Preserved lines with/without mainline connections

easily guessable subject of a number of threads in recent times.

 

Embsay & Bolton Abbey will have a mainline link at Embsay Junction, with Skipton or Embsay as the Interchange station, depending on the exact mode of operation. If things follow the timescales set out so far (which include the funding) it should be there in four years' time...

(although I admit there are a lot of factors involved!)

 

I have a collection of four books that were printed in the early 1950's. They detail every class of steam loco then working for British Railways. In the Foreward though, it wonders what Britain's main traction would be in the future; "steam, diesel, electric or nuclear even".

Perhaps the preservation movement has reached a plateau though. Apart from a few new builds, there's no more main line steam waiting to be preserved. It'll be a few years yet before diesel classes 60, 66 and 67 are avaialble, so the way forward for preservation centres will be to extend their mileage.
The NYMR now works to Whitby, perhaps one day Middlesbrough? 30 years ago the then BR Eastern Region looking to save money suggested the NNR operate Cromer - Weybourne. With the Sherringham road crossing being reinstated, who knows? The Bluebell & Spa Valley are edging towards main lines. Swanage has a main line connection, would it be viable for them to operate into Wareham?
Personally being able to travel by train to the likes of Keighley and Alton (to name just two locations) makes me more inclined to visit them.

 

In a future far far away I should think the MNR may welcome Norwich to Fakenham trains again [-o<

 

Maybe one day, there'll be a line on/connecting into the national network running "heritage" HST sets - such as Bristol- Southampton, for example.

 

The Eden Valley Railway in Cumbria has a mainline connection, and several items of stock have been brought in that way including thumper and cep's.

 

Here's a summary of what we have so far. I've made 4 categories:
* = not standard gauge

Just change platforms at
Paignton
Grosmont
Alton
Duffield
Bodmin P.
Keighley
Aviemore
Cholsey
Smallbrook Jcn (IOW)
Aberystwyth*
Ravenglass*
Blaenau F.*
Minffordd*

<= 3 min walk platform to platform
Kidderminster (strictly speaking)
Sheringham
Totnes
Appleby
Lydney
Porthmadog (WHR)*
Tywyn (borderline)*
Wroxham*



Interchange being actively pursued in a project
East Grinstead
Manuel
Skipton/Embsay
Matlock
Eridge
Bishop Auckland


Interchange feasible, but implementation uncertain
Taunton / Norton F.
Honeybourne
Northallerton
Wymondham
Wareham

Thanks guys, keep 'em coming, also corrections to the above if I've got the wrong end of the stick. My source for judgement is Google Earth & related mapping software.

 

Fairbourne*
Smallbrook Jcn

Porthmadog*
Wroxham*
Sittingbourne (? - assuming it reopens)*

Loughborough (maybe, there was talk of an interchange platform on the link line, IIRC)
Bishop Auckland
Duffield (really ought to be here currently)

No doubt others can think of more

 

Good topic this, and it's particularly relevant to me as I'm a non-driver (I'm not an eco-warrior but my family didn't have a car when I was a kid and I've therefore grown up using public transport).

Accessibility is a big issue when you're a non-driver, so my summer holiday (week in Newton Abbot taking day trips to various South Western lines) will see me profit from easy links to Bodmin & Wenford, SDR and P&DSR but slightly struggle to get to Swanage (bus from Wareham I think).

I know the preservation world doesn't revolve around rail passengers but there are advantages to having easy access from a BR station. Apart from points already mentioned, some regions publicise railway centres on their patch. I think FGW does for the aforementioned railways and Northern Rail has redecorated at least one class 156 with La'al Ratty decals as well as having plenty of leaflets advertising the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway. It's in their advantage - the leaflet gave me the idea and I therefore made a visit last Friday. I would have got round to them eventually but the leaflet definitely made a difference and of course I went there using Northern Rail. (La'al Ratty aside, they really seem to be pushing the Cumbrian Coast line this year, which is great - very scenic line with lots of attractions once your attention is drawn to them. Nice to see a compnay trying to drum up custom for the quieter parts of its network).

But I digress... back on topic, another one for the list - Butterley has a main line link but you need to get a bus from Derby to get there.

 

Some more aterations to the list-

direct change between platforms
Cholsey for the Cholsey & Wallingford Railway

within 3 mins walk (approx)
Lydney Junction for the Dean Forest Railway

soon maybe..?
Matlock for Peak Rail

for the distant future-
Honeybourne
Northallerton
Princes Risborough- (Chinnor & Princes Risborough Rly)

 

The DFR is connected to the mainline, though not a great deal of use is made of it - to my limited knowledge ( http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t07/t0422a.htm ) but yes the mainline station is not very far away.

 

According to the latest Peak Express. Peak Rail met with Network Rail in May regarding operations into Matlock. The next stage is the signing of the legal documents before the connection can be made etc. Unfortunately it doesn't elaborate on the operation.

 

Direct platform connection not far off at Princes Risborough for CPPR.

 

Not sure if Bury is in the list yet?

When I started visiting Steam Railways I used to travel to the ones with a mainline connection, plus visited a few with a bus connection or by reaching by bicycle. So having a mainline connection meant they got a visit from the likes of me. Now that I have a car it is much more convenient to use the car and can visit anywhere. After a few years I have almost turned circle and gone back to using my bicycle via a mainline train.

I do worry now about the limited availability for bikes on trains. Gone are the days of the slam doors with the luggage compartment. The modern trains need to allow for more passengers like me who are trying to be green. I can recall only 6 years ago waiting at Clapham Junction on Saturday mornings where myself and dozens of keen mountain bikers would cram into the luggage compartment of a slam door train to reach places like Dorking for a days hard riding. Even then I had to wait for one or two trains before I got on, and got separated from friends who did get on board... those were the days, god only knows what it is like now. Sorry gone off subject.

 

I'm not familiar with the ELR. Would Bury go into the "within 3 mins walk" section?

 

At a brisk walking pace during the daytime I recently walked from Bury Metrolink station to Bury (Bolton Street) ELR station in about 6 or 7 minutes. The route includes walking through Bury bus station and the busy town centre.

 

In that case Brian I don't think Bury qualifies as a passenger link in the categories I'm using. Lydney Junction, on the other hand, is only just over 200 yards from Lydney NR, so definitely less than 3 minutes even with kids in tow or having to walk gently.

 

As far as the ELR goes there had been rumours that if the ELR ran public services the metro could be extended to meet the ELR and so there would be an interchange.

One area that seems to have been missed is heritage centres and their smaller railways.

To start

National Railway Museum- walkway from station to the museum

Shildon-station nearby

MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester)-my local railway -10 minute walk maximum from Deansgate rail statiuon or GMEX metro stop. Signs from GMEX for MOSI.

All three are rail connected to the National Network.

Regards

Duncan

 

I think it would be a great oppourtunity to have an interchange station at Buckley Wells when the mega-shed project is completed... they have a link to Metrolink at Buckley Wells, last time it was used was the Metrolink track relaying project in 2007/8 with the cut down EWS 08's and the classs 60 being based their.. this would be a win win as it could have weekday use for a Rawtenstall commuter service.. thus saving costs of stock/track upgrades for Network Rail and platforming at Victoria etc.. this could be very cost effective.. the length of that junction spur is good enough for building a 2/3 coach platform at least, then build a footbridge for passengers to walk over the ELR and Metrolink to a new platform on the Manchester side.. thats my idea anyway !