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New Railway; New Location for Mull & West Highland
Topic Started: 16 May 2011, 09:12 AM (3,236 Views)
Merlin
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At the agm of the ten and a quarter railway society on Saturday at Rudyard we presented the rminiature railway of the year award for 2010 to the Mull & West Highland Railway. A well deserved award for a long standing leading and reliable railway which is a part of its local community.

We were told that whilst the location cannot yet be released a new site has been found in Scotland on the mainland and its hoped to relocate. No more detail is able to be released yet.
This is very good news and I wish them every success and will obviously help in any way that I can.

Mike Hanson
Mike Hanson

Rudyard Lake Steam Railway, Nr. Leek in Staffordshire, ST13 8PF

Rudyard Lake Steam Railway website
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CoateWaterSam
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That is great news! I too wish them every success and I look forward to visiting the new line in the future.
Sam Maisey
Coate Water Miniature Railway
www.nwmes.co.uk
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johnkerr
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Yippee! At least we aren't losing a railway in Scotland! :D
John Kerr
Kerr's Miniature Railway, Arbroath
Kerr's Miniature Railway's Website

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Merlin
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Or a leading ten and a quarter one. I think its really great that a site was found in Scotland

Mike Hanson

Rudyard Lake Steam Railway, Nr. Leek in Staffordshire, ST13 8PF

Rudyard Lake Steam Railway website
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Merlin
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I've copied this onto this thread so that everone can see it.

The following Press Release has just been issued by Mull Rail to the Scottish media.

Phil

Mull Rail Press Release

Possible new location for award winning Mull Rail?

Mull Rail could become Loch Lomond Rail. Talks are underway with Scottish Enterprise over an exciting proposal to rebuild the railway at Balloch at the southern end of Loch Lomond.
The new line would link Balloch‘s mainline railway station with the steamer pier and the popular Loch Lomond Shores Visitor and Retail Destination..

The future of the railway on Mull has been uncertain since Torsay Castle was put up for sale.
Mull Rail director Nick Dodson said, “This is a really exciting opportunity. The proposed railway fulfils a real transport need and would give the equipment, engines and rolling stock a fresh lease of life.”
“We are shortly to embark on a formal feasibility study with Scottish Enterprise but meetings with them and extensive field work shows that the scheme could be extremely viable. We’ve already held meetings with Scottish Enterprise, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, West Dunbartonshire Council and the Loch Lomond Shores complex and the response was very encouraging.”

Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park has been identified as one of Scotland’s key tourism destination that will help to drive growth within the wider tourism industry. In collaboration with industry and other public sector organisations, Scottish Enterprise supports the development of these key destinations to ensure they provide the foundation for future, sustainable growth of Scottish tourism. This area recently benefitted from a new £3.5 million ‘’Surprise Yourself” VisitScotland advertising campaign.

Nearly half of the population of Scotland lives within a 90 minute drive of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park and Loch Lomond Shores and its attractions already bring in over a million visitors each year. A further boost is likely when the historic paddle steamer PS Maid of the Loch, the last paddle steamer to be built in Britain, hopefully returns to operation in 2013 after a 31 year restoration project.

The proposed line initially runs close to the alignment of the line from Balloch Central to Balloch Pier which closed in 1986. It will then continue onto the Loch Lomond Shores Visitor and Retail Destination and the complex’s extensive car parks.

Nick Dodson added, “We realise there is much work still to be done but the response we’ve had from our new partners in the scheme is most encouraging. Once formal agreements have been reached progress could be extremely rapid.”

Allan McQuade, director of business infrastructure at Scottish Enterprise said: “We are currently in discussion with Mull Railway regarding this very exciting opportunity to relocate the railway to Balloch and Loch Lomond Shores. This proposal could help fulfil much sought after transport links between Balloch Village and Loch Lomond Shores as well as serve as a tourist attraction. The project is subject to financial and technical feasibilities which we are now progressing with Mull Railway."

In the meantime Mull Rail will run on five days a week with a reduced service until the start of September. Details can be found on the railway’s website www.mullrail.co.uk. Recently Mull Rail was honoured by an award presented by the 10¼” Gauge Railway Society marking its “continuous service to the public since its opening in 1984.”
Mike Hanson

Rudyard Lake Steam Railway, Nr. Leek in Staffordshire, ST13 8PF

Rudyard Lake Steam Railway website
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Merlin
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One of our drivers has been fitted with the required Kilt prior to his spending August on Mull to help run the final seasons trains! I understand the midges can be fierce on Mull so a full health and safety risk assessment will be required.
The trains will run in August but the start date is not yet clear. Check the Mull website for the latest news
Mike Hanson

Rudyard Lake Steam Railway, Nr. Leek in Staffordshire, ST13 8PF

Rudyard Lake Steam Railway website
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P Scott
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Apparently, telephone callers to the railway are being told that no more trains will run. Is this correct? And if so, does that mean the last trains ever ran on Easter Monday, 25th April 2011?

Peter S.
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Merlin
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As I said one of our drivers is going up in August and i understand someone else is also going. Its possible that the person answering the phone is misinformed or perhaps. The person who was going to do it backed out and thats caused the delay.
Finding accomodation has been the problem. I'd still check before travelling. I'll try and get a definate starting date.
Mike Hanson

Rudyard Lake Steam Railway, Nr. Leek in Staffordshire, ST13 8PF

Rudyard Lake Steam Railway website
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P Scott
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Thanks, Mike. I know of a number of people who would like a last opportunity like to visit the railway.

Peter S.
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Merlin
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Thats bizarre. It will accept rubbish but not real info and I did not do anything different. So to try again for the 4th and final time.
Trains on Mull are planned from Sunday onwards for august and then that it. If anyone is making a trip and wants the latest info conatct me and I'll give you the number of Peter who is going up to drive.
Mike Hanson

Rudyard Lake Steam Railway, Nr. Leek in Staffordshire, ST13 8PF

Rudyard Lake Steam Railway website
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P Scott
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Thanks Mike, most useful. I will pass that on.

Peter S.
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Merlin
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Hopefully the final update.
Trains are planned to run Sundays to Thursdays and there may well be two trains running if the weather is decent. One steam & one diesel. On fridays and saturdays ( changeover days) it will be at local discretion wether to run so a call in advance would be wise on those days. The note on the website that says its running every day in august may turn out not to be correct.
Mike Hanson

Rudyard Lake Steam Railway, Nr. Leek in Staffordshire, ST13 8PF

Rudyard Lake Steam Railway website
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Merlin
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Just to confirm that the trains started running on Mull from this weekend. They will definately run Sun to Thursday and at local discretion on Fridays and Saturdays. If you go say hello to Peter from Rudyard and Dave from Bath who are running the trains. Two train running most days one steam one diesel
mike
Mike Hanson

Rudyard Lake Steam Railway, Nr. Leek in Staffordshire, ST13 8PF

Rudyard Lake Steam Railway website
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Merlin
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Today ( September 1st 2011) is the last day of train services on Mull with Victoria planned to do the honours.
We plan to collect Victoria next week ready for our steam gala at the weekend.
Mike Hanson

Rudyard Lake Steam Railway, Nr. Leek in Staffordshire, ST13 8PF

Rudyard Lake Steam Railway website
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johnkerr
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All sounds very exciting Mike, but how are you going to get across the brake problem as Victoria is vacuum and RLSR is air? Will you double head or what?

Thanks, John
John Kerr
Kerr's Miniature Railway, Arbroath
Kerr's Miniature Railway's Website

If you want a job done, do it yourself!...
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