Portishead Railway | Part Two

I return to North Somerset to explore the current working freight line and (hopefully!) soon to be reopened passenger line from the town of Portishead to the City of Bristol.

This time I trace the line and the former stations and halts from Pill to Clifton Bridge.

#railway #bristol #somerset

[martinbradshaw]

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.

[JimNicholls]

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).

[richardwakeley]

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".

[PillSharks]

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. 🦈⚓️🦈⚓️🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️

[carolinecleaveley-qr]

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.

[mrcogginsgarage]

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.

[greenlight]

the steel is for tata imported in from india just recently increased from 1 to 2 trains weekdays yes they go to margam

[trottiscliffe]

When were level crossings prohibited? Thanks

[iancarr]

Broad gauge rail line recycled as the fence posts, as I understand it

[shaunspencer]

Who will invest in a newly nationalised railway system in future ?