1309

BELOW: Our esteemed Fixture's Booking Officer, Jill Everitt, make notes during our brief top shed
sojourn. Despite appearances there is track and this is a sort of riding vehicle not greenhouse staging!

ABOVE: A railway volunteer 'Tinkers' with a rarely used point prior to our trip to test it (successfully).
The steam loco simmers in the background on the main line awaiting its turn on the railtour.

1600] Bentley Miniature Railway (BMR), Sat 9 Jun (MR
p16): By Geoff Noakes. Arriving a few minutes later
than intended, our organiser Simon established that the
railway was happy for a later start than planned, so that
most of the 19 participants could visit Bentley
Tearooms and satisfy the inner man (and lady). The
variety and quality of food on the menu and the
reasonable cost alone would make a visit worthwhile
and is recommended for any future visits.

Suitably refreshed the group walked the couple of
hundred yards to Bentley Central station to await
arrival of a train as a normal public service was also in operation. After a few minutes a set of coaches
was boarded, hauled by steam loco 'Pegasus', from the main platform. Departing from the station the
first of a few minor alterations to the plan supplied was that a previously lifted curve (from the second
platform) to the original small circuit had been reinstated (and was covered of course), with the link
from the main platform removed in the last couple of years or so. Extensions over the years have
added ever increasing loops away from the original site resulting in an impressive one mile public run
at this 7¼" gauge railway! The first traversal was on the most recent (2011) to Bentley East where the
platform line was covered before returning via Glyndebourne Wood Jn station to the 1995 extension
back to Bentley Central inner platform line.

ABOVE: Leaving Bentley Central, Ringmere Jn (East) - when the brakes broke - an unexpected brake
application is under investigation. The line trailing in left is the curve to the 'short circuit' back round to
the station and not in regular use (the tour did!). (Simon Mortimer 9 Jun 2018)

By now most of the main running lines had been covered and the journey continued but this time to
cover the now non-regularly used curves at Glyndebourne Wood Jn. The connections from there
re-joining the now main circuit have been altered from the track plan. Back again at Bentley Central
for yet another run, our train stopped on leaving the station with a brake problem (later identified as a
valve incorrectly set) on the second coach. After a brief examination it was back to the station to
change to the other train in operation hauled by Railfreight liveried 31271. This time it was again a
long trip out to Bentley East for the very rare non-passenger by-pass line and a short photo stop.

Main lines all traversed, it was time for some siding gricing. The train was split with the two halves
separately covering the new Glyndebourne Wood Junction non-passenger headshunt. It allows an
extra train to recess for rapid deployment for events at the adjacent park; this is now very rare. The
front of the train with 31271 shunted to the engine shed area to do the headshunt and turntable line.
The rear half with an unnumbered Hymek loco traversed the carriage sidings headshunt. Participants
transferred between the two trains in the sidings to give full coverage of virtually the whole railway.
Unfortunately, despite valiant attempts by staff on the day, the Bentley East extension crossover could
not be used as a motor on one point had seized since its last use over 5 years ago (the only 'fowl' up).

A few participants lingered to enjoy a run behind Class 12 diesel shunter 15234. A very successful
outing; thanks to Alan Morris of the BMR for the arrangements and our very own Simon Mortimer.

NEXT PAGE TOP: A photo stop, our special train behind unnumbered Class 35 Hymek in the rarely used
Glyndebourne Wood Junction headshunt, the station is in the background. (Simon Mortimer)

1601] Cornwall STP Tracker, Day 1, Wed 11 Jul: Our two day Cornwall STP Tracker was really a four
day marathon for half of the 10 members. The Night Riviera on Tue 10 Jul saw four 'BLSers' board the
23.45 Paddington to Penzance Night Riviera 'sleeper' service collecting more at various points,
particularly Plymouth (one had 'done' Devon the day before), on the way to St Erth, the start of our

two day event. The two coaches of Standard Class
seating accommodation (one 1+2 seats) are at the
country end with a buffet and sleeping lounge car.
Shunting it is the main function of Long Rock's Class 08
now. Well priced advance tickets are available for the
seats from GWR's website, for example Paddington to
St Ives (305 miles) for only £24 - railcard £15.80.

The objectives over the two days were to cover all
available passenger track in Cornwall, cover all the
platforms at Plymouth (for the purpose of our tour, an
honorary enclave of Cornwall), stop at all the 'request'
stops and all other platforms in the county. This was a pretty tall order to achieve in just two days,
especially when you consider that some of the rare moves only occur once or twice a day. The idea for
this event, on the back of our previous service train trackers, came from Mark Haggas, a distinctive
Fixtures Team member regularly to be seen stewarding at Society events. It was planned over many
months (including even a trial run by Mark) requiring the high summer mid week timetable.

BLN 1308.1445 had the full plan. First it was the 07.59 from St Erth (bay P3 - which is to be realigned to
allow widening of the narrow platform that becomes very congested at times). This stops at all stations
(most trains don't) to St Ives and, on return, in the absence of main line connections continues to
Penzance. It is one of only two trains a day to do so, covering the branch link to the station and then
the trailing crossover to the Down Main. The St Ives branch opened in 1877 and was the final new
7' 0¼" broad gauge passenger railway to be constructed in the UK, except for at Didcot Railway Centre!

ABOVE: A British Telecom livery DMU leaving Lelant for St Ives, the 'fumes' were fairly typical at that
time when the first generation DMUs were very clapped worn out. (Ian Mortimer 19 Sep 1985)

A third rail was added to the southern section for standard gauge goods trains to access Lelant Wharf.
The final broad gauge service ran on the line on 20 May 1892. During the hour layover in St Ives, Mark
took every opportunity to advertise that the BLS was 'in town' while a couple of participants opted for
mileage accumulation with two extra return journeys as there were plenty of options in the plan.

Back in Penzance several moves were made up the line and back covering all the platforms except P2
and to unusually sample a Voyager and an HST stopping at Hayle, which is mostly served by local
trains. Mark pointed out that the recently opened Asda supermarket here is the only one in the UK to
have the 'ASDA' building logos in stainless steel rather than the usual green after the locals complained
it was too garish for Hayle! It also has the 'welcome' signs in English and the Cornish language too.
Kernow a'gas dynnergh! At St Erth, the appropriately named Branch Line Café was sampled by some.

The next objective was the Looe branch and to visit Coombe Junction Halt which has two trains each
way (SuX), or around 1,240 per year, as most reverse just short of the station. Interestingly whenever a
train goes to Looe, the junction itself has to be reset for the Liskeard to Moorswater line. The halt
serves Coombe and Lamellion villages, 212 passengers were documented for 2016/17 - so about
6 trains have to call for one passenger to alight or join. However, this compares with 48 passengers in
2015/16. In 2008 Coombe Junction Halt became one of only two national network stations to officially
have the suffix 'Halt', the other being St Keyne Wishing Well Halt, on the same branch. The term 'Halt'
was previously removed from BR timetables and station signs by 1974. During the course of the trip all
four request stops were called at - the other three have around 1,500 passengers per year and Looe
itself 123,000. As an alternative to time off in Looe, most opted for a second return trip on the branch.

Of note, passing above on the main line the following day cement wagons were seen at Moorswater
(from Aberthaw Cement Works) as well as the train later shunting on the Up Main at Liskeard station.



PREVIOUS PAGE TOP: In Apr 1976 all trains to/from Looe reversed in the platform at Coombe Junction
which was then fully signalled, even with its own signal box. The single unit 'bubble car' is on the dead
end passenger line (buffer stops behind the camera); the signal shows that it is going to Looe. On the
right was the separate line to Moorswater, then dispatching China clay by rail. (Both Ian Mortimer)
LOWER: On 23 Jan 1977 another bubble car is at a very wet Looe looking north towards Liskeard.

At Liskeard, due to the significant lateness of the next connection for the Newquay branch, some 'on
the fly' planning took place and it was decided to go to Gunnislake instead and do Newquay next day.
A quick run to St Austell on an HST (where, to be fair, a road connection was provided for the 'normal'
passengers who had missed the Newquay connection at Par) neatly slotted into another HST back, this
time to Plymouth. Bay P3 was done on the 18.17 all stations DMU to Liskeard (with few passengers)
which took the group to Devonport where there was just a five minute wait for the Gunnislake train.
Although the branch service is vastly improved on years ago, the 16.35 from Plymouth is probably too
early for most in employment and the 18.23 a bit late. Incredibly one participant lives at Bere Alston
on the branch and had only joined the Society the week before, so this was his first event with us!

Okehampton to Plymouth, along with the Callington branch (which actually terminated at Kelly Bray!)
from Bere Alston were listed for closure in the original 1963 Beeching Report. However, due to the
lack of road bridges over the River Tamar, British Rail found it impossible to provide replacement bus
services and the branch was reprieved to Gunnislake when the rest to Callington CP from 7 Nov 1966.
Branch trains ran through to Plymouth after Bere Alston to Okehampton (both excl) CP from 6 May
1968, so 2018 has been the 50th anniversary of this. Trains for Gunnislake must collect the branch train
staff from a secure cabinet on the platform at St Budeaux Victoria Road before proceeding, as the line
is operated on the one train working principle with only a single unit allowed on the branch at a time.

The staff has to be returned to the cabinet on the return journey before the unit can enter the main
line. The run is fast on the ex-main line former double track section with much continuously welded
rail and some impressive river bridges (hence the line's survival). The disused, but connected, strategic
standard gauge sidings (TRACKmaps Vol 3 p8C, Aug 2010) can be seen at Defence Munitions Plymouth,
Ernesettle Naval explosives and ammunitions depot. They include a blast wall at the transshipment
point - but the once extensive internal narrow gauge system that also ran on the pier has long gone.

There is a small railway museum, the Tamar Belle, (visited by the Society 22 Jun 2013) by Bere Ferrers
station with B&B available in LNER carriages (£20 a night self catering; £25 with breakfast and £35 also
with a 4/5 course evening meal in the dining car - what are you waiting for?). The restored Southern
Railway type box has a large 'Beer Ferris' nameboard (the older name) to check who is awake.

After reversal at Bere Alston, where the conductor operates the ground fame, a completely different
world is entered. If anyone only does one branch line in their life this should be the one! Originally
built as a 3' 6" gauge mineral line from Calstock Quay on the north bank of the Tamar to 'Kellybray',
(sic) later 'Callington Road, then 'Callington', the line was converted to standard gauge and connected
to the national network by a new line just south of Gunnislake to Bere Alston in 1908. The section to
the quay was abandoned. The gradients are steep and there is hardly a straight section of track on the
circuitous 4½ mile branch (which takes nearly 20 minutes to traverse) and is mostly jointed track.

Maximum line speed is 20mph with two sections of 15mph and another two of 10mph. Two open
crossings require the train to stop, sound the horn loudly (no doubt the locals are used to it) and
proceed with extreme caution. The 120ft high graceful Calstock Viaduct is spectacular with wonderful
views and again there is no equivalent road, another reason for the line surviving despite high losses.
Many make the trip from Plymouth just for the views. The branch is included in both the Devon and
Ride Cornwall Day Ranger tickets. Incredibly the service has improved to two-hourly from 05.00
(06.40 SO) until 19.00, with a late return trip from Plymouth at 21.31. There are even six return trips
on Sundays throughout the year now. There was a brief stop at the second Gunnislake station which
opened in 1994 with 52 car parking spaces when the line was shortened slightly to save the cost of

replacing an 'unsafe' very low bridge beyond over the A390. It had 54,500 passengers in 2016/17 and
the platform which can accommodate a 4-car DMU is twice as long as at Calstock (35,348 passengers).
The group returned to Plymouth to stay the night having completed a very enjoyable sociable first day.

ABOVE: April 1971, a very early picture from Ian Mortimer's collection. A DMU at the very run down
Okehampton (P3!) then the terminus of passenger services from Exeter. Ian actually used this normal
service train to return from a walking holiday on Dartmoor. It was reportedly then averaging 50
passengers a day including a handful of season ticket holders and was withdrawn from 5 Jun 1972.

BELOW: Tue 10 Jul 2018 at London Paddington P1 and 57605 in on the 23.45 Night Riviera sleeper
train to Penzance which left on time. (All photos in this report by Neil Greenwood unless specified.)

ABOVE: 321 miles later St Erth was reached at 07.51 next day, note the signal (right) for movements
from P2 over the trailing crossover in front of the train. BELOW: A train leaving St Ives for St Erth.

ABOVE: Our Illustrious organiser at St Ives with an extra large ticket (and not a guided busway in sight!).

PREVIOUS PAGE LOWER: The 06.26 from Plymouth forming the 09.35 to Manchester is at the buffer
stops (far end) of the rare Penzance P4 outside the main train shed (on the right). A NR measurement
train was stabled in the 'Oil Sidings' (left). ABOVE: 37612 was on that train; the Atlantic Ocean can just
be glimpsed background left. BELOW: Train leaving Liskeard towards Plymouth with the connection to
the Looe branch used by ECS and cement trains going off to the left. NEXT PAGE TOP: Liskeard bay P3;
Looe train, the driver is on the right and the senior conductor left (there was no junior conductor).
Unfortunately, as can be seen, the windows of the DMU were very dirty. NEXT PAGE LOWER: Look
who has popped up again at Looe! The facilities have definitely improved since Ian Mortimer's
Apr 1976 picture earlier (as well as the number of trains and passengers - both considerably).





PREVIOUS PAGE TOP: On the platform at Coombe Junction Halt, some of the participants. PREVIOUS
PAGE LOWER: Looking north towards Moorswater where a cement train arrived from Aberthaw the
following day. ABOVE: Plymouth bay P3 with the 18.17 all stations train to Liskeard; our ubiquitous
organiser chats to the driver. Right was former P2 (now 'Dock 4' and not used for passenger services).
Once they were both through platforms and there was also a north Down side bay P1 (now trackless).

PREVIOUS PAGE LOWER: Reversal at Bere Alston, the conductor operates the Ground Frame at the
end of the platform. Left is to Plymouth; right is the 1970 connection to Gunnislake (previously
Callington/ Gunnislsake trains ran from the third platform far right behind train). When the train is on
the branch the points are left set for its return. ABOVE: Looking north towards Okehampton (one
day!) the ex-Southern Railway double track Plymouth main line. Pre-1970 the branch connection was
this end. BELOW: Gunnislake: the 19.09 arrival ex-Plymouth (1994, second station) forming the 19.13
return as much of the nation were preparing to watch the England V France World Cup semi final.

ABOVE: 1961 Seventh Series composite 1" OS map, Bere Alston is bo
is the other side of the A390 bridge which was removed. The origina

ottom right, the original station is shown as Gunnislake, the 1994 one
al 9½ mile branch terminus of Callington (in Kelly Bray) was top left.

ABOVE: Calstock Viaduct (River Tamar), the village is on the right. (Angus McDougall 12 Sep 1987)

1602] The East Midlands Wheelbarrow - 20 Jul: The 78-day Derby resignalling project started in
earnest on 22 Jul with periods of restricted access to Etches Park Depot. Therefore East Midlands
Trains (EMT) had to identify other locations where their trains could be stabled and serviced overnight
during the disruption. Agreement was reached with Barrow Hill Roundhouse to be one of these
locations, usually receiving four trains per night. To enable Barrow Hill to handle these trains, EMT had
to make some changes to the site costing £2.3M. As well as installing all the new trackside equipment
required for their overnight operations it also meant the following changes to the track layout itself:
>Storage Road 3 was lifted from almost as far back as the signal box leaving just a very short siding.

>Storage Roads 1 & 2 were lifted from a similar position, replaced on different alignments widening
the gap between them and extended past the commercial depot, almost to the roundhouse wall itself.
>Carriage Sidings 1 & 2 access was modified; each now has an independent Running Line connection.

>Carriage Siding 2 was lengthened to the gates beyond the end of Roundhouse Halt platform.

With all the required work completed a final full test operation was due to take place on Fri 20 Jul with
EMT staff and trains arriving from around 20.00. The sidings to be used would obviously all be empty
ready for the test and, thanks to the foresight and efforts of 'our man on the ground' at Barrow Hill
and the fixtures team, the chance to ride the new track was grabbed with both hands with the short
notice organisation of 'The East Midlands
Wheelbarrow.' (No, I don't know how they come up
with these names either!). However, it was advertised
via our new electronic messaging system on 11 Jul.

And so it was that 25 BLS and PLEG members
converged on Barrow Hill for 18.30 on the evening of
the test. The long drought was seemingly over in these
parts with persistent rain from 17.30.

ABOVE: The entrance to new Carriage Sidings 1 & 2 with No3 (right, occupied) now cut right back.
Pictures all by our anonymous reporter on the evening of Fri 20 Jul 2018.

ABOVE: View of new Storage Road 2 (left) from the tour in new Storage Road 1. Road 3 was shortened
to allow the gap to be widened between these two lines for the walkway and lighting seen here.
The Roundhouse is straight ahead and the bank on the left is the former Coal Stage Road.

[BLN 1309]
ABOVE: On the running line from Roundhouse Halt (behind the camera) the new connections to the
Carriage Sidings are before the crossing; No1 is on the right and No2 is far right.

That wasn't the only bad news though, as the planned haulage by 08879 was thwarted by last minute
electrical/ battery problems. This meant that a short PLEG haulage event planned for earlier that
evening had to be cancelled. Our track event went ahead though with the 08 replaced by 03066
operating in top & tail mode with 02003 as planned. These locos at either end of three very smartly
turned out brake vans B954215, B953231 & B730687 were sat in the Roundhouse Halt P2 awaiting our
arrival. Participants were provided via email with an updated track plan (thanks to Martyn Brailsford)
and a stock list (thanks to Gary Lonsdale), and also on the day with a souvenir ticket - seen earlier
above (thanks to Jim Sellens - and, of course all the others featured in these reports) on the evening of
the event. After boarding, 03066 led out of the platform and the following moves took place, a total of
2m 32ch, half with each loco ('chainages' thanks to Graham Parkin & Jim Sellens)…

Lead From To Chains

02003 Barrow Hill Roundhouse Halt P2 Running Line, loading pad gates 1ch.
03066 Running Line, loading pad gates Springwell Branch, clear of points 21ch.
02003 Springwell Branch, clear of points New Storage Road 1 end of line (EOL) 16ch.
03066 New Storage Road 1 (EOL) Clear of points between Storage Roads.
02003. Clear of points between Storage Roads. New Storage Road 2 (EOL) 8ch.
03066 New Storage Road 2 (EOL) Springwell Branch, clear of points 8ch.
02003 Springwell Branch, clear of points Carriage Siding 1, loading pad gates 16ch.
03066 Carriage Siding 1, loading pad gates Running Line, clear of points 21ch.
02003 Running Line, clear of points Carriage Siding 2 (EOL) 15ch.
03066 Carriage Siding 2 (EOL) Springwell Branch (EOL) 15ch.
02003 Springwell Branch (EOL) Barrow Hill Roundhouse Halt P2 36ch.
35ch.

BELOW: In the opposite direction (Roundhouse on the right out of sight) Carriage Siding 2 (left) has
recently been extended, No1 continues through the gate to the Loading Pad and end of line, as before.

It was noted by those at the 'keen' end of the train that new Storage Road 1 was slightly longer than 2.
All new and changed track was covered as planned and efficiently so members departed happy if
slightly damp. Some then headed off north to Middlesbrough for our AV Dawson event next day.
That included our very wet (he should have worn his Barrow Hill P'Way Supervisor Hat) 'man on the
ground' (Martyn Brailsford) who busied himself clamping points all evening and didn't get need any of
the new track in fact! So a final big thank you to him, or as they say in those parts 'Thanks mi duck'!

Details must be checked 1309 CONNECTIONS (Paul Stewart) [email protected] Please mention BLN

1603] Railway Benefit Fund 2019 Charity Calendar Photo Competition: Follow in Kev Adlam's tracks; his
picture of our 16 Apr 2014 R&ER tour won a place in the 2017 calendar. All photos must have a link to one
of the four seasons on trains, platforms and/or stations in the UK. The 13 winners have the satisfaction of
helping this great charity and receive a free calendar. See https://goo.gl/D493iH closes midday on 30 Aug.

X.111] Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, 'Rails & Ales', Sat 11 & Sun 12 Aug: Locos booked to work so far
08605, 08704, 31206, 31601, 33103 & 73210. Day Rover Adult £17 (two days £30), Concessions £15, Child
£8.50, Family (2A+3C) £44.50. Valid to Ravenstor and Duffield. Fish & Chip special 19.15 from Wirksworth
£6 with rover or £12 Book Fish & Chips (or on the day if available). Of possible interest, Shottle Loop and
Wirksworth P1 brake van rides all day on the Wash Green line £1 per ride or drive between the rides £10.

1604] Amnerfield Miniature, Sat 18 Aug, 11.30-15.00: (MR p12) Amners Farm, Burghfield, Reading,
RG30 3UE, (SU 681 694). A ¾ mile long 5"/7¼" railway now with limited public running - £1.50 a ride.

1605] Nottingham NET, Five for £5 until 4 Sep: Up to 2 Adults and 3 Children unlimited travel all day,
every day. (Normally available after 16.00 on weekdays and all day at weekends, the validity has been
increased for the school holidays.) The ticket is available from all ticket machines on the network.

1606] West Midlands Metro 'Fab 5 Ticket': Up to 5 adults or 5 adults and up to 4 children unlimited
day travel for £5. Normally weekends and after 18.00 weekdays; now after 09.30 (previously £8.50
then) in the school holidays, Mondays to Fridays, from the tram conductor, cash or contactless card.

1607] Snowdon Switzerland, 1-30 Sep NOT Fridays: (BLN 1307.1354) Brienz Rothorn Railways 1891
built coal fired 4-0-2 Loco No2 with an 1891 enclosed 1st Class Passenger Coach from Llanberis arrivals
platform FREE trips at 10.02, 10.32, 15.32 & 16.02 to the very rare Waterfall Halt (41ch) and back,
(about 20 minutes). To reserve places email [email protected] with date, time and number of people.

1608] Docklands Light Railway, Sat & Sun to 9 Sep: Shedding 'light' on the history of the area 10.00
and hourly until 17.00 'Discovery Train' from Tower Gateway to Cutty Sark, with a professional tour
guide, not calling at any stations. Features Canary Wharf, Crossrail Place and the Roof Garden above
the Elizabeth line station, Billingsgate Fish Market, Limehouse basin and the iconic Cutty Sark tea
clipper. Then a 30 minute guided walking tour around Greenwich, return from Cutty Sark by any
service train. Tickets £8 Adults; £4 Children can be purchased in advance at tfl.gov.uk/dlr-discovery.

1609] Atlas of Railway Station Closures (full title): (BLN 1308.1494) (2018 edition) 128 A4 pages, RRP £25.
A member offers the following observations. The emphasis is entirely on passenger closures and not just
standard gauge, so presumably only passenger lines are intended to appear. Annoying oddities and errors
creep in - some examples: ●p21 square A2 seems to show a range of 'open-for-passenger' lines (ie black
lines) in the Dukinfield/Guide Bridge area which have actually long gone. ●Kenilworth Jn - Berkswell (10A5)
saw its last regular passenger train in 1965. ●Dorchester South's former 'terminal' platform (3F3) is not still
in use. ●Sudbury (12D5) station 'moved' in 1990 back to virtually its pre-1865 location. ●Evesham's
GWR/Midland Railway connecting spur (9C4) is the wrong way round. ●Ashchurch 'flat crossing' (9D3) had
no regular passenger service. ●Birmingham Granville Street (13C3) branch (ex-Birmingham West Suburban
Railway) is shown as open (although it closed in 1885) but the station itself is shown neither on the map
nor in the listing. ●Thrybergh Jn - Mexborough (42F1) is shown as closed but Dearne Jn - Mexborough is
shown as open. Why are loco sheds shown on the maps at all - and why in black (implying that they are all

open)? The table of station closures is an endeavour to simplify matters down to '...the dates... when
normal (passenger) services ceased'. If only it was that simple, for example: Barry Pier saw its last boat
connection on Mon 18 Oct 1971 (BLN 191, p.164); the closure went through the full TUCC procedure; the
date formally declared passenger service withdrawal was 5 May 1975 (BLN 272 p.59). The date shown in
the Atlas - 5 Jul 1976 - was when it was cut back to Barry Island station so hardly meets the stated criteria.
For more 'comprehensive' information, the compilers (page v) refer readers to Clinker's Register (now
some 40 years out of date) and Michael Quick's magisterial tome - so what is the purpose of this book?

1610] Glenfield Tunnel tours, 8,9,15 & 16 Sep, 10.00, 11.30, 14.00 & 15.30: Leicestershire Industrial
History Society (LIHS) https://goo.gl/LCXBK2 from Glenfield Co-op overflow car park, lasts about an
hour. Glenfield station site, part of the Leicester & Swannington Railway (L&SR) & 400yd of the tunnel.
No charge, donations welcome. Must be pre-booked [email protected] 0116 2415153
(ask for Chris Hossack). LIHS publications include: The L&SR in a nutshell, Glenfield Tunnel, The L&SR
Today, The L&SR Compendium (650 pages on disc), West Bridge Wharf & Station; £5 each plus P&P.

1611] Heritage Open Days: This annual event has expanded to Thur 6 - Sun 9 and Thur 13 - Sun 16
Sep 2018 with 5,000+ locations involving 40,000 volunteers. All are free admission (even where an
admission fee is normally charged) and many are of railway interest, with some open just once a
year. The problem is that you can only be in one place at a time! A comprehensive search engine:
https://goo.gl/Ci2hFn putting in 'railway' brings up 119 entries which can be refined by area etc.

1612] London Transport Museum, Sun 9 Sep: 1938 tube stock trips (wooden windows/floor deep seats,
art-deco lamp shades and period adverts). 1940s costumes. Harrow-on-the-Hill, Amersham & Watford
from £10 Adult; Concessions £7. Free heritage bus Amersham station to Old Town for Heritage Day, live
bands, market stalls, children's area and fair etc. Book at https://goo.gl/7n1sHv 02075657298.

1613] Manchester, Mayfield station tours: (BLN 1299.368 - report/pictures) With well known tour
guide and author, Jonathan Schofield, as now taken by many BLS members - do one while you still can
(the site closes for major redevelopment). Near Piccadilly station/tram stop. All 15.00 Sun: 19 & 26
Aug; 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 Sep and 7 Oct. Only £10 book https://goo.gl/Y74QwX with details of many
other interesting tours.

X.112] Chartered Institute of Transport & Logistics, Volk's Electric Railway, Tue 18 Sep, 15.00 - 17:00:
(MR p16) (BLN 1305.MR99) Visitor Centre, Madeira Drive, Brighton, BN2 1EN. Following refurbishment
of the World's oldest electric railway a visit the new visitor centre, tour the workshops and a have a
specialist presentation on the railway. Book online https://goo.gl/6Wtgs7 or 01536 740104 or email
[email protected] quote the event code: GTG0355; Cost £15 (members/non-members).

1614] The Caledonian Railway's (CR) Wemyss Bay Station: When the CR completely rebuilt the
station in 1902/03, it commissioned professional photographers to record the work. Happily, the
fascinating photos survive at the National Archives of Scotland. They depict land reclamation,
construction of the new sea wall and the new station (while the trains kept running!), as well as the
completed work. Many are published in this new updated 32 page A4 booklet, produced by the
Friends of Wemyss Bay Station. All profits go towards floral displays and station conservation work.
It also includes a history of the Greenock & Wemyss Bay Railway by Jim MacIntosh, and some recent
developments. £7.70 including UK P&P, from Friends of Wemyss Bay Station, The Bookshop,
Wemyss Bay Station, Wemyss Bay, PA18 6AR; or at https://goo.gl/LccY7R and pay with PayPal.

1615] Scottish Railway Preservation Society, 'Forth Circle' .Sat 13 Oct:: (BLN 1307.1358) New date,
steam hauled by 'Tornado', morning train Linlithgow (09.50/14.20) afternoon train Inverkeithing
(15.25/19.25), Forth Bridge, Fife Coast, Kincardine, Stirling Falkirk. https://goo.gl/DswYmp 0131
202 103. Those doing both trip can stay on. Lunch or Dinner respectively available for £14; Standard
Class £69; First Class £99.

1616] Warley National Model Railway Model Railway Exhibition, NEC, Birmingham, Sat 24 (09.45-18.00)
& Sun 25 (09.45-17.00) Nov: Advance ticket holders admitted half an hour earlier. The UK's biggest model
railway exhibition, if you only ever visit one this should be it - Birmingham International station is nearby.
90+ layouts (Gauges 'Z' to '1' and above), 150+ specialist trade stands, demonstrations, full sized Romney,
Hythe & Dymchurch Railway display. On the day: Adult £17/two day £31; Junior 5-16 £1/£2 with adult.
In advance £15.50/£28; £1/£2 respectively; Guide book £6.50 with P&P. Cheque/postal order by 11 Nov,
payee 'Warley MRC Exhibitions Ltd' to: 86 Gospel End Rd, Sedgley, Dudley, DY3 3YU with 11cm x 22cm SAE.

1617] The High Peak Explorer, Sat 2 Mar 2019: Carnforth (06.00/21.00) - Preston (06.45/20.15) -
Wigan NW - Patricroft - Manchester Vic (07.50/19.00) - Ashton Moss North Jn - Denton - Stockport
- Chinley - Peak Forest - Buxton XYZ Sidings - Hindlow - Buxton (13.10/16.15) - return as outward.
Two steam locos, from £109 Adult Standard Class https://goo.gl/V88VoG or 01553 661 500.

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Published by the Branch Line Society, 10 Sandringham Road, Stoke Gifford, BS34 8NP. ISSN 1354-0947

X.113] BELOW: The Chiltern Railways PSUL at Paddington P14 on 11 Jul - see item 1528. (Rob Davidson)