Great Central Railway - News and "Stuff"
Discussion
You know what would improved preserved railways no end? Clearing up all the clutter. Much as I love them and what they do, they all seem spoiled by having tons of spare/scrap/redundant/it'll come in useful one day 'stuff' lying around.
I appreciate it's probably valuable and/or necessary, but for me it spoils the immersive experience, and makes if feel like you're in some kind of genteel, but dystopian, scrapyard.
I appreciate it's probably valuable and/or necessary, but for me it spoils the immersive experience, and makes if feel like you're in some kind of genteel, but dystopian, scrapyard.
Yertis said:
You know what would improved preserved railways no end? Clearing up all the clutter. Much as I love them and what they do, they all seem spoiled by having tons of spare/scrap/redundant/it'll come in useful one day 'stuff' lying around.
I appreciate it's probably valuable and/or necessary, but for me it spoils the immersive experience, and makes if feel like you're in some kind of genteel, but dystopian, scrapyard.
I always wonder this but i guess they take the stuff while it's free or cheaply available. If they don't use it then it's not really cost them much. I appreciate it's probably valuable and/or necessary, but for me it spoils the immersive experience, and makes if feel like you're in some kind of genteel, but dystopian, scrapyard.
Yertis said:
You know what would improved preserved railways no end? Clearing up all the clutter. Much as I love them and what they do, they all seem spoiled by having tons of spare/scrap/redundant/it'll come in useful one day 'stuff' lying around.
I appreciate it's probably valuable and/or necessary, but for me it spoils the immersive experience, and makes if feel like you're in some kind of genteel, but dystopian, scrapyard.
Speaking as one who was around when we still had steam on the national network running ordinary trains (albeit as a young teenageer), I can assure you that what you are getting is the real experience I appreciate it's probably valuable and/or necessary, but for me it spoils the immersive experience, and makes if feel like you're in some kind of genteel, but dystopian, scrapyard.
Every steam depot I ever visited was full of all manner of junk lying around. In fact if they wanted to go the full hog they could knock a few holes in the shed roof for authenticity...
Edited by rs1952 on Sunday 2nd February 18:38
rs1952 said:
Speaking as one who was around when we still had steam on the national network running ordinary trains (albeit as a young teenageer), I can assure you that what you are getting is the real experience
Every steam depot I ever visited was full of all manner of junk lying around. In fact if they wanted to go the full hog they could knock a few holes in the shed roof for authenticity...
You've clearly never been to the current GCR engine shed..... They could fill in holes and still have lots of authenticityEvery steam depot I ever visited was full of all manner of junk lying around. In fact if they wanted to go the full hog they could knock a few holes in the shed roof for authenticity...
Edited by rs1952 on Sunday 2nd February 18:38
Yertis said:
You know what would improved preserved railways no end? Clearing up all the clutter. Much as I love them and what they do, they all seem spoiled by having tons of spare/scrap/redundant/it'll come in useful one day 'stuff' lying around.
I appreciate it's probably valuable and/or necessary, but for me it spoils the immersive experience, and makes if feel like you're in some kind of genteel, but dystopian, scrapyard.
I imagine they have a hard enough time with certain communities trying to tidy all this scrap away for them, as it is.I appreciate it's probably valuable and/or necessary, but for me it spoils the immersive experience, and makes if feel like you're in some kind of genteel, but dystopian, scrapyard.
rs1952 said:
Yertis said:
You know what would improved preserved railways no end? Clearing up all the clutter. Much as I love them and what they do, they all seem spoiled by having tons of spare/scrap/redundant/it'll come in useful one day 'stuff' lying around.
I appreciate it's probably valuable and/or necessary, but for me it spoils the immersive experience, and makes if feel like you're in some kind of genteel, but dystopian, scrapyard.
Speaking as one who was around when we still had steam on the national network running ordinary trains (albeit as a young teenageer), I can assure you that what you are getting is the real experience I appreciate it's probably valuable and/or necessary, but for me it spoils the immersive experience, and makes if feel like you're in some kind of genteel, but dystopian, scrapyard.
Every steam depot I ever visited was full of all manner of junk lying around. In fact if they wanted to go the full hog they could knock a few holes in the shed roof for authenticity...
One of the things is, as highlighted in the windcutter posts above, with exceptions, almost all of the rolling stock and artifacts on these railways comes in as all but scrap condition and is then painstakingly restored by volententay labour. Parts cannot be bought from ECP/GSF, so a healthy amount of 'spares' are often essentially. If someone offers you a scrap engine of the type into you vintage shunter/crane, even if its seized and left outside, it might still be the best spare block/cylinder head there is. its big stuff and space costs money, especially if under cover, so tiding it all into a nice little yard isnt always practical.
Daniel
Flying Phil said:
Well the GCR now has a couple more bits of old scrap lumps of iron and steel.....
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/SuZDKAX0[/url]
7027 Thornbury Castle which is to be restored for use on the GCR and other heritage railways.
Nice![url]|https://thumbsnap.com/SuZDKAX0[/url]7027 Thornbury Castle which is to be restored for use on the GCR and other heritage railways.
Ex-Pete Waterman it appears, three new owners and four new plans. I wish the current project the best of luck.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GWR_4073_Class_7027_...
Out of interest, what are the practical implications on the restoration in terms of being main line certified or not?
Daniel
Hi Daniel
I suspect that Main Line certification would require a Lot more of a papertrail to certify all work done, competences of workers and specifications of materials used. Then there are the modern signalling electronics "boxes". This could easily add £100,000+ to the rebuilding cost. As there are other Main Line certified Castles already......
I suspect that Main Line certification would require a Lot more of a papertrail to certify all work done, competences of workers and specifications of materials used. Then there are the modern signalling electronics "boxes". This could easily add £100,000+ to the rebuilding cost. As there are other Main Line certified Castles already......
The next stage of the "Gap" project has been announced:-
“We’ve already achieved so much to reunify the two halves of the Great Central Railway,” said Andy Fillingham, the Chairman of the Friends of the Great Central Main Line. “Millions of pounds have been raised and spent already on delivering this exciting project. Now we want to build not one, but two further sections which include crossing a factory car park and a road called Railway Terrace.”
The next phase of the fundraising campaign has been dubbed the ‘Factory Flyover’. Two bridge decks which Network Rail had no further use for and were able to generously donate to the Great Central, will be incorporated into the work. Building two pieces of the jigsaw at the same time - rather than separately - is expected to be cheaper overall......"
“We’ve already achieved so much to reunify the two halves of the Great Central Railway,” said Andy Fillingham, the Chairman of the Friends of the Great Central Main Line. “Millions of pounds have been raised and spent already on delivering this exciting project. Now we want to build not one, but two further sections which include crossing a factory car park and a road called Railway Terrace.”
The next phase of the fundraising campaign has been dubbed the ‘Factory Flyover’. Two bridge decks which Network Rail had no further use for and were able to generously donate to the Great Central, will be incorporated into the work. Building two pieces of the jigsaw at the same time - rather than separately - is expected to be cheaper overall......"
Meanwhile the scaffolding has been removed from the Canal bridge but the big "cross beams" are still in place. These will be craned out and the lattice girders put back "soon". Although much of the brickwork has been repaired and re-pointed, the "wing walls" canal side will still need a fair bit of work.
Sadly, but inevitably, virtually all "Heritage Railways" have taken the decision to cease, or not start, their running this year due to the Coronavirus situation. The GCR and other railways are using their websites to give up to date information......It is to be hoped that the stoppage does not last too long but time will tell in these fraught times for so many people.
Posted by Angel Trains on LimkedIn:
“ We're delighted to be offering retired Class 142 Pacer units to heritage railways and the emergency services up and down the country, with the proceeds being donated to charities, including Railway Children.
Chasewater Railway in Staffordshire became the first heritage railway to preserve a Class 142.”
Far from being the most loved rolling stock in the world but still part of our rail heritage. Any interest?.
“ We're delighted to be offering retired Class 142 Pacer units to heritage railways and the emergency services up and down the country, with the proceeds being donated to charities, including Railway Children.
Chasewater Railway in Staffordshire became the first heritage railway to preserve a Class 142.”
Far from being the most loved rolling stock in the world but still part of our rail heritage. Any interest?.
No they don't. They exemplify everything that is wrong with Britain. They have no heritage value whatsoever. We have far too many preserved diesels as it is, including a number of unsuccessful and unreliable types (Hymeks!), plus various severely derelict examples (there's one infamous basket case of a Peak that for some incomprehensible reason still hasn't been weighed in), and we need to be reducing their numbers, not increasing them!
RoverP6B said:
No they don't. They exemplify everything that is wrong with Britain. They have no heritage value whatsoever. We have far too many preserved diesels as it is, including a number of unsuccessful and unreliable types (Hymeks!), plus various severely derelict examples (there's one infamous basket case of a Peak that for some incomprehensible reason still hasn't been weighed in), and we need to be reducing their numbers, not increasing them!
Thats exactly why they need preserving: as reminders of how s
t nationalised rail can be, how privatising things doesn't cure all the problems and that we generally need to do better!Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff