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Next Stop Holt Central?

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Joe Petroni, Aug 18, 2010.

  1. Joe Petroni

    Joe Petroni New Member

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    I have just been reading the Norfolk Railway Society website, and there is a report about a recent meeting between the NNR, Norfolk Orbital Railway and Holt Town Council to discuss extending the railway into Holt, which I thought might be of interest.

    Scroll down to ‘Away from the Tracks’

    http://www.norfolkrailwaysociety.org.uk/News.html

    Apologies if this has already been covered.
     
  2. dman-lewis

    dman-lewis Member

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    I dont think it has been covered as such but it is good news.

    Cant wait to see what the outcome will look like, I did hear that the money will be a big amount though.
     
  3. TonyMay

    TonyMay Member

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    The Norfolk orbital plan is completely unrealistic fantasy dreamt up on the back of an envelope of people who really ought to know better but were clearly had a few too many in the pub and were bored.

    The NNR is a nice little line, why does it need to extend? I can see the benefits of a short extension into Holt, but will it be worth the money? Why can't the cash be spent on more worthwhile projects such as a turning triangle at Sheringham, restoration of teak stock, or moving away from using ex-industrial steam?
     
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  4. Sheff

    Sheff Resident of Nat Pres

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  5. kieranhardy

    kieranhardy Well-Known Member

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    And why do they need to do this then?

    Locomotives like Ring Haw are perfect and very capable working out of season trains.

    I also fail to see how any cash would help them move away from using particular types of engines anyway. They seem to be happy to run their own fleet of engines such as the J15, B12, WD, Ring Haw etc along with bringing in other engines for hire agreements such as the N7, 56xx & 44767. Why would extra money change this unless a locomotive authentic for the NNR came up for sale I really can't see them buying an ex-barry gwr engine to restore for example when the way they have been doing things has done well so far.

    I think it's nice that the nnr have a home for working industrial engines, many lines have had to outgrow them.
     
  6. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    I think that the words 'clearly had a few too many in the pub and were bored' is more likely to be relevant to you, judging by the drivel you have posted. What use would a turning triangle be at Sheringham and where on earth could you put such a thing, in any case? As for 'moving away from using ex-industrial steam', unless there has been a sudden influx, the only loco to fit that description is Ring Haw and has been for quite some time. Plenty of ex BR motive power if that is all you want.
     
  7. natdawson

    natdawson New Member

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    I'd hardly say that the NNR is reliant on ex industrial steam. They have Ring Haw which is more like the railway pet and will soon have Wissington, both of which are two of the most local industrials to the line and are part of the areas heritage. The B12, J15, N7, WD, Taff Tank and the other engines the NNR generally hire aren't exactly industrials.
    Yes the NOR is pie in the sky and no I don't support it but a mile of extra railway into / near Holt town centre can only be a good thing, especially if a park & ride scheme can be operated from the current station to a new Holt station. The majority of people who use the NNR get on at Sheringham so having another station actually in a town could be a welcome boost without having to use any extra stock & locos.

    Can't really see the point of a turning triangle and it definately wouldn't have a good cost benefit, as for the teaks join the coach fund and make Nigel a happy man.

    Extend into Holt and then continue to improve the rest of the line, simples!!
     
  8. Hunslets Finest

    Hunslets Finest Well-Known Member

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    When I go on my hols I much rather see an ex East Anglian engine industrial or not rather than yet another GWR tank. I do like them but we have plenty round these parts!
     
  9. dman-lewis

    dman-lewis Member

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    It is possible that he means the triangle at cromer but that is part of the line...yet.
    I like the NNR how it is, but im all for opening up the line back to how it was.

    As a member the Whitwell(on the same line as nnr just some miles down a future vision is seeing the two connect but I doubt that will happen soon).
     
  10. Gav106

    Gav106 Well-Known Member

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    I would love to see this happen. would be great to travel over those lines.

    People just ignor tonymays comments. he generally just tells everyone there dreams are stupid and not to do anything.
     
  11. dace83

    dace83 Well-Known Member

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    Well said, I agree 100%
     
  12. Pesmo

    Pesmo Member

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    If people didn't have vision and ambition we would still be cavemen. Well done NNR, I look forward to contributing to the appeal for the extension once it starts. I still think someone should look at the Cromer Triangle though, as its not a total pipe dream in the long term.

    As to replacing the industrials, I have no doubt that the cross town link will massively improve the choice of engines available to the customer whom rides on the NNR.

    Onwards and upwards I say.........
     
  13. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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    I heard from someone involved with the Bittern Line Community Rail Partnership, that the biggest obstacle to reinstating the thrid side of the triangle at Cromer is the person who owns the caravan park at the bottom of the embankments, not willing to sell the land. He also said that Cromer council weren't keen on the idea, or at least weren't willing to offer help with funding, due to the fact it would mean trains would be able to complete avoid Cromer, meaning they wouldn't get any benefit out of it.
     
  14. natdawson

    natdawson New Member

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    I don't know about Cromer council but the North Norfolk District Council are quite supportive of the triangle and I believe (but could be wrong,) that they have protected the trackbed so it can be reinstated if required.
     
  15. tfftfftff86

    tfftfftff86 Member

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    And if people in North Norfolk didn't have vision and ambition we wouldn't have the Sheringham crossing yet, or maybe ever.
    An extension into Holt can only benefit the people and economy of Holt, and the revenue potential of the NNR. It's another step towards it becoming a proper branch line again, like the Swanage may well become, with mixed service and heritage trains. Up yours, Beeching!
     
  16. NNR Engineer

    NNR Engineer New Member

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    I think extending the line to Holt Town Centre can only be a good thing. The amount of times that people ask me how far is it to Holt town centre, I say about a 20 minute walk and they're put off by it. If they do extend the line to Holt town centre it will be better for Holt economically with the Park & Ride services from Sheringham in December to do Christmas shopping, furthermore increased revenue for the NNR a heritage railway, also providing a service.
     
  17. NNR.76079

    NNR.76079 New Member

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    If a extension to Holt town centre did happen its actually not as simple as it seems.

    one of the major flaws being a big bit of tarmac on the old trackbed called the norfolk bypass and then there the road just outside the present holt station.

    It would be nice but i think its a long way off
     
  18. M59137

    M59137 Well-Known Member

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    It would be interesting to see the dynamics of the railway change if an extension were ever to happen. What I mean by that is how the current Holt station would be changed by becoming a through station.

    With the "living history"/working goods yard and other attractions being installed, would the station be more like Highley for example?

    In the meantime its great to be seeing things like the Sheringham platform 2 canopy/buildings being considered!
     
  19. Chris A

    Chris A New Member

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    The Holt town extensions major obstacle is a road, that the railway will have to pass over or under. The bypass is not an obstacle because the council left room for the NNR to run alongside it when it does get that far. Remember the orriginal aim of the M&GN society in its current form was to preserve the Sherringham to Melton Constable section and so far they have been doing a fantastic job with lots of new and exciting projects like the extension but also the buildings on platform 2 and footbridge at Sherringham on top of the footbridge for the current Holt station, changing the layout of Sherringham to bring platform 3 back into use and put the museum signal box back by the crossing, in its orriginal place.

    All these things still take time and money as well as volunteers so get down and lend a hand or donante money instead of saying what should be done!
     
  20. M59137

    M59137 Well-Known Member

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    I think you are quick to presume that everybody here is commenting and not lending a hand/donating money. I myself live over six hours away and already spend a lot (some would say too much) of my time and money in active preservation. With the NNR being so far away I like to visit on holidays (next trip will be the Diesel Gala in June :)) and support the railway whilst there with things like membership, lineside passes etc, plus those tubs at Sheringham with the different slots in them for coins towards the footbridge and other projects are never neglected when we pass.

    The NNR is one of my favourite lines so I like to think the above support entitles those to a bit of pie-in-the-sky chat about the future. After all it is these big dreams that keep a lot of us going whether its scraping away at an old coach or re-opening a grand extension!
     

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