rincew1nd
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Junior Under-wizzard of quiz
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Post by rincew1nd on Mar 3, 2015 10:20:35 GMT
I've just come across this on Twitter. Interesting to note that the connection is used for more than just stock transfers. |
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Post by jetblast787 on Mar 3, 2015 23:06:34 GMT
Quite a brilliant idea, especially considering the difficulties of stabling engineering vehicles (with this you also save a space for a 92 stock to stay in its own bed), let alone the fact that Epping is the furthest distance from Ruislip on the entire network; by the time you get onto site you'll have to return!
I was looking at the map recently and was wondering whether the Ongar line could eventually reopen in the future? Ignoring issues of overcrowding during the peak in the east end (first westbound train at Stratford is nearly full in the mornings!!), surely opening it can bring up some housing around Ongar and North Weald in the vast space they have?
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Post by peterc on Mar 3, 2015 23:10:19 GMT
If the threatened housing on North Weald Airfield ever gets built then "something" will need to be done, but that is getting into a topic better placed further down the boards.
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Post by revupminster on Mar 4, 2015 7:07:10 GMT
If the intention is to use LU engineering trains then it would benefit the Ongar Line but their could be little reverse cooperation due to gauging issues.
As for housing, except for North Weald it is all green belt. Upminster has hardly changed since 1945 except for development by knocking a house or bungalow down and building flats because it is within the green belt. There is very little there that can be described as brown field. How Upminster depot got built in 1959 was a miracle involving a land swap between BR and LT.
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Post by norbitonflyer on Mar 4, 2015 11:50:23 GMT
If the intention is to use LU engineering trains then it would benefit the Ongar Line but their could be little reverse cooperation due to gauging issues.. The line was built by the Great Eastern Railway and carried main line stock until at least the 1960s. Clearly there were few or no gauging issues between Ongar and Epping. How far towards Leyton could you still get? |
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Post by stapler on Mar 4, 2015 14:18:58 GMT
The problem would be the various road bridges over the line built since 1970. I think (but others may confirm or deny) that LT would have specified only Tube clearances above the line.
Brilliant idea to build 000s of houses at Ongar, but where is the capacity on the Central Line to take them anywhere? How would people at Woodford ever get on a train?
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Post by whistlekiller2000 on Mar 4, 2015 14:35:12 GMT
The problem would be the various road bridges over the line built since 1970. I think (but others may confirm or deny) that LT would have specified only Tube clearances above the line. Brilliant idea to build 000s of houses at Ongar, but where is the capacity on the Central Line to take them anywhere? How would people at Woodford ever get on a train? A great many of the existing passengers from that part of the line already drive to Woodford to park up there and get a train rather than use their local stations. One look at the parking gridlock at Woodford each day gives the game away. |
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Post by norbitonflyer on Mar 4, 2015 16:03:53 GMT
The problem would be the various road bridges over the line built since 1970. Looking at them on Google Street View, I'm no sure they would be a problem. Certainly the M11 bridge that crosses the line near North Weald hasn't been a problem (I'm told there is actually room for a double track as well!) , so I doubt the M25 bridge south of Epping would be. The next modern overbridge is at Theydon Bois, which also looks ok. The station footbridge, however, might be a problem. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2015 18:26:48 GMT
The problem would be the various road bridges over the line built since 1970. Looking at them on Google Street View, I'm no sure they would be a problem. Certainly the M11 bridge that crosses the line near North Weald hasn't been a problem (I'm told there is actually room for a double track as well!) , so I doubt the M25 bridge south of Epping would be. The next modern overbridge is at Theydon Bois, which also looks ok. The station footbridge, however, might be a problem. If I remember correctly, the M25 bridge is only tube gauge but was built in such a way that the trackbed could be lowered. Could be wrong but I'm sure this info is out there somewhere as it used to be on the safeguarded route for Crossrail 2. |
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Post by stapler on Mar 5, 2015 14:43:13 GMT
What about the bridges connected with the A12 projects of the late 90s near Leytonstone?
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Post by jammers on Mar 7, 2015 22:01:09 GMT
The track was lowered under the M25 at North Weald after it was closed by LU.
Ongar is smack bang in the middle of Green Belt - what land was left over at Ongar Station from the good yards was long since built on with an Old People's Home and Retirement flats.
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Post by whistlekiller2000 on Mar 7, 2015 23:10:56 GMT
The track was lowered under the M25 at North Weald after it was closed by LU. Ongar is smack bang in the middle of Green Belt - what land was left over at Ongar Station from the good yards was long since built on with an Old People's Home and Retirement flats. I think you mean the M11. Epping to Ongar is outside the circumference of the M25. |
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metman
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Post by metman on Mar 8, 2015 9:57:41 GMT
I would suggest that if the Ongar line was ever to carry passengers again the stock used would be heritage stock provided by the EOR and would terminate at Epping in a separate platform with walkway to the central line platforms.
Are there any other railways that provide a public service? The Romney Hythe and Dimchurch comes to mind.
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Post by norbitonflyer on Mar 8, 2015 12:55:01 GMT
Are there any other railways that provide a public service? The Romney Hythe and Dimchurch comes to mind. I'm sure most heritage railways have some regular passengers - certainly the Watercress and Worth Valley lines have tried to provide services specifically for local residents, and I have used several lines as a means of getting to and from walks. |
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Post by John Tuthill on Mar 8, 2015 17:36:11 GMT
Are there any other railways that provide a public service? The Romney Hythe and Dimchurch comes to mind. I'm sure most heritage railways have some regular passengers - certainly the Watercress and Worth Valley lines have tried to provide services specifically for local residents, and I have used several lines as a means of getting to and from walks. It would be interesting to found out if the 'local' traffic has increased now that the Bluebell Line has a connection at East Grinstead. |
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metman
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Post by metman on Mar 8, 2015 19:23:42 GMT
Yes it would be nice to see Heritage railways operating for commuters and tourists/enthusiasts
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2015 21:20:43 GMT
I've been a volunteer at the EOR nearly 3 years, now a passed out Secondman and Shunter. I can say there are no plans to run a commuter service but it is something that a few people have wanted to do and it's certainly not impossible as far as I know once we get a platform at Epping.
Alot of people normally throw in the old red tape about "you need Central door locking" and "you need paid staff to guarentee a train to run for commuters". To be honest tourist attraction or train service we are still running trains that are carrying people. The signalling system has been designed so we can run trains without a signalman at all by locking out both signalboxes and the Thumper for example only needs a Driver and a Guard to operate. It's certainly not impossible to run a service between Ongar and Epping in the morning and evening for commuters I'd say we have enough keen traincrew staff to man the train if not, some of the existing paid staff we have all hold competencies to at least drive the trains on the line. So with abit more organisation there's no reason we couldn't, just no plans for it at the moment!
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Post by stapler on Mar 8, 2015 22:01:28 GMT
The demands of providing a service at times that local commuters would want it would probably be financially crippling -- eg trains at 0600 on a January Tuesday?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2015 1:33:59 GMT
The demands of providing a service at times that local commuters would want it would probably be financially crippling -- eg trains at 0600 on a January Tuesday? This is what I mean about it will take alot of organisation but the basic idea is not unfeasible. |
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