Whitby, Scarborough and Boulby

[PinzaC55]

I hope Mr Chadwick's views will be taken into account and set against the 1000+ jobs and 50% of the UK's Potash needs! I particularly liked the quote from one of the two comments "Who has decided that the moors should be pickled in aspic to serve only as a backdrop for Heartbeat? "
I suspect Mr Chadwick's favourite show in the 1970's was "The Good Life"

[60041]

I suspect that the National Park Authority cares as much about the economy of the North Yorkshire Moors as the Northumberland Park Authority did a few years ago.
We had a major issue here a few years ago when the MoD wanted to develop the Otterburn Training Area and the park authority objected on the usual grounds of noise, disruption, loss of amenity etc. etc. despite the MoD having an exemplary record of conservation having spent huge sums of money on maintaining the upland peat bogs and protecting archaelogical sites, and their being a major employer in the area. (They also run two fascinating target railways, but thats another story). Luckily common sense prevailed in the end.
As far as I can see it, Britain needs the potash, the area needs the jobs, the disruption will be relatively small and non permanent so whats the problem?
It is a shame that the thinking seems to be towards having a pipeline rather than using the railway, it would certainly have been a shot in the arm for the Esk Valley line if it could be used, however neither of the two proposed sites for the mine head are convenient for the railway.
Is it proposed that the pipeline runs all the way to Teeside? If so, it is longer than anything tried before and might not be practical; surely it would be better to run the pipeline to a point on the railway where a loading terminal could be built.

[Trafford Park]

I live fifty yards from the Stockport to Macclesfield line. There's three Pendolinos, two Voyagers and a local each way every hour plus the odd heavy freight . I hardly notice but I'd miss them if the line closed.

[60041]

I live fifty yards from the Stockport to Macclesfield line. There's three Pendolinos, two Voyagers and a local each way every hour plus the odd heavy freight . I hardly notice but I'd miss them if the line closed.

I live in a former station on the ECML, about 70 trains per day less than 20 feet from my living room window, most of the time we don't even hear them but we do notice when they don't run during engineering posessions and the silence is awful.

[Bryan]

On Monday 20th Feb York Area Groups regular monthly meeting will be featuring a talk on Boulby Mine by Neil Rowley.
Although primarily about the existing mine at Boulby we are led to believe that he will add in what he knows about the proposals for developments in the area.

Details on the meeting location can be found at http://www.yorkareagroup.co.uk/?page_id=157
Venue at New Earswick Sports and Social club open from 19.15.

[PinzaC55]

Just to revive this thread, it seems as though Network Rail seems to think the line needs stronger bridges. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-yo ... e-18252107 I wonder why?

[sawdust]

Just to revive this thread, it seems as though Network Rail seems to think the line needs stronger bridges. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-yo ... e-18252107 I wonder why?

Quite simply, as with bridge 30 on the NYMR they are life expired. In fact they are going to be replaced in exactly the same way as bridge 30.

Sawdust.

[Bryan]

Just to revive this thread, it seems as though Network Rail seems to think the line needs stronger bridges. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-yo ... e-18252107 I wonder why?

Probably due to the requirement to meet standards.
Same reason for new overbridges / structures having to be built to cater for any possible electrification and gauge enhancement.

[mr B]

not bad for a line that dont pay its way. Then they close it for the bank holiday weekend , instead of marketing it !

mr B

[PinzaC55]

Latest news is that the mine could provide 50 years worth of production http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/busines ... w/?ref=rss
That works out at 13.8 million tons a year

[cambois]

That has got to be about 30 big loadedtrains a day (plus 30 empties)- I suspect that is too much for rail to cope with and the conveyer/pipeline solution will be examined. It is said to be globally important so export through Teesport is quite probable, but it might result in more coal imports as bulk carriers could get reloaded - so the potetial for more import coal??

[YNMR]

I understand that the pipeline is the most likely option rather than rail

[PinzaC55]

We don't know what the eventual solution will be so why not wait and see? I've given up arguing for rail as a solution though it still my opinion and hope.

[52D]

Im of the same frame of mind as Pinza above Potash has to be taken by rail and also timber from Kielder up the Waverley.

[seacoaler]

Their is also the by product rock salt to be got away , masses of it , many of the 'potash' trains rumbling through Cleveland from Boulby are in fact carrying rock salt for gritting roads. I'm sure with an existing railway connected to a major port being so close by they must be considering a rail head even if it only carries a small proportion of product.