Individually Crafted Items made from Brunel’s GWR Broad Gauge Track

Here at Industrial Modern Furniture we love a story and this piece of history coming back to life is just incredible!

Going back a few months ago, some of the wonderful volunteers of Portishead in Bloom found some very old rail track. A few locals thought it was possibly very old and knowing of John’s love of metal and wood offered it to him.

After further research it was confirmed that this was genuine “Broad Gauge” track from an old GWR line!

Let the history story begin….

Isambard Kingdom Brunel designed his Great Western Railway to be the finest in the world and its trains originally ran on Brunel's broad-gauge tracks. Brunel’s idea was that the broad-gauge track (7 ft ¹⁄₄ in [2,140 mm]) would carry larger carriages and indeed it did. Today our trains run along standard gauge rail track (4ft 8in) which is traditionally shaped in the style of a capital letter ‘I’

The track is believed to be Portishead Track and some of it has been repurposed for you to keep a ‘Piece of Portishead History’ in your home. Gifted to Industrial Modern Furniture by Portishead in Bloom, John and Karen have ensured that various museums have exhibits of this track as it is believed to be Brunel’s Broad-Gauge Track. We have learnt that hundreds of men were involved with the removal of Brunel’s Broad-Gauge track in 1880 when the Portishead branch line was converted to Standard Gauge Track. These men worked the line to convert the track within 3 days, from between Sat 24th and Tues 27th January 1880 This is well documented within train enthusiast groups, on Wikipedia and at Transport Museums. We were helped locally with information from Portishead’s Paul Gregory of The WC&P Railway Group (historical light railway)

Wikipedia quotes that The Portishead Railway is a branch line railway running from Portishead in North Somerset to the main line immediately west of Bristol, England. It was constructed by the Bristol & Portishead Pier and Railway Company, but it was always operated by its main line neighbour, and was more usually thought of as the Portishead branch or the Portishead railway.

It opened as a broad gauge (7 ft ¹⁄₄ in [2,140 mm]) line to connect new docks at Portbury, at the west side of the mouth of the River Avon, with the railway network. The line opened to Portishead in 1867, and to the docks in 1879.

Repurposing this historic track has been an absolute privilege for John and these items are now available to buy.

So, whether you live in Portishead, or you are a railway enthusiast or fascinated  by Brunel, here is your chance to own a genuine piece of history at a very affordable price!

Ideal as a special treat for yourself or as a wonderful present.

For further gift ideas please visit the Gifts Section of our website.

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