Mallard to move to Shildon

There's always the old turntable South of Darlington station, if it still works?

 

It's only a 50' one, I think. Not rail connected any more, but visible from the south end of the platform. (And on Google Earth )

Wasn't it 'promised' to a railway already?

 

Well, wouldn't this be a useful addition to Locomotion then? We've already identified a use for it, haven't we? Would encourage others to run railtours to Shildon/Weardale Railway too...

 

Weardale is on the verge of being resurgent, but isn't quite yet. It's future won't be completely secure until the owners do their coal shipment deal that is running into local opposition at Wolsingham. Given a settlement, freight expansion will take priority over a Mon-Fri schedule, no doubt, but wouldn't it be fantastic for Shildon, the WR, and North-East tourism, if the NRM and the railway could reach agreement to run one or two services from Shildon to Stanhope and back at weekends? Costs could be minimised (e.g. by coaling at Wolsingham) as well as income shared.

I was actually thinking of both Scarborough and Shildon as possible steam rosters from York, not one or t'other. Could be on alternate weekends if they can't guarantee enough motive power, but with the right business and technical planning, two locos with a diesel backup should be possible for summer 2011, eh?

 

I'm liking the sound of this. It would be great if Shildon could get agreement to run on the Weardale, and even better if they could run in the opposite direction to Darlington too, where there's the North Road museum! So you'd get a 30-odd mile trip, plus two great museums. Ticket might be a bit pricey though?

 

Could this all fly? Would be great if it could. As for the Weardale having problems at present finalising their commercial deal for freight, sadly the NIMBY factor will always be there. It's a shame, both for the railway AND the local population, as the owners need to raise capital in order to improve services...

 

I think mainline excursions to Shildon have a earlier chance of flying, as you put it, than any Weardale line project. It really needs just a tour operator who's prepared to test the market, a TOC with loco and rake, NR to find one a.m. and one p.m. path at weekends with a loco turning procedure, plus NRM blessing for marketing their products in a package, and for train prepping at York yard as usual. Similar to this has all been done many times.

If that were a success and Shildon got more visitors, both off the steam train and attracted by it, then momentum could be generated there to talk to Weardale, and to talk to the NRM bosses about a budget for steaming to Stanhope twice a week (at just 25 mph of course). But WR will only be interested if their bread and butter business is running by then, and they can see the prospect of some extra jam at weekends.

 

Sounds like a regular turn for a Std 4MTT to me - no turning required . Now who used to have a main-line registered 4MTT? I suppose you'd have to add TPWS and OTR as well these days, or could you get derogation for the branch with a suitable speed limit? Or build that L1 that's being debated elsewhere on here

 

But what's the "minmum maximum" speed that's allowed for a steam engine on the ECML north of York? 60 mph? 70? 75? I.e. would a 7P/8P be allowed but a Black Five not?

 

is there any room at shildon , or near by to put a turntable in? think about it, it would be an attraction anyway, and how far is it between shildon and scarborough? via york , after all not just the NRM's own engines now stay over at the NRM , and by having shildon as a sub depot it could make sence, after all how much time and trouble is it to shunt the main hall to get a visiting engine out into the yard to get it steamed for a run

 

I was only thinking of a Darlo - Weardale type operation.

 

Well, there are plenty of options, plenty of ideas. I only hope Anthony Coulls comes back on here to read them. I wonder if the mods have written privately to him with a formal apology for that insult. They did right to ban the person involved.

 

It may as well be, Shildon itself isn't too bad but the service frequency on the Bishop Auckland branch is abysmal.

 

My local paper "The Northern Echo" had this today;

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/fe...ymead/5051502.Just_leave_Mallard_where_it_is/

 

Hmm, sounds like someone else who wasn't aware of the Great Hall closing for a while (yes, I hold my hand up ), hence the opportunity to move Mallard for a while being taken. Frankly, at least she's staying on 'home turf' - what other options are there? Having read the contributions to this thread with interest, it does seem that some good ideas are being kicked about. Someone mentioned a 4MTT being suitable for York-Shildon trains a few posts ago - well, how about 2500 being restored - after all, it was designed for (now) Eastern metals - OK the link is tenuous, but a good 'excuse', no?

Bottom line though - the (temporary) move is a good one, imo

 

Brave man to admit this!

 

What a row over nothing. It is a good idea to move exhibits around from time to time - and a good excuse for visiting TWO museums ("Oh dear - Mullard isn't here - I'm so upset I'll have to go to Shildon!"). I can remember when it was at Clapham - I suppose someone will pop up sooner or later saying it should be returning there!

 

Don't get me wrong, Shildon itself is a fine place, but Northern don't do a great deal to encourage visits by public transport with a 2 hour frequency and a wait that bores you to tears at Darlington should the ECML play up and you miss a connection, while your right the vast manjority will arrive by car, i must say the idea of a return drive from Brum to Geordieland didn't appeal...