Ilkley on Sat 18 Feb 2022. (William Ramsden.)
725] T&W Metro: ❶South Gosforth - Airport has no services from Mon 20-Fri 24 Mar (incl), for 3km of OHLE to be replaced at a cost of £1.6M. Fawdon Crossing is closed, with a taxi provided for those unable to use the walking diversion. It is part of a £36.4M wire renewal programme which started in 2011 and should be completed by 2025. In total 106km of original 40 year old wire is being replaced. ❷(BLN 1417.320.3) The first new Metro unit was originally due to arrive on 27 Jan However, it was returned to the Stadler factory in Switzerland after experiencing a fault at the start of its journey to the UK. A local member and your NE Editor have been avidly watching Realtime Trains for the first delivery path and one eventually appeared from Doncaster. In retrospect, on Wed 22 Feb, a light engine ran as 11.40 Wembley European Freight Operations Centre to Dollands Moor Sidings 14.21. It left 72 min early and arrived 96 min early; a very short term path (VSTP) on that day only. On Wed 23 Feb, the delivery ran as 7Q42 17.25 Dollands Moor Sidings to Wembley European Freight Operations Centre arr 19.59. It left 9 min early and arrived 15 min late. Limited to 40 mph, it ran via Orpington, Nunhead and Longhedge Jn. Surprisingly, considering its low speed, the only place it was booked to be looped was at Sevenoaks. Sadly, during its relatively short wait at Wembley, the unit was 'tagged' in just a few minutes by mindless graffiti vandals. Wembley is a very dangerous place to trespass in, of course. Disgracefully, there was apparently a £10,000 'prize' offered by some warped individual to the first people to do this. The same has happened to the first new DLR unit to arrive. On 23 Feb Rail Adventure HST power cars 43484 + 43465 ran as 0Z54, 17.02 Kings Norton On Track Plant Depot to Wembley Terminal Complex Wheel Lathe (20.24), to power the delivery to Nexus. Next was 6Q55 23.49 Wembley Receptions 1-7 (per Realtime Trains) or Wembley Terminal Complex Wheel Lathe (OpenTrainTimes) via Kensal Green Jn, Gospel Oak, Camden Road Jn, Copenhagen Jn and the ECML to Doncaster Belmont Down Yard, arr 24 Feb 06.16. On Sat 25 Feb it continued as 6Q56 02.13 Belmont Down Yard via the ECML and York 'avoiding line' to Tyne Sorting Sidings (05.01). It left Belmont 47 min late and, gradually losing time, did not arrive on Tyne on time but was 82 min late. It must have been the first time a Metro unit has been hauled by a pair of HST power cars ('Top&Tail'). Finally, on Tue 28 Feb, the unusual formation continued as 6Q57, 00.12 Tyne Sorting Sidings to Pelaw Goods Loops arr 00.39. From there it was a non-timetabled shunt. A keen local member caught the final Metro towards Pelaw and alighted at Heworth, in an attempt to photograph the delivery train heading for Pelaw Goods Loops. About 10 enthusiasts were waiting at Heworth at around 00.30 when it passed through, a few minutes early. As the lights on the NR platforms were off, a moving train wasn't a good subject in the available light (photos E-BLN 1419.X.20). The plan was for the delivery train to take the connection from Pelaw to the Nexus 'In Shields' line (to South Shields). Then it would shunt unit 555003 over the facing crossover and back on to the 'Out Shields' (towards Gateshead) line for a few hundred yards. A Metro train would be waiting there to take it to South Gosforth Depot. Our member moved to Pelaw, where he noticed a quite lengthy Metro unit waiting in P2, formed of car 4086 at the South Shields end, followed by 4071, 4073 & 4018. It was Train 181, which had come from Regent Centre. Car 4086 has been fitted with a modified coupler one end so it can couple up to the new units. He then headed to the A185 bridge over the Metro line near Bill Quay Jn. By then the Metro unit (on the left in BLN 1419.X.20 first image) had moved forward, wrong line on the 'Out Shields' past the junction with the Sunderland line. Meanwhile the delivery train was waiting on the NR Connection (right in the same image). At 01.00 the delivery train arrived and came to a stand with the rear of the new Metro car just under the Jarrow side of the bridge (second image BLN 1419.X.20). The barrier vehicles to the rear were uncoupled and the train moved forward slightly (third picture). Checks were made on the new Metro unit by staff on the ground. After a while it moved forward across the facing crossover used by the oil train from Jarrow and came to a stand. The front barrier wagons were uncoupled from the Metro unit being delivered and the train pulled slightly forward. Train 181 then moved forward (wrong line) on the 'Out Shields' and Car 4086 coupled to the new unit. Then, with the checks completed, it moved forward and left 03.02 for South Gosforth Depot via Regent Centre at 03.02. http://bit.ly/3SXUuOt (Click 'Browse') is a 2⅓ min video of 555003 arriving at the rebuilt Gosforth Depot with its number revealed (it was covered over earlier on). The transfer took
longer than planned; a departure time of 02.00 was envisaged. The delivery train then reversed to reconnect with the rear barrier waggons (fourth picture). This took a while and it was 04.08 before the train left towards Hebburn to run round, using the crossover there. An issue encountered while the power cars were running round the delivery train may have been responsible for the delay. Our keen member returned to Heworth to catch the first Metro towards South Shields at 05.18. However, the delivery train had still not appeared. His unit arrived showing 'Pelaw' as its destination. The driver said it was not going further as the possession on the line was still in place for the delivery train. After a conversation with Control, the driver said that the delivery train was on the move and they hoped to go through; everyone who had been told to alight re-boarded. Approaching Pelaw at 05.22, the delivery train was on the NR connecting line, 47 min late. After waiting a few minutes while the possession was handed back, the Metro train departed. The delivery train ran as 6Z58 04.41 Pelaw Goods Loops via York 'avoiding line' and the ECML to Doncaster Belmont Down Yard arr 07.19, with a crew change at Tyne Sorting Sidings. It left Pelaw 41 min late and arrived at Belmont 66 min late. Fortunately, it was a dry night, despite being overcast, which helped keep the temperature up. Lessons will have been learned and the next one should be smoother. It was suggested deliveries would occur about every two weeks. Our member wishes to be clear that he is not turning out and losing a night's sleep to see the next 45 Class 555 units arrive! The second unit reached Tyne Yard on Fri 10 Mar and its delivery went better. On Sat 11 Mar the 23.56 Tyne SS to Pelaw Goods Loops (00.18) arrived eight minutes early and the 04.40 Pelaw Goods Loops to Doncaster Belmont left 24 minutes early at 04.16. ❸(BLN 1419.571.3) Monkseaton to North Shields services resumed on Wed 22 Feb at around 18.20 (after TCP from Mon 20 Feb) but they still do not call at Whitley Bay due to the unsafe roof, following damage from Storm Otto. Services have not called there since about 09.00 on Fri 17 Feb. Businesses on the concourse were allowed to reopen at the beginning of March after work to secure that section of the roof. On Sat 25 & Sun 26 Mar there is a line closure between North Shields (facing crossover in use on arrival from St James) and Monkseaton (ECS shunt) to complete fitment of safety netting to the canopy. The stop is then expected to reopen on Mon 27 Mar. Whitley Bay Metro stop is one of the largest buildings maintained by Nexus. It is a Grade II listed structure over 100 years old and therefore presents a number of challenges. Before the recent storm, the main canopy at the station was already due for major refurbishment later this year and Nexus has awarded a £4.5M budget contract for this. It will focus on the canopy and return it to its original grandeur. The metal supporting structure will be renovated, repainted and the glazing replaced with a modern canopy extending over the tracks for the first time to provide a more pleasant passenger environment. Listed building consent was granted for all this work on 8 Jun 2022. The last roof renovation project, costing £7M, was completed in 2008. ❹Haymarket stop closed from start of service Fri 3 Mar for safety reasons due to escalator failures. It reopened from start of service Tue 7 Mar but as exit only until further notice. A member alighted there that afternoon and only one of the three escalators was working, which promptly failed as he reached the top! (He had only eaten a light lunch.) They managed to revive it after a short while. 726] Newcastle: (BLN 1356.1993) The future of the Station Gateway project is in doubt after the main contractor Tolent, one of the biggest in the North East, went bankrupt in February. It included a new concourse and two pedestrian and cyclist entrances. It is unclear how much work remains to be done. 727] Leeds: (BLN 1339.2682) The £46.1M Leeds Station Sustainable Travel Gateway scheme is the first stage of the Leeds Integrated Station Masterplan. Delivered by Leeds City Council on behalf of NR as the landowner, it will create a much improved environment for growing passenger numbers. Advance works and preparations have been underway since May 2022. The next stage, due to start this month: Pedestrianising New Station St to Boar Lane. The Taxi rank moves to Bishopgate St with kerbside boarding for wheelchairs. Two 21 passenger lifts from Bishopgate St to the New Station St entance. A high quality cycle hub and improved local cycling infrastructure. Environmental improvements to Neville St and Dark Neville St. See http://bit.ly/3Jnsn85 for updates. The City Council and NR have worked to combine the scheme with a separate NR project to reinforce the underground structure below New Station St, which supports much of the station. All work is due for completion by Sep 2025.
728] Kirbymoorside: (BLN 1419.585) A member has asked about the train crew arrangements for the excursion. Your NE Editor doesn't know but thinks it likely that the crew (almost certainly York men) enjoyed over six hours at Kirbymoorside, rather than being ferried in and out by road. Would they have needed conductors? York crews worked the Ampleforth College special trains, so knew the route to Gilling. There was an annual excursion from Kirbymoorside (organised by the Helmsley portersignalman) to a seaside resort. The last one ran on 6 Jun 1963, so that route knowledge would have expired. Occasional officers' specials to Kirbymoorside would retain route knowledge for a while. Malton shed closed 22 Apr 1963, so any conductors would presumably have been York goods men. 729] Gateshead: (TRACKmaps 2 p22A 2020) 270 houses are to be built on the site of Tyneside Central Freight Depot, empty for over 25 years. The first residents are expected to move in during December. 730] Goole: (BLN 1413.2735) (TRACKmaps 2 p38A 2020) A new Relocatable Equipment Building (REB) is required at the north end of the Up platform for resignalling. However, provision must be made for reinstatement of the Up Sidings if required. This follows rejection of an earlier proposal to remove the sidings. The pointwork accessing the sidings will therefore now be renewed. The headshunt behind P2 will be removed to provide space for the REB and its access points converted to trap points. 1420 NORTH WEST (John Cameron) [email protected] 731] Blackpool Trams: With the help of Blackpool Council and Blackpool Transport, £800k has been secured to start redeveloping Rigby Road Heritage Tram Depot. This is the first of four phases of development of the Depot, which will become known as 'Tramtown'. Phase 1 includes: A new roof over a third of the tram shed (closest to the entrance). A new headbeam. A new partition wall. Repairs to the gutters and drains. Relocation of engineering equipment to the redeveloped facility. It is hoped that the installation of purpose built doors for a third of the tram shed can be included in this phase, which would require a further £70k see http://bit.ly/3Tc5wjd to help. Phase 2 completes the roof replacement with major building repairs. Phase 3 is the addition of front doors and to complete conservation of the building. Phase 4 creates an exhibition space, café, conference facilities, elevated walkways and retail area. https://youtu.be/8GKMrNqiZzg (5½ min) click 'Browse' is a video about the project vision and designs. 732] Wennington: (BLN 1419.393) P2 (to Lancaster), closed since 13 Jan, reopened on Mon 13 Mar. 733] £3 Thursdays: From 6 Feb until 27 Apr (except 6 Apr) at least 1,500 Advance tickets (so specific trains) per day were available each way on Thursdays only between Bolton and Manchester for £1.50 throughout the day. All seem to have been quickly sold. The Anytime Day Return is £7.90, Off Peak £6.70 or £5.80 with Advance tickets - all before Railcards which did not apply to the £1.50 tickets. 734] Deansgate: Planning permission has been granted to redevelop the Great Northern Railway Warehouse. The 1990s retail extension, currently the Odeon Cinema, will be demolished to allow for nearly 746 new flats, a 34-storey office block and a new public space, said to be a 'welcoming green oasis'. A glass bridge will be built between the warehouse and Deansgate Terrace. A member wonders if there will still be any access to the Manchester & Salford Junction Canal transhipment bays under the warehouse. The access to the dry area is currently via an access staircase which descends from a unit within the retail development that is being demolished. There are the remains of air raid shelters and other artefacts down there, as well as the winch towers which connected to the GNR warehouse. 735] Combating helmet hair at Oxford Road: A new cycle hub has opened at the station. There are 18 bicycle spaces, a maintenance stand with tools and a tyre pump. A two-tier gas-assisted rack system helps with heavy lifting. A bench has been installed for cyclists to change their shoes and a mirror to combat the inevitable 'helmet hair'! The door entry uses a secure Bluetooth app and there is CCTV. 736] Fallowfield Loop: (BLN 1345.473 - walk report) £300k from the Government's Safer Streets Fund will result in improvements to this 5½ mile trackbed path: ֍A more open route so several cyclists and pedestrians can use the path side by side. ֍More prominent and accessible access points. ֍Better connection of the routes to different neighbourhoods. ֍Improving the landscape to attract more users. ֍Improved signage. Site preparation and landscaping began on the 'Yellow Brick Road' stretch on 27 Feb. Further upgrades are expected to be implemented in late spring or early summer 2023.
737] Now it Can be Told (72): A retired railway electrician was sent to Castleton signal box one day to investigate a power problem. When he checked the fuses, an employee from the nearby Corus Rail welding depot turned up complaining that his power had gone off. It emerged that Corus had been receiving free electricity for 15 years. Shocking. They arranged for their own supply to be connected. 738] Metrolink: Between Apr and Dec 2022 there were an astonishing 91 collisions between cars and trams. Most are the result of driver error by motorists resulting in considerable financial cost - tram repair bills from those 91 collisions totalled £1.4M, mostly funded through the motorists' insurance. 739] Merseyrail: (BLN 1419.597) Since Mon 6 Mar the Kirkby line has been operated only by Class 777 EMUs, with 4 trains per hour again. It is the shortest self-contained line and this requires three units. When services extend to Headbolt Lane later this year, only the seven Class 777/1 EMUs will be able to work the line with their large batteries. Their maximum speed on third rail is 75mph or 62mph (in case you were wondering it is 100km/hour) in large battery mode. There are also 46 Class 777/0s. Also from 6 Mar, other services were temporarily cut until further notice for driver training. On the Ormskirk line five SSuX and eight SO. On the Southport line, six services will be cancelled SSuX. On the first day a software glitch restricted them to 5mph on the new routes, causing delays to service trains. 740] Fiddlers Ferry: The VSOE Pullman coaching set based at Stewarts Lane is booked to use Ditton Jn - Arpley Jn line in both directions, ECS, to stable in Arpley Sidings on Grand National day, Sat 15 Apr. 741] St Helens Central - Wigan NW: (BLN 1418.464) The Sat 5 Feb 20.21 from Wigan NW and Sun 6 th 08.36 & 09.37 Blackpool North, all to Lime Street, were the only trains to do the SLW described in the Down direction. Delays were heavy, these trains arrived 42, 56 and 114 min late respectively, probably explaining why so few did it. Others ran via Newton-le-Willows. By chance our member had seen the freight train on the Sat, with sand swirling from the wagons; it appeared as though a steam locomotive was approaching! It is ironic that a lack of sand was one of the reasons the train stalled where it did! 742] Hindley: (340,000 passengers 2019-20) The station is closed Mon 13 Mar until Sun 23 Jul 2023 (incl), for platform lengthening work along with demolition and replacement of the nearby Ladies Lane overbridge. The lane is also closed. The bridge, built in the 1840s, is one of 17 structures requiring attention for electrification of Crow Nest Jn - Wigan NW (6½ miles), which seems to be taking for ever. 743] Whaley Bridge: (BLN 1413.2753) Hazel Grove - Buxton TCP Sat 18 Feb and ROP Wed 1 Mar, a day later than planned. During replacement of the Grade II listed Victoria Buxton Road underbridge, despite detailed surveys, parts which were intended to remain intact during demolition couldn't be removed in one piece, leading to work taking much longer than anticipated. A precast concrete bridge deck was installed to carry the railway lines. About a third of the original structure has been retained and the rest was replaced with new steel in keeping with the bridge's heritage features. 1420 SOUTH EAST - NORTH & EAST ANGLIA (Julian James) [email protected] PLEASE USE THE GENERIC EMAIL ADDRESS (ABOVE) DUE TO CURRENT HOLIDAYS 744] Westerfield - Woodbridge: (BLN 1413.2627) NR is to stabilise and widen a mile of embankment during a 13 day line closure from 25 Mar to Thu 6 Apr (7 Apr is Good Friday). Buses replace trains between Ipswich and Saxmundham, except 30 Mar & 1 Apr if RMT strike action takes place. The work is needed as the top of the embankment is failing with signalling equipment and signage gradually slipping down the bank. There is no walkway along the embankment, so access for maintenance is severely limited. The widening will provide space for a new walkway. The Up track is due to be replaced but this cannot happen until the embankment is stabilised. This follows a series of weekends from Dec to Feb when track was replaced at different locations on this section of the East Suffolk Line. Level crossings surfaces around Woodbridge which were old and uneven are also being replaced. 745] Hythe Pier: (BLN 1417.362) (MR p18) It was widely reported that Blue Funnel Ferries had given all of the Pier assets to Hythe Pier Heritage Association (HPHA) in early 2019 but this did not occur. Blue Funnel Ferries own almost all of the Pier assets, although over time ownership of the train has moved mainly to the HPHA. It also seems that HPHA is not actually running the railway, suggesting we are back to the original position of the future of the railway being tied in with the future of the ferry.
746] Brandon: (BLN 1359.2457) On Wed 1 Mar an inspection reportedly revealed structural damage to the Grade II listed building on Down P1 (to Norwich) with a risk of collapse, particularly the roof. Matters are complicated by a colony of Brown Long Eared Bats, a protected species, hibernating in the building. For safety reasons, the footbridge was closed and Down trains have not called since the 16.48 to Norwich on 1 Mar. Up trains to Ely are calling normally. A replacement bus runs Ely - Brandon - Thetford (but has not been shown in online systems) and passengers to Norwich can double back by train at Ely; or from Ely double back via Thetford at no extra cost. Since 8 Mar trains pass Brandon P1 with a 20mph Emergency Speed Restriction in place. There may be more to this than meets the eye… SAVE Britain's Heritage (or just SAVE) is suspicious as Greater Anglia (GA) wanted to demolish Brandon station building to extend the car park. In Jul 2020 SAVE successfully went to the High Court to prevent this (BLN 1358 2312 with photos). This station is unusual, in a flint stone finish, so is of great interest. An architect, Roderick Shelton, has since publically revealed that he surveyed the building fully in Jul 2022 and prepared a scheme of repair for a national conservation group and a local preservation trust in association with GA who facilitated access. On receipt of the scheme, GA immediately announced that they had found money to repair the roofs and would be doing so shortly, thus negating this proposed scheme. Scaffolding was erected in late Sep 2022 reportedly to contain any falling debris but no repairs have been undertaken. GA's recent announcement of fast-track demolition took most people by surprise. Mr Shelton inspected the building again during the last week of Feb 2023 and there was no significant deterioration that he could observe externally to warrant GA's recent action. A leading conservation engineer has been arranged to inspect it. Meanwhile legal letters have been circulated. It is not SAVE's intention to allow the demolition of this important historic railway building. Breckland District Council has also warned that any works undertaken without their prior approval will result in criminal prosecution. Consent would also be needed from Natural England due to the bats. 747] Dublin DART? Nah, Luton Airport*! (BLN 1419.614) On Fri 10 Mar a keen member from Reading and another from New Malden darted off to Luton Airport to represent our Society on the first public day of operation. It turned out that there had been a low key press day the previous day, with a larger one on Mon 13th . Luton DART (Direct Air-Rail Transit) opened to the public at about 14.20 on 10th and was to run until about 18.00. The hours will slowly build up to 7-day, 24-hour operation by the end of the month when the bus service will be withdrawn. Until then bus tickets (£2.60 single) are valid. Journey time for the 1.4 miles is nearly 3½ min and the maximum frequency with 2-cars running is every 4 min from 04.30 (06.30 SuO) to 09.00 and 16.00 to 18.00. That is according to the website but a manager thought that it would be every 5 min in practice! From 01.00 to 03.30, the shuttle will run every 15 min with one car operation allowing time for maintenance on the other car and track. At other times of the day, it will be every 8 min. Valid 'Older Person Bus Pass' (presumably issued in England but not specified?) and 'Disability Badges' can be used but you can't just turn up with them. Apply on line at: http://bit.ly/3LlgAZs at least 72 hours before travelling; an image of the pass/badge has to be uploaded but, when validated, this creates an account for future use. Luton residents (who need to prove their address) can have 50% discount on tickets bought on the DART website. Barcoded digital tickets are issued to open the barriers at each end, which also accept contactless Bank Cards. Through tickets, including DART, are available from National Rail stations; select 'Luton Airport' as the destination or origin (they are already sold via the existing bus link). Advance through fares to or from St Pancras are as low as £10 single before Railcard discounts. The service is advertised as every 30 min, taking as little as 32 min to/from London. The single DART fare is £4.90, so anyone with a Railcard could travel from or to London for as little as £1.70 extra and it is within the Network (SE) Railcard area, of course. Penalty fares apply on DART. *You may be too young to understand that one! 748] Cambridge resignalling: (BLN 1408.2160) Weekend dates until 29 May for work affecting services are Sats & Suns 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26 Mar; Fri 6-Mon 9 Apr, Sats & Suns 15, 16, 22, 23 Apr, Sat 29 AprMon 1 May, Sun 7 & Mon 8 May, Sats & Suns 13, 14, 20, 21 May, Sat 27 - Mon 29 May. Other planned tasks will include early enabling work and site set up for Cambridge South, track renewals, drainage, surveys and structures. Further closures will be needed later this year and they continue into 2024.
749] Cambridge South: (BLN 1415.86) Construction officially began on 13 Mar; the 'Cambridge South Infrastructure Enhancement project' continues until Mar 2025. The works are from the London side of Shepreth Branch Jn (53m 00ch) to the London side of Cambridge Station (55m 27ch). Early works for Cambridge South construction require changes to the OHLE at Shepreth Branch Jn that will prevent bimodes or electric locos running from there to Cambridge. EMUs and Up workings are unaffected. 750] Ely - Norwich: (BLN 1419.613) Weekly Operating Notices show that, after the 1959 closure of most of the Midland & Great Northern Joint lines, signalling enhancements on both lines between Padnal, Shippea Hill and Lakenheath boxes were commissioned during the week of 11-17 Jun 1960. Padnal (73m 18ch), the first after Ely North Jn, burnt down in 1989 and the crossover was removed. At Lakenheath box, new Down Main Intermediate Block colour light signals to the east of the box came into use between 22-28 Apr 1961. At Two Mile Bottom box (90m 75ch), which was abolished in 1973, equivalent new signalling was commissioned west of the box on the Up Main at that time. At Brandon box Up and Down Main Intermediate Block signalling came into use 13-19 Jun 1961; a member visited the box on 14 Dec 1989 when the Down Home had gone but the Up was still in use. 751] Wixams: (BLN 1419.608 with plan) Bedford Borough Council's planning committee has voted in favour of the new station almost 20 years after the new housing estate was first devised. The authority is due to put £26M towards the £39M cost of the station. The extra cost of funding platforms on the Fast Lines as well is considered unaffordable but the routine weekly 'engineering hours' on a Saturday night/Sunday morning will be reduced to allow passenger services to serve the station then. 752] London Gateway: (BLN 1411.2501) The owners are making a multi-million pound investment in new rail infrastructure at the port terminal. Two £6M rail mounted gantry cranes [broad gauge?] will be commissioned in 2024 when the £1bn new fourth berth is also due to open. 1420 SOUTH EAST - SOUTH (Julian James) [email protected] PLEASE USE THE GENERIC EMAIL ADDRESS (ABOVE) DUE TO CURRENT HOLIDAYS 753] Channel Tunnel: 846,058 tonnes were carried by freight trains 2022, down 19% on the 1,041,140 tonnes in 2021. This was despite the new Toyota automotive service. 1,446,765 lorries used the HGV shuttles (up 6% on 2021 but not comparable due to Brexit and P&O ferries issues). (Freight Titbits) 754] Kimbridge Jn - Andover: This London & South Western Railway backwater trailed into the Up side of the Salisbury to Southampton line just past Mottisfont & Dunbridge and well before Romsey. At Andover Junction (now Andover) station, it linked with the Midland & South Western Junction line to Andoversford (and Cheltenham). The double track Kimbridge Jn - Fullerton Junction - Andover line CP throughout and CA to Andover Town from 7 Sep 1964 and was taken out of use from 29 Sep 1964. Kimbridge Jn to Mottisfont (¾ mile) was used to stable the Royal Train on 14 July 1966 (it's alright for some) and also stabled a ballast train on 11 Jan 1968. The track on the line was lifted by Nov 1969. Working north: Mottisfont, down a minor lane, is an attractive 2-storey dwelling with a tiled façade. Horsebridge is a superb restoration, with a platform canopy, signal box and L&SWR carriage in the platform. The building is visible from the Test Way trackbed footpath. The railway workers' cottages, on the road leading to it sport a British Railways Southern Region sign pointing to 'Horsebridge station'. Stockbridge has been totally demolished; the site is now a roundabout at the end of the main street. At Fullerton Junction four platforms are extant in deep woodland, two are each side of the trackbed footpath, for the Andover and Hurstbourne lines. Railway workers' cottages and the much altered station master's house are all visible, the latter behind electric gates. Clatford is the site of the village car park, with no trace of the station. Andover Town is also demolished, the site now on the course of a road, next to the Station Inn. It stayed open for goods traffic from Andover Junction till 18 Sep 1967. Past Andover (Junction) on the former Midland & South Western Junction Railway, Weyhill is extant as a security minded 2-storey residence; a typical BR (WR) 1960s concrete and railings underbridge over the A303 is adjacent. The operational (very occasionally!) once double track Ludgersall branch passes. Ludgershall station is demolished, except for one extant platform, but has a loop. A very large new Sydenhams Builders Merchants occupies Tidworth station site, a branch from Ludgersall.
755] Nursling: OP 19 Nov 1883, it was the only intermediate station between Redbridge and Romsey, which line had OP in 1865 creating the Salisbury to Southampton direct route. (The Kimbridge Jn - Andover line above also OP then.) Previously the line from Salisbury (OP 1847) ran to Romsey then, via Chandlers Ford to Bishopstoke (as Eastleigh was before 1889). Nursling CP 16 Sep 1957 and is now a 2-storey residence, painted white, with the date 1883 prominently displayed, as are guard dog signs! 756] Ashford: On 7 Feb a track defect was found by P'Way staff on the Down Main east of Headcorn 53m 60ch. The bidirectional signalling from Headcorn London end facing crossover (44m 64ch) to Ashford International was in use with 12 services shown as routed to the Up Slow at Ashford West. The first, the 11.59 Charing Cross to Dover Priory, called at Ashford Up Slow P2. The other 11 were the 12.29 and hourly until 22.29 Charing Cross to Ramsgate (the 12.29 started at London Bridge due to late running). They called at Ashford International Up Canterbury P5 or Down Canterbury P6. 757] Ryde - Shanklin: (BLN 1419.623) A member recalls a week long IOW family holiday in Aug 1992, spending a day doing the steam and electric railways. During the afternoon, he was at Ryde Esplanade and the shuttle was running on N o 2 track (the former Down line). He crossed to the other platform via the subway and travelled on it to Pier Head and back. Over 30 years later, our member is unable to remember any obvious reason for it running in addition to the normal trains to/from Shanklin. It was a weekday, not a weekend and not a Friday either. He suspects that it continued running as and when required (when resources were available) after 'regular use' (presumably timetabled) ceased. 758] Ryde Pier Head - Ryde St Johns Road: (BLN 1419.623) A five month closure of this section of the Island Line is expected (perhaps next winter) because a couple of bridges are to be replaced. 759] Fratton: (TRACKmaps 5 p29C 2019) A points failure late morning on Mon 20 Feb caused six Up services to run via the Down & Up Fratton P2 and two via Down Main P3, the Down island. These are rare moves indeed but a points failure on 3 Mar led to a recurrence with routing of two Up trains via P2 and 12 via P3! Both are bidirectionally signalled but the Up Main is only signalled for Up moves. 760] Class 313 EMUs: (BLN 1419.628) GTR is to withdraw all Class 313 EMUs with the 21 May 2023 timetable change and substitute Electrostar Class 377s. The 313s are over 46 years old, with increasingly shabby interiors. The routes over which these units now operate, all as single 3-car sets, are: Portsmouth Harbour to Ore via Brighton and the Bognor Regis, Littlehampton and Seaford branches. A member doesn't think they have ever been used much, if at all, east of Eastbourne. The one blue and grey British Rail heritage livery unit 313201 is still in daily use. NR also shows the 313s as cleared to run from Basingstoke to Worgret Jn, Eastleigh and St Denys to Cosham*. However, Sectional Appendix notes prohibit use between Basingstoke and Eastleigh East Jn and between Southampton Central and Worgret Jn, on which their low speed (maximum 75mph) would be an embarrassment. They can also access Clapham Junction (Reading line) via reversal at Ludgate GW Jn. Class 377s are cleared to run on existing Class 313 paths. Your local Regional Editor has seen increasing numbers of 3-car Class 377/3s on south coast services. They retain First Class and also have air conditioning and toilets. (*However, Class 313s are not cleared to Farlington Jn or Portcreek Jn, an apparent paperwork error!) :Our Class 313 farewell charity tour is on 29 Apr!:: 1420 SOUTH WEST Robert Green [email protected] 761] The dividing line: (BLN 1419.630) A member advises that, to the best of his knowledge, SSuX the 05.05 & 07.10 Penzance to Paddington are 5-car IETs which have 5-cars added at Plymouth. The 17.04 Paddington to Penzance is a 10-car booked to divide at Plymouth. The 16.36 Paddington to Plymouth is also 10 cars; the rear set detaches at Exeter St Davids to form the 19.35 back to Paddington via Weston-super-Mare. Other services are booked for 5, 9 or 10-cars throughout. There seems to be no fixed plan at weekends, mainly due to engineering works and continued stock shortages. Another example is Paddington to/from Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock (the latter summer Saturday only) which detach/attach at Swansea, as there is still a restriction on 9 or 10 car formations operating west of Swansea. Before IETs were introduced, the signalling at Worcester Shrub Hill was altered to allow joining and splitting of 5/10-car IETs in P1. This is thought never to have actually happened although one 10-car set has been recorded as working through to Hereford where 9-car sets are regularly seen.
762] Swindon scrap trains not scrapped: From 8 Feb the European Metal Recycling Scrap Train (scrap metals, not the train) Swindon EMR to Liverpool EMR transferred to GBRf from DBC who reportedly regard this scrap traffic (and elsewhere) as unprofitable. DBC also cited problems over the cost of maintaining the wagons and whether the operator or customer would pay for this going forward. At least some flows are continuing. It is the only traffic on the stub of the former Highworth branch now (TRACKmaps 3 p5A 2018). Nine trains ran in the first month of GBRf operation. GBRf has also recently run scrap trains to Liverpool EMR from Attercliffe Sidings (Sheffield) and Kingsbury Sidings. 763] Tytherington: The branch has a 5mph Emergency Speed Restriction (ESR) in place in both directions throughout due to numerous condition of track issues (hence no tours). Given the 6m 24ch of this restriction, a more resilient timetable has been implemented until the ESR impact can be lifted. Traffic is very heavy now both in terms of the weight of the trains and number run (3-4 per day SuX). 764] Whatley Quarry: On Sun 23 Apr 10.30-15.00 Hanson's is holding an Open Day (postponed from Sep). Family friendly activities are planned, site tours, blasting displays (no swearing), exploration of fossil and mineral finds and words from the environmental team. Heavy equipment will be on show, specialist locomotives and new rail trucks at the railhead but no rides seemingly: http://bit.ly/3ZAT9j0 765] Newton St Cyres: Pronunciation - posh 'Sires' local 'Syerrs' (2,146 passengers recorded 2020-21). On 2 Mar your Regional Editor visited this station and requested a return trip to Okehampton. The old Up platform is in use with a raised section about a coach long, where the front of trains stop. The Up side station building is a private residence and 'Friends' have created a small garden with some relics, not very colourful at this time of year. The overgrown former Down platform was evident, as was the area of the small goods yard, but no buildings remain on this side. His chosen train was hailed on time at 10.44 and the attentive guard prevented an elderly lady from alighting as our member boarded - she wanted Crediton (see later comment). After an early lunch in the excellent Bulleid Buffet at Okehampton, the 12.27 return trip was extended to Exeter Central (on time) from where his return 13.32 train left four mins late - most trains around this time being announced as between five and 10 minutes late (BLN 1419.634). Although station screens offer Newton St Cyres as a request stop, the audio-visual on train announcements do not. Crediton is shown as the next stop after St Davids, hence the elderly lady's confusion earlier. The train was two min down at Newton St Cyres. This station has a much better service than years ago, when there were just a couple of trains a day. Now there are 12 SuX and 5 SuO to Exeter, although only 7 SSuX from Exeter, 9 SO and 5 SuO. To/from Okehampton it has 3/6 departures SSuX, 5/6 SO & 1/1 SuO. Barnstaple is 4/5 SSuX, 4/6 SO & 4/4 SuO. His three trains were 2-car Class 150s. The 10.44 Newton St Cyres (where our Regional Ed was the only one to join - BLS members are noted for doing unusual things) to Okehampton was about a third full to Crediton, then a quarter to Okehampton. The 12.27 left Okehampton a quarter full, a handful joining at Crediton. The 13.32 from Exeter Central was over 60% loaded on departure and well over 80% from St Davids. Apart from our green member, a student also alighted at Newton St Cyres. Of note, only 5 or 6 car park spaces were available of the provided 66 at Okehampton (£2 per day). 766] Those NIMBYs get everywhere! (BLN 1411.2525) South Gloucestershire Councillors recently granted planning permission for the new Charfield station. A lady living by the station site has complained that public announcements will wake her up every morning. She is trying to have them quietened but has been advised to report the noise if necessary to Environmental Health. Construction workers and train crews will be asked not to whistle while they work. The Council website has all sorts of essential leaflets available such as 'Noise from peacocks', 'Noise from ice cream van chimes', 'Noise from drumming practice' but nothing on station PA systems. What about those noisy passing HSTs, freight trains and train horns? Work is expected to start soon on the £22M station with two trains per hour from about 06.30 until 23.30 to/from Bristol and Gloucester, one each hour to/from Worcester. 767] Eggesford: (BLN 1419.633) A member points out that the 'Victorian signalling etc' (No-Signaller Token Remote and crew operated crossing) at this crossing loop, referred to by Mark Hopwood, was installed by British Rail much later than 1901. Perhaps the MD of GWR was speaking metaphorically?
BELOW: Newton St Cyres looking west towards Crediton, Okehampton & B
arnstaple, the former Down platform is left. (All Robert Green, 2 Mar 2023.)
BELOW: Looking towards Exeter (platform and track upper right), the station
n garden is not at its best at this time of year but see: http://bit.ly/3mYtqmn
BELOW: Okehampton P3 looking towards
s Exeter, with the 11.27 to Exeter Central.
BELOW: Towards Exeter, the disused track in P2 cannot be used as other
rwise P3 would not meet modern clearance standards. Bay P1 is far right.
[BLN 1420]……… ………………………………. BELOW: Back from Exeter Central at Newton St Cyres,………… the well filled train heads off to Okehampton……… ….. note how low the former Down platform is (left)…… ……..
BELOW: A seat (appropriately at the bottom!) under the footbridge - note bridge ownership.
768] Where Am I? (9): All passenger trains call at my island platform now. When I was a junction, my branch had a private halt. There are Grade II listed railway associated items in my environs. 1420 WEST MIDLANDS (Brian Schindler) [email protected] PLEASE USE THE GENERIC EMAIL ADDRESS (ABOVE) DUE TO HOLIDAYS 769] Silverdale branch: (TRACKmaps 6C) From 11 Mar until further notice, NR is carrying out work between Madeley Chord (0m 25ch), the Reversing Sidings (7m 60ch) and Stoney Low Tunnel eastern portal (6m 41ch). It is a non-operational 'High Street Environment', not hard as the branch remains disconnected at Madeley Jn. Does anyone have details of the work and/or why it is happening, please? 770] New Street: ❶Platforms close in pairs for four weeks at a time, starting with P5 & P6 from Sun 2 until Sun 30 Apr, for maintenance of the concrete roof above the 12 platforms. It is about 60 years old and supports the concourse. Apart from obvious re-platforming, some trains will be retimed during the eight-month £7.7M project, most will not. The timetable is still significantly reduced post-Covid. ❷On Fri 31 Mar NR is providing five 45-min free guided tours of the non-operational Grade II Listed Power Signal Box, each for 12 people. Online applications closed 17 Mar but were advertised on our website Forum. Staff who worked in and around the box will lead the tour over three of the five floors. It was the last box to use the Westpac Mk 1 signalling system until closure on 14 Dec 2022. The Society visited this fascinating signal box on 30 Sep 2017; unfortunately, a report was never received for BLN. 771] The man from Del Monte,he say yes! (BLN 1404.1697) On the Camp Hill line, a former bathroom showroom has been demolished to build the new Pineapple Road station in Stirchley. It was the ticket office before the station (Hazelwell) closed in 1941. Only the historic footbridge is being retained. 772] Snow Hill: On Thu 2 Mar the 12.03 Stratford-upon-Avon to Kidderminster via Solihull unusually ran via Snow Hill P3. After Moor Street P2, it took the Snow Hill Tunnel facing crossover (129m 11ch) to call at bidirectional P3, then the rarer trailing crossover at the (Black) Country end of the station. Waiting for a gap in Up services made it 9m late arriving at Kidderminster. P2 is also bidirectionally signalled but P1 is a Down platform only (towards Stourbridge). This rare move was due to a failed new Class 196 unit blocking P1 and P2 being occupied by the 13.12 Snow Hill to Marylebone service. 773] Leicester: On Wed 1 Mar a member enjoyed an impromptu microgrice; the 12.22 Birmingham to Stansted Airport service terminated in P4 due to a lack of traincrew and went forward coupled to the 13.22 departure. CrossCountry units used to stable in Leicester Carriage Sidings but they now have no booked use. CrossCountry now uses Leicester Locomotive Inspection Point (LIP) at night where the sidings were upgraded a few years ago. This may be due to graffiti as they are more secure and/or better facilities. The first Nottingham to Cardiff used to stable in Leicester station overnight but now uses the LIP too, running ECS to Nottingham to form the 06.00 (SuX) departure there. SuO the first CrossCountry departure at 09.55 is ECS from Tyseley via Derby reverse rather than Castle Donington. SuX an early Tyseley to Nottingham CrossCountry ECS and evening return do go via Castle Donington. 774] Stoke-on-Trent: The former Goods Yard signal box in Glebe Street is to be temporarily used as a 'pop up' cinema to raise money for the Macari Foundation, a charity providing accommodation for the homeless. The area is part of a £60M redevelopment begun in 2022. The box has been out of use since the 1990s and it is intended to eventually become a café bar. Members might like to think of suitable films; 'Trainspotting', 'Red for Danger', 'Ghost Train' and 'Intimate Semaphores' perhaps? 775] Malvern Link: (BLNs 1250.316 & e-1313.X.139) In 2016 a hard working young couple bought Station House (once the Station Master's house) and converted it themselves into high quality self catering holiday accommodation. On the night of 6-7 Mar, it was badly damaged by an arson attack - the culprit was recorded on CCTV. The side of the building overlooking Down P1 has been badly damaged and, due to police investigations, only trains of 4-cars or less called the following morning. 776] West Midlands Metro: At Wednesbury, construction works are well underway for the new delta junction for the Dudley extension. (They don't seem to call it the Brierley Hill extension anymore.) It is just east of Wednesbury Great Western Street (the Birmingham side of that tram stop). A ramp is being built across the depot access roads to access the Dudley line, which is at a much lower level.
BELOW & TO FOLLOW: A Port Erin shunting puzzle, the mixed train from Dou
uglas on Tue 7 Mar 2023 - Item 782.1 has all the details. (All Graeme Easton.)
NEXT FIVE: The first day of the Isle of Man Steam Railway season, Fri 10 Ma
ar. BELOW: Port Erin, looking towards the end of line. (All Graeme Easton.)
PREVIOUS & BELOW: Crossing at Castletown.
THIS PAGE: (Item 781.2) A Douglas to Laxey and return ECS 'drying out' run on 5 Mar 2023. BELOW: At Halfway Level Crossing (3m 46ch) the lights were not working, so the guard alighted with a red flag to stop the road traffic. (Both Jenny Williamson.)
BELOW: (Tram 2 on a Laxey to Douglas drying out (thawing out?) run;
Laxey Head is right looking northeast. (Callum Tilley, Fri 10 Mar 2023.)
BELOW: Tue 14 Mar 2023 was the first day of the Manx Electric Railway sea