in all its glory.) Two Rustons (details item 830) under Valley Rd overbridge verbridge (Spans 3 to 5), which will be opened up for the new depot lines.
824] A circular tour to Pontefract:About midday Sun 10 Mar,an embankment landslip occurred on the Up Goole line east of Pontefract Monkhill. Further deterioration occurred and specialist teams and equipment had to be brought in. Nearby, Water Lane, which runs beneath a long narrow underbridge through the embankment, was closed to vehicles but open to pedestrians. When a member who went to have a look asked how long the repair would take, the reply was 'How long is a piece of string‽' An emergency hourly timetable ran until Sat 16 Mar; trains ran in a clockwise direction only. Leeds - Castleford - Pontefract Monkhill P2 (reverse) - Wakefield Kirkgate - Wakefield Westgate - Leeds. Departing Monkhill P2, trains used the trailing crossover onto the Up Goole in service, with special arrangements. Pontefract Monkhill, Glasshoughton, Pontefract Tanshelf, Featherstone & Streethouse were all served in one direction (Harry Styles would approve). Pontefract to Glasshoughton via Leeds! (TRACKmaps 2 p35B 2020) The trailing crossover at Prince of Wales box (formerly for Prince of Wales Colliery) was done by our 12 Feb 2023 'Technical Cobra' tour on departure from Pontefract Monkhill P2, along with the new facing crossover (not on 2020 TRACKmaps) before Castleford West Jn into Castleford P2 as on the day 'Adlam extras'. Prince of Wales crossover was relaid afterwards and was due to be commissioned during the week of 16 Dec 2023 (BLN 1425.1345) but this didn't happen as the Ferrybridge to Goole resignalling was deferred sine die. This is why it was not possible to run an 'anticlockwise' service, which would have needed to use this crossover after reversing in Monkhill P2. The crossover could not be brought into use especially. From Sun 17 Mar, buses between Knottingley/ Goole and Monkhill, that had been running since the landslip, were extended to Castleford (in both directions!), replacing trains on that section. Trains ran Leeds - Wakefield - Pontefract both ways, still turning back in Monkhill P2 and doing the same rare crossover on departure. Grand Central services that normally (reluctantly) serve Pontefract - they would prefer not to - diverted via Hare Park Jn. GBRf trains between Drax Power Station and Liverpool Biomass Terminal diverted at Knottingley West Jn to Ferrybridge North Jn, then ran round in Milford West Sidings to run through Castleford and Normanton to Wakefield Kirkgate - the normal route is Pontefract Monkhill and Crofton East Jn. 825] Monk Bretton branch: 6E86, the GBRf 08.15 from Middleton Towers, normally runs Tuesdays and Thursdays with 17 wagons of sand to the glassworks (loaded train weight 1,800 tonnes). The usual route after Peterborough, Lincoln and Doncaster is Haywood Jn, Knottingley South to West Jns, Pontefract Monkhill, Crofton East Jn and Oakenshaw South Jn onto the branch. However, due to the landslip at Pontefract Monkhill, they have been running Doncaster to Hare Park Jn, Calder Bridge Jn, Crofton West Jn, then to Oakenshaw Jn. Changing direction by running round in Calder Bridge Up Goods Loop, they then took the spur to Oakenshaw South Jn to reach the branch - we knew that curve (once part of a Sheffield to Leeds PSUL route) was worth keeping and would come in useful one day. This 660yd curve (known as the Oakenshaw Incline) climbs 10yd vertically on a 1:66 average gradient and, on 12 Mar, the train slipped to a stand on the curve and had to have a second run at it, which was successful. This was the first of these trains to run that way and subsequent workings have applied full power and made it. Local opinion is that it may be some 40 years since the last revenue earning freight train went up the incline. Does anyone know please? Railtours are rare, the last was our 12 Feb 2023 'Technical Cobra' which reversed at Oakenshaw South Jn. Otherwise test trains may also have used it. 826] T&W Metro: From Mon 8 Until Sun 14 Apr (incl) a seven-day major line closure is planned with no services between Benton and North Shields. This is to replace 5.6km of OHLE and carry out secondary work. Replacement buses run between Four Lane Ends and North Shields. Benton facing crossover will be used by arrivals from South Shields and North Shields facing crossover by arrivals from St James. 827] Rotherham Magna - 'great' news: (BLN 1439.38) The new £6.6M tram-train stop between Tinsley South Jn and Rotherham Central has been approved, financed by Sheffield City Region Transforming Cities Fund (£166M). It will have two low level staggered platforms, a footbridge between, a passenger information system, lighting, CCTV and shelters. 29 parking spaces will be added to existing parking, shared with Magna Science Adventure Centre (a Museum). 200,000 journeys a year are anticipated at the stop. It is hoped it will help motorists who have difficulty finding a space in the Meadowhall, Ikea and Centertainment Park & Rides after 07.30 in the morning (the things people do for pleasure…)!
828] Rylstone: (BLNs 1422.989 & 1433.2205) From 31 Mar, 09.00, One Train Working, No Staff section on this branch is to be replaced by an Electric Token Block system with Digital Block Controller (DiBloC) token machines. These enable a section of single line to be controlled without the need for end to end cabling or on-board equipment. https://tinyurl.com/3mkwbssx has more on this. The Leeds North West workstation signaller must give permission to remove a token key and be informed when it is replaced. The token stations are next to signal L4042 at Skipton Middle Jn and on the quarry side of Rylstone Level Crossing. AWS (Automatic Warning System) is provided before the 'STOP' boards either side of Rylstone LC: ●Skipton side of Rylstone LC: 'STOP AND OBTAIN PERMISSION TO PROCEED. END OF TOKEN SECTION'. ●Quarry side of Rylstone LC: 'STOP AND OBTAIN PERMISSION TO PROCEED. START OF TOKEN SECTION'. ●Signal L4042: 'RYLSTONE BRANCH LINE. COMMENCEMENT OF TOKEN SECTION'. ●Skipton Down Shipley Slow, 450m clearance in rear of signal L4042: 'END OF TOKEN SECTION'. 829] :Microgricing alert!: Deighton - Huddersfield: From Sat 2 Mar, the Up Huddersfield (towards Huddersfield) between 26m 67ch and 27m 10ch was moved slightly to the left (southeast). This would move the Up and Down lines slightly further apart, perhaps ready for a new bridge abutment? 830] Shipley: (BLNs 1438.2486 & 1443.564.2) Recruitment of management staff is underway for the new EMU depot. Its site is being cleared either side of the A6037 Valley Rd overbridge, although most work has been done to the south of this. When passing recently, a member noticed a Ruston shunter stabled under one of the arches of Valley Road overbridge. Crossley Evans (scrap merchants) are still handling scrap metals on the northern part of the site; it is still their registered address but shown as 'temporarily closed'. An IRS member visited on 13 Mar, the two older Rustons 284838 and 425483 'BETH', which used to be parked up next to the fence adjoining NR and Sentinel 10023 'KATIE' from the south side of the bridge, have been cut up for scrap in the last few months. The remaining two locos HE 7159 'PRINCE OF WALES' and Ruston 459519 'VENOM' are parked up in an archway under the road bridge (as above). They are looking to dispose of them and the owner would prefer that they went to a good home and be used rather than be cut up for scrap. If anyone is interested, do give them a call! 831] Dockfield Jn - Baildon - Esholt Jn: (BLN 1444.703) The through 'school trains' between Bradford Forster Square, Kirkstall Up Passenger Loop (reverse), its Skipton end trailing crossover and Ilkley didn't restart after half term. They caused too much disruption to other services in the area and were difficult to path reliably. In addition, they didn't save much time over changing trains at Kirkstall Forge. 1445 NORTH WEST (John Cameron) [email protected] 832] Workington: (BLN 1444.720) The repairs to the River Derwent Viaduct in Workington have been challenging, as the river at this location is very tidal, which means engineers can only safely carry out repair work when the tide is out. Despite this, good progress was made and the viaduct reopened on Mon 25 Mar. Before then, a skeleton service (ghost train?) began on Mon 18 Mar; one DMU shuttling between Carlisle and Maryport, the first train to Carlisle was 08.20 and the last back at 18.17. The all day roughly hourly rail replacement buses also continued between Workington and Carlisle, calling at all stations. An interesting question is, would passengers be prepared to pay rail fares for these rail replacement buses between Workington and Carlisle (single fare now £11 without railcard) when an hourly service bus is available, taking less time (it doesn't visit all the local stations) for £2 single fare? 833] Carnforth South Jn: (BLN 1443.590) The track defect at Carnforth North Jn (south of the station!) was rectified earlier than expected and normal working resumed from Sun 3 Mar. Since 15 Jan, trains from the south to Barrow and Skipton had run via the Up & Down Goods Loops to reach Carnforth P2. 834] Cheshire, without cheesy jokes: Alderley Edge was awarded the 'Best Kept Station' at the 2024 Cheshire Awards; the station was also praised by the Royal Horticultural Society in Oct - were the staff on edge waiting for the results? Brinnington won 'Best Staffed Station'. Greenbank was this year's 'Best Unstaffed Station'. Rose Hill, very appropriately, won the 'In Bloom Award'. Disley won the 'Sustainability Award', Goostrey the 'Art Project Award', Romiley the 'King's Coronation Award', Delamere the 'Cheshire West & Chester Award', Glazebrook the 'Halton & Warrington Award', Heaton Chapel the 'TfGM Award' and Marple, Handforth, Hale and Sandbach were all 'Highly Commended'. The winner of the 'Worst Station Award' has not been revealed - nominations invited…
X.48] Grange-over-Sands: On Fri 22 Mar the 05.18 Preston to Barrow 6-car Dline. Our ever-keen Port Erin based IOM Editor, Graeme Easton, visited the spublic places). There were quite a few spectators. The front coach was alreadyput the rear bogie of the second back on; it's done for each pair of wheels separate the coaches; perhaps it aids stability and saves rejoining them? Onceither removal by road or, if fit, by rail. The second unit (which ran over the drun. Graeme had a good look at the void beneath the (unsupported) track andof the seawall, had it not been there a unit would have ended up on the mud fl
DMU derailed between Arnside and Grange closing the Carnforth to Barrow cene on the afternoon of Tue 26 Mar and photographed re-railing (all from y fully back on, as was the front bogey of the second coach. He watched them separately and takes a long time. Graeme was surprised that they did not e the first unit was re-railed, they planned to take it to Ulverston siding for distorted track too), amazingly, stayed on the rails and is believed to be fit to d it was easy to see how much worse it could have been. Judging by the mess ats. First photo towards Arnside, second towards Grange, from a footbridge.
X.49] BELOW: Engineering train at Totley Tunnel East box (closed 16 Mar 2024
4) looking west; the tunnel is round the corner. (Phil Lockwood, 19 Mar 2024.)
BELOW: (Item 840) the first electric train from Manchester Victoria to Stalybr
ridge; it ran during a possession in the early hours of Wed 13 Mar 2024 (NR).
X.50] BELOW: (BLN 1440.188) Work in progress extending Southport P2 (left) a
and P3 (right), will there be more track to do? (Tim Hall-Smith, 17 Mar 2024.)
835] Manchester Piccadilly: From 3 Apr until the end of May the satellite lounge above P13 & 14, will be closed (with a foot passenger diversion in place) for an upgrade including: New seating throughout, two new retail units, extra charging points (no charge) for devices, a dedicated accessible waiting area, upgraded toilets and new floor tiles. The only thing they seem to have forgotten is satellite TV. 836] Metrolink: ❶A member advises that trams slow down at Monsall, Newton Heath and Moston as the track may move if they approach any faster; this could result in damage if they hit the platforms. ❷In Mar there were three collisions in four days, at Piccadilly Gardens, Wythenshawe and Ashton Moss, damaging trams and disrupting services. On 5 Mar Tram 3106, departing Piccadilly Gardens for Ashton-under-Lyne, hit the rear of a coach fouling a yellow box junction on Portland St, causing severe damage to the tram and over 90 mins of disruption. Ashton trams went to Piccadilly instead of Eccles, Eccles trams ran to Exchange Square, MediaCityUK to Crumpsall bay instead of Etihad Campus, Altrincham trams ran to Queens Road (in place of Piccadilly); Bury services turned back at Cornbrook. On Thur 7 Mar about 06.15, a car and Tram 3138 collided, close to Ashton Moss on the Ashton line. No trams ran between Droylsden and Ashton-under-Lyne while the damaged vehicles were removed. Next day a car and Tram 3097 collided on Hollyhedge Road in Wythenshawe, derailing the tram. Two fire engines attended and had to cut the car driver from his vehicle before he was taken to hospital. There was no service between Sale Water Park and Robinswood for the rest of the day. ❸Since 2 Jan, ready for the new Co-op Arena at Etihad Stadium, Altrincham to Piccadilly services have been double trams and most Altrincham to Bury services singles, which has led to complaints. Altrincham to Piccadilly trams are extended to Etihad Campus in the evenings and all day on Sundays. ❹£60 fines have been wrongly issued as on-platform ticket checks by ticket inspectors' machines do not tap passes in or out. Passengers were not advised that they still had to tap in or out after a check. 837] Southport: (BLN 1443.594) P1 was inspected on 6 Mar and doesn't appear to be any longer at the buffer stop end. However, the new friction buffer stops have, as reported, reduced operational length. Extensive excavation was in progress to extend the operational length of P2 and 3 for 8-car Class 777s. 838] Merseyside: Nothing to do with local Mayoral elections on 2 May, of course, but Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram has stated his intention to create purpose-built stations at Woodchurch in the Wirral, Carr Mill in St Helens and Daresbury in Halton. The idea seems to be to open a new station in each borough of Merseyside, with Maghull North (Sefton) opening in 2018, Headbolt Lane (Kirkby) last year and Liverpool Baltic (Liverpool) under construction. The Mayor also spoke of plans to deliver a sevenday network, with an increased timetable at weekends and evenings within the next four years. Also nothing to do with elections, while most regulated fares in England rose by 4.9% from 3 Apr Steve Rotheram announced a fares freeze on the Northern and Wirral lines for six months until Sep. To be 'fair', he said that he had managed to 'claw back' money from Stadler after poor performance of their Class 777/1 battery-EMUs on the Headbolt Lane line. Almost £300,000 has been refunded to season ticket holders on that line as well - the new trains cost £500M and the Headbolt Lane extension £80M. 839] Merseyrail: (BLNs 1443.594 & 1444.727) On 26 Feb, a local member went to investigate the reports of 8-car Class 777 EMUs on test between Kirkdale Depot and Hillside, with a view to taking photographs. Realtime Trains (which like all other online systems comes with a caution) suggests trains arrive from the south in Hillside Down P2 (for Southport), then reverse and head wrong line back towards Liverpool. In reality, the line is not bidirectionally signalled here. The 12.25 Kirkdale Depot to Hillside ECS (a 4-car not 8-Car) stopped in P2 just beyond the ground signal for the trailing crossover south of the station. It reversed and traversed the crossover to gain the Up line towards Liverpool. Bizarrely, the station indicator screens on both platforms showed the next train as not in service. Also observed that day was a new 8-car stop sign for Class 777s at Ainsdale Up P1. 840] Stalybridge: The first electric test train ran successfully on Tue 12/Wed 13 Mar. Northern 2x3-car Class 331 (331025+331027) on the 22.22 service from Blackpool North, normally to Manchester Piccadilly, was diverted to Victoria. Although advertised well in advance, this may still have come as a surprise to some passengers on the day! Then, under a possession, it ran ECS to Stalybridge and back.
841] New Brighton: To enable the provision of driver 'hop-ups' (which are bidirectional, functioning as 'hop-downs' too), Siding 1 was shortened by 18yd towards Bidston from 17 Mar by relocation of the buffer stops. This reduced the maximum available standage in Siding 1 to 118 yd. Siding 1 and Wall Siding will have 'hop-ups' installed. Blue posts will be provided on them to assist drivers lining up their cab with the 'hop-up' and stopping in the correct position. 'Hop-ups' consist of steps leading up to a short bright yellow (Merseyrail liveried?) platform to enable drivers to enter and exit Class 777 cabs. 1445 SOUTH EAST - NORTH & EAST ANGLIA (Julian James) [email protected] 842] Realtime Rolling stock: Greater Anglia train allocations are now shown on Realtime Trains along with 18 other operators now including GBRf and LSL. Those who have not yet joined the 'Know Your Train' service are Elizabeth line, Govia Thameslink, London Overground, Merseyrail, Southeastern, West Midlands Railway and LNwR. It means that all services in Wales and Scotland are covered though. A warning: a member found a pair of units were joined the opposite way round to that shown (tut tut). 843] Lowestoft: (BLN 1441.334) North Quay closed to shipping from 8 Mar for three weeks, following the arrival on 4 Mar (by sea from Holland) of the main part of the rolling bascule bridge for the town's £145M third crossing, temporarily closing Lake Lothing's navigation channel. The bridge span was installed on Sat 9 Mar. This meant no ballast deliveries by ship, so no trains have run to Whitemoor although a ballast stockpile remains in the yard. Replacement ballast to Whitemoor was supplied from Land Recovery at Longport north of Stoke-on-Trent - two trains ran during the first week alone. 844] Thetford: (BLN 1443.596) On 11 Mar the Rail Accident Investigation Branch gave details of the investigation it will hold into the 6 Feb derailment. It will seek to identify the sequence of events that led to the accident and consider the arrangements in place to manage and control the risks from trees falling on to the railway from outside the railway boundary, the structural crashworthiness performance of the cab during the collision and the performance of the train in remaining aligned with the track while running derailed. The train was travelling at 83mph when the collision occurred. The impact with the trees caused the leading wheelset to derail. It subsequently ran on the sleepers and ballast for around 680m before stopping following the driver's emergency brake application. There were 31 passengers and 2 staff onboard; one passenger reported suffering a minor injury. 845] Eggsacting Easter engineering: Relaying from 29 Mar to 1 Apr (incl) includes a total of over 1km of track on various parts of the WCML, costing £7M with no WCML trains at all for four days south of Milton Keynes. As a result, the St Albans Abbey branch service is suspended, but the Watford DC lines will remain open. Further work to connect the SEGRO Northampton Gateway Logistics Park just north of Roade on the Northampton loop extends the closure from Euston to Northampton on 30 & 31 Mar - buses to Milton Keynes take 46 min for a different bus to Bedford (40 min) for a train to London (42 min). The fastest Northampton to Euston trains take under an hour. A 4-day Witham to Shenfield closure is for work at the £160M Beaulieu Park station and also to relay points south of Chelmsford. There are no Amersham - Aylesbury Vale Parkway services, so that HS2 can continue work for the new 350m viaduct over the line south of Wendover (Aylesbury has London trains via Princes Risborough). Cambridge North to Ely is also closed for the four days over Easter for resignalling work (installing new gantries). Works elsewhere are less restrictive. NR say £98M is being spent on its Easter projects. 846] Railfuture East Anglia (RfEA): This local group proposes enhancements working towards a half hourly service on all its lines to coastal towns but not necessarily from every station. The infrastructure may not allow this immediately but RfEA notes how GWR overcame similar problems along both sides of the Exe estuary with the Devon Metro to serve settlements of a similar size. RfEA would also like: Norwich - Stansted Airport service extended to Great Yarmouth, with weekday timings on …Sundays to even out the Ely to Cambridge service, currently bunched around the hour mark. Half hourly Bishop’s Stortford - Cambridge North local services, ideally by extending six of the 2tph …Stratford - Bishops Stortford. Cambridge North to Liverpool Street off-peak to run via Stratford. Extra Ipswich - Newmarket - Cambridge peak services, and on Friday and Saturday the last Ipswich …to Bury St Edmunds train extended to Cambridge, returning at 23.47. The 22.44 from King's Cross …would connect, to give Newmarket and Bury St Edmunds a later London departure.
X.51] ABOVE: (BLN 1443.535●●470) Thank you for the item on the 3 Nov 1973 Welford Park farewell specials, I have fond memories of the day. Although I had been lucky enough to travel on a number of by then closed passenger lines in Southern England, this was the first time I had sampled a railtour over a goods line that was closing! I enclose a couple of photos taken at Welford Park showing the third trip of the day (the 14.45 from Newbury; arriving Welford Park at 14.30). I fully understand if the quality is not up to publication. In those days my schoolboy resources only went as far as an Instamatic 33! I also have a hurried photo of the GWR Pagoda (now at Didcot) which was still on the platform at Stockcross & Bagnor on the branch. I believe that all four trips used the same 9-car DMU formation: 51328/59509/51313-51353/59505/51395-51320/59472/51305. [That agrees with Six Bells Junction…] https://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/70s/731103_1.html Best wishes Nick Bowditch (1283). BELOW: (Item 814) Cleethorpes to Doncaster train on the Down Scunthorpe Goods before Frodingham Jn. RIGHT: In the other direction at that junction, with a Cleethorpes train right. (Martin Crompton, 23 Mar 2024.)
847] Luton: Over the weekend of 24 and 25 Mar, the trailing crossover north of the station between the Down Fast and the Up Fast was to be moved 36m north to a new mileage of 30m 28ch, clearing P4. 848] East West Rail Phase 2: (BLN 1433.2215) Gavray Jn, east of Bicester Village station to Denbigh Hall South Jn, is due to be commissioned on Sun 25 Aug*, together with the new station at Winslow and the new high level Bletchley P7 & 8. The area will be controlled from Rugby Rail Operating Centre (Claydon Workstation). EWR Phase 1 area will continue to be controlled from Marylebone IECC (North Workstation). Permissible speeds are generally 70 / HST100mph with various local restrictions to 40. The signalling boundary for Marylebone/Rugby ROC and Route Boundary for Central/West Coast South route is 18m 40ch. The signalling boundary for Rugby SCC/Rugby ROC is 1m 12ch on the Down Bletchley and 1m 20ch on the Up Bletchley. The signalling boundary for Marston Vale SCC/Rugby ROC will be at 1m 12ch on the Down Bletchley Chord line and 1m 16ch on the Up Bletchley Chord line. New signals prefixed 'OB' are controlled by Rugby ROC, Claydon Workstation, 'MV' from Marston Vale SCC and 'TK' from Rugby SCC. Some existing signals prefixed 'OB' are controlled from Marylebone IECC North Workstation. *Passenger trains should start in 2025, is there an agreement with Chiltern yet? 849] Bletchley - Bedford: The upgrade is to be assisted by £240M of 'existing' funding to accelerate level crossing and signalling works, to accommodate one extra hourly passenger train each way. As this is a government announcement, something else will lose £240M. A bypass, perhaps? A reminder that, in the halcyon days during the genesis of East West Rail, a completely new route was envisaged over this section. The descoped plan originally suggested closing some lesser used local stations on the line. We are told EWR will not extend to Bedford until the 'end of the decade'; at least it's not 'paused'. 850] Harpenden: On Sun 17 Mar Thameslink services from the south turned back in Down Slow P2 via the crossover to the Up Slow on departure. EMR from St Pancras (EMUs only) turned back in Luton P2. 851] 'Moor' locos: To cover Class 168 DMUs refurbishment (the first set is away and expected back in Jun), additional loco powered Chiltern services start with the Jun timetable. This helps Marylebone drivers who sign the locos and DVTs to retain their competences. They are: SO 07.14 Moor Street and 08.19 Stourbridge Junction, both to Marylebone, plus 18.02 & 19.32, both Marylebone to Stourbridge Junction, and SuO 09.38 & 10.42 Stourbridge Junction and 17.37 & 18.37 return. SuO the 13.00 Marylebone to Moor Street and 15.40 return are due to be Class 168 DMUs instead of Class 68+Mk3. A new development in the Jun Chiltern timetable is extra Princes Risborough peak services TWThO, the main commuting days now, of course - and they are booked Class 68+Mk3: TWThO 07.21 & 07.46 Princes Risborough to Marylebone (arr 08.07 and 08.38 respectively) and 17.37 return (arr 18.18). 852] Hertford Loop/New Line or Enfield Branch/Extension? (BLN 1444.733) The 1947 London & North Eastern Railway Sectional Appendix calls the line the Enfield Branch; 25'' OS maps had Enfield Branch and Enfield Branch Extension before and after the extension north from Enfield was built. 853] Coltishall:'The Old Railway Station, Coltishall' is for sale, guide price £600-650k. The very spacious 3-bed property, a B&B, in superb condition (and still looks like a station building) is on the 15'' gauge Bure Valley Railway between Wroxham and Aylsham. https://tinyurl.com/4685k2cz has 30 photos, floor plans and details. The building dates from the station OP 8 Jul 1879; it CP 15 Sep 1952. One of these days a Society member might even buy one of these properties, please let us know if you do. 1445 SOUTH EAST - SOUTH (Julian James) [email protected] 854] Staines - West Byfleet: (BLN 1444.745) After the 4 Feb derailment between Hersham and Esher, the next day's 00.33 Waterloo to Guildford via Woking ran via Staines and was Class 455 EMUs. It went via Staines for at least the next few nights due to main line possessions and was shown nonstop Clapham Junction to Woking. This 35 min nonstop run is almost unheard of for a Class 455 and an unusual chance to do Virginia Water to West Byfleet with one. Normally they don't work this line, due to short platforms and lack of Selective Door Opening. Our member went on Thu 7/Fri 8 Mar (455873+ 455702) and indeed, it ran nonstop, but a close run thing at two signals that didn't appear to be approach controlled. This was also the last departure from Waterloo and timed at 49½ min to Woking, achieved on that night in 47 min. Don't try this without a hotel, car or lift at the far end!
X.52] BELOW: (BLN 1444.744) The last day is Sat 30 Mar as it runs SuX; photos Iain Scotchman, 27 Mar 2024.
BELOW: The former five platform Tilbury Riverside ter
rminal station building (right) seen from the riverside.
BELOW: This c2c branded bus is the replacement for the closed Tilbury Rive