Leiston Works Railway

Hi All,

I have just noticed this

http://www.southwoldrailway.co.uk/wordpress/?p=280

which i then found this

http://hcmti.co.uk/content/leiston-works-railway

What do people think ?

Personally i'm a fan of industrial/works railways anyway and being near strood am a fan of Aveling and Porter, so this project looks like it could be one of my favourites.

Also, I know its early to say and really way to early to be looking to the future but running up to Saxmundham mainline station anyone ?

 

Not really sure in what to make of it. I do wish all the best for the project and I have a believe that it could be very worthwhile

 

This bit puzzled me "as it is believed to be the only known instance of a preserved railway engine being able to run again along its original track bed."
There must be umpteen locos running on tracks they ran on prior to preservation.

 

Unless it was meant as it is the only project that specifically exists to allow an engine to run on its original rails and not just as an extra bonus later on

 

Probably not worded properly, but I think what they're getting at is that 'Sirapite' was the very first engine that ran on the line just after the railway was constructed? Can't think of many preserved railways that have an operational engine that would have originally ran on the line from the very beginning.

I dunno, I'm probably wrong! Im no expert on this.

 

Tallylyn & Welshpool for starters! - can't think of any standard gauge ones atm though.

 

It's funny you mention those! As soon as I posted that, I was thinking to myself that some railways in Wales would be good contenders. Any others out there?

Still, sounds promising, looking forward to visiting!

 

Ffestiniog, of course, and L'aall Ratty.

On the standard gauge Nora, a Barclay tank, spent its working life at the Big Pit and is still there.
Not quite the same but KESR's 32670, was sold to the original KESR Co. in 1901 and worked there until 1954. And 32678, KESR's other Terrier, also worked there 1940-1958.

 

None of the engines at the R &ER worked on the railway when it first opened - it was 3ft gauge at the time! They didn't even work there when it was regauged all were later additions to repalce the BL and other "scale model" engines.

 

Talyllyn, Festiniog, Welshpool & Llanfair? All projects founded using original locos and in some instances original rolling stock.

 

But they were'nt built for the loco, they just had the locos to use, they had other reasons to build the lines.
As far as I can make out, Leiston Works Railway is only being built to give Sirapite somewhere to run.

 

Splitting hairs now. The Leiston Works Railway, as I understand it, is not being built on a green field site but it will be a reconstruction of what was already there. In my book this is no different to any other project where a railway has been reopened/rebuilt to facilitate the running of the lines original locos and rolling stock.

 

True True.

However, this is till an interesting project for the reasons about my personal preferences, i meantioned in the first post (i.e Aveling & Porter loco, industrial/works line)

 

Agreed. A very interesting project indeed.

 

Been around a while, I think I started a thread in 2010 when I saw the engine. Defo needs a longer run! Saxmundham to Sizewell line will be disused when nuc traffic ceases this decade (sizewell A). Might be used for Sizewell C construction but I see limited use as the line isn't near the station. You have a prime heritage railway in the waiting.

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1773882

Old line used to run here and across the road
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1773927

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1774779
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1774788
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1774827

 

Nor did Sirapite work at Leiston either when the railway opened or when the loco was built. It was built for another railway and went to Leiston later. My point was the Ratty locos (and Nora) are still on the line for which they were built.

 

The NCB Barclay at the Bowes. Sold new to the Bowes in 1949 and now preserved there. OK the railway was there before the loco but 22 is working on the line for which she was built.

 

Don't forget the Planet diesel 101 also at Bowes. Brought in 1955 to work the newly opened curve joining the Bowes railway to the Pontop railway (this section of the Bowes had been rope and horse worked until opening of the curve which required loco's to work the traffic to the Springwell yard). Worked at bowes until closure in 1974, did the rounds of local pits before arriving back in 1979.

Photo here shows the diesel on the track it was brought to work

http://aligrieve.smugmug.com/PreservedRailways/Bowes/18193220_Th9TQn#1397995904_FhSqmtc

 

I think we've now made the point about original loco, original track....

Does anybody have any other news, website, more info etc

 

http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/historic..._to_become_major_tourist_attraction_1_4410281

I visited the Long Shop musuem some years ago before Sirapite was finished, a fascinating collection and hopefully this will enhance it. Will be interesting to see what happens w.r.t the planning permission for the housing development.

Regards,

Dan