Which heritage lines purchased (part of) their line intact?

The W&LLR initially leased the line on a 21 year term and eventually bought the freehold for the vast sum of £8,000! It was able to do this, not without some difficulty, whilst avoiding the complications of separate holding companies. Judging from the tensions reported from elsewhere this would be an instance of "short term pain, long term gain". The site of Raven Square station is held on a long term lease from the Powis Estate.

PH

 

Gwsr very nearly owned the land to Honeybourne for a huge £5! Unfortunately someone objected and with large legal costs looming it was dropped. Now we'll have to talk to sustrans

 

Strathspey Railway Company should be on your list.

 

Who will want probally an arm and leg from you to buy it back when they would have been gifted it for about £5

 

All the track was still down from Leek Brook to Oakamoor when it was bought by the CVR. Both platforms were still at Cheddleton, the main plaform and station were in reasonable condition. Leek Brook was in poor condition as was the main platform at Consall, all the building were gone apart from the ruins of the overhanging waiting room over the canal, with no platform in front of it.Froghall station along with the main platform were demolished although the other platform with 3 different heights was still there with no buildings on.

 

And the line to Cauldon Lowe... But hasn't /isn't that being lifted ? - a first for preservation to close and rip up a line it used to operate ?

 

I think I'm right in saying that the 3 miles or so from Ipstones loop to Cauldon is being lifted because it was in poor condition. The intention is still there to re-lay track up to Cauldon for the freight and (maybe in time) to Waterhouses.

I'm sure Sheff, Pwayman or Lil Bear can correct me if I'm wrong.

 

Don't forget Epping Ongar Railway... 9.4km of single track with 3rd & 4th rail (dead), plus stations, bridges etc purchased from LUL (via DfT agreement) into private hands 1994... (no signalling, loops, points etc though).

 

CVR bought the enture line from Leek Brook Junction (former Hospital Platform) down to Oakamoor Sand Quarry (known locally as Moneystone) off BR in 1995.
The section from Froghall Junction (South of Froghall station) to the Quarry is in the process of being scrapped to assist with the financing of the planned 1mile Northern extension to Leek.

Moorlands & City (MCR) have taken a 150yr lease from Network Rail on the 8.5mile LBJ to Cauldon Line. the 4(ish) miles from Ipstones to Cauldon has been lifted though due to its poor overall condition and that there was a landlsip near to Cauldon last year. It is the aim though of both MCR & CVR to see the line re-opened, including the additonal 2mile Waterhouses Branch that leaves the Cauldon branch at Caldon Junction.

At present though, all efforts are being concentrated on the Northern Extension to Leek, and the Western Extension to Stoke with negotiations ongoing over re-opening partway to Endon first.

The Southern (Oakamoor & eventually Alton Towers) and Eastern (Cauldon & Waterhouses) are currently on the shelf for the time being.

 

That's a catastrophic bore; I am no fan of Sustrans - no respect for people who purchase/are gifted railway land/former trackbeds and then object, or demand large sums of money, when anyone attempts to restore said former railway.

 

Apparently talks have been "encouraging" and "postitive" not sure if we plan on actually buying it or not though, is that the only way for sustrans?

 

Well, to be honest I am not certain of the legalities involved; the fact that it has been necessary for the GWR to hold talks with Sustrans suggests that Sustrans must have some form of ownership with regard to the former railway land.

Whichever way you view it though, with Network Rail having made provisions for the GWR (namely the new extra platform face at Honeybourne station) one would assume that the GWR will be keen to do what is necessary.

 

Not wishing to poke a hornets nest, but if MCR leased the track from network rail, isn't network rail the owner of the track being ripped up and sold for scrap ?

I rent out my flat, if the renter decided to rip out the bathroom and sell it I wouldn't be too happy about that ?

 

ELR (the hump)

 

I think you mean the Ski-Jump

 

Just a thought but the title said railways that purchased the line. The ELR is leased. (at least it was initially). Isn't the land /line and its structures (inc Buckley Wells and Castlecroft) owned by the various councils in the trust ?
The ELLR being the company to operate it and ELRPS to provide the "labour".