1396

[BLN 1396]…

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By Kev Adlam…

ABOVE & NEXT PAGE:. .
By Rob Frazier....

LEFT: A most unusual
sight inside 'Molly' of
Martyn Brailsford sitting
still and not drawing a
map or doing something.

(Ian Hughes CDM, .
Fri 2 Feb 2022.)..

X.81: LEFT: BLN 1395.X.52 (should have been
X.62) Caption Competition. Photo by Jenny
Williamson, 12 Feb 2022; the MER at Pole
161 (track laying nearly complete), it was a
windy day, a flash was not required. There
were three entries we could publish:

●'The MER denies that their winter track
renewals have become bogged down.'

●'This must be the relief line....'

●'That certainly was a
Very bad case of wind.'

ABOVE: Barrow Hill boarded up and run down after its then recent closure as a British Rail
Depot from 9 Feb 1991. (The late Angus McDougall, 23 Mar 1991 as it was getting dark.)

BELOW: Back to 20 Feb 2022 and Steward's trianing at Barrow Hill, (Ian Hughes CDM.)

695] ABOVE Guess the Location: The end of a good old fashioned branch line,
part of which still has some track on it now - answer in BLN 1397.

696] Sun 3 Jul; GWSR: Thanks to our member Rob Davidson, we are invited on this Watford Branch
RCTS visit. It includes a full line ride by steam and diesel, a Steam and Diesel Shed visit at Toddington,
a C&W and signal box visit at Winchcombe, and thanks to owners Bryan and Savita, full access to
Gotherington station where there are many railway artefacts to see with rides on the Wickham Trolley
and a track cycle on the former goods yard. Gotherington West platform has been repaired. Meet at
Toddington 09.45 by the Steam Shed gates for the shed visits, then 10.38 steam train to Broadway
and Winchcombe. Next is the 13.12 diesel train to Gotherington. You can do what you want there and
for the rest of the day. Depending on numbers the cost is £25 for the day, with a 10% reduction for at
least 10 paying persons. Please email [email protected] if you fancy booking a place/queries

697] The Brighton Line: Brighton to Coulsdon North; A Signalling Perspective by Chris Durrant 360
pages, 27.5 x 21.5cm, Gloss art paper, board coloured covers (Lightmoor Press) LIMITED EDITION £45.

This book charts the developments of the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway through the
Southern Railway to British Rail, from Brighton to Coulsdon North, with particular focus on a signalling
perspective. With a wealth of illustrative detail, the historical progress of the railway is recounted -
from steam to electric motive power and mechanical to colour light signalling. Original documents and
photographs are used from national and regional archives, supplemented by material from personal
collections including the author's own. While the author's technical and professional expertise as a
signalling engineer is employed to the full, this book is also about a way of life.

Giving access to the proudly polished interiors of historic signal boxes with glimpses of signalmen's
domestic routines, the triumphs and tribulations of life in the S&T maintenance department, and the
liaisons with fellow departments, this book is as much a history of railwaymen as of the railway.

The story of the surrounding landscape encroaches, too; the railway adjusts from race goers to airport
traffic at Gatwick and includes the building of a motorway; signal boxes encased in brick protect
against wartime air raids; elements of the skyline change while others remain. Documenting a time
before passengers became customers, when performance targets and train operating companies were
unheard of, this book celebrates the work of the engineers who built the railway. It recognises those
whose aim was to maintain and run an excellent service and honours the photographers who took
time to capture evocative images of architecture and infrastructure from construction to demise.
This thoroughly researched book includes the author's inimitable personal commentary.

698] Southfield Light Railway (7¼" gauge): (Track plan BLN 1324.638 of 9 Mar 2019) (MR p20) The
ultimate and longest UK private railway, in lovely grounds. Southfield House, Kenwick Road, Louth,
Lincs, LN11 8NL. Steaming days: Sundays 3 & 24 Apr, 29 May, 26 Jun, 24 Jul, 4 Sep and 2 & 30 Oct.
10.30-15.00. The owner prefers adults to wear a face mask, please. 10.30-12.00, 12.00-13.30 and
13.30-15.00 sessions. The basic run is over 1¼ miles (with a large viaduct) and takes 33 minutes!
https://bit.ly/36F9pJz is a 13 min video. All children must be supervised. Book as many dates as you
like (specify session and numbers) at [email protected] or text 07720 091111.

699] Stapleford Miniature Railway: (MR p19) Stapleford Park, Melton Mowbray, LE14 2SF. Britain's
longest 10¼" gauge line, nearly 2 miles of track. A friendly railway with great history in the lovely
grounds of a stately home. The first two and, more likely, the last two trains of the day usually return
to Stapleford Jn reversing spur (part of the remaining pre-1982 line), then propel back to the station in
service, covering the rare two sides of the triangle - updated reports welcome. The train engines do
not then have to be released from (or become trapped at) the buffer stops ends of the two terminal
platforms (no run-round loops) and the end coaches reach the end of lines. Supporting Leicestershire
& Rutland Hospice; 2022 public running from 10.00: 11-12 Jun Models & Miniatures Weekend; 2-3 Jul
Salute to the 1940s; 27-29 Aug Vintage Steam Rally. See website for charges and more details.

700] Engineering Richborough: Colin Varrall, self
published, from [email protected] or
eBay; £20 P&P £3;. 178 pages, 11" x 8" - 160 have
B&W photos. This clever book isn't a railway book
as such but details how Richborough Port in Kent
was built by the Royal Engineers and how it grew
in importance during WWI as a major supply line
for troops on the Western Front. There were 60
track miles of railway infrastructure so it will be of
interest to railway and engineering enthusiasts.
At its peak the site was 2,162 acres, with around
18,000 soldiers billeted and 800 civilian workers.

The Royal Engineers built 600 railway wagons and repaired over 10,000. They were moved by many
locos requisitioned by the War Office for use in the port. It had the UK's first Train Ferry Terminal.
There were two connecting stations Richborough Military Halt and Richborough Castle Halt, both
CP 1939. [Quick suggests that they may have been the same station.] After WWI, operations were
run down by the War Office, although a 1923 Light Railways Act for an extension and bridge allowed
The East Kent Light Railway (EKLR) to connect to the Port via Eastry and Sandwich Road stations.
However, this wasn't completed until 1929, with a small wooden platform called Richborough Port
but it is thought that it was never used by passengers, due to fears over the safety of the bridge
[Quick supports this]. If any member has an issued EKLR ticket to this station, please do advise!

Trains ran into the port with coal and bricks for export and the EKLR joined the London to Dover line
at Shepherdswell. This connection was used in WWII but afterwards services slowly ground to a halt
and the line closed north of Tilmanstone Colliery. This book is good value for money and a great
addition to your collection. It also gives a history of the area before the port was built and what is
left now. Hudswell Clarke Works No1243 'Richboro' built 1917 ran at the port and worked at various
collieries until 1969. It has been restored and now runs at The Aln Valley Railway. (Dana Wiffen.)

CONTACT DETAILS: See BLN/e-BLN 1390 or 1350 (18 Apr 2020), website PDF or via 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: Mark Gomm [email protected] 84 Mornington Road, STOKE-ON-TRENT, ST1 6EL 07983 541887.
●BLS Sales: Graeme Jolley [email protected] Dolbryn, Penegoes, MACHYNLLETH, Powys, SY20 8NN. 07484646542.

●Printed by Willow Printing & Design Ltd [email protected] 75/79 Back Cross Lane, NEWTON-LE-WILLOWS,
WA12 9YE 01925222449. ●Published by the Branch Line Society, 10 Sandringham Rd, STOKE GIFFORD, BS34 8NP.