Colne Valley Railway

I remember hitch hiking from Harwich to my home in the West Riding in September 1973 and seeing an Austerity on a short length of track in a field on the Colchester to the A1 part of my "hitch" after arriving somewhat destitute from the "Hook" after 4 sometimes steamy weeks interailing round Europe. I was impressed at what was subsequently achieved there and after all it was my last sighting of steam on that holiday (I thought my last sighting would have been an 050 2-10-0 on a goods somewhere north of Cologne the previous day) Without going into the politics or reality of the situation this makes the 1973 "What on earth is that doing there in afield" memory very sad. Charles B

 

Well this comes as an awful shock. I too have many fond memories as a child visiting with both family and school.

I've taken my own children many times and I've long lived in hope of expansion of the railway..

Alas the nail seems to be somewhat in the coffin this time.

I do hope that other local railways pull together to assist with the move - if they locate a new site...

As for local sites? There are a few redundant rail routes in Essex that would benefit from a new rail link.

Having just walked the old LNER route from Rayne to Braintree today, the flitch route (now a cycle path/footpath) would be one such ideal location? There are talks of opening a new route from Braintree to stanstead to eliminate traffic congestion..

The Epping and ongar railway has proven what can be achieved in a relatively short period of time (if you excuse the previous half cocked dmu service that many feel was more for show to cover up the land sales to housing tycoons than an attempt at a heritage railway..)

Let us not forget the maldon to witham branch or even the maldon to South woodham branch. Both have substantial grounds still undeveloped with many bridges still in place...

Given a less hemmed in location, maybe the CVR in a new guise could flourish?

 

http://www.itoworld.com/map/26?lon=0.64382&lat=51.71207&zoom=10

Map showing current, and past rail links in England.

Image by Wilkybarkid posted Mar 28, 2015 at 11:41 PM

 

If they could move about a mile north they could have a better chance of a longer run by looking at Google sat, as long as they can get the land owners to sell to them.

 

Sad news for the Black 5 owners. In particular the 45163 group look to have a decent workshop on site and are making good progress with their loco.

Clearly you can do without the expense of dismantling and re-erecting your building somewhere else.

http://www.45163.co.uk

and: http://www.besps.org

 

According to the press release, all the rolling stock owned by the site owner will be sold by competitive tender later in the year, with the society acting as agents. You need to register with the society if there is an item that you wish to bid for. What is not clear at the moment is what the site owner does or does not own, although I think he owns most of the coaching stock, including the two Pullmans.

 

Acording to the Steam Railway the chairman of 45163 Ltd, confirmed that the group has not recieved a formal notice from Mr Young. They have a seperate lease. I believe Toby Jennings of Steam Railway is involved with this group.
The BESPS are apparently in a similar position.

 

I'm guessing by the sombre postings that this isn't related to the time of year.... or else it's going to prove a very well executed April Fool's.

With regards the 2 black 5s and 35010, I think whether the railway stays put or not the line would be too short for them to earn their keep anyway? An issue for BESPS now might be where to put 35010 as won't that have to be moved when all the other stock gets vacated?

 

I would think both groups would be looking for a new home anyway as the site does not offer a secure tenancy. They do seem to work very closely together so would be a shame if they could not find a new home for all of them on the same sight.
The mid Norfolk does look like a good option for the long term as they go north I don't know if there is much spare space at any of the stations further north as Dereham is quite tight for space.

 

Perhaps relocating to County School would be a sensible move?

 

Haha. There is a rather large plot of land at county school!

 

That is quite sizable slice of land, though the key issue with that idea as with almost everything is money. Is it actually available for sale or otherwise, and is affordable? Then there's the matter of clearing that area and sorting so they can move in swiftly enough...

 

What do you mean? Its within the boundry fence of the Mid Norfolk railway. The building in the middle of the red highlighted area is a signal box. And the land dossnt need clearing in the slightest.


This picture doesnt show how long the actual space is. Its massive. Great future potential

 

As a general rule I think the trend in heritage railways is for the rich to get richer so I wouldn't be surprised to see the black 5s in particular offered homes by other lines in the area with deeper pockets than the MNR , but of course we shall have to wait and see. Of course that is assuming that they don't decide to disband and sell up, in which case they could end up more or less anywhere.

 

35010 should be put through Eastleigh Works, (where else?) Then, with a main line ticket, take its place on the Steam Dreams roster, in between visiting the Bluebell, Mid Hants and Swanage. I know, money.

 

Indeed it is! Originally from Halesworth, spent many happy hours in it. Can't wait to see trains running past it again!

 

Talking, as in the previous post, about signal boxes, it occurs to me that there are 2 signal boxes on the Colne Valley (Cressing and Wrabness), not to mention station buildings, all manner of infrastructure, goods rolling stock, etc. etc...... Yet nobody on this thread seems in the least interested in those items or their future.
It makes me wonder if those of us who have tried to put together interesting collections on heritage railways have been wasting our time; we should have just filled the place with Barry wrecks and Mk.1s! Or perhaps NP members are not very representative.

 

Is there a stock list for the Colne valley railway?

 

and that is why your line is so interesting and different!

 

Thank you, kind Sir!