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Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by NightRail, Jan 11, 2017.

  1. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

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    Arrangements at Maiden Newton left something to be desired
     
  2. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    From my one memory of visiting Maiden Newton, they still do...
     
  3. Andy Moody

    Andy Moody Member

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    The Southern Railway had plans to electrify all of their remaining routes except beyond Exeter, but events two years later put paid to that!
     
  4. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

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    Fascinating to think how things might have developed if that plan had gone ahead, at a time when The Railway was seen as dying its a great credit to Southern management. I believe it also included 'The Old Road via Wimbourne
     
  5. Footbridge

    Footbridge Member

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    I'm fairly sure all the bridges between Alton and Winchester were wide enough for two tracks. Was this just standard building practice or was it intended to be twin track at some point after opening?
     
  6. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

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    It was pretty common on many lines built as single track
     
  7. Dunfanaghy Road

    Dunfanaghy Road Well-Known Member

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    Standard practice at the time, as far as I know. The Board of Trade regarded a single line railway as an uncompleted railway - hence having to purchase sufficient land for a double track line. Building double track bridges wouldn't cost much more than single track ones, at least for the scale of bridge works on the Mid Hants. (It might have been a different story if any viaducts had been necessary.) In contrast, excavating cuttings and tipping embankments to double track size would have been a huge increase in cost.
    Pat
     
  8. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

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    Many lines though were never built to double track dimensions eg Cambrian, Wrington Vale Light Railway, WSR, SVR, etc
     
  9. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    I was thinking of the Scottish Highland / West Highland lines. I believe the BoT view was that, even if so planned from day 1, single track lines were officially regarded as 'incomplete' (and that remained so until comparatively recently).
     
  10. Dunfanaghy Road

    Dunfanaghy Road Well-Known Member

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    I suspect that the BoT view may have changed with time.
    The West Highland is a bit of an anomaly in that (as I believe it) the land was given to the NBR by the lairds with the condition that it would be returned if the line closed. It was also opened unfenced, with a 40 mph speed limit as a quid pro quo.
    Pat
     
  11. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Aah .... the rushlit end of UK governance. You couldn't make it up!! :Pompus:

    Edit: Come to think of it, much of the Highland's Far North line was granted on similar terms. The Duke of Sutherland even had a private loco and saloon, which did it's thing (under what sort of regs I know not) until nationalisation. The loco and saloon in question are now in the care of Beamish, and the diminutive 0-4-4T is currently under restoration.
     
    Last edited: May 26, 2022
  12. A1X

    A1X Well-Known Member

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    Or denied us that elusive 3rd rail heritage railway...
     
  13. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    Its a pity that there are no active 3rd rail electrics allowed on the Mainline now,
    One highlight for me years ago was when the NRM'S 2 Bill and 4 Sub worked shuttles between Woking and Alton on one of the gala's
     
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  14. Dunfanaghy Road

    Dunfanaghy Road Well-Known Member

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    The Mid Hants LROs of 1977 and 1985 both specifically forbid the use of electric traction (unless self-generated or battery). I would imagine that there is a similar provision in Bluebell, Swanage, &c. LROs.
    Pat
     
  15. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    That, or it just crossed some raving beauracrat's mind as electrification had been in the news around then. If that's the case, the Bluebell are more likely to be forbidden to use nuclear power! ;)
     
  16. 34002salisbury

    34002salisbury New Member

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    2 EPB 5759 joining the previously mentioned MLVs for the 'diesel' gala
     
  17. Wagoniester

    Wagoniester Member

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    Edit to remove duplicate post.

    How long has it been since the EPB was out last?
     
  18. 34002salisbury

    34002salisbury New Member

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    The last time it worked I want to say was around 2009? It has been to a few depot open days though
     
  19. 73129

    73129 Part of the furniture

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    Nice to see an update on what’s happening around Ropley on this weeks YouTube video.

     
    Johnme101 and Hampshire Unit like this.
  20. M59137

    M59137 Well-Known Member

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    The owners state it last carried passengers in 2015.

    Sent from my moto g(8) power using Tapatalk
     

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