Heritage Railway 198 2015-01

INSIDE: COMPLETE 2015 EVENTS GUIDE

ISSUE 198

January 15 – February 11, 2015

BITTERN’S FAREWELL MAIN LINE RUN BRING STEAM BACK INTO BALA!

TAKE SEVERN VALLEY PICTURES THE OTHERS MISS!

■ ALLAN GARRAWAYTRIBUTE

NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS NAMED BEST IN UK

OPINION

LNER A4 Pacific No. 4464 Bittern crosses Welwyn viaduct with UK Railtours’ ‘Bittern Farewell’ from King’s Cross to Lincoln on December 30. TIM EASTER

EDITORIAL

Editor Robin Jones 01507 529305 [email protected] Deputy editor Brian Sharpe [email protected] Senior contributing writers Geoff Courtney, Cedric Johns Contributors Fred Kerr, Roger Melton Senior sub-editor Dan Sharp Designer Tim Pipes Reprographics Simon Duncan Publisher Tim Hartley Editorial address Heritage Railway magazine, Mortons Media Ltd, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6LZ Website www.heritagerailway.co.uk

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ISSN No 1466-3560

Published Every four weeks on a Thursday Advert deadline January 31, 2015 Next issue on sale February 12 , 2015

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Further fruits from the Garraway tree T

HE heritage sector is in mourning following the passing of one of the great names of the embryonic preservation movement, longserving Ffestiniog Railway general manager Allan Garraway, whose contribution can never be overstated. Yet, six decades after the revived Ffestiniog restarted its passenger trains, the steel wheels have turned full circle and the cycle of life begins anew in Snowdonia. Modern-day preservation pioneer Julian Birley has launched a scheme to extend the Bala Lake Railway into the heart of the town, whose name it carries. Compared with the restoration of the complete Ffestiniog, not to mention to rebuilding of the Welsh Highland Railway, a two-thirds-of-a-mile extension seems a very modest affair. Yet it is set to make all the difference in a town where tourist income has been in steady decline for many years. When the Bala Lake Railway was set up in the early 1970s, it was always the intention to extend into the town centre, but it never happened. The line has always been hampered by the fact that its eastern terminus, from where most passengers begin their journey, is at the isolated former GWR Bala Lake Halt, half a mile out of town, where car parking is all but nonexistent and is difficult to find for first-time visitors. A welcome bolthole for steam in the Seventies, this railway has long since been eclipsed by others in the Principality, with enthusiasts expressing disdain for the ‘theme park-style’ modern coaches and the fact it is built on a vacant standard gauge trackbed and therefore not ‘genuine’. Julian, a man with a track record of ‘getting things done’, is now waiting with a coach and horses to take ‘Cinderella’ to the ball – and dish out the dosh to everyone when he gets there. The efforts of Allan Garraway and others led to a

situation where steam railways are a key element of many a local tourist economy, and what better way could there be to revive the mid-Wales town’s economic fortunes than to bring steam right into its centre, right next to the main car park, tapping directly into the passing tourist trade? Traders everywhere in Bala will benefit – past history shows that is pretty much guaranteed. Julian is also addressing the question of heritage and image. The railway will become a showcase for Quarry Hunslets, which were once the workhorses of Snowdonia’s great slate quarries. A new set of coaches will be built to replace the existing set. Under his plans, the line will re-emerge as a ‘new’ railway, with a distinctive character of its own, just like its counterparts elsewhere in Wales. It will be as if a new Talyllyn or Welshpool & Llanfair will have been built from scratch. Julian’s plans present a real opportunity for the movement to create a definitive textbook case of how a railway can bring multiple economic benefits to a community, and if all goes to plan, will create a blueprint that others throughout Britain might wish to follow in the years ahead. This opportunity is also a great challenge for would-be volunteers who want to follow in the footsteps of Allan Garraway and company. Back in the 1950s and 60s, enthusiasts of all ages travelled from far and wide to lend a hand in reviving closed narrow gauge lines. Another mission now awaits. The profile of our www.facebook.com/heritage railway pages – which currently has more than 45,000 followers – shows a large proportion in the 18-40 age group. This is their big chance to show just what they can do on the ground, rather than read all about the historical exploits of others. Victorian steam serving the needs of the 21st century – surely this is what we are all about. Robin Jones Editor Heritage Railway 3

CONTENTS ISSUE 198

January 15 – February 11

News

10

HEADLINE NEWS

6

Farewell to Allan Garraway, one of preservation’s founding fathers; major bid to bring steam into Bala town centre launched; British Empire Medal for National Railway Museum volunteer; ‘new’ tender for GWR heavy freight No. 3802 for Steel, Steam & Stars IV gala; and London Transport pannier L92 to make Severn Valley comeback at gala.

13

NEWS

10

Pullman car Lydia returns to Churchill funeral train at National Railway Museum; Whitby platform helps North Yorkshire Moors Railway land top national award; the Great Central Railway’s white Christmas; Post Office underground railway passenger trains plan progresses; tribute to centenarian linesider Reg Batten; Talyllyn locomotives return to 1865 livery; more parts arrive for new Gresley P2; new Severn Valley diesel depot built by summer; fifth Garratt for Welsh Highland; Earl of Mount Edgcumbe ‘Christmas White Rose’ stunner; fresh hopes for Foyle Valley revival; NRM recalls classic railway safety posters of yesteryear; and Wensleydale poised to start Northallerton West services.

CONTENTS: George England 0-4-0STT Prince and Single Fairlie 0-4-4T Taliesin head away from Tanygrisiau on the Ffestiniog Railway on December 28. LEWIS MADDOX COVER: LNER A4 Pacific No. 4464 Bittern approaches Blankney with UK Railtours’ ‘Bittern Farewell’ on December 30. BRIAN SHARPE

Regulars

Features

Centre spread

54

Main Line Tours

72

Railwayana

74

Off the Shelf

92

Phil Waterfield’s view of No. 5199 in the snow at Garth-y-dwr.

Steam and heritage diesel railtours.

37

MAIN LINE NEWS

Geoff Courtney’s regular column. Latest book and DVD releases.

63

Steam Dreams marks Second World War events with specials; seven final trips for Sir Nigel Gresley; Bittern heads for home at Ropley; work to start on Aberdeen’s Ferryhill turntable; and Blue Peter overhaul gets priority.

WITH FULL REGULATOR 68

Don Benn reports on fine performances form A4 Pacific Bittern.

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Scale Heritage Railway 94 Highlights of Hornby 2015 range.

Platform

98

Where your views matter most.

Up & Running

100

The Month Ahead

106

Guide to railways running in January. Upcoming galas and events.

Severn Valley: The Alternative View

Since it opened as a heritage line, the thousands of visitors to the Severn Valley Railway must have taken well in excess of a million pictures. While every inch of the lineside will have been explored by photographers, most end up at a small number of the well-known locations and stand on the same spot as their predecessors. But there are different results to be had. Paul Chancellor, of Colour-Rail, presents a selection of some less commonly-seen SVR views.

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2015 EVENTS GUIDE

51 The complete Heritage Railway guide to special events at preserved lines and museum centres for 2015. Events are listed in chronological order, concentrating on those of interest to the enthusiast. All railways will be holding additional events which are aimed more towards the family market, details of which can be obtained direct from the railway.

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FROM JUST £19*

Railway Adventure 2015: The Reinvention of Bala

Preservation powerhouse Julian Birley launches a £3 million scheme to bring the Bala Lake Railway into the heart of Bala town centre, reviving the fortunes of both the line and the local tourist economy at a stroke.

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88

Ruddington’s Industrial Wonders

76

Industrial locomotives come in many shapes and sizes, but there are certain distinctive types well-represented in preservation. Mark Smithers describes the bulk restoration of a collection of related industrial tanks. Heritage Railway 5

HEADLINE NEWS

No. 2 Prince driven by Allan Garraway in 1956. PETER JOHNSON COLLECTION

NRM volunteer awarded British Empire Medal TWO preservationists have been honoured in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list. Grandfather-of-two David Thomas, 77, a volunteer at the National Railway Museum since the late Seventies, has been awarded the British Empire Medal. It was awarded for voluntary service to the museum and the community in Bolton Percy. He said: “It’s a tremendous honour. I was delighted and flattered. “I feel as though it’s more than I deserve because there’s an awful lot of people that spend a lot of time here in their lives.” He worked on the museum’s information desk, but was later involved in A4 Pacific No. 4468 Mallard’s 50th anniversary celebrations. NRM volunteer officer Matt Hick said: “David is an incredibly generous man, who has spent 45 years volunteering at a range of organisations. He has been with us for 35 years and has helped induct hundreds of new recruits in that time. “David is much loved across the museum and I for one would have been lost without him.” Chris Bates, a volunteer on the Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway since 1961, and since 1968 as a passenger guard on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, in West Yorkshire, has been awarded an MBE in the Diplomatic Service and Overseas List for his day job – as official UK representative of the Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha. Chris was also editorial assistant on the KWVR’s awardwinning society magazine Push and Pull for many years.

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Preservation founding father Allan Garraway dies By Robin Jones ALLAN Garraway, one of the legendary founders of the heritage railway movement, died in his sleep early on December 30 at the age of 88. In charge of the Ffestiniog Railway from 1955-83, Allan oversaw the rebirth of the Snowdonian slatecarrying line, its development as a major North Wales tourist attraction, and its reconnection of Blaenau Ffestiniog, following the 17-year project to build the Llyn Ystradau deviation. Allan George Weldon Garraway MBE, MA, CEng, MIMech, MCIT was educated as a boarder at the Leys School, Cambridge. After obtaining his degree at Cambridge University’s St Catherine’s College in 1947, he served with the Royal Engineers in Germany, where he was locomotive superintendent on the Detmold Military Railway. On his release from the army, where he rose to the rank of captain, Allan opted for a railway career and eventually became assistant to the Eastern Region motive power superintendent, with special responsibilities for Automatic Train Control. He joined the newly formed Talyllyn Railway Society, and attended the 1951 Bristol meeting, called by Leonard Heath-Humphrys, which led to the formation of the Ffestiniog Railway Society. Allan accepted the post of full-time manager and engineer to the Festiniog Railway Company in 1955 and appointed general manager in 1958. He was the first volunteer and the first general manager under the new revivalist set-up, and remained a prime mover in the railway’s progress. His name became a household word in heritage circles. He drove engines on the line from its earliest revival days until 1974, with Hunslet 2-4-0STT Linda his favourite. A FR statement said: “His unmistakable figure – patrician, straight-backed, and often dressed in oilskins – was routinely observed on Linda’s footplate on afternoon trains in this period. “This was not only a duty he enjoyed, but it served him well as a frequent tour of inspection of what was happening out on the line.

“It was said that from his vantage point he enjoyed the bracing air and rain of North Wales, and it was suspected that it was no coincidence that Linda was not fitted with a tender cab similar to that with which Blanche was equipped.” Despite his pivotal role in the revival of the FR, it was said that he was hostile to the idea of the rebuilding of sister line the Welsh Highland from the outset. When the Welsh Highland Railway Society board was formally elected at Crewe station in October 1961, several FR founders joined it, while others voiced their opposition.

Special train

Allan lived in the flat he adapted from the company offices and boardroom in the upper floor of Porthmadog Harbour station and stayed there for a time after his wedding to Moyra McMillan in 1965. After the service at St Mary’s Church, Tremadoc and the reception at the Commercial Hotel, Porthmadog, the newly married couple travelled by special train to Tany-bwlch, hauled by England 0-4-0STT Prince. The loco was driven by the late Bill Hoole, the former King’s Cross top link driver, who normally drove A4

No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley, and was in charge when it achieved the official postwar steam speed record of 112mph on May 23, 1959. Bill insisted on Moyra assisting on the footplate. The couple later moved to a bungalow in Minffordd. In the 1960s, Allan was also involved with a small vessel, the steam pinnacle Virginia, so he saw Porthmadog from vintage transport on both land and sea. When he retired in 1983, Allan was awarded the MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours. He made his last driving turns on the FR on September 25, 2004. For the last time, he took the controls of First World War Simplex Mary Ann, the internal combustion locomotive which had hauled the society’s first public passenger trains three decades before. The couple moved to Boat of Garten, in Strathspey, after developing links with the Strathspey Railway. It was an area with which he was familiar from childhood holidays. Allan died in Newtonmore. Moyra died on January 4, 2011. His funeral was held at Inverness crematorium on January 8.

Allan Garraway on the footplate of Linda in June 1966. GIL ROSCOE Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

Ffestiniog celebrates 50 years of the ‘deviation’

Above: On December 30, Prince carried a wreath in remembrance of Allan on service trains. JOHN POTTER

Left: Allan Garraway with Eric Cooper, Les Smith and Alan Pegler celebrating 40 years since reopening, on July 23, 1995. PETER JOHNSON COLLECTION

THE Ffestiniog Railway is planning a major celebration to mark half a century since work began on the literally ground-breaking Llyn Ystradau deviation, It was on January 2, 1965 that the first sod was cut on the bypass route, which would take the line around the section of the original route that had been flooded by the Central Electricity Generation Board’s Llyn Ystradau hydro-electric scheme reservoir. Volunteers had to hack much of the new route out of the slate mountain by hand in order to reconnect Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog. The deviation included a spiral loop, the only one 1 of its kind ever built in Britain, and 2 ⁄2 miles of new railway, involving embankments, cuttings, long hillside rock shelves, bridges, and culverts. Lots were drawn for the honour of turning the first sod, and the winner was Dr MJT Lewis. Volunteer teams, led by Michael Schumann, came in their hundreds, both men and women. Bunny Lewis, the resident site foreman, was the sole employee for most of the time. The work involved several hundred volunteer days’ work per month for 14 years from 1965 to 1978. Reinstating the route through the backyards of Tanygrisiau and Glanypwll to a new joint station with British Rail, near the site of the FR’s original Duffws station, took until 1982. Architect Clough Williams-Ellis, who had advised the old FR Company in the 1930s when he landscaped Dduallt station, gave advice to the revivalists on landscaping matters. The 50th anniversary of the cutting of the first sod will be commemorated at Dduallt on June 20 when a special train is planned to take volunteers from Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog. The train will return to Dduallt where a barbecue will be held. FR officials are hoping for as many former volunteers as possible to attend. They also want to see as many photographs or film clips as possible in order to stage a special exhibition. Anyone who would like to join the celebrations is asked to contact [email protected]

Bala Lake Railway launches £3 million town centre extension bid By Robin Jones PRESERVATION powerhouse Julian Birley has launched a £3 million project to give the Bala Lake Railway a town centre presence after more than four decades. The man who cut through seemingly impenetrable red tape to reconnect the North Norfolk Railway to the national network, and who reimported three ‘forgotten’ Snowdonian quarry steam locomotives from the USA, is now masterminding a project to extend the 2ft-gauge Bala Lake Railway by 1312 yards into the heart of Bala. The scheme, launched under the banner of Prosiect y Ddraig Goch (The Red Dragon Project) is as much about regenerating the economic fortunes of Bala as revitalising the heritage railway’s fortunes. Julian believes that by giving the railway a presence in the town centre, and alongside the A494, a popular tourist route, will not only boost visitor numbers to the railway from its current 20,000 annual figure, but also help maximise the true potential of

business, increase local employment, and thus significantly contribute to the regeneration of Bala town itself. For the past year, Julian has focused on building a team of highly skilled front-line volunteers, specialising in architecture, engineering, planning, law and media. He is so committed to the project that he is selling his home in Somerset and moving to Llanuwchllyn, a short walk from the line’s headquarters.

Substantial grants

The project – which so far has generated no local opposition – will involve making applications for substantial grants to various bodies, with the railway still having to provide its own match funding. Following talks with the numerous resident businesses in Bala, the preferred site for the new station building has now been identified as industrial premises in Arran Street, just off High Street, fronting onto the spacious public car park. Julian’s successful negotiations

have resulted in the Bala Lake Railway Trust reaching agreement with the current owner to buy the site, comprising a warehouse building and adjacent field. A few days before Christmas, the owner of a field to the south of the town, through which a third of the proposed extension will run, indicated his willingness to sell. The first phase of fundraising will be for the station site itself in Bala, and the trust is committed to raising £150,000, which will cover the purchase of the industrial building and adjacent land. It will also fund the associated costs which will take the project forward towards the second phase. Overall, the scheme aims to see

the railway given a major facelift. Julian intends that it will be no longer seen as a narrow/minimum gauge, theme park-style, people mover laid on a vacant standard gauge trackbed, but a major heritage railway in its own right.

New narrow gauge coaches

Already it has the biggest single collection of Quarry Hunslet 0-4-0STs, with Julian having restored a rake of loose-couple slate wagons from Dinorwic Quarry. A fleet of six new full-size traditional narrow gauge coaches are also set to be built by the Ffestiniog Railway. A special feature on the project can be found on pages 76-79.

➜ The Bala Lake Railway Trust is appealing to all readers to help them push the project forward via a Just TextGiving scheme. You can donate £3 – less than the price of this magazine – by texting BLRT15 followed by £3 to 70070. Alternatively, should you prefer, make your donation by cheque to The Bala Lake Railway Trust, confirming that you are a UK tax payer in order that ‘gift aid’ can be claimed on your behalf, and send it to: C/O Julian Birley, The Bala Lake Railway, The Station, Llanuwchllyn, Gwynedd LL23 7DD.

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Heritage Railway 7

HEADLINE NEWS

3802 to get new tender By Paul Appleton

AGREEMENT has been reached between the Foxcote Manor Society and the 6880 Betton Grange Society so that the tender currently paired with No. 7822 Foxcote Manor can be lent to 2884 class 2-8-0 No. 3802 for operation during the forthcoming Steel, Steam & Stars IV event at Llangollen. Due to protracted repairs to No. 7822’s boiler throatplate, it is now unlikely that the 1950-built Manor will be ready in time for SSSIV, which is being sponsored by Mortons Media, publisher of Heritage Railway. The event will be held over two long weekends – March 6-8 and 13-15. The opportunity to pair No. 3802 with a more appropriate 3500-gallon design should create interest as the locomotive normally runs with a larger 4000-gallon Collett version, which although authentic (many examples did operate with the larger tenders), the 3500-gallon version is more appropriate and better suited to the proportions of the 2800/2884 class. The tender is already painted in BR black so will be a perfect match for No. 3802. Also in BR livery for the gala will be recently returned-to-steam large prairie No. 5199, which carries BR early black livery, and two in BR green; 14XX No. 1450, which will be used on pushpull auto trains during the gala; and Collett Goods 2251 class 0-6-0

No. 3205. The Collett auto-tank is visiting from the Severn Valley Railway, while the sole-surviving 2251 is travelling from the South Devon Railway for the gala. Flying the flag for the GWR will be recently restored No. 4270, from the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, which carries plain green with GWR lettering on its tanks. The other guest locomotives include 1949-built Bulleid West Country light Pacific No. 34092 City of Wells (running as Wells) visiting from the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway and Jeremy Hosking’s 9F 2-10-0 No. 92212 from the Mid Hants Railway. LMS ‘Black Five’ No. 45337, currently entering its second season on the Llangollen Railway, completes the line-up, although it is also hoped that Hugh Shipton’s 0-6-0PT No. 6430 will have its overhaul completed in time to make an appearance. Steel, Steam & Stars IV will also be hosting three well-known railway artists across the two weekends, with Jonathan Clay, member of the Guild of Railway Artists, on the first weekend, and Malcolm Root, who is a Fellow of the Guild of Railway Artists (one of only four alongside David Shepherd, Philip

Hawkins and John Austin), on the second weekend, both of whom will be staging exhibitions of their work at Carrog in the waiting room on platform two. The third is Wynne Jones, also a GRA member, who will be showing his work across both weekends (except Saturday, March 7) in the display marquee at the newly opened Dwyrain Corwen East station. Further details are emerging of a special display being staged at Corwen’s Capel Coch (the Oriel) by the Edeyrnion Heritage & Culture Society. This will be open throughout the gala and will feature a display showcasing the history of local railways and the development of the present day Llangollen Railway into Corwen. Capel Coch is a short walk from Corwen East station. Trains will be topped and tailed along the extension between Carrog and Corwen with a 20-minute turn round time at Carrog before trains return to Llangollen. Displays at Carrog will include vintage vehicles, a 2ft narrow gauge demonstration line featuring 4wVB Iorwerth, and a miniature railway giving rides. Special VIP packages are being offered that include Day Rover ticket,

“The event promises a spectacular line up of locomotives and an intensive timetable”

reserved parking space at Corwen, event brochure in advance, personal welcome and reserved seats on the train to Llangollen, a personal guided tour of No. 6880 Betton Grange in the workshops at Llangollen, and lunch at Llangollen. Places are limited and are available at £68.80 each. Further details are available on the website at www.6880.co.uk The event promises a spectacular line up of locomotives and an intensive timetable that also includes a goods train with up to three brake vans that passengers can ride in for a small additional charge. Again, places are limited and available on a firstcome, first-served basis, secured by buying a ticket in advance from the ticket tent at Llangollen. A real ale festival is being held throughout the event at Llangollen station and there will be evening trains to support this on both Fridays and Saturdays. A free bus will connect with trains at Ruabon station on each Friday and Saturday during the day. Full details will be published on the website in due course. ➜A dedicated telephone line has been set up for all enquiries: 08445 856880. Discounts are available on all gala tickets booked in advance – go to www.6880.co.uk

Underground pannier makes Severn Valley comeback By Robin Jones GWR pannier tank No. 5786 will return to the Severn Valley Railway in London Underground livery for a second time... 46 years on. As No. L92 – the number it carried in London Transport service – it will be one of the stars of the March 20-22 spring steam gala. The loco will join fellow guest Keighley & Worth Valley Railwaybased WD 2-8-0 No. 90733. It was built at Swindon in late 1929, and on April 20, 1958, was sold to London Transport, becoming No. L92. It was used on maintenance trains, goods traffic and shunting from Lillie Bridge and Neasden depots. It was withdrawn from traffic on October 3, 1969 and sold for £1100, in full working order, to the society. It was taken by lorry to the Severn Valley Railway at Bridgnorth from where it was steamed to Bewdley as No. L92, and subsequently restored to GWR livery. During May 1970, the locomotive travelled in steam to Tyseley for a festival of transport. While it returned to Bridgnorth, it never worked on the Severn Valley again. Instead, it was taken by road to the former Bulmer Railway Centre at Hereford and used on short passenger trips and brakevan rides.

8 Heritagerailway.co.uk

LT 0-6-0PT No. L92 runs alongside the River Dart at Dartington on the South Devon Railway. CLASSIC TRACTION The centre was closed in 1993 to make way for more space at the cider plant, and the owning group moved its flagship possession to the South Devon Railway, where it has been based ever since. Once at Buckfastleigh, No. 5786 completed a full season in traffic before it was stopped for a heavy general overhaul, which involved major reconstruction of the boiler, new

tanks, and the replacement of much of the copper pipework, which had been stolen while it was in Hereford. It was withdrawn at the end of October 2011 and returned in March 2013, wearing London Transport maroon livery once again, to mark the 150th anniversary of the opening of the first section of London

Underground in 1863. One of the stars of the awardwinning Metropolitan Railway 150 celebrations, Metropolitan E class 0-4-4T No. 1 was given special dispensation to run at 50mph on the SVR during trials in the autumn of 2012 before it was allowed to haul passenger-carrying trains through the Underground tunnels in 2013.

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Just after sunrise on December 30, A4 Pacific No. 4464 Bitterncrosses Welwyn viaduct with UK Railtours’ ‘Bittern Farewell’ tour from King’s Cross to Lincoln. ANDY BISHOP

Severn Valley’s secret waterworks under repair IT is a little known fact that the pipes carrying water from the Elan Valley reservoirs in Mid Wales to consumers in Birmingham pass under the Severn Valley Railway. The hidden presence of what is known as the Elan Aqueduct has now come to the fore as its pipes will be replaced, by agreement with the SVR, under an ongoing renewal

programme in January, with the work being carried out by contractors. The SVR itself will be carrying out repair and maintenance work on both Bewdley (North Wribbenhall) and South (Sandbourne) viaducts, including the use of traffic control under the arches while work is undertaken. The cost of this work is expected to be around £125,000.

Taw Valley passes boiler test BULLEID West Country light Pacific No. 34027 is on the way back. The former main line performer passed its boiler hydraulic test in the Severn Valley Railway’s Bridgnorth workshops on December 23. Subsequent to its full steam test, the loco will be fitted to the frames for the final stages of reassembly. Also in the works, GWR 0-6-0PT No. 7714 has had its axleboxes machined ready for fitting, its slide bars aligned, with machining of cross heads the next job to be carried out before rewheeling. Work has started on Stanier mogul

No. 42968’s valve and piston overhaul by a volunteer team and GWR 4-6-0 No. 7802 Bradley Manor’s boiler cladding is in the paint shop ready to go onto the newly overhauled boiler, while its tender is also receiving attention to its water tank. No. 7802’s overhauled chassis is due back from Tyseley Locomotive Works, where the cab was refitted to allow remaining cab repairs to be finished, and will soon be reunited with the boiler, which is approaching the final stages of repair in Bridgnorth boiler shop.

Best Santas since 2007 for NYMR THE North Yorkshire Moors Railway’s Santa specials proved to be the most successful since 2007, with all trains sold out and no serious disruptions due to weather. Although it was not possible to lay on extra Santa trains, the railway managed to add two days worth of ‘Santa Story’ trains to bolster income further. The post-Christmas running went similarly well, and was changed from a part steam/part

DMU service to all-steam due to fears that the DMU capacity would be insufficient for demand. Services were disrupted slightly on Saturday, January 3, when trains could run only from Grosmont to Levisham because the line was blocked at Pickering by Bulleid West Country light Pacific No. 34101 Hartland’s tender, which derailed when being moved from New Bridge Yard to Grosmont on the Friday night.

The railway will be supporting the work by moving some of the heavy equipment to the site by rail. The Elan Valley reservoirs’ history is interwoven with railways. There was a contractors railway supporting the construction of the dams that at its maximum extent, reached 33 miles, running from a junction with the Cambrian Railways’ Mid Wales line

near Rhayader to, at the furthest point, the Craig Goch dam site. This system was progressively abandoned between 1912-16 and nowadays forms a footpath, but there was a proposal in the early 1980s to use part of it for a 121⁄4in-gauge tourist line that would have used the equipment that subsequently found a home at Fairbourne.

North Norfolk awaits grant decision THE North Norfolk Railway hopes to hear in February that its bid for a £450,000 Coastal Communities grant has been successful, following in the footsteps of the North Yorkshire Moors and Lynton & Barnstaple railways. If the application succeeds the heritage steam railway will start work next winter on a plan to flatten North Norfolk District Council’s toilet block and Tourist Information Centre at Sheringham station and rebuild better facilities, plus a new shop and office, on the site and on a piece of adjoining railway-owned land. The railway should also benefit

by the station platforms being increased by one coach length. The council’s cabinet has already given planning permission for the scheme. It would mean longer, year-round, opening hours for the TIC and at least the same opening hours for the toilets. The council, which would save £42,000 annually, would make a capital contribution towards the project costs. Trevor Eady, railway general manager, said it would provide upgraded facilities for Poppy Line and other visitors to Sheringham. He hoped the work would be completed by spring next year.

Driver, 94, lands on Battlefield Line A PENSIONER escaped uninjured after his car landed on the tracks of the Battlefield Line. The unnamed man’s car ran off the edge of the platform at Shenton station and toppled onto the running line. He had driven to the railway to reminisce about times spent walking in the area with his wife. However, he accidentally put his car into first gear instead of reverse. Fire crews and the ambulance

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service were called to the scene following the incident at 12.50pm on December 10. Luckily, no trains were running. The driver was helped out of the car by bystanders. Fire crews retrieved the vehicle using winches and air bags. The car’s chassis was damaged. A fire brigade spokesman said: “The man was a bit shaken up. The paramedics treated him for shock and took him home.” Heritage Railway 9

NEWS

LMS Ivatt mogul No. 46521 approaches Quorn & Woodhouse on December 27. ROBERT FALCONER

Great Central white Christmas

WITH long odds against a white Christmas in 2014, the sudden arrival of significant amounts of the white stuff across Central England on Boxing Day evening took a lot of people by surprise. Perhaps even more surprising was

that the snowfall was followed by several days of clear, cold sunny weather at a time when most of us were off work and many heritage lines were in operation. The Great Central Railway is noted as the only heritage line to run a

No. 46521 passes Swithland sidings. PHIL WATERFIELD

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steam-hauled dining train on Christmas Day itself and from Boxing Day through to the New Year, operated a two-train service. BR Standard Britannia Pacific No. 70013 Oliver Cromwell was in action, taking time off from its main

line schedule, and unusually facing north giving opportunities for some different views. Supporting the Pacific was south-facing resident LMS Ivatt mogul No. 46521, running in unlined BR black livery.

OliverCromwellblowsasmokeringasitapproachesWoodthorpeLane. KEN WOOLLEY Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

BR Standard Britannia Pacific No. 70013 OliverCromwelldeparts from Rothley on December 27. ROBERT FALCONER Write to us: Heritage Railway, Mortons Media Ltd, PO Box 43, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6LZ.

Heritage Railway 11

NEWS IN BRIEF ➜ THE Swindon & Cricklade Railway is to hold a sponsored walk to raise money to help pay for the first steam locomotive that it has owned, Polish Tkh 0-6-0T No. 3135 Spartan. The seven-mile sponsored walk takes place at 9.30am on Saturday, February 28 from Mouldon Hill to Cricklade and back. Any individual who raises more than £500 will get a free driver taster. More details can be obtained from Bill Daly by email on [email protected] or by telephoning 01793 778110. ➜ THE Spa Valley Railway is to hold a special weekend to mark the 30th anniversary of British Rail’s closure of the Tunbridge Wells to Eridge line on July 6, 1985. The event will be held on July 4-5. The railway has launched a ‘Double Thumpers Appeal’ to bring another DEMU to the Spa to join resident No. 1317 to mark the occasion. ➜ BR Standard 4-6-0 No. 75078 has returned to steam on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, 16 years after its boiler ticket expired. Moving again for the first time on December 5, it will star in the line’s February 27-March 1 winter steam gala. ➜ BURGLARS escaped with scores of Hornby trains worth £6000 from High Legh Garden Centre in Knutsford, Cheshire overnight on December 20. Police want to hear from collectors who may be offered any items for sale.

P2 fundraising soars as more parts arrive THE project to build new Gresley P2 No. 2007 Prince of Wales has raised more than £1.62 million, latest figures have revealed. The P2 Steam Locomotive Company’s figure includes 50 members of The Boiler Club, formed to raise the finance for the biggest component of all, and which has already reached 17% of its 300 member target. Since the scheme was formally launched 16 months ago, around a third of the £5 million projected cost has been raised or pledged. The phenomenal success of the fundraising drive earned the company a special accolade in the 2014 Heritage Railway Association’s annual awards (see separate story, News, page 20) Meanwhile, work continues with modification of frame stays as fabrications as opposed to castings, and to accommodate air pumps and air brake cylinders instead of vacuum brake equipment as fitted to the original locomotives. No. 2007 Prince of Wales will have a vacuum brake capability using the same system as adopted for A1 Pacific No. 60163 Tornado, where the brake is controlled via the automatic air brake valve on the locomotive. Following on from success of The Boiler Club, the company is starting to consider the definition of the boiler design. A basic assumption has been that the boiler for the new P2 will be

similar to and interchangeable with the boiler on Tornado, with detailed design improvements to increase life between major repairs. A further detailed improvement is in the design and layout of the small oil pipes which run from the air pump lubricators in the cab to the air pumps between the frames. The pipe used for this is like car brake pipe and is conservatively rated for the pressures involved: however, the small (6mm diameter) pipes have proved to be vulnerable to large tools being used between the frames on Tornado. Accordingly, a decision has been taken to run the bundles of small pipes inside larger and heavier copper pipe which acts as a conduit and shelters the small pipes. With Tornado currently in pieces and the boiler off while other parts are already being painted in LNER apple green, the next livery to be carried by the A1, the modification is being retrofitted to Tornado. Compact quickrelease couplings for where the pipes appear in the cab have been designed and ordered. Elsewhere, tyres for the engine have been ordered from Ringrollers in South Africa via Railway Wheelset and Brake Ltd. The 24 frame castings have been delivered from William Cook Cast Products at Sheffield to Multi-Tech Engineering at Ferrybridge and North

View Engineering Solutions at Darlington where machining has started. Multi-Tech is also proof machining the pony truck, and Cartazzi and tender wheel centres. Meanwhile William Cook Cast Products is proof machining the coupled wheels. A further order for expanded polystyrene patterns for the next batch of steel castings has been placed on Baker’s Patterns at Telford for the pony truck top centre casting. This item fits to the frames in front of the cylinder block and carries the loads from the frames into the pony truck, the front boiler support which is another modified item derived from Tornado to enable the boilers to be interchangeable between Prince of Wales and Tornado. Also, two patterns for the distinctive Spencer Moulton double spring buffers have been ordered. These will be sent onto William Cook Cast Products at Sheffield which will be manufacturing the next batch of steel castings, which as well as the above items including the coupled wheel and Cartazzi cannon and axleboxes (which are the same as those on Tornado. ➜ For details of how to become involved with the world’s fastestgrowing standard gauge new-build project, visit www.p2steam.com

Tornado boiler being ‘redesigned’ – with P2 features! WITH The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust’s Tornado’s boiler back at its manufacturer in Meiningen in Germany for its seven-year overhaul, some of the detailed design improvement work for the boiler for new Gresley P2 2-8-2 No. 2007 Prince of Wales has been brought forward to be incorporated in it. The main improvements being included in the A1 boiler during its overhaul are increased use of flexible stays, particularly in the lower corners of the firebox and rerouting of the steam supply to the lubricator atomisers and the chime whistle. The standard LNER design for the steam supply has a live steam pipe coming through the front tube plate into the smokebox and appearing as a valve on the side. Up to the valve, the steam is uncontrolled, as the pipe is connected directly to the boiler. Given the very corrosive environment in the smokebox, there is a small risk that the pipe (partly steel and partly copper) might fail, which would result in steam escaping into the smokebox with the resultant risk of a blow back of flame into the cab. By routing the pipe out to flanges on the side of the boiler with the shut-off valves bolted directly to the boiler, any leak will become

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Blue no more: Tornado’s Cartazzi axle in its new apple-green livery inside Darlington Locomotive Works, with just the black and white lining to go. A1SLT immediately apparent and will not cause any untoward effects in the smokebox. A third modification is the fitting of two additional wash-out doors near the front of the boiler. With the use of hard water, particularly in the south of England, a high level of water treatment is required to prevent the formation of hard scale which can be damaging to the firebox. However, there is a side effect that the treatment can sometimes precipitate as a fine powder where the water enters the boiler.

Above: A 3D model of Tornado’s modified boiler assembly showing auxiliary steam outlets and additional washout door. A1SLT On the LNER Pacific boilers the feed water enters the boiler through the injector control valves in the cab, and then passes through long internal pipes before being discharged into the boiler near the front tube plate. To assist mixing there are trays that look like pieces of half round guttering under the pipe outlets. These tend to accrete precipitated water treatment along with the smoke tubes near the front tube plate. The two new washout doors will enable this area to be cleaned properly during boiler washouts. At the end of 2010, Tornado’s boiler

suffered cracks to the foundation ring corners which meant removing the boiler from the frames to renew them. The main cause was thought to be scale build-up on the firebox causing it to become hotter than normal resulting in greater expansion and contraction in the firebox which in turn placed greater cyclic stresses on the foundation ring corners resulting in fatigue cracking. Brooks Forgings in the West Midlands has been contracted to produce tooling and make forged corners which should eliminate the problem.

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Stanier 50 event at Butterley THE Midland Railway-Butterley is planning a major celebration to mark the half-centenary of the death of LMS chief mechanical engineer Sir William Stanier. No date had yet been set for the event, which may take the form of a gala, with Princess Coronation Pacific No. 46233 Duchess of Sutherland taking a starring role. The event will celebrate Stanier’s life and locomotive designs, including the Duchesses. Stanier, who was born in Swindon where he began his railway career with the GWR, died in Rickmansworth on September 27, 1965 at the age of 89. He was a vice-president of the Stephenson Locomotive Society until his death. Haydock Foundry 0-6-0WT Bellerophon heads a photo charter consisting of two North Staffordshire Railway coaches towards Dilhorne Park on December 28. RALPH WARD

NRM plans 40th birthday celebration NATIONAL Railway Museum officials have asked visitors to share memories over the past four decades of the venue in the build-up to its 40th birthday celebration in September. One such story came from Phil Atkins from York who worked in the museum’s library for 30 years from its opening in 1975. He was present on the day the Duke of Edinburgh officially opened the museum at the former steam locomotive depot, the first national museum outside London. Phil said: “I am so proud that I was

there on the very first day as a visiting member of the public. I started my role on December 1, 1975 and what I particularly remember fondly during my 30 years was meeting people such as the late Alastair Macleod, Dick Riley and Pat Ransome-Wallis, who were all legendary railway photographers and a real link with the past. “Michael Palin and Ludovic Kennedy

both came in the library to do some research: the latter left his heavy winter overcoat behind, which we had to post on to him in Edinburgh. One of my favourite moments was the arrival of Flying Scotsman at 2004’s Railfest and I am looking forward to its return later this year.” Since leaving the museum, Phil has been writing a book about No. 4472.

For more information, including how to share your memories, photographs and videos, visit http://www.nrm.org.uk//NRM-40.

GCR buffet wins national award THE winner of the Railcar Association’s Railcar of the Year award for 2014 is Class 111 E59575. It is a buffet car that is the sole survivor from a batch of three-car Metropolitan Cammell trainsets ordered in the late 1950s using Rolls-Royce engines (Motor Brake Seconds Nos. 51541-7; Motor Composites Nos. 51551-7 and Trailer Buffet Seconds Nos. 59573-59578). The vehicle was withdrawn in 1973 but its asbestos content saw restoration being secondary to its use as a hauled coach for 10 years followed by a further decade in long-term storage. The asbestos was removed around 2000, leaving a shell whose restoration was undertaken by Renaissance Railcars from 2007 that resulted in the vehicle returning to service during 2014 on the Great Central Railway as part of a three-car Metropolitan Cammell diesel trainset.

Two Deltics for Bluebell gala THE Bluebell Railway is set to have two visiting Class 55 Deltics for a planned diesel gala in March. As we closed for press, no firm date for the gala had been set, and the identities of the Deltics had not been disclosed. It is planned to run the event along the same lines as the small-scale event last year.

Latest news

facebook.com/heritagerailway LMS ‘Black Five’ 4-6-0 No. 45305 approaches Oakworth on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway on December 28. KARL HEATH Write to us: Heritage Railway, Mortons Media Ltd, PO Box 43, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6LZ.

Heritage Railway 13

NEWS

Farewell to centenarian cameraman Reg Batten By Geoff Silcock

CENTENARIAN railwayman and lineside photographer Reg Batten died on December 30, 2014, nine months after his 100th birthday. Reg was quite a character, becoming interested in photography during the 1930s when to his mind the pursuit belonged to the landed gentry, or professionals. Born a Londoner in 1914, Reg’s first claim to fame was being blown off the living room table when being bathed at his home during the Silvertown explosion of 1917. This incident affected his hearing for the rest of his life, as well as his chances in the LNER drawing office at nearby Stratford, where he worked under Edward Thompson in the late 1920s. He had little regard for Thompson, and remembered him regularly losing his temper at staff, and not beyond throwing paperweights and inkwells at his secretary. Reg recalled Nigel Gresley visiting the drawing office, where they struck up a rapport, much to Thompson’s annoyance. On one visit Gresley took

Reg out of the office to show him some new design features on his coaches. When Reg was afraid to jump down to the ground from a corridor end, he was told to jump by Gresley and that he would catch him. The last time that they met was by chance at King’s Cross station just two weeks before Gresley’s death in 1941. During the Second World War, Reg was a sapper in the Royal Engineers, based on the Welsh borders. He often recounted that his sergeant, who had taken a dislike to his chirpy ways, picked on him repeatedly. Reg got his own back during a mock exercise, when he was ordered in front of the other men to wire up a local level crossing for demolition. “And can you tell me what you do now Batten?” said the sergeant. “Blow it up sir!” replied Reg, and in his own words: “Down went the plunger in my hands – and up went the level crossing...” At the court martial several witnesses came forward in Reg’s defence, and, in a turnaround of fortunes, Reg was exonerated and it was his sergeant who was charged with hazarding the safety of his men.

In peacetime, Reg pursued his employment as a specialist camera repairer in the West End until his retirement. From the early 1930s, as well as railway photography recording the then brand new Gresley streamlined A4 Pacifics on the East Coast Main Line, he had visited and revisited many villages and towns mainly in the Eastern counties. What turned out to be his last outing was to see and photograph the very last train on the North Woolwich line in 1997, near the last remaining ex-Great Eastern footbridge close to the terminus and ‘Peggy-Leggy steps’. This was the district where he had recorded many of the maritime comings and goings on his native River Thames over many decades. In recognition of his work and encouragement to others, he was made an honorary member of the latter-day Gresley Society, which was represented at his funeral on January 8 at the City of London Cemetery in his native Manor Park E12. • Reg’s house has always been painted in the correct shade of the LNER tourist coach green and light cream.

Reg Batten with his trademark beret. MALCOLM BATTEN

Mallard driver who became Lord Mayor dies aged 91

Former Mallard driver Alderman Bernard Bell meets Prince Charles, watched by National Railway Museum director Paul Kirkman, on July 22, 2013. ROBIN JONES

A FORMER Lord Mayor and Sheriff of York, who in his railway career drove Mallard, has died just days after his 91st birthday. Alderman Bernard Bell met Prince Charles when he visited the National Railway Museum in York after the end of the first Mallard 75 Great Gathering in 2013. Bernard was born in Leeman Road and spent his working life on the railway. He was branch secretary of the National Union of Railwaymen in York for many years.

He drove A4 No. 4468 Mallard during the 1950s. A Labour councillor in York for more than three decades after being elected in 1971, he was Lord Mayor of York from 1992 to 1993, and twice served as the Sheriff of York in the 1990s. Although a cancer sufferer, Bernard died in York Hospital from a brain haemorrhage just after Christmas. His funeral was set to take place at St Edward the Confessor Church in Tadcaster Road, York, on January 15.

Morayshire for Nene Valley and Sheringham BO’NESS & Kinneil Railway-based Gresley LNER D49 No. 67212 Morayshire is to top the bill at two galas south of the border in the coming weeks. After appearing in the Great Central Railway’s autumn steam gala in October, the BR black-liveried locomotive owned by the National Museum of Scotland is to attend the Nene Valley Railway’s 35A New England Steam event on February 2122. The day before, it will haul the line’s ‘Highlander’ fish and chip train, departing Wansford at 7pm. The gala will not only feature former

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New England shed N2 0-6-2T No.1744 from the GCR (based at Peterborough in 1963 as No. 69523) but another local engine in the form of Hunslet 0-6-0ST No. 1982 of 1940 Ring Haw from the North Norfolk Railway. Ring Haw once worked at Nassington quarry which was served by what is now the NVR. Afterwards, Morayshire will star in the NNR’s March 6-8 spring steam gala. Other guest engines may join the Sheringham line-up, which will also feature the now-unique Gresley QuadArt set. The N2 is also pencilled in for a gala on the Epping Ongar Railway.

THE new Wensleydale Railway timetable begins on February 14 in time for half-term week – and includes the new eastern terminus of Northallerton West for the first time. Pictured is Class 47115 with a test train in November. Meanwhile, Nos. 26007 and 33108 have been booked as the first guest locomotives for the July 17-19 diesel gala. WR Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

Visiting BR Standard 9F 2-10-0 No. 92214 accelerates away from Bewdley on the Severn Valley Railway. PHIL JONES

Good reliability record during SVR festive season

THE Severn Valley Railway’s intensive Santa train programme ran as planned with four trains in simultaneous operation between Kidderminster and Arley, requiring up to six locomotives. Before Christmas, there were no reported failures and visiting BR standard 9F 2-10-0 No. 92214 from the Great Central Railway – hired in specifically to bolster the fleet for the demands of the festive season traffic – proved popular with crews and the public. Other locomotives to feature included Ivatt 2-6-0 No. 43106, GWR 2-8-0 No. 2857, GWR 4-6-0 No. 7812 Erlestoke Manor and Bulleid Pacific No. 34053 Sir Keith Park, with GWR small prairie No. 4566 on diner trains, carriage warming and acting as spare at Kidderminster. Hawksworth 0-6-0PT No. 1501 was away from the railway on hire at the

Apprentice’s Barclay for Gwili A LOCOMOTIVE that was bought by West Somerset Railway apprentice Ryan Pope for restoration is set to steam at the Gwili Railway’s October 10 autumn gala. Stewarts and Lloyds Clydeside steelworks Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST No. 1219 of 1910 was preserved in 1970, but until now has never steamed. Bought by Ryan two years ago, it has been under restoration at Williton works and may steam in the spring. A second guest is also being sought for the gala; the first steam event to use the recently completed Carmarthen extension which has doubled the line’s length. The gala will also involve the UK Heritage Hub, which is supported by charity the Aspergers Flyer Educational Society.

Nene Valley Railway during the festive period, and will star in the Great Central Railway’s January 30-February 1 winter steam gala. However, although the fleet kept a 100% record on the Santa trains, its luck failed to hold out with two failures during the post-Christmas period.

Footplate Experience

Firstly, No. 43106 failed while ascending Eardington Bank on December 28 due to failure of the snifting valve on the driver’s side. It limped into Eardington in a cloud of steam before coming to a halt with its dining train, having to be rescued by Bridgnorth’s Class 11 diesel shunter No. 12099 which took it forward to Bridgnorth where the service was terminated. The locomotive was repaired that evening and was in

action on Footplate Experience turns the next day. No. 2857 failed late on Friday, January 2, with a defective fire grate. This locomotive along with No. 92214 were billed as a “heavy freight finale to the season” rostered on each of the days of the festive trains, but Sir Keith Park had to step in for the last two days of operation. Another failure was No. 4566, which suffered frost damage to its injector pipework on January 4, and was subsequently tripped to Bridgnorth where repairs were to be carried out. Availability of steam locomotives on the SVR has been excellent for 2014 as a whole with diesel substitutions occurring on just two occasions immediately before (ironically) the diesel gala. With the railway closed for six weeks after the last train on January 4,

Giants of Steam to return THE Bluebell Railway is to bring back its popular Giants of Steam gala this year. The gala has not been held since 2010, when N15 King Arthur No. 30777 Sir Lamiel visited from the Great Central Railway, because of resources being diverted to the opening and operation of the East Grinstead extension. However, the event will return on October 31-November 1, now that the railway has been operating over the completed extension for some 18 months and demands on the locomotive fleet and crewing have had time to be assessed. However, Bluebell chairman Roy Watts said that if the gala is not supported then there is no future in running it. Next out of the Sheffield Park workshop will be Q 0-6-0 No. 541 which, having passed its insurance steam test in November, is expected to enter traffic in BR livery as No. 30541 in February or March. BR Standard 5MT No. 73082 Camelot’s boiler is due back from Crewe during January with reassembly of the locomotive and release for service expected by June.

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Bridgnorth works has settled into routine maintenance of the operational fleet as well as advancing a number of overhauls that are currently under way.

Routine 12-monthly exams

Both Nos. 1450 and 1501 require only their routine 12-monthly exams. No. 4566 needs additional brake valve repairs, No. 2857 also needs a valve and piston exam, along with regulator repairs and pad replacement of eccentrics and cross heads. No. 7812 is to receive a revarnish and some minor boiler repairs to the firebox lap joints, while both Nos. 43106 and 35053 require nothing more than their 12monthly exam and normal running repairs. All seven locomotives are expected to be available for the start of the February half-term operating period.

Railway inspector makes last journey on West Somerset RETIRED inspector Major Anthony Gwyn Burton King made his final journey on the West Somerset Railway following his death on December 20 at the age of 83. A highly experienced inspector of railways and chairman of many inquiries, winning the OBE and being granted the Freedom of the City of London, he was involved in the investigations into accidents at King’s Cross, Southall and Putney. He moved to Bicknoller after he retired. His father had been born in Taunton. The WSR arranged a train to carry his coffin from Bishops Lydeard to Williton before his funeral followed by burial at Bicknoller church at 11am on January 12. Heritage Railway 15

NEWS

Lydia completes Churchill line-up

James Lester back on the footplate of No. 34051 WinstonChurchill which he fired on the state funeral train of January 30, 1965. His railway career began in 1957 as a cleaner at Nine Elms and finished in 2004 as the traction officer at Eurostar. PRESS ASSOCIATION/NRM By Robin Jones REPATRIATED Pullman car No 246 Lydia is to take its place in Sir Winston Churchill’s funeral train for a second time when a new exhibition opens at the National Railway Museum on January 30. Reprising its role in the train which carried the great wartime leader’s coffin from Waterloo to Hanborough 50 years to the day before, Lydia will be displayed behind cosmetically restored Battle of Britain light Pacific No. 34051 Winston Churchill. Also included in the static rake will be newly restored 1931-built Southern Railway parcels van No. S2464S which carried the coffin on the day. The train will form the centrepiece of Churchill’s Final Journey, a display telling the story of the last steamhauled state funeral of the 20th century, in the Great Hall at York. The display will include archive footage of the funeral, which was televised to millions worldwide. No. 34051 will have three discs on the front in a ‘V’ formation, just as it did half a century ago. Work on repainting the locomotive in the Mid Hants Railway’s Ropley Works

Newly varnished No. 34051 WinstonChurchillin the workshops at Ropley, ready for display at the National Railway Museum. PRESS ASSOCIATION/NRM began in 2013 after an appeal launched by the Friends of the National Railway Museum two years before raised the necessary finance. Before Christmas, staff at Ropley works reunited the freshly painted locomotive with its nameplates. Lydia was built by Birmingham Carriage & Wagon Works in 1928 and spent its first three years in Wagon-Lits’ service in Italy. It was then repatriated and rebuilt at the Midland Carriage & Wagon Works in Shrewsbury.

Eisenhower’s train

No. 246 served on the Southern Railway’s prewar ‘Golden Arrow’ and was part of General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s train on D-Day. It was part of the rake which accompanied No. 4472 Flying Scotsman on its ill-fated tour of North America in 1969, before becoming marooned after the A3’s owner Alan Pegler went bankrupt. Along with No. 247 Isle of Thanet, which also featured in Churchill’s funeral train, it ended up at the US National Rail Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin. As exclusively reported in Heritage Railway issue 17, the pair were

Engineering staff lift a replica glass fibre copy of the nameplate of No. 34051 WinstonChurchillat Ropley Works on December 19. CHRIS ISON/PA WIRE/NRM

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repatriated to the UK in November 2000 after a private buyer purchased them for eventual use on the Swanage Railway’s ‘Wessex Belle’ dining train, at a time when the Purbeck Line had built under-cover accommodation in which to store them. They were taken to West Coast Railway’s Carnforth base for expert restoration and have remained in storage there pending their eventual move to Swanage. James Lester, the fireman on board the train during the state funeral, has been helping the museum with preparations for the display by reliving his memories of that historic day in 1965 when people stood at station platforms and clustered around their TV sets to make their final farewells. As part of the NRM’s preparation for its 50th anniversary commemoration of the state funeral, the museum is also appealing for other first-hand memories of the funeral train. James said: “This project has meant a lot to me as Churchill’s Final Journey will not only tell the story of a remarkable man, but also of many railwaymen who played a part in his last journey from the capital to his final resting place.”

Anthony Coulls, senior curator of rail vehicles at the NRM, said: “Our locomotive and the carriages that it hauled have earned a place on the national stage due to the part they played in Churchill’s final journey. The team at Mid Hants and in our York and Shildon workshops have done a fantastic job bringing these vehicles back to the way they looked on January 30, 1965, and we hope people will join us to marvel at the train and commemorate this great national occasion.”

Share your memories

For more information about the display – which runs until May 3 – including how to share your memories visit www.nrm.org.uk/churchill The NRM is to present a further warrelated exhibition in 2016, with a First World War ambulance carriage as its centrepiece. Researchers aim to uncover the personal stories of people who travelled and worked on ambulance trains, those who were associated with the station buffets which provided comforts for troops, and railway workers who played their part in the conflict.

Pullman car No. 246 Lydia at the West Coast Railway Company’s Carnforth base. ROBIN JONES Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

LMS Ivatt 2-6-0 No. 46512 EVCooperEngineer climbs Granish Moor with a Mince Pie Special bound for Broomhill on the Strathspey Railway, creating spectacular visuals in the -2ºC winter conditions, on December 27. JONATHAN GOURLAY

Big plans for Stockton & Darlington 200th in the offing A FESTIVAL of international importance is being planned to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, the world’s first public steam line. The festival will be preceded by yearly celebrations leading up to 2025, beginning with a celebratory event this year to recognise the “pivotal role of the birthplace of passenger rail travel in the Industrial Revolution,” Darlington Borough Council’s Coun Nick Wallis said. At the council’s meeting on December 4, Mr Wallis said: “There’s a clear message from railway heritage groups as to the importance of 2025, the 200th anniversary of the creation of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. “There will be a festival – not just on a local, regional or national level but

also of international importance. “Also, we will look at an annual celebration of the founding of the railway and how that could help to build momentum year on year as we approach 2025.” Meetings had already been held between members of Darlington Borough Council, Durham County Council and Stockton Borough Council to discuss the anniversary. Meanwhile, campaigners aiming to repair two vandalised bridges built for the Stockton & Darlington Railway are to submit a bid to English Heritage for the funding to carry out the work. The Brusselton Incline Group wants to restore the Accommodation Bridge and the Milk Road Bridge at Brusselton, both of which were damaged by stone thieves last July.

Darjeeling Himalayan open again NORMAL services have resumed on India’s British-built Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. The 55-mile UNESCO World Heritage Site from Siliguri to Darjeeling was breached in mid2010 by a severe landslip between Gayabari and Kurseong. The slippage restricted almost all services to the upper section between Kurseong and Darjeeling. Major repairs to the railway and the parallel NH55 highway at Pagla Jhora were disrupted on several occasions by further monsoon damage. In September 2011, a further

major landslip at Tindharia damaged the DHR workshop and severed the tracks and the NH55. The railway route was restored in March 2014 on a new formation using land from the workshop, although road repairs here are yet to be completed. Test trains ran in early December and the line was cleared for safe operation. Paul Whittle, vice-chairman of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Society, said: “Indian Railways has defied the doubters and Mother Nature and at huge cost and effort brought the DHR fully back to life again.”

Boston Lodge Works to expand THE Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways’ Boston Lodge depot – the oldest operating railway workshop in the world – is to be expanded. Plans involve providing accommodation to store and prepare all of the line’s locomotives including the Welsh Highland Railway Garratts under cover for the first time. New ashing-out pits will be provided and a travelling crane will enable Garratt boilers to be removed for maintenance in the erecting shop. All entrance doors to sheds will meet the WHR loading gauge. A new three road loco preparation shed will enable two double Fairlies and a smaller locomotive to be readied for use simultaneously. The site will also feature a new carriage shed on the seaward side,

offering weatherproof storage for two 10-car sets including Welsh Highland rakes. The existing carriage shed on 13 and 14 road will be dismantled and relocated below the cliffs at the rear of the site to provide storage for heritage carriages. An extension to the 14 road inspection pit will enable more carriages to be examined and maintained while minimising the need to move the set. Work will start only when funding has been secured and will be undertaken in stages. At Minffordd yard, a new workshop, store and staff mess building is to be erected in the coming weeks. There will be space to store patterns, marketing and permanent way materials, together with an S&T workshop.

Western branch lines at SDR gala THE South Devon Railway’s February 14-22 Western Region-themed gala will see the return of GWR ‘Flockton Flyer’ pannier No. 6412 in BR green for the first time. The locomotive has been overhauled at Buckfastleigh Works since it was relocated from its longtime West Somerset Railway home. Both working GWR auto coaches, Nos. 225 and 228, should be in BR maroon, making the sight of No. 6412 and the two autos a unique BR (W) branch cameo. The guest locomotive for the event will be black-liveried GWR prairie No. 4566 from the Severn Valley Railway. It will run alongside homebased London Transport-liveried

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pannier No. L92 and, dependent on winter maintenance, No. 1369, if it returns to Buckfastleigh for work from the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway where it is currently on loan. Also running will be Collett 0-6-0 No. 3205. The gala will also include auto trains, branch passenger trains, mixed traffic branch trains and railcar No. W55000, with the occasional freight. The weekend of February 14-15 will commemorate 50 years since the first movements of stock on to the former Dart Valley Railway in 1965. It will include the formal rededication of No. 6412 (which also pulled the reopening special in 1969) to revenueearning traffic. Heritage Railway 17

NEWS IN BRIEF ➜ THE East Kent Railway will commemorate the Second World War by embarking on the restoration of a set of trenches that were dug as part of preparations to repel the aborted German Operation Sea Lion – the Nazi plan to invade Britain. A visitor centre has also been constructed, with funding for the project being provided by the Armed Forces Community Covenant. ➜ LSWR Beattie well tank No. 30586, the third member of the famous Wenfordbridge trio which survived in BR service until the early Sixties, but which was scrapped, will be ‘reincarnated’ at the Bodmin & Wenford Railway during the May 2-4 spring steam gala, when surviving sister No. 30587 will take on its identity and revert to BR black. Parts from No. 30586 have been found in the two survivors during overhaul. ➜ THE Locomotion museum in Shildon will be holding a winter gala based around the children’s classic The Railway Children from February 14-22. GWR pannier tank No. 5775, reliveried into the ochre livery it carried in the EMI film, will be on display, along with J72 0-6-0T No. 69023. The film will be screened on several days. ➜ PHOTOGRAPHER Bernard Mills has been presented with a Bachmann model of the Bodmin & Wenford Railway’s GWR prairie No. 5552 by the Launceston Railway Circle at its meeting on December 19. The award is in recognition of Bernard’s 50 years of presentations of images of railways. ➜ A BID by members of the Midsomer Norton-based Somerset & Dorset Railway Heritage Trust to buy Masbury station for preservation has failed after the property was sold to a couple. ➜ THE first of a new generation of Ffestiniog Railway webcams faces down the platform from the Tan y Bwlch signalbox. It can be found at www.festrail.co.uk/webcam.htm

BR Standard 9F 2-10-0 No. 92214 crosses Falling Sands viaduct on the Severn Valley Railway. MALCOLM RANIERI

Betton Grange: race is on for SSSIV By Paul Appleton

MEMBERS of the engineering team constructing GWR 4-6-0 No. 6880 Betton Grange in the Llangollen Railway’s workshops have set themselves a target of March’s Steel, Steam & Stars event to have the locomotive’s bottom end visually ‘complete’. Engineering director Chris Moore told event sponsor Heritage Railway: “It is planned to be able to show No. 6880 in as complete a state as possible ready for visitors to inspect it at the gala. “We have approximately eight working weekends in which to achieve that objective, which is a tall order, but we will give it our best shot.” Work has started on machining the two new outside cylinders at Harco Engineering in the West Midlands, with delivery promised by the end of January. The plan is to trial fit these and have them in place for inspection at the event, which starts on March 6, as

The chassis of No. 6880 BettonGrange in the shed at Llangollen, having just had its coupling rods fitted by Llangollen Railway Engineering. CHRIS MOORE/6880 detailed in Headline News (page 8). Recent developments at Llangollen include fitting of the coupling rods to the driving wheels and the machining of new buffer heads. These will be fitted and painted, along with the front buffer beam. The main footplating support that fits

Morayshire to steam at Barrow Hill Roundhouse LNER D49 No. 62712 Morayshire will be making a flying vist to Barrow Hill for on Saturday, March 14. The Bo’ness-based locomotive, in the final months of its boiler ticket, will be diverted from its journey by low loader back home after its

appearance at the North Norfolk Railway’s spring steam gala. It will give rides to the general public during the day, and star in a Timeline Events photographic charter after the event. The charter will see Morayshire

posed alongside Midland Compound No.1000 and Great Central Director No.506 Butler-Henderson, producing the extremely rare spectacle of seeing three 4-4-0 tender locomotives lined up together. Further details are available at www.timelineevents.org

West Somerset Railway bounces back after floods woe

DESPITE last winter’s floods which decimated the Somerset tourist trade and reduced visitor numbers by 35% in the early part of the season, the West Somerset Railway recovered between April and December to carry

18 Heritagerailway.co.uk

195,212 passengers over the year. The figure was almost back to 2013 levels, despite running 12 days less. Passenger numbers during the festive season rose by 5.6% compared to the previous year’s figures, with

Dunster by Candlelight, sherry and mince pie specials and carol trains carrying more than10,000 passengers. ➜ The Leighton Buzzard Railway saw a 30% increase in Santa special passengers.

across the frames and behind the cylinders is also almost complete. Off site, a new reverser stand and all of the sanding gear is nearing completion, while the overhauled expansion links are expected from Tyseley Locomotive Works imminently. A new reverser handle centre has been cast and will shortly be going away for machining. With the cylinders in place, work will focus on completing the fitting of the recently completed splashers and overhauled eccentric sheaves and expansion links. The boiler from the society’s other locomotive, Barry wreck No. 5952 Cogan Hall, will be lifted shortly in preparation for fitting into the Grange’s chassis to act as a template for fittings and pipework. ➜For regular updates and the latest information about Steel, Steam & Stars IV go to www.6880.co.uk

Beckhole straight relaid

THE North Yorkshire Moors Railway’s winter work programme has been favoured with relatively mild weather so far this year, a big boost for those involved in the early stages of work which has been taking place at one of the most exposed sections of the line, at Goathland summit. Work there included rerailing and using existing sleepers, and was completed in time for Christmas. In January, the action moved to Beckhole straight, which is being fully relaid, with work to be extended, if time is available, down the bank where rail ends will be cropped to remove dipped joints and alternate joints welded up.

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NEWS

Whitby platform makes Moorsline best in Britain at national awards

THE North Yorkshire Moors Railway has been awarded the HRA Annual Award (Large Groups) for an outstanding achievement in railway preservation, following its ground-breaking opening of a second platform at Whitby station, the terminus of the original Whitby & Pickering Railway. Built by George Stephenson, the

station is now shared with Network Rail’s Esk Valley line. The NYMR is Britain’s most popular heritage line with around 350,000 visitors annually. The award was given in recognition of the NYMR operating a shared station with Network Rail, which has blazed a trail for other railways to follow, and the

associated resignalling at Grosmont, using the salvaged Falsgrave gantry from Scarborough. The net result has been an increase in trains to Whitby with a boost to the local economy. NYMR general manager Philip Benham described the award as “fantastic” and added: “Needless to say

B1 4-6-0 No. 61264 (as No. 61034 Chiru) waits in the new platform 2 at Whitby, heading ‘The Whitby Enterprise’, as LMS ‘Black Five’ No. 45428 runs round. Could other railways follow in the wake of the success of the NYMR’s award-winning Whitby extension – maybe a shared station at Cromer for the North Norfolk Railway and Network Rail’s Bittern Line? BRIAN SHARPE

we are absolutely delighted. This is a much appreciated reward for the hard work and tenacity of our team, mostly volunteers, who worked with Network Rail and others to ensure the Whitby project was delivered. “The enhanced train service this ushered in has already proved its worth over the latter part of the 2014 season, with passenger income around 25% in the first few weeks – Whitby sales were up by about two-thirds, while all stations saw volumes increase. “Numbers have steadied down slightly since, but are still above target. This is vitally important as we face a heavy programme of capital investment over the winter particularly on track and vehicles.” He continued: “Just as important is the Grosmont signalling project. Signalling schemes often cannot easily show just how much technical work is involved ‘behind the scenes’ – although in this case the recommissioned Falsgrave gantry is a very visible element. “The amount of technical work on circuit design, new wiring (well over a mile), electric relays and related work, made this our most complex signalling project ever. All this was carried out by a very small team with one of them even taking early retirement to ensure the work was completed on time.” It is the second national award

LMS ‘Black Five. 4-6-0 No. 44806 runs under the newly-commissioned Falsgrave signal gantry at Grosmont. BRIAN SHARPE

20 Heritagerailway.co.uk

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collected by the NYMR in the past two months. As reported in issue 197, the line received the National Railway Heritage Awards Supporters’ Award for the rebuilding of the timber slateroofed lamp room at Levisham station. The build replicates an original NER lamp room, which burnt down in the mid 1960s. The HRA Annual Award (Small Groups), also confirmed by the association’s board at its meeting on December 13, was given jointly to the Moseley Railway Trust and the Downpatrick & County Down Railway. The Moseley Railway Trust was honoured for amassing a unique collection of industrial locomotives, and for the re-creation at its Apedale Valley Light Railway of a First World War trench railway with appropriate traction and rolling stock as an invaluable educational resource. Its Tracks to the Trenches gala in September, supported by Heritage Railway, was the biggest in the line’s comparatively short history and received widespread praise. Downpatrick received its award in recognition of its involvement with young people and its excellent building and museum development. The Moseley Railway Trust also won a second award. The John Coiley Locomotive Award acknowledged the trust’s funding and restoration of British-built Hudswell Clarke 2ft-gauge G class 0-4-0WT No. 1238 of 1916 and its return to showpiece condition – after lying in a swamp in Ghana for 48 years. The locomotive is now part of the operational fleet at Apedale. The Morton’s Media (Heritage Railway magazine) Interpretation Award was made to the Colonel Stephens Museum at Tenterden station on the Kent & East Sussex Railway for its continuing magnificence highlighting a unique dimension of British railway history. The Railway Magazine Annual Award for Services to Railway Preservation was made to Graham Lee for creating (from a brown-field site) a magnificent mixed gauge railway enterprise at his private Statfold Barn Railway, near Tamworth, complete with workshops, plus the repatriation of significant narrow gauge locomotives, including the last steamage locomotive built in Britain and for

Graham Lee’s private Statfold Barn Railway, which holds invitation-only open days, is regarded as one of the finest narrow gauge operations in Britain. ROBIN JONES

A velocipede car and signs from railways in the Colonel Stephens empire on display inside the museum at Tenterden, which has just won the HeritageRailway magazine Interpretation Award for 2014. ROBIN JONES creating an accessible Hunslet archive. The Mortons Media (Rail Express magazine) Modern Traction Award was made to Project Miller for the overhaul of the prototypes of arguably the most successful form of British traction ever, in the form of the High Speed Train power car, which has recently hauled a production Class 125 set on the Great Central Railway (Nottingham). A Special Award for a Meritorious Project was made to the P2 No. 2007

The Apedale Valley Light Railway’s September 13-14 Tracks to the Trenches gala, supported by HeritageRailway, saw visiting WW1 Baldwin 4-6-0T No. 778 (left) in action alongside resident 1916-built Kerr Stuart Joffre 0-6-0WT No. 3014. ROBIN JONES

Pride of place in the Colonel Stephens Museum at Tenterden goes to the Shropshire & Montgomeryshire Railway’s 0-4-2WT No. 1 Gazelle, thought to be the smallest preserved standard gauge steam locomotive in the world. ROBIN JONES

Prince of Wales project (P2 Steam Locomotive Company) for its excellent business case and phenomenal rate of fundraising and early manufacture of components. The Steam Railway Award was made to the Foxfield Railway, which has gone from small beginnings to become a serious national visitor attraction, integrating the industrial legacy with a new tourist passenger operation, featuring wonderfully

restored rolling stock. The awards will be presented at the HRA annual dinner at the Museum of Science & Industry in Manchester on February 7. The HRA’s 2014 Peter Manisty Award for Excellence was presented earlier this year to the National Railway Museum for the Mallard 75 ‘Great Gathering’ events both at York and the Locomotion museum at Shildon.

Hudswell Clarke 2ft-gauge G class 0-4-0WT No. 1238 of 1916 arrived at Apedale as a rusting wreck on May 14, 2008. It had been rotting in a tropical swamp for 48 years and has been rebuilt to ‘out-of-the-box’ condition. ROBIN JONES

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Heritage Railway 21

NEWS Overhauls pick up pace at Grosmont

WITH the overhaul of BR Standard 4MT 2-6-0 No. 76079 complete and the locomotive now back in North Yorkshire Moors Railway traffic, more emphasis is being given to BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T No. 80135 and West Country light Pacific No. 34101 Hartland. In addition to being the subject of a major boiler rebuild, No. 80135 is undergoing extensive bottom-end repairs to make good the ravages of running more than180,000 miles over the testing metals of the NYMR. New frame spacers are being made and the locomotive is to receive new tyres. Meanwhile, No. 34101 is also undergoing major boiler repairs, but an all-new tender tank has been built for it on the original frames. A further tender tank is being built this winter for ‘Black Five’ No. 44806, which is expected to have received it by the time it re-enters traffic at some point in the 2015 season. That might not be the start of the season, however, and Ian Riley’s ‘Black Fives’ Nos. 45407 and 44871 are expected to return to Grosmont for a few weeks at the start of the season in order to give the Grosmont shed staff some extra time for winter repairs. In particular, the retyring of No. 75029 looks to have shown up the need for some extra work on the wheelsets.

FR in appeal for clearance vehicle

THE Ffestiniog Railway’s annual appeal to its membership is this year covering Welsh Pony and also a lineside maintenance vehicle. More than £83,000 has already been raised towards the cost of the Welsh Pony rebuild, which is hoped will be completed in time for its 150th anniversary in 2017, but the total needed is expected to exceed £100,000. With the wet start to the year and record temperatures, the lineside growth was challenging in 2014, leaving to restricted visibility, scratches on rolling stock and possible injury to staff (and passengers looking out). For the 2015 appeal a long wheelbase bogie vehicle will be constructed, with large covered working platforms at each end and a central van body for tool storage. The vehicle will only cost about £15,000, but will make clearance on the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways much easier. Donations are welcome and should be sent to the Ffestiniog Railway at Porthmadog.

22 Heritagerailway.co.uk

WR 4-6-0 No. 7820 DinmoreManor passes Dixton on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway on December 28, 2014. MALCOLM RANIERI

Standard 3 tank taking shape fast By Paul Appleton THE 82045 Steam Locomotive Trust continues to make giant strides forward in the construction of its all-new Riddles 3MT 2-6-2T No. 82045. At Bridgnorth, where the locomotive is being constructed, work progresses on the spring links, axlebox crown brasses and keeps in readiness for the arrival of the six machined and tyred driving wheels from the South Devon Railway, which are due for delivery imminently. The two new outside cylinders are currently at Tees Components in Saltburn, the same company that machined the new cylinder for the North Yorkshire Moors Railway’s BR standard mogul No. 76079, which was cast from the 82045 trust’s own pattern. Delivery of the machined cylinders is also due at any time. New buffers have been made and have been fitted to the frames at Bridgnorth. Work is also proceeding apace on the front and rear pony assemblies: the four 3ft-diameter wheels have been cast by Boro Foundry, while at Bridgnorth progress is being made with the quite complex assembly of the pony trucks, the patterns for which have been produced by Boss Patterns of Coventry.

Complex piece of engineering

The fabrication of the locomotive’s bunker – another complex piece of engineering – has now been completed at the Ffestiniog Railway’s Boston Lodge Works and will be painted and lined out, before being delivered to Bridgnorth for fitting to the frames. With the pony trucks, driving wheels,

cylinders, and bunker coming together at Bridgnorth during the early part of 2015, No. 80245 should soon start to look like a locomotive for the first time. Orders have also been placed for the fabrication of the cab and the two side tanks. The current priority is to raise the estimated £200,000 for the new boiler. Launched in March 2014, the appeal has so far raised £140,000 and if the present rate of fundraising can be maintained, it is hoped that work can start during the early part of 2015. SVR engineering staff Will Marsh and Gary Williams jumped out of an aeroplane The newly commissioned poster, painted by 15,000ft above Swindon in Stockport artist Stephen Millership, which is September to raise nearly available for sale. 82045 TRUST £5000 towards the appeal. Further fundraising initiatives Artists Gone’?, the trust has include the running of a special train commissioned Stockport-based artist on Friday, April 17. Called the Stephen Millership to produce a ‘Eardington Explorer’, the train will poster in the traditional style of consist of Collett 0-4-2T No. 1450 and No. 82045 crossing Oldbury Viaduct, three GWR Toplight coaches running with the Bridgnorth skyline in the from Bridgnorth to Hampton Loade. background. It will call at Eardington on the return Prints are available – 20inx28in – at journey for a prolonged break so that £20 each (including postage) from passengers can explore the restored Barbara Massau, Highlea, 4 Southfield, station and its environs, which are no Prestbury, Cheshire SK10 4XF. longer served by Severn Valley Railway trains. ➜ For further details of this, the It is 50 years since trains first called at special train, how to support the Eardington in the preservation era, in 82045 boiler appeal, and 1965, so ticket prices have been set at information on the latest £19.65 with all proceeds going progress on building No. 82045, towards the boiler fund. Inspired by an article in Heritage Railway issue 192 visit www.82045.org.uk ‘Where Have all the Railway Poster Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

NEWS Barrow Hill turns Midland big time A MAJOR gathering of London Midland steam headlined by Princess Coronation Pacific No. 6233 Duchess of Sutherland is being planned for Barrow Hill roundhouse in the autumn. The Barrow Hill 50 event on September 25-27 will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of steam at the former Staveley Midland roundhouse, on October 4, 1965 After that, the depot was turned over to diesel operation bringing to an end 95 years of steam activity. The event, which will see three quarters of the roundhouse filled with steam locomotives, is still at the planning stages. Alongside No. 6233, Stanier 2-6-4T No.2500 from the National Railway Museum is also set to appear. As we closed for press, organisers were talking to owners of a ‘Jinty’ 0-6-0T, a 4F 0-6-0, a Stanier 8F, a BR Standard 9F and Severn Valleybased Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0 No.43106. Already on site will be Midland Compound 4-4-0 No.1000 and 1F 0-6-0T No.41708. Timeline Events will be holding a photographic charter on September 24: further details can be found at http://www.timelineevents.org

Cockerill Yvonne withdrawn early PRIVATELY owned resident Belgianbuilt 0-4-0 vertical-boilered locomotive Yvonne suffered a small failure during the Lavender Line’s annual October gala weekend. Following the incident, its owner took the decision to take Yvonne (Cockerill No. 2945 of 1920) out of service three months earlier than planned so work coud begin on the overhaul. Yvonne was previously resident at the Telford Steam railway and at the Hollycombe Collection. It has enjoyed almost 10 full years on it boiler ticket, with its final nine months on the Lavender Line. Its current ticket was due to expire on December 31. The overhaul will require re-tubing the boiler and replacing the main steam pipe and is expected to take up to a year to complete. In the meantime, resident steam engine Kitson 0-6-0ST Austin No. 1 is yet again the Lavender Line’s only working steam engine in 2015. Sister engine, Cockerill-designed tram engine No. 2525A, has become the third steam locomotive to be added to the Mid Suffolk Light Railway’s 2015 roster. The engine, built in Belgium in 1906, is a vertical boiler well tank with an 0-4-0 wheel arrangement. It arrived from the MidNorfolk Railway on December 3. The privately owned tram, the first loco with Walschaerts valve gear to visit the preserved ‘Middy’, will be used on both regular service trains and ‘driver for a tenner’ experiences during 2015. Its addition to the roster gives the railway the chance to run with multiple engines more frequently than in previous years, and due to its ability to raise steam in a short amount of time, IT is also an ideal back up engine.

24 Heritagerailway.co.uk

First class delivery: A driverless electric train carrying mail on the Post Office Underground Railway in 1935. The system, renamed Mail Rail in 1987, was closed in 2003, but will be partially reopened next year as a visitor attraction. ROYAL MAIL GROUP/BPMA

3D scanning paves way for ‘secret’ underground railway rides plan EXCLUSIVE By Harry Huskisson GROUND-BREAKING plans by the British Postal Museum & Archive to open up to the public the former Mail Rail underground railway have moved another step closer. Access to the site at Mount Pleasant, near London’s King’s Cross terminus, is becoming more restricted as the organisation gears itself up for the build phase of the project, and it is now unlikely that many, if any, will get to see the network as it currently is. From the middle of this year, builders will be on site in readiness for turning this atmospheric, subterranean and important part of our country’s industrial railway heritage into a visitor attraction. Mail Rail was never intended to carry passengers, and very few people were aware of its existence during its operational days. The line was built between 1913 and 1917 and opened in 1927 as the Post Office Underground Railway. Its driverless electric trains were used solely for the conveyance of mail, including four million letters a day, from Paddington station in the west of London to Liverpool Street and Whitechapel Road in the east via eight sorting office stations. Closure came in 2003, and when the doors are reopened in 2016, its history will enter a new chapter as passengers descend into the tunnels to ride on the

railway for the very first time. The BPMA is determined to ensure that the industrial nature of the railway is maintained throughout. Bright yellow fittings, including safety rails, winches for the positioning of trains above maintenance pits, and overhead runners for power cables, will be kept wherever possible, and the sense that visitors are entering a site where engineers could be on their lunch break, or working behind the scenes, is being kept as an essential part of an authentic experience of the network. But some changes will be necessary. New entrances will lead to the former car maintenance and repair depot beneath the site to provide disabled access, fire escapes will be built from the platforms 70 feet below the surface, and areas of exposed brickwork will be cleaned up to ensure no unsuspecting passer-by takes a direct hit from the chunks of paint currently hanging from the arches well above their heads.

Faithful detail

However, that won’t mean visitors will be unable to experience and enjoy the grandeur of Mail Rail as it currently is – a mothballed railway, empty other than for a few engineers maintaining the system, its dust-ridden floors and nooks and crannies filled with lathes, downed tools and personal effects from shoes to soaps and shower gels. The BPMA is taking steps to preserve

those areas that will make up the ride in faithful detail through state-of-theart 3D scanning. A team from ScanLAB, the UK’s leading provider of largescale 3D scanning, descended into the depths of Mail Rail in December to capture every last detail of the car depot and loop of tunnels beneath the site. They used wireless 3D scanners, placed at five-metre intervals from the mouth of the cavernous depot, down the incline into the darkness of the tunnels to the Mount Pleasant station platforms at a depth of 70ft. Using an invisible laser beam, these unimposing machines take 360° scans, bouncing lasers off every surface and re-creating the space digitally in exact detail, down to individual iron filings and the cracks of paint exposing the brickwork overhead. The survey will allow visitors to see these features in three dimensions, bringing the experience to life in ways not even possible when the train ride is running next year. The captured data can be used to create a fly-through of the space precisely as it is now, the exact colours replicated on the walls and machinery with pinpoint accuracy and millimetre perfect dimensions. Or it could provide an online experience similar to Google’s Street View. The technology could even go one step further. Imagine, as an enthusiast for this type of railway, being able to immerse yourself in an interactive

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Tunnel vision: This view of the tunnels leading down from the Mount Pleasant car maintenance and repair depot to the track gives an insight into the world of Mail Rail, which will be experienced in 2016 when it opens to the public. BRADLEY PHOTOGRAPHY

Line of thought: The memorial (main picture and inset) beside the ECML, near Essendine, which still stands nearly 65 years after it was erected in memory of steam enthusiast Brian Carter. The memorial, which features an engraving of Gresley A4 DominionofCanada, records that Brian frequently watched trains at the location, and that at his request his ashes were scattered there. There are moves to safeguard its future, led by former Network SouthEast public affairs manager Mike Lamport.

Unique Essendine lineside memorial might be saved By Geoff Courtney

Waiting for the call: A battery-driven maintenance locomotive at Mount Pleasant station on the mothballed Mail Rail underground railway waits for its next turn of duty. By next year, trains will once again be passing through the station, carrying not mail, but passengers. BPMA experience, where you could walk through the site as it was on the day the service shut down in 2003, exploring the tunnels and platforms, the hidden side rooms and the rolling stock that currently lies dormant in the rather morbidly ➜ Geoff Courtney, Heritage Railwaysenior contributing writer, who a year ago became the first journalist to travel on the railway since its closure, writes: “The opening of the railway is part of a £22½ million project that includes a new postal museum on the Mount Pleasant site and conversion of the former car maintenance and repair depot into an exhibition and corporatehire centre, from which visitors will access the railway in newlybuilt trains. “The ride, which will be over a half-mile loop of the original 2ftgauge, 6½-mile line, will be a novel and unique addition to the

named ‘train graveyard.’ It will provide levels of detail that the naked eye just won’t be able to see on the ride itself, and allow visitors to get up close and personal with a hidden world that is unlikely to be seen in its exact state again. country’s preserved railway scene. As Harry writes in his article, it was never meant to convey passengers, which will make its attraction an almost surreal experience. It will be noisy, cramped, and – despite the new trains which will be built specifically for the project – also, doubtless uncomfortable. “However, it will be a fascination for young and old alike. It will thrill and intrigue in equal measure, and for many it will be unforgettable. Its revival, and transformation from mail carrier to people carrier, is something that every railway enthusiast will surely look forward to.

A UNIQUE lineside memorial erected beside the East Coast Main Line in honour of a railway enthusiast who died tragically young may be saved for future generations to enjoy. The memorial remembers Brian Carter, who was born with a heart defect, which sadly ended his life in September 1950 when he was 23. His dream was to join the railways, but this was never fulfilled due to his illness, and instead he spent many happy hours watching steam trains where he lived, firstly at Carmarthen in west Wales and then, when his family moved, beside the ECML, near Essendine, north of Peterborough. After his untimely death, his father’s former colleagues at a Carmarthen dairy paid for a memorial stone, which British Railways agreed could be sited at his regular spot beside the ECML Down slow line close to milepost 87. In December 1994, Brian’s 99-yearold mother, May, visited the memorial for the first time in more than 40 years and for the last time. The visit, organised by Mike Lamport, then a public affairs manager with Network SouthEast, was the subject of an article in Heritage Railway issue 196 following the publication of a new book in which the poignant visit is reported. This prompted 66-year-old Mike, who joined BR in 1964 and retired from National Express in 2008, to ponder on the memorial’s future, fearing that with the death of Brian’s mother it may be forgotten and perhaps have even been inadvertently destroyed during trackside shrubbery clearance. His latter fear was unfounded as research by this magazine has confirmed that the memorial survives at the site, and now Mike is making a determined effort to have its future assured through his close association

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with the Railway Heritage Designation Advisory Board, a sub-committee of the Science Museum, whose primary purpose is to recommend to the museum’s trustees railway records and artefacts it believes worth preserving. Mike is a former member of the board’s predecessor, the Railway Heritage Committee, and is now a member of a forum which advises the board of suitable items for designation, but is not able to vote. “The article in Heritage Railway led me to remember that visit 20 years ago, and I am delighted the memorial has survived,” he said. “It occurred to me that it was worth designating, which would mean its future was safeguarded and could not be removed or disposed of without the board’s permission.” He said such protection remained in place until it was to be removed or disposed of, at which time the board would advise where it should be transferred to. “This is normally the NRM, but it can also be transferred to either a suitable heritage railway or museum.” Lineside examples already protected in this way include the 1842 Edinburgh & Glasgow Railway milepost on display at Glasgow Queen Street station; a coal and wine tax obelisk beside the WCML, near Hatch End, in north-west London; and the memorial at Parkside, near Newton-le-Willows, close to the site where William Huskisson MP was run over by Rocket at the opening of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway on September 15, 1830. Mike concluded: “I really hope the memorial to Brian Carter is safeguarded to ensure that, if the time ever came when it had to be removed, it would be found a suitable home where it could be appreciated and cherished, and this story of generous remembrance could continue to be told.” Heritage Railway 25

NEWS Bowes hauler house reopens

THE official opening of the restored Blackfell Hauler House on the Bowes Railway took place on December 11. In partnership with Gateshead Council, the English Heritage Historic Properties division, the Tyne and Wear Building Preservation Trust and funders, including the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, the building has received over £200,000 to restore it from dereliction to a workshop and business area. It has received a new roof, repaired gables, brickwork cleaning and pointing, new guttering and downspouts, traditional style windows and replacement of stolen roof ventilators. The winding engine and rope drums complete with original rope have been cosmetically restored together with the various controls and indicators. The building was constructed in 1913 and replaced an earlier one nearby. A new Robey and Co (Lincoln) steam winding engine was installed and this steam winder in its turn gave way in 1950 to a 500hp threephase electric motor to drive the rope winding drum, supplied by British Thompson Houston. The winder would haul and let down wagons from Blackfell to the Team Valley with line gradients of 1-in-15 and 1-in-24, the set taking about seven minutes to travel the 1¼mile bank. Under the restoration scheme it is the intention to remove bushes and vegetation from the incline leading to Blackfell engine house, including track repairs and work on the former rope release point at the ‘kip and dish’.

West Coast expands CHESHIRE-based Compass Railtours has been merged into the West Coast Railway Company. According to a note on the Compass website, WCRC has now taken over the booking arrangements for future railtours. Compass Railtours has been operating for 10 years, mainly using trainsets and locomotives provided by WCRC, and in noting the change has confirmed that a new tour programme is being prepared for the 2015 season.

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26 Heritagerailway.co.uk

LSWR T9 4-4-0 No. 30120 climbs past Charlie’s Gate during the Bodmin & Wenford Railway Winter Steam Up. CLASSIC TRACTION

Disability group may reopen Foyle Valley line By Hugh Dougherty

DESTINED, a Derry-based project which advocates for people with learning disabilities, is making a bid for the city’s Foyle Valley Railway Museum. The charity wants to establish a disability learning centre serving the North West of Ireland at the Derry City Council museum, which it described in its bid for £840,000 to funding agency Space and Place as “virtually disused” and subject to high levels of anti-social activity. But the group has also emphasised that it wants to retain the museum and its exhibits with a view to reviving the associated 3ft gauge Foyle Valley Railway which has been closed since 2000 following a dispute involving the council and the North West of Ireland Railway Society. The revived railway would be one of the first heritage lines dedicated to helping people with learning disabilities take their place in society as a core function. Destined chief executive Dermot O’Hara said: “We want to take over the building and extend it to provide a high-profile resource serving people and communities with learning difficulties across our area and into Donegal. The extension would include a cafe, training facilities, a sports hall and the railway museum and its valuable exhibits themselves. We are planning a community garden and farm as well as a pontoon from which to run boat trips on the River Foyle. “At the third stage of our project, we would want to put the railway back into running order and operate it as a tourist attraction, connecting with the boat trips. Running the railway would provide employment and training opportunities for the people we work with and the whole project would revitalise the museum and railway and assure its future.” Dermot is well aware of the dispute which brought an end to rail services,

and knows the history of the museum which saw it almost closed and sold off as part of development plan in 2004. He vowed to include members of the railway society in talks about the future. “Of course we will be happy to do that and if the railway were to be reopened as part of our phased plans, we would welcome enthusiast and volunteer involvement in its operation,” he said.

Commitment

NWIRS secretary Jim McBride, said that he was concerned about the future of the railway museum which he claimed had been virtually ignored by the city council, despite increasing its opening hours during Derry’s reign as City of Culture in 2013. “We are concerned about the use of the words ’virtually disused’ in Destined’s report, but we would be happy to take part in talks about the museum and would want to know that the group’s commitment to its future and that of its priceless County Donegal and Lough Swilly Railway exhibits, and of the Foyle Valley Railway, is genuine.” City councillors will review the usage of the museum sometime after March 31, 2015, with a view to looking at a number of options for the site. “The Destined proposal is one of a number of options that will be considered,” said

a spokesman, adding that a scoping exercise will be presented to councillors and that a review of the museum’s contents will form part of that. “The future of the railway exhibits will be a major consideration of any proposals for future use of the existing building.” A Derry City masterplan for the regeneration of the Foyle Valley Gateway area, including the site, proposes moving the railway museum to a site at Daisyfield, a mile down-river from its present location, providing a turntable and upgrading the mothballed railway to enable it to run from its present terminus at Foyle Road to Carrigans in County Donegal as a revived and major tourist attraction with backing from Donegal County Council. The Foyle Valley Gateway proposals are likely to be considered when councillors make their final decision about the museum and railway along with the Destined bid. The museum currently houses County Donegal Railways Class 5 steam locomotive diesel railcar 12, two coaches, a railcar wagon, Lough Swilly coach No. 17 and a crane truck as well as tickets, staff, signals, posters and other artefacts. All were rescued by the society before being placed in the EUfunded purpose-built railway museum in 1989.

CDR 2-6-4T No. 4 Meenglas sits outside the Foyle Valley Railway Museum which could be revived under the Destined proposal. HUGH DOUGHERTY Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

Heritage Railway 27

News Vietnam turns to steam for tourism boost WHAT has been described as the first steam locomotive in Vietnam to be restored to running order in several decades as undergone its first test run. Metre gauge Tu Luc coalburning 2-8-2 No. 141-190 ran over a 20-mile route from Ho Chi Minh City to Dong Nai Province’s Trang Bom District on December 28. After steam locomotives were replaced by diesels in 1996, No. 141-190 was sent to locomotive firm in Hanoi and was dismantled for scrap. However, after Vietnam announced in 2009 that it wanted to restore steam locomotives for tourism purposes, three were bought by the Indochina Rail Company. In late 2010, the components were transported to Di Binh Duong for reconstruction which was completed in late October. Another steam locomotive also transported from Hanoi for assembly and restoration, is also being worked on at the Di An Rail Company. The type had its origins in locomotives built by Société Alsacienne de Construction Mecaniques in France, with the initial batch of 27 delivered between 1947 and 1950, before Vietnam became divided into North and South. A total of eight are believed to survive.

Mallard 75 repatriation mastermind engineers The Railway Children By Robin Jones

THE man who brought the two exiled LNER A4 Pacifics across the Atlantic for the Mallard 75 celebrations has made the latest stage production of the timeless classic The Railway Children possible. The acclaimed production of BOS Productions’ version of the Edith A. Nesbit novel opened in a new purpose-built temporary theatre next door to King’s Cross on December 16 – following a marathon effort by Andrew Goodman’s Sutton Coldfieldbased haulage company Moveright International. It was Andrew who brought A4s No. 60008 Dwight D. Eisenhower and No. 60010 Dominion of Canada back from North America for the National Railway Museum’s multiple award-

winning three Great Gatherings of all six class members to mark the 75th anniversary of No. 4468 Mallard’s 126mph world speed run in 1938. Now his firm has enabled the new theatrical production of the novel, best known for the EMI big screen version filmed on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway in 1970 – to take place. Moveright International Group helped prepare the site, brought the guest steam locomotive – the NRM’s 141-year-old Nine Elms-built LSWR T3 express passenger 4-4-0 No. 563 – and carriage to the temporary theatre and organised the logistics of operating the train for every performance – including bringing railway equipment from as far away as The Netherlands – inside a specially-constructed 1000seat heated marquee. The six-wheeled coach, Great North

Reprieve for Manx horse tramway

THE Isle of Man’s famous Douglas horse tramway is to continue on its present route until the autumn. A scheme to remodel the resort’s promenade was due to have seen the 3ft gauge line closed for next year, the last services having run on September 14. The scheme was set to see the route of the tramway altered, with the trams moved from the centre of the roadway over which they have run since 1876 on to a new alignment on the pedestrian walkway. Accordingly, no trams were due to run until at least 2016. It was to be the longest period of closure since the Second World War. However, the scheme is being delayed by discussions over the new position of the tramline, and talks with local residents. The delay is likely to mean that the trams will be back on their present alignment this year, and the route may be kept in a less modified form.

28 Heritagerailway.co.uk

SerenaManteghiasBobbieinspectstheT3insideKing’sCrossTheatre. JOHAN PERSSON

of Scotland Railway first class No. 63, was built in 1894 and is one of only two coaches from this railway company to survive. In a derelict state, it was saved initially at Aviemore and was later restored in a stable near Harrogate, before being moved to the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway. It is one of several vintage coaches owned by acclaimed restorer Stephen Middleton of Stately Trains. Both the T3 and the coach had to be moved from the north of England to King’s Cross for the performance, which recently had its run extended to September 6. Andrew said that ensuring the show opened on time in December took months of preparation. Much of the work had to be carried out at night, to keep local road disruption to a minimum. During the show, the T3 and coach ‘steam’ into the auditorium, powered by a quiet, battery-electric locomotive specially brought in from Holland. Railway Support Services Ltd, part of the Moveright International group, provided and installed the track materials as well as the crews and support staff to move the rolling stock in and out of the auditorium, on-cue for performances. Andrew said: “Technically and logistically, this has been quite a challenge. Clearly, given the live audience and specially-prepared site, safety is absolutely paramount. “It was an inspired idea to use a battery-electric shunter to move the 60-tonne locomotive and its coach during performances which eliminates the excessive noise and exhaust fumes that would be produced by a diesel.

Heritage first as Class 68 steals Dereham show IN a first for a heritage line, of Britain’s newest main line locomotives – Class 68 diesel No. 68007 Valiant made its debut – on the Mid-Norfolk Railway. The 85-ton locomotive, built in Valencia, Spain by Vossloh with a 3800hp Caterpillar diesel engine and leased by Direct Rail Services, hauled passenger trains during the line’s December 27-28 diesel gala, which attracted more than 2000 visitors. While it can operate at speeds up to 99mph, on heritage railways it has to keep to 25mph – although not while it is running on the Mid-Norfolk Railway. DRS has a depot at Stowmarket, operates locomotive-hauled local passenger trains for Greater Anglia to Yarmouth and Lowestoft, as well as infrastructure trains for Network Rail, SMNR commercial director James

Class 68 No. 68007 Valiant at Wymondham Abbey loop on December 27 during the Mid-Norfolk Railway’s Winter Warmer gala. PHILIP GREENSLADE

Steward said: “We are extremely grateful to DRS. “It’s a great example of the spirit of co-operation between the heritage rail sector and our main line

colleagues, and of course we’re pleased that the Mid-Norfolk Railway is the very first heritage line in the country to welcome one of these brand new locomotives.”

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Backing for South Tynedale line extension

Stop that train! Following in the footsteps of Jenny Agutter, Serena Manteghi as Bobbie becomes the latest to wave her red knickers in The Railway Children. JOHAN PERSSON “Of course, the steam locomotive has not worked for more than half a century and is incapable of being steamed so that was out of the question. But our search for something suitable took us to Holland as there was nothing available in the UK.” “Clearly it’s important that everything works without a hitch and that the train runs to time for every performance!” Inside the theatre, the audience sit on both sides of a full-size replica of the KWVR’s Oakworth station. The site of the temporary theatre was once the York Way servicing facility for locomotives operating East Coast Main Line train services. After the show ends, the theatre will be removed ready for construction of Google’s new UK headquarters. The Railway Children is a revival of the Olivier Award-winning production written by Mike Kenny which was originally presented at the NRM in York and later at the redundant Waterloo International terminal, featuring GNR Stirling single No. 1. In 2011, it opened in Toronto, also in a temporary theatre, built at the base of CN Tower in Roundhouse Park.

The temporary King’s Cross Theatre has been erected next door to the GNR terminus. IAN CROWDER

Andrew Goodman of Moveright International with the newly-arrived LSWR T3 No. 563. IAN CROWDER The cast is led by Jeremy Swift as Mr Perks and Caroline Harker as Mother. Also in the cast are Louise Calf as Phyllis, Clare Corbett as Mrs Perks, Jack Hardwick as Peter, Mark Hawkins as Jim/District Super, Connie Hyde as Mrs Viney, Andrew Loudon as Father/Doctor, Serena Manteghi as Bobbie, Blair Plant as Schepansky and Moray Treadwell as the Old Gentleman, along with a children’s ensemble made up of four teams of 10 children aged between nine

and 15. The King’s Cross Theatre production is in support of the Railway Children which aims to help homeless and runaway children throughout the world, with £1 per ticket donated to the charity. ➜ The box office can be contacted on 0844 871 7604. For further details on performances and ticket prices, visit www.railwaychildrenlondon.com

Lynsettosteamin2015 THE design for the pony trucks for the new-build Lynton & Barnstaple replica Baldwin 2-4-2T replica Lyn has been completed. The 762 Club has placed orders with Alan Keef & Son to manufacturer the front and rear pony truck assemblies. The work will be carried out by the Ross-on-Wye based manufacturer over the next three months, with completion scheduled for March. This complex and expensive section of the locomotive is the final ‘large’ piece of Lyn to be designed. Only smaller components like boiler cladding and the manifold remaining before the whole locomotive is designed and drawn using 21st century SolidWorks 3D modelling. The assembly of Lyn will begin in earnest in the spring when the cylinder block is delivered together with the frames. By this time, the full set of motion and valve gear will also be complete to allow rapid erection of the locomotive.

Fly crank fitting on the wheelset for new Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Baldwin 2-4-2T Lyn. 762 It is expected that Lyn will take up to 10 months to fully assemble, ready for a first steaming in December. The group still has several spare memberships available at £762 each.

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PLANS by the 2ft gauge South Tynedale Railway to revive the entire length of the NER Alston branch have been backed by councillors. The South Tyne Railway Preservation Society says that 100,000 extra visitors would be drawn to the locality each year. Chairing a meeting of Haltwhistle Town Council on December 1, Coun Alan Sharp said: “This is a great project going forward. It should bring in trade to support our shops, pubs, cafes and other services. “I was really pleased with the enthusiasm of the society, and I think we should encourage this as much as we can.” The society currently runs a 3.5 mile line from Alston to Lintley Halt, attracting 40,000 visitors per year, and has secured a £4.2million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to extend 1.5 miles to Slaggyford. However, if various parcels of land can be obtained, it could extend by another eight miles to Haltwhistle by 2022. The original standard gauge branch was closed by BR in 1976.

Blaenavon’s second Barclay THE Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway has taken on ownership of a second Andrew Barclay 0-6-0ST, No. 2074 of 1939 Llantarnam Abbey. The locomotive has been on site for several years, owned by the Llantarnam Abbey group, and has been slowly undergoing restoration albeit while the group has been working on the other steam locomotives at the railway. The group has decided to gift the locomotive to the railway and it will be moved under cover for work to begin. The main problem has been the wheelsets, but donor ones have been located. Last year, the railway was given ex- Stewarts & Lloyds Steel Tube Works Barclay 0-4-0ST No. 2201 of 1945 Victory by the National Museum of Wales earlier this year, The best boiler from either Llantarnam Abbey or Victory will be utilised to return the former to steam, while Victory will take its place next in the restoration queue. The plan is that with three Barclays on board, the third being the lighter trains will never be without traction. Three identical boilers and many interchangeable fittings should mean that the PBR could have two in steam at any one time. Heritage Railway 29

NEWS Severn Valley diesel depot by next summer

CONTRACTS have been signed for the building of the long-awaited Severn Valley Railway’s Kidderminster diesel locomotive maintenance depot. The deal was signed with the principal contractor, mid-Wales based C21 Construction Limited, just before Christmas for the building of the 1000sq m depot. The depot is sited in Kidderminster Town yard, next to the fifth-of-a-mile-long carriage shed, and will provide undercover storage and maintenance facilities for the fleet of heritage diesel locomotives, many of which are now more than 50-years-old and provide timetabled support on around 10% of the annual services. Previously, maintenance of diesel rolling stock was completed outside in all weathers, including rain and on occasion snow, by dedicated committed volunteers, who will now be able to work under cover. General manager Nick Ralls said: “This is a vital improvement to our infrastructure, and recognition of the importance of preserving heritage diesel locomotives as well as our extensive fleet of steam locomotives.” Jonathan Dunster, chairman of the line’s diesel committee, said: “The railway is home to around 20 diesel locomotives, The new depot provides us with a quality location to maintain and run them – it’s a huge step forward.” Inside the depot, there will be two locomotive inspection pits, lifting jacks and a 10-tonne overhead travelling crane. Completion of the facility is expected this summer.

IN BRIEF ➜ BURGLARS who raided the Mid-Norfolk Railway’s Dereham station shop on December 19 escaped with a haul of Bachmann and Farish models, including a Robinson O4 and two Class 101 DMUs. In a repeat of a similar burglary 18 months ago, several internal doors were smashed beyond repair. Police are investigating, and the railway has warned that the stolen items may appear on sale at toy and train fairs or on the internet. ➜SHROPSHIRE’S Weston Park Railway helped out the problemhit Teifi Valley Railway by loaning locomotive Molly and a carriage for its Santa specials on the 7.25in-gauge line at Henllan.

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First Talyllyn engine pair repainted in ‘original’ livery By Robin Jones THE Talyllyn Railway unwrapped a very special Christmas present for the line’s supporters – its two original locomotives in special liveries to mark the line’s 150th anniversary. The ‘Great Reveal’ on December 25 saw No. 1 Talyllyn and No. 2 Dolgoch unveiled in the red/brown Indian red colour believed to have been the standard Fletcher Jennings livery for new locomotives. Talyllyn was completed at Fletcher Jennings & Co’s Lowca Works in Whitehaven on September 24, 1864, and celebrated its own 150th birthday last year. Back in Victorian times, the paint would have been mixed locally, with hematite workings providing the red oxide pigment. The Furness Railway’s engines of the time carried a similar livery.

Reliveried

No. 1’s final appearance in its recent black livery was at last autumn’s Warley Model Railway Exhibition. Afterwards, the 0-4-2ST and 0-4-0WT Dolgoch entered the paint shops at Pendre, where Ian Hewitt and his Heritage Painting team of Mike O’Connor, Teriann O’Connor and Leighton King reliveried the pair. The repainting involved 300 hours of work, with seven coats of paint being applied in eight days. No. 1 Talyllyn will feature in photo charters in March, and both locomotives may work some early season service trains. However, the first confirmed rostering of the pair will be during The Quarryman Experience event on May 2-4, which celebrates the 2ft 3in gauge line’s early years, and will kick off a

Outshopped in what is believed to be the original Talyllyn Railway locomotive livery, No. 2 Dolgoch and No. 1 Talyllyn were unveiled on Christmas Day. TR programme of anniversary events. There will be morning and evening photo specials incorporating demonstration slate, original passenger and mixed trains. In Abergynolwyn, some of the old tracks in the village may be relaid. After nearly two years away from Tywyn, Hughes 0-4-2ST No. 3 Sir Haydn will be returning home in late February, after appearing at the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show at the National Exhibition Centre, in Birmingham, between February 17-22, where it will be used to promote tourism to the mid-Wales coast. For 18 months, No.3 has been displayed in the Engine House museum at Highley on the Severn

Valley Railway, after a successful tour across the country taking in the Great Central Railway and Midland RailwayButterley. The Sir Haydn Appeal, set up for donations towards the overhaul of the Loughborough-built loco, has so far raised £25,000.

Royal Assent

The Talyllyn’s 150th Party on July 3-5 will mark the July 5, 1865 Royal Assent of the Talyllyn Railway Act and will include special guests. This will be followed by the 18652015 Gala on August 7-9, the Heart of Gold Weekend marking 60 years of the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society. It will feature trains running through the night on August 29-31 and a September 25-27 heritage weekend.

Heavy freight tank joins WSR gala line-up GWR heavy freight 2-8-0T No. 4270 has joined the roster for the West Somerset Railway’s South Wales-themed spring steam gala. Jeremy Hosking’s ex-Barry locomotive, which was returned to steam at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, will join GWR small prairie No. 5542 and 56xx 0-6-2T No. 6695, also typical of types that worked in the Valleys. They will join Minehead residents GWR 2-8-0 No. 3850, 2-6-2T No. 4160 and 4-6-0s No. 4936 Kinlet Hall, No. 6960 Raveningham Hall and No. 7828 Odney Manor.

Unusual surviving member

No. 4270, which was built at Swindon in 1919 and withdrawn in 1962, is unusual among the surviving members of the class in having the original inside steam pipes. More guest locomotives are still being sought for the gala, which should also feature Peckett 0-4-0ST Kilmersdon shunting in the yard of the Washford base of the Somerset &

Dorset Railway Trust. The gala will take place between Thursday, March 26 and Sunday, March 29, with the 26th and 27th featuring a different timetable to the two days of the weekend. Discounted rover tickets are available from www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk or via 01643 704996. General manager Paul Conibeare said: “It’s been a number of years since we had a heavy freight tank here and it will also be interesting to have one at work alongside No. 3850 representing the tender version of Swindon’s designs for the movement of minerals in bulk”. The gala will once again feature a transport literature festival, sharing a marquee outside Minehead Station with a small model railway exhibition. The 2015 event will be open to the public on March 27-29. Meanwhile, December 24 was the last day in service for the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust’s 7F 2-8-0 No. 88 on the West Somerset Railway. It departed from Bishops Lydeard

station, near Taunton, at 10.10am with a Santa Express train to Williton, where it uncoupled and ran light engine to Minehead. On arrival at Minehead, 88 was taken out of service for a heavy overhaul, which is scheduled to be completed by March 2016 when the WSR will be hosting a spring steam gala event to mark the 50th anniversary of the closure of the Somerset & Dorset routes between Bath (Green Park) station and Bournemouth (West) and between Evercreech Junction and Highbridge.

Bought by the trust

Withdrawn by BR, No. 88 and the other survivor – No. 89 – ended up in Barry scrapyard. No. 88 was bought by the trust and was initially moved to its original home in Radstock. When the Radstock project was unable to continue, the trust moved to Washford. No. 88 itself was returned to steam after a first overhaul was completed by the West Somerset at Minehead in 1987 and it has been overhauled twice since.

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HaydockFoundry0-6-0WTBellerophon headsaphotocharterconsistingoftwoNorthStaffordshireRailwaycoachesatFoxfield CollieryonDecember28. RALPH WARD

Loco mania as Amberley looks forward to 2015 REGULAR steam trains, a host of galas – including a new Bank Holiday event – footplate courses, and static displays on no fewer than six different gauges, are set to draw railway enthusiasts to Amberley Museum & Heritage Centre in 2015. The 36-acre centre, based in old chalk pits near Arundel, in West Sussex, is dedicated to the area’s industrial heritage, of which the railway element is an essential and crowd-drawing part. Its collection of more than 30 locos is the most comprehensive of its type in the UK, representing a variety of gauges from 1ft 10in to 5ft 3in. Four main rail events are planned for the coming year, starting with an industrial trains day on April 26, featuring steam, diesel, petrol and battery-driven locomotives, followed by a Listermania weekend on July 11-12, starring products of the Gloucestershire company on rail and road. A petrol locomotives day on August 23 will provide an opportunity to see such locos as a First World War Simplex and a War Department Wickham set, and finally comes a second industrials day on October 11, which will be combined with a vintage vehicle show. Other dates include a new event, a steam up day on Bank Holiday Monday (May 25), a miniature steam weekend on September 19-20, and steam Santa

Ambling at Amberley: Bagnall 0-4-0ST Peter runs round its train at Amberley station in preparation for taking its train on the centre’s 2ft-gauge line. The 1918-built ex-quarry locomotive will be a regular attraction this year as the West Sussex attraction holds its biggest-ever programme of events. AMBERLEY MUSEUM specials on three weekends in December, leading up to Christmas. In addition, passenger steam trains will run on the centre’s half-mile 2ft-gauge line on most weekends during the centre’s season between March 15-October 31, hauled by either Polar Bear or Peter, sometimes with both operating on the same day at the height of the season. Polar Bear, an Amberley resident since 1982, is an ex-Groudle Glen Railway, Isle of Man 2-4-0T, built by W G Bagnall (works No. 1781) in 1905, while Peter is a former Leicestershire quarry 0-4-0ST, also built by Bagnall (works No. 2067), in 1918. There will also be standard gauge interest in the form of Burt, a Simplex shunter built by Motor Rail in 1959 for

a Kent timber merchant. This 4wDM has its own demonstration line at the centre, which runs for 150 yards beside an original block of kilns that formerly incorporated its own railway platform. Ruth Dewdney, the centre’s communications manager, said: “We have our biggest ever programme this year, with new events alongside such established favourites as the railway galas, classic car show and ale festival. A lot has changed in the past decade or so, and we want people to be inspired by what they can see and do.” Events and education coordinator Martin Piggott said: “I am really excited about the new events, and this year is going to be an excellent season. “We have a lot to celebrate.”

Bid to return steam to highest station in England & Wales WHAT was the highest standard gauge station in England and Wales could see steam trains once more. The Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway will this year use a bequest from a long-standing volunteer, who died in 2014, to begin a

half-mile extension north of Whistle Inn to Waunavon. The former station was 1392ft above sea level. The modest extension will provide a proper terminus for the line, complete with run-round loop. It will also bring the railway closer

to the longer-term goal of Brynmawr and the stunning Clydach Gorge. At the opposite end of the line, relaying of the track south of Blaenavon High Level is nearly complete.

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Heritage Railway 31

NEWS

Fifth Garratt for Welsh Highland By Roger Melton A FIFTH articulated Beyer Garratt has been bought for use on the Welsh Highland Railway South African Railways NGG16 has been bought from the Exmoor Steam Centre by Lynton & Barnstaple Railway supporter and Lyn Project manager Peter Best for restoration by his company Steam Powered Services. The 2-6-2+2-6-2 was one of several Garratts originally imported into Britain for use on an abortive scheme to lay a 2ft-gauge line at Robin Hood’s Bay in Yorkshire in the late 1990s. Preservation powerhouse Peter has plenty of previous experience, having owned and restored GWR 2-8-0T No. 4277, USATC S160 2-8-0 No. 2253, and BR Standard 4MT 4-6-0 No. 75029, and restored LMS ‘Black Five’ 45212 on lease from the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. He still owns the S160, which is currently on display at the Locomotion museum Shildon awaiting overhaul, and which starred in a Cab It event there on January 10-11. No.130 (works number 7431) is one of a batch of 15 Beyer Peacock locomotives built in 1951 for South African Railways. The design was originally conceived in 1937 and various batches were made by four different manufacturers, with the last of class being built as

late as 1968. Withdrawn in 1985, No. 130 was last operational on the Port Shepstone to Harding branch in Natal. A three-year overhaul is likely, as No. 130 will require a full rebuild, and is not complete. However, many significant parts have been made for other restored Garratts, and a full set of drawings are available. The locomotive is planned to appear in traffic during spring 2018, with running in, at least, to take place on the Welsh Highland Railway. However, its planned longer-term home has not yet been revealed. Although the L&B must be a candidate, it will dwarf anything else there. Equally, given the complexity of moving such a large locomotive around by road with the associated dismantling and reassembly, it is unlikely to move very often. Peter said: “I am really delighted to have bought 130 and thank the Stirland family for their support and guidance. No. 130 will be a different and exciting challenge, which we will relish. Serious work will not start till our S160 No. 2253 is substantially complete, but the planning starts now.” The WHR currently has five NGG16 Garratts: Nos. 87, 138 and 143 are in service, with No. 109 and 140 awaiting restoration. The railway also operates prototype Garratt K1.

Michael Palin welcomes Fakenham auction success REVIVALISTS have succeeded second time around in buying a key section of the GER route to Fakenham – safeguarding a future northern extension of the Mid-Norfolk Railway – largely thanks to a mystery 11th-hour benefactor.

The Melton Constable Trust, the registered charity behind the Norfolk Orbital Railway project, launched a SOS appeal in late November in a bid to buy the section of trackbed and two iconic bridges at Pudding Norton in Fakenham. The appeal, publicised on our www.facebook.com/heritagerailway page as the magazine had by then gone to press, raised sufficient funds from supporters and well-wishers to allow the trust to buy the site for £24,000, a far higher sum than anticipated, at an auction on December 10.

Masterplan

The bridge over the River Wensum at Fakenham may one day see trains again. MCT

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The length is a strategic section not only in the MNR’s plans to extend to County School and Fakenham, but also in the overall NOR masterplan to link the North Norfolk Railway to Fakenham. In 2009 the trust was unsuccessful in its attempt to buy the land, which sold for £10,000. Globetrotting TV star Michael Palin, who has local connections, said: “I am delighted that this part of the local railway scene has been saved. I know Fakenham well as my father lived there and I wish the project every success.” Trustee Trevor Bailey said: “This

has been possible simply because so many people, from the local area and elsewhere, want to see this piece of railway saved and eventually used again to bring rail services back to Fakenham. We had only a few days in which to appeal for funds and were hugely encouraged by the response. “There was a real cliffhanger. It was only because a final generous donor contacted us literally during the night before the auction that we were in a position to increase our bidding limit and win the day. “We are working very closely with the MNR. It will be years before the line can be extended back to Fakenham, but those who support our work now will be founders of Fakenham’s new railway era. “It is important to get across that our wish is to see a public transport rail service, of real use for everyday travel, operating to the town again, alongside the much enjoyed heritage services that the MNR runs currently.” MNR vice-chairman John Hull said: “We have an enormous amount to do in running our existing railway and in building the first stage of the extension northwards. Our partnership with the Melton Constable Trust is so valuable because without it there would

simply be no way of tackling the task of one day getting trains back to Fakenham. We emailed our congratulations straight away.” The railway embankment, and in particular the fine river bridge, have long been features of the landscape. The trust is very keen that until it is needed for the rebuilt railway the site should have uses that benefit the community, and is working with local people to see what is possible if safety issues can be sorted out.

Community

Trustee David Bill said: “The better part of 50 years ago, some of us, as ridiculously young people, secured the line that has now become the North Norfolk Railway from Sheringham to High Kelling. If we had not acted then that line would have been long gone. We have recently had a success in buying part of the route for an extension railway from the present NNR terminus into Holt. What is now being achieved at Fakenham shows again that it can still happen if the community wants it enough.” Trustee Derek Haynes added: “There are many additional costs, including auction fees, legal costs, insurance, fencing and safety measures. “We have to repay interest-free

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Manchester-built Beyer Garratt No. 87 runs through the Aberglaslyn Pass on the Welsh Highland Railway. Although built for service in South Africa, NGG16s have become a trademark of the 21st-century trans-Snowdonian line, which suffered from inadequate steam power in its original incarnation. BOB GREEN

New headstone over grave of Scottish steam pioneer Stirling By Hugh Dougherty

A NEW headstone has been raised over the grave of the Rev Robert Stirling, inventor of the Stirling engine and father of two prominent steam locomotive designers, to mark the bicentenary of its invention in 1816. Mr Stirling, minister of Galston parish church, in Ayrshire, where he is buried, built his prototype air engine, with a view to using it for early railway propulsion, at a workshop in Kilmarnock, close to the terminus of the Kilmarnock & Troon Railway. The line had been opened by the Duke of Portland in 1812, and it went on to run the first steam locomotive in Scotland in the shape of the Blenkinsop, Killingworth-type, The Duke, which was introduced in 1817. Despite Mr Stirling’s approaches to his local railway, no Stirling-powered locomotive ran on the Kilmarnock & Troon, although he said he was inspired to invent a safer means of propulsion, given the high rates of boiler explosions of early engines. His invention was largely ignored by railways as conventional steam designs developed, but Mr Stirling, who was minister at Galston until his death in 1878, while continuing to develop and patent his engine, left another a legacy to the world of steam railways. His first son, Patrick, born in 1829, became locomotive superintendent of the GNR and designed the famous Stirling 4-2-2 Singles, stars of the railway Races to the North. Patrick, who died in 1895, began his railway career at Kilmarnock at the Glasgow & South Western Railway, where he rose to be locomotive superintendent from 1853 to 1866 before he went to the GNR. While with the GSWR, Patrick trained his younger brother, James, in locomotive engineering at Kilmarnock, and James, who was born in 1835, succeeded his brother as locomotive superintendent in 1866. He left the GSWR in 1878 to join the SER, where he was locomotive superintendent until his retirement in 1898. James designed several classes of locomotives at both the GSWR and SER and died at Ashford in 1917. Another two of Mr Stirling’s sons, Robert and William, became railway engineers in South America. Like Patrick and James, they inherited a love of engineering from their father, who was inducted into the Scottish

Norfolk County Council has protected the GER trackbed from Dereham as far as this point, the site of Fakenham West station. Could this now be the ultimate destination for the Mid-Norfolk Railway and the western target for the Norfolk Orbital Railway route from Holt via Melton Constable? DAVID BILL loans which some of our supporters provided as well as donations. And, very important, we need to raise money for more land purchases so that we can gradually rebuild the route.

“We need every bit of support that people can give. Because the trust is a charity, all donations from taxpayers attract a further 25% from the Government’s Gift Aid scheme.”

➜Donations and offers of practical assistance should be sent to: Adrian Loynes, The Melton Constable Trust, The Railway Institute, 6 Briston Road, Melton Constable, Norfolk NR24 2DA.

The replacement headstone at Galston with the depiction of the Rev Robert Stirling’s first engine of 1816. HUGH DOUGHERTY Engineering Hall of Fame in October 2014 in recognition of his pioneering work with his own engine and for inspiring his sons to become prominent railway engineers and locomotive designers. The new gravestone at Galston replaces an original, which was in poor condition. It incorporates a line drawing of Mr Stirling’s first engine of 1816 and repeats the same inscription as the original memorial. The church raised the money for the stone through an appeal, with support from Co-operative Funeralcare and East Ayrshire Council. Church session clerk Robert Murray said: “We wanted to mark the bicentenary of the invention of the Stirling engine by having a suitable memorial to the remarkable Rev Robert Stirling, a much-loved and long-serving minister, who invented a remarkable engine. “He also imbued his family with a great love of engineering, with his sons Robert and James going on to have distinguished careers in steam locomotive design and manufacture.” A dedication ceremony for the new stone will be held later in 2015 and an exhibition celebrating Robert Stirling, his invention and his railway engineering sons is planned to be held in Galston in 2016.

Stainmore gets NER water tank

THE Stainmore Railway Company has made another leap forward in its efforts to create a North Eastern Railway centre of excellence at Kirkby Stephen East station with the arrival of an authentic water tower and crane. The NER water tank and fittings have been gifted to it from the defunct Wharram station on the closed Malton to Driffield line. The tank was delivered to join the NER water crane that arrived in October from the North Norfolk Railway.

Write to us: Heritage Railway, Mortons Media Ltd, PO Box 43, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6LZ.

SRC director Mike Thompson said: “We are extremely grateful to Lord Middleton and the Birdsall Estate for their superb generosity. The donation of the tank will allow us to provide a much-needed water supply to our expanding loco operations.” The refurbished water tank and fittings will sit upon a newly built brick structure that will exactly replicate the Wharram tower. The rebuilt tower will recycle bricks originating from Barras. Heritage Railway 35

NEWS

Soon after sunrise, No. 5043 passes Elforlow, near Tamworth. JOHN DUNGATE

‘White Rose’ Castle VINTAGE Trains’ ‘Christmas White Rose’ annual outing to York on December 13 with Tyseley’s GWR Castle 4-6-0 No. 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe, proved to be one of the highlights of

36 Heritagerailway.co.uk

the steam photographers’ year, with the engine putting up its usual excellent performance in perfect winter sunshine. A 28-minute-late departure from

Tyseley was very quickly made up with an on-time departure from Derby and a slightly early departure from a pathing stop in Ambergate loop, after being overtaken by a service train.

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Left bottom: The Castle accelerates away from Burton-on-Trent past Clay Mills. PHIL WATERFIELD Above top: EarlofMount Edgcumbe bursts out of Milford tunnel, approaching Belper. BRIAN SHARPE Above centre: After a pathing stop in Ambergate loop, No. 5043 is on its way again, near Stretton. IAN CASTLEDINE Right: Now in Yorkshire, the Castle crosses the River Aire at Brotherton, near Ferrybridge. DUNCAN LANGTREE Write to us: Heritage Railway, Mortons Media Ltd, PO Box 43, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6LZ.

Heritage Railway 37

NEWS

A sample page from GWR’s ground-breaking The Safety Movement booklet of 1914, with pieces of advice highlighted in bold. NRM

Don’t Walk Near Edge of Platform – Safety First is a LNER poster from 1924 with artwork by Arthur Watts (1883-1935). NRM

Stop! Look and make sure it’s quite safe – a Southern Railway safety poster from 1947. NRM

Please be Careful – a BR poster from the 1950s, with artwork by Fyffe. NRM

I Grasped the Speeding Carriage Door – a BR 1980 safety poster illustrated in the Pop Art style of a 1950s detective comic. NRM

Steaming forward for safety

By Rebekah Warburton

LEAPING tigers, bikini-clad women, and lucky charms – all of them have played an unlikely role in the story of railway safety, according to a new virtual exhibition set up by the National Railway Museum. The online history of rail safety has been assembled by Dr Mike Esbester, senior lecturer in history at the University of Portsmouth. More than 100 years ago, in August

1913, the GWR introduced a revolutionary campaign to improve railway safety. The resultant booklet of the following year, The Safety Movement, took advantage of photography, booklets and competitions to persuade workers to avoid the dangers which lurked in the railways and showed them what should and should not be done; a tactic that’s been used in the railway industry ever since. This visual approach to preventing deaths and injuries spread throughout

other industries and into British society, tackling road and home safety. The GWR’s innovative safety campaign could not have come soon enough in an industry which witnessed, in 1900 alone, more than 16,000 fatalities or injuries to its workers. Before 1913, the safety of railway workers was of limited concern to the government or the public; they were more interested in passenger safety. It was deemed the workers’ responsibility to look after themselves and railway companies did little in the way of safety, simply providing stern warnings through signs, rule books and circulars, plus punishments for not adhering to safety procedures. One such NER sign issued the warning that touching the overhead wires was dangerous; thereby leaving the safety of the workers in the workers’ hands. A circular issued by the same company in 1867 speaks of other safety measures to take at work, but these related to the safety of the engine and its passengers, rather than employees. Due to the volume of railway worker injuries, companies were keen for their staff to learn first aid and, should a serious incident occur, a worker could receive treatment at a railway hospital. Some larger railway companies even, at their discretion, provided an artificial leg or arm for employees unfortunate enough to lose a limb. By 1913, worker deaths and injuries had increased to 30,000 in one year alone. Railway companies, facing increasing pressure from trade unions and the threat of new laws, were

Left: Examine all Rail Vehicles – a poster produced for British Railways staff around 1950, with artwork by Frank Newbould (1887-1951). He was born in Bradford and studied at Bradford College of Art. He designed posters for many of the railway companies and claimed to have started a landscape school in English poster design. NRM

38 Heritagerailway.co.uk

forced to address the issue of railway worker safety. It was in this year that the GWR introduced the Safety Movement. This radical campaign departed from the older method of using rules and signs to address safety – instead using photographs and a conversational tone to grab, and keep, the viewer’s attention. The 1914 Safety Movement booklet is teeming with photographs showing foolhardy acts and their dangerous consequences, but also photographs which demonstrate the correct – and safe – way to do things. Little snippets of text highlighted in bold offered bite-sized pieces of advice. This revolutionary, visual style soon spread throughout the railway industry and has been used up to the present day. The 1960s British Railways Your Personal Safety booklet continued to use photographs to show the proper and safe way to work, while a 1987 British Rail poster highlights the dangers of not keeping a clean and clear work area. The safety campaign was not just limited to visual images and booklets showing safe working practices, it also extended to what employees should wear. Persuading workers to wear goggles was a common theme of the campaign, while posters in the 1960s encouraged the wearing of highvisibility clothing, something which was just being introduced. One poster would raise a few eyebrows today; the 1967 British Rail poster depicting a voluptuous woman

A North London Railway ambulance team of 1900 stands proudly behind the shield members won in a first aid competition. NRM Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

Blackout – Look Out! – GWR/LMS/LNER/SR/London Transport poster from the Second World War, reminding passengers about safety when opening carriage doors and alighting from trains. During blackouts, passengers had to take extra care. NRM in a bright orange bikini, with a railway worker in a high-visibility jacket below, with the tag line: “Be eye catching in your mini vest”. Although the dangers that lurked in the railways were reserved mostly for the workforce, many passengers also suffered injuries and fatalities. Safety education was therefore used to address worker and passenger safety and posters were a commonly used medium. To attract attention to the posters and their important message, bold colours were employed; one British Rail poster of the 1990s was created in the 1960s Pop Art style, and warned of the dangers of grabbing speeding train doors. As technology progressed throughout the 20th century, so did railway safety campaigns. Films and TV adverts were used by the railway companies to further highlight the importance of railway safety in often realistic and disturbing ways. The Finishing Line safety film of 1977, available as part of the exhibition, depicts the consequences of children playing on railway tracks. In the film an imaginary school sports day is played over railway tracks, but the day turns dark when the children are mown down by speeding trains. Network Rail released a series of TV adverts in 2013 around rail safety and one such advert, entitled Train Track Sports features real footage from level crossings in Britain. The advert shows unbelievable scenes of people running across level crossings in front of

A BR staff poster from 1960 giving safety advice for employees when entering or leaving locomotives. NRM

A striking and somewhat stripy British Railway staff safety poster of the 1960s. NRM oncoming trains and careless drivers driving across descending barriers and crashing through them on the other side, lest they be stuck on the tracks. It was hoped that these hard-hitting adverts would make people more aware of the dangers of gambling one’s life on the railway lines. The revolutionary nature of the railway safety campaign is seen in the spread of safety education beyond the railway industry. Over the past century it has been used nearly everywhere in Britain. Particular attention has been paid to road safety throughout the 20th and 21st centuries and different media have been used to spread safety messages. Home safety education is something

Eyecatching, but would this British Rail poster from 1967 be allowed today? NRM

which has become more prevalent since the 1930s, with posters alerting people to the dangers in their own homes. A 1950s example depicts a woman sprawled across the floor having just fallen over, advising people to be “On guard against falls”. Dr Esbester said: “The history of health and safety on the railways – and beyond – is a fascinating one. Though today health and safety may have a bad reputation, when you discover how dangerous railway work was at the beginning of the 20th century, you realise how important it was to try to do something new. “The fact the visual style of the 1913 safety education campaign is still in use today, and this style has spread throughout society, is a testament to the Safety Movement’s lasting impact.” The work upon which the exhibit is based was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council of the UK. Some of it was carried out while Dr Esbester was based at the Institute of Railway Studies, a joint initiative between the National Railway Museum and the University of York. He added: “I greatly enjoyed carrying out this research with the help of the National Railway Museum archives and hope that the exhibition will allow other people to see how exciting and positive this topic is.” ➜ Dr Esbester’s article can be viewed at www.nrm.org.uk/ railway-safety or visit the National Railway Museum archives, which are publically available to all.

Write to us: Heritage Railway, Mortons Media Ltd, PO Box 43, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6LZ.

Heritage Railway 39

PHOTO FEATURE

SEVERN VALLEY 50

ALTERNATIVE VIEW Since it opened as a heritage line in 1970, the thousands of visitors to the Severn Valley Railway have taken countless millions of pictures. While every inch of the lineside will have been explored by photographers, most end up at a small number of well known locations and stand on the same spot as their predecessors. However, there are still some very different results to be had. Marking the 50th anniversary of the line’s revivalist organisation, Colour-Rail’s Paul Chancellor presents several less commonly seen views.

Bewdley stabling point offers many opportunities for creating ‘action’ pictures, and while most feature front three-quarters views, side-on can be effective if the light is right. LNER A4 Pacific No. 60007 SirNigelGresley moves off, ready for the day’s duties on March 6, 2009.

Above: We start our journey along the line at Kidderminster, where visiting LMS ‘Black Five’ 4-6-0 No. 44871 awaits departure on May 20 2011. The use of a telephoto lens brings the different perspective and draws the buildings beyond the station to become a feature in the photograph. Left: Maybe a little too abstract for some tastes, but you never know until you try. GWR 2-8-0 No. 2857 is captured and framed by the signal as it departs from Bewdley, having just passed South signalbox on December 29, 2013. FarLeft: Thearea betweenthetunnel andBewdleystationis wellusedby photographersand thereareopportunities totakeinterestingly framedpictures.Seen fromthebridlepath, GWR2-6-2TNo.4566 headsfor Kidderminster. Heritage Railway 41

Above left: Archive railway pictures are at their best when they include some of the infrastructure that is now long gone. Great efforts are made to re-create these lost scenes at preserved lines, but the equipment does not feature in many pictures. The goods yard crane at Highley can be included in late afternoon pictures, as can be seen in this view taken on March 11, 2009 of Ivatt 2MT mogul No. 46443 awaiting departure for Bridgnorth. Left: Visiting GWR small prairie No. 5526 is featured in this picturepostcard view at the north end of Hampton Loade station taken on October 1, 2008. Due to the limited space, the view is best suited to a small engine, and if you would like the sun on your picture, you would need to wait until around 4pm unless taken in high summer when the sun clears the surrounding trees a little earlier.

42 Heritagerailway.co.uk

The woods by Trimpley reservoir offer good photographic opportunities once the leaves have fallen, which allows a nice dappled light into the area. Stanier 2-6-0 No. 42968 heads for Bewdley with a Santa special on December 18, 2011.

Above: Also taken at Little Rock, but from the field, is this ‘going away’ view of No. 5526. Tight framing, such as this, is useful on dull days when the exhaust can get lost in any sky that is in the view. Right: Little Rock, between Hampton Loade and Hay Bridge, is best known for the view to be had from the nearby field. However, this view of a specially turned out WR 4-6-0 No. 7802 BradleyManoris taken from the south end of the cutting from below track level with a telephoto lens on March 7, 2010. Heritage Railway 43

Hay Bridge is possibly the most-used photographic location on the line, but it can still produce ‘different’ results. Taken from a farm track with a telephoto lens, we see No. 4566 heading for Bridgnorth on March 19, 2011. The bridge at the bottom of the field can be seen in the trees to the right of the engine.

Above: Most photographers plan their pictures, but occasionally a totally unexpected scene presents itself. One such occasion was when No. 7812 Erlestoke Manormoved off Bridgnorth shed, filling the yard with steam and producing this image that looks more like a war scene than something one would expect to find at a preserved railway. Left:Unfortunately, one of the most stunning locations can only be used on galas and at other times when early services work northbound, as the light is only on the east side of the line at the top of Eardington bank until around 10am. During the autumn gala of 2009, GNR N2 0-6-2T No. 1744, visiting from the Great Central Railway, heads north under a threatening sky.

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Above: Going to the bottom of the field at Hay Bridge and looking up at the track can produce both strong glints and powerful going away views. LMS ‘Black Five’ 4-6-0 No. 45110 heads for Bridgnorth on March 22, 2008. Below: Finally we have reached Bridgnorth and we find No. 2857 heading the early morning departure for Kidderminster. Taken from the town, this view was impossible for a number of years due to trees that had grown up, but these have been cleared to give a window of opportunity to attempt it again. December 29, 2013.

Heritage Railway 45

46 Heritagerailway.co.uk

Galas and special events guide including Railwayana Auctions

2015

GALAS AND SPECIAL EVENTS GUIDE

LSWR O2 0-4-4T No. 24 Calbourne approaches Deacon’s Lane Bridge on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway on September 3 2014. NICK GILLIAM

2015 Galas and special events guide including Railwayana Auctions

THE complete Heritage Railway guide to special events at preserved lines and museum centres for 2015. Events are listed in chronological order, concentrating on those of interest to the enthusiast. All railways will be holding additional events which are aimed more towards the family market, details of which can be obtained direct from the railway, but Thomas and similar events are included in the listing. JANUARY 10: East Lancashire Railway: Diesel Day ■ 17, 18: East Lancashire Railway: Steam Gala ■ 30 – Feb 1: Great Central Railway: Winter Steam Gala ■ FEBRUARY 13-15: Mid Hants Railway: Steam Gala ■ 14, 15: Locomotion Shildon: Winter Gala 14-22: South Devon Railway: Branch Line Week TBA: Tanfield Railway: Freight in February 21, 22: Churnet Valley Railway: Steam Gala ■ Key: ■ Principal steam galas

21, 22: Llangollen Railway: Days Out with Thomas ■ 21, 22: Nene Valley Railway: 35A New England Steam ■ 27 – Mar 1: Keighley & Worth Valley: Steam Gala ■ 28, Mar 1: Chasewater Light Rly: Steam Gala MARCH 1: Great Central Railway: Quorn Swapmeet 6-8: Llangollen Railway: Steel Steam & Stars IV ■ 6-8: North Norfolk Railway: March Steam Gala ■ 6-8: North Yorkshire Moors Railway: 50th Anniversary of Closure ■

■ Thomas and other children’s events

7, 8: Bure Valley Railway: Volunteers Open Weekend 7, 8: East Lancashire Railway: Spring Diesel Gala ■ 7, 8: Great Central Railway: Peppa & George ■ 7, 8: Ribble Steam Railway: Diesel Gala ■ 13-15: Llangollen Railway: Steel Steam & Stars IV ■ 14: East Lancashire Railway: DMU Day ■ 14: Barrow Hill Roundhouse: Morayshire Day 14, 15: Kirklees Light Railway: Days Out with Thomas ■ 20-22: Severn Valley Railway: Spring Steam Gala ■

■ Diesel events

COVER: SR S15 4-6-0 No. 847 climbs Freshfield bank on the Bluebell Railway on December 6. NICK GILLIAM

21, 22: Bodmin & Wenford Railway: Half Price Weekend 21, 22: Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: Mixed Traffic Weekend 21, 22: Lakeside & Haverthwaite Rly: Days Out with Thomas ■ 21, 22: Ribble Steam Railway: Steam Gala 21, 22: South Devon Railway: Half Price Weekend 21, 22: Swindon & Cricklade Railway: Diesel Gala ■ 26-29: West Somerset Railway: Spring Steam Gala ■ 27-29: Mid-Norfolk Railway: Spring Diesel Gala ■ 28: Statfold Barn Railway: Enthusiasts Day Heritage Railway 49

GALAS AND SPECIAL EVENTS GUIDE 28, 29: East Somerset Railway: Steam Gala 28, 29: Great Central Railway: Diesel Gala ■ 29: Bodmin & Wenford Railway: Beattie & T9 Day 29: Eastleigh Lakeside Railway: Spring Steam Gala APRIL 3-6: Buckinghamshire Railway Ctr: Days Out with Thomas ■ 3-6: East Anglian Railway Museum: Days Out with Thomas ■ 3-6: Isle of Man Steam Railway: Rush Hour on the Railways 3-6: South Devon Railway: Delivering the Goods ■ 3-12: Mid Hants Railway: Days Out with Thomas ■ 4-6: Cholsey & Wallingford Railway: Ivor the Engine ■ 4-6: Lincolnshire Wolds Railway: Easter Steam Gala 5, 6: Chatham Historic Dockyard: Festival of Steam & Transport 5, 6: Crich Tramway Village: WWII Home Front 5, 6: Leighton Buzzard Railway: Steam into Spring 5, 6: Mid-Suffolk Light Railway: Easter Steam Up 11, 12: Dean Forest Railway: Mixed Traction Weekend 11, 12: Nene Valley Railway: Diesel Gala ■

11, 12: Whitwell & Reepham Station: 1940s Weekend 12: West Lancashire Light Railway: Friendly Engines Day ■ 17-19: North Yorkshire Moors Rly: Spring Steam Gala ■ 17-19: Swanage Railway: Spring Steam Gala ■ 18: Ffestiniog Railway: The Snowdonian 18, 19: Barrow Hill Roundhouse: ‘Rarities’ Diesel Gala ■ 18, 19: Didcot Railway Centre: Railcar 22’s Birthday ■ 18, 19: Llangollen Railway: Days Out with Thomas ■ 19: Lincolnshire Wolds Railway: GNR Heritage Day 24-26: Epping Ongar Railway: 150th Anniversary 24-26: North Yorkshire Moors Rly: Spring Steam Gala ■ 25, 26: Gloucestershire Warwickshire: Wartime in the Cotswolds 25, 26: London Underground Acton Depot Open Weekend 26: Amberley Museum: Spring Industrial Trains Day 26: Evesham Vale Railway: Diesel Day ■ MAY 1-4: Ffestiniog Railway: 150 Years of Passenger Trains ■

2-4: Bodmin & Wenford Railway: Spring Steam Gala ■ 2-4: Cholsey & Wallingford Railway: Doubleheaded Steam 2-4: Dean Forest Railway: Days Out with Thomas ■ 2-4: Didcot Railway Centre: 50th Anniversary Steam Gala ■ 2-4: East Lancashire Railway: Days Out with Thomas ■ 2-4: Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: Rocks & Rails 2-4: Keighley & Worth Valley Railway: Railway Children Weekend 2-4: Kent & East Sussex Railway: Steaming Back to the Forties 2-4: Midland Railway - Butterley: Vintage Trains 2-4: North Norfolk Railway: Days Out with Thomas ■ 2-4: Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway: Mixed Traction Weekend 2-4: Ribble Steam Railway: Friendly Engines Weekend ■ 2-4: Steeple Grange Light Railway: Rocks & Rails 2-4: Talyllyn Railway: Quarryman Experience 3, 4: Buckinghamshire Railway Ctr Steam Gala 3, 4: Colne Valley Railway: Peppa Pig ■ 3, 4: Locomotion Shildon: Spring Gala 6-10: Long Marston Military Railway: Military RailFest

8-10: Swanage Railway: Diesel Gala ■ 9, 10: Bluebell Railway: 1940s Weekend 9, 10: Bodmin & Wenford Railway: VE Day 9, 10: Lynton & Barnstaple Railway: Spring Vintage Weekend 9, 10: Romney Hythe & Dymchurch: Steam & Diesel Gala 9, 10: Severn Valley Railway: Peppa Pig ■ 15-17: Keighley & Worth Valley Rly: Haworth 1940s 16, 17: Apedale Valley Railway: Railway Gala 16, 17: Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway: Days Out with Thomas ■ 16, 17: Foxfield Railway: Military Weekend 16, 17: Kirklees Light Railway: Days Out with Thomas ■ 16, 17: Leadhills & Wanlockhead Rly: Steam Weekend 16, 17: Ribble Steam Railway: Anything Goes 22-25: South Devon Railway: Mixed Traction Weekend 23-25: Bure Valley Railway: Everything Goes 23-25: Dean Forest Railway: Steam Gala 23-25: Didcot Railway Centre: Diesel Gala ■

WR 4-6-0 No. 7820 DinmoreManor approaches Toddington on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway.

Heritage Railway 51

GALAS AND SPECIAL EVENTS GUIDE

BR Standard Caprotti 5MT 4-6-0 No. 73129 crosses Butterley reservoir. JOHN TITLOW 23-25: East Lancashire Railway: 1940s Weekend 23-25: Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: Wirksworth Carnival 23-25: Embsay & Bolton Abbey Rly: Branch Line Weekend 23-25: Gloucestershire Warwickshire Cotswold Festival of Steam ■ 23-25: Mid-Norfolk Railway: 1980s Weekend ■ 23-25: Mid-Suffolk Light Railway: Middy in the War Years 23-25: Wensleydale Railway: Wensleydale RA 25th Ann. 24, 25: East Anglian Railway Mus: Transport Day 24, 25: Eastleigh Lakeside Railway: Day Out With Thomas ■ 24, 25: Fairbourne Railway: Little to Large Gala 24, 25: North Norfolk Railway: Dads Army Live 27: Seaton Tramway: 24 Hour Tramathon

52 Heritagerailway.co.uk

30: Dean Forest Railway: Peppa Pig ■ 30, 31: Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway: Mixed Traffic Gala 30, 31: Llangollen Railway: 150th Anniversary Gala JUNE 5-7: Epping Ongar Railway: Steam Gala ■ 5-7: Great Central Railway: 1940s Weekend 6: Statfold Barn Railway: Enthusiasts Day 6, 7: Amberley Museum: Steam Engines Weekend 6, 7: Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: Diesel Locomotive Weekend ■ 6, 7: Kirklees Light Railway: Peppa Pig ■ 6, 7: Moors Valley Railway: Grand Summer Gala 7: Bredgar & Wormshill Railway: 1940s Day Find us on Facebook.com

GALAS AND SPECIAL EVENTS GUIDE

12-14: North Norfolk Railway: Summer Diesel Gala ■ 13, 14: Colne Valley Railway: Days Out With Thomas ■ 13, 14: Crich Tramway Village: Classic London 13, 14: Great Central Railway: Woodford Halse 50th Ann. ■ 13, 14: Stapleford Park Railway: Stapleford Steam 13-15: Epping Ongar Railway: 1940s Weekend 19-21: Mid-Norfolk Railway: Steam Gala ■ 20, 21: Amerton Railway: Steam Gala 20, 21: Colne Valley Railway: Days Out With Thomas ■ 20, 21: Gloucestershire Warwicks: Days Out with Thomas ■ 20, 21: Keith & Dufftown Railway: 1940s Weekend Key: ■ Principal steam galas

20, 21: Llangollen Railway: Heritage Railcar Gala ■ 20, 21: Midland Railway - Butterley: 1940s Weekend 20, 21: Romney Hythe & Dymchurch: Miniature Trains Weekend 21: Bredgar & Wormshill Railway: MOD Day 26-28: Buckinghamshire Rly Centre: Days Out with Thomas ■ 27: Bodmin & Wenford Railway: Branch Line Day 27, 28: Dean Forest Railway: Armed Forces Weekend 27,28: Severn Valley Railway: Step Back Into the 1940s 27,28: Tyseley Locomotive Works: Open Days JULY 3-5: East Lancashire Railway: Summer Diesel Spectacular ■ 2-4: Talyllyn Railway: 150th Party

■ Thomas and other children’s events

■ Diesel events

Heritage Railway 53

GWR 2-6-2T No. 5199 passes Garth-y-dwr on the Llangollen Railway on December 29. PHIL WATERFIELD

GALAS AND SPECIAL EVENTS GUIDE SR Battle of Britain Pacific No. 34053Sir KeithParkapproaches Bewdley on the Severn Valley Railway. MALCOLM RANIERI

4, 5: Eastleigh Lakeside Railway: Days Out With Thomas ■ 4, 5: Evesham Vale Railway: Annual Gala 4, 5: Isle of Wight Steam Railway: 1940s Experience 4, 5: Severn Valley Railway: Step Back to the 1940s 4, 5: South Devon Railway: 1940s Weekend 10: Bure Valley Railway: 25th Birthday Steam Back in Time 11, 12: Nene Valley Railway: Rail Mail Weekend 11, 12: Nottingham Heritage Centre: Summer Diesel Gala ■ 11, 12: Pontypool & Blaenavon Rly: Wartime Weekend 11, 12: Stainmore Railway: Steam Gathering 13-19: Crich Tramway Village: WWII Home Front 17-19: Wensleydale Railway: Diesel Gala ■ 18, 19: Cholsey & Wallingford Rly: Guinness Weekend ■ 18, 19: Foxfield Railway: Summer Steam Gala ■ 18, 19: Kirklees Light Railway: Days Out With Thomas ■ 18, 19: Middleton Railway: Hunslet 150 Gala 19: Eastleigh Lakeside Railway: Summer Steam Gala 24-26: Gloucestershire Warwickshire: Heritage Diesel Weekend ■ 25, 26: Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway: Summer Diesel Gala ■ 25, 26: Ribble Steam Railway: Friendly Engines Weekend ■

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25, 26: Llangollen Railway: 1960s Weekend 25, 26: Wensleydale Railway: Leyburn 1940s Weekend 26: Leighton Buzzard Railway: E Everything Goes 29-Aug 2: Isle of Man Steam Railway: Manx Heritage Transport Festival 31-Aug 2: Spa Valley Railway: Summer Diesel Gala ■ AUGUST 1: Dean Forest Railway: DMU Festival ■ 1, 2: Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway: Days Out with Thomas ■ 1, 2: East Lancashire Railway: Days Out with Thomas ■ 1, 2: Llangollen Railway: Days Out with Thomas ■ 2: East Anglian Railway Museum: Fighting Forties 3-9: Crich Tramway Village: WWII Home Front 6-9: Llangollen Railway: Days Out with Thomas ■ 7-9: Talyllyn Railway: 1865-2015 Gala 8, 9: Aln Valley Railway: Everything Goes Gala 8, 9: Bluebell Railway: Vintage Transport Weekend 8, 9: Devon Railway Centre: Steam Gala 8, 9: Leadhills & Wanlockhead Rly: Diesel Gala ■ 8, 9: Swindon & Cricklade Railway: Steam & Vintage Weekend 8, 9: West Lancashire Light Railway: Gala Weekend Find us on Facebook.com

GALAS AND SPECIAL EVENTS GUIDE

TBA: London Underground Steam on the Underground 21-23: Dean Forest Railway: Days Out with Thomas ■ 21-24: Kirklees Light Railway: Days Out With Thomas ■ 22, 23: Epping Ongar Railway: Mixed Traction Weekend 22, 23: Isle of Man Steam Railway: Island at War 23: Eastleigh Lakeside Railway: Southern Railway Engines Day 28-31: Isle of Wight Steam Railway: Island Steam Show ■ 28-31: Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway: 15in Gauge Centenary 29: Llangollen Railway: Peppa Pig ■ 29-31: East Anglian Railway Museum: Days Out with Thomas ■ 29-31: Midland Railway - Butterley Vintage Trains 29-31: Ribble Steam Railway: Friendly Engines Weekend ■ 29, 31: Stapleford Park Railway: Open Weekend 30: Rhyl Miniature Railway: Doubleheader Day 30, 31: Cholsey & Wallingford Rly: Diesel Weekend ■

5, 6: Eastleigh Lakeside Railway: Days Out With Thomas ■

SEPTEMBER 4-6: Bodmin & Wenford Railway: Autumn Steam Gala ■ 4-6: Dean Forest Railway: Diesel Gala ■ 4-6: North Norfolk Railway: Grand Steam Gala ■ 5, 6: Buckinghamshire Railway Ctr: Days Out with Thomas ■

12, 13: Ribble Steam Railway: Steam Gala

Key: ■ Principal steam galas

5, 6: Lincolnshire Wolds Railway: 1940s Weekend 5, 6: Ribble Steam Railway: 10th Birthday 5, 6: Welshpool & Llanfair Railway: Steam Gala ■ 6: Abbey Pumping Station: Seaside Special 11-13: Pontypool & Blaenavon Rly: South Wales Valleys Steam Gala ■ 11-13: Welsh Highland Railway: Great & Small 12: Statfold Barn Railway: Enthusiasts Day 12, 13: Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway: Days Out with Thomas ■ 12, 13: Didcot Railway Centre: All in a Day’s Work 12, 13: Kirklees Light Railway: Steam & Diesel Gala 12, 13: Leighton Buzzard Railway: Steam Up Weekend 12, 13: Llangollen Railway: Autumn Steam Gala ■ 12, 13: Nene Valley Railway: Steam Gala ■

12, 13: South Devon Railway: Heritage Transport Weekend 12, 13: Swindon & Cricklade Railway: Wartime Weekend 17-20: Severn Valley Railway: Autumn Steam Gala ■

■ Thomas and other children’s events

■ Diesel events

Heritage Railway 57

GALAS AND SPECIAL EVENTS GUIDE

George England 0-4-0STTPrince and Single Fairlie Taliesin cross The Cob as they depart from Porthmadog on the Ffestiniog Railway on December 28. ANDREW BELL TBA: Embsay & Bolton Abbey Rly: 1940s Weekend 19: Evesham Vale Railway: Diesel Day ■ 19, 20: Chatham Historic Dockyard: Salute to the Forties 19, 20: Crich Tramway Village: Tramway Museum Society 60 19, 20: Devon Railway Centre: Everything Goes 19, 20: Gloucestershire Warwicks Days Out with Thomas ■ 19, 20: Locomotion Shildon: Autumn Gala 19, 20: Mid Hants Railway: Open Weekend 19, 20: Moors Valley Railway: Autumn Gala 19, 20: North Norfolk Railway: 1940s Weekend 20: Bredgar & Wormshill Railway: Diesel Day ■ 20: Eastleigh Lakeside Railway: Small Engines Gala 25-27: Barrow Hill Roundhouse: Barrow Hill 50 ■ 25-27: North Yorkshire Moors Rly: Autumn Steam Gala ■ 26, 27: Avon Valley Railway: 1940s Weekend 26, 27: Bure Valley Railway: Steam in Miniature 26, 27: Colne Valley Railway: Days Out with Thomas ■ 26, 27: East Lancashire Railway: September Diesel Gala ■

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26, 27: Eccelesbourne Valley Rly: Multiple Memories ■ 26, 27: Foxfield Railway: Autumn Steam Gala 26, 27: Lynton & Barnstaple Railway: Autumn Gala 26, 27: Middleton Railway: Autumn Gala 26, 27: Romney Hythe & Dymchurch: Birthday Celebration 26, 27: Sittingbourne & Kemsley Rly: End of Season Gala 26, 27: Vale of Rheidol Railway: Enthusiasts Weekend 27: Lincolnshire Wolds Railway: Steam & Diesel Day OCTOBER 1-3: Severn Valley Railway: Diesel Enthusiasts Gala ■ 1-4: Great Central Railway: Autumn Steam Gala ■ 1-4: West Somerset Railway: Autumn Steam Gala ■ 3: Bodmin & Wenford Railway: China Clay Day 3, 4: Cholsey & Wallingford Railway: 1940s Weekend 3, 4: Colne Valley Railway: Days Out wi‰th Thomas ■ 3, 4: East Lancashire Railway: Days Out with Thomas ■ 3, 4: Lavender Line: Gala Weekend 3, 4: Ribble Steam Railway: Diesel Gala ■ Find us on Facebook.com

GALAS AND SPECIAL EVENTS GUIDE

Key: ■ Principal steam galas

■ Thomas and other children’s events

■ Diesel events

Heritage Railway 59

GALAS AND SPECIAL EVENTS GUIDE

2015 Railwayana Auctions

JANUARY 31 GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAYANA, Poynton

20 SOLENT RAILWAYANA, Wickham 29 LT AUCTIONS, Croydon

FEBRUARY 7 GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAYANA, Stoneleigh Park 14 SOLENT RAILWAYANA, Wickham 21 LT AUCTIONS, Croydon

JULY 25 GW RAILWAYANA, Pershore

MARCH 7 TALISMAN RAILWAYANA, Newark Showground

SEPTEMBER 5 GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAYANA, Stoneleigh Park

APRIL 11 GW RAILWAYANA, Pershore 25 DAVID LEWIS, Crewe Heritage Centre

OCTOBER 17 DAVID LEWIS, Crewe Heritage Centre 24 SOLENT RAILWAYANA, Wickham 31 LT AUCTIONS, Croydon

MAY 17-24 RAILWAYANA.NET internet auction 23 TALISMAN RAILWAYANA, Templecombe JUNE 6 GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAYANA, Stoneleigh Park

AUGUST 1 TALISMAN RAILWAYANA, Newark Showground

NOVEMBER 21 GW RAILWAYANA, Pershore 28 TALISMAN RAILWAYANA, Newark Showground DECEMBER 5 GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAYANA, Stoneleigh Park

4: East Anglian Railway Museum: Small Trains Day 4: West Lancashire Light Railway: Autumn Steam Gala 9-11: Ffestiniog Railway: Victorian Weekend 9-11: Keighley & Worth Valley Rly: Autumn Steam Spectacular ■ 10: Gwili Railway: Steam Gala 10, 11: Bodmin & Wenford Railway: Victorian Gala 10, 11: Gloucestershire Warwicks: Autumn Diesel Weekend ■ 11: Colne Valley Railway: Colne Valley at War 16-18: Peak Rail: Railways in Wartime 16-18: Swanage Railway: Autumn Steam Gala ■ 17, 18: Avon Valley Railway: End of Season Gala 18: Tanfield Railway: Coals to Newcastle 23-25: Mid Hants Railway: Steam Gala ■ 24, 25: Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway: Steam Gala 25: Tyseley Locomotive Works: Open Day 30-Nov 1: Dean Forest Railway: Days Out with Thomas ■ 31, Nov 1: Bluebell Railway Giants of Steam ■

31, Nov 1: East Anglian Railway Mus: Spooky Days Out with Thomas ■ 31, Nov 1: Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway: End of Season 31, Nov 1: South Devon Railway: Half Price Weekend NOVEMBER 1: Bredgar & Wormshill Railway: Steam Gala 7, 8: Apedale Valley Railway: Remembrance Day 7, 8: Churnet Valley Railway: Steam Gala ■ 7, 8: Lakeside & Haverthwaite Rly: Days Out with Thomas ■ 8: Moors Valley Railway: Tank Engine Day 14, 15: Kirklees Light Railway: Days Out with Thomas ■ 15: West Lancashire Light Railway: BBC Children in Need 21, 22: Great Central Railway: Last Hurrah Steam Gala 28, 29: Dean Forest Railway: Days Out with Thomas ■ DECEMBER 28: Bodmin & Wenford Railway: Winter Steam Up 28, 29: West Somerset Railway: Winter Steam Festival

Lit by a near full moon, Class 26 D5310 pauses at Berwyn with a parcels train at the Llangollen Winter warmer gala on January 2. DUNCAN LANGTREE

60 Heritagerailway.co.uk

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Heritage Railway 61

62 Heritagerailway.co.uk

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MAIN LINE NEWS

LNER A4 Pacific No. 60009 UnionofSouthAfrica approaches Newark with the Railway Touring Company’s ‘York Yuletide Express’ from Norwich on December 11. KEN WOOLLEY

Seven final trips for 60007

WITHOUT any commitments over the festive season, an early start was made on A4 Pacific No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley’s winter maintenance programme to the point where most of the jobs which needed doing were completed before the holiday period, reported the A4’s long-serving minder Roger Barker. With no need to rush, preparation work on the 4-6-2 will continue in readiness for inspection by Vehicle Acceptance Board and boiler insurance representatives with a view to completing certification by late February or early March . The engine is not booked to appear on the main line until May 21, when it is set to move south, working the return leg of a ‘Cathedrals Express’ excursion from Scarborough to London. This will be a positioning move prior to the A4 being based at Southall to complete its final main line programme before returning to Grosmont and long-term heavy overhaul. The fact that No. 60007 – holder of the postwar 112mph world speed record – will be out and about on the national network for the last time in two or three years should attract more than passing interest both from passengers and camera-carrying steam enthusiasts. Talking of the record, it is timely to recall events which led up to the 4-6-2 becoming the world’s second fastest A4. To celebrate its golden jubilee, the Stephenson Locomotive Society made plans to run a high-speed special between King’s Cross and

Doncaster on May 23, 1959, with an A4, but to succeed had to persuade Eastern Region officials that the locomotive’s performance would not overshadow the introduction of modern diesel traction on the East Coast Main Line. At that time, the speed limit on the LNER’s road to the north was set at 90mph, but unofficially A4s were regularly exceeding this figure, working service trains manned by old-hand footplate crews. As it was, the Jubilee special was not only given the nod, but also, surprisingly, civil engineering permission was given to allow the special to exceed the limit to an unprecedented 110mph down Stoke Bank. Cometh the day and an eight-coach train was provided, 271 tons for a loaded 295 tons gross.

Running Commentary

A public address system was set up in Gresley’s cab from where Cyril Palmer, motive power officer of the Great Northern Line, gave passengers a running commentary throughout the day. The footplate line-up was completed by driver, the redoubtable Bill Hoole, and his equally well-known mate, Alf Hancox, chief inspector Bert Dixon and Alan Pegler, who at the time was an Eastern Region board member. Highlights of the Down journey included 98mph at Stevenage achieved with no more than 15% cut-off. The 27 miles from there to Huntingdon, including slowing for the Offord curves, was covered in 18.75 minutes, an average of 86.4mph.

Engineering work brought speed down to 30mph at Fletton Junction and after the usual crawl over the curves through Peterborough, Bill Hoole, aided and abetted by the hard-working Alf Hancox, treated the Jubilee special’s passengers to a tremendous attack on Stoke Bank. Touching 80mph by Tallington, a further permanent way slack and adverse signals, the regulator was opened to achieve 80mph by Essendene, 83mph by Little Bytham with a minimum of 80mpg for the 4.5 miles of 1-in-200. After Corby Glen, Sir Nigel Gresley was opened up and with a 40% cut-off the final three miles of 1-in-178 up the bank was covered at 82mph. That concluded the fireworks as the train was stopped at Grantham where a pilot took over the remainder of the journey via Lincoln. Of course it was on the return journey that it all happened. Doncaster station was crowded with sightseers for the ‘off’ and late arrival of one member of railway staff resulted in departure two minutes late. Bill Hoole promptly opened up the A4 to regain time. Within four miles the train was being hustled along at 70mph and continued with speeds ranging from a 40mph slack to 80mph through Dukeries Junction and approaching Retford. The 4-6-2 was eased to 68mph for the troughs near Newark, but was slowed to 30mph for a last-minute restriction imposed over newly laid continuously welded track, which had shown signs of buckling in the heat of early summer.

This resulted in a slow start to the 18 miles to Stoke Summit, but speed increased rapidly. By Barkston, the needle was showing 70mph and with a 27% cut-off Grantham was passed at 80mph. After that, speed dropped to 75mph for the final approach to Stoke Tunnel, before No. 60007 was accelerated in earnest. Once over the top, the A4 was up to 99mph by Corby Glen and 109mph though Little Bytham.

Two minutes

By now the run had reached a critical stage. Turning to the officials on the footplate, Bill Hoole is reported to have said “Are we going to do it? You’ve got two minutes to make up your minds”. Bearing in mind that there were 400 passengers on the train and the blaze of publicity surrounding the run, the limits had to be observed. With speed well up to the maximum allowed, Alan Pegler, who had the ultimate responsibility to see that rules were obeyed, nodded to Bert Dixon, who tapped Bill Hoole on the shoulder indicating he should ease off. Visibly annoyed, he turned to Alf Hancox, his fireman, who promptly packed up his non-stop shovelling. Nonetheless, Sir Nigel Gresley had touched 112mph and travelled over the three-quarters of a mile necessary to substantiate a speed with a tenthsecond stopwatch. From Doncaster the train had covered 156 miles to King’s Cross in 137 minutes 38 seconds at an average of 68mph, inclusive of numerous checks, arriving back in London four minutes early. Heritage Railway 63

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Slow start to the year

FOLLOWING on from a busy December when 22 steam-hauled excursion trains ran across the network, 2015 gets away to a slow start with just three trips booked throughout the whole of January. As has become customary, Bulleid 4-6-2 No. 35028 Clan Line opens the new year heading a ‘Belmond British Pullman’ luncheon train from London Victoria around the Surrey Hills route on Friday, January 23. Next day – Saturday, January 24 – the Railway Touring Company starts its ‘Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express’ programme with a one-off departure from Manchester Victoria bound for Carlisle via Shap, returning over the Settle and Carlisle line. Motive power is provided by Ian Riley’s ‘Black Fives’ No. 44871 standing in for another 4-6-0, No. 45690 Leander and No. 45407. On Saturday, January 31, the winter ‘Cumbrian Mountain Express’ reverts to its usual format, the train departing London Euston behind Class 86 No. 86259 Les Ross as far as Carnforth, where Stanier 4-6-2 No. 46233 Duchess of Sutherland takes over for the remainder of the run to Carlisle travelling via Shap. Following a break, the train returns over the Settle and Carlisle line to Preston and a change of motive power. On Saturday, February 7, a second winter ‘CME’, featuring the class 86 electric and the Duchess, follows the same routine as that scheduled for January 31.

B1 4-6-0 No. 61306 Mayflower enters the main line scene on Wednesday, February 11, when the North Norfolk Railway-based engine heads a ‘Cathedrals Express’ from Norwich to Windsor in a positioning move, which will take the 4-6-0 to Southall. The following Saturday (February 14), Mayflower makes a full main line debut when the B1 works two Valentine’s Day ‘Cathedrals Express’ trips; the first a Surrey Hills luncheon train from London Victoria, the second an early evening run down the Brighton Line. That same Saturday, Great Western 4-6-0 No. 4965 Rood Ashton Hall departs Tyseley and Snow Hill with Vintage Trains’ ‘Valentines Express’ to Oxford. On Sunday, February 15, the much- delayed RTC ‘Tin Bath’ trip from Preston to Sheffield departs Manchester Victoria travelling via Penistone and Copy Pit, returning to Manchester – diesel to Preston – behind Ian Riley’s ‘Black Fives’ No. 44871 and No. 45407. Saturday, February 25 sees two departures from London. The first of these is another winter ‘CME’ worked out of Euston by Les Ross; the second, a VSOE Pullman luncheon train, will take to the Surrey hills with Merchant Navy class 4-6-2 Clan Line leading the way. Finally, Sunday, March 1, will be something of a red-letter day for David Buck whose B1 No. 61306 Mayflower makes history working a ‘Cathedrals Express’ out of Paddington to Cardiff via Reading,

Gloucester and Lydney. Winter ‘CMEs’ dated for Saturdays, February 14 and 21, have been cancelled because of engineering work. ➜ Tickets are still available at a special discounted price for Heritage Railway readers for Mayflower’s February 11 trip from Norwich and Ipswich to Windsor. Heritage Railway followers are the first to know about it and could be the first to travel on it! After giving enough time for passengers to enjoy one of Britain’s tourist honeypots the ‘Royal Norfolkman’ takes passengers home with diesel power from London onwards. The basic fare is the same as for a normal ‘Cathedrals Express’ – £99 in Premium Standard with tea and coffee served at your seat; First Class with complimentary champagne, orange juice, pastries, tea and coffee at £149; Premier Dining with full champagne breakfast on the way there and a fourcourse dinner on the return at £199; and Pullman Style at £239 in original and refurbished Metropolitan Cammell Pullmans and refurbished Mk1 FOs with a full English champagne breakfast and five-course dinner with wine on the return. However, Heritage Railway readers can get aboard this special at 10% off. Just telephone Steam Dreams on 01483 209888 and quote OL021. Your booking will be made at the specially discounted price open only to our readers.

Railtour promoter Inside Track enters its 30th season

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE-based Inside Track, the railtour promoter which specialises in touring holidays featuring both rail and road travel in the UK and the Continent, has entered its 30th season of operations. Owner Nigel Taylor said that the choice of holidays which Inside Track offers ranges from upwards of four days based on three- to four-star hotels. “The theme of all our holidays is nostalgic transport and in particular steam trains,” he said. “Each day’s excursions are planned to invigorate and excite and often involve multiple forms of transport;

and, unless specified, all heritage or main line rail travel is in standard class accommodation.” Typically, Inside Track’s ‘Highland Island Fling’, a nine-day trip starting on Monday, June 1, includes a return journey on a ‘Jacobite’ service, departing Fort William to Mallaig, and (separately) a visit to the Keith & Dufftown Railway. A six-day trip to Northern Island beginning on Thursday, April 2, includes first-class travel and evening meal on the Irish express ‘The Enterprise’, which runs between Belfast and Dublin. Next year’s seven-day ‘Hants & Alderney Hop’ is the most

innovative itinerary devised inhouse, claims Inside Track. Beginning from Southampton Parkway station on Friday, May 1, the holiday tour features visits to the Mid Hants Railway, the Hollycombe Collection, Hayling Island, and a flight over the English Channel to Alderney for two days, before returning to Southampton and main line trains. On Thursday, April 6, the five-day ‘Welsh Highlander’ trip takes in the Snowdon Mountain, Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland railways and the Great Orme Tramway. For more details visit www.railwayholidays.com

John Bunch’s ‘Green Five’ moves from MHR to Carnforth BR Standard 5MT 4-6-0 No. 73096, the last of John Bunch’s engines to leave the Mid Hants Railway following the expiry of his leasing agreement with the heritage line, is bound for West Coast Railway’s workshops at Carnforth. As we closed for press, the 4-6-0 was at Southall, to where it was moved by diesel as a dead engine on November 18. It was later booked for a similar move to Carnforth on December 19, but the trip was cancelled, although it is most likely that No. 73096 will have

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been moved north by the time this issue is published. In open store at Ropley for five years, experienced engineering opinion suggests that there is much work to be carried out to return the engine to its original condition and, ultimately, main line traffic. The big question is: Who will pay for the overhaul? Lineside speculation backs a sale to West Coast Railways in the absence of another bidder. John Bunch was unavailable for comment. Nevertheless, when returned to

traffic, the ‘Green Five’ will again prove to be a redoubtable performer on the main line. A Barry survivor, No. 73096 was withdrawn in 1967 and was delivered to Dai Woodham’s yard in 1968. There it remained until 1985 when it was transported to Ropley – without a tender – for long-term overhaul. Repainted in Brunswick green, the engine made its main line debut on February 15, 1998, launching the first of many excursions run by the Mid Hants Railway with its ‘Green Train’.

Bulleid Merchant Navy Pacific No. 35028 ClanLine makes the climb of Gomshall Bank with a Belmond British Pullman on December 13. PETER HOLLANDS

A spring in Lizzie’s return to service THE overhaul of Stanier 4-6-2 No. 4601 Princess Elizabeth is making steady progress inside Birmingham’s Tyseley Locomotive Works. With its cladding being replaced, following successful steam tests, it is possible that the big red engine will be seen out and about by early spring. As previously reported, owning society chairman Clive Mojonnier has said that various discussions had taken place with interested railtour promoters, but that nothing has been settled until a date for the engine’s return has been confirmed. However, the turnaround of the 4-6-2 can be measured in months rather than years because work on the bottom end had been completed before the engine was taken inside a year ago last autumn. Clive said he anticipated a return to traffic this spring, while Tyseley’s chief engineer Bob Meanley said that he is not in the game of projecting a readiness date, but rather leaning on the time-honoured engineering answer, “she will be ready when she’s ready”.

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SEE CLASSIC TRACTION ON THE NATIONAL NETWORK

HERITAGE traction is still providing haulage to a number of operators on a wide range of services, albeit freight and much of which is scheduled at short notice. The cessation of the Rail Head Treatment Trains programme at the beginning of December released a variety of locomotives, including Direct Rail Services’ Classes 20 and 37s and Colas Railfreight’s Class 37 duo, which are now available for other duties. The DRS-released locos have become part of the review which follows the gradual introduction of Class 68s to traffic; so far Class 20 Nos. 20303/305, Class 37/5 No. 37682, Class 47 Nos. 47501/841, and Class 57 No. 57007 have been reported as being stored. Class 37/0 No. 37194 was reported to be under consideration following reliability problems – and the future of other heritage locomotives must now be in doubt.

The Colas Railfreight pair of Class 37s have been identified for use with the Railvac operations starting in 2015; the programme of four trainsets is being shared with GB Railfreight with Colas Railfreight working the northern (Doncasterand York-based) services and GB Railfreight working the southernbased services. Seasonal workings have also seen the return of heritage electric traction to the West Coast Main Line in the guise of Class 86/1 No. 86101 Sir William Stanier FRS and Class 87 No. 87002 Royal Sovereign, which had been prepared for ice-breaking duties on the overhead lines. Despite being prepared, including test runs to Tring, it was only No. 87002 which ran to Mossend on December 18. It will be based there to operate overnight duties between Mossend and Crewe during icy weather. On the same day, Class No. 56312

was used to transfer Class 86/2 No. 86213 Lancashire Witch and Class 86/7 No. 86702 Cassiopeia from Barrow Hill to Willesden for “assessment” on unspecified duties. The Class 56 locomotives are still proving of value, with Devon & Cornwall Railways and Colas Railfreight operating them and Freightliner currently trialling one at Basford Hall with a view to hiring further locomotives if the trial proves successful. Yet other returnees are Class 60 locomotives, with Colas Railfreight now operating four locos (Nos. 60021/76/85/87) of the 10 that it has bought from DB Schenker. In mid-December, Colas Railfreight examples of both Class 47/7 and 60 locomotives ran from Doncaster to Preston as a prelude to the company operating the Lindsey Oil Refinery-Preston Dock traffic, which it recently gained from DB Schenker; there are reports that DB

Schenker lost other oil contracts in the area but that – in the short term – it will be asked to continue operating the services until the new contractor is able to fully resource the contract(s). Finally, the expected sighting of Class 73/9s on the main line has yet to happen, although two examples of the RVEL and one of the Brush examples have been noted on trial. The Brush example – No. 73961 – was trialled on the Great Central Railway, including hauling a scheduled service as part of the trial. The start of 2015 will see members of classes 20, 31, 33, 37, 47, 50, 55, 56, 73, 86 and 87 still at work on the main line network almost 17 years after their successor Class 66 was introduced to replace them. Is it possible that many heritage locomotives will still be working when the Class 66 locomotives are withdrawn at the end of their working life? Heritage Railway 65

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Steam Dreams marks Second World War events STEAM Dreams is to commemorate major events during the Second World War as a central theme in its 2015 tour programme. As highlighted in our News section, January 30 marks the 50th anniversary of the last ever state funeral involving a steam locomotive when Battle of Britain 4-6-2 No. 34051 Winston Churchill hauled a special train carrying the wartime Prime Minister’s body home from Waterloo to Hanborough from where the coffin was taken by road to the village of Bladon, his resting place. On March 12, a ‘Cathedrals Express’ departs King’s Cross for York behind B1 4-6-0 No. 61306 Mayflower to allow passengers to visit the National Railway Museum to see the funeral train exhibition featuring No. 34051, repatriated Pullman car No. 246 Lydia and Southern Railway luggage van S2464S which carried the coffin. May 8 will mark 70 years since Victory in Europe (VE Day) was declared with a public holiday. Two

‘Cathedrals Express’ will run with either BR 7P 4-6-2 No. 70000 Britannia or sister engine No. 70013 Oliver Cromwell. Under the headboard ‘Rule Britannia’, the first train will follow the Surrey Hills route calling at Clapham, Twickenham, Egham, Addlestone, Woking and Shelford but uniquely after Redhill it turns north up the Brighton Line towards London but then travelling via Tulse Hill, Herne Hill and Wandsworth Common, the train turns south to complete the trip in both directions! Later that day ,the second train departs Victoria for a circular run around Kent, the county which was in the front line of war time aerial combat, the trip culminating with a run under the white cliffs of Dover, a welcoming landmark for men in uniform returning to this country by sea or in the air. VE celebrations continue on Sunday, May 10 when it hoped that a Merchant Navy class 4-6-2 – probably No. 35018

British India Line – will run down to Southampton Docks from Waterloo. On arrival, passengers will be ferried across the Solent to Ryde for a day out using the Ryde Pier-Shanklin electrified line to Smallbrook Junction for the Isle of Wight Railway. Alternatively passengers can stay on the train and take trip to Salisbury, Bath or Bristol. Later in the year the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain will be marked by at least two excursions featuring Bulleid 4-6-2 No. 34046 Braunton, running as No. 34052 Lord Dowding. ‘Stuffy’ Dowding was the key figure in the successful outcome of the war in the air when as Air Chief Marshall, he commanded Fighter Command operations both in terms of the coordinated use of radar and fighter squadrons. Steam Dreams’ chairman Marcus Robertson said: Final details are train destinations are still being worked out but what I have in mind promises to be a fitting tribute to the ground crews and the men who flew Hurricanes and

Spitfires defending Britain against the Luftwaffe.” On an entirely different note a ‘Cathedrals Express’ departing from Southend East to Bath and Bristol on March 7 offers passengers from Basildon, Upminster and Barking the chanced to ride behind two different engines. Mayfower will head the train as far as west London where Bulleid 4-6-2 No. 34067 Tangmere will take the train on for the remainder of its journey. Explaining the change, Marcus said “David Buck has been offered the chance to relive some of his childhood memories using the B1 in East Anglia on March 8. “If – as originally planned – Mayflower had worked the train to Bristol and back it probably would not have been feasible. However, Mr Buck wanted to honour his commitment to Southend passengers soothe B1 will be starting the day with us, West Coast helping out by agreeing to provide Tangmere for the trip west of London.”

Bulleid Battle of Britain Pacific No. 34067 Tangmere crosses the River Arun with the Railway Touring Company’s ‘Bath Christmas Market’ from Three Bridges on December 6. NICK GILLIAM

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Bittern heads for home at Ropley WHEN it became rumoured that A4 4-6-2 No. 4464 Bittern was to be moved to a heritage railway when its main line ticket expired, one’s immediate thoughts were that the engine’s likely destination would be to the Mid Hants Railway. When the move was confirmed, second thoughts were it was an obvious choice because the A4 was reborn at Ropley after arriving as a kit of parts bought by Jeremy Hosking from store at Southall. Slowly, the parts took shape until the 4-6-2 was outshopped in BR green numbered 60019. Bittern made its MHR debut in July 2007, and was based at Ropley under a three-year agreement with Jeremy, the A4 was also made available for main line hire, the engine making its first appearance on the national network in December working a Railway Touring Company ‘White Rose’ from King’s Cross to York and return With its main line ticket expiring on January 20, Bittern will be moved on to Mid Hants’ metals by January 19 at the latest. As Locomotive Services spokesman Peter Greenwood explained, the decision to send the A4 to a heritage line was made because of congestion at Crewe, meaning that No. 4464 would be parked outside in all

weathers until LNWR could cope after returning 4-6-0 No. 46100 Royal Scot back into traffic by June and Jeremy’s latest acquisition, A2 4-6-2 No. 60532 Blue Peter given priority (see separate story). The A4 will work limited turns on the Mid Hants for most of 2015 before being moved to Crewe. Locomotive Services’ BR 7P 4-6-2 No. 70000 Britannia’s rewheeled new leading axle has been completed, with delivery to Ropley expected during January. It will be a tight operation to get the ‘Brit’ on its feet in time for the Mid Hants February 13-15 spring gala. Nevertheless, the rewheeled 4-6-2 will spend time on the railway running in before being returned to Southall, for a main line proving run. Meanwhile, GWR 4-6-0 No. 5029 Nunney Castle remains at Bristol Barton Hill. A ‘one run’ firebox repair will carried out to enable the Castle to be returned to Crewe for a full inspection and subsequent repair. No date has been settled for these plans to be activated. With Locomotive Services therefore bereft of engines at present, West Country 4-6-2 No. 34046 Braunton is expected to be the first to return to Southall, possibly by late spring followed by Royal Scot.

A tale of two turntables

AS reported last month, two turntables, one in Scotland, the other in Cornwall, have become the centre of attention for railtour promoters. Of the two, the situation at Ferryhill, Aberdeen, appears to be the more viable in terms of positive action. Ferryhill Heritage Trust secretary David Clucas said that work on the Scottish A grade listed table is likely – weather permitting – to begin in February or March. That is subject to the trust receiving a new 25-year lease agreement with Network Rail which David is expecting to be delivered via the group’s solicitors during January. Formed in 2008, the trust is already based in the former Ferryhill shed (Grade B listed) and it plans to develop the site – including the 70ft turntable – into a heritage visitor centre rather like that established at Yeovil which has been used as an example during various discussions with the Railway Heritage Trust and other potentially helpful organisations. One of the first jobs that trust members have to complete will be the removal of the rails and rotted sleepers from the turntable, which it is believed was assembled and installed on site in 1905 by the Caledonian Railway, and lift the table’s structure out of the circular pit. Three tenders have been put out for the task of shot-blasting and refurbishing the metal work ready for painting. Once the table has been lifted, water which has accumulated in the pit has to be removed and

drains unblocked. Other tasks will include reinstating the site and running lines which are still connected to the main line at Ferryhill Junction, the latter providing access to and from the table. David said that it is planned that the site will be opened for business in 2016. In contrast to the Scottish scene, little progress has been made in Cornwall at the former Great Western shed and yard at St Blazey, where DB Schenker which leases it from Network Rail, is not prepared to spend money on the turntable which it does not use. A DB Schenker external communications spokesman said: “Cost estimates received by DB Schenker Rail UK for the refurbishment of the turntable at St Blazey are significant and amount to a six-figure sum. “The turntable is not used for the company’s operations and although we remain sympathetic to concerns raised by interested parties following the closure of the turntable, it cannot justify the large expenditure associated by carrying out this work. We will comply with the terms of the turntable’s listing, but those do not include keeping it fully operational. “As always, we remain committed to listening to interested parties and their ideas.” It appears that DB Schenker is suggesting that interested parties, such as West Coast Railways, railtour promoters, local councils and enthusiast groups, will be given a hearing if individually or collectively they are prepared to defray the costs involved.

Blue Peter overhaul given priority

THE latest main line engine to be added to Jeremy Hosking’s fleet of express passenger engines, LNER A2 4-6-2 No. 60532 Blue Peter, has been given priority status and will be the next locomotive to enter LNWR Crewe Works for overhaul once 4-6-0 No. 46100 Royal Scot has entered traffic. That is likely to happen around June-July when the A2 will be moved from its present static home, Barrow Hill. Introduced in 1948, 15 A2s entered British Railways service, No. 60532 being allocated to York for express passenger work. Most of its working life though was spent in Scotland, until withdrawal in 1966. Two years later, the A2 was rescued by Geoff Drury and with the involvement of BBC TV’s Blue Peter children’s programme, the 4-6-2 was gradually restored to running order. Around 60,000 visitors were claimed to have witnessed the engine being renamed at Doncaster by Blue Peter presenters. The 4-6-2 was only restored to main line standards though at ICI Wilton after a fundraising campaign by the North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group which had agreed

to ‘mind’ the engine on behalf of the Drury family, with thousands of work hours contributed by members of the group. After a second naming had taken place in December 1991, again with the involvement of BBC’s Blue Peter team, the 4-6-2 gained its main line ticket the following year when the A2 began a series of tours. In October 1994, Blue Peter suffered a major setback when working a tour from Edinburgh to York. Restarting from Durham, the engine went into a mighty uncontrollable and prolonged slip which resulted in serious mechanical damage, with both sets of outside valve gear destroyed. It took 18 months to repair the damage, the engine returning to the main line in November 1996. The A2’s main line career ended in September 2001 when its ticket expired. Now with the promise of a new beginning, the engine will be moved to Crewe midyear for inspection prior to overhaul. There is much work to do and Locomotive Services spokesman Peter Greenwood has said that the overhaul will take a minimum of two years before the A2 is seen again on the national network. Heritage Railway 67

MAIN LINE NEWS

No. 4464 Bittern approaches Colton Junction with the Railway Touring Company’s ‘Christmas White Rose’ from King’s Cross to York on December 13. NIGEL PRIORY

TABLEONENEWCASTLETOYORK Date Train Loco Load Driver Fireman Recorder Weather

Thursday, December 5, 2013 1644 Newcastle to York ‘The Tyne-Tees Streak’ A4 Class 4-6-2 No. 4464 Bittern 10 coaches, 344 tons tare, 370 tons gross Steve Hanczar Keith Murfin Alan Rawlings Cloudy, windy, dark

Newcastle Newcastle West Jct King Edward Bdge S Jct Bensham Low Fell Jct Birtley Jct Chester-Le-Street Plawsworth Durham Relly Mill Jct Croxdale Hett Mill Tursdale Junction Ferryhill Ferryhill South Jct Bradbury Aycliffe Jct Darlington Croft Spa Eryholme Jct Cowton Danby Wiske Northallerton Longlands Jct Otterington Thirsk Sessay Pilmoor Raskelf Alne Tollerton Beningbrough Skelton Bdge Jct Skelton Junction York

miles 0.00 0.16 0.74 1.19 2.72 4.90 8.26 10.13 13.93 15.19 18.20 19.84 21.14 23.23 23.85 25.81 30.74 36.00 38.61 41.15 42.93 46.34 50.13 51.40 53.55 57.91 62.13 64.10 66.73 68.88 70.40 74.60 76.98 78.48 80.18

sched mins secs 0.00 00 00 02 05 2.00 03 34 04 31 3.30 06 15 5.30 08 29 10.00 11 40 13 17 17.00 16 46 17 45 20 32 21 40 23.00 22 52 24 32 26.00 25 00 26 37 29 58 35.00 33 25 35 18 37 09 38 22 40 42 44.00 43 30 44 21 46 09 49.30 48 55 52 00 54.30 53 09 54 54 56 19 59.00 57 15 60 23 62 00 64.00 63 17 67.00 66 18 * speed restriction start to stop average 72.56 mph

68 Heritagerailway.co.uk

speed 14 35 41 57 60 68 65/63/74 70 63 81 75 73/78 77 77 84/86/78 83 94 89 82 86 88 76* 78 86 91 90 91 92 91 90 90 73 65

WITH FULL REGULATOR

LOCOMOTIVE PERFORMANCE THEN AND NOW By Don Benn THIS time I am going to take a look at LNER A4 Pacific No. 4464 Bittern and some of its performances in recent times as well as in Scotland in the 1960s. Bittern was built at Doncaster in 1937, and after a career with the LNER and BR was withdrawn from service after working the ‘Farewell to A4s’ special from Glasgow to Aberdeen and return on September 3, 1966. It was bought for preservation by Geoff Drury and initially worked a number of railtours in the York area, before being taken off the main line with cracked frames. It was not until 2000 that it was overhauled and then restored to main line running in 2007, hauling its first trip from King’s Cross to York on December 1 of that year, almost exactly 70 years since first emerging from Doncaster Works. In 2009 it was renumbered from No. 60019 to No. 4492 Dominion of Canada and worked a number of trips in that guise. Finally Bittern was returned to its original condition with side valances and numbered 4464, then in 2013 had the honour of becoming the first engine in preservation to be allowed officially to run at 90mph. There are well-documented cases of other engines, mainly Bulleid Pacifics, reaching 90-plus mph in preservation, but these are too recent for details to be made public – maybe in 50 years’ time! Anyway, on June 29, 2013, as No. 4464, Bittern

reached 92mph on the first of three planned trips. The other two had to be postponed due to the perceived fire risk in the hot summer conditions, and the trips finally took place on December 5 and 7 that year. So that is where we start – the high-speed run from Newcastle to York on December 5, 2013... and even this nearly didn’t take place. I could not be there so my colleague Alan Rawlings takes up the story of the train running log shown in Table One: “I travelled to York to join the special on a service train from King’s Cross to Edinburgh. After leaving London we were warned that due to the stormy weather in the north the train would terminate at Newcastle and also run at reduced speed after Peterborough. “On arrival at York, the train was in fact terminated due to problems with the overhead wires. The charter train arrived on time, but to a station in shutdown mode. Finally, and nearly an hour late, we were the first train allowed to head northwards, steam hauled, but at a maximum speed of 50mph. This was, of course, a great disappointment as the rain had by now cleared and the wind was less strong than earlier. “But the issues soon became apparent as we tiptoed past Network Rail staff at Danby Wiske who were removing tree debris from the overhead wires. Clearly there was a need to check the line thoroughly Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

before high-speed running of any train could be allowed, never mind ‘The Streak’. “Our journey to Newcastle took two hours instead of the booked 80 minutes, but we were reassured that Bittern would be turned in time for an on-time departure for the return. “Much to everyone’s relief it was also confirmed that we would be able to run as planned. The schedule of 67 minutes for the 80-odd miles was, to put it mildly, rather tight and by far the most challenging of all the high-speed runs associated with the Mallard 75 event. Couple this with the fact that the first 15 miles to Relly Mill are ‘against the collar’ and that makes what transpired one of the best performances of locomotive and crew that I have experienced for quite some time. “The schedule out to Birtley Junction was bizarrely not far short of even time and this section was taken fairly cautiously as the crew got to grips with the damp and gusty conditions. Speed then built up, only dropping from 68 to 63 on the 1-in-150 through Plawsworth, and then peaking at 74 on the easier grades before the final assault through Durham to Relly Mill Junction – this being cleared at a creditable 63mph. “The momentum of the train then increased as we hurried through the dip at Croxdale, before sweeping over the slight rise through Ferryhill and coming to the top of what is effectively a 55-mile descent to our destination. “This was the first section where 90mph running was possible. It was dark. All that could be seen out of the window was the blur of lights from the occasional landmark. Fortunately, the brilliance of modern satellite technology meant that the onwards rush of Bittern could still be captured in detail. Acceleration was swift after Bradbury and we were up into the mid-80s with no apparent effort. After a momentary easing on the level stretch approaching Aycliffe we then plunged towards Darlington, where the maximum of the trip was achieved. Over a three-

quarters-of-a-minute period either side of Darlington we were travelling at 94mph with a momentary maximum of 94.7. But we were still heading downhill with another couple of miles to the Tees Bridge at Croft, so Bittern had to be eased or 100 may well have been reached. “The pace of the train took us over Eryholme at 82 and we got close to 90 again before having to check for the speed restriction imposed by Network Rail across a road underbridge at Northallerton – a mere 75mph that would normally not have affected main line steam, but in this instance was a mere interlude before the final burst. “The speed first hit 90 again just before Thirsk and there it remained for around 15 miles as Bittern flew across the Vale of York. By now it became clear that, amazingly, we were likely to match the schedule we had been given and all that was needed was for York to be ready for us. Indeed it was and full advantage was taken of the clear road as we swept across the track layout to come to a stand over a half a minute inside booked time at an average speed of 72½mph.’’ Anything following that is bound to be a bit of an anticlimax, but in 2008 I timed a fine run with Bittern then running as No. 60019 on a Railway Touring Company charter from King’s Cross to Scarborough and back, which was steam hauled between King’s Cross and Doncaster RMT in both directions. The load was 12 for 440 tons and Ron Smith handled Bittern well going north, running the 41.79 miles from Stevenage, where we departed 19 minutes late on the slow line to a water stop at Holme just outside even time in 42 minutes 29 seconds with a maximum of 78½mph after St Neots. This was despite slow running from Offord to the stop, and an average of 74.1mph for the 20 miles between mileposts 33 and 53. Even better was to come. After a signal stop just short of Stoke summit, to allow a GN main line fast train past, we ran the 54.47 miles to the stop at Doncaster RMT in 53 minutes 10 seconds, 61.48mph

TABLETWONEWARKTOPETERBOROUGH Date Train Loco Load Driver Fireman Timed by Position Weather

September 27, 2008 15.15 Scarborough to King’s Cross A4 Class 4-6-2 No. 60019 Bittern 12 coaches 412 tons tare, 440 tons gross David Blair Perry Don Benn gps 11 of 12 warm and sunny

Newark

miles sched mins secs 0.00 0.00 00 00

Barnby Xing Claypole MP 112 Barkston Peascliffe Tunnel South Grantham MP 104 MP 103 Great Ponton Stoke Tunnel North Stoke Tunnel South Stoke Summit Corby Glen MP 94 Little Bytham Essendine Greatford Xing Tallington Helpston Werrington Jct Peterborough

1.08 4.78 8.03 10.44 12.30 14.68 16.03 17.03 17.95 19.13 19.63 20.12 22.97 26.03 27.90 31.33 33.03 35.32 38.23 40.50 43.74

*brakes or speed restriction

03 7.00 07 10 12 13 18.00 16 17 18 19 20 20 24.00 21 23 25 27 30 31 39.00 33 35 39 51.00 46

22 17 17 24 57 02 22 16 12 06 34 02 30 57 21 06 25 02 20 52 55

speed 1 min early 40 64½ 71½ 68½ sigs 61* 70½ 67 65½ 65 64½ 64 62 76 78½ 77 74 79 76 73 sigs 18*

net time 41 mins

Heritage Railway 69

MAIN LINE NEWS TABLETHREEEASTLEIGHTOBASINGSTOKE Date Train Loco Load Driver Timed by Position Weather

September 8, 2010 1635 Weymouth to Victoria A4 Class 4-6-2 No. 60019 Bittern 10 coaches 346½ tons tare, 375 tons gross Dave Hewson Don Benn gps 3 of 10 cloudy

Eastleigh Allbrook Box

miles sched mins secs 0.00 0.00 00 00 0.86 3.00 02 24

Shawford Shawford Jct St Cross Winchester City MP 65 Winchester Jct MP 63 Wallers Ash Box+ MP 61 Weston Box+ MP 59 Micheldever MP 57 Roundwood Box+ Steventon Box+ Wootton Box+ MP 51 Worting Jct

3.81 11.00 10 4.66 12 5.70 14 6.95 16.00 16 7.45 19 9.05 20 9.45 22 11.75 23 12.45 24 13.25 25 14.45 26 15.38 27 16.45 29 17.25 29 19.50 32 20.95 33 22.45 34 23.18 33.00 35

58 16 11 57 50 42 24 48 44 36 53 51 00 47 00 34 43 24

Basingstoke

25.70 41.00 41

11

+ site of box

speed right time 37½/ sigs 7* 28 34½ 40/42 sigs 19* 43 46 50 53 54 55½ 56½ 57½ 57 57 67½ 67 62½ 65½/ sigs 2*

*brakes or speed restriction

net time 30 mins

start to stop. The maximum speed was 78mph at Claypole and the time included two speed reductions for track work and a very slow approach to the final stop: a good competent A4 performance. For the return run David Blair was in charge and again the running was sound throughout to King’s Cross, where arrival was nine minutes early. We covered the 32.29 miles from a signal stop at Loversall Carr Junction to Newark in just 34 minutes 9 seconds, again with a maximum speed of 78, this time at Dukeries and a very slow run up to the stop. Retford had been passed at 76mph and speed only fell to 65½ at the top of the 1-in-178/200 climb to Askham Tunnel. David was assisted by fireman Perry and he had to be at his best to supply the steam needed for the fine running over the section from Newark to Peterborough, which is shown in Table Two. Basically, the line climbs all the way from Newark to Stoke, with just a few short sections of level or downhill. David got Bittern away well up the 1-in-300 to Barnby and then even from 11 coaches back we could hear the engine being worked up to 71½ in the

short dip after Claypole. We were still doing 68 on the 1-in-200 to Peascliffe tunnel when adverse signals were sighted briefly, bringing speed down to 61mph. Recovery to Grantham, passed two minutes inside schedule at just over 70mph, was robust, but it was after we got onto the solid 1-in-200 climb to Stoke that Bittern really increased its effort, and with a lovely roar from up front and lots of cinders raining down on the roof and coming in through our open window, speed only fell from 65½ at Milepost 104 to 64 at Stoke Tunnel South. This required around 1825 Equivalent Drawbar Horsepower (EDBH); great stuff, but well within the capabilities of this fine engine. Indicated horse power (IHP) is less easy to calculate. I have constructed a graph which shows the additional amounts for Bulleid Pacifics at various speeds and using the figure for a Merchant Navy at 64mph adds about 600hp so the IHP was probably around 2,400, a very high figure. I think David Blair must have eased No. 60019 right at the top of the climb as the noise ceased and speed fell to 62mph at the summit. The whole climb from Claypole to Stoke summit had been covered at an average speed of 67mph. We then ran fast down to the inevitable signal check outside Peterborough, averaging 76.14 mph over the 14 miles from mileposts 98 to 84. Even time was reached by milepost 94 and the 38.23 miles to Helpston box was run in 35 minutes 20 seconds. Arrival at Peterborough was more than five minutes early in a net time of 41 minutes for the 43.74 miles from Newark; a very fine effort. Needless to say more good running followed and the 38.14 miles from Conington Loop to Stevenage on the slow line was run in 39 minutes 55 seconds with nothing higher than 73½mph. In the period 2010 to 2012, Bittern was one of the main engines used on the Railway Touring Company’s ‘Dorset Coast Express’, which on most days ran with one engine down to Weymouth and another back. It is a pity that this arrangement has not been continued in recent years, but the logistics and cost involved have dictated otherwise. Let’s hope that the rumoured turntable for Weymouth does in fact materialise before too long. This train was a good day out for us residents of Hampshire as we could join at Woking and enjoy two steam runs as well as the delights of a traditional English seaside town without having to get up at the crack of dawn or get home at a very late hour. I had many trips and most went well, though it had to be accepted that the train was fitted into the busy normal service timetable and so was timed accordingly. I joined the ‘Dorset Coast Express’ on the last day that it ran in 2010 – September 8 – and enjoyed a rousing run down with LMS ‘Black Five’ 4-6-0 No. 44932, and the usual excellent fish and chip lunch, before catching the return 4.35pm from Weymouth with driver Dave Hewson in charge of Bittern on the usual load of 10 coaches for 375 tons gross. I have shown in Table Three the most interesting part of the run; the climb of the 1-in-252 Roundwood No. 60019 Bittern at Glasgow Buchanan Street with the ‘Farewell to the A4s’ special to Aberdeen on September 3, 1966. JOHN TILEY

bank. As you would expect, Bittern dismissed this with ease and the sustained 55-57mph is about what would be expected on an average run with a Bulleid Pacific of either the large or small variety. I hope to return to this train in a future article. In 1961-1963 I concentrated more on lineside photography than train timing, apart from a few – mainly on the South Western lines. This was partly dictated by the lack of finances and partly by my quest to try to photograph as much steam as possible within cycling distance of my then home at Shirley, near Croydon. The result was that I have very few steam running

TABLEFOURABERDEENTOPERTH Date Train Loco Load Timed by Position Weather

Aberdeen Ferryhill Junction Craiginches South Cove Bay MP 234 Portlethen Newtonhiill Muchalls MP 227½ Stonehaven Dunottar Box MP 221¼ MP 220¼ Carmont Drumlithie Fordoun Laurencekirk Marykirk Craigo Kinnaber Jct Dubton Bridge of Dun MP 197 Farnell Road MP 194 MP 193¼ Glasterlaw Guthrie Auldbar Road Clocksbriggs Forfar Forfar South Jct Kirriemuir Glamis Eassie Alyth Jct Ardler Coupar Angus Burrelton Cargill Ballathie Box Stanley Jct Strathord Luncarty Almond Valley Jct Perth

February 12, 1966 1.30 pm Aberdeen to Glasgow A4 Class 4-6-2 No. 60019 Bittern 6 coaches and 2 vans, 273 tons tare, 295 tons Don Benn back falling snow

miles sched mins secs speed 0.00 0.00 00 00 1 min late 0.65 03 33 19 1.65 05 58 37 4.80 10 43 41/38 7.10 14 03 44 8.15 15 15 59 10.40 18 21 69/67½ 11.55 18 21 73 13.60 20 19 56/64 16.15 25.00 23 23 0.00 0.00 00 00 right time 2.55 06 20 34½ 3.60 07 49 46 4.60 09 19 43 5.50 10 28 52½ 7.10 12 04 63 11.10 15 23 76 14.40 20.00 18 32 0.00 0.00 00 00 1 min early. Heavy falling snow 3.20 05 07 64 5.35 07 00 71½ 7.45 09 04 58* 8.65 10 12 63 11.30 16.00 13 22 0.00 0.00 00 00 blizzard 2.35 04 23 47½ 3.15 05 35 46 5.25 08 25 42½ 6.00 09 28 44½ 6.45 10 00 53½ 8.25 11 51 63/59 10.45 14 05 61½ 13.10 16 38 64 15.45 22.00 19 34 4 mins early 0.00 0.00 00 00 right time 0.70 02 08 37 2.85 04 47 61 5.65 07 25 68/70 7.85 09 19 67 11.90 13 02 65 14.20 15 06 66½ 16.65 20.00 18 04 0.00 0.00 00 00 2.20 04 09 50 4.55 06 42 64/70 6.40 08 20 64 8.65 10 21 67 10.70 12 08 78 11.65 12 52 80 14.20 14 56 70* 15.85 20.00 17 55 2½ mins early *brakes or speed restriction

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No. 60019 Bittern passes Eastleigh with the ‘Dorset Coast Express’ on August 25, 2010 . DON BENN

TABLEFIVEPERTHTOABERDEEN

logs away from the Southern until 1964 when I decided that with steam getting scarce I had better do something about it. Therefore I had to go to Scotland to record the last years of the A4 Pacifics as they worked the tightly timed Glasgow to Aberdeen three-hour trains and others on that fine route. There were many trips, mainly starting on the 7.30pm ‘Aberdonian’, Deltic hauled from King’s Cross to Aberdeen which, with an arrival at 6.34am, gave a convenient connection into the 7.10am three-hour train to Glasgow. As a change from this, on a very cold February 11, 1966, I went north on the 7.30pm from Euston to Perth, which was hauled by E3079 to Crewe and D269 on to Perth and connected into the 6.35am to Aberdeen, hauled by No. 60034 Lord Faringdon, arriving in the Granite City 12 minutes late at 8.25am. The 10.10am to London Euston was a summer-only train and I had time to kill before the A4-hauled 1.30pm to Glasgow, so I did a filling-in turn to Bridge of Dun and back, out with D365 and back with D5114. The 1.30pm was headed by No. 60019 Bittern and I decided to take this through to Glasgow. The load was the normal one of six coaches and two vans for just under 300 tons and we ran well everywhere in conditions which at times bordered on atrocious. Table Four shows details of this run as far as Perth. It was snowing on and off the whole way, but that didn’t hinder No. 60019. This train was fairly easily timed and so despite a slow start we kept time to the first stop at Stonehaven, speed falling from 41 to 38 on the 1-in-116/102 past Cove Bay, before recovering to 44 at the top of the climb on slightly easier gradients. Then followed my favourite stretch of line on this route with its sawtooth gradient profile until the racing stretch from Forfar is reached. The scenery is quite superb and the sharp climbs a test for any engine. We left Stonehaven on time and Bittern set about the five-mile climb at 1-in-92/102 through the bracken to Carmont, topping the summit at 43mph after reaching 46 on the short stretch of level track after Dunottar ‘box. By now it was snowing hard, but we still gained more than a minute on schedule to Laurencekirk, helped by 76mph down the hill past Fordoun. More time was gained to Bridge of Dun and we sat there for nearly five minutes waiting time as the conditions worsened to a full blizzard. Up the 1-in-96/107/120 gradients of Farnell Road bank we forged at a steady 42-44mph, with mileposts now difficult to see, and then ran steadily to Forfar where the snow eased somewhat. Onwards to Perth you could always expect some fast running, though No. 60019 was quite subdued as far as the

stop at Coupar Angus. From there it was as if the Ferryhill crew wanted their break; the running was very good, Bittern storming away to a lovely 80mph down the hill past Luncarty and giving me a lively ride at the back of the train, before braking intervened for the usual crawl into Perth, where we arrived more than two minutes early after a fascinating and very enjoyable run. My final run in this article with Bittern, shown in Table Five, was in very different conditions at the end of October 1965. The St Rollox crew had given me my fastest time between Stirling and Perth on the 5.30pm from Glasgow, including my highest speed on this stretch of 86½ down past Dunning to bring the train into Perth on time for the Ferryhill crew to take over. We had eight coaches for 315 tons, the heaviest train I had on one of the three-hour trains, but kept time with ease; No. 60019 showing complete mastery of the task without exceeding the overall 75mph Scottish Region speed limit. It was quite rare to get two consecutive mile-a-minute sections, and in fact we almost got three as the stretch from Stirling had been just a few seconds outside even time. Going east the section to Forfar was harder than in the reverse direction due to the 1-in-125 climb to Stanley Junction, which we topped at a good 56mph and then touched 75mph over the River Tay before Cargill, and running nicely in the 70s to reach the Forfar stop just inside the tight 32-minute booking for the 32.50 miles at a start to stop average of 61.3 mph. To achieve even time on the next section in either direction required enginemanship of the highest order, but we just did it with nothing higher than 74mph down Farnell Road bank, followed by good running over the following mainly uphill 21 miles. The minimum speeds were 52½ on the 1-in-104/106 past Marykirk and 53½ on the long 1-in170/141 to the summit after Drumlithie, separated by 74½mph on the level at Fordoun. From Stonehaven our minimum on the sharp climb to milepost 227½ was just over 41mph, after which we ran easily down to Aberdeen, arriving more than three minutes early. I walked into the town to find my usual bed and breakfast lodgings, where the landlady always looked after her ‘lads’, even if no questions were asked about what we got up to! After enjoying a full Scottish breakfast the next day, I returned to the station to find Bittern at the head of the 7.10am to Glasgow. After the UK Railtours trip from King’s Cross to Lincoln on December 30, Bittern was withdrawn from the main line. May this fine engine quickly return. More of Scotland in a future article.

Date Train Loco Load Timed by Weather Perth Almond Valley Jct Luncarty Strathord Stanley Jct Ballathie Box Cargill Burrelton Coupar Angus Ardler Alyth Jct Eassie Glamis Kirriemuir Forfar South Jct Forfar Clocksbriggs Auldbar Road Guthrie Glasterlaw MP 194 Farnell Road Bridge of Dun Dubton Kinnaber Jct Craigo Marykirk MP 209 Laurencekirk Fordoun Drumlithie Carmont Dunottar Box Stonehaven MP 227½ Muchalls Newtonhiill Portlethen MP 234 Cove Bay Craiginches South Ferryhill Junction Aberdeen

Ocober 29, 1965 5.30 pm Glasgow to Aberdeen A4 Class 4-6-2 No. 60019 Bittern 8 coaches, 289 tons tare, 315 tons gross Don Benn fair miles 0.00 1.65 4.20 5.15 7.20 9.45 11.30 13.65 15.85 18.30 20.60 24.65 26.85 29.65 31.80 32.50 0.00 2.35 5.00 7.20 9.00 10.20 12.30 15.45 18.10 19.30 21.40 23.55 25.20 26.75 30.05 34.05 35.65 38.60 41.15 0.00 2.55 4.60 5.75 8.00 9.05 11.35 14.50 15.50 16.15

sched mins secs 0.00 00 00 03 18 05 50 06 53 09 06 11 18 12 45 14 44 16 36 18 35 20 27 23 57 25 51 28 18 30 16 32.00 31 48 0.00 00 00 04 02 06 26 08 16 10 04 11 02 12 39 15 24 17 48 18 59 21 06 23 00 25 08 26 29 29 23 33 11 35 01 37 41 43.00 40 54 0.00 00 00 04 22 06 27 07 33 09 36 10 30 12 46 15 44 17 48 23.00 19 57

speed right time 51 58½ 60 56 67/75 73 68 74½ 72 73 70 71½ 68 53 61 70 68 72½ 69 72/74 62* 65½ 58 67½/70½ 61 52½ 63 74½ 56/53½ 61 66 41½ 69/63 68½ 61½/68 62/60* 74 57 27* 3¼ mins early

*brakes or speed restriction

Heritage Railway 71

TOURS

SRBattleofBritainPacificNo.34067TangmereapproachesClaphamJunction withtheRailwayTouringCompany’s‘ChristmasSussexBelle’toEastbourneon December10. DON BENN

January FRI 23: ‘Surrey Hills Luncheon’

Victoria, Guildford, Redhill, Victoria. Steam hauled throughout. Loco: No. 35028 Clan Line. BEL

SAT 24: ‘Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express’

Manchester Victoria, Shap, Carlisle and return via Settle. Steam hauled throughout.

Locos: No. 45407 and No. 45690 Leander. RTC

SAT 31: ‘Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express’

Euston, Shap, Carlisle and return via Settle. Steam hauled: Carnforth, Carlisle, Farington Junction. Loco: No. 46233 Duchess of Sutherland. RTC

February SAT 7: ‘Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express’

Euston, Shap, Carlisle and return via Settle. Steam hauled: Carnforth, Carlisle, Farington Junction. Loco: No. 46233 Duchess of Sutherland. RTC

Belmond British Pullman 0845 077 2222

PMRT

Princess Margaret Rose Tours 01773 743986

RTC

Railway Touring Company 01553 661500

SD

Steam Dreams 01483 209888, 0845 310458

VT

Vintage Trains 0121 708 4960

WED 11: ‘Cathedrals Express’

Norwich, Ipswich, Willesden, Windsor and return Steam hauled: Norwich, Windsor, Willesden. Loco: No. 61306 Mayflower. SD

The information in this list was correct at the time of going to press. We strongly advise that you confirm details of a particular trip with the promoter concerned.

72 www.heritagerailway.co.uk

BEL

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RAILWAYANA

BY GEOFF COURTNEY

Jubilees continue their march Jubilee nameplates continue their inexorable march at Great Northern’s January 31 auction, when Howe from No. 45644 and Anson from No. 45672 go under ian Wright’s hammer, just seven days before another member of the class comes up for sale at Stoneleigh (see separate story on the right). All three have a maritime appeal – as have so many of the class – so it’s a good time to be a railwayana collector, who is also interested in ships and naval history. Howe and Anson are joined by three other mainline steam nameplates, including Sunstar from lNeR A3 No. 60072 and Redgauntlet from lNeR-designed/bR-built A1 No. 60137. The former was named after the winner of the 2000 Guineas and Derby classics in 1911, and the latter after a novel by Sir Walter Scott that is considered to be the most autobiographical of the author’s works. The third is Alfred Fletcher, carried by lNWR Claughton 4-6-0 No. 1327, built in 1913, withdrawn by the lMS as No. 5908 in September 1936, and named after a director of the lNWR, who was appointed in 1875 and died in 1919. Crewe built the 130 members of the class between 191321, with the last survivor – No. 42/lMS No. 6004 – being withdrawn by bR in April 1949, without carrying its allocated 46004 number. A 1948 Darlington worksplate (works No. 2056) from No. 60137 will also be in the sale, accompanied in the category by a 1948 Doncaster example (works No. 2052) from fellow class member No. 60158 Aberdonian and lMS 1935 from another Jubilee, No. 45664 Nelson. Two smokebox numberplates from locomotives at opposite ends of the chronological and service life scale are 52098 (from an 1890 lancashire & Yorkshire Railway 0-6-0 withdrawn in 1953 after a career of 63 years) and 80097 from a Standard 4MT 2-6-4T built at brighton in December 1954 and withdrawn in July 1965 after being in bR operation for not much more than 10 years. eCMl trainspotters will eye a Hitchin station seatback, and loco items include the chimney from yet another Jubilee – No. 45592 Indore – and two water-gauge protectors from Royal Scot No. 46153 The Royal Dragoon. A ‘Master Cutler’ headboard will bring back memories of a london to Sheffield Victoria express that led a peripatetic life after being introduced by the lNeR in 1947. it originally started from the capital’s Marylebone station, usually with a Gresley A3 at its head, before being switched to King’s Cross in September 1958, when it became all-Pullman and diesel-hauled. in April 1966, it became a non-Pullman express from St Pancras. The auction, at Poynton leisure Centre, starts at 11am.

74 Heritagerailway.co.uk

Royalty faces competition at Stoneleigh tWelVe steam locomotive names from the Big Four, supplemented by single representatives of the lnWR and BR Standards, will provide a wide-ranging selection to collectors at Great Central’s sale at Stoneleigh on February 7. Although it will face stiff competition, Queen Maud from lMS Princess Royal no. 46211 is expected to be the star of the show. one of 13 in the class, the Stanier-designed Pacific was named after a daughter of edward VII, who became Queen of norway due to her marriage to Prince Carl of Denmark. She died aged 68, in november 1938, three years after the locomotive named after her entered service. Another lMS name coming under Mike Soden’s hammer is the inevitable Jubilee – Cyclops from no. 45692 – and from the GWR come Donnington Hall (no. 4919), Doldowlod Hall, which is being sold with its 5942 cabside numberplate, Oakley Grange (no. 6823), and Cranbrook Castle, also being sold with its 7030 cabside numberplate. the Southern Railway contributes Sir John Hawkins (lord nelson no. 30865) and Shrewsbury (Schools no. 30921), and the lneR Neil Gow (A3 no. 60082), H.A.Ivatt (A1 no. 60123, built by BR in 1949), Gemsbok (B1 no. 61020), and Loch Treig (K2 no. 61775). the smokebox numberplates from nos. 30865 and 30921, and the worksplate from no. 60123, will also be in the auction, but are being sold separately from their nameplates.

Completing the steam line-up are Excalibur (BR Standard 5Mt no. 73081, a name originally carried by no. 30736, the 1918-built pioneer of the 74-strong King Arthur class), and Henry Pease (lnWR Precedent no. 364, withdrawn by the lMS as no. 5048 in 1930), named after an MP, peace campaigner and director of the Stockton & Darlington Railway. For diesel enthusiasts, Gordon Highlander from Deltic D9016/55016 will add spice to the proceedings. the 7030 cabside being sold with its matching nameplate will be joined in the category by 1005 from Hawksworth 4-6-0 County of Devon, and the 30865 and 30921 smokebox numberplates by examples from 4079 Pendennis Castle, 5070 Sir Daniel Gooch, 6800 Arlington Grange and 6808 Beenham Grange. the large contingent of Bulleid enthusiasts will eye 33028 from a Q1 class 0-6-0, and there’s also 32636 from an A1X ‘terrier’, built in 1872 and, like no. 4079, now preserved. A worksplate from lneR A2 class no. 60504 Mons Meg will supplement

that from no. 60123. the A2 was built as a P2 class 2-8-2 at Doncaster (works number 1839) in 1936 and rebuilt as a Pacific in 1944, and the plate includes reference to this rebuild. A combined lneR Darlington works and numberplate from 1939built V2 no. 60861 will also feature, as will headboards from ‘the Caledonian’ euston-Glasgow and ‘the Welshman’ euston-Holyhead expresses. I logged the former at oxenholme in the lake District at 12.05pm on Monday, July 28, 1958, with Princess Coronation no. 46232 Duchess of Montrose at its head. At that time of day it would have been the Up train, but I noted it as Down, an error perhaps caused by my excitement at having copped a Polmadie (66A) Pacific. As for ‘the Welshman’, I logged that no fewer than five times in 1959/60 at Rhyl and lichfield trent Valley, usually pulled by a Royal Scot – including no. 46100 itself – but once by Patriot no. 45532 Illustrious. the auction starts at 10am.

Solent completes A3 treble with Manna Solent Railwayana will complete a trio of lneR A3 class nameplates going under the hammer on successive Saturdays when Manna from no. 60085 will be the star at Wickham on February 14, following Sunstar from no. 60072 at Poynton on January 31 and

Neil Gow (no. 60082) at Stoneleigh on February 7. Manna was built at Doncaster in February 1930 and withdrawn from Gateshead (52A) in october 1964. It was named after the winner of the 1925 Derby and 2000 Guineas. It will be accompanied at Solent by Mount Meru, from east African Railways Class 59 Beyer-Garratt 4-8-2+2-8-4 no. 5903, which is being sold with its matching cabside numberplate, front and rear bunkerplates, and worksplate, as one set. the majestic Class 59s emerged from Beyer Peacock’s Manchester works in 1955 for pulling 1200-ton freight trains on the 330-mile nairobi-Mombasa line, and were the largest (103ft long), heaviest (252 tons) and most powerful (83,350lb ft tractive effort, more than double that of an lMS Princess Coronation) metre-gauge steam locomotives

in the world. Withdrawals started in 1973, and by 1980 all 34 members of the class were gone. the record and repair cards from Princess Coronation no. 46244 King George VI will be on offer, following similar items from no. 46236 City of Bradford at Solent’s previous auction on october 25. two venerable, offbeat eye-catchers are a dome cover from an lnWR G2 class 0-8-0 ‘Super D’ and a preGrouping GWR royal train locomotive headlamp topped by a decorative ‘cushioned’ crown. the auction starts at 10am.

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BY GEOFF COURTNEY

RAILWAYANA

Model of perfection as L&B layout comes to market A multi-AwArd winning model railway based on a surveyed, but never built, extension of the lynton & Barnstaple railway is being sold by dorset auctioneer Cottees in an online auction on January 22. the unique layout, featuring OOgauge stock running on N-gauge track (009), was built by a retired airline pilot and took 15,000 hours over a 10-year period. it was completed about seven years ago and was conceived from the start to be portable – it even has its own custom-built trailer – and has been shown throughout the uK and in Europe, winning numerous awards. it represents a planned, but never built, extension of the 1ft 11½in gauge lynton & Barnstaple railway, which would have run from lynton to minehead through the East lyn valley. the layout is named County Gate, after an intermediate station that would have been built had the project ever come to fruition. John Burch, who runs Cottees’ collectable toy and model railway sales, said: “it is a completely unique layout of the highest quality, as borne out by the awards it has won. we are really looking forward to offering it for auction.” the layout, which is fully computerised, is 35ft long, includes 11 locomotives, two rail motor units, more than 40 coaches and wagons,

and breaks down into four sections for easy transportation. it represents the extension as it would have been in June 1935, and is estimated at up to £20,000. the l&B was opened in may 1898 and ran for just over 19 miles, bordering Exmoor in north devon. it was absorbed by the Southern railway in 1923 and closed on September 29, 1935, but preservationists have reopened a mile of the original route, centred on woody Bay station. ➜ lNEr P2 2-8-2 No. 2004 Mons Meg, later rebuilt as A2/2 No. 60504, whose worksplate will be going under the hammer at the Great Central railwayana sale at Stoneleigh on February 7, also made its mark in miniature at the Vectis railway books and model trains sale at thornaby on december 5, when an 00-gauge example sold for £260. the model, carrying its lNEr identity No. 2004, was accompanied by a collection of coaches. top realisation was £300 for a selection of Bachmann OO-gauge wagons. the prices excludes buyer’s premium of 20% (+ VAt). ➜ An early Harry Beck london transport underground map sold for £720 at a duke’s collectables sale in dorchester on december 9. the price, which was far in excess of its £100£200 estimate, excludes buyer’s premium of 22% (+ VAt).

Life in miniature: Looking splendid in Southern Railway livery, 2-6-2T No. E188 Lew crosses the East Lyn viaduct on the award-winning Lynton & Barnstaple model layout that comes up for auction on January 22. CHRIS NERVARD

Write to us: Heritage Railway, Mortons Media Ltd, PO Box 43, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6LZ.

Heritage Railway 75

RAILWAY ADVENTURE 2015

THE REINVENTION OF S

BALA

A £3 million scheme to bring the Bala Lake Railway into the heart of the town that bears its name has been launched this month, by none other than North Norfolk Railway’s preservation powerhouse, deputy chairman Julian Birley. It would come as no surprise to learn that Birley is also the chairman and founder of the Bala Lake Railway Trust, and a director of The Bala Lake Railway. Robin Jones visited central Wales to find out how 19th century steam heritage can bring an entire market town into the 21st century and reinvigorate it into a major tourist destination. 76 Heritagerailway.co.uk

ixty five years ago, acclaimed transport historian Tom Rolt led the volunteer takeover of the moribund Talyllyn Railway, planting the seed which grew into today’s portfolio of heritage lines, and wrote about it in a landmark book entitled simply Railway Adventure. Since then, the benefits that heritage railways have brought to our nation’s tourist economy are manifold. Yes, in some cases it has taken decades to convince the NIMBYs and doubting Thomases, but steam railways have worked wonders for local people, even if they do not care one bit about trains. The stories of how steam has regenerated run-down towns and made them fashionable are many. A classic example is Ramsbottom since the East Lancashire Railway opened its station there. In these days when the mass market looks to the Mediterranean and beyond, where would West Somerset be without Britain’s longest standard gauge heritage line? The opening and development of the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway has transformed the ailing town in its title. Look at the upsurge in visitors to East Grinstead since the Bluebell Railway reconnected to the national network two years ago. A similar effect is also being felt in Whitby where the extra North Yorkshire

Quarry Hunslet Alice with a rake of heritage wagons from the Dinorwic slate quarry. JULIAN BIRLEY

The plan of the proposed new town centre terminus.

Moors Railway steam trains made possible by the opening of a second dedicated platform for them at the town’s station are funnelling more national park visitors into the port. It would be possible to fill an encyclopaedia with such cases. Now, in the true spirit of Tom Rolt and the likes of Allan Garraway, his contemporary at the Ffestiniog Railway, Welsh narrow gauge, where it all began in 1950, is on the march again, and with a vengeance. The Bala Lake Railway Trust’s chairman and founder Julian Birley is now the driving force behind the Bala Lake Railway’s new £3 million bid to realise its dream of 45 years – to run into and serve the centre of Bala.

Origins

The scheme, for which a £150,000 ‘starter’ appeal has been launched this month, aims not only to upgrade the superbly-scenic line, shunned by many enthusiasts who regard it as ‘non genuine’ narrow gauge laid on a vacant standard gauge formation, but to use it to reinvigorate the fortunes of the town of Bala itself. The GWR Ruabon to Barmouth cross-country was officially closed to passenger trains as part of the Beeching Axe on January 18, 1965. Beeching sought to eliminate routes which ‘doubled up’ in duplicating destinations:

The proposed new station in Bala town centre.

however, behind the scenes at British Railways headquarters, it was for months touch and go as to whether the route or the alternative Cambrian Coast line between Shrewsbury and Aberdovey Junction would be saved. Freight services between Llangollen Goods Junction and Ruabon ran until 1968 when the line was closed completely. I recall seeing the track at the age of 10 when mum took me on a Smith Coaches outing from Birmingham to Llandudno in August 1967. For some reason, the tour ran over the B4403 alongside the southern side of the lake, which suddenly appeared into view to everyone’s delight. With hindsight, how a coach managed to negotiate that B-road in those days amazes me; an ordinary car journey is a twisting and often tortuous affair. Of course, the best way to see Bala Lake or Llyn Tegid from that side is by rail if not on foot. That was the impetus for the acquisition

of the vacant trackbed in 1970 and the subsequent creation of the 2ft gauge Bala Lake Railway. Initial proposals included the purchase of the recently-vacated trackbed from Bala station all the way to Dolgellau. Eventually, the lakeside section was the length to be revived, starting with 11⁄2 miles from the line’s headquarters at Llanuwchllyn station to Pentrepiod on August 13, 1972. The following year it was extended to Llangower, and in 1976, it reached the GWR’s short-lived but surviving Bala Lake Halt, now known as Bala (Penybont). It was intended to continue the expansion into the town centre of Bala, opening this last stage in 1981, but those plans were abandoned early that year, leaving the terminus of the 41⁄2 mile line the best part of half a mile out of town, across the River Dee and difficult to notice for many passing motorists and intended visitors alike. Heritage Railway 77

This signal stands on the site of the former Bala station on the line to Ffestiniog. Arranged by former railwaymen, it was erected by the Llangollen Railway in 1997. There are no plans to return a railway to this site as it is considered to be too far east of the town centre, on which the new business case is based. ROBIN JONES

The railway’s management acknowledge that the current north-eastern terminus of Bala (Penybont) is one of the least inviting in the heritage sector. Not only that, but car parking is next to nonexistent and it lies around half a mile from Bala town centre by foot. The bus shelter is reminiscent of many pruned-down parts of the national network which survived after the Beeching closures. Opened by the Great Western Railway in 1934 as Bala Lake Halt, it closed just five years later. It became the terminus of the Bala Lake Railway in 1976 and was originally named Bala (Llyn Tegid). Considered by many tourists as being finicky to find and often missed altogether, it has long been regarded as an Achilles heel in the railway’s fortunes. ROBIN JONES

Beautiful Lake Bala is one of the great glacial upland panoramas of Western Europe and equals anything that the English Lake District has to offer. As a teenager, my family, like many others from the West Midlands and northern conurbations, went on several day trips there, often taking in Lake Vyrnwy and the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway, where I was an associate member. Four miles long and a mile wide, and so deep that the Ordnance Survey map used blue contours to indicate its fathoms, it was the largest natural body of water in Wales before the level was raised by Thomas Telford to help support the flow of the Ellesmere Canal. Its waters, which give rise to the River Dee, are famously deep and clear and home to its own species of fish, the gwyniad, a freshwater whitefish. As in many places throughout Wales, tourism has declined in many areas, one reason being the availability of cheap package deals to countries which do not suffer from orographic rainfall. The effects are marked: resorts that were popular in the Sixties and

Seventies now have a shabbier appearance, and cry out for financial input. At the time the idea of the Bala Lake Railway was conceived, enthusiasts left dismayed by the severe pruning of the national network both on Beeching’s recommendations and then, after his departure, under Labour Transport Minister Barbara Castle, were crying out for any bolthole that might be offered for railway heritage, and the saving of closed routes.

Tourist access

The Seaton Tramway on the LSWR Seaton branch can hardly be said to be historically appropriate to what went before, and likewise, the prime purpose of the Bala scheme was to allow tourists to enjoy the unrivalled lakeside views, which it very much does. As the revivalist movement matured, enthusiasts faced with a bigger choice of steam venues began to look on narrow gauge lines laid on standard gauge trackbeds with some level of disdain: they were ever going to be in the same class as, say, the Talyllyn or Vale of Rheidol. Indeed, the Bala Lake Railway brought in modern coaches which gave the

It is conjectured that beneath the slight hump in the B4391 south of Bala lies the infilled arch of the bridge through which the GWR Ruabon to Dolgellau line once ran. The preferred option for the Bala Lake Railway’s extension into the town centre is to excavate it and use another section of the former trackbed running east from its current terminus before turning at right angles on to a new bridge across the River Dee. ROBIN JONES

78 Heritagerailway.co.uk

appearance of a large seaside miniature or theme park operation rather than an historic line. That factor is one of many which have contributed to its modest 20,000 a year annual passenger figures: very small beer in comparison with the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland railways which present a far more attractive package for the linesider. In broad terms, the movement has moved on since 1972. However, do not despair, for here are all the ingredients of a prima facie business case. A town which needs a massive tourist injection, with additional visitor spend boosting local services for the 2000 population. A railway which offers some of the finest scenery on any heritage line anywhere, but was built for a different era of preservation. What is needed is to add a head to the body – by taking the railway into the town centre. Passing trade sees the railway, parks in the town centre to ride on it, uses local shops, restaurants, bed and breakfasts and garages, and businesses flourish. Speculation? No –a guarantee, if the track record of the heritage

The site of the buffer stops at the proposed new town centre station – a planning gain if ever there was one! ROBIN JONES

Above: Julian Birley at the controls of Alice, one of the Bala Lake Railway’s flagship locomotives. BLR One possibility for bringing the railway into Bala that has been considered is the use of this medieval listed bridge at Pont Mwnwgl-y-llyn, a stone’s throw from the current terminus, and then ‘piggybacking’ a rail crossing over the River Dee on the cutwaters of its modern replacement which carries the B4391 into the town.

The favoured option for bringing the railway into Bala involves a crossing of the River Dee in the distance and building a new embankment next to the existing flood defence levee (centre), doubling its thickness and thereby giving added protection to the town. A level crossing of the B4391 immediately in front of this gate would be required. ROBIN JONES

Top left: Yes, it does rain in North Wales, but what spectacular views of Llyn Tegid can be enjoyed at such times in dryness comfort from the elevated heights of a railway carriage. This is the view from the eastern end of the lake that would be enjoyed by passengers riding on the first section out of the proposed new Bala station. ROBIN JONES

sector since 1950 is anything to go by. Apart from the Welshpool line, Bala offers the nearest operational narrow gauge (as opposed to miniature) railway to the aforementioned English conurbations, and is an easy day trip by car. Better still, add a ‘must visit’ attraction and make it a weekend or longer. As with that somewhat circuitous coach trip in 1967, make it a stopping-off point on trips to Snowdonia and the steam lines there. Julian Birley’s strategy is twofold. First, bring the railway into Bala – something that should have been done at the outset, when the bridge that took the old line to Ffestiniog from Bala Junction and over the River Dee to a station in the town still existed.

restorer Graham Morris and locomotive dealer Martyn Ashworth. They were Quarry Hunslet 0-4-0ST No. 364 of 1885 Winifred, Barclay 0-4-0WT No. 1994 of 1931 Glyder and Avonside 0-4-0ST No. 2066 of 1933, all of which had been in storage since 1970 as part of a private collection in a corner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway circuit. On arrival in Britain, it was apparent that Winifred was in much the same state as when it left the quarry, with even that the remains of its last fire still in its firebox. Winifred immediately joined the Bala fleet,

original working quarry Hunslet. Recently-appointed general manager David Jones revealed that for Winifred’s fling in original paintwork, a party will be held over the August 28-31 bank holiday weekend with a steam gala to mark the occasion, all four Hunslets being in steam – Maid Marian, Holy War, Winifred and Alice – and the busy timetable will feature double heading, slate and freight trains, plus the chance to drive an engine and ride in the Dinorwic yellow carriage. There will also be a vintage bus service connecting Bala station with the town, and various displays and stands, plus guided tours of the signalbox and engine sheds at Llanuwchllyn. The Talyllyn Railway will also be holding one of its 150th anniversary celebrations on the same weekend, giving a unique opportunity to visit two wonderful events at both railways. Winifred will be available for photocharters, and 2015 gives the unique opportunity to photograph a quarry Hunslet in original condition, not recreated but the genuine article. Nine driver experience courses will be offered during the year.

Snowdonian heritage

Secondly, ditch the ‘theme park’ character of much of the rolling stock, and replace it with pure Snowdonian heritage. To this end, Julian has been talking to the Ffestiniog Railway about building six new fullsize traditional narrow gauge coaches to replace the current stock. He will major in on the line’s collection of four Quarry Hunslet locomotives and the wagons he has salvaged from the Dinorwic and Penrhyn quarries and restored. Visitors will be able to not only ride on the railway in more spacious and comfortable accommodation, but even try driving a rake of loose-coupled slate wagons complete with guard’s van. While it will never be possible to see the internal systems at the Dinorwic and Penrhyn quarries in action again, their heritage will be showcased in another part of Snowdonia with maximum effect. Among Julian’s several ‘Mission Impossible’ feats in preservation was the repatriation of three Penrhyn Quarry locomotives from the USA, with the aid of industrial locomotive

“A railway which offers some of the finest scenery on any heritage line anywhere, but was built for a different era of preservation.” and its restoration is rapidly approaching completion at Llanuwchllyn. It is scheduled to enter service on April 13 and pop music mogul Pete Waterman will rededicate it prior to its first journey, the 11am from Llanuwchllyn and 11.35am from Bala (Penybont), which will carry invited guests. Its first public service – its first ever fare paying passenger train – will be the 12.45pm departure from Llanuwchllyn. There will be a slight premium for passengers on this train, but they will receive a special commemorative ticket. April 13 is significant as this was the date that Winifred was originally delivered 130 years ago to the Penrhyn Quarry. Accordingly, Winifred will be kept quarry condition for its launch and the duration of the 2015 season, and will re-enter service in its original paintwork – a real time traveller if there ever was! Its heritage debut will give today’s generation a unique insight to an

Extension plan

The second and biggest plan of Julian’s business case is the 1312 yard extension of the line into Bala. Herein lies the greatest challenge, but unlike the rebuilding of the Welsh Highland Railway which was opposed by vociferous local groups, it is one which appears to have been welcomed by the local community. Julian stressed: “This initiative delivers a robust plan to regenerate the town of Bala, and will create local jobs for local people and involve them in running the line.” The heritage era precedent of building a public railway on a green field site dates back to 1958, when the 2ft gauge Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway was laid at Humberston Heritage Railway 79

The design for the planned new coach fleet, to be built by the Ffestioniog Railway’s workshops at Boston Lodge. BLR

The line’s headquarters at delightful Llanuwllchllyn station retains most of its GWR features. However, the modern carriages, which have given sterling service since the Seventies – but are considered more in keeping with a theme park line by enthusiasts, are to be phased out in favour of attractive new traditional narrow gauge alternatives, with verandas. ROBIN JONES Merionydd, a 1973-built Western Region dieselhydraulic-style Severn Lamb Bo-Bo, is being offered for sale for around £7000 as the line seeks to upgrade its image from that of a ‘theme park’ operation to a fully-fledged North Wales narrow gauge heritage railway. SIGNAL

The overhaul of reimported Hunslet 0-4-0ST No. 364 of 1885 Winifred is approaching its conclusion in the workshops at Llanuwchllyn. ROBIN JONES

near Cleethorpes using equipment from the Nocton Potato Estate railway located south of Lincoln. From 1960 until it closed in 1985 (and since relocated to Skegness) it performed a public transport function in ferrying visitors to a holiday camp. Fifty years ago, on January 2, 1965, the first sod was cut on a unique piece of engineering on a British railway – the creation of the Ffestiniog Railway’s Llyn Ystradau deviation. Including a spiral loop, the only one of its kind in the UK, the deviation was needed to bypass part of the original line that had been flooded by a reservoir. It took 17 years before the builders’ ambitions were realised and the first heritage era trains from Porthmadog steamed into Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Complex project

A short extension into Bala may look puny in comparison, but the project, though highly achievable, is complex. The options for the route are still being worked out. Initial thinking was to take the line from Bala (Penybont) across the B4403 and a 16th century listed stone bridge at Pont Mwnwgl-y-Llyn. Then, the new line would cling to the bridge’s modern replacement, the one carrying the B4391, supported by the cutwaters below in cantilever-style, over the Dee as it exists Lake Bala. Immediately

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afterwards, a wetland section considered to be of such ecological importance that it is monitored by no less than the United Nations would have to be gingerly negotiated. From there, another road crossing would be needed before the extension would pass Bala Town FC’s ground and across a green field before entering the town. A showpiece terminus with shop, a cafe and perhaps the line’s offices at a later date would be built on the site of unsightly industrial units, opposite the main town centre car park and a few yards from the main through road. More detailed inspections on the ground have led to a second and slightly longer option for the route of the extension being favoured. Under this plan, the existing railway would be extended eastwards, by re-excavating the infilled original arch of the bridge that carried the B4391 over the GWR line. From there, the old trackbed would be followed through a council yard until turning at right angles, and crossing the Dee via a bridge, which could be acquired from Network Rail. On the opposite bank, the line would turn back at right angles, and run on a new embankment which would double the thickness of an existing flood defence levee, before crossing the B4391 and joining the first proposed route for the run into the town. Either way, Julian believes that the whole

The eyesore industrial premises opposite the town centre’s main car park will be bought and demolished if the Bala Lake railway’s initial £150,000 scheme is successful, making way for a new showpiece terminus. ROBIN JONES

project can be done for £3 million. Once the railway is running into Bala, the town will enjoy the same benefits as Corwen, which is set to reap the rewards of the Llangollen Railway’s extension to a temporary station on the east side of the town. The Bala Lake and Llangollen railways occupy the two most scenic parts of the GWR route, and have complementary and contrasting stories to tell.

Heritage transport corridor

Julian envisages the creation of a 25 mile heritage transport corridor, with the new Bala and Corwen stations linked by bus. Many more possibilities will inevitable rise once steam whistles sound in Bala once more. Julian is hoping to attract an army of the type of volunteers who enjoy building – as opposed to running – heritage railways. The project will be perfect for those younger enthusiasts who fancy following in the footsteps of visionaries such as Tom Rolt and Allan Garraway and bringing back those heady pioneers days of the Fifties and Sixties to the Snowdonian hills – and lakes – again. Donations to the project can be made via the www.justgiving.com website under ‘Bala Lake Railway Trust’. Alternatively visit www.thebalalake railwaytrust.org

RAIL TOUR HOLIDAYS

Inside Track SINCE 1986 Inside Track has run a range of hotel-based, escorted holidays with an emphasis on nostalgic transport. The daily itineraries combine travel by coach, train, boat, tram and anything else that moves, and incorporates visits to museums, steam railways, scenic, cultural and local attractions. Once you have joined an Inside Track holiday you can leave any cares or worries behind. We try not to approach things too seriously, it’s a holiday after all - so let’s have some fun! In 2015 we will be running as many trips as we have ever done, but remain committed to staying small enough to give personal service to each and every one of our customers. Each holiday is accompanied by a representative who works solely for Inside Track and has numerous years of experience. Your satisfaction is our foremost aim. On the home front we have a range of four-to-nine day holidays in the UK, and new in 2015 are trips based in Keswick, for the Lake District, King’s Lynn for Norfolk and The Fens and Dorchester for the Thames Valley. We’ve also relocated a couple of our more popular trips with new bases in historic Shrewsbury and Redruth for our ‘Scilly Isles Hop’ from Cornwall. Old favourites remain in place so Scotland, Ulster and the Isle of Man

Inside Track searches out steam in surprising places – this is Borkum Island. are all still there, to name but a few. Our overseas adventures all start by Eurostar from London except, not surprisingly, our 12-day all-Ireland adventure. We find steam in Holland, France, Germany and Luxembourg as well as a little bit further afield in Hungary. New to the menu are a couple of shorter trips featuring

northern France and the Aachen/ Wuppertal areas, and our northern Holland tour includes the unusual opportunity to sail aboard a privately chartered tall ship. Two snowy trips appear at either end of the season with our annual ‘Wintry Harz Mountains’ adventure in February and an Alsace-based finale trip that

includes a day out to Switzerland in October. This is just a taste of what Inside Track is all about and of what we are offering in 2015. We also have a wide-ranging UK programme. So, to find out more why not send for the brochure – it’s free and a cracking read to boot.

SAR 12AR class No. 1535 Susan.

SAR Steam Tours SAR Steam Tours is South Africa’s only steam train tour operator, offering interesting and different steam train and railtours in South Africa. In 2015, steam tours are available with many photo and video opportunities, and in April takes in Sandstone: SAR Steam Stars meet Stars of Sandstone. In May there’s a Winter Steam in South Africa special. In November SAR Steam Tours operates the ‘Cape Xplorer’ from Johannesburg to Cape Town and back with a total travelled distance of 6400km. The traction will include steam, diesel and electric locos,

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and during the tour you will visit different interesting places. You will also be able to enjoy SAR Steam Tours’ kitchen chef’s South African cuisine. In the social lounge car South Africa’s finest whiskies, brandies, wines are served, plus a wide range of local handcrafted quality beers. With your tour participation, you will be supporting South Africa’s preservation efforts as SAR Steam Tours donates all profit generated with the tours to restoration and preservation projects in South Africa. We look forward to welcoming you on our train tours.

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Railtrail’s Dresden Steam Festival tour stops off at Colditz Castle en route to Dresden and the city’s amazing festival of steam at Altstadt Depot, seen here. You can also choose to add on three days visiting Saxony’s famous narrow-gauge steam lines. J PERKS

Railtrail invades Colditz Castle... and you earn loyalty points RAILTRAIL Tours’ popular steam tours to Germany take another twist this spring when its six-day Dresden Steam Festival tour, departing April 15, spends a night in the famous POW camp of Colditz Castle en route to the superb steam festival at Dresden and, as with all Railtrail’s tours, clients now earn loyalty points on every tour booked. This Dresden tour also includes mainline steam trips, parallel running, a steam thrash up steep inclines, and private charters. There is also a short tour extension to enjoy more superb Saxon Narrow Gauge Steam lines. Later in April, Railtrail’s Poland Steam Explorer tour features narrow and standard gauge steam photo charters and Wolsztyn’s new mainline route to Leszno, all culminating with the amazing annual steam festival at Wolsztyn – take a peek at past parades on YouTube to see the scale of this extravaganza. Railtrail reports its annual summer steam tours are booking up quicker than ever. Northern Germany & the Baltic Coast featuring the Molli and Rugen Island departs July 27 for eight

days, while Welsh Mega Steam 6 departs August 29 and in 2015 covers 16 fantastic heritage and scenic lines in just eight days. Railtrail’s managing director, Dave Felstead, describes the different collections of holidays by train that Railtrail offers: “We don’t just operate steam enthusiast tours, we have Heritage & Explorer, Classic UK, and European tours and some very special Signature tours staying in unique hotels full of character and intriguing history. Many of our tours cross-over collections, and will delight enthusiasts and partners alike with great steam train journeys and glorious scenery. Our Swiss Mountain Steam tour is such an example; please visit www.railtrail.co.uk and view the tour film for yourself.” He concluded: “For tours as unique as you it has to be Railtrail Tours, the only rail holiday company to operate a loyalty rewards scheme. We look forward to the pleasure of your company in 2015.” Railtrail Tours 01538 382323 www.railtrail.co.uk For further information contact: Dave Felstead

Steam out of Wolsztyn, Poland remains popular, despite recent closure scares. Here, Ol-49 class 2-6-2 No. 69 works one of the timetabled steam workings. Heritage Railway 83

RAIL TOUR HOLIDAYS

Darjeeling Tours: Expert hands in the sub-continent DARJEELING Tours has been running tours to India for 16 years, and has unique expertise in the sub-continent. Our signature is the exceptional dining train on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), which is unique to us: blasting up through the Indian forests at dusk with one of the iconic B class 0-4-0 tanks, enjoying a hot three-course dinner and maybe a bottle of Kingfisher beer is a world-class experience. Given fair weather, the views of Mount Kanchenjunga from Darjeeling will stay with you for life. We don’t forget the ‘other half’ of the family either; we always incorporate the best of the sightseeing to accompany the railway interest. Everyone should see the Taj Mahal at least once in their life! We also have an enviable reputation for our tours into Bhutan, combined with the Darjeeling line, incorporating the best of the festivals and the stunning scenery of eastern Bhutan, rarely visited by westerners. To really get under the skin of the DHR, we have ‘Darjeeling at Leisure’. Plenty of time on the Darjeeling line, meeting the people who run the railway, and those who live beside the line. Plus, we see the best of Kolkota (formerly Calcutta),

DHR B class No. 788 takes water at Sonada on the climb to Darjeeling. an amazing city – the chartered tram ride there is definitely not to be missed! Our signature tour is ‘Indian Magic’, with visits to Kolkota, the DHR, Delhi, Agra and the Taj Mahal, and Simla, plus Ooty if you wish: an ideal introduction for those visiting India for the first time. For 2015, we have two new tours. In June, visit the magic narrow gauge lines in the Saxony region of Germany; take this opportunity not just to ride, but also to photograph steam on all the area’s best lines. We haven’t ignored the scenery and other attractions in the area either. September takes us to California, a real transport enthusiasts’ paradise. You can experience cable cars, vintage trams and trolleybuses, not to mention the world-famous Tehachapi Loop and, of course, the Napa Valley Wine Train. Whichever tour you pick, we guarantee it will be fun!

Steam Train Tours STEAM Train Tours, the holiday firm based in the South West, is very pleased with its first summer of trading. The holidays are coach tours and take in preserved railways, main line runs, railway museums, and places of railway interest across Britain. Company spokesman, Neil Maggs, said: “The 2014 highlight for me was the Settle to Carlisle ‘Fellsman’ in July, hauled by Stanier 8F No. 48151, which ran superbly that day. The ‘Great Little Trains of North Wales’ were magnificent too.” Steam Train Tours has recently announced its 2015 programme, with holidays to Cumbria, North Wales, the North East, plus Kent and

Sussex. New for 2015 is a tour of Devon and Cornwall railways, featuring the Lynton and Barnstaple, the South Devon, Paignton to Kingswear, West Somerset, and Bodmin and Wenford, among others. Also new for 2015 is Steam Train Tours’ announcement of a self-drive option. Neil explained: “That way anyone from wherever they are in the country, can simply drive to our base hotel, meet us there, and join in the holiday from there.” For more details on Steam Train Tours visit www.steamtraintours. co.uk, telephone 07527 184420, or email [email protected].

Mr Ross Tonkin

Ross is pictured at the foot of Mount Snowdon with SMR No. 6 WYDDFA.

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Ross Tonkin is a railway modeller and canal enthusiast from Melbourne, Australia. He spent summer 2014 touring Britain’s canals by narrowboat. Ross took a break from the canals to join Steam Train Tours in August for its North Wales holiday. He said afterwards: “I met the coach on Monday morning travelling to Llandudno in Wales arriving at our accommodation, The Whitehouse Hotel, late afternoon in time for a pre-dinner drink and gettogether with other tour members.

An ex-SAR NGG16 Beyer Garratt on the Welsh Highland Railway “Over the next four days we were taken by coach to narrow gauge railways all over Wales with magnificent scenery, lots of history, slate museums, railway museums and lots of different steam trains, all guided and explained by our tour leader.” During the holiday, after a return trip on the Ffestiniog Railway, the coach tour went to Anglesey and stopped off at Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwlllantysiliogogogoch station. Ross was amused to find in the shop next to the station, Hornby

OO gauge wagons with the full name of the station written down the side. It’s a long wheelbase wagon, he was advised. “Yeah,” said Ross, sounding a bit like Crocodile Dundee, “a VERY long wheelbase”. He was tempted to take home all 20 wagons for his railway modelling pals back home. However, he settled on just two, probably because of lack of suitcase space. Ross wrote to Steam Train Tours after his holiday and ended his letter, “thanks again for a great week”.

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RAIL TOUR HOLIDAYS

Far Rail: Mad Dogs and Englishmen – or getting the shot By Michael Rhodes (Far Rail) THE Ferrovia Tereza Cristina is a 164km-long, metre-gauge coal railway in the Santa Catarina province of Brazil. In the late years of steam, the core of the fleet were 11 of Santa Fe’s 2-10-2 locomotives. One of these engines, No. 205, remains in working order. To re-create the old coal operations and the classic ‘beach shot’ we needed to go to the mines at Rio Fiorita, loading a train and then taking it down to the port of Imbituba, before returning with the empty wagons. With a week to complete the task, what could go wrong? After six and a half days of mishaps, we got the picture just a couple of minutes before the sun dipped behind the hills at Imbituba. We started the event with No. 153, a 2-8-2 Alco, until the grate collapsed on to the trackbed. No problem we were told, No. 205 was being steamed. As it left Tubarão, it blew a boiler tube and we were left with no steam locos at all. The third working steam locomotive, No. 5, a 2-8-2, was steamed and we managed some photos at Capivari power station. Later, on the way with the repaired 153, it became clear that the main problem was the poor coal, which produced a solid layer of clinker. No. 153 had to be rescued and repaired while No. 205 took over. However, the second steam crew was inexperienced with such poor coal so a plan was hatched to change the

The amazing scenery alongside Brazil’s Ferrovia Tereza Christina railway. coal in the tender of 205 overnight. Overnight became late morning, however, before we were finally headed in the right direction and reached Morro Grande by sunset. After taking shots in the gradient Paz Ferreira yard – loading points at Rio Fiorita – No. 205 failed with low steam pressure on its way back with 14 loaded wagons to haul, just after we got a nice shot on the climb up to the tunnel. No. 205 was towed back to Tubarão.

As the promised coal never arrived we decided to use what was available. We would tow the stricken 205 and our specially painted wagons to Imbituba, but the repainted coal wagons weren’t in Tubarão. After long negotiations permission was granted to take No. 205 and 14 wagons to Imbituba with a diesel, paint out the white stripes at Imbituba and then run back to Tubarão, thus re-creating a returning empty train. Time was against us as the sun dipped behind a

hill by 3.40pm. Off we rushed and bought tins of paint and rollers with paint trays. Our train arrived at 2.30pm. The 14 wagons were painted in eight minutes by the 24 of us – indeed the train was painted before the loco had run round. At 3.30pm, 10 minutes before the shadows hit the track, in perfect afternoon light, we finally got the shot. We even had time to repeat it. Was it worth it? It was certainly a fantastic experience and hopefully the picture speaks for itself.

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RAIL TOUR HOLIDAYS

Ffestiniog Travel: Switzerland is a great destination for a truly unforgettable ‘must-do’ rail holiday RAILTOUR specialists Ffestiniog Travel has been escorting groups by train across Europe for 40 years. Its inaugural European tour was to Switzerland in October 1974 when up to 70 people travelled to experience the magnificent Swiss Alps as they journeyed on some of Switzerland’s impressive railway networks. In 2015 the rail tour operator is expanding its tours to Switzerland further, visiting the country eight times, with a line-up of escorted train trips, including its annual ‘Christmas & New Year in Switzerland’ festive break, ‘Snow on the Alps’ winter tour, its ‘Summer in the Alps’ and Swiss Alpine holidays and a combined Italian/Swiss tour to Florence, Lake Garda and the Swiss Alps. Switzerland delivers some of the most scenic railway views in the world as you journey on the famous Glacier Express, Golden Pass and Bernina Express routes. The UNESCO World Heritage Rhaetian Railway offers unforgettable rail journeys as the engineering excellence of its railway blends in with the magnificent landscape. Ffestiniog Travel’s Swiss tour packages include a first-class Swiss Pass so all travel in Switzerland, whether by train, post bus, tram, funicular and lake steamers, is in first class, offering comfort as well as amazing views. In addition to escorted rail holidays,

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The ‘Glacier Express’ is one of Switzerland ‘must-do’ rail journeys. led by an expert tour leader, Ffestiniog Travel also runs a very busy rail-ticketonly department, which allows it to create tailor-made tours for groups of all sizes who want to plan their own route, sightseeing venues and departure dates to countries around the world. The company anticipates an increased interest in travelling by train to Switzerland this year as a new rail route means passengers will no longer have to change trains in Paris when

travelling to Switzerland. TGV Lyria now operates a direct Lille to Geneva service four times a week. General manager at Ffestiniog Travel, Maria Cook, commented: “This means that passengers could leave London at 1pm and arrive in Geneva at just after 8pm with just one change in Lille. It is a great way for independent rail travellers and groups to travel in a comfortable, sociable atmosphere, while sitting back and appreciating the views as they cross Europe.”

For more information about Ffestiniog Travel’s escorted tours visit www.ffestiniogtravel.com or call 01766 772030. Details about its ticketonly rail services can be found at www.myrailtrip.co.uk Ffestiniog Travel runs escorted tours in the UK, Europe and worldwide. It is also one of the UK’s leading tour specialists to Romania, running four escorted tours to the country next year. Romania is still untapped by tourism and now is the time to see it at its very best. Ffestiniog Travel is a sister company to the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways, owned by a charitable trust, and its profits go to support and preserve these world-famous heritage railways. Ffestiniog Travel’s ticket-only department arranges direct and complex rail journeys for individuals and groups in the UK and across Europe. As one of the leading retailers of European tickets in the UK, Ffestiniog Travel has direct access to many rail operators’ booking systems and can provide tickets for the majority of trains in Europe. It also advises and books many of the iconic train journeys of the world including Canada’s Rocky Mountaineer and Canadian trains; in Australia – The Ghan and The Indian Pacific; in Russia – The Trans-Siberian and Trans Mongolian. Ffestiniog Travel is also UK sales agent for Japan Rail Passes.

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RAIL TOUR HOLIDAYS

PTG Tours Limited ESTABLISHED in 1998 this Oxfordshire-based company offers general-interest ‘rail, nature and culture’ holidays from the UK, using rail travel as a theme. Comfort, enjoyment, leisurely days and friendship are the secrets of its tours’ success. PTG Tours specialises in countries and areas not generally covered by other operators, including Douro Valley (Portugal), Bulgaria, Slovenia, Slovakia, Italy, Spain, Greece, Sweden, Hungary, Cuba, Sri Lanka, Java, Burma and New Zealand. It is one of the only rail holiday companies which are both ATOL bonded and a member of ABTA. A regular tour is the renowned ‘Vintage Port’ holiday which celebrates its 37th running in 2015. This tour is centred on the beautiful Douro Valley, in the north of Portugal, famous for its port wine and stunning scenery. A superb way to see this unique World Heritage Site landscape. Another unique destination on offer is Slovenia, whose beauty has drawn comparisons with Switzerland, a country that is twice its size. It is imbued with fantastic, craggy mountains, turquoise rivers and silver lakes, vast subterranean caves, and just enough medieval castles to conjure up a fairy tale or two. PTG’s ‘Vintage Slovenia’ trip in September

visits many of the stunning scenic railway lines as well as Ljubljana and Bled. For steam enthusiasts PTG is the only company now running rail holidays to Cuba, where this paradise island is traversed using a private railcar. Visits are made to see the last workings at the sugar mills and include several steam runs. As the visit is made during the sugar cane harvest several ‘real’ workings are expected to be witnessed, maybe for the last time. The next tour departs the UK on February 26 and readers are urged to visit Cuba now before increased numbers of Americans result in added investment and the loss of the unique ‘lost world’ experience. Other highlights for steam enthusiasts are a seven-day tour around industrial lines in Romania when they literally “take our locomotive with us!”, and a visit to the island of Java to see some of the world’s last ‘real’ steam workings. For diesel enthusiasts, and those after rare track, PTG has five such tours in 2015 using private loco-hauled charter trains. April sees a tour of unusual lines in Slovenia and Croatia; June a tour around central Sweden – again using unusual diesel and electric locomotives, and taking in several lines where passenger trains are not normally allowed; July

As near to real industrial steam as you can get in Europe – Moldovita, Romania. This photo was taken on the highly successful 2014 PTG tour. A similar tour will run in October 2015. CHRIS PHILLIMORE sees a three-day trip covering rare lines in Hungary; and October sees two tours to Greece with a charter train on the standard gauge lines and a charter train covering all the ‘mothballed’ narrow gauge lines of the Greek Peloponnese – a rare chance to travel on these lines. Highlights of PTG’s ‘Rail and Culture’ and ‘Rail and Nature’ tours include visits to Portugal, Spain, Slovenia, Slovakia, Southern France, Sardinia, Sri Lanka and New Zealand. All, of course, with the majority of travel by rail. Closer to home there are tours of the narrow gauge railways of

Snowdonia, an exploration of the rail lines in Ireland, and a week on the wonderful Isle of Man. PTG is also UK agent for the two Spanish luxury rail cruises – the ‘El Transcantabrico’ and the ‘Al-Andalus’ – as well as for Rovos Rail in South Africa, and guarantees to offer the best prices (as well as ABTA/ATOL protection) for all these legendary trains. Locally based tour managers and English-speaking staff accompany all tours. For a free copy of its colour brochure see the PTG advert in this magazine or contact PTG Tours on 01235 227288 or visit www.ptg.co.uk

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STEAM RESTORATION

RUDDINGTON’S

INDUSTRIAL

WONDERS O

NE of the most significant but unsung locomotive dynasties in the UK was exemplified by the inside cylindered 0-6-0ST specification pioneered during the mid-1850s by the Leeds-based manufacturer EB Wilson & Co. This specification was developed not only by Wilson’s successor Manning Wardle, but also by other manufacturers, principally the Hunslet Engine Company and Hudswell Clarke. Initially intended for use by collieries and contractors, members of this locomotive dynasty subsequently found use with other industrial concerns, such as steelworks, the

Manning Wardle 0-6-0ST Dolobran (1762 of 1910) heads a short engineers’ train on the extensive Stewarts & Lloyds ironstone quarry system centred on Pen Green shed at Corby. FRED KERR

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military, and also on a number of small independent passenger-carrying railways; the North Sunderland and the Weston Cleveland & Portishead being examples that immediately come to mind.

Significant event

The two most obvious standard bearers for the dynasty in home preservation are, of course, Sir Berkeley (MW 1210 of 1891) and Matthew Murray (MW 1601 of 1903), both now to be found on Leeds’ Middleton Railway in their city of construction. From the point of view of closely related non-Manning Wardle products,

Industrial locomotives disappeared from the Great Central Railway at Loughborough decades ago, but a fleet of them are now rapidly taking shape at the line’s northern countepart at Ruddington, reports Mark Smithers. the most significant event of recent years, on the home front at least, has been the restoration to working order of ‘13in’ Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0ST Wissington (1700 of 1938) by the Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway Society. In a previous Heritage Railway article it was suggested that the direct origin of the dynasty lay in the existence of an inside-cylindered E B Wilson 0-4-0ST design with 9in by 14in cylinders, 5ft wheelbase and 3ft wheels as represented by the contractor’s locomotive used to construct the Dursley branch of the Midland Railway. Since publication of that

The motion stay of Rhyl.

The chassis of Rhylunder restoration.

The frame, footplate, cab and smokebox of Dolobran under restoration at Ruddington on August 16, 2014.

feature, further evidence has come to light to prove these assertions beyond all reasonable doubt and this will be covered in detail in a new book currently in preparation. For the purposes of this feature, however, all that needs to be noted is that the main features of the dynasty’s most typical members, apart from the inside cylinder 0-6-0ST configuration, included a saddle tank (normally flat sided), a domeless boiler and a raised, inverted U-shaped firebox wrapper that contained the regulator body. The ‘pure’ form of the specification incorporated a firebox accommodated between the intermediate and rear axles and this was accomplished with the Manning Wardle ‘17in’ 0-6-0STs constructed for the East & West Yorkshire Union Railway during the final decade of the 19th century.

of similar design to the Haydock Collieries ‘16in’ class, Some of these locomotives incorporated certain detail differences from one another, such as cab design and tank capacity. A Manning Wardle catalogue dating from around the time of the outbreak of the First World War suggests that the classification ‘T’ was adopted at this stage but it was not persevered with, possibly on the grounds that the design deviated from the

Main dynasty

The four Leeds-built locomotives currently to be found at the Great Central Railway (Nottingham)’s operational base at the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre, Ruddington would all appear at first sight to be core members of the main dynasty, but the larger pair, Dolobran (MW 1762 of 1910) and Rhyl (MW 2009 of 1921) exhibit an important design modification necessitated by customer requirements. The class prototypes, Nos. 1503-4 of 1900, were built for Haydock Collieries, Lancashire and in accordance with the demands placed on them were fitted with 16in by 24in cylinders. The difficulty from the point of view of the customer was that while it was relatively easy to enlarge the locomotive’s mechanical parts to cope with the prevailing traffic demands, it was not so easy to proportionally enlarge the ruling curve radius that they were required to negotiate. For this reason, a shorter wheelbase (10ft 6in) than would otherwise be used was adopted and in consequence the firebox had to be redesigned to incorporate an inclined foundation ring sitting above the trailing axle rather than a horizontal one sitting ahead of it. Similar considerations apply to ‘14in’ Manning Wardle 0-6-0ST Warwickshire (2047 of 1926) now in the care of the Severn Valley Railway, which has a wheelbase of only 10ft. In all, Manning Wardle constructed 18 locomotives

“It was suggested that the direct origin of the dynasty lay in the existence of an inside-cylindered E B Wilson 0-4-0ST design.” mainstream line of evolution. The wheelbase was in fact three inches shorter than that found on the ‘K’ ’12in’ 0-6-0ST design. Dolobran and Rhyl were both supplied new to Lloyds Ironstone Ltd of Corby, Northants (later absorbed into Stewarts & Lloyds) and, as with other class members built by the makers, Kitson & Co and Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns, remained in use until the late 1960s. Neither has yet seen use in preservation and both have led a nomadic existence since

withdrawal, having been in store on the KESR, North Woolwich and on the Cholsey & Wallingford Railway. Both are currently undergoing extensive overhauls at Ruddington with Dolobran being the more advanced of the two projects. During a period stretching back over a decade, work on Dolobran has seen the locomotive stripped down to chassis level and the original frame profile restored. Both bufferbeams had to be parted from the mainframes and the rear one replaced. The mainframes were straightened and a new rear stay fitted to replace the original item that was removed to allow the fitting of the standard Stewarts & Lloyds’ pattern automatic coupling.

Refurbished

Often a locomotive’s platework suffers during a protracted period of open storage and Dolobran was no exception. It was necessary to renew the footplating and associated support brackets as part of the overhaul process. The hornblocks showed signs of a significant amount of wear and these have been refurbished and remachined before refitting. The slidebars have been replaced and it was found during restoration work that a new cylinder block fitted during the 1950s had not been fitted ‘square’ to the mainframes. This has been remedied and new fixing bolts provided during the process. The cylinders

Manning Wardle works photograph of No. 1762 Dolobran. Heritage Railway 89

Julia at work at BSC Kelham sugar beet factory near Newark in July 1970. MICK MORRIS

have been rebored and new piston heads and rods fitted. The corrosion that had affected the footplating had also taken its toll on the cab and saddletank and these components have also been replaced in original riveted form. Similarly, a new smokebox and door have been manufactured (there are in fact three suitable boilers on site for Dolobran and Rhyl, with one acting as spare). The sandboxes (and associated piping), reversing pedestal and blastpipes for both Dolobran and Rhyl disappeared during the locomotives’ period of storage at North Woolwich and these items have had to be replaced. Other work completed on Dolobran at the time of writing includes reprofiling of the tyres and the renewal of crankpins; the white metalling of the eccentrics; the provision of phosphor bronze liners for the axleboxes; the machining of small-end and crosshead bearing surfaces and the provision of steam heat and vacuum pipes to enable the locomotive to undertake passenger operation for the first time in its career.

Fortunate

The necessary work remaining to bring Dolobran to first-class operational condition will involve restudding and retubing the boiler; the provision of new lagging and cladding plates and the usual piping up. It is fortunate that the locomotive’s current boiler was not used after reconditioning while in S&L ownership, and the firebox is ‘as new’. The completed overhaul of Dolobran and, eventually, Rhyl, will provide the GCR (N) with two reasonably powerful locomotives capable of handling five-coach trains on a routine basis even though they were not designed for this purpose. Dolobran’s return to steam will certainly be an event worth waiting for. The other two Leeds-built locomotives at Ruddington are both ‘13in’ 0-6-0STs with

Julia at work at Kelham in July 1970. MICK MORRIS

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Julia (1682 of 1937) at Kelham in July 1970. MICK MORRIS

horizontal foundation rings located between the intermediate and rear axles and, following practice, almost certainly going back to the Wilson 0-6-0STs of the 1850s, compensating beam suspension for the intermediate and leading axles. Manning Wardle No. 2015 of 1921 was originally supplied to Cardiff Corporation Waterworks, Cefn as Abernant and passed through the hands of Thomas Ward to Austin Motors at Longbridge. The locomotive suffered the indignity of being ‘stuffed and mounted’ in a playground in Aston, Birmingham before eventually joining up with Dolobran and Rhyl at North Woolwich. This

“The completed overhaul of Dolobran and, eventually, Rhyl, will provide the GCR (N) with two reasonably powerful locomotives capable of handling five-coach trains on a routine basis.” locomotive is currently in open storage outside the workshops while waiting its turn in the restoration queue, but two points of significance need to be noted even at this stage. The first is that although designated a ‘special’ when new, there was little, if anything to distinguish the locomotive from the maker’s standard ‘M’ class (this latter-day manifestation of the class was also found on the Wissington Light Railway). Secondly, during its Longbridge career, between 1950, when the locomotive was photographed, and

withdrawal in 1964, it received a new design of straight-sided smokebox and front tubeplate (possibly associated with a new boiler) from Hunslets. Ideally, from the point of view of authenticity, this modification should be reversed during restoration but whether this will be done is likely to be determined by the current condition of the relevant components. When restored it is intended that the locomotive should carry the name Arthur. The final member of the quartet to be discussed in this feature is the only nonManning Wardle member of the group, namely Hudswell Clarke No. 1682 of 1937 Julia. This locomotive exhibits somewhat ‘softer’ aesthetic properties when compared with its Manning Wardle stablemates, particularly in relation to its cab and saddle tank. As events were to turn out, it was to become the quartet’s celebrity, but it started out with a very ordinary career, being supplied new to Sir Lindsay Parkinson & Co Ltd to a basic design then nearly half a century old and given the number 54. It was one of nine similar locomotives used by the company at the Euxton munitions factory in Chorley, Lancashire. It would appear that the name was bestowed on the locomotive at this time, although the reason for the name is not known.

Extensive repairs

Following the run-down of munitions work after the cessation of the Second World War, Julia was returned to the maker’s works for rebuilding about 1946. At this time the Easingwold Railway (a small independent offshoot of the LNER main line north of York) possessed a 1903-built sister locomotive Easingwold Railway No.2 that was in need of extensive repairs. Hudswell offered Julia to the Easingwold Railway as a replacement in 1947 and for but the want of £400 it would have

Arthur, formerly Abernant (2015 of 1921), at Ruddington on August 16, 2014.

The renewed cab for Julia.

The motion stay of Julia.

The boiler of Juliaunder repair at Ruddington.

Julia’s crankshaft.

The replacement cylinder block for Julia.

Julia’s equalising beam (an early feature!).

become Easingwold Railway No.3. Given the fate that befell No.2 (scrapping at Darlington in 1949) and the fact that the railway was closed in 1957, being latterly reliant on hired motive power, it is probably all for the best that this proposed sale proved abortive. Instead, Julia was purchased by the British Sugar Corporation for use at its Kelham works at Newark, Nottinghamshire, where the locomotive remained in service until 1976. After spending the ensuing 15 years on external display at the Newark Folk Museum, Julia was acquired by a group of enthusiasts based at the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre with the intention of restoration to working order. Work finally commenced with the locomotive being stripped down in 2008 resulting in the alarming discovery that the cylinder block was beyond further use. A replacement casting was delivered in 2009. Since that time much work has been undertaken in pursuance of the restoration objectives. The cab has been rebuilt involving the replacement of more than half of the platework, particularly the roof, rear of the bunker, side sections and lower leading sections. The windows have been repaired and reglazed. As with Dolobran, the footplating has had to be replaced. The leading bufferbeam valance has also been replaced as the original was deemed to be damaged beyond repair. The

sandboxes have been repaired and their associated linkages remanufactured as originals were missing on the locomotive as it was received. In addition, replacement components such as brake blocks, blastpipe, a water valve and injector bodies have had to be cast (the latter often being tricky components to replace). The tyres have been reprofiled and the crank axle is currently undergoing refurbishment, with this work being approximately 50% complete at the time of writing. Other important aspects of the overhaul completed to date are the fitting of steam heat and vacuum pipework (passenger operation being a particularly important facet of this locomotive’s future, as we shall see); the machining of the new cylinders and a new three-piece chimney, and some necessary work on a basically sound boiler, namely the construction of a new smokebox and associated door and the building up of front tubeplate wastage.

retubing and firebox repairs (early surveys suggest that these will be limited to the replacement of a few stays, subject to insurance approval), and finally the refitting of the boiler to enable test steaming. Of the four locomotives discussed in this feature, Julia with its Easingwold and Wissington ‘lookalike’ properties clearly has the widest potential for inclusion in gala events, both ‘at home’ and as a visitor, for not only does this locomotive fit in appropriately with Manning Wardle No. 2015, it would not be out of place alongside Sir Berkeley or Matthew Murray. One should also not forget other Hudswell ‘celebrities’ and ‘lookalikes’ such as Illingworth (ex-Nidd Valley Light Railway); Rhos (a Hilda lookalike); Alston (a slightly updated Walton Park lookalike); Hamburg and Gothenburg (Manchester Ship Canal 0-6-0Ts; only slightly enlarged versions of a design used by the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway); Lord Mayor (‘10in’ 0-4-0ST; classmate of Wissington Railway Mac), and, of course, surviving sister locomotives Hayle and Wissington. Admittedly not all of these locomotives will be in working order in the foreseeable future, but nonetheless there could be exciting times ahead for Julia in the medium term. Finally, I would like to thank Alan Kemp, Mick Morris, Mark Hellebaut and Mike Fairburn for their help during the preparation of this feature.

‘Dry fitting’

The work remaining to be carried out on Julia includes the refitting of the cylinder block once the new piston rods and valve spindles have been machined; the refitting of the refurbished motion and brake rigging; the ‘dry fitting’ of the boiler to enable the replacement of all associated pipework; the fabrication of a new ashpan; the removal of the boiler to enable the obligatory

Heritage Railway 91

REVIEWS

The Bryngwyn Branch By Dave Southern & John Keylock (softback, Welsh Highland Railway Heritage Group, www.welshhighlandheritage.co.uk 70pp, £15, ISBN 978 0 9930821 0 8).

THE Bryngwyn Branch has recently been in the spotlight with the 2014 National Railway Heritage Awards’ Two Volunteers Award being made to the Welsh Highland Railway Heritage Group for its extensive reconstruction of the original station at Tryfan Junction, as we reported in our last issue. The 2½-mile branch ran from Tryfan Junction to Bryngwyn, primarily to access slate quarries. It also served the communities along the way, and a passenger service was run between 1877 and 1913 by the WHR’s predecessor, the North Wales Narrow Gauge Railways. While the branch is largely forgotten today, and all but unnoticed by the general public, which rides on the restored WHR main line, guidebooks of a century ago recommended its scenic delights including sweeping views across

Colonel Pechot, Tracks to the Trenches

By Sarah Wright (hardback, Birse Press, 260pp, £36.75, ISBN 978 1 901023 01 5) THIS book is a complement to the many books already published about the First World War, marking the centenary of its outbreak. It concentrates on the pre-war origins of the 60cm-gauge military railways which were extensively used by both sides during the conflict. Starting on the Ffestiniog Railway, the story travels via Decauville to Colonel Pechot, who is credited with inventing a form of railway which could deliver arms and goods quickly to where they were required in battle. After this, the format was copied by the Germans, and finally adopted by the British.

Caernarfon and Anglesey. The branch closed in 1936 along with the rest of the WHR. However, the trackbed remains in railway ownership and was transferred to the revivalist company by the receiver of the original company. However, today’s WHR has no plans to rebuild it. Taking into account the appeal of the main line and the cost of running and maintaining it, rebuilding a short branch might well be seen as a drain on resources for little comparative gain. Agreement was reached with the local authorities to convert it into a footpath, which happened in 2011, so WHR passengers who wish to explore it can alight by Tryfan and do so. However, there is a proviso; if current thinking changes and the WHR opts to relay its branch, the footpath scheme should have no features which would act as an Much First World War railway equipment found its way to Britain after the war, but no Pechot materiel made it over here, as the French army kept it all. Meticulously researched and copiously illustrated, this is a fascinating voyage of discovery, which would add much to the reader’s railway knowledge. The distinctive front cover is the product of designer James Albon. A TRUE TREASURE CHEST

BR Steam in Scotland

By George C O’Hara (hardback, Clyard Novella Ltd, 320pp, £25, ISBN 978 0 9530821 3 1) SCOTLAND has always held a unique fascination for the steam enthusiast, and not only because of the scenic grandeur of the landscape. This large book is a photographic record of the steam motive power scene during the first 20 years of the existence of BR’s Scottish Region. This was a period when most of the ancient and underpowered engines,

Locomotives of the Lancashire Central Coalfield

By Alan Davies (softback, Amberley Publishing, 219pp, £15.99, ISBN 978 1 4456 3483 8) THIS publisher is producing a number of books on industrial railways which continue to retain their interest. This volume follows an earlier one on the locomotive shed, yard and workshops at Walkden in Lancashire, and deals with the variety of locomotives to have seen use on what was once a busy and extensive system. The Bridgewater Trustees mineral railways became the Central Railways of the huge Manchester Collieries empire with steep gradients

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requiring powerful engines. There were many Austerity saddle tanks, but some older types as well, and the stars were undoubtedly the ex-North Staffordshire Railway 0-6-2Ts, which worked until the mid1960s, one even in NSR livery, and survives at the Locomotion museum at Shildon. The locos and the collieries they served are described in great detail, and provide a fascinating insight into a railway operation which disappeared almost without trace 40 years ago, yet is fondly remembered. WORKHORSE STALWARTS TRIBUTE

impediment. This A4-size volume is the first to give comprehensive coverage to the branch, and is packed with rare and previously unpublished photographs, along with key historical documents, timetables, diagrams and plans. Despite its promotion to tourists, the branch was scarcely photographed, and so those archive pictures which do survive are priceless. They alone make the cost of this attractive glossy A4-format volume worth the cover price. Separate chapters cover a journey down the line, the historical background, motive power, the passenger years, freight services, working the line’s incline, the quarry feeder tramways, infrastructure and signalling, and the Slate Trail Footpath. The book is dedicated to the typical of the country, were replaced by newer and more powerful engines. Divided into nine chapters, such as motive power depots, junctions, passenger trains, and railtours, this enormous collection of black and white photographs makes for the most complete geographical coverage of BR steam in Scotland. From Duke of Gloucester at Carstairs to the Hawksworth pannier tanks at Dornoch and the wilds of Galloway to the Fife coalfields, it is all here. The reader will be hard pushed to find a junction or locomotive class which is not illustrated, and the author must be commended for his methodical and well thought-out approach to what is a huge subject.

EDITOR’S CHOICE memory of John Keylock, who did so much to begin the restoration of Tryfan Junction and paved the way for the re-use of the branch as a permissive footpath. Richly informative gathering together what sparse information has survived, this volume is a window of a lost piece on classic Snowdonian narrow gauge. It is a must own for anyone seriously interested in the narrow gauge railways of Wales. FASCINATING, ENLIGHTENING HISTORY

The Steam Workshops of the Great Western Railway

By Ken Gibbs (paperback, The History Press, 208pp, £16.99, ISBN 9780750 959124). WRITTEN by a fourth-generation Great Western railwayman, this book reviews a whole network of locomotive workshops and repair facilities spread around Brunel’s burgeoning steam-driven empire, writes Cedric Johns. Most enthusiasts know about Swindon and Wolverhampton, but what of the Taff Vale’s Cardiff works, the South Devon’s at Newton Abbot, or the Cambrian’s locomotive works at Oswestry? Ken Gibbs deals with these and others, illustrated with photographs and detailed drawings. In addition to the Great Western’s divisional works, no fewer than 38 repair and lifting shops are listed, located around the country. They include Hereford, four roads; Aberdare, two roads; Tyseley, transverser access; Westbury, one road; and Gloucester, wheeldrop. For many Great Western fans this book will come as something of an eye-opener and is packed with information, underlining the strength of the railway’s network of repair depots and shed maintenance facilities. Not only that, this book must represent a unique and definitive record of the Great Western’s

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REVIEWS Steam Locomotives of Great Britain (in three parts)

Guides (softback, Locomotion Books, Peelwalls Farm, Ayton, Berwickshire TD14 5RL, telephone, 01890 781064, 64pp each, £6.99 plus £1.50 postage) THESE three pocket guidebooks for the enthusiast mark a development from the first edition published last year and reviewed in Heritage Railway. Following the successful first edition of Steam Locomotives of Great Britain, the standard gauge locomotive section has been split into two separate parts: one for former main line and one for industrial and War Department types. engineering excellence, which was much wider than Swindon. EXHAUSTIVE, COMPREHENSIVE, ENTERTAINING

The Railway Anthology

Compiled by Deborah Manley (hardback, Trailblazer Publications, The Old Manse, Tower Road, Hindhead, Surrey GU26 6SU, www.trailblazer-guides.com 160pp, £9.99, ISBN 978 1 905864 62 1). WHAT a superb, pocket-sized travelling companion for anyone with a passing interest in railways and literature! From Charles Dickens and Lewis Carroll to Second World War Japanese POW Eric Lomax, and from poetry to prose, this is a collection of short pieces from more than 50 writers, all on the theme of railways. Ideal for slipping into a camera bag or holdall, and a brilliant birthday present for enthusiasts of any age, it is also a browsers’ delight that can while away a few

The Eden Valley Railway

By Robert Western (softback, Oakwood Press, 128pp, £9.95, ISBN 0853617358). IF today’s Eden Valley Railway and the Stainmore Railway Company operation at Kirkby Stephen East ever join up, as is the ultimate aim, we will have another major player in the heritage sector. As it is, the former comprises the ‘body’ of such a concern, in terms of its length, while the latter is the ‘head’, with regard to its facilities. What is missing is the ‘neck’, the parcels of former trackbed that need to be bought and relaid. This volume, the second edition of a book first published in 1997, remains the definitive historical account of the Appleby to Kirkby Stephen East line, whose fortunes

The third part also now covers all other gauges from 15in and wider, allowing the inclusion of the Northern Ireland broad gauge engines and, of course, all the Welsh narrow gauge lines. hours as well as a handful of minutes between stops. Evocative, thought-provoking, showcasing the inspiration that railways provided to some of the world’s greatest literary artists, once you get under steam with this one, it is hard to stop! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Diesel Shunters: the Unsung Heroes of Britain’s Railways

by Hugh Llewellyn (softback, Amberley Publishing, 96pp, £14.99, ISBN 978 1 4456 3946 8) THE AUTHOR has travelled throughout Britain to compile this collection of photographs of diesel shunters in all their variety. As well as examples of most classes used on the main line railways since 1940, there are pictures of assorted locomotives both at preserved lines and in industrial locations, some stored or abandoned. It is an important part of the railway were inextricably linked with that of the legendary Stainmore route, which took Penrith to Darlington trains across the Pennines. Mainly a typical, fact-packed Oakwood essential history, the volume outlines the proposals for the railway, its building, the takeover by the Midland Railway, the long-drawn-out losing battle for survival during 1952-62, and the revival. Every bit up to the standards of excellence we have long since come to expect from Oakwood railway histories, this is a perfect introduction and guide to what seems to be one of preservation’s less-visited corners, one which, on the edge of Lakeland, holds out so much promise for the future, if only…

The guides contain all new photographs and are printed on high-quality, non-coated paper so that sightings can still be underlined in time-honoured fashion. CONCISE DEFINITIVE HISTORY scene so often overlooked, but this book certainly shows that there is far more to the humble diesel shunter than sometimes meets the eye. FACT PACKED, THOROUGHLY RECOMMENDED

The Last Days of Steam around Nottingham and Derby from the Bill Reed Collection by Peter Tuffrey (softback, Fonthill Media, 128pp, £16.99, ISBN 978 1 78155 056 4) THIS volume features pictures from the collection of 80-year-old Nottingham railwayman and photographer Bill Reed, with views from the 1940s, 50s and 60s. Many are taken on shed or at Derby Works and show some types of engine which look very unfamiliar today, having been rendered extinct in the early days of British Railways. Others are taken at a variety of lineside locations and these are remarkable for the surprising variety of classes of engine which could be seen at one location until dieselisation took hold, with many older classes quickly withdrawn in the early 1960s. The book will appeal to anyone familiar with the area today, but with such a variety of steam power to be seen there is something for everyone. PRIDE IN INDUSTRIAL PAST

ABSORBING AND INSPIRATIONAL

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Heritage Railway 93

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EDITOR’S CHOICE

The body moulding for the new Hornby S15. ROBIN JONES

S15 is third new Hornby Maunsell locomotive

FOLLOWING the announcement at November’s Warley National Model Railway Exhibition that Hornby is to produce a new Adams Radial tank, Southern followers have been delighted to hear that an S15 4-6-0, also with all-new tooling, is in the Margate manufacturer’s 2015 range. The S15 will be the third Richard Maunsell locomotive produced by Hornby coming after the King Arthur in 2007 and the Schools five years ago. It was Robert Urie who designed the S15s for the LSWR, basing them on the design of his H15 and N15s.

During the First World War, the LSWR manager wanted a modern standard heavy-freight locomotive capable of hauling freight to the south coast ports and west to Exeter, as no other suitable locomotives were to be found on the company’s books. The design was also to power traffic including milk trains, which required fast transit to the dairies in London. S15s and could also be found on occasional passenger work turns alongside H15s. After the Grouping, Maunsell, the Southern Railway’s new chief

mechanical engineer and successor to Urie, added extra S15s, bringing the class number up to 45. He made several improvements to the design, including altering the loading gauge so that they could operate on routes with height and width restrictions, and increasing the boiler pressure. The new locomotives were built at Eastleigh in three batches between February 1920 and December 1936, and were so successful that they continued in operation with the Southern Region until 1966. Crews

regarded them as superb performers and they made their presence felt on heavy night express trains. The S15s were withdrawn between 1962-66, with No. 30837 being the last in service. Seven examples have been preserved, all of which came from Dai Woodham’s scrapyard at Barry. The Hornby S15 will be available with two different cab designs. There will be a choice of flare-sided or straight tenders. An eight-pin DCC socket will be located in the tender. The S15 will retail at £134.99.

SR S15 4-6-0 No. 847 on Freshfield bank on the Bluebell Railway on December 20. PETER HOLLANDS

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All four silver A4s as one set FOR the award-winning Mallard 75 celebrations, of which Hornby was the principal sponsor, two limited-edition sets of all six surviving A4s were produced. One was for the Great Gathering held at the National Railway Museum in York and the other for the Great Goodbye at the Locomotion museum in Shildon. Now Hornby is to produce a third limited-edition A4 set to commemorate the 80th anniversary of this fabulous class. The four locomotives will be the first four members of the class, all of which were turned out in silver livery to match the LNER’s glamourous new ‘Silver Jubilee’ train, so named because it was built in 1935, the year of King George V’s Silver Jubilee. Just 800 pieces of each model of No. 2509 Silver Link, No. 2510 Quicksilver, No. 2511 Silver King and No. 2512 Silver Fox, all of which were purpose-built to haul the new train, will be produced. Silver Link, Quicksilver and Silver Fox, were stationed at King’s Cross while Silver King, was the spare engine and based at Gateshead shed, where it acted as pilot for the Up ‘Jubilee’. Not only were the A4s which were designed to pull it streamlined, but the coaches were too.

Monument to art deco styling

The crack express comprised seven coaches: two twin-set articulated coaches and one triple-set. Painted silver throughout, the train was a monument to the art deco styling of the era. It ran between King’s Cross and Newcastle, an average speed of 67mph, taking four hours to complete the journey. The timing of the ‘Silver Jubilee’ required speeds of 70-75mph to be sustained up the 1-in-200 gradients such as Stoke Bank, with a 235-ton load behind the tender. On the level, the timings called for sustained speeds of 85-90mph. The A4s would be working their hardest at 75mph and above, the

Above: LNER A4 Pacific No. 60019 as No. 2509 SilverLinkat York on July 3, 1988. The late Geoff Drury, who bought Bittern out of service in 1966, had it cosmetically restored as the class doyen, which did not survive. BRIAN SHARPE

Hornby’s A4 issued as SilverFox,the locomotive was originally stationed at King’s Cross. HORNBY opposite of normal conditions on the heavy trains. A trial run was held over the East Coast Main Line on September 27, 1935. Silver Link, then just three weeks out of Doncaster Works, twice reached 112½mph, at Arlesley and Sandy, and maintained an average of 100mph for 43 consecutive miles, setting a new record. The press were invited aboard to experience exactly what an A4 Pacific could do, and was not disappointed. Railway author Cecil J Allen wrote: “To those of us who for many years past have striven to advance the cause of high speed as one of the chief competitive weapons that railways possess in popularising their passenger travel, the introduction of the ‘Silver Jubilee’ express by the LNER marks the most important and decisive step that has yet been taken in this direction in Great Britain. “The service is operated by the first locomotive and train which have been built in this country expressly for highspeed running. The cuts of 67 minutes Down and 66 minutes Up that it

makes below the best previously existing all-the-year-round timings on the London-Newcastle service (a reduction of 22%) in themselves embody a record long-distance acceleration for this country. “The ‘Silver Jubilee’ is also notable as expressing the determination of the LNER, and of Mr HN Gresley, the designer, in particular, to exploit to the full the speed possibilities of steam traction before seeking higher speeds with diesel propulsion.”

Stuff of landmarks and legends

Three days later, the ‘Silver Jubilee’ was launched, and was an overnight success. Silver Link completed the 536½-mile daily return journey for its first 13 trips without any serious mechanical problems. The stuff of landmarks and legends indeed. The ‘Silver Jubilee’ set a new standard for speed in Britain. In January 1937, a fifth A4 appeared in No. 4482 Golden Eagle. It was the first in a new batch for use on both the fastest ordinary expresses and the new ‘Coronation’ express from King’s Cross to Waverley, which commemorated

Train packs remember Second World War heroics A WINSTON Churchill funeral train pack is being issued to commemorate 50 years since the state funeral on January 30, 1965, the subject of a major exhibition in the National Railway Museum at York, as highlighted in the News section. The pack comprises Bulleid unrebuilt Battle of Britain light

Pacific No. 34051 Winston Churchill, with cut-down tender, in BR livery with late crest, Pullman cars Lydia and Perseus and Pullman liveried Southern Railway luggage van S2464, the latter being prop (note existing tooling is being used for the GBL and not strictly as per the prototype van produced with existing tooling

and not an accurate representation of the vehicle used in the train). A 1940 return from Dunkirk train pack includes Hornby’s new Southern Railway 700 class No. 325 with a 14ft wheelbase tender and a three-coach Maunsell low window set in unlined olive green.

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the ascension of King George VI and was based on the ‘Silver Jubilee’ but with a blue two-tone livery. Sadly, none of the silver four survived. It seems unbelieveable today, but British Railways preferred to see Silver Link scrapped than accept a bid from a preservationist following its withdrawal in 1963. Individually, the Hornby silver four will retail for £144.89, with the complete set listed on the Hornby website at £579.99. Continuing the rich East Coast Main Line vein of the 2015 ranger, there will also a new set of five ‘all-steel’ K-type Pullman carriages. These will be Third Class Kitchen Car No. 72, Third Class Parlour Car No. 73, Brake Third No. 79, First Class Kitchen Car Loraine and First Class Parlour Car Agatha, each retailing for £49.99. Set to be released around the middle of spring, and benefitting from the latest advances in laser scanning the originals to produce ever finer-detailed models, extra refinements will include table lamps will be illuminated by LEDs as opposed to the previous fibre optics.

A ‘Black Five’ and three LMS coaches will comprise the Going Home – 1945-2015: 70th Anniversary of the end of the Second World War limited-edition train pack. The Churchill pack will cost £239.99, the Dunkirk pack £249.99 and the Going Home pack £289.99. HORNBY Heritage Railway 95

SCALE HERITAGE RAILWAY

Gresley LNER tank makes its debut AS well as more examples of the LNER’s finest in the form of the four silver A4s, the new Hornby range will include the Big Four’s humble J50 0-60T, which was adopted as a Group Standard design. The Great Northern Railway Class J23 tanks were designed by Gresley in 1913 for working steep routes in the West Riding, replacing traditional saddle tanks. The long side tanks were sloped forward to avoid obstructing the driver’s view, and led to the locomotives’ nickname Submarine. They also had a recess cut in the sides to aid maintenance. Forty were built by the Great Northern Railway (GNR) between 1913-22, with a further 62 being added by the LNER between 1924-39, all at Doncaster apart from the final 14. The LNER divided them into two classes, the J51s with smaller boilers, and J50s with larger boilers. All Class J51 were rebuilt to class J50 between 1929-35. Within the J50 class, there were further subclasses. In the 1930s there had been a falloff in medium-sized shunting locomotive construction. The LNER kept planning new J50s, cancellations due to the Depression and various financial crises led to no new J50s between 1930-38. For the LNER, the problem was not solved until the post-war purchase of 75 J94 Austerity 0-6-0STs. All of the J50s survived into British Railways ownership. The allocations in 1948 were to Ardsley, Bradford,

Copley Hill, Doncaster, Colwick, Frodingham, Stratford, Woodford, Annesley, Sheffield, St. Margaret’s, and Eastfield. Most were still allocated in the West Riding, with lesser numbers further afield. In 1952, 30 J50s were allocated to Hornsey to work transfer trips to the Southern Region. These locomotives were also occasionally used on empty coach workings between Hornsey and King’s Cross. Very useful locomotives with a BR power classification of 4F, it was only the arrival of diesel shunters that displaced them. The first was withdrawn in September 1963 and all were taken out of regular service by September 1963, leaving only seven Departmental engines. The last of these seven was withdrawn in September 1965, when Departmental No. 14 (68961) was scrapped. In the spring of 2013, an enthusiast group began discussing a new-build project based around a J50/2 numbered 68905. Whether it happens or not, Hornby’s J50 will appear in both in LNER and BR black liveries, the latter with late and early crest liveries with detail variations, including the bunker. Set to appear in the autumn arrival, the J50 is set to be a popular addition to many a layout containing more glamorous East Coast motive power. A DCC socket will be provided with provision for an eight-pin chip to be installed.

Two Gresley J50 0-6-0Ts at Haringey West station on the East Coast Main Line on April 9, 1960. The great Ferme Park yards are just ahead and the engines have probably come over the flyover between the Down and Up yards in order to go on to Hornsey Locomotive Depot, from which many of these 0-6-0Ts worked in the 1950s. Leading is No. 68896 (one of the earlier GNR J23 series with smaller boiler) built in March 1914. Behind is No. 68975, built in March 1930 as LNER J50/3 No. 2792. BEN BROOKSBANK/CREATIVE COMMONS

A sample body moulding for the new Hornby J50. ROBIN JONES

High Brooms in Skaledale

Adams and Drummond boilers on radial tanks! LAST year, Hornby broke with tradition and announced some items from the forthcoming range a month early, at the Warley National Model Railway Exhibition in November. As reported in issue 197, one of the items was the LSWR Adams radial tank, an early production sample pictured here. Introduced in 1882 for suburban work, just as a trio of Beattie well tanks became synonymous with freight on the tightly curving Wenford branch in Cornwall, so the of the 4-4-2Ts acquired fame for their use on the

96 Heritagerailway.co.uk

steep and similarly sharp Lyme Regis branch, working there until 1961. Hornby is to produce both Drummond and Adams boiler variants with appropriate chimney alterations. The first members of the class to appear will be No. 488 in LSWR livery, the sole survivor which is based on the Bluebell Railway with an Adams boiler, No. 30584 in BR early emblem livery with an Adams boiler and No. 30582 in BR late emblem livery with a Drummond boiler. Expect them in the stores in time for Christmas. ROBIN JONES

ONE of the latest additions to Hornby’s Skaledale range of finescale resin buildings is High Brooms station. The station on the Hastings Line, serves High Brooms, a suburb on the northern side of Tunbridge Wells. It was originally opened in 1893 as Southborough by the South Eastern Railway and it acquired its

present name in 1925. It is situated on a five-mile gradient from the north of the station. The main station buildings are on the northbound platform. There is a closed waiting room on the southbound platform. A subway links the two platforms. The station is listed at £49.99 while platform building retails at £35.99. HORNBY

The new Hornby LMS horsebox was announced at the Warley National Model Railway Exhibition in November. ROBIN JONES

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PLATFORM

READERS’ LETTERS AT THE HEART OF THE HERITAGE RAILWAY SCENE

TRACK TALK ➜ Scots at St Pancras IN Brian Sharpe’s piece in issue 196, “Scot from St Pancras”, reference is made to four members of the class working Nottingham services at the end of the steam era. It may well be that four of the class were allocated to the Midland Lines at this time, but I have records taken from personal observations showing that between June 1961 and August 1962, 63 Royal Scot workings were noted over this route, covering 30 members of the class. Many were ‘one off’ sightings which centred around the Manchester Piccadilly to St Pancras service that was due to arrive in London about 5pm. This was one of the services that were diverted away from Euston during the modernisation of that station. No. 46112 Sherwood Forester (which had almost certainly lost its nameplates by then) and No. 46149 The Middlesex Regiment were the most prolific sightings, with No. 46115 itself being noted on seven occasions. No. 46115 (double headed by No. 45017) was also noted at St Pancras on May 24, 1963, having arrived with a special from Manchester, and No. 46155 The Lancer left St Pancras on September 19, 1964 with ‘The Pennine Limited’ railtour. Tony Elliott, email ➜ Atlantic wheels I AM a subscriber to Heritage Railway and look forward to it dropping through my letterbox each month. I think it’s the best on the market. However, one small item on page 85 of issue 197 is of concern to me, as I have ordered the LNER version of Ivatt Atlantic No. 251. I notice that the rear bogie pair of wheels have 10 spokes, and appear to be of greater diameter, compared to the front pair, which only have nine spokes. Surely this is a mistake by the artist (Jonathan Clay). I am also a railway artist, and yes, I am nit picking, as I do admire Jonathan’s work. Keep up the good work. Jayne Kerys Edwards, email ➜ All-new cylinders JuST for the record, Betton Grange is not the first new-build GWR locomotive with completely new cylinders (issue 197, page 11). Of the new builds at Didcot, broad gauge locomotive Fire Fly and Saint No. 2999 Lady of Legend have both had new cylinders manufactured and fitted. Peter Chatman, Saint project engineer, Great Western Society Ltd, Didcot Railway Centre ➜ Remembering David I WOuLD like to thank you for running the obituary for my late father David Huntley (issue 197, page 35). This was appreciated by all the family and I would like to thank Dick Wood for putting this together for us. The photograph was from dad’s private collection and not the SDR as credited. Dave Huntley (Jnr), email

98 Heritagerailway.co.uk

STAR LETTER

Western Champion and Churchill’s funeral train People watch from a garden as Winston Churchill’s funeral train passes by on January 30, 1965. While the funeral was a significant state occasion, it was also an opportunity for ordinary people to pay their own personal respects. The funeral was watched on television by millions across the globe, while thousands lined the trackside to watch as the train steamed by. As highlighted in our news section, the cosmetically restored Battle of Britain Pacific No. 34051 SirWinston Churchill will form the centrepiece of a major new exhibition about the funeral train, opening at the National Railway Museum, in York, on January 30. NRM

IN Platform issue 197, there is a letter from Alan Dibb about the Churchill funeral train. While the letter contains some interesting information, regrettably some of it is incorrect. He refers to the train being pulled from Basingstoke by a Western hydraulic, which is not true. The train was pulled all the way to Handborough in Oxfordshire by Battle of Britain class Pacific No. 34051 Winston Churchill, and there are several published photographs of the train at Handborough having arrived behind this locomotive. It is true that a Western class loco pulled the train on its return journey, with D1015 Western Champion (since preserved) taking the train back to London, though to Paddington, not Waterloo, from which it originated. There are no

photographs that I know about of the return journey, as it was almost dark by the time the train left Oxfordshire. However, there are some photos of D1015 on the train at Handborough, two black and white ones in the collection of the Oxford Bus Museum, now based at Hanborough station (the spelling has changed since 1965), and there is a colour photo of D1015 about to leave the station at the head of the train, used as the July page in the 2009 calendar within issue 174 of Modern Locomotive Illustrated. Mr Dibb also mentions a problem with opening the doors of the hearse van on arrival, and this is certainly true. However, according to my information the cause was not as stated by Mr Dibb (which actually doesn’t make sense, not least because the dignitaries would not

have been in the hearse van), but because the weight of pall bearers tilted the van to one side, towards the ramp. The problem was remedied by removing the first part of the ramp outside, so that the outwardopening doors could be opened before the ramp was replaced. This information came from a railwayman who was involved in the unloading and who had arranged for six platelayers to be on standby in case of problems, and they moved the ramp. I have made a study of the Churchill funeral train and written an article about it for a journal called The Golden Way, published by The Pullman Society, of which I am a member. The article will appear in the next issue, being distributed to members in January. Nicolas Wheatley MSc, Cheltenham

‘Bloomer’ livery mistake again compounded DERRICK Martin has, albeit unknowingly, perpetuated another historical myth in Platform, issue 197. The ‘Bloomer’ 2-2-2s of the Southern Division of the LNWR were never vermilion, but were painted in the standard Brunswick green livery used for all engines until late in 1860, when McConnell began to use Foulger’s metallic oxide paint. “Almost certainly this was the famous red livery of his last few months (on the LNWR). It was described by Ahrons as ‘brick red’ - a term he also used for the Midland and Furness Railway colours - and by Bowen Cooke as ‘a kind of plum colour’. Evidence from surviving tender frames supports the view that the red livery... “was darker and browner than the legendary vermilion, which... got into the history books by mistake”. (Harry Jack, The

LNWR Bloomers, Premier Portfolio No. 6, L&NWR Society 1988). It is likely that only a handful of engines appeared in the Indian red livery before the abolition of the Southern Division Locomotive Department and Crewe’s resumption of the Brunswick green livery, which had also been the Northern Division colour and became standard on the whole of the LNWR until Webb changed it to black in 1873. The first reference to vermilion as the Southern Division colour was in the Locomotive Magazine of 1898, and apparently came from a careless copying of a reference in the English Mechanic magazine of 1879, which describes the shade as ‘rich red’ and might be a misprint for ‘brick red’. F Moore clearly used the Locomotive Magazine article as the basis for the vermilion ‘Extra Large

The replica LNWR ‘Bloomer’ inside Tyseley Locomotive Works – progress on which is being made as time and available funds permit. ROBIN JONES Bloomer’ depicted in the famous painting acquired by the Science Museum in 1949 and reproduced countless times since. All a big mistake - that’s how myths can become ‘history’. Peter Davis, Fishponds, Bristol

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Build more Victorian engines and a ‘Hush Hush’ THE heritage railways of Britain are second to none, but they all appear to be lacking in one area. Just take a look at page 100 of the last issue of Heritage Railway. An advertisement for a future event at the Swedish Railway Museum whereby eight locomotives will be in steam - all built before 1915 and the earliest three dated 1856, 1866 and 1876 - all British built. The photograph depicts what is missing from our railways. While we have the Lion, built in 1838, this priceless historic piece is never likely to steam again, but we could produce a new-build replica and also several other examples from 1840-70s. After this present round of new builds for main line use, could we concentrate on filling the missing gaps on our historic railways? Furthermore, the P2 Trust is looking for a new project for its design team to start in 2016.

The other great Gresley experiment was the ‘Hush Hush’ locomotive No. 10000. Although not a great success, it was certainly in keeping with the other Mark Allatt creations in appearance. It had many failings and spent much time in the workshops for repairs and modifications, but then the project team has overcome problems with the P2 such as the failing crank shaft and several other modifications. The high-pressure water tube boiler was a one off in the UK, but the design was very similar to the Brotan boilers used by MAV, the Hungarian State Railways, and various other continental railways. Derrick Martin, Hornchurch, Essex. ➜ Any new-build project will be as successful only as much as its ability to raise funds, and that depends on first and foremost mustering a large groundswell of public support, as has been the case with Tornado and now the P2 – editor.

Is everything streamlined?

THE C38 Pacific on page 34 (issue 197) is referred to as ‘streamlined’. If that is so then what do we call the carapace of an A4? If the lines of a C38 are intended to reduce air resistance and smoke clinging to the sides then why did Gresley go to all the trouble to incorporate a body for the A4s made up of smooth curves? Perhaps all this is a hangover from the time when ‘streamline’ was applied to everything from toothbrushes to trains to mean modern, but not always having anything to do with the way streamlines flow smoothly around a moving body. LFE Coombs, London

TRACK TALK

Nigel Gresley’s unique LNER W1 4-6-4 No. 10000 (also known as the ‘HushHush’, due to its secrecy and ‘Galloping Sausage’, due to its shape) pictured in 1931. Should a new one be built?

Wrong angle

AFTER reading the very interesting account of the restoration of Edward Sholto - the quarry Hunslets are all so charismatic - I felt it a pity about the photo at the head of page 73 and that ‘extension’ to the chimney due to the unfortunate camera angle; some of railway photographers of the past must surely be turning in their graves! Regardless, the magazine is still a great read without any of the sensationalism seen elsewhere. Gordon F Avis, EMAIL

Teign Valley a non-starter for Dawlish bypass I REFER to the letter from Ray King, from Diss, in the last issue, concerning a line to avoid Dawlish via Heathfield. It sounds quite simple to reinstate this route. However, I would suggest that some major obstacles would need to be addressed. Marsh Barton, Exeter: part of the former embankment has been removed and replaced with a Sainsbury’s car park and a link road and roundabout. Chudleigh area: while you can still

trace the old track bed (heading towards Exeter) from a minor road, in the Newton Abbot direction it is now firmly beneath the A38 expressway, and I would suggest this is a major problem. In addition to these I seem to recall a local television report that a small single line tunnel was in danger of collapse. Yes, I understand that Meldon Viaduct is a major issue. However, they said many years ago that the Ribblehead Viaduct was a factor in

wanting to close the line. It is still in use today. The route via Okehampton is so much simpler. All this country’s rail problems have been created by politicians. They attempted to run a train via Tavistock after the line was closed only to find the signalling was gone. Today, after saying ‘money is no object’ to replace the line, it is now subject to lengthy reports, which will take years to implement. DJ Tozer, email

On December 21, First Great Western provided Class 150 railcar No. 150234 for six Santa special return trips from Newton Abbot to Heathfield, over the surviving section of the GWR Moretonhampstead branch, followed by one return trip with no Santa for other passengers. Proceeds were donated to the Dame Hannah Rogers Trust, which helps children, young people and adults with physical and learning disabilities. A failed bid to save the Moretonhampstead branch was the earliest attempt to set up a heritage line in South Devon and preceded the formation of the Dart Valley Railway. Bovey Tracey station is now a heritage centre. No. 150234 is seen passing the Teigngrace timber loading area and approaching Teignbridge crossing with the 2Z54 1.55pm special. DAVID HUNT Write to us: Heritage Railway, Mortons Media Ltd, PO Box 43, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6LZ.

➜ Ivatt tanks and those chimneys THe letter and accompanying photograph of Ivatt 2 MT 2-6-2T No. 41298 by Mr Fairchild (Platform, issue 195) has prompted me to write. Ashford station was served by a busy five-way junction. We also had Kimberley running shed (74A) that supplied motive power for local goods and passenger duties. Indeed, an excellent location for a 1950s trainspotter. Of the Horwich-built, tall and narrow, single-walled chimney batch Nos. 41290-41319 mentioned, we received our first two Ivatt examples in February 1955 – No. 41294 (ex 73A Stewarts Lane) and No. 41303 (ex 73e Faversham). Other examples followed in June 1959 – Nos. 4130813, all from 73e. However, their stay was brief with all examples dispersed by December 1959. I thought they looked hideous and it would appear BR authorities had also noticed this strange appendage. I can remember reading a 1950s Trains Illustrated article stating that circa 1949 all subsequent batches of both Ivatt variants ( i.e 2-6-0s and 2-6-2Ts) would be attired with doublewalled chimneys. The reason was purely for the sake of aesthetics. I have a photograph of Ivatt 2-6-2 No. 41301 taken at Tunwells West Station on September 1, 1952 sporting a wellendowed tall double-wall chimney. The assumption was that all the single-wall chimneys would be replaced as the locomotives went through their first general overhaul. However, as with No. 41298, not all of the class were modified, then to complicate matters further in the 1950s BR designed a third short-type chimney for the class with improved draughting arrangements. In my opinion these were the most attractive. It should be noted that No. 41298 now has the short modified chimney necessary to fit inside the restricted Isle of Wight loading gauge. SE Black, Tenterden ➜ Shed access does have problems FURTHeR to Michael Johnson’s letter in issue 197, I would support improved reasonable access to loco sheds. However, I realise the problems that heritage railways experience in these litigious days. To say there are no accidents is not true. I remember visiting Didcot some years ago and witnessing a gentleman in the shed walking backwards to frame a locomotive in the entrance. Unfortunately, he took a step too far and disappeared into the pit. While he survived the incident intact, his camera struck the edge of the pit a severe blow and suffered a traumatic amputation of lens from camera body! Alan Campbell, Halesowen

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UP & RUNNING Railway Museums Beamish County Durham. The Living Museum of the North. Open: W/Es, Tues-Thurs.

Cambrian Railways Museum Oswestry station. Open: Tues-Sun. Tel: 01691 688763.

Col. Stephens Railway Museum Tenterden Station, Kent. Open: W/Es. Tel: 01580 765155.

Conwy Valley Railway Museum Betws-y-coed, Conwy. Open: Daily. Tel: 01690 710568.

Crewe Heritage Centre Vernon Way, Crewe. Open: W/Es + B/H. Tel: 01270 212130.

Head of Steam North Road Station, Darlington. Open: Wed-Sun. Tel: 01325 460532.

Museum Of Scottish Railways

NER-designed J72 0-6-0T No. 69023 approaches Newton-le-Willows on the Wensleydale Railway after the first snowfall of the winter on December 15. MAURICE BURNS

Bo’ness. Open: Daily Apr-Oct. Tel: 01506 825855.

Irchester Narrow Gauge Railway Museum Near Wellingborough, Northants. Open: Suns. Tel: 01604 675368.

Kidderminster Railway Museum Kidderminster, Worcestershire. Open: SVR operating days. Tel: 01562 825316.

Locomotion: The National Railway Museum At Shildon Co Durham. Open: Daily. Tel: 01388 777999.

London Transport Museum Covent Garden Piazza. Open: Sun-Thurs. Tel: 0207 379 6344.

Manchester Museum of Science & Industry Castlefield, Manchester. Open: Daily. Tel: 0161 832 2244.

Midsomer Norton Silver Street, Midsomer Norton. Open: Suns/Mons. Tel: 01761 411221.

Monkwearmouth Station Museum Sunderland, County Durham. Open: Daily. Tel: 01915 677075.

National Railway Museum Leeman Road, York. Open: Daily. Tel: 01904 621261.

Penrhyn Castle Industrial Railway Museum Bangor, Gwynedd. Open: Daily except Tues.

Shillingstone Station Shillingstone, Dorset. Open: Sat, Sun and Wed. Tel: 01258 860696.

Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust Washford, Somerset. Open: Weekends. Tel: 01984 640869.

STEAM – Museum of the GWR Swindon, Wilts. Open: Daily, Jan 1, 5-9. Tel: 01793 466646.

St Albans South Signalbox & Museum St Albans City station. Tel: 01727 863131.

Ulster Folk & Transport Museum Cultra, Co Down. Open: Tues-Sun.

Vintage Carriage Museum Ingrow, West Yorks. Open: Daily. Tel: 01535 680425.

Yeovil Railway Centre Yeovil Junction, Somerset. Open: Certain Sundays and special events.

100 Heritage Railway

BRIAN SHARPE’S FULL LISTING OF OPERATIONAL LINES AND MUSEUM VENUES SOUTH EAST Bentley Miniature Railway

Narrow gauge, one mile, Bentley Wildfowl & Motor Museum, East Sussex. www.bentleyrailway.co.uk Running: W/Es.

Bluebell Railway

Standard gauge, 11 miles, footplate experience, wine & dine, Sheffield Park, East Sussex TN22 2QL. Tel: 01825 720800. www.bluebell-railway.co.uk Engines: 847, 263, 1638, 178, B473, 323, 592, 5643. Running: W/Es from Jan 31.

Eastleigh Lakeside Railway

Narrow gauge, 1¼ miles, footplate experience. Running: W/Es + school holidays.

Hastings Miniature Railway

Narrow gauge, 600 yards, Rock a Nore Road, Hastings, East Sussex Running: W/Es + school holidays.

Lavender Line

Standard gauge, one mile, footplate experience, wine & dine, Isfield, East Sussex. Tel: 01825 750515. www.lavender-line.co.uk Running: Suns.

SOUTH WEST Moors Valley Railway

Narrow gauge, one mile, Ringwood, Hants. Tel: 01425 471415. www.moorsvalleyrailway.co.uk Running: W/Es + school holidays.

EAST ANGLIA East Anglian Railway Museum

Standard gauge, ¼ mile, Wakes Colne, Essex. Tel: 01206 242524. www.earm.co.uk Open: Daily.

Mangapps Railway

Standard gauge, one mile, near Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex. Tel: 01621 784898. www.mangapps.co.uk Running: Feb W/Es.

Nene Valley Railway

Standard gauge, 7½ miles, footplate experience, Wansford, Peterborough, Cambs. Tel: 01780 784444. www.nvr.org.uk Running: Suns.

Whitwell & Reepham Railway

Standard gauge, ¼ mile, Reepham, Norfolk. Tel: 01603 871694. www.whitwellstation.com Running: W/Es, (steam: first Sunday).

MIDLANDS Barrow Hill Roundhouse

Standard gauge, ¼ mile, Chesterfield, Derbyshire. Tel: 01246 472450. www.barrowhill.org.uk Open: W/Es.

Evesham Vale Railway

Narrow gauge, 1¼ mile, A46 north of Evesham, Worcs. Tel: 01386 422282. Running: W/Es.

Great Central Railway

Standard gauge, eight miles, Loughborough, Leics LE11 1RW. Tel: 01509 230726. www.gcrailway.co.uk Engines: 48624, 47406, 46521, 78019, 777, 70013, 92214. Running: W/Es + Jan 30.

Peak Rail

Standard gauge, four miles, Matlock, Derbyshire. Tel: 01629 580381. Running: W/Es.

NORTH WEST East Lancashire Railway

Standard gauge, 12 miles, footplate experience, Bury, Lancs. Tel: 01617 647790. www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk Engines: 13065, 80080, 12322, 44871, 45407, 61994. Running: W/Es.

Manchester Museum of Science & Industry

Standard gauge, ½ mile, driver experience, Castlefield, Manchester. Tel: 0161 832 2244. Open: Daily.

NORTH EAST Appleby Frodingham Railway Preservation Society

Standard gauge, 15 miles, Scunthorpe Steelworks, North Lincs. Tel: 01652 657053. www.afrps.co.uk Running: Feb 7.

Bowes Railway

Standard gauge, one mile, Springwell, Tyne & Wear. Tel: 01914 161847. Open: W/Es.

Keighley & Worth Valley Railway

Standard gauge, five miles, Haworth, West Yorkshire. Engines: 45305, 43924, 5820, 34092, 90733, 75078. Tel: . Running: W/Es.

North Tyneside Railway

Standard gauge, two miles. North Shields. Tel: 0191 200 7146. www.ntsra.org.uk Open: W/Es.

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Heritage Railway 101

STAY A WHILE

The Snug Cottage & Chapel View Cottage The cottages are in the heart of Haworth, the nerve centre of the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, and is just two minutes’ walk from the main street and railway station.

This heritage village, with its cobbled streets and independent shops, is on the edge of Yorkshire’s industrial West Riding, a short drive to Skipton  ‘The Gateway to The Yorkshire Dales’, a perfect base for exploring the area. The rugged surrounding moorland inspired the talented Brontë family, who wrote their muchloved novels at the parsonage now a museum near to The Snug Cottage. Also nearby is Haworth Old Hall, a recommended

pub/restaurant dating back to circa 1580 and there are many other character pubs and cafes. Myriad local walks crisscross the surrounding landscape. A wellbehaved dog will love the open moorland and is welcome to share a holiday at The Snug Cottage. In addition to the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, there is lots more to interest the rail buff, with the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway in neighbouring Wharfedale, in Leeds the historic Middleton Railway, the Kirklees Light Railway and, of course, the National Railway Museum in York. At nearby Bradford, there’s free admission to both the National Media Museum and the Bradford Industrial Museum.

The Snug Cottage

This comfortable 18th century stone built terrace cottage is ideal for long or short breaks, offering as it does a happy blend of stylish modern features with wooden beams and all the original character. Set out over three floors, it offers a well equipped kitchen diner and living room with cosy woodburner starter

H AWO RT H

Chapel View cottage

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Mr & Mrs L Usher 07999 820558

This comfortable 19th century stone built terrace cottage is ideal for long or short breaks, offering as it does a happy blend of stylish modern features with wooden beams and all the original character. Centrally heated, there are three floors, with a wellequipped ground floor dining kitchen, first floor sitting room with cosy woodburner and above, a delightful double bedroom and modern bathroom.

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Heritage Railway 105

THE MONTH AHEAD

LMS 4F 0-6-0 No. 43924 approaches Oxenhope on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway on December 29. DAVE RODGERS

The 2015 gala season begins...

January is traditionally the heritage lines’ quietest month, with volunteers and locomotives needing a well-earned break after the Christmas season. By the end of the month though, the gala season is getting into full swing with the East Lancashire and Great Central railways getting the ball rolling as usual. Unfortunately BR Standard 9F 2-10-0 No. 92212 will not be available to visit Lancashire as expected, but another goods engine, resident LMS 8F 2-8-0 No. 48624, will be the centre of attention in Leicestershire as it sheds its maroon livery for authentic dirty BR black.

Happy New Year From Issue 199 is out on February 12 2015 Catch up with the latest news, views and great features every four weeks. 106 Heritagerailway.co.uk

30 – Feb 1: Great Central Railway: Winter Steam Gala ■

SPECIAL EVENTS January

10: East Lancashire Railway: Diesel Day ■ 17, 18: East Lancashire Railway: Steam Gala ■ The locomotive line-up for this event includes LMS ‘Crab 2-6-0 No. 13065, L&Y 0-6-0 No. 12322, LNER K4 2-6-0 No. 61994 The Great Marquess, BR Standard 2-6-4T No. 80080, LMS ‘Black Five’ 4-6-0s Nos. 44871 and 45407, and Peckett 0-4-0ST May. There will be goods trains, on which brakevan rides are available, double heading and banking. There will also be 3P20 Parcels Group photographic experiences at Buckley Wells Shed on Friday evening and along the line on Monday, which must be booked in advance.

KEY ■ Major or featured galas

This event will take place over three days with guest locomotives No. 7820 Dinmore Manor and 0-6-0PT No. 1501. BR Standard Britannia Pacific No. 70013 Oliver Cromwell will attend, and LMS 8F 2-8-0 No. 48624 will run in BR weathered black condition – with five locomotives in steam on Friday and eight over the weekend. On Saturday evening the renowned GCR Twilight Show returns. From 4.30pm, as dusk falls, there will be an intense period of activity at Quorn & Woodhouse station, including freight trains and a night-time nonstop mail drop by the Travelling Post Office train. The show is fully narrated with the sounds of the block bells from the signalbox also relayed over speakers, while a number of locomotives will be turned on the turntable

■ Diesel and/or electric galas

February

13-15: Mid Hants Railway: Steam Gala 14, 15: Locomotion Shildon: Winter Gala 21, 22: Churnet Valley Railway: Steam Gala 21, 22: Llangollen Railway: Days Out with Thomas ■ 21, 22: Nene Valley Railway: 35A New England Winter Steam 27 – Mar 1: Keighley & Worth Valley Railway: Steam Gala

RAILWAYANA JANUARY

31: Great Northern Railwayana, Poynton

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