Hampshire Narrow Gauge Trust

I heard a rumour that Hampshire Narrow Gauge Trust were leaving Bursledon Brickworks at some point in 2020 - does anybody know more?

 

Press release on their website "2019 will be the final year that HNGRT will operate at the Bursledon Brickworks Museum site after more than 22 years. It is not known at present if the Trust will continue elsewhere, further announcements will follow."

There are a number of reasons for this decision, one of them is the increasing age of the members and lack of active volunteers. If you want to be involved in looking after 2 steam locos and 2 IC locos join. It isn't expensive and they are a friendly bunch. Renewal was 1st of April.

 

The obvious thing would be for them to relocate to the Corfe Castle clay mining museum and tap into the membership there. I'm sure they would be3 enthusiastically welcomed!

 

You would think so. However there are many many many reasons that will now never happen. None of them to do with HNGRT except that as a Hampshire based organisation relocating to Dorset would mean a long way to travel. I don't air dirty linens in public so will not be drawn further on the other reasons.

 

Any relocation should and will be thought about very carefully, But How about Twyford water works, just up the road from the first Base at the sand pits in Fairoak and very close to the last industrial home of one of the Simplex's Brambridge Hall, who I think also worked on the original Winchester By Pass, The first duel carriage way in the UK?

 

I would've thought the 4 locos would be snapped up by various 2 foot lines around GB?

 

I think the point is they're hoping to relocate somewhere, rather then disperse the collection

 

But if one of the problems is increasing age and lack of volunteers, as mentioned above, that may not be an option after all?
I'm sure that Bala would be interested in Wendy as a permanent part of their fleet ....

 

I'd imagine Wendy would end up at Amberley is she was permanently housed elsewhere (and they had room). Cloister would be more suited to the aesthetic of Bala. I'm hopeful they end up somewhere altogether though, I have fond memories of riding on Wendy's footplate at Durley as a child and visited Burseldon many times

 

If you join you will have a say in what happens. Sent my renewal cheque off today. Wendy is currently at Amberley and we need volunteers to help keep it in good order. We are a friendly group.
It would preferable to keep the collection in one place.

 

I'm in Wales but my sister is interested in volunteering, I'll let her know

 

I think you will find a warm reception ant Both Amberley and with HNGRS. Amberley certainly have a can do attitude if they just had a little more room in the shed.......... As to relocating you have to really careful with the length of line you run Wendy on and how hard she works, I believe that all of the same class suffer from a lack of lubrication and too high brearing pressure on the rear axle, leading to hot bearings this is very much in evidence if she does more than a couple of miles hard running. this of course could be over come with better lubrication etc but is it worth it for a longer run? saying that much fun was had at Leighton Buzzard many years ago Vandyke road crossing was fun with too tight a back to back. up on the check rail on the left and gently across the road!!!

 

Old Kiln Light Railway? Close to Hampshire and a short run with light loads.

 

Amberley, Twyford, Old Kiln, How about Hollycombe and is in Hampshire, Cloister and Jerry M Back together, Wendy 2091 and Pixie 2090 and for that fact is Pixie there? or in Wales?

 

Hayling Island?

 

They seem to have pulled away from having steam permanently

 

Seems a shame the last year at the brickworks will not be steam. Guess the stream locos earn more rented to other locations? Also steam needs a lot more work whereas deisel engines are a lot less effort.

In my visits to the Norden clay mining museum. Cloister was locked in the shed so never saw it. The museum track has good potential especially when the track is extended, but guess they are also limited by lack of volunteers?

Went to the Kew Steam museum a a couple of young volunteers were running the steam engine along a short track and being steam does add to the enjoyment of a visit.
Have not been to the Hanpton and Kempton railway yet where Wendy was last year as their Darent loco was being overhalled. Must have taken longer than expected, they don't have Wendy anymore and have gone back to a deisel loco.

 

Visited Amberley for the first time Monday and had a ride behind Wendy, 2 hard working lady volunteers did a good job as crew. Guess Wendy will be there till Peter finishes an overhaul?.
The HNGRT website has not been updated with any news and there does not seem to be much promotion of getting new members or volunteers.
With the Hayling Island railway up for sale and the Purbeck mining NG plans on hold due to Norden stations redevelopment, narrow gauge railways in Hampshire and Dorset seem all up in the air this year?

 

There was an update on Facebook a few days ago that suggested they might not be looking to relocate but rather transfer the assets to other locations. My thought was that Wendy would probably remain at Amberley - not sure about Cloister though, she is at Bressingham at the moment.