What's your dream obscure railway restoration project?

Wrong! Wansford box is 100 years old and original LNWR - as far as we are aware it is the largest in use in preservation.

The signals which control the departures from Wansford platforms to Peterborough are LNWR Summersault signals and 90% of the other signals on the NVR are Midland in origin.

Just had to clear that up.

Paul

 

Quite right Paul plus the foreign stock is ideal for filming and for air braked only loco's.

Signalbox info http://www.nvr.org.uk/stations/wsb.php

Wouldn't say we were a theme park, no rollercoasters or coconut shy

 

"The signals which control the departures from Wansford platforms to Peterborough are LNWR Summersault signals"
I have been interested in signalling for more years than I care to remember and I have never seen any pictures of LNWR somersault signals.As the previous poster said they were normally used by the GNR?

 

"Wrong! Wansford box is 100 years old and original LNWR - as far as we are aware it is the largest in use in preservation.

The signals which control the departures from Wansford platforms to Peterborough are LNWR Summersault signals and 90% of the other signals on the NVR are Midland in origin.

Just had to clear that up.

Paul"

Sorry about the signal box, I got that wrong ... but the LNWR did not have somersault signals, definitely not. They were a feature of the GN and some of the South Wales lines although I did come across an installation in New Zealand once.

Still unhappy about the railway, just not one I can feel comfortable at. My last visit was in the summer of 2006 and I decided to take a break from bombing down the A1 and visit the tea shop at Wansford. That was OK, in fact it was a nice experience. Then I went to the tourist trap to see what was on offer so I could support the railway, selected a dvd but had to wait while the two persons on duty in the shop exhausted a virulent slagging off of some other unfortunate volunteer whom they disliked. Not a good experience. I haven't been since and I doubt if I ever will.

The combination of the European rolling stock, the line-up of uncared for European locos in the station yard the volunteers who are totally lacking in customer care skills is just one that I shall avoid in future.

Still think that the LNW world has a need for a preservation project that will do the 'Premier Line' justice. Sorry.

 

Removed...

 

I'd happily be proved wrong if they weren't LNWR but since the 4 particular signals have LNWR 1901 stamped on the swinging bracket on the signal - you pick things up when you spend a day cleaning them up 20ft in the air after issues with them sticking!

Paul

 

Can't really argue with that! Where did the NVR obtain these fabulous beasts from?

 

Must be a hybrid GN somersault boards and the rest LNW.

Regards

 

Does it really really matter where a signal comes from????!!!!

 

Doesnt the old Heathfield part of the line run just behind the Co-Op where the bridge still remains?

 

I'm with you there! California Works also had visions of steam-hauled service trains crossing the Elham Valley road at the acute-angled crossing beyond Elham and drifting through to Canterbury, even before George Wright got the museum at Peene up and running.

 

Mine would have to be the branch that ran from Delph to Dobcross and joined the mainline near the viaduct outside Uppermill and had the 84xxx tank new build running on it 'Push-Pull fitted of course. With two LNWR Push-Pull coaches fitted to it.

Regards Josh

 

i have several,
1: build a steam maintance depot at folkestone east and have the cathedials expresses run to here and servised
2: extend the ryde- shanklin line back to ventnor with a new formation running round to the sandown newport line to join up at newport quay with the steam railway extend the line to join up at wootton giving a direct ryde to newport via ventnor open up ryde tunnel to take mainline sized stock
3: extend the mid hants back to winchester junction and have an interchange station here with the line passed for 75 mph running throughout

 

We're deep into fantasy land here of course, but these would be my three local ones:

1. Meon Valley - yes another vote for that one. Far too close to the Mid Hants to be viable of course, but those really were fantastic stations, not to mention the tunnels and the viaduct. And it'd be nice to turn left at the Butts for a change.

2. Chichester - Midhurst. More spectacular stations and scenery. I seem to remember there was a preservation group sniffing around a few years ago - anyone know what happened to that?

and the wild card....

3 Alresford - Itchen Abbas - Whitchurch Town. Forget the link at Winchester Junction - just tunnel under the main line there and head north! Copper caps permitted but not compulsory.

 

In answer to Martin Perry all the track between Chichester and Midhurst has been removed. The last section in use was between Chichester to just south of Lavant station to serve an aggregate depot but this was abandoned about 20 years ago and the track was subsequently lifted and part of it is now a footpath/cycleway. From Lavant to Midhurst the track was lifted after closure to freight in the early 1950s. Most of the former trackbed on the route survives but is now in private ownership.
All trace of the railway at the former station site at Midhurst (LBSCR) is now obliterated by a housing estate except that explorers will find the bricked up tunnel mouth.

 

British Rail pre-Beeching, yes it might cost a few bob :-k

 

How far pre-Beeching though? Remember that some lines were closed pre-Beeching, and if you go back too far, we'd have to scrap some of the Standard classes. Pre March 16 1958 will do me.
Daniel

 

1945 I can live with

 

Agreed. I can't find any info that says the LNWR had somersault signals, even the LNWR Society refers to them as a GN phenomenon. IIRC the NVR got a few somersaults from the old GN Ramsey North branch when that finally closed to sugar beet traffic in the 1970s. It's entirely possible that those on the gantry at Wansford are hybrids of course using both GN and LNWr components. Whatever their history they sure look good though.