Churnet Valley Railway General Discussion

Lil Bear - Did you see the Lee Sharpe's post on facebook about 4366's window frames & glass being in a box van on the MRC ?

 

Yes, but I also saw the incomplete chassis prior to purchase and have spoken with the MRT Directors directly - so a Facebook post won't change my original comments.

 

Interesting few days coming up in April... ft Leek line stub & Stoke line stub...

https://www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk/events/border-explorer.html

“As part of a series of events to promote and raise funds for our extension to Leek under the banner of Reconnect Leek we are running a series of special trains over 3 days where you can travel over every part of our railway.

The section towards Leek currently known as the Leek stub which was re-laid in October 2019 and opened by the leader of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council on the 11th October 2019 and also the first passenger runs down the Stoke stub as far as our boundary with Network Rail. Whilst these trips are not huge additional mileage it is travelling on parts of the railway which the public have not been on for many years. Along with the 2 stubs passengers will travel along the Churnet Valley Line and up the Cauldon Branch as far as Ipstones.”

 

Work commences on the new siding at Froghall in best Staffordshire monsoon conditions. Rails removed where the turnout is going to be, sleepers extracted and rails cut for where the switch is going to be. Tomorrow should see the long sleepers being installed and chaired up before the turnout is put in place.

 

Day 2 of the Froghall siding project was mercifully dry. Track bed scraped clean by the big digger and turnout sections transported from further down the track and installation commenced. The important thing is to get the Froghall loop operational again, which should be early next week.

 

Day 3 (Tuesday) at Froghall. Nice day, plenty of sun and it all went well - nearly got the nose of the crossing in place until we realised the scraping of the bed had not taken enough out and the sleepers were just a fraction too high and, worse, one of the long rails that we had cut to fit turned out to be manganese steel and we failed to cut holes for the fish plates. Take it out and get another.

 

Day 4 Wednesday
Sunshine and wintry showers todsy but could have been worse. Finally got the nose in place (but not yet quite sleepered properly) and the rails fishplated to it each side. Just the straight rail to get in and the loop is complete again.

 

Phew, I'm back down tomorrow and after the day I've just had, I almost wish I'd been down today!

 

2020 Dining Programme announced
https://www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk/news/on-train-dining-is-on-track-for-2020-success

MPD Winter Maintenance Update
https://www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk/news/winter-work-draws-to-a-close

Appeal still open for further donations

 

https://www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk/news/stoke-line-works-begin

Work started on clearing the Stoke Branch. Pictures on Facebook (don't know why they aren't showing on the webpage).

 

Really Good news about progress to Leek -

CVR have been awarded £1,427,906.83 for the construction of the railway line and associated train infrastructure to Leek.

This represents 80% of the total project costs. Grants over 50% are rare therefore this is quite extraordinary.

Thanks to the leader of SMDC and in particular the regeneration officers who have worked very hard to get this money.

There is still a long way to go however we are certainly going in the correct direction.

 

Congratulations!

Keith

 

Fantastic news, well done to everyone involved.

 

Just got to wait for the Council to release their Press Statement before we are meant to announce it...

Working Parties are being planned for the Stoke line.
And hopefully able to release details of how you can support us too in time for Border Explorer.

 

What's the 83 pence for?!

This is most specific financial award I've ever seen.

 

Tea bags.

 

Crikey. They’ll die of thirst if that’s all that’s in the budget for tea.

 

Fantastic news! As said, getting 80% of the total cost in grants is very rare, so brilliant news. As I've said before I'm afraid I can't work up the enthusiasm to travel all the way to Cheddleton for an S160 (not knocking their use at all, very sensible of CVR given resources) but the prospect of a 4F and 8F running to Leek is extremely appealing indeed, can't wait!

 

Well done on getting that award, many people must have worked very hard!

 

You don't know what you're missing out on, especially when we are operating to Ipstones. Give them a try - you won't be disappointed.