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Top: A
fine Yorkshire sunset photographed from the top of the cutting on
the Trans Pennine Trail at Wortley, near Barnsley, where our photographer
believes a much older tramway crossed the route. (Richard Lewis)
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Above:
This year's Chairman's Walk included an opportunity to follow
the trackbed of the Somerset & Dorset Railway from Bath Green
Park to Midford. This is the view through Lyncombe Vale, looking south
towards Combe Down Tunnel. Although the trees have encroached immensely
since Ivo Peters used to photograph trains here, the trackbed remains
clear and easy to walk. 15 May 2005. (Ivor Sutton) |
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Above:
Looking
north from the south end of Midford Viaduct. Until 2004, the viaduct
was an impenetrable tangle of trees. Now, however, Sustrans has cleared
the trackbed and carried out much-needed repairs to ensure the long-term
survival of the structure. At the moment, the trail stops a hundred
yards behind the photographer, but negotiations are in hand to continue
to Wellow and, eventually, Shoscombe. A railway path already utilises
the trackbed from Shoscombe to Radstock and Midsomer Norton. 15 May
2005. (Ivor Sutton) |
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Above:
The way things were at Midford in the 1960s. This view is taken
from a similar position to the present day picture above. The double-headed
southbound train is almost certainly a Pines Express for Bournemouth.
The railings on the left identify the start of Midford Viaduct, which
was the end of the single line section from Bath; the third coach
is just running on to the double track. The stump of the signal can
still be found in the undergrowth. (Ivor Sutton) |
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Above:
Ash Green station in Surrey was situated on the direct line from
Guildford to Farnham via Tongham. The route lost its passenger service
as long ago as July 1937, although freight services survived
over sections at least until January 1961. From a point near
Ash Junction to the site of Tongham station, the route is now an attractive
railway walk, but beyond Tongham the trackbed has been claimed for
improvements to the A31 road. 2 October 2004. (Kevin Arnold) |
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Above:
Autumn
shadows lengthen as a group of Southern Area members walk through
the remains of Woolmer Depot on the Longmoor Military Railway. Ten
parallel sidings were situated here, together with some large loading
docks, which still survive. Sections of rail have been left in place
where the sidings crossed the concrete road; presumably, removing
them would have caused too much damage. 13 November 2004. (Kevin Arnold) |
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Left:
One
of the benefits of walking outside the golden days of summer
is all that can be seen when the leaves have fallen. A home
signal lies in the undergrowth near Whitehill on the Longmoor
Military Railway. The signal post (like so much else on the
LMR) is made of concrete, but the signal arm is marked LMS
the London, Midland & Scottish Railway. Could this have
been imported when the LMR was training civilian crews for the
'big four' railway companies, 24 hours a day, during World War
2? 13 November 2004. (Kevin Arnold) |
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Above: Until
1908 or 1909 no one knows the date exactly a funicular
railway operated from near the village of Poynings to Devil's Dyke
(both are in East Sussex, north west of Brighton). The purpose was
to bring custom to the nearby Devil's Dyke Hotel, but unfortunately
a good tea room in Poynings attracted customers the other way ...
which may have something to do with the railway's early closure!
The concrete structure in the foreground is all that remains of
the upper station. An island platform built from timber extended
over the drop, with the two rail cars using alternating platform
faces as they traversed the gradient which, at its steepest, was
1 in 1½. 4 December 2004. (Kevin Arnold)
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