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Disused Tracks in Surrey

Discussion in 'Narrow Gauge Railways' started by robgolding96, Jul 20, 2011.

  1. robgolding96

    robgolding96 New Member

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    Hello All,

    Just found this intriguing picture on t'internet and was hoping if anyone knew anything about this old line? Guess it was laid to serve a farm?

    For the record I did not take the picture, and naturally I fully respect the landowners privacy etc.

    http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2032278

    Thanks,
    Rob
     
  2. ragl

    ragl Well-Known Member

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    Could be something to do with the Rampton collection, which I think is in the vicinity.

    Cheers

    Alan
     
  3. richards

    richards Part of the furniture

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    It's fairly close to the Top Gear test track. So might be a narrow gauge trial for their latest programme? They'd have to use very small caravans, mind you!

    Richard
     
  4. Christopher125

    Christopher125 Part of the furniture

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    Haha, methinks not!

    The Phyllis Rampton connection is a great shout, its a mere stone's throw away - surely no coincidence. Failed attempt to build a line for the collection perhaps?

    Chris
     
  5. Christopher125

    Christopher125 Part of the furniture

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  6. goldfish

    goldfish Nat Pres stalwart

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    I know exactly where that is, but had no idea there was any kind of railway nearby. The little White blobs in the field to the NE of the road are actually white deer…

    Simon
     
  7. Charobin

    Charobin Member

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    The failed attempt to build a railway for Peter Rampton's private collection of locomotives was the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway. I think Peter Rampton may also have had an involvement with the brief proposal to build a 2ft gauge railway on the Guildford-Horsham branch line but I will need to check. As far as I am aware there have been no plans to build a public railway for the collection on Peter Rampton's farms.


    Charlie
     
  8. Foxhunter

    Foxhunter Member

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    I think that the Rampton Trust will concentrate its efforts on the VoR - this was released by the BBC news last year:

    "A narrow gauge steam railway in Ceredigion has received a £300,000 cash injection. The assembly government money will help pay for a restoration workshop for the Vale of Rheidol Railway's historic locomotives. The grant is part of a £1.1m investment programme by the Aberystwyth-based tourist attraction, which will safeguard eight jobs and create eight.

    The railway has 40 engines in its collection, although 37 need restoring. Work has been carried out on them outside Wales because of a lack of facilities. A railway spokesman said two steam engines and a diesel were in use in Aberystwyth. Eight of those requiring restoration are stored in the town, while the others are located in Surrey. It also has 16 carriages and 13 are in use.

    The railway, which was built to transport lead ore and then tourists, dates back to 1902 and was the last steam railway in the UK owned by British Rail until its privatisation in 1989. The first phase of a 10-year development plan starts this summer following the £300,000 grant from the Welsh Assembly Government. As part of the plan, the railway will construct an 1,800 sq metre restoration workshop, and it will also be used to train engineering apprentices. The long-term proposals are to expand and develop the railway as a tourist centre attracting enthusiasts from across the UK and abroad with a range of facilities including a museum, shops and café.

    The assembly government gap funding will enable the railway to access £600,000 from the Phyllis Rampton Narrow Gauge Railway Trust, with the remaining money coming from the railway. Robert Gambrill, secretary of the Phyllis Rampton Trust, said: "Part of the workshop will be used to train youngsters in heritage skills and we will use the engines as the training tools and plan to build up a fully trained and skilled workforce. The intention is to offer apprenticeships and create long term jobs and help boost the local economy."

    Railway manager Neil Thompson said it could cost about £350,000 to restore a locomotive. "It also means that the skills we need are not being developed locally which is why we are very keen to ensure the workshop will become a key centre for skills training," he added. The railway carries 35,000 passengers annually between Aberystwyth and nearby Devil's Bridge. It currently operates between Easter and October."

    I suspect this is very much "Phase 1" of a plan to re-locate the collection in Aberystwyth in a purpose-built facility and use the VoR as the running line. After all, the Trust owns the lion's share of the VoR so it would be bonkers to try and start from scratch elsewhere. Very much a "watch this space" scenario.

    Foxy
     
  9. SpudUk

    SpudUk Well-Known Member

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    SOmething to do with that rather large hosue? It seems to run for quite some distance along the field? What a mystery!
     
  10. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

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    Possibly some connection with the former Wey Valley Light Railway (became the Old Kiln Railway eventually) ?
     
  11. AndrewT

    AndrewT Member

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    BBC = accuracy?

    Get out more.

    Worst cut and paste 'journalism' on the planet.
     
  12. Christopher125

    Christopher125 Part of the furniture

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    True, but it cant be a coincidence that the line is in the field opposite Peter Rampton's house, the contact address for the Trust. There's a few other photo's on geograph showing the line curving round to the south, ending next to the shed.

    'Collection X' throws up another mystery!

    Chris
     
  13. Foxhunter

    Foxhunter Member

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    Err.... so what is so wrong, huh? I agree that the Beeb is somewhat confused about the number of locos on the VoR but the gist of the story is quite intriguing, the railway got a grant and plans expansion, true? If you know different Andrew, maybe you can enlighten us......

    Foxy
     
  14. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

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    .. and the best are .. ?
     
  15. kalahari

    kalahari New Member

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  16. kscanes

    kscanes Resident of Nat Pres

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    I posted this question over on the Industrial Railway Society discussion group, http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/IndustrialRailwaySociety/ and the reply came back that it is definitely connected with the Rampton collection.

    I'm doubt if there was ever any intention for it to be a public railway, but some fform of test track makes sense when you have so many locos .....
     
  17. kalahari

    kalahari New Member

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    Are any known to be in working order?
     
  18. Richard66

    Richard66 New Member

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    I would assume that the working locos are at the vale of rheidol railway and the surrey location is just used for storage of the un-restored locos (until they can be transferred to the new workshop at the VoR).
     
  19. AndrewT

    AndrewT Member

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  20. kalahari

    kalahari New Member

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    As far as I know there are only two workable steam locos at Aberystwyth, VoR Nos.8 & 9, and the others are all unrestored. The KS "Wren" No.3114 is a a runner but is on loan to Devon Railway Centre.
     

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