Preservation in Wiltshire

I was wondering if anyone had any ideas for some preservation projects in the Wiltshire area, which is under represented in the steam world?

Just general pet projects or whatever...

 

Erm.. The Swindon and Cricklade springs to mind. Why start more projects when there are enough that could do with help already?

 

Didcot? Not Wiltshire, but in the 'area'.....

 

It was more a question of railways in the wiltshire area that people would like to see going again...like a curiosity thing more then anything...

 

As someone who lives in Salisbury but volunteers at the Bluebell: The line from Salisbury heading south through the New Forest would be nice. Some of the stations still survive, albeit as private houses - for example, the station at Braemore. (http://maps.google.co.uk/?ie=UTF8&ll=50.957862,-1.773855&spn=0.000775,0.002411&t=k&z=19 for aeriel view).

Some of the military railways would be interesting too. For example, how about a re-opened Fovant railway, starting at a revived Dinton station (which again remains largely intact as a private residence) (http://maps.google.co.uk/?ie=UTF8&ll=51.077959,-1.987721&spn=0.000773,0.002411&t=k&z=19) There are still some extant sheds associated with the railway: http://maps.google.co.uk/?ie=UTF8&ll=51.069961,-2.025368&spn=0.003094,0.009645&t=k&z=17 Certainly a very pretty part of the world.

Further north, a lot of the trackbed of the M&SWJR is visible from the road between Marlborough and Swindon - though as any South WIitshire resident will tell you, that's next to impossible to get to quickly ...

We can but dream

Tom

 

There is still a section of 2'6" track largely intact in Dinton, running along the boundary of the public road from one set of military buildings, along a raised pavement, then running across into the gated quarry on the SW side of the road. The track doesn't look as if it has been used for years, but there are some upturned bogie wagon chassis in a gated field clearly visible from the road.

The "train warning triangle" signs on the road are still there and it is a pleasant surprise driving along a country lane to find an industrial NG line weaving across the path.

 

Some interesting information about the Dinton railway here: http://www.fovanthistory.org/railway.html