The Bristol Railway Archive

hi guys, whats with all the tree clearing and stuff around the line coming out of the clifton down tunnel?
Its been going on for ages and its exposing some nice stone work and suchlike, did i read on here somewhere they may be using it for freight in the near future?

Cheers
jim

I doubt there are any plans for booked freight trains to use that line, there certainly aren't any diversions planned. The line isn't passed for DOO (Driver Only Operation) so every freight requires a guard and the line speed isn't that high because of the bridges I believe so itÆs quicker to go via Filton.

The tree clearance is most likely just part of Network Rails apparent ambition to clear the lineside of trees right back to the boundary fence. Not a bad idea at that location as during the leaf fall season we're always getting reports of low rail adhesion there.

Alex
Bristol PSB

stumpytrain wrote:I doubt there are any plans for booked freight trains to use that line, there certainly aren't any diversions planned. The line isn't passed for DOO (Driver Only Operation) so every freight requires a guard and the line speed isn't that high because of the bridges I believe so itÆs quicker to go via Filton.

Presumably, tho, freight would run that way were there to be any problems on the Filton line? My cuz works for as a signalling manager for NR and he told me the line is protected (or something like that) for this reason?!?!?!

Portishead Prowler wrote:Presumably, tho, freight would run that way were there to be any problems on the Filton line? My cuz works for as a signalling manager for NR and he told me the line is protected (or something like that) for this reason?!?!?!

I'm not sure about the line being protected but the problems would have to be a pretty drastic on the Filton line. The staffing difficulties of finding a guard for every train and the weight restrictions on the branch make it a less than ideal diversionary route.

Alex
Bristol PSB

Re the freight trains running on the Clifton Down Line.
When the line (Henbury Loop) was out of action due to the laying of the extra line at Filton, etc. the 1,000 ton coal and stone trains used the line and only once a double headed 1,500 ton train was seen on the track, my sister lives over looking the line and my brother in law in an EWS driver, info via him, well he told me at the time, the only problem they had was at Sea Mils where they had to proceed at a crawl over the bridge. He (brother in law) made no mention of a guard, or even a 2 man operation.

In the sectional appendix it states:

Between Narroways Hill Junction and Holesmouth Junction

Light locomotives and locomotive hauled trains are prohibited between these two points except:

in connection with engineering work, or
in order to assist a disabled train, or
during obstruction or an emergency which blocks the route between Filton West Junction and Hallen Marsh

Obviously this isn't set in stone as we've seen recently with the 31 driver hours trip to Severn Beach and specials in the past. But it does require special authority.

This line is not authorised for DOO operation so every train does require a guard, this is the normal stumbling block when we try (as signalmen) to divert trains this way.

Alex
Bristol PSB