Will we ever have an Electric Preservation Railway?

[GNERman]

Over the last few years many Preservation Groups have been set up to preserve Electric Locomotives and Rolling Stock. A few to mention are:

-AC Loco Group(classes 81-87 and 89)
-AC EMU Group(class 308 BDTSOL)
-APT-E Group(APT-E)
-Southern Electric Group(4-COR no.3142)
-EMU Preservation Society(class 411)
-EPB Preservation Group(various EMU's)

As you are aware the AC Loco Group is the only one of these groups (except Peter Pan Locos) to run an Electric Loco on the main line. But what of the others? The EPB Group runs their EMU's with their own power on Preserved Lines but this is about it.

The problem is that not one preservation line can properly run Electric Rolling Stock. Should this change?

I am not an expert of the South but I bet that there is at least one preservation line that formerly had 3-rail capacity so that EMU's could run on this. In the north there is no such thing but has anyone thought of re-electrifying the line so that these can run?

Please post comments below.

 

[The_Rail_WAy]

Well I was wondering about this the other day and all I could think of was the Volks Electric Railway (Brighton) and the Manx Electric Railway (Isle of Man.) I don't know of any standard guage lines that have/could be preserved, despite the fact that so many electric locos and rolling stock have been preserved.

I suppose cost, logistics and health and safety reasons are what limits this from happening. For example, think of all the extra fencing that would be needed for a line with an electric third rail as well as the costs for construction and maintenance.

 

[EE Type 3]

Old Dalby will be a prime contender once the S stock has finished testing, surely? Overhead AC and 4th Rail, don't get that in many places!

 

[Coxster]

I suppose cost, logistics and health and safety reasons are what limits this from happening. For example, think of all the extra fencing that would be needed for a line with an electric third rail as well as the costs for construction and maintenance.

The Seaton Tramway in Devon and the Crich Tramway Museum in Derbyshire are another couple of electrified heritage lines.

The insurance would most likely be pretty hefty for a standard gauge third rail electrified heritage line though!

 

[The_Rail_WAy]

Great post - the Dalby test track would be absoluteley ideal, however, as i mentioned previously I think there are lot more technical/financial difficulties in running an electrified line in comparison to a standard line.

 

[robvulpes]

The Bluebell Railway have long-term plans to re-open Horsted Keynes to Haywards Heath - see the bottom of:-

http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/extend.html

I have heard talk that people would like it to be 3rd rail electrified (as it was when it closed for passenger service). Still in situ HH - Ardingly for aggregates traffic.

Don't hold your breath though - their East Grinstead extension (top part of page linked above) is higher priority and taking a long time.

Rob

 

[16CSVT2700]

Great post - the Dalby test track would be absoluteley ideal, however, as i mentioned previously I think there are lot more technical/financial difficulties in running an electrified line in comparison to a standard line.

Unless some celebrity comes up with a couple million in running costs then no chance..

 

[Guinness]

3 words will be detrimental to trying to start an Electrified Preserved line.

Insurance
Insurance
Insurance

Those 3 words again,

Insurance
Insurance
Insurance

 

[P156KWJ]

Butterley'd be no good for 3rd rail - unless you got rid of the 141 - 141s are banned from DC lines might be useful though. If the MML ever gets electrified, you might be lucky enough to see it extended to the Barrow Hill roundhouse for the ACLG?

 

[GNERman]

That would be great but who would fund this-do barrow hill have the dosh?

 

[12CSVT]

3 words will be detrimental to trying to start an Electrified Preserved line.

Insurance
Insurance
Insurance

Those 3 words again,

Insurance
Insurance
Insurance

And here's another three words
HEALTH
AND
SAFETY
BUSYBODIES
(oops that's four words)

 

[Old Timer]

Whilst provided the correct safety and operational arrangements would enable a preserved line to operate in that manner, there are many other items to be considered which do not affect conventional preserved lines.

For example, electric traction control, response arrangements to OCB trippings, emergency isolation arrangements. Then there would be the need for the provision of suitably trained staff to manage the system and maintain it. Given the voluntary nature of the sector, it would be hard to impose a rigid roster system which compelled people to be at work on specific shifts on specific days (and nights too).

The need for a large core team of permanent staff and suitably qualified engineers and the associated costs would be very hard to recoup given the economic climate, because frankly once you have done your x miles behind an 86, or a 73, or in an EPB the novelty value disperses very quickly indeed.

Steam can still attract the passing visitor and tourist who would like just for a few hours to return to a nostalgic era. I doubt many ordinary families waking up with an overwhelming desire to race off the the nearest preserved line to ride a 507, or even a 501/4sub, etc.

 

[At_traction]

Unless some celebrity comes up with a couple million in running costs then no chance..

Who'd tip off Pete Waterman? Get the APT-P in running order and such...?

I doubt many ordinary families waking up with an overwhelming desire to race off the the nearest preserved line to ride a 507, or even a 501/4sub, etc.

I think at least Pacers will get their admiration in due course - by 2070 or thereof...

 

[yorksrob]

The need for a large core team of permanent staff and suitably qualified engineers and the associated costs would be very hard to recoup given the economic climate, because frankly once you have done your x miles behind an 86, or a 73, or in an EPB the novelty value disperses very quickly indeed.

Alas I only travelled them for five years so there wasn't time for the novelty to wear off

I think getting around the Mk 1 restrictions on the mainline would be more worthwhile though. Even as a railway enthusiast on loco hauled trains I find there are only so many times I can go up and down the same stretch of track.

 

[87015]

Who'd tip off Pete Waterman? Get the APT-P in running order and such...?

Same Waterman who brought a load of locos by pricing real preservationists out of the market, got bored and washed his hands of them meaning most of them went to scrap?

 

[At_traction]

Same Waterman who brought a load of locos by pricing real preservationists out of the market, got bored and washed his hands of them meaning most of them went to scrap?

Hmm, touchy subject. For a good reason, tho'.
Gets the coat.

 

[43021HST]

Do they run electric railtours on network rail owned property?

 

[sprinterguy]

Do they run electric railtours on network rail owned property?

Yep, the AC Locomotive Group have 86101 and 87001 main line registered for mainline tours.

Don't know what the situation is now, most charters with "unspecified traction" seem to produce 67s even under the wires these days, but a couple of years ago DB 90s were fairly common on charter trains over electrified routes.

Plus there's always the occasional enthusiasts tour by the likes of Pathfinder that produces unusual electric traction like class 92s.

 

[WL113]

The NRM Class 71 DC electric ran several railtours a few years ago, what the state of the loco is now I have no idea.

The thought of a preserved line running 25kv OLE is certainly interesting but most unlikely, unless the Old Dalby business is agreeable to visiting traction operating on it's metals.

84001 please!

 

[Waddon]

I would have thought the best option for preserved electric operation would be within the confines of a depot such as Eastleigh, which has the juice and is privately owned (I believe, correct me if I'm wrong) admittedly it would only be a short ride, and only on open days, but still better than nothing?