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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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    This weeks work by the Thursday Gang was starting on the repointing of the cattle creep.
    See the blog and photo album
    https://ilvaporista.blogspot.it/
     
  2. ilvaporista

    ilvaporista Part of the furniture

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  3. hoffman

    hoffman New Member

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    I was intrigued on re-reading the Shropshire Star bit from July 16th. I quote “It will create employment and people would be able step off the train at Gobowen and get a tram along the line to the Orthopaedic Hospital. It’s exciting.”

    First mention I've seen of trams - did I miss something? Or will these be tram-trains? Or one track for trams and one for trains?

    Stu
     
  4. ilvaporista

    ilvaporista Part of the furniture

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    There are two distinct parts to the project, one is the heritage railway from Oswestry to the South, the part which is currently being worked on as a restoration project. The other bit going towards Gobowen is planned to be a community lead project for a service to reconnect Oswestry to the rail network. That will need major external funding and would probably be let out to a suitable operator. It's not something that CHR can take on with limited resources. Will it happen? There have been many and long debates about community rail projects offering a public service so I will not go over that again. The possible use of a small tram like vehicle would reduce operating costs but it would still need to be attractive enough for someone to invest to make happen. The Parry People Mover spent some time at Oswestry as a possible solution.

    The good news on the northern part is that the main structure, the Whittington road bridge, has been examined and there are no major issues. The A5 Level crossing is a complex issue and I personally doubt that any regular service crossing the A5 as a level crossing will receive support, however the road is subject to an intense campaign to become a dual carriageway and at that point there would be a bridge. It's not a short term project.

    In the meantime the full line is being worked on and work is going on in the background with planning and funding.

    I hope to do a review of the year on the blog showing what has been done this year, there really has been lots of progress considering the number of volunteers. 2018 is shaping up to be a big year already so keep watching.

    Latest blog is up and although it does not say much there is much going on and important news on the way that I feel will be better coming through the specialist railway magazines.

    This weekend (9th and 10th) the team will be looking at the line from the A495 crossing to the Tanat Valley connection (Sat.) and Sunday more on the Weston extension.
    Bridge beams for the cattle creep have been ordered as well so thank you all for your support. (there is still time to contribute...) The beams should arrive this month and will need some work before being installed.

    I guess like many lines we will have a fairly quiet time getting over the Santa Specials and then it's press on. The first runs proved popular this year and we shall see the results later. These events do bring in funds for the railway so if you get a chance to pop by we would love to see you!
     
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  5. hoffman

    hoffman New Member

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    I must've missed that - I need to read up on this project a bit more!

    Stu
     
  6. ilvaporista

    ilvaporista Part of the furniture

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    Due to the snow the working weekend has been postponed. Probably by one week but that will depend on the weather.
     
  7. ilvaporista

    ilvaporista Part of the furniture

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    More news will follow and the blog will be updated but just a quick post to say that yesterday we took delivery of an 1955 Brake Second Mk1 which comes to us after being in store at the KWVR.

    http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrust.org/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=1938

    2018 will see a lot of things happening along the line so pop in and see what we are up to.
     
  8. FearOfManchester

    FearOfManchester Member

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    Wonderful to see the CHR has some passenger stock at last, refreshing to see a burgeoning railway that acquires rolling stock when they actually need it rather than doing what some small heritage railways have done where they get stuff that they have no use for, have no chance of restoring and inevitably biting off more than they can chew and the rolling stock is never the better for it, often ending ending up further rotting away. It shows you have a well run, level headed outfit going on here, good work.
     
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  9. ilvaporista

    ilvaporista Part of the furniture

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    CHR already has some coaching stock and a dedicated bunch of C&W people at Llynclys who are working on creating a rake of coaches. We had a set back with one coach which has impacted our plans but this purchase is a bit of a 'gap filler' as we need a short term fix. Work has already started to bring the outside to a suitable condition for use going towards Weston. The brake van managed 157 passengers on one day during the Santa specials which was 'cosy' so if we want to run a proper service we need operational coaches.
     
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  10. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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    My dad sent me a photo yesterday of the coach being emptied using wheelbarrows to cart away all the KWVR leaflets! It sounds like the coach is in pretty good condition considering it's been out of use for a while, even if externally it looks horrendous.
     
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  11. ilvaporista

    ilvaporista Part of the furniture

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    Externally it does not look it's best but the team have already started on a tidy up. I have posted some arrival pictures and I'll post further updates in a couple of days. I have a bit of catching up to do. Keep watching for more big news soon..... Or better still join us!
     
    Last edited: Jan 9, 2018
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  12. Thompson1706

    Thompson1706 Part of the furniture

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    Does it have all of its door locks, internal fittings etc. as spares for these coaches are becoming very scarce.

    Bob.
     
  13. ilvaporista

    ilvaporista Part of the furniture

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    Indeed bits are hard to come by these days. I would say that it is generally complete but a few parts need replacing and the exterior is in poor condition. We already buy our Mk 1 spares from the usual sources so we have the contacts, we just need the money.
     
  14. ilvaporista

    ilvaporista Part of the furniture

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    Good job you took some away... we found 250 boxes of old leaflets still left inside. Good job the transport was booked on size not weight!
     
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  15. ilvaporista

    ilvaporista Part of the furniture

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    An update to the blog has been posted. Plenty of action along the line.
    https://ilvaporista.blogspot.it/
    Work on the coach continues and we are pleasantly surprised with the overall condition, lots to do but that is why we volunteer!

    This week will see a push on undergrowth clearance before nesting season, we have some specific areas to tackle which are key to the next steps.
     
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  16. ilvaporista

    ilvaporista Part of the furniture

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    Take a look at the pictures on this week's blog
    https://ilvaporista.blogspot.it/

    A steam engine and coach sat in the rebuilt platform at Oswestry!

    It's been many a year since a picture like that was possible. Thanks to all of the hours put in by the volunteers things are happening quickly now. Thursday's session broke all records for attendance and there is jovial talk of having to lay on Park and Ride as the car park was almost full.
    For those that use the dreaded F site there are some pictures of the coach under restoration. These should be viewable by all.
    https://www.facebook.com/cambrianheritagerailways/posts/1529469593773242
     
  17. Railboy

    Railboy New Member

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  18. ilvaporista

    ilvaporista Part of the furniture

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    And here is a copy of the press release. There will be other news soon related to this award.

    Press Release:

    Cambrian Heritage Railways (CHR) have been awarded a £120,000 (One Hundred and Twenty thousand pounds) grant from Oswestry Town Council. This grant is towards the capital costs of the CHR Weston Wharf extension project, the aim of which is to extend the existing running line from Gas Works Bridge to Weston Wharf. This would extend the passenger line to 1¾ miles long and connect Oswestry town centre to a station at Weston Wharf, which is adjacent Stonehouse Brewery and their visitor centre.

    CHR Chairman Rob Williams said “This is a significant grant for CHR and will play a vital part in seeing the passenger running line extended from Oswestry to Weston Wharf, a distance of 1¾ mile. Adjacent to our Weston goods shed is one of the local real ale brewery Stonehouse and their visitor centre. Clearly the combination of a heritage railway and a brewery at one end will be popular and bring significant visitor footfall to not only the railway but the town of Oswestry. This grant forms part of a package of funding, support and work to deliver what is phase 1 of our Heritage project.”

    Town Mayor, Councillor Vince Hunt confirmed that “the Town Council is very keen to support this project to ensure it succeeds and to recognise the work of the Trustees and the members of Cambrian Heritage Railways Limited over many years. The project has significant potential economic and tourism benefits for Oswestry that makes it worthy of our investment. We recognise the hard work that has gone into developing the business case and the many volunteer hours given and the funding that has already been achieved. We also appreciate the support of Shropshire Council in their commitment to repair the bridge at Salop Road that is vital to this project. “

    Mr Williams continued “We are extremely grateful for the support and vision of Oswestry Town Council in making this Grant. Although a significant sum, which should see a basic railway delivered, we are still looking for further funding and support to enhance and develop the final product. The Oswestry to Weston project is what we see as phase 1, the ultimate goal with the Heritage project is to extend further and link up with our other site at Llynclys South. Anyone interested in getting involved our supporting in any way is asked to get in contact with us via our website; http://www.cambrianrailways.com or facebook page; http://www.facebook.com/cambrianheritagerailways
     
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  19. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

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    Great news. Hopefully Shropshire Highways will get on with the bridge repairs soon.
     
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  20. FearOfManchester

    FearOfManchester Member

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    Fantastic news! To get a grant direct from a council especially in these times of austerity is a rare thing, and goes to show the councils belief in success for the railway, a railway with a huge station building that was once the Cambrian HQ with a still existing works next to it and a line with a brewery at the end of it, what's not to like?
     
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