Moorlands and City Railway

The weedkiller unit consists of the sleeper changer which has a frame on it to hold the 1000 litre water tank, this is strapped down on the changer. Then there is a mixer tank on a smaller frame that supplys the sprayer. This tank is 55 US gal or approx 45 imperial gallon. The boom of the sprayer is 8ft the width of the sleeper plus 3 to 4 ft each side not sure but I think its 4ft. this section can be moved in and is operated by the 2 boom operators. As they are facing backwards so another person acts as a lookout for obstacles at the track side i.e. posts, tunnels etc. and instructs them. So with the Driver it needs a 4 man crew. Hope this answers your questions.

 

Just found a photograph I took earier of the sleeper changer in the guise of the weed killer unit. As you see no shelter from the weather.

 

Hi there - new forum member here! I've joined because I'm very interested in MCRs plans for the lines around Leek but there's been very little information lately in the local press wrt progress. I've read some of the comments of the last couple of months (disappointed to here about all the negative stuff) but none from further back, so please forgive me if any of the questions I ask have previously been answered.
The most recent information I gleaned was from a CVR volunteer I bumped into about three weeks ago who stated one of the reasons for the delay in progress on the line to Stoke was that Network Rail had recently changed their lawyers! Is this true?
Is there any update on what I've heard on the grapevine that there may be plans to reopen the line down to Waterhouses? A great idea I think if it can be achieved as it gives another worthwhile passenger destination!
I also have a lesser interest in progress on the line from Cresswell to Cheadle - anything happening there that is of interest?
One of the concerns I have - which I'm sure MCR have on their radar - is whether there is sufficient capacity on the main line to cater for additional rail services on both the Leek and Cheadle lines should the plans come to fruition!
Anyway, that's my two-penneth worth for now - I look forward to hearing further news and progress updates on these exciting ventures!

 

I think the simple answer to your questions is that nothing is happening and so nobody has anything to say

 

Or they are busy and havent had time to post?

 

Or quite possibly that negotiations are continuing and until there is agreement it is unwise to speculate. Lets just hope that all the powers involved can come to a solution fairly quickly.

 

What is there to negotiate? Wasn't the lease signed three years ago?

 

oh goooooodeeeee heeeeeerrreeee weeeee gooooooo agaaaaaaaaain

What fun

 

The reason that I have not posted is because we are doing routine maintenace as the season winds down and before the Santa specials. For example today one group have been doing jacking and packing on the CVR, while another group have done a line walk down the Cauldon line before this weekends running. Not very interesting work but never the less just as important to the running of the railway.

 

Firstly I must state I'm not connected with the project in any way.

Network Rail got consent from the ORR for disposal of the line between Stoke-On-Trent and Leekbrook Junction in a letter dated 17th August 2009. I have a copy of the ORR report. This was after a full consultation procedure. Actually negotiating the terms of the lease for disposal to MCR is not straightforward. Think of the number of bridges on the line. Who is responsible for the upkeep of each bridge? If Network Rail, does it have to be brought up to a required standard by Network Rail before being transfered to MCR? What if the bridge is down to the local authority? Does that need to be renegotiated? And on and on and on for just about everything you can think of associated with the line.

It could be that MCR only have limited access rights to the line while the lease is under negotiation. It could be that MCR originally had permission to clear the line to ascertain its condition and to do minimal maintenance to keep the weeds down, fix fences etc. For all we know the MCR management is tearing its hair out wanting to get on with the job on the section to Endon but cannot do so until the lease is signed. Think for a moment of the scheme for the Swanage Railway to run trains to Wareham. This requires Dorset County Council (DCC) to lease the first section of line from Wogret Junction towards Swanage from Network Rail. DCC will then sub-lease the line to the Swanage Railway. Negotiations between DCC and Network Rail have been going on for years and I'm not sure if a lease has been signed even now. One bridge in particular has been a major sticking point as I recall.

As regards MCR, I have no doubt that a lot is going on behind the scenes. It is unfortunate that it is taking longer than expected to "dot i's and cross ts" as another poster has mentioned.

The above is my take on the situation given the information which is available and may or may not be correct, but it makes sense to me!

 

Excellent post Nigelss and very close to the truth I would think.

 

A thought: speculating on what may be happening can be counter-productive, especially on a public forum, where comments are sometimes taken as fact and in no time at all we have more letters to the local papers giving this that or the other spurious reason why the project will not, can not or must not happen. I'm most definitely not "in the know" but I do slightly know some of the people involved with this project and am confident they are leaving no stone unturned in their attempts to bring it to fruition.
Hopefully we will have stuff we can talk about some time soon as I'm not sure how long champagne keeps

 

Sounds like the ORR should be involved.

 

Extract from the recent draft Churnet Valley Masterplan Transport study

" Originally, the Moorland & City Railways envisaged that the freight link to Cauldon Lowe would

come first, followed by the link to Alton Towers, followed by the extension from Leekbrook

Junction to Leek. More recently however, there has been a shift in focus and the link to Cornhill

has been pushed up the agenda, and may come to fruition as early as 2014, subject to the

necessary funds being generated by the sale of land at Leekbrook Junction. In regard to this

Transport Study, the extension of the railway (all three routes detailed above) by Moorland & City

Railways will be considered as a long term possibility."

 

Many thanks Merlin - most informative and very interesting - I hadn't realised that there had been a change in impetus for the extension into Leek, it would be fabulous if that could be achieved next year. Thanks too nigelss for your thoughts on the matter - it's given me a better insight into the trials and tribulations that can be faced by such plans!

 

Looks like some new members are old members using a new identity to stir things up, but i could be wrong.