GWR 150 celebrations and Portishead

[Colin1501]

I've recently come across a photograph of Class 117 DMU no B430, painted in GW Chocolate and Cream, working a special service to Portishead as part of the GWR 150 celebrations in 1985. What's puzzling me about it is that the track appears to be newly laid on fresh ballast and concrete sleepers. Given that the line had been out of use for many years prior to this, was it specially relaid to allow specials to reach the terminus as part of the commemorations?

Grateful for any info.

 

[simonw]

I've recently come across a photograph of Class 117 DMU no B430, painted in GW Chocolate and Cream, working a special service to Portishead as part of the GWR 150 celebrations in 1985. What's puzzling me about it is that the track appears to be newly laid on fresh ballast and concrete sleepers. Given that the line had been out of use for many years prior to this, was it specially relaid to allow specials to reach the terminus as part of the commemorations?

Grateful for any info.

The line closed in 1981. Whereabouts on the line is the photo taken?

 

[Colin1501]

The line closed in 1981. Whereabouts on the line is the photo taken?

The caption says it's at Portbury - it's a long straight stretch of single track in open country.

 

[Cowley]

There’s this from the Cornwall Railway Society site:

Bristol TM to Portishead

Bristol Temple Meads to Portishead A line which died and has been reopened for freight traffic and which is yet to reopen to passengers .

www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk

Then in 1985 the line was used for the GWR150celebrations, for which a run-round loop was built in Portishead.

Not much else, although there are a few photos online of steam on the line in 1985 and this video, although I haven’t looked for part 3 yet…

 

[simonw]

The caption says it's at Portbury - it's a long straight stretch of single track in open country.

Any chance of posting it on here?

 

[Colin1501]

Any chance of posting it on here?

Here it is.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jan 2022 ==

There’s this from the Cornwall Railway Society site:

Bristol TM to Portishead

Bristol Temple Meads to Portishead A line which died and has been reopened for freight traffic and which is yet to reopen to passengers .

www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk

Not much else, although there are a few photos online of steam on the line in 1985 and this video, although I haven’t looked for part 3 yet…

Thanks very much - I've seen the Cornwall Railway stuff, but not the YouTube video, which is really helpful. The newly laid track I'm referring to is clearly visible between 4:17 and 5:56. Looking at the OS map, this appears to have been filmed from the overbridge on the Royal Portbury Dock Road, just north of J19 on the M5.

Thanks again for your help.