66652 Portbury Docks 31st October 2024
66652 waits to leave Portbury Docks with 6Z53 12:20 to Margam on 31st October 2024. At 1900 tonnes the train of imported steel slabs was 400t below the max load out of the docks. The single line branch to Bristol West is heavily overgrown causing slipping issues in places. Climbing out of Pill tunnel the speed dropped to 8 mph, not great. Due to the closure of the last blast furnace at Port Talbot steel imports have ramped up and Portbury is currently sending out two train/day. The line to the left goes to the now closed Portbury Bulk terminal where coal was loaded until 2017.
Taken during my work duties from a road crossing.
66652 Portbury Docks 31st October 2024
66652 waits to leave Portbury Docks with 6Z53 12:20 to Margam on 31st October 2024. At 1900 tonnes the train of imported steel slabs was 400t below the max load out of the docks. The single line branch to Bristol West is heavily overgrown causing slipping issues in places. Climbing out of Pill tunnel the speed dropped to 8 mph, not great. Due to the closure of the last blast furnace at Port Talbot steel imports have ramped up and Portbury is currently sending out two train/day. The line to the left goes to the now closed Portbury Bulk terminal where coal was loaded until 2017.
Taken during my work duties from a road crossing.