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How would someone start a Heritage/Private line?
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pinkpanther
Member
Slowly and carefully, and with a lot of experienced support I imagine!
The New Somerset & Dorset Blog might give you an idea of some of the issues and hurdles involved.
FWIW I was up at Shillingstone (one of the restoration sites on the line at present) a week ago and it's taken them 5 years so far to restore the station buildings - they are only now starting to lay track and start looking beyond the station environment itself. IIRC it was 10 years before the Swanage Railway graduated from a heritage centre to a working railway, so this seems about right.
Next stop: Blandford! (hopefully...)
The New Somerset & Dorset Blog might give you an idea of some of the issues and hurdles involved.
FWIW I was up at Shillingstone (one of the restoration sites on the line at present) a week ago and it's taken them 5 years so far to restore the station buildings - they are only now starting to lay track and start looking beyond the station environment itself. IIRC it was 10 years before the Swanage Railway graduated from a heritage centre to a working railway, so this seems about right.
Next stop: Blandford! (hopefully...)
ungreat
Member
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Read the GCR website,the Main Line Steam Trust, on the hurdles they had to overcome
Swift-Deere
Member
You really have to respect these people for sticking at it 10 years is a long time to wait
Menace Dennis
Member
There are some who feel it can be done overnight, yet don't bovver to volunteer when just down the road.
25322
Member
Win millions on the lottery and pay someone else to have the headache
Menace Dennis
Member
That's a matter of opinion and I disagree wiv yer.
Bigjop
Member
DBS have a few locos for sale.
See below or click link-http://www.rail.dbschenker.co.uk/disposals/disposals.html#loco
ITEMS FOR DISPOSAL:
OCTOBER 2009
LOCOMOTIVES FOR DISPOSAL
DB Schenker Rail UK has the following locomotives available for sale:
37203 Bescot
37415 Margam
37428 Margam
37684 Margam
37698 Margam
37890 Margam
37893 Bescot
37896 Margam
56033 Healey Mills
56048 Healey Mills
56056 Healey Mills
56068 Healey Mills
56079 Healey Mills
56116 Healey Mills
56118 Crewe IEMD
56134 Healey Mills
These locomotives will be sold as seen and as and where lying. The successful bidders will be required to remove the Locomotives from their present site at their own expense and without any assistance from DB Schenker Rail UK.
Please register your interest for these locomotives in accordance with the Guide to making an offer for a locomotive by clicking here.
The closing date for registrations of interest for these locomotives is at 1600hrs Tuesday 3rd November, 2009. Tender documents will be issued shortly after this date.
See below or click link-http://www.rail.dbschenker.co.uk/disposals/disposals.html#loco
ITEMS FOR DISPOSAL:
OCTOBER 2009
LOCOMOTIVES FOR DISPOSAL
DB Schenker Rail UK has the following locomotives available for sale:
37203 Bescot
37415 Margam
37428 Margam
37684 Margam
37698 Margam
37890 Margam
37893 Bescot
37896 Margam
56033 Healey Mills
56048 Healey Mills
56056 Healey Mills
56068 Healey Mills
56079 Healey Mills
56116 Healey Mills
56118 Crewe IEMD
56134 Healey Mills
These locomotives will be sold as seen and as and where lying. The successful bidders will be required to remove the Locomotives from their present site at their own expense and without any assistance from DB Schenker Rail UK.
Please register your interest for these locomotives in accordance with the Guide to making an offer for a locomotive by clicking here.
The closing date for registrations of interest for these locomotives is at 1600hrs Tuesday 3rd November, 2009. Tender documents will be issued shortly after this date.
CallySleeperKid
Member
Can I have them all please? Such a sad sight seeing these locos go, I hope someone can save them, especially the 37s.
60004 lochnagar
Member
The old line through Sherwood Forest from Ollerton to Bilsthorpe pit would be great. It could be the real Robin Hood Line.
Drsatan
Established Member
As CallySleeperKid said, it would be nice to see all these locos go to a good home, but unfortunately most of them will have deteriorated so badly after 4-10 years in storage that they'll be unservicable. Alternatively, it will be too expensive to restore them to working order (excluding TPWS/OTMR fitment for use on NR) given the recession, which would result in fewer donations.
Celtic Crusader
Member
Perhaps a list will suffice?
1. Make sure you have a sizeable group of experienced volunteers/engineers who all have a common goal at heart, a passion for restoring the past, and enjoy contributing.
2. The location of the heritage line must have scenery; customers/passengers want to see something off-road and atmospheric and certainly not the back of an industrial/housing estate.
3. The length of line in question should ideally be greater than 3 miles to start with, and eventually within the scale of 10-15 miles after future expansion.
4. Sections of the disused line you plan to reopen must not be privately owned, or be currently occupied by Sustrans' glorious tarmac.
There's no doubt more, but that's what months of planning and fund-raising are for. =]
DJ_K666
Member
Which someone obviously didn't tell the Leighton Buzzard railway...
Having said that it goes into countryside and some scenery at the north end.
SouthEastern-465
Established Member
It would be a start if someone decided to create a preservation line with a 3rd rail system.
But that would burn a big hole in your wallet!
But that would burn a big hole in your wallet!
Drsatan
Established Member
I'd have thought the Old Dalby test track could be converted into Britain's first electrified preserved railway, with both 25kv AC overhead and 750v 3rd rail DC. But who would be willing to pay the electricity bill?
SouthEastern-465
Established Member
Even better if its 750v DC 3rd rail and overhead 25kv AC as any units which are AC, DC, Dual Voltage can run! But you would have to have quite alot of cash for the electric bill.
Now you said that now you might of given someone an idea.
Which someone obviously didn't tell the Leighton Buzzard railway...
Having said that it goes into countryside and some scenery at the north end.
But in that case the houses were built round the railway rather than the railway being built through the houses. I went on it back in the mid 1970s not too long after it first opened in preservation, and it was quite different then.
DJ_K666
Member
Ah fair enough. Still makes it fairly unique though. I bet they get a lot of obstructions placed on the track...
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