1351

1274] T&W Metro: ❶Passenger numbers have fallen by over 90%. Normally two thirds of operating
costs are covered by fares and advertising etc, with the rest met by a government subsidy. The system
is now losing £1M per week. (See item 1240.) ❷On the South Shields line 250m of track was replaced
on Crossgate Viaduct from 16-19 Apr with the workers social-distancing. 450 tonnes of ballast and 650
sleepers were used. Buses ran Hebburn - South Shields. ❸Howdon depot is progressing well.

1275] Grand Central (GCR): In March the company's biggest challenge was creating extra capacity to
meet rising demand by running extra services and longer trains. It was only nine weeks away from
launching a new service between Blackpool and Euston. But just a few weeks later the company had
to temporarily suspend all services due to the severe reduction in passenger numbers. Previously, on
average, each train carried 250-300 people, but this dropped to about 100 a day in total - about two
people per coach on the 10 services operating. GCR (a DB owned Arriva group company) receives no
government financial support. GCR did have constructive dialogue with the DfT on how best to keep
services running and ran fewer while discussions continued, but eventually managed the shut down in
only 24 hours. A few staff are retained for safety, security and so that GCR can restart operations. This
should be fairly quick on the ECML but recruitment and training will need to restart on the WCML.

1276] Harrogate: NR is proposing a new facing crossover south of the station but north of the current
trailing crossover, with associated signalling to make P3 bidirectional. It will allow LNER to use 9/10-car
Azumas without the extra driver needed for a double shunt, since additional LNER services began in
Dec 2019. (They are all now suspended in the Emergency Timetable.) LNER services will also be able to
clear the running lines quicker, improving Northern service performance. It will allow LNER to serve
Horsforth and supports a future fourth Northern path. The £2.1M DfT requested scheme is funded by
forecast underspends on ECML enhancements and is currently due for completion by the end of 2020.

Harrogate terminating LNER trains would then run into P3 in service then ECS to Harrogate Down
Siding until they return. The 2-hourly service has a 1hr 16min turnaround. Now they have to terminate
in P1, draw forward past the trailing crossover north of the station, reverse into P3 and reverse again
to the Down Siding to return to London from P3. This shunt is timetabled for 20 minutes.

1277] Something Fishy in the Air(e)? The serious Feb flooding, when the nearby River Aire burst its
banks, weakened the Down side embankment of the double track Drax branch. Mostly on an
embankment it took on the appearance of a long causeway. The power station generates about 6% of
our electricity, so it was vital to keep trains running while repair work was carried out. Single Line
Working with a pilotman operated from Drax Branch Junction for four miles to the NR boundary.
This affected our 14 Mar 'Power of Aire' tour, of course. The branch has up to 110 trains a week each
way mostly for biomass. An amended timetable was in force, changed from week to week as required.

Engineers worked 24 hours a day, monitoring the embankment for further movements. £300K of
emergency repairs were made using unconventional methods to reopen the line as quickly as possible.
This included divers inspecting underwater structures, as well as flying drones and helicopters to
assess the damage. The significant repairs included replacing ballast which had been washed away.
The Down line reopened on schedule on 20 Apr, with an initial 5 mph restriction until full repairs are
completed. NR is now designing works to improve the resilience of the line, expected to cost £2.5M.

Some large koi carp fish, from a nearby private residence were discovered on the railway, their pond
had also flooded! Network Rail teams did some excellent net work to return them home [Poole?].

1278] The Queensbury Rules: (BLN 1348.818) [Do they apply to Box Tunnel?] A senior manager from
Highways England, responsible for managing the Queensbury Tunnel, has told the tunnel campaign
group that, while discussions continue over funding for a greenway through the tunnel, any further
safety works undertaken… will not be prejudicial to a future reopening. This follows Grant Shapps
rejection of the official advice to fill the tunnel in and his wish to work with local leaders and the
Combined Authority to come up with a better solution. However, Highways England hasn't withdrawn
its planning application to abandon the tunnel and their contractor is on site daily despite Covid.

BELOW: (Item 1277) The River Aire in flood in Feb; part of Drax Power St

tation is top left with the branch running down to the bottom right. (NR.)

BELOW: (Item 1281) Taken from Carr Lane User Worked Cro
Looking east towards Gainsborough and Lincoln the Orange Army is at wo

ossing (115m 72ch) south of Doncaster on a local Boris Walk.
ork installing the new Bessacarr underpass. ©Andy Overton 13 Apr 2020.

1279] Normanton: On 20 Apr NR was to start Stage 1 of
removing the Welbeck Discharge Bunker, not at Welbeck
Colliery (Notts) but the former Goose Hill Jn (TRACKmaps 2
p35B Oct 2016), just south of Normanton on the Down side; the
sidings were already OOU. The facing connection from the
Down L&Y line (49m 63ch miles from Manchester Victoria via
Rochdale) was to be recovered. The trailing connection from
these sidings into the Down L&Y line (184m 63ch miles from St
Pancras via Leicester, Toton, Barrow Hill & Cudworth, of
course!) and the associated facing crossover was to be removed.

1280] Grey Lagging Behind: Talking of Goose Hill Jn (previous
item), York station is now so quiet that on 19 Apr a goose with an egg was spotted on a flower planter
there in the booking office area (ABOVE LEFT - it is a real one!). Apparently Greylag and Canada geese
are a common sight in York, home to about 500 birds. The things some birds will do to get their picture
in BLN… Had the previous Transport Secretary still been in post it could have been a Grayling‽

1281] Doncaster: ❶Over Easter,
NR installed a £3.5M combined
pedestrian/bridleway underpass
beneath the Lincoln line at Carr
Lane, near Bessacarr Jn. It replaced
Carr Lane (115m 72ch) and
Bessacarr Halt (115m 48ch) level
crossings. Bessacarr Halt was on
the Lincoln side of its crossing, a
short lived non-timetabled halt
for(e) golfers, possibly OP 1911
(before the Board of Trade
inspection on 16 Jan 1912!) and
CP 1914 (Quick 2019). The actual
crossing was equipped with
miniature warning lights as it had
byway status so was open to all
traffic, including vehicles. Carr
Lane crossing was a User Worked
Crossing bridleway, meaning that it was not open to vehicles, but was to horse riders. This bridleway
also crosses the ECML at Loversall Carr Jn on a substantial ramped footbridge. That replaced a
dangerous level crossing after a tragic incident in which a mother and two children were killed there.
ABOVE: The underpass, cast on site, is ready to be moved in to place over Easter. (Network Rail.)

Recently there has been extensive house building in the triangle between the ECML, Lincoln line and
the M18, which greatly increased the use of the two crossings over the Lincoln line. NR objected to
further development on the grounds of crossing safety and it is understood the developer contributed
to the cost of the underpass as part of the planning permission. The underpass is a significant structure
because it has to accommodate both road vehicles and riders seated on horses. Work has been taking
place since November. The line was closed from 19.00 Sat 11 until 14 Apr (passenger services are SuX).

❷The derailment (picture BLN 1350.X.64) was on 13 Aug 1990. EMU 307122 derailed on the middle
siding trap points (not catch points) between north bays P6 & 7 at 07.04 while shunting to work the
08.04 Doncaster to Leeds. A member saw the aftermath and had access to the Control Log then.

❸Return to sender? By mid-Apr five redundant Class 91s were stored at the ex-Royal Mail Terminal.

1281A] Young at Heart (1): Wooler station, leased from the London North Eastern Railway, was a
Youth Hostel from Whitsun 1932 to the end of the 1939 season. CP 22 Sep 1930 it was on the 35¾ mile
rambling Alnwick - Coldstream line and had a pick up goods. The hostel was in waiting rooms on both
the platforms, male and female sleeping accommodation on opposite sides of the line (epitomising the
Ups and Downs of relationships)! In 1938 a shed was provided to improve washing facilities.

1351 NORTH WEST (John Cameron) [email protected]

X.81] ABOVE: Arnside (looking towards Carnforth); the 110-year-old footbridge has been refurbished
at a cost of £370k.Steelwork was repaired and replaced, new anti-slip flooring and lights installed and
the bridge repainted. A temporary footbridge had been in use since December. (Network Rail.)
1282] Manchester Red Bank: Easter brought back memories of an interesting charter train organised
by a well known member. Monday of Easter 1989 was the one and only charter run by Support the
Oldham Rochdale Manchester rail line (STORM). Our member arrived at Red Bank Carriage Sidings
outside Victoria at 06.15 with a box of 300 itineraries he had written and printed on his office printer!
The waiting train was formed of 9 Mk1 compartment carriages in Pilkington advertising livery headed
by a pair of Leeds based Class 31 locos. The train then picked up at Castleton and every other station
on the Oldham Loop and then Manchester Victoria. It arrived at Blaenau Ffestiniog around lunchtime
and passengers transferred to a private steam hauled train to Porthmadog. After an hour it was back
to Blaenau for the main train home. Following the final set down the train (with the organiser still on
board) was prevented from entering Red Bank by the direct route from the east by a points failure.
Instead it continued to Bolton and reversed before taking the west end connection into Red Bank. This
enabled the happy organiser to grice the full length of Red Bank, which was the only time he did so.
NEXT PAGE: From the photographer's elevated former place of employment a view across Manchester
with the former Red Bank Carriage Sidings in Dec 1981 during snow. LS Lowry (a local lad made good)

would have been proud of the matchstick people bottom right. (Ian Mortimer, Jan 1981.)

BELOW: Nearby Cheetham Sidings; a Bury line EMU passes, note the curve since reinstated for Metrolink.
Also taken from the place of employment (Ian Mortimer was high up in the company). March 1980.

1283] More fishy tales: When the Rochdale to Bacup direct line was closing in Jun 1947, the Rochdale
Observer reported that the only people concerned were the fish shops and fish & chip shops who were
worried how they would receive their supplies of fish as it came by passenger train in the guard's van.

How did the supplies of fish reach Rochdale from Fleetwood? They were unloaded at what was called
'The Fish Dock'. This was the small siding and platform which, in 2020, is used as a staff car park at the
Nye Bevan House Health Centre. Entrance to the sidings was controlled by a small signal box officially
called the 'Down Platform Box', but universally known as 'Codfish'.

The fish question had never occurred to our member until one August Bank Holiday Monday when at
about 9.30pm he saw a short train composed 'solely' (!) of fish vans (loco and brake van too of course)
in the Codfish Siding. Then three or four years later, on another Bank Holiday Monday, he was at
Leyland by the WCML when a long southbound fish train passed. Shortly afterwards a short fish train
(Wot no long fish?) went by, signalled towards Bolton. He checked the Special Traffic Notice and it was
from Wyre Dock at Fleetwood to Bolton, Bury, Rochdale, Oldham and Manchester.

There seemed to be no corresponding train in the Working Timetable but a careful look did show a fish
train from Fleetwood to Bolton and Bury. A bit more investigating and it appears the train terminated
at Bury Knowsley Street station but the fish vans were collected by one of the later parcels trains
which came up from Bolton to Rochdale and then continued to Oldham. It seems the fish vans were
probably picked up by the Bolton to Leicester parcels train rather than the Colne to Stockport one.
[It is surprising it didn't continue to Mackerelsfield.] Smaller stations would receive fish by passenger
train which is why so many guards' brakes smelt fishy. Cod was presumably strictly Cash On Delivery?

Our member's memories of Manchester Exchange, bay P1 he thinks, were the overpowering smell of
fish, if fish vans were present or not. He found out later from an uncle who worked for London
Midland & Scottish Railway that the ice from the vans melts onto the track causing the smell.

1284] Rock Ferry: The disused Down & Up Canning Street line (formerly access to Birkenhead Docks)
has been devegetated from Rock Ferry South Jn through, and about 150yd north of, the disused
platform here. It is understood that this is for access to install a new, improved power supply.

1285] Fiddlers Ferry: (BLN 1344.256) The power station closed on 31 Mar 2020. It is not known how
much (if any) coal, limestone or Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) Gypsum remains on site. When
Ferrybridge closed 31 Mar 2016 the very large coal stockpile there was transported to Fiddlers Ferry
by rail, both power stations being SSE (formerly Scottish & Southern Energy) owned. In recent years
further coal came in by rail - generally from Portbury - to blend with it. However, the '8D Association'
website reports 15 years' worth of fly ash on site which they say may be removed by rail. The latest
GBRf Gypsum train left at 05.26 on Fri 6 Mar for New Biggin, north of Appleby on the Settle & Carlisle.

1286] Manchester Piccadilly - food for thought: ❶A food bank donations point has opened here.
The station team had the idea after food from the staff canteen at NR's nearby Square One offices
risked going to waste with numerous NR employees there working from home instead. The station
team discovered that Manchester Central Foodbank was in desperate need of many essential items.

❷Recently loaded Liverpool Docks to Drax biomass trains have been running via Eccles and through
Manchester Piccadilly to Guide Bridge with passenger services through P13 & 14 down to 6-7 trains
per hour each way compared with 11-12 normally. However, from Sun 26 Apr they reverted to their
normal circuitous route via Northwich, Altrincham and Stockport. Does anyone know why? The return
discharged wagons were/are still routed via Manchester Victoria. Freight trains are generally banned
from passing through Victoria from west to east in case they fail on the bank at Miles Platting.

1287] Mossley Hill: (BLN1345.418) The passenger footbridge was replaced over Easter as planned.

1288] Stockport: From Mon 20 Apr Avanti temporarily shut the station underpass other than to
station staff and key workers. The underpass is normally a pedestrian route between Edgeley and the
town centre (presumably in normal times ticket barrier staff allow people through for this purpose?).

[BLN 1351]

LEFT: Mossley Hill, the new footbridge.

1289] Cumbrian Coast: (BLN 1350.1127)
Single Line Working (from 8 Apr) between
Bootle and Drigg ended after Sat 18 Apr.
The first services on Sun 19 Apr were
cancelled each way so the 11.50 Barrow
to Whitehaven was the first to use the
Down line on the repaired Eskmeals
Viaduct. The line remains closed between
Whitehaven and Workington while a
replacement underbridge is built near
Parton, expected to take 2-3 months.

1290] Carlisle: At 13.30 on 7 Apr a bird landed on the high voltage cables underneath a bridge at
Carlisle Kingmoor causing the section involved to earth. The current at 25kV (they don't call them
killer-volts for nothing) passed into the bridge, causing the wires to melt, lose 'tension' and break away
from their supports. It took over a dozen staff just six hours to repair this so overnight WCML freight
trains ran normally. Prophylactic secondary insulation was applied to the wires under the bridge.

1291] Ulverston: The Furness Line Action Group (FLAG) reports that the station barrow crossing is out
of use after an isolated incident. They have flagged up that the subway is not a practical option for
wheelchair users. FLAG suggests the crossing be available 08.50-17.05, with supervised access.

1292] Arnside: (BLN 1344.264) NR has reinforced Holmrock embankment south of Kent Viaduct. The
slope has been strengthened and a new piled retaining wall protects the track from future movement.

BELOW: The lengths some people will go to socially distance (Aughton Park) - see 1295.

[BLN 1351]
1293] Bare Lane (BLN 1350.1126) The booked platforms for each service will show on the passenger
information screens (and is announced automatically) but trains can still be signalled into the 'other'
platform, of course. [If the train going to Heysham is put on the wrong platform it won't!] Anyone
going to Morecambe will simply miss the train at Bare Lane because of the crossing barriers. In the
Lancaster direction, it is possible to race round once the barriers are lifted, hoping that the train will
wait! The Station Adopters have been working with both Northern and NR over the past few months
to try and resolve this problem, with some success in achieving improved coordination between the
signallers at Preston PSB and the booked platforms as set out by the operator, Northern.

1294] Blackpool: Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Councils are each bidding for £800k (=£2.4M total) from
the Future High Street Fund for a feasibility study on plans to construct a Fylde Coast Tram loop. It
would be formed by linking the current Blackpool Tramway with the heavy rail Blackpool South line to
Lytham, St Annes, and Kirkham & Wesham then looping back to Poulton-le-Fylde, again on Network
Rail metals, before utilising the disused Poulton-le-Fylde to Fleetwood line from there to complete the
circle. The last is subject to a separate bid to be reopened as a heavy railway line (BLN 1345.413).

1295] Aughton Park: Over several recent weekends specialist abseiling contractors, working over 2m
apart from each other, have secured the rock cutting at the station on the Liverpool - Ormskirk line.
Loose material was removed, drainage inspected and ground conditions monitored on a cutting.

1296] Scouting at Guide Bridge: The track beds of some disused railway lines in the area can be
walked today. The LNWR's Audenshaw - Stalybridge line left the Stockport - Guide Bridge line at
Denton Jn. The course of the railway can be walked from near the junction through what is now a
park. If you did not know it, you would not guess that a railway had once passed this way. After this
the line entered Hooley Tunnel, some of the brickwork of which remains at Mount Pleasant St. There
were two intermediate stations. The first was Hooley Hill Guide Bridge, OP 1 Nov 1887; temporarily
closed on 1 Jan 1917 (along with many others); ROP 3 Oct 1921; renamed Audenshaw on 2 Jun 1924
and CP 25 Sep 1950. The other station was Dukinfield & Ashton, OP 2 Oct 1893; CP 25 Sep 1950.

Another short LNWR line in the area was Ashton Moss Jn (South) - Droylsden Jn. After diverging from
the existing Denton Jn to Ashton Moss Jn (North) Line at Ashton Moss Jn (South), this line crossed the
Ashton Canal. The bridge is no more, but one of the stone abutments can be seen on the north canal
bank. A little to the north of the canal was Audenshaw station, OP 1 Nov 1883; CP 1 May 1905 (before
the separate Hooley Hill station - see above - was renamed Audenshaw). No trace remains today, the
site is now covered by a retail park and access road, to the south of Hyde Rd. Just north of Hyde Rd the
remainder of the track alignment has been turned into a pleasant tarmac footpath with lighting. It can
be followed through to the site of Droylsden Jn where the line joined the present Manchester Victoria
- Ashton-under-Lyne line. There are trees, grass and flower beds to either side of the path.

1297] Gorton: Beyer, Peacock and Co built Gorton Foundry in 1854 and the first locomotive, for the
GWR, was completed in 1855. At the advent of dieselisation they produced diesel hydraulic locos.
When BR decided to standardise the fleet to diesel electric it spelled decline for Beyer Peacock and the
foundry finally ceased production in 1966; it had then produced over 8,000 locomotives for home and
abroad. The building that once housed the former boiler shop, tender shop and boiler mounting shop -
550ft long - remains in use as part of Manchester City Council 's Hammerstone Road Depot.

Gorton Foundry was south of the Manchester to Guide Bridge line and should not be confused with
the Gorton Works (known locally as Gorton Tank). Gorton Works was a separate loco works, also
established by Richard Peacock in 1845 for the Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester Railway,
eventually the Great Central Railway. It stood on the opposite, north, side of the line and no trace
remains today. The site is now home to a cash and carry, a fruit and veg market and a police garage.

NEXT TWO: Gorton Foundry buildings, yes you've got the idea, another Boris Walk. (John Cameron.)









1298] Timetable: On 23 Apr Northern advised that they in the next phase of the Emergency Timetable
they expect to operated double units if possible and restart services on some lines now provided with
buses. Preston - Ormskirk and Wigan Wallgate - Kirkby were mentioned. From Mon 27 Apr ECS moves
began over various routes without regular passenger services for 4-5 weeks for crew knowledge.

1299] Someone likes it! (E-BLN 1350.X.66) OP 15 Dec 2019, Warrington West station won the Large
Project Award (presented at an online ceremony) from the North West Institute of Civil Engineers.

1351 SOUTH EAST - NORTH & EAST ANGLIA (Julian James) [email protected]
1300] Young at Heart (2): (BLN 1350.1080) Thetford Bridge station (TL 880829) was a youth hostel
from 1955 to 1961, and between 1964 and 1970. CP 8 Jun 1953 it was on the 12¾ mile long direct
Thetford to Bury St Edmunds line (CA 27 Jun 1960). The Youth Hostels Association (YHA) East Anglia
North region had hoped to open it in summer 1954, but this was postponed until 25 Mar 1955 due to
tenancy difficulties with the British Transport Commission. The hostel closed in 1961 due to the threat

of nearby road improvements. The lease
was thus surrendered 30 Nov 1961 but
the hostel then reopened on 1 Jul 1964,
pending compulsory purchase for the
road scheme, but closed 30 Sep 1970.

The hostel was described as a country
station on the Thetford to Bury line. This
was still open for freight traffic during the
first period of YHA opening with a pick up
goods service. After the 1960 closure one
mile from Thetford West Jn to Thetford
Bridge was retained until Nov 1963 for
possible traffic but never used. That short
section was double track then the rest of
the line south to Bury was single. (We will
explain in a future BLN why Thetford
West Jn was east of Thetford station.)

ABOVE: 1957 map; Thetford station is top left with Ely to the left and Norwich off top right. Double
track extends to Thetford Bridge (white spot) by the triangular YHA sign; the line to Bury St Edmunds
is off south. Thetford Bridge station was southwest of the 1970s A1088/A1066 roundabout on a patch
of land visible on Google Earth. It was derelict until demolition about 2001. Some YHA members recall
their stays: ●Quite exciting to be there - a goods train came through. ●The members' kitchen had
previously been the station lamp room and water had to be pumped. ●A small railway vehicle came
past the hostel on the disused track and stopped under the nearby bridge. ●The warden, an ex-railway
employee at the station, presented me with a Thetford Bridge freight waybill as a memento.

1301] Sizewell: (BLN 1303.849) The final nuclear flask train to Sellafield, as part of decommissioning of
Sizewell 'A' Power Station, left on 26 Jan 2015. Sizewell 'B' is a pressurised water reactor (PWR) type
nuclear power station, still generating, but only electricity not rail traffic (as all the waste is retained).
Consultations for a third nuclear power station here, Sizewell 'C', are currently on hold due to the
Covid-19 situation. This is for a European-design PWR planned by a French/Chinese consortium.

Den Barnes' Mayflower railtour visited the branch on Sun 15 Apr 2018. On Tue 14 Apr 2020 DRS
worked 88009 with one empty FNA nuclear flask wagon (01.03 from Crewe Coal Sidings), arriving at
Sizewell 09.40. It left again (with the flask still empty) at 15.10, reaching Crewe at 00.55 next morning.
This was thought to be for annual 'route protection' and driver refresh purposes. Colas operate NR test
trains to Sizewell but the New Measurement Train due on 3 Mar was cancelled. A Balfour Beatty Multi
Purpose Vehicle sprayed the branch with weed killer between 03.17 and 04.58 on Tue 7 Apr.

However, there might be a revival of traffic on the Sizewell branch. Already trains take Intermediate
Level Waste from Dungeness 'A' to a new interim storage facility for Intermediate Level Waste final
disposal packages. By Nov 2018 Magnox had built this on the Bradwell 'A' site served by the existing
terminal at Southminster station. It is 'interim' until a national Geological Disposal Facility is available.

This may be extended to Sizewell 'A' with a revival of branch traffic. Magnox say that they could save
up to £200M by importing waste from both Sizewell 'A' and Dungeness 'A' at Bradwell 'A' as there will
be no need to construct separate stores at those sites. There is more future potential traffic as it will
all need moving again from 'interim' to 'permanent' storage wherever that might be [NIMBY alert]!

1302] Southminster: It's amazing how often you can unexpectedly bump in to BLS members at odd
locations. In early 2019 your BLN Editor decided to revisit the branch (after 45 years) - it is thoroughly
recommended and what a transformation. At about 12.00 on a Tuesday morning six people alighted
from a train at the terminus; one came up to him with a cheery "Hello Paul". It had been a similar time
since he had last done the line too; needless to say, that working was one of the few that departs from
Wickford Down Bay and arrives back in the Up Bay. At that time the Nuclear Flask Sidings, by the
station (where the ground frame has a 'lock in' facility), were very rusty indeed and appeared disused.

However, there is a conditional TThO path throughout the timetable which most recently ran on Tue
10 Mar with 68004 & 68018 from Willesden Brent (DRS) 02.30 arriving Southminster 29min early at
04.40. It originated from Dungeness 'A' (previous item) the day before. The return train (16min early)
at 23.40 was to Crewe Coal Sidings (DRS), reached 05.04 the following day. This train previously ran on
10 Dec 2019 & 20 Jan 2020. The path is before and after the first and last passenger trains respectively.

There was a time when a couple of passenger trains would not be in the timetable on the branch on
Thursdays only which, in pre-internet days in particular, must have been annoying for passengers who
hadn't looked at it properly before travelling. Sometimes booked passenger trains were cancelled on
the day for a flask train to run and a bus provided instead! In the early 1970s then BR Freight Manager,
the late Gerald Jacobs of 'Quail' fame, devised a train plan where the nuclear flask trains ran Thursdays
only. It was based around a 'trunk working' from Sellafield to Willesden Brent. Conditional services
then served Dungeness/Southminster/Sizewell as required on the same day, returning to Willesden
to rejoin to form the trunk working back to Sellafield. This was a very clever use of resources.

In DMU days one train provided a 90-minute frequency but now the EMU service is hourly, crossing at
North Fambridge, so the branch works to capacity all day. Normally there are Liverpool Street through
peak commuter services. The Covid Timetable retains all day hourly service (lucky passengers) but as a
branch shuttle with only the last train of the day running to Liverpool Street (Shenfield on Sundays).
Of note, unusually Southminster was a branch not listed for closure in the 1963 Beeching report!

In British Rail days block sand and gravel trains left a distinct dusting of sand in the four foot on the
line, particularly at Southminster. These mainly ran to Mile End on the north side of the Great Eastern
main line, the London side of the Regent's Canal. In 1969 Southminster dispatched 175,000 tons but
traffic ceased in early Nov 1978 with exhaustion of the adjacent sand and gravel pits. Traffic resumed
in Spring 1979 after local council pressure and possibly funding to transfer sand/gravel from a new pit
at Asheldham (5 miles away near Latchingdon) from road to rail at Southminster. However, this was
short lived; the last loaded train ran to Mile End on 3 Nov 1979, traffic switching to road. The rest of
the empty wagons were cleared on 6 Nov and the loading gantry demolished on 13/14 Dec 1979.
Unfortunately our member never got any decent shots of the sand trains but he did visit Southminster
in early Sep 1976 and was allowed to operate the loader to fill one of the old style hopper wagons!

NEXT PAGE: Ingatestone and 88009 heads south at 18.32 with a single FNA nuclear flask wagon,
forming 6M69 the 15.42 Sizewell GEGB (Central Electricity Generating Board, 1 Jan 1958 - 9 Nov 2001
RIP) to Crewe Coal Sidings DRS on Tue 14 Apr 2020. Running via Gospel Oak most of the route can be
done with electric power now, as here - no doubt Sizewell 'B' would have assisted with this!
(Iain Scotchman, during extremely fortuitously well timed daily permitted local exercise.)





ABOVE: A far from 'spotless' DMU is spotted at Southminster on 14 Sep 1976 in British Rail days.
(Ian Mortimer.) BELOW: From the end of line in 1969 with 'sand ballast'. (Julian James and next page.)



ABOVE: A 24 ton Vacuum Braked Hopper wagon at Southminster.
(These black and white photos were all taken by Iain Scotchman on Thur 30 Sep 1976.)

BELOW: From Southminster station looking towards Wickford, the passenger line is far left.
No problem with leaves on the line here with all that sand on the track!

ABOVE: Loading sand at Southminster, the mechanical shovel was used to shunt the wagons.
BELOW: The sand processor and loading gantry at Southminster (the station is off to the left).

ABOVE: View from the station towards Wickford (off right); the passenger line is far left, jointed track
in those days with wooden keys in the chairs holding the rails. BELOW: The loader close up.

ABOVE: 37064 with sand from Southminster, arriving at North Fambridge station with its loop.

1303] St Albans Abbey: (BLN 1350.1064) With branch passenger services suspended from Fri 27 Mar a
bus service is provided (unlike on the Bedford to Bletchley line) but it is very irregular. Departures
from St Albans Abbey are SSuX: 06.24, 07.08, 07.56, 08.39, 09.24, 10.09, 10.54, 11.37, 12.19, 13.09,
14.11, 14.56, 15.39, 16.21, 17.09, 17.56, 18.39, 19.22, 20.09, 20.56, 21.58, 22.44 & 23.07. SO all run
two minutes earlier except the last which is at 22.49! SuO there is one an hour 08.28 to 23.50 at XX.28
except 10.42, 11.42, 23.26 & 23.50! It is reminiscent of some British Railways' timetables years ago.

1304] Denver: The Wisbech item (BLN 1350.1136) prompted a member to browse the Landranger OS
map of Ely & Wisbech to revive memories of travelling in the area by train King's Lynn - Wisbech -
March (CP 9 Sep 1968 - regular timetabled services). On the King's Lynn main line he noticed Denver
station shown as open with a red symbol! Is this an error by OS, or a deliberate error which crops up
from time to time for copyright protection, but may unnecessarily mislead travellers? It is correctly
indicated as closed on an earlier 1" map. Denver station (84m 38ch) was 1½ miles south of Downham
Market (suffix added 12 May 1981) and just north of Denver Jn for the Stoke Ferry branch. Latterly it
was only served by Downham (sic) - Stoke Ferry trains and CP 22 Sep 1930 when the branch did.

X.82] PAGE AFTER NEXT: Fri 24 Apr ROG 47815 with 'Thank you NHS' in large letters was on the 10.14

Leicester Locomotive Inspection Point to Peterborough Eastfield Jn at 11.42 (23 mins late). The train
then made a test run on the East Coast Main Line to Doncaster and back before returning to Leicester.
It is on the temporary alignment of the non-electrified Down Stamford. Work continues here with pile
driving either side of where the incline will be (right) down to the new Werrington Jn diveunder.

Eventually the Down Stamford will run the other side of this incline nearer the ECML (right). To the left
is the Down Slow/Down Stamford on its new permanent alignment. The temporary level crossing
shown is access to the work site. 'Appointed Persons' either end of the site place stop boards and
detonators on the line, in consultation with the signaller, when the crossing needs to be used.





BELOW: Looking back towards Peterborough from beyond Werringt

ton Jn (middle left on the ECML); the Stamford Lines are to the right.

BELOW: View from the Spalding line (left) looking towards We
Peterborough to the left and Grantham to the right. (All Nick

errington Jn. The ECML crosses left to right in the background,
Garnham Fri 24 Apr 2020, inevitably on his local 'Boris Walk'.)

BELOW: From further back on the Spalding line (on the left) looking towa
overbridge. (Note to future generations: During the 2020 Covid crisis road
bridge but Hurn Rd (diverted) used to be beneath the right hand side. An un

ards Werrington Jn and Peterborough. Ahead is the A15 Werrington Way
ds went very quiet as people stayed at home.) It has always been a double
nusual case of a road becoming a trackbed rather than the other way round!

X.83] BELOW: Werrington Jn is lower right, the other side of the ECML, with the Stamford lines
bottom left. Some impressive plant; pile driving for the walls of the incline down to the new diveunder.

1305] Southend Victoria: (BLNs 1336.2326 & 1347.705) NR has announced completion of the £46M
renewal of OHLE on the 21¼ mile branch. Although this ended with fewer closures than originally
planned, the very long series of consecutive weeks with no Sunday and often no Saturday service has
lasted about two years. The wisdom of the business case was based on the elasticity of weekend traffic
and the needs of commuters. Of course Covid-19 has drastically depressed demand. However it will be
possible to measure reduction in OHLE incidents with the wires now to current standards. The trouble
was, of course, that there is no alternative route but bus provision could have been better. There were
some pretty ancient double deckers, not really suitable for an hour's journey in cold weather. Travel
would have been easier with buses to the c2c line, with ticket acceptance on its services.

1306] Langley: (BLN 1347.702) Trains could call at P2 (Up Main) again from 25 Apr after completion of
platform surface repairs. It had been out of use since 22 Dec 2019 when the problem first surfaced.

1307] Twyford: The embankment slipped near Twyford during the week of 6 Apr. The few remaining
trains ran on the Reliefs for a while during repairs and by 15 Apr the Mains were open again.

1308] Tackley: From 19 Apr the bridleway crossing (72m 47ch) at the Oxford end of the station was
temporarily closed until a replacement subway is constructed. A temporary footbridge is provided for
foot passengers and cyclists at the Banbury end of the station. A night 'mare' for horse riders though!

1309] High Wycombe: Architectural practice Hawkins\Brown* has planning permission to convert the
disused Grade II-listed Brunel designed railway shed (picture BLN 1266.933) in the station forecourt for
Buckinghamshire County Council (BCC). The practice will refit the 700m2 building as workspaces and
add a 550m2 extension. Hawkins\Brown said that the shed would be 'sensitively' refurbished with a
'welcoming' main entrance and improved landscaping. A new roof is planned to restore the building's
original character while the extension will mirror the form of the existing structure. Materials found on
site, such as railway sleepers and original timber trusses, will be reused. Linear tracks for power and
data installed in the floor will allow a range of configurations and reference the memory of the broad
gauge tracks that once ran through the building. BCC deputy leader said Hawkins\Brown has provided
an appealing design that will make this an iconic first view of the town, an attractive opportunity for
the right tenants and an exciting step in the regeneration of Wycombe's Eastern Quarter.

(Architects' Journal*) (*Clearly a sensitivity here to backslashes and apostrophes - Regional Editor.)

BELOW: Early morning on Wed 22 Apr and an enormous crane has arrived at Bletchley. Network Rail
has very thoughtfully provided an orange man to stand there giving an idea of the scale. (All NR.)

1310] Bletchley: (BLN 1349.967) A member observed that one bridge span of the famous viaduct on
the Downside, believed to be the third from the Down Fast, had been removed by 16.55 on 22 Apr.

ABOVE: Just exactly how many wheels are there on that low loader bottom left? He had better keep
away from Police stingers... BELOW: Mind the gap... One down, only 13 more sections to go.

1351 SOUTH EAST - SOUTH (Julian James) [email protected]

X.84] ABOVE: A railway somewhere in the South East of England (before social distancing was de riguer).

1311] Faversham Creek: (BLN 1350.1145) A member thinks the 750Vdc overhead wire on the branch
was commissioned on 15 Jun 1959 as part of Phase 1 of the Kent Coast Electrification Scheme. Was the
whole (or most) or most of the branch electrified? In some yards (notably Hither Green and for
example at Snowdown Colliery between Canterbury and Dover) 650Vdc overhead catenary was used.

This was only where it was too dangerous to have third rail with staff constantly at ground level
reaching into low running areas to couple and uncouple trains. It had tram style catenary and
pantographs as it was not necessary to collect traction current at speed and these provided a cost
saving. Presumably it was intended that the branch be worked by Class 71 Bo-Bo all electric locos with
pantographs and third rail shoes but how often were electric locos actually used? For what it's worth,
Clinker has a closure and de-electrification date for the branch itself of 'about 1970'. General traffic at
Faversham Goods Yard at the main line end was withdrawn from Mon 16 Aug 1971 (Clinker has 17th).

Our member walked the branch on 5 Aug 1979 by which time it was lifted. However, on 15 Jun 1974
he arrived at Faversham Dock on a Coastal Cruising Association charter trip with Thames sailing barge
('sb May') owned by Silvertown Services Lighterage Ltd, from Strood Pier via the Swale Channel where
the Kingsferry Railway Bridge had to be raised to its full height for the mast to clear [it has to be for all
boats due to the interlocking]. This was partly under sail but diesel up Faversham Creek to the dock.

[BLN 1351]
1312] Gatwick Airport: (BLN 1349.975) (TRACKmaps 5 p15B Aug 2019) Changes due from Mon 27 Apr:

①The Reversible Loop (P6) and non-electrified P6 Run off Road (south) were decommissioned.

②Between 27 Apr 2020 and 23 Jan 2021: The track (rail and sleepers 26m 891yd to 26m 1,164yd) on
the Reversible Loop will be removed. The decommissioned track on the Reversible Loop left in situ,
26m 803 yd (1710 pts) to 26m 891yd, will be protected by a sleeper chained to the rails at 26m 885yd.

③1715A switch (rail and bearers 26m 1,164yd to 26m 1,174yd) will be decommissioned and removed.
1715B points remain in situ protected with a wooden sleeper chained to the rails at 26m 1,186yd.

④The P6 non electrified south end Run Off Road will be removed, until then temporary protection will
be provided with a wooden sleeper chained to the rails at 26m 1,197yd.

1313] Kent: The Kent Community Rail Partnership has been awarded accredited status by the DfT.
The main focus of the Partnership has been engaging young adults in using the railway, principally the
Medway Valley Line and Swale Rail (to Sheerness). Community Rail Partnerships (CRP) encourage the
support of railway lines and stations by the local community comprising railway operators, local and
parish councils, schools, businesses, rail user groups and other community organisations. CRPs are
managed to fit local circumstances, recognising the need to increase revenue, reduce costs, increase
community involvement and support social and economic development. (CRP website.)

1314] Thanet Parkway: (BLN 1346.570) The new station plans have been paused as Kent County
Council (KCC) slams 'disingenuous' suggestions that £17.8M ring-fenced for the proposed scheme
should instead be used to fund the Coronavirus effort. This comes a week after calls were made to
shelve the station proposal, near Cliffsend, by Thanet County Councillors. The row over the contested
£34.5M station near Manston continues to escalate ahead of a critical decision due to be made by
KCC's public planning committee in May. This has been deferred until a virtual meeting can be set up.

KCC's cabinet committed up to £17.8M for the scheme three months ago; the rest is from the South
East Local Enterprise Partnership (£14M), Thanet District Council (£2M) and East Kent Spatial
Development Company (£0.7M). However, opponents are now using the Covid Crisis as an opportunity
to try and stop it. KCC leader Roger Gough (Con) has said it was now or never for the project. KCC's
transport boss, Cllr Michael Payne (Con), added: High speed services to East Kent will lead to more job
opportunities and investment in this region of the county.

If approved, the Parkway station would have two unstaffed platforms, a 300-space car park and a road
connection to the A256 Sandwich Bypass and A299 Thanet Way. A public survey carried out in January
involved 379 residents, including 110 who were local. Around 45% gave their support while 37% were
against and 18% were undecided. However, KCC's focus has since shifted towards dealing with the
pandemic with plans for three temporary County mortuaries for up to 3,000 bodies. They are expected
to cost £11M funded from a £39M Covid-19 Government grant to KCC. A KCC spokesman added:
Thanet Parkway, supported by both Thanet District Council and Dover District Council, is a project
about creating infrastructure first, to provide support for economic development in the area -
something that will be vital to our economy when life returns to normal. (Kentonline)

1315] Crawley New Yard: (TRACKmaps p15A Aug 2019) Not at Crawley, of course, and also known as
Tinsley Green Sidings or Crawley Goods, on the Up side at 28m 30ch between Gatwick Airport and
Three Bridges (miles from London Bridge via Redhill). Freight Titbits advises that GBRf aggregate trains
are running for CEMEX from Peak Forest (Dove Holes) - the last such traffic was around five years ago.

1351 SOUTH WEST (Darren Garnon) [email protected]
1316] Tytherington: (BLN 1349.991) (TRACKmaps 3 p17A Jun 2018) Traffic ceased after the 00.35 train
to Appleford on Mon 10 Feb while the 25ch headshunt beyond the quarry loop was relaid to a high
standard including adjusting the gradient. A new timing point of Grovesend Quarry was created.

The line was brought back into service on Mon 17 Feb allowing 'jumbo' trains carrying 4,400 tonnes (!)
of aggregate to run with two Class 66 locos. On Wed 19 Feb empties for the first of these ran as 17.08
Appleford to Tytherington (23.11) with 66571 + 66610. It went to Avonmouth Bennets Siding to
reverse instead of the usual Bristol Parkway as there are no loops at the latter long enough to
accommodate it. The Down working passed Brentry (on the Henbury loop) for Avonmouth at 21.11
and returned at 22.08 with the locos in 'top & tail' formation. Tytherington was reached at 23.22.

Loading at the quarry is with at least two road excavator type shovels with the overhead rail conveyor
belt 'out of use' awaiting refurbishment. After 4,400 tonnes of aggregate had been loaded it left at
03.30 Thur 20 Feb but made a tour, as booked, via Bristol Parkway, Rhubarb Curve and Bath to
Swindon to avoid reversing, reaching Appleford terminal 07.06. (Cardiff & Avonside Railway Society.)

1317] MetroWest Phase 2: (BLN 1345.442) NR has resubmitted its formal proposed network changes
to allow hourly passenger services to Henbury, including a new North Filton station - an extension of
the Weston-super-Mare local service that normally terminates at Filton Abbey Wood (previously at
Bristol Parkway). However, the planned turnback siding at Yate has been removed from the scheme -
is this to reduce costs, or the difficulty of running extra trains to Yate with the normal timetable?

In theory it is possible to terminate in Yate Up P1 (to Gloucester), recess on the Tytherington branch
and start back towards Bristol from P1. This would be on the bidirectional Up Charfield line (Up is to
Derby on this ex-Midland Railway line) to Westerleigh Jn then just west, cross to the Down Badminton
via the trailing crossover (107m 19ch). But this is unlikely due to the (normal) service intensity and
Yate platforms are staggered, to transfer between them on foot requires crossing a busy main road.

1318] Plymouth: (BLN 1338.2601) (TRACKmaps 3 p9B Jun 2018) NR has reissued its proposals to
rationalise siding capacity at the station. They are as originally reported in BLN but without recovery of
Park Siding No2 (at 245m 75ch on the Up side) alongside P8. It has been out of use since Oct 2016.
Both Park Sidings were covered fully by our 23 Mar 2013 Great Western Tracker tour with the L&CI.

1319] Cheltenham: On Sat 25 & Sun 26 Apr due to engineering work to the south, certain trains from
the north terminated in P2 (now a signalled move over the facing crossover), possibly for the first time.

1320] Exminster: (198m 59ch) CP 30 Mar 1964; a proposed new station features in official planning
documents as 1,500 homes are being built in the area. However, Devon County Council has been
advised by its Head of Transportation that, with Marsh Barton station due to open, there is insufficient
capacity to schedule further stopping services between Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot.

1321] Stories that can now be told (1): In Aug 1976 the first train of the day to Looe ran in service
from Plymouth to Liskeard, did the connection ECS then set back into Liskeard P3 to form the train.
A member with a two-week All Line Rover (2nd Class; cost £72) asked the driver if he could stay on for
the connection (no one was about that early). The driver said that he had never seen an All Line Rover
so could he have a look at it? After examining the fold up style light card ticket he said: Well, it does
say 'All Lines' you had better stay on, but sit next to me. Our member didn't need to be asked twice...

1322] Ashton Gate, Bristol: Plans have been submitted to Bristol City Council to redevelop the site of
former sidings near Clanage Rd, Ashton Gate, as affordable housing with apartments/townhouses in
five buildings between 4 and 9 stories high. This appears to be the site of the engineer's compound
between the Wapping Wharf branch now used as a Metrobus route and the Portishead branch.
Extra housing might improve the economic prospects for a new/reopened station at Ashton Gate.
The complex story of passenger services at the station starts at BLN 1269.2268 (and back references).

1323] Devon: The County Council has published its Transport Infrastructure Plan with its proposed
transport infrastructure improvements until 2030. Most are road related but rail is included. Three are
regarded as of strategic importance: ●Dawlish and Teignmouth resilience works. ●Exeter St Davids
station redevelopment and improvement. ●A passing loop between Whimple and Cranbrook; the
SWR line is identified as a strategic diversionary and supplementary route between London and Devon.

[BLN 1351]
Other plans include: ●Pinhoe - a £276k scheme to enhance interchange facilities. ●Newcourt - a long
term £2M scheme for an alternative bridge over the Exmouth branch. ●Crediton - half hourly train
service. ●Okehampton - all year rail services. ●Exmouth line - £1M of Section 106 funds for platform
extensions. ●Barnstaple - £0.7M towards forecourt and interchange improvements at the station.

1324] Taxi Trains: In response to anxieties at riding in taxis with the Covid risk, several train operators,
including GWR, have started running dedicated staff trains (as British Rail once ran, particularly in the
antisocial hours) to ferry staff between locations. On GWR these have included Exeter to Taunton and
Newton Abbot and between Plymouth station and Laira depot. A variety of DMUs have been used
including, at Exeter, 143617 released from its relief mess room duties during depot reconstruction
while 802010 was used for one Plymouth shuttle. Another Pacer (143620) has been noted running
from Exeter to Taunton with 'Pembroke Dock' optimistically displayed on its destination blind.

1325] GWR Franchise: First Group has been given a new three year direct award contract from the DfT
to continue operating the GWR franchise until 31 Mar 2023, with a DfT option on a fourth year.
The non-competed deal is designed to protect services during the pandemic and allow enhancements
afterwards. The DfT advised that major improvements would include additional capacity in the Bristol
and Exeter areas. There will be increased funding to improve local community services and stations.
A combination of new flexible tickets was mentioned for those who do not commute daily, such as
part-time season tickets and extending paperless pay-as-you-go schemes. Details are sketchy.

'First' has operated the franchise in its present format under various contracts since 1 Apr 2006 and
recently accepted the government's offer to take on revenue and cost risk for operations during the
pandemic. During these emergency measures, expected for at least six months, TOCs are paid a fixed
management fee (up to 2% of pre-pandemic revenue) with a potential small performance-based fee.

1326] Box Tunnel: Engineers have long puzzled over the theory that sunlight passes directly through
the 1m 66ch tunnel between Bath and Chippenham on the birthday (9 Apr) of its designer, IK Brunel.
A test in 2017 found that the sun did not shine right through Box tunnel at sunrise. However, the
Guardian has reported a new theory from a retired engineer and physicist who has reassessed the
science, had a fresh look at the Brunel family tree, concluding he might have designed the tunnel so
the sun shined through on the birthday of a little-known sister, 6 Apr. (A note for your 2021 diary...)

1351 WEST MIDLANDS (Brian Schindler) [email protected]
1327] Stratford-upon-Avon: The station building recently reopened after a £1.5M refurbishment, with
two new ticket windows and in due course, waiting areas and retail units (previously there was a café).

1328] Birmingham, Small Heath: Additional to the Freightliner Heavy Haul aggregate traffic from
Tunstead Tarmac, this stone terminal is now receiving DBC worked trains from Dove Holes (CEMEX at
Peak Forest). The first ran on Sat 18 Apr, 05.28 from Tunstead Sidings arriving 10.30 with 1,684 tonnes
of aggregate in 22 MMA box wagons. It is destined for use on HS2 and by the local construction sector.

1329] Aston: (BLN 1350.1159) Your Regional Editor is not the only one whose train has been
misrouted. A member commuted regularly from New Street to Lichfield City on a DMU in the late
1980s. At Aston, the junction points were incorrectly set for the Perry Barr and Walsall direction
rather than the right hand curve for Lichfield. However, the guard gave the starting signal and the
driver carried on regardless. The guard then came through the train and announced that - because of a
'problem with the line' - the train would divert to New Street and restart the journey. It continued to
New Street via Perry Barr and Soho East to South Jns. At New Street the DMU paused to pick up extra
passengers and wait for the signal to clear. The rest of the journey was uneventful to Lichfield.

1330] Atherstone: On 16 April the 06.33 Crewe to Rugby brought down the OHLE at Atherstone.
The first train on the Up Fast line went past at caution but subsequent trains ran over the Down Fast in
the Up direction, initially from Curborough Jn, but later Amington Jn to Nuneaton North Jn. (Railcam)

1331] Bescot Stadium: At 20.15 on Sun 12 Apr (Easter) very strong winds brought a large tree down,
severely damaging the OHLE and its supports here. The line was shut for 24 hours. Unfortunately this
was during the three day complete closure at Wolverhampton station. A limited shuttle train service
ran between Walsall and Rugeley; CrossCountry trains between Birmingham and Manchester ran via
Nuneaton (reverse) and the Trent Valley line adding about 20 mins to the journey time.

1332] Tipped off at Tipton? (BLN 1350 1154) Although reballasting work between Wolverhampton
and Coseley during the Easter line closure was postponed due to current restrictions, the extensive
relaying at Wolverhampton did take place. Turnbacks of local services from Birmingham at Tipton are
also scheduled for Sun 3 and 24 May, but may not happen or all stations buses may well run instead.
UPDATE (30 Apr): 3rd May is now all day all station buses Birmingham - Wolverhampton

1333] Leamington Spa: On Sat 21 Mar a skip lorry struck a brick arch of Bridge 53, over the B4079
Warwick New Road on the double track section between Milverton Jn and Leamington Spa. Services
were initially cautioned through the area but then stopped due to a significant crack in the brickwork
on the bridge arch which deteriorated. The Down line was later reopened at 20 mph for passenger
services only. Affected freight was diverted via Sutton Park, Tyseley or the WCML. The Up line
remained blocked with normal service resuming Mon 23 Mar after substantial temporary bridge props
were installed. The damage cost £200,000 to repair with the road reopening by the middle of April.

BELOW: Damage to the bridge keystone caused by the lorry - send for the Keystone Cops! (NR.)

BELOW: See item 1333; the temporary support paraphernalia requi

ired to reopen the line until permanent repairs could be made. (NR)

1334] West Midlands Metro (1): In just under two years the entire fleet of 21 CAF Urbos 3 trams has
been fitted with batteries - No26 was the last one. (2): From 27 Apr there is a 15 minute frequency all
day from 04.28 to 00.54 (Sundays 07.23 to 00.17). This includes early morning starters from/late
evening terminators at Wednesbury Parkway in both directions. (3): Like Supertram, the doors
immediately behind each end cab are not available to passengers and the section behind is for staff
use only. Doors in use are all opened at each stop so that passengers don't have to press the buttons.
X.85] BELOW: Although there have been no passenger services on the Hereford - Great Malvern line

(to the left of the fence) since 5 Apr, rail freight traffic flourishes in the area. (Stephen Phillips.)

1351 IRELAND (Martin Baumann) [email protected]
1335] A back Passage to India Cobh: (BLN 1350.1163) Regarding the interesting Cork to Cobh railway
trackbed walk described, the two vessels used on the Passage West Ferry services have an interesting
history. 'Kyleakin' first entered service with Caledonian Steam Packet Co in 1970 and was followed by
'Lochalsh' in 1971. As the names suggest, they were used between Kyle of Lochalsh and Kyleakin.
Both were sold in 1991, replaced by larger vessels, and have since worked at Passage West. 'Kyleakin'
became 'Carrigaloe' and 'Lochalsh' became 'Glenbrook'. There are other former Caledonian MacBrayne
ferries working in Ireland, but the most exotic arrival must be the Lough Swilly vessel 'Spirit of Lough
Swilly', which originally was a ferry across the Rhein between St Goar and St Goarshausen.

ABOVE: 'Kyelakin' is at Kyle of Lochalash on 3 Jun 1981 with the station middle right and the Isle of
Skye in the background (you should see it in the winter!). (Greg Beecroft.)

1336] Nenagh: (BLN 1350.1065) TCP 30 Mar; loco 079 disturbed the rust on 15 Apr with a ballast train.

1337] Tanderagee: (BLN 1334.2096)
South of Portadown, 81m 79ch from
Dublin Connolly and north of Scarva
the station CP Mon 4 January 1965
(for the regular timetabled services).
However, on Sat 30 Sep 1995 the
Modern Railway Society of Ireland
ran a tour to Dublin using NIR
92+776+98 with a photo stop there.

LEFT: The 30 Sep 1995 MRSI tour
stops at Tanderagee.

1338] Two E or not two E that is the question: (Previous item) The village of Tandragee (double 'e') in
County Armagh, Northern Ireland, has previously been spelt Tonregee and Tanderagee with an extra
'e'. Its name is an anglicised version of Tóin re Gaoith meaning 'backside to the wind' (no comment!).
Press references show that both spellings have been in use contemporaneously over the years, and if
anything, Tanderagee had the edge over Tandragee towards the end of the 1900s.

The station OP 6 Jan 1852 as Madden Bridge - one way of getting round the problem - (Belfast News-
letter and other papers), 7 Jan 1852 (and even the London Evening Standard a day later!) but came to
be referred to as Tand(e)ragee by early 1853. The Dublin & Belfast Junction Railway could not make up
its mind and used both variations at times. It was later renamed Tanderagee & Gilford (as in Aug 1887
Bradshaw's Guide), then as 'Tanderagee' (it appears thus in the Mar 1893 Irish Commercial & Railway
Gazetteer - compiled by an MGWR employee) - but Bob Ayres give a date a year later. Contrary his
publication the station did have full goods facilities. It is Tandragee on the 1902 Railway Clearing by

..........................................................................[BLN 1351]..........................................................................
House Official Railway Map of Ireland, 1904 Hand-book of Stations and for example Apr 1910
Bradshaw. By Nov 1920 Bradshaw it was Tanderagee (with the third 'e') again as it then remained
consistently until closure from 4 Jan 1965. However, the railway authority was criticised for doing this.

The three 'e' spelling is in: Great Northern Railway Board (GNRB) public timetable 20 Jun 1955, Hand-
book of Stations 1956, GNRB working timetable (WTT) 12 May 1957, Ulster Transport Authority (UTA)
WTT 18 Jun 1962, the UTA public timetable of 1 Jun 1964 before closure. Immediately after closure the
UTA public timetable (15 Feb 1965) spells the bus calling place Tanderagee (Police Station) - so there!

So far as the railway was concerned, therefore, during the period it was open, the station only carried
the name Tandragee (no middle 'e') for a decade of so around the end of the 1800s. The correct name
depends on which period is being referred to and if it is the station or the village. Members who have a
copy of BLN 357 (8 Nov 1978) please add an extra 'e' to the station name (only) on p197 item 3 but
there is no need to amend item '0350' in BLN 831 of 1 Aug 1998 as it refers to a road name.

Our Society super-sleuth has traced the source of Tandragee (no middle 'e') in the present century.
WTTs up to 5 Sep 2004 did not mention the location at all (either variant!); by 21 Jan 2007 it suddenly
appears in the Permanent Speed Restrictions table (the only place the name appears, even now):

●Portadown - Tandragee: 85.50-85.25 (that is MP 85½ - MP 85¼) 60 mph. This 60 mph restriction was
slipped in to what had previously been a continuous run of 70 mph from MP 86¾ to MP 84¾.

1339] Passenger figures: Latest Irish Rail figures show a 95% reduction in passenger journeys, but for
other transport providers the drop is over 95%. Random checks are being carried out on DART trains
by Irish Rail staff with Gardai (police) to ensure all travel is within the Covid guidelines. LUAS has been
providing a full normal service, perhaps surprisingly, despite a substantial drop in passenger numbers.

1340] Luas losses: This doesn't refer to passengers in the Covid Crisis but an increase of more than
400% in pre-tax losses for 2018 (the latest available figures) despite the 11% increase in passenger
number to a record 41.8M. The French owned operator, Transdev Dublin Light Rail Ltd, showed a loss
of €2.755M, up from €0.609M in 2017. The directors attribute the losses to the cost of bidding for a
new Luas contract, which the company secured, and to increased staff costs in line with a Labour Court
recommendation for salary increases of up to 18.3% in 2016. In 2018, the first full year of the Green
Line Cross City extension to Broombridge and a generally enhanced timetable, Luas income increased
by 17% from €33M to €38.7M. However, due to these developments, staff numbers increased by 9.6%
from 324 to 355 (staff costs rising by 13% from €16.8M to €19.0M) and electricity charges went up.

The working surplus was €2M in 2018 (€0.17M in 2017) but depreciation, interest, the shareholders'
dividend, tax, amortization and other costs resulted in the deficit. Cash reserves rose from €0.32M to
€2.26M. On 1 Dec 2019 Transdev began a new six year Luas contract, with a further five year option.

1341] Abandon hope: (BLN 1343.157) (Quail 6 p7D & 7E; Feb 2004) On 21 Apr 2020 Córas Iompair
Éireann published a legal notice in the 'Gorey Guardian' under the Transport Acts 1950 - 1986...
Abandonment of Waterford to New Ross Railway Line. Take notice the Board of Córas Iompair
Éireann intends to make an Abandonment Order in respect on the Waterford to New Ross Railway
Line extending from Abbey Junction, Waterford City at 115m 1,254yd to the boundary between the
Townlands of Glinn and Annefield, Rosbercon in the County of Kilkenny, at 101m 1,160yd.
Of note, this is to 1m 10ch beyond New Ross station itself - the last trains were almost 25 years ago
(see back reference) and the junction was severed from 23 Aug 2009. Presumably this order is
connected with the proposed Greenway (BLN 1339.2726). Although objections are not invited, now
is the time for any members who have not done the interesting 13¾ mile branch to take action!

1342] Belfast Dock Street: E-BLN 1341.2999 has
current photos. Joe Cassells has now kindly provided
a photo of the 23 Mar 1968 RPSI tour here. In open
wagons in the pouring rain, it ran over the harbour
lines hauled by Guinness loco '3' (LEFT)

......1351 ISLE OF MAN (Graeme Jolley)
[email protected]

1343] Douglas Bay Horse Tramway: (BLN 1350.1164)
①Construction work is to restart on the island
including the new Douglas tram shed and Promenade;
there has been no progress on tram track relaying for
some weeks. ②A retrospective planning application
extension has been made for the temporary marquee
for another year from 1 Apr for tramcar storage and extension of existing tram tracks into the
structure during the Coronavirus restrictions. ③Manx Radio has recently broadcast frequent warnings
not to go close to the trammers (horses) by the Clypse Reservoir, particularly with dogs, as two of the
mares are pregnant… (The reservoir is a local beauty spot much used by dog walkers.) Presumably
these are planned additions to motive power 'stock' not night mares and an advantage of real horses
over Iron Horses. Readers are invited to suggest suitable names for the forthcoming arrivals.

1344] Steam & Manx Electric Railways: From Mon 27 Apr a new Manx Radio advert warned the public
against walking on the Steam Railway and MER tracks as movements for engineering purposes had
restarted. All such work has been risk assessed to comply with the social distancing requirements.

NEXT DOUBLE/LANDSCAPE PAGE: On Tue 28 Apr just after a local member had parked by the Manx
Electric Railway Laxey station at about 09.20 she heard the familiar sound of a tram approaching from
the Douglas direction. Tram '33' was propelling a works wagon, it stopped just short of the viaduct and
some equipment was moved onto or off the tram or wagon. When our member returned from the
shop, it had gone, but not far, so she stopped by the top of the footpath that passes Laxey shed and
wandered down for a better photograph, while more equipment was being moved. (SECOND
DOUBLE/LANDSCAPE PAGE) Both Jenny Williamson who said: "I can't stand the excitement! ;-))"

1351 SCOTLAND (Mike McCabe) [email protected]
1345] Levenmouth: Levenmouth Rail Campaign group advises that Transport Scotland has reaffirmed
their commitment to establishing a freight link to Levenmouth. The campaign group sees Diageo who
have their largest bottling and packaging plant at Banbeath on the north side of the conurbation as the
principal customer. It is suggested that part of the start of the former 14 mile Leven to Lochty East of
Fife Central Railway trackbed (map below could be a suitable alignment for a spur from Diageo to join
the reopened route. It was only ever a goods line, a ¾ mile section at Lochty became well known when
John Cameron's - not our John Cameron (!) - Lochty Private Railway operated from 1967 until 1992.

This proposal affects the separate, but related, plans from the 'Leven Connectivity Project' and the
'Levenmouth Reconnected Blueprint' to develop path networks and bus links to the area. The £70M
project includes a P&R station at Cameron Bridge (no relation), where Diageo has a grain distillery.

1346] Dalmeny Jn - Winchburgh Jn: (BLN 1350.1062) On 22 Apr the Office of Rail & Road agreed to
ScotRail's track access amendment without comment. This would mean withdrawal of passenger
services over this 4m 29ch line from Mon 18 May in the new timetable. However, the new timetable is
deferred until further notice. Online planners do not show the trains concerned after Fri 15 May; SSuX:
07.12 Kirkcaldy to Glasgow Queen Street (high level) and 17.33 return to Markinch via Kirkcaldy, both
are via Cumbernauld. They last ran Fri 20 Mar and are suspended in the emergency timetable anyway.