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ISSUE 252 March 15 – April 11, 2019
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OPINION
Comeback king: A1 Peppercorn Pacific No. 60163 Tornado heads north through Brafferton with The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust’s ‘The Auld Reekie’ from Doncaster to Edinburgh on Sunday, March 3. It was Tornado’s first main line tour since it failed with the ‘Ebor Flyer’ from King’s Cross to York on April 14 last year. See News, pages 12 and 13. MAURICE BURNS
EDITORIAL
Editor Robin Jones 01507 529305 rjones@mortons.co.uk Deputy editor Gareth Evans gevans@mortons.co.uk Senior contributing writers Geoff Courtney, Cedric Johns, Brian Sharpe Contributors Fred Kerr, Roger Melton Designer Tim Pipes Reprographics Paul Fincham, Jonathan Schofield Production editor Sarah Wilkinson Publisher Tim Hartley Editorial address Heritage Railway magazine, Mortons Media Ltd, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6LZ Website www.heritagerailway.co.uk
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EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS Contributions to this magazine should be clearly typed and ideally sent by email. Photographs, which should be clearly marked with the contributor’s name and address, are submitted at the owner’s risk. Mortons Media Group Ltd cannot be held responsible for loss or damage, however caused. All postal submissions must include an appropriate SAE for the return of all material. Opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the editor or his staff. © Mortons Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage retrieval system without prior permission in writing from the publisher. ISSN No 1466-3560
Published Every four weeks on a Friday. Advert deadline April 3, 2019 Next issue on sale April 12, 2019
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20 years of blinding progress!
T
HIS issue marks the end of the 20th year of Heritage Railway, coming two issues after our landmark 250th edition, and one before our actual 20th anniversary. It seems like yesterday that we launched what we hoped would be a fresh, unfettered, modern outlook on the preservation scene, and not only were we welcomed by the railways and public alike from the outset, but over the years we have made many lifelong friends along the way. I must extend an immense debt of gratitude to each and every one of our contributors who, more than anyone, have made us what we are today. In this issue we include a free 32-page booklet celebrating our first two decades and outlining some (I repeat, only‘some’) of the many brilliant adventures we have enjoyed and the big news stories we have covered in that time. In this issue, we report on another milestone – the official launches of the 149th and 150th locomotives to be restored to steam from Barry scrapyard condition – during our first year, we reported on the 100th. Over the past 20 years so much has visibly changed, not least of all attitudes and approaches, and in many ways the heritage movement of today is scarcely recognisable from the one I followed as a young teenager in the Seventies. The stance of many local authorities, for one, has transformed from uniformed NIMBY opposition, to begrudging acceptance, to open encouragement. Councillors by and large are now switched on to the multiple benefits that heritage railways will guarantee their tourist economies. We now look to the phenomenal successes that have been Swanage, Whitby and now Broadway being repeated at Corwen, Leek and, hopefully, a rejoined
Robertsbridge to Tenterden. Another big player to enter the fray has been the Heritage Lottery Fund, dispensing grants that have made many a‘mission impossible’become reality to the betterment of our historical treasures as prime educational resources. However, most pronounced of all has been the 21st-century steam building industry, of which the flagship is A1 Peppercorn Pacific Tornado. Half a century ago it would have been unthinkable for revivalist groups to even dream about building their own full-size locomotive to fill in the missing heritage gaps left by the cutter’s torch. Yet in 2019 we stand on the threshold of the debuts of GWR 4-6-0s Saint Lady of Legend at Didcot next month, and hopefully Betton Grange in the coming months. We also look forward to the completion of BR Standard 3MT No. 82045 at Bridgnorth. This economical and versatile locomotive is a prime candidate for batch building to provide effective modern steam motive power for our heritage lines in future decades. In this issue we major in on one of the latest standard gauge new-build schemes, that of a new Churchward County. As Tornado’s builders will tell you, the key to the success of any new-build project is to ensure the funding steams work, and so far the County 4-4-0 project is ticking the right boxes, richly deserving the support of all. And to be based at the current‘buzz’ line, the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, who knows how fast it might happen? Here’s looking ahead to another brilliant and unforgettable 20 years!
“Half a century ago it would have been unthinkable for revivalist groups to even dream about building their own full-size locomotive to fill in the missing heritage gaps left by the cutter’s torch.”
Robin Jones Editor Heritagerailway.co.uk 3
CONTENTS ISSUE 252
March 15, 2019 – April 11, 2019
News
6
Headline News
6
■ West Somerset Railway rescued
from the brink of collapse: recovery plan now in full swing ■ Two former Barry scrapyard veterans return to steam: BR 4MT No. 80097 at the East Lancashire, No. 6989 Wightwick Hall at Quainton ■ Mid-Hants Railway-based BR 4MT 2-6-4T No. 80150 progresses with arrival of new cab roof
12
News
10
■ Duke expected to steam at Tyseley’s September open weekend ■ Ex-Swindon boilersmith reunited with Clun Castle at Tyseley ■ A1 Tornado returns to East Coast Main Line and plans a record run ■ Betton Grange approaches the finish line at Tyseley ■ South Devon Railway confirms golden anniversary celebrations ■ Severn Valley Railway wagon restoration round-up ■ Boiler for new Southwold Railway Blyth takes shape at North Bay ■ SRPS Caledonian Railway 4-4-0T No. 419 continues English tour
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Main Line News
■ No. 45596 Bahamas makes a
56
CONTENTS: The train that can take the strain: Heavy evening rush hour traffic proves to be no problem for WR 4-6-0 No. 7029 Clun Castle as it heads across the M42, south of Widney Manor station while returning to Tyseley Locomotive Works with its loaded test run on February 21. ROBIN COOMBES/VT COVER: Tyseley’s No. 7029 Clun Castle passes through Hagley station on February 28 during the outward run to Worcester. The crew was notified that flash was to be used at the station. JOHN TITLOW
Regulars
Features
Subscribe today Centre
31 54
Main Line Itinerary
62
Bahamas is seen passing Armathwaite on its second main line trip from Oxenhope to Carlisle on February 16. Steam and heritage diesel railtours.
54
Railwayana
78
Platform
90
Off the Shelf
92
Up & Running
94
triumphant return to the main line ■ Vintage Trains plans to run 30 excursions during 2019 ■ West Coast Railways to operate Tornado’s Aberdonian tours
Geoff Courtney’s regular column.
With Full Regulator
Your guide to the railways running in the spring.
64
Don Benn describes the performance of Clan Line – and a double-header of Mayflower and British India Line.
4 Heritagerailway.co.uk
Where your views matter most. Latest book and DVD releases.
The Month Ahead
106
Counting their blessings!
As the Churchward County Trust celebrates its first anniversary, project leader Gary Boyd-Hope explains more about the scheme to build Great Western Railway 4-4-0 No. 3840 County of Montgomery and the Trust’s successes of the past year.
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See page 31 Brighton Belle on course
Gordon Rushton, 5BEL trustee, tells the story of the project to recreate the famous Brighton Belle luxury dining train, from its inception to how it is bringing back 1930s Art Deco finery to the main line – and how the challenges of complying with current and future regulations have been overcome. Additional reporting by Gareth Evans.
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Whirlwind through Wensleydale!
February’s high-profile visit of Peppercorn A1 No. 60163 Tornado to the Wensleydale Railway not only brought in the crowds and saw sell-out trains well out of the peak season, but also highlighted the still-to-be-unlocked full potential of this scenic route as a heritage line. Robin Jones reports.
Great steam engineers of the nineteenth century Part Five: The 1860s
Steam locomotives grew larger, more powerful and faster during the 1860s. Brian Sharpe outlines how the jobs of the locomotive superintendents of the major railway companies also grew ever larger, in terms of their responsibilities and the huge workforces under their control.
Find the latest news, images and discussion online only at: Like us facebook.com/ heritagerailway Follow us @HeritageRailMag Heritagerailway.co.uk 5
HEADLINE NEWS
West Somerset rescued from the brink of collapse By Gareth Evans THEWest Somerset Railway has been saved from closure by a whisker – after failures were found in its finances, infrastructure and safety systems. In an open and frank meeting, 320 supporters gathered at the Oake Manor Golf Club, Wellington, Somerset on March 2 to hear firsthand of the plc’s dire position, as well as the action plan which is now in full swing to recover one of the UK’s popular heritage lines. Representatives were present from the WSR plc and its supporting bodies, the West Somerset Railway Association (WSRA) and West Somerset Steam Railway Trust. Providing a taste of what was to come, Jonathan Jones-Pratt, who became plc chairman in September 2018, said:“March 2 is an important day for the railway – to bring honesty to the table – where we’ve been and where the challenges are. I’m proud to stand here as chairman. Today needs to be positive and we need to have a positive outcome.”
ORR visit
TheWSR was inspected by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) on October 18/19. Jonathan recalled:“I joined the plc board in mid-September. I was handed a portfolio to understand where our issues could be with the regulator. To say I was concerned is an understatement. I feared for the railway at that time, having worked in my day career, responsible for running 170 buses and coaches in a highly-regulated environment.
“I could see the rail movement – which was behind where the road passenger transport sector regulation sits today – was fast approaching what I see in my day to day life, being responsible for passenger transport. In the third week of October, I met with the inspectors for two days. We had Steve Turner of HM Rail Inspectorate and Andrew Lewis, a Rail Accident Investigation Branch inspector, who was on secondment. I could quickly see that we needed to understand the railway and we needed to take honesty and integrity as a value forward with the ORR. “The railway exists on trust. The ORR can give us a licence to operate wonderful heritage equipment – but to do that, we have to meet the 2019 standards. ROGS (Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems (Safety) Regulations 2006) is a comprehensive document that we all as operators of the railway world should be aware of. ORR expects us to operate to Network Rail standards, but in proportion to a 25mph railway. “When we talked through the action plan, it was clear where the WSR had ignored its duties as a board and collection of stakeholders looking after the plc’s railway.” What was described by Jonathan as “a near death fatality”arose at Bishops Lydeard in which a man was crushed between an engine and tender after unloading a visiting engine. Criminal prosecutions could have resulted – and the railway been shut down.
No. 7828 Odney Manor is back now traffic. It is seen here at Minehead. THOMAS GULLIFORD/ WSR
“However, for over three years, nothing was done about the delivery pad. I find that quite worrying,” he added.“Safety was compromised. The line of responsibility sits with the chairman and the board of directors. I take that duty to the highest level. I give my absolute commitment that that will not be repeated as long as I sit as plc chairman.” The delivery pad has now been rectified after the WSRA trustees kindly agreed to sponsor the work.
Finances
“After the ORR visit, I looked at the financial position in mid-November. I appointed KPMG, skilled auditors of the highest level,” said Jonathan. “I needed to understand whether we could trade. I understand the role of a director – one of which is to ensure a business is trading in a solvent manner. As chairman of my own business, JJP Holdings, my credibility is important to me and so many others. “We found ourselves (WSR plc) with a dwindling cash reserve. In reality, the WSR had dwindled its cash net reserves to a point of zero, which would have impacted on the railway in February or March this year. We’re fortunate our predecessors had built up
reserves to help the peaks and troughs. We were lucky to have had a £1-1.5million net reserve, which provided resilience. We’d sadly spent that through disproportionate losses – around £250,000 per annum. “The infighting between the WSR plc and WSRA meant the eye was also taken off the ball on finance and safety. I think that’s what’s led us to this position today. It shows just how damaging internal fall outs can be to businesses. “In early December, it was clear we were trading while insolvent. We managed to secure the line and operate safely in December, generating vital income to keep the railway alive. I was advised to protect myself as the WSR was technically insolvent. I briefed my fellow directors that it could impact on them personally too. “We had to put forward an action plan. We needed immediate change. We’re a £3m annual turnover organisation, yet we had a £1.25m wage bill! Maximum savings had to be made immediately. “We had £400,000 of creditors and a wage bill in December of £120,000 – but only £330,000
in the bank. We were dead ducks. “A number of staff were made redundant. I apologise for having to put people through that pain. We then had further challenges on how to remain solvent. “We took advice on whether to take voluntary liquidation or enter a recovery plan. We chose the latter – but how could we get there? There was no overdraft provision. “Lloyds Bank then provided a £110,000 overdraft after it acknowledged the turnaround position and the hard work which was already underway. “At the same time, I had to comply with the ORR’s requirements. How can I spend when I don’t have any money? £500,000 was needed to keep us alive. We’ve now taken out a £200,000 loan for an 18-month term. “The business is safe – it can trade in 2019. We will need to review the situation in July to see us through the next trough. We’ve got to ensure we’re not in the same position in 2020.” Turning to the recent sale of large prairie 2-6-2T No. 4110 to the Dartmouth Steam Railway rather than the group of WSR supporters (issue 250), Jonathan said:“It was quite remarkable how the railway community came together. We worked closely with the group, but when we took insolvency advice, we as directors were governed under company law to dispose of assets which had collateral value in capital for the greatest amount for the quickest and most effective means of receiving funds into the business. “The situation quickly changed to one of cold, hard facts. We were offered a considerable sum for it. That helped pay the creditors – bearing in mind some had been waiting since June 2018 for payment. “The business needed an injection of £500,000 – the sale of No. 4110 has helped. I’m sorry but we have to move on. If we can get the business back on track, there may be a business case for expanding our own fleet in future.”
Competencies
Mark Smith, who retired asWSR plc managing director in 2006 and is now vice chairman of the Heritage Railway Association, rejoined the plc board on November 22. “The biggest challenge is that we and everything we want to preserve is getting older,” said Mark. “In November, I was reminded we’re governed by ROGS 2006. We’ve all got to know the bit that applies to our railway. Those obligations are not just to satisfy the regulator – if you’re working on the railway, you’ve got to demonstrate competence. That’s what the law says. “Therefore, if you find in the coming weeks and months that you’re being asked to undergo some training, take pride and pleasure in it – not only will you know what you’re doing, but
At their meeting on January 14, the WSRA trustees agreed to carry out the remaining work on the overhaul of No. 9351 at the charity’s expense, using their own staff, BESST scheme trainees and voluntary labour. The 2-6-0 is seen at Williton with a train from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard on June 9, 2012. GARETH EVANS you’ll have proved that you can do it. Take advantage of our training days – prove you can work to a 21st century standard in delivering the 1950s experience we strive to offer. “The WSR is not being picked on – these conversations are going on at heritage lines across the country.” Retired Tyseley Locomotive Works managing director Bob Meanley, another respected industry professional who was brought in to assist the WSR last autumn as acting chief mechanical engineer, agreed: “There are a number of people in the movement who shouldn’t be sleeping easily now.” Mandatory mutual improvement classes are to be held on March 23 for all WSR staff and volunteers in safety critical roles. Jonathan said:“We’re not currently popular with some volunteers as we’re asking questions about competence. It’s essential to have in place an audit trail. We’re trying to establish a safety culture, which if we don’t have in place, the WSR will not be open for the next 40 years – it’s as clear as that! “The reality is, if you don’t accept the vetting, you won’t fit our organisation in 2019. That’s a fact of the regulations. We’ll get a safer railway. Please embrace the standards. If we crack the culture, we can crack saving the WSR.”
Governance
Another ORR concern was governance. Mark said:“At a meeting in London, the chief inspector asked how the governance was working as we kept changing directors.The plc needed clear, straightforward leadership in place. “When I was deretired in November, had I known the rectification list, I would probably have stayed retired. I’m committed now though. “The board is in place, but it needs strengthening with people who have sound commercial business pizazz. Thankfully, the directors now have clear management accounts
again – as they should have.” Perhaps of note to other heritage lines is that after its inspection, the ORR‘strongly recommended’the plc board include‘functional directors’ in engineering, operations and compliance (including safety).
Infrastructure
From March 30, steam services will run initially from Bishops Lydeard toWilliton, with a DMU shuttle to and fromWatchet, enabling passengers to still reach the seaside. Full line operation to Minehead is expected to resume on April 6. “The reality is certain areas of the track are not yet compliant to operate,” explained Jonathan. “We’re well aware we bring huge revenue into the local economy, but our focus needs to be on ensuring the railway is fully open to Minehead by Easter. That’s essential. “We won’t be restarting on March 30 unless we have a safe and competent railway. In January, the infrastructure team was given £140,000 to spend, raised from various internal funds around the railway. They’re doing a great job. The recent‘tidy up trains’ have significantly improved the line’s appearance. “The ORR, which is back with us on March 22, has stipulated the railway won’t reopen unless it’s all done.” Rick Auger, infrastructure director, spoke candidly about the work required:“Up to now, we’ve actually been managing the decline of this railway. £140,000 is the minimum needed to get us going. “We’re looking at a longer closure next winter to enable maintenance to be carried out. It’s not just rails and sleepers – where there is supposed to be 12ins of ballast, there is just clay in places. We’re going to need £500,000 per annum for the next 10 years to fix this railway. “We’ve got to face reality. 12ft up in the air at 25mph, the track looks good, but the embankments are crumbling
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at Stogumber for example, where a six-figure sum is needed. “That process requires the removal of the track, then the replacement of ballast down to 12ins and the improvement of the formation. It’s major, time-consuming and costly work. We’ve done it at some stations, including Minehead and Bishops Lydeard. “If the formation is weak, at least if you replace the rails, you have a bit of a factor of safety. The thing can be flexible – it can be moving – but at least you have that strength in the rail. If the rail is weak and the formation underneath is weak, you have the worst of all scenarios. “Forty years ago, we thought BR had done a good job. We wanted to run engines – nobody wanted to replace track. We’re now reaping that.” New flat bottom rail costs £560 per 60ft length and bullhead costs £840. It is hoped to replace 30 panels per annum in future. Between Watchet and Minehead, the issue is excessive rail wear (called ‘galling’) at the bottom of the rail at the chair, which is worse than was previously estimated. It cannot be measured with the rail in place – so the track has to be removed for examination. It’s a critical point and reduces the strength of the rail. Rick added:“We can turn and replace the necessary rail between Bishops Lydeard and Williton in the time available, but we can’t investigate the rest of the line. If we’re doing that, we won’t be carrying out the repairs on the other sections of line to open to Williton. “The side cutting is another issue – that’s the interface between the locomotive wheel and the rail. I’ve been discussing this with Bob Meanley as to what’s happening there. We’ve got to investigate it.” Particular attention is being paid to curves – the worst being the one CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 Heritagerailway.co.uk 7
HEADLINE NEWS
Two Barry locomotives return in one weekend! By Robin Jones PRESERVATION history was made over the weekend of March 2/3 when two steam locomotives that have been restored to working order from Barry scrapyard condition were officially launched into traffic. It took a total of 77 years for BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T No. 80097 and WR 4-6-0 Modified Hall No. 6989 Wightwick Hall to be rebuilt to running order. At 10am on March 2, the end of 33 years of toil and hard graft by members of the Bury Standard 4 Group was marked at Bury Bolton
Street station when Brighton, 1954-built No. 80097 steamed through a red ribbon draped across the track before making its first ‘official’ journey up to Heywood. It was the 149th locomotive to return to steam from Barry condition
Relaunches
Meanwhile, 170 miles away, a private group of shareholders and supporters were attending a prelaunch party for Swindon, 1948-built Wightwick Hall at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and which was the 150th
The proud restoration team alongside No. 80097 which they made the 149th ex-Barry locomotive to return to steam: left to right are Phil Council, Chris Bodell, Keith Savory (project founder member), Allan Schofield (Chief Mechanical Engineer), Derek Broadbent, Hugh Linney, Phil Spendlove (Bury Standard 4 Group chairman), Alan Spencer and Harry Taylor. All are Bury Standard 4 Group working members. ELR
ex-Barry locomotive to resteam. The following day, Wightwick Hall entered passenger service at Quainton Road, replacing WR 0-6-0 No. 9466 on a two-coach set before hauling a series of short shuttles along the centre’s Up yard running line. At one stage on the Sunday, No. 6989 ran in parallel several times with Bagnall 0-4-0ST No. 2469, resplendent in its immaculate Fraser & Chalmers livery, giving rides in a single brake van along the Down yard running line. It had taken the group restoring No. 6989 nearly 42 years to get to this point, the tender having arrived from Barry in July 1977 and the engine itself the following January. Amongst the proud guests at the private showing on the Saturday was Rod Thomas, the first
Rolling stock
Bob Meanley was appointed to
8 Heritagerailway.co.uk
take over the management of the mechanical engineering department. Bob said:“The ORR now has concerns about coaches, particularly Mk.1s. Crash pillars are corroding at floor level. We’re installing inspection panels in the ends of our carriages to check them and to squirt Waxoyl on them to prevent corrosion. “We’ve got more involved with the WSRA works at Williton too. With the support of our station groups, four carriages are being painted maroon there – a further example of everyone working together.” As for the steam locomotives, No. 7828 Odney Manor is back in traffic; No. 88 is expected back in action this year; No. 7822 Foxcote Manor is under overhaul at Tyseley;
Ready for Quainton’s 50th
In the afternoon, No. 6989 double headed with No. 9466. At the centre’s special 50th anniversary open weekend of August 25 and 26, it is hoped to have No. 6989 doubleheading with home-based Metropolitan Railway E class 0-4-4T No. 1. At the event, which marks the 50th anniversary of the centre’s first public open days, it is hoped to launch another engine in to steam. Classic car rallies will be held on both days as part of the Heritage Transport weekend. Wightwick Hall was named after a house near Wolverhampton. The 88th locomotive out of 213 to be rescued from Dai Woodham’s fabled scrapyard, it spent all of its
BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T No. 80097 breaking the ribbon at the East Lancashire Railway’s Bury Bolton Street station on March 2. ELR
West Somerset rescued from the brink outside Blue Anchor, the longest on the line. The track also requires relaying at Blue Anchor. Jonathan said:“Various locations require new rail – I’ve authorised the purchase of that. The plan will be worse case scenario. Extra overtime has also been authorised. We do need additional outside help. We need a huge push if we’re to open this railway on Mothering Sunday weekend. “Please do not allow it to be another knock for the WSR if we don’t reopen on March 30/31 as there will be rational reasoning for it – the good news is we’re being safe and responsible operators.”
chairman of the restoration group. Both events were beset by rain and overcast skies, as Storm Freya approached from the Atlantic.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6
No. 6960 Raveningham Hall is having its pistons looked at; No. 9351 has moved from Minehead to Williton for completion of its overhaul, paid for by WSRA; and WSRA-owned No. 4561’s cylinders have gone to the Black Country for machining as part of its return to service. The 25-year ‘restore and run’agreement between the WSR plc and 44422 Locomotive Company has been terminated after being found not fit for purpose. No. 6695 remains at Williton but has now moved outside due to space constraints.
Support
A cash collection from the audience after the March 2 meeting raised £3250 towards work on GWR 2-6-0 No. 9351,
which is due to return to traffic in July, along with further sums towards infrastructure work on the line. £6200 was also raised in new plc shares, plus another £1000 was promised by email – resulting in over £10,000 being raised in just one afternoon. All 4000 WSR plc shareholders will also be contacted shortly to seek further necessary investment. Jonathan concluded:“I jumped in with both feet to safeguard and recover the railway. I hope to be chairman for many years and to leave a legacy at the WSR. March 2 is a pivotal day for me. “I appreciate the support from you. We need to stick together, get our railway back to being the premier line it is and be champions as individuals to promote our railway.”
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Above: Full steam ahead – Modified Hall No. 6989 Wightwick Hall in action during the pre-launch party at Quainton Road on March 2. SHEILA LOBLEY Left: WR 4-6-0 No. 6989 Wightwick Hall engaged in parallel running with Bagnall 0-4-0ST No. 2469 at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre on March 3. ROBIN JONES Below: Just after noon on March 3, No. 6989 Wightwick Hall moved off shed to haul its first public passenger train in 55 years. ROBIN JONES
working life based in the Welsh border country. Based for a decade at Hereford, four years at Worcester and two years at Gloucester (Horton Road), it covered 640,645 miles over 16 years in a fast express and freight role. Withdrawn in June 1964, it arrived at Barry two months later. It is likely that No. 6989 will now be hired out to larger railways to earn its keep, although no bookings have yet been made.
Bury’s proud Standard 4
No. 80097, the 162nd locomotive saved from Barry, worked with sister locomotives on the busy Fenchurch
Street to Southend and Shoeburyness commuter services. Made redundant by electrification, it worked for a time on crossLondon parcels traffic, before being transferred to Swansea East Dock for use on Central Wales Line services to Craven Arms and Shrewsbury. It was subsequently transferred to Oswestry and Machynlleth, from where it was withdrawn in July 1965. It arrived at Barry in January 1966 and was taken to the ELR in May 1985. No. 80097 then joined the roster for the March 8-10 spring steam gala. Out of 155 examples of the Riddles class, 15 have survived.
New cab roof for Mid-Hants 4MT No. 80150 By Gareth Evans THE Friends of 80150, the group set up in late 2016 with the aim of conserving and restoring Mid-Hants Railway Preservation Society-owned BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T No. 80150, has reached a milestone – with the acquisition of components for a new cab roof. Acquired from the Vale of Glamorgan Council in 2011, which owned it as part of the ‘Barry 10’, the last group of the 213 locomotives saved from Dai Woodham’s scrapyard, the 2-6-4T currently resides in a siding at Alresford station. Volunteers from the Friends of 80150 have been carefully removing components for remanufacture and also raising
funds for the locomotive’s eventual rebuild by donations and the sale of merchandise and donated items at MHR events.
Recent progress
The cab roof was delivered to Ropley Works on February 28 and now resides inside the shed, where it will be painted. Ancillary parts, including the fixing strips and gutters, which have been supplied loose, will be fitted once the roof is attached to the locomotive.Two new roof ventilator hatches have also been purchased, together with an identical pair for 4MT 4-6-0 No. 75079, which is currently under restoration at Ropley. A new sieve box and feed valve for No. 80150 have also been ordered after sufficient funds
were raised by the group. Other recent progress includes the removal of the central sandbox, which is to be repaired. “That has left quite a lot of space under the front end of the locomotive,” said Martin Orford, project leader, Friends of 80150. “It also gives us access to areas of the frames and stretchers that we would not otherwise have been able to clean up and paint, which is a good job to get cracking with in the spring. “We’ve taken the sandbox up to Ropley for refurbishment. While we will not be able to get No. 80150 into the works for a few years yet, there’s a certain satisfaction in sneaking it in, bit by bit!”
Write to us: Heritage Railway, Mortons Media Ltd, PO Box 43, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6LZ.
Pannier sale post removed THE family of the late Dennis Howells MBE, owner ofWR 0-6-0PT No. 9466, demanded that an unauthorised post on social media claiming that it was on sale for £800,000 was removed. The post, made after No. 9466 ran at the March 3 No. 6989 Wightwick Hall launch (above), was quickly taken down. The family also thanked West Coast Railways chairman David Smith for the“fantastic”support for the October 20 memorial train, which saw money raised for St Luke’s Hospice exceed the £5000 target. Heritagerailway.co.uk 9
NEWS
In 1950 Leo helped build Clun Castle: now he rides behind it! By Robin Jones
FOR 68 years, Leo Leeney kept a very dark secret all to himself. During his five years with the Royal Engineers, Leo served a three-year apprenticeship as a boilersmith. That work would see him labouring inside the blackest interiors of brand new boilers, riveting them, with only a pair of earmuffs to drown out the deafening din.
His apprenticeship as a sapper was served at none other than Swindon Works, on the locomotive production line. And one of the boilers he helped to build in 1950 was none other than that of WR 4-6-0 No. 7029 Clun Castle. Leo completed his apprenticeship, and ended up with a career in the metal pressings industry, yet he never told his wife Valerie or their daughters Bev and Lisa about the years that he helped make railway history at Brunel’s great works.
Boiler reunion
Showing how it’s done: Boilersmith Leo Leeney inspects the boiler for the new GWR 4-6-0 No. 6880 Betton Grange inside Tyseley Locomotive Works. ROBIN JONES
His secret came out when he read the Daily Mail on September 18, 2018. It contained a story aboutVintageTrains launching its public share issue to become a train operating company. Accompanying the article was a picture of Clun Castle, which had returned to steam following a lengthy overhaul and was rededicated atTyseley Locomotive Works on October 28, 2017 – 29 years after it hauled its last main line charter. “That’s my locomotive,” exclaimed an excited Leo, who now lives in Hodge Hill, Birmingham. He proudly showed it to his family, who had no idea that he had ever worked on building steam engines. Bev contacted Vintage Trains to see whether it would be possible to visit the locomotive, and chairman Michael Whitehouse placed her in contact with press officer Denis Chick.
Duke of Gloucester to be ‘steaming in September’ By Cedric Johns A STEAMING target has been set for unique 4-6-2 No. 71000 Duke of Gloucester, following discussions held between BR Class 8 Steam Locomotive Trust management andTyseley’s recently appointed works manager Alistair Meanley, With the Duke’s overhaul progressing to schedule, it has been agreed that it will steam during Tyseley’s September 29/30 open weekend. Much of the engine’s progress is down to volunteers headed by Dave Oliver and John Attridge, who lead teams of upwards of 30 on alternate Saturdays at Tyseley. Between them, the teams free Tyseley’s engineering staff from working on ‘small jobs’ such as stripping and repainting the Duke’s
10 Heritagerailway.co.uk
frames, leaving full-time personnel to concentrate on serious aspects of the overhaul. Volunteers have also worked on the Duke’s Mk.2 support coach by fitting out a revised interior, including providing kitchen facilities where none existed previously, an exercise estimated to cost £40,000 for the complete refurbishment of the BFK. However, the trust suffered a minor setback when, after examination, it was found that all driving wheel axleboxes needed new bearings. Trust chairman Trevor Tuckley said: “Yes, it represents an extra cost and it is incidents like this which is the reason why we continuously seek new members to join the Duke’s family of supporters.” For more information, visit the trust’s newly revamped website at www.theduke.uk.com
Leo and his devoted family were invited to not only see Clun Castle in steam, but to board its penultimate loaded test run on the morning of Tuesday, February 26. Leo was delighted to see the engine he helped create in steam before being given a tour of the workshop at Tyseley, and was interviewed for a slot on that evening’s BBC Midlands Today bulletin by presenter Satnam Rana. At Tyseley he inspected several boilers undergoing overhaul, including the one from No. 7927 Willington Hall, which 69 years after he helped built No. 7029, is shortly to become the key component in the latest new GWR steam locomotive, No. 6880 Betton Grange (see separate story, overleaf). Works staff presented him with a boiler rivet as a souvenir! Invited guests aboard the morning test run to Stratford-upon-Avon and back boarded the train at Hall Green for operational reasons, having been taken there from Tyseley by minibus. The run was Vintage Trains’first passenger-carrying trip since the successful Polar Express series between Birmingham Moor Street and Tyseley yard last Christmas. It was also No. 7029’s fourth main line test run. The first of three, the previous Tuesday, saw it run light engine along the goods loop line from Tyseley to Bordesley, followed by a second light engine run to Whitlock’s End Halt on the North
Warwickshire Line and back, and an evening loaded run with six coaches to Stratford and back.
82mph run
Two days later, it ran two round trips to Stratford, again outwards tender first via Shirley and Henley-in-Arden and back via Claverdon, Hatton Junction (picture, page 62) and Lapworth. On the Birmingham Snow Hill to Leamington line, it was able to reach 82mph between Dorridge and Solihull, fulfilling its requirement to show that it could do the maximum steam line speed of 75mph plus 10% and, in doing so, surprised many commuters waiting at Solihull as it passed through. Aboard the train, Geoff Robinson, a Tyseley volunteer since 1980, was presented with a special cake to mark his upcoming 90th birthday. The February 26 party, including Leo and his family, alighted from the train at Acocks Green (picture, Main Line News, page 58) and returned to Tyseley by minibus. Afterwards, the locomotive and its six coaches, plus Tyseley’s water carrier attached to the rear, ran a second round trip to Stratford, without passengers on board. On Thursday, February 28, as illustrated on the cover, Clun Castle hauled a first dining train from Moor Street to Worcester for shareholders and supporters, with surplus tickets being snapped up by the public,
More Scottish steam to Tweedbank THE Scottish Railway Preservation Society has announced a programme of steam-hauled excursions, including one that might be regarded as a‘first’with a visit to Aberdeen on Sunday, May 5. Starting from Linlithgow and picking up at Dalgety Bay, Kirkcaldy, Ladybank and Perth, A4 4-6-2 No. 60009 Union of South Africa heads the train. A3 No. 60103 Flying Scotsman heads more ‘Forth Circle’ trips on Sunday, March 19. Instead of the usual pair of trains, three departures will be taking place. A morning train leaves Linlithgow; a lunchtime train
starts from Dalmeny; and the third, an evening departure, will begin its journey from Inverkeithing in Fife. Following the success of the two previous years, SRPS spokesman Jim Paterson said that all of the Sundays in August will see trains running from Linlithgow to Tweedbank and return. Scheduled to run on the Sundays of August 4, 11, 18 and 25, passenger stops are booked for Dunfermline Town, Kirkcaldy, Dalgety Bay and Edinburgh Waverley, from where the trips will proceed along the Border Line to Galashiels and Tweedbank.
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Leo Leeney reunited with Clun Castle at Tyseley on February 26, 69 years after he helped build it. ROBIN JONES and repeated the trip a week later. Throughout his trip, Leo amused fellow passengers with anecdotes about his days in Swindon, where he was paid by the Army rather than BR for his work and later his service days in Egypt. He recalled how at Swindon Works he used to travel though the plant on
Flanked by footplate crew Alistair Meanley (left) and driver Ray Churchill (right), Leo Leeney stands in front of Clun Castle at Stratford-upon-Avon. ROBIN JONES the“crane run”, a practice that would give health and safety officials a litter of kittens today!
Fond memories
“I really enjoyed my time at Swindon,” said Leo. “I stayed in private housing even though I was in the Army, and used to
go in with the other workers, and made a lot of friends there. “I remember working inside the boiler of Clun Castle, and with only a pair of earmuffs to drown out the sound of the riveting.” Daughter Bev Nash said:“This was all news to us. We had never heard any of this before.”
Bev’s sister Lisa Beglin added:“He also never told us that he helped to build tanks for the Army.” Leo’s family have been invited to attend the next Tyseley open weekend on June 22-23, where it is hoped that there will be other big-name guest engines alongside Clun Castle.
Last chance to buy a piece of Vintage Trains action THE Vintage Trains Community Benefit Society share offer has raised more than £1 million towards setting up Britain’s newest Train Operating Company, with Clun Castle as its flagship. However, you have only got until April 30 to buy shares before the offer is closed. Vintage Trains CBS does not propose a further share offer for three years.
Vintage Trains and Tyseley Locomotive Works have big plans, including the refurbishment of coaching stock and the development of the historic GWR Tyseley site, where steam locomotives have seamlessly been prepared for service since 1908. Shareholders are also welcome to help run the business, volunteering across all skills.
You can become a shareholder with an outlay of as little as £50 per month for 10 months – with £500 minimum shareholding, providing that the first instalment is received in clear funds by April 30. Alternatively, you can apply for up to £100,000! Shareholders get free travel on Vintage Trains ‘firsts’ – trips behind Clun Castle, No. 71000 Duke of
Gloucester (see separate story) and No. 4936 Kinlet Hall, and free admission to Tyseley open days for life! ➜ Call 0121 708 4960 for details, or share applications can be made online at www.vintagetrains.co.uk/ offerinfo.aspx or www.vintagetrains. co.uk/investorform.aspx See also Vintage Trains adverts on pages 30 and 43.
BR locoman drives Aln Valley train 53 years on NEARLY 53 years ago, in June 1966, BR fireman Kenny Middlemist from Alnmouth shed last worked on a steam locomotive over the Cawledge Viaduct on the Alnwick branch. Alnmouth-allocated K1 2-6-0 No. 62011 hauled the branch passenger train set on the morning of the last day of steam-hauled passenger services on the line. His driver on that particular shift was Bob Jamieson After his BR career, he became a driver at Whittle Colliery, south of Alnwick, where he drove both steam, and later, diesel locomotives between the colliery and the exchange sidings adjacent to the East Coast Main Line. The laying of track by the AVR’s track team, over the viaduct and into the site of the future Greenrigg Halt, gave Kenny, now 75, the opportunity of taking a works train over the viaduct.
Right: A proud Kenny Middlemist at the controls of Drax as it crosses Cawledge Viaduct. KEVIN HOLDEN The train consisted of locomotive Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns No. 8199 of 1963 0-6-0DM Drax hauling a bogie-bolster wagon and a flat wagon, both laden with concrete sleepers to be unloaded for tracklaying at Greenrigg.
Emotional
Kenny said that he was both emotional and elated as the train crossed the viaduct. He added that crossing the viaduct was a very important step in the rebuilding of the line. It was not the first train to cross the viaduct though, as a few days earlier the AVR’s Wickham trolleys were used during an external inspection of the line, travelling as far as the limit of tracklaying at the entrance to the Greenrigg site.
➜ The AVR still requires more sleepers to complete the tracklaying to Greenrigg and its Sleeper Appeal is still open. Each sleeper costs £20 and cheques, payable to ’The Aln Valley
Write to us: Heritage Railway, Mortons Media Ltd, PO Box 43, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6LZ.
Railway Trust’, can be sent to Neil Brison (AVR retail manager) at the Aln Valley Railway, Lionheart Station, Lionheart Enterprise Park, Alnwick NE55 2EX. Heritagerailway.co.uk 11
NEWS Private launch for Foxfield’s latest‘Knotty Train’coach
TV and Historic Royal Palaces historian Dr LucyWorsley OBE is to attend the private unveiling of the latest addition to the Foxfield Railway’s vintage North Staffordshire Railway on May 1. After a‘fitness to run’ certification, Brake Third No.23 will run for the first time on the line. Its restoration has also achieved another‘first’, the inaugural coach of its type to have access for up to two wheelchairs. The coach will run with recently restored sister‘Knotty’ carriages Nos. 61 and 127 as part of the Knotty Heritage Train, for which it provides an authentic brake vehicle for the first time. The three-coach rake will be hauled in 2019 by Beyer Peacock 0-4-0ST No. 1827 of 1879. Guests at the launch will travel on the train to Dilhorne Park and return to a buffet lunch at Caverswall Road station. The coach has been restored with financial help from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Garfield Weston Trust, plus a generous donation from the family of the late Leonard Worsley. He was a local schoolboy who won a scholarship at the Orme Boys’ School in Newcastle-underLyme, who travelled daily from Cheadle on the‘Knotty’ between 1917-23 to Newcastle. Lucy, Leonard’s granddaughter, will be attending along with his grandson Tom’s nephew Oli, who will become the first wheelchair user to travel in the coach. The first public running of No. 23 will be on May 4-6.
Boiler decision imminent for P2
Tornado returns in ECML triumph – and plans a record run! By Don Benn and Robin Jones PEPPERCORN A1 Pacific No. 60163 Tornado made its first main line passenger-carrying run for nearly 11 months on Sunday, March 3, haulingThe A1 Steam LocomotiveTrust’s ‘The Auld Reekie’from Doncaster to Edinburgh. The A1 has been off the main line since its mishap while hauling the ‘Ebor Flyer’from King’s Cross to York on April 14 last year. Repairs, mainly at the Nene Valley Railway, and recertification have taken longer than expected. The trip was also an opportunity to stretch its legs back on the East Coast Main Line nearly a year after its operational disaster further south. Driver Steve Hanczar and fireman Steve Matthews were the crew to Durham, where Tony Jones took over the firing to Berwick. Here, Steve and Tony exchanged roles. Bob Hart was the traction inspector throughout.
Durham to Berwick non-stop
The trip was, in part, a positioning move to Scotland prior to later work on the Aberdeen route.The run north was faultless and impeccably executed. A late departure from Doncaster was recovered by York with some lively running between the other pick-up points at Wakefield and Leeds. There was some engineering work south of Darlington to negotiate, but this did not prevent Tornado topping 70mph on the gradual climb to Bradbury en route to a water stop at Durham. The charter then ran non-stop and
The smiling faces of the Tornado crew at Edinburgh Waverley, from left fireman Tony Jones, driver Steve Hanczar and traction inspector Bob Hart. ALAN RAWLINGS unchecked to Berwick-on-Tweed in a little over 83min for the 81 miles against a booked time of 92min. Mile after mile was gobbled up at 70+ in one of those rare periods of sustained fast running – but more was to come. The challenging climb out of Berwick and up to Grantshouse was superlative, with not far short of 60mph achieved after the first five miles of one-in-190. Despite easing slightly for a pathing stop at Grantshouse, where the train was signalled through, the whole climb was excellent. Given the terrain in Scotland, the time of 42min 19sec for a little under 39 miles to the usual signal stop outside of Drem was equally impressive. The charter continued in its path to arrive on time at Waverley. This was Tornado back at its best, showing all the characteristics we have come to expect – rapid acceleration, good hill climbing and sustained speedy running.
Trust commercial director Graeme Bunker-James said that Tornado was on top of the job and did not need to be pushed at all.“There were no issues,’’he said.
Record Wensleydale run planned Tornado, which made an extremely successful visit toWensleydale in February, is planning to set a new record when it returns for a second visit to the heritage line in the spring. On Friday, May 31, it is planned to use the A1 to haul an eight-coach special non-stop for all 22 miles from Northallerton West to Redmire. A Wensleydale Railway spokesman said that it was believed that such a trip would be the longest non-stop run ever on a standard gauge UK heritage line. ➜West Coast to run Tornado’s ‘Aberdonian’trips: Main Line News, page 60. ➜Whirlwind throughWensleydale: feature, pages 80-83.
Tornado skirts the north-east coast at Hilton Bay just above the Scottish border with ‘The Auld Reekie’ from Doncaster to Edinburgh on March 3. DAVE COLLIER
THE A1 Steam LocomotiveTrust is expecting to soon receive the updated design for the boiler for new Gresley P2 2-8-2 No. 2007 Prince of Wales from Meiningen. The design will incorporate all the modifications and improvements fitted to A1 No. 60163 Tornado’s boiler over the years. Once the design is received, the trust will decide on where the boiler is to be built. To date, the project has attracted more than 900 covenantors – and a total of £2.5 million has been raised, with more than £2 million spent and pledges totalling £3.2 million.
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