1423

Number 1423 (Items 1087 - 1202 & MR 70 - MR 80) (E-BLN 78 PAGES) 29 Apr 2023 BRANCH LINE NEWS Praeteritum, praesens et futurum ferriviaria [ISSN 1354-0947] Published 24 times a year by the Branch Line Society; founded 1955. branchline.uk https://www.facebook.com/BranchLineSociety/ Membership queries: Lisa Sheppard [email protected] 186 [email protected] Park Road South, Hull, HU4 7BU. 07873 354464 British Isles news from members; an International section is available. Opinions are not necessarily those available. of the Compilers or of the Society. ciety. Society. BLN 1424 is dated Sat 13 May; contributions by Wed 3 May please 1087] :REMINDER:: Thank you to all our members who have renewed for another year. The rest are due on 1 May. It is a great help to your volunteer Membership Secretary if you can please renew on our website, which is secure. For those unable to do this, a paper form was sent out with BLN 1422. Electronic membership is still only £12 per year (cheaper than 8 years ago). As well as e-BLN, e-BLNI and all the other membership benefits, you can add paper BLN (averaging 36 pages) for only £1.39p per edition, including UK postage, and paper BLNI (averaging 8 pages) for a further 23p per copy. 1088] Minor Railways (MR) Booklet 35 th Edition - 2023: Every full member as at Sun 9 Apr should have received their posted paper copy of Peter Scott's new booklet, including all with electronic subscriptions - that is everyone except 'Basic' Members (Category 'D'). If you have not, please contact Lisa Sheppard, as above. Peter Scott's MR website is http://www.minorrailways.co.uk/ for minor railway track plans (being added), updates, downloads and much information. Date Book online :new fixtures open when e-BLN is out: BLN Lead Status Sat 29 Apr Birmingham New Street subterranean tour 1422 MG OPEN Sat 29 Apr PEPs on Tour: Class 313 EMU Sussex Rambler 1420 MG FULL Sun 30 Apr Toton Depot behind the shed doors 1421 MG FULL Thu 11 May The Jurassic Crompton mainline railtour 1421 MG OPEN Sun 14 May Return of the Jurassic Crompton (& 2x Class 73/1) 1421 MG OPEN 12-15 May Katowice & Kraków Wanderer :CONFIRMED RUNNING: Below IS OPEN Sat 20 May Signal box visits in Cornwall for charity 1421 NG WAITING LIST 3-4 Jun *NEW* The Tyne Tees Maid track & traction tours SEE WEBSITE OPEN Sat 24 Jun *NEW* The Jolley Vacman Derby to Skegness tour Below MG OPEN Sun 25 Jun *NEW* Eyre Valley Explorer to K&WVR diesel gala Below MG OPEN Mon 26 Jun 14.00 Fifield standard gauge railway (MR 2022 p7) TBA TBA Claimed Sun 9 Jul *NEW* The Great Braxted Bake Off (2ft gauge!) Below MG OPEN Sat 22 Jul Isle of Man: Manx Electric Railway Crossover Explorer IOM Transport Festival 23-30 Jul: http://bit.ly/3JPxqxc TBA TBA Claimed Sat 26 Aug Silverleaf Poplar NG Railway, Boston 1421 MG OPEN Sun 27 Aug Scunthorpe Summer Track Steeler26 (09.30-18.30) TBA TBA Claimed Bookings: MG = Mark Gomm [email protected] 84 Mornington Rd, STOKE-ON-TRENT, ST1 6EL 07983 541887 1089] :12-25 May; Katowice & Kraków Wanderer:: With thanks to Iain Scotchman, our organiser, for the arrangements, we are pleased to advise that this tour will go ahead as planned. Details of the tour route are being finalised by PKP but the start, (12 May) and end, (15 May), at Wrocław Główny and three nights in between at Katowice remain as advertised. Therefore participants can finalise travel and hotel bookings. As you may be aware, the level of support for this tour has not been as high as expected and we still need some 5-6 bookings to financially 'break even', single days are available too.

The Fixtures Secretary and Team have decided to go ahead with the tour, recognising the considerable support for the tour by our membership, albeit with the request that those booked please endeavour to 'spread the word' and encourage friends and contacts to book. See our website for latest details. X.35] :Sat 24 Jun; The Jolly Vacman:: Amongst the enthusiast community, Skegness will always be famous for Saturday only holidaymaker trains, often featuring pairs of Class 20s. The Jolly Fisherman, of course, is a poster created by artist John Hassall in 1908 after he had been commissioned by the Great Northern Railway. It is regarded as one of the most famous holiday advertisements of all time and is believed to have influenced the success of Skegness as a holiday destination. Hassall was paid 12 Guineas (£12.60p) for his work, and the original painting hangs in the town hall at Skegness. There is a choice of a short photo stop at Skegness in the evening, or an extending break from mid-morning. This charter will feature 50008 on the First Class end, expected to lead from Derby, 'top & tail' with 37418 and comfortable, air-conditioned Mk3 coaches. 100% of the ticket sale proceeds in our charity raffle go to Railway Children. (This and next tour are not in paper BLN 1423.) Provisional route/times: Derby P6 (PU 07.52) - Long Eaton P1 (PU 08.04) - Nottingham P1 (PU 08.26) - Sleaford P3 (PU 09.24) - Boston P2 (PU 09.52) - Skegness P4 (SD 10.29/10.50 rev) - Sleaford - Lincoln P5 - East Holmes (rev) - Lincoln P3 - Sleaford South Jn - Spalding - Marholm Jn - Peterborough P4 - Peterborough East Jn (rev) - Peterborough Dn Goods Loop - Helpston Jn - Tallington Jn - Grantham Dn Goods - Allington North Jn - Sleaford P1 - Boston - Skegness P5 (SD 16.24/16.41) - Boston P1 (SD 17.17) - Sleaford P2 (SD 17.49) - Lincoln P5 - Newark Northgate P3 (SD 19.06) - Claypole Loop - Grantham P4 (SD 20.06/ rev) - Allington West Jn - Nottingham P7 (SD 20.54) - Long Eaton P2 (SD 21.25) - Derby P5 (SD 21.39) First Class £158; First Class at a table for two £184; Standard Class £109; U18 (adult accompanied only) £55 reduction on all fares. Please book on our website, ask someone to do this for you or by post to Mark Gomm our Bookings Officer (above), with a cheque payee 'Branch Line Society' and an SAE (two for an acknowledgment or queries - email preferred) stating where you intend to join/leave the tour. X.36] :Sun 25 Jun; Eyre Valley Explorer:: The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway (K&WVR) Diesel Gala is a highlight of the season and we are delighted to announce a charter to the heart of Brontë country for this year's. https://bit.ly/3GOHrtQ has details of the gala. Our charter features 37418 and 50008 operating 'top & tail' with comfortable, air-conditioned Mk3 stock and includes the much sought after K&WVR main line connection in both directions. The Class 37 is expected to lead from Sheffield on the outbound journey. The raffle will be in aid of Railway Children. Our friends from K&WVR will join the train and sell Gala Rover tickets as required. Bookings per previous item. Provisional times and route: Derby P6 (PU 07.17) - Long Eaton P1 (PU 07.31) - Alfreton (PU 07.56) - Chesterfield P3 (PU 08.12) - Beighton Jn - Sheffield P5 (PU 08.47/rev) - Thrybergh Jn - Doncaster P8 (PU 09.17) - Hare Park Jn - Calder Bridge Jn - Methley Jn - Whitehall Curve - Shipley - Bradford Forster Square (PU 11.00) - Keighley Station Jn (rev) - Keighley & Worth Valley Railway (11.37 to 18.23) - Keighley Station Jn (rev) - Whitehall Curve - Methley Jn - Calder Bridge Jn - Pontefract Monkhill - Doncaster P4 (SD 20.33) - Thrybergh Jn -Beighton Jn - Chesterfield P3 (SD 21.23) - Alfreton (SD 21.40) - Long Eaton P2 (SD 22.16) - Derby P6 (SD 22.30) 1 st Class £75; 1st Class at table for two £100; Standard £50; U18 £25 reduction on all fares. THIS PAGE & NEXT: Braxted Bakery Railway Essex (Item 1090) A Member

1090] :Sun 9 Jul ; 11.00 The Great Braxted Bake Off:: Braxted Bakery Railway, Homefield House, Witham Road, Little Braxted, Essex, CM8 3ET. Thanks to our member to Gary Lonsdale for the arrangements and our host Gary Howard, a visit to this new heavily engineered 2ft gauge railway is open to book. We expect to cover all available lines, including the shed roads with haulage from both onsite locos. Members only £11 includes tea or coffee & biscuits; U18 £5.50 (adult accompanied). Bookings as X.35 above. The superb onsite Braxted Bakery café opens 09.00-15.00 for breakfast and much else… 1423 BLN GENERAL (Paul Stewart) [email protected] 1091] :SITUATION VACANT:: Due to working much longer days and with little spare time, our BLN International Deputy Editor and proofreader, Derek Woodward, is no longer able to continue with this. A big thank you to Derek for all his time, commitment and meticulous attention to detail over the last 13 years. It began with BLNI 1114 in May 2010, the first issue edited by Paul Griffin. Derek has proofread, or actually edited, over 300 BLNIs plus more than 70 issues of BLNI Extra, all the 'Extras' in fact! Pete Skelton, your BLNI Editor, advises that if the job is to be done as efficiently as Derek has, it needs someone who not only has good English spelling and grammar skills but also a good knowledge of European railways in particular, anywhere further afield would be a bonus. Access to works of reference is also useful, especially the Ball Atlas, as it is Mike's spelling of place names which is used as the standard when there is any dispute (usually with conversions from the Cyrillic alphabet or Arabic,where there is more than one possible way of doing it). However, do not be put off! BLNI is only eight pages so isn't too onerous really and it would be useful to have one or more reserves. The option of a three month trial period is available without further commitment. The post is rewarding and you will learn and remember a great deal. If in doubt, please contact Pete Skelton [email protected] to discuss the rôle with no obligation. Thank you. 1092] Points & Slips: ●●BLN 1398.MR28] The Wirral Heritage Tramway (MR p32) last operating day before Covid closedown was Sun 15 Feb 2020 and the last day operating before the recent closedown was Wed 12 Apr 2023. ●●BLN 1421.MR28] (TRACKmaps p25D 2018) On the Llangollen Railway, most of the former unidirectional Deeside Loop (Up, towards Llangollen) has now been lifted and the points plain lined at the Corwen (west) end; they were reported to be faulty. The original large Deeside Halt name board remains in situ but otherwise all traces of the former halt itself have been removed. ●●BLN 1422.984] Peter Hendy's Grand Days Out were on Mon 3 and Tue 4 Apr 2023. A member has picked up on the use of 'Lord Peter' here and points out that the style 'Lord Peter (surname)' is used for the younger sons of the higher ranks of the peerage. The esoteric pieces of knowledge we bring up in BLN…! [Your Editor has a crafty plan to avoid problems like this in future and create 100% fault-free BLNs; it involves sending out just blank white pages each time…] ●●1002] At Stalybridge, as the 'before' and 'after' track plans show, the new diamond replaces two previous sets of points and allows an increase in the line speed towards Manchester Victoria. It is certainly against the normal trend these days of removing diamond crossovers from layouts. The two sets of points required as a result form a facing crossover from the Guide Bridge (Down Huddersfield) line and allow parallel moves with all three through platforms at Stalybridge now bidirectional. 1093] Railway Memories (101), How I fell in Love with the GWR etc! Part 3 (BLN 1414.2838) By Rodney Pitt (Member 5022) I don't know if any of you kind readers of this excellent publication are still with me but, in case you are, I have been asked by the long-suffering Editor to finish my story… First, there are two things that have come to mind from the earlier parts. The two signalmen who lived in Kennington and who were friends of my grandfather were Bill Smewin and Bernard Smallbone. It was as a direct result of their kindness, in allowing my grandfather and I up into the box on a regular basis, that I became enamoured with the GWR. This was 1946 and so genuinely still the GWR and NOT

BR (Western) Region. Obviously at the age of 4-5, I did not understand, firstly, just how privileged I was to be allowed into this hallowed environment and, secondly, I honestly did not have a clue as to what was going on. I did know that it was a safe, warm environment with two very nice gentlemen who conveniently arranged for these massive engines to go charging by, thereby igniting a lifelong love of the greatest railway in the world! I owe my grandfather and these two gentlemen a big vote of thanks! Another fact that has come back to mind was in 1948 (I think!), when my Grandmother took me away to see her family down in the New Forest and, of course, we went by train. It was on the way back that we changed trains at Reading and to my amazement while virtually all the engines were either green or black, suddenly a large engine came into the station, pulling a long passenger train and the engine was BLUE - surely that cannot be right? Well of course it was correct for just a short period of time. Experimental liveries appeared in 1948 on some express locomotives across the newly nationalised fleet and just four GWR locos - N o 6001 King George V, N o 6009 King Charles II, N o 6025 King Henry III and N o 6026 King John - were turned out from Swindon in lined dark blue and so it must have been one of these that I was lucky enough to see on that day, waiting to leave Reading for Paddington. After my grandfather died in 1951, my father looked after my railway interests. On a number of occasions he took me by train from Oxford to Paddington and then, after being there for a little while, we went to one or two other mainline stations, including King's Cross, Liverpool Street and Waterloo. I remember my first visit to King's Cross. As we went down the platform, I yelled out to Dad: There's a Streak! Simmering gently away at the end of the platform, waiting to head off to Scotland, was Class A4 Silver Fox, N o 60017. I was so excited as I had heard about these engines and I ran down the length of the loco, rubbing my hand on the paintwork, still refusing to wash my hand at home that evening! As I mentioned in a previous part, I had a large Hornby clockwork layout and here is now a sad story (looking back). When my father came home from the War, he worked in Army transport. Just outside Oxford was a prisoner of war camp and he had to take vehicles around the country. As everything was now peaceful, he would often take a prisoner with him for company. There was one particular German with whom Dad became very friendly and he frequently came round for tea on a Sunday. One day the German proudly presented me with a large Bing steam locomotive - his way of saying thank you to Mum and Dad for their friendship as he was going home to Germany. For Christmas when I was 11, my parents gave me my first electric train set, a Trix Twin set and, true to form, Dad spent much of the day with me playing trains. Gradually I added to it with my pocket money and birthday/Christmas money while my Hornby set languished in the cupboard! I suddenly realised that I could sell this and add to my layout. I parcelled it all up and off it went to auction and I ended up with £15 (this was around 1957) and at the time I thought that I had done quite well but now, when I look at just the Bing locomotive, I realise that I was very silly - nay STUPID!! Over the intervening years, I have made numerous attempts to build a 00 gauge layout but moves, family etc have always meant that I have never progressed very far - until recently but that's another story, as they say! I have always maintained my love of railways and at one time I managed to combine my work, editing industrial magazines, with it. I also had the honour and privilege of becoming Editor of the Association of Railway Preservation Societies' (ARPS) magazine. This gave me open doors to preserved railways across the country, including Northern Ireland. I was able to visit, travel on and write about the efforts that were being made by a rapidly growing band of preservations, headed by such well known and respected personae such as Peter Manisty, David Morgan and Peter Ovenstone. I got to know Peter and his charming wife very well and it was a sad day when he passed on but I was honoured to be asked to put together a 'tribute' issue of the ARPS journal. His contribution was enormous and it was fitting that we were invited to Horsted Keynes for the unveiling of a locomotive carrying his name! The railway preservation movement has been fortunate to have people such as Peter at key times in its 75 year history and that these people are still around to carry on that tradition! While 'working' as Editor (is that the right word, as it was not really work!) writing about the various lines took me all over England, up into Scotland and Wales but also to Northern Ireland where, I was lucky to escape with my life! My visit was to coincide with the annual tour of railways by the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland. I went over to Belfast, arriving the day before the tour started and

stayed in a little B&B that I had found. Having checked in, I went for a walk down into the City, grabbed a quick bite and stopped in a pub for a drink on the way back to my bed. Having had a couple of pints of the 'Black Stuff' I set off and hadn't gone far, maybe half a mile, when I heard a loud bang. I couldn't see anything and bearing in mind that this was during the 'Troubles' I did not hang about! The following morning, I mentioned this and was told that not long after I had left the pub, it was blown up by an IRA bomb, with numerous fatalities and injuries! Phew - my luck was obviously in! I then spent a very enjoyable two days riding the rails on peat railways, main line, preserved lines and the newly created museum. Something I would not have missed. Great friendship, good food, great drink and lots of good new friends - railway preservation at its best! Then there was a gap in my involvement with railways, due to job changes but in 1988 we moved to Newport, Shropshire and I became involved with the Horsehay Steam Railway, which was then in its relative infancy, and I became the Press Officer. We needed to raise some funds, so we invited local pubs to put up teams to see who could pull our Peckett loco the furthest, coupled with an Open Day and short rides on a train. One of the amusing things that we did was to go down into Ironbridge where they had a shop selling a range of soft toys that they made, one was a 6ft tall Coldstream Guardsman which normally stood outside the shop. I persuaded them to let us borrow it but the only way I could squeeze the guardsman in my car was to stand it on the front passenger seat with its head out of the roof of the car. This was quite hilarious driving back as, on a couple of occasions, a car coming the other way nearly ended up in the ditch as they could not believe what they were seeing! Then, about three years ago, I was appointed as Press Officer for the Marches Strategic Rail Group which brings together local councils and railway operating companies. This was an interesting window into what happened with the railways in this key part of England and Wales. While doing this, the big development was the demolition of the old Ironbridge Power Station, which was linked to the Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton line, but included a short section of the former Severn Valley Railway between Bridgnorth and Shrewsbury. Our aim was to try to preserve and, if possible, restore part of the line from Buildwas into the Gorge, opposite the Iron Bridge. There is a growing need for this as there is just not enough road space in the gorge for all the visitors and so the plan is to develop a rail Park & Ride solution alongside the major housing development that has just begun on the site. Also it is key to preserving and maintaining the existing rail link that brought coal to the power station. While this was going on, 'Revolution' brought their single car unit there and, by using some of the old Ironbridge Power Station track, developed an excellent demonstration track and workshop complete with a meeting room. (See BLN 1392.151) I had the pleasure of riding in this unit on two occasions. 1094] A Key Railway Journey: About 1987 a member was seconded to a British Rail (BR) working group at BR Headquarters (222 Marylebone Road, now reincarnated as the Landmark Hotel). He lived in Airdrie, Lanarkshire, and his wife worked in the BR Scottish Region at the time. Our man was in digs in London Mondays to Thursdays. One day he received an urgent internal phone call from his wife, saying that she was at work but had locked her keys inside the house so had no way of getting in when she went home. He had a set of house keys with him. What to do? So his keys went into a brown envelope marked 'To be called for by Mrs XXXX at Glasgow Central'. Our member went to Euston and saw the guard of the Royal Scot, he thinks 10.45 Euston to Glasgow Central, calling only at Preston. He explained the position to the guard who put the package on the rack in the guard's compartment. At about 16.00 he received a phone call from his wife saying that the package had arrived safely! 1095] Giving berth after crossing the Channel: (By Afterbrunel) In 1991 my wife and I travelled by train and ship from London to Menton, on the French Riviera. This was before the Channel Tunnel opened, so we went from Victoria to Dover by boat train, Dover to Calais by ferry, and then Calais to Menton by SNCF (Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français - French Railways) sleeper. The First Iraq War had just broken out and, at the last minute, we were informed that the Sealink (British Rail's ferry company) ship that should have taken us over the Channel had been hired to the British Army as a troopship. But (we were told) there was no need to worry; we would be transferred at Dover to a P&O car ferry to cross the Channel, and the sleeper train would be held for us at Calais. Phew!

At Dover there was a coach to take us from Western Docks (the British Rail ferry terminal station) to Eastern Docks, where the car ferry was to leave from. Its departure time was 40 minutes or so later than our ship, so by the time we reached the SNCF sleeper car train in France we were about an hour late. But it was still there waiting for us and we had our allocated sleeping berths. Phew, again. A lone traveller arrived and we could overhear his conversation with the sleeping car conductor: Passenger: My name is X, I have a sleeping berth reservation. Conductor: I am sorry but as you did not turn up, I have let it to someone else. Passenger: But I have a confirmed reservation! Conductor: Yes, but if you do not claim the reservation within 20 minutes of the timetabled departure time, I can let it to someone else. Passenger: We were transferred to another ship, and promised the train would be held for us. Conductor: The train is here as promised, but you did not claim your berth within 20 minutes of the timetabled departure time, so I let it to someone else. So Mr X sat up in an ordinary compartment for 10 hours; I wonder if he had his sleeper fee refunded. 1423 GREATER LONDON (Geoff Brockett) [email protected] 1096] One Day Travelcards in mortal danger: As most will know TfL is consulting on abolishing One Day Travelcards to improve their finances. You have until 23 May to make your views known. See: https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/travelcards Day Travelcards currently give unlimited travel on TfL, bus, Tube, Tram, DLR, Underground, Overground, Elizabeth line & National Rail services in London. They allow ⅓ off River Services fares and are only available as paper tickets. Day Travelcards can be bought for unlimited peak travel (before 09.30) or unlimited off-peak travel (after 09.30 Mon-Fri all weekends and bank holidays) and to cover various zones. From outside London, passengers can buy a discounted add-on of a Day Travelcard included in the train ticket to travel around London. TfL proposes to no longer sell, issue, or accept adult and child Day Travelcards covering Zones 1-9, including: Group Day Travelcards Weekend Travelcards The London Family Travelcard and Discounted Day Travelcards bought with National Railcards. Those travelling for one day would have to use pay as you go (PAYGO) contactless, Oyster cards or buy paper single/return tickets to travel on TfL services. Passengers from outside London would have to pay for their journey to a London train station and then use PAYG or buy paper tickets to travel on TfL services (significantly increasing the cost). An example, the Off-Peak Day Travelcard from Aylesbury now costs £30.70. If it was to be scrapped, the same journeys would require a £26.70 return, plus a daily cap of up to £14.90, a total of £41.60, a 32% increase. TfL expects to generate an extra £40M with the proposals. Instead of Child Day Travelcards, those from outside London could apply in advance for a Zip card or have the Young Visitor discount on an Oyster card - both give discounted PAYGO fares. Child rate single and return tickets are available. National Railcard holders wouldn't be able to buy discounted Day Travelcards but they would still be able to add their Railcard to a registered Oyster Card for the same discounted day travel (see item 1192). TfL would continue to sell, issue and accept weekly and longer Travelcards. TfL expects that, if TfL ceases to accept Day Travelcards, Rail Operators may also stop selling Zone 1-6 Travelcards. The daily cap applies to Contactless cards and Oyster, of course but can be a nuisance to our members making many short journeys in quick succession, doubling back or just doing units. Travelcards are ideal for this. Concerns have been raised by disabled people over time limits to touch in and touch out. You have until 23 May to make your views known. 1097] FOR SALE, St Pancras International:Not the whole station but the main 6,000 square feet 3-bed penthouse suite in St Pancras Chambers. https://bit.ly/43X4E7j has over 30 photos and floor plans of the three levels. Grade I listed, it has 6m plus ceiling heights, three bathrooms, two parking spaces, a private lift and many original features including exposed beams in what was once the water tower for the original hotel. Dual aspect with great views of London. The price? - If you need to ask… £9.95M.

1098] Ferme Park Flyover: (TRACKmaps 2 p14B 2020) Amongst other things, the UK Railtours' Baker's Dozen tour on Sat 15 Apr did this bidirectionally signalled single track flyover twice - both times in the Up direction. A member noticed that the approach ramps each side were clearly built for double track and ballasted right across. The flyover first appears on the 1894-96 Ordnance Survey 25" map labelled as 'Engine Viaduct' and with double track. This singled just before joining the various Goods Lines at its London end. The flyover was rebuilt with the present structure in 1961-62 when it was singled. A local member confirms that Ferme Park Flyover is still used quite extensively by ECS from Hornsey EMU Depot to Welwyn Garden City and Hertford North as well as by those from Moorgate, King's Cross and south of the Thames into Hornsey EMU Depot. Trains from Ferme Park Reception Sidings to King's Cross normally run via the Washer Road and Bowes Park reversing siding. 1423 EAST MIDLANDS (Nick Garnham) [email protected] 1099] Barrow Haven: (E-BLN 1422.971 photo) The level crossing 'STOP' sign for approaching trains in the e-BLN photo has attracted some comment. The previous version of this sign had the word 'STOP' in black letters below a red circle, both with a white background. The grey background, the word 'STOP' within the red circle and the instruction to 'Whistle before proceeding' (in a white rectangle) all appear to be of a new design, along with the updated font being used. Interestingly trains only have to stop heading west - leaving Barrow Haven station for Barton-on-Humber; heading east towards New Holland is 10mph restricted with no requirement to stop. This open level crossing (108m 07ch) on a minor 'C' road (yellow on OS maps) enables vehicle traffic to reach The Haven, sawmill and station car park for about six cars. The National Rail website station plan photos are still of the previous platform. 1100] Not an April Fool On Sat 1 Apr a member waiting at Derby for the 17.10 to Birmingham New Street (16.41 ex-Nottingham) was surprised to see on the passenger information display that the train was at 'Trent'. He wasn't fooled though as he knew that station closed to passengers from 1 Jan 1968. ABOVE: At Derby P3A, Ian Mitchell, 1 Apr 2023. There have been other examples of this elsewhere. 1101] Newark: An official source confirms that the two West Coast Railways Class 57 Thunderbirds based at Tracey Island Newark Northgate Up Sidings are on hire to NR (not LNER) for line clearance, moving people and/or equipment anywhere on the network and not just the East Coast Main Line. One was called to the 15.23 Wakefield Europort to London Gateway on Mon 17 Apr. The train was terminated in Connington Loop (at Conington!) south of Peterborough on time at 19.17, then 57012 hauled it back to Doncaster around midnight. It had not suffered a failure; Realtime Trains gave the reason as 'the signal box not being open'. It is not clear which signal box this was! [Answer: There was no Upminster IECC Central Workstation Signaller from 18.00 until 06.00 on 18 Apr. This resulted in no signalling between Willesden and Caledonian Road & Barnsbury. London Overground ran shuttles Stratford to Canonbury, Barking Riverside to Upper Holloway and Richmond to South Acton only.]

1102] Peterborough, Fletton Branch: (BLN 1422.1016) During its 13-day sojourn on the Nene Valley Railway, loco 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' was turned on Wansford turntable (one good turn deserves another). The loco and support coach returned to Crewe on Tue 18 Apr, again utilising the Fletton Branch from Orton Mere, the refurbished two mile connection to Network Rail at Fletton Jn. 1103] Nottingham NET loss again: (BLN 1392.20) Tramlink Nottingham, the operators of Nottingham Express Transit (NET) recently published their accounts for the year ended 31 Mar 2022. They show that passenger numbers were below pre-pandemic levels and losses were over £20M but there were signs of improvement. This compares with a loss of £21.4M in the 12 months to 31 Mar 2021 after a significant reduction in passengers caused by the pandemic. At the worst point, they were down by 95%. However, this is actually an annual story; losses were over £22M for 2019-20 as well as 2018-19 and £18.7M in 2017-18. In 2021-22 passenger numbers rose to 9.1M, up from 3.4M in the previous, pandemic, year. Numbers have continued to grow and are now around 80% of pre-pandemic levels. Tramlink Nottingham is in discussions with Nottingham City Council and the DfT to adapt to the postpandemic economic situation. They are reducing fare evasion and have already had a 200% increase in penalty fares issued each month since they began a Zero Tolerance fare evasion campaign. 1423 NORTH EAST & YORKSHIRE (Geoff Blyth) [email protected] 1104] Mindrum: Over the years, BLN readers have amused their fellow subscribers with reports of anachronistic road signs that lead to long-closed stations - see (not necessarily an exhaustive list!) BLNs 448.48, 469.12, 471.19, 521.63, 742.70, 731.24, 732.34, 805.566, 1090 p111 & 1177 p26. An example is the road sign to 'Mindrum Station', in the vicinity of the road junction at NT 858 337. The former Mindrum station itself is at NT 855 339 on the erstwhile Alnwick to Coldstream line. BLN 1406.1901 had a map and brief history. On Sun 14 Apr 1963 our 'Scottish Rambler N o 2' railtour with the SLS traversed the Coldstream to Wooler branch (as then) through Mindrum; yes it was (and is) in England. Of note was the extraordinary number of staffed boxes, frames and crossings on such a lightly trafficked line (originally 26 according to the Signalling Record Society). All stations had a loop but only Whittingham and Wooler could cross two passenger trains. https://bit.ly/3GVRj4X (E&OE) has photos although 'Mindrum station looking north in 2005' is actually looking from the north. 1105] Newcastle: (BLN 1415.50) From 06.00 on Tue 2 May P12 (which is outside the ticket barrier line) is due to be taken out of use and the points plainlined. This is part of the work to lengthen P11. 1106] Northumberland Line (Blyth & Tyne): (BLN 1422.991) A single set of points, the future Seghill Jn at 9m 02ch (the end start of the first loop after Northumberland Park) is due to be installed out of use for 1 May. A new stop block on the future Down Newsham line prevents movements towards the operational line. 'Before' and 'after' B&T track plans are on our website; on the 'Home' page banner go across to 'More options', down to 'Track Diagrams' across to 'Eastern' and down to 'Blyth & Tyne'. 1107] Hartlepool: ❶(BLN 1408.2143) When Siemens closed out the Durham coast resignalling project, testing of the signalling equipment for the 1m 51ch long Up Cliff House Loop was incomplete. In fact part had not been relaid. Its points were secured and disabled in the normal position so trains, including our railtours, were unable to use the loop. Work was due to have brought it into service by 05.00 on 27 Mar. However, it was still out of use on 11 Apr. The loop is supposed to be commissioned for the HS2 traffic from Hartlepool Docks, but see below. Our 'informed sources' understand that it is needed for the enhanced passenger service which is due to start on Mon 3 Jul (BLN 1420.721), mainly so that Biomass trains from the Port of Tyne to Drax can be overtaken by passenger services. ❷(BLN 1419.581) A FHH HS2 tunnel test train ran from Leeds Hunslet on Wed 26 Apr. There are paths: 20.20 MO Willesden Euroterminal to Hartlepool Dock Area 07.09 (13 Mar to 15 May), and 20.07 TO Hartlepool Dock Area to Willesden Euroterminal 03.09 (21 Feb to 16 May). There is also 19.32 WThFO Hartlepool Dock Area to Willesden Euroterminal 03.09 (22 Feb until 19 May). None of these trains have run yet and members will no doubt notice their unbalanced nature! None is booked to use Up Cliff House Loop and it would be easier to delay the departure time from Hartlepool Docks. ❸(E-BLN 1422.X.30) As the photo shows, Hartlepool Down through platform is being extended at the Sunderland end but it is only for footbridge/lift access and the platform edging had yet to be installed.

ABOVE: (item 1108) The Blyth Bates branch is there somewhere (honestly). Looking south at Plessey Road Level Crossing (site of Isabella signal box). The back of a sign can still be seen supported by two poles. BELOW: Some track (and other stuff) visible north of Plessey Road Level Crossing.

BELOW: The other side of that sign at Plessey Road Level Crossing. (All taken recently by Rodger Wilkinson.)

ABOVE: The track has gone at the site of the actual level crossing. BELOW: The fortified footbridge over the course of the Bates branch.

ABOVE: 1971 map, Newsham North Jn is bottom left on the B&T, Newcastle to the south, Blyth Bates Coal Export Terminal is upper left of centre, west of where the two River Blyth foot ferry routes meet. The by then lifted Blyth passenger branch, (CP 2 Nov 1964; CA 29 Jan 1968), shown dashed, continued northeast from the start of the Bates branch. The Blyth South Harbour branch is also shown below. 1108] Blyth: (TRACKmaps 2 p23C 2006, Third Edition) A member recently visited the long disused Bates branch. The former double track Blyth passenger branch diverged northeast from the B&T main line at latterly Newsham North Jn (12m 74ch) by the former Newsham North signal box, north of the future Newsham station. 500yd along the Blyth branch, the Isabella Colliery branch diverged left at Isabella signal box (NZ 3032 8011). It continued north-northwest to Isabella Colliery; the line to Bates Colliery diverged right at the colliery exchange sidings and ran due north to the banks of the River Blyth. It was worked only by National Coal Board (NCB) locos. Isabella Colliery closed 12 Feb 1966 but the Bates branch continued until CA on an unknown date in 1969. It seems to have had an 'on-off' existence as it ROG on an unknown date in 1970, had closed again by 16 Mar 1971 and then ROG on an unknown date. Regular traffic at Bates Colliery and the adjacent staiths ceased in Mar 1984, with the miners' strike. The final train to clear wagons from Isabella Exchange Sidings ran on 6 Apr 1985. The colliery closed on 25 Feb 1986, so some coal may have then been taken out by lorry. The branch was relaid then recommissioned on 1 Feb 1991 to serve the new Blyth Bates Coal Export Terminal. A test train ran on 5 Apr and the first revenue earning traffic (which was short lived) on 8 Apr 1991. British Rail locos worked the entire branch. The final tour, Hertfordshire Rail Tours 'The Blyth Spirit III'

was on 10 Sep 1994. Photos exist of coal traffic until at least Dec 1994. The branch was officially out of use from 3 Mar 2006 but was not severed until 10 Nov 2015. The NR boundary was at 0m 36ch and most track is actually lifted beyond (some by 2010). Measured from Google Earth the Bates branch was about 2m 40ch. Searching 'Flickr Bates branch David Ford' produces 48 splendid photos. The Bates branch was traversed on 13 Oct 1991 by the Institute of Mining Engineers 'North Tyne' Railtour. It was organised by our member the late Chris Boyle and your present NE Editor wrote the itinerary. This also visited Widdrington Opencast, the Butterwell Jn to Ashington line, Lynemouth Colliery, Lynemouth Alcan Works, North Blyth Alcan Import Terminal and Blyth 'A' Power Station. In 2023 our member found that, south of the crossing over Plessey Road (NZ 3024 7990; 'Isabella' in railway terms), there is still some track in place, heavily overgrown. A sign can still be seen supported by two poles. Track has been removed at the crossing and metal fencing erected. Track resumes north of the crossing although the route is now a 'rubbish tip'. After a short distance the track finishes and the route curves to the north, leaving the course of the former route to Blyth passenger station, now marked by a combination of open space and allotments at this point. Beyond the former Newsham Road Level Crossing the route is now a footpath/nature reserve/jungle/dump. There is still a 'fortified' footbridge over the course of the line. The bridge over the line at Dene View Drive still exists but north of there the cutting next to Malvins Drive has been filled in and houses built over it. 1109] Goole: On 20 Apr the Levelling Up Minister opened a new Components Facility at Yorkshire Rail Village. It replaces a small facility in Leeds maintaining gearboxes, traction motors and other parts for train and tram fleets across the UK. Much of this work had previously been done in mainland Europe. 1110] Hull: Priory Sidings once formed part of the huge Hessle Yard. They were on the north (Down) side of the main line, between it and the 'Loop Line' (see TRACKmaps 2 p38B 2020) to Dairycoates. From the 1960s until their closure in 1987, they were the site of Hull Freightliner intermodal container terminal. Network Rail still owns the land, which is used for materials storage and maintenance access. NR has agreed to grant a lease to Voestalpine Turnout Technology (VTT, a subsidiary of the Austrian Voestalpine steel company), which specialises in the supply of complex trackwork. It has a contract to supply about 180 sets of points and crossings, 320 turnouts plus drives and expansion joints for HS2 Phases 1 and 2a. The company has applied to Hull City Council for planning permission to reinstate two sidings here with a new connection to the Loop Line, as well as construction of warehouses and offices. The sidings will be alongside the main line as that runs onto the embankment heading up to Priory Bridge, which takes it over the Loop Line. The company spent three years searching for a suitable rail connected site, rejecting several in the south of England. Because of the size of the components, a rail connection is required for deliveries to HS2. Hessle will receive the components by rail from the EU and assemble the points and crossings. VTT also has an assembly plant in Harworth immediately south of the former Harworth Colliery sidings but of course it is no longer rail connected. Now, if only they could relay the line from there to Scrooby, on the ECML, CA 14 Jun 1965! 1111] T&W Metro: Metro cars 4043, 4053 & 4061 have returned to service, after being stored at South Gosforth. Fleet availability continues to be an issue, with two to three full diagrams being cancelled each day recently, although on Sun 16 Apr this was caused by driver resourcing issues. 1112] Leamside Line: (BLN 1419.583) Reopening of the 21 mile long Pelaw to Ferryhill, (Tursdale Jn) railway has been much debated. Labour MPs claim that it would bring massive benefits, reconnecting many towns. Campaigners argue that it would free up space on the ECML for local services but the proposal probably relates more to a Metro extension. This would complete a circuit from South Hylton with stops at Washington South then North and at Follingsby to join the existing Metro at Pelaw. The Conservative MP for North West Durham, who happens to also be the minister for local transport, said he was 'really interested' in the plans but that there would need to be a form of 'benefit to cost ratio'. He said viability studies were under way at the moment and would be reporting 'in the next few weeks'. The Local Democracy Reporting Service says that Labour claims the party would push ahead with the plans if it gains power. Asked if the government could commit to funding the line,the minister replied 'When Labour tell us how they will find the money to do it then I will be all on side with it'.

BELOW: (BLN 1422.984) Two Grand Days Out; observation saloon 'Caroline' be

eing propelled at Gypsy Lane station heading for Pickering (off to a jewellers?).

BELOW: Loram 37418 on the rear propelling away from the st

tation towards Battersby. (Both Liz Moralee, Tue 4 Apr 2023.)

1113] Haverton Total: (BLN 1422. 992.2) This was (and is on TRACKmaps 2 P45A 2020) Seal Sands Biofuel Refinery Greenergy; the good old Sectional Appendix (10 Feb 2021) still has the original name of Phillips Petroleum private sidings. A member thinks the recent trains from Lindsey Oil Refinery on Tue 11 Apr and Preston Dock on Wed 12 Apr were to move two sets of empty wagons into place here. Train weights on Realtime Trains cannot be relied on to tell if a working is loaded or empty. Members may remember the mysterious 02.47 Haverton Total Colas to Colas Ribble Rail, booked SSuMX 23 Nov until 10 Dec 2021, that never ran (BLN 1407.2021). It now finally has the 'seal' of approval to operate. A member made an expedition along the public footpath northwards from Port Clarence. There is a set of access steps up to the track and Phillips Sidings Jn ground frame (3m 25ch). A Colas employee was waiting by the steps to operate the ground frame when the train arrived. They had a short chat and it seems that traffic is likely to build up to regular workings around June. On Tue 25 an 02.46 Haverton Total ran to Preston Dock and 10.05 return ran with bitumen. The Colas light engine worked from/to Barnetby before and afterwards. Further such movements were expected on Thur 27 Apr. The workings replaced the previous ones from/to Lindsey Oil Refinery near Immingham. It will be interesting to see if Haverton 'totally' supplies Preston Dock or if there is traffic from Lindsey as well. 1114] Whitby Branch: https://bit.ly/3HbSTzQ & https://bit.ly/40yudIU (click 'BROWSE') are both quite long videos here of recent relaying operations in the Whitby area, including Bog Hall Sidings. 1115] Rylstone: (BLN 1422.989) On 17 Apr a member was en route to Grassington with his wife and visited Rylstone Level Crossing en route - just as a man, who had arrived in a GB Railfreight van, was opening the crossing gates. He swears that he hadn't checked the train times, honestly! The 12.20 Rylstone to Hunslet drew up at the stop board and the GBRf man told the driver by mobile phone 'crossing open and you are clear to Skipton', a message which the driver repeated back before pulling away with the 24 wagon train. Our member asked the GBRf man about the tokens and he said that the system is to be installed in May. So much for the Sectional Appendix and other official documentation! 1116] York: (BLN 1393.18) There is insufficient capacity at the north end of the station, therefore NR is consulting on installing a third bidirectional track (known as the York Independent in one document - sounds like a newspaper - and the York Relief in another) from York to Skelton Jn. There would be remodelling at the north end of P8-10 and Skelton Jn to increase capacity and flexibility, with more parallel moves. Originally the north bay next to P8 was to be reopened but this has been descoped. It is being combined with required S&C renewals which helps the business case (and means more passenger diversions via the York 'avoiding lines'). York P9, 10 & 11 would become permissive again. 1117] Howden: (115,000 passenger 2019-20; 75,912 in 2021-22.) This Grade II listed station between Selby and Gilkerdyke opened to passengers in 1840 is actually in the hamlet of North Howden, 1½ miles north of Howden. That small town (population only just over 4,000) has a 13th Century Grade I listed Minster, one of the largest churches in East Yorkshire. The station has a remarkably good service with Hull Trains through to and from King's Cross, hourly York and Bridlington services plus a few TPE. The substandard low platforms at the station are both being raised. Work takes place overnight (23.45 until 05.30) from 27 Mar until mid-May. This is part of a £1.2M redevelopment project but it is not clear if the rest of the project consists of other works at this unstaffed station or at other stations. The Hull Trains Passenger Infrastructure Improvements Fund has a total budget of £3M. 1118] Harrogate: A start up firm has opened a remote office facility here, the second in a Northern managed station; the other is at Swinton. It has a private work space for one person and up to two can meet, with reliable internet access, a second screen, comfortable desk space and an ergonomic chair. 1119] Wakefield: The present passenger access to Westgate station opened in Dec 2013 after a £9M refurbishment. Since then, the previous entrance has been gated off and the area remains a derelict site, unattractive to private sector commercial development. It is understood the City Council reached an agreement with Network Rail in Dec 2020 to buy the site for nearly £600,000. It has now been purchased, funded through a £24.9M government 'Towns Fund' grant allocated in 2021 as part of plans to regenerate the city centre. There is hope that a hotel and 'high quality' offices will now be built to attract businesses back to the city and reverse the trend to out of town locations.

ABOVE: (Item 1113) 7 Jun 1982; train Seal Sands train on the closed section past Phillips Refinery/Haverton total. BELOW: 1 Jun 1990; 31264 with hydrocyanic (prussic) acid - more toxic than cyanide - for Seal Sands, heading north at Seal Sands level crossing. The wagon right is a special barrier wagon. (Both Angus McDougall.)

ABOVE: (Item 1113) 07.50 Lindsey Oil Refinery to Haverton Total on the Phillips Loop (TRACKmaps 2 p45A 2020) at about 12.15 after passing Port Clarence. (Tue 11 Apr, 2023.) BELOW: Next day, the light engine that brought the second lot of wagons is at Belasis Lane Jn (where double track starts) before leaving for Barnetby. The signal box is not in railway use, the No Signaller Token is kept in the cabinet (hut) left. As usual with a new working, plenty of staff are in attendance.

BELOW: (Item 1113) Approaching Belasis Lane box, rusty tracks but 'totally' devegetated. (Wed 12 Apr 2023.)

BELOW: View southwest; after passing Phillips Siding Jn, the train is on Phillip

ps Loop. In the foreground is North Tees Siding. (Stephen Morris, 12 Apr 2023.)

BELOW: Looking east, passing Teesside Biomass pl

ant (299MW), near the north end of Phillips Loop.

ABOVE: After handing in the token, the light engine sets off for Barnetby. The photos show what a good job has been done in de-vegetating the branch. (All photos are by Graeme Stamp, 12 Apr 2023, unless noted.) BELOW: (Item 1104) Mindrum station taken through a car windscreen. (Angus McDougall, 7 Apr 2000.)

ABOVE: Mindrum station road sign mentioned in item 1104. BELOW: The station in 2015 from the road, looking west; the goods shed and yard were off to the right. (Both Richard Maund.)

BELOW: (Item 1122) Manchester Piccadilly, the colourful scene by the new b

bike racks, a photo not a CGI/artist's impression. (John Cameron, 6 Apr 2023.)

1120] Lines West of Consett (Part 2): BLN 1310.1647 of 18 Aug 2018, with a sketch map, said that the changes implemented on 20 Jan 1938 instituted Train Staff and Ticket working between Rowley and Waskerley (with a reversal at Burnhill Jn) but nothing was specified about Waskerley to Weatherhill. It was therefore assumed this was a separate section with only one train permitted. However, your NE Editor has found the notice for the originally planned date of 14 Dec 1937 and this section had Train Staff and Ticket working too. The shunter on duty at Waskerley was responsible for the staff or, when he was not there, the man on duty at Waskerley shed. There is no reason to suppose this was changed but one must wonder just when was the last occasion on which there was a requirement for two trains to be at such a remote location as Weatherhill at the same time! There is a chance the situation never arose, as Waskerley shed closed soon afterwards on 9 Sep 1940 (according to 'North Eastern Locomotive Sheds' by K Hoole), as there was presumably insufficient traffic to justify keeping it. 1121] Rotherham Aldwarke Works and Stocksbridge: (BLN 1417.323) There has still been no rail traffic to or from Stocksbridge since Fri 11 Nov 2022 except for UK Railtours Sat 8 Apr 'Last Chance' tour which reached the NR boundary (33m 20ch). It might turn out to be the final revenue earning train on the branch which was in fine fettle with continuously welded rail and a 30mph line speed. The associated Aldwarke UES (United Engineering Steels) Works used to have rail freight traffic most days prior to 11 Nov 2022. Since then, other than the UK Railtour Fri 30 Dec 2021 'Awkward Week' tour, into the exchange sidings there has been one further revenue earning working: 6J09 11.01 Tinsley Sorting Sidings to Aldwarke UES (and the return light engine) on Thur 26 Jan, the associated light engine workings and then 6Z09 18.02 Aldwarke UES to Tinsley Sorting Sidings on Fri 27 Jan. 1423 NORTH WEST (John Cameron) [email protected] 1122] Re: cycling at Manchester Piccadilly: New cycle racks installed at the top of the approach ramp are part of a scheme to add 162 extra cycle spaces around the station according to a 'spokesperson'. 1123] Northern travels: On Sat 3 Sep 2022 I travelled on our 'Garston Growler', another excellent BLS railtour in aid of Martin House Children's Hospice. Amazingly I won a prize in the raffle, a weekend all line pass for the Northern Trains network. I duly contacted Martin Keating at Northern as detailed on my prize letter and he was excellent in sorting it out for me. I spent some time fixing a weekend within all sorts of constraints; short winter days, the worst of the winter weather, strikes, engineering works, more railtours and other commitments, settling on Fri 21 to Sun 23 Apr. One thing I did not consider was that Barrow and Carlisle were playing football on the day I decided to do the Cumbrian Coast Line! I planned to travel around the network to hit various bits of track that had hitherto eluded me, at least since recording at Quail/TRACKmaps level and take in some of the fantastic scenic routes available. Friday started early at Meadowhall and I had an unexpected new crossover approaching Sheffield on my first train with a platform alteration to P2. I proceeded to catch the 06.03 from P2C before heading to Gainsborough Central for the P2 turnback (and trailing crossover on departure - no longer available after 21 May timetable change) towards Retford. Having spent some time around Hull, where my only cancellation was suffered, I completed the first day with a trip from Huddersfield to Barnsley. Saturday was another early start for the 06.24 from Preston bay P4C and a quick trip to Blackpool North for my last platform which I had not managed on many attempts. Then it was on to the highlight of the weekend for me, the Cumbrian Coast line which I had not visited for some 30 years. Dodging the football fans, various fights and more bags of rubbish collected from a 2 car unit than the average BLS railtour, I centred myself at Barrow-in-Furness achieving all available moves, finishing in Carlisle by way of Whitehaven bay P1. I had time at different places either side of Barrow to achieve these moves and was able to see the interesting Furness Railway (at least some of it is) signal box at Foxfield. Sunday took me back east with a more leisurely start from Carlisle to Newcastle where P9 & P10 were covered, and south to Hartlepool for the facing crossover into Up through platform before the new Down platform opens. I joined a Grand Central train to York, bridging the gap in the Northern Trains network before another crossing of the Pennines to finish in Preston, taking in Wigan NW P3 en route. I had an excellent weekend and want to thank everyone involved in arranging such a wonderful prize within the BLS and Martin Keating at Northern Trains for making it all possible. (Andrew Murnane)

1124] Metrolink: Introduced on 15 Jul 2019, contactless card is now the most popular way to pay with a record 1.1M journeys made in March. Contactless payments benefit from the daily and weekly cap. Overall passenger levels are now about 85% of pre-pandemic passenger levels (46.5 million in 2019). The figure is growing but Greater Manchester remains in discussion with the Government over funding to help it deliver the overall Bee Network - BLN 1422.999 - (they will 'bee' lucky) which will include Metrolink alongside a new publicly controlled bus network and later some local rail services. 1125] Stalybridge: ①The station recently won Cheshire's Best Kept Station award for being well run and maintained by TPE. It has seen continued investment in passenger facilities over the years. Stalybridge has not been part of Cheshire administratively since the Local Government Act of 1974 moved it to the then new Tameside Metropolitan Borough, within Greater Manchester. Cheshire's Best Kept Stations awards use the historical ceremonial counties, so Stalybridge is eligible. ②From Manchester Victoria the new OHLE appears complete to just short of Ashton Moss, with registration arms mostly fitted to just before Stalybridge. There is an isolated section of wiring for 1¼ miles or so through Ashton-under-Lyne (which has now become Ashton-under-Line). 1126] Sandbach: For a while early evening on Tue 18 Apr, ALL trains in BOTH direction were routed via the (fortunately bidirectional) Up & Down Platform line through P3 due to a points failure in the area. 1127] Fiddling about alongside the Ditton Jn - Warrington Arpley line: (BLN 1420.740) A member read about the use of this line by the VSOE Pullman ECS on Sat 15 Apr in connection with the Grand National and decided to photograph the event. 67024 led the ECS from Ditton Jn to Latchford Sidings, then 67005 led out of Latchford to Arpley Yard. Our photographer later researched two of the coaches and found that Pullman Parlour First 302 'Phoenix' was built in 1952 by Pullman Car Company, Preston Park, using the underframe and bogies from Pullman Car 176 'Rainbow', the body of which was destroyed by fire in Aug 1936. Pullman car 280 'Audrey' is a Pullman Kitchen First, built in 1932 by the Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Company. It was originally part of the Brighton Belle EMU stock. 1128] Merseyrail:(BLN 1420.739)On 10 Apr Southport and Ormskirk line services returned to normal. The timetable had been reduced since 6 Mar to allow Class 777 EMU driver training runs to take place. Also on 10 Apr Class 777 units began revenue earning service on the Ormskirk line. The first was the 07.16 Liverpool Central to Ormskirk with 777049 then 08.04 return and 08.46 back. After all that exertion the unit ran ECS to Kirkdale Depot. Use of Class 777s to Ormskirk is expected to increase. 1129] Headbolt Lane: (BLN 12421.886) Hopefully those members who needed the line through here and have their head screwed on managed to ride before 6 Apr. From that date until 1 May (inclusive) the Up & Down Single between Dale Lane Ground Switch Panel (28m 25ch) - junction for Knowsley Freight Terminal headshunt - and Kirkby station is out of use for construction of Headbolt Lane station. Access is maintained to the freight terminal. Passenger trains from Wigan Wallgate turnback at Rainford (ECS shunt). From 29 Apr the NW6015 Line of Route description changes from 'NW6015 Wigan Wallgate to Kirkby' to 'NW6015 Wigan Wallgate to Headbolt Lane'. From the same date, NW8009 Line of Route description changes from 'NW8009 Walton Jn to Kirkby' to 'NW8009 Walton Jn to Headbolt Lane'. Progress on Headbolt Lane station was seen by participants on Pathfinders' 'Marsh Magician' tour to Knowsley Rail Freight Terminal, the first tour to run through the 'warehouse line' (TRACKmaps 4 p40A 2022), it also went to the end of line at Gladstone Dock and into Victoria Road Tunnel (the start of the former branch to Riverside station) at Edge Hill, Tuebrook Sidings. 1130] Dore: (BLN 1419.599) As part of redoubling, from 10 Apr new points were installed in the Down Main at 154m 34ch at Dore West Jn for later commissioning (detection is to Totley Tunnel East box). 1131] Drigg: There has been recent non-nuclear traffic to the British Nuclear Fuels low-level nuclear repository. Operated by Colas from Workington Docks, DCR box wagons were used to convey inert capping material. Five trains ran with Class 56s 'top & tail' - the aggregate originated in Scotland and there are strict limits on the number of lorries allowed into the nuclear site due to poor local roads. The last such trains to Drigg were in 2021, DRS operated from Barrow Cavendish Dock, with capping material from Burlington Slate Quarry at Kirkby-in-Furness, which had been taken by road to Cavendish Dock, Barrow. Ironically those trains then passed the quarry on their way to Drigg Siding.

BELOW: (Item 1127) After reversing in Latchford Sidings the Belmond Grand N

National special ECS approaches Arpley Yard - Arpley Junction signal box is left.

BELOW: The generator van and (now) rear loco 67024. (Both photos by Ti

im Hall-Smith, Sat 15 Apr 2023.) Note the switch diamond in both photos.

BELOW: (Item 1129) The new Headbolt Lane station taking shape, from th Far left (to Liverpool) is one of the two Merseyrail terminal platforms platform Wigan Wallgate is to the right, behind (and party hidden b

e 25 Mar Marsh Magician railtour in Knowsley Fright Terminal headshunt. s, then the station building and, in the foreground, the DMU terminal by the railings) is the present through line that is to be severed here.

BELOW: A new access bridge at the north end of Headbolt Lane station, the

Northern DMU platform is bottom left. (Both John Cameron, 25 Mar 2023.)

1132] Carlisle Kingmoor: (BLN 1422.1000) The signalling is much older than 1980 (probably why it needs to be replaced). The current Kingmoor Interlocking was commissioned 18 Feb 1963 onto Kingmoor Power Signal Box (PSB). That PSB closed on 17 Jun 1973, when Carlisle PSB took control. As the Kingmoor Interlocking was then only 10 years old, it was not replaced. Floriston Interlocking was also commissioned 18 Feb 1963 onto Gretna Junction signal box as part of Kingmoor resignalling (and later migrated to Carlisle PSB). It was replaced around 2009 (our correspondent does not have the exact date this happened. If any reader knows it, please do let your Regional Editor know). 1133] Glazebrook East Junction Signal Box: (BLN 1422.997) At the Urmston end of Flixton station, the Up signal is GE106 (fully automatic). GE104 is the signal on the Up CLC line, which is halfway 'up' the 1 in 135 gradient and on the approach to the viaduct over the Manchester Ship Canal. (This signal is one of the two with replacement switches mentioned in the BLN 1416.208 description of the box.) 1423 SOUTH EAST - NORTH & EAST ANGLIA (Julian James) [email protected] 1134] Brundall Gardens: A large new running in board has been provided on both platforms here. They display the name in raised Sans Serif capitals in two lines, 'Brundall' above 'Gardens', in black on a white ground. Each nameboard has a rectangular frame and is supported on four square legs. 1135] Cambridge South: (BLN 1420.749) Some of the first signs of physical work on the new station, when seen on 12 Apr, were the lineside placing of fabricated gantry components for new OHLE supports. As well as the existing tracks, these will span the platforms and the two additional tracks. 1136] Oxford - Didcot; Nuneham Viaduct ❶: By Michael L. Roach. I had never knowingly heard of Nuneham Viaduct (surely it is a bridge?)until Sat 15 Apr 2023, when I scrolled through the latest digital Branch Line News and read item 1422.1010 about the sudden closure of the bridge due to structural problems. The aerial view of the bridge struck a chord with me as I realised that I had been there just once, a very long time ago. It was on 30 Jan 1965 - the day of Winston Churchill's funeral. I travelled from Plymouth to Oxford on day returns for 51 shillings (£2.55 = £63.25 now). After just over an hour at Oxford, I went back to Culham looking for a place to photograph the funeral train and decided the station was not right, so I walked northwards through the fields looking for a spot which turned out to be little better. The funeral train ran from Waterloo to Handborough (it didn't lose that 'd' until 28 Sep 1992) - the nearest station to Bladon Parish Church where the burial took place. After photographing it, I walked to Radley, stopping at Nuneham to take a couple of shots of passing trains on the south side of the bridge in poor weather and poor light. I had left Plymouth at 6.35am that day and returned at 1.53am next day, some 65 minutes late due to p'way work in a couple of places. It had been an all diesel day with haulage by D800s, a 1000, a 6300, a 7000 and using a couple of DMUs. 1137] Nuneham Viaduct ❷: (BLN 1422.1010) Due to the condition of the viaduct, the line is out of operational use between 57m 29ch and 57m 24ch from 12.00 Fri 14 Apr until 12.00 Mon 5 Jun. There is a temporary stop block and red light on both tracks at 56m 18ch (between Culham and the Viaduct) and at 57m 50ch between Radley and the Viaduct. By Wed 12 Apr 2023 buses were running every 20 min from Didcot at xx.00/20/40 (allowed 45 min) with an all stations vehicle at xx.50 (allowed 65 min). Oxford departures were at xx.10/30/50 (all stations minibus xx.00). On Sun 9 Apr they only ran hourly. By 20 Apr rail replacement services were every 10 minutes, some CrossCountry and some GWR, plus minibuses running all station services, even where RTT and passenger screens do not show some of these. At Didcot buses use the area west of the main entrance near the bottom of the ramp from P1. The all station minibus leaves outside the station entrance, at the west end of the bus area. Note that Birmingham to Oxford CrossCountry services are down to 2-hourly now (pre-Covid twice an hour). Southampton freight is generally being diverted via Reading, Acton Wells Jn and the ECML or WCML. Drone pictures show that some track had been lifted off the viaduct by 12 Apr. The disturbance to the track, which is ballasted over the bridge, led to the concrete sleepers rising out of the ballast and the rails distorting through compressive stresses and inability of the ballast to retain correct line of the rails. If the decks continue to be used, all ballast must be removed before the track is re-seated. It is necessary to determine if each of the two south (Didcot) side bridge spans have been damaged by twisting to the extent they need replacement. Much can be done to strengthen structures of this type.

Both the south side spans need to be lifted up without compromising support from the mid-river pier, so that the south abutment can be rebuilt. The viaduct, like other such bridges, undergoes regular inspections, including with divers (for river scouring of the foundations), every three years. Manual inspections have been carried out at the viaduct every three months since 2021, with full inspections of the stability of the southern bridge support structure in 2019 and 2022. These inspections led to a planned low intrusive ground stabilisation scheme in Mar 2023. This scheme was unsuccessful and if anything made the situation worse. The cause of the rapid decline in the condition of the southern support structure was unknown at 12 Apr. Engineers will be in a better position to assess this once the old support has been removed. Underlying ground condition at the abutment and nearby does not appear to be good. NR continues to indicate reopening by 10 Jun but this has yet to be confirmed. River access by a barge is expected to be from Abingdon Marina, west of the viaduct. New bored pile supports will be used and their availability for a permanent abutment solution had been identified by 13 Apr. The first propping piles were due to arrive on 14 Apr. An ecology survey has been conducted, with some minor controls required. Site devegetation is underway for an eastern access ramp. There is growing expectation at Oxford that the work could continue well beyond Jun, perhaps even into 2024. This report includes sections from NR press releases with additional observations from our members. 1138] Cowley branch:(BLN 1421.1010) The BMW Mini export car flow to Southampton Eastern Docks is diverted due to the Didcot to Oxford closure. Previously it ran twice most days SuX. Loaded trains now go from Cowley via Oxford Parkway, High Wycombe, Drayton Green initially via Acton Yard (reverse) but latterly 'direct' via the curve to Hanwell, Reading and Basingstoke. After the direct route closed during 4 Apr, the first run via the diversion was on 11 Apr then most days SuX since. The return unloaded wagons are actually taken to Didcot to stable before returning to Cowley the long way via Reading, High Wycombe and Oxford Parkway. The weekly Halewood Jaguar to Southampton Eastern Docks car train (via Oxford and Didcot) resumed after three weeks on 21 Apr, running via the WCML. 1139] Norwich: (BLN 1423.1023) The crossing rail on the P2 set of points in the final engine release/ run round crossover (trailing to P2 looking towards the buffer stops) was removed on 28 Jun 2020. 1140] East West Rail (EWR): (BLN 1422.1020) EWR Alliance reports that all five new overbridges are complete and open to road traffic. Eight of the ten new pedestrian footbridges are also open to the public and most other bridge refurbishment works either complete or nearing completion. 27 miles of track has been installed. The programme continues to use one of the two UK 'New Track Construction' trains each month very effectively, with over 30 shifts delivered. Completion of another 1.1 mile of track between Twyford village (east of Bicester) and the Calvert HS2 integration area was planned from Mar to Jun, with over 7 miles of track between Winslow and Steeple Claydon from Mar to Jul. Completion of 4¼ miles of mainline track, the loop, reception sidings and Infrastructure Maintenance Depot connections between Steeple Claydon and Calvert follows, between Jun 2023 and Feb 2024. 1141] Derby Road: On Sun 23 Apr the 12.25 Felixstowe to Ipswich ran via P2 as Up P1 was occupied by the 12.05 Felixstowe to Claydon (The Great Britain XV). Both platforms are directionally signalled. 1142] High Wycombe: On 6 Apr the 10.39 Oxford to Marylebone was held in High Wycombe P3 due to the police attending a person on the train. All trains then ran through bidirectional Down P2 to bypass the train for about 45 min; Up services did the rare facing crossover north of the station. (On 17 Apr it was still shiny - Regional Editor.) The 10.39 train eventually shunted ECS into bay P1. 1143] Norwich - Sheringham: Two level crossings on the line were to be converted from User Worked with Telephones to automatic barriers. Buses replaced trains, on Sundays 16 and 23 Apr as a result. 1144] Norwich - Lowestoft/Great Yarmouth: Over half a mile of track was relaid at Cantley with reballasting (due to flood and heat damage) just east of Brundall between Sat 22 and Wed 26 Apr. Great Yarmouth services were replaced by buses over the 22 and 23 Apr weekend and Lowestoft services until Wed 26 Apr inclusive. Resurfacing of level crossings near Somerleyton also took place. 1145] Chelmsford Beaulieu Park (previously Chelmsford Parkway): (BLN 1418.475) There has been much site clearance on the Down side recently, which appears to be to provide large site compounds.

BELOW: (Item 1139) A very quiet Norwich; that crossover between P3 and

3 as on 21 Sep 2020 with its P2 crossing piece plainlined. (©Andy Overton.)

[BLN X.37] BELOW: The previous incarnation of Bletchley station e

1421] ntrance with the 'old' flyover background right. (Rodney Pitt.)

ABOVE: (Item 1136) A sombre day for the nation, Battle of Britain Class, 34051 'Winston Churchill' passes under Thame Lane, Culham on the afternoon of 30 Jan 1965 with his funeral train. BELOW: The funeral train heads for Nuneham Viaduct a short distance away. (All Mike Roach, 30 Jan 1965.) It is hard to believe how railways have changed in the 58 years since these pictures were taken.

ABOVE: '601 Squadron' of Eastleigh Shed comes off Nuneham Viaduct with a southbound express. Lying in the 6-foot (ie between the running lines) is an abandoned GWR Automatic Train Control ramp. BELOW: An unidentified Hall class loco crosses the River Thames at Nuneham on a southbound express.

PREVIOUS PAGE: Nuneham Viaduct article, p224 of Oct 1908 GWR Magazine. (Thanks to Mike Roach.) X.38] BELOW: Wisbech & Upwell Tramway at Upwell. https://bit.ly/420KozE (Angus McDougall, 9 Sep 1956.)

X.39] BELOW: DRS 68017 'Hornet' with 68002 top & tail a single PFA wagon in S Southminster CEGB to Crewe Coal Sidings. The train arrived as 6M95 13.54 Dung low level nuclear waste for the store at the nearby closed Bradwell Magnox power