Oswestry Update

It's the little details that make the difference. Preparations are ongoing for the opening of the extension to Weston. Here Steve and Phil show the two hand carts they have recently renovated.
Further photos have arrived and I will update the blog over the weekend. I seem to have lost a month due to the issues we are all dealing with.

 

Blog updated with the latest pictures.
https://ilvaporista.blogspot.com

 

To run a service will you need to be able to run at Oswestry. Have you completed the track work their

 

I think that the question is if the run round loop at Oswestry is completed. The answer is it is not yet finished and passed for service. However it is not vital for the start of passenger services as there are other means to swap ends of the loco by shunting.

 

The reopening of the line between Weston and Oswestry will be on Friday 1st April. Helen Morgan MP will open Weston station and at 2pm the train will be set on its way by Vince Hunt of Shropshire County Council.
Public services will begin on Friday 15th April. So start making plans to come and visit!
Edited to add the date.

 

Excellent news - Well Done to all concerned.

 

Very exciting stuff!

Forgive me if this has already been asked and I've forgotten, but what is the motive power situation at Oswestry at the moment? Going back through history on the facebook page I saw a photo of a warming fire lit in a saddle tank of some sort last August, but the angle of the photo meant it wasn't easy to see what the loco was, and the caption didn't offer any clues!

 

Congratulations to all involved .... and to the railway, for raising it's profile to the level where an MP is turning out and the SCC are sending representation. Can we look forward to notification of local TV coverage and where to find it online?

Possibly an odd enquiry, but have any local schools, WI or Rotary Club been invited to send representatives? Getting to know 'major incident coordinators' from local emergency services can pay dividends for all parties, too.

Sorry to bang on, but anchoring our lines firmly in their communities is one of my hobby horses .... and you have to go a very long way to beat a significant public event in that regard.

 

CHR has been very active within the local community and the plans are still being developed. Many thanks for the suggestions.

 

The countdown is running on the locomotive front. The plan is to use Barclay 0-4-0ST Nr 2261 which is currently due to undergo an insurance inspection prior to retubing.
With this we are hoping to achieve an extension to the current boiler certificate. The heat really is on to make this happen.

 

I should say that all local media have been invited and we have TV coverage in the next week dealing with the railway.
Wonders of the Border on ITV appears to be scheduled for national transmission next week Tuesday the 8th Feb 7.30pm.

 

On the loco front we have a Class 73 as back up. I bet that it is rare that the back up loco is multiples in terms of weight and power to the prime choice of motive power!

 

Sorry I need to make a correction. Public services will begin on the 15th April. From the 1st to the 15th April we are full of charters and special trains for key supporters.

 

On the build up to opening, every home in Oswestry should be receiving a leaflet from CHR about the Reopening. Rotary have already booked a charter for their members. Bookings are picking up!

 

The CHR website is now live for bookings for the first services.

 

Spot re-sleepering underway at Oswestry. The blog will be updated during the week.

 

Doesn't a massive hand just appear from the sky and move the loco to the other end ;-)

 

Work continues, even in a blizzard.