If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum

Discussion in 'Narrow Gauge Railways' started by tobes3803, Jan 7, 2013.

  1. biggles200

    biggles200 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2007
    Messages:
    328
    Likes Received:
    237
    Occupation:
    retired and holding on
    Location:
    Purbeck
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    No the Purbeck Mining Museum is focused on the Ball clay extraction on all Purbeck Railways. Goathorn to Norden, Pikes from Creech/Furzebrook to Ridge, Fayles Iron Railway, and Swanage Branch including Eldon Sidings and Furzebrook Clay siding (Where U Class is stored) The Ridge Shed was the home of Secundus which is at present in the Corfe Castle Goods Shed. The 2 foot gauge track at the museum runs partly on the old track used by both post war 2 foot gauge and pre war 3 foot 9 inch gauge to Newton. There is a new 2 foot section that runs down to the mine building. Future plans are to extend across the main branch line. When that happens (one day) Russell will be invited back for a visit. Steam above Steam
     
    Daddsie71b likes this.
  2. redbarron

    redbarron New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2019
    Messages:
    18
    Likes Received:
    4
    Location:
    yorkshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    At some point in the 23rd C then? Or when you manage to recruit some more drones, sorry volunteers, which ever happens sooner.

    Lets face it, the site will never progress beyond were it is now. There is no interest from the railway, you have hardly any volunteers, you are not going to recruit more and you have no money.

    I noticed that the box van has not moved in 10 months despite it needing new roofing material and a repaint. Surely a job for the keen few to have managed?

    Is the track at the top of the slope still heading towards Norden platform or has this been jacked and packed? Surely all the expert volunteers you have should have sorted this by now?
     
    Last edited: Oct 6, 2019
  3. biggles200

    biggles200 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2007
    Messages:
    328
    Likes Received:
    237
    Occupation:
    retired and holding on
    Location:
    Purbeck
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Sounds as if someone has upset you. The site has been tided, a large amount of rubbish removed, weeded and undergrowth cutback and trees pruned. The Engine shed has been thoroughly cleaned and fitted with motorised doors. The two diesels have had remedial work carried out on them. There have been many new volunteers in the last few weeks. The Box Van has moved several times but has been parked back in the same position. If you had looked carefully, the weeds under it have disappeared. Of course the Swanage railway is interested. There is a joint Museums Manager and progress reports are received every month. The change in councils has temporary placed future changes at Norden on hold. Of course progress is limited by donations but not stopped.
     
    Last edited: Oct 11, 2019
    Daddsie71b, LesterBrown and ross like this.
  4. Daddsie71b

    Daddsie71b Member Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2013
    Messages:
    770
    Likes Received:
    638
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    34091
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Woah big fella, where did this come from?

    The mining museum is a fantastic asset for Dorset and tells an important story.
    Laying track and extending to wherever is actually not important.
    Telling the story of ball clay extraction is.
    Swanage railway employs a museum manager of which the mining museum comes within their remit.
    Establishing Swanage railway as a recognised museum is an important step forward which will release funding to expand all facets within the Purbecks.
    Running narrow gauge clay trains is very much the icing on the cake.
    To clarify, I have no position on any SR committee or have any influence, this is just a common sense reply
    Steve
     
  5. biggles200

    biggles200 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2007
    Messages:
    328
    Likes Received:
    237
    Occupation:
    retired and holding on
    Location:
    Purbeck
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    The NT and the Mining Museum are looking for any signs of white bricks that have been made locally in North Purbeck. It is known that Fayle's management was involved in the auction at Newton Brick fields, Goathorn of 400,000 white bricks in 1862. Problem is we are unaware of the exact location of the Brickworks. We would love a brick (or two) for the museum and to establish if these bricks were made using ball clay etc.
     
  6. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2018
    Messages:
    1,339
    Likes Received:
    421
    Location:
    Surrey
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I have only visited twice and found it and the story of ball clay extraction good.
    A lot of effort went into it.
    Adding the narrow gauge railway is an important part of the story. Good trains will be running for the gala and means the mining museum will get some visitors who may not otherwise have gone.
    Sad if the aim is now just to get recognised museum status.
    The wiki entry lists some passenger coaches and running some narrow gauge gauge passenger trains will add to the visit especially if it could cross the bridge to get to the pits on the other side of the Swanage Railway. This and the rehousing of the Secundis loco no longer is listed as projects on the website.
    Also the HNGRT website mentioned the steam loco Cloister was damaged during a lift and sent to Statford Barn for repair which must have been a blow, hopefully covered by insurance.
    The delay to any bridge repairs if the council does not agree Norden changes must also be frustrating.
    I don't know any of the volunteers who left but sad if so many left?
    Hope all goes well for the gala.
     
  7. Dan Bennett

    Dan Bennett Member

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2006
    Messages:
    476
    Likes Received:
    93
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    South Western Railway Fitter
    Location:
    Wareham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    The damage to Cloister was nothing to do with the museum other than it was being collected from there, and was covered by the haulier’s insurance as the damage caused was entirely down to them.
     
  8. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2018
    Messages:
    1,339
    Likes Received:
    421
    Location:
    Surrey
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Thanks. Maybe there is still a chance Cloister might be able to make a return visit sometime? (Or Emmett or Russell)

    After visting the Kew Steam and Amberley museums this year it was good to also have a NG rail ride.
    According to srstock Purbeck has 2 (ex DLR) coaches
    http://www.srstock.co.uk/getfile.php?mode=view&id=152
    so if H and S and volunteers can be sorted I don't see any reason why short rides can't be offered in 2020, perhaps for a small extra donation?
    Kew Steam museum runs NR train with just 2 volunteers.

    There is also a historical link as there was special steam trains for children to get to school in the 1930s.
    https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/features/868702.amp/
     
    Last edited: Oct 11, 2019
  9. biggles200

    biggles200 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2007
    Messages:
    328
    Likes Received:
    237
    Occupation:
    retired and holding on
    Location:
    Purbeck
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Despite the bad weather on the first day of the Steam Gala, the museum had a large number of visitors to watch the Ruston shunting wagons.
     
    DcB and Robkitchuk like this.
  10. biggles200

    biggles200 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2007
    Messages:
    328
    Likes Received:
    237
    Occupation:
    retired and holding on
    Location:
    Purbeck
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Martin Perry and Kingscross like this.
  11. biggles200

    biggles200 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2007
    Messages:
    328
    Likes Received:
    237
    Occupation:
    retired and holding on
    Location:
    Purbeck
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
  12. biggles200

    biggles200 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2007
    Messages:
    328
    Likes Received:
    237
    Occupation:
    retired and holding on
    Location:
    Purbeck
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Life has moved on since the 1930's and nowdays there is Safety Management Systems (SMS) required by ORR. It is no longer possible to just link a passenger carriage to a locomotive. It has to be safe under all conditions. Trained staff, braking systems, operating systems must be first class before the public can be introduced. No doubt the museum will be working on this with the Swanage Railway experience available to them. Of course all this requires a certain level of funding and that will need proritising against other museum requirements. So I would expect that is the reason to be patient and not expect it in 2020 unless one it prepare to fund those costs and provide the labour.
     
    Robkitchuk likes this.
  13. biggles200

    biggles200 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2007
    Messages:
    328
    Likes Received:
    237
    Occupation:
    retired and holding on
    Location:
    Purbeck
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    ragl likes this.
  14. Buzzard

    Buzzard New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2014
    Messages:
    42
    Likes Received:
    31
    Gender:
    Male
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Rumpole likes this.
  15. biggles200

    biggles200 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2007
    Messages:
    328
    Likes Received:
    237
    Occupation:
    retired and holding on
    Location:
    Purbeck
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Norden RH175413 RH179889 O&K20777 (2016_11_28 08_04_50 UTC).jpg and like this. Two locos went to Singapore and one is at Statford Barn.
     
    Last edited: Dec 20, 2019
  16. Buzzard

    Buzzard New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2014
    Messages:
    42
    Likes Received:
    31
    Gender:
    Male
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    And this was the one now at Statfold Barn, having been purchased from Norden by Jo and Barry Curl
     

    Attached Files:

    • K35.jpg
      K35.jpg
      File size:
      2.3 MB
      Views:
      91
  17. biggles200

    biggles200 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2007
    Messages:
    328
    Likes Received:
    237
    Occupation:
    retired and holding on
    Location:
    Purbeck
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
  18. buzby2

    buzby2 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 26, 2009
    Messages:
    1,624
    Likes Received:
    534
    Location:
    Swanage
    On the PMMM Facebook page yesterday: https://en-gb.facebook.com/purbeckmineralandminingmuseum/
    Due to the Coronavirus situation PMMM is currently reviewing its plan to open to the public on 4th April. A final decision will be made during the week before planned opening so please check back in regularly for further updates.
     
  19. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2018
    Messages:
    1,339
    Likes Received:
    421
    Location:
    Surrey
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    The pictures of the 392117 "Norden" on Facebook don't look bad as it has paintwork updated and presume it is mechanically good? Seems from the wiki it s privately owned and on loan from the Old Kiln railway, so might have to go back sometime?.
    If the loco is just run on the demo line presumably the owner has removed the sandbox?
    Hopefully work will continue on the other Ruston "Snapper" and the Motorail locos?
     
  20. biggles200

    biggles200 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2007
    Messages:
    328
    Likes Received:
    237
    Occupation:
    retired and holding on
    Location:
    Purbeck
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    It left the Old Kiln railway because it does not have a silencer. Old steam locomotive boiler tubes are connected direct to each cylinder exhaust making a quite loud noise which at Norden is not a problem. It is still privately owned and is now based at Norden for foreseeable future.
     

Share This Page