Weymouth Quay Heritage Campaign

Sounds to me like what you need there are some horse trams. Works well in Douglas...

 

I believe that Alf is an expert at re-gauging, stock becoming available soon. I think we are on to a winner!

 

Hello
a few photographs of the Quay Tramway last weekend


https://www.flickr.com/photos/25830408@N08/albums/72157661713401234

nick

 

I don't think you missed much! It should be pretty clear now why this is a 'challenge'. The paperwork for one level crossing fills a bookcase. Just imagine the workload for this.

 

How long has that signal been on red? 20+ years, the lightbulb must have been changed at least one time.

 

Nearly 40 years since I last travelled the tramway so thanks for sharing these recent images.

 

Possibly not. I missed it with my camera but there was a small rail crane just past the B&Q crossing either last year or poss 2014 during the big signalling upgrade. May have had a green to leave northwards.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Last train ran on the tram way in 1999.

There are a number of signals on network rail where the track has been lifted or is oou as the cost of redoing the signal equipment to remove them outweighs the cost of leaving them switched on.

 

Last train. Depends on how you define the tramway. North of B&Q xing still in use. Trains on it recently include Tangmere & PoB, a Class 33 with ECS and umpteen rail cranes.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Well if you define it as the bit that networkrail want to abandon, then it will be from the crossing downwards.

 

I have been to here and looked at it very well and I think it will not get reopened. I think the buffers would also need to be put back as Network Rail has removed them and I'm not sure how they would change the points anymore.

 

I look forward to travelling on the opening tour of this line, presumably on the same day it'll travel over the reopened line from Guildford to Shoreham, down the reopened Meon Valley line and maybe even the preserved Folkestone Harbour branch? Then we can all go home over the reopened Somerset & Dorset.

 

Not forgetting York to Beverley via Pocklington.



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

The meon valley line is not reopening as I have also been there and there is a massive bridge missing.

 

I know. I was taking the piss out of various hair-brained schemes which have been touted around on here in recent years but which have about as much chance of actually happening as I have of flying in the air. Although on reflection maybe the Folkstone one is slightly less barmy.

 

The pics show the good pieces of track. I was in Weymouth about three years back and walked the quayside section where there are a number of points. The wear on the blades and particiularly the V of the crossings was significant. Didnt take phots a didnt think of much interest then. Admittedly much of the pointwork not needed for pas use, presume the quayside loops were for freight, and could be replaced by plain track. Are thers any firms who coud relay the granite sets?

There is still the problem of parking. Obstructions were common when it was use. Clearing the cars many years later is not going to be easy.

 

Seriously if this were a light weight horse tram Town Bridge to Ferry Steps, and summer season only, it would probably be popular with trippers. Self-employed it might even make the operator some money until such time as the track/road surface wears out too far and same scenario as Douglas occurs. The converse side is it would lead to traffic disruption going slowly with the flow say every 20/30 mins and totally jigger it up going the other way against the one-way flow on the way down. To solve that the Co Council would probably want to shut the Quay to traffic permanently, that does not work and brings the Town to a stop when they do it for Food Festival etc.

Running on the north side of Town Bridge would be pointless as a tourist run as little extra of value to look at. The Loop would be the absolute terminal, and only as it offers the off-road stopping point.

The above also ignores the desire of many locals to have the track covered over for safety, which as an out of use track, has a pressing case with only sentiment and lack of money the reason for it not happening.

Sadly it's time came and went. Let's move on and get the turntable in as soon as possible.

There may be locals who want it, many will not due to these traffic issues.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Deeply biased article condemning Weymouth council and Network rails action to remove the line, which hasn't been used in the 21st century
http://www.dorseteye.com/south/arti...gbpl&st_refDomain=m.facebook.com&st_refQuery=
The article also states that there are over 150 preserved railways in the uk, I can't name that many.

 

One can hardly criticise this as being a "deeply biased article" when it is plainly a reader's letter and as we well know the letters pages of our local newspapers thrive on contrary opinions. Also, there is an implication that not having been used is a reason not to restore it to use. Disuse was of course the foundation of virtually all heritage railways. Some railways were not just disused but destroyed such as those to the Borders, Airdrie to Bathgate, Larkhall, beneath Annesley Ridge, North Norfolk, the Welsh Highland etc. To me Weymouth seems an ideal location for a Parry People Mover operation; wind up the flywheel at each end and cruise away.