What's your dream obscure railway restoration project?

Presumably in the reopened Waverley the fine Borders scenery is still fine? Or has reopening/modernisation spoiled or removed the hills?

 

I hadn't noticed any of those enthusiasts who are getting excited about the reopening of part of the Waverley Route actually mentioning the scenery at all.

Nice try at being clever though, old chap.

 

Yes, when it came to route duplication it was obvious which main line would go, given that Kinnaber-Dundee-Kirkaldy-Inverkeithing passes through so many more centres of population.

The Strathmore and Glenfarg main lines must have been quite a ride, given the arrow-straight lengths of the former, then the climb up to Glenfarg and down the other side of the latter.

I'm still entirely unconvinced that all the money being thrown at the Tweedbank siding will l ever be recouped, although time will tell if I'm right or not. After Gorebridge it runs through pretty countryside but not a lot else until you get to Gala. And, knowing both Gala and the A7 very well, I remain unconvinced that it will become Edinburgh's new commuter belt where everybody jumps on the train to go to work.

Of course, the argument goes that it shouldn't be about recouping costs, it should be about serving the community. However, that brings us neatly back to our earlier exchange about the Strathmore route and it's branches. Railways which don't make money end up closing!

However we shall see and if my doubts are proved to be unfounded then all well and good. I'm just not as blindly evangelistic about railway reopenings as many enthusiasts seem to be!

 

I did have a wonder about this, would we still lament say the Somerset and Dorset if it had survived and we had could still travel along it but in say a 153? Or is it all those lovely Ivo Peters photos that tug at the heart?

 

My thoughts exactly. The romance of the past does seem to give potential railway re-openings an overtly rose-tinted view.

I was brought up in the south east and would have given my eye teeth to see the KESR, the Hawkhurst, New Romney and Cuckoo branches in their heyday - or as much of a heyday as they ever had. As we all know, part of the KESR survives... but how many enthusiasts would visit it if it was bus shelters and half-barrier crossings with the occasional modern two car DMU shuttling up and down? I'd wager it would be a tiny fraction of those who visit it with steam, semaphore signalling, crossing gates and three of the original station buildings (not sure if Rolvenden is original?)

 

For me I think I would like to see the Ouse Valley (Sussex) line actually built. Used to drive through the embankment at Lindfield every day to get to school, town etc. I was fascinated by what was left of the bridge/retaining walls and indeed all the other relics and earthworks that still survive from the 1860's . As its very sparseley occupied land a lot of the route is open at least as far as Uckfield. The line would pass under the Bluebell at Poleay Bridge en route to Uckfield thus giving them three mainline connections. What is more, if the powers that be re-opened the line from Uckfield to Lewes ( as should happen anyway, there is traffic for it) and all was electrified then that would ease the traffic a bit on the overcrowded Brighton line on the double track section south of the viaduct, if Lewes , Eastbourne and Hastings services were diverted onto the Ouse Valley Line.

Right, now the real business. Station east of Copyhold with a bay up and down, interchange station with the Bluebell at Poleay bridge with berthing sidings and sheds if possible (flood plain permitting) yes you've guessed, for the SR heritage Electrics to shuttle between Copyhold and Uckfield between the one or two hourly bigger railways trains. Would keep the juice and steam apart but close together.
Winners all round I'd reckon.

Oh! just thought, whack a junction onto the Ardingly branch, 2Bil Horsted Keynes to Sheffield Park anyone?? 5Bel outings to the seaside???.


I think I need to go and lie down

 

I've heard people suggest, not 100% in jest, that a better southwards-extension for the Bluebell would be to pick up the Ouse Valley and go to Uckfield rather than Lewes

Tom

 

Actually, funny you should say that because my sister who lives in North Chailey told me recently that a lot of strange people live in Lewes, HQ of two pagan cults, and until recently the leader of the council was a white witch, or am I missing the point.

 

Think you've been reading too much uninformed tabloid outrage about the Lewes bonfire societies...!

My mate's family owned a farm down Cinder Hill lane (between North & South Chailey) in the late 198os. I used to go there a lot and know from personal experience that there are an awful lot of 'strange' people live in that area. That is, if you consider 'strange' to be Pony Club types who are remarkably stuck up and full of their own self-importance!

Having worked and socialised for a number of years in both Lewes and Uckfield in my mis-spent past, I know which one I'd rather get a steam train to!

 

Sorry don't do tabloids, do do research though, look up SUBUD and OBOD, which is the world’s largest druid movement. The chair of Lewes council was until recently Marina Pepper, a Witch who organised a Winter Solstice celebration and breakfast for councillors. As at 2008 the mayor was Merlin Milner* anag of merlin.
Oh and the Associated Conjurers of East Sussex meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month there.

PS avatar

 

I've changed my mind......either the Manx Northern or the County Donegal!

 

I'd still rather spend any amount of time in Lewes than the godforsaken hole that is Uckfield! At least the 'strange' people of whom you speak are no doubt largely harmless, unlike those enjoying kicking out/off time at some of Uckfield's less salubrious boozers. Of which there are a number...

 

Totally agree with you there, only ever socialised in Uckfield once and that was quite enough thank you. From a railway point of view I think Lewes station and its history is fascinating, definitely one of my favourites.

 

Rail restoration dreams tend to fall into 3 categories.
1. Those you hope for that actually happen eventually.
2. Those that could physically happen but don't, usually for financial reasons.
3. Those that are pure fantasy. eg. reopening the entire Somerset & Dorset line, including the Highbridge branch.

From No. 1. I wanted all of the lines that could physically open a main line connection to do so. Many already have and, others will follow.
I wanted all of the British engines and carriages exiled abroad to be returned home. Almost all have. The 2 A4's returned home, then went back, despite cash offers to retain them. That apart, most have returned. The only other one still lost in space AFAIK, is the Terrier in Canada. Devon Belle and Churchill vehicles have rightly come home.

From No. 2. I would like all demolished steam sheds on preserved railway land, to be rebuilt, as said in Defunct Preserved Railways, for both practical and historical reasons. Few show any interest, although 1 or 2 may de so.

From 3. Well, anything you like...... make scrap firms rebuild engines like Alberta, 73069....... Hey look at that flying pig!

 

Rebuild Belah Viaduct! Too much money unfortunately to ever be done - and even if it was made, then the maintenance would be expensive I imagine. A real shame.

I hope Appleby East and Kirkby Stephen East rejoin once again. The best heritage railways they say go from somewhere to somewhere and that fits the bill.

 

No argument from me there.

Years ago, after one of many particularly long and determined nights in the Royal Oak (Lewes), my pal and I were walking (well, staggering) back along Southover Road and he had the bright idea of walking along the parapet of the railway bridge. Of course the inevitable happened and he promptly fell off... on the wrong side. Fortunately he was so wasted he managed to completely miss the railway and land in the undergrowth. although it was still quite a drop.

A great deal of swearing and thrashing about later, he finally emerged onto the eastbound platform, clothes torn and absolutely covered in scratches but otherwise none the worse for the experience. I honestly don't think he felt a thing.

Had the barrier been manned at that time of night, it would have been interesting to hear his reasons for not having a ticket

 

I've just been re-reading an old Railway Magazine article about the abandoned lines of the LBSC and realised that I'd forgotten that the Uckfield to Lewes line originally entered Lewes north of the tunnel at Hamsey. So that would make life easier, and from google sat the original formation has not been developed! I have also found a brilliant map of Lewes circa 1898 showing what looks like all the 'way and the works' in the development of he stations there, very interesting. http://www.oldtowns.co.uk/MapShop_sussex.htm.

 

The Castle Douglas to Newton Stewart section of the Port Road (Dumfries to Stranraer), rebuilt to Cape gauge and operated by some of the British built locomotives stored in South Africa which are facing a bleak future. Imagine a 25NC or GMAM garratt (but more likely a 19D or 24) pounding over the moors--someone (with loads of money, naturally) make it happen!

 

Restoration of that line would make a fantastic tourist railway.