please empty your brain below
Not sure, but reckon permission to cross roads going to be a tricky. Trying to think of other "narrow gauge railways" that cross public highways. In London...none? Only one that comes to mind in "Home Counties" is in Leighton Buzzard...not sure if still operating though but recall the tracks crossing the road.

Ed | 28.04.14 - 1:18 a.m. | #

yes Ed, Leighton Buzzard is still operating (and yes the tracks still cross the road) ... it's even on the itinerary for Hollywood stars
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-23082406

Caroline | 28.04.14 - 3:53 a.m. | #

Trains again? Good god.

Fortunately, this is your blog and you can write what you like. I don't feel obligated to read it. Didn't today but understand the nature of the topic you wrote on.

I'll come back another day. (Probably tomorrow when it's all going to be about the new Pudding Mill Lane station, oh ...)

geofftech | Homepage | 28.04.14 - 7:03 a.m. | #

I joined the volunteer team at Kempton Steam Museum a couple of months ago, after I went along on a Tuesday to see the pair of Mercury arc rectifiers that they now have working. (They were salvaged from the Royal Opera House in Convent Garden). As of yet I have not been back to do any work as just after joining I left the country for a few weeks.
Apparently when the steam museum acquired the building it was in very poor condition, and was flooded with water to a depth of several feet inside.

Readers should be aware that it is quite a long walk from the nearest bus stop to the museum.

John | 28.04.14 - 7:21 a.m. | #

It is not as far as you think from the bus stop. The 290 stops on Country Way (opposite Park Road), from where you can walk along said Way and onto a cycle path, which has a gate (locked when the museum is) onto a footpath underneath the elevated road, access to the museum. The walk is approximately four minutes. Obviously the Geezer knows this.

The Wolf | 28.04.14 - 9:08 a.m. | #

So, a Metropolitan Railway going around in a Circle. I feel a quiz question coming on.

Pedantic of Purley | 28.04.14 - 9:19 a.m. | #

I must have passed this many times, but I never knew that was there either

The Welsh Highland Railway recently opened an extension across the A497 in the middle of Portmadoc, so there is no reeason in principal why the A308 in Hampton shouldn't have a level crossing too. (It can't obstruct the traffic any more than the seemingly never-ending roadworks on that road)


However, I think it unlikely the railway would ever get that far, as the area to the south of the A308 is still an operational waterworks.

timbo | 28.04.14 - 11:20 a.m. | #

.....and looking at the map, that is the only road it would cross other than the A316 which is on stilts at that point.

timbo | 28.04.14 - 11:25 a.m. | #

It was absolutely brilliant to see the big engine at Kempton being started up. I always thought starting a triple-expansion engine couldn't be as simple as the computer graphics you always see suggest. And in real life you can see it isn't.

martxw | 28.04.14 - 12:50 p.m. | #

The Wolf,Thanks for the short cut tip. I walked from the bus along roads, past the milk dairy, I thought there might be an easier route.

John | 28.04.14 - 4:34 p.m. | #

"Trying to think of other "narrow gauge railways that cross public highways."
There was of course James May's courageous attempt to re-open the Bideford to Barnstaple route as an electrified (12v) narrow gauge (16.5mm) line. The line negotiated the level crossing at Instow by running within the flange groove.

timbo | 28.04.14 - 5:15 p.m. | #

I read your blog daily from the US.
Except when I'm in London. And on Sunday
I was at the Steam Museum..what are the odds?
I arrived on the 290 bus and crossed the horrific little traffic circle and followed the signs.. a longish walk. Returning, a kindly museum volunteer showed me the very well concealed entrance to a footpath that gets one to the traffic circle the 290 bus stop back to Twickenham.
So: how did you get there?

Neville Black | 28.04.14 - 5:25 p.m. | #

The 15" narrow gauge Bure Valley Railway (http://www.bvrw.co.uk/index.asp) runs along an 18 mile route and crosses a road (Belaugh Green Lane) at Belaugh Green - very exciting - just listen out for the loud hoot as it approaches and if driving or cycling, be prepared to stop quickly!

Happy Harry (in the UK) | 28.04.14 - 6:35 p.m. | #

Really interesting post today on a subject probably not on most readers' radars.

In reply to the first post, the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway crosses quite busy roads. Looking at the images here, I think I can make out what look like rails embedded in the road, in which case there would be "grandfather rights" to reinstate the level crossing.

John | 28.04.14 - 9:30 p.m. | #











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