It's amazing how fast nature reclaims its own with the yard having become virtually woodland in the few years between BR's abandonment and the arrival of the preservationists Thanks again 👍
Thanks Stephen. Yes, I must admit I wasn't even aware of these sidings from previous visits because the trees completely obliterated the view. A lot of hard work done, but much, much more needs doing, I fear. Thanks again, Paul
Hi Paul, I went filming there a few days after you! Your version is so much more informative but at least I managed to find the site of a turntable after a tipoff. Loved the opening of your film, wonderfully atmospheric, and overall you are so relaxed filming these days, a bit different to when we both started out. Take care of yourself. Ron
Thank you Ron! I am sure that we will bump into each other one. day. Yes, the VoBR are really cracking on with the Oldminster Sidings now - so much hard work done but a long way to go. I love Sharpness area, so much of interest, history and atmosphere. Take care, Paul 👍🙂
@@westcountrywanderings Just quickly Paul, I think Berkeley station may have been backfilled to preserve the work they have done so far and now they can concentrate the finances and manpower on the sidings. Crossing the field to the live rail, then passing through the gate there is a red brick structure - you photographed it. I thought maybe a signal gantry, too small for a signal box, but listening to your commentary I think it must be the foundations for the foot bridge. Amazing what you can do with hindsight. Ron
Thank you Michael! Yes, as Louise says below, this one did take a little while to put together, but I enjoyed the process. It is a really interesting location with much of interest, not least the canal and all the ships too, as well as the river, Sabrina. Cheers, Paul 🙂👍
Surprisingly pretty much all of the rail network around the docks is still in place. From where the tracks out of Oldbury sidings cross Bridge Rd, there is a horseshoe arrangement which goes round to the VofB engine shed in one direction and alongside Bridge Rd down towards the picnic area in the other. Most of it is under grass but it's never been lifted and the rails and sleepers are still there. Over the last 15 years or so I've watched it slowly disappear under the grass. Even the tracks across Bridge Rd and over the swing bridge are intact. There's a speed bump on top of it just past the swing Bridge but otherwise I think it's all still there. So there is basically an active rail-connected port slowly fading away. In a more sensible country the railway would be reinstated and 100s of lorries taken off the roads. See Foynes in Ireland.
Another private railway I have never heard about. I think there must be some more. I shall have to look at your previous video of this railway. There was so much to take in there. When you see the ‘before’ & ‘after’ photos you see what a battle it is just to clear the site. I hope they can keep going in the financial climate we have at the moment. Thanks for all the research you put in.
Thank you Diana! Yes, much work done by the ever hardworking volunteers here. I had to do a pre-filming visit here because the layout, when you first see it, is quite confusing and disorientating. A fascinating spot with much maritime history though. This little private railway is indeed little known even amongst people who live locally. Thank you so much for your kind words. Take care and I hope you have a good weekend. Paul.
Some impressive clearance work and hopefully, when BR/NR vacate the track, it won't take a massive amount of work to restore it to running order. Great project. Thank's for a very interesting update.
Thank you Malcolm! Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, hopefully they can get some locos operable. I do understand that they have a Pacer DMU (!) though, so, at least, they should be able to run services on the track. Thanks for your kind words. Take care, Paul.
Thank you John .Yes, the VoBR have been doing an amazing job. Much work still to do, but they seem very determined. Thanks for watching and commenting. Take care, Paul.
Hi Paul, That is such an interesting place, so much going on. The intro was superb a mix: the new windmill and the old piers together with a well selected piece of music👏👏 You unearthed lots of railway details on the farm as well, it's difficult to imagine the industry that was once there. I can remember Ron's video on the station and that this area was being used for nuclear fuels. Would have been great if you bumped into him, I see that he was there recently. One day you will I'm sure. I look forward to your next visit, I guess that would be practically the end of your severn valley walk. Yesterday I had to go to a neighbouring village and took the opportunity to do a bit of exploring and came away with a couple of abandoned stations, a derelict olive oil refinery together with its chimney and a bridge or viaduct which had two working lives and is now in retirement .... Oh .... and a woolly mammoth guarding the town hall!! Have a great weekend.
Hi David, hope you are well. Sorry for the delay in replying to you. I am away from home with family at the moment. Yes, that site has changed so much, and it is good to see it return to green pastures rather than housing or DIY sheds, like so often happens on former railway sites. Yes, Ron has a video coming out soon about the area too, and he uncovers something railway related that I missed in this video. I have the next installment of The Severn Way arriving later this week. That was some uncovering in a local village! Amazing! Sounds like a video right there! Interesting that the olive oil refinery is now abandoned - not the sort of thing that has a reduction in demand. I remember in the 1970s in the UK the only olive oil you could buy in the UK was in a chemist to soften ear wax!! It was never used in cooking here - I now use it all the time in my own cooking. I tend to have a quite mediteranean diet, but I don't eat fish or meat though. I love sundried tomatoes, olives and green leafy salads. Thanks so much. Catch up soon. Take care, Paul
@@westcountrywanderings Paul, don't worry about replying quickly to comments, especially if you are away with your family. I have done a bit of investigation the refinery was built in 1907 and closed in 1970. But little more exists, so far. Maybe the machinery was old and outdated. I'm sure demand will have greatly increased since then. You will find lots of different brands of olive oils these days (organically grown as well). The cheaper ones will often be chemically extracted or heat treated from the pulp remains of the first mechanical presses. We tend to avoid those types and use virgen extra. That said the virgen olive oil isnt necessarily very good for frying. As you can imagine its a major business in Spain. Funny when you look back we used to uses lard for frying and wouldnt dream of using olive oil!! I still prefer a nice bit of butter on my toast with marmalade (has to be seville orange, the bitter ones), my wife likes hers with a gently rubbing of raw garlic and finely chopped tomatoes with olive oil on top!!! Have a great week with your family!!
This was really interesting Paul. Some fascinating information in it. I liked the bits and pieces you showed made out of old railway. So many maps inserted too which is so helpful. It must take ages to research and include all that!
Thanks Louise! Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, the editing on this did take a little longer than a 'usual' sort of video. The maps, in particular, especially the old maps, do take a while to create - as did the sourcing and copyright checking the old photos too. I do like this location though - much of interest! I think I will be back here to look at the canal! Thanks so much for watching and commenting! 🙂👍
It's amazing how fast nature reclaims its own
with the yard having become virtually woodland
in the few years between BR's abandonment
and the arrival of the preservationists
Thanks again 👍
Thanks Stephen. Yes, I must admit I wasn't even aware of these sidings from previous visits because the trees completely obliterated the view. A lot of hard work done, but much, much more needs doing, I fear. Thanks again, Paul
Such beautiful railway and surrounding. Very informative sharing . Thank you friend ❤️👍👍Wishing you a blessed weekend 🤗🤗
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it 👍🙂
Hi Paul, I went filming there a few days after you! Your version is so much more informative but at least I managed to find the site of a turntable after a tipoff. Loved the opening of your film, wonderfully atmospheric, and overall you are so relaxed filming these days, a bit different to when we both started out. Take care of yourself. Ron
Thank you Ron! I am sure that we will bump into each other one. day. Yes, the VoBR are really cracking on with the Oldminster Sidings now - so much hard work done but a long way to go. I love Sharpness area, so much of interest, history and atmosphere. Take care, Paul 👍🙂
@@westcountrywanderings Just quickly Paul, I think Berkeley station may have been backfilled to preserve the work they have done so far and now they can concentrate the finances and manpower on the sidings. Crossing the field to the live rail, then passing through the gate there is a red brick structure - you photographed it. I thought maybe a signal gantry, too small for a signal box, but listening to your commentary I think it must be the foundations for the foot bridge. Amazing what you can do with hindsight. Ron
Anither splendid video, Paul, and the music goes well with it especially when listening on high quality noise cancelling headphones!
Thank you Michael! Yes, as Louise says below, this one did take a little while to put together, but I enjoyed the process. It is a really interesting location with much of interest, not least the canal and all the ships too, as well as the river, Sabrina. Cheers, Paul 🙂👍
Berkeley has an interesting history, let's hope it has a successful future. The photos old & new were great & the maps were useful & fascinating.
Thank you Faith! Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, a very interesting area. I have yet to cover the famous castle there! Take care, Paul.
Surprisingly pretty much all of the rail network around the docks is still in place.
From where the tracks out of Oldbury sidings cross Bridge Rd, there is a horseshoe arrangement which goes round to the VofB engine shed in one direction and alongside Bridge Rd down towards the picnic area in the other. Most of it is under grass but it's never been lifted and the rails and sleepers are still there. Over the last 15 years or so I've watched it slowly disappear under the grass. Even the tracks across Bridge Rd and over the swing bridge are intact. There's a speed bump on top of it just past the swing Bridge but otherwise I think it's all still there.
So there is basically an active rail-connected port slowly fading away. In a more sensible country the railway would be reinstated and 100s of lorries taken off the roads. See Foynes in Ireland.
Another private railway I have never heard about. I think there must be some more. I shall have to look at your previous video of this railway.
There was so much to take in there. When you see the ‘before’ & ‘after’ photos you see what a battle it is just to clear the site. I hope they can keep going in the financial climate we have at the moment. Thanks for all the research you put in.
Thank you Diana! Yes, much work done by the ever hardworking volunteers here. I had to do a pre-filming visit here because the layout, when you first see it, is quite confusing and disorientating. A fascinating spot with much maritime history though. This little private railway is indeed little known even amongst people who live locally. Thank you so much for your kind words. Take care and I hope you have a good weekend. Paul.
Some impressive clearance work and hopefully, when BR/NR vacate the track, it won't take a massive amount of work to restore it to running order. Great project. Thank's for a very interesting update.
Thank you Malcolm! Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, hopefully they can get some locos operable. I do understand that they have a Pacer DMU (!) though, so, at least, they should be able to run services on the track. Thanks for your kind words. Take care, Paul.
Great content Paul been there a few times with my Camera. Very interesting place lots to see as you shown in your video Paul, take care all the best.
Thank you John .Yes, the VoBR have been doing an amazing job. Much work still to do, but they seem very determined. Thanks for watching and commenting. Take care, Paul.
Hi Paul, That is such an interesting place, so much going on. The intro was superb a mix: the new windmill and the old piers together with a well selected piece of music👏👏
You unearthed lots of railway details on the farm as well, it's difficult to imagine the industry that was once there.
I can remember Ron's video on the station and that this area was being used for nuclear fuels. Would have been great if you bumped into him, I see that he was there recently. One day you will I'm sure.
I look forward to your next visit, I guess that would be practically the end of your severn valley walk.
Yesterday I had to go to a neighbouring village and took the opportunity to do a bit of exploring and came away with a couple of abandoned stations, a derelict olive oil refinery together with its chimney and a bridge or viaduct which had two working lives and is now in retirement .... Oh .... and a woolly mammoth guarding the town hall!!
Have a great weekend.
Hi David, hope you are well.
Sorry for the delay in replying to you. I am away from home with family at the moment.
Yes, that site has changed so much, and it is good to see it return to green pastures rather than housing or DIY sheds, like so often happens on former railway sites.
Yes, Ron has a video coming out soon about the area too, and he uncovers something railway related that I missed in this video. I have the next installment of The Severn Way arriving later this week.
That was some uncovering in a local village! Amazing! Sounds like a video right there! Interesting that the olive oil refinery is now abandoned - not the sort of thing that has a reduction in demand. I remember in the 1970s in the UK the only olive oil you could buy in the UK was in a chemist to soften ear wax!! It was never used in cooking here - I now use it all the time in my own cooking. I tend to have a quite mediteranean diet, but I don't eat fish or meat though. I love sundried tomatoes, olives and green leafy salads.
Thanks so much. Catch up soon.
Take care,
Paul
@@westcountrywanderings Paul, don't worry about replying quickly to comments, especially if you are away with your family.
I have done a bit of investigation the refinery was built in 1907 and closed in 1970. But little more exists, so far. Maybe the machinery was old and outdated. I'm sure demand will have greatly increased since then.
You will find lots of different brands of olive oils these days (organically grown as well). The cheaper ones will often be chemically extracted or heat treated from the pulp remains of the first mechanical presses. We tend to avoid those types and use virgen extra. That said the virgen olive oil isnt necessarily very good for frying. As you can imagine its a major business in Spain.
Funny when you look back we used to uses lard for frying and wouldnt dream of using olive oil!! I still prefer a nice bit of butter on my toast with marmalade (has to be seville orange, the bitter ones), my wife likes hers with a gently rubbing of raw garlic and finely chopped tomatoes with olive oil on top!!!
Have a great week with your family!!
Wow beautiful place and very nice video sir
Thank you so much - great to hear from you again. Glad you enjoyed the tour. Take care, Paul 🙂👍
Hi Paul nice video and photos ,have a good weekend 👌👌
Thank you Roy! Glad you enjoyed it. Hope you have a super weekend too! Looks like the weather should be improving thankfully! Cheers, Paul.
This was really interesting Paul. Some fascinating information in it. I liked the bits and pieces you showed made out of old railway. So many maps inserted too which is so helpful. It must take ages to research and include all that!
Thanks Louise! Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, the editing on this did take a little longer than a 'usual' sort of video. The maps, in particular, especially the old maps, do take a while to create - as did the sourcing and copyright checking the old photos too. I do like this location though - much of interest! I think I will be back here to look at the canal! Thanks so much for watching and commenting! 🙂👍
Amazing shares new friends 💙🦋🌻💙🦋🌻💙🦋🌻💙
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it. Cheers, Paul
Great video Paul !
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. Cheers, Paul