Sharpness Dock Railway Turntable Site
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2024
- A hunt through railway history looking for infrastructure, a turntable and a station. Once busy with passenger and freight traffic, now hiding among the weeds and overgrowth around Sharpness Docks. Got to be worth a look.
Home to the adventurous subscriber. As well as films we have a bi-weekly Vlog to keep up to date on the previous and next week’s videos, and a chance for all to air their views on a variety of subjects, why not join in.
My passion has been walking, a while ago I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and walking does not come naturally any more, however the more I walk the easier it gets, for now anyway. I hope these videos will inspire others to keep going and hanging on in there. I try to cover variety of subjects, such as old abandoned railways, and canals. I love the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, with its rich history and I usually take my camera whenever we holiday in the southwest and Cornwall. The rugged coastal paths are a magnet for anyone who loves dramatic scenery. I live close to the Cotswolds Hills and have done quite a lot of walking around there, recently, following some of the lovely rivers. Hill walking on the Malvern’s is a challenge but worth the effort. I try not to let Parkinson’s get me down and take every opportunity to get out with my camera and film, I hope you enjoy watching. P.W. - บันเทิง
Hello Ron. Such a treat to see the sunshine and hear the birds singing, as well as the bluebells and all things spring like. I was surprised that you were allowed to wander along the tracks which were clearly used very occasionally . Nice to see the turntable wall and that wonderful skew bridge. Nice refreshing walk. Thank you.
Hi Lionel, I'm not sure you are allowed to wander about, but I have always got away with it so far. Just got in, beautiful mild day to day with a hint of sun. Lovely. Take care of you both. Ron
Good morning Ron and thank you for yet another very interesting film. I love going down to Sharpness Docks, either as a planned visit or when walking the Severn Way. A walk along the canal towards Gloucester and the site of the old Severn Bridge swing tower is usually on the cards too. The hustle and bustle of these places still fascinates me even though at Sharpness (like most of our ports) it is now a shadow of its former self when ships would have been coming in and out at all times and the sound of the steam trains and the shunting of rolling stock would have filled the air both day and night.
I will try and add a bit more detail about the Sharpness Docks/Lydney Junction Railway line in the hope that the site doesn’t let me down as it did a couple of weeks ago!
The line was built to link the Severn & Wye (S&W) and the GWR at Lydney with the Midland Railway (MR) Gloucester to Bristol main line at Berkeley Road, thereby giving the MR valuable access to the Forest of Dean. The line was a great advantage to Sharpness docks, not only for the transfer of freight to and from the railway, but also to supply the ships with coal for their engines, thereby avoiding the expense of them having to sail to a South Wales port. Of course, the line crossed the River Severn by the famous Severn Railway bridge, built prior to the opening of the Severn tunnel on 17th October 1879. On the night of 25th October 1960, in thick fog, it was struck by an oil barge bringing down two spans. It was never repaired and was finally demolished between august 1967 May 1968. I covered more on the history of the bridge in response to your previous video on the Severn Railway bridge so I will leave things there this time. Going back to things more relevant to today’s video: the line serving Sharpness from Berkeley Road was opened to freight traffic in August 1875, with passenger services starting a year later. Sharpness station was originally the terminus for the passenger service as the through route to Lydney via the Severn bridge was not opened until 1879 (see above). At this time, the station was no more than a temporary platform with a simple wooden building near the docks. It consisted of a booking office, waiting room and toilet. Once the through route to Lydney had been opened, a new station was built, on the curve of a more easterly line, at the current location. The station consisted of a brick building and water tower on the up platform, and a small shelter on the down platform. The station had no goods yard or dedicated sidings or passing loops. There being plenty of goods facilities associated with the docks railway, and connections to the docks railway system were available further down the line on both sides of the station. Following the loss of the Severn Bridge, Sharpness station returned to being a branch line terminus. However, this was short lived and passenger services were withdrawn in November 1964. The station, along with that at Berkeley, was demolished shortly afterwards. Berkeley Road station being closed and demolished in 1965.
As regards the turntable, the siting of it is interesting, being right at the junction of three lines; to the docks, marshalling yard and Sharpness station on the Lydney route. It was a single entry turntable of 46 feet (14 Metres) with a short stub at the exit. The turntable was not constructed at the time of the line’s opening in 1875; it being built 21 years later in 1896 to facilitate the smoother operation of, primarily, docks rail traffic.
O.k Ron, I think I’ve rattled on for long enough today. I hope you and the Parkinson’s family have found something of interest there and I look forward to next week’s vlog and film club. Stay safe and have a great week. Regards Trev.
That's brilliant! Thank you Trev!
Hi Trev, we've got this one, lets hope it stays! You have certainly made up for the loss of the last one with this Tour de Force.
Someone was asking about a time line this morning and I advised them to wait for your post because I knew he would get a comprehensive answer, and he did.
I get a little melancholy down there thinking of what used to be.
Thanks for your time and effort Trev. Take care of yourself. Ron
Cracking read, thanks Trev!! The TH-cam gods are with you this week!!
@@westcountrywanderings Thank you Paul - appreciated
@@davidberlanny3308 Thanks so much David. Yes, I got lucky this week. Perhaps YT have gone down another track, or maybe they thought I got above my station last time - see what I did there 🤣
Hi Ron. I watch a lot of TH-cam...there are some great physics channels, but when I put your weekly video on, Sumac always perks up, like somebody she knows (and likes) just walked in the room...either that, or she just hates physics. She, and I'll admit I, really liked your whistling (me because it was funny, Sumac because she thought it was time to play...thanks!) Once again I've been left feeling the need of an English walk, as good as your virtual alternative is. I'm just fighting with exam marking and I appreciated your help in prolonging my procrastination in a good way. Have a good week Ron. James
Hi James, I would go with "She just hates physics" personally. Wait until you both see next weeks vlog. Come on get that marking done, it's part of the fun of teaching! Ron
Hi James, I have just finished the book ‘Highways & Byways in Oxford & the Cotswolds’ All 391 pages of tightly typed pages.
It was a pleasant read. It was basically the diary of his cycle ride through the countryside of Oxford and the Cotswolds. He must have spent ages on research and teased out local stories as well as the histories. It sounded like a real adventure although he doesn’t say how many puntures he had to repair along the way, or repairs to his cycle, which was probably a primitive machine bearing in mind this was in 1902.
I have visited about 80% of the places he described so I was right there with him.
It was very kind of you James, thanks to you and the ball orderer.
Ron
Hi Ron, it is our pleasure. You got about 390 pages further than me. We know how much time you must spend on production, editing, researching and thinking up clever and amusing comments. The covert ball-purchaser will be posting again soon, but as you can tell, there ain't a lot of production/editing time there...@@ParkinsonsWalks
Good morning Ron. Another masterclass in observation. I particularly liked the rail gate. Your informant spot on with turntable.
Hi Rodney, strange, I was never any good at treasure hunts. Keep smiling. Ron
Some interesting finds there, Ron. It's always sad to see when a public footpath has been closed off. Seeing the bluebells reminded me that you are heading into spring and all the spring flowers will be coming soon. Here, the days are getting noticeably shorter and summer is slipping by fast.
Hi Jim because we communicate regularly, its easy to forget we are in different hemispheres, it is mind blowing really. Lets hope you get an Indian summer. Take care. Ron
Although it is wonderful to find all that rail still in place, and I am not a scrapper at heart, but you do have to question why so much of it was left behind. There is quite a bit of money in the tonnage of steel left behind. The railchair you looked at indicated it was just installed/rebuilt in 1996. When was this line abandoned? The previous stations and the turntable look to have been gone for quite sometime and many of the railbed sections look to have been overgrown for a long time as well. Yet, the marshalling yard, while overgrown with grasses, does not appear to be buried in a jungle as yet. I would be curious as to the timelines of the various sections we visited. I assume nothing is "coming back" as there doesn't seem to be enough commercial activity around Sharpness Docks to support a railroad anymore.
Hi Charles, part of the line is still in use for overnight storage of nuclear flasks! I would think a timeline would be difficult because the place is constantly evolving. Look out for Trev's post, if anyone knows he will. Take care. Ron
Cheers Ron lovely day out in the shire can't beat a bit of grubbing about.Great find the old turntable thank you for posting 👍😁
Glad you enjoyed it Lee, thank you for watching. Take care. Ron
Hello Ron - greetings from Poland
A lovely continuation of our last visit to Sharpness Docks. The turntable was a great find. What a shame the station you were searching for appears to have been demolished and any trace removed.
Fantastic bridges and marshalling yards to see. What a spectacle this site must have been when the railways were in full function.
Lovely flowers by the way. A very pleasant walk.
Hi Michael, it must have been full of action back in the day, we need a time machine. Take care of yourself. Ron
Beautiful railway walk. Jakes me yearn for summer to arrive! 😊
Same here! Ron
nice walk thank you
Glad you enjoyed it Colin. Ron
That was excellent Ron. Such an interesting area to explore. Yes always seem to capture those spring days and all the birdsong too which make it all the more enjoyable . Stay safe. Pete
Hi Pete, I used to film in all weathers, I wait for the sun these days. How is Syd? Ron
@@ParkinsonsWalks hi Ron. Syd is doing well. He's got quite big now and his training is going OK too. He's turning out to be a fine little dog although he can be naughty at times mainly down to his youthful exuberance!! Basically he's a happy chappy. He's going to have his first visit to the local soon.......
It's winter
@@petepaine5331Youthful exuberance, I remember that! Ron
Mornin’ Ron, That turntable was a great find, when you see those curved walls there’s no doubt what is there. They are so evocative of the railway past, there appears to be no use for them today although I read somewhere that the one they have reinstalled at St Blazey not turns only steam engines but turns diesels too in order to even out tyre wear.
By coincidence this last week a couple of detailed technical drawings of the turntable at the Zurgena Station came to light, this was the one on the Great Southern of Spain Railway and all dimensioned in feet and inches too!!
There is so much industrial heritage at Sharpness it must be a great place to visit and take in the atmosphere. I had a quick look on railmaps online and then at the Vale of Berkeley Railway Trust. It still seems to be active although I’m not sure when it was last updated. Someone on here will be able to update us I’m sure, maybe Paul will be walking past on his Severn Way series soon.
We’ve got a cold rainy weekend ahead perhaps some snow too, so Ill be indoors this weekend resting my knee which has been playing up after all this panning for gold, nothing to show for it but some photos too!!
Great to see the signs of spring up there. Have a great weekend!!
Hi David, you do come up with interesting info, I've never thought to turn diesels to even tyre wear.
The investors in David Berlanny gold mining inc are worried about your sore knee. Get well soon. Ron
@@ParkinsonsWalks Yes I thought it was interesting when I read it and thats why it stuck in my mind.
Not sure if I can pass on some insider trading knowledge but a little bird is telling me to sell my shares in David Berlanny gold mining inc ....
@@davidberlanny3308 Brilliant David, just brilliant. Ron
@davidberlanny3308 Hi David. From what I understand, the primary focus for re-opening the line is to provide a link for residents if a new housing development takes place down there. And, why not chuck in a bit of heritage stuff as well! If its anything like the much talked about re-opening of the Bristol to Portishead line, then we are in for a VERY LONG wait. I think Paul (West Country Wanderings) is much more up to speed on this subject and is probably in a much better position to keep us updated on this one.
Sharpness in Springtime! You discovered some fine examples of brickwork in those bridges. The hotel appears to have taken on a new life, but alas, the station and turntable appear long gone and the former engine shed - if that is what it was - looks forlorn in that farmyard. Lots of track in situ - above and below ground, indicating what a hive of activity this place must have once been. I assume Avonmouth was largely responsible for the decline of Sharpness Docks, but I would have thought that a heritage line is still a viable proposition. Let's hope so. What an adventure to be heading towards the Severn and that marvellous railway bridge - the most scenic way to travel to South Wales, in my view, though alas, I never experienced it myself. Nicely crafted video. Well done!
Hi Malcolm, it must have been teeming with ships trains and trucks back then, I bet you couldn't get in there though without a good reason. And the Severn rail bridge, wonderful. Take care. Ron
Looks like Vale of Berkeley Railway were ordered to vacate their site at Berkeley Road by DRS, who transport nuclear containers, and own the lease on the site @@ParkinsonsWalks
Good morning Ron. Nice find with the turntable, shame it was overgrown. I was going to have a turntable but there just wasn't room. Cheers
The move into the roof sounds risky from a domestic point of view as well as practical. You will need good insulation to cope with extremes of temperature. There again you are a clever chap! Take care. Ron
You can get model turntables Simon, it needn't be full size. Ron
@@ParkinsonsWalks Now that made me laugh. Glad I wasn't drinking. I think in my gauge they are about 6.5 inches in diameter and you can get them motorised with a battery set up.
The financial consultant said if I go into the loft she wont come up the ladder to see it. I said you don't even come upstairs to see it in the spare bedroom!
Insulation is key. Strangely there is a video coming out where I talk through it. I've priced insulation at £650 - Gulp!
Ah, that was great Ron!
Well done for finding the location of the turntable. I think the Vale of Berkeley Railway have made more progress since we have both filmed in this area. I will have another look soon, as that is the next section that I need to do along The Severn Way.
Be great to see the station at Sharpness restored, but it will be a huge undertaking. Shame all their hard work at Berkeley Station was all for nothing due to unsympathetic landowners.
I think their diesel loco restoration is coming on too at the docks site.
Thanks so much Ron.
Have a great week.
Take care,
Paul
Hi Paul, I didn't realize it was landowners getting in the way again, I thought it was funds. Interesting to see what has happened now. Stay safe. Ron
A very enjoyable explore, Ron. Great to see sections of the old turntable wall and those wonderful bridge structures. Mother Nature is inevitably hiding much of the old railway line and it’s a shame about the stations. Not much doing up here. Rain Stopped Play once again! Take care. Ron.
Hi Ron, rain stopped play down here as well. Just what we needed more rain. Stay dry. Ron
A great video and really pleased to find your channel. Subscribed.
Thanks, nice to have you with us. Ron
Hi Ron that Looked Like a perfect Spring day for Investigations in this Beautiful part of the World that Has so many Secrets and Stories to Tell - Epic Feats Of Engineering on Display Yet Again, thanks for Sharing with us 🙏🏻✨
Hi Donni, you are right, it was a beautiful day for a stroll. Take care. Ron
Late on parade Ron due to coughs and sneezes that won't go away. My old stamping ground but I didn't recognise much of it. I liked the shot of the dock entrance; it reminded me of a very effective way we used to keep the dock free of mud and silt. WE positioned several barges across the entrance, making a sort of chicane. Using the action of the tide we created a funnel effect whereby the mud got washed back out to the Severn. This was called scouring and I wonder whether H&S would permit it now. Happy days Hope you find your way home
Hi Peter there is something going around called " The hundred day cough", hope you haven't got that.
I liked the insight into the goings on at Sharpness. The vlog for this week is in the can now but I'll try to include it in the next one. Thanks for the post. Get well soon. Ron
Lovely, in the sun, with " All the birds of Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire " Good news, plans afoot to re instate Sharpness Station, owing to housing demand.
Hi Christina, good news about the station, but I'll believe it when I see it. Go gently. Ron
Nice work👍
Thank you! Cheers! Ron
Umm, according to Geograph via Google the station building was demolished, maybe the platform exists?
The remains of the platform are almost certainly still there, but it is impossible to get to them because of overgrowth. Ron
Why were you one an active railway line,it may look not in regular use but it clearly has had traffic fairly recently.STAY OFF ACTIVE RAILWAY LINES!
Good advice. Ron