Welsh Journals

diverted to the bridge (opened in 1879) across the Severn at Sharpness until a temporary platform had been erected near the Black Rock Inn and the ferry restarted. Construction of the Severn Tunnel was, by then, well under way so it was not thought worth while making very extensive repairs to the pier. In spite of the much reduced timing for the journey offered by the ferry, apart of course from the unfortunate interruption to the service mentioned above, the inconvenience of two changes from one form of transport to another plus the discomfort of rough, wet and cold weather during many a Severn crossing, especially in winter, meant that an alternative route was urgently needed. This was the Severn Tunnel on which work began in 1873 though it was not until 1st December 1886 that the first passenger train ran through it. The Severn Tunnel was positioned just south-west of the ferry route so that the mileage between Newport and Bristol was reduced only slightly. But the fact that no changes of transport now had to be made reduced the timing of the fastest scheduled journey in 1888 to less than an hour. (See Table 1.) The timetable page reproduced in Table 2 includes, apart from the train times, a number of interesting details not the least of which are the advertisements. The heading 'Bristol and South Wales Union Rail- way' indicates the name of the company initially concerned with the railway ferry. From 1864 the line was worked for them by the Great Western Railway and in 1868 both companies amalgamated. First, second and third class fares are quoted for journeys from Bristol, Port- skewett and New Passage to the other stations named. Also listed are the ferry tolls. At the time of writing­July 1978-it is possible that the Government may decide to go ahead with plans for the erection of a nuclear power station in the Portskewett district. Should this come about it seems that most, perhaps all, of the few features still remaining as evidence of Black Rock's rail ferry history will eventually be obliterated. Some References D. S. Barrie: 'The Bristol and South Wales Union Railway' in Railway Magazine, Vol. 79 (1936), pp. 423-427. A. Buchanan & N. Cossons: Industrial Archaeology of the Bristol Region (1969). Illustrated London News, 5 September 1863, p. 245. Christopher Jordan: Severn Enterprise (1977). Harry Lewis: Gwent Panorama (1975). E. T. MacDermot: History of the Great Western Railway, Vol. II (1964). T. A. Walker: The Severn Tunnel-Its Construction and Difficulties (1891). Ordnance Survey Six Inch Monmouthshire sheets 30 and 31 (Surveys 1880-1881). Railway timetables: See those listed under Table 1 plus the following:- Great Western Railway Service Timetables, Oct.-Dec. 1881, printed for the use of the Company's servants; Cardiff ABC Railway Guide, July 1882 (Daniel Owen & Co.).