Line side scenery- telegraph poles

Taking the Bluebell example, I sometimes think that the benefit of the connection is in inverse correlation to the glamour!

Probably the single biggest financial benefit was the fact that the connection allowed waste to be taken out more cheaply than by road - probably over £1million saving on the construction costs. However, clearly that was a unique case and, more over, a one-off case: before Paul jumps in, I won't claim that helping build an extension more cheaply is a viable reason for building an extension!

Beyond that, the uses and benefits have been

(*) A passenger connection to a mainline railway. Note that this in itself doesn't actually need a physical rail connection, simply two stations in close proximity. Far more important than the connection is the fact that we are only an hour from central London, on a line that has a half-hourly service.

(*) Reduced cost for incoming infrastructure, especially (at the moment) ballast. That's a significant saving, though obviously depends on your consumption of ballast. We have also had tampers etc come by rail I believe.

(*) Incoming charters - we've had quite a few this year, though I wonder what the long-term traffic will be. I suspect the benefit to the railway depends a bit on the timetable: for example, the recent Victorian Excursion last week spent rather longer at the railway than the SVR excursion, so more chance for catering sales!

(*) Goodwill with Network Rail: for example, we helped them with offloading and temporary storage of some new wagons. I believe their are things like reciprocal training opportunities using the railway.

Difficult to put a cash value on that right now, though some will become apparent in the accounts next year. What is clearly the case is that the extension has given a shot in the arm to what had been stagnating passenger numbers and gross revenue for a few years; in that sense, the extension (and the mainline connection) has been a net benefit.

Tom

 

.......... which all goes to show that B & K is an atypical example. If you had to pay £2M for signalling changes, as at Wareham, would it be economically viable?

 

It might not be economically viable in the short run, but it could be in the long term? It just has to be approached realistically. There's no point building 8 miles of line, so as just to acheive a mainline connection for the odd movemebt. But if it's 1-3 miles of line, for a connection and an interchange to serve passengers coming in from the mainline TOC services, then surely that presents itself as a suitable extension?

 

I thought this was supposed to be a discussion about telegraph poles?

 

The topic was extended...

Tom

 

Telegraph poles are there for communication and that's what it's all about so it's on-topic, whatever we are communicating about..

 

Actually a few remain in one or two places. Whether or not they are in a useable condition is a matter of conjecture. Thus keeping the debate on-thread.

That official position is a phrase used to paper over the cracks of division that exist within those previously "smoke filled rooms". Perhaps a clear demonstration of that division is the text that appears at http://www.svr.co.uk/HistoryOfTheLine_TheFuture.aspx I.e. its website.

Which according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackfield_Halt_railway_station was the reason why it was relocated in 1954.

 

I am not sure how seriously you take your telegraph 'pole spotting' Louis !

The trackbed from the northern portal of the Bridgnorth tunnel to Buildwas has many railway artefacts still to be spotted, amongst the more interesting - P-way hut with original fireplace, gradient signs, old mine shafts lineside, three stations, a hidden viaduct and track alignment posts. There are a few newer poles half a mile south of Coalport station, but none that date from the railway period.

As a fellow 'pole spotter' I would be grateful for any information you might have on locations, so that I might log them before they are lost forever !

 

Thank you Tony,

The topic quickly drifted!!
My main interests are the lineside fixtures and fittings.
For interest, have you seen this. http://www.telegraphpole.org/ ?

 

Apologies for continuing the off-topic, but I just wanted to mention that I seem to recall reading on some other thread(s) that there seems to be a certain (growing?) number of owners who don't like to move their engines on a low-loader (well, it's actually the getting on/off part they have a problem with, not so much the actual movement). So, having a connection to the national network would seem to be a plus when it comes to visiting locomotives (and not just the cost aspect), both for lease, but especially for galas (which seem to be major money-spinners for many heritage lines).

Noel

 

Now that the running line can be accessed during the closed season the first of the new poles for the reinstated pole route were being planted today.

https://www.facebook.com/roger.mill...0204615971855718.1073741840.1127424813&type=1

Not sure if the link will work for everybody

 

But are people like you (and me for that matter) the target market for the Bluebell? Enthusiasts are notoriously fickle when it comes to when and where they visit. I would argue the Bluebell's extension will stand or fail on the number of extra "ordinary folk" it attracts to the railway. Such passengers are in the vast majority on heritage lines.

 

Of course they are and are also the most likely to complain if travel is becoming too costly.

PH

 

Lineside furniture was mentioned earlier in the thread.
On the NYMR over the last 2 years York Group have replaced nearly all the Whistle Boards and Gradient Boards as well.
All in new timber.
Works out about £120 per board complete.
http://www.yorkareagroup.co.uk/works/projects/

 

Hmmm, doesn't work for me. Any chance of another link please?

 

It does work for me but I suspect that as it is an individuals site that it may not be public. I will see if I can find another route.

 

Try this link

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Isle-of-Wight-Steam-Railway/128859617189527?hc_location=timeline

 

On the original topic - The FFestiniog has kept their lineside pole route; it carries the internal phone and omnibus lines. They have re-instated the slate milestones and refurbished other line / station-side furniture, in fact there is quite a little sign-writing group at megabash/kidz training week events working on running in boards and the like. Headboards included !

http://www.ipernity.com/doc/312383/20990593/in/album/404931 although this one is from some years ago.

 

Kent & East Sussex still has telegraph poles (they were never removed - the phone line was still left working after BR closed the line in 1961). I understand there's no immediate intention of providing them on the Rother Valley Railway, though. Telegraph wires were certainly a noticeable feature of train journeys when I was young, and I think preserved railways should aim at re-creating the atmosphere or experience of train travel in their preferred era, as well as simply restoring equipment.