Long Potential Extensions

I think we should include in our plans lines that never were, but were planned, in which case a link from Wallingford to Watlington and on to Chinnor . Ok so there's a few buildings and a river in the way, but I'm sure we can fix that with some sticky back plastic and fairy liquid bottles. I'm going to start collecting milk bottle tops right away.

 

To say nothing of having to get under the M40 at Lewknor/J6, where it is already an accident blackspot. The idea of sundry cars and lorries hurtling into space and depositing themselves onto a heritage railway from above at speed is one I'm sure the Highways Agency would view with an open mind....

However, in that vein, let's have Eardington Halt-Womborne-Wolverhampton...

 

Level crossing at Lewnor would solve that, with a crossing box of course.

 

Gatemen and flags is the normal C&PRR approach...

 

That would work....

 

Perfectly solvable by filling in the descent on the M40 and then a tunnel a over the railway followed by another ramp down to the existing path of the M40.

 

Why bother as when we have got all these lines back open there will be no need for the M40

 

I suppose a level crossing on the M40 would be a bad idea

 

For the most part the track bed has been tarmacked over for use as roads, with only the shed at Wadebridge built upon. Most of the route forms part of the Camel Trail and at the Padstow end, whilst the station remains, the full platform length is now no longer available due to more recent developments. Realistically I feel Wadebridge will likely be the final terminus of the future B&W.

 

How do you explain the Talyllyn then?

 

surely the Talyllyn actually proves the point? Great for the decades when half of Birmingham was decamping to Tywyn every summer for their holiday (so were already in the middle of nowhere anyway - with the greatest respect to Tywyn). Been more of a struggle since when it's been more about getting people to come to Tywyn in the first place....

 

Makes me want to start a new thread - "Somewhere to somewhere railways"

Stainmore Railway/Eden Valley Railway:

The Eden Valley Railway can get to Appleby East and connect with the Settle Carlisle but no further north due to the A66. It's a shame because apart from the track bed being crossed twice by the A66 it's relatively undisturbed (bar a missing a bridge over the River Eden) and Cliburn Station, which is in tact and has a restored signal box, is really near Whinfell Forest Centerparcs. The line can also reach Kirkby Stephen East (although a few years ago I observed that a farmer has destroyed a section of track bed to make a field bigger which may be a problem).

The Stainmore Railway (South Durham & Lancashire Union Railway) can't really go West because Smardale Station is a private residence and they've built on the track bed. If it weren't for that obstruction though it could go all the way (over the first Smardale viaduct) to Ravenstonedale. Going East the line could extend to Belah Viaduct.

 

Trying not to go too far off track.

You will be surprised when you think about it how many of these railways go from a small county/town station, to another small county/town station or platform or nothing there are about.

 

the dream one, which has got surviving stations, signal boxes, bridges, the lot, is Alnwick to Coldstream. OK, there's a fairly large bridge missing (which has been missing since 1949) just north of Ilderton but that would be something very special indeed. Sort of the Welsh Highland in the far north east....

 

Missing bridges as major obstructions seem to be old hat these days, Midland Mainline and River Dunelm spring to mind. Bring on the expansion! (Tongue firmly in cheek!!)

 

Avon Valley into Bath wouldn't be long but would be significant.

Radstock to Frome is 8 miles of almost intact but completely unused railway, goes from somewhere to somewhere, and could be popular.

 

I came across this post by chance while looking for something else. If the line was relaid at 1' 11.5" as far as Llyn Celyn Reservoir and linked to the Ffestiniog/WHR it would potentially give a continuous run of about 60 miles.

 

Too timid! Extend the Llangollen eastward to Ruabon and westward to Morfa Mawddach and create an interchange at Bala Junction where the Bala and Ffestiniog could be rebuilt to 600mm gauge to link with a re-gauged line from Trawsfynedd to Blaenau Ffestiniog. Llyn Celyn can be dealt with by an "S" loop below the dam.

 

Who knows how to pronounce Acrefair?