CVR and Cauldon Lines

Looks like you could have some fun up there with a certain big red engine Chris! I'll give some serious consideration to joining the slash and burn gang, better get memebership first I guess.

Iain

 

I have often wondered why silver birch "weeds" always grow in abundance on and around railways. Is there a reason for this?

 

"secretly their enthusiasts like us!" only joking!!

dont know,but theres a heck of a lot growing around the bank up out of leekbrook junction,flails doing a good job though,followed up by the gang!

 

Apart from the fact that Silver Birch grow anywhere - they are a tree that specifically like free drainage - and ballast is free draining (in the main...) Just remember - for those with wood burning stoves, Birch is fantastic stuff - your collegues over at Wirkworth have made some considerable cash selling it in the process of clearing their line...

Big congrats on the developments - my membership will be following shortly

 

Went for a Walk up the line on friday

What can i say? its going to be challenge with many curves and gradients doing their best to hold you back all to stop you geeting out of the valley and onto the top of the moors

We reached milepost 3 3/4 about half way near bridge18 where there are some decent straight sections, from a phographers point of view its going take many years before anyone gets tired of taking pics up there

I think winters are going to be a bit harsh

The CVR/ MCR ( in my view ) is going to be one of the buzz railways in the next few years, a mainline connection , a junction that goes four ways poosibilities of extending to Leek and Alton Towers, four tunnels triangles to turn on.......contrasting scenery ( valleys , moorland, cities ) a central location

The people who have worked hard behind the scenes who put this togther desreve a place in preservation history ......well done

 

Out of interest, what's the length of the lines we're talking about? (Leekbrook-Alton/Stoke/Leek/Cauldon Low)

Chris

 

Using Leekbrook as a centre Its About 9.5-10 miles south to Alton, Although The line goes 7.5 miles to Oakamoor Already. Then from leekbrook going east to cauldon its about 7.5 miles. Then North To Leek Is about 1 mile, And finally west to the junction at stoke is about 10 miles. Im sure some one knows more exact figures. But if you think the only sections missing are the 1 mile north to leek and 2.5 to alton. Which doesnt sound that bad. At least the rout is intact. There is one hell of a job doing the stoke-leekbrook-cauldon it terms of cutting trees and sorting out the track though. And the section from froghall to oakamoor sand sidings needs a lot of work bringing it back to good working order.

But there is a posibility of being able to run trains over about 28 miles of track which all sounds good to me.

 

He he, it's jsut like a giant train set! The gala possibilites are almost endless...... drools ..... :whoo:

 

Not only that but you could run

Steam service trains Ched to Froghall or Leek to Alton Towers

And you could run Wine and dine, Footplate exp photo charters without interferring with the above

Not forgeting a public service from Stoke ( mainline ) to Leek Froghal Alton Towers

I agrere there is going to be some very interesting timetables......and galas

 

I have checked the distances in the 1960 LMR Western Lines Sectional Appendix. Gav 106 is almost spot on with his distances. The total route mileage is 28.71 miles.

I have also been looking at my official LMS 1945 book "Routes Over Which Engines May Run". It is interesting.
Stoke Junction to Leekbrook Junction, locos banned include: -Cl 5 2-6-0s (Stanier version), Cl 5 4-6-0s, Cl 8 2-8-0s, Super Ds and all the bigger locos.
The same applies to Leekbrook Junction to Cauldon.
Leek to Alton, locos banned include: -Patriots, Jubilees, Scots, Lizzies, Big Uns, Super Ds (9395-9454 only) and 8F 2-8-0s.
Anyone got any idea why these bans were in place?

 

This certainly was not true in the late 50s/early 60s. I have photos of 8Fs and Black 5s at Milton Junction, between Stoke and Leekbrook and have travelled on the footplate between Leek and Stoke on a Black 5. I also recall Super Ds pulling coal trains off the Biddulph Valley Line, but don't know whether they went the other way to Leek. The CVR was originally a secondary double-track main line and I recall Patriots, Jubilees and Britannias on it with diversions, extras, reliefs, etc. I don't recall any of the Big Lizzies, but there again, most of their work was fully occupied on the WCML. They were even banned from the North Wales Coast line until the late 50s. Don't recall the date.

 

This is interesting. Other than a couple of Stanier Class 5s, Stoke did not have any locos bigger than 4F 0-6-0s on its allocation until the 1960s. Then it acquired more Class 5s, some 8Fs and some Standards. Could it be something to do with the North Staffordshire Railway Loading Gauge?

 

Does anyone know what the condition the sleepers are in and will they need replacing?

 

A full assesment of the line will take place once the tree cutting and flailing has been completed (hopefully in the next couple of weeks). About 4 miles of the line has been checked so far and the general condition of the sleepers and track is good. There will be some spot replacement of rotten sleepers however large sections of the line is on concrete sleepers.

Regards

Chris

 

are there any photos yet online of the clearance works???????

 

Ive got loads of Pics....but i have been asked to keep them to myself for now

Some really show how steep the line while othesr show that past Bradnop the track is clear even the bridges have stood the test of time and are in excellent condition i think are a 46 in all so i have been told.... correct me if i am wrong

 

If you have a facebook account there are lots of pics on this link http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/group.php?gid=168488233307&ref=ts

 

These are the views people will be getting from the train.

Bit more of the work done along the line

The lump to the right is the remains of Ipstones station.

The sidings from leekbrook junction

 

A lot has been written in the press about the potential of the CVR & how it will soon be one of the top lines in the country rivalling the SVR, NYMR and West Somerset. To me the CVR is already a gem, but these photos show that there is so much more to come and that there are very exciting times ahead. It is a great time to be a railway enthusiast at the moment, what the CVR have at the moment would be the stuff of dreams for many railways just 15 years ago...the very best of luck to them!
Oh and get that 9F running pronto!

 

Just seen an update from the CVR/MCR website

Here it is

http://www.churnet-valley-railway.co.uk/mcr/2010may/gallery.htm

not hanging around .......are they?