What preserved railway extension would you most like to see?

[Calthrop]

My wishlist

Bridgnorth - Ironbridge.
Bewdley -- Tenbury Wells.
Ruabon - Llangollen
Cheltenham Racecourse - Cheltenham and Broadway - Honeybourne
Lynton - Barnstaple throughout including street running into Barnstaple BR station (not being too greedy!)

(My bolding above) -- this is a big fancy of mine: a perceivedly delightful line. I seem to recall reading or hearing that around the end of the 1960s, when the SVR preservation society was in a position to get rolling; the Bewdley -- Bridgnorth, and Bewdley -- Tenbury Wells lines were both disused and in situ, and potentially available -- if things had gone a bit differently: it could have been the Tenbury Wells, not the Bridgnorth, one, which was picked for preservation.

I know I'm hard to please -- but while recognising the SVR as we know it, as a very fine railway; I find its route and surrounding scenery, a little monotonous. Per the map and what I've seen actually "on the ground", the Tenbury Wells route strikes me as possessing maybe greater variety and charm -- I have moments of wishing that (assuming there's any truth in the above "might-have-been") it had been the one chosen. Of course having both routes under preservation, would be the best situation of all !

Going completely over the top in our "wish-fulfilment-land" -- it's nice to muse on the line running further west from Tenbury Wells (closed, if I have things rightly, only a couple of years earlier than east thereof) also being revived; and reinstatement and reopening of Wooferton, its junction station with the Shrewsbury -- Hereford route.

 

[tiptoptaff]

Agree that might be more viable, but if my memory serves me right the Silk Mills bridge has a fair bit of space to spare, the crossing was 3 tracks I believe, of which only 2 were in regular use. Allowing the full WSR service to run would improve their offering to tourists as well as allowing direct interchange from National Rail. It may also encourage more tourists to start from that end, which would reduce congestion on the Taunton to Minehead road which is a fairly high accident route.

Another negative though, is that all that money and effort spent on the Norton Fitzwarren triangle would've been for naught!

Silk mills bridge and track slewing has rendered the dedicated line idea dead. The supports are in the only place you could run a line. It also adds 10 miles to an already 40mile round trip so it would be operationally difficult

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Silk mills bridge and track slewing has rendered the dedicated line idea dead. The supports are in the only place you could run a line. It also adds 10 miles to an already 40mile round trip so it would be operationally difficult

That's a shame (though you're right that the WSR is pretty much at the limit of viable heritage operations), and it's annoying that passive provision wasn't made when the bridge was built. I lived in Taunton when the crossing was replaced and the nearby park&ride built, though didn't ever get chance to have a good look at the underside of the bridge.

 

[tiptoptaff]

That's a shame (though you're right that the WSR is pretty much at the limit of viable heritage operations), and it's annoying that passive provision wasn't made when the bridge was built. I lived in Taunton when the crossing was replaced and the nearby park&ride built, though didn't ever get chance to have a good look at the underside of the bridge.

It isn't just the bridge it's the combination of that and the slewing of the tracks for higher speed running. It would take over £30million to rectify so a much smaller sum would be needed to purchase a mainline compatible unit for Taunton shuttles. But as these would need to cross the mainline it's subject to pathing. Running to the downside isn't practical as you cannot avoid interaction with the mainline and are at the mercy of it's problems.

A GWR shuttle or extension of the Taunton terminators is far more practical and preferable. The WSR doesn't benefit from running to Taunton, it benefits from a service extension as not only does it link to TAU it then by default has a direct link from Bristol, and potentially Cardiff or further afield

 

[Llanigraham]

Extend the Corris Railway back in to Machynlleth.
We've already started going south and now there are plans for a new Dyfi road bridge perhaps they could build it a little bit wider so we could fit along one side.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

It isn't just the bridge it's the combination of that and the slewing of the tracks for higher speed running. It would take over £30million to rectify so a much smaller sum would be needed to purchase a mainline compatible unit for Taunton shuttles. But as these would need to cross the mainline it's subject to pathing. Running to the downside isn't practical as you cannot avoid interaction with the mainline and are at the mercy of it's problems.

A GWR shuttle or extension of the Taunton terminators is far more practical and preferable. The WSR doesn't benefit from running to Taunton, it benefits from a service extension as not only does it link to TAU it then by default has a direct link from Bristol, and potentially Cardiff or further afield

Agreed it's just one of many issues. My thoughts behind my suggestion initially (besides ignorance of the issues above) were not just for the benefit of the railway though. Having experienced the fresh hell that is the A358 on summer Saturdays my thinking was that if visitors to the railway could leave their cars in Taunton instead, it would improve the lives of residents, reduce accidents on a very winding road, and even (notwithstanding the length issues discussed above) improve what the WSR is offering, because riding a steam train TO the seaside surely has more appeal than riding one AWAY FROM the seaside.

All things considered though, outside of a DMU shuttle it's probably in the "nice idea, but unworkable" category.

 

[VillaverdeAlto]

I think it is already an aspiration of the GCR Nottingham to link to the tramway at Ruddington Lane but perhaps it could work better the other way round with NET going to Ruddington Business Park instead. This could release a lot of land for housing.

In return for NET taking over the curve into GCRN's base to create a new park and ride they could pay for a new section of track for the GCRN heading SW to link up with the existing track.

 

[Essan]

Some great suggestions here!

As a non car driver, any extension that connects a heritage rail with the national network would be good - and would surely increase tourism opportunities to make it viable. Though I do love the idea of extending the Brecon Mountain railway to Talybont (which links to Abergavenny by bus)

 

[muddythefish]

(My bolding above) -- this is a big fancy of mine: a perceivedly delightful line. I seem to recall reading or hearing that around the end of the 1960s, when the SVR preservation society was in a position to get rolling; the Bewdley -- Bridgnorth, and Bewdley -- Tenbury Wells lines were both disused and in situ, and potentially available -- if things had gone a bit differently: it could have been the Tenbury Wells, not the Bridgnorth, one, which was picked for preservation.

I know I'm hard to please -- but while recognising the SVR as we know it, as a very fine railway; I find its route and surrounding scenery, a little monotonous. Per the map and what I've seen actually "on the ground", the Tenbury Wells route strikes me as possessing maybe greater variety and charm -- I have moments of wishing that (assuming there's any truth in the above "might-have-been") it had been the one chosen. Of course having both routes under preservation, would be the best situation of all !

Going completely over the top in our "wish-fulfilment-land" -- it's nice to muse on the line running further west from Tenbury Wells (closed, if I have things rightly, only a couple of years earlier than east thereof) also being revived; and reinstatement and reopening of Wooferton, its junction station with the Shrewsbury -- Hereford route.

I wasn't aware of the SVR considering Bewdley - Tenbury.

I do know however that the SVR had the chance to buy the Bewdley - Stourport line (and presumably the junction to the Worcester line) but turned it down, retaining only the short section as far as the tunnel (can't remember its name).

Not sure if I agree about the scenery. The Tenbury line would have been largely wooded through the Wyre Forest with not m many views in the summer.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Some great suggestions here!

As a non car driver, any extension that connects a heritage rail with the national network would be good - and would surely increase tourism opportunities to make it viable. Though I do love the idea of extending the Brecon Mountain railway to Talybont (which links to Abergavenny by bus)

How about a very modest scheme then? Extending the narrow-gauge Kirklees Light Railway (a stupid name, I concede...) a few hundred yards to form a true interchange with the "big" railway at Shepley?

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Extend the Corris Railway back in to Machynlleth.
We've already started going south and now there are plans for a new Dyfi road bridge perhaps they could build it a little bit wider so we could fit along one side.

In Wales you don't need a wider bridge, just do a "Porthmadog"!

 

[The Ham]

Quite a tricky one, I feel - in fact I suggested it in my post above but then thought it too unrealistic so deleted it! To contend with you have the M3; and a couple of modern houses in each of New Alresford, Itchen Abbas and Kings Worthy/Springvale. Then you still join to the mainline quite far north, far from Winchester town itself, and if you want a segregated line all the way to the station, you'll have to widen the bridge over the A34 among crossing other roads. Then when you get to Winchester itself, you could possibly persuade Network Rail to let you take over the siding there (though I this siding is currently well-used for turning back Southampton-area peak extras), but there's still no obvious room for a bay platform.

Would be great to have but just seems tricky.

The M3 would require a bridge over, which would likely take a good chunk of the £30 million (about 1/3 would be my guess) budget.

The blockages of the route look like that they could be diverted around given the limited amount of buildings in the area. As the OP started extension of existing lines, that doesn't imply that they have to follow closed lines we just all suggest that because someone had already drawn the line on the map for us.

I want necessarily assuming a new line from the junction to Winchester, rather a link. That may allow a Swanage style service (maybe 3 or 4 services a day) to provide connectivity between the two whilst limiting the steam services to the preserved line most of the time (the exception being rail tours).

Given the above a bay platform may not be required, however the length of the siding looks like you could reposition its access to the north and get a bay platform in (although it would be a little way away from the main station, which may not be too much of a bad thing).

Doing all of it wood possibly be too much for the £30 million budget, but it's likely that you could get to the A33 which would provide a much easier connection to the road network for visitors than the current station locations.

 

[Calthrop]

I wasn't aware of the SVR considering Bewdley - Tenbury.

I do know however that the SVR had the chance to buy the Bewdley - Stourport line (and presumably the junction to the Worcester line) but turned it down, retaining only the short section as far as the tunnel (can't remember its name).

A pity, one feels -- but as we reflect: it's easy for those who don't put up the money or do the work, to be ambitious on behalf of those who have to do those things !

Not sure if I agree about the scenery. The Tenbury line would have been largely wooded through the Wyre Forest with not m many views in the summer.

Well, yes -- I suspect that in part, I find the Tenbury line fascinating because of its serving Cleobury Mortimer, with one-time connection there with the highly delectable light railway to Ditton Priors; and maybe an element of what Bryan Morgan describes as "the old magic" by which "the vanished line seems infinitely more desirable than [the stuff which is still in action]". And, indeed, those damned trees... my brother, very much not a railfan, once -- surprisingly -- initiated a return trip with me, over the "Heart of Wales" line: it was in high summer, and he complained quite heatedly about the abundant trees blocking the views of mountains and moorland.

 

[Calthrop]

How about a very modest scheme then? Extending the narrow-gauge Kirklees Light Railway (a stupid name, I concede...) a few hundred yards to form a true interchange with the "big" railway at Shepley?

Could I just ask -- why your dislike of the name "Kirklees Light Railway"? -- after all, it runs through the area administered by Kirklees Borough Council. Though -- in the matter of regrettable railway names -- I'll admit to blasphemy concerning "the (standard-gauge) daddy of them all", the Bluebell Railway: which has always struck me as a silly and childish railway title -- I firmly favour the true-and-tried practice of geographical names for railway undertakings.

 

[Llanigraham]

In Wales you don't need a wider bridge, just do a "Porthmadog"!

The problem is the length of the bridge needed to cross the flood plain of the Dyfi, which would be too long for doing that. The plans for the new bridge show a footpath one side and a cycle track the other but if they coud put a "cycle path" on both sides that would give us the width we'd need.

 

[Spartacus]

Could I just ask -- why your dislike of the name "Kirklees Light Railway"? -- after all, it runs through the area administered by Kirklees Borough Council.

I guess it's the same trouble that most people outside Kirklees have, they don't have a clue where or what Kirklees is: Kirklees Hall & Priory isn't even in Kirklees, it's in Calderdale (which itself isn't a great name as the Calder also runs through Kirklees and into Wakefield)

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Could I just ask -- why your dislike of the name "Kirklees Light Railway"? -- after all, it runs through the area administered by Kirklees Borough Council. Though -- in the matter of regrettable railway names -- I'll admit to blasphemy concerning "the (standard-gauge) daddy of them all", the Bluebell Railway: which has always struck me as a silly and childish railway title -- I firmly favour the true-and-tried practice of geographical names for railway undertakings.

Therein lies the problem. The name comes from the post-1974 local authority, but that name itself is invented.
Of the 5 boroughs in West Yorkshire, Kirklees is the only one which isn't named after a real settlement (Bradford, Leeds and Wakefield) or geographical feature (Calderdale). The main centre is Huddersfield, but Kirklees covers a large area with at least 2 other significant centres (Dewsbury and Batley).
I'm not sure how the name of Kirklees was chosen, but I assume it was in part to avoid accusations of favouritism towards Huddersfield- in which case it failed miserably! The name itself comes from a smallish manor house not far from Hartshead Moor Motorway services called Kirklees Hall, but said manor house is not actually located within the borough boundaries anyway: it's in neighbouring Calderdale!

Getting vaguely back in the vicinity of being on-topic, a better name for the railway would be almost anything... but as you mention the Bluebell Railway, something like The Foxglove Line would be fitting due to the large number of foxgloves growing in the area. Such a "childlike" name also fits better with a narrow-gauge railway than with a "grown-up" one!

Actually, getting even more on-topic (but a bit more crayon-y), extending the line at the Clayton West end by a few miles so that it served (and even toured round) the Yorkshire Sculpture Park would likely boost ridership. It'd also render the silly name so silly that it might actually change... Then we just need to work on the council!

 

[Spartacus]

I guess the railway might be able to pass for the Emley Moor Railway, what to do about the council's another matter!

 

[Calthrop]

Therein lies the problem. The name comes from the post-1974 local authority, but that name itself is invented.
Of the 5 boroughs in West Yorkshire, Kirklees is the only one which isn't named after a real settlement (Bradford, Leeds and Wakefield) or geographical feature (Calderdale). The main centre is Huddersfield, but Kirklees covers a large area with at least 2 other significant centres (Dewsbury and Batley).
I'm not sure how the name of Kirklees was chosen, but I assume it was in part to avoid accusations of favouritism towards Huddersfield- in which case it failed miserably! The name itself comes from a smallish manor house not far from Hartshead Moor Motorway services called Kirklees Hall, but said manor house is not actually located within the borough boundaries anyway: it's in neighbouring Calderdale!

Thanks -- I see where you're coming from: I'm not familiar with the area, and was not aware of the "wonky" traits of the name Kirklees, as explained by you. The "devil's advocate" bit might be done, to the effect that in the good old days of railways, geographical titles with a nonsensical side were not unknown: as well as with "phantom" outfits such as the Manchester & Milford, also with established lines -- e.g. the Plymouth, Devonport & South Western Junction Railway didn't serve Plymouth or Devonport (explainable, no doubt, "historically").

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Thanks -- I see where you're coming from: I'm not familiar with the area, and was not aware of the "wonky" traits of the name Kirklees, as explained by you. The "devil's advocate" bit might be done, to the effect that in the good old days of railways, geographical titles with a nonsensical side were not unknown: as well as with "phantom" outfits such as the Manchester & Milford, also with established lines -- e.g. the Plymouth, Devonport & South Western Junction Railway didn't serve Plymouth or Devonport (explainable, no doubt, "historically").

The stupidity of it really hit home when I went to enrol at Kingston University: the bloke processing my details mentioned that I "didn't sound Scottish!" For a moment I had no idea where he'd got that from and assumed it was based on my being a ginger!

I guess the railway might be able to pass for the Emley Moor Railway, what to do about the council's another matter!

That would be appropriate, not only referencing the prominent local landmark (the transmitter tower) but also one of the collieries which led to the construction of the original standard-gauge line.

 

[Calthrop]

The stupidity of it really hit home when I went to enrol at Kingston University: the bloke processing my details mentioned that I "didn't sound Scottish!" For a moment I had no idea where he'd got that from and assumed it was based on my being a ginger!

This chap sounds like an ignorant twit, for sure. There are innumerable "Kirk..." places in Northern and Midland England: Kirkby Stephen, Kirkoswald, Kirkstead, Kirkwhelpington, Kirk Ella, Kirkby in Ashfield, Kirkby Mallory, Kirk Ireton -- and many more !

 

[Spartacus]

The stupidity of it really hit home when I went to enrol at Kingston University: the bloke processing my details mentioned that I "didn't sound Scottish!" For a moment I had no idea where he'd got that from and assumed it was based on my being a ginger!

Don't get me started on Kingston! I think part of the reason the Kirklees Light Railway was named after the council is because they were behind much of the backing to have it there, though it still doesn't make it a great name. Come to think of it, Emley Moor Light Railway would be quite good: you'd have a good idea of where it was for miles around at any rate!

 

[Julia]

The NVR could (and should) have bought the trackbed to Oundle including the station, which was still disused up until the mid 1990s and just ripe for preservation. Unfortunately the station and former goods yard is now an upmarket housing development and although the trackbed from Yarwell is clear as far as I know, I cannot see how you could get near Oundle itself now.

I've asked NVR members why they never bought the trackbed and they always say they had enough on their plate with the Pboro-Wansford section. Always smacked me as lacking ambition and foresight but preservation is hard work and expensive so you have to respect what they have achieved I suppose.

I was always surprised they didn't go the other way at Yarwell and at least reach Nassington - which appears clear, apart from a missing bridge. The long dead end always seemed a bit pointless as a passenger (loads of decaying stock was stored there) and I'm not sure the new Yarwell platform actually serves anywhere?

 

[Altfish]

I'll throw another scheme into the hat...

South Tynedale up to Haltwhistle

 

[Cowley]

I know that I’ve already had mine but I’d also love to see the Ardingly branch rebuilt with third rail preserved stock running into Horstead Keynes.

 

[70014IronDuke]

If I might do a bit of speaking up for the sometimes despised-and-overlooked -- viz. here, in the often-regarded-as-dull more easterly parts of England where I was born and grew up -- something I'd love to see (it might well at this stage require magic, rather than a mere £30 million), would be: the Nene Valley Railway extended from its present western limit, the five or six miles or so onward to the station, in its proper and as-was site, at Oundle. For a good many years after the 1964 closure of the Peterborough -- Northampton through route, the line remained in use at the Peterborough end, as far as Oundle; for freight, and for beginning-and-end-of-term school trains serving Oundle's well-known public school. It's a beautiful little stone-built town: deserving in my view, more attention from visitors. ....

After visiting the Nene Valley 8-9 years ago, I took a little wander into Oundle. I probably hadn't been there since I was about 8. I was astonished by the beauty of the place. It's an absolute gem. But perhaps we should keep quiet about it. Next thing we know, it'll be overrun by tourists, the school will be bought up and closed by an international hotel company, and the locals will not be able to afford to live there.
Interesting about the school trains - I had no idea about that. When did they finally stop?

 

[Calthrop]

I was always surprised they didn't go the other way at Yarwell and at least reach Nassington - which appears clear, apart from a missing bridge. The long dead end always seemed a bit pointless as a passenger (loads of decaying stock was stored there) and I'm not sure the new Yarwell platform actually serves anywhere?

Failing to open into Nassington has always puzzled me, too: that section quite long survived the 1966 Peterborough -- Rugby closure; ironstone mine at Nassington (shunted by NCB steam until at least the late 1960s). For those like me with a "thing" about "somewhere, as opposed to nowhere" -- Nassington was at least a genuine station from passenger days (though closed to passengers in 1957), even if a "nowhere station"; as opposed to the line's petering-out nowadays in the environs of the former junction at Yarwell. Still -- different ones of us have different priorities, and will rise to defend them if the need is seen.

In the course of discussion on these forums in the past year or two, touching on the Nene Valley Ry. and the possible future; a poster seemingly with some status in the NVR Society mentioned -- I think seriously -- as an imaginable future step for the NVR: reinstatement of at least a southerly part of the old Great Northern Wansford -- Stamford branch, diverging just east of Wansford station. This line lost its passenger and freight services in 1929 ! -- though I believe that track stayed down for a long while after. It would seem, amazingly, that a great deal of the line's trackbed is still there, and potentially relayable-on. My initial reaction was that this notion seemed downright surreal; but from time to time there are highly strange happenings and circumstances in the world of railway preservation.

 

[Calthrop]

After visiting the Nene Valley 8-9 years ago, I took a little wander into Oundle. I probably hadn't been there since I was about 8. I was astonished by the beauty of the place. It's an absolute gem. But perhaps we should keep quiet about it. Next thing we know, it'll be overrun by tourists, the school will be bought up and closed by an international hotel company, and the locals will not be able to afford to live there.
Interesting about the school trains - I had no idea about that. When did they finally stop?

Gorgeous little town, truly -- indeed, one not to let the hordes know about ! I find via Google, that the school trains ran until 1972: in which year (6th Nov. thereof) freight also ceased. I'd imagined that that whole scene had lasted rather longer.

www.disused-stations.org.uk/o/oundle/

 

[221129]

That's quite a long stretch. I don't know how much of the trackbed is still intact; my biggest worry would be the Silk Mill Bridge which relatively recently replaced the level crossing of the same name.

I feel like a mainline shuttle operated by restored mainline-capable vehicles between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard is the most realistic; that is, something similar to the Swanage solution.

Norton Fitzwarren to Taunton is probably one of the shortest stretches being mentioned in this thread...

 

[markindurham]

I'll throw another scheme into the hat...

South Tynedale up to Haltwhistle

That's already making slow but steady progress