1379

5N80 was in 10-Car formation (180101 & 180102), with 5N81 and 5N82 running 5-Car formation with
180101, due to the Saturday training requiring only a single Class 180. After arrival of 5N82, the two
units ran separately down the incline into separate roads within the Port of Sunderland (Roads 5 & 6,
the former Petrofina oil terminal) to stable overnight in a secure place. This was easier than returning
them to Heaton Depot. The units were then re-coupled in Road 1 on the Sunday morning, before
reversing and departing the Port in 10-Car formation. There were similar workings on Sun 6 Jun.

1379 NORTH WEST (John Cameron) [email protected]
1694] Great Musgrave: (BLN 1378.1556 & item 1736) Sadly the battle is lost here. Work to infill the
159 year old railway bridge is continuing despite Highways England's own inspection reports showing
that the bridge is in 'Fair' condition with no signs of being overloaded and has no significant defects.

The road bridge at Great Musgrave, near Warcop is over the trackbed between the Eden Valley and
Stainmore Railways whose longstanding ambition is to unite their operations and establish an 11-mile
heritage line between Appleby East and Kirkby Stephen East. Campaigners say that once the infilling is
completed, the blockage will be too difficult and costly to remove, so their plans will never be realised.

The infilling is costing £124,000 of public money but Highways England's own report has a page
entitled 'Strengthening Options'. It specifically states that repointing of open joints in the arch barrel
(which constitutes minor works) would be satisfactory for full 40 tonne assessment loading. This would
quickly, cheaply and easily resolve any concerns over the strength of the structure. A bridge built in
1862 is actually only required to have a capacity of 24 tonnes (not 40) and the local road network
effectively imposes a weight limit of 18 tonnes due to a restriction at nearby Kirkby Stephen - which is
signposted on all approaches to the bridge - and prevents through access via the bridge to any vehicle
over 18 tonnes. Repointing would cost only around £15-20K and preserve the trackbed for future use.

Despite all this, Highways England told Eden District Council that it was acting to prevent an emergency
arising. Permitted Development rights (bypassing normal planning and consultation procedures) only
facilitate temporary works in situations where immediate action is needed to prevent death or injury.
This expensive infilling is clearly intended to be permanent; in fact the bridge presented no significant
public safety risk. The question is why is Highways England doing this? The local MP Dr Neil Hudson's
email is [email protected] or at House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA if anyone
wants to make their views known. Many structures are under threat throughout England (item 1736).

1695] Wallside Siding: (TRACKmaps 4 p40A 2018) Recently unsuitable for a railtour due to the state of
track, it is understood that this Down siding is being refurbished and extended to store stock. The line
is the remnant of Hall Road EMU Depot here. A former Down Loop once continued as a Shunt Neck at
the Southport end to access six trailing depot roads, Roads 1 & 2 were shed roads (the mainline side).

1696] Bolton: (TRACKmaps 4 p46c 2018) The 14.12 SSuX TPE Edinburgh to Manchester Airport service
is booked to cross from the Up Bolton to the Down Bolton at 10m 70ch then pass through bidirectional
P4 at 17.07 in the rare direction, crossing back to the Up Bolton at 10m 10ch. To allow this the 16.15
Southport to Alderley Edge is booked to stand at Bolton P3 from 17.04 to 17.10. There is no access to
P2 or P5 at Bolton from the Up Bolton and P5 is bidirectional for turnbacks from/to the Manchester
direction only. Currently SSuX six TPE services each way are booked nonstop through Bolton; SO there
are three Up and five Down with one Down SuO. Only four services call each way SSuX - two of the
Down trains are only to Preston. SO there are seven Up calls and five Down calls; SuO seven each way.

1697] Birkenhead Docks & Harbour Co Lines: (TRACKmaps 4 p39A) The Dock Branch Park project
(previously known as A41 North) seeks to improve and utilise the long OOU alignment, from Tower Rd
to Green Lane. The cutting will be partially infilled, creating undulating levels from Argyle St to Rendell
Street connecting severed streets and delivering a linear park with adjoining 'pocket parks'. A walking/
cycling route will have space for integrated public art, lighting and potential exhibition space.
This project seeks to remove the current status of the long OOU Rock Ferry to Bidston freight line
from 'Operational', and transfer the land to Wirral Borough Council. Opening is proposed for Jul 2023.





PREVIOUS: (Item 1694) Great Musgrave bridge before and BELOW after infill

ling, this has cost £124,000, repairs would have cost £20,000 (© HRE Group).

BELOW & NEXT: A Society visit to Warcop (Eden Valley Railway) both lookin

ng towards Appleby East with familiar faces… (Ian Mortimer, 17 May 2014.)









PREVIOUS: (TRACKmaps 4 p36E 2018) Stainmore Railway, the fine overall roo
Fred Pugh is walking away from the camera. BELOW: It really was Kirkby Step

of Kirkby Stephen East, a Society visit later the same day, on the left the late
phen East, not 'Irkby', looking towards Warcop! (Ian Mortimer, 17 May 2014.)

X.140] BELOW: A FHH Dean Lane to Brindle Heath train of compacted
Traffic at the reconstructed Dean Lane terminal restarted on Wed 16 Jun, R

d household waste speeds through Salford Crescent at 17.52 on Thur 24 Jun.
Runcorn Foley Lane incinerator is the ultimate destination. (John Cameron.)

BELOW: (Item 1704) A southbound freight train passes Garsdale signal box

x in Mar 1975 when the station was closed to passengers. (Ian Mortimer.)

X.139] BELOW: A southbound Cross Country double Voyage

er DMU on Congleton Viaduct. (Ian Mortimer, 22 Jun 2021.)

BELOW & NEXT: (Item 1702) Work on the northern section of Carlisle

e P1 on Fri 11 Jun 2021 as our railtour arrives. (Both John Cameron.)





BELOW: (Item 1701) Bransty Signal Box at W

Whitehaven. (John Cameron, Fri 11 Jun 2021.)

1698] Metrolink PSUL: (BLN 1378.1552) It is the first three trams to Eccles (05.31, 05.51 & 06.11
from Cornbrook) and the last two out (21.51 & 22.11 from Eccles), that are booked, seven days a
week, to avoid MediaCityUK in the Phase 2 Covid timetable (since Aug 2020 and doubtless similarly
before). These trams only convey passengers between Cornbrook and Eccles. Public timetables
from Traveline North West https://www.traveline.info/ (insert the line 'colour' in the top box - in
this case put 'Blue Line') show more and at different times so presumably the non-Covid timetable.

1699] Euston - Weaver Jn: The new 10 x 7 car EMUs and 13 x 5-car Bimode 'crack' express trains being
built by Hitachi at Newton Aycliffe for Avanti West Coast will not tilt (reportedly because the order is
too small to make this economical - does this mean horrible hard seats too?). The EMUs are for the
London to West Midlands and enhanced Liverpool services. To maintain present schedules, NR
proposes to raise the permissible speed for non-tilting trains with minimal infrastructure intervention.

Phase 1, London Euston - Weaver Jn is due to be implemented between Mar and mid-2022. The new
differential speed restrictions in places will allow the units to travel at up to 125mph. It will apply to
the Trent Valley fast lines (only). Rugby to Stafford via Birmingham already has differential multiple
unit limits. The speed profile will be indicated by conventional speed signs. There will be no change to
track category or maintenance requirements, the maximum speed for each route section is unchanged.

1700] Barrow-in-Furness: Sadly three train depot guards recently passed away. A memorial garden will
be opened opposite the station car park as a place in their honour. Rail staff are volunteering in their
own free time to complete the garden, with picnic tables and an area to grow fresh fruit.

1701] Whitehaven: Two BLNs ago we reported that the new Down Main semaphore signal WN3-24,
commissioned 16th May at 7m 08ch near Maryport, was the newest on NR. However, it didn't hold the
title for long. At Whitehaven semaphore BY57 on the Down Main (0m 32ch) was renewed 4m closer to
Bransty Box on Sun 20 Jun, with a new semaphore signal arm on a straight post and an LED lamp.

1702] Carlisle: The northern section of P1 is OOU for resurfacing work; a 5 coach section is available.

1703] Preston: (BLN 1367.3645) Preston Trampower Ltd has recently purchased Station House, in
Gamull Lane, Preston and has appointed architects to refurbish the mid-19th century building to
become the new base for the company. Station House was once a stationmaster's house and booking
office on the original Preston & Longridge Railway line but was recently in use as a private residence.

Before the full 5km Guild Line can be considered, a 200m demonstration line in Deepdale needs to be
constructed. After many false dawns it is hoped (yet again!) that construction of this short line will
start in the summer to allow testing and help to persuade local authorities of the need for Preston to
have a full - privately financed - tramway. The demonstration line would run between Skeffington
Road and West View Leisure Centre with Eric Wright Civil Engineering appointed as contractor for this
work. There are currently negotiations ongoing with NR over access arrangements to the line and,
once concluded, Preston Trampower say they are confident that work will be able to commence.

1704] Garsdale: On 14 Jun NR began a 3-month, £500k, refurbishment of this 111 year old Grade II
signal box with repairs to the structural timbers, cladding and electronics, a new roof and windows.

1705] Timperley Jn - Skelton Jn: (BLN 1377.1407) The passenger closure date of the direct curve was
from Mon 22 Mar 1880. Victorian gricers needed to be double quick as it only began on 1 Dec 1879!
Known as 'Timperley Curve', it belonged to the Manchester, Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway.
The (ultra short-lived) service round it was as a Cheshire Lines Committee Manchester Central to
Stockport Tiviot Dale and Manchester London Road 'circular' service. As to removal of the curve;
it was still on a 1903 Railway Clearing House junction diagram but had been removed by the 1905
issue. There is no confirmed provenance for the 1 Aug 1904 date and that should be 'played down'.

1706] Merseyrail: The TOC was the Best Performing Regional Rail Operator for the third time at the
2021 Golden Whistle Awards. Merseyrail also broke a national performance record earlier this year
with a 28 day period when 99% of its trains arrived on time or within five minutes of arrival time.

1707] Trafford Park: (BLN 1377.1408) Trafford Park East Sidings 1 to 4 are now back in use again.

1708] Tattenhall Jn: A most distressing accident occurred 50 years ago on the 2 Jul 1971 at 18.08 when
a School's Party Special returning from Rhyl, travelling at nearly 70mph under clear signals, was
derailed approaching Tattenhall Jn, between Chester and Crewe, when the track buckled without
warning. Sadly, two children were killed, and nine adults and seventeen children were taken to two
hospitals, with four adults and five children detained overnight. At the time of the public hearing an
adult and a child remained in hospital, but were discharged shortly afterwards.

Early that morning the Special had left Smethwick Rolfe Street for Rhyl for a day's outing for 32 adults
and 380 children. Its 10-coach Mk I stock train, hauled by Class 47 diesel locomotive No1683, left Rhyl
at 17.25, six minutes late. The journey was uneventful until the driver saw the Tattenhall Junction
signalman standing on the platform at the top of the box steps holding both arms above his head to
stop the train. When the driver brought his train to a stand on the Up line, between the 174¼ and 174
mileposts, he eventually established that the 8th, 9th and 10th coaches had been flung sideways making
contact with the arch of Overbridge 50; the last coach, having parted from the rest of the train,
overturned onto the opposite (Down) line. The 8th and 9th coaches remained coupled to the train,
though both initially derailed, but the 8th coach had rerailed itself on connections at the junction.
The loco and the leading seven coaches went forward at 20.30, and then to Birmingham at 21.38.

Tattenhall Jn lost its junction status when the line to Whitchurch (Chester) Jn closed completely from
the 4 Nov 1963. However, the signal box remained operational, working Absolute Block to Beeston
Castle, in the Crewe direction, and Chester No1 signal boxes. The 18 year old relief signalman on duty
at Tattenhall Junction signal box, after accepting the train in the normal manner and clearing his
signals, saw it approaching when he noticed dust and rubble being thrown into the air near the back of
the train, and, what turned out to be, the last coach veering towards the 6 foot. Having managed to
draw the driver's attention, he then promptly placed his signals at danger, and sent the 'Obstruction
Danger' bell signal (6 beats) to the adjoining signal boxes at 18.08. He followed this up by telephoning
Chester Exchange asking for emergency services to attend. Police, ambulances and seven fire
appliances all arrived between 18.35 and 18.48. The signalman was congratulated at the public hearing
on his alertness, and the professional way in which he had coped with the emergency situation.

The Inquiry was conducted on behalf of the Railway Inspectorate by Major CF Rose, who later became
Chief Inspecting Officer in 1982 and retired in 1988. It was soon established that there were no faults
with the condition of the coaches, and thoughts then turned to the condition of the track in the
vicinity of Overbridge 50. The previous train on the Up line before the accident was a Caernarvon* to
Willesden freightliner hauled by a Class 47 diesel loco. The driver reported that he had had a clear run,
passing Tattenhall Junction under clear signals at about 60mph (maximum line speed was 75mph).
He hadn't noticed anything unusual; there was no rough riding and no distortion of the Up line.

Exhaustive tests were carried out regarding track quality, and specifically its history in the vicinity. It
transpired that in Feb 1971 both the Leading Trackman and the Track Chargeman had raised concerns
about rail creep in the Up line with the acting local Permanent Way Supervisor. The latter visited the
area of Overbridge 50, and was concerned enough about the extension of rail creep [longitudinal
movement of the rails in the direction of travel of the train] to express in writing to the Permanent
Way Supervisor at Crewe to say: this requires in my opinion immediate attention. Unfortunately,
nothing had materialised by the time of the accident. The track was in proper alignment as the train
approached, but the buckle developed under the 4th and 5th coaches, deteriorating as the train
continued over it. The Inspector concluded that prime responsibility rested with the Permanent Way
Supervisor at Crewe who had overall charge for track maintenance and safety, and had received clear
warnings from his subordinates that the track near Overbridge 50 was in a potentially dangerous state
which he failed to take seriously. The Divisional Engineer didn't escape criticism for being somewhat
out of touch with the conditions on the ground prior to the accident, and there was a need for
organisational changes in consequence, which the Inspector was assured were planned.

[*The freightliner would normally have started from Holyhead, but the 23 May 1970 Menai Bridge fire
isolated Anglesey from the rest of the network. Menai Bridge Jn to Caernarvon (as then) line, which
had closed on the 5 Jan 1970, was reopened on 15 Jun 1970 for this type of traffic, and the appropriate
facilities were provided. This line closed again when the Menai Bridge reopened on the 31 Jan 1972.]

1709] Yorton: (BLN 1368.140) (7,544 passengers 2019-20) Your Wales & Marches Regional Ed is happy
to amend this item as the Railway Inn still stands just to the north of the station (Up side) - its upper
parts are visible from passing trains. However attempts to sell it https://bit.ly/2RIxHLo as a going
concern failed; pub closure was permanent on 25 Feb 2017. https://bit.ly/3pPftV9 is CAMRA's
requiem. The new houses built on the former goods yard (Up side, Shrewsbury end) are now occupied.

1710] Manchester Victoria - Moston/Stalybridge: (BLN 1366.3458) NR will be undertaking a 16 day,
round the clock blockade east of Victoria from Sat 31 Jul until Sun 15 Aug (inclusive) as part of the
Transpennine Route Upgrade. Trains from the Rochdale direction turnback at Moston station, with
buses running between Rochdale, Moston and Victoria. It is thought that trains will turnback via an
ECS shunt over the trailing crossover at 2m 48ch alongside Newton Heath Depot. Ashton-under-Lyne -
Manchester passengers are advised to use Metrolink, except Sat 14 & Sun 15 Aug, when poor
coordination means that engineering work will close the Ashton Metrolink line so buses will run.

Liverpool trains run to Manchester Airport via Piccadilly. Newcastle services start at Piccadilly. Trains
between Manchester (Piccadilly) and Leeds/York/Hull/Redcar run via Guide Bridge to Stalybridge.

1711] Hyde, the short and the long of it: (BLN 1377.1409) In the latest twist to this saga, Hyde North
P1 (towards Manchester) will now be extended from 67m to 85m and Hyde Central P2 (towards Rose
Hill) from 77m to 85m. In summary they are being extended to match the rolling stock in use rather
than to the length they were previously supposed to be (but were not) in the Sectional Appendix!

1712] Heysham Port: (BLN 1377.1413) The useable platform (85m) matches the train length now that
part of the 'unusable' section has been resuscitated. The Appendix was previously wrong with 100m.

1713] Liverpool Lime Street: Northern and NR have installed new staff accommodation and ticket
office areas. The ticket office had remained largely unchanged since the 1980s. The new facilities
include: Two secure out of hours ticket windows, Four Advance ticket counters; one 'accessible',
Passenger water filling station, Information area, Seating, Refurbished station radio control,
Digital information screen, Extra concourse ticket machines, Updated equipment, Refurbished
mess and kitchen facilities.New dedicated locker area.Expanded female (sic - no comment) WCs.

1714] Prescot: (BLN 1365.3334) (314,000 passengers 2019-20) The £8M station improvement project,
begun in Jun 2020, is complete. There is a lift on each platform, a modern refurbished ticket office,
new toilets, enhanced lighting and new signage. The car park has been remodelled with a drop off area
and secure cycle parking. New information screens, platform seating and a shelter have been installed.

1379 SOUTH EAST - NORTH & EAST ANGLIA (Julian James) [email protected]
1715] It Ain't Half Hot Mum: Three separate 20mph emergency speed restrictions were introduced on
the Watford Junction to St Albans Abbey branch from midday on 27 May, initially due to the heat.
Early morning and evening trains have tended to run to time but others run progressively later, with
the already tight turnarounds, until eventually a trip has to be cancelled for a crew break or they run
out of hours. Any remaining passengers are allowed to use local bus services. The current timetable
has rail replacement buses anyway all day every Sunday. On Saturdays trains are scheduled between
09.00 and 17.00 with buses before and afterwards. SSuX it is the opposite with trains until about 10.00
and after 15.45 but buses between although there is also one morning and evening round bus trip,
possibly to provide a crew break, the last round trip of the day is also a bus. From Mon 28 Jun until Oct
a new timetable allows for the speed restrictions while the necessary track maintenance is completed.

1716] Soham: (BLN 1373.860) Track realignment was to be completed by 14 Jun between 7m 58ch on
the Up Bury line and the Down Bury line (double track section) and 7m 74ch on Up & Down Bury Single
line. The 'Single' has been moved 134mm eastward and lifted to increase track height by up to 118mm.

1717] Aynho Jn - Kings Sutton: During 2023 NR is to
replace the 1930 built underbridge at 81m 1,276yd in a
110 hour possession. It is the northerly of two bridges
500m apart passing over the River Cherwell just south of
where the railway is now crossed by the M40 on an
overbridge. Between these two underbridges the river
(which meanders alongside the Oxford Canal - far left on
the 1950 map - and the railway) now has a short, straight
cutoff making the original river route (and thus the two
underbridges) redundant. The riveted steel 1930 bridge
has loss of steel section from rusting and the brick north
abutment is subsiding. A further 500m to the south the
Cherwell passes under the canal with weirs taking the
river to the west of the canal. A desk top survey suggests
good views of river, canal and railway can be had from
Nell Bridge Lock where the B4100 (the former A41 (T)
here LEFT: lower right of centre) passes over all four on
bridges - four as the original river and cut-off are separate here. The new rail bridge will be wider to
provide cess walkways and have abutments at increased spacing, described by NR as not increasing
the flood risk, presumably a problem here at river level. On the map Kings Sutton and Banbury are to
the north, Aynho Jn and Oxford to the south; the direct line to Kingham and Cheltenham is off left.

1718] Oxford: (BLN 1378.1575) The new 75mph crossovers at Oxford North Jn will be commissioned
in Aug 2023. The new Botley Road bridge has the new west side P5 track on an independent span and
includes provision on the east side for a new sixth through line. However, the NR Project Overview
avoids suggesting this extra track will either pass east of bay P1 or subsume either bays P1 or P2. The
new pedestrian bridge will be further east again of the space reserved for this eastern through line.
The western station entrance is due to open in Mar 2024. At the two level crossings mentioned in BLN
1378, a ramped footbridge is proposed (Sandy Lane) and a stepped only footbridge (Yarnton Lane). A
third level crossing closure included is that south of Tackley station; all three should close in Aug 2023.

1719] East West Rail (EWR) NIMBYism? (BLN 1375.1155) Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats have
reported an attempt on 2 Jun by Conservative councillors to reverse several years of progress on EWR
and add at least three years delay. It was defeated in a Bedford Borough Council meeting with 30 out
of 41 votes against. The move saw the Conservatives U-turn on their previous support for a route via
Bedford itself, which they had presented to the public throughout previous stages and the last council
and mayoral elections. The Tories proposed that the Council should demand that the Government
reconsider all previous routes including those which bypassed Bedford altogether to the south, despite
the fact that some of these routes would mean demolition of homes and businesses in Wixams and
would almost certainly kill off the long awaited Wixams Thameslink station (BLN 1373.853).

Southern routes were previously rejected by the Government because of the greater environmental
harm in the countryside and much reduced benefits for residents by making the railway less accessible
and removing connections at Bedford. The Conservative amendment called for the government to
rerun the previous stage of the project and the consultation which was held over two years ago. With
preparatory work included this would mean a minimum delay of at least three years and potentially
see the entire project scrapped by the government in favour of the many competing infrastructure
priorities across the country. [Although political in nature, these are all documented facts - BLN Editor.]

1720] Microgricing alert at Luton! Renewal of the trailing crossover between the Up Fast and Down
Fast adjacent Up Fast P4 will move the crossover by 37yd, increasing the P4 standage by 31m. Work
is planned for weeks 11 and 12 in 2022 (11-24 Jun). (Mixed units of measure are still a feature of
railway design 52 years after your Regional Editor first worked in both dimensions at the same time!)

BELOW: (Item 1721) A southbound CrossCountry train on the temporary Up
It was a very hot day and the newly laid permanent Up Stamford line (right

p Stamford line on 31 May, looking north with Werrington Jn upper right.
or the ramp down to the diveunder) was not yet ballasted or distressed.

BELOW: Fri 4 Jun 09.30, the south end looking north at the site of the new M

Marholm Jn with the ECML far right; the rail crane is moving track panels.

BELOW: 18.05 Fri 4 Jun (north end looking south) showing the first train to

use the new alignment, slewed earlier that day, 66187 & 66087 on ballast.

BELOW: 19.00 Fri 4 Jun; looking south, 66791 is at the head of a train dropp
the then disconnected temporary Up Stamford line. Far Right, the crane use

ping ballast over the new point on the Up line at Marholm Jn. To its right is
ed that day is being attached to the rear of a train returning to Doncaster.





PREVIOUS: DCR 60029 is on the Middleton Towers to St Helens Ravenhea

BELOW: EMR 158813 on the 04.56 Nottingham to Norwich was the first pa
Werrington Jn at 06.13 Mon 7 Jun. It is one of two daily SuX EMR eastbound
passengers appreciate the significance of the occasion? There had been an e

ad sand at Werrington Jn on the ECML Down Fast line. (17.52, Fri 4 Jun.)

assenger train on the new Up Stamford Line (in its final resting place) at
d trains on the Melton Mowbray to Peterborough line but did any of the
earlier Tyseley to Cambridge ECS working. (All photos by Nick Garnham.)

BELOW: Marholm Jn (or at least part of it) looking north on the evening of Sun 6 Jun.

1721] Norwich Crown Point: (BLN 1364.3180) A new £8.7M bogie drop facility has been installed at
the depot replacing the 'dropped' facility at Harwich (BLN 1365.3344). It is part of GA's £40M depot
redevelopment, begun in 2018. About 1,440 tonnes of soil (960m3) were excavated to create the pit
for the bogie drop structure into which a Mechan lifting table was fitted before lowering the 31 tonne
bogie drop assembly. 1,226 tonnes of concrete (511m3) and 106 tonnes of reinforced steel were used.
Diesel exhaust extractor hoods have also been fitted, steel work for two monorail cranes, a travelling
jib crane and an engine lift crane. Testing and commissioning of the new bogie drop is now underway.

1722] Bimodes: (BLN 1378.1578) Pantographs are indeed raised at Norwich if a unit stands for a
significant time, most commonly the Stansted services. However, others tend to have incredibly short
turnarounds. At Lowestoft the conductor commonly supplements the automated announcements to
advise that the train forms a through service and through passengers are invited to stay on board.

A member comments: I've done several trips to bash these [bimodes] and accumulate miles as having
a separate power car vehicle I consider them to be eligible traction, and very nice they are too.
Incredibly noisy on a hot day in stations when the cooler group fans ramp up. Even more entertaining is
the fact that you can walk through the power car pod and, if you pause and allow the sliding doors to
close you in, enjoy your own private auditorium of thrash.

1723] Witham: (BLN 1355.1154) The engineer's siding is now OOU until 15 Sep (incl) rather than 5 Nov.

1724] Crossings: (BLN 1368.88) NR has installed Miniature Stop Lights (MSLs) at 10 crossings in a
project that includes 90 Anglia crossings over the next three years. They replace a 'Stop, Look & Listen'
system that relies on users checking for approaching trains before crossing. MSLs have red and green
lights with an alarm. They warn crossing users of a train arrival several seconds before with the red
lights and audible warning. If the warnings persist then another train is approaching. Users should only
cross when the green light is showing and no warning is sounding. Since Mar, MSLs have been installed
at: # Big Hill (North Fambridge - Althorne), # Grammar School Farm & # Pond Street (North Walsham -
Gunton), # East Runton (Cromer - Sheringham), # Worlingham, North Cove & # Wadehall* Old Dam
(Beccles - Oulton Board South), # Maltings, # Melton / Melton Sewage & # Dock Lane (Woodbridge -
Melton). *At 112m 23ch but incorrectly shown as 'Wadhall Old Dam' on TRACKmaps 2 p8 2020.

1725] Uplifting experiences at Taplow: The new fully enclosed footbridge, with sides glazed from floor
to ceiling, is in use towards the London end and the old country end footbridge has gone. It can still be
seen in a few episodes of 'Pie in the Sky' and 'Midsomer Murders'! There are three lifts. TfL
improvements mean that the booking office is closed from Dec 2020 until this summer for rebuilding.
All the rooms in the main building including waiting room and toilets have been closed since then.
It seems that the booking office is being enlarged for a gate line. Apparently there will be another gate
line on the Bath Rd (south) side by the main car park but there is no obvious work yet. The temporary
two storey booking office and staff accommodation by the Up platform is rather an eyesore.

1726] Furze Platt - wrong type of bacterium: The booking office was closed for disinfection on 3 Jun
and was to be for about another fortnight due to the discovery of Legionnaires Disease bacteria.

1727] Werrington: (BLN 1378.1570) The new final Up Stamford alignment opened as planned on 7 Jun
east of the diveunder with a temporary speed restriction of 20mph following a breakdown of a tamper
over the weekend; the tamping required to reopen at line speed was incomplete. There is no track on
the diveunder incline so the trailing points of the new Marholm Jn have no approach track yet on that
route. The facing points in the Down Stamford have yet to be installed, so there is plain line on this
part of Marholm Jn. Installation of track through the diveunder is due to begin in Jul, with physical
completion due in Aug before the twelve week process to achieve regulatory signoff begins.

1379 SOUTH EAST - SOUTH (Julian James) [email protected]
1728] Dorking/Three Bridges - Horsham - Ford: (BLN 1373.863) Work during a nine day closure from
14-22 Aug and over weekends between Jul and Oct includes new track drainage at Horsham relaying
nine sets of switches and crossings and provision of a new crossover, track relaying at Pulborough,

Warnham and Barns Green where the level crossing (between Christ's Hospital and Billingshurst) is
closed from 19-22 Aug inclusive. The new 30mph facing crossover will be between Littlehaven and
Horsham at 37m 32ch for trains from the Three Bridges direction to be reach Horsham Up P1 & P2.
The crossover will be secured from installation on 22 Aug 2021 until commissioning on 20 Jun 2022.
On the Down side the non-electrified Engine Road Siding partially behind the signal box is to be
abandoned. Littlehaven Down P2 will also be extended 3ch at the Horsham end.

There will also be replacement of track circuits on the Arun Valley line and signal heads between
Horsham and Crawley. At Ockley station work will stabilise the cutting by installation of a sheet piled
wall to prevent landslips. Enabling work will continue for the upgrade of Parsonage Road level crossing
to a full barrier CCTV crossing and recontrol of Littlehaven gatebox to Three Bridges ROC in Jun 2022
(BLN 1366.3499). Deep cleaning, refurbishing, decorating and essential maintenance work takes place
at all closed stations: Crawley, Ifield, Faygate, Littlehaven, Holmwood, Ockley, Horsham, Christ's
Hospital, Billingshurst, Pulborough, Amberley & Arundel. Drainage work will also be completed.
Weekend closures take place on 11, 17, 18 & 31 Jul, 1 Aug 4 & 5 Sep and 3 Oct.

1729] Eridge: (BLN 1370.401) A £1.9M Access for All project includes a 16 person lift to P1 (there were
only 130,000 passengers 2019-20!) and an accessible ramp at the station entrance to the ticket office.
It follows previous work with a £1.8M footbridge upgrade completed in Sep 2020 and £500k spent on
various platform improvements that finished in Jan 2021. Southern also recently finished a full interior
and exterior refurbishment of the station buildings with a heritage style waiting room and more seats.

1730] Box Hill & Westhumble: (115,000 passengers 2019-20.) On 14 Jun NR began a canopy and
footbridge refurbishment with steelwork repairs on the footbridge, high water pressure jet washing
and repainting. New decking and guttering will be installed. The station building will have new roof
sheets, refurbishment of the canopy columns and repair of the canopy timbers. Box Hill & Westhumble
station was Grade II Listed as a Building of Special Architectural or Historic Interest in Dec 1980.

The 'Box Hill' is from ancient box woodland found on the steepest west facing chalk slopes overlooking
the River Mole. Quick records that the station OP 11 Mar 1867 as West Humble but the 1868 LB&SCR
timetable had West Humble for Burford Bridge. It became Box Hill & Burford Bridge from 1 Nov 1870
(Box Hill in the 1896-1904 timetables). Bradshaw had Boxhill & Burford Bridge for Mickleham from an
unknown date until 1955/56. From 15 Sep 1958 the present name was adopted, which local residents
agreed should be kept in a 2006 consultation. The £1M project is due for completion by late Nov.

1731] Dungeness: EDF Energy is to begin defuelling Dungeness 'B' Nuclear Power Station seven years
ahead of schedule. The 4 x 142.5MW plant at Romney Marsh has been offline since 2018 with a range
of unique, significant and ongoing technical challenges. After discovering new station specific risks EDF
has taken a decision not to restart the plant. The plant had been due to close in 2008, but was twice
given 10 year extensions. EDF said that the power station had powered every home in Kent for 50
years and helped the UK avoid the emission of almost 50M tonnes of carbon dioxide. There will be rail
traffic on the nine mile freight only branch for a few more years. Since 18 Dec 2019 the flask train has
only run nine times; this year on 3 Feb, 24 Mar & 8 Jun. Dungeness was considered for a new nuclear
power station but the surrounding area is expected to be flooded by rising sea levels by around 2050.

1379 SOUTH WEST (Darren Garnon) [email protected]
1732] Pilning: Unlike at Berney Arms (BLN 1364.3191), rush hour at Pilning is on a Saturday . Three
joined the 08.33 service to Penzance on Sat 17 Oct 2020. The other two appeared to be regulars as
one greeted the other with 'Where are you going today then?' Our member parked in the village and
had a pleasant walk back from Severn Beach, so can't comment on the crowding levels on the
afternoon service. (Pilning to Bristol Temple Meads day returns are valid back to Severn Beach.)

A new design variable height entrance barrier was evident! The only access point to the station, all
passengers in a car or on foot have to pass underneath it, clearly designed to prevent caravans, lorries
and any tall vehicles gaining entrance (half had collapsed/been struck - seemingly some time ago).

1733] Turnchapel Jn: (TRACKmaps 3 p9A 2018) Laira Depot servicing platform Stop Board (245m 18ch)
is OOU. A new stop block has been provided at 245m 20ch and 623 handpoints have been plain lined.

1734] Jersey: An enthusiast has embarked on an ambitious project to repatriate a former Jersey steam
loco currently languishing in South Africa. 'La Moye', a 3' 6" gauge 0-6-0 Andrew Barclay 1907 Glasgow
built steam engine operated passenger services on Jersey from 1922 to 1927. It was then exported to
South Africa where the main line gauge is 3' 6'' rather than 4' 8½'', remaining in commercial use until
preservation in 1993. It is estimated that £55k will be required for the project to return and restore the
loco, as well as somewhere suitable to keep it on Jersey, of course.

1735] Carbis Bay: Some fascinating railway history was revealed during the recent G7 summit here.
The original Carbis Bay ground level station sign was removed during WWII and restored in the 1950s,
a task that the Prime Minister's grandfather helped with. The sign, which marks the conclusion of the
£3M track renewal scheme in the area, is made from reused railway sleepers and granite stone infilled
with sea shells. It has been restored and was unveiled by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on 10 Jun.

1736] A Brunel Bridge may be lost: (Item 1694) A bridge designed in the 1850s by Brunel is earmarked
for infilling as part of the Highways England scheme currently threatening many irreplaceable disused
railway structures throughout England, disregarding any potential future use or historical value they
may have. The engineer designed it for the Cornwall Railway from Plymouth to Truro and Falmouth.
Elegantly constructed in masonry, it is three miles west of Brunel's famous Royal Albert Bridge over
the River Tamar, on a section of line near Saltash that was bypassed by the 1908 inland diversion.

In Sep 2020, Highways England - who (mis?)manage the Historical Railways Estate of 3,100 disused
railway structures for the DfT - told Cornwall Council that the bridge is damp and has calcite deposits
throughout the arch barrel. There is standing water beneath the structure. The state owned road
company went on to claim that the bridge - 220m from the nearest right of way - is an ongoing and
increasing risk to public safety and is therefore going to be infilled under Permitted Development
powers to prevent an emergency arising. This is their standard approach using (abusing?) emergency
powers to avoid the need for consultation and planning permission which would give stakeholders and
the public a chance to object. According to The HRE Group - an alliance of engineers, sustainable
transport advocates and greenway developers - the bridge is one of 115 disused railway structures
programmed for infilling by Highways England, with 15 others due for demolition. But a study has
found that 23 of the structures are proposed for reuse on active travel routes, reopened national
railways and heritage line extensions, while another 18 could play similar roles in the medium term.
In some cases independent expert inspections have found very little/nothing wrong with the structures.

------------------------------------------------------------

1737] Exeter, Alphington Road: (BLN 1364.3214) The last train is thought to have been an ECS IET on
28 Oct 2019. The 44ch branch has now been cleared of vegetation, does anyone know why please?

1379 WEST MIDLANDS (Brian Schindler) [email protected]
1738] Stratford-upon-Avon: (BLN 1378.1605) P1 has actually been OOU since Tue 9 Mar at 09.17 due
to a fault with the points which need replacing (likely over 17/18 Jul). Birmingham services have been
using P2 instead and Chiltern the normally rare (and fickle) P3. It needs to be sorted out by Sun 1 Aug
as the steam hauled Shakespeare Express (Vintage Trains, SuO until 29 Aug) runs round in P2 via P1.

1739] Shrewsbury - Wolverhampton: A Midlands Connect feasibility study showed that electrification
and extending London services to Shrewsbury could create over £500M of benefits. Line speed would
increase to 90mph. Time savings are valued up to £377M and the benefits of fewer cars on our roads
and other environmental benefits are worth up to £145M. Midlands Connect plans to fund the next
stage of project development to build the case and then seek capital investment from Government.

1740] WM Metro: As work takes place on three extensions, on Sun 6 Jun it began on a fourth with
utility diversions in Lower Bull St for the 1.7km Digbeth via Curzon Street HS2 route. Over half of it will
be 'wireless'. This work is due to be completed by spring 2022 then moves on towards to Digbeth.

BELOW: (Item 1732) A barrier to travel? The main and only entrance to Piln

ning station for pedestrians and vehicles (Andrew Taylor, Sat 17 Oct 2020.)

BELOW: (Item 1741) Honeybourne, temporary 'P3' looking towards Worce
Long Marston line* before 2011 remodelling with partial redoubling of the N
is standing; clearly they have been asked to smile for the camera. The line to
Iain Scotchman, Wed 16 Jun 2021 unless specified.) [*Now far right = the Ho

ester, (Long Marston/Oxford are behind the camera). P3 is on the previous
North Cotswold line. Steward Lee Nash is sitting on the steps and Tim Wallis
op right is to Honeybourne Yard which has three tamper sidings. (All photos
oneybourne Through Siding, the slue is in case the GWSR extends here.]

BELOW: In the opposite direction 230010 approaches Honeybourne fro