SS Great Britain

simon · Post by **simon** » Sun Jul 04, 2010 11:00 pm

OK not rail related but this is the general chat section.

This month marks the 40th anniversary of the return of the SS Great Britain to the city.

Was anyone else on the forum there like me to see it come back up the Avon all those years ago?

Mitch · Post by **Mitch** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 1:20 am

I wasn't there, but I watched it on BBC Points West.

Robin Summerhill · Post by **Robin Summerhill** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 1:31 am

Mitch wrote:I wasn't there, but I watched it on BBC Points West.

Ditto. As an 18-year-old lad, I was in Clifton that evening, and I have no idea (now) why I didn't bother to move myself half a mile to see it

Hobbler · Post by **Hobbler** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 2:21 pm

Yes I was there.

It was a good weekend as the earlier part of the day had been spent at a traction engine rally near Frome and the day was rounded off with a particularly convivial session for a group of us a pub in Clifton.

AndyK · Post by **AndyK** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 9:14 pm

I missed it because I had a prior arrangement to visit Woodham Bros at Barry on that day.

I seem to remember that the Great Britain's final trip up the Avon was postponed by one day. Had the plan run to schedule, I'm sure I wouldn't have missed it.

mjt · Post by **mjt** » Tue Jul 06, 2010 1:52 pm

AndyK wrote:I missed it because I had a prior arrangement to visit Woodham Bros at Barry on that day.

I seem to remember that the Great Britain's final trip up the Avon was postponed by one day. Had the plan run to schedule, I'm sure I wouldn't have missed it.

That's right. Originally it was to come up the river on the Saturday evening's high tide but the wind was judged to be too strong for it to get round the horseshoe bend safely so it was postponed until the Sunday morning's tide. Luckily the wind had dropped by then. I think I'm right in saying that subsequent tides weren't going to be high enough so the whole thing was a bit touch & go.

I was at the Sea Walls but later went down into Hotwells & have some transparencies somewhere showing the ship under the bridge. Unfortunately it was a dullish morning whereas the Saturday was quite bright.

I seem to remember that BR rather enterprisingly organised a couple of excursions (Paddington & Plymouth???) on the Saturday evening which they were going to park on the Portishead line in the gorge. Whether these actually ran I don't know - the decision to postpone the ship's last journey was made quite late on so the excursions may well have started!

What annoyed me (& still does after all these years) was the City Council's total lack of enthusiasm for the return of the ship. They would far rather it went to somewhere 'more suitable' - like Portsmouth. Totally visionless, than heavens common sense prevailed for once.

Andrew · Post by **Andrew** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 7:51 am

My parents took me up to Sea Walls to see the progress up river. Probably got some photos somewhere........