1228

Issue Number 1228 (Items 432_ 514 and MR 24 _ 30) (e-BLN 24 PAGES) 7 March 2015

BRANCH LINE NEWS

Published twice monthly by the Branch Line Society (founded 1955)
Website: www.branchline.org.uk

Membership Enquiries: [email protected]
22 Treemount Court, Grove Avenue, Epsom, Surrey. KT17 4DU. 01372 728677

British Isles news from members, an international section is also available.
Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Compilers or of the Society.
BLN 1229 is due on Saturday 21 March; all contributions must be received by 11 March.

Date Event Visit Type BLN Lead Notes
To be advised SVR signalling NJ Notify
Sun 8/03/15 Chasewater Rly. Two day practical course 1224 PS FULL

10.00 Brakevan tour 1224

Fri 13/03/15 North Norfolk Rly. 11.00 Brakevan tour 1224 KA FULL

Wed 8/04/15 Railway walk 18.00 - 21.00 Rugby 1225 TG Open

Fri 17/04/15 West Somerset Rly. 11.00 Brakevan tour 1224 RG FULL

Sun 19/04/15 S & C DesiroTracker Manchester - South 1226 KA OPEN
*Extra 3 cars* DMU mainline tour Scotland - S&C line. AGAIN

Mon 20/04/15 West Somerset Rly. FULL (WAITING LIST) 1224 RG Enquire

Sat 25/04/15 Signal Box Visits 09.00 Clacton & others 1225 PS Open

Mon 27/04/15 K&WV Railway Re-dated railtour 1207 KA FULL

Fri 1/05/15 Tyne & Wear Metro 13.00 Visit to control 1227 JC Open

Sun 3/05/15 Moreton Park Rly. 12.00 & 14.00 Tours 1224 SP Open
Sun 3/05/15 Titley Junction Rly. Standard gauge tour 1226 SP Open

8-10/05/15 Channel Islands Railway weekend 1213 KA FULL

Thur 18/06/15 Pre-Peaks Trekker Crewe to WCML tour 1227 KA Claimed

Sun 28/06/15 Kirkby-in-Ashfield Guided railway walk 1227 TG OPEN

14-15/11/15 60th AGM Weekend Date for your diary TBA TBA Claimed

JC - John Cameron, KA-Kev Adlam, NJ-Nick Jones, PS-Paul Stewart, RG-Robert Green, SP-Stephen Phillips, TG-Tom Gilby.

432] S & C Desiro Tracker railtour: Your Fixtures Secretary is delighted to announce that this unusual and
unrepeatable mainline charity railtour with TPE has been strengthened from 3 to 6 cars to meet demand.
Anyone interested in 'upgrading' to one of the extra first class seats should make prompt contact. Further
bookings are invited before outside publicity begins. A booking form was included with BLN 1226 or see:
http://goo.gl/Imwh0y. (S&C = Switches and Crossings as well as the obvious!). Note that Howe & Co.
siding is deleted from the itinerary but a more than suitable replacement has now been confirmed!

BLN 1228.433] Fixtures Ts & Cs: Your committee has revised, updated the Society's Standard Booking
Terms and Conditions for Fixtures, Events and Other Visits. See website: http://goo.gl/TR1nWQ or they are
available by post (with an SAE please) from our General Secretary, Tim Wallis, per back page address.

1228 HEAD LINES: Record of Openings and Closings
434] Holyhead - Dublin Dun Laoghaire (HSS Stena Explorer): CP after the final sailing at 12.16 on 9
September 2014 from Dun Laoghaire (known as 'Kingstown' from 1821 to 1920). Stena will 'consolidate'
ferry services at Dublin Port, 10 miles away following a 90% reduction in traffic at Dun Laoghaire (1.7M
passengers in 1988 to 200,000 in 2014). This traditional former railway ferry service originated in the late
1840s. The short branch from Dun Laoghaire Mallin, Pier Jct. to Carlisle Pier used by boat trains from
Dublin Heuston via Glasnevin Jct. CP from 11 October 1980. This was due to clearance work (concrete slab
track) for DART electrification which would have required the branch junction track to be lowered. A new
ferry terminal was built adjacent to Dun Laoghaire Mallin station instead with its frequent DART service.

435] Athlone East Jct. - Mullingar (East) (27m 14ch): On 20 September 2014 the Mullingar to Athlone line
was disconnected at the Athlone end with new buffer stops facing Mullingar 175m from the removed
turnout. The line was part of the main route between Dublin and the Galway, Westport and Ballina lines
until 1973 when most services were diverted via Portarlington. It CP (scheduled services) after running
Saturday 9 May 1987, the single train ran the following week without passenger accommodation and was
withdrawn from Wednesday 17 May 1987. CF (regular booked) from Monday 2 November 1987. There
were subsequent specials requiring the opening of Moate signal cabin. Some track panels were replaced
in 1991 when the line was used for freight diversions from 30 September to 5 October 1991. The final
passenger train was ITG Early Bird Railtour 15 July 1995 (with locos 124 and 131). It was used fairly
frequently for engineering trains until 1999 at least, then they became rarer. By 2006, the Electric Train
Staff instrument at Moate had been stolen so pilot working was needed. The line was last weed sprayed
on 23 May 2003. It was signed OOU by the engineer (apart from engineer's specials) in the first half of
2003. Mullingar Jct. was remodelled in September 2003. The final train appears to have been an
inspection car in August 2006 and the line was severed at Mullingar sometime after. [Former Midland
Great Western Railway _ Ireland.]

1228 Prospective Network and Train Service Changes
436] Gillingham (Kent), Chatham Dockyard Jct. - End of branch before former A289 Pier Rd. bridge
(TQ776693): (BLN 1218.1472) TCA is due from 9 March 2015 linked to the North Kent line resignalling.

437] Leamington Spa station - Banbury station (both excl.): (BLN 1227.321) ROP is expected on 13/14
March 2015, three weeks ahead of schedule in good time for Easter (see next item). Some 100,000
tonnes of material had been removed from the Harbury landslip in the first two weeks and sophisticated
monitoring equipment installed. Chiltern have reduced fares so that West Midlands to London
passengers pay the equivalent Banbury fare (including annual season tickets!) and is a bus replacement
service between the stations. This line is used by 50 freight and 80 passenger trains a day.

438] Wembley, Sudbury Jcts. - Hemel Hempstead station (excl.) via AC lines and Watford Junction (AC
lines), Kings Langley & Apsley stations: TCP (TCA part at least) is booked after departure of the 01.58
Euston to Milton Keynes on 3 April, until 05.00 on 7 April 2015 for an Easter 'Watford engineering
blockade'. Virgin Trains run to Milton Keynes, LM to Hemel Hempstead and Caledonian Sleepers still use
Euston by reversing at Wembley Holding Sidings and via the ECML. London Overground DC line services
run Euston - Watford Junction (Sunday 5th Harrow & Wealdstone). Some associated freight lines are TCG.

BLN 1228.439] London, Mitre Bridge Jct. - Sudbury Jcts.: TCP (TCA part at least) from 3 to 6 April 2015
inclusive (previous item) Southern Clapham Junction (etc.) services terminate/start at Shepherd's Bush.
440] Watford Junction - St. Albans Abbey (both incl.) and five intermediate stations: TCP 3 to 6 April
2015 as a consequence of above.
441] Clifton, Kearsley, Farnworth & Moses Gate stations: TCP is expected from Saturday 2 May for 22
weeks to Sunday 4 October 2015 inclusive for electrification work in the twin single track 295 yd (270m)
Farnworth Tunnels between 8m 10ch and 8m 24ch. There will be alternating long term single line
working through one tunnel, reducing the frequency on the Manchester to Bolton line to three Northern
Rail trains each way per hour with additional TPE services in the peaks. There will be no weekend services.
442] Snibston Colliery Railway and Snibston Central station & Belvoir Road Halt: (MR p7) (BLN 1227.
MR20) Snibston Discovery Museum has confirmed their closure and CP (CA) by 1 August 2015 of this 50ch
standard gauge line on an ex-NCB branch. Pubic rides may operate in the Easter holidays 01530 278444.
This picture was taken at the museum in 2011, showing remains of Snibston No2 Colliery © Ashley Dace,
licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence: http://goo.gl/sZhf:

443] London Underground, Victoria Line, Seven Sisters (excl.) - Walthamstow Central (incl.) and
Tottenham Hale & Blackhorse Road stations: TCP is planned 8 to 30 August 2015 inclusive for renewal of
the scissors crossover at Walthamstow to enable 36tph (every 100 seconds) operation over the full length

of the Victoria line from April 2016 which will be the UK's highest train frequency. Beyond Seven Sisters is
24tph currently. The Victoria line carries 200M passengers per year averaging 548,000 daily.

1228 BLN GENERAL
BLN 1228.444] PSUL back-numbers: With thanks to our member Richard Maund these are all now
available on-line as a research resource, going back to 1963. Note, they may take a while to load see:
http://snipurl.com/psul-intro.

445] Quiz Answers: (BLN 1227.338) The only two UK stations which have six different TOCs providing

services between them (unless you have a TOC specific ticket!) are Manchester Piccadilly and Stockport:

1. Arriva Trains Wales 4. First TransPennine Express

2. Cross Country 5. Northern Rail

3. East Midlands Trains 6. Virgin Trains

The only two stations served by seven different train operating companies are:

(1) Crewe: (2) Doncaster:

1. Arriva Trains Wales 1. Cross Country

2. Cross Country 2. East Midland Trains

3. East Midland Trains 3. Grand Central Railway

4. London Midland 4. First Hull Trains

5. Northern Rail 5. First TransPennine Express

6. First ScotRail (Caledonian Sleepers) 6. Northern Rail

7. Virgin Trains 7. Virgin Trains East Coast

446] BLN numbering: (BLN 1227.318) Even though it was February 1965 (when the Society was nearly 10

years old) the back reference in this item to 'BLN' 25 (and not 125) was correct; although this was the
125th 'BLN'! The nascent Volume 1, No1 of 'Branch Line News' was in October 1955. Monthly publication
continued until January 1964 (Volume 9, No100). Following the Beeching Report quite lengthy lists of line

closures were being recorded every month and sometimes little else; therefore from February that year

twice monthly publication was adopted to try to give members more advanced notice of closures and
some other news. It was then renamed 'Branch Line News-Sheet' and No1 was dated 8 January 1964;

meaning that month there were actually three separate publications! The present numbering dates from
then and not when the Society was founded in 1955, so this BLN is actually the 1,327th publication. The

title reverted to 'Branch Line News' (with introduction of the printed signal masthead instead of a typed
version but without any announcement) with No169 of 13 January 1971 which incidentally had 10 pages.

447] Bristol Power Signalling Box (PSB): Thanks to Stuart Hicks, Society members were able to join an
RCTS visit this PSB on 1 February. It is situated in the entrance to the later extension of the original Brunel
part of Temple Meads station near bay P1 buffer stops, accessible from the car park, these days through a
high security fence. The NX (entrance/exit) style panel opened in 1970 and replaced 70 signal boxes which
had 343 staff. Initially there were 243 points machines, 177 Automatic Signals, 163 Controlled Signals, 556
Ground Signals, 50 Ground Frames, 3 Level Crossings, 200 BR Western Region (WR) Automatic Warning
System (AWS) ramps and 24 BR AWS indicators; it controlled 114 route miles. As it blocks the two
platforms of the former terminal station it will have to be demolished before they can be reopened for
electric IEP services (four an hour to Paddington). Apparently the Bristol to Cogload Jct., Taunton route
(interfacing with Exeter PSB) is not yet funded to move to the Thames Valley Signalling Centre at Didcot!
Signallers rotate between four different work stations; some more popular than others:

(1): 'The West' Temple Meads to Cogload Jct., Portbury branch, Yatton loops and Weston-super-Mare.
(2): Temple Meads station area, including links to the various local depots.
(3): East to Bath Spa, through Box Tunnel to nearly Thingley Jct (interfacing with Swindon PSB) and to just
before Freshford (Up line) and Bradford Jct. (Down line) _ interfacing with Westbury PSB.
(4): Filton & Bristol Parkway area, where four tracking surveying etc. work has started (BLN 1221.1722);
to Westerleigh Jct., almost Berkeley Road Jct. (Gloucester PSB)) and nearly Hullavington (Swindon PSB).

The Portbury branch includes a token release at signal 336 and a token acceptance machine at signal 335,
which has to receive the token before it can clear towards Parson Street. Most staff consider workstation
3 to be the least attractive to work, partly because of the occupation crossings on the Westbury route (a
couple of which see a fair amount of traffic) and the number of tunnels between Bath and Bristol which
are awkward when possessions are required. Panel 4 is the one where the signallers' skill makes a real
difference to punctuality, as there are several junctions where regulating decisions are required. The
Filton area was due to move to Didcot shortly, including the new IEP depot (under construction), but this
is now likely to happen between May and December 2016 with Bristol initially controlling access.

BLN 1228.448] Short seat reservations again: (BLN
1277.330) The member who submitted this seat
reservation asked if a passenger has time on the two
minute journey to even locate their seat on boarding
let alone actually sit in it before having to get off
again? Reservations are available on the 04.25 (SO)
from Cambridge to London (Liverpool Street) which
calls at all stations from Bishops Stortford to Hackney
Downs via Seven Sisters. Several stations in the North
East London area at which this train calls are well
under a mile apart and the shortest distance at 32ch
is Stoke Newington to Rectory Road. It would be interesting to know how many are actually reserved!

449] Looping the Loop etc: (Thanks to Ian Delgado also see his website: http://goo.gl/atct2m.)
 Meadowhall (BLN 1227.389) facing crossover to P4, Up & Down Slow (loop) and crossover at
Brightside Jct.: 17.05 (SSuX), 18.40 SO Leeds to Nottingham and 18.33 (SuX) Leeds to Sheffield.
 Chesterfield P3: is booked to be used by SX 05.49 to Liverpool Lime St., 06.26 to Leeds, 16.52 to
Nottingham & 21.31 to Sheffield. SO 05.49, 07.11 & 07.48 to Liverpool Lime St. also 14.52 to
Norwich. SuO 20.52 to Sheffield, which is booked via The Old Road Beighton Jct. to Woodhouse Jct.
 Worcester Shrub Hill bay P3: Good Friday 3 April 13.08 to Weymouth; from 18 May timetable
change, 21.46 SSuX to Bristol TM (ECS arrives there 67 minutes before so is likely to happen).
 Rugby bay P3: 14-17 April, 05.16 to Euston (note: towards the end of the possession may use P2).
 Moorthorpe Up Goods Loop: 18 & 25 April, 11.06 York to Sheffield is booked there 11.59 to 12.04.
 Darlington station, Up Main and Down Main (through lines): 9 May (Grand Central services).
 Durham Up Loop: 9 May, 12.07 & 17.08 Grand Central departures from Sunderland.
 Gloucester: The two non-platformed station 'through' lines (all 4 lines are reversible): Up Relief: 16
May, 10.48. 11.46 & 16.50 Swansea to Paddington. 17 May, 11.21, 13.21 & 15.21 Swan. to Padd.
Up Main: 14 March, 09.10 & 10.10 Nottingham to Cardiff. 16 May, 04.58 to 19.28 (incl.) Swan. to
Padd. 17 May, 08.10 to 18.51 (incl.) Swan to Padd & 11.30 to 18.30 & 20.30 Padd. to Swan.

 Cadder DPL: 16 May, 07.57 Alloa also 09.29, 13.29 & 16.23 Stirling and 1142 from Aberdeen all to
Glasgow Queen Street. (On-line it is Cadder (CDDR), not Cadder Down Passenger Loop (CDDRDPL).)

 Polmont North UPL: 16 May, 20.58 & 21.58 Dunblane to Edinburgh. 17 May, 11.48, 13.46 & 15.47
Stirling to Edinburgh.

 Bo'ness DPL: 17 May, 09.25 Edinburgh - Inverness (booked 1 min) and 12.35 Edinburgh - Dunblane.
 Linlithgow UPL: 16 May, 14.52 Aberdeen to King's Cross and 17 May, 20.36 Inverness to Euston.
As always these booked workings can change and may not happen on the day for various reasons.

BLN 1228.450] BLN 1227 - matters arising: Item 321] The Down direction is from Banbury to Leamington
Spa. 325] The 05.15 Reading (P15) to Bedwyn on 13 April is the first booked use of the Feeder Relief.
These Feeder Lines will be particularly used by freight trains to avoid conflict with passenger services on
the Up and Down Mains. 350] Although Manchester Victoria is not yet electrified, the first Manchester to
Liverpool direct electric train service was due to start during the first week in March (possibly on Thursday
5th) from Manchester Airport via Piccadilly's through platforms. 386] The original 'North Warwick line' Act
was the Birmingham, North Warwickshire & Stratford-upon-Avon Railway Act of 1894; the 1898 Bill was
an extension of time Act. Different BR references have been found to 'North Warwickshire', 'North
Warwick' and even 'North Warwicks' line! This correspondence is now closed. 400(3)]: Sometime in the
1950s (possibly Tuesday 31 July 1956) a member travelled on The Aberdonian from Grantham, which
carried the Fort William sleepers. They were detached at Cowlairs, joining the coaches with seats which
had come from Queen Street HL. 415]: According to the Signalling Record Society the box at Heol-Y-Sheet
was called just that (it was the junction of the 1947 curve from Pyle West Jct. and controlled a level
crossing too).

451] E-BLN 1227: One of the two attachments was about the Baltic Railways Magazine, as described in
BLN International 1227.068 and the other was February 'Sonderzug' with its associated calendar, thanks
to the compiler, our member Jonathan Perks. Anyone wanting this free on a regular basis should email
Jonathan at [email protected]. Pictures included item 337] Leamington Spa SSI signal
box control plan. 339] a ground panoramic side view of the whole Bennerley Viaduct. 353] the Tyne &
Wear system plan with possible future projected routes. 384] the pre-1968 Kidderminster black and white
timbered Tudor style station building including climbing plants! Finally 397] Corrour station, on the West
Highland line in the winter with snow.

452] Throwing down the gauntlet: (BLN 1222.1821) Although the expression 'gauntlet(t)ed track' is used
in America, correspondents have advised that it is not a modern importation from there but was used by
pre-nationalisation railways and indeed BR itself. In the 1970s on the ex-LNWR Buxton branch, a weak
bridge near Whaley Bridge was temporarily dealt with by 'gauntleting' the double track until repairs could
be carried out to avoid the need to lay points and install special signals.

1228 ENGLAND – EAST MIDLANDS
453] Nuneaton: By 8 February the Down Nuneaton Chord, between Nuneaton North Jct. on the Trent
Valley line and Abbey Jct. on the Birmingham line, was reversibly signalled and the long awaited already
postponed (BLN 1202.223), Up Relief line (not an ex-GWR one either!) was commissioned. The latter is
the through non-platform track between P5 and P6 shown 'OOU' on TRACKmaps 4 p11B (August 2013). Its
overhead is thought to have been live since the original planned commissioning date of 8 December 2013.

454] Market Harborough: The Nottingham Post reports that Local Enterprise Partnership funding has
been made available to complement NR funds and enable a £45M realignment of the Midland Main Line

here to go ahead before electrification. The tight curve will be straightened reducing journey times and
enabling the platforms to be lengthened. This is expected to involve re-opening all or part of the original
alignment abandoned in 1885. The Midland originally joined the LNWR route at Market Harborough, then
diverged again over a mile further north at Great Bowden Jct., with running powers over the LNWR
between the two junctions. In 1885 additional Midland tracks were laid on the east side, flying over the
LNWR at Great Bowden. The bridge over the ex-LNWR Rugby to Peterborough line will be removed as part
of the project. Line speed will rise from 60-85 mph to 85-100 mph. The target completion date is February
2018. Years ago BR had considered this scheme after closure of the Market Harborough (No3 Jct.) to
Northampton (No5 Jct.) line from 17 August 1981 but it was not progressed due to lack of money.

1228 GREATER LONDON
BLN 1228.455] Crossrail: (BLN 1227.343) (1) Rails: Global Rail News reports that Tata Steel has won the
contract to supply 57km (7,000 tonnes) of rails for the core section. The steel for the rails will be
manufactured in Scunthorpe and then transported through the Channel Tunnel to Tata’s steel works in
Hayange, France for heat treatment. Rather than using traditional methods of heating and cooling, Tata
Steel has developed a patented system where the rail moves through an induction furnace using an
electromagnetic field to heat the steel to 950°C. It is then rapidly cooled with compressed air. The
resulting uniquely low residual stresses provide exceptional protection against the risk of rail failure. The
lack of planned Crossrail tunnel crossovers suggests the operators are relying on this (and the reliability of
the class 345 Aventra EMUs!).

(2) West Drayton: (BLN 1224.39) Installation of new points 8276B was due to take place ready for start of
traffic on 2 March. They are not yet in use. A new crossover from the Up Relief to Up Goods Line west of
the station was also to be completed, again OOU at present.

456] Where is Stockley Jct.? (BLN 1227.253.3) This location is shown on the Unusual Track website as
being on the Stockley viaduct where the future Stockley East Flyover will diverge. A new timing point of
this name now appears before Heathrow Airport Jct. for Up airport trains and trains on the Up Main. For
trains on the Down Relief it does not normally appear, except SuO between 17 May and 26 July when
trains are on the Down Main at Heathrow Airport Jct., but Down Relief at Stockley Jct. However Stockley
Bridge Jct., thought to be the ladder crossover at 12m 09ch, has ceased to be used as a timing point. It is
not clear whether Stockley Bridge Jct. is to be renamed Stockley Jct., if the name covers a wider location,
or if there is another explanation. Clarification is welcomed from anyone with access to official records.

457] TOC Focus, Heathrow Express (HX):
 Paddington to Heathrow Central (T1, 2 & 3) in 15 mins every 15 mins; T5 takes a further 4 mins.
 Free shuttle service (T1, 2 & 3) to T4, every 15 minutes; even on Christmas Day.
 Paddington to (T1, 2 & 3) is 14m 43ch, to T5 is 16m 22ch and it is 16m 27ch to T4.
 Claims to be 'the fastest way between Central London (ie Paddington!) and Heathrow Airport.'
 150 Heathrow Express services run every day.
 16,000 passengers daily. (The airport has over 200,000 passengers daily, 40,000 go by tube.)
 Over 60M passengers carried since beginning on 19 June 1998 (initially to a temporary terminus).
 Single tickets, Express class: £21.50* online (Heathrow Connect £10.10), return tickets: £35.
 First UK train company with e-ticketing. Passengers receive a barcode either via an email which
they print or can go direct to a mobile phone that can then be scanned on the train.
 98% reliability.
 92.9% punctuality (overall moving annual public performance measure).

 97% of passengers would travel again.
 96% would recommend the service to colleagues and friends.
 94% overall satisfaction (autumn 2014 independent National Passenger Survey) 2nd equal best TOC.
 Trains have 'saved' enough energy in the past decade to have boiled 400M kettles.
 Heathrow Express has 'saved' 204M kg of carbon emissions since launch with 54% reduction in

carbon emissions over a taxi (the fares of which are how Heathrow Express prices the tickets).
 Passenger mix: 69% business travel and 31% leisure travel.
 Live Sky news and weather is available on the trains (although note short journey time).
 Flight Information display screens and airline check-in service at Paddington since December 2009.
 First UK TOC with ticket purchase direct to iPhone, Android, Blackberry or Java-enabled phones.
 Named 'Best Rail Operator' at the 2011 Business Travel Awards.
 Named 'Best Holiday Transfer Company' at the 2014 British Travel Awards.
* £1.32 per mile, other fares are available; on the day single is £26.50. 12 journey carnets available.

1228 NORTH EAST
BLN 1228.458] Bellingham station: Northumberland, NE48 2DG (NY 8413 8332). Saughtree (BLN
1227.404) is not the only place on the former Border Counties Line with rolling stock and providing
hospitality. Two Mk. 1 carriages (76301/2), from Southern Region 4TC unit 417, are here. These vehicles
will have run through the other Bellingham station, to and from Chart Leacon for overhaul. One vehicle
accommodates 'Carriages Tea Room', with food prepared in the former driver’s cab, and the other has a
meeting space. There are interesting displays and relics in the nearby Heritage Centre, including a history
of the railways in the area. The station building survives, and appears to be in residential use, but there is
no public access to it.

1228 NORTH WEST
459] Manchester Mayfield: A massive new government hub is being considered near Piccadilly station.
This is believed to involve pre-letting 430,000 ft2 of office space to start the regeneration of the run down
Mayfield area. Eventually, as much as 7M ft2 of new offices and thousands of homes could be built if the
scheme goes ahead. The Cabinet Office’s Government Property Unit is understood to be in talks with the
owners of Manchester’s 6.2-acre former Mayfield Railway station and neighbouring landowners. These
include London & Continental Railways, Manchester Council and TfGM. If it progresses to the next stage,
the north-west offices of various government departments would relocate to this single site, resulting in
potential commercial development of over 6M ft2. The first phase would be an 800,000 ft2 development
and 1,300 homes near the proposed new HS2 terminal, due to open in Manchester by 2032.

460] Romiley Jct.: The signal box is scheduled for abolition on Sunday 2 August at 18.00 with control
transferring to Manchester East Signalling Centre (in Stockport Edgeley NR Depot), an interim phase
before eventual control by Manchester ROC at Ashburys. The lines between New Mills Central and
Romiley Jct. are being renamed; the Down Main to Down Romiley and the Up Main to Up Romiley. The
'Down & Up Goods' single line between Woodley Jct. and Bredbury Sidings will be converted to a siding
named Bredbury Sidings. The unnamed junction at 10m 56ch where the Up Rose Hill line and the Down
Rose Hill line merge to become the 'Up & Down Rose Hill single line' will be known as Green Meadows Jct.

461] Metrolink; (1) St. Peter's Square: The expanded stop will have two island platforms and be moved
North West, closer to Manchester Art Gallery, allowing more room for public events in the square as part
of the council’s overhaul of the area. The closure (actually permanently for the existing stop) will be for
14 months, starting in July when the Deansgate-Castlefield work is finished. During the first two months

there will be no trams at all through the Square, trams from the south will terminate at Deansgate-
Castlefield or Cornbrook. For 10 months from September to June 2016 there will be single line working:

 Altrincham - Piccadilly: 12 minute service with double trams.
 Altrincham - Cornbrook: 12 minute service with single trams.
 Bury - Piccadilly: 12 minute service with single trams.
 Bury - East Didsbury: 12 minute service with double trams.
 Eccles / MediaCityUK - Deansgate-Castlefield: 12 minute service with double trams.
 Rochdale - Ashton-Under-Lyne: 12 minute service with mixed single and double trams.
 Manchester Airport - Cornbrook: 12 minute service with single trams.
Double trams tend to run to the end of lines at terminals. The final two months will be another complete
closure. The service pattern during both complete closures is not yet clear. There will be a significant
number of shuttle buses during the work. Lessons appear to have been learnt; there are to be more
Piccadilly trams than during the Victoria work and the single line will be significantly shorter than it was
there. Hopefully the programme will not overrun as happened at Victoria which was CP for nearly a year.
(2) Rochdale: Work to make life easier for tram and train users in the town centre is under way. A 40m
currently disused underpass, accessed from Miall Street, will be re-opened and renovated. Many of the
heritage features from the original subway closed 36 years ago will be restored, such as the ironwork,
bridge decks, original railings, York stone flooring also brown, cream and light blue tiling. Photographs of
how the station used to look will be featured on the walls and railings. Once completed, the new entrance
will provide quicker, easier access to both the railway station and the town centre Metrolink stops for
travellers using Hare Street Park and Ride.
(3) Latest Tram car? On 12 February a white Fiat drove onto the Metrolink tracks at Baguley, delaying
services. The Airport branch was closed from there to Moor Road inclusive with replacement bus services
provided, suggesting temporary crossover use north of Martinscroft and south of Sale Water Park?
(4) Victoria/Second City Crossing: On 21 February a correspondent observed that a normal (well,
reasonably so) Metrolink service was operating. The northernmost track and platform at Victoria was not
yet in use; northbound trams used the centre track which has a platform both sides (the doors were only
opened on the south side of the trams). Terminating trams from Bury and Rochdale reversed in this
centre platform from 18 to 20 February inclusive and additional single trams were provided between Bury
and Abraham Moss every 12 minutes, alternating with Victoria double trams to enhance the frequency.
After terminating at the latter stop, these single trams ran (ECS unfortunately!) to Queens Road Depot to
await their next working. A double junction was laid for the Second City Crossing line which is progressing
well. A single track extends almost to the new Exchange Square stop, the footings for which were in place.

BLN 1228.462] Ordsall Chord: (BLN 1194.1406) NR has confirmed that the construction timescale may need
to be reassessed because of the delays in obtaining permissions for the new line; part of the Northern
Hub upgrades. It is understood that the delay is due to the hold-up in securing a Transport & Works Act
Order originally applied for in summer 2013. The original aim was to start work in late 2014 or early 2015.

463] Liverpool - Manchester: Network Rail (NR) has confirmed the planned running of the first Class 319
EMU services between Liverpool and Manchester Airport during the week commencing 2 March. This
follows successful testing during the night of 23 February. Northern Rail had originally hoped to have
services ready for the December 2014 timetable change but NR's electrification programme was delayed.
This was by 'unexpected ground conditions and technical issues with wiring equipment', while installing
overhead catenary wires on the 184-year-old former Liverpool and Manchester Railway main line. Booked
EMU workings by Class 319s (SuX times given): From Liverpool Lime St.: 06.16, 07.16, 09.16, 12.15, 14.16,

15.16, 17.13 & 18.14. From Manchester Airport: 07.35, 08.40, 10.40, 13.40, 15.40, 16.40, 18.40 & 19.40.
More EMU workings are due to start with the May timetable change.

BLN 1228.464] Chester: August 2013 TRACKmaps 4 p35A (August 2013) shows the Merseyrail Wirral Line
electrified third rail on the Up Slow line running right through P7 and ending at its junction with the line
out of bay P6. A recent visit discovered that electrification actually (and sensibly) finishes sooner, just
before the boarded staff walkway to the adjacent sidings over this line at the bottom of the east end
platform ramp. Not surprisingly the third rail becomes very rusty at its extremity; it is wondered if the
record 18-car ice clearing and stranded unit 'rescue' emu (BLN 1226.222) run on 18 January before our
'750V Tracker Tour' reached the end of electrification here or even beyond! (Chester P7 is shown as taking
15 coach trains). As previously noted (BLN 1225.125) Wirral Line EMUs, even 6-car sets, don't normally
venture past the signal separating P7b from P7a. It was observed that some trains run through P7, for
example from North Wales to Manchester and the occasional one to Crewe. On leaving Chester the Wirral
line is designated the 'Down Birkenhead' to Liverpool and 'Up Birkenhead' into Chester; at Hooton South
Jct. these become the 'Up Chester' and 'Down Chester' respectively _ the directionality was changed a few
years ago to match the rest of the Merseyrail Wirral lines, with the 'Up' direction being towards Liverpool.

465] Liverpool St. James. (BLN 1226.267) An accident did occur at the station on 15 October 1913. The
2.30pm Cheshire Lines Committee Liverpool to Manchester express was standing in the station and was
run into by the following 2.35pm Midland Railway Liverpool to Stockport train. Five passengers and the
guard of the standing train were killed, and 57 passengers were injured, some severely. Six passengers on
the Midland service were injured. The inquiry found the cause was signalling error contributed to by
inadequate signalling, a lack of track circuiting and interlocking. This was three years before the station
closed in December 1916 so was unlikely to have been the cause. Over the years there have been various
Vraious Merseyrail reports say that James Street station is haunted by a soldier in WW1 or WW2 uniform
who walks the length of the disused platform then vanishes (obviously waiting for his ghost train?).

466] Merseyrail: On the 12 February it was announced that starting in March and taking just over a year,
the Class 508 and 509 EMUs are being given an interior makeover with a 'sharper and more colourful
look'. This includes re-upholstered seats, new labelling and a new two-tone white and orange door colour
scheme. Following passenger feedback, litter bins will be provided. The more vibrant colours replace
neutral tones and match the striking bright new look of the exterior introduced over the last 12 months
noted on our 18 January railtour. The 59-train fleet is 30 years old and Merseyrail said it was looking at 'all
options' for modernisation, from a new fleet to extensive refurbishment. The interior and exterior
improvements are part of an £8.5M upgrade of the fleet. £5.5M has come from Angel Trains, the London-
based company which owns them. £3M has been provided by Merseyrail's joint TOCs Abellio and Serco.
Work will be carried out 'in house' at a purpose-built facility at the local Kirkdale depot. The new exteriors
feature six different themes including tourist attractions, shopping and sport.

1228 SOUTH EAST - NORTH (& EAST ANGLIA)
467] Lowestoft South Goods: (BLNs 1225.186 & 1226.244) 'South Side' is actually two words rather than
one. The private siding section of the north branch was remodelled 1960/62 after the big Norwich
construction industry supplies firm of Boulton & Paul acquired a 42 acre site on the Lake Lothing
waterfront for a woodworking factory. The track was relocated nearer to the quayside and new sidings
provided for imported timber and dispatch of joinery products using BR. By 1969 the Brooke Marine
branch extremity described previously and other sidings were OOU, leaving the daily (if required) trip
running just for Boulton & Paul’s traffic. As well as the 2 May 1969 Society trip, parties made brake van

trips on two days in January and 28 May that year, also 9 and 11 August 1971. The latter were very much
at the end of freight services. A detailed article on Boulton & Paul’s railways at three locations in East
Anglia in Industrial Railway Record No116 (March 1989) gives a history of the Lowestoft site and states
that the company’s rail traffic was transferred to road in 1971, with the internal shunting loco transferred
to their Norwich works in November of that year. The 31 December 1972 line closure date is when the
line was taken OOU; no traffic having passed for more than a year before and track lifting was actually in
1974. The BR loco which tripped the branch was the Lowestoft yard pilot and in 1969 also worked a once
weekly move over the remaining ¼ mile of the Fish Market branch, along the south side of the passenger
station and across the main road just to collect one wagon of fish offal consigned to Grimsby. Rather
fishily one sole Society party (with a member from Dover?) were in the right plaice at the right time to
travel (holding noses!) with it so increasing their haul of new track and fishplates.

BLN 1228.468] Chelmsford: (BLN 1226.231) At 09.30 on 18 February loco 66412 hauled an aggregate train
into Chelmsford Down P2, having arrived on the Up line from the Colchester direction. It then set back;
loco propelling, down the incline into the lower yard. March Modern Railways confirms the 6 January first
working with a photograph of 66075 taken that day at the low level yard by our member Iain Scotchman.
Only two sidings have been relaid but the former Post Office loading platform reportedly remains.

469] Banbury: BBC News Oxford for 21 February reports that Cherwell District Council’s Planning
Committee has approved an application by NR and Chiltern Railways for a light maintenance depot at
Banbury including a fuel tank and administration building. 18 trains will be accommodated on four tracks
with a fifth track for engineering vehicles. The site was a loco shed from 1908 to 1966.

470] Hungerford - Bedwyn: On Sunday 22
February when diversions from the West of
England line were operating via Yeovil, the 16.34
Paddington to Penzance hit debris on the track
after a lorry had knocked a brick parapet walling
from an overbridge onto the track at 63m 64ch,
some 2½ miles west of Hungerford on the
Berkshire and Wiltshire border. (Picture left by
John King)
The HST sustained significant damage and
returned to Hungerford where passengers
detrained. The 11.54 Penzance to Paddington
used the crossover at Bedwyn station to return
via Hawkeridge curve and Melksham to reach
London. Its total journey time (having already
been diverted via Yeovil) was 9 hours 14 minutes.
The line was closed for the rest of the day. When
seen on 25 February the missing parapet, on the
east side of the bridge, had been replaced by a
temporary metal barrier. This incident illustrates
why bridges classed as high risk have generally
had reinforced plate metal parapets installed
rather than brick or stone (after the serious Great
Heck accident of 28 February 2001).

BLN 1228.471] Marlow branch: A local 'growth' deal has been agreed to fund improvements including at
Bourne End to allow branch trains access to both platforms and two direct trains per hour to run.

1228 SOUTH EAST ENGLAND - SOUTH
472] East Sussex Coast line: (BLN 1227. 366) Southerham Jct. - Bo Peep Jct. was closed for three days for
resignalling from 22.00 on Friday 13 February. Hampden Park signal box was promptly demolished during
this time to improve visibility and make way for obstacle detectors and their associated equipment at the
adjacent level crossing immediately north of the station. The signal box nameplate had been removed
when your Sub-Editor visited on the last day of semaphore signalling. Other boxes remained, complete
with nameplates, on his later visit of 18 February. Hampden Park is said to be one of the busiest level
crossings on NR with 14tph off peak and 20 during peak hours. The station opened as Willingdon on 1
January 1888 becoming 'Hampden Park for Willingdon' on 1 July 1903 and just Hampden Park on 1 July
1933. Some of the London - Eastbourne - Hastings trains only stop on the first of their two passages
through the station (later running non-stop after reversing at Eastbourne). For this reason trains
advertised to London can leave in both directions! Eastbourne station itself is Grade II listed as is its large
1882 LB&SCR Saxby and Farmer Type 5 signal box (formerly with a 72-lever frame); so this was shown as
'closed' rather than 'abolished'. In 1991 it was modernised to an NX panel with colour light signals hence
was 're-controlled' by Three Bridges ROC rather than being resignalled. Berwick box is also listed but the
others are expected to be demolished. The former Bexhill Central signal CCW17 was reportedly the last
remaining single-armed distant signal in the south east. For what it's worth, LB&SCR signalling records
(although a South Eastern Railway box, the LB&SCR worked trains to it) c1920, SR (South Eastern) Chief
Civil Engineer's (CCE) plan c1976 and SR (Central) CCE plan c1959 all show the name 'BO-PEEP JUNCTION'.
Unfortunately all are shown in upper case - but the initial 'B' does seem to be larger perhaps suggesting
'Bo-peep' in lower case text! However, the LB&SCR Appendix 1922, SR Appendix 1934 and BR Sectional
Appendices 1960 all show it as 'Bopeep Junction'! [There is certainly no pulling the wool over our
members' eyes when it comes to railway names _ Ed.]

473] Pevensey & Westham - Polegate: (BLN 1227.367) The potential time saving of a Willingdon Chord
was reduced during some years at certain times of day (usually peaks) by a double stop at Hampden Park
mentioned in the previous item, being used for passengers to alight southbound and cross to the other
platform to join the previous northbound departure from Eastbourne to speed up their journey.
According to the first PSUL (1963) the 1m 60ch Stone Cross Jct. to Polegate 'B' Jct. direct line avoiding
Eastbourne was then used by eight summer dated passenger trains per week in the Up direction only:
12.20pm SO Hastings to Birmingham Snow Hill, 12.32pm SO Hastings to Manchester Piccadilly, 10.00am
SO Ore to Victoria, 5.00pm SO Ore to Victoria, and the 6.00, 7.00 & 8.00pm SuO Ore to Victoria. There
were none booked in the Down direction.

474] Romsey: The Friends of Romsey Signal Box have been given the maximum grant of £10k from the
Heritage Lottery Fund 'Sharing Heritage' scheme to build a new visitor reception area and develop the
attraction with improved marketing and increased recruitment of volunteers. £5k has also been awarded
by Test Valley Borough Council. Sharing Heritage is a funding programme to help people across the UK
explore, conserve and share all aspects of the history and character of their local area. The Friends
manage the signal box as an educational resource for adults and children alike. It was closed in 1982,
since when it has been preserved on its own dedicated site and restored to full operational order both
internally and externally. A simulator is also connected so that the signal box can be operated with all the
appropriate equipment appearing to work exactly as if the box was controlling real trains on the

neighbouring line. Romsey Signal Box is almost unique in the UK as members of the public enter an
operational signal box, and do everything from pulling levers to make signals work to operating a full
simulated train service. It has been regularly open to the public since 1992. [The other signal box with a
similar purpose is Wrangaton at Kidderminster Railway Museum, adjacent to the SVR station.]
BLN 1228.475] Be my SWT Valentine! On 14 February SWT allowed their platform train describers to
display Valentines’ Day modified text. For example Waterloo became Waterlove. Other names included
Darling Dorking, Kissington South, Lips-Hooked, Passionfield and When Harry met Salisbury. One display
below (below countesy of SWT) showed a train to Hampton Courting calling at Thames Smitten. [No jokes
about Effingham Junction!] We wonder what they might do on 1 April?

1228 SOUTH WEST ENGLAND
476] Avonmouth Docks: The Mendip Mariner railtour of 17 January ran south from Holesmouth Jct. along
the branch for over half a mile to the end of the new inward stone rail terminal just past Bennets Siding
where 59101 was waiting to depart with an empty train back to Westbury. Bennets Siding itself, formerly
a domestic coal depot, is now a modern cement terminal receiving regular trains from Horrocksford
Cement Works near Clitheroe (BLN 1192.1220). This traffic was won from shipping. On the seaward side
of the branch, the former LPG terminal siding area (where trains once ran from Furzebrook, Wytch Farm
on the Swanage branch) was noted to be cleared ready for a planned rail served container terminal. The
branch originally went to the Royal Edward Dock but the track beyond the stone terminal, although in
situ to an area used for unloading biomass from ships to the dockside (and not under cover), is currently
disused. There was once an impressive timber station (ST 5078 7866), now demolished, on the south side
of Royal Edward Dock. OP 20 April 1910 for passengers from the inbound SS Port Kingston it was badly

damaged in WW2 and was subsequently closed, although occasional boat trains ran to the Docks after the
war. The final boat train ran on 26 August 1964 for passengers sailing on the SS Camito to Trinidad.

BLN 1228.477] Bath - Bristol: A correspondent visited station locations in January along the former MR
line. Kelston for Saltford: Nothing remains of the actual station but a fine stone bridge is in situ which
carries the trackbed over a minor road at the lower end of Saltford village. The name was a misnomer;
Kelston Park is a stately home on a hillside about a mile away. Weston: The Station House is on Station
Road, Weston, a quiet suburb of Bath and is a well maintained private residence. OP 1869 with the MR
Mangotsfield to Bath branch, it is similar in style to intermediate stations on the Settle & Carlisle line,
constructed 5 years later for opening in 1876. The main building is a complete single storey structure
shared by two businesses and sympathetically maintained. Fishponds: Stunted fragmentary remains of
one platform are extant alongside the Bristol to Bath cycle path (Sustrans' first railway to cycle path
conversion). A pile of carved stone blocks in the adjacent overgrown woodland look like they may have
come from the demolished station. The woodland, alongside New Station Way, occupies the former
Fishponds Coal Company siding. The site of the Avonside Engineering Company’s siding which was on the
other side of the line has been absorbed into modern industrial premises and is fenced off. Staple Hill:
The westbound platform of the station survives intact with a modern metal sculpture on it but this section
of the cycle path is blocked for 22 weeks from October 2014 for maintenance. Staple Hill tunnel (514 yd)
is accessible and now permanently lit. At Mangotsfield, two workers were pointing a cutting stone wall.

1228 WEST MIDLANDS
478] Leek Brook Junction: The Churnet Valley Railway 2015 public brochure contains a cryptic note 'Leek
Brook Junction (with photo of a platform) - Open on a limited number of dates in 2015' - but nothing
anywhere else in the brochure (or on-line) about services at the platform!

479] Cradley Heath: Centro has announced work to upgrade the bus and rail interchange. It will have
four bus stands inside the building with automatic doors that only open when a bus arrives. Two further
stands will be provided on a newly-constructed island outside. There will be new toilets, electronic
information displays, a better waiting environment and new cycle storage facilities. Funding includes
£5M from the government's Better Bus Area fund - requiring £5M in matched funding from Centro.

480] Kenilworth: (BLN 1223.1919) Planning permission has been granted to allow work to start on the
new station at 3m 44ch. The scheme includes a footbridge with lift access to two platforms, a station
building, car park and bus stand/drop off area. The Priory Road site was used as a railway station from
1844 to 1965 and the original station building was demolished some years after the station closed (one
platform, buildings and a footbridge over the line remained in July 1977). The location had been used as
a builder's merchant’s yard up until the county council recently took possession. The track is now single
here (south of Kenilworth loop) suggesting that loop might be extended at some point?

481] Midland Metro; (1) Wednesbury Depot: A £13.8M expansion has been formally opened. The
Potters Lane complex has been refurbished, enlarged and upgraded as part of the ongoing £128M
investment in the line between Wolverhampton and Birmingham. It accommodates the 20 new Urbos
3 trams which are being phased into service. Commissioned in 2012 by Centro, an initial phase of work
was completed in September 2013. This consisted of a shed for testing and commissioning the new
trams, additional trackwork and overhead line electrification providing stabling facilities for up to 24
vehicles. The second phase involved a 42m extension to the existing maintenance shed, new office and

staff space and extra storage facilities for the tram maintenance works. It also involved upgrade works
to some electrical substations and provision of a new substation.

(2): Wolverhampton, St. Georges: (BLN 1226.284) The new layout is reduced to a single platform but
long enough to take 2x2 new tram cars in case of failure (they can't work in pairs in service). The right
hand track on approach is not being replaced and the scissors crossover has been removed. A new
point taking the double track approach down to a single line is being installed nearer to the Wishbone
Bridge over the ring road. This was a well-guarded secret during the public consultation although it is
intended to run some trams to the NR station instead _ there is no sign of any point work for this!

(3): New Street extension: (BLN 1227.381) As at 23 February a single line had been laid from the site
of the Grand Central tram stop into Stephenson Street which will be the line to Centenary Square.
Work continues to lay track around the sharp curve in Stephenson Street with both lines now in situ.
The line towards Snow Hill has been laid along Corporation Street as far as Fore Street.

BLN 1228.482] Stafford: (BLN 1225.172) According to a local correspondent, the former Royal Mail
platform has never been known locally as P7 (although it is shown in TRACKmaps 4 p12B (August 2013) as
such it is not in the NR Sectional Appendix). Track has recently been lifted southwards from the platform.
Stafford No4 and Stafford No5 signal boxes (visited by two society parties last year) are due to close with
resignalling during an August Bank Holiday blockade. Control is due to transfer to a new workstation at
Rugby ROC from 1 September. A new goods line (through the former Royal Mail platform) will also be
brought into use and other enhancements made (such as minor speed increases on some lines).

483] Wolverhampton: On 21 February the 07.25 SO to Shrewsbury departed from bay P6 as booked. It
was formed of 2 x 2 car Class 170 DMUs and as such leaves from the buffers but, the rear two cars were
locked OOU. Two other services (the SSuX 06.13 and 06.48 to Shrewsbury) are booked to use the bay
which is currently only signalled for passenger departures; arrivals are ECS. One day last year two
members found both these to be 2x2car Class 170s, the rear two cars locked for 'revenue protection'.

1228 YORKSHIRE & HUMBERSIDE
484] Rossington branch: (BLN 1180.385) The colliery served by this 1m 42ch branch off the East Coast
Main Line (Down side), just south of Doncaster, ceased production on 31 March 2006. Empty wagons are
currently booked to arrive (SuX) at 08.40 and leave 12.48 after loading with coal being extracted from
the former colliery spoil heap (about 330,000 tonnes in total). This has been running 2-3 times a week
generally to Cottam or West Burton Power Stations. The good news is that work is to start on a new 35
acre £400M 'inland port' here with two 440m handling sidings able to take split container trains up to
775m long. The layout will include a headshunt, locomotive release road and cripple wagon road. The
location of this 'Brownfield Site' is strategic, off a main railway and close to the M180 motorway.

1228 IRELAND
485] Londonderry Foyle Road - Portadown: (BLN 1227.318) The excellent book 'Farewell the Derry Road'
published by Colourpoint in 2010 includes a vivid and detailed description of the last journey early on 15
February 1965. The 50th anniversary of the closure came recently a few days after the completion of
relaying of track to Tweedbank on the similar in character Waverley Route. The Derry Road was likewise
regarded as a duplicate line between a pair of cities, but closure left sizeable towns and the entire west of
Ulster without rail transport. As ever in Northern Ireland, religion and politics possibly played their part in
its demise, the population served being mainly of persuasions alien to the Stormont government. Our
correspondent recalls journeys in August 1964, on well loaded 5 to 8-car DMUs.

BLN 1228.486] Larne Harbour branch: (BLN 1224.94) Magheramorne loop, just south of the station; the
furthest loop out from Belfast on the branch, is not as shown in TRACKmaps 6 p19A (November 2003),
which has the Down line as unidirectional towards Larne. In fact both the main line and the loop (on the
west side) are reversible; when there is no crossing movement, the main line is always used. The following
trains are booked to take the loop line: 06.25 and 07.32 (SSuX) Larne Harbour to Belfast Great Victoria
Street (GVS), 17.36 (SSuX) Larne Town to GVS, and 06.55 (SO) Larne Harbour to GVS which service has no
booked passenger station stop between Larne Town and Whitehead. Whitehead Loop at the station (i.e.
P1) is only booked to be used as a through route at 08.20 by the 07.35 SSuX Belfast GVS to Larne Harbour.
All Whitehead terminating trains now layover in the northbound platform (P2) and return from it; the
Railway Preservation Society of Ireland shunting neck is no longer used for stabling.

487] Derry/Londonderry line: (BLN 1224.94) Killagan Loop, between Culleybackey and Ballymena was
observed by some members on two separate days last year to be used by the southbound services and
NOT the northbound services. These are the 17.05 (SSuX) Portrush to Belfast GVS and the 17.33 (SSuX)
Derry/Londonderry to GVS. The 16.46 and 17.46 from Belfast Central to Coleraine used the main line both
days. It may be a case that the first train to arrive uses the loop?

488] Braywatch! The 15.30 DART train from Greystones (advertised as calling at all stations as a through
train to Malahide) has been reported and observed normally to terminate in the now rarely used south
facing Up side bay (formerly P3) at Bray SSuX with its passengers changing to a replacement set in the
adjacent P1. It was formerly used by the diesel shuttle to Graystones before electrification. The two
through platforms are both used bidirectionally. A busy scene at Bray with ECS in the bay on the left ©
William Murphy 2011, licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence http://goo.gl/sZhf:

BLN 1228.489] Farranfore - Valentia Harbour: The 21 February Guardian included a splendid half page
photo of Gleensk viaduct from a slightly elevated position showing its use by a cyclist. The viaduct,
between Mountain Stage and Kells, is now part of a 16m walking /cycling route due for completion in
2017. Picture below © Graham Horn 2008, licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
http://goo.gl/sZhf. For more pictures of this spectacular structure see http://goo.gl/d39kEl also
http://goo.gl/q1gMDP and http://goo.gl/92brWx.

490] Tralee - Fenit & Limerick: (BLN 1225.194) A member is able to add to the last train information. In
May and June 1978 he toured Ireland using an 'Overlander' ticket giving 15 days unlimited travel on CIÉ,
NIR and Ulsterbus, in conjunction with a CIÉ all-line Locomotive and Railcar Pass for footplate travel.
(Readers turn Shamrock Green with envy at this point!) His trip was arranged to coincide with the annual
transit by CIÉ’s weedkilling train of the North Kerry line from Ballingrane to Tralee. In that year, however,
CIÉ had a new weedkilling train and, due to technical problems with it, it was running about three weeks
late (!) on its booked programme. This meant he would miss travelling on it, but he called in at the District
Engineer’s office in Limerick to enquire about progress. By chance a senior engineer was there and asked
about our correspondent’s interest in the weedkilling train. To his surprise, and he suspects that of
everybody else present, the engineer announced 'I would like to go along the North Kerry line'. Our
correspondent was asked to keep in touch with him and his staff and it was hoped something could be
arranged before his departure from Ireland on 7 June. Arrangements were duly made for the journey on
Tuesday 6 June 1978 (after the 31 May final train date previously given in BLN 1225 although it does
mention in the original table that weedkilling trains are not necessarily included). This date followed a
Bank Holiday Monday and our correspondent took the 05.30 from Heuston to Cork giving an arrival in

Limerick at 08.50. He was met by the engineer and four other staff, one of whom was a driver and
another was a guard, equipped with a huge bunch of keys on a very large hoop. Slightly wondering what
was to come, they walked along the platform and made for what looked like a large wooden garden shed,
with track leading into it and situated on the stub of the former direct curve towards Foynes and North
Kerry. This housed a 4-wheeled Wickham railcar No 416A. It duly burst into life and, once organised, the
party trundled into Limerick station to reverse. (To be continued…………..!)

1228 SCOTLAND
BLN 1228.491] Scottish Sleepers: (BLN 1224.104) Serco has signed a £148M contract with CAF to supply
75 new sleeping cars. This will be for four train formations of 16 cars (five different types) and 11 spare
vehicles, also technical support and parts. GB Railfreight has been signed up by Serco to provide
locomotives (refurbished Class 92s for the passenger electric sections and initially Class 67s for the diesel
sections until sufficient Class 73/9s are available) and drivers when it takes over the service from 1 April.

492] Glasgow Subway: (BLN 1224.97) John Graham Construction has been awarded the £3.2M Buchanan
Street station modernisation contract, its third to date, after Ibrox and St. Enoch. Included are a new
ticket office, floors, walls and ceilings, information and signage for passengers and brighter, energy
efficient lighting. A new glass canopy will be erected over the entrance close to Nelson Mandela Place
similar in design to the larger square glass entrance on Buchanan Street. Strathclyde Partnership for
Transport (SPT) is also working with the Buchanan Galleries development team to help progress the
shopping precinct expansion plans, which require access above the station's Dundas Street entrance. A
new travelator will be installed (author of Unusual Transport Systems in the British Isles please note) at
the same time as work is being undertaken above this entry point. Work starts after conclusion of that at
St. Enoch station to reduce disruption. At the SPT meeting of 13 February, plans were also approved for
refurbishment of Kelvinbridge and Govan during the 2015/16 financial year as was a contribution to the
procurement of 'new bespoke trains', new automated signalling, control room and associated system
improvements such as platform screen doors. Most of the £78M approved is on bus and non-rail projects.

493] Ayr: (BLN 1160.530) Our members advises that the track was lifted at the former Ayr Depot (once
67C) in November 2014. The layout, shown on TRACKmaps 1 p3 (August 2007) was inside the triangle
formed by Newton Jct. (for the line to Mauchline) and the former Blackhouse and Hawkhill Jcts. The south
to east curve between the latter two CP (CA) from 5 May 1975 when the Euston to Stranraer sleeping car
train was diverted from the Mauchline to Ayr line via Kilmarnock and Troon. There was no time penalty as
the then recent electrification to Carlisle had speeded up services. [Your Editor was a penniless medical
student at the time and felt the £19.20 fare from Birmingham to Stranraer and back was too much to do a
'short curve' in the dark when there were many other much longer lines to do at the time _ wrong
choice!] This curve was immediately taken out of use to allow the extension of Ayr Depot over it!

494] Killoch branch (BLN 1219.1061) Also around November 2014, two or three near-maximum tonnage
trains of concrete sleepers and ballast were delivered to Drongan, on the Annbank Jct. to Killoch branch. It
is suggested that this bodes a good future for the resumed coal traffic from Killoch; mostly conditional
paths for Freightliner Heavy Haul. (Recently empties have been arriving about 10.00 and, after the coal is
loaded, leave about 16.00 for Longannet some three times a week.)

495] Change for Stranraer? (BLN 1217.1413) Incoming ScotRail franchisee Abellio plans a major recast of
services in December. (Carrick GAZETTE 25 February/Railscot). Under the proposals there will be only one
through train in either direction via Paisley (leaving Stranraer after 21.00) but the service frequency and
regularity will be much improved by using DMUs on the non-electrified section of the journey instead of

running them to Glasgow. Other than that one train, a change at Ayr will be required. The timetable
planning process means that Friday 6 March is the day by which ScotRail must bid to NR on their
proposals for the December 2015 timetable changes. Currently the plan is for an hourly service to Girvan
and Maybole from Ayr, extended to Barrhill and Stranraer every two hours. Direct trains to Glasgow and
the south west have been operating through Ayrshire since 1877; prior to that services reached Stranraer
initially via Lockerbie and Dumfries when the railway first reached the port town in 1861.

BLN 1228.496] Cathcart: (BLN 1191.1200) The ex-1961 box was demolished between 18 and 24 February.

497] Edinburgh Suburban line: (BLN 1222.1831) A member advises that crew training runs have been
taking place on this line (these could be found in Realtime Trains). According to a posting from someone
being trained, this is related to special arrangements for the Winchburgh closure (BLN 1226.241); though
there is no obvious reason for this requirement and it may well be a precaution against 'eventualities'. It
has been suggested that a non-stop Edinburgh to Glasgow ScotRail service will operate via the Suburban
line (due to congestion at Haymarket) and Shotts, which line has been relaid and upgraded in recent
years, and Midcalder Jct. has been restored back to a double junction with a higher line speed.

498] Edinburgh Gateway (BLN 1203.320) Balfour Beatty has been appointed to build this £25.6M station
due to open December 2016 on the line between Haymarket and the Forth Bridge next to the A8 and a
new Edinburgh Trams stop. The contract includes a two storey station building with the usual facilities,
two 260m platforms, car park, highway alterations, utility diversions, an overbridge and pedestrian
subway under the A8 from the Gyle Shopping Centre.

499] Borders Railway: A member advises that the line through to Tweedbank was to be added to the
Portobello signaller’s workstation at Edinburgh Signalling Centre, but 'out of use'. In that respect:
MILLERHILL YARD TO PORTOBELLO: FROM 09.55 ON SUNDAY 22 FEBRUARY 2015: Existing Signal EM26
located on the Down Millerhill line (Up direction at 4m 1,270yd) will display a single yellow proceed
aspect for the route into Newcraighall Turnback Siding. A TPWS train stop sensor will also be installed in
association with this signal. Signal EM21 on Newcraighall Turnback Siding is removed. A new LED ground
mounted position light signal EM61 will be provided on Newcraighall Turnback Siding at 4m 1,493yd, to
the left of drivers. The signal is capable of displaying two horizontal red lights, or two white lights at 45
degrees. Existing No107 points on the Down Millerhill's NORMAL position will be altered to provide the
route into the Newcraighall Turnback Siding on which the 3 Car stop sign will be repositioned 146 yd north
to 4m 1,587yd. The 6 Car stop sign will be repositioned 130 yd north to 4m 1,664yd. Edinburgh IECC
Workstation 2 will display the Borders Railway proposed final configuration but out of use until further
notice.

500] Edinburgh St. Leonard's: A warehouse / depot built for the Edinburgh to Dalkeith 'Innocent Railway'*
(opened 4 July 1831) is still in use. Known as 'The Engine Shed', for the past 25 years it has been a training
facility for disabled people but closed after 20 February due to a loss of funding. [* Said to refer to its
unsophisticated horse traction and leisurely ways; the term was understood later to refer to the line's
supposed freedom from any accident, although this is not historically accurate.] The building concerned:
http://goo.gl/p2xyoo. Pictured on the next page J35 0-6-0 No64510 with the Stephenson Locomotive
Society's 'Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railtour' at St. Leonard's good yard on 25 August 1962 _ 115 years after
the end of regular passenger services. The locomotive had propelled the train along the branch from
Duddingston Jct. on the Edinburgh Suburban line. It also visited Millerhill when it was new, Dalkeith, Leith
South (old station) Musselburgh (branch) and various other such lines and connections. Picture courtesy
of David Spaven ©2015 from the Frank Spaven Collection with thanks to Bill Jamieson the photographer.

1228 WALES
BLN 1228.501] Cambrian Coast: (BLN1227.412) It has been pointed out that the company which
constructed the line at Afon Wen was actually called the Aberistwyth & Welsh Coast Railway (A&WC). The
unusual historic spelling of its originally intended southern terminus is confirmed in the company’s Act of
Parliament. That is said to have continued to be used by the Cambrian until 1891, being only gradually
replaced in local usage by the modern spelling. The section north of Portmadoc (as then spelt) was
actually constructed by the Carnarvonshire (sic) Railway; that company and the A&WC both had powers
to build the section between Portmadoc and Afon Wen, an unusual oversight on the part of parliament!
Passenger services on that section (also to Pwllheli and Penrhyndeudraeth) were in fact started by the
Carnarvonshire Railway on 20 September 1867, some goods traffic having started much earlier in the
year. The Cambrian (which by then had absorbed the A&WC) did not take over the running of the
passenger services until 10 October 1867, when it finally opened the line northwards from Barmouth
Junction, after a period when the contractors had been operating some goods traffic.

502] Aberystwyth (modern spelling!): The £3.1M refurbishment of Aberystwyth station is now complete,
with step-free access to the platform area, new toilets, a larger waiting room and a new canopy from the
side entrance to street front. Customer information has also been improved, and CCTV installed

BLN 1228.503] Dovey Junction: Although the loop is bi-directional like all Cambrian line loops, it is
referred to as the 'Down Loop' in the Sectional Appendix. It is indeed scheduled to be used by Down trains
from the enhanced 18 May timetable, but of course only when they are booked to cross an Up train!
There will be 10 such workings SSuX, 16 SO and 2 SuO, the latter applying only until 6 September.
Interestingly the single track loop is shown as 321m long in the Down direction and only 318m long in the
Up direction! One suspects this is more to do with ERTMS signalling and clearances rather than adjustable
length track!

504] Machynlleth: (BLN 1227.411) There has been a 6-car train SSuX since the start of the May 2014
timetable. The 4-car 09.30 from Aberystwyth couples to a 2-car unit from Pwllheli, going forward as 6
cars. Special arrangements are reported to have been put in place at Machynlleth for handling this.

505] Diversions: The Swansea Loop diversions (BLN 1227.323) did not materialise, as is sometime the case
and services ran normally. The Hendy Jct. to Grovesend Colliery Loop Jct. curve is booked to be in use
(along with the Swansea District line) on Sunday 8 March by Heart of Wales line services (On SuO there
are two in each direction) which are running directly between Pontarddulais and Port Talbot Parkway. The
only 'regular' passenger usage of the curve is by the annual Royal Welsh Show special services from
Newport / Cardiff for the show at Builth Wells which this year is scheduled for 20 to 23 July.

1228 MINOR RAILWAYS
MR24] Langley School Miniature Railway, Norfolk (Supp 1): This 7¼" gauge railway runs in an "E" layout
for 200yds in the grounds of Langley School, set in open country near Loddon in Norfolk. The School has a
Craft and Country Fair on Sunday 10 May 2015 from 10.00 to 16.00 and this is normally the only day each
year which has public operation of the railway. Last year's open day was on Sunday 11 May, when the
railway was operated by members of Halesworth Model Engineers.

MR25] Bluebell Railway, East Sussex (MR p6): Fitting out Kingscote North signal box continues. The
structure came from Brighton Top Yard and is fitted with a Westinghouse type 'L' miniature lever frame,
which is now substantially complete. It consists of 55 levers: 1 to 21 are passive provision for possible
developments to the north, 22 to 45 to control Kingscote and the remainder for changes and
developments to the south. The panels below the levers are glazed to show off the technology;
interestingly the glass was replaced with plywood during the war to reduce the impact of any bomb blast.
Wiring of the lever contacts is progressing; access for this work is via a mezzanine floor below the levers.

MR26] Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, Gloucestershire (BLN 1211.MR84) (MR p7): It is
understood that Laverton Loop, the present northern operational limit of the railway, is to be removed at
the end of the year and re-used at Broadway station. Passenger services began to Laverton on 9 March
2013. The loop extends beyond (from the Toddington direction) MP7 (which is at SP 0666 3587) past the
replaced overbridge to about 6m 76ch; the stop board is at about 6m 74ch. Presumably the loop will be
removed after the final timetabled running on 31 December when there is a 'blue' full line timetable
(http://goo.gl/RurgTi) and the line from Laverton to Broadway should then be reopening at the start of
the 2016 season. Their Santa Specials run between Cheltenham Racecourse (where passengers join and
there is extensive parking) and Winchcombe. The two trains pass each other in Gotherington Loop (much
to the delight of a member who recently took seven other adults to see Father Christmas under the cover
of his two year old granddaughter who did herself also need the track!). At Cheltenham (Racecourse)
there has been significant progress with reinstating the Down platform.

BLN 1228.MR27] Aln Valley Railway, Northumberland (MR p9): The Northumberland Gazette website
reported on 16 January 2015 that substantial engineering work had begun, as part of the Aln Valley
Railway project to reopen the former Alnwick branch from Lionheart to Alnmouth. Preliminary work is
underway on the trackbed between the end of the Lionheart station site, the point where Green Lane
meets the old line, and on towards the former farm access overbridge known as 'Bridge 6'. The old track
foundation has been exposed ready for vehicles and plant to start on the heavy work of creating the link
between the Lionheart station site and the former trackbed. Roger Jermy, from the railway, said: "….. the
public should be aware that the heavy vehicles and plant will access the trackbed via Ash Close and Green
Lane and that it will be necessary for care to be exercised especially if people are accompanied by dogs or
horses".

MR28] Wells & Walsingham Light Railway, Norfolk (MR p21) (BLN 1165.MR130): The founder of this
railway, Lt. Commander Roy Francis RN, passed away on 27 January 2015 aged 92. Before starting the
Wells & Walsingham Light Railway he built the Wells Harbour Railway. Both continue to run and prosper.

MR29] Apedale Valley Light Railway, Staffordshire (MR p23) (BLN 1223.MR209): The theme of the 2015
Gala will be 'Locos from Leeds', which will be held on 16 and 17 May 2015. The 'Locos from Leeds' theme
has been chosen to showcase the Moseley Railway Trust's newly restored Hudswell Clarke steam
locomotive, and also the other Leeds-built items in the collection. Leeds was famous for being home to
several locomotive builders, including Hunslet, Hudswell and John Fowler. However, Leeds was also home
to one of the most famous names in narrow gauge history - Robert Hudson Limited. Hudson did not build
(many) locomotives, but manufactured just about everything else - track, wagons etc, which would be
needed to establish a narrow gauge railway system. Their catalogues have become legendary collector's
items, a bit like an Argos catalogue covering railways! Hudson supplied locomotives, which were built by
others; for example, the Trust's Hudswell steam locomotive was supplied to its original purchaser in Africa
via Robert Hudson Ltd. As is traditional now at Apedale Galas, there will be a full complement of model
railways and trade stands. The replica World War One Trench system (built for the Tracks to the Trenches
event) will be open for visitors, with military re-enactor groups working to bring to life the experiences of
soldiers in that conflict. The event will be open from 11.00 to 17.00 on both days. Entry prices are Adults
£6 and Children £3. The popular 'Access All Areas' passes will once again be available, priced at £15. These
passes are made available in limited numbers and allow access to otherwise off-limits part of the site for
the serious enthusiast photographer. All tickets will be available for purchase on the gate, or in advance.

MR30] Wye Valley Railway, Monmouthshire (MR p30) (BLN 1189.MR140): This railway is at Tintern old
station and was visited on 10 February 2015, but was found closed for the winter. The short length of
standard gauge track adjacent to the loading dock now accommodates Mk. 2f TSO coaches 6014 and
6135, in a (false) GWR chocolate and cream livery, along with a brown unmarked 4-wheel GWR 'Fruit D'
vehicle (26167), which has small end windows indicating possible use as a riding van or suchlike. An
undated photo on display shows 80797, one of the previous resident pair of Mk. 1 vehicles, being craned
out of the site. The 5"/7¼" dual-gauge railway, extending from the station signal box southward to the
River Wye, looks to have seen no use in quite a time, and no rolling stock was to be seen. It was traversed
on a (very wet!) Society visit on Sunday 4 August 2013, one of three railways visited that day in the area.

1228 OTHERS’ DOINGS:
This is provided as a service to members and details must be checked with the organisers.

BLN 1228.506] Gloucester PSB, Saturday 14 March: 10.30, RCTS (Thames Valley branch) visit available to
BLS members with thanks to Stuart Hicks. Max. 6 at a time (2 groups possible) charity collection (min. £5
please). Notifications to Stuart (with membership number and organisation) at: [email protected];
orange hi-vis not required. Volunteer/s to write a visit report welcome please. 02070660480 (daytime).

507] London Railway Atlas: By Joe Brown, the
fourth edition (fully revised, enlarged and
enhanced) of this incredibly definitive A4 size
book was released on 25 February. It has very
detailed mapping of the numerous lines
traversing the city, including London
Underground, DLR and national railway networks.
Each map also illustrates the geographical
relationship between these. The Atlas shows all
London's railways (including industrial) open and
closed, stations, changes of station name, and
their opening and closing dates. The large format
pages show all tracks and platforms; vast
amounts of new information, both historical and
current developments (including Crossrail) have
been added. There are 96 map pages, 10 more
than the third edition with some new large scale
maps. A 59 page detailed index, in a clearer table
format, gives opening and closing dates of
stations, yards, junctions and various locations
(with copious additional notes). The coverage
extends to places such as Tilbury, Gravesend,
Caterham, Redhill, Windsor, Cheshunt and
Shenfield; watercourses and place names are also
shown. Electrification and gauge maps of London
are summarised on a single page. Available to
view and buy from the Society Sales Officer Mark Gomm on our 19 April railtour. 'Wordery' of Norwich is
selling it at 14.99 internet price which includes free delivery http://goo.gl/DtZRFv. (Cover price is £20.)
Every home should have one!

508] Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway, Sunday 26 April: 2ft gauge (MR p18) near Sittingbourne
(TQ873585) ME9 8AT. 10.00-17.00, £12 adults, £6 children (5-16; under 5s free) includes unlimited train
rides, 'other activities', drink and cake. Advance booking only (closes 15 April) with names of all attendees,
a contact phone number, (cheque payable to 'B Haste') and an SAE for tickets to: 191 Downs Rd,
Folkestone, CT19 5PX. Enquiries: [email protected] or 01303 250504 _ansaphone leave message.

509] Continental Railway Circle, Fifield Private Railway, 25 June: (BLN 1227.427) Near Maidenhead.
With apologies, this visit is postponed to 2016 as one of the locomotives will not be ready in time. There is
a 'Family fun Day' on 1 August 2015 with train rides expected. Keep an eye on: http://goo.gl/MjNal5.

BLN 1228.510] Kingdom of Fife Railway Preservation Society: (NO373 008), Kirkland Sidings, Leven, Fife
KY8 4RB. Derived from the former Lochty Private Railway and now based at the 20 acre former BR
Kirkland Yard. Planned 2015 running days with an engine and brakevan giving ½ mile rides are on the last
Sunday each month, April to October (inclusive). Generally free admission, donations welcome and a
small charge for the trip. Some will be themed events. Various items of rolling stock and motive power are
on show. See: www.kfrps.co.uk. Check before travelling; ideas for other running day themes welcome.

511] West Midlands Day Ranger: Birmingham to Redditch, Hereford (both routes), Gobowen, Crewe
(direct or via Stoke-on-Trent), Rugeley Trent Valley (TV), Lichfield TV, Tamworth, Nuneaton, Northampton,
Leamington Spa and Stratford-upon-Avon by both routes. Also Stafford - Rugby via the TV line, Nuneaton -
Coventry, Hatton - Stratford-upon-Avon, the once weekly SO 06.38 Wolverhampton to Walsall PSUL direct
train and the Stourbridge Town Branch. Unlimited train travel after 09.00 SSuX, anytime weekends and
Bank Hols, by LM, ATW, Chiltern, XC, EMT, FGW, Northern and Virgin Trains. Adult £23.80, child £11.90,
railcard £15.70 (Senior, 16-25 or Disabled only), Family (2 adults and up to 4 children) £47.60. To put this
in perspective, the off peak day return from Birmingham to Crewe alone is £26.10. http://goo.gl/XoaNPU.

512] Heart of England Rovers: Crewe - Stoke-on-Trent - Matlock - Derby - Nottingham - Leicester -
Nuneaton - Rugby - Coventry - Oxford - Worcester - Hereford - Shrewsbury - Chester - Crewe (try that
journey in one day!); all lines and branches within. Also Rugby - Northampton and Birmingham/Worcester
- Gloucester. Validity details as per previous item. Adult 7 days £100 (only £14.30 per day) / 3 days in 7
flexible £77, Child £66/£50.80. Railcards Senior, 16-25 or Disabled only £66 (£9.43 per day !!) / £50.90.

513] Box to Box, Vol. 1, Southern & Western Regions: Transport Video Publishing DVD 110 mins. Signal
boxes Penzance - Liskeard. Yeovil Pen Mill - Brockenhurst. South Coast including Littlehampton & Bognor
Regis. Lewes - Hastings. Kent including Deal, Sandwich, Canterbury West & the Wye Valley; the Medway
Valley including Maidstone, East Farleigh, Gillingham and Wateringbury. South Wales: Clarbeston Road,
Whitland, Ferryside, Pembrey Port, Pantyffnon and Tondu. Banbury, Moreton-in-Marsh, Worcester, and
area Ledbury. Abergavenny - Shrewsbury. A wide range of traffic is seen from the latter station and the
several fine boxes in the area. £17.95, see: http://goo.gl/Qv9krY 01582 833807 (09.00-16.00 SSuX).

514] South Wales Loco Cab Preservation Group: Bridgend, aim to home and restore loco cabs back to BR
Blue with yellow ends and currently have 10; the website has pictures of more see: http://goo.gl/chjWmg.

Distribution: Dave Monger, 6 Underhill Close, GODALMING, GU7 1NU. [email protected], 07592 585230.
Branch Line: Nick Garnham, [email protected]; Subscribe: [email protected].
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General Secretary: Tim Wallis, 10 Sandringham Road, Stoke Gifford, BRISTOL, BS34 8NP. [email protected].
Chairman: John Williamson, 'La Marguerite', Croit-E-Quill Rd., LAXEY, Isle of Man, IM4 7JD. [email protected].
SALES: Mark Gomm, 84 Mornington Road, STOKE-ON-TRENT, ST1 6EL. [email protected]. 01782 769960 (daytime).
NEWS TEAM: Wales: Paul Jeffries, 54 Heol Erwin, CARDIFF, CF14 6QR. [email protected].
S.E. England, East Anglia & Ireland: Julian James, 58 Nelson Road, WORTHING, BN12 6EN. [email protected].
London: Geoff Brockett, 155 Onslow Gardens, South Woodford, LONDON, E18 1NA. [email protected].
Midlands & South West England: Brian Schindler, 15 Sudeley, Dosthill, TAMWORTH, B77 1JR. [email protected].
Northern England & Isle of Man: Graeme Jolley, 3 Laurel Cottages, Rencell Hill, LAXEY, Isle of Man, IM4 7BJ. [email protected].
Scotland: Bob Watt, 18 Kilmailing Road, GLASGOW, G44 5UJ. [email protected].
Minor Railways (British Isles): Peter Scott, 93 Josephine Court, Southcote Rd, READING, RG30 2DQ. [email protected].
International: Paul Griffin, 7 School Bell Mews, Church Lane, Stoneleigh, COVENTRY, CV8 3ZZ. [email protected].
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Editor/Head Lines: Paul Stewart, 4 Clarence Close, MALVERN, WR14 3HX. [email protected]. 01684 562862; 07790652351.

Printed by Deva Enterprises, Waters Edge, The Drive, Ifold, LOXWOOD, West Sussex RH14 0TD, tel: 01403 752837, [email protected]
or [email protected] and published by the Branch Line Society, 10 Sandringham Road, Stoke Gifford, BRISTOL, BS34 8NP. ISSN 1354-0947