A look at Sharpness Docks Railways UK

Sharpness Dock was, in its heyday a thriving port. Built to serve the southern end of the Gloucester to Sharpness Canal, it had extensive rail connections and substantial marshalling yards, this film goes in search of visible remains. There was a direct link here to the mighty Severn Rail Bridge of 17 spans which crossed to South Wales at a point just north of the docks. Unfortunately the bridge lost two spans in an accident with two river tankers in dense fog, and was never rebuilt. Although a lot of rail has been lifted, a substantial amount remains when you look carefully. The layout of the rail system can easily be traced with both high level and low level crossings of the canal. The high level crossing with its associate embankments enabled goods to be loaded into ships and barges by gravity thereby saving time and effort. Surprisingly there is still a rail presence here in the form of ‘The Vale of Berkeley Railway. A group of enthusiasts restoring locomotives and railway stock to eventually run on Sharpness rails again. They were kind enough to show us around the workshops and explain what was there. The docks are still in use so certain areas have no access and you need to be aware that the commercial considerations take precedence over public accessibility, but there are still lots to see.

[@user-nb6ro8wl6v]

The Hotel was called the Severn Bridge and Railway Hotel it belonged to British Rail. It was a Whitbread Pub. I was the Land Lady in 1976 till 1982. It carried on been a pub for about 2 years then became a Nursing Home they closed down and a Company took it on then it became a Family Home if you Google The Sidings you can learn more. Thank you for your wonderful film

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi good of you to update us with this info. I think you are the first Land Lady we have ever had on the channel and you are most welcome. Take care. Ron

[@davegardner2106]

Thanks for filling many gaps in my knowledge of the area.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Dave, did you read the comments, a lot of knowledgeable people have added info. Ron

[@john_atco]

Fascinating. Great location for industrial archaeologists to explore.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Keep it quiet John or we will have Tony Robinson and his Time Team mob digging holes all over the place. Ron

[@TrainDriverRob]

Enjoyed that, ‘Severn Bridge & Railway Hotel’ was on the now sorry-looking building you pointed out. Maybe for a future video, you could walk a little further up the canal and show the swing bridge support which is the most complete part of the old bridge. At low tide you can pick out some of the old piers. The branch itself is hardly used these days, nuclear flask traffic from Oldbury and Berkeley kept it open along with the odd scrap flow, but that has all stopped now. Driver-refresher trains are still run now and again to maintain route knowledge.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Rob, I have filmed the bridge tower on other videos, along with some shots of the tanker hulks which are still where they sank. Amazing really. Glad you enjoyed it. P.W.

[@fgrsimon]

One of my favourite places to wander around. It's amazing how intact the dock system railway is still is. it's overgrown and in a couple of places tarmaced over but fundamentally complete and still actually physically connected to the national network. It will be great if the VoBR can get the branch line operational as a heritage operation but even better if freight trains could run to the docks again, getting rid of large lorries from the roads around Sharpness. There was a horrific crash nr Sharpness in 2008 in which a mother and 2 children were killed when their 4X4 was in collision with a lorry. Not the lorry driver's fault but if the freight had been on the railway no lives woould have been lost....

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

True, thanks for posting. P.W/

[@michaelpilling9659]

What a fantastic film Ron - thank you so much for the magnificent guided tour. Loved all the rail infrastructure that was visible. A real treat to be able to see The Berkeley Railway Trust in action. Lovely Black 5! The sit down by the river was superb. I enjoyed my sandwiches very much. What a superb day out. A million thanks

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Michael, I'm so glad you enjoyed it, makes it all worth while. Ron

[@vishengro]

Whilst in my final year at primary school I was lucky enough to acquire a copy of ‘The Branch line Album’ by PB Whitehouse. And in said tome was a picture of a GWR pannier and it’s coach terminating at a station with the damaged bridge in the background. In fact I think the book must have contained pictures from most of the lines you have visited. One picture that really struck me was of a pannier and train ascending or descending an inclined curve at Talybont on Usk. I did try and track it myself years ago but let me know if it’s on your hit list. Anyway that was another fab video with the bonus of the tour at the heritage line. Richard.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Richard, it wasn't on my list, but it could be now! Ron

[@chriswalford4161]

Nice walk - I haven’t been to Sharpness for a while . Not so long ago you could wander round the dockside, but it’s all secured now. But what a busy little hub those yards must have been.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Chris, it must have been teeming with life and freight movements back then. Ron

[@antonydicesare4632]

A wonderful sunday lunchtime viewing, great video

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Thank you for that comment. P.W.

[@notyhbynorthwest]

That was really fascinating Ron. I didn't know how accessible the Sharpness Docks were. I noticed the Mersey Bar Lightship in the docks at around the 5 minute mark. It was preserved in the Albert Docks in Liverpool, and used as some sort of entertainment venue. It was repossessed from the owner who owed a bunch of mooring fees, and was towed to Sharpness in 2016. I don't know what the plans are for it, but I hope it is being cared for because it was a startlingly beautiful attraction. There looked to be a helicopter just to the left of it too. The railway wagons and locomotives were an amazing find too. What an interesting place. Next time I go to visit my brother in the Forest of Dean, I will have to try to visit these docks. Hope you have a good Christmas Ron..... Best wishes, Ian

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Thanks Ian always nice to hear from you. I guess you are a virtual 'local' with your brother living here! Ron

[@andrewstones2921]

At 11:34 you are looking at The Railway Inn, and on the opposite side of the road there used be be steep steps leading down to the old platform, the railway ran parallel to Oldminster Road, and at the bottom of the hill just past the Pier View Hotel on the right is a footpath that used to go over a bridge and then ends up at the kissing gate near the start of the video. A few hundred feet from there hidden in the bushes is an old turntable.. if you were to follow the path of the old railway you would come to the site of the old severn bridge. I grew up there soon after the bridge disaster and the dock railways were in use then, to one side of the low bridge there used to be a couple of streets of terraced houses that were demolished in the late 70s..

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Andrew, I may make a return visit to see what is there as per your comment. The main problem seems to be overgrowth which caught me out last time but worth a look. Thanks. Ron

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

@@andrewstones2921 Thanks for your help Andrew. Ron

[@levelcrossing150]

Hi Ron What a fabulous 29 mins of me being glued to my computer screen watching this very interesting and informative little video. You packed a lot of interesting footage in here and it must have been quite a full day for you. There is so much more there than I expected and it's great to see that there is plenty of activity still going on there. I had heard that the last of the Barry black 5's had been finally given a home there where it will eventually be restored to full working order. A lovely engine for the line being one of my favourite classes. The little 4F 0-6-0 loco is just like the one that used to shunt in the goods yard at my local station. Many thanks again Ron, best wishes....Tim

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Thanks Tim, yes it was a long day, the last half mile was hard, but we got there. Quite a few people have commented on Black 5's seems they are a favorite. Frustrating at the moment, I need to get out filming but the weather is rubbish, ah well get on with more inside jobs then. Take care. Ron.

[@jmsGL13]

Well done interesting video, I remember travelling over the railway bridge to Lydney pre 1960 so I am pretty sure at 12min 32secs you are in fact looking down at the site of Sharpness Railway Station. The retaining wall you refer to would be the platform.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Thanks John, you are only the second person I know who traveled over the Railway Bridge, what a memory to have. Ron

[@ianhudson2193]

That was The Severn Bridge Hotel......converted to an old people's home but still ooen in the early 90s.....stopped and had a pint there once just fir the sake of it!

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Wonderful, thanks for posting. P.W.

[@davidbennett6079]

Terrific film Ron. Lots of interesting finds around; The old points levers were especially nice to see. Lovely tour of the workshops too. Good work👍

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Glad you enjoyed it David. Ron.

[@theweatheredventerer1254]

Just picked up on this video and how interesting to see what has become of the Sharpness Branch Line, I worked on the P.Way based at Stonehouse for 25 yrs and would very often use this to turn around after unloading ballast . Also one of the Stonehouse P.Way gang team was a signalman operating the box at Sharpness side of rail bridge . I must try and have a trip down there sometime,well done on the video .

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Lloyd, glad that stirred up some memories for you. Strangely my latest film is on Stonehouse, might stir up some more. Ron

[@theweatheredventerer1254]

@ParkinsonsWalks Thanks for your reply. If you are doing anything about the railway (GWR)at Stonehouse, the old signal box (now demolished)was our base, and the demolition was controversial due to it being a perserved building .

[@westcountrywanderings]

Brilliant video as ever Ron - thank you! I last saw it many years ago on a bike ride, so good to see it again.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Glad you enjoyed it. Ron

[@coopertay2166]

Just happened upon your vid,so interesting and some great infrastructure still intact

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Cooper, I enjoyed the visit, plenty to film. Thanks for watching. Ron

[@lew832]

Interesting video. Sharpness docks was home to the Training ship " T.S. Vindicatrix " From 1939 to 1966, and was used for training Merchant seaman for the 2nd world war. I lot of young lads left there and were lost at sea. After the war it continued to train lads for various shipping company employment. I did 3 months training for a deckhand and although it was quite tough, i eventually left in 1965. There are some interesting sites and youtube footage of the old sailing ship and her history. She was towed out in 1966 and scrapped. The old billets we stayed in were dismantled but the land is still there and fenced off. There is a memorial there, and a yearly reunion weekend is still held there.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Michael, thanks for sharing those memories and history, I have seen the memorial and it is nice to have some background. Ron

[@lew832]

@@ParkinsonsWalks Your welcome.

[@chrismccartney8668]

The picture and the chap make it very real..

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Chris, he was a gem wasn't he. Ron

[@robertpagetfilms]

Sharpness Docker’s Club has a superb collection of framed photos of the railway and station in use. ‘

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Thanks Robert, I should have known that because I have been in there. Duh. P.W.

[@angelsone-five7912]

Well Ron, you have excelled yourself and given us lots to see this time. Very interesting it was too. Of the Severn bridge I do know that on the other side of the river is an abutment and the tower on which the swing part of the bridge used to pivot. More amazing than that is the fact that the two ships/boats that brought the bridge down still exist moored upstream a bit. Apparently you can see them at low tide, just hulls basically but still extant.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Thanks Hazel, always good to hear from you. Ron

[@johnsparkes8963]

Cracking video Ron, very interesting place. You covered it very well. Nice that you had access to the workshops and spoke to a staff member.Thank you for sharing and take care.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Many thanks John, glad you enjoyed it. Ron

[@garydwyer641]

Another very informative video so much history has been lost. Looking forward to your next adventure please keep safe.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Thank you! Will do! P.W.

[@nicholaslewis6065]

Very interesting and enjoable. The map was very useful. Hope you're keeping well. Nick

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Thanks, you too Nick. P.W.

[@DavidHStick]

Hi Ron, Ive only just discovered your delightful website and have already spent a lot of time watching your videos. As a Gloucester boy living out of county it is a pleasure to see your walks mostly in a countryside I remember so well from my youth. Our interests overlap so closely as do our ages I would think! I'm going to enjoy your future walk and look forward with considerable anticipation. BTW with regard to this particular vid. I wonder are you aware of Neil Parkhouse's wonderful series of books on the Gloucestershire railways in colour. Volume 4B is a great companion to your vid. on Sharpness Dock Branch and identifies several sites in the vid. which you appear doubtful about. No criticism you understand, merely hoping that i might be able to help a little.😁

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi David, nice to hear from you, glad you enjoy the films. Feel free to join in on the vlogs whenever you like, there are a nice group of people who join in. I'll look up Neil Parkhouse's books, thanks. I don't mind criticism it keeps me on my toes. Take care. Ron

[@cfbm125]

The old controls on the high level bridge are in fact the locking mechanism, and are still used today when swinging the bridge off.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Thanks for the info. Ron

[@heatherandjimmilliner8589]

The railway station was on the left as you turn left onto the road that leads to the high bridge. There was a steep path which went down to the station Remember it well Still live nearby

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Nice of you to take the time to post the info and memory, thank you. Ron

[@TheGromit72]

Another enjoyable stroll, very much enjoyed it.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Glad you enjoyed it. P.W.

[@Steve-gy3bx]

Yet another fantastic video Brian, can’t wait for the next one

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Thanks 👍. P.W.

[@MS-yy2dh]

Another interesting video - thank you. I lived in Berkeley for 15 years. I guess you know there are a few remnants of the old Severn rail bridge still visible. I think it may have been mainly for freight, although my late father did travel across it long ago - and a very rickety experience he said it was!

[@TrainDriverRob]

Yes, it was primarily built to get the coal out of South Wales and the Forest and it beat the opening of the tunnel by seven years. It was also used by a lot of local school children to attend the Grammar school in Lydney.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Mel, thanks for the info, love your dad's description 'a very rickety experience', made my day. P.W.

[@peternicholls214]

Thank You So Interesting 👍

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Thanks Peter. Ron

[@chloewebb7626]

I have a freind that is a member of the society that helps fixing up the line.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

They do a fantastic job Chloe, thank them from us. Ron

[@willumwhitmore9419]

Great tour - thank you

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Glad you enjoyed it.P.W.

[@nd7941]

PW does it again!! Great video 🙌🏼

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Thanks Nick. P.W.

[@dizzydevil547]

Great video as always! WARNING IM A BIT OF A BUFF ON THIS LINE LOL SO APOLOGIES IF I POINT OUT SOME ERRORS BUT as you are not overly familiar with the history or layout of how it once was then I understand and only pointing things out so you have a better understanding of the area and how it used to be as its OBV change so much since closure etc (no disrespect intended by the way just offering you some more info on it that's all as you do great vids!) ALSO, THERE are plans to restore the line as a heritage railway and restore/rebuild the old sharpness station on its original site opposite the hotel in your vid! here is a link to the vale of Berkeley railway website that tells you more of the plans and also HAS some great old photographs of sharpness station in its heyday that you may find interesting! When you are standing on the railway bridge overlooking the farm Sharpness station was over the other side of the bridge on the left and NOT where the farm is 😉 THIS IS THE LINE THAT WENT ONTO THE SEVERN RAILWAY BRIDGE and, not as you stated at 12:54 as the high-level railway ( I MAY BE WRONG THOUGH AS I LINK TO THE DOCKS FROM THE SEVERN BRIDGE) BUT I THINK that was just an extension of the docks sidings underneath and the now-closed bridge went over that extension to the docks sidings (may have been a footbridge or road bridge back in the day the web site I have linked at the end shows it back in the day on the tab history. you can see more of the layout of how it was and plans for the future here! hope you find the website of interest be it historical or plans for the future if they get funding etc for me it would be great to get a station and heritage line back in that area ..mind you I'm all for restoring lost lines and stations as they are part of our lost railway heritage that a lot of the Beeching cuts took away or a disaster like the Severn bridge collision did and was deemed too costly to repair! ...I for one know that if there are problems on the bristol to south wales line these days with the tunnel flooding then no alternative route for travel on trains and it's the dreaded bus replacement service (that happens quite frequently when traveling to Cardiff from the Bristol area!) valeofberkeleyrailway.co.uk/

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Sean, please don't worry about correcting my mistakes, I always welcome comments, good, bad or indifferent, and corrections enhance the channel. Thanks for posting. Ron. (Thanks for the link)

[@chrismccartney8668]

What a find a picture with bridge in background! And speak to the guy in the picture !!

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

He was a nice gentleman Chris. Ron

[@PROPHETVberlinschule]

Nice video, RON👍

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Thanks 👍. Ron

[@peterhopkins7505]

A couple of places might interest you; Brockweir, which was a Pirate town on the Wye, it had some slipways, brothels and a reputation say no militia or police would enter in the 1700's, Bewdley, because going from county to county was more akin traveling from country to country in that comit a crime in one location and cross the border and the authorities could not arrest you for crimes in another county. Bewdley sits on the county divide and was notorious for criminals playing this benefit, plus of course the ques for busy river traffic pre railways. A good museum with information on this located on the High Street between the church and the river.

[@Sharron-Idol]

Bewdley is a beautiful town - particularly down by the river where it's very picturesque. It also has a heritage railway station on the Severn Valley Railway. Another of Bewdley's claims to fame is that of being the home town of pop star Becky Hill.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Thanks Peter, sounds like the wild west. I'm eyeing up Tintern at the moment which is just down stream from Brockweir. P.W.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Yes Bewdley Museum is an absolute must - it is superb and a lot of it is outside - making it Covid19 friendly. Great, picturesque town on The Severn with steam trains too.

[@westcountrywanderings]

@@ParkinsonsWalks There are loads of old railway features at Tintern Ron, good location to film, including a few tunnels and a bridge you can still walk on near the Abbey which served a mill.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

@@westcountrywanderings Can't wait Paul, all I need now is the weather. Ron

[@lionelmarytravels6003]

Interesting Ron. It took you more searching than usual to find any trace of a railway, but how lucky to stumble upon that old piece of track. You seemed to be going around in circles. Did you find your car again? Great film quality. A pleasure to watch. Take care.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi you two, nice to hear from you, hope all is well, I guess you will be out in this fine weather. I have computer issues at the moment so I'm falling behind on my viewing. Very frustrating. Enjoy yourselves. Ron

[@lionelmarytravels6003]

@@ParkinsonsWalks Hello Ron. I was wondering what you were up to. I’ve got a couple of videos online which you must have missed, but I can see why if you have computer issues. Computers really try our patience sometimes. Take care.

[@orglancs]

Thank you, What an utterly enthralling walk. I couldn't tear my eyes away from it. When did railway traffic end there?

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

I think it gradually petered out as the docks declined and when the bridge across the Severn was destroyed there was no longer a through route.

[@poshingtonno1157]

1980s

[@SuzLa1]

I always think it's strange why there isn't another bridge over the Severn between the ones near Bristol and Gloucester.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Susie, there was of course a rail bridge just north of here that got knocked down by barges. I'm working on a film about the remains at the moment, out in the new year. Thanks for your post. Ron

[@andrewmerriman7133]

Ron Viaduct No1 is that shown at 13:15 whilst viaduct Number 2 is shown at 14:21 these are the High Level Viaducts, No3 viaduct is shown at 14:00 that being the Low Level Viaduct. At 14:20 you show the Swing Bridge North Ground Frame that releases the lock bolts to free the bridge to swing. Under No1 viaduct there was a long siding that went along side the canal to a point just short of where the main line crossed the canal at Sharpness Swing Bridge Signal Box. No2 Viaduct had lines underneath it on both sides 1 at the West side and 2 lines on the East side whilst No1 viaduct had three lines underneath it. The Severn & Wye Deep Water Tip was added in 1886 this had 2 lines going to it with a wagon turntable joining the 2 lines together with a short length of track to the tip, this enable wagons to enter on one line then emptied and returned on the other line. I hope this helps to enable you to piece together my earlier comment. Thanks again for the link, I shall be watching this again it really is very good, I enclose a link to the track layout which will show the points I indicated about the track layout - maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=15&lat=51.72625&lon=-2.47932&layers=206&right=BingHyb - . Best Wishes, Andrew.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Brilliant Andrew, later today I'll settle down and go back through it all with maps and layout plans, really looking forward to it, thanks Andrew. Ron. (Hoping Pauline doesn't have other ideas.)

[@andrewmerriman7133]

@@ParkinsonsWalks Hi Ron No problem I have another link for you maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=19&lat=51.71516&lon=-2.47508&layers=206&right=BingHyb this shows the site of the first station at Sharpness. It was on the left of the left hand line below the footbridge, it had a single platform, it was a temporary station opened on 1st August 1876 and closing on 16th October 1879, the closure date coinciding with Sharpness Docks Station which was later re-named Sharpness station. You might find easier and quicker if Pauline does find you something to do as it is quite time consuming finding all these snippets of information out and checking them! Take care especially given the news concerning covid.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

OK got it now Andrew thank you, I was thinking for folk into model railways, that would make a superb layout. You could shunt wagons about for hours. Aint it hot!! Ron

[@andrewmerriman7133]

@@ParkinsonsWalks Well done Ron it's quite complicated, I am very much into model railways but I would not attempt such a layout as Sharpness it would cost the price of a house to do and you would need a number of you to work it. I agree you could spend hours shunting wagons about, mind you remembering where they were when they were out of sight would be fun. I know what you mean about being hot it's 84.2F in my lounge at the moment! You deserve a nice drink before you water the plants in the garden to keep them looking so stunning.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Andrew, I've spent today filming the Morton In Marsh to Shipston branch-line, I've never seen a branch so intent on keeping its secrets hidden. I was 3/4 the way round before I found a fence post. I will have my work cut out to make it viewable. Recorded 31 degrees at one point, too hot really but I got through it. I would think the way to distribute the costs on a model layout of Sharpness is to do what they did when it was built. Put in the basic infrastructure and then add to it over time. Would take patience though. Off to cool down. Ron.

[@michaelpilling9659]

I've just found a film on KZbin you might like to see - A desiel trip to Sharpness Docks.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Thanks Michael. Ron.

[@pscollier1]

A long time since I went to Sharpness docks. Regarding the old bridge across the Severn, isn't it the case that the village of Purton exists on both sides of the river, once connected by the bridge? Or maybe just a coincidence.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Could be Peter, though that' the first time I have heard that said. P.W.

[@Sharron-Idol]

I believe I heard something about an intention to restore a passenger rail service to Sharpness; either heritage or otherwise. Did you by chance happen to glean any pieces of information about it?

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Sharron, the heritage center there are negotiating with Network Rail about use of the line, Sounds positive but no dates. Ron

[@Sharron-Idol]

@@hugolandyn2702 * SPAMMER ALERT *

[@darrenrees3284]

Fist wagon looks like a pipe wagon.

[@ParkinsonsWalks]

Hi Darren, they were going to use it for rail sections. Take care. Ron