0) Beaulieu Park towards London; after 2 Jan all trains will use the new tracks. me of the new road here, not the new station. (Iain Scotchman, 30 Oct 2023.)
2580] Beaulieu Park: (BLN 1435.2444) ①The new A130 overbridge northeast of Chelmsford opened to road traffic on 2 Nov after being blocked off for many months. Relevance? It provides an excellent overhead viewpoint to see progress on construction of the new station; previously off site photos had to be taken at ground level. The new bridge has pedestrian footways throughout. ②Project works over the Christmas period will see all eight new sets of points installed and secured out of use. The new tracks through what will be P3 and 2 serving respectively Down Main and the Beaulieu Park Station Loop will be bought into use, significant deviations from the present lines. The latter will take all Up traffic until the points and signalling are commissioned in May 2024 along with restoring the Up Main (P1) to traffic. It is not 100% clear if this will be the existing Up Main or if it will be relaid. However, the existing line is shown on NR plans as 'for removal'. Adjustment to cross levels may be necessary alongside the new P1, which cannot be constructed until the present Down Main (through P1 & 2) is removed (see plan which is thanks to Martyn Brailsford). On completion, all three tracks will be bidirectional but the Up Main P1 only by means of existing bidirectional signalling. 2581] Lowestoft Tram Depot: Lowestoft Corporation Tramways' former depot in Rotterdam Rd is for sale at £875k. Originally with four tracks in the main building, an additional single track shed was built later. The 3' 6'' gauge trams had sole use of the building until 1929, when the first buses moved in. Two years later, in 1931, the tramway closed after running about 8M miles, carrying 80M passengers in nearly 28 years, so it became a bus garage. The building remained as such until 1977 when Waveney District Council sold their bus operations to Eastern Counties Omnibus Co. Following this, the structure was used for industrial purpose but in recent years has fallen into disuse. Despite the fact that is has been 92 years since trams used the building, there is still track in situ. Some at the depot entrance was removed by East Anglia Transport Museum volunteers in the early 1970s but track is still buried under the road surface. The site, about 0.7 acres, now includes a large industrial unit and has modern offices on two floors, with parking for over 20 cars. Rotterdam Road runs north, west of Lowestoft station. 2582] Didcot - Oxford: Heidelberg Materials, the new name for Hanson, has opened a ready mixed concrete plant in Sutton Courteney, northwest of Didcot. It will be supplied via the existing Appleford railhead (TRACKmaps 3 p14A 2023). It is claimed it will keep 3,000 lorry journeys off roads each year. This is a low figure when considered as about six round trips each weekday but, if it is a net amount, not so trivial as rail delivered material may well make its final delivery by road. (Heidelberg Materials is a German multinational building materials company, headquartered in Heidelberg. Formerly known as HeidelbergCement (sic) AG, the company rebranded as Heidelberg Materials in September 2022. It is one of the world's largest building materials companies, so 'Hanson' RIP.) 2583] Didcot Parkway - Swindon: Thames Water is proposing new sidings west of Steventon to deliver aggregate for a new reservoir southwest of Abingdon, flooding 1,660 acres. It is one of three proposed reservoirs to provide water for London and the South East required by climate change and population growth. Recently plans have been announced to increase its capacity from 100,000,000 m 3 by 50%. The siding or sidings are to be temporary but whether this will extend beyond the construction period is unknown. The extent of discussion so far with NR is also unclear. The site is near that proposed for a station at or near the previous Wantage Road (CP 7 Dec 1964), to serve the village of Grove. Thanks to water meters in particular, more water efficient appliances and a reduction in leaks, there has not been a major reservoir built in the UK since Carsington Water in 1991, just southwest of Wirksworth.
2584] No brickbats at Bricket Wood: (BLN 1432.2123) A disused platform building at this station on the St Albans Abbey branch has been restored with a £250k grant from the LNwR 'Your Community, Your Fund', which ultimately comes from the DfT. It opened on 22 Oct as an 'Edwardian style' tea room. The ceremony included LNwR and Bricket Wood Station Heritage Trust representatives. Displays about the history of the location are included. Opening times are WThFSO, from 09.00 until 15.00. 2585] Rayleigh: A fatality here on Mon 30 Oct involving 5K40 09.09 ECS Liverpool Street to Southend Victoria Sidings resulted in the 10.13 & 10.33 ex-Liverpool Street crossing to the Up Southend at Wickford London end facing X/O, regaining the Down at Hockley country end (usually) trailing X/O. 2586] Cambridge South: (BLN 1427.1596) Following the Rail Minister's 5 Jun commitment to fund the station construction, NR has awarded the main works contract to build the station to J Murphy & Sons Ltd. The £93.4M contract will deliver the new two storey, four platform station; enabling works are underway with the establishment of the worksite compound, installation of overhead line masts and the front walls of the platforms. The work will provide 300 construction jobs with completion in 2025. 1436 SOUTH EAST - SOUTH (Julian James) [email protected] 2587] Channel Tunnel: A *Getlink press release reports Quarter 3 results, which show only 366 freight trains ran during the quarter, 3% down on the 379 in Q3 of 2022. This is in line with the year to date fall. The truck shuttles (LeShuttle) are showing double digit percentage falls on 2022, ascribed to a sluggish British economy and strong competition from ferries. Nov 'Modern Railways' has an analysis of the planning of HS1, as a precursor to political interference in HS2. So far as freight is concerned, the poor understanding by Ministers of how railways work and no understanding of how rail works with the logistics industry is stated to be the reason why, in preparing for privatisation, the John Major government broke up BR's freight sector into five companies. Although four of them were bought by the same company and merged again, this manipulation is why less international freight passes through the Channel Tunnel (opened 6 May 1994) today than passed via the train ferries until 1995. (That GBRf operates successfully is attributable to the skill and determination of its management.) [*Formerly Groupe Eurotunnel, Getlink is a European public company based in Paris that manages and operates the infrastructure of the Channel Tunnel between England and France, operates the LeShuttle railway service and earns revenue on other trains that operate through the tunnel.] 2588] Ebbsfleet and Ashford non-International (not Stratford never-International): (BLN 1428.1632) During a recent brand launch for the merged Eurostar and Thalys companies, the Chief Executive Gwendoline Cazenave restated that services would not return to Ashford or Ebbsfleet until at least 2025. The UK's request to be treated as a 'third (world?) country' by the European Union necessitated the establishment of a hard EU border at St Pancras, where British passports must be inspected and stamped. Some Eurostar services still have passenger limits but post-Brexit passport control issues which limited capacity have been eased at St Pancras and other destinations, by better interworking with UK and France border forces and customs. Cazenave said that the reopening of the Kent stations hinges on their ability to finance the necessary resources, including investments in technology such as eGates, and the presence of Eurostar and French Police aux Frontières staff needed at both locations. The administrative relationship between the UK and the EU is strained, exacerbated by the delayed high tech EU Entry Exit System, which the UK has also subscribed to. The delay means facial biometrics and fingerprints have to be collected from British passengers, adding complexity to the constrained Eurostar terminal at London St Pancras that it was never designed for. The investment required, if the Kent stations were to be reinstated to the timetable, would be unacceptable. Competing services on by new operator Evolyn (BLNI 1435.368) are planned to be non-stop on the London to Paris route. 2589] Gatwick Airport: (BLN 1431.1998) The remodelled station is to open formally on Tue 21 Nov, with a new second concourse and airport entrance, doubling the space for passengers. Eight new escalators and five new lifts improve accessibility. The new concourse will act as the entrance for those going to the airport terminal, while the existing concourse will be for those exiting. The old station concourse, footbridges and the South Terminal linkspan have been refurbished and reconfigured to provide a seamless one way system to the airport from the station and on/off the platforms.
BELOW: (Item 2590) South of Guildford, between the two tunnels, 60009 on th
he VSOE and, most unusually, without a headboard. (Neil Berry, 31 May 2002.)
2590]Guildford non-Tunnel:(BLN 1436.2453)(TRACKmaps 5 p26/27A/29A 2019) A member who lived at nearby Milford for 36 years, along with other local railway fraternity, distinguished the two tunnels south of Guildford station, presumably unofficially, by the geology as 'chalk tunnel' and 'sand tunnel' (like chalk and cheese?).There was a bumpy track (of the non-rail variety) over a bridge between them, up to a house perched above the Wey Navigation from which, during the few times a year when light entered the cutting, a photo was possible. E-BLN has one of the VSOE with 60009 on 31 May 2002. 2591] Petersfield: (BLN 1419.625) The signal box will not be demolished when decommissioned. NR say that the 138 year old Grade II listed structure will be retained, refurbished and repurposed. 1436 SOUTH WEST (Samuel Taunton) [email protected] 2592] Cowley Bridge Jn: On Thur 2 Nov at lunchtime, as water levels rose, flood barriers were erected here ready for storm Ciarán. They extend right across the line, blocking it completely on the Exeter side of the junction, allowing it to reopen quicker when water levels subside. Hardly any passenger trains ran that day with the tracks submerged towards Tiverton Parkway at Hele & Bradninch Level Crossing (a usual suspect, despite flood alleviation works in recent years but it was exceptional). The last train through Cowley Bridge Jn was the 12.35 Barnstaple to Exeter Central at 13.38. Services restarted next morning, although the first to Barnstaple was not until the 11.14 from Exeter Central. 2592] Dawlish: Also on 2 Nov, during Storm Ciarán, the Devon Metro Exmouth to Paignton half-hourly services ran very well all day, as did an ad hoc shuttle service between Exeter and Plymouth or St Austell. However, two trains were significantly disabled after being struck by waves in quick succession at 07.37 and 07.52. Next day, most services (including long distance) generally ran remarkably well. 2594] Cornwall resignalling: (BLN 1435.2465) Drivers were warned that, from Mon 13 Nov, various signals associated with the resignalling of the Cornish main line between Liskeard and Redruth had been installed and are covered out of use until further notice. A nice image of a semaphore signal at Lostwithiel stars on the front page of GWR's works handbill, would that be a GWR Star? 2595] Pay-as-you-go (train fares not toilets): From 15 Nov passengers can tap in and tap out in West Cornwall. They must first obtain a free 'GWR touch smartcard' and link it with their bank account via the GWR website. It is initially from Par to Penzance along with the St Ives and Falmouth branches but not the Atlantic Coast line to Newquay yet, valid on GWR and CrossCountry services. Plans are afoot to extend the scheme to Plymouth and the whole of Cornwall. With access to new Anytime Day Single fares and guaranteed best price on same day travel, you'll get the best value, according to the website. Presumably off-peak travel on one day would be capped at the Cornwall Ranger (Adult £15; Railcard £9.90)? Weekly Season ticket price capping is applied on end-to-end journeys between two stations over a Monday to Sunday 7-day week. Of note, Railcards can be added to the smartcard and, if a passenger forgets to tap in or out, they will receive an 'incomplete journey' email and be able to add the details on the GWR website (or receive a £20 charge!) up to a maximum of four times a month. We are told that users will be sent an automatic email if they are entitled to Delay Repay and asked if they wish to claim. Being the railway there are inevitably complications; Advance Singles are not included and it's one card per GWR account. To obtain a child card, adults are advised to create a GWR account using a different email address; both can be linked to the same bank account. Pay-as-you-go is already available in the Bristol area but you can't 'tap in' in one region and 'tap out' in the other - yet. 2596] Torre: In Oct, at this station between Newton Abbot and Torquay, a delightful GWR (not the 'First' lot)style running in board was restored to Up P2. The original had deteriorated and was removed years ago. The replacement is a new build with the usual black background and white cut out letters. There is a similar one on Down P1 that is better protected from the elements by the platform awning. 2597] Kerne Bridge: Once the second station (4¼ miles) from Ross-on-Wye, on the Monmouth line, this 'delightful' 5-bed 2-bathroom converted station building is for sale at £750k. Dating back to 1873, the long, narrow building is positioned next to the River Wye, with 'spectacular' views of the valley and Goodrich Castle. The details say that it is close to major transport links but clearly not a railway now! https://bit.ly/479wbDF had plans, details and 37 photos. CP 5 Jan 1959; the line CA 1 Nov 1965.
ABOVE: (Item 2596) The new running in board at Torre (John Watt). BELOW: The distinctive, listed Torre signal box on Up P2 closed in 1985. (Angus McDougall, 9 Aug 2000.)
BELOW: (Item 2592) Cowley Bridge Jn barrier to stop the trains floods on 2 Nov
v 2023. The Okehampton and Barnstaple branches diverge left (Mark Fishlock).
BELOW: (Item 2597) Kerne Bridge entrance after closure, now the house entrance still with original oak doors.
ABOVE: Kerne Bridge station was an outdoor 'Adventure Centre' then, looking towards Ross-on-Wye. BELOW: Monmouth is to the right; the building has since been much extended. (All Ron Meredith, 19 Jun 1968.)
X.105] BELOW: (BLN 1435.2473) Rugeley 'B' Power Station remembe
ered; an inwards train of coal HTA wagons waits on 'B' Track (9 Oct 2003).
BELOW: On the same visit, in the other direction, looking northwest; the UnloaThe 'A' and 'B' tracks are labelled and the West Coast Main Line is right. NEXT: A
ading House (with a party of interested visitors from Pirehill First School). Also on 9 Oct 2003, inside the Unloading House. (All five by Roger Norrish.)
BELOW: 66209 at the head of an inbound train of HAA hoppers on 16 Jul 2006
. 11,162 of these wagons were built, all at Shildon except for 160 at Ashford.
BELOW: In the other direction (northwest), after running round in the headshu
unt; ahead (off left) is the oil siding with the Hopper House in the far distance.
BELOW: 47832 and Kirow rail-mounted crane on 5 Jun 2016 (used in Walsa
all to Rugeley electrification) three days before the end of generation;
1436 WEST MIDLANDS (Brian Schindler) [email protected] X.106] :URGENT!: Salford Priors: Search 'Disused Stations Salford Priors' to see more pictures and background information (E&OE) to this delightful rural station which is under threat of demolition: http://disused-stations.org.uk/s/salford_priors/index.shtml https://tinyurl.com/msvsmk4j is the planning application to demolish the delightful Salford Priors station building on the former Redditch to Evesham line. The company concerned has already demolished the goods shed. A local BLS member is leading the campaign to save this interesting and historic building - he offered to buy it himself a few years ago but the company said that it was still in use. Our member would be grateful for any support in making reasoned objections to the demolition proposal CLOSING DATE IS 23rd NOVEMBER.
2598] Coventry Very Light Rail (VLR): (BLN 1432.2137) On 3 Nov the prototype VLR vehicle (which from pictures doesn't appear to hold that many passengers) ran on the prototype novel design tram track at the VLR National Innovation Centre in Dudley. Previously it had run on the normal test track there (a shame our members were not invited along). The new track slab was laid by a contractor in a matter of weeks. [For your homework tonight, compare and contrast with the West Midlands Metro.] This new test track includes a tight curve and a 250m long vertical hump, both significant challenges for traditional slab track construction and two reasons tramways take so long to build, contributing to higher construction costs. Instrumentation has been installed to monitor vibration, sound and stresses produced by the vehicle to demonstrate how the track, in conjunction with the new features of the Coventry VLR vehicle, reduces vibration and sound compared to standard trams. Funding is in place for a 2km demonstration line between Coventry station and Pool Meadow bus station in the city centre. 2599] Stoke-on-Trent: Following water damage caused by Storm Babet, one of the footbridge lifts between P1 and P2 was out of action from 27 Oct. Those passengers unable to use the footbridge steps were provided with a free taxi shuttle between platforms. Elsewhere, in good old British Rail days, more interesting solutions were sometimes provided in this situation, of particular interest to track and haulage enthusiasts. In the 1980s, why pay for taxis when you could chuck a few station benches in a BG*, load passengers and shuttle it between platforms with the station pilot**? Nominally targeted at those unable to use the stairs, on most occasions enthusiasts who 'just happened to be around' were able to join the move. Track opportunities noted were at Coventry, where the move sometimes started/finished in the London end Up side parcels bay, or Sheffield, with a reversal on the Wash Road (the start of the erstwhile diveunder route to the south of the station). Doncaster also adopted this solution but enthusiasts were not always so welcome here. On Summer Saturdays, the Newcastle to Yarmouth holiday trains provided rare haulage and the numbers baling off this service looking to score a Gronk on a lift shuttle caused station staff to restrict access after overcrowding on an earlier Saturday! Quieter times were best or, as this member did, writing to the Station Manager to get permission. For the record, moves undertaken by your General Secretary were: 08866 18 Jul 1988 Doncaster P3 to P2 and P3 to P5. 08928 30 Jul 1988 Coventry P2 to P1 (sadly not the parcels bay on that occasion). 08880 22 Apr 1989 Sheffield P2 to Carriage Wash Road (reverse) then to P1. (*BG vehicles, Gangwayed Full Brake, had spacious open areas for parcels etc in which the benches could be positioned, often available at major stations in between parcel train duties. **Station Pilots were shunters, usually Class 08s in those days, to carry out shunting duties, such as putting parcels vehicles on/off trains, or even combining portions of passenger trains - but that's another story…) However, in Switzerland the funicular railway from Linthal Braunwaldbahn to Braunwald (a public service to a car free resort rather than a tourist attraction) was out of action from 6-17 Nov for repairs. It is not operated by the BLS (originally Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon-Bahn)! A rail replacement helicopter service was provided (as previously)!! Normal tickets were accepted, a single is 7.20 Swiss Francs - (£6.50). Season tickets and the Swiss Pass were also valid but residents had given priority. Still well out of the West Midlands, the ultimate must be the ferry between the Island/s of Holmön and the port in Norrfjärden, in Sweden, categorised as part of the national road system. There are no ferry tolls and, when a ferry has been unavailable for long periods, a helicopter provides an uplifting free shuttle. 1436 IRELAND (Martin Baumann) [email protected] 2600] Belfast Grand Central: (BLN 1424.1285 & E-BLN 1432 photo) The new station is progressing and 'grand'it certainly is with the promised eight platforms. The buffers are all aligned at the same distance as Translink had specified but not all platforms are the same length. The two island platforms on the Great Victoria Street station side are much shorter than the two on the far (north) side. By 8 Nov track was in situ at 7 of the 8 platforms and awaiting top coat ballasting. It looks as though there is room for a siding (or possibly even a run round loop) alongside the northern most (trackless) 8th platform.
BELOW and FOLLOWING TWO: The new Belfast Grand Central station taking sChris Playfair. Great Victoria Street is off to the right in each image and can
shape on 8 Nov 2023, in each case looking towards end of line, by our member n be seen, with platform canopies and trains, upper right in the third photo.
2601] Floods (1): Northern Ireland was hit by extreme weather during the week of 30 Oct. The South East of the province was worst affected; Portadown to Dundalk was closed from Tue 31 Oct due to flooding. It reopened at start of traffic Mon 6 Nov with a 30mph restriction initially on the full 35 mile long section but was lifted the following day! Flooding occurred between Portadown and the border at 59m 50ch to 61m 00ch, 78m 50ch to 78m 75ch, 84m 00ch to 84m 25ch and 85m 00ch to 86m 00ch. 2602] Floods (2): The 5' 3'' gauge 1m 26ch Downpatrick & County Down Railway (MR p10) has been devastated by the floods, described as 'the worst in 40 years' the damage will cost at least £250,000. All diesel motive power is out of action indefinitely due to traction motors and wheel bearings and, in the case of DEMU power cars battery boxes as well, being submerged. (Equipment stabled outside and in sheds was damaged as the latter were flooded too.) As of the morning of 8 Nov, the Sat 6 Jan diesel event has been cancelled (BLN 1435.2521). The railway has not ruled out operating some form of Christmas trains with steam Locomotive 3 but this was by no means certain. As at 8 th , all the track outside the station remained deeply submerged. The last public services ran on Sun 29 Oct between Downpatrick and Magnus Grave. The last public use of Downpatrick to Inch Abbey was on Sun 22Oct. 2603] Cork: The signal cabin was demolished overnight 4-5 Nov, part of the work to expand the station for increased local services. It was taken out of use at close of traffic 22 Oct 2021 with resignalling. 1436 ISLE OF MAN (Graeme Easton) [email protected] 2604] Horse Tram, Tramway Terrace: (BLN 1435.2487) On 8 Nov a Government news release stated: The independent report had concluded that, while there are some localised areas requiring urgent work, the building is 'repairable'. As a result, the demolition tender exercise has been paused while options are explored to look at what should be addressed most urgently, such as water ingress. 2605] N o 16 'Mannin': The locomotive chassis was put on a low loader on Thur 9 Nov for transporting to the Severn Valley Railway which has its boiler. Due to a technical issue, the evening boat did not sail, so 'Mannin' left the IOM on it next day. It is hoped the loco can be running for its centenary in 2026. 2606] Heritage Railways Review: (BLN 1435.2490) The SYSTRA report has still not yet been published. Commenting on the delay, Infrastructure Minister Tim Crookall said: There's just a few 'spelling, grammar and things like that' to iron out before publishing. As one wouldn't normally expect the client to be correcting the spelling and grammar in a report from reputable consultants, the plot thickens! 2607] Steam Railway; The End is Nigh: (Well, the end of the season was.) On Sat 28 Oct arriving in Port Erin on what was the penultimate day of the season, N o 13 'Kissack' was declared a failure due to a pony truck issue. N o 11 'Maitland' was despatched light engine to Port Erin the next morning in time to haul the 10.00 departure, while N o 4 'Loch' pulled the 09.50. By 12.00 'Kissack' had been repaired so, to move the locos to the correct places, 'Kissack' banked the 12.00 to Castletown, replacing 'Maitland' on the train back to Port Erin. 'Maitland' then double-headed with 'Loch' to return to Douglas. Then… 2608] Shunting Puzzles: Continuing on Sat 28 Oct, at 15.10, 'Maitland' next took a private hire dining train to Castletown, waiting from 16.10 until 16.50 while service trains crossed. This happens a few times each season and is quite fun. The diner arrives in the southbound platform; its loco runs round and takes water. The northbound train arrives. The diner propels out towards Port Erin and then pulls back into the northbound platform behind the service train. The Southbound train arrives. The two services leave and, after a suitable interval (once the service train has passed Santon), the diner goes. Next day, N o 4 'Loch' ran light engine to Port Erin and is now in the Carriage Shed there having work done on its motion (the Carriage Shed pit is easier to work in than the Loco Shed pit). It has done over 30,000 miles since its last overhaul but has to wait for N o 10 or N o 12 to be ready before major work can be undertaken. N o 10 'GH Wood' still requires a considerable amount of work before it can return. N o 11 'Maitland' is now in Douglas workshop so unavailable for the festive trains. N o 12 'Hutchinson' is also in the workshop and unlikely to be available for the 2024 season. N o 13 'Kissack', in Port Erin shed, is the only loco ready to pull a train. Hopefully it won't have any issues over the Festive period! N o 15 'Caledonia' is now in the running shed; its new springs have arrived but are not yet fitted. TRACKmaps 1 p26B 2021 incorrectly labels 'Peel Siding'. It is in fact the longer siding the other side of Douglas Carriage Shed; unsurprisingly, it used to be the running line to Peel alongside the Port Erin line here.
2609] It's not what you know: On Wed 8 Nov the Island's Lieutenant Governor, Sir John Lorimer, and his wife, Lady Philippa Lorimer, had an out-of-season driver experience* with 'Loch' and F45 from Port Erin to Castletown and back, followed by a return trip to Santon. It is understood that Lady Lorimer, a great fan of steam traction, did most of the driving. They are both great supporters of the Railways which Sir John has said are part of the Island's DNA. [*Sounded a bit like an out-of-body experience…] 2610] A sign of the times: New signs have been installed at road crossings on the IoM Railway telling motorists what to do in case of a barrier failure or accident. Measuring about 4ft by 3ft, with a bright blue background they are hard to miss. At two signs for each of the 13 crossings, this is an interesting use of a limited budget but a positive 'sign' is that they have been installed at all crossings to Port Erin. 1436 SCOTLAND (Greg Beecroft) [email protected] 2611] Situations (Were) Vacant: ScotRail recently advertised for trainee train drivers at Fort William. Our keen local member advises that, traditionally, ScotRail has had five guards and five drivers based there, plus four of each at Mallaig. However, ScotRail (with over 5,000 employees) has been training up many new guards and drivers over the last two years, possibly as a follow up to the last industrial dispute. So, there are plenty at Fort William now but retirements, resignations and transfers may be pending. The advert made the BBC News website home page so they won't be short of applicants. 2612] Altnabreac: At 133m 76ch, between Helmsdale and Georgemas Junction on the Far North Line, this request stop temporarily closed from Sun 12 Nov. ScotRail said: Services will temporarily not call at Altnabreac because we can't access the station safely to perform maintenance and other work during the winter... We will be doing everything we can to secure safe access and resume services at Altnabreac as soon as possible. ScotRail doesn't say why the station cannot be accessed but it is reached via nearly seven miles of unmetalled remote private roads. However, on 13 Nov the BBC reported that access has been refused (also for NR). The station is said to be the main component of the habitation here and is 11 miles from the nearest village, Westerdale, which is closer to Scotscalder station. In 2021-22, Altnabreac recorded 230 passengers (46 in 2020-21), reportedly off road cyclists, walkers and railway enthusiasts who like the remoteness! 2613] Slochd: (BLN 1412.2686) The closure to road traffic of Overbridge 247 at Slochd, north of Carrbridge, seems de facto to have become permanent. It was originally closed because it was being used by vehicles well in excess of the 3 tonne weight limit. A recent assessment of the structure by Highland Council engineers, checked by an independent engineer, has established that the bridge is weaker than previously assumed and is not safe to carry any traffic load. It seems unlikely that the council could justify the cost of strengthening or rebuilding the bridge, even if it had the money available. The road serves a few cottages at Slochd, which have an alternative access to the A9 main road, though residents now have a longer journey if heading south. 2614] Dec Timetable: (BLN 1431.2041) In addition to the improved Cathcart Circle service, off-peak semi-fast trains are reinstated between Glasgow Central and Edinburgh via Shotts. The Sunday service remains all stations every two hours but Gourock gains half-hourly Sunday trains, instead of hourly. 2615] Edinburgh stopped: A power surge in Edinburgh at about 16.30 on Thur 2 Nov caused all signalling between Abbeyhill and Princes Street Gardens to fail. A few trains already in the station were able to depart westwards following that but there were no others to or from Edinburgh for the rest of the day. Initially, it was possible for trains to turn back at Haymarket, with the 16.18 from Bathgate and the 17.12 to Milngavie using P0. Unfortunately, the problem spread to the Haymarket area as well and most trains were cancelled. The 15.31 Glasgow Central to Edinburgh via Carstairs had to reverse at Midcalder Jn and return to Glasgow. Avanti and TPE services to Edinburgh via Carlisle were diverted to Glasgow Central. It was planned that the Inverness and Fort William sleeper portions would combine at Carstairs (the Aberdeen portion was cancelled, because of rolling stock failure) but signalling was restored in time for them to do so at Edinburgh. However, they were already diverted in anticipation of a Carstairs call, with the Inverness train recorded passing Whifflet and the Fort William one running via Glasgow Central Low Level. Both may have run via Shotts. Normal services resumed next morning but with some cancellations and alterations, because rolling stock was out of place.
BELOW: Altnabreac looking northeast towards Wick. (David Ward, 16 Nov 201
11 CC BY-SA 2.0 ). NEXT: 1956 map; there have been no developments since!
BELOW: In the other direction, southwest towards Inverness; the former water t
tower and remains of the other platform. (24 Jun 2012, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Altnabreac.jpg )
BELOW: (Item 2620) Boleside Road footbridge, recently renovated and reop
ened, over the former Selkirk branch at Galashiels. (Greg Beecroft, 7 Nov 2023.)
2616] St Andrews: Transport Scotland is funding a feasibility study into reopening the St Andrews line which CA 6 Jan 1969. Options to be considered are through trains to Edinburgh or Dundee and a light rail line between St Andrews and Leuchars. The study is due to be completed by Mar 2024. Combined rail and bus times and tickets to/from St Andrews* via Leuchars are available online but St Andrews is no longer in National Rail or ScotRail timetable PDFs. [*Select 'St Andrews Bus' not St Andrews Road!] ABOVE: 1954 map, the previous branch; it was once a through line via the coast to Thornton North Jn. Dundee is off top left and, the line to its right went directly to Tayport. Edinburgh is off to the left. 2617] Ayr Station Hotel: (BLN 1434.2623) The Road Traffic Order authorising closure of Station Bridge, adjacent to Ayr Station Hotel, has been replaced by a new one from 9 Nov 2023 that runs for eighteen months. However, explanatory notes say that works to the hotel are expected until 10 Jan 2024. In an undated recent statement,the Council said that the contractor had almost fully removed the top of the encapsulation, which will allow them to progress with works in the building. Work has been carried out to protect a gas main and other utilities on and adjacent to Station Bridge, as well as the power lines at the station. As at our press date National Rail said that buses would replace trains until at least the end of 17 Dec but this may be as optimistic as previous dates that had been quoted. There is a possibility of limited use being made of just one platform, presumably the north end of P4, which is furthest from the hotel. Unless it is decided that it is worthwhile to transfer units by road, it may soon be necessary to suspend the rail service between Girvan and Stranraer. Even with the reduced timetable, the two units are approaching maximum mileage before maintenance is required and one of them is ailing. 2618] More electrification: Since 1 Oct the inter-station service connecting Glasgow Central, Queen Street and Buchanan Bus Station has been operated by Alexander Dennis Enviro200EV electric buses. The service is operated by First Group on behalf of ScotRail, using saltire-liveried vehicles. Buses run every 12 minutes SuX using two vehicles, with one operating every 20 minutes SuO. It is free to those holding a rail ticket for a journey that requires a transfer between the two main Glasgow stations. If one searches on www.nationalrail.co.uk for such a journey, the bus times are given but, despite being a ScotRail service, timings are not included in the www.realtimetrains.co.uk database.
2619] Eastriggs: (TRACKmaps 1 p1C 2021) The disused Ministry of Defence sidings, with 17 acres of land, have been leased by Rail Sidings Ltd and are to be used as yet another site for secure storage of rolling stock. The company hopes to develop a depot able to refurbish and modify trains. A cordite production factory opened at Eastriggs in 1916. It extended over 2,500 acres and formed part of His Majesty's Explosives Factory, Gretna. Rail traffic was raw materials, such as glycerine and cotton, with up to 600 wagons arriving daily. The finished cordite was transferred by internal railway to the works at Gretna. The factory closed following WWI and most of the buildings were demolished. The site returned to use as a munitions store during the WWII. It remained in use after the war, and there was over 25 miles of 2ft gauge track. Our Society had three internal railtours of the standard and narrow gauge on 25 Jul 1980, 28 Aug 1981 & 27 Aug 1982 - perhaps best described as 'ever decreasing circles'. Closure was announced in 2010 and over the next few years stores were moved to Longtown Depot. 2620] Galashiels: National Highways has completed renovation of Boleside Road footbridge, spanning a cutting on the former Selkirk branch (CP 10 Sep 1951; CA 2 Nov 1964) at Galashiels. It is a triple span iron structure with lattice parapets and two pairs of columns providing the intermediate supports. The footbridge was closed by Borders Council three years ago because of its poor condition. It was not clear who owned the bridge but National Highways agreed to take responsibility for it. The bridge has been repaired and repainted, with a new steel deck fitted. It reopened to the public on 3 Nov. 2621] Levenmouth: (BLN 1434.2358) With track laying complete, arrangements for trains to access the branch at Thornton North Jn were withdrawn from 5 Nov. Pending the line being brought into use, trains can only use it under possession.This simplifies arrangements for the remaining reopening work. 2622] Dundee to Aberdeen: NR has asked councils along the line whether an Environmental Impact Assessment is required for various works to upgrade the railway. This is separate from electrification (BLN 1409.2314) but will be undertaken in association with that scheme. West of Dundee station, there are to be track alterations, including extending the Down Through line and lengthening P4. The Down Loop platform at Arbroath will be reinstated, principally for use by trains terminating there. A loop for freight trains will be provided at Lunan Bay. There will also be a new loop at Montrose, where P1 is to be extended. Track will be realigned at Ferryhill and north of Aberdeen station, where P8 may be reinstated. Resignalling will allow additional and faster trains. It anticipates the hourly off-peak service pattern from 2026, still diesel operated, will be an express between Edinburgh and Aberdeen, an express and a stopping train between Glasgow and Aberdeen and a stopping train between Edinburgh and Dundee. There may be additional peak stopping trains between Dundee and Arbroath, also between Montrose and Aberdeen, if units are available. Currently there are four freight paths per day but this will increase to between 10 and 15. 2623] Cults: Planning permission has been granted for conversion of the former Cults station, on the Deeside line (Aberdeen to Ballater branch), from business use to a bicycle shop and café. A planning application in 2021 was refused but the new proposal addresses objections raised at that time. An existing extension on the side of the building away from the former railway line is to be replaced by one to a more attractive design. The railway from Aberdeen to Banchory OA 8 Sep 1853 but the station at Cults was relocated in 1855. This suggests that the original one was temporary, because of a delay in building the permanent one. The 1855 building is single storey and built of timber, with a slate roof. The branch, later extended to Ballater and intended to reach Braemar, CP 28 Feb 1966. The final section, Ferryhill Jn to Culter via Cults, CG 2 Jan 1967 and was converted into a pedestrian/cycle path. 2624] Brora: The Far North Line runs close to the seashore most of the way from Brora to Helmsdale and, during stormy overnight weather early on 30 Oct, an 18m long section of sea wall at Lothbeg, about four miles north of Brora, collapsed. The track formation was left exposed to the sea. Services were suspended between Lairg and Helmsdale. On 2 and 3 Nov trains from Wick terminated at Forsinard, as repair work was based at Helmsdale (as the quickest way of reopening the whole line). The line reopened on 4 Nov, with the normal northbound service but the first train from Wick was the 12.34, following an earlier route proving run. An interesting discovery as a result of this, was that the 06.26 SuX Lairg to Inverness runs ECS from Inverness (departing P5 04.41), a distance of 67 miles.
BELOW: (Item 2619) (TRACKmaps 1 p1C 2021) Eastriggs Ordnance ExplosivesFrom the B721 overbridge towards the main line, Gretna Greet and Carlisle tend headshunt is centre right. The sign says: 'Warning Police Dogs on Patrol'. (is in steam - it finally closed in Feb 2004. Your Editor did not level the horizon a
s Stores Depot exchange sidings on 5 Apr 1980, thirty years before closure. to the right; Anann and Dumfries to the left. The buffers stop of the Carlisle Wot no police) Far right on the horizon, Chapelcross Nuclear Power Station s this would have removed the power station from view. (Angus McDougall.)
BELOW: (Item 2624) Damage to the seawall at Lothbeg on the Far North Line
e between Helmsdale and Brora. It was repaired quickly. (NR 30 Oct 2023.)
2625] Barrhead electrification: (BLN 1435.2497) The first tests with an electric train to Barrhead took place on Thur 9 Nov when unit 380110 made three round trips from Glasgow Central, arriving 01.06 in P3, 02.54 in P2 and 03.42 in P1. The first trip called at all stations both ways; the others were non-stop. ….. 1436 WALES & THE MARCHES (Chris Parker) [email protected] 2626] Wrexham General: TfW with Wrexham County Borough Council, Welsh Government, Wrexham University and wider partners are looking to transform the area around the station into a local transport hub to be known as 'Wrexham Gateway'. Public consultation is until 19 Dec. Drop in events will take place in the city and see https://bit.ly/49xggRe where your feedback can be provided. 2627] Storm Ciarán: In anticipation of floods, fallen trees etc, on 2 Nov, TfW suspended Machynlleth to Aberystwyth (bus replacements provided), Llandudno Jn to Blaenau Ffestiniog (ditto) and Central Wales Line (no road transport available!) services. Machynlleth to Shrewsbury was reduced to the basic 2-hour interval service, as ran before the enhancements of recent years; the full service resumed next day. The Blaenau branch also ROP from start of service on 3 Nov and the Central Wales Line from mid-morning. The first trains were the 09.09 from Swansea and the late running 08.57 ex-Shrewsbury which eventually reached Swansea at 14.30 which was 89 minutes late. Machynlleth to Aberystwyth ROP with the 07.30 Up service to Birmingham International on 4 Nov but this took no less than 3hr 38min to travel the 16⅔ miles to Dovey Junction and was eventually terminated at Machynlleth at 11.16. It had struck a slack overhanging power cable near Capel Soar automatic open crossing, 32ch south of Borth. The driver stopped to report a (possibly related) fault with the crossing to the signaller and also mentioned the cable but was authorised to proceed with caution. However, he heard the cable rubbing the train roof and saw its pole move so immediately stopped again - as you would. It transpired that the cable had snapped and one strand had wrapped around the DMU's GSM-R antenna. A train roof vent was also damaged. (An OHLE problem on a nonelectrified line!) The 06.25 from Shrewsbury turned back at Dovey Junction at 08.02 and terminated at 'Mach'. Scottish Power engineers (whose electricity infrastructure patch includes mid and north Wales but not northern Scotland!) removed the offending cable - they had a similar incident to attend in Borth itself. A little worrying, the NR report attributes the incident to the cable being 'rotten' rather than to the storm, although it was probably the rotten cable pole! After this false start, the line ROP at 16.17 and services resumed with the 14.11 from Birmingham International (Machynlleth dep 16.56, Aberystwyth arr 10 min late at 17.30). Ironically, no significant damage was reported from the storm! 2628] Ebbw Vale: (BLN 1433.2274) NR has confirmed that the 15 Nov to 3 Dec (partial) redoubling blockade should include a total of 1.2km of track 'upgrades' at nine different locations between Crosskeys and Crumlin while Siemens engineers set up and connect the new signalling. 2629] The Heart of Wales line is flatlining: (BLN 1430.1941) With the aid of Realtime Trains, our Llandovery correspondent has been keeping a tally of trains late (5 min or more by his definition) and cancelled. He reports that, even before the effects of Storm Ciarán (above), the last three months have seen such a deterioration that if the Heart of Wales line was a person it would, by now, have received the last rites! The figures for cancellations and lateness respectively: Aug 29.3%/33.9%; Sep 38.2%/30.1%; Oct 26.6%/46.4%. Translated into real numbers, this meant that during Oct there was roughly a 2 in 5 chance of turning up for a train to find it running or not delayed somewhere. The last day when all trains ran and on time was Sun 20 Aug (the Sunday timetable is just two trains each way). He observes that TfW can't seem to be bothered attempting a replacement bus service if it is required at short notice. A worrying development is that three times in the last few weeks a Down service for Swansea has terminated short at Llandrindod and the corresponding Up service at Llanwrtyd, with nothing provided between the two towns. In theory, there is a Celtic Travel bus service but this is not coordinated with trains; 3 of the 5 buses leave just before a train arrives (what else would we expect?). Is there another line in Britain with such a poor service that isn't a so-called 'Parliamentary' service [incorrect use of that term, of course] he asks? Miss a train at most stations and, despite the recent extra services, you have a wait of three to five hours for the next one - if it turns up; and most stations have no alternative public transport either. Is it any wonder that most trains run nearly empty?
2630] Quaker's Yard (again!): (BLN 1435.2514) According to the Weekly Operating Notice and online databases, ROP was expected on 30 Oct but it didn't happen. Down P1 has been shortened from 138yd to 103yd and the new Up P2 is 107yd - not that this has anything to do with the reopening delay. It is rumoured that the platform height is wrong but a planning issue is the cause, work began before the local authority was informed, thus negating 'permitted development' rights. https://bit.ly/47i7jZZ has detail. The retrospective planning application wasn't validated until 12 May and the closing date for comments (there were nine) was 6 Jun. As of 10 Nov, no decision has yet been made or scheduled according to Merthyr Council https://bit.ly/49kFvWB and TfW is now not expecting ROP before Dec. 2631] South Wales Metro: (BLN 1435.2506) ❶TfW confirmed on 30 Oct that the (discontinuous/ 'smart') energised OHLE north of Queen Street to Merthyr and Aberdare is now complete. However, unofficially, the latest estimate of the Rhymney (presumably Coryton and possibly Cardiff Bay too) line following suit has slipped to late 2025. Even if for no other reason, this is because transfer of signalling to the Core Valley Lines Integrated Control Centre additional workstation at Taffs Well is not expected until then. ❷Reports had suggested little significant progress with the Cardiff Bay branch since the editorial visit of 25 Sep but it is closed from Sat 4 until Sun 19 Nov with some early/late replacement buses and ticket acceptance on Cardiff Bus parallel services. This is for 'upgrade including OHLE work'. 2632] Dovey Jn Viaduct: (BLN 1432.2177; TRACKmaps 3 p33C 2023) Refurbishment/reconstruction of this structure has continued in parallel with, and almost as comprehensively as, the more highly publicised work on its larger Barmouth counterpart. Much of it has taken advantage of Phases 2 and 3 of the Cambrian Coast blockade. Work started in Sep 2022 with a break from Mar to mid-Aug 2023, not just because trains were then running but also to reduce the impact on wildlife. Pontoons have been used to access the 15 pairs of wooden piles in the tidal estuary. Some wooden parts were replaced with Glass Reinforced Plastic resin, made from recycled material, presumably similar if not the same as that used in sleepers for some independent railways. However about 77 tonnes of the timber removed was reused elsewhere. The track across the viaduct has been completely renewed and the old track panels donated to the Gwili Railway. Work was completed by early Nov, allowing a Machynlleth to Tywyn shuttle service to begin from start of service on Sat 4 Nov. Passenger reopening northwards is still not due until Sat 2 Dec (rather than Sun 3rd), after completion of work at Barmouth. 2633] SLW: (BLN 1416.267) On Wed 1 Nov the 00.30 Cardiff to Hereford again featured. It reversed over Pontrilas trailing crossover and ran wrong line with a pilot to Tram Inn, where it regained the Up line. A good start to the month for the five Society members on board thanks to a 'Gensheet' tipoff! 2634] Llanwern MESL* in a slight mess: (BLN 1351.1360) The *Major Events Stabling Line project first proposed in 2018 and originally due to be commissioned by the end of 2022 has now been cancelled. The Welsh Government has decided that in post-Covid conditions the 2.4km electrified single line would no longer offer value for money, but TfW is introducing brand new trains to their fleet to help improve resilience and meet increased demand across the network on major event days - so that's all right then. Much political angst has been caused by a statement in TfW's Annual Report that the £10.54M already spent on the project is now considered irrecoverable. The proposed Llanwern station (BLN 1435.2512) plans are unaffected, despite that having been integral to the project. 2635] Wrexham - Bidston: (BLN 1429.1828) A 2 hourly service was operated by a single Class 150 unit on 6 & 7 Nov as all Class 230s were confined to Birkenhead North depot following discovery of a brake defect. A 1⅓ tph (approx 45* min interval) SSuX service, thinned out from mid-evening, is now planned from the 10 Dec timetable change and appears in Realtime Trains etc. This represents acceptance that 2tph is unworkable in view of the tight turnarounds at both ends and the timekeeping difficulties experienced with current rolling stock (slow door opening/closing etc), despite some overall recent improvement. The line's dedicated 'route officer' is believed to spend more time at TfW HQ (hiding?) than on the ground. [*Years ago, British Rail managed to provide a 90 min frequency with one DMU.] 1436 MINOR RAILWAYS (Peter Scott) [email protected] MR214] Leek & Rudyard Railway, Staffordshire (MR p24) (BLN 1276.504): This 10¼" gauge railway was put up for sale in mid October 2023 by the owner Simon Clarke who is retiring from the business.
The sale includes track, three stations, the loco shed, café, two steam and two diesel locos, with ten passenger coaches. The asking price is £495,000, and Mr Clarke says there was immediate interest. He added: It is fairly niche, but there are lots of people active in miniature railways. The railway is for sale in whole or in part and is being sold as a going concern. Simon Clarke, who took over the railway in 2015, said he is retiring but not from miniature railways and wanted a large garden railway next. http://www.minorrailways.co.uk/trackplans/rudyard.pdf is the updated 17 June 2023 track plan. MR215] Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways, Gwynedd (MR p30): A member visited both railways in early September and travelled on one of them every single day for nine days using a variety of services. He used 11 different stations to board or alight in that time, which isn't bad when they try to make you book an end to end experience! Tickets to intermediate stations are ONLY available from the guard, even when boarding in Porthmadog. He reports that there was little to comment on about the FR (Ffestiniog Railway) but the Welsh Highland Railway (WHR) proved more interesting. Both the FR and WHR use Electric Train Staffs to regulate workings over their single lines. While the FR uses traditional wires to connect its machines, the WHR has an internet based solution. In general this has proved much more robust than the FR system, which is susceptible to losing wires in storms. However, on the afternoon of 2 September an internet outage caused the machines at Beddgelert and Pont Croesor to lose contact, meaning that a staff could not be released at Beddgelert for the return 'Harbourmaster' train. After a delay of about 30 minutes an S&T technician arrived, confirmed the issue and that there was no train in section, then issued a paper ticket with permission to depart past a red signal. An interesting side effect was that at Pont Croesor the ticket was exchanged with the staff to Porthmadog on the move via another S&T technician on the platform. This is the first time our member has ever passed through Pont Croesor non-stop. On 9 September there was insufficient water at Rhyd Ddu for the return 'Harbourmaster' to fully fill up. It was therefore decided to take on more water at Beddgelert. However, as the water column is at the Caernarfon end of the platform, this required stopping with most of the train short of the station while water was taken and the train then pulling forward to enable passengers to alight. The driver commented that this was the first time he had ever done this. Before crossing the Cambrian Coast Line at Cae Pawb on the level, the FR/WHR signaller must obtain permission from the Machynlleth signaller. Even though the Cambrian Coast Line was closed for three months for the Barmouth Bridge work etc, permission is still needed each time. MR216] Fife Heritage Railway, Fife (MR p10): A member visited on the 29 October for the 'Fife Terror Train' event. Admission was £6 per head and visitors were greeted by the Grim Reaper on arrival and several ghouls. The train was formed of Ruston 431764 hauling a brakevan with an enclosed coach, completely blacked out, and fitted with ghoulish equipment. The line has changed from previous visits, with the new running line adjacent to the former running line, which has been severed at both ends and is now shorter at the far end and no longer reaches the foot crossing, due to Network Rail building work. The future plan is to build a headshunt and another line into a new platform where there is currently a Network Rail Compound. The trains were well filled with everyone being amused by the ghoulish antics of the staff. A refreshment room provided tea and cakes and there was a chance to see the loco shed and yard items including the recently delivered EMU 313121, which will be housed undercover. A very short elevated miniature railway on site is due to be relocated elsewhere here. MR217] Northampton Ironstone Railway, Northamptonshire (MR p7): A visit was made here on Sunday 15 October - admission to the site and museum is free (donations welcome). A ride on the railway was £5. In use was 0-4-0DM 'Charles Wake' (JF4220001/1959) with LMSR brakevan 950061. The loco propelled the brakevan from the small platform adjacent to the museum building along the line to the current operational limit - just short of a footpath crossing - about 30 chains. There is a level crossing just past where the loop line around the field adjacent to the site trails in. This has full gates, which are closed by a crossing keeper. The site has been tidied up since our reporter's last visit and there were a good number of volunteers around operating the trains or restoring locomotives. Other running days had seen BR Class 02 D2867 and 0-4-0ST (Peckett 2130/1951) operating. Fundraising is in progress to allow the out of use parts of the line to be restored to operational condition.