Supplement to e-BLN 1228 7 March 2015
BLN Pictorial
This will be the last issue of BLN Pictorial in its regular format. Now that photographs and diagrams
are being included in both British Isles and International sections of e-BLN we’re going to take the
opportunity to separate BLN Pictorial and issue it as an occasional ‘special’ covering subjects which
justify their own illustrated feature. We round off the regular appearances with a look at the
infrastructure work at Bromsgrove and Society visits to Banbury signal boxes and an unusual private
mixed gauge railway.
On a frosty 23 January 2015, 66 425 takes 4V38, 08:20 Daventry [DRIFT] to Wentloog Tesco Express,
into the down loop at Bromsgrove. The scale of infrastructure work in connection with the new
station (BLN1224.87) can clearly be seen. The Up Loop, realigned over Christmas, is on the left, and
the line to the right of the loco formerly went to the wagon works. Picture © Don Gatehouse.
The impressive lever frame at Banbury North box, visited recently by some Society members (see
report in BLN 1227.337). The immaculate interior of the box lives up to long standing railway
traditions and they even have a gleaming Brabantia pedal bin! Picture © Stuart Hicks.
A rare view of the complex mechanical interlocking (a sort of fail-safe Victorian computer system
and very effective) behind, or rather below, the scenes at Banbury North. Picture © Stuart Hicks.
On 30 March 2014 the Society visited the Statfold Farm Railway where participants enjoyed a
comprehensive tour of this extensive privately owned mixed gauge system. Here Peckett 0-6-0
‘Harrogate’ (built 1944, works number 2050) pauses near to the large museum building. Picture ©
Dave Cromarty.