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Following a recent meeting with local planning officials and the Environment Agency, the West Somerset Railway Association and West Somerset Railway PLC have confirmed that they are in preliminary discussions that may eventually see a significant boost to the plans for a triangle at Norton Fitzwarren.
A major track renewal programme on the Berks & Hants and Great Western Main lines over the next two years will see a High Output Ballast Cleaning (HOBC) train based at Fairwater Yard, Taunton. An HOBC will lift, clean and replace several hundred tons of ballast during a shift returning to its base to offload the spent ballast and uplift fresh supplies during the day. The West Somerset Railway has received an approach which may bring the HOBC onto the line, to offload spent ballast providing core fill for the new triangle banks and to re-build and re-profile the section of the Barnstaple branch as far as the Allerford Bridge. After screening, the material will also yield enough re-usable ballast of an acceptable quality to use under track work on the triangle and ‘Allerford Spur’. As a bonus there should even be enough quality ballast left over for relaying work elsewhere on the West Somerset Railway over the next few years. Remaining material will be used for resurfacing car parks and approach roads. The work would involve an element of screening and stockpiling on the WSRA site at Norton to prepare the delivered material for re-use on the WSR.
The whole operation, due to start in the Autumn and last for up to two years, could see the triangle constructed at no cost to the WSR. It would also significantly reduce the number of heavy vehicles required to access the Norton site to bring fill, a bonus not lost on Somerset Highways Department and Norton villagers.
The WSRA and WSR PLC met with local planners and the Environment Agency to reach an agreement in principle allowing work to proceed on the development of the detail of the ballast scheme. Preparation will also start to establish the working practices required for the successful operation of the HOBC on the West Somerset. The railway’s experience with the stone traffic several years ago and the professional and smooth way in which that operation ran was instrumental when considering the suitability of the WSR for the operation. The newly enhanced signalling due to be completed soon as part of the Silk Mills crossing work has also made planning the necessary paths and access considerably easier.
As part of the arrangement a quantity of redundant plain track may be available which could be used to lay the triangle itself, so in time providing space clear of the WSR main line connection. Humphrey Davies, Chairman of the West Somerset Railway Association was keen to temper his undoubted enthusiasm with a reminder the arrangements have yet to be finalised, “Once agreed this will be a truly good deal for all involved, including the West Somerset Railway, and the local residents.“ he said “We are grateful for the offer and are now working hard to develop the outline proposal into a working scheme allowing both parties to reach an acceptable deal.”
No further details are expected until that deal has been confirmed later in the spring.
West Somerset Railway Association and West Somerset Railway Plc
20 February 2006
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