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.

NG lines taken over by the Big Four

Discussion in 'Narrow Gauge Railways' started by Felix Holt, Feb 15, 2015.

  1. Felix Holt

    Felix Holt Guest

    On another forum someone posted they were sure that the Big Four all took over some NG lines at the Grouping (or presumably soon before/after). Apart from the GWR lines in Wales, and the Southern takeover of the L&B, it's tricky trying to find out what other lines (if any) were taken over. Excluding the Irish 3 foot lines, can anyone suggest other GB-based NG lines taken over by the Big Four?
     
    Felix Holt, Feb 15, 2015
    #1
  2. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2006
    Messages:
    16,513
    Likes Received:
    7,762
    Location:
    1012 / 60158
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Can't think of any, I guess that the works lines at Horwich (L&YR) and Crewe (LNWR) are not what you are thinking of.
     
    Martin Perry, Feb 15, 2015
    #2
  3. Reading General

    Reading General Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    May 18, 2011
    Messages:
    6,081
    Likes Received:
    2,217
    Leek and Manifold operated by the LMS
     
    Reading General, Feb 15, 2015
    #3
  4. Steve B

    Steve B Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2008
    Messages:
    2,070
    Likes Received:
    1,504
    Location:
    Shropshire
    Leek and Manifold - LMS

    Steve B
     
    Steve B, Feb 15, 2015
    #4
  5. Reading General

    Reading General Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    May 18, 2011
    Messages:
    6,081
    Likes Received:
    2,217
    beat you!
     
    Reading General, Feb 15, 2015
    #5
  6. Steve B

    Steve B Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2008
    Messages:
    2,070
    Likes Received:
    1,504
    Location:
    Shropshire
    Steve B, Feb 15, 2015
    #6
    Martin Perry and paulhitch like this.
  7. houghtonga

    houghtonga Member

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2007
    Messages:
    385
    Likes Received:
    109
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Chartered Engineer
    Location:
    Derby
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    The LNER had a sleeper works at Lowestoft with a 3' narrow gauge system that used locomotives. The NER did propose a narrow gauge line in the Beverley area but it wasn't built.

    Sadly the Southwold Railway was somehow excluded from the grouping.

    I appreciate they were excluded from the OP - but for info, the LMS's 3ft gauge narrow gauge lines in Ireland came through their ownership of the Northern Counties Committee (originally part of the Midland Railway). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Counties_Committee

    I am not an expert on the Irish 3ft but the I lines I gather the NCC had were: -
    • - Ballycastle Railway
    • - Ballymena and Larne Railway
    • - Ballymena, Cushendall and Red Bay Railway
    • - Portstewart Tramway
    • - County Donegal Railway Joint Committee: Strabane - Derry - section. This section of the line was owned by the NCC but operated by the CDRJC which the NCC jointly owned with the GNR(I).
     
    Last edited: Feb 16, 2015
    houghtonga, Feb 16, 2015
    #7
  8. flaman

    flaman Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2012
    Messages:
    2,292
    Likes Received:
    2,048
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Semi-retired farmer, railway & museum owner
    Location:
    Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex
    Unfortunately for the Southwold Rly, it was still solvent at the grouping. The nearby, standard gauge, Mid-Suffolk Light was bankrupt and being operated by the Receiver by 1923 and as a result of pressure from the local MP and the relevant Parliamentary committee, the LNER was obliged, reluctantly, to take it on in 1924.

    As a result, the M-SLR survived until 1952, whereas the Southwold went under in 1929, by which time the committee had been wound-up and the LNER was immune from political pressure.

    An intriguing "what if" though.
     
    flaman, Feb 16, 2015
    #8
  9. Bramblewick

    Bramblewick Member

    Joined:
    Jan 19, 2010
    Messages:
    736
    Likes Received:
    200
    The LMS had a couple of 2' guage Bagnalls for use on large civil engineering jobs.
     
    Bramblewick, Feb 16, 2015
    #9
  10. fatbob

    fatbob Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2008
    Messages:
    209
    Likes Received:
    41
    Does the Burton and Ashby Light Railway count?

    It was 3` 6" and a tramway but it does have the word "Railway" in its title!

    Henry
     
    fatbob, Feb 18, 2015
    #10
    houghtonga likes this.
  11. ilvaporista

    ilvaporista Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jan 16, 2006
    Messages:
    4,250
    Likes Received:
    5,321
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    C.Eng
    Location:
    On the 45th!
    What about the garden operation on the Eastern Region that supplied the hanging baskets? There was an internal rail (just about) system there until closure a few years ago
     
    ilvaporista, Feb 18, 2015
    #11
  12. ragl

    ragl Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2010
    Messages:
    1,751
    Likes Received:
    1,652
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Consultant Engineer
    Location:
    Shropshire
    Plus, of course, The Nantlle Tramway. This horse powered line was inherited by the LMS from the LNWR and survived until 1963.

    Cheers

    Alan
     
    ragl, Feb 18, 2015
    #12
    houghtonga and Steve B like this.
  13. tor-cyan

    tor-cyan Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2008
    Messages:
    1,198
    Likes Received:
    1,485
    Gender:
    Male
    the 3ft 6" Caldon low lime quarry system was operated first by the North Staffs railway then the LMS, closing in 1936
    Cheers
    Colin
     
    tor-cyan, Feb 18, 2015
    #13
  14. NGChrisW

    NGChrisW New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2011
    Messages:
    172
    Likes Received:
    110
    Location:
    Surrey
    Although the nursery (Poppleton?) existed pre nationalisation I think the rail system there wasn't installed until some time later in BR days.
     
    NGChrisW, Feb 18, 2015
    #14

Share This Page