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What preserved railway extension would you most like to see?

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33117

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Can I add chinnor & princes risborough into the mix please?

They're only a small line at current bit they've got a brilliant setup & a very friendly atmosphere. They've got extension plans heading the other way from chinnor past the cement works.
 
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Brush 4

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Gobowen. The track is there and a group have been preparing the bay at Gobowen but, Cambrian Railways just seem to concentrate on extending in the opposite direction to a brewery, for pleasure rides. Warped priorities here.
 
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Gobowen. The track is there and a group have been preparing the bay at Gobowen but, Cambrian Railways just seem to concentrate on extending in the opposite direction to a brewery, for pleasure rides. Warped priorities here.
Sensible priorities actually.
 

Brush 4

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They should do both, with a separate group for Gobowen, eg RVR/KESR, GCR(N) and GCR(S)
 

johnr57

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sent you a PM

It's a (rather large, 20Mb) pdf file & dates from 2000. It's too large to be uploaded here as one file.

Will need to look for it & see if I can "smallify" it for you.

Have read that and makes interesting reading. Thank You

does the fact that Lidl now occupy the "safeway" location mean that it is no longer possible?

for others i can share by dropbox if there is interest, it relates to a feasibility study to reinstate Malton to Pickering
 
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Worf

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Have read that and makes interesting reading. Thank You

does the fact that Lidl now occupy the "safeway" location mean that it is no longer possible?

for others i can share by dropbox if there is interest, it relates to a feasibility study to reinstate Malton to Pickering

It was knocked on the head primarily because, although Whitby were in favour, Pickering Council were dead against as they thought it would take trade away if NYMR were extended and Pickering became a "stop" rather than a destination. AFAIK NYMR were not exactly enthusiastic either.
 
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It was knocked on the head primarily because, although Whitby were in favour, Pickering Council were dead against as they thought it would take trade away if NYMR were extended and Pickering became a "stop" rather than a destination. AFAIK NYMR were not exactly enthusiastic either.
The NYMR is long enough anyway and it is good they have sense to realise this.
 

Macwomble

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Have read that and makes interesting reading. Thank You

No problem:D

does the fact that Lidl now occupy the "safeway" location mean that it is no longer possible?

Believe there is still enough room for a single track to go through. AFAIK the idea (to Rillington) is dead as there are a number of roads to cross (including the main A170) & any level crossing in Pickering town centre wouldn't exactly be "traffic friendly" (assuming a LC would be allowed nowadays).
 

daodao

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The NYMR is long enough anyway and it is good they have sense to realise this.

Railways should be about getting from A to B. They are an expensive and (if steam/diesel) a polluting way of providing mere titillation, which seems to be the raison-d'etre of many of the so-called heritage lines. Where possible they need to run to junction stations served by other public transport services so at the very least (if only at weekends/holiday times) they can contribute to public transport provision. For example, the SVR now provides the only public transport to Bridgnorth on Sundays.
 
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Railways should be about getting from A to B. They are an expensive and (if steam/diesel) a polluting way of providing mere titillation, which seems to be the raison-d'etre of many of the so-called heritage lines. Where possible they need to run to junction stations served by other public transport services so at the very least (if only at weekends/holiday times) they can contribute to public transport provision. For example, the SVR now provides the only public transport to Bridgnorth on Sundays.
Pure wishful thinking I am afraid (and I am being polite)
 

JohnR

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I would also point out my posts above where a report was undertaken by someone who makes a living out of rail projects showing the level of subsidy required we such that, by using other information, it was cheaper to run free buses than provide even a basic level of commuter services.

But would people use those buses? Plenty of evidence to show that people prefer trains to buses.
 

Worf

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Railways should be about getting from A to B. They are an expensive and (if steam/diesel) a polluting way of providing mere titillation, which seems to be the raison-d'etre of many of the so-called heritage lines. Where possible they need to run to junction stations served by other public transport services so at the very least (if only at weekends/holiday times) they can contribute to public transport provision. For example, the SVR now provides the only public transport to Bridgnorth on Sundays.

So would your "mere titillation" also apply to all museums, art galleries, farm parks, stately homes etc etc? I thought trolling wasn't allowed on this forum.
 

MKC25

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I’d like to see the East Somerset Railway extended west past Mendip Vale and into the back of Shepton Mallet (as far as you can before the A road). Most of the track bed seems to be in place....
 

Peter C

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Railways should be about getting from A to B. They are an expensive and (if steam/diesel) a polluting way of providing mere titillation, which seems to be the raison-d'etre of many of the so-called heritage lines. Where possible they need to run to junction stations served by other public transport services so at the very least (if only at weekends/holiday times) they can contribute to public transport provision. For example, the SVR now provides the only public transport to Bridgnorth on Sundays.
Not all railways are about getting from A to B. As much as I think that heritage railways should do what they can to help the surrounding area, they are not there to transport people from A to B. I have been to the NYMR railway before, and I went from Pickering to Whitby (the whole line). However, this was not me going from A to B, as I went specifically to the NYMR for a heritage train ride. Whitby just so happened to be the end of the line.
I think that, if a heritage line can afford to do so, they should run to a national rail station; but not to move people about - to increase visitors. A heritage line is going to be no use to the average commuter. 25mph? When a bus, which, admittedly, may stop at more places, can go twice that speed? There is no chance of a heritage line running a commuter service.
In terms of the SVR, I have been there many times and I have rarely seen people using it as a way to get to Bridgnorth; potentially because the railway is so high up above the section of the town near it.

-Peter
 

reddragon

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In terms of the SVR, I have been there many times and I have rarely seen people using it as a way to get to Bridgnorth; potentially because the railway is so high up above the section of the town near it.

-Peter
There was a high level bridge, quite scary to use. There is now a lower level (at town end) bridge
 

Peter C

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There was a high level bridge, quite scary to use. There is now a lower level (at town end) bridge
When you say "high level bridge", do you mean the suspension-type thing? If so, I can agree that it is very scary having been on it. I only took a few steps across before I got scared and got vertigo!

-Peter
 

reddragon

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yorkguy

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No problem:D



Believe there is still enough room for a single track to go through. AFAIK the idea (to Rillington) is dead as there are a number of roads to cross (including the main A170) & any level crossing in Pickering town centre wouldn't exactly be "traffic friendly" (assuming a LC would be allowed nowadays).

All sorts of reasons why reinstatement will never happen, even though the old route is across flat ground. There’s no capacity at Malton to accommodate the terminus (Asda sits on the former Whitby bay). There’s no local political will - Pickering is dead on its feet without the NYMR - so it’s understandable they don’t want to be a stopping point on a longer route. The NYMR have never shown any interest in extending south. The old route crossed both the A170 and A169 via level crossings, and large chunks are built over south of Pickering.
 

duffield

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All sorts of reasons why reinstatement will never happen, even though the old route is across flat ground. There’s no capacity at Malton to accommodate the terminus (Asda sits on the former Whitby bay). There’s no local political will - Pickering is dead on its feet without the NYMR - so it’s understandable they don’t want to be a stopping point on a longer route. The NYMR have never shown any interest in extending south. The old route crossed both the A170 and A169 via level crossings, and large chunks are built over south of Pickering.

Obviously not a runner for all the other reasons but from the point of view of damaging the NYMR that particular issue could be overcome by just having a DMU shuttle from Scarborough to Pickering and no through trains (except maybe for railtours). That would potentially bring *more* customers to the NYMR and vistors to Pickering and not affect the NYMR's services or character.
(Just to emphasize, i'm not suggesting this seriously, more for alternate reality where level crossings were not an issue and maybe a signalled branch line stub still existed at Malton!).
 

johnr57

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All sorts of reasons why reinstatement will never happen, even though the old route is across flat ground. There’s no capacity at Malton to accommodate the terminus (Asda sits on the former Whitby bay). There’s no local political will - Pickering is dead on its feet without the NYMR - so it’s understandable they don’t want to be a stopping point on a longer route. The NYMR have never shown any interest in extending south. The old route crossed both the A170 and A169 via level crossings, and large chunks are built over south of Pickering.

Obviously not a runner for all the other reasons but from the point of view of damaging the NYMR that particular issue could be overcome by just having a DMU shuttle from Scarborough to Pickering and no through trains (except maybe for railtours). That would potentially bring *more* customers to the NYMR and vistors to Pickering and not affect the NYMR's services or character.
(Just to emphasize, i'm not suggesting this seriously, more for alternate reality where level crossings were not an issue and maybe a signalled branch line stub still existed at Malton!).

i refer you gentlemen to my learn'ed friend https://www.dropbox.com/s/tqz1ofjm9dec3jv/report5.pdf?dl=0 you may find this interesting (though a fair bit out of date but the observations are of interest)
 

d9009alycidon

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Couple of other Scottish ones that are aspirations of the existing lines - Strathspey railway into Grantown of Spey (needs approximately £5 million) and The Scottish Industrial Railway Centre to buy the existing mothballed freight line and run from Patna to their old site at Dalmellington

Delighted to discover that the guys at The Scottish Industrial Railway Centre have obtained a lease from the owners of the remains of the Dalmellington branch (Hargreaves) to operate the part of the branch south from Dunaskin towards their old base at Minnevey, I understand from their Facebook page that 2019 operations will run as far as a farm crossing about a mile south of the centre.
 

JKF

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Nobody suggested getting the Avon Valley into Bath Green Park yet? Might be a bit out of budget but having a station of that scale on a heritage line would be incredible. Going the other way to the interesting junction station at Mangotsfield would also be nice, but the ring road built a few years back destroyed everything (and even the cycle way diversion is a complete mess).

I’d also vote for Peak Rail to Bakewell, would be a great destination for the line.
 

johnnychips

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I’d also vote for Peak Rail to Bakewell, would be a great destination for the line.

There is a recycling centre and an industrial unit in the way at Rowsley, and apparently the owners of Haddon Hall are not keen on any use of the trackbed through their land, rail or trail. Finally, the last mile into Bakewell is the end of the Monsal Trail (though admittedly not a very interesting bit).
 

bramling

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There is a recycling centre and an industrial unit in the way at Rowsley, and apparently the owners of Haddon Hall are not keen on any use of the trackbed through their land, rail or trail. Finally, the last mile into Bakewell is the end of the Monsal Trail (though admittedly not a very interesting bit).

I can’t for a million years understand why Haddon Hall are so against use of the trackbed. It doesn’t go near the house, and for most of its passage through the estate the line is in tunnel - precisely for the reason of keeping it out of sight. I could just about understand an aversion to a cycle path if they think that could lead to the area becoming over-run with people, but what on earth’s wrong with a preserved railway which would only see a handful of trains per day at best? It’s not like they use the tunnel for anything. Seems like sheer bloody mindedness.

I hope this issue is able to be overcome, as as present it’s a missing link in what would otherwise be a very useful through cycle route - all the more so if a traffic-free route could be found for the last couple of miles into Buxton.
 

AHoseason

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Nothing unusual in my list.

1. Lynton & Barnstaple throughout
2. SDR to Ashburton
3. STR to Haltwhistle (then run K1 on it ! )
4. Peak Rail to Bakewell
5. Llangollen to Ruabon
6. Wensleydale to Aysgarth

And my "thank God we've done it already" list
1. Welsh Highland throughout - I mean... I hope I'm not still dreaming !
 
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