Defunct preserved railways

There was also a 2' gauge line in the grounds of the Army Transport Museum at Beverley.

 

Wasn't a 2' gauge railway also built, but never operated, at Duxford?

 

answering my own question, Google Earth suggests that the mortal remains are still there with stock on the isolated bit of the balloon loop at one end. https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.0877128,0.1209209,247m/data=!3m1!1e3

 

Now there's a waste of money. IIRC there was a grand scheme to restore and run a Baldwin 4-6-0T on the line as part of the WW1 section of the ground warfare museum.

 

I think they've gone these days - the Google Earth photos are quite old. I read somewhere that before the fuel store (I think that's what it is) cut it in half, it could only be operated on non-flying days because the loop was in line with the grass runway. Doh!

There's definitely still a section of the track coming out of the Land Warfare Hall.

It appears they also had Singapore for a while (on loan from what is now Rocks by Rail at Rutland I presume).

 

Singapore was indeed there for a while on a very short length of track. The loco had been a "POW" and was there IIRC as part of a Burma Star and/or VJ Day commemoration.

 

Google Earth's image is several years out of date - a further block of cottages has filled the space - even on the image, you would have needed Hornby track to access the building! (There was never room for a Turntable there - it was on the other side of the running lines in what is now the marine engineering site).

The NYMR did have chance of the shed many years ago and had the full extent of the site (some cottages could have been built without removing access) been clear, perhaps it would have been more viable. The idea was never particularly looked into at the time. However, the building has needed a lot of money spending on it and it still doesn't have a use. The owner is a local businessman and he tried to sell at Auction earlier this year, but there were no bids.

The other issue is how much it would cost to lay back in a connection to the network. As has been pointed out, the building would be neither large enough nor really suitable to keep both stock and loco in, so the advantage gained would be small.

Steven

 

I think there's a bit outside somewhere, only just noticeable, IIRC it is on the border between some grass and tarmac - somewhere

 

In about 1987 I was hired to assist with the installation of a two foot gauge line at Upwell in Norfolk. It ran between a car park and a museum being about a half mile in length. If my memory serves me right it had two locomotives and two carriages. One loco was a Simplex and the other a steam outline diesel. It was being marketed as the New Upwell Tramway. Is this private line still operating?

 

There was a private line near Royston, Herts. Think it was worked by a Manning Wardle 0-6-0ST. Access by prior permission/invite only. I never got lucky but a mate did. Can't recall its exact location.

 

The Manning Wardle in question was "Newcastle", now at Beamish.

 

How about The Welding Institute at Granta Park, Abington, just south of Cambridge - they had a 2' gauge railway for a while although it has since been lifted and I think most of it ended up here: http://www.hamptonkemptonrailway.org.uk

Article describing creating of the line for staff use around the site: http://www.iorw.org/article_april0406.html

 

Thanks.

 

I can, after looking at Google Earth, answer my own question about the Upwell narrow gauge railway. There appears to be no trace of it whatsoever on Google Earth. Main line, engine shed and turnouts appear to have vanished without trace. All that I could identify were the sheds that held the museum. A tremendous amount of money was spent on installing this line. What has happened to the track and equipment? Has it all been relocated elsewhere?

 

Hello,
Found this:

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creekmoor_Light_Railway
Long gone!

Nick

 

The ex-GWR Radstock - Frome line has been in the local press again recently, as those interested in re-opening it have one of their periodic re-emergences under a new name. This time apparently being headed up by Douglas Fear, he of ex-WSR, ex-L&BR, ex-S&DRHT fame. Not sure to what extent, if at all, it will be any more successful than before.

Before the DVR took on the Ashburton Branch, there was of course interest in the Kingsbridge line, but BR ripped it up too quickly (a bit like the Swanage).

As regards 'wandering items' and the mention of Dowty etc....the ex-S&D signal-box from Burnham (on Sea) went to the Yieldingtree Museum, and then to Dowty, and thence to Toddington, and then to the S&DRT at Washford where it remains.

 

Two more sheds I forgot about. Starbeck, Harrogate was cleared of undergrowth to reveal the floor and pits, similar to Goole but, work then stopped.
Southall of course, not technically preserved but, it is used by steam so, that counts. Are the GWSR still there?
Norwich City shed was moved to Weybourne.

Latest score:- Lost sheds 14 - Preserved sheds 9.

 

Ehh? GWSR at Southall? When was that!?

 

I think he meant the GWR Preservation Group at Southall Railway Centre: http://www.gwrpg.co.uk