1411

Number 1411. Items 2445 - 2575 & MR 200 - MR 212) (E-BLN 135 PAGES) 5 Nov 2022

BRANCH LINE NEWS

Distribuendi notitia, verbi disseminandi [ISSN 1354-0947]

Published 24 times a year by the Branch Line Society; founded 1955.

branchline.uk https://www.facebook.com/BranchLineSociety/

Membership queries: Lisa Sheppard [email protected]
186 AnlabymPaermk bReorasdhiSpo.suethcr,eHtaurlly,@HUbr4a7nBchUl.ine.0u7k873 354464

British Isles news from members; an International section is available.
Opinions are not necessarilyathvaoislaebolef .the Compilers or the Society.

BLN 1412 is dated Sat 19 Nov (our AGM weekend); Contributions by Wed 9 Nov please. ......

2445] AGM 2022: Thanks to our General Secretary, Tim Wallis, with this BLN and (as a PDF) with e-BLN
is the final AGM notice. It includes the agenda, list of nominations, Treasurer's recommendations for
2023-24 subscription rates and other detcaieiltsy.aSboocuiettyt.he meeting. Please bring it with you on the day.

Thanks to our present Sales Officer, Graeme Jolley, there will be a sales stand at the AGM
with all current stock available for inspection/purchase and special offers on all books.

2446] TREASURER'S SUBSCRIPTION RATE PROPOSALS: As already mentioned in my report (BLN 1410),

the Membership Account annual surplus continues to grow, this year by £11,970. Having analysed the

results, I estimate that there was a loss on paper BLN of around £2,330, which is up from £1,850 in

2021, but less than the loss of £3,350 recorded in 2019. Most of the increase in the loss is down to

insurance premiums being allocated to the Membership Account for the first time. The profit on e-BLN

was around £13,800, up from £10,200 in 2021. This increase is from higher membership numbers.

Membership Type 2022-23 Proposed We now have total Membership Account
2023-24 reserves of over £59,000. As stated in
2nd Class UK + International (posted) £45.00. previous years, we believe that further
2nd Class UK only (posted) £40.50. £45.00.. significant investment may be required in
E-BLN + E-BLNI only £12.00. £40.50.. our systems over the next few years so, as
Basic membership £5.00. £12.00.. a result, we do need to retain a
£5.00.. substantial balance on this account. Also,

because of the current economic situation, we believe that it is important that we assist members in

dealing with this by freezing subscription rates, and the fact that we have such substantial reserves

allows us to do this and absorb likely cost increases without risk to the Society's financial wellbeing.

Given all the above, my proposal, as endorsed by the Committee, is therefore that subscription rates
remain unchanged for the 2023-24 financial year (the seventh year running) as shown. (Ian Mortimer.)

[Overseas BLN/BLNI posted rates are set by the Membership Secretary according to postage - BLN Ed.]

Date Event and details…... Please book online BLN Lead Status
BELOW MG Waiting list
Fri 11 Nov Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Once in a Lifetime Tour 1408 MG Waiting list
1409 MG Waiting list
Fri 18 Nov 10.30 Leadhills & Wanlockhead Railway 'all lines' BELOW MG NOW OPEN
1408 MG
Fri 18 Nov Early afternoon Doon Valley Railway 'all lines' website MG OPEN
BELOW MG NOW OPEN
Sat 19 Nov *NEW* 09.45 Bo'ness Access All Areas conducted tours 1410 MG NOW OPEN
BELOW MG
Sat 19 Nov 12.00 AGM at Bo'ness station café - please register BELOW MG OPEN
NOW OPEN
Sat 19 Nov *NEW* 15.30-19.15 Bo'ness unusual lines railtour NOW OPEN

Sat 19 Nov 19.15-21.45 Bo'ness; evening films and meal

Sun 20 Nov 10.00-12.00 Shed 47 and Fife Munitions Railway

Sun 20 Nov *NEW*13.30-15.30 Fife Heritage Railway; Kirkland Yard

Sat 26 Nov *NEW* 09.07 & 14.07 Class 315 Commemorative Day

Sat 17 Dec The Holly & The Hoover mainline railtour 1406 MG OPEN

Sat 7 Jan Scunthorpe Cold Steel Tracker 25; 09.30-16.30 E-1410 MG NOW OPEN

Sun 8 Jan .Provisional - minor railway/s in Lincolnshire (Item MR 201). TBA TBA Claimed

Sat 11 Feb *NEW* Save the date for a mainline railtour TBA TBA Claimed

Bookings: MG = Mark Gomm [email protected] 84 Mornington Rd, STOKE-ON-TRENT, ST1 6EL 07983 541887.

2447] :Fri 11 Nov 09.00-17.30; La'al Ratty Once in a Lifetime Experience:: (TRACKmaps 4 p33B 2018)
Thanks to Kev Adlam, and also huge thanks to the staff and volunteers of the 15'' gauge, 6¾ mile long
Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway, we are delighted to announce a very special, once in a lifetime 'all
available track' experience. It is strictly limited to a maximum of 60 participants, starts at 09.00 and is
expected to finish by 17.30 (rail connections from/to Carlisle and Barrow etc). The normal car parking
charge will be waived. We start the day at the wonderful Ravenglass station café with complimentary
hot breakfast rolls, hot drinks and a safety briefing (given the complexity of the moves we will be
undertaking). The café will also be open at lunchtime for the sale of drinks and refreshments during a
planned break. By special arrangement, the former British Rail signal box will be open for inspection, as
will the Ravenglass Railway Museum. There will be an on train raffle, with some great prizes. The plan
is for all five operational diesels to be used: 'Perkins', 'Lady Wakefield', 'Cyril', 'Les' & 'Douglas Ferreira',
subject of course to operational matters on the day. Thanks to our Gary Lonsdale, a detailed stocklist
will be provided and, as usual, a souvenir map with thanks to Peter Scott and Martyn Brailsford.

The track coverage is exceptionally comprehensive and represents a vast amount of planning by the
Railway, along with what is described as the largest 'mega shunt' ever undertaken. Exclusions are few
and far between but the museum traverser and museum road are excluded. The 'ordinary run' will
ensure that both sides of each passing loop are covered. At Dalegarth we will visit both platforms and
the siding. Irton Road Sidings will be covered as will the P'Way Depot and sidings at Murthwaite.
At Ravenglass our tour includes all five carriage shed roads, the diesel shed, loco shed, joiners shop,
workshop, paint shop and the much sought after end of line headshunt alongside the national network.

A project of this scale requires significant effort by the Railway and we are very grateful for all their
assistance. £79.50 per person, no surcharge for non-members and no discount for Under 18s (who
must be adult accompanied). Please check website, in case a place is available or join waiting list.

2448] :Sat 19 Nov 09.45-11.15; Bo'ness Access All Areas:: Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway, Union Street,
Bo'ness, EH51 9AQ, see: www.bkrailway.co.uk Again, thanks to our Kev Adlam and the Railway's
volunteers, the rare chance for an escorted tour to see behind the scenes, take photographs or even
number crunch! Sensible footwear is mandatory. Please bring a railway specification hi-viz vest or
coat but a vest can be provided if you don't have one. After a safety briefing, participants will be
escorted around the large site in small groups with much to see. There are uneven surfaces and trip
hazards in the yard and depot buildings, so please follow all instructions carefully. A complimentary
connecting heritage bus runs from Linlithgow station at 08.45 but must be booked (it will not run if
no one books). The station café opens 09.15, with ample time to return there before our AGM starts
at 12.00. A stocklist will be provided. Members only £11 with no under 18 discount on this occasion.

X.202] :Sat 19 Nov 15.30-19.15; Bo'ness Unusual Lines:: www.bkrailway.co.uk An opportunity to
explore unusual lines here using Class 37 diesel haulage (37403 requested) 'top & tail' with Class 08,
08443. The focus this time will be the station area and complex, extensive yard layout at Bo'ness (see
TRACKmaps 1 p13 2021) as our 23 Oct 2015 visit included all the other unusual lines to Bo'ness Jn.

Our private charter starts (15.30 expected) after conclusion of the AGM. It is due to finish in time for
those attending the evening meal and visual presentation on which places remain available. For those
not attending this fixture, a complimentary heritage bus is available to Linlithgow station - NOTE:
please select this option when booking as it will not run if no one books it. A stocklist and souvenir
map will be provided. The event is strictly limited to 60 bookings maximum, members only £33 (no
Under 18 reductions on this occasion). Please book per item 2449 (below).

ABOVE & LEFT: Bo'ness station on
20 Oct 2013, both looking towards
Manuel and Bo'ness Jn. Above the
very distant building steaming below
the footbridge, right of the nearest
signal, was Longannet Power Station

(Both Angus McDougall.)

X.203] Sun 13 Nov East Lancs Railway:
DMU Gala Weekend - there is a SuO
10.05 Bury to Heywood (10.20), DMU
to the ELR/NR boundary at Hopwood
which then returns through the Station
Loop and reverses into the platform to
form the 10.40 train to Rawtenstall.

2449] :Sat 19 Nov 19.15-21.45; Post-AGM Presentation with Meal:: Following our post-AGM Bo'ness
& Kinneil Railway fixture, our member of repute, Chris Totty, will present a movie show in the café at
Bo'ness until around 21.45. Hot food will be served from 19.15-19.45, a choice of Chicken Tikka with
Naan Bread and Rice or Macaroni Cheese with salad, garlic bread and chips. Please specify your choice
of hot food in the notes section when booking and if you require the free heritage shuttle bus back to
Linlithgow after the presentation. The movies cover Vancouver Island Budd railcars in Mar 1998, then
Vancouver trolleybuses. Next, we visit Waterfront to have a look at Skytrain and West Coast Express.

Back to May 1992, we enjoy a front seat tram ride from Manchester to Bury including a visit to Old
Trafford just before the Altrincham Metrolink line opened. The Tralee & Dingle Railway follows in
May 1993, before viewing the Channel TV film of the Alderney Railway, warts and all! It's off to….

Norway next with a trip on the Flåmsbana in Apr 1990 before finishing with an Aug 1989 visit to the
Mull & West Highland Railway. Members only £20 (no reductions), to cover catering and room hire;
U18s must be adult accompanied. We don't have many indoor meetings, so please support this one!
Please book on our website, ask a member to do this, or cheques payee 'Branch Line Society' with SAE
(two for an acknowledgement/queries), email preferred - to Mark Gomm who deals with queries.

2450] :Sun 20 Nov; 13.30-15.30, Fife Heritage Railway:: (MR p10) See: www.fifeheritagerailway.co.uk
Kirkland Sidings, Leven, KY8 4RB. Thanks to Kev Adlam, to conclude our AGM weekend, a diesel hauled
visit to this standard gauge line on the former North British Railway Kirkland Yard. We explore lines
not normally used in passenger service, including the segregated line for driver experiences. Traction
is expected to be ex-RAF Leuchars North British 27421 0-4-0DH (1955) 'River Eden'. You can also see
progress on the nearby Levenmouth Line. A map/stocklist will be provided. Members only £12 for all.

2451] :Sat 26 Nov; The Class 315 Commemorative Events:: This charity excursion with 2 x Class 315
EMUs, in aid of Railway Children, operated by MTR (Mass Transit Railway of Hong Kong) Elizabeth line
(lower case 'L') is facilitated by your Society. An onboard charity raffle will have some fantastic prizes!
Our friends from the Class 315 Preservation Society https://bit.ly/3DdBiWO will provide a sales stand
at Liverpool Street. A few units still remain in use for peak hour services between Liverpool Street and
Shenfield but are expected to be withdrawn after providing cover during the current leaf fall season.

Speeches will take place at lunchtime. Our morning and afternoon ticket holders are invited to join the
formalities, including a cab tour of an Elizabeth line Class 345. Special merchandise will also be on sale
throughout the day. Participants are not permitted to consume alcohol or be in possession of an open
container of alcohol on this charter. TfL & BLS conditions of carriage apply (see websites for details).

The indicative route and provisional timings are below (final details are usually confirmed by NR five
days before and will be with the e-tickets). If you wish to travel on both the trains, please book for
each separately; the routes are identical, the afternoon times [in square brackets] are five hours later.

Liverpool St P16 (PU 09.07) [14.07] - Dn Electric - Stratford P8 - Stratford Country End Crossovers -
Dn Main - Shenfield P1 (rev 09.33-09.41) [14.33-14.41] - Up Main - Ilford P1 - Up Passenger Avoiding
- Up Electric - Liverpool St P16 (rev 10.10-10.25) [15.10-15.25] - Dn Electric - Stratford P8 - Stratford
Country End Crossovers - Dn Main - Manor Park P4 - Dn Passenger Avoiding - Dn Electric - Shenfield
P4 (rev 11.02-11.13) [16.02-16.13] Up Electric - Liverpool St P16 (SD 11.55) [16.55].

Adults £31.50 on each tour; U18s £15.75 - (must be adult accompanied); no non-member surcharge.

1411 BLN GENERAL (Paul Stewart) [email protected]
2452] Early Railway Memories (88): (BLN 1411.2341) By John Harrison (868) Part 3: My first railtour
was in 1972; the tickets were dated 22 Apr but it didn't actually run until 9 Sep that year. Maybe there
was a disease of some kind? The RCTS Northern Dales Tour operated from Leeds to York via Harrogate
then to Redmire, end of the line (beyond Apedale Beck then), to Eastgate and Consett including Tyne
Yard and the Goods Lines behind the yard, before returning via Gateshead, Leamside and Stillington.
It was a 2-car Metro-Cammell DMU, probably a Class 111, with a 4-car Class 110 - the fourth car being
the 111 trailer buffet. The only part of the route I had previously covered was Arthington North Jn to
York. It must have been good as Chris Totty and Kevin Driscoll were on it! Two days later I had a week's
Rideabout Rover, Aberystwyth to Holyhead via Wrexham, everything in between plus Crosville buses.

It was nearly four months until my next trip, 6 Jan 1973, a Locomotive Club of Great Britain (LCGB)
(NW) tour from Warrington BQ via St Helens Shaw Street, Ince Moss to Parkside East, Todmorden
and Goose Hill Jn (where the engine failed). Next was Whitehall Curve to Harrogate, York Yard, Foss
Islands Goods, Layerthorpe and Dunnington - then the extremity of the Derwent Valley Light Railway,
where it was going dark and very foggy. However, this was the final tour to do Foss Islands Goods.

That year there were just three mystery trips to Perth, Bridlington [excursion P7 or P8 no doubt!] and
Ramsgate, where I was short changed on a juke box when I played 'See My Baby Jive' by Wizzard; if
you remember, it was quite a long one and the juke box gave up after three or four minutes. Next was
the Wirral Railway Circle's circular tour [how appropriate] to Mallaig and Kyle of Lochalsh on the late
May Bank Holiday weekend. I should have had time to actually do some homework in 1973.

For our summer holiday we had a week at Teignmouth, when I had a Western Region Rover, then a
week near Penarth, when I had a Freedom of Wales, covering all my missing bits of the Western Region
except for Maiden Newton to Weymouth, not having time to do that as well as the Bridport branch.

Maybe the 'O' Levels had something to with it but the next trip wasn't until 4 Apr 1974, a mystery
excursion to Yarmouth Vauxhall, then a four day trip at Spring Bank holiday weekend - Wirral Railway
Circle's 'Great Britain Limited' to John o' Groats and Land's End (and why not?). Next some local trips
for job interviews and a medical. I remember catching a Cravens DMU at Brierfield and leaving my slip
on shoe on the wooden step - I've never had slip on shoes since. So, at sixteen I left school to start an
apprenticeship with the Post Office Telephones the day after August Bank Holiday.

However, first was the final holiday with my parents, although I spent all day, every day on the trains
with a fortnight Freedom of Scotland Rover! My parents had acquired a camper van and we stayed for
two or three nights at different places starting near Maybole then Brodick, Arrochar & Tarbet and
Blair Atholl. One day I'll never forget, I joined a Mallaig train at Helensburgh Upper. On arrival it was
quite full so I had to pick an already occupied compartment, selecting the next to last one in the rear
BSK which was occupied by two girls. One was 16 accompanied by her older cousin aged 18 or 19; they
were going on holiday from Glasgow to Fort William. There were immediate sparks between the
sixteen year old and I. It takes a long time on the train to Fort William and the blinds had been pulled
down… [The next bit has been censored - Editor.] On the return from Fort William (by then the new,
present, station), the train broke down at Monessie Gorge between Roy Bridge and Tulloch. There was
an Italy versus Scotland kickabout in front of the train while we waited for a replacement loco.

My detailed notebooks end the next day halfway through this Freedom of Scotland ticket, the highlight
of the day merely being Dubbs Jn to Byrehill Jn on the summer Saturday dated Largs to Newcastle
PSUL which I left at Carlisle. I can't find any more records until 1976 but I went on further railtours,
including my first Branch Line Society railtour during this period. First another RCTS tour - the Don &
Dearne on 5 Oct 1974 including the Doncaster and Lincoln avoiding lines with the Lancashire,
Derbyshire & East Coast route from Lincoln via Tuxford to Shirebrook through 'The Dukeries'.

Next was the LCGB Pennine Venturer No2 on 4 Jan 1975, four trans-Pennine lines with the Woodhead
route. A Monmouthshire Railway Society tour to Mountain Ash and Hirwaun Pond was the first time I
had travelled overnight to reach a railtour (01.47 Crewe to Cardiff) and my first South Wales tour.
My first Society tours were the Doon Hamer on 23 Aug 1975, joining at Dumfries, followed by North
Western No1 on 18 Oct and our 27 Jun 1976 Cornish Clay on a very hot summer's day. After joining the
Society in Jul 1976 as Member 868, I attended the 20 Nov AGM that year in Birmingham, participating
in most of our tours until around 1987. Music and cycling then started taking preference over railways.

Back to work, I had more money to spend on rail trips but only had three weeks and three days annual
leave. All Line Rovers became my holidays, often at Bank Holidays to reduce the use of annual leave.
Instead of day release, we went to college at Blackburn four weeks at a time, so, rather than purchase
a weekly season ticket, some weeks I would buy a local runabout ticket which cost more but could be
used at weekends as well as to and from college - no time restriction in the 1970s. Unfortunately, my
return train from Blackburn was a victim of the 1976 timetable cuts. Work took me to an engineering
training school in Didsbury and once I went to 'The Old Garratt' (it should have been 'The Grapevine')
in Manchester, a Boddingtons pub, where some local members had a weekly informal get together.

The 1976 cuts were locally blamed on Anthony Crosland, whose ministerial mandate included that of
transport. The influence of the Transport & General Workers Union on the Labour Government, which
had a London centric view, was that rail passengers were well paid commuters and that the proletariat
only used buses.

BELOW: (Item 2452) 18 Aug 1977, Swinden Lime Works (Rylstone) lo
Although the quarries were mostly served by block trains, a wagonloa

ooking towards Skipton. (All photos in this section by John Harrison.)
ad train conveying a brakevan still ran in 1977, here with a Class 31.

BELOW: 29 Aug 1977, a pair of Class 20s on a short train from Falkland Yard

d (Ayr) to Waterside, from the brakevan, between Holehouse Jn and Patna.

BELOW: At Waterside (TRACKmaps 1 p2C 2021) looking towards Ayr on
This 9¾ mile (NR section) branch has been 'temporarily' out of use sin
final ones on 9 & 10 Jul 2012 to clear the remaining stocks; loaded
The 12 Feb 2011 'Galloway Galloper' https://www.sixbellsjunction.

the same trip. [Move back from the screen to improve picture quality.]
nce 25 Apr 2015. The last regular coal trains ran in Oct 2010 with two

to 75% capacity due to a weight restriction on Dalrymple Viaduct.
.co.uk/10s/110211pt.htm was the final tour, track remains in situ.

BELOW: 31 Aug 1977, a Perth to Fofar pickup goods shunts coal wagons at

t Coupar Angus; seasonally seed potatoes were carried in vans on this line.

BELOW: Forfar looking west, the former passenger station
main line runs behind the grass covered dock on the

is in the background, the onetime Glasgow to Aberdeen
e left, then behind the photographer (31 Aug 1977).

BELOW: Forfar looking west, once a railway centre with lines in seven direction
platforms (CP 4 Sep 1967 - 10 years earlier) lights and disused signal box can be
To the right of the loco, a shunter is hanging off the steps, as you did in 1977. In
the right side of the main picture are ventilated vans use for the seasonal seed

ns. The station
e seen (also INSET).
n the sidings on
potato traffic.

BELOW: Forfar looking east, the former double track main line to Kinnaber Jn
the bridge visible. This is typical of the train that ran out of the short seed po
There was also a long headshunt beyond the station which some members w
branch to the first passenger station. (OP 1838 from Arbroath; CP 1848 whe

n and Aberdeen ran behind the light pole to the right of the photo and under
otato season on this lengthy 25¼ mile freight only branch towards the end.
were able to do light engine (or though!) and from Forfar North Jn a trailing
en the through station opened, latterly a coal depot it CG/CA 31 Oct 1979.)

BELOW: The east end of Forfar Yard, looking towards the headshunt, the end of
Aberdeen. RIGHT: A running in board was still in situ on 24 Aug 1980. (Angus M

f line and
McDougall.)

ABOVE: Our 24 Aug 1980 'Forfar Railtour' didn't go 'too far' but stopped at the end of line. (Angus McDougall.)

BELOW: The same tour (from Perth) at Forfar station, signal box left. The trio on the platform, left to right, are
Kevin Driscoll, the late William (Willie) McKnight and Tim Wallis (with hair in 1980). It was an adjuvant to our
main English August Bank Holiday tour that year, also doing Perth Yard and the Inveralmond Distillery branch.

Although it wasn't clear at the time, the National Union of Railwaymen (at least in the North West)
sponsored local rail user groups to increase railway influence on the Labour government and thus
'Support The East Lancashire Line Association' (STELLA) was born for example. Local rail users were
recruited, the chairman was a daily commuter from Nelson to Church & Oswaldtwistle working at
Blyth Chemicals. Later I became treasurer for a year or so but the rest of the committee were largely
employees from within British Rail. Many of these railway employees soon lost interest but the user
groups have carried on and many are now part of the modern Community Rail Associations.
By 1977 I had covered most of the British Rail passenger network, so when the LCGB and Irish Railway
Record Society advertised a trip to Youghal, I thought that's for me. [It was a very good trip too - Ed.]
Unfortunately I had a City & Guilds exam on the Friday evening and couldn't go, not reaching Ireland
until the following year although missing Youghal led to a bonus trip in 1984 (a future 'Now it can be
Told'). 1977 was also my first year to feature brakevan trips, in April from Workington to Maryport
Opencast Disposal Point and Beckermet - an iron ore mine. In August, I did one from Skipton to
Swinden Lime Works (Rylstone), before travelling north for our Scottish tour, then heading south to
Brockenhurst. This was for the Motorail to Stirling (with an All Line Rover ticket but no car, as you
could then). It should have gone via Willesden South Western Sidings - a PSUL when they really were
sidings and had to be clipped but it didn't! Next was Falkland Yard (Ayr) for a Waterside brakevan trip,
and another, successful, attempt to do South Western Sidings in Sep 1977. Next from Workington I had
brakevans trips to Rowrah Quarry (limestone) then, on 15 Nov 1977, to Broughton Moor Naval Depot
(Buckhill) - arranged by Paul Stewart - when there was a rare burst of traffic. 21 of our members in
total were able to travel on three trips, one trip even ran when a storm had cut Workington off by rail.

ABOVE: 1965 map, Workington station is in the extreme bottom left corner; Maryport and Carlisle are
off top left. The five mile Broughton Moor branch jointed the Cumbrian Coast line at Siddick Jn (centre
far left); trains reversed at Calva Jn where the track is shown as ending beneath 'North Side'. The line
entered the 1,050 acre site (needless to say not shown on the map) via a security gate just below the
'2' in the 312 contour beneath 'Demesne'. There were three miles of standard gauge track and about
25 miles of 2'6'' gauge in the depot with, in 1970, four standard gauge locos and 27 narrow gauge.
Also organised by Paul, on 14 Jan 1978, I went from King's Cross to Hull P13 (number pre-3 Dec 1984
renumbering; now Station/Carriage Siding 'D') on a football special for Crystal Palace supporters. Our
nine Society members were accommodated in two First Class compartments next to the police, who
naturally were in First Class too. The fare was £5.50 return and we did Holloway Flyover (when it was
rare) and - the objective of the trip - the PSUL Boothferry Park Loop in Hull. From 4 Jan 1978 BLN…

My final day as a teenager started early on a Sunday morning in a cold damp Manchester Piccadilly;
someone had to unlock the ticket office to sell me a ticket. I was on the way back from an RPPR Class
74 farewell tour to Furzebrook, waiting for the first train to Irlam diverted via the Fallowfield Loop,
I was the only passenger and the driver invited me into the cab so I did the crossover there as well on
the ECS shunt. Next day I would be twenty, an appropriate place to conclude early railway memories.

2453] Keeping Track, passenger service suspensions: *= new or altered BLN 1409 has 'INDEFINITEs'
Note: Lines with previous entries, which are not repeated, closed and reopened on booked dates.

BLN Start (incl) Reopens Location (stations 'exclusive' if bracketed) bold = closed now

1410.2402 28 Sep 22 10 Oct 22 *W Midlands Metro (Library) - Edgbaston Village retrospective
1409.2265 30 Oct 22
1411.2560 23 Oct 22 04 Nov 22 *Metrolink (Piccadilly Gardens) - (Victoria) deferred see below
1411.2485 ֍10 Oct 22 *Pontypridd North Jn - Merthyr Tydfil Metro works ֍20.30
1411.2485 19 Oct 22 ?Mon
14 Non 22 *(Appleby)/(Wetheral) - (Carlisle) derailment 20.00
23 Oct 22
*Wetheral - (Haltwhistle) see previous entry, extended closure

1402.1422 26 Sep 22 *21 Nov 22 *Ballybrophy P3 - Nenagh - Killonan Jn final phase of relaying

1411.2491. 26 Oct 22 30 Nov 22 *Metrolink; The Delta South Jn - The Delta West Jn effectively…
*(Piccadilly Gardens) - (St Peter's Square) faulty pointwork

1411.2491 22 Nov 22 30 Nov 22 *Metrolink; (Piccadilly) - The Delta South Jn - The Delta North Jn

1402.1354 12 Sep 22 04 Dec 22 *additional closure replacing faulty points at The Delta South Jn
- 05 Dec 22 09 Dec 22
13 Nov 22 10 Dec 22 *(Pelaw) - South Shields for T&W Metro Flow project
1407.2095 *10 Dec 22 *19 Dec 22
1411.2527 *(Truro) - Penzance and St Erth - St Ives

*Dovey Jn - Pwllheli work on Barmouth Bridge etc 20.00

*Salisbury, Wilton Jn - Yeovil Jn Gillingham Tunnel etc REVISED

- 25 Dec 22 02 Jan 23 *(York) - Skelton Jn with diversions via the 'York Avoiding line'

1411.2459 24 Dec 22 03 Jan 23 *Charlton Jn/Barnehurst/Courthill Loop Jn South/Ladywell Jn -
*Lewisham - St Johns Jn/Nunhead Jn relaying Lewisham X/O Jns

- 27 Jan 23 31 Jan 23 *(Par) - Newquay ‡date last ran
1394.MR29 ‡27 Oct 19 Mar 2023 *(Clogwyn) - Summit (Snowdon Mountain)

- 18 Feb 23 03 Mar 23 *(Theale)/(Newbury Racecourse) - Newbury - Heywood Road Jn
*- Fairwood Jn; also all local services via Melksham 01.00

1402.1399 30 Oct 22 *02 Apr 23 *(Ryde Esplanade) - Ryde Pier Head for repairs to the pier

1392.21 08 Jan 22 17 Dec 22 *(Gainsborough Cent) - Wrawby Jn (SO) last ran Sat 1 Jan 22

2454] The Angus McDougall Photographic Collection: Dr Angus O McDougall was a keen and active
member of the Society, and our Chairman from 1969 until 1989. During his lifetime, Angus amassed a
collection of around 30,000 fascinating railway images dating from 1949 to 2019, including just about
every extant signal box in the UK and most stations, as well as much foreign material. It was Angus's
wish in life and in his will, that the collection be kept together, with the Branch Line Society as
custodians. Many images from the collection have already appeared in e-BLN in recent years.

Although most of Angus's later images were originally captured on digital media, he digitised his entire
collection of earlier photographs and, thanks to some fantastic development work by our Website
Officer, Phil Wieland, the collection is now available on the Society website. Anyone can access the
low resolution thumbnails via 'More options…' and down to 'Photo Collection'. Members can download
the higher resolution versions for personal use only (copyright remains with the Branch Line Society)
Fortunately, Angus devised a highly organised filename structure for his images which has allowed the
information to be made available in searchable form on the database. The images and descriptions
have still had to be individually checked and edited - a process which has taken several months.

This has included removing over 8,000 duplicate images, some third party images and references to
individuals' names. Many abbreviations have been expanded, invalid dates fixed and descriptions
improved. A few unknown locations were identified with the help of our local experts!

Angus had a particular passion for signal boxes and related infrastructure; he claimed to have an
image of all extant signal boxes in Great Britain in his collection. To achieve this, in a few images, the
box is represented as a distant feature although some (especially those photographed on organised
visits by the Society) have in depth studies, including detailed images of the diagram and frame.

There is no overall index as such but to keep as much intelligence of the original filename as possible,
and create a flexible search system, searches can be filtered by: ●Country ●Year ●Infrastructure type.

The infrastructure types all begin with S! ●Signal box ●Signal ●Sign ●Station ●Shed and ●Structure.
The Signal box category also includes related infrastructure such as ground frames and shunt frames.

The description field allows a flexible free text search which may include location or perhaps a feature
of the image and traction type. It is not case-sensitive. Angus's use of abbreviations was meticulous
and while some have been expanded, those describing traction have been left unaltered for example:

●DL - diesel locomotive ●EL - electric locomotive ●DMU ●DRB - diesel railbus ●EMU
Similarly, British traction classes are consistently shown as for example cl 37 for Class 37.
Alternatively, for instance, signal box diagrams can be found by searching on 'diagram'.
It is important to insert a leading space before using any abbreviation terms so [space]DL
will find images showing a diesel locomotive but not photos of Addlestone as an example.

The 'l c' abbreviation has been retained, searching on [space]l[space]c will find level crossing images.

38,356 images were originally uploaded; 29,355 are now visible on our website following removal of
duplicates etc. There are 26,349 unique UK images, 3,009 International & 317 UK signal box diagrams.

We hope that the collection will form a valuable resource and feedback on the format/presentation of
the collection would be most welcome via: [email protected] This is also the contact if
anyone wishes to reproduce any of the images other than for personal use. [A big 'thank you' to our
member who wrote this, John Hampson, for so efficiently and speedily organising the collection - Ed.]

1411 EAST MIDLANDS (Graeme Jolley) [email protected].
2455] Lincoln: On 20 Oct the 14.54 Doncaster to Peterborough was held approaching Lincoln as the
13.38 Leicester to Grimsby and 14.38 Grimsby to Leicester were delayed in P3 and 4 respectively.
Eventually the Peterborough train took the Up Gainsborough (middle line), reversing on the Barnetby
line to set back into the rare bay P1. Lincoln was left 21 mins late - our member onboard didn't mind.

2456] Class 171: Three (of four) of these Southern liveried DMUs recently transferred to Nottingham
for local EMR use. They are unable to couple to the very similar Class 170s so are renumbered 170/9s
and remain in green livery (for the Robin Hood Line?) to avoid this. The fourth was/is still at Selhurst.

2457] Revenue: From 1 Jan until 13 Oct EMR Revenue Protection Officers and onboard staff issued
9,642 Penalty Notices, prosecuted 1,470 fare dodgers in court and recovered £493,000. Penalty fares
are generally to increase from £20 (or twice the single fare) to £100 (£50 if paid in 7 days) nationally.

1411 GREATER LONDON (Geoff Brockett) [email protected]
2458] HS2: (BLN 1410.2354) The first tunnel boring machine, named 'Sushila' after a local teacher, was
launched from the West Ruislip site on 6 Oct. It will bore for five miles as far as the Greenford shaft,
where it will be dismantled and lifted from the ground.

2459] Lewisham: The entire junction with all its very complex fixed crossovers at the London end of
the station, with the track through P1, is to be renewed between 24 Dec and 2 Jan inclusive. There will
be no trains serving the station during this period and no services on the Bexleyheath line or between
Charlton and Blackheath. As is often the case with such work, the new point ends will be in slightly
different locations to those being replaced. NR has had to issue a Network Change Notice as one point
end (only) is moved by 5.634m and is thus over the 5m threshold that requires the issue of a Notice!!

2460] Liverpool Street: Sellar Property Group wants to build a 16 storey hotel and office block on top
of the station. Sellar is working with NR, MTR and the Hyatt hotel group, which owns the Andaz
(formerly the Great Eastern Hotel) at the front of the station. The actual building work will be put out
to tender. The development would fund £450M of capacity improvements to the station, including a
two storey concourse and step free access to all the Underground platforms. Liverpool Street (the
road), currently a taxi rank, would be pedestrianised and the McDonalds restaurant demolished to
improve access to the station. The developers say that the hotel's Grade II listed façade would be
'sensitively restored', with a new entrance to the concourse passing through it. Historic rooms would
be restored as spaces for renting. The Andaz would take the top six floors of the tower block, with ten
floors of office space below. There would be a publicly accessible roof garden and swimming pool.

A planning application is due to be submitted next year, with work beginning in 2024 and taking four
years to complete. Trains would continue running during construction, as the track and platform areas
are outside the proposed development. The proposals, including the station improvements, can be
viewed at a public exhibition at the Andaz hotel from 21 to 23 Nov. The Victorian Society is raising
funds to fight the development and Historic England will also object to the proposals.

2461] Knightsbridge: (BLN 1402.1346) The new entrance on Brompton Road opened on 10 Oct. Work
continues on the step free access from Hooper's Court using the reinstated lifts. ('District Dave')

2462] Bank: (BLN 1402.1339) On 13 Oct three new escalators linking the Northern Line and DLR
(Docklands Light Railway) platforms opened. Bizarrely, the TfL press release says this reduces passenger
journey times by up to nine minutes, when interchange via the old stairs was possible in about a
minute or so! Construction of the new entrance on Cannon Street is complete, with fit out continuing.

The two new lift shafts from street level to the Northern Line platforms are complete, with fit out of
the new lifts nearing completion. Also yet to open is a new route between the Northern and Central
Lines, including two new 95m long moving walkways and three further escalators. Bank had
19 escalators and this will increase to 27, the most at a station on the network. Monument and Bank
stations together have five Underground lines, the DLR, 10 platforms, five ticket halls and nine lifts.

The whole project will increase station capacity by about 40%, although passenger use of stations in
the City is only about 65% of pre-pandemic levels. Weekday use of the entire system is still at around
70%. However, weekend ridership is regularly above 85% and finally hit 100% on Sun 9 Oct.

2463] Clapham Junction: The Brighton Yard entrance, at footbridge level off St John's Hill, is being
remodelled. A wider gateline will be installed, with five retail units, but the ticket office here will close,
replaced by more ticket machines. The toilets will also be improved. Starting in Dec, the staircases
leading to P13 & 14 will be replaced and widened.

2464] Crossrail/Elizabeth line: (BLN 1410.2355) Bond Street opened as planned on Mon 24 Oct.
The platforms are reported to be the longest on the core section at 260m. They run parallel to and are
about 100m to the south of Oxford Street itself. At the west end, a bank of short escalators leads to an
intermediate landing, from where a corridor leads to an intermediate level between the Central and
Jubilee Lines. From the landing, a longer bank of escalators emerges in a new ticket hall in Davies
Street, just off Oxford Street and a short walk from the Underground ticket hall. At the east end,
escalators lead to another new ticket hall in Hanover Square, not far from Oxford Circus station.

As with other stations, lifts provide step free routes to the exits. Early plans allowed for an interchange
with the Victoria and Bakerloo lines at Oxford Circus but it was concluded this would lead to
unacceptable congestion at Oxford Circus station. The Paddington Bear statue at Paddington,
(high level mainline), moved to create an evacuation route when the core section opened, is now back
on P1 next to the clock. It will eventually be moved to a permanent position near the main concourse.

The reference in the last report to the new line breaking even in 2023-24 is to the whole Elizabeth
line, not the newly built part. Amending the correction at the end, eastbound trains wait for up to
seven minutes at Westbourne Park in the new 6 Nov timetable, not the previous one. Heathrow
Express Holders of First class tickets (only £32 single) can use the Airport Fast Track security lanes free.

2465] Barnes Bridge: The current rail bridge over the Thames dates from 1895 but the original bridge
alongside and up river still exists. It dates from the opening of the line in 1849 and is Grade II listed.
Moxon Architects are leading plans to open the old bridge as a pedestrian route, with planters and
seats, and are in discussion with the local councils and NR. A ramp at the Barnes side would give step
free access to Barnes Bridge station. However, this could be expensive, as the bridge carries high
voltage railway cables, which would have to be diverted. If the scheme goes ahead, it will replace the
existing narrow footpath on the other side of the current rail bridge. See: https://bit.ly/3syBqtM

2466] Strikes: (BLN 1409.2232) After rejecting the revised pay offer, there was a further strike by
ASLEF drivers working for London Trams on 10-11 Oct. The RMT has called a further strike of staff
working for London Overground and London Underground on 10 Nov.

2467] Northern Line Extension: (BLN 1410.2356) https://bbc.in/3zhAoGb has details of Battersea
Power Station development. Of possible interest to members is the 'unique chimney lift experience' -
no, the chimney doesn't rise. It is a glass lift travelling 357ft up the northwest chimney to emerge on
to a 360o viewing platform. The complex had over 250,000 visitors on Fri 14 Oct, the opening day and
will give a welcome boost to passenger numbers on the extension. A member points out that the
5,041,743 journeys on the extension quoted by TfL would not be that precise regarding those doubling
back at Nine Elms to do both platforms at Battersea Power Station station and Travelcards.

2468] Waterloo: Lambeth Council has commissioned Grimshaw architectural practice to develop the
'Waterloo Station Masterplan', intended to transform the station and its surrounding environment.
A plan of short, medium and long term proposals and how they would be funded will be put forward.

2469] PSUL no more: Throughout the new timetable, the Chiltern WO 11.17 West Ealing to West
Ruislip (11.36) unidirectional PSUL is replaced by a bus at 11.17, arriving West Ruislip 11.42.
The train is now formed by 10.23 ECS from Marylebone, reversing at South Ruislip to reach West
Ealing 11.03. The bus is on Realtime Trains etc but not its ECS move. So Greenford LUL Bay Jn -
Greenford West Jn - Northolt Jn loses its passenger service after (hopefully) running Wed 7 Dec.
Worse still, all the SuX identically timed ECS runs are also withdrawn, losing all route knowledge.

1411 NORTH EAST & YORKSHIRE (Geoff Blyth) [email protected]
2470] Disruption: All the northern Metro Mayors except Tees Valley (the only Conservative), who
represent nearly 9M people, attended a meeting on 26 Oct, called by the West Yorkshire Mayor.
They discussed the upheaval caused by the cancellation of hundreds of services and concerns about
the ongoing disruption. We're calling on the third transport secretary in as many months to step in
with an immediate intervention. If this level of disruption was being experienced in other parts of the
country, we believe action would already have been taken to improve matters. They will ask the new
Secretary Mark Harper to request a meeting with operators and unions to help deal with the issues.

2471] North Blyth volte face: (BLN 1405.1772) On 14 Oct it emerged that 'Britishvolt', the company
behind the new electric vehicle battery factory on the former Blyth Power Stations site, is holding
emergency fundraising talks with carmakers and other potential investors that might lead to a sale of
the business. It was at risk of running out of money before Christmas. Britishvolt had substantially
reduced construction work until Feb already (BLN 1409.2360). The business needs about £200M to
fund it until next summer. Start of production has already been delayed until 2025. The site, with
abundant land, cheap clean energy from an undersea interconnector and a deep sea port, is regarded
as the best site in the UK to mass-produce batteries and one of the best factory locations in Europe.

2472] Half Way (and not a tram in sight): Many members will be familiar with the sign, installed by
the London & North Eastern Railway in 1938, halfway between London and Edinburgh, 8m 24ch north
of York. It is marked on TRACKmaps 2 p20A 2020 and was made by Ken Bainbridge, an engineering
apprentice, who was just 17 then. The 50ft long sign took him two weeks to build by hand, using a
chisel, hacksaw and drill. Ken retired in 1984. The sign was in need of restoration, so Pauline Kerr,
Ken's daughter, asked NR earlier this year if this could be done. The restoration and repainting is now
complete, bringing it back to its original state. The sign will now have a regular maintenance regime.

2473] Collywell Bay: BLN 1409.2240 asked if anyone had walked or photographed the branch. A local
member's answer was 'No', so as 8 Oct was a warm sunny day, he investigated. From Monkseaton
Metro station he walked the former Avenue Branch (the line to Hartley on the Blyth & Tyne) as far as
the site of Brierdene Jn. There is nothing to be seen as the former line disappears under Whitley Bay
Golf Club. Access to this area is not permitted, other than for club members and guests so a walk
further along the Avenue Branch was required to reach the surviving overbridge abutments in the
northwest corner of the golf course (NZ 3406 7458). On the Avenue Branch (NZ 3349 7381) there is a
footpath around the edge of a field; it turns right over a stile (NZ 3361 7416) and along the edge of
another field, adjacent to the golf course (NZ 3395 7428) and then alongside the Collywell Bay branch.

A section of embankment remains before reaching the overbridge abutments, along which a path has
been built by the golf course. It is possible to climb up to the top of the bridge abutment on the
Hartley side of the branch but the trackbed is overgrown, so walking the trackbed is very difficult.
He therefore followed the footpath down to Blyth Rd (NZ 3429 7453) and continued via the footpath.
There are no obvious trackbed access points and trees appear to block the trackbed in places. At the
surviving bridge abutment on the south side of the B1325 (NZ 3389 7569), our explorer found access
from the left hand side was prevented by a locked gate, as the trackbed is part of a field occupied by
horses. The right hand side has a barbed wire fence running along the bottom of the embankment.

In summary he does not believe it is possible to walk along the remains of the branch, although a small
section could be done by joining Whitley Bay Golf Club! Social Membership is available for those who
don't play golf for use of the Bar and Restaurant, at £25 per year - 10% off bar prices and 5% off food.

A friend, who lived in the area in the late 1970s/early 1980s, said that it was possible to walk along the
embankment towards Hartley then as it wasn't overgrown. There are entries on the Disused Stations
website for Brierdene https://bit.ly/3No8ZIO and Collywell Bay https://bit.ly/3SUmwct (E&OE).

2474] Leeds: (BLN 1403.1506) Public consultation https://bit.ly/3fqN2fn is open until 18 Nov on the
Transpennine Route Upgrade Project E234 (east of Leeds via Micklefield). Feedback is for a Transport
& Works Act Order, expected to be submitted to the Secretary of State for Transport in Summer 2023.

2475] T&W Metro: ①(BLNs 1406.1899 & e-BLN 1410.X.189) The South Shields line Metro Flow
redoubling project is due for Mar 2023 completion with the blockade ending Sat 3 Dec and Pelaw to
South Shields services resuming on Sun 4 Dec. During the 12-week blockade around 52 engineering
trains are expected to run. The work involves: Partial renewal of the existing permanent way, with
track realignment and lowering, on existing Nexus and some former NR lines. Track lowering is for
freight train clearance. Installing new signalling and safety systems, including TPWS and AWS
equipment. Lowering platforms at Hebburn stop and raising those at Jarrow. This is why platform
nosings have been removed from the Metro stops. Installing a new double insulated OHLE system.

Over a 1,000 people are working on the project! By 30 Oct 4km of new track (over 4,000 sleepers and
16,000 tonnes of ballast) had been laid with 1.6km to follow. The three sections being redoubled in
the £104M project are Pelaw - Hebburn (800m), Hebburn - Jarrow (1.4km) and Jarrow - Bede (600m).

To run oil trains a two hour worksite shutdown takes place each morning and evening (SSuX).
The inward loaded train 00.27 ex-Lindsey Oil Refinery, is booked to pass Pelaw at 06.04 and arrive at
the Prax Terminal 06.19. When it has fully entered the terminal a sleeper is placed on the rails at an
agreed location and chained down. A Possession Limit Board is then locked on the railhead. The return
train is booked to depart from the Prax Terminal 18.45, passing Pelaw 19.00 (Lindsey 23.36).

②Staff in the Unite union employed by Stadler Rail at the Metro depot are to walk out after rejecting
a 4% pay rise. Nexus confirmed that strike action would not cause the Metro system to be shut down.
However, an overtime ban and strike would increase the risk of disruption to train services as it would
prevent maintenance work taking place on the Metro's ageing and increasingly unreliable fleet.

2476] Middlesbrough: (BLN 1409.2238) Demolition work was said to be nearly finished at the end of
Sep. Part of the undercroft is now exposed and the forecourt is being excavated. Over 20 tonnes of
metalwork had been removed. The project should be complete in Jul 2023 according to local sources.

ABOVE: (Item 2472) The recently refurbished halfway sign on the East Coast Main Line (NR).
BELOW: (Item 2476) Demolition work at Middlesbrough station (a low resolution Press Release).

BELOW: (Item 2473) 1948 map, Monkseaton is the station bottom right and Har
a right angle. The single track between the two is the Avenue Branch. The vert

rtley top left of centre where the Blyth & Tyne (down left of map) turns through
tical 'Track of Old Rly' is the Collywell Bay branch (actually to Seaton Sluice).

BELOW: The Avenue Branch (Monkseaton to Hartley) trackbed loo

oking towards the site of Brierdene Jn. (All Phil Logie, 8 Oct 2022.)

BELOW: The surviving abutments of the overbridge that carried the double

e track Collywell Bay branch, looking east towards Whitley Bay Golf Club.

BELOW: On top of the north side overbridge abutment lo

ooking south towards the golf course and Brierdene Jn.

BELOW: Taken from the same bridge north abutment; the

impassable trackbed northwards towards Collywell Bay.

BELOW: The south abutment of the branch where it crossed over the B1325 (m

map) on the approach to Hartley village itself (the north abutment has gone).

BELOW: The embankment from the previous bridge abutment

t heading south to Brierdene Jn (taken from the B1325 road).

2477] Sunderland: (BLN 1409.180 & e-BLN 1410.X.180) Demolition of the southern station entrance
began on 2 May and was complete by mid-Oct. This £26M station revamp is part of a bigger £100M
transformation project. The new entrance will have a large glass wrap around design, with a new
ticket office, reception, public toilets, retail space and cafés, comfortable waiting areas, as well as a
new mezzanine level for rail staff offices. Completion is due for the end of 2023. Rail and Metro now
use the north entrance only, which will then be revamped. The new platforms are part of Phase 3.

2478] Hartlepool: (BLNs 1409.2248, 1404.1651) Work has started driving 64 piles 7-10m into the
ground to support 16 canopies (due to be installed in Mar) for the reinstated P3. By 14 Oct removal of
the old P3 was complete (1,500 tonnes, taking 108 man hours) down to the Up Main track formation
level. The ground appeared uniform and firm and the main wall in good condition. Contractors were
on site preparing to rebuild the platform. The new footbridge span is due to be installed in Jan with
the stairs following in Feb. The work should be finished and the platform in service in Jul (if anyone
needs the facing and trailing crossovers used by Up trains to access P2 and return to the Down line
after). It appears that, once materials have been delivered, much work can be done while trains pass.

2479] Darlington: (BLN 1407.2012) On 7 Oct demolition of buildings to the east of the main line began
to make way for the new east entrance, platforms, multi-storey car park and transport interchange.

2480] Northallerton: NR plans to abandon and plain line hand points No1 (clamped out of use for
many years) in the Up sidings at Northallerton East Jn (TRACKmaps 2 p20B 2020, marked 'Goods
Yard') and remove the redundant sidings and buffer stops. A siding would remain for stabling on-track
machines (OTM) or crippled wagons if Sessay or Danby Wiske Hot Axle Box Detectors are activated.

2481] Thirsk: Similarly, NR intend to abandon and plain line hand points No1 and No3 (OOU for many
years) in Thirsk Sidings (TRACKmaps 2 p20A 2020) on the Down side. These points, track in the sidings
beyond, the buffer stop and OHLE will be removed, leaving a siding to stable OTM or crippled wagons.

2482] Hull: (TRACKmaps 2 p38C 2020) NR intends to reinstate P1, not used by passenger trains (they
say) for 30 years. It is the short bay (P10 pre-1984) on the Up (south) side of the station at the end of
P2. A local member says there is no obvious 'capacity constraint' in the middle of the day but the
station can be 'pretty full' of rolling stock late at night, with many cleaning staff at work. It is thought
that this change is to aid train stabling and cleaning (Botanic Gardens Depot has very limited capacity).

£1.52M of work is required: Renewal of P1 track Refurbishment of trackwork/points on approach,
as needed Gauge clear P1 and the adjacent loading dock Energy-absorbing buffer stop and extend
P1 from 75m to 82m Removal of top stone from the loading bay wall (south side of the line) and
resurfacing the loading bay area (Listed Building Consent is required) A resited new signal, to allow
longer trains to use P1 and associated equipment Resurface P1 and install tactile paving. Platform
lining as on the other platforms. Fencing to secure between P1 and operational areas of Hull station
to prevent passenger access with gated staff access. Information screen, CCTV & passenger facilities.

During our Society 7 Mar 2018 visit to Hull Paragon panel, a member was told that P1 was blocked to
Class 158s. Permissive working (as at every platform at the station) is being retained into P1 which is
only 3-cars long [2 x 1-car 153s then‽]! Work is expected to begin Mar for completion in Apr 2023.

2483] Sheffield to miss out the middle man stage: ❶South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority
has voted to take Supertram under full public control again from Mar 2024, when the Stagecoach
contract comes to an end. It plans to make Supertram a full part of an integrated transport network,
with upgrades to be funded through a £100M Government grant recently awarded to the region.
Stagecoach has operated the tramway since 1997 and it has long been rumoured that the contract
would not be renewed. For the first few years, the local PTE operated the network as well as being
owners of the network infrastructure. However, with lower passenger numbers than expected, the
concession was let to Stagecoach who at first boosted patronage. ❷The cost of any single journey on
the network will be capped at £2 from 1 Nov until 30 Mar 2023 (expected). Said to be to help with the
cost of living, it matches the £2 bus fare for a single journey in England from Jan to Mar 2023 which
undermines Supertram fares and, of course, many rail fares. The cap will cost the Authority £600,000
and reduce the price of over 700,000 journeys. The saving could be up to 50% for some journeys.

2484] Stocksbridge: (BLN 1407.2016) Despite the planned cessation of rail transport from 1 Oct, trains
continued to run and far more so than earlier in the year. The most recent ones were 18, 19, 20, 21, 25
& 26 Oct & 2 Nov (two!). Trains have run from Masborough Freight Terminal or Aldwarke to and from
Stocksbridge. There is speculation as to what will happen to the BBA wagons. They might join the
Scunthorpe fleet replacing some BDA wagons or go into storage as they are bespoke for Stocksbridge
traffic. The next question is how long the 2m 31ch internal railway (TRACKmaps 2 p29B 2020) will last.

1411 NORTH WEST (John Cameron) [email protected]
2485] Carlisle: On Wed 19 Oct the 17.15 Clitheroe, Horrocksford Cement works to Carlisle New Yard
loaded cement tanks, hauled by 66739, derailed at Petteril Bridge Jn at about 19.53. Seven bogie tank
wagons, each with 80 tonnes of powdered Portland cement, derailed and fell down the embankment,
two ending up in the River Petteril and one in the B&Q car park. Track, lineside equipment and the
parapet of Petteril Bridge were badly damaged. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch reports that a
false flange had developed on a wheelset (due to non-rotation) and derailed on the junction points.

Leeds to Carlisle trains have been running between Leeds and Appleby (ECS shunt). Newcastle to
Carlisle trains ran to Wetheral P2 (only four miles from Carlisle), with the rarely used Corby Gates
trailing crossover (55m 54ch) in passenger use after departure towards Newcastle. Rail replacement
buses were in use between Appleby and Carlisle, and Wetheral and Carlisle. However, due to the
difficulty that rail replacement buses/coaches had turning round at Wetheral and poor pedestrian
access there for transfer between train and buses, rail services from Newcastle were halted at
Haltwhistle (ECS shunt) from Sun 23 Oct. Recovery has been very difficult; soft ground makes the use
of heavy cranes problematic and 400 tonnes of cement had to be pumped out of the stricken wagons.

2486] Dalton-in-Furness - You Raise Me Up: (BLN 1408.2152) Work to lengthen and raise P2 (to
Barrow) is complete. There used to be a large drop from the train to the platform and so a 'Harrington
Hump' was provided. On 20 Oct the new work had not yet been signed off so passengers had to alight
from the rear carriage, with other doors remaining locked. P1 (to Carnforth) remains 'unraised'.

2487] The Battle of Great Musgrave 2021 - the sequel: (BLN 1404.1659) Eden District Council has
served an enforcement notice on National Highways (NH) to remove all infilling of Great Musgrave
road over trackbed bridge. They also have to restore the infamous bridge and landscape to their
condition prior to the unauthorised infilling works carried out in Jul 2021 under emergency powers.
Hundreds of tonnes of concrete poured under the bridge will now have to be removed by next Oct.

The order comes after the Council refused retrospective planning permission for the infilling. NH has
stated that they will comply with the order, which allows for the possibility of the heritage railways at
Warcop and Kirkby Stephen East connecting. The infilling cost £124k with up to £431k now required
for the removal and the relatively minor works to repair the bridge. Although this is a waste of money,
it will save money long term if NH now repairs structures at a fraction of the cost of infilling them.

2488] Rossendale: Rossendale Council and Lancashire County Council have submitted a funding bid to
the Government for a rail link between Rossendale and Manchester, partly running on the East Lancs
Railway (ELR). Rail consultant Systra was appointed to report on potential options. Systra say there is a
strong economic case for the new link. Rossendale is the only authority in Lancashire without a rail link
and has high levels of road congestion, especially into Greater Manchester. A resident and business
survey in May and Jun 2022 showed 86% support. The link is predicted to cut 1M trips from the M66/
A56 (presumably per year). A key part of the brief was to ensure that ELR heritage services continue to
run and that traditional features including stations and signalling systems would also be maintained.

One option is a service from Rawtenstall to a new Bury Market Street station with a pedestrian link to
Bury Interchange for Manchester via Metrolink (journey time 56 min). It avoids affecting Buckley
Wells where the ELR plans to develop an engine shed. Another option is for the service to continue
from Bury, via Heywood and Castleton South Jn to Manchester Victoria (44 min) but requires a new
station at Heywood to cope with forecast demand (but not at Bury). A decision is hoped for by spring.

2489] Manchester Victoria: Junction lighting works and OHLE installation take place on 24 & 25 Dec.

BELOW: (Item 2492) The old footbridge at Harrington stat

tion which has now been removed for replacement. (NR.)

2490] Manchester Piccadilly: The platforms are being resurfaced over Christmas and New Year. While
most platforms will reopen on 27 Dec, island P13 & 14 will remain closed until 3 Jan.

2491] Metrolink: ❶KeolisAmey Metrolink has been named 'Operator of the Year' at the Global Light
Rail Awards (they certainly deserve that for our tram tour - see later!). ❷All 147 of the new M5000
trams have now entered service but there is no sign of The Trafford Centre service extending from
Cornbrook to Crumpsall, where the bay platform was specially constructed for it. This is likely to be
due to reduced passenger numbers and financial constraints post-Covid with rising costs. However…

❸(BLN 1410.2373) Pointwork renewal at Piccadilly Gardens (actually The Delta South Jn) planned
from Sun 23 to Sat 29 Oct had to be deferred due to a delay in the components arriving. It is now
scheduled from Tue 22 Nov until Tue 29 Nov (incl). As they are now unsuitable for passenger use, from
26 Oct until 29 Nov no trams can run between The Delta South and West Jns (Piccadilly Gardens to St
Peter's Square). During this time all Altrincham trams run to run to Bury via Market St. Until 21 Nov
(incl) Ashton trams run to Crumpsall bay platform, with a 7-day all day 12-minute frequency.

Eccles trams turn back at Deansgate-Castlefield. National Rail services can be used between Piccadilly
and Deansgate-Castlefield stations with tram tickets, passes (and presumably contactless bank cards?)
as well as a special tram replacement buses which run. ❹From Tue 22 Nov until Tue 29 Nov (incl)
Piccadilly through Piccadilly Gardens to The Delta North Jn is also closed to replace the faulty points
at The Delta South Jn. Ashton services turn back at Piccadilly Outbound platform, doing the facing leg
of the former Piccadilly scissors on arrival in service. The other side of that scissors crossover has been
cut out - dismantled. Thus Crumpsall bay platform will not be available after Mon 21 Nov, for now.

2492] Harrington: A new steel footbridge with steps only, is being built at the north end of P1. The old
wrought iron lattice bridge on brick pillars over the Harrington Humps looks rather the worse for wear.

2493] Tattenhall Jn - Chester Jn (Whitchurch): (BLN 1410.2372) A member with London Midland
Region timetables for 1961, 1962 and 1963 kindly confirms that the times for the SO dated 10.42am
Llandudno to Cardiff and return in 1962 were virtually as 1961. Interestingly, the 1960 Western Region
timetable showed both that Cardiff train and an 11.40am Birkenhead to Paddington. The latter
departed Chester 12.22pm and Shrewsbury at 1.40. This was the same time that the Cardiff train left
Shrewsbury, so the lack of a path from Chester to Shrewsbury is probably the explanation for the
unusual routing. On Sat 1 Sep 1962 the Cardiff  Llandudno pair of trains ran via the Tattenhall Jn -
Chester Jn line for the last time. It was also used for passenger diversions on 24 Nov, 1 & 8 Dec 1963.

In 1963, the Llandudno to Cardiff service left at 11.00am with an advertised call at Chester. The later
time meant an available path on to Shrewsbury, which is why it never made PSUL (born in 1963).

Another member advises that the last through freight was a Stanlow to Rowley Regis oil train in Jan
1963. Local goods traffic continued until 4 Nov 1963. Of further interest is that King George V and
Queen Mary spent the night on the Royal Train at Malpas station, before a visit to Chester in May
1917 during WWI. In WWII there was special traffic to Malpas in the form of injured US soldiers and
German prisoners of war to a military hospital that the US Army had built at nearby Penley.

2494] Edge Hill: (BLN 1408.2157) The recent Scheduled Ancient Monument listing is of the cutting next
to the station. The 1836 station buildings themselves, Grade II listed since 1974, are not included.

1411 SOUTH EAST - NORTH & EAST ANGLIA (Julian James) [email protected]
2495] Bury St Edmunds: (BLN 1408.2166) The Down Siding trailing into the still used Down Goods
Loop (Down is to Ipswich) has been secured OOU for a few months. All Up side sidings have now gone
and the site is being cleared. Materials have recently been delivered at Chippenham Jn where work
appears to be starting to prepare for the major resignalling which will abolish the boxes (due in 2024).

2496] Watford North Jn: (BLN 1400.1143) The reinstated junction at 17m 74ch is to be commissioned
from Tue 11 Apr 2023 (Easter Day is Sun 9 Apr). It was previously taken OOU under the 2014 Watford
Resignalling Project for re-commissioning 7 Apr 2015. However, this was cancelled when the massive
Harbury landslip closed the Chiltern diversionary route between Leamington Spa and Banbury. NR
later consulted on not reinstating Watford North Jn but the TOCs and FOCs would not agree to this.

2497] Peterborough - Whittlesea: (BLN 1409.2276) Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined
Authority released £1M on 19 Oct to close Kings Dyke Level Crossing. It became redundant with the
opening of the £23M Ralph Butcher Causeway and overbridge. A member recently noticed that some
road vehicle drivers approached the crossing (with its temporary moveable fencing, typical of a works
site), slowed or paused, then accelerated away over the railway. Others reversed or had business in
the premises nearby after doing a U-turn. The crossing sequence was, of course, in use then but it was
highly desirable to install the unclimbable steel fence as soon as practicable. The crossing was
'removed from public use' from 18.00 on Thur 27 Oct 2022 (the question is, did anyone manage to
cross at 17.59 and 59 seconds?). Temporary covers were placed over the road traffic lights; the level
crossing barriers and road deck panels are to be removed at a later date. Palisade fencing (gold plated
presumably at £1M?) with railway staff pedestrian access gates is to be erected outside the barriers.

2498] Whittlesea - March: (E-BLN 1383.X.175) The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has reported on
the collision at around 09.00 on 19 Aug 2021 at Kisby User Worked Crossing (88m 24ch). The 04.10
Hams Hall to Felixstowe intermodal train, travelling at about 66mph, struck agricultural machinery
being towed over the railway by a tractor. The train driver suffered minor injuries; the tractor driver
was uninjured. The loco and one wagon derailed - both were damaged. There was extensive damage
to the railway infrastructure. The accident happened because the tractor driver did not telephone the
signaller before crossing the railway to seek permission to cross. This was a consequence of the tractor
driver not being briefed about the requirement to call the signaller* and his belief that he could cross
safely by looking for approaching trains. This probably arose because the authorised user, the person
owning land on both sides of the crossing, was not briefing crossing users in a way which resulted in its
correct use, and railway staff were unaware that this was the case until shortly before the accident.
RAIB found that NR was not effectively managing the safe use of Kisby, and some other user worked
crossings, with telephones and that this was an underlying factor for the accident.

[*Your Regional Ed is concerned that this RAIB briefing, albeit a summary, makes no mention of any
requirement to observe instructions on crossing signs. RAIB does say that sign were 'inadequate']

2499] Marks Tey: (BLN 1407.2042) Local South Suffolk and Witham MPs have visited the station as
part of a bid to improve access for travellers to and from Sudbury. Despite several applications for
funding there is no step-free access between branch P3 and Up Main P1. About 350,000 passengers a
year change trains between Sudbury and London. The MPs will press the Government to include the
station in the next 'Access For All' funding round. The campaign has been running for several years.

2500] Stanford-le-Hope: (BLN 1403.1533) (0.9m passengers 2019-20) Councillors approved Phase 1 of
the station resiting project to the east of London Road 18 months ago but it has yet to start and may
be at risk. The project was halted due to major issues over design and affordability. Then a redesign
included a wider platform, complete redevelopment of the station forecourt and a new footbridge.
A report to Councillors on the Planning, Transport & Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee
meeting on 18 Oct heard that a new contract was being drawn up but the business case had yet to be
signed off. £7.5M of funding from the South Essex Local Enterprise Partnership is at risk.

2501] London Gateway: (BLN 1407.2040) Work has begun on the £350M fourth berth for 2024 completion.

2502] Barham Tarmac: Between Needham Market and Ipswich, these sidings trail into the Up Main
(74m 12ch) just north of Claydon. The bottom discharge equipment, or aggregate drop, on the third
siding from the main line is currently being upgraded. It is on TRACKmaps 2 p6B 2020 as a rectangle 'H'
(for hopper) over the track. The siding has a temporary buffer stop short of this, the mechanical part
of which has been removed to reveal the supports akin to bridge abutments; plant is now on site for
further work. This would suggest a long term future for the facility. Barham is the local parish name.

2503] Bidirectionalists delight: (TRACKmaps 3 p14A & p14B 2018) On Wed 19 Oct the 08.13 SSuX IET
from Worcester Shrub Hill to London Paddington was five minutes late at Wolvercot North Jn (other
versions of this name are available). It then ran via the Down Oxford in the Up direction to Oxford
North Jn and crossed over to call at Oxford P3. There was no obvious reason for this, it is booked Up
Oxford. All Oxford area lines are now bidirectionally signalled but this was a first for our BLN Editor.

BELOW: (Item 2497) An open and shut case … Kings Dyk
GBRf 66768 is working 4M29, the 10.28 Felixstowe No