'Trespassing' properties demolished on the new Waverly Route!

You 'promote' your modern transport link by making a convincing argument based on sound analysis and evidence, generate positive publicity and support and use this to lobby those with influence to achieve your aim. There are campaigns up and down the country doing just that, some with more success than others.

You dont declare the cost as immaterial, treat (minimal) progress at restoring a couple of old stations as relevant, talk wibble about some bizarre future 'utopia' to justify something you know to be impractical and unnaffordable in the real world, or suggest - incredibly given the recent financial crisis - 'if the community want it - the cost is justifiable'.

From what was once just an amusing but bizarre enthusiast fantasy is emerging a rather concerning brand of politics/economics so divorced from reality it makes reinstating the S&D look achievable... that's some achievement!

Chris

 

The "New S&D is doomed to fail as it hasn't the finances or manpower to succeed. I don't see that many people on either of his blogs giving their full support and i suspect he deletes more posts than he shows. He has brought on his own negitivity from others by being so arogant. As far as he's concerned other sites are for "puffer lovers" where as his is about "real" railways! I just find the whole site insulting to the efforts made by others in the heritage circles, it's like he's saying their just playing at trains. The Lynton and Barnstable are a great example as are others in how to re'instae a line, I have visited them on occasions and when you ask how they will achieve their goals they have the answers and have set plans for the future. They also know it could take years to acheive.

 

I agree with you entirely about the Lynton & Barnstaple an absolutely brilliant scheme which appears to know just where its going.

 

Therefore the challenge is even greater!

 

On the likelyhood scale-not a bad assumption Chris.

 

One thing that's absolutely certain; in a post-oil dystopia of localism, limited travel and no independent travel, heritage railways will be a thing of the past. In such a hard world to live in, the heritage industry as we know it would fail as a frivolity.

 

Attached are links to two documents regarding the re-opening of the Matlock to Chinley / Buxton line - the DCC document is the full 2004 report and the other report is from Transition Buxton. As expected the DCC report goes into a lot of detail something that i would expect any individual / groups planning to re-open the S and D line

Derby to Manchester: Transport and roads - Derbyshire County Council

http://transitionbuxton.co.uk/sites/default/files/all/Buxton Matlock Rail Inquiry.pdf

There are other considerations not just a "community need"

 

Well obviously you are right Woodster. The Matlock/Buxton railway enterprise have taken some stick from various authorities over the years-they really have shown some staying power. The quality documents you present are just what I'd expect to be associated with a group who must have been around for more than 30years. The New S&D will have their day - and do or die.

 

Well Jules Verne had the right idea-but we ought to leave that to NASA!

 

Well said Jamie-but Chris's optimism shines through-..."I think it is a long way off just now"... let's hope so all.

 

Popped into midford today and dispite all the "fantastic progress" reports there appears to be no change. Just alarge boulder that has fallen from the bank onto the platform. I'm sure SS has hardly ever if ever been there.

 

Well he's usually around on a Sunday- perhaps he was at the top of the bank.

 

Nope not a soul in sight. Even the weeds have taken over again

 

Interesting article in the new issue of "RAIL" magazine - out today - which mentions that local SNP councillors have asked for investigations to be made into extending the new Borders Railway to Hawick, and that pressure is being made by the Campaign for Borders Rail to have Tweedbank station altered to take incoming charter trains, as there will surely be a demand for this with such a historic re-opening. Maybe the NRM's deltic, The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, which hauled one of the last trains over the Waverley Route in 1969, could make a return visit as it is supposed to be returning to the mainline.

 

Great news-it's really satisfying to know that like so many other unjustifiably closed railways that the Waverly's defunct status is merely a temporary one!