potholing

Last winter's cold December - itself almost certainly a result of climate change influenced atmospheric anomalies - has resulted in a nother rash of potholes on our crumbling road network. And the cost to fix it? Up to ten billion pounds!

That's almost £200 per person in the UK, a ridiculous subsidy for a piece of infrastructure that is surely in its twilight years.

But I do appreciate that it is needed, despite this. A crumbling road network, a very strong indicator that Peak Energy is with us, is a costly thing to not repair as well. Cars can travel more slowly but let's be realistic, the real damage is caused by our dinosaur lorries. That's why the ten billion would be much better spent on expanding the rail network so it can start taking the freight traffic. This will protect the roads for the few more years they have left. This is quite clearly a case of throwing good money after bad.

It won't be the end of oil that finishes the car culture, but the impossibility of maintaining the road network. Remember that road surfacing itself uses large amounts oif oil. Rail doesn't have this problem!



s&d modelling - chris nevard style!

Chris Nevard is well known as an S&D supporter but he is also an accomplished modeller (S&D of course!) To see what can be achieved with the right mix of skill, time and inspiring prototype please see here!

ostriches, dinosaurs or just plain mad?

 (Photo Swaythling 1965 copyright Rail Thing)

A magnificent piece of daftness (via the EU) in yesterday's Telegraph (thanks to Anna and Debs for finding this).

EU to ban cars from cities by 2050

Cars will be banned from London and all other cities across Europe under a draconian EU masterplan to cut CO2 emissions by 60 per cent over the next 40 years.


Top of the EU's list to cut climate change emissions is a target of 'zero' for the number of petrol and diesel-driven cars and lorries in the EU's future cities.

The European Commission on Monday unveiled a "single European transport area" aimed at enforcing "a profound shift in transport patterns for passengers" by 2050.


The plan also envisages an end to cheap holiday flights from Britain to southern Europe with a target that over 50 per cent of all journeys above 186 miles should be by rail.


Top of the EU's list to cut climate change emissions is a target of "zero" for the number of petrol and diesel-driven cars and lorries in the EU's future cities.


Siim Kallas, the EU transport commission, insisted that Brussels directives and new taxation of fuel would be used to force people out of their cars and onto "alternative" means of transport.


"That means no more conventionally fuelled cars in our city centres," he said. "Action will follow, legislation, real action to change behaviour."


The Association of British Drivers rejected the proposal to ban cars as economically disastrous and as a "crazy" restriction on mobility.


"I suggest that he goes and finds himself a space in the local mental asylum," said Hugh Bladon, a spokesman for the BDA.


"If he wants to bring everywhere to a grinding halt and to plunge us into a new dark age, he is on the right track. We have to keep things moving. The man is off his rocker."

Mr Kallas has denied that the EU plan to cut car use by half over the next 20 years, before a total ban in 2050, will limit personal mobility or reduce Europe's economic competitiveness.


"Curbing mobility is not an option, neither is business as usual. We can break the transport system's dependence on oil without sacrificing its efficiency and compromising mobility. It can be win-win," he claimed.


Christopher Monckton, Ukip's transport spokesman said: "The EU must be living in an alternate reality, where they can spend trillions and ban people from their cars.


This extraordinary article opens several tins of worms!

What sort of idiot seriously believes that in 39 years time there will still be any petrol or diesel powered cars? We will be well down the depletion side of the Peak Oil bell curve by then with conventional (and in my view all) cars just a distant memory. What on earth is the EU doing wasting time on forecasting that far ahead, particularly without any reference to the realities of energy-depleted Europe? And why do the spokesmen make even bigger fools of themselves by engaging with this Dan Dare nonsense?

If this is the level of intellectual and factual input employed by EU decision makers then they are more decadent and irrelevant than even I thought!

Go back to your silver space suits, food in a tube, individual jet pack and colonies on Mars fantasies boys and girls. Out here in the real world we'll get on with real planning for a real future and get the railways back before it's too late!

midford monday

Overall shot looking south.

Remains of the up signal still in position just beyond the north end of the platform.

Two general views showing how much clearance has taken place since September.


A really nice trip yesterday up to Midford to meet one of the Midsomer Norton workers. It was his first visit to Midford in 45 years - his last trip was when the line was still running!

We had a meal in the Hope and Anchor which is poised to benefit enormously from the revival of the station and the eventual restoration of the line which will mean that their customers will still be able to enjoy the excellent food even after the end of road traffic!

If you do visit Midford try to pop into the pub when you are there, and let them know you're visiting the station! The food is excellent!

two tunnels walk

Webmaster David Bailey went on the Two Tunnels Walk on Saturday and has uploaded an excellent album of photos (including plenty of Midford) to Picasa. The album can be accessed here.

the last closure?

31.8.1988 copyright Steve Sainsbury/Rail Thing

This is the other Tunbridge Wells station, on a route that used to link this part of Kent with many places in Sussex. It closed in 1985, possibly the last major rail closure in the UK. Most of the line has been reopened by the Spa Valley Railway, but the link to the network, at least at this end, still eludes them.

It was strange to see a large station decaying as recently as the 1980s. It was more of a scene from the 1960s.

The Spa Valley serves an excellent role as a heritage railway, and will probably do so for a decade or two to come. But really this route, and those others that linked in (such as the Eridge to Three Bridges route, the Uckfield-Lewes and the Cuckoo line to Hailsham and Polegate) will all need to be restored over the coming years. This was an extremely short-sighted closure, based merely on the cost of remodelling the junction at Tunbridge Wells Central when the main line to Hastings was electrified. It had little to do with maintaining a service to a rural part of England, and to my mind really was the last time that such dodgy reasoning was used to justify cutting into our essential rail infrastructure. There again who knew about Peak Oil back in 1985? Not me!

midford 20th march

(All pics Midford 20.3.2011 (© Tom Seale)

Tom's report to accompany the above pictures.

We spent the day clearing up and disposing of the last of the cut wood. The neighbour from Lynwood also cut down some of the smaller trees behind the fence, saves us a job. We also removed the brambles from the wall adjoining the pub carpark.

We saw the members of the two tunnels group, we are joining them on a route walk next Saturday, hopefully it'll provide an opportunity to plug the station project.

I was approached by the local Scout Leader who asked if some of his Scouts could do some clearing work. This would be done on Thursday evenings, naturally the kids would be supervised at all times. I told him I'd pass on his request, I am happy to co-ordinate (being an ex-leader myself).

easy tracklaying!

My afternoon involved laying a panel of track on my garden railway - the weather was too good not to do it! The line is only 7 1/4" gauge and just four track panels long (my previous garden was a lot larger!) but now it's complete I'm thinking about getting an electric loco charged via a solar panel. As always with me the line will serve a purpose helping to move stuff around the garden and giving it a focal point.

This took just an hour to do!

back to Midford

Sorry for pic - see reason below!

Me and Debs are going to Midford on Monday to meet an S&D supporter and have a meal at the Hope and Anchor. Expect stacks of new (appropriate!) photos on Monday evening!

two tunnels walk

(Excuse pic - still working with two computers and most of my pics are still on the old one!)

There's a Two Tunnels Walk tomorrow ending at Midford station.

Details are -

26 March · 10:00 - 13:00

Location

Starting from the Royal Oak / Bellotts Road, Lower Bristol Road.

A guided walk across the Two Tunnels route to Midford - around 4 miles, an opportunity to meet other supporters and Two Tunnels campaigners. On the way, a chance to see the work that's been done to Linear Park - and hopefully a close-up visit to Devonshire Tunnels 'Unburied' portal. Part 2 of the walk will be more strenuous - but we're looking for it to become a lot easier in a few months. We'll see Tucking Mill viaduct (from below) and be able to admire the clearance work that's been carried out by volunteers at the Midford station site beyond the southern end of the Two Tunnels route.

Buses back from Midford, hourly, eight minutes past the hour ...
Facebook group here.

odd views ...

This came into the comments section overnight. I usually have a bit of a dilemma with this sort of post as I'm aware that you lot can be quite forthright! But, for a troll, it is quite erudite, and it does give the opportunity of addressing points - or in most cases reiterating them, so I'm not going to look this gift horse in the mouth! I'll show it in full first, then look at each point raised.

Climate change is nothing new. The earths climate, like it's geography has, and always will be changing. But at least the loonie leftist 'warmists' have had to withdraw that idiotic idea and have conceeded that is no longer a fact.

The arch idiot who subscribed to that now defunct idea, is the Al Gore [who has lined his own pockets well from the false flag!]

Aside from that, oil is not about to run out anytime soon....according to PROVEN geological studies and test drillings, the U.S. is said to hold the largest UNTAPPED oil reserves on the planet including the middle east! Also, oil wells thought to have been previously pumped out and abandoned, have 'miraculously' filled again with oil! This is verifiable fact.

However, the middle east conflict is not, as many uninformed would believe, a purely spontaneous outburst. Of course, the wise [!] strategist will wish to use someone ELSE'S oil first, before using their own! Also, there is a strategy at play here by the NWO [new world order] whose aim is to destabilise all middle eastern countries in preparation for UN [united nazis] who are themselves owned by the nwo elite, to take over and control of government of oil producing nations and hence ALL oil output. This however, does NOT mean the ordinary 'joe' on the street will get cheaper oil! In fact, the aim is to keep oil at a regulated high price which gives nwo government the final say in just WHO can and cannot afford to drive personal transport. Bottom line, it's ALL about C O N T R O L of the 'masses' which is what nwo government is about. What relation does this have to this site?

Well, let's look at this whole issue in a slightly wider aspect than a group of well meaning people wishing to re instate a defunct railway....whether you [the reader] believe in the nwo [again, verifiable] or not, is your perogative. What I am saying is that you may choose to ignore what you may view as the larger issues , but the nwo aims will NOT ignore YOU. Like it or not, we ALL of us, rely on road transport, and oil: Our whole western civillisation is based around the use of and consumption of oil!

How are ANY transport systems going to run without oil? ALL machines, even steam locos, need a certain amount of grease, oil to be able to run! Much as the romantisism of railways is being played, fact is, people will always be reliant on personal transport to get them TO the train in first place! And I ask you: Are YOU prepared to do away with yo ur car RIGHT now, and rely on rail to get you where you need to be? You think fuel prices are high? Try rail fares for a few days! Truth is, people will NEVER return to using rail transport in the way they HAD to when I was young....those days are GONE. I am not saying rail doesn't have an important, indeed vital role to play in the movemnt of bulk freight in this day and age, but as prime 'people mover'? No, only for rare long distance travel do most ever use them, aside from regular commuter routes of course. Fact is, people like their privacy and comfort...can some of YOU people HONESTLY envisage getting to your preservation pastime WITHOUT a car? Without the tools you use to do the clearing? If your cars were taken away from you, I think membership of these projects would fall to ZERO!Not being a 'damp squib' just being real.

Here we go - this will be fun!!

Climate change is nothing new. The earths climate, like it's geography has, and always will be changing. But at least the loonie leftist 'warmists' have had to withdraw that idiotic idea and have conceeded that is no longer a fact.

First bear in mind that this is a private blog. I rarely mention climate change as it is not anywhere near as important as Peak Oil. However to bring in a political perspective here, as the writer does, is particularly ingenuous. True, the fact of climate change was originally propounded by people on the right, but it is now pretty much universally accepted. The main sceptics are either paid by oil companies or are on the far left, who in their idiocy think the whole world can live at the level of the average lower middle class family in the west - climate change rather stops this ambition dead in its tracks. It's therefore a POLITICAL point of view, rather than a scientific one.

#The arch idiot who subscribed to that now defunct idea, is the Al Gore [who has lined his own pockets well from the false flag!]

Al Gore is a multi millionaire goon, who has made a living from pushing a particularly unscientific view of global warming. We completely agree on this point!

However, the middle east conflict is not, as many uninformed would believe, a purely spontaneous outburst. Of course, the wise [!] strategist will wish to use someone ELSE'S oil first, before using their own! Also, there is a strategy at play here by the NWO [new world order] whose aim is to destabilise all middle eastern countries in preparation for UN [united nazis] who are themselves owned by the nwo elite, to take over and control of government of oil producing nations and hence ALL oil output. This however, does NOT mean the ordinary 'joe' on the street will get cheaper oil! In fact, the aim is to keep oil at a regulated high price which gives nwo government the final say in just WHO can and cannot afford to drive personal transport. Bottom line, it's ALL about C O N T R O L of the 'masses' which is what nwo government is about.

This is pure idiocy. When people start talking about a 'New World Order' you know they are spending hours alone on the internet reading fringe US sites that believe in conspiracy theories, UFOs, ghosts and all the other rubbish that fills our lives.

What relation does this have to this site?What relation does this have to this site?


None whatsoever. I am the world's biggest sceptic. My first degree is in economics, a very logical science.

Well, let's look at this whole issue in a slightly wider aspect than a group of well meaning people wishing to re instate a defunct railway....
The S&D is not 'defunct'. It is an essential piece of transport infrastructure with a fantastic future.

whether you [the reader] believe in the nwo [again, verifiable] or not, is your perogative. What I am saying is that you may choose to ignore what you may view as the larger issues , but the nwo aims will NOT ignore YOU. Like it or not, we ALL of us, rely on road transport, and oil: Our whole western civillisation is based around the use of and consumption of oil!Well, let's look at this whole issue in a slightly wider aspect than a group of well meaning people wishing to re instate a defunct railway....


Idiocy. The NWO is an invention by fools, and don't frighten me any more than Casper the Friendly Ghost. It's nonsense.

How are ANY transport systems going to run without oil? ALL machines, even steam locos, need a certain amount of grease, oil to be able to run!
So you believe ALL oil will vanish?? Of course it won't, there will be some extremely expensive oil available, for specialist uses. Rail will be a priority hence will get the oil.

Much as the romantisism of railways is being played, fact is, people will always be reliant on personal transport to get them TO the train in first place!

What the fuck has romanticism got to do with anything? We are talking about transport, an essential thing we all need. Personal transport includes foot, cycle and horse. The workers at Midford currently arrive on foot or by bus. Many of the workers at Midsomer Norton and Shillingstone live within walking distance of the stations.

And I ask you: Are YOU prepared to do away with yo ur car RIGHT now, and rely on rail to get you where you need to be? You think fuel prices are high? Try rail fares for a few days!And I ask you: Are YOU prepared to do away with yo ur car RIGHT now, and rely on rail to get you where you need to be? You think fuel prices are high?Much as the romantisism of railways is being played, fact is, people will always be reliant on personal transport to get them TO the train in first place!Like it or not, we ALL of us, rely on road transport, and oil: Our whole western civillisation is based around the use of and consumption of oil!How are ANY transport systems going to run without oil? ALL machines, even steam locos, need a certain amount of grease, oil to be able to run!whether you [the reader] believe in the nwo [again, verifiable] or not, is your perogative. What I am saying is that you may choose to ignore what you may view as the larger issues , but the nwo aims will NOT ignore YOU.

Why would I need to do away with my car NOW? I am well off and expect to be able to continue to use my car until diesel reaches around £5 a litre. And fuel prices aren't high, they are very low. But not for much longer.

 Truth is, people will NEVER return to using rail transport in the way they HAD to when I was young....those days are GONE. I am not saying rail doesn't have an important, indeed vital role to play in the movemnt of bulk freight in this day and age, but as prime 'people mover'? No, only for rare long distance travel do most ever use them, aside from regular commuter routes of course. Fact is, people like their privacy and comfort...can some of YOU people HONESTLY envisage getting to your preservation pastime WITHOUT a car?

Try rail fares for a few days! Truth is, people will NEVER return to using rail transport in the way they HAD to when I was young....those days are GONE. ]

As fewer and fewer people can afford to run cars more and more will use the trains, walk or cycle. It is already happening. More people usethe trains now than when you were young anyway, so your point is invalid.

I am not saying rail doesn't have an important, indeed vital role to play in the movemnt of bulk freight in this day and age, but as prime 'people mover'? No, only for rare long distance travel do most ever use them, aside from regular commuter routes of course.

It will become the prime mover for exactly the reasons outlined above. It is price that will force people and freight onto rail, not romanticism!

Fact is, people like their privacy and comfort...can some of YOU people HONESTLY envisage getting to your preservation pastime WITHOUT a car?

Not sure who you are addressing this to. The New S&D is not about preservationism - this blog has stated many times that that particular hobby is in its dying years. I can get to all places I need to without my car, as can (and do) many of my readers.

Without the tools you use to do the clearing?

Why would tools 'vanish?' The railways were built in the main without power tools, we'll simply go back to using less energy-intensive tools. No big deal.

If your cars were taken away from you, I think membership of these projects would fall to ZERO!Not being a 'damp squib' just being real.

You are not being real at all. You have a (very odd) agenda, encompassing climate change scepticism and a childish belief in a 'New World Order'. You have an enormous amount to take on board over the next few years. You've made a start by reading this blog - there may be hope for you yet !


I've probably been a little self-indulgent here - my energies should be directed at getting the S&D back, not arguing invalid fantasy points with people that are dooming themselves to a very bleak future because it won't match their requirements. All I ask is that we all drop the agendas and wishful thinking, look at verifiable (and credited) scientific FACTS, perhaps learn a little economics and geology and stop WISHING for things that aren't going to happen.

I promise I won't engage again. Climate Change and Peak Oil are just simple facts that we are all going to have to deal with in the future, every day. Our lives are going to change dramatically as the end of cheap energy hits us. Restoring the S&D is our little part in ensuring that some degree of civilization continues into the future. It is decadent and indulgent to argue what we know is true. The old oil world left a lot of people feeling alienated and powerless, like our poster, but it also gave them the time and the money to bang on about stuff that simply isn't true. There'll be no room for such sentiment and decadence in the energy-poor world, and I suspect that that is one of the better things that are going to come out of all this.

And why this particular poster? See my other main blog, THE WAR ON BULLSHIT, which I think explains it perfectly! The clue is in the blog name ...

help wanted

(Henstridge, late 1960s. © Steve Sainsbury Collection/Rail Thing)

The New S&D is trying to be two things at the same time - a champion of the classic S&D (up to 1966) and a champion of the future S&D (from 2009). This dual role will show itself as the line is built, with ultra modern sustainable transport (electric and steam) running along a line that reflects its origins - with infrastructure etc being in the classic S&D style.

Another place this dual role will become vital is on our website - with details and news of the new line but also with a huge historical archive of the route. Part of this is the really fun line description, where you can travel up and down the route station by station. But this section is still a little sparse in places. If you have photos of the line (taken at ANY time), details of the historical and/or current situation or memories of particular stations please send them to our webmaster David Bailey, who's done a fantastic job on the website.

out there ...

Nice to see the S&D popping up in the wider world - Colin Maggs is giving a talk on the line for 'Notes & Queries for Somerset and Dorset' at an event on 1 October. Colin's a very good speaker witha passion for the line - he's written several books on the subject. Hopefully he'll find room to mention the line's current revival and not only look at the historical perspective.

Enquiries for the talk can be made by email to smith_wellbridge@btinternet.com

apologies

We've had a big influx of new members over the last few weeks - and many of you won't have heard back from me yet with your membership cards, magazine etc. Please accept my apologies.

One reason for the hold up is that I'm switching computers and all the information has to be passed from one to the other. But the biggest hold up is that I can't transfer Right Lines over and preserve the format so I need to produce issue 3 before sending out memberships! This won't be the printed glossy planned - one of you needs to volunteer as an editor before that happens (apply at leysiner@aol.com!) - but a temporary issue, but it may take a week or two more.

The other problem is that, as many of you know, I'm diabetic, one of those unfortunate ones that needs a three monthly B12 shot, which I'll be having in a couple of hours' time. Problem is I'm so B12 depleted that anything but the most routine work is very hard to do, and it takes a day or two after the jab before everything settles, so please be patient!

midford 27 February 2011

(Photos © Tom Seale)

I'm at last in the process of switching from my clanking old Dell PC to a lovely new Vaio laptop, my eyesight's improving as I adapt to hayfever and I reckon it's time I start working through all the emails sent by so many of you to trigger blog posts!

This is from Tom Seale's report of activity at Midford on 27 February.

Dad and myself went down to Midford again today, the order of business was to get rid of some of the accumulated brushwood from the previous three visits. Unfortunately we were not able to burn all of it in one day, but we broke the back of it by a significant margin.

We spoke to the owner of Romain (one of the houses on the west bank), he commented that his view has much improved and he was in favour of what we are doing. He asked if we could clear the area below his house at some point, but there was no rush.

We also spoke to the owner of Lynwood (the guy who asked us to remove the trees above the station that were blocking his light), he was also very pleased and appreciative. He raised a concern about the very large trees on the East bank above his house, unfortunately felling those would require skills and expertise well in excess of ours (probably would need a tree surgeon), again to real rush as they've been there since the railway closed by the look of them.

Should be heading down again in three weeks time, this time to clear some of the leaf mulch of the platform before spring really takes a hold.

midford march

(All pics © Brian Clarke 8.3.2011)

Four evening shots showing the clearance at Midford. Everything is looking pretty sound after 45 years of disuse!

signalling the future

All pics © Dave Clark

The signalbox at Shillingstone has appeared with amazing speed - the whole site is progressing rapidly with talk of a one mile running line by 2016! Hopefully I'll get down there later in the year to see things for myself.

wanted

This has gone out to all SDRHT members but they have also asked me to put this on the blog so it reaches the widest possible audience. So if you're not already a member of the SDRHT down at Midsomer Norton if you do have any of these skills now is definitely the time to join!

These are interesting times at Midsomer Norton as we extend the railway towards Chilcompton but, as ever, we need more willing volunteers to achieve our ultimate aim.

We have been considering how best to move forward in the civil and mechanical engineering front and feel that the ideal solution is to set up a dedicated team comprising people who have either mechanical, electrical, or civil engineering skills who can work together in support of the Engineering Directors.

To that end, would you be willing to be part of that essential support team? If you have any of these skills, or the skills to make inventories, drawings or maps then

“Your Railway Needs You”

We seek those who could help us create a Register of the Trust Assets, that is, all plant, equipment, rolling stock, earthworks, culverts, drainage, trackwork, signaling, buildings and services.

The team would then take on responsibility for updating those records prompting/arranging routine inspections of those assets.

Amongst our members we are sure there are some excellent skills just waiting to be utilised and this could be your opportunity to apply them to the S&D. The result would be that you have played a significant role in ensuring that we expand the railway quicker and safely.

In the first instance, if you feel your skills could be useful to us, please contact me either by writing to me at the station address or emailing me at douglashill1@tiscali.co.uk by the 20th March if possible letting me know the area where you feel you can assist. I will then contact you on how we can best make use of your offer of assistance.

2016

I don't know how many of you have seen the article in the current Steam Railway - but it outlines a plan for a huge event on Sunday 6 March 2016. The idea is to have S&D engines in steam at all the S&D revived stations - Midsomer Norton, Shillingstone and Midford, hopefully also Spetisbury and who knows what other sites may be under restoration in five years' time?

The best thing about this is that it is drawing the S&D groups together, something we've pushed for since day one. This is the best news I've heard for a long time!