1303

MR78] Margam Park Railway, Neath Port Talbot (MR p30) (BLN 1268.MR221): This 2ft gauge railway
runs through the 1,000 acre Margam Country Park. At the Park's heart is the 19th century Grade I listed
Tudor Gothic Castle, built in 1830 by Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot. Part of the Castle is open to the
public and is well worth a visit. The Country Park affords lengthy walks with views south over Margam

Moors and Port Talbot and also to the north from a longer walk. Admission to the Park is free, except
on Bank Holiday Mondays when special events take place. Car Parking is £5.40. The railway is a 'dumb-
bell' layout with small return loops at each end. On the lower loop Orangery Halt is near the car park.
The line then climbs steadily through the Country Park, at first through an area not accessible on foot.
Passing through a deep cutting, an 'S' bend brings the line to the shore of the large 'New Pond'.
Here a bolted out of use connection trails in from a long disused return loop used from opening of the
railway in 2002 until its extension down to Orangery Halt in 2005. Passing around 'New Pond' the line
reaches the upper return loop on which is located Castle Halt. This is where the locomotive and rolling
stock are stabled - but there is no shed. It is thought that the locomotive and stock are stored, off
track, during the closed season (September to Easter). PREVIOUS PAGE LOWER: 'Margam Castle'
works a train through Margam Country Park. (Peter Scott 31 March 2018)

On Easter Saturday 31 March, a gloomy cold dry day, at work was 0-4-0DH 'Margam Castle'
(AK65/2001) steam outline with three bogie coaches, all in green livery. One coach is enclosed; the
other two are covered. Passengers were few and two visiting BLS members were the only passengers
on the first train of the day at 11.00 from Orangery Halt. A single ticket from either end was £2 for
adults and £1 for children and OAPs. Trains ran at 11.00, 12.00, 13.00, 14.30, 15.30 & 16.30 from
Orangery Halt returning 30 minutes later from Castle Halt. In 2018 the railway operates daily from
24 March to 2 September. During the school holidays the trains run as above and during term time at
13.00, 14.00 & 15.00 from Orangery Halt and 13.30, 14.30 & 15.30 from Castle Halt. The trip lasts
about 15 minutes. The railway performs a useful transport function in this attractive park and a visit is
recommended - allow time to visit the castle and walk up in the park to take in the splendid views.

MR79] Dundee Museum of Transport: www.dmoft.co.uk This Museum, opened in 2014, is currently
located in an industrial estate about a mile east of the city centre. The Museum has purchased the
former Maryfield tram depot and plans to relocate there, but very extensive renovation will be needed
first. Twice each year it holds a Steam Weekend, (PREVIOUS PAGE LOWER: Greg Beecroft) which
features a miniature railway and model traction engines. The nature of the present site is such that the
track is a simple end to end run, which is laid and recovered each time. The line is operated by the
Scottish Model Engineering Trust, using rolling stock from their Wester Pickston Railway. The
locomotive 'Sweet Pea' features in all publicity material and was in use on Saturday 7 April. Operating
dates in 2018 were/are 7 & 8 April and 29 & 30 September. The Museum in Market St, DD1 3LA
(NO 416 308) can be reached by frequent buses from the city centre, principally No5, 10 & 10A to
Broughty Ferry Road/South Baffin Street.

ABOVE: Here we are again…! Crewe this time P5 awaiting departure for the Shrewsbury line.
(All pictures in this report by Geoff Plumb https://plumbloco.smugmug.com/ unless specified).

1303 FIXTURES REPORTS (Paul Stewart) [email protected]
907 - Part 1] The Sussex Salopian & The Sunday Salopian, 24 & 25 Mar 2018: This two-day event joint
with '84G Railtours'† had 687m 74ch of loco-haulage with rare track on offer for as little as £85.
† 84G Railtours is a name our well known member Tim Brawn came up with after starting his railway
career at Shrewsbury in 1985. It echoes back to those days of the ADEX (BR advertised excursion)
trains he used to travel on from Shrewsbury to various destinations including on the South Coast. '84G'
was the shed code in steam days for Shrewsbury and the surrounding depots. Tim, of course, has been
heavily involved in our TPE, recent Merseyrail and tours associated with the Three Peaks Challenge.

ABOVE: Preparing breakfast and look who is first in the queue! Ian Delgado is right, behind Kev.

Our member Terry Cotter writes: As I had a hand in writing the tour brochure, it was suggested that I
may also like to write a BLN report for the tour, so here goes. I first became aware of a 'South Coast'
tour following our 2017 Liverpool AGM so, living in the Southeast, I thought it would be convenient...
However, when it opened for bookings (now so easy via our new website), there were some very much
sought after loops at the start and end of the tour so a couple of nights up North would be required
after all! Despite still needing the crossover at Carnforth, I decided on Crewe for both nights.

Crewe P5 seemed a little too quiet at 05.45 on the Saturday morning but the mystery was soon solved
as the tour regulars I was expecting to see were queuing in 'Pumpkin' for hot drinks or breakfast. Just a
few minutes down, The Sussex Salopian pulled in behind 37518 with a dead (as booked due to limited
fuel capacity) 33025 behind. This was a replacement for 33207 which should have joined the tour at
Acton Lane (now where's that then?) for the Southern section but had failed earlier in the week.

Following departure, it was quickly on to new track for me
being the full length of Gresty Green Up Loop (having
previously only reversed in this). It was actually renamed
Gresty Green Through Siding with resignalling in the area
and the abolition of Gresty Lane signal box from 5 Dec 2015
when many other line names changed (TRACKmaps Aug
2013 is out of date in the area). We stopped in the loop,
which I assumed was to let something go by on the main
line as we were a few minutes down, but an announcement
informed us this was for an inspection of the Class 33.

[BLN 1303]
Another message soon confirmed that there was a problem with a hot axle box and instructions were
awaited as to what would be happening. It is a great credit to all involved in that within 35 minutes of
arriving in the loop, the 33 was detached and parked in the nearby headshunt and the tour under way
again. [It was fortunate there was a usable clear head shunt long enough for the loco, not all loops
have them.] The schedule should still allow for an on-time arrival at Bognor and a visit Hotham Park
Miniature Railway if desired. Not being narrow minded and that interested in smaller gauge railways
(yet!), the worry for me was if any loops would be cut out.

BELOW: A Very smart looking 33025 parked on some very rare track indeed after detaching.

The first test of this was approaching Shrewsbury and the magical word 'feather' was heard before the
required Up Goods Loop (31m 41ch to 32m 08ch) was duly covered. A very brief stop at the station to
collect a handful of further passengers saw us away about 40 minutes late. It was fingers crossed as we
neared Cosford but the very rarely used Up Goods Loop was successfully covered at walking pace due
to the 5mph restriction on the points each end allowing two of the RAF base's instructional Tornado
airframes to be viewed. Oxley Up Goods Loop completed my set of morning loops so a very big thank
you to all involved in making sure that the requested track was still delivered despite the late running.

From: To: Lead Miles
Carnforth P2 37518 79m 45ch
Lancaster P3 Gresty Green Up Loop 73m 25ch
Preston P2 37518 052m 27ch
Crewe P5 Bognor Regis P1 47772
Gresty Green Up Loop 37518 1m 30ch
Shrewsbury P7 Barnham P1 47772 253m 36ch
Tame Bridge Parkway P1 Fratton P2 222m 06ch
Birmingham International P5 Reading West, Dn Westbury, Sig T2804 37518 185m 26ch
Watford Junction P9 Goring & Streatley P2 172m 16ch
Bognor Regis P2 Birmingham International P1 37518
Barnham P1 Birmingham New Street P4 82m 46ch
Fratton P2 Tame Bridge Parkway P2 3m 41ch
Shrewsbury P4
Reading West, Dn Westbury, Sig T2804 Crewe P11 21m 35ch
Preston P5 69m 41ch
Crewe P11 Lancaster P5
Carnforth P2 8m 53ch
90m 36ch
98m 54ch
106m 74ch
143m 54ch
176m 33ch
52m 15ch
73m 13ch
79m 33ch

Departure from Coventry was just 19 minutes down and the route was still through Platform 4 giving
me a further crossover back on to the Down Main. Rugby saw the only notable omission from the
advertised route of the Up and Down Through Siding. The next highlight for me was the route through
Wembley Yard where there is usually much of interest to view. A new Crossrail EMU certainly seemed
to be keeping many happy (it doesn't take much for some - joke!). Further good news was that we
would be on time at Acton Lane. Now a confession! As anyone who has read the tour brochure knows,
the route description suggests that Acton Lane is near Acton Main Line. It is in fact, ahem, nearer
Willesden Depot so apologies to anyone confused by my geographical inaccuracy here. In the itinerary
(website document archive dated 24.03.18) Acton Lane Reception should be 257m 30ch & Kensington
Olympia 260m 27ch, deducting 2m 71ch for all mileages beyond. Still this was not as bad as my son's
school trip to Stratford-upon-Avon to find that accommodation had been booked in Stratford East
London! [This reminds your Editor of a BR 'Merrymaker' mystery trip in the 1970s from Birmingham
New Street AC Loco hauled all the way. After 90 minutes at a good speed Stratford was reached
(complete with BR Eastern Region dark blue signs). A passenger exclaimed loudly to the entire coach
'90 minutes and we have only reached Stratford-upon-Avon!' Clacton-on-Sea was the destination, and
indeed AC electric all the way from Birmingham, the fare £1 and via the City Goods Lines both ways.]

NEXT PAGE: Early morning departure from Shrewsbury P7 for the Wolverhampton line - one of Geoff
Plumb's photos with some distinct 'painting like' qualities. Right is a Cardiff to Manchester train.

[BLN 1303]
So, with no need to run the locos around in Acton Yard after all (!) and having picked up new track
(even for those who had been on an earlier tour to this location) we continued towards the Southern
and bonus Class 37 mileage (the said loco having plenty of fuel in its large tanks). Being back in home
territory, I caught up on a bit of sleep but made sure I was awake for traversal through Redhill P0 and
in the rare direction, as I hadn't bothered trying this on a service train knowing that the tour was
booked to do it. Bognor arrival was just 2 minutes late at 14.09 allowing adequate time for the
Hotham Park tour, refreshment or both. The chippy by the station seemed to be doing a roaring trade.

NEXT PAGE: Two Pictures taken at Acton Lane No2 Reception Siding, under supervision and with
permission, with the WCR train crew. (Geoff Plumb)

PAGE AFTER UPPER: Heading south through Arundel on the way to Bognor Regis. (John Vaughan)
PAGE AFTER NEXT LOWER: Left to right: Tim Wade, Suzanne Wilson, Wendy Brawn (both from Railway

Children) and Tim Brawn with the presentation charity at Bogor Regis
(the final amount raised was actually £4,000). (Geoff Plumb)





.The Sussex Salopian:. Carnforth P2 - Up Main - Lancaster P3 - Lancaster South Jn - Preston P2 - Up Slow -
Preston Ribble Jn - Up Fast - Wigan P4 - Up Fast - Golborne Jn - Winwick Jn - Up Fast - Warrington P2 -
Up Main - Acton Bridge - Up Fast - Winsford - Up Fast - Crewe Coal Yard - Up Slow (158m 58ch) - Crewe P5 -
Up Nantwich - Gresty Green Through Siding - Up Nantwich - Up Main - Up Goods Loop (UGL) - Shrewsbury P7
- Up Main - Up Wellington (Centre Road) - Up Cosford Goods Loop - Oxley UGL - Oxley Jn - Wolverhampton
P3 (via 2nd X/O) - Portobello Jn - Tame Bridge Parkway P1 - Aston - Stechford - Birmingham International P5 -
X/O (94m 40ch) - Up & Dn Slow - Coventry P4 - Rugby P6 - Up Northampton - Mill Lane Jn - Up & Dn Slow -
Northampton North Jn - Up Northampton Fast (centre line) - Up Slow - Milton Keynes P1 - Denbigh Hall South
Jn - Bletchley Relief 2 - Bletchley P5 - Up Slow - Tring P5 - Watford Junction P9 - Wembley Central P6 -
North Arrival Line - Wembley Yard Reception & Departure Line 5 - South Departure Line - Wembley Yard
South Jn - Dn Willesden Relief - Willesden Jn (Acton Branch) - (Acton Lane) No2 Reception Siding -
West London Jn (Willesden) - Up West London - Mitre Bridge Jn - Up West London - Kensington Olympia P2 -
Up West London - Latchmere No2 Jn X/O - Dn West London - X/O to Clapham Junction P17 - Balham P1 -
Streatham Common P1 - Selhurst P1 - Dn Victoria Slow - Windmill Bridge Jn - Dn Slow - East Croydon P2 -
Slow Reversible - South Croydon P4 - new X/O (21m 40ch) - Up Redhill - Redhill P0 - Earlswood P2 -
Gatwick P3 - X/O (29m 00ch) - Three Bridges P1 - Dn Horsham - Horsham P3 - Barnham P2 - Bognor Regis P1.
Bognor Regis P2 - Barnham P1 (rev) - Havant East Jn X/O - Havant P1 - Havant West Jn X/O - Fratton P2 (rev)
- first X/O (43m 46ch) - Havant P1 - Haslemere P2 (correct number of middle platform) - Guildford P7 -
North Camp - Reading Spur Jn - Reading P7 - Dn Westbury - Reading West P1 - X/O past platforms (rev)
(17m 62ch) - Reading West P2 - Dn Reading West Curve - Goring & Streatley P3 - Dn Didcot Avoiding -
Dn Main (Oxford Centre Road) - Banbury P1 - Dn Banbury Loop - Dn Banbury Goods Loop - Leamington Spa
Dn Cherwell Valley (Centre Line) - Up & Down Kenilworth Loop - Coventry P4 - Up & Dn Slow - Birmingham
International P1 - Proof House Jn - Dn Stour (to 112m 58ch) - Birmingham New Street P4 - Soho South Jn -
Perry Bar North Jn - Tame Bridge Parkway P2 - Portobello Jn - Dn Heath Town - Wolverhampton P2 - 1st X/O -
Oxley Dn Goods Loop - Cosford DGL - Down Wellington (Centre Road) - Dn Main - Shrewsbury P4 - First X/O -
Dn Main Crewe - Gresty Lane Dn Through Siding - Gresty Green East Jn - Gresty Lane Jn - Dn Salop Goods
Loop - Crewe P11. .The Sunday Salopian:. Crewe P11 - Dn Slow - Winsford South Jn - Dn Main - Hartford -
Dn Slow - Acton Bridge - Acton Grange Jn - Dn Helsby - Walton Old Jn - Dn Helsby - Warrington P4 - Dn Slow -
Winwick Jn - Newton-le-Willows Jn - Golborne Jn - Dn Slow - Bamfurlong Jn - Dn Goods - Wigan South Jn -
Dn Main - Wigan P5 - Balshaw Lane Jn - Dn Fast - Preston P5 - Dn Through - Barton & Broughton DPL -
Dn Main - Oubeck DGL - Lancaster P5 - Dn Main - Carnforth South Jn - No2 Up & Dn Gds Loop - Carnforth P2.

908] Hotham Park Railway, Bognor Regis, Sat 24 Mar: (MR p15) 35 participants assembled on the
recently refurbished, restored (at a cost of £2.5M) and now very smart Bognor Regis [the place once
described as 'the last resort'] station concourse, and were met by a representative of the railway.
He took us the most direct route, about 10 minutes walk to Hotham Park. The railway was running for
the public so we awaited arrival of the train on the circuit and boarded. This working was reserved for

us, much to the surprise and amusement of regular potential
passengers and people in the park watching.

Our fully booked special made two circuits of the 12¼" gauge
line, a circular layout with a public run, totalling 900yd
hauled by Alan Keef steam outline loco 'Boris'. The first
circuit was via the outer loop and the second via the inner
loop, re-joining beside the loco shed (which is between
these two lines). Normally when the railway is quiet they use
the outer loop and when busy the inner loop but not both
(due to the points having to be padlocked for one route or
the other). The proposed triangle and cut off loop at the junctions of the two loops have yet to be
built. Discussion took place and, on arrival back at the station, we were told to remain on the train
and, shunting back, we then visited all three loco and stock shed roads, their diesel outline loco being
moved to allow this. The stop blocks of the two right hand lines were reached with no loco in the way.



[BLN 1303]
PREVIOUS PAGER UPPER: The 'keen end' of the train is propelled to the end of the middle shed road -
no train loco in the way either. The longer (outer loop) goes across the bottom left corner. The shorter
inner loop runs alongside, and to the right of, the carriage and loco shed. As well as being BLS friendly
the 'Family Coach' the disabled coach will take a wheelchair and is named 'Ryan' after a paraplegic boy
who persuaded the railway to build it. PREVIOUS PAGE LOWER: On the right hand shed road, the inner
loop running line is behind the locomotive which is named after the town: BOgnor RegIS.

Strangely the really keen members were even in that end of the train! In addition to the fare suitable
additional donations were collected to show our appreciation of the 'extras'. Bidding our hosts
farewell with many thanks we had plenty of time to walk back to Bognor Regis station and our waiting
Railtour. Here the ticket office couldn't understand why they were selling so many Barnham tickets.
This was because with our tour in P1 and later P2 there was much greater use of the rare 4-coach
short P4 during the break. (Stephen Phillips)

BELOW: Our special on the outer loop approaching the station (to the right) the inner loop can be seen
to the right of the shed. Outside the shed is a new 'Class 33' loco (which hadn't failed!)

907] - PART 2]: https://goo.gl/A5h59Y (18 mins) is a video
of the tour. Having so far seen little use despite being on the
tour from the start, 47772 now hauled the tour for the long
section (3½ miles) back to Barnham P1. Reversal here saw
37518 back in charge for the run along the south coast
(via Havant Up P1 in the Down direction) to Fratton from
where the 47 would get a longer and initially challenging
steady uphill run to Reading West. A scheduled Guildford
stop saw many taking advantage of the chance for a rare
alighting or boarding (or both) at P7 thanks to slam door
technology. To explain, the 'Up Ash' line here is between
P6 & P7 and doors are opened on the P6 side on services.

LEFT: A steward in Class 33 mode - failed in traffic (it was a
long day to be fair). (Gary Lonsdale)

Arrival into Banbury Goods Loop was a few minutes down but it was wondered if we may leave early
as the half an hour to swap locos was no longer needed. However this may have caused pathing issues
further along so departure was right time. The return to Crewe saw the Down 'centre' lines at Oxford
and Leamington, Kenilworth Loop, the Down loops at Oxley, Cosford (again at 5mph) and Gresty Lane
Through Siding successfully traversed. Also the Down Salop Goods Loop between Gresty Lane Jn and
Crewe South Jn was done which several seemed to have overlooked until we covered it. Arrival into
Crewe, and an overnight stay for many including myself was right time at 23.30 after a very successful
and enjoyable day. One particularly enjoyable feature was the excellent catering provided including a
'breakfast tray' and in the evening a delicious fresh chicken curry made on the train. It was so good
that one of the 280+ participants had three helpings (but don't worry we won't tell them who, Mr W).

The tour, of course, continued back to Carnforth later the next day (a most pleasant run in sunshine)
after yet another successful sub-tour, at Crewe Heritage
Centre in the morning. A huge thank you to everyone
involved in all these excellent events. As well as covering the
commercial costs, £4,000 was impressively raised for
Railway Children. And I now know where Acton Lane is…
(…but thanks for your help with the itinerary, Terry, without
volunteers to compile and check it there wouldn't be one.)

Souvenir tickets and miles are thanks to ticket maestro Jim
Sellens an route details thanks to Martyn Brailsford and
others (normal passenger run or the only possible route
except where shown).

909] 4 Kingdoms Adventure Park Railway, Saturday 7 April: (MR p18) (BLN 1288.MR168) Seventeen
participants enjoyed a thorough mid-morning trip on the 10¼" gauge miniature here opened in March
2016. Our party was warmly received and our driver, Rudolf Szentimrey, soon appreciated and
accommodated our interest covering the short 'overrun' lengths both ends on this single track, out and
back railway; there is no pointwork. He even arranged and took a group photo between the two runs!

The railway is at its maximum length, no more track (!), running from the entrance area as ⅔ of a loop
to where the Maize Maze will grow by summer for passengers to exit and get lost in. (They must
beware the crashed plane inside it, though, apparently used as an 'amazing' home for Zombies in other
Park activities …) There are no platforms as such and little possibility of it becoming a full loop as that
would cross various active internal roadways. An idea under exploration, however, is to completely lift
the railway and relay it around the lake further into the park. The 300yd railway is clearly a popular
feature - as soon as we had enjoyed our second run, the train filled with 'normal' visitors.

ABOVE: The end of line group photograph with Terry Velvick in the driving seat. (Rudolf Szentimrey)

The loco, steam outline 4-4-0 locomotive No3 'General Shirley' (K J Hemingway/1972), and the track
came from Thurleigh Farm when that railway closed in 2015. The loco carries 'PHR', from its earlier life
at Margate's Payton Heights Railway before (and after) various sojourns detailed in BLN 1286.MR139.

Thanks to our member Terry Velvick for arranging this very successful (and financially advantageous at
£5) visit; normal Adult admission is £10.95 with 50p discount if booked online in advance. Thanks also
to the Adventure Park staff, especially Rudolf, for entering into the spirit and looking after us so well.

Details must be checked 1303 CONNECTIONS (Paul Stewart) [email protected] Please mention BLN

910] TPE Club 55: Until 19 May for outward travel, return within a month. After 09.30 Mon-Fri; any
time weekends/bank holidays. Prices as in autumn 2017: £21 return within England (£41 First Class) or
£31 return to/from Scotland (£61 First). However, Manchester Airport is now excluded from this offer.
20% discount with Senior, Disabled or Two Together Railcards https://goo.gl/oziXu3 or from stations.

911] The Vale of Berkeley Railway: https://goo.gl/rfWyck A registered charity working to reopen the
Sharpness branch, (item 866) ex-Severn & Wye Joint Railway (GWR & LMS), as a Heritage passenger
line, restoring Sharpness station in 1900s style and rebuild Berkeley station. It has 400+ members,
regular meetings and was recently granted a Network Rail licence to clear undergrowth at Oldminster
Sidings beyond Sharpness run-round loop, but needs your support. Annual membership: £12 Adult,
£10 over 65, Family (2A&2C) £25, Junior (5-18) £5 with a quarterly magazine - back numbers available
online - discounts and opportunity to work as a volunteer (many positions available!). See website or
send an SAE to the Membership Secretary: The Old Engine House, The Docks, Sharpness, GL13 9UD.

[BLN 1303]

912] And Now For Something Completely Different….. Bicester Heritage, Buckingham Rd, Bicester,
OX27 8AL, (ex-RAF Bicester). A 45 minute evening trial flying lesson in a vintage Tiger Moth biplane,
over Wolverton Works (under threat of demolition) then above the next section of East West Rail
through Winslow. £349 (other flights available from £125). https://goo.gl/Vcqvtv 01869327928.

X.59] Yaxham Light Railway, Sun 13 May 10.00-17.00: A rare chance to do this 2ft gauge railway at
Yaxham station on the Mid Norfolk Railway, in connection with the Mid Norfolk 'Bus & Coach Day'.
Drive a Diesel for £3 (two wartime Rustons available), Tea, Coffee and cake on sale. Please travel to
Yaxham station by train or the special bus service. Details on Facebook.

913] Treetops Light Railway, Sun 24 Jun, 12.30-16.30: 25 Green End, (off Park Drive, off the B4579
Oakhurst Rd) Oswestry, SY11 1BU. (SJ 2886 3045) Annual Macmillan Cancer Support open day.
A private 5" gauge unashamedly garden railway, 82m circuit; 3 trains can run at once. £2 on the day.

914] Ketton Cement Works 90th Anniversary, Sat 30 Jun 09.00-16.00: Charity family day with Rutland
Radio and one of the UKs few remaining industrial railways. Steam brakevan trips to exchange sidings,
diesel loco 'driver for a fiver' (ALL OTHER EVENTS ARE FREE) and peripatetic miniature steam rides.
Also fair rides, bouncy castle, dog agility, farm animals, face painting, refreshments, craft tent, police,
entertainment marquee, fossils, vintage quarry equipment, tractors, cars, motorbikes and fire engines.
The following day, Sun 1 Jul is our traction and comprehensive track event at the railway (item 813).

915] Mountsorrel Branch, Sat 21 & Sun 22 Jul: Next DMU running dates (watch the GCR website).

916] Northern Day/Weekend Unlimited Travel: 7 May-15 Jul, collect 3 tokens from local papers across the
North of England on participating dates or if you are not 'local' ring Johnson Press 0844 292 0216 for
copies to obtain the tokens. See https://goo.gl/nhxaN7 for details, print the form, attach three tokens
and take it to a staffed station up to three days before the date/s of travel. If you are nor near a staffed
station, contact the 'Customer Experience Centre'; cannot be sold on trains. Although this might seem
a bit complicated it is a very good offer! Up to FOUR Northern (only) Day Rangers (£10) or Weekend
Rovers (£17.50) - child half price - can be purchased (for the same day/weekend) for three tokens.
Unlimited travel after 08.45 (Mon-Fri), no evening Peak restrictions, anytime weekends/Bank Hols.

917] Manx Heritage Transport Festival, 25-29 Jul: 'Five action packed days' https://goo.gl/aoXgVQ with
many special and unusual events. *Of note Sat 28 Jul is the final chance to ride from the Broadway lights
to Victoria Pier on a parallel run with Horse Tram Toast Rack Trams 36 and 45 at 16.00. Intensive services,
unusual Tram/Trailer combinations etc and track available. 25 Jul: MER Derby Castle 09.10 parallel run
to Laxey, Cars 1 and 2, the oldest electric tramcars in regular operation in the world. Car 2 and trailer 51 in
service. Groudle Glen Railway open with MER connections 11.00-21.00. Snaefell Sunset Dinner. Ramsey:
Vintage bus tour of closed lines. MER driving experiences. 26 Jul: MER enhanced Douglas - Laxey service
'Caledonia' returns to service (09.50 Douglas to Port Erin), MER photography tour, Steam Dining Car Pie &
Mash supper and heritage talk (Port Erin Railway Museum evening opening and presentations). 27 Jul:
Derby Castle Workshop tours, MER Museum open, MER Postal Service carrying the mail van, Douglas
vintage bus tour of closed lines (nearly 50 years since Peel line closed), MER evening Derby Castle - Dhoon
Quarry service. 28 Jul: Douglas steam workshop, running shed/signal box tours, Groudle Glen Railway
Victorian Day, Horse Tramway stables open and see * above, Steam Railway Travelling Post office, Great
Laxey Mine Railway open 11.00-16.30, Snaefell Sunset Dinner, Douglas station photography event and
talk, trip to Peel Siding (remains or the Peel line), hog roast. 29 Jul: MER intensive service, Groudle Glen
Gala Day, free guided trackbed walk St Johns to Kirk Michael, Jurby Transport Museum Vintage Transport
Running Day, 12.30 Douglas Manxman Sunday Lunch train, Douglas station 'Tickethall' Illustrated Talk &
Social Evening about the Peel & Ramsey Lines. Full leaflet/details with e-BLN, some events are limited
numbers book in advance, some are pay on the day; Go Explore Cards are valid for many. 01624 662525.

X.60] E-BLN 1302 Guess the Location: (BLN 1302.X.48) ABOVE: Docklands Light Railway (DLR) unit
No11 at Reddish, Manchester, on the Fallowfield Loop line 15 Mar 1987. They were giving public rides
between Hyde Road Jn and Reddish Depot. Ian Mortimer's three pictures were taken near the former
Reddish 1500V dc electric depot (hence the style of de-wired OHLE supports on the right).
One member was spot on with the diagnosis. Back in 1987 her husband was project manager for the
Docklands Light Railway vehicles that were built in York under licence from Linke Hofmann Busch and
she remember being taken by coach (but not blindfolded!) to Debden Park. This is just east of Hyde
Road Jn near the former Hyde Road (the A57) station (CP 1958) on the Fallowfield Loop. The then
single track curve can be seen above heading off bottom right to Gorton and Manchester Piccadilly.

1¼ miles of line had been electrified (supplied from Gorton Jn OHLE) and a DLR unit was running up
and down. They were given some food and a presentation; Barbara Castle was there (Minister of
Transport from 23 December 1965 until 6 April 1968). A couple of years ago our member walked along
the old trackbed (now a path) from St Werburgh's Road tram stop (roughly the site of the former
Chorlton Junction) - upper right direction in the picture - to Fairfield (off bottom left corner in the
picture) https://goo.gl/hmtkb9 and saw a sign for Debden Park and it all came flooding back.

NEXT PAGE TOP: The temporary station named 'Debden Park' at Hyde Road Jn for boarding and
alighting. The trials lasted for three weeks during which there were five public days (14, 14, 20, 21 & 22
Mar 1987). Tickets were 50p Adult 25p senior and had to be purchased in advance but included the
bus journey from and back to Manchester Piccadilly station. (Angus McDougall 15 Mar 1987)

NEXT PAGE LOWER: From the other side of the line passing the closed Reddish Depot looking north
east. As well as EM 1 & EM 2 dc locos it serviced dc overhead EMUs, Merseyside third rail EMUs and
some diesel locos. The depot had closed 30 Apr 1983 and was later demolished.

SECOND PAGE UPPER: The same location from the Reddish Depot side of the line.



918] Ness Islands Railway FOR SALE: Whin Park, Inverness (MR p28), due to illness the owner for 35
years, Ian Young, is selling the 7¼" gauge 870yd line which carries up to 600 passengers a day. It was
comprehensively visited by the Society on 28 Jul 2017 during Terry Velvick's excellent events.
Includes a station, engine shed, shop and track running through a display of exotic animal models,
rolling stock, buildings, 140ft iron bridge (a former River Ness footbridge, built in the 1830s), tools,
souvenirs and gifts; scope for expansion. Contact: [email protected] 01463 235 533
runs weekends/school holidays 11.00-16.30 weather permitting. May close if no one takes it on.

919] The Irish Railway Record Society: Committed to fostering an interest in all aspects of Irish
Railway activities past and present through its Journal which is published three times a year.
This forms a comprehensive record of current developments (sample sections from a previous edition
are available on the website). There are regular meetings in Dublin, Cork & London, outings and visits.
The IRRS Dublin Heuston station headquarters has a library, archives and small exhibits museum.
London monthly winter meetings are 19.00-21.45 in the Function Room, Calthorpe Arms, 252 Gray's
Inn Road, WC1X 8JR. Non-members admission £5 but refunded if joining the Society on the night.
Annual subscription (UK/NI) £30 see https://goo.gl/Qw2kSz and website for details and how to join.

●MAPS: By permission of the National Library of Scotland http://maps.nls.uk/index.html
●Bookings Officer: Jill Everitt, 4 Barnside Way, Moulton, NORTHWICH, CW9 8PT. [email protected]
●Fixtures Secretary: Kev Adlam, 53 Kemble Close, Wistaston, CREWE CW2 6XN. [email protected] @BLSGeneralSec
●Sales: Mark Gomm, 84 Mornington Road, STOKE-ON-TRENT, ST1 6EL. 01782 769960 (daytime). [email protected]
●Paper BLN Problems: Dave Monger, 6 Underhill Close, GODALMING, GU7 1NU. [email protected] text/ring Editor
●Publicity Officer: David Clark, 30 Tylacelyn Rd, Tonypandy CF40 1JS. [email protected] (PLEASE USE THIS EMAIL ADDRESS ONLY)
●Editor/Head Lines: Paul Stewart, 4 Clarence Close, MALVERN, WR14 3HX. 01684562862 07790652351 [email protected]

Published by the Branch Line Society, 10 Sandringham Road, Stoke Gifford, BS34 8NP. ISSN 1354-0947.