august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page i
AUGUST 2013
Britain’s Leading Railway Society
VOLUME 83 NUMBER 1014
rcts.org.uk
ISSN 0952 - 7133
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page ii
THE RAILWAY CORRESPONDENCE AND TRAVEL SOCIETY Founded by: President: Vice-Presidents:
L. B. LAPPER and A. E. BROAD. A. H. GOULD, Flat 7D, Valebrook, 2 Park Avenue, Ilford IG1 4RT. D. F. COLE, E. V. FRY, R. A. LISSENDEN and J. B. SWEET.
Details of Society Officers and contact points for services appear the Directory Supplement mailed with the January and July issues of the Railway Observer.
CONTENTS Regulars Over The Points Noticeboard National Network Operations Southern Western North Western & Midland Scottish Eastern & North Eastern Network – Infrastructure T&RS Locomotives T&RS Coaching Stock Urban & Irish Railways Centrespread - Sun shines on main line steam Preservation & Other Railways
505 506 506 510 515 524 525 531 536 537 539 540 544
International News Branch News Query Corner Publication Reviews Letter To the Editor Mystery Photo Observer’s Diary Nostalgia Corner
548 561 566 569 571 571 572 576
Features Mid Hants Double Header Rail touring in Ireland French High Speed Rail and the TGV - Part 2 Plumb’s Ramblings
550 552 555 558
SUBMISSIONS FOR OCTOBER 2013 RAILWAY OBSERVER Press Day - News Reports
Monday 26th August
Notes must be received by the appropriate Editor or Ed. Rep. by this date.
Picture Submission Date
Wednesday 28th August
To be considered images, complying with the RCTS ‘Guidelines for Submitting Photographs’, must reach David Kelso at Al Mafrak, George Hill Road, Broadstairs CT10 3JT, e-mail: publicity@rcts.org.uk. by this date.
Letters to the Editor
Monday 2nd September
To be considered these should be received by the Managing Editor by this date. Front Cover – - 66850 near Ais Gill summit on 6J37 the 12.44 Carlisle Yard to Chirk Kronospan log train on 22nd May 2013.
John Cashen
Back Cover – After relieving 4468 Bittern, 60009 Union of South Africa departs York with the Kings CrossEdinburgh leg of “The Cathedrals Express” rail tour on 14th June.
Mike Robinson
NOTE – Views expressed in the RO by the Editor and other contributors are not necessarily shared by members of the RCTS Management Committee. Printed by Amadeus Press Ltd., Cleckheaton, Yorkshire. Published by Mike Robinson, Ash House, Main Street, Carlton Scroop, Grantham NG32 3AU for and on behalf of the The Railway Correspondence and Travel Society.
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 505
AUGUST 2013 VOLUME 83 NUMBER 1014
OVER TH E POIN TS The Chairman’s View Many of you will now be the proud owner of one of the many handheld devices - such as IPads, Android tablets / phones, and Kindles - which allow you instant contact with family, friends and personal interests via voice, text or the web. Such 'new age' devices enable you to access information, manage personal essentials such as bank statements and bills, and obtain a wide range of other information vital to all who are constantly on the move. Indeed, using many of them, it is now possible to stand by the lineside and track the 'real time' progress of a train you are interested in thus avoiding heartaches of the sort induced by cancellation or serious late running and who has not experienced that with steam specials! You will also no doubt have noted that many commercial rail magazines now offer downloadable digital versions as an alternative to a printed version, and indeed the RCTS has had a basic facility of this type available on the members only web pages since April. However, in the sincere hope that it will attract more new members, especially from the younger generation, we now plan, from January 2014, to both upgrade the technology underpinning the existing ‘digital RO’, and offer the alternative of a ‘digital only’ subscription. The cost of digital membership has yet to be determined, but suffice to say that it will give all the benefits of current membership, except for the monthly doorstep delivery of a printed RO. It will not in any sense replace the existing membership which will continue, as now, delivering a both printed and digital RO versions, but should appeal to both new and existing members who do not wish to collect a printed RO. The ‘digital only’ subscription is likely to be offered at a somewhat lower rate than that currently charged and, should they wish, existing members will have the option of transferring to the new offer. We also plan to enhance services to members by offering both new and renewing members the facility to pay by Direct Debit (DD). Seventy percent of adults in the UK now use this payment system making renewal of utility bills, car insurance and a host of our financial transactions so much easier and pain free. An information sheet and instructions on completing the DD mandate will be included with the October renewals letter and there will also be the facility to download the DD mandate from the website. DD will operate in compliance with the DD rules and regulations and will also be covered by the Data Protection Act. It offers a much simpler process than we have at present, providing a seamless renewal and enabling you to maintain Society membership without the worry of the ‘Where did I put that RCTS renewals letter?’ that some members seem to have each January and February. I trust that many of you will opt to renew your subscriptions in this way and would encourage you to do so In January we encouraged branches to recruit new and lapsed members with a special offer of £15 for twelve months. It is pleasing to report that 13 branches were successful in this scheme with in the first six months, 59 new members being recruited at both indoor meetings and exhibitions, and as part of the Members Weekend at Crawley, the branch with the highest total of new members will be announced. Thanks to all the branches participating in this recruitment drive, and with the offer of both a ‘digital’ subscription and the DD facility, I look forward to our recruiting many, many more new members in 2014. As well as appearing on the RCTS website, details of the Members’ Weekend were circulated with the July RO. There is a varied and interesting programme of events on offer and hopefully many members will come to Crawley to meet old friends and make some new ones! As we saw at Dunfermline last year, this important event in the Society’s calendar has become very popular with many ladies accompanying husbands or partners. The Officers Conference held on the Sunday morning is equally important, giving both national and branch officers the opportunity to exchange ideas and see what the MC and DSC and other sub-committees are up to. Do get your booking forms to Andy Davies (no relation!) as soon as possible and secure your place on the many events that have been planned; see you at Crawley.
W. Gordon Davies COPYRIGHT The content of this magazine is the copyright of this Society. No part of this or any previous issue of this magazine may be reproduced without the prior written permission of the Managing Editor.
505
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 506
NOTICEBOARD Mallard 75 at Grantham. A two-day exhibition sponsored jointly by Network Rail, the NRM, a number of local infrastructure suppliers, TOCs and the South Kesteven council is to be staged in the old goods yard at Grantham station over the weekend of 7th/8th September. As we go to press details are still emerging but it is understood that among other items, the rolling stock display will include Mallard and a preserved Deltic. The weekend coincides with the annual Grantham Railway Society Rail Show and in view of the likely widespread interest in the joint events, the RCTS will be present at the Rail Show with a sales and membership recruitment stand. All offers of assistance please to the managing editor at roeditor@rcts.org.uk. Puffing Billy 200 Festival. To commemorate this event a series of talks is to take place at Newcastle area locations during September. Those interested should contact Tom Martin on 01661 852025 for further details of the programme, dates and locations.
Apologies. A) To all members for the unaccustomed late arrival of the July RO on your doorstep, the editor’s copy finally arriving on 6th. The delay was due entirely to the last minute, and entirely unexpected, total failure of a key part of the society’s computer system which necessitated immediate acquisition of a suitable replacement. With all our system facilities now having been renewed over the past year we do not anticipate a recurrence of this problem. B) To John Day whom we failed to credit for his excellent shot of 60009 which appeared in July’s illustrated centre page feature on the Great Britain VI rail tour. C) Finally to all those fellow North Eastern fans who were shocked to learn that a replica G5 was under construction at Swindon! This of course was a classic typo, the location concerned actually being Shildon (see p.546). Apologies to all concerned who were in any way offended by this classic misprint; hopefully a pint or two of 'broon' will by now have washed away the effects of the initial shock!
NATIONAL NETWORK OPERATIONS SOUTHERN South East Engineering Work. On 16th June the Eastern side of Victoria was again closed with Orpington trains diverted to Blackfriars and other trains to Cannon Street. Cannon Street, normally closed on Sundays, was again open on 23rd when Charing Cross and Waterloo East were closed and all trains diverted there. NR Test Trains. During the early hours of 2nd June 31105+72612+999605+9701 arrived at London Bridge off the Thameslink route with 3Q37 the 23.09 (1st) Old Oak Common-Acton Wells Junction returning via the same route. On 17th 73109+73201 were noted on a test train in the Sheerness area; details of the working are not known but since the closure of Thamesteel the appearance of locomotives on the Isle of Sheppey have been rare. Rail Tours. On 1st June 34067 Tangmere with 57315 on the rear worked the “Golden Arrow Statesman” 1Z87 the 06.04 Derby-Canterbury West and 1Z88 the 15.54 Canterbury WestDerby from and to Hanwell Bridge loop. Unfortunately the return journey departed 55 minutes late due to a cable fault which trapped 375624 in the Sturry area necessitating the summoning of 66177 from Hither Green to clear the line. Although arrival at Hanwell loop was only 42 minutes late, issues with the GSM-R then resulted in such heavy delays that the train was eventually sent to Paddington and terminated with road transport arranged for passengers. 506
A Newport-Canterbury West “Golden Arrow Statesman” on 8th June (see South West notes) with the same two locomotives fortunately did not encounter any such problems. The final “Golden Arrow Statesman” 1Z41 the 05.50 Peterborough-Canterbury West and 1Z42 the 15.55 Canterbury West-Peterborough, again with 34067 from and to Hanwell loop, ran on 15th. The above trains were all routed from Kensington Olympia via Catford, Orpington and Ashford outward and via Deal, Ashford and then as outward on the return journey. 34067 was then used for a series of “Canterbury Belle” excursions, the first of these on 18th being 1Z79 the 06.23 Birmingham InternationalCanterbury West and 1Z80 the 15.53 Canterbury West-Birmingham New Street from and to Acton Lane sidings. The second on 22nd was 1Z87 the 06.08 Nottingham-Canterbury West and 1Z88 the 15.53 Canterbury WestNottingham from and to Hanwell loop. These trains were routed from Kensington Olympia via Catford and Maidstone East returning via the same route as the “Golden Arrow Statesman”. On 21st June a “Cathedrals Express” 1Z51 the 09.25 Tonbridge-Ely and 1Z52 the 17.46 Ely-Tonbridge were worked by 60163 Tornado. 67006 was on the rear and used for the associated ECS movements also working the return trip from Willesden where 60163 was removed. The outward trip was routed to Kensington Olympia via Redhill, and Streatham Common and the return via Crystal Palace and Redhill.
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 507
Stobart Rail blue-liveried 66414 approaches Basingstoke station with 4M61 the 12.54 Southampton to Trafford Park David Kelso on 26th June.
On 25th June a “Cathedrals Express” 1Z62 the 08.58 Rainham-Ely was worked by 67006 to Battersea loop where 60163 took over. The changeover point on the return working 1Z64 the 17.46 Ely-Rainham was at Willesden. Orient Express. The “British Pullman” set was on a North Kent circular 1Z25 the 10.48 Victoria-Whitstable via Catford, Maidstone East and Canterbury West and 1Z26 the 14.03 Whitstable-Victoria via Chatham, Swanley and Catford. A similar working using the more usual 1Y40 reporting number and 11.48 departure from Victoria ran on 12th and a Victoria-Deal East Kent circular on 21st. Victoria-Folkestone West workings were noted on 9th, 13th and 27th June. All of the above workings were topped and tailed by 67020+ 67028. HS1. In connection with events at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on 29th/30th June an enhanced late night service was run between St. Pancras and Ebbsfleet with some trains continuing to Ashford and two in the early hours to Canterbury West. Similar enhanced services were due to run in connection with further events on 6th, 12th, 13th, 14th and 20th July and 31st August. Slade Green. On 8th June 465928 returned from Wabtec, Doncaster as 5X47 from Tonbridge West yard behind 66708. Hoo Junction. On 3rd June 6L37 the 09.58 to Whitemoor was worked by GBRf 66736 with the rostered Freightliner locomotive 66519 dead in train. Other interesting locomotives noted on these workings included 66413, a rare appearance of one of Freightliner’s ex-DRS locomotives, first noted on 6Y42 the 13.57 to
Eastleigh East yard and 6Y43 the 19.57 return on 12th and 66953 first noted on the same two trains on 17th, the first appearance of a Cl.66/9 on these trains. On 8th June Colas Rail’s 66846/9 were on engineering duties topping and tailing 6C72 to Three Bridges. Dollands Moor. The latest acquisition by GBRf, 66750, arrived through the Channel Tunnel and was towed to Peterborough on 11th June by 66701 as 0E50. ECR 66247 has been returned to England for attention at Toton being noted on 24th June sandwiched between 92002 and 66096 on 0M67 the 12.22 to Wembley a pathway normally used on Mondays by an intermodal to Hams Hall. Another notable working on 24th was 6B23 the 04.50 from Wembley which arrived behind 67020+67028 instead of the usual Cl.66 or 92. They returned to Wembley on 25th with 92003 as 0B30 booked to depart at 12.06. Ashford. Not many reports are received of the comings and goings at the works, now reduced to just a plant maintenance and repair depot operated by Balfour Beatty, but on 4th June stoneblower DR80215 arrived as 6U35 from Northampton and on 10th DR80213 arrived as 6U33 from Crewe. On 24th June 66846 arrived light at Newtown sidings from Eastleigh Works but no details of its subsequent workings are known. On 25th 47739 arrived as 0Z47 the 12.00 from Washwood Heath returning on 26th with 4Z66 the 10.20 to Rugby consisting of two translator vans and 47727. 47727 had originally been booked to work this train on 24th but had presumably failed. 507
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 508
Dungeness. Only two nuclear flask trains, 6O62 the 02.08 from Crewe and 6M95 the 16.35 to Willesden, ran during June double-headed by 37218+37612 and 37218+37605 on 14th and 21st respectively. On 21st there was obviously a problem with 37605 as 6M95 was worked by 37218 with 37605 dead in train and, due to the late running caused by swapping the locomotives round, was routed via Orpington instead of Maidstone East. Central Rail Tours. On 29th June the “Bath & Bristol” 1Z84 the 07.55 Three Bridges-Bristol Temple Meads and 1Z85 the 16.35 Bristol Temple Meads-Three Bridges were worked throughout by 34067 Tangmere. Both outward and return journeys were routed via the West Coastway, Eastleigh and Westbury. West London Line. As previously reported the parliamentary service between Kensington Olympia and Wandsworth Road/Clapham High Street was withdrawn after operation on 14th June, the last 16.09 from Clapham High Street being worked by 455821. The trains continue to run but as ECS workings 5B29 the 09.38 Shepherds Bush-Streatham Hill and 5M45 the 15.31 Selhurst-Kensington Olympia as the units are required for Purley/East CroydonKensington Olympia/Shepherds Bush peak extras. Tattenham Corner. On Derby day 1st June, as in previous years, an enhanced service ran. The normal London Bridge service ran fast from Coulsdon Town, the Victoria-Caterham service was diverted fast from Purley and the Purley shuttle was replaced by an all stations service from London Bridge via Streatham all these running half-hourly until the 20.02 to London Bridge although there were a number of later additional trains. Cl.458. On 1st June as a trial run in connection with the refurbishment and augmentation programme 47727 worked 7Z45 the 19.40 Wimbledon depot-Eastleigh Works and 7Z58 the 22.48 Eastleigh Works-Wimbledon depot with 8016/23 in tow. NR Test Trains. After its nocturnal workings through the Thameslink tunnels on 2nd June (see South East) 31105 worked 3Z37 the 08.12 Acton Wells Junction-Eastleigh Works via the GWML and Basingstoke. It later worked 3Q08 Eastleigh Works-Hither Green starting with a trip to Salisbury and Andover and back via the Laverstock loop before continuing to Hither Green via Basingstoke, Chertsey and Richmond. On 18th June 1Q23 the 09.23 Hither GreenHither Green with 73109+73201 paid two visits to the Shepperton branch as part of an itinerary that included Wimbledon Park sidings and the West London line. The NMT visited the Salisbury-Exeter line on 19th June running from Old Oak Common to Salisbury and back via Exeter.
508
Rail Tours. On 1st June 47245 worked 5Z36 the 13.05 Southall-Bristol Kingsland Road ECS via Willesden, Kensington Olympia, Hounslow, Chertsey, Basingstoke, Salisbury and Westbury in connection with the “Royal Duchy” excursion on 2nd. Other ECS workings noted using this route in connection with these and other rail tours were 47580+60009 Union of South Africa on 5Z40 the 10.35 Bristol Kingsland RoadSouthall on 10th, 47580+44932 on 5Z36 the 13.05 Southall-Bristol Kingsland Road on 15th and 33207+44932 on 5Z81 the 13.05 SouthallBristol Kingsland Road on 29th. On 8th June the “Golden Arrow Statesman” 1Z87 the 05.00 Newport-Canterbury West and 1Z88 the 15.54 Canterbury West-Newport was topped and tailed by 57315+57316. Other pick up/set down points were Severn Tunnel Junction, Filton Abbey Wood, Keynsham, Bath Spa, Chippenham, Didcot Parkway, Reading West and Basingstoke. After reversal there it ran to Willesden via Woking, Chertsey and Kew East Junction where 57316 was replaced by 34067 Tangmere. On 9th June UK Railtours in association with SWT and the Seaton Tramway ran a WaterlooAxminster excursion using 159006/9 (see Axminster). On 29th UK Railtours were provided with the same two units for the “Purbeck Adventurer” 1Z21 the 08.56 WaterlooSwanage and 1Z22 16.26 Swanage-Waterloo. On 13th June 44932, deputising for unavailable 34067, worked the “Swanage Belle” with 47245 on the rear. 1Z86 the 08.44 Victoria-Swanage was routed via Hounslow, Chertsey and the LSW main line and 1Z87 the 15.55 SwanageVictoria was worked by 47245 to Southampton up goods loop from where 44932 worked via Laverstock to Basingstoke, then as outward. On 27th June a “Cathedrals Express” 1Z90 the 08.03 Norwich-Salisbury and 1Z92 18.31 Salisbury-Norwich was worked throughout by 60163 Tornado. The train joined the Wessex route at Kew East Junction and ran via Chertsey and Andover returning via the same route. Passengers booking on “The Cathedrals Express” on 30th June 1Z92 the 09.20 WaterlooExeter St. Davids and 1Z94 the 18.08 Exeter St. Davids-Waterloo had to make do with 67020 with 67028 dead on the rear after 35028 Clan Line failed its fitness to run exam. The outward route was via the LSW main line returning via Westbury where 67028 took the train to Laverstock South Junction and 67020 resumed haulage back to Waterloo. Steam was not entirely absent from the area on this day though as the first “Weymouth Seaside Express” of the 2013 season, 1Z82 the 08.20 Bristol Temple Meads-Weymouth and 1Z83 the 17.00 Weymouth-Bristol Temple Meads, ran behind 44932.
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 509
Orient Express. On 5th June the “British Pullman” set with 67020+67028 worked 1V80 the 09.43 Victoria-Bath Spa and 1O92 the 15.55 Bath Spa-Victoria outward via Herne Hill, Streatham, Wimbledon, Andover and Westbury returning via the same route as far as Byfleet then via Chertsey and Richmond. On 7th with the same two locomotives it worked 1Z57 the 08.45 Victoria-Swanage and 1Z58 the 16.00 Swanage-Victoria running via Hounslow, Chertsey and the LSW main line in both directions. On 14th it was used on a private charter working 1Z23 the 09.00 VictoriaWindsor & Eton Riverside and 1Z25 the 18.13 return both running via Kensington Olympia, Willesden and Kew East Junction. On 7th June the “Northern Belle” set with 47501+47810 worked 1Z52 the 08.00 Ipswich-Bath Spa and 1Z54 18.00 Bath SpaIpswich running from Kew East Junction via Chertsey, Andover and Westbury returning via the same route and on 20th with 47802+47832 it worked a Manchester Victoria-Ascot race special. Wimbledon. On 1st June 450016 derailed in road 8 but caused little disruption and did not prevent the Cl.458 haulage trial (see above) taking place. On 2nd June after being used for the Cl.458 trials the previous evening 47727 and the translator vans worked as 4Z47 the 17.06 to Wolverton Works to collect 5913 returning on 4th as 4Z55 the 11.22 from Wolverton. This was the unit that was badly damaged in the Oxshott incident now with a rebuilt Cl.210 driving trailer in place of the one that was written off. 47727 and the translator vans then worked 4Z47 the 15.00 to Newtown sidings, Ashford. Staines. On 28th June a Southern Cl.455 failed whilst working 5Y55 the 03.05 SelhurstEastleigh Works. It was towed back to the up loop by an SWT unit sent from Strawberry Hill. That evening 57301 was sent as 0Y55 the 21.00 from Eastleigh East yard to collect the failed unit and take it to Eastleigh Works. Ascot. Royal Ascot (18th-22nd June) brought the usual enhanced timetable on the WaterlooReading service. On 18th-21st additional trains ran from Reading at xx.25 and xx.57 from 10.57 until 14.25 and from Waterloo at xx.05 and xx.35 from 09.35 until 13.35. After the meeting additional trains ran to Waterloo at 17.32, 18.59, 19.51 and 20.21 with most other trains to Waterloo and Reading strengthened. On the last day, 22nd June, similar arrangements applied before the meeting except that the last additional train from Reading was at 14.57. From 15.00 a special timetable was introduced on the Waterloo-Windsor/Reading services with four trains an hour to Reading until 20.14 and four trains an hour to Waterloo until 21.32 increasing to six an hour between 17.41 and
20.50. To provide the additional trains needed the Waterloo-Dorking and Waterloo-Weybridge via Staines services were withdrawn from early afternoon and mid-morning respectively until early evening. A replacement bus service ran Virginia Water- Weybridge connecting with the Waterloo- Reading trains and passengers for stations between Epsom and Dorking were advised to use alternative Southern services. Eastleigh. Due to engineering works on 26th May between St. Denys and Fareham, services between Portsmouth and Southampton were diverted via Eastleigh. This included the FGW services which ran via Southampton Central. Of note was 150106 on the 11.00 Portsmouth Harbour-Newport (retimed and diverted from Bristol Parkway), normally a Cl.158. On 11th June 47813 arrived at the depot with 5Z30 the 07.15 from Crewe Gresty Bridge with three coaches and 47501 in tow. On 12th 47501 powered 5Z30 11.23 ECS to Carlisle Kingmoor with 47813/32 dead in train as far as Crewe. On 13th June 56312 arrived at the works with wagons for repair as 6Z56 the 08.50 from Willesden returning with repaired wagons as 6Z57 the 12.57 to Willesden. Also arriving at the works on 13th from Derby was greenliveried 66740 for a long overdue repaint into GBRf livery. Another locomotive for a repaint, this one into DRS livery, was 57308, the last Cl.57 in Virgin livery which arrived on 22nd. Unusual motive power on 6E15 the 21.06 East yard-Scunthorpe rail empties on 28th June was 60059 which presumably had earlier worked 6X01 the 10.17 LWR from Scunthorpe. Southampton. A surprise arrival at Maritime on 5th June was 70099 in 4O11 the 00.23 from Crewe Basford Hall behind 66516. On 7th it was transferred to Eastleigh behind 70017. Wool. A working which has not run for some time is 6Y49 the 09.35 from Angerstein Wharf but on 6th June it did run with 66511 in charge. Yeovil Junction. On 21st June DMU trailer 59515 was transferred from the West Somerset Railway to the Yeovil Railway Centre behind 31190 via Westbury and Pen Mill. Although booked to run as 5Z32 the 16.25 from Bishops Lydeard due at 20.14 it ran early such that the return light movement at 22.23 to Taunton departed nearly four hours early. Axminster. On Sunday 9th June BBC newsreader Nicholas Owen named DMU 159006 Seaton Tramway Seaton-Colyford-Colyton at platform 1. Also in attendance was the mayor of Seaton. The naming was in conjunction with a charter run by UK Railtours for a tram and heritage vehicle gala at the tramway. Passengers were conveyed to the tramway by waiting road coaches after the naming ceremony whilst Mr. Owen was conveyed to the tramway in a vintage car. 509
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 510
WESTERN West of England Newton Abbot. 12 trains have operated to/from the NR recycling site in Hackney yard since the last notes, six up empty, four down loaded, one down part loaded and one unobserved. Due to a temporary motive power shortage by Freightliner, two borrowed DBS locomotives appeared, 66060 on 28th May and 59206 on 4th/5th June. The other locomotives were 66536/9/96, twice each, and 66511, 66601 and 66953, once each (see Exeter). Kingswear. An 07.06 charter from Banbury and 17.00 return on 21st May were worked by A4 4464 Bittern. Heathfield Branch. Timber trains operated from Teigngrace to Chirk on 31st May and 6th June, the first being delayed by a day owing to engineering work near its destination. The June train was the 60th working of the series and 56094 is now the most used locomotive, having appeared 18 times. Meldon Quarry. 31190 arrived as 0Z31 the 09.28 from Taunton on 3rd June and later departed as 0Z32 the 12.10 to Burton-on-Trent Wetmore sidings via Bristol hauling 47375 Tinsley Traction Depot. Exeter. On 20th May, after an absence of some seven months, Cl.66s returned to haulage of the Westbury-Riverside yard Hanson aggregate service. 66194 worked that day’s train, followed in the next four days by 66015 and 66132 (twice
each). Also on 20th 150921, normally used on Cardiff/Paignton services, made an unusual 5F76 10.15 Westbury-Exeter St. David’s ECS move. On 21st May 66953 became the 401st Cl.66, the 100th Freightliner example and the 70th Cl.66/5 to visit Exeter when it passed at 12.02 with an empty CWR train for Hackney yard. On 24th May 43062+43013 passed at 08.15 and 11.19 respectively with the 05.52 PaddingtonPlymouth and 10.15 return new measurement train and two services to/from Waterloo were unusually formed of Cl.158+Cl.159. Such combinations are infrequent but the 09.26 St. David’s-Waterloo and 13.20 return had 159022+158884 and the 11.20 Waterloo-St. David’s and 15.26 return had 159008+158887. 43180+43197 passed at 16.31 on 29th, running as 0Z74 the 15.30 Laira-Old Oak Common. On 30th and 31st May 66620 removed loads of ballast from the virtual quarry in Riverside yard. The first train consisted of 15 JNAs and the second 15 Autoballasters. 66539 removed more ballast on 6th June as 6Z29 the 14.10 Riverside yard-Westbury (leaving at 13.10) with 14 JNAs and one MLA and a similar working on 7th, but with 15 Autoballasters, left at 13.40 behind 66511. At 22.28 on 3rd June 66199 headed 6W98 the 20.41 Westbury-St. Germans partly loaded CWR train which returned empty next day as
All is not quite what it seems in this picture taken from Saltley viaduct at 08.00 on 29th June. The Freightliner service, headed by 66590, is about to set back into the Freightliner terminal, whilst 66061 comes through with an EWS intermodal train. Unusually for this type of train 66024 was dead on the rear. The site of the former Saltley Paul Chancellor shed was to the left of where the trains stand.
510
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 511
6W98 the 04.15 Liskeard-Westbury, passing Exeter at 07.02. Hele & Bradninch. At 10.30 on 29th May a lorry struck the level crossing barriers here, part of one of which was run into by 220025 on the 09.25 Plymouth-Aberdeen. The Voyager stopped with the metal barrier jammed under the front of the unit and severe delays resulted with all traffic in the area at a standstill for over two hours. A fitter arrived by road from Newton Abbot and removed the debris with a hacksaw, after which the train left at 12.44 running at reduced speed to Taunton where it terminated 144 minutes late. 220025 was noted, back in service, at Exeter on 1st June. Taunton. A 20.05 HOBC from Fairwater yard to Ashchurch was worked by 66616+66603 on 1st June. On 3rd they worked a 20.07 HOBC to Lydney, this time with 66603 leading, and again on 4th with 66603+66618. Bristol. A charter to Pwllheli on 31st May was worked by 67020. The 08.48 “Royal Duchy” to Par and 17.45 return on 2nd June were hauled by 47245 after 60009 Union of South Africa failed with a hot box (see Welsh Marches Line) but the A4 was able to work the train on 9th and 44932 appeared on 16th. 47802+47805 worked an 05.35 charter to Scarborough on 8th. On 4th June 66013 went down at 15.30 with 6C62 the 15.13TO St. Philip’s Marsh-Tavistock Junction fuel tanks and on 14th 31465 passed at 04.35 with a departmental train. Bristol Freightliner Terminal. 70006 was a very rare visitor here on 17th June when it replaced 66534 which had been sent to Pilning following the failure of 70018 (see Patchway). 70006 departed for Tilbury over two hours late at 13.16 after the driver had to return from Pilning by taxi. Bristol Parkway. On p.440, July RO, 70018 appeared on 24th and 25th May. On 1st June 66511 passed at 18.20 with a departmental train and on 8th 66727/33 passed at 12.42 en route light to Hoo Junction and 66564 at 15.56 with a diverted Crewe-Wentloog Freightliner. On 14th June 66623 worked down at 07.49 with empty hoppers, 60015 hauled the Swindon steel train up at 09.19 (returning at 16.37) and 37601/5 passed at 16.43 with a departmental train for Derby RTC. The Bridgwater-Sellafield nuclear flasks were worked by 20303/5 on 30th May, 37609/12 on 3rd June, 37261+37609 on 6th, 37402/5 on 13th, 57003/11 on 17th and 20301/8 on 20th. The Theale-Robeston empty tanks were worked by 60063 on 30th May and 15th June, 60054 on 6th and 8th June, 60015 on 13th and 60019 on 18th. Westerleigh. The afternoon Robeston tanks were worked by 60054 on 30th May and 60063 between 1st and 19th June. The morning Lindsey tanks were noted with 60092 on 4th and 5th June.
Patchway. 70018 failed west of here on 17th June while working the Millbrook-Wentloog Freightliner. It eventually reached Pilning down loop from where the train went forward behind 66534. 70018 remained in South Wales and 66534 returned alone on the WentloogMillbrook service. Portbury. Freightliner coal services to Rugeley increased from 20th May with additional departures at 20.45 and 22.49 and a regular diversion of the 03.00 to Fiddlers Ferry. The 08.25 ran on Monday and other days as required but from 10th June it became a regular working replacing the 07.00. The only Cl.70 workings were between 13th and 15th when 70006 hauled the 10.50, 08.25 and 03.00 respectively. DBS operated 13.05 and 15.00 departures to Ratcliffe as required (see below). Avonmouth. The service to Ratcliffe now originates from Portbury at 13.05 formed by an inward working at 05.29 from Toton. The empty train stables at Avonmouth at the weekend. Bath. An 08.00 from Ipswich and 17.00 return ”Northern Belle” on 7th June was worked by 47501 Craftsman+47810 Peter Bath MBE. The stock was stabled at Bedminster. Bradford-on-Avon. On 31st May 31190 passed at 12.10 with 6Z31 the 09.48 WeymouthBescot with the Railvac (see p.366, June RO) which had been used to remove and treat some wet beds in the formation between Weymouth and Dorchester in a short series of overnight possessions. 47245 passed at 17.05 on 1st June with 5Z36 the 13.05 Southall-Bristol Kingsland Road (for the “Royal Duchy”) which ran via Kensington Olympia, Staines and the LSWR main line, instead of via the GWR main line as in previous years. 47245 returned the stock as 5Z40 the 10.35 Kingsland Road-Southall via the same route on 3rd. These workings were repeated on 15th when 47580 County of Essex+44932 passed here at 17.05 and returned at 11.00 on 17th (but without the Black Five and its support coach). The “Northern Belle” (see Bath) from Ipswich on 7th June passed here at 13.25. On 8th, due to signalling problems between Wootton Bassett and Swindon, 6B33 the 11.37 Theale-Margam Murco bogie tanks were diverted via the Berks. & Hants. line, passing here at 14.00 behind 60054. Westbury. FGW has again hired in a two-car SWT Cl.58 for the high summer to provide more capacity on the Bristol-Weymouth line. On 10th June 158881 formed the 08.53 WeymouthTemple Meads after working the 06.47 from Westbury due to a diagraming error. It should have worked the 07.04 Westbury-Cheltenham Spa via Melksham and Swindon and spent the day on Cheltenham/Swindon services, after which the unit returns to Westbury during the evening and is attached to an SWT three-car Cl.159 on the 22.25 Bristol-Salisbury ECS. Other SWT units noted have been 158880/6/9. 511
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 512
On 5th June a 15.35 Bristol TM-Victoria return VSOE worked by 67020 passed Westbury South Junction at 16.20. A fatality occurred on 19th at Running Horse bridge at MP79 (where the Swindon-Wootton Bassett road passes under the GW main line just west of the site of Swindon Works). A person was struck by the 16.00 Paddington-Bristol HST resulting in closure of the line for approximately two hours. 158880 on the 17.40 Cheltenham Spa-Southampton Central via Swindon and Melksham was diverted from Standish Junction to Bristol where it terminated and ran empty to Westbury to form a special 19.41 to Southampton. On 20th June 1Q23 the 15.06 Salisbury-Old Oak Common NMT arrived at 15.50 and departed at 16.10 via the Wylye valley, Salisbury and Basingstoke. It was powered by 43014+43013 and formed of 975984+977994+977993+ 975814+977984.
Wales
ATW Cl.67. 67003 with 10246+12181+82307 worked two test runs from Cardiff Canton to Newport and back on 11th June. It was the first time that 12181 had been seen outside Canton. Network Rail Trains. The NMT was powered by 43013+43062 from Old Oak Common to Swansea and back to Derby on 7th June. It also worked from Swindon to Bridgend and back on 13th via Gloucester and the Vale of Glamorgan line. 37601+37605 topped and tailed the radio survey train to Pembroke Dock on 10th June and, after stabling at Whitland, it worked to Fishguard Harbour, Robeston and Milford Haven the following day. The survey was repeated on 12th/13th and the Cl.37s left Newport ADJ at 16.18 on 14th for Derby via Yate. 37603 worked an ultrasonic test train from Didcot to Cardiff and back on 13th June and 31465 ran from Derby to Landore the same day, making a total of four NR trains in South Wales on the same day. On 14th 31465 ran from Swansea to Crewe via Hereford. 37194+37261 worked a radio survey train from Derby to Landore via the Heart of Wales line on 24th June and returned by the same route to Craven Arms and then to Newport the following day. On 26th it ran north to cover lines in the Wrexham area before returning to Crewe. Track recorder 950001 ran from Derby to Landore on 24th June and the following day covered all lines in the Swansea area including Onllwyn and Cwmgwrach. On 26th/27th it covered all West Wales lines before returning to Derby. Welsh Marches Line. Observers and photographers south of Hereford were disappointed on the gloriously sunny afternoon of 1st June when 60009 was expected to pass en route from Carnforth to Bristol with its support coach. Unfortunately, a hot box was found on inspection at Hereford and, after cooling off, the A4 returned north tender-first. 512
The line was closed between Hereford and Shrewsbury on Saturdays and between Newport and Shrewsbury on Sundays from 8th June to 14th July. 11 engineers’ trains were used on 8th/9th June and 14 the following week. DBS powered trains from the south and Freightliner those from the north. Further to p.369, June RO, 66704 also worked stone trains from Moreton-on-Lugg to West Drayton on 30th April and 2nd May. It is understood that GBRf has gained the contract for this traffic. It also operates the 11.47MWO Cardiff Tidal-Stockton scrap metal empties (see Cardiff Tidal) which takes this route. The Westbury-Tunstead cement empties via Hereford were worked by 66621 on 3rd June, 66515 on 17th and 66617 on 26th. Stone trains from Moreton-on-Lugg to West Drayton were worked by 66710 on 29th May, 66723 on 18th and 20th June and 66733 on 27th (this one with a later departure at 23.16). 66117 worked a 21.40 Moreton-on-Lugg to Hothfield stone train on 3rd June. Newport. 66124 hauled 12 car carriers from ADJ to Sims, Newport docks for scrap on 6th June. 66708 worked a scrap train from Beeston to Sims on 25th and another from Handsworth Queens Head on 28th. The 16.00 Newport docks-Aberthaw ran until 21st June when it was hauled by 66150. The Newport docks-Wolverhampton steel coil train ran several times in June including 28th when 66193 was used. The additional 20.37SuO ADJ-Didcot conveying discharged fuel tanks has continued to run; 66124 was used on 16th June. On 8th June 57315+57316 worked a charter from Newport to Canterbury West and back which was steam-worked forward from Willesden (see also Southern notes on p.508). Uskmouth. During June trains with coil for export ran from Margam to Bird Port at 09.35 including Sundays and from Margam/Llanwern to Bird Port at 17.38/18.22; 60015 worked the 09.35 on 9th. The empties for the 14.00 Newport docks-Uskmouth came from Crewe Basford Hall behind 66555 on 3rd, 66619 on 10th and 66518 on 17th. Machen. Stone trains decreased in June with two departures to West Drayton. 66037 worked a grit stone train to Westbury for Whatley quarry on 1st. Cardiff Tidal. There are two sidings at the western end of Longships Road; the seaward one serves HCB and the landward one Inver Energy. The HCB siding was equipped for deliveries of diesel and kerosene while the Inver Energy siding was equipped for petroleum. However, there is a facility to pump diesel from HCB storage to Inver Energy. The last delivery of diesel to HCB was on 21st December 2012 with 66192 arriving with the loaded train from Lindsey. However, the siding
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 513
continued to be used by Inver Energy until their siding was enabled to unload diesel. The new equipment was installed in April this year and meanwhile trains conveying diesel but not petroleum continued to arrive and be unloaded at the HCB siding; the latter is now out of use. The GBRf Lindsey-Cardiff docks petroleum train continues to arrive on Tuesdays and sometimes Thursday mornings. During June the discharged tanks departed at 17.58 on Tuesdays and 14.58 on Sundays. EMR received about 110 wagons of types BDA, BEA, SPA and SSA between 14th May and 27th June. Deliveries were usually on a Tuesday and Thursday and consisted of nine wagons propelled down to the yard by a Cl.66 although it will hold 14 wagons. The last train on 27th June propelled by 66193 consisted of six SSAs. Parcel vans 94103, 94209, 94307/18/31, 94400/ 11/58/81 have been moved out of the bushes to number 23 road at Marshalling sidings and it is anticipated that these will also go to EMR for scrap. 66733 hauled the first GBRf-worked loaded scrap trains from Stockton to Cardiff Tidal on 4th, 6th, 11th, 13th and 18th June and 66708 worked the first GBRf scrap train from Tyne Dock to Tidal on 20th after 66733 took the empties north the previous day. There were DBS scrap trains in June from Exeter, Handsworth Queens Head, Kingsbury, Rotherham and Swindon in addition to wagon load traffic from St. Blazey. There has been a regular train with scrap from Handsworth Queens Head to Tidal on Saturdays; 66172 was used on 8th June. 66141 and 66111 worked trains from Exeter and Swindon respectively on 27th. The regular thrice-weekly MWFO scrap trains from Dagenham Dock at 22.10 worked by Freightliner have continued to run. The empties leave Tidal at 05.38 on Mondays and 21.34 on Tuesdays and Thursdays; 66601 was used on 3rd June. Trains of steel coil to Cardiff docks for export to Algeria recommenced from Margam and Llanwern on 20th June when 66221 arrived from Margam and ended on 27th when 66232 arrived from there. 70018 failed on the 03.00 SouthamptonWentloog on 17th June and was assisted to its destination by 66534; it was still at Wentloog at the end of the month. 66595 worked the Garston-Wentloog Freightliner on 20th via Cheltenham and stabled until 24th before returning the train to Crewe. 66955 worked the 10.32 Millbrook-Wentloog on 19th, the first time for a number of months that a second Freightliner has run to Wentloog, while 70009 was used on 20th and 27th and 66564 on 28th. Cardiff. 08670/83 remained at Cardiff Colas during June together with the regular pilot, 08499. 47749 left Canton for Toton on 31st May
whilst 56105, which had been at Colas from 20th May, left for Basford Hall on 7th June and the following day was used on an engineers’ train from Bescot to Woofferton. 56094 worked four converted timber wagons from Colas to Briton Ferry and 59101 visited Colas for wheel turning on 26th/27th June. The wheel lathe and adjacent underframe cleaning facility are, however, owned by Arriva Trains Wales and not Colas. An almost capacity audience for a concert by Rihanna at the Millenium stadium on 10th June saw the provision of late trains to all South Wales stations. There was a later service on all Valley lines and west to Carmarthen and north to Shrewsbury. FGW also ran additional trains to Swansea and Bristol. Cardiff Valleys. There have been regular Sunday morning line closures for engineering work at Cardiff Queen Street and between Bargoed and Rhymney. There was a major closure on 29th/30th June between Cardiff Central and Rhymney and between Queen Street and Radyr via Llandaff and Queen Street to Cardiff Bay. Trains ran hourly via the City line and direct from Ninian Park to Grangetown from Aberdare to Barry and Merthyr to Penarth. One of the two recently introduced Cl.153 workings on the Coryton branch reverted to a Pacer from 3rd June, thus requiring 26 of Cardiff’s 30 Pacers to be available each day. Vale of Glamorgan Line. The line was closed between Barry and Aberthaw at night during the weeks commencing 3rd and 10th June and trains to and from Aberthaw power station were diverted via Margam whilst those from Newport ADJ to Ford, Bridgend were topped and tailed, reversing at Bridgend and Ford’s junction. In the week commencing 24th the main line between Bridgend and Cardiff was closed and up to 15 freight trains were diverted each night via the VoG line. Coal arrived at Aberthaw during May from Avonmouth, Cwmbargoed, Cwmgwrach, New Cumnock, Newport docks, Onllwyn and Tower. 56094 moved six wagons which had been stored at Barry Heritage Centre to Cardiff Colas on 3rd June. 66130 on 31st May and 66015 on 21st June worked the silica sand train from Dollands Moor to Barry docks. Tondu. 143608+153353 worked the 17.17 Cardiff-Maesteg on 28th June after 175110 had been delayed en route from Holyhead. Margam. 66230 worked a train of slag from Margam Grange siding to Hothfield on 29th May and on 10th June 66710 hauled a similar train to West Drayton coal terminal. There were two or three slab trains from Margam to Llanwern each day during May with regular departures on weekdays at 02.45 and 13.51 with two sets of 24 BBAs being used. 60017 left Margam on 2nd June working the 513
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 514
On 21st June the 15.47 Arriva Wales service from to Cardiff Treherbert Central slows to a halt at Pontypridd with 142006+ 142073. This station, which had at one time the distinction of having the longest platform in the world, is having a total of ÂŁ5.6m invested in improvements which include transformation of the station forecourt, entrance and platforms, a new lift and reinstating a bay platform to enable services from Cardiff to be turned back. The Grade II listed canopy was recently renovated in the first stage Bill Turvill of the work.
13.28 to Tees, leaving 60015/54/63 at Margam. On 3rd 60015 worked the Margam-Bird Port export coil service, 60054 ran to Dee Marsh and back before working the 22.49 Robeston-Theale and 60063 worked the 05.03 RobestonWesterleigh. 60019 hauled the MThO Immingham-Llanwern service on 13th and worked forward on the 07.55 empty slab train to Margam the following day. 60015 worked the 02.49 Margam-Llanwern slab train on 14th and remained at Llanwern to work the 08.49 to Swindon stores and back before leaving in the late evening on the TFO Llanwern-Immingham service. 60019 left on the retimed 14.31 to Hartlepool on 19th leaving 60054/63 at Margam and 60062 arrived on 29th on the overnight service from Carlisle. Block trains of export coil for Rotterdam and Maubeuge continued throughout June with up to four trains weekly to Dollands Moor. The Margam-Wolverhampton steel coil train departed at 22.46 on 4th June behind 66128. Baglan Bay. The Chirk timber train ran at least weekly in June and was hauled throughout by 56094. Swansea. Stone trains from Neath Abbey Wharf decreased during June. There were departures to Angerstein Wharf on 5th with 66511 and to Theale on 14th with 66623. All redundant connections have been removed at Llandarcy and replaced by plain line. The ground frame (formerly the signal box) has been closed. Heart of Wales Line. Services were cancelled between Broome/Craven Arms and Shrewsbury on Saturdays and Sundays from 8th June to 14th July because of engineering work. A Cl.153 stabled at Llandrindod Wells on Friday night, returning empty to Shrewsbury early on Monday morning. 514
West Wales. 60054 and 60063 were regular performers on the petroleum trains to Theale and Westerleigh during June. There has been a revision to the Bedworth working; the discharged tanks arrive on the 15.35 from Bedworth (off a service from Lindsey) on Tuesday and depart from Robeston as usual on Thursday, the discharged tanks continuing to Lindsey on Friday. 66170 arrived with the train on 4th June and 66011 departed with the loaded train on 6th after working the discharged Theale tanks forward from Margam. Cambrian. 97301 has been fitted with ERMTS and was first used on the Cambrian in late May. 97301/2 ran light from Machynlleth to Shrewsbury Coleham on 28th May and were used with the weedspray to Aberystwyth on 5th June and Pwllheli on 6th before returning to Coleham on 7th. Wrexham. 56087+56302 worked the CarlisleChirk timber train on 27th May after 66850 had moved to Scotland to replace 66847 which had failed. Cl.56s singly or in pairs continued to work the train (except on 20th/21st June when 66850 was used) and 56105 has also been used. 56087 worked the 20.25 Chirk-Ribblehead on 13th and returned the following day with the loaded 15.30 Ribblehead-Chirk. This working was repeated by 56302 on 27th but the return train was at 12.40. On 7th June 66139 hauled a coal train from New Cumnock to Penyffordd Padiswood cement works and 66200 returned the empties to Warrington on 10th. 66076 worked a second train to Penyffordd on 26th and returned the empties to Warrington the same day. North Wales. 20302/4 on 7th June and 20305/9 on 14th worked the Valley nuclear flask trains.
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 515
NORTH WESTERN & MIDLAND Chiltern Chiltern Railways. On 3rd June 82302 on the set for the 07.05 Kidderminster-Marylebone developed a fault before departure and the train was cancelled. The return working at 10.45 from Marylebone was worked by 168215, which then went ECS from Snow Hill to Moor Street sidings as the DVT had been repaired to enable the set to run empty from Stourbridge Junction to work the 13.12 Snow Hill-Marylebone, powered by 67017. 67010/2/5 were operating three of the four diagrams on 24th and, on 26th, 67012/3 and 67017 were in use. Marylebone. Recent addition to the Chiltern pool, 67017, was noted working the 10.45 to Birmingham Snow Hill on 22nd May. On 3rd June an engine defect on 168001, booked to work the 16.18 to Snow Hill resulted in the train being cancelled as the driver was not willing to work the train. On 14th due to a brake fault on 10273 the 08.45 to Birmingham Moor Street was to run at 10mph under normal speed, but after reports of a burning smell from the coach the train was terminated at Wembley Stadium at 08.55 and shunted into the LMD. Harrow-on-the-Hill. An LUL signalling power supply fault at 20.00 on 12th June resulted in the 19.42 Marylebone-Aylesbury Vale Parkway returning south. Normal working was not resumed until 23.10 with services in the meantime either cancelled or diverted via High Wycombe. Aylesbury. On 4th June 121034 was noted working the morning shuttle service to Princes Risborough. On 13th 56312 working 6Z81 the 18.26 Calvert-Willesden Euroterminal shut
down at 19.10 with low coolant, just after entering the single line to Princes Risborough. After restarting the locomotive an attempt was made to shunt the train north of the station, but 56312 failed again whilst this move was being made. The locomotive off the Cricklewood refuse train, which was at Calvert, was sent to haul the train back to Claydon L&NE Junction, but brake problems resulted in the train not being back there until 22.00. As a result 6M23 to Cricklewood was stabled in the goods loop at Aylesbury due to overnight engineering work, going forward the following morning. High Wycombe. A track circuit failure on the down main at 08.00 on 19th June prevented use of the bay platform. After S&T staff changed a module normal working resumed at 09.05. Haddenham & Thame Parkway. On 20th June the 07.05 Kidderminster-Marylebone, with 82303 leading, was involved in a fatality and after provision of a fresh driver and cleaning the front of the train it went forward at 10.30 to Princes Risborough where the passengers were transferred to other trains and the set sent to Aylesbury depot. Both lines were then reopened but trains were not allowed to stop until 13.20. Calvert. The Didcot flyash train ran for the last time on 13th June, powered by 56091, which had monopolised the working from late May. The empty MBA wagons were then moved on the 14th to Acton yard via Oxford. 6Z80 the 09.30 spoil train from Willesden Euroterminal has continued to run from mid-May, initially with 56312, but 56091 taking over on 17th June. Since 21st the train has been diverted to run via
Traditional Great Western style semaphore signals remain in use at Banbury where, on 18th June, 165114 has just terminated having run through from Oxford. It is proceeding ECS north from the station and will shortly run back to the up platform ready for the return service. Paul Chancellor
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 516
the GWML and Claydon L&NE Junction as 6Z83 02.00MO/02.40MSX, arriving at 06.58 and returning as 6Z84 at 10.53. Another new spoil working started to run on 3rd, 6Z48 the 13.15 from Thorney Mill via Didcot, booked to arrive at 17.39. The return working, 6Z49, leaves at 23.15. The train only runs on certain days and has been so far observed on 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th and 19th June with 56311 as motive power. DBS used 59206 in place of the usual Cl.66 on 12th June for 6A58 the 10.16 empty Binliner to Northolt. 56091 was used on 14th to rescue 56312 and its train which had failed on the previous day (see Aylesbury) and then took them all via Didcot to Willesden Euroterminal. Banbury. A4 4464 Bittern worked a “Cathedrals Express” to Kingswear on 21st May. 70018, long absent following a serious fire in 2012, was noted for the first time on 23rd working 4O09 the 10.18 from Trafford Park. The following day 47727 was noted working seven wagons from a HOBC train from the Plasser sidings at West Ealing to Basford Hall. On 29th 66303 passed at 10.25 running light from Crewe to Eastleigh, and later 33207 appeared hauling 57315 and three coaches from Southall to Tyseley. 70099 was moved dead from Crewe to Southampton en route to Eastleigh in the early hours of 5th June, behind 66516, in 4O11 the 00.23 Crewe- Southampton Maritime. 56105 was noted on the afternoon of 10th working 6Z56 the 11.30 Crewe-West Ealing Plasser with two YSA wagons, and after attaching four other wagons from the HOBC was noted passing Cheddington at 19.35 en route back to Crewe. Leamington Spa. On 7th June the 08.45 Marylebone-Birmingham Moor Street terminated here after problems with 67015 at Banbury and again at Fenny Compton, then going ECS to Banbury at 10.35 to await fitter’s attention. Deliveries of LUL stock reported have been on 19th June with HRNC 20314+ 20311 and GBRf 20901+20905, the same locomotives appearing on 25th with a train returning to Derby for modification. On 26th the 11.45 BournemouthManchester was held at Oxford due to a signal fault and arrived at Leamington 41 minutes late. It was further delayed at Milverton waiting for an up freight to clear the single line. WCML South Diversions. Sunday night ScotRail sleeper services have continued to be diverted via the ECML in the period under review, due to engineering work in the north west. On 9th June due to engineering work on the Kings Cross incline the northbound trains went to Stratford, running via Canonbury Junction to access the ECML at Finsbury Park, although it has also been suggested the lowland train had to await the possession to be given up as the driver did not sign the route. 516
Virgin. The Mk.3 set was worked north to Wabtec, Kilmarnock behind 57308 on 25th May, and was noted there by the Ed. Rep. on 18th June. London Midland. On 2nd June 321417 working 5F17 the 14.25SuO Northampton depot-Watford, to change the St. Albans branch unit, came to a stand at Cheddington at 15.00 with loss of power. After a reset failed to rectify the problem the set already on the branch was sent to assist the failure to Watford Junction, taking up the branch service again at 17.30. On 4th June 321416 working the 15.24 EustonMilton Keynes Central suffered an unsolicited brake application at Drayton Road Junction on the down slow line and came to a stand. After isolating the TPWS the train went forward at 40mph to Milton Keynes, where the units were split and 321416 sent to the carriage sidings at Bletchley for attention. Willesden. Visible on the TMD at midday on 17th June were 86101, 86213, 86259, 86401, 86702, 87002 and 09007. PRDC. In preparation for the introduction of a new overnight service to Low Fell 325008 left on 30th May on a driver training run to the north east. Wembley Yard. 60017 was unusual power on 21st May for 5Z61 the 12.30 12-coach ECS to Eastleigh. The only ECR locomotive noted recently is 66195 on 5th June returning from Toton. 377601 was noted at the back of the yard on 7th, waiting to return to Derby after trials from Stewarts Lane. North Wembley. Following a points failure at 15.10 on 31st May some LM and Southern services had to run on the fast lines, with their Harrow & Wealdstone and Bushey stops omitted to avoid additional delay. Apsley. A signalling failure caused by cable theft at 14.30 on 28th May affecting both down lines resulted in London Midland suspending the Euston-Tring services and Virgin cancelling ten trains, while the Southern South CroydonMilton Keynes services turned short. Berkhamsted. 172001 was noted at 16.50 on 8th June running as the 14.05 Derby Litchurch Lane-Willesden TMD. On 16th 56312 passed at 13.35 en route from Willesden Euroterminal to Washwood Heath. 57315 was noted at 23.40 on 17th taking a set of coaches to Birmingham International to form next morning’s 06.23 to Canterbury West, which was hauled from Willesden by 34067 Tangmere. Whilst waiting for the return working 57315 was stabled on the TMD. Tring. On 5th June the driver of the 06.35 Manchester-Euston reported a loud bang on the up fast on the approach to the station, and the 07.41 from Birmingham International, which had been cautioned, came to a stand straddling the broken rail. A MOM was sent to site and
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 517
after assessing the situation authorised the train over the broken rail at 1mph. By 14.00 the line re-opened with a 50mph ESR, with final work to be carried out over the following night. In the meantime all trains on both the down lines had to cautioned past at 20mph with all up services using the slow. To reduce delays Southern South Croydon-Milton Keynes Central services did not run north of Watford Junction. Cheddington. 47727 and 66847 were noted at 16.10 on 27th May going on a Crewe-Eastleigh move. 4L92 the 14.03 Ditton-Felixstowe hauled by two Cl.86/6s came to a stand on the up slow at 18.15 on 30th with a suspected faulty camshaft on 86614. The DRS Cl.57/3 from Euston had the train on the move at 20.25. In the meantime all up services had to use the fast line from Ledburn to Watford North Junctions as Bourne End Junction was out of use which caused additional delays. 60163 Tornado passed at 13.15 on 7th June, together with its support coach, on a CreweSouthall working. Bletchley. On 5th June 31233 and three test coaches were stabled all day alongside the TMD. 56105 was noted going north on a PW train at 19.55 on 10th. 70006 arrived on 13th to work 6Y21 the 20.05 to Basford Hall a train of 10 wagons and reappeared on 19th working 4M86 the 03.05 Felixstowe-Lawley Street. Milton Keynes Central. 6K51 the 20.25 Willesden Brent-Crewe coal sidings was doubleheaded by 20305+20309 and 20303+20301 on 21st May and 6th June respectively, with 57003+57011 being used on 18th and 20th. The Chelsea Flower Show in May saw the usual special trains run from the north west with 47790+47501 on a “Northern Belle” working from Chester to Kensington Olympia on 21st. Next day 86259 headed 1Z86 the 06.26 EustonCarlisle, leaving here at 07.09 and returning at 21.25. The same locomotive worked a repeat train on 20th June. Later that day 57003+ 47810 were noted at 13.23 on a StowmarketCrewe light move. A special from Skipton to Dover Priory was noted passing at 11.00 on 31st May with 57316+ 57314, returning north at 20.10. The same day at 18.30 33029 was noted hauling coach 99304 from Carnforth to Southall. A4 60009 Union of South Africa, with support coach 35486, passed at 12.50 on 5th June en route from Crewe to Southall. 92029 was noted at 18.10 on 11th June hauling 325014 from Wembley yard to Crewe electric depot. Shortly afterwards 57315 passed with 5Z46 the 06.35 Bo’ness-Wembley yard, formed by 11 SRPS coaches. A return Ascot “Northern Belle” special to Manchester Victoria was noted on 20th at 19.10 with 47832+47802. Wolverton. At 06.50 on 27th May three wagons of 6R06, a Denbigh Hall North Junction-
Bescot engineers’ train hauled by 66185, became derailed on the up fast within a possession causing 60 yards of track damage. A road-rail vehicle arrived from Crewe and had the wagons re-railed by 15.30, and the train cleared the site by 17.30. 160 sleepers had to be replaced and, after a ballast drop and tamping, normal working was resumed at 06.45 on 28th. Following relaying of the up fast through the station reports of banging noises were found to be being caused by high ballast, and a 50mph ESR was imposed followed by a block at 13.00 to level the ballast. While doing this a dip in the track was discovered and found to be a collapsed catch pit, so the speed restriction was reduced to 20mph from 16.15 with permanent repairs being carried out during the following nights’ planned possession. Movements to and from the works recently have included 455913, which left on 4th June behind 47727 for Wimbledon EMUD, 66729 taking 365519 back to Hornsey on 14th, followed a little later by 66030 with 332009 for Old Oak Common. On 17th 66729 returned with 365518. Northampton. On 6th June 4L92 the 14.03 Ditton-Felixstowe, double-headed by 86612+ 86613, came to a stand at Mill Lane Junction at 17.30 with a brake fault, with 4L18 the 14.18 GBRf Trafford Park-Felixstowe and the 16.33 Birmingham New Street-Euston trapped. As the fault could not be rectified 4L18 propelled 4L92 into the up and down goods, where it arrived at 20.00, after which 4L18 reversed on to the up main line in order to continue south at 20.30. 4L92 was assisted forward by 66567, sent from Daventry, leaving at 20.50. DIRFT. 37682 arrived on 11th June, replacing 37038 which returned to Carlisle behind 66432. Rugby. From the start of the new timetable the 05.24 to Euston was formed by an empty stock working from Crewe and as a result there are no longer any regular departures from platform 3. A “Northern Belle” special left for York on 1st June, worked by 47810+47501, formed of 10 coaches including two sleeping cars. At 19.35 on 6th 390152 working the 18.50 BirminghamEuston came to a stand at platform 4 with a transformer fault and the SCC reported there had been an OLE trip as the train went through the neutral section. When the driver raised the pantograph after resetting the transformer there was a loud bang so it was lowered again and the passengers detrained. After isolating the VCB concerned the rear pantograph was raised and the train went forward ECS to Wembley at 20.25. While this was happening 60009 Union of South Africa was approaching up the Trent Valley on a Chester-Euston special and as platforms 4, 5 and 6 were all occupied it was routed to platform 2 to await a decision, as the train was booked to take water at Northampton (see above). As the driver knew 517
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 518
the route via Weedon, the driver of the water bowser was asked to go to Wolverton and the special became the first steam working over the up old line since the end of steam. On 5th June 57302 was the standby locomotive with 92038 stabled for the DIRFT-Dollands Moor working. In the early hours of 28th a fatality occurred in the station area involving the 05.27 Euston-Liverpool. Cancellations and short turning, particularly of LM workings, continuing until the afternoon. West Midland-WCML Central Hams Hall. 08623 was at Hams Hall on 17th May, but by 30th it had been replaced by 08873 on hire from the LH Group. Wolverhampton. From the start of the summer timetable most London services used platform 4 at Wolverhampton, presumably because the Virgin lounge is there, as platform 2 previously used is operationally more convenient. Around 10.45 on 3rd June a passenger was taken ill on an LM service and the train was held at Stechford to await an ambulance. This resulted in delays to Coventry-Birmingham services especially LM ones. The 09.43 Euston-Glasgow, worked by 390153, was additionally delayed when a warning light illuminated. After a stop to reset, arrival in New Street was 25 minutes late. Normal services resumed by 14.00.
A change to Chase line services sees the 06.39 Rugeley-Birmingham, now empty from Tyseley instead of Wolverhampton, convey an additional Cl.153, eliminating the need to detach one at Walsall from the 13.40 to Birmingham to couple to the 14.40 departure. Cl.350s, previously only seen at Walsall in the morning peak, now work two of the five off-peak Walsall-BirminghamWolverhampton turns, but are replaced by Cl.323s at Birmingham on the 14.19 and 16.19 departures from Wolverhampton. Cl.350/2 workings on Birmingham-Liverpool services are much reduced, although one regularly appears on the turn starting with the 06.17 from Birmingham International. On 6th 390006 was unusually stabled in the siding north of Wolverhampton at 13.15 and the 13.50 New Street-Euston was cancelled, resulting in the 14.10 being fully loaded. A bridge strike near Olton caused minor delays during the morning. On 24th an unidentified Greater Anglia Cl.153 was observed at Tyseley. Services in and out of New Street were disrupted on the morning of 27th by trespassers on the line in the station area. Normal services resumed by mid-morning. Lichfield. On 6th June A4 60009 stopped to take water from 11.22 to 11.34 on the Railway Touring Company’s 1Z71 the 07.36 EustonChester, which had 33029 on the rear to assist with ECS movements. The road tanker came from Southampton, which now appears usual.
On a day when all Liverpool bulk terminal to Fiddlers Ferry PS coal trains were diverted and ran via South Parkway instead of Rainhill, 60079 heads 6F89 the 09.00 from bulk terminal loaded train through Mossley Hill station on 1st June 2013. Normally during the day only one service, 6F78 the 11.30 from Fiddlers Ferry, travels John Cashen via this route, although some night workings do sometimes occur.
518
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 519
The train was booked to take water at Atherstone and Northampton on the return. Stafford. On 5th June 31190 went south around 13.00 with 50015+33109+37901 en route from the East Lancs. Railway to Ruddington (GC). On 25th 66433 on the Mossend-DIRFT failed just north of Norton Bridge and was initially assisted by 67014, which was en route from Crewe to Wembley LMD, but 57307 was then sent from Crewe to assist, it is believed due to an operating incident involving 67014, with all three going to Daventry. The fire-damaged HOBC wagons, detached after catching fire at Norton Bridge on 30th May, remained stabled in the Salop sidings throughout June. North West-WCML North Crewe. On 31st May 57313+57315 arrived at 13.41 with 5Z86 the 10.20 Carnforth-Derby, just as 56311+56301 arrived with support coach 21249 for the Heritage Centre and 33029 went south with one coach en route from Carnforth to Southall at 15.32. On 1st June 90026 arrived at 09.39 with a UK Railtours charter from Euston to Carlisle, with 67028 dead on rear (DOR) and A4 60009 arrived at 11.40 en route from Carnforth to St. Philips Marsh with its support coach. 66720 left at 13.42 with empty biomass hoppers from Doncaster for loading trials at Liverpool bulk terminal, while at 14.49 66001 passed with a special train of car carriers from Bescot to Halewood. The following day 56302 passed at 12.56 with Chirk-Carlisle timber empties and at 14.40 5Z89 from Southall to Carnforth arrived hauled by 33029 with 57315 dead in train (DIT) and 57313 DOR. The stock should have run from Derby after working the previous day’s Statesman charter to Canterbury, but the return working is believed to have been diverted to Paddington after problems with both Cl.57s. On 9th June three late running engineers’ train from North Staffs Junction to Basford Hall arrived to run round; 6B07 the 13.00 behind 66170 at 16.12, 6B08 the 13.30 with 66142 at 16.34 and 6B09 the 14.00 with 66200 at 16.54. These were followed by 57314 at 17.00 with 5Z38 the 14.55 Derby-Carnforth with 57006 DOR, while 57316 arrived at 17.16 with 5Z89 the 13.39 Pengam-Carnforth with 57315 DOR. The next day 56301 passed at 18.16 hauling 37901+33109+50015 from Hotchley Hill to Castleton. On 12th June 44932 arrived at 13.32 with 5Z44 the 10.00 Carnforth-Southall, which as well as its own support coach 80217 conveyed 5200, NRM support coach 99953 and GUV 96175. 56087 arrived at 15.51 en route from Washwood Heath to Carlisle and 67014 at 16.20 en route from Wembley LMD to the IEMD. At 16.25 5Z30 the 11.23 Eastleigh-Carlisle arrived behind 47813+47501 with 47832 DOR. After
47832 and the rear vehicles, 9537 and 35469, had been detached to go to the DHS, 47813 ran round and the remaining DRS-liveried Mk.2s went forward at 17.08 behind 47501. Despite a 67-minute late start the train was 95 minutes early arriving at Kingmoor. On 14th June GWR 5043 with its support coach ran as 5Z53 the 10.52 Tyseley-Crewe, arriving at 12.48 and after taking water 46233, which had arrived as 5Z43 the 10.20 from Butterley, went forward to Carnforth at 14.16 as 5Z43, with the Pacific between the two support coaches. 92001 (now without pick-up shoes) and 92003 left at 13.40 on a Crewe-WarringtonStafford-Crewe test run. Next day the two steam locomotives arrived double-heading the return working of “The Cumbrian Conqueror” from Carlisle to Tyseley and were replaced by 47773. The return working had been advertised as steam-hauled throughout, but pressure in the hydrant on platform 12 was said to be too low to allow them to be watered in the time available. 44932 returned on 17th June, arriving at 15.52 with just its support coach. On the same day 66717 was noted passing Salop Goods Junction at 16.32 with 4Z70 from Peterborough to Tuebrook, having replaced 66715 at Hams Hall, with four empty AAE intermodal twin sets. On 20th June 47739 arrived at 16.38 with 6S96 the 12.52 Sinfin-Grangemouth and 47501 arrived at 19.08 with 1Z51 the 16.16 EustonBangor, the first leg of the annual “Three Peaks Challenge by Rail” special. Both this and 47805 DOR had Railway Children stickers on the buffers. 86259 arrived at 19.39 with 1Z89 the 14.28 Carlisle-Euston, which it had taken over from 46115 at Farington Junction, with a full set of maroon stock. The next day services were disrupted due to a fatality in the Lichfield area with a number of services cancelled or diverted via the West Midlands. As a result both the 10.10 EustonChester and the 11.35 Chester-Euston started from platform 12. 56301 passed at 12.41 en route light from Derby to Mossend. Two ECS workings from Carnforth were 5Z86 the 08.45 to Derby, hauled by 47854 with 57313 DOR, passing at 12.14, and 5Z29 at 12.15 hauled by 47786 with 47760 DIT which arrived at 15.31 and stabled in the down refuge to form a Shrewsbury-Penzance special the next day. At 15.35 66117 arrived hauling 325004 from Dallam to the IEMD. On 22nd June London Midland was again suffering from train-crew shortages. The 15.01 Birmingham-Liverpool terminated here, and as a result of the cancellation of both the 17.01 and 18.01, the 17.36 was formed by 350245+350106, both in use despite an additional stop at Winsford. 519
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 520
On 23rd June 6C37 the 10.30 Chirk-Carlisle left at 13.03 hauled by 56302 with 66850 DIT, it had been expected that the Cl.56 would be attached at Crewe, but it appears it was instead attached at Bushbury. Liverpool. The Fiddlers Ferry PS-LBT coal trains were worked by 60011, 60074 and 60079 throughout the period from 28th May to 24th June, whilst 60010 was seen on Ratcliffe PS workings on 1st, 5th, 7th, 12th, 13th, 18th and 19th June and 60039 on 22.48 ex-LBT on 23rd. 66079 was noted on workings to Fiddlers Ferry on 10th and 11th. Because of engineering works at Huyton on 1st June these workings ran via South Parkway instead of Rainhill. On this date seen at Mossley Hill were 60079 and 60074 on 6F89 and 6F74 the 09.00 and 11.58 respectively ex-LBT and also 70010 on 6Y07 the 09.09 Basford Hall-Huyton at 09.57 and 70016 on 6Y04 the 11.00 Huyton-Basford Hall at 12.50. 60062 worked 6E14 the 16.10 LBT-Tinsley on 21st June. 66720 worked 4Z96 the 10.10 DoncasterTuebrook sidings on 1st June then ran light to Basford Hall the following day at 17.00. 66723 was seen on 9th with 6Z60 the 11.57 LBT-Tuebrook sidings and was seen stabled in the sidings at 18.20. It then ran light to Trafford Park at approximately 08.35 the following day to take up duties to Felixstowe (see Manchester). On 15th 66727 went light from Crewe at 09.20 to Tuebrook sidings to work trial runs to LBT; the locomotive also being seen there at 12.00 on 17th. 66739 worked 4F68 the 09.00 Ironbridge PS-Tuebrook sidings on 24th, arriving at 13.56 and then worked 4F60 the 15.28 to Ellesmere Port. At 15.15 it was stabled along with 66717 in the sidings. On 3rd June 185139 made a number of driver training runs, booked to run until 6th, namely 09.11 and 12.14 Stalybridge-Lime Street, 10.40 return to Stalybridge and 13.42 to Leeds. On 5th June after a Cl.350 suffered a broken windscreen 323210 worked the 12.36 and 16.36 from Birmingham New Street, returning from Lime Street at 14.34 and 18.34. 4M95 the 03.48 from Southampton, previously an MSX working to Trafford Park, has recently also run on Mondays and on 10th ran to Garston, seen behind ex-Stobart blue-liveried 66414 passing Speke Junction at 10.20 on 10th, the locomotive returning on the 15.38 Garston-Southampton. Birkenhead. 66715+66702 worked the 21.30 Bescot-Green Lane engineers’ train on 23rd June, being seen at Rock Ferry at 00.58. Southport. 47580+47760 in lieu of the originally scheduled steam locomotive, worked the “Ynys Mon Express” from Southport to Holyhead via Blaenau Ffestiniog on 29th May. Warrington. The Carlisle-Chirk log workings saw much Cl.56 activity between 28th May and 520
24th June, with 56087 being seen working south on 31st May, 4th-7th June, 13th-15th and 18th, 56105 on 11th and 56302 on 28th, 29th and 31st May and 3rd June. However on 10th 56302+ 56087 went south and 56087+56105 did likewise on 17th. On 20th-22nd and 24th 66850 was seen on the southbound working, being seen at 13.00 on 20th instead of 18.00; it ran via the WCML instead of the S&C as 10.06 ex-Carlisle instead of 12.44 and at 14.15 on 24th. The southbound working on 14th had 56087 in charge and ran as 6Z70 instead of 6J37 being seen here at 19.55 and on 20th 56302 went north at 13.45, whilst on 23rd 56302+66850 worked north as 6C37 with the 10.30 from Chirk. 6S94 the 03.05WO Dollands Moor-Irvine china clay train was worked by 92037 on 29th May, 92011 on 5th June, 92031 and 92037 as 0S94 on 12th and 19th respectively (see Preston). 4M63 the 10.19FO Mossend-Hams Hall was worked by 92002 on 7th June, 92039 on 14th and 92037 on 21st. On 6th June 6C53 the 06.30MX CreweSellafield, was seen behind 20304+20302+37259 whilst 57011+57007+37194+20308 were in charge of 6K73 the 17.18FX southbound working on 12th June. The latter train ran additionally on Friday 14th behind 37609+ 20303. A special Sellafield-Crewe 6Z45 ran on 4th June being seen at 18.25 with 20305+20309, the return working 6Z50 to Drigg being seen at 10.15 on 6th. 66727 worked 4C77 the 16.00 Fiddlers Ferry-Newbiggin gypsum train on 18th and 19th. 60074 was the power for 6F60 the 06.28TFO Arpley-Runcorn Folly Lane on 31st May. On 4th June 66427+66428 were seen in charge of 4S45 the 18.37 DIRFT-Mossend, a train which saw power other than single Cl.66s on a number of occasions during June, namely 66432+37038 dead on 11th, 37610+37607 on 13th and 14th, 37402+37409 (having replaced 57008 at Crewe) on 19th, 37610+37602 on 20th and 66304+66428 on 21st. On 13th, 14th and 20th the two Cl.37s went south on 4M44 the 08.47 ex-Mossend, being one hour late on 13th, whilst this working saw 57008+57010 as power on 19th. Unusually 47739 worked 6S96 the ThO SinfinGrangemouth tanks on 20th June passing here at 17.00. It returned south with 56087 on a Carlisle-Washwood Heath RMC sleeper train at 15.05 on 23rd. Oakleigh Sidings (Northwich). The workings to/from Tunstead were seen being worked by 60065 and latterly by 60091 up to 21st June. Manchester Area. 4M01 the 01.48MX Felixstowe-Trafford Park and 4L18 the 12.25SX return were worked alternately by 66704 and 66708 commencing 28th May, 66711 and 66731 commencing 3rd June, 66704 and 66723
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 521
TRACTION CONTRASTS IN THE HIGH FELLS - 1 Above - A pair of Northern Rail 'Working Together' branded Cl.158s, 792+903, approach Ais Gill summit on John Cashen 22nd May with the 14.04 Carlisle-Leeds. Below - An unidentified Virgin Super Voyager is seen at Greenholme on 22nd June whilst working the 09.20 Stuart Warr Birmingham New Street-Glasgow Central.
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 522
commencing 10th and 66715 and 66704 commencing 17th. 66731 ran as 0Z18 Trafford Park-Hams Hall, leaving at approximately 12.30, on 8th June and 66715 did likewise on 22nd. 60065 worked 6H37 the 07.05MWO BredburyTunstead on 1st June, whilst 60091 worked 6J46 the 10.30 Peak Forest-Salford Hope Street on 5th June. 4M30 the 19.54SuO GrangemouthDIRFT has been diverted on several occasions recently, normally being seen at Stockport in the region of 05.45-06.15 on a Monday morning. Wigan. 1M03 the 17.49 Shieldmuir-Warrington RMC passed here at 23.10 on 4th June with 66102 heading 325012, whilst on 7th the same train comprised 90024 with 325013. Preston Area. 6E32 the 08.55 Preston Docks-Lindsey was worked by 60099 on 29th May, 60019 on 30th, 60092 on 3rd and 10th June and 60015 on 24th. Due to the fatality at Lichfield on 21st June the 10.36FO to Euston was cancelled to allow the set to be used to restart the 07.30 Euston-Glasgow. The set off that train went forward as a special in place of the 08.30, and similarly the set off the 08.30 was used to restart the 09.30. As the 09.30 was only a few minutes in front of the 10.30, its set formed a 12.45 special to Crewe to start the 12.55 Manchester-Euston there. On 23rd June due to a defective Cl.390 at Polmadie, the set for the 10.58 to Euston was
sent to Glasgow, 221111 was stepped up off the 11.17 to Birmingham to go to Euston and 390136 en route from Oxley to Euston was turned back at Rugby to cover the 11.17. Engineering work on the ECML resulted in the operation of additional trains at 12.33 from Euston to Edinburgh worked by 390008 and returning at 10.28, worked by 390154. Carlisle. On June 12th K4 61994 The Great Marquess brought the first “Fellsman” of the year from Lancaster via Blackburn and Hellifield into Carlisle and worked it on 19th; the train was booked to run every Wednesday until the end of August. Also on 12th, despite Scottish Coal’s troubles there was no shortage of freight trains. Between 12.00 and 16.00 66076, 66510, 66518, 66549 and 66557 all went north with coal empties and 66595 headed south loaded. At 12.15 66161+66100 worked a northbound NR tracklaying train followed at 13.25 by 66099 with roadstone hoppers, then at 14.00 57006 and 57316, with 56105 apparently dead, went north with presumably the late running 6C37 empty logs. On 15th June “The Cumbrian Conqueror”, arrived 15 minutes early behind Castle 5043 and Duchess 46233, which had taken over from 47773 at Carnforth. 4S43 the 07.04 DIRFT to Coatbridge was worked by 66425+66422 in multiple. A nuclear flask train from Sellafield went north at 14.05 behind 37423+20302+20304.
70010 heading 6Y07 the 09.09 Crewe Basford Hall to Huyton engineers’ train through Mossley Hill on 1st June. The image is taken from the platform and it will be noted that, as at West Allerton, only half of the platforms are John Cashen now in use, hence the foliage seen at bottom left at of the picture.
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 523
Shap and Ais Gill. “The Cumbrian Mountain Express” the 07.06 Euston-Carlisle and 14.28 return was seen here on 20th June behind 46115 Scots Guardsman and climbing to Shap in fine style with 12 coaches, although hampered somewhat just short of Shap Wells by what appeared to be a PW slack. On the return the climb over Ais Gill was awesome as it roared over the summit at 16.28, 10 minutes late. Midland Main Line – South St. Pancras International. At 10.00 on 4th June there was a loss of signalling between Kentish Town and Farringdon on the Thameslink route, as well as into the MML platforms. Although the fault was resolved by 10.45 this affected 35 trains, with a number of southbound EMT services terminated short to form trains trapped at St. Pancras. West Hampstead. The booked light locomotive from Dagenham Dock to Cricklewood to work 6M22 to Calvert, 66591, was used on 27th May to trip four wagons across, noted at 07.50. At 21.40 on 28th 222101 working the 21.30 St. Pancras-Derby was involved in a fatality; the slow lines re-opened at 22.10, with trains not stopping. At 22.50 the train was allowed forward, but had to stop at Cricklewood due to a sick passenger requiring an ambulance. It went forward to Kettering, where the passengers were transferred to a following train to allow the unit to go to Derby for cleaning. Normal working on the fast lines was resumed at 23.10 but the station was not re-opened until 01.40. Hendon. On 27th May following reports of a rail having being left too close to the running line and being touched by the DC shoe gear (see Leagrave) trains required to be cautioned from 07.30 until midday, when PW staff arranged for the rail to be repositioned. On 2nd June 73107+73109 were noted passing at 16.45 with the early running 5Z01 17.25 CricklewoodDerby RTC test train, formed of four coaches. Mill Hill. A test train from Dollands Moor to Derby was noted on 25th May at 14.12 unusually formed of 37610+67005 topping and tailing one coach. Radlett. On 12th June the 09.10 BedfordBrighton formed by 319442+319459 was stopped at 09.55 after one of the axles on the leading unit set off the HABD on the up slow. When the fault was confirmed the passengers were detrained and following a rotation test the set went forward at reduced speed to Cricklewood sidings at 10.45. After fitting a set of wheel skates the unit was moved during the following night to Cauldwell depot for repairs. St. Albans. UK Railtours “The Whitehouse Wanderer” left here at 07.50 on 24th May powered by 66128+66132. The tour arrived back at 22.17.
Harpenden. 37409 with an inspection coach was noted on both 28th and 30th May travelling up and down each line. Leagrave. On 25th May 319459 working the 22.16 Bedford-Brighton could not change to DC on arrival at Farringdon at 23.35 and after a further unsuccessful attempt at City Thameslink the unit returned to Bedford at 23.55. Next day 319001+319441 working the 13.36 Bedford-East Croydon came to stand on the up slow at the junction at 14.25 after losing power due to a damaged third rail pickup shoe and a broken air pipe. As the train could not be moved the 13.38 East Croydon-Bedford was brought alongside and ramps used to transfer the passengers at 15.15. A unit was sent from Cauldwell depot to assist the failed train back to Bedford, leaving the site at 16.45. The cause was later found to be a motor alternator cover dropping off in the Sundon area, also dislodging ballast and smashing a window. Later the same day following reports of noises coming from under trains on the fast lines in the same area a length of long welded rail was found to have slipped towards the running rail and be catching the shoes on passing EMUs, several sets being found with them missing. Elstow. At 10.35 on 12th June 222021 working the 08.47 Sheffield-St. Pancras was involved in a fatality. FCC services were turned back at Luton and EMT services at either Kettering or Bedford. The slow lines were re-opened at 12.00, but it was 13.30 before the unit set off back to Bedford to detrain the passengers, the fast lines re-opening at 14.00. Bedford. On 1st June 66170 was noted passing at 14.40 with 4E32 the 11.54 Dollands MoorScunthorpe, normally booked via the ECML. This diversion was repeated on 15th when 66106 worked the train. A fault with 153366 which was due to work the 15.55 departure to Bletchley on 10th resulted in the train having to be cancelled and run ECS for repairs with the next round trip over the branch also being cancelled. Kettering. On 28th May 6V94 the 07.35 Earles-Theale came to a stand at the North Junction at 10.35 after the train became divided, the two halves ending up sixty to seventy yards apart. As this was on the Corby single line, services from St. Pancras had to be terminated. The relief driver booked to join the train at Kettering went out to assist and at 11.30 the train was set back and both portions recoupled with an emergency coupling carried on the locomotive. The train then went forward at 11.50. 523
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 524
SCOTLAND Lenzie. On 17th June a cow was struck by a train at about 10.30 and it took until 14.45 to re-open the line and it was 16.15 before normal working resumed. There had been a similar incident east of the station the previous evening which resulted in the Glasgow-Edinburgh service being reduced to half-hourly and diverted via Cumbernauld, with a replacement mini bus between Falkirk High and Falkirk Grahamston, but there were no train services at all at Croy, Lenzie and Bishopbriggs. Vouchers for First Glasgow buses were available from the Glasgow Queen Street booking office to passengers who wanted to exchange their rail tickets for bus travel. Following the incident on 17th June, for approximately five minutes around 18.00 at the height of the rush hour, Glasgow Queen Street was totally devoid of trains, although not of passengers! The station was strangely quiet as information was awaited. Trains are removed automatically from the electronic departure screen one minute before departure time, and the 18.11 to Inverness ‘disappeared’ without the platform being given. The empty stock arrived at 18.12 and the train immediately reappeared on the departure board with the platform number. Within five minutes the train departed, without seat reservations, and time was easily made up en route. North Electrics. On 18th June 55022 was observed at Dumbarton, shunting barrier
vehicles wagons, after collecting an electric unit from Kilmarnock. Edinburgh. On 16th June 60163 Tornado arrived tender first at Waverley with thirteen coaches including its support coach and, after running round, worked the 15.11 “Forth Circle” via the Suburban line, Falkirk Grahamston, Alloa and Dunfermline, arriving back a few minutes late at 19.25, leaving with the ECS at 19.45 for Millerhill. On the same day 67008 and 90019 were stabled in the east end bays and 08472, 08615 and 57006 were noted at Craigentinny. At Leith South the FHA spine wagons reported in the March 2011 RO were still present, becoming engulfed in ever denser undergrowth. At 10.00 on 17th June 66001, in red DBS livery, was noted at the west end of Edinburgh Waverley. Bo’ness Junction. Colas-liveried 66850 was noted stabled on the connecting line on both 16th and 17th June, as the former stabling point at Stirling is no longer available due to remodelling work. Inverness. 60163 Tornado worked a “Cathedrals Express” from Edinburgh, running via Aviemore in both directions on 15th June and was noted in Millburn yard with its support coach at 15.20 after turning on the station triangle while 67011 shunted its stock. 08788 was outside the former Lochgorm works. Thanks to R. F. Madge
67008 is on Thunderbird duty at Edinburgh Waverley as 334030 arrives on 24th June. Now in Saltire livery this Roger Darsley class previously wore Strathclyde PTE livery.
524
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 525
EASTERN & NORTH EASTERN ECML. Engineering Diversions. Further planned engineering work took place on 1st/2nd, 8th/9th and 15th/16th June. On each weekend, the line was closed between Grantham and Newark from 13.15 on the Saturday to 12.00 on the Sunday. East Coast Trains ran an hourly service in direction between Kings Cross and Newcastle/Edinburgh, diverted via the GN/GE joint line and formed of HST sets. In addition, there was a limited service between Kings Cross and Grantham, and between Newark and Leeds, these trains being formed of Cl.91/Mk.4 sets, together with a bus link between Grantham and Newark. The exceptions to this latter service were the 13.05 Leeds-Kings Cross and the 16.03 Kings Cross-Leeds. These two trains were formed of Cl.91/Mk.4 sets, hauled by Cl.67 locomotives between Leeds and Peterborough, and diverted via the Joint line. Locomotives used were 67008 on 1st, 67022 on 8th and 67005 on 15th. 67005 ran light from Doncaster to Neville Hill, where it was attached to the Mk.4/ Cl.91 set, ready to run to Leeds station to form the 13.05 departure. After hauling the train to Peterborough, the Cl.67 was detached, and the Cl.91 propelled the train to London, departing at 15.58. Meanwhile, another Cl.91/Mk.4 set left London at 16.03; on arrival at Peterborough, the Cl.67 was attached, departing at 17.07 for Leeds. After arrival in Leeds, the Cl.67 took the empty train to Neville Hill and then returned light to Doncaster. Other trains diverted included all scheduled Hull Trains and Grand Central Trains services and some freight services and all were fitted in between the normal Peterborough-Lincoln trains. On 22nd June, a near normal service ran until 19.00, after which there were alterations with the last East Coast service leaving London at 20.30. On 23rd, there was a reduced service, with two trains each hour between Kings Cross and Newcastle/Edinburgh, and Leeds services running north of Peterborough only. There were also considerable alterations to Hull Trains and Grand Central Trains services, with most not running south of Peterborough. All alterations were in connection with the commissioning of the Hitchin flyover and other work in the London area. Unfortunately, some of this work overran and early services on 24th were delayed or cancelled. Freight Diversions. Due to the line closure north of Grantham on some Saturdays in June, 4E49 the 14.52 Ipswich-Scunthorpe was also topped and tailed by 66504+66543 on 1st and by 66501+66567 on 8th. On these days, the train ran via the Joint line to Lincoln, where it reversed to get to Immingham for a second reversal and finally to Scunthorpe. On 15th,
66504+66594 worked the train but passed much earlier than usual at 15.32, as it was being rerouted via Leicester, Washwood Heath (reverse), Derby, Chesterfield, Rotherham, Doncaster, and Gainsborough to reach Lincoln. The return train, 4L87 the 04.28MO Scunthorpe-Felixstowe ran by its normal route but was still topped and tailed and by the same locomotives. Another train which normally works through here is the Dollands MoorScunthorpe steel empties, but on these three Saturdays it was booked to run via the MML and Nottingham to Lincoln, which it did on 1st and 15th. On 8th, it was sent via Reading, Swindon, Gloucester, Birmingham, Derby, Beighton and Doncaster to Lincoln. East Coast Trains. Problems during the period included 31st May - the 1E17 13.30 Edinburgh-Kings Cross failed in the Newcastle area and was terminated there. 1st June - 67024 worked south from Heaton depot to Bounds Green with a failed Cl.91/ Mk.4 set, although it is not known if these two events involved the same train set. 4th June - 67005 worked a failed set from Leeds to Bounds Green. 7th June - 91112 failed at Darlington, whilst working the 06.55 Edinburgh-Kings Cross. Passengers were conveyed forward on alternative trains and 67024 sent to Darlington to work the failed train to Bounds Green, departing at 11.35. 18th June - 91101, on the 10.25 NewcastleKings Cross, failed at Grantham. 67022 was sent to retrieve the failure and take it to Bounds Green. 19th June - Services were stopped in the Peterborough area at about 18.45, as a person was threatening to jump from a railway bridge in the area. 20th June - A person was hit by the 19.33 Kings Cross-Leeds at Alexandra Palace station, causing the usual delays whilst the BT Police and relevant authorities dealt with the aftermath. On 31st May 91107 was noted on the 17.25 Newcastle-Kings Cross , stripped of its ‘Skyfall’ decals and back in its silver livery. However by 15th June, it had been to Wabtec, Doncaster for a full repaint into grey livery, being seen that day working the 15.20 Kings Cross-Grantham. Mail Train Reinstatement. After many rumours trial runs took place on 30th May, when 325014+325001 worked south from Low Fell Royal Mail terminal to Willesden PRDC. The train was reported at Peterborough at 11.10. The return working in the afternoon used 325008. Nightly running five nights a week was due to start in early June, the first report being 525
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 526
of 325006 working north on 11th. The two trains are 1M80 21.47SX Low Fell RMT -Willesden PRDC and 1E06 22.45SX Willesden PRDC-Low Fell RMT. The trains are due to pass near Peterborough at about 00.15 on Tuesday to Saturday mornings. Hitchin. On 29th May, 31190 passed at 13.10, hauling 50026 from Eastleigh to Wymondham for the Mid Norfolk Railway’s Cl.50 gala. On 31st, 47818 passed just before 20.00, hauling MPV 98906/56, fitted with weedkilling modules, en route from Tring to Doncaster via Cambridge. On 7th June, 66519 was seen at Royston at 19.20 on 6O36 the 18.08 WhitemoorHoo Junction, with 66846/9 dead in train. These two locomotives returned to Whitemoor on 11th behind 66013 on 6L36 the 19.52 Hoo Junction Whitemoor, seen at Hatfield at 22.24. On 21st, 60163+67006 worked a Steam Dreams’ “Cathedrals Express” from Tonbridge to Ely, passing at 12.36. The return train was seen at Royston at 18.36. Peterborough. The diversion of the ScotRail sleeping car services on Sunday nights continued until 16th June. On 9th, the two northbound trains both made detours via Stratford, due to the Kings Cross incline being blocked, reaching the ECML via Canonbury. As a result, both trains ran north about 90 minutes late. On the last weekend, the four trains were worked by 90021 (1S25), 90035 (1S26), 90019 (1M11) and 90024 (1M16). From time to time, a two-car Cl.170 DMU replaces a three-car one on the IpswichPeterborough service, but on 1st June, both diagrams used two-car sets, 170271 and 170272, the first time our Ed. Rep. can remember this happening. Peterborough Charter Workings. 31st May - 47580+47760 passed at 15.02 on Carnforth-Norwich ECS for the following day’s NENTA “Severn Valley Rambler” from North Walsham to Worcester. This train picked up passengers at 09.20, due to return them at 20.35. The ECS returned north at about 13.00 on 2nd. 6th June - The “Northern Belle” ECS passed at 14.25 with 47501+47810, en route from Crewe to Norwich and was seen again on 8th en route from Norwich to Chester, calling at 08.57 and 20.05. On 9th, the stock went ECS from Norwich to Nottingham, passing at 09.40. 11th June - 60163 Tornado worked the A1 Steam Trust’s “Elizabethan” from Kings Cross to Edinburgh, calling at 08.09. The return trip was hauled by 55009 Alycidon and called to set down at 22.24. 60009 Union of South Africa also passed at 10.07, working from Southall to York, ready to take “The Cathedrals Explorer” north from York to Edinburgh on 14th. This train was worked from Kings Cross by 4464 Bittern, which picked up at 10.05.
526
15th June - 57313+57316 worked the 05.50 “Golden Arrow Statesman” to Canterbury. The train arrived at 05.43, ECS from Doncaster and ran to London via Ely, Cambridge and Hitchin. It returned at 22.42, about 45 minutes late, direct from London, reversing here to take passengers back to Ely and Cambridge. 17th June - The return trip of “The Cathedrals Explorer” was delayed between Edinburgh and Newcastle, where it was over an hour late. However, it made up half of this by the time it called at 18.47, some of this by cutting the locomotive change time at York, and 4464 recouped the rest to Kings Cross, arriving on time at 20.58. 23rd June - 70013 Oliver Cromwell worked the Railway Touring Company’s “White Rose” from Kings Cross to York and back, calling to pick up at 09.58 and later to set down, over an hour late, at 18.29. Peterborough Locomotive Movements. 28th May - 47818 went east at 13.57, heading for Norwich. 29th May - 31190 passed light at 19.02 en route Wymondham to Derby after taking 50026 to the Mid Norfolk Railway. 31st May - 47818 hauling MPV 98906/56 from Tring to Doncaster, paused from 22.01 to 22.38, returning on 1st June at 18.15, heading for Stowmarket. 12th June - 66701 brought newly imported 66750 through at 01.00, taking it to the GBRf depot. It was only there for a few hours, leaving about 09.00, behind 66741 for Electromotive’s workshops at Longport. 35028 Clan Line and support coach 17096 were taken north from Stewarts Lane to the Tata steel works at Tinsley by 66174, for a private function, pausing from 12.22 to 12.29. The return working was on 17th, passing Werrington Junction at 11.27 with 66221 on the front. 13th June - A convoy from Barrow Hill to Sheringham comprising 56311, 56301, 33108, 45133 and 31190 passed at 13.32. The return convoy passed at 16.57 on 17th. 18th June - 60163 Tornado passed Tallington at 18.35 en route from Millerhill to Southall. Delayed in the area as it did not pass the station until 20.33. Peterborough Stock Movements. 3rd June - 20096, 20107, 20311 and 20314 went south at 10.15, heading for West Ruislip LUL depot. 7th June - 66708 went south at 21.48 on with 465928 on 5X44 Doncaster-Slade Green, returning next day at 15.49 with 465912 on 5X89 Slade Green-Peterborough. This working was terminated here due to the scheduled engineering work north of Grantham, the train continuing its journey to Doncaster next day, departing at 12.20. 11th June - 56311 passed at 19.22 on an Etches Park-Wembley yard stock move.
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 527
If one can avoid the attentions of the ‘security jobsworths’ prowling the shopping centre car park, the top floor of the facility provides a superb vista of Doncaster operations both north and south. At 14.01 on 12th June CrossCountry’s 12.35 Newcastle-Southampton Central is at platform 4 running behind schedule. In the sidings are 97304 John Tilley and 37419 Carl Haviland 1954-2012 with a Network Rail survey train. 37419 was formerly Bill Turvill D6991 and 37291.
Peterborough - Freight and Test Trains. 950001 was at the LIP at 08.20 on 2nd June, and arrived again at 08.15 on 24th. 37419+97304 were at the LIP at 12.30 on 12th on a Derby to Doncaster test train, returning next day and reversing at the station between 14.58 and 15.05. The following week saw a number of visits by 37425 on another test train, on 19th and 21st. Colas 66849+66846 passed at 20.44 on 28th May on 6C70 the 20.00 Whitemoor yard-Lincoln engineers’ train, returning early next morning, and this diagram was repeated on 29th/30th and 30th/31st, and again the following week on 4th/5th, 5th/6th and 6th/7th June. 66846 was next seen on 12th with 60039 dead in train on the 6L15 17.52 Toton-Whitemoor. Next morning, it worked 6Z45 the 09.35 Whitemoor-Toton, returning later in the day with 66849 behind 60039 on 6L15. After a weekend on engineers’ trains in Suffolk, both locomotives went light from Whitemoor to Bescot on 17th, passing at 14.35. After some weeks with few Cl.60 workings, the last few weeks have produced almost daily sightings, especially on 6L16/6M15. Single examples seen on this working were 60017 (21st June), 60035 (4th to 6th June), 60039 (28th May, 10th, 11th and 14th June) and 60062 (17th
and 18th June). Double-headed trains seen were 60039/91 (30th May), 60035/9 (31st May), 60062 and 66077 on 6L15 and 66134 and 60062 on 6M15 (7th June), 66846 and 60039 (12th June), 60039 and 66846/9 (13th June) and 60035/62 (24th June). 60035 also worked 6L84/6E04 the 21.43 Doncaster-Whitemoor and 01.34 return on 28th/29th May and 6Z80 the 08.56 DoncasterWhitemoor on 14th June. Other Cl.60s seen were 60065 on 6L75/6M86 the 04.15 Peak Forest-Ely and 15.51 return also on 14th, 60059 on 6M85 Ketton-St. Pancras cement tanks on 16th, reversing in the West yard at 16.00, the same locomotive on 6L84 at 23.31 on 20th and finally 60010 on 6M85 on 22nd, again reversing at 16.00. On 29th May, 66729 worked from Whitemoor yard to Orton Mere on the NVR, taking a Colas Kirow 125-tonne crane 81612 to the preserved line, where it was involved in testing, passing at 10.24 and 11.06. The crane had come south from Toton the previous evening on the 6L15, together with a Balfour Beattie Kirow 100-tonne crane 81602, which had remained at Whitemoor. Topping and tailing of freight trains has been seen on 6H67 the 08.48 Peterborough-Langley Junction and 6M33 16.06 return to Mountsorrel, with 66232+66147 on 2nd June and 66016+66054 on 9th.
527
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 528
Boston. The steel trains continue with 47739 on 28th May and 4th to 6th June. 47749 then took over, working on 7th, 9th and 11th to 13th. The trip on 9th was unusual as it was a Sunday, 47749 working east light and returning on 6Z08 the 15.45 loaded train to Washwood Heath. On 12th, 47749 failed at Radcliffe-on-Trent on the outward journey. The driver however managed to resuscitate it after about an hour and it continued on the rest of the diagram, albeit rather late, and after causing some diversions and cancellations to the passenger service. On 14th and 17th, 56302 provided the power, but was replaced by 56105 on 18th. On 21st, both Cl.56s double-headed the train, whilst 56105 appeared alone on 24th. Sheffield. Freight services noted at Woodburn Junction were on 14th May, 70010 with DraxTunstead empty HIA limestone hopper wagons and on 29th, 70003 with empty powder tank wagons from Earles sidings to Drax, both trains running via Rotherham Central. On 4th and 6th June, 70013 worked West Burton-Earles sidings loaded powder (flyash) tank wagon services. Also on 6th, 66607 worked the first Bardon Hill-Tinsley stone train and return; a new flow to an asphalt plant constructed on part of the site of the former Tinsley yard. On 22nd May at Brightside Junction the following, were noted, 66710 working the Doncaster-Tunstead empty bogie box wagons, 66553 working the
Manchester Bredbury-Roxby Gullet Binliner service and 66544 working the Dewsbury-Earles sidings empty cement tank wagons. 37259+ 37607 worked a test train on a circuitous route from Doncaster and back which reversed in the sidings here. A repeat performance on 23rd saw the same train reverse in the sidings on its devious route from Doncaster to Derby RTC. On the same day, 66515 worked the Binliner service and 70003 the return cement empty wagons. On 10th June, the 11.55 Manchester AirportDoncaster was terminated 56 minutes late at Sheffield after being delayed by a defective freight train. After a quick turnround, the unit formed the 14.11 departure back to the airport. Hull. Coal traffic has been down recently and biomass services have recommenced with complaints received en route between Howden and Selby resulting in a test run under observation. Locomotives used on these services were 66012 on 22nd April and 66012 and 66139 on 14th May. 66557 was on an early working to Rugeley on 24th April, with 66007 on a Tarmac service, 66031 on a steel train, 66092 on a biomass working and 60079 on a route learning service to Ferriby. Coal services were worked by 66507 on 23rd April and by 66070 on 2nd May. Although now passed for the area, no Cl.70 has appeared yet. Coal trains noted have been hauled by 66511 on 2nd May to Cottam, 66597 on 14th May to Rugeley, 66510 to Rugeley on
43058 heads EMT’s 1Z43 the 07.38 St. Pancras-Scarborough across the River Aire at Brotherton, near Steve Batty Ferrybridge, on 15th June.
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 529
15th and 66592 to West Burton on 11th. Tarmac services have been worked by 66007 on 22nd April, 66063 on 23rd, 66168 on 14th May and 66131 on 15th. Passenger service interest was provided on 27th April when 57601+57316 worked a “Statesman” charter train to Carlisle the long way round. On 5th May, 180111+ 180113 worked the 10.27 Hull-Kings Cross to accomodate Grand Central passengers from Doncaster. Thirsk. Steam workings during June were 46233 Duchess of Sutherland on 1Z42 07.25 Derby-Newcastle charter (13 vehicles) on 8th passing at 10.31 on the down slow and on 1Z43 15.47 Newcastle-Derby return charter passing at 17.41 on the up slow, A1 60163 Tornado on “The Elizabethan” the 06.40 Kings CrossEdinburgh charter (10 vehicles) on 11th passing at 11.08 on the down slow, and A4 60009 Union of South Africa on the 07.38 Kings Cross-Perth charter (13 vehicles) on 14th passing at 14.19 (46 late) on the down slow and returning on 17th as 1Z62 09.37 Edinburgh-Kings Cross passing at 14.50 (62 minutes late) on the up slow and crossing to the up fast at Green Lane, just south of the station. “The Elizabethan” on 11th returned south as the 17.38 Edinburgh-Kings Cross consisting of nine vehicles powered by D9009 Alycidon in two-tone green livery passing at 20.41 on the up fast. The locomotive had gone north on 10th as 0Z55 the 11.00 Staveley (Barrow Hill)-Millerhill light passing at 13.04 (21 minutes early) on the down slow. Tornado) returned south from its Scottish sojourn on 18th as 5Z63 the 09.10 Millerhill-Southall passing at 14.02 on the up slow. Finally, on 24th June, A4 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley passed on the up slow at 11.50 (77 minutes early) on 5Z61 the 12.28 Eaglescliffe-York (initially 5Z60 the 07.54 ex-Grosmont). The final Sunday night/Monday morning diversion of nocturnal WCML workings in the recent series occurred on 16th/17th June. This comprised 66423 on 4S49 the 18.47 DIRFTGrangemouth intermodal passing at 00.02 (15 minutes early) on the down slow, 90021 on the 20.28 Euston-Inverness sleeper passing at 00.53 (right time) on the down slow, 90024 on the 21.40 Glasgow Central-Euston sleeper passing at 02.13 on the up slow, 90035 in EWS livery on the 21.45 Euston-Glasgow Central sleeper also passing at 02.13 (17 minutes early) on the down fast, 66434 in DRS Malcolm livery on 4M30 the 18.30 Grangemouth-DIRFT intermodal arriving at 02.36 and departing at 02.51 on the up slow and finally 90019 on the 20.26 InvernessEuston sleeper passing at 04.02 (14 minutes early) on the up fast. All the Cl.90s, except 90035, were in First ScotRail livery with EWS branding and the sleepers each consisted of 16 vehicles all in Caledonian blue livery, passenger
trains of such length being now very few in this present age of fixed formation train sets. The diversions comprised just under half of the total workings of the period, the most interesting normal working being 60092 on 6N03 the 23.57 Lindsey-Jarrow loaded bogie oil tanks passing at 03.42 (20 minutes early) on the down fast. This and its return empty working are now cancelled typically on two variable days per week and continue to be normally Cl.60-hauled with 60040 and 60099 (the latter in Tata Steel livery) being other examples recently noted. The occasional exception occurs, however, as on 31st May when 66083 appeared. On 8th June 1Z74 the 17.38 York-Ayr return charter consisting of 12 vehicles passed on the down slow at 18.02 topped by 57313 in Arriva unbranded livery and tailed by West Coast Railways-liveried 47760. Shortly afterwards 66301 running as 0Z66 the 18.00 Castle HillsYork light returning from the Wensleydale Railway called briefly at 18.31. Noted on 11th June was 66414 in its unique all over blue livery on 4N01 the 10.27 Leeds-Wilton passing at 11.25 on the down fast. Next day, 12th, 66504 in Powerhaul livery and the first of its class to become so liveried, worked 4D07 the 14.29 Wilton-Leeds passing at 15.47. Most unusually on 17th 6H30 the 09.45 Tyne Dock-Drax PS coal was topped by 66744 and tailed by 66736. This ensemble called briefly at 11.46 on the up slow before diversion to the up fast at Green Lane. Following release from Butterley 66749, in dark grey livery, passed on the down slow at 15.54 on 22nd June on 0N01 the 13.00 Derby Etches Park-Tyne Dock. On 19th June 1M80 21.47 Low Fell RMTWillesden, normally consisting of a single Cl.325 unit under its own power, was hauled by 66057, believed to have been due to trouble with 325004 on its northbound journey which ran several hours late. The Wolsingham coal trains to and from either Scunthorpe or Ratcliffe PS have recently been worked by 66848 which has replaced the former regular, 66849. The scrap workings from Stockton or Tyne Dock to and from Tremorfa sidings, Cardiff, until recently operated by DCR, have been taken over by GBRf with 66733 the locomotive recently employed. However a DCR locomotive, 56301, did make a now rare appearance on 6Z56 the 17.00 MossendDoncaster special freight on 23rd June which passed on the up slow 193 minutes early at 19.09. ScotRail Cl.320s appear occasionally as 5S20 the 15.37 Doncaster-Shields TMD, after refurbishment at Wabtec, a recent example being 320312 on 17th June. The refurbishment of those units is believed to be nearing completion. 529
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 530
ANGLIA Felixstowe North Terminal. The new North terminal at Felixstowe was officially opened on 6th June by HRH The Duke of York. There was a press launch on 5th for which GWR Prairie 5521 (in red livery as London Transport L.150) was brought down to Suffolk, while modern operators were represented by 66185 (DB red), 66504 (PowerHaul) and GBRf 66709. Engineering Operations. Work east of Ely closed the line between there to Haughley Junction, and this meant that a Greater Anglia shuttle service ran between Ely and Peterborough, this being worked by 170270. The same stretch of line was closed again on 16th with 170208 the DMU in use, also on 22nd with 170271 again and on 23rd with 156407. EMT’s 156404 worked the 14.57 NorwichLiverpool on 8th June, whilst two days later, 156470 worked the 10 52 Liverpool-Norwich. Coaching Stock. Porterbrook Leasing has awarded Railcare a £5m contract to undertake the C6 scheduled overhaul and additional corrosion repairs to 111 of Greater Anglia’s locomotive-hauled Mk.3 InterCity coaches (see p.394,June RO). It is believed this figure is made up of 28 FOs (11xxx series), 77 TSOs (12xxx series) and the six TBSOs (10401-06), leaving the eight RMBs (102xx series) to be dealt with separately. The work is due to start this October and completion is planned for July 2016. It is expected five coaches will be undergoing overhaul at Railcare’s Wolverton plant at any one time. The work will include exterior shot blasting, examination of vehicle structures, corrosion repairs and repainting in Greater Anglia’s red and white livery. There will be a full test of electrical systems and an overhaul of the air-conditioning and central door locking systems. Flooring and carpets will be cleaned or replaced as appropriate. Porterbrook is investigating the possibility of including the extensive modifications needed to make the vehicles compliant with the Persons of Reduced Mobility TSI, which would ensure the fleet could continue to operate beyond 1st January 2020. The refurbishment of the seventeen exSilverlink Cl.321 EMUs (321421-37) that National Express East Anglia inherited back in 2010 has been completed by the team at the re-opened Clacton depot (see p.398, June RO). The refurbished interiors feature new grey seating moquette and refreshed grab and handrails, flooring and side panels. They retain the extra former first class area, outside the original and more typical area at one end of the units, albeit without the tables. Boat Trains. Special trains will connect with cruise ships Brilliance of the Seas and Celebrity Infinity docking throughout the summer season 530
to provide a service between Liverpool Street and Harwich International. The trains are booked to run (Mondays to Saturdays) Harwich International depart 09.03, Liverpool Street arrive 10.21, returning from Liverpool Street at 12.28, Harwich International arrive 13.40. Slightly different times apply on Sundays, i.e. Harwich International depart 08.54, Liverpool Street arrive 10.14, returning from Liverpool Street at 12.28, Harwich International arrive 13.48. Services are worked by two Cl.321 units. Cambridge. Network Rail test unit 950001 was observed stabled at Cambridge station at 19.40 on 1st June. Ilford. 73119 travelled as 0Z73 Selhurst-Ilford for tyre turning on 1st May. It left Ilford at 12.00 on 3rd to return to Tonbridge. Departing Ilford on 1st was Chiltern Trains’ 165023 forming 5M50 the 10.10 Ilford-Aylesbury. Ipswich. Noted at the Freightliner stabling point at 13.10 on 1st June were 66504 in new PowerHaul livery, 66543/68 and 70008. Later that afternoon, 66504/43 had moved to East Suffolk yard to work the 4E49 FelixstoweScunthorpe. Also present was 66070 working 4E45 Felixstowe-Wakefield. Sizewell. The 6L70 00.27 Crewe-Sizewell and the 6M69 15.42 Sizewell-Willesden flask trains ran on no fewer than ten occasions during the period under review. The dates were 15th April (37402+37601), 17th (37259+37402), 19th (37194+37425), 22nd (37402+57011), 24th (37194+37425), 26th (37603+37612), 29th (37602+37607), 2nd May (20308+20312), 9th (20302+20304) and 16th (20308+20312). The use of 57011 on 22nd April was believed to be the first time that a Cl.57 has travelled over the Sizewell branch. Norwich. On 16th June, the derailment of a tamping machine at Norwich blocked the line at Trowse until about 13.00. As a result, all the EMT Cl.158s at Norwich worked out on the 13.49 to Liverpool, the train consisting of four units, 158774+158864+158799+158854. They probably ran as far as Nottingham. Cl.156. Refurbished 156412 returned to Norwich on 22nd April running as 5Z42 exWolverton Works. The unit now wears Greater Anglia white livery as applied to 156402/22 and returned to traffic on 25th when it was reported as working the 12.07 Lowestoft-Ipswich service. The sole National Express East Anglia-liveried example, 156419, went to Wolverton for treatment on 25th. Steam. 60163 Tornado worked a Rainham (Essex) to Ely “The Cathedrals Express” excursion on 25th June. This was routed via the West London line, North London line, Gospel Oak, Harringay Park Junction, Finsbury Park, Welwyn Garden City and Cambridge. Thanks to Martin Haywood, Ipswich Transport Society, Anglia Gen Yahoo! site
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 531
Restored Jubilee 45699 Galatea approaching Stowmarket for a water stop on its way back to Kings Lynn working a private Kings Lynn to Kings Lynn charter on 19th May. This is the first known visit of this class to the local area Bev Steele although it is known they reached March on freights in the 1960s.
NETWORK – INFRASTRUCTURE MAJOR PROJECTS Crossrail. Maidenhead. The sidings beside the up relief line were taken out of use on 3rd June, and plain line fitted between the down relief and up main lines. Both alterations are part of the Crossrail enabling works. Silvertown. A 1,300m² cofferdam has been built in the Royal Victoria dock, allowing it to be partially drained. This in turn makes it possible to access the Connaught tunnel from above to rebuild it via a 20m-long, 10m-wide hole in the top. This is the only reused tunnel required for Crossrail. 2.8m gallons of water and 332 fish were removed from the work area, the latter replaced elsewhere in the dock. Crossrail 2. Consultation (a joint NR/TfL exercise) on the new line (see p.250, April RO) started on 14th May, running until 2nd August. Doncaster Flyover. From 28th June for five weeks the Skellow lines were blocked to allow installation of a new double junction, forming the easternmost connections to the new flyover. Evergreen 3. The time allowed to appeal the high court’s decision (see p.460, July RO) passed without any request being made. Therefore, all legal hurdles are cleared and construction can start.
Hitchin. The flyover was energised in full on 2nd June 2013. It has reference DCF, has line of route number LN126, and is partially on the former Bedford line formation. The first train used it at 14.02 on 25th June (one day late); as the service was slightly delayed the benefit was immediately obvious when it was held on the flyover to allow a fast Cambridge service to pass. The day’s delay was caused by minor difficulties in commissioning the new signalling. Set passenger-carrying trains will use the flyover for driver training until the December timetable, when the full service will use it. Train types permitted on the link are Cl.66/67/70 and Cl.313/317/312/365 only. HS2. The latest plan has a longer tunnel under East Midlands airport, ostensibly to safeguard up to 7,000 jobs. The reason is that by having a longer tunnel it is possible to build a strategic rail freight interchange depot (SRFI) next to the airport. A planning application for the SRFI has not been submitted yet. Old Oak Common. Consultation started on 27th June over a new scheme for the area based around the HS2 station, which is expected to see use by a third of all HS2 passengers. The £10bn scheme, inspired by Canary Wharf, would regenerate 100 acres with 19,000 houses. A local council leader is reported to be in favour. 531
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 532
Peterborough. During July the new island platform started to look like part of a station as the void between the platform walls was filled. Extending the ramped bridge continued, including removing the last lighting tower section. On the platform’s west side, ballast was laid from the north end points in front of the PSB to south of the new footbridge, followed by sleepers and rails. In late June two large mobile cranes were assembling the lift tower steelwork. To the south end, a steel extension to current platform 3 was being erected to bring it level with the end of platform 2. New OLE mast foundations were being prepared beside platform 3, where the existing masts would be too near the platform face. Reading. Station. Over the Easter period there were 600 workers on site for the early shift, 600 for the late and 400 overnight, who completed their tasks on time and without injury. The town’s Pentahotel was totally given over to NR contractors. Depot. The main buildings have green bands around them. The borough council, much to the chagrin of First Great Western’s projects director, insisted upon these as a planning condition. Thameslink Project. Blackfriars. By June’s close NR was expecting the development to reach ‘substantial completion’ within the month. It should originally have been finished in September 2011. Windsor. NR has approved plans for a link between the two branches (see p.388, June RO), which it says is potentially viable and will complement its own investments. The private promoter must now secure funding. This is claimed to be the first wholly privately promoted and funded railway for over 100 years (the Heathrow tunnels being jointly promoted by BR). The DfT makes clear that the scheme must be economically sustainable and not adversely impact any existing services. OTHER DEVELOPMENTS Stations. Sponsorship. First Great Western has been busy selling advertising rights at its stations (see p.399, June RO). Additional stations known are: Bridgwater. Bridgwater College www.bridgwater.ac.uk Bruton. Kings School, Bruton. www.kingsbruton.com Taunton has two different texts, ‘Home of King’s College’ and ‘Home of King’s Hall School’ (with very similar rendering). Also, for South West Trains there are: Basingstoke. AXA Wealth (logo and text in blue above ‘Welcome to Basingstoke’) Bournemouth. Bournemouth Home of BU Bournemouth University (first three words and stylised ‘U’ in red, remainder in black). 532
Poole has similar signs without the station name Salisbury. Home of James Hay Partnership (white text on blue to left, company name and logo on white to right) Scotland. 56 stations will share £5.27m for improvement next year. The money will pay for car and cycle parks, toilets, information and ticket machines, accessibility changes and waiting rooms, plus more extensive work at Gleneagles. Bathgate, completed just over two years ago, will have a larger car park. In separate developments, 25 stations will receive wi-fi equipment by December 2014. ScotRail took account of footfall, number of services and major events to select the stations, which include obvious choices (Glasgow Central, Edinburgh Haymarket) and less obvious ones (Gleneagles, Kilmarnock). Certain trains also provide the free facility. Anglia. 39 rural stations had been repainted by Greater Anglia by mid-June, mainly in Norfolk and Suffolk. Cambridgeshire. The council’s long term strategy includes re-opening either Fulbourn or Cherry Hinton stations (not both at this stage), tied in with planned housing developments, and new stations serving Cambridge Science Park and Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Also under consideration is re-opening the Wisbech branch. 3,000 signed a petition to re-open Wisbech, whilst in 1996 70% voted against a station at Cherry Hinton. Blackburn. Triggered by the town’s £28m regeneration scheme, NR will spend £600,000 on refurbishment. It hopes to attract a heritage grant to renovate the canopy. In addition, the café owners will contribute £180,000 to convert their business into a Subway Metro coffee bar. Brentwood. ‘National stations improvement programme’ work, carried out in 2011, did not include lifts. Now, ‘access for all’ money is paying for three that will take about a year to install. Chelmsford. Outline planning permission for a new station (see p.131, March 2010 RO) was granted in early June. Construction should start around 2016 and the station could open in 2019. Denmark Hill. On 14th June, customers were introduced to new facilities. The work took two years, double the plan (see p.394, July 2011 RO), and even then the lifts were not in use. Edinburgh Waverley. A new plan envisages rebuilding the station again to create the city’s ‘heartbeat’. There would be an arts event venue, cafés, plants (in conjunction with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh) and statues of famous Scots. Shops will be moved from the concourse to ease passenger flow. Meanwhile, from 3rd June the south taxi ramp was closed
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 533
for three weeks for installation of ‘new security measures’. These will be brought into use in September and the taxi drop-off moved. Further lifts and escalators will be added in due course. Gamesley. Derbyshire county council has requested £5m towards a new station just under a mile west of Dinting. However, the scheme is competing with others for the money. If built it would be very close to the site of Mottram sidings staff halt, the down platform of which is still visible. Hassocks. Those interested in 1970s modular station buildings are advised to visit them as soon as possible as another will be demolished and replaced with modern modules. The new building will include a shop, cash machine and, The Argus proudly reports, ‘soft seating’! This site was due to be complete by July. Hatfield. Alterations will start soon, mainly involving an ‘access for all’ bridge and highway improvements. There will also be a car park and retail units. Letchworth. Work starts on 30th September to provide lifts, replacing those out of use since the 1980s. Nailsea & Backwell. Work on a disabled access ramp on the down side will start soon; vegetation was cleared in June. The up side car park will also be extended. Pantyfynnon. NR and the Railway Heritage Trust want to restore the station. They are seeking information from the public about finer details so that they can repair them accurately. Port Talbot. Station rebuilding design work is complete and physical work should start on 30th November (see p.391, June RO). Completion is scheduled for January 2015. Rochester. The new £26m station (see p.391, June RO) will, if approved, have three platforms and all the facilities one would expect. NR hopes it could be open by December 2015 and that it will trigger regeneration in the area. Wakefield Kirkgate. The platforms were recently renovated and platform 1 given a new canopy. However the disused buildings on platform 1 have not been touched and remain in a dreadful condition. A small part of the platform has been fenced off and a wooden structure erected within to catch bricks falling off the northeast corner of the buildings. The photograph on p.395, June RO shows Kirkgate before the structure was erected. It is just above the Cl.37’s leading cab. Wellington (Somerset). Taunton Deane council is holding discussions with Mid Devon district and Devon county councils with a view to re-opening this station and Cullompton. Wellington is thought to be the largest town between Penzance and London without a station.
Winchester. Lift/footbridge work starts in July for completion in December. Most work will take place during normal working hours. Wokingham. Work was progressing on the new station building and access road (see p.40, January RO) during June. The concrete foundations were laid west of the existing up building and during 25th the first members of the steel frame were erected. The station footbridge had been removed though the level crossing footbridge remains. Wolverton. By 8th June all the drainage work (see p.317, May RO) was complete and the car park fully open. Other Structures. Barmouth. The bridge has a path, available to walkers, cyclists and motorcyclists, for which Gwynedd council pays NR £39,405 each year (towards maintenance) for the privilege. Until April, much of this was recouped through user tolls, collected by a couple living next to the bridge. Now that they have left their posts, the council has decided to drop the tolls and fund the crossing through taxation. Longer term they are considering options such as asking for business support. Bristol. Signalling Solutions Ltd., with support from NR, BCM Construction and RJC Ltd. Midlands Division, created a garden in Totterdown to which the public was invited to join in planting on 1st June. It is on formerly derelict land beside the Bristol area signalling renewal and enhancement (BASRE) project office using construction spoil. All four companies were instrumental in BASRE. Chester. It took eight months and just under £1m to refurbish the station’s bridge, with money provided by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Cheshire West and Chester council, Railway Heritage Trust and NR. It was formally re-opened on 6th June and will be entered for a National Rail Heritage Award. Hungerford. Repainting the High Street bridge, started on 22nd April, was completed on 6th June. Dating from the 1960s, it was painted in an older GWR style complete with lining out and coat of arms, with the underside in ‘Hungerford blue’. Regrettably, a standard ‘low bridge’ sign replaced the coat of arms within three weeks. NR brought forward the £275,000 project to promote local economic growth. Longton. Owing to extensive maintenance work on the viaduct, King Street (the main road below it) has to endure closure for several months. The first phase runs for 13 weeks from 27th June, the second thence to the new year; both allow scaffolding to be in place. Most maintenance is routine; the public will mainly see the full repaint of the girders. Selby. Swing bridge repairs (see p.392, June RO) are delayed until next year. 533
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 534
c2c services from Fenchurch Street are operated entirely by Cl.357 units and thus receive little attention from either photographers or observers. During the off-peak, trains run every ten minutes from the London terminus Paul Chancellor and here 357206 has reached Barking on the 12.30 service from the capital.
Routes. Hatfield & Stainforth. The railway re-opened on 8th July, mainly for driver retraining. For the first three weeks a limited passenger service ran, returning to normal on 29th. Althorpe, Crowle, Hatfield & Stainforth, Kirk Sandall, Thorne North and Thorne South stations re-opened at the same time. Sheffield. Oft-discussed tram-train proposals were given the go-ahead on 19th June. The chosen scheme will take the city’s Supertram network to Rotherham via a new connection at Meadowhall South. There would be new stops at Meadowhall South and Rotherham Parkgate, and Rotherham Central will be modified. The £60m scheme should be operational in three years. Sudbrook. Track has been lifted to the pumping station side of Pulp Mills level crossing. This clears the land for new housing on the paper mill site. A quarter of a mile further onto the branch the track between the Post Office crossings has been covered with gravel and is used by a gardening club. Thames Haven. The branch re-opened on 24th June (delayed from 2nd April and again from 3rd June) (see p.572, October 2012 RO). The curve off the main line is eased, reducing the overall length by about 4ch. It is double track to Port Junction (28m 26ch) to run under the port access bridge. The London Gateway Port sidings start just after the bridge. The new route diverges from the old at 28m 4ch (new 534
mileage)/28m 8ch (old), and this coincides with a change in ownership. Higher mileages (port property) are entirely new formation, and the old becomes disused. NR signalling is controlled from Upminster; the port area is controlled separately with LG-prefixed signals. The original alignment is used 27m 11ch-28m 12ch and 28m 26ch-30m 9ch. Sidings and Depots. Derbyshire. Public consultation should now have started on the rail freight hub at Etwall (see p.182, March RO). Bathgate. Planning permission was granted in early June for two wind turbines in the depot car park. They will be 14m and 17m tall and capable of generating 14,000kWh, saving ScotRail about £4,500 per year. Felixstowe. The Duke of York formally opened a new terminal on 6th June for Hutchison Ports. The number of tracks available to container trains at the port increases from 11 to 20. Newhaven. The deferred siding reinstatement (see p.319, May RO) was completed on 3rd June. Seabank. Sita is spending £200m on the former ICI site on the Severn Beach line to create an energy and recycling centre. Disconnected and overgrown sidings will be refurbished and reconnected. Containerised refuse from London should arrive from 2016. Signalling. London Waterloo. Minor signalling alterations were made in early June to allow for the re-opening of platform 20.
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 535
Old Lea Station. Breaking recent trends, a new signal box opened and immediately switched out on 30th June at 95m 68ch on SPD3, communicating with Stow Park and Gainsborough Trent using absolute block procedures. It has one LG-prefixed colour light signal in each direction. It will only be used when extra capacity is needed and was expected to see its first use on 8th July. Sleaford. Resulting from the Hatfield & Stainforth line blockage, GNGE resignalling stages 1 and 3, originally scheduled for 8th/9th June and 21st-23rd September respectively, are rescheduled for completion on 2nd January 2014. Stage 4 (28th December) and stage 5 (March 2014) are postponed until 21st April and 25th August 2014. Stage 2 concerns level crossings, work that is not limited by external factors in the same way. Snodland. Recontrol took place from 24th June. A week later the area was controlled from Aylesford. Waterloo East. From 23rd June a co-acting signal L25 was installed but bagged over and not brought into use. It is perpendicular to the track and is provided in connection with 12-car train works, and will become useful at a later date. Speed Restrictions. Midland Main Line. A desire for line speed increases means that several bridges must be rebuilt with greater clearances commensurate with the kinematic envelope of faster trains. There will also be provision for OLE. The rebuilding started with Finedon Station Road (Burton Latimer) from 3rd June to 3rd September; then Church Road (Kibworth) and Square Bridge (Newton Harcourt) both from 9th September and to 22nd December/13th December respectively; a bridleway near Rushton (4th October to 13th November), and finally Pytchley Road (Kettering) from 9th December to 14th February 2014. NR will remove a redundant bridge near Kettering. Level Crossings. Brandon. The recently automated crossing is causing traffic issues in the town with the barriers remaining down. This is put down to over-sensitive obstacle detector equipment (though if taken literally this would imply trains stopping and barriers remaining up). NR is seeking ORR approval to adjust the equipment, and in the longer term has offered to build a bridge. Llanelli. Work on the west crossing had picked up by mid-June (see p.182, March RO). The road closed on 1st, re-opening on 24th a week late. The barriers were installed and operating but with ancillary work still to complete. Track Layouts. Manton Junction. The single lead will be redoubled between 1st and 9th September. Some signals will be repositioned to maximise train throughput.
Swindon. In the small hours of 16th June sleepers were laid in the Woodhall Park area (see p.256, April RO) for the second track. Two days later rails appeared, and after a further two they were ballasted awaiting tamping. Operational Matters. North. GSM-R spread to much of southern Scotland, Yorkshire, Lancashire and their environs from 1st July. West Coast Main Line. NR made public its performance improvement plans on 24th June. The measures will cost £40m, though some projects are already under way. They include OLE improvements, improved security and suicide prevention (in conjunction with the Samaritans). Glasgow. Both NR and BTP believe that a spate of incidents in the 10 days from 4th June at Queens Park, Yoker, Nitshill and Jordanhill are related and deliberate vandalism. Such is the severity that NR is offering a £10,000 reward for catching the culprit. Security patrols have also increased. London Bridge. ‘Auto total station’ track monitoring equipment was fitted to structures beside the platforms 1-6 tracks during June and July. Electrification. Great Western. Atkins and Parsons Brinckerhoff were jointly appointed in June as the lead design organisation for the forthcoming electrification work. Barking. The Chancellor’s funding commitment to TfL for the period 2015-21 includes £90m for electrifying the Gospel Oak line. Falkirk. The Edinburgh-Glasgow electrification contract went out to tender in late June; bidders must submit their price by September. The winner will be known early next year, and work should start in the summer for completion within two years. As well as pure OLE work, the successful contractor must extend some platforms at Edinburgh Waverley, Glasgow Queen Street, Croy, Falkirk High, Polmont and Linlithgow, build a new Edinburgh Gateway station at Gogar and build a maintenance depot at Millerhill. Finally. ‘Eggs’-ellent use of space. A single car park space at Newcastle station was temporarily lost in May whilst a pair of seagulls used it as a nesting site. It is illegal to touch or move a nest until the young have flown, so the space was protected with cones. East Coast seems unperturbed by the slight loss of revenue. About 230 miles to the south, a post holding the flashing ‘wig-wag’ lights at Collins Lane crossing (near Swindon) is home to a blue tit family. Thanks to Tony Atkins, Bob Ballard, Richard Giles, Jeremy Holden-Bell, Phil Lockwood, Geoff Morris, Richard Porter, William Turvill, Guy Vincent, David Warburton and members who don’t want to be named
Phil Deaves
535
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 536
TRACTION & ROLLING STOCK
LOCOMOTIVE STOCK - Alterations reported to 5th July 2013
There are reports that EMD will build a further batch of Cl.66s, modified to meet current emission regulations, to be delivered by the end of 2014, when the emission regulations will change again, and that Colas Rail will acquire ten Cl.70s. After tyre turning at Derby Etches Park, 66749 went to the north east for driver training; it has since gone to the Great Central Railway for noise level tests. 66750 has arrived in the UK and gone to EMD, Longport. The Cl.68s being built for DRS have been registered. 92001 has been moved to Dollands Moor en route to Bulgaria. The cab from 37411 is now in the beer garden of the Alexandra Hotel, Derby; 37411 had been stored at Derby before going for scrap. DB Schenker Operating Pools. Locomotive allocations, (for details of pool code definitions, see the society’s website). Cl.59 WDAK 59201/2/4-6 Cl.60 WCAI 60011/9/39/63/74/9/99 WCAK 60035/49/62/5 WCBI 60017/20/54/92 WCBK 60010/59/91 Cl.67 WAAN 67004-6/8/16/9-22/4/6-9 WABN 67007/30 WATN 67001-3 WAWN 67010/2-4/7/23 Cl.90 WEFE 90018-21/6/8/9/36/9 Cl.92 WTAE 92011/9/37 WTEB 92001 added WTHE 92015/6/31/6/42 DBS Super Shunter Pool 60015 WSSK Toton European Pools (Locomotives in the UK) WBEN 66038 at Toton, 66247 at Warrington en route to France. Cl.08 08799 TO WNYX-WSSK 08907 CE WSSK-WNYX Correction. In theApril RO 08769 should have been 08678 Cl.47 47793 reregistered HQ MBDL and renumbered 47579 Cl.66 66750/1 PG GBZZ-GBDR In July RO, 66750/1 should have been PG GBZZ Cl.68 68001-15 KM XHVE registered New Pool Code. GBDR GBRf, Cl.66, ex-Germany Named. 60062 Stainless Pioneer (6/13). 91107 Skyfall (6/13) Cast nameplates, after the promotional vinyls were removed. 91114 Durham Cathedral (7/13). 536
Hire: 08892 on hire to Bombardier at Derby Litchurch Lane. Sales: HNRC has acquired 20110 from the South Devon Diesel Traction Group in exchange for 37275; their movements haven’t yet been made. Store: Barrow Hill – 86701/2. Crewe IEMD – 08907. Merehead – 59203. Millerhill – 67009, later returned to service, then stored at Crewe IEMD. Returned to service – 08799. Movements: Barrow Hill – 86228/42 (for onward road movement). Dollands Moor, en route to Bulgaria – 92001. East Lancashire Railway – 33046 (for spares recovery). Longport – 66750. Updating the locations of Wabtec shunters, 08472, 08615 are at Craigentinny, 08571/96 are at Bounds Green, 08669, 08724, 08853 are at Doncaster Correction. 70099 went to Eastleigh TMD (Axiom Rail), not Eastleigh Works (see p.465, July RO). Cut up: C. F. Booth, Rotherham: 6/13 – 20313, 47747. Locomotive Liveries. Changes reported are: BR blue – 47540. BR blue, small logo – 40145. BR green – 20001 (carries number 8001), 31514. Colas Rail – 56078. DB Schenker red – 60024, 90036. East Coast grey – 43367, 91107 (the vinyls have been removed) and 91124. East Coast grey with vinyls advertising the Lindisfarne Gospels display in Durham – 91114. GBRf modified – 66740. WCRC maroon – 57314. Correction. 43305, reported in November 2011 RO, is understood to be still in National Express colours with East Coast branding. WORKS REPORT Brush Traction, Loughborough. Here on 17th June were 50044, 56201, 66506/39, 70014, 73204/9, 92045/6, shuttle locomotive 9804, Eurostar E3308, DVTs (82104), 82111, EMU coaches 39016 and 67901-8/11-8. 08645 arrived on 18th June. 66749 and two bogie hopper wagons arrived by rail on 1st July and were transported by low loader to the GCR for noise level tests; after completion of the tests 66749 was returned by road to Brush on 5th July. Thanks to www.wnxx.com Loughborough correspondent.
and
our
Brush,
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 537
COACHING STOCK (including LUL)
HAULED STOCK. Stock Alterations. These were not available as we went to press. Mk.4s: 82231 has lost its ‘Skyfall’ vinyls, but still has the Bond gun on the front end. Mk.3s: 12181 was on test from Cardiff Canton on 11th June, its first appearance outside the shed. Mk.2s: 3188 is now renamed Cadair Idris ex-Sovereign. 5971, 6001/8, 6117/22, 17159 were moved from Eastleigh to Carlisle on 12th June and 5200 with Mk.1s 80217, 96175, 99953 from Carnforth to Souhall the same day. Mk.1s: 1666 was moved from Etches Park to Wembley on 11th June. The real 99716 is the former 25808/18808 whilst Mk.2 3416 also carried this number for a film. Charter Train Formations: The following have been reported: 1st June: NENTA “Severn Valley Rambler” North Walsham-Worcester: 9496, 6115, 6103, 6012, 1201, 3395, 3313, 99679 Windermere, 3431, 3350. 2nd June: “Royal Duchy” Bristol TM-Par: 5249, 5237, 1961, 5236, 13440, 99311, 5222, 9104. 7th June: “Northern Belle” 1Z52 Ipswich-Bath: and 8th June: “Northern Belle” Norwich-Chester: 10729 Crewe, 10734 Balmoral, 17167, 325 Duart, 3247 Chatsworth, 3275 Harlech, 3182 Warwick, 3267 Belvoir, 1566, 3273 Alnwick, 3174 Glamis. 8th June: Bristol TM-Scarborough: 3356, 3348, 1683, 3426, 3384, 3370, 1712, 5937, 6176, 5983, 9507. 8th June: Newport-Canterbury: 17080, 3231, 3188, 1659, 3312, 1211, 99676, 99674, 99671, 5912.
9th June: “The Easterling” Lowestoft-London: 35518, 99304, 4994, 1860, 99050, 99122, 99127, 99712, 99125, 99121. 11th June: 1Z60: 21245, 3068, 3149, 1671, 3069, 3066, 1832, 5341, 5292, 14th-17th June: Steam Dreams “Cathedrals Explorer”: Kings Cross-Perth/Edinburgh-Kings Cross: 35317, 13230, 13229, 3096, 3150, 3115, 1666, 4831, 4856, 21241, 1859, 4836, 4832. 15th June: 1Z38 Tyseley-Carlisle: 17018, 99349, 99361, 99353, 5198, 5191, 5157, 5177, 9101. 15th June: 1Z31 Statesman Rail PeterboroughCanterbury West: 5912, 5991, 99671 Grasmere, 99674 Buttermere, 1211, 99675 Ennerdale Water, 3312 Helvellyn, 1659, 3188 Cadair Idris, 3231 Ben Cruachan, 17080. 15th June: 1H79 “Royal Scotsman” EdinburghKeith: 99965, 99967, 99961, 99962, 99963, 99964, 99968, 99969, 99960. 16th June: 1Z37 Bristol TM-Par: 80217, 5249, 5237, 1981, 5236, 99348, 5222, 9104. 18th June: 1Z79: 35518, 99121, 99125, 99712, 99127, 99122, 99350, 1860, 4994, 4984, 99304. 22nd June: Railway Touring Co “White Rose” Kings Cross-York: 99953, 99304, 4994, 1860, 99348, 99350, 99122, 99127, 99712, 99125, 99121. 26th June: 1Z42 York-Aviemore: 5937, 6176, 5987, 6177, 6158, 1212, 3386, 3333, 3345, 3325, 3314, 3344, 9507. 28th June: 1Z84 Hereford-Carmarthen: 99680, 3350, 3431, 3313, 3392, 3326, 3395, 1201, 6012, 6103, 6115, 6021. 30th June: “Shakespeare Express”: 9101, 5191, 5157, 5177, 5198, 99353, 99361, 35490. 30th June: “Northern Belle” train as 8th June.
90036 was noted at Crewe in the middle road between platforms 11 and 12 at 17.20 on 26th June having just arrived from the electric depot in ex-works condition. Martin Evans
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 538
HIGH SPEED TRAIN. Stock Alterations. These were not available as we went to press. Rail Tour: 15th June: UK Railtours. St. Pancras-Scarborough: East Midlands Trains HST set NL06 with 43058/5, 41156, 41041, 40746, 42132/1, 42331, 42133, 44046. DIESEL. Stock Alterations. These were not available as we went to press. Cl.117: 59515 was moved from the West Somerset Railway to Yeovil Railway Centre on 20th June. Cl.150: ATW’s 279 was still at LNWR Crewe late in June. Cl.170: 207 had left Brush, Loughborough by 17th June. Cl.172: 001 was moved to Willesden TMD on 8th June. ELECTRIC. Cl.314: 204 has been reported in Saltire colours. Cl.315: 815 suffered a minor collision with 317664 a while ago and is in Ilford’s ‘B’ shop for attention. Cl.317: 650, which had been out of use for almost a year, was back in traffic on 4th July. Cl.319: The DfT has announced that the £1.6bn contract for Thameslink stock replacement, for 1,140 carriages, is confirmed as awarded to a consortium led by Siemens. Cl.320: 312 was outshopped from Wabtec, Doncaster after overhaul and repainting in Saltire livery on 17th June. 317 replaced it there next day Cl.321: Eversholt and Anglia will be running a fully refurbished unit on the GA route this summer. The unit has been upgraded at Wabtec, Doncaster and features two different layouts. Two coaches have an inner suburban layout, using the existing seating refurbished, whilst the outer suburban part has new 2+2 seating. The first class section will have leather seats and the unit has new saloon and cab air conditioning, LED lighting in the saloons and two wheelchair spaces. Cl.332: 008 returned to Old Oak Common from Railcare, Wolverton on 14th June. Cl.365: Refurbished 519 was outshopped from Railcare, Wolverton in untouched external condition, still carrying Peterborough City vinyls. 518 was taken to Wolverton on 17th June. Cl.375: All 148 SET units are to receive Perpetuum Energy Harvester powered Wireless Sensor System to monitor wear of bearing and wheels. Cl.377: On 24th June, units 603/8 were visible on the test track at Bombardier, Derby, 604/9 were visible from Osmaston Road and 610 was in the yard at the back of the test track. Only 609 was fully numbered, the rest having cards in windows, Cl.395: 029 has been named David Weir. Cl.444, 450: These units have been having GSMR conversions, now completed. 538
Cl.450: The 5xx series high capacity units are to have the First Class seating reinstated. They will retain the 5xx series numbers but without the HC suffixes as there are some differences in the standard class seating from the regular batches. Cl.455: 5826 suffered a minor electrical fire at Staines while en route from Selhurst to Eastleigh for refreshing. It is series 18, 13-7 having been 5834/3/5/6/17 respectively. Cl.465: 928 emerged from Wabtec, Doncaster on 7th June, arriving at Slade Green on 8th, when 912 replaced it there. It returned on 29th when 932 followed to Doncaster. London Underground. New: Deliveries of S stock to London Underground have continued. Bombardier, Derby to Old Dalby Test Track: 3rd May: Train 88 (21359/60). 17th: Train 89 (21361/2). 24th: Train 91 (21365/6). 31st (Train 90 (21363/4). Those delivered from Old Dalby test track to Ruislip were: 21st March: Train 69 (21321/2) – correction. 2nd May: Train 76 (21335/6). 7th: Train 79 (21341/2). 16th: Train 63 (21309/10). From Neasden to Bombardier Derby (for mods) were: 9th May: Train 6 (21013/4). 21st: Train 4 (21009/10). From Bombardier, Derby to Neasden, ex-mods: 30th May: Train 2 (21005/6). Also, on 4th July Train 4 (21009/10) was reported returning. From Ruislip to Neasden: 7th May: Train 78 (21335/6). 10th: Train 79 (21341/2). 20th: Train 63 (21309/10). From Neasden to Wembley Park/Hammersmith: 14th May: Train 76 (21335/6). 18th: Train 79 (21341/2), Train 74 (21331/2). 19th: Train 78 (21339/40). 21st: Train 63 (21309/10). To service, Metropolitan Line: 15th May: Train 57 (21001/2). To service, Hammersmith & City Line: 14th May: Train 76 (21335/6). 19th: Train 79 (21341/2). 20th: Train 74 (21331/2). Train 78 (21339/40). 22nd: Train 63 (21309/10). 1995 Stock: Refurbishing of the first train, units 51509/10, is now complete and it re-entered traffic on 28th May. It now has blue grab rails and poles and standard seat moquette. The external door buttons have been plated over. C Stock: Two further trains removed from service are units 5503/89, 5708 and 5527/30/56, which were withdrawn on 18th May and moved to Neasden that day. Units 5528/88 were moved from Acton Works to Northwood on 13th May and 5527/30/56 on 20th. The cars were then disposed of: Northwood-Arlington Fleet Services, Eastleigh Works by road: 13th May: cars 5588, 6588. 14th: 5528, 6528. 20th: 5556, 6556. 22nd: 5530, 6530. Northwood-Booth, Rotherham by road: 21st May: 5527, 6527.
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 539
URBAN & IRISH RAILWAYS LUL. LEGO has marked the 150th anniversary of the Underground by creating five tube maps out of LEGO bricks which show how the network has evolved from 1927 to the future 2020. There are over 1,000 bricks in each map which measure 1.4m x 1.0m. The maps are displayed in the ticket hall at South Kensington (1927 map), Piccadilly Circus (Beck’s original map of 1933), Green Park (1968), Stratford (2013) and Kings Cross St. Pancras (2020 showing Crossrail, Croxley rail link and the Northern Line extension). Later the maps will be displayed in the London Transport museum. Crossrail. On 25th June TfL announced a shortlist of bidders to run Crossrail services. The bidders are: Arriva Crossrail Limited; Keolis/Go Ahead; MTR Corporation (Crossrail) Limited and National Express Group PLC. The invitation to tender is due to be issued in September. The successful operator will start running the first services from May 2015 between Liverpool Street and Shenfield, taking over the stopping services currently operated by Greater Anglia. Crossrail 2. TfL’s public consultation ran until 2nd August with just two options. The Metro option would use four-car trains between Wimbledon and Alexandra Palace; the Regional option would use 10-car trains similar to Crossrail. One northern branch would terminate at Alexandra Palace and the other would emerge from tunnel near Coppermill Junction. with a service to the Lea Valley and Hertford East lines. Trains at the southern end would continue beyond Wimbledon on to the SWT network. Northern Line. On Sunday 23rd June the Transmission Based Train Control area was extended from West Finchley to Highgate, including the Mill Hill East branch. As the East Finchley to Highgate service was suspended that day that section went live on 24th. TfL. On 26th June TfL confirmed details of their latest financial settlement and the spending review statement by the Chancellor. There will be secure capital funding of about a billion pounds a year from 2015 to 2021 and a guaranteed borrowing, set at £600m over that period. This package will enable the continuation of Tube upgrades and improvements to DLR, London Overground and Tramlink networks. The London mayor has secured the following commitments from the Chancellor and the Secretary of State for Transport. West Anglia suburban rail services to be devolved to the mayor and TfL, a £90m commitment to electrify the Gospel Oak to Barking line as the first step towards the extension to Barking Riverside and an initial commitment of £2m for feasibility studies for Crossrail 2.
OTHER PROVINCIAL OPERATIONS Croydon. Noted on 30th May; tram 2534 is sporting an advertising livery for McMillan Williams, a local solicitors. Edinburgh. Pictures of tram tracks in situ in Princes Street and elsewhere may still be available on www.globalrailnews.com/2013/06/ 03edinburgh-tram-project-picture-update. Manchester. 2005 was withdrawn on 8th May with a low mileage showing on the cab indicator so it is thought that the instrument must have been replaced at some stage. By 9th 3050/2 were in service with 3053 following on 20th. On 29th 1014 failed with a serious traction fault and was withdrawn on 11th June. Earlier that month 1016 was involved in a road traffic accident at the usual place at St. Nicholas Street and would have been withdrawn but for the failure of 1014. So 1016 was reprieved, to be repaired. Transport for Greater Manchester and Manchester City FC have launched a Metrolink matchday season ticket for 2013/14. This can only be purchased alongside a MCFC season ticket and is valid for travel from any of the 64 Metrolink stops to the Etihad Campus stop for first team home games. Greater Manchester’s version of London’s Oyster card was announced on 19th June. The smart-ticking system will be called “get me there” and the card called “my get me there”. These names have been criticised by passengers and social media calling it absolutely appalling and terrible. A petition has been posted online to persuade Transport for Greater Manchester to change the name. The response so far is that it will be one of the world’s most advanced smart-ticketing system when launched in 2014 on Metrolink as passengers will be able to use bank cards, bus passes and mobile phones to pay for ticketless journeys. A member inspecting Metrolink progress on 17th June found that the Droysden-Ashton section looked essentially complete but still coned or fenced off. Ticket machines were absent, so no opening was imminent. The line through Oldham town centre is coming on well with most track and OHL installed, as is the line to Rochdale town centre. Oddly there is a single track section just before the terminus although the street seems wide enough for double track. At the terminus there are two tracks flanking an island platform. The Airport line is complete, though not wired, even with station platforms in places. On 16th East Didsbury trams were running to Piccadilly instead of Rochdale station with buses between the city centre and Central Park. Bury services were also suspended. All equipment has been removed from Mosley Street stop, closed on 18th May, but the platform remained. Double M5000 sets can now run and six are on Bury539
61994 The Great Marquess storms through Mallerstang with the Carlisle-Lancaster leg of “The Fellsman”, southbound over the Settle & Carlisle on Wednesday 19th June. Ian Pilkington
SUNSHINE ON MAIN LINE STEAM
5 august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 540
540
46233 Duchess of Sutherland heads the Carlisle-Farington Junction leg of “The Cumbrian Mountain Express” near Eden Lacy on Wednesday 22nd May. Ian Pilkington
61994 The Great Marquess storms through Mallerstang with the Carlisle-Lancaster leg of “The Fellsman”, southbound over the Settle & Carlisle on Wednesday 19th June. Ian Pilkington august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 541
541
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 542
Altrincham services with two more formed of T68s whilst two services from Rochdale railway station to East Didsbury are also double M5000s. Passenger information screens started to appear in the city centre from 9th May. The work at Victoria station to enable roof repairs has resulted in a vast tunnel of scaffolding over the tram tracks. On 27th this work meant no services from Crumpsall or Central Park to Victoria. On 2nd/9th June no services ran from Timperley to Altrincham before 08.30 and on 15th/16th new rail was laid on the up line from Crumpsall to Abraham Moss which suspended services from Bury to Victoria. On 23rd things became more complicated. No services ran from Bury to Crumpsall and none between Central Park and Piccadilly. Timperley to Altrincham services did not start until 08.30. East Didsbury services ran as far as Deansgate-Castlefield until 10.00 and afterwards to Piccadilly. From Eccles trams ran to Piccadilly Gardens until 10.00 and after that to Droylsden. Nottingham. A video on www.globalrailnews. com/2013/05/28/video-nottingham-tram-bridgeslide-complete/ shows the station bridge being moved into position. Sheffield. The Transport Minister, Norman Baker, signed a contract on 19th June for seven tram-trains to be used on the two-year trial of the technology between the city centre and Rotherham Parkgate from 2016. The vehicles will be dual voltage (750V dc and 25kV ac) with equipment from Vossloh Kiepe to take account of any future electrification of the Midland Main Line which implies the possibility of extending the route in the future. The units will be built at Vossloh’s plant at Albuixech near Valencia, Spain. The total cost of the project is £60m. St. Albans. Plans, first raised in 2009, to convert the Watford Junction-St. Albans Abbey line to light rail have been abandoned with Hertfordshire CC saying that the proposal “was more complicated than expected and could not be delivered within existing funding”. The DfT felt “the costs and effort were not worth it”. The council hope that the next LM franchise will include provision for changes to the line to give an half-hourly service. However this would require a new passing loop and resignalling. The light rail proposal would have saved money by not having to do this to heavy rail standards. Also it was hoped that the line could be extended into the towns at each end. Tyne & Wear. Since April, Metro cars 4040 and 4083 have carried an Emirates Airline all over vinyl advertising livery showing the destinations available from Newcastle airport, via Dubai using new Boeing 777 aircraft. 4018 left for Wabtec, Doncaster on 6th June when one of the battery/ohw locomotives used to push Metro cars on to the road vehicle failed with much smoke on its way back to depot. 542
On Sundays 2nd and 9th June modernisation work suspended trains between Gateshead and Hebburn/Brockley Whins until 12.30 with bus substitutions. From Sunday 4th August until 30th the Metro will close between Airport and Four Lane Ends and Haymarket to allow the relaying of three miles of track and drainage work between Haymarket and South Gosforth and to renew and modernise to Airport. Six miles of track is to be relaid in total. This blockade replaces a year of weekend closures. Buses will cover the closed stations and Metro services will run from Four Lane Ends to St. James via Tynemouth and Haymarket to South Shields and South Hylton. Some of the peak trains from Four Lane Ends will be extended to Longbenton for workers at the DSS. Metro cars will be stored at various places overnight as access to South Gosforth depot will only be from the east and for a limited period each night. Two work depots will be established, at Fawdon for arriving new materials and at Manors for removal of old material, using the Manors-Jesmond chord line where necessary. The repainting cycle for Metro stations is every four years. Recently South Gosforth, Ilford Road and West Jesmond have been painted in the new corporate colours of black,white and yellow. Northern Ireland. Passenger traffic is heavy on routes around Belfast and is handled with impressive intensity by the Cl.3000 and Cl.4000 DMUs built by CAF in Spain. Every train seen arriving at either Great Victoria Street or Belfast Central in the morning rush hours was well loaded. On one day, 18 of the 23 Cl.3000 and 18 of the 20 Cl.4000 units were seen in service, all in the area bounded by Lisburn, Bangor and Whitehead. Services operate between Portadown and Bangor, from Belfast Great Victoria Street to Larne or Whitehead, Londonderry and Portrush. The new depot at the former GNR(I) shed at Adelaide is almost invisible behind a high fence. What was visible was a headshunt where the last few Cl.450 DMUs were being scrapped. Of these, units 8453/7 were seen at Bangor on 13th May, a few days before they were hauled to Adelaide for scrapping. Such haulage is undertaken by NIR’s three Cl.071 GM locomotives, 111-3, which also haul infrastructure trains. Thanks to Bill Turvill, Angus McDougal, Roger Darsley, Stuart Hicks, Geoff Brockett, Enid Vincent, Martin Haywood and John Henderson
Peter Robinson
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 543
ST. PETERSBURG TRAMS The absence of suitable UK urban images provides an opportunity to look at the city which, until Melbourne surpassed it a few years ago, operated the world’s largest tramway network. Though now suffering significant under-investment, as these recent images show, there is still much of interest. Around 800 cars of six types remain in use many of which, as these images show, serve high density city edge housing areas with significant reserved track running. Coincidentally the two upper images were taken a month apart but both show Soviet era tram 8206 working route 56, whilst the lower shot depicts a much more recent new build car entering the city centre. Top - Geoff Dunster (12/05/13) - Lower Pair - Mike Robinson (24/06/13)
543
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 544
PRESERVATION & OTHER RAILWAYS General. A planned further cut in spending has led to the announcement that one of the three major government-funded museums in the north of England may have to close. These include the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester and the NRM at York along with its annexe at Shildon. Aln Valley Railway. We now have comprehensive details of the two Wickham trolleys based here (see May and June ROs). Works number 10648 is a type 27A Mk. IV semiopen delivered to BR (ER) Civil Engineers, Stanningley, Leeds on 8th January 1973. Since then it has various carried running numbers DB 965 952, DX 68008, 68/008 and MPP0008 and is currently named Buzz, being fitted with a Ford R226 engine. The now unpowered unit was a type 17A works no.4985 delivered on 30th March 1949 for BR use at Shrewsbury. It has carried running numbers B170 and PWM2807 and originally had a JAP 1323 engine. It arrived at the railway via Foxfield and a move to Wooler in 2006 where the conversion to an unpowered trailer took place. Amerton Railway. The well attended annual gala took place over the weekend of 15th-16th June, with most trains full of parents with young children, as well as many enthusiasts. The latest product of Statfold Works took pride of place, Hudswell Clarke 1056/14, repatriated from CSR Sugar Refineries, Fiji, along with residents Isabel (WB 1491/1897), Jennie
(Hunslet i.e. Statfold 3905/2008) and Paddy 2 (Wilbrighton Works 2007). Also visiting were a genuine Kerr Stuart “Wren” Peter Pan of 1922 and Jack, a low-profile Barclay (1871/25). Bodmin and Wenford Railway. A member reports that as part of the Pannier gala held here, on 12th April visitors 1501 and 1638 were working alongside lined green 6435. Unfortunately home-based 4612 was not ready in time following overhaul and its place was taken by 2-8-0T 4247. T9 30120 was out of use at Bodmin General. Single and double-headed combinations of panniers were used on both sections of the line. Bowes Railway. Despite having recently received funding that appeared to have secured its future, the site closed in early June following funding cuts imposed by Sunderland district council. The website advised that it was hoped to re-open the site for occasional public access at some time in the future. Churnet Valley Railway. S160 2-8-0 6046 is currently out of traffic once more, after white metal was found to be melting in some coupled axleboxes. All the coupled wheels are in the workshop, and the locomotive is temporarily on a set of spare wheels. A consortium of members has bought two ex-Polish 0-6-0Ts from the Spa Valley Railway, one of which has arrived and is being stripped down for overhaul. Steam workings are in the hands of N7 0-6-2T 69621,
Passengers stand in a brief moment of sunshine on the platform at Duffield station on 16th June waiting the departure of the 11.14 Ecclesbourne Valley Railway service to Wirksworth. It is formed of Cl.122 single unit railcar W55006. The flag is flying at half-mast in memory of a member of the railway staff who had died a few days Bob Ellison earlier.
544
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 545
the loan of which has been extended, with the assistance of diesels 33021 and 33102. Caldon branch trips operate on the first weekend of each month, the N7 and a Cl.33 working in top and tail mode, while the line’s Cl.104 DMU operates the valley service proper. On 1st June. 69621’s spark arresting screens became dislodged, the driver re-fitting these during the usual stop for clearance at Threshing Barn crossing. Ecclesbourne Valley Railway. A Network Rail derailment investigation training course was held at Wirksworth on 21st/22nd May. The bank holiday 25th-27th May services were all DMU-operated with takings well up on last year. Construction of a wooden extension to the south end of platform 2 at Wirksworth commenced on 17th June, to allow longer trains to be operated. 31414 is being repainted into green livery and numbered D5814, one side had been completed by 19th June and it retains InterCity livery on the other side. Ffestiniog Railway. 0-4-0WTT Princess was shipped via Holyhead to Ireland in mid-June for temporary display at Heuston station in Dublin. Forest of Dean. In the Cinderford Linear Park is the site of Ruspidge Halt and opposite is Berry and Wiggins methanol tanker 171 complete with a signal and crossing gates. This is a variation on a theme celebrating the wood and coal industries of the Forest of Dean. Very many of the complex railway systems in this relatively small area are now walks and cycle rides. The Beechenhurst interpretation centre is on the site of Speech House station and colliery and there are several mining trail history leaflets. Gloucestershire-Warwickshire Railway. On 5th June, railcar 55003 was operating the Toddington-Laverton-Toddington-WinchcombeToddington shuttle and 2-8-0 45160 ex-Turkish Railways running as LMS 8274 was alternating on Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse trains with diesel 47376 Freightliner 1995. In Toddington station yard, Allelys was moving Cl.24 5081 and 37215 by road to the West Somerset Railway and returning 2-6-4T 80072 from its visit to the Cotswold steam celebration gala the week before. Also present were steam 2807, 7903, 5542, 35006, 44027, 76077 (dismantled) and diesels 20137, 26043, 45149, 73129, 0-6-0DH HE 5511/160 and 0-6-0DE YE 2760/59. 0-6-0ST 15 Earl David was absent, currently being on hire to the Avon Valley Railway. Noted at Winchcombe were D2182 and 11230. For the gala itself (starting on 25th May) an additional attraction was B12 8572 as well as Schools 925 Cheltenham. An intensive timetable, including freights, was in operation as was the narrow gauge system. 6984 Owsden Hall has now left the railway moving to the Swindon & Cricklade line.
Though the major slippage at Chicken curve is behind them, there has been some slippage at Cheltenham Racecourse that has not affected trains but has meant more work in the rebuilding of platform 2. At Winchcombe the steelwork is up for the extension to the carriage shed giving a paint shop, store and mess rooms. Toddington has seen the water tank and associated water mains finished and a viewing platform is to be built at the end of platform 2. The ‘Flag and Whistle’ tearooms have been refurbished. There was a halt at Laverton in GWR days but the loop at the present end of the line will probably be moved to Broadway when the track gets that far. When it does there will be two platforms to meet it. Red and blue engineering bricks from old bridges dismantled at Tewkesbury from the Malvern branch will be used to build platform 2. Planning permission is being sought for the signal box. Great Central Railway. For some time the two GCR railways have been trying to take forward the project to join the two north of Loughborough, the main problem being the lack of a bridge over the Midland main line. However NR has now been appointed as the contractor to put in a replacement bridge to the two organisations with completion planned for 2015, but these schemes come at a price and an appeal has been launched to raise £1m. Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. The railway plans to extend visitor facilities by extending the shed at Haworth so that engines currently stored at Oxenhope can be displayed at Haworth and provide public access as well as better training facilities. The diesel fleet would be moved to Oxenhope, where the buffet facilities would also be revamped. The line is also investigating the possible purchase of land from NR to improve facilities at Keighley. The railway recently announced a partnership with the National Railway Museum in York that would involve engines from the national collection being displayed in Oxenhope. The total cost of the plan is estimated at £750,000. Llangollen Railway. By 11th June 80072 had returned home (see G-WR) and was operating the 15.00 service ex-Llangollen. Locomotion, Shildon. A4 4489 Dominion of Canada left here on 28th May for the NRM following a cosmetic restoration which included the refitting of side valances and reinstatement of the bell which it carried for many years. An ‘Early Railways’ gala held from 1st to 9th June featured replicas of Rocket, Plant and Locomotion. North Yorkshire Moors Railway. On 27th May D5061 hauled the 09.00 Pickering-Whitby service (formed of E5000, E3860, E9274, E1823, E4990, E15745) as far as Grosmont, where 75029 took over. The diesel then took the 10.30 service, formed of E4198, E3948, E16156, 545
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 546
E4290, E21100, E3872 and E4455 to Pickering. Stabled at Grosmont was the Pullman set W80974W, 99972 (Robin), 99970 (Car 79), 99924 (324 Jos de Crau), 99973 (Opal), E4286, W5029 and E9267. The 10.30 ex-Grosmont exchanged tokens with the 10.00 from Pickering (E4817, E3798, E35089, Gresley 641, 23956, 56856, and SC88339E) hauled by 61264 as 61002 Impala at Goathland and then the 11.00 from Pickering (W4786, M80509, E4597, E25488, and E24804), hauled by 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley at Levisham. Noted at Pickering shed at 11.40 were 08556 and another shunter (probably 12139) plus stock E3801, NE9225, E24984, 93545, 93813 and an unidentified BSO, while at Grosmont shed, besides the usual operational engines were Southern WD 2-8-0 3672, ex-GWR 2-8-0 3814, BR Standards 76079, 80135, USA 2253, diesels 08850, 31128, 37264, DMU E50204+E59539+ E51511 and carriages M14007, E21096, DB975455 and WCR 35517. Relaxing on one of the picnic tables was one of the loco shed cats Erica. Camping coaches were 172 (W334), 173 (16233), 174 (15709) at Goathland, 176 (35270) at Levisham and 176 (10591) at Pickering. Also noted at Levisham was GUV 86604. On Thursday 27th June the weedkilling train did an early morning run along the line. As there was concern that the rails from Grosmont to Goathland might be slippery the 10.30 departure from Grosmont, already a little late after having to detach the first coach which had a fault, was pushed all the way to Goathland by D7628. This year is the 40th year of preservation at the NYMR and appropriate celebrations are being held in all departments including the garden department with a large floral display at Grosmont. Following the granting of access to Whitby until 2023 from the Office of the Rail Regulator, work can start to raise the money needed to extend the formation at Whitby along with a grant of £800,000 from the Coastal Communities Fund and £500,000 from Network Rail so work on track and platform will start in winter 2013/14. Their bank has also made an agreement with them to release funds to speed up the repair of the NYMR locomotives currently out of service. Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway. On 22nd June 0-6-0ST 71515 (RS & H 7169/44) was in use on all services. Stock consisted of BSK Sc35494 and RMB 1854. Rail Restorations North East, Shildon. Open days are held here on the first Saturday of each month. Noted on 1st June were the frames, wheels, tyres, boiler and bogie of new build G5 1759 along with two BR Mk.1 coaches from the Weardale Railway which were undergoing restoration. 546
RPSI Whitehead. Work on the new £270,000 period style ‘Excursion Station’ here, which started last September, has been completed and the keys have been handed over to the society. When it is fully fitted out, the two-storey station building will house a visitor reception area, ticket office, cafe with seating for 56 customers, and a souvenir shop. Rudyard Lake Steam Railway. Traffic is well up to the usual level on this 10 ¼" gauge line this year. 2-4-2T Excalibur (Exmoor 294/ 1993) has returned to traffic after its second tenyearly overhaul. Also recently given attention has been Pendragon (Exmoor 296/1997) which has had to have two leaking firebox stays repaired. It was formerly Ashorne on the 12 ¼" line at Ashorne Hall. Former Mull Railway 2-6-2T Victoria has a new owner following the closure of that line, and is staying at Rudyard for the time being and should play a prominent part in the line’s gala on 21st/22nd September. Severn Valley Railway. This is one of a number of railways that post details of engines that should be operating, on their website. However on 10th June, when the rostered engines were 2857, 4566 and D821, newly arrived 5643 had been substituted for 4566 and D1062 for D821. South Tynedale Railway. A visit in early June found trains being hauled by Hudswell Clarke diesel 4 Naworth built in 1952 with four coaches and the compressor van. Also seen at the site were diesels 9 and 11 Cumbria HE4109/ 52 and HE6646/52 respectively. Visible through the shed window were 0-4-0 side and well tank 6 Thomas Edmondson, 0-6-0TT 10 Naklo and 0-4-0T 14 Helen Katherine. There was no sign of Barber, presumably still away being repaired. Statfold Barn Railway. An open day was held here on 1st June with a host of operational engines. A second line has been laid parallel to the original demonstration line but only as far as Oak Tree Halt. The balloon loop was used to make engine changes so that passengers could have different engines for outward and return journeys. Operating on the demonstration line were 4-4-0T Isibuto (Bagnall 2820/45), 0-4-4-0T SBR 9 (Jung 4878/30), 0-4-0ST Sybil May (HE 921/06), 0-4-2ST Trenkil No 4 (HE3902/71), 0-4-2ST Josephine (HE 1842/36), 0-6-0T Surrey CC Highways Dept. GP39 (HE 1643/30), 0-4-0STs Statfold and Jack Lane (HE 3903/2005 and 3904/2005 respectively), 0-4-0ST CSR Co. 19 (HC1056/14), 0-4-0ST Marchlyn (Avonside 2067/33), 0-4-2T Saccharine (Fowler 13355/12), 0-6-0PT Minas No.2 (Corpet Louvet 439/1884), 0-4-0TT Pakis Bahru No.1 and 0-4-4-0T Pakis Bahru No.5 (O&K 614/00 and 1473/05 respectively), 0-4-2T Sragi No.1 (Krauss 4045/ 1899) and 0-6-0TT Sragi No.14 (O&K 10750/23), whilst on the garden railway 4w diesel 20777
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 547
LNER class N7 69621 arrives at Consall station on 15th June with the 14.00 Froghall to Cheddleton service. 69621 is owned by the East Anglian Railway Museum, but is currently working on the Churnet Valley Railway. Bob Ellison
was in action. Awaiting attention in the grain stores were four 0-4-0STs Triassic and Liassic (P1270/11 and 1632/23) and King of Scarlets with Michael (HE 492/1889 and HE 1709/32) along with O&K 0-4-0WT 5662, 0-6-0T 3010 (Decauville 1735/19, 0-4-0T La Meuse 3243/26 and also three Baldwins, two of which were identified via the website as 44657 of 1916 and 45190 of 1917. Storey Engineering, Morpeth. On 6th June BR Standard 76084 left here for the North Norfolk Railway with ex-TCDD 8F 45170 from the NNR arriving in its place for overhaul on 8th. Work is also underway on the boiler of Stanier 5MT 44767. Tanfield Railway. On 9th June services were in the hands of 0-6-0T Twizell, operating only as far as Causey Arch due to bridge repair work. As no run round facilities were available a diesel was used to shunt release the train engine. Vintage Carriage Trust, Ingrow. A number of the trust’s carriages will have been seen away from their base this summer. Its three Metropolitan Railway ‘Dreadnought’ carriages are on loan to both the Buckinghamshire Railway centre where 465 is to remain for five years with third class 427 joining it just between 1st and 8th August this year whilst the Epping & Ongar Railway has first and brake 427 between 20th and 24th June and 27th and 1st July. Much closer to home, but away from the
museum itself, SECR-designed matchboard brake and the newly restored Bulleid were scheduled to operate KWVR “Vintage Trains” during June and July, their places in the museum being taken by 1951-built restaurant car and Lancashire & Yorkshire brake. Weardale Railway. Cl.122 E55012 left by road during May on loan to the North Norfolk Railway until November. Wensleydale Railway. 69023 has arrived here and worked on 22nd June but due to a poor fire the water level in the boiler could not be maintained and the fire had to be dropped. The train was rescued by D9516. A mid-week visit found services worked by a three-car DMU which carried 101678 on the front but was composed of Cl.101 E51210+Cl.117s W59509 and W51400. The centre car contained a buffet bar but was painted a different shade of blue on each side. In the other platform at Leeming was 47315 Poseidon at the front of five red and cream coaches. Also being used were shunter D2144 and D9516. In the siding just beyond Bedale signal box was another two-car DMU and at Leeming were an assortment of diesels which all looked to be stored. One coach was under extensive renovation with several volunteers working on it. Thursday 5th July was the 10th anniversary of the opening of the line and to celebrate it is planned to run a service from Leeming to the new station on the outskirts of Northallerton. 547
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 548
West Somerset Railway. The annual 1960s gala took place on 7th-9th June. The Friday timetable showed 11 down and 10 up trains, including a demonstration freight in both directions. The locomotives involved were D832, D1010, D1661, D6566, D7017 and D9532 from the home fleet, plus 24081 (numbered D5081 at least on one side) and 37215 visiting from the G-WR. D6566 was to be withdrawn for overhaul after the gala. There were no steam turns on the Friday but ex-S&DR 88 was in use on the Saturday and Sunday. The S&D Peckett Kilmersdon was in steam at Washford. On Saturday and Sunday FGW ran a connecting service with a Cl.150 from Taunton to Bishops Lydeard at a flat fare of £5. D6575 was the standby (DEPG Thunderbird) at Williton where
D7018 was undergoing restoration in the workshop. Recently arrived 09019 was in the compound at Bishops Lydeard and D2133 was at Minehead where the line’s Barclay shunter was being used to give “Driver for a Fiver” rides up and down the line alongside the main platform. Some DMU cars were located singly around the site at Minehead along with out of use steam 6960 Raveningham Hall, 9351, 7828 Odney Manor and 4160 in the shed. Thanks to John Benson, Max Birchenough, Chris Brown, David Cott, Ian Cotter, Roger Darsley, Martin Evans, Johnathan Flood, Jon Hughes, David Sills, Bill Turvill, David Tyreman and Vintage Carriage Trust.
Paul Chancellor
INTERNATIONAL NEWS Australia. Further to p.476, July RO the 5.6km tramway extension from Lilyfield to Dulwich Hill on the formation of a former freight line will use three CAF Urbos 2 trams leased from the closed Vélez-Malaga line in Spain. In addition CAF has won an order to supply new trams. The ill-fated Spanish tramway closed in 2012 after six years of operation because the local authority could no longer afford to subsidise the operation. Demolition of the Sydney monorail is due to be completed by March 2014. Bulgaria/Romania. On 14th June the Vidin (Bulgaria)-Calafat (Romania) bridge opened over the river Danube. The new bridge took six years to build, costing €275m, partially funded by the EU. The bridge, 1.9km long, has a four-lane motorway, a bicycle path, two
pedestrian walkways and central railway tracks. As part of the project a new goods station, and 17km of new railway have been built and an existing passenger station has been refurbished. This link will channel all goods and passenger traffic between southern Europe and the north without passing through non-EU coutries. Previously these two towns were connected by ferry for road traffic only with a journey time of three hours; the time with the bridge is about 15 minutes. Channel Tunnel. The ‘Intergovernmental Commission’ has granted DB an operating licence to run passenger services through the tunnel. DB is looking at running a LondonFrankfurt service in 2014. China. Two more HSLs opened on 1st July: Nanjing-Hanghou and Hanghou-Ningbo.
RENFE class 252-041-9 with a rake of Talgo type Trenhotel stock at Cadiz on 13th May.
548
Ian Feather
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 549
Hanghou East station has no fewer than 28 platforms! China now leads the world with the fastest scheduled daily HS trains. 22 trains a day between Shaoguan and Leiyang Xi average 316km/h. The highest speed European service is on SNCF TGV Est where one train averages 272km/h between Lorraine TGV and Champagne Ardenne. Italy. The new underground HSL platforms under Bologna Centrale station opened on 9th June. The low level station is served by the Passante high speed bypass line which connects the Milano-Bologna and Bologna-Firenze HSLs. Through trains have been using the line since 22nd June 2012 but have not been able to stop. HSL trains calling at Bologna have had to use the surface platforms until the underground station was finished. The three-level under ground station provides four platforms located in a box 640m long, 56m wide and 23m deep. The same date also saw the opening of a new station at Mediopadana, 4km north of Reggio Emilia, served by eight Trenitalia and three NTV trains/day in each direction. A low level platform still under construction will provide interchange between the HS network and local trains on the Emilia-Guastella-Suzzara line operated by Ferrovie Romagna Reggio (formerly Azienda ConsorzialeTrasporti). The first ETR1000 high speed train set for Trentalia (Bombardier type V300 Zefiro) has completed its first test run and was displayed at the Vado Ligure factory on 3rd July. Further test running will now take place between Genoa and Savona, extending into 2014. During tests a speed of over 400km/h was attained which seems to confirm Bombardier’s claim that it is the fastest train in Europe, capable of service speeds of 360km/h. Iran. On 27th May a ceremony was held to inaugurate an 80km railway linking Gorgan with Incheh Borun on the border with Turkmenistan where bogie changing facilities are provided because of the break of gauge. The line forms part of the KazakhstanTurkmenistan-Iran transit corridor running east of the Caspian sea. The section within Kazakhstan opened on 11th May but the Turkmenistan section is still under construction. The existing short connection over the border from Turkmenistan at Loftabad is not joined to the Iranian rail network. Netherlands. NS has decided to cancel its contract with AnsaldoBreda for 16 V250 high speed sets, following a similar decision by Belgium’s SNCB to cancel its three sets. As a short term measure NS is to increase the interim service between Den Haag and Brussels via Roosendaal to 10 train pairs/day with the possibility of increasing to 16 if SNCB will agree. There is also a plan to extend some services from Den Haag to Amsterdam
replicating the former Benelux service. Another possibility is to increase the AmsterdamBrussels Thalys service to 11 train pairs a day. Eventually NS would like to see 22 high speed train pairs /day to/from Brussels. Eurostar is to be asked to introduce two daily LondonAmsterdam services from December 2016. AnsaldoBreda has stated that many of the problems were just teething troubles and accused the operators of “running the trains too fast in poor weather conditions” i.e. snow. Poland. The first of 20 Pendolino trainsets for PKP (Polskie Koleje Panstwowe) Intercity was shown at Alstom’s Savigliano factory in Italy on 17th June. The seven-car train, branded as EIC Premium, has 402 seats in three classes. The trains will enter service in December 2014, initially between Warszawa (Warsaw), Gdynia, Kraków and Katowice. Russia/North Korea. Russian Railways (RZD) are working with North Korea to complete the reconstruction of the line from the Russian border at Khasan to the North Korean port of Rajin. 54km of dual gauge track (1,520 and 1,435mm), three tunnels, a border bridge and a new freight terminal at Port Rajin are involved. This work is part of a project to restore traffic to the entire Trans-Korean main line. In future further traffic between South Korea, Europe, Russia and the CIS (commonwealth of independent states, formerly republics in the Russian confederation) is expected to be sent via the Trans-Siberian route. South Africa. Transnet has banned all wooden bodied passenger vehicles. Rovos Rail will have to replace its dining and observation coaches with converted 1960s steel passenger coaches. The historic wooden cars may be preserved. Spain. Correction: On p.404, June RO the gradient quoted should read 1.8% not 18%. The HSL between Albacete and Alacant opened on 18th June which will afford an initial MadridAlacant journey time of two hours 20 minutes, falling to to two hours five minutes when ETCS level 2 is commissioned allowing a maximum speed of 300km/h. There will be nine trains each way on weekdays operated by Cl.112 sets and refurbished Cl.100 units which entered service in 1992 on the first HSL between Madrid and Sevilla. Cl.130 gauge-changing sets are also operating to Santander and Gijón whilst electro-diesel Cl.730 sets are running to Vigo, but only at weekends. Spain now claims to have the largest high speed network in Europe. Further to p.330, May RO the flood damaged Lorca-Aguilas line re-opened on 30th April. A special train ran from Madrid on that day arriving at Aguilas at 22.09. The local service from Murcia to Aguilas resumed on 1st May with three train pairs/day increasing to five during July and August. Thanks to Bill Turvill and Bob Barby
Peter Robinson 549
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 550
MID HANTS DOUBLE HEADER REDEDICATING CHELTENHAM AND INAUGURATING THE ex-KINGS CROSS FOOTBRIDGE
Given that it featured ‘our’ engine, the Mid Hants double celebrations on 11th June were an unmissable, if somewhat wet, feature of this year’s diary. That it involved your author in a three-hour journey from Bristol to arrive in Alresford by 10.15, however presented an interesting challenge. By way of an FGW HST to Reading, an FGW Cl.165 to North Camp and a brisk stroll through an industrial estate to Ash Vale, it was rather fun arriving at Ash Vale station to find a Network Rail customer survey in progress and a nice girl asking me “Where did you start your journey today?” My answer, Bristol Parkway, had her nonplussed. “Is that on the Waterloo or the Ascot line, sir?” was her response! Answering Alresford to her next question; “And where are you travelling to today?”, she struggled even further. “Is that beyond Farnham, sir?”. Breaking free to catch the 09.38 to Alton (SWT 444022) leading a lightly loaded 10-coach set I reflected on the level of training these researchers had been given for their task! Arrival at Alton was on time at 09.38 and the MHR had chartered a minibus for the eight rail arrivals, a journey made pleasant by sharing my bench seat with Helen Ashby of the NRM! Arrival at Alresford was wet! Very! Misty too, and unfortunately the day continued pretty much the same. Coffee and good company in the Old Goods Shed helped lift spirits, particularly when I realised I was amongst 73 benefactors including the great and good of railway preservation and many steam railway directors. Phil Bench, the Mid Hants Head of Civil Engineering was watching the rain with concerns for his track drains, but he need have no worries. Those nearest the window spied Cheltenham arriving light engine tender first for the ceremony. At 10.50 we put the platform awning – and the umbrellas! – to the test by assembling on the up platform where Paul Kirkman of the NRM pulled the cord to unveil the nameplate of the famous 925. The School sparkled in the wet reflections from the station lamps, looking every inch the star attraction and belying its 79 years. Paul championed the partnership that had allowed 925 to return to steam. It would have been impossible for the NRM alone to have funded the project. He looked forward to future partnerships with NRM engines. There was then an anxious moment or two as the enginemen sought to buffer 925 up to its train in the mist without a rough shunt in front of the visitors. 925 has actually been in service since 31st August 2012 and has covered 6,500 miles though you wouldn’t know from its presentation today. After loading The Watercress Belle 550
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 551
stock (a five-coach rake including kitchen, two diners and a BG with compressor) 925 – with a little slipping – pulled us away for Ropley. I was surprised how busy the line was for a mid-week day out of the main holiday season. Also active that day was 45379 on driver training, light engine, and 34007 Wadebridge working public services. On arrival at Ropley we were invited to detrain and walked through the adjacent meadowland and a parade of children from the local school to reach the re-erected ex-Kings Cross footbridge. The largest span of the bridge (previously between KX platforms 1-4) now spans both the line itself and the loco yard throat, whilst the platforms 5-8 section provides a sloping walk at right angles to the bridge, leading down to a first floor viewing gallery level of the new workshop. Sir William ‘Bill’ McAlpine curtailed his speech due to the rain but performed three ceremonies; firstly cutting a ribbon to formally open the bridge, then unveiling a blue historic artefact interpretation plaque and finally walking over the bridge to the loco yard steps, to unveil the bridge building plate “A. Handyside & Co. Ltd., Derby & London, 1892”. Unfortunately the wind and drizzle were threatening to do the deed before he reached it so, without delay, he lifted away the covers! The bridge looks as though it was made for the location, fitting the gap and finished in Southern green it looks every inch at home wearing the livery well. Two other NRM locomotives, 850 Lord Nelson and 34051 Winston Churchill, were stabled in the shed yard and the NRM engines were photographed in their prime. Guests then reboarded The Watercress Belle where, with wet clothes steaming gently, watercress soup (naturally) and a chicken dinner were served during an enjoyable two circuits of the line. The 4-4-0’s tendency to slip when starting away was noted, though not quite as badly as 34007. Back at Alresford and, by now just about dry, to complete the day I bade farewell to the Mid Hants and walked to Alresford High Street to catch the 15.40 Stagecoach No.64 bus to Winchester. However, finding the bus stop along with many local schoolchildren, no bus appeared until the following service at 16.14; a bad mark with so many passengers waiting! Thence via a bus between Winchester bus and rail stations, an SWT Cl.450 to Basingstoke, an FGW Cl.150 to Reading and The Red Dragon, with FGW 43128 leading, back to Bristol Parkway. Your scribe has followed the fortunes of Cheltenham for 45 years and it was a proud day to see it in steam for the first time in my life – and yes there was a slight tear or two! An enormous vote of thanks is owed to the MHR team, particularly the two Davids, Ford and Snow, for their hospitality.
Reg Wood
551
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 552
Rail touRing in iReland the golden Vale touR The 44th annual weekend rail tour operated by the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland took place over the weekend of 11th/12th May 2013. It began with ex-Dublin and South Eastern 2-6-0 461 running from Whitehead to Dublin with the society’s Mk.2 set on Thursday 9th May. Running was good, and it would appear that the new supply of Welsh coal, being trialled with 461 this weekend, was a success, after steaming problems in 2012 with the Scottish coal previously used. The following day saw a fringe event, the “Ben Bulben” tour to Sligo and back, using the RPSI’s Craven coaches, ex-IE, and GM locomotive 078. The Cravens are part way through a refurbishment programme, the outward sign of which is a repainting into a bright blue livery. The irony of this is that these are almost certainly the only coaches anywhere in the British Isles which have spent their entire service lives in basically the same livery (black and orange)! 078, with the Cravens, was also used for the first part of the Saturday, the beginning of the main tour. Steam had been planned to take over at Kilkenny, but operating constraints resulted in diesel haulage through to Waterford, where 461 was waiting to take over for the run along the Golden Vale itself through Tipperary to Limerick. Waterford’s fine elevated signal box is still in use, though with fewer signals to control than used to be the case, and the stations between there and Limerick Junction are little changed. Most of the track on this line has, however, been relaid in the last decade, and jointed track is now rare on IE. 461 ran well, within the constraints of the route, displaying excellent powers of acceleration. The usual society dinner was held in Limerick that evening. Sunday dawned wet and muggy and, after a damp look at the stored Cl.27xx DMUs at Limerick, the party boarded the train for 461 to take it, tender-first, to Ballybrophy, via the threatened line through Birdhill, Nenagh, and Roscrea. At every station, it seemed that most of the town had turned out to see the train. The water stop at Cloughjordan created the first problem of the day, as the local 461, the ex-Dublin and South Eastern 2-6-0, is at Carrick-on-Suir, between Waterford and Limerick Junction on the afternoon of Saturday 11th May. The coaches are the RPSI Cravens set. Max Birchenough
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 553
85 Merlin has now completed its overhaul and was also in steam on the afternoon on 13th May. It was used to shunt away the stock, while 186 waited for a clear road into the shed. It is hoped that Merlin will be back on the Max Birchenough main line later this summer.
authority had seen fit to concrete over the fire hydrant near the station since the RPSI had surveyed the route earlier in the year! Having dug out the valve, the crew then found that the water pressure was low, resulting in a half-hour late departure, which the speed limit on the line (with jointed track surviving) made it impossible to regain. As a result of this, the stop at Ballybrophy for reversal and fire-cleaning, was considerably extended, resulting in an even later departure for the next water stop at Portarlington. Unhappily, the water pressure was low here also, and the tour remained in the station for some time while a succession of service trains passed on the bi-directional former down road. Despite more fine acceleration from 461, to the accompaniment of lovely sounds from the chimney, arrival at Dublin Connolly, via the connecting line under Phoenix Park, was 90 minutes late. Here, a rapid change was effected, into the Mk.2 set, with 0-6-0 186 at the head. The planned changeover allowance was cut, resulting in a departure almost exactly one hour late. 186 lived up to its lively reputation, running well and sounding superb. Though limited to 50mph on the main line, it passed Skerries at an unspecified rate! The usual water stop at Drogheda, using the surviving water crane, and therefore undelayed, was followed by a brisk climb of Kellystown bank. There was a short stop to allow some passengers to detrain at Dundalk, but, unfortunately, the lively progress so far encouraged the crew to attack the climb from here to the border with a little too much enthusiasm, and a somewhat winded 186 had to stop for a ‘blow-up’ between Mount Pleasant and Adavoyle! Inevitably, the pathing stop at Portadown was extended, while two following “Enterprise” service passed. It was perhaps unfortunate that the second was driven by Noel Playfair, NIR’s most experienced steam driver, with significant looks and much tapping of his wrist watch! At the next stop of Lisburn, many of the passengers left, in order to reach Belfast a little more quickly via the service DMU which overtook the tour here. Your correspondent stayed on to the end, enjoying more 553
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 554
186 after arrival at the society base at Whitehead on the afternoon of Monday 13th May, with the RPSI's Mk.2 set, painted in UTA green. The new station building, in the style of the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway, and Max Birchenough now complete externally, can be seen behind the train.
acceleration – 186 can easily keep up with modern DMU paths – before finally arriving at Belfast Central at a late hour. Since the same inspector from Sunday was rostered for the Monday, rest regulations meant that the final day of steam started about an hour later than planned. As a result, the scheduled return trip from Lisburn to Antrim was cancelled, the tour running straight from reversal at Lisburn through to Bangor. 186 performed well, with fine climbs of Holywood bank in both directions. Another reversal at Lisburn was the prelude to the final run through Belfast to the society depot at Whitehead, where those still on the train were given an extra treat. Ex-GNR(I) compound 4-4-0 85 Merlin has recently completed an overhaul and is being run in, and was in steam to shunt the stock away. Lovely early evening sunshine provided perfect conditions for photography, with RPSI personnel shepherding the party to a safe vantage point in the yard. As another bonus, the conductress on the 18.15 from Whitehead to Belfast, on learning that she had a large group of steam rail tour passengers, gave all of them a free trip back to Great Victoria Street! Altogether, the weekend, despite the snags, was a resounding success, and every bit as enjoyable as usual.
Max Birchenough 554
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 555
FRENCH HIGH SPEED RAIL and the TGV - PART 2 by Michael Bunn In 1992 a new variant of the TGV appeared, the Reseau (network) (units 501-553). These use the more powerful Atlantique power cars enclosing an eight-car articulated trailer rake and intended for long distance journeys within France, they provide more passenger comfort and more luggage space. An even better power to weight ratio of 30.79hp/tonne would improve timekeeping. Prior to the opening of the Interconnexion line, the Reseau units were used on LGV-N services to Paris. More recently the less powerful PSE TGVs and the North of London 14-car Eurostar units (on lease to SNCF) are to be seen on these services. In 1993 the line from Poitiers to La Rochelle was electrified bringing TGVs direct from Paris. Back on the PSE, the 121km long extension LGV Rhone Alpes (LGV-RA) to Valence was completed, in two stages, in 1992 and 1994. This included a new station at Satolas (Lyon Airport) later renamed as Lyon St Exupéry and the major rail intersection at St Quentin-Fallavier where the Lyon to Grenoble classic line crosses the high speed line. 1994 saw the opening of the first stage of the LGV Interconnexion (LGV-I), which would provide a direct link between the high speed lines to the north, south and west of Paris and from 2007 to the LGV Est. LGV-I was completed two years later with the opening of a branch from the newly formed Coubert triangle to Creteil Junction bringing the high speed line to nine kilometres from the Gare de Lyon. It also allows inter-regional TGV services to operate to and from the west of France. Part of the route used for the new branch was built on the former Vincennes line (from Bastille) partly in cut and cover construction. At the western end of the new branch a connection was made to the Grand Ceinture line at Les Saules, where TGVs still have to take their turn, as far as Massy, with RER line C services and Freight trains. 1995 to 1998 saw the introduction of the TGV Duplex double-deck train (units 201-289) to meet the re-emerging problem of capacity shortage. These incredible units use a completely new design and construction concept. With an extruded aluminium bodyshell, lighter weight seats and technical equipment the TGV Duplex weighs in at 380 tonnes, five tonnes lighter than the original single deck PSE units. Fully loaded, the TGV Duplex remains within the 17 tonnes axle loading requirement. At an extra cost of 24%, the TGV Duplex provides 40% more capacity than the PSE train. The driver of a Duplex power car is seated at a central driving position, as opposed to the traditional left hand on earlier units. Another development in the late 1990s was that of the TGV Pendulaire. A TGV unit was taken out of service and fitted with tilting mechanism to enable higher speeds off the high speed line network. It was hoped that this would bring clear benefits to Atlantique services which only had a fairly short length of high speed line available before reverting to ‘classic’ tracks and on sinuous routes such as Paris to Toulouse, via Limoges and Brive. Following extensive trials the experiment, although highly successful, was abandoned due to the potential cost of conversion and the unit reformed to a conventional TGV. Following the signing of an agreement between the French, Belgian, Dutch and German railway authorities in 1993, to jointly operate an international high speed rail service over the new LGV Nord, the first train left the Gard du Nord, Paris on 4th June 1996, for Brussels and Amsterdam. Marketed under the branding of THALYS, the TGVs wear a distinctive maroon and grey livery. In spite of the fact that this service is operated by four different national railway companies, it has been an outstanding success and now has a much greater share than air transport of the Paris to Brussels travel market. The THALYS service is operated by a fleet of triple voltage TGVs – PBA (units 4532-40) for services to Belgium and Holland and PBKA (units 4301-46) which additionally serve Germany. The period 1996 to 2000 saw the construction of the 244km long LGV Mediterranée (LGV-M), the most complex and difficult so far. With 31 major civil engineering sites, including 17km of viaducts, 13km of tunnels and construction of three new TGV stations at Valence TGV, Avignon TGV and Aix en Provence TGV. Cost of construction of LGV-M is estimated at €4 billion. Even before the completion of this line the French government was ready to go ahead with the next high speed line – the LGV Est (LGV-E), to serve the only region of France yet to see any high speed line construction. Following the decision to proceed in 1999, the Declaration d’Utilité Publique was made in 1999 and construction work started in 2000. In the same year the one billionth passenger was carried on the TGV network. Also in 2000 the branch line from Plouaret to Lannion, in Brittany, was electrified, at the latter 555
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 556
the existing station was replaced with a new combined rail/ bus interchange and a single island platform long enough to handle a single TGV Atlantique set. Still on the Atlantique route, a new station was opened at Futuroscope, north of Poitiers, to serve the adjacent multi-media theme park. Although built on the grand scale, to handle groups, this station has a very poor service and upon completion of the LGV Sud-Est Atlantique in 2016 may no longer be served by TGVs. The LGV-M opened for public service on 6th June 2001, thus completing the 20-year project of an high speed link from Paris to the Grande Bleue. The new service was an outstanding success, far exceeding anticipated passenger numbers. The French capital could now be reached in two hours 40 minutes from Avignon, three hours from Marseille and three hours 15 minutes from Montpellier. Twelve years later there are no scheduled services Paris-Marseille with a non-stop time of three hours the fastest being three hours three minutes but generally around the three hour 12 minute mark. A new TGV logo was introduced with the G & V being joined to give the impression of a snail, ironically earning it the nickname l’escargot! From 2002 all TGV services to Switzerland were brought together under the branding Lyria, formerly known as Ligne de Couer, the triple voltage TGV units on these services displaying a special logo and modified livery. Similarly TGV services between France and Italy are now marketed under the name of Artesia. 2005 saw the electrification of the branch line from Rennes to St Malo, enabling a direct TGV service from Paris Montparnasse to be operated. As in the majority of these branch line electrifications the TGV service is basically an extension of a previously terminating train; in this case from Rennes. Apart from the electrification, the line was resignalled and the stations of Dol and Saint Malo rebuilt, at the former resulting in the fine mechanical signal gantry being demolished and at the latter the abandonment of the existing Chemin de fer de l’Ouest station, with a new four platform terminus being constructed about 400 metres to the south and the most rudimentary of passenger facilities provided. The LGV Est (LGV-E) would be the first high speed line project to be completely overseen, developed and construction supervised by Reseau Ferré de France (RFF) – the Network Rail of France - formed in 1997. There was also a different financing regime. Hitherto, the SNCF had virtually been given, by the French government, a blank cheque to construct the high speed lines but the €3.125 billion cost of LGV-E was financed by contributions ranging from €1.22 billion from the French state, €320 million from the European Union (the line also serves Luxembourg, Germany) to €3.6 million from the town of Colmar. The total financing package involved the French state, the EU, the Duchy of Luxembourg, the three regions and eight départments THALYS PBKA set passes Roeux on a Paris-Amsterdam service on 11th July 2011.
Michael Bunn
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 557
Geneva to Paris TGV on the Cize Bolozon viaduct on 23rd August 2011.
Michael Bunn
traversed, the towns of Colmar, Mulhouse, Reims, Strasbourg. The SNCF contributed €48 million and RFF €682 million. Consultation and public meetings were held with over 100 communes and local authorities. LGV-E, at 304km, is the longest section of high speed line to be built as one contract. The first three LGVs had been built before the ‘environmental lobby’ had found its feet but the later lines to be constructed were going to face some opposition. The LGV-E was opposed by viticulteurs, in the Champagne region, who claimed that excessive air pressure caused by the high speed of the passing trains would affect the growth of their grapes. The new line was built to a higher speed specification than the previous LGVs and would see TGVs operating at a maximum 320kpm (200mph). Starting at Vaires, 22km from the Gare de l’Est, the first stage of the line is 302km long and ends at Baudrecourt. There is a connection (from the east) to both northbound and southbound tracks of the LGV Interconnexion line, enabling inter-sector TGVs from the north, south west and west of France to join LGV-E. There are also four connections with the ‘classic’ network enabling TGVs to continue off the high speed line to towns such as Reims, Metz, Nancy, Strasbourg etc. The line to St Dié des Vosges was electrified to enable a direct TGV service to Paris. At Baudrecourt, the end of stage 1, there is a saut de mouton (flyover) to enable TGVs to change between left and right hand running before joining the classic line. The railway system in Alsace and Lorraine being rebuilt by the Germans between 1871 and 1918, during their occupation. Three new stations on the line have been built at Champagne Ardennes TGV, Meuse TGV and Lorraine TGV. The Meuse TGV station has been a monumental flop in terms of passenger usage, situated in the middle of nowhere it has a very poor service, with only two trains each day to and from Paris plus a handful of inter-sector trains. In its first year of service the TGV-Meuse station saw only 50,000 passengers.
Continued in Part 3 TGV operations face the future with a new world speed record, two further lines and new generation power cars 557
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 558
PLUMB’S RAMBLINGS Part 8 – Wellingborough, 1943 During the Doncaster period I had been obliged to join the Home Guard, so on rare weekends at home had to parade but also got more field works and firing on the ranges at Totley. The foreman on the Doncaster project was now on a smaller but similar project where a new facility with offices, stores and workshops was being built for the maintenance of the steam shunters etc. at Wellingborough Iron Co., a subsidiary of Stanton Iron Works. By now, being 19 years-old and working as a craftsman, my wages were raised to 1/- per hour, plus lodging and travel allowances. I recall January and February of 1943 were very cold with frost and snow, so we pressed on to install the low pressure steam heating system with coal-fired boiler plant. The large works area was oblique to the down Midland main line near Finedon Road signal box; there were three large blast furnaces and continuous casting plant producing pig iron. There was a complex array of sidings in and around the blast furnaces, access from the main lines and lines to the slag bank. There was also a vast storage area for the locally won iron ore. After some eight weeks our installation works were almost complete but as we had worked without employing local semi-skilled labour our supervisor told the foreman we had accrued too much bonus, the payment of which could be upsetting to other sites. As at Doncaster, the foreman suggested I stay on site doing final works but mainly running the steam boiler and heating system in the still cold weather whilst instructing one of the ironwork’s fitting staff. This gave me more free time, so I was able to explore the vast complex and soon took notes of the motley collection of shunting locomotives employed in the 24-hour continuous production. The rail entrance was via a gate on the down main line sidings and it was amusing to see Garratts shunting rakes of coke and limestone wagons on to the works sidings. Vast tonnages were used daily with similar amounts of pig iron being taken out. On one of my longer excursions, I discovered the complex of metre gauge lines emerging from the long tunnel under the main lines and past the small engine shed, then into the easterly distance. The largest locomotive in the standard gauge fleet was Forward, a Peckett X2 0-6-0ST 1235 of 1910, which worked the slag bank traffic to the outer end of the works where a large gang of Italian POWs worked under the guidance of an army corporal. These POWs, in their patchwork, highly coloured overalls, seemed to work hard, but wander at will, the corporal often coming to chat with us and enjoy a quiet fag! At this time the total stock appeared to comprise seven standard gauge and three narrow gauge locomotives, all of which were kept busy. Only Forward carried a name, the others were: Standard Gauge No.2 HC 576/1900 0-4-0ST No.3 HL 3813/1935 0-4-0ST No.5 AB 2063/1939 0-4-0ST No.6 HC & Rogers 1876, rebuilt 1920 0-4-0ST No.7 AB 2135/1941 0-4-0ST No.8 AB 2136/1941 0-4-0ST Metre Gauge* No.85 P 1870/1934 0-6-0ST Peckett Type M7 No.86 P 1871/1934 0-6-0ST Peckett Type M7 No.87 P 2029/1942 0-6-0ST Peckett Type Special R4 * All these engines survive, presently at the Irchester Narrow Gauge Railway Museum My complex duties carried on for some seven weeks, the coal-fired steam boiler had an underfeed screw driven stoker which required ‘washed singles’ type coal but rarely got the correct stuff, so large ‘trees’ of clinker formed in the firebox, thus not keeping the steam pressure. With continuing frosty nights I would regularly walk from my digs, just a few minutes down a rough bankside, around 9.30pm on clear starry nights, to find the firebox well clinkered up and only about 5psi on the ‘clock’, as opposed to the working pressure of 15psi. So some careful action was required, cleaning, declinkering and wheel barrowing out the spoils, resetting the coal feed rates and nursing the pressure back up to 15psi. Once things had stabilised I could return for an evening cocoa and bed. 558
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 559
At long last the Sheffield-based supervisor admitted the bonus was now at a manageable level of some £36.00, which meant £20.00 for the foreman and £16.00 for me! During the 15 weeks or so at Wellingborough I had managed to travel home around ten times, using the normally Jubilee-hauled wartime scheduled expresses with stops at Kettering, Market Harborough, Leicester, Loughborough, Trent, Derby, Belper and Chesterfield. I had also ventured to Northampton by local bus service and even once reached the LNWR main line at Roade, so my quest for all things LNW was helped as Northampton still had a fair supply of Super D 0-8-0s (there were quite a number seen at Wellingborough), Precursors, Georges and Princes. Ken was by now in the army and I knew my turn would come in early 1944 and Margaret, my wife to be, could also be eligible for joining the forces. So we happily used my recent bonus to buy a good quality engagement ring! Wartime travel, although uncomfortable on many occasions, gave me great pleasure. The Midland main line was always busy with innumerable freight trains both via Leicester and via Melton Mowbray. Some down expresses I used ran via Nottingham and Derby, thus stopping at Trent up platform but not having to traverse the very tight radius curve off the down platform. This involved stops at Kettering, Corby, Manton, Oakham, Melton Mowbray and Nottingham, then the usual stops via Derby, where there was always something to be seen. Stanier 8F 2-8-0s with mysterious three-digit smokebox numberplates, a couple of ancient SR 4-4-0s and even older Kirtley double-framed 0-6-0 2Fs plus the usual selection of ex-works types. With often eleven- or twelve-coach trains, at many stops they had to ‘draw-up’ twice and on the sharp curve at Trent the Jubilee would be going in almost the opposite direction from the twelfth coach! So the 100 miles via Derby to Sheffield, some 115 miles via both Nottingham and Derby, was quite a marathon with no refreshments available and often no seats for part of the journey – being a rail enthusiast was a bonus. So my days at Wellingborough ended, the foreman visited the site with me to check all was well and the client able to run the boiler and system when handed over. It was back on the train the next day at Wellingborough, but travelling south, not north, as I had been transferred to a site in Sutton. This was an enhanced garage workshop complex in the town centre which turned out small aircraft components. In April, Margaret’s father remarried so her two-year role as housewife and carer for her younger siblings ended and within days she was ‘called-up’, choosing to join the Women’s Land Army, and being sent to Hereford. Meanwhile, I had settled in at Sutton and was to remain for some five and a half months, until after our wedding in late September.
Derek Plumb
The rare Corpet (Paris) 0-6-0PT Minas de Aller No.2 (works no.439 of 18840) recently restored at Statfold Barn ,working the field railway on 1st June. This locomotive, with five sisters, worked at the Minas de Aller in Spain and is an example with Browns valve gear with indirect drive via a rocker arm. Bob Barby
559
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 560
TRACTION CONTRASTS IN THE HIGH FELLS - 2 Above - 66020 approaches Shap Wells with 6Z80 a Bescot to Shap summit aggregates train on 22nd May. John Cashen Below - The “Cumbrian Mountain Express” at Scout Green climbing the 1 in 75 bank to the summit at Shap on 20th June in the capable hands of ex-LMS Royal Scot Class 4-6-0 46115 Scots Guardsman. The train left Euston at 06.26 with 86259 at the helm as far as Carnforth where the Royal Scot took over for the remainder of the Stuart Warr northbound journey to Carlisle.
560
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 561
BRANCH NEWS Bristol. We enjoyed freshly picked sweet strawberries and cream during our observation evening at Westbury on 27th June. The regular varieties of DMU and HST and Cl.59, 60 and 66 on freight services were enhanced by additional HSTs from Paddington via both the Berks. & Hants. and Melksham to Castle Cary for the Glastonbury Music Festival. Not seen were the two Cl.165 workings from Paddington via the avoiding line to Castle Cary. An HST repeatedly circled Temple Meads-TauntonCastle Cary-Westbury-Temple Meads with variations. On 2nd July we made our annual visit to the 5" ground level fully automatically signalled Strawberry Line at Saltford for an evening of driving. Chaos ensued when Dale Robertson’s train failed in the tunnel, but Callum Macleod was present to check the health and safety of all! The construction of what is probably the world’s only 5" gauge hump shunt yard (with retarders) was well advanced for opening in the summer. Hitchin. On 12th June the Rev. Tom Gladwin presented “Out and About in 2012”. Tom and his friends look out for special offers to find some excellent money savers. They travelled from Marylebone to Birmingham for 25p return, and made low budget journeys to Glasgow, Newcastle, Nuneaton and renewed their acquaintances with the Bedford-Bletchley and Marlow-Didcot lines. Peterborough revealed views of the new platforms and footbridge under construction and 60097 ABP Port of Grimsby and Immingham. On heritage lines and miniature railways we saw the West Somerset Railway at Minehead,, the G-WR, the GCR, the Northampton & Lamport and the Watercress Line, where 925 Cheltenham was in traffic with 850. The narrow gauge was represented by the Leighton Buzzard Light Railway and the Seaton Tramway. After seeing the miniature railway at Audley End we progressed to Somerleyton, on the Norwich-Lowestoft ‘Wherry Line’, to see the soon to disappear signals by the swing bridge. We finished with a view from the bottom of Tom’s garden of the south portal of Welwyn South tunnel. Ever ready with his camera, Tom takes many curiosities including posting boxes. ‘Where is there an E VIII R box in St. Albans? he asked. A very good evening. On 25th June branch member and Society Vice President David Cole presented a colourful and informative presentation “A Look at Swiss Railways”. We learnt how the country was governed through the cantons (similar to our county councils but with more power) and much more about the modern Switzerland, which has suffered a decline in foreign visitors during recent years particularly among Japanese and American tourists. Nationalisation of the Swiss
railways took place in 1902; we did not travel that far back, but we saw a large variety of stock from the 1960s onwards. David had photographs of all types of traction including some small shunting locomotives, at least one being based at most stations. These were coded Te for the electrically-powered variety and Tm for those with diesel power. All this was interspersed with some wonderful scenic shots of buildings, floral displays, rivers and lakes, and of course the mountains. An afternoon to show just what a landlocked country can offer. Ipswich. On 13th May we welcomed Brian Ringer with part 1 of “Strictly Freight Only”. Brian, a former BR and SRA freight manager, outlined freight sector operations prior to the 1955 Modernisation Plan. Local wagonload freight remained an inefficient, expensive use of resources and only the radical solutions envisaged in the 1963 Beeching Report attempted to address this and other problems affecting the network. Many yards constructed or modernised in the late 1950s and early 1960s were virtually obsolete by the time they opened. The future lay in the bulk haulage of trainloads of materials from source to customer, perhaps using privately-owned wagons, with reductions in cost and journey times and the elimination of thousands of unbraked wagons. New terminals (such as Hunterston and Port Talbot) were built and heavier trains operated utilising modern traction. Older loading facilities were uneconomic to modernise, leading to traffic such as the limestone flow from Redmire to Teeside ceasing in the 1990s. The automotive sector was modernised using two-tier articulated bogie wagons in the face of very real competition from the road sector. We look forward to part 2 in 2014. Merseyside, Chester & North Wales. Four members had a wonderful day with a visit to Southend and Shoeburyness on 11th June. After travelling up to Euston each pair then went on to either Southend Victoria (having spent time at Stratford, Romford and Shenfield) or to Southend Central (via Willesden Jct., Gospel Oak, Upper Holloway, Barking, West Ham, Grays and Westcliff). One pair took a ride on Southend Pier. All four then travelled out to Shoeburyness and then back to Barking for a station observation session before each pair returned to Liverpool and Chester respectively after a very full day. Milton Keynes. A small party of members visited Banbury on 3rd July to observe and photograph train movements on this busy line and to visit the remaining two mechanical signal boxes. We hoped to see Cl.20s working one of the LUL S stock moves but the working was reported to be 70 minutes down, too late for any 561
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 562
Now running with its proper name, 4464 Bittern stands at York on 14th June, preparing hand over the somewhat delayed "Cathedrals Express" charter to fellow A4 60009 which will then power the next leg of the tour to Mike Robinson Edinburgh.
meaningful photographs to be taken. Five of the six Chiltern locomotive-hauled sets were seen, one of which was transferred to the up sidings to stable overnight. We noted for the first time Cl.172/1s working through on the Marylebone to Stratford-upon-Avon services in place of Cl.165s. Other than the procession of Cl.66worked freights it was interesting to note FLHH 70006 (currently on loan to the intermodal pool) on 4M99 the 16.57 Southampton-Trafford Park with 70008 following later on 4M98 the 18.00 Southampton-Garston. The sheer number of trains using this route has to be seen to be believed, with hardly five minutes passing without a movement. We admired the mechanical signals which still adorn this location, but plans are in hand to transfer control firstly to Saltley SCC and eventually to Rugby ROC. Northampton. Our first lineside meeting of the outdoor season on 20th May was held at Kings Sutton station, a small village on the very edge of Northamptonshire and one of only six remaining stations in the county. And what a splendid evening it turned out to be, with no fewer than six freights (Cl.66 and Cl.70-hauled) and 21 passenger trains (Cl.67, 165, 168, 172 and 220) operated by Chiltern Railways, Cross Country and First Great Western all within two 562
hours. Adjournment was prompt on the hour of 21.00 to the most appropriately named (for us LNW people) The Crewe Arms at Hinton in the Hedges. On 3rd June we gathered at our home station, a busy location with two trains northwards and three southwards each hour operated by LMT’s Cl.350 EMUs. The token VWC Pendolino weekdays service consists of one early morning and one late at night. The local Siemens maintenance depot produces several daily ECS workings. Freight traffic hauled by Cl.66, 90 and 92 was noted on car transports and container trains. There were no Cl.70s in evidence but it was reported that a Crompton Cl.33 had passed earlier in the day. Work will start soon on replacement of the 1960s station, the new building being located on the present station forecourt. Northampton Castle had stood on this site, and an archaeological dig is currently in progress. The platforms and line layout will remain untouched. An extremely high temporary footbridge (complete with passenger lifts) over the OLE is being erected to permit pedestrian access to the island platform during the reconstruction works. On 17th June members assembled at St. Ives Park and Ride to use the guided busway service to Cambridge station. Anglian Day Rover
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 563
tickets were then used to travel via Ely (where two private-liveried Cl.08s and 66250 were noted near Ely North Junction), Thetford and Wymondham to Norwich. A selection of classes 156, 158 and 170, with 90s on the London service, was noted. At Lowestoft, now a rather depressing two-platform terminus, we mused over the half-dozen class Y1 and Y3 Sentinels that used to be based here. A Cl.170 took us along the East Suffolk line via Beccles, Saxmundham and Woodbridge before traversing the circuitous route around Ipswich via East Suffolk Junction. Here, the building of the new ‘Bacon Factory’ curve was observed, which will enable the Felixstowe container trains to reach Haughley Junction without reversal at Ipswich. The station was very busy, with Cl.90, 153, 156, 170 and 360s and four Cl.66s at the stabling point. We departed for Cambridge via Bury St. Edmunds and Newmarket on a very well patronised Cl.170, again using the busway to return to our starting point. Scottish. We welcomed Hamish Stevenson and David Hall on 10th May, whose presentation “The Photographs of the late Roy Crombie” provided an enjoyable and absorbing evening’s viewing. Locations included Embo on the Dornoch branch, a Black Five on the Fort
George branch, Tillyfourie, Old Meldrum station, Blairgowrie station, Methven, Abercairnie, Auchterhouse, Glenfarg, Banknock, Giffen, Shankend viaduct, Haddington station, branches to St. Combs and Gullane, Colinton, Balerno Goods Junction, Leith North, Helensburgh shed, old Hyndland station in 1954, Calderpark Halt, Strathaven Central, Lanark Racecourse, Buchanan Street (with 67601) and Bangour Branch Junction amongst others. Locomotives illustrated included classes B1, V2, NBR Glens, A2, A3, J36, J39, LMS Ivatt Moguls, BR Standard 5MTs and Clans, LMS 2P, Black Five, Jubilee, CR 123 and the HR Jones Goods inside St. Rollox Works. Roy’s images also included the Stewarts & Lloyds Clydesdale Iron Works Ruston diesel, Dalzell Ironworks at Motherwell and part of the GNR(I), at Warrenpoint. The commentary furnished much greatly appreciated background information, and Hamish’s wry humour produced a lot of hilarity during the evening. The evening concluded with a short Q&A session. South Essex. A local line featured in June when John Manning presented “A Ride with the Guard with a Difference”, a wonderful tale of the Kelvedon & Tollesbury Light Railway made all
The day after Bittern's exploits illustrated opposite, 60163 Tornado approaches Perth with the EdinburghGeorge Brett Inverness leg of "The Cathedrals Express" on 15th June.
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 564
the better as John’s father had been a guard on the line. Opened in 1904 and closed to passengers in 1951 when John was 12, he enjoyed many trips in the unusual passenger rolling stock. A typical mixed train formation would include an ex-Wisbech & Upwell Tramway coach, a similar vehicle from the Stoke Ferry branch, goods wagons, passenger brake van and goods brakevan, all hauled by a J69 0-6-0T (normally 8636) bunker first to Tollesbury. The 8 1/2 mile line started at Kelvedon Low Level station and had a steeply graded connection up to the GE main line. Essex is not flat, and there was a two-mile climb at 1 in 50 from Feering up to Inworth. Freight continued along the truncated line until 1962, and by a strange coincidence John prepared the final closure case in his professional capacity with BR. Two brakevan specials ran, one hauled by a J15 and the other by the UK’s last surviving 2-4-0, 62785. A comprehensive set of photographs showed every aspect of this distinctive line, accompanied by John’s detailed, humorous and sometimes very personal commentary. South Wales/De Cymru. For the final meeting of our season on 12th June, 38 members and visitors enjoyed Arthur Turner’s presentation “Narrow Gauge in Great Britain”. Covering a period of some 35 years, no fewer than 49 railways were illustrated running on gauges between 12 inches and four feet. Whilst the majority were steam operated, examples of diesel, steam outline diesel, electrics of the Volks, Great Orme and the Isle of Man railways and even the Douglas horse trams were shown. Commencing in the south west of England, we travelled along the south coast and East Anglia, back through middle England and gradually north to the virtual narrow gauge desert of Scotland. After seeing the fascinating variety of the Isle of Man we ended in Wales, with its plethora of systems. Museums and preserved locomotives were included, from Fire Queen at Penrhyn Castle to the South African Garratt at the Plym Valley. The versatility of the narrow gauge was shown with the shortlived systems at the garden festivals of the 1990s utilising motive power from established railways, to the completion of the rebuilt Welsh Highland. This interesting and well illustrated talk reminds enthusiasts of the wealth of narrow gauge railways which continue to thrive in Britain. Sussex. In May we welcomed Iain McCall with “Scotland from the BR Corporate Era - Part 1 The Road to the Isles - Rail and Shipping in the Western Isles”. At Stranraer harbour in 1984 we saw the colourful Sealink train behind a Cl.37 with a Cl.08 shunting, but 30 years later there was merely a Cl.156 and the Stena Line ferry in port. More ferries through the years were seen as we moved via Weymss Bay and 564
Gourock towards Glasgow, which revealed a Cl.303 and a Motorail train from the mid-1980s and a Cl.334 and 90024 with a sleeper in modern times. After seeing BR blue Cl.47s in Edinburgh we moved to Thornton Junction to see 06005 and 06006. On the West Highland Line a ‘then and now’ view of Oban station showed a Cl.37 in 1984 followed by a modern view of the new station and a two-car Cl.156. Moving to Inverness and the Kyle of Lochalsh in 1987 saw several Cl.37s. We finished with some visits to preserved railways, firstly to the Keith and Dufftown Railway with Cl.26, 27 and a solitary 73! We visited the Strathspey Railway and the Royal Deeside Railway before finishing up at the now defunct Mull Railway, rounding off an excellent evening on an area not regularly seen at Sussex branch. In June we welcomed back John Borrowdale with “Pakistani Steam in 1990”. John’s trip utilised a four-coach train which carried the 15 Britons and four Americans around the broad, metre and narrow gauge lines, hauled on all gauges by a variety of locomotives mainly of British manufacture between 1909 and 1945. There were frequent photographic stops, opportunities to drive and viewing from the coach, the top of the auxiliary water tank, a swing seat on the outside of a cab or from the buffer beam! We saw a variety of sheds manned by many staff and others who posed for their photographs. John regaled us with many anecdotes and commented on the hospitality shown by people they met on the way. The Americans didn’t find favour with the locals and didn’t enamour themselves to one crew by objecting to the ‘Excursion Special’ headboard. This was a fascinating show with much drooling over the locomotives, most decorated as only the Indian sub-continent can do and literally hand painted. John considered himself lucky to have been able to reach into areas which had their troubles and which today are no-go areas, particularly on the Afghan/Pakistan borders. His only regret was that his trip couldn’t go up the Khyber Pass. Thames Valley. The branch held its annual observation evening at Reading station for the Ascot Ladies Day specials. Only one special, returning north to Manchester, did not use the normal route via Reading and Oxford. Fuller details of the freights seen can be found on the branch website. Watford. In an additional meeting to our normal programme on 2nd July, branch member Rob Freeman presented “Slides from the Jim Shuttleworth Collection”. Jim was a former branch member who sadly passed away in December 2012 and left all his railway materials to the society. One of the problems facing Rob was that a great majority of the slides were not captioned or dated, hence the evening was spent
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 565
Recently restored at Maldegem 0-6-0T Bebert built by Le Meuse in 1926 stands on the standard/metre dual gauge track in the goods yard at Noyelles-sur-Mer with the visiting K&ESR restored 1888-built SECR brake now all 3rd David Kelso 3062 on the occasion of the Fete de Baie de Somme steam gala on 28th April.
more as a test for our members to see if they could identify the missing details. Nevertheless, within a very informal atmosphere, everyone was treated to a wide selection of steam, diesel and electric traction in the UK, Southern Ireland and Europe. West Midlands. “Nostalgia” was presented by Ian Reid on 8th April. In almost 200 slides Ian took most of us back to our youth, with steam everywhere every day and only a few diesels. Woodford Halse revealed 92072 on an Annesley ‘runner’ and local stalwart 64369. Barmouth featured 5507 and 75026, with 9013 doubleheading with a 22xx and 5517 on “The Cambrian Coast Express”. At Bath Green Park we saw 76027 and 53808 posing in the evening sun and visitors from Leeds 44742 and 45690. A photograph published nationally saw 46148 at Birmingham New Street, resplendent in a fresh coat of Crewe’s lined green paint. Shots nearer home showed unrebuilt 46163 on Rugby MPD and 45541 at Nuneaton. Gasps of recognition greeted slides of 40135 at Coventry station, powering the single parcels coach used on the platform-to-platform shuttle during Coventry station’s reconstruction in the early 1960s and of a Webb 2-4-2T leaving Rugby on a Leamington Spa local. A rarity was 70043, again on Rugby shed, with air brakes during its 1950s trials with air-braked freight trains, followed by 46237 in blue and 46240 ex-works in red. Before passing to the preservation era we saw Hawkesbury Lane signal box, diesels 57003
at Nuneaton and 56303 at Coventry. This was indeed a trip into nostalgia. Patrick Kingston spoke about “Royal Trains and their Passengers” on 15th April. Normally he gave this talk to public meetings, but for society members had added extra purely railway content. At nationalisation there had been three Royal Trains, allowing two to operate simultaneously. Now one train remained, marshalled as required from a pool of ten vehicles and centred on ex-LMS 12-wheeled saloons 798 and 799. Recently 799 has been preserved on the Severn Valley Railway. The oldest coach featured was Princess Beatrice’s saloon of 1869, now preserved in the NRM. This has two coach bodies on a single underframe joined by a flexible connection. Queen Victoria instructed that the coach was not to be modernised, so it retained oil lighting. We saw the funeral trains for Queen Victoria, King Edward VII (with an LBSCR Atlantic), King George V (with B17 2847 Sandringham) and King George VI (with faux 4082 Windsor Castle). An interesting operational scene showed 46245 on the then Royal Train picking its way carefully at 5mph through Harrow & Wealdstone station a few days after the major collision there. Locally, two Cl.40s were seen leaving the ‘Royal Siding’ at Berkswell in 2002, the last time the Royal Train was stabled there. West Riding. For the season’s final indoor presentation Rob Tibbits gave the June meeting a digitised talk on “The Scarborough Spa 565
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 566
Express” using photographs taken by Adrian Scales of the Scarborough Railway Society. Following the completion of the turntable in 1981 the NRM introduced the steam-hauled York-Scarborough twice daily summer service as a showcase for its locomotive fleet. The first trains were hauled by Duchess of Hamilton but eventually other groups provided motive power to extend interest beyond NRM machinery. Photographs of most of the locomotives taken in all the favoured locations were shown. Stitched into the presentation was an interesting array of NRM advertising flyers describing the delights of the steam experience. Eventually interest in the service faded and it ceased in 1988, only to be revived in 2002 by the WCRC using their own locomotives and others that fell within their operating remit. Flying Scotsman, Olton Hall and the 8F all featured. The NRM finally pulled out, but activities continued courtesy of The Railway Touring Company and WCRC until 2008 when WCRC took over completely. “The Scarborough Spa Express” has brought a wonderful array of steam power into the region and it is hoped this will continue for many years to come. Our thanks to Rob and Adrian. Windsor & Maidenhead. For our annual joint meeting held in June with Marlow and District Railway Society, we welcomed the Reverend
Canon Brian Arman to tell us about C. B. Collett, GWR CME from 1922 to 1941. Charles Collett has a reputation for being rather remote, reflecting a complex character, which is probably fair, but Brian’s contention was that to regard him merely as an unadventurous ‘safe pair of hands’ is not. Collett took over at a difficult time. The Great War had depleted the workforce and created an enormous maintenance backlog and the Grouping landed the GWR with an influx of poorly maintained and sometimes sub-standard motive power. Building on the standardisation established by his predecessors, he set about rebuilding locomotives from the constituent companies and updating the works processes. The GWR became the first railway company to introduce a line system of erection and repair and to use optical alignment of frames and cylinders. He produced a steady stream of new classes, including pannier, 56xx and 14xx tanks, Halls, Granges and Manors. Eventually numbering over 300, the Halls can claim to be the first ‘go everywhere, do everything’ mixed-traffic class. Collett may not have captured the imagination with record-breaking speed, but he made the GWR the country’s most cost-efficient railway in terms of coal and water consumption and maintenance.
QUERY CORNER Written queries and answers should be sent to the QCE, Mike Gayton, at: 11 Trubridge Road, Hoo, Rochester, ME3 9EN or via e-mail to: QueryCorner@RCTS.org.uk. A version of Query Corner also appears on the society website. NEW QUERIES Q13.24. Glasgow Sheds and Works April 1962. A member who is catching up with his old records finds that he has lost the notes he made of a visit to Glasgow area sheds on Saturday 14th April 1962, in particular of 45665 Lord Rutherford of Nelson which he believes to have been present at Corkerhill on this day having been stored there from around October 1961. He had travelled on an overnight football excursion from Northampton to Glasgow with haulage to and from Leeds by a Northampton class 5 and from Leeds to Glasgow by 45564 New South Wales. All the Glasgow sheds and works were visited. Has anyone any Glasgow shed or works lists taken on 14th April or around this time to help refresh the memory? (RG:16397) Q13.25. Monument Lane Compounds. In 1958 there were two Compounds at Monument Lane, 40936 which was in store there until 5th June of that year and 41168 566
transferred from Crewe North during week ending 14th June (where it had also been in store during 1958 up to that point). They were returned to store on 14th September 1958. Information is sought on their work in these summer timetable months, including any specific sightings. (AH:21278) ANSWER A13.14. Allocations of Stanier three-cylinder 2-6-4Ts in the Second World War. At least four class members, 2500, 2503, 2532 and 2535 do not appear to have left the Tilbury line during the war and 2501 spent just one month away, at Normanton in 1940. The rest of the class were spread through LMS sheds including Cricklewood, Kentish Town and Willesden in London, and Derby, Leicester, Belle Vue, Manningham, Holbeck, Sheffield, Stourton and Kirkby. All came back to the Tilbury line before the end of 1945. Members’ sightings during the war include 2502 complete with 21A shed plate at Birmingham New Street on 2nd December 1944, and 2505/16/ 8/33/6 also in the Birmingham area. 2502/4/10/ 23/30 were seen at Derby, with 2513 at Burtonon-Trent and 2524 at Bury, Lancs. (JG:841, JNS:4125, SH:5589, RV:21817)
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 567
FESTINIOG STEAM 150 These images by Ian Pilkington illustrate the debt we owe to those hundreds of volunteers who over the past 60 years or so have worked to rebuild and breathe life into one of the UK’s most iconic steam railways and above we see Palmerston and Prince heading away from Dduallt with the 16.00 Porthmadog-Blaenau Ffestiniog on Bank Holiday Monday 6th May. One of the highlights of the event was the remarkable sight of the four surviving George England locomotives working over the Cob on slate empties. They are seen below on Saturday 4th May departing Porthmadog with Palmerston leading cosmetically restored Princess and Welsh Pony and Prince acting as train engine.
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 568
FIRST GENERATION DIESEL POWER IN ACTION Above – Built in May 1960, erstwhile Brush Type 2 D5613 (now 31190) passes Bradford-on-Avon with a Network Paul Senior Rail equipment move from Bristol Kingsland Road to Weymouth on 27th May. Below – NRM D6700, built by English Electric at their Vulcan Foundry at Newton-le-Willows in December 1960 calls at Leyburn, with the 15.45 Leeming Bar-Redmire service, during the diesel gala on 8th June. Paul Senior
568
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 569
PUBLICATION REVIEWS Aspects of Modelling: Lineside Buildings by Nigel Digby. 96pp, 213x282mm softback, 38 colour 55 b&w photographs, map and diagrams. Published by Ian Allan at £14.99. ISBN 978 0 7110 3493 8. The logic of this book is simple, realistic modelling depends on a proper understanding of how real railways are engineered through different environments and how the original structures and buildings are actually made. Consequently, an appreciation of geology is a necessary prelude to modelling embankments and cuttings and a study of station architecture rightly comes before choosing materials and techniques to model one. The author emphasises the importance of drawings, plans, photographs and firsthand observation as the prerequisite to modelling skill. Much of the book is taken up with sample photos of railway structures, accompanied by case studies of the techniques and materials used to recreate them in miniature. The coverage is wide: rural and industrial scenes, freight facilities and passenger terminals, tunnels, bridges and viaducts; indeed, an interesting layout may well need elements of all of these. (FT) Chester to Warrington via Frodsham by Vic Mitchell and Keith Smith. 96pp, 170x240mm hardback, 120 b&w photographs plus maps and diagrams. Published by Middleton Press at £16.95. ISBN 978 1 908174 40 6. The format of these books must by now be well known to readers, so the reviewer needs to look for ways in which the peculiarities and singularities of the line are addressed. It is doubtful if every signal box, signal post, siding or road bridge could be covered in volumes such as these, but a good selection of photographs spanning the years usually manages to present the character of the line. This volume is no exception; the geography and history are set forth in no more than two pages. The timetables illustrate the rise and decline of the services over 150 years and the Railway Clearing House diagrams are useful in clarifying the development of the various companies, amalgamations and proposed lines. Adjoining or crossing lines warrant a close scrutiny of the diagrams and history, but a good impression of the operation is covered by the broad choice of locomotive classes and architecture. Although the line was mainly operated by LNWR and LMS locomotives, there is a fine example of GWR Armstrong “Standard Goods” no.79 at Chester General, with a more recent Cl.70, 70006, en route from Ellesmere Port to Crewe. Examples of preserved locomotives on Weaver viaduct complete the general locomotive interest. The sandstone
cuttings and buildings near Frodsham are evocative of this part of the north west, and this book should be a good reference for those unacquainted with the line and those who may know the line now or previously. I found the usual Mitchell reference to sanitary ware in the picture of Daresbury with “two impressive waste vent pipes”. (PFC) Railway Modelling Realism: An aspirational guide by Nigel Adams & Kevin Cartwright. 144pp, 170x238mm softback, 193 colour 34 b&w illustrations plus diagrams. Published by Silver Link at £20.00. ISBN 978 1 85794 405 1. This is a book about ideas and approaches rather than materials and techniques. The first part is a commentary on scenic detail in modelling, with photos of prototypical railway scenes and model layouts built by the author. Particularly useful are the cross-references to articles in railway modelling magazines and books over the past 15 years, so that you can locate further information. The second part consists of carefully photographed scenes from model layouts made by other contributors, using various scales, with extended captions. Each contributor explains the original inspiration for his layout, usually with sketches and plans. The overall aim is to stimulate creativity in the construction of model railway layouts and, in that sense, this is quite different from many other books on the subject; thought-provoking and well recommended.(FT) The Bill Reed Collection: British Railways Steam Kings Cross to Aberdeen by Peter Tuffrey. 128pp, 175x253mm softback, 202 b&w 122 colour photographs. Published by Fonthill Media at £14.99. SBN 978 1 78155 053 3. This is a well chosen selection of photographs from the Bill Reed collection. The pictures take us in five chapters along a journey from Kings Cross to Aberdeen, although it is the main centres along the route which are covered. All the images are from the 1950s and 1960s and have been taken, in the main, using three quarters front style format and could have been benefited from slightly more contrast when being scanned. The general feel of all the selected photographs, mainly of steam engines, some early diesels with a few showing infrastructure, water troughs, works and stations, gives the realisation of how much of the railway presence has been lost to modernisation over the years. This detail may well be of interest to the modelling fraternity as a useful reference. Each picture has an extended and informative caption and it would appear that several were taken on the same day and location, from a continuous and very nostalgic procession of steam-hauled trains. 569
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 570
This volume is basically a photo album and, although taken after the formation of BR, has a leaning towards ex-LNER locomotives, should this be of particular interest. (SCW) The Last Years of Steam Around the Midlands from the Photographic Archive of the late A. J. Maund by Michael Clemens. 128pp, 177x254mm hardback, 20 b&w, 152 colour photographs. Published by Fonthill Media at £18.99. ISBN 978 1 78155 129 5. Michael Clemens is best known for his book compilations from the slides of his late father, C. N. (Jim) Clemens. On this occasion he has produced a very interesting selection, covering the area from the photographer’s home areas of Worcestershire and Herefordshire eastwards to include the Wolverhampton and Birmingham areas, Crewe, and the counties of Oxford and Northants. Perhaps the title is a little misleading as a fair number of shots of diesel and electric locomotives appear as well as railcars and early multiple units. One wonders if all the intending passengers will manage to cram on board the four-wheel railbus at Cirencester on p.54! Industrial railways are also shown, including the collieries of Cannock Chase, Southam cement works and the Northamptonshire ironstone quarries. The standard of reproduction and the presentation of this book is good and the volume highly recommended. (JLC) The West Coast Lines: BR Steam from Euston to Glasgow from the Bill Reed
Collection by Peter Tuffrey. 128pp, 175x253mm softback, 101 b&w 122 colour photographs. Published by Fonthill Media at £14.99. ISBN 978 1 78155 207 0. From the title you might expect a cover picture of, say, of a Stanier class 5 at Crewe, but what you get is a Thompson B1 at Nottingham Victoria. This book of photographs drifts from the West Coast main line, even to Stirling, to the Great Central and Midland and even to the GWR at Worcester, Leamington Spa and Chipping Norton. The compiler is more interested in presenting a goodly selection of images taken by the photographer over a wide territory and thus the title has to be treated very generously. The photographs themselves are quite worthy if a bit static and shedbound. There are remarkable omissions. Photographs of any Glasgow stations and of the lineside, notably both Shap and Beattock, which are any photographer’s paradise, do not appear. Having said all that, it is a very nice collection, if not exceptional. There is a bibliography, again which mystifies. Whatever it represents, there are several inconsistencies and remarkable omissions. Rail Centres at Carlisle, Crewe and Derby are included but not Nottingham despite the cover picture. And whilst the author refers to 'Steam Motive Power Depots - Scottish Region', why did he not consult that on the London Midland Region? The omission of many seminal books on the West Coast Main Line, itself, and on LMS locomotives is too long to detail. So, enjoy the book but forget about the title. (GRG)
The May day bank holiday saw the return of 6023 King Edward II to the Didcot Railway Centre. On 6th May it Paul Udey shared duty with GWR 2-6-0 5322 and for the final hour the pair ran double-headed.
570
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 571
MYSTERY PHOTOGRAPH There must be something of interest to say about this image. Clues are few though they do exist. As usual all offers please to
David Cole 13 Uplands Avenue, Hitchin SG4 9NH - dfcrcts@hotmail.com
LETTER TO THE EDITOR The RCTS SWISS HOLIDAY
As a participant in the second RCTS Swiss holiday, organised by Steve Ollive on behalf of the RCTS, I just want to express my appreciation of the team that put the tour together. We had a good time with super scenery and views, travelling many of the mountain railways in the south west of Switzerland. The weather was generally very good with a well organised itinerary and also catering for the locospotters as well. So I am most grateful for the efforts of Steve organising the tour and the society making it possible. A big thank you to Steve and the other members who took part. Its certainly a good part of the RCTS.
Malcolm Hammond 17454
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 572
OBSERVER’S DIARY SOCIETY BRANCH MEETINGS BRISTOL AND DISTRICT Meetings held at St. Peters Church Hall, Church Road, Filton BS34 7BX at 19.30. 6th Sep. (Fri.) “Railways in a Yorkshire landscape” by Stephen Gay. CAMBRIDGE Meetings held at the Abbey Meadows Community Wing, Primary School, Galfrid Road, Cambridge CB5 8ND (ample free parking available) at 19.30. 17th Sep. (Tue.) “Jaydee’s travels” by John Day. CROYDON AND SOUTH LONDON Meetings held in the Small Hall (enter by door to the left of building), United Reform Church, Addiscombe Grove, Croydon CR0 5LP (three minutes walk from East Croydon station) at 19.30. 9th Sep. (Mon.) “Building a new Ivatt diesel: recreating LMS 10000” by Ian Prince, Ivatt Diesel Recreation Society. EAST MIDLANDS Meetings held at the “Nottingham Mechanics”, Ground Floor, 3 North Sherwood Street, Nottingham NG1 4EZ at 19.30. 10th Sep. (Tue.) “All colours of the rainbow” by David Walker. HITCHIN Meetings held at Hitchin Christian Centre, Bedford Road, Hitchin SG5 1HF (opp. Christchurch Methodist/URC Church and close to junction of Bedford Road and Brand Street) at 19.30 and at the Methodist Church, Ludwick Way (junction with Cole Green Lane), Welwyn Garden City AL7 3PN at 14.15. 11th Sep. (Wed.) Hitchin: “Across USA and Canada” by John Day. IPSWICH AND DISTRICT Meetings held at Bridge Ward Social Club, 68 Austin Street, Ipswich IP2 8DF at 19.30. 9th Sep. (Mon.) “Scottish steam in the 1950s and 1960s” by David Kelso.
MILTON KEYNES Meetings held at The Crown public house, Market Square, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes MK11 1BE at 19.30. 5th Sep. (Thu.) “Along Cheshire lines” by Ken Grainger. SOUTH EAST Meetings held at the Elwick Club, Church Road, Ashford TN23 1RD (opposite the Central Library) at 19.30. 2nd Sep. (Mon.) “The Southeastern Railway franchise” by Charles Horton, Managing Director, Southeastern Railway. SOUTH ESSEX Meetings held at the Shenfield Parish Hall, 80 Hutton Road, Shenfield CM15 8LB (300 yards from Shenfield Station) at 19.30. 16th Sep. (Mon.) “Locomotive aesthetics” by Ken Grainger. THAMES VALLEY Meetings held at the West Oxford Democrats Club, 1 North Street, Oxford OX2 0AY (ample parking available and only a few minutes from railway and buses) at 19.30. 16th Sep. (Mon.) “Rebirth of the Great Western main lines and the IEP” by Stuart Baker. WATFORD Meetings held at St. Thomas’s United Reformed Church Hall, Langley Road, Watford WD17 4PN at 19.30. 3rd Sep. (Tue.) “West of the Rockies” by John Day. WEST RIDING Meetings held at Saltaire Methodist Chapel, Saltaire Road, Shipley BD18 3HH. Members are also invited to attend meetings of the York Railway Circle in the Library, Archbishop Holgate’s School, Hull Road, York YO10 5ZA. Both commence at 19.30. 9th Sep. (Mon.) York: “Life on the line” (permanent way) by Gordon Reed.
SOCIETY OUTDOOR EVENTS
12th Aug. (Mon.) Visit to Volks Electric Railway and the Kemp Town branch in Brighton, using group train travel from the Northampton area. Details from David Pick, tel: 01604 810613, e-mail northampton@rcts.org.uk 13th Aug. (Tue.) Observation at Peterborough station from 10.30 to 15.30. Details from Alan Turton, tel: 01606 854227. 15th Aug. (Thu.) Observation at Doncaster station from 17.30. Details from Bob Green, tel: 0113 2843604, e-mail: boblol@bramhope16.fsnet.co.uk 17th Aug. (Sat.) Visit to Kent & East Sussex Railway, travelling by minibus from Northampton area. Details from David Pick, see above. 20th Aug. (Tue.) Evening observation at Didcot Parkway station. Details from Andrew Jenkins, tel: 01793 783749, e-mail: hc-acjenkins@tiscali.co.uk 572
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 573
28th Aug. (Wed.) Visit to Blackpool Transport’s new Starr Gate tram depot. Details from Martyn Hilbert, e-mail: martyn_hilbert@yahoo.co.uk 2nd Sep. (Mon.) Visit to Rushden Historical Transport Society for museum visit, brake van ride and refreshments. Details from David Pick, see above. 10th Sep. (Tue.) Observation at Doncaster station from 10.30 to 15.30. Details from Alan Turton, see above.
BRANCH SALES STANDS The East Midlands Branch will be attending Midland Railex at Swanwick Junction station (booking hall), Midland Railway Centre on 17th and 18th August. The Ipswich and District Branch will be attending the Toy and Model Fair at Yeldham Transport Museum, Toppesfield Road, Great Yealdham, CO9 4HD on 8th September. The Milton Keynes Branch will be attending the Silverfox DCC Model Railway Club exhibition at Webber independent school, Siskin Drive, Stantonbury Fields, Milton Keynes (off A422 Monks Way) from 10.00 to 16.30 on 17th August. They will also be attending the Olney Model Railway Club exhibition at the Carlton House Club, High Street, Olney from 10.30 to 16.30 on 7th September. The North East Branch will be attending the Blyth and Tyne model railway exhibition at the Parks sports centre, North Shields NE23 6TL on 24th and 25th August. The Surrey Branch will be attending the Railway Enthusiasts’ Club model railway exhibition at Woking leisure centre on 14th and 15th September. As noted in Noticeboard, in connection with the Mallard 75 event, the RCTS will also be sponsoring a stand at the Grantham Rail Show at Walton Girls School, Grantham on 7th and 8th September. Further details will appear in the September RO.
ADVERTISEMENTS WANTED: To achieve “Total TOPS” - photos of 03104, 08009, 24074, 27115/6/20, 31140, 47126. Contact Geoff Corner, tel. 0161 962 8156, e-mail TOPSie@TOPticl.com
www.colour-rail.com The place to find:-
40,000 railway images to buy as prints and downloads from 1900-2013, every class of BR locomotive plus rolling stock, stations, signal boxes etc. Also your last chance to buy slides that are to be deleted in September. 558 Birmingham Road, Bromsgrove, B61 0HT
573
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 574
! " #!#!!
( 0
0 !
$%
4
&% & $ $% '&$
' ($ )*
0
$ )+$
8 )8
!" # ' ) )
)
#
" *
, "* -
(
)
+
!
#(
$% &'
)
)
"* , )
)
". )
) &
+
,
5 3$ 2 0
+
" . " $9 8 . / )28
!
! )
9
+
"/
)
" & 6
2 . 3 2 " 7 3 )
) 3 5
0
* + 67
3 "*
"* 4
) 5
1 2
5
2
;
) )
" 8 +
+
"
' $% ', -$ )&+ .( %$ ' )% &% '/)+ 0() '& $ ($ )--'$ *$+ 1 5
:
2
2 )
574
3 /
3
<
1
'
;
'
3$ 2/ / :
4 )
<
(
!
2
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 575
&RPPLVVLRQ 9$7 RI KDPPHU SULFH
Â&#x2026; Â&#x2026; :RUNVSODWHV %XLOGHU¶V 3ODWHV 5DLOZD\ 2IILFH (TXLSPHQW 6PRNHER[ 1XPEHU 3ODWHV LQF EUDVV KDQGVWDPSV *:5 &DEVLGH 1XPEHUSODWHV SDSHUZHLJKWV
7RWHP 6WDWLRQ 6LJQV 6LJQDOER[ 1DPHERDUGV 6WDWLRQ 'LUHFWLRQ 6LJQV FDVW LURQ ZRRG HQDPHO
$ +RVW RI 5HFRUG 6DOHV E\ 3ULYDWH 3ULFHV $FKLHYHG 7UHDW\ 3RVVLEOH 6LJQDO /LQH 7DEOHWV /RFR +HDGERDUGV IURP 1DPHG :DJRQSODWHV 7UDLQV DQG &DUULDJHERDUGV /RFR :KLVWOHV 6LJQDO 3RVW )LQLDOV 6WDWLRQ /DPSV 3ODWIRUP 6HDWV ZLWK &RPSDQ\ 1DPH ZDOO RU SRVW PRXQWHG
LQF )5 6TXLUUHO 3DWWHUQ
6LJQDOER[ ,QVWUXPHQWV )RUHLJQ %XLOGHU¶V :RUNVSODWHV EORFNV EHOOV UHSHDWHUV WUDLQ +DQGODPSV GHVFULEHUV WRNHQ $UPEDQGV HQDPHO RU EUDVV
Â&#x2026; WDEOHW LQVWUXPHQWV RWKHUV
%DGJHV Â&#x2026; 6LJQDOER[ 'LDJUDPV LQF %5 WRWHP ILVKWDLO
IUDPHG XQIUDPHG
'RRU 3ODWHV 6LJQDO /HYHU 'HVFULSWLRQ 3ODWHV FDVW LURQ HQDPHO LQF %5
QDPLQJ ORFDWLRQV RU ZLWK XQXVXDO 3RVWHUV 6LOYHUZDUH ZRUGLQJV
.H\ 7RNHQV EUDVV RU DOOR\
)XOO WLPH 3URIHVVLRQDOO\ 'HVFULSWLRQ 3ODWHV IURP EORFN 6HDW %DFN 1DPHV FDVW HQDPHO
3URIHVVLRQDO 6WDII 0DQDJHG :HEVLWH ZLWK <HDUV
3URPRWLQJ <RXU VKHOYHV RU LQVWUXPHQWV ZLWK ORFDWLRQV 6KHGFRGH 3ODWHV ([SHULHQFH (QWULHV 6WDIIV EUDVV VWHHO ZRRGHQ
%ULGJH 1XPEHU 3ODWHV 3ODWIRUP 7LFNHW 0DFKLQHV 7DUJHW 6LJQV 65 /06 /7
&ORFNV DQG :DWFKHV ,QGXVWULDO 1DPH :RUNVSODWHV
Â&#x2026; ',(6(/ $1' (/(&75,& 1$0(3/$7(6 Â&#x2026;
:H DUH DOZD\V NHHQ WR LQFOXGH 1DPHSODWHV IURP PRGHUQ WUDFWLRQ DQG RIIHU D VSHFLDOLVW VHOHFWLRQ RI VXFK LWHPV LQ HDFK DXFWLRQ 7KHUH LV DQ HYHU JURZLQJ LQWHUHVW LQ 1DPHSODWHV :RUNV 3ODWHV DQG 'HSRW 3ODTXHV QRW RQO\ IURP V /RFRPRWLYHV EXW DOVR PRUH PRGHUQ FDVW DOXPLQLXP UHIOHFWLYH 1DPHSODWHV :H DUH NHHQ WR LQFOXGH DOO W\SHV RI PRGHUQ WUDFWLRQ SODWHV DQG DUH SDUWLFXODUO\ VHHNLQJ H[DPSOHV IURP (QJOLVK (OHFWULF &ODVV V 3HDNV ' ' &ODVV :DUVKLSV :HVWHUQV &ODVV V &ODVV V DQG 'HOWLFV
Â&#x2026;
*UHDW &HQWUDO 5DLOZD\DQD /WG 6FKRRO 6WUHHW :RRGIRUG +DOVH 'DYHQWU\ 1RUWKDQWV 11 5/ 7HO 0RQGD\ WR )ULGD\ ±
(PDLO JFU DXFWLRQV#EWLQWHUQHW FRP 3HUVRQDO FDOOHUV E\ DSSRLQWPHQW RQO\ SOHDVH 9DOXDWLRQV IRU LQVXUDQFH DQG SUREDWH LPSDUWLDO DGYLFH RQ VHOOLQJ RU EX\LQJ 5DLOZD\DQD
Â&#x2026; &RPSDQ\ 5HJ
Â&#x2026;
Â&#x2026; $GYHUW Â&#x2039; *UHDW &HQWUDO 5DLOZD\DQD /WG
575
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 576
NOSTALGIA CORNER The following appeared in The Railway Observer of August 1963. TRAINS OF THOUGHT By WILLIAM BRETT It was the occasion of the R.C.T.S.’s Centenary Dinner. The oldest member, well over ninety years of age, in a short speech, recalled some of the outstanding events in the seventy odd years he had been in the Society. Congratulating the officers on the Society’s continued prosperity, he felt this was remarkable when one compared the three standard classes of locomotive (two electric and one diesel-electric) now in use, with the vast total of more than 400 classes that were in existence when he joined. It was the increased interest in the historical aspects of railway locomotives that had caused the Society to maintain the interest of members, and it can justifiably be said that the first major publication undertaken, the “Locomotives of the G.W.R.” had started this. Members would, of course, be expecting him to reminisce on the last 80 years, so he proposed to outline some of the most noteworthy changes that had occurred on the railway in this time. As was well known, electrification of the railways of this country was completed over twenty years ago. This fundamental change had been brought about by the vast improvement in plastic materials. In his young days, model electric railways had frequently been run on the two-rail principle with insulated wheels, and rails insulated from the ground. When, after many years development, a material was produced that would stand up to the stresses of full-scale operation, electrification had been carried out through the running rails, which were held in insulated chairs. Owing to the cheapness of this method, electrification had been extremelyrapid,andthe final disappearance of the last steam locomotive was remembered by many. The use of chaired track was thought by many to be new, but this was not so. In his younger days he remembered the introduction of the first flat-bottomed track which then replaced the traditional British chaired bull-head rails. Although he had not been able to investigate it himself, there were reports that when they were electrifying the line from Lostwithiel to Fowey, some of the original chaired track from the ‘forties had been found in one of the sidings! The railway museums at York, Glasgow and London contain numerous examples of the steam locomotives which once were responsible for working the trains in this country. It was very nostalgic on the recent Centenary Special 576
to be hauled by one of the Stanier Class 5’s brought out of the museum and reconditioned for the purpose. It must have been the first time that some members had been hauled by a steam locomotive, and for most, if not all, their first journey behind a Cl.5. He himself, much, he knew, to the envy of many present members, could remember when there were over 800 of the class at work between Bournemouth and John o’Groats. When he joined the Society, branch line closures had been very frequent, and every such closure was a matter of considerable regret to members. With changing conditions and the introduction of ultra-lightweight electric railcars some thirty years ago, many of them have since re-opened and members flocked to travel on the first train, which was infinitely more cheerful than travelling on the last one. The total distance run in the lifetime of one of the present-day electric locomotives is colossal compared with even the first British Railways standard steam locomotives introduced back in 1948. These locomotives, which included the “Britannias”, have often been criticised for their short life, but it must be remembered that each ran considerably more miles in that period than any other previous locomotive did in its longer lifetime. When he first joined there were approximately 20,000 locomotives on the railways, but this total had decreased to about 15,000 before complete electrification had been decided on. Now, of course, apart from multiple-unit passenger stock, there are less than half this number of electric and diesel-electric locomotives at work. Signalling too had changed out of all recognition. In the ‘fifties the first large central signal boxes were built at York and Newcastle and in the next fifty years this type of signalling steadily increased till the present state of affairs was reached. Centralised Traffic Control now covers all the lines in the country. Eighty years ago the regulation of trains was carried out by “Control” who advised the individual signalmen what to do by telephone. Under the present system the person at “Control” operates his action of line by remote control without the need for signalmen. In spite of these changes, small boys in large numbers could still be seen on station platforms armed with notebooks. While these prospective members existed, he could see no reason why the R.C.T.S should not have at least another hundred years of successful activity. Peter Clark
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 577
NORTHERN RAIL LOCAL SERVICES Above - 150268 calls at Selby with a Hull to York service on 25th May. In the background is the soon to be Paul Senior replaced swing bridge. Below - Buxton station with its famous fan window visible at the end of the platforms had a selection of Northern Rail DMUs stabled on this bank holiday Saturday morning. At platform 1 was 156425 with 150222 at the rear, platform 2 had 150150 with 150113 at the rear, whilst out of sight on the middle line was 156489. John Turnbull
577
august v3 MSR Final 2_Railway Observer 22/07/2013 10:38 Page 578
578