BELOW: Members queue for the normal narrow gauge public run - three la
aps of the circuit - rides were not available to the general public this day.
BELOW: A NG coach was propelled to the end of Road 1 (the other four
are standard). NEXT: The same from the outside with the door open…
There was just one line left to cover, Road 1 (NG) into the Main Shed, used to store the locos. In fact, it is an attached lower roofed lean-to type shed at on the garden side of it with no internal wall between the two. Again, a single guard's coach was used, propelled in to give maximum track coverage without a loco in the way. Of note, there is a plan to install a door at the end of this line to extend it (outdoors) to accommodate the coaches recently acquired from the now closed Statfold Garden Railway. All available track done by everyone, the fixture finished about 15.00 - an hour earlier than planned. This was perfect for your reporter and allowed him to make the 30 minute walk to Rothley station on the GCR in time for the last 'Up' train of the day. A two train service was running, a 2-Car DMU with the other train steam hauled by 9F Class 92214 on its last weekend of running, before expiration of its ten year 'Boiler Ticket' and withdrawal for overhaul. A single to Leicester North was £6; the reasonably well loaded steam service was boarded at 16.11. The DMU, seen heading north, had few passengers. At the former Belgrave & Birstall station, he made a reasonable connection into a First Leicester N o 26 bus, an electric vehicle into the City Centre, for tea in the local Golden Arches Restaurant (McDonalds!) before heading home on the 18.15 X7 bus to Northampton and connecting 20.17 D2 bus to Daventry. It was a superb fixture - thanks to our organiser, Simon Mortimer, for the meticulous planning. Every inch of available track was covered, mostly in sunshine, (Simon had been concerned about the winter weather in February). Thanks also to the enthusiastic and untiring friendly volunteers, who worked so hard for us - nothing was too much trouble and they certainly went the extra mile inch. It was great to be able to contribute £2,100 to this excellent and commendable project - do visit if you have not been. Details must be checked 1446CONNECTIONS (Paul Stewart) [email protected] .Please mention BLN. 1045] The Railways of Bradford & Leeds; Their History and Development: Peter Waller, Pen & Sword Publishing, 206 pages, 29.1 x 22.5 x 2.1cm hardback, 250 photos (some in colour). Cover price £30 UK (eBay £20.70 with free P&P). This is an excellent compilation of railways around Bradford and Leeds as two major industrial centres. The collection is largely photos with detailed captions, supported by maps and timetable extracts. The book is divided into various chapters, with each focusing on a particular area. Coverage extends to Halifax, Batley, Dewsbury, Mirfield, Shipley, Skipton, Ilkley, Wetherby and Normanton. The once vast railway network in this part of West Yorkshire is evident from the book, with various original railway companies plying for running rights, often resulting in duplicate lines in the race to reach these economic powerhouses for both freight and passenger markets. This is a great book to read in conjunction with the www.railmaponline website. The photos are excellent quality; so many of the views are unrecognisable today as the landscape has changed extensively. Unsurprisingly, there is extensive coverage of the significant mills, woollen district and collieries, which have now all but disappeared. There are extra chapters devoted to the engine sheds and industry, along with a superb appendix showing line opening and closing dates by the original railway companies. On a personal note, I have lived in York for thirty years, and despite regularly visiting the Bradford and Leeds areas, this book really opened my eyes as to just how extensive the railway network in this area once was. Highly recommended. (Simon Wragg, 5336.) 1046] Wed 1 May; Basingstoke Area Signalling Centre: A short walk from the station, our member, Stuart Hicks, has arranged a Southern Electric Group visit; email [email protected] for queries and to book. A charity donation applies and volunteer/s to write a report would be welcome. 1047] South Devon Railway: (MR p6) Freight train experiences on a 'Toad' or 'Shark' brakevan, steam or diesel, dates: https://bit.ly/49kqgM4 (tickets are also service train rovers). DMU in service at times.
1048] Bridge House Light Railway: 31 Rectory Rd, Frampton Cotterell, Bristol, BS36 2BN, (MR p17) (BLN 1303.MR74). Public running on this private 7¼" gauge 400yd railway is Bank Holiday Saturdays, with the additional odd Saturday. Saturdays: 4 May, 25 May, 20 Jul & 24 Aug 2024 from 14.00-16.00. 1049] Sun 5 & Mon 6 May (11.00-17.00); Cropthorne Light Railway: (BLNs 1403.MR114 & 1425.MR99 / photos) end of Blacksmiths Lane, Cropthorne, Worcestershire, WR10 3LX (SP 0034 4496). Annual public running on this private 340yd long 10¼'' railway for Cropthorne Gardens Walkabout. Trackplan: http://www.minorrailways.co.uk/trackplans/cropthorne.pdf there is no requirement to 'walkabout' - you can just visit the railway if you are not a green fingered gricer. The plan is to significantly extend the line but due to recent wet conditions, for now, the layout remains the same as shown on this plan. 1050] Scottish Model Engineering Trust, Wester Pickston Railway: (MR p28) Glenalmond, Methven, Perth, PH1 3RX. (NN 9844 2800); BLN 1430.MR156 report (annotated track plan above). This complex 5/7¼'' gauge 1,500yd railway has public running 11.00-16.00 Suns 26 May (Late Spring Bank Holiday), 28 Jul and 25 Aug (also a Bank Holiday). If travelling by car s use what3words: deflated.nesting.smooth because the postcode is a large area and the site is well hidden. Website: https://smet.org.uk/wpr/ 1051] Sat 8 Jun, 12.00-16.00, Ingfield Light Railway: Ingfield Manor School, Five Oaks, Billingshurst, RH14 9AX. (MR p25) Annual public running at this substantial complex 10¼'' gauge, 900yd railway for the local 'Grand Summer Fête' - a great fête of engineering? Over 12 locos in steam, intensive service. http://www.ingfieldlightrailway.co.uk/ See BLN 1405.MR141 report of 23 Jul 2022; updates/photos welcome. Peter Scott's 23 Jul 2023 trackplan: http://www.minorrailways.co.uk/trackplans/ingfield.pdf 1052] Sat 6 Jul, 10.00-16.00, Carlisle Kingmoor open day: A DRS charity event, many locos on display, trade stands,exhibitions etc.£7.13(U16 free)no pay on the day to book: https://tinyurl.com/29pe2xec 1053] Southfield Light Railway: (BLN 1418.537) (MR p20) The longest miniature railway in the British Isles at 1¼ miles; this 7¼'' gauge line has no public running this year so far due to driver unavailability. CONTACT DETAILS: On website Contacts page; an updated BLN & Committee Directory was with BLN 1437 ●Editor: Paul Stewart [email protected] 4 Clarence Close, MALVERN, WR14 3HX 01684 562862 07790 652351. ●Sales: Darren Garnon [email protected] 3 Reader Drive, Marden, Tonbridge, Kent, TN12 9FD. ●MAPS: By permission of National Library of Scotland http://maps.nls.uk/index.html ●Printed by Willow Printing & Design Ltd [email protected] 75/79 Back Cross Lane, NEWTON-LE-WILLOWS, WA12 9YE 01925 222449. ●Published by the Branch Line Society, 10 Sandringham Rd, STOKE GIFFORD, BS34 8NP.
BELOW: (Item 952.2) THE END! North Seaton LC home signal has gone, leaving Marchey's House distant.