1404

overgrown during our 12 Apr 2014 railtour of the railway. (Angus McDougall.)
mplex and wagons had to be removed after being set alight by the locals!

BELOW: A photo stop during our 12 Apr 2014 railtour. Afterwards w

we visited the Fancott Pub Railway the same day (Angus McDougall).





[BLN 1404]
PREVIOUS PAGE: A second trip in Stonehenge Yard visited the same sidings in the reverse order.

Thanks to our member Rob Fraser for this incredibly detailed move report of our railtour!

1737] Sat 16 Jul; UK Railtours 'The Solent Searcher': When it was revealed that this 'Selbyex' railtour
arranged by our Ian Loveday now includes the MoD section beyond the NR boundary at Ludgershall it
rapidly filled. Capacity has since been increased. As well as a rare visit to Fawley pay close attention
for any 'on the day extras' (requested by our members). See https://bit.ly/3aiCrAH 01438715050.

1738] Sat 16 Jul 11.30- 15.00; Blackpool Heritage Trams, 'The Full System Tour': Lines and crossings
that Heritage Tours don't usually cover, (except our BLS tours!) includes inside Starr Gate Depot and
the headshunt, Blundell Street, the centre lines at Bispham and Thornton Gate. Crossings expected
include Foxhall, Tower, Festival House, North Pier, Cabin, Cleveleys and Fishermans Walk. 'Tram
Sunday' takes place in Fleetwood on Sun 17 Jul and more tours of this type are planned later this year.
It starts at Hopton (Rigby) Road Depot and finishes there in Blundell Street. Adult £25; 3-15 £12.50;
U3 Free (no seat). See https://blackpoolheritage.com/tours/systemtour/ for details and to book.

1739] THE GREAT THORPE RAILWAY DISASTER 1874 - Phyllida
Scrivens, Pen & Sword Books £19.99; Amazon £15.58; Kindle
£6.49; 216 pages, 16.51 x 2.54 x 23.5cm hardcover.

The Victorians built grand railways - great viaducts, gorgeous
stations, excellent edifices but, sadly, also suffered big and
spectacular railway accidents. This book examines one in great
detail, concentrating on the people involved as well as the
details of the accident, its causes and improvements resulting
from inquiries. The accident resulted from trains being allowed
to depart from Norwich and Brundall stations towards each
other on what was then a single line - only days before the
second line would have been passed for traffic. It was a dark,
wet night and collision was inevitable. Warnings had not been
heeded when a similar incident happened a little earlier but in
daylight and the two train crews stopped just short of each
other. The details of those involved in the accident - travellers,
railway staff and doctors - illustrate its terrible effects but also
shed light on 1870s social history. Your reviewer felt that detailing the history of the doctors and
'heroes' after the accident to their own deaths stretched the point a little. Nonetheless, it is a well
written and easily readable account, telling the human stories that accident reports themselves do
not relate. A learning point on medical practice in the era: Many.. passengers had relatively minor
injuries .. [were] examined, patched up and dismissed with a bottle of purgative .. The importance of
good bowel movements in recovery could never be over-estimated. A recipe is provided! (Tim Wallis)

1740] Sun 7 Aug; Fifield PRIVATE Railway: 'Deep Meadows', Ledger Rd, Fifield, SL6 2NX, (SU 907 766)
(MR p7) betwixt Windsor and Maidenhead (4 miles west of Windsor off B3024). Annual public rides at
this interesting steam hauled standard gauge railway (plan 1379.775) http://goo.gl/MjNal5 part of the
local charity 'fun day'. Rides are in open wagons with seats and a brakevan. Times TBA (13.00-15.00 in
previous years). Note, if you have not done this railway before you are advised to attend this year.

1741] Saturday 13 August; 11.00 to 16.30; Richmond Light Railway: (MR p19) (see BLN 1402.1470)
Annual charity running day https://bit.ly/3sp6vjZ (no pay on the day), at 5 Jul only 21 tickets remained.

X.152] Downpatrick & County Down Railway: (BLN 1400.MR89) In Ireland this 5' 3'' gauge railway is to
reopen on Sat 16 Jul with public running from Downpatrick to Inch Abbey 13.00-16.00 Sats until 3 Sep
plus Sun 21 & Mon 29 Aug. It last ran on Sun 19 Dec 2019. See: https://www.downrail.co.uk/news/

CONTACT DETAILS: See BLN 1397 or full list in BLN 1350 (18 Apr 2020) on our website or via BLN Editor:

●Editor: Paul Stewart [email protected] 4 Clarence Close, MALVERN, WR14 3HX 01684 562862 07790 652351.
●Fixtures Secretary: Kev Adlam [email protected] @BLSFixtures (Paper post via BLN Editor above please.)
●Bookings: Mark Gomm [email protected] 84 Mornington Road, STOKE-ON-TRENT, ST1 6EL 07983 541887.
●Sales: Graeme Jolley [email protected] Dolbryn, Penegoes, MACHYNLLETH, Powys, SY20 8NN. 07484 646542.
●Printed by Willow Printing & Design Ltd [email protected] 75/79 Back Cross Lane, NEWTON-LE-WILLOWS,

WA12 9YE 01925 222449. ●Published by the Branch Line Society, 10 Sandringham Rd, STOKE GIFFORD, BS34 8NP.