Hi,
Well I have been working on this for some time as I've always wondered why BR in the 1960's had a habit of singling double line branches then a year or two would finally pull the remaining line - here is one reason:
What I found was not just the stated obvious - cutting down on the "losses", but also the extra revenue it would bring in.
Now based on 1965's prices (simple as it's mid way through the decade of major closures), BR would easily make in scrap value of around 5,878 pounds per mile.
This is based on calculations the Swanage railway used to rebuild the line, and then calculating the number of rails, chairs, fish plates etc and using an inflation calculator to work out 1965's prices for scrap.
The figure does not include nuts / bolts, wire, signals, stone, slates, and more importantly the land etc.
No wonder BR and Marples were pleased with the idea.
Well I have been working on this for some time as I've always wondered why BR in the 1960's had a habit of singling double line branches then a year or two would finally pull the remaining line - here is one reason:
What I found was not just the stated obvious - cutting down on the "losses", but also the extra revenue it would bring in.
Now based on 1965's prices (simple as it's mid way through the decade of major closures), BR would easily make in scrap value of around 5,878 pounds per mile.
This is based on calculations the Swanage railway used to rebuild the line, and then calculating the number of rails, chairs, fish plates etc and using an inflation calculator to work out 1965's prices for scrap.
The figure does not include nuts / bolts, wire, signals, stone, slates, and more importantly the land etc.
No wonder BR and Marples were pleased with the idea.