1327

difficult to photograph. The station was named Bigsweir until May 1909 then St Briavels & Llandogo
until the latter halt opened; St Briavels village is about 3 hilly miles away across the river! Although
nothing remains of Whitebrook Halt the crossing keeper's house of typical GWR design with hipped
roof is intact and inhabited. The trackbed is then again a footpath for the next 2 miles to the site of
Penallt Halt where only a GWR 'spear' fence remains. A footbridge across the Wye is attached to the
derelict railway bridge, leading to the site of Redbrook station, now occupied by a modern house of no
apparent railway provenance. Wyesham Halt has also left no trace but there is a short footpath
through the site. Only a stone overbridge is extant at the site of Monmouth May Hill station while to
find Monmouth Troy station building (OP 1857) you must visit Winchcombe on the Gloucestershire
Warwickshire Steam Railway where it has been re-erected on a railway half a century its junior!

1096] Llangelynin: (BLN 1325.762) A member visited the station site on 20 Apr 2015. Footpath access
was very problematic; it seems to have been by legal 'easement' which lapsed with the station closure
(25 Oct 1991) as at other locations including, it is thought, Felindyffryn Halt south of Aberystwyth.

A reused rail once supporting a notice board was in situ part way down the path but beyond it fences
and barbed wire blocked the way; however a NR footpath crossing sign could be seen. The platform
had gone; closure was probably precipitated by its shelter being blown away during a violent storm in
the winter of 1989/90 as well as the lack of any lighting. However in 2015 the early 14th century, Grade
I listed, St Celynin's church was still open to the public and from memory a notice advertised Sunday
evensong as still being held there monthly during spring/summer. Closure would have been a great
cultural loss as it was on the site of a church founded around the 6th century by St Celynin, an Irish
missionary who converted the locals to Christianity. [Coflein confirms it is deconsecrated but used for
occasional special services; like a line without regular timetabled services but with occasional tours.]

1097] Shrewsbury: (BLN 1317.2536) NR seems to be finding its proposal to remove unused sidings at
Coton Hill unexpectedly contentious. It has already amended it to only apply to No1 & 2 but operators
have objected even to this as they are unsure if it will impact their future fleet plans. NR has therefore
replaced the existing proposal with a Short Term Network Change (STNC) to allow them more time to
consider it. The STNC is to take effect for up to 5 years following a consultation period for which no
end date has yet been confirmed. Despite the obvious similarities this has nothing to do with Br**x*t!

1098] Llanwern West Jn: In conjunction with switch and crossing renewals scheduled here for 3 May,
NR proposes to change the speed restriction for Down trains exiting either the Down or Up Service
Line from 15 to 10mph. This is to comply with the recommendations of a SPAD incident investigation.

1099] Cardiff Bay/Bute Road/Docks: (BLN 1278.795) The City Council has granted planning permission
to ABA Holdings to refurbish the original Taff Vale Railway Grade II* listed station building and add an
extension which has grown to four storeys from the three proposed at first. The original is thought to
be an Isambard Kingdom Brunel design and in 2016 was 'the most endangered building in Wales'.

The extension design received numerous objections from conservation groups and a councillor likened
it to a 'multi-storey car wash' (your Regional Ed agrees!) but redevelopment will arrest the decay of
the main building and provide retail space and offices. A planning officer reported that nothing of
historic value remains within, some floors have collapsed and squatters have been in occupation. The
building is now surrounded by scaffolding. http://bit.ly/2IsBFSg has details and pictures. The adjacent
Cardiff Bay station thrives with 1.3M passengers in 2017/18 compared with 93,685 in 1997/98.

1100] Penhelig: (BLNs 1299.409 & 1302.693) OP 8 May 1933 as a 'Halt' by the (original) Great Western
Railway. During the station rebuild when it was temporarily closed from 1 Jan until 30 Mar 2018 NR's
contractors installed temporary traffic lights on the A493 Machynlleth to 'Aberdyfi' road beneath.
The station location is unusual; on a short length of sharply curved single track between two tunnels
such that the contractors had nowhere to store their materials except in the roadway below. (Cont….)

ABOVE: The 11.37 ex-Pwllheli approaches Penhelig request stop (with its plastic and glass platform);
forming the 13.33 to Birmingham International joining the Aberystwyth portion at Machynlleth.

ABOVE: The smart Penhelig station looking east at No3 Aberdovey Tunnel, towards Machynlleth).

The works included replacing the former wooden
platform entirely with a glass reinforced plastics
(sic) one; now standard height throughout rather
than the lower height still found at many
Cambrian Coast stations (although several
including 'Aberdovey' have 'Harrington Humps').
The e-BLN photos were taken by 'Mrs East
Midlands & IOM Regional Ed' on a recent walk
with Mr… from Tywyn to Penhelig which takes two hours and can be successfully accomplished during
the two hours between trains. ABOVE LEFT: Looking down from the station. ABOVE RIGHT: No4
Aberdovey Tunnel at the west (Aberdovey) end of Penhelig station. (All pictures by Penny Jolley.)

1327 MINOR RAILWAYS (Peter Scott) [email protected]
:>>> MR references from this BLN onwards are now to the new 2019 booklet <<<:

1101] MR 2019 Booklets: With apologies from your BLS Committee, we did not have quite enough
for everyone. More were ordered and should be posted to the full members who had not received
one with this BLN (nearly all involved were advised individually). See item 948 for sales details.

MR58] Chappel Miniature Railway, Essex (MR p6) (BLN 1030.MR218): A visit on Saturday 6 April to the
East Anglian Railway Museum found that all the track on this 7¼" gauge railway (well covered by our
20 July 2013 visit) had been lifted. The railway ran for the last time for a Christmas 'Day out with
Thomas' event (23 December 2018). There was some new track laid in the 'Orchard' area between two
buildings and on talking to some of the staff, they said the intention is to lay the new line around the
perimeter of the 'Orchard' area. The Museum state they aim to open the new line in the late summer.

MR59] Great Cockcrow Railway, Surrey (MR p24) (BLN 952.MR185): This very extensive and fully
signalled 7¼" gauge railway operates two different services over its layout. The Green Route is a
continuous journey, travelling to the far ends of the network over the 'Jubilee' and 'Millennium' lines.

The Red Route terminates at Cockcrow Hill station, where the loco runs-round and the train returns to
Hardwick via the 'Spur' and 'Jungle' lines. For many years a special 'Gladesman' train has run once each
running day, covering both routes. From this year the railway has announced: With much regret, we
have decided to suspend running of our special Gladesman service. For many years it was the highlight
of our operation, however, since the introduction of double tickets, these have become so popular that
they have effectively taken over the role of the Gladesman.

[BLN 1327]
The railway opens for the season on Sunday 5 May. The line then runs every Sunday until 27 October.
Opening times will be 13.00, half an hour earlier than previously. The ticket office closes at 16.15 with
the last train departing at 16.30. We had a very comprehensive visit to this railway on 17 August 2014
including a triple-headed special carrying all 23 participants at once round the main runs and
interconnections, said to be a first. Then a very short train was used to cover more rare tracks.
MR60] Halton Miniature Railway, Cheshire (MR p13) (BLN 1279.MR66): A member visited this 7¼"
gauge pleasingly 1 mile long railway in late afternoon on Sunday 24 March. Two trains were in service,
each consisting of two sit astride coaches pulled by 'Geraldine', based on Irish peat railways design,
and Toby the Tram engine, No7. Rides at this volunteer run railway were by donation and no tickets
were issued. The trains run in a mile long anticlockwise loop around the rather bedraggled Town Park
starting from Mousetrap Hall station where both platforms were in use with no obvious pattern.
The shed is behind. Anstey's curve used to allow a shorter ride but the track is now lifted at one end.

Hillside Halt was not in use. A very short circuit is extant around the railway themed playground next
to the main station and there is a short section of track nearby between the two sides of the main
loop. (ABOVE: May 2016 website track plan.) Trains will be running Saturdays, Sundays and Bank
Holidays until September, also Thursdays in August. Despite having a good map, your correspondent
found the railway very difficult to get to and from through Runcorn's notorious road system and
navigational errors were difficult to recover from. The best plan is to follow signs to the adjacent Ski
Centre from the A533 expressway. Anybody accidentally or deliberately crossing the Mersey is warned
that they will face a heavy fine if they fail to pay their tolls online to merseyflow.co.uk within a day.
MR61] High Legh Railway, Cheshire (BLN 1248.MR7): This 7¼" gauge railway is located in the grounds
of the eponymous garden centre, which is just off the A50 a short distance south of the M6/M56
intersection. Your reporter found it closed on Sunday 24 March, as indeed it has been since last
August. However, the new owner was on site putting a lick of paint to some of the fencing and said he
hoped to open the weekend before Easter (reports welcome, as always). Trains are planned to run on
Saturdays and Sundays until the end of summer, with extra running days over the school holidays.
NEXT PAGE TOP: High Legh Railway; the station is awaiting reopening. (Peter Zemroch 24 Mar 2019.)

BELOW & NEXT PAGE TOP: The railway reopened as planned and these outdoor signs are now up
(with some shading from the trees). (Mark Wallis 22 Apr 2019 when the railway was running.)

[BLN 1327]
MR62] Alexandra Park Miniature Railway, East Sussex (MR p16) (BLN 1300.MR41): This 7¼" gauge,
240 yard long, railway operates in the delightful park on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the year
(winter 11.00-15.00; summer 11.00-16.00/17.00 previously reported), also Tuesdays, Wednesdays and
Thursdays throughout school holidays plus bank holidays. Your peripatetic member found it operating
as scheduled on Mothering Sunday 31 March, although it kept going well past 15.00 as passengers
kept arriving! With only two coaches, service was almost continual, with departures from the one
platform every 5 minutes or so. A Mothers' Special had operated that morning. The fare is £1 per
person for one full circuit (£2 previously reported) for which a light brown, consecutively numbered
paper roll ticket marked 'HMR ALEXANDRA PARK' is issued, HMR reflecting its operation nowadays as
part of Hastings Miniature Railway (HMR). The ticket issued was No35085, remarkable if they started at
No1 when HMR took over in Feb 2016! Motive power was the pleasing 'Harold', a Tri-ang Minic 'Golden
Arrow' loco based on the BR Class 71, regauged from its original 10¼" and now in a version of BR Blue
livery, with 'Bridget' as standby - a steam-outline petrol hydraulic Bo-Bo. The railway is a double circuit
that crosses over itself on a diamond crossing, looping back past the platform with a short link then to
a turntable allowing access to a 4-road lockable shed. 'Bridget', under the control of her young driver
and 'fireboy' (well, certainly not a fireman), left light engine from the bypass adjacent to the platform
just ahead of 'Harold', clearing the diamond before 'Harold' did so. Harold's train then crossed the
stream, entered the tunnel (with its siding on the right, full), bypassed the station, over the diamond
again and back to the platform, with 'Bridget' once more standing on the parallel bypass.

MR63] Dragon Miniature Railway, Greater Manchester (MR p18) (BLN 1193.MR181): Your wandering
reporter visited this 7¼" gauge railway at lunchtime on Sunday 24 March. It is at the Wyevale Garden
Centre on the A627 near Marple. The 383/384 bus circular from Stockport stops a few hundred yards
away. Two trains were in service, each operating from its own platform at the main station, Otterspool
Junction. Petrol locomotive D1015 'Western Champion' pulled three sit-astride coaches while D5903
'Andrew' pulled two. Trains run clockwise around a dumb-bell circuit of about half a mile with various
sidings and sheds. The first loop runs between the car park and the busy A627. The track then passes
through a short tunnel adorned with fairy lights before passing under similarly festooned gantries
between gnomes and the River Goyt. The request stop at Riverside Halt was not in use as the adjacent
play area was closed. A steam engine was being prepared on the turntable. The fare was £1 per ride
and unbranded roll tickets were issued and clipped. Trains run from 11.00. BLS Members will want to
ride 'Tara the Tram', a self-drive coin-operated vehicle on a straight end-to-end track about 50ft in
length. One or two children age 10 or under are allowed to ride, but your reporter did see a working
overloaded by 50%. Sadly senior members like your reporter will never have the chance to do it!

NEXT PAGE TOP: The Dragon Miniature Railway; Otterspool Junction station.
(Peter Zemroch 24 Mar 2019.)

NEXT PAGE LOWER: Tara the Tram; a railway that most BLS members can't ride on, note
the small seat belts and that 'people power' is not allowed! (Peter Zemroch 29 Mar 2019.)



X.48] ABOVE: Kingsbridge & District Light Railway (MR p15), the new station with the storage shed to
the left. After the points the line immediately turns through 180 degrees to connect up with the
original line. (Keith L Lewis-Jones Apr 2019.)

MR64] Leighton Buzzard Railway, Bedfordshire (MR p12) (BLN 1316.MR218): The trackbed of the
extension beyond Stonehenge to Munday's Hill has been cleared of vegetation and tree stumps. The
next stage will be grading the undulating trackbed. This section had the appearance of being double
track, but was actually a very long loop. Track laying is expected to start in April or May, and a run-
round loop will be laid at the Munday's Hill end. The first trains, it is hoped, will run over the extension
by the end of 2019 - meeting the terms of the grant funding. The LEADER* fund provided a £47,000
grant, which included £34,000 towards the extension, along with funds towards a new coach and
improvements at Stonehenge Works site facilities. [*the EU's Liaison Entre Actions de Développement
de l'Économie Rurale, or roughly translated: 'Liaison among actors in rural economic development'.]

MR65] Foxfield Miniature Railway, Staffordshire (MR23) (BLN 1258.MR104): This 7¼" gauge is located
at Blythe Bridge station on the Foxfield Railway. The railway held a 'Miniature Mayhem' gala over the
weekend of 6 & 7 April. The MR Editor attended on the Saturday and found operations had just started
on his arrival just before 11.00. There were a large number of internal combustion and battery locos at
work or on display. A two coach passenger train was operated by a brand new sit-on locomotive in a
bright green livery (the paint seemed barely dry!). Rides for all were £1 and no tickets were issued.

NEXT PAGE: Foxfield Miniature Railway; a train runs down the bank towards the station.
(Peter Scott 6 Apr 2019).

Refreshingly, all the volunteers operating the railway were youngsters. Since our reporter's last visit
the sheds and station area has been enlarged, but no progress has been made on the extra loop at the
far end, for which earth works had been prepared a couple of years ago and are now somewhat
overgrown. A pleasant little railway operated by enthusiastic volunteers. Normal public running is on
days when the standard gauge railway is running (mostly Sundays only). There were no standard gauge
trains operating this day, but the station building was open along with the excellent buffet and shop.

[BLN 1327]
MR66] Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway, Oxfordshire (MR p7): A member visited the railway for
the 3-day Spring Diesel Gala on Friday 5 April, arriving in good time from Marylebone to see maroon
single car DMU W55024 arrive with the first service train from Chinnor (although it didn't operate
again until the last non-returning trip back to Chinnor, and not at all on Saturday or Sunday). Also at
Princes Risborough waiting were visiting Class 37 GBRf 37409 with 975025 'Caroline' (the ex-Hastings
line buffet car, now a main line inspection car), Class 08 D3018 'Haversham' & Class 31 97205 (D5581).
975025 ended up shunted down into the sidings at the London end, where W55024 also was later
parked. Waiting to enter the platform once the DMU had left was unique Clayton D8568 with all the
railway's Mk1 passenger coaches (1845, 4902, 35337, 4584 & 34671, the last has not ventured out
often but has now had its seats attractively recovered in maroon). The 09.40 left a couple of minutes
down and soon reached Chinnor (booked time for the 3m 57ch journey, with a stop at Horsenden level
crossing for working purposes, is 17 minutes). At Chinnor the train had to pull forward into the sidings
to be re-engined at the rear and this took longer than expected; the return 10.15 departure with class
25 D7612 leaving late. Also visible at Chinnor in the siding beyond the signal box was green W55023,
which had been due to work the morning train, leaving recently restored maroon W55024 booked to
do the short working shuttle to Horsenden. Back at Princes Risborough the loco detached and pulled
forward to run round into the 'loop' and the next loco backed out of the headshunt onto the train,
which after some short technical problems led to a 10.59 departure for the 10.45 advertised train.

Back at Chinnor, the train was quickly removed to one of the sidings and with a new rake of coaches in
air braked 3CEP 1198, led by 37227, soon emerging from another - departure was only 4 minutes late.
This time at Princes Risborough 37227 was to remain on what became the rear with visiting GBRf
37409 being added to what was now the front. Punctuality now restored, the 'top & tail' rake returned
down to Chinnor. Here the stock was quickly changed again and 97205 was in the platform with the
Mk1 rake in good time for the 12.25 departure. That rake returned from Princes Risborough with the
Class 25, D7612, which was doing well until it shut down, just within sight of Chinnor. The train was
rescued by D8568 and dragged into the station. Punctuality fell apart again. It was thought initially that
the short working to Horsenden (now booked for class 37227 and 37409 with 1198) would be
cancelled, but that 13.30 trip eventually left at about 13.50, took too long to reverse at Horsenden,
thus making the 14.05 departure from Chinnor to Princes Risborough (our reporter's final train) leave
18 minutes late. [MR Ed: A brief visit to Princes Risborough on the Sunday found that brake van rides
with 'Haversham' merely operated from the platform to the signal box and back - with no rare track.]

MR67] Churnet Valley Railway, Staffordshire (MR p8): On Sunday 7 April a visit was made to this
railway. A service to Ipstones operates on 29 days during 2019, running as the 12.35 from Froghall, the
middle of three trains of the 'blue' timetable. The other two are shown in the timetable as running
between Froghall and Cheddleton, but the chalkboard at Cheddleton put the destination as Leek
Brook. On 7 April, the Ipstones service was hauled by a 0-6-0 saddle tank in NCB livery assisted in rear
from Cheddleton by a Class 33 diesel. At Leek Brook the platform was served with the diverging side of
the loop being used. With the diesel at rear, running round was thus not required at Ipstones where
only the loop exists and alighting is not permitted. Running round at Cheddleton is not possible; for
the diesel to return to shed there the steam loco has to be positioned at the Froghall end of the train.

On return to Leek Brook the diesel detached and ran forward to the entrance to Cheddleton Tunnel.
The steam loco ran round via the non-platform road and coupled to the diesel just outside the tunnel
(which would have been very full of smoke if the diesel had stopped any further towards Cheddleton!).
Both locos then set back to couple to the carriages before continuing to Cheddleton where the diesel
detached. Consall loop track was rusty and is not required for this service. TRACKmaps Book 4 p26B
(Dec 2016) has location distances in miles and chains, but the approximately 4¼ mile run from Froghall
to Cheddleton is more than doubled by the 5¾ miles further to Ipstones.

MR68] Brookside Miniature Railway, Cheshire (MR p13) (BLN 1322.21): A grand reopening (after a
very successful Santa/New Year season) for this friendly 950 yard long 7¼" gauge railway was planned
for Sun 24 Mar with free train rides and a funfair. Unfortunately heavy rain severely flooded the track
shortly before and put too much pressure on an already stressed retaining wall such that train services
could not safely operate. Subsequent investigation has shown that the wall would need expensive,
major repairs to allow safe passenger operations. The railway has instead opted to abandon the
section by that wall and build a new open-air bypass of the tunnel, inside the existing route, to avoid it.

This is expected to open later this year, possibly by June, but until then the railway is running a £1
'out and back' top & tail shuttle service (normal fare £2) from the station to the funfair (where there is
no alighting). The mock Union Pacific diesel 6610 'Miss Katie' loco has been supplemented by a Denver
Light Railway loco (believed to be a manufacturer on an industrial estate near Bloxwich rather than an
operational railway) to allow top & tail operation. The Denver loco is reported to lead 'wrong-direction'
from the station to the current limit, where it detaches. 'Miss Katie' follows light engine and attaches
to the other end to lead back to the station 'right direction'. The railway is thus temporarily closed in
part to passenger services from the station, under the 'new' bridge, alongside the road, past the sheds
where the deviation will commence (also allowing a much straighter alignment) before the affected
tunnel. Locos and empty coaching stock still access the sheds, reversing before the now boarded up
tunnel to access the station 'wrong direction'. The section by the failed wall is permanently closed.

Our peripatetic member visited on the evening of Thur 18 Apr, expecting just to peer over bridges.
However, though the railway had ceased running, the railway staff were still there and its Site
Manager offered a comprehensive guided tour. The new operators are serious enthusiasts committed
to operating a good, safe and successful railway. To this aim they have formed a limited company and
invested heavily, even before the expense of building the new section. The railway is no longer
operated wholly by paid staff and now uses some volunteer support. The bridge over the stream by
the entrance has been rebuilt and some track relaid/reballasted. Station fencing has been replaced
and the platforms repaved and made more presentable with the shop refitted (with a high level
Thomas railway to attract youngsters) and significantly refreshed. The two through lines remain as
before but the middle dead-end road has had its turntable removed, as a possible hole for careless
feet to fall in, replaced by buffers. All trace of the siding furthest from the shop/ticket office has now
gone, except for the turntable that it previously led to, safely the other side of the running line.

Five new Cromar-White coaches have been acquired with longitudinal seating and the existing 4 sit-
astride coaches have been heavily refurbished. Most of the many original railway signs previously on
display around the railway, owned by the previous operator, were sold off and have gone as previously
reported, but the Model Shop by the station retains the 'EUSTON STATION' raised lettering.

MR69] Leeds Society of Model & Experimental Engineers, North Yorkshire: Eggborough Sports &
Leisure Complex, DN14 0UZ, off the A19, 1½ miles north of M62 Junction 34. In pleasant landscaped
grounds, part of Eggborough Power Station, LSMEE has 1,028ft of 3½/5"mixed gauge (Aluminium)
raised track with steaming bays, a tunnel and pneumatic traversers for leaving/entering the main
track with access to the station platform. A visit was made by two members on Sunday 14 April - it is
not necessary to go into the Power Station itself. They were informed that the Society, as well as the
popular Sports and Social club, will have to close/move as the closed Power Station land is being
sold. [This also happened to Rugeley Power Station Model Engineering Society.] The land will be
used for house building. They only have a short time as their next running day is Sunday 5 May.
It came as a shock to them as the railway has been there for over 40 years and they were informed
only the day before. Members mentioned that the 5 May event may be the last. The visitors were
made welcome with tea and cakes. Five steam locos were running and a battery operated 'diesel'.

NEXT PAGE: The Leeds Society of Model & Experimental Engineers layout at
Eggborough Power Station, the bottom of a cooling tower is seen top right of picture ①.

Details must be checked 1327 CONNECTIONS (Paul Stewart) [email protected] .Please mention BLN.

1102] Nantwich Methodist Church Railway: (MR p13) Hospital St, Nantwich, CW5 5RP, (SJ 6533 5220)
500yd walk from the station, a delightful friendly mixed 5/7¼" gauge 225ft line with steam running
every Saturday of the year (check Christmas) 10.00-12.00; rides for a charity donation (£1 suggested).

1103] Moorland PRIVATE Miniature Railway, Suns 5 May, 2 Jun, 7 Jul, 4 Aug & 1 Sep: (SE 975996),
(MR P22) Moorland House, Staintondale, YO13 OEW, 9 miles north of Scarborough, a lovely National
Park location with sea views. Alan William's (Modern Railways columnist) interesting 500yd dumbbell
7¼" gauge railway; charity open days. 14.00-17.30 meet the man himself. Look for the kites! Normal
public rides but no special access or facilities available and a high standard of behaviour is expected.

1104] Bursledon Brickworks Industrial Museum; Hampshire Narrow Gauge Railway Trust (HNGRT),
Sun 28 Apr; 11.00-16.00: (MR p18) (BLN 1313.MR188) Coal Park Lane, Lower Swanwick, Southampton,
SO31 7GW, (SU 500 098). About 1,600yd walk from Bursledon station. Spring Steam Up: Adults £7,
Concessions £6, Children £4, Families £18. Numerous exhibits in steam, visiting traction engines (rides
expected), scale miniature engines, stationary power plants, fairground organs, steam models etc.

Unfortunately, after 21 years, HNGRT is in the process of moving to a new site more suitable for their
fleet. The 2019 season will be their final one here. They intend to run the 210yd long 7¼" miniature
railway (reported out of use in Aug 2018 and 'black with rust') for 2019 'event days' at the Museum -
but this is not guaranteed; see https://www.bursledonbrickworks.org.uk/events.php (The Museum is
the UK's only steam powered Victorian brickworks.) The HNGRT may operate demonstration trains on
the 2ft gauge mineral line but this depends on enough members attending; services on the 400yd long
2ft gauge passenger line are currently suspended. It is unlikely that they will operate the 2ft passenger
line with any regularity this year; again depending on their Members helping with maintenance etc.

2ft gauge steam loco 'Wendy' is at Amberley Museum this year and 'Cloister' will be at Bressingham
from May. Traction at Bursledon will be petrol and diesel locos. Event days where the HNGRT is

mentioned as running are, all Sundays 11.00-16.00: 26 May, 23 Jun, 21 Jul, 18 Aug, 29 Sep, 27 Oct &
24 Nov. Sun 21 Jul is a 'train' day so probably the best bet, although the 2ft may not run at all this year.
To check if the railway/s are running try http://bit.ly/2TSIjlN or 01489 576248 (not always staffed).

1105] TPE Club 55 on sale until 4 Jun: Photo ID required, off-peak return (after 09.30; all weekends
/Bank Hols) return within a month. £22 (£42 First Class) England, Anglo Scottish trips £32 (£62 First
class) in advance, Nectar Points available, Railcard discount 20%. From http://bit.ly/2Zkuz7l ticket
offices or online TPE app code 'CLUB55'. Excludes Manchester Airport; NOT AVAILABLE ON THE DAY.

1106] The Downs Light Railway, Mon 6 May 10.00-16.45: https://goo.gl/p3TDMK is the website plan
(BLN 1279.921 also with plan), Downs School, Brockhill Rd, Colwall, WR13 6EY, (SO 7593 4329); 950yd
walk from Colwall station. This interesting school railway of unusual 9½" gauge is running for May Day
and the school open day, raising funds for the school trust. Public rides are available, only for the third
time in recent years. 'The World's oldest private miniature railway' (1925), with an incredible tunnel!
10.00: Diesel trains hauled by 'Tim'; 11.00: Steam hauled trains; 12.30-13.30: lunch (no trains) last
train 16.45. Ride all day for a £20 donation to the Educational Trust or pay as you go £2 per ride.
'George' will be running to celebrate its 80th Birthday. It will be the only time this year where the
general public will be able to see this historic locomotive in action. The unusual railway is operated by
children (under supervision) at the school as a school 'hobby club' regular extra-curricular activity.

1107] Vintage Trains, Final Steam Passenger Trains on The Ironbridge Branch, Sun 9 Jun: Wellington
(13.30 & 15.30) & Telford to Coalbrookdale and return £25. The River Severn bridge before Ironbridge
Power Station is in need of major repairs and has recently been closed to all rail traffic as 'unsafe'. First
trip full/limited availability, try ringing. http://bit.ly/2VyKKM6 may have availability on the second trip
or 0121 708 4960. Those who subscribe to our Society e-message system were notified on 11 Apr.

1108] Tyseley Open Weekend, 22 & 23 Jun: Details awaited; normally includes internal train rides.

BELOW: A standard gauge fireless loco at the Devil's Porridge Museum. (Angus McDougall 29 Apr 2018.)

1109] The Devil's Porridge Museum: Six miles west of Gretna Green, Annan Rd, Eastriggs, DG12 6TF;
open 10.00 to 17.00 (Sundays 16.00). Adults £6, concessions £5, Family £15 (2A & 3C). Commemorates
HM Factory Gretna (four spread out sites at Smalmstown, Mossband, Eastriggs & Gretna), the largest
munitions factory in the world during WWI. It produced over 800 tonnes of Cordite a week ('Devil's
Porridge' - gun cotton and nitroglycerin hand mixed without gloves even). The Museum explores the
stories of the Solway Military Coast in WWII and beyond. There were standard and very extensive
narrow gauge railways which are well represented. This interesting recommended museum uses
artefacts, information panels, film, audio, photos and oral histories to bring the fascinating history of
this Border area to life! The Devil's Porridge Café serves drinks and snacks (and do try the porridge...).

1110] Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway, Thu 29 Jun 12.00-17.00: (MR P19) (TQ973585) The Warren,
Bredgar, Sittingbourne, ME19 8AT. A 700yd end to end 2ft gauge line with relatively 'large' engines and
rolling stock. Continental Railway Circle with a continental theme. No6 'Eigiau', No7 'Victory' & No8
'Helga' operating. There is a large car park and an ex-London transport RF single decker bus will run
from/to Sittingbourne station (after 11.00 - time to be confirmed), free but book in advance. £15 with
light refreshments, cheques payee 'Continental Railway Circle' with an email address /phone number.
Bookings: AK Palmer, 46 Heathside, Weybridge, KT13 9YL [email protected] 01932 850624.

Public running days and events at the railway: Sundays 5 May (Model Railway Exhibition), 2 Jun
(Armed Services Day), 7 Jul (Enthusiast Gala - everything that can run will!), 4 Aug (Classic vehicles &
Cars), 1 Sep (Classic Tractors & Farm Equipment), 6 Oct (Best Dressed Teddy) & 27 Oct (end of season
steam up). Trains 11.00 every 15 mins until 16.30. Adults £10; Child (3 to15) £4; Family (2A&3C) £25.
Facilities include a tearoom/shop. Also steam driving courses Sat 18 May & 14 Sep 01622 884 254.

1111] Crewe & Weston PRIVATE Railway, Sat 13 Jul: (SJ 734 52), 'Ashleigh', 112 Main Rd, Weston,
CW2 5LD. For those who missed our 14 Apr visit, annual church fete open day with public rides and
parking at this private residence. An interesting 336yd 'T' shaped layout of unusual 9½" gauge. Two
miles from Crewe station down the A5020 Weston Rd, right into 'Main Rd' towards Weston; first on
the left after crossing over the A500. A family friendly annual charity event with other attractions.

1112] ptg tours, The Grand Finland Circular Railtour 5-14 Jul: Although we wouldn't normally mention
these tours in BLN this one is organised by our International BLN Editor, Paul Griffin with the itinerary
handout written by our member Roger Newman. It deliberately avoids duplicating lines done by 'ptg'
two years ago and also our 2018 Finland trip but is a 'BLS style' tour. Eight days in preserved wooden
coaches (!) with preserved diesel locomotive plus half day in a Dm7 preserved diesel railcar.
Anti-clockwise Tampere to Jyvaskyla via new Riihimaki avoiding line, Kouvola, Kotka, Imatrankoski
and Nirala Russian borders, Jouensuu, Kontiomaki, Vartius Russian border, Oulu, Kemi, Tornio, new
Bennas avoider, Vaasa, Tampere & Jamsa. Many industrial and VR freight branch lines en route. Good
hotels with breakfast. See http://bit.ly/2GBAZYv or contact 01235 227288 (ptg) quickly for details.

1113] Manx Heritage Transport Festival, Wed 24 - Sun 28 Jul: Five action packed days of enthusiast
'track & traction' tours, photographic opportunities and special unusual events on the IOM's heritage
railways, roads and other modes of transport. http://bit.ly/2DgrGv4 is a 12 page leaflet with details,
prices, contacts etc (01624 662525 for a postal copy). Quite a few Society members usually attend.

1114] Great Welland Railway, 26-28 Jul: (MR p7) (SO 8020 4088) to (SO 8042 4064). Woodside Farm,
Welland, Malvern, WR13 6NG. Welland Steam & Country Rally http://goo.gl/gAu0fc the only chance
to ride this 18ch standard gauge steam line. £12 adult; £10 age 11-16 & Seniors; Under 11 free, on the
gate or 'fast track' in advance. This great family event includes live events, an old time fairground, 500+
vintage cars/motorcycles, classic earthmoving plant working, road building, military display, vintage
tractors, wood sawing, Farmers' Market, craft tent & model village. Over 100 working steam engines.

1115] Richmond Light Railway Sat 17 Aug 11.00-16.30: (MR p19) Richmond Farm, Hawkenbury, TN12
0ED (TQ 809462). Annual public rides at the charity ('Riding for the Disabled') steam fair on this
2ft gauge 730yd line. Four steam engines. Book tickets at https://goo.gl/RkFWpA (no pay on the day).

X.49] ABOVE: Guess the Location: Answer in BLN 1328 (David Thomas with thanks to Chris Parker.)

●Bookings: Mark Gomm, 84 Mornington Rd, STOKE-on-TRENT, ST1 6EL. [email protected] 07983 541887.
●Fixtures Sec: Kev Adlam, 53 Kemble Close, Wistaston, CREWE, CW2 6XN. [email protected] @BLSGeneralSec
●Tom Gilby, (Liverpool Lime Street Saveaway Tracker) [email protected] 69 Regent St, Barwell, Leicester LE9 8GY.
●Paul Griffin, (Austria) 7 School Bell Meadows, Church Lane, Stoneleigh, COVENTRY, CV8 3ZZ. [email protected]
●Mark Haggas, (Devon) 12 The Square, Earl Shilton, Leicester, LE9 7GU. [email protected]
●Tim Wallis (General Secretary), 10 Sandringham Rd, Stoke Gifford, BS34 8NP. [email protected]
●Sales Officer: Graeme Jolley, Dolbryn, Penegoes, MACHYNLLETH, SY20 8NN. [email protected] 07484 646542.
●Paper BLN Problems: Dave Monger 6 Underhill Close, GODALMING, GU7 1NU. [email protected] text/ring Editor.
●Editor: Paul Stewart, 4 Clarence Close, MALVERN, WR14 3HX. 01684562862 07790652351. [email protected]
●Published by the Branch Line Society, 10 Sandringham Rd, Stoke Gifford, BS34 8NP. ISSN 1354-0947