Telford Steam Railway - Proposal to extend operations into the Ironbridge Gorge

We have just launched our new microsite to inform people of our proposals, ahead of the public consultation over the future use of the Ironbridge Power Station site...

https://steamingtoironbridge.co.uk/

Once we are aware of the methods of responding to the consulation we will point people in the right direction with some draft wordings, all support that can be given at this stage would be most appreciated...

 

Looks good, and some impressive stats. Borrowing a football analogy here but it isn’t just about the premier league!

Regards


Matt

 

I was down there last year and failed to find TSR but had excellent visits to the Irongorge Museums etc, heard then of a proposal to reopen the freight line. Excellent proposals, hope all goes well and will come and find you next time down there.

 

Thanks both, we may only be small, but we have the potential to carry a lot of passengers if this gets adopted. we already hit about 25-30k pa, aiming for 40-45k pa next year. Admittedly most of those are during Polar Express. But not bad going for a "Santa Special"

 

Great little site. Really nice to see the plans laid out. The tramway proposal is a welcome surprise. Will the tram cope or will more 2ft gauge be on the cards?

 

It will do to start with, but we can build on it as required. We like the idea of something eco driven, battery powered charged by hydroelectric in the severn would be fantastic!

 

Having visited as part of the S160 team, really impressed with you guys. You really stand by your "Little Railway, Big Plans" tag line! Had a google of the extension to Holly Lane, and listening to your team at the weekend sounds very promising. Hoping to hear 5197 working along that section next winter!

One thing I'm trying to work though. Was it all single track from Lawley to Lightmoor?
And is there any plans for passing loops between Lawley - Lightmoor - Ironbridge - Buildwas ?
All very exciting, and looking forward to observing the developments.

 

Lawley to lightmoor was always single track until just before lightmoor jct. From Lightmoor the line was, and still is double track. As lightmoor is about the half way point on a lawley - buildwas run, trains will probably pass on the double track section. Until negotiations with Network rail/Harworth progress further its hard at this time to plan for the operation of the line. Negotiations are progressing well at this time.

 

I note that you intend to have two level crossings on the route. I guess you are already aware that the ORR is very much against allowing any new or reinstated crossings - Let's hope you can find a way around this. Other than that it looks a great idea.

Never mind a tramway, don't they have some old broad gauge bits at the museum? Wonder if they'd fit over the bridge and connect to....

 

That doesn’t seem to be cast iron. Both Elsecar Railway and Welsh Highland Railway have reinstated crossings in recent years. ORR have also stated in writing they have no objection in principle to two level-crossing reinstatements on the Rother Valley Railway plus one new crossing, over the A21 Robertsbridge bypass.

 

From ORR Level Crossings Policy (http://orr.gov.uk/rail/health-and-s...ety/level-crossings/level-crossings-policy):-
"Our aims

• other than in exceptional circumstances, no new level crossings on any railway therefore creating no new risks – view further guidance ; and
• to make level crossing users more aware of what affects safety at level crossings."

I'd be amazed to see a new crossing allowed across a very busy main road like the A21 but who can tell?

 

Prepare to be amazed The letter from ORR confirming this can be read on the RVR website, TWAO docs page, in the Appendices of the Consultation Report. ORR’s reasons in the letter for agreeing exceptional circumstances seem to be consistent with the principles in the more detailed guidance on their website and these (back on topic) may well be applicable to other heritage railway extensions. Not only do ORR confirm no objection in principle but they also offer useful advice including possibilities for saving money in the choice of the crossing control equipment. The letter is dated 2011 but if ORR’s views on this scheme had changed RVR would not have been able to include it in their TWAO application.

Obviously it aint in the bag until the TWAO inquiry reports and the SoS decides. No doubt Telford will be watching with interest.

 

Indeed, as @gwilialan will be aware the extension of the Gwili included two level crossings. It was mentionned in the recent Carmarthen to Aberystwyth report about possible reopenning that both crossings would have to be stopped up due to the higher risks associated with a railway running faster than 25mph, which suggests that heritage railway crossings may be considered lower risk.

Regards

Matt

 

As I recall, the A21 crossing for the RVR extension is actually supported by the local authority as a 'traffic calming' measure. In addition, it is a crossing that would have very restricted operating times - ie outside of peak hours, and there will be a limit of how many daily crossings will be permitted as well.

 

Personally I would have thought that having such restrictions on usage, and having them well-known, would increase risk because of increased road-user complacency. I'm sure we've all heard of incidents of the "but there's no train due!" type

 

Thank You very much. Is there a gradient profile online, as listening to your team there sounds like some challenging gradients to be experienced along your proposed routes. Be nice to see your 5619 having a go at them, she was a good performer at our place when she visited last.

 

Restrictions like this may be suitable at the moment for planned services as long as it is remembered that additional paths need to be catered for for out of the ordinary movements.
Engineering trains being one, ECS workings being another.

 

Having been lucky enough to travel down the Ironbridge branch behind 9466 a number of years ago, it had to work very hard on the return. This will be a superb railway once reopened.

 

We visited the railway on Sunday and were very impressed. I was interested in hearing about the extension plans and wanted to find out more about it. Having found this thread. I visited the website https://steamingtoironbridge.co.uk/ mentioned earlier on this thread but noticed that some of the documents are no longer there - I get a 404 error. Any one help?

 

You could try an old copy from the Internet Wayback Machine.
This was a snapshot in 2019.
https://web.archive.org/web/20190823133251/https://steamingtoironbridge.co.uk/
And one in 2020:
https://web.archive.org/web/20201126150754/https://steamingtoironbridge.co.uk/