Whats this track
 

Can anyone identify what purpose this track was used for ?
I am researching a rumour that a small section of rail track was laid around the mid 1800`s to off load barges on the River Stour in Suffolk and link up with a local Manor some 500yds away
Although it was only a rumour, I subsequently found hidden in hedge two lengths of track with a head width of 2"
There are holes on the base spaced 3ft apart presumably for fixing.
I can find no reference to 2" track via a Google search
Could this be the track I am looking for ?

Could well be.

As I'm fairly local to Sudbury can you give me a bit more info on this please ?

My father was born and bred in Wormingford (pre and post war), and given your username your research revolves around that area.
I'll ask him what he knows as far as the track being reality if you can give a bit more detail as to precise location.

Rumour has it that a light rail track ran from "Wormingford Lock" into Smallbridge Hall. This could be feasible as there was a Mill at the Hall. Consequently grain or flour could have been transported by this track from the Lighters.
However, the owners are adamant no such track existed, so how come I found two lengths overgrown in a hedge along a footpath about 500yds away from the Hall
On a 1904 Tithe Map there is marked a straight line from the Lock to the Hall, the owners say its an old hedge but it passes straight through the main drive, which seems rather odd.
The local historian thinks I am barking mad !
See my work here
http://www.bures-online.co.uk/smallb...rack/track.htm

As it is a listed building, do English Heritage have any views ?

If not it might be useful to let them know what you have found so far.

When you say "the owners", do you mean the new owners as I understand the previous owner is serving a jail sentence for fraud and the house was re-posessed.(about 2012).:eek:

Had a chat to my father, and shown him the Bures website... he remembered cycling past the bomber ordnance stacked by the roadside behind Bures. He and his mates were partial to swiping a bit of light munitions from Wormingford US airbase :D

He was very familiar with the particular patch where the line was supposed to have been, sadly he has no knowledge of it nor any old rumours about it.

Googled Flat Bottom rail profiles and found this.
http://harmersteel.com/hs/wp-content...png?1398379987
That is of a similar dimension to the rail you found and indicates something around 20 lb / yard.
Network Rail currently uses 113 / yd or 56kg / metre.
With the general minimum weight of 98lb/yd being used over the last 60 years.

So your rail is of very lightweight and not designed for heavy traffic or for standard gauge vehicles.

Does anyone know what rail weight is used on 2ft gauge / 3ft gauge lines?

Lines of those sort of gauges would have been laid in the mid - late 1800's so any memory of post 1900 could be irrelevant.

A couple of answers

New owners purchased the Hall in 2013 from the Bank as it as put on the market by HMRC in lieu of taxes after the Vietnamese lady was jailed
Basically it was a wreck inside, during the sale period the CH system burst during a cold snap and the entire building was flooded. This wasnt spotted until several months later.
Its currently had the entire roof re-tiled.

Ammunition - Yes I have researched that subject over many years
There is a very small portion of my work on the "bures.me.uk" web site

OK about the track width info.

I think this subject will never be proved either way. The owners and the local archaeological group think my assertion is rubbish, but they cant explain the track nor the line on maps running from Wormingford Lock straight into the Hall ?

Several years ago I went to a talk about railways in the Isle of Mann and to my amazement it was more than the several most of us could name, it was nearly 30 he talked about and he was still looking! Included were some that only went across the width of a farmyard, but they were railway tracks. Your theory about the track you have found is quite feasible. Hope you find something definite in due course.
Richard

Thanks Richard