Great to see the whole place again. I haven't been since 2006. Although it's a terrible shame it's not all used anymore, the Vale Of Berkeley railway has cleared a lot of the scrub off the tracks you didn't show, where the track went to Sharpness station and up to the Severn rail bridge and they are going to use some of the track around the docks for a preserved railway. I believe they have got the green diesel shunter going now. Fingers crossed they can get enough funds to restore everything they need and get up and running.
If you visit the "Vale of Berkeley Railway" Facebook Page you'll see there's a lot been happening to get new life back into the Shapness Dock railway lines by the Vale of Berkeley Railway Trust members!
I arrived at Sharpness by Steam train in the winter of 63 to do my pre sea training at the Vindicatrix. Sharpness was a vibrant busy port in those day sad to see what it has become.
James its a busy port, bigger ships more tonnage then yesteryear, we have nore tonnage loaded and unloaded in a week than what they did in a month back in the 60's, the so say hey day
A great eye opener of a video that documents times now sadly long since past. It goes to show the casual manner in which our national railway heritage and ancillary equipment appears to have been cast aside with barely a thought for those hardy souls that constructed them. I hope the preserved railway fraternity manage to salvage those now precious railway wagons.
I used to live near Sharpness docks at 35 Oakfield way I left there when I was 10 years old in 1993 when I moved to Stroud I'm 35 years old now 2018 my dad used to work at the Kilmera fertilizer warehouse it was the big red one near the main gate.
I think that's the plan, but there's some hurdles. AFAIK the line is classified by Network Rail as mothballed ("Temporarily out of Use" or whatever the legalese is) rather than "Closed". Closing the line, which would be neccessary to transfer it to a heritage organisation takes quite a lot of legal showjumping, which I'm guessing Network Rail are in no rush to do.
All that stock is still there? Wow. There is a preservation society starting up on the old dock spur (I think it was used for nuclear waste transport for a bit), maybe they will be able to convince the dock to hand over the shunter and wagons!
@@bgoth1435 The rolling stock has been brought in recently, since the Vale of Berkeley Railway set up home in the buildings at the start of the video. They are planning to rebuild Sharpness and Oldminster stations, just outside the docks complex
I think they belong to a heritage railway group. If they were truly abandoned then given how accessible they are, they'd have been vandalised and graffitied to within an inch of their life by now.
Lovely video showing the iconic docks ,finishing with the famous seven crossing ,gone but not forgotten .
Nice one. Brings back memories, Sharpness has always had a fascination for me.
Nice blend of rust, ruin, greenery, and peacefulness.
I might move there.
Great to see the whole place again. I haven't been since 2006. Although it's a terrible shame it's not all used anymore, the Vale Of Berkeley railway has cleared a lot of the scrub off the tracks you didn't show, where the track went to Sharpness station and up to the Severn rail bridge and they are going to use some of the track around the docks for a preserved railway. I believe they have got the green diesel shunter going now. Fingers crossed they can get enough funds to restore everything they need and get up and running.
If you visit the "Vale of Berkeley Railway" Facebook Page you'll see there's a lot been happening to get new life back into the Shapness Dock railway lines by the Vale of Berkeley Railway Trust members!
Abandoned stuff is cool. Abandoned railways are really interesting.
I arrived at Sharpness by Steam train in the winter of 63 to do my pre sea training at the Vindicatrix. Sharpness was a vibrant busy port in those day sad to see what it has become.
James its a busy port, bigger ships more tonnage then yesteryear, we have nore tonnage loaded and unloaded in a week than what they did in a month back in the 60's, the so say hey day
A great eye opener of a video that documents times now sadly long since past. It goes to show the casual manner in which our national railway heritage and ancillary equipment appears to have been cast aside with barely a thought for those hardy souls that constructed them. I hope the preserved railway fraternity manage to salvage those now precious railway wagons.
Enjoyed that tour - thank you :)
Outstanding video.....,love to see anything rr related especially disused. Thanks for sharing 👍
Great Find and great tour!
Really interesting seeing the old railway left abandoned 😩 Shame it can’t be brought back to life as a working port with a rail connection 👍🏻
Super Awesome video keeping going friend it up
Amazing and sad video to think of all the people working around there in numerous jobs
I used to live near Sharpness docks at 35 Oakfield way I left there when I was 10 years old in 1993 when I moved to Stroud I'm 35 years old now 2018 my dad used to work at the Kilmera fertilizer warehouse it was the big red one near the main gate.
Looks like a collection of vintage rolling stock for some preservation project. I hope at least locomotive and crane will be saved.
What a treat nice one !
Superb video, thanks
No vandalism or graffiti .Very refreshing
Can it be reopened as an industrial heritage museum line? Most of the track still looks all right.
I think that's the plan, but there's some hurdles. AFAIK the line is classified by Network Rail as mothballed ("Temporarily out of Use" or whatever the legalese is) rather than "Closed". Closing the line, which would be neccessary to transfer it to a heritage organisation takes quite a lot of legal showjumping, which I'm guessing Network Rail are in no rush to do.
First time I ever saw a speed hump for a railway! lol
It's a bit like poor Fleetwood but at least the port appears to be in operation still
What a fantastic little film.
nice little shunter.
Fascinating
Awesome hunting 🖒🖒🖒
Shame they didnt keep the line open for freight as well as passengers (As far as Berkeley)
Looks like shunter and its carriages are patiently waiting for ☆☆Build back again better☆☆ And visit from Boris or Rishi !!
Brilliant,
I can remember when you could wander round those wharves
when was this filmed?, I know it has only just been uploaded.
great video by the way.
End of May 2018
All that stock is still there? Wow. There is a preservation society starting up on the old dock spur (I think it was used for nuclear waste transport for a bit), maybe they will be able to convince the dock to hand over the shunter and wagons!
Dock Spur is still in use for waste flasks.
@@bgoth1435 The rolling stock has been brought in recently, since the Vale of Berkeley Railway set up home in the buildings at the start of the video. They are planning to rebuild Sharpness and Oldminster stations, just outside the docks complex
@@paulwinterbourne1865 I have joined the society in the last 7 months :-)
To leave all that behind is just Plumb Loco and a Mis Carriage of justice. The Government went off the Rails on that one.
Odd no developer knocking everyrything down like London Docklandd
Chris McCartney it partly belongs to the Dean Forest Railway and they are trying to gather funds to start restoring it
How about doing yate to thornbury railway
It's a freight line that doesn't get used
Or portishead
Done ua-cam.com/video/wTC0S6BVV7Q/v-deo.html This line now has active freight movements between Tytherington - Willesden Dc Rail Sidings
Ok
What about portishead line
strange isn't ,just park a train up ,then just forget it.
I think they belong to a heritage railway group. If they were truly abandoned then given how accessible they are, they'd have been vandalised and graffitied to within an inch of their life by now.
That kind of sight makes my blood boil
HECHO EN C H I NA INDIA MEX
Sad.