What's your dream obscure railway restoration project?

The Lee Moor Tramway...

(Sorry, I seem to be taking this too seriously!) #-o

 

Severn Bridge to Sharpness. Small matter of a few missing bridge spans, though...

 

And a large number of British industrial designs.

 

Whats stopping someone bringin an ROD back other than money?

 

For me, it's the "Cuckoo Line" - the ex-LBSCR Eridge-Heathfield-Hailsham branch. It was often described as the prettiest LBSC branch in East Sussex, and living close by and having cycled & walked the "Cuckoo Trail" as the route south of Heathfield has become, I would agree - add to the superb Wealden scenery gradients as steep as 1 in 50 and you have the recipe for a superb line.

I had a ride on the Spa Valley line last year. One volunteer I spoke to enthused about the Cuckoo Line as a future extension. Obviously his own personal view, and the challenge of Eridge is quite enough for the near future, but why not have long-term dreams? Extending the Bluebell seemed pie in the sky back in the 1970's.

No development on the trackbed between Redgate Mill Junction (where the Cuckoo line branched off from the Uckfield line) and Rotherfield & Mark Cross station, which still survives as a private house. Not much of a terminus, as it is midway between the two villages, as much out in the sticks as Kingscote. Mayfield, the next place served, is a beautiful village, and would make a good terminus. The main station building still survives. Unfortunately, the trackbed in the vicinity has been gouged out to build the Mayfield bypass, leaving the station building looking over a steep embankment. A new alignment is just about possible, but it would need lashings of dosh.

Anyway, Nice to dream.

 

The Devon & Somerset route from Norton Fitzwarren to Barnstaple, and then on to Ilfracombe would get my vote. Lot's of rebuilding work required for this to happen, though.

A narrow-gauge associated line from Barnstaple Town towards Lynton would come next.

 

Agreed but don't forget a fleet of steam heat fitted 9Fs to run Bath - Bournemouth all year round.
Local to me I'd love to see the Hitchin - Bedford line reincarnated but that is pie in the sky thinking as much of the trackbed has disappeared along with enbankments and bridges. Also the small matter of Old Warden tunnel now being protected as a bat sanctuary.

 

Pity Usk station hasn’t gained a similar fate. All well, at least one relic has survived of this railway system around Monmouth (Including Tinton Station as well).

That another one I would like to see!!! =D>

But I think I aim at GWR lines!

Another one, Casewater – Newquey line. Perranporth & Shepherds station look brillant. Although it might mean shoving the Lappa Valley Railway from existance…

 

Reinstatement of the Honeybourne Line from Broadway to Honeybourne Jct. (This is not a pipe-dream and could well come to pass in a few years time.) Similarly extend southwards towards Cheltenham from the current head of rail at Hunting Butts Tunnel south of the Race Course (again quite possible and could well happen fairly soon). Nevertheless, I would have to support any idea to extend the S&D either way from Midsomer Norton and of course, reinstate the Kingham Branch (what else!) from Cheltenham to Kingham, then on to Banbury via Chipping Norton and Hook Norton as it once did. Too late now sadly but a route with stations at both Bourton on the Water and Stow on the Wold which linked Cheltenham to another main line to London via Kingham Jct should never have been closed!

 

Mid Wales Railway from Moat Lane Junction to Brecon via Three Cocks Junction and Talyllyn Junction.

 

"A" narrow gauge line - surely you mean THE narrow gauge line: the Lynton and Barnstaple which is aiming to rebuild back to Barsntaple in the long run!

 

How about the Hayling Island line - including the rebuilding of that wooden viaduct. This should please the Terrier fans.

 

What about Titfield to Mallingford??? Any slim chance??

 

Mallingford to Titfield would be the easier option. \/ :-#

 

Double Tracking the NYMR to Rillington, the Bellwood site to be done, a fleet of locos suitible for the NYMR, A8's (why is it that no one has mooted a new build for those magnificent tanks!) registered for the Esk Vally Line, Dame Vera Lynn! [-o< The Robin Hoods Bay-Whitby section of the Whitby to Scarbough line to be relaid as 2ft gauge to allow me never to use an (Late or Never)Arriva lump of rust & filth again [-o< Not very obscure I know but I don't care to be honest

 

could we build a nice new 14xx for it with a nice bar car and brakevan to then \/ \/

 

Wisbech and Upwell Tramway anybody? A delightfully rural branch with on-road running, and inspiration for "Toby" out of Thomas the Tank Engine.

Failing that, how about the Northampton and Peterborough Orbital Railway? Combining two current Heritage Railways:

Northampton to Market Harborough (Northampton & Lamport Railway), Market Harborough to Peterborough (picks up Nene Valley Railway at Yarwell Junction). Reversing at Peterborough, take the other route at Yarwell, back to Northampton via Wellingborough.

I was going to say Lydney to Sharpness via the shortest route but James beat me to it a couple of pages ago!

 

Only if you promise to include its Cwm Dwyfor branch...