Clifton Rocks Railway Open Day. 21.5.05

Post by **madhattie** » Thu May 19, 2005 10:27 pm

From the Evening Post: http://tinyurl.com/bf9gl

Clifton's historic rocks railway station is opening to the public this weekend after 70 years . The railway's upper station, near the Avon Gorge Hotel, will open its doors on Saturday for the first time since it was locked shut in 1934.

The event is part of the Festival of Transport, which is being staged in Bristol this year.

The idea for the reopening came from James Tonkin, vice-chairman of the station's restoration group, and Robert Peel, the new owner of the Avon Gorge Hotel.

Mr Tonkin said: "About a year ago we decided it was time to stop sitting around and talking and we decided we were going to get something done. It was time for action. The catalyst was the Bristol Festival of Transport this month."

Up to 20 volunteers have been giving up their weekends to clear the entrance and upper station of undergrowth and other rubbish to open up the structure and the metal railings have been grit-blasted.

When all the vegetation and other rubbish has been taken away the public will be able to see down the tunnel.

As they come out of the top station they will also be able to see into the run-down pump room, which is part of a multi-million pound scheme to refurbish the hotel.

The group's long-term plans also include clearing a way down to the bottom station, where the original wooden ceiling panels still survive.

The railway was opened in 1893 and cost Ãº30,000 to build. In the first six weeks it carried more than 100,000 people and rivalled the Clifton Suspension Bridge as a tourist attraction.

But business tailed off in the Twenties and Thirties as motor transport became more widely used and the Portway opened.

The railway closed to passengers in 1934 but, in 1941, the BBC took it over as an emergency headquarters and, at the end of the war until 1960, it was used as a booster station.

Mr Peel's firm Peel Hotels owns the Avon Gorge Hotel and announced the possibility of reopening the railway at the same time as he unveiled a multi-million pound scheme to refurbish the hotel - and build a car park on part of its terraced gardens overlooking the Avon Gorge.

Support, via a charitable trust, for a project to re-open the derelict Clifton Rocks Railway was announced as part of the investment.

Post by **madhattie** » Thu May 19, 2005 10:30 pm

Also from the BEP:

The Clifton Rocks Railway will be open on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm. A free shuttle bus operates on Saturday between the Industrial Museum and the railway.

The Festival of Transport is a free event, which coincides with the 130th anniversary of the beginnings of public transport in the city.

The festival, which is in its third year, will take place in the Industrial Museum on Princes Wharf and the Canons Marsh amphitheatre.

There will be displays and hands-on activities, with a chance for children to model their very own bus of the future.

Buses and coaches from the past, new First buses operating in Bristol and a display on the future of public travel will be on show.

Post by **James** » Thu May 19, 2005 10:37 pm

Short notice indeed!

I really want to go to this! A chance to take the train to Clifton Down too

Grrrrr!!! Why the hell is it Ãº9.90 cheap day return Taunton - Clifton Down? It's Ãº8.60 to BTM and the same to Keynsham, but more to Clifton? Stupid rail network!

Edit: oh ok I'll get the shuttle bus

Post by **madhattie** » Thu May 19, 2005 10:38 pm

So. Does anyone fancy meeting up at the Industrial Museum on Saturday for a ride to the railway?

I assume the bus will be the rather lovely Lodeka, worth going just for a ride on that really

If anyone is up for it post a time that will be suitable for you and I'll post one that is suitable for me and hopefully we can get close! If you prefer, send me an email and I'll try to arrange it so it's suitable for anyone/everyone.

Post by **James** » Thu May 19, 2005 10:41 pm

madhattie wrote:So. Does anyone fancy meeting up at the Industrial Museum on Saturday for a ride to the railway?

Sure!

I assume the bus will be the rather lovely Lodeka, worth going just for a ride on that really

That means nothing to me...the only buses I like are Routemasters

If anyone is up for it post a time that will be suitable for you and I'll post one that is suitable for me and hopefully we can get close!

Sorry, I'm not that way inclined

Post by **madhattie** » Thu May 19, 2005 11:05 pm

I'll post tomorrow when I expect to be at the museum. I would guess in advance that it'll be around 11-12 ish.

This okay with you?

(if you've emailed me, for some reason my account isn't working. I can send but haven't received anything for hours, don't know why!)

Post by **James** » Thu May 19, 2005 11:09 pm

madhattie wrote:a display on the future of public travel will be on show.

I wonder if it will feature trains...

madhattie wrote:I'll post tomorrow when I expect to be at the museum. I would guess in advance that it'll be around 11-12 ish.

This okay with you?

(if you've emailed me, for some reason my account isn't working. I can send but haven't received anything for hours, don't know why!)

Sounds ok, I'll check train times.

p.s. I haven't mailed you

Post by **madhattie** » Fri May 20, 2005 12:07 am

James wrote:
p.s. I haven't mailed you

Hah! Good job too, nothing's coming through! (and usually I get several hundred from Yahoo in the course of one night without even taking into account other mail!)

Post by **James** » Fri May 20, 2005 12:11 am

I think I'll aim for the train that gets to TM at 10:20 as it takes about 20 mins to walk from there to the museum. I'm supposed to be off work to REST

Post by **madhattie** » Fri May 20, 2005 5:43 pm

Okay, so at the moment we're on for an 11 o clock meet up at the Industrial Museum.

There will be six of us going at the moment. (4 of those are the wife, the kids and me

)

I will email you other two tonight before I go to bed to confirm that there have been no changes.

Post by **madhattie** » Fri May 20, 2005 6:23 pm

I was just wondering what route they're going to send the bus from the museum to the railway?

If they're going up Bridge Valley Road, and if they are using the Lodeka, it might be quicker to walk

Post by **James** » Fri May 20, 2005 6:32 pm

madhattie wrote:I was just wondering what route they're going to send the bus from the museum to the railway?

If they're going up Bridge Valley Road, and if they are using the Lodeka, it might be quicker to walk

Haha that reminds me of my trip back from the WSR gala. The ride out was fine (Routemaster!) but the return journey was in another double-decker with a single cab...don't know the make but it was really old and excruciatingly slow...especially up hills!

Erm...where abouts at the museum are we meeting? The corner by the swing bridge (and sometimes ice-cream van

) on Wapping Road?

Post by **madhattie** » Sat May 21, 2005 1:03 am

James wrote: Erm...where abouts at the museum are we meeting? The corner by the swing bridge (and sometimes ice-cream van ) on Wapping Road?

Yeah great place! When my little 'un sees the ice cream van she will nag nag nag nag nag nag............... until she gets one!

But, yes, a great place to meet.

I will see you and (one other!) there at 11. If you can, check on here in the morning before you leave just in case! What time does your train leave Taunton?

Post by **James** » Sat May 21, 2005 1:09 am

09:48 if I get the Virgin train...gets to BTM at 10:25

I might get up early just to get the 09:16 - 10:16 First Great Western train...I hate Voyagers

Post by **madhattie** » Sat May 21, 2005 1:20 am

Okie dokie.

I will post no later than 8.30 if there is a change of plan.

However, If I'm not there -dead- on 11, don't worry. Getting two kids anyplace on time is a bit of a nightmare! (for me anyway!)

Now I'm off to bed!