Moorlands and City Railway

I'm quite new to this thread so excuse my ignorance, but what actually is the plan? From what I can gather, the CVR want to run from Leek to Alton Towers along one route, Waterhouses along another, and Endon along a third. Is that right?

 

TKH will be running if repairs are complete.

 

OK, it's complicated. MCR intend to run freight from the Cauldon cement works/quarry on to NR at Stoke via Endon. They also want to run passenger services from Leek to Stoke. CVR wish to run to Waterhouses IF the freight line is reopened. Currently they run over MCR metals to Ipstones, but CVR are buying the p/way from Leekbrook to Ipstones to keep running rights until this happens. CVR are also looking to extend the Churnet Valley service to Leek, ahead of MCR reopening to Stoke. Ultimately they would look to extend to Alton Towers, but that's very long term. Of course a main line connection at Stoke opens up a host of other possibilities too. Endon is a short term aim, and a cafe has just opened there.

I hope I've got this right, but I'm sure my colleagues will put me right if not.

 

Can't see much out of place. Hopefully the following works to give you an outline of the route map (though the Waterhouses branch is missing from the Cauldon Line after Winkhill).


Not sure how permanent the Heritage service to Endon will be though. It is proposed as part of the initial re-opening, but once the full line to Stoke is operational I'm not sure whether these services will be extended to Stoke or lost to any MCR Stoke - Leek service. Either way CVR have access rights to MCR Network, so possibly CVR services to Stoke will be reserved for Special events only (ala NYMR Battersby).

 

Jon,

That's slightly out of date - MCR east of Ipstones should be dotted now.

 

It's Mini-Mox's fault, he didn't update it last year for me! (though there is a possibility I never asked him to...)

 

I think you will find that my webpage that that image was taken from is now history - so I'm signing over the update rights to lil Bear

RE: CVR's intentions - folks be careful what you read into - whilst I'm sure we're all confident that the CVR will grasp any good opportunity given their way - I'm not sure there have been any official intentions from the company published stating that extensions to Waterhouses/Alton Towers will be pursued. I'm aware of a publicly made intention to run west to Endon short term and north to Leek mid/long term but not sure of anything else. I may well be wrong though!

 

Chris, all I can say is that we very nearly laid the turn-out for Waterhouses a few years back and cleared to first 100m of track-bed. All water under the houses now of course

 

Chris - I hope you don't mind an update of your diagram
I hope this looks about right.
edit - better as jpeg - next

 

Track diagram jpeg

 

Waterhouses intentions
http://www.churnet-valley-railway.co.uk/news/cauldon-branch

Alton Towers has always been stated as a long term goal since the 90s, but since MCR creation there hasn't been much mentioned regarding CVR. Everything at the moment is (rightly so) concentrated on Leek and the Ipstones Track Appeal (which has been extended until Spring 2015).
http://www.churnet-valley-railway.co.uk/support-us

 

The Leekbrook triangle added to the diagram - another longterm aim

 

Neil, could you make that a bit more obvious on the map please?

 

Does this amendment meet your approval? Had to make room so that the dots showed.

 

Hi Neil. I can't see it?

 

The briefest of mentions, but as always I'm happy to be proved wrong!

 

I noticed yesterday there has been some tidying up and tree cutting work done along side Bucknall park. All quite recent. It hadn't been done around 2 weeks ago, the last time I looked down there.
Anyone know anything about it?

 

As far as I know nothing has been signed if it had I think it would start at Endon. Most likely it could be electric or telephone companies clearing around poles apart from that cannot help you.

 

Its all gone very quiet on here.
Is there any news at all on how things are progressing, or not?

 

No news, still waiting on an agreement to come to fruition between Network Rail and MCR.