Weymouth Quay Heritage Campaign

Re Parry People mover. Actually developed and tested on the Quay branch plus a temporary test track on the Esplanade. I recall it failed on the Quay as it constantly derailed. Too light to compress the crud in the groove IIRC; although I was not directly involved in the trials colleagues at the time were. If the track was unsuitable back then unlikely to have improved.


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Read post 78 which is from a local who is an active preservationist. These proposals are merely a gricer's wheeze and are about as classic a "wouldn't it be nice" as can be found.

PH

 

I really didn't know that John. However, I would have thought that someone would have done a bit of flangeway clearance to give it a fair trial!

 

I was working in the supervising Dept of WPBC at the time but not involved on site. Have a recollection there wasn't any direct attempt at sabotage (and knowing the guys involved it was unlikely anyway) but equally there wasn't exactly a pro-Parry attitude either as the whole idea of flywheel technology was seen back then as a bit of a joke. Possibly flange-way clearance was not suggested (even if anyone thought of it) in the hope the whole scheme failed. Memory is hazy as it must have been circa 20-25 years ago this occurred but I don't think middle-management were that keen on the whole Parry experiment. Long time ago though.


Edit - refs on line suggest the experiments were in 1997.

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Hello,
Update:


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-35457924

Nick

 

Hello,
End of the line me thinks:
http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/14..._into_permanent_out_of_use_status/?ref=twtrec


Nick

 

Sad, but inevitable.


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Hello,
Yes, I was under the impression several years ago that the W&PC wanted to rip out the rails pre Olympics...... When the Road Improvements were implemented.......from an informed source.


Nick

 

I suppose that ails in the road must be a nightmare for "ordinary" road users. Funny that they have been enthusiastically installed at Manchester, Sheffield, Nottingham, Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Croydon.

 

Maybe in a future time it would have been regarded as an asset to the town, but interest was aroused possibly prematurely without sounding out the views of those who have power to say yea or nay!

 

With regard to rails in the road they are undoubtedly creating a safety issue as they always have. How much that risk represents I think people's opinions differ on. The difference though between Weymouth and the places with active tramways is in the word active. Risk balanced by public usefulness is one thing; risk from a bit of dead equipment which could therefore be removed raises an entirely different cost/benefit ratio.

Personally I don't think the cost of removal is justified in Dorset's current financial situation even with the line dead but other locals disagree.


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Wishful thinking gricers from away might do well to study this post and in particular the last three words.

PH

 

iPhone using Tapatalk?
I'll get me coat

 

One major diference between the quay track and modern tramways is the flange gap. On the quay we have running rails with check rails with quite a flange gap. On tramwatys, certanly in Brums Bull St extension, a single rail with a flangeway rolled in it. You could still get a racing bike stuck but not a mountain bike. The two rails on the quay, when I was last there had quite bad differential wear which could trap a foot

 

There is a significant difference between tram track & railway track, and neer the twain shall meet.

When I lived in Bristol, cyclists were up in arms over the proposed Metro because of their experiences with the track around the docks however 'proper' tram tracks are much less a threat to bikes

 

Indeed, at least one cyclist has died in Bristol after one of their wheels became stuck in a Harbour Railway flangeway. Bristol Council's response was to ban cyclists from that section of quayside, the stretch under the cranes outside M Shed, with chunky fences (which have to be partially moved on train running days) to enforce it.

 

Hello,
The Heritage Campaign F/B page reveals that they the preservationist are somewhat upset.

One of them had to watch Dr Who to lessen the stress. An ideal therapy in my opinion.
I find re watching The Singing Ringing Tree soothes those aching grey matter bits and bobs,


Link:
https://www.facebook.com/Weymouth-Quay-Heritage-Campaign-1659439434292327/.



Nick

 

Meanwhile one of their supporters (a certain S Sainsbury, some may recognise the name) has said elsewhere on Facebook that the decision is "exactly" what the campaign needs, as it will increase their momentum, the line is bound to be open in time for summer 2017, and that Weymouth businesses are "champing at the bit at the prospect of all the new visitors the line will bring."

Along with that there's a lot on the similarities the line has with the Bristol Harbour Railway - but not very much on the considerable differences.

 

So it will be interesting to see the full technical detail of both the wheel tyre profile and the alterations to NR pointwork to enable the South Yorkshire tram-train to operate.

 

Just so. In order for railway stock to run over tram tracks, the latter was laid to a narrower gauge. The railway equipment had to run along the grooved tramway track on its flanges. This was done, I think, in Portsmouth and certainly in Glasgow. Only the latter place actually used the facility.

PH