Long Potential Extensions

Intresting news, thanks for the gen we shall have to wait and see! Everytime I come out the Tunnel at Foley Park I always look across to the Stourport line and have a little day dream of racing somthing into Bewdley!

 

I haven't measured it, but I suspect you'd also need some awkward road realignment on Dowles Road in Bewdley to reinstate the railway bridge with sufficient clearance to make a modern highway authority happy.

 

I think that's true. To be clear I'm not for a minute suggesting anyone does it, but it's (IMO) one of the more realistic ideas on this thread. Bewdley - Newnham Bridge is eminently doable (and would be my preferred candidate vs "north from Bridgnorth") - it's just not very sensible and would be ruinously expensive.

 

look, if we're putting back Dowles Bridge we can deal with a bridge over Dowles Road in our sleep

 

Agreed, it would be very nice, but there is the slight problem of a reservoir in the way...

Steve B

 

tunnel

 

at the moment, my favourite future extension that I *am* actually supporting is Thame Junction - Princes Risborough....

Which is a long potential extension because the track's there, it's "just" a case of concluding negotiations with Network Rail which have been ongoing for years. Princes Risborough North box is going to be a glory though.

 

Train ferry ?

 

According to Wikipedia, Liverpool City Council did include a railway deviation in the initial plans for the reservoir, until BR told them not to bother. I wonder how detailed and how fully costed these plans were...

 

Yes they have and that is quite obvious from the OS 1:25,000 and the satellite photos.

 

Tenterden to Headcorn, or Uckfield to Lewes,

 

That opens up one of the madder schemes in the gin-addled depths of my imagination. In short - Network Rail decide BML2 is required, and reopen Lewes to Uckfield as a mainline route. In the process, they have to dispossess the Lavender Line at Isfield, and offer in compensation to create another line of comparable length. The Lavender Line people agree that compensation will be a mile or so of railway from a new station ("Lewes Parkway") at Culver Junction, stretching north to a renovated station at Barcombe, complete with a mainline connection and interchange station at Lewes Parkway. At which point, the pressure for the Bluebell to extend south becomes overwhelming ...

Nurse!

Tom

 

Reading these postings confirms my cynicism that "the movement" only immatures with age. (That is assuming, of course, that the suggestions are put forward seriously. Alas I think some of then are)

PH

 

Think this is only meant as a bit of fun, whats wrong with a bit harmless daydreaming now and then?

 

In other words "only joking" I suppose.

PH

 

For any scheme to stand a chance of being viable (interpret that how you will) it must go from somewhere to somewhere. A number of the pipe-dreams outlined above would dump the punters in the middle of nowhere with little to do, OK for the enthusiasts but not so good for the bucket and spade brigade.

 

Indeed! - and to learn about long undisturbed track beds connecting to preserved railways.