Extension Projects

In the same vein.
Swanage - Wareham possibly?

 

In my alternative dream world the East Grinstead extension isn't finished, the high level station should be rebuilt and reopened and Network Rail diverted into it, and the Bluebell should get all of the low level station, with an extension through to sidings beyond.

Pure W.I.B.N. in the purest of its most pure forms of course, but hey, it would, wouldn't it?

 

I can't say that I've traced the route out on the ground, but doing a "desktop study" it does look like the necessary land to do the Network rail diversion isn't heavily built on:

http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=16&lat=51.1280&lon=-0.0173&layers=176&b=2

(Set the transparency slider - bottom left - to about 40%).

Off topic - that website is great for WIBNeering. I'd suggest heading up on the spur line through the East Grinstead low level goods yard to the high level goods station, and then heading out east towards Tunbridge Wells...

Tom

 

Pretty much the same thoughts I had (a couple of years ago, mind). Well, the way to achieve this is to convince someone to extend NR towards Tunbridge Wells, that will get most of it built on someone else's budget. Off you go then... remember to invite me to the opening since I thought of it first! ;-)

 

Oi, I used to think about it when I worked there 18 years ago! My idea, my invite!

It would be interesting to see how East Grinstead would cope with reversion of Beeching Way to it's designed use

 

According to the Steam Railway Magazine, the Swindon & Cricklade railway will extend it's railway line northwards to Cricklade.
https://www.steamrailway.co.uk/steamnews/2017/11/27/swindon-cricklade-extends-northwards

I wish them good progress in the coming months! Hope to see tracks being laid soon
Their Website: http://www.swindon-cricklade-railway.org/
Follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SwindonAndCrickladeRailway/?fref=ts

 

The estimated budget seems a tad on the tight side. That said, I wish them all the success in the world. The ability to store stock beyond the reach of Swindon's less sociable element will be a major relief to all.

 

Indeed, I do hope they can extend north to Cricklade. However, according to the S&CR website, work started on extending northwards to Cricklade in 2013 so this isn't really news Steam Railway. See http://www.swindon-cricklade-railway.org/farfield.php#top
The Swindon & Cricklade Railway started in November 1978 when a group of enthusiasts met to try and regenerate part of the old M&SWJR ( a line that I've always found fascinating). Since then they have made some progress on extending both north and south of their HQ at Blunsdon. I always find their story an interesting comparison or contrast to the GWSR, which was originally formed as a society in 1977 to try and save what is now a thriving heritage ex-GWR main line.

I do find the S&CR's website somewhat cluttered, with some sections rarely, if ever, updated. However, since I've no real knowledge of web page design I'd better say no more, except to agree with those who argue that a regularly refreshed and updated website is crucial to business these days.

 

I really hope this goes ahead & that it's a successful project for them. It seems back in the 70s the army had a brill time enjoying themselves going round blowing up bridges

On another note, the lavender line could do with extending at some stage too as they've got a class 309 EMU (3069624) joining their fleet very soon & it'll need a bit of a leg stretch as its being returned to passenger carrying condition again. Are the lavender line able to extend in either direction does anybody know?

 

I don't believe they plan to extend for now as there is a movement to reopen the line as a network rail service between Lewes and Uckfield, though I believe The Lavender Line actually own the track bed (not just leasing it and so government can have it back when it expires etc) so would have to be bought out. I vaguely remember a few other prospective sites being looked at to transfer what they could do should the line be reopened, but couldn't tell you which, and part of the cost of buying the line would be network rail relocating the society elsewhere.

 

@Luke McMahon with (at least) two groups seeking reopening of the Uckfield - Lewes line and the folks at Isfield on record as saying they've had a good run and aren't getting any younger, let's just say I'd be extremely surprised to see any earth shattering developments on the Lavender Line and I'll leave it at that.

 

As far as I remember, the Lavender Line has a former level crossing at the south end and a rather decrepit and overgrown bridge at the North end. Going either way would be expensive.

 

The crossing gates looked operable, last I saw them (and very presentable too). As I've only ever seen Isfield from a passing bus, which always seems massively oversized for the country lanes, I'm none to well up on the overall layout.

 

Why the term "Carmarthen North" persisted for as long as it did I'll never know. Its not even north of Caramarthen, its actually off to the east.

Abergwili Jnc is a much nicer and more accurate name.

I suppose you could have gotten away with calling it 'Carmarthen East', had the A40 not been slapped on the trackbed up to the demolished bridge. And there was no realistic possibility of replacing that metal monster, not without sinking the railway.

 

I agree Carmarthen North wasn’t the most inspiring, that’s why the project was rebranded as “Abergwili Junction” and that proved altogether more successful....

The A40 hasn’t obliterated the whole trackbed and a path is in theory possible but to be honest the time, money and effort involved in getting a TWO towards an urban area just for the sake of a mile of track that doesn’t even connect to the network....Gwili efforts are best spent in other directions in my humble opinion.

Matt

 

See https://uk.yahoo.com/finance/news/axed-beeching-rail-lines-re-opened-102057347.html#mycomments but not listed on this https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/663124/rail-vision-web.pdf http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42157853

 

I glanced through half a dozen on-line articles on "reversing Beeching closures" as a result of my daily headline trawl earlier today (search 'newsnow transport rail' ... a useful compendium of the day's stuff from rail industry publications to local rags .... replace 'transport rail' for any other interests, e.g. one my other regular trawls is 'science astronomy').

I get the distinct impression that announcements from DaFT are little more than the ususal political posturing and 90% will amount to no more than hot air. Nothing unusual there! Show me something with at least an outline plan and budget and I might just start to pay attention.

Cynical? Perhaps, but there are thousands of good reasons why folk rate the trustworthiness of politicians (and much of the 'news' industry, for that matter) some way below estate agents and second-hand car salesmen and the credibity of the current Idiocracy, with a track record which scarcely inspires any confidence whatsoever, rates several (logarithmic) levels below an already pretty pathetic datum.

Believe it or not, I'm quite content in being a person who's rarely disappointed and even occasionally (very occasionally) pleasantly surprised!

 

Not that I'm cynical but it seems to have got a lot more airtime than the fact that the taxpayers are bailing out another East Coast operator

 

Now that's my kind of cynicism .... after all, when you're a govenment you don't get to smuggle out unwelcome news behind some timely headline grabbing irrelevancy nearly often enough!

 

These people seem to think that it is more than possible...
http://trawslinkcymru.org.uk/language/en/
Although where the £700 million (I think it was) for Carmarthen to Aberystwyth is going to come from I don't know.

Perhaps that's the loose change they've saved from not electrifying the line west of Cardiff...