713] Benton: 1 Mar was the 60th anniversary of Benton Power Signal Box opening on the ECML east of Newcastle. It replaced boxes at Benton Quarry and Benton North on the main line along with Benton Station, Benton East and Backworth on the 'Coast Line' to Tynemouth (now the T&W Metro). For those unaware, the ECML passes beneath the 'Coast Line', more or less at right angles;there were west to north and west to south curves plus (now part of the Northumberland/B&T line) a south to east curve. All were double track and only the absence of an east to north curve prevented a 'full house'. On the main line,Benton PSB interfaced with Benton Bank to the south and Killingworth Station to the north (the intermediate Forest Hall box was then just a gate box). On the 'Coast Line', it interfaced with South Gosforth East to the west and with Earsdon Jn to the east. It also controlled the three curves: South to east (Benton Quarry Jn - Benton East Jn), west to south (Benton Quarry Jn - Benton Station Jn) and west to north (Benton Station Jn - Benton North Jn). Its area of control was later extended. The curves were in PSUL. The west to south curve was quite rare, its main use in 'electric' days was by ECS workings between Newcastle Central and Gosforth Depot. Your NE Editor did the 1 May 1976 'Alston Farewell' railtour, not to do Alston, (he first went there in 1959 because it was threatened with closure!) but specifically to do this curve as he had never seen a railtour advertised to use it. This, the Benton North Curve and the mainline to branch connection at Haltwhistle (where the tour was joined to a service DMU on the Alston branch) were his only new track - but very worthwhile. Not shown on Six Bells Junction, on Sat 7 Jan 1978 the Stephenson Locomotive Society 'North Tynesider' 3-car DMU did all three curves and some other interesting lines, the day before Benton North Curve was severed! 714] Haxby: (BLN 1442.451) Just days after the Prime Minister's visit to the site (what a coincidence!), NR, the City of York and the DfT submitted a joint planning application for the new £24M station here. See www.york.gov.uk/planningapplications ref 24/00325/FULM. The Restoring Your Railways fund has provided £3.5M so far. NR has carried out ground surveys. Subject to consent, detailed design will be completed in 2024, with construction expected to start in Spring 2025 for anticipated 2026 opening. 1444 NORTH WEST (John Cameron) [email protected] 715] Salford Crescent: (TRACKmaps 4 p43N 2022) NR is to construct a new platform and make other improvements here to increase capacity and reduce delays. The proposals include: A new platform adjacent to the Up Bolton Line to accommodate 6-car trains. A new staircase and passenger lift connecting the new platform to the existing station building. Alterations to the existing station building and the installation of an additional ticket gate line. Provision of a welfare facility on the new platform for station train dispatch staff. Compliant secondary means of escape to be provided for the new platform. Signalling/OHLE alterations on the Up Bolton Line to accommodate 6-car trains at the new platform. New Customer Information System Screens, CCTV and wayfinding. Work should start in Apr 2025 with commissioning in Apr 2026 for the Jun 2026 timetable. Works will be carried out in a mixture of disruptive (every Sunday!) and non-disruptive possessions and isolations. Salford Crescent has a single narrow island platform, largely as built for 11 May 1987 opening. In 2019- 2020 the station had almost 1.5M entries/exits and over 0.5M interchanges, making it one of the busiest in Greater Manchester. At peak times the platform can become dangerously overcrowded; in 2012-13 improvement works moved the ticket office from platform to street level to provide more circulation space for passengers at the bottom of the access ramp. A new accessible footbridge/lift to platform level and minor extensions to the platforms to accommodate 6-car trains were also installed then. Passenger demand at Salford Crescent subsequently increased by over 30% in six years. The layout of Windsor Bridge North and South Jns, and the location of the island platform between them, mean that there are currently many conflicting moves in this area. Manchester Victoria to Atherton line trains, for example, must cross the whole way across the layout in both directions, resulting in a conflict occurring with Bolton to Central Manchester services. 716] Mossley: (BLN 1434.2332) The new station, about 300m east of the current one, will include a footbridge with lifts and extended platforms. It is planned to be completed by the end of the decade.
BELOW: (Item 712) Heighington; former station building, the level crossi
ng on the Bishop Auckland line is far right. (John Cameron, 7 Jan 2020.)
BELOW: (Item 711.5) Northumberland Park station site; T&W Metro right; the
e occupants of those dwellings are delighted! (Rodger Wilkinson, 2 Mar 2024.)
BELOW: (Item 711.4) 158853 passes the site of Backworth station on 29 Feb 2Compare with https://plumbloco.smugmug.com/Trains/British-In
2024 with Northumberland Park Metro stop in the background. (Phil Logie.) ndustrial-Systems/i-bdCgXJp/A (Backworth station in Jun 1969)!
BELOW: Two photos by Malcolm Charlton; reproduced wwas Benton station master when Benton Power Signal
with permission. George Charlton, Malcolm's father who Box was commissioned in 1964, looking at the panel.
[BLN 1BELOW: A Deltic on a northbound ECML train passes the new Power Signal Box (Curving off right is the rare south to west curve - notes the third rail. There ar
1444] (bottom left) before commissioning; Benton Quarry box is just behind the loco. re 3-way splitting semaphore signals above the overbridge behind the train.
BELOW: (Item 720) Work on the River Derwent Via
duct north of Workington station at low tide (NR).
(Item 717) OpenStreetMap; Handforth station is bottom left, 'The Tank Track' is
the dotted red track from Lower Meadow Road, top centre, south to Hall Road.
BELOW: The entrance to the trackbed path with the concrete remain
ns of the rail wagon tank loading/unloading dock in the foreground.
BELOW: A section of path, running through a now heavily wooded are
a, formerly the tank unloading sidings. (All Ian Mortimer, 3 Mar 2024.)
BELOW: Nothing to do with railways! The privately owned,
Grade II Listed, AD 1562 Handforth Hall (as in Hall Road).
717] Handforth: An original maroon British Rail double sausage totem from here has been presented to Friends of Handforth Station, who intend to display it at the station again after it lay in an attic for 30 years. Local resident Jean Smith was there when the sign was replaced in 1994 and asked if she could have it as a memento. Her family donated it in her memory after she passed away last year. An identical one sold for £1,210 at auction in Oct 2007! 718]Handforth Military Railway branches: Handforth Exchange Sidings (with a signal box) were built during WWII, northeast of the station before the bridge carrying Stanley Rd over the railway, with two branches. One ran east to RAF 61 Maintenance Unit (MU), aircraft equipment storage depot. Opened 20 Sep 1945, the MU depot closed 19 Mar 1954 and was part of RAF Cranage. ABOVE: The 1966/71 one-inch map had this branch on for the first time. It did not show the second branch (it may have been lifted by then). BELOW: 6'' map 1949 only showing the second branch. Wilmslow is off bottom left and Stockport top right. This other, army branch line, ran south to terminate in a set of four sidings, one a run round loop, at Hall Road (map bottom right) These sidings were associated with a loading and unloading dock made of concrete; its remains can still be seen from Hall Road footpath. Tanks were brought in by rail to be driven along Brereton Road to Handforth tank repair depot. This was by the River Dean and is now Welland Road housing estate. This repair depot closed in late 1957 and the army branch line tracks were lifted during the 1970s or 1980s. The trackbed became known locally as the 'tank track', and gradually deteriorated into a muddy footpath through the woods. The path has now been resurfaced by a developer now, part of an agreement for a planning consent. Two information boards about the history of the site have been provided, with Friends of Handforth Station volunteers supplying photos and text. A well known local member investigated recently. The path starts on Hall Road (bottom, right) and runs north to the roundabout on Lower Meadow Road. The site of the former tank unloading sidings is now a heavily wooded area. The land here is unnaturally flat but there is really nothing else to suggest that this was once a railway yard. Our member had previously explored the other branch which ran east from the exchange sidings to RAF MU 61 but was unable to find any traces of it.
The 1971 first OS map shows it although, interestingly, not the army branch. The first section of the RAF branch as with the Army branch, has been subsumed by Stanley Green Trading Estate and the A34 dual carriageway. East of the A34 (which runs north to south just west of Beech Farm) not so much has changed. The building straddling the line heading south has been enlarged and is now a fitness centre. The small buildings north of the road (still there and run alongside the east branch) are a series of extant Nissan huts and are still used by the MoD. For those interested in old buildings, just up Hall Road past the school is the 16th Century Grade II* listed Handforth Hall (bottom right). It is privately owned, so little known but quite impressive. Although well screened by high hedges, it can be viewed from a public footpath along the east side of the hall, between Hall Rd and Handforth Dean Retail Park. https://www.handforthstation.org.uk/ has further information about Handforth station and tank track. 719] Carlisle Kingmoor: Plans have been submitted for a new railhead west of Kingmoor Yard, next to the existing BSW Sawmill. Established in 1848, the group is the largest sawmilling company in the UK. The application states that the proposed development is intended to expand existing operations, modernise the manufacturing processes and allow for the distribution of goods via rail freight. 720] Workington: On the evening of Thur 29 Feb, bridge No 37, the Derwent Viaduct, over the River Derwent on the north side of Workington station, was deemed unfit for traffic after an inspection and was immediately closed. The last train through was the 18.07 Barrow to Carlisle at 19.44. The 19.09 Carlisle to Preston turned back at Flimby. The bases of the columns supporting the viaduct have been eroded by high river levels during Feb. The line is expected to be shut for at least six weeks until midApr for repairs, which can only take place during low tide; they are difficult and complex. Passenger services continue from the south, turning back at Workington which requires Workington Main No 3 signal box to be staffed (it is often switched out). Buses run between Carlisle and Workington, taking 90 mins against 48 mins by train. There is the possibility of a limited Carlisle to Maryport train service starting, if temporary train crew welfare facilities can be provided there. On Tue 5 Mar Colas 6Z84, the 06.05 Carlisle Yard to Port of Workington slurry tank train, which originates from Aberdeen Waterloo, ran 'top & tail' as it couldn't run round at Workington and these freight trains have continued to run. 721] Kirkby Stephen (East): On the former Penrith to Bishop Auckland line, Northern Viaduct Trust plans to improve the trackbed trail of over a mile from Stenkrith (east of Kirkby Stephen East station) to Merrygill Viaduct at Hartley. This includes repair of the slope from the car park down to the trail and significantly increasing the width of hard surface from the Millennium Bridge to Merrygill Viaduct. This would enable groups and those with pushchairs, wheelchairs, mobility difficulties to be able to enjoy the trail without having to walk on the grass, which is turning to mud in places after unusually (even for Cumbria) frequent heavy rain. After closure as a through route from 22 Jan 1962, this line, an extension of that from Appleby to Warcop, served Hartley Quarry at Merrygill until 31 Oct 1975. 722] DalesRail: (LEFT) (BLN 1441.312) Timings for the new SO 'Dalesrail' Rochdale to Ribblehead via Manchester Victoria, Bolton, Clitheroe and Hellifield services and associated ECS are now in the system. *Arrival time of connection from Carlisle at Ribblehead; ‡Departure time of connection to Carlisle there. They start in the new timetable on Sat 8 Jun and are not just summer only but continue until Sat 14 Dec. There are good connections to/from Carlisle at Ribblehead. This initiative by Northern is to be applauded. It should overcome the problem of Sundays not being part of the working week but voluntary overtime which, according to Northern, staff declined to work and other 'problems' with the previous Sunday service from Blackpool/Preston. The trains will be integrated into the normal regular service, serve a Arr* Dep From To Arr Dep‡ 5J20 (ECS) 06.04 Blackburn King St Blackburn 06.11 (ECS) 2J20 06.18 Blackburn Rochdale 07.29 2N60 07.52 Rochdale Ribblehead 10.19 10.38 2J22 10.51 11.08 Ribblehead Rochdale 13.29 2N61 14.52 Rochdale Ribblehead 17.26 18.06 2J26 17.43 18.05 Ribblehead Rochdale 20.29 5J26 (ECS) 20.53 Rochdale Newton Heath 21.19 (ECS)
much larger population base and allow train connections from/to a range of destinations. If successful, they could form the basis of further services between Clitheroe and Hellifield in the same way that, years ago, DalesRail revived local stations on the Settle & Carlisle Line. These now have a good seven day service. The new service is worthy of our support (reports welcome for BLN). Northern is to rebrand the service as Yorkshire Dales Explorer (has anyone told the DalesRail website yet?) and a programme of associated free guided walks is to be provided by Lancashire Rail Ramblers. 723] Preston: (BLN 1417.334) The replacement for the Old Tram Bridge (it is too - 200 years) will be at a higher level than the original, to meet the requirements for its new status as a bridleway. However, it will follow the same path as its predecessor. The current bridge was closed after it was found to be at risk of sudden collapse five years ago (it still hasn't collapsed). A previous recording of part of the bridge as a bridleway in 2003 has since been found to have been made in error 724] Football Fans Score track on the road to Wembley: The current PSUL has: [Sankey Junction - ] Earlestown West Junction - Earlestown South Junction with just one daily service, a SuX evening Ellesmere Port to Liverpool Lime Street DMU. Along with Earlestown to Edge Hill, this was electrified in Mar 2015. The hourly Lime Street to Warrington Bank Quay switched from DMUs to EMUs, often using Class 323 or Class 319 units but these services succumbed to Covid and have not been reinstated. On Sun 25 Feb, two 'Footex' charters ran for the Chelsea v Liverpool Carabao cup final at Wembley. One, operated by LSL, ran from Lime Street for Liverpool Club VIPs and guests. The other, available to anyone who found the relevant booking website, with no requirement to have match tickets, was operated by West Coast (WCR) and started from Liverpool South Parkway. Both were ECS from Crewe to the joining stations and passengers alighted at Wembley Central. The opposite applied in the evening. The WCR charter was worked by 86401 (Liverpool end) & 86259 (London end). LSL had 47712 (Liverpool end), with 86101 (London end) - this is important regarding what happened on the day. The WCR ECS was first away from Crewe at about 08.30 on a cold frosty Sunday morning, the first train of the day over the route via Runcorn. Just before passing Halton Jn, one of the crew spotted a partdetached registration arm hanging down from the overhead line equipment on the Up Line, and this was reported to the signaller. The first Up train via Runcorn, from Lime Street to London Euston, was already at Runcorn. It is believed that this train was instructed to check for the defect, confirmed it, and in due course returned to Runcorn, reversing at Lime Street then ran via Huyton - Earlestown West Jn - Earlestown South Jn - Winwick Jn - Warrington BQ and rejoining its route at Weaver Jn. Meanwhile the WCR ECS (3Z87) had completed its booked reversal on the Down Ditton Slow line north of Liverpool South Parkway and the football passengers boarded in P3, the Up Ditton Slow line. The LSL ECS 3Z90 passed through, unaffected, to Lime Street. The need for an electrical isolation and repair was confirmed and alternative routes researched for the two Footexs. Fortunately, both train crews signed the route via Huyton and the curve at Earlestown. The LSL charter, with 86101 leading, had the easier task, from Lime St and ended up slightly early at Wembley Central. However, the WCR train had to draw forward (towards Speke) to clear the junction, reverse, then run via the Down Ditton Slow to Wavertree Jn, then via the crossovers into Edge Hill P2. A further reversal here allowed 86259 to lead the train via Earlestown but about 90 minutes late, reduced to 60 late by Wembley by running via Weedon, instead of Northampton, and also omitting a long pathing stop there. A number of other Avanti Liverpool trains ran via Earlestown until the line via Runcorn reopened at about 13.30; the normally 'rare' curve was quite busy that morning. The only 'fly in the ointment' was that inspection of the Sectional Appendix entry for Earlestown West Jn to Earlestown South Jn (ELR 'EEE') shows that it is not cleared for Class 86 under their own power, only 'dead hauled'. The day was notable as all three remaining Class 86s worked on the WCML on the same route on the same day. 725] Dunham Massey: (Photo e-BLN 1377.1407) On the former Warrington & Altrincham Jn Railway, the station house at Dunham Massey, now a four bedroom residential home, is for sale at £695,000. The station was opened by the L&NWR in Dec 1853 as Warburton, becoming Warburton & Dunham in Jun 1856, Dunham in Oct 1856 and finally Dunham Massey in 1856; it CP 10 Sep 1962. The trackbed is now part of the Trans Pennine Trail and part of the National Cycle Network. See: https://bit.ly/3IrzATr
726] Metrolink: ❶Fare evasion has dropped by a third since a crackdown on it by Metrolink and the TravelSafe Partnership in Oct 2023 (although the figure of 10.6%, during Jan 2024, is still high). The initiative has included increasing the penalty fare from £100 to £120 and recruitment of 50 extra Customer Service Representatives to support more ticket inspections. Five million tickets are inspected each year, of which about 100,000 are subject to fines and 5,000 to court action due to non-payment. New devices are also being used to inspect tickets which can easily identify 'continual' fare evaders. With this improvement in technology, Metrolink is now able to generate £2M extra revenue each year. ❷Transport for Greater Manchester has announced that £21·4M from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement will be spent on Metrolink over the next 12 months. It is part of a £147M package until 2027 to maintain, upgrade and improve the network. Immediate priorities include track replacement in the city centre and on parts of the Altrincham and Bury lines. New substations are being added along the Bury line to facilitate the operation of extra paired trams. Metrolink is also replacing much of its communications network. There will also be modifications to the trams, including speed warning devices and, to detect 'tram surfers' riding on the auto couplers, sensors in the middle of double trams. TfGM is looking into replacing the 750Vdc overhead line equipment on some of the older parts of the network such as the Bury line, which caused prolonged disruptions in 2023. ❸Passenger numbers are back to pre-pandemic levels in weekday peaks and busier still at weekends. There are 130,000 journeys on an average weekday. ❹On Sun 25 Feb, another cracked crossing at Victoria was plainlined. It is not currently possible to go north from the centre platform there. 727] Merseyrail: (BLN 1439.61) 8-car Class 777 trains have run since at least 26 Jan but only on test. They have 5TXX Headcodes, ECS Kirkdale Depot to Hillside and reverse via the crossover south of station. They are yet to run in passenger service, possibly because Automatic Selective Door Opening has to be installed at some stations with short platforms. Position location equipment also has to be installed at other locations so that the train can 'identify' where it is on the network in case of loss of GSMR and other on-board communication systems. These works should be completed by mid-May. 728] Smile please, you are on TV: Northern has installed 86 new security CCTV cameras at Victoria! 729] Munching in Maghull : (BLN 1443.575) Northern is not the only operator encouraging small businesses to open in their station buildings; a new coffee shop has opened at Maghull. The Coffee Carriage recently opened in the ticket office and provides a warm, cosy seating area, barista coffee from a traditional espresso bar, freshly baked morning pastries, breakfast rolls, cakes and other treats. [Anyone would think our Regional Editor runs it.] Merseyrail invites budding entrepreneurs who would like to open a small business in one of their stations to email: [email protected] 730] Consecutive stations: (BLN 1442.460) As well as Ellesmere Port to Helsby with four consecutive stations managed by different organisations, there are a further four following on from the next station at Helsby! They are Frodsham (Transport for Wales), Runcorn (Avanti West Coast), Liverpool South Parkway (Merseyrail) and West Allerton (Northern). Our member doubts there are any others. 1444 SOUTH EAST - NORTH & EAST ANGLIA (Julian James) [email protected] 731] London Gateway: (BLN 1420.752) The fourth berth, being 'delivered' this Summer, has Europe's largest quay cranes, each weighing over 2,000 tonnes, so the largest container ships can be handled. 732] Hertford North: The ECML was partially closed from Sat 17 to Tues 20 Feb for European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2 overlay commissioning on the 18km between Welwyn Garden City and Hitchin. (This caused severe overcrowding on the Midland Main Line, which has had its fleet reduced by the DfT, as so many declined to use rail replacement coaches/buses.) Online systems showed trains from the south terminating in Hertford North Up P1. In the event, as is normal, they terminated in, and started back from, bay P3 but there were some exceptions. On Sat 17 Feb the 05.44 and 08.14 to Moorgate started from P2 and, terminating in P1, were the 05.06 and 05.20 from King's Cross on 19th and the 00.12 from Moorgate on Tue 20th . Those starting from P2 used the same trailing crossover as used by trains departing from P3. The trains terminating in P1 used the facing crossover at Hertford Jn. The four day line closure was extensive, Potters Bar to Peterborough (interesting crossovers available at both on turnbacks from the south and north respectively) extending to Royston and Hertford North.
BELOW: (Item 725) Dunham Massey station house (for sale), looking east to Skel
lton Jn/Stockport on the former double track line. (John Cameron, 27 Mar 2020.)
X.40] BELOW: (BLN 1443.596) 158856 on skates heading to Ely Freight Termina
l for road transfer after hitting a tree on 6 Feb 2024. (A Member, 12 Feb 2024.)
BELOW: At Ely Freight Terminal, the unit (other end facin
ng) on rare track ready to be taken away by road for repairs.
733] Hertford Loop - or is it? (BLN 1443.603): The term 'Hertford Loop' first came into use during the Great Northern Suburban Electrification and Resignalling (GNSE) of the 1970s. An 'incomer' into the King's Cross Division used it in regular public and staff newsletters, apparently not knowing differently. As the line was being run from York (the British Rail Eastern/North Eastern regional merger in 1967 was more a takeover by the NE Region!), there was no knowledge of its correct name there either. In fact, ever since construction from Grange Park to Langley Jn, it had been known as 'The New Line' and this generally referred to the whole route, not just the new section. There are a few people around (including our contributing member) who still refer to it as this. For a short time between 1928 and 1930, the sparse shuttle service between Hitchin and Hertford North was operated by a Clayton steam railcar https://bit.ly/3Ir6Zhi called 'Bang Up' (no comment). It turned out to be incredibly unreliable and its departure after around 18 months was not mourned. Its replacement https://bit.ly/49F6ewY Sentinel railcar 'Waterloo' was more reliable, although apparently only relatively so. Another example of a NE term appearing was the former Up Carriage Line from Finsbury Park Down side underneath the ECML to Holloway North Up, parallel to the now Down Moorgate. Colloquially known as the 'creep-up', it acquired the alien (to the Great Northern Railway heritage) name of the Up Independent but has now gone. There was also a 'creep-up' at Belle Isle, officially the Up Siding and a through line; it didn't last long enough to be renamed. A few staff moved from London to York in 1967. The Yorkshire natives couldn't understand why they looked for homes in such remote places as Malton or Knaresborough. (These commutes would mostly be much shorter than they had been down South.) 734] Ely: As a result of a loss of signalling between Ely and Ely North Jn on Fri 9 Feb, the 10.51 Liverpool Lime Street to Norwich ran via Ely West Curve, missing the Ely call. The 14.27 Norwich to Stansted Airport was stranded at Ely North Jn, eventually reversing on the curve to return to Norwich. 735] Radlett Strategic Rail Freight Terminal (again!): (BLN 1439.73) A judge has ruled that a legal challenge against the sale of the land for the rail freight terminal will be decided in court later this year. The campaign group 'Save St Albans: Fight the Freight' had argued that there were serious flaws in the way Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) sold the former Radlett Aerodrome. After considering written evidence from Fight the Freight, HCC and the developers SEGRO, Mrs Justice Thornton ruled that there is a case to answer. Campaigners have long argued that this area of Green Belt has been designated as permanent open space and that HCC had no right to sell it for development in Jun 2023. If the court rules in their favour, the sale of the land will be overturned. Covenants show the land, bought by HCC in the mid 1980s for £1, should be permanent open space. SEGRO has now started work on the site. Locals claim that the proposed rail freight terminal is only included as a sweetener, believing that the rail element will never see tracks laid (worse than the M&S Donington situation). Instead, they expect their neighbourhoods and roads to be overrun with heavy goods vehicles. SEGRO say that they had intended to make the initial focus on creating the rail connection. SEGRO has planning permission for the terminal, recognised by the Secretary of State for Transport as nationally significant infrastructure. 736] Twyford - Reading: A toppled tree and a slip of earth and tree roots in Sonning Cutting was reported at about 04.45 on Mon 26 Feb, necessitating a speed restriction on the Down Main, although the two Mains were later closed. The site is a short distance west of the Park Lane overbridge. A one hour afternoon closure of all four tracks was needed that day for the tree to be removed but other trees in unstable earth were also found. Later attempts were made to remove the tree overnight and lines reopened from the morning of 27 Feb, with a 40mph restriction on the Down Main. Further work took place on subsequent nights as spoil movement towards the track continued and the root bowl of the fallen tree was still in place and moving downwards, necessitating speed reduction from 40 to 20mph. The root bowl was winched up the embankment on the night of 2-3 Mar. When your Regional Editor passed it on 2 Mar, the speed restriction was still in place but his train completed Paddington to Reading and the station stop to departure for Swansea in a commendable 27 min. It ran unchecked into Reading P9, a seemingly rare event despite all the modernisation work carried out in recent years. Of note also was that he witnessed three simultaneous Down departures from Reading, the Swansea train, a CrossCountry train and the hauled empty sleeper train to Depot all leaving at the same time.
737] Aylesbury - Stoke Mandeville: Shortly after 09.15 on Tue 27 Feb, a distortion and dip in the Up track was reported over about 40m between 36m 7ch and 36m 65ch, just beyond an existing 20mph Temporary Speed Restriction (due to the condition of the embankment). The Down track remained available for use with normal services running. Up trains ran non-stop Aylesbury to Marylebone via High Wycombe in just over an hour, not much longer than via Amersham with the normal calls. Buses served Aylesbury to Amersham stations then it was onto the Met. Due to lack of capacity on the single line to Princes Risborough, its normal services were also replaced by buses over 27-29 Feb. Then services were suspended both ways between Aylesbury Vale Parkway and Amersham for four days with replacement buses (Fri 1 to Mon 4 Mar) for corrective work (the Princes Risborough shuttle ran). 120 nine metre long soil nails were installed and grouted. Normal service resumed on Tue 5 Mar. 738] Shenfield: The Shark brakevan D993733, stabled here since about 1989, was cut up on site over Sat 24 & Sun 25 Feb. Put up for sale by DB Cargo in Nov 2021, difficulty in site access by road and crane access for lifting because of the closeness of overhead lines made removal intact impracticable. 739] HS2: HS2 Infrastructure Maintenance Depot between Calvert and Steeple Claydon has received planning approval from Buckinghamshire Council. It is smaller than originally planned with a reduced track layout. This is said to speed up construction and reduce local disruption (we all know the real reason!). The main buildings will be clad with red brick; Calvert brickworks nearby closed in 1991. Plans included increased landscaping and woodland planting to restrict the view from Steeple Claydon. 740] Reading West: (BLN 1441.338) In a letter dated 15 Feb, authorisation was given by ORR under the Railways (Interoperability) Regulations 2011 to place in service the completed works here comprising: The new station building below Oxford Road bridge containing a ticket office, ticket hall with gate …lines, ticket vending machines, toilet facilities and a small retail unit. The CCTV, lighting and signage. Associated fencing alterations to secure station entrance/exits. New gate lines and enclosure to the …Tilehurst Road entrance with associated fencing and alterations to secure the station entrance/exit. 1444 SOUTH EAST - SOUTH (Julian James) [email protected] 741] Worth doing: (TRACKmaps 5 p23A 2019) Due to damaged pointwork, pending full rectification, terminating trains from Brighton have been unable to access West Worthing Middle Siding since 27 Feb. Those that have run since, have turned back in Worthing P3 instead,so use the Brighton end trailing crossover in passenger service on departure. (Was shown until Sat 23 Mar but check first.) 742] Brighton - Southampton Central: (BLN 1431.2000) Following the consultation until 27 Sep 2023, timetable changes from 2 Jun are in journey planners. They are largely as in BLN 1431 with Victoria to Portsmouth via Gatwick Airport and Horsham 2tph, running to Portsmouth Harbour but Victoria to Southampton Central via Horsham 1tph and Brighton to Portsmouth Harbour 1tph ending - the latter runs to Southampton Central. Portions to Bognor Regis (dividing/joining at Horsham) continue on Victoria to Portsmouth Harbour services, calling intermediately after Horsham. The Portsmouth Harbour portion leaves Horsham first, one of the longest non-stop runs on Southern to Barnham, then calling alternately at stations west of Barnham or fast to Havant. Crew change also occurs at Barnham. Brighton to Southampton is 2tph with fewer stops and Brighton to Chichester via Littlehampton 1tph. The shorter Littlehampton to Bognor Regis and Littlehampton to Portsmouth & Southsea or Harbour services cease as do Brighton to Hove shuttles (usually the first to be cancelled in the event of crew shortages etc) but there are still 4tph each way. Victoria to Littlehampton via Hove at 2tph, continue. 743] Southampton Docks: (BLN 1428.1630) DP World's Modal Shift Programme incentives to transport containers by rail are stated to have 'mitigated'up to 4,000 tonnes of CO2 since Sep 2023. Southampton rail market share increased from 21% (Jan-Jun 2023)to 27%(Sep-Dec 2023); base unclear.The incentive to move containers by rail on journeys under 140 miles has now been increased from £70 to £100 per container. A 'daily' train to South Wales has restarted. Separately, Solent Stevedores with Associated British Ports continue with Phase 3 of a £17.5M project to improve container facilities for deep sea shipping. This extends the west end of the already vast concrete container pad alongside the line.
BELOW: (Item 746) The Newington (Kent) landslip after rectification works, lo
ooking towards the station (top right corner) and London. (NR, 3 Mar 2024.)
744] Gravesend - Tilbury Riverside: (BLN 1443.608) This 05.40-19.00, six days a week service, with over 100,000 passenger journeys a year, is expected to have a grave ending on 31 March. Ferry operator, Jetstream Tours, has issued a statement that indicates they will accept no further short term extensions to their contract: Jetstream Tours has operated the Gravesend to Tilbury Ferry on behalf of Kent County Council since 2017 and is proud to have been able to provide these services to Kent and Thurrock for the past seven years. Following a second extension to our contract, in Nov 2023, we became aware of funding issues which started through the withdrawal of funding from Thurrock Council. We have maintained positive talks solely with Kent County Council throughout this period while a consultation period was entered. Regrettably due to ongoing concerns and uncertainties presented around future funding and an abandoned procurement process by Kent County Council for longer term prospects, Jetstream Tours has been unable to enter into negotiations with the Council. Further short term extensions to our existing contract sadly are not tenable for our business and staff. We feel it ultimately would lead to further protracted job insecurities and have an adverse effect on our ability to adequately employ and ensure continuity of a regular and reliable ferry service. https://bit.ly/49F4V10 has the timetable and information; the ferry carries foot passengers and cycles. Adult single is £4; Day Return £5.50; 10 trip ticket £25; Children £2.50; £3 and £13.50 respectively. Fares cover about half the costs and Thurrock Council is effectively bankrupt (financial hole £500M). When Tilbury Riverside station closed from 30 Nov 1992 a condition was that a bus service had to be provided between Tilbury Town station and Tilbury Riverside. The bus indeed continues over 31 years later but would many people use it without the ferry and will it continue? The walk takes about 25 min. 745] Weybridge - Surbiton: On Mon 4 Mar, the 04.54 Basingstoke to Waterloo derailed between Hersham and Esher on the Up Fast, when an obstruction over the conductor rail was hit. A window on the fourth coach had glass broken on the outer panel of the double glazing. After two hours, there was rare passenger use of the middle island platform at Walton-on-Thames to evacuate the train. The similar centre island platform on the Fast Lines at nearby Esher is described as 'disused' in 1966 by a local historian when its buildings were demolished. Does anyone know when the last timetabled services used those two middle platforms? After the incident, all four tracks were closed all day and, despite significant infrastructure damage needing repairs, normal service resumed first thing next day. On 8 Mar NR announced: This was the third train in the Up direction following weekend engineering works and the first on the Up Fast line. The works undertaken at the weekend included tamping, ballasting and scrap clearance. The location where the train struck the scrap rail was on a rail road access point. This had been used at the weekend as part of a track renewal follow up. The scrap recovery was completed 26 hours prior to the event.A few minutes before the derailment,another train reported hitting something on the Up Slow Line. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch is investigating. 746] Rainham - Sittingbourne: A landslip on the Down side at about 41m 60ch just east of Newington on the afternoon of Fri 23 Feb, following heavy rainfall, caused service suspension between Rainham and Sittingbourne until Mon 4 Mar when service resumed. A longitudinal slip at the edge of the ballast shoulder over about 40m, with material slipping around 5m down the embankment, led to some loss of top on the cess rail side of the Down Chatham. On the evening of 24 Feb, work began to stabilise the embankment. It was regraded with removal of the slipped material by road, then a new profile was created. Steps were cut into the slope before backfilling with 3,000 tonnes of stone, brought to site by train. A rail mounted digger deposited it onto the embankment. Noise and vibration sensors were installed. On 3 Mar the closure extended to Strood and Sole Street for planned work at Rainham. 747] Ryde - Shanklin: (BLN 1437.2402) From 29 Feb, the service was cut to 1tph for extra maintenance of the five Class 484 trains which are experiencing problems. The normal 2tph, with use of the passing loop at Brading, runs during Easter, early May bank holiday and summer holidays only. Presumably (by chance of course), this helps with the required DfT cost savings on the line, which makes a heavy loss? 1444 SOUTH WEST (Samuel Taunton) [email protected] 748] Par: From 3 Jun until 9 Sep the 09.15 SSuX Newquay to Penzance does the P3 to Down Main link.
749] Berkeley business: (TRACKmaps 3 p16C 2023) Only eight return trips ran on the Sharpness branch in 2023 - traffic has been 'low level'. That is low level radioactive waste (mainly from hospitals), transported in containers to Drigg, near Sellafield on the Cumbrian Coast, for the low level nuclear waste repository. One train has run so far in 2024. The track is said to be 'unsuitable' for tours now. 750] An Afternoon at Great Aish: (BLN 1442.482) By Michael Roach. The village of Aish is a short distance northwest of the town of South Brent, once with a station (Totnes to Plymouth line) for the 12½ mile branch to Kingsbridge. Great Aish is a large house south of the village looking out onto the railway. Leaving the site of South Brent station heading west, the main line passes under a bridge carrying Vicarage Rd over the railway. In 1962, it was a good place to see if there was a train in the Up Passenger Loop west of the station. The branch passes over the River Avon between Dartmoor and the estuary at Kingsbridge, then immediately embarks on a long left hand curve taking it through 90o from facing almost west to almost south. The radius of the curve is a little over 20ch. The main line here is on gently rising gradients to a minor summit at the site of Wrangaton station between South Brent and Ivybridge. The restored Wrangaton signal box is at Kidderminster Railway Museum, incidentally. The outside of that curve at Great Aish is ideal for photographing trains in the afternoon from about 14.00 onwards. I spent much of the afternoon of 2 Jun 1962 in the fields west of the railway. It was a Saturday two weeks before the start of the summer timetable that year and some extra trains had started. I knew that there were very few regular scheduled steam trains left, as dieselisation was about 90% complete then, but I was usually optimistic that some steam would appear. I was in the fields at Great Aish from about 3.15pm until 6.00pm and saw just four steam engines; three were lucky extras. On the way to Aish, I stopped at Stowford Bridge, Ivybridge, to see a train that I hoped would produce steam and it did, in the shape of a 'Grange' and a 'King'. Steam double headers and 'King' class locos were both very rare on the South Devon main line then. As the afternoon wore on and the sun went round, I moved northwards for a different view of the curve. The sight of the afternoon was 5917, 'Westminster Hall', on a 10-coach train heading west. The limit for 'Halls' on Dainton and Rattray Banks was 275 tons (about 8 coaches), so it should have had assistance from Newton Abbot to Brent, after which it was allowed 392 tons (about 11 coaches). 5917 had been based at Laira until May 1962, when it moved to Exeter. The last train to be seen was a Down freight train, which could have been the 10.00am from Avonmouth running over 90 minutes late or the 4.55pm from Hackney Yard running 20 minutes early. Both terminated at Tavistock Junction Yard. I think the former is more likely in view of the St Phillips Marsh loco hauling the train. Readers are recommended to look at the 25'' map, on the National Library of Scotland, 1873-1888 series, where it can be seen that the main line was then single track and Brent station had just one platform because the Kingsbridge Branch did not open until 1893. 1444 WEST MIDLANDS (Brian Schindler) [email protected] 751] Leek: 'Freightmaster' recently reported that that STANNOX codes have now been issued for the branches from Stoke-on-Trent, Glebe Street Jn. These geographical online codes normally refer to non-station locations such as sidings and junctions and are grouped by geographical area - the first two digits refer to the location. It was one of the lines mentioned in the Government 'Network North Transforming British Transport' report. Endon, Leek and Leek Brook Jn (actually in Leekbrook!) now appear on Realtime Trains as does Oakamoor and Caldon Low, even Alton Towers though the three have no track! Extreme optimism to say the least; Stoke to Leek Brook Jn has some significant sized trees growing out of it, rotten bridge timbers and sleepers as well as missing level crossing equipment. 752] Henley-in-Arden: On 22 Feb NR Chairman Lord Peter Hendy opened the refurbished P1 station building (on the platform for Stratford-upon-Avon). Friends of Henley Railway Station was formed in 2020 as a Community Interest Company. After concern about the deterioration of the station building (it was built in 1908 but has been empty since 1990 when the station was de-staffed), they stepped in to push for a transformation. With support from NR, WMR, Henley-in-Arden Parish Council and the Railway Heritage Trust, the group carried out structural repairs, then modified it into a community bar and lounge. The lounge is multi-functional with IT facilities and can be hired for small functions, perfect for a Society Committee meeting.Profits are reinvested into the building,facilities and station area.
BELOW: (Item 755) The landslip between Oakengates and Wellington is ne
ear the site of New Hadley Halt; looking towards Wellington/Shrewsbury.
BELOW: In the other direction towards Wolverhampton (as is the next o
one), that overbridge ahead is for the B4373 Wombridge Way. (All NR.)
753] Diversionary Ticket: On 29 Feb a member made a leap into the Midlands from Worcestershire Parkway. In advance, he bought an East Midlands Day Ranger and a return to Birmingham New Street but, with uncertainty over which train he would be able to catch, left the ticket from New Street to either Tamworth or Nuneaton for purchase on the day. In the event it was Tamworth (a CrossCountry Cardiff to Nottingham service), so he purchased his Senior Railcard ticket (£4.95 Anytime Single) on the train somewhere near Water Orton. The endorsement 'Valid only via Lichfield' on the ticket issued by the CrossCountry conductor made him keep his head down in his seat and set him thinking! There, is an alternative route from Birmingham to Tamworth via Lichfield TV operated by West Midlands Railway services. The journey takes substantially longer and there is a wait at Lichfield, so is offered at a lower price but not valid on CrossCountry (which costs £6.65), hence the qualification. This alternative fare is not actively promoted by WMR but might appeal to our members; presumably the CrossCountry conductor hadn't realised what they had issued! There are probably other similar examples of longer more interesting journeys that cost less. Northern used to do a Crewe to Liverpool Advance Ticket for £1 via the Airport and Piccadilly, calling at nearly all stations! 754]Old New Street: (E-BLN1441.X.14) The photo is the London end of the Midland side of the station (the curves give it away, the L&NWR side, left, had straight tracks and platforms). MR NO 2 signal box is on what was (in 1890) island P5; the photographer is on what was P6, with the turnout, right, leading into the Midland parcels depot. The bridge carries Queen's Drive, which ran down the middle of the station, separating the Midland and L&NWR sides. The building that can just be glimpsed at extreme left over the parapet of the Queen's Drive bridge was the L&NWR parcels office, part later served as the BR area medical officer's premises. In 1959 a member underwent a medical exam (not quite the 'drop your trousers and cough' routine - but they certainly wanted to find if he was colour blind - he wonders why…) before being allowed to take up 34 years of gainful employment with British Railways. 755] Oakengates: Among the current epidemic of landslips, the Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury line closed to passengers in both directions from about 10.12 Fri 8 Mar when 50m of embankment (5,000 tonnes) slipped by 1m on the Up side at 159m 20ch, west of Oakengates. It is a high embankment at an 80o angle to the ground, not far off vertical and is near new houses under construction. Trapped TfW units were repatriated over the Down line (TfW train crews no longer sign Wolverhampton to Crewe via Stafford). From Mon 18 Mar, a West Midlands Trains' Birmingham to Shifnal service is due to start (ECS shunt via Madeley Jn). The normal service involves crews from Wolverhampton, New Street and Shrewsbury. Single line working is not possible due to the condition of the embankment and would slow rectification. National Rail advises that the line is closed until at least Mon 25 Mar. 756] Long Marston: Rolling stock leasing company Porterbrook has agreed a deal with St Modwen to acquire the freehold of the Rail Innovation Centre in Warwickshire. Porterbrook has operated the 135 acre site since Jun 2021 and invested over £13M, tarmacking roads, upgrading lighting and installing a new security system. The much modernised centre now has enhanced training and office facilities. The old storage buildings have been replaced with similar structures to maintain the former Royal Engineers' WWII supply depot heritage. A new £3M Asset Management Facility opened in Apr 2023, has roads with pits able to accommodate vehicles up to 23m long for maintenance and upgrades.
757] Cross-City Line: (BLN 1443.615) 6-car Class 323 EMUs were not general before the Pandemic and only became possible when Class 350s took over other routes releasing some 323s. Pre-Pandemic, there were 3tph to Bromsgrove and to Redditch then rather than the present two, with four an hour to Lichfield Trent Valley (now two) and an extra two to Four Oaks which still run. This made 6tph between Four Oaks and Longbridge (now four). The multi-million pound Redditch branch dynamic loop and second Alvechurch platform (P1!) OP 1 Sep 2014 are currently not needed for service. The present service needs 11 trains which, up to Dec 2023, normally had 6-cars except a few late evening services, requiring 22 of the 26 units. One transferred to Northern at the end of Oct and two more went north in early Jan. 323214 seems to have been out of service for several months, so there are only 22 available now (assuming no further transfers - there is one other that our member has not seen in 2024). The Dec 2023 timetable reduced two of the Four Oaks - Redditch diagrams to one unit. Checking RTT a while ago, a member found what he suspected was a Class 730 test, an evening ECS from Soho Depot to Lichfield TV and back, 'calling' at all stations with a stop of 10-15 min at Lichfield City in each direction. It was timed as a 323, but he doesn't believe that there are 730 timings yet. 758] Sutton Park: On Fri 1 Mar at 11.10 a body was discovered 50 yards from the Up Sutton Park line at 47m 00ch (near Ryecroft Jn). Due to the circumstances, the line was closed by the police for detailed forensic investigation, reopening at midnight on Tue 5th. A most unusual consequence was some steel, aggregate and engineering trains ran through Birmingham New Street during the day on 4 & 5 Mar. 759] West Midlands Metro: During Nov and Dec last year, passengers were encouraged to share their feedback as part of an annual customer satisfaction survey, the first since before the pandemic. Surveys were conducted independently by Transport for West Midlands,using a specialist team trained to carry out face-to-face interviews with customers and as a digital survey. 1,500 customers were surveyed with an overall satisfaction level of 87%. Key results were 93% on cleanliness inside the tram, 91% tram stop condition, 90% journey time, 90% information inside the tram. Tram security scored a modest 85% whilst journey comfort was 80%. Not so good scores were length of wait 81%, service reliability 83% and service frequency 76%. Overall value for money was 74%. Meanwhile WM Metro drivers are to receive a 13.5% pay increase from 1 Apr (no fooling); for 'time-served' West Midlands Metro drivers, pay will have increased by 33.6% since Jun 2022 up from £22,000 to £30,100 per year. 760] Worcester: All trains between Hereford and Worcester were cancelled on Mon 4 Mar when a white van being pursued by the Police turned off Henwick Level Crossing around 4am. The van was driven along the railway towards Worcester Foregate Street station. It became wedged on the bridge timbers over the River Severn and the occupants fled, fortunately there were no trains about. The van had to be jacked up and hauled out; then checks and minor repairs made. The first train was at 10.40. 1444 IRELAND (Martin Baumann) [email protected] 761] DART+ West: (BLN 1406.1960) On the Maynooth line, detailed plans for the new Kilcock Depot, beyond Maynooth, about 960m before Kilcock station on the Down side, include a significant 800m long main line deviation southwest at the Maynooth/Dublin end of the layout. Two connections are shown, facing Maynooth, the first at the start of the depot and the second about a third of the way along. It is a large site with 14 through stabling roads plus another eight through an adjacent building. All (and three other lines) join into a single track headshunt at the Sligo end, needing many points. There is another 3-road building towards the Dublin end, then a Chief Civil Engineer's compound with sidings further southeast. E-BLN 1444 has a plan and it is also on a high resolution scalable extra PDF. 762] Waterford: (BLN 1366.3527) Work on the new station, which started on 9 Nov 2020 with site clearance, is proceeding very slowly, with Irish Rail targeting an opening in the second quarter of 2026. 763] Metro NIMBYs: (BLN 1443.632) Residents are campaigning against the proposed Charlemont Metro terminus site in what RTE (Raidió Teilifís Éireann - Radio Television Ireland) describes as'one of Dublin's most affluent neighbourhoods' - 35,000 passengers are predicted over 12 hours each day. Planning hearings continue until at least the end of Mar. Properties near the site sell for around €2M. Needless to say, the residents are not against the Metro, they want it next to someone else's property.
[BLN 1BELOW: (Item 761) The proposed new Kilcock DART+ West Depot and right with Kilcock and Sligo off top left. North at the top. There is a hig
1444] Sligo line realignment (in red). Maynooth and Dublin are off bottom gh resolution zoomable PDF of this with e-BLN to see the fine details.
BELOW: The Sligo/Kilcock end of the new depot.