Integrated Transport At Barry (Part 2)

Coal And Cruises?

The Barry Railway Company was made wealthy by coal, but sought to increase profits by developing its passenger business. One cunning plan was to latch on to the lucrative summer cruise business across the Bristol Channel to Weston-super-Mare, Ilfracombe etc. There would be passengers "the other way" to enjoy the delights of Barry Island's beaches and, of course, the funfair.

Accordingly a twin track tunnel was created from Barry Island station down the hill (1/80) to a specially built dock for passengers vessels.  The western portal has graceful curved wing walls ...

... whereas the eastern entrance sprang out of sold rock.

At some stage the tunnel was singled ...

... to allow the construction of an extra level siding to the east of Barry Island Station.

A good few pictures exist on-line of a DMU rail tour towards the end of the station's life; seen here entering the tunnel ...

... and waiting at the platform at the seaward end.

And below, a train at the platform - with access to the pontoon barred. Maybe the pontoon had already been removed?

Barry Pier railway station was a railway station in Barry Island, in Wales. It was the terminus of the Barry Island branch line, was authorised in 1896 and opened on 27 June 1899 when the line was extended from Barry Island railway station. There was a 280-yard tunnel connecting the two railway stations which descended at a gradient of 1 in 80. The last steamer Balmoral called at the floating pontoon located beside the station in October 1971 and the last train (a special excursion) in April 1973, but Barry Pier station was not officially closed until 5 July 1976.

The tunnel is now bricked up at both ends but the west end has an access door to the partly used section of the tunnel for a rifle range and a metalled access lane from the Barry Island road system to the tunnel portal is laid on most of the former inclined trackbed falling towards the tunnel portal.

Note the former "excursion" platform for Barry Island station on the right.

This slightly over-enlarged picture shows ...

... a substantial stone quay with a large floating pontoon allowing access at all states of the tide. Towards the left, the black girder construction was a hydraulic lift (taken out of use quite early on) and a covered ramp leading up to the platforms. It was, as they say, a proper job! And an expensive job!

The Company was gleefully expecting local cruise operators to jump at the chance of extra passengers to and from Barry - but it did not quite work out. The boat operators said they would only call at Barry Pier if the company paid them a subsidy!

The problem was that boats from Cardiff would often arrive full leaving Barry passengers stranded. The existing operators reckoned that there was insufficient Barry business to put on an exclusive boat.

So the Barry Island Dock and Railway Company obtained a licence to run their own boats, emblazoned with red funnels.

Below, two vessels are in operation with two trains on hand to serve them.

Note the Pier station had two platforms and a couple of sidings sandwiched between the platform roads.

The conditions of the licence were not favourable. Only passengers and their luggage could be carried, so no lucrative parcels or freight! What was worse, only passengers from Barry could be carried (out and/or back), so no opportunity for day trip business from ports on the other side.

Clearly the boat business was not the money spinner that the company had hoped. Business declined still further with the railway grouping and GWRs rationalisation of railways in the valleys.

At least a couple of the vessels found their way to Dunkirk (and back) but only occasional calls were made on special boat tours (i.e. Balmoral) in more recent times.

So, what remains of this intriguing little bit of transport integration in 2021?

We can see where the station was (by the text "Lifeboat Station" on the old map above), but what remains today?

We will see tomorrow as part of our usual "Variety" blog.

Let There Be Lights

This is a Faller station model factory fitted with lights (actually, probably just one light!). You can see the problem. Light spills out through every crook and nanny, even shining through the slightly translucent walls. By painting the inside of the wall's with thick black paint and masking some of the cracks, things look a little better.

But, how often do you see a building with every window lit? Here is the famous model railway at Hamburg ...

... and you do wonder whether every window in the station would be illuminated in reality.  Of course, it looks very pretty as a public entertainment but perhaps too illuminated to be realistic?

fbb has started the process of stringing lights through the low relief buildings on top of the retaining wall behind Peterville Station. The lighting begins with the cafe and marquee ...

... seen here on the workbench. They look OK in full daylight, but what will they look like when it is dark. And how will they work in the rest of the "street" as darkness falls?

A bit of a challenge? A bit of a bodge?

 Next Variety blog : Saturday 10th July