Street Running

[snowball]

Decided it was time to look stuff up. The Porthmadog Britannia Bridge is older by about 35 years than the Anglesey version. Admittedly less impressive, but it did carry rails for most of its life. Both Britannia bridges have been rebuilt.

Don't forget the Britannia Bridge at Lower Ince, Wigan, that carries the A573 over the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. No railway angle though.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I've never heard of that (not saying you are wrong).

I understood that when they converted from heavy rail, one of the cost savings was the ability to reduce clearances on the Bury line to accommodate OHLE without rebuilding bridges.

I suppose it could happen on the Altrincham line, but on street I would say tight curves would preclude locos.

Indeed, when works were carried out a decade or so ago, the cut-down 08s were used (but not in the city centre). There was also a steam loco used a few weeks ago but again only on the segregated Bury line.

 

[JHurcum]

Just looking up some things on that Metrolink idea. It seems that parts of the line are used by both trams and heavy rail but these are not the street sections. Though - even seeing a tram next to a Class 156 looks good - shame its not the street mind.

As for the bridge suggestions - while they are technically street running, it does not look as good (or as interesting) as seeing a Class 37 running down the street with a rake of passenger coaches behind it - like the Weymouth Harbour Tramway used to have.

Its a shame that we wont see that again!
Thanks for the suggestions mind - keep them coming if you have them

 

[button_boxer]

Just looking up some things on that Metrolink idea. It seems that parts of the line are used by both trams and heavy rail but these are not the street sections. Though - even seeing a tram next to a Class 156 looks good - shame its not the street mind.

At Navigation Road it's essentially two bidirectional single lines, one Metrolink and one heavy rail, that happen to be on the same formation. The two systems do not share track at this point - the giveaway in that photo is the overhead power line, which is only over one track.

Similarly, in Sheffield there's a section between Attercliffe and Tinsley where reserved Supertram tracks run parallel to a heavy rail freight line, but again there's no shared track (yet). The wheel profiles on the two systems are sufficiently different that the existing vehicles couldn't run on each other's track anyway, the ongoing tram-train pilot will require new vehicles built to be compatible with both.

 

[furnessvale]

Just looking up some things on that Metrolink idea. It seems that parts of the line are used by both trams and heavy rail but these are not the street sections. Though - even seeing a tram next to a Class 156 looks good - shame its not the street mind.

I believe they are parallel single lines so not really shared.

Of course, the place for street running is the USA where several locations have 10,000+ tons freight trains running down the high street.

 

[JHurcum]

Well the photo still looks pretty interesting even if they are not 'sharing' the track. And while America certainly wood be the place to go to see street running - its a bit too far (and expensive) to go exclusively for street running - especially if one can be seen here, for I always found the American rolling stock less exciting than the British.

Back to street running here - happily Weymouth council were un-able to purchase the track of British Rail to dismantle it - hopefully we can see the line resurrected for good? or at least on special from time to time?

 

[bitmadmax]

Would love to see a 142 trying to squeal and bounce its way round the Pomona curve

 

[QueensCurve]

Back to street running here - happily Weymouth council were un-able to purchase the track of British Rail to dismantle it - hopefully we can see the line resurrected for good? or at least on special from time to time?

Fond memories of the Channel Islands Boat Train in the 1970s. The sea journey is not so fondly remembered due to sea-sickness.

Are there still ships to Jersey and Guernsey from Weymouth quay? Do they still depart alongside the platform?

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Are there still ships to Jersey and Guernsey from Weymouth quay? Do they still depart alongside the platform?

Yes, Condor Ferries still go from Weymouth to Guernsey and Jersey, and from Jersey you can change to go to St Malo.

However, the ferry terminal is now in a different place to what it was. The tracks, the old platform and the terminal building are still there, but not used; the current ferry terminal is on the other side of the headland.

 

[theageofthetra]

Have just got back from New Zealand where I drove across a couple of single track bridges which had trains running aling them as well. They also have those bizarre roundabouts with the line running through the centre. None seemed to have any signalling protecting the bridge or roundabout either!

 

[HowardGWR]

Yes, Condor Ferries still go from Weymouth to Guernsey and Jersey, and from Jersey you can change to go to St Malo.

However, the ferry terminal is now in a different place to what it was. The tracks, the old platform and the terminal building are still there, but not used; the current ferry terminal is on the other side of the headland.

Arguably, the best development would be to take the harbour line over Westham Bridge as a street running tram and then onwards to the more or less extant Portland line to - well, as far into Portland as could be justified.

 

[Ediswan]

Yes, Condor Ferries still go from Weymouth to Guernsey and Jersey,

Are you sure ?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-32013883

 

[dgl]

No boats from Weymouth to the channel islands anymore.
After the council spending £4mil to fix the crumbling harbour (which meant that all condor sailings got transferred to poole for about a year) Condor decided to sell 2 of their existing catamarans (the Condor Vitesse and Express 86m (iirc) Incat's ) and replace them with a single Austal 103m Trimaran (which isn't going to well at the moment but that's another story) which would be unable to use the current dock at Weymouth without another £10mil or so being spent (no one in the council thought to make sure Condor stayed if they did the work), unfortunately our useless local MP (Richard Drax) couldn't get any money from a government grant to do the work (which ended up basically all going to improve the facilities at Poole) so they moved everything back to Poole which is a real shame esp. for tourists.

There are talks of a company (high speed ferries) operating a service to St. Malo but nothing has come of that yet.

 

[cin88]

Would love to see a 142 trying to squeal and bounce its way round the Pomona curve

I went deaf just thinking about this. The noise would be painful to say the least.

 

[work-traveller]

Drove across this bridge a few years ago whilst travelling in Central Asia. I was mildly admonished for photographing 'strategically important infrastructure', but there you are...

 

[Beebman]

Last year when I was in Chicago I took a trip on the South Shore Railroad out to Michigan City where it runs through the centre of the place on streets, and the main 'station' looks more like a bus stop! Sadly due to rain of biblical proportions I couldn't get any decent photos of my own but there's a good selection on the following page (scroll down towards the bottom):
http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/index.php?/topic/47285-south-bend-airport-to-amtrak/

 

[Hornet]

Drove across this bridge a few years ago whilst travelling in Central Asia. I was mildly admonished for photographing 'strategically important infrastructure', but there you are...

Whittier in Alaska has a Train/Road shared tunnel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PW1CkHlbeRQ

 

[The Planner]

Back to street running here - happily Weymouth council were un-able to purchase the track of British Rail to dismantle it - hopefully we can see the line resurrected for good? or at least on special from time to time?

Very very unlikely, verging on zero.

 

[QueensCurve]

Yes, Condor Ferries still go from Weymouth to Guernsey and Jersey, and from Jersey you can change to go to St Malo.

However, the ferry terminal is now in a different place to what it was. The tracks, the old platform and the terminal building are still there, but not used; the current ferry terminal is on the other side of the headland.

So given the different location of the shipping services, no value in reinstating the tramway.

 

[BurtonM]

At Navigation Road it's essentially two bidirectional single lines, one Metrolink and one heavy rail, that happen to be on the same formation. The two systems do not share track at this point - the giveaway in that photo is the overhead power line, which is only over one track.

Similarly, in Sheffield there's a section between Attercliffe and Tinsley where reserved Supertram tracks run parallel to a heavy rail freight line, but again there's no shared track (yet). The wheel profiles on the two systems are sufficiently different that the existing vehicles couldn't run on each other's track anyway, the ongoing tram-train pilot will require new vehicles built to be compatible with both.

See also Birkbeck on the Tramlink - one line 3rd rail, one OHLE with different height platforms etc.

 

[WatcherZero]

Well the photo still looks pretty interesting even if they are not 'sharing' the track. And while America certainly wood be the place to go to see street running - its a bit too far (and expensive) to go exclusively for street running - especially if one can be seen here, for I always found the American rolling stock less exciting than the British.

Back to street running here - happily Weymouth council were un-able to purchase the track of British Rail to dismantle it - hopefully we can see the line resurrected for good? or at least on special from time to time?

They aren't sharing the track but they are sharing signalling, Network Rail controls the signalling for both systems at this point and controls the level crossings on either side of the station.

 

[PeterY]

How about the Bristol Harbour Railway.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

What about an overlooked one...?

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present Sheringham

BR station view

NNR View

Maybe the only connection that not only has a car park on top of it and which also runs through a sort of town green area and seating spot, but also the only railway line to run over a footpath and double yellow lines?

 

[Tetchytyke]

I've never heard of that (not saying you are wrong).

Quite recently they had a East Lancs Railway loco doing ballast work on the Bury line.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/88626039@N07/21559147969/

From http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=121212

 

[jopsuk]

So given the different location of the shipping services, no value in reinstating the tramway.

Little demand too. The Channel Islands have extensive flight connections including London City Gatwick, Southampton, Bournemouth*, Bristol & Exeter. That's what most potential foot traffic uses. Plus Condor pulled out of Weymouth this year.

 

[northwichcat]

Not much action on the Trafford Park Lines, I'm afraid.

One line appears to go in to a Used Car Dealership so I'm not sure they have much use for freight services.

 

[Radedamer]

What about an overlooked one...?

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present Sheringham

BR station view

NNR View

Maybe the only connection that not only has a car park on top of it and which also runs through a sort of town green area and seating spot, but also the only railway line to run over a footpath and double yellow lines?

Ok, it looks odd; but wikipedia tells me there's a station on one side of the road and a preserved line station on the other side. Does anything ever run on the line between them?

 

[D1009]

It's used to transfer main line registered rolling stock between the NNR and the national network, and very occasionally by charter trains. I believe there is a limit on the number of occasions per year it can be used.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

Got to take the prize, surely...

 

[QueensCurve]

Little demand too. The Channel Islands have extensive flight connections including London City Gatwick, Southampton, Bournemouth*, Bristol & Exeter. That's what most potential foot traffic uses. Plus Condor pulled out of Weymouth this year.

When it was run by Sealink the voyage from Weymouth to Jersey was highly nauseating. I would fly anyway if going to Jersey again. Since the Portelet hotel has closed I probably won't bother.