The Bristol Railway Archive

Hi,

I was looking on the web site to see if there was information about the railway tunnel that runs beneath Redcliffe and its history. I live next door to it and I don't know if you all know but there are plans to erect a 3 storey structure in front of it. The landowner has already built (without planning permission) some gates which obscure views of it and restrict what was open access (the land and tunnel are unused as far as we know).

There are two planning applications out 07/02933/F and 07/03113/F if you want to know the details. A lot of neighbours are objecting to both applications. There is another proposal to use the tunnel for examination rooms.

We are really interested to know more about the tunnel and its history. They are reviewing the whole of Redcliffe conservation area and we are trying to get the tunnel protected. We have been told that it was built by one of Brunel's chief engineers and is contemporary with the original Temple Meads station building but haven't been able to find out much more. A lot of people pass by and are really interested in the history of the site and the railway that used to run all the way down to the SS Gt Britain site. We also get tourists visiting the site - a ex-rail worker and his family suggested that we get in touch with you and some of the other organisations locally as he was appalled when we described the plans.

Any information about the tunnel gratefully received! We also believe that the tunnel is now home to a roost of bats. Curious to know if there is a connection through the Redcliffe caves also.

cheers

Q

I cannot tell you the history of the tunnel but I have worked through it in both directions.
In the transfer link out of St Phillips shed thats the trains that went from Temple Meads High Level shunting yard and worked traffic for Redcliffe Wharf and then into Wapping and left traffic for the pilot to position.picked up any traffic for West Depot. The line to the tunnel went from TMdsand went over Victora Street by what was the Grovenor hotel pass several sidings and down through the tunnel exiting by the general hospital always blowing a kiss for any nurses looking out of the window the going cross a bridge that was raised for the sand boats then to redcliffe wharf then across the main rd into the wapping yard. hope this helps Of course you must remember that the docks were in full swing in 1950s and full use of the freight services in wagons and vans that the service for Wapping and Cannons Marsh.

I did that a few times in the transfers can you remember the lady that fed the cats at night around wapping wharf, always a slow clanking run
Or was That my low steam