If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

The Remembrance Line- The campaign to save the Folkestone Harbour Branch

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Austerity, Nov 3, 2014.

  1. geekfindergeneral

    geekfindergeneral Member

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2011
    Messages:
    281
    Likes Received:
    224
    Occupation:
    Railwayman
    Location:
    London UK
    The forecast income and cost numbers on the website indicate an annual operating profit of £700,000 per annum, making The Remembrance Line one of the most profitable railways, mile for mile, in the world. This is a fantastic number, in every sense of the word. To quote Captain Blackadder's famous last words of 1917..."Good luck everyone".
     
    Bramblewick likes this.
  2. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2013
    Messages:
    10,440
    Likes Received:
    17,941
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Cheltenham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I think we're being a little harsh here, I wouldn't say it's quite as bad as the Asbestos siding in Luton, but maybe on a par with the MVR, which at least has a track bed and a station to (impossibly) save. :rolleyes: The signature of the OP says it all really...

    Go and do something more useful, according to Google the EKR is only 8 miles away from Folkestone, RHDR is 12 miles, and KESR 22 miles, so go and play on them instead, I'm sure they need all the help they can get, and have far more credibility than this proposal, being as they actually exist...
     
    Bramblewick likes this.
  3. 21B

    21B Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2009
    Messages:
    2,944
    Likes Received:
    6,303
    Seldom a truer word written.
     
    Bramblewick likes this.
  4. howard

    howard Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2006
    Messages:
    306
    Likes Received:
    270
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired Ship's Engineer
    Location:
    Sandwich Kent
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    You may be wasting your posts chaps. I spoke to Austerity yesterday (incidentally he is big into actual loco preservation and repair and he works and volunteers at various sites, including the K&ESR) he's probably said his last word on this particular post but hopes you enjoy winding yourselves up about it. :)
     
    WB2624 likes this.
  5. ghost

    ghost Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    May 29, 2006
    Messages:
    3,967
    Likes Received:
    5,064
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    N.Ireland
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Well I think that says more about him than the rest of us.

    If he can't defend his own project and give straightforward answers to straightforward questions, then maybe he should just stick to 'actual loco preservation' instead of trying to lead a project without realistic aims.


    Keith
     
  6. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2009
    Messages:
    21,065
    Likes Received:
    20,775
    Location:
    1016
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Every possible project will generate a whole load of questions, some of which may be difficult to answer. That's not a problem provided that the people asking the questions are also those putting money into the project and who therefore have a legitimate interest. Nothing is gained by criticising from the sidelines but of course, potential investers also need to know before they will commit.

    As another transport project that promotes rail over road, it must have some merit. Not certain whether it will do anything more than possibly ease movement around the town though. As for the harbour development, make no mistake, all of this will require vehicle access so the tramway would probably add little benefit for these folk. That leaves the visitor appeal angle and you are left with the question as to the merits or not of wanting to go to the place at all. The original line was simply the means to get somewhere from where you could sail somewhere else - an interchange point. So it all looks a bit optimistic to me and the idea of a bus on rails has no appeal.
     
  7. ghost

    ghost Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    May 29, 2006
    Messages:
    3,967
    Likes Received:
    5,064
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    N.Ireland
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Sorry...but that rather reads like you are having a go at me for asking 'Austerity' to stand up for his project.

    Remember that 'Austerity' was the one who started this thread looking for support for his project. I don't think it's unreasonable for him to be asked questions before anyone signs a petition or donates money. I also don't think it's a 'difficult to answer' question to ask what his group would actually do with the station if it was in their care. Geekfindergeneral also raises a very interesting point regarding finance which 'Austerity' should be able to answer.

    Apologies if I have got the wrong end of the stick, but I really do feel that anyone who comes onto the forum looking for support for project X (whether that support be financial or otherwise) should be able to answer questions about the project and defend their plans, before anyone commits to supporting it.

    Keith
     
  8. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2009
    Messages:
    21,065
    Likes Received:
    20,775
    Location:
    1016
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Agree entirely with your last point - hence my comment "but of course, potential investers also need to know before they will commit". There isn't much 'heritage' about this project in my view (i.e. the line itself) but on the other hand if what it does is include the preservation of the harbour location then it may have some merit. I don't live in or near Folkestone and logically those who do will know how viable it really is for the town. A tourist attraction? I don't think so, in my view.
     
  9. geekfindergeneral

    geekfindergeneral Member

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2011
    Messages:
    281
    Likes Received:
    224
    Occupation:
    Railwayman
    Location:
    London UK
    A bit of a non-sequiter - Remembrance Line website is all Tram Train, but this from the Brocklebank Line site is slightly contrary: 35025 Brocklebank Line Association are hopeful for a future four way tie up between the Remembrance line (i.e. the Folkestone Harbour Branch and station restoration), 35011 and 35025 groups along with the Sellindge steam restoration company headed by Richard Moffatt. The grand plan is for both 35011 and 35025 to be restored to main line running condition and to have excursions over the Folkestone Harbour branch and its station. passengers would then transfer to a period steamer for a cross channel trip to Bolougne and back, then returning to London steam hauled throughout, at the end of the day.

    The crucial players in this are probably not people signing a petition. They are Shepway Council, who have just granted Outline Planning Permission for the rail-free development of the seafront and harbour, and Folkestone Harbour Company, who have applied for a Harbour Revision Order to extinguish powers for ferries to ever dock there again, converting the port to a marina. Across the water, City of Boulogne are redeveloping the site of Gare Maritime. Nothing is ever impossible, but some things are b*ll*ck-poppingly difficult.
     
    jnc and DisusedBranch like this.
  10. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2010
    Messages:
    2,376
    Likes Received:
    3,981
    Location:
    i.o.m
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    If that is the case then the scheme seems even more of a 'non-starter' than it was before. Ray.
     
  11. A1X

    A1X Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2011
    Messages:
    1,158
    Likes Received:
    1,158
    Occupation:
    Insurance
    Location:
    Good Old Sussex by the Sea
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Reading this reminds me, whatever happened to that Bramley Line guy and his GatEx Mk.3s?
     
  12. Funniest post I've read on here in years! Bravo! :)

    My thoughts precisely. These characters come on here saying "Help us, help us" and as soon as anyone says "Woah, hang on a sec, what about...? Can you give us an answer to...., please?" they stomp off in a huff and sulk in silence like a five year old.

    If 'Austerity' is a grown adult into 'actual loco preservation', I would have thought he'd be blessed with a little more maturity...? If he doesn't have that, what chance does he have of convincing potential investors / grant-givers to raise the huge sums of money needed?
     
    richards likes this.
  13. richards

    richards Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2008
    Messages:
    4,634
    Likes Received:
    1,921
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    London
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    The "38 degrees" website (used by our OP) allows anyone to set up an online petition on anything. Just spend an entertaining few minutes reading through the titles of some other petitions, many of which have a very local flavour.

    This one starts as a general request, but you can probably guess where the person lives when you get to the end!
    "Fair use of Concessionary Pass for those live in TfL Zone 6. (ie. Caterham)"

    They have got 3 out of their requested 100 signatures too!
     
  14. Maunsell man

    Maunsell man Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2006
    Messages:
    1,593
    Likes Received:
    505
    Occupation:
    Senior Finance Auditor
    Location:
    Kent
    Ahhhhhh - the project gets nearer by the hour!

    I expect they will be locating it once its run-in on the Rememberance Line with their fleet of new build gas producing R1s. They are also nearly finished and just require painting...
     
  15. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2014
    Messages:
    17,609
    Likes Received:
    11,223
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    St Leonards
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    You do seem to have a problem with these type of projects, AFAIK the Folkestone harbour plan is a dead duck, so why go on about it? its going to disapear under concrete in the next 25 years( or ever) Gas producing? what do they fire them on sprouts ? :):):)
     
    Martin Perry likes this.
  16. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2005
    Messages:
    35,446
    Likes Received:
    9,144
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired-ish, Part time rail tour steward.
    Location:
    Northwich
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I hope you jest when referring to Gas Producing?? Or have you not read this http://5at.co.uk/index.php/modern-steam-2/principles-of-modern-steam/gpcs.html
     
  17. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2014
    Messages:
    17,609
    Likes Received:
    11,223
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    St Leonards
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Yes Ralph, jest, i know about the porta system and the mechanical feeder problems the converted Austerity tanks had, such as self igniting bunkers :eek::eek: i think that oil fired or coal that has been pulped into a semi liquid form held in a tank may have worked better .
     
  18. Maunsell man

    Maunsell man Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2006
    Messages:
    1,593
    Likes Received:
    505
    Occupation:
    Senior Finance Auditor
    Location:
    Kent
    I do have a problem with the obviously insane ones yes! Trouble is they pop-up and then die when the headboard made of hardboard and tracing of a wheel activity stops being fun. Meanwhile those projects that are well run get lost in the noise and have trouble getting credability.

    Ahh the Rememberance Line. Best fun on a forum for years. Gas producing R1s, Loco sheds built from old overhead cantenary, 50 million visitors a year, quadruple headed mainline specials, and all vigorously defended to the death by its supporters. Absolutely insane! Best thing for Folkestone would be to wipe the lot off the map and build houses, houses, houses all over it!
     
    Rosedale likes this.
  19. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2014
    Messages:
    17,609
    Likes Received:
    11,223
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    St Leonards
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Best thing for Folkestone would be to wipe the entire town off the face of the earth :) i used to live there dont forget, in Slovinia on sea ( marine drive) in many ways its just as well the scheme failed, the local s would have stolen everything not bolted down before the line opened . i supported the idea of the catermerans( passenger only) linked with a hi speed train from london, running direct to the harbour, ideal for the housing development, but bailed out when the madness started.
     
  20. Maunsell man

    Maunsell man Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2006
    Messages:
    1,593
    Likes Received:
    505
    Occupation:
    Senior Finance Auditor
    Location:
    Kent
    Slovenia on Sea - haven't heard that one before! The old harbour does have a charm to it as does the coastal park. Folkestone would benefit from a structured regeneration programme though and hopefully the old branch line will be the start of it. As a preserved line it was hopeless. No space, too steep, too short and other than the bridge over the harbour absolutely no interest. Calling the scheme the Rememberance Line was a cynical ploy to attract funding so that trains could be played. For that alone it deserved t0 fail
     
    Greenway likes this.

Share This Page