MIND THE GAP! There is a 3‐week gap until BLN 1439 (6 Jan 2024) with NO 30 DEC 2023 BLN. Your BLN TEAM & COMMITTEE WISH MEMBERS A MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY 2024. 2455] *PSUL: (Train Services over Unusual Lines - listing regular passenger trains over obscure rail routes in the British Isles.) Thanks to member Richard Maund, the new 61st edition is on our website for all to view/download. Covering the 10 Dec 2023 to 14 Dec 2024 timetable, it is worth checking for updates regularly (the revision date is given near the top). There is a subsidiary timetable change on 2 Jun 2024. In recognition of Richard's time and effort, the Society will make a £500 donation to RBF. Date Book online :NEW fixtures open when e-BLN is out: BLN Lead Status Fri 15 Dec Guildford area conducted signal box visits 1436 MG waiting list Sat 30 Dec *NEW* Birmingham historical tour (see our website) email MG waiting list Sat 6 Jan 2024 Scunthorpe Cold Steeler railtour 27 (09.30-16.30) 1433 MG waiting list Fri 12 Jan High Peak charity signal box visits 1437 MG waiting list 8-10 Mar *NEW* Save the date, loco hauled to Mallaig and Oban TBA TBA Claimed Fri 22 Mar 'All line' tour of East Somerset Railway, Cranmore TBA TBA Claimed Sat 23 Mar 'All line' tour of Bodmin (& Wenford) Railway TBA TBA Claimed Sun 24 Mar Helston Railway 'all available lines' tour TBA TBA Claimed Fri3-Mon6 May *NEW* Cornwall passenger branches loco-hauled TBA TBA Claimed Mon 27 May Moreton Park (Moreton-on-Lugg) railtour, ex-BR locos TBA TBA Claimed Mon 26 Aug Summer Scunthorpe railtour 28 (09.30-18.30) TBA TBA Claimed Sat 23 Nov *NEW* PROVISIONAL 2024 AGM date in Wales TBA TBA Claimed MG = Mark Gomm [email protected] 84 Mornington Rd, STOKE-ON-TRENT, ST1 6EL 07983 541887 2456] Future Fixtures: At our 25 Nov Preston AGM, the Fixtures Secretary, Kev Adlam, gave a well illustrated presentation, reviewing fixtures over the previous 12 months. Almost a quarter of a million pounds was donated to a wide variety of mostly railway-related good causes as a result of the Society's activities - the largest beneficiary was Martin House Children's Hospice at almost £80,000. In second place was the Brain Tumour Charity with over £55,000, followed by over £32,000 to Railway Children. The complete presentation, with 46 pages (12MB), can be downloaded from our website archive. A month by month review of fixtures run demonstrated the tremendous variety and geographical spread of our fixtures and tours, which reached Poland, the Sahara Desert and even the Isle of Man. There were some particularly fine views of the BWC tour with GBRf on the Kyle of Lochalsh line. The presentation was extremely up to date, with a fixture run just hours beforehand at the Ribble Steam Railway. Kev gave outline provisional, tentative plans for the next 12 months (see next page and the Fixtures Grid above). These should be considered 'more definite' only when in the fixtures grid. Even then, per our Terms & Conditions of booking on the website, members are advised to book cancellable accommodation and refundable travel. Are one way GBRf charter stock returning moves. Number 1438 (Items 2455 - 2586 & MR 232 - MR 238) (E-BLN 140 PAGES) 16 Dec 2023 BRANCH LINE NEWS Praeteritum, praesens et futurum ferriviaria [ISSN 1354-0947] Published 24 times a year by the Branch Line Society; founded 1955 branchline.uk https://www.facebook.com/BranchLineSociety/ Membership queries Lisa Sheppard [email protected] 186 [email protected] Park Road South, Hull, HU4 7BU. 07873 354464 British Isles news from members; an International section is available Opinions are not necessarily those of the Compilers or of the Society ciety. Society. …BLN 1439 is dated Sat 6 Jan; contributions by Wed 27 Dec please..
Feb 2024: Unusual lines in Manchester. Mar: West Country long weekend (see fixtures grid) Martin House Scottish branches charter. Apr: Hidden Manchester guided tour International explorer in Poland. May: Martin House Cornish branches charter. East Anglia Charter. Class 507 EMU Farewell charter. Jun: Glasgow to East Midlands charter International Explorer in North Germany South Wales charter. Jul: Cardiff to East Midlands charter International Explorer in Norway North Wales charter. Aug: Essex charter. Sep: Unusual Lines in North West England for Martin House. Oct: Unusual Lines in North East England for Martin House. Nov 2024: Provisionally Sat 23rd ; AGM weekend in Wales, as suggested by our recent AGM, with fixtures. 2457] 2024 AGM: Most of AGMs over the last 12 years have included some type of presentation with a buffet; generally our only presentation each year, except for the AGM itself. If any member is potentially able to do something suitable for our Sat 23 Nov (date provisional) AGM in Wales, please contact Tim Wallis, our General Secretary [email protected] to discuss. It could be a power point, slide or video/film presentation etc, or made by a non-member you may know of. 1438 BLN GENERAL (Paul Stewart) [email protected] 2458]Keeping Track, passenger service suspensions(contributions welcomed by your Editor) *=new BLN Start (incl) Reopens Location (stations'exclusive'if bracketed) Bold = closed now 1438.2474 16 Oct 23 21 Oct 23 *Greenwich Peninsula -Royal Docks IFS cable car maintenance 28 Nov 23 8 Dec 23 *Greenwich Peninsula -Royal Docks IFS REDATED (above) ǂ last ran stormdamage ǂ15 Oct 23 28 Oct 23 Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, (Shottle) - Duffield Holloway Rd unknown Ecclesbourne Valley Railway,Duffield Holloway Rd-Duffield 1438.2552 25 Sep 23 *4 Dec 23 *(Prestwick Town) - (Ayr) Ayr and see below; Station Hotel fire 1438.2569 15 Nov 23 10 Dec 23 *Park Jn-Ebbw Jn - Gaer Jn; SuO service, Ebbw Vale line works 1438.2525 5 Dec 23 12 Dec 23 *(Yeovil Junction) - (Axminster) Just 23.05 Yeovil Jn to Exeter - 6 Dec 23 unknown *Llandudno Jn - Blaenau Ffestiniog insufficient DMUs available 1431.2022 14 Jul 23 30 Dec 23 (Lichfield City) - Lichfield Trent Valley P3 to remove/replace P3 1437.2418 24 Dec 23 30 Dec 23 (Eastleigh) - Southampton - (Brockenhurst) / (Romsey); Chandlers Ford has through trains to Portsmouth and Cardiff! 1438.2473 25 Dec 23 30 Dec 23 *Highbury & Islington - New Cross/(New Cross Gate) 1438.2472 23 Dec 23 31 Dec 23 *DLR (Canary Wharf) - West India Quay - (Westferry)/(Poplar) 27 Dec 23 *DLR Tower Gateway/Bank - (Canary Wharf) / (Poplar) 1438.2561 25 Dec 23 2 Jan 24 *Cowlairs W Jn-Greenhill Upper Jn-G'hill Lower Jn / Polmont Jn 1438.2512 25 Dec 23 2 Jan 24 *(Cambridge)-(Royston)/(Audley End) Cambridge South works 1436.2551 23 Dec 23 2 Jan 24 ❶Silwood Jn-Old Kent Road Jn; ❷Factory Jn- Longhedge Jn - Ludgate GW Jn; ❸Wandsworth Road Jn-(Battersea Park) P2; no Overground (Surrey Quays)-Clapham Jn;❹Herne Hill N Jn / Peckham Rye Jn / Cambria Jn - (Victoria) for Voltaire Jn relay 1436.2580.2 25 Dec 23 2 Jan 24 (Shenfield) - (Witham) for Beaulieu Park realignment etc 1437.2418 27 Dec 23 2 Jan 24 (Belfast Great Victoria Street) - Central Jn (Portadown) 1437.2429 24 Nov 23 unknown Edinburgh Trams (Ocean Terminal)-Newhaven OHLE repairs - 6 Jan 24 15 Jan 24 (Crediton) - Barnstaple for further replacement of jointed track 1434.2363 25 Sep 23 *29Jan24 at least *Ayr/(Ayr) - Girvan and (Kilmarnock) - Barassie Jn 1437.2432 15 Nov 23 Girvan - Stranraer skeleton train service withdrawn 15 Nov - 20 Jan 24 29 Jan 24 (Bristol TM)-(Weston-s-Mare) / Uphill Jn; BristolWest Jnworks 1421.947 29 Apr 23 11 Feb 24 *Pontypridd North Jn - Treherbert South Wales Metro works ǂ last ran ǂ 5 Nov 23 2 Mar 24 *GWSR, (Toddington) - Broadway for Stanway Viaduct repairs 2459] Barry Tourist Railway (BLN1435 2517) The 2-car Met-Cammell DMU was not sold to the Dean Forest Railway earlier this year but to the Plym Valley Railway; a member saw it there on 30 Jul 2023.
2460] RBF 2023 Heart of Gold Awards: (Photo e-BLN 1437.X108) On 22 Nov Kev Adlam, our Fixtures Secretary, represented the Society at this ceremony to receive the Team Award, along with industry colleagues. The citation reads: This team work tirelessly and in their own time to raise funds in support of Martin House Children's Hospice. Made up of colleagues from DB Cargo and Network Rail, the group of fundraisers have raised over £250k for the charity, which provides a year of bereavement services, a year of support groups and 300 home visits. The fundraising team, consisting of David Jenkinson, Quentin Hedderly, Richard Corser, Ross Taylor, Andrew Denton, Jonathan Lawton, Mark Bridel, Jerry Dickinson and Kev Adlam, work in their own time to plan and operate charitable charter services all over Great Britain. They work together as a rail industry team to make sure every service is delivered and as much money is raised as possible for such a fantastic cause. 2461] Railway Memories 117, By Alan Fell (Member 2355), Episode 1 - the 1950s: I was out-shopped from Stepping Hill 'Works' Stockport in Apr 1949 in all over pale pink livery. Very quickly I acquired a 'patina' of baby clothes from extensive running in at my first sub-shed, Handforth, on the ex-L&NWR route from Crewe to Manchester. After three years I was reallocated to Disley, where my 'shed' was adjacent to the ex-L&NW Stockport to Buxton line at 6m 30ch. In due course I began to take an interest in the trains on this line and my Dad explained that the two morning limited stop commuter services to Manchester London Road and two evening returns to Buxton were the ones he caught to and from his work in Manchester. Since Oct 1956 all other passenger services had succumbed to DMU operation (Class 104) but these four continued with steam haulage - LMS 2-6-0 or 4-6-0 types being the usual fare, I learned. My Dad put a set of wooden steps up against the stone wall between our back garden and the railway so I could see trains better (and retrieve mis-kicked footballs I suspect!). In early 1959 my older brother, who had train spotting school friends, persuaded me to join in the fun and the rest, as they say, is history. Armed with an Ian Allan 'abc of British Railways London Midland Region' (which included the Scottish Region), I was very quickly hooked on this very popular hobby and it is fair to say, I never let go. Together with various junior school and other village pals, we tripped off to busy haunts such as Guide Bridge, Stockport and Chinley, later going further afield to, Doncaster, Crewe and Derby etc, hoovering up the numbers with an insatiable appetite. One of these trips, to Crewe, proved particularly memorable as during our return journey we managed to board the portion of an express heading to Liverpool, thinking it was the portion for Stockport and Manchester. Mind you, it seemed that several adults were also misled by the Crewe station announcer (!) and on arrival at Lime Street, following a 'Coronation' hauled dash through Cheshire, our youthful bacon was saved when we were all exonerated by station staff there and directed to Liverpool Central (high level) for a train to Manchester Central,followed by a local to Stockport Tiviot Dale hauled by ex-LMS 2-6-2T N o 40015. (Why I remember this latter piece of information is a complete mystery.) Finally, we then walked over to Stockport Edgeley (the present Stockport station) for a very late train home to Disley - to be met by worried family and escorted home for food and a much needed bath. No mobile phones in those days and my parents had to go to Disley station (manned of course) to make enquiries and find out what had happened. As an aside, although initially during this run we weren't too sure of our whereabouts, we didn't panic but on speeding through Runcorn and over the Mersey I distinctly remember my brother saying: Runcorn, that's near Buxton isn't it? It was then that the penny dropped that we were en route to Liverpool. Quite an adventure and new routes for me. An omen, maybe? My brother went off to secondary school and lost interest in trains, preferring girl-spotting. I passed my 11 Plus Exam at age 10 (and a bit) and, although I sat entrance exams for three private schools within reasonable daily reach of Disley, I didn't get into any of them. In Sep 1959 I started at King's School, Macclesfield, which could only be reached by a two train journey! Well, this was manna from heaven and over the next full school year I did Disley to Middlewood Lower (steam - see above) and Middlewood Higher to Macclesfield Central (steam - invariably ex-L&NER class L1), returning by the same route, probably DMUs on both legs. The bench in the Buxton-bound waiting shelter provided a great desk for doing homework while waiting for the return train for Disley, as there were hardly ever any other passengers at this remote exchange station without road access. [Rose Hill Marple via Middlewood Higher to Macclesfield closed from 5 Jan 1970; Rose Hill itself was reprieved.]
BELOW: (Item 2462) Rowden Mill station (CP 15 Sep 1952) on the very rural Br8 Jun 1968; from the Branch Line Society photo collection. This is a road acce
romyard to Leominster line in Herefordshire. Four photos by Ron Meredith on ess view. It is now a fantastic holiday let: https://www.rowdenmillstation.uk/
BELOW: Looking towards Bromyard and Worcester; this station OP 1 Sep 189
97 in particular, and the line in general, were real 'middle of nowhere' jobs.
Particular favourite regular locos from Disley were Crabs 42942 and 42886, plus Stockport Jubilees. I can't remember if the above haulage pattern lasted the full school year but the steam I did enjoy and still remember was indeed fabulous. On the train to school in Macclesfield I befriended a classmate called David Arnold who was a Preston North End fan and he 'made' me adopt them too, so I became an avid follower. Up until that time I had only flirted with Stockport County and that was mainly because I could see the steam shed and main line from where I chose to stand for the match! Anyway, before the end of the school year my Dad announced to us that his job was moving to - Preston... During summer 1960 we moved to a house at Broughton four miles north of Preston - within earshot of WCML steam sounds (walkable for spotting) and within easy reach of Deepdale, home of Preston North End and a goods depot. Lucky or what? Divine intervention or simply my ordained destiny? 2462] National Railway Heritage Award winners, 2023: These were presented on 6 Dec. Folkestone Harbour station restoration by Folkestone Harbour Ltd received 'Best Award'. Others: Bath Spa, installation of safety railings at Sydney Gardens by NR. Crakehall, replacement of level crossing gates by Wensleydale Railway. Cullybackey, restoration of the station building by Robert and Anne Christie. Leamington Spa, restoration of the art deco refreshment room by Centenary Lounge. London Bridge, restoration of the Findlater's Corner shop units by ….Network Rail, Arch Company, Frankhams and Benedict O'Looney. Okehampton, work carried out at the station by NR, GWR, DC Rail & Dartmoor Railway Association. Peckham Rye, restoration of the frontage of the station building by NR and Benedict O'Looney. Rowden Mill station restoration (Bromyard - Leominster) by Paul Kirwan & Cecil Chavez-Brandon. St Blazey, turntable restoration by MPower Kernow Community Interest Company (BLN 1424.1267). Stirling, restoration of the 'other' Forth Bridge/Viaduct (the Perth line one) by NR (BLN 1411.2552). Westfield Viaduct, Bathgate-Avonbridge line (CA) restoration by National Highways (BLN 1420.798). Leighton Buzzard Railway received a special commendation for negotiating a new route with an ….overbridge for their line, along with a lease for the whole railway guaranteeing its long-term future. 2463] Shiver Me Timbers! When NR press releases refer to renewal, or other works, on steel decked bridges with track using longitudinal timbers under the rails, they use the term 'wheel timbers'. The renewals on the Peterborough to Ely line were an example. By chance, a member who used to work in the industry mentioned this to a retired colleague recently. He had worked for LU and then Railtrack. This colleague said that he had noticed this unfamiliar practice on joining Railtrack and, as he was in a position to do so, promptly had the standards changed to substitute 'long timbers' in place of 'wheel timbers'. What was particularly interesting was that he discovered the term 'wheel timbers' was in use only between the wars, thus preceding both his and our member's employment, in which they always used the term 'long timbers'. Both agreed that, whatever is written in standards, there are those who ignore them and continue in their old merry ways but they could not understand who might have a long enough memory in this instance. Our member goes on to confess that he prefers 'bridge timbers' but to an operator or structural engineer this might be more associated with a timber bridge. Your BLN Editor notes that the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, always very precise, refers to 'long timbers' in their report on the 23 Jan 2020 freight train derailment near Wanstead Park in London. 2464] Points & Slips: ●●BLN 1435.2435] A local member advises that it is NOT the Parkside Colliery site that is being redeveloped (that was the site planned for the redevelopment that fell through in 2008). The area is at Parkside East on the northeast side of the M6 adjacent to Jn 22 (still to be rail served though). Work is well advanced with some local road alterations already having taken place. A new access road has been built off the A49, which runs through the southern end of the colliery site. ●●BLN 1436.2537] The former Appleby Frodingham Railway Preservation Society has rebranded as Appleby Frodingham Railway - Scunthorpe to make it clear to 'Normals' where they are based. ●●BLN 1437.2345 sic] The scanning of early BLNs was by member David Allen not Martyn Brailsford. ●●2368 sic] The Grand Central train ran into Hartlepool Down P2 after reversal at Stranton Jn not P3.
●●2387 sic] In a 'fowl' mistake, line 5, word 16; the male domestic fowl should have been 'coke' (a bit of a coke up). ●●2404 sic] The Tytherington branch maximum line speed was recently eased from 5mph to 10mph. ●●2436 sic] On the Aberfeldy branch, general goods traffic was withdrawn from 25 Jan 1965 (not 1964) but domestic coal traffic continued (likely due to a delay in negotiations with the coal trade over alternative facilities) until it was withdrawn from 1 Mar 1965 (BLN 30, front page). 2465] CAPE but not caped: Our BLN 1433.2271 report on Single Line Working through Dinmore Old Tunnel describes a train as 'caped' (cut short) which, unfortunately, is misuse of railway jargon which seems to be gaining traction in railway enthusiast circles. [Almost as bad as the incorrect use of 'Parliamentary Train' for a minimal service to avoid closure proceedings!] 'Cape' should really be capitalised as 'CAPE', as it is a railway telegraphic code word. There were hundreds of these codes, in a book, intended to reduce regular wordy operating messages to short code phases at a time when telephones were rare and most messages were sent by single needle telegraph. Even when telephones became widespread, the codes continued in use as an aid to clarity and the brevity was still useful with fax. Additionally, CAPE does not mean 'cut short' and indeed is completely the wrong code for that event. CAPE means 'This train will be cancelled throughout', eg 1S04 CAPE. The event described in BLN is covered by the code word PINE, which means 'This train will be terminated short of destination at the stated point', eg 1S04 PINE Newcastle. The BLN item should have said: 'It wasn't the only service that day to eventually be PINE (cut short) at Wilmslow....' Many of these codes have entered railway jargon and are still used;in many cases, current staff have no idea of their origins (and are themselves guilty of misuse). They are the origin of ADEX, FOOTEX, DEMIC, BLOCKADE etc. https://bit.ly/3uJBCL5 on the excellent 'Railway Codes' website is a list. 2466] Steel: (BLN 1436.2536) As the industry converts to electric arc furnaces, additional scrap steel will be needed as their raw material. The UK produces 10M tons of scrap annually; 80% is exported. The industry association has called for this to be retained in the UK because it will need three times as much scrap than currently available, to achieve its zero emissions ambitions. This requires significantly more and better scrap collection, sorting and recycling. Many countries limit the export of scrap metal to meet their own needs. Iron ore and coal rail traffic from Immingham to Scunthorpe will end but there may be more diverse rail flows from scrap handling sites (although much now goes by road). 1438 EAST MIDLANDS (Nick Garnham) [email protected] 2467] Northampton Gateway: (BLN 1432.2071) (TRACKmaps 4 p4D 2022) One of the many tasks for NR on 25 & 26 Dec and 1 Jan is to install Courteenhall Jn (61m 32ch) points in the Up Northampton at the south end of the complex to complete the network connections. Passing on trains, the landscaping is such that you can see practically nothing of the new freight terminal, just briefly at the connections. 2468] Sinfin branch: (TRACKmaps 4 p26C 2022) (BLNs 1363.2968 & 1437.2433) BLN has not previously recorded that the occasional trains of aviation fuel to Derby Rolls Royce at Sinfin for aerospace engine testing now come from Grain (GBRf), rather than Grangemouth (was Colas). The last train from/to Grangemouth ran on 19 May 2022; the first GBRF service was on 1 Jul 2022. It runs about once a month but can be more frequent; the light engine retreats to Chaddesden Sidings during unloading. 2469] Tightening the NET: Nottingham Express Transit now has a zero tolerance approach to fare evasion. There is now an increase in plain clothed officers at tram stops and on board trams. Anyone found without a valid ticket or pass will be issued a £70 penalty fare notice which, if unpaid, leaves the recipient liable to prosecution and a further fine of up to £1,000. NET emphasises in publicity (which alone is effective) that a criminal record can affect future employment and education opportunities. 1438 GREATER LONDON (Geoff Brockett) [email protected] 2470] West Hampstead Power Signal Box: The entrance/exit panel is to be replaced by a Visual Signal Control System using four WestCAD work stations. Control of Midland Mainline P1-4 at St Pancras and their approaches as far as the north end of Camden Road Tunnel will be transferred back to West Hampstead from Three Bridges ROC, with signal prefixes changed from TWH to WH. Some lines will be renamed, mostly by adding the location name. The project is scheduled for completion in Jul 2024.
2471] London Bridge: At 08.22 on 17 Nov the 06.53 Cambridge - Brighton suffered a door fault in P4. It departed 09.01 ECS to Three Bridges Depot. While it was being dealt with, seven services starting with 07.17 Luton - Rainham and ending with 07.47 Luton - Rainham (which terminated at Rochester) crossed from the Down Snow Hill, called at London Bridge P3, then crossed to Line 4 on departure. 2472] Christmas Engineering: From 24 until 27 Dec, points will be replaced at Barking, with associated OHLE adjustments. On 24th & 27th, the only National Rail services there will be LO Gospel Oak services to/from bay P1. The Barking Riverside branch will be closed; buses run from Grays via Rainham. c2c services via Basildon and Ockenden turn back at Upminster, reversing in P2 and bay P1A respectively. LO Stratford to Camden Road services are replaced by buses from 26 until 28 Dec, for demolition of the failing wrought iron Kingsbury Road overbridge at 2m 23ch between Homerton and Hackney Wick. A new replacement bridge should be in place by Mar 2024. The bridge was closed to road traffic in 1976 but has remained well used by pedestrians and cyclists. NR had intended to keep the bridge open until demolition started but closed it in Dec 2022 because of safety concerns. This has caused much upset to cycling groups, as the alternative route over busy roads is considered dangerous. 2473] Boxing Day: After all the 2022 services, except the Heathrow shuttles, were victims of the RMT dispute with NR, limited services are again scheduled for this year: Greater Anglia: 2tph Tottenham Hale - Stansted Airport. Heathrow Express: 2tph Heathrow T2 & 3 to both T4 and T5. Chiltern: 2tph Marylebone - Oxford Parkway. London Overground: 2tph New Cross Gate - Crystal Palace, 2tph Shepherd's Bush - Clapham Junction. Also,replacement buses Stratford - Camden Road, Camden Road - Gunnersbury, Queen's Park - Watford Junction and Dalston Kingsland - New Cross Gate. Southern: 2tph Victoria - Gatwick Airport, with 1tph continuing to Brighton, 2tph Victoria - Sutton via Selhurst and West Croydon, 2tph Victoria -East Croydon via Crystal Palace. As usual, services are scheduled throughout LU, DLR and London Trams (Croydon), apart from engineering work affecting the Bakerloo line north of Queen's Park and the DLR between Poplar/West Ferry and Canary Wharf. 2474] IFS Cloud Cable Car: This 1km (0.62-mile) gondola line crosses over the River Thames from the Greenwich Peninsula to Royal Docks, just west of ExCeL London. It cost £60M and opened on 28 Jun 2012, just before the Olympic Games, as the 'Emirates Air Line' (which Company sponsored it by £3.6M per year for 10 years). Since Oct 2022, IFS has sponsored it by £420k per year; despite this dramatic reduction TfL says that the cable car makes a profit. 34 gondolas are used, travelling at 14mph, a capacity said to be 2,500 passengers per hour. The basic fare is £6 single; £12 round trip (Child 5-15 half fare). 10 single journeys are available on a multi-journey non-transferrable ticket, valid for up to 12 months, for just £17 from either terminal only. A Family Ticket (up to 2A & 3C) is £30 for a round trip. There are no longer any discounts with Oyster cards; they can be used in payment but the fare does not count towards the daily cap. Contactless (card or device) payment is accepted; book online or pay with card or cash at either ticket office. Concession fares are available to Freedom Pass or 60+ Oyster Photocard holders. :ABOVE:: Temporary closure (TCP) and reopening (ROP) dates were for maintenance except the second period in 2020 which was the Pandemic lockdown. The 28 Nov to 7 Dec 2023 TCP (incl) was brought forward to Oct. Your Editor feels that it is an experience our non-acrophobic members would enjoy. It operates every 30 seconds Mon-Thur 07.00-21.00; FO 07.00-23.00; SO 08.00-23.00 & SuO 09.00-21.00. Each gondola can take up to 10 people; the journey takes 10 min or less at a height of almost 300ft. The latest 2023 TfL figures show that between 100,000 and 180,000 journeys are made each month. 2475] Temple Mills Eurostar Depot - raising the bar: Electrification specialist Furrer+Frey has installed movable OHLE conductor bar inside the depot building, with a total of 1.5km installed over the eight depot tracks. It can be moved out of the way at a touch of a button, to allow safe servicing and maintenance of trains. The overhead is then moved back in place for trains to exit the depot under power. This is part of a project to allow trains to be raised 3m to provide safe access to the bogies. Year TCP ROP 2013 18 Mar 25 Mar 2014 17 Mar 24 Mar 2015 16 Mar 23 Mar 2016 07 Mar 14 Mar 2017 13 Mar 20 Mar 2018 12 Mar 19 Mar 2019 11 Mar 18 Mar 2020 02 Mar 12 Mar 2020 21 Mar 18 May 2022 07 Mar 14 Mar 2022 28 Nov 08 Dec 2023 16 Oct 21 Oct
BELOW/FOLLOWING: (Item 2477) Brent Cross West, two days before opening is
no longer our newest station; East Linton OP 13 Dec. (Stuart Hicks, 8 Dec 2023.)
BELOW: St Pancras International, Up Platform 'A'; the 10.14 to Peterborough hNEXT: Some people who Simon keeps encountering in different parts of the cobe about to 'crossover'; with his back to us is Neville Price then Alan Absolom (fa
has a 'Z' indication for the route to Belle Isle Jn. (Simon Mortimer, 2 Dec 2023.) ountry, particularly on the 00.30 Cardiff Central to Hereford. All look happy to acing) and right Malcolm Rose - by chance, they just happen to be our members.
BELOW: (Item 2476) The lines where fares changed from 3 Dec (note Railcard
d and other discounts will not be available with Pay As You Go initially).
2476] Pay As You Go Ticketing (PAYG): (BLN 1422.976) Under the plan to introduce PAYG contactless ticketing to 53 more stations in the South East, from 3 Dec changes were made to the fares structure. This is to keep paper ticket fares in line with PAYG, although the latter will not now be introduced until the spring following issues found during testing. On journeys where PAYG will be available, single tickets will be half the return fare; both singles and returns will be available as Anytime or Off-Peak. The morning peak time is 04.30-09.30 and, for journeys from or via London Zones 1-9, peak fares now also apply between 16.00-19.00. However, One Day Off-Peak Travelcards will still be available in the evening peak. Super Off-Peak tickets have been withdrawn but the price of Off-Peak tickets has been reduced to reflect this. https://bit.ly/3sZxXsf is a PDF format map of the 53 stations affected. The outer limits: C2c: Shoeburyness Chiltern: High Wycombe LNwR: Bletchley/St Albans Abbey SWR:Windsor&Eton Riverside/Virginia Water/Shepperton Southeastern/Thameslink: Sevenoaks. 2477] Thameslink: On Sats 2 & 9 Dec, two Thameslink services from Peterborough were amended to turnback at St Pancras International low level platform 'A' and return to Peterborough. Both the low level platforms are bidirectionally signalled, as are the Canal Tunnels. The move required usage of the trailing crossover (TRACKmaps 4 p8A 2022) in the mouth of the Belle Isle Jn end of the Canal Tunnels to cross to the Down Canal Tunnel. It is an interesting elongated 30mph permitted crossover with a neutral section. The move was because of engineering work further south but, on 2 Dec only the 10.14 departure ran; the 10.46 was cancelled due to driver shortage. Services from and to the Midland Main Line were using both low level platforms to reverse to/from the scissors at Midland Road Jn. The crossover had significant use when the Canal Tunnels opened to passengers from 26 Feb 2018. Thameslink was infrequent at first; Up trains sometimes crossed from the Up Slow to the Down Slow (bidirectional) before Copenhagen Jn,then used the Down Canal Tunnel line in the Up direction, before crossing to the Down by the aforementioned crossover in the opposite direction to its recent use. It reduced conflicts with King's Cross trains. Your Regional and BLN Editors managed to do this move. On Sun 10 Dec, all Thameslink services (which only ran to Luton) were booked to reverse in St Pancras high level P1. Great Northern Thameslink services ran to King's Cross. EMR used P4 with just a Luton shuttle (then buses to Bedford). All Thameslink services call at Brent Cross West station, normally Slow Line P1 & 2 (BLN 1436.2544) but the first four Down and first six Up passenger trains ever to use the station on its opening day (Sun 10 Dec) unusually called at Fast Line P3 &4 due to engineering work. The centre two platforms give the impression of right hand running with the Down Slow serving P2 and the Up Fast P3 (like Gidea Park). Trains from London can turnback in P2 (Down Slow) and use the trailing crossover to the south to the Up Slow, a signalled passenger move. (TRACKmaps 4 p8B 2022). 2478] East Coast ERTMS: (BLN 1432.2080) 27 Nov saw the first use of in cab signalling by passenger trains, with 12 round trips between Finsbury Park and Moorgate. Testing and commissioning drivers/ driver managers are now preparing to train all 250 regular Great Northern drivers in the New Year. 2479] GW Main Line: (BLN 1437.2351) From 12.40 on Sun 26 Nov, the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) Level 2 signalling (overlay) was implemented over the Up and Down Main, and the Up and Down Relief Lines between Ealing Broadway and Stockley Jn including West Ealing Light Maintenance Depot, West Ealing N o 1 Loop, Hayes P5 and Hayes Up & Down Goods Loop. It also covers the portion of route between Heathrow Airport Jn and Heathrow Tunnel Jn. There were many faults initially, both on the ground and on trains and, as a result, on 28th Elizabeth line services to Heathrow T4 and Heathrow Express were both halved to two trains per hour (2tph). 2480] Waterloo: (BLN 1425.1337) The Cross River Partnership continues to develop plans for a parcels hub in the station undercroft. From Jan 2024, about 500ft2 of space is to be used to evaluate the feasibility of delivering parcels across London. They would be brought in by van and dispatched on walking trolleys or small electric vehicles such as cargo bikes. From Jul 2024 parcels would be received by train from national distribution centres across the UK such as Southampton and/or Birmingham. This could be small volumes on existing, quiet passenger services (parcels as passengers) or a dedicated freight train transporting larger volumes. Operations would then be stepped up further from Jan 2025.
2481] West Ealing: 50 years ago, on Tue 18 Dec 1973, Class 52 diesel-hydraulic loco 1007, 'Western Talisman', worked the 05.45 Plymouth to Paddington passenger train but failed at Reading and had to be assisted forward to Paddington. It then worked light on one engine to Old Oak Common Depot where it was berthed in the heavy maintenance shop for repairs, including attention to its batteries which required all the battery box doors to be opened. At 14.00 next day, 1007 was passed fit and released to traffic. Unfortunately, one of the battery box doors hadn't been securely closed and went unnoticed; the failure to do so had devastating consequences. 1007 was first used to work ECS from Old Oak Common to Paddington to form the 16.48 to Worcester. After being held in Paddington Yard Carriage Sidings until 17.15, the loco was coupled to 11 coaches standing in P2 to form 1A82, the 17.18 to Oxford, which left 11 minutes late at 17.29 and ran under clear signals on the Down Main. At some point shortly into the journey, the insecurely fastened battery box door on the left side of the locomotive (in the direction of travel) fell open to the horizontal position, meaning that 1007 was then out of gauge. Unknown to anyone at the time, the locomotive hit a 'Limit of Shunt' sign on the cess side of the Down Main at Old Oak Common. This was followed by damage to some cast iron cable brackets on a retaining wall at Acton, while at Ealing Broadway there was impact with the coping on the ramps at both the east and west end of the platform, lifting and dislodging some of the coping stones at the latter. As a result, the battery box door then dropped into such a position that it struck the operating rods of the facing point leading from the Down Main across the Up Main to the Down Relief just past Mile Post 6 at Longfield Avenue Jn. This resulted in the switch blades of the points being dragged across from the normal to almost the reverse position. The outcome was inevitable. The locomotive, travelling at 70mph, completely derailed, coming to rest within 210yd on its right side with the first coach still coupled to it, all wheels derailed but still upright. The next five coaches were zigzagged across all four lines, Down Main, Up Main, Down Relief and Up Relief and severely damaged. The rear five coaches were also derailed but remained upright and sustained only minor damage. Old Oak Common signal box controlled the area, working under the Track Circuit Block Regulations. The signalman in charge of the West Ealing section of the panel noticed, at about 17.36, that the track circuits in the Up Main and Down Relief lines were showing occupied, even though there were no other trains in the vicinity other than 1A82. His suspicions that a derailment had occurred were quickly confirmed by the secondman of 1A82 who phoned from Up Main signal OO27. The train was carrying about 650 passengers of whom, most regrettably, 10 lost their lives, 94 were injured, with 53 of these taken to hospital and 8 detained. The driver and secondman, who both managed to crawl out of the cab, escaped injury. All four lines were blocked. Breakdown cranes from Old Oak Common and Cricklewood arrived to clear the derailed loco and coaches. The Down Relief and Up Relief Lines were reopened at 18.45 on 20 Dec but with Christmas intervening it was not until the evening of the 28th that the Up and Down Main Lines were reopened. A 20mph emergency speed restriction on the latter was lifted on 2 Jan. The formal Inquiry into the accident was conducted by Lt Colonel IKA McNaughton for the Railway Inspectorate, with his report published on 13 Sep 1974. No fault could be found with the track, signalling, or the actions of 1A82's driver; indeed, the cause of the derailment was never in any doubt. Criticism was made of the Old Oak Common Depot staff in releasing 1007 back into traffic without a responsible person ensuring that 'all roof hatches, body side doors, battery box doors (relevant to this case), safety catches etc were secure and properly fastened'. 2482] Sydenham - New Cross Gate: Since Southern reduced its stopping services in Sep overcrowding now occurs in the peaks. TfL has told Lewisham Council that it is considering extra peak services from Crystal Palace, to London Bridge or via the East London Line to Dalston Junction/Highbury&Islington. 2483] TfL Passenger Numbers: (BLN 1431.1965) In the week ending 25 Nov, there were 24.78M journeys on London Underground, with 4.05M on Thu 23rd - the highest figure since the start of the Pandemic. This was up 7.6% against the equivalent day last year, with the week up 8.3%. The Saturday was up 17.7% and busier than the Monday, although this was affected by closure of the Elizabeth line core that day. Journeys on Tue-Thu are now around 6.5% higher than last year. Weekend ridership is continuing to grow, with several central London stations close to, or exceeding, pre-pandemic levels.
Since opening of the core on 24 May 2022, there have been about 270M journeys on the Elizabeth line (over 720,000 daily journeys Tue-Thu). The busiest day ever was on Thu 9 Nov with 766,000 journeys. The DLR averages about 325,000 journeys on a weekday, 80% of pre-pandemic levels. London Overground is at 96% of pre-pandemic levels, which is 625,000 journeys on an average weekday. TfL will be able to cover its revenue costs and 75% of its capital investment in the 2024-25 financial year. However, it is still waiting for confirmation that the Government will provide the remaining £475M and is also calling for a settlement to cover subsequent years. TfL had hoped that this would be included in the Chancellor's Autumn Statement but no announcement was forthcoming. 2484] HS2: (BLN 1437.2352) Sir John Armitt, chair of the National Infrastructure Commission which advises the government on major building projects, has said that developers won't fund the 4.5 mile tunnels from Old Oak Common to Euston as well as the station itself; the tunnels would have to be government funded. 1438 NORTH EAST & YORKSHIRE (Geoff Blyth) [email protected] 2485] York PINE CAPE: (See item 2465) On 14 Nov a member saw a mobile access platform driven into the station and along P4. It stopped in the station foyer and it became obvious that it was there to assemble the Christmas Tree - or should that be Christmas Cone? This was formed of sections plugged together. At one 'point', a man was working in the centre of the assembly. Our member presumed he would escape before it was completed and wouldn't be left there for Christmas. (Was he wearing a red coat and saying 'Ho Ho Ho'? asks your NE Editor.) He noted that the 'Tree' at Newcastle is similar; https://tinyurl.com/8t3nm68r is a video of it being assembled in 2020. There was a real tree there in 2017 but by 2019 it was the current version, so was 2017 the final real one or was it in 2018? This made our member wonder how long this has been going on and if there are any real trees at stations on the network? [Yes, at Wemyss Bay!] Perhaps this is for Health & Safety or because it significantly reduces the time to set up the 'Tree' as it's already decorated. Does any member know? 2486] Shipley: (BLN 1434.2305) (TRACKmaps 2 p41 Sep 2020) A draft Network Change proposal has now been issued for the new depot. Neville Hill Depot will be closed for 12 weeks in mid-2027, when Shipley Depot will maintain and inspect all of the Leeds North West EMU fleet (up to 54 carriages). The Arrival/Departure Line North will be connected to the main line at Shipley South Jn, using the former access to the now closed Crossley Evans Scrapyard, on the site of which the depot will be built. This will only be a trailing connection into the Up Forster Square Main, just south of the junction as there is no room for a crossover. The Arrival/Departure Line South will be connected to the main line by a new single lead junction at 206m 48ch, immediately north of Frizinghall station with an 8-car headshunt. The Link Line, connecting the two Arrival/Departure Lines, will run just inside the fence on the east side the depot. There will be five dead end Service Sidings at the north end of the depot, for which the access line will run on the east side of the depot, through a carriage washer and underframe cleaning facility, connecting into the Link Line. South of these sidings, the main Facilities Building will have four dead end Facilities Sidings, facing south, connecting into the Link Line where it becomes the Arrival/Departure Line South. The layout allows trains to arrive at, or depart from, either depot end. An arrival from the Leeds direction will require use of the bidirectional Shipley P3 in the 'wrong' direction, as there is no facing crossover at Shipley South Jn. An independent power supply is intended, so that the depot can still be operational while the main line is isolated and vice versa. 2487] (Sheffield) - Barnsley - Penistone - Huddersfield: A Levelling-Up bid submitted by Kirklees Council has obtained £48M for major improvements to this line. The route used to be double track throughout. It is just over 35 miles from Summer Lane Jn, where double track now ends just west of Barnsley, to Huddersfield P1. There is a short loop at Penistone and a dynamic loop of 1m 61ch from Clayton West Jn to Stocksmoor Jn. Signalling is controlled by Barnsley box (a couple of portable cabins!) until about half a mile west of Clayton West Jn, then York ROC Huddersfield Workstation. At present there is an hourly service (formerly two hourly), with trains crossing at the dynamic loop. The Council would like to increase the service to half hourly but the line speeds are quite low and running times too long to enable trains to pass at Penistone and west of Barnsley as well, with leeway to allow for modest late running. The press release mentions new track layouts and signalling.
Your North East Editor doesn't know what line speed improvements are possible. Can any member advise? However, selective doubling could be needed, particularly re-doubling either side of Penistone to provide a dynamic loop. Other than that, resignalling doesn't seem to be needed. There is probably no point in providing double track on the approach to Huddersfield, as services turnback in bay P2. However, adding another train per hour to the already very congested section between Sheffield and Brightside Station Jn/Wincobank Jn would cause problems. At Nunnery Main Line Jn, they conflict with the Worksop line; the junction is almost at capacity. There is often a crawl from Attercliffe Road into Sheffield. It is a pity the Midland Railway never completed its quadrupling north of Sheffield station (but BR would have had to de-quadruple it). Bidirectional signalling over the Down & Up Main and round the curve to Woodburn Jn would enable parallel moves to increase capacity. However… 2488] Sheffield: The layout is very old fashioned and largely unchanged from the days of mechanical signalling. Not much was altered when Sheffield PSB was commissioned on 22 Jan 1973. In those days most main line trains were loco hauled, with fewer Cross Country and Trans-Pennine services; Midland Main Line services ran ECS to/from Nunnery Carriage Sidings (on the Worksop line) and did not turn round in the platforms. Only Barnsley and Lincoln local trains turned back in the north end bays P3/4. The headshunts at the north end facilitated loco changes and enabled the station pilot to add/remove portions. It was, and in 2023 still is, a loco oriented and largely steam era layout, long overdue for remodelling for modern requirements. A major and radical resignalling is needed. Migration of control to York ROC in 2016 was just re-control, no resignalling or layout changes. Signallers thus continue to struggle with the considerable congestion. The pointwork was replaced a few years ago like for like. General platform use (E&OE): P1&2: CrossCountry north to Leeds, Edinburgh etc. Northern to Barnsley, Huddersfield and Leeds, TPE to Cleethorpes. P2C (bay): Northern stopping services to Manchester Piccadilly; P3&4 (bays): Stopping trains to Leeds (both routes), Lincoln, and Hull/ Scarborough; P5: EMR to St Pancras and Norwich, CrossCountry to Reading and the South West; P6: CrossCountry to Reading and the South West, Northern to Nottingham, TPE to Liverpool; P7: EMR to Norwich, Manchester Piccadilly and Liverpool, Northern locals to Manchester Picc; P8: EMR to Liverpool, EMR to London St Pancras, Northern to Nottingham, TPE to Liverpool. All the platforms are bidirectional except the north end of P6 and P8. A northbound shunt move is available from P8, running wrong road along the Up Main to Nunnery Main Line Jn, then over the trailing crossover, but only for non-passenger movements. It should not be too expensive to upgrade that route to passenger standards, as the interlocking is already there, and provide the same from P6. The trackwork already exists, so it is just a case of modifying existing signalling. However, the term 'not too expensive' is relative, compared with the cost of layout changes; any signalling software changes are very expensive. There was once a bypass line at the north end of P8 joining the through line part way along. That allowed a short train to stand at the north end of P8 and a southbound arrival to bypass it into the south end. There is still room to reinstate it for trains from the north to turn back at the north end of P8 without it blocking through trains. (Thanks to Andy Overton for his input on this.) 2489] White Rose: (BLN 1436.2555) Large scale maps show that the Leeds ends of the new platforms just overlap those of the former Churwell station (Immediately south of the bridge over Elland Road). This undistinguished station https://bit.ly/3Gzksme (the caption is wrong about its location) had no goods facilities as it was on an embankment. CP 1 Jan 1917; it ROP 1 Mar 1920 then CA 2 Dec 1940. 2490] Transpennine Route Upgrade (TPRU): At Ravensthorpe on 4 Dec, the Rail Minister announced £3.9bn to 'accelerate' this project, which has received £3bn so far. [The total budget of the whole upgrade is £76bn.] It is not clear what this is for, the announcement said the funding will be invested in doubling the number of tracks from two to four between Huddersfield and Ravensthorpe but this work is already underway. The TPRU managing director said: This commitment by the government to our programme allows us to move two of our largest projects from design into construction and delivery but hasn't elaborated on which two. A possibility is the work east of Leeds - which has already started at Neville Hill (BLN 1431.1976). There is also mention of new trains (??bimodes) for Northern and TPE.
BELOW: (Item 2486) The north end of the proposed new Shipley EMU Dep
pot, left is to Shipley station. (The right side continues on the next page.)
NEXT: (The left side continues from previous page.) The South end of the prop
posed new Shipley EMU Depot with Bradford Forster Square off to the right.
X.112] PREVIOUS/BELOW: The extremely unexciting Sunderland concourse O
OP 8 Dec 2023. (Rodger Wilkinson.) NEXT: The exterior is much better. (NR)
[BLN 1438] ABOVE: (Item 2490 & BLN 1436.2560) Transpennine Route Upgrade; we can see where some of that £3.9bn is going now. Impression of the new 4-track Ravensthorpe Viaduct over the River Calder, SW towards Ravensthorpe the Slow lines on either side of the Main lines. The current line is behind, right. BELOW: In the other direction (looking NW) with the viaducts over the Aire & Calder Navigation in the foreground and the separate Slow Lines viaducts clearly visible. The River Calder is ahead and the existing line is on the left. There will certainly be plenty of new track to do here! (All NR Media Centre.)
ABOVE: Ravensthorpe Viaduct, a ground level view, looking southwest of the new viaduct over the River Calder with the existing railway viaduct in the background behind. BELOW: (Item 2494) Hetton Railway, the tunnel under Durham Road, Sunderland, south portal. The north portal is now completely hidden by landscaping. (Rodger Wilkinson, 24 Sep 2019.)
2491] Stockton & Darlington Railway (S&DR) 200: Railway200 https://railway200.co.uk/ is a partnership across the rail industry, chaired by Lord Hendy, chair of NR, to mark the S&DR bicentenary in 2025 and the far reaching impact of railways and train travel nationally. LEFT: Their new logo, revealed on 27 Sep 2023 which was the 198th anniversary of the opening of the S&DR. At first, your BLN Editor read it as 'Zoo'! S&DR200, the Bicentenary Festival 2025, is organised by Durham County Council, the Tees Valley Combined Authority and other local authorities, with other partners such as Historic England. The full nine month S&DR200 festival programme will be revealed in Sep 2024. In 2017, BLNs 1291.2139 and 1293.2314 gave an account of the 1875, 1925 and 1975 commemorations. The Special Trains Notice and detailed operating instructions for the 31 Aug 1975 Stockton & Darlington Railway 150th Anniversary Cavalcade, with 34 preserved locos (plus an HST!), can be downloaded from the Society's website Archive for 1975 under the 'Nostalgia' category. Based in the North East, S&DR200 will include internationally significant projects about the history and the future of transport. Events include steam train journeys, exhibitions, visual arts and large scale spectacles, something for everyone. Details (and how to be involved) will appear at www.sdr200.co.uk A permanent walking/cycle path, closely following much of the 26-mile initial route - some on the English Heritage 'at risk' register (BLN 1437.2369) - is being developed. Historic England chose the route to be one of their first Heritage Action Zones. In 2025, a replica of 'Locomotion No 1' will provide experiences of the inaugural journey from Shildon to Darlington and Stockton. This will probably just be a journey from Shildon to Darlington P4 (PINE?), which will be live streamed. There will be dozens of activities, events and celebrations in communities along the 26-mile line but no cavalcade this time. 2492] Keighley: (BLN 1428.1611) The £9M NR station refurbishment was approved in late Jul with work due to start in Sep (can any member report if it did?). Completion is due by the end of 2024. 2493] Northumberland Line: (BLN 1436.2558) Recent updates to the previous plans: Furnace Way Sidings (for Fort William Alumina trains to run round each way) will be renamed Bedlington Sidings and increased in length from 303m to 316m, by reducing the headshunt from two loco lengths to one. Signalling recontrol is to the new Ashington Workstation; it will be the fourth workstation at Tyneside ROC. Arrangements are being made to minimise barrier down time at Bedlington South Crossing, where the natives tend to be restless. This is instead of the originally intended Train Ready to Start buttons on each platform. Two signals have been repositioned at Seghill to improve sighting distance. Holywell Crossing will remain as an AHB instead of being upgraded to a Manually Controlled BarrierObstacle detector crossing. Supervision of the crossings at Holywell, Seghill, Hartley, Plessey Road, Bebside, Choppington, Bedlington North, Marcheys House, North Seaton and Green Lane will transfer to Tyneside ROC instead of Bedlington South which, it is confirmed, will remain as just a gate box. There are some line speed variations but with no significant effect on journey times. The line remains Route Availability 8 (axle loading 22.8 tonnes or less). Despite freight train line speeds being increased with the upgrade, the only Heavy Axle Weight restriction will be 30 mph on Bedlington Viaduct, south of the station. The two minute engineering allowance for all Up trains south of Bedlington North will be removed from the train planning rules, as virtually all the track and points will be renewed. At present, the line is open 05.30 until 22.00 SuX and closed 22.00 Sat until 05.00 Mon. It therefore has fewer constraints than most lines, so non-disruptive engineering can take place at weekends and on midweek nights. Liaison with Freight Operators, Lynemouth Power Station, North Blyth and the Port of Blyth can identify opportunities to minimise the impact of midweek overnight work on local residents. The plan is for extended weekend possessions and blockades. The first blockade, 7 days in Aug 2023, was to remove the ground frame and crossover at Marchey's House and install the new crossover and turnout to Furnace Way Sidings (Bedlington South). The second, due in the first week of Apr 2024, is to replace Bedlington North Jn and commission new signalling from Bedlington Viaduct (15m 12ch) to the NR boundary (4m 14ch) past Ashington, including its transfer of control to Tyneside ROC.
Then Benton North Jn to Bedlington Viaduct (15m 12ch) will be blocked from early Apr until mid-May 2024. The signalling between Bedlington Viaduct and the present interface between Newsham box and Tyneside ROC (500m east of Benton East Jn) will be abolished and new signalling commissioned. Completion of the new road overbridge to replace Newsham Level Crossing is also planned during this line closure. Port of Tyne to Lynemouth Power Station biomass traffic will divert via the ECML and Morpeth (BLN 1436.2558). North Blyth alumina trains will be able to operate as normal following the Apr blockade, running round in the then newly commissioned Bedlington Sidings (Network sidings for general use, no longer DBC private sidings). From mid-May, Lynemouth biomass (and others) will be able to run via Newsham over the newly commissioned track layout, controlled by the new signalling. revised line opening hours were proposed from Dec 2023 of 05.30 to 23.30 SuX & 07.00 to 23.30 SuO, an extra 30 min in the evening. Due to project slippage, this has now been deferred until 2 Jun 2024. Seaton Delaval, Newsham and Ashington are due to open in late summer 2024 and Northumberland Park, Blyth Bebside and Bedlington no later than autumn 2025. Allowing for crew training following completion of resignalling in mid-May 2024, passenger service should now start in late summer 2024. 2494] The Hetton Railway Part 2: (BLN 11436.2554 with map) The history of this line in subsequent decades, which includes connecting lines to other similar railway companies, is fully described in Chapter 8 of the 'The Private Railways of County Durham'. This item will confine itself to the rundown and closure of the system. However, to cover this, it is necessary to mention Silksworth Colliery. This was opened in Jan 1873 and served by an extension of the steeply graded Londonderry Railway branch to Ryhope Colliery. When the North Eastern Railway took over the Londonderry Railway in Oct 1900, the Silksworth extension passed to Londonderry Collieries (traffic was worked by the NER). Silksworth Colliery (and its railway) was taken over by the Lambton & Hetton Collieries Ltd, probably on 1 Feb 1920. The colliery was close to the Hetton Railway and it would be advantageous to ship coal from the Lambton or Hetton Staiths. A steeply graded ¾ mile branch was therefore OG in 1938-1939, running northeast and linking the colliery to the Hetton Railway about ½ mile north of North Moor. A landsale depot (where coal was sold to customers) was opened at North Moor. Judging by OS maps, this may have happened between 1939 and 1950 but this cannot be relied on to establish dates. According to 'The Private Railways of County Durham', Hetton Colliery and its associated short branch closed on 22 Jul 1950 but the 'Durham Mining Museum' website gives 11 Jul. In 1952, the National Coal Board decided to sink a new Hawthorn Combined Mine at Murton, east of Hetton, linked to Eppleton and Elemore Collieries underground. Construction began in 1953 and Hawthorn drew its first coal on 31 Aug 1959. Coal no longer needed to be taken to the Hetton Staiths for shipment, so the following lines closed from 10 Sep 1959: ●Elemore Colliery - Hetton - Warden Law - North Moor ●Hetton Downs - Eppleton Colliery ●Hetton Wagon Shops branch. The 1836 Warden Law beam engine was left in place for preservation. Dismantled in 1962, its parts went to Beamish Museum. Hawthorn is stated to have opened on 2 Jan 1960, incorporating Elemore and Eppleton Collieries. Perhaps this was the date of an official opening ceremony and/or an administrative change, when Hawthorn officially took over their management. [Hawthorn Colliery closed after Fri 29 Nov 1991.] Lifting was well advanced by the end of Sep 1959; the last track at Hetton was lifted on 20 Nov 1960. North of North Moor remained for coal from Silksworth Colliery to Hylton Road Landsale Depot (the main traffic), the staiths and North Moor Landsale Depot, reversing about ½ mile north of North Moor at the junction. The last boatload of coal left Hetton Staiths in early autumn 1962. However, the line to Hetton Staiths remained open as trains to Lambton Staiths, a little way downstream, ran via Hetton Staiths sidings, where they reversed and went through a short tunnel to Lambton Staiths sidings. The line serving North Moor appears to have been lifted between the 1967 and 1969-71 OS revisions. The final loaded ship left Lambton Staiths on 4 Jan 1967 and the last train of empties and light engines on 6 Jan. Between Hylton Road Landsale Depot and Lambton Staiths (plus the short connection to the staiths from Deptford Junction on the British Rail line from Pallion) therefore closed from 7 Jan 1967. This left a short section between the former Junction for Silksworth Colliery (about ½ mile north of North Moor) and Hylton Road as the final section of the original Hetton Railway open to traffic.
ABOVE: Sunderland 1947-48 revision; top arrow Hetton Staiths, below it the vertical arrow points to Hylton Road Coal Depot. To the right, the angulated arrow is to Lambton Staiths (tunnel to the left). Silksworth Colliery is bottom left, BR branch off east. The Hetton Railway continues off bottom left. Silksworth Colliery closed on 6 Nov 1971, although fortunately our Society managed to arrange a brakevan trip the previous day! However, the contract to supply coal to Hylton Road Landsale Depot was still in force, so coal had to be brought in from elsewhere to supply it and hauled to Silksworth Colliery(!), where a National Coal Board loco took over for the short run on NCB track to Hylton Road. Needless to say, this highly uneconomic arrangement couldn't last and traffic ceased on 30 Jun 1972. The British Rail line from Ryhope to Silksworth Colliery CA 19 Jul 1972 and the junction at Ryhope was taken out of use on 12 Nov 1972. Elemore Colliery closed 1 Feb 1974 and Eppleton on 30 Mar 1986, when it was merged with Murton Colliery (itself closed 29 Nov 1991, along with Hawthorn Colliery). The Stephenson Trail https://bit.ly/47JqzjK follows a route similar to the Hetton Railway with deviations but ends at Lambton Staiths (not Hetton Staiths) in Sunderland, where you might be a bit 'weary'.
A burning question that our members will want answered is why is Hetton-le-Hole so named? Well, it's not that bad a place and there is no hole as such. Its history goes back 1,000 years; Hetton-le-Hole derives from two Anglo-Saxon words spelt together as 'Heppedune' meaning 'Bramble Hill'. The name was adopted by a local family, the le Hepdons, major landowners of part of the Manor. 1438 NORTH WEST (John Cameron) [email protected] 2495] Dalston: (TRACKmaps 4 p32C 2013) It has been reported elsewhere that staff at Dalston Oil Terminal have been informed that the facility will close in about 18 months time. This may be connected with the planned closure of Grangemouth Refinery (BLN 1437.2433). Trains have run every few days (including on Saturdays) between Grangemouth and Dalston for years. Currently Colas operated the 21.34 Grangemouth Ineos to Dalston Oil Terminal (03.16). It detaches 12 of the 18 tanks at Carlisle New Yard (not so new these days) and makes three round trips between there and Dalston per trainload, due to limitations of the sidings there. The return is 08.38 Dalston Oil Terminal to Grangemouth. Previously Dalston was supplied by rail from Stanlow Oil Refinery at Ellesmere Port. It was also suggested that Prestwick Airport will receive aviation fuel from the Isle of Grain (instead of Grangemouth) via the Settle & Carlisle, with the line north of Blea Moor opening overnight again. 2496] Blackpool Trams: Blackpool Metropole Hotel, opened in 1785, is a famous local landmark which was passed several times on our recent Hello Sailor! Abandon Ship! tram tour. A member pointed out that the hotel is unique in Blackpool in a tram-specific way. The reason will be revealed in BLN 1439… 2497] Friezland: (BLN 1431.1990) This report of the former Friezland Station House, on Station Lane in Greenfield, being threatened with demolition prompted a member to visit. This line which has come to his notice occasionally over the years, was usually referred to as the Micklehurst Loop or Line but occasionally the Friezland Loop (which always sounded more interesting to his youthful imagination). On Mon 6 Nov he caught a train to Greenfield, a station he had never previously alighted at, and then it was a 15 minute walk across to join a bridle path on the route of the former railway. Following the path for a mile or so brought him to a gate with a sign reading 'Friezland Lodge - Station House'. Going through the open gate revealed a path round to a modern property, Friezland Lodge presumably, and straight ahead was the Station House. Obviously unoccupied but all intact. Our reporter had a quick look around then walked back to join the path past the other side to see if there were any platform remains. There was one slightly raised area but difficult to say if it was part of a platform. As the station closed from 1 Jan 1917, it's amazing anything survives. The name 'Friezland' crops up quite a bit (Friezland Bowling Club was one noticed) but pinpointing the actual village proved a bit more difficult. Our member returned to the main road in Greenfield to catch the number 350 bus to Oldham, as he had noticed this went via Delph, which was the former terminus of a short branch (CP 2 May 1955) and thus another place of interest. Settling in on the top deck of the bus, as it passed through New Delph, he suddenly saw a station platform below with what appeared to be a very old coach alongside it. Our member naturally alighted shortly after to investigate. The station is privately owned and has a high fence around it, so viewing is difficult from ground level but there was an explanatory sign on the fence indicating he had found the real Delph station. A passer-by confirmed this. Returning to the bus stop to continue his journey, there was a knot hole in the fence (fortunately this wasn't Knott End) and looking through it gave a clear view of the station platform and an ancient coach. Our member continued his journey by bus to Oldham passing through Delph, which looks like a place worth visiting another time, and then into high open country with splendid views all around in the afternoon light before descending into Oldham, where unfortunately it had started to rain heavily. On 20 Nov he repeated his visit to Greenfield and Friezland Station House to find it intact but a van belonging to a joinery firm was parked outside. Afterwards, he caught the 350 bus going the other way to Ashton-under-Lyne to complete the journey. The bus stopped opposite Micklehurst Station House, in private occupation and well maintained, with BR style double sausage totems showing 'Micklehurst' (although closed in 1907!) and 'Micklehurst Station House'. Continuing past Mossley station, it was a hilly and bendy ride then to Ashton, where our man caught the Metrolink tram back to Manchester.
BELOW & NEXT: (Item 2497) Friezland Station House
on the Micklehust Loop. (Mike Martin, 6 Nov 2023.)