Poole Park Railway

I thought the noddy train was a land train somewhere else in Dorset. Is it the nickname of the Poole Park Railway?

 

Noddy train is the tractor train that runs to hengisbury head in Christchurch/bournemouth, nothing to do with Poole Park Railway but both have been in the news this week. The fact that they are being muddled says a lot about the average IQ of the echo commentator.

 

Finding out what the new Council , BCP, now a non Tory Council, are going to do re the PPRy. The current state of the track is unusable due to heavy machinery distorting the gauge. Visited the Eastleigh Lakeside Railway on Saturday. Not to sure what to make of it! Some great locomotives in an un photographable shed...!
I just wonder if PPRy ever reappears.

 

I think the PPRly has been struck by the ghost of Dr.Beeching.
The ELR is quite a nice little railway. I've been once and would like to go to one of their galas, but for the past couple of years they've all have been on dates that I can't do for various reasons. I agree with you about the loco shed, but at least you can see them.

 

So did the council specify that care should be undertaken not to damage the railway by those contractors accessing wherever? If so then it is down to those contractors to bear the cost of any and all remedial works. If, as I suspect, not (whoever heard of a council producing a decent Specification of Works) then they must bear the costs themselves which makes their reinstatement of the railway even more costly and, dare I say it, even more unlikely.

 

Well I hope you enjoyed your visit for starters and we have to keep the locos somewhere.

 

Hello, I very much enjoyed the railway. I am well aware you need to keep the stock under cover.

 

More update re PPRy
It is going ahead, found this out by the new councillor with the transport portfolio. Now have an email address for a few of the BCP officers..........!

 

Two dates now in circulation re re opening of PPRy:
August or October.

Neither stated which year.

 

Friends of Poole Park, who's chair was also chair of Friends of poole park railway, appear to have lost their collective influence. Various kiosks and attractions have been run by a new voluntary organisation. I will check on the current situation of the track this afternoon.

 

Not sure if this is to become a regular news page: https://pooleprojects.net/poole-park-railway/ but progress (if any) has apparently not thought to be newsworthy.

 

Latest update on above site:
Project progress 12th July
Detailed ground investigations and design work for the new track and train shed have now been completed. We will be going out to tender for the works shortly, as well as procuring the new train and carriages. The new track should be built over the winter.

The planning application for a new Engine Shed has been submitted and a decision is expected in August. Subject to Planning the current shed will be replaced with a new one.

Once tenders have been evaluated we will be in a better position to advise when this popular attraction will be up and running, which is likely to be in spring 2020, for local people and visitors to once again enjoy.

 

Looks like early next year the planned re opening.

https://boppa.poole.gov.uk/online-a...ctiveTab=documents&keyVal=_POOLE_DCAPR_256640


Little bit more information can be found here.

 

Track Systems Uk were involved with the extension of Honeybrook Farm, now run by the person who ran PPRy before Poole council showed him the door..........

 

From my understanding the new 'Broader Gauge' locomotive will be battery driven.
Information is rather a slow drip from those who have planned and will manage this attraction.

 

I took a walk around last month when I was in the UK. Sad to see the current state but whilst the track is still in place it remains in people's minds. It's a shame that 10 1/4" looks to be falling out if favour. A larger gauge would prevent the return visit of Vanguard, behind which I had many a ride. But maybe a version could return...

 

Planning application has been passed all the details can be found here:

https://boppa.poole.gov.uk/online-a...ctiveTab=documents&keyVal=_POOLE_DCAPR_256640

 

The 4 blue coaches which were purchased by The CIC have come up for sale. They were taken with the locomotive by the Chair of Friends of Poole Park and stored/ Displayed in a shop in Poole.I do not know for sure where the locomotive went...either back to Hastings or Honeybrook Farm. The shop, now empty is being demolished. The Company doing the demolishing are the ones selling the four coaches.
Friends of Poole Park as a charity no longer exist. I think The Railway gave FoPP some £40k before closing. I do not know where that went.
The four green coaches are I think still in bits outside the Engine Shed.

 

I believe there is some dispute around ownership of the coaches - FoPP (or at least the owner of the coaches) wasn't aware that the being taken and sold by the demolition company

 

I doubt Vanguard would return to Poole. I've certainly never heard it mentioned at it's current home at the Kirkby Green Light Railway. She's also currently awaiting a new boiler as her current one has finally given up.

Of the other ex, Southern Miniature Railway locomotives at the KGLR only Valiant is running at present. However, Victory is in the final stages of it's latest rebuild after having a hydraulic test she'll be back in action next year.