1381

BELOW: (item 1991) The poor state of Cumberland Street (Glasgow) s

station building on 9 Oct 2019 with the railway above. (Greg Beecroft.)

1993] Fife electrification: The initial plan is for OHLE: Edinburgh to Dalmeny, Kirkcaldy to Leven and
Cardenden to Thornton Jns. That would provide enough power from the OHLE to keep train batteries
charged, avoiding the immediate need for wiring the difficult sections - although they would follow.

1994] Edinburgh Trams temporary stop: (TRACKmaps 1 p12A 2017) On Fri 16 Jul a lorry reversed into
a lampost which fell across the OHLE, bringing it down at West End-Princes Street. With the OHLE
section isolated, trams from the west could not reach Haymarket to turnback. Initially they turned
back at Murrayfield Stadium (an ECS shunt) but were then extended to 'Haymarket Yards', which was
shown as a destination on the Passenger Information System for the first time. It is about 250m west
of Haymarket where there is a loop for tram stabling with a facing and trailing crossover. The loop has
a low level platform for staff use; a portable ramp was provided to assist passengers boarding and
alighting (although most could manage the step). On departure west, the trailing crossover was used in
passenger service. This continued for several hours until 18.00, with no trams running to York Place.

1995] East Kilbride: As part of the branch electrification, Scotland's Railway, South Lanarkshire Council
and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport have agreed to fund and develop an expanded transport
interchange at Hairmyres (656,000 passengers in 2019-20). Work is due to start in 2024 on a new
station 600m to the west off Redwood Avenue on an 18 acre site. It will be a Park & Ride with a major
transport interchange. East Kilbride station is also to be upgraded as part of the electrification project.

1996] Scottie Dog Boxes: (BLN 1380.1871) Branded 'Scotland Highland Explorer Carriages', the first
three ScotRail Class 153s 1-car DMUs converted to carry 20 bicycles and other large leisure equipment
entered service on Mon 19 Jul. They have 24 'larger cushioned' seats. As previously explained, due to
train length, they can only run on Oban trains that don't have a Mallaig portion. 153377 was the first
in service on the 05.21 from Oban. The 14.41 departure (16.11 SO) will also have one as will the 10.34
& 16.36 (16.34 SO) from Glasgow Queen Street. On Sundays the 09.56 from Glasgow and 16.11 from
Oban were to include a Class 153/3 but there are no Sunday trains due to ongoing industrial action.

The trains can carry tandems (but there are restrictions on bike and wheel sizes - no penny farthings or
tricycles!) and have an e-bike charging socket, free WiFi, at seat power & USB sockets. The toilet has
also been refurbished. Brodies has converted DMUs 153305/370/373/377 and 380. Cycle spaces must
be booked (free) in advance; this can be up to two hours before travel, subject to available space. Until
7 Aug just a normal ticket is required to take a bike etc but travel is in the other part of the train.
A 'Highland Explorer' ticket will be on sale from 7 Aug to actually travel in the Class 153 coach as well.
(Price to be revealed! The question is would you expect to pay more or less to travel in a Class 153‽)

……. .1381 WALES & THE MARCHES (Chris Parker) [email protected]
1997] Wrexham Central: (BLN 1324.631) The extensive testing of 3-car Class 230 units has obviously
confirmed that the platform is too short to accommodate them. NR therefore plans to extend it by
11m to 67m in total, 63m of which will be usable. Alterations and additions to lighting, drainage,
fencing, buried services, maintenance walkway and TPWS will also be made. The work is scheduled for
20 Sep to end of Oct 2021. According to TfW: on 1 Jul while on a training run near Wrexham Central
station, one of our Class 230 trains suffered a small fire. Thanks to the actions of the driver, this was
extinguished very quickly and no one was hurt. The Fire and Rescue Service was called at 14.12; two
appliances attended and reported smoke coming from beneath the train but were stood down at
15.20 after handing the incident over to NR engineers. RTT indicates that the 13.57 Wrexham General
(Up Bay P2) to Bidston ECS working was involved; 'disappearing' after reversing at Croes Newydd
North Fork. Photo evidence suggests that the incident was dealt with on the Up Goods Line at the
remains (site) of Watery Road Sidings, only 'near' Central as the crow flies. No revenue earning service
was delayed. However, this seems particularly concerning as the units were fitted with fire suppression
systems following the mishap on 30 Dec 2016 with prototype 230001's at Kenilworth (BLN 1272.83).

1998] Duffryn Mills Halt/Platform: (BLN 1378.1645) Stops on request were made by westbound
(Down) trains only. CP date is unknown but this instruction was still shown in the 1939 GWR Appendix.

(Item 1999) Prestatyn, the trackless Down slow platform and the new sculpture - BELOW. (Our Wales
and The Marches Regional Editor assures us that it is not a petrified version of him on the wrong
platform.) Prestatyn station was to close in the Beeching Report. (Both Kevin Driscoll, 29 Jun 2021.)





X.161] BELOW: TfW Class 197002 DMU (matching the station colours) on tes

st at Crewe P9; 51x2-car & 26x3-car are to be built. (Stuart Hicks, 9 Jul 2021.)

1999] Prestatyn: The long trackless former Down Slow platform now boasts a running-in board and
sculpture of a rambler proclaiming the town's 'Walkers are Welcome' status; as the town is the north
end of the Offa's Dyke long distance footpath, it is indeed fortunate that they are! Church Stretton,
Knighton and St Bees would be among possible candidates for similar embellishments.

2000] Maindee Jns: (BLN 1361.2794) On the basis that 'night' is until 05.00, the last three westbound
and first northbound TfW services between Hereford and Cardiff were booked to traverse the North
to east 'Hereford Loop' and reverse at East Usk Jn on the nights of 5 to 8 Jul inclusive. However, only
the westbound ones in fact did so, and only the last two on the 8th (other days the work finished early).

2001] Machen Quarry: (BLN 1378.1649; TRACKmaps 3 p26A 2018) A very local member advises that
the revival in traffic is due to Machen Quarry sending its own dolomite limestone by rail after a lapse
of several years. (The HGV driver shortage perhaps?) Gritstone brought by road from Craig-yr-Hesg
near Pontypridd was loaded there for part of the interim period (BLN 1320.118). At one stage there
was only an occasionally used SO path, then a WO one was added. Although still only 'when required',
SuX there is now a path from Stoke Gifford and to Appleford SSuX, Stoke Gifford SO. There is an
alternative SO path from/to Westbury with similar timings. In practice arrival at Machen is around
08.30 and departure around 12.00 as previously, somewhat earlier than the current WTT schedule!

There is no longer an internal diesel shunter so loading is supervised by a couple of NR groundsmen.
The train then proceeds to the Outlet Ground Frame (3m 50ch) just west of the former Church Road
station, to obtain clearance from the Park Jn signaller. The NR men then shepherd it over Rhiwderin
Level Crossing and it runs to Park Jn to await clearance to join the main line via the 'Gaer Single'.

2002] Barry: (BLN 1323.477) Delayed by 12 months presumably because of Covid, on 29 Jul NR is to
begin a DfT/Welsh Government funded £3.3M 'Access for All'’ project to install a new footbridge with
lifts, making P2 and P3 fully 'accessible' for the first time. Completion is due by summer 2022.
Neighbouring Cadoxton received similar treatment in 2019 (BLN 1337.2500).

2003] Infrastructure: On 14 Jul the UK Parliament's Welsh Affairs Committee published a report
https://bit.ly/3B95bnX recommending that a Wales Rail Board, of UK and Welsh government bodies,
NR and all TOCs providing services in Wales, be set up by this autumn to: Consider improvements and
upgrades to Wales' ageing rail network. It contends that Wales will not benefit from HS2 investment in
the same way as Scotland and Northern Ireland. It therefore recommends ●HS2 should be reclassified
as an 'England only' project ●Wales' funding settlement should be recalculated using the Barnett
Formula (since described by its creator as a 'terrible mistake'!!) to apply an additional allocation based
on the funding for HS2 in England ●The UK Government, in partnership with the Welsh Government,
should prepare a full strategic case for the upgrade and electrification of the North Wales main which
could be facilitated if HS2 investment includes Chester and Crewe station enhancements ●The UK
Government should bring forward proposals by the end of 2021 for greater connectivity between
Swansea, Cardiff and Bristol, which could require completing electrification. We shall see… (or not).

2004] Swansea District line: (BLN 1377.1483) A reliable source advises that the delay in Robeston oil
traffic returning to this route after the oil train fire was due to very poor railhead conditions after six
months of disuse; this took NR time to resolve. Understandably so in view of the gradients and deep
cuttings overhung by woodland, particularly Llangyfelach and Penllergaer Tunnel approaches! This
explains why they used the Swansea Avoiding Line, meaning they were shorter and required a banker.

2005] Mk 4 sets: (BLN 1378.1646) https://bit.ly/3dovhsY is a comprehensive, warts and all, account of
a journey on the 05.34 Holyhead to Cardiff Central of 29 Jun, taking advantage of a First Class All Line
Railrover! It also includes pictures of long overdue station refurbishment in progress at Holyhead.

2006] Cardiff Bay: (BLN 1374.945) TfW currently stables either one or two DMUs here overnight every
night. The ECS workings are FSSuX Cardiff Central 23.08, Heath High Level (rev) 23.21/23.29, Cardiff
Bay arr 23.37; MSSuX Cardiff Bay dep 05.01, Heath High Level (rev) 05.14/05.19, Barry Island 05.52.
This is likely to be the result of new and longer rolling stock reducing available space at Canton Depot.

2007] Marching Up and Down: As planned, on Mon 12 & Tue 13 Jul the 23.09 Shrewsbury to Cardiff
Central crossed to the Up Main at Little Mill Jn and then, at Maindee North Jn, to the Down Hereford.
On Thur 15th the 00.30 Cardiff Central to Hereford departed Newport P2 and went into the Up/Down
Uskmouth, where the driver changed ends. The train was routed to the Hereford Loop at Maindee
East Jn and from Maindee North Jn the Down Hereford/Down Main. A double shunt at Little Mill Jn
regained the Up Main. This was planned to be repeated again on Fri 16 but it did not take place.

1381 MINOR RAILWAYS (Peter Scott) [email protected]
MR119] Somerset & Dorset Railway Heritage Trust, Somerset (MR p6): A member took advantage of
a 'Wickham Wednesday' on 2 June, to ride on this very pleasant line at Midsomer Norton (South).
His Wickham Trolley trip departed from the end of the 'stock loading/unloading' road (TRACKmaps 3
p13E 2018) next to the southbound platform and went to the 'stop' board at 12m 72ch to reverse.

The Class 03, D2128, was at the Bath end of the southbound platform on the coaching stock consisting
of 3 MK1 maroon coaches, while the Sentinel was at the Chilcompton end. Class 08 D4095 in green
was at the Chilcompton end of the northbound platform at the head of a number of vans and also a
green DMU trailer coach. There were wagons in the Engineers Siding and appeared to be one box van
in the goods shed. The buffet car and MK3 coach were in the aptly named 'buffet car dock'!
The Railway volunteer member who spoke to our reporter on the short journey was very friendly and
informative. Definitely an enjoyable trip and another railway 'ticked off'.

Wickham Wednesday trips continue on 28 Jul, 4, 11, 18 & 25 Aug and 1 Sep from 10.00 until 15.00.
Each takes about 20 mins; Adults £5, accompanied U16s FREE; book on website or 01761 411221.

MR120] North Weald & District Miniature Railway, Essex (MR p16) (BLN 1363.MR164): On a very
sunny Bank Holiday Sunday 30 May, a visit was made to this 7¼" gauge railway. Arriving about midday
there were no customers awaiting rides, but two trains were side by side of the island platform.
A round trip was made on each, one after the other, using all existing passenger track including the
scissors crossovers just outside the station, provided both trains ran back into the respective platforms
where they started. Instead of previously unloading passengers outside of the platforms for Covid
cleaning, both trains ran back to the buffer stops for disembarking before reversing out ECS to turn on
the triangular junction for the next trip. The main loop had been extended outwards since a previous
visit with a further extension planned, so the fare per ride was now £2 for all except for babies, for
what was described as a 'single' journey. For the collectors of miniature railway tickets, the usual ticket
issue is a colourful thin paper titled 2½" x 3¾" Single. A similar Easter themed example featuring a
bunny and eggs was also recently available. A further ticket for a free future ride in the event of 'any
unforeseen circumstances…', for example heavy rain or minor derailment was an unexpected find.

One other ticket, which our reporter did not see, or indeed purchase for his collection, was said to be a
12-ride with annual validity at £20. The railway normally runs every Sunday 11.00-16.00 except in
pouring rain, plus Saturdays 11.00-15.00 usually every other week. 07583 084352 is the number for
enquiries, answered by the very helpful Luke Knott, so for any intended visit, especially on a Saturday,
a phone call in advance is recommended. Our reporter was shown around the sidings and container/
shed where three other locos were kept, one of them being a small steam saddle tank painted in
London Transport colours, but this is not thought to have been used on passenger carrying trains.

MR121] Exbury Gardens Railway, Hampshire (MR p18) (BLN 1281.MR85): A visit was made to this
12¼" gauge 1¼ mile railway, running around part of Exbury Gardens on Thursday 10 June. The line was
operating to a restricted Covid timetable that required pre-booking. A one train service was operating
using 0-6-2T 'Rosemary' (Exmoor Steam Railway 315/2001). The train was running round the circuit
nonstop, Exbury North and Dragonfly Halt were closed, but due to reopen when restrictions are lifted.
A further station, to be named Fiddlers Bottom, the first after leaving Exbury Central, is planned, 'for
show only' according to the staff; trains will not stop there, but a running-in board may be erected.
Blue Edmondson card tickets (fare is £5.50) are issued separately from the Gardens entrance fee.

NEXT FOUR: (Item MR 121) Exbury Gardens Railwa

ay - four pictures by Julian James on 19 May 2021.

















PREVIOUS: (Item MR 128) Telford Steam Tramway; the boiler is now out o
BELOW: (Item MR 122) Bure Valley Railway, No6 'Blickling Hall' in the rare W

of ticket (Peter Scott, 2 Nov 2014, during our AGM weekend that year.)
Wroxham P2; the NR Sheringham branch is behind. (Peter Scott, 3 Jul 2021.)

BELOW: Llanelli & Mynydd Mawr Railway, not Cardiff Canton, but Cynheid

dre! Left to right: 143607, 142006 & 143606. (Peter Scott, 26 Jun 2021.)

X.162] BELOW: There has been some refurbishment of Blackpool North Pier, but no return of the tram,
although the Land Train is back! 'Rain to the end of the pier' can ceratinly apply! (Richard Lewis, 12 Jun 2021.)

MR122] Bure Valley Railway, Norfolk (MR p21) (BLN 1378.1660): A visit was made to this 15" gauge
railway on Saturday 3 July. The 11.15 Wroxham to Aylsham was worked by No6 2-6-2 'Blickling Hall'
(Winson 12/1994) with eight coaches plus a guards van. This train departed from (the normally rare)
Wroxham P2 (the platform closest to the Cromer line). Arrival at Aylsham was in the usual P2 (furthest
from the main building, left on arrival). 'Blickling Hall' then shunted the empty train to P2 ready for
departure, where it was cleaned. Return was on the 13.00 Aylsham to Wroxham, again with 'Blickling
Hall'. The other train was being worked by No8 2-6-2T 'John of Gaunt' (Winson/BVR 16/1998), which
departed just after arrival at Aylsham and was passed at Coltishall on the return. The tickets were
pre-booked and allocated compartments were shown on the ticket. Unless larger groups are travelling
together, every other compartment is used. The return fare was £15 adult. The trains were reasonably
well filled, with only a few empty compartments on each trip observed. At Aylsham, since this
reporter's last visit, a new three road engine shed has been built, served off the turntable.

The Railway held the most extensive trials of biocoal on a steam line to date. The trials, a cooperation
between the Railway, Heritage Railway Association and members of the Advanced Steam Traction
Trust, took place over two days, Friday 11 June and Monday 14 June. The 10.15 to Wroxham on the
Friday used the usual Welsh coal from Ffos-y-Fran (opencast coal) as a base comparator under test
conditions, on the narrow gauge line. The second round trip test train burnt Homefire Ecoal50 and
departed Aylsham around 14.00. Monday saw engines fire with Briteflame and Homefire Ovals.

All three products were from a range of manufactured smokeless fuel samples given to the Railway for
the trials by Coal Products Ltd Industries. Careful measurements were taken during the experiment.
The fuel in the tender was weighed, the amount of water consumption and ash left in the ash pan and
smokebox were also measured. Transducers were rigged to a computer in the lead carriage to
measure smokebox vacuum, exhaust performance, and speed. All three fuels functioned well but
Homefire Ecoal50, (50% biomass, notably crushed olive husks which would otherwise end up in landfill
with the associated risks of methane, and 50% traditional solid fuel fines) was an unqualified success
giving the same performance as their usual Welsh coal, emitting up to 40% lower emissions.

MR123] East Suffolk Light Railway, Suffolk (MR p24) (BLN 1307.MR124): This 2ft gauge railway runs in
the grounds of the East Anglia Transport Museum at Carlton Colville, near Lowestoft. The Railway
opened its extension, almost doubling its length, on Sunday 18 April 2021 (TRACKMaps 2 p7C 2020).
An enthusiast visited on Sunday 20 June in 'reasonable' weather. The site opened at 12.00 and at
12.50 they were still trying to cope with numbers - with all the pandemic rules which had to be issued:
where you could and couldn't go; the admission took about five minutes per group. The Railway was
running every 20 minutes - passengers were told where to sit and there was no alighting at the far
end, new station, Mutford Thorpe. The electric tramway and trolleybus are also being extended.

MR124] Bideford Railway Heritage Centre, Devon: (BLN 1341.MR227) On 25 June the Centre
announced that the threat to remove train running rights, and possible closure, had been reversed.
Earlier this year, Devon County Council renewed leases at the station site in the North Devon town but
without permission to run trains, which the Centre said put it at risk of closure. However, this decision
has now been reversed, much to the delight of everyone involved at the centre. Chairman Andrew
Mills explained: We are extremely grateful to Lord Berkeley, Torridge District Council, Bideford Town
Council, the Heritage Railway Association and Councillors at all levels of local government who voiced
their support for us, along with all the good wishes of the local community. Also, to the various media
that ran with the story, the BBC, The Voice, the Journal and National Railway Preservation outlets.

We are truly humbled by the goodwill shown to us and this certainly helped Devon County Council to
reconsider their position. We would like to single out Councillor Linda Hellyer, who after her re-election
facilitated high level talks with Devon County Council management - with urgency - to resolve the
situation. We will be concentrating on refreshing the training and experience of our operational
volunteers in the coming months, but we anticipate running cab rides in the locomotive for the public,
one day during the Halloween Half Term. Thank you everyone.

MR125] Alderney Miniature Railway, Channel Islands (BLN 1238.1412): This 7¼" gauge railway
originally opened in August 1995. It was out of use by July 2010 due to a lack of manpower. In June
2014 it was reported as definitely closed on Health & Safety grounds. However, the track was not
lifted. After removing large gorse bushes etc, the Railway has been refurbished over the last four
years. The track has been lifted and relaid with new sleepers and ballast. In July 2020 it had a H&S
inspection and was signed off, with the first public run being on Saturday 1 August 2020. Running
ceased in Oct 2020 for the season. The railway recommenced running for the 2021 season on Easter
Monday, 5 April. It now runs in conjunction with the standard gauge line every Saturday afternoon
until October (weather permitting) and will run Sundays in July and August, as does the standard
gauge. The miniature is very popular with adults as well as children and has been hired out for several
birthday parties etc - with a few more charters later this year. It is located in Mannez Quarry at the far
end of the standard gauge line. The 400 yard a circuit wends its way through a wilderness of willow,
gorse and bracken and affords a good view of Mannez wildlife pond and runs close to the lighthouse.

MR126] Didcot Railway Centre, Oxfordshire (MR p6): Normally resident at the North Yorkshire Moors
Railway, ex-Lambton Colliery 0-6-2T No29 LH&JC (K4263/1904) was delivered by 66105 to the Centre
at Didcot during the morning of Saturday 19 June. Apparently, it is staying a couple of months, and has
been in Didcot sidings for some days waiting the shunt move, which our reporter was lucky to see.

MR127] Llanelli & Mynydd Mawr Railway, Carmarthenshire (MR p9): The Railway reopened Saturday
26 June (no public trains ran at all in 2020). In use was a 2-car 'Pacer', 142006, in blue Arriva livery.
A pre-booked ticket (for up to four people) was £14 and a booking had been made for the 15.00
(the last of day), which left a few minutes late and made three return trips over the running line.
The train was lightly loaded, although the majority of seats were taped off due to social distancing.
The line now extends north to 6m 42ch (SN 4938 0779) and the Pacer ran to within one coach length
from the end of the track. Beyond, some groundwork has been done, but no active preparation for
further track laying. Also present were 143606 (on the siding running to the small loco shed) and
143607 (on the loop behind the passenger platform). '606' made a test run south, and '607' ran north
onto the running line after passenger services finished. All the other stock, except a few wagons, was
in the main and small sheds. Tea and coffee was available from a stall in the main shed.

MR128] Telford Steam Tramway, Shropshire (MR p32) (BLN 1240.MR137): On 13 June, a member was
informed by a Telford Steam Railway volunteer, that the 2ft gauge Steam Tramway has not run in 2021
and will not for an indeterminate length of time because the steam tram power unit is 'out of ticket'.

1381 FIXTURE REPORTS (Paul Stewart) [email protected]
2008] Romsey Horticultural Tramway (nowhere near Romsey): (By James Beal) It had seemed like an
age since I last took part in a Society fixture. I was on just one during 2020 (our Devonian Crompton
tour, just before the whole world changed) and hadn't visited a minor railway since 2019.

[BLN 1381]
Not long ago I went to over 30 in a year. Anyway, none of that was my fault, honest guv. Some others
hadn't experienced the same minor railway drought in the last year or so. Our host for this visit
finished his private 5" gauge back garden agricultural tramway (mainly for freight) in Feb 2020 and had
it almost to himself for 15 months. Then it had to be lifted as he was moving house. There was just
time for a brief swan song before it was all ripped up and put in the back of a removal lorry.

And that was why small groups of miniature people
started to descend on a normal suburban terrace in
Cambridge on the last day of May 2021. Group size
was limited by the 'Rule of Six', to five, plus the one
owner/driver/platelayer/etc. Actually, even without
Covid rules we wouldn't have wanted many more in
a group, there was quite a lot of track in a perfectly
normal size garden and we had to be careful not to
squash the salad crop as we walked around here.
The train could accommodate two passengers on
the main runs and just one on the really 'rare' track.

I was in Group 2 (of 4), we waited in the street until
Group 1 had finished. Some well known and very
happy members emerged from the passage, and
that was our cue to go in. The layout was a stylised,
elongated 'W' (plan is thanks to Martyn Brailsford).

The main line ran from the back door (Wharf), the
first couple of metres slightly raised on something
in between bridge rail and a viaduct, running to the
diametric opposite corner of the garden (Potting
Bench). Off it were branches to Compost Heap and
Workshop; off the latter was a further line running
into Polytunnel. All in a delightful cottage garden
setting, which I would describe further but the
Editor told me to avoid flowery language.

Motive power was mostly 0-6-0 steam loco 'Madge' and a two seat bogie coach with more than a hint
of garden bench about its slatted seats. This took each group in pairs up and down the mainline plus
the Workshop and Compost Heap branches. 'People power' was then used to explore the Polytunnel
branch. I hope you like bodyboarding said the General Secretary as he left, and I thought he was pulling
my leg. But he wasn't, the method was to lie across a pair of flat wagons and adopt a 'superman flying'
pose as someone pushed you along. Soon another member was literally pulling my leg to extract me.

Group 1 established the modus operandi so Group 2 covered every line with 25 minutes to spare. Is
there anything else you want to do? asked our very friendly host. Well yes, actually, thanks for asking.
A quick shunt moved the loco to the other end of the coach and the Compost line was cleared of stock,
the latter by a member picking the trucks up and carrying them across the garden; some things are
much easier at 5" gauge! This enabled the coach to kiss the two sets of buffers it hadn't before, giving
us maximum possible coverage. (I had literally kissed the buffers in the Polytunnel as it was head first!)

The whole experience was a delight, and an oddly appropriate way to get back in to minor railways
fixtures. Lines don't come much more obscure than this, and almost total coverage was achieved (the
Workshop itself was out of bounds due to the state of the track). Many thanks to Zach for his
hospitality, both with refreshments and with his understanding in dealing with our odd requests.(

BELOW: (Item 2008) A normal house in Cambridge?? The RHT (Romsey Hort

ticultural Tramway) signs are a clue… (Simon Mortimer (SM), 31 May 2021.)





PREVIOUS: 'Madge' is on Compost Corner buffer stops; top right another track
BELOW: Alan Sheppard (in case you didn't recognise him) drags said surfer

surfer prepares to boldly go where no gricer has gone before (Ok, Polytunnel).
r out, adding new meaning to the expression 'Pulling your leg'… (Both SM.)

BELOW: Reaching the buffer stops at Compost Corner; left to right is

Alan Sheppard, James Beal then Zach Bond. (Photo: Henry Kennedy.)





PREVIOUS: 'Madge' and coach on the Romsey Agricultural Tramway main line. (Simon Mortimer.)

NEXT: View from Potting Bench to Wharf (by the house); left is Polytunnel and right is Compost Corner.

Readers may have noticed the use of past tense throughout the report. It is sad to note as I write this,
that just 10 hours after the fixture, the Romsey Horticultural Tramway was no more. Let's hope that its
track and stock find a new home as good as the old one. The owner, Zach Bond, has written a 21 page
dissertation Minimal Gauge Railways: their application to horticulture, construction and working.
He has kindly agreed to it being distributed with e-BLN 1381; there is much about his tramway with
illustrations. You may notice similarities with Sir Arthur Heywood's Minimum Gauge Railways mainly
about the Duffield Bank and Eaton Hall Railways; that is available free at: https://bit.ly/3wEP9il

As the 31 May was a Bank Holiday Monday three keen members from Group 1 were then able to enjoy
a standard gauge steam trip on the Mid Suffolk Light Railway followed by a brakevan trip (diesel), on
the standard gauge Whitwell & Reepham Railway in Norfolk, the adjacent 7¼" Top Field Light Railway
(steam) and the threatened 10¼" gauge Wells Harbour Railway. That wasn't the end of it; driving 176
miles non-stop to Wednesbury Parkway (West Midlands Metro) the excellent day out ended with the
trailing crossover out of P2 on the 20.52 tram to Library when the line to Wolverhampton was closed.

2009] The Gronk & Growler, Sun 13 Jun 2021: By Dicky Irvine. After several early mornings stewarding
our excellent 'Three Peaks from a Seat' (with various Class 37s) charity railtour for Railway Children, a
short lie in preceded a trip to Telford Steam Railway (TSR) for this very aptly named fixture. It sounded
like one of those opportunities that couldn't be turned down, Class 37 cranks aplenty in Crewe (not far
away), a '37' (263) that hadn't worked in preservation so a 'winner' for many, a thrashy line, albeit not
very long, and a Class 08 (757) - everyone loves a 'Gronk'. This was evidenced by over 122 participants,
despite the short notice of the fixture which had only opened to bookings six days beforehand.

I reached Telford before 09.30 for the 10.30 start and already it looked as though the whole train full
had arrived. The weather was scorching (not quite 37o!), the '37' parked on the buffers end at Spring
Village (TRACKmaps 4 p22E 2018) looked resplendent in grey, absolutely superb, with the '08' out of
sight on the other end. For social distancing and boarding ease, as the train was four coaches long, we
were all ushered to the lengthier Horsehay & Dawley platform some 100 yards up the road.

With everyone on board, the '08', in Post Office red livery, led for the first 10.30 trip with the '37'
assisting on the rear for part of the run up to Lawley Village, to about where the platform was.
On return the '37' diverged right back to Spring Village, before the '08' (front then rear)/'37' (rear then
front) combo returned to Horsehay & Dawley via Lawley Village. This trip was repeated in full twice
with, at varying stages, the 08 doing all the work and sometimes the 37 assisting on the uphill climbs.
People wanted the 37 to do nothing to ensure the Gronk worked for that all important red pen line.
The second trip was around 11.30. The event also included complimentary hot drinks for participants.

By special arrangement there were two photo runs, (although sadly only two photos were received for
BLN) with the 08 taking the train firstly to the junction of the two lines and secondly just short of the
junction for photographers on Horsehay & Dawley platform and the hordes on the overbridge to grab
a photo or video of the 37 in motion. One further full round trip was made, starting around 12.30,
before the final half trip again via Lawley Village to return the stock and locos to Spring Village.

This was an excellent Sunday morning; many thanks to the volunteers at the Telford Steam Railway for
their organisation and for making the Society stewards and passengers so welcome. £3,000 was raised
for their extension projects, a superb effort that greatly exceeded expectations and delighted the
Railway, particularly given the short notice of the whole event. In a free on train raffle the Railway
donated an on the day cab ride and another participant won a future diesel experience with them.

The main legs were around 50ch each, so if you did all the moves, it was around 9m 20ch in total, with
the two photo runs included, although it is difficult to be precise on the exact 37 and 08 split. The
Society was also particularly grateful to Telford Steam Railway for very kindly donating an excellent
raffle prize of a driver/footplate experience (Steam/Diesel) for our Sat 3 Jul 'Sinfin Syphons' railtour..











PREVIOUS TWO: Our Sun 13 Jun 2021 'Gronk & Growler' event at Telford Steam Railway (Kev Adlam.)

:Details must be checked 1381 CONNECTIONS (Paul Stewart) [email protected] .Please mention BLN.

2010] Bank Holiday Mon 30 Aug; The Cumbrian Freighter: The full route bid by Pathfinder Railtours
with provisional timings is: Pick up/set down at Banbury (06.00/23.30), Leamington Spa (06.20/23.10),
Dorridge (06.40/22.50), Birmingham New St (07.00/22.30), Wolverhampton (07.25/22.05), Stafford
(07.50/ 21.40), Crewe (08.20/21.10), Warrington BQ (08.45/20.45) & Wigan NW (09.10/20.25) then:

Earlestown - Wigan NW P/U - Lostock Hall Curve - Blackburn King Street Through Siding - Blackburn
Up & Down Goods - Hellifield Down Goods Loop - Ribblehead Quarry* (thanks to Hanson) (rev) -
Appleby Down & Through Siding (rev) - Appleby (60mins break) (rev) - through Kirkby Thore
Terminal* (thanks to British Gypsum) - Carlisle Goods Lines London Road Jn - Currock Jn (rev) to
Upperby Bridge Jn - Shap Hardendale Rounding Loop (rev) - Shap Quarry* (thanks to Hanson) (rev)
- several WCML loops including Plumpton, Eden Valley, Shap, Tebay, Grayrigg, Oubeck & Oxheys
have been requested (NR timing team will determine which can be delivered) - Preston Up Goods -
Wigan NW S/D - Bamfurlong Goods Lines - Warrington BQ and Set Down stations to Banbury.

*Non-NR infrastructure has been agreed, subject to track inspections. The tour organiser, Ian (Selby)
Loveday advises that certain sections of the route have been offered as once only opportunities!

2011] Sat 31 Jul; The Cotswold Canter: An Update for those not heading to sunny Margate on our
Class 50 hauled tour (a few first class seats remain available). Our member Ian Loveday, assisting
Pathfinder Tours with their Buffer Puffer tours running on the same weekend, would like to highlight
that a Goods Line Authority to visit the South Marston/Honda branch (TRACKmaps 3 p5A 2018) near
Swindon, to the NR limit has been agreed. Under construction in 2000, it was declared open (whatever
that means) on 24 Mar 2007. This is believed to be the first visit of a passenger train (possibly the first
revenue earning train even), ironically on the day that the Honda plant is due to close. Ian also advises
that a couple of other currently unadvertised additional bobbins may well appear but was unable to
confirm at the time of going to press, as the train was still being timed. See: https://bit.ly/3iprihA

2012] T&W Metro: https://www.sales.nexus.org.uk/ is the Nexus online shop (all items £9 or less with
P&P). They include coasters, masks, a set of 10 postcards (only £3.50), a pencil set, key rings & tea towels;
some for the Metro's 40th anniversary in 2020. Nexus welcomes suggestions for additions to the range.

2013] Reopening Minor Railways: (BLN 1379.1773) Mon 12 Apr: ●Perrygrove Railway (MR p17) -
they also do a side 'line' in weddings if you and your partner want to couple up on a railway. Sat 17
Apr: ●North Weald & District Miniature Railway (MR p16) ●Exbury Gardens Railway (MR p18).
Sat 29 May: ●Hythe Pier Railway & Ferry (and see BLN 1380.MR112) ●Ribble Steam Railway
●Evergreens Miniature Railway (MR p20). Sat 26 Jun: ●Llanelli & Mynydd Mawr Railway (MR p9)
●Hampton & Kempton Waterworks Railway (MR p17). Sat 3 Jul: ●Telford Steam Railway (but not
the steam tram which is out of ticket; MR 127). Fri 9 Jul: ●Llangollen Railway (Llangollen - Berwyn
DMU shuttle; work and an inspection of the River Dee bridge is required to run further). Sat 24 Jul:
Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway (MR p20). Sun 25 Jul: ●Royal Deeside Railway (SuO until 5 Sep).
Tue 27 Jul: ●Ffestiniog Railway Dduallt to Blaenau Ffestiniog (full line on TWThO). Sat 31 Jul:
●Welsh Highland Railway full length trips from each end FSO. 'Late' Jul: ●Toddington Narrow Gauge
Railway (was North Gloucestershire Railway MR p17). Tue 10 Aug: ●Brecon Mountain Railway (?).

2014] … and finally, All Our Yesterdays June 1953: The wife of a ticket collector living at Highbury saw
a railway van deliver three baskets to the occupants of a flat above her. As she and her husband were
already suspicious of the occupants, she informed the police. On visiting the premises, police officers
found 48 pairs of ladies' pyjamas and 36 windcheaters [clothing not indigestion remedies] which were
later connected with a consignment taken to King's Cross Goods Depot for dispatch the previous day.
The occupants of the flat were arrested and found guilty of receiving. The man was sentenced to one
months' imprisonment and the wife discharged. The thief has not been traced.

X.163] WANTED for 2022 RBF Calendar! It's that time of year again when RBF starts looking for
images for their next calendar! The theme for 2022 is 'Names & Trains'. Please send your images to
[email protected] of trains with famous names such as 'Flying Scotsman',
'Progress', or even the RBF Pendolino etc. Please include your name, the date and location of the
photo, and the name of the train in the picture. RBF will choose their favourite 12 photos, and those
who submitted them will receive a free copy of the calendar and an acknowledgment in it!

CONTACT DETAILS: See BLN/e-BLN 1379 (summary) or 1350 (18 Apr 2020), website PDF or via your BLN Editor.
●Editor: Paul Stewart [email protected] 4 Clarence Close, MALVERN, WR14 3HX 01684 562862 07790652351.

●Fixtures Secretary: Kev Adlam [email protected] @BLSFixtures (Paper post via BLN Editor above please.)
●Bookings Officer: Mark Gomm [email protected] 84 Mornington Road, STOKE-ON-TRENT, ST1 6EL.

●BLS Sales: Graeme Jolley [email protected] Dolbryn, Penegoes, MACHYNLLETH, Powys, SY20 8NN. 07484646542.
● MAPS: By permission of National Library of Scotland http://maps.nls.uk/index.html ●Printed by Willow Printing & Design Ltd,

[email protected] 75/79 Back Cross Lane, NEWTON-LE-WILLOWS, WA12 9YE 01925222449.
https://goo.gl/X6aQBA ●Published by the Branch Line Society, 10 Sandringham Rd, STOKE GIFFORD, BS34 8NP. ISSN 1354-0947.

BELOW: (Item 2008) Romsey Horticultural Tramway, Zach; with 'Madge' at Potting Bench. (Kev Adlam.)