An "NRM" in the South?

I always thought Eastleigh would be an incredible steam museum! But I definately feel the south is somewhat lacking in a big steam Museum, compared to t'up North at least! A 2' 6", metre guage and cape guage museum would be nice too

 

many moons ago a group BHOLT? were trying to set-up at Mode Wheel Works Salford, there plan was to do diffrent gauges. with locomtives built in Britain which were then exported around the world brought back overthen restored to be run in Salford. the route was to follow the MSC down to Eccles then maybe to Barton. up to a few weeks ago you could see the multe gauge level crossing on broadway in Salford. its now been tarred over and the road widened.

 

Forgive me if I’ve got the idea of this thread wrong, but “an NRM in the South” to me suggests a display of NRM artefacts located somewhere East, South or West of London, i.e. the old “SR” territory? With that in mind I have suggested Ashford in Kent, not only for its historical importance but because of its good communications with the rail network and motorways. It maybe that the old railway works has now “had its day” in so much as the remaining buildings are very dilapidated and would need considerable sums of money spent to bring them up to a standard that would be acceptable, also being near a housing development that would inevitably bring complaints. Therefore perhaps a more suitable site would be the now mostly mothballed Chart Leacon Depot, though owned by Bombardier. I believe only the old 3 road “running shed” attached to the main works building is used these days to maintain Southeasterns class 375 units. This depot is a product of the early 60’s and has been kept up to date with modern facilities therefore this would lend itself to become a new museum site which is still rail connected. “Food for thought?”

 

Very slightly off topic, but.... Barclays in Kilmarnock (about as far away from Eastleigh!) used to have a multi gauge set of rails laid down in the yard, I wonder if its still there?

Regards,
Ian

Its sunny here.....

 

Anthony: belated thanks for your response-- and the responses of others--to my original post.

By the way, good to see the publicity machine in action, a nice letter and brochure for "What's On" through the autumn and winter at the NRM arrived a few days ago.
I guess I am on the database following my entry into the "footplate ride on Mallard" competition!

Planning a winter short break in York now....!

Best wishes

Rob.

 

I sympathised with the move of the NRM from Clapham to York in the early 70s; I thought it was the right thing to do. I began to have doubts about the NRM when it redesigned the York engine shed and became most definitely anti with the opening of Shildon. I feel the NRM has become a 'North East Railway Museum' not a NRM and it has lost its way.

I would now support another museum in the south, but I don't think it should be in London, but nor do I think it should be in the south-east area at all. I think it should be in a tourist area, say Dorset or the south-west where it can help to provide jobs all the year round. I would prefer that it was very directly associated with a running heritage line and one which had a mainline connection. The Swanage or the WSR come to mind. Both have good records of running railways, both have land nearby where a museum could be built and both are in tourist areas so that it would have a guaranteed income and provide all year round jobs in the local communities which so desperately need them.

Regards

 

Rather than an NRM in the South or the North, how about an outstation in the Midlands?
Curzon St in Birmingham is still derelict and is in easy walking distance of all three mainline stations plus there are excellent motorway connections from all parts of the country.
I must admit that I'm extremely worried about the future of the portico of the former station frontage, which the council and other bodies have failed to find a use for and I fear it will be demolished in the near future by some developer that wants to build a block of flats or shopping centre on the site. Listed status means nothing when the developers open their cheque books.

 

I would imagine Curzon Street development is at a total stop currently, as the site has been earmarked for the terminus of the new HS2 line in Birmingham.