1446

signal at Oakenshaw Jn and now heads for the Goods Loop ('G' in the 'theatre').

BELOW: Oakenshaw Lane bridge; the loaded train climbs the gradient betwee

n Oakenshaw Jn and Oakenshaw South Jn. (All Tim Saunders, 19 Mar 2024.)

964] Monk Bretton: (BLN 1445.825) The Middleton Towers sand train mentioned arrived at Monk Bretton glassworks on Tue 12 Mar 140 min late, due to a lack of adhesion. The Short Term Plan return path to Middleton Towers was cancelled because of the lateness and was replaced by another one via Turners Lane Jn, Milford Jn and Hambleton West Jn to South Jn, avoiding the need to reverse. Later trains (14, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28 Mar, 2 & 4 Apr etc) ran via the same route, reversing at Calder Bridge Jn northbound but via Hambleton West Jn to South Jn southbound. Apart from a few tours and network measurement trains, the only use of Oakenshaw Jn to Oakenshaw South Jn curve in recent years has been occasional Northern crew training services from Holbeck Loco Sidings (BLN 1320.63). The Monk Bretton branch has been used for these because training can take place without any other traffic in the vicinity. Grand Central has also used it for this purpose (BLNs 1383.2172 & 1382.2048). 1446 NORTH WEST (John Cameron) [email protected] 965] Grange-over-Sands: (Photos e-BLN 1445.X.48) At about 06.05 on Fri 22 Mar, a passenger train formed of 2x3-car Class 195 DMUs on the 05.18 Preston to Barrow derailed before Grange-over-Sands station, on a section of unsupported track which gave way as the train passed. The track had become unsupported because a large cavity had opened in the embankment. The train was travelling at 56mph when the accident occurred, with all the wheels of the front three carriages derailing - remarkably the rear coaches remained on the track. Following the derailment, it struck the seaside boundary wall on the embankment (which may well have prevented it ending up on the mudflats), remained upright and came to a stand with the rear of the train about 31m beyond the cavity. The RAIB is investigating. There were four staff and four passengers on the train at the time with no injuries sustained by anyone onboard, although significant damage was caused to the train and railway infrastructure. The stricken coaches were re-railed by a rail mounted crane (photos e-BLN 1445) and then hauled by another Class 195 unit to Ulverston, creating the unusual train formation of a 9-Car 195. At the time, the River Derwent Viaduct was still closed north of Workington, so the coast line was isolated and no trains could access or egress Sellafield. Luckily the Viaduct reopened three days later on Mon 25 Mar. DMUs 195121 & 195122 (not involved in the derailment) were initially stranded at Barrow, as they were not cleared to run north via Cumbrian Coast. However, on Fri 5 Apr there was a 6-car special ECS move at 07.55 from Barrow Carriage Sidings to Preston (12.23) the long way round via Carlisle P1 reverse (10.56¾ to 11.01¾) and Penrith. They didn't risk the direct curve avoiding Carlisle station! Replacement buses are running between Lancaster and Barrow, taking 2¼ hours as opposed to the train (which has a much more direct route) taking an hour. With Derwent Viaduct closed, the 19.30 Lancaster to Carlisle bus via Barrow replacing the 19.13 train, took 6¾ hours, due to arrive at Carlisle at 02.15. However, on Thur 23 Mar it ran 25 mins late, with a 02.40 arrival (7 hours 10 min)! Only a diehard rail replacement bus enthusiast (we do have some) would choose to do this entire journey. Direct trains between Lancaster and Carlisle via the WCML take under an hour! A member wonders if there has ever been a rail replacement bus scheduled to take longer than 6¾ hours ever? The 19.30 equivalent train takes a mere 3½ hours. There is broadly an hourly Lancaster to Barrow replacement bus with Silverdale and Arnside served by additional hourly Lancaster to Grange-over-Sands buses. There used to be Zürich to Barcelona via Geneva dual gauge sleeper. Once it terminated at Geneva with a bus to Barcelona (488 miles, 7 hours 41 mins), although our member can't remember why now. Before planning, then starting repairs, experts are thoroughly checking the site with boreholes, probe testing, radar and electrical testing, along with investigating what the embankment is made of. 966] Totley Tunnel East: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=by6ARGs1Dm0 (click 'BROWSE') is a six min video of the last shift at this box. Realtime Trains recorded that the final train, on Sat 16 Mar, was at 00.02¾; the 22.20 Liverpool Lime Street to Sheffield TPE service with 185122, running two minutes early. However, the box toilet was still in active service on 19 Mar, much to the relief of the Orange Army! A well-used lattice footbridge crosses the line next to the box from which one could, until very recently, hear the dinging of bells and clanging of levers. The signallers also worked other Hope Valley boxes and some came out on the steps to inform mothers with curious children when a train was due.

967] Metrolink Queens Road: A member participated in an excellent conducted tour of the depot organised by the Irish Railway Record Society on Wed 27 Mar. Opened in 1991 with the Metrolink first phase, it is east of the former Red Bank Carriage Sidings and was originally connected only to the Bury line at Queens Road Jn. A later connection was made to the newer Oldham line at Smedley Jn. Metrolink usage now exceeds pre-Pandemic levels and although there is a high service requirement for the 147 trams, no further expansion of the fleet is envisaged. Two trams have been out of service for several months following road collisions but are expected to return to service after lengthy repairs. The M5000 fleet was introduced over a protracted period of 13 years, so the oldest members are now 15 years old and already reaching mid-life. Normally, the entire fleet returns to Queens Road or Trafford Depot overnight but there is no depot allocation as such. All the fleet can operate on the whole network, except that only the 60 lowest numbered vehicles can run south of Timperley stop (they are fitted with the necessary safety equipment to operate on the infrastructure shared with NR). (TRACKmaps 4 p48N 2022) Queens Road is a far smaller site than the newer Trafford Depot but generally carries out the heavier fleet maintenance work, including bogie swaps and more complex examinations. Contrary to TRACKmaps 2022, only Road 9 (as shown, now Road 12) nearest the running line is electrified through the Workshop. There have been depot track alterations, additions (three new roads) and renumbering to give 17 roads in all, which will be explained in a future BLN. Beyond the shed, the diesel powered 'special purpose vehicle' 1027 and its match wagon, converted from a former tanker car chassis, were stored, recently replaced by battery powered Zephir Crab 2100ES, used to move trams at the depot. The Depot Manager said that 1027 (= RFSK V 337) will be up for sale and Metrolink would like to see it find a home in preservation. Anyone interested please apply in writing to Metrolink. It has a fitted crane, fully overhauled two years ago, is fully certificated and the loco has normal rail flanges to suit bullhead rail. It could make a useful tool for any heritage railway operation. The training suite at Queens Road houses an impressive tram simulator, which creates a surprisingly realistic instruction environment covering the whole Metrolink network. The time of day or night as well as weather conditions can be changed and the trainer is able to introduce hazards and vehicle faults to challenge the trainee in the 'cab'. Metrolink now employs over 400 drivers and is still recruiting. A massive increase from around 100 who worked on the network 20 years ago. 968] Ditton East Jn - (Warrington) Latchford: (BLN 1443.580) Following representations from a freight operator, NR has 'reduced' its proposal to reduce the operating hours of Monks Sidings, Fiddlers Ferry Power Station signal boxes and Littons Mill Crossing box from 24 hours a day to 06.00-22.00, rather than 06.00-18.00, as first proposed. This reduces the estimated cost savings from £160k to £120k. 969] Castleton South Jn: (BLN 1431.1984) (TRACKmaps 4 p45A 2022) The £20M replacement of the 42m long, 2,000 tonne, double track bridge over the M62 takes place in Sep. Considering the age of some railway bridges, it is worth noting that the M62 here only opened in Nov 1971. The 'old' (young in railway terms) bridge will be dismantled and sections removed via the M62. The new bridge will be built on site, with components arriving by road. Manchester Victoria to Rochdale is closed 6 to 24 Sep. The M62 is closed between Jn 18 and Jn 20 Fri evening until Mon morning 6-9 and 20-23 Sep, as well as being reduced from four to three lanes with overnight closures for work on the bridge bases. A big thing has been made of how vital to the economy the bridge is as it carries 3,000 rail freight services a year, including 6% of the UK's energy supply (biomass trains from Liverpool Docks to Drax). The 3,000 trains may be correct and Drax does indeed supply 6% of our electricity but biomass also arrives there by rail from Hull Docks, Tyne Dock and Immingham (included in the 6% but not via that M62 bridge!). The elephant in the room is Castleton South Jn; its trailing point in the Up Rochdale is mostly on the bridge and partly on the Manchester Victoria side. The bespoke fixed obtuse crossover on the bridge in the Down Rochdale was removed and plain lined from 17 Nov 2019. The single track curve from Castleton North Jn is unidirectional from the East Lancs Railway towards Manchester Victoria. It rises quite steeply towards the junction, which is awkward and would be expensive to replace. The junction pointwork remaining will have to be lifted to replace the bridge; will they just ignore it and hope it goes away or reinstate the junction given that they have managed well without it for so long now?

970] Strines: On the afternoon of 25 Mar a track defect, associated with an embankment weakness, became evident at Hague Bar on the Down Romiley between 174m 01ch and 173m 50ch (New Mills Central to Strines). The area, with an embankment up to 20m high, was under observation and already had a 20mph Emergency Speed Restriction (which became 5mph). Interestingly, the line had carried many diverted loaded aggregate trains from the Buxton area over the previous nine days, with the Hope Valley upgrade blockade. All freight trains have been diverted and are prohibited from using the line in both directions (a different site on the Up Romiley Line now also has a 20mph restriction). The hourly Manchester to New Mills Central local service has continued with Single Line Working SuX over the Up Romiley Line from/to New Mills Central P2. With a pilot on board, the DMUs are authored to pass the signal displaying a red aspect here, then use the rare trailing crossover at the Sheffield end of Marple station to regain the Down Line. Manchester trains that turnback at New Mills Central do so in P2, so departing from P2 for Manchester will not come as a surprise to most local passengers. Sheffield to Manchester local services are diverted via Hazel Grove and Stockport, calling additionally at both these stations. On Sundays there is no local Manchester to New Mills Central service so Single Line Working does not apply. On Sun 31 Mar only, Manchester to Sheffield locals ran their normal route and calls, diverting via Stockport in the other direction (and both ways on subsequent Sundays). Single Line Working may end at some stage and the line could close for embankment remediation. NR says that repairs will be complex and difficult, expected until 29 Jul at least. The Single Line Working may end sooner if both lines have to be under possession to carry out the work. They correctly say that up to three trains an hour are available from Marple to/from Manchester, with the Rose Hill Marple trains. However, that branch (half-hourly pre-Pandemic) still has daytime hourly gaps. 971] Hillside: With the line closed for engineering works at Southport from Tue 2 to Fri 5 Apr, trains from Liverpool turned back in Down P2 via the Liverpool end trailing crossover in service on departure. 972] Southport: (BLN 1445.837) The buffer stops and concrete wall at the previous ends of P2 and P3 have been removed/demolished by Kier Construction (or should that be Kier Destruction?), using road/ rail plant. The space behind the end of the platforms had already been excavated and faced. The tracks have indeed been extended but the extensions northwest are ungriceable (in normal circumstances) as the new friction buffer stops have been installed near where the line previously ended. However… From Sat 6 Apr, Southport P2 buffer stop was replaced with a friction slide type one metre nearer to the terminal end of the platform - a whole extra metre of useable track! At the Liverpool end of P2, the signal has been moved 3m towards Liverpool and converted to a single aperture (3-aspect) LED signal with a subsidiary LED signal. The useable length of P2 has increased from 137m to 142m (yes, we know that is 5m longer, perhaps they have had a recount). Similarly, the new P3 friction buffer stop is one metre nearer the end of line but the new LED signal at the other end of the platform is unmoved by all these recent events. The useable length of P3 has increased from 130 to 131m (P1 length is 135m). 973] Blackpool Trams: Fares increase again from 31 Mar. The single between any two stops rises from £3.20 to £3.50. The 1 day tickets increase from £6 to £6.60, 3 days from £17.50 to £18.50, and 7 days from £22 to £23. Single bus tickets remain at £2 due to the government £2 fare cap. Blackpool PlusBus covers the full tramway all day and costs the same, £6.60 for one day but is only £4.35 with a Railcard. 974] Dore: (BLN 1442.456) Following the line closure from 23.00 on Fri 15 Mar, the new layout at Dore & Totley opened on Mon 25 Mar, with stopping services calling at the new (reinstated) Down P1 and extended Up P2. The first train to use P1 was the 05.15 TPE Sheffield to Liverpool Lime Street, a 6-car train. Previously only 4-car (or shorter) trains could call. Over the following couple of days there were various signalling issues at Dore, which resulted in some late running passenger services being routed via the lengthened and realigned Dore South Curve, missing out their Sheffield calls to make up time. 975] Hope: (BLN 1441.323) Another Hope Valley Line blockade is now Sat 27 Apr until Wed 1 May inclusive to replace Bowden Lane bridge in Hope, at a cost of £3.4M. This attractive, stone block built arched rail underbridge, with 10' 9'' road clearance, carries three tracks: the Up and Down Main and headshunt for the Hope Cement Works 'Earles Branch' - it is an awkward site for access and working.

BELOW: (Item 972) Southport; this would have been the time to do that extra track (and the narrow gauge). P2&3 looking towards Liverpool/Wigan. (All three Keir Construction, 4 Apr 2024, during the line closure.)

THIS PAGE: Having a smashing time in Southport, wish you were here… (2 Apr 202

4.)

BELOW: (Item 972) All that time, effort and expense and you can't even do

o the extra track… Southport P2 (left) & P3. (John Cameron, 5 Apr 2024.)

976] Grand Union Trains: (BLN 1444.778) A member, confused by conflicting reports as to whether the new Stirling to London service would call at Crewe, sought clarification from the company who advised: The Regulatory decision gave us firm rights to call at our planned stations - which means they must be accommodated - but contingent rights for Crewe. …we will be allowed to call at Crewe if the timetable can encompass the stop. In all our early development work we were unable to secure paths that gave a Crewe stop but it is still our intention to call if the timetable can be made to work. The press release from Grand Union Trains incorrectly said that they would stop at Crewe. BLN prefers to use original sources; our report was based on the ORR decision letter so did not list Crewe as a stop. 977] Merseyrail: The Mayor of Liverpool City Region (who is facing re-election next month) has announced a £10M investment for contactless payment to be implemented 'by the autumn' that will give passengers the best value for their journey/s. It is hoped that the new system will encourage people to make full use of the city's public transport and includes buses, trains and Mersey Ferries. 978] Aintree: From Thur 11 until Sat 13 Apr, Merseyrail planned an enhanced timetable for the Grand National. Trains were booked to run every 7½ mins each way between Aintree and Liverpool Central 11.30-13.00 before the racing and 16.30-20.30 after. Minor changes were needed on other Merseyrail lines to accommodate this. The burning question: Did they manage to run any 8-car Class 777 EMUs? 979] Victoria to Exchange Square: These two stops should be Metrolinked again during 'early May'. A cracked bespoke crossing has disrupted East Didsbury to Shaw & Crompton / Rochdale services since 22 Jan. Exchange Square was initially closed and all services ran via Market Street and Shudehill but there was congestion so, from 12 Feb, East Didsbury services to Shaw & Crompton have turned back at Exchange Square. Repairs to the damaged crossing are complete with final checks in progress. 980] Northwich: (E-BLN 1377 X.128) The Office of Road and Rail has finally released the findings of its investigation into the 'spontaneous' station building collapse at Northwich on 18 May 2021. The ORR deems that the collapse was caused by vegetation weakening the structure of the building. The report noted that, anecdotally, engineers 'do not perceive vegetation as a significant risk'. The building has been rebuilt but the ticket office has not reopened (a backdoor method of closing it or saving money?). 1446 SOUTH EAST - NORTH & EAST ANGLIA (Julian James) [email protected] 981] Wansford Road, a very moving story: (BLN 1414.2580) Peterborough City Council has approved the application by Railworld and the Nene Valley Railway to relocate this station building to their site just off Oundle Road in Peterborough. Constructed in 1863, it was to be demolished to make way for a new dual carriageway between the A47 and the A1 at Wansford and Sutton. Instead, the station will be dismantled brick by brick, then rebuilt next to the Peterborough Nene Valley station with sympathetic restorations of some of the original features that have been lost over the years. There, it will include a welcome hall, café with indoor and outdoor seating, shop and toilet facilities. Wansford Road station was between the villages of Sutton,Wansford and Upton on the obscure Stamford &Sibson (Wansford) branch of the Stamford & Essendine Railway. It opened 8 Aug 1867, when Stamford was planned to be part of the East Coast Main Line. However, cheaper land was available in Peterborough, plans were changed and the station was never well used, closing to passengers 1 Jul 1929. National Highways has donated over £200k towards the move. Two station buildings will also be demolished to make way for the relocation.The plans are on Peterborough City Council planning portal underRef: 23/00675/FUL. 982] Cambridge - Cambridge North: Coldham Lane Down Goods Loop from 35m 10ch to 56m 51ch (Coldham Lane Jn) is now signed out of use so, unfortunately, will not be available for our 25 May tour. 983] Ely: ❶(BLN 1441.330) In late Mar, Class 755 bimodes were seen to be changing power modes in Ely station, so it appears this is not happening at Ely North Jn as the Greater Anglia Press release advised. Changeovers were indeed happening south of Haughley Jn,instead of the Stowmarket area. ❷On Easter Sun 31 Mar, there were no trains all day at Ely, with buses to Peterborough, Downham Market, Norwich, Bury St Edmunds and Cambridge North. It has been suggested that this was to transfer signalling control at Cambridge Box to Workstations, one for the Ely area and the other for Chesterton Junction, but the work seems to have been postponed. Any ideas please anyone?

984] Fenchurch Street - Shoeburyness: A member recently travelled with a c2c Senior Day Rover (for over 65s with photo ID or over 60s with a Senior Railcard), good value at £7 for the east of London zones only version (Shoeburyness to Upminster and Rainham). Including the London c2c Travelcard area, it is a very reasonable £10. They are only sold as paper tickets from ticket offices, machines or ordered from the c2c website and collected from ticket machines. Travel Mon-Fri (not Bank Holidays or weekends) after 09.30 and, for the £10 version, not between 16.00 and 18.59 in the Travelcard area. His aim was mostly acquiring platform tickets,also imaging further Essex stations and other equipment, as well as riding on more Class 720/6 EMUs. Their WiFi works better than any other trains he has encountered and they have power sockets. Our member visited West Horndon*, Pitsea, East Tilbury*, Shoeburyness*, Chalkwell (booking office then closed), Westcliff, Thorpe Bay (booking office had closed early, at noon) and continued by bus to Southend East. Next it was train to Stanford-le-Hope, back to Southend Central for a refreshment break before heading west to Chalkwell, Leigh-on-Sea, Benfleet and Laindon. *Ticket offices scheduled to close later in the morning or soon after noon. The half-hourly off-peak SSuX Up service is significantly enhanced after 14.30 to provide sets in London for Down evening commuters, thus shortening his station visits. The London, Tilbury & Southend Line is slightly unusual in that the final station, Shoeburyness, is very much a minor one, one of few whose booking office (still wooden) closes quite early. There are extensive stabling sidings (30) near - most hold two units. A very rusty, not recently used, branch to QinetiQ Pig's Bay crosses High Street on a Traincrew Operated Level Crossing just outside the station. It extends to four miles at its maximum. The stabling sidings were full, including two, separated, Class 720/6 sets. All the signals our member saw were conventional filament four, or occasionally three, aspect rather than LEDs. At Laindon and Leigh-on-Sea, the centre turnback loops have regular booked (London) passenger trains but were still jointed track with quite low speed pointwork. On the country side of the busy road, Stanford-le-Hope has now had a 'temporary' booking office for almost four years since the previous station building was demolished for redevelopment but there is no sign of replacement any time soon. The booking clerk was pleased to serve our member, who then wandered into the town centre for the first time with 25 mins to wait; it looks reasonably prosperous. Southend East has a modern building dating from 2011 when the booking office was moved from Down P2 to the Up P1 side. Main access is from the Up side, where there are gates but there is a public footbridge over the tracks and platforms for access through the street to reach the entrance (a very narrow anonymous hole between properties). Most stations in the Southend area have an open coffee shop and booking offices that are meant to be open all day. Afternoon trains were pretty busy with secondary school children and other people heading home. 985] Saxmundham: (TRACKmaps 2, p9A 2020) The ground frame operated Up side siding at 91m 20ch is clipped and scotched out of use. The Weekly Operating Notices don't seem to have mentioned this. 986] Wymondham now a city? (BLN 1435.2443) (TRACKmaps 2 p13B 2020) As at 27 Mar, new ballast on all three tracks showed that work had been carried out for the new Station Road footpath subway (nothing to do with the station) at the Norwich end. Cut back Down P1 now ends without a ramp; a short section with the old ramp,remains further east.The Up Siding is under possession for this subway work. The Down Sidings are out of use (not yet in the WONs), as a cutting landslip has spilled onto those tracks. Greater Anglia has been unable to devise a plan for P2 step free access that retains the Up Siding; £600k for this from the Transforming Cities fund in Oct 2020 had to be used by Mar 2023. 987] Lowestoft: Between now and early Jun, the 121 year old canopy on the road side of the station building is to be refurbished. Work includes brickwork repairs to the supporting wall and improved rain water drainage. Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership and the Lowestoft Central Project hosted an Easter craft fair in the restored parcels office. Then it housed a railway poster exhibition from 3-6 Apr. 988] Brandon: (BLN 1425.1377) (115,000 passenger in 2022-23) Down P1 adjacent to the Chernobylstyle sarcophagus is now out of use and blocked off at the west end. A short east end section of the remaining platform is available with Selective Door Opening. A new platform access has been built round the back of the building onto the remaining section of operational platform. It appears that Greater Anglia don't expect resolution to the current situation any time soon - £££££ no doubt.

989] Buckingham: Buckinghamshire Council has £1.43M from Active Travel England to improve a mile of trackbed from the town southeast towards Verney Junction (costing £1.7M). The rest is from local Section 106 developer contributions. It will be part of a 6½ mile active travel route to the new Winslow station, the majority not on trackbed. Verney Jn to Buckingham CP 7 Sep 1964 and CG 5 Dec 1966. 990] Oxford: (BLN 1440.204) From the start of Apr, work on the foundations for the new Down loop P5 next to P4 included night time installation of 40 drilled piles. The piling rig was delivered in three parts overnight on 2/3 Apr. An acoustic barrier is also being provided at the sidings near William Lucy Way to help limit noise, while trains are serviced and cleaned. There will be more trains here when East West Rail services begin. The recycled plastic fence, 330m long and four to six metres high, will be dark green in colour. This daytime work is expected to take around six weeks to complete. 1446 SOUTH EAST - SOUTH (Julian James) [email protected] 991] Southampton: ①(BLN 1428.1631) The £17.5M investment in the new terminal in the Port of Southampton has officially been completed. Rail and HS2 minister Huw Merriman unveiled a plaque and opened the new Western Docks Solent Rail Terminal, a partnership between Associated British Ports and Solent Stevedores, on 27 Mar, after 18 months of work. The 18 acre facility has expanded the rail terminal with the new track layout permitting simultaneous train arrival and departure to increase the terminal's efficiency. The concrete rail loading pad has been extended by 130m at the western end. The project has already won an award for Driving Rail Freight Growth at the RFG Awards last year. To reassure our readers, the two following are not late April Fools jokes, please do not adjust your BLN. ②Southampton Citizens Climate Assembly (40 randomly selected residents, not a good start - Reg Ed) recently suggested a metro-style transport service, a Park & Ride and better cycling infrastructure. The City Council said it was investigating types of systems and funding options. Eamonn Keogh, Cabinet member for transport told a Council meeting that the delivery of such networks in other parts of the country had been helped by devolution deals, which the Solent Region did not have yet… ③A quicker railway link, most likely underground, has been proposed between two cities in the south of England. It would connect Southampton Central station with Netley (not quite with city status yet, wait for it…), allowing for a more direct and quicker route to Portsmouth. It is one of several ideas from Transport for the South East out to public consultation. Plans (costing a mere £45bn!) would be phased over 27 years including a Portsmouth Harbour extra platform and Botley line capacity improvements. 992] Wokingham: (BLN 1443.606) With resignalling and recontrol, the signal box was signed out of use on Sat 10 Feb 2024, recorded in the Occurrence Book at 02.48; the signaller booked off duty at 03.20. 993] Edenbridge: On Thur 28 Mar the driver of the 15.00 Redhill to Tonbridge reported that the Up line right hand rail at 34m 65ch to 34m 60ch had dipped on the approach to an underbridge. This was within an existing Temporary Speed Restriction on an embankment from Edenbridge to Penshurst, an area that has required repeated packing. Subsidence continued, affecting both running rails. Service was suspended east of Edenbridge. A Redhill to Edenbridge P2 hourly shuttle then ran with bus connections to/from Tonbridge requiring one unit, doing Edenbridge trailing crossover on departure (Realtime Trains incorrectly showed P1 departures). However, this ground frame requires an operator on site and could not be staffed from 2 Apr, when the whole Tonbridge to Redhill service was replaced by buses. This is now expected until Mon 15 Apr. The significant freight traffic is being diverted. 994] Ryde - Shanklin: (BLN 1444.747) The wheelset tyres on the Class 484 EMUs are reported to be wearing to the limit due to problems with the track rather than the wheels. Five units have now been reduced to four to provide spares and only one has been serviceable of late (hence the reduced hourly frequency now). SWR is buying replacements from previous scrap stock, as the DfT will not authorise expenditure on new ones (a Freedom of Information report). Better they return to railway use than be melted down. Ryde Pier is to close in the autumn for further remedial work due to be completed by Easter 2025. The pier works will be carried out by NR but paid for by SWR as they are additional to the original lease agreements. A five month closure between Ryde St Johns Road and Pier Head is planned for two bridges to be replaced; hopefully it might be possible to coincide this with the pier works.

995] Gravesend - Tilbury Ferry: (BLNs 1444.744 & e-1445.X.52 photos) This passenger ferry service ceased on and from 1 Apr 2024. It has operated in various guises for many centuries, including 1862- 1984 as a railway company/organisation operation, latterly part of British Rail 'Sealink'. However, as 31 Mar was a Sunday, the final services were on Sat 30 Mar, 19.00 ex-Gravesend /19.10 ex-Tilbury. From an agenda item paper https://bit.ly/3VQkqyS in Kent County Council's (KCC) Environment & Transport Cabinet Committee 7 Mar meeting: In October 2023, Thurrock Council advised KCC that it could no longer contribute towards the subsidy requirement. This demanded the suspension of a tender process aiming to secure a long term contract. Since November the service has been subsidised by KCC alone. Owing to doubts over KCC's ability to commit to meeting the full subsidy cost alone on an ongoing basis, the Council has conducted public consultation to support the consideration of a possible key decision around KCC's subsidy to the ferry given that this alone would not maintain the service. However, In Jan 2024, Thurrock Council advised KCC that it had identified funding that would enable them to reintroduce their contribution to the subsidy based upon expected subsidy costs for twelve months from April 24. However, it seems that this hiatus/vacillation led to https://bit.ly/4akZVyR (the future of the ferry service) the situation where: Despite our efforts to get a new contract in place, a ferry operator cannot be found to deliver this contract from April 2024. KCC continues to work with prospective operators and possible funding partners towards a longer term solution for the service but the current position is the Gravesend to Tilbury Ferry will stop after the existing contract expires on 31 Mar 2024. We remain committed to ensuring we explore options for a longer term operator of the ferry but it is not possible to achieve this to coincide with the end of the current contract. Thurrock Council https://bit.ly/43QTRM7 just issued a terse statement: From April 2024, the Tilbury to Gravesend ferry will not operate until further notice. Also: There are regular bus services that you can use to travel between Gravesend and Thurrock, with links to timetables for Arriva service 'B' from Gravesend to Bluewater, change for Ensignbus X80 to Lakeside bus station and Chafford Hundred station, then to c2c / 'Thurrock bus timetables' for the rest of the journey - what could be simpler?. So, what of the 'rail replacement bus service'? From the simple shuttle introduced initially between Tilbury Town and Tilbury Riverside when the latter station closed from 30 Nov 1992, it has evolved into a circular service (99) across the southern reaches of the town, including the local superstore (ASDA). As yet, by 1 Apr, according to https://bustimes.org/ the route in coming weeks is unchanged, still via the landing stage; though for now there will be rather fewer boarders/alighters there, if any. On a personal note, this is quite poignant to our correspondent. For most of his life, from birth in 1958 until 2010, he lived in Grays, the next town along from Tilbury. Therefore, he used the ferry quite a lot, from the days when operated by quite big BR/Sealink vessels, to access much of Kent. Early memories from the late 1960s include quite a few occasions when his Dad took him across, for the train onward to Whitstable, a favourite for day trips. In the 1980s, our member even went that way en route to Dover and the ferry to Boulogne for the day and on one occasion via Sheerness to Vlissingen! Another member enjoyed the e-BLN 1445 photos of the last days of the Ferry. On Tue 26 Mar 2024, he used it from the Gravesend side. Ambassador Cruise Lines 'Ambition' cruise ship, registered in Nassau, was on the quay. The Ferry crew were very friendly and impressed that our member had come from Minehead especially for the trip. They didn't ask for any tickets/money so he proffered his Somerset English Concessionary Travel Pass, commonly known as a Bus Pass, to the response of 'That's fine'. One aspect is the number of cars parked in Tilbury quayside car park, about 45 that day. An enquiry elicited that most were Tilbury to Gravesend 'commuters' - working there or at the Pilot Cutter's Depot a little further downstream from the Town Pier. He didn't ask what they will do in future! 996] High Speed Bidi: On Fri 8 Mar a points failure at Wennington Crossovers caused the Up Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) to be closed from there to Stratford International country end crossover (which country would that be?). Eight services, starting with 08.48 from Margate and ending with 12.07 from Ramsgate, both to St Pancras International, traversed the Down CTRL in the Up direction between Wennington Crossovers (26.294km) and Stratford International West Jn crossover (10.130km).

BELOW: (Item 995) The Tilbury Ferry at the Gravesend sid

e of the River Thames. (Robert Green, Tue 26 Mar 2024.)

BELOW: The ferry is that one in front! (Robert Green, Tue 26 Mar 2024.)

997] Folkestone Warren: Cracking along the edge of the surfaced promenade on the seaside of the line has worsened. A 20mph restriction was applied some time ago on both tracks from Abbotscliffe to Martello Tunnels. There are permanent monitors with sensors to detect movement along here, a provision increasingly used by NR. At least eight landslips have affected the promenade road. 998] Woking - Farnborough (Main): Work to stabilise what was described as a small landslip, in a cutting, necessitated buses replacing trains on 24 Mar between Woking and Basingstoke and between Woking and Aldershot, while two of the four tracks on the main line were closed. 999] Haslemere: (BLN 1445.860) On Sat 16 Mar the Portsmouth Direct Line south of Haslemere was closed. For much of the day, the normal Saturday train service (two fast and one slow per hour each way) turned back at Haslemere. The slow services in general seemed to be using Up Main P2 but the fasts mostly appeared to be reversing in Down Main P1. This meant that Up services had to start back using ground position light signal EW41 and the Down Main to Up Main trailing crossover. 1446 SOUTH WEST (Samuel Taunton) [email protected] 1000] Clay replacement Lithium? A facility for the extraction and processing of ore from worked-out clay quarries has been proposed at Trelavour, near Bugle, to produce Lithium. Plans envisage mining 2.1M tonnes of ore to produce 21,000 tonnes per annum, 1% yield but worth it! Lithium ore is derived from Tourmaline and other minerals which commonly occur in granites (and associated rocks), as found in Cornwall. The expected output of three containers per day will be by road, while the incoming material by rail will not dramatically change the frequency (infrequency?) of freight flows in the area. 1001] Wellington given the boot: Unsurprisingly, CrossCountry will not stop its Bristol to South West services at Wellington, unlike GWR. Subject to final approval, opening is expected in Sep 2025 (hmm). 1002] Getting connected at Maiden Newton: (BLN 1445.803) Our member Alan Fell lamented failing to ride the Bridport branch connection at Maiden Newton, describing it as 'ECS and railtours only'. This was correct then (1970); as BLN 1440.222 explained, the connection had been changed in 1968 when Maiden Newton to Yeovil was singled, facing north instead of south and becoming an ECS shunt. There was a time when the connection was routinely griceable, a member recalls doing it unexpectedly and quite by chance on a morning arrival from Bridport, probably in the early 1960s. Two-coach sets with locos worked the branch then and it was the set that did the rush hour fill-ins that ran off the branch straight into the Weymouth bound Maiden Newton Down P2 (via the south facing running connection). It set down passengers before the coaches stabled at the Weymouth end Up side sidings between turns, releasing the loco to work branch freight (it CG 5 Apr 1965). His memory suggests that the steam-hauled fill-in workings survived for a while after the main set was dieselised in the 1960s. Our member never did the 1968 north facing shunt connection (for the ECS to go to/from Westbury). 1003] Par: (TRACKmaps 3 p10B 2023) Since May 2023, until further notice, trains have been unable to pass each other between Par and St Blazey on the Up Par Loop and Down Par Loop (a gauging issue). 1004] Jersey Western Railway gets the stamp of approval: Jersey Stamps issued six commemorative stamps on 4 Apr and a souvenir sheetlet with landmarks, locos and crew from the Western Railway (1870-1936). https://bit.ly/3VPP8bJ has images, details and to order. Philately will get you anywhere. 1446 WEST MIDLANDS (Brian Schindler) [email protected] 1005] Cross City Line North: As late as 26 Mar, West Midlands Railway first announced that Aston North Jn to Lichfield TV P3 would be closed from 2-5 Apr, with replacement buses running (except on 5 th when ASLEF drivers were on strike). Work included strengthening and refurbishment the A38 (M) Tame Valley Viaduct over the line, part of a 4½ year project. Scaffolding and equipment had to be placed on the tracks. The viaduct's 57 year old main steel boxes are being repaired (along with the concrete beams), strengthened, grit blasted and painted. NR also carried out OHLE maintenance work ready for hot weather; tested and replaced signalling/points cables between Shenstone and Wylde Green. In addition, a signal was moved at Lichfield TV ready for the Class 730 EMUs later this year. 1006] Stoke-on-Trent- Leekbrook Jn: (BLN 1444.751) (TRACKmaps 4 p26B 2022) The local MP reported that clearance of a section of this line at City Road (near Glebe Street Jn) was underway on 26 Mar.

BELOW: (Item 999) 444019 turn backs from Waterloo in Haslemere Do

own Main P1 on 1P46 with the road set and the ground signal cleared.

BELOW: The same train looking in the other direction from the Wa

terloo end of the station. (Both John Cowburn, Sat 16 Mar 2024.)

BELOW: (Item 1007) Burton-on-Trent; 170109 turns back in Up P1; the Hon BLS M

Member for Hereford &Whitestone is at the door. (Simon Mortimer, 6 Apr 2023.)

BELOW: (Item 1011) Why is that man taking photos of u(as it turned out to be) is unusually calling at Smethwic

us all??? 220019 on the 08.26 Manchester to Eastleigh ck Galton Bridge P4. (Mark Fishlock, Sun 31 Mar 2024.)

1007] Burton-on-Trent: Due to an engineering possession from Clay Mills to Derby, London Road Jn on Sat 6 and Sun 7 Apr, CrossCountry services from the Birmingham direction (which normally run to Nottingham) turned back in Burton-on-Trent Up P1. They used the Up Tamworth to Down Tamworth, normally trailing, ground signal controlled, crossover on departure. This is on Sat 13 & Sun 14 Apr too. Hourly long distance services between Birmingham and Derby divert via Leicester, booked nonstop. (TRACKmaps 4 p26c 2022) Also at Burton, after Wetmore Jn, the 23 Mar UKRT 'Gateway Galloper' did the East Yard Arrival, West Yard Road 2 (reverse), then East Yard Departure Line to change direction. 1008] Norton Bridge: Colwich Jn to Stone was closed on Good Friday, 29 Mar for engineering work at Hixon. Manchester - Stoke - Milton Keynes services ran via the bidirectional Norton Bridge East Chord to Stafford. Northbound services went Down Slow Line from Stafford North Jn to Searchlight Lane Jn. 1009] West Midlands Metro: During the 23 Mar to 9 Apr blockade, works were carried out all along the line: The delta junction was installed at Wednesbury for the Dudley extension. Sandwell Council replaced Dudley Street overbridge on the Wolverhampton side of Dudley Street Gunn Village stop. Tram rails were replaced at The Hawthorns, Kenrick Park and West Bromwich Central stops so several Temporary Speed Restrictions in place for a while could be lifted. Grass (a 'muddy mess') was replaced around the tracks at Edgbaston Village tram stop. Is this to rival 'The Lawn' at Paddington‽ From Sat 23 until Mon 25 Mar (inclusive) and on Tue 2 Apr, trams from Wolverhampton turned back in Wednesbury Parkway P2 or P3 (so, facing crossover in service on arrival). This is quite common, done daily per timetable by trams going out of service (right over to P3) to the depot and not just at the end of service. On other days of the closure, they turned back at Wednesbury Great Western Street P1 (crews change here using direct depot walking access), with single line working on the 'to Birmingham' track. On return, trams used the normally trailing, much rarer, crossover to Wednesbury Parkway P2. 1010] Oakengates: (BLN 1445.877) The embankment landslip work was completed on the afternoon of Wed 27 Mar, with some tamping then required. A route proving ECS DMU (15.30 Shrewsbury Abbey Foregate Carriage Sidings to Wellington P2 and return) ran on 27th , as that section line had been out of use since 8 Mar and was outside the possession. The whole line reopened 02.38 Good Friday 29 Mar. 1011] CrossCountry unusual calls: On Easter Sun, 31 Mar, a member caught the 08.26 Manchester to Southampton Airport Parkway at Stafford to change at New Street and Leicester for a day out on the Great Central Railway at Loughborough. The Class 220 Voyager train was full and standing at Stafford. At Smethwick Galton Bridge it was held at a red signal and the Train Manager announced that, due to overrunning engineering works, (at Soho South Jn in fact) it would be there for some time... It was. After about 10 mins, it was announced that anyone for Birmingham could alight and walk up the stairs for trains to Snow Hill and Moor Street, which would be a much quicker journey to Birmingham. Our member and most of the train did this; luckily there was a train waiting, also full and standing, (with all the CrossCountry refugees). He walked from Snow Hill to New Street and caught the late 10.52 New Street to Leicester, which reached Leicester 12.20, formed by 170103. At Wigston North Jn it crossed onto the bidirectional Up Main, to Leicester P4 (booked P1). Our member had a taxi to Leicester North for 50017 on the 12.55 to Loughborough Central. His original train was 48 late at New Street and later terminated at Eastleigh, another station that CrossCountry doesn't normally serve. 1446 ISLE OF MAN (Graeme Easton) [email protected] 1012] Steam Railway: On Sat 30 Mar, N o 11 'Maitland' made its first test run since winter overhaul, acting as a banking engine to the 13.50 Douglas to Castletown and 14.27 return. It has subsequently returned to service, so there are four operational locos for the first time since Jul 2023. Prior to the first dining trains over Easter, Saloon Coach F31,repainted last year, had crests applied to the panelling and lining detail completed. On Wed 3 Apr, the first cruise ship of the year led to strengthening of the steam trains, with the Foxdale Coach F39 used for the first time after major work on its bogies. 1013] Electric Railway: More trams have emerged from the sheds after having winter work done. Car 9 has lost its double height trolley plank and illuminations (at least for now). Car 21 has had a complete repaint from Nationalisation Green to standard Manx Electric Railway Company livery.

BELOW: (Item 1014) 'Bobby' hauling closed Car 27 (just as well in the pouring rain) in Broadway headshunt at the start of the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway season; point lever left. (Jenny Williamson, Thur 28 Mar 2024.)

BELOW: (Item 1012) 'Maitland' at Port Erin having after arriving w

with the 09.50 from Douglas. (Graeme Easton, Thur 4 Apr 2024.)

BELOW: (Item 1017) A staggering development at Derriaghy; the old Down P

P2 (to Belfast) is seen from the (extended) Lisburn end of Up P1 (to Dublin).

BELOW: The Belfast end of Up P1 and underbridge from the Lisburn end oout of use and will be removed along with the platform, hence the need fo

of the new Down P2. (The blue footbridge from the old Down platform is or care crossing the road - see text.) (All Martin Baumann, 29 Mar 2024.)

BELOW: The new 6-car Down platform from its Lisburn end looking towa

ards Belfast, here the underbridge and P1 are behind the photographer.

Meanwhile, the MER works north of Eskadale (BLN 1445.889) are complete with full double track operation now in place. The poles in Ramsey terminus area have now all been painted Royal Blue and the waiting shelter has been removed from the previous 'temporary' Ramsey terminus on the Douglas side of Parsonage Road Level Crossing. The crossover in Ramsey terminus has had the OHLE reinstated and is now in use for cars to run round trailers (the left hand siding on arrival is still without OHLE). At Dhoon Quarry (10m 61ch),the OHLE has been removed above the siding. Perhaps they robbed Peter Dhoon Quarry to pay Paul Ramsey or at least reused the OHLE frogs? At Dhoon Glen, no one has been found to run the café (this is no great surprise in view of the amount of rent that the Department of Infrastructure wanted for it), so it appears that it will remain closed this season. The café at Laxey has reopened for the season but is not guaranteed to be open if there is little traffic and/or bad weather. 1014] Horse Tramway: The season started on Thur 28 Mar with 'Bobby' hauling closed Car 27. Two of our members were among the intrepid passengers braving the rain. 'Torrin' took Car 27 out on an early morning run before the first public tram, with Manx Radio reporting from it, including interviews with Stable Supervisor Neil Wade and the Chief Engineer Andy Cowie. A report and photo from the first public tram: https://tinyurl.com/db9wfzua you may recognise two passengers! (The Williamsons are indeed very recognisable…) Separately, Infrastructure Minister, Tim Crookall, was asked by Rushen Member of the House of Keys, Juan Watterson, if the Passenger Transport Act had been complied with regarding discontinuance of the section of track between Broadway and the Sea Terminal. In response he said that The Department has not abandoned the section referred to and has not requested a resolution for abandonment. Indeed the Department has retained a tram corridor to allow future reinstatement of the track. https://tinyurl.com/5vzp4b49 has the full question and answer. (Cartoon: Phil Woodford.) 1015] Storm Kathleen: caused the suspension of all Horse Trams on Sat 6 & Sun 7 Apr. Stones from the beach covered the tram tracks, there was flooding and one of the road/tram traffic lights broke off its base. This is where they moved the tram track from the centre of the road, nearer to the sea, onto the Promenade walkway, north of Broadway. Had the tramway stayed where it was, it would still have had some pebbles but would not have been flooded. The horse tramway remained closed on Sun 7 Apr. 1016] Mountain Railway: The Snaefell service on Sun 7 Apr was reported to be at the maximum wind speed limit for running. Our local Laxey dynamic duo ventured up and had to hold on to their coats! The 15.50 from Summit was delayed for the café to close and staff to ride down to Bungalow, where their transport was parked. It was then the last service of the day, so the upper gates across the line were closed behind it. At Laxey, the 16.25 on to Douglas (MER Car N o 5) had been held as a connection. 1446 IRELAND (Martin Baumann) [email protected] 1017] Derriaghy: (BLN 1445.886) Preliminary demolition work on the previous Down P2 was underway when your Ireland Editor visited the station on 29 Mar. It is expected to be removed by the end of Apr. Although there would have been room to extend it at the Lisburn end, the poor condition of the foundations made the completely new Down platform a more viable option. If walking between the staggered platforms, care should be taken crossing the main road between them as there are bends at each side of the railway overbridge and the road has a reputation for drivers ignoring the 30mph limit. 1018]Coals to Newcastle:(BLN 1445.885) The final Bord na Móna peat train ran on Fri 29 Mar (the next TRACKmaps will be easier to compile). Some shops in Ireland are now sell peat imported from Latvia!

1019] Grand Central to be Centrally controlled! The proposed Belfast Rail Operating Centre has been paused; on opening, Belfast Grand Central station will be under Belfast Central Cabin (as still named) instead. During the major 30 Mar until 7 Apr Easter closure (BLN 1411.2545), the points (numbered 778) for the third line into Belfast Grand Central were installed at 112m 04ch and secured out of use. Final closure date for Great Victoria Street has been revised again back to the original 10 May date! 1020] Yorkgate: (BLN 1413.2798) The new station building, new pedestrian overbridge and lifts are at an advance state of construction and expected to be brought into use at the end of Apr as York Street. 1021] Yorkgate Interchange: (BLN 1310.1692) This motorway lane expansion next to the railway here might have led to some line closures but is now 'indefinitely postponed due to lack of finance'. 1022] Loco C227: (BLN 1445.887) Although reportedly acquired by the West Clare Railway for their Moyasta Junction site, it has not made it there to date and is currently stored in the Waterford area. 1023] Waterford: On 18 Mar, the foundations for one of the two platforms for the new resisted Waterford station had been completed but a considerable amount of work was outstanding. 1024] Lisburn:(BLN 144.764)All crossovers south of the station were commissioned from start of traffic on Mon 3 Apr. During the continuing possession north of Lisburn, which then lasted until the end of traffic Mon 7 Apr, most trains from Portadown used the Down to Up crossover, turning back in Lisburn P1. A few peak hour trains turned back in P2 using Down to Up crossover on departure for Portadown. 1445 SCOTLAND (Greg Beecroft) [email protected] 1025] Edinburgh Trams: Edinburgh PlusBus tickets are valid on most Lothian buses and Edinburgh Trams except Ingliston Park & Ride to Edinburgh Airport. The price is £4.50 Adult, Railcard £2.95. This compares with £5 for a DAYticket (city zone) with similar validity. A collision between a tram and a car at Gyle Centre on 23 Mar resulted in services being suspended between Edinburgh Airport and Edinburgh Park where trams turned back using the trailing crossover in service on departure. 1026] Eating out in Glasgow: Those prepared to stray from the city centre of Glasgow can find two restaurants in distinctive, former transport buildings, both of which are Category 'B' listed. Kelvinside station OP 1 Apr 1897 on the Lanarkshire & Dumbartonshire Railway line from Possil to Partick. It CP 1 Jan 1917, ROP 2 Jun 1919 and finally CP 1 Jul 1942. The station building is located over the southern portal of Balgray Tunnel and fronts onto Great Western Road. That is lined with fine sandstone terraces and mansions, so the station was designed to fit with its surroundings. The main building, designed by the noted architect John James Burnet, is constructed of buff coloured, polished stone in the style of an Italianate villa. By the 1970s it was in serious disrepair and British Rail made an application to demolish it, fortunately without success. The building was leased out and converted into a restaurant in 1982-83. It has changed hands several times since but remains in business. The building was reduced to a shell, so no original internal features survive. Décor includes vintage travel posters and winter 1997-98 train departures poster for Torino Porta Nuova station! With the restaurant being located on Great Western Road, much use is made on menus and publicity material of the GWR lettering within a circle logo used by the original Great Western Railway in 'shirt button motif' of later years. It even features on the cubicles in the toilets. The restaurant is about 700 yards north of Hyndland station (follow signs to Gartnavel Hospital). Restaurant website https://1051gwr.co.uk/ Battlefield Rest is not a railway station at all but a very grand, Art Nouveau tram shelter. It is located in Battlefield Road, about quarter of a mile west of Mount Florida station, at the former junction of tram Routes 5 Clarkston to Hyndland and 11 Langside to Milngavie. It was designed by Frank Burnet and Boston Architects, in response to a competition promoted by Glasgow Corporation in 1914 for a tram shelter design for use across the network. Surmounted by a clock tower, the shelter had a waiting room, toilets and a newsagent's shop. The external walls are clad with green and cream glazed tiles and are topped by an ornamental balustrade. The shelter opened on 18 Aug 1915 but WWI and its aftermath resulted in no more being built. It was also threatened with demolition but was converted into an Italian restaurant in 1996. http://battlefieldrest.co.uk/ is the restaurant website. In addition, the red sandstone building (the original entrance to St Enoch Subway station) is now a Caffè Nero branch.

BELOW: (Item 1026) Kelvinside; station building front, facing north onto Grea

at Western Rd - GWR logo extreme left middle. (Greg Beecroft, 29 Mar 2024.)

BELOW: The rear of Kelvinside station building when under renThe cutting is now largely filled in, leaving just enough space to ac

novation in Jul 1982 with the remains of the platforms below. cess the tunnel for inspection and maintenance (Greg Beecroft).

BELOW: A similar view on 31 Aug 1987

7 with appendage (Angus McDougall).

BELOW: (Item 1026) Battlefield Rest; the newsagent was to the left under the

clock and the public lavatory was to the right. (Greg Beecroft, 29 Mar 2024.)

BELOW: (Item 1027) NSB (Norges Statsbaner - the former Norwegia

an State Railways) 25640 at Pitlochry. (Greg Beecroft, 3 Apr 2024.)

BELOW & NEXT: (Item 1028) 66034+66110 wait to depart from Aviemore Stra