Save the Melksham Train
Archived Save the Train forum articles - 2005 to 2010. See below
Call To Save Church Stretton Signal Box - 5426/9670
Written by Lee on Saturday, 26th January 2008

Campaigners are trying to save a railway signal box from demolition (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/shropshire/7210215.stm

Network Rail said the box was surplus to requirements and would be knocked down. It is believed the box, in Church Stretton, dates back to 1870.

But railway enthusiasts think it can be restored and become a tourist attraction and a place for the local model railway group to meet.



Re: Call To Save Church Stretton Signal Box - 5426/9686
Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Sunday, 27th January 2008

Church Stretton used to be a significant place in railway terms, at the end of the climb from Shrewsbury on the borders line heading south, as the line passed through a valley there between the Long Mynd on one side and hill that rose to the Wrekin on the other.  These days there's no need for trains to stop and take water or drop off banking locos, so it's "just" an intertmediate station - Shrewsbury to the north and Craven Arms to the South being much more significant in railway terms.

20 years back, I was part of a company with offices in Bristol and Church Stretton (and nowhere else!) and was up that way quite ofern!

 
link to index of articles


Save the Train was the campaign to bring an approriate train service back to and through Melksham.

Most big contributors are still around writing at the Coffee shop forum where new members are very welcome.

The train has been saved - sort of - we have stepped back up from an unusable service to a poorish one but it's doing very well. We did that through setting up the TransWilts Community Rail Partnership. That fulfilled its early objectives; it has been taken over by local and regional government types who are now doing medium and long term work. The team from this forun can also be found at the Melksham Rail User Group (which was the Melksham Rail Development Group at the time these articles were written and we had no users.

We mustn't loose sight, though, that the train service remains poor and needs our community support in marketing and campaigning to keep it going in a positive direction ... and all the more so when we're expecting to find a different normallity once we get out of the Coronavirus Pandemic and head for zero carbon via the climate crisis. Yes, it's saved ... it's now a key community facility ... the need for enhancement and the strong and near-universal local support remain, and the rail industry and goverment remain slow to move and provide the enhancements even to level us up with other towns. Please support the Melksham Rail User Group - now very much in partnership rather than protest with the rail industry and local government, including GWR, TransWilts and unitary and town councils. And please use the trains and buses, and cycle and walk when you can.

-- Graham Ellis, (webmaster), February 2021


This site is hosted by Well House Consultants Ltd. (http://www.wellho.net)
Contact Information
 

Further Information:
 Home
 Current Summary
 Daily update
 User forum
 Consultation
 Service now
 Service future
 Future Analysis
 Recent Statistics
 Recent letters
 Letter to DfT
 Save the train
 Presentation
 Support us
 Other Maps
 Station facilities
 Station approach
 Pictures
 Trains diverted
 History
 About Melksham
 Site Map
 About this site