A couple of corrections to what you say. The route of the railway out of Temple Meads was not from the Bristol and Exeter side of the station approach ramp. It went on the northern side of the approach beyond the original Brunel station and crossed the main road on a bridge between the two now derelict hotels. Look at any of the historic maps of the area. Also the red brick building on Redcliffe wharf is not related to the railway, it was the watch office for the Bristol fire boat Pyronaut - which is now preserved by the M Shed museum and moored in front of the museum. (It does trips some weekends)
Thank you Alan! Thanks for the information and clarifications - much appreciated. I do admit I don't know Bristol at all well, although I grew up in neighbouring Gloucestershire. However, I am feeling I am getting to know it a little better, having visited the city many times over the past few weeks, and plan to again soon. It is positively dripping in history! I will pin your comment to the top so others can see it. Thanks again, Cheers, Paul
One additional point, three of the four electric cranes in front of M shed are operational and used routinely for the work on the M Shed working exhibits. Some weekends you can visit the cabs and help drive the cranes. (I am one of the volunteers for the exhibits!)
Your enthusiasm was almost palpable- I’m so glad you had a really enjoyable visit to the Bristol Docks. I have never been to Bristol so unfamiliar with all the famous sites,streets, buildings etc. I enjoyed our wander down to the docks through the backstreets- lots to see just doing that! I noticed the obligatory shopping trolley when we looked at the disused line!! It was good to see part of the Boat Festival- The Matthew was so nippy even without sails! 😀 Thanks Paul- waiting patiently for Part 2.( Did wonder re health & safety & children on the railway & docks)
Good Morning Paul and greetings from an overcast but still very warm, Poland. A fabulous video. Full of historical facts and information. The hustle and bustle of the docks Festival was superb. So much to see and do. The steam loco featured, Henbury, really does fir into its current environment. She was built in Bristol and spent all her working life working in Bristol and Avonmouth Docks. I'm so pleased for you that you coped with all the people and noise. Really looking forward to part two
In the back of St Mary Redcliffe is a piece of tram track at 50 degrees sticking out of the grass. Apparently during an air raid it shot up into the air and landed in the church yard. Was down at centre today and the Mathew came out of the lock at the cumberland basin and then went down the avon towards sea mills. Caroline
We had the good fortune of visiting Bristol and the harbor in March of this year on a brief one-day visit, arriving and departing via the GWR and Bristol Temple Meads. Your wonderful video explained so much about the history and 'lay of the land' of what we saw. Thank you for clearing up so many things we wondered about. Cheers!
Fascinating and very enjoyable video. The harbour area has taken on a new lease of life, complete with its own railway. Very different to when I last visited about 20 years ago. Good to see also that Temple Meads is also being restored to something like its former glory. It really is an architectural gem. Thank you.
Thank you Dave! Yes, I think that this railway and associated heritage railway run by the M Shed Museum as a very low awareness profile amongst the general public. It does get well supported - but mainly by local families with children, rather than railway enthusiats. Although, it was really good to see it so well supported and people interested in it. Cheers, Paul
Lovely, lively video, Paul. There was so much going on at the harbour, but the little steam train giving people rides back and forth! That's the way to travel on a warm summers day. In an open truck. I assume that loco was designed for dock working, given the short wheelbase. It was in remarkably good condition. I liked the chap holding a green flag out of the end wagon, to enable the driver to see if the road was clear. Good stuff Paul.
Thank you Lionel & Mary. This really isn't my sort of thing, and it was a very hard video to make - to be honest, I am not that happy with the finished result. Glad you enjoyed it though. I do hope it is more pleasant when I return to make Part 2! Hope all is good with you. Take care, Paul
Enjoyed that Paul. We haven’t ventured to Bristol tbh and we really should. The harbour looks like there is plenty to discover. Interesting seeing and hearing about the railway there. Which obviously served the extremely busy port. The train ride was very cool. Seeing the modern flats against the backdrop of the harbour. Wry enjoyabke video. 👍🏻
Yes, for some reason this steam heritage railway has a much lower profile and public awareness than the likes of the West Somerset Railway and Severn Valley Railway. I don't think the Harbour Railway is much known at all. Glad you enjoyed it. Cheers, Paul
15:12 For those not aware, John Cabot has a Tower named in his honour and it's this one. On the horizon, Brandon Hill is host to the Cabot tower. Centre of shot here.
Just so enjoy the mixing in of the older pictures. Such a great connection from the present to the past! Such amazing architecture that has past the test of time!
Absolutely fantastic video Paul! So fascinating! It’s brilliant that you included the walk from Templemeads too. I often wander around Bristol without giving a second thought to its history, so it was great to be enlightened to some of it. The harbour festival looked fantastic! I would have loved a ride on that open top steam train!
Thank you Louise! Glad you enjoyed it. I did find this a hard video to make and this part of Bristol I am not keen on to be honest with you. However the train journey was really cool, and it only runs on a few days each year, so it was good to see it despite it being an extremely busy day there. I will be back to do a part two though - hopefully on a quieter day! Thank you for a lovely comment. Paul
Ypu put so much effort into these videos - I do take the time to watch…that’s why it sometimes takes a while to cacth up. Another well documents episode and good to learn more about the history. I enjoyed my visit to your channel Paul. Enjoy the rest of the week. 🇳🇱🙋🏼♀️🥝👌
Thank you Anita! Glad you enjoyed it. Hope you have a really great week too - it is very warm here at the moment - hoping it will cool down a little before I can walk and film again. Take care, Paul
You've captured the excitement of the event perfectly, which I've been to in the past. lt seems as popular as ever. I worked in Bristol for a year before I retired and I hated the place, or at least the area I was based in and its population, but you show the city at its best. Comment has been made about 'elf and safety' but no one has spotted the state of that track, but I'm sure you did..
Thank you Philip! Yes, there was much excitment there that day. I had not planned to film when the festival was on though - I thought that was on the Saturday (it was, but it was on the Sunday too) but there are only a very few Harbour Railway running days unfortunately. Hope to do Part Two soon on (hopefully!) a much quieter day. Cheers, Paul
Hi Paul, Wow so much going on in such a small place. The sounds of the steam engine came over really really well. It's the first time I've seen anything moving there. On our visits to Bristol, for work, we would often look across the harbour and see a solitary waggon and no more. Very interesting to see the lines origin near to Temple Meads. You've reminded me that I would have walked over the sidings in what was the Strachan and Henshaw works at Ashton Gate. I didn't realise they were part of the dockside line. I too wondered about openess of the operational lines but it looked well under control. With so many people there I think it must have been quite a challenge for you. But it was an excellent reflection of the open day. Well done!! All the best!!
Thank you! I think this is my least favourite video that I have made to date, and, in my opinion, my worst. I still like 'Autumnal Gold' the best. It is not an area I like at all - so much deprivation, litter, graffitti and a very run down feel to it. The new buildings are very ugly in my opinion, and it is a shame they could not have restored what was originally here, like they have done in Liverpool and Gloucester. However, there is a lot of railway history here, so it does make it a bit worthwhile. I do hope it is quieter when I film Part Two. Unfortunately, the harbour festival was on when I visited - I was not aware of this, and would not have gone there had I known it was on. The steam trains run on just a very few days of the year though, and it had to conicide with the festival on this occasion, and when I was free to film here. Glad you enjoyed it though. Hope all is good with you. Thank you for a great comment. Take care, Paul
The cranes date from 1950 and have been there since then. They were used for moving cargo from the ships in the harbour, but they have been silent since the 1970s. I am not aware of any military connections. Cheers, Paul
A couple of corrections to what you say.
The route of the railway out of Temple Meads was not from the Bristol and Exeter side of the station approach ramp. It went on the northern side of the approach beyond the original Brunel station and crossed the main road on a bridge between the two now derelict hotels. Look at any of the historic maps of the area.
Also the red brick building on Redcliffe wharf is not related to the railway, it was the watch office for the Bristol fire boat Pyronaut - which is now preserved by the M Shed museum and moored in front of the museum. (It does trips some weekends)
Thank you Alan!
Thanks for the information and clarifications - much appreciated.
I do admit I don't know Bristol at all well, although I grew up in neighbouring Gloucestershire. However, I am feeling I am getting to know it a little better, having visited the city many times over the past few weeks, and plan to again soon. It is positively dripping in history!
I will pin your comment to the top so others can see it.
Thanks again,
Cheers,
Paul
One additional point, three of the four electric cranes in front of M shed are operational and used routinely for the work on the M Shed working exhibits. Some weekends you can visit the cabs and help drive the cranes. (I am one of the volunteers for the exhibits!)
@@alanstansfield7707 Ah, brilliant! I may meet you when I do my M Shed video then! Paul
Your enthusiasm was almost palpable- I’m so glad you had a really enjoyable visit to the Bristol Docks.
I have never been to Bristol so unfamiliar with all the famous sites,streets, buildings etc.
I enjoyed our wander down to the docks through the backstreets- lots to see just doing that!
I noticed the obligatory shopping trolley when we looked at the disused line!!
It was good to see part of the Boat Festival- The Matthew was so nippy even without sails! 😀
Thanks Paul- waiting patiently for Part 2.( Did wonder re health & safety & children on the railway & docks)
Good Morning Paul and greetings from an overcast but still very warm, Poland.
A fabulous video. Full of historical facts and information. The hustle and bustle of the docks Festival was superb. So much to see and do. The steam loco featured, Henbury, really does fir into its current environment. She was built in Bristol and spent all her working life working in Bristol and Avonmouth Docks.
I'm so pleased for you that you coped with all the people and noise.
Really looking forward to part two
In the back of St Mary Redcliffe is a piece of tram track at 50 degrees sticking out of the grass. Apparently during an air raid it shot up into the air and landed in the church yard. Was down at centre today and the Mathew came out of the lock at the cumberland basin and then went down the avon towards sea mills. Caroline
That was a thoroughly enjoyable video, there was plenty to see & do that day.
What a great video! Paul, my friend who lives in Bristol would be interested in this too,although I think he is subscribed to your channel.
We had the good fortune of visiting Bristol and the harbor in March of this year on a brief one-day visit, arriving and departing via the GWR and Bristol Temple Meads. Your wonderful video explained so much about the history and 'lay of the land' of what we saw. Thank you for clearing up so many things we wondered about. Cheers!
Fascinating and very enjoyable video. The harbour area has taken on a new lease of life, complete with its own railway. Very different to when I last visited about 20 years ago. Good to see also that Temple Meads is also being restored to something like its former glory. It really is an architectural gem. Thank you.
Hi Paul nice video from Bristol ,lots of history 👌
What an interesting video Paul. I never knew there was a railway going from Temple Meads to the Habour. Well you live and learn. Brilliant 👏
Thank you Dave!
Yes, I think that this railway and associated heritage railway run by the M Shed Museum as a very low awareness profile amongst the general public. It does get well supported - but mainly by local families with children, rather than railway enthusiats. Although, it was really good to see it so well supported and people interested in it.
Cheers,
Paul
Bristol is one of England's interesting cities, especially when it comes to the railways. Brilliant video as always Paul. Thank you for the mention.
Thank you Alice!
Cheers,
Paul
Very interersting video. Bristol is a fascinating and creative city!
Cheers for posting Paul really like that part of Bristol should of called in the ostrich pub for pint 👍👍👍
Lovely, lively video, Paul. There was so much going on at the harbour, but the little steam train giving people rides back and forth! That's the way to travel on a warm summers day. In an open truck. I assume that loco was designed for dock working, given the short wheelbase. It was in remarkably good condition. I liked the chap holding a green flag out of the end wagon, to enable the driver to see if the road was clear. Good stuff Paul.
Thank you Lionel & Mary.
This really isn't my sort of thing, and it was a very hard video to make - to be honest, I am not that happy with the finished result. Glad you enjoyed it though.
I do hope it is more pleasant when I return to make Part 2!
Hope all is good with you.
Take care,
Paul
Enjoyed that Paul. We haven’t ventured to Bristol tbh and we really should. The harbour looks like there is plenty to discover. Interesting seeing and hearing about the railway there. Which obviously served the extremely busy port. The train ride was very cool. Seeing the modern flats against the backdrop of the harbour. Wry enjoyabke video. 👍🏻
What a wonderful video. I never knew that there was tunnel under st Mary redcliffe although I know the area well as my son lives on Colston parade.
Yes, for some reason this steam heritage railway has a much lower profile and public awareness than the likes of the West Somerset Railway and Severn Valley Railway.
I don't think the Harbour Railway is much known at all.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Cheers,
Paul
A thoroughly entertaining well-researched half-hour video Paul, as are all your efforts. I look forward to the next part.
Thank you so much!
Glad you enjoyed it.
Cheers,
Paul
15:12 For those not aware, John Cabot has a Tower named in his honour and it's this one.
On the horizon, Brandon Hill is host to the Cabot tower. Centre of shot here.
Just so enjoy the mixing in of the older pictures. Such a great connection from the present to the past! Such amazing architecture that has past the test of time!
Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it.
Cheers,
Paul
Absolutely fantastic video Paul! So fascinating! It’s brilliant that you included the walk from Templemeads too. I often wander around Bristol without giving a second thought to its history, so it was great to be enlightened to some of it. The harbour festival looked fantastic! I would have loved a ride on that open top steam train!
Thank you Louise!
Glad you enjoyed it.
I did find this a hard video to make and this part of Bristol I am not keen on to be honest with you. However the train journey was really cool, and it only runs on a few days each year, so it was good to see it despite it being an extremely busy day there.
I will be back to do a part two though - hopefully on a quieter day!
Thank you for a lovely comment.
Paul
Ypu put so much effort into these videos - I do take the time to watch…that’s why it sometimes takes a while to cacth up. Another well documents episode and good to learn more about the history. I enjoyed my visit to your channel Paul. Enjoy the rest of the week. 🇳🇱🙋🏼♀️🥝👌
Thank you Anita!
Glad you enjoyed it.
Hope you have a really great week too - it is very warm here at the moment - hoping it will cool down a little before I can walk and film again.
Take care,
Paul
You've captured the excitement of the event perfectly, which I've been to in the past. lt seems as popular as ever. I worked in Bristol for a year before I retired and I hated the place, or at least the area I was based in and its population, but you show the city at its best. Comment has been made about 'elf and safety' but no one has spotted the state of that track, but I'm sure you did..
Thank you Philip!
Yes, there was much excitment there that day. I had not planned to film when the festival was on though - I thought that was on the Saturday (it was, but it was on the Sunday too) but there are only a very few Harbour Railway running days unfortunately.
Hope to do Part Two soon on (hopefully!) a much quieter day.
Cheers,
Paul
So surprised with health and safety the way it is today, that all those people were allowed to walk about near a working steam locomotive.
Hi Paul, Wow so much going on in such a small place. The sounds of the steam engine came over really really well.
It's the first time I've seen anything moving there. On our visits to Bristol, for work, we would often look across the harbour and see a solitary waggon and no more.
Very interesting to see the lines origin near to Temple Meads. You've reminded me that I would have walked over the sidings in what was the Strachan and Henshaw works at Ashton Gate. I didn't realise they were part of the dockside line.
I too wondered about openess of the operational lines but it looked well under control.
With so many people there I think it must have been quite a challenge for you. But it was an excellent reflection of the open day. Well done!!
All the best!!
Thank you!
I think this is my least favourite video that I have made to date, and, in my opinion, my worst. I still like 'Autumnal Gold' the best.
It is not an area I like at all - so much deprivation, litter, graffitti and a very run down feel to it. The new buildings are very ugly in my opinion, and it is a shame they could not have restored what was originally here, like they have done in Liverpool and Gloucester.
However, there is a lot of railway history here, so it does make it a bit worthwhile.
I do hope it is quieter when I film Part Two. Unfortunately, the harbour festival was on when I visited - I was not aware of this, and would not have gone there had I known it was on. The steam trains run on just a very few days of the year though, and it had to conicide with the festival on this occasion, and when I was free to film here.
Glad you enjoyed it though.
Hope all is good with you.
Thank you for a great comment.
Take care,
Paul
6:01 Certain reasonably local urban explorers might be worth digging out if you'd like lots of different angles on this under appreciated tunnel.
Thanks, but I don't support trespass on my channel. Paul
@@westcountrywanderings Well said, Paul !
We're all the cranes for moving cargo? Looked like maybe military ship building cranes. I don't know at all.
The cranes date from 1950 and have been there since then. They were used for moving cargo from the ships in the harbour, but they have been silent since the 1970s. I am not aware of any military connections. Cheers, Paul