1318

ABOVE: Reversing in Buxton Up Relief Sidings ('XYZ Sidings' - only 'Z' is now in use the remains of 'Y is
on the right, the train is mostly in the Run Round Line with this loco on the extremity of 'Z' (taken by
accredited rail staff). BELOW: Leaving these sidings, which are to be lengthened, taken from the rear
cab. The three buffer stops, left to right are 'X', 'Y' and 'Z' Sidings. The DMU is on a Buxton service.

ABOVE: Great Rocks Jn where the single line from Buxton doubles. Your Editor always thinks that
'Great Rocks' should have an exclamation mark after it like 'Westwood Ho!' BELOW: Tunstead Works.

ABOVE: Another rear view, actually earlier in the tour, south of Denton station the Guide Bridge to
Stockport line reduces to single track allowing a cheaper single-track bridge (but still substantial) to be
built over the M60. BELOW: Heaton Norris Jn leaving the line from Guide Bridge (towards Stockport).

2675] Anglesey Signal Box Visits, Fri 12 Oct: (By Ken Lowe and Nick Jones.) 10 members gathered at
Bangor station, meeting up with our friend (from our other recent North Wales visits) Mark Owen, NR
Mobile Operations Manager. Four cars were available. It is rare that trains can be used for these visits
with the notable exception of the London Area and our 2014 AGM Severn Valley Railway box visits.

Llanddaniel User Worked Crossing (243m 75ch) was our first destination with red and green warning
lights, west of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. At this time there was a

gentle gusting wind and light rain. The lane approaching the crossing was
narrow and we were at risk of causing an obstruction so departed quickly to
our next visit, Gaerwen signal box (BLN 1316.2419).

At Gaerwen (245m 9ch) Storm Callum was catching up with the group, the
rain and wind becoming increasingly worse. We split into two groups of five
as the signal box is small, but the signaller was friendly and welcoming. An
unusual feature was a small (but still in use) Royal Mail letter box in the wall.
(LEFT) There was some discussion as to whether this is unique - certainly no
member of the party could think of another example of a letter box on a
signal box - although perhaps more common in the past? The signal box
diagram still shows the Amlwch branch, although the junction was plain-
lined from 5 Feb 2006. Unusually, the branch had previously been protected
by two sets of trap points, with a short section of yard-working in between
them serving the three freight sidings near the junction. The single-line
working staff for the branch still exists but is no longer kept in the signal box.

Tŷ Croes Manual Controlled Crossing (254m 31ch) has gates that have to be
opened and closed by the crossing keeper on duty after electrical release
from the one-time signal box. This former block post was officially
downgraded to a Gate Box from Sunday 2 Apr 1989 (quite suddenly, after
major wiring problems were discovered and BR deemed it more expedient to
downgrade the box than to fix the problems). Tŷ Croes retains a
mechanically worked semaphore distant on the Down Line. The box is part of
a larger (disused and boarded up) station building and Mark kindly gave us a
tour of the long-forgotten former booking office and waiting room, complete
with a 1963 luggage notice. It is a remote windswept request stop with
staggered platforms each side of the crossing and 5,246 passengers in 2016-
17. There are few facilities but it has passenger information displays like all
NR stations in Wales.

Valley Signal Box was next where the storm had worsened, with high gusting
wind and very heavy rain. Most of our group was very wet and taking outside

photos had become difficult due to the storm. [These
signal box aficionados are a tough, waterproof lot.] One
unusual feature here is the pair of emergency stop
signals 'X' on the Up and Down Main Lines and their
associated Distants 'Y'. These are normally unlit but can
be switched on to stop trains in the event of an aircraft
emergency at nearby RAF Valley which is very close to
the running lines. The NR signaller has no control over
these - or even an indication that they are activated - as
they are operated from the RAF Control Tower.

Valley is also, of course, the railhead for nuclear flasks
from Wylfa Power Station (which is now undergoing
decommissioning as generation ceased on 30 Dec 2015).

The signal box controls the main line connection and an unsignalled triangle is provided with hand
points at all three corners for turning steam locos to Holyhead. The triangle (PREVIOUS PAGE
BOTTOM LEFT) was traversed by our 3 Dec 2000 'Chester & Holyhead' railtour - a single coach Class
153, the longest train that could do this. Unusually, on 12 Oct 2018, a flask wagon (without locos) was
occupying the terminal - possibly due to problems with the wagon.

Holyhead signal box was next, which still has a 100 lever frame, numbered 16-115. According to the
'Signalling Atlas and Signal Box Directory', levers 1-15 were removed in 1968 and levers 101-115 added
in 1974. Incredibly 60 are still working - a very high number these days and all are in good condition.
The box had a new panel track diagram in January 2008. The underneath locking room provided
further evidence of the changes made to the frame over the years as most of the wooden beams
supporting the operating floor had been cut through and replaced or supplemented by steelwork.

At Holyhead station we were shown the two manually worked ground frames, which provide engine
release for P1 and P3. Engine releases, once essential at virtually all terminus stations, are now
becoming unusual and indeed these two at Holyhead see little use these days. By this time the storm
had caused the line to be closed west of Bangor so all returned to 'mainland Wales' by road transport.

A good, wet and windy day was had by all. Thanks to our member Barnaby Clark for the arrangements
(and traditional biscuits for the signallers who readily answered our questions) and particularly Mark
Owen of NR. £205 was donated to Barnardo's, NR's nominated charity, as a 'thank you' for the visits.

BELOW: Llanddaniel User Worked Crossing (243m 75ch). (All pictures by Nick Jones 12 Oct 2018.)
NEXT PAGE: Gaerwen, the train approaching (as was Storm Callum), from the Holyhead direction is
more or less where the Amlwch branch junction used to be, facing this direction, curving off to the
right. The trailing crossover can be seen and The Honourable BLS Member for Tipton is far right. The
post box can be seen in the brick base of the signal box facing the road, bottom right hand corner.

BELOW: Inside Gaerwen signal box.

ABOVE: Detail of the (actually disconnected) Amlwch branch and trap points on the diagram.
BELOW: Gaerwen Signal Box locking beneath the frame - a fine Victorian computer.

ABOVE: The remote Tŷ Croes station (with staggered platforms), signal box and crossing looking
towards Holyhead. BELOW: Inside the boarded up station building. NEXT: Inside the signal box.



PREVIOUS PAGE LOWER: The evening before the morning after... Sunset over Valley Nuclear Flask
Terminal (with flask wagon) on 11 Oct - what could possibly be more romantic? ABOVE: The London
end of Valley station looking towards Bangor, the line off to the left is the turning triangle and nuclear
flask facility. BELOW: From the (dry) box in the opposite direction with a train from Holyhead calling.



PREVIOUS PAGE: Controls for Valley Level Crossing. ABOVE: Holyhead - very impressive!
BELOW: Holyhead box diagram. NEXT PAGE: Also impressive are the locking room counterweights.



ABOVE: Holyhead P3 with a fine semaphore and shunt signal but no trains, the CIS says
'Line closed Bangor to Holyhead due to trees blocking the line'.

ABOVE: Holyhead P3 Ground Frame for the run round loop.

2676] Chesterfield Roundabout Railway Walk, Wed 31 Oct: By David Isherwood. 17 Society members
gathered at Chesterfield (Midland) station on a beautiful crisp morning to be met by our guide for day,
Neil Lewis, a local member brought up in the area and with much detailed knowledge of the current
situation and the way things used to be. Chesterfield is a fascinating town; three companies built
railway stations and goods facilities, with a further branch line serving mines, factories and mills.
We looked forward to tracing the remains of each. Several maps were handed out for us to follow, and
Neil had an album of old photographs, which proved fascinating as we tried to recreate the locations.

The group left the station, observing the site of the original North Midland station (1840-1870) just
south of the present one - which incidentally does not have ticket gates - and the former goods yard
(now a car park) and ascended a hill. An old railway building on the left, North Midland House, claims
to be the sole surviving building from Chesterfield's first railway station (although sited some way from
the railway!). The Masborough (Rotherham) to Derby line was opened by the North Midland Railway
on 11 May 1840. We next saw the 1899 empty and boarded up former Station Hotel on the right,
before peering over the parapet of the bridge at the bypass (A61) completed in 1985 that had swept
away much of the Great Central Railway's (GCR) - originally the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire
Railway's - 'Chesterfield Loop' and Chesterfield 'Central' station. OP 4 Jun 1892; CP 4 Mar 1963 (when
there were about 5,000 passengers a week). The final through train was an excursion hauled by 'Flying
Scotsman' on 15 Jun 1963 which called on the outward journey only. Goods traffic from the north
lingered until 11 Sep 1967. Interestingly a small section of the GCR survived until as recently as 1985,
the line accessed from the Midland line via the Dunston and Barlow branch, for opencast coal traffic.

The Great Central had to run under the town in a 445yd tunnel and we walked to see the southern
portal, now fenced off. Evidently there is video showing the tunnel is still in reasonable condition.
We then journeyed through the surprisingly attractive town centre, noting the two open market areas
and the elegant Victorian market hall. At the bottom of the hill was the site of the third railway; the
Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway, opened 8 Mar 1897 and absorbed by the Great Central
in Jan 1907. The joke was that, despite its grand name, the line never reached Lancashire or the East
Coast, but was built to tap into the riches of the local coalfields. Its Chesterfield Market Place, a
generous four platform station, had quite a sparse passenger service, advertised as the 'Dukeries
Route' running via Langwith Jn (Shirebrook) through Ollerton, Tuxford and on to Lincoln Central.

This line passed through the troublesome Bolsover tunnel, which became so dangerous that passenger
trains ceased from 3 Dec 1951. Goods to Staveley via Duckmanton North Jn from the extensive yard at
Chesterfield lasted until 1957. The station became a carpet warehouse then a paint store, until
demolished to pave the way for a (General) Post Office administration building. A participant told us it
was a good building as they sort out his pension! The goods yard is occupied by the current Post Office
delivery depot. The neighbouring Portland Hotel built to serve the station is a Wetherspoons pub!

Neil took us by the impressive Town Hall (a similar design to Stormont in Belfast) and the Grade II
listed (empty) Court House to find the remains of the Brampton branch. It was once extensive, serving
many factories, mines and breweries and, at this point, the Gas Works. At the entrance where the
railway crossed the road there is a fine piece of metalwork. A plaque marks where chains were placed
across the road (pulled through worn holes in the walls still there) to stop road traffic for trains to run.

We retraced our steps and followed the line of the Brampton branch towards Queen's Park, where a
10¼" gauge railway is run by the Council (our 31 May 2014 Society trip covered the long shed branch
in detail). Following the route east, old railway lines have been converted into footpaths and cycleways
and we soon observed the remains of the LD&EC line out of Market Place which used to be carried on
a viaduct over the Brampton branch including the Boythorpe incline to a colliery of the same name.

After skirting a retail park, we came to a trainspotter's heaven, Horns Bridge situated near Hasland Rd,
the intersection of the three railways; the Dukeries line went over the Midland on a 700yd impressive
viaduct, while the Loop Line dived under both on its way to Heath and the GCR main line. There is little
left except bridge abutments and blue brick walls but Neil's old pictures helped us to imagine it all.

Finally, we observed the link known as Hydes Siding, between the former Broad Oaks (Markham)
works and the GCR Loop Line, at Clayton St then walked over an extensive footbridge before picking up
the cycle/footpath on the Brampton branch. Crossing over the A61 (bypass) the old branch joined the
Midland Railway near the station. The Brampton Branch never had a passenger service, but Neil gave
us a reproduction ticket dated 17 Jun 1961 reminding us of an RCTS railtour from Midland to Central
stations via Brampton and a list of many other places you can only dream nostalgically about
(BLN 1270.3045 has the route)! Archie, Neil's junior assistant clipped the tickets with his ticket punch.

Back at the station, we saw George Stephenson' statue; he is buried in the town. After a lunch break
most met up at the famous Grade I Listed church of St Mary & All Saints, with its crooked spire and we
had a fascinating two hour guided visit, making it up to the top of the tower via very narrow 156 step
spiral staircases (some participants were a bit out of gauge). It is the world's only true crooked spire
(both bent and twisted but we were not joined by the local crooked man) and there were great views
from the balcony on this lovely sunny warm day. We could see that Chesterfield is in a 'basin' and the
various railway routes. The party saw the bells and learnt the real reason for the spire's crookedness.

Recovering from that exercise, we said our farewells. It was a very worthwhile, enjoyable and
informative day. Although a lot has been swept away through re-development and road schemes,
there was much interest in a town that once boasted three stations and a branch line too! Thanks
again to Neil (& Archie) for arranging it, being such excellent guides and for the maps and pictures.

ABOVE: 1960 map. The LD&EC runs from Chesterfield Market Place terminal station (shown as closed
to passengers - uncolored circle) middle left of centre across eastwards above the other railways.
Chesterfield Central and the GCR loop - the 'lowest' railway - is the 'circle' upper middle and the
rectangular 'principal' station is Chesterfield Midland - the present station. The Brampton branch is
shown as a 'mineral line/siding' branching off to the southwest of the station ending centre left. The
10¼" gauge Queen's Park Miniature Railway runs round the lake southwest of Market Place station.

PREVIOUS PAGE LOWER: Where Dixon's Rd meets Hollis Lane looking north. Middle left through the
railings is the south portal of the 445yd Great Central Railway tunnel (between the two left most
participants). It runs beneath the town, at the north end was Chesterfield Central station. The railings
are actually a pair of (locked) gates to a slope that leads down to the tunnel entrance which is open.

ABOVE: The wide bridge (see OS map above) that carried the Lancashire, Derbyshire & East Coast
Railway over Holme Brook. Chesterfield Market Place terminus was off the just off to the left and the
line to Shirebrook and Lincoln was to the right. The corner of Debenhams is just visible top left.
(All pictures in this report are by Neil Lewis 31 Oct 2018.)

NEXT PAGE: The things we get 'up' to as BLS Members! View northwest from the top of the Church
Tower, a tiny part of the crooked spire is right, it is covered in lead and the spire not fixed in any way
to the tower, being held by gravity essentially. [The combination of tower and spire is a steeple.]

2677] BLS Railtour, Sat 9 Feb: No, not us, but the Bahamas Locomotive Society steam-hauled by 45596
'Bahamas. Oxenhope (08.15/20.00 - approx) - Haworth (08.20) - Keighley (08.50) Keighley & Worth
Valley Railway mainline connection - Skipton (09.20) - Appleby - Carlisle (2½ hour break) and back.
To book https://goo.gl/mB8U76 a few 1st Class Premier Dining £265 (Gravy Train) may remain

X.172] BLN 1317 Guess the location/BLS Members: (BLN 1317.X.167) This was the end of line at
Exeter City Basin (an extension of the present Alphington Road branch), on our Sat 10 May 1981
South Devon https://goo.gl/2ZhvUA DMU railtour. An immovable lorry - it was too - blocked progress.
The tour was also unable to do the dive under here beneath the Exeter to Dawlish line that joined to
Marsh Barton Goods - but did reach the end of line there. The members pictured in BLN 1317 leading
the pack are your current BLN Editor and Brain Ratheram from Quinton, Birmingham. (Tony Jervis.)



ABOVE: The Bells ... The Bells...

2678] (BLN 1317.2544) Ruby Shoesday Railtour, Sun 28 Oct (Thanks to Jim Sellens)

FROM TO LEADING MILES

Hooton P2 West Kirby Siding No2 508140 20m 03ch.
Up West Kirby Line 507001 10m 69ch.
Lime Street Wirral Line Plat
West Kirby Siding No2 0m 32ch.

Up West Kirby Line West Kirby P2 508140 0m 32ch.

West Kirby P2 Up West Kirby, Hoylake X/O 507001 1m 29ch.

Up West Kirby, Hoylake X/O Hoylake Down P2 508140 0m 13ch.

Hoylake Down P2 Birkenhead North Depot, Road 4 507001 5m 21ch.

Birkenhead North Depot, Road 4 New Brighton Wall Siding 508140 3m 09ch.

New Brighton Wall Siding Up New Brighton Line 507001 0m 18ch.

Up New Brighton Line New Brighton P1 508140 0m 18ch.

New Brighton P1 Hunts Cross P2 507001 14m 10ch.

Hunts Cross P2 Kirkdale South Run Round EOL 508140 9m 78ch.

Kirkdale South Run Round EOL Kirkdale South Run Round Line 507001 0m 08ch.

Kirkdale South Run Round Line Rice Lane Down P2 508140 1m 42ch.

Rice Lane Down P2 Sandhills Reversing Siding 507001 2m 31ch.

Sandhills Reversing Siding Southport P3 508140 17m 55ch.
Southport Carriage Siding No9 EOL 0m 15ch.
Southport P3 0m 15ch.
Southport Carriage Siding No9 EOL Southport P3

Southport P3 Up Southport Line, South Jn 507001 0m 20ch.
Up Southport Line, South Jn Birkdale Carriage Siding No3 ALONE 0m 10ch.

Birkdale Carriage Siding No.3 Up Southport Line, South Jn 0m 10ch.

Up Southport Line, South Jn Southport P3 0m 20ch.

Southport P3 Liverpool Central P1 507001 19m 09ch.
Central Reversing Siding 19m 22ch.

Central Reversing Siding Liverpool Central P2 508140 0m 13ch.
James Street P2 0m 56ch.

James Street P2 James Street Stabling Siding 507001 0m 14ch.
James Street Stabling Siding Hamilton Square P2 508140 1m 28ch.
Rock Ferry bay P3 3m 00ch.

Rock Ferry bay P3 Up Chester Line, clear of Sig.722 507001 0m 16ch.

Up Chester Line, clear of Sig.722 Down Helsby Line, Hooton South Jn. 508140 6m 05ch.

Down Helsby Line, Hooton South Jn. Hooton P3 507001 0m 31ch.

Details must be checked 1318 CONNECTIONS (Paul Stewart) [email protected] .Please mention BLN.

2679] Brookside Miniature Railway: (MR p13) (BLN 1313.MR187) Brookside Garden Centre, London
Road, Poynton, SK12 1BY. As predicted in BLN it was announced on Facebook that this 950yd 7¼"
gauge railway indeed reopened with a new operator on Sun 2 Dec 2018. Public running is advertised as
Wednesdays to Sundays inclusive from 11.00 until 15.00 weather permitting, (reports welcome).

2680] Pathfinder Tours - The Festive Frolic, Sat 22 Dec: This tour from Eastleigh (06.30/23.20) and
various stations to Birmingham International (09.40/20.10) with a Birmingham New Street (19.50) set
down is no longer doing Dee Marsh Sidings (!) but is booked to visit Wolverhampton Logistics Centre
(the former Wolverhampton Steel Terminal before 23 Nov 2017). Various other interesting track and
lines included. 01453 835414 or 834477 https://goo.gl/zNjEfq from £99 Standard Class.

2681] Keighley & Worth Valley Railway: Travel by train to Keighley add on Day Rover (certain special
events gives one round trip) £12 Adult (normally £18) £6 Child (normally £9), reductions for Senior
15-25, Disabled and Family & Friends Railcard holders. Available from all the mainline operators.

2682] Great Central Railway,
Crossing the Canal Appeal
(Bridge 331): (BLN 1295.2568)

LEFT: This new railway bridge
over the Grand Union Canal
Leicester Navigation is a vital
part of the 'Bridge to the Future'
project to join the Great Central
Railway (Nottingham) with the
(Loughborough) Great Central
Railway, creating an 18 mile long
Heritage Railway and giving the
latter a connection with the
national network. £300k of the
£475k needed has been raised.
https://goo.gl/TamKs2 has the
details; so, if you need the track
please consider donating online
by card, setting up a standing
order or post a cheque payable
to the 'David Clarke Railway
Trust' to: 'Canal Bridge Appeal',
Lovatt House, 3 Wharncliffe Rd,
Loughborough, LE11 1SL. Gift aid
adds 25% - please download and
print the form from the website
or send an SAE for one. Bridge
'328' over the Midland Main Line
was reinstated in 2017.

2683] Weymouth - Ramsgate or
Birchington-on-Sea: Seven days
of unlimited fun for only £89.50
(£92.30 after 2 Jan 2019) weekly
season - any route via Barnham.

2684] The Charles Close* Society for the Study of Ordnance Survey Maps: https://goo.gl/m8AB6t
Founded in 1980 and now with 750 members. Do you enjoy looking at British and Irish maps ancient
and modern? Are you interested in who produces them and how they do it? The website includes a
continuous large screen view of Landranger 1:50,000 scalable maps for the whole country and links to
many online historic series. The Society produces books/publications and map reprints, has online
scans of obscure, collectable maps (the digital archive, a virtual museum) and holds regular meetings.

Membership (£15 per year UK - can be Gift Aided) includes: ●A colourful and informative journal three
times a year, packed with articles and information about OS maps and mapping, past and present.
●The latest map in the occasional Maps from the Past series, high-quality reproductions classic,
important or rare old OS maps. ●A generous discount on the invaluable collection of books produced
by the Society of original research into OS products and practices. ●Visits to interesting establishments
connected with national mapping and similar topics, at home and abroad. ●Local meetings and AGM
map-market. ●Special deals and discounts from OS. ●There is a Yahoo 'OrdnanceMaps' discussion
group. Print an application form from the website or send an SAE to the Membership Secretary,
Stephen Braim, Newlyn, The Purlieu, Malvern, WR14 4DJ. [*OS Director General 1911-22.]

2685] Maps From The Past No1: £6 including P&P London Passenger Transport Map 1934 Sheet 106.
A colour reprint of the original with explanatory expert essays. Covers Notting Hill to Maidenhead,
rail and bus routes, operating boundaries and London Passenger Transport Board operating powers
over other lines. Order/pay by card via the link in the previous item or by cheque payee 'The Charles
Close Society' to The Publications Manager, St. Nicholas, 16 East Hill Road, Oxted, Surrey, RH8 9HZ.

2686] Welsh Highland Heritage Railway; Fri 21-Sun 23 Jun 2019: Through passenger trains to the
Welsh Highland Railway via the Pen-y-Mount strategic connection between the two railways, to
Hafod-y-Lynn and return hauled by the surviving WHR original loco 'Russell'. This follows a gauging
and inspection run on 25 Nov. https://goo.gl/GmyjiZ is a 22 min video of this run to Beddgelert in
glorious sunny weather. BLN 1277.MR50 has details of previous use of this connection.

2687] Appleby Frodingham Railway Preservation Society (AFRPS), 16 Jan, 23 Feb, 30 Mar & 27 Apr;
Spring Brake Van Tours 11.00 to about 15.00: If you are unable to do our Jan trip or would like some
more. Minimum age 10. No charge but donations are welcomed towards the upkeep of the AFRPS
locos/stock. Our Hull member, an AFRPS member and expert on the railway, Alan Sheppard will be
present on the brakevan trips as 'Route Director' except when they clash with a BLS event or main line
track railtour. Then the trips are more like 'our' Scunthorpe tours; please support them. To book email
[email protected] or 01652 657053. From the platform just inside 'Gate E', Brigg Rd,
Scunthorpe, DN16 1XA, a short walk from the station and has free parking. Steam driver experiences
(£175 half day or £300 for two people; £400 whole day or £700 for two.) [email protected]

2688] IOM 2019: If you have never visited this lovely island which is fully of railway interest why not
make a New Year resolution to do so (or revisit)? Operating season: Steam Railway: 8 Mar - 3 Nov
(plus some trips in Dec & Jan each year). Manx Electric Railway: 16 Mar - 3 Nov. Snaefell Mountain
Railway: 26 Mar - 3 Nov. Douglas Bay Horse Tramway: 25 Apr - 3 Nov (subject to promenade works).

NEWS TEAM POSTAL ADDRESSES: Please retain (email addresses are with individual sections).
●East Midlands & IOM: Graeme Jolley, Dolbryn, Penegoes, MACHYNLLETH, SY20 8NN.
●London: Geoff Brockett, 155 Onslow Gardens, South Woodford, LONDON, E18 1NA.
●North East & ALL Yorkshire: Geoff Blyth, 26 Trafalgar Way, Queens Park, BILLERICAY, CM12 0UT.
●North West: John Cameron, 07581178759 any Postal submissions to BLN Editor please.
●South East England & East Anglia: Julian James, 58 Nelson Road, WORTHING, BN12 6EN.
●South West: Darren Garnon, 3 Reader Drive, Marden, TONBRIDGE, Kent, TN12 9FD.
●West Midlands: Brian Schindler, 15 Sudeley, Dosthill, TAMWORTH, B77 1JR.
●Ireland: Martin Baumann, 42 Northland Road, LONDONDERRY, BT48 7ND.
●Scotland: Mike McCabe, Lawrenceholme Barn, Oulton, WIGTON, CA7 0PH.
●Wales & The Marches: Chris Parker, 7 Three Trees, Station Road, Whittington, OSWESTRY, SY11 4DE.
●Minor Railways: Peter Scott, 93 Josephine Court, Southcote Rd, READING, RG30 2DQ.
●BLN International: Paul Griffin, 7 School Bell Meadows, Church Lane, Stoneleigh, COVENTRY, CV8 3ZZ.

●Bookings Officer: Mark Gomm, 84 Mornington Rd, STOKE-on-TRENT, ST1 6EL. Messages (Voice/Text)
07983 541887 [email protected] please don't use Mark's landline to book or enquire.

●Fixtures Sec: Kev Adlam 53 Kemble Close, Wistaston, CREWE, CW2 6XN. [email protected] @BLSGeneralSec
●Sales Officer: Graeme Jolley, Dolbryn, Penegoes, MACHYNLLETH, SY20 8NN. [email protected] 07484 646542.
●Chairman: John Williamson, La Marguerite, Croit-e-Quill Road, Laxey, IOM, IM4 7 JD. [email protected]
●Treasurer: Ian Mortimer, 69 Malmesbury Road, Cheadle Hulme, CHEADLE, SK8 7 QL. [email protected]
●General Secretary: Tim Wallis, 10 Sandringham Road, STOKE GIFFORD, BS34 8NP. [email protected]
●Publications Officer: Martyn Brailsford, 18 Queen Street, Brimington, CHESTERFIELD, S43 1HT. [email protected]
●Website Officer: Phil Wieland [email protected]
●Paper BLN Problems: Dave Monger 6 Underhill Close, GODALMING, GU7 1NU. [email protected] text/ring Editor.
●Electronic Messages (to sign up) BLS members: https://goo.gl/JqT61k Non-BLS members: https://goo.gl/uCErpL
●E-Messages (submit short notice items/data)/E-BLN or BLN problems: Nick Garnham [email protected]
●MAPS: By permission of the National Library of Scotland http://maps.nls.uk/index.html
●Editor: Paul Stewart, 4 Clarence Close, MALVERN, WR14 3HX. 01684562862 07790652351. [email protected]

●Published by the Branch Line Society, 10 Sandringham Rd, Stoke Gifford, BS34 8NP. ISSN 1354-0947