10 years time

[The_Rail_WAy]

Castleford? Don't you mean Castleton for interchange with National Rail?

Yes thats what he means. It is a good idea but I'm not sure if the Metrolink would agree though!!

OPTION A: Direct tram to Man Vic from Bury
OPTION B: Train to Castleton - wait - train to Man Vic.

As much as I am for utilisation of heritage lines the tram would be cheaper and more effective to the average commuter - unless the service ran beyon Bury into Rawtenstall in which is a different matter.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I'm no expert on preservation so have very little to say here but 1 point - with the amount of stuff already preserved and in many cases sadly rusting away, I think care needs to be taken in the next decade or 2 when the likes of pacers, sprinters in particular 150s/153s/155/156 and a bit later 158s and 9s and also 307/8/14/15/17/18s all leav mainline traffic, most likely in a period of round 10 years that not too many are preserved. Preserving 1 or 2, fine but not Hundreds. Debate this if you like but in our recycling conciouse world, pacer to processed pee tin as apposed to preservation would to me make more sense

 

[The_Rail_WAy]

Firstly most of the pacers and sprinters you mentioned will be in service for a long time to come yet, indeed they will live their absolute maximum lifespan they can. Then they will probably be exported abroad - they won't ALL be sent to heritage lines. Some maybe, but not all.

 

[Nym]

Yes thats what he means. It is a good idea but I'm not sure if the Metrolink would agree though!!

OPTION A: Direct tram to Man Vic from Bury
OPTION B: Train to Castleton - wait - train to Man Vic.

As much as I am for utilisation of heritage lines the tram would be cheaper and more effective to the average commuter - unless the service ran beyon Bury into Rawtenstall in which is a different matter.

But what about pepole who want to travel from Bury to Rochdale or Leeds?

You'd need 30mins on a tram, wait for train, 20mins on train, the alternate being potentially direct train to Rochdale (if they built some new bays at Rochdale), or a space to reverse into a headshunt. Not to mention giving Haywood an indirect service into Manchester by changing at either end. Just think if Network Rail agreed and GMPTE and Lancs CC helped them get the service off the ground with ATOC and Metrolink by means of intergrated ticketing. 1 or 2 tph Rochdale - Rawthensall?
Also, passenger flows from Rochdale to North Mancheser.
It's a shame the trackbed to Bolton has been built on as Bolton - Rochdale would be a very nice route to have open, but then again, that could mean metrolink to Bolton.

 

[d5509]

Firstly most of the pacers and sprinters you mentioned will be in service for a long time to come yet, indeed they will live their absolute maximum lifespan they can. Then they will probably be exported abroad - they won't ALL be sent to heritage lines. Some maybe, but not all.

UK units would probably need money spent to be adapted to low platform heights, they would also need some life left in them to recoup those costs: so I guess if they were to be exported it would be sooner rather than later. But worry not, there are probably better deals available in continental Europe.

 

[LE Greys]

UK units would probably need money spent to be adapted to low platform heights, they would also need some life left in them to recoup those costs: so I guess if they were to be exported it would be sooner rather than later. But worry not, there are probably better deals available in continental Europe.

Maybe more along the lines of the deal that sent 141s to Iran. Possibly a few Sprinters appearing in standard gauge countries with high platforms around the world.

 

[33109]

The thing that gets me for the diesel preservation groups especially is how long will they be able to keep their locos running? Especially when you look at say the 31s that are already 50+ years old, doubt they'll be running in another 40 years or so:cry:

 

[d5509]

The thing that gets me for the diesel preservation groups especially is how long will they be able to keep their locos running? Especially when you look at say the 31s that are already 50+ years old, doubt they'll be running in another 40 years or so:cry:

I guess it's a case of keep going untill they run out of spares, cash and enthusiasm. Oh yes, and cheap diesel. I wonder what they'll be using for fuel in 40 years time?

 

[Spagnoletti]

I guess it's a case of keep going untill they run out of spares, cash and enthusiasm. Oh yes, and cheap diesel. I wonder what they'll be using for fuel in 40 years time?

Chip Fat. Serously, that's a real concern. Many of the engineering challenges aren't too much different from those of the steam pres scene - if you can machine parts then the engines will keep going. More specialist bits will be a bigger. I expect we will see a fair bit of attrition when life expired generators and motors flashover and the owning groups can't raise the cash to repair them.

I foresee fewer, larger pres groups chasing larger funding for really quite serious repair jobs.

 

[PinzaC55]

The thing that gets me for the diesel preservation groups especially is how long will they be able to keep their locos running? Especially when you look at say the 31s that are already 50+ years old, doubt they'll be running in another 40 years or so:cry:

Why not? They are machines, made of metal, and any part can be replaced. It has often been said of Flying Scotsman that very little of the "original" loco is left.