Swindon and Cricklade Railway General Discussion

So as there is no general discussion thread for the Swindon and Cricklade Railway, thought I would start one
Intended for general news about the railway and hopefully might bring a few more visitors/members

Please add any news or things you want to discuss

 

So to start off I will post some good news.

1 The railway has been donated a large amount of track and signalling materials from the closure of Didcot A power station. Originally there was two large loops where merry go round coal trains would come in and unload, but the new Didcot B power station is gas powered so no requirement for coal trains. The Didcot A has already been demolished so the railway had just a short window to recover the track materials before the site is redeveloped and this recovery is now complete so there is now enough rail to lay to Cricklade with some spare.

You can read more about it here http://www.swindon-cricklade-railway.org/Didcot.pdf

2 Second thing is that the railway should be getting an all new website soon. I have seen the test version and it looks very good. I wont post the link yet until it has been officially switched over to the proper domain name.

 

That is a wonderful windfall for the line which must have given everyone a great impetus - even if it meant a large number of week ends achieving the removal. It is also pleasing to hear of the interest by the local community, rather than obstructions.

 

It has actually been known about internally since the beginning of the year as they have been working on it, but they have only released the info recently now its complete.. If you bear in mind, I understand just one 60 foot length of steel rail (rail only) is around a £1000 to buy new, you can see how much of a boost it has been.

 

All sounds good. The line tends to feel a bit below the radar but there's some interesting projects there - not just the Cricklade extension but the carriages that are being restored and no doubt other stuff that I'm not aware of. Hope this all progresses smoothly for you.

 

Well done for this spectacular achievement!
I hope the stuff is in reasonable nick. In the early days of the GWSR we laid track with just such recovered material, but today 30 years later some of it is clearly substandard (all in sidings, fortunately) with rails of different thicknesses, worn out wooden sleepers, GWR throughbolters etc.
On the other hand, you can get lucky and acquire FB on concrete sleepers.

 

Thanks for the good news. It's very fortuitous for the S&CR to obtain more than sufficient track materials to get to "somewhere" (Cricklade) at last. Also very good news about the impending new website as I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking that the current one is, well, blooming awful in most respects. I've not visited the Railway since 2008 when I felt that it was very much a "nowhere to nowhere via a linear scrapyard" railway but things have clearly moved on. I look forward to seeing the new website and also to visiting the Line again in 2019.

 

If the track sees you through the next 20 years or so, that will be similar to what we have done on the NYMR
Another mile of BH concrete track getting renewed this winter, that was laid in back in 1993.
It got us through a few lean years.

It is a long time since I called in must call again.
Off hand I think it was 1981.

 

So I see the Railways new website has now been switched in. Have a look and see what you think. More stuff is intended to be added/changed with it, but if you have any feedback I will pass it on to the person doing it.

www.swindon-cricklade-railway.org

 

A great improvement on the old website. Well done to all concerned.

 

Well done. A massive improvement on the old site which, in my opinion, was usually far too cluttered and out of date. I'm sure it will get even better as more material is added.

 

Looks very good compared to the old messy site. A few more tweaks here and there and it will be spot on!

Keith

 

A good improvement and less cluttered as has been mentioned. I not there is an appeal for the repair of drainage and ballast for the extension. Put them on your Christmas Card list.

 

Owsden Hall is being regularly worked on and the group doing so have this facebook page which shows the latest progress and bits for it that have been made.

https://en-gb.facebook.com/OwsdenHall

 

A great improvement. It's actually navigable!

Andy

 

I really like the Swindon and Cricklade, it's endearingly amateur in the best possible sense. Reminds me of the early days of preservation on some larger lines. Everyone seems to be having fun whenever I've visited, and there's loads of pet projects all over the place. As the line expands I really hope it manages to retain its friendly and individualistic character.

 

I see there is a review in heritage railway magazine about the SCRs Driver experience courses. You can read details about them here (both steam and diesel)
http://swindon-cricklade-railway.org/driver-experiences/

 

The Swindon and Cricklade are replacing a point at the moment at the approach to Hayes Knoll station. Previously it was a very short point with a sharp angle but it is now being replaced with one of the ones obtained from the demolish Didcot A power station which is much longer and a more gentle bend. It isn't finished yet and needs ballasting etc. See various pictures here. The old point can be reused.

https://www.facebook.com/SwindonAndCrickladeRailway/