Re-opening Irlam - Timperley CLC Line

Many of the Trafford Park bound goods require the use of 25KV.

 

Sorry...

 

Tongue firmly in cheek, How about the two MSJ&AR coaches at the Midland Railway, that would be a start and they would be almost on "home ground " so to speak. And a Black Five for the motive power?

 

There's always narrow gauge, cheaper than standard if starting from scratch(ish).

 

There is a good length of SG track already in place at the Timperley end.
I can see the line from my house!

 

There could well be a supply of locos and Mk2 coaches as there are a lot of small industrials lying around where th host railway has outgrown them but the crucial thing is the supply of volunteer manpower where some of our established railways are beginning to struggle

 

Just a quick question, what's the procedure for taking over a line from Network Rail which technically speaking is not closed?

 

Where does it go from and to? I assume that the Timperley end is from where the Pacers and 150s take the sharp left hand curve to run parallel to the Metrolink between Navigation Road and Altrincham, the track continues in a straight line from there and across the viaduct over the MSC. Whats at the other end?

 

Used to join the Manchester-Warrington Central line at Glazebrook Junction, a location of several sidings in the 1970's/80's, which I assume are long gone now, having not travelled that route for about 20 years now.
Apart from the bridge over the Ship Canal, I can't think of any scenic highlights along the route, though if they are going to run through Partington, I suppose they could always run Wild West themed trains..............

 

Logical re-opening as part of the national system to relieve Piccadilly-Oxford Road-Deansgate but pointless as a heritage steam railway.

 

If he's thinking of running a heritage line as a fully commercial operation then he is going to need an awful lot of money. It may work in a prime holiday area like S Devon but even the Paignton line has a volunteer support group. What traffic will be on offer in a nondescript industrial area with the established ELR just up the road?

 

What? No scenic highlights, what about the Sinderland Road recycling centre, which is one of the filming locations for the BBC daytime programme Money For Nothing that must be worth the price of a ticket on its own . Not to mention the wonderful industrial desolation of the Shell Chemicals plant, and wait for it , there also could be the odd time you might see me walking my dog in the Stamford Brook Woodland, what more could you ask for?

 

https://hamiltondavies.org.uk/news/viaduct-proposal-launch/

 

Good point, the curve at Castlefield linking Piccadilly with Victoria night put extra traffic on this section, so a diversionary route could be useful

 

Unless the Oxford Road / Piccadilly works are enacted in full that section of line will be just about stuffed. Taking all freight from the east out of it would be alleviation.

 

There's an extremely pixelated document available at this link that outlines the plans. I made it through ha.

Here's a terrible map i made. Great line if you don't like corners! No idea how they're getting into Irlam.

 

I don't see much potential as a heritage railway, but can see some as a Network Rail reopening