CVR and Cauldon Lines

I think you should look again at what ROGS stands for. It applies to the lot, including any new tram systems.

 

I thought that the September deadline only applied to heritage lines and the other railways were already doing it. I'd have thought that the MCR would not be in the heritage catagory.

 

Heritage Railways had an exemption for a period but this expired a while ago. The upcoming deadline is for those that were already 'in process'. I can't remember the exact dates without looking them up.

 

Any railway over 15 inches or including any railway under that also crosses a public way are governed under the old Rots which is now superseeded by Rogs, as the Cvr/Mcr is effectively an interface between 2 sides there will be elements of Rogs involved in both operations, NR maintains its own Rogs internally,this is no different a process than MCR will have to do as well, whether it achives independance within its own organisation or uses an independant inspector for its works is up to the MCR, there are railways which have their own independant assessors internal to their own railways infrastructure same as NR does,there are also companies out there to assist in the Rogs process such as Green Dragon.

Rogs actually makes it easier to get works done,now that all the issues have been ironed out.

if there is significant change to the new works or operaqtions Rogs applies.

eg changing a ground frame from one side of line to the other with no locking alteration or change to method of operation wouldnt come under Rogs but putting a new type of point in not seen before on the line with a new ground frame and new operational methods would.

1. get it proposed,document it to the board
2. get the board to agree,get it documented.
3.detail the work and changes, document the risks and how you mitigate or reduce these.
4.get it independantly looked at,questions documented.
5.reply the answers and document them
6.once all happy,document the agreement,get it put in,test it,document any problems etc and then bring about the new changes.

its all about documenting the process of why and how the new works came about,how the risks were assessed and managed, and get some independance in the process, self commisioning is the way forward rather than getting the inspectors to come round and do this in the future.

been to enough conferences now on Rogs to get a good feel its not as bad as first made out.

 

I find the whole scheme tremendously impressive: are there any other potential projects of this nature in the pipeline? I drive to work through Staffordshire and Cheshire past various Tarmac and Sibelco quarries with endless lorries churning out- hopefully if this scheme is a success for Lafarge it might become a model- and it would make the country roads through Cheshire much quieter as well.

 

Another potential project of this nature is the Cambrian Heritage Railway in Oswestry

 

On Saturday evening the first the first locomotive(albeit a Wickham trolley) went from Leekbrook to Ipstones on the Cauldon line. It was a distance of about 4 miles each way, with 4 passengers, not bad for 1 months work in reclaiming the line. The flaylers and the ditch clearances were done by professionals but alot of tree clearance work ect. has been done by voluteers. Well done to all involved. P.S. Have seen some photos of the run but have not had permission to reproduce them.

 

Are they dave gibsons photos???

 

Gav106, These I've seen are not Dave Gibsons.

 

Not quite the first locomotive - Roger the shunt engine was running up and down all day saturday!

 

Chris, How far did you get up the branch, when I was working up there last week the flailing had stopped about 200 yards short of Winkhill station. The flailer had gone to Leekbrook I believe on other work. We walked to m/post 6 3/4 there were very few trees so once they got past Winkhill it looked pretty plain sailing(or flailing) to Cauldon Low. Hope we're there yet' Cheers.

 

I went on a 6-car DMU in the early 70s, a tour called the "Knotty Rambler." It went along the Biddulph Valley Line, to Caldon Low and to Oakamoor Sand Works, Brilliant day out.

 

The whole of the Cauldon line has now been flailed and partly sprayed. All the life expired sleepers have been inspected and in the next couple of weeks will be changed at a 1 in 3 basis to run to heritage standard. There will then be further inspections and if sucessfull we could see the first steam passenger train up the line sometime this year. Great effort from everyone involved with the work. I wonder what the first engine up't'moors will be.

 

just a quick update to let you know that the signalling department volunteers have also been busy on the line, the home and distant signals coming downhill from Cauldon low have been repainted and refitted with arms and fittings, theres still work to do on the crossings on the line,various plans are in hand, the points at leekbrook have been refettled up,and dug out and are in good condition,thanks to the work of the permanent way volunteers and the crews of the roadrailers.

 

Just to correct various inaccuracies in some of the postings.

In relation to the P-Way on the Leekbrook Junction – Cauldon Lowe line all sleepers that need replacing or are deemed to need changing within the next 5 years are being changed. We are very fortunate in having appropriate machinery on hire to enable a rapid turn around on this job. To date we have identified just over 400 sleepers to change. No doubt when the actual job is underway there will be considerable more to replace.

We have identified some 10 rails which will need replacing before any form of passenger traffic is allowed and this will increase to probably closer to 100 rails when we take into account anticipated traffic flows and the current wear around some of the curves.

Whilst we are currently only planning this one off event, we are seeking to carry out any work now which will facilitate the return of freight traffic in the future. For example Apesford L/C is being lifted and refurbished with new rails and sleepers to give guaranteed good service.

The S&T side is also progressing as Dom has said. Two ground frames are currently under refurbishment, 1 to control Leekbrook Junction MCR and 1 to control the strategic freight site at Cauldon Lowe. Again work here is being done to enable a basic safe passenger service, and in the fullness of time a basic ‘one engine in steam’ for the freight service.

As Dom has eluded the points at Leekbrook are in surprisingly good order, a thorough clean, and gauging has revealed very little amiss. Various timbers are being replaced and thanks to mechanical assistance all the sleeper beds from Leekbrook Junction (CVR) gates to point No. 31 are being cleaned of years of sand till we hit good ballast. This particular area is where the Oakamoor sand trains use to be kept when the loco was running round.

Post made on behalf of Greg Wilson, MCR.

 

Indeed as Chris says the work is very thorough and its good to see it all come together so quickly again, until the work i had very little idea of what there actually was around the junction or the line to Cauldon and its good to see how modern machinery in the form of flail and road railer can bring back the formation so quickly to a useable condition.

looking forward to the first trains, well done to all involved for your hard work and sweat!!!,more to come yet

dom

 

Hi all. This is the official press release, authorised by Greg Wilson today, regarding the MCR/CVR special event in November.

Moorland & City Railways ‘MCR’ is pleased to announce that subject to the ongoing renewal and upgrade work currently underway on the Leekbrook Junction to Cauldon Lowe line and final inspection by the Office of Rail Regulation that it should be in a position to return the line to passenger traffic for a celebration event on the 13th November 2010.

MCR was specifically setup to purchase the line from Stoke on Trent to Cauldon Lowe for commercial freight traffic. Given the generally better than expected condition of the infrastructure this opportunity has arisen to allow a passenger operation to be promoted ahead of the freight flows.

In collaboration with the Churnet Valley Railway (1992) plc ‘CVR’, MCR are planning an intensive 3 train service over the weekend of the 13/14 November 2010 featuring some interesting steam motive power. The weekend of the 20/21 November 2010 will see a repeat of this with the addition of diesel locomotives to recreate a 1960’s theme. This new section of line will see the CVR expand operations from an 11 mile round trip to a 27 mile round trip.

The MCR line closed to passenger traffic on the 30th September 1935, to freight traffic on the 8th February 1988 and has seen only a selection of trains over the weekend of the 16/17th April 1994 with the final charter running on the 28th May 1994. Since then it has remained mothballed.

The route comprises 8 miles of steeply graded railway line offering truly magnificent views of the moorlands unseen for many years. Steam and diesel locomotives will be working almost at full capacity to pull 6 & 8 coach trains up gradients ranging from 1:40 to in 1:59. The summit of the line at Ipstones is a staggering 1063 feet above sea level. These gradients will give the opportunity to see and hear the locomotives in action working hard.

Locomotives currently booked for this truly amazing event include (and subject to availability) 71000 ‘Duke of Gloucester’, Stanier Mogul 42968, 8f No. 48624, Large Prairie No. 5199 and a surprise visitor as yet unseen in the Staffordshire Moorlands. Diesel locomotives will include Class 37 37075, Class 33/1 33102 and a return visit by a truly local class of diesel loco. These will be joined by the CVR resident Class 104 DMU.

Pre booked tickets for the event will be available via the CVR website closer to the event at www.churnet-valley-railway.co.uk. Special tickets will be available by pre booking only to ride on the first passenger train over the complete line that being the 09:55 ex Froghall to Cauldon Lowe on the Saturday which will be hauled by 71000 Duke of Gloucester.

More specific details of all the plans and special services being operated will be made available as soon as they are confirmed.


Regards.


Martin Colclough,
Press Officer.

 

Blimey, things are moving apace aren't they ?

Are there any photos of the project we can look at ? Or can someone put a small update on the CVR website ?

 

http://www.yourleekpaper.co.uk/News/Passenger-trains-back-by-November.htm
Seems even the locals are getting excited.

There is a growing photo album on Facebook that it constantly getting updated http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=168488233307
Certainly looks like there will only be one place to be in November!

 

im one of the people putting pics on facebook. Ill add my first video to youtube when i can find the cable. from leekbrook junction to halfway towards bradnop, then from bradnop halfway to leekbrook, they meet in the middle if that makes sense. ill do a before and after to show your what difference a few months can be with the right equipment and lots of enthusiasm. Well done to everyone whos been doing the work. from us on pway, s&t and all the paid staff.