1326

PREVIOUS PAGE LOWER: Manchester Square looking south, bottom left is the turnout that led to
Rigby Road Depot via the Foxhall Square, Princess St and Blundell St loop. Bimodes are not new, '754'
(ahead) runs on the overhead or diesel. To its right is the non-wired facing crossover that we covered.

ABOVE: Pleasure Beach, although there wouldn't have been much pleasure on the beach in this rain.

THIS PAGE BELOW: A 'Moon rocket' in Hopton Road outside Rigby Road Depot.

ABOVE: Posterior views of a BLS party (25 on the trip) pushing a 'Boat' from Hopton Rd round to
Blundell St, as it is a one way street one wonders how they returned. (Angus McDougall 1 Apr 1990).

BELOW: Tram '607' on the now disused and de-wired Blundell Street section, near the junction with
Princess Street when the rare depot loop line was done, bringing out photographers on 28 Jun 1998.

ABOVE: Princess St, Sheffield '513'; destination blind 'Manchester Square'. (Angus McDougall 29 Sep 1985.)

BELOW: Decrepit Engineering Car No7 was kept on the former third side of the triangle from the Little
Bispham turning circle (seen left) towards Fleetwood, now lifted. (Both Angus McDougall 3 Oct 1981.)

ABOVE: An early morning 'selection' (collective noun) of seven Stewards on their way to Bristol TM
were keen to be photographed with The Great Man himself so Kev Adlam duly obliged.

BELOW: Our Sunday 3 Feb 2019 Looe Brush railtour on the Down Through at Bristol Temple Meads.
(Pictures by Society Photographer, Geoff Plumb https://plumbloco.smugmug.com/ unless specified.)

ABOVE: View of the south end of Bristol TM with snow and sun, seen from the loco cab.

922] The Looe Brush, Sun 3 Feb 2019: By Chris Ziemer; distance table by Jim Sellens. The aptly named

'The Looe Brush' railtour was the second of two trips to the South West. No prizes for guessing the top

prize on the raffle. It was indeed a new - not second hand - loo brush (with various goodies) and the

winner was absolutely delighted with his prizes! The trip the day before (BLN 1325.764), also with an

apt name 'The Positioning Move', ran from Lancaster to Bristol using the stock as a railtour instead of

just an ECS run. There have only been a handful of tours to Looe over the past 25 years (they have to

run on a winter Sunday when there is no passenger service) of which only one in that period covered

the much sought after strategic connection at Liskeard with passengers on board ('Yes' in the table)...

Date Organiser Name On a beautifully clear but crisp (-4oC) winter

29 May 1994 BLS The Devonport Docker No day I joined the tour at Taunton with a good

23 Oct 1994 Pathfinder The Pixie Returns No number of other participants. On Thursday

3 May 1998 Pathfinder The Cornish Gnome Yes the West Country had experienced its worst

19 Sep 2010 Vintage Trains Looe Valley Explorer No winter weather in a number of years with
No 20cm snowfall which resulted in traffic chaos
10 Feb 2013 Pathfinder The Hullaba-Looe Yes and road closures. Fortunately the cold snap

3 Feb 2019 BLS The Looe Brush

was short lived and the thaw began the following day, just in time for all those travelling/positioning
for the tour! At Bristol Temple Meads a participant reported it had been -8/9oC at Shepton Mallet that

morning and another had applied soap to the inside of the train window to raise the dew point and

prevent condensation from spoiling the view - very unusually it promptly froze into a most attractive

'fern leaf' pattern although this had all cleared by Taunton. The only interesting track Taunton joiners

missed on the outward leg was the Up Goods Loop south of Highbridge & Burnham-on-Sea in the

Down direction (it is bidirectional) with its attendant facing then trailing crossovers.

The tour left Taunton 4 minutes early at 09.01 with everyone on board. West Coast's 47772 was at the
helm with 8 Mk1s and 47826 on the rear to assist with the reversals. We were then routed via the
bidirectional Goods Reception line at Fairwater Yard where GBRf 66717 & 66719 were stabled.

ABOVE: Taken when the train was stationary on a cant; a cold and frosty Devon morning. Approaching
Cowley Bridge Jn, the Down Goods theatre light and elevated shunt signal are 'off'. (Simon Mortimer.)

Shortly after picking up what appeared to be a solitary passenger at Tiverton Parkway we took the

Down Passenger Loop at the former Tiverton Junction station (CP 12 May 1986) for an on time

southbound DMU to pass. [BELOW Souvenir First Class ticket by Amy Nash.]

A few minutes later we noted the new culverts, to reduce the risk of the railway flooding, then paused
at Cowley Bridge Jn awaiting the signal for entry to the Exeter Riverside Down Goods/Departure/
Reception line (how's that for multitasking?). Despite all the recent heavy snowfall and following thaw,
the River Exe appeared very calm. The view has changed here due to River Exe flood prevention works.
Our tour then arrived into Exeter St Davids (P5) 16 minutes late. Perhaps the reason for our late arrival
was that 70811 occupied P6, having arrived with 6C23 from Cowley Bridge Jn to Hinksey Yard.

I was hoping our late running wasn't going to
affect the next highlight which blocks both Up
and Down Main lines at Dawlish. I breathed a
sigh of relief as we slowed at Dawlish Warren to
cross (204m 55ch) to the bidirectional Up Main,
crossing back (209m 10ch) to the Down at
Teignmouth. The Up line here is used for single
line running during engineering works or when
the sea breaches the sea wall. [However, even at
90yd every two months, few of us would live long
enough to travel over it all.]

FROM TO FRONT REAR MILES
Lancaster P4 259m 22ch
Preston P4 'The Positioning Move' 47772 47826 238m 24ch
Crewe P12 187m 20ch
Stafford P6 Bristol Temple Meads P6 47772 47826 162m 60ch
p
Bristol Temple Meads P12 47826 47772 145m 41ch
Taunton P2 'The Looe Brush' 47772 47826 100m 62ch
Tiverton Parkway P1 47826 47772
Exeter St Davids P5 Liskeard Down Main, Signal 9 47772 47826 86m 46ch
Totnes P1 47826 47772 70m 02ch
Plymouth P4 Moorswater, Limit of access 47772 47826 41m 08ch
Liskeard Down Main, Sig 9 Looe platform 47826 47772 17m 79ch
Moorswater, Limit of access Coombe Jn, No1 GF 47772 47826
Looe platform Liskeard P3 47826 47772 2m 70ch
Coombe Jn, No1 GF Liskeard Ground Frame 47772 47826 6m 77ch
Liskeard P3 Liskeard P2 47826 47772 6m 34ch
Liskeard Ground Frame Plymouth P8 1m 74ch
Clear of Mount Gould Jn, Up Dep Line 47772 47826 0m 14ch
Liskeard P2 Laira Jn, Down Goods Line 0m 31ch
Plymouth P5 47826 47772 17m 63ch
Mount Gould Jn, Up Dep Line Buckfastleigh Platform 19m 68ch
Laira Jn, Down Goods Line Totnes P2 1m 00ch
Plymouth P5 Exeter St Davids P6 2m 18ch
Buckfastleigh Platform Tiverton Parkway P2 30m 06ch
Taunton P5 6m 77ch
Totnes P2 Heywood Road Jn, Up Westbury 28m 74ch
Bath Spa P1 45m 38ch
Heywood Road Jn, Bristol Temple Meads P15 59m 54ch
Up Westbury 108m 04ch
17m 15ch
28m 54ch

It was almost five years ago to the day since a huge storm washed away 90yd of the Dawlish coast
section of railway. Incredibly, it reopened exactly two months later. If only the Government could act
this quickly on reopening the much talked about, diversionary route via Okehampton and Tavistock!

At Newton Abbot, in true BLS style, we were pathed through Up P3 in the Down direction which
necessitated the use of Newton Abbot east facing crossover and the west end trailing crossover.

With a brief stop at Totnes the South Devon banks provided a good workout for 47772, arriving into P4
at Plymouth 17 minutes behind schedule. A debate ensued on whether we took the first line (also
accessing the Dock sidings) or the more usual second line. It was confirmed as the second line.

Now onto Cornwall and ultimately the highlight of the tour, the much sought after connecting line
onto the Looe branch. Final approval from Network Rail was received just over a week before the tour
ran. At this point the tour was already fully booked with a long waiting list, so those who held out
awaiting confirmation missed out. On previous form, could be another 20 year wait for the next tour!
Reaching Liskeard 21 minutes late we were greeted by an impressive crowd of people to witness this
rare event. To make up some time it was decided we should head straight to Moorswater, omitting
the reversal into bay P3. To gain access to the branch we needed to reverse at Signal 9 to take the
Penzance end trailing crossover to reach Liskeard P2. The stipulations for traversal of the connecting
line were that the buffet and toilets must be closed and everyone remained seated with strictly no
cameras or body parts out of the windows. With two stewards in each coach this was 100% observed.

[BLN 1326]
A dramatic hush descended on the train as participants couldn't quite believe what was happening.

It took no longer than three minutes to crawl along the right hand line (TRACKmaps Book 3 p10A - Jun
2018). The left line of the loop is severed at the Looe end. Flushed with success after finally doing the
connection, the mood on board was jubilant, a bottle of Champagne was even shared (in First Class).

The line to Coombe Jn is interesting to say the least. It is steeply graded, descending and curves 270o
clockwise from the direction of travel on the mainline so the Looe Brush went round the U-bend. We
paused at Coombe Jn No1 Ground Frame then ran through Coombe Junction Halt, under the mainline
for a second time passing Moorswater platform (CP 15 May 1901) on the right. At Tarmac Moorswater
it splits into two, we took the right hand line beyond the NR limit. The former China Clay terminal now
receives weekly trains of cement from Aberthaw Cement Works. Over the level crossing, we traversed
the left hand line as far as freight locos do. This tour is believed to have gone further than any previous
mainline one. Thanks to our GS, Tim Wallis, for his patient and complex protracted negotiations.

We retraced our tracks to Coombe Jn and then ran down the very scenic Looe branch arriving on time,
more or less. Despite only the front two carriages (and the Class 47 - a most unusual sight at Looe)
being platformed, the train with 321 participants on board emptied with remarkable efficiency and we
then had time off in Looe, an hour to take advantage of the local chippies, bakeries and pubs. Within
the hour every single Cornish pasty in Looe had been sold and nearly all of the fish and chips! Some
participants went to a local sandwich shop to sample the world famous Looe rolls (not on BOGOF).
With everyone fed and watered, the train returned to Liskeard this time in to bay P3. Participants
(at least those who are unidirectional) had the choice of alighting to take photos and make videos of
the manœuvre back to P2 via the connecting line where they could rejoin. Quite a few did, as the rare
connection was done again, and Kev Adlam's off-train video is available on our Facebook pages.

After the reversal in Liskeard P2 we headed back towards Plymouth where there was the option of
another break of just over an hour. Shortly before arrival, Kev announced that the train would be
turned via the triangle at Laira, due to a Train protection & Warning System (TPWS) aerial fault in the
front loco and permission had been obtained for passengers to remain aboard. Most did so and while
this took place a loose change charity collection was made in recognition of the extra track,
participants being particularly generous (thank you). We turned right at Lipson Jn to the bidirectional
Down/Up Plymouth Loop No1, reversing after Friary Jn before proceeding on the Up line to Speedway
Jn (paradoxically after which there is a 10mph restriction on the Down/Up Goods past Laira Depot!).
At Laira Jn our tour reversed on the Down Goods line and then returned to Plymouth station.

We left Plymouth on time, noting at Hemerdon that the Up Goods Loop was shiny. We descended
Rattery Bank and entered Totnes for a run to Buckfastleigh (returning in the dark) covering another
rarely used strategic connection, to the South Devon Railway. The 25 min Buckfastleigh break was just
enough time for some to buy food or drink from the café just outside of the station. Six of our eight
coaches fitted in the platform which doesn't see many, if any, Class 47 locos, let alone two at once!

After reversal at Totnes we tackled Dainton Bank before descending into Newton Abbot via P1 this
time via the west end facing and east end trailing crossovers, completing five of the six at the station.

Exeter St Davids P6 was reached on time and some left for trains back to London. I left the tour at
Taunton, missing out the final highlight of Heywood Road Jn trailing crossover when the tour reversed.

This was yet another superb tour organised by the Society. We managed to cover an incredible
amount of interesting track and the highlight for many would have been the strategic connection at
Liskeard onto the Looe branch (thanks Kev and all concerned for your considerable efforts on this;
very much appreciated) and no doubt the trip into Tarmac Moorswater (ta Tim Wallis and Tarmac).

[BLN 1326]
Many thanks to all involved to make this enjoyable trip, mostly in bright sunshine, possible including
West Coast, NR, Gravy Train Catering, the BLS team and not forgetting the real ale trolley! Incredibly
the raffle broke the Society record exceeding £2k and over £10k was donated to the Railway Benefit
Fund and St John's Hospice, Lancaster (including contributions from the fares etc).Additional donations
were made to local charities nominated by Tarmac, Moorswater. A tour of this nature is unlikely to be
repeated again soon but perhaps a future rerun could be named ' The Looe Brush Returns - The No2'?

ABOVE: The Down Bristol flyover line at Cogload Jn (Taunton), with the Caste Cary line beneath.
NEXT PAGE TOP: Dawlish Warren and its Down passenger Loop is in the distance and not a rabbit in
sight. The tour took the facing crossover and is on the Bidirectional Up Main in the Down direction.
BOTTOM: On the famous sea wall at Dawlish, the repaired section is on the curve in the distance.



ABOVE: After crossing the Royal Albert Bridge above the river Tamar and running into Cornwall.

BELOW: The crowds are massing at Liskeard for the rare event as the train reverses at the west end of
the station. Signal No9, the ground signal, shows a 'proceed' aspect to take the trailing crossover over

to P2. Mile Post 265 is on the left (miles are from London Paddington via Box and Plymouth Milbay).

ABOVE: After passing through Up P1 the tour is about to take a left onto the connection.
BELOW: On the connection to the Looe branch, the rust is misleading it was used the evening before.

ABOVE: Passing Coombe Junction Halt, it's not often there are this many people on the platform
BELOW: Coombe No2 Ground Frame with the GW main line west of Liskeard on the high viaduct.

ABOVE: Moorswater Crossing; then MP7¼ on the right and, appropriately, the 'terminal' gates at the end.
BELOW: Train crew and front of the train at Moorswater Cement Terminal (taken by authorised staff).

ABOVE: Approaching Looe, this is the section of the branch that floods periodically closing the line.
THIS PAGE BELOW: The 'Looe Brush' finally brushes up against Looe platform.

NEXT PAGE TOP: Plaque at Looe station. Now we know who to thank/blame for the weird Liskeard
connection. Moorswater station also closed to passengers from 15 May 1901. (Simon Mortimer.)



PREVIOUS PAGE LOWER: OOU track, the former loop on the connecting line and ex-Cornwall Farmers'
terminal siding (off right) taken from inside the train arriving at Liskeard bay P3. (Simon Mortimer).
THIS PAGE ABOVE: Well, actually it's a train from Looe! Our tour in Liskeard bay P3.
THIS PAGE BELOW: The Looe Brush comes off the connection at Liskeard (taken from Liskeard P1).

ABOVE: Heads up on the previous train to do the connection carrying passengers (3 May 1998).
BELOW: The east end of Liskeard station as our tour enters P1.

ABOVE: Taking the little used connection onto the South Devon Railway at Totness Riverside.
BELOW: Our tour at Buckfastleigh.

X.40] The Woodhorn Wanderer, Sat 23 Feb 2019: (BLNs 1324.635 & 1325.X.35) NEXT PAGE: A couple
more Geoff Plumb pictures, the tour explored the two sheds at Museum Halt. Both shots were taken
at the end of the tour in the dark; it's surprising what can be done with modern technology nowadays.



ABOVE: What can only be 'described' as a museum piece, a (no longer used) train describer in
Abbey Foregate Signal Box. (All pictures by Chris Parker and Barney Clark on 1 Mar 2019)

923] Shrewsbury Signal Boxes visits (2); 1 Mar 2019: By Chris Parker. This was a short notice (repeat)
visit announced by special Society email message - rather than not taking up the offer - as the notice
was incompatible with the next BLN date and oversubscribed several times over. Fortunately there
should be plenty of time to arrange future repeats as participants were told that the life expectancy of
the boxes could even now be up to a further 20 to 30 years! Replacement by a power box was first
considered in the 1960s and came close to fruition in the early 1990s but, as ever, financial constraints
intervened and four of them are still here! BLN 1255.759 (of 23 Apr 2016) is a comprehensive well
illustrated report of a similar fixture on 9 Apr 2016 so a few notes should suffice here.

Dorrington and Craven Arms signal boxes were not visited this time but it was possible to include
Crewe Junction which was missed last time and it was a definite highlight! Like the unique, impressive
Severn Bridge Junction it is of LNWR 1903 origin. Its historic Grade II listing extends to the block shelf
which retains a selection of mechanical train describers, the former block instrument to Crewe Bank
and other long superseded but lovingly cared for museum pieces amidst the active equipment.

Crewe Junction: The modern equivalent Train Describer (a VDU screen and keyboard) handles the
handover of trains to/from the Crewe line under Track Circuit Block regulations. The box also works
Track Circuit Block to Gobowen (North) on the Chester line but, in that case, trains are described using
bell codes via a traditional bell and tapper. To the south, it works Absolute Block to Severn Bridge

[BLN 1326]
Junction using three GWR 1947 design block instruments. One works the bidirectional Up & Down
Platform Line (P4), one the Main Platform Lines (P3 and 7) and one the two Main (non-platform) Lines.

The frame has 120 levers (Severn Bridge Junction has 180) but a much smaller proportion are spares -
roughly 25%. This is because over the years it has absorbed functions from other long abolished boxes,
including the Station Box and several on the Chester line. It now supervises all level crossings on that
line to, but now excluding, Decoy (185m 66ch); the latter was handed over to Gobowen (North) quite
recently. However (despite TRACKmaps Book 3, p31B Jun 2018) Crewe Junction retains the release for
the mothballed Babbinswood (Whittington) oil depot frame (186m 46ch). It controls semi-automatic
signals at Baschurch (Down) and Stanwardine (Up) too via a small Individual Function Switch panel.

The box is single manned but the illuminated track diagram is duplicated above either end of the lever
frame. A small panel controls the slotting arrangements with Wales Railway Operating Centre at
Cardiff for the Crewe line. Amending the previous report: the acceptance levers at Crewe Junction and
Severn Bridge Junction control P4 (not P3), this is the only wholly bidirectionally signalled line. Of the
other two through platforms, trains can only reverse at the south end of P3 and the north end of P7.
Thus the current platform layout at Shrewsbury is actually quite inflexible for modern traffic.

The remaining boxes remain much described in BLN 1255 of 23 Apr 2016. However Sutton Bridge
Junction is now open continuously, the signallers typically working three 12 hour shifts per week.
A Web 'Gemini' terminal is an innovation in Severn Bridge Junction; this is in effect the stock allocation
and diagramming equivalent of Realtime Trains. It is of particular value at this location because of the
number of trains which join and split here, sometimes with late changes of plan. It is not currently in
the public domain, but its potential usefulness to enthusiasts is recognised so that could change!

Thanks as ever to the NR staff and signallers for their friendliness and willingness to answer questions,
in this fascinating area, and to Barney Clark for all the arrangements. A memorable day with some
more items ticked off the bucket list and a donation of £330 to NR's nominated charity Barnardo's.

CAPTIONS FOR NEXT SIX PAGES (ONE PICTURE PER PAGE):

❶Crewe Junction Signal Box, the frame and instruments, looking north from the south end; the

.........diagram is repeated at each end of the lengthy single staffed box.

❷ Crewe Junction Signal Box exterior as seen from Shrewsbury P3.

❸ Crewe Junction Signal Box, the frame and instruments, looking south from the north end.

❹ The one and only Severn Bridge Junction Signal Box, the world's largest operational manual

..........signal box (previous record holder: Spencer Street No1 Box in Melbourne with 192 levers).

❺ Severn Bridge Junction Signal Box part of the massive locking room beneath the frame, an...

.........impressive and very effective Victorian computer system.

❻ (Final picture.) An antediluvian train describer (no longer used) at Severn Bridge Junction which

.........even includes the Severn Valley line.





















Details must be checked 1326 CONNECTIONS (Paul Stewart) [email protected] .Please mention BLN.

924] Mid Norfolk Railway Spring Diesel Gala, 5-7 Apr: See the major infrastructure improvements to
create storage facilities. Some trains run from Wymondham Abbey to Wymondham Loop and/or Jn
(mostly Sunday). There are two round trips on the rare 3¾ mile line north of Dereham to Worthing,
Hoe Rd Level Crossing; on Sunday these run through (and call at) Dereham station doing the full 13¾

mile line. Also Sunday 7th (full timetable
with e-BLN), for rover ticket holders only,
NEW Class 03 hauled shuttles from
Kimberley station to the new Kimberley
Sidings (four trips 08.50 to 14.10). Home
and guest haulage is available.

925] Weardale Railway, Annual Diesel
Gala 12-14 Apr; 09.00-19.00: (MR p7)
Two sets of MkII coaches run between
Bishop Auckland and Stanhope for the
first time crossing at Scotch Isle which
is being converted to a full passing
loop; previously the two crossovers
were both into Wolsingham Depot,
presumably the Stanhope end one is
now the other way round now (?) -
reports on this are welcome please.

926] The Mountsorrel Railway: (BLN
1326.766) If your were not able to
make the Mothers' Day through steam
trains on 31 Mar, further provisional
dates for through trains between the
branch and the Great Central Railway
are: Wed 17 & Wed 24 Apr; Sun 28 Apr,
Sun 20 Jun, Sun 28 Jul; Wed 7 & Wed
14 Aug; Sun 25 Aug, Sun 29 Sep and
Sun 27 Oct 2019. Check GCR website or
01509 632323. (MAP LEFT)

X.41] The Downs Light Railway, Mon 6 May 10.00-16.45: https://goo.gl/p3TDMK is the website plan
(BLN 1279.921 also with plan), Downs School, Brockhill Rd, Colwall, WR13 6EY, (SO 7593 4329); 950yd
walk from Colwall station. This interesting school railway of unusual 9½" gauge is running for May Day
and the school open day, raising funds for the school trust. Public rides are available, only for the third
time in recent years. 'The World's oldest private miniature railway' (1925), with an incredible tunnel!
10.00: Diesel trains hauled by 'Tim'; 11.00: Steam hauled trains; 12.30-13.30: lunch (no trains) last
train 16.45. Ride all day for a £20 donation to the Educational Trust or pay as you go £2 per ride.
'George' will be running to celebrate its 80th Birthday. It will be the only time this year where the
general public will be able to see this historic locomotive in action. The unusual railway is operated by
children (under supervision) at the school as a school 'hobby club' activity.

927] Waterford & Suir Valley Railway, Sun 12 May: The RPSI Waterford & Limerick tour (9-14 May)
reaches Waterford 17.05 Sun and leaves 10.20 Mon. They are running a return trip Bilberry (18.20/
19.45) to Kilmeadan for £9 - the first section is only used by specials like this. Participation in the full
tour may be required as the limit is 70 participants. Try +44 28 9358 6200 or website enquiry form.

928] Haywood's Permanent Way, Wed 29 May 19.30, Branch Lines of East Sussex Part 1: The branch
lines to East Grinstead including the Bluebell Railway by Leon Coast. Non-members £2, the meetings
are held at The Sports and Social Club, Main Road, Great Haywood, ST18 0SU.

X.42] Bursledon Brickworks Industrial Museum; Hampshire Narrow Gauge Railway Trust (HNGRT),
Sun 28 Apr; 11.00-16.00: (MR p18) (BLN 1313.MR188) Coal Park Lane, Lower Swanwick, Southampton,
SO31 7GW, (SU 500 098). About 1,600yd walk from Bursledon station. Spring Steam Up: Adults £7,
Concessions £6, Children £4, Families £18. Numerous exhibits in steam, visiting traction engines (rides
expected), scale miniature engines, stationary power plants, fairground organs, steam models etc.

Unfortunately, after 21 years, HNGRT is moving to a new site more suitable for for their fleet.
The 2019 season will be their final one here. They intend to run the 210yd long 7¼" miniature railway
(reported out of use in Aug 2018 and 'black with rust') for 2019 'event days' at the Museum - but this
is not guaranteed; see https://www.bursledonbrickworks.org.uk/events.php (The Museum is the
UK's only steam powered Victorian brickworks.) The HNGRT may operate demonstration trains on the
2ft gauge mineral line but this depends on enough members attending; services on the 400yd long 2ft
gauge passenger line are currently suspended. It is unlikely that they will operate the 2ft passenger
line with any regularity this year; again depending on their Members helping with maintenance etc.
The 2ft gauge steam loco 'Wendy' is at Amberley Museum this year and 'Cloister' will be at
Bressingham from May. Traction at Bursledon will be petrol and diesel locos. (This item was received
too late for paper BLN 1326; if you know of any paper-only members who might be interested please
let them know.) Event days where the HNGRT is mentioned as running are, all Sundays 11.00-16.00:
26 May, 23 Jun, 21 Jul, 18 Aug, 29 Sep, 27 Oct & 24 Nov. 21 Jul is a 'train' day so probably the best bet.
To check if the railway/s are running try http://bit.ly/2TSIjlN or 01489 576248 (not always staffed).

929] Merseytravel Saveaway: A one day off peak ticket valid on trains, buses and Mersey Ferries (All
Areas ticket only and not River Explorer cruises) all day Sats, Suns & Bank Hols and in the week except
services scheduled to depart 06.31 to 09.29. 'All Areas' covers Merseyside to Ellesmere Port, Chester,
Ormskirk, Rainford, Garswood, Newton-le-Willows, Hough Green (by rail only) also West Kirby,
Southport, Heswall & New Brighton. Adult £5.40; Under 19 £2.40 (no railcard discounts). Four much
smaller areas are available for £4.10/£2.40 each. Available from Merseyside PayPoint stores,
Merseytravel Centres and staffed Merseyrail stations, most including stations only sell them on
'Walrus' cards (£1, then can be topped up). Liverpool Lime Street (terminal) issues card tickets as do
Northern booking offices but they are 'committed' to using Walrus and this may be by June. They are
very good value as just one (Merseyrail) off peak return trip Southport - Chester is £8.90 alone.

930] BOOK REVIEW (PAS), The Tongham Railway by Peter A Harding: The latest from this prolific and
meticulous branch line author. First published in 1994 and previously out of print, this booklet is fully
revised with previously unpublished photos added. In 1849 Farnham was first rail served from
Guildford as a branch from the former Ash Jn (explaining why the Guildford to Ash line now curves
sharply northwest there) through Ash Green (Halt) and Tongham (OP 1856). In 1870 the line from
Pirbright Jn to Farnham Jn via Aldershot opened, the latter rapidly developed as an army town, initially
rail served via Tongham. After the short Aldershot East Jn - Aldershot West Jn spur opened in 1879 the
Tongham line was doomed. The history explains the sharp curve to the north in the Farnham to
Aldershot line at the former Farnham Jn. At this end, rail traffic to Tongham is thought to have ended
with CP 4 Jul 1937 but it wasn't taken OOU until 21 Nov 1954. The Railway Enthusiasts' Club 'Hants &
Surrey Tour' of 26 Sep 1953 included Ash Jn to Tongham but was refused the section beyond due to the
state of the track! After traffic ceased to Aldershot Gas Works (a branch off the line) in the late 1950s,
the final tour was 5 Oct 1957 and it CG/A (then just twice weekly to Tongham) from 31 Dec 1960.
As usual from this author a fascination collection of interesting detail with a map, 9 track diagrams and
over 50 photos - including of tickets and two timetables. A5 with card covers, 36 pages; only £4 or £4.50
with P&P payee 'Peter A Harding' to Mossgiel, Bagshot Rd, Knaphill, Woking, Surrey, GU21 2SG.

.WANTED BY NETWORK RAIL!.

X.43] Following the recent arson attack at
Eggesford on the Barnstaple branch the
token exchange equipment was destroyed
in a serious fire. A 'C' and 'D' pattern
transfer cartridge is required for the
machines (ABOVE) as soon as possible. If
anyone can help please can they contact:
David Gill [email protected]
(S&T Technical Assistant) 07825 258094.

X.44] BLN 1324.X.24 Guess the location
LEFT: This 'Great' British national railway
station, also mentioned in BLN 1323 was
Great Malvern, the style of stonework is
very typical of the Malverns. This out of
use station pillar box is on P1 set into the
station building itself. (Stuart Hicks.)

931] Property Section - The Old Station Corbière: At the extreme SW tip of Jersey. Modernised with a
glazed extension, 270o panoramic views of the coast/St Ouen's Bay from the sun deck and terrace.
The original 1899 two-storey building had a station master's house, booking office and waiting rooms.
Outside is a long single platform and a railway walk. OP 1 Jul 1899; CP 30 Sep 1939 a bus route serves
locations on the Jersey Railway and terminates nearby. https://goo.gl/RXXo9x has details, pictures,
etc 01534717100. Our Jersey correspondent asks if it's the dearest station conversion yet - £3.75M?

932] Sheringham NNR (42m 62ch) - Sheringham NR (42m 71ch); 8 May (SOLD OUT), 5 & 26 Jun, 8 &
22 Aug, 25 Sep & 2 Oct: Dining trains, 'top & tail' diesel eastbound and steam westbound. Sheringham
North Norfolk Railway 12.00 to Cromer (break as a service train runs to Sheringham and back) - Holt -
Sheringham (14.30). £58 First Class with a glass of Prosecco and 3-course meal. https://goo.gl/Lb3fE5

933] Virgin Trains: In Pendolinos (only) free WiFi is being extended to all Standard Class coaches 'by May'.

934] Carlisle Kingmoor Depot, Annual DRS Open Day 20 July: Details awaited but 'railtours' mentioned.

●Bookings: Mark Gomm, 84 Mornington Rd, STOKE-on-TRENT, ST1 6EL. [email protected] 07983 541887.
●Fixtures Sec: Kev Adlam, 53 Kemble Close, Wistaston, CREWE, CW2 6XN. [email protected] @BLSGeneralSec
●John Cameron, [email protected] or text 07581178759; any letters to Paul Stewart (below) please.
●Tom Gilby, (Liverpool Lime Street Saveaway Tracker) [email protected] 69 Regent St, Barwell, Leicester LE9 8GY.
●Paul Griffin, (Austria) 7 School Bell Meadows, Church Lane, Stoneleigh, COVENTRY, CV8 3ZZ. [email protected]
●Mark Haggas, (Devon) 12 The Square, Earl Shilton, Leicester, LE9 7GU. [email protected]
●Neil Lewis, (South Cheshire Miniature Railways BLN 1324.512) [email protected]
●Sales Officer: Graeme Jolley, Dolbryn, Penegoes, MACHYNLLETH, SY20 8NN. [email protected] 07484 646542.
●Paper BLN Problems: Dave Monger 6 Underhill Close, GODALMING, GU7 1NU. [email protected] text/ring Editor.
●Editor: Paul Stewart, 4 Clarence Close, MALVERN, WR14 3HX. 01684562862 07790652351. [email protected]
●Published by the Branch Line Society, 10 Sandringham Rd, Stoke Gifford, BS34 8NP. ISSN 1354-0947

X.45] Dawlish: BELOW: From our 3 Feb Looe Brush tour looking towards Exeter. (Geoff Plumb.)