NRS NL 62-2 Mar-April 2017

Norfolk Railway Society

Founded 1955 www.norfolkrailwaysociety.org.uk
Volume 62 No. 2 Mar/Apr 2017

_________TRACK REPORT

news from railways in and around Norfolk

National Network

GE LINES UPDATE: March

GE LINES NEWS

Continuing engineering blockades at Shenfield:
Extensive engineering work at Shenfield related to
Crossrail works (new pointwork, signalling and a new bay
platform no. 6) and the rewiring of the obsolete overhead
wiring dating from the 1949 electrification has seen the
Electric/Slow lines between Brentwood and Shenfield,
including the Southend dive-under line, closed to traffic
since before Christmas. A complete weekend blockade
has been in force south of Ingatestone from the beginning
of February until the end of March 2017 with alternate ex-
Norwich services terminating at either Ingatestone or
Colchester on Saturdays or Witham on Sundays with bus
links to Newbury Park for Central Line services to central
London.

In mid-March the Shenfield station area still resembled a
building site with the OLE missing above the Electric lines
in the station area and towards Brentwood as new
overhead masts and wiring are being installed. Track-
lowering works have been taking place with up to 3
engineering trains being observed at a time within the
blockade.

Crossrail (the “Elizabeth Line”): 76084 arrives at Sheringham on 23rd March before crossing to
The first new Class 345 EMU 345002, delivered to Ilford the NNR - see page 4. This image by Andy Wright was taken
Depot, has been under test between Liverpool St and handheld without flash at 1/160 sec, f4, ISO 3200 and processed
Shenfield principally at night. The first daylight arrival at in Adobe Lightroom.
Liverpool St occurred on 15th February. The 345s are due
to be introduced on Liverpool St – Shenfield services in ● Haughley Junction to become a double rather than single
May. lead junction;
● Ely area upgrades;
Greater Anglia’s 10 priority infrastructure projects: ● Ely-Soham doubling;
Greater Anglia is seeking stakeholders’ support to achieve ● Trowse Swingbridge to become a fixed double track bridge
the delivery of what it says are its 10 key priorities:- (preventing tall-masted boats reaching Norwich);
● Long loops between Witham and Colchester;
In This Issue 1 ● ERTMS between London and Colchester to boost
5 capacity;
Track Report 5 ● Increased passenger capacity at Liverpool St;
National Network 6 ● Level-crossing upgrade programme;
Heritage, Narrow-Gauge & Miniature 13 ● Capacity upgrades and quadrupling south of Broxbourne
Away From the Tracks along the Lea Valley route (these are two objectives
13 combined).
Pick-up Goods 15
NRS News
Feature
The Cumbrian Coast Circular – Brian Cornwell
Working Timetable

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Some of these objectives might be delivered in CP6 2019- The first unit to be overhauled – 170270 - was noted heading
2024 but time will tell! for LNWR / Arriva Traincare at Crewe on 7th January for its
C6 overhaul. It was observed at Ipswich on 7th March proudly
Manningtree - New train maintenance depot: wearing its new AGA white and red door livery.
A media event was held on the site of the new depot on 9th
February. Announced as one of the new franchise’s plans, Collision between a train and tractor at Hockham Road
associated with the complete renewal of Greater Anglia’s train user-worked crossing, Thetford on 10th April 2016. On
fleet, the new £70m depot is to be designed and built, by the 14th March the Railway Accident Investigation Branch
appointed contractors Taylor Woodrow, on a 22 acre site published its report into this accident. The following
used as a now-demolished chemical works. Located at summary appears on the RAIB website:-
Brantham just on the Ipswich / north side of the River Stour
bridges, it will be accessed via a new junction beside At 1230 on 10th April 2016 a passenger train (170204) travel-
Manningtree North Junc (where the north-east curve to the ling from Norwich to Cambridge collided with an agricultural
Harwich branch joins the main line). tractor and trailer on a level-crossing at Hockham Road, near
Thetford in Norfolk. The train was travelling at 87 mph (140
The depot will comprise 2 sidings within a 300m-long shed km/h) when, on the approach to the crossing, the train driver
with full under-train inspection pits and overhead cranes for saw a tractor moving closer to the railway tracks. The train
general train maintenance together with 13 stabling sidings driver sounded the train’s horn and applied the emergency
outside. There will also be a wheel lathe facility. The project is brake, but could not stop before colliding with the tractor. The
due for completion by December 2018. Site clearance began train did not derail, but its driving cab was damaged, and the
in mid-March and development is expected to begin this driver and four passengers suffered minor injuries. The tractor
summer. was destroyed, and its driver was seriously injured.

Class 170 refresh programme: The level crossing at Hockham Road is on a restricted byway,
Greater Anglia have decided to give their Class 170 DMUs an and has gates which are operated by crossing users. About
internal refresh 17 years after the first of their 8 x 3 car units one minute before the collision, the tractor driver had ob-
(201-208) arrived which were then followed by 4 x 2 car units tained permission to cross from a signaller at the Network
(270-273). The refresh includes repainting; refurbished Rail signal box at Cambridge. The signaller had given him
seating with new seat covers; plug points; new flooring permission to cross when there was insufficient time before
throughout and a deep clean. The 3-car units will lose the the train would arrive at the crossing. This was because the
former train manager’s office creating 6 additional seats. signaller had lost his awareness of the position of the train
because his levels of concentration may have lapsed, and his
Norfolk Railway Society competence to operate the workstation safely and effectively
(Founded 1955) had not been adequately monitored.

President: Ken Mills, Esq. A system that had been installed at the level crossing in 2012,
intended to display green or red lights to crossing users to
Committee and Officers 2016-2017 Telephone warn them whether or not it was safe to cross, was not work-
ing at the time of the accident. It had been decommissioned
Chairman Ray Halliday 01603 721067 by Network Rail following concerns which the company had
about the safety integrity of the system. This had meant that
Vice Chairman Brian Kirton 01603 926212 users had to telephone the signaller for permission to cross.
The RAIB found that Network Rail had not come to a clear
Past Chairman & Brian Cornwell 01508 492596 understanding with the manufacturer of the system about how
Outdoor Visits the equipment met the required safety integrity level and, hav-
ing assessed the risks, had decided to turn off the system
Secretary & Andrew Wright 01508 492010 while improvements were made.
Webmaster
An underlying factor was that the arrangements in Cambridge
Treasurer John Laycock 01603 720125 signalbox for managing fatigue among signalling staff were
inadequate.
Membership Sec Mike Handscomb 01953 605068
The RAIB has made three recommendations to Network Rail.
Newsletter Editor & Edward Mann 01603 456372 The first concerns Network Rail’s approach to managing user
Indoor Programme worked level crossings, with the intention of either eliminating
the need for a signaller to have to decide whether it is safe for
Publicity Chris Mitchell 01603 451692 a user to cross the railway or providing better information for
signallers when making these decisions. The second relates
Indoor Programme Graham Kenworthy 01603 714479 to the processes that Network Rail uses when introducing
new signalling equipment whose operating interface differs
Show Day Organiser Peter Willis 01508 492562 significantly from existing equipment, and the third covers the
management of the competence of signalling shift managers
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------- when they also operate signalling equipment.

Norfolk Railway Society Newsletter Brandon Downside Goods Yard
In late March site clearance works were nearing completion
Editor: Edward Mann (the shell of the roofless former warehouse was still standing
on 23rd March) suggesting that a new rail traffic customer
Layout & Picture Editor: Andrew Wright (aggregates?) may be about to recommence rail use – the

Distribution: Graham Smith 2

Please contact Graham if the next edition does not arrive by
the end of the month of publication.

Opinions expressed in any articles are those of the author
and should not be taken to represent those of the Society.
Next issue published 8th June 2017
Copy date: 1st June 2017.

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previous rail use being the delivery of sugarstone for road service at Colchester and the 0730 ex-London was cancelled
delivery to the British Sugar plant at Wissington. The Goods throughout.
Yard area was last used for the storage of signalling
equipment recovered when the Norwich – Ely line was 16th February: The 0542 Lowestoft – Norwich, then forming
resignalled. the 0633 Norwich – Cambridge, was cancelled as were the
0940 ex-Norwich and 0812/1112 return services due to
Norwich Northern Distributor Road shortage of units. A unit was found to work the 1240 ex-
This highway scheme now under construction sees a new Norwich taking up the diagram. The 0624 and 0800 Norwich
overbridge built over the Norwich – Sheringham line near – London services were cancelled due to high levels of
Little Plumstead. On Sunday 9th April services are being vehicles needing repair and the 1030 return was worked by 2
replaced by road transport whilst the 36.7m long steel bridge x 321s but terminating at Ipswich.
beams are installed. The main risk to the lift is windy weather,
so 16th April has been reserved “just in case”. Up services were delayed by track defects between
Colchester & Marks Tey and Shenfield & Harold Wood during
GE INCIDENTS the afternoon.
The following details represent the most serious of known
delays in recent weeks. The Crossrail remodelling work has effectively reduced the
main line through Shenfield to a two track railway with a flat
26th January: The 2118 London to Clacton service was junction serving the Southend Victoria branch. It was only a
terminated at Chelmsford having experienced OLE / matter of time before a points failure intervened (after
pantograph damage. OLE damage between Shenfield & passage of the 1435 London – Southend). The following 1438
Witham necessitated the use of the Up line by all trains. The London – Colchester Town was delayed by 45 minutes and
following 2130 London – Norwich was on time at Brentwood, the 1500 London – Norwich by 49 minutes; the 1530 arrived
16L at Shenfield, 36L at Chelmsford and 42L arriving at Norwich 57L. The 1700 and 1800 Norwich – London services
Norwich. The 2230 London - Norwich was on time at Ilford, were cancelled in reaction. The return 1930 and 2030
50L at Romford, 66L at Chelmsford and 85L at Norwich. The services from London were cancelled with the remaining 1900
2330 London – Norwich departed 10L, passed Shenfield 38L, and 2000 ex-London services reported full and standing on
Chelmsford 71L (Diss 82L) and arrived Norwich 72L. departure.

27th January: Greater Anglia advised passengers not to 23rd February - Storm Doris: From late morning Storm
travel given the severe disruption to services as repairs to the Doris, with wind speeds exceeding 80mph, wreaked
OLE prevented trains running south of Chelmsford until about considerable havoc generally and on the railways in
0820. Unfortunately further OLE damage was discovered particular. OLE damage caused - in the main - by falling tree
later that morning with the Down line between debris disrupted services between Needham Market & Diss,
Shenfield/Ingatestone/Chelmsford being taken out of use. Ely & Downham Market, Tottenham Hale & Cheshunt,
Repairs commenced about 1400 and were completed just Broxbourne & Hertford East and Bishop’s Stortford &
after 1600. Cambridge. The situation deteriorated after about 1330 with
trees obstructing the railway at Attleborough and also
3rd February: The previous night’s 2330 London to Norwich between Norwich – Yarmouth/Lowestoft/Sheringham. The
was involved in a fatality at Mellis at approx 0115. In reaction 1245 Norwich – Sheringham was terminated at Hoveton &
some early morning trains were cancelled and this may Wroxham 53L and the service on the line was then
explain why the 0830 Norwich – London and the subsequent suspended between Norwich and North Walsham with a
diagram (1100 and 1600 ex-London 1330 and 1830 ex- shuttle between there and Sheringham. Even a car found
Norwich) ran in reverse formation with the Class 90 at the itself blown off the Jubilee sidings loading dock platform on to
Norwich end of the train. a siding at Norwich station!

6th February: OLE problems in the Romford area The 1200 London – Norwich was terminated at Stowmarket
necessitated the thinning out of morning peak services 19L and then formed the 1430 ex-Norwich which started from
including the termination of the 0740 Norwich – London at Stowmarket. The 1230 and 1300 ex-London terminated at
Colchester. Ipswich 70L and 34L respectively whilst the 1330 ex-London
terminated at Colchester. The 1400 London – Norwich started
9th February: The 1046 Felixstowe – Hams Hall container from Stratford 20L arriving Ipswich 36L and was then
service departed Ipswich 2E but then failed before reaching platformed from 1542 to 1626 departing 77L (Diss dep 84L).
Halifax Junc, passing there 69L. The 1100 Norwich – London
was held in Ipswich station from 1140 to 1244 departing 61L. As an illustration of the disruption on lines from Norwich the
The 1130 ex-Norwich departed Diss on time but reached following departures were amongst those cancelled:
Ipswich 44L. The 1200 ex-Norwich was held at Diss before 1345/1445 to Sheringham; 1405/1455 to Lowestoft;
reaching London 28L. The 1330 from London was cancelled 1417/1440 to Yarmouth. The 1348 Lowestoft – Norwich
and the 1400 ex-London departed 23L and reached Norwich departed 12L and Reedham 14L but was then delayed
28L. departing Brundall 50L, reaching Norwich 52L. The 1530 and
1600 Norwich – London services were formed of 3 car 170s
14th February: The 0310 Felixstowe – Trafford Park service and both services terminated at Colchester.
failed just after leaving Ipswich and not recovered back into
Ipswich Yard until 0615. The following 0418 Felixstowe – The mass of cancelled services created platforming problems
Burton having been on time at Westerfield passed Ipswich at Norwich with the 1530 London – Norwich being one of the
East Suffolk Junc 69L, Ipswich 93L at 0635, Colchester 138L casualties. Having departed London 20L (services being
and then left the GEML at Stratford 169L. delayed by speed restrictions imposed because of the gale
force winds) the train departed Stowmarket 35L and Diss 55L,
Reaction was that the 0500 Norwich – Ipswich was and then took 38 minutes from Trowse Junc to be platformed
terminated at Ipswich. The 0700 London – Norwich entered at Norwich 106L.

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An additional service from Ely departed on time at 1637 but 3rd March: The 0900 Norwich – London diagram was covered
was held at Thetford from 1709 to 1817, probably because of by a pair of 321s with the 0930 ex-Norwich cancelled due to
the tree on the line at Attleborough, and arrival at Norwich unavailable stock.
was 120L.
Owing to “an operational incident” the 1730 London –
The 1658 Norwich – Lowestoft departed 42L and Reedham Norwich service was terminated at Shenfield with the ecs
56L. Its 85L arrival at Lowestoft meant that the 1748 return departing at 1850. The following 1750, 1810 and 1830
departed 88L reaching Norwich 93L. Norwich-bound services passed Shenfield about 25L
The 1700 Norwich – London was terminated at Colchester reaching Norwich up to 35L. The 1900 ex-London passed
33L. Shenfield 15L but encountered delays approaching
Colchester reaching there 44L and Norwich 46L.
24th February - Doris Day + 1: The aftermath of Storm Doris
was particularly evident on the Norwich – Sheringham route 6th March: A fatality on the London side of Chelmsford station
which was closed to enable Network Rail to remove a row of occurred at about 1100. The 1030 London – Norwich reached
some 40 trees at Worstead. The first train from Norwich Chelmsford 98L and the 1100 was terminated at Stratford.
became the 1645 which departed 17L.
9th March: The 1046 Felixstowe – Hams Hall container train
A mains electricity power supply failure in the early morning failed near Halifax Junc soon after leaving Ipswich
affected signalling between Thetford and Brandon for about necessitating assistance before restarting 69L. The 1100
90 minutes until a standby generator could be brought to site Norwich – London was held at Ipswich until 1244, departing
to restore the supply. The 0652 EMT service from Norwich 61L. The 1130 ex-Norwich was delayed between Stowmarket
was terminated at Thetford with the following 0737 Norwich – and Ipswich departing from there 44L.
Cambridge cancelled but becoming an additional service to
Thetford departing at 0815. The 0940 ran departing Norwich 17th March: The 2250 Ditton – Felixstowe container train
13L and reached Ely 39L.The 0704 Cambridge – Norwich service passed Marks Tey 6L but then required assistance
departed Ely on time but was 119L at Brandon, 151L at passing Colchester 80L. The 0700 London - Norwich was
Thetford and 156L at Norwich. The 0912 Cambridge departed terminated at Witham (its booked 0930 return from Norwich
10L, Ely 27L, Thetford 58L and arrived 70L at Norwich. The being started from Ipswich), with two stopping services and
1012 ex-Cambridge was cancelled and the 1112 departed the 0017 Trafford Park – Felixstowe ahead. The stopping
29L, reaching Norwich 35L services due Colchester 0737 and 0747 were 23L and 40L
respectively. The 0017 was then recessed at Colchester
A tree obstructed the line near Stowmarket mid-afternoon departing 149L and arriving Ipswich 161L possibly with its
with the 1530 London – Norwich being held at Ipswich until loco summoned to assist the 2250 ex-Ditton.
1737, departing 55L, and the following 1600 ex- London
reached Norwich 40L. The 1700 ex-London failed to leave the 18th March: The 0900 Norwich – Ingatestone was delayed at
stops due to brake trouble! Manningtree for 20 minutes owing to a passenger being taken
ill. Fortunately two doctors were travelling on the train and
25th February: The 0933 Witham – Norwich was involved in a able to render assistance until paramedics and an ambulance
fatality between Diss and Trowse Junc, reaching Norwich arrived.
133L. Train services terminated at / started from Diss with
road replacement services to/from Norwich. The first through 22nd March: The 0740 Norwich – London was cancelled at
train to Norwich after the blockade was the 1204 ex-Witham departure owing to door interlock problems. The previous
reaching Norwich at 1334 forming the 1400 return which was evening’s signalling problems in the Tivetshall area (blessed
the first departure from Norwich towards Diss since the 1030 with a number of ahb level-crossings) continued with trains
departure. being cautioned through that section. These problems
worsened from mid-morning with Norwich-bound trains
1st March: The Class 90 working the first Up service of the arriving up to 55L (1400-1500 ex-London) but matters
day 0500 (Norwich – London) failed approaching Manningtree improved with the 1600 ex-London being a mere 20L. The
departing there 110L once the “Thunderbird” had been 1630 and 1700 ex-Norwich were cancelled whilst an
summoned from Shenfield. The train terminated at additional service due to depart at 1710 left 12E!
Colchester. The following 0530, 0600 and 0624 services all
terminated at Ipswich with the 0648 being cancelled. The first 23rd March: OLE damage between Romford and Ilford
through train after the 0500 ex-Norwich was the 0705 which delayed some early morning services with the 0530 ex-
reached London 24L. Norwich being terminated at Colchester and the 0624 simply
being cancelled.
Down services such as the 0730, 0755 and 1000 London –
Norwich were cancelled due to no stock having reached 76084 returned to the NNR, leaving York NRM at 0700
London. The 0625 London – Norwich was terminated at travelling via Lincoln & Peterborough and reaching Norwich
Colchester. 321s then covered at least one diagram up to 3rd around 1615 with a layover before departing for Sheringham
March. at about 1915.

2nd March: A passenger taken seriously ill on the 1930 The case of the disappearing ticket option
London – Norwich necessitated the attendance of emergency
services at Stowmarket with the train departing 65L. The For the past 18 months or so your scribe has been travelling
2000 ex-London departed Ipswich 52L and the 2030 ex- by train from Norwich to Crewe via London (journey time 4
London left 18L. As a result of the line blockage at hours approx.) every three weeks or so. With a Senior
Stowmarket the 2117 Ipswich to Cambridge and return Citizens railcard discount applied the First Class return (two
services were cancelled with bus replacement. singles) fare totalled about £100.

At the end of February these through tickets simply
disappeared! The Greater Anglia website only showed the

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EMT cross-country option (taking 5 hours 15 minutes
approx.) in Standard Class 158s throughout with a change at
Stockport. The National Rail website still shows the via
London ticket offering but when one tries to purchase tickets
they are then stated to be unavailable! The urgent need to
undertake a journey resulted in split tickets Norwich to
London and then London to Crewe producing a total fare of
£167, an increase of about 67%! (Close to buying the train,
too – Ed.)

Greater Anglia’s customer relations team were contacted
after the web team had drawn a blank. The first explanation
was that the via London ticket option had been withdrawn
because of the engineering blockades in the London area
but this reason did not hold water as intended travel was
midweek when the blockade was not in place. GA then
offered to investigate the cheapest fare and requested
details of my next intended journey. Two weeks later a
chase was sent – apologies – and a similar request made
with the hope that a possible computer glitch could be
overcome…

I think that someone has decided that the ticket price was 34081 in the workshops at the Nene Valley Railway (Mike
adjudged as being too low. A significant increase was Fordham).
probably barred by fare controls so withdrawal became the
solution but so far no-one is prepared to admit that!
(Peter Adds)

Crossrail 2

The route of Crossrail 2 still has to be finalised but the main
London section would link Wimbledon in the south-west with
stations at Tottenham Hale and New Southgate in the north-
east via stops at Victoria, Tottenham Court Road and St
Pancras. However, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has been
joined in his calls to prioritise delivery of Crossrail 2 by more
than 70 business leaders in a letter to leading Government
Ministers. The £33Bn scheme was not mentioned in the
Chancellor’s recent Budget! (With thanks to Chris Mitchell
for this item from Transportation Professional Weekly.)

Settle & Carlisle Re-opening

Without the pressures of early rising to go to work, your 34081 departs Weybourne for Holt in 2008 shortly before it
Editor regularly watches BBC Breakfast News. There is failed. This photograph was taken by our late member John
rarely much railway content (it has other compensations) so Hanchet.
it was pleasing to learn that the Settle & Carlisle line re-
opened to passenger trains between Carlisle & Leeds on 31st
March with the passage of the 0550 Carlisle – Leeds and
the 0529 northbound. This had followed over a year’s
landslip blockade at Eden Brows at the northern end.

Heritage, Narrow-gauge and Away from the Tracks
Miniature
Lostwithiel it wasn’t!
A Job Well Done! (Mike Fordham)
John Hutchinson seems to spend most of his waking hours
When the Society visited the Nene Valley Railway last year, scouring railway websites (or so it appears to me). Towards
Bulleid “Battle of Britain” 4-6-2 34081 92 Squadron was in the the end of March the Cornwall Railway Society’s website
final stages of a major overhaul in their Wansford workshops. featured a photograph of boats and a boatyard thought to be
In the 2000s it was a very popular engine on the NNR until it in the Lostwithiel area but which had defied identification.
failed a boiler inspection owing to broken firebox stays in Step forward John, who correctly identified the location as
2008 – it was then withdrawn to await its 10-year overhaul. Its Jack Powles’ boatyard in Wroxham, the photo being thought
owners, The Battle of Britain Locomotive Society, moved it to to date from the 1960s! I rest my case!
the NVR to carry out the work and now, 7 years later and at a
cost of £280,000, its overhaul is complete. Resplendent in Do have a look at the Cornwall Railway’s website as it’s full of
Malachite green the “Pacific” looks brand new. interest.

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A miscellany of news and members’ contributions

Recently at the URC Hall unlikely as the economic difference (about 20:1 in favour of
the South) was too great. In Germany it had been about 3:1 in
favour of the West.

“The Railways of Korea & Japan” (Christopher Thanks to Andy Wright for operating the projector, and to
Joby – 2nd February) Christopher for a most unusual and much-appreciated
presentation.
Christopher Joby is the son of our distinguished Hon.
Member, Richard Joby, and is a lecturer at Seoul University. “North Woolwich to Palace Gates” (Jim
We learned that South Korea is a mountainous country and Connor – 16th February)
that about half of its population lives around Seoul.
We were pleased to find that Jim appeared to be in good
Railways in South Korea date back to 1896 when two health after his planned visit in November had had to be
American businessmen were granted a concession to postponed. Jim is a noted London railways historian and
construct the Seoul – Chenulpo – Incheon Railroad which founded The London Railway Record in 1994.
opened in 1899, but the railway did not reach Seoul until 1900
when the Han River was bridged. Although the country had North Woolwich to Palace Gates was one of London’s last
long ties with China, it became a Japanese protectorate, steam-worked suburban services and we saw a number of
finally coming under total Japanese control during WW2. images of its usual power – either L1 2-6-4Ts or N7 0-6-2Ts –
Another line opened in 1905, connecting Seoul with on about 4 coaches of Thompson suburban stock. But Jim’s
Pyongyang. And other lines followed, enabling a connection presentation began at North Woolwich, opened in 1847 and
to be made with the Trans-Siberian Railway. The railway rebuilt in 1853. It had suffered bomb damage during WW2
network was badly damaged during the Korean War but has and finally closed in 2006 when the electric service to
now been rebuilt and improved – in 1987 some 525 million Richmond was withdrawn, a victim of the success of the
passengers and 60 million metric tons were moved by rail. nearby Docklands Light Railway. The building had housed
The Norwich Woolwich Steam Museum for some 20 years.
We saw images of the flagship service – the Korea Train During his investigations in 1967 Jim had unearthed a sign
Express (KTX) which runs between Seoul and Busan (Pusan) which still said “Next Train to Palace Gates”, despite the line’s
and also operates from Incheon International Airport. Top closure in 1963.
speed for these is 350 kmh (190 mph) and the new
generation of KTX trains has reached 421.4 kmh, making Going north-westwards the first station was Silvertown, built
South Korea the fourth country to develop a high-speed train to serve Silvers Rubber Factory. Unusually, the booking office
running on conventional rails at 420 kmh (260 mph). was underneath the signalbox. The line had had to be
diverted in 1855 to allow for the construction of the Victoria
Old Seoul station, finished in 1925, is distinctly Japanese in Dock – the new line ran north of the Dock - the old line
appearance whilst New Seoul station – opened in time for the became known as the Silvertown Tramway and ran south of
Olympics of 2004 – lacks the same character. The Seoul the Dock, serving the many industrial premises nearby. The
Subway – now 20 connecting lines – opened its first line in Connaught Tunnel was an interesting cut-and-cover tunnel
1971. Some 2.6 billion rides are made annually. We found built in the 1870s consequent on another diversion. There
that Christopher has a penchant for photographing signs, and had been stations at Connaught Road and Tidal Basin,
that the translations into American-English left something to neither of which was rebuilt after bomb damage. Apparently
be desired! Tidal Basin, at one stage, issued platform tickets proclaiming
“Tidal Basin (V.D.)” – Victoria Dock as opposed to a STD!

Most unusually, the refreshments (which were excellent) There had once been two branches from Custom House -
came from the presenter’s sister Lyn, who owns the 7 Surrey one to Beckton, built to serve the huge Beckton Gasworks.
St café – perhaps this aspect could receive further thought in The gasworks is no more, but in its heyday it ran two fleets of
future! industrial locomotives – green-liveried ones to serve the
gasworks and maroon-liveried ones to serve the by-products
We briefly saw some old South Korean trams, trams having plant. The other branch ran to Gallions and both closed in
ended in 1968 only to be restored recently in a few places. 1940, victims of the Blitz. Gallions had been rebuilt in 1926 in
Seoul buses were introduced in 1930 and returned after the a pleasant, almost chalet, style and was the station for
Korean War. A glimpse of North Korea, which has a larger rail passengers boarding ships in the Royal Albert Dock. This
network, produced a diesel locomotive probably of Chinese or branch had been operated by the Port of London Authority
East European origin. since 1909.

Japan’s railways date back to 1872, with the opening of the During the evening we were to learn that Jim had heard
line from Tokyo to Yokohama, and since 1987 the railway stories about rare tickets from the line inexplicably being
business has been privatised. There are 27,268 km (approx. “discovered”. He had never seen any of the tickets, and had
20,000 miles) of railways, over 20,000 km of which are in the to conclude they were just stories!
hands of Japan Railways Group; the rest are owned by
private enterprise companies. The railway carried nearly 7.3 The next station was Canning Town, now a DLR/Jubilee Line
billion passengers (cf. 2.2 billion in Germany). Because of the interchange (West Ham was never a G.E. station, having
massive use of its railway network Japan has 46 of the 51 opened in 1979), before reaching Stratford Market which had
busiest stations in the world (no UK station on the list)! closed in 1957. During explorations, Jim had found a large
Japan’s high-speed or “bullet” trains were introduced in 1964 sign, obviously pre-war, which was just too big for anyone to
and we saw images of various types, including the latest carry away! He also took delight in images of enthusiasts in
Shinkansen. grey macs and other de rigueur trappings of the 1950s.
Economy was the watchword when B.R. re-opened and
A Q & A session followed, and a question was asked about electrified the long-closed Southbury Loop in 1960 - the
reunification of the North and South. Christopher thought this canopy from Stratford Market was “recycled” at Turkey St!

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Jim had an amazing image of 4472 Flying Scotsman, also at The photographic collection began on the G.W.R. with views
Stratford Market, undergoing clearance trials prior to the of Dean “Singles” at Paddington, Ealing and Sydney
Queen Mother re-opening the North Woolwich Steam Gardens, Bath, all on the broad gauge. The locomotives were
Museum in 1984 – there were no spectators and Health & clean, the compositions excellent with more than the
Safety was clearly different then! locomotive “in shot”. There were several views of the G.N.R.
around Harringay and Wood Green, perhaps reflecting
Having reached Stratford Low Level (now very different) the Cockshott’s assistance. But we soon found that he travelled
bulk of latter-day services terminated, leaving only a sparse widely as he recorded the ecclesiastical-looking G. & S.W.
peak-hour service to continue to Palace Gates. This would engine shed at Dumfries and the Highland station at
run close to Temple Mills marshalling yards before reaching Strathpeffer, which still survives.
Lea Bridge, which closed in 1985 before re-opening last year.
Then it was via a series of junctions through South Tottenham After the break the tour continued – a L. & Y. “Highflyer” at
to Seven Sisters (both now important interchanges), where Leeds, the “Brighton”, and various views of the L. & N.W.R.,
the branch buildings were in remarkably good condition 3/4 including a beautiful “Problem” 2-2-2, and shots of Bushey
years after closure. and Euston, before we saw a Webb “Coal Tank” at Afon Wen,
near Porthmadoc. A Beattie well-tank (of Wenford Bridge
Post-closure images showed that West Green was an fame) was followed by G.W.R. saddle tanks and the first
unattractive building but at Noel Park & Wood Green we saw “517” class 0-4-2T which preceded the familiar 14xx. A visit to
a late-1950s exhibition in which J52 68846, Mallard and a 9F what is now Northern Ireland was rewarded with sight of its
were prominent. And so the end of the line was reached at first compound locomotive on the Belfast & Northern Counties
Palace Gates Wood Green which had opened in 1878. Railway. Representatives from the Caledonian included an
Palace Gates was meant to be the Great Eastern’s station for unusual outside-cylinder 0-6-0. He also visited the Ffestiniog
Alexandra Palace but it wasn’t even close! It had a covered Railway and we were treated to an excellent view of
footbridge, with fireplaces in the stair-wells, and saw its last “Livingston Thompson” not long after it was built.
passenger trains (Class 31-hauled) on a snowy 5th January
1963. It was still intact a few years later, and there was a coal The G.E.R. featured prominently and there was a view of
concentration depot beyond the station reached via an “Gazelle” at Stow Bardolph on a trial run in 1893, an Adams
L.N.E.R. connection from Bounds Green. Jim’s presentation 0-4-4T at Forest Gate and the Duke of York’s Wedding
closed with an image of the station’s 2-road engine shed. Special of 1893, hauled by an oil-burning T19 2-4-0. He had
also photographed the Stratford scrap line and Shenfield
Thanks to Jim for an excellent show, to Andy Wright for before widening.
operating the projector, and to everyone for arriving at the
earlier time. There were some oddities: A Metropolitan tank at Bishop’s
Road (Paddington) with a train via the East London Line, a
Editor’s Note: It is well-nigh impossible to comprehend the North Eastern Worsdell 4-2-2 compound, a Midland 0-6-0
line as it was, particularly south of Stratford, as the D.L.R. specially built with a low chimney to go under a bridge at
routes to Gallions Reach and Woolwich either criss-cross or Poplar, a Severn & Wye Railway 0-6-0T at Berkeley Road, a
run close to it. Crossrail’s Abbey Wood line will soon be close South Eastern tank on a train from Muswell Hill and a South
by. Anyone really interested should obtain the London Eastern 4-4-0 on the “Granville Express” at New Cross
Railway Atlas (Brown). (apparently there was a Granville Hotel at Folkestone, so the
train was for its wealthy patrons).
Vintage Album 1888-1895 – the Early
Photographs of Dr T F Budden (John Minnis – Dr Budden also photographed in Belgium and France – we
saw an odd locomotive on the État Belge which had a
2nd March) rectangular chimney and three domes in descending size
towards the cab, and tank engines at Gare Saint-Lazare,
We were delighted to have a return visit from the recently- Paris, some of which lasted from the 1860s to the 1920s.
retired John Minnis, who explained that he had been
collecting railway photographs for some 50 years. He had Not everything was straightforward – he had tried a Kodak
become the part-owner of some of the little-known Len’s of camera which took circular photographs and which was
Sutton photographic collection (Len was noted for his old returned to the company for another camera when 100
railway magazines). John’s interest in the early images had been taken. Also, we saw some photographs
photographs/photographers had been sparked by J.E. Kite’s printed on an odd blue paper which were less successful.
Vintage Album of 1966, in which the author had spoken very
highly of Dr Budden’s work. John was heartily thanked for his presentation, and thanks
also to Andy Wright for operating the projector.
Dr Tice Fisher Budden was born in Islington in 1866 and was
probably the first person to take photographs of moving trains “The Life & Legacy of George Bradshaw” (Dr
in 1888. He was at Cambridge in 1888/89, and became David Turner – 16th March)
friendly with A. C. W. Lowe – a co-founder of the Locomotive
Publishing Co. Helpfully, his family knew F. P. Cockshott, We were pleased to welcome back Dr David Turner, who first
Superintendent of the G.N.R., who encouraged Budden and addressed us 2 years ago. David began by saying that there
gave him then unheard-of facilities. were a lot of things we think we know about Bradshaw, and a
lot of things Michael Portillo gets wrong! Bradshaw has been
Budden was registered as a doctor of medicine in 1893 and the subject of two principal biographies from 1939 and 1940,
contributed a lot of photographs to the Locomotive Magazine. but their lack of primary research makes them contradictory at
By 1911 he was Metropolitan Police Surgeon at Scotland times.
Yard, but after 1905 his work seemed to stop and did not
recommence until the 1930s, possibly connected with the George Bradshaw was born at Pendleton, near Manchester,
“Stirling Single” being returned to traffic for special duties. He on 29th July 1800. His father was a weaver – a good job, but
died in 1949, his memories stretching from the locomotives not a highly-paid one. He took lessons from a Swedenborgian
built in the 1850s through to the Pacifics.

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Christianity teacher before going to a traditional school, but hours of work, and it was a complex printing task. The Guide
his parents lacked the money to allow him to further his cost 12/6 (62½p) but smart purchasers could obtain the 6
education beyond age 14. He was then apprenticed to J. B.R. timetables for 6/- (30p)! Other Bradshaw publications
Beale – an engraver – a man who Bradshaw supported in folded around the same time.
later years. Bradshaw set up as an engraver in Belfast in
1820, but returned to Manchester in 1822 to set up as an After a lengthy Q &A session David was warmly thanked for
engraver and printer, chiefly of maps. His first maps were his presentation, and it emerged he has other talks which he
published c.1829 and were dedicated to the engineer Thomas could give! Thanks to Andy Wright for operating the projector.
Telford. He had seen a gap in the market – there was no map
of canals! His work was examined and praised by the Editor’s Note: David has written a very interesting piece about
Institution of Civil Engineers. other railway guides – just Google Measom’s Guides.

On 16th May 1839 he married Martha Darbyshire – they were Berney Arms Windmill
to have 2 children and he converted to Quakerism.
As most of you will know, the windmill cannot be reached by
The boom in railway investment in 1836/37 saw 57 lines road – you must go on foot, by train or by water. Although
proposed for construction, only 4 of these were never built. some leaflets – with opening dates - were handed out
About this time the government paid some £20M recently, problems with electricity have meant that some
compensation to slave owners. In 1839 the capitalisation of dates may have to be changed. To avoid a wasted journey,
the railways was just over £11M but the railways were please check with Ray Halliday (who will check with the
expanding very quickly. Huchinsons) before setting out. Once definite “new” dates are
available you will be advised.
Bradshaw’s first timetable was published in 1838 and just
covered railways in Liverpool and Manchester – it was stiff- Reinstating the Varsity Line and the Bus
covered and was intended to help sell excess maps. In 1839 alternative
he published his first collection of timetables which sold for 6d
(2½p). This was published in 3 parts and soon became We hear a lot about reinstating the Varsity Line from
Bradshaw’s Railway Companion and sold for 1/- (5p) but in Cambridge to Oxford, which closed to passengers as a
1841 Adams (his London Agent) suggested he reduce the through route from 1st January 1968. The middle portion from
price to 6d (and so undercut the competition) and so began Bedford St John’s to Bletchley has never closed, but Bicester
the Monthly Railway Guide. The separate Companion was Village (formerly Town) to Oxford closed and was then re-
issued until 1848. The Guide had 8 pages in 1841 but 89 in opened to passengers in 1987, and a recent development
1845. has been a link enabling services to run between Oxford &
Marylebone via Bicester & High Wycombe. Take a look at
Railway companies sold their own timetables and some were Table 115. Bicester to Bletchley is being reinstated, but the
reluctant to help Bradshaw although he was able to problem is between Bedford and Cambridge, Part is the
circumvent this. Although Bradshaw was prominent, it had Bedford to Sandy Country Way, whilst at Lord’s Bridge the
competitors e.g. Murray’s Scottish timetables (1851-1966) station and trackbed are now part of the Mullard Radio
and the ABC Guides. But the advantage of Bradshaw was Astronomy Observatory. Near Cambridge, the guided busway
that the information was in one place. Not all of his ventures has taken over part of the route. Other parts have been sold
succeeded – Bradshaw’s Journal ran from 1841-1843 only. for housing. Google “East West Rail Link” to read more than
His Continental Railway Guides started in 1847 in response this summary.
to the growth in foreign travel but were criticised for being
error-ridden. However, whatever his faults, he was an When I was in Cambridge recently I saw a coach on an
excellent map-maker. Oxford service. This turned out to be the X5, travelling via St
Neots, Bedford, Milton Keynes, Buckingham & Bicester to
He visited Norway & Sweden in 1853 – perhaps to see the Oxford. Buses run half-hourly but the entire journey takes just
first railway in Norway – but contracted cholera and died on over 3½ hours for its 85 miles. Fast trains could manage the
6th Sepember 1853 in what is now Oslo. run in 2 hours (Summer 1962 timetable), but maybe dons
preferred a longer journey via London (loco-hauled trains,
In 1845 the Guide had 89 pages, but by the 1890s it had buffet cars). Even so, one wonders how much end to end
some 900, increased of course by the number of lines (over traffic there was in the 1960s as there weren’t many through
20,000 miles in the 1890s) as well as the number of trains. Nowadays, the cost/time equation is different for
passengers (1.26 billion in 1908). As the Guides grew in size everyone, but the coach offers a good alternative for those
they gained a reputation for indecipherability and notes had with a free pass and time on their hands. You might get
to be accommodated as best they could. By 1902 all railway bored, though! (EM)
companies were required to let Bradshaw’s publishers have
timetable information 1½ months before publication. The Cambridge Guided Busway Revisited

It needs to be remembered that Bradshaw’s Guides This received a lot of criticism in our Newsletter soon after its
(timetables) made Bradshaw famous, but Bradshaw’s construction. A visit to St Ives on 4th March enabled me to
Handbooks (despite being praised by Portillo) were to sample the busway and my view - as a user – is rather
become just one in a crowded market. The London & South different. There are 5 routes – Route A is essentially R.A.F.
Western Railway Handbook of 1845 was probably the first but Wyton to Trumpington P & R via Addenbrooke’s whilst Route
Measom’s Guides (beginning with his Illustrated Guide to the B extends from Peterborough via Huntingdon & St Ives to
Great Western Railway 1852) were superior. The last of Drummer St bus station, Cambridge. These are operated by
Bradshaw’s Guide to Canals & Navigable Waterways was Stagecoach. Route C - operated by Whippet – is from St Ives
issued in 1904. to Cambridge railway station. There are also Routes R & U
but I will not dwell on these. The busway section is essentially
The final Bradshaw’s Guide was issued in 1961 (no. 1521). It from St Ives to the outskirts of Cambridge, after which they’re
had become uneconomic – its 1,000 pages required 20,000 just ordinary buses competing with other vehicles. I have to

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say, though, that 2 hours on Route B (to Peterborough) The traffic it generates is an important revenue earner for the
cannot be for the faint-hearted! Norwich to Sheringham branch, and it played a significant
role in saving the line when closure was threatened back in
Route A is probably the most interesting. Building is taking the mid-sixties.
place in Cambridge as if there’s no tomorrow, and round the
station it’s something of a mess. It doesn’t take long to leave Look out for the tanker in Weybourne yard as you arrive into
Cambridge, southbound, and the service closely follows the the station - it looks a treat - well done C&W volunteers.
main lines before crossing them on a rather spectacular Thanks to Steve for these images.
bridge and descending into the Addenbrooke’s complex.
Meanwhile, the relocated Papworth Hospital (in a rather
pleasant blue) is taking shape nearby. Some of the route
incorporates the old Bedford/Bletchley/Oxford line, but if
anyone is able to explain this in detail it would be appreciated.

From the users’ point of view the services are frequent and
the buses well-filled. One thing First Eastern Counties could
adopt is real-time information at stops. If a busway service is
shown to be due in 3 min. it will be “counted down” and in 3
min. the bus will arrive! (EM)

From further west A Five Star Service – but 60 years ago! (Robin
Thomas)
Work on the Ely Southern Bypass began on 9th March. This
will eventually lead to the removal of the level-crossing at Ely In 1958 I was an undergraduate student with ambitions to
station, much to the relief of the HGV fraternity. specialise in nuclear physics, so my summer vacation was
taken up with a placement at the prestigious atomic energy
Cambridge North is due to open on Sunday 21st May, and the research establishment at Harwell, near Didcot, Oxon.
first train to call will be AGA’s 0850 Cambridge – Norwich. If During the week I stayed in lodgings in Oxford but at
you get up bright and early the next day(!), GN’s 0454 King’s weekends I often travelled to my old home in South Wales,
Lynn – King’s Cross will be the first to call at 0539, followed at returning to Oxford on Sunday evenings.
0603 by AGA’s 0517 King’s Lynn – Liverpool St.
I liked to vary my journeys from Cardiff, sometimes travelling
A station study for Cambridge South via Bristol and Bath, but on the Monday of the August Bank
(Addenbrooke’s/Cambridge Biomedical Campus) has been Holiday weekend I took the opportunity to explore an
co-funded by AstraZeneca & John Laing. interesting alternative route. This was the rambling track from
Cheltenham which originally ran through the Cotswolds via
Weybourne Oil Tanker (Steve Cane) Stow-on-the-Wold and Chipping Norton to Banbury. I
consulted the printed timetable diligently and confirmed that I
The volunteer staff at Weybourne Carriage & Wagon shed should alight at Kingham station, a few miles south west of
have recently completed the repainting of their 1965 4- Chipping Norton where the Cotswold line joined the Oxford-
wheeled petroleum tanker 53083. It was the first attention the Worcester main line. From there, after a wait of thirty minutes
tanker had received since its arrival at the NNR many years or so, I would catch a scheduled stopping train to Oxford.
ago. It has been used for storing softened water for the
railway’s fleet of steam engines - this water is fed into the The journey from Cardiff to Cheltenham by DMU was not
tanker at Sheringham station and transported back to without concern, as the train was delayed progressively by
Weybourne. speed restrictions, having left Cardiff General (now “Central”,
which it is not really) some eleven minutes late. We arrived at
Gloucester having made up none of the lost time and there
we were held for a further eleven minutes while a faulty
traction motor was examined. The consequence of this
accumulated loss of 22 minutes caused some anxiety on my
part that the connection at Cheltenham Spa Malvern Road
station to the Cotswolds service might be missed.

Large vinyls have been added to the sides which were carried Fortunately, my worries were misplaced, albeit there were
by similar tanks that ran, and still do, between North Walsham only a few minutes before the onward service arrived. The
and Harwich where the condensate is refined. This line from Cheltenham was picturesque, progress was
condensate is a by-product of natural gas which originates pleasantly leisurely and we arrived at Kingham well on time. I
from the Bacton Gas Terminal on the Norfolk coast. was not at all surprised to be the only passenger to alight
from this sparsely occupied set of four carriages and I dutifully
settled happily on the platform seat in the late evening sun to
await the expected connection to Oxford.

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After ten minutes or so, the signalman leaned out of his box whilst Philip Moore’s “Hawkins’ Tower” was in 009 gauge
further up the platform and called out to ask why I had not left which, he told me, had big advantages when it was time to
the station. I told him about my intention to take the next train pack up! “Trenance Quay” was from Diss & District M.R.C.,
to Oxford and I was dismayed to be told that the service had complete with a train of clay hoods.
been discontinued a few weeks earlier. There were no more
trains to Oxford that evening. What could I do? According to Regulars – “The Norfolk 0 Gauge Mardlers” - had brought a
the signalman, the tiny village of Kingham, half a mile distant, very nice selection of locomotives from various local pre-
had a pub but he did not think they had accommodation. In grouping companies. An unusual display, which I particularly
any case, I did not have the means to pay for a night’s stay – liked, was the “Norfolk Coke & Tar Co” in its industrial setting.
no plastic cards in those days and, as a student, I carried little “Formhill” was a faithful re-creation of a wayside station and
cash. This very kind railwayman said he would see what he goods yard whilst Great Yarmouth M.R.C’s “Wadham Yard”
could do and ten minutes later presented a very generous was deep in G.W.R. territory.
solution to my plight. A train of empty stock was due to come
through to Oxford carriage sidings (Hinksey, no doubt, Ed.)
within the hour. He would stop it especially for me.
Furthermore, because I would not be permitted to alight
within the closed area of the sidings, he would arrange to
have the train diverted to the Oxford station platform.

I was unbelievably grateful for this very considerable
thoughtfulness on his part and equally pleased to find that
the guard on the empties train was entirely sympathetic and
friendly despite the inconvenience it would cause. So I
alighted at Oxford, rather later than expected, but in time for
my bed and ready to catch the early morning works bus the
next day.

By way of a postscript, the next station a short distance Those who preferred watching DVDs were kept entertained,
away on the main line north of Kingham was Adlestrop, thanks to Robert Scarfe’s varied show.
made famous by the Great War poet Edward Thomas (no
relation) whose poem of the same name describes his In the main circulating area Mike Handscomb had a larger
express train making an unscheduled stop at this little village than usual bookstall which included a considerable selection
station, where “the steam hissed, someone cleared his throat, from the recently-deceased John Hanchet.
no one left and no one came” on the bare platform. My own
experience of a lonely stay in this quiet place had a very
happy ending. The poet was not so fortunate: he was killed
some forty years earlier in April 1917 on the first day of the
Battle of Arras.

Editor’s P.S. – No chance of that happening on today’s
railway! My good friend Michael Roach and I applied our
combined knowledge and concluded that the discontinued
train was one of the victims of some economy cuts
introduced in mid-1958 to alleviate BR’s worsening financial
position. It is believed that all Regions lost about 10% of
their services but the Western Region’s cancellations seem
to have been the best-publicised. It is thought that Robin’s
train left Cheltenham St James at 1915, called at Malvern
Road a couple of minutes later, and then reached Kingham
at 2010, in time for a connection to Oxford, ostensibly
arriving at 2110. Interestingly, the Summer 1960 timetable
shows a 1946 from Kingham (a through Hereford –
Paddington service) so perhaps it wasn’t so clever to
withdraw the last train after all! If anyone knows what
happened on the E.R. please get in touch.

Annual Show Report (11th February)

Cloudy and damp weather (similar to that experienced at last Moving into the Sanctuary there was publicity from Norwich
year’s Show) might have discouraged some visitors, but it is M.R.C. and a large display from our friends from the B17
pleasing to report that there seemed to be a healthy Locomotive Trust. Brian Cornwell’s Lego layout was an
attendance. I think everybody will be familiar with the layout of eclectic mix of American and European which had been built
our Shows, so where better to begin than in the North Room, up over some 20 years. Graham Smith’s “Vintage Museum
where our President, Ken Mills, had brought a fine display of Tramways” featured trams from the U.K. and Europe,
“0” gauge on pre-war steel track including some classic including a fictitious “Bertram Mills Organ Tram”! The Barton
British 4-4-0s along with an Argentine 4-4-0 on a train of House Railway brought along its publicity. Michael Land was
Argentine wagons. a newcomer with a display of paintings. The Narrow Gauge
Society (16mm scale) had an unusual display of WW1 locos
“Ashfield Green” came courtesy of the Norfolk & Suffolk and stock from obscure but obviously well-researched
Narrow Gauge Society, and members from the East Anglian locations.
Transport Museum had an interesting tram layout. Dave
White’s display was of his favourite London Underground

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_________PICK-UP GOODS for donating other prizes. The Southwold Railway Trust
received a cheque from us for £250 (below) and, during his
There was an impressive display of 1950s vintage Hornby- thanks on behalf of the Trust, Chris Williams announced that
Dublo locos, rolling stock and well-known infrastructure such their first new steam locomotive would be arriving shortly.
as the 1930s style station, locoshed and signalboxes.
Alongside was “Triang through the Ages” recalling the Refreshments are an essential part of all-day events and we
company’s more dated style of station architecture, thank the “Catering Corps” (below) – Ann, Jane, Janet, Jenni,
signalboxes etc. Julie, Maureen, Rose and Sandi – for keeping everyone fed
and watered.
In the middle of the Sanctuary, Andy Wright had assembled
a photographic display from the late John Hanchet – the
night shots on the G.C. were particularly stunning.

And so into the Blake Room where the RC&TS (Ipswich
Branch) had its sales/publicity stand, and similar came
courtesy of the Friends of the Bure Valley Railway. Arthur
Barrett’s chosen narrow-gauge railway this year was the
RH&DR and he had the usual mix of publicity/sales and a
running DVD. More publicity was afforded to the Southwold
Railway Trust, the M&GNJRS and the North Norfolk
Railway.

Those of you who had missed Ray Halliday’s Chairman’s
Address had another opportunity to acquire the various
books on Berney Arms and its environs as Paul & Sheila
Hutchinson paid a welcome return visit. Finally, local artist

Wrenford Thatcher had an impressive display of railway prints And finally…the Show would not have been possible without
and original paintings. He has made a presentation to us the efforts of Peter Willis & Chris Mitchell; Chris spent a lot of
before, and I took the opportunity of asking him to make a time managing the car parking – a thankless task on a cold
return visit early in 2018. day! Our thanks go to both of them. (EM)

We are grateful to our local heritage railways for contributing
free family travel tickets as raffle prizes and to our members

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Double Slip at Sheringham

As reported in Joint Line No. 173 Spring 2017, a major
replacement of permanent way has taken place on the North
Norfolk Railway between Sheringham West signal box and
bridge 305. The two most heavily used switches in the area
were badly worn, with No. 9, which directs trains from the
main line into platform 1 or 2, effectively life expired. Rather
than simple replacement a double slip (see images, right and
below) has been installed in order to allow direct access to
the running line from platforms 1 & 2 and - in a later phase of
development - from platform 3. The latter is as yet unfunded.

The work completed in January effectively restored the
previous layout with only the crossover in use. It is connected
to the existing lever frame in Sheringham West signal box. In
due course this will be replaced with the ex-Brandon lever
frame. Next to the box a new relay room has been built
(right, lower) to house the additional signalling equipment the overall
project will require. (Images taken on 18th March by Andy Wright.)

Corrections Corner

In NRS/NL 62/1 p.1 we should have referred to the
new Crossrail line as the Elizabeth Line.

Standard Class 4MT 75006 with 5 coaches on the 1100 to On p.5 of that issue, Mike Handscomb should have been
Pwllheli waits at Ruabon Station on Saturday 4th July 1964. credited as the author of Committee Pot Pourri.
The train has an express passenger train headcode and yet
took 3 hours and 50 minutes to cover the 87 mile journey. Quiz Answers (see NRS/NL 62/1 p.9)
Note the several lines of raised bricks on the platform slope.
We are looking north towards Wrexham, so the train is facing 1. Unclassified (1st and/or 2nd class) restaurant car.
south, and will leave the main line at Llangollen Line Junction. 2. Glasgow Queen St – there was an evening through train
Line closures and service reductions mean that Ruabon has
just an hourly service each way – mind you, my 1969/70 from Colchester.
timetable shows trains each way every 2 hours! The 3. Strome Ferry.
footbridge roof has gone, and the station is unstaffed 4. Watton-at-Stone. Brecon’s goods station was called
(Michael Roach).
Watton.
5. 69461 was used as a stationary boiler at Shoeburyness.
6. Prince Albert (62663).
7. Arabesque.
8. J29/30 & J42-49 except J45 which was an early LNER

diesel shunter.
9. They were ships (Sealink train ferries).
10. Dandie Dinmont (62401).

Want more…
1. Reba McEntire had a hit in 1986 with a song about a

steam shed (unintentionally, no doubt). Which shed?
2. In England & Wales nearly every cathedral city (Churches

of England & Wales) was or is rail-served. Name any
cathedral city never rail-served.
3. The GWR and the WR had a lot of pannier tanks. Were
any inherited by the WR in 1948 in the 2000-2999 number
series?

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_________PICK-UP GOODS New members

4. Where will you find another open station at Reedham, and We are pleased to welcome the following:
closed stations at Ely & (outside Norfolk) Reepham?
Peter Badcock of Poringland, Norwich.
5. Where in Lincolnshire will you find North, South, East & We expect to be seeing Peter at meetings from late April.
West junctions close to the same town today?
David Gathercole of Tharston, Norwich.
6. What does BG stand for in railway terms? Editorial tip: David is, apparently, a volunteer on the MNR at the
nothing to do with the Gibb brothers. Wymondham end.

7. Where in Scotland are there two small stations/halts with Andrew Henry of Cantley, Norwich.
an obvious golfing connection followed by a Andrew was the “lucky winner” of the year’s free membership
Championship golf course station? prize at the Show.

8. What is the nearest station to Haydock Park racecourse, Bob Palmer of Norwich, who will already be known to several
and what is the nearest station (in 2017) from which to members.
alight to see (a) the Lincoln Handicap and (b) the Welsh
Grand National? And finally… although Andrew Stevenson has not enjoyed the
best of health recently we are pleased that he has renewed
9. In/near which city is Britain’s longest cycling tunnel? his membership, and hope that better times lie ahead.
10. These 3 stations (2 open, 1 closed) have two-word
Summer Outings
names, the first part of the name being an unrelated town
and common to all three. The second part of the name Brian Cornwell has organised, or is working on, a number of
has a card-game connection in one case and landscape visits detailed on the attached sheet. Please support Brian’s
connections in the others. Name the stations. visits if you’re able to do so.

___________NRS NEWS

Annual General Meeting

The Society’s A.G.M. takes place on 20th April. Don’t forget to
bring the Agenda & Minutes of the last A.G.M. that were
distributed with the last Newsletter.

_________FEATURE

The Cumbrian Coast Circular – Brian Cornwell Railcard - this means I have to drag Julie with me on some
fulfils an ambition occasions as I still have four years to wait for my “Older
Persons” (i.e. Senior) Railcard!
I believe every railway enthusiast will have certain bits of
railway or complete lines that he or she enjoys or would like
to travel on just to say they have or just because they can. My
favourite line is Settle/Carlisle but I have always wanted to
travel on the Cumbrian Coast line from Carlisle to Barrow-in-
Furness. So my chance arrived in September when Julie and
I took our annual holiday, staying for part of the time at St
Bees on the Cumbrian Coast. We had rented a very nice
(well-appointed in Estate Agent speak) log cabin on a farm for
a few days and the cost included free fresh eggs collected in
the mornings from some obliging hens. The accommodation
provided lovely views not only of the valley that joined St
Bees and Whitehaven but also of the railway that linked them.

153304 awaits departure from St Bees on 14th September
2016.

The journey would be as follows: anti-clockwise from St Bees We did have a slight ticketing drama a few days before we
to Barrow, change there for Lancaster. Down the West Coast went away. To explain - including receipts - I was expecting
Main Line to Carlisle where 2½ hours would be available for eleven tickets for our trip which I collected from one of the
exploration, and then return to St Bees by Class 37 propelled machines at Norwich. I didn’t check them there and then but
service. Readers of my previous articles will know I love to waited until I got home. I found that one of the St Bees –
get a rail ticketing bargain by breaking down my journey into Lancaster tickets was missing but this loss had been hidden
logical segments. This time it was St Bees to Lancaster by a sneaky seat reservation with two seats on one ticket for
£11.75, Lancaster to Carlisle £4.95 and finally Carlisle to St the Barrow to Lancaster leg (not had that before) making up
Bees £7.25 - £23.95 each in total with a Two Together the difference. I had checked the machine twice and Julie
was with me and we were sure that had a ticket been

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_________FEATURE

BBC Panorama programme regarding the safety at the plant
it is probably about time that was stopped.

The next stop was Seascale followed by Drigg, featured by
Paul Merton in his recent Secret Station series. Drigg is a low
level waste repository containing one million, yes one million,
cubic metres of nuclear waste though records are incomplete
and it probably contains a whole lot more. Moving hastily on
from Drigg the next, far more pleasant, stop was Ravenglass
with its attractive harbour and link to the Ravenglass and
Eskdale Railway, or “Ratty” as it is affectionately known. I can
recommend the Ratty Arms for refreshment and, for the
adventurous and active, a 5 mile walk over the 757’
Muncaster Fell to Boot, returning to Ravenglass by train. Next
comes Bootle followed by Silecroft, both request stops, and
then Millom. After that there are three request stops, Green
Road, Foxfield and Kirkby-in-Furness where the train did not
stop. On this leg of our journey penultimately there was
Askam then Barrow-in-Furness where our train arrived on
time at 1208.

The view north from St Bees on the same day. The next train, Trans Pennine Express 185111, departed
Barrow on time at 1213. No request stops on this leg of the
dropped one of us would have noticed. A trip back to the journey and the railway is constantly running close to the
booking office the next day got me a minor lecture (which I coast. Between Grange-over-Sands and Arnside a poor
accepted gracefully and without comment) on the benefits of drowned sheep reminded me of the dangers of Morecambe
checking your tickets before leaving the station and a Bay. I had seen other sheep grazing on the marshes but the
replacement “excess £0.00” ticket at no cost. Apparently unfortunate creature had obviously been caught out by the
there had been a machine problem the day before. fast running tide in the same way that a group of Chinese
cockle pickers came to grief a few years ago. The station
before Lancaster is Carnforth where good views of
Steamtown (previously open to the public and home to West
Coast, the rail tour operator) can be seen. I glimpsed Classes
33, 37, 47 and 57 together with lots of coaching stock in the
distinctive maroon livery. There were also chocolate and
cream Pullman coaches and a plume of smoke in the
background indicated the presence of an unidentified steam
locomotive.

The first train of the day was St Bees to Barrow-in-Furness
departing at 1055. St Bees station is on the northern edge of
the town, double tracked with a level crossing, footbridge
and signalbox all at the northern end. The station building is
now an inviting B & B. A stern “Don’t even think about it!”
from Mrs Cornwell gave me a huge warning-off regarding
future accommodation at that particular location. As the track
is single line both ways out of the station and the line is
mostly still semaphore-signalled the signalman was obliged
to hand tokens to every train. The signalbox door was open
but Network Rail had posted a notice forbidding visitors.
However they had not banned radios as the signalman was
tuned to Radio 2 with the Bee Gees’ “Tragedy” emanating
loudly from the box. I hoped this was not an omen. (I
thought Thomas Wayne recorded “Tragedy” in 1959, Ed.)

Northern Rail 153304 departed St Bees one minute adrift 37425 Sir Robert McAlpine with the 1731 Barrow-in-Furness to
with us as the only joining passengers. We did not stop at Carlisle on the same day. (All: Brian Cornwell)
Nethertown, which is a request, but did pick up two people
and a dog at Braystones. The next stop was Sellafield where Arriving at Lancaster on time we had 41 minutes until our next
Pacer 142043 was waiting in the passing loop to travel on to train at 1355 which was a Virgin Trains service to Carlisle with
Carlisle. In Sellafield yard there were three Class 37s and an ultimate destination of Glasgow Central. This was a
one Class 66, all Direct Rail Services (DRS) locomotives, Pendolino unit from Euston, 390156. These trains tilt at high
coupled together in pairs for nuclear flask haulage - the idea speed just like the unfortunate APT, however they do not
being that if one locomotive fails the other one will be able to seem to have the same nauseating effect on passengers. I
get the train to its destination without having to stop. The have to “fess-up” that I did watch the cringeworthy Train-
locomotive nearest the flask also acts as a barrier vehicle, Spotting Live (many made the same mistake – Ed.) where a
though that particular theory doesn’t convince me that it scientific explanation for this was provided. Apparently APT
would protect the train driver in the event of a nuclear leak.
The yard also contained several flasks as radioactive material
is still taken to the plant for reprocessing. Judging by a recent

14

_________FEATURES to get the benefit of diesel engine sounds. Sad I know. By
Dalston, a request stop (R), the service was running seven
ironed out almost 100% of the line curves turning force but minutes late and stayed that way for the rest of the journey
Pendolino only goes as far as 80% thus allowing the human stopping at Wigton, Aspatria(R), Maryport, Flimby(R),
brain and senses still to feel the curve and prevent the issue Workington, Harrington(R), Parton(R), Whitehaven,
of sick bags! Corkickle(R) and finally St Bees at 1909. Waiting for the token
at St Bees was the 1731 Barrow-in-Furness to Carlisle
Having arrived Carlisle on time at 1446 we had until 1737 service with 37425 Sir Robert McAlpine/Concrete Bob. A
when our return train to St Bees departed. The city has a total of 182 miles was travelled.
castle and a city wall, including the remains of Hadrian’s one
and an extensive shopping area with plenty of cafes and tea Having achieved the Cumbrian Coast Circular objective I now
shops. The train home consisted of three DRS TSO’s, a DVT have to consider “What next?” Hmmmm, always wanted to do
and a Class 37 (37423 Spirit of the Lakes). These trains are the Aberdeen to Penzance Cross Country service which
there to replace DMU’s much the same as they have on the takes over 13 hours. Think I will be doing that by myself,
Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft lines and run on eight of the though, so I’ll have to wait until after May 2020 for a cheap
services Monday to Friday. The incoming service arrived at ticket............................
1737 so a quick turn-around got us on the move at 1741. We
travelled in TSO 5971 immediately in front of the locomotive

_________WORKING TIMETABLE
a selective look ahead at local railway events

NORFOLK RAILWAY SOCIETY and Norfolk Transport Group meetings take place (unless otherwise stated) at: United
Reformed Church Hall, Ipswich Road, Norwich, NR4 6QR

Events are listed in good faith, but visitors should check with the organisation concerned before travelling.
Norfolk Transport Group - please contact Mike Fordham or John Laycock.

Services on our Local Railways

Ashmanhaugh Light Railway, East View Farm, Stone Lane, Ashmanhaugh, NR12 8YW. For information:
www.ashmanhaughlightrailway.co.uk. The first running day is Sunday 7th May 2017.

Barton House Railway, Hartwell Road, Wroxham, NR12 8TL. For information: www.bartonhouserailway.org.uk – Tel: 01603-
782008.

Bressingham Steam & Gardens, Low Rd., Bressingham, IP22 2AA. For information: www.thebressinghamgardens.com or
telephone 01379-686900.

The Bure Valley Railway - For details of individual events please visit their website - www.bvrw.co.uk - or telephone 01263-
733858. Daily running until 29th October.

The Mid-Norfolk Railway - For details of individual events please visit their website - www.mnr.org.uk - or telephone 01362-
851723. Regular running until 29th October.

The Mid-Suffolk Light Railway, Brockford Station, Wetheringsett, IP14 5PW - For details of individual events please visit their
website - www.mslr.org.uk - or telephone 01449-766899. Open every Summer Sunday & Bank Holiday Monday from 28th May
until 28th August.

The North Norfolk Railway - For details of individual events please visit their website - www.nnrailway.co.uk - or telephone
01263-820800. Daily running until 29th October.

The Norwich & District Society of Model Engineers - For details please visit their website www.ndsme.org. Now operational
(weather permitting) every Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday until 8th October 1300 - 1700.

The Wells & Walsingham Light Railway - For information: www. wellswalsinghamrailway.co.uk or tel: 01328 711630 (up to
1700 please). Daily running until 29th October.

The Whitwell & Reepham Railway - For details of individual events please visit their website - www.whitwellstation.com - or
telephone 01603-871694.

The R.C.T.S. (Ipswich Branch) and the Ipswich & District Historical Transport Society run comprehensive meetings programmes.
Please contact me if you’d like to see their programme.

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_________WORKING TIMETABLE

APRIL Sat NORFOLK MODEL RAILWAY CLUB (NORHAMS) - 2017 Exhibition 1000 - 1630 at Hellesdon High
8th School, Middletons Lane, Norwich, NR6 5SB.
WHITWELL & REEPHAM RAILWAY - 1940s Weekend (Steam).
8th - 9th Sat - Sun NORFOLK TRANSPORT GROUP - Digital and DVD Evening 1930.
13th Thur BURE VALLEY RAILWAY - Easter Eggspress.
14th - 17th Fri - Mon WHITWELL & REEPHAM RAILWAY - Easter Steam Sunday.
16th Sun BARTON HOUSE RAILWAY - Sunday Running & Easter Monday Running 1430 -1730.
16th - 17th Sun - Mon MID-SUFFOLK LIGHT RAILWAY - Easter Steam Up.
16th - 17th Sun - Mon NORFOLK RAILWAY SOCIETY - Annual General Meeting - 1930.
20th Thur NORTH NORFOLK RAILWAY - Spring Steam Gala.
21st - 23rd Fri - Sun MID-NORFOLK RAILWAY - “Reno Wine Train” - Special wine tasting train - prices & reservations
23rd Sun from [email protected] or tel: 01953-425995.
MID-NORFOLK RAILWAY - Bus and Coach Day.
23rd Sun MID-NORFOLK RAILWAY - Spring Diesel Enthusiasts’ Gala.
28th - 1stMay Fri - Mon NENTA TRAINTOURS – “The North Wales Extravaganza” – From Norwich dep 0505 approx then
29th Sat via Ipswich & Ely to Chester/Llangollen (Llangollen Steam Railway)/Llandudno/Bangor & Holyhead.
Norwich return 0025 approx. Fares from £69.75. First Class & Premier Dining available. Details
29th Sat www.nentatraintours.co.uk or tel: 01692-406152.
SOUTHWOLD RAILWAY TRUST - Southwold Model Railway Show at St Edmund’s Hall,
29th - 1st May Sat - Mon Southwold.
30th - 1st May Sat - Mon NORTH NORFOLK RAILWAY - “Day out with Thomas”.
MAY MID-SUFFOLK LIGHT RAILWAY - “Middy in the War Years”.
4th Thur
NORFOLK RAILWAY SOCIETY - “The Chiltern Railways Story” - Presentation by Dave
7th Sun Penney, Managing Director, Chiltern Railways – 1930.
7th Sun ASHMANHAUGH LIGHT RAILWAY - Running Day 1400 - 1700 weather permitting.
18th Thur WHITWELL & REEPHAM RAILWAY - Steam Sunday.
NORFOLK RAILWAY SOCIETY - Presentations from members of the Ipswich & District
21st Sun Historical Transport Society – 1930.
27th Sat BARTON HOUSE RAILWAY - Sunday Running 1430 -1730.
RAILWAY TOURING COMPANY - The Hadrian - From Norwich (0700) to Carlisle (1415) including
27th - 29th Sat - Mon the Settle and Carlisle Railway. Steam hauled from Hellifield to Carlisle and return. Full details on
28th Sun the RTC website: http://www.railwaytouring.net/uk-day-trips/the-hadrian-7
28th - 29th Sun - Mon BURE VALLEY RAILWAY - “Everything Goes”. All locos and coaches in action.
29th Mon WHITWELL & REEPHAM RAILWAY - Steam Sunday.
NORTH NORFOLK RAILWAY - “Dad’s Army Live”
JUNE Sat NORWICH & DISTRICT SOCIETY OF MODEL ENGINEERS (Eaton Park) – Charity Day raising
3rd funds for the EACH Nook Appeal 1300 – 1700 weather permitting.

3rd - 4th Sat - Sun NENTA TRAINTOURS – “The Lakes & Eskdale Explorer”- From Norwich dep 0510 approx then via
4th Sun Ipswich & Ely to Preston/Blackpool/Haverthwaite Steam Railway & Windermere Cruise/Ravenglass
4th Sun & Eskdale Railway. Norwich return 0030 approx. Fares from £69.75. First Class & Premier Dining
8th Thu available. Details: www.nentatraintours.co.uk or tel: 01692-406152.
WELLS AND WALSINGHAM LIGHT RAILWAY - “Wells at War”.
9th - 11th Fri - Sun ASHMANHAUGH LIGHT RAILWAY - Open Day 1400 - 1700 weather permitting.
10th Sat WHITWELL & REEPHAM RAILWAY - Members Day & Reunion (Steam).
NORFOLK RAILWAY SOCIETY – Afternoon/evening visit to rail-themed locations in Hoveton.
Please see “flier” attached to this issue.
NORTH NORFOLK RAILWAY - Diesel Gala (Weybourne Traction Group).
FELIXSTOWE AREA - ‘N’ GAUGE GROUP - 2017 Exhibition at Trinity Methodist Church, Hamilton
Road/Orwell Road, Felixstowe, IP11 7AN from 1000 - 1630.

Printed by Pride Press Ltd. Tel: 01603 665045.
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