Tytherington / Sharpness branches

[Max Webster]

Does anybody know why the Tytherington branch (South Gloucestershire) has been blocked by a 'Stop' sign for a few weeks now?
Conversely the Sharpness branch a few miles north has been looking shinier than I've seen it for a long time - has this gained new traffic beyond its usual occasional nuclear flask train (maybe even stone out of Tytherington?).

[DaveJ]

I'm not sure about Tytherington (must admit that I thought it was closed),but the only traffic to use the Sharpness branch is the weekly Berkeley nuclear flask service.
Actually,when I say weekly,that's not technically correct - the service runs "as required",although I've not known it to be more than twice a week.
Hope this helps.

[steam for ever]

Well I think the sharpness branch has a heritage project. Quite exciting that so this may have been from track surveylance trains for passenger quaility assurance.

[saxokid]

Originally Posted by steam for ever

Well I think the sharpness branch has a heritage project. Quite exciting that so this may have been from track surveylance trains for passenger quaility assurance.

Ive seen article on this in one of the Rail mags....lol...

[roncarr]

A little while ago I saw some road/rail plant being unloaded at Tytherington quarry. Maybe they are doing some work at that end of the line.

[Max Webster]

In case anybody is sat at home desperate for news about Gloucestershire freight branches I should add as a post-script that the old order has been resumed with the Tytherington branch now 'unblocked' (and showing signs of a little use), while the Sharpness branch is back to its once-a-week-if-you're-lucky appearance.