1319

ABOVE: Dunblane station looking south towards Stirling 17 Jul 1992. (Angus McDougall.)

The Class 385s seen working via Cumbernauld and to Alloa were all 4-car units, so included First Class,
although the services are advertised as Standard Class only. This is because 'only' 7-car EMUs can work
between Glasgow and Edinburgh now until the platform lengthening is completed at Glasgow Queen
Street so some 3-car sets (Standard Class only) are required to pair with the 4-cars. When Queen
Street platforms can take 8-cars they will become 2x4 car, releasing the 3-car sets for the Standard
Class only services. Trains reverse north of Dunblane station, ECS via the trailing crossover, so
passengers are unable to travel to the most northerly point now reached by a mainline British electric
train, although there are aspirations to electrify to Perth.

2804] Greenburn: (BLN 1318.2557) A member and a friend visited the branch (the former Afton
Colliery Railway) on Thur 2 Aug 2018 having noted from Realtime Trains that a coal train was running.
It left Greenburn 35 mins late and they photographed it https://goo.gl/V8FiPc at Boig Road Crossing.

The gates were operated by two men who arrived in a van just ahead of the train. One was from NR
and the other from Kier, the mining company - very appropriately as it is the NR boundary on the line!
They told our member it was the penultimate train (to Cottam Power Station after running round at
Kilmarnock Long Lye Sidings) and that the last would be the next day, Fri 3 Aug (per BLN 1318).
They advised that the coal was no longer of sufficient quality and what there was would go out by road
(possibly to Killoch for blending but unconfirmed.) Apparently, they had expected to get two years out
of the site when it opened in June 2004 and here they were still shifting it over 14 years later. It was
also stated that there are no immediate plans to lift the track, so inward inert spoil might be possible.

2805] Killoch: In August there was a large pile of old sleepers and evidence of re-sleepering taking
place on the branch at Drongan. There is currently about one train of coal a week.

2806] IBM halted but not terminated: (BLN 1318.2565) Local businessmen Sandy and James Easdale
have purchased the site for £1.5M. They operate McGill's buses in the area. If the site is developed for
housing, then perhaps there may be a future for the station, or McGill's buses! IBM appears in the Dec
2018 National timetable with no trains to Wemyss Bay stopping, but all trains from Wemyss Bay are
incorrectly shown as stopping. IBM does not appear in the ScotRail 'Ayrshire, Inverclyde and Stranraer'
timetable booklet. Given that it has 'not closed', perhaps it should, even though trains don't stop.

2807] Tay Bridge: The £75M refurbishment of the bridge, which took 20 years, has won the top prize
at the National Railway Heritage Awards event on 5 Dec. It went to NR and main contractor Taziker,
which carried out an extensive programme of strengthening, repair and repainting works. Stretching
2¼ miles (with approaches), the Tay Bridge was built between 1883 and 1887 with 80 wrought iron
spans and 44 stone arches to the north and south. Local repairs and re-painting of its approach spans
started in 1996, while strengthening repairs took place between 2000 and 2004. Grit blasting and
repainting began in 2006 - with a total of 245,000 square metres of wrought iron and steel repainted.

2808] Faslane: Reopening the temporary unadvertised WWII station known is among the options
being considered to ease traffic problems here. The Royal Navy base is one of the largest single site
employers in Scotland, and there are often long queues of traffic on the A814 from Rhu during the
morning rush hour. The original 'Faslane Platform' or 'Faslane Junction Platform' was a single
platform 5m 16ch north of Craigendoran Jn, on the north side of the line, opening in connection with
construction of Loch Sloy Hydro Electric Power plant and closing when it was completed. Stuckendoff
and other Prisoner of War camps were nearby as was the branch to Faslane RNAD.

2809] West Highland Line: A trip in late autumn and winter is very different from one in the spring and
summer. There is a wide choice of seats and a much better view of the scenery while the trees are
without leaves. Of course, there are the short daylight hours and the Scottish weather, but on a fine
day the trip can be a treat. A member recently went to Mallaig on a day which started wet, but there
was the forecast sunshine from mid-morning, showing the landscape to its best advantage. The 08.21
from Queen Street had several tourists on board, but the 16.05 back from Mallaig, which runs after
dark most of the way, was almost empty. The Oban portions of both trains were appreciably busier,
but on the evidence of this trip, there is relatively little use of the line via Fort William for local travel.

A few people with shopping travelled from Fort William to Arisaig and Morar. The 12.21 from Queen
Street, to Mallaig, which leaves Fort William at 16.19, was passed at Glenfinnan and reasonably
loaded. The 16.05 from Mallaig leaves Fort William at 17.37, but there is no commuter traffic to
Spean Bridge and beyond, because there is no suitable morning inward service. The first arrival at
Fort William from the south is the Caledonian Sleeper at 09.57. It must also be said, that for journeys
between Glasgow and Fort William the Scottish Citylink coach is almost an hour faster than the train.
The coach is cheaper and the vehicles are air-conditioned, which the Class 156 DMUs are not. It can
also be argued that the coach journey is more scenic than the railway. After crossing Rannoch Moor,
the main road passes through Glen Coe before running along the shore of Loch Linnhe to Fort William.

Sprinter DMUs are permitted faster speeds over parts of the line than loco-hauled trains, but are still
restricted to 40 mph or 50 mph for much of the way. There are a few locations where 60 mph is
possible and some 70 mph running between Spean Bridge and Fort William. There is nowhere on the
Oban line or beyond Fort William where more than 55 mph is permitted. Despite the disadvantages by
comparison with the road journey, there is no doubt that the railway is a big draw for tourists,
particularly since Glenfinnan Viaduct came to fame through Harry Potter. The conductor on the 08.21
to Mallaig made a special announcement when the train was about to cross the viaduct.

Unsurprisingly, the busiest stations on the lines are Oban (181,172 passengers in 2017-18, up 10.2% in
12 months) with its much improved service, Fort William (155,856 +12.5%), Mallaig (95,878 +11%),
followed by Taynuilt (24,788 +13.1%), Arrochar & Tarbet (17,600 +13.1%), Crianlarich (17,586 +5.5%),
Helensburgh Upper (14,432 +1.1%; Helensburgh Central had 773,724) then Corrour (13,302 +19.9%).
Most stations had lost passengers in the 12 months to 2016-17 due to industrial action over the role of
guards, but the subsequent gains are far greater than just 'bounce back'. Corrour is very remote and
scenic (the Scottish gnats absolutely love it and flock there), with no public road, only a private gated
(locked) estate track, footpaths and trains. It attracts a lot of outdoor enthusiasts, some staying at the
nearby youth hostel by Loch Ossian. The excellent station restaurant has significant lunch and evening
business by train, with arrivals from Mallaig suitably at 12.30 & 18.25 and departures at 15.24 & 21.20.

ABOVE: 156493 climbing away from Arrochar & Tarbet on Saturday 25 Mar 2017,
working the 12.11 from Oban, with no Mallaig portion because of engineering work.

PREVIOUS PAGE: 156446 between Rannoch and Bridge of Orchy on 20 Feb 2018, working the 10.10
from Mallaig. ABOVE: Corrour on 20 Mar 2018. BELOW: 156449 at Mallaig on 13 Nov 2018. The unit
worked the 08.21 from Glasgow, returning at 16.05. (All four out of season pictures by Greg Beecroft.)



PREVIOUS PAGE TOP: Corrour. LOWER: Tulloch waiting to cross a train. (Both Nick Jones 20 Jan 2018.)

BELOW: Beasdale station; the combined waiting shelter and First Class lounge. (Angus McDougall
18 Oct 2013.) BOTTOM: 7th Series 1957 One-Inch map of the Beasdale area; Mallaig is off to the left.

ABOVE: Corrour from the crossing looking towards Fort William on 5 Aug 2003. (Angus McDougall.)

There are a few other curiosities along the line. Lineside signs mark Corrour Summit and Monessie
Gorge. The railway passes right through the small settlement at Tulloch, but the station is in an
isolated spot almost two miles to the east. Roy Bridge is yet another example of the railway getting a
place name wrong. The village served is 'Roybridge'. Glenfinnan is one of the few ScotRail managed
stations where Transport Scotland has given dispensation for an historic colour scheme, here cream
and green, rather than the standard
dark blue and light grey. (The others
are Aviemore, Gleneagles and
Wemyss Bay). Beasdale, near the foot
of Glen Beasdale, is an opportunistic
halt in a remote spot where the
railway happens to be adjacent to the
main road. It is not surprising that it is
the least-used station on the line (418
passengers but +34%!). A sign on the
platform notes that Arisaig is Britain's
most westerly railway station. (RIGHT:
on 18 Oct 2013 - Angus McDougall)
Train crews are based at Mallaig
where trains can be cleaned.

The timetable is designed so that a shift comprises a return trip to Crianlarich, where there is a break
of about 50 minutes to an hour between southbound and northbound trains. The timetable is also
designed to give connections with ferries at Oban and Mallaig, as far as possible. However, most days
'Clansman' sails from Oban to Coll and Tiree in the morning and to Colonsay in the afternoon,
requiring a morning departure well before the first train arrives. Similarly, other than on summer
Saturdays, the Mallaig ferry to Rum, Eigg, Muck and Canna has no Glasgow connection, though there

is one from Fort William. There is a connection to Glasgow from the Small Isles in the afternoon. It is
possible to travel by train and ship between Glasgow and Barra via Oban, in either direction, in a day.

The Fort William - Mallaig Jacobite steam trains, an 84 mile round trip, are a big success and often full
- members wanting to travel should book in advance so as not to be disappointed. The 2019 season
starts Good Friday 19 Apr. The morning train runs Mon-Fri 19 Apr to 25 Oct and daily 4 May to 29 Sep.
The afternoon train is scheduled Mon-Fri from 13 May until13 Sep and daily 15 Jun to 1 Sep. On many
days the 'HP' style accommodation is full (that is 'Harry Potter' compartments in case you didn't know.)

The West Highland Line 'winter' timetable began for the final time on Mon 4 Nov. From Mar 2019, an
all year-round Sunday timetable will be introduced with extra trains in the winter period.

2810] Something fishy is going on: (BLN 1318.2659) https://goo.gl/EvUGhf is a picture, naturally from
a German website (Güterzug), of Interfrigo refrigerated vans on the West Highland line.

2811] Dunbar: (BLN 1303.891) NR has appointed Amco as main contractor for the £13M station
upgrade with a new second platform, a fully-accessible footbridge and lifts. Detailed design-work will
begin. Work is expected to start next summer with the new infrastructure completed in early 2020.

2812] Springburn: 120 Staff and contractors were told on 12 Dec that Gemini Rail Services is planning
a formal consultation over the closure of Glasgow Works, due to falling orders. Formerly operated by
Knorr-Bremse, it was originally St Rollox Locomotive Works of the Caledonian Railway, opened in 1850.
The works is near to the former Glasgow Buchanan Street passenger line (TRACKmaps Book 1 P7L).

2813] Edinburgh Waverley: (BLN 1291.1092) From 16 Dec 2018 the two former Motorail (remember
them?) Sidings, out of operational use since 21 May 2017, have been removed and replaced by new
extended bay P5 & 6. Both platforms will continue to remain out of operational use until 27 Jan 2019.

2814] Oban: Sidings 2 & 3 were OOU from 13 Oct until 9 Nov. No3, the furthest of the three from the
station (on the northwest side by the quay), diverged significantly from the other two and has now
been cut back to accommodate expansion of the vehicle marshalling area at the nearby ferry terminal.
It is possible it will be relaid nearer to No2.

1319 WALES & THE MARCHES (Chris Parker) [email protected] ..............
2815] Welsh Highland Railway: A member asks if we have any current members who did/can recall
the original line. First OP 1 Jun 1923 as a through line; it CP 31 May 1937 so you need to be at least 81!

2816] Chepstow: (Item 2703) Due to the line closure to Newport for electrification work from 27 Dec
until 1 Jan incl, CrossCountry trains from the north turnback in P1, then on departure use the trailing
crossover north of the station (in Wales!) in service. If you were lucky enough to have travelled from
Tidenham Quarry (last tour 12 May 1990; Monmouthshire Railway Society ' Caerwent Cannonball 2')
or Tintern Quarry (last tour 25 Nov 1978; RCTS, West Midlands, 'Reunion Railtour'), you will have done
this crossover in the other direction. This may not apply to those who 'only' travelled south along the
beautiful Wye Valley Line from Monmouth Troy prior to the 6 Jan 1964 closure north of Tintern!

2817] More Welsh Rail Freight - glad tidings: (BLN 1318.2670) The Birmingham, Saltley Dunns Sidings
(European Metal Recycling now, not the Dunn Bros) to Cardiff Tidal train hasn't been scrapped but ran
16.55 MO 15, 21 & 29 Oct, 12 & 19 Nov & 3 Dec at least, each carrying up to 1,200 tonnes. The TThO
16.55 working didn't run at all in the May to Dec timetable. On Thur 6 Dec there was a Cardiff Tidal
Sidings to Mossend Down Yard working. Sadly the news isn't so good about the containerised silica
sand from Notre Dame de Briançon, on the line to Bourg St Maurice in the French Alps through the
Channel Tunnel to Dow Corning at Barry (BLN 1255.766). In 2016 it ran roughly alternate Fridays (and
made an impressive sight going through Cardiff Central) but has not run at all this year at least. The
GBRf weekly stone train from Cardiff Docks to 'Crawley' is actually to 'Crawley New Yard' or Tinsley
Green Sidings (28m 30ch) between Gatwick Airport and Three Bridges - there are no freight facilities
at Crawley. The Freightliner Cwmbargoed to Port Talbot Grange coal train is generally SSuX (not SX).

2818] Summit's up at Sugar Loaf: In 2014-15 the remote platform at Sugar Loaf (CP 1965; ROP 1984)
had just 110 passengers, one on average every 36 hours, then 228 in 2016-17. But in the new 2017-18
figures (released on 11 Dec) this sweet spot attracted as many loafers in 12 months as the previous
17 years; 1,824 in 2017-18, a rise of over 710%. Any suggestions as to what extent BLS members are
responsible for this? Its reputation as a 'dessert' of a railway outpost has helped this growth, which is
the biggest % increase in passenger numbers of all 2,559 national stations this year. This means it now
loses the kudos as Wales' quietest station after 20 years at the bottom. That dubious honour now falls
to Dolgarrog on the Conwy Valley Line, whose 612 passengers last year were almost 40% down.

Visitors certainly don't come for the seaside view, there is no wifi, mobile phone signal or First class
Lounge and rail enthusiasts don't need a very large spotting book. Like all stations in Wales it does
have a dot matrix passenger information display though. The 69ft platform was opened as part of the
Central Wales Extension Railway in 1868 to serve nearby railway worker cottages so their children
could get the train to nearby Llanwrtyd Wells. Peter Joyce, 70, a volunteer who helps look after the
station said: People have come from all over the world to get a ticket to Sugar Loaf just to say they've
been here.. We've had people from the USA coming here because they've seen Sugar Loaf station
referenced in books because it is so unused. The other day I popped down to the station to do a little
gardening and there was a man waiting on the platform who had made the 12-hour round-trip from
London, just to get a ticket that has the destination as Sugar Loaf. It's turning into a bit of a tourist
destination. [Hate to say this; they are available in London too, in fact more or less anywhere.]

Peter and his wife Margaret 'adopted' Sugar Loaf in 2011 to tend to gardening and report any issues to
ATW and now TfW, moving from Hay-on-Wye four years ago. Two lovebirds flew in on a 10-hour
round-trip from Didcot in Oct so Mark could propose to Lindsey [oil's well for a refined relationship].

Cardiff Central was the busiest station in Wales in 2017-18 with 12,951,746 'Total entries & exits',
Queen Street was second at 2,912,364 only just ahead of Newport, Swansea and then Bridgend.
London Waterloo with 94,355,000 not only put it top but exceeded the total for all of Wales.

2819] Abergavenny: Collectors of temporary footbridges have until spring to visit the one here. The
permanent footbridge at the south end of the platforms was recently removed for refurbishment and
repair at a specialist workshop in Cardiff while repairs are carried out to the support columns on site.

2820] Landore (LE): Set in the triangle north of Swansea station and a diesel depot for its final
55 years, closure took effect from 19 Nov 2018. HST set LA72 with power cars W43002 'Sir Kenneth
Grange and 43188 'The Welshman' was the last to be serviced there the day before. 19 HST diagrams
were still operating then but four were to be lost at the 9 Dec timetable change. The area is served
instead by the new Hitachi IET facility (with OHLE!) at Maliphant Sidings. (Cardiff & Avonside Rly Soc)

2821] Blaenau Ffestiniog: (BLN 1318.2559) A member suggests the 19 Nov 16.28 Llandudno Junction
to Blaenau Ffestiniog and 20th 20.23 return, the only passenger trains shown online as running since
15 Nov, did not actually run. They are more likely to have been missed when inputting Short Term
Planning cancellations and a signaller or Train Delay Attribution clerk possibly decided it was easier to
make the times up than cancel them! He further comments that TfW's updates have been full of errors
(see BLN 1318.2672), advising passengers to travel the wrong way when trains are cancelled and not
cancelling outward trains when the return train is (or vice versa). Come back ATW, all is forgiven....

1319 MINOR RAILWAYS (Peter Scott) [email protected]
X.182] NEXT PAGE TOP AND BOTTOM: (BLN 1316.2303) Excavations were taking place in October at
the Alton end of Ropley station on the Mid Hants Railway to significantly extend the siding beyond the
road bridge and create a second one alongside it for the forthcoming closure of the line between
Medstead & Four Marks and Alton for bridge and road works. The excavated chalk, moved by rail, has
been laid to the southeast of the line a little south of the former Butts Jn where some trees have been
felled in connection with the extensive road works and bridge replacement there. (Stuart Hicks.)



MR243] Acton Miniature Railway, Greater London (MR p17) (BLN 1306.MR106): This 7¼" gauge
railway appears to have reopened after problems forced its closure after operation during the 23/24
September 2017 Open Weekend. The first day of passenger operation this year seems to have been on
Saturday 22 September 2018. [Advertising for this Acton Depot Open Weekend included: Our very own
Museum railway is back! It was shown as running all day, £1 per ride. London Transport Museum's
website gives the next open weekends as 27/28 April, 13/14 July and 28/29 September 2019 - PAS.]

MR244] Churnet Valley Railway, Staffordshire (MR p8): (BLN 1318.2642 with map) The cost of
rebuilding the railway back to Leek, from Leekbrook Junction, will be more than £800,000 according to
a Council report. Churnet Valley Railway (CVR) will be responsible for raising the estimated £810,000
required to reconnect to a new station in Leek's Cornhill area. The report, discussed by Staffordshire
Moorlands District Council's Moorlands 14 November Partnership Board states: Planning permission
has now been granted for the reinstatement of the rail link. Legal professionals have been appointed to
provide advice to the Council regarding the Heads of Terms and these are being discussed between the
Council and the Churnet Valley Railway. The full cost for construction of the line is circa £810,000.
There is an 18-month construction period that would only commence once funding is confirmed. CVR
will be responsible for raising the funding to cover the construction costs. CVR have been invited to
make a full application for funding to EAFRD [European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development].
The report also states work has been completed to restore Leekbrook station's waiting room that
reopened last month. Cheddleton station is also set to be repaired and refurbished in May 2019, with
work delayed until then while a bat survey takes place.

BELOW: At Loughbourgh Central BR 73156 assembles the 12.20 Loughborough to Rothley Brook van train.

MR245] Great Central Railway, Leicestershire (MR p7): The railway held its 'Last Hurrah' gala over the
weekend of 17/18 November. There were one diesel and five steam locomotives running each day,
with an intensive timetable of through and short passenger trains, along with the dining train and two
goods trains. The MR Editor visited on the Sunday - a glorious sunny day after some early mist had
cleared. An all-day rover ticket was a very reasonable £22 (£21 senior) or £17 with a 'BR Priv' ticket.
Proper Edmondson card tickets were issued. In operation were BR 4-6-2 70013 'Oliver Cromwell',
BR 4-6-0 73156, BR 2-10-0 92214, LMSR 2-8-0 48624, LMSR 4-6-0 45305 and 'Peak' diesel D123. LMSR
0-6-0T 47406 was on the pre-booked dining train. Apart from 47406, all these locos swapped around
between the workings. Two six coach, and one four coach, passenger trains - all of ex-BR MK1 stock
were in use. The two goods trains were formed of rakes of 4 wheel vans and 4 wheel mineral wagons.

Later in the afternoon a non-stop 'Express' was operated from Loughborough Central to Leicester
North with 70013 and two extra coaches attached. This is the sort of gala no other Heritage Railway
can put on, with the double track allowing a constant flow of trains with varied motive power - no
need for a timetable unless you want to ride behind certain locomotives. The loops at Swithland were
in use for trains to overtake. A number of other BLS members were noted to be in attendance, no
doubt 'leftover' from our previous day's railtour to the 'other' Great Central Railway. An excellent day
out and thoroughly recommended - the railway's next such gala is to be held on 25-27 January.

BELOW: At Leicester North 'Black Five' 45305 runs round 2A09, the 10.50 from
Loughborough Central. (All picture with this item Peter Scott 18 Nov 2018.)



PREVIOUS PAGE TOP: With the shadows lengthening, 'Peak' D123 heads south through Quorn with
9C25, the 14.10 Loughborough to Rothley Brook goods train. PREVIOUS PAGE LOWER: LMSR '8F'
48624 passes Quorn with 2A06, the 10.00 Loughborough Central to Leicester North.

MR246] Hampton & Kempton Waterworks Railway, (HKWR) Greater London (BLN 1302.MR67)
(MR p17): A member has kindly submitted an update on this railway as at December 2018. The
number one intention of the Railway Company is to recreate as far as possible the original railway that,
from 1915 to 1945, carried coal and sand from wharves on the River Thames at Hampton to Kempton
Waterworks to assist in storing, treating and then pumping clean water to North London. Because the
Kempton Waterworks and the Hampton Waterworks are still open, two parts of the original trackway
cannot now be re-used, for operational and security reasons. Therefore, the reinstated 2ft gauge track
will stop at Hyde's Field in the west of Hampton, and there will need to be a substantial deviation at
the northern end to circumnavigate the Kempton Water Works secure operational area.

On 19 March 2018 a lease was signed by HKWR and Thames Water enabling HKWR to build a railway
as described above, with one station en-route to be known as Bunny Lane, where a bridleway crosses
the route and a Thames Water operated Nature Reserve already exists. However, at a late stage in the
negotiations, Thames Water announced that they had future plans to build a treatment plant on an
area of waste land known as The South Field. A compromise was agreed that instead of HKWR building
a fairly direct deviation across the South Field, they would instead build around the edge of it. As a
result there will be an increase in the length of track to be laid, and the extent of landscaping that will
be necessary, but potential advantages of this route are its relatively unspoilt countryside, and the fact
that the track will then pass close to Network Rail's Kempton Park station on the Shepperton branch.
Kempton Park station includes the remains of an unused bay platform, which would be upgraded in
Crossrail 2 plans, and is close to where a standard gauge line entered the Kempton Waterworks.

Once the lease had been signed, HKWR was in a position to survey in detail the revised deviation route
and it was discovered that at certain places the ground was not suitable for building a railway on;
therefore further minor deviations are being sought with variations to planning permission
accordingly. Building a railway from HKWR's current operating loop (Stage One) into The South Field,
which is Stage Two leading up to the proposed Bunny Lane station, is quite problematic in civil
engineering terms as the Railway must first cross The Portlane Brook, and then the Staines Aqueduct,
a canal which brings untreated water into the Water Works. A third bridge will be required to take the
Railway across the aqueduct again and back out of the South Field to join the original route at Bunny
Lane. Bridge design work is underway, and a temporary footbridge is planned to allow the workforce
and equipment to cross the aqueduct in the meantime to enable groundwork to take place on the far
side as there is already track waiting to be laid there. At the same time as work commences in
The South Field, work is also being undertaken on the existing loop to build a two track coach house
with pit for locomotive and carriage storage and maintenance. Additional sidings will be required and a
third carriage is needed. Thus the existing platform will need to be extended, and some remodelling
undertaken. A triangle is also planned so that trains coming off the extension from The South Field can
join the loop in a clockwise direction and leave it in an anti-clockwise direction, thereby being able to
enter and leave the station without a reversal at some point.

MR247] East Cliff Railway, Bournemouth (MR p34) (BLN 1304.MR90): The 5ft 6in gauge railway has
been closed since a major landslip during the night of 23/24 April 2016. Bournemouth Borough Council
is now saying it does not have the funds to reinstate the railway and work to restore the railway has
been delayed indefinitely. Last year the Council said the railway and toilets would not reopen for
another two years, but it now says it cannot afford the 'significant' cost of stabilising the cliff.

Stabilisation of the cliff following the 2016 landslip is predicted to cost the Council 'well into seven
figures' and, with the damage not covered by insurance, no money is available for the work. But
Bournemouth Council Head of Tourism, Chris Saunders said it remained its ambition to reinstate the
lift. He said: Ever since the cliff fall in 2016 it has been the council's ambition to reinstate the cliff lift

and associated facilities as quickly and efficiently as possible, and this ambition remains. The cost to
stabilise the cliff face is the biggest hurdle to achieving reinstatement and is estimated to be
significant. The council currently has no means of directly funding this work and continues to look for
grants and sustainable commercial investment to help solve the problem. Mr Saunders said that the
freehold of the land being owned by the Gervis Meyrick Estate rather than the Authority 'makes
matters more complicated'. The railway last ran on Saturday 23 April 2016.

MR248] Steeple Grange Light Railway, (SGLR) Derbyshire (MR p14) (BLN 1315.MR208): Public trains
were run to the curtailed operational limit on Sundays 28 October and 4 November (school half-term
period). The Remembrance Day special workings on 11 November involved a train carrying three
commemorative headstones recalling the 120,000 sent from Middleton Quarry post 1918 for the
Imperial War Graves Commission, from the new terminus to Steeplehouse. Here one was erected
alongside the High Peak Trail, one conveyed by gun carriage pulled by two splendidly dressed black
horses to Wirksworth Parish Church, and one returned to Middleton for the Church there. Despite
rain, a large crowd of local people attended for the cortege departure at 10.15, and the Two Minutes
Silence was then observed by SGLR members at 11.00. For the Santa Specials on 15 & 16 December,
public trains ran only from Steeplehouse to the new permanent (wooden hut) Grotto, on the south
side of the line just short of the turnout for Dark Lane Quarry Sidings, so kept to the main running line.
The subsidence-affected section is now largely stabilised, but will definitely not be fit for public
passenger train use until the beginning of the 2019 season in April. Through track is complete into the
new station site at Middleton, including a very limited siding layout; work on creating a platform, as
well as a path to the Main Street, is still in progress.

X.183] Alston, South Tynedale Railway, three pictures from Ian Hughes of Green Dragon Rail (Nov 2018).

ABOVE: 'Old Rusty' on the South Tynedale Railway's AGM special on 10 Nov2018.

ABOVE: Alford (pronounced 'Aff-ord') station, Alford Valley Railway. (Angus McDougall 24 Aug 1986.)

MR249] Alford Valley Railway, (AVR) Aberdeenshire (MR p28) (BLN 1305.1013): This line appears to
be defunct, and has not operated this season; the track is stated to be in a dangerous condition.
The adjacent Grampian Transport Museum has secured the station building ('Great North Review',
November 2018). Additionally, Industrial Railway Society Bulletin 1020 (November 2018) carried a
report (dated 27 August 2018): Sadly, the AVR now seems to be defunct. The last train ran from Alford
station to Haughton Park on 24 September 2017* and the line did not reopen in 2018, due to the
dangerous state of the track. The sole remaining shareholder, James Gordon, is now in advancing
years. The future of the rolling stock is not decided. The Railway's web site, on 21 November, no longer
seems to be active. *BLN 1305.1013 states the last train ran on Saturday 30 September 2017. [This was
provided by the Railway in response to a direct query and also shown in the 2017 timetable - PAS.]

1319 FIXTURES REPORTS (Paul Stewart) [email protected] ..
2822] AGM Middleton Railway; Sat 27 Oct: By David Russell. Among the various fixtures tied in with
the Society's 2018 Leeds AGM was an all morning 'All Line Tour' of the Middleton Railway, our eighth

visit here. [The AGM Final Notice details them all.]
The day began in the line's excellent café, where, as
well as tea/ coffee and biscuits, tour patrons who
arrived in sufficient time had a hot sausage or bacon
roll. [Miles & tickets are thanks to Uncle Jim Sellens.]

Although our Fixtures Secretary, Kev Adlam, had
carried out all the detailed negotiations for this tour,
due to Kev being away on a 'surprise' holiday, John
Cameron was in charge for the Society. We were
extremely lucky that two of the Middleton Railway's
volunteers who were heavily involved in the operation of the tour are/have been BLS members - Ian
Smith, the line's Vice President, had done much of the planning and negotiating, while Ian Dobson was
Senior Responsible Officer on the day. Having people on the ground that understand what we try to
achieve, and what our members want, makes things much easier!

FROM TO LOCO T&T Ch [BLN 1319]
propel
Moor Road Platform Balm Road Loop MDHB 45 lead 29 ch During his introduction,
Balm Road Loop Network Rail Boundary D2999 T&T 2 ch Ian Smith explained that
Network Rail Boundary clear of Balm Road Loop D2999 T&T 8 ch the train would be
clear of Balm Road Loop Network Rail Boundary MDHB 45 propel running in 'top & tail'
Network Rail Boundary Moor Road Loop D2999 lead 7½ ch formation, using locos
Moor Road Loop Loop Siding EOL MDHB 45 T&T 29½ch MD&HB 45 (Hudswell
Moor Road Loop MDHB 45 T&T Clarke D1373/1965) and
5 Park Halt EOL D2999 lead 4 ch 'D2999' (Brush 91 & Beyer
Park Halt Platform MDHB 45 propel 4 ch Peacock 7856/1958).
Moor Road Loop clear of Loop Points MDHB 45 lead 74 ch
Park Halt EOL Park Halt EOL MDHB 45 T&T 3 ch To ensure the maximum
Park Halt Platform clear of Loop Points MDHB 45 propel 3 ch track coverage, at the
clear of Loop Points Dartmouth Branch Jn MDHB 45 lead 6 ch extremities of lines, the
Park Halt EOL Dartmouth Branch D2999 T&T 6 ch front loco would be
clear of Loop Points Dartmouth Branch Jn D2999 lead 49 ch detached, with the
Dartmouth Branch Jn Moor Road Platform MDHB 45 propel 6 ch coaches then being
Dartmouth Branch clear of Yard Points D2999 lead 5½ ch propelled by the rear
Dartmouth Branch Jn Car Park Siding EOL D2999 propel 18 ch engine to the line limit -
Moor Road Platform Workshop Points D2999 lead 4½ ch thus giving the 'keen end'
clear of Yard Points Workshop Line D2999 propel 13 ch of the train that vital extra
Car Park Siding EOL clear of Museum Points D2999 lead 6 ch loco extra length!
Workshop Points Museum L/H Road Doors D2999 propel 4 ch
Workshop Line Clear of Yard Points D2999 9 ch
clear of Museum Points Moor Road Platform D2999 1½ ch
Museum L/H Road Doors 6½ ch
clear of Yard Points 5 ch

BELOW: Our railtour on the Dartmouth branch; No45 is on the main running line, Moor Road is off
to the right just through the tunnel under the M621 and Park Halt is off left. (Ian Dobson.)

ABOVE: The 'business end' of the Dartmouth branch taken from Garnet Road looking towards the
Middleton Railway. The site appears to be an abandoned engineering works. (Bill Davis 27 Oct 2018.)

ABOVE: Approaching the running shed towards the end of the tour. (Stuart Hicks.)

With everyone on board, we set off around 09.00 from Moor Road down the Balm Road branch. This
line, which links to NR, is normally only used during special events; the connection itself has not had
any activity since June 1990 when it was used to deliver a pair of bogies for the EM2 Loco Society. The
train ran to the run-round loop, where MD&HB 45 was removed, and then propelled to a few inches
short of the Middleton/NR boundary gate. With our second engine re-attached, the other side of the
run round loop was traversed before we returned back towards Moor Road.

Back at Moor Road, some shunting had been done. The platform was full of wagons, which had been
removed from Bannister's Siding to allow our tour to travel over that line. In this instance, 'D2999' was
removed from the train to allow loco MD&HB 45 to propel the tour into the siding. After this had been
accomplished, the loco was hooked back on and we headed for Park Halt, the Middleton's southern
terminus. Once again, a loco removal occurred, enabling the coaches to be shunted right into the
headshunt and we also covered the run-round loop to the buffer stop.

The highlight for many was the traversal of what is left of the Dartmouth branch. This branch once ran
to Clayton's Dartmouth yard, the Middleton's operating base until 1983 when the land was sold by
Clayton, Son & Co Ltd. It was then that the Moor Road site, which had until that time consisted of little
but a track and platform, was developed. The Dartmouth branch last saw any activity in Jul 2015 for
'Hunslet 150'; our charter was to be the last passenger train before the point is lifted this winter.

The last bits of track to be covered were those around Moor Road. Unfortunately, the Middleton's
attempts to move the wagons out of the siding adjacent to the running line were thwarted after it was
discovered that the couplings had been removed. One for our ninth visit perhaps? There was also
some difficulty clipping the point to give us access to the line which runs to the car park, but the
volunteers persevered and eventually managed it. The next issue was finding the owners of a couple of
vehicles which were blocking the track in the car park - they were traced (and were not BLS members
either) and their vehicles moved, so we were able to carry on to the end - which had no stop block -
a couple of feet from a car belonging to one of your new Committee Members, Darren Garnon!

ABOVE: Our Middleton Railway AGM tour in the running shed at Moor Row. (Nick Garnham.)
BELOW: At the extremity of the car park line; no cars were injured during the tour. (Stuart Hicks.)

[BLN 1319]
Next, the tour visited the running shed, officially opened earlier this year, which I believe might be a
'first'? Lastly, the left of the two lines into the museum was traversed as far as the doors, before
returning to the platform to enable everyone to alight prior to the commencement of our AGM.

Verdict: A well-organised and comprehensive trip. Many thanks to the two Ians and all the other
volunteers who assisted on the day, in not the best of weather conditions, also Kev and the BLS team.

2823] Middleton Behind the Scenes Tours; Sat 27 Oct: After the AGM (at which Middleton Railway
'Goody Bags' were handed out), there was the chance to join 'Behind the Scenes' tours around the
Moor Road site. Due to the numbers, we were split into three groups. The one I was allocated to
started in the Museum housing various locos, mostly built in Leeds. I have been a regular visitor to the
Middleton for many years, but even I learnt one or two things - for example, one of the steam locos
was named 'Henry De Lacy II', but who was he? Back in the 12th Century, it was common for rich
people to use money to try and repent their sins. As the 3rd Earl of Lincoln, he helped acquire the land
on which Kirkstall Abbey stands and laid the foundations of the associated church on the land.

The loco itself was built and worked in Leeds and has
never left the city in which it was built, back in 1917.

We then moved across to the running shed, where
minor repairs to locos are carried out. It is the newest
building on the Moor Road site, having been
completed in 2017. Our group then walked through
to the workshop, which is a fantastic facility for a
small railway - many larger lines would be envious!
Several locos and a coach were even noted as having
major rebuilds carried out.

Two other buildings were then visited - one, a purpose built shed, houses 'Picton', which is a Hunslet
steam loco which was repatriated from Trinidad some years ago. Although built to run on standard
gauge tracks, it is significantly wider than other UK locos, and it is to be restored as a static exhibit in
due course. The second building contained a Greenwood & Batley coke oven loco, which was donated
to the railway by Monckton Coke & Chemical Company of Royston, where it previously operated.
This was the last coke oven locomotive built by Greenwood & Batley, works No420452 of 1979.

All in all, an interesting hour or so, and thanks go to our three guides for showing everyone around.

2824] Ciné Film presentation; Sat 27 Oct: By John Hampson. Society members were made very
welcome for our Annual General Meeting at the Middleton Railway. In the evening following the AGM,
over 30 members were treated to a nostalgic presentation by our member Chris Totty (who,
impressively, had travelled especially from Jersey to
join us) entitled 'Wayside Wanderings Part 2'.

Chris presented previously unseen footage that he
had taken on 8mm colour cine film between 1967
and 1972 and had only recently digitised. We were
treated to a wonderful tour of the British mainland
stretching from Thurso to Falmouth and Yarmouth to
Fishguard with at least forty points in between. Most
of the material covered railtours, largely in first
generation DMUs but the most exotic had to be the
charter of a Silver Pullman unit for a tour to South Wales. Chris was able to record the final working
day of a number of lines including the M&GN system, Cheltenham to Stratford, Rawtenstall and
Manchester Central. I particularly enjoyed the trip around the Oldham Loop in about 30 seconds.

ABOVE: 'THE END' or at least the keen end of the train maxigricing the car park line,

the running shed is right and the station building/museum is to the left. (Nick Garnham)

I was struck by the gritty dilapidation and decay, all too obvious in the railway infrastructure that Chris
has recorded in this period. It is far more noticeable than in still images.

Following an excellent fish & chip supper (non-digital) and hot drink downstairs in the Middleton café
during the half time interval, Chris showed recordings of contemporary steam operation in the Mosel
region of Germany, both as tours and on mainline freight. Despite the fact that steam was still in
widespread use in Germany at the time, the contrast between the apparently good state of the
infrastructure in Germany compared with that at home was really noticeable. I really enjoyed this trip
back through time to a period that many of us did not have the opportunity to experience firsthand.
I didn't see Part 1 last year but certainly hope that Chris will be able to put together a Part 3!

Details must be checked 1319 CONNECTIONS (Paul Stewart) [email protected] .Please mention BLN.

2825] Manchester's Tramways (the first lot!) on Film; Wed 16 Jan 18.00-20.00: Manchester Central
Library, M2 5PD, adjacent to St Peter's Square tram stop and a short walk from Oxford Road station.
By North West Film Archive at Manchester Metropolitan University. Book at: https://goo.gl/Uy5GcB

2826] Another BLS Railtour, Sat 16 Feb: (BLN 1318.2677) No, still not us, but the Bahamas Locomotive
Society steam-hauled by 45596 'Bahamas' again. https://goo.gl/XbXFqw A rerun of the 9 Feb trip that
filled quickly. Oxenhope (08.15/20.00 - approx) - Haworth (08.20) - Keighley (08.50) Keighley & Worth
Valley Railway mainline connection - Skipton (09.20) - Appleby - Carlisle (2½ hour break) and back.

2827] The High Peak Explorer, REDATED Sat 30 Mar 2019: Carnforth (05.03/21.28) - Preston (05.45/
20.35) - Eccles - Manchester Vic (06.38/19.34) - Ashton Moss N Jn - Denton (water stop) - Stockport -
Chinley - Peak Forest - Buxton XYZ Sidings - Buxton (break 10.30/14.36) - Hindlow - Buxton return as
outward. Two steam locos, from £109 Adult Standard Class https://goo.gl/V88VoG 01553 661 500.

2828] Mountsorrel branch 2019: Provisional running dates: 31 Mar (possibly steam through to the
Great Central Railway); 17, 24 & 28 Apr; 26 May; 30 Jun; 28 Jul; 7, 14 & 25 Aug; 29 Sep & 27 Oct 2019.

2829] London Railway Atlas, 5th Edition by our member Joe Brown:
157 pages, Crécy Publishing Ltd. First published in 2006 this latest Sep
2018 edition has been fully updated with much new information and
many amendments. It can surely be regarded as the best and most
detailed combined historical/current London railway atlas available.
The book is effectively a historical and 2018 track and platform plan!

The 92 clear, well cartographed, colour A4 pages extend out as far as
Amersham, Chesham, Cheshunt, Ongar, Shenfield, East Tilbury, Hoo
Jn, Orpington, Redhill, Reigate, Leatherhead, Effingham Junction,
Byfleet, Windsor, Slough, Uxbridge and Denham. There are many
large and very large scale detailed maps and inserts of 'congested'
areas. The detailed index includes stations and locations with page,
grid reference, dates of opening, name changes and closure (where
applicable and known) with opening company and some very detailed notes (more are found on the
maps). All lines through the city are shown, including London Underground, Croydon Tramlink, DLR,
the Post Office Railway (etc) and, of course, the national rail network with Thameslink and Crossrail
etc updates. As an example the three tracking from Lea Bridge Jn to Meridian Water is included.

The geographical relationship between overground and underground lines is well shown. Gems
include numerous industrial railways and branches with proposed passenger lines that were never
built (such as Watford Central and the Northern Line extension from Edgware to Bushey Heath -
the Croxley Link may eventually fall into that category!). The 1913 layout at Epsom Downs has to be
seen to be believed, as does the very extensive 18"/mixed gauge Royal Arsenal Railway and Feltham
Marshalling Yard (in 1962) - a few of numerous examples. Your reviewer is pleased to see his
contribution (No1 National Aircraft Factory branch at Waddon, Croydon) has appeared on P66.

The evolution of the Willesden Junction/Old Oak area is particularly interesting - with a decluttered
2018 map (on p92) also showing the new Old Oak Common mainline and HS2 stations. There has
been much input into this work by our members (and more is invited). Your Society comes out of it
very well with mentions at the bottom of the 'Preface' and towards the top of the 'References' page.
Suffice it to say that all members should at least look at a copy; there is something for everyone in
this superb publication with many hours of interest and enjoyment. The cover price is only £20 but
it can be obtained online for as little as £14.48 from 'Book Depository' including UK delivery. [PAS]

2830 Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway Diesel Gala; Fri 5-Sun 7 Apr: Class 08 08825 or D3018 on
brakevan trips, subject to availability, south from Princes Risborough P4 to the end of the sidings -
6¼ch (Picts Lane overbridge). D8568, 31163 & 37227 should also work; two/three visiting locos (25262
expected). Adults £12.50; Senior/National Railcard holder £11.50 in advance; £18/£15 on the day.

2831] Scot-rail.co.uk: https://goo.gl/P6FL2H the online rail enthusiast group for all rail enthusiasts
interested in the railways and trains of Scotland, in addition to the Branch Line Society of course!
Whether you're interested in discussing or learning about future line openings, updates of an unusual
workings due to happen, telling us what locos you've seen at Mossend or asking a question about
something you're not sure about, scot-rail.co.uk is the place to be.

●Bookings: Mark Gomm, 84 Mornington Rd, STOKE-on-TRENT, ST1 6EL. [email protected] 07983 541887.
●Fixtures Sec: Kev Adlam 53 Kemble Close, Wistaston, CREWE, CW2 6XN. [email protected] @BLSGeneralSec
●Paul Griffin, 7 School Bell Meadows, Church Lane, Stoneleigh, COVENTRY, CV8 3ZZ. [email protected]
●Sales Officer: Graeme Jolley, Dolbryn, Penegoes, MACHYNLLETH, SY20 8NN. [email protected] 07484 646542.
●Electronic Messages (to sign up) BLS members: https://goo.gl/JqT61k Non-BLS members: https://goo.gl/uCErpL
●E-Messages (submit short notice items/data)/E-BLN or BLN problems: Nick Garnham [email protected]
●Editor: Paul Stewart, 4 Clarence Close, MALVERN, WR14 3HX. 01684562862 07790652351. [email protected]
●Published by the Branch Line Society, 10 Sandringham Rd, Stoke Gifford, BS34 8NP. ISSN 1354-0947