Next Stop Holt Central?

There will be a need to cross the A148 if the railway wishes to continue from Holt central to Melton Constable and onward for this orbital idea.

The distance from Station Road to the A148 looks very tight to get a platform and run round in - still, it may be possible. The level crossing could always be double track if necessary.

 

Agreed, the line will not need to cross the A148, which is why I said that no level crossing would be required in my post.

I think the plan is a temporary platform east of station road, whilst the line pushes on into a cutting, then under the A148, where on the west side of the road, the new station and run round would be built.

http://www.norfolk-orbital-railway.co.uk/documents/Holt_Route_Valley_Lane.pdf

 

Hmm, well I wish them luck with that. It would be possible given enough money ( and I'm talking £millions here) but the disruption to the traffic on the A148 and local roads would be massive.

 

Hard to judge from the pictures, but would love to see the proposed gradient profile - looks like a big rise from the current Holt to get over the old Cromer road in a short distance, then back to level to then drop into the cutting... sounds fun though and very interesting none the less.
I can understand a desire to connect the NNR to Holt Town - Not too sure after that though.
Would a connection back to the Melton Constable Works ever be feasable?

 

There's an article in the latest SR about the proposed Orbital and getting back to Melton Constable. Seems a bit far-fetched to me personally, there are better ways of dealing with the issues it sets out to answer.

I think the NNR is pragmatic enough to know that on its own an extension to easy walking distance of Holt would be advantageous, whereas an extension to MC would probably be an enthusiast-motivated endeavour taking the line to a village with, bluntly, limited appeal for 'normals', and therefore limited financial return. Most importantly they're sensible enough to do a business case before they try either however.

 

I thought the line in to the old Melton station site and works used to run under a road bridge that is no longer there. And also, didn't BT build an exchange on the station site? Can still head to Fakenham without going 'in to' Melton - new station away from the works (if / when things get that far)?
The easiest route in to the old works would be up from Whitwell & Reepham.

 

Agreed. I'm generally in favour of the reinstatement of rail but that does not mean I support each and every scheme that is proposed - contrary to what some on here think. Having said that, as time goes on the economic case for each proposal will change.

 

Certainly looks from google earth like they have built over the track bed at the Briningham road crossing... a distant pipe dream I'm sure.

 

The plan was to build a new station, at a new site at melton.

The bridge is still there under the road, the developers couldn't get rid of it, was too strong even with the army giving it a go.

 

All,
7 posts removed.
Can we keep it less personal please.

A comical dig ok, but a rout against an individual.. No... We're all supposed to be friends here.

 

Just resetting the scoreboard.

1 post edited on request.

 

Do you know I have been up that road dozens of times and it never occurred to me that the lines went under the road. So I decided to take a spin up to Melton, with my camera, to see if there were any traces of it left.

First thing that struck me was a new monument to the works. It consists of a steel arch, removed from the workers entrance to the railway works, and a notice board, and is situated on top of what was the tunnel, at the entrance to the station. Exploring a little further up the Hindolveston Road, you actually come across the entrance itself, which still looks like the contemporary picture on the sign.

I think I would have preferred the arch to remain in-situ and the entrance restored, but it is better than nothing and it was nice of one the Company's who occupy the site to pay for it.

As for the tunnel, couldn't find any trace of it.

 

What tunnel? There was a bridge over the west end of the station which carried the road but no tunnel.
As far as I know the only railway tunnel in Norfolk is at Cromer on the long lifted route through to Mundesley.

 

...and the working tunnel on the BVR under Aylsham bypass.

Roger

 

Apologies. That was a typo, I meant to refer to the structure as a bridge. Either way you wouldn't know one used to be there.

 

Ok, the only standard gauge tunnel is in cromer.
The area around the junction has indeed been completely changed since the line closed and even the cutting seemingly filled in. Shame really.

 

Great to see at this past weekends NNR Gala that there seemed to be a real effort to make progress on this. There was a nice model showing the first half mile High kelling section towards Holt and plenty of leaflets being handed out to try to raise the money to buy the remaining land. Having spoken to them for a few minutes it all sounded very positive with pretty much all the authorities and landowners being on-side. It was being promoted by Melton Constable trust/Norfolk Orbital railway with an agreement in place with NNR.

It now seems to have gone well beyond the 'what if' stage if the land appeal has started. £120k by end of next year doesn't sound impossible.

Norfolk Orbital Railway

Norfolk Orbital Railway

 

The Orbital Railway website has had some interesting updates, including details of being selected as part of the 'Big Give Challenge Fund' this Christmas.

Elsewhere I read they are looking at obtaining funding for an investigation into running regular train service on the MNR between Dereham and Wymondham.



Norfolk Orbital Railway

 

Announced today, the first section of land for extension into Holt bought.

http://www.norfolk-orbital-railway.co.uk/holt.html

 

This is excellent news. Hopefully they will have an update at the Gala.