South Liberty Colliery

<googlemap lat="51.428835" lon="-2.626462"> 51.4282, -2.626483, South Liberty Lane Footbridge </googlemap>

To Bristol: West Junction
To the Southwest: Brook Gate

Track Plans

• 
  A map from the early 1900s showing the colliery.
• 
  A track plan of the area from 1988 showing South Liberty Junction and a connection with West Depot .

• About half way along South Liberty Lane (opposite Risdale Road) is a path that leads to a footbridge across the railway. It's pretty grim, going between two scraggy old warehouses, but the footbridge is a great place to watch the trains go past.
  About half way along South Liberty Lane (opposite Risdale Road) is a path that leads to a footbridge across the railway. It's pretty grim, going between two scraggy old warehouses, but the footbridge is a great place to watch the trains go past.
• A view of the footbridge taken from the Bedminster Down side of the track. Those stormy clouds are probably why I had a cold for a week after taking these shots..
  A view of the footbridge taken from the Bedminster Down side of the track. Those stormy clouds are probably why I had a cold for a week after taking these shots..
• A side view of the bridge showing the lovely cast iron pillars holding it up. The bridge was originally a crossing place for miners who lived in Bedminster Down and worked at the nearby colliery.
  A side view of the bridge showing the lovely cast iron pillars holding it up. The bridge was originally a crossing place for miners who lived in Bedminster Down and worked at the nearby colliery.

1989

• 47817 accelerates hard under the footbridge as it heads for Plymouth. The track on the left is the container depot headshunt, while the track on the right is a headshunt for little-used carriage sidings that ran parallel with the mainline and were used for storing spare coaches used on Footex and summer Saturday workings.
  47817 accelerates hard under the footbridge as it heads for Plymouth. The track on the left is the container depot headshunt, while the track on the right is a headshunt for little-used carriage sidings that ran parallel with the mainline and were used for storing spare coaches used on Footex and summer Saturday workings.
• An HST powers towards it's next stop at Temple Meads Station. In the far distance a class 47 can just be seen standing light-engine in the run round loop at the container depot.
  An HST powers towards it's next stop at Temple Meads Station. In the far distance a class 47 can just be seen standing light-engine in the run round loop at the container depot.
• Looking in the opposite direction and 47524 runs light engine towards Bristol. Where it's been no one knows... but it's destination is Bath Rd engine shed. The overgrown track behind the loco is the headshunt for the container depot.
  Looking in the opposite direction and 47524 runs light engine towards Bristol. Where it's been no one knows... but it's destination is Bath Rd engine shed. The overgrown track behind the loco is the headshunt for the container depot.

2003

November

• A similar view to the first two shots in 1989. Although invisible in this shot, the headshunt for the old container depot is still there albeit buried under all that undergrowth.
  A similar view to the first two shots in 1989. Although invisible in this shot, the headshunt for the old container depot is still there albeit buried under all that undergrowth.
• Another view of the line and an HST heading into Bristol. In the far distance Bedminster Down Road bridge can be seen. The tall lighting towers are where the container depot used to be.
  Another view of the line and an HST heading into Bristol. In the far distance Bedminster Down Road bridge can be seen. The tall lighting towers are where the container depot used to be.
• The same view as the third shot in 1989. 150234 slows on the approach to Parson Street. The remains of the container depot headshunt is clearly visible in this shot.
  The same view as the third shot in 1989. 150234 slows on the approach to Parson Street. The remains of the container depot headshunt is clearly visible in this shot.

2006

18th July

• The view towards Bristol. Not much changed since my earlier visit.
  The view towards Bristol. Not much changed since my earlier visit.
• The view west. Again, not much has changed.
  The view west. Again, not much has changed.
• A zoomed view showing an old buffer stop buried in the vegetation.
  A zoomed view showing an old buffer stop buried in the vegetation.
• The approach to the bridge has become much more user friendly.
  The approach to the bridge has become much more user friendly.