I used the line to go to school in Bedminster, and when I travelled to work in Avonmouth, we played football at Sea Mills after we'd moved the sheep ... the midland coal train from Westerleigh shunt the Yards at Montpelier and Clifton Down, along with Shire returning to Fishponds, by way of the link after Montpelier tunnel over the GWR Ashley Bank,... Oh I lived adjacent to Redland Station from 1946 to at least 1968 , we could her the trains going up the Banks western or midland on still nights, fond memories thank you.
All those wasted sidings after leaving Avonmouth! Most of the freight traffic now uses the Portbury line on the other side of the river. It's supposed to be opening for passenger traffic, but the powers that be keep dragging their heels over it.
I beg to differ. Avonmouth is still quite busy. Its just all done in Bennett sidings. Portbury hasn't had a train for months. Apart from network rail hst
don't think it was ever double tracked from St Andrews Road to Severn Beach. They could easily double track all way to Avonmouth and that would be more than enough to increase capacity to 15-20 min services. Would need some money thrown at it - bridge at Sea Mills for example would need lot of work.
@@arch9enius it was singled in 1970 but as the bridge widths show it was double track up until Avonmouth. The remaining single line sections have been realigned in places, probably in conjunction with the signal upgrades from semaphore to electronic.
@@vincentharriman3283 Yeah, I don't think this line would benefit from doubling with current trafic, as long as everybody keeps time. Unless someone puts a road / rail freight interchange at the end, the spare track could be used for more loops on the SW main line to Exeter for example.
Thank you for the good picture, I. Spite of no sun. For us wh zre strangers to the Bristol are a quick route map, and a I g the station would add to the interest. Thank you, Patrick
In the late 80's early 90's a tunnel/conveyor system was installed under the river Avon to link Portbury docks to the rail sidings in Avonmouth which allowed the importation of coal by bulk carrier and then carried by rail to Didcot power station. The railway line from Avonmouth to Filton Triangle was doubled necessitating an additional bridge across the M5 being installed. this is the foundation for the current Metro West plans. The Portbury branch was reopened in the mid 90's giving direct rail access to Royal Portbury Docks.
@@ianplowman2808 it was a bit later on the railway line - 2002 when it reopened. They have now removed the rails completely from the coal depot at RPD. The other spur goes down to the car transporter loading bay but that's not been used for cars in years and years. Funny how they said it would take 40k lorries off the road each year.. it was only ever about the coal!
I used to live in Bristol in the 1950’s not far from Montpelier Station and regularly used to travel to Severn Beach. It was the place to go then! Quite shocked to see the state of the railway track on this video. So much rubbish and junk everywhere. The tracked used to be immaculate back in the 50’s / 60’s. Network Rail ought to be disgusted with theirselves. There is no care or interest in the Railways, all as a result of lack of Government interest. Let’s run things into the ground and screw as much money out of people as possible. All stems from Margaret Thatcher’s lack interest in the railways, she hated them.
You have to blame the community who live by the railway, who dumped the rubbish in the first place. People have no respect for where they live today. It's always somebody else's fault and somebody else's job to clean the mess.
I used the line to go to school in Bedminster, and when I travelled to work in Avonmouth, we played football at Sea Mills after we'd moved the sheep ... the midland coal train from Westerleigh shunt the Yards at Montpelier and Clifton Down, along with Shire returning to Fishponds, by way of the link after Montpelier tunnel over the GWR Ashley Bank,... Oh I lived adjacent to Redland Station from 1946 to at least 1968 , we could her the trains going up the Banks western or midland on still nights, fond memories thank you.
A great experience travelling through Bristol and Avonmouth the Bonus is Shirley’s cafe and a walk to new Severn bridge
Severn Beach is just like Palm Beach except there are no palm trees and no bloody beach
All those wasted sidings after leaving Avonmouth! Most of the freight traffic now uses the Portbury line on the other side of the river. It's supposed to be opening for passenger traffic, but the powers that be keep dragging their heels over it.
Have got a rail atlas from 1992. It's amazing the amount of sidings that existed even then .
The portbury line is barely ever used for Frieght. One train a week max at present. Once the coal trains stopped that was it.
I beg to differ. Avonmouth is still quite busy. Its just all done in Bennett sidings. Portbury hasn't had a train for months. Apart from network rail hst
Great video shame there is no sound
The freight sidings just past avonmouth should be lifted and used to reinstate double track along the entire route
don't think it was ever double tracked from St Andrews Road to Severn Beach. They could easily double track all way to Avonmouth and that would be more than enough to increase capacity to 15-20 min services. Would need some money thrown at it - bridge at Sea Mills for example would need lot of work.
@@tomarse99looking at the bridges on the line beyond Avonmouth, I agree it was never double track.
Or elsewhere .
@@arch9enius it was singled in 1970 but as the bridge widths show it was double track up until Avonmouth. The remaining single line sections have been realigned in places, probably in conjunction with the signal upgrades from semaphore to electronic.
@@vincentharriman3283 Yeah, I don't think this line would benefit from doubling with current trafic, as long as everybody keeps time. Unless someone puts a road / rail freight interchange at the end, the spare track could be used for more loops on the SW main line to Exeter for example.
Glad to have seen a fascinating part of the network. Unfortunately the wobbly camera mount made me feel queasy.
Thank you for the good picture, I. Spite of no sun. For us wh zre strangers to the Bristol are a quick route map, and a I g the station would add to the interest. Thank you, Patrick
Sad to see Avonmouth BHT empty, worked there many times
Interesting route, but the video quality, wobble-cam, image distortion and odd angles leave a lot to be desired
The wobble is due most likely to the state of the railway
@@vincentharriman3283 Looked like engine vibration fkummoxing the image stabilisation at the end.
Good to see that Network Rail has employed its much-loved 😂"prison-camp chic" styling for the new station at Portway Park & Ride!!
I filmed the three level crossings a couple of years ago. Nice to see the line itself.
Very good apart from the picture and sound.
This line is so ripe for service intensification and electrification. Pains me that MetroWest has taken so long and delivered so little so far.
No audio big fail
A nice touch would be to include the name of the stations called at on the journey.
Hi, Would be great to let us know the station names along the route
Bristol Temple Meads
Lawrence Hill
Montpelier
Redland
Clifton Down
Sea Mills
Shirehampton
Portway Park & Ride
Avonmouth
St Andrews Road
Severn Beach
@@ianmcclavin You have omitted Stapleton Road on the mainline, situated between Lawrence Hill and Montpelier.
@@paulengers4100Having this list is pretty uselss ... the names should be on the film at the actual ststions!
Wondered what those large gantries' were for, over the sidings!🤔
It was part of the now redundant coal silo. You can see the remains of the conveyor on the right.
Yet another generation of wasted infrastructure.
In the late 80's early 90's a tunnel/conveyor system was installed under the river Avon to link Portbury docks to the rail sidings in Avonmouth which allowed the importation of coal by bulk carrier and then carried by rail to Didcot power station. The railway line from Avonmouth to Filton Triangle was doubled necessitating an additional bridge across the M5 being installed. this is the foundation for the current Metro West plans. The Portbury branch was reopened in the mid 90's giving direct rail access to Royal Portbury Docks.
They were for the lighting over the sidings that's all,smallest had 4,largest 16.
@@ianplowman2808 it was a bit later on the railway line - 2002 when it reopened. They have now removed the rails completely from the coal depot at RPD. The other spur goes down to the car transporter loading bay but that's not been used for cars in years and years. Funny how they said it would take 40k lorries off the road each year.. it was only ever about the coal!
Enjoyed the route but video very smudged! Pity! Water on camera lense?? Bad vibration at end after St Andrews Rd. poor quality
Any chance of reopening the rest of the line?
Beyond Severn Beach would be impossible as trackbed is built on. Henbury Loop however.. we live in hope.
That’s a bit of a bumpy line coming up to Severn Beach isn’t it??
Great shame about the ‘fogging’ of the image. Is this due to the camera lens or on the glass of train cab? Otherwise very interesting - thank you.
Such a shame most of the stations are a shadow of their former selves
Not the most scenic of routes, but obviously well used for school /work etc. Seems strange the through route was axed some years back.
Why is this so quiet
Because the sound is turned off
Enjoyed most of it, but the camera work towards the end wound me up.
I wished whoever was moving the camera all the time had left it alone. It was perfectly alright in the first place. If it ain’t broke. Don’t fix it
The camera was perfectly steady for the whole journey, the image stabiliser within it is trying to centre the tracks from start to finish
Shame about there being no sound,
Why is the video so poor, constant jumping around, jitter and no sound.
Image stabiliser was on and didn't do what it's meant to.
Driver asked to be kept out of the video, so no sound
I used to live in Bristol in the 1950’s not far from Montpelier Station and regularly used to travel to Severn Beach. It was the place to go then! Quite shocked to see the state of the railway track on this video. So much rubbish and junk everywhere. The tracked used to be immaculate back in the 50’s / 60’s. Network Rail ought to be disgusted with theirselves. There is no care or interest in the Railways, all as a result of lack of Government interest. Let’s run things into the ground and screw as much money out of people as possible. All stems from Margaret Thatcher’s lack interest in the railways, she hated them.
You have to blame the community who live by the railway, who dumped the rubbish in the first place. People have no respect for where they live today. It's always somebody else's fault and somebody else's job to clean the mess.
You are right, Maggie thatcher the everything snatcher always hated the railways 🛤 full stop ✋️ 🫸 🫷 🙄 😑