Mountsorrel Heritage Centre

Where were the coal delivery sidings?. I presume that the rails and chairs were buried?.

 

I got the impression they were at the Swithland end of the branch, somewhere near where the catch point is located nowadays (have a look on Google Earth). Hidden by the trees, there is a track leading from The Ridings up to that point, which was presumably the access to said sidings.

 

Actually, I believe Lord Lanesborough's coal siding went down that slope from the Mountsorrel branch, ending near the road. I understand wagons were worked down the gradient - presumably singly - by capstan.

 

https://maps.nls.uk/view/189228123

 

That amply clarifies the previous two posts; thank you weltrol.

 

Given todays events, a look back 5 years to the now King Charles 3rd performing the opening ceremony of the Mountsorrel Heritage Centre..............

 

If you search online for 'Prince Charles Mountsorrel' there is some nice video of him on the footplate of 47406 that day.

 

On the day of the King's accession, we had some visitors from Abbey Pumping Station in the form of these two delightful rollers (the former of which I got to drive!):


I look forward to seeing the Pumping Station gang come down again; very nice people indeed.



As for the branch line; last week, we finished lifting and packing the ballast on the Nunckley Hill-Bond Lane section, and the trap point at Swithland Junction has been repaired, so I think everything is ready for the return of passenger services in the next few months...

 

Excellent news!

 

The catch-point repairs were "signed off" a couple of weeks ago, from what I understand. Some test workings are required before the branch can be put back into regular use and I was told a couple of provisional dates for that to be happening, but haven't had anything confirmed as yet about those.....

 

Couldn't swear to it, but "CCT128" looks very much like a machine I saw working (apparently, for some reason on hire back to KCC) in Market St Dartford, in the late 1970s.

 

I've noticed in the GCR 2023 events leaflet that on the occasion of the 16mm/Model Engineers Weekend on 18/19 March 2023 that trains are shown as operating Mountsorrel-Rothley-Leicester North those days.
That's when the line is shut at Quorn for the bridge rebuilding works.
At least the stop board has now vanished from the Swithland end of the line, so I assume the branch track inspection a week or so ago found no problems.

 

I too noticed that Johann. It will be an almost unique destination..."Leicester North to Mountsorrel, stopping at Rothley only"!

 

Is there facilities for a loco to run round at Mountsorrel, or will it be DMU/ top and tail operation?

Sounds like well worth a visit that weekend for some rare workings

Chris

 

My guess is it will be worked by DMU's as I recall that is what happened the time they ran a similar service when the other bridge at Quorn was replaced in 2020.
I believe the section from the Heritage Centre to the end of the line at Bond Lane still has to to be cleared for passenger workings again due to the restricted clearances on the Swithland Lane bridge. Last train through to there was the NER Autocar on the Mountsorrel Volunteers trip - very slowly, with lots of checking of clearances by various persons on board - back in March 2020.....

 

A small update from this weekend, but two long awaited and quite large piles of timber have now appeared in preparation to begin the rebuilding of the Frog Island lift bridge.

 

I'll see those tomorrow then......

 

The narrow gauge line earning its keep today with spoil being transported from near the Stonemasons huts round to the under construction passenger platform......





Current state of the station platform......

 

I was there a bit later...


They had finished shifting earth and were moving rails to the other side of the lift bridge site.

 

I was actually there at Mountsorrel all day yesterday doing rolling stock repairs and some other work on their G-Scale line......

The area where the digger is working in your photo is apparently going to be gaining a few other exhibits for display over the coming weeks, hence the clearance of the area and the ongoing erection of fences around it.

Current plan is for the NG line to open for passenger trips towards the end of May next year. The 3 Penrhyn Quarry style passenger coaches to be used are currently under construction in Wales.