Radstock to Frome railway reopening

[whole diary]

[grahame]

So Bat & Ball is older than Sevenoaks on the main line?

Yes, Bat and Ball was originally terminus of the line from Swanley via Eynsford - London Chatham and Dover Railway, opened in 1862.    The South Eastern Railway originally branched off the London to Brighton line at Redhill and ran straight (almost literally) to Ashford via Tonbridge, then in 1868 the heavy engineered line from Orpington via Polhill tunnel, Sevenoaks and Sevenoaks tunnel was opened as a cutoff, and Sevenoaks (Tubs Hill) dates from then.

The two railway companies merged in 1899 to become the South Eastern and Chatham Railway.

[johnneyw]

Pity it couldn't extend to Midsomer Norton (S&D^▸ (Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway)) - it would increase the catchment area considerably.

Suspect our enlightened planners have judiciously obstructed the route.

OTC

The line is actually pretty much intact between Radstock and Midsomer Norton. Largely as footpath/cycle path. A couple of new road bridges would need to be built though.

[rogerw]

The line is actually pretty much intact between Radstock and Midsomer Norton. Largely as footpath/cycle path. A couple of new road bridges would need to be built though.
Not to mention a new level crossing which nowadays is very difficult to gain approval for

[grahame]

Not to mention a new level crossing which nowadays is very difficult to gain approval for

If new petrol and diesel cars are to be outlawed, should we start looking at shrinking the private transport network as public transport expands.   Close the crossing, or perhaps a level crossing but only for use under strict signalling by public service vehicles? 

[johnneyw]

Old pictures of Radstock show the line seeming to go under the road. Perhaps a cutting in Radstock centre with the road going straight over? Unlikely but you never know.

[Bmblbzzz]

Which bridges would need rebuilding?

[stuving]

Old pictures of Radstock show the line seeming to go under the road. Perhaps a cutting in Radstock centre with the road going straight over? Unlikely but you never know.

Which road? And which line, come to that - there were all those mine tramways around, too.

The centre of Radstock is a few metres below the land the railways come in on. So the lines naturally kept their height and the roads had to squeeze underneath (as at the market). Frome road was cut off leaving just a subway, and (as now) turned sharply to the north.

[johnneyw]

Which bridges would need rebuilding?

That was referring to the earlier discussion about the stretch between Midsomer Norton and Radstock were there are gaps both by the station and a little further east where the line crossed the road. At this stage the reopening of this stretch has not seriously been proposed though.

[johnneyw]

Old pictures of Radstock show the line seeming to go under the road. Perhaps a cutting in Radstock centre with the road going straight over? Unlikely but you never know.

Which road? And which line, come to that - there were all those mine tramways around, too.

The centre of Radstock is a few metres below the land the railways come in on. So the lines naturally kept their height and the roads had to squeeze underneath (as at the market). Frome road was cut off leaving just a subway, and (as now) turned sharply to the north.

Ah yes, my mistake. The roads went under the tracks. Not really practical now.

[bradshaw]

I always thought that Radstock had the S&D^▸ (Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway) and GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) lines crossing the road by level crossings, two within 50 yds.

[stuving]

I always thought that Radstock had the S&D^▸ (Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway) and GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) lines crossing the road by level crossings, two within 50 yds.

Going just by old OS^▸ (Ordnance Survey) maps, it's hard to be sure as they are neither clear nor consistent. Some show a bridge, some don't (which is all they ever show for a level crossing) and some mark "subway". I guess there was a level crossing to start with, and an attempt to provide access under the track(s) which never really had the width or headroom to be a proper road.

[bradshaw]

Looking at the maps on 'Know your Place" (http://www.kypwest.org.uk) it looks as though there are bridges under each line.
However R A Cooke's Track Layout diagrams Section 18 S&D^▸ (Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway) pages 7-9 show level crossings and Robin Athill's book (2nd edition) on the S&D (p94) comments that the Board of Trade ordered that a bridge be built, which the S&D ignored. They did build a subway which was wide enough for  a single vehicle, which regularly flooded but that was as far as they went.
In addition, the Cornwall Railway Society (http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/north--east-of-taunton--honiton.html) has pictures showing the crossings.

[grahame]

An announcement from the Trustees of the Radstock to Frome Railway Trust (via email and FaceBook groups)

Radstock to Frome Railway Trust News Bulletin

The Radstock to Frome Railway Trust Annual General Meeting was held on 27th January 2018 and all the motions were passed unanimously. The Trustees would like to express their thanks to the membership for their support and will keep in touch by issuing News Bulletins by email every few months.

We are waiving “official” renewal notices this year and having a “fallow” year for the reasons outlined in the annual report. Subscription reminders will be sent out late in 2017 for the year 2018.
 
However, anyone wishing to support the Trust by making a donation of £10.00 could send a cheque to the Secretary or by Pay Pal on the web site, where it will be gratefully received. Such a donation will provide evidence of the continued support for the project notwithstanding the convoluted negotiations required to gain the necessary permissions to run a regular service between Radstock and the main line. We will continue in our endeavours!