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Author Topic: Weymouth Harbour railway line - merged topic, ongoing discussion  (Read 26564 times)
Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #15 on: January 09, 2017, 18:18:54 »

In view of some renewed interest in this particular set of rails, in discussions on the Coffee Shop forum, I've now moved and merged a couple of threads here.  Smiley

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William Huskisson MP (Member of Parliament) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
Lee
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« Reply #16 on: October 25, 2017, 13:35:05 »

A one off (for now at least) return for me, purely because I happen to be on site right now.

No trains have run to Weymouth Quay since the late 1990s, which is obviously an awfully long time ago now. If someone were to try and organise a theoretical railtour to Weymouth Quay in the present day late 2010s, can those with knowledge of these things give an idea of what would need to be done to make it feasible?
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ChrisB
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« Reply #17 on: October 25, 2017, 13:39:15 »

I think this would have been done by the railtour companies by now if it were at all possible.

I understand that current H&S (Health and Safety) rules won't allow it, and nor would NR» (Network Rail - home page).
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bradshaw
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« Reply #18 on: October 25, 2017, 13:59:03 »

I do not think is will ever see trains again. This link may be of interest



http://www.rail.co.uk/rail-news/2016/weymouth-quay-line/
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grahame
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« Reply #19 on: October 25, 2017, 14:01:44 »

A one off (for now at least) return for me, purely because I happen to be on site right now.

No trains have run to Weymouth Quay since the late 1990s, which is obviously an awfully long time ago now. If someone were to try and organise a theoretical railtour to Weymouth Quay in the present day late 2010s, can those with knowledge of these things give an idea of what would need to be done to make it feasible?

PARTIAL data, Lee ... to start you off

a) The Quay station has (or had when I was there) a fence / vertical post for a fence right on the platform at about the north end of the building which would need to be removed if you wanted to get more that about 1 carriage into the platform

b) There is significant undergrowth on the track where it leads onto railway land just to the west of the main Weymouth station; how much is just summer growth and how much would need to be cut back, I don't know

c) I think I read that the state of the sleepers / ties under the road surface in the area alongside the quays where points use to be is poor - may be so poor that they would not support a train.

Knowing all the H&S (Health and Safety) issues with heavy rail, perhaps a lightweight diesel or petrol tram brought in on a low loader .... driver up front, trips between the little 'island' area that's off the main road near the bus garage and the north end of the quay station?

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paul7575
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« Reply #20 on: October 25, 2017, 14:59:05 »

As far as I can tell from the current online sectional appendix, dated June 2017, the first part of the branch is (although overgrown) is theoretically open as a siding, from 168 m 31 ch, to the point at 168 m 52 ch, say a quarter mile. That puts the railway operational boundary right at the road crossing behind B&Q.  Depending on how you measure it the boundary might even be the south side of that road, hence including the 'crossing'.   

However beyond that point the tramway is declared permanently out of use, and no longer included in the track line drawing.  I reckon they ought to get on and finalise the full closure.

Paul
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Bmblbzzz
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« Reply #21 on: October 25, 2017, 16:55:13 »

I do not think is will ever see trains again. This link may be of interest



http://www.rail.co.uk/rail-news/2016/weymouth-quay-line/
Wow. Somewhere on the yootoobz I've seen a video which shows this:
Quote
It was common for carelessly parked cars to be bounced away from the tracks when the occasional boat-train operated.
But I don't recall it showing either this:
Quote
The train, after going across Melcombe Regis level crossing ran through streets following a railwayman walking in front of the train carrying a red flag.
or this:
Quote
Passenger and freight trains were hauled by small tank engines through the streets and the engines had a large bell on the buffer beam which was rung by the footplate crew to warn road users that a train was approaching!
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bradshaw
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« Reply #22 on: October 25, 2017, 17:28:05 »

This gives more detail and indicates the line south of the road now belongs to the Borough Council. There is a very strong cycling lobby asking for the removal of the rails since bikes get stuck in the gap between the rail and guard rail.

http://www.island-publishing.co.uk/quaybrch.htm

John Lucking's 1986 book on the Weymouth tramway is full of photos.

Documents in the National Archive indicate that the first scheme for a tramway went from the station to the esplanade and down the front by the sea all the way to the pier! It was rejected unsurprisingly.
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Timmer
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« Reply #23 on: October 25, 2017, 17:29:32 »

There is a sort campaign to keep it open:
https://www.change.org/p/weymouth-weymouth-quay-heritage-railway
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ChrisB
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« Reply #24 on: October 25, 2017, 18:22:36 »

I do not think is will ever see trains again. This link may be of interest

http://www.rail.co.uk/rail-news/2016/weymouth-quay-line/
Wow. Somewhere on the yootoobz I've seen a video which shows this:
Quote
It was common for carelessly parked cars to be bounced away from the tracks when the occasional boat-train operated.
But I don't recall it showing either this:
Quote
The train, after going across Melcombe Regis level crossing ran through streets following a railwayman walking in front of the train carrying a red flag

Yes, I travelled behind a loco & coach set a couple of times when it still ran, and can recall this....

Quote
or this:
Quote
Passenger and freight trains were hauled by small tank engines through the streets and the engines had a large bell on the buffer beam which was rung by the footplate crew to warn road users that a train was approaching!

No, maybe in steam days?
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bradshaw
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« Reply #25 on: October 25, 2017, 18:35:26 »

There is a large selection of images on Google-search Weymouth tramway. Some show the men walking in front of the train.

There was a summer timetabled service in the 1990s using a 37/4 laying over from the normal service. An airline style meal was served on the journey to Yeovil Pen Mill where the train stopped, then returning to Weymouth station.
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #26 on: October 25, 2017, 23:18:10 »

In view of some renewed interest in this particular set of rails, in discussions on the Coffee Shop forum, I've now moved and merged a couple of threads here.  Smiley


... and I've just done the same, again, in the interests of clarity and completeness.  Wink Cheesy Grin

« Last Edit: October 25, 2017, 23:25:10 by Chris from Nailsea » Logged

William Huskisson MP (Member of Parliament) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
chrisr_75
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« Reply #27 on: October 26, 2017, 00:15:40 »

Quote
Passenger and freight trains were hauled by small tank engines through the streets and the engines had a large bell on the buffer beam which was rung by the footplate crew to warn road users that a train was approaching!

No, maybe in steam days?

Picture here showing said bell on the front of a class 33:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weymouth_Harbour_Tramway#/media/File%3A33109_Weymouth_Harbour_Tramway_August_1981.jpg
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TonyK
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« Reply #28 on: October 26, 2017, 21:58:43 »


Wow. Somewhere on the yootoobz I've seen a video which shows this:
Quote
It was common for carelessly parked cars to be bounced away from the tracks when the occasional boat-train operated.


Like this video?
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Now, please!
Bmblbzzz
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« Reply #29 on: October 27, 2017, 21:03:37 »

I think that's the very one I've seen.
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