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Oswestry Update

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

  1. ilvaporista

    ilvaporista Part of the furniture

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    It might be worth summarising what has been done in the past 7 years on what can only be described as frugal budget. The major items are:
    The rebuilding of the full Oswestry up platform
    Creation of a full loco hauled train from semi derelict stock
    Relaying of the running line at Oswestry to give almost 1 mile
    Creation and running of themed family events at Llynclys which are very popular
    T&WO application and successful negotiation to a conclusion.
    Regular steam operation

    All this is done with a currently small team passionate about the line and intent on creating a railway to be proud of.


    Like any line there is need for more volunteers (and money...) to make things happen quicker. The infrastructure is there and ready to be reclaimed. So if you hanker back to the pioneering spirit of preservation when results had to be gained with initiative and team work come along and join in.

    So what is coming up:
    We are in a lucky situation of having a brewery at the end of the next phase of the extension. So there is an added incentive to get there. Material is in stock and already the team are pushing on with the work of extending to Weston Wharf

    The only real obstacle is the reinstatement of the cattle creep on the line to Weston which needs roughly £3k to repair. Donations are welcome via the web site.
    http://www.cambrianrailways.com/

    At Llynclys there is the ongoing restoration of rolling stock and recovery of key items of historic importance
     
  2. hoffman

    hoffman New Member

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    I am sure that Cambrian Heritage Railways has a vision of how eventually the restored sections of railway will be run together, but I offer my own idea on this.

    My suggestion, (assuming the ability to acquire the necessary land) is to look into relaying from the existing west end of the Porthywaen branch, via the former east to south curve to the east of Llanyblodwel and just west of the A495, and then on the rest of the formation to Llanynynech, to eventually join the formation of the line that runs north from Four Crosses. It would then be possible to head north and link up with relaid section at Pant. The advantages of this are that it will effectively unite both sections of line currently being restored so that they can be incorporated into one journey, and would effectively turn locomotives should this be desired. It will also link in the section at Nantmawr.

    It would appear that there is no (substantial ) development of these track beds that would prevent such a scheme from what I can see, but that is not being on the ground as I live nowhere near, but obviously it would depend on the land being available to purchase. This should be considered perhaps to be a long term goal, but to investigate this at an early opportunity and continually monitor any changes that would affect it.

    I'm sure that there are plenty of reasons (money aside) why this can't/won't happen but I'm trying to be positive:)
     
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  3. ilvaporista

    ilvaporista Part of the furniture

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    Hoffman, that vision is shared by many and I would not like to see anything done on the remaining pieces of trackbed that would stop such a plan. I think that linking up from Llanymynech to Pant is one only for the Euromillions winners.

    But it is first things first and what is there already needs to be put back in operation. But there is so much scope for the future that it will keep peoples imaginations going for years.
     
  4. Henry the Green Engine

    Henry the Green Engine New Member

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    Personally, I like the project to relay all 3 tracks through Oswestry station, along with restoring the down platform. Is that still the intention? What about the main building platform canopy, covered footbridge and down platform building and canopy?
     
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  5. ilvaporista

    ilvaporista Part of the furniture

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    There are active plans and works going on to bring back all three roads, the missing element is the money
    I hope the link works OK

    http://www.cambrianrailways.com/html/oswestry_station_building.html

    As for the down station building that is a long way off yet. But the signal is back on the platform and the signal box is coming on and once completed will to be able to pull off again the signal for departures.
     
  6. Henry the Green Engine

    Henry the Green Engine New Member

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    Good stuff. I hope that before too long, a gala can be held with as guest locos, a Manor, 57XX, 14XX, Dukedog and an ex Cambrian Ivatt 2-6-0, posed on all 3 roads, waiting for the 'off'. Even without any down buildings! The publicity generated would be your biggest boost yet.
     
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  7. Copper-capped

    Copper-capped Part of the furniture

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    Mouthwatering!

    I must say the station building at Oswestry is a really impressive looking building.
     
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  8. FearOfManchester

    FearOfManchester Member

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    Indeed, the most impressive building on any heritage railway in my book, as it was the CR headquarters, gobowen station building is pretty fantastic too with its Italianate styling. And good that it is now in community ownership, a shame the coal yard was built on at gobowen, it was a bit of a survivor and could've tied in nicely if steam arrives at gobowen. Can someone enlighten me as to what the situation is with 'bridge 81', I think that's what it's called? The one that is an infill of the Montgomery canal and is about to be removed in the near future as the canal restoration is progressing into the area? Does it impede the CHRs extension plans at all?
     
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  9. crantock

    crantock Member

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  10. ianh

    ianh Member

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    Where is bridge 81 - looking at the maps and info on the Shropshire Union site the rails and cut don't meet till the village of Pant
     
  11. crantock

    crantock Member

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    The bridge is in the south of Pant. Thus I doubt either party will get there soon.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  12. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    I, for one, am glad the cavalier destruction of rare native species, such as newts, is now prevented by legislation. One welcome by-product of "third sector" projects is a growing body of knowledge gained along the way which goes way beyond a bare minimum needed to reopen railways or canals. If we don't care whether the outcome of any restoration doesn't improve things overall, we're on the road to reducing ourselves to an isolated bunch of obsessives with tunnel vision. No recipe for a secure long term future for heritage rail operations there IMO.

    The folks at Corris have identified solutions to their newt issues (which took some time and quite a bit of money, uncovering new funding sources along the way), allowing the current reconstruction south of Maespoeth. I'd be surprised if some of those involved in the Corris exercise weren't advising elsewhere. We have to recognise that ours aren't the only interests.

    Having followed several canal restorations for years, it's safe to say that what look like glacial rates of progress often reflects the sheer amount of preparatory work before the exciting stuff starts, so whilst an average 100m/yr of visible progress doesn't sound impressive, just watch that number suddenly leap up once a threshold point in the planning process is crossed.

    An important point to note is that much of canal system has lain derelict since before Richard Beeching was born, presenting challenges which make impressive projects like the Dduallt spiral or digging out Imberhome cutting look like childs play!

    I include a not entirely gratuitous link the the Wey & Arun Canal Trust website, from which can be seen that the environment along the route under is regarded as a vital component of restoration. Abandoned before WWI, restoration began decades ago, but it's only comparatively recently that everything has moved up a gear. Projects completed in the last 3 years at least equal what was acheived in the preceeding 30 years. The next swathe of rewatering will add a significant section of navigable canal to the distance currently in regular use

    https://weyarun.org.uk/ (This is their new -within the last month- wesbsite, so please keep this in mind if there are a few glitches when navigating it.)

    And if you think the W&A is a complicated project..... spare a thought for the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust, in the throes of getting their canal through the centre of Swindon (thereby giving the place a heart!) on a new alignment. Convincing some on the council that canals weren't just so much stagnant water took years, but they managed it... eventually!

    [\End of Rant]
     
  13. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    cancelled
     
  14. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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  15. Henry the Green Engine

    Henry the Green Engine New Member

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    Oswestry_loco_shed_12_07_1970.jpg Here are a couple of views of the closed Oswestry shed, in July 1970 and February 1973. The Cambrian Society set up camp in 1972. Looks like they just missed out on this gem, by a few months. It still exists, within the Richard Burridge complex, hidden by extensions all around it, unless some new houses that have been built on part of the Burridge site are on this part. Oswestry_loco_shed_25_02_1973.jpg
     
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  16. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    Great photos Henry. Unfortunately I didn't take any photos after Oswestry closed to passengers - wish I had now!
    I did take this one of 5421 in the bay platform ready to depart with the auto to Gobowen in Sept 1962.
    Ray.
    5421 in Gobowen bay at Oswestry Sept 1962.jpg
     
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  17. ilvaporista

    ilvaporista Part of the furniture

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    Here are two videos from a recent trip along the still to be fully worked-on sections of the line.
    At the moment these parts are being watched and maintained nominally clear, keeping on top of the saplings that take root and pushing back the undergrowth. We had fun clearing the effects of storm Doris a couple of months or so ago. In the second video you can see the tunnel effect that has come about with years of growth along the line and that, but for the early efforts of sadly missed Alan, may have been repeated along the whole route.

    The next phase of the extension to Weston is starting to get underway with plant on site ready to go. Once the running season demands reduce there will be more time to push on. Anyone who wants to see and/or be involved will be welcomed at any of the operating locations.
    https://youtu.be/rT0T6efFJVw A483 Level crossing to Dolgoch

    https://youtu.be/q1cf47OHFK4 School crossing to Blodwel & return
     
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  18. AndyY

    AndyY Member

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    Whilst I would agree that 'the cavalier destruction of rare native species' is indeed not a good thing, am I the only one to be rather surprised that these incredibly rare creatures seem to turn up by the bucketload at each and every restoration project but aren't seen anywhere else?
    Andy
     
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  19. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    .....and today's random fact.....Most unrecorded species in the UK, flora and fauna, are actually found in peoples' gardens these days (never play me at 'Trivial Persuit!:)). It's not always like the rare toads of the 'Hustle' TV episode "Politics"!

    Issues like these can either be seen as "a pain in the ar*e" or as an opportunity. Whilst they do hold things up in the short term, looking further ahead they can foster lasting alliances between groups with widely differing objectives and often throw up surprising sources of funding. Both of these factors serve to improve the long term outlook considerably. Frustrating at times? Sure...... but properly handled, there'll be a much more secure and attractive railway.
     
  20. Thompson1706

    Thompson1706 Part of the furniture

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    Most of the people who spend their time trying
     

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