Friday saw passenger trains running on the Vale of Berkeley Railway (VoBR) to mark its 150th anniversary and the decade-long work of volunteers at Sharpness to make the project become a reality. Regular passenger trains last ran on the line in 1964, writes Rich Kelsey.
The VoBR flyers and comms for this groundbreaking event said: ‘Your chance to be a pioneer passenger on the Sharpness Branch, and it certainly was.’150 years ago eager travellers boarded the first passenger train to Sharpness. To celebrate this anniversary, (after a successful test train run) including a massive amount of planning and hard work the Vale of Berkeley Railway ran special train services on the Sharpness branch from July 31st, August 1st and 2nd (running six return trains a day).
This relatively new heritage railway offered people a chance to ride the Sharpness branch, more than 60 years after the line closed to passengers. As well as reliving history, it was about supporting the Vale of Berkeley Railway as a crucial fundraising event, to help the VoBR improve their facilities at Oldminster Sidings and establish the VoBR as a significant asset and focal point for the Sharpness community. Also, the VoBR worked with local and other transport companies, Rail Adventure, Network Rail and the Sharpness Dockers club – all critical to making the event happen.
The special journey (on the Network Rail-owned branch line metals) was on the VoBR’s Class 143 Pacer train no 143603 starting from Oldminster Sidings base at Sharpness. The train then passed the site of the former Berkeley Station/Nuclear Rail Head and continued towards Berkeley Road junction close to the Bristol to Gloucester main line junction, then returning to Sharpness. During the trip, VoBR narrators told the story of the branch and the Pacer trains. The VoBR also offered a ‘Driver for a Fiver’ on the member-owned Planet diesel shunter, which sold out quickly on all days.
On Friday we were booked on, and as directed we arrived at Sharpness Social Club 30 minutes before our booked Return to Sharpness train. Shortly before our train was due, a free shuttle bus took us to Oldminster Sidings. This was very well organised, and so we boarded the 11.45 Sharpness to Berkeley Road Junction special train, returning on 1Z46 the 12.10 Berkeley Road Junction to Sharpness.
The VoBR also did a very clever logistics plan to encourage people to leave their cars at home and arrive by train, providing a free scheduled bus service from Cam & Dursley station to Oldminster Sidings, timed to connect with train services from Gloucester and Bristol. It also picked up enroute at Cam Pitch and Berkeley High Street. This free bus service was exclusively for Return to Sharpness ticket holders.
This was a very special event for the community, enthusiasts, families and local historians, seeing folk travelling from all over the country to take a trip on the Sharpness Branch Line. On behalf of all our Friends and Wings and Wheels Society members that travelled on the VoBR special trains, we would like to thank all of the VoBR Volunteers and trustees, logistics companies, The Social Club, Rail Adventure and Network Rail for making the day a very memorable, enjoyable and relaxed experience, for without their hard work and vision this would not have been possible. We certainly salute you all, having certainly put the VoBR on the map as a small but mighty individual heritage railway.
Video by Matt Bigwood
Pictures by Rich Kelsey
