1415

Number 1415 (Items 1 - 164 & MR 1 - MR 9) (E-BLN 134 PAGES) 7 Jan 2023

BRANCH LINE NEWS

Distribuendi notitia, verbi disseminandi [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 AnlabymPaermkbReorasdhiSpo.suetchr,eHtaurlyl,@HbUr4an7cBhUli.ne.0u7k873 354464
British Isles news from members; an International section is available.
Opinions are not necessarily tahvoasielaobfleth. e Compilers or of the Society.

BLN 1416 is dated Sat 21 Jan; contributions by Wed 11 Jan please

1] BLS & BLN Contacts: A paper BLN pull-out centrefold (please save for future use) has all Society
contact details, including your Commcieitttye. eSoacinedty.BLN production & distribution team, fully updated
following recent changes. This is in e-BLN as two A4 pages and also a website PDF with e-BLN 1415.

2]: :Do we have your correct details, postal address etc?: Please could ALL members who have
changed their postal address since joining the Society, or last renewing, advise Lisa Sheppard, your
Membership Secretary (above), of their current address. This also applies to those who just have an
electronic subscription, so we can post your copy of Peter Scott's 2023 Minor Railways booklet to the
correct address! If necessary, please also update Lisa with your email address, telephone and mobile
telephone number. If there is any of this information that we don't have on record (including date of
birth), please let us know. Lisa is our Data Protection Officer and all data is held within the regulations.

To check your details, log in to our website 'Home' page then go across the top to 'More options...' -
then down to 'My Details'. Please advise Lisa of any changes or additions because you cannot do this
yourself (including members who can't or do not wish to access our website). At the bottom of the
page, you can sign up for occasional emails; the three categories are 'New BLN' (an email on release of
e-BLN), 'New Fixture/s' (often with e-BLN release) & 'Other News' - these emails are not too frequent.

3] Sales news: Graeme Jolley will continue to handle sales until the end of Jan with Darren Garnon
taking over from 1 Feb. The new TRACKmaps Book 4, Midlands & North West, fully updated and
revised Fifth Edition is now available to order. Edited by our Martyn Brailsford there are 50 pages of
maps, a comprehensive index of named locations (with one 'Z'!), Engineer's Line References and
Line of Route Codes. It includes the 2019 NR regional reorganisation. Worcestershire Parkway and
Warrington West are new, with Headbolt Lane and Brent Cross West stations to follow. New freight
terminals such as East Midlands Gateway, DIRFT3 and Stanton Park are now shown, along with new
aggregate terminals, particularly in the Midlands. Bedford - Kettering requadrupling is detailed with
new stabling sidings at Kettering and electrification to Corby. Manchester Metrolink, in particular,
has been updated (following our recent tour), both infrastructure and names. Blackpool Trams now
shows platforms, the extension and a detailed plan of Rigby Road Depot. There are four extensions
on West Midlands Metro. Signalling control and name changes from resignalling are detailed. The
Worcester area is now in this book. New features are useable platform lengths in metres (useful with
the variety of coach lengths), OHLE Neutral Sections and disused signal boxes (if they are not likely
to be demolished). East West Rail is detailed from Bicester Village to Bletchley as is Northampton
Gateway Rail Freight Interchange and other projects such as Watford North Jn. Industrial and
private railways are included. You will find changes at Toton, Washwood Heath, Wolverhampton
Logistics Centre, Liverpool Docks, Hillhead Quarry, Trafford Park Siding and the Leighton Buzzard
Railway extension to name a few. Dudley Very Light Rail Innovation Centre is shown for the first
time as is the new Leek branch. Every member should have a copy! The price to our members is
only £13 including 2nd Class P&P for dispatch after 14 Jan (cover price £17.95 excluding P&P). Please
email: [email protected] to receive an e-invoice to pay by card or post to Graeme Jolley
at Dolbryn, Penegoes, MACHYNLLETH, SY20 8NN with a cheque payee 'Branch line Society'.

4] :BLN INTERNATIONAL - IMPORTANT MESSAGE:; Unfortunately, our BLNI Editor, Pete Skelton in
France, lost his internet connection before Christmas and was unable to access any of his files. Due to
the delay in restoring it, with apologies, there is no BLNI 1415 this time. BLN does have extra pages to
help make up and the plan is to produce a double sized (16 page) combined BLNI 1415 & 1416 dated
Sat 21 Jan instead. Please continue to send in contributions for BLNI to Pete as usual.

5] Polish Atlas: (BLN 1414.2831) Invoices for this will be sent out when the delivery date is confirmed.

6] A very good time to join the Society; 15 months for the price of 12! Anyone who joins the Society
(taking paper or e-BLN) after 1 Jan 2023 will not need to renew their membership until 30 Apr 2024.

7] Available on our website: Thanks to our ever industrious Publications Officer, Martyn Brailsford,
complete PDFs of BLN and BLNI for 2022 (Nos 1392 to 1414 inclusive) are now available to download on

our website 'Archive'. E-BLN is 2,581 pages (1.33GB) with 2,955 items and 232 (X) extra items that are
in e-BLN only. This makes it easier to search just the whole of one particular year for something.

Additionally, all of the BLN 2022 supplements are available as one PDF, as are the BLNI Extras (79-81).
There is also a newly updated Excel spreadsheet of all known Society fixtures available to download.

Date Event and details…... Please book online BLN Lead Status

Sat 31 Dec For the record: Astbury Light Railway 10¼'' (Congleton) e-1414 MG CLOSED

Sat 7 Jan Scunthorpe Cold Steel Tracker 25 (09.30-16.30) 1412 MG OPEN

Sat 14 Jan Shooter's Swansong railtour **UPDATE BELOW** BELOW MG OPEN

Sat 11 Feb The Wolf Hall Thunderer main line railtour 1414 MG OPEN

Sun 12 Feb The Technical Cobra :NOW OPEN TO NON-MEMBERS: 1414 MG OPEN

Sat 18 Mar The Second Bite, Derby - Whitby main line tour 1414 MG OPEN

Sat 22 Jul Isle of Man Manx Electric Railway Crossover Explorer TBA TBA Claimed

Sun 27 Aug *NEW* Scunthorpe Summer Track Steeler 26 (09.30-18.30) TBA TBA Claimed

18 & 19 Nov 2023 AGM weekend & fixtures NW England (provisional) TBA TBA Claimed

Bookings: MG = Mark Gomm [email protected] 84 Mornington Rd, STOKE-ON-TRENT, ST1 6EL 07983 541887.

8] :Sat 14 Jan; Shooter's Swansong:: Thanks to David Palmer, the route description and historical notes are
available as a PDF with e-BLN to read. This tour has 555 miles (and 1ch!) of main line heritage haulage for
£119. Following the sad news of Adrian Shooter's death (item 16), our railtour, which includes Chiltern
territory, has been rebranded, with the blessing of his widow, Barbara. Raffle proceeds etc now go to the
Motor Neurone Disease Association https://bit.ly/3I7D9zb (tour places are available; see our website).

9] :Sat 11 Feb; The Wolf Hall Thunderer:: Fully updated times and routing are now on our website for this
railtour, with some interesting additions and earlier evening arrival times due to an improved path. After
running on the Up Slow from Kettering, we cross Up Slow to Up Fast at Sharnbrook Jn (these 20mph
crossovers are rare). At Silkstream Jn we run to St Pancras on the Up & Down Relief via Kentish Town P3,
rather than Up Hendon. We complete the various branches in a different order, giving the chance for a fast
run from Guildford to Waterloo via Woking. There is an extra visit to Waterloo P10 for a longer break if
required. The Hampton Court branch is booked for the bidirectional Down Road in both directions. There is
an interesting move at Surbiton from P2 to the Down Hampton Court using the ladder. Bedford South Jn
Down Slow to Down Fast is added. At the time of writing places were available in First Class.

10] :Sun 12 Feb; The Technical Cobra:: Thanks to the site operator, we have agreement to reverse in to
Wakefield Europort terminal. Road 4 (furthest from main line) has been requested, if it is clear.

11] :Sat 18 Mar; The Second Bite:: (BLN 1414.2836) By special arrangement, for those having a break at
Grosmont, Grosmont Crossing Club will open for us. There will be a full beer selection available, railway
themed DVDs will be shown and everyone from the tour can have 50p off a pint, making it £3.30 a pint.

1415 BLN GENERAL (Paul Stewart) [email protected]

New Year Resolution Suggestion: To submit your Railway Memories (now developed into a broad
remit) - the strategic supply is diminishing and it would be good to keep this popular series going.

12] Railway Memories (92) by Adrian Brown (Member 1704) Part 1: I was brought up in Grays, Essex,
in the 1960s-70s. Most early train journeys were to central London for the museums and the
Southend area for the seaside, on what I later came to know as AM2 (Class 302) EMUs. Romford trips
(purpose not recalled) occasionally figured - memorable for involving the small platform 'beyond the
Underground ones' at Upminster (now P6). Then travelling in a DMU - almost the only such service I
saw before I was about 12 - with its forward facing views and sights of Great Eastern Main Line trains
of various kinds, on my nearest 'proper' quadruple track main line, as distinct from the Underground
next to the London, Tilbury & Southend (LT&S) line. For a bit of variety, there were a few seaside trips
to Whitstable - by 370 bus to the Tilbury Ferry, then the slightly alien to me (third rail) EMUs onward,
with the change at Gillingham. I remember being bemused by the strange platform working at
Gravesend; it seemed that on most occasions, we had to go to the Up platform for the Down train.

Other day trips often involved London Transport bus rover tickets (stay with me on this), sometimes
Green Rovers for typically Harlow or Westerham, other times Red Rovers for East and Central London.
They were sold at Underground stations and bus garages. Favourite for me, of course, were the Twin
Rovers, red buses AND the Underground, with its heady variety of train types, principally red or silver,
'big or small'. These included what I later learned to be 38, 59/62, 'R', 'CO/CP' & 'A' Stocks. The main
destinations were South Kensington and Clapham Common, for the Science and (then) Transport
Museums; South Harrow, where we had relatives; Hounslow, where my Dad occasionally couriered
paperwork to his firm's head office and High Barnet, for the 84 bus 'off the (Central Buses) map' to
St Albans. We made a day of the Hounslow trips by catching the No81 bus to Heathrow Airport, for a
spell in the viewing gallery. These bus/rail trips introduced me to and sparked a lifelong fascination
and love for, transport network maps. As for the transport interest itself - I guess it was just intrinsic.

As I have dim recollections of the walk from Fenchurch Street to the Underground being a couple of
blocks, it seems inevitable that I must have used the previous Tower Hill station. The Metropolitan
Railway Tower of London station OP 25 Sep 1882; CP 13 Oct 1884 when Mark Lane OP 6 Oct 1884 just
to the west, on extension to Mansion House (Metropolitan & District Lines; the Metropolitan used the
original for a further week). Renamed Tower Hill 1 Sep 1946, it returned to its original site 5 Feb 1967.
Then I was nearly nine when it closed, so some of these journeys would have been prior to that.

From time to time, my Dad bought our area's Complete Local Road & Rail Timetables book, published
by London Transport, a few times each year; price one shilling [5p after decimalisation on 15 Feb 1971].
Our area, by this demarcation, was the swathe from Romford and Brentwood down to Thurrock/River
Thames. I learnt the service patterns for all the relevant train services and it was probably from this
that my affinity for timetables developed (with no conception that, in my career later on, I was to
spend some years developing railway timetable compilation software for London Transport!).

I guess that most bus garages organised excursions; by this means we reached such places as Biggin
Hill, for the Battle of Britain Air Displays (but, notwithstanding the English Electric 'connections' with
our hobby, that's a whole 'nother story…) and the Bluebell Railway, for my earliest experiences of
steam trains. This turned out to be another portent for the future, whereby I made sure that my own
son's first train ride was steam hauled - coincidentally, at that same railway.

A branch of the family moved to Lowestoft in 1969, near North station and I stayed with them on a
few occasions (although transfers were by car). This gave the opportunity for DMU rides to Lowestoft
Central and Yarmouth South Town on the coast line, the year before it closed (from 4 May 1970).

1969-70 (aged 11-12) were pivotal, with the move to senior school and, around the same time, a
change on the parenting front. Annual visits then involved car from Grays to Chadwell Heath and to
Liverpool Street on the sliding doors EMUs (AM6s) with the very bouncy cushions - maybe catching
sight of the unusual looking Class 15 diesels (that first year only), before joining the Class 47 hauled
Inter-City (then hyphenated) service to Norwich. A new school friend turned out to be an enthusiast
and a spotter. This led us down the familiar path of spotting trips, particularly London termini, Royal
Oak, Hendon, Willesden and of course Clapham Junction; depot bunkings, and the ABC books.

So, following precedent set by some earlier contributors to this series, I selectively include numbers of
locomotives. Together we bunked Stratford, Old Oak Common, Cricklewood, Hither Green and we
were generally given permission just turning up at Willesden. I seem to recall that Selhurst and
Finsbury Park were 'impossible'. I started just in time to see all but seven of the Class 52 Westerns,
nearly half the Class 35 Hymeks, 17 Class 42 Warships, the two Class 23 Baby Deltics (5905/09) that
languished at Stratford, four Class 15s and the Brush prototype D1200 'Falcon'. I also saw a few Class
02, 07, 11 and 12 shunters, 4-COR and 5-BEL EMUs, Cravens motor parcels vans, the Night Ferry trains
and most of the diesel Pullman sets. The great majority of these were in the London area, although on
one occasion we did 'push the envelope' and have some hours at Reading, 'Hymek' hauled one way.
Unfortunately, I wasn't noting haulage numbers then and never had another chance in British Rail
service. My first spotting session further afield was a car based trip to Devon in late 1969, when I was
allowed a few hours on Newton Abbot station, which would have helped my hydraulics tally and
indeed Peaks. I well recall seeing D100 Sherwood Forester (a Class 45 locomotive) on that occasion,
memorable for its auspicious number and being a 'namer'.

I regarded my 'patch' as the stretch of LT&S line between Tilbury and Barking; it was at the latter that I
spent local spotting time, rather than my nearest station, on account of the much greater flow of
freight trains. As well as the flows through Grays to Thames Haven (oil tanks, of course) and Tilbury
Docks (containers), Barking added those to Purfleet (various), Dagenham Dock (Fords cars and parts)
and Ripple Lane (various) plus Underground trains, which I threw in for good measure while about it!

En route to/from anywhere, there was always the chance to see main line locos at any of the above
locations (well, except Thames Haven for obvious reasons) - while a shunter would usually be found at
each, plus Grays itself - Class 08 (with the occasional Class 11 at first), other than Dagenham Dock
which yielded an 03, as well as Fords' own fleet of Drewry (former BR Class 04) shunters.

My stepmother worked for Samuel Williams & Sons, owners of Dagenham Dock and once arranged for
me to have a day riding with one of the loco drivers on a 'Planet' loco, around the estate - if only I'd
made a map of where I went! Her brother was a driver at Stratford and he provided a few clandestine
freight train cab rides for me. These were between Tilbury and Temple Mills Yard on 'Toffee Apples'
(Class 31/0s) and Stratford Freightliner Terminal (as they were then) to Willesden Brent, Class 47/4s.

MAP: 1969 1'' map showing track then available at Dagenham Dock (see also TRACKmaps 2 p4A 2020)
with Ford Motor Works. Ripple Lane Yard is upper left; the old A13 (Now A1306) runs across the top.

Moving on to the mid-1970s and beyond; longer distance trips at first mostly involved BR excursion
trains (Merrymakers), much cheaper than scheduled services. BR generated revenue from coaching
stock that would otherwise just be stabled for seasonal holiday trains etc. Only light hand luggage was
(officially) allowed. As a by-product of some, I discovered interesting routeings or non-passenger lines,
in which I took a keen interest. At this stage, I had yet to start deliberate line bashing.

Other than two such trips from Wembley Central (by overnight stays with a relative in the area) to
Manchester and to Swansea, these were generally joined either on the Tilbury lines or the inner Great
Eastern. Such day trips were to variously Keighley; Teignmouth (47114 - the train included Gresley
buffet E9131E), Blackpool (47007), Sheffield (47006 - with Gresley buffet E9128E), Plymouth (47018),
Portsmouth (47009), Paignton (47163) and a mystery tour to Skegness (37075). BR excursions - out
Friday night and back Saturday night (compartments, not sleepers) - were to Oban in 1974, for a cruise
around Mull (47164, 40166, 27022/43, 27022/44, 47278 & 47053). Then, in 1976, there was one from
Euston to Fort William for coaches via Kyle of Lochalsh to Skye (85035, 27004/09, 85011, 47447,
81011), both with parents. As I spent the train journeys largely paying attention, I ended up dozing for
much of the daytime events. Nevertheless, as this was prior to the emergence of the first Baker Atlas,
I was intrigued on one of the homeward journeys to see that, after Pelaw at 04.20, the next station I
could make out was Darlington! (It took until 1991 before I covered the Leamside line in daylight…)

Not a dissimilar experience (overnight compartments) had been a school ski trip early in 1974, based
in Newtonmore. Most of the party travelled by coach but, as it wasn't quite big enough, unfortunately,
we are going to need some of you to volunteer to travel by train instead… My hand has never shot up
so fast! This, of course, produced some firsts for me - first visit to Scotland, first named train (Royal
Highlander), first sight of Class 26s and first haulage by Classes 50, 24, 26. (Class 85 E3066, 50045 and
Class 26s D5338/39; return was 14 coaches with Class 26 D5339 + Class 24 D5115, 50022 and 86217).

Most 1970s holidays were car based but I created some day trip opportunities from three in Wales:
1972 (Aberystwyth) to Shrewsbury; 1973 (Tenby) to Cardiff and (separately) Llandrindod Wells (as
then) the furthest I could go in one day! In 1974 I did 'hijack' the car to Barry scrapyard. [Hopefully
your parents weren't cut up about this, Adrian.] I copped some 103 steam locos, little suspecting how
many would be preserved (in the event, nearly all, of course). I did a couple of coach based spotting
trips, organised by a railfans club, one to South Wales and one to Scotland. This caught exotica such as
the remaining Class 06 (Barclay) shunters and some 24 of the Class 17s (Claytons) awaiting scrapping.

A natural progression was to railtours. My first had been rather an outlier, in that it was in 1972, four
years before starting these in earnest. It was for main line steam haulage: D72 St Pancras - Toton -
Beighton - Newcastle; 'A4' 4498 to Carlisle; return with D118 via Appleby - Normanton - Cudworth -
Wath Road Jn - Sheffield - Toton. Now, it seems incredible to think that two 14 year old friends would
be allowed to travel, unaccompanied by adults, on a round trip of over 650 miles and cross London!

I left school with A-Levels in 1975 but I was only 17 so took a job for a year prior to starting University
at 18. 'Gap Years' weren't the done thing in those days and I didn't have the funds to go travelling
anyway! However, with that, rail activity naturally stepped up a notch or two… [To be concluded.]

13] Passenger Train Services over Unusual Lines 2023: Thanks to our member Richard Maund, the
new PSUL from Sun 11 Dec 2022 can be viewed/downloaded from our website (including by non-BLS
members) as a PDF. On the Home page go across to 'More options...' and down to 'PSUL'. It is updated
regularly and, particularly with the constant timetable changes, is the only way to keep up to date with
PSUL. Changes are highlighted in red. PSULs back to summer 1963 (first edition) are on our website.

In recognition of Richard's time and effort on PSUL, the Society is pleased to donate £500 to his
chosen charity, this year The National Railway Museum Search Engine. After careful consideration,
your Committee has decided not to make PSUL available on paper any longer. They are out of date
before they are printed (and not updated) and demand is very low - less than 1% of our membership.

A major problem at the moment is severe postal delays due to the Royal Mail strikes and posting out
PSUL on request involves three separate posting stages. (A member requests a copy and sends in an
SAE, printer posts bulk copies out once the number is known and then we post them on to requesting
members.) This economy will also help keep subscriptions down for everyone. Conversely, demand for
printed paper BLN and BLNI remains significant and remarkably constant year on year, so will continue
to be produced - although unfortunately they may be severely delayed by current postal problems.

14] Something for the 3-week BLN Christmas break - answers: (BLN 1414.2840) Railways feature in
…….many works of fiction. Can you identify the characters, the book they appear in and the author?

Which Foreign Office official caught the 7.43 pm train from Norden to Esens?
Carruthers in 'The Riddle of the Sands' by Erskine Childers.

Who caused suspicion by drinking red wine on the Orient Express?
Donovan 'Red' Grant in 'From Russia with Love' by Ian Fleming.

Who travelled on the carriage roof from Gloucester Road to Aldgate?
The late Cadogan West in 'The Bruce-Partington Plans', a Sherlock Holmes

…. short story included in 'His Last Bow' by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Who caught the 7.10 am express from St Pancras, without purchasing a ticket?
Richard Hannay in 'The Thirty Nine Steps' by John Buchan.

Who paid 35 shillings for a ticket to St Pancras, but failed to catch the train?
Billy Fisher in 'Billy Liar' by Keith Waterhouse.

Who drove La Lison to Paris Gare St Lazare? Jacques Lantier, an engine driver based at ……
……..Le Havre, one of the main characters in 'La Bête Humaine' by Émil Zola, readily available …… …….
……..in English translation and arguably the best classic novel with a railway theme.

15] A different Christmas Quiz - answers: (BLN 1414.2842) With thanks to Peter Dawson.

Q1: What is the marketing name of the Mid-Hants Railway? The Watercress Line.

Q2: What is the UK's highest altitude railway? The Cairngorm Funicular near
……..Aviemore reaches 3,599 feet above sea level at Ptarmigan (Top) station.

Q3: What was the UK's highest altitude standard gauge railway? The Rattlebrook Tramway
……..(Bridestowe Peat Railway) on Dartmoor reached 1,800ft - see BLN 1221.1683 of 22 Nov 2014.

Q4: Which ScotRail station was renamed in Oct 2022? Dunfermline Town became Dunfermline City.

Q5: Which European Capital City has a station with a Classical composer's name? Brussels Schuman
…… is named from the nearby Robert Schuman Roundabout; itself named after a pioneer of coal and
………steel production integration in Europe, not the composer. On a line running west from Moscow is
………Бородино (Borodin) station. Aleksandr Borodin was a Russian chemist and amateur composer.

Q6: Name all the official 'halts' on NR. The two with passenger services St Keyne Wishing Well Halt
……..(five words!).and Coombe Junction Halt are on the Liskeard to Looe branch. Haltwhistle does not
……..count! Battersea Pier Sidings Staff Halt, 'Staff Halt' at Wimbledon, Hoo Jn Staff Halt (Down),
……..Hoo Jn Staff Halt (Up) and Folkestone East Staff Halt are all Sectional Appendix names. United FC
……..Halt is the Appendix name of Manchester United Football Ground station on TRACKmaps.

Q7: Where is the steepest current NR passenger line gradient?.1:27 (3.7%) out of the Mersey Railway
……..Tunnel towards James Street station. [There is some 1:29 (3.4%) between City Thameslink and
……..Blackfriars and, ignoring LUL, 1:17 (5.88%) on the Docklands Light Railway near Bank, where the
……..line ascends to meet the London & Blackwall Railway formation towards Shadwell and Poplar.]

Q8: When was Manchester London Road station renamed Manchester Piccadilly?
……..12 Sep 1960 in connection with electrification of the lines to London Euston.

Q9: What is the largest city in Western Europe without a Light Rail or Metro system? Leeds.
Q10: Which UK Urban railway celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2021? Glasgow Subway,
……….(the underground railway, nothing to do with 6'' or 1ft gauge sandwiches).

Q11: On the current LU Tube map, what is the only line described as a line? The Elizabeth line (sic).

Q12: Name all the National Rail stations with Victoria in their official name? There are four:
London Victoria, Manchester Victoria, Southend Victoria and St Budeaux Victoria Road.

16] Adrian Shooter CBE (1948-2022): (E-BLN 1414.X.227) Most
members will already be aware of the very sad news of Adrian's
death on 14 December. Our thoughts and sympathy go out to
his family and friends, particularly his widow Barbara. There
have been many detailed tributes to this remarkable, dedicated
railwayman, not only in the railway press but in 'The Telegraph',
'Guardian' and other national and local papers. On Sat 7 Jan at
13.30, a memorial service will be held at Fawley Hill Railway.

Our Society will always be grateful to Adrian for allowing access
to his wonderful 2ft gauge private Beeches Light Railway in the
grounds of his house. It is based on the Darjeeling Himalayan
Railway; 60 members visited on 25 Aug 2018 (report & photos
e-BLN 1311.1768) and 62 on 26 Jun 2022 (BLN 1405.1860).

Your BLN Editor had the pleasure of meeting the great man on
his 'Centenary Express' Chiltern special of Sat 3 Jul 2010. It was
to celebrate 100 years of the Bicester cut off line from Aynho Jn to Ashendon Jn (OP 1 Jul 1910).
Ex-GWR pannier tank 9600 worked a 10.05 Banbury through to Chinnor and 13.45 return.
In typical 'can do' Adrian style, south of Bicester North the train ran on the bidirectional Down
Main in the Up direction so it could reverse in Princes Risborough P3 (the limit of bidirectional
signalling). Furthermore, the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway was not connected to the
main line is those days but a temporary connection was installed just for one day to run this train.

17] Rail industry critical?? The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) recently released its annual assessment
of the health of the UK rail industry's finances and, despite being a document heavy in financial data, it
makes grim reading. Being a UK-wide organization, the ORR report covers NR, passenger and freight
operators and ROSCOs (rolling stock leasing company) as well as HS1, Core Valley Lines and Northern
Ireland Railways. Of course, the background to the 2021-22 financial year was anything but normal
and comparisons are more useful against the 2019-20 year rather than 2020-21.

Fares income fell 46.6% between 2019-20 and 2021-22, as passenger journeys dropped to 990M from
1.739bn. For context, the five year average for passenger journeys pre-pandemic was 1.7bn. Over the
same period however, government contribution to the day to day operation of the railway almost
doubled from £6.8bn to £13.3bn - split roughly equally between NR and the franchised TOCs. This is
clearly unsustainable and inevitably will lead to increasing Treasury demands for economies/cuts.

Within the overall balance sheet, there is considerable regional variation in government financial
support in 2021-22, from 57p for every passenger km in Scotland and 43p in Wales & Western, to 34p
in Southern, 32p in NW & Central and 23p in Eastern. This largely reflects the cost of service provision
as there is relatively little farebox variation across the regions. Not surprisingly, energy is amongst the
significant cost increases faced by operators. The industry now spends £500M per year on traction
electricity and £300M on diesel fuel. The ROSCOs were paid £3bn over the year for rolling stock leases,
a 4.5% year on year reduction. This may be partly due to older stock being sent off-lease by the TOCs.

Capital expenditure on new and enhanced infrastructure and rolling stock increased by £1.8bn to
£7.6bn. Almost all the increase was for HS2. DfT funded NR enhancement projects during the year
totalled £1.8bn. The most significant projects were: the Transpennine Upgrade (£400M); East West
Rail Phase 2 (£300M); Midland Main Line (£100M); ECML upgrade (£100M) and East Coast Digital
Programme (£100M). Transport Scotland has funded £161M of enhancements including the Feeder
Station and Power Modelling electrification project (£19M) and Barrhead Electrification (£15M).

£££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££ ££££££££££

18] Keeping Track, significant passenger service suspensions: *= new/altered; BLN 1412 has
'indefinites'. Lines with previous entries, that are not repeated, closed and reopen on booked dates.

BLN Start (incl) Reopens Location (stations 'exclusive' if bracketed) bold = closed now

- 09 Dec 22 19 Dec 22 *(Stourbridge Junction P1) - Town branch failed trains 17.15
1415.137 19 Dec 22 27 Dec 22 *(Dalmally) - Oban landslip 14.00 Crianlarich until 21 Dec
1413.2720 03 Jan 23 *Stepney Green Jn - Pudding Mill Lane Jn with GEML closure
25 Dec 22

1415.40 25 Dec 22 03 Jan 23 *Camden Road - (Stratford) & from Willesden Jn until 28 Dec
1414.2720 30 Dec 22 03 Jan 23 *(Clapham Jn) - Kensal Gn HL Line Jn/Sudbury Jns resignalling
24 Dec 22 06 Jan 23 *Abercynon Jn - Aberdare South Wales Metro works
- 30 Dec 22 *6 Jan 23
- 13 Dec 22 ?10 Jan 23 *Gretna Jn - Carstairs East Jn/(Carstairs) flood damage 16.30
1415.83 13 Dec 22 ?10 Jan 23 *Oxford North Jn - (Oxford Parkway) strikes/overtime ban
1415.83 17 Nov 22 'New Year' *(Hatton) P3 - Hatton West Jn strikes/overtime ban
1413.2730.5 08 Jan 22 UNKNOWN *T&W Metro (Park Lane) - South Hylton substation fire
1392.21 *(Gainsborough Cent) - Wrawby Jn (SO) last ran Sat 1 Jan 22
22 Dec 22 ?Mar 23 *W Somerset Railway Tribble Bridge 170m 20ch - (Crowcombe
- *Heathfield 172m 10ch) landslip; Santas ran to 165m 15½ch
13 Jan 23 19 Jan 23 *(Cheshunt) - (Harlow Town)/Hertford East replacing a bridge
1414.2897 27 Jan 23 31 Jan 23 *(Par) - Newquay
- *Thornhill LNW Jn - Copley Hill East Jn for Morley & White
04 Feb 23 12 Feb 23 ..Rose stations construction; also 17-25 Jun (incl) remodelling
1414.2865 * (Watford Jn) - (Queens Park) - Camden Jn; DC lines only
11 Feb 23 20 Feb 23 * (Hazel Grove) - Buxton bridge replacement at Whaley Bridge
1413.2726 17 Feb 23 01 Mar 23 * (Theale)/(Newbury Racecourse) - Heywood Rd Jn - Fairwood
1413.2753 01.00 on * Jn/Westbury N Jn/Hawkeridge Jn plus local Melksham trains
18 Feb 23 03 Mar 23 *(Swithland) - Mountsorrel ֍date last ran, points damaged in
- *Apr 2021; Nunckley - Mountsorrel last operated 25 Aug 19
13 Sep 20֍ ?18 Mar 23 *GCR Loughborough Central - Leicester North bridgeworks
- *East Hill Cliff Railway Hastings, track repairs at least
24 Feb 23 25 Mar 23 *(Ryde Esplanade) - Ryde Pier Head for repairs to the pier
- 01 Oct 22 31 Mar 23 *Bordesley Jn - Kings Norton Station Jn/Lifford West Jn
- 30 Oct 22 *Bridgnorth Castle Hill Cliff Rly unsafe retaining wall 12.00
1402.1399 25 Mar 23 02 Apr 23 *Snowdon Mountain (Clogwyn) - Summit ‡last ran or earlier
1413.2788 21 Dec 22 03 Apr 23 *Cairngorm Mountain Railway; Base Station - Ptarmigan
- ‡27 Oct 19 ?07 Apr 23
1394.MR29 20 Sep 18 13 May 23 *(Bedford P1a) - (Bletchley) Vivarail in administration 16.38
1402.MR110 01 Dec 22 EARLY 2023 *Wensleydale Railway (Leyburn) - Redmire repairs required
1414.2941 ‡31 Dec 19 UNKNOWN
1413.MR229 INDEFINITE

19] An unwanted diversion! By Geoff Blyth. As a rule, an engineering diversion is something to be
welcomed by gricers as it may well involve rare track, including possibly some which may not be
available to a tour. This was certainly the case from the late 1960s, when the London Midland Region
(LMR) of British Rail imposed a strict ban on passenger trains over goods lines, causing grief among
enthusiasts for many years until the late Chris Boyle's legendary 'Institution of Mining Engineers' tours
(see BLN 1354.1792 onward). The LMR was followed in this by the Eastern Region but less rigidly,
although the Western, Southern and Scottish Regions had no such ban. From time to time, the LMR
had some superb diversions and these were well patronised by members seizing a very rare chance.

This, however, is the story of a diversion (pre-ban) which was most UNwelcome. At the end of Trinity
(summer) academic term, on Sat 26 Jun 1965, in my first year at university I decided to return home to
Middlesbrough by an unusual route, of course. My normal train was the Bournemouth to York via
Banbury and the Great Central (GCR); Woodford Halse, Nottingham Victoria & Sheffield Victoria.

My Stephenson Locomotive Society membership included a copy of PSUL (now on our website - 1965);
'Market Harborough No1 - Northampton Castle No5 (16m 8ch)' looked very attractive. All these were

summer dated trains: 20.20 FO Bradford FS to Bournemouth West; 08.35 SO Leeds City to Poole;

21.17 FO Sheffield Midland to Portsmouth Harbour; 08.55 SO Bournemouth West to Leeds City;
10.34 SO Bournemouth West to Bradford Exchange; 14.02 SO Portsmouth Harbour to Sheffield Mid.

The Oxford - Bletchley - Cambridge line was still open to passengers at this time, so no rare track was
involved there. I was somewhat puzzled why the train was not booked via the Bletchley Flyover but
was informed relatively recently that, in spite of being quite a new line at the time, it was signalled as
a goods line, so special arrangements were required for passenger trains. In any case, the WCML was
probably less busy in those days. The 08.55 SO to Leeds was not running, as it did not start until 17 Jul,
so it had to be the 10.34 SO Bournemouth West to Bradford Exchange. This didn't leave Oxford until
13.58, arriving at Sheffield Midland at 18.54 which, in those days, was quite late to reach north of
York. There was a connection into the summer SO Penzance to York, the last one with a connection to
Darlington and Middlesbrough. The last connection was even earlier on Monday to Friday evenings!

When I arrived at Oxford station, I came across a blackboard announcing that due to engineering work
at Bletchley, the train would be diverted 'via Banbury and the Eastern Region'. (In those pre-internet
days the only knowledge of diversions was seeing a notice at the station or possibly in advance in an
enthusiast publication such as BLN). I wondered what this notice meant. My first thought was that it
might be routed via the GCR (which had been an Eastern Region line originally), although it would
surely be most unusual to call at different stations than those advertised, and there was no mention of
this. It was a mystery. The train passed Banbury Jn at full line speed, so it wasn't routed via the GCR.

Trying to conjure up the Ian Allan Pre-Grouping Atlas in my mind, the next possibility was Leamington,
although I felt that this would involve several reversals as the main line connection at Leamington
North Jn didn't exist in 1965. However, we passed through Leamington at line speed and, as I couldn't
visualise the complex West Midlands rail network, I gave up trying to guess. After passing Tyseley the
train slowed and then crossed to a goods line. At Small Heath South Jn it then very gingerly diverged
right, crossing several lines to take the curve to Bordesley Jn. Present day members would justifiably
consider this totally uninteresting but in those days it was very much a goods line and clearly special
authority had been granted to use it. The onward route was the normal one via the Nuneaton
avoiding line, Leicester London Road (ex-Midland Railway) and Nottingham Midland (reverse). So I did
do what was at the time rare track but not the line I wanted! The 'culprit' was the commissioning of
the first phase of Bletchley Power Signal Box over that weekend with the lines all closed in that area.

Bordesley curve soon became normal track of course. As for Northampton to Market Harborough, it
was something of a bogeyman for me. I did do it on a normal journey but in the dark, returning to
Nottingham from Swanage on 27 Sep 1969 on the last train of the day, the 21.00 Euston to Glasgow.
This sleeping car train was a hangover from Midland Railway days and had been transferred from
St Pancras as part of British Rail's policy of concentrating sleeping car services to the north on Euston.

Later there was a final passenger train, a last farewell daytime railtour over the line, against regional
policy, organised by the local Area Manager on his last day before retiring, Sat 16 Aug 1981. News of
this was passed on the grapevine at short notice by people ringing up those they thought might be
interested and a significant number of our members participated. Unfortunately, I didn't receive a call.
[Sorry, Geoff, we thought a long established member such as you would have done it several times -
BLN Editor.] (Ironically, I had a letter about this line published in Modern Railways just before then.)

20] Hydrogen: The House of Commons Science & Technology Committee reports that hydrogen is not a
panacea for reaching Net Zero emissions by 2050 but it could have a role in particular applications, such as
rail routes where electrification is not suitable or cannot be delivered in time. It has a modest but
potentially critical role to play in rail decarbonisation and the government should set out the lessons
learned from hydrogen trains abroad. However, the German region of Baden-Württemberg rejected
hydrogen hybrid trains as unsuitable for every line they considered - see BLN 1412.2583. The Committee
reports that, although hydrogen train trials and demonstration projects are underway in the UK, there is
no clear plan to develop hydrogen in the rail sector. The government should set out the lessons learned
from hydrogen trains overseas and how it will use this information in the UK. The government and industry
should also identify lines where it is unlikely that electrification will be viable before 2050 and begin trials
of hydrogen trains on these lines in the next five years.

ABOVE: (Item 22) Kettering canopies before refurbishment. BELOW: After - wow! (NR)
BELOW: Kettering Station box - and everyone kept their head - looking north. (Angus McDougall, 9 Jun 1984).

21] CONGRATULATIONS! To our friend Mark Bridel, Regional Freight Manager for NR Eastern Region,
who has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for all his Martin House Children's Hospice
fundraising work. Mark has done this for over four years and leads on the operational elements of
organising our charter train tours for the hospice, which includes train routing, planning the tours and
coordinating the train operating companies. Mark also negotiates the access with external companies
and is the on board contact, which can be for up to four days. Around £200,000 has been raised for
the hospice. Mark plans to continue with his fundraising activity and hopes to raise more than £75,000
over the next 12 months to try and recoup some of the funds lost through the Pandemic. Mark said:

The important thing to say here is that this might be me getting a mention but the team involved are
much more important that any individual. So this is for Jerry Dickinson who is the inspiration for the
charter concept in the first place and the heart of the team, Kev Adlam, who puts the bums on seats
and arranges so many other bits… (Our Lackenby Looper was perhaps the most amazing one to date.)

22] National Railway Heritage Awards Winners, 2022: (With thanks to Greg Beecroft.)
Kettering canopies, renovation/adaption for OHLE (BLNs 1341.2917 & 1399.955) best overall entry.
Aberdeen station, North Corner Pavilion building restoration. (BLN 1393.252)
Amerton Railway, relocation and new use for Waterhouses signal box. (BLN 1402.1462)
Bennerley Viaduct renovation and reuse. (BLN 1393.166)
Bowling, the 'Bowline' reuse of the disused viaduct. (BLN 1387.2789)
Glasgow Queen Street station redevelopment. (BLNs 1322.X.13, 1326.907 & 1372.744 etc)
Levenshulme South station renovation and reuse. (BLN 1345.473)
Oxford, Rewley Road Swing Bridge restoration. (BLN 1366.3497)
Sleaford station restoration. (BLN 1415.44)
Stirling station roofs renovation. (BLN 1372.745)
Sudbury Hill (Piccadilly Line), step free access. (BLN 1398.845)
Talyllyn Railway, Tŷ Dŵr Watering Point Recreation.
Tidenham Tunnel, Wye Valley Greenway. (BLN 1374.1041)
Wolferton, renovation of the Tudor style former royal station on the Hunstanton branch.

23] Games Railfans Play: (From Jun 2000 Railfan & Railroad - printed in the USA) …then there is Rare
Mileage. You scan the excursion and special timetable announcements in the magazines, fly to some
distant place, ride a train for a day or two on a line that has not had a scheduled passenger service in
decades, fly home and color (sic - sorry) another line of your map. Mileage collectors set up rules that
differ depending on who is stating them. For example, you have to ride in daylight, you have to ride in
both directions, you have to be on the front of the engine as the train approaches the end of the track,
you must ride a genuine train and not a hi-rail truck [RRV - Road Rail Vehicle], your miles expire after
[your number here] years, or you have to be awake while riding (this disqualifies some guys I know).

In its past tense, Rare Mileage is called Can You Top This? You listen to others tell of rare mileage, then
you say: 'Well I rode through Hoosac Tunnel behind electric power, in the Pullman sleeping car of the
Minute Man'. (I've been told that this doesn't count because my mother told me I did it and I didn't get
photos.) The first player doesn't stand a chance….

24] A Grand Day Out (it could be you!): (By Tim Gilbert, 2308) I was immensely pleased to win July's
DBC Cab Ride raffle with my £10 e-ticket. It raised £2,095 (target £2,000) for Martin House Children's
Hospice and is why I reported to a very cold, misty Knottingley Depot at 08.00 on Fri 2 Dec 2022.

I had been in touch with Dave Jenkinson of DBC, who made the arrangements for the day. Dave had
asked if there was anything in particular that I wanted to do? As the trip was to be Yorkshire based, I
asked if it would be possible to cover the line from Haywood Jn to Thorpe Marsh Jn (Doncaster North
Chord). I also brought a friend who had never set foot in a cab before so a mainline run with a big
freight would be ideal. Dave came up with a Drax biomass train and hence the Knottingley rendezvous.

We met Jon, our host and driver for the day, then, having made sure we had the appropriate Personal
Protective Equipment we waited at the 'bus stop' on 'Knottingley East Curve' for our train to arrive.
6H61 Immingham Biomass to Drax Power Station was running about 20 minutes late but arrived with
66175 in DB red livery. A quick driver changeover and we were on our way. Coming off the east curve
at Knottingley East Jn, I asked Jon how he knew when the back of the train was clear of the junction
and he could accelerate away. It transpired that there was a device on the loco where the train length
could be set which would indicate when the whole train had passed a certain point. Clever!

We took the Goole line as far as Drax Branch Jn, passing Kellingley Colliery site on the way. It is hard
to believe that it closed nearly seven years ago (on 15 Dec 2015), our last deep coal mine. 6H61 loaded
to around 2,500 tonnes gross but sitting in the driver's cab you wouldn't know it. At Drax we were
routed on to Reception 2 (TRACKmaps 2 p40B 2020), bypassing two of the biomass discharge roads
(Reception 3 & 4). Then we took Line 'A' through the Biomass Offload House and the old Coal Discharge
House. 6H36 a Drax to Liverpool discharged biomass train was waiting to depart behind Colas 60096
as we arrived. Speed through the discharge house was 0.3mph, automatically controlled by the loco
once set up by the driver. It was interesting to note that the 'Daleks' used for discharging the old silver
HAA Merry-Go-Round coal wagons were still in situ on Line 'A' in the coal discharge house. Drax is
stockpiling coal again (BLN 1414.2844), which is discharged on the other two roads ('B' & 'C'). From Jul-
Sep 2022 coal traffic on the whole network increased by 77.5% in 12 months but from a very low base.

Biomass trains have an allowance of 1 hour 40 minutes to unload. The actual time depends on how
many times the discharge is interrupted to deal with an issue, usually doors not closing properly.
Opening and closing is activated by sensors; there is no physical interaction between the wagons and
the infrastructure anymore. Our train was stopped once, the DBC technician in charge of the safety of
the wagons radioing us in the cab to stop and then start again when all was fixed. Having finished the
discharge, there was just time to take a quick photo before the signal cleared and we were on our way
as 4R50 to Immingham Biomass Terminal. There are usually four biomass trains in the Immingham to
Drax circuit and we passed the next one approaching on the branch, 6H62, with 66017 at its head.

We retraced our steps to Knottingley, traversed the 'East Curve' and headed off down the Askern line.
On it the speed restriction is 60mph, the maximum possible on our journey. Elsewhere the limit is
55mph. The wagons are limited to 60mph loaded and 75mph empty but there was no chance of
reaching that speed today! So to Haywood Jn where the 'new' line (opened 1 Jun 2014) is definitely
the principal route. Climbing over the East Coast Main Line on a viaduct (the main reason it was built),
the line sweeps down on a left hand curve to join the one from Adwick Jn at Thorpe Marsh Jn, where,
again, it is the principal route. From Stainforth Jn we took the Up Slow line, passing 66517 going in the
opposite direction on 6Z40 Immingham to West Burton 'A' coal train. What a 'blast from the past'!

At Medge Hall 66109 in PD Ports livery was passed on 6H63, the third Immingham biomass train and
at Gunhouse 6H15 behind 66780, this time with coal for Drax. We were through Scunthorpe station at
12.00 and then passing Scunthorpe Steel Works. No sign of a BLS tour on this occasion! Near Appleby
level crossing 3S14, a Railhead Treatment Train with 56105 on the front and a Class 66 on the back,
was passed. Through Barnetby, bereft of semaphores since Dec 2015, on the main and then full power
up the grade to Melton Ross. Next Brocklesby, Ulceby and past 6H65, the fourth and final biomass
train, with 66148 in Maritime livery. Drax burns over 7M tonnes of biomass each year, a typical train
carries 1,700-1,800 tonnes; that is around 3,000 trains per year required or 11 every day on average.

70816 was passed, light engine, on its way to Barnetby after taking discharged oil tanks to Lindsey Oil
Refinery, Colas having taken over Lindsey workings from DB. [Not many realise that the name 'Colas'
dates back to 1924 and is derived from COLd ASphalt; road construction is 80% of the group's activity!]

It was yellow signals all the way to Immingham and the reason was clear at Immingham West Jn. Our
train was right behind one of the iron ore empties (Santon Foreign Ore Terminal to Immingham BSC
Ore Terminal with 60015). From the Up Killingholme we crossed to No1 Biomass Arrival/Departure
Road then were routed into Line 2 of the biomass loading facility (Humber International Terminal).
Jon then had his break and a relief driver took over who very kindly allowed us to stay on for loading.

ABOVE: (Item 24) Looking towards Knottingley East Jn note check rail on the curve and the no longer
used DBC company train coaches in the dead end siding at the east end of Knottingley Depot.

BELOW: Entering Drax Power Station, Signal D1 - Drax controlled - shows the road is set for Reception Line 2.

ABOVE: Drax Power Station in the mist, the arrivals line is left (single track after the entrance weighbridge).
It splits into four Reception Lines (1 is the leftmost). The five departure lines (right) join to a single track
over a separate weighbridge. Note the massive biomass stores. (All photos Tim Gilbert, Fri 2 Dec 2022.)

BELOW: On Reception 2; right on Reception 3& 4 is a biomass offload facility (TRACKmaps 2 p40B 2020).

ABOVE: Unloading Track 'A' - another biomass offleading facility (Tracks B, C, D & F - don't ask - are left) note
0.5mph speed restriction, 'D' on the signal plate shows it is controlled from Drax Power Station's panel.

BELOW: The slow speed control on the loco. NEXT: The three coal offloading lines - now back in
limited use again. SECOND PHOTO: Passing through Track 'A' coal unloading facility.









BELOW: At a stand after discharging the biomass at Drax Power

r Station (taken by an authorised and qualified member of staff).

BELOW: The five exit roads from Drax which join

n into one line to pass over the exit weighbridge.

ABOVE: Knottingley East Jn, the route is set for the curve to Knottingley South Jn. Knottingley station is ahead
BELOW: Haywood Jn, straight on to Doncaster North Chord over the ECML; right to the ECML and Doncaster.

ABOVE: Thorpe Marsh Jn towards Stainforth Jn; Adwick Jn off right. Thorpe Marsh Power Station was ahead, right.
BELOW: On the unidirectional Up Killingholme (the Down is bidirectional) approaching Immingham West Jn.

ABOVE: Crossing to the No1 Arrival/Departures line at Immingham West Jn (iron ore wagons ahead left).
BELOW: Round the corner L to R: Up then Down Killingholme, No1 then No2 Arrival/Departure lines.

BELOW: This biomass loading facility line is definitely a gricing hit - Humber International Terminal.

THIS PAGE: Not many of us have the opportunity to do a biomass loading line…

ABOVE: The Killingholme (north) end of the loader (the line labelled 'BIOMASS' on TRACKmaps 2 p32B 2020).

BELOW: Heading towards the runround loop beyond the overbridge, far left is the Up Killinghome Down.
This bridge (for Station Rd) replaced a level crossing. The station (1911-1963) was Killingholme latterly a Halt.

ABOVE: The end of the headshunt, left is the Up Killingholme Down to Killingholme (out of use past 2m 01ch)
BELOW: The other end of the runround loop, with the route set for 'DK' = the Down Killingholme line.

ABOVE: On the Up Killingholme Down (straight ahead) first line right is from Coal Pad 2, the far
right line is from Coal Pad 1. The next line to trail in ahead (right) is the Ore Line, all are busy now.

BELOW: On the Down Scunthorpe Goods looking west, left are Anchor Sidings at the Steelworks.

ABOVE: Scunthorpe, looking west where the Inwards and Outwards line join to become 'E' Line at 22m 50ch;
the passenger lines are right. BELOW: Back at Knottingley Depot - trip over, a very good £10 worth indeed!

Biomass loading was at 0.5mph and, after we pulled forward into the run round loop (TRACKmaps 2
p31b 2020), the driver uncoupled the loco. He then ran it into the headshunt alongside the (here) out
of use Killingholme branch, ran round and backed on the hoppers. Jon coupled us up and took over
again taking the train to Immingham West Jn. By then we were 20 mins early, so were held at Signal
IW 253 until they were ready for us. Departure to the Down Killingholme was a few minutes before
booked time. At Humber Road Jn we passed 66150 on empties from Scunthorpe Coal Handling Plant.

At Scunthorpe we took the Down Scunthorpe Goods, Transfer Line and Outwards Line to come to a
stand at signal S319 while a TPE (don't faint) overtook us. After Thorne it was onto the Down Fast,
passing another RHTT 'top & tailed' by 37419 & 37422. Back at Knottingley it was almost dark. 66109
and 66194 were stabled and Jon took us into the shed to view 50008. So ended our trip. Huge thanks
to Dave Jenkinson for organising it and to Jon for being such a good host. It really was a grand day out!

1415 GREATER LONDON (Geoff Brockett) [email protected]
25] Boxing Day: The RMT strike on NR put paid to most of the limited services that would have run this
day. The only National service operating was the free Heathrow Express shuttles linking Heathrow
T2&3 with T4 and T5. These were formed from units stabled on the branch after service on Christmas
Eve (it did not run on Christmas Day). There was no engineering work on LUL this year but the NR
signallers' strike stopped the Bakerloo Line running between Queen's Park and Harrow & Wealdstone
and the District Line running between Parsons Green and Wimbledon, as well as Turnham Green and
Richmond. Withdrawal of the tram service between Dundonald Road and Wimbledon was also
blamed on the strike, although it seems more likely to have been caused by the TOC overtime ban.
South Western Railway would have had to staff Wimbledon station just for this service.

26] Industrial Action: (BLN 1411.2466) ASLEF members working on Croydon Trams have accepted a
new pay offer, ending the recent run of strikes. TSSA and Prospect Unions have called a strike of staff
working for Rail for London (Infrastructure) Ltd on the Elizabeth line (sic) on 12 Jan. Members work
mainly in control and signalling and in safety and maintenance respectively. The dispute, over pay and
potential changes to the TfL pension scheme, is likely to cause suspension of services on the core
Elizabeth line. The strike will be followed by action short of a strike continuing until 28 Feb.

27] Kensal Green: (BLN 1414.2859) Those abandoned wagons, in Kilburn Up & Down Goods Loop
since Wed 2 Nov, were finally removed to Willesden Brent Sidings on Mon 19 Dec.

28] Liverpool Street: (BLN 1411.2460) The Sellar Property Group and campaigners have requested
clarification of the station's listing from Historic England in view of the proposed redevelopment.
As a result, the 1992 extension to the iron and glass train shed, part of the previous redevelopment,
have been given Grade II listing. The Andaz (former Great Eastern) Hotel's listing has been upgraded
from Grade II to Grade II*. The current proposals include construction of a second concourse at first
floor level incorporating the existing balconies and removal of much of the 1992 built train shed.

29] LU Air Quality: Air pollution levels in tube tunnels and stations have already been found to exceed
the World Health Organisation's defined safe limit. New research by the University of Cambridge has
found that the system is polluted with metal particles small enough to enter the human bloodstream
and potentially cause health problems. Dust samples from stations, trains and booking halls across the
network were examined by experts, who used magnetism to detect tiny particles usually missed in
surveys. They found high levels of maghemite (Fe2O3, γ-Fe2O3), a type of iron oxide, with some specks
as small as five nanometres. In comparison, a human hair is between 80,000 and 100,000 nanometres.

The particles are created when the wheels, tracks and brakes grind against one another, throwing up
tiny, iron-rich fragments. Dust on the ground is thrown up again when trains enter a station. Although
the researchers said it was unclear whether they pose a health risk, previous research has shown that
breathing in maghemite can cause respiratory conditions and even lung cancer when inhaled at
industrial levels. Samples were taken from all the main tube lines and the District Line. Unsurprisingly,
older lines were found to be the most polluted. The team suggest the problem could be 'ironed out' by
placing magnetic filters in ventilation systems to capture the particles, as well as regularly cleaning the
tracks to remove dust and placing screen doors between platforms and trains. ('Daily Telegraph')

30] TfL Business Plan: A new plan has been approved covering the remainder of the financial year to
31 Mar 2023 with a forward look to the following three years until 31 Mar 2026. The key goals:

Increase passenger demand for Underground and rail (excluding Elizabeth line) to 86% and bus to
91% of the pre-pandemic levels by 2025-26. Grow new revenue sources by at least £500M by 2023.
Operational financial sustainability by 2023-24, then to grow operational surplus to fund investment.

Service levels will remain broadly at current levels. Fares will rise by 4% in line with National Rail in
Mar 2023 and Mar 2024 (the Government has since announced a National Rail increase of 5.9%) and
(on TfL) RPI+1% in the following two years. Apart from existing orders for new Piccadilly Line and DLR
trains, subject to long term Government funding, other capital projects are: ●new Bakerloo Line trains,
●new trams and ●resignalling of the Bakerloo and Piccadilly Lines. Investment in additional rail
capacity has been de-prioritised to align with latest demand forecasts, which show TfL will have excess
public transport capacity in the medium term. The exception is for programmes fully funded by third
parties, for example where extra capacity is needed to unlock new housing development.

Other projects going ahead are redesign of the Old Street roundabout area, with two new station
entrances, and more step free stations, with bids to the Government's Levelling Up Fund for Colindale
and Leyton. Third party funding will still deliver the East London Line upgrade first phase by 2025.
It includes a new station entrance and ticket hall with step free access at Surrey Quays, also signalling
and power upgrades to increase service frequencies. A design contract has been awarded to NR for a
power upgrade to support 20tph through the core. By the end of 2024, 4G mobile coverage will be
available throughout LU stations and tunnels. This will be used for emergency services communication
as well. Feasibility work is to continue on the DLR extension to Thamesmead, the West London Orbital
route, the Bakerloo Line Extension and Crossrail 2, although none of these is currently funded.

Options still being considered are increasing the age eligibility for the 60+ Oyster Card, where the age
of eligibility would increase every two months, continuing to restrict the 60+ and Older Persons'
Freedom Pass to use after 09.00 and withdrawing from the Travelcard agreement with the TOCs.
The latter is because TfL considers it received an unfair share of the revenue from the tickets. Free
travel is being given to low paid staff employed by contractors to supply cleaning, catering and
security, with the cost of this met by the Greater London Authority. The Government has given
permission to the Mayor of London to add £20 a year to Council Tax bills to help finance TfL.

31] Twickenham: (BLN 1392.42) (TRACKmaps 5 p22 Aug 2019) Bay P2 was included in the Apr 2021
resignalling but has not been returned to use. It is still fenced off from P3 and the track, although
connected, is disappearing under buddleia. However, relatively new SWR signage around the station
gives directions to P2! [Birmingham Moor Street station can go one better, signs direct passengers to
trackless P5!] Overgrown, non-electrified track remains in the old P1 area. A local member thinks that
P2 was probably last used by the 01.30 Twickenham to Waterloo rugby relief on 13 Sep 2010.

32] Victoria Area Resignalling: (BLN 1399.975) From 27 Dec, signal control between Victoria P1-8
(exclusive) and 1m 10ch (exclusive) was transferred from Victoria Area Signalling Centre to a new
Victoria Eastern workstation at Three Bridges Rail Operating Centre (TBROC). Signal prefixes were
changed from 'VS' to 'TVS'. The Wall Siding has been renamed the Victoria Eastern Wall Siding.

From 3 Jan West London Line signal control between Falcon Jn and Mitre Bridge Jn was to transfer to
a new Clapham/West London Lines workstation at TBROC. Some Clapham Junction area track circuits
were to be replaced by axle counters. North Pole Up Siding was renamed Scrubs Lane Siding!

Also from 3 Jan, Victoria P9-18 (excl) to Battersea Park signalling control was to be transferred to a
new Victoria Central workstation. The signalling is unchanged, with the prefix changing from 'VC' to
'TVC'. The Up Carriage Sidings became Victoria Central Carriage Sidings. Between Battersea Park and
Streatham North Jn (excl) there were extensive signalling changes, with track circuits replaced by axle
counters and control from new Clapham Junction and Balham workstations. Balham workstation was
also to control the Crystal Place Line from Balham to Leigham Court Tunnel (excl). At Streatham Hill,
the Down Sidings were renamed Streatham Hill Down Sidings. The Up Sidings became Streatham Hill
Up Sidings, Streatham Hill Up Siding East, Streatham Hill Up Siding West and Streatham Hill Neck.

33] Southall: (TRACKmaps 3 p3B 2018) On Wed 21 Dec, owing to a points failure at Southall West Jn
(9m 70ch) at 12.02, the bidirectional Down Main was used by 32 trains in the Up direction between
Southall West Jn and Southall East Jn (8m 62ch). Another points problem ended this at 16.38.

34] HS2: (BLN 1414.2863) Piling work for new bridges, where the Great Western Main Line crosses
over Old Oak Common Lane and the Central Line, starts this month. The bridges have to be widened to
accommodate the track layout for Old Oak Common station. The bridge taking the Wycombe Single
Line over Old Oak Common Lane is to be removed. [That line's closed section may not be restored.]

35] LU Track Noise: There are regular complaints about noise from the track in tunnels, both from
passengers, Unions (on behalf of drivers) and from occupants of buildings above the tunnels. In a new
experiment, trains on five sections of the Northern Line will run slower off peak Fri to Sun. Engineers
believe that reducing speeds by 5-8mph will self-regulate corrugations in the rail surfaces. It should
have little impact on overall running times. Trials of 'Delkor' baseplates and pads that absorb some
track vibrations have also taken place. However, it would cost £59M to treat the 37 worst locations on
the system and this is a bit too much of a financial shock for TfL to absorb currently.

36] Motspur Park: (629,000 passengers in 2021-22) Planning permission has been granted for a new
footbridge with lifts under the 'Access for All' programme. The station building on the island platform
will also be replaced. The current one is thought to be the last Southern Railway designed wooden
station building to be constructed, dating from the opening of the station on 12 Jul 1925.

37] RMT Overtime Ban 18 Dec-2 Jan: This resulted in substantial cuts on two TOCs serving London.
(See item 83 about Chiltern Railways.) Due to the overtime ban and strikes, the WO bus in the new
timetable, replacing the previous West Ealing to West Ruislip PSUL, was not expected to start until
Wed 11 Jan (one of our local members is absolutely desperate to do it, preferably the first one…).

SWR started late and finished early on Sun 18 Dec, only managing to run 4tph Waterloo - Woking/
Windsor & Eton Riverside via Hounslow, 2tph Waterloo - Basingstoke/Southampton Central and
1tph Basingstoke - Salisbury. Services on other days were 4tph Waterloo - Woking, 2tph Waterloo -
Basingstoke/Southampton Central, Reading and Guildford via Leatherhead. There was just 1tph
Portsmouth Harbour - Woking/Eastleigh, 1tph Southampton Central - Weymouth, 1tph Basingstoke -
Salisbury, with alternate trains extended to Exeter St Davids, 1tph Waterloo - Shepperton and a peak
service only Waterloo - Alton. Queenstown Road, Earlsfield, Whitton, St Margarets, North Sheen and
Mortlake were not served. Ironically, this gave the Hounslow Loop and Windsor branch double their
normal off peak service (as also happens on strike days), while other lines were not served.

38] Tulse Hill: From 11 Dec locos and Multipurpose Vehicles were banned through P1 & 2 because of
corrosion on Thurlow Park Road underbridge. However, they are still able to run through P3 & 4.

39] Streatham South Jn - Streatham North Jn: The reversible fast spur (booked to be used regularly
only in the Up direction in the previous timetable) has no booked regular passenger working from the
11 Dec 2022 timetable change. It will see some diversionary use in Jan and Feb, as listed in PSUL.

40] Primrose Hill: (BLN 1414.2853) London Overground Willesden Low Level bay P2 to Stratford
services did run via Primrose Hill on 28-30 Dec. On one train at least quite a few 'normals' had an
un-intended journey from Camden Road to South Hampstead as there were no announcements.
A member of LO staff boarded the train at Camden Road to warn people about the altered services
but the driver closed and locked the doors so quickly that he couldn't alight himself before it set off.
Subject to strikes etc the Primrose Hill diversion should happen again on Sun 8, Sat 28 & Sun 29 Jan.

1415 EAST MIDLANDS :NEW REGIONAL EDITOR: Nick Garnham [email protected]
Post to BLN Editor please (per back page). Derbyshire (not Buxton & Hope Valley - in North West BLN),

Leicestershire, Lincolnshire (& South Humberside), Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire & Rutland.
 Your new Regional Editor would particularly welcome items for his area please. 

41] New timetable: EMR has reinstated three morning and evening peak, all stations, through trains
each way between Matlock and Nottingham (BLN 1399.957). This improves the service at Spondon
and Attenborough. The 22.29 SSuX (22.00 SO) Sheffield to Derby calls at Belper instead of the 21.56.

42] Humberstone Road Jn: LEFT: Accident report plan, adapted
for BLN and redrawn by Dave Cromarty. Sheffield is off the top to
the north; Leicester station is about a mile south off the bottom.

① Down Passenger Line ② Up Passenger line ③ Down Goods
④ Up Goods ⑤ Humberstone Road Junction Signal Box
⑥ Humberstone Road Junction Down Goods Home Signal No2

A failure of a signalman on 6 Sep 1972 at 20.58 to comply with
basic regulations was identified by Mr C H Hewison, representing
the Railway Inspectorate, as the prime cause of a collision here
between two freight trains. In his report dated 12 Jul 1973, he
described the infrastructure of the area, 1¼ miles north of
Leicester station on the Midland Main Line between St Pancras
and Sheffield. It consisted of quadruple track, Down Passenger,
then Up Passenger lines both signalled under the Absolute Block
system and Down Goods, Up Goods lines both worked under the
Permissive Block system. The adjoining short signal section signal
boxes each side of Humberstone Road Jn were Bell Lane 1,024yd
south and Thurmaston 1 mile 1,012 yards north. There was a
large goods yard on the Down side and two crossover lines (north
and south) each with three slips, as shown, forming connections
between the Passenger lines and the Goods lines.

Humberstone Junction itself was just south of the box, for an
interesting double track spur to Leicester East Jn on the line out
of (Leicester) Belgrave Road terminus eastward. Although it was
completed and inspected (Bord of Trade approval 7 Aug 1883)
this curve was never brought into use until British Rail relaid and
opened it from 01 Jun 1964. It closed again 01 Jan 1969.

There was no signalling provision for a train on the Up Goods line
to be diverted directly into the Down goods yard. They had to be
drawn past the signal box, set back by way of the southernmost
crossover via the Down Goods and Up and Down Passenger lines
onto a Shunting Spur, then hauled into the goods yard.

On the day in question a special Up train from Corby with 40
empty ironstone hopper wagons, for the Down goods yard,
arrived on the Up Goods line at 19.15. The loco was released at
once and allowed to run to Leicester, signalled by Humberstone
Road Jn as a light diesel to Bell Lane, whereas initially he should
actually have sent the 'Shunting into Forward Section' signal.

After over an hour, with the hopper wagons still standing on the
Up Goods line, a shunting loco, 3786 (later 08619), arrived and
proceeded from the Down Goods line, over the southernmost
crossover to the rear of the hopper wagon train. It then drew the
wagons on to the Down Goods line where it had to wait for four
passenger trains to pass along the Passenger lines, before the
wagons could be propelled across the Passenger lines into Down
goods yard via the northernmost crossover.

Unfortunately, the signalman failed to send the 'Shunting into
Forward Section' signal to Thurmaston and, far worse, omitted to
put a collar on the lever that worked the Down Goods home
semaphore signal (No2) protecting the hopper wagon train.

At 20.52 he received an 'Is Line Clear?' signal from Bell Lane for a Down freight train, the 20.10 Castle
Bromwich to Ketton, hauled by loco 1635 (later 47053) with 18 empty Presflo (cement) wagons.
Unfortunately he accepted it, entirely forgetting about the hopper wagon train standing in its path.
Moreover, he could not see it because it was dark (and there was no track circuit). Having cleared his
signal No2, the signalman could only watch as it passed his box at an estimated speed of 30mph.
The resultant crash took place a few moments later.

The Class 47 locomotive of the Ketton train was derailed and tilted over; its cab stoved in, trapping the
driver and secondman. The latter was killed, while the former suffered a fractured left leg and other
serious injuries. Four months elapsed before the driver was well enough to be interviewed for the
Report. The first Presflo wagon was derailed and partly overturned. Fifteen hopper wagons were
completely or partly derailed, of which eight were badly damaged. Both Goods lines and the Up
Passenger line were blocked by the wreckage. Two breakdown trains from Toton cleared the loco and
wagons from the line by 14.00 the following day. The Down Passenger line, obstructed by the fire
brigade and breakdown train, was reopened at 16.07 with Single Line Working in operation then.
The Up Passenger line was reopened at 17.43. The Down and Up Goods lines followed at 19.42.

The Humberstone Road Junction signalman was severely censured for working in a very slack manner
which was the direct cause of the accident. The Senior Railman, supervising the movement of the
hopper wagons from the Up Goods line to the Down Goods line, didn't escape criticism for failing to
put a lighted tail lamp on the Leicester end of the hopper wagon train prior to and after it arrived on
the Down Goods line. Had he done so the severity of the collision would have been significantly less -
the loco crew of the Ketton train would have had more time to see the obstruction and brake earlier.

Normally, accidents involving just freight trains didn't warrant an official Railway Inspectorate Report
but because there was a fatality it was mandatory. They were generally carried out by a less senior
member of the organisation - Mr Hewison on this and other similar occasions, was often called upon.

Our new Regional Editor wonders why the Class 08 didn't draw back into the shunting spur then
propel into the sidings as there would have been less propelling of wagons on passenger lines.

43] Hinckley: (BLN 1302.711) A formal application to build the £550M Hinckley National Rail Freight
Interchange is expected to be made to the Planning Inspectorate early in the New Year. If approved,
the site will be able to handle 16 intermodal trains daily. The location, adjacent to the Nuneaton to
Felixstowe line, with connections to the M69 Jn 2, is seen as ideal for such a development. It is in what
the UK logistics industry regards as a 'Golden Triangle' as the East Midlands is home to 20% of the UK's
manufacturing capability. There are inevitably strong local objections to the scheme which is proposed
for a 440 acre greenfield site, six years in the planning and the subject of extensive local consultation.

44] Sleaford: The station has had a £204,000 restoration with repainting and conversion of a disused
waiting room on island P2 & 3 into a community space. It will be available to schools to learn about the
railways, including safety, and for local groups to meet. The building has its own kitchen and a water
harvesting system for volunteers to water the platform flower beds. The station has been painted in
the L&NER colours of Buckingham green and cream and is very smart. Funding included from EMR, the
Railway Heritage Trust, CrossCountry and the Poacher Line Community Partnership. At the recent Rail
Heritage Awards, the restoration won the Bam Nuttall Partnership award for a jointly funded project.

45] Kettering & Wellingborough: The Best Overall Entry at the Rail Heritage Awards went to Kettering
station for the careful restoration and modification of the platform canopies for their safe integration
with electrification. Wellingborough station was highly commended in the Operational Enhancement
Category for work on the Grade II listed iron platform canopies. At both stations, historical detail has
been restored including finials and filigree gable ends. There were also repairs to columns and roofs.

46] Stewartby: Bedford Borough Council recently granted planning permission for three sidings to be
built just north of Stewartby station, to the west of the Bedford to Bletchley (Marston Vale) line, for
unloading inert spoil from trains to infill the nearby Elstow South Quarry. Along with the sidings, there
will be a private concrete road for the unloading of rail wagons using earth moving machines.

BELOW: (Item 53.1) Mk4 coaches 12468 (front) and 12230 (behind) at the NR
The large building in the background is York Rail Operating Centre. The Londo

NEXT: 800207 in York P5 leading a 10-car set on the 09.30 King's Cross to Newc

Training Centre. The 'avoiding' (Slow) lines are to the right, looking southeast.
on end of York station roof is far top left. (Both Stuart Marshall 15 Dec 2022.)

castle. The track was for relaying the Scarborough line junction (off to the right).





BELOW: Work at the north end of York station, relaying the Scarb

borough line connections on Tue 27 Dec 2022. (Stuart Marshall.)

BELOW: (BLN 1414.2875) Castleford, the new footbridge; reinstated P2 is b

behind the DMU; looking towards York. (All Stuart Marshall, 28 Nov 2022.)





BELOW: A Leeds to Sheffield (off right) train takes the trailing crossover
Goole are off to the left. Castleford Station signal box closed 13 Sep

r after reversing in Castleford P1. Pontefract Monkhill, Knottingley and
p 1997. New P2 will be long enough for TPE services to call (like P1).

1415 NORTH EAST & YORKSHIRE (Geoff Blyth) [email protected]
County Durham, Northumberland, Teesside, Tyne & Wear and Yorkshire

47] Neville Hill: On Tue 27 Dec the points at the western depot exit (19m 06ch) failed, so the Down
Hull Main from Leeds to York and Hull was unavailable. Down trains were given Goods Lines Authority
to cross to the Up Hull Goods then back to the Down Hull Main at Neville Hill West Jn (18m 74ch).
Other trains diverted via Castleford or were cancelled. The Up direction was available, so ECS moves
from Neville Hill could take place, but were heavily delayed due to staff working on the problem there.

48] Cramlington: (TRACKmaps 2 p22B 2020) At 15.00 on Mon 5 Dec the 13.05 Edinburgh to Plymouth
was stood on the Up Main south of Cramlington with a brake fault. It was two hours before the
parking brake was released, then the train ran to Newcastle at no more than 30mph. The 13.00 and
14.00 Edinburgh to King's Cross; 14.10 Edinburgh to Newcastle and 15.55 Morpeth to Haltwhistle all
ran in the Up direction on the Down Main from Plessey (11m 51ch) to Benton (4m 10ch) Crossovers.

49] In, out, in, out and shake it all about: ❶Having introduced 26 extra services with the 11 Dec
timetable, TPE immediately suspended 12 of them on a 'temporary' basis. Generally SuX, suspensions
include 03.59 Manchester Airport to Scarborough, 05.00 Victoria to Saltburn, 08.45 & 16.51 Saltburn
to Airport, 08.45 & 22.45 Scarborough to Piccadilly, 12.44 Airport to Saltburn, 17.30 Piccadilly to
Scarborough, 20.40 Airport to York and 20.51 Saltburn to York. The 06.14 Liverpool to Cleethorpes
starts from Oxford Road at 07.08, and the 16.44 Airport to Saltburn service terminates at York.

❷TPE issued a 'do not travel' alert on Wed 21 Dec because of an issue caused by an overnight fault
affecting rostering software. It expected to cancel about a third of 325 services planned that day and
did not know when the problem would be resolved, with disruption continuing until 24 Dec.

50] Newcastle: It is becoming increasingly difficult to accommodate 130m long 5-car Class 802 TPE
bimodes along with other trains in the timetable. West end bays P9-12 all take 5-cars but only those
with shorter coaches and a rapid solution is required before enhancements in the May 2023 timetable.

The proposed solution, costing £1.1M, is to close bay P12, lift the track and plain line its access points
so that P11 can be lengthened. Its coping stones will be relaid to gauge clear it for additional train
classes and the P11 starting signal will be moved further out. This will give P11 a useable length of
134m, although the 5m buffer stops stand back and 2m stopping tolerance will result in about 3.5m
of the other end of the train (but no doors) projecting beyond the platform end. The intention is to
deliver these works ASAP during normal possessions. P11 may need to be temporarily taken OOU.

In the pre-Dec timetable P12 had little booked use (it is outside the ticket barriers at Newcastle); the
06.30 SSuX CrossCountry service from Birmingham New Street arrived 09.45, returning from P12 at
10.35 to Banbury - now booked for P10. In the new timetable P12 has no booked use but has still been
used for platform alterations. The loss of stabling capacity by closing P12 can be handled by P8.

Extending P8 would also allow longer EMU services in the future. This will be investigated after P11
works are complete. The P11 & 12 changes will not affect long term plans for P9-12. Feasibility studies
are under way for significant layout changes, with different options to extend these four platforms.

51] Darlington hunts for cash: (BLN 1412.2615) Visiting the town on 1 Dec, the Chancellor confirmed
£93M from the government towards the station rebuilding project, in addition to the £33M from the
Tees Valley Combined Authority. Completion is planned by mid-2025 for the S&DR 200th anniversary.

52] Knaresborough: The Grade II listed station, dating from 1865 and rebuilt in 1890, had its platform
canopies restored in 2016. The roof was upgraded in 2019 at a cost of £150,000 (BLN 1339.2687).
The station won the Urban Heritage award at the 2021 National Heritage Awards. The main entrance
canopy has recently been repaired and repainted white and green to match the platform canopies.

53] York: ①A member is intrigued by two Mk4 carriages noticed at the NR Training Centre on 15 Dec.
They are not visible from passing trains and only just so from the far end of the station footbridge.
He has no idea how long they have been there; his 2021 Platform 5 stock book shows them at Worksop.
②(BLN 1414.2871) During the 27 Dec-1 Jan diversions, 2.7km of track and nine sets of points were to
be replaced, including the Scarborough line junction. Not a reinstatement of the through lines, alas!