Great Western Coffee Shop

Sideshoots - associated subjects => Heritage railway lines, Railtours, other rail based attractions => Topic started by: johnneyw on October 05, 2015, 16:42:42



Title: Vale of Berkeley Railway
Post by: johnneyw on October 05, 2015, 16:42:42
Looks like, after the aborted 2012 attempt, the Vale of Berkeley Railway from Sharpness has relaunched recently. They have their own website now on http://valeofberkeleyrailway.co.uk and although it's still very much a fledgling site there's some interesting information there already.


Title: Re: Vale of Berkeley Railway
Post by: Chris from Nailsea on October 05, 2015, 21:17:51
Wow!  :o

Thanks for posting this topic, johnneyw - it's absolutely fascinating!  ;)

Best wishes to them!


Title: Re: Vale of Berkeley Railway
Post by: johnneyw on December 13, 2015, 18:52:13
Quick update. Their Facebook page has just announced that memberships are now available (^12 p/a) and I daresay their website will follow up with this shortly.

Had a look down there twice in the last couple of months. Each time they've taken time out to have a chat/ show me around the place. Very impressed and they're moving there with a lot...and I mean a lot, of engineering kit, stock and other equipment. Big plans indeed and a great start.


Title: Re: Vale of Berkeley Railway
Post by: johnneyw on September 11, 2016, 22:20:50
Vale of Berkeley Railway were interviewed from their exploratory digs at the site of the old Berkeley Station last Wednesday by BBC Points West. Looks like it will be broadcast on Monday 13th September unless more pressing news takes precedence.


Title: Re: Vale of Berkeley Railway
Post by: johnneyw on October 29, 2016, 20:14:15
With our last mainline railway signal boxes being lost at a very fast rate, Vale of Berkeley Railway have launched a crowd funding appeal to rescue two boxes due to demolished soon to be relocated to their new line. More details on:

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/railway-signal-fund


Title: Re: Vale of Berkeley Railway
Post by: Lee on November 16, 2018, 08:26:54
From the Gazette: (https://www.gazetteseries.co.uk/news/17228216.vehicle-runs-on-berkeley-railway-for-first-time-in-25-years/)

Quote from: Gazette
Volunteers at a decommissioned railway line are celebrating after a vehicle ran on the tracks for the first time in 25 years.

This major milestone was achieved by the Vale of Berkeley Railway team earlier in the month.

On Friday, November 9, the first of four 880’ sidings was sufficiently cleared of undergrowth to actually run a hand trolley.

Volunteers have been clearing undergrowth and trees at Oldminster Sidings - a 2.5 acre site adjacent to Sharpness Docks - for over seven months.

Working under a temporary licence from Network Rail and within environmental and ecological guidelines all of the clearing has been carried entirely by hand.

Oldminster Sidings were laid as an exchange point for outgoing trains off the dock railway system, but were last used over 25 years ago.

The Vale of Berkeley Railway team hopes to lease the site from Network Rail in due course as an operational base for a heritage railway using the Sharpness to Berkeley Road branch line.

Rolling stock for the project is being worked upon at the Old Engine House on Sharpness Docks where visitors are welcome on Saturday mornings. New volunteers of all ages and abilities are always welcome.

Further details about the project available via: http://valeofberkeleyrailway.co.uk/

EDIT to fix website link



This page is printed from the "Coffee Shop" forum at http://gwr.passenger.chat which is provided by a customer of Great Western Railway. Views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that content provided contravenes our posting rules ( see http://railcustomer.info/1761 ). The forum is hosted by Well House Consultants - http://www.wellho.net