AndyY1951
Member
Phil,
Thanks,
Andy
Thanks,
Andy
I wonder if the opportunity exists to also add the necessary pointwork in anticipation of running over the MML bridge? I would have thought some money could be saved (plant etc. onsite) by doing the two jobs together, given they're nearly in the same location.The latest GM Update video has the news that the track is to be relayed over the A60 bridge this month. So a little bit more progress.
What is also in the latest news from the GCR is that the total raised for the "Factory Flyover" section is now more than £2 Million pounds! This achievement is really magnificent and a tribute to all who are supporting this project.
I totally agree Andy....but the GCR has only a limited number of people with the skills and time to keep this sort of project moving forward and they have had their hands full with the A 60 bridge and three replacement bridges around Quorn over the past two years!I suggest 'spades in the ground', demonstrating visible progress, is vital to maintaining the momentum of the project and therefore the fund-raising.
Whilst Quorn does have the space, it is also in a rural residential area and so planning permission for any significant structure/industrial use is extremely unlikely.The up side at Quorn may be an option, although it would mean losing at least some of the car parking/event space.
I don’t think anything’s been confirmed yet with that, but it’s probably a safe assumption that providing passengers with access to the Ruddington site in some manner will feature, whether that’s trains running round at the junction to get into the heritage centre as the GCR(N) have done, providing a pilot loco, or something else entirely.Where is the northern terminus going to be? Field in the middle of nowhere? I can't think that reversing into the Ruddington site is going to be the answer.
As explained in the video, the spans have a slight skew (the wrong way for the GCR application) and are a particular length. They might be cut in length and the skew altered or eliminated, and if someone has a suitable project they will probably come forward. A new user would have to weigh costs and difficulty of any alterations required against a new build, just as the GCR did in making their decision not to use the spans. There will be a fair amount of scrap value in the heavy steel items, if no other reuse proposal materialises. In the 1980s, I remember looking out of the office window (far too much according to my boss) at these bridge spans, or more accurately the traction crossing them. They carried the Relief lines in the old layout and had clearly been renewed for some reason, probably in the 1960s or 70s, while the Main and Goods lines either side were still supported by much older structures.I’m curious whether or not the Reading bridge will be donated to another heritage railway in the hopes of replacing a similar bridge approaching life expiry, or to put it forward to an extension? I could name a few that would be happy receive the bridge.
A further consequence of the more detailed planning is that there will be a major constraint in the future with the single track from Rothley to Leicester North. So that will need to be doubled at some time, sooner rather than later. Perhaps will will then get our railway museum?