The Dean Forest Railway

The Dean Forest Railway to Parkend - September 2018

My first round trip to Parkend since it re-opened

'5541' and brake van	'5541' and brake van	'D9555' at Norchard, DFR	'Don Corbett', Hunslet 5622
'Isca Foundry Newport'	BR 'M51566' and Hunslet 6688	BR 'M56792' at Norchard	'Uskmouth 1', Peckett '2147'
AB '2221' of 1946	'152' approaching Norchard	'152' approaching Norchard	'152' approaching Norchard
Refilling the tank of '152 Rennes'	The DFR Tool Van at Norchard	'E50619', 'M59387' and 'M51566', Parkend	'E50619', 'M59387' and 'M51566', Parkend
Parkend Station	Parkend Station headshunt	Parkend 'MR' wagon	Parkend 'Parkend' wagon

The Dean Forest Railway - Lydney Junction to Norchard

Previous visits to the Dean Forest Railway

5541 at Lydney Junction	5541 at Lydney Junction	5541 at Lydney Junction	1450 at Lydney Junction
1450 at Lydney Junction	1450 at Lydney Junction	PO wagons at Lydney Junction
St Marys Halt and Crane	St Marys Halt, 1992	St Marys Halt, 1992	Middle Forge Junction
'Wilbert' at Norchard	'Wilbert' at Norchard	DMU at Norchard	DMU at Norchard

Lydney Harbour to Parkend

Lydney Harbour - ST 6400 0150

Lydney Canal at Station Road	Lydney Harbour upper basin	Lydney Harbour upper basin
Lydney Harbour lower basin	Lydney Harbour lower basin	Lydney Harbour swing bridge
Lydney Harbour coal drop	Lydney Harbour sealock	Lydney Harbour sealock
Lydney harbour limekiln	Lydney harbour pillbox	Lydney harbour pillbox
Pine End veneer works	Pidcocks Canal below St Marys Halt, Lydney

Lydney harbour barges

A number of old Severn barges were grounded on the estuary side of the habour, including the 'Nibley', 'Ripple' and 'Onyx'.

Hulk of the 'Nibley' built in 1895	Hulk of the 'Nibley' built in 1895	Hulk of the 'Ripple' possibly
Hulk of the 'Onyx' built in 1900	Hulk of the 'Onyx' built in 1900	Lydney Harbour barge hulks

Norchard to Parkend

Norchard Upper Forge	Upper Forge dam at Norchard	Rickety bridge at Norchard	'West Glos Power Co' metal pylon
Thomas's Level, Pillowell	Parkend Ironworks siding	Parkend Ironworks siding	Parkend Ironworks siding
Parkend Ironworks siding	Parkend tramroad to Oakwood	Parkend tramroad to Oakwood	Parkend tramroad to Oakwood
Parkend tramroad to Oakwood	Parkend Ironworks engine house	Parkend Ironworks engine house	Parkend village beside the tramroad

Along the Severn Estuary

Beachley Ferry and camp

Beachley Ferry pier

Beachley Ferry pier

Beachley Ferry pier

A 'Nissan' hut at Beachley Camp

Purton and Gatcombe - SO 6706 0489

Purton Pill (on the West bank of the Severn) was planned to be a coal-exporting centre in the 1820s. A 'Steam Carriage Road' was planned in 1826 and again in 1830 but came to naught. The only thing built in anticipation was this 3-arched viaduct at Purton.

Purton Viaduct	Purton Viaduct	Purton Viaduct.
Purton Viaduct,1971	Purton railway bridge	Gatcombe culvert

Severn Bridge

The Severn Bridge was opened in 1879 and destroyed in 1960 when two barges collided with it, bringing down two piers. Severn Bridge Station was at the Lydney end of the bridge and there was a swingbridge over the Sharpness Canal at the other end. The sunken wrecks of the two barges can be seen close to the far bank at low tide.

Severn Bridge Station	Severn Bridge Station
Severn Bridge piers	Severn Bridge swingbridge piers	Severn Bridge barges

Odd Spots

Hewelsfield GCC boundary marker

Brockweir, concrete block

Noxon Park ironmines, Bream

Noxon Park mine - SO 5920 0605

A whole host of opencast and underground iron mines are hidden in Noxon Park, near Bream. They date from the mid-1800s and are a weird jumble of scowles, quarries, pits and mines. The Gwent Caving Club visited a few of them, one of which had the signs of a recognisable tramway.

Noxon Park iron mines

Noxon Park iron mines

Noxon Park iron mines

Noxon Park iron mines

Noxon Park mine - SO 5922 0601

Noxon Park iron mines	Noxon Park iron mines	Noxon Park iron mines	Noxon Park iron mines
Noxon Park iron mines	Noxon Park iron mines	Noxon Park iron mines	Noxon Park iron mines
Noxon Park iron mines	Noxon Park iron mines	Noxon Park iron mines	Noxon Park iron mines
Noxon Park iron mines	Noxon Park iron mines	Noxon Park iron mines	Noxon Park iron mines
Noxon Park iron mines	Noxon Park iron mines	Noxon Park iron mines

Other Mines and Workings in Noxon Park

Noxon Park iron mines	Noxon Park iron mines	Noxon Park iron mines	Noxon Park iron mines
Noxon Park iron mines	Noxon Park iron mines	Noxon Park iron mines	Noxon Park iron mines

Moseley Green

Independent Coal Pit No 6 - SO 6322 0893

Moseley Green, North, 1901

Independent Coalpit No 6

Independent Coalpit No 6

Independent Coalpit No 6

Moseley Green New Engine Colliery - SO 6313 0826

New Engine Colliery	New Engine Colliery	New Engine Colliery	New Engine Colliery
New Engine Colliery	New Engine Colliery	New Engine Colliery	New Engine Colliery

Blackpool Bridge - SO 6520 0865

Blackpool Bridge, FoDCR

Blackpool Bridge, FoDCR

Danby Lodge - SO 6430 0819
Bailey Hill - SO 6410 0775

Danby Lodge air shaft

Morses Level, Bailey Hill, 1878

Morses Level, Bailey Hill

Morses Level, Bailey Hill

Bullo Pill

Bullo Pill - SO 6900 0990

Bullo Cross accomodation bridge	Bullo Cross Inn and tramroad	Tramroad crossing the A48	Bullo Pill viaduct
Bullo Pill viaduct	Bullo Pill viaduct	Bullo Pill houseboat	Bullo Pill boatyard
Bullo Pill boatyard	Bullo Pill boatyard	MV 'Altea' moored near Newnham	Ex Scilly Isles 'Island Rover'

Soudley

Great Western Ironworks and the Haie Hill tunnel, Soudley - SO 6654 1013

Towards Bradley Hill tunnel	Haie Hill tunnel	Haie Hill tunnel	Forge Cottages
The Great Western Ironworks	The Great Western Ironworks	The Great Western Ironworks	The Great Western Ironworks
The Great Western Ironworks dam	The Great Western Ironworks gate	The Ironworks tramroad route

Acknowledgments, sources and further reading.

Thanks for addition information and photos to :- Ian Castledine, John Wood, Hopewell Colliery, Phil Conway-Jones (oldindustrial.wordpress.com), Mark Turner (Onecall Cabs), John Wood