Just maybe one day Portishead may get it ,s trains back..seeing the freight line into Portbury is very much like the situation in Okehampton. (The Dartmoor line has been a huge success story)
Another most enjoyable and nostalgic video. I travelled on that line many times, although I was 13 when it closed. Ham Green Halt was open until the end, but not all trains stopped there. All stopped at Pill and Clifton Bridge. As kids we always hoped to see tramps in Leigh Woods, they had some shacks on the landward side of those underbridges. Miles Dock was less overgrown, clearly showing it's stone construction. There had been a narrow guage railway (2ft ?) down to the dock to load barges. You are correct, it's "Lee".
Thank you for clarifying that! There is another wood in Herefordshire pronounced Lay, same spelling - you just never know, and Google is useless at advising you of local pronunciations. Thank you for clarifying. Thanks too for clarifying the date of closure of Ham Green Halt - I was unsure as three sources were giving different dates, and the local history group's site said 1956. Not many halts served hospitals though - I am struggling to think of another in the Westcountry, I am sure there is somewhere. Shame no plans to reopen Clifton Bridge Station but I do hope Ashton Gate does. Thank you! Paul
Hi Paul, That was quite a trek!!. I've only seen the area around the suspension bridge but I do remember seeing this line from up above. Sometimes we would stay at the hotel, the yellow building that you showed us from down below. I'll see if I can hunt out some photos for your FB group. Dont recall seeing any traffic though. Such a lot to see, those posts on the avon towpath looked like they were broad gauge rail? The arched bridge at the start was another amazing example of brickwork. Its also stirred some great memories already in the comments. I look forward to seeing part 3 when it comes in the new year. Yes we're rapidly coming to the end of the year, there is a huge Xmas tree already erected in one of the shopping centres, not switched on yet thankfully. Come the strike of 1st December I get may annual treat of Yogi Christmas Tea!! All the best!! PS: Good to see Marisa (My sister in law from Valencia) this weekend it did her good escaping the chaos. Simple things like going to work or to the shops have become a major task as so many transport links have been lost and then have a knock on effect.
Yes so much to see in that area David. I did manage to catch a old ITV Westcountry TV news report about the inside of Clifton Rocks Railway earlier - absolutely fascinating inside! Take care, Paul
Thank you Darren! Glad you found it interesting. There is a lot to uncover on this line - very surprised it hasn't been covered much on YT before especially since all the interest with reopening it Take care Paul
Hi Paul, I too travelled to Portishead quite regularly by train. In the old days, it was something of a day trip destination and we had family who live there. We caught the train from Clifton Bridge station since we live within walking distance of this.I recall that the train was usually pulled by a pannier tank as seen in the photograph or a small prairie. As others have posted, it is always been a very popular walking route along the river and up into Nightingale Valley. I to recall the trumps Thank you once again for a nice enjoyable video which only goes to demonstrate what a sad loss. This was where the route was closed.
Wow what a tour de force! I once again had to watch twice to ensure I took most of the information in!! The amount of detail you record will be invaluable to future generations to come! So thank you Paul - I am looking forward to the final part next year.
Thank you Diana. Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, there is a lot of ground (literally) to cover when covering this line. Hope you are having a good weekend. Take care, Paul
Nice to see we get a mention… I’m a Pill Hobbler and we are still going strong after 500 plus years! Most of us can say we have followed in our ancestors footsteps and many of us are related in some way.. as most Pill Sharks will tell you, we are all related in someway or another..lol We used to play on the railway as a children and were always walking Hamgreen tunnel which was scary… what was strange was that you could see the light at the other end if you were stood at the Hamgreen side but you couldn’t on the Pill side! Another little story was my mates great uncle was killed near Pill station in the 60s jumping off the train. 🦈⚓️🦈⚓️🏴☠️🏴☠️
Thank you! Yes, it was all thanks to one of the two villagers that I spoke to before I started filming, and was doing a recce to check out best filming locations. I couldn't work out how you got onto the platforms, as it isn't at all obvious now. As well as telling about the steps, he also told me all about the Pilots and the Hobblers - so glad I met him and the other gentleman as well - both very knowledgable, and glad to have mentioned your important river trade in the video. You really do have a lovely, friendly village. It does seem a close knit place. Thanks for a great comment. Sorry to hear about your mates great uncle. Take care, Paul
Thank you Faith. Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, it was quite a walk - and I was glad of that coffee when I got to Clifton Village - steep walk uphill! Take care, Paul
Hi Paul. Very interesting to see Part 2. I think we were on a rail tour of branch lines round Bristol in the 1980s with Pathfinder Tours. Very vague memory I’m afraid but I seem to recall ending up where there were heaps of coal. Someone hopefully has a much better recall than me. I think we also went towards Thornbury from Yate ending by the quarry the same day. Let’s hope the line opens to passengers soon enough for you to cover it. 🤞Thanks very much for all the information.
Thank you Marilyn - very interesting comment! The heaps of coal could have possibly been around the St. Andrews Road Station area (between Avonmouth and Severn Beach) - huge coal hopped and shires there - all now redundant though. Glad you enjoyed it and thanks again for the comment. Take care, Paul
Thank you! Shame we are now importing steel though, especially as Port Talbot steelworks is closing. Thanks for the comment and info - very useful. Cheers, Paul
I think the white building with the crane on the river that you showed was where ships had to unload any explosives that they were carrying before going on into Bristol. They could be collected again on the way back.
Thank you! Yes, Portishead is well worth a visit. I have made a seperate video about the town itself, which I did with Louise from @SouthWestSundays, who's father worked in one of the power stations there. Fascinating area. Thanks again, Paul
Great video Paul. I had to go "off track" (pun intended) and make a comment on all the beautiful and different styles of bridges. From the Majestic Viaducts to the picturesque Suspension bridges and underbridges. Really enjoyed it. Thank you.👍
Thank you Daryl! Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, some amazing pieces of engineering on this line - especially on this section that I covered in Pt. 2. The whole thing must have been quite costly to do. Cheers! Paul
Paul, I travelled on that railway in 1959 or 1960. My girlfriend and I were invited for a short holiday by one of her relatives who lived in Weston In Gordano, a tiny place just south-west of Portishead and probably swallowed up by it now, I guess. We caught a train from Worthing down to Bristol Temple Meads, then took the Portishead train. It's hard to remember much detail after about 65 years, but I do know it was a very slow journey on that last stretch. I have a vague recollection that we somehow ended up in Yatton and the train then reversed back to the junction and then continued to Portishead, where we were met by the people we were staying with. I don't know why that diversion would have happened or whether we had got on the wrong train and had to change at Yatton - I can't recall the detail. Anyway, it was a good holiday, and I remember a trip to the Clifton Bridge and a clifftop walk from Portishead to Clevedon as a couple of highlights. Thanks for bringing back some good memories. (The girlfriend didn't last, sadly, but it was probably for the best).
Really interesting video. That line might well attract quite a bit of 'leisure' traffic, given it's dramatic route through the Avon gorge. So, I wonder if we might eventually see the reopening of 'Clifton Bridge' station?
Thank you Malcolm. Yes, after walking back up the hill and across the bridge, and onto Clifton, I am beginning to see why it isn't a convenient railway station to alight at to visit the bridge as a tourist destination. The road to Clifton Suspension Bridge isn't accesible from the footpath, and you have to walk all the way to Ashton Court Park and then double back. You also have to cross over the road mid way as the side it is on crosses over. The footpath is also extremely narrow, and the road is very busy! A completely new route would have to be dug out of the cliff side - that would not be cheap due to engineering involved - also there is no parking/drop off space/bus stop space by the station now, as the original forecourt has now been sold off (why did they do these things!). That said, I really do think there is a real leisure income benefit for this line to Portishead, not only for the views, but also for Portishead itself, which has a fair bit to offer the visitor, I feel. It would be extremely well used by the commuter and shopper/leisure traveller from Portishead as the bus service is a little slow and does not go to Temple Meads to interconnect with other train services. It also gets jammed in the rush hour peaks, as there is no room for bus lanes. A new service could continue on from Temple Meads to Clifton or the 'new' line to Henbury and North Filton. Glad you enjoyed it. Take care, Paul
Your very close Paul but the camp for the army mules and horses was the other side of the river and was located betwine Shirehampton Station and Portway Park and Ride on the Beach line. Throughly enjoying your look at the Portz railway looking forward to seeing part three.
Thank you - and yes the mule depot was indeed at Shirehampton - I think there is an Iron Horse memorial on Daisy Field (Avon Wildlife Trust Reserve)? I went to the Gloucestershire Regiment Museum at Gloucester Docks earlier this year, when they said about their barracks at the station frontage at Clifton Bridge, which had taken over the 'white city' (Bristol's Exhibition I think?), and they had mules trained there too (nothing to do with the main army mule training site). I should have made that clearer in the video. Sad to think what happened to those mules as well as all the terrible tragedy with the human lives lost. Thanks for pointing it out. Glad you are enjoying the series! Cheers, Paul
Thank you Caroline. Yes, I saw a ITV Westcountry news report about that a while ago - think it is now owned by the local chap that owns The Observatory near the bridge. Hoping it will open as a permanent museum! I am sure it would be popular. Take care, Paul
Pe;ter Davy the main authority on Bristol Trams used to be the chief guide and custodian of the museum when owned by the hotel next door. used to open in september heritage weekends. Caroline.
Thank you Roy! Glad you enjoyed it and hope you are having a really good week - very busy one for me, but not UA-cam related. Hope to get something out again soon Take care, Paul
Just shocking seeing all this graffiti over absolutely everything. I do wish Bristol council would clear this up, instead of seemingly encouraging it. Lovely walk though otherwise, and very interesting video as always!
Thank you! Yes, I remember living and working in Cornwall in the early 1980s and not seeing any graffitti. I went up to London (my first visit there since the early 1970s) and was shocked at what I saw - graffitti everywhere! I don't think there is a village in the Westcountry that doesn't have any graffitti nowadays - I have even seen it on the top of Bodmin Moor sprayed on rocks recently! I am not a fan of it, and never will be. Glad you enjoyed the video though. Cheers, Paul
Hi and thanks for the comment. It is mentioned in this Network Rail website write up about Level Crossings. Existing level crossing will be maintained, but no new ones will now be built - on new lines or reopened ones: www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/living-by-the-railway/level-crossing-closures/ "If you were to build a railway today it would not have any level crossings. For example, HS1 does not have any level crossings."
Just maybe one day Portishead may get it ,s trains back..seeing the freight line into Portbury is very much like the situation in Okehampton. (The Dartmoor line has been a huge success story)
Yes, there are many parallels with both I think.
Hopefully, it will be sooner, rather than later!
Cheers,
Paul
Another most enjoyable and nostalgic video. I travelled on that line many times, although I was 13 when it closed. Ham Green Halt was open until the end, but not all trains stopped there. All stopped at Pill and Clifton Bridge. As kids we always hoped to see tramps in Leigh Woods, they had some shacks on the landward side of those underbridges. Miles Dock was less overgrown, clearly showing it's stone construction. There had been a narrow guage railway (2ft ?) down to the dock to load barges. You are correct, it's "Lee".
Thank you for clarifying that!
There is another wood in Herefordshire pronounced Lay, same spelling - you just never know, and Google is useless at advising you of local pronunciations. Thank you for clarifying.
Thanks too for clarifying the date of closure of Ham Green Halt - I was unsure as three sources were giving different dates, and the local history group's site said 1956. Not many halts served hospitals though - I am struggling to think of another in the Westcountry, I am sure there is somewhere.
Shame no plans to reopen Clifton Bridge Station but I do hope Ashton Gate does.
Thank you!
Paul
Great work Paul! Really enjoyed both P1 & P2. I live in Portishead and it’s very fascinating to watch this. 😊
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. I will be doing a Part Three early in the New Year.
Cheers,
Paul
Hi Paul, That was quite a trek!!.
I've only seen the area around the suspension bridge but I do remember seeing this line from up above. Sometimes we would stay at the hotel, the yellow building that you showed us from down below. I'll see if I can hunt out some photos for your FB group. Dont recall seeing any traffic though.
Such a lot to see, those posts on the avon towpath looked like they were broad gauge rail? The arched bridge at the start was another amazing example of brickwork. Its also stirred some great memories already in the comments.
I look forward to seeing part 3 when it comes in the new year. Yes we're rapidly coming to the end of the year, there is a huge Xmas tree already erected in one of the shopping centres, not switched on yet thankfully. Come the strike of 1st December I get may annual treat of Yogi Christmas Tea!!
All the best!!
PS: Good to see Marisa (My sister in law from Valencia) this weekend it did her good escaping the chaos. Simple things like going to work or to the shops have become a major task as so many transport links have been lost and then have a knock on effect.
Glad you saw your sister in law this weekend and glad she is OK. Much better such a relief that she is safe.
Yes so much to see in that area David.
I did manage to catch a old ITV Westcountry TV news report about the inside of Clifton Rocks Railway earlier - absolutely fascinating inside!
Take care,
Paul
This is a really Fascinating Video Paul! Fantastic, full of info, i found this really interesting. thank you, Best Wishes Darren👌👍👍👍
Thank you Darren!
Glad you found it interesting.
There is a lot to uncover on this line - very surprised it hasn't been covered much on YT before especially since all the interest with reopening it
Take care
Paul
Hi Paul, I too travelled to Portishead quite regularly by train. In the old days, it was something of a day trip destination and we had family who live there. We caught the train from Clifton Bridge station since we live within walking distance of this.I recall that the train was usually pulled by a pannier tank as seen in the photograph or a small prairie. As others have posted, it is always been a very popular walking route along the river and up into Nightingale Valley. I to recall the trumps Thank you once again for a nice enjoyable video which only goes to demonstrate what a sad loss. This was where the route was closed.
Wow what a tour de force! I once again had to watch twice to ensure I took most of the information in!! The amount of detail you record will be invaluable to future generations to come! So thank you Paul - I am looking forward to the final part next year.
Thank you Diana.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Yes, there is a lot of ground (literally) to cover when covering this line.
Hope you are having a good weekend.
Take care,
Paul
Nice to see we get a mention… I’m a Pill Hobbler and we are still going strong after 500 plus years! Most of us can say we have followed in our ancestors footsteps and many of us are related in some way.. as most Pill Sharks will tell you, we are all related in someway or another..lol
We used to play on the railway as a children and were always walking Hamgreen tunnel which was scary… what was strange was that you could see the light at the other end if you were stood at the Hamgreen side but you couldn’t on the Pill side!
Another little story was my mates great uncle was killed near Pill station in the 60s jumping off the train. 🦈⚓️🦈⚓️🏴☠️🏴☠️
Thank you!
Yes, it was all thanks to one of the two villagers that I spoke to before I started filming, and was doing a recce to check out best filming locations. I couldn't work out how you got onto the platforms, as it isn't at all obvious now. As well as telling about the steps, he also told me all about the Pilots and the Hobblers - so glad I met him and the other gentleman as well - both very knowledgable, and glad to have mentioned your important river trade in the video.
You really do have a lovely, friendly village. It does seem a close knit place.
Thanks for a great comment. Sorry to hear about your mates great uncle.
Take care,
Paul
Really enjoyed these 2 vids. Thanks for making them 👍
Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed them Chris - hopefully Pt. 3 will follow in the New Year.
Cheers,
Paul
Brilliant video, thanks Paul😊
Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it.
Paul
That was a great walk, full of bridges, tunnels & history. Thanks Paul.
Thank you Faith.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Yes, it was quite a walk - and I was glad of that coffee when I got to Clifton Village - steep walk uphill!
Take care,
Paul
Hi Paul. Very interesting to see Part 2. I think we were on a rail tour of branch lines round Bristol in the 1980s with Pathfinder Tours. Very vague memory I’m afraid but I seem to recall ending up where there were heaps of coal. Someone hopefully has a much better recall than me. I think we also went towards Thornbury from Yate ending by the quarry the same day. Let’s hope the line opens to passengers soon enough for you to cover it. 🤞Thanks very much for all the information.
Thank you Marilyn - very interesting comment!
The heaps of coal could have possibly been around the St. Andrews Road Station area (between Avonmouth and Severn Beach) - huge coal hopped and shires there - all now redundant though.
Glad you enjoyed it and thanks again for the comment.
Take care,
Paul
the steel is for tata imported in from india just recently increased from 1 to 2 trains weekdays yes they go to margam
Thank you!
Shame we are now importing steel though, especially as Port Talbot steelworks is closing.
Thanks for the comment and info - very useful.
Cheers,
Paul
I think the white building with the crane on the river that you showed was where ships had to unload any explosives that they were carrying before going on into Bristol. They could be collected again on the way back.
Correct, it’s known as the Gunpowder house and all ships carry gunpowder had to leave it to stop Bristol being accidentally blown up! 🦈⚓️🏴☠️
Wow!
Thank you David!
I had a feeling someone would know more about that crane - glad to see it is still there.
That's very interesting - thank you!
Paul
I've never been to Portishead, but I will go there when the new line opens! Very informative video, always something new to find out.👍
Thank you!
Yes, Portishead is well worth a visit. I have made a seperate video about the town itself, which I did with Louise from @SouthWestSundays, who's father worked in one of the power stations there.
Fascinating area.
Thanks again,
Paul
Great video Paul. I had to go "off track" (pun intended) and make a comment on all the beautiful and different styles of bridges. From the Majestic Viaducts to the picturesque Suspension bridges and underbridges. Really enjoyed it. Thank you.👍
Thank you Daryl!
Glad you enjoyed it.
Yes, some amazing pieces of engineering on this line - especially on this section that I covered in Pt. 2. The whole thing must have been quite costly to do.
Cheers!
Paul
Paul, I travelled on that railway in 1959 or 1960. My girlfriend and I were invited for a short holiday by one of her relatives who lived in Weston In Gordano, a tiny place just south-west of Portishead and probably swallowed up by it now, I guess. We caught a train from Worthing down to Bristol Temple Meads, then took the Portishead train. It's hard to remember much detail after about 65 years, but I do know it was a very slow journey on that last stretch. I have a vague recollection that we somehow ended up in Yatton and the train then reversed back to the junction and then continued to Portishead, where we were met by the people we were staying with. I don't know why that diversion would have happened or whether we had got on the wrong train and had to change at Yatton - I can't recall the detail. Anyway, it was a good holiday, and I remember a trip to the Clifton Bridge and a clifftop walk from Portishead to Clevedon as a couple of highlights. Thanks for bringing back some good memories. (The girlfriend didn't last, sadly, but it was probably for the best).
Thank you Jim!
That's a terrific comment - it brings details to life of the surviving artifacts of the line.
Take care,
Paul
Hi, very well and presented video. Top marks! 👍
Thank you so much!
Glad you liked it.
Paul
Really interesting video. That line might well attract quite a bit of 'leisure' traffic, given it's dramatic route through the Avon gorge. So, I wonder if we might eventually see the reopening of 'Clifton Bridge' station?
Thank you Malcolm.
Yes, after walking back up the hill and across the bridge, and onto Clifton, I am beginning to see why it isn't a convenient railway station to alight at to visit the bridge as a tourist destination.
The road to Clifton Suspension Bridge isn't accesible from the footpath, and you have to walk all the way to Ashton Court Park and then double back. You also have to cross over the road mid way as the side it is on crosses over. The footpath is also extremely narrow, and the road is very busy! A completely new route would have to be dug out of the cliff side - that would not be cheap due to engineering involved - also there is no parking/drop off space/bus stop space by the station now, as the original forecourt has now been sold off (why did they do these things!).
That said, I really do think there is a real leisure income benefit for this line to Portishead, not only for the views, but also for Portishead itself, which has a fair bit to offer the visitor, I feel. It would be extremely well used by the commuter and shopper/leisure traveller from Portishead as the bus service is a little slow and does not go to Temple Meads to interconnect with other train services. It also gets jammed in the rush hour peaks, as there is no room for bus lanes. A new service could continue on from Temple Meads to Clifton or the 'new' line to Henbury and North Filton.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Take care,
Paul
pil tunnel 665 yards
Ah, thank you! I knew someone would know. Cheers, Paul
Your very close Paul but the camp for the army mules and horses was the other side of the river and was located betwine Shirehampton Station and Portway Park and Ride on the Beach line.
Throughly enjoying your look at the Portz railway looking forward to seeing part three.
Thank you - and yes the mule depot was indeed at Shirehampton - I think there is an Iron Horse memorial on Daisy Field (Avon Wildlife Trust Reserve)?
I went to the Gloucestershire Regiment Museum at Gloucester Docks earlier this year, when they said about their barracks at the station frontage at Clifton Bridge, which had taken over the 'white city' (Bristol's Exhibition I think?), and they had mules trained there too (nothing to do with the main army mule training site).
I should have made that clearer in the video.
Sad to think what happened to those mules as well as all the terrible tragedy with the human lives lost.
Thanks for pointing it out.
Glad you are enjoying the series!
Cheers,
Paul
Hi Paul. have been down the Clifton Rocks railway to see the shelters and the BBC studio just the otherside of the hotwells portal. caroline.
Thank you Caroline.
Yes, I saw a ITV Westcountry news report about that a while ago - think it is now owned by the local chap that owns The Observatory near the bridge. Hoping it will open as a permanent museum! I am sure it would be popular.
Take care,
Paul
Pe;ter Davy the main authority on Bristol Trams used to be the chief guide and custodian of the museum when owned by the hotel next door. used to open in september heritage weekends. Caroline.
Hi Paul nice Railway video and History ,and hope you have had a good weekend 👌
Thank you Roy!
Glad you enjoyed it and hope you are having a really good week - very busy one for me, but not UA-cam related.
Hope to get something out again soon
Take care,
Paul
Just shocking seeing all this graffiti over absolutely everything. I do wish Bristol council would clear this up, instead of seemingly encouraging it. Lovely walk though otherwise, and very interesting video as always!
Thank you!
Yes, I remember living and working in Cornwall in the early 1980s and not seeing any graffitti. I went up to London (my first visit there since the early 1970s) and was shocked at what I saw - graffitti everywhere!
I don't think there is a village in the Westcountry that doesn't have any graffitti nowadays - I have even seen it on the top of Bodmin Moor sprayed on rocks recently! I am not a fan of it, and never will be.
Glad you enjoyed the video though.
Cheers,
Paul
Broad gauge rail line recycled as the fence posts, as I understand it
Yes, it certainly looks like. Good reuse of materials.
Cheers,
Paul
Who will invest in a newly nationalised railway system in future ?
Hopefully, Govt Plc, as it adds to the economy with tourism, and people able to travel easier to work. Other European countries do it well.
When were level crossings prohibited? Thanks
Hi and thanks for the comment.
It is mentioned in this Network Rail website write up about Level Crossings. Existing level crossing will be maintained, but no new ones will now be built - on new lines or reopened ones:
www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/living-by-the-railway/level-crossing-closures/
"If you were to build a railway today it would not have any level crossings. For example, HS1 does not have any level crossings."