Purbeck Mining and Mineral Group

As alluded to on another thread, the mining group have been busy at their site at Norden, on the Swanage Railway. The mine building is now up, in addition to the foremans office and the wagon displays that have been there for a while, and it was nice to be able to have a look around it legitimately this time (having last 'gained entry' to it about 10 years ago...!) when I was up there delivering a couple of weeks ago.

Further information and updates/photos can be found on the group's website at:-

http://www.pmmmg.org/

There are also a few photos on the Swanage Railway site, direct links as follows:-

http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/09media ... /jr001.jpg
http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/apmw/pm ... pmw003.jpg
http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/apmw/pm ... pmw004.jpg

Next plans are to finish off the details of the mine building and to start constructing the mine itself (yes, seriously...!), although any help would be gratefully received.

 

What about the railway that is supposed to be being built there at some point?

 

Yo,

I was there only last saturday for a tour! They have the ex L&B Ruston 'Snapper' and a few tipper wagons. They have some track down under the building, using ex (rebuild) L&B rail, with about 1 1/2 miles unlaid. Their aim is to build a demo line, where trucks are loaded from the hoppers. The aim is to bring up clay via the incline, and load the train via the hopper. The train then circles the site, over the swanage branch, back the the start where the clay is dumped back into the mine, ready to repeat the demo again.

Future plans are also to lay a passenger line, but the demo line first. Its a brill set up and full of potential! Maybe a visit from Russell one day... ;-)

Thanks to the guys who gave us a really interesting tour of the site!

Rob

 

Oh yea wow just been on the site looks great!

Any ideas when the demo line etc will be finished, work and open????

 

As I understand it, while a full demonstration line is in the resonably long term plans, it is not planned immediately as the group are concentrating on the buildings and then the mine first of all. It is intended to be a representation of a ball clay mining facility rather than a pure narrow gauge railway, so the current team want to get the structures finished before potentially being distracted by running lines/operation etc.

It is a comparatively small group working on the site, and congratulations are in order to all involved for the work they have managed to do so far.

 

all the 2 foot gange track by the mine building is down and at the moment being tranwayed (is that a word :-k ), and go 1 panal past the point going up the bank. this at the moment will be the last of the track that will be layed until the mine is fin, which will be the next job, but more 2 foot might be layed to remove dirt.

the next next planed track laying i'm awear of is the 1 foot gange in the mine itseft

 

i'm not going to put a date but a year at least

 

As a Geologist in training this is an excellent scheme, Rocks and Railways mashed into one \/

 

We at the Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum would like to thank you for your kind comments and on the whole your statements are correct with a few exceptions - The underground gauge is 20ins and not 12ins as suggested - the total length of line waiting to be laid is 1/2 mile and is ex MOD and the route of the mining demonstration line will not cross the Swanage Branch. However we do intend at some stage to run other trains across the Skew bridge. Depending on many factors these maybe (or maybe not ) passenger trains taking people to another mine building to the south of the Swanage Branch.
There is a lot of work going on off site and involves another diesel loco and many waggons. Also we are working towards providing a new engine shed for an ex Norden Steam Loco.
We do intend to rebuild the old engine shed (Between the main and lower car parks). This will be the second Engine shed. In this shed, Russell was retubed, so yes it would be nice to see Russell return for a very short visit and those at WHR have said they would consider it.

All things are possible, but these will remain a dream until many hours and much money is put into the scheme, so if you would like to help, just turn up on a Sunday with toe cap boots and old clothes and do your bit. Or you could make a donation, or become a supporter for just £10 a year and receive a couple of newsletters a year.
See http://www.pmmmg.org/Finance.htm

In the meantime we will concentrate on building the working mine part of the scheme. If anyone is heard asking when will it be finished, our reply will be - "That will be a £5 fine, Sir"

 

Yes indeed the Russell team are very keen to work with friendly organisations who share a mutual interest in preserving the heritage of our nation’s narrow gauge railways.
2010 is going to be a busy year by the looks of it but mostly certainly a trip away for the old boy to one of his former stomping grounds should most definitely be on the cards.

Good luck with the project
Regards.

 

If you wish to see film of Russell at Norden, then you will need to purchase "Railways Recalled" by John Snell It is available from Ian Allen (and other suppliers) and contains footage of other Purbeck Railways, plus RHDC and some standard gauge.

It will be quite a few years until there is a railway at Norden worthy of a visit from Russell but we will strive to make our dreams come true.

 

Just to bump this thread, the project has been awarded a grant of £100,000 for further development of the museum facilities:-

http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/news687.htm

Well done to all concerned.