What's your dream obscure railway restoration project?

Shanklin to ventnor on the Isle of Wight!!!!!!!!!!!

 

To discover the missing Coronation Scot rake in a secret military warehouse in the USA, Dust it down repatriate it and have it running behind Duchess of Hamilton, Kidknap Dwight d Eisenhower and replace it with a replica, secretly restore it and pass it off as a new build, call it 'Silver Fish' and have a new build silver jubilee rake of Articulateds to go with it and then stage parallel runs on the ML.... wheres me cornflakes.

 

This suggestion may be earlier on this thread already, but I'd love to see the Great Central London Extension rebuilt from Annesley to Marylebone. One of the best things would be to watch the demolition of Vicoria Centre in Nottingham, but there would be a little more collateral damage as well along the route.

 

One would be the old North Staffs Audley Branch in its entirety, much of the route is intact although the inflilled Harts Hill Tunnel and cuttings around Newcastle-under-Lyme would need to be dug out and the A500 crossed twice. Most iof the route has housing alongside it and seems ideal for a re-instated rail service. It would also be a very viable part of a Potteries area metrolink type system.

 

I pretty much only read here, but here's my idea.

Take over the goods yard at Exeter, build a 6 road shed capable of housing 15 locos, and a carriage shed capable of holding 30 carriages. Use the broad gauge transfer shed as a visitor centre, have a couple of locos which are not in service stored for people to look at up close. Also install a turntable.

Then, re-open Stoke Canon, Hele & Bradninch, Cullompton, Tiverton Parkway, Burlescombe, Wellington and Norton Fitzwarren stations (all with 4 tracks through, as Tiverton Junction is). From Tiverton Junction, reopen the Hemyock branch (necessitating knocking down a few new houses - wouldn't take long) and also the Tiverton branch. Also, reopen the Exe Valley route to connect up with the Barnstaple reopening someone else mentioned.

There's plenty of towns there with increased population that could benefit from a decent rail connection. Normal peak time services from Exeter to Taunton, and along the Exe Valley, Monday to Friday could be handled by DMUs, with large prairie tanks or Halls hauling 3-5 mark ones stepping in on at off peak times and running all services at weekends. A couple of 45xx's and a couple of 57xx to work the Exe Valley services, a pair of 14xx's could work early morning to Tiverton and late evening back, with a couple of auto coaches, splitting to cover Tiverton/Hemyock respectively. A Manor, GWR mogul and a Castle would also come in quite useful for covering other lines/spot hire. Services could also work south to Newton Abbot or Paignton instead of the DMU service presently used. In addition to this, 3 daily fast steam services could run from Exeter to Plymouth from Monday to Saturday.

And while in complete cloud cuckoo land, a couple of light pacifics (unrebuilt) and 10 bulleid coaches to cover Exeter to Okehampton/Barnstaple.

 

Why stop there - lets do the whole lot!!!

 

Sandown to Newport quay via a new formation around Newport unless you want to rip up the Newport bypass of course, then re open though to cowes, it would mean loosing the co-op on the sight of the station at Cowes though, but im sure that a suitible location could be found for another shop then i suppose you could then do the merstone to yarmouth section next

i still think that a steam worked rail network on the island would be a winner during the tourist season and would be an attraction in its own right as well as taking traffic off the island roads

 

All the railways around Sutton Harbour in Plymouth, and as a twist not for passenger traffic; purely for shunting demonstrations. Now that's pretty obscure!

 

Cuckoo Line restored to operation in its entirety as a preserved line though statioins will be difficult. Also Three Bridges to Tunbridge Wells via East Grinstead restored as a commuter line.

Also Didcot getting permission for a good length Broad Gauge section along side the mainline.

 

I suppose I'm lucky my obscure railway restoration project is actually coming true with the reopening of the Cauldon Line. Just do with a couple of stations opening.

 

I had great thought for Ramsgate Tunnel to be re-opened but I have recently been told that it is in fact happening

 

This is just make believe, but have an island built and run all the lines in Thomas on them including narrow gage

 

It's NOT make believe. The island exists, the BBC says so hence it must be true
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-13872542

 

Nice - though I'd settle for the Bluebell (once in EG) being back in Lewes as well

You could re-open the Faringdon Branch as mixed gauge to connect with the mainline at Uffington. Run a commuter service to Reading / Paddington in the week, and Broad Gauge heritage service at weekends; close enough to Didcot to serve as a primary engineering base for heavy overhauls. Firefly, the replica Lord of the Isles and a re-steamed North Star would serve for motive power, with Tiny bought in for galas

Tom

 

Hooton to West Kirby, it's virtually intact apart from a bridge at Neston & the site of West Kirby joint line station, which is now a sports centre . Main problem is the whole line passes through 'nimby ' country.

Bob.

 

It will be such a great project and could be easily acomplished with the desired heart and soul and money

 

now THATS what I call a dream! Although why not Mixed Gauge from Didcot to Cholsey and then to Wallingford? I fondly remember 1466 and 231 operating on that line back in the early seventies, and what a boost for the C&WR!
(Noone need point out the impracticvality of either of these ideas, thanks)

 

In no particular order:

Overhaul J21 65033 into working order
Get a rake of 21T coal wagons onto ONE preserved line (an ex BR line such as Weardale)
Preserve at least a pair of class 142 units!
A new build J39...
A preserved shed / depot on a preserved line (such as ex Thornaby) with better vantage points and views for visitors

Guess we can dream......

 

My Dad (who can remember it running with steam) always speaks very highly of Foxfield-Coniston.

 

Thought about this at work today

Ultimate idea that would never happen would be a steam/diesel locomotive depot and carriage sidings on the paradise area, or what used to be Etherley BR tip. Complete with turntable, and ability for overhauls, yet maintains stock for a rejuvinated and restored Weardale line complete with double track sections, stations refurbished. Depot also does new build locomotives and stock to a old or mock design....

Still.... never going to happen.....