Steaming back into Ryde?

Interesting to know. I don't think I've ever seen a toilet in a coach but I certainly haven't been in every one!

 

eyes watering ever so slightly at the thought

 

Quite so.

PH

 

Trams are in my opinion a non starter, how much will it cost to install the needed infrastructure? and where is it coming from, the county council will want the lowest cost answer with little or no financial cost to them, I hate to say this but there only answer is either things stay as they are, until the line needs major renewals of equipment when it will close or some funding is found from what ever source.
the only low cost option is diesel rail car operation with all signaling by cab radio. and some things shared with the IOWSR, such as PW work, ie the 03 and wagons .
In time this could lead to other add ons like joint ticketing, and local support groups to referbish the stations, should the line remain open,
Can we remove the posts on the "Facilities" or lack there of on non coridoor coaches, they just muddy the waters
i asked before, had the shanklin line closed in 1967, and the preserved line had moved to brading, re opened to Sandown, to start with, what would the IOW railway scene be like now? i think that the traffic would have been greater, and by now the C&W would be restoring its coaches in the old ryde works, with the loco overhaul in the enginering shop next door, its an very interesting thought

 

How difficult would it be to convert the old tube trains to diesel? Could then run trains to both Shanklin and Newport. Would potentially be a cheaper option than continuing with third rail

 

I am no technician but here seems to be very little space indeed underfloor for the prime mover and, unless a generator truck of some sort is envisaged, where else would it go?

In addition, why this obsession to mix up "public service" and "heritage/entertainment" functions? Fare structures, maintenance schedules and operating considerations are drastically different and one would get in the way of the other. Leave Ryde to Shanklin to one side, a sum of £15 million has been quoted for extending IOWSR to the outskirts of Newport. Closer in is not available. What use is a public transport service that only takes you to the edge of where you want to go?

PH

 

In a word no, converting the 1938 stock is a non starter, the vehicles would need an additional coach with the generator set to power the traction motors, because i dont think you can fit under slung engines in the very limited rail to body space, on the non tube Lul stock, you may be able to go for mechanical transmition,
extending to Newport is very unlikily to happen, due to the cost of doing so.

 

Now that the harmful effects of diesel fumes are finally being recognised the IOW would be an obvious place for the early total elimination of diesel powered vehicles. It would be a retrograde step to convert the rail system to diesel at this stage.

 

so pray, how do you do that, all buses are diesel powered, most if not all the goods vehicles, so what are you saying, that the island should become like sark, where horse power comes in its purest form ?
the logical answer to your question, if you want to remove all diesel vehicles, both on the roads and rails, would be to revert to horse and trap. then you would have more problems to clear up, but it would do wonders for the roses

 

Buses in our big cities are going to be increasingly electric with inductive charging of batteries at termini and en route. Milton Keynes is the current test bed and London will be moving that way. It can be done so diesel looks increasingly the wrong way.

 

Surely that sort of system would work even better with rails (lower rolling resistance) and lack of impediment between charging stations

 

Quite. The most efficient charging station is thin and about eight miles long.

 

Maybe it's about time trolley buses were put back on the agenda again. A lot cheaper than trams to reinstate.

 

We had them in Derby for 34 years. There are two problems. Firstly the overhead is more visually intrusive although, like tramways, the real intrusion is the poles, not the wiring. The second problem is that they have to use trolley poles, not pantographs and they are notorious for dewiring if junctions are taken above walking pace. Slowing for such isn't acceptable so someone needs to develop a design of high-speed frogs (no, not TGVs) that will work at normal urban traffic speeds.

 

They use them in San Francisco and I don't remember slowing to a walking pace for junctions

 

Not just yet perhaps but for the next generation of vehicles. Are you aware of Low Emission Zones which already exist and are likely to spread/have tighter requirements? - Battery vehicles for which the technology is rapidly advancing?

In many ways with its finite boundaries, modest distance journeys and need to import other fuels at some expense the IOW is an ideal early candidate for the elimination of diesel fumes.

 

Except for one thing 1472 and that is money!

 

Just think what a major selling point a diesel free Island would be to potential visitors as the truth about the harmful effects of diesel fumes gains wider recognition.

 

If the money is to be found for renewal, which is an enormous "if", the cause will not be helped one iota by the slightest suggestion that the scheme proposed is in the smallest bit experimental or more costly than it need be. The I.O.W. is not a particularly prosperous place although there are bits where this is not so; which bits will not benefit in the slightest from these proposals and are likely to take the dimmest view of having to pay any subsidies.

Dismount from hobby horses and descent from soapboxes please and start to provide real figures, not wishful thinking, if you want this renewal to happen. Be prepared though for the genuine figures not to add up.

PH

 

What would they think of steam loco exhaust fumes?