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Oswestry Update

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by ilvaporista, Aug 13, 2010.

  1. Tim Light

    Tim Light Well-Known Member

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    No, I wasn't having a go at the driver. You're right, it was a controlled deceleration. Just puzzled that the barriers have to be down all that time.
     
  2. Tim Light

    Tim Light Well-Known Member

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    I'm thinking of Bentley near Doncaster. Half hourly Kings Cross to Leeds goes through Bentley.
     
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  3. Ploughman

    Ploughman Part of the furniture

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    How do the KESR and Rother Valley hope to reconnect without a crossing?
     
  4. John Stewart

    John Stewart Part of the furniture

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    Thanks Phil. I was rather hoping that you would be tempted out to tackle this one. Of course the only totally safe system is a bridge and I have long said that there needs to be a fresh partnership amongst the Government (DfT), NR and Local Highway Authorities to mount a continuous programme of replacement. Scanning OS maps suggests that less than 5% of crossings are not closable, mainly because they are in built up areas where there is no room for an alternative bridged road and where closure would sever communities. I am most uneasy about some lines, such as parts of the ECML, where there are numerous crossings on a high-speed line. Even if all errant behaviour by road vehicle drivers could be eliminated they would still not be proof against brake failure or driver blackout. This must put an additional strain on train drivers who have to work on the basis that they just trust that every crossing works properly and is not subject to misuse or accident.
     
  5. mikechant

    mikechant Member

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    I'm sure I read that the indications are that level crossings will be approved for the KESR. I think that's because they'll probably be operated in such a way that safety concerns are reduced almost to zero, maybe something like the crossing being manned and all trains come to a stand before the crossing and only proceed at low speed when the (full) barriers are down - the sort of mode of operation that is fine for infrequent heritage railway use but not for NR. Maybe someone with the relevant KESR knowledge can give some accurate details.
     
  6. pmh_74

    pmh_74 Well-Known Member

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    Ahem. Totally safe? Great Heck?
     
  7. 45045

    45045 New Member

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  8. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Road tunnels, then?
     
  9. John Stewart

    John Stewart Part of the furniture

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    That scenario is no more of a risk than an aircraft crashing on the track. We have all seen in recent years the upgrading of parapets (or supplementary crash barriers being placed alongside them). The lessons of Great Heck (apart from not driving when one is dog tired) were that fairly simple barriers in the right place would have prevented such an occurrence.
     
  10. Ploughman

    Ploughman Part of the furniture

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    And yet the gap where the Land Rover went through is still evident.
    Barriers in place before and after the location with no change from pre accident conditions
     
  11. Railboy

    Railboy New Member

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    Do you know what's the current status of the tanat valley light railway?
    They don't even have a minimalistic internet presentation. Therefore it is impossible to get suitable information about their short branch line. http://www.nantmawrvisitorcentre.co.uk/ ( it's very bad...)
    Will the cambrian heritage railway reach the tanat branch line (Will the tanat railway merge with the cambrian railway? This would be more effective.)? They have a nice working DMU set.

    How does the Cambrian heritage railway plan to connect Lynclys South with the railway line from Oswestry?

    Thank you
     
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  12. Robkitchuk

    Robkitchuk Member

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    Yes tanat valley is off the radar.
     
  13. ilvaporista

    ilvaporista Part of the furniture

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  14. pmh_74

    pmh_74 Well-Known Member

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    Interesting, in particular, that while we were all musing on whether level crossings would be permitted the CHR had quietly accepted that they would have to build a couple of grade separated crossings. That'll cost a bit then, but presumably with the ORR's objections they didn't really have any choice in the matter. Still, looks encouraging. It'll be a great railway when it's all joined up, I hope I live long enough to see it!
     
  15. ilvaporista

    ilvaporista Part of the furniture

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    If you have ever travelled along those two major routes you can see why there is a need for road improvements there and why a level crossing would not work.

    My only private concern is that once you give up the right to cross a road then the Highways Agency may not look so keenly on creating a bridge at their cost to remove the problem. But if they were building a bypass with the railway right of way established that would need to be crossed as part of the works. I am not sure where that would leave the 'old road' if still in place and the rights to cross that.
     
  16. ilvaporista

    ilvaporista Part of the furniture

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    I spent a day at Oswestry recently catching up and working on the line. Lots of good things going on and the mood after the transfer of powers for the line is very positive. Now things can really start to happen but more money and volunteers are needed.

    Teams are now active on Thursdays and weekends working on all parts of the line. I also managed a walk along some parts and it's going to be a nice run.

    Initial work on the propped bridge should be starting in June which will later on allow the line to extend to Weston. The agreed solution is to re-grade the line to allow clearance for the running line. Already the track team is beyond the bridge and working on upgrading the line, new equipment has arrived to mechanise the track laying and ballast screening.

    If you feel like coming along to join in there is a warm welcome and regular tea and chat breaks.
     
    Last edited: May 27, 2017
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  17. ilvaporista

    ilvaporista Part of the furniture

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    Now here is a good idea...

    How about drinking beer and helping the railway....??

    The cattle creep on the next phase of the extension requires replacing. So how about sampling the wares of our good friends at Stonehouse Brewery (award winners on several occasions), having a chat about the project and help raise funds for the cattle creep

    See
    http://www.cambrianrailways.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=779

    Book early!
     
  18. ilvaporista

    ilvaporista Part of the furniture

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    Lifted from the Cambrian Heritage Railway Forum:

    Gobowen’s historic station to be returned to its former glory under community ownership

    The Gobowen Area Improvement Group (GAIP) have announced they had completed the purchase of the buildings on both the up and down platforms at Gobowen Station. The station buildings had been in private ownership for many years and were destined to be sold at auction, however intervention by Selattyn and Gobowen Parish Council with a Community Right to Bid application opened a path for the buildings to be secured for the community.

    This acquisition provides the foundation for an ambitious project to see the historic station returned to a former glory whilst also providing a connecting rail service to Oswestry with intermediate stations at the Orthopaedic Hospital and tourism venues along the route. The development will also considerably enhance the employment opportunities within the local area, particularly in tourism and engineering within the railway spectrum of the project.

    Through the Community Right to Bid process the group had to raise the necessary funding for the purchase and sought assistance from Three Parishes Big Local, the Big Lottery funded programme led by local residents that is investing in Gobowen, St Martins and Weston Rhyn.

    Glenn Pennington, speaking on behalf of Three Parishes Big Local, said,

    “Three Parishes Big Local is always looking for ways to make the area a better place to live, and we were impressed with the innovative opportunities that the station buildings project offers for revitalising the local area.”

    Three Parishes Big Local provided a grant and a loan totalling £110,000 as part of the funding required.

    The Oswestry Station Building Trust Ltd (OSBT) a registered charity and partner in GAIP have acted as the facilitator in the purchase. They will be the owner and financial partner in the management of this project and working within GAIP will now continue to plan the future development of the station buildings offering security of tenure for the existing tenants which includes Severn Dee Travel the not for profit rail agency who have run the booking office there for over 20 years.

    Roger Date speaking for OSBT said that he was delighted to have played a part in the partnerships success and looked forward to assisting with the delivery of the community rail project along with the numerous other community opportunities for revitalisation of the area.

    Sheila Dee, Community Rail Officer for the Chester Shrewsbury Rail Partnership also a member of GAIP said that the group had worked very hard to achieve this aspiration and had seen great support from stakeholders, the rail industry and the community. She commented, ‘the many hours spent working on this bid and compiling our business plan had been very worthwhile and made us far more prepared for challenges that were faced in raising the finances needed. The opportunity these buildings give this area are immense; already we have a staffed station through Severn Dee Travel and a station café managed by the Derwen College. Restoration of the once beautiful buildings will make the station the Gateway to the area once more.
     
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  19. ilvaporista

    ilvaporista Part of the furniture

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    I suppose that after 7 years posting I really should think about either a new thread or a change of title. The original post was on the start of the transformation of the run down station platform in Oswestry. Now 7 years on it's quite sobering to look back at where we have come from and the progress made.

    The whole railway is really about much more than Oswestry and many steps have been taken on the road to having a fully operational line.

    There is activity all the way along from Gobowen through to Llynclys

    So should I change the title or would this be confusing for those looking for updates?
     
  20. GWR Man.

    GWR Man. Well-Known Member

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    If you do change it just change it to ''Oswestry Railway Updates''
     

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