[crossposted to uk.transport.london]
[apologies - I omitted to originally crosspost to utl]


Mizter T wrote:

"Steam between North Woolwich and Custom House..."
...at least so says the latest issue of the Railway Herald (issue 47).
Read on for a bit of light relief from all today's talk of soft-drink
bottle bombs on aeroplanes.

http://www.railwayherald.com/BackIssues/Issue47.pdf

See under "Heritage Line for East London" on page 2:

-----
Plans have been announced for a new heritage steam service in East
London, to connect with the North Woolwich Old Station Museum. The plan
provides a steam service on the North London Line between North
Woolwich and Custom House, which could be running by 2009. Full story
next issue.
-----

I've no particular wish to knock the Railway Herald, it's interesting
and it's free (and appears to be a labour of love for those involved),
but here it seems like they've been sold a duff story, perhaps by an
enthusiast trying to work up a head of steam around this issue
(groan!).

As far as I'm aware the project for a heritage railway at North
Woolwich that was mooted in the past is now pretty much dead. The North
Woolwich to Stratford section of the North London Line line will close
later this year, and the plan is that the DLR will take over the
trackbed from Stratford to Canning Town whilst Crossrail will use the
section from Custom House to North Woolwich [1].

Perhaps there are people trying to revive this plan who are working on
the assumption that Crossrail will never happen as nobody will ever
fancy paying for it. Given the history of Crossrail, it's fair enough
to be somewhat cynical about whether the poroject will get the green
light anytime soon. However nobody is talking about giving Crossrail
the definitive red light any time soon either, so the vacated trackbed
will be jealously safeguarded for future Crossrail use. Because of this
I can't imagine a steam railway on that section of the line would get
the OK - even if they gave assurances that they'd vacate the line if
Crossrail ever happens.

Does anyone else have further info on this 'plan', and on who seems to
be trying to blow the cobwebs off this long-dead aspitation for a steam
railway in the Docklands?


[1] See the route section of the Crossrail project page at
alwaystouchout for more info:
http://www.alwaystouchout.com/project/1#Benchmark