This website was created to introduce the various aspects considered in the MEng Thesis of Gareth Dennis and will continue to be updated as part of the project.
Photo credits: © 2013 Gareth Dennisunless otherwise stated
The nature of the infrastructure in use across Britain in heritage lines will be assessed by the project’s industry survey.
A series of variables under the heading "What is the nature of the line?" will be discussed, including the total length of permanent way, quantities of various rail and fastening/sleeper types, traffic frequency and highest axle loading.
Owing to the inherited nature of most heritage lines, stock tends to either be incumbent or transferred from elsewhere on the national network. The first heading will also consider the source and level of wear of existing rail stock, and the general condition of the underlying infrastructure such as bridges and earthworks.
The next section of the survey, under the heading "How is permanent way assessed?" will investigate the frequency of and criteria for rail renewal, and will gain values for the number of incidents that have occurred as a result of excessive rail wear.
As the interpretation of that data gets underway, this page will be updated with a summary of the results found.
