1352

●Private Miniature Railways - up to 1901: The earliest miniature railways in Great Britain were built
on private grounds and estates. Queen Victoria had only been on the throne for a few years, when the
first such railway opened in 1843 at Alresford, Hampshire. Of an unknown gauge it closed around 1864
on the death of its owner Lord Robert Rodney. Much better documented are the activities of Sir Arthur
Heywood, who built his first railway to a gauge of 9" at his father's Dove Leys residence in Denstone,
Staffordshire around 1865. This used merely a hand powered 'locomotive', but following his marriage,
he moved to Duffield House in Derbyshire and started building his 15" gauge Duffield Bank Railway in
1874. This railway lasted until his death in 1916 - the railway at Dove Leys was removed around 1898.

In Scotland, a line was built around 1866 on the Ardkinglas Estate, on the shore of Loch Fyne in Argyll.
The gauge is not known, but may have been 18", and certainly between 15" & 2ft. The estate was
visited by Queen Victoria in 1875, but it is not known whether the monarch took a ride on the line! It
closed around 1900. Captain Harry Bridson owned a short-lived railway (1876-1878) at Dartmouth in
Devon. Gauge is thought to have been around 10¼". This gauge was adopted for the Pitmaston Moor
Green Railway of Sir John Holder, which opened in the 1890s at his home in Moor Green, Birmingham.
The Duke of Westminster was the only person to take up Arthur Heywood's ideas of a practical 15"
gauge estate railway and he duly built the Eaton Hall Railway on his large country estate near Chester.

(NEXT PAGE: Eaton Hall Railway track plan from Narrow Gauge Railways UK.) Construction
commenced in 1895 and the line lasted until 1947 - proving to be the most durable of all these early
private railways - as it actually provided a useful transport function.

The 6th Marquis of Downshire ordered a
complete 18" gauge railway in 1893 for
his estate at Easthampstead, near
Wokingham in Berkshire. The railway,
with a GNR 4-2-2 locomotive, does not
seem to have lasted very long and was
gone by 1898. One should note the
titles of the owners of these lines - a
fair amount of money (and space) was
required to build and operate these
private miniature railways! Although
technically outside the remit of this
article, the final private railway to be
noted in this brief round-up was built
by the Reverend Preston in the grounds
of Julianstown Rectory in County
Meath, Ireland. Gauge was probably
21" and the line lasted from 1898 to
around 1928 and featured hand power,
with a steam outline 'locomotive'.

●The First Public Miniature Railways -
1901: This brings us up to the turn of
the century and the opening of the first
public passenger carrying miniature
railways in Great Britain. Queen
Victoria passed away on 22nd January
1901 and the Edwardian era marked a
number of public miniature railways -
many being operated as part of large
scale exhibitions, which were popular in
the period to up to the start of the First
World War. Many of these exhibitions featured some form of amusements as an element of their
offering, keeping visitors, especially perhaps the children, entertained. 1901 saw two exhibitions held,
which both featured American built locomotives on their railways. The Cagney Brothers of New York
produced complete train sets, which were intended to be purchased by Showmen and the like for
amusement park use. In doing this, they were ahead of the British and hence many railways of this
period used Cagney equipment. The locomotive they produced was a small 4-4-0 (naturally of
American outline) and of varying gauges. They were designed, not as an exact replica, but for intensive
passenger train use. Many of the Cagney locomotives mentioned below were probably the same ones,
moved between the various railways concerned (as indeed they were designed for).

An International Exhibition was held in Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow from Thursday 2nd May to Saturday
4th November 1901. A miniature railway was laid down in the grounds, and assuming it opened on the
first day of the exhibition (and there is no reason to think it didn't - as The Scotsman of 1st May noted
the railway was ready for public inspection), this was the very first public passenger carrying miniature
railway in Great Britain. The line was 15" gauge and a run of 160 yards - probably in an 'E' layout.
Motive power was a Cagney Class 'D' locomotive. NEXT PAGE TOP: The first ever public miniature
railway was operated in connection with the International Exhibition held in Kelvingrove Park in
Glasgow, between 2nd May and 4th November 1901. Here we see the Cagney locomotive at work and a
wonderful display of the fashions of the time!

Only a few days later, on Saturday 4th May 1901, the Military Exhibition at Earl's Court, in Kensington,
London opened. The official plan showed that 'No28' was an 'American Miniature Railroad'.
This railway was laid to the unusual gauge of 12⅝", with a Cagney Class 'C' locomotive. The exhibition
closed on Saturday 19th October 1901. Although only temporary in nature, these were the very first of
hundreds of public miniature railways in the country.

●1902 - 1905: An Arts & Industrial Exhibition was held in West Park, Wolverhampton from 1st May to
8th November 1902, which featured two railways operated by Cagney locomotives - one of 12⅝" gauge
and one of 15" gauge. These may well have used the track and locomotives from the lines at Earl's
Court and Glasgow, respectively. 1902 also saw the construction of a private 15" gauge estate railway
at Blakesley Hall in Northamptonshire by the local squire, Charles Bartholomew. Although a private
railway, it did carry passengers during an annual village event. Motive power was, yet again, a Cagney
locomotive - on this occasion not being used as intended on an amusement park line.

BELOW: This 15" gauge line ran in the grounds of Alexandra Palace from May 1903 until April 1904.
The Cagney locomotive is hauling three covered coaches from the same manufacturer.

[BLN 1352]
Alexandra Palace in north London was used for a number of exhibitions and on Saturday 30th May
1903 an International Exhibition of Arts & Industries took place there. At the same time a 15" gauge
railway was laid in the grounds, some 150 yards in length and using a Cagney locomotive and covered
coaches. The exhibition was to run through until the autumn and on Thursday 17th September 1903
the British and International Aeronautical Exhibition also opened at the same venue. (This was timely
as on 17th December 1903 the Wright Brothers achieved the first controlled, sustained, powered
flight!). The railway apparently lasted until April 1904 when it was removed.

What was the first public 10¼" gauge railway opened on Good Friday, 1st April 1904 at Woodside
Retreat, Bricket Wood, near St Albans. This employed a 0-4-4T locomotive built by George Flooks and
Fred Smithies. The line was an 'E' layout of 200 yards in length. This railway attracted the interest of
Northampton model maker WJ Bassett-Lowke, who had presumably also been watching the success of
the Cagney products and thought it might be time for a British company to take a share of the
miniature railway business! Bassett-Lowke and designer Henry Greenly formed Miniature Railways of
Great Britain Limited and acquired the Bricket Wood line. They relaid it for the 1905 season on a site
adjacent to Abington Park in Northampton. This line opened on Easter Saturday, 22nd April 1905.
The line at Bricket Wood was regauged by George Flooks to 12" gauge (to give extra stability) and
reopened as such for the 1905 season - the first railway of that gauge.

THIS PAGE BELOW: When was your miniature railway driver last wearing a tie? Running at the
Woodside Retreat at Brickett Wood, this 12" gauge line opened in 1905 replacing an earlier 10¼"
gauge line - both pioneers on their respective gauges. The loco was built by operator George Flooks.

NEXT PAGE TOP: Running on the South Shore Sands at Blackpool, this was the first permanent 15"
gauge railway. Motive power was the original 'Little Giant' 4-4-2 built by Bassett-Lowke. The 'MR' on
the buffer beam probably refers to 'Miniature Railway' not 'Midland Railway'!

1905 also saw the opening of the first permanent 15" gauge railway in the country - that is designed to
be in situ more than just a few months in connection with exhibitions. This was constructed by
Miniature Railways of Great Britain Limited on the South Shore Sands at Blackpool and opened on
Whit Monday, 12th June 1905. It was formed of a circuit of track with a length of 433 yards. Motive
power was a 'Little Giant' 4-4-2 locomotive, designed by Greenly and built at the Bassett-Lowke works
in Northampton - the first of many similar locomotives. The railway lasted until 1909.

●1907-1910: The former Royal Botanical Gardens in Old Trafford, Manchester were converted into the
White City amusement park, which opened to the public on Whit Monday, 20th May 1907. The park
contained a 15" gauge miniature railway, operated by a Cagney locomotive, which ran around a lake.
The railway was advertised for sale in July 1909, but the amusement park remained open until 1928.
Miniature Railways of Great Britain Limited moved their 10¼" gauge railway from Abington Park,
Northampton to Sutton Park, near Sutton Coldfield. The relocated railway opened there in June 1907
(the line was regauged to 15" over the winter of 1907/1908 and then operated until 1962).

The Imperial International Exhibition at the White City, Shepherds Bush, London in 1909 featured a
15" gauge railway, which was equipped by Miniature Railways of Great Britain Limited. The exhibition
itself opened on Thursday 20th May 1909, but the railway did not open until mid-August. Motive power
was a Bassett-Lowke 'Little Giant' locomotive and the line was formed of a balloon loop, although on
return trains had to reverse into the station. The exhibition closed on Saturday 16th October 1909.

King Edward VII died on 6th May 1910, bringing to an end a period which had seen the operation of the
first public miniature railways in Great Britain. However, the reign of his successor, King George V,
would see the development of the miniature railway continue unabated. Indeed, 1910 saw the
opening of two permanent 15" gauge railways. On Saturday 14th May 1910 a line opened at Halifax
Zoo & Pleasure Gardens at Chevinedge, near Halifax. Operated by the original Bassett-Lowke 'Little
Giant' locomotive (now suitably renamed 'Little Elephant'), it consisted of a circuit of around 560 yards
in length. The railway closed just after the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. Southend has long
been popular with visitors from London and an amusement park called Luna Park (later the Kursaal)
had opened near the seafront. A permanent 15" gauge railway opened in the park in July 1910, with a
Cagney locomotive. The line later underwent a number of iterations, with the last finally closing in
1938. A post-war 10¼" gauge line only lasted for three seasons from 1948 to 1950.

ABOVE: Another Cagney operated line ran in the grounds of White City amusement park
at Old Trafford in Manchester, which opened in May 1907.

●1911-1914: A 15" gauge railway was operated in connection with the Festival of Empire Exhibition,
which ran from Friday 12th May to Sunday 1st October 1911, at Crystal Palace in London. The line was a
circuit around the fountain in the Grand Central Walk and was operated by a Cagney locomotive.
Two of our most well-known, and indeed long-lived, miniature railways opened in 1911. The Rhyl
Miniature Railway was constructed by Miniature Railways of Great Britain Limited and opened on
Monday 1st May. It ran for almost one mile around Marine Lake, immediately west of the town and
close to the seafront. The railway still runs to this day, but suffered a period of closure, with the track
removed, between 1969 and 1978. Just a few weeks later, on 27th May 1911 the Lakeside Miniature
Railway opened in Southport. Then known as Llewelyn's Miniature Railway, after its founder, it ran for
500 yards alongside Marine Lake. The line was extended after the Second World War and is still
running to this day - our longest lived miniature railway in continuous service on the same site.
Both these railways were initially operated with Bassett-Lowke 'Little Giant' locomotives.

In 1912 a 12" gauge railway opened at the Paddocks Sports Ground, South Harrow. This was operated
by George Flooks (who previously ran the line at Bricket Wood mentioned above). The 130 yard long
line closed at the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. A Children's Welfare Exhibition was held at
London's Olympia from 31st December 1912 to 11th January 1913. This featured the first public 7¼"
gauge railway in Great Britain. The exhibition was opened by Mrs Winston Churchill, who took a ride
on the railway! It is reported 8,000 people rode on the line during the period of the exhibition, which
was housed in the annexe of Olympia. It was supplied by Bassett-Lowke who also had a large display of
their garden railway equipment in the exhibition. Motive power was a LNWR George V locomotive.

NEXT PAGE TOP: A second Children's Welfare Exhibition was held at London's Olympia in 1914 with
this 9½" gauge line running inside the annex building (hence the 'EXIT' left and painted background).
Motive power appears to be a GNR 4-4-2 built by Bassett-Lowke. The 3d fare equates to £1.50 now.

The Liverpool Exhibition at Edge Lane in the city ran from 22nd May 1913 until October of the same
year. Like so many similar exhibitions it was not a commercial success, but among the amusements
was a Cagney operated 15" gauge railway. The Second Children's Welfare Exhibition, again held at
London's Olympia, took place between Easter Saturday, 11th April and Thursday 30th April 1914.
This time Bassett-Lowke installed a 9½" gauge railway - the first public railway of this gauge.

BELOW: Liverpool: An Exhibition was held at Edge Lane in the city in 1913 and featured this Cagney
operated railway. This coloured post card also shows the adjacent scenic railway.

A photograph shows what appears to be a GNR 4-4-2 locomotive as being employed. The exhibition
was opened by Queen Amelia of Portugal, although it was not reported whether she took a ride on the
railway! Like the 1913 exhibition, the line ran in the annexe, this time featuring a Cornish theme.

The Anglo-Spanish Travel Exhibition took place at Earl's Court, Kensington, London in 1914, opening
on Thursday 28th May and closing in October. Again this featured a 15" gauge railway and a Cagney
locomotive - it probably used the same loco, coaches and track from the Liverpool Exhibition of 1913 -
the driver looks remarkably the same in two postcard views of the respective railways!

●1915-1918: The outbreak of the First World War on 4th August 1914 did not seem to stem the
opening of new miniature railways, although it did bring a halt to the exhibitions and their associated
railways. Easter 1915 saw the opening of a 7¼" gauge railway at a location called the Beauty Spot at
Ilkeston, thus becoming the first permanent public railway of that gauge. A line of some 100 yards in
length was laid and operated by Louis Shaw - a real pioneer of the 7¼" gauge. It lasted throughout the
war, but was removed after the 1923 season and moved to Mablethorpe on the east coast.
Remarkably it might seem to us now, two long-standing and very well-known 15" gauge railways
opened during the First World War. It must be remembered, though, the 'Great' war did not have the
same countrywide impact as did the Second World War. The Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway, formed by
Bassett-Lowke's Narrow Gauge Railways Limited, took over the disused 3ft gauge line in Cumbria
originally built to service the extraction of minerals in the area. The first section of the regauged
railway opened to Muncaster Mill on 28th August 1915. In Wales, the same company took over a horse
drawn tramway in Fairbourne, across the estuary south of Barmouth. With the line converted to 15"
gauge, the Fairbourne Miniature Railway opened to passengers in the early summer of 1916. Both the
railways are still operational - although the Fairbourne Railway now on 12¼" gauge track. These two
railways bring us up to the end of the First World War and the period under review in this summary.

https://bit.ly/3fJNjFP is an interesting chronology of 15" gauge railways with plenty of pictures.

X.99] LEFT: Gwrych Castle Miniature Railway, near Abergele,
North Wales, in summer 1962. This is at the station with the
characteristic Grade I listed castle in the background; a
miniature man (a future Society Committee member) looks
very pleased to be doing a new railway. Sadly the railway
later closed https://bit.ly/2Z22xjp (26 seconds) is taken from
a train and shows that the 10¼" gauge line was still operating
in 1968 at least. Does anyone know when it closed please?

If you have any old holiday/family pictures taken on defunct
or changed miniature railways (or full sized railways/narrow
gauge of intererst) please send them in - high resolution
scans if possible please as attachments - with captions

RIGHT: Gwrych Castle Miniature
Railway about 1950; girls from
Rhyl St Mary's Convent School.

BELOW: Another load of embankment material arrives; it's good to see a safe way of working has been
found during the pandemic - gives hope for the future. If you would like to see the Corris extended and
the work continue https://www.corris.co.uk/#home has ways to help/donate (bottom) - please Gift
Aid any donations, or write to: The Corris Railway, Station Yard, Corris, Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 9SH.:

X.100] BELOW; The Corris Railway, Corris, Machynlleth, Gwynedd (MR p2
have now brought the big guns out... Looking south, the main road is upper

29) (BLN 1351.MR73): Work continues on the southern extension and they
r right and the Afon Dulas (river) is just seen far lower left. (Greame Jolley.)

















PREVIOUS PAGE: The present south end of the Corris Railway looking south - to be continued...
The Corris Railway (continued): Once the embankment wall foundation had been constructed work
could start on assembling and filling numerous gabions. The first of the three uncaptioned landscape
photos above is the view north, main road to the left. Middle one is looking south (main road up on
the right) and finally from the site of the new embankment looking into the valley towards the river.
(All are recent pictures and are thanks to Graeme Jolley.) BELOW: The Gwrych Castle Miniature again.

1352 FIXTURES REPORTS (Paul Stewart) [email protected]
1495] The Fenny Crompton; Sat 7 Mar 2020: By Geoff Treby. This was a positioning move taking the
locos and coaches to the start of the main tour the following day. Instead of running ECS, allowing
punters to join at a low fare and boosting the charity coffers is a good idea, especially when a few
unusual moves are included. I arrived at Crewe in time to see 70000 'Britannia' heading off on another
tour northwards to York. There was a small gathering of familiar faces on P5 waiting for the first leg to
Paddington. We had to wait until almost 'Railtour Standard Time' before Crompton 33029 pulled into
P1 (from Lancaster) but with plenty of slack in the timings and an early finish no one was bothered.
We set off for Stoke via the Alsager Up & Down Loop and then onto Stone, Colwich and the now rare
Rugeley North Jn connection to the Walsall line.
The first unusual move was the Bescot Down Goods
Loop, in the Up direction (naturally); I required the
crossovers into and out of it. Access is interesting - via
a facing crossover on Pleck Curve 14ch before Bescot
Jn then the Down Walsall in the Up direction and a flat
crossing with the Up and the Down Grand Junction
lines. It was now close to noon, time for a wander
down the train, see who else is about, speak to Kev
about a future trip and buy a pint.

[BLN 1352]
By Stechford we had made up the hour. Onwards via the Up/Down Slow (94m 40ch) at Coventry (P4),
Kenilworth Loop and Leamington Spa middle 'through' Up Cherwell Valley line. Not 'Britannia', but a
noisy diesel still caused the travelling public to raise their heads from their addictive electronic devices.

Next the move that inspired the tour name, the brakes go on as we slow to enter the Down Fenny
Compton Goods Loop (remodelled 18 Mar 2019 and the first tour to do this since) in the Up direction.
I needed the crossovers in and out. Time for another pint, but not before being collared by Neil and
Sarah selling raffle tickets; the weekend's charity is Help for Heroes, a well worthy cause.

There was no slowing as we entered Up Banbury Loop, but we stopped at the south end. The tour was
14 mins early and waited time for our next deviation via the bidirectional Down Bicester at Aynho Jn,
crossing to P2 just north of Bicester North with 10 mins for fresh air and a photo. On to Paddington.
'The Fenny Crompton' waited 9 mins as booked at West Ruislip P4 while two trains passed and
Greenford West Jn (10 min pathing allowance). For once we didn't do the Acton Diveunder but stayed
at ground level on the Up Relief (the rarer route now), arriving in London at 15.24 (two down).

(Miles are thanks to Jim Sellens as ever; routes are by Paul Stewart with thanks to Martyn Brailsford.)

Saturday 7 March The Fenny Crompton

Lancaster P4 .248m 50ch .
227m 52ch.
Preston P6 33029 + 47746. 176m 45ch.

Crewe P1 (+ = Double. 98m 28ch.
54m 49ch.
Coventry P4 Headed) .
124m 70ch.
Bicester North P1 98m 15ch.
74m 61ch.
Sunday 8 March The Devonian Crompton 38m 77ch.
1m 70ch.
London Victoria P7
1m 69ch.
Woking P4 Yeovil Junction P3 (Railway Centre) 33207 + 33012. 51m 33ch.
Basingstoke P2 62m 77ch.
11m 44ch.
Salisbury P4
0m 56ch.
Yeovil Junction P3 Yeovil Pen Mill P1 33207 & 33012.. 127m 40ch.
(Railway Centre) (& = Top & Tail) . 163m 23ch.
186m 57ch.
Yeovil Junction P1 210m 73ch.

Yeovil Pen Mill P1 Exeter St Davids P3 33012 & 33207. 11m 51ch.
49m 08ch.
Coleford, NR Limit 92m 67ch.

Coleford, NR Limit Exeter St Davids P3 33207 & 33012. 0m 34ch.
47m 02ch.
Exeter St Davids P3 Exeter Riverside, Up Goods Reception . 33012 & 33207. 78m 16ch.
109m 18ch.
Salisbury P4 130m 16ch.

Exeter Riverside, Basingstoke P3 33207 + 33012.
Up Goods Reception Woking P1

London Waterloo P19

Monday 9 March The Park Royal Parkinson

London Paddington P1 Park Royal Tarmac Terminal Gates 47746 & 33029

Park Royal Tarmac Bicester North P2 33029 & 47746
Terminal Gates 47746 & 33029
Coventry P4
Coventry P4 Coventry Carriage Sidings No4

Stafford P3

Coventry Carriage Crewe P1 33029 & 47746
Sidings No4 Preston P1

Lancaster P3













The tickets and window decals wer

re designed by Amy Nash as usual.

BELOW: 33207 & D6515 (33012) pass Walton-on-Thames heading west. Cla
early 1970s to the early 1980s. However 33/2s and double headers w

ass 33s were the main motive power on Waterloo - Exeter services from the
were not often seen. (By our member Adrian Palmer; Sun 8 Mar 2020.)

BELOW: Our Devonian Crompton approaching

Yeovil junction from London. (Richard Putley.)

BELOW: At the country end of Yeovil Junction P3; Yeovil Railway Centre is
NEXT PAGE: Our nimble photographer then nipped over t

on the right and the main station is left. (Richard Putley, Sun 8 Mar 2020.)
to Yeovil Pen Mill in time to see the tour reversing there.









PREVIOU S PAGE: The rear of the tour climbing the bank from Yeovil Pen
BELOW: West Coast Driver Bill Monteith is fund-raising for the charity Tom
sponsor him on a charity run. £500.33 was raised from our generous tour p
presented with the cash during a brief stop at Bristol Temple Meads P9 in th

Mill to run through Yeovil Junction P1 on the way to Exeter and Coleford.
mmy's, a cause close to his heart, and had asked if our participants would
participants much to the great delight of Bill, seen here in the centre being
he evening for a crew change on the way back to London. (Geoff Plumb.)





PREVIOUS PAGE: A 'composite' of stewards at Paddington, with that great icon .. Kev Adlam and
Paddington (both wearing orange marmalade jackets) before our Park Royal Parkinson on Mon 9 Mar.

1496] The Devonian Crompton; Sun 8 Mar 2020: By Geoff Treby. The middle trip was a full day out
from London to the West Country and back. Our tour left Victoria P7 on time with two Cromptons,
33207 & D6515, at the front. The first move was the connection across to Victoria western side and
then Fast line through Clapham Junction, switching to the Slow at Balham, before a routing via
Tooting to Wimbledon. Meanwhile in First Class, complimentary coffee and a bacon roll were served
by the lovely Holly and Kerrie. On to the Slow line at Wimbledon West Jn a series of moves was made
between Slow and Fast to Worting Jn. For the record, Slow to Hampton Court Jn via Surbiton P4, then
Fast and back to Slow via Weybridge P3 and all the way to Woking P4. We picked up some more
participants here and were off again on the Fast, then the Slow again immediately before Brookwood
and back to the Fast after Winchfield. More joined at Basingstoke and it was Slow line to Worting Jn.

Off the third rail system we had a fast run down to Salisbury, lively with a rattling bogie at my end of
the coach. The second complimentary coffee was welcome. A 30 min break at Salisbury allowed a
breath of fresh air and a photo. Away again, unusually at Tisbury it was nonstop through the loop. The
weather changed further west from the bright sunshine in suburbia to grey and then heavy showers.

A break at Gillingham was to pass a London service and then it was into Yeovil Junction P3 (the Yeovil
Railway Centre side where 'Lord Fisher' was in steam for photographers). Here there was another
break while the 33s were split, with one on each end for a while, for a trip down the hill to Yeovil Pen
Mill. We had lost a bit of time so the reversal at Pen Mill was brief before returning to Yeovil Junction.
There we had to wait for another London service. Meanwhile, lunch of stew and cabbage was served.

The late running was causing me concern, would we do the Chard Jn Loop? On previous occasions I'd
tried it, I was thwarted by late running. But the worry was over as the brakes went on and our tour
looped, time for the first beer of the day to celebrate. At Axminster the tour took P1 in the Down
direction - unusual as due to the point geometry the dynamic loop is usually right hand running. We
were due a 30 min wait at Honiton which became a minute and by Exeter St Davids we were on time.

A few left the train for a break. I'm sure I heard Brian Blessed roaring 'keep behind the yellow line' as
we were due to go. Time to concentrate where we were going in Riverside Yard, which was the Up
Goods and then onto the Barnstaple line for a run to our destination of the former Coleford Jn.

The NR Dartmoor Railway boundary was reached, (183m 79ch) just beyond. I suspect due to the
company going into administration we could not go to Okehampton. [The sleeper chained to the line
would make this difficult - Ed!] The tour reversed and participants enjoyed a 10 min break at Crediton.

Next was Exeter St Davids, so who had 'broken' there could repair to the train, then back to Riverside
Yard. The 33s were reunited at the front for the trek back to London. Our tour left the yard via the
other north end connection, requiring a hand operated point to be clipped. Back on the main line,
more coffee was served with cake. After climbing Whiteball summit the Devonian Crompton raced
through Taunton P4. Just after Highbridge whatever was rattling stopped, it must have fallen off!

The tour was first advertised as via Weston-Super-Mare; we take the best way to see that seaside
town, avoiding it! Next, an on the day Adlam Bonus, Yatton Up Loop. It reminds me of a time when I
worked in Bristol, a colleague who commuted in from Bridgwater would comment if late: Shunted into
the sidings at Yatton again. I'd reply I know lots of people who would pay to be shunted into sidings!

Now in darkness, the Devonian Crompton called at Bristol Temple Meads, where quite a few alighted.
On to Bath, we passed through Saltford Tunnel where I remarked to my fellow passengers that my
home is on top of it. I also pointed out my football club and birthplace as we passed through Twerton
and Oldfield Park. After Bath, we entered Bathampton Up Passenger Loop and were then in Wiltshire.

I bought another beer, switched on my tablet and relaxed. Meanwhile, the stewards continued to
work hard; three rubbish collections in five minutes, I do admire their energy. We made two unusual

moves at Westbury via P3 and Salisbury via P4.
Exciting required moves for those from the North, less
so for me from the West Country but showing that
you do have to pay close attention on a BLS tour...
Back on the third rail, more passengers were set down
at Basingstoke and Woking. We weaved our way back
to London Slow line from Worting Jn to Basingstoke
P3, Fast to Farnborough, Slow to Weybridge and then
Fast to Wimbledon. Back in the Capital, the tour
crossed to the Slow at Durnsford Road and then, after
Vauxhall P7, did almost the whole length of International Jn ladder to end up in Waterloo P17. The
second day was over for the dedicated devotees of Devonian Crompton.

1497] The Park Royal Parkinson; Mon 9 Mar 2020: By Geoff Treby (again!). The last of the three legs
(and not to the IOM), was a single journey to the North West from Paddington (12.27) with unusual
moves. While waiting to board our tour I was sat on the bear seat (wearing clothes I hasten to add) by
P1, the stewards were busy preparing the train for the day. Then they congregated around the bear
statue for a jolly group shot. Did anyone bring the marmalade sandwiches? What is the collective
name for a group of BLS stewards? My suggestion is a composite. 47746 on front & 33029 on the rear,
the first rare move was immediate: the Link Line (only accessible from P1) and Royal Oak Carriage
Loop 'A', then Old Oak Common Flyover and Reception Line 1. We stopped on the latter, next to Old
Oak Common Depot site, now flattened - the site of the HS2 station.

To reach the name of the tour we had to go via West Ealing and Greenford South Jn to East Jn. Just
past Park Royal Jn there was a sleeper fixed across the single track at 4m 72ch. The line beyond to Old
Oak Common West Jn closed (possibly temporarily, possibly for good) from 5 Jan 2019 for HS2 work.
However we went sailing past said sleeper - how did the tour manage to do that? At Park Royal Jn it
took Park Royal Through Siding to the Tarmac Stone Terminal gate at Milepost 4¼. Well done Kev!
Trains run from Angerstein Wharf once or twice a week; the previous one had been four days earlier.

Our tour headed west onto Chiltern territory and north with, encouragingly, much preparatory work to
see for HS2 to the east of the line. I sat back and relaxed on the hard seats today (Standard Class).
Soon after the usual team of Tim and Paul were selling raffle tickets. An unremarkable journey through
the Chilterns followed with plenty of red kites and rain in the air. We passed through High Wycombe,
had a brief photo stop at Bicester North and did the Down Banbury Goods Loop at ............... Banbury.

At Leamington, the tour was held on the through line to allow a freight and an all stations (quite a few
nowadays) service to Nuneaton go ahead on the single sections to Coventry. This caused late running
and some concern. There was a Coventry set down but before unusual track. Reversing into Coventry
Carriage Sidings, our tour reached the stop blocks via No4 Siding (the most significant) in fact only No3
and No4 are useable now. Back into the station, a brief pause, and it was across and through Coventry
North Yard (making up for missing it on our Type 3 to the Sea tour) and northwards to Nuneaton.

With the goodies over, the train emptied at Stafford
then ran via Stoke and Crewe, to Preston, where
I left. Goodbyes to all, see and you again on Friday
(6 tours in 10 days!) A very good trio of tours, well
done Kev and the team including all working behind
the scenes on bookings, itineraries, tickets, maps,
decals etc for all their hard work. With £4,500 raised
for Help for Heroes Charity, it was all worth it. For
those who did the tours start to finish it was fantastic
value, a 3-day fare of £149 for 916¼ miles.





1498] :SATURDAY:: Lancaster P4 - Up Fast - Preston P6 - Up Slow - Up Fast - Up Main - Winsford South Jn -
Up Slow - Crewe P1 - Up & Dn Stoke - Up & Dn Potteries - Alsager Up & Dn Goods Loop - Stone Jn - Colwich Jn
- Up Slow - Rugeley North Jn - Ryecroft Jn - Up Walsall Fast - Up Walsall - X/O (0m 14ch) - Dn Bescot Goods
Loop - Newton Jn - Aston - Birmingham International P4 - (94m 40ch) - Up & Down Slow - Coventry P4 -
Kenilworth Up & Dn Loop - Leamington Spa North Jn - Up Cherwell Valley (middle line) - Fenny Compton
Middle Jn - Dn Fenny Compton Goods Loop - Up Banbury Loop - Aynho Jn - Dn Bicester - Bicester North P2 -
Princes Risborough Up Main - West Ruislip P4 - Greenford West Jn - West Ealing P4 - Up Relief - Portobello Jn
- Line '5' - Line '4' - Paddington P9. :SUNDAY:: Victoria P7 - Down Brighton Slow - Battersea Park Jn - Down
Brighton Fast - Balham Jn - Dn Brighton Slow - Streatham North Jn - Dn Slow Spur - Tooting P2 - Wimbledon
P9 - Dn Slow - Surbiton P4 - Dn Slow - Hampton Court Jn - Dn Fast - Weybridge P3 - Woking P4 - Dn Fast -
Brookwood P2 - Winchfield P2 - Dn Fast - Basingstoke P2 - Dn Slow - Worting Jn - Salisbury P4 - Tisbury Loop
- Gillingham P2 - Yeovil Junction P3 (reverse) - Yeovil Pen Mill P1 (rev) - Yeovil Junction P1 - Chard Jn Loop -
Axminster P1 (rare direction) - Exeter St Davids P3 - Exeter Riverside Up Goods Reception - Up Goods -
Crediton P2 - Okehampton line NR boundary (183m 79ch) (reverse) - Crediton P1 - Exeter St Davids P3 (rev)
- Exeter Riverside Up Goods Reception - Up & Dn Goods - Taunton P4 - Weston-super-Mare Avoiding Line -
Yatton Up Pass Loop - Bedminster P2 - Bristol TM P9 - Up Main - Up Bathampton Loop - Westbury North Jn -
Westbury P3 - Up Salisbury - Dn Salisbury - Salisbury P4 - Worting Jn Up Slow - Basingstoke P3 - Up Fast
- Farnborough (Main) P1 - Woking P1 - Weybridge P2 - Up Fast - Wimbledon, Durnsford Road Staff Halt -
Up Slow - Up Main Slow - West Crossings International Jn - Windsor Reversible - Waterloo P19. :MONDAY::
Paddington P1 - Link Line - Royal Oak Carriage Loop 'A' - Old Oak Common Flyover - Reception Line No1 -
Down Relief - West Ealing Jn - Greenford South Jn - Park Royal Jn - Tarmac Stone Terminal (gates) (rev) -
Northolt Jn - Princes Risborough P3 - Bicester North P1 - Up Banbury Goods Loop - Leamington Spa, Down
Cherwell Valley (middle line) - Coventry P4 (rev) - Carr Siding No4 (rev) - Coventry P4 - Coventry North Yard
Line 1 - Nuneaton P1 - Dn Trent Valley Slow - Dn Stafford Fast - Stafford P3 - Dn Slow - Sideway Jn Dn Pass
Loop - Stoke P2 - Up & Dn Potteries - Up & Dn Stoke - Crewe P1 - Dn Fast - Dn Main - Goldborne Jn - Dn Slow
- Springs Branch Slow Lines Jn - Dn Main - Balshaw Lane Jn - Dn Slow - Preston P1 - Dn Main - Lancaster P4.

:Details must be checked 1352 CONNECTIONS (Paul Stewart) [email protected] .Please mention BLN:

1499] Dates for your 2021 diary: The IOM Festival of Transport will be from Wed 28 Jul to Sun 1 Aug.

1500] BLS SPECIAL OFFER! UK National Rail Map poster: This would look good on your wall. The
new 2020 edition is now available with every national railway station and extra information such as
PlusBus, TOCs, lines with restricted services etc. Colour coded, it very clearly shows which TOCs
(normally) serve which lines; Manchester Piccadilly - Stockport has 6 as does Edinburgh -
Haymarket but Doncaster station is served by seven TOCs! Printed on thick, quality shiny paper it is
63cm (25") wide and 100cm (39½") tall. Normally £10 plus P&P, it is available to our members for £6
until 21 July (back editions, as available, for as little as £2). The map comes rolled in a large poster
tube (£2) which takes up to five, postage is £5.80. So one is £13.80, two £19.80 etc including P&P.
Order at https://www.railmap.org.uk/ or by cheque payee 'National Rail Bishop Auckland Ltd' to
Alex Nelson at: Railway Station, Bob Hardisty Drive, BISHOP AUCKLAND, DL14 7TL. 01388 661394.

1501] The Slow Train, Flanders & Swann: A classic https://bit.ly/2YVzJJt (2½ min) with nice pictures.

1502] Memories of a Consett railwayman: https://bit.ly/2WRLg9O (an interesting illustrated article).

X.101] Ecclesiastical Movement for Good awards: The awards give eligible charities in the UK and Ireland
financial assistance to help them make a real difference. 500 charities stand to gain £1,000 each. Nominating is
quick and easy. Visit www.movementforgood.com click 'nominate now'. For the Gawr Valley Railway enter
Charity Commission number 113983; click on 'search' which should automatically populate the 'Charity Name'
section with 'Bridgend Valleys Railway Company Limited'. Select 'Heritage Arts' in the 'Charity Type' section and
complete the other details - these apply to you, not the charity. The closing date is Sun 24 May. For GWsR it's
1133186. The more nominations a railway gets, the greater the chance of winning, so please spread the word.

●CONTACT DETAILS: Please see BLN 1350 centre pages, e-BLN second & third pages or PDF download.

●MAPS: By permission of the National Library of Scotland http://maps.nls.uk/index.html
●Published by the Branch Line Society, 10 Sandringham Rd, Stoke Gifford, BS34 8NP. ISSN 1354-0947.