parkway to the airport station? Or would it have been a mix of the two?

How much freight traffic goes down the line daily? i thought the coal traffic was finished. On the most recent rail tour down there, the coal stock piles were gone but I have seen a coal train travelling down to Portbury earlier this month and there are coal wagons in the sidings. It's sad times for Portishead as one of the largest towns without a rail link. The traffic situation there is terrible and it would be great to get a simple link up and and running.

Is coal traffic still leaving Portbury in Bristol? On the most recent rail tour, the coal stockpile was gone but I have seen a coal train and wagons travelling down recently?

Hi Kevin In addition to my previous post, do you happen to have a track plan of the Huntspill branch and the sidings off the main line? Many thanks Paul

Hi there. A few years ago whilst discussing the freight workings around Bridgewater, the Huntspill branch was discussed. I had an interesting recollection about it. When I was younger, I saw a class 47 in intercity livery with coaches on the Huntspill branch going over the M5. Even at that young age, I knew it shouldn't be there as it wasn't the main line from Bristol to Exeter but I did not know it was a military branch line at the time. I was travelling south at the time on the M5 with the train travelling from west to east so it was heading for the works. I remember at the time the class 47 and coaches looked very large in comparison to the bridge. I am wondering why this train was there. Was it a rail tour? This would have been in the early 90's.

Hello again all. Rivercider: The information about the tunnel train was fantastic. I found the picture below of the tunnel train which I believe to be a more modern version but are there any images of the previous train anywhere? http://www.hondawanderer.com/50042_Ashton_Gate_1990.htm Also with Ashton Meadows being such a large store, would inward traffic also have compromised of materials to be stored at the site? 37714: I am a member of that site and have those amazing images. They are the only images I haven been able to find off the actual site close up. I have never been able to find a picture of the site during operation. Maybe one day! I have been trying to consider the scale of the model for awhile now. N gauge would allow for the whole site to be captured whereas OO with 6-7 wagon trains would allow for a shunting layout. I also think that removing some of the coal exchange sidings from the trackplan would be necessary too. Any thoughts? Paul

Hello all What a fantastic amount of information already. Rivercider: Thanks for the pictures and information. By October 1978, the train was by then running to Ashton Meadows suggests that the shunter took over from then whereas before mainline locos worked all the way to Wapping Wharf. Apparently there was damage to the New Cut which may have been the reason for this. Your picture of the class 37302 is running round the loaded 21t hoppers is superb. You don't happen to have a picture of the depot on the right? Also do you happen to recall what the trucks were in the siding Eggesford Box: What a beautiful collection of photgraphs. The images of the train leaving Ashton Meadows and approaching the junction are the closest image I have of the depot behind. It looks like 2 tracks go into the depot from your picture and that they are split apart by a loading dock? Thanks again. FC: I don't know about exclusivity and I'm afraid I don't know what S&T means? Signals and track? Is there a difference between that and the Department for Civil Engineering? Sorry bit of an amateur still! Mike Vincent mentions in his book 'reflections on the Portishead branch' that the depot was built in 1960 and covered the activities previously carried out at Pylle Hill and St Phillips March and by the bridge depots at Bath Spa and Bathampton. The large brick walled building accomodated workshop and stores. Is this building in Rivercider's photo at the top? Red brick and between the sidings? Really interesting to hear about stocks of things like location cabinets and even level crossing barriers there. Can you remember any of the stock in the depot itself? Thanks everyone for your contributions. If any one can recollect the track plan of the depot or has pictures of the depot that would be a real asset. I have no images or a track plan of the actual depot. Many thanks Paul

Hello everyone, I'm currently building a OO layout focussed on civil engineering depot and coal exchange sidings at Ashton Meadows in Bristol. The civil engineering depot was I believe focused on bridge and tunnel maintenance whereas the coal exchange sidings were used for trip workings up to the coal distribution depot at Wapping Wharf. I was hoping that you would be able to give descriptions of the operations from the 1970s onwards, or perhaps even have some photos of the line. Also anyone who is a BR (WR) expert, and can advise on typical freight operations in Bristol. I have also been able to find a few pictures of the area but have never been able to find a picture of the actual depot. Many thanks Paul