1385

the coach) in Port St Erin bay platform. (Graeme Easton, 13 Sep 2021.)

1385 SCOTLAND (Mike McCabe) [email protected]
2533] Stranraer: On Thur 2 Sep, a member travelled from Glasgow Central (12.13) to Stranraer,
changing at Kilmarnock (not having been to the outpost beyond Ayr since 1971!). The line beyond Ayr
is in dire need of devegetation in many places, but notably between Maybole and Barrhill. Our
member has been to buffers at ends of lines with far less growth than along here! The Class 156 driver
must have feared for his windscreen on many occasions and the unit was 'scratched' in a new variant
of its ScotRail livery. Not an especially pleasant experience for the passengers either. The outward
journey was poorly patronised with just a little passenger exchange beyond Ayr but the return train
(15.00) was about a quarter full, picking up at Barrhill and Maybole mostly for Ayr, where all but a few
also left the train either for the town or for the quicker service to Glasgow by changing there.

Newcastle 07.04 09.19 12.06 16.14 21.01 2534] Newcastle - Reston - Edinburgh:
Cramlington* 07.13 09.28 12.15 16.23 21.10 (BLN 1384.2389) LEFT: SSux TPE 'local'
Morpeth 07.21 09.36 12.24 16.31 21.18 services now in the new timetable from
Widdrington* 07.28 12.31 16.38 21.25 12 Dec 2021 as mentioned. There are
Alnmouth 07.38  12.41 16.48 21.35 five services each way SO and four each
Berwick-upon-Tweed 08.00  13.02 17.09 21.57 way on Sundays until May 2023 at least.

10.09

Reston 08.11 10.20 13.13 17.20 22.08 *Calls at Cramlington & Widdrington

Dunbar 08.27 10.36  17.36 22.24 may not be from the start of the

Edinburgh Waverley 08.51 11.03 13.48 18.05 22.48 timetable as this is pending safety cases

Edinburgh Waverley 05.26 09.33 14.11 17.34 19.12 (presumably due to short platforms).

Dunbar 05.49 09.56 14.33 17.56 19.34 Can't call yet due to lack of capacity.

Reston 06.04 10.11 14.48 18.12 19.50 2535] Edinburgh Suburban Line: LNER
20.02 Azuma weekend diversions via the Tyne
Berwick-upon-Tweed 06.24 10.23 15.00 18.23 20.24 Valley and WCML are booked between
20.35 Newcastle and Edinburgh for 18, 19, 25
Alnmouth 06.44 10.48 15.20 18.44 20.42 & 26 Sep and 2, 3, 9, 10, 16 & 23 Oct.

Widdrington* 06.54 10.58 15.30 18.58  Most, but not all, use the Slateford Jn -
Craiglockhart Jn - Niddrie West Jn -
Morpeth 07.01 11.05 15.37 19.05 20.55 Portobello Jn (Edinburgh Suburban Line)
Cramlington* 07.09   19.12 22.02

Newcastle 07.19 11.19 15.52 19.24

York (calls at intermediate stations from Newcastle)

to reach bays P5 & 6 at the east end of Edinburgh Waverley. The Carlisle call is for a crew change only.

This longer period for these diversions may partly, at least, be due to Reston station construction?

2536] Glasgow Central: The much loved behind the scenes station tours restarted on 18 Sep following

Lockdown and now feature a new underground museum, created in partnership with The Glasgow

School of Art (GSA), Visitors are guided through the subterranean passageways beneath the station,

visiting the railway vaults which drove the city's industrial expansion to become 'The Second City of
The British Empire' (as Glasgow was known in the 19th Century before the growth of Birmingham).

Hear tales of famous, and infamous, people who have travelled the tracks and stood on the platforms.
https://bit.ly/3zCwHsP has more, pictures and to book. Jackie and Paul (the one with the beard) have
now guided 39,760 tours over the last six years (some, like your GS and Editor, have even been twice).
The tours take two hours (including briefing), are in small groups of 15 and currently only cost £13.

The station museum has exhibits gathered from old railway buildings, trains, donations from railway
families as well as past tour visitors who have been delighted to see their family history on display.

GSA students have created a visual history of the station from construction in 1879, expansion in 1905
through to the present, showing what has taken place over the past 142 years, with audio provided by
the tick tock of the famous Glasgow Central clock. The second installation created by Paul Maguire,
Programme Leader in the GSA School of Design, is a Roll of Honour of Glaswegians lost in WWI, with
their regiment and street address. It's located in the area of the WWI temporary mortuary in the
depths of the station, where some servicemen will sadly have arrived on their final journey home.

2537] Lumo: On Mon 25 Oct a new, all-electric (very brave on the ECML) 'affordable' train service
starts between King's Cross and Edinburgh aiming to attract over 1M passengers a year from airlines.

Fares start at £14.90 single. Over 74,500 passengers currently fly between Edinburgh and London
each month. Initially there are two trains each way (one SO) (SSuX: 09.11 & 16.12 from Edinburgh and
10.45 & 14.36 from King's Cross) aiming to build up to five each way by early 2022. They will call at
Newcastle (targeting the airport), Morpeth and Stevenage (one up train SX). Lumo aims to create over
13M extra passenger journeys and contribute up to £250M to the UK economy over the next decade.

Owned by FirstGroup, Lumo has invested £15M on digital and IT infrastructure plus £100M for the
purchase and maintenance of its five new Hitachi AT300 intercity EMUs. Seats are ergonomically
designed and tested for long journeys (hopefully better than the IET/Azuma DfT austerity seating).

At-seat catering service ('LumoEats') will be with high street brands. Its own trains will have simplified
fares, free Wi-Fi, paperless ticketing, a new entertainment system and a single class of what is self-
described as a 'quality service' for all passengers. The website also sells tickets (presumably not
necessarily 'simplified') between all national stations and Railcard discounts are valid. 15 customer
driver apprentices will graduate from the Lumo's £2M Training Academy this month. The advertising
makes much of the considerable Carbon saving by travelling by rail as opposed to flying or driving.

SSuX the 10.45 & 14.36 King's Cross to Edinburgh, are booked (RTT) via Holgate Jn - York Yard South -
York Yard North - Skelton Jn, a new PSUL. Other initial services run via York station in both directions.

Lumo (TOC code LD) is the trading name of East Coast Trains Ltd but where did the name come from?
Nuclear physicist members will be familiar with Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbit but 'Lumo' is also
Esperanto for 'light' (noun). In the Southern Philippines lumo (verb) means 'to crush' in Cebuano
(a language spoken by 27½M people); to finish in Finnish, it means 'charm', Can anyone enlighten us?

2538] Leith: The City of Edinburgh Council has received a planning application from Forth Ports to
conserve Victoria Swing Bridge, with full restoration works costing a six figure sum. It was originally 'B'
listed but was upgraded to 'A' (broadly equivalent to Grade I) listing in 2014 and put on the Buildings
at Risk Register in 2018. Victoria Swing Bridge, designed by Alexander Rendel and built in 1874, is the
largest counterweighted swing bridge in Scotland. It crosses docklands each side of the Water of Leith.

When built it was the largest swing bridge in the UK and was hydraulically operated but no longer
swings. It is constructed of riveted wrought iron, timber and steel. The bridge originally had a double
rail track along its central deck (available to trains and road vehicles) and pedestrian walkways either
side. The road and the rail tracks have been removed and the bridge is now solely for pedestrian use.
It connects modern housing developments each side of the river. A fixed road bridge has been built
alongside and, behind the bridges, some of Leith's traditional dockland activity can still be seen.

The work includes full refurbishment of the northern and southern walkways, redecking the central
carriage way, replacement of the decked turning circle areas as well as a full repair and repaint of
metalwork on the bridge. Phase 1, refurbishment of the north and south pedestrian walkways, is
expected to be undertaken this year and the remaining work in 2022.

2539] Waverley extra extra move: (BLN 1384.2412) Another interesting train is the 07.05 SSuX
Glasgow Central HL via Carstairs which departs Haymarket P3 at 08.24 to Waverley P7 (08.31) and
forms the 08.41 to North Berwick; as there is a train in P11 it does the scissors from P10 to P7.

2540] <Neilston>: On Thur 2 Sep, a member spent a very pleasant hour on Glasgow Central concourse
people watching. One strange thing he noticed from the train departure boards was that Neilston was
always rendered <Neilston> (with < > brackets) both on the board heading and as the final calling
point. No other place was so rendered. He didn't have time to go to the ScotRail Office to enquire but
asked a 'Gateline' chap if he knew why. I dinna hae a cloo! I hanna noticed it. was his reply.
(Translation I'm terribly sorry, sir, but I don’t know why this should be. I can honestly say it hasn't
previously come to my attention.) He went for his train none the wiser but it seemed odd. Does
anyone know of any positive reason for this or was it just a quirk of the day's electronics?

BELOW: (Item 2538) Leith Victoria Swing Bridge (like many people, its swing

ging days are well and truly over). (James x 12345 https://bit.ly/3kCOScX )

2541] Boring news - mole digs hole: Work is underway at Lynebeg as NR reconstructs the rail bridge
near Moy on behalf of Transport for Scotland. This is part of advance works for the A9 Tomatin to
Moy road duelling project (between Aviemore and Inverness). One of the first tasks was to create an
under track crossing for temporary utility diversions during the demolition of the existing structure, for
installation of a new wider railway bridge. To minimise disruption NR brought in a mole, an Unclemole
1200 Tunnel boring machine, to tunnel 33m under the railway for the 1.2m diameter pipes.

2542] East Linton, Oyez! Oyez! Oyez! (BLN 1380.1867) On 7 Sep planning permission was granted for
the new station (details in back reference). Following a site visit to the new station area, planning
convener Norman Hampshire raised concerns about the public address system. He said the platform
was six metres high [impressive, but does include the embankment] and a speaker would normally be
another three metres above that. He said: Everyone in the village will be able to hear announcements.

2543] Beattock Accident: Nearly 50 years ago on Wed 6 Oct 1971, a special freight train, 8Z26, left
Dalzell New Yard, Motherwell, at 00.30 for Carlisle, via Beattock. It was hauled by diesel locomotives
D5100 (later Class 24 24100) leading and D8568 (a Class 17) working in multiple, and consisted of
34 wagons and a brakevan, the leading 12 wagons forming a fitted head. 17 of the wagons were
loaded with steel and the remainder were container flat wagons, some loaded and some empty as
runner wagons. The train was limited to 35mph because of a special load on one wagon. The journey
was uneventful until it was in the vicinity of Milepost 38 between Beattock South and Wamphray
signal boxes when the driver felt a tremendous impact towards the rear of the train. It had been run
into by a following freight train, the 6V51 01.40 Dalzell New Yard to Margam, hauled by Class 47
diesel locomotive D1836 (later 47355), consisting of 24 loaded air-braked steel carrying wagons, the
driver of which had lost control descending the average 1:77 falling gradient from Beattock Summit.

It was established that the speed of 6V51 was over 85mph when it crashed into 8Z26 at about 03.20,
whose unlucky, and totally unsuspecting, guard in the brakevan inevitably lost his life. The crew of the
runaway train (driver, secondman, guard) escaped serious injury, but all three were badly shocked.
As can be imagined the collision, in a cutting, was very destructive with widespread derailment and
damage. With regard to 8Z26, the two locos and the leading 15 wagons were not derailed or
damaged. Of the remaining 19 wagons, 11 were beyond repair, and eight sustained heavy damage.
The brakevan was destroyed. The catastrophic nature of the collision can be gauged from the fact that
of 6V51's 24 wagons, 14 were beyond repair, eight heavily damaged and two moderately damaged.
Loco D1836 was extensively damaged. Emergency diversions were in place until the lines reopened for
traffic, which was not until Mon 11 Oct 1971, followed by speed restrictions for another 13 days.

An official Report was produced, dated 28 Jul 1972, on behalf of the Railway Inspectorate by Major CF
Rose. His investigation focused on what took place at Dalzell New Yard prior to the departure of 6V51.

The home depot of the crew for 6V51 was Carlisle. They had worked an air-braked empty steel train
into Ravenscraig, arriving some two hours late. The driver then took the loco to the depot to refuel
before moving it to Dalzell New Yard. 6V51 was formed initially of 20 loaded wagons tripped by a local
shunting pilot from Ravenscraig. A further 4 loaded wagons were added. The train had been examined
by the Carriage & Wagon examiner. He was unaware that the train had been formed in two parts, and
gave no special attention to the coupling between the 4th and 5th wagons, and missed the fact the
brake pipe cocks were most probably closed, instead of open, between them. The same applied
between the 19th and 20th wagons which he also missed. There was no definite proof of either because
of the significant damage caused by the accident, but there was sufficient evidence for Major Rose to
pronounce this was most likely the case in his Report. He accepted, having visited the location himself,
that, working at night with indifferent lighting and a restricted space on one side of the train, it was
comparatively easy to miss one or more of the brake cocks. The onus was, after all, on the crew of
6V51 to carry out the standard brake continuity test prior to departure. Unfortunately, all three of the
crew failed to do this until the driver suddenly remembered this omission when nearing Ravenscraig
signal box. Crucially, he decided not to stop to do the test, especially as the train was running late.

6V51 departed the Yard under clear signals. During the journey to Beattock Summit the driver
checked the braking capabilities of the train, and it responded correctly. It passed Beattock Summit
signal box at a speed of about 20mph, and commenced the descent into the 4 mile 594 yard Absolute
Block (AB) section to Greskine signal box. Speed increased to 50mph when the driver began to apply
the brake, but to no avail, not surprising as the only brake power available was on the locomotive
itself, and that was insufficient for the load. By the time 6V51 passed Greskine signal box into the
5 mile 858 yards Absolute Block section to Beattock North signal box, the speed had risen to between
75 and 80mph. Although the signalman saw a flame and sparks coming from the train he didn't think
the speed was excessive (!), although he considered the braking of the locomotive to be fairly severe.

At 03.16 8Z26 passed Beattock North signal box under clear signals, and as it did so the guard
displayed a white hand lamp to indicate that all was well. Three minutes later 6V51 came into the
signalman's view travelling at a very high speed, clearly out of control and with no warning from the
Greskine signalman. 6V51 had been 'accepted' by Beattock South, an Absolute Block section of only
500yd, but the following 5m 255yd Absolute Block section to Wamphray was occupied by 8Z26.

Neither Beattock signalmen were in a realistic position to divert the runaway train. The Beattock
North signalman attempted to contact his colleague at Wamphray signal box without success, as he
was aware that the Down postal train had left Lockerbie. He was then relieved to learn that the postal
train had in fact been stopped at Wamphray. In the meantime the Beattock South signalman had sent
the 'Train running away in the right direction' (4-5-5) and 'Obstruction danger' (6) bell signals at 03.19
to Wamphray. For some reason, which was criticised by Major Rose, both Beattock signalmen, despite
the certain knowledge that a crash was inevitable, failed to telephone the emergency services until it
was confirmed that a serious accident had occurred by the secondman of 6V51 at 03.31.

Major Rose's Report concluded that prime responsibility for the accident was shared by the crew of
6V51, in particular the driver and guard who failed to carry out jointly the brake continuity test before
leaving Dalzell New Yard, as they were required to do under Supplement No4 to the British Railways
General Appendix. Had they fulfilled this vital obligation, they could not have failed to discover that
the brakes were inoperative throughout most, if not all, of the train.

2544] Motherwell: (BLN 1356.2077) Phase 3 the £14.5M station redevelopment has begun, focussing
on the extension of the forecourt and internal concourse area. The ticket office will be relocated to a
temporary unit outside of the main station building. This is expected to last until spring 2022.
North Lanarkshire Council will also be making improvements to Muir Street next to the station.

2545] Glasgow to Edinburgh: On 30 Aug ScotRail launched two new open return fares between the
two cities. Return is valid up to a month: Anytime is £30, or off-peak only £18.40, a single is £13.50 and
an off-peak day return £13.70 (all before Railcards). Pre-Covid, in 2019-20, Glasgow to Edinburgh via
Falkirk High was the only ScotRail service that made a surplus - then about £2.24 per journey.

1385 WALES & THE MARCHES (Chris Parker) [email protected]

:;WANTED! More news/items from the South and South West Wales area,:please!::

2546] Dovey Junction Down Loop: Only used to cross another train when the service is hourly, the
current booked passenger service via the loop is SSuX: 05.45 and 06.47 Machynlleth to Aberystwyth,
SuX 16.06 and SO 18.06 Birmingham International to Aberystwyth. SuO: 09.47 & 10.40 Machynlleth
to Aberystwyth. Note: Other moves are shown but won't happen due to the reduced timetable.

2547] Timetables: (BLN 1384.2400) ①Further TfW improvements from 13 Sep for Cardiff local
services SuX are: Treherbert, Merthyr & Aberdare lines 2tph (was one) Rhymney Valley extra
short workings to/from Ystrad Mynach and Bargoed ●Barry Island 4tph (was two) ●Penarth 4tph
(was two), essentially a return to pre-Covid service levels. ②More surprisingly, from the same date
Avanti added a 11.48 Crewe to Holyhead and 14.50 return working SSuX which bears no relation to
pre-Covid services and doesn't seem to be related to any changes in Irish ferry sailings! ③Amending
BLN 1384, the departure time of the afternoon Holyhead to Cardiff loco + Mk 4 service is 16.36.

BELOW: (Item 2548) The 1 Sep bridge strike at Machynlleth, from our local reporter… (Graeme Jolley.)

ABOVE: The GWR sectional precast concrete bridge near Kerry, soon after construction in 1935. (HRE Group.)
BELOW: The bridge on 6 Jan 2007, looking east, with a group of Railway Ramblers. (Chris Parker.)

BELOW: The Kerry branch in 1961, still open to freight. The junction at Aber
south, actually to Glan Mule - Kerry is a good mile west (bottom) - a long wa

mule is top right (on the main line to Welshpool), the branch runs broadly
ay round for passengers to Newtown by rail. The bridge is circled in purple.

BELOW: A recent picture of the bridge - the locals have been told t

that it is likely to be replaced by an embankment. (©HRE Group.)

2548] Machynlleth: At about 07.25 on Wed 1 Sep the main A487 road underbridge at the west end of
the station (75m 15ch) was struck by a lorry whose driver had absentmindedly moved off from road
works with the tipper in the raised position. The road was closed and rail traffic to/from Aberystwyth
and Tywyn was suspended. A test ECS working from Aberystwyth arrived in P2 at 15.08 and by 16.09
TfW reported that its services were no longer affected - they all used P2 in both directions (fortunately
both platform lines are bidirectional). However P1 remained OOU, NR reporting that major repairs
https://bit.ly/3yQv61i were still required. Only DMUs were permitted to use the line, loco hauled
charters planned for 5 and 8 Sep were rerouted and postponed respectively. BLN has previously noted
that bridge strikes are all too common; locally there had been one near Bow Street just two weeks
before. According to Realtime Trains, use of P1 by DMUs resumed on Wed 8 Sep.

2549] Abermule - Kerry: (CP 9 Feb 1931; CA 1 May 1956): At 3m 08ch, (SO 1738 9183) on this 3¾ mile
Cambrian Railways branch near the top of the mile long 1:43 Goitre bank is an early precast concrete
road overbridge. Possibly the first in the UK, it was built by the GWR in 1935 to replace a previous,
probably timber, structure. (It is incorrectly shown as Court Pile Viaduct on the 1st edition of Tony
Cooke's 1947 GWR Atlas.) It is not on National Highway's (formerly Highways England and the
Highways Agency) at risk list (BLN 1383.2202) and in fact its ownership seems unclear, but contractors
carrying out investigations for the company told locals in Apr that the structure is likely to be infilled
and buried within an embankment. One resident commented: The bridge is an elegant local landmark.

It carries very little traffic and the size of vehicles using it is restricted by the narrow lane and sharp
bends at both ends. It remains in good condition, with only a few minor defects. The waterlogged
cutting below the structure has become an ecologically sensitive habitat. What the GWR achieved here
86 years ago helped with the development of sectional concrete bridges, so it’s historically significant.
Statutory bodies should be working to preserve the country's outstanding engineering heritage, not
wrecking it. [Unfortunately Highways England covered these structures in Wales and Scotland and
their rebranding to 'National Highways' hasn't changed their attitude to useful historic structures.]

2550] Llanhilleth: (BLN 1374.1073) With resumption of Cross Keys to Ebbw Vale redoubling awaited
still, NR is repairing five badly corroded areas of Cwm Court overbridge at the Down end of the station.
Work is overnight (22.00-06.00) 6-25 Sep incl SSuX and neighbours were sent warning letters before!

2551] Cambrian Coast: (BLN 1382.2131) NR's Week 24 Operating Notice advises that the blockade for
the Mawddach Estuary bridge/viaduct refurbishment is 21.30 Sun 12 Sep (end of service) until 09.10
(start of service) Sun 12 Dec 2021. TCA is therefore from 13 Sep to 11 Dec inclusive. NR's Wales &
Borders Route Director is still hedging his bets: We have carefully planned our £30M restoration of
Barmouth Viaduct so that most of our work takes place outside the peak summer season, but also
avoiding the worst of the winter months when bad weather would make the work too challenging.

The upgrade will allow us to continue to run a safe, reliable and efficient railway, and secure the future
of Barmouth Bridge for years to come. All main timber beams are being replaced; indeed it has been
likened to Grandad's axe, Trigger's broom and the ship of Theseus https://bit.ly/3C6uNlj with little
original material from 1867 remaining. The line from 97m 71ch (Barmouth side of Fairbourne level
crossing) to 101m 36ch (roughly midway between Barmouth and Llanaber stations) will be secured
OOU by a sleeper chained to the track and stop boards at both locations. Sadly, no passenger trains
are running on any section between Dovey Jn and Pwllheli. The line is reported to have had its best
ever summer for many years thanks to staycations (sorry, it's an Oxford English Dictionary new word).

2552] South Wales Metro: (BLN 1382.2129) Abercynon Jn - Aberdare TCP Sat 28 Aug to Sun 12 Sep
inclusive. Replacement buses ran from/to Pontypridd despite Merthyr services running normally
(except on Sat 11 Sep when they too were buses until 18.00 as the rostered Abercynon signaller for
the 06.00-18.00 shift was sick). In addition to the work mentioned in the previous item, wholesale
track and formation replacement took place at Aberdare. New points numbered 369 were installed
just south of the station at 22m 30ch and secured in the reverse position pending commissioning;
Aberdare - Cwmbach is to be redoubled. Track was lowered near Abercynon for OHLE clearance.

2553] Park Jn - Machen Quarry: (BLNs 1363.2954 & 1381.2001) This is TCA again 06.00 Sun 10 Oct
until 06.00 Mon 18 Oct for sheet piling works to replace the temporary fix (stacked bags of aggregate)
installed following the retaining wall collapse. NR considers the bags to be approaching 'life expiry'!
In practice a FHH operated trip from Stoke Gifford Sidings has run SO on six occasions in total during
the current timetable since 16 May, plus one occasion in the week on Tue 24 Aug (it is pathed ThSuX).

2554] Pointless Craven Arms: (BLN 1384.2401) From 18 Sep points CA18 (trailing crossover main lines)
and from 25 Sep CA21 & 22 (exit and entrance to the Down Goods Loop respectively) will join CA13 as
OOU for renewal, all until 22 Oct inclusive. That just leaves the Central Wales line facing crossover
operational, which was renewed in 2018 (BLN 1314.2179). This is part of a major project to replace
three miles of track in the locality. Because of it, rail replacement buses run Shrewsbury to Hereford
for four consecutive weekends from 18 Sep, extended to Newport (why? - any info welcome please)
and Llandrindod for the last three, also to Llandrindod for the whole week 18 to 26 Sep inclusive. Long
Lane level crossing, adjacent to Craven Arms signal box, was to have been closed to road traffic
continuously for a long time (23.00 on Fri 17 Sep until 10.00 on Sun 21 Nov) but 'concerns' expressed
by local businesses have caused replanning, enabling it to remain open most weekdays.

2555] Newport: (TRACKmaps 3 p20A 2018) On 11 Sep a member observed that the trailing crossover
at 0m 52 to 0m 54ch on the double track Ebbw Jn - Park Jn 'Cardiff Curve' was clipped, spiked and
chocked in the 'normal' position and the Down line plain lined by removal of the crossing. The
effective date is unknown, likewise whether it is temporary (as the absence of a NR Network Change
notice suggests) or permanent (as the presence of a chock in the form of a fishplate bolted to a
sleeper at the Up end equally suggests). It is still shown as available in the latest Sectional Appendix
amendment dated 14 Sep 2019, but from his photos of our 6 Sep 2019 Park Junction Signal Box visit,
our member has since established that the three controlling levers (for the crossover points and two
ground discs) were already 'collared' OOU at that time. Years ago there used to be six tracks at Park Jn
including two behind the box, the crossover could have been used for reversing freight trains between
the valleys but they can certainly manage present operations without it. The most likely explanation is
a broken rail in the crossing awaiting replacement.

2556] North Wales Metro: (BLN 1374.1075) Recycling Pulling together various announcements made
previously, TfW has released map images showing the extent of this proposed programme. The longer
term (post 2029) aspirations include rail extensions to Amlwch and the West Wales Corridor (Bangor -
Afon Wen and Aberystwyth - Carmarthen) but not Rhyl - Corwen (BLN 1359.2525).

2557] Chester - Rhyl: Chester Races generated high passenger numbers on Sat 11 Sep. That morning
Flint station staff reported particularly large crowds wanting to travel. Within 40 mins a 10.00 Chester
to Flint working was arranged in passenger service using the 2-car Class 175 unit off the 08.32 from
Manchester Airport (MA) which normally lays over for an hour at Chester. A similar working followed
an hour later using the 09.35 from Manchester Airport. Both returned from Down P2 at 10.23 and
11.23 respectively, so must have used the trailing crossover. While this has probably occurred in
passenger service during engineering work, it is the first time since resignalling that a Flint - Chester
service has operated. Despite the handicap of the reminder sign being on Flint P1 (BLN 1383.2242),
both drivers remembered to call at Shotton in that direction (and outwards according to RTT)!

By this time Rhyl was also becoming busy and was served by extending the 10.35 ex-Manchester
Airport non-stop in passenger service from Chester at 12.00; it terminated in Rhyl Up P1 at 12.33 so
must have used the facing crossover (208m 67ch) in service (less rare, see BLN 1352.1490). It returned
at 12.35 calling at all stations. Unit formations were not shown on RTT. There were no extras that
evening presumably because the…er…tired racegoers generally return home rather more randomly!

2558] Glan Conwy: (BLN 1378.1650; TRACKmaps 3 p34C 2018) From a passing Holyhead to Cardiff
train on Mon 13 Sep it appeared that further clearance work was still needed to make the main line
connection usable and that the run round and the siding nearest the Conwy Valley line (Roads 7 and 6)
only had been cleared; track looked to have been lifted or buried inside the boundary gate (as before).





PREVIOUS/BELOW: (Item 2555) Cardiff Curve crossover looking towards Ebbw Jn. (Nick Jones, 11 Sep 2021.)

2559] Taffs Well: (BLN 1383.2241) During week commencing 18 Sep, the south end of Down P1
(to Cardiff) platform was demolished, reducing the usable length from 156 yd to 151 yd. For members
who enjoy unusual stopping positions, the 2/4/6 car stop board was moved 27yd northward.

2560] Dowlais: (BLN 1371.608) The earliest found trace of the putative ammonia factory is a very
oblique reference in the 'Merthyr Express' of 28 May 1938; subsequent press references made very
clear that the War Office was a driving force. The first railway reference to the ICI siding is in the GWR
General Instructions Circular of 7 Nov 1938 which contained instructions for 'Messrs ICI' (Fertilizer &
Synthetic Products) Ltd, siding, Dowlais' (clearly the GWR clerical staff did not realise that the prefix
'Messrs' - applicable to a partnership - did not apply to a limited company). The 12 Jan 1939 'Western
Mail' noted that 300 men were engaged in building the new factory. GWR and BR(W) records also
note that the siding was accessed off GKN's private line from Ivor Jn to Bryniau Quarries (spelled
'Brynau' on very early OS plans) - hence there was no private siding agreement with ICI at Dowlais.

2561] Wrexham - Bidston: (BLN 1382.2133) Slippage of the service frequency increase is confirmed as
being until the May 2022 timetable change 'at the latest' but the blame has now shifted to Covid
delaying staff training. The start of the Wrexham Central platform extension work (BLN 1381.1997)
was brought forward to 16 Sep. As of that date, the fifth and final Class 230 unit had yet to arrive.

1385 MINOR RAILWAYS (Peter Scott) [email protected]
MR168] Llangollen Railway, Denbighshire (MR p9) (MR1378.MR96): A member visited this line on
Sunday 29 August with 10 non-enthusiast family members. Booking in advance did not seem to be
possible, in fact their website seems to have disappeared and the phone line is apparently not staffed
at weekends. Turning up on spec at Llangollen at about 12.35, it was possible to buy tickets for the
13.00 to Carrog and return. Tickets were not for specified trains, adult return was £19 with various
discounts on offer, and the ticket was a till receipt. The train was formed of four BR MK1 coaches
hauled by GWR 2-8-0 3802, and was fairly full. The other diagram was being worked by a first
generation DMU - this was passed at Glyndyfrdwy in the outward direction and Llangollen Goods
Junction on the return. The journey was enjoyed by the non-enthusiasts in the party as it was 'very
scenic'. A walk around Berwyn station, following a trail around Telford's weir and the chain bridge,
also went down very well. The railway was not operating to Corwen. When your correspondent
passed the new station there on the 28 August, it was observed that there was some equipment on
the track and a few orange clothed people at work. He returned on the evening of the 30th for a closer
look. It was clear that work is required to bring the platforms into use, but perhaps not much. A notice
board had an update on progress, dated 01/07/21, this said that ballasting needed to be completed at
Corwen, amongst other permanent way work, and noted that they had recently been working on the
ground frame. Another note said that tours of the part-completed station are sometimes possible on
Thursdays and Saturdays. [Opening to Corwen is now expected on 1 Mar 2022, St David's Day.]

MR169] Cambrian Heritage Railways (Oswestry), Shropshire (MR p7): This year carries with it a
certain amount of history for the railway - it is the 50th anniversary of the cessation of goods traffic at
(but not through) Oswestry; the last goods train ran in December 1971. The same year also saw the
possible first meetings of those 'interested parties and enthusiasts' that were to result in the founding
of the Cambrian Railways Society (CRS) in 1972. The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) was founded on
16 March 1971. To commemorate all this and to coincide with the opening day of the Great British
Beer Festival, the railway came together with the local CAMRA branch, Oswestry Town Council,
Stonehouse Brewery and the Bailey Head pub in Oswestry, to organise a special event held on Friday
30 July. A train consisting of two passenger coaches, box wagon, a brake van and hauled by Class 73
electro-diesel locomotive 'City of Winchester' - was loaded up at Weston Wharf with barrels of beer
from the Stonehouse Brewery. The train departed from there at 17.00, for Oswestry. Here it became
the first train in 50 years to offload goods at the station. At 18.00, amid great pomp and ceremony, the
beer was discharged onto a WWII Jeep & vintage Vauxhall Cresta for transport up to the Bailey Head
pub. The occasion was attended by representatives of the local press and Oswestry Town Council.

X.198] BELOW & NEXT: The 20" gauge 386yd long Shipley Glen
23 members took part in this visit associated with our 1978 Leeds AGM tha

Tramway (MR p32) as it was on Saturday 11 November 1978.
at day - do you recognise any? (The late John Robinson via Phil Robinson.)





BELOW: (Item MR168) Llangollen Railway, Llangollen station looking east, a

a youngster takes a keen interest in GWR 3802. (James Beal, 29 Aug 2021.)

BELOW & NEXT: (MR170) 'Merlin' heads a train on Wiksteed Park Rai

ilway which is 90 years old this year. (Peter Zemroch, 15 Aug 2021.)





BELOW: (Item MR 174) Plym Valley Railway, Ruston 429 wa
The ground level miniature railway can just be glimpsed a

aits to propel the 11.00 from Marsh Mills to Plym Bridge.
along the fence line far right. (Peter Scott, 05 Sep 2021.)

BELOW: (Item MR175) Bala Lake Railway, Margaret's crew ponder the br
Llangollen. The extension into the town will swing left, actually shortening

rake fittings at the rather remote (present) Bala station looking towards
the line here on the original trackbed ahead. (James Beal, 28 Aug 2021.)

BELOW & NEXT THREE: (Item MR176) The 15" gauge 1½ mile long

Eaton Park Railway near Chester (Peter Zemroch, 29 Aug 2021.)













X.199] BELOW: Keith & Dufftown Railway, Keith Town looking towards Keith

h Jn - our Member No1 was in attendance too. (Chris Parker, 3 Sep 2021.)





X.200] Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway: PREVIOUS: 'Thomasesque' Neilson Rei
NEXT: Running round at Manuel, the NR connection rises off to Bo'ness Jn (

id 5710 of 1902 at Bo'ness with a train for Manuel. BELOW: At Manuel.
(right), Member No1 was also present (All three Chris Parker, 5 Sep 2021.)





X.201] BELOW & NEXT: (BLN 1383.MR154) Tam O'Shanter Express, Heads o