Plain writing = fact.
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| About the GHLR. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last modified August 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Italicised writing = fiction. Plain writing = fact. |
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| History of the Line. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The line was built in 1904 and ran to a fictional quarry in the west of Glastonbury, blue lias being the stone that was excavated for distribution around the country. To transport this stone from the quarry to the road and the workshops, a 2ft line was constructed along the 1000ft route to do this. Eventually the line was extended round Glastonbury to a second limestone face, and soon a passenger service was introduced to carry the people of Glastonbury around town, to the main station and to the Morlands and Baileys sites on the western outskirts. A short line was constructed coming off the main line to the Paradise Orchard from the BR station, which has been built on. A further third quarry carried blue lias from the quarry in Street. The section from the first quarry to the second site has been built on since the demise of the system in 1960, as has the section to Morlands. The main reason for the demise of the line was the exhaustion of the blue lias, which gave 85% of the company's revenue. All the line was ripped up and sold off. Now only the old trackbed from the workshops and the quarry to the old British Railways and some of the line to Paradise Orchard survive, and it is along these grounds that the modern Glastonbury Heights Light Railway has been reconstructed. It is hoped that the company will extend round to the eastern side towards the second quarry. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Today. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| At present the line runs from Slag Heap Sidings to Quarry Pit , totaling 43ft, or a scale 817 ft along the original line to the first quarry pit. A new extension to Tanyard East (Morlands), to topen in September, will bring the line to 1/4 mile long. Because of the trackbed being almost invisible the old waste stone that is where the line used to run had to be 'sculptured' to suit the track available and the route. There were so many sidings along the upper end of this stretch that the path of the old through line is inconclusive, so the line just follows a route near to the original line, making this route more interesting for visitors. The lower section from Rock Cutting to Slag Heap Sidings is near-true to where the line went. Slag Heap is as the upper section as there were many sidings here. To view the line in its present form click on the map to the left. Construction started on the present line began in September 2001, only being a long stretch of track with no points or loops and sidings. Since then, the line progressed from this to have two sidings at either end (March 2002), and the line as it is now as completed in May2004, with various layouts inbetween. The old branch line to Edmund Hill was re-built but ripped up when it became vandalised and derelict from underuse. Over the summer it was decided to extend onto the old viaduct across the level crossing at Quarry Pit. This required the sacrifice of the carriage shed sidings at Slag Heap Sidings and the small yard at Quarry Pit to make possible. This reduced the sidings at both to just stubs, able to hold only one wagon, but have since been re-built, along with a new carriage shed at Slag Heap Sidings.In Martch 2003, the loops at both stations were extended from 3ft (57ft) to 5ft (95ft) to allow longer trains to operate. The railway is now in regular operation, and improvements always underway to enhance its appearance and operation. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GHLR Layout 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Future. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Plenty of things are planned to occur over the coming months. A new extension to Tanyard East is due to be completed and opened before the end of the season, taking the running line to 1/4 of a mile. The fleet of rolling stock is to be expanded in the medium term with carriages, wagons as well as PW equipment. Tanyard East is to become the main locomnotive servicing area on the line, so sheds will be built. A small spur from Quarry Pit to the goods yard is planned, as well as freight facilities at Tanyard East, to allow freight train/shunting operations to occur. The grounded coach serving as a Ticket Office will be replaced at Slag Heap Sidings wiht a building, and a shelter will be provided at Quarry pit. A new steam locomotive is currently being delivered, and after that only one more diesel locomotive is planned in the short term. Work will then turn to introducing continuous brakes on all vehicles. Coal firing may also be on the medium-term adgenda. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Signalling information. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Links. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GHLR News. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pictures. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Site Map. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Locomotives. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rolling Stock. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Home. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||