1385

Anchor Exchange Sidings feels very much a main line yard area but a warning sign beyond reminds
BSC engines not to pass. If they did an alarm would sound on the screen at York Rail Operating Centre.

Finally, we took the line the line past the Heavy Repair Bay through Barclay's Loop and then reversed
up the steep Basic Hill to the end of the line. This gave a good view over the engine shed yard with
various shunters, some in better shape than others. We then reversed down the slope and into the
yard area turning right, doing the Wash Road to the end and covering the two adjacent sidings almost
to the ends. Despite visiting Scunthorpe many times, I always end up somewhere I am not familiar
with and this was all new track for me. The other track connoisseurs seemed happy as well, agreeing
that perhaps the best had been saved until the end. Depot Tracks 2 and 4 were also visited, the latter
to the shed doors. The doors remained closed; I wonder what delights lie within?

That was it; sadly, the eight hours had gone really quickly but we had had covered many areas very
efficiently, so we made our way back to Frodingham platform arriving on time at 18.30. Many thanks
to the AFRPS for such a good day, they know what we want, and of course our member Alan Sheppard
who has a foot in each camp (as an AFRPS member too) and coordinates our tour route. A donation of
£2,505.90 was pleasingly given for them to carry on their good work. Roll on next January - I must get
my wants list sent off. [You can book now, Nick, see item 2423.] Thanks to the increased party size
of 50 we were able to take some 'Scunthorpe Virgins' on their first ever visit to a steel works - despite
them only scoring one piece of new track all day in total (!), they were impressed and amazed by it all.

:Details must be checked 1385 CONNECTIONS (Paul Stewart) [email protected] .Please mention BLN.
2563] Walk the Line, Sat 16 Oct: Tissington Trail Car Park, Ashbourne, DE6 1FD, Rail Aid, a fundraising
initiative by UK Rail, sponsored by Thales, supporting Railway Children. Sponsored walk along this superb
scenic trackbed walk from the site of Ashbourne station 13 miles to Parsley Hay. Includes the illuminated
383yd Ashbourne Tunnel, one of the biggest embankments you will ever see and the preserved Hartington
signal box. Single walk (minibus back to start) or return. See https://bit.ly/2XrLCbo for details/to sign up.

2564] Thur 28 Oct 19.30-21.00, The Railways of Worcester, Past, Present & Future (FREE ADMISSION):
The Guildhall, High St, Worcester, WR1 2EY (a short walk from Shrub Hill/Foregate Street stations).
Tea/coffee from 19.00; The Mayor of Worcester's Annual Lecture by Lord Faulkner, Member of the House
of Lords, Author & President of the Heritage Railway Association & The Cotswold Line Promotion Group.

2565] *NEW* Great West Way Discovery Pass: Unlimited off-peak train (GWR & SWR only) and bus travel
09.20-00.00 (7 days a week) NOT from Paddington (except Public Holidays) 16.40-19.16. One Day: East
£71, West £24.50; Seven Days East £163, West £71, Global £245 (save £11 by buying the two subsections
separately - they overlap!!). 5-15 years 50% discount; Railcards 10% discount. See https://bit.ly/3EskHNw
:Great West Way East:: Paddington - Swindon & Westbury direct only, Waterloo - Salisbury - Westbury,
Thames Valley branches east of Reading, including Heathrow (not Greenford) also buses per website.
:Great West Way West:: Bristol TM - Chippenham - Swindon; TM - Westbury - Salisbury plus Swindon -
Melksham - Westbury - Frome & buses per website. :Great West Way Global:: All routes, both sections.

2566] IOM Dates for your Diary: 11-19 Dec Groudle Glen Railway Santa Trains.15-18 Apr Rush
Hour on the Railways (Easter 4 days). 27-31 Jul (5 days) Manx Heritage Transport Festival 2022.

2567] TfW Annual Season Ticket as a free Railcard: an Annual Season Ticket within Wales (only) can
be used as Railcard - 34% off for the holder and one accompanying adult on selected TfW services with
no age limits. That leaves just one question - what is the cheapest annual season ticket in Wales now?

CONTACT DETAILS: See BLN/e-BLN 1378 (summary) or 1350 (18 Apr 2020), website PDF or via your BLN Editor.
●Editor: Paul Stewart [email protected] 4 Clarence Close, MALVERN, WR14 3HX 01684 562862 07790652351.

●Fixtures Secretary: Kev Adlam [email protected] @BLSFixtures (Paper post via BLN Editor above please.)
●Bookings Officer: Mark Gomm [email protected] 84 Mornington Road, STOKE-ON-TRENT, ST1 6EL.

●BLS Sales: Graeme Jolley [email protected] Dolbryn, Penegoes, MACHYNLLETH, Powys, SY20 8NN. 07484646542.
● MAPS: By permission of National Library of Scotland http://maps.nls.uk/index.html ●Printed by Willow Printing & Design Ltd,

[email protected] 75/79 Back Cross Lane, NEWTON-LE-WILLOWS, WA12 9YE 01925222449.
https://goo.gl/X6aQBA ●Published by the Branch Line Society, 10 Sandringham Rd, STOKE GIFFORD, BS34 8NP. ISSN 1354-0947.



PREVIOUS: The book front cover includes the local churches' chartered excursion to Lowestoft at
Histon station on Sat 21 Jun 1980 with 37089. ABOVE: May 1959. No62618 Class D16/3 'Claud' 4-4-0
awaiting departure at Histon station, probably with a racing pigeon special. (Colour-Rail.)

X.202] HISTON; ON AND OFF THE RAILS: Histon & Impington Village Society is delighted to announce
the launch of a new book by member Geoffrey Smallwood. It tells the story of Histon station and the
line through it, drawing on highly entertaining recollections and stories by local residents for which we
are hugely grateful. The book provides an engaging juxtaposition of factual rail based information,
with tales by, and about, railway people and villagers and how the railway affected their lives. It
celebrates bygone times and captures a lost era of the villages and its residents. There are 240 images,
including an illustrated article about the proposed Oakington to Cottenham narrow gauge freight line.

For over 130 years the line through Histon and Impington contributed significantly to the local
economy. Opening in 1847 as a marginal venture, it catered for local farmers and fruit growers.
However, in the 1850s, Stephen Chivers invested in a large orchard next to the station, and village life
changed dramatically. By 1875 the world famous Chivers fruit preserving factory plus railway sidings
had been erected; it was hugely influential on the station's development and subsequent history, so
forming an important part of the narrative. The station became a major hub of the community.

Until implementation of the Clean Air Act, immense quantities of coal for London power stations and
gas works regularly trundled through Histon and Impington. In the late 1950s it became a trial line for
multiple aspect signalling and concrete sleepers. Steam locos were replaced by DMUs. Passenger
services ceased in 1970, followed by freight in 1992. Today the route has become a guided busway
and this lively Cambridgeshire village continues to prosper. The book has a wide appeal and is now
published by the Histon & Impington Village Society in A4 format at £11.99. If you would like to buy a
copy, please go to: https://histonandimpingtonvillagesociety.wordpress.com/ where there is an
order form. Anyone who does not have online access can ring the Society's Publications Officer, Anna
Roberts, phone number 01 223 233469. The new book would make an excellent Christmas present!

BELOW: (Item 2565) Railways and some of the bus rout

tes included in the Great West Way Discovery Passes.

X.203] Guess the Location BELOW: (The answer to BLN 1384. X.188.) We think that they might want
the drivers to stop here - this is Didcot Parkway P3. (Richard Maund.)

BELOW: (Item 2455) 180101 in Newcastle Provincial Siding again on Tue 14 Sep. (Jonathan Kirby.)