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Number 1397 (Items 701 - 829 & MR 47 - MR 55) (E-BLN 120 PAGES) 19 Mar 2022

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 AnlabymPaermk bReorasdhiSpo.suethcr,eHtaurlly,@HUbr4a7nBchUl.ine.0u7k873 354464

British Isles news from members; an international section is available.

Opinions are not necessarilyathvaoislaebolef .the Compilers or the Society.

BLN 1398 is dated Sat 2 Apr; all contributions by Wed 23 Mar please

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

Sun 27 Mar Apedale Valley Light Raciliwetay.yScoocimetpy.rehensive railtours E-1393 MG Waiting list
Sun 27 Mar Amerton Railway (2ft gauge; 1,400yd) am & pm tours Website MG Waiting list

Sat 2 Apr 10.30-16.00 The Tanat Valley Light Railway BELOW MG OPEN

Sun 3 Apr Oswestry - Weston Wharf opening weekend trip/s 1395 MG CHECK

Sun 3 Apr 14.30 Oswestry Model Engineering Society BELOW MG OPEN

Fri 8 Apr The Tweedmouth Tractors (see BLNs 1395 & 1396) 1396 MG OPEN

Sat 9 Apr The Merchant of Teesside (see BLNs 1395 & 1396) 1396 MG OPEN

Sun 10 Apr The Glengarnock Growler (see BLNs 1395 & 1396) 1396 MG OPEN

Fri 22 Apr The Honeybourne Hoover positioning move BELOW MG OPEN

Sat 23 Apr The Ore No More revised railtour (but still Class 50s!) BELOW MG OPEN

21-26 May Northern Sweden railtour based on Nässjö TBA IS Claimed

Fri 3 Jun The Royal Charter Crewe - Windsor RBF charity tour 1395 MG OPEN

24-28 Jun Silesian Explorer railtour based on Wrocław *OPEN* BELOW IS OPEN

Sun 26 Jun Adrian Shooter's Beeches Light Railway 1395 MB OPEN

Sat 16 Jul London - Edinburgh mainline steam (Tornado) TBA TBA Claimed

22-24 Jul Save the date for IOM minor railways (Fri-Sun) 1389 TBA Claimed
Sun 28 Aug Scunthorpe Steelworks No24 Summer Track Steeler 1398 TBA Claimed

9-12 Sep Niedersachsen Explorer - redated from 22-25 Apr 2022 1370 PG Claimed

Fri 11 Nov Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway railtour TBA TBA Claimed

18-20 Nov Proposed AGM weekend (Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway) TBA TBA Claimed

IS = Iain Scotchman; MB = Martyn Brailsford [email protected] MG = Mark Gomm; PG = Paul Griffin.

701] Sat 2 Apr; 10.30-16.00 a day on The Tanat Valley Light Railway:: Thanks to Graeme Jolley, the
organiser, a Society day out on this classical one mile long branch from Nantmawr to Blodwell Jn.
Although just west of Offa's Dyke, it is actually in Shropshire, less than 4½ miles by road southwest of
Oswestry, where we have two events the following day. Gobowen is the nearest station at 7.7 miles.
This branch was the extremity of the Potteries Shrewsbury & North Wales Railway (which otherwise
only went to Shrewsbury!!), later part of the Cambrian Railways, then the Great Western Railway.

Subject to extreme weather etc, our day includes: ●Hot drink and bacon roll on arrival, in the Railway's
Class 309 3-car 'Clacton Unit' EMU. ●Unlimited standard gauge line rides to the limit of operations in
'various modes of transport'! ●2ft gauge line rides, with a possible extension open. ●Rides on the
monorail system including, as far as possible, unusual sidings etc. ●A possible further railway surprise
(but very dependent upon weather between now and the visit). ●The buffet car will be open all day.
●12 months' membership of the Tanat Valley Light Railway (required for insurance purposes).

Important notes: The Railway is unable to operate any public running until they obtain a Transport &
Works Act Order (a very lengthy and extremely expensive process). This is a rare chance to do this
significant original branch. The private visit is for our members only (the site will not be open to the
public). We will be forwarding names and address of participants to the Tanat Valley Light Railway for
membership purposes and booking on this tour will indicate participants' agreement to this condition.
If you were on our previous 1 Apr 2012 visit, the narrow gauge line and monorail will be new (at least).

Start time 10.30, the all inclusive cost is £33 Adult (BLS members only); Under 18s £16.50 - must be
accompanied by an adult. There is plenty of free parking and disabled access at this lovely country
location. Details of how to get there will be sent out with the booking. See next item for how to book.

702] :Sun 3 Apr; 14.30 Oswestry & North Shropshire Model Engineering Society:: With thanks to
Tim Wallis, private operation of this ¼ mile long 3½"/5" gauge railway https://oswestry-mes.co.uk/
has been arranged. It is in pleasant woodland at Oswestry Show Ground off the A483 (SY11 4AB),
with free parking. The visit provisionally starts at 14.30, following on from our almost full Cambrian
Heritage Railways trip at nearby Oswestry BLN 1395.414). Members fare £4 (£2 Under 18s, who
must be accompanied by a responsible adult) to include multiple runs over the complete
circuit. Advance bookings only - no pay on the day. Please book on our Website, ask someone to do
this for you, or by post to Mark Gomm, Bookings Officer, per back page with an email address or
SAE. Email Mark with any queries; SORRY BUT FIXTURE BOOKINGS CANNOT BE MADE BY EMAIL.

703] Fri 8 Apr; The Tweedmouth Tractors in Paradise! After the first Newcastle pickup at 11.50, our
tour is authorised to run to 0m 1,230yd on the Forth Banks (Paradise) branch as far as NZ 2374 6319
(west of Dunn St underbridge), further than our TPE tour did. Up Pelaw Goods Loop is also confirmed.
At Ferryhill we are authorized to run to the buffer stops at the end of Thrislington Quarry headshunt.

704] :Fri 22 Apr; The Honeybourne Hoover:: (BLN 1394.280) This positioning move now runs an hour
later: Burton-on-Trent 11.00, Tamworth 11.20, Didcot 15.30 and Eastleigh 17.00; a few places remain.

705] :Sat 23 Apr; The Ore No More:: (BLN 1393.158) The route of this renamed tour has been revised
as the required gauge clearance work for the Class 50s can't be completed in time. Details in BLN 1393,
except the revised route and provisional times (NB: now includes Newhaven Marine freight branch):

Eastleigh P2 (PU 05.08) - Waller's Ash UPL - Reading P14 (rev/PU 05.58) - Basingstoke P1 (PU 06.34) -
Waller's Ash DPL - Eastleigh P3 (PU 07.07) - Portsmouth & Southsea P4 (rev) - Barnham P2 (rev)
- Bognor Regis (rev) - Barnham P1 - Littlehampton P1 (rev) - Worthing UPL (P1) - Brighton P2 (rev) -
Hove P2 (rev) - Preston Park P1 (rev) - Brighton P7 (rev) - Lewes P3 - :Newhaven Marine Sidings (rev):
- Haywards Heath P1 (rev) - Eastbourne P1 (rev) - Haywards Heath P4 - Gatwick Airport P2 - Quarry
Line - East Croydon P2 - New Cross Gate - London Bridge P3 - Cannon Street P6 (rev/60 min break) -
London Bridge P3 - East Croydon P5 - Gatwick Airport P3 - Three Bridges - Horsham - Arundel Jn - Ford
- Havant P2 (SD 20.13) - Cosham - Southampton Central P3 (rev/SD 20.56) - Eastleigh P2 (SD 21.22).

706] :24-28 Jun; The BLS Silesian Explorer Tour:: Thanks to our organiser, Iain Scotchman, the revised
well illustrated prospectus follows, including a map, about our five day rare track tour in southeast
Poland. Even if you have never been to Poland, please look at it. The train will be preserved ex-PKP
First Class compartment coaches with drop windows, plus a Bar/Buffet car operated by WARS, the
Polish rail catering company. The full 5-day tour only costs £475 and is half booked already - only 36
seats remain. Please book on our website and note the information required from all participants.

1397 BLN GENERAL (Paul Stewart) [email protected]
 4 Clarence Close, MALVERN, WR14 3HX. 01684 562862 07790 652351
707] E-BLN extras: (New PDFs on our website) E-BLN 1395: ֎ Crossrail; 21 pages and well illustrated.
֎Completing the Elizabeth Line (Jan 2022). ֎IOM Steam Railway dining trains (Mar-Oct). E-BLN 1396:
֎6 Mar Merseyrail tour itinerary with map and raffle flyer. ֎'Carriages', well-illustrated, a simulated
branch station at Fen Drayton with simulated Pullman Cars serving (real!) afternoon teas (with menus).

706 continued] :24-28 Jun; The BLS Silesian Explorer Tour:: Wrocław, the historical capital of the
Silesia region of South West Poland, has a complex of lines connecting the many rail routes converging
on the city, most of which are freight-only. In conjunction with Polish tour operator Turystyka
Kolejowa TurKol.pl, our Society is pleased offer a 5-day railtour around Wrocław as well as rare freight
lines and newly reopened passenger lines in the surrounding area. Track included is exceedingly rare
and ''very non-passenger''. Highlights are the much sought-after Żmigród Test Track located north of
the city and freight branches including Jerzmanice Zdrój, Gostyń, Murów and Krapkowice.

Operational considerations have meant a complete revamp of the tour programme from the 2021
postponed tour, with the train now based entirely in the city of Wrocław, giving the advantage of a
single hotel for the whole tour. All of the key features of the previous tour plan have been retained,
with the additional inclusion of further freight track at Opole and newly reopened passenger lines in
the Wrocław area. These changes, giving us considerable cost savings, were brought about by the
coaching stock being in Wrocław after a tour by Turkol the previous weekend: https://bit.ly/3tamK5g .

The train will comprise preserved former PKP First Class compartment coaches with drop windows,
plus Bar/Buffet car operated by WARS, the Polish rail catering company. Haulage will be by SU/SM42
locos, potentially to be provided by LOTOS kolej, a private freight operator. A SM30 loco from the local
preservation group Klub Sympatyków Kolei Wrocławiu (KSK) will form the 'tail' loco to aid the many
reversals during Day 2 when we traverse the complex of lines around Wrocław.

These changes have enabled us to keep the ticket price at only £475 for the 5-day tour, excellent value
compared to UK tour prices! This is based on the use of two coaches with four per compartment,
giving a total of 72 seats. We are extremely grateful for the members who retained their bookings
from last year's postponed tour for 'keeping the faith' as we 50% of the train is now already booked.

There will be familiar faces to advise and assist if you have not done one of these tours before. Just to
be clear, all travel and hotel accommodation is the responsibility of each tour participant and the
Branch Line Society cannot assist in these areas. BLS Standard Ts&Cs will apply to the tour. For queries
regarding the tour please contact the organiser Iain Scotchman: [email protected]

The REQUESTED route (see maps), subject to PKP confirmation and timing constraints, is as follows:

:Day 1; Fri 24 Jun:: Wrocław Główny (08:00) - Wrocław Gadów [rev] - Line 752 - WP3 (Laki) -
Wrocław Soltysowice - Jelcz Miloszyce - Karlowice - Opole Wshodnie - Line 277 - Opole Groszowice
- Gogolin - podg. Klodnica - Line 680 - Kędzierzyn Koźle - Line 681 - Podg Nowy Wies - Line 199 -
Slawiecic - Rudziniec Gliwicki - Line 153 - Toszek Polnec - Line 152 - Podg. Droniowiczki - Line 685
- podg. Jawornica - via right hand side loop track to Herby Stare - Częstochowa - podg. Wyczerpy -
Line 126 - Chorzew Siemkowice - Zduńska Wola Karsnice - Zduńska Wola - Ostrów Wielkopolski
- Odolanow - Wrocław Psie Pole - Wrocław Główny (20.00)

:Day 2; Sat 25 Jun 'Wrocław Roundabout':: (With a locomotive at each end of the train.) Wrocław
Główny (08.00) - Wrocław Grabiszyn - Line 753 - Wrocław Gadów - Line 759 - Wrocław Żerniki -
Wrocław Leśnica [rev] - Wrocław Żerniki - Wrocław Muchobór - Line 757 - Wrocław WS - Line
274/112 - Wrocław Świebodzki [rev] - Wrocław WS - Kąty Wrocławskie [rev] - Wrocław Zachodni -
Line 751 - Wrocław Gadów - Line 349 - podg. Wrocław Stadion - Line 349 - Wrocław Brochów Freight
Yard - Line 349 - Święta Katarzyna - Olawa [rev] - Line 349 - Wrocław Brochów Freight Yard - Lines
750 - 765 via diveunder - podg. Lamowice - Smardzów Wrocławski [rev] - podg. Lamowice - Lines
765 - 750 - Wrocław Brochów Freight Yard - Siechnice (or Jelcz Milsozyce?) [rev] - Line 349 - podg.
Wrocław Stadion - Line 758 via two flyovers - Wrocław Muchobór - Wrocław Kuźniki [rev] - Wrocław
Muchobór - Line 758 via one flyover - podg. Wrocław Stadion - Wrocław Brochów Freight Yard -
Siechnice [rev] - Wrocław Główny [break, rev] - Line 285 - Kobierzyce - Sobótka - Świdnica
Przedmieśce - Dzierżoniów Śląski [rev] - Świdnica Przedmieśce [rev] - Świdnica Miasto - Jaworzyna
Śląska [rev] - Kąty Wrocławskie - Wrocław Główny (20.00).

BELOW: This map is thanks to Mike Ball, his European railway

atlases are available from: https://europeanrailwayatlas.com/









PREVIOUS TWO MAPS: The Wrocław area, with thanks to our member Dave Cromarty

Day 3; Sun 26 Jun::: Wrocław Główny (08.00) - Wrocław Grabiszyn - Line 753 - Wrocław Gadów -
Line 349 - Wrocław Kuźniki [rev] - Line 349 via diveunder - Wrocław Gadów - Lines 752/754
- Wrocław Popowice - Wrocław. Osobowice [rev] - Wrocław Popowice - Line 755 - Wp3 (Laki) -
Wrocław Psie Pole [rev]- Line 292 - Wrocław, Osobowice - Żmigród (rev) - Węglewo [end of Track 1
- rev] - Żmigród Test Track Circuit - Węglewo station [rev] - end of headshunt [rev] - via Węglewo
'Avoiding' Curve - Żmigród - Rawicz [rev] - Miejska Górka [rev]- Rawicz [rev] - Wrocław Mikolajów -
Line 756 - podg. Wrocław Stadion - Line 750 - Wrocław Brochów Freight Yard - Lines 349/764
- Siechnice [rev] - Line 764 - eastern track around Wrocław Brochów Freight Yard - Line 763 -
Wrocław Główny WRG - Wrocław Główny Peron 6 (20.00).

:Day 4; Mon 27 Jun:: Wrocław Główny (08.00) - Line 763 - Wrocław Brochów Freight Yard -
Siechnice [rev] - Line 349 - podg. Wrocław Stadion - Line 349 - Wrocław Gadów - Wrocław Żerniki -
Legnica - Jerzmanice Zdrój - Krzeniów [rev - branch to Kopalnia Wilkow if possible] - Legnica [rev] -
Lubin Górniczy - Głogów [rev] - Leszno - Gostyń [rev] - Leszno [rev] - podg. Osusz - Krotoszyn
'Avoider' - Durzyn [rev] - Milicz - Wrocław Psie Pole - Wrocław Główny (20.00)

Day 5: Tuesday 28 Jun:: Wrocław Główny (08.00) - Wrocław Nadodrze - Oleśnica - Kępno - Line 814 -
Hanulin [rev] - Kluczbork - Jelowa - Murów [rev] - Jelowa - Bolko - Line 300 - Line 280 - Opole
Zachodnie Yard [rev] - Line 280 - Opole Groszowice [rev] - Opole Główne - Nysa [rev] - Prudnik -
Krapkowice [rev] - Prudnik - Nysa - Brzeg - Święta Katarzyna – Line 349 - Wrocław Brochów Freight
Yard - Wrocław Główny (20.00).

Please book at our website and kindly provide all the information requested. With the 5-night stay in
Wrocław the considerable tram system may be of interest. https://bit.ly/3ieuXPm is a map (but does
not show non-passenger connecting lines). It has 31 rare line and curve entries: https://bit.ly/3tdz7gS

BELOW: The magnificently restored station at Wrocław Główny. (Photos by Iain Scotchman.)

BELOW: Wrocław Główny station with its fine 5-span steel roof.
ABOVE: SU42-536 at Poloniec with a Turkol tour train (First Class coaches and Bar coach) on 9 Oct 2020.

ABOVE: KSK Wrocław SM30 locos 587 & 682 (Photo by KSK.)
BELOW: Wrocław, junctions and flyovers at the northwest end of Wrocław Gadów Freight Yard.

[BLN 1397]

ABOVE: Wrocław Gadów
Yard and signal box.

LEFT: A Turkol tour in 2017
on Freight Line 292, Wrocław

Osobowice to Wrocław
Soltysowice.

X.82] BELOW: Whatever next in BLN? The days when Editors were very serious an

nd wore bow ties (jackets and ties were once de rigueur on tours). (Stuart Hicks.)

708] Making tracks: A member has drawn up a list of new standard gauge lines under construction
or financially authorised with potential opening dates and invites comments or updates please:

 Northern Line Bank deviation (May 2022). Crossrail Abbey Wood - Paddington self contained
(first half 2022). Paddington - Westbourne Park Jn & (east of Whitechapel) Stepney Green Jn -
Pudding Mill Lane Jn. West Midlands Metro: Wolverhampton station branch (2022). Library
- Edgbaston Village (2022). Wednesbury Great Western St/Black Lake (delta junction) - Brierley
Hill (2024). Bull Street/Corporation Street (delta junction) - Digbeth High Street (don't ask!).
Barking Riverside branch (Autumn 2022). Edinburgh Trams York Place (site) - Newhaven (Spring
2023). Gavray Jn (Bicester Village) - (Bletchley) Fenny Stratford Jn/Denbigh Hall South Jn (Spring
2024). Blackpool Trams Blackpool North branch (2022/23?) Thornton North Jn - Levenmouth
(by 2024). HS2 Phase 1 (in stages 2029-33). Coventry Very Light Rail (funding in place, no date or
details.) Llangollen Railway Corwen Central extension (now late 2022). Benton Jn - Ashington
ROP of a freight line (2024?). Hoo Jn - Sharnal Street ROP of a freight line (now out to tender).
Parson Street Jn - Portishead partly a freight line (bogged down environmental concerns, funded.)

709] Early Railway Memories (75) Gary Pullan, (Member 1923): One of my very earliest memories is

of a train of course. It must have been around 1961 or 1962 in Hayes, Middlesex, where I spent the
first ten years of my life. Station Road runs north from Hayes & Harlington station and, just before the
road crossed the Grand Union Canal, there was a level crossing with a single track alongside the canal
passing northwest into industrial premises. For the only time in my childhood, I can remember the
gates were closed to traffic. A pannier tank then crossed the road heading towards the goods yard at
Hayes & Harlington. So, my earliest railway memory is of a branch line long gone. [It served the British
Electric Transformers part of the Crompton Parkinson Group and Crown (later Castrol) lubricating oils
factories in Clayton Rd.] Modern development means there is no trace of the level crossing today.

PREVIOUS: 1935 map 25'', Paddington is right and Slough left; Hayes & Harlington station (with lots of
sidings) is bottom centre. The British Electric Transformers (and Crown Lubricating Oils - off map left)
branch is bottom right to top left alongside the Grand Union Canal crossing Station Rd on the level.

My father was addicted to cars and we went everywhere by car, except into central London. Growing
up near the Western main line meant I was into trainspotting around 1967 with school friends. One of
the very few early train journeys was the Flam line in Norway in 1967 on a family holiday.

A move to Bracknell meant Saturdays sitting on Reading General (as then) station P5, with many
others in those days, trainspotting and bunking Reading depot where I was never stopped. With
limited money, venturing further afield was mainly with 'Merrymaker' type excursions. Additionally, in
those days I thought nothing of 60 miles round trips on my bike, so venturing to the likes of Didcot and
Watford Junction. My first track bash was on 30 Jul 1978 on the RPPR 'The Merry Go Round', a tour
that could only be dreamed of today, visiting Brentford Town, Staines West, Reading Central goods,
Wallingford, Abingdon, Morris Cowley and Milton Inland Port at Didcot. [Yes it was a good one - Ed.]

Railrovers in the late 1970s did mean I covered some track now long gone but my prime motive was
still train numbers. However, I did cover the likes of the Kilmacolm branch and March to Spalding.

My first experience of driving a train was on 7 Jan 1980 at a student transport conference in Newcastle.
This was before the Tyne & Wear Metro opened and part of the conference was visiting sites being
developed for the Metro including the test track. Sitting as close to the front of the unit as possible, as
you do, when they asked if anyone would like to drive '4001' I was near the front of the queue so drove
the full length of the 1½ mile test track. [Our Society had trips on 25 Nov 1976 and 31 Mar 1979.]

The second train driving experience also qualifies as a story that can now be told. I was increasingly
trying to track down ex-BR shunters sold off to industry in the 1970s. In South Wales I was trying to see
shunters '12061', '12063' and '12071' at Nantgarw Coking Plant. I was walking along the A470 trying to
see through vegetation without success. A police car then pulled up alongside me and the officer made
it very clear that no pedestrians were allowed on that stretch of road and I was to leave the road.

I retreated the way I had come. I therefore changed my approach and wrote to the Coking Plant and
asked if I could visit to see the locos. I received a favourable response so, on Fri 24 Oct 1986, set off for
South Wales. At the plant I was taken to the loco crew office. My guide, Keith, said the locos I wanted
to see were in the shed so we would ride in their Hunslet shunter to the shed. This was already a
bonus. At the shed I saw the locos and thought that was the conclusion of a successful visit.

Keith then said there was no traffic that day as the plant had little work by then and would I like to
drive the Hunslet. Yes! I said, but cheekily asked if it was possible to drive one of the ex-BR shunters.
So '12071' was started up and brought out of the shed. I spent the next hour driving to the various
extremities of the site, including the exchange sidings, with Keith regularly jumping down to change
points. One of the best railway days of my life. I was just in time as the Colliery and Coking Plant closed
on 6 Nov 1986. [The last freight clearing stocks ran on 11 Apr 1987.] The next day, 25 Oct 1986, I was
on the Monmouthshire Railway Society 'Cynheidre Curler' tour, as no doubt other members were.

As an aside, tracking down ex-BR shunters even involved a trip to Italy in 1999. I managed to talk my
way into a steelworks despite not speaking Italian. The RCTS website has https://bit.ly/3pPwL5H
trying to identify which ex-BR shunters actually went to Italy and what happened to them. It is a work
in progress and I've passed on my notes and photos. If you have any information, please contact them.

In the 1980s I started colouring in a Baker Atlas [the first edition had been in 1977] as my interest in
covering lines increased. My first Society tour was 'The Mayflower' on 3 May 1986 to Plymouth Friary
and Moorswater, followed by 'The Cornishman' the next day to, among other places, Parkandillack,
Par Bridge Crossing, Carbis Wharf and Carne Point. I eventually joined the Society in Dec 1987.

1397 EAST MIDLANDS (Graeme Jolley) [email protected]
 Dolbryn, Penegoes, MACHYNLLETH, SY20 8NN. 07484 646542

710] Burton-on-Trent: (TRACKmaps 4 p26C 2018) On Sun 6 Mar CrossCountry Cardiff services turned
back in Up P1, very unusually using the trailing crossover at 11m 02ch in service on departure south.

BELOW: (Item 711) Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal 3 from the bri

idge, looking north to the end of line, the new Royal Mail Terminal is ahead left.

BELOW: In the other direction, looking along the branch towards Daventry

y South Jn from the bridleway overbridge. (Both Ken Strachan, 10 Mar 2022.)

711] Daventry DIRFT 3: (BLN 1276.1218 & 1396.563) On
Thur 10 Mar a member viewed the new terminal from a
public location (Shenley Drive bridleway overbridge,
roughly east west above the southern rail approach).
There are five adjacent parallel 800m sidings (for 775m
long trains), ending at the north end in a 5-road loco
traverser which is visible on Google Earth. The centre
line is an engine release road. The two outermost lines
are embedded in concrete, along the borders of massive
concrete container pads (total 79,000m2) - the west pad
(A5 side) is wider than the east (M1 side). A sixth line
veers left to a new Royal Mail (rail) Terminal along the
west side of the west pad. It is part of the new 78,038m2,
Royal Mail parcels national sorting hub, expected to be
fully operational next year. This location was chosen due
to convenient access to the WCML, M1 and M6, East
Midlands, Northampton and Birmingham Airports.

The Royal Mail line splits into two, the left hand one runs
alongside a loading platform - this line and its platform
are under cover, the right hand line (probably a run
round loop) is not. They rejoin after the platform where
there is a headshunt that appears long enough for a
couple of Class 66s. Its end of line is slightly shorter than
the five tracks that all run to the traverser.

There are 14 sets of points in the whole layout. Beneath
the bridleway bridge is a trailing crossover on the branch
(all double track) approaching DIRFT 3, followed by a
facing crossover just before the two concrete pads, then
a further crossover from the middle (engine release) line
to the adjacent long track at its southern end, likely for
running round. Additionally, there are also two outer
short sidings which end before the west and east
concrete pads respectively. The right (east) siding is
probably for crippled wagons and runs alongside the five
main sidings; the left one (a loco holding siding?) veers
left and has a walkway alongside. Our member saw what
looked like a point motor and a line of lights illuminating
a trackside walkway. All rails appeared rusty. This bridge
will be a good viewpoint when traffic starts. On the east
side of the new terminal is a levelled area for expansion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-4bRH3tBHI
(a drone video a few weeks old) shows the layout well.

The end of line is about 3 miles from Daventry South Jn.
The new double track branch has three bridges, 9km of
track and required 21,000m3 of ballast. Of note are
concrete steps either side of the bridleway bridge, to
help horse riders to dismount on one side of the bridge,
walk across and remount on the other side. This is the
sort of detail which our member has only previously seen in Germany! ABOVE LEFT: DIRFT 3 track
plan, thanks to Martyn Brailsford; north is roughly at the top; the four triangles are boundary gates.

712] Guess the Location: (BLN 1395.695)
LEFT: The Higham Ferrers branch end of
line, 400yd beyond the station. The site is
now an industrial estate. At Rushden
station, the heritage Rushden, Higham &
Wellingborough Railway (MR p7) has a
30ch line. We visited it on 31 Aug 2014.
The ORR issued a prohibition order on
3 Jul 2019 (BLN 1336.MR137), although
public trains were not thought to have
run since 28 Dec 2017. Services with a
Pacer restarted on 18 & 19 Sep 2021
(BLN 1384.2417). Since then, trains have run for some special events including Mince Pie Specials.
Their website and Facebook pages have details of forthcoming events with associated train running.

713] Toton: (BLN 1394.289) Getlink, the Channel Tunnel operators, advise that the import and export
of new Toyota vehicles by DBC should have an initial operating period of six years. These lengthy, well
loaded trains run between Toton and Kolin in the Czech Republic via Onnaing in France.

714] Wingfield: (BLN 1395.426) Restoration has begun; after NR signed off the scaffolding the building
was made watertight. The chimneys have been rebuilt, there has been work on the station and parcel
shed roofs and internal masonry. A new wall plate in the station has replaced the hidden one exposed
before Christmas and oak lintels have been replaced. This is Phase 1 (for May completion) - primarily
funded by a Historic England repair grant (for heritage at risk) and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

715] Derby: Work has started reconfiguring Etches Park Depot for the Hitachi Class 810 bimode units
on order. Changes include electrification of some lines (for testing), new carriage washing facilities and
operational changes to provide greater flexibility (for example being able to fuel two units at once).

716] Gainsborough Central: (TRACKmaps 2 p30C 2020) NR wishes to abandon and recover the trailing
crossover, its signalling and ground frame at 74m 60ch (the Barnetby end of the station). The points
have been clipped OOU since 2012 and some of the Down line pointwork has been removed. There
are available trailing crossovers at the other end of the station and at Trent Jn (where there is also a
facing crossover). The line has very little traffic now and the cost of the work is said to be £130,000.

1397 GREATER LONDON (Geoff Brockett) [email protected]
 155 Onslow Gardens, South Woodford, LONDON, E18 1NA

717] TfL Finances: (BLN 1396.573) A new four month funding package has been agreed with the DfT,
until 24 Jun. It includes support of £200M and a further grant, adjustable upwards or down as needed,
so that TfL receives the equivalent of £1.615bn passenger revenue over the period. TfL has committed
to deliver a plan by 31 Mar demonstrating the options that exist to achieve up to £400M of additional
revenue or cost savings in 2022/23, in addition to delivering the previously agreed operating cost
savings for the 2021/22 financial year. The government has stated a willingness to provide grant
funding for renewals and enhancements in the short and medium term and will work towards an
agreement for long term capital support. The expectation is for agreement to be reached by 31 Mar.

Weekday LU passenger numbers for the week ending 27 Feb were ⅔ of pre-Covid and over 90% at the
weekend. Unfortunately, numbers were decimated the next week by the RMT strikes on 1 & 3 Mar,
with only limited services on parts of five lines and the effect continuing into the mornings of 2nd & 4th.

718] Now it can be told: (BLN 1395.437) A Plymouth member advises that two senior members, (from
Quinton in Birmingham and Eastbourne), who didn't work for LT, did do the Finsbury Park to Highgate
line. One of them had a friend working for LT then, who arranged a private trip on the ECS.

719] Emirates Airline: This closed from 20.00 on 6 Mar, for annual maintenance, reopening on 14 Mar.

720] Heathrow: T4 is to reopen by Jul for the school holidays, presumably along with the main line and
LU stations. 2022 Airport passenger numbers are expected to be about half the pre-Covid levels.



PREVIOUS TOP: (Item 721) London trams, the four
track, 1:11 section, on Dog Kennel Hill in Dulwich.
PREVIOUS LOWER LEFT: The north entrance to Kingsway tram subway in Southampton Row.
PREVIOUS LOWER RIGHT: A tram pinch sign at East Anglia Transport Museum. (Leo Reynolds, 2007).
ABOVE: The north entrance to Kingsway tram subway.
BELOW: A tram pinch ahead with the road sign warning sign to the far left of the tram.

BELOW: Kingsway tram subway in 2011. (Wikipedia, Tony Hisgett

t.) Thanks to our member Nigel Ogilvie for sourcing these pictures.



LEFT & NEXT: (Item 725)
Computer projections of
the new Euston station
for HS2. (HS2.)





721] London Trams (the first lot) again: (BLN 1395.429) On Dog Kennel Hill in Dulwich was a section of
quadruple tramway track, originally a long steep section of double track. The gradient was 1:11 and
runaways took place. Safety concerns led to quadrupling, so that successive trams could run on
separate tracks. The 4-track section opened on 23 Apr 1912. In inner urban areas, if there was some
blockage to ordinary running, a tram queue nose to tail quickly built up, waiting to move again. When
the blockage was cleared, the trams might start moving off in quick succession, and the electrical
power taken from the supply would cause the overload protection to trip. To prevent this, Tramways
Inspectors had to make sure that there was a short pause between successive trams starting away.

A road sign applicable to the tram network was 'tram pinch'. It was a warning that the tram rails ahead
would be close to the left hand kerb and, if a motorist was pacing the tram, his car might be squashed.
At some junctions, pointsmen manually set the facing points. Junctions were often at major urban
crossroads, usually with a public house on an adjacent corner. In most cases, the pointsman had a
pedestal fitted with a telephone on an internal system and the story is told that some were fond of
responding to an incoming call by announcing the name of the pub. Many were named after the titled
nobility. Sometimes a novice clerk at headquarters rang through and was answered by the pointsman
stating, for example, 'Prince of Wales here', to the confusion and embarrassment of the caller.

A short section of conduit track is still visible near Holborn stop in Southampton Row near the junction
with Sicilian Ave. There was a tram tunnel from the Victoria Embankment to Southampton Row and,
although it ceased to be used for trams in 1952, the northward exit ramp is still intact.

For a long time, the tram system was disconnected north and south of the River Thames, chiefly due to
City of London and City of Westminster hostility. Until the early years of the 20th Century, Blackfriars
Bridge was the only central river crossing, along the Victoria Embankment, and back over Westminster
Bridge but with no northward connection. A route to Victoria station crossed over Vauxhall Bridge.

North of Aldwych was then a maze of narrow streets, with slums and small industrial premises. It was
decided to clear the area for a new broad thoroughfare, so London County Council decided to make a
south to north connection from the Victoria Embankment line to Theobalds Road. To minimise traffic
congestion, it was in cut and cover tunnel. At the Victoria Embankment end there was a triangular
junction, where the road was at a low level, and the entry was direct into tunnel. At the time, the
junction configuration was referred to as a 'cocked hat'. The route curved round under Aldwych and
turned sharply north northwest under Kingsway. It emerged in Southampton Row, climbing at 1:10 to
reach ground level. Dodging sewers and other major underground services required a very steep
climb, which was a challenge for drivers. (In modern times, routeing the Crossrail tunnel approaching
Pudding Mill portal was equally difficult, with a weave under/over sewers and over local streets.)

On 10 Apr 1908 this 'Kingsway Tramway Subway' opened for traffic. Single decker cars were used, as it
was too low for double deckers. However, the service was unprofitable due to the limited capacity and
a major engineering project enlarged the tunnel for double deckers, which started in public service on
15 Jan 1931. Due to sewer tunnels either side of the line, passenger access had to be from the centre
of the track, so island platforms were provided at Aldwych and Kingsway. The rear access to/from the
trams was on the left, so passengers had to join and alight at the front of the tram, where the access
was on the right. With the end of trams in London, they ceased running in the tunnel after the last
service on 5 Apr 1952. For some time, the tunnel lay dormant but a scheme was developed to use part
of the tunnel as a road underpass and it reopened as such on 21 Jan 1964. This was for northbound
running only, directly off the Waterloo Bridge by a new descending ramp, and, still in use today, it
emerges in Kingsway at Kemble St. The curve from Aldwych into Kingsway is alarmingly sharp.
The section onward from Kemble St to Sicilian Ave remained dormant and the steep exit ramp at the
north end may be the only place where a fragment of the original conduit power supply can be seen.

722] Penge Tunnel: Track in this 1¼ mile tunnel is to be replaced between 23 and 31 Jul with a line
closure. Most of the track is over 30 years old, with some dating back to the early 1970s. It will be a
difficult job due to tight clearances. According to the NR press release, Queen Victoria disliked tunnels,
particularly this one, and one of the reasons the Catford Loop was built was to enable her to avoid it.

723] Action stations‽ LEFT: A genuine
platform ticket issued to our member
Stuart Hicks recently for the princely
sum of 10p. Spot the mistake; some
action is clearly needed to sort it out.

724] Crossrail: (BLN 1396.568) ●The
last mass testing was to take place on
13 Mar, followed by two weeks of
shadow running. The ORR then has to
sign the service off as fit and safe to
operate, a process likely to take about
four weeks. A further train software
update is due over Easter. Opening in
May therefore seems feasible if no last minute issues occur. It will be branded 'Elizabeth Line' and the
existing TfL Rail services will be rebranded at the same time. See https://bit.ly/3J86lUE for photos.

● At Hayes & Harlington there is a short section of new canopy on Up Relief P4 and the original
canopy on island P2&3. Original canopies remain in place at Southall on Up Relief P4 and island P2&3.

725] HS2: (BLN 1392.38) An updated design for Euston station has been published. The geometric roof
design allows natural light into the concourse and the station will be on three levels, with ten 450m
long subsurface platforms. The ground level concourse will be 300m long and open onto new public
spaces at the north and south ends. According to the press release, it will be the largest station
concourse in the UK. Retail and station facilities will be on the ground and first floors. Located betwixt
Cobourg Street to the west and the existing Euston station to the east, there will be entrances to the
north, south and west of the station. There will also be internal entrances to the NR and LU stations.

The design reduces the ticketed area of the new station by placing platforms and trains below ground,
so the station hall can function as a public, sheltered north-south route linking Bloomsbury and Euston
Road to Hampstead Road and Camden Town. The north-south route will link with new public east-west
routes that will be provided through the HS2 station roof once future regeneration of the NR station is
complete. In addition to enhanced Euston Square Gardens, there will be a new public green space to
the north, as well as community gardens on the west side. The design integrates the HS2 station with
the existing NR station and emerging plans for over site development. A new LU ticket hall will be built,
with direct connections to Euston Square station and from HS2 platforms.

726] Docklands Light Railway: (BLN 1395.434) Woolwich Arsenal to Bank services were diverted to
and from Mudchute bay P3 from Mon 24 Jan until Fri 4 Feb due to a faulty transformer near Bank.

727] Romford - Upminster: (BLN 1395.442) A member who was an Ilford based driver in 2001-02
comments that, at that time, one of the signallers always routed the last branch train into Romford
P2 and drivers had to ask to be routed into bay P1. The problem was that an Up train was booked in P2
before the ECS move to Ilford, so going direct meant the branch train arrived first. If it had to stop for
passengers to alight, waiting passengers for Stratford and Liverpool Street would inevitably join the
train. Management at the time were fully aware of this but only cared if it caused a delay.

728] A Ferry interesting rail replacement: (BLN 1395.435) When DLR was closed between Stratford
International and Woolwich Arsenal for engineering work on 5-6 Mar, advice on the TfL website for
reaching the latter was to use local buses to connect with the Woolwich Ferry or the foot tunnel.
A member has a 23 Jul 1906 Great Eastern Railway ticket in his collection from South Woolwich (ferry
terminal) to Liverpool Street Third Class 7d (=3p) (BLN 1395.435), it is unlikely to work the ticket gates!

1397 NORTH EAST & YORKSHIRE (Geoff Blyth) [email protected]
 26 Trafalgar Way, BILLERICAY, CM12 0UT.

729] Middlesbrough: (BLN 1395.450) The delay in starting Phase 2 of the station improvements here
(back reference) has now been explained - final planning permission was only granted on Tue 8 Mar.

730] Liberty Steel set free, it's not a wind up: (BLN 1396.588) On 8 Mar the financial pages of the
press reported that a financial agreement has been reached so Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs
would not be pursuing the winding up order. This is a reprieve for Liberty's works at Scunthorpe
(Merchant Bar), Hartlepool (pipes), Stocksbridge, Aldwarke, Thrybergh and West Bromwich.

731] Metrocentre: Early afternoon on Thur 27 Jan a member of structures staff advised that a bridge
was damaged near the station. Single Line Working began over the Up Carlisle between Norwood Jn
and Swalwell Jn. 22 trains towards Hexham benefitted until the 11.55 Morpeth to Carlisle on Fri 28th.

732] Blyth & Tyne: ①(BLN 1393.198) Planning permission has been granted for Newsham station, the
last one pending. It will be south of the A1061 South Newsham Road, on the edge of the built up area,
south of the former station. It will include two platforms, lifts, parking for buses, cars, electric vehicles,
(motor)cycles, and taxis with 'road junction improvements'. According to the proposals which were
detailed in BLN 1376.1241, these 'improvements' are replacement of the level crossing by a bridge.

②(BLN 1395.449) Siemens Mobility will manufacture and test the new signalling at their Chippenham
works. The project will be managed and delivered from their York office, which will oversee the design
and delivery of all telecoms, lineside infrastructure and power upgrades. They will install or upgrade
eight level crossings (a mix of CCTV and Obstacle Detection) as well as new workstations at Tyneside
IECC ROC. [Their press release wrongly says IECC!] The plan to install a new workstation in Bedlington
South box (BLN 1374.989) has been dropped. Previously seven crossings were to be upgraded, but
Bedlington South box will be downgraded to a gate box to supervise the Manually Controlled Barriers
(MCB). There are many requirements to be fulfilled for the installation of MCB-CCTV/OD and the
presence of a crossroads immediately to the eastern side of the crossing almost certainly rules this
out. The requirements are not retrospective, so an existing situation which is non-compliant is allowed
to continue. However, changing from local monitoring to remote monitoring brings the rules into play
and it is highly likely that this is causing the need to retain a staffed box at Bedlington South.

③A planning application for a care home by the owners of vacant land in Kenilworth Rd, Ashington
was rejected as the land is earmarked for the station car park. Comments in the local paper suggested
that it was only to try to obtain higher compensation as land scheduled for development would be
worth more. There are plenty of other locations in Ashington where such a care home could be built.

733] T&W Metro: (BLN 1367.3640) The Metro won the Education & Training Excellence Award at the
Rail Business Awards for driver recruitment and customer service training at South Shields Learning
Centre. In the Marketing and Communications Excellence category, Nexus and Stadler were also Highly
Commended for involving 23,000 people in consultation on the design of the new trains.

734] Chester-le-Street: ❶The departure indicators installed after the station was de-staffed are not
working, so a recorded announcement is made just before a train is due. Unfortunately this has some
interesting glitches: Parton (north of Whitehaven) is the last word in all announcements, irrespective
of the destination. A member recently heard that the 07.50 to Carlisle was calling at Haymarket en
route between Hexham and Carlisle (perhaps via the Border Counties line to Riccarton Junction and
then the Waverley route to Edinburgh … with a large BLS turnout‽), and then at Parton after that, of
course, quite a railtour. There is no sign of the planned platform extension but selective door opening
probably sorts that out. The long delayed replacement footbridge is now in place, as is the 'Choo Choo
Railway Café'… no comment! ❷A member recently found no trace of Durham Turnpike station
(NZ 2733 5356, the old A1, due north of Chester-le-Street) or Vigo, further northeast (NZ 2817 5407),
where the area is disfigured by new roads and industrial estates. These were on the Stanhope & Tyne
and their disappearance is hardly surprising, seeing as they last appeared in 'Bradshaw' in Dec 1853!

735] Shildon: In 1857 'Locomotion No1' became the first loco to be preserved as an historical item.
It has been displayed in the Darlington area since. However, for the first time it is to be investigated to
understand its full heritage - how much of the engine has survived from its original construction in
1825. The researchers have already carried out similar studies on locomotives such as 'Rocket', the
'Hetton Lyon', and 'Killingworth Billy'. This proves and disproves various long term theories and stories.

ABOVE: Darlington (item 766.3) the 1833 goods shed with
no sign of life! (Rodger Wilkinson, 8 Mar 2022.)

He said: It is difficult to tell whether the building is now empty. There
were no signs on it suggesting it is dangerous. The story was that part
of the building was being propped up by a steam loco chimney!
(This was in a BLN some time ago). There is a notice on the entrance
gate saying that there are currently no visits to the site, but it is
difficult to tell how old this is. It could just relate to Covid restrictions.

LEFT: (Item 738) Vegetation stops progress of 950001 the NR Class
150 yellow DMU measurement north of Belasis Lane Jn recently.

736] Darlington: ❶(BLN 1394.331) The Planning Inspectorate has ruled that all land east and west of
the station included in the Compulsory Purchase Order can be taken into public ownership. Work can
now start on the £105M station redevelopment. ❷The Stockton & Darlington Railway (S&DR) bridge
over Darlington North Rd is to be repaired and repainted 'holly green'. It dates from 1856 rather than
1825 opening, but is an S&DR bridge, as they didn't amalgamate with the North Eastern Railway until
1863. This is the third and final bridge in Darlington to be renovated. In 2020, the two over Yarm Road,
at the north end of Darlington station, were painted, part of a £60k investment for the three.

❸(BLN 1389.2981) On 2 Mar, the leader of Darlington Council cut the first ceremonial piece of turf
for the new £35M Rail Heritage Quarter; tree clearing has begun. The 'Designated Heritage Assets' are:

North Road Station, Grade II* Head of Steam Museum, Grade II*

The Goods Shed, Grade II* The Goods Agent's Offices, 1 & 2 McNay Street, Grade II

1861 Locomotive Shed S&DR Carriage Works, Grade II

The Lime Cells, Grade II Railway Viaduct (over A167 Northgate), Grade II (❷above)

Skerne Railway Bridge, 320m southeast of Head of Steam Museum, Scheduled Ancient Monument.

https://bit.ly/3MDVXpC describes the plans. According to the 'Northern Echo', work will begin on
restoring the 1861 engine shed at the Whessoe Rd (northwest) end of the site and construction of the
A1 Steam Locomotive Trust's, new carriage works for 'Tornado'. The 1853 Hopetown Carriage Works,
where 'Prince of Wales' is being built, will then be restored and turned into a study and exhibition
centre. Early steam engines from around the world will be displayed here during the bicentenary.
The Head of Steam Museum is to close in Dec for 18 months. The Goods Shed is on the National Risk
Register as it has been deemed dangerous (BLN 1344.246). Built in 1833, it is considered to be one of
the oldest railway buildings in the world still in railway use. The Darlington Railway Preservation
Society is still at work in the building, although visiting is restricted due to work at the site. The Council
plans to convert it into a visitor centre and it is not clear if/when the DRPS will vacate the building.

❹Apparently the Treasury's new 'Northern Outpost' will be on the east side of the ECML, by the Up
Sidings. Teesport intermodal trains with 9'6'' containers run round here but hopefully no longer by the
time the bean counters arrive, as they won't want their concentration disturbed by noisy locos.

737] Horton-in-Ribblesdale: The Settle & Carlisle Railway Trust is converting the station building into
holiday accommodation and a café, with approval from the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.

738] Billingham Jn - Belasis Lane Jn* - North Tees Sidings: (BLN 1390.3099) (TRACKmaps 2 p45A 2020)
A knowledgeable enthusiast reports that the 'Haverton Total Colas' bitumen traffic mentioned would
have been loaded from a road vehicle somewhere in the Haverton Hill area - hence the name.

An 'Open Rail' search shows that the mysterious 02.47 Haverton Total Colas to Colas Ribble Rail was
booked SSuMX from 23 Nov until 10 Dec 2021 but cancelled every time. It is also in the new timetable
but has not run once and there is still no path in the other direction. Regarding where it might load
(if it ever runs), it departs 02.47 then is booked in Phillips Loop 02.52-03.07 for an 'operating reason'.
Next it stops at 'Haverton Hill Belasis Lane Signal Box' (no longer an operational signal box, of course)
to return the single line staff, then is away to Billingham Jn. This suggests the hypothetical train would
load the bitumen somewhere on the branch perhaps then runs round in Phillips Loop. *A reminder:
Belasis Lane Jn is where the Down Belasis and Up Belasis join to form the bidirectional Belasis Single
going north becoming the North Tees Siding after Phillips Siding Jn; the end of line is now 4m 18ch.

Apparently much work is needed before anything runs again. The last working was 950001 before
Christmas (the yellow NR Class 150 DMU measurement train). However, it only reached about 800m
past Belasis Lane Jn before having to turn back as the vegetation was too thick. It is reported that the
line was deemed OOU in Feb 2022 and a sleeper is now chained across the track near Billingham Jn.

739] Sheffield (Midland): (TRACKmaps 2 p27E 2020) Points 4062 (where the Through Line joins the
north end of the line through P1B) and 4068A (the next set of points where the Down Siding diverges)
were plain lined following the 11 Nov 2020 Earles Sidings to Dewsbury cement train derailment
(BLN 1366.3467). These were to be reinstated and brought into use from 04.30 on Mon 14 Mar.

740] Sheffield Victoria Part 2: In Part 1 (BLN 1396.582) A line from Beighton Jn opened in stages to
Annesley should have been Beighton Station Jn. The GC went over the Midland south of Beighton Jn.

In the 1950s Sheffield Victoria was still well served, there were Manchester London Road (Piccadilly
now) to London Marylebone expresses in addition to other through services between Manchester
and the East Coast. The Manchester line was electrified at 1500V dc in 1954. However, British
Railways then decided to concentrate passenger services on Sheffield Midland station. Marylebone
expresses were withdrawn north of Nottingham Victoria on 2 Jan 1960 and local services between
Sheffield Victoria and Nottingham Victoria from 4 Mar 1963. The York* to Bournemouth daylight,
plus York to Swindon and Manchester to Marylebone overnight services each way became the only
year round passenger trains between Sheffield Victoria and Nottingham Victoria. (*Newcastle in the
summer; the train avoided Sheffield Victoria on summer Saturdays by running via Darnall Curve.)

Your North East Editor was a regular patron of the Bournemouth train, to and from university in the
south of England. From 4 Oct 1965, most services were diverted to Sheffield Midland. The only trains
remaining were to Manchester via Penistone and Woodhead, the Manchester to Harwich boat train
and the Bournemouth and Swindon trains. From 5 Sep 1966, when large sections of the Great Central
main line CA, Victoria was left with just an hourly Manchester service and the Harwich boat train.

The York to Bournemouth (which had run via the Great Central from Sheffield Victoria to Woodford
Halse then the line to Banbury) was diverted via Sheffield Midland, Birmingham New Street and
Worcester Shrub Hill and the York to Swindon train was withdrawn. It was a Ministerial condition of
closure that a daily through service was run between York and Bournemouth via Sheffield, Derby,
Birmingham, Worcester and Oxford. The southbound 'Pines Express' (then Manchester to Poole via
Birmingham Snow Hill and Oxford) was also required to call at Banbury. The routeing via Worcester is
interesting. From 27 May 1966 a new running connection was opened between Leamington Spa
General (ex-GWR) Station North and Leamington Spa Milverton (ex L&NWR) signal boxes, so the York
to Bournemouth could have used that route between New Street and Oxford via Coventry as indeed
CrossCountry does now. It could have avoided Coventry by using the direct Berkswell to Kenilworth
line - but 1966 was an era of railway contraction; they were 'freight lines' not envisaged for passenger
use then. The Bordesley Jn to Bordesley South Jn link (allowing trains to run between New Street and
Solihull etc) did not become a regular passenger line until 6 Mar 1967 although had been used for
diversions. That date saw completion of Euston to Birmingham electrification and further running
down of Birmingham Snow Hill. A 2-hourly loco-hauled semi-fast New Street to London Paddington
service initially began which mostly also served Solihull and Dorridge (then Knowle & Dorridge).

The Sheffield Victoria to Manchester service was withdrawn on 5 Jan 1970 and the Woodhead line CP
west of Penistone; Sheffield Victoria CA as it had no goods traffic. The Harwich boat train then ran via
the Hope Valley. Huddersfield to Penistone trains ran through Victoria nonstop to Sheffield Midland,
reversing at Sheffield Victoria No4 Signal Box to take Nunnery Curve to/from Sheffield Midland.

According to Wikipedia (yes, we know) the last train was an enthusiasts' special, arriving Victoria
00.44 on Mon 5 Jan 1970 but is not on the Six Bells Junction website. However, an eyewitness account
of the last day has been found, which explains what really happened. All will be revealed in BLN 1398…

BLN 147 of 27 Jan 1971 asked: For Sheffield Wednesday's home games with Manchester United and
City, specials have run in the past from Piccadilly via Woodhead to Wadsley Bridge station. Will this
practice continue now that Woodhead is no longer a passenger route? BLN 148 responded that a
football special had run on Sat 14 Feb 1971, for a Sheffield Wednesday v Manchester City game, from
Piccadilly at 11.55 to Wadsley Bridge via the Hope Valley line with reversal at Sheffield Victoria No4.
Thus it ran via (then) normal passenger routes. Wadsley Bridge (38m 36ch) on the direct line between
Victoria and Penistone (now on the Stocksbridge branch), OP 14 Jul 1845; CP 15 Jun 1959 (public
timetabled services); advertised summer Saturday and Sunday trains for anglers ran until 31 Oct 1965.
There was later severe weather and excursion use; the last football special (Sheffield Wednesday) was
8 Jan 1994 (BLN 977); from 2 Mar 1997 no part of the privatised railway had rights to use the station!

PS: BLN 218 of 17 Jan 1973 advised: On Sun 21 Jan 1973, the new Sheffield Power Signal Box will be
commissioned and Sheffield Midland station closed 00.01 Sun until 06.00 Mon. Sheffield Victoria
station will be specially reopened on this date. Through Midland trains will run via the Old Road from
Rotherham to Chesterfield with DMU connections; other services to Chesterfield run via Beighton Jn
and Rotherham through Tinsley Yard. Lincolnshire services run direct and Manchester services via
Woodhead. It was a remarkable day! On 16 May 1983 the Huddersfield to Penistone and Sheffield
service (previously threatened with closure) was diverted via Barnsley. Thus Woodburn Jn - Penistone
CP; Penistone - Deepcar (for Stocksbridge steel works branch) CA. Trains no longer had to reverse in
and out of Sheffield but there were a lot more stops and overall journey time increased.

741] Eaglescliffe: A planning application has been submitted by Stockton Borough Council for the
redevelopment of the station, funded by £8.5M from the Tees Valley Combined Authority with
support from Stockton Council and NR. There will be a new western entrance to Durham Lane
Industrial Estate, where there will be a 120 space car park. Grand Central (GCR) had already extended
the existing car park on the east side of the line (BLN 1387.2727). A new footbridge midway along the
platform, with steps and lifts, will replace the bridge at the extreme southern end, which has lengthy
ramps down to the platforms. It will extend above the Down line to access the new western entrance.

These enhancements are much needed, as the number of passengers more than tripled in the ten
years after GCR introduced its service in 2007, probably one of the highest percentage increases in the
country: 2004-05 (54k); 2007-08 (76k); 2010-11 (123k); 2013-14 (176k); 2016-17 (207k). Eaglescliffe is
a far more convenient location for Park & Ride or 'Kiss & Ride' traffic from Teesside than Darlington.
These figures show that if a decent service is provided, people will use it. Work is expected to start in
early summer on the road access to the car park. The footbridge should be completed in 2023.

742] Oxmardyke: ①This is the first level crossing (16m 22ch) east of Gilberdyke Jn (previously
Staddlethorpe Jn) where the line from Hull splits west towards Selby and Goole; it was once the 40th
crossing on the line east of Hull. Until 1987 there was quadruple track east of the junction here, with
the Slow lines on the outside of the Fast lines. (Gilberdyke station was Staddlethorpe until 7 Jan 1974
although Staddlethorpe West signal box was not renamed Gilberdyke Junction until 5 Aug 1974.)

Although only a minor road, Oxmardyke had separate sets of gates for the Fast and each of the Slow
lines; in fact :ten: gates in total (!), as two were required to protect each of the east side of the Down
Slow crossing and the west side of the Up Slow crossing. The two additional gates appear to have
moved outwards, away from the road, when the main Slow line gates were closed across the road.

It is thought that these two pairs of gates were required because, if single full length gates had been
used, it would have been impossible to swing them through the obtuse angle when the main gates
over the Fast lines were already closed to road traffic. There were two separate gate wheels in the
signal box; one controlled the four gates of the conventional crossing over the Fast lines, and the other
the second set of six co-acting gates over the Slow lines. With this level of complexity, it is perhaps
unsurprising that Oxmardyke was chosen in 1961 as the first site for the production model of full
length lifting barriers manually operated from conventional gate wheels, following the prototype test
installation at Warthill (BLN 1371.533). The Down slow (northern most track) between Gilberdyke Jn
and Broomfleet through Oxmardyke was taken out of use on Sun 17 Jan 1988, the Down Fast became
the Down Main with new Down platforms provided at Gilberdyke and Broomfleet (the platforms were
previously on the Down slow). By 13 Oct 1988 the Up Slow had undergone the same fate (date?).

②About 20 years ago it was realised that the braking distance from the Oxmardyke Down distant
signal (located beneath the Gilberdyke Jn Down section signal) to its home signal was insufficient for
freight trains permitted to travel at the maximum 75mph. This is a rare event on this line and in any
case the line speed restriction is 70mph! However, as a consequence, the Oxmardyke Down distant
signal became its Down inner distant signal. Additionally, new Down outer distant signals (plural) were
commissioned underneath the Gilberdyke Jn Down inner home signals (which protected the junction)
on the lines from both Selby and Goole. As there is a 30mph restriction over Gilberdyke Jn from the
Goole direction, it is impossible to achieve 75mph in the 65ch approaching Oxmardyke!

THIS PAGE: (Item 741) Computer Generated Images of the new bridge and lifts at Eaglescliffe.
It will certainly be very handy for anyone arriving by train who wants to go for a
walk in that wood on the west side of the station (or vice versa).

THIS PAGE: (Item 742) Oxmardyke Level Crossing - there really are 10 gates (if you look carefully)
- it's an open and shut case. Note the interesting 'British Railways' van on the road, below lower left.

(Item 740) Sheffield Victoria on Sun 21 Jan 1973. The station was temporarily reopened, three years
after closure, while new signalling at Sheffield Midland was commissioned. ABOVE: A Transpennine
DMU is left; looking southeast towards Woodburn Jn. BELOW: Looking northwest for Stockbridge,
Penistone and Manchester Piccadilly via Woodhead. (Both Ian Mortimer, Sun 21 Jan 1973.)

BELOW: Move back from your screen to improve this picture. Sheffield
They were diverted to run via Penistone to Barnsley instead - taken from

Victoria, the last day of Huddersfield passenger services running this way,
a very similar location to the previous picture. (Ian Mortimer, 14 May 1983.)

X.83] BELOW: (BLN 1395.466) Philips Park No1 Down Ashton 2nd Home & D

Down Goods Connecting Line Home signals. (All ©Andy Overton 6 Jul 1991.)

BELOW: Looking west, Miles Platting and Victoria ahead;'Brewery Curve' ro

ound to the right. There used to be extra lines on the left (see back reference).

BELOW: Philips Park No1, View of layout looking west towards Mile

es Platting and Manchester Victoria from the Up Main Home signal.

BELOW: Looking east towards Ashton and Stalybridge with