Moorlands and City Railway

Just to clarify, I assume you're referring to the ones which run between a pair sleepers - about 3 ft deep - like an elephant trap for the unwary walking the line?

 

Yes they're the ones, great for dog walkers.

 

I was wondering how progress on the last couple of miles to the end of the line at Cauldon Lowe was going. With a week to go, things seem to have gone a little quiet. Not seen any new photos or videos. Is that deliberate?

Obviously, I've seen that the guest stars of the gala have been arriving, but are the plans still to go all the way to Cauldon Lowe?

 

I think that part of the problem for photographers is getting to Cauldon, there are no decent roads so it would mean a lineside walk. There is a lot of machinery working up there, BUT DON'T WORRY WE'RE GETTING THERE AND ALL THE WORK WILL BE FINISHED.

 

Fantastic - glad to hear it and thanks for the explanation.

 

And we'er too busy to take piccies to hey Jeff

 

No 44767 George Stephenson on mcr rails

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4ruOpZ2MTU

 

good video, nice bankmanship!!!! good to see the leaves now off the trees,all we need is some nice crisp n clear weather for the date now, good shot up the bank from 3 signal too.

 

Some more video of yesterday's fantastic spectacle here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8SN9QJc2hU

It was heartwarming to drive parallel to the line on the A523 and see the sun glinting off the rails again! Fantastic job by all concerned. And so many of the public are fired up by the project!

 

A few quewstions about the forthcoming gala(s)...

Does anybody know how long a round trip from Kingsley and Frogall to Caldon Lowe will take? I've looked at the timetable on MCR's website and if I'm honest it's a little confusing.

Will loco diagrams be available in advance as they would also be very useful for those of us interested in haulages.

How much parking is going to be available at Kingsley and Frogall? I know there is a fair amount usually but I can see this gala been VERY popular and if I arrive mid way through the day I don't want to find a lack of parking.

 

The simple answer to your question (Froghall to Froghall) is 2 hours and 45 minutes, give or take 5 mins or so for some trips.

I personally don't know yet, the finer points of the timetables are still being worked on. I'd like to hope they will be released soon, complete with locos added...

This scale of event has never been done before here at the CVR, so parking I would guess will be a bit of a trip into the unknown, but if you get in anywhere, it will be Froghall. In the past when its been busy deals have been done to open up the car parks surrounding the station (for the copper works), so Froghall will have the most parking, by a long way. Cheddleton is guaranteed to be jammed!

 

All information much appreciated. Given the return time I may be able to translate the timetable into something which makes abit more sense. Dare I ask what the time is from Frogall to Cheddleton via Leekbrook?

With respect to diagrams they're possible unavailibility could be something which puts people off. I do want to come and score the track but various loco's are also attracting me and if I cannot know for sure what theyll work I may not be as likely to get out of bed. I do really want to support both the CVR and MCR but they have to realise that these make quite costly days for enthusiasts with petrol prices these days.

I seem to recall we have been parked in the copper works before and that very quickly filled up!

Given what I know up to now I think it'd be wise to wait until Sunday when Saturday's visitors can tell us more.

 

40 minutes.

 

Loco diagrams are a bit tricky as we still don't no if 5199 will make it fingers crossed tho!

 

If I understand the timetable correctly then, the Cauldon trains will pass each other at Consall so you should be able to do all the locos on that stretch of line. Will trains be calling at Cheddleton in both directions? A roster is a must too, i want to try and maximise 44767 and 37075 haulage!

 

Cauldon trains pass at Leekbrook, so changing from one Cauldon set to another will involve chopping/changing on the CVR side of the overall route. At Consall, the Cauldon trains pass the 3 coach "local" running Froghall to Leekbrook & return. Cauldon trains stop at Cheddleton in both directions. The "local" only stops in the southbound/Up/Froghall direction.

You will enjoy a pretty unusual mix of working practices, especially as different locos will be being taken off and added onto your train at Leekbrook - just like BR!

 

Thanks for the reply Chris. Really looking forward to this and I'm just trying to work out what's what. It should be really interesting as a traveller and I'd imagine very interesting for you too, trying to operate a timetable this intense! I hope it works and is a success!!!!

 

All information with regards to the gala will be under the gala thread, Timetables should be on the internet by the end of the day.

Regards

Chris

 

It's now begining to come together. Yesterday there was signage going up everywhere along the line. Speed restrictions, trespass signs, token stops, footpath, fixed signals etc. There are 2 yet to be put up I won't say where but they are 9'6" long. Its like a forest of signs seems a lot more than when BR ran it, Roll on Saturday.