1437

2341] The Modern Branch Line Society: For our official 69th year (between AGMs), Martyn Brailsford came up with an ERTMS (European Rail Traffic Management System) block marker image. For those viewing in monochrome, it is a reflective square sign showing a yellow arrow on a blue background. The arrow points to the track which the marker applies to; it can be on the left of that track (as above), on the right and pointing left or above the line, pointing down. Each marker has a unique identification plate of white characters on a black background (our Society certainly has plenty of characters in it). What has this to do with branch lines? Well, they can be found on the Cambrian Coast Line to Pwllheli. 2342] 2023 AGM: 54 members attended our Preston AGM on Sat 25 Nov which was accompanied by two excellent fixtures, Ribble Steam Railway beforehand and Blackpool Heritage Trams the next day. After the AGM our Treasurer, Ian Mortimer, gave a wonderful, well researched presentation on British Rail passenger lines that have closed, then 30 counties of Europe were visited in 60 images before some choice Industrial Railways were illustrated, including his personal Top 10 of Industrial Railways. Your IOM Regional Editor, Graeme Easton, was elected as Independent Accounts examiner. Kev Adlam gave a presentation about fixtures over the last 12 months and those planned over the next year. It is available as a download with e-BLN and will be summarised in BLN 1438 (note 22-24 Mar 2024 below). 2343] BLS/BLN Directory: These have been updated with several changes since the previous edition. Denzil Peacock has joined the Committee, William Graveson is your Equalities Officer, John Hampson has taken over updating Railway Rights of Way from Neil Lewis and Samuel Taunton is the BLN South West England Regional Editor. Paper BLN has the revised directory as a supplement, for photocopying or scanning, and is in e-BLN. The document is also available as a PDF to download - please save it for future reference. Please use the generic email addresses given, as this allows redirection if necessary. This email system has occasionally gone down briefly in the past; if so, please resend the email later. Date Book online :NEW fixtures open when e-BLN is out: BLN Lead Status Fri 8 Dec South Wales Valley Lines Tracker IV 1436 MG OPEN Fri 15 Dec Guildford area conducted signal box visits 1436 MG waiting list Sat 6 Jan 2024 Scunthorpe Cold Steeler railtour 27 (09.30-16.30) 1433 MG waiting list Fri 12 Jan *NEW* High Peak charity signal box visits 1437 MG OPEN Fri 22 Mar *NEW* 'All line' tour of East Somerset Railway, Cranmore TBA TBA Claimed Sat 23 Mar *NEW* 'All line' tour of Bodmin (& Wenford) Railway TBA TBA Claimed Sun 24 Mar *NEW* Helston Railway 'all available lines' tour TBA TBA Claimed Mon 27 May Moreton Park (Moreton-on-Lugg) railtour, ex-BR locos TBA TBA Claimed Mon 26 Aug *NEW* Summer Scunthorpe railtour 28 (09.30-18.30) TBA TBA Claimed MG = Mark Gomm [email protected] 84 Mornington Rd, STOKE-ON-TRENT, ST1 6EL 07983 541887 2344] :Fri 12 Jan; High Peak signal box visits:: With thanks to member James Taylor; Chapel-en-le-Frith station car park 10.15 (connects 09.20 ex-Manchester Piccadilly) for Chapel-en-le-Frith, Buxton, Peak Forest and Great Rocks Junction signal boxes, returning to Chapel-en-le-Frith and/or Chinley station. A day that ticks all the boxes! Members only, maximum nine; full details on our website and to book. Number 1437 (Items 2341 - 2454 & MR 226 - MR 231) (E-BLN 105 PAGES) 2 Dec 2023 BRANCH LINE NEWS Praeteritum, praesens et futurum ferriviaria [ISSN 1354-0947] Published 24 times a year by the Branch Line Society; founded 1955 branchline.uk https://www.facebook.com/BranchLineSociety/ Membership queries Lisa Sheppard [email protected] 186 [email protected] Park Road South, Hull, HU4 7BU. 07873 354464 British Isles news from members; an International section is available Opinions are not necessarily those of the Compilers or of the Society ciety. Society. …BLN 1438 is dated Sat 16 Dec; contributions by Wed 6 Dec please

X.108] BELOW: On 22 Nov, NR and DBC staff were presented with their RailwaHospice fundraising voluntary work. Kev Adlam (with glasses) represented our

ay Benefit Fund 2023 'Heart of Gold' Team Award for Martin House Children's Society; all the excitement clearly brought Jerry Dickinson to his knees… (NR)

BRANCH LINE NEWS (BLN) CONTACT DETAILS DECEMBER 2023 Position Name Please use the generic emails: ●Paper BLN problems Lisa Sheppard [email protected] (Membership Secretary) 186 Anlaby Park Rd South, HULL, HU4 7BU. 07873 354464 ●E-BLN & Mailchimp queries Nick Garnham [email protected] ●Branch Line News Editor Paul Stewart [email protected] 4 Clarence Close, MALVERN, WR14 3HX. 01684 562862; 07790 652351 ●BLN International Editor Pete Skelton [email protected] Post via BLN Editor (above). +33 5 45 84 12 30; 05 45 84 12 30 (within France) ●BLNI Deputy Editor Mark Jones [email protected] 19 School Lane, Brinscall, CHORLEY, PR6 8QS. ●East Midlands to Editor Nick Garnham [email protected] ●Greater London Geoff Brockett [email protected] 155 Onslow Gardens, South Woodford, LONDON, E18 1NA. ●North East & Yorkshire Geoff Blyth [email protected] Geoff Blyth, 26 Trafalgar Way, BILLERICAY, CM12 0UT. ●North West to Editor John Cameron [email protected] ●South East & East Anglia Julian James [email protected] 58 Nelson Road, WORTHING, BN12 6EN. ●South West & Channel Isles Samuel Taunton [email protected] 3 Llandudno Villas, Lypiatt Street, CHELTENHAM, GL50 2TZ. ●West Midlands Brian Schindler [email protected] 15 Sudeley, Dosthill, TAMWORTH, B77 1JR. 07976 122711 ●Ireland Martin Baumann [email protected] 42 Northland Road, LONDONDERRY, BT48 7ND. (Normal postal rates from UK) ●Isle of Man Graeme Easton [email protected] 40 Droghadfayle Park, Port Erin, ISLE OF MAN, IM9 6EP. (Normal postal rates from UK) ●Scotland Greg Beecroft [email protected] 4 The Shores, SKELMORLIE, PA17 5AZ. ●Wales & The Marches Chris Parker [email protected] 7 Three Trees, Station Road, Whittington, OSWESTRY, SY11 4DE. ●Minor Railways Peter Scott [email protected] 93 Josephine Court, Southcote Rd, READING, RG30 2DQ. ●BLN Pictorial submissions Phil Logie [email protected] ●Railway Rights of Way John Hampson [email protected] ●Branch Line News Diary Lee Nash [email protected] ●PSUL queries Richard Maund [email protected] ●All other Society queries Tim Wallis [email protected]

BRANCH LINE SOCIETY COMMITTEE CONTACT DETAILS DECEMBER 2023 Position Name Please use the generic emails: ●Chairman Graeme Jolley [email protected] Dolbryn, Penegoes, MACHYNLLETH, SY20 8NN. 07484 646542 ●General Secretary Tim Wallis [email protected] 10 Sandringham Road, STOKE GIFFORD, BS34 8NP ●Treasurer Ian Mortimer [email protected] 69 Malmesbury Road, Cheadle Hulme, CHEADLE, SK8 7QL. ●Membership Secretary Lisa Sheppard. [email protected] (& paper BLN problems) 186 Anlaby Park Road South, HULL, HU4 7BU. 07873 354464 ●Editor Paul Stewart [email protected] 4 Clarence Close, MALVERN, WR14 3HX. 01684 562862 077906 52351 ●Fixtures Secretary Kev Adlam [email protected] All postal correspondence via the BLN Editor (previous entry) please. ●Bookings Officer Mark Gomm [email protected] 84 Mornington Rd, STOKE-on-TRENT, ST1 6EL. 07983 541887 (*TEXT PREFERRED*) ●Publications & Maps Martyn Brailsford [email protected] 18 Queen Street, Brimington, CHESTERFIELD, S43 1HT. ●Publicity Officer John Cameron [email protected] Any postal correspondence via the BLN Editor (above) please. ●Sales Officer Darren Garnon [email protected] 3 Reader Drive, Marden, TONBRIDGE, TN12 9FD. ●Website Officer Phil Wieland [email protected] Any postal correspondence via the Editor (above) please. ●Committee Member Martha Haggas [email protected] 12 The Square, Earl Shilton, LEICESTER, LE9 7GU. (and Assistant Bookings Officer) ●Committee Member John Hampson [email protected] Any postal correspondence via the Editor (above) please. ●Committee Member Neil Lewis [email protected] 95 Little Morton Road, North Wingfield, CHESTERFIELD, S42 5HL. ●Committee Member Denzil Peacock [email protected] Any postal correspondence via the Editor (above) please. ●Equalities Officer** William Graveson [email protected] 1 Hill Place, Oxenholme, Kendal, LA9 7HB (**This is not a Committee post)

1437 BLN GENERAL (Paul StewX.109] BELOW: After our Preston AGM Committee members John Cameron (letour the following day by gricing Coral Island monorail in Blackpool. In mitigaThe next day day, the tram tour was renamed 'Abandon Ship' but that's anoth

art) [email protected] eft) and Martha Haggas get in the mood for our 'Hello Sailor' Blackpool Tram tion, it is on the site of Blackpool Central station (CP 2 Nov 1964) of course. her story. (Kev Adlam, who had done this monorail previously; 25 Nov 2023.)

2345] From your Publications Officer (& Archivist), Martyn Brailsford: After scanning every BLN and, in the process, collecting a full set for our physical archive, I started, with the help from members, to scan our railtour brochures and have been 96% successful. With many thanks to Allan Brackenbury, we now have some old paper brochures in the archive. Allan has supplied various missing timing sheets, notes on some railway walks and industrial location visits (these have been scanned and put on our website). I'm not planning to actively collect all the original brochures for the archive but if you want to dispose of any older railtour brochures, etc please let me know! Contact details are with this BLN. 2346] Society Photo Collection: The Society has become custodian of over 1,000 monochrome prints and negatives taken by the late Ron Meredith from Malvern. Most are in Herefordshire with some in Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Shropshire, Cornwall and North/Mid Wales, dated between 1968 and 1979. Closed and open stations, along with other items of railway interest, are included. John Hampson is cleaning, scanning and organising the photos, which will then be available on our website. Three (of Kerne Bridge) were in e-BLN 1436.2597. If anyone has a railway photo collection that might be suitable for our website to host and preserve, please contact John at: [email protected] 2347]Keeping Track, passenger service suspensions(contributions welcomed by your Editor) *=new BLN Start (incl) Reopens Location (stations'exclusive'if bracketed) Bold = closed now 1436.MR222 23 Oct 22 23 Oct 23 *East Hill Cliff Railway Hastings last day of services in fact. ǂ last ran storm damage ǂ15 Oct 23 28 Oct 23 *Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, (Shottle) - Duffield Holloway Rd unknown *Ecclesbourne Valley Railway,Duffield Holloway Rd-Duffield 1437.2380 14 Oct 23 20 Nov 23 *Helsby Jn - (Ellesmere Port) :de facto no services,: previous service gaps include 29/09-11/10; 19/09-25/09; 26/07-01/08; 25/04-01/05; 31/03-05/04 & 16/03-20/03 1436.2632 2 Sep 23 4 Nov 23 Dovey Jn - Tywyn for repairs to Dovey Jn Viaduct 2 Dec 23 (Tywyn) - Pwllheli Barmouth Bridge and other works 1434.2363 25 Sep 23 3 Dec 23 *(Prestwick Town) - Ayr :Class 156 DMU shuttle from 3 Dec: 1433.2274 15 Nov 23 4 Dec 23 Ebbw Vale Town-Park Jn-Ebbw Jn/Gaer Jn; redoubling 1437.2429 24 Nov 23 unknown *Edinburgh Trams (Ocean Terminal)-Newhaven OHLE repairs - 28 Nov 23 8 Dec 23 Greenwich Peninsula -Royal Docks IFS cable car maintenance 1434.2345 25 Nov 23 11 Dec 23 Wilton Jn,(Salisbury)-YeovilJn relaying/embankment works 1431.2022 14 Jul 23 30 Dec 23 *(Lichfield City) - Lichfield Trent Valley P3 to replace P3 - 24 Dec 23 30 Dec 23 *(Eastleigh) - Southampton - (Brockenhurst)/(Romsey) Chandlers Ford has through trains to Portsmouth and Cardiff 1432.MR184 25 Aug 23 unknown Cairngorm Mountain Railway for tensioning of scarf joints 1437.2418 27 Dec 23 2 Jan 24 *(Belfast Great Victoria Street) - Central Jn (Portadown) 1436.2551 23 Dec 23 2 Jan 24 *❶Silwood Jn-Old Kent Road Jn ❷Factory Jn- Longhedge Jn - Ludgate GW Jn❸Wandsworth Road Jn-(Battersea Park) P2; no Overground (Surrey Quays)-Clapham Jn ❹Herne Hill N Jn/Peckham Rye Jn/Cambria Jn - (Victoria) for Voltaire Jn relay 1436.2580.2 25 Dec 23 2 Jan 24 *(Shenfield) - (Witham) for Beaulieu Park realignment etc 1434.2363 25 Sep 23 *13Jan24 at least *(Ayr) - Girvan and (Kilmarnock) - Barassie Jn 1437.2432 15 Nov 23 *Girvan - Stranraer skeleton train service withdrawn 15 Nov - 6 Jan 24 15 Jan 24 *(Crediton) - Barnstaple for further relaying of jointed track - 20 Jan 24 29 Jan 24 *(Bristol TM)-(Weston-s-Mare)/Uphill Jn;BristolWestJnworks 1421.947 29 Apr 23 Feb 24 Pontypridd North Jn - Treherbert South Wales Metro works ǂ last ran ǂ 5 Nov 23 EarlyMar24 *GWSR, (Toddington) - Broadway for Stanway Viaduct repairs 1436.2602 ǂ22 Oct 23 Further notice Downpatrick&Co Down Railway, Downpatrick - Inch Abbey ǂ29 Oct 23 Downpatrick - Magnus Grave both due to flood damage 1423.MR75 21Dec22 unknown *Castle Hill Cliff Railway, Bridgnorth, wall failure at 12.00 1275.MR37 ǂ6 Nov 16 2025 *Leas Cliff Railway, Folkestone, funds secured for repairs etc

2348] An Introduction to Your New Committee Member, Denzil Peacock (Railway Memories 115): I was born and raised in Leeds, living most of my 1950s/60s childhood not too far from Neville Hill Depot. I would often drop off to sleep listening to the clangs, bangs and whistles from all the shunting that happened there back then.I'm told that my first railway journey was from Osmondthorpe* station nearby - a 'half-day' trip to Scarborough with my mother (half-day excursion tickets were sold then). However, I have no memory or record of this journey but I was only about one year old at the time. [*OP as 'Osmondthorpe Halt' on 29 Sep 1930 to serve a new estate and of timber construction, it lost the 'Halt' suffix from 3 May 1937 but had a short life, CP 7 Mar 1960 although excursions called later.] As with many young schoolboys of my generation, trainspotting soon became part of my childhood. My school friends and I would often walk to Neville Hill Depot and sit lineside for hours noting down numbers from a mix of steam locos, diesel locos and first generation DMUs. Sometimes we were brave enough to sneak inside the depot through a hole in the fencing and went into some of the buildings. I don't think we were ever caught. The other favourite local spotting location was Cross Gates station, just down the line from Neville Hill. This was a much more substantial station than it is today; four tracks with proper platform buildings and canopies rather than the flat expanse of tarmac with just the 'bus shelters' it has today. Of course, we could have seen the same trains at Neville Hill but here there were shops nearby for pop and sweets. In the mid-1960s I was fortunate enough to be taken to London for the FA Cup final. This, my first trip to the capital, brought me into contact with London's wonderful variety of railways and provided many, many, lasting memories. We stayed at the ex-servicemen's Union Jack Club near Waterloo station. I would stand on the windowsill of our room straining to see the EMUs going over the River Thames bridge to and from Charing Cross. I can still remember the smell and sounds of my first experience of the Underground with 1938 stock roaring into a Bakerloo platform at Waterloo and my first sight of 'Warships' on the buffers at Waterloo. There was also the 'clacking' of the magnificent mechanical departures board (I wonder what happened to that?). My first 'tours' were in the late 1960s with the Jubilee Railway Society. These were spotting visits by road coach to various works and sheds, so not actually railtours but were still very good nonetheless. Among my group of school friends spotting was still the only thing and we hadn't even heard of track bashing. By this time the scope of our own spotting destinations had expanded and my friend and I made regular visits to Chesterfield station. I purposely say station because in all the visits we had there we never once left the station. We were happy to just stand all day at the end of Platform 2 copping Peaks and English Electric Type 1s. Only one of my old spotting books survived the house moves and clearances. That one allows me to put a date to one specific spotting memory I will share. It was on 28 Oct 1969. After a long day spotting at York, my friend and I were just preparing to call it a day and head home when a southbound service arrived with none other than prototype HS4000 Kestrel on the front; a fantastic sight. I still consider it to be the best-looking diesel or electric loco ever to run in this country. A pity it was a bit on the heavy side. I would only ever see it twice more; once in service at York and finally at a Barrow Hill open day in the early 70s (I have a square, colour photo somewhere). As with many enthusiasts, railways took a back seat through much of my adult life. Other interests and responsibilities took over; football, beer, girls, work, marriage (not necessarily in that order!) and for years I was more of an armchair follower reading railway magazines rather than an active participant. Moving forward to more recent times… I've lived in Stocksbridge for the last 35 years and have become a track basher. No numbers or haulage, just track, Quail level of course and still plenty left to do. I finally joined the BLS around 2012 as a result of a chat with a work colleague of mine. That was Martyn Brailsford, so he's the one to blame! After some occasional stewarding roles, I joined the stewarding team 'full time' in early 2019. I can usually be found in one of the 1 st Class coaches on tours. I have a special interest in the London Underground and railways in and around the capital. Plus, and very appropriate now I live so close to its remains, I also have a special interest in the Woodhead line. But I will let you into a little secret … I never travelled on the line! My interest in it began years ago

after seeing EM1s at Guide Bridge and Reddish back in the 60s. I wasn't a track basher back then, so I never even considered doing the line until it was too late. Oh well, we live and learn … hopefully. I retired a couple of years ago after nearly 50 years working in software development. On leaving school, I never even considered a job on the railways! Why not you may ask? That is a question I have asked myself many, many times. I don't know either! 2349] Points & Slips: ●●BLN 1436.2568.1] A member was surprised that Ward Brothers (scrap metal merchants) was founded as recently as 1976. From https://tinyurl.com/4mmwyxbd indeed they were. However, the company familiar to many members will be Thos W Ward Ltd, which was founded in 1878 https://tinyurl.com/36m7jwxk (our boat enthusiasts will find this heart-breaking). The 1976 company, who used to run the operation on the Sunderland Hendon Branch, was a new undertaking. ●●2581] Lowestoft Tram Depot: This is not the only bus garage still with tram lines. Rails remain in the garage in Rothesay on the Isle of Bute (the last trams ran in 1936). There may well be other examples. ●●2599] Our member who did the moves on 18 Jul 1988 with 08866 from Doncaster P3 to P2 and P3 to P5 arranged it with the Station Manager. The first move was an 'ECS shunt', out of the way for trains to use through P3, not a 'public' run. He estimated 0.7 mile in total. A former Doncaster PSB signaller advises that it is not possible (and wasn't then in 1988 either) to go from the Up side to the Down side by shunting out south of the station without going all the way to Low Ellers Curve Jn, St Catherine's Jn and then back north on the Down side. Incredibly, the nearest box worked points south of Doncaster station allowing such a signalled move are at Retford! So if the BG (Gangwayed Full Brake vehicle) was in Doncaster P2 bay it would have to shunt out, south of the station, then come back into P3B. Then it could have shunted south again over the Sheffield Ladder (the series of crossovers in the middle of the station between P3 and P4) and then north again to gain the Down side island (P5 according to our member's report). So, it looks like he had a bonus trip from P2 to 3B, as when passengers were ferried about in this way, they would be picked up outside the parcels lift on platform P3A (there was no passenger lift in those days), then taken into P3B and shunted about as described above! ●●2636] Regarding our 'Sahara Explorer' railtour report, a member who is an 007 fan [you have the Editor's sympathy, sir] advises that the goons in Spectre did not use a 4x4; it was a 1948 Rolls Royce Silver Wraith. Even James Bond seemed somewhat bemused by this form of desert transport. ●●MR220] The Churnet Valley Railway has kindly advised that they have not yet given formal junction names to the reinstated triangle at the Leekbrook Jn end of their new Leek extension. However, they informally refer to the north apex as North Jn and the one on the Ipstones branch as … East Jn! 1437 GREATER LONDON (Geoff Brockett) [email protected] 2350] Shoreditch: A 'pocket park' has opened on the disused Kingsland Viaduct south of Great Eastern St. This section of line CP (CA) 30 Jun 1986 with Broad Street. The viaduct north of Great Eastern St is well known as the location of 'Village Underground' in old 1983 Tube Stock cars; beyond that is now part of the London Overground network. The new park is accessed by anonymous stairs and a lift on the west side of the viaduct and is part of the new 'Stage' residential development next to the viaduct. 2351] Great Western Main Line: From 12.40, Sun 26 Nov, ERTMS Level 2 signalling (overlay) was to be commissioned between Ealing Broadway and Heathrow Tunnel Jn. It links up with the existing ERTMS on the Heathrow branch and will presumably be used by Heathrow Express and Elizabeth line trains. The Heathrow branch was closed all weekend; the work 'coordinated' with other projects. Paddington was closed all day Sun 26 Nov for construction work on the new (not yet descoped) Old Oak Common station. Long distance services ran to/from Reading. Trains between Reading and Slough started after 07.40 and were extended to Ealing Broadway after 13.00. On the Elizabeth line, Paddington to Abbey Wood was also closed all weekend for maintenance work, including preparations for mobile phone connectivity in the tunnels. The Piccadilly line did not serve Heathrow T5 all weekend because of power supply work and to undertake five yearly safety tests at the station, which is owned and operated by Heathrow Airport Ltd. The Piccadilly line was also suspended between Acton Town and Uxbridge for track renewal between Sudbury Town and Alperton!! [Is this 'coordination' - above?]

2352] HS2: (BLN 1435.2401) As previously described, the new station on the GWML at Old Oak Common will (on current plans) have eight platforms. It will be designed by HS2 Ltd but managed by NR and is expected to open in May 2030 along with HS2 to Birmingham. While construction takes place, there will be a reduction in line speeds and 'all line' blocks will be needed over every Christmas period until opening. This year work takes place from 24 to 27 Dec. On 24th and 27th most GWR services will terminate at Reading, with a limited service on to Ealing Broadway. (So, after the plans to run some GWR long distance services to Euston or Waterloo have not materialised.) Heathrow Express services will be suspended and Elizabeth line services will be suspended between Ealing Broadway and Paddington, with no service to Heathrow T4. Construction of the new station buildings and GWML platforms starts in 2026, when the box for the HS2 platforms is completed. The BBC reports that the Euston to Euston Square LU underground pedestrian link has been scrapped as part of the HS2 cuts. 2353] East London Line: LT Museum's 'Hidden London' tours included the Thames Tunnel from Rotherhithe to Wapping and back on 25 & 26 Nov when the line was closed for engineering work. These were the first walking tours through the tunnel since 2014 and cost £75 (concessions £70) but were fully booked. The complete guided round trip with a commentary took about an hour. 2354] New Timetable: ●C2c - Two additional trains run from Leigh-on-Sea to Fenchurch Street in the morning peak. SO services via Ockenden will be worked by the new Class 720 EMUs. They are already working some peak diagrams. ●Greater Anglia - Stansted Express services run every 15min throughout the day seven days a week, instead of just in peak hours. The service starts very early, first departures from Liverpool Street are at 03.40 SuX (04.10 SuO). ●SWR - SSuX most of the DMU shuttles between Salisbury and Basingstoke are extended through to Waterloo again (as pre-Pandemic), with two trains an hour again between London and Salisbury. This is already the case on Saturdays in the present timetable - Sundays remain hourly. ●SouthEastern - additional morning peak services. SSuX additional HS1 trains between St Pancras International and Faversham. This gives 2tph between these stations until the end of the evening peak, restoring the pre-Pandemic service level. With the strong Saturday passenger demand nowadays, it is perhaps surprising that the SO trains have not been reinstated. 2355] Peter Townend: Described by his son as 'one of the last great men of steam', Peter Townend, railwayman and author, died on 18 Oct at the age of 98. His most high profile rôle was as shedmaster at King's Cross Top Shed for five years from 1956. However, his career lasted well into diesel days and he retired in 1984 as King's Cross Divisional Traction and Rolling Stock Engineer. 2356] TfL Lost Property Office: The office, traditionally located at Baker Street, moved in Oct from a temporary site in South Kensington to a new,larger,home next to West Ham bus garage. Around 6,000 items a week are lost and about 62,000 items had to be moved. These days some of the most common types of items lost are mobile phones, headphones, bags and umbrellas; there is a good selection of bicycles! However, recently a giant octopus soft toy and a large Dalek costume were handed in! The success rate in returning lost property is very low as no one thinks it will be handed in; most items are kept for up to three months then donated to charity, recycled or sold. Cash is kept for up to a year. 1437 EAST MIDLANDS (Nick Garnham) [email protected] 2357] Dec Timetable: EMR will operate some of the most popular Nottingham to Liverpool services with Class 170 DMUs which have a greater capacity than Class 158s. There will be extra services SSuX 05.53 & 16.16 Nottingham to Crewe with 08.10 & 18.10 return (although that route will still not be back to hourly). SO there is an additional 18.00 Lincoln to Peterborough, returning from Peterborough at 19.26. The SSuX 11.39 Nottingham to Norwich starts from Liverpool instead at 08.51. The fairly new SSuX 05.01 Nottingham to Sleaford is withdrawn, due to poor patronage. On the Robin Hood Line SSuX, the 05.35 Worksop to Nottingham starts at Mansfield Woodhouse (it still runs from Worksop SO) and the SuX 22.25 Nottingham to Worksop will turn back at Mansfield Woodhouse instead. 2358] Derby Litchurch Lane: Alstom has issued redundancy notices to 1,300 employees here. The lack of new orders and the delay to procuring a likely reduced number of HS2 trains, means the factory has no confirmed work after the first quarter of 2024. The Works began building rolling stock in the mid19th Century railway boom and was acquired by Alstom when it took over Bombardier on 29 Jan 2021.

BELOW: (Item 2361) The NET 15.30 SSuX arrival 15.38 departure in the rare Clifton South Platform 'B' on 27 Sep 2023. INSET BOTTOM RIGHT: It's the last service of the day from Platform 'B' here. (Both Phil Logie.)

2359] Wingfield: (BLN 1397.714) The extensive restoration of this station, closed from 2 Jan 1967, on the Midland main line between Derby and Chesterfield is complete. Although many original features remained, the building had been in a state of disrepair. Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust owns it and carried out the restoration with a £1.7M National Lottery grant. The Grade II* Listed building will be used for exhibitions and occasional public open days. Designed by architect Francis Thompson for the North Midland Railway, it opened as Wingfield on 11 May 1840 and had been renamed Wingfield Alfreton or Wingfield for Alfreton by 1 Dec 1848. On 1 May 1862 it reverted to Wingfield when the Midland opened its Alfreton station. https://tinyurl.com/4y7sx3hn has further details and old photos. 2360] NET - we spoke too soon about Concessionary Passes: (BLN 1436. 2532) It is confirmed that those issued by IOM and the Channel Islands are not valid to buy the discounted NET day rover, (UK ones are not accepted in those places, of course). Are Welsh and Scottish passes valid? However, Nottinghamshire County Council, reported to be in financial difficulties, is now reviewing the scheme which costs them £900,000 and is used for about 1.14M journeys per annum. A public consultation is taking place into options which include introducing a half fare payment, withdrawing the scheme altogether, withdrawing it for all except disabled passengers or retaining the existing scheme. 2361] Grossing the NET track: A member, recently in Nottingham for a couple of days, attempted to cover the network, including both platforms at all the termini. At Hucknall and Toton Lane this was easy, as he found that trams used the platforms alternately during the day. In the peak period, the same occurred at Phoenix Park; however Clifton South proved to be more of a challenge as everything seemed to use Platform 'A' (end of line, right on arrival). Our member even boarded a tram closely following a late running tram, which stopped at the crossovers prior to Clifton South, waited until the late running tram departed, then also went into Platform 'A'. A driver advised that a couple of trams used Platform 'B' each day when they switch to the peak frequency at about 07.00 and 15.00 SSuX. So, our member went to Clifton South at 15.12 where the display on Platform 'B' said 'Last Service [of the day] 26 mins'. He then headed to the stop before, Summerwood Lane, and waited for the inbound tram which arrived 15.30. Platform 'B' was duly arrived in (and departed from) at 15.38. This was a weekday; it's not known if this happens on a Saturday when peak frequency starts at 10.00. Our man also caught a late night tram from the north terminating at Nottingham Station via the facing crossover before the stop to set down in the platform normally used for northbound departures. 1437 T&W METRO, NORTH EAST & YORKSHIRE (Geoff Blyth) [email protected] 2362] Astrophysics Section: (BLN 1435.2426) A member's wife, who began her career in astrophysics, wishes to point out two things about the solar system model next to part of the York - Selby trackbed. (1): Pluto has an eccentric orbit which means that, for roughly 20 years in each 248 year orbit of the sun, it is closer to the sun than is Neptune. She suggests that Pluto should be on a separate little railway, moving a small amount each day relative to Neptune. The BLS would need to run a railtour lasting20years to get in all the rare track orbit!'Eccentric'is perfect for BLN, especially eccentric cranks. (2): Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity precludes travel faster than light; no matter how fast one walks or cycles, it is impossible to exceed the speed of light. However, because of time dilation, as one approaches the speed of light, you might find yourself with the world speeding by as your time ticks away. [Some warped thinking perhaps?] She suggests that this effect might be useful, as this currently benighted country could well be better in 100, 1,000 or 10,000 years' time than it currently is. Trains then might even run on time on the Central Wales Line! On the other hand, we might all have been killed off by Artificial Intelligence, which can then play trains to its (mechanical) heart's content. 2363] Stocksbridge Railway: (BLN 1436.2553) Our newest Committee member, who is very local, investigated on Mon 21 Nov. The last mainline train left on 11 Nov 2022; the tracks on the branch are very rusty and nature is taking over. Nothing will be using the branch without it being cleared first; the track is filled in and covered over completely at one level crossing at least. There seemed to be some activity within Stocksbridge Steelworks itself; people in hi-vis outfits and lots of noisy clanging from inside some buildings. All the sidings in the works were empty; just one unidentified loco was visible with no evidence that the railway is used at all. There are reports of staff being furloughed again.

TO FOLLOW: (Item 2363) Stocksbridge Railway, images all by Denzil Peacock on 20 Nov 2023. This is Deepcar station (CP 15 Jun 1959 but used for later excursions) Up platform (33m 35ch) looking north on this once electrified double track main line between Sheffield and Manchester via Woodhead.

BELOW: Ellen Cliff Crossing looking east towards the main line at Deepcar (TRACKmaps 2 p29B 2020).

BELOW: Ellen Cliff Crossing looking west towards Stocksbridge Works. Ahead, Ellen Cliff Loop, (0m 60ch) is where our Sat 20 Jul 2019 'Luca Pezzulo Express' tour reached - some track had then just been relaid.

BELOW: Close up of the very rusty rails at Ellen Cliff Crossing.

BELOW: The bridge over The Porter / Little Don River with a weight restriction west of Ellen Cliff Loop. This prevented our 20 Jul 2019 tour going any further into the works. BLN 1333.1978 (10 Aug 2019) has the tour report and also photos of our 15 Jul 1985 internal railtour of the Stocksbridge Railway.

BELOW: Further west is the Upper Don Trail Level Crossing - looking east towards Deepcar. Sadly there isn't even 4 hour rail operations now (once it really was 24 hours here).

BELOW: Stocksbridge Exchange Sidings used to be full of wagons; from the west end (1m 30ch) looking east.

2364] T&W Metro: ❶Specially trained engineers using harnesses and ropes have been inspecting what the Nexus calls Howdon Viaduct, also termed Willington Viaduct (TRACKmaps 2 p49 2020). It is between Hadrian Road and Howdon Metro stops above Willington Dene. [Dene, or 'xxxxdean' in some place names, used to be a common name for a valley]. Built for the Newcastle & North Shields Railway, it opened on 22 Jun 1839. The viaduct, 82ft tall with seven spans up to 128ft long, was unusually made of laminated timber. The original arches had 14 layers of timber, 22ft x 3' 6'', held by trenails (hard wooden pins used to fasten timbers together). The timber arches were replaced by iron ones in 1869. The inspection, to check its condition, is part of the preparation for complete track renewal across the 1,048ft long structure. Apparently, the engineers, who have experience of working on railway bridges all over the country, including the Forth Bridge, were working in 'terrible' weather conditions. ❷New Metro unit 555004 had moved from the Nexus Learning Centre in South Shields by 7 Nov, possibly in connection with a series of traction power tests over the network's curves and gradients. There has been a particular focus on the sharply curved sections at Manors and Tynemouth and the gradient on the underground section between Haymarket and Jesmond. The tests examined the ability of the new units to tow one of the old ones. This is vital, as the transition to the new fleet will involve both the current and the new trains in service at the same time. The test unit was loaded with 39 tonnes of sand packages to simulate a full load and then put through its paces towing an old set. It managed this comfortably, performing as expected. A fully laden new EMU was also tested hauling another new unit. The power output is impressive: a 98 tonne new Class 555, laden with 39 tonnes of extra weight, was able to haul an 80 tonne old set. A new unit was also able to pull another new train using just battery power; this is installed so that they can still move if the overhead power is disabled. ❸(BLN 1430.1866.7) At Monkseaton, new frameworks for the canopy gable ends have been erected. Originally for completion by late Nov (but now Apr 2024), the car park and cycle lockers remain OOU. ❹Battery Loco BL2 was out on test/driver training with a Metro unit on 30, 31 Oct & 1 Nov. The unit was powered up in case the loco failed. It made a morning and afternoon circuit, from Gosforth Depot via the Coast. The Railhead Treatment train was also noted sandwiched between units 4081 and 4003. ❺(BLN 1435.2414.2) Whitley Bay: A crash deck was installed over the track during 21-22 & 28-29 Oct line closures, for canopy work. There is now 'step free' access on the platform towards Monkseaton as there aren't any steps! Their site is now occupied by scaffolding poles. Work on the canopy continues until Spring 2025, so perhaps the footbridge will finally be completed in Mar 2025 - two years late! ❻Stay cool, man! From Nexus website: As part of Stadler's seasonal maintenance programme, all trains are undergoing inspections in preparation for winter. This is a gradual process, and some trains may feel warmer than others. To maintain a cool atmosphere on board, please keep windows open or remove coats if possible. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. Perhaps they feel passengers might also need instructions on how to open a window! 2365] Bradford: The DfT has awarded £400k to start the planning for a new station here as part of the launch of Network North. The work will consider how the new station can best support regeneration in the surrounding area and maximise its potential… as well as significantly improving transport links and cutting journey times but see BLN 1426.1464. There is also mention of £500M to electrify Leeds to Bradford Interchange. A problem here is that all trains on the route reverse at Bradford but none start or terminate there, so it's more bimodes or split the present through services at Bradford Interchange. The plan forms part of a wider business case for the project, which will include details on the proposed location and delivery date. It claims £2bn will be invested to build the station and a new line to deliver a significantly faster, 30 minute journey to Manchester via Huddersfield. A new line between Bradford and Huddersfield is certainly novel! It seems the report has confused this project with the Leeds to Huddersfield TransPennine upgrade! However, the 'missing link' in these plans is the proposals for the Stalybridge to Huddersfield line. Under the short lived Integrated Rail Plan (BLN 1391.3205), a new high speed line was envisaged between Warrington, Manchester and Marsden. It is impossible to upgrade the present Stalybridge to Diggle line; there is no room. One suspects nothing will happen.

ABOVE: (Item 2364.4) Battery Loco BL2 with T&W Metro Unit 4048 approaching Meadow Well (All four photos Phil Logie, 1 Nov 2023.) BELOW: (Item 2364.3) Monkseaton T&W Metro stop; new metalwork for the gable ends has been installed.

ABOVE: (Item 2365.5) Roof renovation work at Whitley Bay with the crash deck (but not for sleeping). BELOW: (Item 2365.1) Willington (Howdon) Viaduct (Richard Greenwood).

BELOW: Back to Stocksbridge; at the steelworks the now desolate empty sid

ings with an unidentified internal loco (yellow) stabled. Deepcar is off right.

X.110] BELOW: (Item 2372) On the Skipton to Rylstone brancRylstone Cross is on the fell behind the loNEXT: (BLN 1429.1734.3) Middlesbrough station, the new stairs und

ch 66714 is near Calton Gill Beck with empties for the quarry. oco. (John Harrison, Sunday 7 Oct 2018.) der construction down to the subway. (John Cameron, 4 Nov 2023.)

2366] York: ❶York City Council planning committee has rejected LNER's scheme to enclose the station portico with glazing to create a new retail space. It is not part of the York Gateway scheme but separately funded by LNER. LNER explained that, if the portico is left open, it is likely to attract more pigeons to roost in the open building, increasing the public nuisance and long term degradation. There is also the real likelihood of increasing anti-social behaviour and more rough sleeping, a problem that takes up a lot of time for their staff and the transport police. There was quite a lot of support amongst the committee for the principle of an enclosed space but there were many concerns that this just wasn't the right approach. It is understood much of it relates to disabled access and parking. ❷The original London & North Eastern Railway was founded a hundred years ago at 1923's grouping. To celebrate, the current LNER (without 'and') opened a free pop-up restaurant on 6&7 Nov in York at The Grand Hotel's Cookery School. This hotel was the North Eastern Railway HQ and its successor, the L&NER. 'The LNER* 1923 Restaurant' [*no 'and'] offered diners a special menu of dishes served to passengers over the past 100 or more years [freshly prepared!]. Customers reserved via Eventbrite without charge. However, LNER encouraged diners to donate to the York Foodbank what they might have paid - at 2023 prices (!) - for the meal. Alas, not discovered in time to whet members' appetite. 2367] North Tyneside: BLN 1435.MR208, about Stephenson Steam Railway, mentioned: The first, High Flatworth or Murton Wagonway/Waggonway, is on 1788 maps. Passenger trains only operated from 1841 to 1864. The last coal train ran in 1969 but trains to the Esso Terminal kept the line in use from 1970 to 1975. It was then partly replaced by a test track for the future Tyne & Wear Metro, running from West Allotment to the coast road via a depot at Middle Engine Lane. The test track closed in 1980. The test sheds were then developed into a transport museum by North Tyneside Council and the North Tyneside Steam Railway Association, which relocated from Monkwearmouth. A VERY local member with a special interest in the area advises that: The last coal train ran in 1969 but trains to the Esso terminal kept the line in use from 1970 to 1975 is misleading. The first section from Middle Engine Lane to the A1058 (Coast Road) bridge may have been in use until closed 24 Aug 1969 but the line from there to Percy Main Esso Terminal was certainly in use until at least Tue 7 th Jun 1983. This first section of line, used by the Stephenson Railway from Middle Engine Lane, was originally a colliery line, latterly National Coal Board (NCB), from Eccles Colliery, Backworth to Whitehill Point, past Percy Main. This line crossed over the North Tyneside Loop at Backworth station (CP 13 Jun 1977) on a bridge. It then ran through West Allotment and Middle Engine Lane, crossed over to the east side of the BR (British Rail) lines prior to the A1058 (Coast Road) and ran alongside the BR lines to the A193 at Percy Main, where they then separated. With effect from 24 Aug 1969, this NCB line closed south of West Allotment and colliery traffic for Whitehill Point was then worked by BR over their lines. A 1969 photo on Flickr (Google: 'sassaby/8429819382' ) is looking from Middle Engine Lane, with a Class 37 on an Oil train approaching from Percy Main and an NCB coal train with NCB wagons crossing overhead. Earsdon Jn was at NZ 3092 7164, Eccles Colliery NZ 3040 7190 and Whitehill Point NZ 3523 6656. The Metro Test Track used the formation from West Allotment and ran to the Coast Road but the final section was on a different alignment, not crossing over the BR tracks. https://tinyurl.com/yc72e6tc is a photo from a test unit - the distant bridge is the one subsequently used by the Stephenson Railway. When the Stephenson (Steam) Railway was built, the alignment on the approach to the Coast Road was changed again, running over a bridge on the former formation of the Rising Sun Colliery branch and then on a new alignment to join up with the former BR lines next to the Coast Road. The heritage group then used the formation of the former BR lines from the Coast Road to Percy Main. This 25 inch 1894-5 map https://tinyurl.com/4wcn5pe6 shows the area, and how complicated it once was. Our member believes that continuously welded rail (CWR) was installed during Dec 1979 on the Down line from just after Earsdon Jn (south of Backworth) to just before the Coast Road bridge. He has a poor quality photo he took of track the replacement taking place dated Sun 2 Dec 1979. This could have been because the line from Earsdon Jn to Percy Main Jn past the T&W Metro Test Track was in regular use, while the alternative line between Earsdon Jn and Benton Quarry Jn (renamed Benton North Jn in Feb 1980 and now just Benton Jn) was closed for Metro enabling works from 23 Jan 1978.

During this time, coal trains regularly ran over this line until the new BR line alongside the Metro tracks opened in early Feb 1980*. The connection to the North Tyneside loop at Percy Main was taken out of use at the end of Mar 1980 and the line from Earsdon Jn to Percy Main was singled from 1 Aug 1981, as there was no longer any need for a second track. https://tinyurl.com/5ektfhzy is the BR Eastern Region Northern Area Supplementary Operating Instructions notice of that date. The single track initially used the Up line from Earsdon Jn southwards, rapidly switching to the Down line and the CWR installed in 1979, then changing to the Up line just after Middle Engine Lane towards Percy Main. [*BLN 399 p1 of 7 Aug 1980 has the date - incorrectly - as 12 May 1980 (also the new Morpeth North Curve from Hepscott Jn on the Blyth & Tyne to Morpeth North Jn which did open). It also says that the Percy Main to Percy Main North Jn curveǂ closed from the same date. It is wondered if these are all 'paperwork dates', as BLN 392.3A recorded that Percy Main Curve was taken out of use during the 13th week of the year (at the end of Mar 1980), supported by an observational report the following month. An unnamed source (via Angus McDougall) reports that the date may have been Mon 10 Mar 1980.] Our member is aware of an oil train operating on Tue 7 Jun 1983 with 37045 from Percy Main Esso Terminal. Unfortunately, he doesn't know if it was the final one but BLN 521 p223 gives 'Jun 1983' for the date traffic was withdrawn and the effective date that the line to the terminal closed was certainly 30 Jun 1983 (British Rail records). However, he is not aware of any train after 7 Jun, except engineering trains to recover the continuously welded rail south of Earsdon Jn towards Middle Engine Lane. He only chanced across this as he heard a train horn (date not recorded) while at his family home, about ½ mile from the line and thought: That's odd the line is not in use. His bike was summoned from the shed, he went to investigate and was very surprised to see a Class 47 in the distance and a Class 37 behind that. The '37' dragged the cut rails forward which were then loaded onto the rail recovery train. From his photo sequence, the first recovery train definitely ran between Mon 10 and Fri 14 Sep 1984. The first trains he witnessed had 47254 on the rail recovery train and 37059 was used to tow the rails. The following week, the second set of trains operated with 56131 on the rail recovery train and 37059 towing the rails. He believes 56131 was the only Class 56 ever to operate on the line from Earsdon Jn towards Middle Engine Lane. Perhaps he has finally answered the question BLN 525.10 (see below)? Removal of the rails was completed in just a few days; the concrete sleepers were recovered later. By the 1979 Sectional Appendix, Percy Main North Jn southward to Esso Sidings Ground Frame was a 31ch single track. There was another single track (presumably parallel, once the double track south of Percy Main North) to the Albert Edward (Northumberland) Dock area. It branched off the line to the Tyne Commission Quay which CP 4 May 1970 but freight continued. BLN 293 p40 (dated 3 Mar 1976) reported that, about once a month, a loco from Cambois Depot (North Blyth) conveyed a single van of bonded stores to 'Tyne Commission Quay' for the cruise ships; it was said to be the only traffic there. Railway & Canal Historical Society sources give Aug 1983 as the closure date of the Earsdon Jn to Northumberland Dock line. A Weekly Operating Notice records the points at Earsdon Jn secured out of use (work already carried out on an unrecorded date, which could have been this Aug 1983 date). BLN 525.10 has: Tyne Quay Out of Commission: The line from Earsdon Jn to Tyne Commission Quay, once very busy with coal traffic, had been lifted by April 1985 where it passed under the Tyne and Wear Metro at Percy Main. At Backworth, it passed above the Metro, so the position there could not be seen from a train, but presumably the whole length has been lifted. Can anyone please confirm? See above… ǂ There was frustration among gricers then that Percy Main - Percy Main North Jn - Earsdon Jn didn't come up on tours when it was known to be threaten. Prior to 4 May 1970, DMUs between Newcastle and Tyne Commission Quay used the curve, reversing at Percy Main North Jn. Fortunately, the Lea Valley Railway Club ran 'The Venerable Bede' on 6 Oct 1979, the final tour to do it. It also ran via Washington. Our member (age 14 at the time) only photographed the tour, which was 1 hour 28 min late at Percy Main and arrived back at Euston at 00.02 instead of 22.15. For some unknown reason he thought it would be a good idea to do this as it came out of the bridge under the A191. No, it wasn't!!

LEFT: (Item 2367) 47254 on the rail recovery train between Middle Engine Lane and the A191. Photos by Phil Logie (then age 14), the first two between Mon 10 and Fri 14 Sep 1984. His bike is in this view, bottom right. RIGHT: The same week 37059 was in the same section of track at the head of steel towing rails. LEFT: The following week, 56131 has just come off the rapidly shortening line from Percy Main with recovered rails. It is heading north between Earsdon Jn (still a junction then) and Holywell Level Crossing. Note the double track here - now singled.

ABOVE: (Item 2373) Wheatley Viaduct, which is to be repaired, on the former Halifax St Pauls branch. BELOW: (Item 2374) The restored footbridge at Beverley, although it has lost its wooden sides/roof (NR).

2368] A Mexican Hartlepoolian Standoff: (BLN 1346.2567) On Fri 24 Nov, 4N52, 04.30 Leeds Balm Road to Hartlepool PD Ports FL ran. 66539 hauled 20 FSA empty wagons with specially made cradles for the HS2 concrete tunnel segments. It left 27 min late, reaching P2 at Hartlepool 23 min late, to find that the Signaller Assistant Route Setting (SARS) had allowed the on time 06.45 Sunderland to King's Cross Grand Central Service to pass Lancaster Road Jn (for Hartlepool Docks) on the opposite line. This was quite safe, of course, but with P3 not yet reopened, the passenger train had to call at P2 before proceeding south. Oops! After some human intervention, the Grand Central service continued on the Up line forward to Stranton Jn, the driver changed ends and, once the freight had cleared, ran directly into Down P3, called and reversed again, making it 24 min late. The freight reached the docks 53 min late. Artificial Intelligence Nil; Humans One. The loco was booked to return from 'Hartlepool Dock Area' (the same place in fact!) and departed 22 min early at 13.10 for Leeds Balm Road FHH (17.09), leaving the wagons, presumably for loading with the first segments. Watch this space. 2369] Stockton & Darlington Railway (S&DR) at Risk: Four sections of the course of the S&DR have been added by Historic England to its 'at risk' register because they are at risk due to neglect, decay or inappropriate development. From west to east, they are: The summit and upper sections of the Etherley Incline. The lower section of the South Bank of the Etherley Incline. The route alongside the River Gaunless. The Brusselton Inclines. This is in spite of the fact that they are legally protected as a Scheduled Monument because of their historical importance. A Heritage Action Zone has been established to rejuvenate and restore the 26 mile course of the railway from Witton Park to Stockton, forming a permanent walking and cycle pathway, which will follow the original route as closely as possible. BLN 1362.2840, dated 3 Oct 2020, has a map and account of that section of the S&DR route. 2370] Christmas Markets: To encourage people to visit Yorkshire's lesser known Christmas Markets, Northern offered £2 Advance Tickets (£1 child) to Scarborough (24-26 Nov) from the Hull line, to Knaresborough 2&3 Dec from the Leeds to York via Harrogate line, to Beverley on 6&8 Dec and Ilkley on 17 Dec from Leeds/Bradford Forster Square lines.They must be bought 3+ days in advance online. 2371] Middlesbrough: Station redevelopment started in Winter 2020 and is in three phases: ①Extending P2 and introduction of one daily LNER London service each way SSuX - completed. ②Improving public spaces/landscaping around the station; a new entrance connecting into the subway; regeneration of the disused undercroft to create a space for community - in progress. ③Construction of P3 and 'additional infrastructure' to 'improve performance and reliability of existing services and provide capacity for additional future services'. This presumably means the associated signalling. The expected completion date has now slipped to Spring/Summer 2025 (but at least it is not cancelled). Total funding is £52.15M, with £32.15M from the Tees Valley Combined Authority and £20M of 'Other Funding' from the DfT Rail Network Enhancement Pipeline, NR and TPE. 2372] Skipton - Rylstone: A member advises that the train staff/token is unlikely to be the keys for the level crossing (BLNs 1433.2205 & 1422.989). The usual method of opening the gates, for loaded trains at least, was for someone to arrive in a van with the keys for the gates and a radio to contact the train driver. They open the gates so that the train could continue through without having to come to a stop. This is because it can be a challenge starting a train here in low adhesion conditions. 2373] Halifax: The Historical Railways Estate is to repair damaged brickwork and waterproof the structure of Wheatley Viaduct, apparently 600ft long and over 100ft high. It is on the Halifax High Level Railway. This short and short-lived railway, jointly owned by the Great Northern (GNR) and Lancashire & Yorkshire Railways, ran from Holmfield (on the GNR line from St Dunstans (Bradford) via Queensbury) to Halifax St Pauls. It OA 5 Sept 1890, CP 1 Jan 1917 and CA 27 Jun 1960. 2374] Beverley: (BLN 1409.2242) The Grade II listed footbridge at the Hull end of the platforms closed from 10 Sep 2022, as it was becoming unsafe. After obtaining the necessary permissions, work on it started in May. The original 130-year-old cast iron structure has been strengthened and new parapets have been installed, along with new surfacing. The bridge has also been repainted in traditional shades of red and cream, in keeping with its heritage. The badly worn wooden canopy has been removed and not replaced. When it was closed, access between the platforms was via the level crossing.

2375] Leamside Line: (BLN 1434.2299) A group of local MPs has met the Rail Minister to make their case for reopening. Although the minister said he could not yet commit the DfT to paying for it, he did see its benefit to the UK as a whole. He said I don't want to give any assurances at all, but our attitude has changed in terms of what is possible and what we can use funding for as well. The MPs say the benefits include extending the Metro to Washington and a route for freight instead of the ECML. Your NE Editor is not greatly convinced by these arguments and wonders about the economic justification for extending south of Washington. The line does not run near any significant centres of population, as was pointed out in BLN 1373.824, and it was not included in the Integrated Rail Plan (BLN 1390.3108). On 8 Nov a total of 21 freights passed through Durham, only eight during the normal working day. The greatest shortfall is of local passenger services south of Newcastle - squeezed out by the large number of main line services. The popular commuter town of Chester-le-Street (population almost 25,000) has an erratic service, with significant gaps at popular times of the day. If the promised new station at Ferryhill is built, how would it be served? The original proposal was as a 'branch' from Middlesbrough - probably as the Stillington line has plenty of capacity (!), except at Middlesbrough. However, travel is more likely to Newcastle or the Metro Centre. There is also the vexed question of the fast service between Teesside and Tyneside via Durham - long promised and never delivered. In terms of an overall transport strategy for the North East, this is the most important missing link. However, while the region is split into three Combined Authorities (North Tyneside, the so-called North East and Tees Valley), the issue will never be addressed. These deficiencies would be better rectified, and at lower cost, by an upgrade to the ECML; in particular, significant quadrupling between Durham and Low Fell and relaying Tursdale Jn as a full double track junction with 50mph turnouts. 1437 NORTH WEST (John Cameron) [email protected] 2376] Blackburn: NR is spending £6M over several financial years on track renewals here. This is intended to include installing an energy absorbing buffer stop to bay P3 from Mon 25 Nov 2024 at a cost of £13k. It will shorten the available length of bay P3 from 82m to 78m. However, the Sectional Appendix currently under records the length of the platform as being 72m, so all is not lost. 2377] Merseyside: During the official opening of Headbolt Lane station, Liverpool City Region Mayor, Steve Rotheram, signed a 'Memorandum of Understanding' with the Secretary of State for Transport. This will apparently initiate the process of assessing the future of the region's railways with NR and the Great British Railways Transition Team (no details were given yet of what this will mean, if anything). The Liverpool City Region Mayor is also now seeking compensation from train manufacturer Stadler following continued poor performance of Merseyrail's new fleet of Class 777 EMUs (mainly software). 2378] Ormskirk: From Thur 30 Nov, the previous fixed buffer stop on P2 (used by Preston DMUs) was to be replaced with a friction sliding type buffer 12m nearer Preston. This shortens the line by that distance and required the Train Protection Warning System (TPWS) overspeed sensor to be moved. A 12m extension has already been added to P2 north end to maintain the operational length at 74m. This 'move' is to provide room for the sand drag and fixed buffer stop in P1 (used by Merseyrail EMUs towards Liverpool) to be replaced with a friction sliding type buffer stop 3m further from Sandhills. P1 was to be extended by 18m at the buffer stop end of the platform; the new operational length will be 140m for 8-car Class 777 EMUs. The TPWS overspeed sensor was to be moved accordingly. All this work was planned for Tue 28 and Wed 29 Nov, with no trains at Ormskirk on those days. EMUs from Liverpool were to turnback in Town Green P2 (trailing crossover in passenger use on departure). Before these changes at Ormskirk, Northern DMUs went right up to the P2 buffer stop. However, Merseyrail Class 777s stopped a couple of yards short of the end of the conductor rail on P1, roughly opposite the exit through the ticket office. The question is, will the P1 north extension allow overlap, on EMUs, with where DMUs used to stop, to travel over the previous gap? Reports welcome please. This may require a double Class 777 unit - have any run yet? An interesting feature is that, although once a through line, both routes are designated 'Down' towards Ormskirk. At a provincial terminus there is logic in the 'Up' track being the one out but not many have two routes in opposite directions!

BELOW: (Item 2378) Ormskirk, 777016 on a Liverpool service. NEXT: So near yeTHIRD PICTURE: The gap between the two lines is a bit of a drag at Ormskirkdevegetation ready for the alterations. Will the third rail be extended with

et so far, the gap before the alterations on 28&29 Nov; EMUs left/DMUs right. k; looking north towards Preston. Note where the third rail ends and recent the 18m platform lengthening here? (All Andrew Martin, Sat 18 Nov 2023.)

2379] Kirkby: Now there are two bidirectional parallel single lines northeast of the station, the signal indicator displays a 'U' (for Up Headbolt) when the route is set to Headbolt Lane P2 (on the right in that direction) and 'D' for P1 (Down Headbolt) on the left. Traversal of the former gap between EMU and DMU services at Kirkby will be achieved with any train to Headbolt Lane, as the divergence for Headbolt Lane P1 at Kirkby East Jn is just beyond the end of the partially disused former Northern P2. On 18 Nov at the new station, although the Passenger Information System showed the 13.11 to Liverpool Central as departing from P1; it went from P2 which is a little surprising as that is further from the ticket office and main station exit. Headbolt Lane is another station that trains approach in the 'Down' direction from both lines - a recent reversal of line direction between there and Kirkby. Our reporter was lucky to do P2; RTT suggests that Merseyrail uses just P1 with the half-hourly service. 2380] Helsby - Ellesmere Port: (BLN 1436.2526) Further to the 'Keeping Track' (item 2347) service suspension summary, trains resumed after the engineering blockade - ironically when a reliable rail replacement bus service was provided - on Mon 20 Nov with, very unusually, both trips operating. This was after a trainless gap of over five weeks. It has been suggested this may be connected with the start of a new rest day working agreement for Northern drivers*. The first Helsby to Ellesmere Port train starts at Liverpool Lime Street and runs via Warrington Bank Quay; on 20th Nov it was held for 18 mins due to the engineering works overrunning. *Until recently, over 100 Northern cancellations per day was typical on their website; this figure has dramatically reduced now (10 on 22 Nov). To put this in context, the company timetables over 2,500 trains a day and is the second largest TOC. 2381] Rochdale: Some overnight TPE passenger services (plus ECS) run via the Calder Valley Line, then to Huddersfield, in the current and new timetable, particularly in the early hours of Mondays. On Sats and Suns from 17-18 Feb until 16-17, Mar all TPE services are diverted that way per Realtime Trains. 2382] Longtown: An £86M storage and distribution facility is being built at this rail served MoD site. It is part of an overhaul of MoD storage facilities and due to open in Oct 2024. The 18½ acre site will store equipment including engines and other large spare parts. Longtown Central Ammunition Depot is connected to the West Coast Main line at Mossband Jn. Admiralty Sidings Jn emergency connection (marked on TRACKmaps 4 p33A 2022) has long been out of use. The gate there was opened and the connection done, up to the trap point, on one of our five railtours of the site between 30 Mar 1979 and 27 Aug 1982 for 54 members. [Your present Editor organised all these but was not on that one himself - Grrrr!] The internal railway once used to also serve Smalmstown sub-depot, now all lifted. 2383] Cumbrian Coast: It will come as a great shock to readers to learn that some recent government announcements have contained factual inaccuracies. The Furness Line Action Group (FLAG) has flagged up flaws in government claims about future investment in the Cumbrian Coast Line. The Network North document that accompanied the announcement of the cancellation of the northern leg of HS2 states: The Energy Coast Line between Carlisle, Workington and Barrow will be upgraded, improving capacity and journey times, enabling trains every 30 minutes between Carlisle, Workington and Whitehaven. This could support the creation of over 18,000 jobs. The MP for Barrowin-Furness said: This crucially important line links Moorside, which would generate up to 7% of the UK's electricity, to Barrow, home of the UK's submarine enterprise. Upgrading this line will allow over 172M tonnes of freight to be taken off our roads. FLAG points out that these are the same figures as cited in Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership 2018 strategy - before the proposed Moorside nuclear power station (at Sellafield) went the same way as the northern leg of HS2 (that is west) and was scrapped! 2384] Hareholme Viaduct: (BLN 1341.2947) Rossendale Borough Council has begun vital maintenance work on this nine arch stone built viaduct, just east of Rawtenstall towards Bacup to restore and make it safe. Part of a much used path/cycleway, it was at risk of collapse if immediate steps were not taken. 2385] Runcorn East: (BLN 1436.2526) The Acton Grange Jn/Halton Jn to Chester East Jn and Helsby Jn to Ellesmere Port line closure from 13 until 19 Nov (incl) was to strengthen and waterproof Warford Farm bridge and Watercourse bridge. The last of those lines had been without trains since 14 Oct and probably wouldn't have had any, anyway! Vegetation was removed and brickwork repaired. Services affected: Chester - Warrington - Manchester; Chester - Liverpool (TfW) and Helsby - Ellesmere Port.

2386] Whitehaven: BLN 1419.596, dated 4 Mar 2023, reported that the water in Whitehaven harbour had turned bright orange in late 2022 and this was being linked by some to the drilling of onshore and offshore boreholes to assess coal samples for the planned new rail served nearby Woodhouse deep coal mine. The Coal Authority was unconvinced and investigated. However, it seems that the mystery remains to be solved and that the colourful effluent has spread further, this time affecting the railway. NR is investigating why the 1,283yd Whitehaven Tunnel, between Corkickle and Whitehaven, is flooded and why the water is, wait for it, bright orange. Due to the flooding, the tunnel is connected to Whitehaven harbour by a culvert. For decades water has drained into the harbour without issue until now. There is a 20mph Emergency Speed Restriction (usually 40mph) through the tunnel due to the large amount of water. NR footage of 10 Nov shows extensive flooding, the track can hardly be seen, giving the appearance of a canal tunnel rather than a railway tunnel. Perhaps they should run some boat trains? Tests continue to see what can be done to reduce or stop water from entering the tunnel. Specialist hydro-geological surveyors are studying the area to establish how the local topography, infrastructure, historic mining features and geology interact with the surface and groundwater. 2387] Woodhouse deep coal mine sunk? (BLN 1436.2536) Potential closure of the two remaining Port Talbot blast furnaces may have serious consequences in the North West. Along with closure of Scunthorpe blast furnaces, no demand for any coking coal in the UK could affect the viability of the already highly controversial planned rail served Woodhouse deep coal mine, near Whitehaven. The business case was based on the high quality coal being suitable for making the cock needed for steelworks, although it was planned to export much of it. The government seems to be sitting on the decision about allowing it to proceed; meanwhile the clock ticks - the mine is due to close in 2050! 2388] Shapfell Lime works may not work: (TRACKmaps 4 p32A 2022) Next to the West Coast Main Line, at 39m 12ch between Oxenholme and Penrith, Shapfell (it is one word) Lime Works supplies Margam/Port Talbot by rail (and formerly Lackenby too). Hardendale Quarry (the reason the works are situated there) is now worked out, so limestone is brought in by rail by FHH from Tunstead in significant amounts, some 18 trains a month; 14 or so DBC lime trains per month run to Margam. The National Lime Association (really) advises that lime is a versatile mineral. Various forms are used in environmental, metallurgical, construction chemical/industrial applications and farming. The fastest growing use of lime is in environmental applications, to comply with air, drinking water, wastewater and solid waste regulations. However, the largest single use remains steel manufacture, where it is used to remove impurities. In construction, lime is a soil stabiliser for roads, earth dams, airfields and building foundations. Lime can be combined with additives to produce other metals and is a key ingredient in mortar and plaster in lime slurry form. Lime improves the cohesion of asphalt, reduces stripping, and retards the aging process (let's have some!). It is also used in chemical manufacture. 2389] Great Harwood Loop: (BLN 1435.2434) Retrospective planning permission has been refused for the unauthorised work by Bridge Heywood Caravan Park potentially blocking a trackbed path. There is already access to Martholme Viaduct but only from the Great Harwood end, a fence at the Padiham end blocks it. It is in the next section towards Padiham where the unauthorised work has taken place. A trackbed section from Gooseleach Wood (SD 766 338) to Simonstone Lane, just west of Simonstone station, is a concessionary footpath maintained by Martholme Greenway, a charitable organisation. Another section runs from where the A6068 crosses the formation to the west of the former Padiham Power Station (closed 31 Mar 1993, latterly a branch from Rose Grove West Jn) to Mollywood Bridge - just short of the former junction. It is a tarmac path and cycleway, with street lights through Padiham, although the bridge over the River Calder in Padiham has a long term 'temporary' (!) closure in place. 2390] Salt supplies reach rock bottom: Avanti West Coast staff at Warrington Bank Quay have donated 45 bags of rock salt to local charities after switching to a different de-icing meathod. 2391] A sting in the tail? In celebration of World Bee Day, Avanti hosted a Wine, Bees, and Cheese evening (an unusual menu) in Highfield Country Park, beside the Fallowfield Loop in Levenshulme. This was to raise money for the Manchester based charity Bee Sanctuary Movement. It aims to support the conservation and protection of bees, which are vital to the survival of many ecosystems.

BELOW: (Item 2389)end - Rose Grove Wstations. Rose Grovecentre; off left is Blaas a 'principal stationbuilt. LEFT: 1966 mawas reduced to a brBridge. The much laexpanded as a result

) The Great Harwood Loop (from Great Harwood Jn, west end to - at the east West Jn) was double track; the map is 1949/1951. It had three passenger e station is on the extreme right border, upper centre. Accrington is bottom ckburn with the Colne branch and Copy Pit line off right.Padiham was shown n' by the OS. Only the small Padiham'A'Power Station (1927-1969) had been ap, Padiham was then a 'non-principal' station closed to passengers; the loop ranch to the Power Stations but retained double track up to the River Calder rger 'B' Station (1962-1993) had been built west of 'A' Station and the sidings t. We ran three brakevan trips to it in 1978-1979 and, in 1987, an internal trip.

BELOW: Looking north from Molly Lane Bridge (the first overbridge) off Lower Ro[Unrelated note: In E-BLN 1436, the very last photo caption should refer to Birk

ose Grove Lane); the trackbed towards Padiham. (All John Harrison, 3 Jan 2019.) enhead Hamilton Square station tower not just Birkenhead Square, of course.]

BELOW: In the opposite direction, towards Rose Grove (West) Jn, Molly Lane

Bridge is the second stone bridge with the M62 bridge railings superimposed.

BELOW: The railway didn't look like this! Towards Rose Grove; the embankmencoat (ahead left) is on Shakespeare St which the line crossed by a bridge, then