Progress at Mid-February 2010

Estate:

We have established an Office in the south-east end of the original standard gauge engine shed and the north-west end is presently in

use as a wood store and work-shop.

South-East (Office) end.   

The whole of the old trackbed is owned by Thames Water, the successors of the Metropolitan Water Board, so there is at least a chance of simplifying the process of obtaining permission to (re-)create a railway, as opposed to the problem with multiple owners. 

However parts of the original trackbed passes through Thames Water operating areas and we are unlikely ever to be allowed to run through these operating areas, i.e. south of the Upper Sunbury Road and west of the point where the old line enters the present operating area of the Kempton Park Pumping Station.  Negotiations on the use of the original trackbed and suitable ‘deviations’ are still on-going.

We have obtained agreement, in principle, from Thames Water, to create a loop in the Paddock, i.e. just north-west of the A316 (overhead) and just south of the entrance road.  This land is leased to Kempton Park Great Engines Trust with over 80 years remaining on the lease.  This line will probably be called the “Hanworth Loop” after the part of Hounslow Borough in which it is located.

A stock-pile of a variety of items salvaged from the Carillion and a 20ft Sea Container have been established in the field south of the Kempton Great Engines, just north of the L.S.W.R. line to Shepperton; this is adjacent to path of one of the probable deviations around the T.W. operating areas.

A ”museum” and demonstration area have been established just to the south of the entrance road, adjacent to the Kempton Great Engine House, see ‘Track’ below.

Storage for various items has been established in the gauge house, which is adjacent to the Staines Aqueduct and the bridge over the aqueduct (ex. Standard gauge line) to the South Field.

 The Gauge House looking South - looks just    

      like a "Railway"  Building should!  ---------->>

Track: 

Lengths of track (including some original from the Hampton to Kempton narrow gauge line) have been established on the museum site.  This includes a sea container established as an engine shed, for “Hounslow” and as a workshop.