Pics of diesels on the Bristol Docks railways?

[madhattie]

I used to pass Ashton Sidings every morning on the way to school, and there would invariably be a Peak stabled on the 'Dead End' siding opposite Ashton Junction box. I don't recall seeing any other class of locos waiting there, although Andy has captured a 47 on one working so there must have been. This was at the time when the BR loco would haul the train as far as Ashton Meadows, run around and park in the Dead End. Western Pride would then appear with a train of empties, run around these, then haul the loaded trains to the harbour. The Peak would then couple up to the empties and take the train away.

The few times I saw the engineering sidings being shunted the work was being done by an 08. The gated sidings were used to store the Tunnel Inspection Train, which was an odd collection of vehicles that included an old coach, a six wheeled milk tanker and a cattle wagon that had had its roof replaced with a flat surface, presumably for standing, sitting, lying on while a tunnel was inspected. The depot was also home to a collection of Wickham Trolleys. The yard used to have a lot of masonry lying around, most of it marked up with its intended destination which was usually on a supporting wall of a tunnel or bridge. They used to repair bridges that had been hit by road vehicles from there.

[oldchapie]

here is a little bit of history.when i started in the transfer link out of st phillips marsh. ashton gate sidings and the running line was the set down and pick up sidings for traffic for wapping and cannons marsh. a train out of west depot to temple meads high level via wapping and redcliff. of course in 1950:s the docks were very busy.there were also trains in the reverse direction.the last train out of portishead was a freight train it left its train in the meadows and then went to shed at bath road. incidently the engine was the one that left yatton at 6-10pm for bristol via frome.ok?

[Wilson]

The few times I saw the engineering sidings being shunted the work was being done by an 08. The gated sidings were used to store the Tunnel Inspection Train.

Many thanks for all the information. So were there a few engineer sidings in the gated area as well as the siding for the inspection train? The tunnel inspection train sounds fascinating. Do you know if the 08 was based there?

Many thanks again