Weymouth Quay line last rites

[SpacePhoenix]

Actually, it would be a good idea if the whole trajectory, or most of it, would be non-car only and calmed, post resurfacing, but I think there is a parking garage halfway along, IIRC, for which the owners would require compensation.

Poole has dealt with the ex-tramway in that way and it makes visiting the harbour so much more pleasant. The problem in Weymouth is that both the County and District councils are too car-orientated.

I think you've also got the goods entrance for where Debenhams is (don't know if there's an ASDA there as well). I think it's also the main through-road as I think many of the roads in that part of Weymouth are already pedestrianized or narrow one-way.

Was the Poole tramway paved over with the old rails underneath or where the rails removed?

 

[Mikey C]

Actually, it would be a good idea if the whole trajectory, or most of it, would be non-car only and calmed, post resurfacing, but I think there is a parking garage halfway along, IIRC, for which the owners would require compensation.

Poole has dealt with the ex-tramway in that way and it makes visiting the harbour so much more pleasant. The problem in Weymouth is that both the County and District councils are too car-orientated.

The main route along Custom House Quay is largely used by pedestrians anyway, anyone driving there is accessing local businesses as the roads go nowhere otherwise

 

[HowardGWR]

The main route along Custom House Quay is largely used by pedestrians anyway, anyone driving there is accessing local businesses as the roads go nowhere otherwise

Indeed, and to my mind, it would have been better if the shopping centre had been re-established outside the central Melcombe Regis area, perhaps on the land where you already have B and Q, etc, and turn over the area near the front and harbour to small shops and bistros, etc.

In any event, the tramway has no value, economically, socially, or environmentally. A few rails left embedded in the surface, would be a fine monument, as well as perhaps a few wagons that transported the tomatoes and spuds.

 

[QueensCurve]

...and about time too.

Council to discuss lifting of tracks, according to BBC here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-35457924

Very sad, though alas probably inevitable.

Some of us have fond memories of stepping off the train at Weymouth Quay to get on the ship directly opposite. Less fond memories of the sickness during the next 6 hours.

We may one day regret losing these rail/sea interchanges, but they all seem to be dead or moribund.

I would imagine that the hazard to cyclists could be mitigated if they behaved safely but that is not the real threat.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

I wonder if any of the rail tour companies will run a "Farewell Weymouth Tramway" tour over the tramway before it's finally declared closed (that's assuming that the rails would be in a state where they'd be able to handle the weight of a train)

 

[robertclark125]

Very difficult. Requires the police, and also what state is the junction to the tramway in?

 

[Ash Bridge]

Very difficult. Requires the police, and also what state is the junction to the tramway in?

I may be mistaken here, but does not the GWR HST set used on previous years summer weekend services use the junction to access the stub of the quay line where it lays over between trips?

 

[jopsuk]

I would imagine that the hazard to cyclists could be mitigated if they behaved safely but that is not the real threat.

With regards rails and the hazard to cyclists, one of the worst things is for a tramway to cross the path of a bike at a shallow angle. Ideally you want to be crossing tracks at or near right angles. It's even worse if this occurs near a junction or traffic lights where you want to be looking well ahead and around, not at the surface just in front of your wheel. You know, so that you can stop at red lights, give way appropriately etc. so this is , whilst here there's a bus stop to the left as the track weaves and this is really rather hazardous. At this point turning right is pretty bad.

As for stepping off onto a ship, the ferry terminal is now disused too and Condor show no intention to return

 

[theironroad]

It's a shame it couldn't be utilised to become a heritage example of times past and would be a welcome addition to Weymouth's tourist offering, but realistically itfs not going to happen.

However, I'm not sure ripping it all up at once is going to be cost effective. Maybe as each section of road is renewed is viable, but doesn't seem worth digging uip the rails when the road surface is otherwise OK. Maybe cyclists should be watching where there going ahead and under-wheels......

 

[swt_passenger]

Very difficult. Requires the police, and also what state is the junction to the tramway in?

As I posted earlier, the junction and initial length of track to the first gates remains in use as a siding. But from then on it is out of use by Network Change. There's every likelihood that that Network Change notice will carry on being reissued.

 

[Townsend Hook]

Surely the easiest thing to do would be to fill in the flangeways with tarmac? Good for Johnny Taxpayer because its a helluva lot cheaper than ripping up the road, good for Johnny Cyclist because he no longer risks dropping in the gap, and good for Johnny Railway/History Buff because the rails remain in situ as a monument to days gone by. Certainly that was what the Ffesty had to do to stop cyclists dropping in the rails over Britannia Bridge before it was fully signed off.

 

[jopsuk]

but doesn't seem worth digging uip the rails when the road surface is otherwise OK. Maybe cyclists should be watching where there going ahead and under-wheels......

Along the Quay the road surface is anything but OK. As for the risk to cyclists I posted this right before you. Cyclists only have one set of eyes

 

[DarloRich]

I wonder if any of the rail tour companies will run a "Farewell Weymouth Tramway" tour over the tramway before it's finally declared closed (that's assuming that the rails would be in a state where they'd be able to handle the weight of a train)

much as i would love to take trip down that line I doubt this could happen for all kinds of reasons. Anyone still sign the branch

 

[QueensCurve]

http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/14...ne_for_the_disused_Weymouth_Tramway_/?ref=rss

If there is neither a realistic commercial case for reinstating the link with the mainline nor a viable case for conversion into a modern light rail application, is the case for an isolated stub preserved line viable? Would it be better to recognize this line as an anachronism? Would the money spent on preserving the line be better deployed elsewhere? On a wider point have we reached the point where the country’s appetite for new preserved railways has been satiated?

It is a unique part of the UK railway heritage and if lost it will be gone for good. It does require serious thought.

The cyclists need to be warned of the danger as well as taking some responsibility for their own safety. Sellafield requires cyclists to dismount neer crossings and tramways.

Not to say that Sellafield style safety tyranny should apply in the public areas of Weymouth of course.

 

[Ploughman]

All very well justing covering it up with a bit of tarmac, but think about it, What do the rails sit on?
Due to its age I would imagine that the rails are sat on timber sleepers.
No way of checking them for maintenance and with the passage of time I would think that their condition would be very rotten by now.
The result of which will be voiding and collapse.

 

[Crossover]

I can't see that line having any use - the line down by B&Q looks like it is out of use anyway

What were the signalling arrangement for that line? I guess it won't be track circuited or any such?

 

[341o2]

no track circuits or signals as far as I am aware. All trains had flagmen proceeding them on foot, amusingly freight trains had warning signs for drivers of motor vehicles not to get too close to the rear of trains

 

[Mark62]

Has this line ever done through the formal closure notice process?

 

[swt_passenger]

Has this line ever done through the formal closure notice process?

No. If it had we wouldn't be discussing it anymore. AIUI the passenger service has been withdrawn, but the track has only ever been subject to temporary out of use status by network change notice.

Withdrawal of passenger service and closure to all traffic are separate stages of closure.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

For it to ever see a train run along it ever again, chances are that all the track would need to be taken up for a comprehensive inspection to take place of whatever the track sits on (someone mentioned that it might be wood) and the rails themselves probably need inspecting as well

 

[Sox]

For it to ever see a train run along it ever again, chances are that all the track would need to be taken up for a comprehensive inspection to take place of whatever the track sits on (someone mentioned that it might be wood) and the rails themselves probably need inspecting as well

Could they not use a non-invasive technique such as GPR?

 

[paul1609]

Could they not use a non-invasive technique such as GPR?

If you look at some of the videos on You Tube its pretty certain from visual inspection that most of it would need to be ripped up to replaceit anyway.
We have to face it facilities like Weymouth, Newhaven Maritime and Folkestone Harbour have all past their usefullness.
All three facilities if re-opened as some sort of heritage attraction would only extract revenue from heritage railways in the locality.

 

[randyrippley]

it was originally horse drawn
converting it back to a horse-drawn tramway (with new trams) could be a tourist benefit. It would offer a unique fun connection from the Radipole car park (the biggest) to the town centre and harbour. If you used lightweight horse trams you probably could get away with not lifting the track for checks until the next road resurfacing

 

[richard1976]

it was originally horse drawn
converting it back to a horse-drawn tramway (with new trams) could be a tourist benefit. It would offer a unique fun connection from the Radipole car park (the biggest) to the town centre and harbour. If you used lightweight horse trams you probably could get away with not lifting the track for checks until the next road resurfacing

Horse tram service has finished on Douglas promenade, maybe get the horse trams, and the horses from there

 

[jopsuk]

you would need to build a shed to keep the tram in and have nearby stables for the horses. Also there's (too much) traffic on the quay.

 

[swt_passenger]

Here is the relevant section from the minutes of the council meeting mentioned earlier. As you can see they emphasise that it is not really their decision, they are replying to a proposal by Network Rail:

Future of Weymouth Harbour Branch Line

498 The Briefholder for Transport and Infrastructure advised the committee that the decision to progress whether the line should have permanent out-of-use status was for Network Rail rather that this Council. Members were advised that Network Rail was seeking an initial view on the future of the Harbour Branch Line.

499 The committee acknowledged that there was some public interest in bringing a tram service back to the town centre; however the likelihood of any operator developing a business plan for such a project, within the next few years, was unlikely. Members expressed concerns regarding safety and recognised that there had been occasions where accidents had occurred in respect of cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians.

500 On balance and in accordance with the council’s agreed Weymouth Town Centre Masterplan, the committee were supportive of the closure of the Harbour Branch Line.

501 It was proposed by Cllr F Drake seconded by Cllr R Roebuck

Decision

502 That Network Rail be informed that the council has no aspiration to run train or tram services on the Weymouth Harbour Branch line and was supportive in principle of its closure.

https://www.dorsetforyou.com/media/212050/2-February-2016/pdf/MIN20160202.pdf

 

[Townsend Hook]

Horse tram service has finished on Douglas promenade, maybe get the horse trams, and the horses from there

The trams would need pretty severe modification, given that they are three-foot gauge. Also, given that there are serious efforts in place to reinstate the horse trams under a different operator (i.e. not Douglas Council) its a bit early to be finding them new homes already.

 

[randyrippley]

The trams would need pretty severe modification, given that they are three-foot gauge. Also, given that there are serious efforts in place to reinstate the horse trams under a different operator (i.e. not Douglas Council) its a bit early to be finding them new homes already.

thats why I suggested new builds

 

[jopsuk]

Read what swt_passenger posted. Basically, at this point unless you have a fully costed and funded plan to put to the council, on a last-minute appeal, the line IS going to be formally closed and WILL be lifted. Anything else is utter waffle

 

[vicbury]

Very sad, though alas probably inevitable.

Some of us have fond memories of stepping off the train at Weymouth Quay to get on the ship directly opposite. Less fond memories of the sickness during the next 6 hours.

We may one day regret losing these rail/sea interchanges, but they all seem to be dead or moribund.

I would imagine that the hazard to cyclists could be mitigated if they behaved safely but that is not the real threat.

Well having witnessed a cyclist accidentally get their wheel caught and fall off which required an ambulance to attend I sympathise fully with cyclists. How are they meant to change lanes if there is a rail in the middle?