athspey Railway platform with the 08.51 to Eastleigh on 1 Apr (Alan Portess).
1027] Eating Out in Pitlochry: Norwegian railway carriage 25640 is being adapted as a restaurant in Pitlochry. It is on the east side of the railway, a short distance north of the station. The carriage spent most of its life painted NSB (Norges Statsbaner - the former Norwegian State Railways) brown but is now in Wagons Lits blue and cream livery. That was applied when 25640 was used for filming 'Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning One'. It is coupled to a two-axle vehicle that appears to have modern bodywork on the underframe of a LMS Shark brake van. A planning application for a restaurant in two British Rail Mk 3 carriages was refused in 2021 but permission was granted in 2023 for the present, smaller development. A platform is being built adjacent to the carriage and the restaurant, with Thai cooking, is expected to open in May. We trust our Regional Editor will visit to report on the food. 1028] Aviemore: Passengers on the Pathfinder Easter Chieftain tour from Eastleigh spent three nights in Aviemore, with the train stabling at Aviemore Speyside. The train shunted ECS to and from Aviemore Speyside, except on 1 Apr when the return trip to Eastleigh started there. Normally, it is only 'Royal Scotsman' passengers who do the connection from the Strathspey Railway to the main line. 1029] Far North Line: NR plans to remove the long disused Engineer's Sidings at Tain, Brora and Wick. Active sidings remain at Dingwall, Ardgay, Lairg, Helmsdale, Forsinard and Georgemas Junction and there are also disused sidings at Invergordon, Fearn and Thurso, which are not proposed for removal. 1030] Mallaig: In absence of the Jacobite steam train, Locomotive Services Ltd (LSL) ran sightseeing trains on Mon 8 and Tue 9 Apr with 'Z' headcodes: 08.52 Fort William to Mallaig (10.52-11.34) Fort William arr 13.23. Mk3 carriages and Class 37 locos were used. The fare was £40 return, pay on the day (due to the short notice); other trips may follow. The day return on a DMU is £18.30 (Railcard £12.05) and 'The Jacobite' starts at £65 plus a £3.75 Booking Fee. Our local member makes the point that 4-car Class 156s won't cope with the refugees from a fully booked (cancelled) 7-coach Jacobite, let alone from 6 May when it will be two cancelled trains each day. For most of the passengers, it will be part of a pre-planned and booked stay in the area so, receiving a full refund on their Jacobite fares, the Locomotive Services £40 offering would appeal. Interestingly, West Coast Railways ran ECS in their morning path 10.15 Fort William to Mallaig (13.30-14.10), Fort William arrive 16.03 also on 8 & 9 Apr using a Class 37 and Jacobite stock. Its outward run crossed the return trip of the LSL special at Arisaig. 1031] Peebles: (BLN 1349.1022) Peebles Community Trust has launched a bid to acquire the former North British Railway goods office at Peebles from Scottish Borders Council, under the right to buy provisions of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. If the Trust is successful, it is intended that Peebles Railway Heritage Group will lead a renovation project. The Heritage Group is likely to qualify for grants that would not be available to the Council. The notification period, during which the public can make observations on the proposal, runs until 29 Apr. Comments [such as: Please lay some track…] can be sent by email to [email protected] or by post to the Communities & Partnerships Team, Council Headquarters, Newtown St Boswells, Melrose TD6 0SA. 1032] Ayr: (BLN 1445.895 / photos in e-BLN) South Ayrshire Council is demolishing Ayr Station Hotel, utilising powers under the Building (Scotland) Act 2003, which empowers and obliges them to take necessary action to protect the public from dangerous buildings. Work is progressing under the 2003 Act because that enables the Council to recover costs from the owner. The Railway Regulation Act 1842 enables NR, with ministerial consent, to compulsorily purchase property that is endangering the railway. However, that would not enable cost recovery from the owner, who could attempt to claim compensation. The Council considered that it did not have statutory authority to demolish the north wing of the building, because it was not in as poor a condition as the south wing. This is being reviewed following the discovery of problems with the clock tower. Meanwhile the line closures remain in place. 1033]Kilmarnock:(BLN 1350.1169)Observed recently from a passing bus, the track on the branch from Kay Park Jn to Riccarton appeared to be clear of vegetation, does a weed killing train visit or has it been cleared otherwise? The oil terminal (last train possibly on 9 Nov 2017 - BLN 1284.1420) that was served by the branch was demolished in 2019. In Jul 2019 NR proposed to 'scotch and clamp' (sic) the line out of use at Kay Park Jn ground frame and fence across the track. However, they said the branch could be reopened for traffic with four months notice. Was this carried out and is there a fence now?
BELOW: (Item 1032) Work in progress on Fri 12 Apr 2024, the day South Ayrshire Council announced that the south end of the north wing, including the clock tower, is to be demolished. This is expected to take until 17 Jun because of the need to demolish the wall next to the railway by hand. (Greg Beecroft.)
BELOW: (Item 1037) Manorbier, in the days when the guard opened andcab window, looking towards Pembroke, the loop and second platform
d closed the level crossing gates. Taken through a first generation DMU m (left) were abolished from 3 Oct 1965. (Greg Beecroft, 7 Apr 1976.)
1034] Glasgow St Enoch: The Glasgow & South Western Railway had its headquarters at 34 St Enoch Square which was (and is) a Victorian sandstone building on the opposite side of the square from the company's Glasgow terminus. Unlike the station, the office still stands. There is a bookshop on the ground floor, with three floors of offices and an attic level above. The building has recently been purchased by West of Scotland Housing Association and is to be converted into 26 flats to rent. Does anyone know when the building ceased being used for railway purposes? ….. 1446 WALES & THE MARCHES (Chris Parker) [email protected] 1035] Onllwyn: (BLN 1443.651) A 19 Mar news article with pictures https://bit.ly/4a0a97C indicates that clearance and preparation work for the test tracks, with some initial tracklaying (which looks to be for the sidings using the former Severn Tunnel track panels), has begun. The old mine staff facilities block, which included showers and lockers, is to be retained as a nod to the site history and converted to become part of a new technology park and office space. Ex-Heathrow Connect EMUs 360201/2/3 are likely to be early users of these sidings. They had remained stored at MoD Bicester since the Global Centre of Rail Excellence acquired them in Sep 2022 but on 2 Apr 360202 was moved by rail via Oxford, Didcot West Curve,Stroud and Gloucester to Lydney Junction (Dean Forest Railway,so an EMU did the connection) for road transfer to Onllwyn; the other two are expected to follow 'in the coming weeks'. 1036] Central Wales line: The 2024 Lonely Planet guide lists this in the '10 best rail journeys in Europe'. Geographically, rather than politically; perhaps we should gloss over it describing Shrewsbury as a city! 1037]Open crossings:(TRACKmaps3p25C 2023) The current Sectional Appendix (SA) instructs all trains in both directions on the Pembroke Dock branch to stop on approaching Beavers Hill (279m 72ch) and Manorbier Newton (280m 52ch) Open Crossings between Manorbier and Lamphey, as well as Llanion (285m 75ch) between Pembroke and Pembroke Dock. The driver then sounds the horn and proceeds if the crossing is clear. However,some road users have misinterpreted hearing this sound with the train stationary as a signal to cross which has caused some near misses. From 31 Mar, trains will approach at 5mph, still sounding the horn. NR hopes that this will remove the 'confusion' as, in common with all such crossings which have warning signs but no lights, audible warnings or barriers, visibility is (or should be!) enoug to allow enough time for users to see if a train is approaching and cross safely. Similar ones on the Gunnislake and Looe branches were converted to automatic open crossings (AOCL), with train activated warning lights and sounds in 2023 (BLN 1416.237; TRACKmaps 2023 is up to date unlike the SA!). There are still some open crossings on freight only lines including Parkandillack, Carne Point, Sunderland Docks, the mothballed Gwaun-cae-Gurwen branch and, particularly, many on the branch to Dungeness. On NR passenger lines, the only other known survivors are on the Central Wales line (a Light Railway) at Llanwrda (25m 42ch), the closed Glanrhyd station (22m 14ch) between Llandeilo and Llangadog (BLN 1351.1355) and Berthddu (49m 47ch), between Llanwrtyd and Sugar Loaf. A solitary English one is at Barrow Haven on the Barton-on-Humber branch. At each, trains can approach at 10mph except that they are required to stop northbound at Llanwrda and westbound at Barrow Haven (BLN 1423.1099). There is also believed to be quite a few on heritage lines of various gauges but again in most cases not requiring a mandatory stop if the crossing is clear. A seasonally busy AOCL is Talwrn Bach on the Cambrian Coast line (107m 67ch) - immediately south of the formerly eponymous halt/station renamed Llanbedr from 8 May 1978. The access road to Shell Island, one of Europe's largest campsites, crosses it and is used by up to 900 motor vehicles and 100 pedestrians/cyclists daily. As part of a national pre-Easter campaign, NR issued a safety reminder as there have been three near misses between trains and cars in the last two years and in Jul 2023 a driver was convicted of dangerous driving after crossing in front of a train when the lights were on red. 1038]Ystrad Mynach:(BLN 1445.906)In the Jun timetable no trains are booked to turn back here. With the lack of further Cwmbargoed tours, the trailing crossover at South Jn will be much harder to do! 1039] Cardiff Bay branch: (BLN 1445.909.2) According to the suppliers Furrer+Frey, OHLE installation should begin in Apr/May. One track (unspecified, though the existing Up line - towards Queen Street - seems likelier) is due to be energised in Nov 2024 and the other, plus crossovers, in May 2025.
1040]Newtown:(BLN 1440.260)Work here has included temporary closure of Up P1 for resurfacing, all TfW services using P2 from at least 16 Mar. Not a problem for ETCS (Cambrian loops are bidirectional) and there are no scheduled crossings but it does reduce options in the event of late running. On 4 Apr Pathfinder's returning 'Cambrian Coast Express', living up to its name, did pass through P1 non-stop to cross a service train. A member on board noted that at least one coach length at the Down (west) end (adjacent to the new footbridge) was undergoing resurfacing and coping stone replacement. 1041]Tŷ Croes Humphrey:(BLN 1444.787) The closure of Up P1 for Harrington Hump(s) installation has been extended by 3 weeks until start of service Sun 21 Apr. The staff may have had more urgent work. 1042] Easter cuts: ①Shrewsbury Sutton Bridge Jn (SUB) - Dorrington: At about 20.00 on Easter Sun 31 Mar, the SUB signaller reported loss of block communications with Dorrington box. Cable theft was immediately suspected, particularly as 8m of cable had been stolen late on the previous evening from the Wolverhampton line at 169m 04ch, about 2½ miles east of Shrewsbury. This time it transpired that the theft had failed but the cable had been cut and damaged location unknown. Fortunately, no other systems were affected, so trains could be 'talked through' the section by phone under caution. Holyhead - Cardiff services were suspended south of Shrewsbury and hourly Manchester services called at all stations in both directions instead. Normal working was restored by 12.24 on Mon 1 Apr. ②South Wales Main Line etc: Coincidentally, and entirely 'unconnected', a power supply failure in the Bridgend area was reported about 13.00 on Sun 31 Mar. Generators took over but, at about 03.15 next morning, the backup batteries failed and all power was lost to both Panel 'A' and Llanelli Workstation (BLN 1423.1178) at Port Talbot, including signalling and phones for all their control areas [Llanharan (incl) to Pembrey & Burry Port (excl), also GSM-R as far out as Clarbeston Road]. Level crossings failed safe with raised barriers but warning lights flashing. TfW issued 'Do Not Travel' messages for Cardiff to Carmarthen, including the Vale of Glamorgan line, Maesteg branch and south of Llanwrtyd on the Central Wales Line. Rail services were cancelled and replacement transport could not be guaranteed. A larger generator was obtained from Swindon and power restored by 11.39 on 1 Apr. Inevitably,some issues remained, including Pencoed level crossing which was still in failure mode. The first passenger trains over the affected lines were the 14.18 Swansea to Shrewsbury via the Central Wales Line, 12.41 Carmarthen to Swansea (11.09 ex-Pembroke Dock), 13.23 Swansea to Paddington, 12.56 Cardiff Central to Carmarthen, 12.42 Bridgend to Aberdare via Barry and 10.42 Cheltenham Spa to Maesteg. 1446 MINOR RAILWAYS (Peter Scott) [email protected] http://www.minorrailways.co.uk/links.php?st=a&ed=c links to Minor Railways websites and track plans. Minor Railways Booklet page number references are still to the 2023 (35th Edition) in this BLN. MR61] Great Central Railway, Leicestershire (MR p7): The locomotive shed is to be moved to a new location to allow the line to be extended northwards. Moving the old shed also allows the Railway to reorganise how it repairs and overhauls locos and coaches to best protect and display them in future. The current shed, a secondhand building, was erected in 1973. The decision to move the shed has been approved by the Railway's PLC board and is part of the reunification project that will see the Great Central Railway and Great Central Railway (Nottingham) join up to create an 18 mile long line. The shed, while not completely obstructing the route, prevents the line from being laid on the best possible alignment. Heavy maintenance is undertaken in the shed, which is also a base for volunteers and staff. It has been upgraded and repaired over the last 50 years but is now regarded as being past its prime. Charnwood Borough Council recently allocated money from Loughborough Town Deal Fund to improve it further but no public money has been spent. The railway invested some of the funds into installing new lights and doors as well as some upcoming improvements for staff accommodation but this will allow the shed to operate until its 'end of life' in approximately five years. Possible locations are being examined along the entire 18 mile long route for a new engine shed. A review is also taking place into the uses of existing shed buildings and a full plan is expected to be released in due course. MR62] Dean Forest Railway, Gloucestershire (MR p6) (BLN 1444.MR46): It has been confirmed that the level crossing renewal is going ahead; it will be taken out and replaced on the 13-14 April weekend.
PREVIOUS: Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway; 'River Mite' departing RavengBELOW: 'River Mite' on the 12.50 ex-Dalegarth, crosses 'River Esk' on 12.5
glass on the 13.50 makes a rare move to avoid Lister diesel 'Cyril' (left). 50 ex-Ravenglass at Irton Road. (All Graeme Easton, 20 Mar 2024 and…)
[BLN 1446] ABOVE: Ravenglass (R&ER) signal box diagram 2022, the main running routes are solid black, (Graeme Easton, 29 Mar 2024.) LEFT: Ravenglass station on the Cumbrian Coast Line (and why not?) It has staggered platforms. (Angus McDougall, 31 Mar 1990.)
PREVIOUS: (Item MR67) Bristol Harbour Railway; 'Henbury' in light steam outsi
de the shed. BELOW: A dockside crane loading coal. (Peter Scott, 19 Mar 2024.)
BELOW: (Item MR69) Statfold Barn Railway; the 3ft gauge original Burton & A
Ashby Light Railway tram (now battery operated). (Peter Scott, 16 Mar 2024.)
BELOW: 0-6-0 'Fiji' (HC972/1912) at Statfold with the two Darjeeling coaches fr
rom Adrian Shooter's former Beeches Light Railway. (Peter Scott, 16 Mar 2024.)
[BLN 1X.59] BELOW: On Sun 7 Apr 2024 the Swindon & Cricklade nearby Kemble to Cirencester (Town) and Tetbury branchran on those lines. Blunsdon was renamed Kemble for the
1446] Railway marked the 60th anniversary of the closure of the hes from 6 Apr 1964 by running this diesel railbus which e day but did they have a Trouble House Halt anywhere?
MR63] Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway, Falkirk (MR p10): The Scottish Railway Preservation Society (SRPS) lodged an application with the Council on 30 January seeking listed building consent to alter Bo'ness station. Planning officers, acting under delegated powers, granted permission on 15 March. The changes, which will now go ahead at the Category 'A' listed former Wormit station building (which dates back to 1887), include moving plastic electric cable trunking to inside the building, removal of vegetation, inspection and repair of chimney pots, removal and replacement of defective bricks, removal and return of the slate roof, repairs to guttering with repairs to, and repainting of, timbers. The online planning documents stated: It is considered the development would preserve the character and special architectural and historical interest of this listed building and secure its future as a historically important building, as part of the Category 'A' listed grouping and wider conservation area. MR64] Woodhorn Narrow Gauge Railway, Northumberland (BLN 1386.MR186): This 2ft gauge railway ran for 1,000 yards in Queen Elizabeth II Country Park. It opened on 23 December 1995 but closed in June 2019 due to a lack of volunteers and its condition has since deteriorated. The Industrial Railway Society Handbook shows three resident locomotives here: 4w diesels HE6348/1975, HE9353/1995 and Schöma 5240/1991. A new group of volunteers has taken responsibility for the railway and launched a project to see it reopened within five years. One such volunteer, Colin Heath said: There are only eight of us. There are a couple of veterans, a couple of ex-engineers. Everybody is local and just wanted something to do, a new challenge, to stop [the engines] ending up on a scrap heap. Ashington needs something, to have a new attraction. It is a bit of our heritage as well. In only six months the group has returned the Railway's three locomotives to working order and are beginning to raise money to pay for the restoration of the track, as well as attempting to recruit more volunteers. Colin added: None of [the locos] worked. We have got them running but now we want to make them fully compliant for the rail regulators. The carriages are the same. We are starting to get the platform and buildings done at the museum end but we have still got to renovate the platform at the lakeside end. The kilometre of track needs to be completely lifted. The timescale on it is how quickly we can afford to pay for new sleepers and ballast. One of the volunteers has got involved because he remembers taking his own children and grandchildren on it from years ago and he wants to do it again. The rails are in good condition but all 1,400 sleepers must be replaced. While the group is confident the railway will be running within five years, they are hopeful it could be ready in as little as two. More information is at: https://woodhornrailway.com/ and if you would like to assist (via the contact and/or donate tabs). MR65] Severn Valley Railway, Shropshire (MR p7): In early March 50035 was used to test out the new siding at Foley Park and became the first locomotive to access it. Currently quite short, its primary function is to stable plant and machinery, such as a couple of stoneblowers or tampers that the Severn Valley Railway will be working with mainline operators on commissioning and training staff. MR66] Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway, Cumbria (MR p14) (BLN 1433.MR187): There was an unusual departure from Ravenglass for the 13.50 on Wednesday 20 March. Inspections of all the coaches were taking place using the pit outside the carriage shed with each rake being taken across in turn. When the 13.50 was due to leave, Lister Diesel Shunter 'Cyril' had a rake over the pit onto the main line. To avoid having to move it, the 13.50 behind 'River Mite' left from P1 along the engine shed road, crossing to the main line at 25 Points (the crossover between the Loco and carriage Sheds), as opposed to the usual move via the signal box scissors. Although a permitted move, it is very rare as there is very little clearance between the open side of the coaches and the road bridge. It is only the second time our member has been over the crossing; the first was our last BLS trip! (He was guard on the 13.50!) MR67] Bristol Harbour Railway, Bristol: During a mid-week visit to Bristol Floating Harbour on Tuesday 19 March, it was a surprise to find 0-6-0T 'Henbury' (P1940/1937) in light steam outside the shed. However, it appeared to have been involved in some earlier shunting. Outside 'M Shed' Museum on Princes Wharf, the Toad brake van and one wagon were stabled near the station, while a loaded open coal wagon was stabled between Cranes 30 & 31. Crane 30 was assisting in loading coal on to a boat in the harbour from the wagon. It was good to see the crane being used for its proper purpose and the railway being used for (albeit very limited) goods traffic! Crane passenger rides are available at times.
X.60] BELOW: A Norwich to Worcester Shrub Hill steam special approaches Droitwich Spa from the Bromsgrove line; Kidderminster is off top left. (Richard Putley, 6 Apr 2024.)
FOLLOWING: (Item 1043) Piccadilly undercroft; by Chris Lewis unless specifie
ed, all on 24 Feb 2024. NEXT: Looking across to Mayfield. (John Hampson.)
BELOW: Passengers once used these steps to reach the platforms above. (This and previous, John Hampson.)
BELOW: The former buffer stops end of Central station; the clock seems to be
the same one shown in the image Adam is holding - zoom in (John Hampson).
BELOW: The London end of the former train shed; the tablet photo shows wo
ork in progress to convert the station into an events centre (John Hampson).
BELOW: Manchester Central undercroft is markedly d
ifferent from that at Piccadilly and put to good use…