1410

PREVIOUS: (Item MR188) Lizard Lifeboat Station Railway The 'lift' dow
PREVIOUS, INSET BOTTOM RIGHT: The Lizard Red Plaque. BELOW: Lifted runnin

wn to the lifeboat station - the running rails have now all been removed.
ng rails inside a compound at the upper station. (All Peter Scott, 10 Sep 2022.)

X.199] BELOW: 44871 at Oxenhope (K&WVR); the White Rose Yorkshire Stea

ampunks had a weekend event at Harworth. (Jenny Williamson, 9 Oct 2022.)

BELOW: (Item MR189) Helston Railway; the wonderfully recreated Truthall Hal

lt (towards Prospidnick) in misty rain and low cloud. (Peter Scott, 11 Sep 2022.)

BELOW: (Item MR190) Moseley Heritage Museum; owner Colin Saxton takes a

a train out of the station - note the three way point. (Peter Scott, 15 Sep 2022.)

BELOW: (Item MR194) Porterswick Junction Light Railway; 'Albe

ert' waits at Mansion House station. (Peter Scott, 9 Sep 2022.)

BELOW: (Item MR196) Alan Keef; 'Woto' in the headshunt. 'Taffy' and the new

w Corris loco in grey livery (right) are just visible. (Peter Scott, 24 Sep 2022.)

X.200] BELOW: GWSR; Cheltenham Race Course (Cheltenham left) 7820 runs r

round, the original GWR planted those pines. (Jenny Williamson, 6 Oct 2022.)

X.201] BELOW: 34027 Taw Valley; since the Queen's death '1926-2022' has

s been added below the temporary name. (Jenny Williamson, 8 Oct 2022.)

MR190] Moseley Heritage Museum, Cornwall (MR p14) (BLN 1236.MR97): This fascinating museum
and 2ft gauge 650 yard railway is at Tolgus Mount, just north of Redruth. Admission is free (donations
welcomed) and a visit is thoroughly recommended. Opening is on Mondays & Thursdays (13.00-16.00)
and Sundays (14.00-16.00). On Thursday 15 September the site was busy with the car park full.

At work on the 2ft gauge railway was a yellow liveried battery electric locomotive from Geevor Mine
with one manrider coach. The railway starts from outside the museum tearoom and runs around some
paddocks to a return loop and back. There is now also a 7¼" gauge railway. This was constructed by
someone no longer involved with the museum and has been taken over by museum volunteers.
Currently it is not yet in passenger use but all the track has been laid: an 'E' layout of 240 yards, mostly
running parallel to the 2ft gauge railway as far as the latter's passing loop at 'Steph's Pass'.

[The 100yd long 5/7¼" railway (MR p14) was out of use by May 2022 (BLN 1403.MR111) - BLN Ed.]

On display was a green liveried 4wPH loco (built in Kent) with one sit-in coach. Two more coaches are
awaited but some components were held up by the strike at Felixstowe Docks. Once the track has
been fettled up and the coaches have arrived, the line will open to passengers (possibly around
Christmas 2022). The Toy and Model Museum with various toys, including an extensive Meccano
collection, is worth taking time to view. There is much to see here, including a road steam vehicle!

MR191] South Tynedale Railway, Cumbria (MR p14) (BLN 1384.MR162): The Railway cancelled all its
services on Sunday 18 September as they were unable to muster sufficient volunteers to run due to
illnesses. Emails were sent to those who had booked tickets in advance. Regrettably, this came too
late for our member to cancel his Saturday night hotel room in Alston without losing his deposit.
In a throwback to the dark days of Covid, the railway expects passengers to book whole bays not
individual seats. Our member was doubly disappointed as he had booked the only single-seat bay on
the 10.30 train, which would have afforded him the lone opportunity to travel without paying double.

MR192] Bentley Miniature Railway, East Sussex (MR p16) (BLN 1318.MR239): A member visited this
7¼" gauge railway, at the erstwhile Bentley Wildfowl & Motor Museum near Uckfield on 27 August.
Sadly, the railway was very quiet - all the other attractions are closed down and it is in a rather remote
location, with no passing trade, but a woodland adventure attraction called 'Branching Out' is adjacent.

Battery electric Class 73, E6007, an old stalwart here, was in use with one sit astride bogie coach and
one conventional open bogie coach. The fare was £2 for one circuit of the one mile long line and a
printed roll ticket was issued. The ride is actually a little longer than our member's last visit in 2019
(and the Society's 2018 visit) as the layout at Glyndebourne Wood has been redesigned in the last
couple of years. On leaving Bentley Central at the beginning of the run, the train travels over a long
double tracked straight. Previously, at the end of the straight at Glyndebourne Wood a left curve led
onto the Bentley East extension. This curve has been lifted and the whole junction complex re-jigged
including the old platform by the signal box being replaced by a new, under construction, island
platform and station building. According to the staff, this now gives them much more flexibility.

The train now turns right across to the far side of the new setup, travels clockwise round the return
loop and through the tunnel to arrive back at Glyndebourne Wood again where it runs straight
through the junction onto the Bentley East line. All signs that there was once a station at the latter
location have disappeared, although Bentley East passing loop (done on our 9 Jun 2018 visit) remains,
it is in a very rusty state. After looping round at Bentley East the train returns to Glyndebourne Wood,
runs straight through and covers the return loop for the second time. Arriving back at Glyndebourne
Wood it turns left retracing its tracks (rather the other track) back to Bentley Central. The line is fully
LED colour light aspect signalled. The effects of the sun on some of these have distorted their colour;
some reds appear as yellows and greens as whites. The drivers are well 'up to speed' on this.

MR193] Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway, Kent (MR p19) (BLN 1387.MR194): On 15 September
a visit found the line busy. No8 'Hurricane' (DP22074/1926) with a floral tribute on its smokebox and
the Royal Saloon were parked by the turntable at New Romney in recognition of the Queen's demise.
'Hurricane' had hauled the Royal Train when The Queen, Princes Philip and Charles and Princess Anne
visited the line on 30 March 1957. As with other minor railways, it did not operate on 19 September.

THIS PAGE: (Item MR199) Poole Park Railway back in action again. (Chris Bracey, Sun 18 Sep 2022.)

MR194] Porterswick Junction Light Railway, Cornwall (MR p14) (BLN 1309.MR138): This 7¼" gauge
railway was visited on Friday 9 September. It operates over a circuit of 800 yards inside Hidden Valley
Discovery Park, west of Launceston. As its name implies it is not the easiest place to locate, not being
signposted off the A30 - but is off the A395 - and is down a typical narrow Cornish lane! Arrival (with a
pre-booked ticket) was at 12.55, just in time to catch the 13.00 train, which was hauled by 0-4-0PH
No1 'Albert' (built by Roanoke) with three sit-in open coaches. The train ran anticlockwise round the
circuit, using the original station (Porterswick Junction) avoiding line - as all trains appear to do - the
station line itself was heavily rusted. Part of the once smaller circuit (taken out of use after the 2011
season) was visible but disconnected with some track still in situ. However, this remaining track was
becoming shorter - between driving the trains the driver was undoing fishplates and lifting the rails!

The Park was quiet with few visitors and trains ran hourly on the hour (11.00-15.00) from Mansion
House station adjacent to the large entrance building. However, an additional 14.10 was operated for
a couple who had missed the 14.00 (and also our reporter who took a second trip)! At busier times
trains run every 15 or 30 minutes. The Park is well laid out and visitors are presented with various
puzzles on a sheet, which they can search for clues and solve as they move around the Park.

MR195] South Cliff Railway, Scarborough (MR p34) (BLN 1401.MR92): The railway finally reopened on
Friday 23 September 2022, having been closed for maintenance since approx 17 September 2021.

MR196] Alan Keef Limited, Herefordshire (MR p18) (BLN 1407.2104): On Saturday 24 September the
company held its 50th anniversary charity open day. A warm sunny day saw a large attendance that
seemed to almost fill the fairly compact site. Adult admission was £7.50. Passenger rides were
available over the works running line and, during the time our reporter was there, 0-4-0ST 'Peter Pan'
(KS4256/1922) and 0-4-0VBT 'Taffy' (AK30/1994) took turns on the trains, which employed two 4w
passenger vehicles from the erstwhile Dalmunzie Hotel Railway. Also in steam was 0-4-0ST 'Woto'
(WB2133/1924). A short section of temporary 2ft 3in gauge track allowed the new Corris Railway loco
to shuttle up and down. Inside the main works all component parts of a new part built coach were laid
out. Alan Keef was signing copies of his new book 'Half a Century of Locomotives from Alan Keef Ltd'.

MR197] Faversham Miniature Railway, Kent (MR p19) (BLN 1244.MR188): A member paid a visit to
this 9" unusual gauge 900 yard railway at Brogdale Farm, near Faversham, on Sunday 11 September.
The ride (£1 with no ticket issued) had been shortened since his last pre-Covid visit. Instead of two
circuits of the outer circuit running clockwise, it is now covered once anticlockwise before returning to
Brogdale Central. This means that the third side of the triangle at Barry's Box Junction is no longer
covered by normal passenger runs. In use was Class 20 20077 'Lady Fiona' with three open bogie
coaches. No other locos were visible and staff stated that the steam locomotive (the rebuilt 4-4-0
'Robin', originally built by B K Field in 1935) does see use but apparently is stored at Torry Hill.

MR198] Billing Aquadrome Railway, Northamptonshire (MR p21) (BLN 1119.MR177): This 15" gauge
railway, between Northampton and Wellingborough at Billing Aquadrome, was visited on Saturday 3
September. It opened on 27 March 2010 and is a circuit of 1,000 yards, around the Leisure Sites large
lake with two stations - Shark Island and Billing. It is on the site of a former 2ft gauge line, which fell
into disuse, closing around October 2003. Entering Billing station points lead off to the right to a two
road shed where the stock is kept. There are three covered coaches and a single loco - 1978 built by
Severn Lamb, a Steam Outline Rio Grande 2-8-0DH No362. This loco was previously at Cleethorpes and
Windmill Farm Railway. Open daily from March to November, Park entry is free, the charge for the
train is £1.50 adults and £1 for seniors and children. Our reporter purchased his tickets at Shark Island
station café, not a great move as, in slack times, the trains only run hourly (he was there first thing in
the morning and there were only two passengers for this first journey). It leaves Shark Island and
waits at Billing for 35 minutes until returning. If you buy tickets at Billing your journey is continuous.

MR199] Poole Park Railway, Dorset (BLN 1404.MR133): The 10¼" gauge railway finally reopened to
passengers on Friday 2 September 2022 for trial running. Motive power is 'Howard' (ex-Wells Harbour
Railway and on loan from new owners the Lappa Valley Railway) with two coaches. The railway's new
locomotive is still to be commissioned. However, on 10 September the railway suffered a derailment,

with 'Howard' and at least one coach derailed on one of the sharp curves, which has a check rail.
The railway stated someone had placed stones between the running and check rails between runs -
the derailment occurred at around 14.00. There were no injuries. An official opening was planned for
Saturday 17 September but was postponed until Saturday 15 October due to the death of the Queen.

In early October Track Systems of Shropshire who rebuilt the railway ceased trading, but fortunately
had completed all the work before this. A permanent electric engine is still required for the railway.

1410 FIXTURE REPORT (Paul Stewart) [email protected]
2438] The BLS Silesian Explorer 24-28 Jun 2022 Part 4: (BLN 1409.2329) By Simon Mortimer et al.

Day 4 Mon 27 Jun: The sunshine blazing through the large window of my room around 04.30 woke me
up well before the alarm; attempts to sleep any longer proved futile so I was out by 06.00. A trip to
the western end of Tram Line 23 afforded a chance to traverse the complete turnback loop as it only
has a single set down and pick up platform. [Should be compulsory!] Line 23 is due to be extended
with much of the new rail already in situ which will render the loop redundant. This was going to be
the hottest day before the weather broke and it was already over 20oC at dawn so, a moderate walk
and a few trams later saw this track in the bag and it was back to McDonalds at Wrocław Główny.

We were due off at 08.24 and made it by 08.18, again behind SM42 2320, this time on a pretty simple
trajectory due north past Żmigród and Rawicz to Leszno. Then we veered left to swing right on a
typically extravagant flyover above the main line and onto the passenger line towards Krotoszyn.
Then things became really interesting, passing through Kąkolewo and onto the remainder of Line 323
towards Jarocin to another sugar beet processing plant at Gostyń, now a 22Km freight line.

The track was well fettled and clearly has plenty of traffic. At Gostyń (closed to passengers) we slipped
into P2 to the surprise of the local drinking club assembled for their morning tipple in the no doubt
generally convivial quiet of the station steps. Ahead the line stretched onto Jarocin and is apparently
intact; a portion of the line east of Jarocin between Brzostów Wlkp [Wlkp = Wielkopolski, a common
suffix for towns in this area of Poland, meaning 'Greater Poland'] and Góra is used by a local draisine
operation. A draisine is a light 'people powered' rail vehicle, generally with pedals like a bicycle, with
three, (usually four) or more wheels. Gostyń station is controlled by a large, clearly refurbished, signal
box which also oversees the wide level crossing just beyond. Past that, a bit far to jog and take photos
of the station as well, (some did walk there and back) were several sidings with at least two private
owner shunters. The station is completely extant but well vegetated and classic 'German pattern'
semaphores abound - as on the masthead on BLNI. It really feels like it could be revived almost
overnight and proposals are already progressing at least for the section we traversed this day to be
reopened to passengers. Returning, we paused for photos at Kosowo Wlkp, looking pretty intact but a
wilderness in a wilderness. We all thought, after these few days, that Poland should have developed
their own version of the great British euphemism of the suffix 'Road' after station names to say in code
that this station isn't actually anywhere near this place - Gatehouse of Fleet (not Road) excepted!

Swinging back towards Leszno, we saw the severed (but still tracked) east to north curve going away
on a high embankment that used to link this to the line towards Wołsztyn. At Leszno itself we veered
right onto what was, pre-2019, a freight line until the link towards Głogów was restored to passenger
traffic through Wschowa. At Głogów, north of the station, we took the non-electrified freight lines
that looked very rusty in the opposite direction. Then it was on to Żagań over a line devoid of
passenger trains since 2002 except for a brief (presumably unsuccessful) reintroduction for four years
at the Żagań end to Niegosławice in 2006. We rolled on in the sunshine over a fairly undulating route
in typically open, slightly wild, agricultural countryside, passing often fully extant stations like the
semi-derelict Gaworzyce. At Niegosławice where again the station stands, apparently disused, we had
a photo stop. Some of the structures seem so divorced from anywhere or anyone else it's wondered if
anyone would be bothered if they just quietly collapsed‽ Then it was that time of day again to make a
judicious menu selection and have a first beer. After the chicken breadcrumbs, chicken set and chicken
nuggets in various permutations of potato, sauerkraut and gherkin we realised that the menu options
were becoming limited, in fact exhausted, so it was that chicken in a set again, always a firm favourite!

BELOW: Start the day right with an early morning turning circle - left - (Wro

ocław Tram Line 23), all done in service and closing when the line ahead opens.

BELOW: Wrocław Park Przemysłowy loop, the single arrival/departure platfo

orm (should be enshrined in law) which will close. (Simon Mortimer, 27 Jun 2022.)

BELOW: Another day, another departure from Wrocław Główny P6, this tim

me shared with a local train. (All Iain Scotchman, 27 Jun 2022 unless specified.)

BELOW: En route to Gostyń, note the telegraph poles and wires

s (left) and the lack of railway lineside fencing which is quite normal.

BELOW: From the loco, the Gostyń run round with German style semapho

ores - now a busy 22km freight branch to a sugar beet factory, part of Line 323.

BELOW: Gostyń station after the run round, the large sugar bee

et factory served by the branch is middle far right (Peron = Platform).

BELOW: Kosowo Wkp; our Silesian Explorer railtour stands at this rem
Kosowo Wlkp has a population of 490 ... none of whom appear to live

mote former station (see report for details) in the middle of a wilderness.
anywhere near the station ... how on Earth did it close‽ (Simon Mortimer.)

BELOW: Iain's picture of Kosowo Wkp station shows the woo

oden platform edge well… The DfT and ORR would have apoplexy.

BELOW: A photo stop at Niegosławice which had passenger t

trains until 2002 (and later just from Żagań from 2006 until 2010).

BELOW: Approaching the vast sprawling Żagań station its with man

ny platforms, said to be the largest in Poland that is not electrified (yet).

BELOW: Żagań station and railway museum (extreme right in previous phot

to), our tour is in P2 - Track 2 - middle far right (and NEXT - after running round).





BELOW: Passing Rokitki station which serves a village with a pop

pulation of 1,010 but is due to become a junction again in December.

BELOW: Renovated Line 316 which is due to reopen in Dec from

m Rokitki to Chojnów, it (right) initially runs alongside the main line.

BELOW: Zamienice station where Line 316 (reopening in Dec from Rokitki)