Electric Railway Museum last day

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Electric Railway Museum to close

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/electricrailwaymuseum/
BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page): {here}
Discussion: https://www.wnxxforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=17394
Museum site: https://electricrailwaymuseum.co.uk

from 9th July

The Trustees & Volunteers have met today to discuss the future of the ERM site in the light of a recent meeting with Roxhill who are going to develop the land for commercial purposes.

We have reluctantly decided that we will close the Electric Railway Museum at its present location after the open day on OCTOBER 8th 2017.

We will be actively working with the railway heritage sector to ensure that vehicles and locomotives currently on the site are not endangered with a view in the longer term to establish a new site for the ERM.

We would like to thank you for your support over the past ten years and continuing support in the future as we work to relocate the collection.

If you can offer the ERM any help with this transition then please contact us.
Our remaining open days for 2017 will go ahead as planned on the following dates:
Sunday August 13th
Saturday & Sunday September 9th & 10th
Sunday October 8th

[Red Squirrel]

Hmm. What they need is a nice friendly base, maybe with a bit of running line.

From the Bluebell Railway's FAQ^▸ (Frequently Asked Questions):

Q: When will the railway extend Westwards? A: We own the track-bed from Horsted Keynes to Ardingly, but this is a project for maybe 10 years time. The signalling and trackwork at Horsted Keynes have been designed and laid to accommodate the junction when the time comes. Any such development is also subject to obtaining planning permission, meeting other statutary requirements, and funding being available. It is accepted that the Railway must put its energies into the maintenance and development of the existing infrastructure for some years to come, now that the extension to East Grinstead is completed, before turning our attention westwards. But plans are being formulated, our options are safeguarded, including work towards reinstating the missing viaduct using second-hand bridge sections, a route agreed around the edge of the aggregates terminal, and space set aside for a Bluebell platform at Haywards Heath, although access to it would have to be via the main line. Further details of our plans are in the Long Term Plan on the Society's web pages.

Q: Could the line to Ardingly be re-electrified? A: This is something we have not ruled out. However, it would be very expensive, so it would probably require outside financial assistance since such a project is not core to the Bluebell's operation. In addition, there are safety issues which would have to be addressed, and which it might be quite a challenge to resolve.

But 'Dum spiro spero', and even 'nulite te bastardes corborundorum'.

[grahame]

From an earlier discussion on another thead:

To quote the Bluebell Railway's long-term plan (http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/soc/ltp.html):

Ardingly Branch

Continue enabling works for the re-construction of the line from Horsted Keynes to Haywards Heath as finance and opportunities arise.

Maintain the drainage, fences, structures and trackbed to prevent further deterioration, and to perform an annual check of the boundary of our land, so as to prevent encroachment onto our land by third parties.

To encourage volunteer groups to maintain the trackside in a condition that will ease surveying, arrest deterioration, and help the eventual re-laying of the track.

Maintain a watching brief over proposed developments that might either compromise, or assist re-opening of the branch.

Might the developments at Coventry, unwelcome though they are, provide assistance in the form of a pool of volunteers and stock looking for a new home and probably motivated to make a phoenix rise from the ashes of the ERM.

[Electric train]

From an earlier discussion on another thead:

To quote the Bluebell Railway's long-term plan (http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/soc/ltp.html):

Ardingly Branch

Continue enabling works for the re-construction of the line from Horsted Keynes to Haywards Heath as finance and opportunities arise.

Maintain the drainage, fences, structures and trackbed to prevent further deterioration, and to perform an annual check of the boundary of our land, so as to prevent encroachment onto our land by third parties.

To encourage volunteer groups to maintain the trackside in a condition that will ease surveying, arrest deterioration, and help the eventual re-laying of the track.

Maintain a watching brief over proposed developments that might either compromise, or assist re-opening of the branch.

Might the developments at Coventry, unwelcome though they are, provide assistance in the form of a pool of volunteers and stock looking for a new home and probably motivated to make a phoenix rise from the ashes of the ERM.

The level of electrically qualified / competent volunteers required, the insurance not to mention the assurance that would have to be given to the ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) to operate an electrified railway makes it almost a non starter for a heritage railway

Energy cost would make it very expensive to operate and the switchgear, transformers etc are expensive

[onthecushions]

The task would be to operate heritage electric rolling stock - not the same as a full electric railway. Heritage railways operate at a maximum of 25mph, which does not need 750V/25kV and associated fault currents. The options are bi-mode, battery and/or low voltage supply, working at not much above shunting notch.

Electric drives are much more efficient than steam - the Spondon battery loco shunts for an average of 13 weekends before needing recharging with £15 of mains juice. No diesel or steam loco could approach that.

Coventry has a small group of supporters including competent people from the industry, including a retired CEO^▸ (Chief Executive Officer) as chair. Given the stability of a secure site, this would grow, as would the quality of its exhibits. The ERM/SERA^▸ (Standardised European Rules of the Air)'s potential excellence may be judged from its winning the HRA's small site prize in 2015? and its re-commissioning of the Victoria Line's signalling panel inside the empty 307 car.

There's a section on UK^▸ (United Kingdom) rail Forums which includes a crowdfunding site.

Fingers crossed,

OTC

[grahame]

There's a section on UK^▸ (United Kingdom) rail Forums which includes a crowdfunding site.

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=149908

[Red Squirrel]

The level of electrically qualified / competent volunteers required, the insurance not to mention the assurance that would have to be given to the ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) to operate an electrified railway makes it almost a non starter for a heritage railway

Energy cost would make it very expensive to operate and the switchgear, transformers etc are expensive

I think your 'almost' is a key word here, to be read in conjunction with the Bluebell's nicely understated 'quite a challenge'. The preservation movement has done so many near-impossible things that perhaps some of us get complacent about what can be achieved; however the Bluebell is perhaps better placed than most to draw on the level of expertise needed to make an electrified line a reality.

[Electric train]

The level of electrically qualified / competent volunteers required, the insurance not to mention the assurance that would have to be given to the ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) to operate an electrified railway makes it almost a non starter for a heritage railway

Energy cost would make it very expensive to operate and the switchgear, transformers etc are expensive

I think your 'almost' is a key word here, to be read in conjunction with the Bluebell's nicely understated 'quite a challenge'. The preservation movement has done so many near-impossible things that perhaps some of us get complacent about what can be achieved; however the Bluebell is perhaps better placed than most to draw on the level of expertise needed to make an electrified line a reality.

As a professional Railway Engineer I never underestimate the skill and determination of the heritage railway groups.  I know that the Bluebell has a number of electrification Engineers both retired and current amongst their numbers.  The hurdle to jump is the ORR demonstrating the safe management, control, maintenance and operation of the electrical system, public and staff safety 

[johnneyw]

I was saddened to hear that the Electric Railway Museum opened it's doors for the last time today due to the local authorities redeveloping the site. They have a petition on their website to help find them a new home. I never got a chance to visit, not least because I only recently heard about it.

[Chris from Nailsea]

I'm sorry that you apparently missed it, johnneyw, but we have had a topic on the Coffee Shop forum about this closure, since 14 July 2017.

I've therefore merged your post into that existing topic. 

[johnneyw]

Many thanks CfN.

[onthecushions]

There's lots of interesting moves going on out of Coventry, check out the ERM Facebook and other related groups' sites.

Also, a remarkable fundraising effort by the 4-SUB group.

https://www.facebook.com/electricrailwaymuseum/

https://www.facebook.com/4SUBunit/

https://www.facebook.com/tynesideunit/posts/1715550858538849

https://www.facebook.com/project300s/



OTC