1281

ABOVE: In the words of our esteemed Scotland Regional Editor, who frequently makes the pilgrimage
to Scunthorpe, it is an area totally unspoilt by tourism. On the South Melting shop running road with
a British Steel loco in the distance. To the right and out of view are 'The Four Queens' (blast furnaces).

With lunchtime approaching, it was time to head to the AFRPS shed but first taking in Trent Low Yard
Line 11 (to the NR boundary - any further and we would have illuminated the line at Scunthorpe Power
Signal Box!) and Redbourn B1 and B2 plus 227 loop (not covered on recent Society tours). The run to
the AFRS depot is between the 'Basic Slag Road' on one side and the 'Old Stripper Shed' on the other.
not far from 'The Four Queens' (blast furnaces). The normal lunchtime efficiency saw everybody fed
and watered. Duly refreshed (including the crew), we set off for some more highlights; first the shed
headshunt to the end then reversing in the right hand siding.

Heading down the Coal Running Road towards Bridge 44, reversal allowed the entrance to Rod Mill
Entrance 14 to be reached with return via 14 Loop followed by the nearby siding (to the buffers of
course) returning via 15 Loop towards Bridge 44. A good run took us to the Slab Yard area where a
reversal nearby allowed the CONCAST upper siding to be taken to reach the end of the lower siding
before heading off to the P Way area headshunt buffers, after which the two sidings were taken there
to the parked track machines and gates respectively (as good a reason as any to stop…).

Next was one of the more unusual places, the Iron Pits The landscape colour and profile here creates
the impression of being on a far off alien planet and today seemed even better than on previous visits
due to the presence of steam adding to the effect! Following track inspection, all four sidings were
covered to safe limits. The area is used to tip molten iron from the hot torpedoes if the steel making
plant cannot take it, to prevent it solidifying in the torpedoes. It then forms in sheets which are broken
up for recycling using a large mobile electromagnetic crane dropping a large metal ball on it - what a
fun job! The resulting scrap goes back into the blast furnaces (of which two of the four were working).

BELOW: Striking while the iron was hot on a line that is normally occupied and yet another buffer stop
beckons. The end of Concast Lower Siding was reached by the earlier facing crossover from the Upper
Siding on the left. The perimeter line runs along the fence, across the background in front of the
greenery beyond and at right angles to these two.

ABOVE: The Iron Pitts (to the left and right of this line); the long building behind is part of the former

Bloom & Billet Mill and the one projecting out on the right is the former Soaker. The total length of

these mostly disused continuous buildings - off view both sides - is about a mile! BELOW: Passing
through Mills Exchange Siding No13 and lucky for some on the tour, perhaps so called as participants

who had done it before could exchange it with someone else for one they needed?

ABOVE: The four track section, over 'Bridge 44' (just before the curve). This is the south west corner of
the complex looking south; all four lines and the crossover were covered during the course of the day.

Then it was a fast run past the closed Dawes Lane coke ovens, round the loop and down through Mills
Exchange siding 14. Reversal took us back the way we had just come through Siding 13 and another
change of direction saw progress through Siding 12 and on to the entrance to BBM2 (Bloom and Billet
Mill entrance 2). Heading back north allowed the other track to be covered to a suitable reversal point
to head south again and run through the former Bloom and Billet Mill (inside at last!). A fast run round
the bottom of the outer loop past Bridge 44 (ABOVE) included parallel running with a 'top & tailed'
loaded train on the adjacent line (BELOW). Then it was off the BOS Plant…..

ABOVE: From the rear brakevan, at the BOS Plant, a queue of hot metal torpedoes (they were too!)
waiting to be tipped. In the distance towards the green and pleasant fields can be seen the end of line,
remarkably high up. The buffer stops were reached, as many were this day, (BELOW). The outer
perimeter line passes the end of line at a much lower level at right angles beneath.

ABOVE: The approach to the BOS Plant, to show what a busy place it is with steam and rust coloured
smoke/fumes emanating from several different places at once, the orange is the end of a torpedo.

At the earlier reversal point there was, of course, another reversal allowing the lower line to be taken
to the buffers at the end of the BOS plant (Basic Oxygen Steel making) line passing the queue of hot
torpedoes. This was covered at the end of January's tour but it was nice to do it in daylight and see the
view from high up. Return was via the higher line after doing the siding/headshunt alongside Lime
Avenue while it was empty.

The penultimate area visited was to Queen Victoria West Road and then towards the blast furnace
area stopping short as usual. This was as regal as this trip got compared with the January one, but it
was none the worse for it! For those that don't know the Scunthorpe blast furnaces are 'The Four
Queens': Queen Victoria (1954), Queen Anne (1954), Queen Mary (1938) and Queen Bess (1938).

After the Central Engineering Workshops Dock (CEW on the map) headshunt our final destination was
the Heavy Repair Bay south end. This included Roads 4, 3, 2 & 1 to the doors and the siding by the
stored locos (Road 6 was OOU and 5 full). A filthy Highline loco refusing to give up its identity was
turned into a giant scratch card as years of grime were rubbed of revealing 'No6'. A winner for some…

Those formerly from Selby and other places who 'only
do Baker' will have seen just how much of the system is
depicted on page 43 of the 14th (June 2015) Edition!

RIGHT: Souvenir ticket by Jim Sellens….

BELOW: The Heavy Repair Bay (South End) was also
remarkably clear for once. Here there are some unusual
interesting single rail trap points to protect those
working on locos in, or in front of, the building. The
AFRPS volunteer shunter is about to hold one shut for
the tour to traverse Line 4 to the doors

BELOW: The very rarely used track set in tarmac to the right joins on to to the Appleby Coke Ovens
'coke car' line (much used) for transporting the burning coal to be 'quenched' which happens at
remarkably regular intervals creating large pathognomonic plumes of steam. The points in front of the
tour train were changed so that it took the 'Coke Oven Weighbridge Loop' to the right. The tour
mainly did lines not covered on our recent tours and those requested by participants (if possible!).

[BLN 1281]
ABOVE LOWER, CONTINUED: Bottom left in the cutting the former 'low level lines' came out into the
works. These used to run under the main line east of Trent Jn at Scunthorpe to connect with the
branch to various iron ore mines including Roxby (now used for tipping) and via Dragonby Sidings to
the demolished Normanby Park Steel works (all closed by Feb 1982) and Flixborough Wharf branch.
After nine hours that was (sadly) the end of another excellent tour and it was time to head back to the
starting point with many looking forward to the Sunday TPE tour as well as the next Scunthorpe visit
on 6 Jan 2018. A huge thank you to everybody involved with organisation, operation, documentation
and catering for the day but especially Glenn Britcliffe (AFRPS), Martyn (Map Man Brailsford), our own
Alan Sheppard (Mr Route Director and a qualified AFRPS working member and he did work hard - all
day) for making sure all those buffers, beams, doors etc were reached. (Terry Cotter, member 2569.)
BELOW: Running alongside the 'Slab Yard' (the building right), the track to the right enters it via the
'middle entrance'. It used to run through this building and out of the 'east entrance' further along the
building, past the end of the 'new loop' (seen to the left with wagons in it) and join up again with the
running line but is sadly now disconnected at the far end (see plan).

Please mention the BLS when booking or enquiring. .1281 CONNECTIONS… .Details must be checked with the organisers.
1104] Barrow Hill branch, Fri 19 & Sat 20 May: Rail Operations Group Class 31 & 37 through shuttles
'top & tail' from Chesterfield (£19 return) includes admission to the Rail Ale Festival. Also a 'railtour'
(£39) Derby (10.28/19.41), Chesterfield P3 (11.04), Sheffield (11.32), Beighton Jn - Woodhouse Jn to
Barrow Hill (12.18/17.30) with Heeley Up Loop on return: https://goo.gl/ivhL6L or 0121 708 4960.

1105] Winchester's Hidden Railways: With thanks to Railway Ramblers for the information, there are
some interesting guided tours taking place in Winchester this summer. The exploration includes a rare
chance to go inside the disused Chesil Tunnel. Stout shoes required; there are steps and steep slopes!
£7.50 adult, £3 child. Saturdays 24 Jun & 12 Aug, 11.15 & 14.15 and Tue 25 Jul at 18.30. Information
and tickets from Tourist Information Centre, The Guildhall, Winchester, SO23 9GH, 01962 840500.

1106] GWR HALF PRICE SELECTED ADVANCE TICKETS WITH A SENIOR RAILCARD: Also HM forces,
Disabled (and optionally one accompanying adult with the latter) Railcards. Online only, book
before 2 Jun via www.GWR.com/senior500cn for travel before Thu 20 Jul also receive 500 Nectar
Points for each ticket booked. The link also gives more information and conditions.

1107] Treetops Light Railway, Sun 25 (not 26) Jun, 12.30-16.30: 25 Green End, (off Park Drive itself off
the B4579 Oakhurst Road) Oswestry, SY11 1BU. (SJ 2886 3045) Annual Macmillan Cancer Support open
day. A private 5" gauge unashamedly garden railway, an 82m circuit; three trains can run at once.

1108] DRS, Kingmoor Charity Open Day, Sat 22 Jul: Behind the scenes/family fun day featuring the
new Class 88 locos. £5 on the gate or https://goo.gl/UtNAs0 (Pathfinder connecting tour from Bristol).

1109] Pathfinder Tours, The Buffer Puffer 14.0 & 15.0 28/29 Jul: If you are not on our long weekend
in Scotland these Class 37 'top & tail' tours include the Sudbury branch connection (available on the
first train to Sudbury SSuO ex-Colchester - ECS other days - and the last train from Sudbury runs to
Colchester daily), also at Grove Park through to Bromley North (available during engineering work).
However, particularly unusual is the Upminster branch connection at Romford. Includes Lee Spur,
Neasden Curve & Reading London end diveunder. See Pathfinder website or 01453 835414/834477.

1110] Shrewsbury Flower Show, 11/12 Aug: (No Nectar points) The Quarry Park, SY1 1JL (SJ488124);
Ffestiniog Railway 'Palmerston' (on Flower Power?); FREE rides in two heritage coaches on temporary
1' 11½' gauge track. The World's oldest horticultural show on one site (125 years); 3 million blooms!

1111] NSE Railway Society, Finmere, 12 & 13 Aug:
(BLN 1280.1017) UPDATE: The possible interesting
12 Aug tour has been moved; a connecting bus (by
donation) runs from/to Bicester North both days.

1112] Old Oak common **FINAL** Open day, Sat 2
Sep: (BLN 1278.806) Tickets https://goo.gl/LjI27K
are now on sale - £20 adult, £10 accompanied child
4-14, group (2A & 2C or 3A and 1C) £45.

1113] Threlkeld Quarry Railway: Mining Museum,
Threlkeld, three miles east of Keswick, CA12 4TT,
(NY328244), 01768 779747. Daily until the end of
Oct, 10.00-17.00; the railway seems to run (check)
11.00-16.00. A 700yd 2ft gauge line enabling safe
public access to the inner quarry faces. Admission
£3 adult, rail trip £3. Annual steam gala 29/30 Jul
with visiting locos. Underground tours - subject to
the weather conditions. A comprehensive geological
and mining museum, quarry site with a unique
equipment collection, mineral panning. Vintage
Excavator Trust working weekend 16/17 Sep.

X.69] Guess the Location BLN 1281: LEFT: A picture
taken by Ian Mortimer - answer in e-BLN 1282

1114] Charity Railtours, the Mayflower: It is now hoped to run this on a Sat in Mar 2018 and for those
who have not heard, it now includes Felixstowe South Freightliner Terminal as well as Griffin Wharf
to the stop blocks and Parkeston Tip. Some tickets https://goo.gl/0WTDv0 are still available.

1115] The End of an Era (Last Heritage DMU service use by non-Heritage Railway) Extra Bubbles:
From 15-19 May the *16.39 from Aylesbury ECS Class 121 DMU runs in service (Princes Risborough
16.53). On the final day, Fri 19 May, Heritage DMUs run from Aylesbury at: 06.35, 07.47, 08.49,
*13.19, *14.19, *16.39, 17.26 & 18.28 and from *Princes Risborough: 07.20, 08.23, 09.16, *12.50
(closely followed by a 13.00 'modern' DMU service!), *13.50, *14.50, 17.00, 18.06 & 19.30. *No
booked intermediate stops. The extra trains are subject to short-notice cancellation or alteration in the
event of disruption or late running of other services. Normal tickets are valid. Multiple working on the
final day has been rumoured. [The Swanage Railway should work Heritage DMUs to Wareham.]

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Treasurer: Ian Mortimer, 69 Malmesbury Road, Cheadle Hulme, CHEADLE Cheshire SK8 7QL. [email protected]
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NEWS TEAM: East Midlands: John Cameron, 10 Friar Gate Court, Friar Gate, Derby, DE1 1HE. [email protected]
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West Midlands: Brian Schindler, 15 Sudeley, Dotshill, TAMWORTH, B77 1JR. [email protected]
Ireland: 42 Northland Road, Londonderry, BT48 7ND. [email protected]
Scotland: Mike McCabe, Lawrenceholme Barn, Oulton, WIGTON, CA7 0PH. [email protected]
Wales: Paul Jeffries, 54 Heol Erwin, CARDIFF, CF14 6QR. [email protected]
Minor Railways (British Isles): Peter Scott, 93 Josephine Court, Southcote Rd, READING, RG30 2DQ. [email protected]
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X.70] Quainton Road: BELOW: Our 'Bubble & Squeak' Class 121 DMU railtour with Chiltern during the
break here, Sun 9 Apr, a glorious sunny day looking south towards Aylesbury and Baker Street.
The Brill Tramway (or whichever of its many names is preferred) trailed in right (P3) (Dave Hayward).