New Heritage Railways

[Class172]

Are there any plans out there to create new heritage railways, not part of extensions of existing ones?

Also, if enough funding was available to build it, could a heritage railway be built from scratch on a completely new route, or would something prevent that from occuring, even if it was contructed using older methods and using older infrastructure (eg semaphores)?

 

[theblackwatch]

Surely it wouldn't be a heritage line if it were built on a new route?

 

[Class172]

Yes, but what if it was built with all the old equipment, semaphores etc.

(Sorry I should have worded it better)

 

[The Decapod]

I believe the Mangapps Railway in Essex, which is standard gauge, was built from scratch on farmland.
See: http://www.mangapps.co.uk/

And the Bramley Line in Cambridgeshire is an interesting project for a new heritage railway on a disused line where the track is still in place:
http://www.bramleyline.org.uk/

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

I Suppose the hoped for extentions to the Churnet Valley Railway to Leek and Stoke might qualify?

 

[route:oxford]

I could only see a "new build" heritage railway being built to join-up existing track-beds where there has been part built upon.

I do sometimes wonder if the Strathspey Railway would work well as a circular route with a new build loop around Grantown on Spey to connect Granton on Spey East and Nethy Bridge.

 

[Waddon]

I think the issue is going to be lack of heritage stock, rather than lack of space to build it... although there will always be trains to preserve, the lack of variety (in the eyes of joe public) and rise in complexity of modern trains is going to make preservation a much less cost-effective proposition (not that it's very economic now, but anyway...)

 

[ACE1888]

Perhaps a new type of preservation 'angle' would be a 1970's or 1980's theme run line? Most seem to be' recreating the 1950's, which with all due respect less and less remember 'as it was'...just a thought of course:roll:

 

[PinzaC55]

I'm a member of the Yorkshire Wolds Railway who intend to rebuild part of the former Malton & Driffield Railway, centred on the site of Sledmere & Fimber station.
http://www.yorkshirewoldsrailway.org.uk/

 

[bocaj]

I'm a member of the Yorkshire Wolds Railway who intend to rebuild part of the former Malton & Driffield Railway, centred on the site of Sledmere & Fimber station.
http://www.yorkshirewoldsrailway.org.uk/

This one could be intresting, if it did get built at least Easy Yorkshire would have a heritage line, but would it get money in, as many people would just go to the NYMR which is not that far away.

 

[Eagle]

I know there are groups trying to preserve parts of the London South Western and Midland Joint (a.k.a. the Somerset and Dorset) near the Bath end of the route—running into trouble I think because much of the unbuilt-on route is cycle track now.

 

[pinkpanther]

I know there are groups trying to preserve parts of the London South Western and Midland Joint (a.k.a. the Somerset and Dorset) near the Bath end of the route—running into trouble I think because much of the unbuilt-on route is cycle track now.

There is actually quite a bit happening at the moment:

1) Midford is being restored by the New S&D as an information point. Site clearance is virtually complete now and plans are about to start being drawn up once things like underground water pipes have been accurately located.

2) Midsomer Norton (which is looking fantastic now, by the way) are currently extending south towards the (infilled, unfortunately) Chilcompton cutting. Northbound there's a missing bridge immediately adjacent the station, but from what I've heard that might not actually be an insurmountable obstacle in the medium term.

3) Shillingstone have a new signal box and have just had a tracklaying binge - they now have about a tenth of a mile of track laid in the southbound direction (coexisting with the trailway). It's been really quite inspiring to watch their progress (they're posting very regular updates on Facebook) recently.

4) Things might be about to start happening just south of Blandford. Watch this space.

As if that lot isn't enough it looks like the S&D Trust at Washford on the WSR is going to be looking for a new home within the near future. Anyone care to bet it won't be on an S&D site this time?

 

[Eagle]

4) Things might be about to start happening just south of Blandford. Watch this space.

What, down the backs of all the houses in Charlton Marshall and Spetisbury? I know North Dorset typical village people and I know they won't like that

 

[PinzaC55]

This one could be intresting, if it did get built at least Easy Yorkshire would have a heritage line, but would it get money in, as many people would just go to the NYMR which is not that far away.

That's an accusation often lobbed at us by supporters of the NYMR but there are 3 things to consider -
1) It was found a couple of years ago that East Yorkshire was the worst place in the UK for tourist attractions - remarkable when you think that it has Bridlington and Filey?
2) If you draw a line between (say) Leeds and Brid and imagine a coach travelling between the two, we will be about a 1 mile diversion off the road whereas the NYMR is 30 miles away, with parking in Pickering difficult.
3) There's no preserved railway in EY and we will be the nearest to Hull.

From a volunteer's POV it will allow them to get in at "ground level" to rebuild a railway rather than just making up the numbers on a larger outfit.

 

[fgwrich]

If were talking about extentions to exsisting lines, then there's quite a fair amount of progress from the Glous-Warks on the Broadway Extention - and several worthwhile websites to follow too!

As for newer preserved railway projects - as far as i know of, there's the already mentioned New Somerset & Dorset group, The Helston Railway down in deepest darkest but beautiful south Cornwall, and something happening in Long Marston - Where there seems to be talk of reviving the LMR name - this time as Long Marston Military Railway - Complete with the idea of restoring and running into the third platform up at Honeybourne to provide a conecting service!

Anyway, here's the Helston lots website - And having visited the station and having a good look around during the summer, good luck to them!

http://www.helstonrailway.co.uk/

And the Broadway Blog (Mostly covering the re-creation of Broadway Station - updated every Wednesday & Saturday as progress continues!)

http://broadwaygwsr.blogspot.com/