1376

BELOW: Looking south from the box, the former Murton/Hawthorn Co

olliery branch is far right with Ryhope Grange Sidings off it by the '15'.

BELOW: View from the box through glass of the Hendon Branch to Sunderl

land South Dock. Sunderland and Newcastle are to the left, Seaham right.

BELOW: British Rail would have been proud of th

his economy measure … the Hendon Branch Staff.

BELOW: Londonderry Sidings occupancy board on the Hendon Branch

h in Ryhope Grange Signal Box - no risk of software failures with this…

X.120] BELOW: (Item 1311) The facing crossover and connection to Highland Spring's Freight Terminal
south of Blackford (south of Gleneagles on the Stirling to Perth line). (Nick Jones, 16 Jun 2019.)

;Details must be checked 1376 CONNECTIONS (Paul Stewart) [email protected] .Please mention BLN.

1338] Even More Minor Railways: (BLNs 1375.1196, 1374.1085, 1373.924 & 1372.772) Extra or
revised dates for reopening for rides: Sat 17 Apr: ●Clevedon Miniature Railway ●Wells Harbour
Railway (at Wells-next-the-Sea) CLOSING DOWN AS SOON AS THE ASSETS ARE SOLD. Sat 24 Apr:
●Appleby Frodingham Railway Preservation Society, Scunthorpe Steelworks. Fri 30 Apr: Giants
Causeway Railway. Mon 2 May: ●Groudle Glen Railway. Tue 18 May: Threlkeld Quarry & Mining
Museum Railway. Sat 22 May: ●Epping Ongar Railway (full length). ●Leighton Buzzard Railway
(deferred from 18 Apr) ●Devon Railway Centre. Sat 29 May: ●Welsh Highland Heritage Railway
●Volk's Electric Railway. Late May: ●Vale of Rheidol Railway. Wed 23 Jun: ●Churnet Valley Railway
(Ipstones) deferred from 1 May ●Mid Norfolk Railway. Early Jul: ●North Ings Farm Museum &
Railway. Sep: Cambrian Heritage Railways (Oswesty). Yellow highlight = update since BLN 1376.

X.121] Wells Harbour Railway: (MR p21) The Eastern Daily Press reports that this 1,200yd long 7¼"
gauge Railway will close down this year as soon as a buyer can be found for its equipment and assets.
Trains run weekends; Pinewood station 10.30-16.20 returning from Harbour 10.50-16.30 (may vary).
The railway confirms they also plan to run Bank Ho Mon 31 May; £1.50 each way contactless or cash.

1339] :*NEW*: The Hythe & Sandgate Branch Line & Tramway: By Peter A Harding, the well known
prolific author about rural branch lines and light railways. This three mile double track Kent branch was
opened in 1874 by the South Eastern Railway (SER) from Sandling Junction (now Sandling) to Hythe
(as in Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway) and on to Sandgate with a view to extending nearly three
miles to Folkestone Harbour. However in 1931 the branch was pruned back to Hythe and singled,
which then closed 3 Dec 1951. Chapters include the history of the line, a route description, motive
power and rolling stock, timetables & tickets, a gradient profile, map and track plans. The associated
Hythe & Sandgate Tramway is covered (which also didn't reach Folkestone). 45 photos include two of
the 5' 6" gauge 233yd Sandgate Hill Lift (OP 20 Feb 1893; CP Jul 1918). A5 size with 32 gloss pages and
light card covers; £4.50 or £5 including P&P, Cheques payee 'Peter A Harding', to 'Mossgiel', Bagshot
Rd, Knaphill, Woking, GU21 2SG. Essential for every branch line aficionados' library. [BLN Editor.]

1340] Situation Vacant: The 1,000yd long 10¼" gauge Newby Hall Railway (MR p22) near Ripon is
looking for a train driver (all types of traction) and engineer. The trains run Apr to the end of Sep each
year, carrying 50,000 passengers (of the 140,000 visitors to the hall) per annum and have operated for
50 years. There has been recent investment, upgrading the track to steel and composite sleepers and
in a rechargeable battery powered loco. For full details and how to apply see: https://bit.ly/3h0lyvM

X.122] Mon 12 Jul Society Fixtures: Chris Davis, a member from Long Eaton has booked on our
K&ESR and EKR Class 08 fixtures these days. Is anyone able to help with a lift, please, all or part of
the way? A contribution towards car running costs is offered. Please email: [email protected]

1341] … and finally, All Our Yesterdays: Jul 1953. New lavatories were provided at York Motive Power
Depot and demolition of the old lavatory building has improved the visibility for enginemen moving
locos from the ashpits to the sheds! The speed of the 7.50am express from King's Cross to Leeds
between Hitchin and Doncaster is 65.9mph, the fastest non-stop run between any two BR stations.

CONTACT DETAILS: See BLN or e-BLN 1350 (18 Apr 2020), website PDF or via your BLN Editor.
●Editor: Paul Stewart, 4 Clarence Close, MALVERN, WR14 3HX 01684562862 07790652351 [email protected]

●Bookings Officer: Mark Gomm [email protected] 84 Mornington Road, STOKE-ON-TRENT, ST1 6EL.
●Fixtures Secretary: Kev Adlam [email protected] @BLSFixtures (Any post via BLN Editor above please.)
●Iain Scotchman: (Poland railtour) [email protected] 102 Shenfield Place, BRENTWOOD, CM15 9A.

●BLS Sales: Graeme Jolley [email protected] Dolbryn, Penegoes, MACHYNLLETH, Powys, SY20 8NN. 07484646542.
● MAPS: By permission of the National Library of Scotland http://maps.nls.uk/index.html

●Published by the Branch Line Society, 10 Sandringham Rd, STOKE GIFFORD, BS34 8NP. ISSN 1354-0947.