1398

from the east. The Deptford branch is the pair of tracks to the left of the train,
(Ian Carr, 3 Apr 1962; ©Armstrong Collection, reproduced with permission.)

BELOW: D3729 - later 08209 - (then recently transferred from 6
on the Deptford branch, Sunderland. (Ian Carr, 31 Mar 19

64H Leith Central to Gateshead) at Ogden's Lane Level Crossing
970; ©Armstrong Collection, reproduced with permission.)

BELOW: A freight at Deptford signal box on 31 Mar 1970, probably with van
The disused line diverging right is the by then closed line to Lambton Drops. (

ns for Jobling's Glass Factory heading to Johnson's Coal Depot to run round.
(Ian Carr, 31 Mar 1970; ©Armstrong Collection, reproduced with permission.)

BELOW: D3729 at Doxford's Plate Yard, serv
(Ian Carr, 31 Mar 1970; ©Armstrong Co

ved by a branch from Ogden's Lane signal box.
ollection, reproduced with permission.)

ABOVE: (Item 856) Sunderland Deptford Wharf Coal Depot; a brakevan trip. (Ian Mortimer, 16 Sep 1974.)
BELOW: A Class 08 at Millfield Coal Yard - see map for these freight locations. (Angus McDougall, 1 Apr 1980.)

The branch from Pallion to Lambton Drops (Staiths - without an 'e' in the North East), with a short
branch off it serving Deptford Coal Siding, OG 1 Oct 1863. Deptford Jn to Lambton Drops (owned by
the National Coal Board - NCB - as successors to the Lambton Railway) CA 7 Jan 1967. The last loaded
vessel departed on 4 Jan 1967 and the last train of empty wagons and light engines left on 6 Jan 1967.
The line from Penshaw was unusual in that it was used between Cox Green Jn (NE of Penshaw North
Jn) and both Deptford Jn and Hendon Jn by NCB trains between their system south of Penshaw and
the staiths at both Lambton Drops and South Dock. NCB drivers had to be passed out by BR inspectors
to work over BR lines. This occurred in other places in the North East, and possibly in other parts of the
country such as South Wales and Scotland. Can members identify other places where this happened?

Over the weekend of 17-18 Jan 1970 Pallion, Ford Works, Ogden's Lane and Deptford signal boxes
were abolished. The double Iine to Hendon Jn (South Dock) continued to be worked under No Block
regulations. Pallion - Ford Works and Pallion - Deptford (Johnson's Coal Depot) became two separate
single lines with One Train Working, using the former Up line to Ford Works and the former Down
Branch to Deptford. At Ogden's Lane, a new ground frame controlled the signals protecting the level
crossing; all other signals were abolished. The crossing gates were padlocked across the railway and
worked by the train crew, the key being attached to the train staff. The connection to Doxford's
Shipyard was converted to hand operation. At Deptford, all signals were abolished and the ground
frame controlling access to National Galvanisers was then released by an Annett's Key attached to the
train staff. Johnson's Coal Depot crossover was converted to hand operation. On 3 May 1977 Ogden's
Lane ground frame, and the connection to Doxford's Shipyard, was secured OOU pending removal.
The entire branch (with the line from Hendon Jn - above) was taken OOU on 27 Nov 1984.

❷Now it can now be told (66); Silksworth Brakevan Trip, 5 Nov 1971: From our 1971 Annual Report,
your NE Editor's 2022 comments are in italics. Four members assembled at Sunderland South Dock on
5 Nov for the 09.30 freight to Silksworth Colliery, this being the last official day of operation.

After waiting to ensure that no members were left behind, the train left a few minutes late, conveying
a couple of loaded wagons of miners' concessionary coal [Miners - current and retired - were entitled

to an allowance of free or subsidised coal.] The train proceeded to the end of the branch at Silksworth
to shunt there and then picked up a full load to return down the steep gradient to Ryhope. On arrival
at South Dock, arrangements had been made for us to travel on the freight to Hylton Colliery [on the
north bank of the River Wear]. This was boarded at Londonderry Jn and proceeded to Ryhope Grange
Jn via the Londonderry Lines, which are not often used [they were lifted three years later]. During
reversal at Ryhope, we were passed by the loco we had travelled behind to Silksworth, returning from
its second trip, and the locomotive inspector joined us in the brakevan, a total of two inspectors. After
waiting for a Darlington DMU, the train performed the double reversal necessary at Monkwearmouth
to gain the Hylton branch. En route, the steeply graded branch to Austin & Pickersgill's shipyard was
noted, as also was the embankment that carried the line from the [Queen] Alexandra Bridge, now
being removed to make way for a new road. After arrival back at South Dock, the party had lunch,
then travelled by car to Pallion to examine the Deptford branch. (Original 1971 report by GWR Blyth.)

What wasn't mentioned of course was that the party 'examined' the Deptford branch by train, as you
do. We hitched a ride with the very friendly crew on the trip working from Pallion to Jobling's Glass
Factory. Glassware was despatched from their warehouse on the south side of the line that ran east
from Pallion Yard. The train was hauled by two Class 03s, known to the crew as 'Pinky & Perky', after a
pair of puppet pigs which appeared on BBC TV from 1968 to 1972! The warehouse siding was only
connected only to the Up line, faced towards Pallion and the vans were propelled into the warehouse,
so the locos had to run round. The only means of doing this was in Johnson's Coal Depot at the end of
the Deptford branch, as the branch to Lambton Drops had closed (7 Jan 1967 as above) by then.
British Rail had some arrangement with the depot's owner to use their track for running round.

This was most fortunate as we did the whole branch. Ogden's Lane box had closed and access to the
glass factory siding was controlled by a ground frame unlocked by an Annett's key, kept at Pallion box.
After delivering the vans, the loco and brake van returned to Pallion. It was then the end of their shift,
so they returned to Sunderland South Dock shed, giving us more bonus track. I had done Durham to
Sunderland in passenger days (it CP 4 May 1964) but needed Fawcett St Jn to Hendon Jn, which had
CP on 4 Aug 1879! This was very choice track, as I am not aware of it ever being covered by a railtour.

857] Ferrybridge 'C' Power Station: The final 3 (of 8) cooling towers were blown up on the evening of
Thur 17 Mar. The MGR loop from Ferrybridge North Jn remains in use for inward gypsum traffic.
With the serious risk of conventional cooling towers becoming extinct, perhaps some should be listed?

858] More or Less: Grand Central is increasing its services between Sunderland and King's Cross. From
15 May there will be six return journeys on weekdays and five on Sundays. Meanwhile the West
Yorkshire Mayor claims that Northern Trains plans to cut some services. According to a West Yorks
Combined Authority blog: Bradford Forster Square to Skipton/Ilkley reduced to hourly; some services
between Bradford Interchange, Halifax, Leeds and Hull withdrawn; Wakefield to Pontefract and
Knottingley reduced; cuts to peak and evening services on 'many' other routes; no plans for a direct
service between Wakefield and Huddersfield. The mayor is seeking 'an urgent meeting' with Northern.

859] T&W Metro: The 46 new Stadler units will have a new automatic sliding step eliminating the gap
between the train and platform edge at every door. It automatically deploys from beneath the door
sill every time a train pulls into a station and retracts before the doors close. The first new train is due
to be delivered at the end of this year. The new Merseyrail Class 777 EMUs have a similar feature.

860] Goole: The Mayor of London has visited the Siemens Mobility facility, where half of the 94 new
Piccadilly Line tube trains will be built. The factory employs up to 700 people and, indirectly, 250 in
construction and 1,700 in the broader supply chain. The Mayor warned that future TfL contracts are at
risk without the Government agreeing long term capital funding with TfL. TfL has time limited options
in its contract with Siemens Mobility to build new Bakerloo, Central and Waterloo & City line trains.

861] Sunderland: (BLN 1397.743), Following the end of steel coil shipments from Mariupol, it is
thought there will be trains of steel slab from Scunthorpe to Corporation Quay for onward transport
to the Metinvest subsidiary, Spartan Steel in Gateshead. Due to the weight of the slabs, they will need
to be removed by a crane rather than fork lift trucks. Our Tweedmouth Tractors tour visits on 8 Apr.

X.88] THIS PAGE: The 22 Mar Heaton Depot derailment seen from a public location that day (Ian Hughes).

X.89] Where was this map? BELOW: (BLN 1395.461.1) Taken on Sat 3 Sep 197
that the favourite for the title is Bridlington. Its NER tile map was on the forme
an orange British Rail North Eastern Region orange 'LADIES' sign on the black d

77, it was definitely at Hull, Bridlington or Scarborough and the notes suggest
er west side of the station (P1, 2 & 3, demolished in 1987). Note on the right is
door; the map and wall are rather grubby. (John Robinson via Phil Robinson.)

862] Sheffield Victoria Part 3; All Our Yesterdays: (BLN 1397.740) From BLN 148 of 18 Feb 1970:

The last booked passenger train over the Woodhead route was the 22.15 Sheffield Victoria to
Manchester Piccadilly train on Sunday 4 January 1970. However, at 19.51 a wagon on an empty
mineral train was derailed on the Up line between Valehouse and Torside. This threw the ‘last rites’
of many well-wishers adrift. The 21.10 from Piccadilly to Sheffield Victoria was cancelled and a
DMU substitute ran to Sheffield Midland via the Hope Valley. This should have been the last Up
service and its diversion upset many returning Yorkshire mourners. It equally upset those from
Manchester who had allowed: themselves a six minute turnround at Sheffield Victoria onto the
last down train. Meanwhile passengers making an evening excursion to Manchester on the 19.30
from Sheffield Victoria were encamped at Torside from 20.03 to 21.23. The eventual arrival of
these passengers at Piccadilly, long after the departure of the 21.10, appeared to come as a surprise
to the railways. In due course the stock was returned as a special train departing from Piccadilly at
23.10 and calling at Dunford Bridge in the early hours of the day when it was officially closed*.

The 22.15 from Sheffield Victoria was whistled out at 22.16 when the signals were returned to red
to await the miscreants from the Midland station off the diverted 21.10 from Manchester. Eventual
departure, accompanied by ceremonial detonators and gendarmes seeking souvenir hunters, was
some 20 minutes late. The train was strengthened from 5 to 7 vehicles and was overcrowded at the
front, but more sparsely populated by ‘other’ travellers towards the rear. Further explosions marked
the departure from Penistone and the unscheduled stop at the diminutive Dunford Bridge station.

Lights in the leading coach were extinguished for the final run through the illuminated tunnel.
The crippled wagon was passed at reduced speed near Valehouse, while at Hadfield the 23.10
special from Piccadilly was waiting our passage under single line working conditions. Arrival at
Piccadilly was some 50 minutes late at 23.55. An unconventional ending to an unconventional line.

*Railway Chronologists would regard this call as part of the previous day's service, not an extra day of
service. The 23.10 extra (only British Rail would do that) from Piccadilly was the Wikipedia enthusiasts'
special arriving Sheffield Victoria 00.44 - but not a railtour, hence it is not on 'Six Bells Junction'.

863] Sheffield: (BLN 1397.739) On Sun 13 Mar from 07.40 until 23.00 Down trains were booked to
travel over the Up Main from Sheffield Station North Jn with Single Line Working to Nunnery Main
Line Jn, crossing to the Down Main via the trailing crossover immediately after that junction. This was
connected with reinstatement that weekend of the points damaged in the 11 Nov 2020 derailment.

864] Supertram: There are 4-day Easter works in the City Road/Spring Lane area. The Blue route runs
from Malin Bridge to Sheffield Station only (no trams beyond) - trailing crossover in use on departure.

865] Durham Coast: ①On 2 Mar about 12 people joined a mid-morning northbound train at Horden
(OP 29 Jun 2020). A similar number were waiting for a southbound train with six cars in the car park.

②(BLN 1375.1192) At the time of our 9 Oct 2019 Durham Coast signal box visits, the (1m 51ch)
lengthy Cliff House Up Loop from Stranton Jn to Seaton Carew was OOU but due to be restored to
use after 2021 resignalling. However, on 5 Jul 2021, when we passed on our 'Zuzzy Syphons' railtour to
Hartlepool Docks, it had still not been restored. The loop has since been relaid and is due to be used
by our 'Tyne Tees Tractors' railtour on Fri 8 Apr. The old points allowing access from the loop to the Up
Main have been removed but on 2 Mar new pointwork was stacked slightly further north, ready for
installation. The purpose of restoring the loop is to keep Biomass trains from the Port of Tyne to Drax
Power Station on the move and allow a half hourly passenger service on the Durham Coast Line - the
latter now seems to be a remote possibility in the new post-Covid era of railway retrenchment.

866] Ferryhill: The stub of the Leamside line at Tursdale Jn is still in use by the engineers, known as
Tursdale Siding (the non-electrified siding on TRACKmaps 2 p20C 2020). The rails show signs of recent
use and there are some short track panels stacked by the line, presumably ready for dismantling.

867] White Rose: (BLN 1381.1914) Construction of this £26.5M station on the Leeds to Dewsbury line
has begun. It is expected to continue into early 2023. Consultation on closure of the nearby Cottingley
station ended 4 Oct 2021; a report is pending and an ORR decision is expected by Jul (BLN 1380.1802).

868] Hacked off at Bridlington: (BLN 1395.462) More information has come to light on the NER tile
map here thanks to the Friends of Hunmanby Station. It was hacked off the wall on P1 in 1987,
although railway historians had tried to save it, and was believed lost forever. However, on a visit to
Hull Paragon by the North Eastern Railway Association (NERA), the remains were discovered stored in
a crate. The NERA purchased them and offered them to several museums but there was no interest, so
they were stored. 33 years later (!) local enthusiasts tracked them down. The map was installed by
two builders, who had installed the new replica at Hunmanby last summer (BLN 1384.2302).

869] Leeds: (BLN 1396.577) The Head of Rail at Tarmac points out that freight operations must be
considered when planning the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade. The line over the Pennines is to be
electrified and gauge cleared to W12 but how many paths will there be for freight before the new high
speed line west of Marsden is completed? The Tarmac Cross Green terminal at Hunslet East (on the
branch from Neville Hill), almost entirely supplied by rail, operates 24 hours a day. Typically there are
two to four trains a day; one or two of limestone from Swinden Quarry (on the Rylstone branch from
Skipton), plus one a day of stone from Dry Rigg and Arcow Quarries on the Settle & Carlisle line.
Less often there is stone from Tunstead and one or two cement trains a week from Oxwellmains.
Pathing these trains from the west through Leeds station during the day is already a major challenge.

870] Huddersfield: York ROC Huddersfield Workstation (a Grade 7 post) closed at 06.30 Sat 19 Mar as
there was no cover. This affected the Trans-Pennine main line, part of the Calder Valley and Penistone
lines. The Grand Central 06.56 Bradford Interchange to King's Cross ran via New Pudsey, Whitehall Jn
(rev) and Wakefield Westgate to Kirkgate. The 08.59 was diverted via Holbeck and then Methley to
Wakefield Kirkgate (rev). Huddersfield to Sheffield trains were cancelled or just ran east of Penistone.
The crew of 1Z71 06.30 York to Stratford-upon-Avon (with 47810 & 47501 to Crewe) knew the route
from Leeds via Bradford Interchange, so the train reversed there. The workstation reopened at 10.00.

871] Moorthorpe - Pontefract Baghill - Ferrybridge North Jn: (BLN 1396.567) Until 3 Jan this PSUL was
used by the sparse Sheffield to York Northern stopping services - three each way daily. Since Sun 9 Jan
it has only had one booked train a week each way: SuO 19.00 Sheffield to York and 21.09 return.
However, these only ran on 9, 16 & 23 Jan, 13 Feb and 20 & 27 Mar, so cannot be relied on. All stations
buses are provided in lieu of trains between Moorthorpe and York - now booked until 10 Dec 2022.

1398 NORTH WEST (John Cameron) [email protected]
872] TPE: The DfT intends to award the next operating contract to the existing holder, First Group.
It runs from Apr or May 2023 for four years, with a further four years at the discretion of the Secretary
of State for Transport. TPE has since issued a call for expressions of interest to supply, maintain and
service at least 25 additional 125mph bimode modular trains of less than 200m total length, 5, 6, or 7
coaches for the electrified upgraded Trans-Pennine Route. An option of electric only operation is
specified long term, where the diesel power packs could be removed, leaving the trains as electric or
battery-electric units. The DfT has indicated its desire to remove old and expensive to use diesel rolling
stock from elsewhere on the network, should any trains become surplus to requirements at TPE.

The routes specified are: Liverpool - Newton-le-Willows - Manchester Victoria, Manchester Airport -
Victoria, Piccadilly/Victoria - Huddersfield/Leeds (being electrified), Leeds - York via Micklefield (also
now being wired), York - Newcastle, York - Scarborough, Northallerton - Saltburn, Leeds - Micklefield
- Hull, Manchester Airport - Edinburgh and diversionary routes.

Submissions using 'alternative' traction power are welcomed in the call for expressions of interest, or
'cascaded' rolling stock in existing or modified form. TPE reports a good response to its request for
alternative bimode locos to replace the Class 68s now working with its Mk 5a coaches (BLN 1394.332).

873] Headbolt Lane: (BLN 1393.201) Earthworks began on the new station week commencing 7 Mar.

874] Styal Line: (BLN 1397.750) A member who lives locally recalls fond memories as a boy of summer
evening bike rides to Gatley station in the late 1950s, to see the Down 'Comet Express' (Euston to
Manchester) hammering through behind a Royal Scot 4-6-0. He does not recall seeing any other
expresses regularly using the Styal line. The 'Comet Express' ended in 1962 with electrification.

BELOW: (Item 370.1) Deansgate-Castlefield, a Rochdale tram via Exchange Squ

uare is in the reopened loop platform, left. (Both John Cameron, 13 Mar 2022.)





THIS PAGE: (Item 877.3) Manchester Metrolink, on a tram approaching the little used Crumpsall
bay platform from the south on the afternoon of Wed 23 Mar 2022. (All John Cameron.)

LEFT: A Crumpsall
contrast; looking
north towards Bury.
Note the new poles
for the forthcoming
Metrolink OHLE then.

(Angus McDougall,
31 Jul 1991.)

BELOW: Crumpsall bay from the south, a tram to Altrincham via Exchange

e Square; there would be a very long wait for a tram on the far left platform.

BELOW: Looking towards Bury - the line blockage includes both thr

rough platforms, unbeknown to the person on the seat (distant left).

BELOW: Looking south towards Manc

chester from Crumpsall bay platform.

BELOW: A 1200V dc third rail side contact Class 504 EMU for Manches
where there was once a loop line. There are few passengers. The final day

ster Victoria at Crumpsall - the Metrolink bay is now in the foreground,
y of these unusual units was 16 Aug 1991. (Angus McDougall, 31 Jul 1991.)

875] Blackpool Trams: (BLNs 1382.2189, 1390.3115, 1392.74, 1394.X.32 - photo & 1396.601) The first
trams traversed the extension to the new Blackpool North terminus (now in the middle of a building
site) on Wed 16 Mar. Flexity2 Trams 012 and 017 were used on initial gauging tests, with 012 reported
as the first onto the £23M extension at 22.04. A Blackpool Transport spokesperson said: all being well
we are hopeful that the extension to the tramway will be operational late this year/early next year.

876] Investment: There are local elections this spring and the Government announced £84M of rail
funding for the North West on 11 Mar, much of which was already in existing plans. It includes:
Improved passenger facilities at Manchester Piccadilly, Victoria and Airport stations.
Resignalling the Castlefield Corridor and remodelling Oxford Road station [instead of four tracking].
Transpennine Route Upgrade works including electrification, resignalling and track renewals.
Platform lengthening at Dalton, Kents Bank, Oxenholme and on the Windermere branch, Staveley.

877] Metrolink: ❶(BLN 1397.756) At Deansgate-Castlefield the third platform ROP Sat 12 Mar and is
used by inbound trams. At least initially, The Trafford Centre trams were still reversing at Cornbrook.

❷The Ashton line was closed from Sun 20 until Sat 26 Mar for track replacement work at Piccadilly
tram stop and track maintenance at Piccadilly Gardens. As a result, trams did not run through Market
Street, Shudehill or Piccadilly Gardens and were diverted via Exchange Square. Of note Eccles line
trams turned back at Deansgate-Castlefield via its re-commissioned country end trailing crossover.

❸Crumpsall: For most of Wed 23 Mar Bury trams turned back in the rarely used bay platform, there
were possession STOP signs on both through lines before the platforms. A Metrolink driver announced
that weights at the end of a run of overhead line at Whitefield had been stolen. Trams had to travel
very slowly between Victoria and Crumpsall to regulate the service. Our Manchester-based Regional
Editor was lucky and able to do it in the afternoon. Normal service resumed to Bury next morning.

878] Oxenholme: NR intends to extend Windermere branch P3 by 5m to fully platform 6-car DMUs for
the Dec 2022 timetable. Then Cumbrian Northern services will run via the Bolton corridor in 6-car
formations. Automatic Selective Door Opening will be used at some Cumbrian stations. With a 2x3-car
train, intermediate station platforms need to hold 4 cars (Staveley only takes 2 so is being extended)
However, the terminus platforms need to take a 6-car unit for the driver to change ends. Before Covid
there was a proposal for a passing loop on the branch to allow a half-hourly service to run. It was
double track until singled from the 7 May 1973 timetable with control transferred to Carlisle PSB.

879] Cumbrian Coast: (BLN 1397.744) A recent visit confirms that some stations are still request stops
and announcements at Carlisle remind passengers. On a southbound train from Workington on Sun
20 Mar, the guard was diligently checking everyone's destination, even announcing that she had not
had any requests for a stop but to come and see her at the rear of the train if she had missed anyone.
Sitting at the front our correspondent could hear the 'buzz-buzz' in the cab approaching some stations,
presumably the signal to the driver that there was no need to stop. This, with the jointed track and
manual signalling, made him feel as though he was in a railway time capsule. The request stops are:
Flimby, Parton, Nethertown, Braystones, Drigg, Bootle, Silecroft, Green Road and Kirkby-in-Furness.

880] Clitheroe - Hellifield Jn: This PSUL is 'almost unique' (but not quite) with Sunday only services
('Dalesrail'): Two round trips Blackpool North/Preston to Hellifield in winter and one Blackpool North
to Carlisle in summer. After cancellation due to Covid, it was nominally reinstated from Sun 19 Sep.
However, it has only run on 26 Sep, 17 Oct, 7 Nov 2021 and 2, 9 & 30 Jan then 20 & 27 Mar 2022.

881] Edale: On Sat 12 & Sun 13 Mar Northern Manchester to Sheffield services turned back at Edale
(buses to/from Sheffield) with an ECS shunt via Earles Sidings trailing crossover. Sheffield P1, 2 & 2c
were under possession (item 863) with reduced capacity. EMR and TPE services ran as normal.

882] Farnworth: A group of individuals threw a log into the path of a Blackpool North to Hazel Grove
train with over 100 passengers on board on the Manchester side of the tunnel just before 6.30pm on
Mon 14 Mar. This resulted in a smashed window and a brief fire on the train. No one was hurt and
everyone was safely evacuated from the train, then it was moved away from the scene so that the
extensive damage to the OHLE could be repaired. British Transport Police are investigating.

883] Bolton - Wigan: (BLN 1394.345) Electrification via Westhoughton was originally put at £78M for
21 single track miles, including 450 new OHLE stanchions with modifications to 17 bridges and two
level crossings plus platform extensions. However, significant progress has been made in reducing
electrical clearances at structures. This new approach means that only one bridge now requires
reconstruction for electrical clearance, with two more requiring reconstruction because of their
condition. This is believed to have reduced the cost to under £15M, a fraction of the original estimate.

884] Now It Can Be Told (67): On Sat 10 Jul 1965 Member No1 arranged a brakevan trip for the
Locomotive Club of Great Britain North West Branch starting from Bamfurlong Sidings near Wigan to
Halliwell Goods near Bolton. Arrangements had been concluded with the Divisional Manager's office
at Manchester to travel on the trip working, commencing at 08.45 from Bamfurlong, which consisted
of a brakevan at each end of the train and was initially banked tender first to Amberswood Jn, then to
De Trafford Jn where the train reversed and proceeded to Hindley Jn No2. The train engine was
Stanier 8F No48469, which went Bolton West Jn forward via Westhoughton and the Bolton Station
avoiding curve from Bolton West Jn (West) to (East) known as Johnson Street Fork CA 26 Jan 1970.
Then it was on to the Blackburn line and left at Astley Bridge Jn to Halliwell Goods on the former
Lancashire & Yorkshire Astley Bridge branch. The line from Halliwell Back o' th' Bank (Bolton) Power
Station Siding on to Astley Bridge closed 4 Sep 1961 but a surprise lay in store for the party of eight at
Halliwell Goods Depot. ABOVE: Left to right shows some former and a current member of the Branch
Line Society, namely Eric Doyle, Member No1, Brian Tupman, Jim Slater, Ian Simpson, the young boy
and his father remain a mystery but were probably Alan Wright and (sitting!) son.
Progress along the branch, now with Stanier 2-6-2 tank engine No42484, was very slow as you would
expect from a line closed nearly four years earlier! The crew stopped just short of Astley Bridge (over a
mile from the junction). This indeed was an unexpected bonus; how many current members were
fortunate enough to have travelled over this branch? Oct 1961 BLN had a report of a Society fixture
described as 'Last Brakevan Trip, Bolton - Astley Bridge, Sat 26 Aug 1961', although it turned out not
to be the last! At closure the only traffic was two wagons of coal a day for a local merchant.
The power station closed on 19 Mar 1979 after only being on winter standby; fortunately the Industrial
Railway Society visited beforehand and it was possible for some of our members to have a trip on the
internal line, and look round the power station. The branch was cut back to Halliwell Goods (latterly
inward coal and steel) which itself closed on 3 Aug 1981 with the rest of the line from Astley Bridge Jn.

BELOW: Halliwell Goods in May 1977, the goods shed is on the map; the lin
off round to the right, Astley Bridge Jn was off lower right corner. Note th

ne to Back o' th' Bank Power Station (and once Astley Bridge Goods) curves
he three capstan (full strength?) rope anchors middle left. (Ian Mortimer.)

ABOVE: 6'' map 1955, Astley Bridge Jn is bottom right, Bolton Trinity Street station is off the bottom,
Blackburn right. Astley Bridge Goods is top left at the end of the 1m 184yd branch. Back o' th' Bank
(Bolton) Power Station is at the end of the double track (east side); 'Goods Station' below is Halliwell.

ABOVE: Left is Back o' th' Bank (Bolton) Power Station and sidings (bottom right is the start of the
Astley Bridge branch off behind the photographer). Upper right is the goods shed, Halliwell Goods is
behind. The line curving left in the distance is to Astley Bridge Jn. (Both Ian Mortimer, 21 May 1979.)

BELOW: In the opposite direction, the Astley Bridge Goods branch was off photo left at a lower level.
This was a 'just in time' visit as the Power Station had closed on 19 Mar 1979 and the residual coal
stocks were being moved out by rail. By 1971 the plant comprised three 31.25MW turbo-alternators,
the maximum output capacity was 75MW and in the year ending 31 Mar 1972 supplied 46.136 GWh.

885] Merseyrail: For the Grand National (Thur 7-Sat 9 Apr), trains will run between Liverpool city
centre stations and Aintree every 10 minutes before and after the races. There will be minor retiming
on other Northern lines; from 11.00-14.00 & 17.00-21.00 Kirkby will be served by a Sandhills shuttle.

886] Cheadle: (BLN 1373.832) Stockport Council cabinet has agreed to sign off and submit the final
business case for a new Cheadle station to ministers for sign off. It would be on the single track
section of the Manchester to Chester (Mid-Cheshire) line next to the Alexandra Hospital, just 100m
north of Cheadle High Street about 700m east of the Styal line. A related £1M package of walking and
cycling improvements would provide access. Funding would be from the government's Levelling Up
fund. According to Council papers the new station would have a single 100m platform with covered
waiting facilities, live departure boards and ticket machines. There would be a new road junction on
Manchester Road, opposite, but offset from, the existing access into the Ashlea public house car park.
The former London & North Western Railway Cheadle station here OP 1 Aug 1866 and CP 1 Jan 1917.

887] Preston Dock (singular): The branch was closed from 16 Feb until 15 Mar inclusive to renew
Strand Road Level Crossing. On 16 Mar the 03.13 from Lindsey Oil Refinery, with 70813, arrived 08.00.
888] I Was a Signalman Part 13A, Philips Park No1, addenda: (BLN 1395.466 and e-BLN 1397.X.830.)
By Dave Leeming. In e-BLN 1397 the first of Andy Overton's 6 Jul 1991 Philips Park No1 photos, left to
right are signals No6, 7, 3 & 15. The Dolly (ground signal), No22 has a small white plate below the disc
with a black arrow pointing right indicating that it reads towards the branch (to Philips Park No2 Jn -
now Philips Park South Jn) in the 'wrong' direction. It signalled a train from the Up Main towards the
Down Goods and behind Signal 52 which involved Park 1 'Blocking Back' to Park 2 box. Signals 3 & 15
had a track circuit white diamond (on the signal post) but 6 & 7 did not. The diamond told the driver
he was standing on a track circuit and the Rule 55 visit to the signal box was not needed. Occupation
of the track circuit would 'lock the block' preventing Park 1 from giving a 'line clear' to Miles Platting.

In the second photo (Up Junction to 'Brewery Curve', three blocks of flats in the background) the colour
light is No58 and the Position 4 'feather' reads towards the curve. The cat's eyes (position light signal)
under the main aspect, when lit, allowed a stopping passenger train to pass the main aspect at danger
and run to Miles Platting station (last train called Fri 26 May 1995) to do its station duties and/or
await a road. It would have displayed a 'C' (calling on) indication. This was allowed at Miles Platting for
STOPPING passenger trains only, as the platform was immediately before the junction. If the junction
wasn't clear Expresses were refused by Miles Platting but this rarely happened. Also shown is the rear
of Down Main outer home signal No2 - a semaphore with a track circuit diamond on the signal post.

The third shows the Up home with a colour light below on the same post. This 3-aspect signal was
unlit if the main semaphore arm was at danger. This was common if semaphore areas fringed multiple
aspect colour light signalling. Pulling the semaphore caused the colour light to show a single yellow.
Pulling '58' caused it to show a double yellow. If Miles Platting has pulled off, it showed a green.

The signal to the right (rear view) is No5, the Down starter; under it is Baguley Fold Down distant
signal. The photographer is at the Manchester end of Park station (CP 29 May 1995), Down platform.
Signal 52 is right of the signal box and signals 3 & 15 are just visible on their gantry in the distant murk.

Picture 4 is in the opposite direction to 3. The Goods Lines' trackbed is foreground right. Every manual
box has a Special Instruction Card which must be displayed in a prominent position; signalmen who
worked there needed to observe the instructions on it. At Park 1 they allowed acceptance of a train on
the Brewery Curve at the same time that a train was accepted on the Down Main from Miles Platting.
This was partly why there was a headshunt (acting as a catch point) - visible far left in photo 4.

Both signals from Brewery Curve are the same height, indicating the speed restriction (10mph) from
Brewery was the same (10mph) for both routes. The main line signals (right) are of differing heights,
indicating that it was line limit on the Down Main (45mph) but restricted speed (15mph) to Park 2.

1398 SOUTH EAST - NORTH & EAST ANGLIA (Julian James) [email protected]

889] Huntingdon: (BLN 1390.3133) By 15 Mar the A14 viaduct over the ECML at the station had been
completely removed and progress with landscaping of the area west of the line was well advanced.

890] Tilbury2: (BLNs 1395.497 & 1357.2173 - track plan) Opened by the Prime Minister on 31 Jan, the
Tarmac Construction Materials & Aggregates Terminal (CMAT) at Forth Ports' Tilbury2 development
saw its first train on Tue 8 Mar 2022, when the weekly Tuesday only 6L56 12.21 empty wagons from
Hayes & Harlington (usually to the aggregates terminal at the former Tilbury Rail Container Terminal)
was diverted to the new facility, worked by 66606. After loading, the train worked as 6M96 23.14
Tilbury2 Container Terminal to Radlett Redland Roadstone Terminal, where the train was unloaded.
The wagons returned to South Wales as 6Z75 04.19 departure to East Usk Yard. This was apparently a
one off trial, as no further train had run by late Mar, and route learning trips between Wembley Yard
and Tilbury2 scheduled for the following week 14-18 Mar, with the exception of Tuesday, failed to
run. A scheduled route learning exercise the previous month, 14-18 Feb 2022, also went unresourced.

891] Cheddington: (BLN 1396.616) Up Slow P4 (TCP Fri 21 Jan for rebuilding) was to ROP on Tue 19 Apr.

892] Luton - Bedford: OHLE upgrade required the first of several weekends of work on 19-20 Mar.
Limited services ran between Luton and Bedford on Sat 19 Mar but no trains ran on 20th. Work on
Kettering and Wellingborough platform canopies also took place (buses ran Kettering to Corby).

893] Oxford: (BLN 1379.1718) Kier have been contracted by NR to undertake the detailed design and
enabling works at the station for the Oxford Corridor Phase 2 Project, winning the contract to take
Phase 2C and 2D of the project through GRIP Stage 5 ahead of the final funding decision by the DfT,
which is expected in the coming months. Phase 2C Botley Road enhancement includes replacement of
the railway bridge over Botley Road by a new, wider structure with 4m wide cycle and footways on
both sides of the road. Highway lowering and realignment will provide additional height for double
decker buses and the footbridge will be replaced. Phase 2D involves the construction of the additional
P5 and overhead canopy, a new western station entrance, ticket office, waiting room, toilets, café and
shops, alongside the construction of a subway to connect the western entrance to the new platform.
The package includes demolition of buildings surrounding the station and local road alignment works.

894] Radley - Oxford: NR has secured a Deed of Release to close Manor Farm Level Crossing (UWCT)
at 60m 49ch. It has very little recorded use and the works to close the crossing include the removal of
telephones and the permanent padlocking of gates on the Up side. Railway access from the Down side
and the crossing deck will remain for local maintenance teams. Closure is scheduled for Spring 2022.

895] Cambridge: (BLN 1375.1152) Barnwell Jn Siding (57m 11ch) has been removed recently.

896] Norwich: (TRACKmaps 2 p7A 2020) In Riverside Freight Depot a new unloading pad has been laid
on the southwest side of Road 'A'. A rear wall is being erected alongside the boundary fence backing
on to the large 'Big Yellow Self Storage' warehouse. The wall is of precast interlocking concrete blocks
stacked up, starting from the buffer stop end with compartments formed by dividers at right angles.
A ThO 'as required' 02.12 path from Toton, arr 07.05, may be for aggregate with a 15.33 return path.
On Tue 22 an aggregate train ran from Toton to Eccles Road Johnston's Sidings and return.

897] Rayleigh: On Sun 24 Apr Essex & South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership and Rayleigh Town
Museum has arranged a guided tour of the town's heritage sites to connect with the 09.52 from
Liverpool Street. The walk, led by Rayleigh Town Museum guides, will take in the Dutch Cottage, 200
year old windmill, High Street, castle mount and the Museum. It finishes by lunchtime; attendees have
the rest of the day to explore at their leisure, returning on any train. The fare from Shenfield is only £5
return Adult and £3 Child (normally £8.90/£4.45) including return rail travel, the guided walking tour,
and access to the Windmill, Mount and Museum. Tickets (if still available) from: esscrp.org.uk

1398 SOUTH EAST - SOUTH (Julian James) [email protected]
898] Eastbourne Gas Works: (BLN 1397.780) Our member who is not from Eastbourne (item 848)
considers it very unlikely that a special train ran on the 'Crumbles Branch' (not Crumbles Tramway) on
Mon 7 Jul 1969. He was working on the buffet cars out of Eastbourne then and studied the Special
Traffic Notices thoroughly. It was important to look out for party travel and they also had information
about extra freight workings to such places as Ridham Dock (near Sittingbourne). He managed to do
that branch after finding a reporting number and phoning Faversham box from the branch junction at
the time - the authorities at Ridham would not allow visits. To be on the loco was the only way in!

BELOW: Last journey; 5Q76 Doncaster to Newport Docks Sims Scrapyard with 57

7312 at Reading. The train matches the station well. (Stuart Hicks, 10 Mar 2022.)

BELOW: (Item 890) Tilbury2, the Tarmac Construction Materials & Aggregat
the newly revamped River Thames jetty yet. The large volume of palleted sa
stone. It would be interesting to know what's in the sacks! DRS 88002 'Pro
Tilbury2 Container Terminal conveying 45ft length containers. In the distance

tes Terminal CMAT is now in use. However, it is not clear if anything has used
acks is probably a recent arrival, presumably moved by road as has been the
ometheus' arrives with 4L48, the well loaded 13.51 Daventry DRS (Tesco) to
e, left, are the cranes at London Gateway. (Iain Scotchman, 17 Mar 2022.)

BELOW: (Item 986) Norwich Riverside Freight Depot, Road 'A
aggregate terminal is taking shape. Norwich (Thorpe) passenge

A' is the far one with the buffer stops upper left where the new
er station is off to the right. (Iain Scotchman, Wed 16 Mar 2022.)

899] Also calls Pewsey… Members who studied British Rail timetables will know that Paddington to
West of England didn't quite fit on one page and to accommodate it a station had to be omitted from
the station bank. This honour fell to Pewsey with the fewest calls, each covered by a footnote 'also
calls Pewsey', and the time of the call. A Surrey based and commuting workplace colleague of your
Regional Editor once discussed a house move to Pewsey and was advised not to go there! At the time,
Bedwyn didn't fare much better, service wise, and it seems this is to be the case again…

900] Newbury - Bedwyn: On 2 Mar GWR MD Mark Hopwood announced that the Bedwyn off-peak
direct IET Paddington services will be permanently axed from May, replaced by diesel shuttle services
to Newbury. The DfT has told GWR (and everyone else) to cut costs, so they have decided to retire
older diesel trains in the West Country (HSTs?) and replace them with the three IETs that now serve
Bedwyn, Hungerford and Kintbury. It will leave Bedwyn (130,000 passengers in 2019-20 and 20,398 in
2020-21) with the worst timetable since Jun 1992. The direct morning peak commuter service will be
fairly good but, between 09.01 and 11.52, the 10.24 will be only arrival in London. There will be only
two direct trains back in the evening. Some DMUs have decent connections to Paddington EMUs at
Newbury but others result in journey times of around two hours. Ironically the IETs that run on OHLE
to Newbury will be redeployed to a non-electrified area of the network, around £200M of rolling stock
designed for electric traction unable to use it. If the IETs replace Standard Class only HSTs, will their
First Class sections be de-furbished? The Bedwyn turnback siding extension for IETs, which cost over
£1M, will be disused - at the start of GWR electrification, it was intended to have been electrified!

On 21 Mar your Regional Editor travelled to Bedwyn, a 2-car Class 165 DMU on a Reading to Bedwyn
then Newbury diagram. It had current interior décor, was clean and more than sufficient for the
numbers travelling. The driver took it to the buffer stops at Bedwyn siding (perhaps he needed the
extension?). The overlap at Newbury of such diagrams with Paddington to Newbury electric workings
leads to much activity, a far cry from when the only variation was that stopping trains took the loops
and fast did not. Now trains terminating from Bedwyn shunt to the non-electrified London end Up
siding (TRACKmaps 3 p12A 2018), next to the Tamper siding, to clear Newbury P2 and there is an
hourly Class 387 EMU in and out of bay P3, some c2c liveried. 8-car Class 387s terminate in P1, reverse
with a yellow running signal and theatre indicator 'D' for 'Down' to the east of the station on the Down
Westbury, reverse again and run over to P2. Station modernisation is in full swing (BLN 1380.1838).

901] Woking - Havant: (BLN 1397.778) The resignalling contract was placed with Alstom at £49M.

902] Hoo Jn - Grain: (BLN 1392.101) Medway Council is seeking contractors to upgrade nearly 6 miles
of the branch from Hoo Jn to Sharnal Street with money from a Housing Infrastructure Funding Grant,
part of a £63M project, although the relationship to NR is unclear. The service pattern west of Hoo Jn
and the destination are unresolved and the stock for what will be an unelectrified line not determined.

It is part of a £150M investment for 12,000 homes on the peninsula. The rail project is split into three
sections: ●Enabling work including site and vegetation clearance for the new station and a new loop at
£700k (enquiry, evaluation and award of contract between Jun and Oct 2022). Site work, estimated at
12-16 weeks, have no specific date. ●Embankment and bridge widening for the new loop; signal and
power supply work from Cliffe to Grain at £6.5M are being tendered from Jan to Jul 2023 for 26 to 30
weeks on site. ●Sharnal Street station construction and resignalling, including at Hoo Jn, with a new
crossover (total £41M), tendering Jan to Jul 2024 for 64 weeks on site. The new crossover will allow
branch trains to pass clear of the Down Main and Up Main, effectively a second loop on the branch.

903] Branksome: This station, the first west of Bournemouth, retains shortened canopies on each
platform with high rendered back walls painted off-white extending over the original length of the
canopies. On 18 Mar a decorator was painting a large mural of geometric shapes mainly in light blue
on the Down P2 wall. This is a similar initiative to that at Pokesdown, east of Bournemouth, where a
long standing Down side wall painting, under lengthy platform canopy, for many years depicted rail
and bus transport themes. It has been repainted as a mainly seaside theme with large sea birds, again
mostly in light blue; the previous transport painting was becoming 'age damaged'. The long Up side P1
canopy at Pokesdown has no back wall as it adjoins a sloping bank.

904] Gatwick Express: (BLN 1365.3351) This resumes half-hourly from Sun 3 Apr with the non-stop
running between Victoria and Gatwick Airport. The service was first suspended on 30 Mar 2020.

905] Southeastern stations: Margate* and Ramsgate stations, both Grade II listed, are to jointly have
over £160k spent decluttering the main atrium areas, removing redundant furniture, fixtures and
cables, repainting ceilings and entrance doors, as well as cleaning and polishing the original parquet
flooring. This is part of a longer term project to enhance and preserve the architectural and heritage
features of these buildings. £120k will be spent modernising station waiting rooms at Gillingham,
Gravesend and Herne Bay*. This includes new seating, heating and lighting, passenger information
systems, charging points, extra CCTV and interior decoration with wood effect laminate flooring.

Canterbury East booking hall will be refurbished, as will the customer toilets at Lewisham. Various
stations will receive new seating and benches, while design work will begin shortly on a new style
station meeting room hub concept that could be rolled out more widely on the Southeastern network.

At Hollingbourne a building, no longer in passenger use, is being refurbished for local community use
such as cinema nights. At 34 station car parks, motion sensor LED lighting will be fitted, with lighting
levels of 20% when no one is about. Waterloo East will have the dated tiling and handrails on the
ramp to Waterloo SWR replaced. Extra CCTV will be installed at some train depots and sidings (*Your
Regional Ed recommends Margate buffet from a recent visit; Herne Bay buffet has permanently shut.)

:1398 SOUTH WEST PLEASE USE:: [email protected] :POST TO BLN EDITOR PLEASE.
(A silent locum is covering this section - so thank you to all our SW contributors.)

906] Winfrith: (TRACKmaps 5 p34C Aug 2019) After many years traffic has resumed at the former UK
Atomic Energy Authority - actually under the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority since 1 Apr 2005 -
Winfrith Sidings. There are two (reportedly installed in late 1973) sidings trailing into the Down Main
between Wool and Moreton at 127m 69ch. On Thur 24 Mar DRS ran 6Z62 with ten empty 4-wheel
PFA flat wagons, 'top & tailed' by 68016 + 68017. Leaving Crewe Coal Sidings 01.15, it reached
Winfrith at 10.10; the return left at 15.50 and Crewe was reached 00.47 next morning. This was the
first of over 1,000 stainless steel drums of waste to be moved by rail from the Winfrith Magnox site to
Nuclear Waste Services' Low Level Waste Repository site at Drigg, each weighing about one tonne.

The drums, which originated from the experimental Steam Generating Heavy Water Reactor at
Winfrith, (not developed commercially), were placed in the Treated Radwaste Store awaiting transfer
to Harwell Intermediate Level Waste facility. However, due to a period of radioactive decay, they have
been reclassified from Intermediate Level Waste to Low Level Waste, allowing early disposal at the
Drigg repository site, 'their final resting place', on the Cumbrian Coast Line. 11 consignments, each of
10 cabriolet containers of 10 drums, will arrive on site by rail transfer provided by Nuclear Transport
Solutions, approximately every 13 weeks, depending on the retrievals process at Winfrith. Traffic is
expected to last 2-3 years, by 2036 the site will be decommissioned and returned to heath land.

BLN 1045.557 dated 30 Jun 2007 reported that Winfrith Sidings were (possibly last?) used to store
three 3-car Class 117 DMUs purchased in 2004 by Dorset County Council for potential use on a
Swanage to Wareham passenger service but they had to vacate the sidings by Mar 2007.

907] Boscarne Exchange Platform: (BLN 1396.639) There were two platforms here, a very small one at
ground level on the L&SWR Bodmin North branch and a one-coach conventional height wooden one
on the GWR Boscarne Jn to Bodmin General line. However, contrary to what the current edition of
Michael Quick's Chonology says, they were actually shown in public timetables in the singular as
BOSCARNE EXCHANGE PLATFORM - regarded as one location. The single large nameboard on the
GWR platform actually read: BOSCARNE JUNCTION CHANGE FOR DUNMERE & BODMIN NORTH
rather than BOSCARNE EXCHANGE PLATFORM… The location had no public access other than by train.

908] Brighton: (BLN 1396.628) GWR has served formal notice that they will not serve the Cosham -
Havant - Brighton corridor from the May 2022 timetable change in line with DfT demands to cut costs.
A flyer has been produced requesting those concerned at this loss of direct service, in existence since
the 1950s, to make their representations to their MP and the Department for Transport.

909] Severn Tunnel: From 01.00 Fri 1 Jul until 03.50 Mon 11 Jul 2022, Stoke Gifford Jn No2 to Severn
Tunnel Jn is due to be closed. Also closed until 20.00 Thur 7 Jul are the Up & Down Relief lines from
Horfield Jn to Narroways Hill Jn, with the closure extended to Filton Jn No2 to Narroways Hill Jn from
21.00. It is presumed that the Relief Lines do not reopen for an hour in between! During this closure,
freight traffic can operate via Charfield or Kemble. GWR Paddington to Swansea services divert via
Kemble and Lydney, calling at Gloucester (to be advertised pick up only towards Swansea and set
down only towards Paddington, so won't do the through lines). Paddington to Cardiff services mostly
don't run, but a limited peak Paddington to Bristol Parkway and return service does. Portsmouth to
Cardiff services will start/terminate at Bristol Parkway P1, suggesting northbound services will use the
uncommon crossover after Filton Abbey Wood. Local Temple Meads to Parkway services will not run.

910] Quids in at Quidhampton: (BLN 1370.419) (TRACKmaps 5 p35B 2019) The branch and Wilton Jn
Ground Switch Panel were back in use by 1 Apr, presumably for the long expected inwards waste traffic?

911] Exeter Central: RTT from 15 May shows some are trains extended to St James Park on certain
days for football matches (Exeter City FC's ground is nearby). Services otherwise no longer terminate
there, as the summer Sunday Okehampton service used to. RTT shows that from May there are a large
number of 'conditional' ECS shunts (with 'Q' head codes) from Exeter Central Up P3 to Down P2 via
Pinhoe behind the signal on the single line. These are additional to those via Exmouth Jn and may well
be in case services are running out of course. There is an hourly Exeter to Waterloo service each way
plus two trains to/from Exmouth, hourly turnbacks by Barnstaple and now also Okehampton services.

912] As I was going to St Ives… A potential extra 2,000 seats per day are now available on the St Ives
branch after recent improvements. During the Feb 2021 blockade, platforms at Lelant and St Erth
were extended by 13m and 6m respectively, part of a £1.14M investment to allow 5-car DMUs to
serve all stations. The extra coach provides 10,000 seats during peak summer days - they are needed!

GWR reports that in 2021 the branch had its busiest ever period. The weekday half-hourly service has
been restored; the last day of the hourly service was Fri 25 Feb 2022 (weekends remained half-hourly
anyway) before the 26 Feb-13 Mar 2022 blockade. The 7-day half hourly service restarted on 14 Mar.
The rail replacement buses during the closure were half-hourly, possibly for capacity and better
connections at St Erth. Between Truro and Penzance, NR relaid 1.8km of track and replaced Bodriggy
bridge at Hayle. It's good to know that GWR will be able to accommodate the man going to St Ives
with seven wives. Every wife had seven sacks, every sack had seven cats, every cat had seven kitts.
Kitts, cats, sacks, wives, how many were going to St. Ives? The answer is one (just the man), of course!
However, if he did actually take all his wives etc with him, the answer is 2,802 (and a Group Ticket…).

1398 WEST MIDLANDS (Brian Schindler) [email protected]
913] Coventry: The £82M station extension finally opened - 16 months later than originally planned -
on Sun 20 Mar at 12.00 to absolutely no fanfare, even though Coventry is the current City of Culture!
Our member reported that, according to the rather bored barrier line staff, they simply unlocked the
doors and let the public trickle in... The original station is still open, has all the facilities and there is
nothing to let the public know that the extension is open other than an absence of builders' fencing!

It has been suggested that an official opening might occur in the summer after the local elections.
The new building has improved access to platforms, retail units (currently bare shells) and an entrance
from Warwick Rd. A car park and cycle storage is included, as well as a new bus interchange accessible
by a walkway from the station. It has been built next to the 1962 station, which is Grade II listed.
There is no sign of any work on the new bay P0 (for extra Nuneaton services); will it will be nullified?

914] Water Orton: (BLN 1397.791) The 457m of track was relaid using six specialist 'track removal
machines' coupled together, 100m at a time - still a UK first even if it did confuse the NR Press office.

915] Dudley Port: In the May timetable two morning WMR Shrewsbury to Birmingham services will
not call here (but others do in lieu). The WMR website gives the reason as platform lengths (the
shortest on the line) but it is actually train lengths, due to the current 3-car Class 170 DMUs being
replaced by new 4-car Class 196s. This is not actually expected to even start happening until summer.

916] Malvern: From 15 May West Midland Railway is withdrawing EVERY Sunday service that
turnbacks at Great Malvern; presently there are regular through trains via Birmingham Snow Hill to
Stratford-upon-Avon. These will only run from/to Worcester. There has been no consultation and the
excuse given is to bring it in line with the service operated Mon to Sat. Passengers are advised to use
WM Hereford trains and GWR services to travel between Worcester and Great Malvern. However
reports are that the DfT has ordered these cost savings. This significant reduction leaves just GWR
London trains and 2-hourly WMR Hereford services at Malvern on Sundays. The first through train to
Birmingham will be 1½ hours later. Prior to the pandemic, Malvern stations also had a 2-hourly SuX
off-peak service to Snow Hill (and beyond) - never expected to run again - hourly on Sundays. Other
WMR economies in May include SSuX 09.34 and 15.34 New Street to Shrewsbury and 15.13 and 16.14
in the other direction - this service was set to go half-hourly from May 2020 but this was a Covid cut.

917] LNwR: From 15 May the hourly New Street to Crewe via Stoke service runs via Soho East Jn and
calls at Tame Bridge Parkway between Birmingham and Wolverhampton, ready to serve the future
stations at Darlaston and Willenhall. Journey times increase by up to 20 min to Crewe and 10 min
towards Birmingham. Tame Bridge Parkway wins with five Birmingham trains per hour, through
trains to more stations and faster through Wolverhampton services (currently all stations via New St).

918] Jack is bowled over at Leamington Spa: The station is having a £2M makeover for this summer's
Commonwealth Games. Lawn Bowls and Para Lawn Bowls will be played at the historic Victoria Park,
home of Royal Leamington Spa Bowls Club. Meanwhile a member can confirm that Chiltern services to
Stratford-upon-Avon do depart from Down bay P1 on Sundays, as booked, (as well as the 19.32 SSuX).
It is due to their timings relative to the West Midlands Railway Sunday Leamington to Coventry shuttle.

Both services use Up bay P4 at other times in the week. Due to the signalling all arrivals into P1 are
ECS shunts. The Sunday Leamington to Coventry P4 shuttle sometimes connects with the Coventry P2
to Nuneaton shuttle but other times one arrives just as the other departs. On Sun 20 Mar there were
very few passengers on the former, although the latter was doing quite well. The Trent Valley line was
closed for resignalling work and, with so many additional trains passing through Coventry station, it
would have been difficult for through Leamington to Nuneaton services to run that day anyway.

919] West Midlands Metro: ①The service was again suspended without warning at 11.05 Sat 19 Mar
until further notice, when new bodywork panel cracks were found around the doors on the older
(2013-15 manufactured) Urbos3 trams but not on the new Urbos 100s. Detailed inspections are to be
undertaken by the manufacturer but the panels need replacing. The 2021 cracks were round the wheel
arches (windscreens next?). It is not known how long the service will be suspended but two trams at a
time will be repaired to ''definitely'' have the metro running for the Commonwealth Games (in July!!).

②The new zonal fares structure began on 28 Mar (entirely academic as no trams are running and
ticket acceptance is only in place on buses and trains until 4 Apr!). Most journeys cost the same or
less, a few cost more. Zone 1: Edgbaston Village - Jewellery Quarter; Zone 2: Jewellery Quarter -
Black Lake; Zone 3: Black Lake - Priestfield; Zone 4: Priestfield - Wolverhampton St George's/Station.

Singles range from £1.90 within one zone, 2, 3 or 4 up to £4.50 for all zones. Zone 1 is £2. Returns are
replaced by 'one day' unlimited travel tickets, off-peak is £2.70 (one zone 2, 3 or 4); Zone 1 is £2.80 up
to £5 all zones. All day unlimited travel (now known as a 'Metro Ticket') is £2.90 (one zone, 2, 3 or 4);
Zone 1 is £3, up to £6.50 all zones. 'All zones' 3-day and 4-day flexible all day tickets within one week,
4-week and monthly tickets are available for any zone combinations (the monthly one costs more for
most Februarys than buying a 4-week ticket!). An annual All Zones Metro Only ticket is £820.

③A planning application for the £24M Dudley transport interchange was submitted in early Mar. It is
on the current bus station site, links with tram services and promises 'comfortable waiting areas'.

… 1398 IRELAND (Martin Baumann) [email protected]
920] Easter Eggspresses: On Sat 16 (11.30 & 14.30) & Sun 17 (11.15 & 14.15) Apr the RPSI is running
steam-hauled Easter trains from Belfast Lanyon Place through to Whitehead excursion platform and
return with Easter eggs for children; £25 return for all. Book via RPSI website or 028 9024 6609.

X.90] BELOW: 66721 'Top & Tail' with 66799 on 3Q98 ascending the Lic
Could this be the first mainline spraying run with this equipment? Many tri

ckey Incline weed spraying with the new Bayer weed killing equipment.
ials were done on the SVR last year. (Dave Gommersall, Wed 30 Mar 2022.)

BELOW: The new bridge for the WM Metro Brierley Hill extension over the Tam
It was installed between 19.00 Mon 21 and 07.00 Thur 24 Mar with the nav