Redundant Network Rail assets for Preservation

Network Rail is keen to see its redundant assets find a new life where this is possible.

The offer of this bridge to the Stainmore Railway was made in good faith although we clearly understand that circumstances change. When there are a number of railways seeking a particular asset we would always seek to accept the offer from one that is appropriate either geographically or in terms of the railway that originally built it.

Where heritage railways (who are members of the Heritage Railway Association) or registered museums wish to obtain particular redundant assets they can contact us by email NDSRedundantAssets@networkrail.co.uk or call Jerry Swift on 07795 688672 in the first instance. We would ask that approaches are only made by Chairman, chief operating officers or other authorised officers of railways or their associations.

 

What an excellent first post!

 

And gives a good indication that Nat Pres is widely read by others who don't post. People should always be mindful of what they say and who might be reading it.

 

Agreed. I am sure this information could have been sent directly to or through ARPS but this shows an excellent example of a willingness to inform a wider interested audience. Let's encourage this to continue by maintaining the standard of our discussions in 2014!

 

ARPS became the Heritage Railways Association [HRA] many years ago I believe but agree totally with the substance of your post.

 

If so, I'd like to draw attention to what looks to my amateurish eyes like a fascinating survivor in need of a good home (and A LOT of TLC!) I went to do some shopping yesterday afternoon in Newent, Gloucestershire, a 3-4 mile walk from my home and the nearest town. As it was a pleasant afternoon and I had time on my hands, I decided to have a look at what was left of the station site, having been inspired to look more recently at the local railway history of this area after being loaned a couple of interesting books. For the record, Newent was on the GWR's Gloucester-Ledbury line, which closed to passengers in 1959 and to freight in the 1960s. I was able to identify the sitet by the line of pine trees to which the GWR seems to have been partial in this neck of the woods (see Cheltenham Racecourse or Broadway, for example). Very little else to see, with platforms, etc all gone, but I did spot something looking remarkably like the remains of the old station footbridge - or perhaps part of it. I wouldn't vouch for it, and have no idea who owns the station site, but if any heritage line of GWR origin needs another footbridge at one of its stations, there's a few substantial lumps of rusty but historic old iron looking for a new home.

 

Interesting, although I think the gwsr is fine for footbridges at the moment, with one limed up for broadway and probably crc too, unless it went to replace the Winchcombe one...

Hope someone can find a use for it though, Swindon and Cricklade maybe?

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There is an old midlands style footbridge in place on the old Dursley Branch, or at least was when I last passed about 2 years ago. No idea if anyone still owns it though, and possibly the locals would be reluctant to see the back of it. There is a similar survivor on the old LMS docks branch in Gloucester as well.

There comes a point when you kind of wonder whats more important, maintaining history in situ, or removing these things to heritage lines where they can be maintained. After all, many of them cant have had a lick of paint in at least 40 years, and they are only going to rot out sooner or later.

Far sighted offer, it strikes me that Network Rail seem rather more proactive in trying to save these assets than British Rail used to be.

 

More like it removes an item from the redundant assets register and also lessens the risk factors.
Especially if the item is a listed structure.

 

Someone, somewhere will own it and more importantly, the obligation to make it safe. That obligation is often a good reason for getting rid.

 

Another good result here:

http://www.wsr.org.uk/news.htm

Ex Reading BR(W) Loco Depot to find an excellent new home providing water for steam loco use at Bishops Lydeard!

 

Good news for WSR, but Network Rail seem very difficult to get hold of - can anyone suggest a reliable contact?

 

I take it you have tried calling Jerry?

 

His contact details are in #1 above.

 

I wonder if you have been trying to make contact over the last few weeks?
Maybe he has been off on leave like a lot of other people.

 

I can't see contact details for other than sending him a PM , and his profile says he hasn't been seem since 31st October. That's quite an xmas break!

 

Have you tried emailing or phoning, as stated in the original post...? The email.address and phone number are both there somewhere in that first post.

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Missed the phone number, I'll try tomorrow.

 

Many years ago, I think somewhere near Minffordd, I came across a bilingual no trespass sign. Most of the paint had long since come off, making the writing illegible except from very close, and it was rusting away. I wrote to BR (as it was) asking to buy the sign and pointing out that in its current condition it was no use to anyone. They replied that it was needed.​