Churnet Valley Railway General Discussion

A little something from Friday evening at Cheddleton during the overnight 'keeping the coaches warm'! Thanks to Jon & Ben!

Few the full set here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/frank47524/sets/72157649220484249/

 

The wild weather forecast didn't materialise. PWay today were in three groups one was clearing dead trees before they fell on the line. We were glad of the fire to keep us warm. Later we all met up at Cheddleton, just in time for the planting of one of the mileposts alongside the platform.
The Santa train passing after taking water.

 

As a change from coaches the C&W guys have 2 weeks to do repairs on a guards van they have already repaired the roof and are now in the middle of a repaint one side has the undercoat on. meanwhile in the engine shed renovation is going on with the lathe recently purchased.

 

I have come back lately to this after some works time and, as regards to the perceived "splitting of trains," cobblers, bitched about by Clog & Knobnuts, I would like to point out that, besides Stoke - Milton Junction being double track, (I have photos), there is plenty of room at MJ to install a siding of, say, 775 metres, or whatever the current max. is. I am sure that, if a similar facility was laid, near the old Stoke shed, by the junction with the main line, any currently conceived train frequency could be accommodated.

Then, they could always re - instate the double track throughout, with stations at, Bucknall, Milton and, maybe, Abbey Hulton?

 

There would have to be two sidings, one facing in either direction for the empties and the loaded ones. As signalling is required at Leekbrook it wouldn't make ant sense to have another signal box at Milton, it would all be done by one interlocking at Leekbrook. There isn't enough room at Stoke Junction and in any case the MCR does not have a lease there. You don't know very much do you.

 

Evening,

Photographs from Saturdays (13/12/14) Santa & Steam now online at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/frank47524/sets/72157649329173349/

 

And of course you know it all.

 

Mod Hat on...

Less of the insults please...

 

I am unsure why there would have to be two sidings, since you only need one loop to pass two trains.

I did not say anything about signalling, merely pointed out the space available. Signalling is for people who know what they're about in that black art / science. I'm not one of them.

I find it difficult to believe there is no space at Stoke Junction, since it was double track, but I haven't seen the location for 40 years, so I can't argue.

I know nothing about MCR's leases, other than what I've read here, or elsewhere, but they're irrelevant to what I said.

I grew up in the area in the 50s and 60s and the line between Bucknall and Milton was my playground. I lived in Sneyd Green, about half a mile from Milton Junction, from 1960 until steam finished and spent quite a bit of time there. I had many footplate and brakevan rides on that line and later on the line to Oakamoor sidings after the through line closed. I was one of the founder members of the North Staffordshire Railway Society until I joined the Severn Valley in 1971.

I have been a volunteer on the SVR since then, working on the P.Way, steam crane driver since 1975, Class 25 driver for 12 years and on steam footplates since 1979, driver since 1996, but, you're right. I don't know much.

 

That B & W shot coming out of Consall is quite beautiful.

Regards,

jtx

 

In the interests of consistency, the post to which the response was made did state:

.......perceived "splitting of trains," cobblers, bitched about by Clog & Knobnuts, I would like......

in which the corruption of the user name may also equally be seen as an insult and which didn't receive a warning.

Just saying, like.

 

So you're saying that the post I referred to had received a 'invisible' warning?

 

But you understand my point about consistency in this case?

The underlying theme in this thread is that the poster 'clog and knocker' does attract a fair amount of what may be termed 'name calling' but when that poster inludes a fairly innocuous but perhaps ill-advised (in my opinion) comment in a post then a public warning is received.

 

We could of course, in equality and fairness...

1. Just lock the thread
2. Ban the topic
3. Ban everyone associated with it..

But then thats not fair moderation and heavy handed, but it would be at least consistent and fair on those upsetting the thread.

True some members attract more than others, everyone deals with it differently.
.. the aim is peace in the thread, if that means different approaches so be it...

Bottomline.. if taming the thread isn't working, the mods will get more heavy handed, upto and including banning members and locking threads, no matter how much unpopular that is, and we all aim to try not to have to do that...

so back to topic and no more name calling please.

 

I heard someone say 66's would be banned due to the gradient change at Ipstones being so severe, there was a risk of grounding with the low slung fuel tanks, not sure I believe such a reason but thought maybe seeing if anyone can confirm/deny.

 

Last bit of Pway work for 2014. A mixture of measured jacking & packing and pad changing, with some looking for gold in the ballast as a little light relief.

There was some joking and name calling but cannot be reported here.

 

Your past experience would appear to still hold true. Outline Planning Permission granted this evening for Barnfields (which includes the new station at Leek). Plenty still to be decided and agreed upon before anything physical comes to fruition, but things seem to be heading in the right direction.

 

Not heard that one before, and would question it's validity. The summit at Ipstones is severe, but bad enough to beach a 66..?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/frank47524/6150655789/in/set-72157630882151776