The HRE Group in The Times, letter to the Transport Committee and new booklet on HRE
Author: rradmin
Goodmanham to Market Weighton new railway footpath
Apr 2021 – Sandsend and Kettleness Tunnels to reopen?
Whitby Gazette reports that Sustrans and the North York Moors National Park are looking at the feasibility of opening them up to walkers and cyclists.
Can you recall more 3-letter station names?
Arising from a challenge set by member Michael Ross in one of Jeff Vinter’s SW newsletters, Yorkshire Branch member Bill Jagger has come up with these 3-letter station names. Jane Ellis wonders if any members can recall any more?
Apr 2021 – Rock Fall, Elan Valley Railway (EVR) (Powys)
**Now with pictures. Access to the spectacular Devil’s Gulch, close to the Pen y Garreg Reservoir in the gorgeous Elan Valley, has been prohibited since November 2018 due to rockfall which made it impassable
Apr 2021 – MPs raise concerns over Highways England’s ‘assault’ on legacy rail structures
Apr 2021 – SW Articles (The April Easing)
Jeff Vinter has written a further a newsletter with a selection of articles originally issued to South Western Area members titled ‘The April Easing’ which he is happy to share with all RR members.
Apr 2021 – The Watercress Way seeks new Trustees
Mar 2021 – Railway tunnels between Whitby and Staithes
A surprising news item here. Tunnels between Whitby and Staithes may be reopened as cycle route, that’s going to take a bit of work !
Mar 2021 – SW Articles (while in Lockdown)
Video – Abandoned Railways in the West Country
RR stalwart Jeff Vinter has kindly shared a video presentation of a talk that he gave to Tiverton U3A’s Railway Group on 26th February
Feb 2021 – Campaigners rally against railway heritage threat
RR Magazine Spring 2021 – out soon
The Sping 2021 edition of the Club Magazine – Railway Ramblings – is soon to be sent to members. Join Railway Ramblers now to receive your copy. Membership is just £10 per year!
Please help the HRE Group…
They are in need of UK-wide intelligence of proposed and planned cycle and walking paths around the country that might be threatened by the proposed HRE infilling and demolition.
Jan 2021 – SW Articles (while in Lockdown)
Jan 2021 – Railway Rights of Way
The Watercress Way Update and strategic Plan for 2021
Jan 2021 – HRE Group’s latest video
RPL land ownership and interactive map
Somerset Rail to Trail Project
The Rail to Trail project is a group committed to transforming disused railways into 21st century travel networks in Somerset
Jan 2021 – Okehampton, Devon
A year ago things looked bleak for the North Dartmoor line and any reinstatement of passenger trains on the line from Exeter to Okehampton. Heritage services from Okehampton to Meldon Quarry also ceased when the owners went into receivership. However, the government has now included a commitment in its National Infrastructure Strategy to restart regular […]
Jan 2021 – Alresford – Kings Worthy, Hampshire.
The trustees of the Watercress Way charity have revised their Strategic Plan and identified a number of project priorities. The aim of the charity is to open up more of the two disused railway lines between Alresford and Kings Worthy and Kings Worthy and Sutton Scotney for non-motorised public access. Over the last year or […]
Jan 2021 – Bennerley Viaduct, Notts/Derbyshire.
Critical repair work is virtually finished, the eastern ramp has been transformed, and work on the western ramp has commenced, while the Friends of Bennerley Viaduct continue to raise funds for the deck so it can be installed later in the year. New walls have replaced the rickety fences, using reclaimed materials where possible. The […]
Jan 2021 – Alston – Slaggyford, Cumbria.
The South Tynedale Railway has announced that it has become one of 445 organisations in the UK to receive a financial boost from the government thanks to the £1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund. The South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society has received a total grant of £84,300. The railway is currently closed to the public and the […]
Dec 2020 – Protect our railway heritage
Dec 2020 – Little Mill Jn – Usk, Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire County Council’s planning committee has approved plans to convert about 4 miles of the trackbed of the ex-GWR line between Little Mill Junction and Usk. The path will start near a point on the A472 to the west of Coleg Gwent and the Monmouthshire Council application says it will provide ‘a safe off-road cycleway […]
Dec 2020 – Rugby – Leamington / Long Itchington, Warwickshire
Dec 2020 – Feasibility Study: Re-purposing part of Somerset and Dorset Line
Dec 2020 – Rugby – Leamington/Long Itchington, Warwickshire
According to the Rugby Observer, Sustrans has announced plans to add five miles of trackbed in a re-routing of part of the Lias Line, as the section of NCN 41 between Rugby and Leamington is known. Phase 1, which will cost around £4.5 million, will see the ex-LNWR route used between the villages of Offchurch […]
What are your views on RR supporting campaigns?
In the latest magazine the Chairman discusses if/how we should support campaigns – and indeed we’re looking to recruit a Campaigns Officer. Any thoughts?
Dec 2020 – Keswick-Threlkeld Path Re-Open
Dec 2020 – Weymouth, Dorset
As part of work to resurface Commercial Road following the removal of the Weymouth Harbour Branch tracks, two cycle lanes have been introduced to facilitate cycling where traffic volume and speeds are relatively low between Westham Bridge and Lower St Alban Street. One of the Council’s main arguments for removing the tracks was to make […]
Earliest Remaining Railway Relics – Flockton near Wakefield
Photographs of what are alleged to be the world’s oldest railway viaduct and tunnel, on an 18th century waggonway/tramroad at Flockton near Wakefield.
RR Magazine Winter 2020/21 – Out Now
Nov 2020. Keswick – Threlkeld, Cumbria
Do we wish to have online discussion/debate in Railway Ramblers?
Is the time right for RR to introduce a discussion thread facility? Will it work for us? Are there benefits? Are there risks? Is it unfair on non-website users? Do we need rules?
Smardale Gill Viaduct
The Viaduct stands 90ft above Scandal Beck in the Westmorland Dales in Cumbria. It has re-opened to walkers
Nov 2020 – Blandford Forum, Dorset
The Pines Express, the bulletin of the Somerset & Dorset Trust, has reported on the opening to the public of the Blandford Arches. Kevin Mitchell writes: ‘The Blandford Arches Railway Trust has carried out improvement work to the remains of Bridge 198 across the River Stour immediately south of (the site of) Blandford Forum station. […]
Nov 2020 – Aberchalder – North Laggan, Invernessshire
This is part of the North British former branch line from Spean Bridge to Fort Augustus and the 3½ mile section which can be walked, between Invergarry and Aberchalder, has recently been improved out of all recognition. The old railway runs alongside General Wade’s Military Road and the trail used to alternate between the two […]
October 2020 – Sandsend, North Yorkshire
Oct 2020 – Droxford, Hampshire
The fabulously restored Droxford Station on the Meon Valley line is advertised for sale for £1.6 million.
Oct 2020 – Lowdham, Nottinghamshire.
**UPDATED** Oct 2020 – Future of Railway Paths Ltd
Railway Paths is making new plans for the future and is interested in your views on who is best placed to look after ex-railway assets
Oct 2020 – Future of Railway Paths Ltd
Oct 20 – Queensbury Tunnel
Oct 2020 – Wendover – Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire
This perhaps does not meet the criteria for Vinter’s Gazetteer, but here is a trail with a difference: inspired by HS2 and running alongside a live railway. Greenways and Cycleroutes (G&C) have reported on a proposal to create the Misbourne Greenway, a path for walkers and cyclists alongside the Chiltern Line between Wendover and Great […]
Consultation on proposed changes to the Highway Code affecting walkers
Have your say in the government consultation clarifying pedestrian and cyclist priority. The consultation closes on 27th October
Oct 2020 – Catesby, Northamptonshire
According to a report in Rail magazine, the 1.7 mile-long Catesby Tunnel on the ex-Great Central route is to be opened to cyclists on Sundays, after the completion of the testing facility. It is expected the tunnel could be opened up in this way by next spring. (David White)
Oct 2020. Alnwick, Northumberland
Colin Davidson, an Alnwick resident since 1969, is behind a project to create a trail on the old railway from the Greensfield area of the town (roughly where new development ceases) to Mossy Ford on the B6341, the Alnwick-Rothbury road. The total length on the trackbed would be just over two miles, and the route would […]
Sep 2020 – Gedling, Nottinghamshire.
The former railway mineral line from Netherfield to Gedling Colliery (now Gedling Country Park) has been designated as a potential cycle and walking route in the local council’s development plan. Tracing further back, the line was part of the Great Northern Railway extension from Derby which takes a circular route around the north of Nottingham. […]