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Poole Park Railway

Discussion in 'Miniature Railways' started by nick813, Jan 5, 2017.

  1. MrC

    MrC New Member

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    Some people are expecting, even hoping, that Poole Council muck this up to further prove the point that the council shouldn't have removed Chris Bullen. These are the people that post comments on the Echos website so hardly representative of the general population.

    Lets be honest it is not hard to run a miniature railway and not that different to running say the crazy golf, road train, amusement arcade (Poole Council don't but Bournemouth do) especially if you are going to start off with a new set up. Why on Earth do people think that councils are by default incapable of doing so? My concern is, given how bureaucratic councils tend to be, if volunteers will be willing to work to council rules and not do their own thing thus becoming a H&S risk.
     
  2. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

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    Historically of course Councils used to run all sorts of things such as boat hire etc - indeed at Strathaven Park (Scotland) a few years ago they were still doing just that
     
  3. MrC

    MrC New Member

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    The loco Princess Swee' Pea and three carriages are currently in the empty shop that was operated by 2 directors of friends of poole park as a "charity shop" until being ordered to close it down. Saw them there today. The shop (now apparently a fashion shop) has moved according to a sign in the window so the 2 are obviously still involved.

    If the stock belongs to FOPP CIC company and not an individual so cannot be sold except through FOPP CIC what are they doing there?
     
  4. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

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    Has the relevant regulator/The Police been advised?
     
  5. MrC

    MrC New Member

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    I do not know the circumstances they are there. They may be there quite legitimately for all I know. I posted to see if there is anyone on here that would know.
     
  6. nick813

    nick813 Well-Known Member Loco Owner

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    Looking into this. the rolling stock is not owned by Friends of Poole Park.
     
  7. stephenvane

    stephenvane Member

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    Has any work started on re building the line yet?
     
  8. Greenway

    Greenway Part of the furniture

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    No need then to notify the police or anyone else at the moment. ;)
     
  9. MrC

    MrC New Member

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    Who does it belong to? Can you say? I thought it was the CIC.
     
  10. nick813

    nick813 Well-Known Member Loco Owner

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    The track is still in place. Some other work is going on around the large fresh water pond. Was going to walk the line.....started to rain today....I have been well watered this week already. I would think that the PPRy is on a back burner as Poole Council have two big headaches:

    The Twin Sail Bridge
    The Future ' City' idea.
     
  11. nick813

    nick813 Well-Known Member Loco Owner

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  12. MrC

    MrC New Member

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    Went to have a look last week. There is a lot of work going on in the park dredging the various lakes. Nothing appears to be happening with the railway but this makes sense given it circles a lake that is itself being dredged. On the fence by the engine shed was this notice:
    IMG_20190221_152646.jpg IMG_20190221_152646.jpg I cannot find any recent planning application for the railway although I read that funding has been approved. I also cannot see why they need boreholes given the mass of the track and trains. Given it is nearly March now I cannot see the line being ready for Easter or perhaps more importantly the end of March when the Borough of Poole ceases to exist. Will it be quietly forgotten about? The track is still there although some of the plant used to dredge the lake has run over it.
     
  13. SpudUk

    SpudUk Well-Known Member

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    Has anything happened with the FoPPR rolling stock, or is it still on site for sale? And what happened to the original rolling stock, including the Exmoor loco? Is it running elsewhere?
     
  14. MrC

    MrC New Member

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    The rolling stock owned by the previous operator is now in use at Honeybrook Farm and is still operated by him. He still owns the Exmoor loco as far as I am aware although I do not know if it is in service. It wasn't towards the end of its time at Poole Park.

    A quick look at trip advisor suggests the train is not running regularly any more.

    The other week I saw that Swee'pea and the carriages are still in the old "charity shop".
     
    Last edited: Feb 28, 2019
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  15. nick813

    nick813 Well-Known Member Loco Owner

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    The Exmoor loco was substantially paid for by a crowd funding effort. The 'owner' is not the only owner,
    The FOPR stock is in limbo.
    Poole Council have stated that replacement track, locomotive and covered/ disabled coaches will be provided. Best keep an eye and ear out after the pond dredging which was delayed by two bits of equipment were stranded in deep mud. It would be convenient for the new super Council, Bournemouth,Christchurch, Poole (BCP) to cancel this expenditure.
    Council staff will run the railway, while volunteers do the graft.

    I do a weekly drive/ walk past of the PPRy.
     
  16. nick813

    nick813 Well-Known Member Loco Owner

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    In today' s local paper:
     

    Attached Files:

  17. nick813

    nick813 Well-Known Member Loco Owner

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    Will try and find a link later today.....!
     
  18. buzby2

    buzby2 Well-Known Member

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  19. MrC

    MrC New Member

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    That's good news .Glad my cynicism was unfounded.
     
  20. ross

    ross Well-Known Member

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    It is good news, but when will journalists realise that every year is an anniversary year?
     

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