Seaton tramway

[whole diary]

[CyclingSid]

The Ranty Highwayman's last holiday blog includes the Seaton Tramway
https://therantyhighwayman.blogspot.com/2021/09/five-go-mad-in-dorset-part-3-sunny.html
Maybe members of the forum could comment on a Highway Engineers view's, including

It's the kind of thing that gets me thinking. If an entrepreneur can build a little tramway like this for tourism (with newer units being wheelchair accessible), are there any lessons we could take away from this to create other tramways for transport?

[eightonedee]

...my thoughts are - if a private individual/small group were able to introduce OHL^▸ (Over-Head Line) on a shoestring (presumably) for this tramway why cannot Network Rail electrify branchlines at reasonable cost?

I am expecting a whole load of reasons from forum members more knowledgeable than I am.

[Lee]

...my thoughts are - if a private individual/small group were able to introduce OHL^▸ (Over-Head Line) on a shoestring (presumably) for this tramway why cannot Network Rail electrify branchlines at reasonable cost?

I am expecting a whole load of reasons from forum members more knowledgeable than I am.

Not a direct answer to your question, but these articles may prove of interest:

http://www.tautonline.com/powering-trams-electrification-masterclass-part-one/

http://www.tautonline.com/powering-trams-part-two/

[grahame]

...my thoughts are - if a private individual/small group were able to introduce OHL^▸ (Over-Head Line) on a shoestring (presumably) for this tramway why cannot Network Rail electrify branchlines at reasonable cost?

I am expecting a whole load of reasons from forum members more knowledgeable than I am.

The Seaton Tramway is a 2'9" gauge line with trams weight about 7 tons (I asked one of the team there because even Google couldn't help me) electrified at 110 volts and 3 miles long, top speed 17 mph

a National Rail line would be a different kettle or fish.  Lets try one

The line to xxxx would be a 4'8.75 gauge line with 3 car train weighing 115 tons electrified at 25,000 volts and 25 miles long, top speed (say) 60 m.p.h. to make it practical for regular passenger use

All sorts of scalability issues - not to lessen the achievements in Seaton

[bobm]

Took a trip to the Seaton Tramway today and thoroughly enjoyed it.

We elected to start our journey from the Colyton end - attracted by the free parking there.  It seemed to be the right decision as we were travelling against the flow as it were with most visitors starting out from Seaton judging by the size of the queues as we arrived at Seaton on the first leg and back at Colyton when we returned.

Colyton is a delightful station with a small cafe and gift shop.   Two new stations have recently been opened on the three mile route which gives walkers better access to the wetlands which are next to part of the line through the Axe Valley.

For £12 you can buy a ticket to travel all day - which even if you only do one round trip represents good value for around 45 minutes of travelling.

[rogerw]

There can also be queues first thing at Colyton. Last Tuesday the first service left passengers behind despite a duplicate tram running. Queues at both ends that day. On duty at Wetlands Halt tomorrow so won't see the queues, except Seaton at lunchtime

[bobm]

I did look out for you yesterday Roger!

[broadgage]

110 volts DC^▸ (Direct Current) is relatively low risk, touching it should be avoided for just in case, but is unlikely to be fatal.
110 volts could be used for full size trams or other vehicles but performance would be limited.
Fairgrounds used 110 volts DC and treated it very casually, accidents no doubt occurred but were infrequent.

[grahame]

There can also be queues first thing at Colyton. Last Tuesday the first service left passengers behind despite a duplicate tram running. Queues at both ends that day. On duty at Wetlands Halt tomorrow so won't see the queues, except Seaton at lunchtime

I wonder if that was in any way to do with the anniversary?  A year later and it's been there 53 years!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seaton_Tramway

The new line opened on 28 August 1970, just in time for the end of the holiday season. It was laid to the new 2 ft 9in gauge, with Car 8 operating the first departures. This initial opening was very limited: the line only went as far as the newly christened 'Bobsworth Bridge', named after the inaugural one shilling fare. The overhead electrical supply was yet to be installed, so as a temporary measure each tram was coupled to a battery trailer.

[broadgage]

...my thoughts are - if a private individual/small group were able to introduce OHL^▸ (Over-Head Line) on a shoestring (presumably) for this tramway why cannot Network Rail electrify branchlines at reasonable cost?

I am expecting a whole load of reasons from forum members more knowledgeable than I am.

I believe that branch lines could be electrified at much lower cost than at present. New conductor rail installations are de facto banned.
A cheaper possibility would be OHLE^▸ (Over-Head Line Equipment (electrification via catenary)) at 750 volts DC^▸ (Direct Current). Already used for trams so the equipment is at least somewhat standard.
DC electric trains are a mature and well understood technology, and the train need not "know" that the current is from an overhead wire and not a live rail.
The move away from all 25 KV AC^▸ (Alternating Current, or can mean Air Conditioning, depending on context. The second meaning is often used in a railway context and more generally) would be regrettable, but arguably a price worth paying for cheaper, simpler, and less obtrusive electrification of branch lines. Performance would be limited to keep down the current and the related costs, but remember we are talking of branch lines, not intercity.
A class 159 has reasonable performance with a power of about 900 kw,  something similar but electrically powered is probably about the sensible limit with 750 volt DC overhead.

[MVR S&T]

There are live cameras at Seaton depot and Colyford station too. on youtube.