the important industrial city of bristol generated a massive demand for coal, for domestic and industrial purposes, and the proprietors of pits in the coalpit heath area, about north-east of the city, turned their attention to wagonways and tramways as a solution to their transport problem. numerous schemes were put forward, but none gained the necessary financial support until the bristol and gloucestershire railway was formed, in october 1827. in this article the bristol and gloucestershire railway will be abbreviated to b&glosr.