Gloucester Warwickshire Railway extension

Well, Mr Cameron talked last week about Small government. QUANGOs are bound to be a target. Hopefully Sustrans will be one that might bite the dust

 

Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Extension

I don't think SUSTRANS is a quango in the accepted sense of the work - as I recall it is an unicorporated body answerable to no one in particular. That extensive tracts of railway property have been virtually given to them is rather surprising as these are (were) nationally owned assets.

 

It's a charity

Patrick

 

and one that is not to be dismissed lightly by anyone. I have nothing against SUSTRANS nor cycling or cyclists but some of the articles and reports that I have seen or heard regarding SUSTRANS and heritage railways and their sometimes conflicting aims do not make always for pleasant reading. There is a feeling (rightly or wrongly) in the world of UK heritage railways that SUSTRANS is the favoured one who can do no wrong and whose disciples have been given access to or custody of vast tracts of linear pathways that should have big fat sleepers and miles of steel rails on them instead. In time, I'm certain that they will return to rail and, to come back on thread, the Honeybourne Line north of Long Marston to Stratford Racecourse which is currently a cyclepath, will, I'm certain, carry rail again some day. There is no reason of course, why cyclepaths and railways cannot exist together but I'm sure they will find one!

 

''I'm old enough to remember seeing 7005 "Sir Edward Elgar" and 7007 "Great Western" on the "Cathedrals Express" - those are better memories than Hymeks and Westerns!''

Err me no thinks! haha western hands down!

 

You mean Western Steam (including all the 70xx 4-6-0 variety) wins hands down!!!!!!!!!!

 

You & me both,5054 (latterly) 7002, 7004, 7006, 7025, 7027, 7031, 7920, 7928 to name a few more, Grange 6848 also performed in the last months. Had many rides on the Worcester/Hereford expresses during 1963/4 as the last WR steam hauled main line.

 

I'm sure a Class 50 Vac will be rip roaring the cotswolds in the years to come!

 

One of my abiding memories is that of 5081 Lockheed Hudson tearing through Honeybourne station with an express from Paddington, probably the fastest I've ever seen a Castle it was most impressive.

Was it one of the famous Worcester Casles?

Cheers Dave

 

As far as I am aware 5081 was certainly at Worcester between 1955 and 1960.

 

Laverton Bridge

The road is now closed and the contractors have moved in. The remains of the original steel deck bridge were cut up last year, the new bridge is a double span reinforced concrete one, with embelishments to look like the old. This bridge (I believe) will be same road height but requires higher trackbed level over the top (thicker section of support beams).

Once this is in then the new loop can be laid across the bridge.

I would of taken a pix for my website but it was miserable rainy and dull at dinner time today....

 

Great news thnx for this.

Can't wait to see the photos

 

Me neither, major bridge rebuilds on heritage lines are not that common and always an interesting photo topic.

 

Many thanks indeed for the update. I was hoping to visit the GWR again very soon but family illness demands my time at the moment (few things get in the way of the Glos Warks Rly and me but that's one of them!) so any updates from "those on the ground" are really welcome. The bridge at Laverton was originally to be replaced 2 or more years ago but planning issues and funding etc all take their toll so its really good news to see that the last temporary gap between Toddington and Broadway will soon be filled. Broadway here we come!

 

Laverton bridge rebuild

Better weather today see link!

http://nigel-black.fotopic.net/p61583108.html

 

Thanks for taking the time to upload a picture to your site. What is the intention with the bridge, will it be lifted in complete or first the beams?

Just interested..

 

Yes this is the best website on seeing the action as it were...

 

Laverton bridge

The main concrete bearers of the bridge have now been dropped in, the concrete spans are in.

Hopefully over this weekend a closer examination can ensue, and some pictures. See recent GWR update of bridges on main website news section.

 

Not quite finished yet with quite a lot still do do I'm sure, but the latest photos taken on a lovely day (today I assume) show the gap is now bridged! Bravo!

http://nigel-black.fotopic.net/c1630363.html