Vale of Berkeley Railway

Now if only there was a bridge connecting Sharpness and Lydney there could be some interesting links between this and the DFR!

Nick

 

Shame, I was looking forward to a railway called the Beaver Line. There is an article by Tim Petchey in the latest RAG about moving the Winchcombe Railway Museum to the docks. Where did you find the "solid names"? I can't find anything on Facebook, although I am not very familiar with this so I might be missing something obvious.

 

Hmm, hmm, and another hmm. Other than that, I'm almost lost for words. I'm surprised they've moved (or are moving - it was still at Toddington last month, will have a look on Saturday) the 4F already, rather than waiting until it had been finished.

 

Does this mean 44901 may make a move too? I seem to remember the Churchill group being mentioned with regard to obtaining a boiler for her?

Chris

 

It seems an odd line to want to try and preserve. What if anything remains of the stations?

 

Mike Hoskins (individual named as part of the VBR) was indeed involved with 44901 proposals. Interesting development, just wonder how successful the line could be?

 

Was it only Mike Hoskin or his group as a whole (or at least a part of it)?

Out of interest, does anyone know how much stock the 8f group has, and would it count as 'a lot'? I know of one or two CCTs on the GWSR. Or does it suggest another individual with more stock to his name?

 

Mike Hoskins is the name given in their press release, but I guess he just the figurehead for this VBR scheme.

 

Bumped into Mike Hoskin and also Paul Richardson who posts on here from time to time at the GCR ( N ) when they were having some fun with the 8F. Mike mentioned the 4F moving there very soon and 44901 at some point also. Work on getting the boiler back from Turkey still very hopefull but awaiting the government to form and then the right person can tick the box for them. They plan to bring the whole loco back from Turkey so it would make a good source of spares for 44901 and the 8F they already own. I really wish them the best down there, and is there a posibility of a railtour from here to the Dean Forest? Would be an interesting one!

 

I work on the DFR as one of the owners of D9521. I've already offered our knowledge and experiences of Class 14s to the VBR in anticipation of their 14 project arriving from the GWSR. Geographically we are only about 2.5 miles apart - but a lot longer by road! The idea of a railtour sounds appealing and of course the MV Balmoral uses both Lydney Harbour and Sharpness Docks as calling points during the season. Point to point is just over a mile! I wish them all the best and look forward to some joint activity in the future!

 

I wonder if a bus, boat and boilers heritage gala could be put on! Would be a superb day out!

 

Indeed! But tides wait for no man so timing would be critical for the boaty bit!

 

Personally, I'm very sorry to see the 8F and the other stock moving from the GWSR as they gave some variety and 8Fs were not rare on the Honeybourne Line in BR days. However, locos and rolling stock do relocate and variety is the spice of life I guess. I also assume that the new group at the Vale of Berkeley is not connected with the previous promoters. I wish the new scheme well.

I recall that the GWSR once possessed 3 Class 14s and I will always associate the Railway in the early days with these rather imposing little diesel locos. I assume there will soon be none there soon. This is a photo I took of D9537 at Toddington in March 1984.

 

True, variety is the spice of life and whilst I was sad to see the 8F go locos always move. However locos are under contract and other things are a little more precarious.

 

The website is not actually very informative as most of it is WIP. So, are the Turkish 8F which used to be at Toddington, the 4F which is still (?) at Toddington, and Black 5 44901 which is I know not where apparently going to this line?

 

I've heard rumours definitely about the 8F and by way of association the 4F for some time moving there, since the 8F left and it was announced we wouldn't be running the 4F. Very little on the 5 at all though.

 

Is 44901 at Toddington?

 

No, has never been here, and I can't recall the GWSR publicly announcing anything related to it. I don't think there was even anything sent to volunteers, and we were alerted to the 8F. What's left of it is stored at a private site in the Midlands IIRC. The boiler is of course still in Turkey.

Does anyone know what state the on site shunter is? I believe our youth group had been cosmetically restoring it before it left, I never got involved though.