The Bristol Railway Archive

During the course of my various researches into Bristol railway history I have come across references to a locomotive shed at Shirehampton but very little other information apart from the fact it was of wooden construction and burnt down.

Now I dont think this shed was anything to do with the Severn Beach line although there is a remote possibility that it was a Bristol Port & Pier Railway building. I think what is more likely is that it was built for the contractors locomotives that were used on the construction of the Portway as they used a number of engines.

Anyone know anything about it - particularly where it was located ? There has been a suggestion it was sited betwween Sea Mills and Horseshoe Bend but if thats correct it seems odd to call it Shirehampton Locomotive Shed.

Looking at my list of shed negs the nearest i can see is the Midland Shed at Avonmouth Docks. sorry can't be of any more help

There was a small loco shed at Shire'. It was situated on the Sea Mills side of the Hung Road bridge on the river side. I believe it was gone by the time the line was doubled.

When I was young during the early 50's an electricity sub-station building had been built.
Spent all my free time watching the trains from there.

There is a photo somewhere on this site called 'hungroad2' if I remember. The shed was at the bottom right of the photo. I have also seen a map showing it but cannot find it at the moment. I will let you know if I do.

stantheman wrote:There was a small loco shed at Shire'. It was situated on the Sea Mills side of the Hung Road bridge on the river side. I believe it was gone by the time the line was doubled.

Looking at the 1883 1:2500 Gloucestershire map on the Old Maps site http://www.old-maps.co.uk/ there appears to be 2 sidings on the river side of the single track - 1 on each side of Hung Road bridge. Each siding seems to end in a shed! One is longer & thinner than the other so there may have been a carriage shed there too.[/img]

According to Mike Vincent's excellent book 'Lines To Avonmouth' (Oxford Publishing Co 86093 023 the first two locos were stabled at Shirehampton after being delivered by road to Shire' in early 1865, Shirehampton being the planned HQ of the BPR.