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Moorlands and City Railway

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Guest, Oct 14, 2009.

  1. Guest

    Guest Part of the furniture Account Suspended

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    It is being reported that this company has acquired Leekbrook to Cauldon Low and is also negotiating for Stoke to Leekbrook.

    Can anyone comment??
     
  2. p/wayman

    p/wayman Member

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    What you say is indeed correct and the company and the CVR have reachd an agreement that each can run over the other companys rails.
     
  3. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    presumably there is a commercial interest in the acquisition of Stoke - Leekbrook - Cauldon Low which I guess is the re introduction of rail freight (can't see it being a NSR competitor but of course I could be wrong) but does open up some interesting possibilities

    Are you able to expand a little more ?

    Many thanks in advance
     
  4. p/wayman

    p/wayman Member

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    What it can mean is that there can be 4 stations of arrival or departure, Soke(a new platform would have to be built for heritage trains), Leek (new station proposed), Caldon, Froghall ( At a later date Alton Towers ). As you can see an exciting project. MCR also take responsibity for the maintenence of CVRs main running track leaving bits and pieces for the CVR p/way.
     
  5. dace83

    dace83 Well-Known Member

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    It would be great if a park and ride scheme could be set up for Alton Towers (I know AT already have large car park) but a 'ride to the theme park behind a steam train' could be popular with families with small children

    Didn't they have a pipe problem on the trackbed though?
     
  6. ilvaporista

    ilvaporista Part of the furniture

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    I'm not so sure about a ride on a steam train to Alton Towers. For those with families it's enough to keep the kids quiet with the excitement of getting to Alton Towers, add in a delay of changing to a train and an extra few quid thrown in and the car might just win.

    I can understand direct trains form major cities arriving at the park gates, that would be a good source of revenue.
     
  7. p/wayman

    p/wayman Member

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    The idea is that MCR would run the trains to Alton using modern trains but I think there would be room for the CVR to run some, especially for people who are staying at resort for a few days, giving them another option of seeing the beautiful moorlands or perhaps a steam train from another part of the country, with the option of Alton Towers or the CVR.
     
  8. david1984

    david1984 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Indeed, i think that idea should be given a wide berth, it takes all day to do Alton Towers properly and im pretty sure a steam train ride would lose out in favour of spending more time in the park, Leek is a better option as a interesting destination.

    Only thing really in favour of going to Stoke would be a mainline connection, otherwise as appealing as the flu, anything down at Cauldon Low ?.

    If it happens i can still see Froghall - Leek being the core heritage use route with only occasional forays to Stoke & Cauldon.

    Presumably the new company is looking at freight work from Cauldon Low & Oakamoor onto the national network ?.
     
  9. p/wayman

    p/wayman Member

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    I gather David you've not been from Stockton Brook to Leekbrook.
     
  10. Thompson1706

    Thompson1706 Part of the furniture

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    How many miles of track does this lot add up to ?

    Bob.
     
  11. p/wayman

    p/wayman Member

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    Taking in a line to both Alton Towers and Leek which is 3miles it would be about 30 miles.
     
  12. Merlin

    Merlin New Member

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    This is commercial suicide unless there is a regular freight fow from Caldon
     
  13. david1984

    david1984 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Given passenger trains ceased on these routes long before i was born i can't say i have, hence why im curious about the Cauldon Low line, i do however know that Stoke is pretty much the opposite of appealing however, even if the line to it isn't too bad.
     
  14. chris meadowcroft

    chris meadowcroft Member

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    I believe the plan is to run coal trains up to the quarry at Caldon Low (MCR) and return product out of the quarry to Stoke (MCR). Passenger trains from Stoke to Alton Towers (MCR). I believe Mark 2 coaches and class 47's are being proposed for this.

    The CVR will then run steam trains from Froghall to Leek with free use over the MCR owned track.

    With the upgrading of the CVR track paid for by MCR, all MCR services are proposed to run at 45 or 60 MPH (All still to be agreed) with the CVR continuing to run at 25MPH over their own track and 25MPH over MCR track.

    So what does the CVR get out of this?

    The current CVR track will upgraded to the same standard as the national network along with it being fully signalled.

    Access to the national network to allow charters (steam and diesel) to visit the CVR.

    Visiting steam and diesel locomotives via the national network for galas etc.

    Trains running back to Leek (a long term aim of the CVR/ NSRC).

    Trains up to Caldon Low (5 miles of this line is on gradients of 1 in 45 to 1 in 60 - imagine that at galas!) and special steam charters running to Alton Towers.

    So the CVR stands to benefit on a massive scale from this project.

    With a potential to run over 30 miles of railway, the CVR could become the longest heritage railway in the country (Standard Gauge).

    Regards

    Chris
     
  15. chris meadowcroft

    chris meadowcroft Member

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    La Farge at Caldon Low are very keen for the rail connection to be re- established as are the local council.

    The is approximatly another 150 years left in the quarry so more than enough demand in our life times!

    Regards

    Chris
     
  16. Pesmo

    Pesmo Member

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    has there been an official press release ?
     
  17. Pesmo

    Pesmo Member

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    Ah Sorry, I see that there is one on the CVR website

    http://www.churnet-valley-railway.co.uk/main/mandcr.php

    One thing that doesn't get a big mention there is that with a population not far shy of 20,000, Leek will probably be getting back a proper national rail passenger service if all this falls into place. It wasn't on the ATOC list of proposed re-openings but something like this will change that
     
  18. chris meadowcroft

    chris meadowcroft Member

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  19. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    Any rail reopening should be applauded and I for one pass on my best wishes to this scheme and those involved and look forward to the 8F on the line to Caldon Low if only for a photo event
     
  20. Christopher125

    Christopher125 Part of the furniture

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    To be honest, im surprised there's a viable business plan - i dont know how much money those involved have but they must be extremely wealthy....!

    Chris
     

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