Southminster CEGB Siding gantry crane security compound, forming 6M75 23.44 geness to Willesden and 6L68 03.00 Willesden Brent to Southminster CEGB with r station, the second such train of 2023. (All Iain Scotchman, Thur 27 Apr 2023.)
BELOW: 720512 approaching Southminster on the 14.56 branch train
n from Wickford. 68017 is lurking in the CEGB Compound, middle right.
BELOW: 720512 at Southminster with the 15.36 to Wickfo
ord, from the London end, looking towards the end of line.
BELOW: The Class 720 EMUs have to pull up to the end of
the platform - note the dire warnings on the gate ahead…
1146] Chelmsford: (BLN 1422.1015) This two platform station was the 60th busiest on the National Network in 2021-2022 with 8.9M passengers. The 59 ahead of it are either within Greater London or have more than two platforms - thus, outside Greater London, it is the busiest two platform station. 1147] Slough: (BLN 1422.1017) The operational length of bay P1 was reduced from 118m to 96m from Sun 16 Apr by moving the London end buffer stop. This change applies until 16 Jul when the platform will return to its normal operational length. The reduction in length is for passenger safety during events at Windsor. On Sun 7 May the late evening service is enhanced to every 20 min for the Coronation Concert at Windsor, continuing until 03.30 Mon (then it's two hours until the next train) with an unusual 01.42 Windsor to Paddington (02.08) through train in this direction only. On 7th SWR is running four trains per hour from Waterloo to/from Windsor & Eton Riverside until 00.57 Mon. 1148] HS2 Wends its way over Bucks: Buckinghamshire Council has given approval to the 345m long viaduct at Wendover. The low profile viaduct will be on five 'Y' shaped intermediate piers; uncoated Corten steel will give a rust coloured appearance similar to the viaduct under construction at Ruislip. 1423 SOUTH EAST - SOUTH (Julian James) [email protected] 1149] Didcot, Newbury & Southampton Railway: BLN 1420.699 of 18 Mar 2023 asked if anyone knew who was the architect of the very distinctive and attractive station buildings? The Didcot, Newbury & Southampton Railway Facebook group's 1,100 members have come up with … Andrew Withers. 1150] Robertsbridge - Battle: Slab track replacement over 900m including through Mountfield Tunnel was the main item of work during a line closure from 7 to 15 Apr. At Wadhurst and Frant, a reinforced concrete wall has been installed to prevent trees and soil reaching the tracks. On sections of the line near Snape Wood, between Wadhurst and Stonegate, 230 five metre long soil nails were driven into the cutting, with 600m2 of wire mesh to stop material falling onto tracks below. This was the third and final extended line closure as part of this programme of stabilisation work in the past two years. 1151] Crowborough: (& Jarvis Brook until 12 May 1980) A new footbridge with lifts has been installed between platforms with new tactile paving and extra CCTV cameras. (387,000 passengers in 2019-20.) 1152] Channel Tunnel: On 14 Apr a trial train was to have run from Köln (Cologne), Germany, for TX Logistics to Barking, arriving 19 Apr. However, it was cancelled at the 11th (23rd?) hour. DB was to work it via the Channel Tunnel and HS1 to Ripple Lane and Barking. It is for trailers and containers; the plan is to increase this service to twice a week in late May and, hopefully, three times a week from Aug. 1153] Ryde - Shanklin: (BLN 1421.898) Island Line has recruited additional staff; four new drivers and some extra conductors. Most importantly, six new signallers have been employed! Island MP Bob Seely has said that he will be contacting the DfT asking for infrastructure investment to permit all services to operate to Ryde Pier Head when the current works are complete. On 17 Apr NR said that work on the pier was progressing well and entering the final stages. That is reinstating 280 sleepers and 172m of track following repairs, also painting the steelwork for reopening 'by 10 Jun'. It was originally scheduled to finish by 31 Mar. Contractors are still working on the northern section of the overbridge at Lake. The seven day, most of the day, half-hourly service between Ryde Esplanade and Shanklin did indeed start on Mon 3 April and has run remarkably well and to time (except one evening when there was a power failure). Members will find the new Brading Loop in regular use. 1154] Strood: On Sun 7 May 'Javelins' from London St Pancras International turn back at Strood with an ECS shunt. On departure they do the rare connection from P3 to Gravesend which only has one booked passenger service, the 06.46 SSuX Maidstone West to St Pancras International. (Gensheet) 1423 SOUTH WEST Robert Green [email protected]. :More items welcome, especially for Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Dorset and present day news.: 1155] A very reserved passenger: Your South West Regional Editor travelled Taunton to Cardiff on 19 Apr (Bimode IET 802019 on 2U06) and was amused to find that of only two reserved seats in his coach one was from Parson Street to Bristol Temple Meads. No person occupied it possibly because the conductor announced that the doors in that particular coach would not open at Parson Street!
1156] Where Am I? (10): My name is not the village I am near. My branch line has a different name from my river. After passing, my main building became part of a hotel but is now residential. Answer: Dulverton. The station was near the small village of Brushford and two miles from Dulverton on the River Barle. It was the main passing place (there were others) on the Taunton to Barnstaple line and the northern branch terminus of the Exe Valley branch which turned south to Tiverton and Exeter at Morebath Jn about 2 miles east. Taunton to Barnstaple opened in stages as broad gauge (conversion from 18 May 1881) and in full on 1 Nov 1873; CG 6 Jul 1964; CA 3 Oct 1966. The Exe Valley branch OP to Tiverton 1 Aug 1884 and to Exeter St Davids via Stoke Canon Jn 1 May 1885. It CA 7 Oct 1963. After closure some of Dulverton station buildings became part of the adjacent Carnarvon Arms Hotel (see also BLN 1421.837) but this closed in 2002 and is now in residential use. 1157] Morebath Jn: The only recorded instance of a signalwoman in Britain in the 19th Century was at Morebath Jn. In 1890, a Mrs Towns, a local country lady, was appointed and achieved many years of service. Railway Magazine Oct 1913 reported her being 'very proud' of her job and hoped to continue indefinitely. Morebath Junction Halt OP 1 Dec 1928; CP 3 Oct 1966; was accessed only by a field path. However, it was nearer to the village of Morebath than the station of that name! The single platform was just east of the actual junction, so Taunton and Exe Valley (Exeter) services were able to call. 1158] Crewkerne: Member Nick Bowditch draws attention to a potentially serious and significant accident at Crewkerne (then British Railways Southern Region) some 70 years ago on 24 Apr 1953. Merchant Navy Class 35020 'Bibby Line' was hauling the 4.30pm (12 hour clocks in those days) Exeter to Waterloo express when the driving axle fractured at speed. The coupling rods were bent, the brake gear broke and the steel brake blocks shot off. It took nearly a mile for the train to come to a halt, and despite passing through Crewkerne station and over its pointwork the loco managed to stay upright. Amazingly no one on the train was hurt but Nick's dad, Eric Bowditch, probably the last railwayman now alive involved in the incident, returned to Crewkerne to sign off after a day delivering parcels in West Dorset and was immediately sent down to help. He became the only victim, jamming his finger in the guard's door moving items from the train and ended up going to the local hospital for stitches! Crewkerne station canopy collapsed when a cast iron stanchion was removed by a flying brake block; a second hit the brickwork of the overbridge. Luckily it happened during a quiet period at the station with no one on the platforms. The track was damaged where the brake blocks probably left the loco. The significance of the event was that it led to the rebuilding of all Merchant Navy locos and, later from 1957, sixty of the West Country and Battle of Britain classes. The incident also led to the use of V2, Britannia, LMR & BR Class 5 and B1 locos from other regions on SR trains during May & Jun 1953. By a strange coincidence, DL Bradley in Locos of the Southern Railway (Vol II) quotes loco 34040 'Crewkerne' as being lined up to be the first West Country Pacific to be rebuilt. However, at the last minute 34005 'Barnstaple' failed at Nine Elms with badly fractured frames and so it became the first to be rebuilt while 34040 returned to service, not being rebuilt until 1960. 1423 WEST MIDLANDS (Brian Schindler) [email protected] 1159] Rugby - Leamington Spa: For a brief period, when opened in 1851, this branch had the longest single span wrought iron truss lattice girder bridge in the world at the site of Marton Jn, where the line (facing Leamington) went off via Daventry to Weedon on the West Coast Main Line. A member confirms that this Hunningham High Bridge, carrying a minor unclassified track across the deep cutting at the site of Marton Jn, is still standing. A small fortune has recently been spent converting the line trackbed into a surfaced foot and cycleway. At present it consists of three dead ends: At the Five Arch Viaduct on the former Southam Cement Works branch (towards Daventry and Weedon), just before Fosse Way in the Leamington direction and just before the now demolished road bridge over the A423 at the former Marton station. Sustrans has reportedly run out of money in the current budget, though hopefully there will eventually be a lengthy cyclepath from the Southam Cement Works site at Long Itchington for you to scratch, to Marton Jn across Fosse Way to Leamington Spa and the A423 to Rugby. The last train in Jul 1985 was an 'asset recovery' inspection special from Derby, a 2-car DMU. The line, closed past Rubgy New Bilton Cement Works 1 Aug 1985, was taken out of use 4 Nov 1985.
BELOW: (Item 1156) A freight for Barnstaple exchanges tokens at Far right behind that running in board, in the bay platform is the Exe
t Dulverton looking east towards Morebath and Taunton/Exeter. Valley train to Exeter via Tiverton. (Angus McDougall, 27 Sep 1961.)
BELOW: 1960 map. Barnstaple is off left, Taunton right and Exeter via the E River Barle, Dulverton itself is top left two miles away. Morebath Junction Ha
xe Valley line, bottom. Dulverton station (middle left) is in Brushford on the alt has no road access and is near Morebath (unlike Morebath station right!).
PREVIOUS: (Item 1158) Local press report of the accident. ABOVE: Quaint newspaper masthead, 30 Apr 1953. BELOW: Damage to Crewkerne station and track. (All Nick Bowditch; his dad is mentioned in the newspaper.)
X.40] BELOW: New 2x2-car Class 196 DMUs 196005 & 196006 on the 08.36 G It has just left Malvern Link for Worcester - let's hope the DfT will allow them
Great Malvern to Birmingham New Street service passing the Malvern Hills. m to be washed (unlike most rolling stock). (Dave Gommersall, 20 Apr 2023.)
BELOW & NEXT: (item 1164 & BLN 1412.2669 with track plan) Lisburn tempora
ary 'bay' P3 (Antrim/Dublin end) and the yard. (Martin Baumann, 15 Apr 2023.)
BELOW: At the other end of P3 - looking towards Bel
lfast - unit 3001 is on the 13.10 departure to Bangor.
X.41] BELOW: On Sat 22 Apr 2023 a group of photographers led by David W The various locos there were lined up as 'Caledonia' passed on a special with Foxdale branch train. Hopefully, in future it will be possible to use the Fo
illiams visited the Crogga Valley Railway as part of their week on the Island. h Cleminson 6-wheeler MNR No 6 and brake coach F49 emulating the former oxdale Coach or Hurst Nelson No 15 as the brake coach. (Graeme Easton.)
1160] Rugby: (TrackMAPS 4 P5A 2022) The 79ch long New Bilton branch from Rugby Trent Valley Jn is still very much in existence and likely to see traffic again in the coming months. The large quarry visible from the Coventry Flyover at the north end of Rugby is one of the disposal locations for HS2 spoil from Willesden. It originates from the Old Oak Common station construction site via a 1¾ mile conveyor belt run. This traffic has been running for around six months, initially to Barrington quarry near Foxton and latterly also to Cliffe on the Hundred of Hoo. Rugby is the third location and will come into play as spoil volumes reach a peak. Thereafter Cemex (current owners of Rugby Cement) plan to resume outward cement traffic by rail, although the details of this are sketchy at the moment. 1161] Camp Hill Line: The mileages for the three new/reinstated stations now under construction have been published and vary slightly different from the initial plans (see TRACKmaps 4 p23B 2022): ●Kings Heath 44m 20ch. ●Moseley Village 43m 43ch. ●Pineapple Road (was Hazelwell) 45m 06ch. 1162] Washwood Heath: (TRACKmaps 4 p20 2022) Beyond the bidirectional Up Washwood Heath Goods Loop, until further notice, there is a temporary point of obstruction in the headshunt on the Derby side of the points at Washwood Heath West Jn (39m 62ch) from 22 Apr. It is sleeper protection, chained and padlocked with a Possession Limit Stopboard - that should just about do the job. 1163] Sutton Coldfield: The Cross City line between Aston and Lichfield Trent Valley P3 was closed to all traffic over the 4-day Easter weekend (British Rail would have run trains from New Street to Wylde Green, where there is a crossover but that's progress for you). The rail overbridge immediately past Sutton Coldfield Tunnel, carrying the double track Sutton Park line, was replaced at a cost of £4M. 1423 IRELAND (Martin Baumann) [email protected] 1164] Lisburn: (BLNs 1412.2669 with track plan & 1416.254) The other half of the Dublin end facing crossover (the points in the Up line - to Dublin) were plain lined on 9 Apr. On 16 Apr the Dublin end trailing crossover at Lisburn was secured out of use. Its points in the Down line (to Belfast) were to be plain lined over 22-23 Apr weekend as were both sets of points in the Dublin end connection (out of use) between the Down Main and Lisburn P3. The layout is being much simplified for resignalling. 1165] Lisburn West: (BLN 1412.2670) Translink now advises that construction work on this new station, 1½ miles on the Dublin side of Lisburn station at Knockmore, will start in Jul 2025 (right on the limit before planning permission, granted in Jul 2020, expires), with a target of opening of Mar 2027. Knockmore, latterly with calls from Belfast only, closed 25 Mar 2005; the last call was the day before. 1166] On the Up: On Sat 22 Apr there was Single Line Working on the Up line between Sallins & Naas country end trailing crossover and Hazelhatch West Jn facing crossover (10m 48ch). 1167] Ferry good news: Irish Ferries has acquired a second hand ferry, for their Rosslare to Pembroke crossing. It is important to be earnest about this matter: The Oscar Wilde II, built as The Star for the Finnish company Tallink in 2007 enters service in June. For 'Windermere fans', sorry, it won't be there. ….. 1423 ISLE OF MAN (Graeme Easton) [email protected] 1168] :CONGRATULATIONS!: To our IOM Regional BLN Editor, Graeme Easton, who passed out (but stayed conscious) as a volunteer guard on the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway on 20 April - well done! 1189] More snowy mountain: (BLN 1421.942) Snaefell Mountain Railway services were suspended at lunchtime on 11 Apr due to high winds and again on 12th due to a snowstorm. Bungalow webcam captured a descending tram covered in snow; conditions at the 2,037ft summit were even worse. 1170] Wireless Electric Railway: On Tues 11 Apr a tram heading into Ramsey depoled south of the Ballure Viaduct and brought down ten poles of wires on the landside track; several sidearms were also damaged. The Manx Electric Railway was expected to close north of Laxey for two days while the damaged was fixed. However, the bad weather (previous item) extended this and a further closure on Fri 14 Apr was announced. In the event, the repairs were completed by Friday lunchtime and services recommenced with the 14.10 Laxey to Ramsey and 15.10 Ramsey to Derby Castle. 1171] Groudle Diesel and Electric: The Groudle Glen Railway summer season starts on Sun 7 May with its annual Diesel&Electric Day; a chance to ride behind 'Maltby', 'Polar Bear', 'Dolphin' & 'Walrus'.
1172] Steamed food: (PDF brochure with e-BLN 1422) Despite the change of operator, the Steam Railway Dining Train programme for the first half of the season is similar to last year, except for the reduced number of breakfast/commuter trains (BLN 1418.508). Apart from the Pie and Mash trains, the dining trains only go to Castletown (and have a prolonged break at the station). One change is that you are now required to select your meal on booking rather than on the train. Prices are similar to last year, except the commuter trains from Port Erin (in the morning) and evening return from Douglas. These commuter trains began in 2007 for the Centenary TT to try and reduce road traffic. As an extra incentive, fares were set at the bus fare level rather than the normal train fares. Once the dining train was available, the TT commuter trains were run using that, with the option of buying breakfast on board. This was then extended to running a breakfast train to Douglas about once a month (and return evening train). The fares remained as the bus fares, so Port Erin to Douglas was £3.10 (or zero if you had one of the various travel cards). A full breakfast was an additional £8.50 or £5 for a breakfast bap. This year, the trains have reverted to TT week only but breakfast can only be bought as part of an inclusive breakfast and travel ticket. This is £18 and includes a 'Luxury Breakfast Bap' rather than a full breakfast. So a visitor who has already bought a week's Go Card (which covers the travel) will now effectively pay £18 for a breakfast bap compared to last year's £8.50 for a full breakfast! As the trains are in the timetable, a compartment coach will be added to the set for non-diners to travel in. It will be very interesting to see how many opt to travel and not bother with breakfast on the train. 1423 WALES & THE MARCHES (Chris Parker) [email protected] 1173] Wrexham to Bidston: (BLN 1422.1077) (Of Borderline interest.) From 10 Apr a Class 230 was rostered to work one SSuX Wrexham Central (WXC) to Bidston two hourly diagram. On Day 1 unit 010 started from Wrexham General (WRX) 20 mins late at 07.55, lost a further 27 min to Penyffordd but then virtually kept time. However, it then retreated to Birkenhead North Depot (BN) for nearly 48 hours. On 12 Apr it worked five Bidston to WXC round trips and a sixth, which returned ECS from WXC to BN. This then became the regular diagram. Timekeeping seems to have been a struggle that day but the lateness was never more than 20 min. However, on 13 Apr unit 008 only repeated the evening southbound trip and ECS return; on the 14th 010 managed these following four round trips, one of which turned back at WRX; the penultimate scheduled one was cancelled entirely. Mon 17th , Wed 19th and Thu 20th it completed the full diagram with generally much better punctuality but on Tue 18th failed to leave the depot due to 'traction equipment problems'. When seen at WRX on 20th , it appeared to only have TfW personnel on board; presumably no one else knew it was running! Hourly replacement buses - and no other rail units - continued to run. SO it was buses only but SuO the full hourly rail service was operated by two trusty Class 150 units - and no buses! And so it continues… A TfW source has said: There are still a number of minor issues to work through on the fleet and they have recruited some excellent former Vivarail people to give the benefit of their skills. However cannibalisation of one unit to provide spares for the others is one option under consideration. The area Stakeholder Manager advises that the now lessening timekeeping issue is mainly through drivers gaining experience regulating speed. The latest version of the 'acceleration instructions', which have changed during testing and driver training, has yet to be fully implemented. A current temporary speed restriction at Buckley (where installation of a temporary footbridge is pending) doesn't help. TfW still intends to gradually build up to a 2tph service on this line (which it believes has the potential to more than double pre-Covid passenger usage) using Class 230s but without suggesting timescales! One reliable train per hour would be good! The long term solution is likely to be Class 777s in battery mode, in conjunction with or by franchise transfer to Merseyrail; TfW is not actively opposed to either. 1174] Cardiff Bay: (BLN 1422.1074) Discontinuous Overhead Line Electrification (OHLE) on this 64ch long branch will only be installed from Butetown (new stop) to Cardiff Bay stop (both inclusive). 1175] Gaer Jn/Ebbw Jn - Park Jn - Ebbw Vale Town: (BLN 1413.2827) NR proposes to postpone the completion and commissioning of the redoubling and resignalling project to the period from 00.55 on Wed 15 Nov until 05.00 Mon 4 Dec 2023. Machen Quarry branch would be accessible except 01.00 Sun 19 Nov - 05.00 Mon 20 Nov and likewise a week later, then from 22.00 Thu 30 Nov until handback.
1176] ABOVE: Clydach-on-Tawe: 1964 map, six inches to the mile; compare with BLN 1422.1073 plan and map. The ex-GWR 2m 25ch branch from Felin Fran Jn is off the bottom, (that junction with the Swansea District line was remodelled when the adjacent M4 motorway was built). The former Midland Railway line, by this time a truncated branch as shown, once from Swansea St Thomas via Upper Bank, comes in from the lower left. Just before it passes under the GWR, a connection heads into the works - later remodelled to form a second connection to the GWR, out of use by 1989 (e-BLN 1422 photos). The map shows the 1964 internal layout; https://bit.ly/43L56Fh is the 1936 map (25''). The Swansea Canal and Afon Tawe are marked; the former internal railway bridge over the latter is now walkable. 1177] Shrewsbury - Crewe: On Mon 20 Mar the driver of the 04.54 Crewe to Cardiff Central (67014 hauling set HD05) reported suspected dragging brakes on the approach to Wrenbury. A fitter from Shrewsbury failed to identify the fault after carrying out a rotational test (to see if the wheels are turning as they should), it was then thought to be an indication fault on the driver van trailer. At 06.46 the train returned to Crewe, with a wrong direction move to Nantwich trailing crossover, dropping the one passenger off at Nantwich. While the stricken train was being attended to, the 05.57 Crewe to Carmarthen double shunted at Nantwich crossover, enabling it to travel in the Up direction along the Down Main. It regained the Up Main via Wem (normally) trailing crossover at 21m 77ch. 1178] Port Talbot West Resignalling: (BLN 1422.1079; TRACKmaps 3 p24A 2018) As a footnote to this, by start of service on 17 Apr trailing crossover 983 A/B at 'approx 9m 42ch' on the Swansea District line at Grovesend was due to be recovered and plain lined. Presumably this is 'Grovesend Crossover' at 9m 22ch in TRACKmaps? Commissioning of Phase 2, Stage 1 from 04.00 on 22 May will be very much as per BLN 1387.2804 summary. Control is transferred to a new Llanelli Workstation at a Control Centre in the existing Port Talbot Power Signal Box building. Contrary to previous advice, this is a permanent arrangement; interlocking is also located here and there is no plan for the workstation to be transferred to Wales ROC. ●Train detection in the area will be by axle counters. ●Llanelli Up P2 and the Genwen Loop (renamed 'Llanelli Goods') become bidirectional. ●Shunters Acceptance Switches will be provided in place of Dynevor and Llanelli Dock Jn East Ground Frames ●There are several other line name changes: Jersey Marine North Jn - South Jn becomes the (still double track) Jersey Loop, Neath & Brecon Jn - Burrows Sidings becomes part of the Vale of Neath Single, Grovesend Colliery Loop Jn - Hendy Jn becomes the Hendy Loop [how many Lords have a Loop named after them?] and Genwen Jn - Trostre Works is renamed Trostre Siding.
ABOVE LEFT: Item 1181: The 25 Sep 1965 railtour leaving Swansea High Street with 9609 +3654. ABOVE RIGHT: Transferring to open wagons and brakevans at the Bury Port BP&GV yard. BELOW: Burry Port & Gwendraeth Valley Railway original sign, all painted black unfortunately.
ABOVE LEFT: In 1965 Cross Hands Colliery had clearly seen better days. RIGHT: A loco at the colliery. ABOVE LEFT: Cynheidre Colliery on the Llanelly & Mynydd Mawr. RIGHT: At the colliery. (All David Thomas.) ABOVE: 1948 map when Cwmmawr (per Quick, no hyphen) still had passenger services on the Burry Port&Gwendraeth Valley branch from Bury Port showing how close Tumble was to walk. Cross Hands, top right, was the end of the Llanelly & Mynydd Mawr branch from Llanelly (then) via Cynheidre.
1179] Core Valley Lines (CVL): ❶TfW proposes to instal numerous RFID Tracklink III Automatic Power Changeover Beacons on the CVL during 2023-24 which, as well as doing what it says on the tin, will automatically lower and raise the pantographs of Class 398 tram-trains and 756 FLIRT tri-mode units as required to pass through the numerous 'dead' sections which will exist where there is insufficient clearance for OHLE. (On the 'positive' side discontinuous electrification comes with readymade neutral sections.) The beacons are passive, non-powered and each is mounted on a sleeper in the 'four foot' and detected by readers mounted on the underside of the trains; there is a manual override. They are unidirectional to ensure they are only read by a unit running in the appropriate direction. Balises under another name? Yes and no, as this will be Tracklink III's first power change application. Elsewhere on the network it is used by some operators to control Selective (and correct side) Door Opening - on GWR Class 387 units, for example. Meanwhile, the first Class 756s have commenced training/mileage accumulation runs between Canton and Swindon. The already operational OHLE clearly facilitates this although the Class 231 equivalents also previously used the same route. ❷Further engineering blockades: Cardiff Bay branch 15-29 Apr inclusive, tickets accepted on local buses Abercynon Jn - Aberdare 16-24 Apr, rail replacement buses Pontypridd (as is now usual) to Aberdare, though Merthyr services were unaffected. ❸Further details of planned signalling changes during 2023 as of 20 Apr (BLN 1419.680): ●Operational Control CVL to move from NR to CVL at 02.00 on 30 Apr. ●CVLICC TAM (Core Valley Line Integrated Control Centre Treherbert, Aberdare & Merthyr) workstation to control Llandaff/Danescourt to Radyr North from 03 May. ●Radyr North to Merthyr from 13 May. ●Abercynon Jn to Aberdare from 15 May. ●A temporary fringe to the new Taff's Well Depot on 4 Jun (all dates from start of service). ●Pontypridd Jn to Treherbert in Dec and finally, Cyril… ●Taff's Well Depot signalling maybe also in Dec; the uncertainty is ironic as the workstation is there! 1180] Class 175 withdrawal symptoms: (BLN 1422.1076) Conwy Valley line services resumed on 8 Apr and Central Wales line services on Easter Monday, 10 Apr. 175001, among those reported as awaiting repairs at Chester on 13 Mar, was back in service by 8 Apr. 3-car unit 175110, stored at Holyhead on 13 Mar, was in Chester sidings on 20 Apr with a complete set of new bogies and was on a northbound service at Ruabon that afternoon. By this time the remaining regular service cancellations were ●Wrexham - Bidston (separate item), ●Chester - Frodsham - Liverpool reduced to 2-hourly (it is hoped to resume 1tph from the May timetable change) and of course ●Crosskeys - Newport where frequent end to end normal bus services are available, although they certainly aren't parallel as they perform a fairly comprehensive tour of northwest Newport! TfW's Stakeholder Manager for the Chester area advises that stock availability and utilisation have both improved but unfortunately there is no scope to accelerate Class 197 commissioning and thereby reduce the need to reinstate 175s. The Office of Rail and Road has issued an Improvement Notice to TfW as it has failed to ensure that passengers and employees are not exposed to the risk of harm and has failed to implement effective arrangements for the organisation, control and monitoring for the maintenance of the Class 175 fleet. Improvement is required by Sep 2023. Unfortunately the root cause seems to be personnel issues resulting from the transfer of Chester depot from Alstom to CAF; outside TfW's direct control. 1181] The Burry Port & Gwendraeth Valley Railway (BP&GV): (BLN 1421.950) A member was on the RCTS/SLS railtour of 25 Sep 1965 http://bit.ly/3ZXcvOH which covered this line and also the Llanelly & Mynydd Mawr to Cynheidre and Cross Hands. The tour started as six corridor coaches with pannier tanks 9609 & 3654 from Swansea High Street (the present station) at 09.26. At (the then) Llanelly, half the passengers alighted and transferred by special buses to Sandy Jn where another pannier 1643 was waiting with nine open wooden wagons between two brakevans. The other half (with our member) continued to Burry Port and walked to the BP&GV station area to join a similar train behind 1669. That train went to Cwmmawr where they all alighted and walked the ¾ mile or so along the B4310 road to Tumble, passing en route the passengers who'd been on the train from Llanelly which our member's group then boarded. This train then propelled to the end of the line at Cross Hands, before running down to Llanelly. It stopped near the steelworks close to Sandy Jn. After a works visit and lunch break, both groups rejoined the corridor stock and the original two panniers took them to Llanelly shed, then to Colbren Jn and back to Swansea High Street, arriving two min early at 20.51.
The Apr 2023 Railway Magazine reports that the Gwendraeth Railway Preservation Society (GRPS) was granted a lease in late 2022 to restore as much as possible of the BP&GV following a previous abortive narrow gauge scheme seven years ago (BLN 1260.1356). The lease includes 550m next to the main line at Kidwelly; due to the restricted loading gauge there is no plan to reinstate a main line connection. First priorities are drainage works - the route has been doing its best to turn itself back into a canal according to GRPS Chairman - and refurbishment of Pontyates and Pontyberem level crossing gates. Three of the diesel shunters which formerly operated the line are available and a former lifeboat shed has been donated which could accommodate two of them at Pontyates (as well as a lifeboat for canal rescues?) The Velorail pedal powered operation proposed in the earlier scheme also still features. Long term hopes are to construct station buildings and slab sided carriages 'Colonel Stephens' style. 1182] Pantyffynnon: (BLN 1420.807) Installation of the 'temporary' stop block was delayed sine die. 1423 SCOTLAND (Greg Beecroft) [email protected] 1183] Forth bi-di and not for the first time: A loss of power was reported at Inverkeithing at 03.00 on Sun 26 Mar, with Doncaster Telecoms also reporting that their equipment had failed. A cut cable was thought to be the reason and this deliberate act was eventually located at 20.01 at 10m 715yd. Down trains were routed over the bidirectional Up Fife from the facing crossover at Dalmeny Jn (9m 02ch) over the Forth Bridge to the trailing crossover at North Queensferry (11m 16ch). The first was the 17.34 and the last was the 22.28, both Edinburgh Waverley to Dundee services, the total being nine. 1184] Edinburgh Trams: On Wed 19 Apr daylight driver training runs started over the three mile long Newhaven extension. 40 new drivers have been taken on and all drivers have already received training on the simulator. The next stages are timetable and enhanced timetable (undefined) testing. The new service frequency will be as now, up to every seven minutes, seven days a week. The first tram from Newhaven will be 05.20 every day with the first from the Airport to Newhaven at 06.26; earlier trams towards Newhaven will run, with the first from Princes Street shown as 04.47 every day. Fares, which recently increased, will be unchanged. A day ticket for the whole line (except Ingliston to Airport) is £5 for adults, with the Airport it is £12. Non-Airport adult singles are £2 or £3.80 for a day return. If you can't wait see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzhVmYmWoUQ (click on 'BROWSE YOUTUBE'). 1185] Electrification: There is to be a six week blockade between Busby Jn and Barrhead, from 01.10 on Sat 24 Jun until 05.40 Fri 4 Aug, for electrification and associated resignalling work. The line will be available for electric traction from 6 Aug, with the electric timetable introduced on 10 Dec 2023. 1186] East Linton: (BLN 1419.668) The new station at 23m 10ch is now expected to open in Mar 2024. 1187] May Timetable: ScotRail has not yet published details of timetable changes from 21 May but on Saturdays there will be four trains per hour between Edinburgh and Glasgow via Falkirk High, all calling at Polmont and Linlithgow. ScotRail trains between Edinburgh and Aberdeen will additionally call at Cupar. Cathcart Circle services are expected to operate all day, as before Covid. Currently trains are half-hourly to Newton, alternately via Langside and Mount Florida and half-hourly to Neilston. At present SSuX there are two morning Glasgow Central to Glasgow Central clockwise trains round the Cathcart Circle,with one in the morning and three in the evening anticlockwise. TRACKmaps shows that they use no unique track but do provide through services between the two sides of the 'circle'. Local stations between Paisley and Kilwinning will be served by Ardrossan and Largs trains, speeding up Ayr services. Apart from a few peak workings, the semi-fast trains between Glasgow Central and Gourock are all withdrawn. That leaves Greenock and Gourock with a half-hourly all stations service (a significant reduction), resulting in protests and petitions. 365,000 passengers were recorded at Greenock Central in 2018-19 but only 151,000 in 2021-22; Greenock West had 515,000 and 218,000 respectively and at Gourock the figures were 519,000 and 248,000 - each less than 50% of pre-Covid. It is intended that Wemyss Bay will have trains half-hourly (instead of hourly) but not until 2024. 1188] West Highland Line: The first passenger use of a Class 153 DMU to Mallaig was on 11 Apr when 153370+156450 operated the 18.23 Queen Street to Mallaig. They worked the 06.03 return next day. This is expected to be the regular Class 153 Mallaig diagram but there were no further workings until 153373+156500 formed the 18.23 on 19 Apr. The supplement on the Class 153s has been abolished.
ABOVE: ½'' map 1902. The main Glasgow to Ayr line - solid black - runs top right (Johnstone/Elderslie) to bottom left (Kilbirnie and Brownhill Jn). West of it is the Lochwinnoch loop - dashed as it was not yet open. The Caledonian Railway Kilbirnie (South) branch terminus is west/left of Kilbirnie Loch. 1189] Lochwinnoch Loop: About 11¼ miles of trackbed - including a short section of the Caledonian Kilbirnie South branch from Kilbirnie Jn - is now part of Sustrans' Glasgow to Irvine Route NCN7. It provides a pleasant country walk from Elderslie to Kilbirnie (Glengarnock Steel Works site). There is a surfaced path, suitable for winter exercise, and stations at Johnstone, Howwood, Lochwinnoch and Glengarnock on the parallel railway, enable a return by train following walks of varying length. The Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock & Ayr Railway built its line along the east side of the Garnock Valley. The opening of Glengarnock Steelworks in 1885 and increasing imports of iron ore through Ardrossan required greater capacity, so the Glasgow & South Western Railway (G&SWR) constructed a parallel double track line to the west. This was not only less disruptive to traffic than widening the existing railway but also allowed stations to be provided close to the centres of Kilbarchan, Lochwinnoch and Kilbirnie, all of which were bypassed by the original line. There was also a station at Johnstone North.
A station was planned at St Brydes, between Kilbarchan and Lochwinnoch, but never built, although the tracks were laid with space for an island platform. Bridges are stone built, though many have steel decks, contrasting with Caledonian Railway practice which made extensive use of concrete for new works in the early 20th century. The new 11½ mile loop, OA 1 Jun 1905 from Cart Jn, on the line to Kilmacolm and Greenock Princes Pier, to Brownhill Jn, north of Dalry. A flying junction was provided at Brownhill Jn and a diveunder at Elderslie. Scotland has few grade-separated junctions; Brownhill Jn was the only one with a flyover. Quadruple track extended from Brownhill Jn to Dalry Jn, where the Ayr and Kilmarnock lines diverged. Work to quadruple the line between Dalry Jn and Kilwinning was only partly implemented. Lochwinnoch station on the original line was renamed Lochside when the new Lochwinnoch station opened on 1 Jun 1905. The passenger trains were never frequent, mostly running to Ardrossan Town or Kilmarnock from Glasgow St Enoch. Regular passenger trains via the Lochwinnoch Loop were withdrawn from 27 Jun 1966. Lochside station had CP 4 Jul 1955 but ROP when Lochwinnoch closed and was renamed Lochwinnoch 13 May 1985. Cart Jn to Kilbirnie CA 3 Jul 1972. The remaining section from Brownhill Jn survived to Glengarnock Steelworks as a freight only branch. It was singled in 1973 leaving the non-flyover Up track and CA 19 Dec 1977. However, towards the end freight to/from the steel works tended to run via the other connection off the main line at the Glasgow end of the present Glengarnock station. Your BLN Editor and other members found this out the hard way on 25 Apr 1977; an official Society brakevan trip - but it did run through the middle of the steelworks with a Class 20! ABOVE: 1924 map; the grade separated Brownhill Jn is bottom left (towards Ayr). The Caledonian Railway Kilbirnie South branch terminus is upper left, it CP 1 Dec 1930; just to its east (right) is the G&SWR Kilbirnie station (CP 27 Jun 1966) on the Lochwinnoch Loop. The Beith (Town) branch terminus, although somewhat out of town, is centre right. Latterly railbus operated, it CP 5 Nov 1962. The railway path is accessed from Main Rd, Elderslie (NS 446 632), served by frequent buses between Paisley and Johnstone. National Cycle Network signs give clear directions. The path to Kilmacolm branches off, following the former railway bridge over Black Cart Water. New roads have obliterated
Johnstone North station, where the path appears to deviate slightly from the railway alignment. It is the only place where it is necessary to cross a busy road without a bridge, because almost all remain. A significant deviation from the trackbed follows, over the A737 dual carriageway on a footbridge, but the alignment is soon regained. Houses occupy the site of Kilbarchan goods yard but the island platform remains. The street entrance to the station and the ramp up to the platform are still used to access the path. A housing estate, Station Rise, occupies the site of Lochwinnoch station and the path deviates round this. A right turn through Lochwinnoch Park is necessary to return to the trackbed. At Kilbirnie an overgrown platform remains and the goods yard is now an industrial estate. The path switches here to the trackbed of the Lanarkshire & Ayrshire Railway (Caledonian Railway) Giffen to Kilbirnie South branch, which it follows for a short way. OG 1 Nov 1899;OP 2 Dec 1899;CA 1 Dec 1930. The formation at the Kilbirnie end was later used by sidings serving Glengarnock Steelworks. A right fork in the path takes one to the B777 Main Road at NS 317 534, about a mile north of Glengarnock station. The 904 bus between Largs and Paisley (hourly) runs along the B777. The trackbed south to Brownhill Jn has been partly built over in Kilbirnie but is largely intact, though unused. 1190] Scottish peaks not yet flattened: The Scottish Government has announced that the abolition of peak fares trial will now be for six months from Oct 2023 (previously announced as from 1 Apr 2023). 1423 MINOR RAILWAYS (Peter Scott) [email protected] MR page number references are now the new 35 th (2023) edition of the'Minor Railways'booklet. http://bit.ly/3nQQlk2 has Peter Scott's PDF Minor Railway plans:for personal use only;:more to come. MR70] Amerton Railway, Staffordshire (MR p23) (BLN 1193.MR183): On Sunday, 9 April a visit was made to this 2ft gauge railway, next to Amerton Farm & Craft Centre near Stafford. Trains were being worked around the 1,400 yard long circuit by 0-4-0ST 'Isabel' (WB1491/1897) with three covered bogie coaches and a brake van. An Easter Egg Hunt event was taking place and the adult fare was £3 with a green Edmondson card ticket issued. Trains operate around the circuit in a clockwise direction, departing from Amerton station. Adjacent are the railway's workshop and sheds and Waterhouses signal box. Trains call at Chartley Halt, where passengers can alight for a picnic area. There is a passing loop here, so on special gala days goods trains can run around the circuit in the opposite direction and pass a passenger train. Interesting locomotives (mostly built in Staffordshire) and an attractive rural setting make this a railway worth visiting. [ http://bit.ly/3nQQlk2 has track plan, updated 9 Apr 2023.] MR71] Barnards Miniature Railway, Essex (MR p16) [30 Jul 2022 track plan at http://bit.ly/3nQQlk2 ] (BLN 1407.MR166): This extensive 7¼" gauge 1,840yd railway is within Barnards Farm Gardens, near West Horndon. The railway has a fleet of eleven Mardyke built Mk3 carriages, sourced from the now closed Barleylands Miniature Railway and Pentney Park Railway. Since their arrival they have been repainted in blue and grey. It has been decided that they are now to be sold to make the space needed to accommodate new coaches, which are yet to arrive. The new narrow gauge style coaches, now under construction, are a fleet of six coaches, of which there are already 15 running on the railway. Work also continues on the railway's extensive wagon fleet. This includes a 'Saxa Salt' covered wagon, which has been serviced and fully repainted, a tanker wagon which has been repainted into a green and white 'Castrol' tanker wagon, and a narrow-gauge style brake van, repainted in SR brown. The railway is in the process of installing a semaphore based signalling system at Burtonshaw station, with a new 30-lever frame. Work also continues on the new Pardoe Lane signal box, which allows movements in and out of the locomotive depot. The railway is open every other Sunday from May to October, as well as some Thursdays during half term and the summer holidays. When the railway runs on a Thursday, the gardens are open to the public as well when it is necessary to book tickets via the National Garden Scheme. Railway enthusiasts are therefore advised to visit on a Sunday!! On Saturday 29 & Sunday 30 July, the annual summer gala is being held. This features a mix of steam and diesel locomotives, resident and visiting locomotives alike, demonstration freight workings, miniature traction engines, and shuttle services; it is always a popular event for visitors.
BELOW: (Item MR 70) Amerton Railway; 'Isabel' runs
s alongside Amerton Brook. (Peter Scott, 9 Apr 2023.)
BELOW: (Item MR71) Barnards Miniature Railway; shunting at
Burtonshaw station by the signal box. (Peter Scott 30 Jul 2022.)
X.42] BELOW: The Cardigan Bay Express (an ERTMS sore point) pulls into, err, K
Kidderminster Town P1 on the Severn Valley Railway. (Neil Berry, 14 Apr 2023.)
BELOW: …and 'Taw Valley' arrives at Bridgnorth P1; anyone wou
uld think that there is a steam gala on. (Neil Berry, 14 Apr 2023.)
X.43] BELOW: (MR p9) Locomotion Museum, Shildon, brakevan rides. Lot
ts of happy families having Class 08 mileage. (Mark Fishlock, 12 Apr 2023.)
X.44] BELOW: (BLN 1418.536) The Cairngorm Mountain Railway is back in a
action, descending from Ptarmigan heading to the Base station at Coire Cas.
BELOW: Coire Cas, the other car near Base heads up the mountain. Services d
did not run 28 Sep 2018 until 25 Jan 2023 (incl). (Mark Fishlock, 11 Apr 2023.)
[BLN BELOW & NEXT: (MR72) Telford Town Tramway, special running for ou All three railways at Telford Railway Steam (Horsehay) were running
1422] r 2014 Kidderminster AGM with a few well known characters on board. g that Sunday morning for us. (Both Angus McDougall, 2 Nov 2014.)