Heritage Railways expanding or extending

A year or so ago there were certainly preparations afoot to reinstate the other missing bridge, to improve access for motorised vehicles along the formation. That doesn't seem to have happened, though.

 

I think going south for the Bluebell will never happen. The cost would be huge; entrance into Lewes is blocked (and realistically, what is the point of extending just to a point in the middle of nowhere short of Lewes?); and, worst of all, some of the big costs are immediately south of Sheffield Park - i.e. the A275 crossing and the rubbish-filled cutting at Newick - which means that even a very short extension as a foothold / statement of intent isn't viable. You effectively immediately get into big money even to extend the line by ten yards in that direction.

West is technically more viable, but I think contentious in Bluebell circles. It's an objective in the LTP, but lots of things are. The business case is sketchy: I suspect if it did happen, it would be something akin to the Montsorrell branch on the GCR, i.e. a "high days and holidays" thing, not a feature of daily operations. If there is a business case at all, I think it is as a location for "value add" opportunities (training environment for the rail industry, footplate courses, filming) with Bluebell service trains just using it on galas and maybe one dining train per week to maintain route knowledge for operating staff.

Tom

 

Not that it changes much in the real world, but I earnestly believe some form of reconnection between Uckfield and Lewes, however unambitious, will ultimately happen. Even if you held a gun to my head, the most you'd get would be my view that it won't happen for at least a decade (unless the Portishead method is adopted, in which case add another decade to that best case view!), so surely the limit of any putative southern extention would be a facility at the site of the former Culver Jnc. ..... there you go, that's just saved a few million quid!

Realistically, any such project would be years behind striking out through Ardingly, itself nowhere near a certainty .... the moreso if what gets burnt to make steam doesn't get sorted. Blackmoor Vale might be happy enough burning old boots and worn out rubber tyres, but the rest of the fleet is likely to be a bit more particular!

Still, we can dream, eh?

 

In my dreams, I’d love to start from Lewes, and I’d also love to have a functional junction station. Oh, and I’d also love to head on up the old goods spur at East Grinstead to meet the high level line and head off in the general direction of Tunbridge Wells. Think of the epic network of lines you could have.

In reality … 11 miles already feels like quite a challenge!

Tom

 

Through the middle of Sainsbury's and then a tramway along what has become a section of the A22 round the north-east of East Grinstead! That's well beyond WIBN.

 

Churston railway is going to Brixton is the best extention that can happen right now as it’s short so costs less and less coal. Also gets people where it’s really busy.

 

Restoration Plans | Hampton & Kempton Waterworks Railway (hamptonkemptonrailway.org.uk)

 

That's what we need more of ..... a well presented and readily digested snapshot of what the line is all about and easily accessed online booking facility*. Great website design.

From a greedy gricer's perspective, it's well worth a boogie through the menu options to hunt out aspirations to recreate one of those iconic Kerr Stuart 0-4-2T locos.

Although there's plenty to keep 'em busy for a good decade to come, I do hope nothing transpires to prevent the line ultimately gaining a riverside terminus. Wouldn't a boat trip on the Thames to start or round things off be a perfect USP?

*If even I can work out how to book, trust me .... it's easy to use!

 

Churston branch went to BRIXHAM. It does not go where people want as its original station, now built over, is at the top of a very steep hill. Most people want the town which is served by frequent buses. Originally the branch was built for goods and even when it carried passengers it was poorly used being located due to its location.

 

I think the cultural and social benefits of introducing the denizens of South London to the delights of Devon is not to be underestimated! (And maybe the reverse as well …)

Tom

 

Is this actually being planned or just a WIBN?

 

That is what I thought, hence my question.

 

Particularly the closer you get to Brixton …

Tom

 

I imagine this to be pure WIBN.

 

Brixham: There was some half-hearted mention of reopening a few years back, but I don't think it survived so much as a casual glance. I'd put it in the same category as Ilfracombe or Ventnor i.e. even if you could access the former station, the location would be as inconvenient now as when the line bit the dust the first time around.

Brixton: As nice as it sounds, I'm not too sure TfL would go for reinstating the rope worked narrow gauge tramway up Brixton Hill. It's a tad busier there these days than it used to be.

 

Surely posting WIBNs defeats the purpose of this thread?

 

Purely a response to earlier posts.

 

I am very sorry about that 30854, I was hoping that my response was going to pick up on the previous quote as well, rather than just yours.

 

Just about all of this "stuff" is WIBN