ning than in this lovely park? Battery Electric loco 'Halton Castle' takes been to the buffer stops in Norton Siding and was about to propel around al host John Doyle is driving. (All these photos by James Beal, Tue 26 Jul 2022.)
BELOW: 'Halton Castle' takes half the miniature members through the statio the shed, the platform bypass line and the long crossover between the runnin
on throat at Mousetrap Hall. Left to right, the tracks are: Two access lines to ng lines and the platform line. All members who attended 'cleared' the throat.
BELOW: Your GS (who organised this superb event) supervises stock movemen
nts to allow members to clear the shed roads. The station is behind the railings.
BELOW: Approaching Mousetrap Hall station travelling in what, nowaday
ys, is the normal direction of travel. (This and next two: Stuart Gomersall.)
BELOW: The 'highlight' was the loading/unloading ramp - every was 'inclined' to
o agree, including John Doyle. Our reporter, James Beal, is the one with glasses.
BELOW: Ramping up the excitement - Peter Green (front) and Nick Porter (
behind) - it was the final piece of track done, then participants sloped off...
It is a good sign when the train formation shrinks during a minor railway fixture and when the traction is changed over. Both happened at this point. The party was split in two and a two coach train set out behind battery electric 'Halton Castle' (ex-Conwy Valley Railway Museum). This was a public run plus shunts into the two lines out in the country park and a departure from, or arrival into, the shed area (depending on the group). Norton Siding was simple enough; formerly a loop for recessing trains but the facing points had been removed. A quick count down, a kiss of the buffers and we were off again. Anstey's Curve was next. At one time, there was a plan to create a figure of 8 layout within the main circuit by adding two triangular junctions which would have almost touched each other. However, one side of each triangle was not built. The parts that were built form parts of the public run and also what was originally a cut-off for a shorter run - Anstey's Curve. John wasn't sure that the curve had ever been in public use and the facing points were later plain lined. The website says that the cut off was intended to be used for Santa specials and to shorten the run in very cold weather. The railway now plans to bring the curve into use and half of it has been relaid. We reversed slowly to a point just past halfway, where the un-relaid track was visibly inferior. It wasn't safe to go further, maybe someday… After a run back to the shed, and after the other half of the party had visited the distant sidings, it was time for the serious stuff - the shed roads. The stock we had used so far was left in the station and other stock was cleared out of the shed to allow us to reach the end of the lines, or as near as possible. The traction was changed repeatedly, so we all had a small amount of haulage from a Hymek lookalike 'Norton Priory School', tram engine N o 7 and Ruston lookalike N o 2. The only road we couldn't do at all was that with a curve and interlaced track at the traverser end, as it ran under a long low work bench. An interesting feature of these moves was that as stock was removed from shed roads, it revealed yet more stock under benches and in other dark corners, an Aladdin's cave for miniature spotters. We then did the stub roads outside the shed. The formation was reduced again, to one coach, and the traction changed to people power (none of us had painted numbers, perhaps disappointing to some, although we all have membership numbers). An omnidirectional member or two enjoyed sideways travel on the traverser. Lastly, we tackled the loading ramp road. I haven't done this line myself, said John. Ah, yes, that's exactly what we like to hear. Thanks again John (and to Tim W), you really were spot on with the excellent arrangements. For reassurance, no mice were caught during this fixture. I could list the track that we covered but it is easier to say what we didn't cover: half of Anstey's Curve, the interlaced workbench covered shed road and about a coach length at the back of another shed road where the track was dubious. It was that comprehensive. A short note on the track itself. The main line and most of the sidings were laid with 'C' section rails, open sides facing outwards. The 'C' section must be perfect for berthing stock but a few of the sidings had much lighter flat metal rails, laid on their ends. Anstey's Curve was half of each. The rail in the shed initially looked like it was set into the concrete base but turned out to be just strips of metal screwed direct to the floor. This unusual arrangement worked perfectly well but possibly not for much longer as the shed is set for replacement in the near future. This sets the scene for a potential future visit, when the new shed is in place. If you have a chance, I urge you to treat yourself. The railway does not charge for rides, it is all by donation and this is much appreciated by the local population and Council who are very supportive. It is surprising how much the railway has changed over the years (even the normal direction of travel). At one stretch on the circuit, the railway has been realigned away from perimeter tree encroachment. After the visit, it was a brisk walk to Runcorn East and a straightforward run to Manchester Piccadilly. I reached my hotel just in time to watch England beat Sweden in the Women's European football championship. The following day was a leisurely tram grice, as a substitute for the re-dated railtour, and the day after featured (amongst other things) a visit to Whitehaven bay platform. Then it was back home to Yorkshire and reality after an entire week (starting at the IOM) messing about on trains. 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