tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8914276256646518799.post6328090290962180730..comments2023-07-10T14:18:09.980+01:00Comments on Extension Blog: Easter MondayJo http://www.blogger.com/profile/05480195769830116100noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8914276256646518799.post-19349954230661022282018-04-08T15:39:14.973+01:002018-04-08T15:39:14.973+01:00Perhaps, but no traffic to speak of. I would rath...Perhaps, but no traffic to speak of. I would rather walk to the village that way than use Station Road. Also the bridleway goes in the opposite direction in open countryside, a nice stroll for visitors.SWruralhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08194385100414263357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8914276256646518799.post-92021144903859499532018-04-06T22:52:05.147+01:002018-04-06T22:52:05.147+01:00Springfield Lane is rapidly losing the charm it us...Springfield Lane is rapidly losing the charm it used to have with “executive” houses springing up in any available gap/in place of demolished older houses. A real shame.Geoffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8914276256646518799.post-87980251045606029882018-04-05T22:07:12.596+01:002018-04-05T22:07:12.596+01:00Oh - thinking about the work going on at Cheltenha...Oh - thinking about the work going on at Cheltenham Spa station made me remember this. There's some GWR 'Spear Top' fencing at Cheltenham Spa alongside Platform 1 (and I think some on Platform 2). If this fencing is due to be replaced as part of the current work, it might be possible to salvage it.<br /><br />It's odd that GWR fencing should be found at a Midland Railway station, but as far as I know it was recycled from St James and/or Malvern Road, when those stations closed.<br /><br />Cheltenham Spa also had a fine selection of GWR seats, again recycled from other stations. All three variants: the monogram, roundel, and BR(W) versions. They all vanished in the 1980s. But the fencing is still there....Michael Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08386451061160258935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8914276256646518799.post-19893250301413681262018-04-05T21:33:51.987+01:002018-04-05T21:33:51.987+01:00The restoration of the line through Cheltenham has...The restoration of the line through Cheltenham has been on and off the agenda umpteen times over the years. I recall, back in the 1980s a 'Pre-feasibility' study was undertaken to see if the line could be incorporated into a 'Cotswold Metro' - a tram network covering the Cheltenham and Gloucester area, using both street running and railway alignments, similar to the trams in Manchester, Birmingham and Nottingham. <br /><br />The conclusion was that it was perfectly possible, and not even particularly expensive at the time - but it was still too costly to take the idea further.<br /><br />In the 1990s there was a 'Feasibility Study' (it took ten years to go from 'Pre-Feasibility' to 'Feasibility'!) into the same basic idea, which came to the same basic conclusion - although by now everything had got a lot more expensive, so nothing was done.<br /><br />Then in 2013 some major proposals were made to redevelop Cheltenham Spa station with new bay platforms for terminating trains that currently stable in the siding north of the station. These platforms were not on the Honeybourne line alignment, but more or less on the alignment of the old bay that used to exist up to the early 1960s for trains off the Andoversford line.<br /><br />There was some talk at the time about the possibility of reinstating the Honeybourne line north to meet the GWSR, to provide a direct route to CRC for race trains. This would have relieved congestion at Cheltenham Spa station, which is absolutely chaotic on race days as everyone transfers from trains to buses. It would also have given the GWSR a main line connection at little or no cost, of course!<br /><br />Unfortunately the plans were abandoned for the usual reason: nobody was prepared to put up the money. <br /><br />There was an 'economy' proposal, which would have linked CRC with Cheltenham Spa station using 'ultra light rail' (Parry People Movers or similar) which could presumably get over the Waitrose bridge, but I think this was never a realistic option. You could never handle race day crowds with a few light railcars - it's got to be proper trains.<br /><br />Here's a video which shows how that proposal would have looked (this version of the plan does not show any extensions of the line towards CRC):<br /><br />https://youtu.be/8p2M_nQl4Hc<br /><br />The latest stage of the saga is to extend the existing platforms at Cheltenham Spa (but not build any new ones) and add an upper deck to the car park. This work is happening now. It doesn't really solve the big issues, and the station will still be a bit cramped and awkward to use (and still utter chaos on race days). But the improvements do have the advantage of being relatively cheap.<br /><br />Here are the plans:<br /><br />https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/cheltenham-news/radical-changes-cheltenham-spa-station-559119<br /><br />It's ironic that the reason there was never a junction station at Lansdown was because the GWR and Midland Railway couldn't agree. In a way, that's the whole history of the station in a nutshell: the obvious good ideas never get done.<br /><br />However, there's always the next ten years. Perhaps somebody will do a 'Post-feasibility' study!Michael Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08386451061160258935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8914276256646518799.post-11930680524628233762018-04-04T22:24:58.734+01:002018-04-04T22:24:58.734+01:00IanJ
I suggested access to Springfield Lane as an...IanJ<br /><br />I suggested access to Springfield Lane as an alternative to Station Road a couple of years ago at an AGM but it fell on death ears. Unofficially it would also give foot access to the trackbed to Willersey which is clearly walked by locals. The path would only need to be open when the station is staffed so maintaining security of the site.IanJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14774926036065437370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8914276256646518799.post-68444547852016040152018-04-04T18:35:03.796+01:002018-04-04T18:35:03.796+01:00All academic, as the GWSR does not own the land no...All academic, as the GWSR does not own the land north of the fence line at Broadway and it does not own the track bed south of Swindon Lane Bridge near Hunting Butts Tunnel. The time to do this was in 1976, it's virtually impossible now. Councils have more important things to spend money on. Toddington Ted.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8914276256646518799.post-91337736743887374082018-04-04T18:11:18.135+01:002018-04-04T18:11:18.135+01:00As far as I know, at the moment it's an MPV wh...As far as I know, at the moment it's an MPV which just goes up and down as often as it can.<br />I expect everyone is testing things to see how they go, what the demand is , what people do in practice.<br />The village is perfectly walkable, it takes about 10 mins and most people seem to do this.Jo https://www.blogger.com/profile/05480195769830116100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8914276256646518799.post-6130448610949519692018-04-04T15:50:42.053+01:002018-04-04T15:50:42.053+01:00One thing I queried many moons ago, when Bill B wa...One thing I queried many moons ago, when Bill B was still doing the Broadway blog, which was about arranging a through footpath to join Springfield Lane to the centre of the village. The route is much more scenic than the rather modern urban ribbon development that is Station Road.<br /><br />Has anyone else suggested this. The path could follow the top of the eastern cutting.HowardGWRnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8914276256646518799.post-32459700260245559002018-04-04T11:01:52.810+01:002018-04-04T11:01:52.810+01:00Is there a timetable for the bus connectionsIs there a timetable for the bus connectionsMikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8914276256646518799.post-43470865234285300022018-04-03T22:07:37.361+01:002018-04-03T22:07:37.361+01:00It has been worth the wait, I used to live in the ...It has been worth the wait, I used to live in the second semi past the Station Garage and regularly walked my dog along the track bed imagining the sights,sounds and smells of the steam loco`s passing through and wishing for the day that our loco No. 2807 would be doing it. Unfortunately, I moved back to Lancashire and could not get down during March to see it arrive at Broadway on Friday the 30th. Your photo`s and updates have been a very adequate and excellent substitute. Thank you to everyone and keep up the good work.Stu Fnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8914276256646518799.post-23437224541271273782018-04-03T21:48:24.571+01:002018-04-03T21:48:24.571+01:00In fact the trackbed is pretty flat, there are no ...In fact the trackbed is pretty flat, there are no slipping embankments nor cuttings. The issue is the bridges.Jo https://www.blogger.com/profile/05480195769830116100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8914276256646518799.post-8546401515522143052018-04-03T21:21:34.554+01:002018-04-03T21:21:34.554+01:00*If* we decide another extension and a mainline co...*If* we decide another extension and a mainline connection is desirable, I'm absolutely with you Lee. Another thing that isn't often considered is the length of line to operate once it's opened. The extra t miles to Honeybourne would require significantly more rolling stock to operate at a reasonable frequency, whereas Cheltenham less so.Alexnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8914276256646518799.post-90891803309096668632018-04-03T21:18:20.658+01:002018-04-03T21:18:20.658+01:00Don't forget another handful of bridges in dre...Don't forget another handful of bridges in dreadful condition and however many thousand soil nails for the embankments and the millions of £ aasosicsted with it.Alexnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8914276256646518799.post-24997240269224506492018-04-03T20:25:23.704+01:002018-04-03T20:25:23.704+01:00I could make a plausible case for Cheltenham. Havi...I could make a plausible case for Cheltenham. Having walked the cycle path on the old alignment, for the most part I could see a single track line/footpath arrangement similar to what Avon Valley have could easily be accomodated. The two areas I think that would cause the most problems would be the footbridge where the road cuts across to the supermarket and the underpass further along at St George's Road. Now I know that there have been several similar underpasses here in Swindon that have been filled in in recent years because they were cracking up and couldn't be repaired, so there may be a case for replacing the ones at St George's Road at some point in the future anyway. And if the council could be persuaded to replace it with a proper bridge again you'd be clear to the High Street. After that, potentially you could link up to NR at Cheltenham (although you'd probably need to twist NR's and probably a couple of other people's arm to get through the car park) - I recall seeing an article last year about proposed bay platforms in the same place so why not have a through platform as well for GWSR and railtour use? And then after that if you linked up at Honeybourne as well, perhaps you could then offer NR a deal to act as a occasional diversionary route and earn extra revenue that way.Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8914276256646518799.post-26095135446724305732018-04-03T19:44:02.782+01:002018-04-03T19:44:02.782+01:00I was on the first train in on Friday behind 7820....I was on the first train in on Friday behind 7820. The whole day was a triumph for the railway - everything you provided was first-class, although I wish I could say the same for the Almighty. <br /><br />I needed exercise, so along with a lot of others I walked up to the village, had some excellent fish and chips and ambled back in a deluge. Nevertheless, it was a remarkable day, one of those 'I was there' moments not easily forgotten. Philip Pankhursthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05449146916595774000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8914276256646518799.post-66089896365555648632018-04-03T19:04:09.018+01:002018-04-03T19:04:09.018+01:00Jo, thank you again for your excellent photos and ...Jo, thank you again for your excellent photos and you really know how to set the scene.<br /><br />5 miles to Honeybourne, well that’s only:<br /><br />440 track panels<br />880 60’ lengths of new FB rail <br />12,320 concrete sleepers<br />24,640 pads<br />49,280 pandol clips<br />2 switches for a run round loop<br />1 timber frame platform and 1 pagoda shelter for Willersey Halt<br />To name just a few wants. <br />PaulKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08499643265058144113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8914276256646518799.post-47678061129957825372018-04-03T17:48:54.018+01:002018-04-03T17:48:54.018+01:00Honeybourne or Cheltenham? One will potentially be...Honeybourne or Cheltenham? One will potentially be very lucrative for the railway, the other maybe not so. Decisions, decisions.<br /><br />KCJAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8914276256646518799.post-46535678669417428262018-04-03T10:05:27.205+01:002018-04-03T10:05:27.205+01:00Your going to need crowd barriers for the gala ! ....Your going to need crowd barriers for the gala ! ... hopefully getting platform 2 operational to cope with the demand will be priority, along with the cafe... <br />a year or 2 of that, then I can see the fence coming down for an extension to willersey ;) cool.<br />Glad to see there’s going to be a bus to town.. I think that could turn out hugely popular, and even quite profitable... hopefully it’ll run all the time.<br />Mack. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8914276256646518799.post-8341365628438978542018-04-03T09:36:53.504+01:002018-04-03T09:36:53.504+01:00after years of watching you rebuild the whole stat...after years of watching you rebuild the whole station on the blog it was fantastic to run into the station on a train and see everyone's hard work come to fruition , well done all the different departments that have done a brilliant job of recreating Broadway station Honeybourne here we come .Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8914276256646518799.post-13727954562518679832018-04-02T23:00:28.143+01:002018-04-02T23:00:28.143+01:00I think it already is a track access point suitabl...I think it already is a track access point suitable for vehicles as well as people, but only those with lineside passes.Alexnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8914276256646518799.post-84786858504398737882018-04-02T19:52:48.433+01:002018-04-02T19:52:48.433+01:00Great photos as always Jo. Just a small idea for t...Great photos as always Jo. Just a small idea for the future, but as some of your excellent shots are coming from the point just beyond the road bridge - could it worth creating a small potential viewing point there? It probably would require steps up from the car park but could be an idea and could double up as an track access point for yourselves as well? I believe the Swanage Railway has a similar but much smaller effort just beyond the road bridge / opposite the loco shed at Swanage. <br /><br />Rich surfsuprichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04367413094227910658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8914276256646518799.post-8102858796045877222018-04-02T19:08:08.289+01:002018-04-02T19:08:08.289+01:00Great photos Jo. I especially like the one of Fore...Great photos Jo. I especially like the one of Foremarke Hall going over the road bridge. That IS a good advert that the railway's 'back in town'.<br />I see from the first picture that the wagons are back in residence on the head shunt.<br />Regards, Paul.St Blazey 1925https://www.blogger.com/profile/16697444840076235191noreply@blogger.com