Defunct preserved railways

Oh! We've also of course recently lost the little Stevingon and Turvey Railway, but that's being recreated elsewhere.

I don't dare venture into miniature territory properly because you'll really get some of us frothing with aplomb. I guess most aren't "preservation" schemes as such; they're all new builds to some degree.

BUT let us never forget the Oakhill Manor line... ooof. https://www.flickr.com/photos/trainsandstuff/sets/72157608030994648/

 

Do you include the ancient waggonway that was uncovered during works at Wallsend Dry Docks recently? Parts of it were going to be exhibited at Stephenson Railway Musuem but I believe folk from Jorvick have been called in to enable proper restoration work. The location of the track has now been backfilled never to be viewed again I understand, shame but sensible I guess. It was certainly preserved and certainly defunct.

 

Wow, what a set-up!!

 

Still more shed sites on or close to preserved railways come to mind. Alnmouth shed, a sub of 52D Tweedmouth, which still exists in private use (Tweedmouth I mean)
The Alnmouth site is unused as far as I know. It is right next to the unused platform face that would be used by Alnwick branch trains, if they ever return to the station. It closed in June 66, when branch steam finished. K1's were used in later years so, the scenario of 62005 being serviced at the shed between turns on the branch, is a rather mouthwatering one. The AVR website does state 'the railway will follow the original trackbed all the way to Alnmouth station' so, recreating the above scenario would seem feasible and certainly desirable.

Bowes Bridge, sub to 52A Gateshead, was a mile from Marley Hill. Whether it is on the land of the Bowes Railway, I'm not sure but, the site is unused apparently.

Unfortunately, that tips the score even more into the negative, from 18/10 to Lost sheds 20-Saved sheds 10. Come on AVR, sheds out for the lads! (obscure Viz reference)

 

The Bowes Bridge shed is alongside the Tanfield railway not Bowes, i think the turntable pit and coaling stage are on railway land, dont know about the shed itself.

 

I remember another scheme - I don't think it ever carried passengers, it was at Redditch in the West Midlands, with (I think) a yellow 0-4-0 Fowler diesel loco (ex Garringtons - Bromsgrove), it was a short line from an industrial estate upto, but not connecting with BRs Redditch branch - I would reckon it was early 1980s. Does anyone else remember it? I'm sure a little platform was built - with Midland style fencing. I walked the track, with the diesel loco stabled at lower end of the line.

And Oakhill Manor - wonderful - many happy trips behind the Royal Scot, with those lovely main line bogie wagons, the Southern Railway scaled down coaches, and Nellie the Quarry Hunslet.

Edit - just found details on tinternet, of Redditch scheme!

http://www.redditch-mrc.com/Redditch Railways - Redditch Railway Society.htm

Paul

 

Ooh that brings back memories - I'm sure if I went digging in the right box I've got photos from a day out there when it was still running - albeit I was only 16 when those photos in your set were taken so it would have been younger than that!

 

Yet another shed site has come to mind. Lydney. The yard is used by a haulage company, with a small unit in place, according to Google Earth. Rail connection would be away from the level crossing at Lydney Junction, so no probs there. It was one of 5 sub sheds of 85B Gloucester Horton Rd. Which moves neatly to another of those 5. Cheltenham Malvern Rd shed is used by a builders merchant. Both the original Churchward 2 road shed and a later 2 road extension are still intact, just yards from the trackbed from the MR main line at Lansdown to the GWR at the racecourse. That tips the score even more against Saved sheds down 22-10 to Lost or Unsaved (so far) sheds.

Wasn't Gloucester re-opened by a diesel loco hire company? Is it still in use?

 

I think Cotswold Rail/Advenza reopened Horton Road not sure what its status is at the moment

 

Never reopened as a depot those companies are long gone.

 

Just a though but w0uld Marley Hill (I think I've got the name right) on the Tanfield Railway count as a saved shed?

 

Id count Marley Hill as saved, connected to the wrong railway but saved. Rates for me as one of the most atmospheric steam sheds in the uk.

 

The locomotive shed at Port Penrhyn , North Wales is still in existence though the rail lines are gone. The building is listed so obviously safe for the future.

 

Does anyone know what the latest state of play is with the Nantwich & Market Drayton Railway Society?

 

Some of the old 85B Gloucester Horton Road buildings are still standing and are recongisable as once being part of a loco shed. However, the area is a bit of a sorry sight. I couldn't find any sign that any of the buildings are in use.

 

Some good pictures of it here, doesn't look like it's in use for anything other than vandalism and arsonists. Wonder if GWSR could have the bricks...

 

They've got a website - http://www.the-gingerbread-line.co.uk/index.htm not sure how much progress has been made on the ground though... must say I'd like to visit it if / when they get the line running.

 

coming under the heading "defunct" currently would be the Tralee and Dingle Railway in Co Kerry. This council owned line has been shut for the past 5 years or so, mostly because it's one loco (5T repatriated from the USA) has serious boiler problems.

A group has been formed to try and resuscitate it....

https://www.facebook.com/groups/traleeanddinglesteamrailway/?fref=ts

SO who's up for it? Complete line from a Tourist atraction (windmill) to a Tourist attraction (Aquadome) , couple of miles of track ,stations and rolling stock all there almost ready to go....

 

On the "save an engine shed" tangent, the GE/LNER brethren may be interested in a certain subshed of 31A at Thaxted - still extant single road branchline engine shed, water tower, station building....

All in industrial use, but like a weird time capsule.

 

Not necessarily. Dawlish signalbox was a listed building but fell to the old trick of letting it become unsafe so that demolition was the only option. Without wanting to go too OT, is the disgracefully neglected Saltash station building on the up side listed?

John