The Bristol Railway Archive

I heard yesterday about a walker who nearly walked into a stationary cyclists in one of the tunnels, as the latter had stopped in one of the 'dark zones'!

Cyclists and walkers trying to avoid each other on paths. towpaths etc is not usually too bad provided that you can see each other approaching ...

I was there, as you know Robin

I just took the 'short walk' through Devonshire Tunnel. Main hazard - cyclists! Despite the lighting, still really quite dark and difficult to see anyone not using a torch or cycle light when coming towards you thru' the shadows.

Certainly the fencing at the Midford goods-yard end is permanent - as I said, they have copied the old-style railway fencing. In the Tucking Mill area it appears from a distance to be chain-link, and AIUI the same at Lyncombe Vale.

On existing parts of this route and others, there is usually quite ...

One aspect of the work of possible concern is the number of stretches (as far as can be seen from nearby viewpoints) where continuous runs of high fencing are being installed immediately next to the edge of the actual tarmac path. In effect, users will be 'walled in' far more than on some other ...

I took several, but whether you might call them 'decent' or not will be difficult to assess, 'cos I can't find them

In View: Men of Steam

Apart from some nice footage around Freshford, an interesting sequence inside Bath signal-box. Note how the station master comes in and signs the register without apparently even the briefest glance thru' it - obviously confident in the 'bobby' !

I watched that programme and also the one on the following day on the L&BR etc. I found it confusing in the latter when he was at Barnstaple (Junction) and talking about the run-down of the line to Exeter, yet this was accompanied by archive shots of Lynton and the L&BR!

Curious that, in a series ...

By just piling up the ballast on top without increasing the width of the embankment the whole thong will become overloaded....

My partner has the same problem

Contrary to pre walk brief people young and old were walking in cess and in 4ft.

I'm puzzled - on a single-track line such as the WSR, where else would you expect to be able to walk other than in the cess of 4-foot on such an occasion?

I have to take issue here with Robin, as I feel he is being too lenient in respect of the WSR cyclists.

IMHO the adult (father?) was setting a VERY BAD example to the child, who may well now feel that it is quite OK to do such things in future. The child may be below the age of responsibility, but ...

...and for another example of cycling stupidity, take a look at this...

http://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/west_somerset_news/9976616.Cyclists__dangerous_trespass_on_West_Somerset_Railway_condemned/?cmpid=cmt

Apart from the actual video content, the reaction of the first commentator is ...

I had wondered if perhaps Morten had taken a ride down the Clevedon branch, then up the WC&P and back via the Portishead branch (or the other way around). Buts, as you say, why then stop off at Portbury, whereas changing trains at Durston has some value as an argument. I think you will see why I am ...

I was running another discussion elsewhere at http://www.signalbox.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4346&p=51218&hilit=Durston+Branch#p51218 which took it a little further. In essence there were yes/no views on both locations.

I would not say that Durston Branch was definitely ruled out, any more that ...

As AndyK has said, we are talking about the original Portbury (station) box, not the later Portbury Shipyard (at a different location). The former closed 1896, the latter opened 1918.

I agree that the circumstantial evidence is indeed very strong, I just would not like to say that it definitely WAS ...

AndyK -that would be because I had a long chat with Gerry about it a few weeks ago! I had an idea about Portbury some while ago, but not being familiar with the area I was waiting to see if any one else came up with the idea.

Although there are certainly strong similarities with the original SBs ...