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Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Great Western, Dec 9, 2012.

  1. Corbs

    Corbs Well-Known Member

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    Saw 72 at Llangollen, looked real nice and smart! Should be a nice and apt stablemate for Mech Navvies.
     
  2. nanstallon

    nanstallon Part of the furniture

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    The ex-Devonport Dockyard 0-4-0ST no. 19 has, I believe, returned to Bodmin for overhaul, but I don't know whether or when she will go back to Wales. Anyway, the new arrival NCB no. 72 looks good, and the September steam gala with the Super D and the Coal Tank is pretty well compulsory!

    John
     
  3. Corbs

    Corbs Well-Known Member

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  4. Alex G

    Alex G New Member

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    It went to Nemesis Rail some time back for repairs to be carried out, is all I know. I'm a steam man myself!

    Alex.
     
  5. Corbs

    Corbs Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the info! I'm a steam guy as well but it did look great on the line. Do you think it will be coming back?
     
  6. Great Western

    Great Western Member

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    I read an old article (about 18 months old) which says the land North of Whislte Inn is order by some opencast mining company? They planned to outcast mine the area, but to date nothing has happened, but they retain the rights.

    Any news on whether they plan to mine the area, and whether relevant permissions can be granted, the local councils sound very supportive of both North and South extensions.

    Can't wait to get my hands dirty soon.

    Great Western
     
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  7. tomparryharry

    tomparryharry Member

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    Hello Great Western,

    Get yourself along on any Sunday (initially). There is/are a shed load of things going on at the moment. Best place & time is the old tea room, between 09:30-10:00. That way, you can sound out the railway, and the railway staff can sound you out, as well.

    Ian
     
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  8. Great Western

    Great Western Member

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    I heard on the Welsh news that the open cast mining scheme for the land to the north of Whistle Inn has been rejected (again), does this rejection lend itself to a Northern extension to the railway ?

    Great Western
     
  9. Alex G

    Alex G New Member

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    Varteg Hill is to the South of Blaenavon and not North of the Whistle Inn. I don't believe there are any current plans to open cast North of the Whistle although part of the land is currently owned by a mining company.

    Alex.
     
  10. Alex G

    Alex G New Member

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    Andrew Barclay Rosyth No. 1 is now in service at the railway, having operated successfully both days last weekend. Below is the planned loco roster for the next few weekends if you fancy coming along and sampling a ride behind Rosyth.

    Loco Roster
    June 21 71515 on vintage trains daytime, evening murder mystery special with MK1's.
    June 22, 28, 29, July 5 & 6 Rosyth on vintage trains full line.
    July 12 & 13 1940's Weekend 71515 with Mk1's on main line and Rosyth on vintage train shuttles to Big Pit and Whistle Inn.

    Alex
     
  11. Great Western

    Great Western Member

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    The latest SR magazine says the railway is clearing the track left in situ South of High Level station.

    What are the plans for this section ?

    GW
     
  12. Alex G

    Alex G New Member

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    We plan to relay it all in concrete sleepers we have recently purchased enough to do this. This is only a short section of about 1/4 of a mile, but the intention is to show the council that we have gone as far as we can and would like to go further.

    Alex G.
     
  13. Corbs

    Corbs Well-Known Member

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    It'll be interesting operationally, as I guess at either end of the line you will have a single track, with two stations with passing loops in the middle. In normal service, does the loco run round after descending from whistle inn halt or before the climb up to that point? And would that be a similar situation at the south end?
     
  14. Alex G

    Alex G New Member

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    We currently run round before the clime to the Whistle Inn, running round at Furnace Sidings is not simple either because of the gradient in the station all passengers have to get off the train while the loco runs round. The South section will only see used on special events etc. once complete. there is no real time frame for completion at the moment.

    We would like to extend North to Waenavon so we could run trains Blaenavon High Level - Furnace Sidings - Whistle Inn - Weanavon so the operation would be simpler with run round loops on the flat at each end. There are some issues with land ownership on part of the Whistle to Weanavon section of the line to resolve first though.

    Alex.
     
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  15. Reading General

    Reading General Part of the furniture

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    I like that attitude. I'll put your line on my list for my next round Britain tour. Off to find your website
     
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  16. Stu in Torbay

    Stu in Torbay Part of the furniture

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    Destination Talywain? One day, I hope.....
     
  17. Alex G

    Alex G New Member

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    That is the intention.
     
  18. wcmlbls1846

    wcmlbls1846 Well-Known Member

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    gwalkeriow, Corbs and Martin Perry like this.
  19. GWR Man.

    GWR Man. Well-Known Member

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    Is that where the track bed goes across the B4248. That will be a better site for a main station as it is next to a main road.
     
  20. Pesmo

    Pesmo Member

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    I cycled up the cutting to where the B4248 crosses last year, quite a hard climb. It seemed generally to be in reasonable shape in places, but drainage and quite a lot of re-grading would be needed. That would be an interesting place for a station as GWR Man suggests, but I bet it can be a bit bleak up there some days due to the topography. It can't be far from the site of the original Waunavon station which I think was once the highest station in England and Wales. There is a modern'ish looking house there which looks like it might be on the site of the original station, perhaps someone local can confirm?
     

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