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Southwold Railway

Discussion in 'Narrow Gauge Railways' started by Bar Side, May 7, 2012.

  1. Hicks19862

    Hicks19862 Member

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    A lot of the flying Spitfires you see at air shows started like this…
     
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  2. Johann Marsbar

    Johann Marsbar Well-Known Member

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    No mention of the newly built loco "Blyth" in the information posted on the SR website about their open days this coming Saturday & Sunday.
    Presumably this means it won't have been delivered to Southwold in time?
     
  3. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    There's a bit on builder NB Engineering's FB site which (if I read it correctly) mentions the exhaust arrangements. We've waited since 1929 ... a few more days won't kill us! :)
     
  4. Bikermike

    Bikermike Well-Known Member

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    Just met the Halesworth mob at their worksite at Blythborough. Very nice people and keen to show off their works. More power to their elbows.

    They said the Southwold group's engine hasn't arrived, but did mention that the Steamworks would be open this weekend. We will be visiting on Saturday, all things being equal
     
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  5. Bikermike

    Bikermike Well-Known Member

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  6. Bikermike

    Bikermike Well-Known Member

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    Well, I'm here and it's raining... (first day this week ironically).

    Nice to see all the new PW, and things have definitely moved on from last time we were here.
     
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  7. Johann Marsbar

    Johann Marsbar Well-Known Member

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    Was going to have a run up there today, but took one look out the window and decided not to bother.
    Equally dire weather forecast for tomorrow, just when we have a visiting Ransomes built (1916) traction engine in steam at our Museum as well.......
     
  8. Mark Thompson

    Mark Thompson Well-Known Member

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    These recent photographs from North Bay suggest that there is still a little way to go with Blyth:
    Most recently, the safety valve assembly "almost complete and awaiting MPI" (MPI, anyone?):
    250209177_1076311539790787_7975238622522710254_n.jpg

    Whilst from the 22nd, the exhaust arrangement:
    247732230_1072890366799571_854359384736880137_n.jpg
    Plus the final arrangement of the lubrication pipework:
    247197756_1072890376799570_4550607536130038183_n.jpg

    So maybe a few more weeks, yet. But still, worth the wait.
     
  9. Brunswick Green 2

    Brunswick Green 2 Member

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    MPI Magnetic particle inspection.
     
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  10. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Even if Blyth takes until new year, the progress of this build has been nothing short of stunning .... well worth the wait. What a little gem! :)
     
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  11. Hicks19862

    Hicks19862 Member

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    I’m hoping they get to extend their line the 0.5 miles to the harbour
     
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  12. Mark Thompson

    Mark Thompson Well-Known Member

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  13. Bikermike

    Bikermike Well-Known Member

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    Looks lovely!

    For now I'd say I hope they don't do the boiler test until spring, no point starting a clock running.
     
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  14. Guitar

    Guitar New Member

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    Are you still on the platform at Halesworth? :)
     
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  15. Guitar

    Guitar New Member

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    Does it make sense to start the clock ticking a.s.a.p? Just a thought that this would probably the time of year an overhaul would start, end of the season. Waiting for next year may just mean losing the last 6 months of a ticket to overhaul it over the winter as is usual?
     
  16. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Two words occur ..... Santa Specials. :)
     
  17. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    It's quite common to extend the 'ticket' to suit the circumstances. They aren't cast in tablets of stone unless the condition warrants it.
     
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  18. ilvaporista

    ilvaporista Part of the furniture

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  19. Johann Marsbar

    Johann Marsbar Well-Known Member

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    Just looked at the Halesworth & Southwold Railway FB page and saw this......

    Announced at our recent AGM, we are now launching our Blythburgh Mainline Reinstatement Project and the first two parts of this project are the reinstatement of the platform and track running beside it, as far as the Goods Shed at Blythburgh Station.
    We are seeking sponsorship of the sleepers which were not only under the track but also comprised part of the platform.
    Our Co-Chairmen have subsidised our previous projects but the cost of the ballast alone for this project (20 tons) will be about £900 plus delivery, and the sleepers will be another £800)so this project requires extra funding.
    Sponsor one or more sleepers for yourself, or as a gift for a family members or friends. You can sponsor online through our Shop on our website, halesworthtosouthwoldrailway.co.uk or by bank transfer to Barclays Bank Ltd, (20-16-12) to credit HALESWORTH TO SOUTHWOLD NARROW GAUGE RAILWAY (Acct. 33671607) (please let us know you have done this, and the name for the certificate)
    *Sponsor one sleeper, £35.00 Benefits: your name on the Goods Shed notice, certificate of sponsorship
    *Sponsor two or more sleepers : £70.00 Benefits: your name on the Goods Shed notice, certificate of sponsorship, “Halesworth Hub” book

    ...so it would appear that clearing the site, restoring the wooden shed and exposing/restoring the foundations of the station building are just the start of a cunning plan for the area!!
     
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  20. James Hewett

    James Hewett New Member

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    Hi - well spotted. Yes, we have some plans for Blythburgh Station. Can't say too much at the moment, but watch this space.... Meanwhile, we already have half of the next section of line sponsored - we have the rail - and it'll all go in next spring. More than half the platform is cleared. Still about 50 sleeper sponsorships to go....and that's before we start rebuilding the platform itself. There will be events there next year - dates will be posted here after Chr Workshop Nov 19 2021 1.JPG Workshop Dec 4 2021 5.JPG Wagons from Keef 2 and 3.JPG MOY wagon 3.jpg SR coach drawing, no 6, as built.jpg Southwold Railway Blythburgh Station c1900.jpg istmas.

    In other news, HSNGR received a "Highly Commended" from National Railway Heritage for the Blythburgh Station Goods Shed restoration (L&B won, with Chelfham - a very worthy winner). The Society's very first national award!
    Also, we have recently taken delivery of eight Royal Naval Armament Depot wagons and part-wagons from Alan Keef - these will be dismantled and rebuilt to 3-foot gauge (they are 2'6" now) to form our Heritage Train. We believe that freight is as important - historically - as passenger provision (and was certainly more lucrative for the original company) - so we want to portray the movement of general goods and the use of mixed trains right from the start. Ideas currently being discussed are one or more classic SR curved-end open 4-wheelers, a private owner MOY Cleminson's Patent 6-wheeler coal open, and, if affordable and practical, possibly eventually a Cleminson 6-wheel balcony composite coach as ran on the SR in its early years. The quality of these wagons is very good indeed: most of them have solid wheels, good flanges, and roller-bearings, with complete brake gear and scarcely-worn "wrap-around" brake shoes. Even some of the timber can be re-purposed. Work has already started on dismantling the first one - with the steel price as it is, we will be re-cycling all the channel rather than buying it in.
    On Saturday I was shunting at Wenhaston with our Greenbat 4WBE locomotive - great fun, and very quiet (to such an extent that we have put a ship's bell onto, it to give an audible warning). It's all go.......
     

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