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Post Office Railway - mothballed?
Michael Portillo rode the Post Office Railway during one of his recent
Great British Railway Journeys Series 3 programmes. It was described as a 'secret miniature railway under London.' However it closed in the mid-2000s. So is it mothballed and kept in working orderf in case it is needed again? Moot point. CJB. |
Post Office Railway - mothballed?
"CJB" wrote in message
Michael Portillo rode the Post Office Railway during one of his recent Great British Railway Journeys Series 3 programmes. It was described as a 'secret miniature railway under London.' However it closed in the mid-2000s. So is it mothballed and kept in working orderf in case it is needed again? Moot point. CJB. I think Crossrail will kill it off for good. |
Post Office Railway - mothballed?
On Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:27:55 -0000
"Recliner" wrote: "CJB" wrote in message Michael Portillo rode the Post Office Railway during one of his recent Great British Railway Journeys Series 3 programmes. It was described as a 'secret miniature railway under London.' However it closed in the mid-2000s. So is it mothballed and kept in working orderf in case it is needed again? Moot point. CJB. I think Crossrail will kill it off for good. Will it breech the tunnels? B2003 |
Post Office Railway - mothballed?
Will it breech the tunnels? There was certainly a comment a few years ago that crossrail would be a lot more expensive if it didnt breach the tunnels . Presumably they are going ahead with the version that does. My understanding was that the main reason it closed was because the facilities served by many of the "stations" were no longer used. |
Post Office Railway - mothballed?
On Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:25:32 -0800 (PST), CJB
wrote: Michael Portillo rode the Post Office Railway during one of his recent Great British Railway Journeys Series 3 programmes. It was described as a 'secret miniature railway under London.' However it closed in the mid-2000s. So is it mothballed and kept in working orderf in case it is needed again? Moot point. CJB. Before closure, it was open to organised visits. Fascinating system. Guy Gorton |
Post Office Railway - mothballed?
In message , at 17:29:26 on
Wed, 25 Jan 2012, Paul Rigg remarked: There was certainly a comment a few years ago that crossrail would be a lot more expensive if it didnt breach the tunnels . Presumably they are going ahead with the version that does. I'm sure I've seen some plans which either confirm or deny a breach in the Farringdon (Mt Pleasant) area. But I can't find them currently. My understanding was that the main reason it closed was because the facilities served by many of the "stations" were no longer used. The Royal Mail changed their whole distribution strategy to out-of-town depots. -- Roland Perry |
Post Office Railway - mothballed?
"Recliner" wrote in message
... I think Crossrail will kill it off for good. I believe Crossrail was designed to avoid it - you can see the separate route of the 'Mail Rail' tunnels on various Crossrail drawings I've got downloaded. Paul |
Post Office Railway - mothballed?
On 25/01/2012 17:43, Guy Gorton wrote:
On Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:25:32 -0800 (PST), wrote: Michael Portillo rode the Post Office Railway during one of his recent Great British Railway Journeys Series 3 programmes. It was described as a 'secret miniature railway under London.' However it closed in the mid-2000s. So is it mothballed and kept in working orderf in case it is needed again? Moot point. CJB. Before closure, it was open to organised visits. Fascinating system. After closure it was open to some clandestine visitors... http://www.silentuk.com/?p=2792 -- Phil Cook |
Post Office Railway - mothballed?
On Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:46:56 +0000, Roland Perry
wrote: In message , at 17:29:26 on Wed, 25 Jan 2012, Paul Rigg remarked: There was certainly a comment a few years ago that crossrail would be a lot more expensive if it didnt breach the tunnels . Presumably they are going ahead with the version that does. I'm sure I've seen some plans which either confirm or deny a breach in the Farringdon (Mt Pleasant) area. But I can't find them currently. My understanding was that the main reason it closed was because the facilities served by many of the "stations" were no longer used. The Royal Mail changed their whole distribution strategy to out-of-town depots. .. e.g. the big shed in Willesden yard. |
Post Office Railway - mothballed?
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Post Office Railway - mothballed?
As far as im aware current plans for Crossrail dont involve breaching
it - there was talk of using it for spoil removal but it was too expensive. Chris |
Post Office Railway - mothballed?
On Jan 25, 7:28*pm, Chris Sanderson wrote:
As far as im aware current plans for Crossrail dont involve breaching it - there was talk of using it for spoil removal but it was too expensive. This is exactly how I understand it now - not to be breached in the destructuve sense, but there had been planned some intrusion to use the tunnel for construction access but that has been dropped. -- Nick |
Post Office Railway - mothballed?
On Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:08:23 -0800 (PST)
D7666 wrote: On Jan 25, 7:28=A0pm, Chris Sanderson wrote: As far as im aware current plans for Crossrail dont involve breaching it - there was talk of using it for spoil removal but it was too expensive. This is exactly how I understand it now - not to be breached in the destructuve sense, but there had been planned some intrusion to use the tunnel for construction access but that has been dropped. Not surprising really. You'd have enough trouble just getting men with shovels down those tiny tunnels never mind any construction machinery. B2003 |
Post Office Railway - mothballed?
On Jan 25, 5:59*pm, Phil Cook wrote:
On 25/01/2012 17:43, Guy Gorton wrote: On Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:25:32 -0800 (PST), wrote: Michael Portillo rode the Post Office Railway during one of his recent Great British Railway Journeys Series 3 programmes. It was described as a 'secret miniature railway under London.' However it closed in the mid-2000s. So is it mothballed and kept in working orderf in case it is needed again? Moot point. CJB. Before closure, it was open to organised visits. *Fascinating system. After closure it was open to some clandestine visitors... http://www.silentuk.com/?p=2792 -- Phil Cook And more great pics here ... http://www.placehacking.co.uk/2011/0...don-mail-rail/ |
Post Office Railway - mothballed?
On Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:02:30 -0800 (PST), CJB wrote:
On Jan 25, 5:59*pm, Phil Cook wrote: On 25/01/2012 17:43, Guy Gorton wrote: On Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:25:32 -0800 (PST), wrote: Michael Portillo rode the Post Office Railway during one of his recent Great British Railway Journeys Series 3 programmes. It was described as a 'secret miniature railway under London.' However it closed in the mid-2000s. So is it mothballed and kept in working orderf in case it is needed again? Moot point. CJB. Before closure, it was open to organised visits. *Fascinating system. After closure it was open to some clandestine visitors... http://www.silentuk.com/?p=2792 -- Phil Cook And more great pics here ... http://www.placehacking.co.uk/2011/0...don-mail-rail/ It would be nice to use it for a narrow-gauge crossrail, with through trains between the Festiniog and the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch (OK, I know the gauges are different..). |
Post Office Railway - mothballed?
On Jan 26, 9:30*am, wrote:
You'd have enough trouble just getting men with shovels down those tiny tunnels never mind any construction machinery. The running tunnel is 9 ft diameter : the running tunnel between stations are all double track. 9 ft is a good deal larger that many site construction tunnel or even final tunnels e.g. sewer or water tunnels that have construction railways in them. -- Nick |
Post Office Railway - mothballed?
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Post Office Railway - mothballed?
On 26/01/2012 21:12, Arthur Figgis wrote:
On 26/01/2012 09:30, d wrote: On Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:08:23 -0800 (PST) wrote: On Jan 25, 7:28=A0pm, Chris wrote: As far as im aware current plans for Crossrail dont involve breaching it - there was talk of using it for spoil removal but it was too expensive. This is exactly how I understand it now - not to be breached in the destructuve sense, but there had been planned some intrusion to use the tunnel for construction access but that has been dropped. Not surprising really. You'd have enough trouble just getting men with shovels down those tiny tunnels never mind any construction machinery. Dwarfs are meant to be good at tunnelling. So, what is Mail Rail's ultimate fate, then? |
Post Office Railway - mothballed?
D7666 wrote:
On Jan 26, 9:30*am, wrote: You'd have enough trouble just getting men with shovels down those tiny tunnels never mind any construction machinery. The running tunnel is 9 ft diameter : the running tunnel between stations are all double track. 9 ft is a good deal larger that many site construction tunnel or even final tunnels e.g. sewer or water tunnels that have construction railways in them. The notorious heading through the railway embankment and under the Blockbuster store in Fallowfield, Greater Manchester to gain access to the cash machine was only about 1.3m x 1.3m. That's about 4' 4". No railway in that tunnel, though. ;-) |
Post Office Railway - mothballed?
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Post Office Railway - mothballed?
wrote So, what is Mail Rail's ultimate fate, then? It deserves a new use. The Tower Subway started off with a small cable car, then became a footway, which closed when Tower Bridge opened. It was then used for hydraulic power mains, and water mains were also put through it. After the London Hydraulic Power Company closed (in 1977) it was used for fibre optic cables. http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/s...ay/index.shtml Peter |
Post Office Railway - mothballed?
On Jan 26, 11:04*pm, "Peter Masson" wrote: wrote So, what is Mail Rail's ultimate fate, then? It deserves a new use. The Tower Subway started off with a small cable car, then became a footway, which closed when Tower Bridge opened. It was then used for hydraulic power mains, and water mains were also put through it. After the London Hydraulic Power Company closed (in 1977) it was used for fibre optic cables. http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/s...ay/index.shtml Could be used to help redistribute 'Boris bikes' to different docking stations around central London. (I only throw that in there for the potential amusement factor lest Bozza finds himself racking his brain for a new use for it, and coming up with that as his latest wheeze...) Otherwise, rubber dinghy rapids. |
Post Office Railway - mothballed?
"Peter Masson" wrote:
wrote So, what is Mail Rail's ultimate fate, then? It deserves a new use. A theme park. An extreme ride in Central London. |
Post Office Railway - mothballed?
On Jan 27, 12:24*am, wrote:
On Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:21:10 -0800 (PST), Mizter T wrote: On Jan 26, 11:04*pm, "Peter Masson" wrote: wrote So, what is Mail Rail's ultimate fate, then? It deserves a new use. Could be used to help redistribute 'Boris bikes' to different docking stations around central London. (I only throw that in there for the potential amusement factor lest Bozza finds himself racking his brain for a new use for it, and coming up with that as his latest wheeze...) Otherwise, rubber dinghy rapids. I was musing that an underground Draisine line could be a tourist attraction but hadn't the nerve to suggest it *but in company with dinghy rapids what the heck. For those who are unfamiliar with what a Draisine ishttp://www.bretagne35..com/uk/explore/sport-and-leisure/velo-rail-drai... features a French one,there are a few others abroad and considering the enthusiasm for old railways in Britain I find it surprising something similar has never been done. G.Harman The Kiwis are supposed to be setting up the same kind of thing on the Hamilton to/from Rotorua line. Also there is talk of doing the same on the Stratford to Tahora line. Not sure of the links though. Or even if the schemes got off the ground STS (so to speak). CJB |
Post Office Railway - mothballed?
It deserves a new use.
A linear art gallery. Remove one track. Display works of art. Use the other track for a dead slow moving viewing platform. Divide line into sections for various different genre accessed at exisitng stations not hard to do. -- Nick |
Post Office Railway - mothballed?
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Post Office Railway - mothballed?
On Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:52:47 +0000, Sam Wilson wrote:
In article , wrote: It would be nice to use it for a narrow-gauge crossrail, with through trains between the Festiniog and the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch (OK, I know the gauges are different..). Just thing of the fun to be had with gauge changing! Sam We should use stock with telescopic axles that can change gauge on the move, as in Spain. |
Post Office Railway - mothballed?
On 27/01/2012 00:24, wrote:
On Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:21:10 -0800 (PST), Mizter T wrote: On Jan 26, 11:04 pm, "Peter wrote: wrote So, what is Mail Rail's ultimate fate, then? It deserves a new use. Could be used to help redistribute 'Boris bikes' to different docking stations around central London. (I only throw that in there for the potential amusement factor lest Bozza finds himself racking his brain for a new use for it, and coming up with that as his latest wheeze...) Otherwise, rubber dinghy rapids. I was musing that an underground Draisine line could be a tourist attraction but hadn't the nerve to suggest it but in company with dinghy rapids what the heck. For those who are unfamiliar with what a Draisine is http://www.bretagne35.com/uk/explore...ons-patrimoine features a French one,there are a few others abroad and considering the enthusiasm for old railways in Britain I find it surprising something similar has never been done. G.Harman Yes, I think that I have seen pictures of one in Ontario, in Canada. That'd be cool to have that in Britain, but three words come to mind that will undoubtedly ruin the whole concept. Any guesses? |
Post Office Railway - mothballed?
On 27/01/2012 00:24, wrote:
On Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:21:10 -0800 (PST), Mizter T wrote: On Jan 26, 11:04 pm, "Peter wrote: wrote So, what is Mail Rail's ultimate fate, then? It deserves a new use. Could be used to help redistribute 'Boris bikes' to different docking stations around central London. (I only throw that in there for the potential amusement factor lest Bozza finds himself racking his brain for a new use for it, and coming up with that as his latest wheeze...) Otherwise, rubber dinghy rapids. I was musing that an underground Draisine line could be a tourist attraction but hadn't the nerve to suggest it but in company with dinghy rapids what the heck. For those who are unfamiliar with what a Draisine is http://www.bretagne35.com/uk/explore...ons-patrimoine features a French one,there are a few others abroad and considering the enthusiasm for old railways in Britain I find it surprising something similar has never been done. G.Harman When was the last time that the line was open to the public for an excursion? I assume that there is less than nothing like this in the offing at this time? |
Post Office Railway - mothballed?
wrote in message ... On Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:52:47 +0000, Sam Wilson wrote: In article , wrote: It would be nice to use it for a narrow-gauge crossrail, with through trains between the Festiniog and the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch (OK, I know the gauges are different..). Just thing of the fun to be had with gauge changing! Sam We should use stock with telescopic axles that can change gauge on the move, as in Spain. Nothing new about that. Done in the UK, in the 20's or 30's. __ Ian |
Post Office Railway - mothballed?
" wrote:
Yes, I think that I have seen pictures of one in Ontario, in Canada. That'd be cool to have that in Britain, but three words come to mind that will undoubtedly ruin the whole concept. Any guesses? H&S. ;-) |
Post Office Railway - mothballed?
On 27/01/2012 21:49, Bruce wrote:
wrote: Yes, I think that I have seen pictures of one in Ontario, in Canada. That'd be cool to have that in Britain, but three words come to mind that will undoubtedly ruin the whole concept. Any guesses? H&S. ;-) It's almost a given, isn't it? |
Post Office Railway - mothballed?
" wrote:
On 27/01/2012 21:49, Bruce wrote: wrote: Yes, I think that I have seen pictures of one in Ontario, in Canada. That'd be cool to have that in Britain, but three words come to mind that will undoubtedly ruin the whole concept. Any guesses? H&S. ;-) It's almost a given, isn't it? It is, and it's a shame, but you can imagine a very long list of reasons why that could not possibly be allowed to happen here. |
Post Office Railway - mothballed?
On 28/01/2012 04:41, Bruce wrote:
wrote: On 27/01/2012 21:49, Bruce wrote: wrote: Yes, I think that I have seen pictures of one in Ontario, in Canada. That'd be cool to have that in Britain, but three words come to mind that will undoubtedly ruin the whole concept. Any guesses? H&S. ;-) It's almost a given, isn't it? It is, and it's a shame, but you can imagine a very long list of reasons why that could not possibly be allowed to happen here. I'm sure I could. How much does that list need to correspond with reality in H&S' case, though, I wonder? |
Post Office Railway - mothballed?
" wrote:
On 28/01/2012 04:41, Bruce wrote: wrote: On 27/01/2012 21:49, Bruce wrote: wrote: Yes, I think that I have seen pictures of one in Ontario, in Canada. That'd be cool to have that in Britain, but three words come to mind that will undoubtedly ruin the whole concept. Any guesses? H&S. ;-) It's almost a given, isn't it? It is, and it's a shame, but you can imagine a very long list of reasons why that could not possibly be allowed to happen here. I'm sure I could. How much does that list need to correspond with reality in H&S' case, though, I wonder? It depends on whose definition of reality you adopt. The paranoid H&S people believe in their version of reality. I'm not sure I do. Some H&S intervention should be welcomed. The HSE people have worked wonders in the construction industry and have saved hundreds of lives. I would not want to turn the clock back to the 1970s. But it is in other areas that H&S appears to have gone mad, with the lamination of all risk of any kind seemingly their objective. Local authorities seem particularly badly afflicted, with schools being a particular bone of contention. |
Post Office Railway - mothballed?
|
Post Office Railway - mothballed?
wrote in message ... On Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:13:24 -0000, "Ian" wrote: between the Festiniog and the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch (OK, I know the gauges are different..). Just thing of the fun to be had with gauge changing! Sam We should use stock with telescopic axles that can change gauge on the move, as in Spain. Nothing new about that. Done in the UK, in the 20's or 30's. __ Ian Any details? Only UK example I can recall was the service between the Leeds and Bradford Tram networks where some cars could swap between std and 4ft Gauge. ISTR this was in the early 1900's and wasn't that reliable and the practice had stopped by WW1. G.Harman That's the one. (I was a bit out with the dates maybe....). http://www.mylearning.org/inventions...adford/p-2113/ |
Post Office Railway - mothballed?
On 28/01/2012 19:07, Bruce wrote:
wrote: On 28/01/2012 04:41, Bruce wrote: wrote: On 27/01/2012 21:49, Bruce wrote: wrote: Yes, I think that I have seen pictures of one in Ontario, in Canada. That'd be cool to have that in Britain, but three words come to mind that will undoubtedly ruin the whole concept. Any guesses? H&S. ;-) It's almost a given, isn't it? It is, and it's a shame, but you can imagine a very long list of reasons why that could not possibly be allowed to happen here. I'm sure I could. How much does that list need to correspond with reality in H&S' case, though, I wonder? It depends on whose definition of reality you adopt. The paranoid H&S people believe in their version of reality. I'm not sure I do. Some H&S intervention should be welcomed. The HSE people have worked wonders in the construction industry and have saved hundreds of lives. I would not want to turn the clock back to the 1970s. Completely agree. |
Post Office Railway - mothballed?
On Jan 27, 12:15*pm, CJB wrote:
On Jan 27, 12:24*am, wrote: On Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:21:10 -0800 (PST), Mizter T wrote: On Jan 26, 11:04*pm, "Peter Masson" wrote: wrote So, what is Mail Rail's ultimate fate, then? It deserves a new use. Could be used to help redistribute 'Boris bikes' to different docking stations around central London. (I only throw that in there for the potential amusement factor lest Bozza finds himself racking his brain for a new use for it, and coming up with that as his latest wheeze...) Otherwise, rubber dinghy rapids. I was musing that an underground Draisine line could be a tourist attraction but hadn't the nerve to suggest it *but in company with dinghy rapids what the heck. For those who are unfamiliar with what a Draisine ishttp://www.bretagne35.com/uk/explore/sport-and-leisure/velo-rail-drai... features a French one,there are a few others abroad and considering the enthusiasm for old railways in Britain I find it surprising something similar has never been done. G.Harman The Kiwis are supposed to be setting up the same kind of thing on the Hamilton to/from Rotorua line. Also there is talk of doing the same on the Stratford to Tahora line. Not sure of the links though. Or even if the schemes got off the ground STS (so to speak). CJB http://www.voxy.co.nz/lifestyle/rail...first/5/110281 http://railcruising.com/site/webpage...cruising-story |
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