1394

407] Llanelli - Pembrey & Burry Port: (TRACKmaps 3 p24B 2018) A contractor discovered a large hole
in the 'six foot' at 226m 75ch (Pwll Sea Wall section) at 03.25 on Sun 23 Jan and the line was blocked.
The P'Way gang looked into it (as you do) and a GeoAccess engineer determined that a high tide had
washed out material below the ballast. A culvert below appeared undamaged. The hole was filled with
ballast and possession handed back at 10.55 with a 20mph emergency restriction on both lines.

408] Aberpergwm: (BLN 1360.2654) Much against the wishes of Welsh Government ministers and
Westminster's Green Party MP, who, it seems, are adamant that all remaining fossil fuels should be
left in the ground in the UK even if that increases imports, the Coal Authority has licensed the mining
by Energybuild of a further 40M tonnes of coal at the colliery here. It claims to be the only producer of
high grade anthracite in Western Europe but most of it will be used not for energy but in processes
including water purification. The Welsh Government is powerless to intervene because the original
licence was granted before powers were devolved. However, it says it is committed to working with
Energybuild on sustainable business models. Presumably rail traffic on the currently mothballed
branch will resume preventing even more environmental damage (!), though this is unconfirmed.

1394 MINOR RAILWAYS (Peter Scott) [email protected]
MR22] Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR) Gloucestershire (MR p7): The GWRT
(Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Trust) - the Registered Charity that supports the GWSR -
launched a £200k appeal to fund the repair of the water damaged Bridge 8 over the railway between
Toddington and Broadway early in November 2021. Just three weeks into the appeal, the halfway
mark was passed with over £100k raised and, by 3 December, less than a month since the appeal
launch, the full £200k target was passed and the appeal was closed. Bridge 8 carries the B4632 (former
A46) road over the railway near Stanton at an angle. It has been subject to traffic control and speed
restriction for a considerable time to reduce the risk of further damage to the bridge, which has been
weakened by corrosion over many years. The GWSR was required to take on responsibility for the
46 bridges and 51 culverts that cross the railway as a condition of purchasing the line 40 years ago.

Unfortunately, when services including water and gas were laid over Bridge 8, long before the GWSR
acquired the line, it is believed that the waterproof decking was damaged, allowing water to seep
through. Gradually this has corroded the structural steelwork beneath the road surface. Although
repairs were carried out by the GWSR years ago, examination of the bridge has shown that corrosion
has continued. Remedial works have been undertaken to dry the structure but the damage is done
and needs to be repaired. The utility companies, which are believed to have caused the problem, have
since disappeared through privatisation, mergers and name changes. To carry out repairs, the bridge
must be propped up from underneath so the work can only be carried out while the line is closed
during January and February. Therefore there are no half-term trains; they restart on 5th March.

MR23] Central Cliff Railway, Scarborough (MR p34) (BLN 1393.MR17): On Wednesday 12 January, the
two cars were removed from the standard gauge railway (known as a Tramway) for the first time in
over 140 years. They have not been refurbished since the 1970s - when all work was undertaken with
them still on the rails - but they have now been taken to a specialist yard in Rotherham to be stripped
down and fully rejuvenated. In past years, the Tramway's own engineers have worked on the cars, but
changes in health and safety regulations have encouraged the family run business to contract the
project to restoration experts at Wheelsets UK.

The line is shut until March while the biggest overhaul in 50 years takes place. Some infrastructure
dates back to the early 20th century, when the system was first converted from steam to electric
power. The 1930s chassis will be fully replaced, new emergency brakes that can be computer
controlled fitted, and the cars given major attention for the first time since the Olympia fire damaged
the Tramway over 40 years ago. Current chairman Neil Purshouse's family took a stake in the business
in the 1960s, but it has been operating since 1881 and is still owned by the Company that first
registered it. It was electrified in 1920 but has undergone surprisingly few technological upgrades
since before WWII. The project is being overseen by general manager Helen Galvin - who became the
first woman to hold the position in the Tramway's history, when she took on the role six months ago.

The cars will benefit from new floors, ceilings, lights, seats and brakes, as the vehicles suffer badly
from weather related corrosion in their exposed cliffside location, as well as damage caused by seagull
droppings. Despite their age and layout dating back to the steam age, the station and carriages are
surprisingly disability compliant, with the spacious interiors and lack of steps. The cars are no longer
manually operated - in 2009 an automated traction system and more powerful motor were introduced
to improve safety and smooth acceleration. The Tramway has an almost impeccable safety record
over its operational history - the only fatality occurred in 1927. There are 12 staff. Its popularity has
remained stable over the decades, with between 450,000 to 500,000 passengers using it every year.

MR24] Bure Valley Railway (BVR), Norfolk (MR p21): The 15" gauge railway has conducted further
Biocoal tests, under more arduous conditions. The Heritage Railway Association (HRA) member initially
carried out tests in June (BLN 1381.MR122) - under normal operating conditions. This second batch of
tests was to see how the fuel fared under tougher working conditions and on a different engine.
The team wanted to see how the Biocoal would work in different situations on different locomotives.

HRA's CEO Steve Oates said: With the supply of coal now under threat and global prices escalating,
there's an increasing desire among members to know if any form of Biocoal will actually happen on a
large scale. The trials were carried out in collaboration with Advanced Steam Traction Trust (ASTT),
and the fuel manufacturers Coal Products Limited (CPL) over two days - Tuesday 23 and Wednesday
24 November 2021. The morning departures to Wroxham burnt the Welsh coal from Ffos-y-fran as a
base comparator, and the afternoon's burnt a variant of Ecoal50 developed by CPL based on the
feedback from the June trials. The Tuesday trial used the previous test locomotive from June, 2-6-2
No6 'Blickling Hall' (Winson 12/1994), which is fitted with a Lempor exhaust. The Wednesday trial used
2-6-4T No1 'Wroxham Broad' (Guest 1964/rebuilt Winson 1992), which is fitted with a conventional
exhaust. The trials with No6 increased the load to 180% of normal load to really test the locomotive
under the most arduous combustion conditions that are found on the mainline or Welsh narrow-
gauge railways. No1 was loaded to 113 % of what it would normally haul. The trials with No1 gave an
opportunity to test the fuel on a different locomotive, which is smaller than No6 and also due for its
10-year overhaul in 2022. Scott Bunting was the driver for these trials and the June trials.

On both days, the railhead conditions were not ideal, with leaf contamination and, on the Wednesday
with No1, the additional complication of light drizzle. Both locomotives were working at the limit of
their adhesion even with the use of sanding and were a test of driver skill. The test protocol was the
same as in June, with the fuel in the tender weighed and the water consumption measured. The ash in
the ash pan and the char in the smoke box were also weighed. Transducers were rigged to a computer
in the lead coach to measure smoke box vacuum, which gives an indication of maximum combustion
rate, exhaust performance, and speed. ASTT produced the test protocol, provided the test equipment
and supervised the trials and CPL attended the trials to see at first-hand how the fuels performed.

John Hind, chair of ASTT, said: The June trials were only on one locomotive and at moderate firing rates
and showed that No6 steamed as well with Ecoal50 as Ffos-y-fran but Ecoal50 fuel consumption was
28% greater than Ffos. To extend the knowledge base we were keen to trial the fuel at heavier loads
with greater combustion rates and on another locomotive. The 'gut feel' on the day from the footplate
crew was that, with this variant of Ecoal50 the locomotives steamed adequately, but not as well as
with Ffos-y-fran. The initial thought is that this is because of unburnt fuel carryover especially at higher
rates of working. We also saw clinker, on one run. There now comes a period of more detailed analysis
and discussion with CPL. Julian Martin, sales director at CPL Industries said: The two trials conducted at
BVR clearly show that there is a great opportunity for manufactured smokeless fuels made using
biomass materials to replace traditional coals used in steam engines. The latest trial provided some
great learnings, and CPL's R&D team look forward to continuing to work with the steam heritage
sector to develop the ideal fuels. We're extremely grateful for the support and feedback we've had
from many within the sector and in particular the time the ASTT, BVR and HRA have given to this
project. We look forward to trialling new ideas in the near future. The ultimate aim of the project is to
find a biofuel that can imitate coal well enough to secure heritage steam for future generations.

BELOW: (Item MR 25) The lift to the Spa Valley Railway P2 at Eridge on 9 Jan 2022. (All Richard Weller.)

BELOW: (Item MR25) The Spa Valley Railway on 9 Jan 202

22; Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway 0-6-0ST 51456 at Eridge.

BELOW: No2890 'Dougla

as' at Groombridge Loop.

BELOW: Another view of the '1960' (nominally) map on the Spa Valley Railw

way side of Eridge station (clearly the centre of the Universe). (9 Jan 2022.)

BELOW: (BLN 1384.2348) A 1900 historical wall map at Eridge station ma
stairs with lifts to the Spa Valley Railway P2 (this side) and main line P1 (far

ain line side. (7 Aug 2021). NEXT: (BLN 1370.1729) The smart refurbished
r side) - the latter holds 16 persons at this quiet sleepy station! (9 Jan 2022.)





BELOW: (Item MR26) Southend Pier Railway; the shore end (North) station; a

a new train to the left and train 'B' to right. (Both Andrew Murray, 9 Jan 2022.)

BELOW: From Pier Head (South) station towards Southend, the railway w

was once double track with complex pointwork and colour light signalling.

BELOW: (Item MR27) Delamont Miniature Railway; 'Freddy' takes a train out o

of the station at the start of its trip around the circuit. (Peter Scott, 29 Jul 2007.)

X.42] BELOW: M79964 Waggon & Maschinenbau Diesel Railbus at a rath

her wet Oxenhope on the 10.50 to Keighley. (Mark Fishlock, Sat 29 Jan.)

MR25] Spa Valley Railway, Kent (MR p6): A visit was made to this railway on Sunday 9 January for
their 'Winter Steam Up', which was blessed with crisp and sunny weather. This was very popular with
line-siders (like our reporter), probably because we have all had so few opportunities to get out and
about. Also, the loco roster provoked a lot of interest. A two train service ran, each of 4 MK1s. One set
had three coaches in British Rail (BR) Western Region chocolate and cream, with the fourth coach in
BR (Southern Region) green. The other set had one coach in BR blue and grey and the other three in
BR green. Alongside residents 34053 'Sir Keith Park' and diesel 31430 'Sister Dora' were two visitors:
(1): Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway (L&YR) 0-6-0ST, No752, but bearing fictional BR number 51456 (the
LMS sold it in the 1930s), a conversion by the L&YR from one of their own Barton-Wright 0-6-0 tender
engines. (2): No2890 'Douglas', an 0-6-0 tender engine converted from a Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST.

Our reporter is unaware if the railway publicised the 'coincidence of opposites', but most of those
whom he spoke to were not aware of it. At Eridge, on the side of a platform building on the Spa Valley
part was a painted wall map of lines in the area in 1960 (photo E-BLN 1393.X.21). BLN 1384.2348 had a
report from when he was at the station last August, a similar painted map had appeared on the
mainline Southern platform, but showing the area's lines in 1900. The 1960 map covers a larger area.

MR26] Southend Pier Railway, Essex (MR p17) (BLN 1383.MR152): A member visited the Pier on the
afternoon of Sunday 9 January. He caught the 12.00 from Shore station; trains were running every half
hour on the hour and half hour and 15 and 45 minutes past the hour from Pier Head. At the landward
end his train used the right-hand platform looking out to sea. The other platform was occupied by the
new train with the red 'bubble car' on the front of this. In use was train 'B' Sir William Heygate. At the
passing loop all trains took the right-hand line and he arrived into Pier Head right-hand platform.

The other platform at the Pier Head was occupied by the two driving cars from Train 'A' facing inward
with the chassis of the five coaches in between. Two of the coach bodies from train 'A' - A5 and A4,
have been placed on the platform as shelters; another, A3, has been placed behind the booking office
as seating for Costa Coffee. The other two, A2 and A1, are perpendicular to the line at Pier Head and
used for stores. Interestingly there is a BR style sign with the name 'Southend Pier Station' at the Pier
Head. Here he couldn't find any sign or any reconfiguration (which was reported elsewhere), just what
looks like ongoing maintenance. There are also two new structures (that were probably not there last
year) at about halfway and two thirds of the way down the pier. They are made out of steel beams
and span the walkway and the railway. [These are provided to assist in replacing parts of the Pier's
structure, which has appeared in at least two TV programmes recently - MR Ed.] A new maintenance
contract https://bit.ly/3u0jYR2 worth £118,743 has been awarded for the Pier Railway and runs from
1 April 2022 for up to 5 years. It is hoped to bring the new trains into service in February 2022.

MR27] Delamont Miniature Railway, County Down (MR p27) (BLN 1049.MR150): Original motive
power on this 10¼" gauge railway was a steam outline petrol locomotive, which once ran on the
Skegness Miniature Railway. A steam locomotive, built by the Exmoor Steam Railway, was added to
the stock in 2010. However, a new diesel locomotive arrived on the railway in September 2021. This is
a steam outline 0-4-2 diesel locomotive built by Alan Keef Limited and finished in a red livery. Steam
will still feature on the railway, but only at weekends in the summer months. The line is a circuit of
around 1,000 yards and is located in Delamont Country Park near Killyleagh.

MR28] Bala Lake Railway, Gwynedd (MR p29) (BLNs 1385.MR175): The Railway has been awarded a
grant of £38,790 from Magnox Ltd, the company decommissioning the nearby Trawsfynydd Nuclear
power station. This will cover fees for the final part of the planning application associated with the
extension (recently submitted to Snowdonia National Park Authority). It will also cover fees of the
architects, engineering consultants and quantity surveyors required. In 2019 the Railway received
almost £23,000 from Magnox. See https://bit.ly/2KJeKop for how to help the extension progress.

MR29] Snowdon Mountain Railway, Gwynedd (MR p30) (BLN 1364.MR169): Trains last ran to the
Summit on 27 October 2019; after the first wave of the Pandemic, trains restarted to Clogwyn on
Friday 10 July 2020. Clogwyn - Summit has remained closed and will not reopen in the 2022 season.

Most of the workforce was furloughed during the Pandemic, so there is a big maintenance backlog to
clear before the line to the Summit can reopen to passenger traffic. The work cannot be undertaken
during the winter. The Summit building, Hafod Eryri, will also remain closed for the 2022 season.

1394 FIXTURE REPORT (Paul Stewart) [email protected]
409] The Gorgeous AGM Trackbed Walk, Sat 20 Nov 2021; How it came about: By Dave Cromarty.

This walk was documented in some detail in the walk notes sent out with E-BLN 1390 in Dec 2021.
Log in to our website and go to 'Archive', set the search 'Category' top left to 'Railway walk' and put
'Ironbridge' in the top right hand 'Search' box. As it went more or less to plan, with tweaks due to the
Virus Whose Name Shall Not Be Spoken (because we've all heard enough of it), your Editor and I
agreed that a break with the usual report format might be warranted. Consequently these notes have
more to do with what was involved in the background than with what happened on the day.

It seemed such a simple idea at first. Helen (one of your Committee) and I have lived nearby for over
47 years now. When Kev asked me if I'd consider leading a walk in the Ironbridge area to complement
the Revolution Very Light Rail fixture there which was under development. I thought 'why not, should
be straightforward' and agreed without hesitation. I'd studied the L&NW Coalport branch south from
Telford Town Centre in some detail for a 19 Apr 2014 Society walk (BLN 1208.171). Recently Helen and
I had been walking the last mile or so of that and a mile or so of the GW across the river, each day for
our morning constitutional. I thought I knew pretty well what there was to know. Oh, foolish pride!

The plan started with a quick session on Google Maps to determine a sensible route consistent with
public transport availability and reasonably thorough coverage of the lines concerned. It turned out
that Ironbridge to the power station site boundary, back along the GW to Coalport and up the L&NW
to Madeley was about 7 miles. So far, so good. Then there was the landscape. Uncle Google quickly
told me that the altitude difference between the two bus stops concerned was 47m, or 154ft.

Well, no point in making it harder, so let's go Madeley to Ironbridge instead. Next stage was to ensure
that my 73-year-old legs could cope, before making an idiot of myself by leading a walk I couldn't
manage! That was soon established but in the course of so doing I realised I didn't know where the
end of the Coalport branch was exactly, save that it was some way beyond the station. I went for a
plod through the mud to where I thought it was, but such is the level of undergrowth and, in this
geologically unstable area, ground movement, it was less than obvious. To cut this long story short,
after two visits it eventually dawned that a photo on my mobile phone would reveal where I was, at
least to within 20 metres or so. Armed with 'lat and long', off I went again. The plan didn't work.
Several photos taken in different places reported the same location. Why? Coalport is not in Area 51,
a term used for classified locations, originally an air base in the USA, https://bit.ly/34KygKJ so why
can't satellites see it? Ultimately I was lucky enough to find an Internet photo of the end of the line,
buffer stops and all, so I was able to pin down the spot fairly accurately.

Then I started on the walk notes. Madeley Market? Easy; the station building is still there. Legges
Siding (the connection to the Blists Hill Brickworks)? Ah, where did it leave the branch? You try finding
a map with it on it. When you do, leg it down Legges Way (the road built on that portion of the branch
alignment in the 1980s) and try and fathom out where it was. I settled on lamppost MY460 as a best
guesstimate, but I'm still not convinced. Just down the road there's a quite spectacular, by horse
tramway standards, bridge which carried a tramway from Meadowpit Colliery in Madeley, to Blists
Hill. It featured a steam worked incline, the remains of which I thought we should look at on the walk,
together with the tramway rails still embedded in the car park of the All Nations, my 'local'. More
research revealed that it had been called 'Baguley's Wind' (to rhyme with dined) after a pub landlord
of the time, which explained why to this day, locals call it 'The Wind'.

Then there was the tramway from Blists Hill to clay pits above Ironbridge. How, I had often wondered,
did it cross Coalport Road? The levels seemed all wrong. More research resulted in the discovery that
there had been an underbridge and that on our many morning walks I'd completely failed to notice
the tramway alignment at a lower level (in my defence, there's no trace of that bridge now).





PREVIOUS PAGE: A 1956 composite map with the route of the walk marked in vivid light green.

ABOVE: 25" scale 1901 map, the single track L&NWR Coalport branch ends lower right, well past the
station. Slightly confusingly the retaining walls look like railway tracks. Over the River Severn, then by
a Toll Bridge, is the GW ex-Severn Valley Railway Coalport station. It had two platforms, a passing loop
and plenty of sidings particularly off the map towards Bridgnorth (bottom). Shrewsbury is off left.

And so it went on. Coalport China Works Siding. What? Again more research, eventually pinning it
down, more from local garden boundaries than anything else. 70 years of encroachment since closure
makes it less than obvious. At least the GPS signal worked there. Over the river, and there's the
Coalport Brick & Tile Works and its little twig off the GWR (towards Bridgnorth). And I thought it was
a sewage works. Well, it is - but on the tile works site, although just to confuse the issue, its access
road parallels the former GWR 'twig' but is not on it. Anyway, the walk route acquired half a mile by
going to look at the remains. Coalport GWR station is now the home of two ex-BR Mk1 coaches used
for holiday accommodation, as well as both original platforms and their buildings. More homework in
the form of emails obtained us permission to have a look round as long as we didn't disturb the paying
guests. On the day we were made very welcome by the owner who showed us a rather mysterious
ex-military structure close to the station. Hmm… Perhaps Coalport is in Area 51, after all.

The next stretch took the walk along to Jackfield. Think 'tile works'. They are, or rather were, all over
the place and much further research was required to establish what was connected to the railway,
where and how. Only Maw's (once the world's largest) survives, accommodating some flats, shops and
craft workshops, along with Craven Dunnill which is mostly museum but does still make tiles on a
limited 'bespoke' scale. My researches took me into many digital 'rabbit holes' (those things you end
up looking at because they're interesting, not necessarily relevant!). However, eventually it provided,
inter alia, the background to the relocation of Jackfield Halt (originally OP 3 Dec 1934), necessitated
by a major landslip at the first site just west of Maw's, thought to have been in Apr 1952. The (new)
wooden halt OP 1 Mar 1954, 18ch further south just east of Maw's.

[BLN 1394]
I learned about the Doughty Fault (part cause of the landslip), encaustic tiles ( https://bit.ly/3fp8kGL )
made by Maw's and Craven Dunnill, and religion in the East Shropshire industrial area (more 'rabbit
holes'). The latter resulted from our route passing a former Wesleyan Methodist chapel as well as St
Mary's church, whose interior showcases the products of both Maw's and Craven Dunnill. [Participants
who had walked the trackbed at Jackfield previously were absolutely astounded at the transformation
of the landscape here following the £17.9M landslip rectification works which concluded in Apr 2016.]

The final section of our walk was to take us through Ironbridge & Broseley station site which was very
close to the centre of Ironbridge via the eponymous 1779 bridge but quite a way from, and below,
Broseley. Here most of the site remains obvious, though graced by a modern day car park on the site
of the station and its eastern approach. There is further evidence in the form of rails in the tarmac of
the road leading from the Iron Bridge. A little further west, prompted by a notice board along the
path, I located the short lived 'twiglet' off the GWR's Severn Valley line which served the briefly
resuscitated Bower Yard Lime Kilns in the 1920s and 1930s. Before reaching the end of the walk at the
former power station boundary fence, we were to cross a viaduct which is not too obvious on the
path, surprisingly, but clearly visible from the other side of the river where it could easily be mistaken
for a retaining wall. One last bit of research was required to find out which it was.

As readers will have gathered, the walk notes required many hours of investigation along with a good
deal of footslogging complicated by the temporary absence (due to a six month DVLA renewal delay)
of my driving licence. That said, as one with a growing interest in modern history, I found it very
informative and rewarding and I would certainly encourage potential walk organisers to get into those
digital 'rabbit holes', or their printed equivalents, and hopefully reap the same rewards. [Participants
were very grateful to Dave for organising such an interesting, well researched and enjoyable walk.]

Could YOU organise a walk for the Society? Ideally accessible by public transport, it doesn't need to
be complicated and notes are not mandatory. Please contact our Fixtures Secretary (per back page).

:Details must be checked 1394 CONNECTIONS (Paul Stewart) [email protected] .Please mention BLN.

X.43] Sat 12 Feb; UK Railtours, The Powerful Pennine Panorama tour: Arranged by our member Ian
'Selby' Loveday. The Goods Lines Authorities have been issued and the train has been timed, the full
route is expected to include: London Euston depart via Line X.  Willesden Jn (Acton Branch)
Down Willesden Relief to the Down Fast link. This is 'red' Baker track and the organiser is not aware
of a charter doing it in the last decade or so. It is only possible with Class 67 haulage and would not
be possible with a Class 66 as, after this link, a train has to stay on the Fast Line to Watford South Jn.
Watford South Jn Down Fast to Down Slow. Bletchley Relief No2 (in the Down direction with the
crossovers). Northampton Down Goods Loop. Rugby Down Fast from the Northampton lines.
Cliffe Vale Down Goods Line. Macclesfield P3 (Down direction). Stockport Down Main (rare).
Brewery Jn Down Passenger Loop. Castleton Down Goods Loop. Hemsworth Up Doncaster
Passing Loop. Moorthorpe Up Goods Loop. Toton High Level Goods Lines. Leicester Up &
Down Slow. A DBC Class 66 is booked off Toton to pilot the train from Nuneaton.

London Euston 07.00/21.10, Watford Junction 07.35/20.42, Milton Keynes 08.35/19.57,
Northampton 08.59/19.37, Nuneaton 19.18/18.46. See https://bit.ly/3qvgN1y 01438 715050.

X.44] Sat 26 and Sun 27 Feb; Locomotive Services Limited Intercity, The 'Clansman': This tour from
Euston/Birmingham/Preston (six pickup stations) to Inverness is booked to cover Mossend Down
Goods Loop (loco change 87002 to 47593/614 targeted), Aviemore bidirectional Up P2 northbound
(1H15 overtakes) and, on the return, Mossend Up Reception (loco change) plus Eden Valley Down
Goods Loop. First Class Mk3 coaches, Inverness 18.49 Sat until 11.00 Sun. Sat night there is time to
share a taxi to Beauly for the 20.43 to Inverness P7 or the 21.06 from P7 (item 383) to Tain (22.16),
returning 22.21 to Inverness P6. https://bit.ly/3ugBW1H has details and bookings for the tour itself.

X.45] Sat 5 Mar, Pathfinders Railtours 'The Lancashire': Westbury 05.15/22.55 - Bath 05.40/22.20 -
Rhubarb Curve - Bristol Parkway 06.15/21.50 - Cheltenham 07.00/21.00 - Bromsgrove 07.35/20.30
- Birmingham New St 08.10/19.50 - Aston - Perry Barr South Jn - Perry Barr West Jn - Soho East Jn -
Soho North Junction - Soho Down Goods Loop - Wolverhampton 08.45/19.25 - Stafford Goods Loop
- Royal Mail Terminal ('P7') - Stoke - Cliff Vale Up Goods in the Down Direction crossing over to the
Down Goods in the Down direction - Alsager Up & Down Goods Loop (with both crossovers) - Crewe
11.10/16.30 - Earlestown - Eccles Up Goods Loop - Weaste branch (beyond the NR Limit) the first
tour to do this branch since June 2010 - Manchester Piccadilly - Longsight Up & Down Goods -
Northenden Waste Terminal - Northwich East Jn - Northwich South Jn - Middlewich - Sandbach -
Crewe Manchester Up Independent - Crewe Gresty Lane - Crewe Salop Down Goods Loop - Crewe
(SD 16.30) then to Westbury via Watery Lane Up Goods Loop! DBC Class 66 from Westbury with a
Class 60 from/to Crewe. These freight line tours are becoming increasing difficult to organise and
really do need our support otherwise we may lose them completely - 'Use it or Lose it' as British Rail
used to say. For details/bookings: https://bit.ly/3on7uyY 01453 834477. Timings are provisional.

410] Sat 16 Apr; 'The Norfolk Coast Express': LSL Intercity, an all First Class train from Manchester
Piccadilly (07.00/21.45), Guide Bridge (07.15/21.30, Romiley (07.30/21.15), Sheffield (08.30/20.15) &
Retford (09.15/19.30) - Lincoln - Sleaford Avoiding Line - Up Werrington Diveunder - Ely West Jn
facing crossover - Ely Loop - Wensum Curve - Wensum Jn trailing crossovers - Berney Arms - Great
Yarmouth (break) - Acle - Norwich Thorpe (rev) - East Coast Main Line - Retford West Jn - Thrumpton
West Jn and to Manchester. £129 or £159 at a table for two. Class 40 to Yarmouth and from Norwich.
https://bit.ly/3ofTMhk or 0800 038 5364. The train manager and stewards may be familiar to you!

411] Sat 14/21 May; Epping: Thanks to our member Rob Davidson, we are invited on this Watford
Branch RCTS visit to Epping old Signal Cabin for a signalling demonstration and hands on simulation.
There is also a restored LT Locomotive 'L11' to explore - the former Acton Works Shunter. It was built
at Acton Works in 1964 by joining the driving ends of two standard stock driving motor cars, '3080'
and '3109' originally built by Metropolitan-Cammell in 1931 for the Piccadilly Line Extension. The visit
includes a detailed history of the loco and of Epping itself, on to the Cabin, upstairs and downstairs in
the Relay Room, demonstration of the frame and the option of pulling a few levers. The Relay Room is
the display area and includes some demonstration exhibits. Ask as many questions as you like! Meet
at Epping station main entrance at 12 noon, the whole tour should be about two hours (or longer).
Refreshments available in the relay room. £10 per person (going to charity) on the day. Limit 12;
if oversubscribed it will be repeated the following Sat 21 May. Email Rob at [email protected]

CONTACT DETAILS: See BLN/e-BLN 1390 or 1350 (18 Apr 2020), website PDF or via BLN Editor.
●Editor: Paul Stewart [email protected] 4 Clarence Close, MALVERN, WR14 3HX 01684 562862 07790652351.
●Fixtures Secretary: Kev Adlam [email protected] @BLSFixtures (Paper post via BLN Editor above please.)

●Bookings: Mark Gomm [email protected] 84 Mornington Road, STOKE-ON-TRENT, ST1 6EL 07983 541887.
●BLS Sales: Graeme Jolley [email protected] Dolbryn, Penegoes, MACHYNLLETH, Powys, SY20 8NN. 07484646542.

●Printed by Willow Printing & Design Ltd [email protected] 75/79 Back Cross Lane, NEWTON-LE-WILLOWS,
WA12 9YE 01925222449. ●Published by the Branch Line Society, 10 Sandringham Rd, STOKE GIFFORD, BS34 8NP.

X.46] LEFT: (BLN 1393.242)
An air braked brakevan for
merry-go-round coal trains
in their early days.