3'6" Gauge in the UK

Hi, I know there have been various proposals over the years and they never got off the ground. With big money proposing a new heritage line in South Manchester, what about a 3'6" gauge? BP Garratts and 6 firemen, we love it! Throw in a couple of 19Ds, be among the finest lines in the country!
Apart from Trams the only 'proper' railway seems to have been the East Cornwall Railway, converted as long ago as 1908 and since closed. Again this is steeply graded and ideal for this, but the area is definitely saturated in steam.
And what is there in the UK, A garratt in MOSI, and near Glasgow, and several SAR at the Mizens railway?
This is a WRIBN thread (Which Railway I'd Build Next), but be interested whats about and what's been proposed/not happened in the past.
Happy WRIBNing! https://www.facebook.com/groups/618128735211128/

 

now if someone somewhere foreign proposed buying half a dozen Black Fives and proposed a preserved line with them somewhere, what would you think? I suspect you'd be up in arms at your heritage being exported.
There's plenty of UK locos to go around, and not enough dosh as it is

 

Didnt the Plym Valley have some plans for a 3ft6 line?

 

The one had heard about was supposedly Penrith to Keswick.
There is a 15F 4-8-2 in the Glasgow Transport Museum also

 

A slightly forgotten 3' 6" is the 4-8-4 at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre. http://www.brc-stockbook.co.uk/25nc.htm
They also have the standard gauge articulated steam mutlitple unit from Egypt, so the place has a slightly exotic flare.

 

Obviously WIBN stuff, but mention of the Garratts makes me think of the Worsborough incline, and a quick look at the Google satellite view suggests that Wath-Penistone doesn't look impossible.
Also Grantown West-Forres and Whitby-Scarborough would have suitable gradients.

 

Now there's a thought to conjure with! I seem to recall that the South African loading gauge is a bit larger than the typical British loading gauge, despite the narrower track gauge, but it should be OK on a former dual-track line relaid as 3' 6" single track.

 

Weren't there plans back in t'day for Whitby-Scarborough to have a 2ft gauge line on it?

 

What lines this on?

Cheers John

 

The Wath-Penistone line had overhead electrification at 1500V DC, assuming this is no longer in place, the clearances could add to the available loading gauge.

 

Salford to Trafford see https://www.manchestereveningnews.c...s/salford-trafford-steam-trains-plan-12805401
I thought of a mothballed line regauged, like the Anglesey one, or dare I say it Trawsfynydd. Not sure if Wales is saturated, Cornwall railway would be nice as its authentic. Seems a shame that one of the great British locos is only seen in 2ft gauge, or cold. All these have gradients. Not sure Anglesey profile but needed Fairlie locos for 'gradients(wiki quote, sorry if wrong).

 

What lines this on?

Cheers John[/QUOTE]
https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/re-opening-irlam-timperley-clc-line.901110/

 

I've walked the Wath Branch, clearly the tunnels have collapsed but massive gradients and the rest survives as a cycle way...
South Yorkshire Railway if it closes now King Coal is demoted to a minor Royal?

 

https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/re-opening-irlam-timperley-clc-line.901110/[/QUOTE]

Ha the N.C.&F.R , forgot about that one even though it's five minutes walk from my house.

Thanks for the reminder.

Cheers John

 

Always surprises me how little the British outline Africa appeals to so few. After all, if that Manchester built Garratt in Zimbabwe makes it to August, it will be 50years outlasted the UK based steam. Perhaps with politics and expense few in numbers have ventured there?

 

But if seeing a bigger Garratt working is the aim, surely it would cost no less to build a replica of one of the British standard gauge types than it would to reopen and regauge an entire railway line and import and overhaul a South African loco and stock?

 

Gosh, I think I heard the screams of every P'Way Gang leader in the heritage market just then... The LMS engines weighed a good 170 tons don't forget.

 

There is also an RSH 4-6-2 at Tanfield. Can just hear them all echoing up to BLaneau or Amlwch....Surely a re-gauge and 'borrow; some of the UK based would be cheaper than...
Yes the matter of the UK Garratts is food for thought, the LMS was quite a success, but for hot boxes, they were admired by railwaymen and not the 'writers' failure....just supplanted by 9Fs on big LMS freights. And yes, Gresley's Monster, did its job, despite over engineering and difficult crew conditions due to the tunnels and a sticky regulator. Rebuild the track...But think of a P2 build number and perhaps double it?