1344

me reason it is thought the rising gradient ahead might be steeper than 1:29…

BELOW: The right angled curve between 'Parkway' (round to the left) and

d Event City, behind the camera. 'Parkway' (a road) itself is on the bridge.

BELOW: The extension is due to open in April and all six new stop have nam
are provisional - the others are as per map). Event City itself - upper c

mes up except this one (at 'Event City' but the map does say that stop names
centre - is due to be demolished with a replacement built elsewhere.

BELOW: The end! Trafford Centre terminus is an island platform with, on a

arrival a facing, then a trailing, crossover (both behind the photographer).





X.15] PREVIOUS PAGE: A member recently took a train to Romiley for what may be his last ride on a
Class 142 (he won't miss them!). They were still running to Rose Hill and New Mills, although he hasn't
seen any at Manchester Victoria recently. The Pacers now work in multiple with other DMUs
(Class 150s were all he saw). The guard confirmed this was to ensure that all services have a disabled
access toilet. A train to New Mills approaches Romiley off the Bredbury line. The route to the right is
the older line via Hyde. (Ian Mortimer.) BELOW: Romiley in June 1975 looking southeast towards
Marple and New Mills, the DMU has just left the station for Manchester via Bredbury. Left is the Hyde
line; right was a double track Great Central & Midland Railway joint line spur to Bredbury Jn on the
Cheshire Lines Committee line between Woodley and Stockport Tiviot Dale. Parts of the junction at
Romiley then still remained, as seen. Interestingly this explains the position of the existing trailing
crossover at Romiley, unusually between the platforms as below. Rail traffic over the spur ceased
2 Jan 1967 and the track was removed by Nov 1975 just five months later. (Ian Mortimer, Jun 1975.)

X.16] LEFT: On the morning of Tue 21 Jan 2020
142034 & 142046 were at Crewe making their
final journey to Newport for scrapping at Simms
Metals. Their withdrawal continues apace...
(John Cameron.)

261] Insights into Longsight: (BLN 1343.110) Mention of the excursion platform here in the last BLN
prompted some research. It seems that the current platform was opened in Mar 1980 for rail staff.
There was public use during resignalling work. There is record of it being used for weekend public
excursions from 23 Jul 1988; final use was Sat & Sun 1, 2 Oct and Fri-Sun 7, 8, 9 Oct 1988 (BR leaflet)*.
It then reverted to staff use only on 17 Oct 1988 and was absent from the working timetable by 2007.

An earlier LNWR Longsight station OP 10 Apr 1843, replacing Rushford. Longsight CP 15 Sep 1958
(timetabled services) but according to Railway Magazine was retained for occasional excursions to
Belle Vue Zoo, including one from Macclesfield on Easter Mon 23 Apr 1962.

*Your NW Editor wondered what these excursions were for. Belle Vue Zoological Gardens opened in
1836 and eventually comprised a Zoo, amusement park, exhibition hall complex, greyhound racing
track and speedway track. The Zoo closed in 1977, the gardens in 1982 and the exhibition complex in
1987. Perhaps the 1988 excursions were for speedway or greyhound racing, which continue - although
the greyhound stadium is now planned to be demolished to make way for housing. [Train spotting?]

At its peak Belle Vue occupied 165 acres and attracted more than 2M visitors a year. In 1872 the Zoo
acquired an elephant, 'Maharajah', from Wombwell's Menagerie No1 in Edinburgh. A plan to transport
it from Edinburgh to Manchester by rail was abandoned after the elephant destroyed the railway
vehicle in which he was to travel. It was decided that Maharajah and his trainer, Lorenzo Lawrence,
should walk to Manchester, a journey they completed in 10 days, sticking to 'trunk' routes, with little
incident. A Zoo 'scenic railway' (OP 1927; CP 1976; demolished 1978) was actually a roller coaster.

262] Merseyrail: ❶The first of the new Class 777 Merseyrail EMUs was delivered by GBRf to Kirkdale
Depot on Wed 15 Jan. The route, timed for 715 tonnes at 60mph, from Dollands Moor (02.36) was via
Sandling, Ashford, Tonbridge, Bat & Ball, Swanley, Bromley South, Catford Loop, Brixton, Kensington
Olympia, Wembley Yard, Northampton (an unusual sight for commuters at 07.10), the Trent Valley
and Stafford (09.00) to Crewe Up & Down Loop (stop for photos by John Cameron) then via Crewe
Down Refuge siding arr 10.41. At 22.20 it left there via Warrington BQ, St Helens Junction, Olive
Mount Jn, Bootle Jn, Bootle Oriel Road (reverse) and Sandhills (reverse) reaching Kirkdale at 00.32.

66788 took the train to Crewe Up & Down Loop, where it ran round before leading into the Down
Refuge Siding. A second loco (light engine from Tuebrook Sidings) attached to work 'top & tail' from
Crewe to Kirkdale. This unit may be visible during our Sun 26 Jan Merseyrail tour. Of note, the working
was shown on Realtime Trains as 'cancelled' (operator request) but did run with all the timings shown.

NEXT TWO PAGES: 777003 in Crewe Up & down loop (between P11 & 12) on Wed 15 Jan 2020 -
(John Cameron, who says he just happened to be there by chance; the station is his second home.)

❷Merseyrail has a 'Disruption Terminology' page http://bit.ly/2tmWzfI on its website explaining to
'normals' the jargon used when passengers are informed about delays. It concentrates on delay causes
attributable to NR including railhead conditions, lineside equipment, track circuit failure, points failure
and third rail. There is a section about running trains semi-fast to help restore a disrupted timetable.

263] Widnes: (BLN 1338.2563 - visit report) Alstom's Transport and Technology Centre here has won a
£127M contract to upgrade Avanti's Pendolino fleet. New work was needed with the Pendolino fleet
repaint there now completed. Alstom will also maintain the Class 390s until 2026 and the new non-
tilting Hitachi bimode fleet recently ordered by Avanti. Alstom says that the deal will create 100 high-
skilled roles, mostly based in Widnes. It also secures hundreds of existing jobs at Liverpool Edge Hill,
Glasgow Polmadie, Manchester Longsight, Wolverhampton Oxley and London Wembley depots.

The first tilting Pendolino entered service on the London to Glasgow route in Jan 2003. The overhaul
concentrates mainly on onboard facilities including more comfortable seating, shop improvements,
revamped toilets, better lighting, new interiors and the installation of at-seat chargers and improved
WiFi. Train performance will also be improved through new maintenance programmes.









THIS PAGE: (See item 266 next page.) Now closed permanently and not just for a meal break.
Sankey for Penketh booking office on Mon 21 Oct 2019 (Both Liz Moralee.)

264] Arnside: NR is reinforcing Holmrock embankment south of Kent Viaduct. The £½M project is due
to run from 6 Jan until March. The slope will be strengthened with a new piled retaining wall to protect
the track from future movement. Work is overnight at weekends with train services unaffected.

265] Manchester congestion: (BLN 1338.2569) Transport for the North (TfN) has published a report on
the Central Manchester Rail Infrastructure, 'Supporting Reliability Across the North'. It addresses the
infrastructure enhancements required to improve general rail reliability and informs TfN's advice to
the Secretary of State for Transport. It notes that the current Central Manchester rail infrastructure
does not support all the committed services in the Northern franchise, with the result that:

•Some train services that have been contracted in the current franchises are unable to operate.
•Services that do run have much lower reliability, in Manchester and across the north of England.

The report supports a package of potential infrastructure enhancements that have been identified
allowing operation of the committed franchise services and much improved reliability, including:

•Two new platforms at Piccadilly and longer platforms at Oxford Rd (Northern Hub 'Package C' works).
•A new turnback siding east of Victoria.
•Increased platform provision at Manchester Airport.
•Potential 'other options' at nine locations to the north and west of central Manchester, including
..grade separation at Ordsall Lane and work at Salford Crescent.

•Potential works south of Piccadilly include assessment of: Piccadilly - Slade Lane/Stockport grade
..separation, six tracking Longsight - Slade Lane and options for freight to avoid Castlefield.

•The designation of Stockport and Manchester Airport as 'Congested Infrastructure'.

266] Sankey for Penketh: (BLN 1338.2574) A reader confirms that the ticket office was to close with
the timetable change, on opening of Warrington West. Sankey for Penketh (with 142,024 passengers
in 2017/18) had its service reduced from hourly (with peak extras) to one morning and evening train
each way (SuX). On 21 Oct 2019 our reader visited the station http://bit.ly/2R5AniV (scroll down) to
photograph it - there are many - for his 'Ghost Train/Station' project and spoke to the booking clerk,
who said that he was being reassigned elsewhere though he did not know to which station at the time.

267] Stockport (1): Sunday engineering work south of the station throughout Jan means that all trains
that normally run through Wilmslow or Macclesfield and Stockport are diverted via Crewe and Styal.
A Hazel Grove - Buxton shuttle ran with Sheffield services all via Romiley. A Manchester - Stockport
shuttle rail service was booked to run on Sun 12, 19 & 26 Jan, reversing (unusually) in Stockport P1.
However, on 12 Jan they used bay P3A because the lifts to P1 & P2 were out of use for up to 8 days for
repairs. Reversal in P1 is a signalled move and has been done before during engineering work, so the
shuttles may revert to plan on subsequent Sundays. (On Sun 19 Jan the shuttle was buses due to lack
of train crew; the only trains running that day were Manchester to Chester via the mid-Cheshire line.)

Other unusual routeing due to the closure includes both Chelford loops (confirmed by your Regional
Editor after work on Sun 12th) and southbound departures from Wilmslow P3. Some Crewe - Liverpool
Lime Street services were booked to cross over from Down Styal to P2 (Up Styal) at Wilmslow (and
back after) on Sun 5 & 12 Jan. However, they actually stayed on the Down Slow through Wilmslow P1.

268] Stockport (2): (BLN 1343.103; TRACKmaps 4 p43S) Observations are that the SSuX 07.29 Alderley
Edge to Manchester Piccadilly, although booked via the Down Main, usually runs non-stop through
Stockport P4 (Down Slow) instead. It is booked Down Main as the SSuX 06.21 Chester to Stockport
should be in P4 from 07.46 until 07.56 (ECS out) with the Alderley Edge 'flyer' passing on the Down
Main at 07.43½, but the Chester train is usually late - when it is on time the Down Main is used.

269] Castleton: (BLN 1343.93) The area was once had five signal boxes! In 1963 Castleton East Jn box
was replaced by the present one of the same name; Castleton Station and Castleton South Jn closed
26 May 1963. Castleton Sidings box went 13 Jul 1971 and Castleton North Jn box on 14 Jan 1973.

ABOVE: A train of rails on the connection to Castleton Materials Depot which connection was north of
Castleton East Jn. Taken from Castleton East Jn Box, the station is through the bridge. BELOW: Steam
pilot engines worked in Castleton Yards as late as 29 Jun 1968. (Both with thanks to Peter Dawson.)

270] Kirkby: Work on the new Headbolt Lane Merseyrail station is due to start this year, for opening in
2023. It is northeast of Kirkby, on the 'currently' DMU served line to Wigan Wallgate, but it is
envisaged that it would be served by Liverpool to Skelmersdale services (through Kirkby) if that
project proceeds. The only question now is will the new station decor be Frankenstein themed?

271] Skelmersdale: The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority updated long term rail strategy says
a GRIP 3 study will be finished in 2020 into the viability of opening a railway to the town with a station.

272] Ashburys East Jn: A replacement crossover is needed; it has been 20mph restricted since 24 Dec.

1344 SOUTH EAST - NORTH & EAST ANGLIA (Julian James) [email protected]
{Norfolk, Suffolk, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire & Oxfordshire}

273] Steventon: (details BLN 1328.1189) A member confirms that IETs do pass under Steventon High
Street road overbridge (56m 32ch) on electric traction in both directions with a 110mph restriction.

274] Norwich - Lowestoft & Great Yarmouth: NR is holding drop in events in Jan to inform local
communities of changes to level crossings on these lines with resignalling in Feb. The new signalling
will be commissioned over a phased programme of 23 days starting 1 Feb. Six level crossings at
Brundall, Cantley, Lingwood Chapel Rd, Lingwood Station Rd, Oulton Broad North and Strumpshaw
will be upgraded to full barriers with remotely controlled CCTV. Victoria Road crossing on the East
Suffolk line near Oulton Broad South will also be upgraded. These works require road closures or local
management (to control the flow of traffic) for engineers to install and fine tune the new barrier
equipment. Line closures are in Head Lines; Road closures vary considerably in duration with location:

Crossing Start Time End Time Details
8 Feb 23.00 10 Feb 05.00 Closed for 30hrs
Oulton Broad North 10 Feb 23.00 15 Feb 05.00 Night time only; traffic management 23.00 to 05.00
15 Feb 23.00 16 Feb 20.00 Closed for 21hrs
Victoria Road 5 Feb 23.00 08 Feb 05.00 Night time only; traffic management 23.00 to 05.00.
Lingwood Station Rd 10 Jan 23.00 31 Jan 06.00 Closed for 20 days
Lingwood Chapel Rd 31 Jan 23.00 10 Feb 20.00 Closed for 10 days
Cantley 8 Feb 23.00 16 Feb 06.00 Night time only; traffic management 23.00 to 06.00
Strumpshaw 10 Jan 23.00 14 Feb 08.00 Closed for 34 days
Brundall 3 Feb 23.00 10 Feb 06.00 Night time only; traffic management 23.00 to 06.00

A bridge replacement at Postwick, track renewals at Lowestoft, Acle and near Buckenham (40mph
ESR) plus maintenance works to Reedham and Somerleyton swing bridges will also be carried out.

275] Werrington Jn: (bln 13343.114) A member attended a talk a couple of years ago when the civil
engineering side of project was discussed. He has observed developments on the ground over the last
year and understands that the diveunder will drop down where the Up and Down Stamford lines were.

It will then pass under the Up and Down Main and Up Slow (the ECML) at an angle, rising up again on
the north side of the Spalding line to make a flat double track junction with it just after they have both
passed under the A15 Lincoln Road dual carriageway. The new line will use a span at TF 1577 0393
currently taken by Hurn Rd, that road itself being diverted via an alternative route previously blocked
as a through route for vehicles. The reason for choosing a diveunder here rather than a flyover is that a
flyover would not descend quickly enough to go under Lincoln Road. It would have needed either a
longer viaduct or the road raising significantly. This means that the new tunnel under the ECML lines
will be below the water table (like the Channel and Severn Tunnels!), with rainwater needing to be
pumped out, though the structure itself can be watertight and needs to be heavy enough not to float!

It was explained that a couple of narrow bores would be cut under the ECML tracks while the line was
still in operation, and these would be used to pull a tube, probably rectangular, under the ECML during
a Bank Holiday possession. This would form a lining to the new tunnel, and once it was in place the
possession could be lifted and the earth removed from inside the lining with trains running overhead.

The present temporary alignment of the Up Stamford will be realigned east of the new incline down to
the diveunder from Peterborough, so will end up closer to the ECML than its original alignment was.
276] BELOW: 1896 Colchester North (now Colchester) 25" to the mile when it had staggered platforms
- note the evocatively named GER Steam Laundry top left. The unsuccessful (1840-50) GER Victoria
Hotel (BLN 1343.57) became part of the Eastern Counties Asylum (For Idiots) bottom right. A member
asks if this name was genuine [yes!], and if we have places for idiots today [perhaps the D(a)fT?]?

1344 SOUTH EAST - SOUTH (Julian James) [email protected]
{Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Surrey, East Sussex & West Sussex}

277] Nothing to crow about: (BLN 1343.123, map e-BLN) On the East Grinstead line, Crowhurst Jn
North (not Crowhurst Jn) was south of Hurst Green for the curve to Crowhurst Jn South. The latter on
the Redhill to Tonbridge line was between Godstone and Edenbridge. This double track South Eastern
Railway and London, Brighton & South Coast Railway Joint line curve provided an alternative route
between London and Tonbridge via Oxted and Edenbridge. The Stephenson Locomotive Society
journal advises that rail traffic ceased from 13 Jun 1955 but due to an ASLEF strike the last train ran on
27 May 1955). The curve was used for excursions/diversions in 1963; last train 13 Jan 1965 (a railtour).
278] Still not all Wight: (BLN 1343.121) It is becoming quite common for Ryde to Shanklin to be down
to one train operation (hourly service connecting with most ferries) intermittently and at short notice.
279] Sheerness: (BLN 1343.125) Class 375 EMUs have replaced Class 466 on the branch as, with one
short term exception, since 1 Jan 2020 Class 466s are no longer permitted to operate in passenger
service unless working with a Class 465. They lack some key PRM TSI (Persons with Reduced Mobility,
Technical Specifications for Interoperability) features. They have no universal access toilet and no
wheelchair space, which are available in a Class 465. http://bit.ly/36ReCJc has more details.
For the same reason a Class 375 now works the former Class 466 diagram on the Medway Valley line,
principally covering the Strood - Maidstone West shuttle. It is believed that on both lines 3-coach Class

NEXT PAGE: A Sheerness branch 4-car EMU passes the steel sidings. (Ian Mortimer, 6 Oct 1982.)

375/3s are used on the rather than 4-coach ones. Special dispensation has been given for a single Class
466 to work on the Bromley North branch for another year. It was realised rather late that the Driver
Only Operation mirror on Sundridge Park Down Platform (which is on a curve) did not give the driver
line of sight along the full length of a 4-coach train. Presumably, CCTV will have to be provided.

280] A Garden Railway? The Kent Rover ticket, (BLN 1341.3039), is valid for three days, so gives
plenty of time to visit the permitted network at leisure. Can you find a way of travelling the entire
permitted network at Baker level in just one day? Bear in mind that to include the Minster and
Sittingbourne west curves, you have to do this on a weekday, when validity does not start until
09.30. A member has found a schedule that takes 13 hours 33 minutes (see BLN 1345), assuming all
trains are on time. Can anyone do it faster? It is possible to take slightly longer to start and finish at
the same station. NOTE: Our 3-5 Jun event led by Tom Gilby is at TRACKmaps (OK … Quail) level.

281] Crawley: A new £3.9M footbridge with two new lifts is to be provided. The existing station
footbridge will be removed. Work starts on 27 Jan with the project due for completion in autumn
2020. During construction there will be 50 fewer car parking spaces available (42 instead of 92).

282] Wivelsfield: NR is carrying out embankment strengthening works to prevent a potential landslip.
The section of track was being monitored (like many are) following months of heavy rain, to ensure
action could be taken when the land began to move. Seven months of rain fell in three months from
Oct to Dec last year, with England recording its fifth wettest autumn ever*. Trains continue to run
while the works take place, with a temporary speed restriction in place for safety. Sheet piles are being
driven into the soil at the bottom of the embankment. This will then be backfilled with aggregate and
the slope regraded at a less steep angle. The work began on Christmas Eve and continued to early Jan,
when the site will be monitored to confirm the embankment has been stabilised prior to restoring the
line speed. [*Your Regional Editor has recorded monthly rainfall in Worthing and, as another benefit of
membership, can provide several years of data as an Excel spreadsheet on request, perhaps confirming
subjective views on the amount of rain? Does anyone have figures for Rainham, Rainhill or Stormy?]

1344 SOUTH WEST (Darren Garnon) [email protected]
{Avon, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Lundy, Somerset, Wiltshire & The Channel Islands}

283] Moretonhampstead: (BLN 1343.141) A member can confirm that lifting of the branch beyond
Bovey (which had china clay and other freight traffic) took place during 1965. One morning he was
bored with the night shift at Tavistock Junction Yard where, during his management training, he was
supposed to be learning how to run a marshalling yard. This was a waste of time because he admits he
still wouldn't know how to run a marshalling yard, and marshalling yards pretty soon went the way of
all flesh. So he bunked off to Newton Abbot to ride the Moretonhampstead branch lifting train.
[Pause to turn green with envy…] He didn't keep details of such trips then so doesn't have the actual
date. The train didn't quite make it into the station - they'd already lifted that - but was well in sight.

PS: If Moretonhampstead is the longest single word branch passenger terminus name with 16 letters,
Walton-on-the-Naze and Allhallows-on-Sea, both with 15 letters, would be hard to beat as the longest
hyphenated names (Walton wins as it has three hyphens - Ed.] Any advance on 14 letters for the
longest non-hyphenated branch terminus with more than one word, Kyle of Lochalsh and New
Holland Pier? [Editor's decision on what constitutes a 'branch' and a station's name is final!]

284] Portishead: (BLN 1336.2337) North Somerset Council's Development Consent Order application
to build MetroWest Phase 1 was accepted by the Planning Inspectorate for examination on 12 Dec
2019. It seeks powers to build and operate the disused Pill - Portishead railway, environmental
consent to undertake works to the operational freight line through the Avon Gorge and powers for
compulsory acquisition of land. http://bit.ly/2G5OuP0 has all the documents for interested parties to
register by 26 Feb. They are also available at Portishead Library, The Pill Resource Centre and Bristol
Central Library. Interested parties may provide their views during the 'pre-examination' stage and
attend the preliminary hearing. An Examining Authority will be appointed; interested Parties and other
statutory bodies will be notified of the appointment. Now the application is registered by the Planning
Inspectorate, the Secretary of State for Transport is expected to make a decision within 18 months.
Subject to final business case approval, work is expected to start in Dec 2021 taking about two years.

285] St Ives: A distinguished member (who does not have seven wives) recently came across an
isolated piece of standard gauge track about 70ft long in the vicinity of the West Pier, a good distance
from the station. (BELOW: Ian Loveday, 24 Nov 2019.) Investigations showed that it has appeared on

25" maps since 1906 but not the 1876 version. Enquiries
with the Cornwall Railway Society and St Ives Harbour
revealed that the rails were laid on Smeatons Pier to allow
a crane to offload timber baulks into the harbour to
protect it while dredging work took place. Later the pier
was extended and this work ceased. The harbourmaster
explained that the crane dropped large baulks of timber to
block waves carrying sand which in turned clogged up the
arches on which the railway track was laid. The section of
pier on which the track is laid is level and has three
masonry arches each spanning 12ft - these arches are
blocked by timber baulk barriers.

When required, timber baulks about 13 feet long were
lifted over the wall by the rail mounted crane and lowered
into slots which hold them in masonry piers beside the
arches to form a barrier. When some timber was last
changed, a JCB was used; see: http://bit.ly/2Rdqn6b

(NEXT PAGE: 1906 map, 25" scale, the track is arrowed.)

LEFT: 1961 1" map with the track arrowed. It shows
the original St Ives branch terminus, the present
one, 6ch nearer to St Erth, opened 17 May 1971.

286] Bristol East Yard: (Kingsland Road) Cardiff &
Avonside Railway Society reports that Freightliner
has handed the stone traffic back to DBC due to
'stretched resources'. Workings from Tarmac
Moreton-on-Lugg have ended following loading
issues and Mountsorrel is expected again to
become the main supplier. It is unclear if unloading
will now revert to Bristol West Yard (South Liberty
Siding, the former Intermodal Terminal at Parson
Street) as was planned. That is a Freightliner run
location but the inevitable NIMBY objections (20)
from those residents in properties overlooking the
site have been received dissenting to the change of
use from a container to an aggregate handling
terminal.

287] Okehampton: The Dartmoor Railway (along with the Weardale Railway) has been put up for sale
as the principal holding company, British American Railway Services (BARS), has hit financial difficulties
and failed to file its accounts within the prescribed timescale. It is understood that it has accumulated
significant losses on both railways. The 15½ mile railway initially survived to serve Meldon Quarry (the
line itself is owned by Aggregate Industries) but the quarry was mothballed in 2011 and traffic ceased.
Leisure services are the main use; the Christmas Polar Expresses at Okehampton are particularly
popular. Heritage services are operated by Dartmoor Railway volunteers who are concerned about the
future. The line is, of course, also part of the proposal to restore regular national services between
Exeter and Okehampton which currently operate on summer Sundays (four return trips in 2019).

288] Plymouth Cattewater: (BLN 1338.2600) There was once a good selection of freight traffic here.
https://is.gd/vjm7OR is a Google Street View of Passage House Inn Level Crossing (1m 16ch from
Turnchapel Branch Jn) in Sep 2009 looking towards the ends of line. Top left is an inset view of the
scene, with the date under it, move the slider along to the different white dots for views at later dates.
On this inset click the magnifier, bottom right, for each view to make it full screen. First is the same
location in Aug 2011 (and similarly on to Jul 2017). For those reading this in paper BLN it all shows that

the track beyond the Prince Rock European Metal Recycling scrapyard (0m 78ch) site must have been
lifted between Sep 2009 and Aug 2011. [It's amazing the research that modern technology, and also
old newspapers, allows.] Following the road leads to the (now) former Passage House Inn itself.

https://is.gd/v9AMrP is a satellite view, zoom in if necessary. Conoco's Oil Depot site was on the
waterfront, where there are four disparate sized tanks. Esso Bitumen Terminal is towards the bottom
left - the overgrown dead ended sidings with three much smaller tanks (linked overhead), between the
South West Coastal Path and 'Greenergy' Wharf Rd. Esso Gas Oil Terminal in the former Cattedown or
Deadman's Bay Quarry - is the tankage top middle. Cattewater Goods depot - at the west end of the
tunnel - was about where Quayside VW's is shown (to the right of centre). The curving branch trackbed
is fairly clearly observable - and both ends of the tunnel (through rock and unlined). Pan right
(eastwards) to find the most recent end of line at European Metal Recycling - off Finnigan Road.

289] Cornwall Signalling: Since 2018, BLN has reported on the signalling upgrade between Plymouth
and Penzance to improve capacity - total resignalling, as originally envisaged, was unaffordable.
A GWR employee advises that new timetable fully uses the extra capacity and unreliability can arise.

Eight signal boxes remain operational: Plymouth Power Signal Box (dating from 1960), Liskeard
(1915), Lostwithiel (1893), Par (circa 1879), Truro (1899), Roskear Junction (circa 1895), St Erth (1899)
and Penzance (1938). All have different characteristics and needed to be modified in different ways.

Plymouth Power Signal Box (PSB), commissioned 26 Nov 1960, was later extended operationally
east and west. It retains the same basic equipment with the former British Rail Western Region 'push
& turn' button route setting. By careful manipulation of the panel tiles, extensions have been made
within the same panel framework. The latest provided an extra signal section with home and distant
signals on both lines at Menheniot between St Germans (original PSB fringe point) and Liskeard.

The original 'Alcatel' type axle counters were replaced with the current Thales 'K' type, which are more
reliable and now standard in Cornwall. Alterations to Plymouth panel and commissioning were made
during a single night time possession. Signal post telephones were deemed necessary at the new home
signals, although rarely used with Global System for Mobile Communications - Railway (GSMR).

Liskeard is still a characterful local mechanical box, with traditional lever frame and lower quadrant
signals in the immediate station area. Other than shortening the section towards Plymouth, by moving
the last Up signal nearer to the box to take account of the new section at Menheniot, the operation is
largely unchanged. Track circuits remain in the station area but axle counters exist for the sections east
and west, under the control of Plymouth and Lostwithiel respectively. A new Train Describer screen is
provided for descriptions from Plymouth, but it is old fashioned block bell signals that provide train
details to the west. The headway towards Plymouth has been reduced from eleven to five minutes.

Lostwithiel remains a mechanical box for the station area, with track circuits and lower quadrant
signals. Since 1991, it also has had a separate NX (Entrance Exit) panel with axle counters to control
the section east up to the single track line over East Largin and St Pinnock Viaducts. That was originally
controlled from the very isolated Largin box, which closed 14 Dec 1991 because it had no running
water and was denounced by the environmental authorities! The section to Largin has now been
shortened with an additional home and distant signal section at Bodmin Parkway, which also has a
ground frame to control access to the Bodmin & Wenford Railway heritage line. At Bodmin Parkway,
new 'off' indicators are provided for train despatch and a white/green banner repeater signal on the
Down line improves signal sighting. Lostwithiel station has no footbridge so passengers have to use
the adjacent level crossing to reach the opposite platform. With the increase in rail traffic, the barriers
can be down for an extended period, leading to complaints. It is also the junction for the Fowey freight
branch, so the Up and Down loops on the eastern side of the crossing have been retained; these
freight movements again lengthen the crossing closure time. A new footbridge would be welcome but
expensive due to disabled access regulations. When the Grade II listed Lostwithiel GWR Type 5 signal
box was last refurbished it was provided with Great Western style 'five light' windows.

ABOVE: Liskeard, Plymouth end, our Mayflower railtour http://bit.ly/3ax0bMB very appropriately on
3 May 1986. Participants had to walk between P2 and P3 both ways (for a Moorswater trip) while the
DMU did the Looe branch connection ECS, unlike our 3 Feb 2019 Looe Brush railtour. (Ian Mortimer.)

BELOW: Lostwithiel, a Class 46 with hooded planked china clay wagons from the Plymouth direction
for Fowey in Apr 1976. Far right, just out of view, was the former Fowey bay platform. (Ian Mortimer.)

Par, junction for Newquay, is unaffected by the recent signalling changes, it is only a short block
section from Lostwithiel. The box retains mechanical signals and track circuits in the station area. New
signal sections were introduced at St Austell, Burngullow and Probus for redoubling of the main line in
2005 using two-aspect home and distant signals and axle counters, all controlled by a local panel.

290] Yetminster: (BLN 1343.43) NR is to carry out work between Castle Cary and Dorchester Jn during
various weekend closures from 25 Jan until 1 Mar. Tunnels will be strengthened, bridges refurbished
and track relaid - there is a noticeable high proportion of jointed track on the line. The main work is at
Yetminster between Yeovil Pen Mill and Maiden Newton where the 129 year old Wriggle River bridge
will be renewed - no doubt with plenty of wriggle room for the river. The line between Yeovil Pen Mill
and Dorchester Jn is to be temporarily closed as a result for seven days from Sat 15 until Fri 21 Feb
during half term with work continuing round the clock. [There are four river bridges in quick succession
under the railway at Yetminster one for the interestingly named Beer Hackett River.] The 45mph
(20mph for Route Availability 6, 7 & 8) speed restriction over the bridge will be eased afterwards.

1344 WEST MIDLANDS (Brian Schindler)
[email protected]

{ Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire,
Warwickshire, West Mids & Worcestershire}

291] To travel hopefully is a better thing than
to arrive… A member on the 12.07
Nottingham to Cardiff service on Wed 15 Jan
was intrigued to see that the on train display showed Worcestershire Parkway as a stop between
University and Cheltenham Spa. Originally due to open on 16 Dec 2019 it is now opening on Sun 26
Jan. All references to the rogue station disappeared just before approaching it. On Wed 15 Jan another
member photographed a display inside a CrossCountry Class 170 'Now approaching Worcester
Parkway' (Oh no it wasn't!) He wondered if this might be a shortened version of the correct name
which only just fitted on the screen, but they can and do scroll longer names. (ABOVE: Chris Yewlett.)

BELOW: During planning of the recent Midland Metro extension the terminus was always referred to
as 'Centenary Square' (including on maps). The decision to call it 'Library' seems to have been a
relatively late one although the shelter signage combines the two names. Both platforms are currently
for Wolverhampton, of course, but P1 will ultimately be for Edgbaston. (Alan Sheppard, 18 Jan 2020.)

ABOVE: Midland Metro temporary Library terminus on the evening of 18 Jan 2020. (Alan Sheppard.)

292] Wednesbury Parkway: (BLN 1343.153.7) While 'booking' the Library West Midlands Metro
extension (a bit of a bind) on the afternoon of Fri 17 Jan - both routes in/out of both platforms -
a member had good fortune to see a tram that was terminating at Wednesbury Parkway. This was due
to the lack of a driver on to Wolverhampton. It terminated in service in P3 (the loop platform - far left
on arrival) before reversing back into the depot. As the 15.39 Wednesbury Parkway to Library starter
was due in a few minutes, he waited for it. The tram came off the depot, paused in the loop, ran north
ECS north over the crossover and returned to the normal Birmingham P1 to pick up - per BLN 1343.

293] Rowley Regis: NR is spending £2M on repairing and strengthening the 152 year old, 896yd long
Old Hill Tunnel just southwest of the station. Birmingham Snow Hill to Stourbridge Junction is closed
on six Sundays between 12 Jan and 16 Feb 2020. Trains from Worcester turnback at Stourbridge
Junction (ECS shunt P2 to P3 at Stourbridge Middle Jn - both crossovers are in regular passenger use.)

294] Avoiding Nuneaton: (BLN 1343.146 with map) After the 4 Mar 1968 closure of the 1¾ mile
Midland Railway Nuneaton line avoiding Trent Valley station, it regained summer Saturday use from
15 Jun 1974 (last ran 4 Sep 1982) - and also an all year train (13.17 SuX Norwich to Birmingham New
Street) from 2 May 1977 until it was withdrawn from 1 June 1981. In addition, from 1981 there were
engineering diversions in the working timetable, the last such expiring 19 Sep 1982. There may also
have been diversions and specials in the weekly notice right down to final closure from 15 Feb 1992.
Your BLN Editor recalls doing it in both directions on a Mon 31 Aug 1970 Class 47-hauled Mystery trip
from New Street to Yarmouth (also doing Ely West Loop in both directions when it was double track).

295] Wolverhampton: (BLN 1333.1956) A date for public opening of Phase 1 of the new station will be
announced soon as construction nears completion. Phase 1 has to be commissioned and rigorously
tested [it sounds as though this could take a while] in conjunction with NR, West Midlands Railway and
Avanti West Coast. This is part of the 'Entry into Service' process to ensure the new building is safe for
operational use. Station signage will be installed and a clear pedestrian access route to the new station
entrance marked out around the Phase 2 works. Phase 2 involves demolition of the remainder of the
current station building and completion of the new build to house three more retail units, as well as
staff waiting room, help point and facilities. The new station building will be fully open later in 2020.

296] West Midlands Metro: (BLN 1343.153) During November events were held to provide more
information about the Brierley Hill extension from Wednesbury via Tipton and Dudley. The 11km

route is expected to open in 2023 with a triangular 'delta junction' at Wednesbury and separate
services between Merry Hill and both Wolverhampton and Birmingham. This is why there is no new

stop at Wednesbury on the Merry Hill line. The events were part of the engagement exercise before

construction begins. It is hoped that the extension will help to regenerate the Wednesbury, Dudley

and Brierley Hill areas, while at the same time providing easy access to the Merry Hill Shopping Centre

and tourist attractions including the Black Country Living Museum. It will leave the Birmingham to
Wolverhampton line at Wednesbury before continuing to Brierley Hill. The Midland Metro Alliance

representative at the consultation said that 15 stops are now expected on opening:

Great Bridge Tipton Road Pedmore Road
Horseley Road Station Drive Canal Street
Dudley Port Dudley Town Centre Water Front
Sedgley Road Flood Street Merry Hill
Birmingham New Road Cinder Bank Brierley Hill

Provision will be made with the earthworks for a future Golds Hill stop when/if that area is developed.

New Road stop is not now considered a suitable location. Investigations continue to determine if parts

can be built without OHLE. Over the next year, a lot of the work taking place for the route may not be

hugely visible and will involve completion of detailed designs and upgrading/diverting utilities.

297] Droitwich Spa: (BLN 1343.148) The Down Kidderminster line point crossing at the north end of
the Disused Down Goods Loop was plain lined on 10 Dec 2019 due to a cracked rail in the points.

298] The Cold War at Cold Meece? From BLN 88 of Nov 1963: The junction with the Cold Meece
branch has been removed, but the track will remain and will be used in the event of a third world war.

The question is would they reach GRIP3 before the missiles started to fall? This 1½ mile double track
passenger only branch trailed in on the left after Norton Bridge on the Stone line (Down side - just
before the M6 overbridge). Non-public timetabled workmens' trains (up to 19 a day each way for up to
18,500 workers) ran to Cold Meece, with four platforms, for the factory construction workers from
Apr 1941 and then for munitions workers from Sun 10 Aug 1941. Just look at all this interesting MoD
track at Royal Ordnance Factory Swynnerton itself: http://bit.ly/30vFAUq the branch is bottom right.

Swynnerton Jn (SJ 874 325) to Cold Meece (SJ 855 325) branch passenger services (the only revenue
earning traffic) ceased from 30 Jun 1958 (last passenger train 27 Jun) but the line was used for running
round to 15 Nov 1958 and until at least Feb 1964 for wagon storage. The track was lifted by May 1964.

ABOVE: 1956 Map, According to Quick, Buildwas was only known as Buildwas Junction until 1865/67.
Top right is the line from Wellington, now the Ironbridge branch which ends at the B4378 crossing,
(upper left). Ironbridge & Broseley station (to Bridgnorth) is bottom right; Shrewsbury is to the middle
left; Much Wenlock and Craven Arms & Stokesay are off bottom left. The river is obviously the Severn.

299] Ironbridge: (BLN 1343.147) A planning applications made by Harworth on 10 Jan proposes that
some 75% of the 1.9M tonnes of sand and gravel to be extracted from the site be taken out by rail. It is
actually in the Shropshire Parish of Buildwas. A second application was for outline permission for site
development after the extraction. The applications are of great importance to local walkers as there
has been no available route south of the River Severn since Buildwas station OP 1 Feb 1862. It was an
exchange station between the Wellington - Much Wenlock - Craven Arms & Stokesay line and the
Shrewsbury - Bridgnorth - Hartlebury Severn Valley line in open countryside with officially no public
access on foot. The former station site is now within the Ironbridge 'B' Power Station site. Harworth's
proposals appear to provide sensible pedestrian and cycle routes west to east and north to south that
will increase tourist access of the area west of the UNESCO listed Ironbridge Gorge site. In the Planning
Application it is still intended to provide a passenger station for the development if negotiations with
NR proceed favourably. [Not down to them, chaps, but looks good in the application.]

300] Bescot: (BLN 1334.2080) Sandwell District Council refused planning permission for the new
sleeper factory on the Down side. There was a very vociferous local campaign against the plan based
on concerns over lorry traffic, dust emissions, water runoff and other factors. Various changes had
been proposed in an attempt to mitigate the fears. Most movement of materials (aggregate) in and
finished product out would have been by rail. Network Rail, as scheme sponsor, may appeal.

301] West Midlands and London Northwestern Railways: (BLN 1343.144) The recently announced 3%
season ticket discounts apply to Weekly, Monthly, Monthly+, Annual and West Midlands 'nTrain'
tickets - making them actually cheaper than before the Jan 2020 fares increase. The discount does not
apply to Scholars (students) season tickets which are already greatly discounted. It applies to tickets
bought between 2 Jan 2020 and 1 Jan 2021. All West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern
Railway staffed ticket offices will apply the discount but it was not initially available on retail systems
operated by other train companies.

However, if more seasons are bought at WMR/LNwR offices, they will actually increase their income as
the commission for selling them is more than 3%. On routes where WMR/LNwR are not the primary
operator, so do not price the 'any permitted' ticket, the discount will not apply. Northern & TPE have
similar schemes with 3% season ticket discounts, usually more than wiping out the 2020 fares rise.

302] Tamworth: (BLN 1341.2987 repeated corrected) The north to east curve described (map BLN
1336.2344) was one of various projects which came and went during periods when the Midland
Railway (MR) and London & North Western Railway (LNWR) 'cooperation' waxed and waned,
presumably as a result of changes in personnel on the respective railways? It enabled the LNWR to run
Nuneaton - Burton and was apparently complete except for the junction with the LNWR by Sep 1872.
However, the curve was never finished or connected (despite being recorded as ready to open on 7 Jul
1873). In Mar 1874 the MR sought agreement to lift it, but in July the LNWR refused (apparently as the
MR was refusing a similar request for the curve at Nuneaton). MR records show the rails were
removed about 1878. The LNWR reached Burton (and also, rather later, Buxton via Ashbourne) via the
Nuneaton & Ashby Joint line, which they had started to use (although not to Burton) on 1 Aug 1873.

…………… ..1344 IRELAND (Martin Baumann) [email protected]

Luas 303]…………. : For the third year in a row the number of passengers on Ireland's only
tram system in Ireland, LUAS (Irish for speed) in Dublin increased to a new record of
2010 27.5M 48.1M - up 15% in 12 months. It was the first full year of the Broombridge Green
2011 29.1M Line extension and two newly extended trams entered service late in 2019; another
2012 29.3M 24 trams are being extended for the Green Line over the next 18 months. Seven new
2013 30.5M

2014 32.6M 55m long trams were delivered in 2018 so capacity has been increased on the also

2015 34.6M extended network. Eight more trams are to be delivered in the second quarter of
2016 34.1M 2020 then making 81 in total. On average 114,500 passengers are carried daily
2017 37.6M between 67 stops on the 12.2 mile standard gauge system with 750Vdc OHLE.

2018 41.8M 304] Passengers on the Up: In 2019 a total of 290M passenger journeys were made
2019 48.1M on Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann, Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail), Luas and Go-Ahead Ireland

with Transport for Ireland Public Service Obligation services. This was an increase of 24M - or 9% - over
2018. Irish Rail Dart, Commuter and Inter City services all increased in 2019, total passenger number

reached 50M for the first time ever, up 4.3% on 2018 and a rise of almost 40% since 2013 (37.6M).

305] Dublin Pearse: (BLN 1341.3002) Station pianos are a BLN forte. A low key event should be noted:
Following repairs (thought to have cost a grand), the piano at Pearse was retu(r)ned on 20 Dec 2019.

306] Rosslare - Waterford: (BLN 1341.2991) It has been confirmed that no passenger carrying trains
have used the line since Sat 18 Sep 2010. Irish Rail and previously CIÉ, (Córas Iompair Éireann) have
had a long history of not accepting passenger trains over freight lines. It would be interesting to know
when the last such railtour ran over a 'real' goods branch in Ireland? From BLN 1221 of 22 Nov 2014:

Happy were the days of falling off the overnight Fishguard boat at Rosslare Harbour station when it
was right next to the boat (our member was never one of those who headed straight for the bar on the
pier for a pint of real draught Guinness before joining the connecting train) and into the Cork boat
train for a full breakfast while travelling not only the South Wexford line but the also the direct line to

Mallow via Fermoy (closed 27 Mar 1967... jealousy will get you nowhere...). That, of course, was the
days when the blokes who wore their collars back to front, when it came to paying for their breakfast,
usually were given the quiet word from the dining car steward: 'That's all right, Father'. One of those
trips gave rise to a long-remembered Irishism (not event the facts have been altered to make it more
amusing - it's a true story). CIÉ had recently introduced Almex tickets - those squitty bits of yellow
paper about 1½ inches square, out of a machine, which carried origin and destination in code. Says I to
the Ticket Checker (never collector or inspector): "How do the passengers know where their ticket is
to?" - came the reply: "Ah, I know where the passengers are going to but they don't!"

307] Londonderry: (BLN 1343.158) On Fri 17 Jan the 09.10 & 10.10 ex-Great Victoria Street and 11.38,
12.38 & 13.38 from Londonderry were booked to have a driver assessor so may have used the loop.

1344 ISLE OF MAN (Graeme Jolley) [email protected]
{Includes all of the many railways on the island, past and present}

308] Manx Electric Railway: In 2019, for the second year running, the British Trams Online 'Tram
(Traditional) of the Year' award (voted for by readers) went to the Manx Electric Railway; trailer '54'
gained just short of 50% of the total votes. It previously ran in 1971 but thanks to volunteers and paid
IOM Railways staff, the trailer was returned to service at the Jul 2019 Manx Heritage Transport Festival
and was then used regularly for the rest of the season. The two visiting trams of the year - Blackpool &
Fleetwood 40 and Manchester 765 - were almost neck and neck second and third respectively while
Cambridge Street Tramways 7 completed the top 4. As well as being the second year for the MER to
win this award it is the third year in succession for the Isle of Man itself!

Staying with the IOM, for the second year in a row, the 'Event of the Year' award heads across the Irish
Sea with the Manx Heritage Transport Festival taking just over 49% of the total votes. Again the MER
was centre stage - including the return of three trailers, one the aforementioned '54'. The five day
spectacular again proved popular with voters in the awards. Since the 'Event of the Year' began in
2012 this is just the third time that a non-anniversary special event has been voted the most popular!
Rigby Road Open Day in August was second followed by Crich 60 and the Wirral Bus and Tram Show.

1344 SCOTLAND (Mike McCabe) [email protected]
309] Springburn: (BLN 1334. 2109) Talks are taking place between the owners of the Glasgow Works
site (Hansteen) which closed 26 Jul 2019 (the lease expires in March) and Locomotive Services Ltd of
Crewe over the sale of the site. Although early days, it could become a Scottish base for the company.

310] Crumbs, that takes the biscuit: (TRACKmaps 1 p17A Nov 2017) The Ferryhill line and Biscuit
Sidings between Aberdeen station (241m 6ch) and Craiginches (239m 55ch) were brought into use on
18 Jan. The term 'Biscuit Sidings' has 'Foxed' various Society experts - any ideas? There is no reference
to them in TRACKmaps (going back to the May 1987 Quail) or the current sectional appendix. However
a Mar 2014 NR plan does shows 'Biscuit Sidings Access Point' just south of the River Dee Viaduct at
about 240m 4ch on the Up side. Looking at Google Earth it seems to be by the stop blocks at the north
end of Craiginches North Sidings. A member has provided some 'Nice' pictures of the siding for you to
'digest'. 1901 and 1926 large scale OS maps show the sidings serving a sawmill and an iron works. The
1956 Handbook of Stations shows 'Ferryhill Goods Bank Sdgs' as a public goods station and there are
no companies with private sidings in Aberdeen who appear to be manufacturers of biscuit - eatable or
pottery. Was there a biscuit company which regularly received or dispatched goods at Ferryhill?

NEXT PAGE TOP: Craiginches North Sidings/Biscuit Sidings in 2012 looking north towards Aberdeen
from 239m 75ch; the trailing crossover is north of Craiginches Yards. In practice there is only one
siding now, far right. NEXT PAGE LOWER: Craiginches North/Biscuit Siding/s and access point from the
east side, with the main line in the background, Aberdeen is to the right. (Nick Jones in 2015.)

311] Forres: The new station, opened 20 Oct 2017 by Richard Lochhead MSP, and lengthy loop are an
improvement over the previous sharply curved site, although access to the town was not very obvious.



312] Insch rubbisch: To the west of the station much foliage, certainly more than an inch, but not a
Forres(t), noticeably rubs against the north side of passing trains. [Ideal for scratching units perhaps?]
313] Edinburgh Trams: Reports of buried old tram track (and even waggonways) being uncovered in
road works and new tram construction around the country, after just being buried on closure, are now
quite common. Just before Christmas work on the Edinburgh tram extension to Leith Walk and
Newhaven found some original pieces of rails from the tramway there closed in 1956. The difference
was that it had been lifted, cut into short sections and repositioned crossways to strengthen the road.
314] There was rain, dear, in Edinburgh at Christmas: For the festive season, transfers of antlers were
affixed to various trams. Some also carried the names of Santa's reindeer. Confusingly (at least for
your Scottish Ed), different names were carried on the front/rear left hand corners of the same tram.

BELOW: Pictures by Mike McCabe on 27 Dec 2019. (Was he looking for a 'donner' kebab?)

315] Ravenstruther: (TRACKmaps 1 p10E) (BLN 1254.735) Cloburn Quarry Co is the new tenant at
Ravenstruther Rail Terminal (75m 07ch), opened in the late 1980s, between Carstairs and Lanark Jn
on the Down side of the WCML. They are one of the leading decorative aggregate suppliers in Europe
extracting a range of premium red granite aggregate products. The company also produces rail and
concrete aggregate products from their large quarry just 2⅔ miles southeast of the Ravenstruther site.
It is intended to use rail to supply customers in the UK and Europe so presumably via the Channel
Tunnel. The final three coal trains left this former Opencast Coal Disposal Point here in June 2013 and
cutting up of the loading equipment was completed by 25 Mar 2016. The track has remained in situ
despite outline planning permission being granted for a housing development in 2009.
316] The Good Old Days: (BLN 628 of 22 Feb 1990) Killoch had a washery and was used for blending.

317] Galashiels: On Sun 8 Dec an empty bus crashed on to the railway close to the station. The line
between Tweedbank and Galashiels was closed for several hours. The bus was removed overnight but
the 06.28 & 07.26 from Tweedbank were cancelled on Monday morning as trains were out of position.
318] TPE's best shot? The SSuX 16.24 TPE Liverpool to Edinburgh via Newcastle is shown as a through
train to Glasgow Central (21.54) via Shotts in Realtime Trains from Mon 18 May 2020. This is the first
booked TPE workings via Shotts. There are no station calls after Haymarket and no TPE trains in the

other direction. The pathing notes are particularly interesting: ●Liverpool: Starts as Class 80x on diesel,
changes en route. ●York: Pathed as Class 80x on electric at 125mph from here. ●Chathill Apco: Pathed
as Class 80x on diesel from here [Before you ask, Apco = automatic power changeover - see BLN
1342.3075]. ●Longniddry Apco: Pathed as Class 80x on electric from here (with no mention of speed).
●Edinburgh: Pathed as Class 220/221 DMU from here. So, will it be the passenger service with most
(four) changes of power mode on one journey - a shame it can't use the wires in the northwest or on
the Shotts line. The final two Avanti West Coast arrivals at Edinburgh SSuX are then ECS via Shotts to
Polmadie, one is pathed as a Voyager but the other, a Class 390, must use the OHLE. Not to be
outdone CrossCountry also have ECS workings both ways via Shotts, although in their case from
Edinburgh Craigentinny to Glasgow Central early morning and back late at night.

319] Glasgow Airport: Plans for the first phase of a metro between Paisley Gilmour Street and the
airport have been agreed by council leaders in Glasgow and Renfrewshire. It would later be extended
east. Both sites are in Renfrewshire Council area, and Cllr Aitken said that leaders of both councils have
agreed funding for the project. Council members support has to be secured before work can begin.

320] Pitlochry: The Up side buildings include a charity book and coffee shop (open 10.00-16.30 SuX) as
well as a booking office. The Down side waiting room is still open (and has a series of historical
pictures) but the building is surrounded in scaffolding, probably for the roof to receive attention.
321] Nairn: The main P1 with the concourse is bidirectional but P2 is served by the Up Nairn Loop so
when train cross, which is throughout the day (but once on Sundays), the Inverness train uses P1 and
the Aberdeen P2 - right hand running. A large wooden building which was formerly a florist on P2 is
now 'Nairn Men's Shed' - a project that encourages men to volunteer in the community. The road
underbridge beneath the station still has a plate 'Westwood Bailey, Engineers & Contractors, London
1885' on it. The booking office was closed owing to staff shortages, apparently because Abellio don't
recruit booking office staff, but the buffet took in a request for platform tickets for delivery next day.

322] West Calder: (BLN 1343.159) On Fri 27 & Sat 28 Dec all services to Glasgow Central started, as
booked, from West Calder P2, a signalled move controlled by 'EJW 733'. After crossing over, our
member noted that Mile Post 15¼ (Mossend North Jn to Midcalder Jn between Breich and Addiewell)
was fixed to a silver birch tree about 10yd from the Up Shotts. [Don't ask what the upshot of this is!]

323] Oban: (BLN 1211.990) (TRACKmaps 1 p21C Nov 2017) From 25 Jan the platform numbers in the
Sectional Appendix - on arrival previously shown as P1 on the left and P2 on the right - are (finally) to
be altered to match those at the station. This is P4 on the left and P3 on the right! TRACKmaps Nov
2017 appears to back all four horses! In early 2019 trackwork at Oban included relaying the ground
frame worked Down to Up crossover at the end of line for running round - an unusual feature at a
terminus nowadays. The former other half of the scissors crossover here has been cut out in the
process (it was shown as out of use as long ago as the May 1987 Quail!). The Down sidings have also
been altered and partially relaid (BLN 1319.2814). On both the Oban and Fort William lines there has
been an extensive programme to install lineside deer fencing (was it expensive?) where needed.
Several teams worked on this including filling gaps beneath the basic fence at streams and suchlike.

1344 WALES & THE MARCHES (Chris Parker) [email protected]
{Includes all of the Central (Heart of) Wales line, Chester - Shotton & Chester - Shrewsbury - Newport}

324] Llanelli: Passenger accommodation on the Up platform appears to have been refurbished in
2018. There are smart new Gents (presumably also a Ladies), disabled toilets, waiting room and a
booking office which is open SuX until lunchtime and happily sells platform tickets. The canopy is
about 3 coach lengths. The Down side has a small refurbished waiting room and a short canopy.
The footbridge is still covered but there are no lifts. A 'VR' wall mail box is on the Up platform.

325] Class 142 Pacers: Sims Metals, at Newport Docks, was the destination of a 06.20 ECS working
from Gascoigne Wood Sidings on 7 Jan, this being the final journey of units 066, 015 & 042. They
arrived on schedule at 13.50. Then 057, 050 & 039 followed on 10 Jan with 021, 026 & 092 on 14 Jan

and 040, 063 & 067 on 16 Jan. See http://bit.ly/373grTH for updates and more information. That site
indicates that 19 remained in store at Gascoigne Wood, probably to follow soon, with another four at
Worksop. 142086 is at Canton and 012 and 079 at Landore (BLN 1343.174) for cannibalisation to keep
the rest of TfW's fleet running (BLN 1339.2747). As an example of community reuse advocated by DfT
(BLN 1330.1422), 142033 has now been relocated to the South Wales Police rugby ground, Waterton
Cross, Bridgend, on a short section of track. It will be used for Fire, Police and Rescue training which
would eventually convert the unit into scrap for subsequent removal. Seeing so many together at
Gascoigne Wood made a member ask about the collective noun - a pack of Pacers, or a scrappage?

326] Electrification: (BLN 1343.171) GWR reports that at 08.50 on Sun 5 Jan 5-car IET 800031 on the
07.53 Swansea to Paddington was the first to depart Cardiff Central (P2) in electric mode. On 15 Dec,
three weeks earlier, 9-car 800302 was the first such departure from Newport (08.13 to Paddington)
from P1 at 08.14, reaching its destination at 09.55 (2 late). The set had stabled in P1 overnight after
arriving as the 22.00 from Paddington in diesel mode the night before (Cardiff & Avonside Rly Soc.)

327] Chirk: A major fire in the wood storage yard adjacent to the Kronospan rail sidings started at
02.00 on 13 Jan and was still burning four days later with operation of the log trains suspended. The
company said that it would burn itself out in a few days with a full enquiry to follow. Local residents
were unimpressed with this burning issue and the Town Council held an emergency meeting on 16 Jan.

328] Severn Tunnel (non) electrification: (BLN 1336.2378) Energisation is now reportedly in Mar 2020.

An industry source advises that the ROCS (Rigid Overhead Contact System) OHLE installed in 2016 has
suffered serious damage from Galvanic Corrosion rather than organic growth. ROCS uses an extruded
aluminium clamp rail to hold a contact wire in place. Unfortunately, NR installed a standard copper
contact wire. Aluminium is a very reactive metal, which most people have probably never seen!
It is always coated with aluminium trioxide, Al2O3, or sometimes aluminium hydroxide, Al(OH)3. Even
cutting it with shears or a saw leads to instantaneous formation of a coating of aluminium trioxide.

The dissimilar metals react together, but more relevant salt water - in the Severn Tunnel - reacts with
aluminium trioxide and it washes off. More aluminium trioxide immediately forms and in turn reacts.
So the aluminium disappears by constant conversion to aluminium trioxide. This is known as Galvanic
Corrosion. The copper wire is now being stripped out and replaced with an aluminium contact wire.

Observation in the Up Direction, are that the electric to diesel switch west of the Severn Tunnel is at
MP 150½, reverting to electric after Pilning station, before Patchway Tunnels. This makes sense as it
avoids changing mode climbing out of the Severn Tunnel or on Patchway bank. And finally… the Severn
Tunnel conductor beam system was manufactured by the very appropriately named 'Furrer & Frey' - a
highly regarded Swiss company and not an early April Fool joke! [It works fine in the Lainzer Tunnel in
Vienna, but a modern purpose built electrified railway like that is a different kettle of fish. Otherwise it
has not been tried at speed for any distance and is usually in suburban tunnels or on swing bridges.]

329] Cardiff - Holyhead 'expresses': (BLN 1343.170) The experimental retiming of the 07.02 SSuX
Cardiff to Holyhead service to reinstate the 'skipped' station calls at Gobowen, Chirk and Ruabon was
evidently deemed a success. This resumed from 6 Jan, as a 'variation' in Realtime Trains on a week by
week basis. This is a very satisfactory outcome finally. However the replacement buses also continue
to operate which, given the usual lack of publicity for this welcome change, seems necessary! They are
shown SSuX from 16 Dec 2019 until 15 May 2020 so there may be a contract to that effect? No
equivalent rail 'competition' has been tried for the 15.30 Shrewsbury to Ludlow rail replacement bus.

330] Dolgarrog: (BLN 1340.2873) A further visit by our Dolwyddelan-based correspondent from
Railway Ramblers on 12 Jan found the new platform approaching completion but without any
'furniture'. Embankment works including drainage were also continuing towards Llandudno Junction.

331] Newport: (BLN 1339.2748) Of 335 job losses nationally, Liberty Steel has announced that 72 are
at its plant by the Uskmouth branch next to Birdport (spelt 'Bird Port' other than by the railway). It has
not provided rail traffic for some time but the cuts are to prevent rather than prepare for total closure.

332] Penyffordd: (BLN 1343.177) Cement traffic has resumed at last with the 27min late departure of
the 17.08 Penyffordd Cement Sidings to Avonmouth Hanson Siding GBRf working on Tue 14 Jan. The
loco ran light from Basford Hall, arr 16.24. The flow is scheduled to be TThO when required and routed
via Wrexham, Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Castle Bromwich Jn and Camp Hill. It did not
run on Thu 16 Jan although the empties arrived back at 19.23 (just two min late) the previous evening.
Shrewsbury - Wolverhampton (used by trains from Chirk after unloading) gains more freight traffic.

This initial traffic replaces the Hanson Clitheroe to Avonmouth cement flow while Horrocksford
Cement Works undergoes maintenance. The new Hinckley Point 'C' Power Station is a major customer.

333] South Wales Metro: (BLN 1332.1851) Treforest Infrastructure Hub opened for this project on
8 Jan. It is to be used as a material distribution centre during the development phase for about five
years before evolving into a maintenance depot. Ultimately over 200 employees are to be based here.

1344 MINOR RAILWAYS (Peter Scott) [email protected]

{Includes those covered by 'Minor Railways' publication, (except IOM) in general anything not relating
to either the British or Irish National Networks or Local Authority Light Rail and Tramway Systems}

MR13] Woodhorn Narrow Gauge Railway, Northumberland (MR p21) (BLN 1181.MR51): This two foot
gauge railway operates for 1,000 yards through the QEII Country Park near Ashington.

Unfortunately, passenger trains ceased operation from 6 July 2019. A post on the Railway's Facebook
page (4 July) stated: Due to unforeseen circumstances, Woodhorn Narrow Gauge Railway will no longer
be able to operate passenger services for the foreseeable future. This is due to a mechanical fault which
we are working hard to rectify. We would like to apologise if this will cause any inconvenience to
passengers wishing to travel with us. We hope to be back up and running shortly and updates shall be
posted on our facebook page. A further post date 11 August added: Quick update for you all regarding
the railway. As many of you know, we are a volunteer run organisation. Because we are independent
from our friends at Woodhorn Museum, we rely on ticket sales as our only source of revenue. Originally
formed in 1991, we run (3) ex-mining locomotives which run over a one mile section of track, allowing a
fantastic way to experience what it was like to travel like a miner. As many of you will know, we had to
close the railway two months ago to allow for essential maintenance. Further posts show loco repairs
and sleeper replacement taking place, but there have been no more updates about reopening. The last
Facebook post was on 16 August. A 'GoFundMe' appeal raised £760. The Society had a comprehensive
and enjoyable railtour of this very friendly railway on the evening of 23 Feb 2019 (see BLN 1324.635).

MR14] Orchard Farm Lakeside Railway, North Yorkshire (MR p22) (BLN 1328.MR84): This 10¼" gauge
railway has closed. It last ran at the end of the 2018 season (probably September). The track was lifted
during the week ending 11 January 2020. The stock and track will go to the Watford Miniature Railway.

MR15] Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway, Gloucestershire (MR p7) (BLN 1324.MR40): On
Saturday 28 December the railway ran an hourly, three train service. Two trains were steam worked,
hauled by 4-6-0 GWR 7820 'Dinmore Manor' and 0-6-0PT BR 9466, each with eight ex-BR MK1 coaches.
The third train was covered by 3-car Class 117 DMU W51363/W59510/W51360. Most trains noted
were reasonably well-loaded, but not over crowded. At Broadway the station buffet has now opened,
the footbridge now has some steps, but the other platform remains unsurfaced. The signalling is still to
be completed. Trains passed each other at Toddington and Gotherington, while at Winchcombe all
trains used the main platform 1 (both are bidirectional). An adult day rover was £20 (£19 seniors).

MR16] Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, Devon (MR p15) (BLN 1331.MR120): The first physical signs of
the extension to the Railway, on the section between Blackmoor Gate and Wistlandpound Reservoir, is
the completion of the rebuilding of underline Bridges 54 & 55. The two bridges were officially opened
on Friday 13 December by Councillor Andrea Davis, the Devon County Council cabinet member for
infrastructure. Bridge 55 stands high above a passage between two fields and was still intact more
than 80 years after the railway closed, but work was needed to ensure it was strong enough to support

the reopened railway. Bridge 54, across a public bridleway, had long since disappeared save for one
abutment. According to a local farmer, it was blown up by the military during WWII. The work on both
bridges was carried out by engineering contractors I & F Brown of Exeter and partly funded by a
European Leader 5 grant; the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Trust funded the rest.

MR17] Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways, Gwynedd (MR p29): The Santa Trains from Porthmadog
in 2019 were designated as Ffestiniog trains but ran up the Welsh Highland Railway to Beddgelert and
back. Observing on the Porthmadog Harbour webcam on 22 December 2019, the trains loaded in the
Ffestiniog platform and departed in the direction of Boston Lodge with a diesel pilot on the front and
the two steam train engines on the rear. They then reversed and used the connection into the Welsh
Highland platform and detached the pilot diesel. The one returning train observed arrived steam top
and tail and ran through the Welsh Highland platform, reversed, and into the Ffestiniog platform to
detrain the passengers. Presumably, this was because the Ffestiniog Railway wasn't running as such
and the access and facilities (including shops, café and a canopy for shelter) are better at the Ffestiniog
platform. The full length of the Ffestiniog reopened for two round trips a day from 26 December to
1 January inclusive as the Ffestiniog Railway maintenance team took a break over Christmas. Spooner's
café and bar at Porthmadog Harbour station was open daily offering a wide range of seasonal fayre
with the choice of a nice cup of tea or locally brewed real ale to accompany it. Tan-y-Bwlch café was
also open to welcome anyone wanting to break their journey for a walk.

MR18] Crich Tramway Village, Derbyshire (MR p32) (BLN 1325.650): Winter closure has allowed work
to start on renewal of the double track (in situ 53 years) from Victoria Park stop towards Wakebridge.
The work will also include removal of old track stored at Glory Mine and upgrading the two
substations with equipment to allow a radio interlink and safety interlocking of the DC power supply.
The 2020 season commences on 14 March, with daily opening through the season until 1 November -
except 12 to 15 June when the site is closed. It is expected that former Blackpool Brush car 298 will be
moved from store at Clay Cross to the workshops at Crich to allow the start of its restoration to 1937
condition. This will follow the completion of the work on London County Council 1 and Newcastle 102.

MR19] Beamish Tramway, Durham (MR p32) (BLN 1333.MR136): Construction of a new Bus Depot
adjacent to the Tram Depot was completed at the end of November 2019. It was formally opened by
guests from Go North East (the largest bus operator in the North East), the Reece Group and Heritage
Lottery Fund. This has allowed the bus fleet to move out of part of the Tram Depot - the space now
being occupied by a number of steam engines, along with an area for Friends of Beamish to undertake
restorations. Further space close to the existing machine shop will become a heavy engineering area.

MR20] Rother Valley Railway, Robertsbridge, East Sussex: Dates have been scheduled for the
Pre-Inquiry and Public Inquiry in relation to the Transport & Works Act 1992: Application for the
Rother Valley Railway (Bodiam to Robertsbridge Junction) order. The Pre-Inquiry meeting will
commence at 10.00 on 24 February at the Woodlands Enterprise Centre, Hastings Road, Flimwell,
Wadhurst, TN5 7PR. The Public Inquiry begins at 10.00 on 26 May and is estimated to last for around
16 days. It is anticipated that it will be held in two venues, with the first four days (26 to 29 May) at
Robertsbridge Community College, Knelle Road, Robertsbridge, TN32 5EA. The rest of the Inquiry will
be held at the Woodlands Enterprise Centre. The ORR has been reviewing information about the
proposed level crossings and is considering whether there are 'exceptional circumstances' in this case
to justify a departure from its policy of no new (or reinstated) level crossings. The ORR expects to issue
an opinion in early 2020. The purpose of the Pre-Inquiry meeting is principally to discuss the practical
arrangements for the inquiry, to set out the inquiry programme and to clarify the scope of the inquiry.
There is no discussion at the Pre-Inquiry meeting of the merits of the proposals in question.

NEXT PAGE: Orchard Farm Lakeside Railway (Item MR 14). Father goose checks the timetable (has a
gander?) for the next departure. He would be disappointed - the train wasn't running that day!
(Peter Scott, 10 Jun 2015.)









PREVIOUS: Toddington. Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway. DMU W51363/W59510/W51360
on the 11.00 to Cheltenham Race Course; note the seasonal headcode. (Peter Scott, 28 Dec 2019)

1344 FIXTURES REPORTS (Paul Stewart)
[email protected]

334] The Roundhouse Rotator Sunday 17 Nov 2019:
By Terry Cotter. For the final event of our diverse
AGM weekend I travelled to the Roundhouse by bus
(thanks, Jim!), rather than taxi as I had planned; there
was a good gathering of BLS members doing likewise.
Arrival at Barrow Hill was in the pouring rain, which
was most unwelcome given the severe flooding and
disruption in the Midlands prior to the tour.

The sight of 31128 on the tour stock was much more welcome, as was the 'whistling' sound of bonus
20107 & 20096 atop 47828 on the other end. The new (warm!) café was doing good business as tour
participants arrived from various parts of the country or the earlier Sherwood Forest Railway visit.

Our four coach train was soon loaded ready for departure at 12.15 and even the rain had eased off.

The 20s hauled the tour the short distance along the Springwell branch and were sadly detached. The
31 took over for the short run to Barrow Hill South Jn but this took much longer with the possession
still being on, so no early running! Reversal saw 47828 take over for the short distance to the North Jn
(four locos in an hour…). Another reversal and 31128 was back in charge as the tour headed to the
next pick up point of Chesterfield (the first of several visits) taking the Staveley Goods Line en route.

[Mileage calculations are thanks to Jim Sellens, souvenir tickets and window decals were designed by
Amy Nash; detailed route by Paul Stewart with thanks to Martyn Brailsford for assistance.]

Barrow Hill Roundhouse Halt P2 - Springwell branch (rev) - Barrow Hill Down Goods (rev) - Barrow Hill N Jn,
Down Main (rev) - Staveley Goods Lines - Chesterfield P2 - Up Main - Up Broadholme Loop - Breadsall Jn -
Up Slow - Line 'D' - Derby P3 - Bombardier Litchurch Lane (by Test Track rev) - Derby P4 - Chaddesden Siding
7 (headshunt rev) - Derby P4 - Line 'F' - Up Main - Sheet Stores Jn - Down Toton Goods - Down Erewash Fast -
Codnor Park Jn - Shirebook P1 (rev) - Up Main - Newstead Loop - Bestwood Park Loop - Lenton North Jn -
Lenton South Jn - Down Nottingham Slow - Beeston South Jn - East Midlands Parkway P2 - Sileby Jn - Up Slow
- Syston North Jn - Syston East Jn - Up Stamford - double slip - Peterborough P6 (rev) - Down Slow/Down
Stamford - Oakham - Down Goods Line - Langham Jn - Syston East Jn - Syston South Jn - Humberstone Road
Jn - Up & Down Goods - Leicester North Jn - Leicester P3 - Up Main - Wigston North Jn - Up & Down Slow
(rev before Kilby Bridge Jn) - Up & Down Slow - Down Main - Leicester South Jn - Up & Down Slow - Syston
South Jn - Down Slow - East Midlands Parkway P3 - Down Fast - Sheet Stores Jn - Way & Works Jn - Derby P6
- Line 'D' - Up Fast - Down Fast - Down Broadholme Loop - Down Main - Clay Cross North Jn - Down Erewash -
Chesterfield P1 (rev) - Down Sidings end of line (rev) - Chesterfield P1 - Tapton Jn Down Main (rev) -
Chesterfield P3 (rev) - Barrow Hill South Jn - Springwell branch (rev) - Barrow Hill Roundhouse Halt P2

The Derby area had been badly affected by the downpours in the days before the tour and it was
mentioned that some of the lines were still under varying depths of water. While this would cause a
minor omission on the return journey, there was no problem on the outwards run with the recently
shortened Broadholme Loop (altered with the Ambergate Jn remodelling) and the Up Slow from
Breadsall Jn (130m 50ch) successfully covered. Following a brief pause to collect a few participants, it
was off to the main course of the day, Bombardier Litchurch Lane, although the question was exactly
how far we would go? As you would expect, this was in fact much further than many anticipated and
the only grumbles heard related to a lack of numbers on the many newly built units seen! The tour
went far left on remodelled track (new even for those who had been in here before) towards the shed
built to accommodate a whole Crossrail unit, reaching the line adjacent to the Test Track in the Works.

This was a most interesting location, only available on walking tours in recent years, and a big success.

FROM TO LEAD LOCO MILES
Barrow Hill Roundhouse Halt Springwell branch headshunt 20107 & 20096
Springwell branch headshunt Barrow Hill Down Goods Line 0m 20ch
Barrow Hill Dn Goods Line Barrow Hill North Jn, Down Main 31128 0m 39ch
Barrow Hill North Jn Dn Main 47828 0m 31ch
Chesterfield P2 Litchurch Lane, line by Test Track 28m 21ch
Derby P3 31128 24m 61ch
Litchurch Lane, by Test Track Chaddesden Yard, Siding 7 headshunt 0m 52ch
Chaddesden Yard, Siding 7 Shirebrook P1 47828 1m 55ch
Shirebrook P1 Peterborough P6 31128 37m 32ch
Peterborough P6 Kilby Bridge, Up & Dn Slow, Sig LR254 47828 89m 19ch
East Midlands Parkway P3 31128 57m 34ch
Kilby Bridge, Up & Dn Slow, Derby P6 24m 31ch
Signal LR254 Chesterfield P1 47828 34m 51ch
Chesterfield Dn Sidings end of line 58m 59ch
Chesterfield P1 Tapton Jn, Dn Main Line 31128 0m 20ch
Chesterfield Dn Sidings EOL Chesterfield P3 47828 1m 07ch
Tapton Jn, Dn Main Line Springwell branch headshunt 31128 0m 70ch
Chesterfield P3 Barrow Hill Roundhouse Halt 47828 3m 52ch
Springwell branch headshunt 31128 0m 20ch

Following reversal, there was a quick visit to Chaddesden Sidings Road 7 (furthest right on arrival) and
past the points to the end of line buffer stops before returning through Derby. Next came the Down
Toton Goods Line en route to Shirebrook P1. A quick reversal here gave the trailing crossover and the
rare opportunity for a loco hauled passenger train on the Robin Hood Line via Newstead, including the
loop there and also that at Bestwood Park for added enjoyment.
The enjoyment continued as the much sought after bidirectional Lenton Curve (in this direction), with
the facing crossover before, the Down Nottingham Slow in the Up direction and the trailing crossover
before Beeston followed as the tour headed to Peterborough P6.

The reversal here was quicker than expected and we were soon off in search of more rare track,
starting with the 1¼ mile, 15mph, Down Goods Line (rather than a loop) from Oakham to Langham Jn
which it had not been possible to cover on our Breckland Freighter tour. No such issues this time and
the line was successfully traversed. Then, before Leicester at Humberstone Road Jn it was right across
the layout to the Up & Down Goods and back at Leicester North Jn to P3. At Wigston North Jn we
went across to the Up & Down Slow to reverse before Kilby Bridge Jn and return north. As you would
guess this was via the facing crossover, now 40mph, at Leicester South Jn and the rare (for passenger
trains) Up & Down Slow avoiding the station.

Passengers were set down at East Midlands Parkway and Derby before the final course was served.
Flooding at Derby meant that it was not possible to cover the Down Slow line from St Mary's North Jn
to Breadsall Jn, the screenshot from https://traksy.uk/live explains. (BELOW thanks to Kev Adlam)





PREVIOUS PAGE: Driver Dave in 20107 at Barrow Hill. (All pictures by Geof

ff Plumb - see later.) BELOW: On the other end of our train was 31128.

BELOW: The first reversal on the Springwell Branch looking toward

ds the end of line, the train struggled up here due to the wet rails.

BELOW: The pair of Class 20s were d