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| Thorpe Park | |
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| Topic Started: 9 May 2008, 04:02 PM (874 Views) | |
| davidgwr | 9 May 2008, 04:02 PM Post #1 |
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I remember as a kid going to Thorpe Park and going on the Treasure Island ride which was a railway operated by a steam outline i/c loco. Also there used to be trailers running to the farm with tractors made up to look like traction engines and I seem to remember a tram there. Does anyone know what happened to these. |
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| P Scott | 9 May 2008, 08:05 PM Post #2 |
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Cleaner
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The 2ft Gauge Treasure Island Railway opened in Spring 1984 and ran until the end of the 1992 season. The coaches went on the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway - for use on the Lynbarn Railway at the Milky Way and then on to Woody Bay. There were two steam outline locomotives - one of which ran [or still runs] at the Milky Way. [Source of Information: Personal Records]. Peter S. |
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| robgolding96 | 18 Nov 2008, 07:32 PM Post #3 |
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Porter
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I was at Thorpe Park 2 weeks ago and the 'Canada Creek Railway' was still there, altho closed. The farm is no longer at Thorpe Park (being moved to Chessington). So the railway was made shorter. However the 2008 season the line hase been closed. Some of the track bed has been gravelled over for the construction of the new 'Saw' ride. I saw all the locos and carriages in the shed. There are 3 severn-lamb us style locos, and matching coaches. There is also the other (Alan Keef?) loco there from the original line. That was at the front of the shed, so i would think it was used to shunt the other locos. So its still working. The only was to view the line and stock was to take a ride on Loggers Leap. I saw piles of sleepers and some rail. Most of the track is still in situ, as it follows the loggers leap. You get a good view of the shed, but i didnt manage to get any photos. Im not sure whats going to happen to the ride. Thorpe Park has become the main park for extreme rides, and it seems Chessington is going back to its less white knuckle routes. I cant really see thorpe park needing a railway anymore. Prehaps a railway revival at chessington? Rob If anyones got any pictures then let us know! |
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| Timbo | 18 Nov 2008, 09:31 PM Post #4 |
Timbo
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It was reported last year that the railway was going to reopen on a shorter route. Confirmed reports from staff are here: http://www.southparks.org/index.php?showtopic=7989&st=150 I believe the s/o loco that was at the Lynbarn is still there as backup for Severn Lamb ex-Southport Pier's English Rose - but do ask over on the Exmoor NG forum to clarify. The L&BR no longer have the Milky Way line, it is run by the park owners. The Baguley that was also at Milky Way is now at the Groudle Glen. I don't know what happened to the second s/o loco from the 2ft line at Thorpe Park - I certainly remember there being two trains when I was a child, chugging out to the Pirate's Island and being squirted with water or as they called it, "the black spot". Info about the second loco would be appreciated. It's not the one that is now at the Devon Railway Centre via Stoke Park and Knebworth, is it? |
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Tim Dunn MRW Moderator www.bekonscot.com www.meteorite.co.uk | |
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| BenVincer | 18 Nov 2008, 09:43 PM Post #5 |
Fireman
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The railway is indeed reopening at the start of the 2009 season, with the shorter route slightly altered around the new rollercoaster 'Saw the Ride'. The tracklaying has just recommenced at the site I also think I heard it mentioned that it will be used to more extensive use during the Fright Night's that the park holds annually. Ben |
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Ben Vincer MRW Moderator www.bubblesrailways.co.uk | |
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| BenVincer | 19 Nov 2008, 10:04 PM Post #6 |
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Fireman
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http://sawtheride.com/blog/ Includes a picture of track re-laying underway on the site of Saw-The Ride (17th Nov) Ben |
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Ben Vincer MRW Moderator www.bubblesrailways.co.uk | |
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| colinpeake | 20 Nov 2008, 08:26 AM Post #7 |
MRW Digest Editor
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Tim, I believe the second s/o from the Treasure Island line is the 'Alan Keef' referered to in Rob's post. I certainly saw a picture of it outside the Canada Creek shed a few years ago, before the receent changes were made. It appears to have never left Thorpe Park... That picture on the blog is very odd, the diverging line appears to go into the rollercoaster dip...  Colin Edit - Spelling 
Edited by colinpeake, 20 Nov 2008, 11:21 AM.
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Colin Peake MRW Digest Editor Miniature Railways - Colin Peake's Photos | |
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| Timbo | 20 Nov 2008, 09:45 AM Post #8 |
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Timbo
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How very interesting. I will make enquiries offline. |
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Tim Dunn MRW Moderator www.bekonscot.com www.meteorite.co.uk | |
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| colinpeake | 20 Nov 2008, 11:20 AM Post #9 |
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MRW Digest Editor
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A further picture of the AK loco, taken early in 2006, appears on this page: http://www.thorpeparkmania.co.uk/page/archive_cs05 - there is also evidence that at this time the railway saw use to move some materials around the site, which is quite interesting for a theme park line. Colin |
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Colin Peake MRW Digest Editor Miniature Railways - Colin Peake's Photos | |
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| Timbo | 20 Nov 2008, 01:07 PM Post #10 |
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Timbo
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How very interesting; thank you Colin. To me, these push the boundaries of miniature vs narrow gauge to their very limit. Can a narrow gauge loco be rebuilt into a miniature loco? Is it a narrow gauge loco on what is actually a miniature railway? |
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Tim Dunn MRW Moderator www.bekonscot.com www.meteorite.co.uk | |
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| P Scott | 20 Nov 2008, 08:29 PM Post #11 |
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Cleaner
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Unusually for a large theme park, the railway shed is visible from outside the park. I noted on 16/2/08 (from outside): "Site open on & from 16/2/08. Restricted to certain rides only. Canada Creek area closed, ground work going on - trench dug near station. Railway (as visible) fully intact. Three locos in shed, with stock. "Ivor" (AK?) loco parked on running line near shed. Railway still listed on web site". Peter. |
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| mattscrutton | 11 Mar 2009, 11:50 PM Post #12 |
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this is true, I live next to Thorpe Park (or as near as dammit) and a couple of years ago was most surprised while walking round the boundary fence to find a loco shed with what appeared to be a steam loco outside it. It was on further inspection actually the Alan Keef loco. It looked well kept. |
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| BenVincer | 12 Mar 2009, 12:05 AM Post #13 |
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I'm guessing that that was the current Canada Creek locomotive shed (behind Logger's Leap)? Ben |
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Ben Vincer MRW Moderator www.bubblesrailways.co.uk | |
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| Timbo | 12 Mar 2009, 10:15 AM Post #14 |
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Timbo
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According to one of Merlin's employees, the Keef is still in use as an engineering works loco - and runs frequently.
Edited by Timbo, 12 Mar 2009, 10:17 AM.
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Tim Dunn MRW Moderator www.bekonscot.com www.meteorite.co.uk | |
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| BenVincer | 12 Mar 2009, 12:09 PM Post #15 |
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Fireman
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There was a picture on one of the Thorpe Park fansite's recently of it running, Project Dylan I think it may have been on, running with a few small wagons. Ben |
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Ben Vincer MRW Moderator www.bubblesrailways.co.uk | |
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