Heritage Rail connection with Network Rail Tracks

[Harpers Tate]

Well, since we seem to have moved on from the original point to commenting on the presence (or otherwise) of connections, it would be remiss not to mention the one which is routinely and regularly used by passenger trains operated by a heritage railway through onto Network Rail and into a NR station several miles away. And that would, of course, be the NYMR at Grosmont (for Whitby).

 

[takno]

Actually this connection was only put in during the 70s after closure of the GCR to passengers. There was still a need to run freight to Hotchley Hill and the Ruddington Army depot, which was accessing via the GNR connecting curve via the old Nottingham London Road HL station, reversing in the tunnel at Weekday Cross Junction. The connection at Loughborough provided an easier route and allowed everything north of Ruddington to be sold off (and virtually wiped off the map over the next few decades).

Interesting, thanks. The question got me reading up on it, but it's not an area I'm that familiar with

 

[DarloRich]

can we get away form saying it is only X yards between a heritage railway and NR. If the connection isnt signaled it may as well be 200 miles. The costs will be prohibitive unless they can be rolled up into a wider re signalling scheme.

 

[dgl]

can we get away form saying it is only X yards between a heritage railway and NR. If the connection isnt signaled it may as well be 200 miles. The costs will be prohibitive unless they can be rolled up into a wider re signalling scheme.

Agreed, the amount the Swanage branch reconnection saved by being included as part of a wider resignalling program was estimated at ~12mil if my memory serves me correctly and that was using a preexisting freight line.

 

[IanXC]

can we get away form saying it is only X yards between a heritage railway and NR. If the connection isnt signaled it may as well be 200 miles. The costs will be prohibitive unless they can be rolled up into a wider re signalling scheme.

Unless there is a very good interchange, such as Bodmin Parkway or Kidderminster, of course.

 

[takno]

Unless there is a very good interchange, such as Bodmin Parkway or Kidderminster, of course.

Kidderminster has a full signalled link as well. From a user point of view the stations being next to each other is the most useful thing though

 

[Trainfan344]

Mid Norfolk Railway is connected at Wymondham

 

[AM9]

The South Devon Railway has a connection from the up mainline to a set of points on the runaround loop. Well, actually the points are in repair at the moment (I was there today), but I don't think it will stop any major transfers this week.
In early BR and DVR days, the trains ran directly from Totnes mainline platforms, but access charges got too expensive and today, the line would be considered too busy to allow for steam branch-line traffic to fit into a full timetable anyway, - especially in the summer when both services are at their heaviest.

 

[D1009]

The Bodmin & Wenford railway have a main line connection at Bodmin Parkway - the heritage trains using the same platform as the mainline diesels. Until a few years ago I belive it was also used by China clay freight. I'm not sure whether they have ever run any direct through charter trains.

They are currently advertising a visit from Tornado to the railway. I assume it will haul a charter down to Cornwall, perhaps to Penzance and then turn around back up to the Bodmin and Wenford; I think the main line connection is in the direction of Penzance.

The connection at the Plymouth end of Bodmin Parkway station was removed some years ago, the connection is now to the B&W sidings at the other end of the station. It is many years since there has been a crossover between the down and up NR lines at Bodmin Parkway, so access is only possible from the up line, and a through movement would require three reversals to get to Bodmin General.

 

[xotGD]

The trackwork element is not the problem, as you say its only a few metres.
The length of a new turnout and a closure panel.
The big problem is that there is currently no S+T in place and a new installation would be required.

Plus reinstatement of the platform at Skipton.