1373

Railway (the excellent meal was served in the refreshment room right).

BELOW: Crogga Valley Railway, note the red 'BLS' headboard. William Gra

aveson, then our chairman, does a good Winston Churchill impersonation.

BELOW: The Great Laxey Mine Railway (it was great too

o). The Manx Electric Railway is upper background left.

BELOW: Yet another excellent IOM 'all available lin

nes' railtour, this time of the Groudle Glen Railway.

ABOVE: (Item 905) Ballinacourty during the Irish Railway Record Society farewell trip on 24 Jul 1982.
From the front loco cab as it ran round, looking towards the end of line (not covered by the tour).

The Magnesite factory is on the right in both pictures. (Both Ian Mortimer.)

BELOW: After running round, ready to return towards Waterford. This 2.5km branch off the original
Waterford - Fermoy - Mallow OG 1 Apr 1970 and only lasted for just over 12 years.

NORTH KERRY LINE LIMERICK To Ennis
(Limerick - Tralee)
1 Patrickswell Jn Foynes Castlemungret To Limerick Jn
N 2 Ballingrane Askeaton 1 Limerick Check

Adare Patrickswell

Ballybunnion Ballingrane Jn 2 To Charleville

Liselton Ardagh Rathkeale and Mallow

Listowel Newcastle West

Lixnaw Kilmorna Barnagh KEY
Abbeyfeale Devon Road Open for all traffic
Closed/out of use
Abbeydorney Closed (Monorail)
Open stations TRALEE
Kilfenora Ardfert Closed stations Ardagh
TRALEE
Fenit Spa To Killarney and Mallow

CSD

906] It can now be told (31): (Map BLN 1230.661) By Phil Mason. In Britain closed railway lines were
often hastily ripped up, stations left to rot or sold off for redevelopment and many bridges removed,
making reinstatement years later difficult and expensive (eg Donnington and Tweedbank). In the Irish
Republic, the situation was more enlightened. Track on lines where all services were withdrawn had to
stay in situ for 10 years just in case further traffic should arise (as with Waterford to Ballinacourty).

They were not classified as officially 'closed' until this procedure had been exhausted. Little or no
maintenance was carried out and they were left to decay. However they were subject to occasional
inspection by engineer's vehicles and more interestingly, an annual passage by the weed killer spray
train. As covered in BLN this status was 'enjoyed' by the 31 mile long Waterford to Rosslare, South
Wexford Line at least until 6 Oct 2020 (BLN 1372.734). Rather ominously the last passenger train ran
on Sat 18 Sep 2010, so 10 years is up. Two of our members confided in me that it was possible to cab
ride spray trains. In the early 1980s the top target, the Holy Grail of Irish gricing, was the very scenic
North Kerry Line (half in County Limerick!), a 70 mile long through line from Limerick to Tralee and the
annual spray working over it had achieved a legendary status. ABOVE: Map thanks to Dave Cromarty.

Opened in stages between 1856 and 1880, the 'mothballed' section started at Ballingrane Jn on the
Limerick - Foynes branch which was still open to freight then (last freight to Foynes was 30 Oct 2000;
last weed spray train 7 May 2002, last inspection car 9 Jan 2003). This branch is still mothballed after
20+ years with aspirations to reopen it for freight but must be seriously derelict by now. From Limerick
Check (so named as it was once the site of a ticket check platform) the Castlemungret Cement Factory
branch remained open longer (last revenue earning train 18 Dec 2009), by then a parallel single line
adjacent to the Foynes branch. It was finally disconnected at Limerick Check on 29 Mar 2013.

From Ballingrane Jn it was 53 meandering miles to Tralee via Newcastle West (where trains reversed)
and Listowel (of Ballybunion monorail fame). Regular passenger services went from 4 Feb 1963 and on
6 Jul 1975 the final passenger special left Newcastle West (in the Limerick direction). Regular freight
service was withdrawn Abbeyfeale - Newcastle West 23 Oct 1972 ('Irish Railway News' Feb 1973) but
the section was temporarily ROG 17 May until 22 Jun 1973 (IRN Aug 1973), while bridge strike damage
was repaired south of Abbeyfeale. Regular freight services were withdrawn Ballingrane Jn - Listowel
2 Dec 1974 ('IRRS Journal' No66). After those dates, it was still available as a through route 'as required'
but CG 3 Nov 1975 (last train 30 Oct 1975). Points and signals were disconnected 22 Dec 1975 and the
line handed to the engineer ('IRRS Journal' Feb 1976). On the Tralee southern section, Abbeydorney to
Listowel closed to normal traffic 10 Jan 1977 (OOU 20 Feb 1977) and Tralee - Abbeydorney 2 Jun 1978.

[BLN 1373]
I planned an 11 day holiday in May 1983 based on an RPSI steam tour to Waterford but mostly to try
my luck on freight lines for which I had managed to obtain a footplate pass. Although I never expected
to get lucky, it was in the back of my mind that it was the time of year when the spray train was active.

I finished up in Limerick on Tue 11 May 1983. Limerick Check Signal Cabin was the nerve centre for
train operations in Limerick, controlling the junctions to Athenry, Foynes and the by then parallel
short 1957 branch to Castlemungret (sometimes Mungret) Cement Works, as well as all the sidings for
locos, rolling stock and a wagon works. It was THE place to get information on freight trains and
enabled me to ride freight trains to Castlemungret, Foynes and Silvermines over the next two days.

More importantly, the signalman told me the weed spray train was coming to do the North Kerry Line
the next Wednesday, the 18h. Eureka! This was the day I was due to return home, but I was not about
to let a little thing like that stop me! I figured that this was one train where asking the driver on the
day would not be enough as there were bound to be more senior personnel on board, not to mention
lethal chemicals, and I had better obtain specific permission from higher authority. I discovered the
location of the Area Engineer, not at the station but a grand house in a back street. I was ushered into
the great man's presence where he sat behind a polished desk in one tiny corner of a huge room, the
walls of which were lined with bookcases containing many impressively bound volumes of what must
have been original 19th century plans. Happily I managed to persuade him and permission was granted.

The following Tue, 17 May 1983, I joined the spray train for an 18.15 departure to Foynes where it
would stable for the night and I found a B & B nearby. Next day I rejoined and we trundled back the 10
miles to Ballingrane Jn. Several in the know Irish enthusiasts turned up and joined me in the rear cab
of Loco 175 (wonder if they had any official permissions‽). The loco ran round while the train was
loaded with everything likely to be needed for this journey into the wilderness, hammers, saws, jacks,
crowbars, oxyacetylene gear, in fact just about everything short of dynamite! There was also a P'way
gang of half a dozen burly Paddies in the charge of an Inspector. Of course all signalling and all phone
lines were out of use, vandalised or stolen so we were totally on our own (no cell/mobile phones then
either) and the only way to operate the train was for the inspector to take possession of the entire line
and act as pilotman. About 09.15 we finally set off on the great adventure, lost to the system, into
what American railroad men call 'Dark Territory' or the 'Wild West'. There were many level crossings
on the line we had to stop to unlock, open by hand and close after. One of the early ones refused to
budge despite the attention of a big hammer. After some head scratching the burly Paddies physically
lifted the gates off their hinges and opened them the wrong way round! Bizarrely, later on there were
two crossings where the crossing keeper's cottages were still inhabited and after a blast on the horn
someone ran out and opened the gates in front of us as though it was still an everyday occurrence!

Another bizarre feature was that 'Mick' the regular spray train driver, who presumably signed every
last rail line on CIÉ, was about to retire so there was a second driver sitting in the cab, notebook in
hand, earnestly 'learning' this out of use railway! [The CIÉ/IR spray train visited NIR once a year but NIR
always provided a driver from Portadown, some years using the CIÉ loco, others one of their own.]

Newcastle West was likely to be the biggest operational problem as it was built as a terminus and all
through trains had to reverse. The run round at the end of the loop was not a set of points but by a
rather dodgy looking turntable onto which '175' proceeded very gingerly - but it did work. The loop
and junction points at the other end had to be crow barred over by hand. In many places farmers had
illegally stretched strands of barbed wire across the line to guide their cattle between fields in many
places and we pinged through these and scattered other assorted objects off the line. We ran over a
large curved sheet of metal and it jammed under the rear bogie which the crew were unaware of but I
spotted it and had to run to the front cab and warn them to stop. Farmers took advantage of the free
grazing on the lineside and many cows and a few donkeys were present, mostly tethered to stakes in
the ground to stop them wandering too far but some were actually tied to the rails (a mis-stake!).

They were all weed sprayed! At one place a herd of loose cows was encountered, blasting the horn
scattered most of them but one especially obstinate beast decided to escape by walking straight down
the 5 foot in front of us. The inspector alighted and tried to shoo it but it was having none of it and we
proceeded at walking pace, cow chased by the inspector, chased by the train for at least half a mile
before it finally got the message! Foliage was also encroaching and rubbing closely along the sides of
the train; we snapped off many tree branches which accumulated on the bodywork, roof and
walkways. By the time we finally re-emerged in civilisation in Tralee after some seven hours we were
festooned with shrubbery and by then the loco resembled a military tank in full camouflage!

A shocked CIÉ official in full dress uniform with silver pips could not understand where we had come
from given our surprise arrival at the 'wrong' end of Tralee station. It remains the most memorable rail
journey of my entire life. [It was 'Just in time' too, Phil, as the following year on Wed 23 May 1984 was
the last North Kerry Line weed spray train run. The final inspection car ran on Mon 11 Jan 1988. On the
closed Ballingrane to Tralee line, Ballingrane Jn cabin closed from 12 Jan 1988, and the section
became Limerick Check to Foynes. At Ballingrane Jn the Tralee line was no longer accessible and, after
the 10 years, track lifting began - IRRS Journal 106.]

1373 (Mike McCabe) [email protected]
907] Edinburgh, Granton Gas Works: For the benefit of those working here, east of the retort house, a
private railway station was built which still exists although the trackwork has been lifted. The building
has recently been restored. It also contained the time office - workers were required to pass through
turnstiles on their way into and out of the works. This building also contained lavatories, bathrooms,
and lockers for the men to store their outdoor clothing. A footbridge from the first floor led over the
railway lines to the works itself. Trains ran from Edinburgh Princes Street station stopping at Dalry
Road, Murrayfield and Craigleith. The gas works station did not appear in the published timetables
but apparently local residents did use the trains. Like the surviving gasholder, the station is Grade 'B'
listed. It has sometimes recently been referred to as 'Granton station', but the actual North British
Railway (NBR) Granton passenger station (CP 2 Nov 1925) was on the Middle Pier at Granton Harbour.

E-BLN has two 2019 photos of the building; the rear of the ground floor was once open, with a railway
track running through it. The opening for the footbridge was below the clock. 'Ross' in 'The Caledonian,
Scotland's Imperial Railway' says (photo caption) that the spur to Granton Gas Works was built in 1901
-1902. Quick says that the station was used by workers from 1902 to 1942 at least, but a photo of an
opening day train at the station https://bit.ly/30VwK3s has it as 17 Feb 1903 but without provenance.

By 1926 Granton Gas Works was using 200,000 tons of coal a year. The existing Edinburgh and Leith
Gas Works both had rail access, but only from the North British Railway; a factor in favour of Granton
was access both from the NBR and its rival, the Caledonian Railway. In addition, it was close to the sea
so that supplies could be brought by boat - useful in the event of strikes on the railway. The Edinburgh
& Leith Corporations Gas Commissioners who took over gas production and supply across the area in
1889 thought of building their own small harbour at Granton, but this did not go ahead. Construction
of Granton Gas Works started in Oct 1898 and was largely complete for the official opening, on 21 Oct
1902, by Mrs Steel, wife of the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, assisted by Mrs Mackie, wife of the Provost
of Leith and production started. Further work was done from 1903 until 1910.

NEXT: (Item 907) Granton Gas Works; this building was more than the passenger station. It also
housed the gas works offices. There was a footbridge from the first floor of the building that gave
access to the main site, reached by stairs within the building. The building also contained the clocking
in facility for the workers who travelled by train. The rear of the ground floor was originally open
(lower left corner of side of building), with a railway track running through it. The opening for the
footbridge was below the clock. https://bit.ly/3cn0exy is the full listing.

SECOND PHOTO: The original passenger platform (see https://bit.ly/30VwK3s ) is bottom right. The
former opening for the track through the building can be made out. (Both Greg Beecroft, 15 Oct 2019.)









Gas manufacture at Granton came to an end in 1987. The gasholders continued in use for storage for a
few more years. Gasholder No1, although the oldest, remained in use longest - as late as 2001.

A network of lines connected to the national rail network served the works. Coal arrived in standard
mineral wagons, which, in addition to side doors, had one end door. The coal was normally tipped
using the end door, one end of each wagon being lifted off the track by a hydraulic ram to allow this.
Up to 500 tons an hour could be unloaded. Wagons with bottom doors could also be accommodated.

The Gas Commissioners had their own fleet of wagons, painted with their initials in large letters, but
most of the coal would arrive in wagons owned or leased by the various collieries that produced the
coal ('private owner wagons'). In addition to coal from relatively local sources, such as the Lothians,
some came from further away, to provide a mixture with the required qualities for gas production.

908] Glenfinnan: (BLN 1370.454) Red Wheel hunters will find the one for the viaduct at the station. In
normal times there is also the Station Museum, gift shop, static dining car (for home baking and light
lunches), restored signal box (with a heritage film studio) to visit and a restored sleeping car to stay in.
A miniature railway is under construction and some days the Jacobite steam train passes four times.

909] Scottish Nationalists to nationalise ScotRail: Scottish Transport Secretary Michael Matheson has
announced that ScotRail services will be provided by the public sector, by an arm's length company
owned and controlled by the Scottish Government from the present franchise expiry, now expected on
31 Mar 2022. ScotRail staff will transfer to the new Company, with protected terms and conditions.

910] Strathbungo: (BLNs 1358.2368 & 1360.2640 - photos) With electrification to Barrhead and East
Kilbride, NR cannot justify spending public money on restoring the former station (CP 28 May 1962)
building, with little prospect of a financial return. Therefore they propose to demolish it in Feb 2022.
The footbridge, despite a recent partial refurbishment, needs further works, including 1.8m high
parapets due to OHLE. These would drastically alter its appearance, so a new replacement structure is
the obvious solution. The local community are to be consulted over the design of the new bridge.

911] Grangemouth: The Port of
Grangemouth has opened a £3M rail
freight hub; two 200m sidings have
been extended to 775m. It the largest
Scottish port and provides direct
transfer between rail and sea, as well as
good road/Motorway links. The first use
of the new facility appears to have been
Wed 3 Mar by the 18.31 DRS intermodal
train from Aberdeen Craiginches
terminal, arriving at Grangemouth TDG
Sidings 23.20. TDG was originally
the Transport Development Group.
Grangemouth is Scotland's newest
intermodal freight terminal, begun in
1999 with a £10M Freight Facilities
Grant from the Scottish Executive to the
logistics company TDG Nexus, to move
freight traffic off the roads.

The original site is now owned by DBC but the rail terminal is shared with Stobart Rail Freight and
Malcolm Rail. Trains run to/from Aberdeen, Mossend Euroterminal, Daventry & Tees Dock terminals.
There are trains seven days a week. ABOVE: The new terminal (Press Release).

(BLN 1372.634●●555) The new Grangemouth full sized semaphores were commissioned 24 Sep 2018
(BLN 1313.2028); the OHLE went live 10 Feb 2019.

912] Inter7City: The last refurbished ScotRail short HST has arrived in Scotland. They have reduced
journey times between Inverness and the central belt by 10 mins on average, Inverness to Glasgow
taking less than three hours for the 180½ miles. They serve all seven Scottish cities on these routes:

Glasgow/Edinburgh - Aberdeen. Glasgow/Edinburgh - Inverness.Aberdeen - Inverness (many
Aberdeen services will run through to Inverness).Glasgow/Edinburgh - Stirling - Perth - Dundee.

Refurbishment was carried out by Wabtec Doncaster (coaches) and Brush Traction Loughborough
(power cars) from late 2017 through to 2021. There were to be 26 sets (9x4 Car and 17x5-car) but one
was lost in the Carmont derailment last year; it is not clear if it will be replaced. They are popular with
passengers but seem to have had a high failure rate; running costs and maintenance are greater too.

913] Free travel: ScotRail is providing free travel, initially for five months, for around 100 St Andrew's
First Aid volunteers, across the Central belt, to/from vaccination hubs in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

1373 WALES & THE MARCHES (Chris Parker) [email protected]
914] Stop the pigeons! Following a complaint by the local MP in Jul 2020, NR is attempting to 'pigeon
proof' four underbridges just north of Shrewsbury station. Droppings from roosting birds have been
causing slippery surfaces beneath and damaging the structures. The specialist contractors Dastardly &
Muttley https://bit.ly/3eK1tIV (it helps if you're of a certain age or a bit wacky) were unavailable so NR
has agreed with Shropshire Council that it will clean the bridges and install 'special netting' beneath.

This is claimed to be of a new improved variety. NR admits that previous such measures have had
'limited success' because the birds pecked through the netting! Castle Foregate and Cross St bridges
are multi-tracked and pass over sections of the town centre one way road system; the former also has
a wide pavement which has definitely been unsuitable for running to catch a train. The other two are a
short distance along the Crewe line spanning the access lines to the former Castle Foregate (GWR) and
Crewe Bank (L&NWR/LMS) goods depots respectively, now in industrial use. The four will be dealt with
consecutively from 8 Mar until 23 Apr with a two week Easter break; overnight road closures are
involved but the project is seen as quite a 'coup' for the town. [At least this wasn't all in Pidgin English.]

915] Central Wales: From Sat 20 Mar passenger trains ran the full length of the line for the first time
since the Wed 26 Aug 2020 Robeston oil train derailment and fire. The first train was a 2236 (Fri 19th)
loco hauled NR track measurement train from Swansea, Llandore to Derby, (Craven Arms 04.32).
From 29 Mar until 15 May the service doubles (SuX) from two to four trains each way, most running
to/from Swansea again (the first train from Shrewsbury turns back at Llanelli). Two also run to Crewe.
Sunday remains two each way between Swansea and Shrewsbury. Hopton Heath is still not served.

916] Swansea District Line: (BLN 1372.758) From the 22.45 departure for Theale on 10 Mar (delayed
from 21.25), Robeston oil traffic reverted to running via Cockett and Landore Loop. Does anyone know
why please? It means that only shorter trains can run. The District line retains its other very limited
traffic, mainly for Trostre Works. However the first passenger working since reopening is still awaited.

917] Aberthaw Cement Works: (BLN 1372.757) A 4 Mar recount found 44 PCA wagons were stored for
scrapping. Welsh Assembly financial support was instrumental in the 2016 rail traffic resumption.

918] Caernarvon* - Llanberis: (BLN 1371.496) A member has provided extracts (with e-BLN) from the
1961 summer (12 Jun to 10 Sep) passenger Working Timetables including the excursions on this 9-mile
branch. SSuX were: 09.35 Rhyl to Llanberis (11.18), in earlier years it was timed to cross the branch
goods at Pontrhythallt TThO but in 1961 that was at Llanberis; 13.05 Llanberis to Bangor (13.50);
14.40 Bangor to Llanberis (15.20); 15.30 Llanberis to Caernarvon (15.50); 16.25 ECS Caernarvon to
Llanberis (16.45) and 17.20 Llanberis to Rhyl. None was advertised beyond Caernarvon in published
timetables, only locally at stations and enquiry bureaux. E-BLN 1356.MR101 last picture (far right) has
a British Railways seafront enquiry and ticket sales kiosk at Colwyn Bay with day excursions to
Llanberis 'for Snowdon' at 7s 6d (37½p worth £7.50 now, yes, please!). (- continued) [*As spelt then.]

BELOW & NEXT: Summer 1961 (12 Jun to 10 Sep) passenger
Note all the passenger trains are shown on the Llanberis branch (highli

r Working Timetable extract (with thanks to David Plimmer).
ighted with black boxes) but there were later trains on the other lines.





BELOW: (Item 922) The Black Bridge (actually a sort of rusty colo

our) looking west towards Machynlleth, about a mile away (NR).

918] Caernarvon* - Llanberis (continued…): Advertising excursions locally along the North Wales coast

was probably a very fruitful strategy in the 1950s and 1960s. The number of people holidaying in the

hotels, boarding houses, holiday camps and caravan parks from Prestatyn to Llandudno would have

been astronomical compared with present day figures. People were keen to enjoy 'days out' from

where they were based, but much depended on weather. Commitments to travel were often on the

day or at best a day or two before, prompted by a good forecast. [*As spelt then.]

The Rhyl workings were named 'The Snowdonian' - well filled when seen by a member twice in 1959 -
(BLN 51, Dec 1959, p114). In 1960 the return fare was 8s 9d (44p; £10.20 today; BLN 54 p137) from
Rhyl. According to ex-Bangor fireman Bill Rear http://bit.ly/3s08KIt 'LMS Branch Lines in North Wales',
from 1957 Bangor-based BR Standard 2-6-4 tanks were normally used. These worked early morning
local services before picking up the excursion stock of 6 coaches plus an observation car from Rhyl
carriage shed. They returned light engine (LE) Rhyl to Bangor after stabling the stock in the evening.

However in 1961 only a 07.25 MO Bangor to Rhyl LE working is shown. The only unconfirmed reports
of a DMU working on the [Llanberis] branch are of three Sunday afternoon excursions in 1956 which
were unadvertised and consequently poorly patronised. These were almost certainly formed of Derby
Lightweight units which that year took over most scheduled Conwy Valley services with great success!
WTTs in 1961 specified the trains diagrammed for DMUs. If it's of any comfort to our Chairman, the
one he caught at Bangor to Llandudno on 24 Aug 1961 was evidently the 15.00 from Caernarvon only.

919] Taking stock: (BLN 1364.3255) The first two of nine Class 769 bimode Flex units belatedly entered
daily service (Cardiff Central - Rhymney) at the end of Feb. They are due to operate to Penarth when
more enter service later this year. Major refurbishment of 36 TfW Class 150 Sprinters has begun, now
over 30 years old, and still in unbranded Arriva livery. TfW has announced that other forthcoming
stock will lack yellow ends, permitted by http://bit.ly/3eTK6W0 (Railway Group Standard GM/RT2131)
where headlamps meet requirements. Those concerned, with current planned service introduction
dates, are: Class 197 (CAF Civity) Dec 2021; Class 230 (Vivarail) Jun 2021; Class 231 (Stadler Flirt
DEMU) Aug 2022; Class 398 (Stadler Citylink Tram Train) May 2023; Class 756 Stadler Tri-Mode
Flirt Nov 2023. GM/RT2131 has been in force since 5 Mar 2016, hence EU involvement, but evidently
no-one advised Vivarail as the four 230s delivered to date have yellow panels (see e-BLN 1363.X.198)!

920] Carmarthen: (TRACKmaps 3 p24B Jun 2018) NR plans to install an un-signalled turnout with a
hand point in the Up Siding leading to a new 200m line on vacated trackbed alongside (southeast side).
It will increase overnight stabling for TfW to run longer trains from the 11 Dec 2022 timetable. An
access walkway and lighting will be provided. NR hopes to largely complete the work by 31 Mar 2022.

921] Bridgend: http://bit.ly/2Nsi4Wi has details with a video of refurbishment and improvements now
in progress at this relatively pigeon free station. The work is due to be completed by the end of Mar.

922] Sutton Bridge Jn - Machynlleth: 60 route miles are to be temporarily closed for 6 weeks from Sat
15 May until Sun 27 Jun 2021 inclusive while engineers raise Black Bridge (No 226, 74m 17ch from the
former Whitchurch Cambrian Jn) by one metre and regrade the approaches, total cost £3.6M.
The bridge spans the Afon Dulas a mile east of Machynlleth adjacent to its confluence with the
Afon Dyfi so is particularly prone to flooding. Preparations will begin at the end of Mar; the Dulas is a
fish spawning river which limits the window of opportunity! Hopefully other work will be carried out to
justify this extensive line closure in what would normally be a busy time for passenger loadings. Trains
run between Machynlleth and Aberystwyth/Pwllheli but not at Welshpool, Newtown or Caersws.

1373 MINOR RAILWAYS (Peter Scott) [email protected]
MR41] Fairbourne Railway, Gwynedd (MR p29) (BLN 1312.MR177): It can now be told - Minor Railway
style by David Leeming (890). On Sunday 22 September 1996 I went to the Fairbourne Railway for a
special event. All four of the steam locos were to be in operation along with a visitor. (The visiting loco
was one that I just happened to have ridden behind the previous week at its home railway - a bit
disappointing but there we go. Life is like that!)

ABOVE: 'Beddgelert' & 'Yeo' at Barmouth Ferry (old platform line) Barmouth is in the background.

I was (very) early so produced my measuring device and walked the line, measuring it. There and back
- I was rather younger then, so still back well in time for the first train…! I was overtaken by the big
diesel 'Lillian Walter' on its inspection run - but it did not operate on any passenger trains, much to my
disappointment. Things did get better though. The event was running smoothly. I did the first double
headed round trip with 'Beddgelert' and 'Yeo'. The two engines ran-round at Gorsaf Porth Penryn and
returned. I let the next train go because the following.

working was the special non-stop run which I planned to catch. I mooched around Fairbourne station
just exploring. In the Carriage Shed, I came across the battery loco No7 'Gwril' at the rear of the rake of
coaches that was required for this train. But 'No7' was having a problem with moving them and the
driver was at the back trying to push. I weighed in to help him - banking by muscle (people power).

Together, we managed to move the ensemble and we both jumped on to the loco as it got hold of its
train. (Does 'pushage' count as Gricing?) We parked the coaches in the non-platform (middle) line and
then the driver asked me if I would move 'No7' to the turntable. Would I just? Of course I would!
As many Members know, it is not possible to go any further along a line than pressed firmly against the
buffer stops. The turntable was actually a 'half turntable' that could not turn a loco through 180o.
It was blocked off at the other side and just accessed some short dead end lines for stabling stock.
The driver wanted to leave 'No7' on one of those dead ends but some of them were already occupied.

He moved the table round - with me still on board - to one road. I moved forward. Not enough room.
Back on to the table. Try another road. Still not enough room. Ok, we'll have to put it on this empty
one then. It fitted and 'No7' was left on the stops. Then it was time for 'Ashorne' to take the non-stop
service from Fairbourne to … Fairbourne and it hauled the 3-coach First Class rake. It did run non-stop,
as booked, so that was all right, including running from Fairbourne Middle Road back to the Middle
Road. It also used the non-platform (outer) line round the loop at Penryn. I think I was the only
passenger on that run! Then I travelled behind the other double-header with 'Russell' and 'Sherpa'
which terminated at Barmouth Ferry. 'Russell' was a replica of the Welsh Highland Railway locomotive
and I have a soft spot for that engine. I chatted to the driver while she was topping up the water and
she invited me to hop on for the run-round. How could I refuse? It would have been rude! A very good
day...and it was nice and warm and sunny! [Your MR Editor visited this event on the Saturday.]

ABOVE: (MR 41) Fairbourne Railway No7 'Gwril' at Fairbourne station. (All Dave Leeming, 22 Sep 1996.)
BELOW: The First Class coaches with 'Ashorne' ready to depart from the middle road at Fairbourne.

MR42] Alan Keef Ltd, Herefordshire (MR p18) (BLN1357.2234): The well known narrow gauge railway,
overhaul and construction business normally holds Open Days in late summer/early autumn every two
years at its works near Ross-on-Wye, the proceeds going to charity. The next will be in 2022 marking
the firm's 50th Anniversary since it was first established at Cote in Oxfordshire. As part of this the aim is
to have the newly completed Corris Railway 0-4-2T 'Falcon' locomotive as the centrepiece. After this
the loco would be moved to its new home in the Corris Railway Maespoeth Junction loco shed and,
subject to successfully being run in, could enter traffic before the end of the 2022 season.

MR43] Lyme Handley Railway Project: This was a scheme to reopen the Macclesfield - Rose Hill
(Marple) line (CA 5 January 1970). Lyme Handley is the name of a nearby parish. The project came to
the notice of the 'Manchester Evening News' with articles or letters in the editions of 2 May, 8 May,
15 May and 27 June 1970 at least. The scheme was not to preserve the line, but to operate a regular
passenger service six days a week - on a profit making basis. David Latimer, Chairman of the group was
quoted as saying: We must stress we wish to preserve this line for the benefit of local residents and
provide them with a necessary service. This, no doubt, makes us unique among preservation societies in
this part of the country. The group was formed around May 1969, but was unable to prevent closure of
the line. If it succeeded in buying the line from British Rail (BR), it intended to let other societies
operate their own steam locos over it. The project was to use only one track of the former double
track line, utilising the other for spare components etc. The timetable was to be planned to make best
use of connections at both Macclesfield and Rose Hill Marple, with the line reopened in two sections:

Rose Hill to Middlewood, then Middlewood to Macclesfield. A BR spokesperson at the time said: The
line has only been closed fairly recently and as far as I know we haven't decided what will happen to it
yet. If it is decided we won't need it for any purpose it will be put in the hands of the estate surveyor for
sale. If we decide to sell we are not usually very concerned who buys, but it will cost a lot of money.

The Lyme Handley Railway Preservation Society was inaugurated at a meeting held in Marple Bridge
Congregational Church Hall on 5 June 1970. On 27 June BR offered to leave the track in place for three
months if the Society could raise £1,400 in compensation. Sadly, only £210 was raised of the required
£1,400. 'Lyme Handley Railway Newsletter No3', dated August 1970, contains an 'Obituary': The Lyme
Handley Railway Preservation Project; died on Friday, July 17th, 1970; of neglect and malnutrition.

The funeral is expected to be held during the month of August, when the remains of the Railway will be
committed to the elements. R.I.P. The Newsletter then went on to explain why the project failed,
despite one representative visiting Westminster to meet Mr Tom Normanton MP and officials from the
Ministry of Transport. 9,000 leaflets were distributed in the local area local - but only 75 contributions
were received. Most of the trackbed is now a long distance cycleway and footpath - the 'Middlewood
Way' with many railway remains and good train connections at Macclesfield and Rose Hill.

MR44] Bluebell Railway, East Sussex (MR p6): In the winter 'Bluebell News' is a note that a 'filming
train', with the Class 09 diesel and the accessible coach (S4941), made two return journeys from
Sheffield Park to East Grinstead on 19 October 2020. It notes that this was the first train to reach East
Grinstead since the first Lockdown began on 23 March 2020. Whether this was the first item of rolling
stock to reach there is not noted - it may be that something ran through before to prove the line.

MR45] Tanfield Railway, Tyne & Wear (MR p9): More than 20 tons of used track equipment from
Nexus' Gosforth Depot has been donated to the Railway. A raft of surplus materials, including sleepers
and control equipment, was made available by VolkerFitzpatrick and their subcontractor, Trackwork,
after works started on the Depot site in January. Metro Development Director, Neil Blagburn, said:

It's fantastic that our depot modernisation project can bring benefit to local heritage railways, who
often rely on donations like this. No doubt there will be a great deal more equipment and materials
looking to be repurposed as we press ahead with the complete transformation of our 100 year old
depot at Gosforth. The Tanfield Railway in particular, was keen to get some of the old sleepers from us.





PREVIOUS PHOTO: (Item MR45) Tanfield Railway; The driver
Note the large bear in box window (a 'bear' faced cheek?) and th

BELOW: (Item MR46) East Lancashire Railway; during the '40s at 60 G

of NCB 49 exchanges tokens with the Marley Hill signalman.
he flat crossing which has since gone. (Peter Scott, 28 Jun 2009.)

Gala'. 40135 stands at Bury Bolton Street. (Peter Scott. 14 Apr 2018.)

MR45] Tanfield Railway (continued): Richard Thew, project manager at Trackwork, said: We are
delighted to be working on this project with VolkerFitzpatrick, and we were happy to help donate the
materials to the local heritage railway. Tanfield Railway General Manager, David Watchman, said: The
new Metro fleet is an exciting project for the future of transport in the region. But it's great to see that
it's also helping to preserve some of the North East's unique heritage. We're really grateful to Nexus,
Stadler and VolkerFitzpatrick for this donation. Equipment like this is often very hard to obtain new,
and of course reusing it in this way is much better for the environment. Our volunteers are looking
forward to putting it to good use as we prepare for our 300th anniversary in 2025.

MR46] East Lancashire Railway, Greater Manchester (MR p8): The Railway announced on 24 February
that it had received an interest-free loan of £300,000 to help it through the winter period after the
pandemic left the line 'fighting for financial survival'. The loan comes from the East Lancashire Railway
Trust to provide support for staff and volunteers. The ELR Trust is the charity that supports the
development of the Railway. The land that the Railway runs on is owned by the ELR Trust and is leased
to the East Lancashire Railway and a number of cancelled events has meant that winter 2020/2021 has
been especially difficult. Apart from a few days in the lead up to Christmas, the line has been closed
since November. Due to local restrictions, the East Lancashire Railway could not run its Santa trains,
meaning the railway lost out on its 'most important source of income of the year'. The Railway plans to
restart passenger trains on Saturday 1 May - subject of course - to pandemic restrictions at the time.

MR47] North Yorkshire Moors Railway, North Yorkshire (MR p9): The Railway has received a Capital
Kickstart Fund award of £296k from the Government's £1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund for their
Yorkshire's Magnificent Journey (YMJ) project that has been delayed due to the pandemic. This is one
of the latest grants, awarded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, on behalf of the Department for
Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. The impact of the pandemic has meant the Railway has had to defer
some of its YMJ match funding. This Capital Kickstart Award means that it can now continue and fulfil
one of the major elements of the project and continue the renewal of bridges at Goathland station.
Bridges 24 & 25 will be replaced during January 2022. General Manager, Chris Price noted:

Our spirits have been completely lifted thanks to news that we've successfully been awarded this
additional grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund's Culture Recovery Fund. Just last month we
announced that our own emergency appeal to raise vital funds from the loss during the pandemic
raised an incredible £440,000. These funds helped retain our people and ensured that the railway could
operate in the future. We knew however, that although we had overcome such an enormous hurdle
that more was needed to keep projects like YMJ steaming ahead which is how the Capital Kickstart
Award will support us. This project is significantly important as in addition to the major restorations of
the Goathland station bridges it enables us to continue with building our conservation and heritage
apprenticeship programmes, our lineside ecological conservation work, offer fuss free access for
disabled visitors, grow our learning offer at Pickering and Goathland, and … reach out to individuals,
groups and communities to share our passion for the history of the region through steam travel.

1373 FIXTURE REPORTS (Paul Stewart) [email protected]
923] Durham Signal Box Visits, Wed 9 Oct 2019, Part 3: (BLN 1372.770) Norton-on-Tees: (Norton)
We then moved on to our reporter's local signal box (at last!) at 63m 63ch. On arrival the first thing
that the party noticed was the very realistic large pub sign of this signal box on the pub ('Norton
Tavern') across the road. It was the smallest of the six boxes that we visited and we had to split into
three groups, even after the trainee signaller had left the box to make more room for us (yes, Network
Rail was having to train a signaller for these manual signal boxes 16 months before closing them!).

The 1897 North Eastern Railway box, was on the opposite side of Calf Fallow Lane from the site of
Norton-on-Tees station (CP 7 Mar 1966). This was the minor road over the crossing. It was taller than
most signal boxes - approaching lighthouse proportions - to allow the signaller to see over the station
footbridge (long since removed).



PHOTOS: Norton-on-Tees Signal Box all by Nick Jones during our 9 Oct 2

2019 visit. NEXT: Norton Tavern opposite the box to show its pub sign.





















Norton-on-Tees Signal Box had a 26 lever McKenzie & Holland Type 16 reconditioned frame dating
from 1957 with tappet interlocking. Only 7 levers were still in use and, unlike the Grade 3 signal boxes
either side, it was only a Grade 2 signalling position as it didn't control any pointwork.

Norton was unique among the signal boxes we visited in retaining an increasingly rare wheel to
operate its level crossing barriers which had not been motorised. One feature of Norton box was that
Norton East (24ch to the west) had a block switch enabling the block section to become Norton South
to Norton instead of Norton South to Norton East. The latter box only needed to be open for trains to
run over Norton Curve to/from Norton West, which box had to stay open to work the crossing there.
Norton Box closed for the final time at 01.35 Sun 31 Jan 2021 and is retained for track workers.

Details must be checked 1373 CONNECTIONS (Paul Stewart) [email protected] .Please mention BLN.

924] More Minor Railways: Additional dates to BLN 1372.772 for planned reopening: Sat 10 Apr:
●Bala lake Railway. Mon 12 Apr: ●Kirklees Light Railway ●Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway ●Mid
Hants Railway ●Moors Valley Railway. Tue 13 Apr: ●Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway ●Dartmouth
Steam Railway (revised date); Sun 18 Apr: ●East Anglia Transport Museum. Sat 1 May: ●Avon Valley
Railway (revised date) ●Battlefield Line Railway ●Wells & Walsingham Light Railway; Sat 8 May:
●Statfold Barn Railway Enthusiast Day (now the first one, events before are redated). Mon 17 May:
●South Devon Railway. Sat 22 May: ●Nene Valley Railway ●Somerset & Dorset Railway Heritage
Trust (Midsomer Norton South) ●West Somerset Railway (Bishops Lydeard - Williton). Sat 29 May:
●Colne Valley Railway. Sun 30 May: ●Cholsey and Wallingford Railway (40th Anniversary). Sat 5 Jun:
●West Somerset Railway (Williton - Blue Anchor). Thur 1 Jul: ●West Somerset Railway (Blue Anchor
- Minehead). Fri 2 Jul: ●Keith & Dufftown Railway (FSSuO to 26 Sep). Sat 10 Jul: ●Scunthorpe AFRPS
(Bookings open 15 Jun). E&OE; please support the railways, they need it, and please notify your BLN
Editor of any others you hear of reopening. See list in BLN 1372.772 also. (Thanks to Tim Wallis.)

925] Change at Robertsbridge: (Book review by our member Dana Wiffen.) The Rother Valley (Light)
Railway (RVR) 1897-1904 by David Penn, Amazon, (204 pages), 47 illustrations, e-book £5; paperback
£8.65. The author investigates the railway professionals and entrepreneurs who finally delivered a
railway that the locals had pleaded for over decades. [Reverse-NIMBYs‽] The book follows 10 years or
so in depth research by the author looking at RVR company records at the National Archive, minutes of
Directors' meetings, debenture holder registers, records of the rival Tenterden Railway, Cleobury
Mortimer & Ditton Priors Light Railway records (to compare), newspaper and census records. It is not a
traditional railway history but allows readers to understand more about the financial obstacles which
light railways generally had to overcome, especially the RVR in its first few perilous years.

Colonel Stephens, of course, is a key character but the author focuses
on other key figures, particularly Myles Fenton (Chairman) and John
Barrett Lennard (Company promoter and director of the London &
Scottish Contracts Co). The significance of Colonel Stephens's
professional and family connections in securing investments for the
railway is explored and interesting new links are described.

David Penn's exploration of the railway's debenture holders shows
that financial support came from a small group of elite railway and
stock broking professionals at the heart of the late 19th Century
business world. http://amzn.to/3c48p1w has more details, a list of
chapters and a sample. The e-book is in colour and the paperback is
B&W apart from the cover (which matches RVR livery). All royalties
are donated to the Kent & East Sussex Railway. After reading it, please
add comments/ratings to the Amazon page to publicise it to a wider
audience. Sorry but this book is NOT stocked by our Sales Officer.

926] Another Query: A member is seeking information concerning locomotives seen, and the locations
where they were seen, on Society railtours before 2010. His own notes are inadequate. The railtours he is
particularly interested in are our 4 Mar 2006 Peterborough Re-Re-Avoider http://bit.ly/3rd9pF4 and our
9 Sep 2006 Medway Ports http://bit.ly/3raMzOs please. If anyone can help could they contact him directly
at [email protected] or by post via your BLN Editor (below). All help gratefully received.

927] RBF online Family Week Charity Auction: http://bit.ly/3camieQ raising funds for RBF, there are
many more lots to be added; of note is a cab ride to Fort William with GBRf on an alumina train.

X.66] Railway Junctions & Junction Stations Quiz: BLN 1372 supplement, on our website archive
dated 13.03.21 categorised as 'Nostalgia' (for searching).With thanks to St Nicholas Parish Church
Railway Circle, Codsall and our member Gary Lonsdale. Answers (note there were two Question 20s!):

(1): Clapham Jn (2): Aller Jn (3): Battersby (4): Cogload Jn (5): Dovey Jn (6): Exmouth Jn (7): Fawkham Jn
(8): Georgemas Jn (9): Haltwhistle (10): Inverness (11): Joan Croft Jn (12): Killin Jn (13): Llandudno Jn
(14): Madeley Jn (15): Norwood Jn (16): Oulton Board North Jn (17): Pleck Jn (18): Queenborough
(19): Ryecroft Jn (20i): Standish Jn (20ii): Three Spires Jn - Coventry (21): Uphill Jn (22): Virginia Water
(23): Watford Jn (24): Limerick Jn (25): Yeovil Jn.

X.67] Wildlife Section: BELOW: In case you ever wondered what the infamous Great (overstated?)
Crested Newt actually looks like… It's amazing the power such a tiny creature has to delay projects and
ramp up costs - the envy of the HS2 protestors. A few years ago on one project it cost about £70,000
to re-home each one - wouldn't it be cheaper to neuter them all instead?

NEXT PAGE: (Item 856) Some more Rayne (on a wet day), the first station, 2¼ miles west of Braintree
on the former line to Bishop's Stortford. (Member John Kettle on local exercise, 8 Mar 2021.)

CONTACT DETAILS: See BLN or e-BLN 1350 (18 Apr 2020), website PDF or via your BLN Editor.

●Editor: Paul Stewart, 4 Clarence Close, MALVERN, WR14 3HX 01684562862 07790652351 [email protected]
●Bookings Officer: Mark Gomm [email protected] 84 Mornington Road, STOKE-ON-TRENT, ST1 6EL.

●Fixtures Secretary: Kev Adlam [email protected] @BLSFixtures (Any post via BLN Editor above please.)

●Iain Scotchman: (Poland railtour) [email protected] 102 Shenfield Place, BRENTWOOD, CM15 9A.
●BLS Sales: Graeme Jolley [email protected] Dolbryn, Penegoes, MACHYNLLETH, Powys, SY20 8NN. 07484646542.

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