For Sale - 20 miles of narrow gauge railway

Bala Lake Railway has launched an appeal fund to raise £10,000 for two miles of track and a number of points. That would be sufficient for the town extension and other improvements, as well as replacing some of the main line. The appeal can be found at http://www.balalakerailwaytrust.org.uk/trackappeal.html .

 

Steel sleepers with welded housings should not be a problem.
Such items exist on the main lines around the UK so what is the problem for narrow gauge?

I have been involved with installing many miles of steel sleeper track and have met Welded and Hook in types.
Pandrol e clip and fastclips.

 

The problem is if you wanted to change the gauge (e.g. from 2 foot to 15 inches). How much work and cost would it be to unattach both welded housings, move them to the new gauge and reattach them? I realize something similar has to be done with wooden sleepers, but in some cases (as here in NG lines in Sweden) no housings are involved, only spikes. Even if the wooden sleepers have chairs, it's presumably easier to unscrew a chair rather than unweld one?

 

So there is no problem with the sleepers if you are going to use them at their original gauge.

 

Well, the blog suggests that its shifting...............

 

Errr, which blog is suggesting that what is shifting??

 

Sorry

http://brownfieldsitesolutions.co.uk/re-sale-of-narrow-gauge-railway-line/
Re: Sale of Narrow Gauge Railway line.


GLS would like to say thank you to everyone who has been in contact regards the sale of the Narrow Gauge Railway lines. Special thanks to Steve @ Webmaster@ingr.co.uk for posting the ad on his site. Apologies to those of you I have not got back to directly. We have been overwhelmed with interest regards this sale.

To clarify:

• 25 miles narrow Gauge track available.
• Not possible to use rolling stock on it (this is not permitted by the MOD)
• All line turn-offs, bolts, lines : All metal involved in this infrastructure is for sale at £120.00 per tonne
• VAT is charged where applicable
• Minimum quantity per customer: 5 tonnes.
• Buyer to uplift and remove all material.
• We will be available on site for weighing only as we have a weighbridge on site.
• Wooden Sleepers for sale. Realistic offers will be accepted.
• No sleepers to be left on the ballast if only rails are removed. To be tidily put aside so as to keep access clear and safe.
• Will post week beginning 08/02/16 when convenient to view on site. Hopefully should get clearance by then.Watch this space.
• We would prefer if all interested parties could contact each other direct and arrange between yourselves to share resources.
• I will be emailing you all later today with further info.
• We suggest one basic method statement and risk assessment (RAMS) to cover all interested parties (not individual) so if all agree it keeps simple
• Any further enquiries contact either myself: David on 07836 753753 or Charles Jaholke: 07831 261236

Many thanks again for all you interest and I look forward to working with you.

General

 

Does anyone know what weight rail the BLR/RhLlT use on the rest of the line? Are they exactly 2 foot gauge? One assumes that if not, they'd try and buy the wooden sleepered part of what's for sale....

 

I wonder if Toddington NGR might be interested @BillR ?

 

Hello,
I am sure they would be interested, something to run you model coaches on!

Nick

 

Track might be just a tad wide for that. I'll post some pictures in the model railway section when they're in a reasonable state of display.

 

We had a little chat about this over lunch yesterday.
As the half dozen or so who do most of the work at the NGR are into their 70's now, they're not to keen on all the graft involved, I as a somewhat younger member don't blame them. We also are not in need of any additional track although I do sometimes come out with another hair-brained idea for which a point or two may be handy .

We are always looking for volunteers, so anyone thinking about it, don't be afraid to join in with us.

 

I have been told that part of the BLR main line is 25lb rail.

 

Maximum recommended axle load for 35 lb/yd rail is 3 tonnes, which give an f.o.s of 4:1, based on a 900 mm sleeper spacing. Reducing the sleeper spacing will increase things slightly but axle loads are never constant so, even with 760 mm spacing, I wouldn't go much above 3 tonnes. Sleepers are also rarely perfectly evenly spaced.

 

Mainline spacings are generally 700 or 650 mm for 26 or 28 per 18.288m length in some situations 600 or 30 / length are used.

I can also say that on recent relays on the NYMR spacings are as dictated as my Back and Tape measure will testify.
Maybe slightly modified by the action of the tamper.

 

Recent NYMR relays have been to a much higher standard than is really necessary for 25 mph/22T axle load; not that there is any problem in that.
In my experience narrow gauge (and industrial) tends to be a bit more variable. Plain line isn't really too much of a problem but joints can lead to larger gaps where they aren't opposite, as does P & C work.

 

Has anyone considered getting a few groups together so that transport costs can be shared and the minimum amount minimised. We need points, we have enough track. It is a long way for us to get to Scotland but if there others in the South that are interested maybe we could sort something?

 

Mr C - I understand that the vendors want purchasing groups to liaise on working parties so there should be an element of co-operation. I had an enquiry from France that I forwarded on to the BLR manager. Whereabouts in the south are you?