Test tracks, research facilities and storage yards

grahame

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Test tracks, research facilities and storage yards

« on: July 16, 2024, 05:51:53 »

Quote from: JayMac on May 18, 2011, 23:40:38

Forgive the little bit of advertising, but I heartily recommend folks to purchase the latest edition of RAIL magazine.

... [snip] ...

1984 also saw the spectacular staged crash of a Class 46 'Peak' loco and Mk I coaches into a nuclear flask at the Old Dalby test track.

This "popped" up on this day, 40 years ago ... though some sources say 17th July where mine popped it up for 16th July 1984. The ultimate of testing ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Dalby_Test_Track

Where (in the UK^▸ ) are there test tracks and facilities to this day?

Old Dalby
New one under construction in South Wales
Something happening at Dudley
Long Marston

I've listed Long Marston as a test track though it's much more a storage facility as I understand it, with others at places like Papworth Sidings, Ely and Fenny Compton. Is there still storage at Eastleigh, and I think at Burton-on-Trent ...


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CyclingSid

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Hockley viaduct

Re: Test tracks, research facilities and storage yards

« Reply #1 on: July 16, 2024, 06:57:15 »

Quote

Is there still storage at Eastleigh?

Not clear from viewing as you go by, allowing for what you can see through the rampant foliage. I suspect that most of the stuff there is either "Goods Inwards" or "Work in progress". There are certainly some items that appear to have been there a long time.

There used to be somebody who regularly photograhed what was in the works, although I can't remember a name. David Hann on Flikr is a possibility.


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brooklea

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Re: Test tracks, research facilities and storage yards

« Reply #2 on: July 16, 2024, 09:45:29 »

Quote from: CyclingSid on July 16, 2024, 06:57:15

Quote

Is there still storage at Eastleigh?

There used to be somebody who regularly photograhed what was in the works, although I can't remember a name.

Try searching Carl Watson railway photos


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MVR S&T

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Re: Test tracks, research facilities and storage yards

« Reply #3 on: July 16, 2024, 11:23:37 »

A fair few 701s in storage at Eastleigh and Marchwood MOD. https://www.47soton.co.uk/


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ChrisB

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Re: Test tracks, research facilities and storage yards

« Reply #4 on: July 16, 2024, 21:02:30 »

Quote from: grahame on July 16, 2024, 05:51:53

I've listed Long Marston as a test track though it's much more a storage facility as I understand it, with others at places like Papworth Sidings, Ely and Fenny Compton.

Fenny Compton - do you mean the sidings at MOD Kineton?...


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grahame

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Re: Test tracks, research facilities and storage yards

« Reply #5 on: July 16, 2024, 22:03:22 »

Quote from: ChrisB on July 16, 2024, 21:02:30

Quote from: grahame on July 16, 2024, 05:51:53

I've listed Long Marston as a test track though it's much more a storage facility as I understand it, with others at places like Papworth Sidings, Ely and Fenny Compton.

Fenny Compton - do you mean the sidings at MOD Kineton?...

Yes - I used to spend a lot of time at Fenny Compton and think of that as the main "rail point" there - though I know it's a couple of miles to Kineton


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