1424] Halt, the southern end of the line. There is a long term plan for the line to tion with the Swindon to Kemble/Gloucester line (it is at the right level).
BELOW: 36ft long, 4-wheel AC railbus W79978 at Hayes Knoll. It did work Kem
mble to Cirencester and Tetbury including the last day of the latter, 4 Apr 1964.
BELOW: Looking north from near South Meadow Lane, the northern limit of running towards Cricklade (note the 'STOP' board with wagons ahead). You may have done those piles of track - from Didcot Power Station!
ABOVE: 1934 map (the line closed 30 Sep 1935), top right (towards Lynton) is Woody Bay station 3⅓ miles from Woody Bay! The heritage operation is to Killington Lane - the first overbridge southwest. Parracombe is centre right, Blackmoor Gate lower left and Wistlandpound below towards Barnstaple. MR85] Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, Devon (MR p15) (BLN 1415.MR3): The railway has purchased the Old Station House Inn restaurant/pub and the adjoining house at Blackmoor Gate - site of the former Blackmoor station. They have also purchased some adjacent land for the future reconstruction of the railway. The plan is that a new station will be erected to the west of the original building to allow the hospitality business to continue to flourish. This will have the incidental benefit of making it easier for the railway to run under the crossroads (map), 900ft above sea level, marking the second summit of the line and provides the western gateway to Exmoor National Park. Press officer Tony Nicholson said: We are indebted to the previous landlords, Mr & Mrs Shepherd, who have worked hard over many years to provide a warm welcome to their customers and build a successful business that has recently navigated the pressures of the Covid pandemic. The venue will eventually provide station facilities as part of the extended Lynton & Barnstaple Railway in addition to continuing to operate as a pub and
restaurant. As the new landlords, the company is not planning radical change to the premises and assures all the regular and occasional visitors to the Inn that it will continue to offer a warm welcome with quality food and drinks. A programme of investment is planned which will respect the heritage of the setting and its place as an important part of the local community by retaining and enhancing the present character of the pub and restaurant. Directors of the L&B Blackmoor Company PLC and the new manager look forward to meeting our customers. Unfortunately, the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway has suffered a major setback in its extension plans through Exmoor National Park (beyond Killington Lane through Parracombe and to Blackmoor Gate). Planning permission for this extension expired on 7 March 2023. The National Park granted planning permission on 18 March 2018 - but this was conditional on all the land required being owned by the railway and it having sufficient funds to complete the whole extension. The Railway owns most of the land but has not been able to buy a section of trackbed south of Parracombe, close to the current owner's house. In addition, the railway does not have sufficient funds at present. In May 2022, following professional advice, the railway submitted a Section 73 application to the National Park to vary the planning conditions and allow staged construction from Killington Lane. However, the National Park informed the railway in January this year it seemed unlikely the necessary statutory processes concerning the Section 73 application would be completed before planning permission expired and they were minded to reject the application anyway. The railway did not challenge this decision as it would involve more expense and time, with no guarantee of success. The National Park remains supportive of the overall plan to reopen the railway. Planned reopening between Killington Lane and Blackmoor is therefore stalled with little hope of any immediate progress. However, the railway does have planning permission for the section between Blackmoor and Wistlandpound from North Devon Council (which was granted in June 2016) and this does not have the same conditions. Options are therefore being considered by the railway membership as to the way forward. MR86] Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway, Cumbria (MR p14) (BLN 1405.MR144): On the evening of Tuesday 11 April, Storm Noa caused the power in Ravenglass and neighbouring areas to go off and it was still off the following morning. At about 08.00 on 12 April, a line checking train was despatched from Ravenglass to Dalegarth and confirmed there were no line issues. The railway issued a notice that trains would be running but due, to the lack of power, ticket issuing would be manual and the café at Ravenglass would remain closed. The café at Dalegarth was unaffected and open as usual. With no power, the normal radio signalling could not be used, so the driver of the 09.30 had to stop at each loop and use the backup telephone to ask permission to proceed. At 10.30, an estimate of 18.00 was given for the restoration of power. At this point a decision was made to close the railway for the rest of the day. The 10.30 from Dalegarth was put back to 11.05 and had no trains to cross back to Ravenglass. In the event, power was restored at lunchtime, but given the previous decision and the foul weather, it was decided not to run until the following day. On 15 April 1973, Trevor Stockton joined the staff of the railway. 50 years later, he is still on the staff having undertaken many rôles. He was a driver of 'River Mite' and the first driver of 'Northern Rock'. For 10 years Trevor was Foreman of the railway responsible for the permanent way, lineside and training new members of staff. From 2001 until late 2017 he was General Manager. Since retiring as General Manager, he has remained on the staff as a Driver Trainer, Advisor and Trustee of Ravenglass Railway Museum and continues as a Relief Controller, a duty he undertook on his 50th anniversary. In his 50 years of continuous service, he has had many adventures including having tea with Sir Douglas Bader and travelling to Japan to instruct the drivers of 'Northern Rock II' at the railway in Shuzenji. Of course, the pinnacle of his career was his appearance as Grandad Trevor on BBC CBeebies. MR87] East Somerset Railway, Somerset (MR p6): On a dry and sunny Sunday 23 April a visit was made, to sample haulage by newly restored GWR Large Prairie tank 4110. The train was composed of five coaches, the open brake and two more open coaches reserved for preparation and service of afternoon tea on the last departure at 15.30. That left an open coach and a suburban compartment coach for other passengers, quite adequate for the loadings at 11.00, 12.30 and 14.00. On normal running days the adult fare is £12 (£11 concessions), valid all day. Tickets are Edmondson card style.
There was no mention of stopping at Merryfield Lane or Cranmore West; the 12.30 to Mendip Vale and 12.50 return ran nonstop. These other stops may have ceased to be used. A word of advice, if seeking advance information on which loco is due to work; our reporter emailed their enquiries address three weeks in advance, asking when 4110 might be out next. Apart from an out-of-office acknowledgement, there was no reply. However, at the bottom of the website homepage there is a link to their Facebook page, often updated Saturday lunchtime to show what is working that weekend. MR88] Swindon & Cricklade Railway, Wiltshire (MR p6): A member visited the railway for its Diesel Gala on Saturday 15 April. An intensive timetable was being run using one set of Mk1 coaches between Taw Valley Halt and Hayes Knoll along with a set of vintage 4-wheelers between Blunsdon and South Meadow Lane. The former were variously hauled by Class 73 E6003 (73003) or 03022, running round each end, apart from the last trip of the day which finished at Blunsdon southbound. The vintage set employed PWM651, 03022, D2152 (03152) and a Fowler industrial 4220031 in 'top & tail' and double heading combinations. The 1958 AC Cars railbus, under restoration, was on display at Hayes Knoll and gave short trips in the yard late in the day, which was an unadvertised bonus. Of interest to our members was the use of the line north of Hayes Knoll to the limit of running at South Meadow Lane. This went beyond South Meadow Lane, through the security gates and some way onto the newly relaid route towards Cricklade but not over all the relaid track, being stopped some way along by a ballast wagon marking the limit of movement. This set took the non-platform line at Hayes Knoll without stopping there. Working on the railway was by train staff; there were two sections - Taw Valley Halt to Blunsdon and Blunsdon to South Meadow Lane. The signal boxes at Blunsdon and Hayes Knoll are in the course of installation. Points are being worked from the boxes but not the signals, which are OOU with handsignalling. There are many signals in place, however, and it looks as though it will be very professionally signalled when it is done. The box at Blunsdon is ex-Claydon LNE Jn with an REC frame and that at Hayes Knoll is ex-Rowley Regis with a GW VT5 frame. Working in the interim is by the staffs with radio communications. There is a crossing keeper worked level crossing south of Blunsdon station. It was an excellent day with everything running to timetable and very friendly staff. Anyone intending to visit the line may find the following tips useful. There is no parking at Taw Valley Halt or Hayes Knoll; the main station is at Blunsdon. There does not appear to be any public access at Hayes Knoll. Tickets are not sold on the train, if joining at other than Blunsdon you have to visit the shop there to buy a ticket at some stage - this seems a bit odd and might result in fare evasion as there wasn't much ticket checking. Buses are available from Swindon town centre. The 15 and 16 go from the bus station near the railway station; the latter is closest and drops off at the Tawny Owl pub, a short walk from Taw Valley Halt but is infrequent. The 15 is half hourly, alight at Woodhall Bridge, from where you can walk through the housing estate to the Tawny Owl and onwards. These buses do not run on Sundays. Alternatively, every day the 12 bus goes from the road under the railway east of Swindon station and at the terminus it's about a 15 minute walk along Tadpole Lane to Blunsdon station - but there is no footway. Google maps/Earth can be used to find the way and the Swindon Bus website is good with timetable and stops map information. Our reporter went all the way there and back from Doncaster by public transport and it was very easy. 1424 FIXTURE REPORT (Paul Stewart) [email protected] 1314] The Tunnels under Birmingham New Street; Sat 29 Apr 2023: (Keith Flinders) A BLS adventure with no new track - guaranteed! Morning and afternoon groups met at NR's customer reception office on New Street concourse to explore below platform level. Our guide was NR's Adam Turner, who, we were pleased to hear, is a local BLS member. The tour began with Wetherspoon's(and may have ended there for some). Their new pub on the corner of the concourse is the 'London and North Western', ironic as it is entirely above the ex-Midland Railway part of the station! Its outside wall is covered with information about the history of Birmingham, including a view of the New Street original single span arched roof, the largest in the world when completed until exceeded by St Pancras in 1868. Then we went down to Platform 1B for a lift to the foot tunnel below, noting the covers along the platform for air vents. This was the 'Lamp Tunnel', allowing oil lamps to be ferried from the L&NW
Railway company lamp room and Midland Railway company lamp rooms, where they were prepared along with foot warmers for first class passengers from the Joint Foot Warmers room. This tunnel though was brightly lit with white walls, having been intended for use by CrossCountry to reach their mess room. There were two bike stands at the far end for those who might cycle to work. There, a right turn took us to the start of the original underground route to the former Victoria Square head post office and sorting facility. Adam was very well prepared and even had a copy of the 1894 legal agreement between L&NWR and the Postmaster General for this connecting tunnel. We continued into the abandoned lamp locker building basement, where temporary lighting had been set up for us, to see the remains of the coal drop, which would have fed a boiler. One member believes that, given the airtight door arrangement at this location and the remaining equipment, this space may well have been used as a bunker at some point in the past. Meanwhile I had always thought there were rooms behind the light grey screening on Platform 1B. Wrong! - Only various water tanks and temporary looking scaffolding to allow access to remove and install future water tanks in the future. By the time of the 1960s station rebuild, technology had marched on and the Post Office needed a larger site for more mechanisation. They chose the area now known as The Mailbox, part had been Birmingham Central Goods Depot - rail traffic had ceased from 6 May 1967. A new tunnel connected it to New Street station and we were able to venture to the NR boundary. This was the breakthrough point on 23 May 1967, when Post Office tunnelling met British Railways. Ahead we could see a round tunnel, thought to be built to withstand any ingress from the nearby sewer under Hill Street! Until the recent refurbishment of New Street station, each platform/island had a 'B' end ramp down to the tunnel below. All but one were replaced by lifts to create more passenger circulation space on the platforms. Electric tugs used to haul BRUTEs (British Rail Universal Trolley Equipment), those blue metal cages on wheels at the end of many station platforms that we assumed were there for train spotters to sit on when we were younger. They were used to move parcels, newspapers and supplies. Inside the tunnel, there are still signs limiting speed and the number of BRUTEs that could be towed. The underground route linking the platforms is still used by CrossCountry to supply buffet trolleys from their National Rail Catering Centre. We walked up the last remaining ramp to Platform 12, originally a parcels/newspaper only platform and went through to the area of the former Red Star parcels office and the site of the East Dock siding. Watching trains from there was like the view from a prison cell. Back on the concourse, the morning group met the afternoon group and together we set off on our surface level walk. First it was up Pinfold Street to the Grade II listed, former Head Post Office near the Town Hall, located above our first tunnel. The sorting office part had been sensitively and successfully redeveloped in 1991. Then we went on to Central Goods, passing the recently closed brutalist Grade II Listed New Street Power Signal Box which signalled its final trains on 24 Dec 2022 and is now destined to be a Network Rail training centre. We reached the eastern portal of Granville Street Goods Tunnel on the former Worcester Wharf goods branch from Church Road Jn (by the south end of Five Ways station). This is the reason for survival of the facing crossover at 43m 48ch - it was part of the original junction. Granville Street was the relatively short-lived terminus of the Birmingham West Suburban Railway (OP from Kings Norton 3 Apr 1876) until 1 Jul 1885 when trains were diverted to New Street. Joe Brown's West Midlands Rail Atlas shows the branch, passenger platforms and Goods Depot nicely. The Worcester & Birmingham Canal Company wanted to build it but was unable to raise the finance. When the Midland Railway took it over, they doubled it, reduced some of the curvature and added the link to New Street station in 1881. For 80 years from 1887, Central Goods - beyond the passenger station - continued in railway use. Then the site started to shrink with land sold off in 1965 and 1967 to allow the new sorting office to be built. Opened in summer 1970, it was then the largest building in Birmingham at 81,000M 2 and the largest mechanised letters and parcels sorting office in the UK. As we walked back to New Street along Severn Street directly above the 1960s tunnel, we reflected on a proposal to reinstate rails to Central Goods, then underneath New Street station, with low level platforms, to create extra capacity, before rising to join the line to Aston. The diversion of Cross City is
planned for the 2040s and our Society will probably be on the first train. Thanks to Adam Turner and all involved, including our organisers Brian Schindler and Kev Adlam, for a very interesting and enjoyable visit. It resulted in a donation of over £500 to Railway Children from the 17 participants. 1315] Toton, Behind the Shed Doors; Sun 30 Apr 2023: Years ago, organised shed visits were very common, now they are rare. An interesting day out was offered by DB staff at Toton Depot with visits to Toton Traction Maintenance Depot, including places out of the public gaze. The DBC staff did this to raise £2,500 to support Martin House Children's Hospice. There were three site tours at 09.00, 12.00 and 15.00 for a total of 81 Society Members (which included all our members who applied). We met just inside the Depot Security Gate and, after checking us all out with name, hi-viz jacket, hard hat and safety glasses, we drove in file to the centre of the site and parked up for our 2¼ hour tour. Photographs were allowed and we were told that they could be put on social media if we wanted. There were 122 different locos (two were industrials) , one electric multiple unit, some wagons and three coaches. In the main these were Class 66s and Class 60s, with a few Class 67s and a Class 82. EWS and DB Schenker liveries featured heavily, with 67007 painted in purple to celebrate the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee last year. A GBRf, one Freightliner and a Maritime Class 66 were also on site. Our three guides were extremely friendly and knowledgeable, answering all questions enthusiastically. We were able to look in the Paint Shop, the loco shed and repair shop where the workforce were seen repairing the various engines (even on a Sunday), keeping to the concreted area but managing to walk on the ballasted area at the back of the site where there were no movements on the day. The rain kept away, and everyone was really happy and a loud round of applause was given to our hosts for the superb visits. It is interesting to reflect on the broad range of fixtures which are now offered to our members; this weekend in three different parts of the country too. (Rob Davidson.) 'Official' spots… EMU: 325004 Coaches: 10211 10546 11039 82146 94438 041989 Road Rail: T241 CNN T242 CNN T243 CNN T244 CNN Industrial Locos: 99709 979112 8 ES 101896 4wBE (2016) Wagons: 201005 201079 210183 967594 967639 996378 025036 025040 Class 60s (Bank): 60003 60005 60012 60027 60031 60034 60036 60041 60043 60048 60052 60067 60069 60072 60073 60077 60078 60083 60084 60093 60094 Other Class 60s: 60001 60004 60007 60011 60017 60019 60020 60026 60032 60035 60039 60045 60049 60054 60059 60062 60063 60065 60066 60071 60079 60081 60085 60087 60091 60100 60500 Class 66s: 66001 66007 66011 66017 66018 66020 66023 66024 66026 66027 66028 66032 66033 66034 66035 66037 66043 66051 66054 66055 66056 66060 66061 66065 66069 66073 66074 66076 66079 66093 66094 66101 66103 66112 66117 66118 66124 66127 66128 66129 66134 66135 66137 66138 66139 66144 66145 66147 66156 66162 66164 66167 66168 66172 66174 66179 66183 66187 66190 66192 66194 66198 66199 66205 66224 66230 Class 67s: 67003 67004 67006 67007 67019 67030 :Details must be checked: 1424 CONNECTIONS (Paul Stewart) [email protected] .Please mention BLN. 1316] Wed 17 May, Basingstoke ROC: Our member Stuart Hicks has agreed a Southern Electric Group visit and our members are welcome (if places still available). Email [email protected] Places must be booked in advance by individuals - supply full name for security and BLS membership number, there will be a donation for a suitable railway charity chosen by the hosts. As at 6 May, a few places were available. 1317] Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway: Just north of Toddington station is the 15-span, magnificent 210yd Stanway Viaduct, which is over 100 years old. Recent investigations have found that the waterproofing surface under the track ballast on the top of the viaduct has failed, resulting in water ingress into the brickwork which is showing the signs of damage. Over the next three years, work is needed to re-waterproof the surface and repair the brickwork at a cost of about £1.5M. Details and a video are at www.gwrt.org.uk (the main GWSR website) with an appeal - can be Gift Aided. CONTACT DETAILS: A full two page BLN & Committee directory was provided with BLN 1415 ●Editor: Paul Stewart [email protected] 4 Clarence Close, MALVERN, WR14 3HX 01684 562862 07790 652351. ●Sales: Darren Garnon [email protected] 3 Reader Drive, Marden, Tonbridge, Kent, TN12 9FD. ●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 01925 222449. ●Published by the Branch Line Society, 10 Sandringham Rd, STOKE GIFFORD, BS34 8NP.
X.53] BELOW: (TRACKmaps 4 p14B) The access to Bardon Hill Quarry Exchange Sidings at the Coalville end is from the Down Goods over a fixed diamond, an 'old fashioned' layout. (Nick Jones, 11 Feb 2018.)
ABOVE: (Item 1314) The Blocked up tunnel beneath New Street to the former Victoria Square Main Post and Sorting Office. BELOW: The last remaining ramp up to P12B (there used to be seven of them).
BELOW: The maintained NR side of the 1960s built tunnel to the new so
orting office. (All photos Sat 29 Apr 2023, the first nine by Chris Parker.)
BELOW: The former East Dock at the London end of New Street P12A, the tra the Grade II listed Brutalist-style box ceased signalling on 24 Dec 2022; the n
ack has been lifted but ballast remains. NEXT: At the other end of New Street ew signalling equipment cabins below it are on the site of Engine Lines 2&3.
PREVIOUS: On the walk to the site of Central Goods. A wireless tram - this still this photo, right). Background left is the Grade II listed Alpha Tower (its foo BELOW: Central Goods (a terminus) was behind the photographer, through th NEXT: The incredibly wide Grade II listed nearby Holliday Street Aqueduct car
seems a bit odd - to Wolverhampton is at Town Hall stop (said Hall dominates otprint is an alpha shape from above). Looking towards Edgbaston Village. he other end of the tunnel was the former Granville Street passenger station. rries the Worcester & Birmingham Canal. (Last of the photos by Chris Parker.)
PREVIOUS PAGE: Our morning expedition at the Wetherspoon's 'London and North Western' establishment with a graphic of New Street's original single arch span. (Adam Turner.) ABOVE: That graphic of New Street in 1854 at Wetherspoon's. (These three photos Keith Flinders.) RIGHT: In an emergency the tunnels under the platforms could be used for evacuation. There is even a wheelchair with stair climbing ability, interesting haulage. BELOW: Despite the lack of any natural light there is life in the tunnel other than BLS members.
X.54] BELOW: Guess The Location, no need to drive yourself berserk over this one. Clue: It's not Rainford, Rainham or Wet-heral. (Supplied by Michael Walsh, taken 1973.)
BELOW: (Item 1315) Toton, Behind the Shed Doors - Sun 30 Apr 202 LEFT TO RIGHT: Denzil Peacock, John Cameron (BLN NW Editor), Darren Garnon necessary!), John Hampson (Committee Member), Jim Sellens, Bernie Lovelock (w
3; rogues gallery most of the stewarding team. (Via Kev Adlam.) n (our Sales Officer), Dicky Irvine, Kev Adlam (Fixtures Secretary, no introduction with sunglasses), Henry Kennedy, Alan Sheppard & Alex Jackson of NR York ROC.
[BLN 14 BELOW: The third of the three groups; all our members wh NEXT: 66073 undergoing major m From an email received: Can I send my thanks to BLS and DB for an exce TO FOLLOW: Four photos thanks to Mark Arnold, the rest are by Rob
424] o applied to go were accommodated. (Via Kev Adlam.) maintenance. (Alan Sheppard.) ellent and well organised tour/s of Toton Depot on Sunday 30th April. b Davidson, (captions are not provided unless there is any need).
BELOW: This one includes a view of Britain's final coal fired power stat
tion, Ratcliff-on-Soar, to use its full name, lower background left.
….and finally … its surprising what was hidden around this very interesting site.