Heritage Railway 210 2015-12

WEST COAST RAILWAYS AND DRIVER PROSECUTED OVER SPAD

ISSUE 210

December 17 – January 13, 2016

‘

NRM IN £78M

KING S CROSS OF ’ THE NORTH SCHEME ’

FLOUR MILL HOLDS

FIRST GALA!

„ WSR ASSOCIATION TRUSTEES TOLD TO QUIT  BY THEIR 'OWN' REPORT „ FLYING SCOTSMAN:

MORE REGENERATIONS THAN DR WHO

2 Heritagerailway.co.uk

OPINION

The locomotive that is all set to take 2016 by storm: Flying Scotsman, still in its wartime black livery, undergoes a gauging examination at Ian Riley’s Bury Works on November 11. See Headline News, pages 6 and 7, and feature, pages 66-71. NRM

The year of Flying Scotsman 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 Designer Tim Pipes Reprographics Paul Fincham, Jonathan Schofield Production editors Sarah Palmer, Sarah Wilkinson Publisher Tim Hartley Editorial address Heritage Railway magazine, Mortons Media Ltd, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6LZ Website www.heritagerailway.co.uk

ADVERTISING

Advertising representative Helen R Martin 01507 529310 [email protected] Divisional advertising manager Sue Keily [email protected]

Circulation manager Steve O’Hara Marketing manager Charlotte Park Subscription manager Paul Deacon Commercial director Nigel Hole Publishing director Dan Savage

SUBSCRIPTION

Full subscription rates (but see page 30 for offer): (12 months 12 issues, inc post and packing) - UK £55.90. Export rates are also available - see page 30 for more details. UK subscriptions are zero-rated for the purposes of Value Added Tax. Enquires: [email protected]

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS

Contributions to this magazine should be clearly typed and, ideally, accompanied by a copy on computer disc, in either ASCII or Mac format. Photographs (prints and transparencies) should be clearly marked with the contributor’s name and address, and are submitted at the owner’s risk. Mortons Media Group Ltd cannot be held responsible for loss or damage, however caused. All submissions must include an appropriate SAE for the return of all material. Opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the editor or his staff. © Mortons Media Group Ltd.

ARCHIVE

Enquiries Jane Skayman 01507 529423 [email protected]

DISTRIBUTION & PRINTING

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage retrieval system without prior permission in writing from the publisher. ISSN No 1466-3560

Distribution COMAG, Tavistock Road, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7QE, 01895 433600 Printing William Gibbons & Sons, Wolverhampton

Independent publishers since 1885

MORTONS MEDIA GROUP LTD

Having trouble finding a copy of this magazine?

Published Every four weeks on a Thursday. Advert deadline December 23, 2015 Next issue on sale January 14, 2016

Member of the Professional Publishers’ Association

WE’VE hadfalsestartsbefore,butI’mmakingthis statementhavingeveryounceofconfidenceinIanRiley’s crackengineeringteam:2016willbetheyearof FlyingScotsman. ItisnownotjustweBritswhoaresayingitisthemost famouslocomotiveintheworld,butthewholeplanet. ThemediafrenzyhasbegunbeforeScotsman hasturned awheelunderitsownpower,withticketsselling-out everywhereitisplannedtogo. AswiththeNationalRailwayMuseum’s award-winning Mallard75celebrations,thiswillbetheoccasionthatwill turnthegeneralpublicatlargeontoourproudsteamand railwayheritage.AshappenedwhentheA3madeitslast mainlinecomeback,peoplewhonormallydon’thavethe slightestinterestinrailwayswillturnouttoseeit. Weliveinacelebrityculture,andoursectorisaboutto givethepeoplewhattheywant.Itisabrilliantopportunity forheritagerailwaysandmuseums,bigandsmall,toentice thepublicwhiletheyareinareceptivemood.Occasions ofsuchmagnitudearetodayfewandfarbetween,and allvenuesshoulddowhattheycantofollowtheleadset bytheNationalRailwayMuseumwithitsmagnificent programmeofeventstomarktheoccasion. Indeed,therewillbemuchtosavourin2016,notleast theSwanageRailway’s firstregularDMUservicesto Wareham,beginningonJune22:I’vealreadygotmyeye onaholidaycottage. ThefinalreturnofFlyingScotsman,followingan expensiveoverhaulwill,hopefully,drawalineundera problematicchapterintheNRM’s history. Hopefully,2016mayalsoseeaconclusiontotherunning sorethathasbesettheWestSomersetRailway(WSR)for thepasttwoyears,namelythedisputebetweentheline’s plccompanyanditssupportingassociation. TheWSRis Britain’s longeststandardgaugeheritagelineandoneof thefinestintheworld. Thepreservationmovementisabroadchurch,andthose whohavethestrengthandcourageoftheirconvictions tovolunteeronourrailwaysdonotalwaysseeeyetoeye.

However,whatevertherightandwrongoneitherside,the netresulthereisanimagepresentedtothepublicofgrown menfightingoveratrainset. Theassociationaccededtothewishesofitsmembership andcommissionedanindependentreviewintoits procedures.Theassociationevenchoseandappointeda chairmantohandlethereview.Nowthereportfromthat reviewhasbeenpublished,theassociation’s chairman saysheis“disappointed”withitsconclusionsand recommendations;moststrikingbeingthatthegroup’s trusteesshouldallstanddown. Thewords“fromthehorse’s mouth”comeimmediately tomind.Iftheassociationnowdecidesnottoacceptthe adviceofitsownreview,atextbookcaseofcredibility evaporationwillsurelyfollow. TheSPADnear-misscaseatRoyalWoottonBassettin March,theresultofaWestCoastRailways’staffmember switchingoffTangmere’s TPWSapparatus,willnowlead totheprosectionofboththeCarnforthoperatorandthe driver.Sincetheincident, WestCoasthasbeenworking withthestatutoryauthoritiestoimplementexactingsafety procedures,buttheOfficeofRail&Roadactedagain inNovemberafteritwasfoundthatTPWShadbeen de-activatedduringalightenginemove. AProhibitionNoticewassubsequentlyservedonWest Coastbanningthemovementofsteamenginesnotfitted withapparatustopreventthedisconnectionofTPWS. Yetperhapsthesamenoticeshouldandcouldhavebeen issuednationwidetoallTrainOperatingCompanies, whetherornottheyemploytractioninspectorsas additionalwatchdogs? Intheory,whilethereisroomforhumanerror,similar incidentscouldoccurwithstaffemployedbyany operator,notjustWestCoast.Thereisasimplemeansof guaranteeing100%thatthisvitalequipmentcannotbe switchedoff,anditmustbeinstalledacrosstheboard. Thepublicdeservesnoless. Robin Jones Editor Heritagerailway.co.uk 3

CONTENTS ISSUE 210

December 17 – January 13, 2016

News

6 HEADLINE NEWS

6

West Coast facing prosecutions over Wootton Bassett SPAD; Great Central Railway takes over responsibility for new Loughborough bridge from Network Rail; the world now agrees that Flying Scotsman is the most famous locomotive of all time; latest on Scotsman comeback events at the National Railway Museum; top national awards for Mid Hants, North Yorkshire Moors and Wensleydale railways’ building projects.

18 NEWS

10

National Railway Museum to become part of £78 million‘King’s Cross of the North’redevelopment; Barry Cogar returns to South Devon Railway; Flour Mill to run first gala on Dean Forest; Storm Desmond stops railtours in their tracks; Swanage clears way to Wareham for regular services with new Norden barrier crossing; action from Great Central‘Last Hurrah’gala; Severn Valley coach wins top carriage award; Ffestiniog appeal to restore superintendent’s house; Lynton & Barnstaple launch share issue to buy station inn; Scarborough North Bay new build taking shape; Sir William McAlpine reopens‘largest’surviving GWR signalbox on main line; Mallard speed record plate sells for £13k and Severn Valley ends 50th anniversary year with complete Santa sell-out.

MAIN LINE NEWS

56

Latest dates for Flying Scotsman and Royal Scot railtours; West Coast served Prohibition Notice over second TPWS infringement – but no trains are cancelled, and council calls for more steam trips on Borders Railway.

WITH FULL REGULATOR

Don Benn reports on another fine performance from Tyseley’s Rood Ashton Hall.

4 Heritagerailway.co.uk

62

Regulars Railwayana

52

Centre

54

Main Line Tours

65

Scale Heritage Railway

82

Platform

88

Off the Shelf

90

Up & Running

92

Features

Geoff Courtney’s regular column.

Phil Waterfield’s view of T9 No. 30120 on the Swanage Railway at sunrise. Steam and heritage diesel railtours.

Prototype HST power car to appear in OO. Where your views matter most. Latest book and DVD releases.

Guide to railways running over the festive season.

The Month Ahead

106

The Duke: Gestation, service, rebuild and future

The unique BR Standard 8P Pacific No. 71000 Duke of Gloucester has had its ups and downs, both in BR service and in preservation. Ian Murray clarifies its history and outlines how, after a period of uncertainty, the new trust is confident that the number of members will continue to grow as it becomes more and more clear that No. 71000 will once again grace the main line.

46

Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

CONTENTS: The notorious High Street level crossing in Lincoln is finally having its footbridge reinstated and as a result, high-powered floodlights are illuminating the building works. This proved very useful for taking photographs during the city’s Christmas Market GWR 4-6-0 when No. 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe departed for Tyseley on December 5. BRIAN SHARPE COVER: Newly returned to service, GWR 4-6-0 No. 7802 Bradley Manor approaches Kidderminster on the Severn Valley Railway. LEWIS MADDOX

Flying Scotsman: More regenerations than Dr Who!

Marking Manor finale

80

50 years to the day that the GW Manors ended their days on the Cambrian lines, three of the last working members of the class were reunited, as Martin Creese reports.

Flying Scotsman has always been rather more chameleon-like than most express engines. Robin Jones and Brian Sharpe summarise the regular and sometimes quite drastic changes in its appearance over the past 92 years.

66

Railway museums are now very different to their 20th century counterparts. John Titlow continues his examination of railway museums in Britain and Europe with a review of the history of railway museums in Swindon, past and present.

FROM JUST £20* *THAT’S JUST

£3.33 AN ISSUE

IF YOU PAY BY DIRECT DEBIT EVERY 6 MONTHS

See page 30

74 Swindon’s railway museums

SUBSCRIBE

A Great Western Excursion

84

The restoration of historic railway coaches is often taken for granted. As the Severn Valley Railway unveils another priceless gem, Paul Appleton considers the work that takes place behind the scenes.

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

Heritagerailway.co.uk 5

HEADLINE NEWS

World’s most famous train – so says the entire planet! WE’VE always known it – but now so does the rest of the world, according to the latest poll. Flying Scotsman is officially both the world’s most famous steam locomotive and named train. On November 30, custodian the National Railway Museum announced the result of aYouGov survey carried out online across four continents that places the A3 Pacific right at the top of theTop 10Trains table. Respondents in the UK, US, India and Australia were asked to name five trains or locomotives they had heard of. Modern railway icons also feature in the top 10.The Japanese Bullet train, the only example of which outside of Japan is displayed in theYork museum’s Great Hall, squeezes into the number 10 spot. However, other famous steam locomotives that at one time would have topped the railway charts are languishing outside theTop 10Trains table, including the Hogwarts Express of global Harry Potter fame, which lags behind at 25th place in the rankings (and is now displayed at Warner Brothers’Harry Potter StudioTour attraction at Leavesden in Hertfordshire). The engine that established railways as the preferred choice of transport and set the blueprint for future steam locomotive development, Stephenson’s Rocket, comes in 14th place. On November 30, 1934, Flying Scotsman reached 100mph on a London to Leeds run under the guidance of driver William Sparshatt. With the LNER’s dynamometer car in tow to record its speed, the locomotive set a new record and secured its place in history. The 1905 built-car is currently being prepared for its starring role behind Flying Scotsman in the museum’s MarchMay, Stunts, Speed and Style display, part of its Scotsman Season to celebrate the return of the loco to the tracks after a decade-long, £4.2 million restoration. A February inaugural run between King’s Cross andYork (rumoured to be February 27 but for which no date had been confirmed as we closed for press) gets the season off to a flying start during Flying Scotsman’s‘birthday’ month, as the locomotive was built at Doncaster and completed in February 1923. Museum director, Paul Kirkman, said: “Our survey backs up the claim that it is probably the most famous locomotive and express train service in the world. “We are thrilled to offer a unique opportunity to experience the essence of Flying Scotsman, first-hand at our museum, through a series of innovative and colourful exhibitions and events.” NRM public events manager Kate Hunter added:“Our late February inaugural run is the first chance for the

6 Heritagerailway.co.uk

public to see and ride behind Flying Scotsman, our train league-topping locomotive, in its latest guise as BR Brunswick green No. 60103. “This historic occasion is a chance to thank many of our generous supporters for their patience during this challenging decade-long project to bring a 1920s-built cultural icon back to life and there will be tickets available to the public. “We expect that hundreds more will attend Flying Scotsman’s welcome home party at the museum where it will be displayed in light steam for a number of days after its triumphant arrival.There are a few logistical things to fall into place before we can confirm our date for the inaugural run; the starting point of this free museum event, so we’re asking Scotsman fans to watch this space! We are also hosting an arrival dinner to celebrate the loco’s long-awaited return.” While a February-June Starring Scotsman exhibition examines the locomotive’s claims to fame, a six-week display in the Great Hall, Stunts, Speed and Style, which runs from March 25 onwards will tell the story of the renowned luxury service between London and Edinburgh throughout the eras. Visitors will be able to get on board the cabs of four locomotives that hauled the‘Flying Scotsman’train, which departed at 10am carrying business and leisure travellers from both capital cities.The locomotive line-up within the free display explores the beginnings of the high-speed service in the 19th century through to the Sixties poststeam era and will offer a unique photo opportunity.

Teak train assembled at NRM

A Flying Scotsman arrival dinner will be held at the museum from 7pm11.30pm on Thursday, March 3, at a cost of £80 per person. The gala evening includes a FlyingScotsman themed arrival cocktail, a four-course menu, guest speakers and plenty of photographic opportunities

Above: Smoke deflectors fitted to Flying Scotsman. NRM

Right: Nearly there: Flying Scotsman inside Ian Riley’s workshop at Bury. NRM around the celebrity of the rails. A ground-breaking ticketed exhibition, Service With Style, which runs from March 25 to May 8, uses three carriages of the type used on the‘Flying Scotsman’route to tell a story of speed, innovation, fame and luxury up to the present day with the modern London to Edinburgh service run by Virgin Trains East Coast. The flagship‘Flying Scotsman’service was known for on-board innovations such as the cinema car, cocktail bar and hairdressing salon. Visitors will embark on a journey with each carriage giving a different sensory experience. On December 3, the LNER Coach Association’s LNER BTK No. 3669 was moved to the NRM ready to take part in the Service With Style exhibition. The other two coaches for the exhibition are East Coast Joint Stock TK No. 12, which is based at the NRM, and Thompson Buffet Lounge car No. 1706 from the Llangollen Railway. The train will be displayed behind four locomotives that hauled the service over its lifetime. Throughout the season, there will a family-friendly Scotsman science show on the theme of speed; craft activities during the school holidays, as well as a schedule of photography events, and a programme of fascinating talks. The season’s finishing flourish will be the chance to see Flying Scotsman in light steam at a Sixties-style‘shed bash’at the Locomotion museum in Shildon.

Coming soon... to a station near you

FLYING Scotsman will work for Steam Dreams on a wide variety of‘Cathedrals Express’duties in May. It will haul its first trains for the Railway Touring Company in Brunswick green livery in June, on itineraries ranging from Cleethorpes-Morpeth, King’s Cross-York via Lincoln, and HellifieldCarlisle-York, before embarking on a series of sevenYork-Carlisle and return ‘Waverley’trips in July and August. Virtually all the seats initially made available for Flying Scotsman’s runs on the NorthYorkshire Moors Railway between March 12-20 have now sold out and an extra 64 seats will be added to each train to cater for demand. Heritage minsterTracey Crouch said: “After a decade of regeneration, the anticipated return of the world-famous and much-loved Flying Scotsman is almost upon us. “From early 2016 the Scotsman will tour the UK as a working museum exhibit, educating fans of all ages about the wonders of the engineering behind its steam traction.This is a wonderful way to tell the story of this iconic and well-travelled locomotive and will ensure that people now, and in the future, understand why it is such an important part of Great Britain’s heritage.” ➜ For details of Flying Scotsman’s railtours in 2016, see Main Line News, 56-61.

Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

THE WORLD’S 30 MOST FAMOUSTRAINS AND LOCOMOTIVES

Almost ready for its steam tests at the end of December: Flying Scotsman at Bury. Still to come is the completion of the motion and the fitting of valve rings ahead of the tests. NRM

Great Central takes over bridge project from Network Rail ByRobinJones GREAT Central Railway managing director Bill Ford has assured supporters that a decision by the heritage line to take over the management of the project to build the missing bridge at Loughborough will not mean that the project is further delayed. In early December, it was announced the revised timescale of the electrification of the Midland Main Line, a project placed on temporary hold by the Government, has had an“inevitable”impact on the Bridging the Gap project, which will link the GCR to its northern counterpart, the Great Central Railway (Nottingham), creating the world’s first inter-city heritage trunk line. The efficiency savings, which were originally anticipated as a result of contractors combining work on both projects,are now lost, following the reallocation of Network Rail’s electrification project staff. A statement said:“Following meetings with Network Rail in both Derby and London, GCR plc has decided, with the full co-operation of Network Rail, to take over the management of the total project to reunify the two sections of the GCR north and south of the MML‘gap’at Loughborough.This includes replacing the missing bridge over the MML. “GCR’s project managers, FJD, have now taken over the management of the entire project on GCR’S behalf and will continue to liaise with Network Rail to secure the required consents and collaboration.” The break in proceedings has provided the GCR the opportunity to review the £1 million single-span bridge design and look at both simplifying it and combining it with a new bridge over Railway Terrace to the south, together with the

stretch crossing Preci-Spark car park. The two bridge decks obtained from the Reading station redevelopment will be incorporated into the overall structure to save costs, but the main bridge over the MML will still be an all-new single-span construction. Bill said that the change in management oftheprojectshouldnotmeananyfurther delays, and a start will be made in the spring with building the new abutments for the main bridge.The abutments of the original are still in place, but the new bridge will follow a slightly different alignment and so cannot use them. Work on other sections of the gap project will start in the spring with the restoration of the Grand Union Canal bridge and preparation work on rebuilding the approach embankments. In November, the £1 million public appeal for the bridge passed its target, and as we closed for press, stood at £1.75 million, with more donations coming in on a daily basis. The total cost of the Bridging the Gap project is estimated at £6.5 million, and the railway also has £1 million from the Leicester and Leicestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, part of which can be used for the associated works, said Bill. ➜Donations to the Bridging the Gap project are still very much sought despite the target having been passed. They can be made with a cheque made payable toThe David Clark Railway Trust and sent to the GCR HQ at Bridge Appeal, Lovatt House, 3Wharncliffe Road, Loughborough, Leics, LE11 1SL. Standing orders can easily set up using an appeal form downloadable from www.gcrailway.co.uk/unify ➜Alternatively, donations can be made online at www.gcrailway.co.uk Click on the‘donate now’button.

(in order according to You Gov poll) ➜ Flying Scotsman ➜ Rajadhani Express ➜ Orient Express ➜The Ghan ➜ Shatabdi Express ➜ Amtrak ➜ Indian Pacific ➜ Mallard ➜ Duronto Express ➜ BulletTrain ➜Thomas theTank Engine ➜ Garib Rath ➜ Chennai Express ➜ Stephenson’s Rocket ➜ Overlander ➜Trans-Siberian Express ➜ Puffing Billy ➜ Eurostar ➜ Union Pacific ➜ Deccan Queen ➜The BlueTrain ➜ Palace on Wheels ➜ Rocky Mountaineer ➜ Brighton Belle ➜ Hogwarts Express

West Coast and driver prosecuted over Wootton Bassett SPAD ON December 9, the Office of Rail and Road launched formal criminal proceedings against theWest Coast Railway Company and one of its drivers following the Signal Passed at Danger incident at Royal Wootton Bassett on March 7. TheORRhasalsolaunchedareview ofWestCoast’s safetycertificate;itwas announcedatthesametime. TheprosecutionsfollowtheORR’s investigationintotheincident,which involvedBulleidBattleofBritain PacificNo.34067Tangmere,hauling a‘CathedralsExpress’backfrom Bristol.Thetraincametoastop550 metresafterthesignal,acrossabusy junctionontheGreatWesternMain Line,directlyinthepathofHighSpeed Trains. Thedriver,whowasnotnamed inthestatement,isfacingcharges undersection7(a)and8oftheHealth andSafetyatWorkAct1974,relating tohisallegedintentionalmisuseof Tangmere’sTrainProtection&Warning Systemequipment. AnofficialstatementfromtheORR saidthatitsinvestigationfoundthat thedriverdirectedacolleagueto turnoffthisessentialsafetysystem, designedtoapplyanemergencybrake ifthedrivermakesanerror. WestCoastisfacingseparatecharges undersection3(1)and2(1)ofthe Act,onaccountofitsallegedfailure toimplementmanagerialcontrols, procedures,trainingandmonitoring topreventstaffturningofftheTPWS equipment,saidthestatement. Thefirsthearingisduetotakeplace atSwindonMagistrates’Courton January11.

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

“ORRhasbeencloselymonitoring WCRC’s operationsincethisincident. ORRhasalsotodaylaunchedareview ofWCRC’s safetycertificate,whichis neededtooperateitstrainsontherail network,”saidthestatement. IanProsser,HMchiefinspectorof railwaysatORR,added:“Thesafety ofstaff,volunteers,passengersand membersofthepublicisourabsolute priority. “Britain’s railwayshaveagoodsafety record.However,therehavebeena numberofincidentsoverthepast yearinvolvingWestCoastRailway CompanyLimitedtrains. “TheincidentatWoottonBassett Junction,whereaWCRCtrainpasseda signalatdanger,wascausedbyalleged intentionalmisuseofakeysafety system.Thiscouldhaveeasilyledtoa catastrophictraincollision. “ORRinspectorsareworkingwith therailindustry,inparticularthemain lineheritagesector,toensurethat lessonsarelearned,andpublicsafetyis notputatrisk.” AsoutlinedonMainLineNews (page56)theORRservedaProhibition NoticeonWestCoastonNovember 24,followinganincidentatDoncaster onOctober2inwhichtheTPWS ofLMS‘BlackFive’No.45231was switchedoff.WestCoasttookswiftand “severe”disciplinaryactionagainstthe footplatecrewmemberinvolved.The noticedidnotbanWestCoastfrom runningsteamtrains,providedthat thelocomotivehadbeenfittedwith adevicetopreventanyoneswitching offtheTPWSsystem,andasweclosed forpress,hasnotresultedinany cancellations. Heritagerailway.co.uk 7

HEADLINE NEWS

National honours for Ropley, Scruton and Grosmont projects By Robin Jones

THREE heritage lines have gained national recognition for major infrastructure works in the National Railway Heritage Awards 2015. The Mid Hants, NorthYorkshire Moors and Wensleydale railways all carried off trophies while several others were highly commended. The awards, founded by the late Ian Allan, recognise excellence in conserving heritage structures and features, and covers the national network and private railways including heritage lines. The awards were presented by Lord Richard Faulkner, with English Heritage’s Steven Brindle as master of ceremonies at the MerchantTaylors’ Hall inTheadneedle Street, London, on December 2. The Mid Hants won the Stagecoach Volunteers Award for the construction of an Up side waiting shelter at Ropley station. Opened by the LSWR in October 1865, the main station buildings at Ropley are situated on the Down side. Until the 1930s, when it was demolished, there was only a small waiting room provided on the Up side. In October 2013 work started on a two-phase project to construct a new waiting room on the Up platform in a style sympathetic to that of the LSWR. Once the initial groundworks were finished, construction was completed by

Ropley station’s new Up side waiting shelter. NRHA the line’s volunteers in early 2015. Although most of the fabric is new work, the four cast-iron columns and spandrels were salvaged from Ringwood while the double-faced clock came from Aldershot. Internally, the building has been fitted out in a style appropriate to a LSWR waiting room. It includes a table that was originally in the waiting room at Bentley station and a free-standing solid fuel stove typical of the type used in the 1920s. Steven said:“This excellent new construction, in a style, which captures

perfectly the work of the LSWR, adds greatly to the ambience of an already attractive station complex. “It successfully integrates salvaged historic material with new construction to provide a useful new facility for this important intermediate station. It is an object lesson in how projects of this sort should be approached.” Runners-up in the same category were the Royal Deeside Railway Preservation Society for the restoration of derelict Scruton station and the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway for the restoration of the toilet block at Oxenhope station.

Entrance doors and the clock from Aldershot station in Ropley’s Up platform shelter. NRHA

Proud representatives of the Watercress Line receive their trophy for the creation of a new Up platform waiting shelter in traditional LSWR style at Ropley station, 85 years after the last one was demolished. ROBIN JONES

Scruton back on line THE Railway HeritageTrust Conservation Award was won by the Wensleydale RailwayTrust for the restoration of Scruton station. Opened originally by theYork, Newcastle & Berwick Railway in 1848, the existing building at Scruton dates from the late 1870s and was the work ofThomas Prosser. It is one of only two wayside stations designed by Prosser to survive. Passenger services over the NER’s trans-Pennine route from Northallerton to Hawes ended on April 26, 1954 and over the next half-century the building fell into decay. However, in 2008 work started on its restoration, the project being completed in 2014 at a cost of £150,000, of which the Railway HeritageTrust contributed around 50%. The extensive work involved the fitting of replacement slate tiles from the same quarries at Penrhyn as the originals.The main casements of the sash windows were repaired and new glazing bars, made to the original patterns, fitted.

8 Heritagerailway.co.uk

Receiving the Railway Heritage Trust Conservation Award for the restoration of Scruton station from Lord Faulkner (centre) were Sir William McAlpine (left) and the Wensleydale Railway’s David Walker (right). ROBIN JONES Internally the timber floor has been replaced by one that replicates the original while replacement castiron fireplaces were sourced from reclamation yards and the booking hall and waiting room fitted out. The whole station was repainted in the LNER colour scheme of 1937, based on meticulous research. “This project demonstrates a considerable amount of care, both on the exterior and interior of the structure,” said Steven.“The result is

Above: The WensleydaleRailway’s magnificently restored Scruton station. NRHA

Left: Derelict Scruton station prior to restoration. NRHA that a once-derelict country station has been brought back into use.” Runners-up were Chiltern Railways & Marlow and Maidenhead Passenger Association for the running-in board at

High Wycombe station and Network Rail for its refurbishment ofToft Green Chambers atYork, at Grade II-listed building once used as offices for the NER and its successors.

Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

Lord Faulkner of Worcester presents representatives of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway with their award for the resignalling at Grosmont. ROBIN JONES

B1 4-6-0 No. 61264, running as No. 61034, passes beneath the reinstalled Falsgrave gantry as it arrives at Grosmont with a 12.45pm Whitby to Pickering service. NRHA

Resignalling Grosmont THE NorthYorkshire Moors Railway was presented with the Siemens Signalling Award for the relocation of the former Falsgrave signal gantry from Scarborough and its reuse at Grosmont. More than a decade ago, the NYMR constructed a new signalbox and new semaphore signals at Grosmont in connection with the line’s plans for the introduction of through services to Whitby. However, there were limitations to the operation of through services resulting from the layout at Grosmont.

A traditional disc signal has been installed at Porthmadog Harbour station controlling trains across the Cob. NRHA

In order to enhance the operation through Grosmont and facilitate the use of the increased capacity at Whitby, new signalling was required. At the time Network Rail was seeking a suitable home for the Grade 2 listed NER signalling gantry at Falsgrave in Scarborough. Built by McKenzie and Holland, the gantry had been supplied originally in 1911 before being reused in Scarborough in 1934. In order to install the gantry at Grosmont, it needed to be shortened by about four metres.Three wooden signal dolls were recovered, refurbished and installed with three main arms and four shunt signal arms. The alterations and additions to the signalling were extensive, with the provision of point motors, ground signals and extensive track circuiting and control arrangements to ensure safety in the transfer of trains between the two railways. Stevensaid: “Allconcernedcanbe justifiablyproudofwhattheyhave achievedandthewaythattheyhave takentheopportunityoftheredundant gantrytoincorporateitwith advantage withintheirscheme.Theyhavethus providedanewuseforanhistoricpiece ofsignallingequipmentthatwould otherwise havebeendifficulttopreserve.”

Detail of part of Grosmont’s signalbox diagram. NRHA The runners-up were the Ffestiniog Railway Society for the installation of heritage disc signals, one of which, at the remodelled Porthmadog

station, is operational, and Poyntzpass and District Local History Society in Northern Ireland for the restoration of Poyntzpass signalbox.

Praise for Rheidol THE Vale of Rheidol Railway was a runner-up in theTaylor Woodrow Partnership award, for the restoration of its intermediate stations. However, the award was won by Network Rail, Scotrail and IDP Architects for the refurbishment of Gleneagles station. Also coming second was the North Queensferry StationTrust for its station regeneration project.

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

Refurnished Rheidol Falls station. NRHA

Continued on page 10

➜

Heritagerailway.co.uk 9

NEWS

Barry Cogar back at Buckfastleigh! By Robin Jones

The Ffestiniog Railway’s former station in Blaenau Ffestiniog at Duffws, for decades used as a public toilet, has been upgraded. NRHA

The first Blaenau Ffestiniog station THE Great Western Railway Craft Skills Award went to Network Rail for its restoration of the Victorian waiting room at Worcester Shrub Hill station, which is thought to have been built in the mid-19th century as an exhibition piece to showcase the range of tiles manufactured by Maw & Company. Shortlisted in this section was the Ffestiniog Railway’s original Blaenau Ffestiniog station building at Duffws. It first opened in January 1866 and closed 1931 when services were

diverted into the town’s GWR station. The building that remains today is the second station building on the site and it currently serves as a council operated public lavatory across the main road from the Queen’s Hotel. The toilets and building have been refurbished by Cyngor Gwynedd in partnership with BlaenauYmlaen. Also commended by the restoration of Newton Abbot’s station building by Network Rail, Frankham Consultancy and Firstcall Building services.

And there’s more… THE Supporters Award was presented to Ladybank DevelopmentTrust and Fife Historic BuildingsTrust for the restoration of the Laird’s Waiting Room at Ladybank station. Runners-up were MalvernTown Council for the refurbishment of traditional lamps in Station Road outside Great Malvern station, and Chiltern Railways for the reinstalled of Great Central Railway war memorials at Marylebone station. The London Underground Operational enhancement Award was won by East Coast Main Line for the redevelopment of Newcastleupon-Tyne station, while commended were Network Rail, ArrivaTrains Wales and the Welsh government for the redevelopment of Aberystwyth station, andTranslink for the integrated bus and railway station at Antrim.

The Crossrail Award for Urban Heritage went to Groundwork Wakefield for the refurbishment of Wakefield Kirkgate station, which had been previously described as the worst medium-sized station in Britain because of its poor condition. Commended were London Underground for the replacement of safety rails at four of its stations, as well as Network Rail and Northern Rail for the refurbishment of Blackburn station. The NRCG Restoration Award went to Network Rail for the repairs and upgrading of Chelsea River Bridge, with Network Rail and Gateshead City Council in second place for the refurbishment of Gateshead Arches. The NRHA Best Entry for 2015 award went to London Underground for the restoration of the roof at Farringdon station.

THE man who once sold the South Devon Railway after threatening to close it has been appointed as its new chairman. Barry Cogar who, in the early Nineties, was asked by Dart Valley Railway plc to offload the loss-making Buckfastleigh branch, has been appointed to the top post of the South Devon RailwayTrust after being co-opted on to the board on November 25. He replaces AlanTaylor who has stepped down from the post after a quarter of a century. Barry, who lives in Paignton and came from a non-railway background as the manager of a Fine Fare supermarket in Plymouth, originally joined the Dart Valley Railway at Buckfastleigh in 1967, and three years later became a member of the company’s paid staff. He has been involved with the Buckfastleigh toTotnes line since as far back as 1965. Initially he was one of the railway’s first volunteers, working on the permanent way before being appointed the line’s first general manager, when it was owned and operated by the Dart Valley Railway, which ran it as a commercial enterprise first and foremost.

Stunning coastal scenery

After the opportunity to buy the Paignton to Kingswear line arose in 1972, Barry became general manager of both railways. The Kingswear route with its stunning coastal and estuarine scenery was a far more lucrative concern and the board eventually decided to offload its original railway. In 1990, Barry announced that the Buckfastleigh branch could no longer pay its way, and faced closure, with resources being diverted to the

profitable Paignton to Kingswear line. He stood at Buckfasteigh station and told TV journalists that the branch was losing £100,000 a year, and was therefore up for sale. Dart Valley volunteers subsequently took over the management and, later, ownership, of the Buckfastleigh line in March 1991, renaming it the South Devon Railway, after the company that built it. The purchase of the freehold was completed in February 2010. Barry continued to manage the Paignton line and was also a director of DVR plc before retiring in 2008. By then, he had set a new world record, by becoming the longest-serving general manager of a railway anywhere. A repeated target of criticism from enthusiast quarters for actions such as applying non-authentic names to steam locomotives and carriages in a successful bid to woo the family market in Torbay, under Barry’s helm the Kingswear branch became one of the most popular attractions in the West Country, at a time when holidaymakers were deserting traditional UK resorts for Mediterranean package deals. Then known as the Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway, it was a very rare example of a heritage line not only no longer relying on volunteers for its day-to-day operation but also paying regular dividends to shareholders – exactly what most railway companies were founded to do. In April 1999, DVR plc bought Dart Pleasure Craft, not only restoring the Kingswear to Dartmouth passenger ferries to railway ownership but expanding into the pleasure boat business. Soon afterwards, the rival Red River Cruises was acquired, and the now-legendary Round Robin trips, steam train one way, boat up the river to Totnes and return to Paignton by bus,

Tribute to the awards founder IN HIS address after presenting the trophies, Heritage Railway Association president Lord Richard Faulkner of Worcester paid tribute to Ian Allan, and held a minute’s silence in his memory. Ian, who laid the foundations for modern-day railway enthusiast publishing – and who has been credited with inspiring the success

10 Heritagerailway.co.uk

of the preservation movement - died on June 28, 2015, the day before his 93rd birthday. A memorial service for Ian had been held at Guildford Cathedral on Monday, November 23, attended not only by his family and work colleagues but many leading figures from the railway and publishing sectors.

A quarter of a century ago, Barry Cogar stood on the bridge overlooking Buckfastleigh station and said that the heritage line would close if not sold. Now he has returned as chairman of the trust that runs it! SARAH ANNE HARVEY Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

was launched by Barry with resounding success. Barry said:“I was very surprised but extremely honoured to have been approached to chair the South Devon Railway Trust. Having started as a volunteer on the line 50 years ago, it has always been very special to me and I am genuinely excited about becoming chairman. “I know the SDR has big plans now and Alan’s will be very large shoes to step into; but I’m looking forward to working with the board, management, staff and volunteers to take the SDR forward over the next few years.” Also co-opted on to the SDR board is regular volunteer Christine Thomas, the organisation’s first female director. Christine, who lives in Marldon, has been regularly involved with the railway since 2001 and is a booking office volunteer. Her background is in local government and she brings manmanagement expertise to the trust. She has been appointed to head the railway’s personnel committee. She said:“I am delighted to have been asked to join the board. Having been a volunteer for many years, I know the railway very well as well as the staff and volunteers. I am looking forward to taking over the personnel responsibilities too and supporting the railway in every way I can.”

Unique insight

Alan said:“I am very pleased indeed with our two new appointments. Barry has known this line for 50 years and his career gives him a unique insight into the operation of a railway and of a tourist attraction. He is approaching the role with tremendous enthusiasm and I am handing over the reins to a highly competent successor. “Christine brings us valuable people skills and we are also delighted to welcome her as our first female director – and one of the few women directors of any heritage railway operation.” While Alan is stepping down from the board, he is remaining very active indeed, concentrating on a rules and training remit, sitting on the SDR’s newly formed strategy group as well as returning to operating duties, having recently regained his passenger and goods guard certificate. SDR marketing director Peter Treglown said:“Both Barry and Christine have been enthusiastically welcomed to the board and will bring valuable expertise to the volunteer management of the SDR. “The contribution that Alan Taylor has made to the railway cannot be overstated. A volunteer since the Seventies, he has filled a huge number of roles while chairman over the last quarter of a century with consummate skill and enthusiasm. “Stepping down from the board will enable him to concentrate on a range of operational activities. He deserves a rest from the railway, but we’re all most relieved that he isn’t getting much of one!”

LMS ‘Black Five’ No. 45379 leaving Washford with a Minehead-bound train on the West Somerset Railway on October 4, 2012. DON BISHOP

‘Black Five’ joins the biggest Somerset & Dorset Railway gathering in 50 years By Robin Jones LMS‘Black Five’No. 45379 has been added to the Heritage Railway-backed Somerset & Dorset 50 spring gala on the West Somerset Railway. Making a return visit, the Mid Hants Railway-based locomotive has joined the line-up for the event, which will take place over March 5-6 and between March 10-13. The first ‘Black Five’to arrive on the S&D was LMS No. 5440 (BR 45440) which spent many years on the legendary trans-Mendip line and was a particular favourite of driver Johnny Walker. Its arrival in 1938 signalled a step change in terms of capacity from the Midland 2P 4-4-0s, which had previously headed the main passenger trains over the difficult line between Bath Green Park and Bournemouth West. Legend has it that on No. 5440’s first trip when the LMS hooter sounded in place of the usual Midland locomotive whistle on the approach to Poole the harbour authorities assumed there was a ship in the vicinity and opened a swing bridge. The type worked on the S&D until the early Sixties and BR Standard 5MTs were active almost to the end with the final workings coming at the end of 1965 when regular services were replaced by the‘emergency timetable’(introduced when a bus operator due to provide

replacement services pulled out at the last moment and which kept the line open until March 5, 1966 – a date which coincides with the gala. The gala will mark the 50th anniversary of the closure of the S&D system and also the 40th anniversary of the start of WSR passenger services.To celebrate this landmark, a special commemorative ale will be produce by Quantock Ales whose brewery and shop are adjacent to Bishops Lydeard station.

TheWSR will stage an additional gala day for readers of Heritage Railway magazine on Wednesday, March 9, inbetween the two gala weekends. HR readers who turn up atWSR ticket offices with two vouchers that can be collected from the magazine in forthcoming issues will be able to purchase a one-day rover ticket for just £10. A standard train service will operate on this date with suitable S&D locomotives working all trains.

Both surviving 7Fs

During most days of the event, the ale will be sold from a cask at Minehead station, and for the rest of 2016 it will be available exclusively in bottles from the WSR buffet cars and the brewery shop. The beer has yet to be named, but it will be a golden ale with a 4.2% abv. Commemorative goods including souvenir glasses will also be produced. As reported in our last issue, the gala will feature both surviving S&D 7Fs, 53808 and 53809, in BR black livery and a pair of Bulleid Pacifics in No. 34070 Manston from the Swanage Railway, and rebuilt sister No. 34053 Sir Keith Park from the SevernValley Railway. Former S&D-based 4F No. 44422, which is currently under overhaul at Crewe, is expected to be completed in time to attend, and the line’s 11 stations will be renamed to represent former S&D locations.

➜ Discounted advanced price rover tickets for the gala are on sale via www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk or 01643 704996.

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

This spectacular Lego model is being displayed in Covent Garden until December 29. The locomotive and train were designed by the UK’s only certified Lego professional Duncan Titmarsh. Leading a team of eight builders, the model took three months to build and used 500,000 bricks. JAMES HAMILTON Heritagerailway.co.uk 11

NEWS

WSR Association’s ‘own’ report calls for all trustees to quit By Robin Jones WEST Somerset Railway Association chairman Peter Chidzey said that its trustees are“very disappointed”by the “unjustified”findings of a report that the group itself commissioned into its conduct and proceedings. The association appointed railway photographer Robin Coombes to chair an independent inquiry into its affairs, following criticism both from members and the separateWest Somerset Railway plc. However, one of the key recommendations of the report, published in full in early December on the association’s www.wsra.org.uk website as‘Coombes Report’under the About Us and then Documents sub sections, calls for all of the trustees to resign. “As you would expect we are very disappointed indeed with this recommendation and do not feel it is justified,”said Mr Chidzey. The report also said that members and a trustee who have been expelled from the association by its current administration should be reinstated, and also calls for an inquiry into the recent sale of the association’s shares in 4160 Ltd, owner of Minehead-based GWR large prairie No. 4160. A major rift developed between the railway’s plc board and its supporting association with the latter mounting a surprise rival bid to buy the freehold of the line.The dispute ended with Somerset County Council, the vendor, withdrawing the sale offer. The association’s hierarchy later expelled four members of a nine-strong Reform Group set up by members to campaign for change – barrister Robin White, Ken Davidge, Jeff Price, and retired Sussex Police Chief Constable Paul Whitehouse – and suspended trustee Ian Colby, a volunteer signalman on the line for 25 years. A sizeable group of association

members expressed concern at the direction taken by the trustees responsible for the running of the association, leading to a vote of no confidence at a general meeting on May 10.The membership also passed a resolution for the setting up of the independent review despite opposition from the trustees. Subsequently, as reported in HR 205, at a hearing at Bristol Civil Justice Centre on July 21, the association was left facing a £17,000 legal bill despite successfully defending an action brought by former Chief Constable MrWhitehouse, to stop him being expelled from the group. His Honour Judge Denyer turned down his application for an injunction on the grounds such an action should be activated by the Charity Commissioners, and they had not been given sufficient notice. However, the judge said the reasons given by the association for the termination of his membership were “woefully inadequate,”and made no order for costs against MrWhitehouse.

found the current governance is not fit for purpose.The association in its current form and structure is considered unsustainable as the trustees have not provided evidence they have the capability to perform their role.There is a lack of clarity of purpose and there is no agreed strategy for the organisation.” The report later on said that there is a“stark choice facing the trustees, step down now and let others try to save the association or continue on its current trajectory and face a bleak, possibly long drawn out and slow death.” It continued:“The trustees may argue that there is a third way which sees everyone finally understanding and appreciating that they only have the best interests of the railway at heart and they can play a leading and key part in its future development and success.This is laudable but without a firm plan as to how to make this happen it is no more than a hope and hope cannot be an objective or strategy.”

Call to step down

The report states in respect of membership terminations and trustee suspensions:“While the trustees claim they have had valid reasons for termination of membership, the review finds the procedure may have been flawed, though inept may be a better description. “It is recommended the memberships are restored and if the new trustees feel it appropriate the process could recommence if there was any compelling evidence. “The review finds there may have been no basis on which a trustee could be suspended and that the trustees appear not to have followed any recognised procedure and therefore may have acted beyond their authority.” Regarding question marks over the sale of the association’s shareholder in No. 4160, as reported in HR 208,

In its executive summary, the report states:“The review concluded that to achieve the aims of the terms of reference to return the association to its core role as supporting theWest Somerset Railway as a whole, a new board of trustees is necessary to lead and direct this process. “As a first step the review recommends all trustees... cease office immediately to be replaced by new trustees or an administrator with due process. “The new trustees would be given the responsibility of rebuilding the association into a fit and proper organisation with a role and purpose for the benefit of theWest Somerset Railway family and the wider public, in full consultation with the membership. “The recommendation is based on a review of the purpose, objects, structure and activities of the association, which

‘Inept’ procedure for suspensions

GWR 2-6-2T No. 4160 at Minehead in 2008. The Coombes Report has called for the sale of association shares in its owning company to be investigated. KRISTIAN THY/CREATIVE COMMONS

12 Heritagerailway.co.uk

the report stated:“The most serious governance issue over which the review panel has concerns is the events, within the public domain, surrounding the sale of shares in the locomotive No. 4160. “It is claimed by members that an individual assumed to be an association trustee or association agent is understood to have been connected to the sale of the 4160 Ltd shares to himself without there being a testing of the market value.This may have been in contravention of basic rules of governance and guidance for trustees issued by the Charity Commission in disposing of the charity’s assets. “The trustees are also alleged by a number of members to have failed to observe the rules concerning the declaration of conflicts of interest. “In the review panel’s opinion, if these as yet unfounded allegations are correct these are extremely serious matters that should be investigated by the appropriate regulatory authorities. “The review panel considers it is very damaging for the integrity and reputation of the association as a charity for these allegations to‘float around the internet’and be the subject of ‘messroom discussion’. “The review panel is not aware if there is an understanding by the trustees of how serious these matters could potentially be. “There is a presumption against the sale of a charity’s assets that fulfil the charity’s objective.The trustees can and must only act in the interest of the charity.There is a duty to maximise the value of any sale.There is a duty to avoid conflicts of interest. “The review panel would urge the association to clarify matters by independent investigation or at the very least publish all the relevant documentation such as the board minutes to its members to demonstrate the relationships and interests of all parties involved. How the sale would benefit the association? What steps the trustees took to seek independent valuation and or advice? How the decision was formally recorded and who made the decision? How and by whom the sale of 4160 Ltd was instigated and to whose benefit? Given the timing of the sale immediately prior to the AGM, why such an important sale of interest to the membership was not announced at the AGM or subsequently as a positive good news story? “While this is the most serious issue affecting the association’s governance and management, allegations fairly or unfairly, substantive or not, continue to surface on social media demonstrating the organisation is under scrutiny and appears not to have in place the robust governance necessary to properly rebut

Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

GWR 4-6-0s No. 7822 Foxcote Manor & Castle No. 5051 Earl Bathurst work across Ker Moor soon after leaving Blue Anchor on the West Somerset Railway on March 13, 2007. DON BISHOP allegations made against it.” Robin White described the report as “dynamite”and said:“We are hopeful the Charity Commissioners sit up and take notice. There has to be a clean sweep of everyone in charge.” “The Reform Group now calls on the chairman and trustees to follow the recommendations of the review they commissioned and carried out by a man they appointed and stand down for the good of the railway.”

The chairman’s response

In a statement, Peter Chidzey said: “Despite our concerns about various aspects of the report, which we found deeply disappointing, the trustees are taking it very seriously. Indeed prior to the report being issued we had already set up a management working group chaired by a very experienced West Somerset volunteer, Frank Courtney, who is working with others not on the trustee group who are very experienced in business and charity management. We accept there are lessons to learn, but the partial and selective approach of the report is unfortunate.” In a letter on the association’s website, he said:“The key recommendation of the review is that all the trustees should resign before any development can be instigated. The trustees fully acknowledge that the association needs to change and evolve, and there are some observations in the review that we accept. “We are also very disappointed the report has not seriously addressed what direction the WSRA should take. “We have already initiated change,

through setting up a management working group and we expect to have a new draft development plan available for consultation by the end of January. And we agree there is more to be done. “However, we consider that members should see this review and make their own judgment at the earliest opportunity. “The period for returning comments and views will end on Monday, January 11. We will then convene a members meeting towards the end of January or in early February (date to be announced), during which we will also put forward our first draft of the development plan.”

“This will allow proper reflection on new permanent trustees to be put forward to members at the 2016 AGM along with fully-consulted proposals to implement the other changes recommended by the review. “The trustees have asked for views on the Review by January 11. They can be

sent to the Trustees by e-mail to info@ wsra.org.uk or by post to the WSRA, The Railway Station, Bishops Lydeard TA4 3BX. “We urge all of you reading the review to leave the trustees in no doubt about how you now expect them to act. “It is now time to heal.”

The road ahead?

In a statement issued on December 7, the WSRA Reform Group published its response to the report, saying:“The key recommendation of the review, that all present trustees should stand down, must be faced. We hope the trustees will swiftly act on this. “We agree with the report that new trustees cannot include those of us who have led the fight against the present trustees for several years now, although we are happy to offer any help we can give to the new trustees. “We are confident that a group of respected, responsible WSRA members can be found to take over as‘caretaker’ trustees very rapidly, with a person of standing (Robin Coombes, chairman of the review, comes immediately to mind as a possibility, given his high standing with WSRA members) engaged to manage that process.

On Saturday, November 28, BR Standard 9F 2-10-0 No. 92203 Black Prince was formally handed over to the North Norfolk Railway after its purchase from wildlife artist David Shepherd who bought it out of main line service and then founded the East Somerset Railway on which to run it. Having had the locomotive in their lives for so long, it was an emotional day for the family, and David in particular. The 9F is seen with the Shepherd family along with David (centre, left) and railway chairman Julian Birley at Holt. NORTH NORFOLK RAILWAY

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

Heritagerailway.co.uk 13

NEWS

Sell-out Severn valley Santas! By Paul Appleton THE Severn Valley crowned its 50th anniversary year by completely selling out all of its Santa specials, Santa Herald and Christmas carol trains before the first of them turned a wheel on Saturday, December 5. The railway usually enjoys a good sell-through rate, but there are often a small number of seats available, especially on those trains running closest to Christmas. However, this year, prospective passengers who have left it late have had to be turned away disappointed as each day of operation is at capacity and there is no scope for squeezing in extra trains. Clare Gibbard, the SVR’s marketing manager, told Heritage Railway:“It’s been a remarkable year with so many special events on the railway.This is the icing on the cake and testament to all of the hard work that goes on in the background.” The season of special events culminated with the autumn steam gala in late September , which was a huge success, the visit of No. 60163 Tornado in October, and in November, the Manor 50 event at which GWR 4-6-0 No. 7802 Bradley Manor made its long-anticipated return to service, appearing alongside resident No. 7812 Erlestoke Manor and visiting No. 7820 Dinmore Manor. With two Manors and two Bulleid light Pacifics on the roster, the railway has six home-based large engines available for its festive season trains, with heavyweight Hawksworth pannier No. 1501 as stand-by.The six are Ivatt ‘Flying Pig’No. 43106, Churchward 2-8-0 No. 2857, Manors Nos. 7802 and 7812, and light Pacifics Nos. 34027 Taw Valley and 34053 Sir Keith Park. The railway was also having to field its Class 108 DMU as a staff relief train at the end of each day’s operation to get staff back to Bewdley and Kidderminster, while one train each day runs from and back to Bridgnorth to allow Bridgnorth-based staff to

participate in running the trains. With 2015 successfully negotiated, the SVR is now focused on its event programme for 2016, while the six weeks that the railway is closed leading up to the February half-term will be packed with winter maintenance, the only period each year when the railway is closed for more than five days at a time. Top of the agenda for the permanent way gang is the relaying of a section of track at the top of Eardington bank which has been subject to speed restrictions during the latter half of the season. Public trains are running on the SVR over the full length of the line from Boxing Day through to January 3, and passengers are able to turn up and pay on the day, although a saving can be made by booking in advance. After the six-week closure, the railway opens for business again for the schools’half-term week, with nine consecutive days of operation from February 13-21, and on weekends until Easter. The first special event of 2016 will be the March 18-20 spring steam gala, which returns to a rural branch line theme, with two auto trains operating with Mike Little’s resident Collett 1400 0-4-2T No. 1450 and Hugh Shipton’s visiting Collett 0-6-0PT No. 6430, which is making its first visit to the railway from its home at the Llangollen Railway. No. 6430 was once shedded at Kidderminster, so is no stranger to the area. It is also hoped that PortTalbot Railway/GWR 0-6-0ST No. 813 will be available to operate‘local’trains utilising the railway’s beautifully restored GWR ‘toplight’coaches.The Hudswell Clarke, 1900-built locomotive is in the final throes of a major overhaul at Bridgnorth with reassembly at an advanced stage. Further visiting locomotives are expected to be announced for the gala. Visit www.svr.co.uk for further details, including how to book tickets in advance.

Oliver Cromwell back in 2016

HAVING donelittleworkthroughout2015 becauseofitsunavailability,BR7P4-6-2 No.70013OliverCromwell willnotreturn tothemainlineuntilthe spring. Currentlyundergoinganintermediate maintenanceprogrammeattheMidland Railway-Butterley,theenginehasrecently takendeliveryofnewdriving wheel crankpins,manufacturedinRiley&Son’s Buryworkshops. Whenre-wheeled,the4-6-2is scheduled tomovetotheGreatCentral Railway,wherethebogiesetisbooked for attentionatLoughborough.

14 Heritagerailway.co.uk

No main line commitments have been registered against the 4-6-2 during the opening three months of 2016, but the ‘Brit’has been included in two stages of the RailwayTouring Company’s‘Great Britain IX’land cruise in late spring. On April 30, the 4-6-2 is booked to work the Edinburgh-Dundee-AberdeenInverness leg of the nine-day tour and on May 3 it is down to head the PerthBeattock-Oxenholme section. Afterwards, the 7P will be back in regular action on the main line working trains, mostly for the RailwayTouring Company.

GWR 4-6-0 No. 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe arrives in Platform 5 at Lincoln with Vintage Trains’ ‘Lindum Christmas Fayre’ from Tyseley on December 5.

Lincoln ‘firsts’ for two steam engine classes By Brian Sharpe WE are getting used to seeing steam locomotives working far away from

what is regarded as home territory and there are few cities which have not now seen a representative of all the major classes in active main line service.

LMS Princess Coronation Pacific No. 46233 Duchess of Sutherland crosses the crowded High Street as it departs from Lincoln for King's Cross on December 5.

Suspended jail sentence for Romney level crossing‘jumper’ A20-year-oldmotoristhasbeen givenasuspendedprisonsentence andbannedfromtheroadforayear afterjumpingaRomney,Hytheand DymchurchRailwaylevelcrossingand missingatrainbyametre. DionDeWolfignoredredlights warninghimofthearrivalofthe 10-coachtrainatalevelcrossing inLydd-on-SeainJuly,Canterbury CrownCourtheard. DeWolf,a20-year-oldpowerstation workerfromGwynedd,pleadedguilty todrivingdangerously. Thejudgeimposedasix-month sentencesuspendedfortwoyearsand orderedhimtoundertake60hours ofcommunityservice.Hewasalso orderedtopay£900costsandto

takeanextendeddrivingtestafterthe banends. ChristopherMay,prosecuting,said thatwhilethetrainwastravelling atonly10mph,itcomprised10full carriagesandwouldhaveneededat least130ftinordertostopsafely.“The driverofthetrainestimatedthatthere hadbeenjustonemetrebetweenhis trainandthecar,”hesaid.“Thiswas,in anyview,anarrowescape.” Theincidentwaswitnessedbya womanmotoristwhohadpulledup atanearbyconveniencestore,the courtheard. PhilRowley,defending,agreedthat DeWolf’s actions“weresilly”,butsaid thathebelievedhewasfurtheraway fromthetrainthanametre.

Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

Lincoln however, saw not just one but two locomotives in one day, December 5, representative of classes which had never visited the city before, either in preservation or back in‘real’steam days. This was as a result of both tours having their originally rostered motive power

changed. GWR 4-6-0 No. 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe, substituting for No. 4965 Rood Ashton Hall, arrived on time at 11.47am, unusually in Platform 5, with VintageTrains’ ‘Lindum Christmas Fayre’fromTyseley. Having deposited its stock inTerrace

Sidings and turned on the triangle, the loco whistled a greeting to LMS Princess Coronation Pacific No. 46233 Duchess of Sutherland as it approached Lincoln with the RailwayTouring Company’s ‘Lindum Fayre’. It had been routed from King’s Cross via the GN/GE joint line

through Sleaford. The two strangers to Eastern Region territory stood side-by-side in the sidings while passengers visited the city’s Christmas market and both departed westbound within an hour of each other.

LMS Princess Coronation Pacific No. 46233 Duchess of Sutherland approaches Lincoln with the Railway Touring Company’s ‘Lindum Fayre’ and passes Earl of Mount Edgcumbe. Write to us: Heritage Railway, Mortons Media Ltd, PO Box 43, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6LZ.

Heritagerailway.co.uk 15

NEWS

Help buy back Blackmoor station for Lynton & Barnstaple By Robin Jones ENTHUSIASTS are now able to buy shares in the Blackmoor station on the Lynton & Barnstaple railway in readiness for the day when trains stop there again. The share issue in the new L&B Blackmoor Company plc, set up by the Lynton & Barnstaple RailwayTrust with the intention of raising the money to buy and operate the Old Station House Inn – the former Blackmoor station and a popular and profitable pub and restaurant complex at a major crossroads of North Devon holiday routes on the edge of Exmoor – was launched on November 17 following the official registration of the new company. It has been approved as a financial promotion by the law firm Bates Wells & Braithwaite London LLP, a firm authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. As exclusively reported in issue 205, if successful in buying the inn, the railway plans to continue running it as a business, safeguarding the jobs of current employees. It is also planned to add a shop and museum as well as station facilities, with a new platform being constructed at a lower level. If planning applications currently being sought from the Exmoor National Park Authority and North Devon District Council, to extend the 2ft line from Killington Lane to Blackmoor Gate and Wistlandpound Reservoir, are successful, the operational headquarters of the

Aerial view of the Old Station Inn, the former Blackmoor station and a key stepping stone in the bid to extend the Lynton & Barnstaple railway westwards. PHILIP LANE railway will be transferred fromWoody Bay to Blackmoor. A new engine and carriage shed will be erected in the small valley on the Lynton side of the crossroads, where it will fold into the landscape. Rather than demolish the post-war extension to the Old Station House Inn and destroy the successful hospitality

business, the main line will be realigned on lower ground a few yards to the west and rejoin the original route either side of the station.This adjustment will have the additional advantage of making it easier to get the railway under the crossroads. Since the railway closed, the crossroads at Blackmoor Gate (the second summit of the line, from which it descended in

both directions) has been realigned.The plan is to lay the new track through a short tunnel under the junction. Dividends will be paid to shareholders in the new company as soon as the business is sufficiently profitable. More than 300 people have already registered their interest in buying shares at www.lynton-rail.co.uk

L&B ‘Yankee’ on show at Keef open day CONSTRUCTION of the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway’s new Baldwin 2-4-2T Lyn is making rapid strides towards its anticipated steaming in 2016. On Saturday, November 28 an open day at the works of Alan Keef Ltd in Ross-on-Wye allowed supporters and friends the opportunity to see an exhaustive array of parts which are coming together and are now almost complete. The completed locomotive is 28ft long and the assembled frames made an impressive sight.To the front was

the complete pony truck with driving wheels, cylinders, smokebox saddle, coupling and connecting rods laid out. At the rear was one of the US-style cowcatchers which were an iconic part of the original engine. Other parts on show included the rear pony truck in large assemblies allowing an appreciation of the complexities of an Ellis truck. The stovepipe chimney was laid on the floor alongside the smokebox saddle, while on tables alongside were a variety of impressive components from valves to steam brakes and the screw reverser

Left: The frames of new Baldwin Lyn on display inside Alan Keef’s workshops during the open weekend. PETER MILES Right: The US-style cowcatcher which was a distinctive feature of the original Lyn. PETER MILES

16 Heritagerailway.co.uk

assembly. All of the parts were marked up with photographs and drawings to allow a clear understanding of what the parts were and how it all fits together. Outside was the completed boiler – ready for use. In a separate store, but not on view, sat the side tanks, bunker and cab. The whole of the locomotive has been computer modelled and designed using CAD technology allowing accurate checking and simple manufacture by engineering companies with suitable machinery. It has been a very advanced

design process as is the technical specification. Assembly and completion is underway and should hopefully result in the completed Lyn appearing in steam in the coming year. The original Lyn was a built in Philadelphia in 1898 for the railway. Like all the locomotives on the L&B, Lyn was named after a local river with a threeletter name. Because of its distinctive American outliner, Lyn was commonly referred to by the staff as‘TheYankee’. Lyn was a popular and distinctive engine that was also the most powerful on the line – on occasion pulling five-coach trains, one more than usual on the line. However, after the auction sale following the closure of the line in 1935, Lyn was reduced to scrap very quickly with only the nameplates surviving. In 2008, L&B revivalists formed the 762 Club, taking its name from the original Lyn’s Southern Railway number. The idea was that 350 supporters would each buy a share for £762 and

Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

Three Ffestiniog Railway coaches on the move THE Ffestiniog Railway has sold saloon-third No. 117 to the Apedale Valley Railway. The sale of the 1977-built vehicles follows that of saloon third No. 119 (built 1980) to the Golden Valley Light Railway at Butterley, which has subsequently taken No. 188 as well. Although of relatively recent build, these carriages are of interest because they were built on recycled underframes bought from the Isle of Man Railway. These underframes had been built by the Metropolitan Amalgamated Railway Carriage & Wagon Company (later the Metropolitan Carriage Wagon & Finance Company) at various dates from 1909-26 to allow the IOMR to create 26‘new’ bogie carriages by mounting two old

Four in steam at Mid-Suffolk LNER Y7 0-4-0T No. 985 will be visiting the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway in 2016. The 1923-built locomotive is normally based on the North Norfolk Railway. It will be arriving in the new year and will be in use throughout the summer season and at the steam gala in September. It will give the railway four steam engines in 2016, with Cockerill 0-4-0T steam tram locomotive No. 2525, resident Bagnall 0-4-0ST No. 2565, and returning visitor Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0ST Wissington, from the North Norfolk Railway.

four-wheeled carriage bodies on each one. In the 1960s the life-expired bodies were removed from 11 of them (Nos. F51-53, 55-6, 58-61, 69 and 72) so that the underframes could be used as ‘runners’for container traffic. They were numbered R1 to R10 with one left unnumbered. When the containerisation venture failed, they were surplus to requirements and eventually sold to a scrap dealer, from whom 10 were bought by the FR, their dimensions being very close to the then-standard for FR underframes. Two all-new replacement vehicles are under construction at Boston Lodge, with new No. 117 virtually complete.

KESR Channel crossing TheKent&EastSussexRailway’s NSBClass21c2-6-0No.376 Norwegianwillbetakingatrip overtheChanneltostarintheBaie deSommeRailway’s April15-17 FêtedelaVapeursteamgala. The Norwegian State Railways locomotive will run alongside expatriate Avonside 0-4-0ST Fred from the Stoomcentrum Maldegem. Both will haul a standard gauge rake between Noyelles and StValery-Port.

The boiler of new-build Lyn, which will be the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway’s first replica original locomotive of its own. PETER MILES raise the £266,700 needed to build the locomotive. Lyn – which was 96% complete with just the brake assembly, ashpan and manifold to build – will be finished in the colours and configuration of the original as it returned from overhaul in

1929.The dream scenario is to have it team up with the Ffestiniog Railway’s new-build ManningWardle 2-6-2T Lyd, based on the original Lew, atWoody Bay. Further funds to pay for the erection are being sought at www.762club.com

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

Heritagerailway.co.uk 17

NEWS

NRM to become part of £78m ‘King’s Cross of the North’

Artist’s impression of a new public square fronting a new entrance to the National Railway Museum. YORK CITY COUNCIL By Robin Jones THE National Railway Museum is set to be expanded under £78 million plans to redevelop land around York station and turn it into what is being dubbed the‘King’s Cross of the North’. On December 7, City of York Council, Network Rail and the NRM released details of a blueprint to redevelop a 72-hectare site in the heart of the city – which could give more valuable land to the museum. One option is the closure of Leeman Road to traffic. This would allow the two‘halves’of the award-winning museum, a world-class attraction currently preparing for a year of events to celebrate the return to steam of Flying Scotsman, currently connected by a pedestrian underpass, to be joined together. During the past 12 months, the council has been working in collaboration with Network Rail, the NRM and the Homes and Communities Agency towards a highlevel masterplan of the site, which is to be named York Central. The site is located to the rear of the station extending north-westwards towards the former British Sugar site. While it currently incorporates a range of uses including the museum, private housing and businesses, the site is largely used in conjunction with the rail industry. On relocation of the rail uses (museum apart), the redevelopment will provide a mix of new housing and a new central business district with office, leisure and retail uses. As well as expanding and greatly enhancing the museum, the project, to be developed over a 15-year period, could provide up to 120,000 sq m of high-quality office space, creating up to 7000 new jobs, a new residential community for up to 2500 new homes, improvements

18 Heritagerailway.co.uk

to the station and a network of vibrant public squares, green spaces and routes linking to surrounding neighbourhoods. The‘King’s Cross of the North’ analogy derives from the successful redevelopment of the southern terminus of the East Coast Main Line, at the heart of a regeneration programme for what was for long considered one of London’s slum districts. The improvements to the station could include the creation of a new entrance to the west of the station, facing the development site, as well as the transformation of the existing city-facing eastern entrance, to create a more welcoming arrival, and improvements to the way that buses, cars, taxis, cyclists and pedestrians use the space, potentially including the removal of Queen Street Bridge. To properly connect York Central to the city centre and neighbouring communities, it is planned to create a new foot/cycle network, including a new bridge over the East Coast Main Line from within York Central. With an additional new vehicular access bridge from Holgate Road also in place, options are also being considered for the potential to divert or close Leeman Road where it passes the NRM, to allow the museum to expand and modernise.

Big plans for museum

NRM director, Paul Kirkman, said:“We are working on big plans to transform our museum to tell the epic story of railways, increase our contemporary relevance and grow our visitor numbers to over one million per year. “We aim to engage and inspire new and broader audiences, including schools, families, and more of York’s existing seven million visitors, with this world-changing story that continues to affect all our lives today.

“We want to be at the heart of this exciting York Central development, which offers once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the museum and its surroundings. “We are committed to working in partnership with City of York Council, Network Rail and the Homes and Communities Agency to make the development a success for the city and to provide an enhanced museum experience for both residents and visitors alike. “We look forward to sharing our plans as part of the council’s consultation in the New Year.” Council leader Coun Chris Steward, said:“The redevelopment of York Central represents an opportunity to deliver major growth in York. This will enable us to attract high-value jobs, deliver new and much-needed sustainable homes and create worldclass public spaces which will help define the future for our city. We will also reduce the pressure to build on York’s green belt. Council deputy leader, Coun Keith Aspden, its executive member for economic development, said:“This planning framework outlines the key principles for redevelopment of York Central and the next steps forward. It includes a vision to deliver highquality office space, new jobs and homes as well as proposals to expand the NRM, improve the railway station and create new public squares, green spaces and transport routes. “The launch of this framework is the first step in an ongoing conversation with residents over York Central, including a full public consultation in January.” Stuart Kirkwood, director of development at Network Rail, said:“By unlocking Network Rail owned land, we can open up this area to deliver new homes, create new jobs and drive economic growth for the city.”

Enterprise Zone

YORK Central was recently identified as an Enterprise Zone by the Government during its Autumn Statement, thanks to a joint bid by City of York Council and the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership, which will potentially unlock more than £100 million to help deliver York Central. Enterprise Zone status will mean that 50% of business rates for the York Central site, which would have gone back to Government, will be retained in the area. “The council is now developing a funding strategy to deliver upfront infrastructure to facilitate development of the site. Further details will be brought back to councillors next year.” On December 15, councillors were being asked to approve proposals at an executive meeting at its West Offices to progress a planning framework for the site, which will establish key principles for all development. If approved, a detailed consultation will launch in January asking for views to help guide the framework and the different options presented. To ensure the development scheme can be delivered, the executive will also be asked to approve plans to purchase plots of land on York Central, one owned by Unipart and one by a private individual, which are essential to the development of the site. The council is working closely with Unipart to secure an alternative site in York. Further investment has also been allocated by the Homes and Communities Agency, which has earmarked £9.4 million of equity investment in to the site . The council is set to invest up to £250,000 to help fund professional advisers and the NRM are also set to invest £20,000 towards further development costs, subject to final agreement of the partnership arrangements.

Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

More trouble for Tangmere IN a sudden flurry of activity West Coast’s Bulleid 4-6-2 No. 34067 Tangmere completed a proving run, a light engine and coach move south and worked a main line railtour all in the space of three days. Sent to Carnforth with front end problems, the 4-6-2 was given a proving run, Carnforth-Hellifield-Carnforth on Thursday December 3, accompanied by its support coach and a Class 33 diesel. This successful, Tangmere travelled south on the Friday to Southall then worked the RailwayTouring Company’sThree Bridges-Eastleigh-Salisbury-Westbury-Bath and Bristol‘Bath Christmas Market’tour on Saturday, December 5. But more trouble followed, the Bulleid was failed at Bristol with suspected OTMR problems, the train returning diesel hauled. As repairs could not be completed in time, RTC made the decision to cancel its‘VictoriaHastings‘Christmas Sussex Belle’scheduled forTuesday, December 8. Unless there are last-minute changes, the 4-6-2 has no further work scheduled after a trip toYeovil on December 15 .

SR Battle of Britain Pacific No. 34067 Tangmere near Bedhampton with the Railway Touring Company’s ‘Bath Christmas Market’ tour on December 5. DON BENN

Farewell to well-known railway photographer David Eatwell ByDavidLongman THE enthusiast world has lost one of its most idiosyncratic characters when David Eatwell, renowned railway photographer, passed away after a short illness in Peterborough Hospital on November 26 at the age of 84. Born in 1931 he was a lifelong steam enthusiast and for many years carried his camera to the linesides of Britain, photographing working steam in the 60s and the early days of preserved steam in this country. He travelled extensively behind the Iron Curtain in the 1970s and 80s, sometimes camping in farmers’ fields and on at least one occasion at a local police station! He also set out for other destinations across Europe, Africa, Asia and North America. His passion for steam in all shapes and sizes was unquenchable and when age and declining mobility limited his overseas adventures he discovered a new enthusiasm for miniature railways. David had many articles published in the railway press and also produced a number of photographic books on steam in Britain and abroad. The books were always illustrated by his wonderful pictures which he also shared with numerous railway societies and camera clubs. A master of the darkroom in black and white days, he readily adapted to the world of colour and later digital photography albeit with numerous

grumbles and complaints. His idiosyncrasies are almost too numerous to mention. Anyone travelling with David very quickly became aware of his aversion to oranges, Polo mints and smoking. Despite his extensive travels he never really took to foreign food. In Pakistan he survived on eggs three times a day supplemented by packet soups. His description of Chinese food is far too graphic to repeat – and on at least one occasion in Cuba he sustained himself on sausage rolls and chocolate bars, which he had carefully packed into his suitcase before departure. He prided himself on his highspeed (but careful) driving when chasing steam but failed to explain how he once finished up buried in the long grass beside a Cuban motorway orhowhemanaged tocareerthrough a hedge on the Cumbrian coast writing off his car in the process. Such things were trifling details to David – as was the matter of a broken back sustained while photographing the EiffelTower – he didn’t notice he was walking backwards off a sheer drop to the pavement below. Anyone who met or knew David will undoubtedly have their own favourite stories and anecdotes. As one of his fellow enthusiasts has said: “Bless you David, you will be missed. Wherever you are I hope they have sunshine, cameras and steam trains.” David is survived by his daughters Marcelle and Melissa.

Hornby’s £4.5m pre-tax loss MODEL maker Hornby has reported a pre-tax loss of £4.5m in the six months to September 30.The group lost £516,00 in the same period last year. Sales were 8 per cent lower, falling from £24.2m to £22.3m. It was said that an overhaul of the firm’s operations, including the upgrade of its computer and stock management systems both in Britain and Europe while bringing in new managers disrupted sales over the summer. Hornby is now seeking new

manufacturers in China and elsewhere and intends to open a new warehouse in China to give it greater control over suppliers. Sales in the UK have recovered since the summer, and were up 10% over the past four months. Richard Ames, Hornby’s chief executive, said:“We are at an important stage in Hornby’s transformation. Following significant disruption in the first two months, the business is performing well in the important Christmas period.”

Paul Appleton, the 6880 Betton Grange Society’s publicity director, presents Tim Hartley (right), publisher of Heritage Railway magazine and Brian Sharpe (centre), deputy editor, with a 225 Boiler Club certificate of recognition. Heritage Railway has supported the boiler restoration appeal for No. 6880 Betton Grange since it was started at the Steel, Steam & Stars IV event at the Llangollen Railway in March 2015, and is Donor No. 1 on the Roll of Honour. As Heritage Railway was going to press in December, the appeal stood just £1000 short of £80,000, more than a third of the £225,000 target. Fifteen of the 80 Granges have now been ‘adopted’ in a new fundraising initiative in which donors receive a range of benefits including a framed photograph of their adopted locomotive. For full details visit www.6880.co.uk. COLIN TYSON

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

Heritagerailway.co.uk 19

NEWS

Flour Mill plans summer gala on the Dean Forest Railway by Robin Jones THE Flour Mill workshop is to mark its 20th anniversary by holding a gala on the nearby Dean Forest Railway. The gala will begin on Friday, July 1 – the exact anniversary of the opening of the locomotive repair and restoration business founded by chartered surveyor Bill Parkerintheformercollierypower housenearLydneyintheForestofDean– andrununtilSunday,July10. Thegala willfeaturelocomotivesthat havebeenoverhauledoverthepast twodecadesattheFlourMill,whichhas specialised intherestorationofVictorian steamlocomotives. ThecoreoftheeventwillbeLSWR BeattiewelltankNo.30587andT9 ‘Greyhound’4-4-0No.30120,both part oftheNationalCollectionandcurrently partoftheBodmin&WenfordRailway fleet,forwhichtheDeanForest’s heavily curvedandwoodedlineisappropriate. ThesecondsurvivingBeattiewell tank,No30585,whichisbased atthe BuckinghamshireRailwayCentre,has alsobeen invited,anditisanticipatedthat therewillbeatleast onemore. TheselocomotiveswilljointheDean ForestRailway’s existingfleet,ofwhich thestarisrecentlyoverhauled GWRsmall prairieNo.5541. ItishopedtohaveGER‘CoffeePot’ 0-4-0STNo.229restoredintime forthe

NYMR spring tank engine gala THE NorthYorkshireMoorsRailwayhas bookedLNWR‘CoalTank’No.1054and Llangollen’s BRStandard4MT2-6-4T No.80072tostaratitsMay6-8and13-15 springgala,alongwithafurthertank locomotiveofGWRorigin. Itisexpectedtheeventwillsee shorter trainsandpossiblyamoreintensive service.MembersoftheNYMR’s home based fleetwill alsobeinoperation. Beforethat, No.1054,picturedonpage 82,visits theBluebellRailwayonMarch 12-13 and19-20.

Progress on Mid Norfolk extension VOLUNTEERS workingtoreopentheline betweenDerehamandNorthElmham ontheMid-NorfolkRailwayhavepassed thehugehurdleofrestoringthetrackover bridge1702, andarenowpressingnorth. Rottensleepersarebeingreplaced with theprocessexpectedtocontinue for severalweeksbeforelevellingandballast workwillmakethetrackusable.

20 Heritagerailway.co.uk

Two National Collection engines returned to steam by the Flour Mill: Beattie well tank No. 30587 and LSWR T9 No. 30120 stand together at Bodmin General station at their current Bodmin & Wenford Railway home on September 3, 2010. ROBIN JONES

gala. BuiltbyNeilsons inGlasgowin1876 andsoldbytheGERforuseintheNational ShipyardinChepstowduringtheFirst WorldWar,itremainedthereuntilsoldto Billandhisbrotherin1980.Aftercosmetic restorationitwasdisplayedattheNorth WoolwichOldStationMuseuminEast Londonfrom1984until2008,when followingtheclosureofthemuseum byNewhamBoroughCouncil,the locomotivewasreturnedtotheFlourMill. Sadly,itseemslikely thattheFlourMill’s ownGWRsmallprairieNo.5521,which madehistoryrunningpassengertrains acrossEuropeasfarasBudapest,willnot

bethere.NownumberedL150,painted inLondonUndergroundredliveryand withacut-downcabithasplayeda starringroleintheUndergroundsteam specialsoverthepasttwoyears,along withMetropolitanRailwayEclass 0-4-4T No.1,also overhauledattheFlour Mill. Thepairarecommittedtonextsummer’s Undergroundpublic steam trips, provisionallyplannedforearlyJuly. TheFlour Mill’s otherstandardgauge engine,theKerr-Stuart 0-4-0WTworks shunterfrom1918thatspentall itslifein Chepstowbefore beingpurchasedby theParkersalongwith229,is inticket,but

mayremainattheFlourMill,whichwillbe openedtovisitorsononeor twodaysyet tobedetermined,perhapswitha buslinkfromtheDeanForest’s terminus atParkend. Beattiewelltanksaremostcommonly associatedwiththeWenfordbridgebranch inCornwall,onwhich theyworkeduntil theearlySixties,and aWenfordbridge scenariomaybecreatedattheDFR,which canoffersimilarwoodlandscenes. TheFlourMillhasitsoriginsinBilland othersestablishingabusinesstocontinue workingengineeringinpartoftheGWR Swindonworksfollowingitsclosureby BritishRailEngineeringLtdin1986.After theleaseatSwindon wasterminated hemovedthebusiness,thenknownas SwindonRailwayWorkshop, to the Forest of Dean. Currently being overhauled at Bream are Mike Little’s GWR small prairie No. 5538, and two Polish engines, Rob May’s‘Ferrum’Tkh 0-6-0T Karel and, just arrived from the Nene Valley Railway, John Savery’s‘Slask’Tkp 0-8-0T No. 5485.

CanPac boiler delivered to Ropley THE MidHantsRailwayreceivedanearly Christmas presentwiththedeliveryofthe boilerfromBulleidMerchantNavy No.35005CanadianPacific. Theboilerhasbeendeliveredfrom EastleighWorkstothespecialist workshopsatRopleystationtoallow restorationworktostartinearnest. Thelocomotive,whichwillbe celebratingits75thbirthdayin2016,isthe oldest survivorofitsclass.Itsrestoration andthatoftworarewoodenbodied carriageshavebeensupportedby Heritage LotteryFund grant aid. Oneschemehasseenjobseekersbeing employedonavoluntarybasis,working onthelocomotiveinEastleigh. Project supervisor DaveDeanesaid:“Working inpartnershipwithJobcentrePlus,we havebeenrunning theworkplacement scheme forafewweeksnow.Our roleisto helpunemployedpeoplegainconfidence anddemonstratetheirabilitytowork hardandsohelp bolstertheirCVandthus improveemploymentchances. “Inthefewweeksthatwe’vebeen workingtogether,wehavealreadyhelped twopeoplefindjobsandarehopefulfora thirdsoon.

The boiler of No. 35005 Canadian Pacific being unloaded at Ropley Works. MHR

“We would like to help encourage more women into engineering as a career. Seeing as Canadian Pacific was built during the Second World War, when men were conscripted into military service, it would have been built by a largely female workforce. It therefore represents an incredible piece of engineering that demonstrates that women are more than capable of pursuing a career in what is a

traditionally male dominated industry. If anyone is interested to find out more and get involved, please get in touch.” The railway wants to hear from anyone who has any interesting stories of people who have worked in Eastleigh at the engineering works or experience of seeing and riding on trains during the 1940s, 50s or 60s to get in touch. Visit www.watercressline.co.uk and click on “Canadian Pacific Project”for more details.

Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

Heritagerailway.co.uk 21

NEWS

LMS ‘Black Five’ 4-6-0 No. 45305 is seen from a new but temporary elevated viewpoint in connection with housebuilding now taking place that will transform the Woodthorpe section of the GCR. DEREK PHILLIPS

The last hurrah! By Brian Sharpe

NOVEMBER is traditionally a quiet month in the steam enthusiast calendar as our heritage lines are all preoccupied with preparations for the hectic but lucrative festive season.The Great Central Railway stages one last gala weekend to bring the season to a close and this took place over the weekend of November 21-22.

Not quite on the scale of its other major events and with no visiting engines, there were nevertheless six engines in steam and 30 train movements a day in and out of Loughborough Central. The railway was pleased with the attendance figures, showing a 15% increase on the previous year. An unfortunate points failure at lunchtime on the Saturday resulted in points

having to be moved by hand and clamped in between each movement with resultant delays and cancellations. GNR N2 0-6-2T No. 1744 also suffered a failure and was replaced by LMS 3F‘Jinty’ 0-6-0T No. 47406 on the Sunday. Nevertheless, the Great Central Railway continues to do what it does best – recapture the great days of steam on Britain’s only double track heritage railway.

LMS 3F ‘Jinty’ 0-6-0T No. 47406 passes Woodthorpe with a coal train on November 22. KEN WOOLLEY

SR King Arthur 4-6-0 No. 777 Sir Lamiel passes Woodthorpe having been delayed by operating problems at Loughborough. BRIAN SHARPE

22 Heritagerailway.co.uk

Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

Recently returned to service, GWR 4-6-0 No. 6990 Witherslack Hall departs from Loughborough Central with a local service. BRIAN SHARPE

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

Heritagerailway.co.uk 23

NEWS

Mallard speed record plaque sells for £13,400 ByGeoffCourtney

A PLAQUE carriedbyNo.4468Mallard,the Pacificthatinone fleeting momentmore than77yearsagocapturedaworldrecord forBritainthatwillsurelyneverbebeaten, soldfor£13,400atarailwayanaauctionon December5. Theplaque wasfittedtotheGresleydesignedA4byBRinMarch1948–by which timeit hadbeenrenumbered 60022 –andrecordedthe126mph achievedbythelocomotiveonJuly 3,1938,nearmilepost90ontheEast CoastMainLinebetweenLittleBytham andEssendinesouth ofGrantham.The speedmayhavebeenachievedonly momentarily,butithasneverbeen beaten andismost unlikelyevertobe. AfterthePacific waswithdrawn fromKing’s Cross(34A)inApril1963, itwasrestoredbyBRatDoncasterfor preservationinitsrecord-breakingLNER blue liveryasNo.4468andthetwo commemorativeplaqueseither sideof thestreamlinedcasingwereremoved andreplacedwithreplicas,although manyhistorianssaythiswashistorically inaccurateasobviously the4-6-2wasn’t carryingtheplaquesatthetimeit achievedtherecord. Thetwooriginalplaqueswere rechromed,andone wasretainedby BR fordisplayinthedivisionalmanager’s officesinGresleyHouse,Doncaster,and thesecondpresentedtotheEastern Regionassistantchiefmechanical engineer.Thefirst isunderstoodtobe nowpartoftheNational Collection, while thesecondwasboughtprivatelyfrom theassistantCMEinthelate1960sbya

Superior steam: Immaculate Gresley A4 No. 60022 Mallard at Peterborough on August 24, 1961, with one of its speed record plaques clearly visible on the streamlined casing. One of these plaques sold for £13,400 at auction on December 5, having been described by auctioneer Mike Soden as a “superb item.” COLOURRAIL leadingrailwayanacollector,anditwas this example thatwentunderthehammer ataGreatCentralRailwayanaauctionat StoneleighonDecember5. Introducingtheplaque asa“superb item,”auctioneerMikeSodenstarted thebiddingat£8000,afigurethatsoon increasedtomorethan£12,000,atwhich stageitbecameabattlebetweena bidderintheroomandacollectoronthe telephone.Eventually theformerwon, with thehammergoing downat£13,400, apriceinflatedtonearly£16,000bythe additionof15%buyer’s premiumandVAT chargedonthepremium. Someobservershadsaidbeforethe salethattheythoughttheplaque would sellforevenmore–oneevenmootedup

New Welsh mine‘would supply heritage lines’ PLANS for a new coal mine beneath farmland in SouthWales which aims to supply Britain’s heritage railways have been submitted. An application for a small private licensed mine on land near Penhyddwaelod Farm between Bryn and Cwmavon in the AfanValley has been submitted to Neath PortTalbot Council by Rhys Jeffreys, who is applying for the exploration of an existing airway from mine workings leading to coalmine development. It is hoped some 6000 tons of coal will be extracted from the site each year over four years. A letter accompanying the application said: “The proposal can make a significant beneficial contribution to the supply of coal to the tourist trains that run inWales and assist the tourist industry.” However, local councillor DavidWilliams said he believed many residents would be against having a mine opened, pointing out that a similar bid made several years ago was thrown out by the council.

24 Heritagerailway.co.uk

Above: Railway record. The world speed record plaque carried by A4 No. 60022 Mallard that sold for £13,400 at auction on December 5. GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAYANA

to£30,000–butthepriceachievedwas exactlywithin theestimateofbetween £10,000-£15,000quotedbyGreatCentral Railwayanainitscatalogue. Afterbringingdownthehammer, MikeSodensaidtheauctionhousehad receivedmanyenquiriesabouttheplaque fromseriouscollectorsbeforethesale. “Such interestwasunderstandable,asit recordsamomentinBritain’s,andindeed theworld’s,railwayhistorythatwilllive forever. “Itisahistoricalrailwayitemandoneof themostsignificantevertohavecomeup forauction,andalsoanattractiveitemin itsownright.Iwasdelightedtobepartof it,andespeciallypleasedtoknowthatit hasgonetoagoodhome.”

No.4468 wasdrivenonitsrecordrunby 61-year-oldJoeDuddington,with fireman Thomas BrayandinspectorJenkinsalso onthefootplate.InaBBCinterviewin 1944,theyearheretired,Joesaid:“Once overthetopIgaveMallard herhead,and shejumpedtolifelikealivething.IfIhad pushedherabitmoreIthinkcouldhave done130mph.” Joe diedinApril1953 attheageof 76,hisnameforeverassociatedwith a Britishrecordthatnearlyeightdecades laterremainsasourceofprideforBritish steamrailwayenthusiastsandindeed the generalpublic. ➜For a full report of the auction on December 5, read Geoff Courtney’s railwayana column in next month’s issue.

N class progressing – but more funds needed WORK on the sole remaining N class 2-6-0 No. 31874 is well in hand at the Swanage Railway’s Herston works, with frames and associated components being refurbished or replaced to MT276 and or Southern Railway specifications. The new running plate in front of the smokebox saddle of the former Mid Hants Railway-based locomotive has been fabricated and awaits painting, the saddle and running plates are now in undercoat, the cylinder cladding is fitted both sides along with most of the valve gear, and the front steps have been refurbished with new step treads and are being painted ready for fitting once the valves and pistons are in. The 2-6-0's boiler is expected to be back from overhaul in April, an indication that the engine might well be in working steam later in the summer. Around £50,000 is needed to finish No. 31874, and an appeal for public donations has been made. Anyone willing to help is invited to visit www.swanagemoguls. com to find out more. The railway is to fulfil its long-held dream of running passenger services to Wareham beginning on June 22, and speculation is rife that steam could eventually be used on occasional trips in addition to the Class 117

three-car DMU and Class 121 railcar currently being refurbished in Arlington’s Eastleigh Works. U class 2-6-0 No. 31625 is currently stored at Corfe Castle and is presumably the next of John Bunch’s three engines down for overhaul. The third, U class 2-6-0 No. 31806, is in steam and running on the Purbeck line having recently returned from a visit to the NorthYorkshire Moors Railway.

The new running plate in front of the smokebox saddle of N 2-6-0 No. 31874 has been fabricated. SWANAGE MOGULS FUND

Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

Heritagerailway.co.uk 25

NEWS

New Norden barrier crossing clears way to Wareham ByRobinJones ANOTHER majorblockageintheheritage railwayportfoliohasbeen removedwith thecompletionofa£500,000 project toinstall barriersatSwanageRailway’s Nordenlevelcrossing. Althoughincomingchartersalong with stockmovementsandworks trainshavebeenabletorunoverthe crossingimmediatelytothewestofthe hugely-successfulpark-and-ridestation,a full-barriercrossing isaprerequisitetobe giventhefinalgreenlightbythestatutory authoritiestorunregularDMUservices fromSwanagetoWarehamandback. Suchservicesarescheduled tostartin June andwillinitiallyrunforatwo-year trialperiod,withtrainsoperatingon50 selecteddaysduringthefirstyearof operationand90selecteddaysduringthe second. Protectingthebusy accessroadtothe WytchFarmoilfield,northofCorfeCastle, andthepopular350-spacecarparkrun byPurbeckDistrictCouncilnexttothe station,thenewmanually-controlled level crossingatNordenGateshastakentwo yearsof detailedplanninganddesign work,whilethebuildingandinstallation workhastakentwomonths.

Class 47 No. 47832, hauling a Swanage to Bristol empty coaching stock movement on November 27, became the first to use the new barrier crossing. ANDREW PM WRIGHT

Installing main components

It has been installed by Swiss company Schweizer Electronic with the groundworks carried out by contractors Andrews of Wareham. Schweizer Electronic technicians were on site at Norden Gates for 10 days during November, installing the main components – the barriers, warning lights and associated cabling. The crossing is operated from a replica LSWR-style signal cabin at Norden Gates – based on the signalbox at Lyme Regis station in west Dorset – which also controls the key-token section between Norden andWareham. After an intensive and detailed period of testing by experienced testers from outside the heritage railway, it is hoped to commission the new level crossing during February. Including a new road surface, the new level crossing replaces a‘Bomac’crossing surface installed on a panel of track when the access road to theWytch Farm oilfield, then operated by BP, was built in late 1987.The Swanage Railway’s relaid tracks did not reach the crossing until 1999. During the summer, the Bomac surface was replaced by specialist company Level Crossing Installations Ltd. To build the new level crossing, the existing road-rail interchange to the south of the crossing had to be moved to the north-west of the line and countersunk behind an embankment, with more than 2000 cubic metres of

26 Heritagerailway.co.uk

The new Norden Gates level crossing in November. ANDREW PM WRIGHT earth excavated and moved out of the area by train. ProjectWareham senior project manager Frank Roberts said:“Some 270 wagon-loads of spoil were excavated from the site of the new road-rail interchange in what was a major undertaking planned and managed by ProjectWareham project manager Jon Bridgland. “Using six Sea Urchin wagons hired from Network Rail, more than 2000 cubic metres of earth was relocated by rail to a quarter mile-long embankment just south of Furzebrook, where it was used to upgrade and improve the earthworks. “We’re extremely pleased with the professional level of service provided by Schweizer, which has included training for Swanage Railway signalling technicians. “The contractors have been supported by a very effective and hard-working Swanage Railway project team as well as infrastructure department staff – both paid and volunteer.” ProjectWareham director Mark Woolley added:“The new Norden Gates

Project Wareham director Mark Woolley (left) with Schweizer engineers at the crossing in November. ANDREW PM WRIGHT

full-barrier level crossing – and the nearby relocated road-rail interchange – are key elements of ProjectWareham and the running of regular passenger trains from Swanage and Corfe Castle toWareham would not be possible without them. “The road is a very busy one – giving access to theWytch Farm oilfield and also Purbeck District Council’s 350-spacecar parknexttoourNorden station, which isalsooftenadrop-offpointforcoaches duringthesummer. “AccessroadownersDorsetCounty CouncilandPerenco–operatorofthe WytchFarmoilfield–required thata modernfull-barrierlevelcrossingbe installedforhealthandsafetyreasons.”

Unacceptable in the long term

“The previous set-up was an open level crossing with flagmen required to oversee the movement of trains – engineering trains, empty carriage stock movements and excursion trains from the main line – which was unacceptable in the long-term,” added Mark, a Swanage Railway Trust and Swanage Railway Company director

who has been a volunteer on the line for more than 30 years. While the new road-rail interchange has yet to be formally handed over to the Swanage Railway by the scheme’s project manager, the new facility is functional and has already been used to transfer the tender of a Bulleid Pacific. Some fencing, landscaping and track work remains to be completed. The crossing project’s cost of £500,000 has been covered by a grant from BP when it transferred ownership of the Wytch Farm oilfield to Perenco in 2012. ➜Public donations to the Swanage Railway’s ProjectWareham Sponsor a Sleeper appeal, which so far has raised more than £15,000 to help replace sleepers on the three miles of former Network Rail line between Motala and bridge No. 2, a quarter of a mile south ofWorgret Junction on the London toWeymouth main line, but more is needed. ➜Anyone wishing to contribute towards this historic project is invited to visit the appeals page at www.swanagerailwaytrust.org.uk

Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

Bill McAlpine cuts the ceremonial cake with Chinnor chairman Danny Woodward inside Princes Risborough North Box. PHIL MARSH

Nearly 100 levers are still in Princes Risborough North Box. PHIL MARSH

McAlpine reopens ‘biggest’ GWR signalbox By Phil Marsh WHAT is thought to be the largest GWR signalbox, the Princes Risborough North Box, has been formally reopened by mega enthusiast SirWilliam McAlpine. The signalbox has been worked on for the last 100 weekends by Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway volunteers made possible by a more enlightened approach by Network Rail. Their efforts led to CPRR president Sir William McAlpine accepting an invitation to open the new staircase to the signalbox on November 27 accompanied by senior Network Rail and Chiltern Railways teams.The Railway Heritage

Trust was also heavily represented and was given an account of the renovation work carried out, without any grant-aid, by Chinnor’s volunteers.

Every point of the compass

Princes Risborough North Box controlled railways radiating to every point of the compass, west to Chinnor, Thame and Oxford, east to Aylesbury and Quainton, south to London and north to Bicester and Banbury. It has been out of use and a listed building for 25 years since the Chiltern route modernisation. Chinnor’s volunteers had two years in the ’box but when Railtrack introduced a more stringent but bureaucratic safety

Bill McAlpine waves after ascending the stairs into Princes Risborough North Box on November 27. PHIL MARSH

regime, it precluded any volunteer access. Maintenance ceased for a decade and the building was abandoned, leading to nearly 200 windows being smashed, allowing pigeons to move in and creating a serious health hazard. The windows were boarded up due to the danger of falling glass onto track workers and the rotting staircase removed. However, in 2011, the ’box was broken into and this proved to be the pivotal point for the restoration, as it was found that the building had deteriorated, and was in real danger of collapse following serious water ingress and failed brickwork. Network Rail then allowed the volunteers access, but a few months later, a different part of the company rescinded this permission. Already the roof had been propped up under one corner where a supporting timber was failing. Had this not happened, the roof would have caved in and the signalbox demolished on safety grounds. Alongside the series of the first through services for 50 years from Aylesbury and Princes Risborough to Chinnor in October 2013, combined with staff changes in Network Rail, relationships rapidly grew with the Chinnor volunteers which, in turn, led to renewed access for volunteers to the ’box. Since then Chinnor’s volunteers have worked on restoring the fabric of the signalbox using steel ties to stabilise

brickwork, replaced rotted structural timbers and repaired failed mortar work, including a collapsed window brick arch. The signalman’s working area now has daylight, water and electricity but no more pigeons and more importantly, a working kettle!

Fabulous views of the Chilterns

The windows have been renewed and slide as originally designed, allowing fabulous views of the Chiltern mainline and once negotiations have been concluded with Network Rail, regular steam services running past the ’box to and from Chinnor.These are well advanced and no objections were received by the Office of Rail and Road, so the ’box will provide a grandstand view of these trains as well. The heritage railway was delighted that its president was able to perform the reopening ceremony at the signalbox 110 years after its first opening! SirWilliam said:“I hope that this achievement will encourage more volunteers to come forward to help complete the job.“ Railway chairman DannyWoodward said:“Our dedicated band of volunteers have not only saved this historic Great Western Railway building, but they have also saved a widely recognised Princes Risborough landmark that millions of Chiltern Railways’passengers and townsfolk will be familiar with.”

Shareholders give go ahead to restore Bulleid Pacific Sidmouth SOUTHERN Locomotives Limited shareholders have overwhelmingly backed proposals to restore its fifth Bulleid Pacific, West Country No. 34010 Sidmouth. Enthusiasm is such that the restoration scheme, as highlighted in our last issue, has already raised £30,000. At the company’s annual general meeting on October 24, new chairman SimonTroy invited its 700 shareholders to indicate their support and on November 15, the company gave the green

light to the plan.When the current overhaul of Battle of Britain 4-6-2 No. 34072257Squadron is completed, work will start on Sidmouth, which has lain in pieces for much of the time since its withdrawal in 1965. “It is now or never if we’re going to bring Sidmouth back into steam,” said Simon. “With the completion of No. 34072 we will have five locos in revenue earning service. The SLL team are not getting any younger, but we are ready for the challenge of another big project.

“There’s never an ideal time to fit a major restoration into a stream of overhauls, but once again our shareholders have indicated their willingness to support us. The cost of restoring Sidmouth, borrowing sister No. 34028 Eddystone’s boiler, will be around £300,000, more than the cost of overhauling Eddystone. Simon said: “We’re keen to borrow as few parts from Eddystone as possible.” Sidmouth will need new cylinder covers manufactured, new pistons, piston rods and valves, new smoke

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

deflectors, a cab and cab support, a new dragbox, lubricators and a large supply of copper pipe. However, the company has the slide bars and crossheads and a new set of coupling rods half machined, along with injectors. Eddystone’s tender will be used to run with Sidmouth. It needs a new tank that is already under construction. The company intends to take 257 Squadron’s new tender out of the Swanage Railway’s Herston works shortly and move Eddystone’s tender frames in at the same time. Heritagerailway.co.uk 27

NEWS

Summer share issue for Peak Rail Bakewell extension By Robin Jones

PEAK Rail’s ambitions of extending into the National Park tourist honeypot of Bakewell may at last be realised with a share issue next year. Officials of the heritage line have been holding in-depth talks with Derbyshire County Council about pushing northwards from the current Rowsley South railhead. A planning application for the extension is likely to be submitted imminently – as the next major phase in a 41-year scheme to rebuild the Matlock to Buxton line. Peak Rail development director Paul Tomlinson said:“We have had to resolve a number of issues with the county council, but we have a clear timescale to work to now. “It’s an expensive job to complete the project, but based on other heritage railways, they typically generate three times whatever investment is put into them. “The NorthYorkshire Moors Railway

carries in excess of 300,000 passengers a year and is generating £15 million to that economy. “People using the railway are staying in hotels, eating in pubs and cafes, visiting other tourist attractions, so there are far-reaching benefits.This will be a fantastic asset to our area.”

Missing bridge

Paul said that the railway could generate around £20 million for the local economy. Visitors could travel over the national rail network to Matlock, and then travel by train to Bakewell. The missing bridge over the A6 to the north of the old Rowsley station has long been considered one of the major obstacles in the heritage railway portfolio, along with the Great Central Railway’s missing bridge over the Midland Main Line at Loughborough. Because the height of the road has been raised since the line was closed in 1968 under LabourTransport Minister Barbara Castle, not by Dr Beeching as often wrongly thought, a straightforward

of the missing bridge deck is not an option.The trackbed would need to be raised for a considerable distance either side of the abutments. Previous plans have included not only extending into Bakewell, famous for its tarts, but to the next station along, Haddon, which is now a bookshop. More space is available there and it could provide park-and-ride facilities.The extension would involve a full restoration of the old HaddonTunnel and both Coombs Road and Rowsley viaducts between Bakewell and Rowsley. Over the years there have been many calls for the entire route to Buxton to be restored as part of the national network. In May 2011 four tunnels west of Bakewell, Headstone, Cressbrook, Litton and CheeTor, were opened to walkers and cyclists as part of the MonsalTrail long-distance footpath and cycleway. With the Bakewell extension, in the first instance it is planned that the railway will share the trackbed with any cyclepath. The Peak Railway Preservation Society was established in 1975 and opened

Moors railway volunteers honoured for 25 years’ service

THE NorthYorkshireMoorsRailwayhas recognisedtheeffortsofmorethan130 volunteerswhoeachhavegiven25years of serviceormore. SomelikeMauriceBurns,aregular HeritageRailway contributor,havebeen involvedwiththeNYMRfromasfarback as1968,whentheideaofreopening theline tookoff.Thefirst suchceremony saw16long-servingvolunteersgiven certificatesandspecialbadgesandtreated toabuffetmealontheline’s GreatWestern saloonasitjourneyedfromGrosmontto PickeringandbackonOctober25. TwomoreeventsareplannedforApril andMay,bothofwhich willseearound 60long-servingvolunteersthankedand presentedwiththeircertificatesand badges atacelebratoryluncheoninthe ReussnerEducationCentreatPickering The first of many volunteers to be recognised for their long service to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway at Pickering station on October 25. PAM MARRINER

28 Heritagerailway.co.uk

station, beforetheytaketothetracks. Recently-appointedNYMR managing directorChrisPricesaid:“Ourvolunteers aretheverylifebloodoftherailwayand withoutthemwewouldcertainlynot havetherailwaywehavetoday.Manyof themworkalongsidepaidsupervisors or professionalmanagersanditisonlyright thatweshouldsaythankyoutothemfor unselfishlygiving oftheir timeforlong periodsandinrecognisingtheiramazing commitmenttotherailway. “Theverynatureofourrailwayand itsstrongappeal meansthatweoften seeentirefamiliesgettinginvolvedor, attheveryleast,husbandsandwives, fathersandsonsamongstourvolunteer workforce.Thelevelof serviceour volunteershavegivenandcontinueto giveisquiteextraordinary.”

a site at the now closed Buxton Steam Centre with restoration facilities and a 300-yard operating line, but after failing to get the green light to extend the operating line onto the single-track freight line towards Peak Forest, it switched tack. In the 1980s, Peak Rail relocated its headquarters to Darley Dale and by 1991 it had reopened the section of line between a new station at Matlock Riverside and Darley Dale. In 1997, the line was extended to a new station next to the site of the former locomotive shed at Rowsley South.

New track alignment

With the construction of Matlock bypass and a new Sainsbury supermarket in the former Cawdor Quarry, a new track alignment and layout was installed between Matlock Riverside and Matlock station to provide a new connection to the national network, which opened on July 2, 2011. Paul said:“We’ve had a lot of ups and downs over the years and it’s amazing that the dream is now becoming a reality.”

The page in the new UK passport depicting Stephenson’s Rocket.

Passport prominence for Stephenson’s Rocket STEPHENSON’S Rocket features on the new UK passport that was introduced in December. The 1829-built 0-2-2, winner of the RainhillTrials, is depicted on the Sankey Viaduct Bridge, also known asThe Nine Arches, in Newton-le-Willows on the Liverpool & Manchester Railway, the world’s first inter-city line. It shares the page with Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s steamship SS Great Britain. HM Passport Office issues a new passport with 16 new pages every five years. Director general MarkThomson said that the new pages celebrate“the creativity of Great Britain and Northern Ireland over the past 500 years.” Other images featuring in the passports include the Angel of the North, Waterloo Underground station, Shakespeare’s GlobeTheatre and the Houses of Parliament.

Rocket on display in modified form at the Science Museum in London. ROBIN JONES

Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

GER Y14 0-6-0 No. 564 stands at Weybourne on the North Norfolk Railway during a Timeline Events photographic charter on November 16. ROBERT FALCONER

Metropolitan Railway stock move The pair of surviving Metropolitan RailwayT Stock cars have been moved from the SpaValley Railway to the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre.They had been offered for sale after the SVR acknowledged it had insufficient resourcestorestore the coaches while maintaining its Class 207‘Thumper’DEMU. The centre already has Metropolitan Railway stock and once they are cleaned, restored and refurbished, the cars will be used as hauled stock on passenger services. In return the SVR has received Class 33/2 No. 33202 by road from the Epping Ongar Railway.

Roland Doyle joins Bala extension team WELSH Highland rebuilding project powerhouse Roland Doyle has come on board with the Bala Lake Railway’s push into Bala town centre. Roland has become project manager of the scheme, titled the Red Dragon Project, which aims to boost both the fortunes of the railway and the town. He became a fireman on the Ffestiniog Railway in early 1971 when he was 15, progressing to driver by 1983. From 1991 he led the project to complete the rebuild of England 0-4-0STT Palmerston. Taliesin, a new-build single Fairlie, was one of Roland’s next projects, completed in 1999. Hebecamethegeneralmanager ofWelshHighlandLightRailwayLtd (Caernarfon-RhydDdu),andthenWelsh HighlandRailwayConstructionLtd

(RhydDdu-Porthmadog),wholly-owned subsidiariesoftheFfestiniogRailway companyandsetupsolelytorebuildthe WelshHighlandRailway.

Key to success is collaboration

When two thirds of the project was approaching completion in 2006 (Caernarfon to Beddgelert), Roland started up Highrail Systems, his own limited company, making certain items of infrastructure and equipment for the WHR and other railways. This work included Train Operated Trailable Points, RRM’s (Roland’s Rail Movers) trap-point actuation equipment at Cae Pawb (the WHR/Network Rail flat crossing) and the conversion to coal firing of double Fairlie Merddin Emrys.

MicroETS, a nine-year project approaching completion, is Roland’s system, which allows electric token machines to be connected by the internet rather than miles of vulnerable and expensive lineside cabling. Speaking about the Bala Lake project, which is being masterminded by North Norfolk Railway chairman Julian Birley, Roland said:“The key to success with this project, like many others, is collaboration. “I am extremely grateful to my business partner Ben Abbott, who many will know as a driver on the BLR.” Roland has made a start on the extension project by arranging for the topographical and ecological surveys to be done by the end of November.

Roland Doyle – who aims to do for the Bala Lake Railway what he did for the Welsh Highland. BLR The first part of the project is to gather enough information and create outline designs to enable accurate grant applications to be made.

Rethink on plans to demolish Wolverton Works A DECISION onthefutureoftheLNWR’s WolvertonWorkshasbeendeferreduntil earlyFebruary. Siteownerandpropertydevelopment companyStModwenplanstobulldoze manyoftheoriginalbuildingsonthe 37-acresitetomakewayfora£100million regenerationproject,including300new houses andabudgetsupermarket. However,governmentadvisorybody HistoricEngland hasnowintervened, severelycriticisingthelossofsomuch heritage. Whatistheworld’s oldestcontinuously open railwayworksopened inSeptember 1838.ItenteredadministrationonJuly29, 2013, whenRailcare,whichoperatesthe works,ranoutofcash. Afterfourweeks inadministration,Germancompany Knorr-Bremsepurchased thebusinesson August27thatyear,bywhichtime50%of theworks’staffhadbeen maderedundant andtraincompanies hadremovedtheir trains fromthemassivesheds. StModwenhassuggestedthatallof thebuildingswillbedemolished andthat

halfof thesitewillbetakenoutofrailway use.TheonlybuildingsthatStModwen planstoconservearetheGrade2-listed RoyalTrainShed,ReadingRoomand NewWorks.Theworksiscurrentlyusedto housetheRoyalTrain. Inanewreport,HistoricEnglandstated: “Theextent ofthedemolitionproposed issuchthatthesitewouldlosevirtuallyall ofitsarchitecturalandhistoricalspecial interest,”andthiswouldcause“substantial harm”totheconservationarea,thereport adds.

ItrevealsthatthestructuresthatSt Modwensaiditwouldpreservewould become“isolatedfragments”ofhistoryif theremainder were bulldozed.Historic Englandhasalsoquestionedtheclaim thatthereisaneedformorehousing, statingitwouldbeof“limitedbenefit” becausethesiteisnotallocatedfor housinginthelocalplan. ItalsochallengedStModwen’s claim thatconverting andreusingtheexisting buildingswouldnotbepossibleorviable. Thereportconcluded:“Theworksisa

The Wolverton Works sawmill and boilerhouse, both derelict for the last 25 years and now collapsing and fenced off as they are so dangerous. PHIL MARSH

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

verycomplexanddifficultsitewherethere isaclearneedforregeneration.Inour viewthisshould beheritage-ledandfocus ontheretentionandreuseofthehistoric buildingsonthesite.” Localresidents spokeoutagainstthe StModwenplans atapublicmeetingin WolvertoninNovember. FutureWolvertonspokesmanSimon Bennett said:“People arecertainlyin favourof theeconomic boosttheSt Modwendevelopmentwouldbring to thetown,buttheydon’twanttolosethe heritage,”hesaid. MiltonKeynesCouncilwastoruleon theplanningapplicationinDecember, andcouncillorsweresaidtobemindedto refuse permission.However,StModwen indicatedthatarevised applicationwould besubmitted,andsothecouncildecision hasbeen deferreduntilearlyFebruary. Meanwhile, HeritageRailway correspondentPhilMarshhasbeen helping theowneroftheworksin identifyinghistoricrelicsthatwillbestored forfuturedisplay. Heritagerailway.co.uk 29

HERITAGE RAILWAY

SUBSCRIPTION FORM

OFFER CODE: HRDPS

ISSUE 210

SIMPLY complete the form below and return to:

FREEPOST RTKU-YJBY-HJCR, HR SUBSCRIPTIONS, MORTONS MEDIA GROUP LTD, HORNCASTLE, LINCOLNSHIRE, LN9 6JR SIX MONTHLY DIRECT DEBIT *

UK

ONE YEAR CREDIT CARD/CHEQUE

£20

£44

EU

£53

Rest of World

£61

SUBSCRIBER BENEFITS ➤

Pay only £3.33 per issue SAVING 25%

➤

Delivered to your door before it goes on sale in the shops

➤

Never miss an issue!

PAYER’S DETAILS (MUST BE COMPLETED) Mr / Mrs / Miss / Ms (please circle) First name

Surname

Email Telephone Mobile

Year of Birth

Address

Postcode

DELIVERY DETAILS (IF DIFFERENT TO ABOVE) Mr / Mrs / Miss / Ms (please circle) First name

Surname

Address

Postcode Email On occasion Mortons Media Group Ltd may decide to contact you by post/phone regarding information relating to current offers of products or services (including discounted subscription offers) which we believe may be of interest to our readers. If you do not wish to receive such offers please tick this box On occasion Mortons Media Group Ltd may decide to email/fax you regarding information relating to current offers of products or services (including discounted subscription offers) which we believe may be of interest to our readers. If you wish to receive such offers, please tick this box On occasion Mortons Media Group Ltd may permit third parties, that we deem to be reputable, to contact you by post/phone/fax/email regarding information relating to current offers of products or services which we believe may be of interest to our readers. If you wish to receive such offers please tick this box

PAYMENT METHOD 1. DIRECT DEBIT Instruction to Bank/Building Society to pay by Direct Debit: I would like to change/take out a subscription for £20 per six months (UK only) Account in the name of Account number

Sort code

Name of Bank/Building Society

3 EASY WAYS

Address

Postcode Please pay Mortons Media Group Ltd direct debits from the account detailed in the instructions, subject to the safeguards of the Direct Debit Guarantee. I understand that this instruction may remain with Mortons Media Group and, if so, details will be passed electronically to my Bank/Building Society. Originator’s ID number: 830390

Signature

CALL 01507 529529

Reference number (office use only)

Mastercard

Switch/Maestro

Card number: Start date 3 digit verification code

Signature

3.

/

ONLINE AT

WWW.CLASSICMAGAZINES.CO.UK/HRDPS

Date

2. DEBIT/CREDIT CARD Please debit my: Visa

TO SUBSCRIBE

Expiry date

/

Switch issue number

Date

CHEQUE I enclose a cheque made payable to Mortons Media Group Ltd

(QUOTE: HRDPS) OVERSEAS CALL +44 (0)1507 529529 LINES OPEN MON – FRI, 8.30AM – 7PM & SATURDAYS, 8.30AM – 12.30PM

OR SIMPLY FILL IN THE FORM PROVIDED AND RETURN TO OUR FREEPOST ADDRESS FOLLOW US AT FACEBOOK.COM/HERITAGERAILWAY

SUBSCRIBE FROM JUST £20*

JUST £3.33 AN ISSUE

LMS ‘Black Five’ 4-6-0s Nos. 44871 and 45407 pass New Mills South Junction with the Railway Touring Company’s ‘Tin Bath’ from Preston to Sheffield and Penistone on November 1. BRIAN SHARPE

The complete steam railway magazine & Britain’s most popular news title

NEWS

The interior of coach No. 9103. DAVE SMITH

GW(SVR) Association trustee Chris Haynes (left) and Severn Valley general manager Nick Ralls (right), receive the overall winner award from Heritage Railway Association chairman Brian Simpson. JOHN CRANE/SVR

The GW(SVR) Association’s GWR Collett Nondescript Saloon No. 9103 at Bewdley. ROBIN JONES

Severn Valley Collett saloon takes top national award THE SevernValleyRailwaynotchedup anothersuccess inits50thanniversary year,whenoneofitssupportinggroups wontheHeritageRailwayAssociation’s 2015carriageandwagoncompetition. Namedastheoverallwinnerwas theGW(SVR)Association’s GWCollett NondescriptSaloon No.9103. Agroupspokesmansaid:“Wearevery proudthattherestorationhasbeen awardedthetopprize.Thisisgreatcredit toallourvolunteers,supporters,andthe BewdleyandKidderminstercarriage departments,fortheirdedicatedand skilfulworkrestoringNo. 9103 toits originalGWRcondition.” TheGWRbuilt severalsaloonsinthe 20thcenturyforprivatehirebutattached tonormalservicetrains;carriagesfor railwayofficialsforuseonline inspections andcoaches forluxuryservicesor royalty. TheSevernValleyhasthreesaloons–

No.9055of1912,No.9369of 1923 and No.9103of1929.Thesesaloonswere built forprivatehireasafirstorthird classvehicleandwere thereforeofficially unclassified,hencethetermnondescript. No.9103,which containstwosaloons plusonestandardcompartmentanda smallbrakecompartment,wasmainly allocatedtoPlymouth andwasalso involvedinafireatFrattonin1950. WithdrawninSeptember1961,itwas againoverhauledtotakepartinthe WestwoodTelevisionTrainbehindNo.3440 CityofTruroonamonth-longtourofthe WestCountrytointroducecommercialTV toDevonandCornwall.Afterwards,itwas convertedintoanofficeandstationedat DanygraigasDepartmentalNo.079124. ItwasboughtbythelatePhilJamesin 1971andmovedtotheSVRonJanuary 29,1972.Philundertooktheearlyworkon No.9103,installingthemissing corridor

wallandtheceilings.Thecoachwasthen boughtbyMickHayneswhocontinued therestorationover30years,workingwith onlyasmallteam. Itwaslaunched intoserviceon theSVR inSeptember 2013afteralongperiodof restorationandisnowinregular traffic. Attheawardspresentationatthe HRA’s midweekmeetingatGradStation, Wolverhampton,onNovember11,the BluebellRailwaycarriedofftheBestCoach awardforitsrestorationofSECRBirdcage BrakeLavatory3rdNo. 3363. Thecarriage,built in1910,wasrestored byateamofvolunteersatHorstedKeynes. Havingbeenconvertedfordepartmental useformeasuringtheclearancesthrough bridgesandtunnels in1954,itarrivedon theBluebellin1999,withwaterrunning throughtheroofafteryearssitting in sidingselsewhere.Itsinteriorandexterior havebeenmeticulouslyrestoredtoits

1920s and30srunningcondition. Itisthethirdsuccessiveawardcollected byTrevor,whoalsoledtherestorationsof MaunsellOpenThirdNo.1309 andLBSCR BogieFirstNo.7598. Bluebellrolling stockdirectorLewis Nodessaiditwas:“awell-deservedaward formanyyears’work,demonstratingagain thecontinuing outstandingexcellence oftherailway’s carriageandwagon department.” TheCaledonianRailwayatBrechintook theawardfortheBestWagon,withitsBR Standard20TbrakevanNo.B960883. TheBestTram/Railcarawardwentto theNeneValleyRailwayforSwedishrailcar No.1212. Inaddition,theSnowdonMountain Railwaywascommendedforitsnew coachNo.2–aVictorianreplicausing modernmaterialstomeet21st-century standards.

Left: The Nene Valley Railway’s Swedish railcar No. 1212 at Wansford. ROBIN JONES Right: The Bluebell Railway’s awardwinning SECR Birdcage Brake Lavatory 3rd No. 3363. BR

32 Heritagerailway.co.uk

Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

Awards trio for Snowdon rack railway THE Snowdon Mountain Railway is celebrating a hat-trick of tourism awards after winning bronze in this year’s British Travel Awards. The award in the category of Best UK Heritage Attraction marks the famous Welsh railway as one of the most significant UK tourism attractions, alongside the other winners, Edinburgh Castle and the Giant’s Causeway. The awards are the largest consumer voted programme in Britain with more than a million votes cast to determine the winners. This latest accolade follows two other successes for Britain’s only rack-andpinion steam railway. It was highly commended by the Heritage Railway Association in its annual Carriage & Wagon Awards for the building and restoration of Snowdon Lily, one of two period carriages used on the line (see separate story).

Go the extra mile

More success came with a Gold Award from Visit Wales which is given to attractions that go the extra mile to create an enjoyable and memorable experience for their visitors. General manager Alan Kendall, at Snowdon Mountain Railway, said:“This hat-trick of awards brings us great pride and rounds off a very successful year for the railway. “We welcomed opera singer Katherine Jenkins to Llanberis after we named a carriage after her, took delivery of a

Above: SLM 0-4-2T No. 2 Enid and the Snowdon Lily carriage near the summit of Mount Snowdon. SMR Right: The Snowdon Lily carriage, highly commended by the Heritage Railway Association, climbs Mount Snowdon pushed by Enid. SMR new heritage carriage and hosted some of sports’most prestigious trophies including the UEFA Champions League and Rugby World Cup.The icing on the cake was celebrating the 120th birthday of Enid, one of our locomotives. “Each member of the Snowdon Mountain Railway team deserves tremendous credit for their hard work and these accolades are testament to their skill, dedication and customer care.”

Buy a Gresley P2 2-8-2 component for Christmas! THE public is being given the unique opportunity to“buy the power of steam this Christmas”and help Britain’s fastestgrowing new-build project to come to fruition. Christmas will be the first time that members of the public will be able to sponsor a component for the country’s newest and most powerful express passenger steam locomotive. Parts for new Gresley P2 2-8-2 No. 2007 Prince of Wales will be available for sponsorship to people who are not members of The Founders Club which funded the project’s dramatic racing start or its‘P2 for the price of a pint’monthly covenantors. Components sponsored through the Dedicated Donation scheme range in price from one of more than 1000 driven bolts and nuts for £25, to the complete exhaust steam injector for £15,000. Those who subscribe to the Dedicated Donation scheme will have their names (or that of the gift’s recipient)

inscribed on the official roll of honour at Darlington Locomotive Works listing the components sponsored, receive a certificate recording the sponsorship and a copy of the drawing of the component. New components for sponsorship will become available as construction progresses. The A1 Steam LocomotiveTrust, a registered charity and builder of A1 Peppercorn Pacific No. 60163 Tornado, is constructing the seventh member of this class over seven years at an estimated cost of £5 million through its P2 Steam Locomotive Company subsidiary. The project will demonstrate how the design can be fully realised through use of modern computer design and modelling techniques, enabling the new locomotive to deliver its full potential hauling passenger trains at high speed across today’s national network. ➜ For details of how to help, visit www.p2steam.com, email enquiries@ p2steam.com or call 01325 460163.

IN BRIEF ➜ THE Telford Steam Railway’s GWR 0-6-2T No. 5619 joined the Churnet Valley Railway operational fleet in time for the Santa season, and will stay on to take a starring role in the February 27-28 winter steam gala. ➜ THE Mid-Norfolk Railway played host to Class 47 enthusiast Martyn Catlin when hired resident Class 47s Nos. 47367/596 operated four round trips between Dereham and Wymondham Abbey on November 21, with one run extended north from Dereham to Hoe level crossing. ➜ THE move of Class 31 No. 31465 from Derby to Long Marston was delayed when the trailer carrying the locomotive suffered a failure on the A50 on November 22. A new trailer was arranged on November 27, allowing the transit to be completed. Long Marston has identified the need for a main line locomotive should the proposed storage of Eurostar trainsets come to fruition.

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

➜ FIVE Class 58s offered for sale by DB Schenker are reported to have been sold: No. 58008 to Raxstar; Nos. 58012/023 to Ron Hull of Rotherham (at a reported price of £5000 each) and Nos. 58022/048 to private individuals thought to be connected to the Class 58 Group and the LMS 10000 Project. ➜ THE Great Central Railway’s Model Event returns to station along the line from June 17-19. More than 60 layouts and over 40 traders are expected. ➜ THE Class 86s currently being disposed of by Booths of Rotherham will include three that are being sold on to Freightliner as a supply of spares for the continuing operation of its fleet. This move has come about as three Freightliner Class 90s have been contracted to GB Railfreight on long-term contracts to haul Anglo-Scottish sleeper services. Heritagerailway.co.uk 33

NEWS

Sixties guitar icon heralds London Transport design celebrations ByRobinJones HARRYBeck meetsJeffBeck:theclassic 1930s LondonUndergroundtubemap hasnowfounditswayontothe latest FenderStratocasterguitar. HarryBeck’s groundbreakingmaphas been immortalisedonanewspecialeditionStratocasterinanewpartnership betweenFenderandtheTube.Theguitar wasunveiledonNovember30byLondon based musicianJamesBlackatStJohns Woodtubestation,astone’s-throw away fromAbbeyRoadstudioswhere the Beatlesrecordedtheir legendaryalbum. TheStratocasterisitselfadesignclassic andformorethan60yearshasgraced London’s stagesinthehandsofJimi Hendrix,EricClapton,DavidGilmourand theBeachBoysaswellascountlessother

Look no buskers today at St Johns Wood Underground station, but instead one of the world’s greatest guitars imprinted with the classic tube map! TFL

guitar greats.Thespecial-edition tubemap versionfeaturesanengravedneckplate, TfLlogoonthebackoftheheadstock, threesinglecoilpickupsandamaple neckalongsidethetubemapdesign, recognised acrosstheworld. Aswellashelping peoplenavigate Londonthemaphasbecomeanemblem ofBritish culture.Itappears inthelatestUK passports,andwasrecentlyvotedone of thetoptransport DesignIconsofalltime inapollof 10,000Londoners. Thelaunchoftheguitarcomesas TransportforLondonandLondon TransportMuseumcelebrate,Transported byDesign,an18-monthfestivalofevents andexhibitionsthatexploregooddesign onthetransportnetworkanditsroleinthe livesofthemillionsofpassengerswho use iteachday. Fender’s Europeanmanagingdirector GraemeMathieson said:“TheStratocaster andtheLondontubemaparebothiconic symbolsofLondon’s culturalheritageso weareproudtobecollaboratingwith TransportforLondoninbringingthese twodesignclassics together.” LUmanagingdirector,NickBrown, LondonUnderground’s managing director,said:“HarryBeck’s imaginatively simpletubemapdesignhelped revolutionisethewaypeoplegetaround London. “Thatsenseofusinggooddesignto makepeople’s livesbetterisstillamajor partofwhatwedo.Itiswhatwe’re celebratinginourTransportedbyDesign programme,anditiswhythisintriguing comingtogetherof twodesignicons is sotimely.” Aninitialcollectionof 50guitarshas

The new Fender Stratocaster features part of Harry Beck’s ground-breaking tube map. TFL been produced,pricedat£599,and willbeavailabletoorderandbuyatthe CoventGardenmuseumshop atwww. ltmuseumshop.co.uk OtherhighlightsoftheTransported byDesignprogrammewillinclude designology,aseasonofeventsatthe museum runningthroughout2016, unveiling of acommemorationat PiccadillyCircusstationtoformer London Transportchief executiveFrankPick andactivitiestocelebratethe100th anniversaryoftheUnderground’s iconic Johnstontypeface. Themuseum’s designologyexhibition opensonFriday,May20.Itwillexplore howdesignisencounteredinour everyday journeysandhowthishas evolvedoverthelastcentury,uncovering thefascinatingdesignsandprocesses

behind London’s movingmetropolis. Publicityandcommunication, architecture,technology,engineering, serviceoperationandtheurban environmentareexplored,demonstrating howeveryaspectofthecapital’s transport systemandthepassengerjourneyhave beenthoughtfullydesignedsincethe earlyyearsofthe20thcentury.Highlights oftheexhibitionincludepostersfromthe goldenageoftravel,historicmaps,tickets andsignage,andapop-updesignstudio. Visitorstodesignologycanalsoenjoy LondonbyDesign,themuseum’s new permanentgallerywhichcelebrateskey momentsandimportantmilestones in London’s transportdesignheritageand showshowBritishartanddesignhave becomedeeply andinextricablybound withLondon’s transportnetwork.

Learn about night photography – from the top of Underground HQ!

55 Broadway, the iconic historic headquarters of London Underground. LTM

34 Heritagerailway.co.uk

LONDONTransportMuseumisinvitingphotographers toseethecapitalinadifferentlight–orlackofit–witha seriesofspecialeveningtours. Theaward-winningCoventGardenmuseum has booked London-based professionalphotographer andtutor,SimonGregor,toleadaseriesofafter-dark photographyworkshopsinFebruary. Membersofthepublicarebeinginvitedtojointhe sessionsandbrushupontheirnightphotography skillssothattheycantakehigh-qualityphotographs whateverthelightingconditions. Somephotographicexperienceisrequired,and participantswillneed theirowndigitalSLR cameraand tripod. MeetingatthemuseuminCoventGarden, the workshopstopsatWaterlooBridge,theBankof Englandand55Broadway,LondonUnderground’s GradeIartdecoheadquarters.Therewillalsobetherare opportunitytophotographthecityscape fromits10thfloorroofterrace. OverlookingStJames’s Park,55Broadwaywas designedbyCharlesHolden andbuilt between1927-29

asanewheadquartersfortheUndergroundElectric RailwaysCompanyofLondon,themainforerunnerof LondonUnderground.Oncompletion,itwasthetallest officeblock inthecity. FollowingtheUnderground’s decisiontomovetonew headquartersthisyear,55 Broadwaywillbeconverted forresidentialuse. Simon specialisesinarchitecturalandhistorical photographyandruns photographicwalkingtoursof London.HisworkhasbeenexhibitedinLondonand Hertfordandheiscurrentlyworkingonaphotography projectaspartoftheImperialWarMuseum’s centenary partnershiptocommemoratetheFirstWorldWar. Marketedasanideal Christmasgiftforkeen photographers,thetourscost£40each(£35 concessions)andrunfrom4-7.30pmonTuesday, February2,SaturdayFebruary6,Tuesday,February9 andSaturday,February13.Itisnotopentounder18s. ➜ For further information, please see: www.ltmuseum.co.uk, email bookings@ ltmuseum.co.uk or telephone 0207 565 7298.

Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

Now in lined-out BR black livery, BR Standard 4MT 4-6-0 No. 75078 pulls away from Oakworth on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway on November 21. BRIAN DOBBS East Lancashire Railway chairman Peter Duncan. ELR

East Lancashire chairman retires

PETER Duncan is to step down from his post as chairman of the East Lancashire Railway on NewYear’s Eve. Peterhasservedaschairman sinceSeptember2001,overseeing atransformationinthepopularity, patronageandreputationoftheawardwinningheritageline,which hasbecome beingthethirdbiggestpaidattractionin GreaterManchesterandwhich lastyear attractedarecordnumber ofvisitors;more than155,000. Petersaid:“Iamveryproudofwhat hasbeenachievedduringmytermas chairman.Thesuccessoftherailwayisa resultofthededicationandenthusiasm ofmorethan600unpaidvolunteers,and asmallcoreteamoffull-andpart-time staff.Betweenthem,theydeliverthe locomotives,rollingstock,infrastructure, organisationandstaffingforthevast rangeofpassengertrains,eventsand otherservicesweofferthroughoutthe year. Iwouldliketotakethisopportunity topaytributetothemfortheirunswerving support. “Iwouldalsoliketothankourlocal authoritypartners,Rossendale,Buryand Rochdalefortheirsupport,andcontinuing effortstomakestations intheir respective areastruedestinationsforourvisitors. “Ihavethoroughlyenjoyedmytime aschairmanbutit’s time formetohand overthebatonandconcentrateonthe Rawtenstallresignalling,astherailway seekstobuildforthefutureandtakeson newchallenges.”

Layout left to G/WR AN expansive model railway built in an enthusiast’s loft over a period of 60 years has been left in his will to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway where it will go on public display. LaurenceTeague, founder ofTeague's Television in Redditch, who died last year at the age of 74, had shown an interest in railways since the 1940s. The 32ft by 11ft is railway to be dismantled section by section and moved to Winchcombe station.

Severn Valley 27 moves to Leicester CLASS27D5410/27059,whichhasbeen inlong-termstorageontheSevernValley Railway,hasmovedtotheLeicesterbase ofUnitedKingdomRailLeasingswhere itwillbeoverhauledandrestoredto workingorder. Thismovesees areturntoLeicester fortheclassasmanymemberswere reallocatedtoLeicesterfromCricklewood whenseveralweresentthereas replacementsin1963. Thelocomotivewasoneof afleetof 69designedbytheBirminghamRailway CarriageandWagonCompanyat Smethwick,andappearedinthesummer of1961.Theclasswaswithdrawnduring 1985-87,butintheearly1980s,members ofSandwellMetropolitanBorough Councildecidedtobuyone becauseofits localorigins. D5410wasoutshoppedinAugust1962 andservedatCricklewoodandKentish Towndepots,beforebeing transferred totheWellingboroughandNottingham districtsearlyin1965.Itwasmovedto ScotlandinFebruary1969,andinJanuary 1974,convertedforpush-pulloperation

asNo.27123. Itwasrenumberedto27205after undergoingelectrictrainheating conversioninDecember1974,and27059 whenspecialequipmentwasremoved in1983.Itwaswithdrawnfromservice onJuly6,1987,butvisitedtheSevern ValleygalaonOctober10-12 thatyear, afterbeingchosenbythecouncilfroma condemnedselectionatGlasgowworks. PlacedinstorageatTyseleyLocomotive Works,ithaditsblueasbestoscontent removedatVicBerry’s yardatLeicesterin 1988–hauledtherebyClass31No. 31413 whichhadbeennamedSevernValley Railway,andrestoredasD5410atTyseley byApril1990. TheSVRwaschosenasitspermanent home,and itwasmovedthereonMay 26,1991.Ittookpartin severalgalasand special workings,buthasnowbeen storedoutofuse formanyyears.In2011, SandwellCouncilappealedforhelpin restoringit.Itremains thepropertyofthe council,whoseboundaryincludesthe siteatSmethwickwherethelocomotive wasbuilt.

Whitehall asked to intervene over Wenshaston refusal THESouthwoldRailwayTrusthasappealed totheGovernmenttooverturnadistrict council’s refusalofplanningpermissionfor astation. Aspreviouslyreported,thecharitable trustwanttobuildareplicastationand engineshedatWenhastonandlay500 yardsof3ftgaugetrackon2.14acresofa 14-acresite. InApril,SuffolkCoastalDistrictcouncillors ignoredtherecommendationsoftheir planningofficersandthrewoutabidbythe trustforthescheme. ThetrustisnowaskingthePlanning InspectoratetoreverseSuffolkCoastal’s latestrefusal. Underthetrust’s plans,thestationwould beopen30daysayear,ratherthanthe

168daysoriginallyhopedfor.Withparking atthestationrestrictedtostaffandfor disabledaccess,inabidtoappeaselocal residents,thetrust’s owntourbuswould shuttlevisitorsfromSouthwold,Halesworth andfromoff-siteparkingatChurchFarm, Wenhaston. Councillorssaidtheschemewasinthe wrongplace.Theapplicationforplanning consentprompted98lettersofobjection and51lettersofsupport. Oneplanofobjectionwasthatthesitelies onafloodplaninanAreaofOutstanding NaturalBeauty.TrustchairmanJames Hewettsaid:“Itistellingthatmanyofthe loudestobjectorsvisitheritagerailways whenonholidayinother–andequally sensitive–areas.”

Class 40 Society gains its hat trick THE Class 40 Preservation Society has bought No, 40106 from Neil Boden – achieving its ambition of owning an example of each of the three body styles used by class members. Members were told of the acquisition at thesociety’s annual general meeting onNovember 14. The purchase price was paid in full thanks to a six-month interest-free loan from an anonymous CFPS member, donations from a small number of other membersand society funds. The CFPS now has to raise £40,000 by the end of May to repay outstanding loans.While chairman

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

John Stephens has committed to paying out of his own funds if necessary, the immediate response of donations has allowed him to repay £10,000 already. To assist with the remainder he has initiated an appeal for funds. He added that the successful purchase of the locomotive will not lead to an easing of his desire to run a charter during 2016 hauled by a Class 40. He confirmed thatWest Coast Railways has expressed a willingness to assist once the CFPS confirms both a date and location for a proposed charter. Heritagerailway.co.uk 35

NEWS

‘Cathedrals Express’ hit by Storm Desmond flooding By Robin Jones and Cedric Johns A Steam Dreams’‘Cathedrals Express’ from Euston to Carlisle and Appleby was hit by Storm Desmond and forced to terminate its railtour at Carnforth and return to Euston. It happened on Saturday, December 5 when Class 86 electric No. 86259 Peter Pan worked the‘Express’to Carnforth where LMS Jubilee 4-6-0 No. 45699 Galatea was due to take the train forward. But record-breaking torrential overnight rain in the Lake District left the West Coast Main Line closed because of sections flooding, with water several feet deep in places, and despite efforts to reroute the‘Express’ to Sheffield, the diversion of service trains prevented a last-minute change of destination. The train arrived at Lancaster about 10 minutes late, and there followed an hour’s wait while options were considered, including diversions to Barrow or the Settle and Carlisle line, but all in vain. A landslip at Shap had also affected the overhead wires, it was said. The‘Express’was allowed to reach Carnforth, the 86 ran around its train and returned it to Euston complete with disappointed passengers deprived of topping Shap behind steam and a trip over the Settle and Carlisle line, which has also experienced flooding. On the way back, there were protracted station stops including Preston where the train collected those passengers who had elected to disembark for Carlisle 3½ hours earlier and got no further. On the same day, a Class 47-hauled Statesman Railtours’trip from Holyhead to Edinburgh Christmas market also operated by West Coast Railways

BR Standard 4MT 2-6-0 No. 76079 heads away from Grosmont towards Whitby on December 6. MAURICE BURNS reached Oxenholme where it too was forced to turn back. Storm Desmond left one man dead in Keswick and 6425 hit by flood waters, with many more in Lancashire and Cumbria left without electricity. The West Coast main line north of Carlisle remained closed for three days after it was submerged by up to 8ft of flood water. Several safetycritical cabinets, which house complex electrical equipment, were submerged and needed to be rebuilt once it was safe to do so. Network Rail’s orange army on the ground has been working 24 hours a day to clear trees, landslips and repair flood damage to keep as much as possible of the railway open.

An historic girder bridge which once carried the Penrith to Keswick railway line – the subject of a long-running campaign to reopen it – over the River Greta between Threlkeld and Keswick, and part of a long-distance walking and cycling route, was washed away by flood waters. Prime Minister, David Cameron, visited the worst-hit areas as criticism of the Government mounted over the lack of adequate flood defences. Environment Secretary Liz Truss defended the Government’s flood preparations, saying:“There will be unexpected scenarios, there always are.” On the opposite coast, 70mph gales overnight brought a tree down on to the Esk Valley branch at Egton,

disrupting NorthYorkshire Moors Railway Santa services to and from Whitby on December 6. A morning Whitby departure had to be cancelled, and instead ran from Grosmont to the line’s summit. All children and parents were taken by coach from Whitby to Grosmont. After midday, the line was cleared of trees and the late-running 1.30pm from Whitby went to Glaisdale. There was also severe flooding at Pont Croesor on the Welsh Highland Railway, but the trackbed remained above water, unlike the fields and most of the roads in the vicinity. On its sister Ffestiniog Railway, a tree blocking the line at Dduallt and a minor landslip were sorted within hours.

Wells marooned at Bury for a year BULLEID West Country light Pacific No. 34092, now carrying its full name City of Wells, has been marooned at the East Lancashire Railway until the end of 2016 – because it cannot go home. Recently imposed restrictions on a road bridge in Keighley mean that it cannot go back to the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway by low loader. While the KWVR has made alternative arrangements for locomotives coming and going by road from Haworth, a bridge over the beck in that village is also deemed unsuitable for low loaders carrying larger locomotives. Wells has been barred from

36 Heritagerailway.co.uk

returning to the KWVR over the national network because of gauging issues at Bridge 37 at Keighley. The locomotive’s joint owner Richard Greenwood said:“The ELR were very good to accept us at short notice, but staying there until the end of 2016 is our only option. “We cannot get back to the KWVR by road, and the issues at Bridge 37 prevented Kinlet Hall moving there for the railway’s autumn steam gala. “I wonder if the gauging problems there are such that even some modern diesels might not be able to pass. West Coast Railways is talking to Network Rail”.

Flooding on the West Coast Main Line north of Carlisle on December 5. NETWORK RAIL Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

Next Beamish new-build is a Model T Ford ‘Crewe Tractor’ By Robin Jones BEAMISH Museum is to replicate an LNWR First World War ‘CreweTractor’as its next new-build project. With the impending conclusion of its latest new-build steam project, that of a full-size copy of Stephen Lewin & Co 0-4-0WTG Samson, staff have drawn up plans to recreate what is effectively a Ford ModelT on rails. In 1916, Crewe Works outshopped a ‘hybrid’railway tractor and built as many as 138 examples, some for use on the trench railways of the Western Front. It was a standard car chassis, which could be mounted on to a dismountable railway frame (within one hour it was claimed) to convert it from road to rail. The road wheels were removed and the rear axle drove, via a chain, the rear rail axle.The front axle was mounted on the frame top. The steering wheel remained in place as the controls (the throttle and ignition)

were mounted there. A jack enabled the whole railway vehicle to be turned 180º as required (running in reverse was possible, but would lead to overheating as the radiator is obstructed when facing backwards). A simple platform deck was fitted for the payload and a claim of five tons haulage capacity on 1-in-20 gradients was made for such vehicles. In service, the CreweTractors by and large remained in railway mode, and moving themselves on the lightly laid trench railways was often the best they could do. The County Durham museum already has three Model Ts and some spare parts, a 1914 Tourer, which is largely restored and on display in the museum street scene’s garage showroom; a van dating from 1922 with an English body fitted, and a 1925 Ton Truck, which is well used by

The new deck and side rails of the Crewe Tractor nearing completion in the Beamish Museum workshops in late November. BEAMISH the venue’s steam technician. The van has been chosen for the Crewe Tractor project. While the van is serviceable and useful, its body style does not suit daily operation around the museum site as the cab roof obscures vision. It was decided to remove and store the body and wings in order to convert the T into a replica of the road version of the Crewe Tractors, and conversion work in the museum’s

Tribute to Fairbourne, Ffestiniog and Bala engineering giant David Black Popular narrow gauge engineer David Black with No. 1 Talyllyn at Tywyn Wharf station after its overhaul which he helped out with.

ByRobertSkipworth THE heritagesectorhasbeen inmourning forpopularnarrowgaugeexpertDavid John Black whohasdiedattheageof63. TheownerofMawddachPottery,David, apotterinFairbourne,andone-time FairbourneRailwaychiefengineer,also hadaspellinFrancein1978helpingto developtheRéseau GuerlédaninBrittany returningtoWalestoworkattheBalaLake Railwayforeightyears. Heplayedamajorpartinthatrevivalof therailwaywhichhadsufferedfromlack of investmentforseveralyears.Aswellashis engineeringwork,heorganisedvolunteer workingpartiesonlinesideclearance, fencingandtheresleeperingofmajor sectionsoftrack. Amajorachievementduringthistime wasthesupport,time andefforthelent tofriendChrisScottafterChris’s purchase of whatremainedofQuarryHunslet Alice.ThatAlice isstillasought-afterturn atBalaisatributetoDavid’s skilland commitment. TherefollowedaperiodattheFfestiniog Railwaywherehewaskeptbusyasfleet manager,arolewhich grewtremendously with thereopeningoftheWelshHighland Railway. IgottoknowDavidasweworked one winteronNGG15 GarrattNo.138which hadarrivedfromSouthAfricainlessthan thepromisedperfectstate.BostonLodge Workshadjusttakenontheoverhaul ofBernardLatham’s exCilgwynQuarry HunsletLilla, andDavidalmostsingle handedly completedthetask.Lilla stayed attheFfestiniogandwaseventually

purchased fortherailwaybyagroupof volunteers,ofwhichonewasDavid. Keyinmy mindwasthetime hespent teachingmyself and others the basic skills of locomotive maintenance such as boiler washouts, locomotive preparation and coal firing. David took redundancy from the FR in 2002 and returned to his first love, the restoration and construction of miniature locomotives at his home in Arthog. Notable was his restoration of a 15in-gauge Peruvian Cagney and the construction ofaone-quarterscalereplica ofoneoftheChileanNorthBritish 2ft6in gauge2-8-0s. Healsobecametheproudownerof Aveling &PortersteamrollerXD8230 whichhadatonetimebeentheproperty ofCamdenCounciland,afterwarservice, hadbeenburiedinCumberlandHousing EstatePark.Davidcouldoftenbeseen trundlingabout thelanesaroundhis homewithnewwifeRitta. Davidwascontractedtoassistwith the overhaulofTalyllynNo.1Talyllyn,andit wasreturnedtotrafficintip-topcondition.

AnoverhaulofNo.6Douglas followedand in2010 Davidwasagain calledontohelp with theoverhaulandcommissioningofa newboileronNo. 2Dolgoch intimeforthe 201150thanniversaryofthefirsttrainrun under preservation. David and Ritta celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary with a special train on theTR in November 2011. However, during 2013 he was diagnosed with bowel cancer. Despite his loathing of hospitals he gamely accepted the various procedures and treatments he was offered. David was thrilled during this time to become a proud grandfather to Amélie. However, in summer 2015 the cancer returned. He died athome on September 15. HispackedfuneralatAberystwyth Crematoriumdemonstratedtheaffection andesteeminwhichDavidwasheld bysomany.TheTRhostedareception afterwardsandranaspecialtrainto QuarrySidingformourners.Heleaveshis wifeRitta,sons MerionandTomandsister Gillian.

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

workshops has already begun. It is hoped to have the Crewe Tractor ready for use in road mode in time for the Great War Steam Fair in April, as 2016 marks the centenary of their design and the first ones being built. Once operational, the team would then assemble the railway components so the vehicle can be converted from road to rail as many times as the museum wants. It is hoped to have it ready for rail use in

IN BRIEF ➜ THE Severn Valley Railway’s GWR 2-6-2T No.4566 will be returning to its one time home, the Llangollen Railway, for the April 8-10 spring steam gala. As its boiler certificate expires in 2016, this visit will be one of its last away from the SVR. ➜ THE South Wales Loco Cab Preservation Group is to receive the cab of Class 86 No. 86247 which was cut up recently at Basford Hall and expects to receive the cab of firedamaged Class 90 No. 90050 when it is cut up for scrap next spring. ➜ CLASS 86/7 No. 86702 Cassiopeia returned to West Coast Main Line duty on November 18 when it was given a test run from Willesden to Rugby and back with Class 86/2 No. 86259 Peter Pan used as insurance.

New East Lancashire chairman in 2016 THE East Lancashire Railway has appointed Bury Council’s former chief executive Mike Kelly as its new chairman, succeeding Peter Duncan who is retiring after 14 years. Mike said:“I am very honoured and delighted to be chosen to lead the ELR into the next exciting chapter in its history. This much-loved heritage railway is one of the North West’s most popular tourist attractions, attracting more than 157,000 visitors each year while remaining, at its core, volunteer led and community focused.” He will commence his new role on New Year’s Day. Heritagerailway.co.uk 37

NEWS

Barclay 0-4-0ST No. 1931 passes the new Simon Layfield Exhibition Centre building at Rocks by Rail on November 15. BRIAN SHARPE

New Rocks by Rail exhibition

ByMarkSmithersandBrianSharpe

ROCKS byRail,nearCottesmore,hasa collectionwhichnotonly includesawide arrayoflocomotivesbutalsorollingstock andancilliaryequipmentfromtheEast Midlandsironstoneindustry,suchas excavators. The venue began life as the Rutland Railway Museum over four decades ago and has recently been rebranded under its present name. Anewexhibitionhallhas been constructedinrecentweeksclose tothe

museum’s publicentrance.Thishasbeen named theSimonLayfieldExhibition Centreandwasbuilt withthehelpofa grant from theMickGeorgeCommunity Foundationandofficiallyopenedon November152015. Although thearrangementof permanentdisplaysinthenewexhibition centrehadyettobefinalisedatthetimeof itsopening,therewerevarious ironstone locomotivesondisplay,althoughthe ‘star’exhibitwasnotbuiltforuseinan ironstonequarry,butfortheAdmiralty. ThisisHawthornLeslie0-4-0ST No.3865of

1936,Singapore whichoriginallyworked intheRoyalNavalDockyardinSingapore whereitwascapturedbythe invading JapaneseinFebruary1942,sustaining shrapneldamage toitsboilerandright handcylinder claddingintheprocess. MickGeorgemadeaspeechduringthe openingceremonyforthenewexhibition centre,afterwhichtheHighSheriffof Oakhamwavedagreenflagandblew hiswhistletodeclaretheSimonLayfield ExhibitionCentreopen.Thiswasanswered bywhistlesfromthetwolocomotivesin steam.

The High Sheriff of Oakham waves a green flag and blows his whistle to declare the Simon Layfield Exhibition Centre open. This was answered by whistles from the locomotives. MARK SMITHERS Above: Mick George makes a speech during the opening ceremony for the new exhibition centre. MARK SMITHERS Above centre: Yorkshire Engine Co. ‘I’ type 16 inch 0-6-0ST No. 2521 of 1952 on loan from the National Mining Museum is seen here on display in the new exhibition centre. Next to it is Yorkshire Engine Co Janus class 0-6-0 diesel No. 2791 DE5, the last locomotive to leave the nearby Exton Park quarry system in 1973. BRIAN SHARPE Right: A view of the storage sidings at Rocks by Rail in 2014 before building of the new shed and platform. Yorkshire Engine Co No. 2521 and Cranford No. 2 are on static display, while Barclay 0-4-0ST Sir Thomas Royden hauls a passenger train consisting of a single brakevan. BRIAN SHARPE

38 Heritagerailway.co.uk

Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

Heritagerailway.co.uk 39

NEWS

£400k appeal launched to restore Ffestiniog superintendent’s home By Robin Jones

THE LandmarkTrust has launched a £400,00 fundraising appeal to raise money for the restoration of Coed y Bleiddiau, a Grade II listed property which was built in 1863-4 for the superintendent of the Ffestiniog Railway. The trust, which has responsiblity for 196 historic buildings across the UK, has already carried out emergency roof works at the building to prevent further rain damage, but now intends to embark on a full-scale restoration. Coed y Bleiddiau, translated as‘the wood of the wolves’, takes its name from the legend that the last wolf inWales was slain nearby. The railway opened in 1836 and initially the full slate wagons travelled down by gravity with the empties drawn slowly back to the quarries by horse. However, worldwide demand for slate grew to the point where the horses could not get the empties back to the quarries quickly enough and in 1863 the railway became the first narrow gauge line in the world to introduce steam locomotives. With the line’s adoption of this new

technology, new staff were needed and Coed y Bleiddiau was built, its first occupant being Henry Hovenden and his large family. Trust director Anna Keay said:“Coed y Bleiddiau has much in common with some of Landmark’s earliest projects: It is modest in scale but deeply special for its place in our history and landscape. “This wonderful steam railway has been revived thanks to the heroic work of the Ffestiniog Railway.Trains once again puff daily up the hillside, but Coed y Bleiddiau stands abandoned and forlorn.We are determined to save this tiny fragment of the slate industry that transformed this region in the 19th century, but need financial support.” For over a decade from the early 1920s, Coed y Bleiddiau was rented by composer Sir Granville Bantock, professor of music at Birmingham University and pioneer of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Bantock was a prominent cultural figure of the inter-war years, and it was‘to my friend Granville Bantock’that Edward Elgar dedicated his second Pomp and Circumstance march. Since the death of Bob and Babs

Coed y Bleiddiau in the 1930s. FR

Johnson, the last tenants who lived at Coed y Bleiddiau from the 1950s, the building has fallen into dereliction, with the interiors saturated by driving rain as lath and plaster ceilings collapsed from water penetration, while floors and joinery are rotten. The trust hopes to start the project

in the summer of 2016 and needs to raise £400,000. Once restored, Coed y Bleiddiau will open for bookings of up to four guests in 2017. Guests will be able to flag down an approaching train from its own tiny private platform. The building remains the property of the Ffestiniog andWelsh Highland

New train heralds more Ffestiniog strides THEgoldenautumnsunshineinNorth Walesprovideda boost to the Ffestiniog &Welsh Highland Railways and helped round off an already good year in fine style... with an even better one round the corner, writesgeneralmanagerand directorPaulLewin. A complete new train for the Ffestiniog is among the many highlights to expect in the coming year. October traffic was particularly strong with week after week of good weather. Improved levels of service, including a

significantly expanded hot food service on theWelsh Highland, have been reflected in an increasingly strong trip advisor rating which has allowed the team the opportunity to turn its attention to numerous other projects. With generous support from the supporting societies, a new workshop building at Minffordd is completed and is ready for fitting out. Also at Minffordd, the newWaggonTracks shed designed to get all 200 plus slate waggons in the FR heritage fleet under cover should be

Paul Lewin on the footplate of replica Lynton & Barnstaple Railway 2-6-2T Lyd. F&WHR

40 Heritagerailway.co.uk

complete ready for track laying in the new year. Behind the scenes, a lot of further preparatory workisunderwayforthe conservation,repairanddevelopment ofthehistoricBostonLodgeworkshops. Otherhistoricbuildingsalongtheline arecominginforattentiontoo,most notableofwhichistheremotelineside lengthman’s cottageatCoedyBleiddiau inpartnershipwiththeLandmarkTrust (seeseparatestory,above). Ontheengineeringfront,workhas startedonthefourthBeyerGarrattfor theWelshHighlandRailway,generously supportedbySPSLtd.Expectedtotake threeyearstocomplete,theplacement ofanorderforanewboilerforthe locomotiveisimminent. BoilersareabigsubjectattheF&WHRat present,with1879DoubleFairlieMerddin Emrysinfora10yearoverhaulwhichis expectedtobecompletedinjustseven monthsincludingheavyboilerrepairs priortowhatwillprobablybethelast10yearstintforits1969Hunslet-builtboiler. SisterlocomotiveEarlofMerionethhasa boilerticketexpirydateattheendof2016. AlthoughthesamevintageasMerddin’s boiler,theearlydecisionhasbeenmadeto replaceratherthanrepair. Thenewboilerdesignhasbeen approvedbytheinsurerandthesteelwill beorderedearlyin2017.Expectedtocost £100,000,theboilerwillbebuiltin-house atBostonLodgeandrepresentsfurther

seriousinvestmentintheFRfrontlinefleet comingsoonafterinvestmentinapairof brandnewFairliepowerunitsin2014. Theweldersarcisabouttobestruckon anewflangedandweldedboilerfor1867 largeEngland0-4-0STTWelshPony.With allcomponentsonhand,workwillstartas soonastheweldingbayisfreefollowing theconstructionofanewcarriage underframeforanothernewWHRsaloon carriagefundedtheWelshHighland RailwaySociety. WelshPonyrequirednewframes, cylindersandaboiler,astherewaslittle pointinrebuildingthelocomotivearound arottencore.Aconsiderablenumber ofcomponentswillfindtheirwayonto therestoredlocomotive,includingthe motion,hornguides,wheels,rods,tank andcab.Infactless‘original’materialis beingreplacedinthecurrentrestoration thansurvivedthelocomotive’s rebuild in1890. Constructionofthenewwelded boilerisduetostartatBostonLodgein Januaryandanewtenderisalsodueto bedesignedandbuiltasalltheexisting Englandtendersareeitherinuseorsimply wornout.Thelocomotiveisduetobe completedintimeforits150thbirthday in2017. Lookingto2016,theseasonstartswith thenowwell-establishedsocialoccasion ofthe‘Snowdonian’whichcoversboth linesinonedaywithentertainment a-plenty.ThisyearAdrianShooter’s

Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

Lowry ‘lost’ station painting sells at auction for £1.6m

Quarry Hunslet 0-4-0ST Britomart passes Coed y Bleiddiau on March 8, 2012. CHRIS PARRY ➜To make a donation to the appeal, contact the development team on 01628 825920 or visit http://www.landmarktrust.org.uk/support-us/donate-now/ As part of the charity’s fundraising efforts for the project, guardians of Coed y Bleiddiau and patrons of the LandmarkTrust will be treated to an exclusive site visit andVIP trip on the Ffestiniog Railway in April. To support and find out more contact 01628 825920. RailwayTrust, with which the Landmark Trust is partnering. As with the slate for the newly and urgently restored roof, the materials and manpower will all be carried to and from the site by train as there is no road access to the isolated cottage. Ffestiniog &Welsh Highland Railway

general manager Paul Lewin said:“We are delighted to be working with the LandmarkTrust, whose admirable track record in the restoration of historic buildings such as this made the obvious choice to bring Coed y Bleiddiau back to life for the enjoyment of future generations.” Boston Lodge works manager Tony Williams holding an original motion bracket alongside Welsh Pony’s new frames and cylinders. F&WHR

fineparlourcarCarrabassetreturnsto theF&WHRforthefirsttimesinceits constructionatBostonLodgein2004. Thisverywell-appointedsaloon,unlike anythingelseonUKrailways,willbe attachedtothe‘Snowdonian’trainand DarjeelingtankNo.19willbeoneofsix locomotivesprovidingthetractionforthe trainontheday. Aprilwillseethelaunchofanentire newtrainfortheFfestiniog–notjusta newcarriagebutanentirenewtrain.The railwaycarriageworkshavebeavered awayquietlyinthebackgroundto replaceanumberofoldercarriages.The observationcarforthisnewtrainwas trailedinalaunchatPaddingtonstation lastsummer. Whilethiswasonapromotionaltour roundtheUK,thecarriage’s builderswere workinghard.Anewservicevehicle/ kitchencarnearscompletionandabrand newsaloonhasbeencompletedand tuckedawayawaitinglaunch. Thenewtrainwhichwillinitially comprisefourcarriagesshouldextendto

fivenewcarriagesbythesummerseason andmoreafterthat.Thetrainwillenter serviceonMay1afterprovingrunsand previewtrainsforthosekindlysponsoring thenewcarriagesandsocietymembers. Inadditiontodrivingveryhardforthe renewalofolderpartsofinfrastructure (anotherquartermileoftrackisbeing completelyrenewedthiswinterfromthe drainsupwards),thereisarealisationthat theheritageaspectsoftherailwaycan reallystarttocometotheforewhenthe burdenofdailycommercialoperationsis bornelargelybymodernequipmentand buildingsallowingforconservationof theheritagebuildingsandcarefuluseof uniquehistoricrollingstock. Watchoutfortheautumneventstoo, withSuperPowerontheWelshHighland betweenSeptember9-11reflecting onthe75thyearsincetherailwaywas rippeduptoprovidematerialsforthe wareffort.Anewteamisinchargefor thevintageweekendfromOctober7-9 whereincreasinglythewholetownof Porthmadogtakespart.

The Railway Platform by L S Lowry. A RAILWAY painting by L S Lowry sold for £1.65 million at Christie’s in London. The Railway Platform, which depicts Manchester’s long-closed Pendlebury station, was one of four oils by the artist sold on November 25. The station was built to serve the Lancashire &Yorkshire Railway’s Pendleton and Hindley line that became part of today’s the Manchester Victoria to Wigan Wallgate line. Clifton HallTunnel, also known as the Black HarryTunnel – part of the LNWR’s Clifton branch – ran beneath the eastern end of the station. It was situated just before the entrance to a tunnel underneath Bolton Road. In what became known as the Black HarryTunnel collapse of 1953, part of the tunnel collapsed.Two houses fell into the resultant large void inTemple Drive, Swinton, and five residents died. Lowry lived at 117 Station Road, Pendlebury, and several documentary films from the late 1950s show him using the station, which was located

about half a mile from his home. Lowry painted the station in 1953, a year after he retired from his job as chief cashier of the Pall Mall Property Company. The last train to call at Pendlebury was the 11.21pm from Manchester Victoria to Wigan on October 1, 1960. Among the six people aboard was a 37-year-old shopkeeper, a Mr Jackson, proprietor of 419 Chorley Road, Swinton. He bought the last ticket ever issued at Pendlebury station from porter Mr D White, a single to Swinton. Some of the yellow brickwork of the station is still visible in Bolton Road. Opposite the station was a pub, the Station Hotel, which is now an Italian restaurant called Isis. The asking price for the painting had been £1.3 million to £1.8 million. Andre Zlattinger, senior director, and head of Modern British Art at Christie’s, said:“The market for L S Lowry remains buoyant with solid prices realised for all four works, led byThe Railway Platform.”

Unwanted East Lancashire viaduct set to become part of cycleway A DISUSED viaduct belonging to the East Lancashire Railway is to become part of a cycling route through Rossendale. The heritage line has owned Alderbottom Viaduct near Stubbins for several years, but has never laid track over it. The railway inherited the viaduct along with the rest of its land from the former British Railway Board. After Rossendale Borough Council agreed to take over responsibility for the structure, it will become part of an eight mile section of National Cycle Route 6 in the Valley, which will not only run beside the rail line but also the Irwell Sculpture Trail. Councillors on the executive board will be asked to rubber stamp

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

the move, after being told it forms part of a wider £5.9million network of improvements in that part of Lancashire. Adrian Smith, a principal planner for the authority, said:“The ELR has indicated that as part of the development of the cycleway they would wish to return the responsibility for the viaduct to the Council. “ELR currently has the right not to allow public use of the viaduct and therefore could stop an integral part of the planned route being used.” Experts say that the route, which follows a path from Accrington through Haslingden to the county boundary at Stubbins, has“great potential”for commuter use. Heritagerailway.co.uk 41

NEWS

North Bay new build nearly there By Robin Jones A MINIATURE railway which has relied on steam outline locomotives for nearly 85 years, is nearing the end of a project to build the real thing. Scarborough’s 20in gauge North Bay Railway was built in 1931 and runs for approximately 7/8 ths of a mile between Peasholm Park and Scalby Mills in the resort. Up to recent times, it has relied on four diesel locomotives built by Hudswell Clarke, two for the line’s opening, and another pair which were supplied new to the Golden Acre Park in Leeds, and later were used at Woburn Safari Park. Indeed, the three oldest diesel hydraulic locomotives in the world are based at the railway.

A Bagnall Sipat class 0-4-0ST, the basis for the new North Bay Railway locomotives. DAVID HUMPHREYS

Genuine steam locomotives

However, after 80 years of running steam outline diesel hydraulic engines, the North Bay Railway decided in 2011 to build a pair of new‘genuine’steam locomotives, based on a Bagnall Sipat class 0-4-0ST, one at 20in gauge to run at Scarborough and a 2ft gauge duplicate to run elsewhere. Built in the railway’s own workshops, the Scarborough engine is to be called Georgina and the second oneWendy. Apartfromthegauge,theywill be identical. Georgina’s frames and boiler were united for the first time on June 11, 2014, following the riveting of the frames. The cylinders, recycled from 1998-built 0-4-2T Annie on the Isle of Man’s Groudle Glen Railway, are on site ready to be bolted on. OnOctober30,2015, Georginaran

The chassis of Georgina being run on compressed air. DAVID HUMPHREYS

Georgina taking shape rapidly outside the North Bay Railway workshops. DAVID HUMPHREYS forthefirsttime,butpoweredonair, notsteam,forademonstrationrun. Thechassishassincebeen takenfora compressedairrunovertheentire line. Georgina willbeusedforspecial occasionsandfordriverexperienceonly– itisnotenvisagedthatitwillrunonservice trainsonaregularbasis. TheprojectisbeingfundedbyNorth BayRailwayownerDavidHumphreys

andcreatesanopportunityforretired professional engineers topassontheir skills,trainingLotteryfundedHeritage SkillsInitiativeapprenticesworkingonthe construction.

Steaming in early spring

With trials early in 2016, Georginais expected to steam in the spring, after which work will start on Wendy.

Followingthelaunchoftheproject, anewbusiness,NBREngineering ServicesLimited,wasformed.Anexisting Scarboroughfirm,HunterEngineering, wasboughttoprovideaworkshopbase forthispartofthe railway’s business. Itsserviceswillbeprovided notonly toheritagerailwaysrequiringsteam engineering,butalsootherprojectssuch asboats and traction engines.

Tube driver ‘who never was’ launches transport auction house By Geoff Courtney A RETIRED international banker who describes himself as“one of thoseTube or bus drivers who never was”has launched an auction house specialising in transport memorabilia from London and surrounding areas. The company, namedTransport Auctions of London, has been founded by MichaelWickham, who since the 1960s has amassed a collection of bus and Underground signs, maps, timetables, posters, uniform badges, vehicle plates and destination blinds. Michael (66), who lives in Oxted, Surrey, has always been fascinated by London’s transport scene.“According to my mother,‘bus’was one of my first spoken words,” he told HeritageRailway.“As a schoolboy living in SouthWoodford, I travelled the London transport network, underliningTube and bus numbers in my Ian Allan ABCs. “I took my first photographs at the age of 12, and persuaded my father to

42 Heritagerailway.co.uk

drive me across London to Fulwell depot at night in May 1962, to see in the last London trolleybus. I also recall standing on Stratford station taking photographs of Eastern Region tank engines, and travelling to school in west London in the last of the 1920s’standard stock on the Central Line and the last of the ex-District Railway Q23 stock on the District Line.”

Worldwide interest

Such was his interest that in his thirties he bought, restored and rallied a LondonTransport single-deck GS bus, and after retirement from his job as an international banker became a trustee director at Cobham Bus Museum – now London Bus Museum – and was part of the team that created the new museum at Brooklands. Of his new auction house, he said: “Interest in artefacts from London’s transport heritage is booming, with worldwide interest leading to such items as the Beck Underground map, enamel station signs and posters

taking on iconic status. “We will cater for both the serious collector and those buyers of a more general nature, and we will provide expert advice to both vendors and prospective buyers. My banking career gave me the principles of good customer service which we will apply to our auction house, and we will recognise the importance of fast, friendly responses to enquiries.” He plans to hold three auctions a year in Croydon, the first of which will be on March 19, and features will include live internet bidding in addition to bidding in the room.The buyer’s premium – a topical subject as illustrated in last month’s issue of Heritage Railway – will be 15%, with noVAT added. “My lifelong interest has given me an insight into London’s transport heritage with an ability to identify almost any item, although I must admit that even after more than 40 years of collecting, the occasional artefact pops up that surprises me,” said Michael.

Launch date: Michael Wickham launches his new Transport Auctions of London venture at the London Omnibus Traction Society fair at the RAF Museum, Hendon, on November 14. His first sale will be in Croydon on March 19. TRANSPORT AUCTIONS OF LONDON

Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

Bonfire Night emergency at Severn Valley Railway FIREMEN and rescue workers from Red Watch Wellington and Shrewsbury, Bridgnorth, Craven Arms, Tweedale, Newport and Hodnet were summoned to an‘emergency’at the Severn Valley Railway’s Eardington station, when a family SUV crashed through a bridge parapet and on to the line, only to be struck by an oncoming train. Volunteer‘victims’trapped inside the car and on board the smoke-filled train consisted of a dozen students from Telford College of Arts & Technology. The major emergency exercise took place on November 5, and was organised by Shropshire Fire & Rescue Services to“provide personnel with the opportunity to take part in an inter-agency exercise and for crews

to demonstrate searching for and rescuing casualties from a railway carriage”. The scenario was:“A report has been received stating that a car has been in collision with a train on a non-electrified main line. There are a number of persons trapped.” Class 08 350hp diesel shunter D3586 and five coaches, mainly LNER teak vehicles, were used for the exercise, which was actually staged under the occupation bridge just south of Eardington station. Smoke generators provided the on board smoke effects for rescuers to‘search’through, whilst paramedics attended to those trapped in the car. The fire service used metal bars and

‘Vultures’would prefer East Kent level crossing gates to stay EAST Kent Railway volunteers said that they felt like‘vultures’for offering to take away Plumpton village’s much-lovedVictorian period level crossing. The heritage line will be given the 19th century crossing gates, linked to the village’s Grade II listed signalbox, if Network Rail goes ahead with plans to replace them with an automatic barrier. Network Rail has submitted a second planning application to remove the gates after an earlier one was rejected. It said that the current gates are “regularly failing”with 24 faults recorded between January and mid July. Network Rail approached several heritage lines, including the Bluebell Railway, and specialist

crossing manufacturers, to see if any could build and install a replica crossing in the style of the existing gate, but none was able to do so. An inspector’s report has now said that routine maintenance was no longer possible on the gates which are showing extreme wear and tear. Gary Cox of the East Kent Railway said:“I truly feel like a bit of a vulture here,” explaining that if he lived in Plumpton, he would be joining the campaign to save the gates.“I wish you all the best of luck in keeping them,” he wrote to villagers. However, if the gates, which have now been given a maximum life expectancy of 18 months, are removed, he promised that he would ensure they found a good home.

SVR's Phil Brown rejoins Porthmadog empire PHIL Brown has returned to the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway in the new role of locomotive manager. Phil has been operations manager at the SevernValley Railway since 2011 and was previously deputy operations manager at the F&WHR. He will be responsible for the safe operation of all steam and diesel locomotives, the assessing of locomotive crew competence, and for all nonpassenger train movements on the combined 40-mile railway. Since leaving the F&WHR, Phil has been a regular volunteer on the railways and is a qualified driver on both the Ffestiniog andWelsh Highland routes. He will report to Boston Lodge works manager TonyWilliams and takes up his post in January.

Phil Brown. F&WHR

The fire brigade rescue exercise in progress at Eardington station. STEVE DOWNS cable ties to simulate bent and twisted metal and gain experience of cutting accident victims free. Five fire tenders and an ambulance attended the scene. Eardington stationmaster Steve Downs said:“Though we hope that we

never have an incident such as this on the SVR, it’s reassuring to know that the emergency services are prepared for such an eventuality, so we were more than happy for this training exercise to take place.”

King’s Cross run extended for The Railway Children THE Olivier Award winning production of Mike Kenny’s stage adaptation of Edith Nesbit’s novel The Railway Children, has extended its booking period to April 10 ,at the temporary King’s Cross Theatre. The production, which opened at King’s Cross on January 14, 2015, features a full-size steam locomotive and Old Gentleman’s Carriage. It was first produced by York Theatre Royal at the National Railway Museum in York, where it ran for two seasons in 2008 and 2009. The production then opened at Waterloo station in July 2010 and won the 2011 Olivier Award for Best Entertainment, before running in Toronto in 2011 in a temporary theatre built at the base of CN Tower in Roundhouse Park. The museum and theatre have, as reported in issue 209, just won

the Heritage Railway Association’s 2015 Interpretation Award for their collaboration. The award is sponsored by Heritage Railway magazine.

York Theatre Royal

The producers areYorkTheatre Royal production, in association with the NRM. It is directed by theYork theatre’s Damian Cruden, with design by Jo Scotcher, lighting by Richard G. Jones, music by Christopher Madin and sound by Craig Vear. The cast for the production currently features Martin Barrass (Mr Perks), Caroline Harker (mother), Louisa Clein (Phyllis), Clare Corbett (Mrs Perks), Jack Hardwick (Peter), Mark Hawkins (Jim/ district superintendent), Connie Hyde (Mrs Viney), Andrew Loudon (father/ doctor), Serena Manteghi (Bobbie), Blair Plant (Schepansky) and Moray Treadwell (Old Gentleman).

Rails laid on former ironstone line A SECTION of demonstration railway track has been laid in Northamptonshire’s Irchester Country Park, as part of a heritage project backed by an £89,600 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. A new heritage trail linking with the Irchester Narrow Gauge Railway Museum in the park is being created. The trail will follow the route of the mineral railway which carried iron ore from the former Wembley Pit quarry. The project is aiming to create a safe entry to the quarry floor for local and countrywide geological groups and schools for study

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

purposes, while encouraging wild flowers and providing a wildlife habitat. Students from Moulton College and members of Leicester Literacy and Philosophical Society’s Geology Section have helped park rangers to clear scrub and brambles. Vanessa Harbar, head of HLF East Midlands, said:“We’re delighted to support this project which provides a great opportunity for people to learn about Northamptonshire’s geological and industrial past while also helping to protect the biodiversity of this popular country park.” Heritagerailway.co.uk 43

NEWS

Great Western branch line spectacular for half term THE South Devon Railway’s February 13-21 winter steam festival will feature four pannier tanks and other locomotives in operation reflecting the halcyon days of the GWR country branch. Repainted into BR black and making its first runs on the line in 12 months after spending the 2015 season at the Chinnor & Princes Risborough will be GWR 0-6-0PT No. 1369. Running on the line in BR lined Brunswick green for the first time will

be Collett 0-4-2T No. 1450 from Severn Valley. When it last visited in 2013, it was in BR black. Collett 0-6-0 No. 3205, back from its visit to the Battlefield Line in December, will be in BR livery for the event but is likely to revert to GWR livery shortly afterwards. GWR 0-6-0PT No. 5786, currently in London Transport livery as L92, is due to move to Chinnor after the event and therefore making what is expected to be its only appearance in steam on the

SDR in 2016. It will run with GWR 0-6-0PT No. 6412, the‘Flockton Flyer’, which, following overhaul, returned to steam for the February 2015 gala and is proving to be a popular and reliable loco. Yet another pannier, Bodmin & Wenford-based No. 4612, will be making its first visit to the SDR in GWR green livery. Also appearing on the first weekend will be BR 0-6-0DM D2246 (on goods trains and shunting only) plus railcar

Cornish firm Railholiday, which offers renovated carriages for hire as selfcatering holiday accommodation at Hayle and St Germans (pictured) stations, has won two gold awards in the Cornwall Tourism Awards for Sustainable Tourism and Wildlife Friendly Business. These awards follow an award for Best Wildlife Garden in Caradon in Bloom in October. RAILHOLIDAY

W55000 (Friday evening only). The gala will feature a series of authentic branch line passenger trains. Auto-trains with single coaches will run on the 13th, 14th, 20th and 21st, and two-coach auto-trains on the 15th and 16th. Both trailers are in BR maroon. The auto services will be worked by No. 1450 on the 13th, 14th, 15th, 20th and 21st, and No. 6412 on the 13th, 14th and 16th. The first Down auto service on the 13th will also operate with a single milk tank behind the locomotive while it propels its auto coach from Totnes to Buckfastleigh. Also in service will be the line’s threecoach BR(WR) chocolate-and-cream rake, the four-coach BR crimson and cream rake and the two-coach GWR Local passenger set, which will also run with the Fruit D van added on some services. There will be a single coach service using BR crimson and cream coach No. W1645 on the 21st only. The gala will also feature authentic branch style goods trains, milk trains, and parcels trains.

Association in listing bid to save Manx goods shed FEARS have been sounded by the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters’ Association that a historic goods shed could be sold off to make way for a housing estate. The association made an application in February for the 1902-built shed at Port St Mary station to be given listed building status. However, officials believe that

the listing process has stalled, and fear that the island’s Department of Infrastructure wants to sell off the building, which was given an uplift a decade ago. In September, Haven Homes was granted planning consent to build 20 homes on the old gas works site next to the station. An association spokesman said:

“Previous railway managers have expressed an interest in retaining the goods shed as a useful rail-connected storage asset. However today’s managers, who are merely the current caretakers of our heritage, appear to have no interest or appreciation.” Infrastructure minister, Phil Gawne, MHK said:“The department as owners are certainly wanting to sell it but

I’m also very keen that it should be registered. “I’m very supportive of the Steam Railway Supporters’Association and believe they have got it spot on – it should at least be considered for registration. Whoever it is sold to would know full well it is up for registration so in that respect there is a degree of protection on the building already.”

WIN TICKETS FOR NEW DIESEL & ELECTRIC SHOW! 10 PAIRS OF ADULT ONE DAY TICKETS TO BE WON!

DIESEL and electric models will be showcased as part of a new event which will debut atTelford’s International Centre in late February. The Diesel & Electric Show sponsored by Bachmann Europe PLC will house more than 10 layouts, as well as trade stands, detailers, demonstrations and clubs and societies during its two-day running on February 20-21. Organised by events organiser and publisher Mortons Media Group, the new venture will be supported by its three market-leading railway titles including Heritage Railway. Among the confirmed layouts filling the 1300sq m venue are Barton Road, Dragonby andTanners Hill in N gauge and Georgemas Junction, New Bryford and Loftus Road in OO. In the finer 4mm scales will be the EM pairing of Kinmundy and Roundtrees Sidings along with

Portchullin in P4 (pictured), while representing O gauge will be Dubmill Sidings. Further layouts are expected to be confirmed in the coming weeks, including one from title sponsor Bachmann. The centre is easily accessible from the M54 and is a short drive from the M6. Both ArrivaTrainsWales and London Midland regularly serveTelford Central station, with a limited service byVirginTrains, and free mini-bus shuttle from between the station and the venue will be operating throughout both Saturday and Sunday. Discounted advance tickets for the show are now on sale with a one-day adult pass costing just £7.50, a saving of 26% against the onthe-day price. Further details are available at dieselandelectricshow.co.uk However, we have 10 pairs of tickets for the show to give way.

Competition rules:

n There is no cash alternative. n The winners will be the first 10 names drawn at random and will be notified by email or phone. n Full terms and conditions are on our website.

Enter for free online at www.heritagerailway.co.uk Entries should be received by January 29, 2016.

44 Heritagerailway.co.uk

Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

Victorian carriage becomes Quintinshill memorial ByAndrewDavid IN amovingceremonyonArmisticeDay 2015arareVictorianrailwaycarriage,of thetypeinvolvedintheQuintinshillrail disaster,wasdedicatedtomembersofThe RoyalScotsRegimentkilledorinjuredafter being trappedintheblazing infernoof Britain’s worstraildisaster,inMay1915. Thededicatoryeventwasheldatthe GreatCentralRailway(Nottingham) andwasledbyRevAndrewBuchanan, vicarof Ruddington,inthe presenceof MichaelRowen,DeputyLordLieutenant ofNottinghamshire,supportedbythe chairmanofNottinghamshireCounty Council,theMayorofRushcliffe,and membersofthelocal RoyalBritish Legion.Members ofTheRoyalScots regimentpaidtheirrespectstotheir fallencolleaguesof 1915,beingjoined bymembersof thevolunteerteamwho haverestoredthe former Manchester Sheffield&LincolnshireRailwaysixwheeledcarriage. No.946builtatGortonin1888,isone ofeight GreatCentralcarriagesowned bytheRuddington-basedGCRRolling

Rev Andrew Buchanan leads the gathering in remembrance of the fallen at Quintinshill, whose final moments were acted out in the burning wreckage of carriages similar to No. 946, which has been restored to pristine condition. J BAGSHAW/GCR ROLLING STOCK TRUST StockTrust.Thetrust isaregisteredcharity thatrestoresvintage GCR carriages ofthe typethatranonthecompany’s London extension through Nottingham,which sadlyclosedbetween 1966 and1969.

Four similar carriages

The connection between the Quintinshill disaster and the GCR is that the troop train partly comprised antiquated Government-requisitioned rolling-stock, including several GCR vehicles of the same type as No. 946. Four similar carriages are preserved at Ingrow on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway (an earlier four-wheeled type coach); the Midland RailwayButterley, Chasewater Railway and the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre. Theunusualdedicatoryeventwas arrangedby theGCRRollingStockTrust asatributetothefallenofthe1st/7th

(Leith)BattalionofTheRoyalScots,who hadbeenmobilisedforactiveservice inGallipoliandsowere enrouteto Liverpool. SoonafterdawnonMay 22, 1915theirtrainmetwithacataclysmic endatQuintinshillnearGretnaGreenafter afatal collisioninvolvingfourothertrains: amongthepassengerswholosttheirlives inthe ensuinginfernowere216ofthe RoyalScots Regiment, after theirwooden carriageswererippedapartbygas ignited bysparksfromthelocomotives. Attheceremony,theRobin Hood RiflesCadetCorpsofDrumswas complementedbythemournful lamentsof piperAndrewMackey, whileMichaelRowenDeputyLord Lieutenant ofNottinghamshire,unveiled acommemorativebrassplaque,newly attached tothe carriage. Afulleraccountof therestoration of No.946wasfeaturedinissue208.

Mid Norfolk bolsters Mk.1 carriage fleet THE Mid-Norfolk Railway has secured vacuum-braked Mk.1 Brake Second Open No. E9010. Built at Wolverton Works, it has been based at several heritage railways since entering preservation in 1987. The coach arrived at the MNR at the beginning of November, and requires some bodywork repairs and seat covers to be changed before entering service. The old guards’brakevan has been converted so that it can accommodate wheelchairs and buggies. The coach is expected to run on the majority of the MNR steam-hauled services from 2016, providing a significant improvement on facilities for wheelchair-bound passengers. Originally built as No. 9639, a BSO with BR1 bogies, it was fitted with Commonwealth bogies in 1978: and converted to microbuffet in 1980 when it was renumbered 9010. It entered preservation in 1987, and has since been based at the Dean Forest Railway, Thingley Junction, Chippenham, Vale of Glamorgan Railway and the Swindon & Cricklade Railway from where it was acquired by the MNR.

The North British Locomotive Preservation Group’s project to build a new LNER B17 ‘Footballer’ 4-6-0 No. 61662 Manchester United has seen its tender’s BR identity restored. Mick Strickson of Trackside Ltd supplied its crest and BR number transfers free of charge as a donation to the project appeal. The tender is housed at the Mizens Railway at Woking. For details of how to support the project, visit www.engine61662appeal.co.uk NBLPG

Ecclesbourne Class 31 for sale The EcclesbourneValley Railway is offering Class 31 No. 31414/D5814 for sale after declaring it surplus to requirements. The locomotive is operational, having had a brand new set of battery cells fitted in 2015, but requires attention to its bodywork, mechanics

and electrical systems while its tyres are described as“not new but reasonable”.The locomotive is sold as seen but comes with a supply of spares. The railway is inviting expressions of interest with monetary bids, noting that transport will be at the buyer’s

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

Heritagerailway.co.uk 45

NEWS FOCUS SPECIAL

THE DUKE GESTATION, SERVICE, In less than immaculate condition, No. 71000 is seen at Holyhead in 1960. COLOURRAIL.COM BRM72

REBUILD AND FUTURE

The unique BR Standard 8P Pacific No. 71000 Duke of Gloucester has had its ups and downs, both in BR service and in preservation. Ian Murray clarifies its history and outlines how, after a period of uncertainty, the new trust is confident that the number of members will continue to grow as it becomes more and more clear that No. 71000 will once again grace the main line.

I

t was the Transport Act of 1947 which, among other things, set up the Railway Executive with effect from January 1 1948. Robert Riddles, who had been principal assistant to William Stanier (as he then was) on the LMS, became a member of the Railway Executive with responsibility for mechanical and electrical engineering across the whole of the newly nationalised UK railway system. Riddles appointed Roland Bond, an exLMS colleague, as chief officer (locomotive construction and maintenance) and Ernest Cox, another ex-LMS colleague, as executive officer (design). These three had all worked together during Stanier’s mighty re-stocking of the LMS from the mid-1930s onwards and, perhaps not surprisingly, were steeped in LMS ways and thinking. By the end of 1952 the Derby drawing office had seen the retirement of Henry Ivatt, and JF (Freddie) Harrison of Doncaster had succeeded him as head of the mechanical and electrical department on the London Midland Region, with headquarters at Derby. In charge of the drawing office at Derby was Charles Cocks who had worked under Bulleid on the Southern when Bulleid’s Pacifics were being designed

46 Heritagerailway.co.uk

and built. These then were the senior players, with working histories in the LMS, LNER and SR, who were in place towards the end of 1952 and who were destined each to play a part in the birth of 8P 4-6-2 No. 71000 Duke of Gloucester.

An opportunity for Riddles

The terrible accident at Harrow Wealdstone in October 1952 involving two ex-LMS Pacifics and a Jubilee 4-6-0 resulted in the Jubilee and one of the Pacifics being scrapped. The loss of the Class 8 locomotive presented Riddles with an opportunity. Up until that point the range of Standard locomotives designed and being built had not included a Class 8 locomotive design as the feeling was that the regions were well supplied with what had been built by the recently nationalised railway companies. However, it was recognised that at some point these would need replacing, therefore Riddles put it to the Railway Executive that the loss of the ex-LMS Pacific presented them with the opportunity to build a prototype for future production. This locomotive should incorporate as many modern features as possible and be utilised as a test bed to prove these features before any further locomotives

were built. The executive was clearly persuaded by Riddles’ thinking as authority to build the prototype was forthcoming. Perhaps not surprisingly given the working careers of messrs Riddles, Bond and Cox, thinking initially turned towards an updated and improved version of William Stanier’s Princess Coronation Pacific. This, however, would not fulfil the innovation criteria but proposals submitted by the Derby drawing office more than met this criteria, containing as they did a number of features with decidedly LNER and SR antecedents. Derby’s proposals included three cylinders, all cylinders to drive the centre driving axle, a version of the Merchant Navy boiler, German-style smoke deflectors (long before these were tried on the Gresley A3s), no curved footplating at the front and a very severe double chimney. These proposals, in Cox’s own words “caused some fluttering in the Dovecotes at Marylebone”. History does not record whether Derby intended steam distribution to the centre cylinder to be achieved by use of inside Walschaerts valve gear or a version of Gresley’s derived motion. In the event, what was settled on was a

BR Standard 8P Pacific No. 71000 Duke of Gloucester passes Didcot North Junction, departing from Didcot for Derby on its second main line run in preservation on April 14,1990. BRIAN SHARPE

Britannia boiler with longer grate, three cylinders, Caprotti valve gear and roller bearings throughout. If the choice of Caprotti valve gear seems strange to us at this distance in time, what needs to be remembered is that the LMS had built a number of ‘Black Five’ 4-6-0s in the immediate postwar period incorporating mainly inside-drive Caprotti valve gear, but two ‘Black Fives’ had been built in 1951 with outside Caprotti valve gear and it was on these locomotives that the rotary motion driven from the return crank was perfected.

Thoroughly workmanlike job

Indeed Cox was so impressed with what the Caprotti valve gear offered that a number of Standard 5MT 4-6-0s were subsequently built with this gear in 1957. Cox states in his book, British Railways Standard Steam Locomotives, that the Caprotti valve gear fitted to these 5MTs was made by the same firm and followed the same design principles as the Duke. He goes on to say that the British Caprotti valve gear was a “thoroughly workmanlike job and its extended use would have been practically certain had steam continued”.

Duke of Gloucester languishes at Barry scrapyard in the late 1960s. COLOURRAIL.COM

JF Harrison is understood to have personally supervised the design of the inside connecting rod and big end for the Duke. This design, of fork type big end, has an exceedingly robust clip and, for the time, completely new method of fine adjustment on locking of the cotter which proved trouble free in service. Caprotti rotary cam poppet valve gear allows

complete separation of all valve events, leading to greater expansion of the steam and a freer exhaust. It was a British company, Associated Locomotive Equipment Ltd which, after the end of the Second World War, continued the design development of the Italian Caprotti valve gear. While the basic Caprotti principles were adhered to, its new product was more robust,

Heritagerailway.co.uk 47

reliable and efficient, in particular showing much improved steam flow. Thus, what is today carried by the Duke might more correctly be called British Caprotti valve gear, as ES Cox mentions previously. The development work on this valve gear was largely undertaken, on behalf of Associated Locomotive Equipment Ltd, by a Tom Daniels. Fortuitously he was also able to give a large amount of help and advice to the team, which undertook the Herculean task of rebuilding the Duke from scrapyard condition. Recognising the fact that the Duke would have a sharp exhaust because the characteristics of the British Caprotti gear, Daniels recommended to the Duke’s design team that a Kylchap exhaust system be fitted in its smokebox. Regrettably, for whatever reason, this advice was ignored.

Sharp Caprotti exhaust

Somewhat inexplicably, but possibly owing to the draughting work then being undertaken on the Western Region by a Sam Ell, design of the smokebox and blastpipe assembly was given to Swindon. I have seen it suggested that what Swindon came up with was, in effect, two Dean Goods blastpipes side-byside. Indeed, no less an authority than OS Nock in his book, British Locomotives of the 20th Century, states that while Sam Ell had confided to him that the Duke had been given two Dean Goods blastpipes side-by-side, this was clearly not the case as the Duke’s blastpipe nozzles were each only four inches in diameter whereas the Dean Goods had the luxury of a blastpipe nozzle of 4½ inches in diameter. Given that the Kylchap assembly later fitted to the Gresley A3 Pacifics had twin nozzles of 5½ inches in diameter, this throttling of the sharp Caprotti exhaust may well have laid the foundation for the later boiler/fire bed troubles. In addition the

chimney choke on the Duke was one foot as opposed to one foot three inches on the A3. On completion of No. 71000 at Crewe works, entry into service after an initial exhibition at Willesden took place in June 1954. The locomotive was allocated to Crewe North shed where it was put to work alongside that depot’s much-loved Stanier Pacifics where, doubtless, the ‘new-fangled’ features were looked at askance. Bearing in mind the fact that this locomotive was intended as a prototype and a test bed for new features, throwing it into the hurly-burly of a top-link depot was perhaps somewhat shortsighted. I stand to be corrected but I doubt that there was much in the way of crew familiarisation. By the October the Duke was on its way to Swindon for test plant and controlled road testing. These tests in due course showed that, while the engine part of the locomotive was superb, there was a problem with the boiler in that, at higher outputs, it simply would not produce the volume of steam needed by the cylinders. In addition there was what was described as ‘vibration’ of the fire bed. Certainly, in its brief period in service, the Duke had quickly gained a reputation for being heavy on coal, which was not a good omen. Some time later when it was tested on the Rugby stationary test plant, it was found that even with the rear end chained down the same problem with the fire bed was experienced. Hindsight might suggest that too fierce a blast at the front end, at higher power outputs, might well have caused disturbance to the fire bed. That, of course, is simply my conjecture. 1955 saw the publication of the British Railways Modernisation Plan, which focused on the development of diesel and electric traction to meet the needs of the railway in the future. This effectively sounded the death knell for steam and one of its effects was to take the

focus away from the Duke. Clearly, if the future now lay with diesel and electric traction, there was little to be gained from working through the problems of a steam prototype. No. 71000 therefore returned to Crewe North from where it continued to work, being put on some of the hardest turns on the West Coast Main Line, including the ‘Mid-Day Scot’. At that time, in the mid-1950s, this was one of the most tightlytimed trains on the LMR between Euston and Rugby, often loading to more than 500 tons. The Duke maintained its reputation for being heavy on coal and water and, of the men of No. 3 link at Crewe North who drove it, some loathed it, yet some enjoyed the work.

A “near miss”

Being thrust on to men who normally drove four-cylinder Pacifics fitted with Walchaerts valve gear would not have helped as, doubtless, the driving and firing techniques would have been different on the Duke. Expecting an innovative prototype with some deep-seated flaws and an appetite for coal and water to be loved was, perhaps, expecting too much. That the authorities were content to roster the Duke regularly for the ‘Mid-Day Scot’ seems to confirm ES Cox’s view that, as built, the Duke was a “near miss”. Withdrawal from service took place on November 24, 1962, Duke of Gloucester having covered some 300,000 miles in its eight years of life – not a particularly high mileage it has to be said. Given its novel features plus the distinction of being the last brand new Class 8 Pacific to be designed and built in Britain, it was set aside for preservation. The writer well remembers seeing the locomotive dumped up against a set of bufferstops on Crewe North when ‘bunking’ the depot in 1963. In the event the decision to preserve the locomotive was rescinded and the decision taken just to

The Duke approaches Bentley Heath, returning from Derby to Didcot after its main line proving run. BRIAN SHARPE

48 Heritagerailway.co.uk

No. 71000 departs from Rothley with an 11-coach test run on the Great Central Railway after completion of its restoration in October 1986. BRIAN SHARPE

preserve a sectioned set of cylinders. The righthand set was removed and used for a practice run before the left-hand set was sectioned for posterity, this sectioning revealing the engineering wizardry within the cambox. Initially this sectioned cylinder was exhibited at the Science Museum, Kensington, London. Today it is on display at the Crewe Heritage Centre. The remainder of the Duke was sold for scrap to Woodham Bros, Barry and again the writer remembers seeing the sad remains, stripped of its outside cylinders, sitting within the confines of Crewe South shed in 1967. By error the Duke’s remains were delivered to J Cashmore of Newport and it was only by sheer chance that a visitor to the yard (a postman) noticed that the consignment label still attached to No. 71000 showed Woodham Bros as the buyers. The Duke was duly transferred to Barry, arriving on November 22, 1967. But for this man’s eagle eye and the very fact that the consignment note was still in situ, the engine would been cut up for scrap. Unlike Woodhams at Barry, Cashmores cut up engines quickly on arrival. The Duke then stood in the open at Barry while the ‘Gang of Six’ enthusiasts, led by the late Colin Rhodes, gathered funds under the auspices of the 71000 Preservation Society. They had the £4950 ready to hand over in late 1973 and the Duke was saved from the cutter’s torch. Frantic work by the gang and friends then ensued to prepare the locomotive and tender for transport. Fortunately one of the gang, Mike Johnson, lived in Bridgend and so was able to keep an eye on the engine and put in a few more hours than the others, all of whom lived half a day’s driving away. On April 24, 1974, Wynns Transport collected No. 71000 for delivery to Quorn on the Great Central Railway. However, the original tender had been sold to a South Wales steelworks so an ex-9F tender was acquired from Woodhams, and this followed on to

Quorn some seven months later. Restoration and rebuilding then commenced under the guidance of the late Colin Rhodes. To say that the preservation world at that time was sceptical would be putting it mildly. There was also the feeling abroad that the Duke had been no good when in service, so what was the point in rebuilding a dud? Plus of course, the complex cylinders and valve gear were missing and the general consensus at that time was that the work necessary to cast a new set of cylinders was simply beyond the capabilities of a group of enthusiasts. Not for nothing did the project become known as the Impossible Dream. In December 1974 the entire assets of the preservation society were injected into a newly formed company, 71000 Steam Locomotive Ltd, allowing funds to be raised through the sale of shares and in August 1976 a new charitable trust, 71000 (Duke of Gloucester) Steam Locomotive Trust Ltd was formed. A deed was drawn up in March 1978 placing responsibility for the locomotive with the trust for 50 years.

Almost insuperable obstacles

The full tale of the Titanic effort put in by a dedicated small band to rebuild the Duke from its Barry state into a fully working and operational locomotive is perhaps for another day. This small band not only overcame almost insuperable obstacles, but correctly identified and remedied the inbuilt flaws in the locomotive’s smokebox and firebox. In the teeth of opposition and scepticism the team also broke new ground with the casting of the two new outside cylinders. Tom Daniels who, as mentioned earlier, had advised the Railway Executive when the engine was being built, was also able to advise the restoration team on what, in his view, the correct draughting for it should have been at the outset, namely a full Kylchap system. This fitting, together with changes at the firebox

end, where comparison with the original drawings showed that the damper door air spaces were some 72sq in less than intended, has combined to help transform the Duke’s steaming. In the Shap trials of October 1995, No. 71000 thundered up Shap in the teeth of wind and torrential rain with the safety valves feathering. The minute the regulator was eased at the summit both safety valves lifted, thus vindicating the basic soundness of the design – but I digress. The team lacked for nothing when it came to commitment, dedication and skill, but what it always lacked was money. When the rebuild was well on its way, but on the verge of stalling for lack of cash, up stepped a serial preservationist who agreed to fund the remaining works, both in exchange for shares in the Duke and by the purchase and provision of two support coaches, their passage through works and the acquisition of all the support equipment deemed necessary for main line running. These arrangements allowed the team to finish the job and return the locomotive to steam. On May 25, 1986, No. 71000 made its first run in preservation on the Great Central Railway. The Duke, after a number of unforeseen difficulties and hiccups, eventually took its place among the top link locomotives then on the main line, and proceeded to put in many performances, which have given much pleasure, and were a credit to the members of the restoration team. The trust subsequently put in much hard work with the locomotive over a number of years and saw the Duke break a great deal of new ground. At the end of the locomotive’s ‘ticket’ (seven years in those days with no extension as today) it was back to the workshop for another heavy general overhaul, which was funded by both the National Lottery Fund and by the inordinate hours the volunteers put in to see the locomotive return to the main line. When

Heritagerailway.co.uk 49

Duke on the move By Cedric Johns IT’S good to hear that after years of internal controversy, indifferent maintenance and poor reliability, BR’s unique three-cylinder 4-6-2 No. 71000 Duke of Gloucester is back on the move in terms of its new management structure and planned return to steam. Shunted into a siding at Eastleigh after its latest failure in 2012, the Duke has remained out of sight – and the public’s mind – until the 4-6-2 was on show to visitors when standing among all things Great Western on display during Tyseley’s late-October open weekend. As has been extensively reported, the Duke was transported from Crewe to Tyseley at Jeremy Hosking’s expense to commence its long-awaited heavy overhaul. Given access to the footplate how did visitors react? By all accounts one word sufficed; ‘Enthusiastically’.

funds ran short once again, against all advice the HLF was approached again and, thankfully, agreed to extend help to see the job done. Regrettably, however, as has been painfully evident to all lovers of the Duke, relations between the trust and the company deteriorated overnight when, a week or two before the first main line operation on its new ‘ticket’, the then trustees decided to sever all links with the owning company. The wording of the deed transferring responsibility for the Duke to the trust was such that, although the company found itself isolated from having any meaningful input into the management of its asset, legally there was nothing that could be done without vast expenditure in the courts. Internal matters within the trust gradually, over a period of time, went from bad to worse and this unhappy state of affairs began to be reflected in a fall-off in the reliability of the locomotive on the main line. The upshot was that the reputations of both the trust and the locomotive suffered and the Duke as a brand became tainted.

Financial reality

On the move? The tubes will have been removed from the boiler by the time this issue of Heritage Railway is on sale.

Listening to the 71000 Trust’s chairman, Trevor Tuckley, it was clear that large numbers of people were pleased to see this half-forgotten engine. For some it was a first close up of the Duke’s powerful profile. Cab visits and the trust’s supporting sales stand – selling the newly styled sweater and T-shirts went down well… Incidentally, talking of cabs, I have travelled on the footplate of a King, Merchant Navy, an A4 and 9F and by comparison was impressed by the Duke’s very roomy workplace. More importantly, Trevor was keen to point out that despite renewed interest in the Duke, the trust is continuing its appeal for more enthusiasts to join as members. “We have more than enough funds to get the overhaul underway but it would help our cause for more people to join and contribute on an annual or monthly basis not only to complete the overhaul but to help to build a separate, regular maintenance account to ensure operating reliability once the engine is back in traffic.”

“It was clear that large numbers of people were pleased to see the half-forgotten engine.” 50 Heritagerailway.co.uk

All this culminated in the trust withdrawing the locomotive from main line running in August 2012 as financial reality began to bite. No. 71000 was moved to the Heritage Centre at Crewe while the trust, severely hampered by internal division, sought to structure a way forward together with the owning company. This, however, proved impossible and, recognising that it was unable to fund the upcoming ‘heavy general’ overhaul now needed, the trust took the only sensible course of action open to it and formally handed responsibility for the locomotive back to the owning company in September 2013. The owning company then set up a new charitable trust, the BR Class 8 Steam Locomotive Trust, and steps were immediately taken to distance the owning company and the new trust from what had gone before. A small band of individuals has worked hard over the last couple of years to set in place a professional foundation for the future, with an emphasis on running and managing both the locomotive and the financial affairs of the locomotive on a businesslike basis. The days of the enthusiastic amateur are long gone in my view, certainly when it comes to running steam

on today’s overcrowded, heavily regulated and contractually interdependent rail network. There has been a pleasing take-up of new members wanting to be part of No. 71000’s future and indeed sufficient funds have now been raised to allow the new trust to give instructions for the start of the necessary overhaul. Initially the LNWR workshops at Crewe was chosen to carry out the works, but a recent internal strategic review by that company has meant that it would not now be able to commence work on the Duke for some two years. That timescale was unacceptable to the new trust therefore new contractors were sought. I am delighted to be able to confirm that Bob Meanley and his team at Tyseley have agreed to undertake the overhaul of locomotive, tender and support coach and will also provide the essential rolling maintenance work when the Duke is operating on the main line. Such is the spirit and the warmth towards both the Duke and the new trust that LNWR could not have been more helpful and has generously ensured that the new trust is not financially out of pocket as a result of its internal review. It is appropriate, I think, to express the gratitude of both the trust and the company for the professionalism of both LNWR Crewe and Tyseley Locomotive Works, Birmingham. The Duke, complete with tender and support coach, has already made the move by road from Crewe to Tyseley and two containers with all the tools, spares, patterns etc, will follow. Membership of the new trust continues to grow apace and it is pleasing to note that the average income per head is far ahead of anything achieved in the latter stages of the old trust. The new trust is operating on a sound financial foundation, recognising that without solid finances none of our ambitions for the Duke will be realised. The key to the future is membership and the new trust is confident that the number of members will continue to grow as it becomes more and more clear that No. 71000 will once again grace the main line. If you have any wish to contribute to the future of this unique locomotive please visit www. theduke.uk.com. For the first time in many a long year the future for Duke of Gloucester is looking both bright and secure.

No. 71000 heads the ‘Diamond Jubilee Express’ from Poole to Windsor past Shawford on June 6, 2012. DON BENN

No. 71000 passes Tyseley in April 1990. BRIAN SHARPE

Heritagerailway.co.uk 51

RAILWAYANA

BY GEOFF COURTNEY

Steam wins at Pershore after strong diesel start MY GOODNESS, it was a close run thing. For much of the first half in GW Railwayana’s November 21 sale at Pershore High School, it looked as if steam would be eclipsed by diesel, even if the modern contender had more than a whiff of tradition about it. But it was not to be. As auctioneer SimonTurner was about to blow the whistle for a half-time break delayed by problems with the live internet bidding facility, nameplate Bridgwater Castle from GWR No. 5096 spared steam’s blushes by going under the hammer for £12,900, so removing from the top of the podium a handsome four-piece set from 1965 Crewe-built D1664/47079/57009. This set, which had gone for £9700 two hours earlier, comprised solid brass GWR-style nameplate G.J. Churchward, cabside numberplate and BR doublearrow symbol, and an alloy GWR coat-ofarms. And as if to emphasise that steam no longer rules unchallenged in the world of railwayana auctions, third place at £7500 went to nameplate Battle of Britain 50th Anniversary from 1966-built

electro-diesel E6015/73109. Another GWR nameplate, Plaspower Hall from No. 4955, realised £6800, but the company’s third representative, Enborne Grange (No. 6814), failed to sell, as did cabside numberplate 3447 from Bulldog 4-4-0 Jackdaw. There was success in this category, however, for cabsides from Plaspower Hall (£1800) – which went to the new owner of the nameplate – and Saint class No. 2948 Stackpole Court (£1700). Shedplates 32F (Yarmouth Beach) and 15F (Market Harborough) went for £2000 and £1000 respectively, and a worksplate from 8F 2-8-0 No. 48765 for £1500. Built at Doncaster in 1946 by the LNER for the LMS and one of a batch of just 10, the 2-8-0 was withdrawn from Lostock Hall, Preston (10D) in August 1968, making it one of the last BR steam

➜Two GWR posters, promoting London by Frank Mason (1875-1965) and Penzance by Frank Sherwin (1896-1985), sold for £1600 and £1100 respectively in a Christie’s poster auction in South Kensington on November 5, while a trio by Adolphe Cassandre (1901-68) advertising three prestigious continental express trains – the‘Nord Express,’‘Etoile du Nord’and‘L’Oiseau Bleu’– went for £7000, £5000 and £2400 respectively. Not to be outdone, a London Underground ‘Brightest London’poster by HoraceTaylor (1881-1934) matched the top Cassandre realisation of £7000, followed by a London Transport Passenger Board promotion of London Zoo by Jean Dupas (1882-1964) that went for £3500. As reported in our last issue, a poster by Alexandre Alexeieff advertising the LNER’s Edinburgh-London King’s Cross sleeper service

52 Heritagerailway.co.uk

locos to be taken out of service.This realisation was matched by another worksplate, a 1905 Great Northern Railway Doncaster example from Ivatt C1 class 4-4-2 No. 3295. Top of the totem tree was Wick from the far north of Scotland (£1400), a smidgen above the North Eastern Region’s Poppleton (£1300), and timepiece prices included £2200 for a Cockermouth & Workington Railway guard’s watch and £1800 for a 10in clock from Littlehampton booking office which was supplied to the LBSCR in 1906 at a cost of £2-5s-0d. Poster prices peaked at £1200 for each of BR Eastern Region pair‘Leicestershire’ by John Bee and‘East Coast Havens Norfolk’by Frank Mason, although these were trounced by another illustration, an original oil painting by Don Breckon

sold for £24,000 and another entitled‘LMS the best way’by Cassandre for £3500.The prices exclude buyer’s premium of 25% (+VAT). ➜ A BR Eastern Region‘Platform 1West’enamel sign from Clacton-on-Sea station was the top railwayana price at a Ryedale railway and toys auction in Kirkbymoorside, NorthYorkshire, on November 1, selling for £200. Leading railway model realisations were £260 for a set of five O-gauge Pullman coaches with interior lighting made by the Dutch company Darstaed and £240 for a Hornby Dublo GWR No. 5002 LudlowCastle. Prices exclude buyer’s premium of 15% +VAT. ➜The LMS led the way at a railwayana and models auction held byThomson Roddick & Medcalf in Carlisle on November 20, thanks to a Hornby Dublo Princess Coronation No. 46247 CityofLiverpool,which went under the hammer for £220 (exc buyer’s premium of 17½% +VAT).

of GWR No. 5933 Kingsway Hall crossing the Somerset Levels with a mixed freight train (£2800). And talking of the GWR, two brass splasher emblems from Achilles class ‘Dean single’locomotives Nos. 3025 Quicksilver and 3059 John W. Wilson sold for £1200 and £1050 respectively. The auction also featured 54 Wrenn OO-gauge models from a single collection, the highest realisation of which was £750 for a limited edition SR Battle of Britain No. 34057 Biggin Hill. The prices quoted exclude buyer’s premium of 10% (+ VAT). “A pretty good turnout and overall we were happy,” said auctioneer Simon Turner as he reviewed the day. “This was the first year we have held three auctions, and we were pleased we did it. It’s something we’ll stick with.”

First is best as railway map sells for £1200 THE iconic London Underground diagrammatic map designed by Harry Beck hit the heights at a railway, Underground and bus collectables sale held by London Transport Auctions in Croydon on October 31, when a first edition fold-out card version issued in January 1933 fetched £1200, with another example going under the hammer for £550. Underground enamel roundel station signs also sold well, topped by Marble Arch at £650, pursued by St Paul’s and Baker Street, each at £600, Bayswater (£550), Goodge Street (£470), and Marylebone (£400). A Waterloo & City line platform sign in Southern Railways green, believed to be from Waterloo station, realised £380, a late-1960s large format Tube map £340, and an Underground Neasden and Addison Road destination plate £320, this latter station closing to passengers in 1940 and reopening in 1946 as Kensington (Olympia). Prices exclude buyer’s premium of 16%. Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

BY GEOFF COURTNEY

Top school outclasses Bulleid Pacific in internet auction

A 4-4-0 named after one of the world’s most famous schools triumphed over an Oliver Bulleid-designed Pacific following a battle between two Southern Railway protagonists in a Railwayana.net internet, telephone and postal auction run from November 15-22. Nameplate Eton, from No. 30900, was the victor at £16,200, beating by several lengths the £12,300 for Holsworthy, with its West Country Class scroll, from No. 34097. Both these contenders were built at Eastleigh, the former in March 1930 and the latter in November 1949, one of 40 members of the WC/BB class built by BR following Nationalisation. A third nameplate, Anson from LMS Jubilee No. 45672, came a distant third at £6200, however, Roydon Hall

(GWR No. 5994) failed to sell. The smokebox numberplate from No. 30900 also went under the internet hammer, selling for £4400 to the same collector who bought the nameplate, while two Southern Region station totem signs were next up – Pevensey Bay Halt (£3050) and Yeovil Town (£3000). A Pilton Bridge/ Chelfham single line tablet from the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway went for £1150, and a Hertford North to Hertford East Junction single line staff for £1050. Heritage modern traction realisations included £860 for each of two English Electric worksplates, from Class 40 D324/40124 built in 1961 and Class 73 electro-diesel E6027 built in 1965 and withdrawn as early as 1972 after suffering severe damage in a collision. Prices exclude buyer’s premium of 15% (+ VAT).

Models come a-live at LSK sale LIVE steam had a field day at a railwayana, toys and collectors’models sale held by Lacy Scott & Knight at Bury St Edmunds on November 14. Heading the list was a 3½in gauge LMS Princess Coronation No. 6230 Duchess of Buccleuch, which went for £4800, ahead of another 3½in gauge example, an award-winning model of GWR No. 2924 Saint Helena (£3600). Close behind at £3200 apiece came a Gauge 3 (72mm) streamlined Princess Coronation No. 6220 Coronation and 5in gauge LSWR O2 class 0-4-4T No. 227, while two further 5in gauge models, of LBSCR‘Terrier’0-6-0T No. 40 Brighton and GWR 2-6-0 No. 6385, went for £2300 and £2200 respectively.

Electricmodelswereheadedbyan O-gaugeGWR0-6-0PTNo. 5700(£580), andrailwayanawasledat£550byan LMStargetsignfrom Chapel-en-le-Frith (Central)thatwasremovedwhentheexMidlandRailwayPeakLine station closed in1967,followedbythesmokebox numberplatefromLMS8F 2-8-0 No.48555at£420. TwoGauge1(1¾in)modelsofUS 2-8-8-2Malletlocomotivesmadeby AristocraftofLouth,Lincs,soldasasingle lot,wentfor£550atLacyScott&Knight’s secondmodel auctionofthemonth, onNovember20. Theywerefromthe collectionofthelateRodneyCount,of Fordham,Cambs,whocollectedtoys forhalfacentury.Pricesexclude buyer’s premiumof17½% (+ VAT).

Scottish journey is just the ticket A 10 mile train journey to Edinburgh from Winchburgh in West Lothian – or Linlithgowshire as it was then – was recalled at a Great Central Railwayana railway, bus and tram ticket postal auction in November, when a ticket from the village to the Scottish capital sold for £330. Thestationwasopenedbythe Edinburgh&GlasgowRailwayin1842 andclosedin1930,butthereareplans toopenanewstationinthevillageby December2018,followingelectrification oftheroutebetweenthetwocities.

Theundated ticketwasissuedbythe Edinburghand&GlasgowRailway,and thuspre-dates1865,whenthecompany wasabsorbedbytheNorthBritish Railway. Secondhighestrealisationinthe auction,whichcomprised morethan 2500tickets,was£310foranLBSCR platformticketforPeckhamRyestation insouth-eastLondonwhich cost1d andwasvalidforanhour.Thistoowas undated,but isbelievedtobepre-WWI. Thepricesexcludebuyer’s premiumof 10%(+VAT).

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

Heritagerailway.co.uk 53

LSWR T9 4-4-0 No. 30120 runs across Corfe Common on the Swanage Railway at sunrise during a Timeline Events photo charter on November 23. PHIL WATERFIELD

MAIN LINE NEWS

COMPILED BY CEDRIC JOHNS

West Coast served with Prohibition Notice after second TPWS incident THREE weeksbeforelegalproceedings werelaunchedagainstWestCoast Railways and a driver over the March 7, 2015 Wootton Bassett SPAD incident, the CarnforthTrain Operating Company became the subjected of a Prohibition Notice served by the Office of Rail & Road. That notice followed an incident where theTrain Protection &Warning System apparatus on LMS‘Black Five’No. 45231 TheSherwoodForester was turned off. The incident happened during a light engine movement from Carnforth to Doncaster on October 2, and immediately led toWest Coast swiftly taking“severe disciplinary action”against the footplate crew member involved. Seven weeks later, on November 24, the notice was issued, prohibitingWest Coast's operation of steam locomotives which“are not fitted with an effective means to prevent casual, inadvertent or improper interference with and overriding ofTPWS and AWS protection systems”.

Complied with its conditions

As it has turned out the notice did not result in the postponement or cancellation of a single train operated by West Coast, which has complied with its conditions by using steam locomotives that had been fitted with a‘tamperproof’metal plate to prevent train crew members switching off theTPWS system. Regarding the November 24 notice, the ORR issued the following statement:“The Office of Rail and Road has temporarily prohibitedWest Coast Railway Company from operating steam trains on the main line network to protect the safety of its staff, volunteers, passengers and members of the public”.

“The enforcement action follows an initial investigation into the incident near Doncaster on October 2, which found staff on board locomotive No. 45231 had turned off itsTPWS isolation equipment, designed to apply an emergency brake if the driver makes an error. “ORR will not allow the company to run trains where effective controls are not in place for key safety systems.The Regulator is working with the company to make the required improvements before services resume.” In a final footnote, it said:“theWest Coast Railway Company must seek formal approval from ORR before moving any steam locomotives.The Prohibition Notice does not affect operation of the company’s diesel trains.” In reply,West Coast published a statement from managing director, Pat Marshall, stating:“West Coast Railways is working with the ORR and locomotive owners to resolve this problem.We will continue to operate steam charters on the main line with locomotives not affected by this problem.This issue has the potential to affect all other operations of steam locomotives on the main line.” The simple modification, which the ORR has since approved, on a loco-by-loco basis, for all steam locomotives operated byWest Coast, prevents anyone on the footplate accessing theTPWS electrical isolation switch, and therefore rules out any possibility of human intervention or failing. The November 24 notice has yet to affect any services. B1 4-6-0 No. 61306 Mayflowerand‘Black Five’4-6-0 No. 45407TheLancashireFusilierwere given clearance and both worked trains on November 26.Tyseley’s GWR 4-6-0

No. 4965 RoodAshtonHall and Castle No. 5043 EarlofMountEdgcumbe were subsequently also cleared for main line duties, as have Carnforth’s No. 34067 Tangmere and No. 45699 Galatea. The incident has been linked with theWootton Bassett SPAD, in which Tangmere’s TPWS had been switched off, and which, as reported on Headline News, page 7, is now the subject of ORR legal proceedings.That widely reported incident led toWest Coast’s track access contract with Network Rail being suspended for several weeks, and promoted widespread fears about the future of main line steam. Access was restored after the Carnforth-based operator worked with both Network Rail and ORR to satisfy their concerns.

Exacting new safety demands

However, after working with the statutory authorities since theWootton Bassett SPAD to comply with exacting new safety demands,West Coast may be wondering why other main line steam operating companies have not been issued with a similar notice. Neither of the other steam operators, DB Schenker and the NorthYorkshire Moors Railway, which operates steam services on the EskValley branch, have apparently received similar notices. A spokesman for DB Schenker, which employs traction inspectors on the footplate, said:“We have not received such a notice from ORR. It is not for us to comment on notices issued to other TOCs.” However, we understood that DBS has agreed to comply with the terms of the notice after discussion with the ORR. New NYMR general manager, Chris Price, said that his fleet has steam

LNER B1 4-6-0 No. 61306 Mayflower with Class 47 diesel assistance passes Cogload Junction with the delayed Steam Dreams ‘Cathedrals Express from Victoria to Minehead on November 28. STEVEN GINN

locomotives that have been fitted with a seal which has to be broken before the TPWS apparatus can be switched off.“We have not had any reportable incidents withTPWS,”he said.“We have a very good relationship with the ORR.” In theory it would be possible for any driver working for any company to deliberately or inadvertently switch offTPWS, but the installation of the modification would give a 100% cast-iron guarantee against it.

Scotsman and Royal Scot in star-studded RTC programme NOT only is the RailwayTouring Company making a fast start to 2016, with eight trains from January 23 and February 27 but its opening programme includes exclusive inaugural runs for two new main line locomotive‘stars’. First into the frame is LNER A3 4-6-2 No. 60103 FlyingScotsman working the first of the new series of‘Winter Cumbrian Express’trips, on Saturday, January 23. The locomotive will still be in its wartime black livery before repainting for its official comeback run pencilled in for late February. ThisWCE trip runs from Manchester Victoria and will be steam hauled throughout, outward via Shap, returning via the Settle & Carlisle. Ian Riley’s‘Black Fives’No. 44871 and No. 45407 are

56 Heritagerailway.co.uk

nominated as standby engines. The remaining‘Winter Cumbrian Mountain Expresses’start from Euston, with, as usual, a heritage Class 86 electric taking the train to Carnforth where steam comes on for the Shap-Carlisle leg. Returning over the Settle & Carlisle line, the 86 heads the‘Express’back to London from Farington Junction. The‘Express’trip is repeated on January 30 and February 6 with 4-6-0 No. 46115 ScotsGuardsman or 4-6-2 No. 46233 DuchessofSutherland providing motive power. On February 6, LMS 4-6-0 No. 46100 RoyalScottakes centre stage working RTC’s‘NorthWales Coast Express’ from Crewe, diesel hauled from Liverpool, then steam via Chester to Holyhead. No. 46100

is also likely to feature in later‘Cumbrian Mountain Express’and‘Cumbrian Coast Express’trips. In a change of market appeal, the ‘ValentinesWhite Rose’runs from King’s Cross toYork on Saturday, February 13. Booked motive power is shown as A4 4-6-2 No. 60009 UnionofSouthAfrica assuming that the engine is released from Thornton – see story on page 60. RTC’s‘Tin Bath’returns on Sunday, February 14 running from Preston to Sheffield via ManchesterVictoria, returning by way of Barnsley, Penistone and Copy Pit. For this trip‘Black Five’ No. 44871 is down to doublehead with recently outshopped classmate No. 45212 – another‘star’in the making? On Saturdays February 20 and 27 the

‘Winter Cumbrian Express’continues on the same lines as previous trips with steam from Carnforth in the shape of RoyalScot,ScotsGuardsman or Duchessof Sutherland. Yes, eight trains in four weeks – and that’s just the start of the year. FlyingScotsman has a period working for Steam Dreams on a wide variety of ‘Cathedrals Express’duties in May but works its first trains for RTC in Brunswick green livery in June, on itineraries ranging from Cleethorpes-Morpeth (June 11), King’s Cross-York via Lincoln (June 18), Victoria-York via Harringworth (June 25) and Hellifield-Carlisle-York (July 2), before embarking on a series of sevenYorkCarlisle and return‘Waverley’trips in July and August.

Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

Failed coach shortens excursion train at Reading A FAILED coach on a‘Cathedrals Express’ charter left several passengers having to go home early. The failure happened onThursday, November 26, when B1 4-6-0 No. 61306 Mayflower with a Class 47 diesel behind the tender, was heading the train from London Victoria to Minehead, when it became apparent that brakes were dragging after departing a pick-up stop at Staines. A water stop at Ascot provided an opportunity for a close inspection, which revealed a problem with the brakes on a coach towards the rear of the train.

After a telephone call to Southall depot with a request for engineering assistance and another diesel, the decision was taken to move the train on to its next stop, Reading. Arriving 22 minutes late, the‘Express’ was held, awaiting the arrival of the diesel and engineers. Inspection of the coach required its removal but, as it was positioned in the centre of the last three coaches, to do so would have entailed a prolonged shunting operation in the middle of busy station. It was therefore decided to remove all three coaches. The need to transfer passengers from the empty coaches into the remaining

formation of eight coaches meant it became obvious that not all passengers could be accommodated and that the tough decision of advising remaining passengers that the train was full and that their journey was being terminated was taken. “It was very difficult,” said Steam Dreams’chairman Marcus Robertson. “The unfortunate and disappointed passengers were escorted back to London by one of our stewards. “We shall do all we can to provide compensation commensurate to those who didn’t complete their journey of course,” adding that several emails

had arrived the following day from passengers expressing their enjoyment of the day’s trip to the West Somerset Railway. Meanwhile the‘Express’, now reduced from 11 to eight coaches departed Reading 114 minutes late heading for Bishops Lydeard via the Berks & Hants Line, Frome (water) andTaunton. An hour was added to the return departure time which was diesel-hauled to speed the train’s arrival back in London. The B1 stayed overnight on West Somerset metals and returned to Southall the following day.

Scottish Borders Council wants more steam on reopened Borders line THE Scottish Borders Council has called for more steam services on the new Borders Railway, despite disruption that they caused to timetabled trains when the line opened. The sell-out service run by Scotrail/ Abellio proved to be enormously popular when it ran for six weeks after the reborn northern section of the legendaryWaverley Route was reopened. Around 6200 passengers rode on 17

sold-out steam journeys in September and October. Although the steam specials caused delays to the timetabled commuter service between Edinburgh and Tweedbank, leading to complaints from passengers, Rob Dickson, the council’s corporate transformation and services director, said:“There were some impacts that we perhaps hadn’t foreseen and there is, we have to accept, in offering the steam train

experience, going to be an impact on the daily commuter service. “It’s great to have a successful Borders Railway, it’s great to have the opportunity to offer steam, but we do need to accept that if we are going to do that there will be some impact on normal commuter services and that’s something that, at least in the short to medium term, we think is a price worth paying.” He said that future steam specials

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

would not be confined to a six-week period but would be spread over a whole year. He said that events such as the Edinburgh Festival and Borders Book Festival could be dovetailed into steam specials. A spokesman for ScotRail said:“We currently have no definite plans for our 2016 steam trains, but we will share these publicly as soon as the dates and locations are confirmed.” Heritagerailway.co.uk 57

MAIN LINE NEWS

COMPILED BY CEDRIC JOHNS

Cream teas and Flying Scotsman AS previously reported, Steam Dreams has booked A3 4-6-2 No. 60103 Flying Scotsman for a series of excursions in 2016. However, it is now understood that ‘CreamTea Specials’will operate as part of longer trips. On Saturday, May 21, the 4-6-2 will work an excursion from London to Salisbury and then head a‘CreamTea Special’on a two-hour trip starting and ending at Salisbury.The itinerary has been proposed so sufficient time is allowed for the A3 to be turned and watered before setting off for London with the main train. As far as anyone can remember, this is the first time that cream tea has been in the title of a steam special in the modern era, according to Steam Dreams’Marcus Robertson. “One of the ideas behind what we are doing with Scotsman is to give as many people as is possible a chance to sample the world’s most iconic locomotive at a

reasonable price. Our day trips are set at the same level as for other locomotives we use and, with reasonably short itineraries, we are able to fit in the cream tea trips within the main trains.

Typical English tea

“This will enable local people to enjoy an afternoon out with Scotsman and a typical English tea, as the countryside rolls by their windows.” On May 25, it will be the turn of folk in Cambridgeshire to enjoy what we’ve all been missing for the past decade. Departing Ely mid-afternoon, the Flying Scotsman-hauled‘CreamTea Special’ features a run to and from Norwich, before passengers from London rejoin the train for the trip back to the capital. The last of the three specials runs from Bristol toTaunton and Bishops Lydeard on May 28, and it will give Scotsman a chance to show its paces on the former Bristol to Exeter line. Turning to another outstanding

Busy, busy CreweWorks DISPELLING rumours that the new Crewe workshops are struggling to cope with the number of engines awaiting attention, spokesman Peter Greenwood said:“No, it’s just good to have plenty of work to keep the staff busy.” That said, he confirmed that LMS 4-6-0 No. 46100 Royal Scot has returned from the Severn Valley Railway requiring a small amount of fettling, before a move to Carnforth for a proving run around the West Coast circuit. As for Bulleid 4-6-2 No. 34046 Braunton, he said that the West Country is scheduled to be finished by the year’s end and will be available again for traffic in the new year. Work on Merchant Navy 4-6-2 No. 35028 Clan Line is progressing with no unexpected issues, with the exception that one of the new driving wheel tyres has been found to have a flaw in it and will have to be replaced, before South Devon Railway’s workshop can complete the job. Work has commenced on Nunney Castle and, if the boiler does not spring any unwanted surprises, the 4-6-0 should be back on the main line early next year. Newly-arrived A4 No. 4464 Bittern has had no attention in terms of stripping the engine down, but work on its spare boiler is well advanced. Britannia: having undergone inspection, it is expected that new bearings will be fitted to the centre and trailing driving wheels, in an attempt to overcome the latest vibration problem. With Royal Scot and Braunton anticipated to be back in action within a month or so, a priority start is to be made in overhauling A2 4-6-2 No. 60532 Blue Peter. The overhaul is scheduled to take at least two years before steam fills the engine’s cylinders again. Meanwhile, Great Western 4-6-0 No. 6024 King Edward I, still in the process of overhaul – will, when its component parts are ready, be reassembled on the West Somerset Railway at Minehead, it has been decided.

58 Heritagerailway.co.uk

locomotive, Stanier 4-6-2 No. 6201 Princess Elizabeth, currently in the final stages of overhaul atTyseley, Steam Dreams has agreed to revise some of the 4-6-2’s‘Cathedrals Express’itineraries next year. Marcus said:“As regular passengers know, we always visit Wales on March 1 and next year we had intended to go to both Cardiff and Swansea, however in light of conversations withTyseley we decided to go to Cardiff via Bath, limiting the train to nine coaches to give ‘Lizzie’a good run without taxing the newly outshopped engine.That seemed sensible, so we are happy to go along with it.” A similar agreement has been reached with the scheduled trip toYork on March 17; instead, the‘Express’will now run to Lincoln. The revised plan will see the train departing King’s Cross as originally scheduled, picking up at Hertford, Stevenage and Peterborough, then

turning right to run via Spalding, and Sleaford. On the return journey, the‘Express’will travel via Newark, Grantham and a fast run down Stoke bank.

Engineering works

In contrast, the‘Cathedrals Express’trip, scheduled to run from Paddington to Oxford on April 17, has now been called off because of some engineering work en route. A new trip has been added to‘Lizzie’s schedule. On May 5, a‘Cathedrals Express’is booked to run from Horsham calling at Dorking, Leatherhead, Epsom and Cheam bound for Gloucester. For this trip, steam comes on in west London. Marcus said:“Princess Elizabeth is undoubtedly one of our most popular engines when we have used her in the past and we are looking forward to working with Clive Mojonnier, Bob Meanley and their teams.”

Easter start for Inside Track INSIDETrack,theBuckingham-basedholidayfirmthat includes steamineachofits tripsaroundtheUK,has comeupwithanotherselectionofroad-railtoursforthe comingyear. Makingacomparativelylatestart–atEaster–its ‘GerrardsHotCrossBun’five-daybreak (basednearto GerrardsCross) incorporatestravelontheChesham branchonEasterSaturdayand,laterthatday,from AylesburytoPrincesRisborough. Thefollowingday,touriststravelfromChinnorthrough theChilternstotheBirmingham RailwayMuseum,then endtheweekendonMondaybyvisiting Lord’s cricket ground. Friday,April1beginsafive-daytriptotheWestCountry, which,ontheSaturday,takesthetouristsbyrailfrom TrurotovisitStErthandridetheStIvesbranch.Inthe afternoonthegrouptravelsontoPenzanceforavisitto theHelstonbranch. Afterlunch, thetouristswillbetakentoRedruthforarail andrivertourwith theFalmouth branchandacruise on CarrickRoads. OnSunday,April3theitinerarymajorsonavisittothe Bodmin&WenfordRailway,withlunch,beforetouringby roadtoNewquayviaLooeandontoMevagisseyandto

Fowey.SimilartotheSunday,Mondayistakenupwith a visittothe IslesofScilly,visitingStMary’s IslandandTresco. Theholidaytripendswith asteamandcreamevent ontheLauncestonSteamRailway,followedbyashort journeytoGunnislakeandarideonthebranchlineto Plymouth. OnApril11,touriststakethe‘SpringLakelander’for anotherfivedays’touring,startingatPenrithfora full-lengthcruise onUllswatertotheGlenriddingnight stop.Thenextdayseesanothercruise,thistime on boardtheNationalTrust’s steamyachtGondola,before travellingovertheWrynoseandHardknotpassesforan afternoonofsteamontheRavenglass&EskdaleRailway. Wednesday,April13seesthegroupboardingasteamer foracruise toLakeside,wheretheywill joinasteam train toHaverthwaite. HavingtravelledviatheCumbrianCoastLinethe nextday,the touristswillspend timeinCarlislebefore boardingtheirtrainforatripovertheSettleandCarlisle line.Friday,thefinalday,startswithatriponKeswick Water,abriefvisittoWindermereenroutetoOxenholme andtrainshomewards. Thenextfive-daytripgoestoWales,withrides onthe FfestiniogandSnowdonMountainrailways.

Last steam action at Yeovil centre for 2015 MAINlineservicingbasetheYeovilRailwayCentre markedtheendofitscurrentoperatingseasonwith a burstofcontrastingstandardgaugesteam activities duringDecember. Santaspecials,featuring100-year-oldAndrew Barclay0-4-0STLordFisher, workingfestivetrains alongtheCentre’s‘Wilderness’branch, openedevents onDecember6.Comprising eitheranSRorGWR brakevanandmodifiedformerDMUcentrecoach, incorporatingadriving/brakingcompartment, completewithcab-endwindows,thespecialscarried passengersalongthecentre’s branch,beforeparents andchildrenvisitedthe‘ManinRed’, locatedinthe historicGreatWesterntransfergoodsshed.Thespecials

werescheduled tocontinue runningonDecember 13/19/20/23. TheRailwayTouringCompany’s‘Sherborne Christmas Carols’fromVictoriaviaSalisbury,was booked toarriveonDecember15forservicingin readinessforthereturntoLondon,pickingupat Sherborne.Yeovil’s year-endmain linevisitorwas expectedtobeBulleid4-6-2 No.34067Tangmere.The centreisexpectingtoreceiveitsfirstmainline arrivalin Marchofnextyear. SouthWestTrainshaslaunchedplans fornew servicesconnectingYeovilJunctionstation toPenMill, recalling dayswhenM70-4-4Tsworkedshuttleservices betweenthemainline stationandYeovilTown. Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

LMS ‘Black Five’ 4-6-0 No. 45407 passes Lawrence Hill at 7.05am with the Railway Touring Company’s ‘Cheshireman’ from Bristol to Shrewsbury on November 28. For those interested the picture was taken with camera settings of ISO 5000 (film speed), aperture F1.8 and shutter speed 1/400. SAM BILNER

Busy, go anywhere The Lancashire Fusilier CALLED on to replace Bulleid 4-6-2 No. 34067 Tangmere – then still under repair at Carnforth – LMS‘Black Five’ No. 45407 The Lancashire Fusilier gave an excellent demonstration of the versatility of its class during November 25-28, clocking up high mileage working two RailwayTouring Company excursions in 48 hours. The 4-6-0’s busy commitment began onWednesday, November 25 when it ran light with coach from

Castleton to Bristol for overnight stabling. Thefollowing day,the4-6-0workedthereturnlegofRTC’s‘Bath ChristmasMarket’toPoole,viaBathandSalisbury,witha WestCoastClass47coupledonattherear. Having decanted the last of the passengers at Poole, the 4-6-0 worked the empty stock plus diesel forward to the Swanage Railway, for a night’s stopover. On Friday November 27, the empty coaching stock headed back

to Bristol, hauled by the Class 47, for the following day’s RTC‘Cheshireman’trip to Shrewsbury and back. The 4-6-0 hauled the train via Gloucester, Maindee Junction and the Marches. On its return, No. 45407 retired to St Philips Marsh, for overnight stabling before running light engine and coach to Southall on Monday, followed by the long trip back north to Bury onTuesday.

Victoria station finale rounds off the 2015 working season for Tornado WITH theyearendfastapproaching, A14-6-2No.60163Tornadorounds offwhathasbeenarelativelybusier workingseason,bycompletingits bookedcommitmentsatVictoria’s bufferstopsonDecember19,withthe lastofthesteam-hauled‘BritishPullman’ pre-Christmasluncheontrains. ItisthelastoutingfortheA1,because theYork-Newcastle‘Peppercorn

Phoenix’, whichwasplannedtorunon December31,wascancelledduetolack ofbookings. Detailshaveyettobefinalised regardingwintermaintenance,butThe A1LocomotiveTrustchairmanMark Allattsaiditisanticipatedthatnomajor workwillberequiredbecauseofthe workcarriedoutbackatthebeginning ofthisyear.Instead,hesaidthatthe

trustwashopingtoplacetheA1ona heritagerailwayinJanuary. Lookingahead,the4-6-2resumes BritishPullmandutiesonFebruary6, withtheusualSurreyHillsluncheon train,whichisbookedtoberepeatedon March12andApril8. Inadditiontothe‘BritishPullman’ trains,Tornado hasbeenlinedupto headaPaddington-Worcestertrip

onValentine’s DayandaWaterlooExeter-Reading-Victoria‘DevonBelle’ all-PullmantrainonApril2. The4-6-2willenteritsfirstfullyear oftheBritishPullmansteam-hauled programmein2016butnodoubtthe A1Trustwillbeseekingothermainline workorheritagelinevisitstofillgaps betweendatestoensuretheengine continuestoearnitskeep.

Romantic start to 2016 activities for Vintage Trains VINTAGE Trains’2016 activities start with an eclectic combination of romance and steam. The first train to greet the new season will be VintageTrains’‘Valentines Express’, which departs Warwick Road on Saturday, February 13 for a four-hour trip around the East Midlands. Why the 13th?The 14th falls on the

Sunday, a favourite for engineering route restrictions. Picking up en route only at Coleshill Parkway, the‘Express’is to be hauled by a guest engine, whose identity has yet to revealed… Next up is VintageTrains’‘Red Dragon’, which heads for Cardiff on Saturday, March 12. Leaving Warwick Road behind

Tyseley’s GreatWestern 4-6-0 No. 4965 Rood Ashton Hall, the‘Dragon’calls at Snow Hill, Stourbridge Junction andWorcester, before running on via Gloucester, Chepstow and Newport. ON Saturday March 19,VintageTrains’ ‘Cumbrian Explorer’starts out ofWarwick Road with resident Class 47 No. 47773 The Queen Mother, the green diesel

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

working the‘Explorer’via New Street, Stafford and Crewe, thence to Hellifield, where the 47 gives way to LMS Jubilee 4-6-0 No. 45690 Leander for a run over the Settle and Carlisle line to Carlisle. Returning to Carnforth by way of Shap, the 4-6-0 will be replaced by the 47 for the homeward run back to the Midlands. Heritagerailway.co.uk 59

MAIN LINE NEWS

COMPILED BY CEDRIC JOHNS

Poor coal stops Irish Santa special SANTA’S sleigh ground to a halt because of poor coal – and brought part of the Dublin rail network to a standstill. When a Dublin-Greystones Santa Special came to halt on the main line to the capital city on Saturday, November 28 causing disruption to DART electric services, the quality of the coal was blamed. Railway Preservation Society of Ireland spokesman Gerry Mooney said NCC 2-6-4T No. 4 working bunker first on the return journey from Greystones back to Dublin, reached the two miles of 1-in-100 climbing Killiney bank six miles short of Dublin, but despite the

fireman’s best efforts, the pressure fell bringing the train to a stand. Quick-thinking brought an Irish Rail GM diesel to the scene and it assisted the train into Dublin. Gerry reckons that the failure caused about an hour’s delay to public services.

Irish eyes were smiling

When No. 4 went on shed on Saturday evening at Connolly, its fire was dropped, bunker emptied and filled with fresh coal ready for the Sunday’s Santa duties. That said, the eyes of officials of the RPSI were smiling, as every one of its

Belfast and Dublin-based Santa specials sold out by the beginning of December. Starting on November 29 and running until December 19 between Belfast and Whitehead plus a Portadown to Lisburn trip on December 13, parents and children packed the festive trains. It was much the same at Dublin, where the Santa trains ran to Greystones between November 28 and December 13.The only disappointment concerned Dublin & South Eastern K2 2-6-0 No. 461, which encountered steaming problems. The RPSI winds up its Christmas programme on December 27 with a ‘Mince Pie Special’from Belfast to Dublin

with GNR (I) 4-4-0 No 85 Merlin at the head. On arrival at Dublin, the 4-4-0 is booked to join Connolly shedmates 2-6-0 No. 461 and 2-6-4T No. 4. When this happens it will be the first time since the Sixties that three locomotives will have been on shed at Connolly at the same time. Although no dates have yet been set, a busy programme of trains is in the process of being planned for next year, but an exception is the promotion of the ‘Croagh Patrick International Railtour’ from May 12-17, which includes visits to Athlone, Belfast, Ballina, Dublin, Westport and Whitehead.

Questions over The Great Marquess LOCOMOTIVEownerJohnCameronhas saidthataquestionmarkhangsoverthe futureofhisLNERK4No.61994TheGreat Marquess,whichiscurrentlyoutoftraffic andstabledontheNorthYorkshireMoors Railway. Stoppedwithacrackedfirebox,the 2-6-0’s faterestsonestimatesforrepairs beingreceivedbeforeadecisionistaken toeithergetthejobdoneorwithdrawthe engineforoverhaul,bearinginmindthat itsticketrunsoutinMarch. ShouldJohndecidetogoaheadwith theoverhaul,itwillaffecttheRailway TouringCompany’s‘Wansbeck’, which visitsYork,LynemouthandBoulbyonApril 2andistraditionallybookedfor top-and-tailworkingoverthevarious brancheswithK12-6-0No.62005. TheK1,aregularvisitortoFortWilliamfor the‘Jacobite’season,isnowatCarnforthfor annualwintermaintenancewhich,subject totheamountofattentionrequired,is usuallybackintrafficbytheendofMarch. John‘sotherengine,A44-6-2No.60009 UnionofSouthAfrica,whichhasremained atMillerhillfollowingitsmuch-publicised tripsontheBordersRailway–including ofcourseconveyingHMTheQueenand theDukeofEdinburghontheline’s official openingdayasshowcasedinissue208 –isshortlyduetogotoThorntonfora mechanicalexambeforeitreturnstothe mainline. Asreportedlastissue,Johnwasnot happythathisA4tookonitsBordersduty withouthavinganapprovingrunafter receivingattentionatCrewe.

60 Heritagerailway.co.uk

LMS Princess Coronation Pacific No. 46233 Duchess of Sutherland has just arrived at Euston early with PMR Tours ‘The London Explorer’ from Derby on November 14. JAMES HAMILTON

Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

With both Beeston and Peckforton castles visible in the distance, LNER B1 4-6-0 No. 61306 Mayflower races past Hargrave with Steam Dreams’ ‘Cathedrals Express’ from Euston to Chester on November 21. It is believed to be the first B1 into Chester since the late 1960s. PHIL JONES

SEE CLASSIC TRACTION ON THE NATIONAL NETWORK By Fred Kerr THE Rail Head Treatment Train season is finished for another year and any heritage traction involved has been reallocated to new duties or into storage. This year’s usage of heritage traction has seen Class 20s (operated by DRS on its York circuits and GB Railfreight on its Tonbridge circuits); Class 37s (operated by Network Rail on the North Wales circuit); Class 47s (operated by Colas Rail on its Kings Norton circuit and DRS on its Stowmarket circuits) and Class 73s (operated by GB Railfreight on its Tonbridge circuits). It is difficult to know whether the Class 57/0s can be considered as‘heritage’either, because class members are now approaching 20 years old since emerging from the rebuild programme or are using bodyshells first introduced over 50 years ago. Either way class members still attract interest in their operations, including the recent RHTT workings based at Stowmarket. This season saw York-based No. 20308 replaced by a Class 66 locomotive when it suffered tyre problems and it was sent to Tyseley to have its tyres turned; this highlighted a problem of a shortage of wheelsets that is set to affect the use of heritage traction. The problem that has appeared

recently is reported to be due to problems with a supplier whose production has ceased while production difficulties are resolved but this has been affecting operators such as Colas Rail and UK Rail Leasings, whose Class 56 locomotives have been waiting for new wheelsets for some time. It was reported last month that DRS is reviewing its locomotive fleet and the recent arrival of a further four Class 68s has only increased lineside speculation. At the beginning of December this had seen its Class 47 fleet reduced to two (No. 47790 based at Norwich and No. 47828 based at Old Oak Common) as the remainder (Nos. 47805/10/13/18/41/53) were placed into store.

Cumbrian Coast services

There is more certainty regarding the Class 37/4 fleet with Nos. 37401/02/09/23 allocated to a dedicated pool for Cumbrian Coast services and Nos. 37405/19/22/25 allocated to a dedicated pool for Norwich area services, although No. 37425 was noted on Cumbrian Coast services at the end of November. In addition, No. 37403 is currently awaiting a move to the Derby base of RVEL to be prepared for use with DRS on (unspecified) duties as part of a long-term loan. Colas Rail Freight is another company still finding Class 37s useful

as they now appear more frequently on Network Rail services, where they are replacing the DRS Class 37/6s following DRS losing the haulage contract to Colas earlier this year. An interesting query as to whether the Class 73 conversion programme changes the status of the rebuilt locomotives: as Class 73/9 they are externally similar to the original locomotives that still exist and are ‘heritage’locomotives but internally they are described as“virtually brand new”hence the query as to whether the‘rebuilds’can also be described as such. The transfer of Class 73/9s to Scotland to work sleeper services has highlighted this dichotomy as Nos. 73966/67 continue familiarisation at Craigentinny depot while Nos. 73968/70 undergo final trials before joining the duo on sleeper services. It is speculated that further conversions may be undertaken, but there has been no confirmation of this in terms of the number of locomotives or the duties of any conversions. The Class 73s (all variants) are now operated mainly by GB Railfreight, which has experience of successfully operating heritage traction including the versatile Class 47s, which it has hired from Riviera Trains through the Harry Needle Railroad Company. These locomotives were hired to work Doncaster – Monk Bretton Barnby Dun services, but pairs of Class 47s were noted working

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

Doncaster – Hotchley Hill gypsum services at the end of November. The interest in the continued use of heritage traction in 2016 has been heightened by the confirmation that HNRC has bought four Class 31s (Nos. 31233/255/285/465) while noting the reduction in usage of his Class 20 fleet, as the cost of repairs outweigh any profit from their use.

Eight locomotives

HNRC has confirmed that it has Class 20 contracts for eight locomotives until December 2019 and for two locomotives until September 2027, hence the remainder of the fleet will provide the spares to keep these locomotives at work. The cost of repairs has already seen Nos. 20096/311/905 lose their engines while Nos. 20016/092 are expected to have been stripped by Christmas followed by No. 20088 by Easter. In addition, Nos. 20087/088/092/ 110/166/903/904 are stored but can be quickly made available for service should there be a demand, but the company does not expect this to be the case in the immediate future. HNRC has indicated that the Class 31s can do anything that a Class 20 can with the advantage of double-ended cabs and, subject to a successful negotiation with an unspecified customer, believes that there may be a need for up to five locomotives to meet the proposed contract, hence his recent purchases. Heritagerailway.co.uk 61

MAIN LINE NEWS

WITH FULL REGULATOR

LOCOMOTIVE PERFORMANCE THEN AND NOW

Above: Ray Churchill prepares to take No. 4965 out of Oxford with the empty stock of the ‘Oxfordshire Explorer’. DON BENN Right: No. 4965 passes Long Hanborough on November 21. ALAN HOLDING

TABLEONE:WORCESTERTOHANBOROUGH

ByDonBenn

Date Train Loco Load

WITH thelackofClass 7and8steam locomotivesonthemainline atpresent resultingintheheaviertrainsneedingto beentrustedtoClass 5powerplusthe diesel assistancethatinvariablybrings,itis quitedifficulttofind‘pure’steamhaulage tosavourandreporton. To further muddy the waters regarding my choice of a next tour, from November 24 the Office of Road and Rail imposed a Prohibition Notice on West Coast Railways using any steam engine without itsTPWS isolating valve in a position where it cannot be tampered with by the footplate crews, although as it turned out, no trains were cancelled as a result. SowhatshouldIdo?Well,ofcourseI turnedtothattriedandtestedoperator, VintageTrainsandits‘OxfordshireExplorer’ tripofNovember21,becauseIknewthat thiswouldbeguaranteeddiesel-freeas theloadwouldbelimitedtothecapability ofthebookedengine,GWR4-6-0No.4965 RoodAshtonHall. Furthermore,Icould get toTyesleyby train from myhome station, asthedeparturewasattherespectable timeof 9.30am. ItwasaverycoldmorningandIwas gladtogain therelativewarmthofthe Mk.2coach thirdfromthefrontatWarwick RoadandIhadtimeforawarmingdrink beforetheon-timedeparture.No. 4965 hadsevencoachesplus thewatercarrier, atotalof about315tons,andonceagain wehadthetrustedpairingof RayChurchill andAlastairMeanley inchargeupfront. Therunning untilclear ofthecongested centralBirminghamareaisalwaysslow andcheckedbysignalsfollowedbya severespeed restriction throughOldHill tunnelinrecognitionofthewidecylinders oftheHall.Soitwasnotuntilafterthe StourbridgeJunctionstop,lefttwo

Driver Fireman Position Recorder Weather

Saturday, November 21, 2015 0930TyseleyWarwick Road to Oxford Hall Class 4-6-0 No.4965 Rood Ashton Hall 7 coaches plus water carrier, 281½ tons tare, 315 tons gross Ray Churchill Alastair Meanley 3 of 8 Don Benn Very cold but sunny with strong north wind

miles sched mins/secs speed Worcester Shrub Hill 0.00 0.00 00 00 M5 overbridge 2.40 06 56 34 sigs stop MP 117¾ 2.86 08 45 0* 17 56 Norton Junction 3.13 15.00 19 46 24 Stoulton 5.54 23 44 53/59½ Pershore 7.81 26 05 56½/59 Wyre 9.00 27 18 58/55½ Fladbury 10.64 29 04 56½/58 Charlton 11.29 29 46 56½ MP 108 12.45 31 06 52½/54½ Evesham 13.78 26.00 32 34 47* Littleton and Badsey 16.08 35 12 56½ MP 103 17.45 36 42 57/52½ Honeybourne 18.73 34.00 38 03 54 MP 101 19.45 38 58 50 MP 100 20.45 40 24 44½ MP 99 21.45 41 38 42 CampdenTunnel N. 22.37 42 53 38½ CampdenTunnel S. 22.87 43 39 36½ Campden Old Station 23.49 44 46 43 Blockley 25.50 46 56 59½ Aston Magna 26.73 48 21 53 Aston Hall 27.33 49 03 49½ Moreton-in-Marsh 28.69 47.00 51 19 tsr 12* Adlesdrop 33.05 57 26 61½ Kingham 35.74 60 04 60/61½ Shipton 38.74 63 03 58 Ascott-under40.03 60.00 64 23 56½/58 Wychwood sigs stop Charlbury 43.73 70 31 0* 72.00 77 16 Finstock 45.32 81 03 48 MP 73 47.45 83 30 58½/60 Hanborough 50.05 80.00 87 44 very slow finish net time 60 minutes *brakes or speed restriction

62 Heritagerailway.co.uk

minuteslatethatwebegantomotoron theeasygradientsdownpasttheSevern ValleyRailwayatKidderminsterandover HoobrookViaductat63mphbeforethe enginewaseasedtokeepspeed within thearbitrarylimitforthisfineengine, whichis capableofsomuch more. Themorning wasnowbrightandsunny butverycoldafterearlier snowshowers andwe musthavemade afinesight passingthemanywatchersatDroitwich Spawithitslowerquadrantsemaphore signals.ApathingstopbeforeRainbowHill tunneldidnot preventanon-time arrival atWorcesterforourwaterstopandtea breakfortheenginecrew.

Strict adherence to schedule

Ihavetabulatedthenextpartoftherun toHanboroughinTableOneandthis includestwosectionsofsingle lineand wherestrictadherencetothescheduleis ofparamountimportance.Apartfromthe climbofHoneybournebank toCampden tunnel,thegradientsaregenerallyeasy anddidnottaxtheengine,sotherewas time toenjoythepassingsceneona beautifulbutverycoldandwindy day;one tobeonthetrainandnotwaitingaround onthelineside! WewereawayfromWorcesterwith itsbeautifullowerquadrantsemaphore signalsnearlyfiveminutesearlyandasthe scheduleallowednolessthan15minutes togetpastNortonJunction, 3.13miles, thisresultedinaprolongedstopofover nine minuteswhile waitingforthesingle linesectiontoclear.Wehadaclearrunto Charlburyattheendofthedouble track section,apartfromagaugerestriction to12mphthroughMoreton-in-Marsh. TheHalltoyedwith its315tonloadand dealteasilywith theundulatingrouteto Honeybourne,withspeed aroundthe55 to59mphmarkapartfromaminimum

of52½mphatthetopofthe1-in-235at Milepost108beforeEvesham,which wastakencautiouslyat47mphbefore RayopenedupRoodAshtonHalltogood effectandwereached 57mphafter LittletonandBadsey,reducedto52½mph again atthetopofthemileof1-in-126up beforetheshortstretchofleveltrackat Honeybourne,passed at54mph. Thenfollowednearlyfour-and-a-half milesofsolid1-in-100tobeyond Campdentunnel,whichtookitstoll butwasdealtwithwellwith quitealot ofnoisefromupfront.ByMilepost100 weweredownto44mph,to38½atthe tunnelentranceandfinally,afterthehint ofaslipatthesouthendofthetunnel, toanabsoluteminimumof36.7mph atthesummit.Overthe3.42miles fromMilepost101tothesouthendof Campdentunneltheequivalentdrawbar horsepower(EDBH)was1095,agood butnot exceptionalfigureforaclassfive engine,showingthatRayhadquiteabit inhand.Speedthenroserapidlytojust under 60mphdownthe1-in-154dipto Blockleyandwasdownto49½mph on the1-in-110/151 climbpastAstonMagna, which followsbeforeRayshutoff forthe restrictionthroughMoreton-in-Marsh. Anicespellat60-61mphsawuscrawl uptothesignalprotectingthesingle line sectionjust afewyardsbeyondthe platformatCharlbury.Wewerespoton time atNortonJunctionandhadthen kepttheschedulealmostexactlyfrom theretopassingAscott-under-Wychwood, anothermasterlypieceofenginemanship fromRayChurchill.Afteranorthbound trainhadclearedthesectionweran smartlytothebooked stopatHanbrough, whereIjoinedthose alightingtogoto BlenheimPalace,thoughmymission wastogetavideoclipofthetrainleaving andalsoashotofitarrivingatOxford. Thiswasmadepossible bythetime the

Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

Rood Ashton Hall works hard on the climb to Chipping Campden tunnel. PHIL WATERFIELD ‘OxfordshireExplorer’spentsitting inthe uploopafterWolvercoteJunctionand thefortuitousavailabilityofaservicetrain fromHanborough,which leapfroggedthe special.IcalleditadayatOxford,asifIhad gonebacktoTyseleyIcouldnot havegot homethatnightbut1020Shiremanhas kindlysentmesomedetailof thereturn trip,whichalsoinvolvedalongwaitinthe loopjustnorthofOxford,butincludedthe 1-in-51climbofOldHillbank.

Slowish pick up

Hewrites:‘’Theeveningreturnsawa further45-minutestayatOxfordNorth, followedbyaslowish pickuponthe twomiles ofleveltracktoWolvercote Junctionduetoourcloseproximitytothe Paddington-Herefordtrain,which was runningafewminuteslate.Wecrossedthe junctionat33mphandtoppedthemileof 1-in-240throughYarntonat45mph. Pick up was good and speeds were: Hanborough 55mph; Combe 59mph; Charlbury 62mph; Ascott 64mph; Shipton 59mph, and then rose down gentle grades to 61mph by Kingham. We braked hard when approaching Moreton-in-Marsh for the gauging restriction and then accelerated down the 2.5 miles at an average 1-in-150 to 62mph at Blockley. Speed fell to 56mph at the top of the mile of 1-in-165/154 and then picked up to 63mph down the 1-in-100 into CampdenTunnel and dropped to 57mph as we braked through Honeybourne. We stopped at Evesham after which Ray opened No. 4965 up over the undulating gentle grades to a maximum of 63mph at the foot of the half mile 1-in-198 climb into Pershore, passed at 57mph. Speed remained at 58/9mph for the five miles to Norton Junction.

‘’WedriftedthroughShrub Hilland TunnelJunction andtwomiles pastthe junctionspeed was51mphandrose steadilyto57mphontheapproachesto DroitwichSpa,wherewewereslowedto 42mphthroughthestation.Speedrose intothemid/high 50sandwe passed Hartleburyat58mh;Kidderminster 53mph; Blakedown53mph,beforebeing slowedto43mphthroughHagley.Weset downpassengersatStourbridgeJunction andthentheseriousworkbegan.Ray easedthetrainoutofthestationandthen workedNo.4965hard. “Fromtherestartspeedwas46mphat thefootofthedip atLyeandthenfellonly to45mphatthetopoftherisebeyond beforereaching49mphinthefootofthe slightdipbeforeCradleypassedatavery noisy43mphonthe1-in-76.Threemiles fromStourbridgeJunctionandnowon theverysteep1-in-51,speed wasdown to39.5mphwithsuccessivequartermiles at34.4,30.1,25.5,23.2mph(shortslip,well recovered);OldHillStation18.6mphand OldHillTunnelatthetopofthe1-in-51, 13.5mph.Ashortdistanceoutside the tunnelonthe1-in-81speedwas16.6mph, recoveringto23.4mphatthetopofthe 1-in-235atRowleyRegis.Speedthen roseoverthetwoandaquartermilesof easiergradesto49mphthroughLangley Green;TheHawthorns49mph;Smethwick GaltonBridge55mphbeforedrifting throughJewelleryQuarterat23mphtoa four-minuteearlyarrivalatSnowHill. “No.4965performedimpeccablyand ourthanksgotoTyseleyWorkshops, VintageTrainsandWCRforanotherproper steam-hauleddayout.Thefireman on thereturntripwasTomAllenandIam gratefultotheRailPerformanceSocietyfor supplyingtheelusivegradient profileof therouteviaKidderminsterandOldHill.

TABLETWO:SOLIHULLTOOXFORD

TABLETHREE:TYSELEYTODIDCOT

Date Train Loco

Date Train Loco Load

October 15, 2011 0705 Solihull to Bristol Temple Meads Castle Class 4-6-0 No. 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe Load 8 coaches 287½ tons tare, 305 tons gross Driver Bill Warriner Fireman Dean Morris Position 6 of 8 Recorder Don Benn Weather sunny periods, calm miles Solihull 0.00 Widney Manor 1.48 Dorridge 3.33 0.00 Lapworth 2.56 Hatton North Jct 6.20 Hatton 6.78 Warwick Parkway 9.67 0.00 Warwick 1.30 MP 106½ (106.67 miles) Leamington Spa MP 103½ Fosse Road MP 102 MP 101 Harbury Tunnel Southam Road MP 97 Fenny Compton Cropredy Banbury Kings Sutton Aynho Jct Fritwell Heyford Tackley

2.63 3.27 5.80 7.05 7.30 8.30 8.65 9.49 12.30 14.15 19.59 23.11 26.64 28.13 31.18 34.08 36.70

Kiddlington Wolvercote Jct Oxford UPL

40.24 42.95 44.35

sched mins/secs speed 0.00 00 00 03 35 42/48 7.00 06 51 0.00 00 00 04 13 60/66 07 45 57½ 8.00 08 18 64/69½ 11.00 11 51 0.00 00 00 03 09 35 sigs stop 08 02 0* 14 00 10.00 16 09 34 19 42 55 21 16 tsr45* 21 35 50½ 22 42 54 23 05 56 23 55 60 26 33 69 21.00 28 12 64 32 40 79 29.00 35 27 60*/tsr52* 39 04 67½ 35.00 40 42 52* 41 27 69/74½ 40.00 45 55 73 48 10 55*/tsr 39* 52 07 68/74 54.00 54 27 53* 60.00 57 38

net time 43 minutes *brakes or speed restriction

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

Saturday, July 1, 1973 1315 Tyseley to Didcot A4 Class 4-6-2 No. 4498 Sir Nigel Gresley 10 coaches, 338 tons tare, 360 tons gross Recorder Don Benn Weather Hot and sunny miles sched mins secsspeed Tyseley Acocks Green Solihull Widney Manor Knowle and Dorridge Lapworth Hatton Warwick Leamington Spa MP 103 Fosse Road MP 101 Southam Road Fenny Compton Cropredy Banbury Kings Sutton Aynho Jct Fritwell Heyford Tackley Kidlington Wolvercote Jct Oxford Kennington Jct Radley Culham Appleford Didcot North Jct Didcot

0.00 0.97 3.38 5.24 7.12 9.65 13.89 18.07 20.00 23.08 23.78 25.08 26.17 31.12 36.27 39.90 0.00 3.49 5.05 8.03 10.93 13.45 17.09 19.80 22.66 25.07 27.71 29.91 30.97 32.26

0.00 00 00 58 late 03 47 31/40 08 48 sigs 15* 12 05 45 25.00 14 28 54½/53 17 12 60/64 31.00 21 29 55½/60 25 35 59*/62 37.00 28 25 29* 33 15 44/41½ 34 20 43½ 36 00 47½/47 37 17 54 42 52 53 48 02 63 64.00 53 53 0.00 00 00 05 48 56/60 7.00 07 43 48* 12 28 57½ 15.00 14 10 61 17 00 57½/59 20 41 55½/61 28.00 24 01 32* 33.00 29 03 tsr 24* 33 33 52 36 25 60/65 38 28 64/66½ 39 25 62 42 03 sigs14*/20* sigs stop 0* 33.06 48.00 46 31 3 late net time 43 minutes *brakes or speed restriction

Heritagerailway.co.uk 63

MAIN LINE NEWS

TableTwo shows an excellent run with No. 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe on October 15, 2011 working the 7.05am Solihull to Bristol.This shows the section as far as Oxford via Leamington Spa and is particularly noteworthy for the excellent and noisy climb of Fosse Road bank. We passed Leamington at 34mph recovering from a signal stop before the station and then accelerated to 55 on the 1-in-187 before easing to 45mph for a temporary speed restriction. Bill Warriner then opened the Castle up and with an almighty roar we went into Harbury tunnel still on the 1-in-187

A beautifully-clean No. 6915 Mursley Hall approaches Oxford with the 11.05am Weymouth to Wolverhampton Low Level on June 20, 1964. DON BENN

at 56mph and continued to accelerate up the easier grades of 1-in-251/239 to the summit after Fenny Compton at a very good minimum of 64mph. TheruntoBanburywasexhilaratingto saytheleast onacoldbutsunnymorning with frost onthefieldsaswechallenged the75mphlimitforsomemiles.Thenet timeforthe44.35miles fromWarwick ParkwaytothestopintheupOxfordloop wasaverygood43minutesandwejust scrapedinsideeventimeafterKidlington fromtherestartfromthesignalcheck. Intheearlydaysofthereturntosteam onJuly1,1973,Itimed arunoverthesame

TABLE FOUR: BASINGSTOKE TO OXFORD Date Train

Saturday, June 20, 1964 1045 Poole to Sheffield Victoria

Loco Driver Load Recorder Weather

Modified Hall Class 4-6-0 No. 6978 Haroldstone Hall No recorded 8 coaches, 272 tons tare, 300 tons gross Don Benn Fine and warm

Basingstoke MP 47½ Bramley MP 45 Mortimer MP 40 Southcote Jct Reading West

miles 0.00 3.95 4.93 6.45 8.28 11.45 13.59 14.54

Reading West Jct

15.45

Tilehurst Pangbourne Goring Cholsey Moreton Cutting Didcot North Jct Appleford Culham Radley Kennington Jct Oxford

17.13 20.01 23.23 26.91 29.86 32.30 33.56 34.60 36.81 39.45 41.86

sched mins secs 0.00 00 00 06 58 08 00 09 49 11 45 15 00 20.00 18 44 22.00 21 55 sigs stop 24.00 24 54 27 52 32 36 36 24 39 55 43 50 46 59 46.00 50 21 52 20 53 43 56 03 58 52 60.00 63 02

speed 60 56 53 58½ 64/65 sigs 15* sigs 5* 0* 41 54 60½ 58 56½ 37* 48 59/55 60 51

net time 57 minutes *brakes or speed restriction

64 Heritagerailway.co.uk

Saturday, May 8, 1965 1000 Bournemouth to Manchester and Liverpool Rebuilt West Country Class 4-6-2 No. 34047 Callington Adams, Bournemouth Top Link 12 coaches, 416 tons tare, 450 tons gross Don Benn Fine and warm sched mins secs 0.00 00 00 07 09 08 08 09 50 11 45 14 56 19.00 17 25 23.00 19 12 26.00 24 09 28.00 26 56

50.00

68.00

29 32 35 40 46 51 53 54 56 60 64

32 50 56 57 18 28 12 21 53 09 56

speed 60 55 53½ 60/57 63 41* 31 48½ 57 65/67 sigs 24* sigs 29*/13* 47 53 54½ 50 48

sectionwithnone otherthanLNER A4 PacificNo.4498SirNigelGresley andthis isshowninTableThree.Stillinthedaysof the60mphlimitthebig Pacificdestroyed theschedule,despiteanumberofchecks with amodest360tonsload.Wereturned toTyseleybehindV22-6-2 No.4771Green Arrow.Wouldn’titbegoodtoseethisback onthemain lineagain?

Above par for the course

Oxford also featured in my trips out in the 1960s andTable Four shows two runs, one from 1964 with one of the Halls that I will forever associate with the York to Bournemouth train they worked until the end of 1965, though the run shown was on the summer Saturday 10.45am from Poole to Sheffield and featured No. 6978 Haroldstone Hall. With just eight coaches for 300 tons it was above par as it was quite unusual to get anything much above 60mph on the southern section of these trains. Banbury-based‘BlackFive’4-6-0stook overtheYorktoBournemouthtrains untilSeptember1966.Alongsidethis runisone withrebuilt SRWestCountry PacificNo.34047Callington,workingthe northbound‘PinesExpress’onadecent 450tons load.ThiswasaBournemouth toplinkturnandsometimes loadedto 13for500tons.No.34047wasaregular enginein1965andcopedeasily,almost tyingwith theHallasfarasMortimerand runningfasteralongtheGreatWestern slowlineafterReading.ArrivalinOxford wasontimeafterleavingBasingstoke threeminuteslate. Finally,TableFiveshowsaveryfastrun withtheunusual combinationoftwoClass 35Hymekdiesel-hydraulics inSeptember 1973.Imusthavehadinsideinformation asIhadphotographedthepairearlier astheyworkeddownonthe10.05am PaddingtontoWorcester.Thisrunfeatures myonly90mphwiththis class.

GWR 4-6-0 No. 6978 Haroldstone Hall departs from Oxford on June 20, 1964 with the 10.45am Poole to Sheffield. DON BENN

TABLEFIVE:OXFORDTOREADING Date Train

September 19, 1973 1455 Oxford to Paddington (from Worcester) Loco Hymek Type 3 B-B Diesel Hydraulic Class 35 Nos. 7028+7001 Load 8 coaches, 277½ tons tare, 300 tons gross Recorder Don Benn Weather Cloudy Oxford Kennington Jct Radley Culham Appleford Didcot North Jct Didcot East Jct Moreton Cutting Cholsey MP 47 Goring Pangbourne Tilehurst Reading

miles 0.00 2.45 5.05 7.26 8.30 9.56 10.69 12.00 14.95 16.39 18.64 21.85 24.74 27.41

sched mins/secs speed 0.00 00 00 03 55 68 05 58 82/88½ 07 31 84 08 16 80 13.00 09 23 63* 14.00 10 36 38* 12 10 64 14 34 86 15 34 90/92 17 04 87/83 19 17 90 21 22 82 31.00 25 45

start to stop average 63.87 mph *brakes or speed restriction

Wearelivingindifficulttimes for‘pure’ mainlinesteamandatpresentIdonot knowwhatIwillfind tocovernexttime.As BenMason fromVintageTrainssaidtome recently,thegoldenagewas2010to2014 butitisnowover.Iamoptimisticthough thatmainline steamwillcontinueata reducedlevelandwith adeclineonthe mainroutes.

Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

TOURS

December THUR 17: ‘Christmas White Rose’ Cambridge, York and return. Steam-hauled throughout. Loco: No. 46233 Duchess of Sutherland. RTC SAT 19: ‘Cathedrals Express’ Southend, Willesden, Winchester and return. Steam-hauled throughout. Loco: No. 61306 Mayflower. SD SAT 19: ‘British Pullman’ Victoria, Guildford, Redhill, Victoria. Steam-hauled throughout. Loco: No. 60163 Tornado. BEL

SAT 19: ‘York Yuletide Express’ Victoria, Oakham, Chesterfield, York and return. Steam-hauled: Victoria, York. Loco: No. 46233 Duchess of Sutherland. RTC TUES 22: ‘Cathedrals Express’ Victoria, Dover and return. Steam-hauled throughout. Loco: No. 61306 Mayflower. SD

January SAT 23: ‘Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express’ Manchester Victoria, Shap, Carlisle and

return via Settle. Steam-hauled throughout. Loco: No. 60103 Flying Scotsman. RTC

GWR 4-6-0 No. 4965 Rood Ashton Hall departs from Moreton-in-Marsh with the ‘Oxfordshire Explorer’ on November 21. BEN COLLIER

Regular steam SATS Jan 30, Feb 6, 20, 27, Mar 5, 12: ‘Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express’ Euston, Shap, Carlisle and return via Settle. Steam-hauled: Carnforth, Carlisle, Farington Junction. Loco: No. 46233 Duchess of Sutherland, No. 46100 Royal Scot or No. 46115 Scots Guardsman. RTC

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.

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

Tour Operators BEL

RTC

SD

VT

Belmond British Pullman 0845 077 2222 Railway Touring Company 01553 661500 Steam Dreams 01483 209888, 0845 310458 Vintage Trains 0121 708 496

Heritagerailway.co.uk 65

NEWS FOCUS SPECIAL

FLYING SCOTSMAN MORE REGENERATIONS THAN DR WHO!

When Flying Scotsman returns to the rails in the New Year, it will not be the LNER apple green No. 4472 we are familiar with, and it will quickly undergo another change in its appearance before its official launch into traffic. However, Flying Scotsman has always been rather more chameleon-like than most express engines and changes in its appearance have been regular and, at times, quite drastic over the past 92 years... so much so that it now includes very few pieces from the original locomotive, write Brian Sharpe and Robin Jones.

T

he first of Nigel Gresley’s A1 Pacifics was built by the Great Northern Railway, numbered 1470 and named Great Northern. The second, No. 1471, was unnamed but after the 1923 Grouping, the newly-formed LNER decided to name it Sir Frederick Banbury. The third engine, No. 1472, turned out from Doncaster in February 1923 after Grouping, also remained unnamed. It was painted in the LNER standard livery of apple green; a simpler version of GNR livery, with black and white lining. In a departure from previous practice, the number was painted on the eight-wheeled tender in large gold shaded lettering, with L&NER in smaller letters above it. Having inherited engines from several different companies, the LNER found itself with many engines with identical numbers, and part of the solution was to add 3000 to all GNR numbers... so the third A1 quickly became No. 4472. Still unnamed, No. 1472 emerges from Gasworks tunnel after leaving King’s Cross and passes Belle Isle with a Down express in 1923. NATIONAL RAILWAY MUSEUM

66 Heritagerailway.co.uk

The LNER’s decision to exhibit this engine at the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley in 1924 led to the first major changes in No. 4472’s external appearance. The LNER coat of arms was added to the cabsides, the wheel tyres and splasher beadings were polished metal and, most importantly, nameplates were fitted over the centre splashers – the chosen name being Flying Scotsman. Flying Scotsman’s appearance was to change quite regularly, sometimes to a limited extent but sometimes quite drastically over the next 93 years, much like the Dr Who character from the BBC’s long-running science fiction series. When one incarnation comes to the end of its lifespan, a metamorphosis takes shape and a new body emerges to house the character of the previous one. And so it has been with Flying Scotsman! When first built, the A1s were too big for the turntable at King’s Cross, and although the

Grouping opened up a much wider sphere of operation, the Pacifics needed a bit of trimming down, so slightly lower chimneys and domes were fitted and the bottom corners of the bufferbeams were cut away. This now enabled the A1s to reach Edinburgh and Aberdeen without striking any bridges or platforms. Flying Scotsman achieved further fame by heading the inaugural King’s Cross-Edinburgh nonstop ‘Flying Scotsman’ service on May 1, 1928, but the previous year, in preparation for nonstop running to Newcastle, No. 4472 was one of the engines chosen to be fitted with a corridor tender. These were bigger than the original ‘coal rail’ tenders, and at that stage the number 4472 was moved to the cabside and the tender simply lettered LNER.

Black, blue and Brunswick green Flying Scotsman then steamed on for the next 15 years with little change in its appearance,

Now named and renumbered, No. 4472 Flying Scotsman is seen on display at the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley in 1924.

Flying Scotsman with its corridor tender, prepares to depart from King’s Cross on May 1 1928 with the inaugural King’s Cross to Edinburgh nonstop run of the ‘Flying Scotsman. NATIONAL RAILWAY MUSEUM

Above: In wartime black livery, Flying Scotsman carries its short-lived number 502 at the National Railway Museum in 2012. BRIAN SHARPE Right: Still in apple green livery but with its new BR number 60103, Flying Scotsman is seen near Copley Hill, Leeds in the late 1940s. ERIC TREACY/ NATIONAL RAILWAY MUSEUM

hitting 100mph in 1934, as described below. During the Second World War though, the policy was to paint engines in all-over matt black with just a simple NE in yellow on the tender, but it was not until 1943 that Scotsman was dealt with. After the war, but still carrying black livery, Gresley’s successor, Edward Thompson, renumbered Flying Scotsman as No. 502 on January 20, 1946. It quickly changed again to No. 103 on May 5 that year and Scotsman’s identity crisis continued for a few years with further renumbering, livery changes and even reclassification. The A1 design had been improved on by Gresley in the light of lessons learnt from GWR practice and newer engines had been built with modifications and classified A3, with the older ones gradually being converted to match. Surprisingly, Scotsman was one of the last to undergo the rebuilding, having to be reclassified A10 in the meantime as Thompson had now called his rebuild of Gresley’s original A1 Pacific No. 4470 Great Northern an A1. On January 4, 1947, No. 103 emerged from Doncaster works as an A3, the most noticeable external change being the ‘banjo-shaped’ dome cover and bulge at the top of the smokebox to accommodate the new superheater header. It also regained its apple green livery, though in postwar Thompson style, with unshaded yellow lettering and slightly simplified lining. The first effect of nationalisation on the engine was the addition of an E prefix to its number in March 1948 and the replacement of

LNER on the tender by British Railways. E103 was a very short-lived identity; a new number, 60103 was allocated and for the first time a smokebox numberplate was fitted. On December 16, 1949 though, a more drastic change was its repainting into BR express passenger blue with black and white lining, cream lettering and the BR ‘cycling lion’ badge on the tender. The wheels and frames were now black and unlined. On March 14, 1952, No. 60103’s blue livery was replaced by Brunswick green, lined in orange and black, a livery originally adopted by BR for smaller passenger engines but now extended to express engines as it was proving difficult to touch up the blue after repairs and overhauls. It was to remain in Brunswick green for more than 10 years. There were visible changes during this period though, as the A3s went through another major modification process. Firstly, in 1954 the engine was converted to left-hand drive so the vacuum exhaust ejector pipe and the reversing rod were moved from the right-hand side of the engine to the left and the engine has remained left-hand drive ever since. Gresley had experimented with the Kylchap exhaust system and double chimney on the advice of Andre Chapelon in 1937 and it was adopted for the later streamlined A4 Pacifics. Despite its success, it was well into BR days before the rest of the A4s received it, but the programme was continued onto the A3s. A Kylchap exhaust and double chimney were fitted to Flying Scotsman in 1958.

Not all A3s actually received their double chimneys before they were withdrawn and those that did, gave trouble with their exhaust now being much softer, so it tended to obstruct the driver’s vision. The solution was smoke deflectors and the ones adopted for the double-chimneyed A3s were the brainchild of King’s Cross shedmaster Peter Townend, inspired by the deflectors he had seen on German steam engines. No. 60103 received its trough-type deflectors in December 1961. Like many A3s, it also had its top smokebox lamp bracket moved lower down, necessitating the splitting of the handrail in two and the repositioning of the front numberplate.

The preservation era

It was now a much-transformed engine – but too late in the day. Just over 12 months later it was withdrawn from service and, as is well-known, it was purchased by Alan Pegler in January 1963 for active service on the main line. Alan bought it largely as he remembered seeing it at the Wembley exhibition in 1924 and the apple green livery left an impression on him. It was not practicable to return the engine to original A1 specification, but Pegler went as far as he could. Doncaster works returned his engine to single chimney form and painted it in LNER apple green as No. 4472. It was still an A3, not an A1, but it regained its corridor tender, which it had lost to an A4 in 1936. One noticeable change from normal LNER practice was that the nameplates were painted red. A further change

Heritagerailway.co.uk 67

Meet Mandy Sharpe – the Flying Scotswoman!

Colour pictures of Flying Scotsman in BR blue livery are extremely rare, but this limited edition model shows what it looked like in this condition in the early 1950s. NRM Mandy Sharpe works on the wiring. NRM

THIS time round a lady engineer is fitting key pieces of apparatus to the sole-surviving Gresley A3 that will allow it to run on the main line. Electronic railway design engineer Mandy Sharpe, 47, from Willenhall near Wolverhampton, has been installing the compulsory On-Train Monitoring recorder and Train Protection & Warning system apparatus. Her remit is to ensure that these now obligatory add-ons to the original are hidden from view, so the general public will not doubt the authenticity of the locomotive. “Modern electronics have gone in but you’d need to be eagle-eyed to spot them,” said Mandy, whose dad Alfred was an engineer. “The main issue with the Flying Scotsman has been keeping everything hidden. Everything needs to be behind panelling or in boxes. “It also needs to be kept away from the coal, steam and water, which could ruin the systems. Everything has to be really well insulated.” One of two ladies working on the locomotive, the other painter TerriAnn O'Connor, Mandy added: “The steam world is a very male-dominated area and people are always surprised to see a woman working on an old iconic train.

No. 60103 Flying Scotsman departs from King’s Cross for Doncaster with the 1.15pm for Leeds on January 14, 1963, its last working for BR before purchase by Alan Pegler. COLOURRAIL.COM

With two tenders, No. 4472 Flying Scotsman departs from King’s Cross on May 1, 1968 with the nonstop run to Edinburgh to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the first King’s Cross to Edinburgh nonstop run of the ‘Flying Scotsman’ on May 1, 1928. The Deltic-hauled ‘Flying Scotsman’ departed simultaneously with the special. DAILY HERALD ARCHIVE/NATIONAL MEDIA MUSEUM

68 Heritagerailway.co.uk

With two tenders, red nameplates and green cylinders, Flying Scotsman climbs Holloway bank with the LCGB’s ‘East Riding Limited’ from King’s Cross to Hull via Boston on September 21, 1968. ROGER BASTIN No. 4472 heads a NELPG railtour at Greenholme, returning from Keighley to Newcastle via Preston and Carlisle on June 29, 1969. This was the last steam train over Shap for 25 years and one of Flying Scotsman’s last runs before travelling to North America. ROGER BASTIN

was that when the engine had an overhaul at Darlington works in 1965, Darlington applied its trademark – green cylinder covers. Doncaster had a tradition of always painting cylinder covers plain black. The acquisition of a second ex-A4 corridor tender in 1966 enabled No. 4472 to run much further between water stops, but the second tender carried the number and the LNER coat-of-arms was returned to the cabsides just as in 1924. The only other visible change to the engine during Alan Pegler’s ownership was the addition of a bell, large chime whistle and even a cowcatcher for its American tour in 1969. When Pegler went bankrupt and the engine was rescued by the Hon William McAlpine and returned to this country in 1972, it had an overhaul at Derby works and emerged in slightly more authentic condition. The nameplates were black, the cylinders were black (though now with red lining) and the second tender was blue and grey to match BR coaching stock, although it was rarely used. 4472 reappeared on the cabsides, and Flying Scotsman ran virtually unchanged in visual appearance for 20 years, including circumnavigating the world and steaming across Australia. In 1992, Flying Scotsman’s main line certificate expired and a heavy overhaul would normally have followed. In a period of uncertainty in the run-up to the privatisation of BR, it was decided to postpone carrying out the overhaul, and meanwhile to operate

Flying Scotsman stands outside ‘The Plant’ at Doncaster after the fitting of the bell, chime whistle and cowcatcher in 1969 for its tour of North America. TERRY ROBINSON Heritagerailway.co.uk 69

the engine only on private heritage lines. The chimney was showing signs of wear, and in the course of a boiler overhaul at Babcock Robey in 1993, an A3 double chimney was fitted, which had been found in a garden in Hampshire. For the sake of authenticity, German smoke deflectors were also fitted and the engine was painted BR Brunswick green and numbered 60103 for the first time in 30 years. It only ran in this condition on heritage lines until boiler problems caused its withdrawal. Changes of ownership followed and the major overhaul finally commenced in 1996 after purchase by Dr Tony Marchington. The decision was made to retain the double chimney and smoke deflectors, which would give a much-enhanced performance on the main line, but for commercial reasons, the engine was outshopped from Southall in 1999 in LNER apple green livery as No. 4472; a very non-authentic livery for its condition. The external appearance of the engine then remained unchanged until it was dismantled at York after purchase by the National Railway Museum in 2004. A decision was made in 2012 to paint it in wartime black livery, numbered 502 on one cabside and 103 on the other. This livery is still carried and Flying Scotsman will make its first public runs in black. For its official launch in February 2016 the engine will appear in fully-authentic BR Brunswick green livery as No. 60103, still with its double chimney and smoke deflectors. It has even had its smokebox handrail split and the front numberplate is correctly positioned on the top hinge, to make it look exactly as it was when withdrawn by BR in January 1963.

Flying Scotsman as most people recognise it: In the period of McAlpine’s ownership, the single-chimney No. 4472 looked much as it did in the 1930s, except that it was now an A3, not an A1. The engine is seen at the head of Gresley teak stock on the Severn Valley Railway in October 1990. PAUL STRATFORD

So far the nearest No. 60103 has been to the East Coast Main Line since January 1963: The BR-liveried A3 departs from Peterborough Nene Valley in June 1994. BRIAN SHARPE

70 Heritagerailway.co.uk

On its last run before withdrawal for overhaul 10 years ago, the National Railway Museum-owned Flying Scotsman passes Loughborough Midland with a Vintage Trains’ dining train from Dorridge on December 17, 2005. BRIAN SHARPE

Heritagerailway.co.uk 71

72 Heritagerailway.co.uk

Heritagerailway.co.uk 73

NEWS FOCUS SPECIAL

SWINDON’S

RAILWAY MUSEUMS

Railway museums today are very different from their 20th century counterparts. John Titlow continues his examination of railway museums in Britain and Europe with a review of those in Swindon, past and present.

C

ontinuing with the museum theme, and with the town celebrating its 175th anniversary in 2016, it seems appropriate to look to the west of England to examine what has happened in Swindon over the years. The town would not exist if it were not for the GWR and Daniel Gooch who, in 1841, advised the directors of the GWR that Swindon was the best place for its workshops. The building work started immediately and was completed in 1843. Today the STEAM museum occupies parts of the old GWR workshops. At its height in the 1930s, Swindon Works employed over 12,000 people, but during the late 1950s it was in decline. BR Standard 9F 2-10-0 No. 92220 Evening Star emerged from the works in 1960 to become the last steam

locomotive built for BR, but this, and selling off part of the works in 1963, could not stop the rot. Closure eventually came in 1986. According to one list, 3727 steam and 279 diesels had been constructed there.

Reminder of the past

During the 1970s and 80s, locomotives from the Great Western Society at Didcot went to Swindon for weighing and it was possible to talk your way in. Try that with any railway works these days! Swindon’s ‘Weightable House’ was in a separate building between the works and the main line; co-operation between preservation societies and BR was very good in those days. Today, this building is a restaurant, bar and micro-brewery and a good reminder of the past. It’s worth the

walk for a pint but it is a long walk, which gives an idea of just how large the works was. Alongside it was the A shop, which is now a housing estate, but many signs of the railway’s past can be seen. Railway workers apart, many of Swindon’s residents never realised that such an important piece of industrial heritage was on their doorstep, let alone how it shaped their town, because most of it was hidden behind high brick walls. However, in recognition of its importance to railways and the town, the surviving parts of the Swindon works have been given Grade II listing. Much refurbishment has taken place to get the buildings to the standard they are in today. The GWR was in denial in respect

A general view of the STEAM museum in Swindon.

74 Heritagerailway.co.uk

4-6-0 No. 4073 Caerphilly Castle carries the ‘Cheltenham Flyer’ headboard proclaiming it to be the world’s fastest train.

Hawksworth 0-6-0PT No. 9400.

GWR numberplates.

A cameo scene of 19th-century GWR platelayers.

of recognising its heritage and only one complete original locomotive of Brunel’s broad gauge survives, and that is hardly typical. 0-4-0VBT Tiny is now at Buckfastleigh on the South Devon Railway. The 2-2-2s North Star and Lord of the Isles were set aside at Swindon works on withdrawal, but were cut up in 1906 due to lack of space. This point is also emphasised by the fact that until 1931 only small objects of GWR history were collected for display at Paddington station.

justification for its preservation, but directors of the GWR at the time were unwilling to fund it. It was the GWR’s chief mechanical engineer, Charles Collett, who asked for it to be donated to the recentlyopened LNER’s Queen Street Museum in York in 1931 (see issue 201). Fortunately, BR was rather more generous in setting aside historic engines for preservation than some of its constituents, but it wasn’t until 1962 that Swindon’s first railway museum opened in the Mechanics’ Institute in Emlyn Square. Like Clapham it was not rail connected and is now almost forgotten, with little information available today, even on the internet. The building chosen has had a somewhat chequered history throughout its life. Originally it was constructed as a lodging

house for GWR workers, opening in 1855, but it was not a success, as the workers preferred to lodge with families in the recently built nearby houses. It contained the UK’s first lending library and offered health services to GW workers. In fact, when Aneurin Bevan was setting up the National Health Service, he looked at Swindon for inspiration. In around 1868 the building was converted into a Methodist chapel and used as such until the early 1960s, when it was selected to house the Swindon Railway Museum.

Ample justification

The first of GWR’s standard gauge locomotives to be preserved was 4-4-0 No. 3440 City of Truro, in recognition of its unauthenticated 100mph dash down Wellington bank in 1904. This was ample

Sadly out of place

Latterly, this council-owned building has been vandalised and has fallen into serious disrepair. It looks sadly out of place amongst the surrounding cottages that

The original Swindon museum

Above: Dean Goods 0-6-0 No. 2516 on display in 1972. Record-breaking 4-4-0 No. 3717 City of Truro in the original Swindon museum in 1972.

Left: Hawksworth 0-6-0PT No. 9400 in the original Swindon museum in 1972. Heritagerailway.co.uk 75

The 1925-built replica of broad gauge 2-2-2 North Star, with the great man Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

make up the nearby railway village. Despite its Grade II listing, it could appear that it is being left to fall down – structurally it looks sound despite trees growing out of the stonework. It must be hoped that the council will recognise that something should be done about this, as it is surely not the way a town celebrates its heritage. The cottages have fared much better, having been transformed into a beautiful conservation area, but at one point they were going to be demolished by Swindon Council. According to a 1970 list of preserved locomotives of the British Isles that cost 15/(75p), five GWR locomotives were present: broad gauge replica 2-2-2 North Star, incorporating parts of the original engine, plus standard gauge Dean Goods 0-6-0 No. 2516, 4-6-0 No. 4003 Lode Star, 0-6-0PT

No. 9400 and City of Truro. The latter has just returned to Swindon, completing the original Seventies line-up. Admission was 1/- for adults and 6d for children (5p and 2.5p). The planners managed to shoehorn a commendable number of locomotives into a fairly small building while leaving space for the public to walk round.

Breath of fresh air

The museum closed in 2000, with a new museum, STEAM, established inside the old R shop. This is a complete breath of fresh air by comparison because it is not just locomotives that are on display; the walls are covered with headboards, name and number plates. Wootton Bassett station looks the part with bicycles, trolleys and even a person dozing while waiting for a train. On a normal day, admission charges are

£8.50 for adults and £17 for the season; children and seniors £6.80/£13 for a season. Various reductions are on offer depending upon the size of family and under threes get in free. This is a well-displayed, thought-out and successful museum with lots of atmosphere and it appeals to both the general public as well as the enthusiast. Hands-on exhibits for children and cameos of crews are nicely put together and not too fake, though they can be intimidating in my opinion, and clearly time has been spent getting the details correct. It is bright and airy, especially on a sunny day, and photography can pay off even on a busy day. Neat wire fencing has been fitted around the platform edges by the locomotives so as not to detract from the view of the wheels. Customers feel that

Above: The original Swindon works ‘Weightable House’, which is now a restaurant, bar and micro-brewery.

Left: The works traverser still serves a useful purpose at Swindon.

76 Heritagerailway.co.uk

4-6-0 No. 4003 Lode Star with Wootton Bassett station building.

Dean Goods 0-6-0 No. 2516.

4-4-0 No. 3717 City of Truro.

The one-time Mechanics’ Institute building, which was used for the first Swindon Railway Museum, but is now somewhat neglected.

4-6-0 No. 7821 Ditcheat Manor. Heritagerailway.co.uk 77

4-6-0 No. 6000 King George V, which has just gone on display at STEAM.

Above: GWR modern traction, single unit diesel railcar No. 4. 2-8-0T No. 4248 is in the process of restoration from Barry scrapyard condition but it is displayed as an example of an engine under overhaul.

they enjoy the layout and what the museum offers, but from what I saw, perhaps more could be done to entertain the children. To celebrate the 175th anniversary of Swindon town big changes have just taken place with the return of two of Swindon’s most iconic locos, 4-6-0 No. 6000 King George V and City of Truro, both owned by the NRM, with which STEAM has a close working relationship. For more information see www.swindon175.com

Left: 4-6-0 No. 7819 Hinton Manor, on display in the designer outlet, is shortly to return to the Severn Valley Railway.

Although the works is a shadow of its former self, we must be thankful for what we still have. Regeneration now needs to cross the tracks to the Mechanics’ Institute. During my visit I was fortunate to be shown round by Ken Gibbs, a very enthusiastic member of the museum’s team, and I found the PR dept very helpful. Parking is at the nearby Swindon Designer Outlet’s north car park, costing £1 for five hours, refundable on admission. Travel is considerably better and more

relaxing with the new Great Western Railway that runs on the route of the old GWR. Swindon is only an hour from Paddington, book via their website at gwr.com and try the £15 upgrade to first. The STEAM Museum is an easy 10-minute walk from the station through the railway village then under the main line through a long tunnel that thousands of workers would have used on their way to work – an atmospheric way to start your visit.

Turntable still exists

Outside, the Swindon works traverser is still in place, and looking ready to accept the next locomotive. It was used recently to get City of Truro and King George V into the museum. Just down the road the turntable still exists and the adjacent Swindon Designer Outlet takes up a considerable number of the workshop buildings. Currently, 4-6-0 No. 7819 Hinton Manor resides here, but will return to the Severn Valley Railway shortly.

78 Heritagerailway.co.uk

When exiting the tunnel giving access to STEAM from the station, look up to the right to see two easily-missed stone carvings of the locomotive Fire Fly outside the entrance to the original offices. The building now belongs to English Heritage, which does not allow access for photography, making it difficult for them to be seen.

Heritagerailway.co.uk 79

NEWS FOCUS SPECIAL

MANOR FINALE

COMMEMORATED

50 years to the day that the GW Manors ended their time on the Cambrian lines, three of the last working members of the class were reunited, as Martin Creese reports.

T

he morning of Friday, November 13, found three GWR Manor class 4-6-0s raising steam at Bewdley for a footplate experience day. The significance of this was that 50 years earlier, to the day, No. 7820 Dinmore Manor hauled the last workings of the class on the former Cambrian Lines. That day it took the down ‘Cambrian Coast Express’ from Shrewsbury and returned with the 6:05pm Aberystwyth to York mails, both

at that time still regular steam turns. It then joined fellow final week survivors Nos. 7802 Bradley Manor and 7812 Erlestoke Manor on the scrap line at Shrewsbury shed. It is worth reflecting a little on the final year of Cambrian operations for the remaining Manors. From January 1965, when many of the Cambrian Lines services were dieselised, all the remaining Manors shedded at Aberystwyth and Machynlleth were transferred to Shrewsbury,

Bradley Manor approaches Foley Park tunnel with a driver experience working on November 13. PHIL WATERFIELD

itself now under London Midland Region control and denoted 6D. This brought the shed’s allocation to eight. Sadly, Nos. 7803 Barcote Manor and 7801 Anthony Manor, which were withdrawn in April and July respectively, were eventually scrapped.

Secured their safety

Recreating memories of Machynlleth shed, No. 7820 Dinmore Manor pulls out of Bewdley past sister locomotives Nos. 7802 Bradley Manor and 7812 Erlestoke Manor at the 30742 Charters/Severn Valley photo charters joint night shoot on Friday, November 13. DUNCAN LANGTREE

September 1965 saw numbers increase with Nos. 7820 and 7821 Ditcheat Manor, which were transferred from Oxley in a move that secured their eventual safety. October 1965 saw both Nos. 7827 Lydham Manor and 7828 Odney Manor withdrawn, and in early November these were joined by Nos. 7819 Hinton Manor, 7821 and 7822 Foxcote Manor, leaving Nos. 7812, 7802 and 7820 to soldier on into the last week. All the final eight Shrewsbury Manors were sold to Woodhams Bros at Barry, from where they were secured for preservation, all now having returned to steam. The reunion for a special weekend was the idea of the Erlestoke Manor Fund with support from the Severn Valley Railway and Dinmore Manor Locomotive Limited. Movement costs were supported by the footplate experience day, which saw 44 people enjoying the three engines, as well as a series of photo charters with evening shoots and day charters run by Severn Valley Photo Charters and 30742 Charters, around a special Manor 50 gala weekend on November 14-15. The weekend turned into a Cambrian weekend with 2-6-2T No. 4566 and 0-4-2T No. 1450 in steam, whose appearance was sponsored by the aforementioned charter organisers. Of course both classes were no strangers to Cambrian line.

Race against time

No. 7812 Erlestoke Manor departs from Kidderminster with the ‘Cambrian Coast Express’ as Bradley Manor waits with the ‘SLS Special’. FRED KERR

80 Heritagerailway.co.uk

In what must have felt like a race against time, the workshops at Bridgnorth and Erlestoke Manor Fund volunteers completed the overhaul of No. 7802 Bradley Manor just a week before the event. The frames had been overhauled at Tyseley with support from EMF volunteers, with Bridgnorth completing the boiler overhaul. It had been hoped to add a fourth Manor to the event with strenuous efforts being made for No. 7819 Hinton Manor to return from Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

Swindon, where it has been on display, but, sadly, logistics precluded it. This was probably the first time such an out of season event has been run on the SVR and the endeavour was rewarded with over 1400 tickets sold on the weekend, significantly more than on a normal operating weekend. The figure does not take into account advance ticket sales, family passes and shareholders/members’ tickets, so the actual passenger numbers were higher. The event also had ordinary fares applied and an interesting timetable had been created with first trains at 9am, local workings, nonstop workings and on Sunday the dining train was made into a public train with additional carriages including the beautifully-restored art deco excursion brake No. 650. The three Manors worked the full length of the line with Nos. 4566 and 1450 on intermediate locals. There were lots of nice touches, including No. 7812 Erlestoke Manor carrying the trademark Danny Rowlands, who was Aberystwyth shedmaster in the 1960s, white smokebox and buffer embellishments, and of course the appearance of the ‘Cambrian Coast Express’ headboard. In addition, No. 4566 ran with the GWR Toplight carriages and No. 1450 on Auto trailer No. 178.

Newly-overhauled No. 7802 Bradley Manor starts the climb of Eardington bank at Hay Bridge. ANDREW SOUTHWELL

Aberystwyth shed railwaymen

A number of fitting railtour headboards also featured, with No. 7802 carrying the ‘SLS Special’, which had been carried by the engine in January 1965 on a railtour to mark the closure of the Welshpool to Whitchurch section. On the Saturday the EMF also hosted a group of former Aberystwyth shed railwaymen and Kidderminster Railway Museum had a show of Michael Clemens films of the last years of steam on the Cambrian. All of this created a rather evocative BR(W) atmosphere. Saturday was wet, but this didn’t seem to dampen the spirits. Social media reaction showed universal approval, with passengers and volunteers saying it was one of their favourite events of the year and asking for a repeat next year. There is a dedicated Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ ManorFifty and it attracted more than 30,000 views over the event itself.

No. 7820 Dinmore Manor approaches Bewdley at Orchard Crossing. MARTIN CREESE

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

Heritagerailway.co.uk 81

SCALE HERITAGE RAILWAY

Prototype HST power car to appear in OO ByRobinJones THE NationalRailwayMuseum’s prototype HighSpeedTrainpowercar,whichmade itsheritageeraoperationaldebut atthe GreatCentralRailway(Nottingham),isto bereleasedasaproprietaryOOgauge modelbyLocomotionmodels.com AttheWarleyNational Model Railway ExhibitiononNovember28/29,the modellingarmoftheLocomotion museumatShildonannouncedits intentiontoproducethemodelin associationwithRapidoTrainsaspartofits continuingplantointroducecollectable iconicmotivepowerunits fortheNational CollectioninMiniature. Themodelwillfollowonfromthe AdvancedPassengerTrain-E,ofwhich

productionmodelsweredisplayedat theshow.BrianGreenwood,chairman oftheLocomotionmanagementboard said:“Whenwe first satdownwith theteam fromRapidotodiscussthe introductionoftheAPT-E,weallagreed thatoncetheproductionoftheAPT-Ehad startedweshouldmovestraightintothe developmentoftheClass41HighSpeed DieselTrain. “Tousall sittingaround thetableitwas obviousthatoneiconictrainshould follow theotherandIampleased thatatlastwe canannouncePhase2ofourplans.” BillSchneider,Rapido’s product designer,said:“ProducingtheAPT-Efor Locomotionmodels.compresentedus withsomespecial challenges whichwe weremorethancapableofovercoming.

The prototype HST diesel power car in the Great Hall of the National Railway Museum at York in 2007 prior to its restoration to running order. ROBIN JONES AsfortheHSDT,this unitisanatural progression andwearemostdefinitely excitedabout whatwecanbuildinto whatwe knowwill be anamazingmodel’.” Class125unitshavearguablybeenthe most successful formsoftractioninthe historyofBritain’s railways,havingbeen in serviceforfourdecades,andwithnoend insight. Intheearly1970sBritishRailways decidedtoreplaceitsmain-lineexpress dieseltraction. Mass electrificationwas deemed toocostly,soanewgeneration ofhigh-speeddiesel trainshadtobe developed. ThetwoClass41prototypepower cars,Nos.41001/2weredeveloped atthe

RailwayTechnicalCentreinDerbyand appearedin1972.Afterprovingtrials ontheEasternRegion,theprototype trainwasusedonPaddingtontoBristol/ Weston-super-Mareservices. OnNovember15,2014,preservation historywasmadeattheGCR(N)whenthe surviving powercar,No.41001,headed aproductionInterCity125setalongthe GCR(N). Thefinalmake upoftheHSDTtrainpack hasasyetnotbeenfinalised,andneither hastheeventual retailpriceanddelivery date.However,allthoseinterestedinthe projectareencouraged tosubscribetothe Locomotionmodels.comNewsletterand watchoutforfurtherannouncements.

Capital heritage on modern diesels

The star exhibit at this year’s Warley National Model Railway Exhibition at the National Exhibition Centre near Birmingham was LNWR Webb Coal Tank 0-6-2T No. 1054, courtesy of the Bahamas Locomotive Society, with the cab of Jubilee No. 45596 Bahamas behind. Around 17,500 visitors attended the show which was held over November 28-29. JOHN HILLIER/BLS

More ‘flatpack’ building kits

THE developmentandintroduction of new‘flatpack’buildingkitscontinues apaceatWiltshiremanufacturer4Ground with additionstoitsnewTrackside & WaterwaysOOgauge. Therangeof pre-colouredandfinely lasercutkits,whichwasalsodisplayedat Warley,consistsoffoursubcategories: StationRoad–whichincludesshops, housesandasuperbchurch;Trackside Way–aseriesofstructuresassociated with stationbuildingstogetherwith a varietyofplatformsandplatformsections; IndustrialEstate–whichismadeupofa selectionbuildingsthatwouldbefound onatypicalindustrialandretailestate,and finallyTracksideEssentials–awholerange ofaccessories,fromstationbenchesto gardensheds;fromfive-bargatesthrough tostonewalling.

82 Heritagerailway.co.uk

ThelatestadditiontotheIndustrial Estateseries;theGreenParkretailbuilding aptlynamedTheRetailSuperstore,isideal foranymodernimagelayout,andideal toconverttoanynumber ofsimilarly constructedbuildings. Theadditionofslateandtiling sheets plusequivalent ridge tilestotheTrackside Essentials categoryallowsforthemodeller toembellishandpersonalise buildingsin theStationRoadseries. Producedfrom extrathinlaserboard,theadditionofthese slatesandtiles createda‘truetolife’effect. BoththeGreenParkRetailStorekitsells for£35andthetilingandslatingsheets from£2.50-£5. Moredetailsareavailable [email protected]

A PAIR OF Class 66 diesels which were reliveried and named to mark the 150th anniversary of London Underground have now been released as models by London Transport Museum. Celebrating GB Railfreight’s partnership with the Covent Garden museum, the two 66s with new liveries and names were dedicated to the former Transport for London commissioner, Sir Peter Hendy CBE (No. 66718), and Harry Beck (No. 66721), the designer of the iconic 1930s diagrammatic Tube map. The locomotives were unveiled during a ceremony at London Victoria on November 5, 2013 by special guests Sir Peter and Harry Beck’s biographer, Ken Garland. Although very much a modern type, both locomotives now honour achievements of London’s transport system past and present. London Transport Museum’s in-house design team created the liveries which were applied to two of GB Railfreight’s existing locomotives. The locomotives are used for freight services which support

the construction of Crossrail and the renewal of the London Underground infrastructure on the Metropolitan, District and Hammersmith & City lines.

Electrical circuit diagram

Harry Beck was an electrical engineer who designed the modern Tube map based on an electrical circuit diagram in 1931. The locomotive features elements of the original map on one side and a 2013 version of the map on the other side. Both models have been produced by Bachmann Europe and were displayed to the public for the first time at Warley National Model Railway Exhibition following on from the museum’s highly-successful London Underground S Stock models. Both models are priced at £153.95 – each may be ordered in advance from the museum by email to exclusives@ltmuseum. co.uk or online at www.ltmuseumshop.co.uk or visiting the museum shop for a form to pre-order, or telephone 020 7565 7295.

The Class 66 model which reflects London’s transport heritage past and present in Harry Beck’s diagrammatic map. LTM

Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

Heritagerailway.co.uk 83

NEWS FOCUS SPECIAL

A GREAT WESTERN

EXCURSION The restoration of historic railway coaches is often taken for granted. As the Severn Valley Railway unveils another priceless gem, Paul Appleton considers the unseen work that takes place behind the scenes.

Original letter from the divisional maintenance engineer confirming that planning consent has been received for the siting of coach No. 650 at Kerne Bridge for the use of the Gloucester Association of Boys’ Clubs, and arranging the work that would be involved. GWSVRA

agazines such as this give a vast proportion of their space over to the steam locomotive; its history, its restoration, its operation. And that is quite understandable, because after all, isn’t that what we used to go ‘trainspotting’ for? And isn’t that what the public come to see and ride behind at our heritage railways? Yet the first thing that passengers see as they set off on a journey, and possibly the one thing that leaves a lasting impression – either good or bad – isn’t necessarily the locomotive at the head of the train, or the scenery that they are passing through, but the environment in which they travel for the duration of the journey. A filthy carriage without working toilets can make a journey along even the most attractive of lines a tiresome and unpleasant experience. But given a nicely restored carriage in good working order, the experience is enhanced considerably. This is as true of the humble BR Mk.1 coach as it is a rare four-wheel coach from the 19th century, although the latter is by definition not likely to have working toilets! Mk.1 coaches are

Other railways are able to turn out preNationalisation stock, although it’s rare that a full matching set of such vehicles sees normal service on a regular basis. The Severn Valley Railway has two sets of Mk.1 coaches in regular service, but also authentic LMS, LNER and GWR vehicles made up into eight-coach formations for normal timetabled service trains, plus a dining train made up of former GWR vehicles. Since the construction of its one-third of a mile-long carriage storage facility at Kidderminster, its coach formations are rotated so that at least one set can receive maintenance and cleaning at any one time, while those sets that aren’t required for service trains can be simply parked under cover, protected from the elements. Thanks to this investment, and the efforts of organisations such as the Great Western (SVR) Association, historic vehicles thoroughly restored over a considerable amount of time can enjoy extended periods of operation before major repairs, repainting or further structural restoration is required, which in turn allows volunteer restoration groups to gradually work

M

perfectly fine and give passengers an authentic experience of how rail travel was in the 1950s and 60s, with compartment coaches especially favoured by the family, whereby they can have their own private space to enjoy the journey – private car ownership having done much to foster the desire to retain one’s own space whenever a journey is undertaken these days.

Perceived fragility

The opportunity to experience travel from an earlier period in time though is a much rarer thing. Although many of Britain’s railways do have coaches from the Big Four and pre-Grouping eras, often these are saved for special vintage train events – sometimes with a premium fare charged – or are used much less frequently because of their perceived fragility. Interestingly, railways like the West Somerset are actively collecting unrestored original Great Western Railway coaches to form an authentic 1930s train in order to offer passengers a different travel experience to its standard sets of Mk.1 coaches.

The finished article: the GW(SVR)A’s latest conquest, the long-running and highly-detailed restoration of 1940 GWR Excursion Brake No. 650. GWSVRA Inset: Official works photograph of GWR excursion brake No. 651, twin to No. 650, built at Swindon in 1940 to Diagram D130, Lot 1644. STEAM SWINDON

84 Heritagerailway.co.uk

Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

Letter to S Ridgeway esq at Paddington, confirming the siting of No. 650 at Kerne Bridge “to the satisfaction of the Secretary of the Gloucestershire Association of Boys Clubs”. When Excursion Brake No. 650 was grounded at Kerne Bridge it was lifted from its bogies. A suitable replacement pair was retrieved from the remains of this Hawksworth Brake which was set alight by vandals at the Swindon & Cricklade Railway and therefore beyond economic repair. GWSVRA

Above: The Royal Monmouthshire Engineers set about the task of extracting No. 650 from the deep cutting, to the road above, at Kerne Bridge in October 1989. GWSVRA Left: No. 650 secure at Foley Park in 1990 following recovery from Kerne Bridge. GWSVRA

their way through the railway’s reserve of previously unrestored vehicles that have been collected over the years. The latest vehicle to return to revenue earning service is former GWR Excursion Brake Third No. 650, which it has taken more than 25 years to restore to operational condition. Rededicated at Bewdley on October 11, the team of volunteers which has put many hours of hard graft and skilful renovation into it not only can take great pride in the realisation of its latest long-term restoration project, but can rest in the safe knowledge that efforts have not been wasted in any way, because No. 650 should serve the railway well for many years before any serious remedial work is needed, with the coach kept under cover when not in use.

Dedicated team

But restoring these historic vehicles is no easy task and requires great commitment from a dedicated team – in this case members of the Great Western (SVR) Association, an organisation set up for the purpose of acquiring and restoring ex-GWR rolling stock for use on the Severn Valley Railway. Its previous restoration success was Collett Nondescript Saloon No. 9103, which entered traffic on the SVR in 2013 (and, incidentally, won the HRA Coach of the Year Award in 2015), with efforts concentrating on No. 650 thereafter, although work on the vehicle had already got underway many years before. Members have specific skill sets and so once structural work on a vehicle has been largely completed, it moves on to a different team to fit out the inside, then perhaps another to carry out the external painting and lettering, while the final part of the process is usually transferring the restored body to appropriate bogies and running gear that have been overhauled, in this case, at Kidderminster Carriage Works. No. 650 dates from 1940, when the last two of 12 Open Brake Thirds were built, as diagram D130, Lot 1644 at Swindon Works. They were

built for excursion traffic following a decision by the GWR to build sets of coaches specifically for the growing excursion and private hire market, especially for use on seaside holiday traffic, although the onset of the Second World War meant by the time No. 650 entered traffic it was likely to have seen more general usage. The first excursion coaches were built in 1935 and over a six year period the GWR produced 12 lots comprising 91 vehicles, with trains usually made up into sets consisting of eight Open Thirds, two Brake Thirds and a Kitchen Car, with five sets in service at any time, each coded VT1 to VT5 (Vestibule Trains). Although other companies had already used open stock, these were the first excursion open stock used by the GWR. Semi partitions were used to minimise the spread of noise and every seat had a table. The GWR advertised a hot meal service available to every passenger, but in practice staff found it difficult to distribute food along the length of the train and as a result kitchen cars weren’t always included. The coaches were modern for their time, with art deco interior trim a stand-out feature. Straight lines and right angles predominated, with light birchwood panels with mahogany inlays and light fittings concealed by opaque square light shades. Upholstery was a new fan motif pattern which added to the modernity of the styling. Large windows featured wind-down Beclawat windows that were popular on the continent, but didn’t prove so on the GWR, and were soon replaced with a new design featuring sliding ventilators. The GWR must have been expecting very large amounts of luggage because the initial brake vehicles had enormous luggage vans that were just over 33ft long, leaving room for the guard’s compartment and just two bays of seats for up to 16 people. The exit doors were at the end of the vehicle next to the toilets, but none in the centre of the coach next to the guard’s compartment. This arrangement gradually changed so that the luggage space was reduced to just over 20ft which allowed four bays of seats that could now

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

seat 32 people, and by the time No. 650 was built, a further bay of seating was provided and the luggage space reduced accordingly, with a second set of exit doors added between the saloon and the guard’s compartment. Also, by this time, the windows were fitted with sliding vents from new. Not a great deal is known about the coach during its working life, other than that it was based in a Cardiff excursion set with No. 651, but upon withdrawal in 1965 it found its way to Kerne Bridge station where it was used as accommodation for the Gloucester Boys’ Club, initially as a canteen, with the dormitory accommodation in the old station building. However, following an overnight attack by vandals who wrecked the inside using axes, the arrangement was switched and the grounded coach body on the platform was used instead as accommodation for the boys. The double doors to the luggage space were removed and plated over with these and items such as luggage racks and light fittings stored. The saloon area was completely gutted and the toilet area reconfigured with additional sink basins added.

Secured for £250

It was in this condition the coach came to the attention of association members David Rouse and, subsequently, Colin Jenkins. They set about enquiring whether the coach might be available for purchase. Although these initial enquiries came to nothing as the boys club had no plans to dispose of it, a call came out of the blue in July 1988 asking if it was still required. As a consequence it was secured for £250... but things were about to become much more complex in the association’s quest to save this last remaining excursion Brake Third – although three of the Open Thirds have also been preserved; Nos 1285 and 1295 at the South Devon Railway and No. 1289 at Didcot. With Kerne Bridge station at the foot of a steep embankment, extraction of the coach body became something of a challenge, a challenge that was taken on as a training exercise by

Heritagerailway.co.uk 85

the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (RMRE). One weekend in October 1989, after several days of heavy rain and violent storms, the RMRE managed to safely hoist the 1940 coach body up the face of the embankment and position it alongside the road at the top, ready for it to be loaded onto a hastily procured low loader on the Sunday morning after a failed (and fraught) attempt under floodlights during the night – the road having to be closed to traffic during the process. The SVR wasn’t able to offer space for the vehicle, which had lost its underframe gear and bogies when it was transferred from track to the platform at Kerne Bridge in August 1965, so a site was found adjacent to the sugar beet factory at Foley Park, following negotiation with the British Sugar Corporation, allowing No. 650 to be stood on sleepers on a plot of land right at the side of the fence next to the SVR. With the coach now secured, attention turned to preventing further deterioration. The saloon end of No. 650 had been underneath trees at Kerne Bridge and excess moisture had caused a considerable amount of rot in the timber frame. The mild steel panels were removed to reveal the extent of the damage and a huge sheet secured over the end to keep the worst of the weather at bay. It was found that the upright timbers were actually in good condition and so five 15ft lengths of new timber were sourced and shaped to form replacement bottom, top and end rails in the C&W workshop at Bewdley. Timber beams were passed through the window apertures and supported on acro jacks so that the uprights could be separated from the bottom rails, the rotten timber removed and replaced with the new material until the framework was sound, all joinery work being carried out in difficult conditions by hand.

A surprising amount of the original timber frame was in good condition, especially the uprights, but much of the bottom, top and end horizontal rails needed replacing and were formed from 15ft lengths of new timber in the C&W workshops at Bewdley. GWSVRA

Where to begin? With the outside of the vehicle now secure, work starts on the inside. GWSVRA

86 Heritagerailway.co.uk

The GW(SVR)A commissioned Bewdley C&W to carry out the body repairs to No. 650, including structural repairs to the framework and external panelling, to bring the coach to watertight condition. GWSVRA Right: Work underway on No. 650’s underframe in the restoration workshop at Bewdley. GWSVRA Left: The interior of No. 650 during early stages of the fitting out by GW(SVR)A members. Careful attention is being given to the intricate wood inlays to get the correct GWR results! GWSVRA

Suitable set of bogies

The toilet partition walls were also refitted and the floor in the toilets and vestibule end replaced, the coach end reclad and most of the side panels temporarily attached to keep out the weather. At about the same time, a suitable set of bogies became available at a scrapyard in Bristol. These had belonged to a Hawksworth Brake Third that was torched by vandals at the Swindon & Cricklade Railway and deemed beyond economic repair and therefore its remains scrapped. These were subsequently moved to Kidderminster where they were restored for eventual use under No. 650. In 2004 the sugar beet factory closed and the coach body needed to be moved, so steps were taken to make sure it was sound enough for such a move without undoing the work done so far. A crane was organised so that it could be transferred by road to Kidderminster, whereupon it was lowered onto accommodation bogies for the short journey to be stored in the yard there. The buffer springs and brackets, buffers and drawgear were all fitted so that the coach could be moved safely, and the sole bars reinforced. The truss rods and queen posts were shaped and welded into position and that was as far as things could go for the time being, with the carriage shunted to the end of a siding out of reach for ongoing work. Then, in December 2010, the GW(SVR)A commissioned Bewdley C&W Dept to complete the structural body repairs, fit exterior panelling, new glass and bring No. 650 to a watertight condition. The carriage was released from Kidderminster yard and moved along the line to Bewdley for the work to take place. This inevitably drained the association’s coffers and so an appeal was launched to raise funds to

Nearing completion: the interior of No. 650 with the newly upholstered seats, new linoleum floor, mirrors, lamps and luggage racks, all to the correct GWR pattern. GWSVRA

refurbish the interior of the vehicle. Meanwhile members continued to gather and make components, including patterns being made for luggage rack brackets and light fittings. New moulds were manufactured at considerable expense to have replicas of the distinctive lightshades produced. The association already had a number of original pattern excursion seats that it had acquired from Didcot, along with suitable interior doors and had purchased sufficient of the correct pattern upholstery to complete a full set of seats. However, there was still much work to be done, including acquiring the materials to replicate the internal wooden panels which had long since disappeared, lay new linoleum, fabricate 10 new tables and recreate the remainder of the 20 seats. The ever resourceful GW(SVR)A had successfully commissioned the production of a batch of GWR pattern toilet pans, used to replace damaged or missing pans in the running sets and providing spares for coaches undergoing restoration. A similar plan was devised for GWR corner washbasins, but Armitage Shanks, which had offered to manufacture the moulds, suddenly withdrew the offer, leaving carriage restorers at the SVR frustrated for a number of years, until Ceramic Designs UK Ltd offered to undertake the work. However, the cost for producing the moulds to the original design and a minimum run of 50 basins cost £11,000. This alone underlines both the difficulty in sourcing materials in order to carry out authentic detailed restorations, and the incredible cost in order to do the job properly.

With the structural work completed by the carriage and wagon department at Bewdley in January 2012, it was the turn of GW(SVR)A volunteers to start work in earnest on fitting out the interior of the vehicle. The coach had so far been painted with brown sides, grey roof and black ends to protect it while it was outside.

Floor first

The first job was to complete the new floor throughout the coach, replacing any broken cross-members and replacing the gusset plates, strengthening the main stringers to the cross-members. Work then focused on stripping out the luggage van and rebuilding the cupboard in the guard’s compartment. Holes were drilled in the undercarriage for various fittings. The vacuum piping was reinstated and the electrics all fitted out, followed by all the inlaid panels being made, fitted and varnished, plus new ceiling panels fitted and finished in traditional white to accentuate the lighting. The ceiling lights were overhauled, wired and screwed into place. The mahogany window sills and framing were all machined, routed and mitred to fit, before being varnished and secured into position. Art deco globes were then fitted and the luggage racks strung and installed. On the outside, two of the association’s stock of original GWR corridor connections were brought out of store, de-rusted and rebuilt with weld where required, before stripping and painting. A new water tank for the toilets was also made and installed. All this work was Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

The special train, hauled by Churchyard small Prairie No. 4566, at Highley during the special run on October 11, with 4566 displaying an appropriate GWR-style train reporting number. GWSVRA Inset above: Doing what it was built for again: passengers enjoy the inaugural ‘excursion’ aboard No. 650 as it takes members and supporters on a richly deserved return trip from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth on Sunday October 11. GWSVRA Right: Official leaflet for the special No. 650 rededication day train on October 11.

carried out in the cattle dock at Bewdley and drew a great deal of interest from the public. By 2014, work had reached an advanced stage with the toilets installed and made operational and a pattern for new linoleum, based on the original check design, produced so that a replica supply could be ordered from a specialist manufacturer, Forbo in Holland. The seat frames were all repaired and the first of the replica tables completed and fitted. No effort was spared in attention to detail, with even replica GWR style paper hand towel holders made and fitted into the toilet compartments (there are two at the saloon end). By early this year the new lino flooring was fitted – incorporating 242 individual lino tiles – and the remaining tables installed, along with the replica art deco square lamp shades and two electric fans, made from new parts copied from two antique desk fans (sourced from the US after a great deal of research) and fitted above the door frames at each end of the saloon. The seats had their old upholstery removed and were then re-covered with the new art deco material at SB Upholstery in Hartlebury before being refitted into their frames in the saloon. The luggage van was repainted, sliding doors grained and refitted and finishing touches made to the guard’s compartment, including a working heater. New curtains were made and fitted to the saloon windows, along with gold braid tie backs and art deco holders. The high standard

of presentation was finished off with the installation of the etched glass GWR roundel in the central saloon partition and four replica mirrors at each end, which help create the illusion of a much longer saloon area. Once moved into the paintshop at Bewdley, No. 650 was given its 1940s chocolate and cream livery, with lining, lettering and numerals applied, followed by several coats of varnish to protect the paintwork and transfers. The rain gutters were also fitted at this point, along with the droplight windows in the doors and their leather straps.

Rededication at Bewdley

With the internal fitting out complete and the varnish on the outside dry, the last remaining tasks included lifting the coach onto the restored Hawksworth bogies, fitting of the vacuum cylinders, dynamo and batteries. This work was carried out at Kidderminster during the late summer, allowing the finished excursion coach to be rolled out in time for its rededication at Bewdley on Sunday, October 11.

120 guests, including those who have played a part in No. 650’s restoration or in raising funds for the work to be done, rode in the carriage on a return trip to Bridgnorth before the ceremony took place, at which Colin Jenkins, over on a visit from his home in South Africa, led the toast to the newly restored Excursion Brake Third, having been instrumental in saving it, and the bogies from the Bristol scrapyard, and having led much of the early restoration work. Members and guests enjoyed champagne and birthday cakes as No. 650 was launched into SVR traffic in style, with those present invited to inspect progress on the GW(SVR)A’s latest project, the restoration of coach No. 6045, a bow-ended corridor composite built in 1928. So the long process begins over again, as the band of restorers sets to on another project to provide the SVR with another GWR vehicle that will provide useful service and give passengers a taste of what travel was like in the 1940s, for what should be many years to come. ■ I am grateful to Chris Haynes and members of the GW(SVR)A for their assistance in compiling this article.

➜ An appeal has been launched to help fund the restoration of No. 6045. Go to www.gw-svr-a.org.uk for details of how you can help and to find out more about the work of the GW(SVR)A ➜ The Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust supports the restoration of historic vehicles on the SVR through its Carriage Restoration programme, including the ongoing maintenance and care of up to 70 historic carriages. For details of how to support the charity, please go to www.svrtrust.org.uk

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

Heritagerailway.co.uk 87

PLATFORM

READERS’ LETTERS AT THE HEART OF THE HERITAGE RAILWAY SCENE

TRACK TALK ➜ Dismay at buyer’s premium

rises at auction

HERITAGE Railway issue 209 contained an interesting exclusive by Geoff Courtney on railwayana auction premium rises from Great Central Railwayana – from 10% + VAT to 15% + VAT, which to the buyer means 12% to 18%, a rise of 50%; they also make a charge to the seller. Railwayana.net is also charging 18% now for buyers. Surely in these days of low inflation and low pay rises how can anyone justify a 50% increase in commission to the buyer? GCR states“that prices are fairly static”. I do not agree – I have been watching prices over the last 10 years and they have increased dramatically. I noticed none of the other auction sites are saying prices have become static. Nigel Maddock from Solent auctions stated in the same magazine:“Prices are very pleasing. I think the railwayana business is in a very buoyant period realising good prices.” GCR also say that“overheads have increased”. That is correct, but why do they not make cutbacks like everyone else has to now? Why not charge a small fee for catalogues as the majority of people can access the catalogue on the internet free? GCR should realise some people will not bid when they have 18% commission to pay. PercyMarker,email GEOFF Courtney, railwayana writer for Heritage Railway, replies: “As an active railwayana collector, I understand where Percy is coming from, and I am sure many collectors would sympathise with his opinion. Any increase in buyer’s premium is bound to attract criticism, and Great Central Railwayana is professional enough to expect that. Sadly, though, even a 15% (+ VAT) premium is not exceptional in the world of auctions, where 20% or even more is commonplace. Indeed, in my railwayana column in this issue, I report on the sale of railway posters that were subject to a premium of 25% (+ VAT). “I do, though, disagree with Percy when he says that prices over the last 10 years have increased dramatically. It is my experience that they have fallen in that period, and I can do no better than illustrate that with my own personal experience. About 10 years ago I bought at the then market price an LNER A1 Pacific nameplate with its worksplate, and in the decade since then I would estimate its value has dropped by about 30%. Similarly an LMS Jubilee nameplate, which I bought at about the same time. “Railwayana is a niche market, and as such we in the movement are fortunate to have so many specialist auction houses offering a considerable and attractive variety of memorabilia. I believe an increase in the buyer’s premium is a price worth paying if it ensures that the variety we currently enjoy is able to continue.”

88 Heritagerailway.co.uk

STAR LETTER

Loco designers were never chimpanzees! ON page 20 of issue 208 the statement is made that, at 85,652lb, the tractive effort of Bulgarian 2-12-4T No. 46.03 is more than twice that of a Princess Coronation and an A4 combined. This is incorrect as the combined TE of the two British locomotives is 75,455lb.Your statement should not have included the words“twice that of”to be correct. However, it’s still pretty impressive though! Also, in response to Dick Hayball’s comments (Platform, issue 207) regarding my comparison between so-called artworks and steam locomotives, I resent his inference that I am a Philistine and know nothing about classical art, since he knows nothing about me other than my personal opinion that, as I clearly stated, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Many great locomotive engineers went to a lot of effort to ensure that their products were not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing to the eye. A classic example of when circumstances rendered this impractical might be the Bullied Q1 locomotives (although I, personally

Ugly duckling? Wartime austerity dictated the design of Bulleid’s Q1 0-6-0, the sole survivor, No. C1, seen on display in the National Railway Museum at York. ROBIN JONES always found their minimalist styling quite pleasing). However, in my opinion (no one else’s) there have been many people throughout history who have used art as an excuse to con people. As a retired professional photographer, I have, as the profession demanded, always endeavoured to present moments of (someone’s) history clearly and accurately and so abstract ‘art’has never appealed to me much. Having personally known a few

artists over the years, I can assure Mr Hayball that, in many cases, some of them have produced‘rubbish’simply to make money from people who are prepared to pay for it. In an effort to prove the point that some people will pay exorbitant amounts of money for such material, a man once walked into theTate Gallery in London with a‘modern art’painting which was, somewhat like the work of the late Australian artist, Pro Hart, just a lot of paint daubed onto a canvas and asked the art experts’opinion. After making lots of comments like:“Aaaah! The boldness of the brushwork is most impressive”, and“the subtle use of colour is quite remarkable”the ‘experts’asked if it was the work of the man who was presenting it and were told it was not but, if they wanted to, he could introduce the artist who had never been exhibited before. When told that they would love to meet this ‘glittering new talent’he went outside and returned with a chimpanzee! I don’t know of any locomotive designers who tried to con anyone in such a way. David R Holt, Queensland, Australia.

Caring for Abergele disaster memorial MAY I say how pleased I was to see and read Alan Weaver’s article on the last remaining semaphore signals on the North Wales Coast Line. It is a line I have been observing and photographing for the best part of the last 40 years. With regard to the mention of the Abergele rail disaster, this brought to mind the sighting (from a passing train) of a lineside memorial at the very place where the accident occurred. At first, perhaps naively, I took this to be a pet’s memorial, perhaps a cat or a dog and placed there by a caravan owner from the nearby caravan site. But sometime later, on reading about the incident, I came to realise that it was far more than that. By chance our family became owners of a static caravan on the said same site in the early 1980s – the Beach Site, near to Llanddulas, just a stone’s throw from Abergele – and I took it upon myself to track down this memorial. The site where I had seen it from the railway had become very overgrown, but after a little searching, I did come across it under thick undergrowth.The memorial itself is a simple Celtic Cross made from Welsh slate with simply a date engraved on it – August 20, 1868 – no other information.

The Abergele rail disaster memorial, which remembers the day when 33 people died when The LNWR’s ‘Irish Mail’ from Euston to Holyhead collided with a pick-up goods train with 43 wagons. STEPHEN RODDICK/CREATIVE COMMONS STEPHEN RODDICK CC I spent the next 20 years keeping the grass around it cut and cutting back the intrusive undergrowth, so that it could be clearly seen again from a passing train. However, the family relinquished ownership of the caravan in 2001, and since that date much‘upgrading’ on the site has taken place making it impossible to reach the memorial, and sadly it is disappearing very quickly from view once more. It would be nice to think that Network Rail or some private individual could

once again restore it to public view: I do hope so. In the meantime, I recommend that any reader who is in the Abergele area, visit the Churchyard mentioned by Alan Weaver, and see for themselves the wonderful memorial there under which lie the remains of 33 victims of that horrific day in the railway’s history. Plus, don’t forget to photograph the remaining semaphores in and around Abergele station, because, once they’ve gone, they’ve gone! Colin Unwin, Stoke-on-Trent.

Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

Heritagerailway.co.uk 89

OFF THE SHELF

Disconnected:

Broken Links in Britain’s Rail Policy By Chris Austin & Richard Faulkner (hardback, Ian Allan, 160pp, £25, 978 0 86093 664 0)

POSSIBLY thegreatesttopicofdebatein therailwaysectoroverthepast half-centuryisthequestionofwhereitall wentwrongaftertheBeeching closures andsubsequentrationalisations. Shouldthis orthatlineorcitycentre stationhavebeensaved?Whatcould bereopened?Howmuchisthelackof capacityontoday’s blossomingnetwork duetoshortsighteddecisionsmade by politiciansintheSixties,Seventiesand Eighties?Nearertoourhearts–which heritagerailwayscouldprovideapublic service?Thereisalengthylistofthem. Thisis thesecondvolumeby ChrisAustin,aboardmemberof theAssociationof CommunityRail

LastDaysofSteam: Northern&Eastern

ByTony Butcher (hardback, Halsgrove, 144pp, £19.99, ISB N 978 0 85704 273 6). NO,thenorthandeast isnot allabout FlyingScotsman,aswemay cometo believeinthenextyear.The world’s most famous steam locomotive may

PartnershipsandLordFaulkner, presidentoftheHeritageRailway Association. Inittheypiercetheveneerofthe political schemingthatpreventedthe publicfromknowingthetrue extentof closuresthatwereplanneduntilitwas fartoolateforordinarypeopletodo anythingabout them. Covered in detail for the first time is the 1972 Rail Policy Review, the Blue Paper, which would have pruned what was left of the network at 11,700 miles to just 6700, and the story of the leak to the SundayTimes that mercifully scuppered such plans.Thankfully, the book records Britain also escaped the be an icon of the steam era, but there was much, much more on its stomping ground, as this magnificent book of pictures from one of Britain’s top lineside photographers

equally serve plans contained in the later Serpell Report. Exhaustive in its national coverage, separate chapters deal with the leaks, the long main lines like Stratford-upon-Avon to Cheltenham, the‘Withered Arm’west of Exeter and the Great Central, lost link lines like Lewes-Uckfield and the Somerset & Dorset, closures that led to longer journeys, such as Peterborough to Grimsby and Carlisle to Stranraer, lost freight lines like March to Spalding, seaside towns that lost their branches, like Clevedon, Hunstanton and Ventnor, closed city commuter lines and towns left without a rail service. Tellingly,theextensiveappendicesbegin of the past century reveals. Packedfrom starttofinishwithtopqualitycolourand blackandwhitepicturesofsteamfrom themid-fiftiesonwards,thisalbum,which makes themostof its squareformat,also coversafairsliceoftheMidlandsand Scotlandaswell,coveringnumerous LMSandLNERclassesthatsurvived nationalisationandfortheverylucky few,thescrapyard.One fortheChristmas presentlist. MAGNIFICENT MEMORIES

DieselandElectric LocomotivesforScrap ByAshleyButlin(hardback,IanAllan, 240pp,£35,ISBN9780860936701). FROM ourfirstissue, HeritageRailway has alwayslookedfor somethingdifferent ineachissue–after all,Britain’s railways areamongstthe mostintensely coveredsubjectson theplanet. Thisvolumecertainlyfitsthatbill.Rather thanportrayinglocomotiveclassesin their finestgloryonthemain line,thisone majors ontheirturnatthescrapyard. Uniquely,thisheftyA4-sizeddefinitive referenceworkisadetailedsurvey ofalldieselandelectriclocomotives (notmultiple units) scrapped from nationalisationuptothepresentday. Itisaquartofessentialfactspacked intoapintpointandwell-illustrated throughout,thehighqualitypictures oddlyhavingsomethingofanegative beautyoftheirown. Forthosesaddenedattheloss ofso manylocomotives,includingclasses renderedextinct,fretnot!Thereis alsoasectionlistingallofthemodern tractionlocomotivesthatmadeitinto preservation. BEAUTY IN SADNESS

90 Heritagerailway.co.uk

EDITOR’S CHOICE withalistoflinesthatwouldbevaluable today. Thefinalchapterhasamorepositive note,that ofplanning forthefuture,one inwhich wecanhopefullylearnfromthe glaringerrorsofthepast. Itishighlyreadable,filledwith controversythatwillfindmuch sympatheticsupportfromourreaders, andencapsulatesanendlesssubjectfor debate.Wellillustratedthroughouttoo. REFRESHING HISTORICAL INSIGHT

RailwayArtandTimesPast 2016calendars

ByMalcolmRootandotherartists (MalcolmRoot,38ChurchillAvenue, HalsteadCO92BE(telephone01787 475402,£11plus£2.50p&pper calendar.ChequespayabletoMRoot. WINTER canbean unfriendly time of theyear, writesGeoff Courtney, althoughtheprospectofChristmas does atleast provideashininglightinwhatcan beadour,dark,drearyanddankseason. However,iflikemeyourenjoyment ofhistoricaltransportincludesnotonly steamlocomotivesbutclassictractionand roadvehiclesofallshapesandsizes,then thereisanotherbrightnesstolookforward to–thearrivalofMalcolmRoot’s Railway Artcalendaranditsassociate,TimesPast, whichalsoincludessomeofhispaintings. RailwayArtcomprisesof12paintings by Malcolm,aFellowoftheGuildofRailway Artists.ItstartswithLNERB17No.61652 Darlington atShepreth,andreaches mid-yearthroughLMSPrincess CoronationNo.6233Duchessof SutherlandontheCamdenshedturntable, theWesternRegionblue‘BristolPullman’ westofBath,GWR SaintclassNo.2975 LordPalmeramongthegrimeof Old Oak Commondepot, ablue-liveriedSRNo. 35008 OrientLine hauling‘TheDevonBelle’ upHonitonBank,andLMS 8FNo.48448 climbingtoCopyPit. JulydepictstwoBritanniasatLiverpool Street,Nos.70036Boadicea on‘The EastAnglian’and70037Hereward the Wake,andthenonwardtotheendof theyearviaSRNo.34050RoyalObserver CorpsnearParkstone,aClass31dieselat RaynestationinEssex,SRLordNelson No.855RobertBlake betweenDoverand Folkestone,anotherBritannia,No.70007 Coeur-de-Lion,atBishopsStortfordwitha

Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

J150-6-0simmeringinthebackground, andfinallyLMS-designed/BR-built2MT mogulNo.46467leavingHalsteadonthe ColneValleyline. Theverylastisdoubtlessanodto Malcolm’s past ashehaslivedinHalstead allhislife,buthey,anartistisperfectly entitled tousehistalentwith apaintbrush toindulgeinpersonalnostalgia. TimesPastcomprisesoftwoof Malcolm’s RailwayArtpaintings–Nos. 2975 LordPalmer and35008OrientLine –plusfourothers.ThesedepictanAA deHavillandRapidebiplaneusedinthe early-1960s todetecttrafficbottlenecks andvehiclestrapped insnow,1909-built Burrellshowman’s engineGladiator ata fair,DavidMacBrayneferryKingGeorgeV atObanwith formerCaledonianRailway 2P0-4-4TNo. 55217 besideonthe quaysideline,andatrioofLondonGeneral Omnibus CoB-Typebuses,introducedin 1910, crossingWestminsterBridge. Otherworkbyartistsincluding Robin Pinnock andStevenBinks,includes Foden, Atkinson andVulcanlorries,a classicBedfordOBcoach,cars,vans,trams, trolleybuses,andaDoeTripleDtwin enginetractordatingfromthe1950s. ATRANSPORT OF DELIGHT

IvoPetersSomerset& DorsetCalendar2016 THIS calendarfeatures12black& whiteviewsoftheSomerset&Dorset routebywell-known photographer IvoPeters, plus picturesofS&D footplatemen. Itisavailablefrom theSomerset&Dorset RailwayHeritageTrust, MidsomerNorton station,SilverStreet,MidsomerNorton, RadstockBA3 2EY,for£7eachor twofor £8.95,includingp&p. BRILLIANT FOR S&D 50YEAR

TalyllynRailway2016 CalendarandChristmas cards THIS landscape formatA4-sizecalendar features12colourviewsoftherailway showingallsixsteam locomotivesin recent years, aswellasa montageof historicpictures ofthe150th anniversaryof

thearrivalofNo.2Dolgoch.Themonths anddaysoftheweekarebilingual. Thecalendarisavailablefor£6.50from theTalyllyn Railway,Wharfstation,Tywyn, GwyneddLL369EY.Therearealsotwo Christmas cards,availableinpacksoffive at£3.50perpack.Postageandpackingis £2.40perorder. REMEMBERING WHERE IT STARTED

MainlineSteamMiscellany (DVDandBlu-Ray,www. LinesideSouthEast.com,95minutes, £13.99UKpostfree) THIS programme showsavarietyofmain linesteamengines inactionatlocations acrossthecountry duringthe2009-15 period. Thefootageisgood quality,filmed onHDvideoandsound recordingequipment.Itwillappeal toall followersof themainline steamscene. SUPERB STEAM BONANZA

London’sUnderground ByJohnGlover(hardback,IanAllan, 192PP,£25,ISBN9780711038264) INTEREST onthefinestsubwaysystem intheworldhasneverbeen higher,and muchcreditforthat mustgotothe award-winning series ofsteamtripsoverthe pastfewyears,runin conjunctionwiththe LondonTransport Museum. Nowinits12th edition,muchhaschanged ontheTube sincethelasteditionappearedin2010. Thisupdatedvolumeincludes thenew SStockunits thathaveenteredservice, theintroductionofairconditioning(our editor,forone,hasbeenknowntogetoff andwalkratherthansufferstiflingpacked carriagesinmid-summer)andthevast amountofplanninginthebuild uptothe 2012LondonOlympics. Updatedwithmanynewphotographs, thisisprobablythebestreferenceguide tothemodernUndergroundthatyou canbuy. INDISPENSIBLE REFERENCE WORK

Even greater heights for our Facebook page! AS we closed for press, the number of followers on our facebook.com/ heritagerailway page was soaring towards the 173,000 mark. That’s far more than any other railway enthusiast site that we know about, anywhere in the world – and we are growing rapidly by the day!

In each of several recent weeks, we have added more likes to our pages than some of our competitors have over many years. Let us see your pictures, hear your news and tell the world about your upcoming events. Like us today!

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

Heritagerailway.co.uk 91

LMS Fairburn 2-6-4T No. 42073 heads a photo charter on the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway. DEREK PHILLIPS

BRIAN SHARPE’S FULL LISTING OF OPERATIONAL LINES AND MUSEUM VENUES SOUTH EAST Amberley Museum & Heritage Centre

Narrow gauge, ¼ mile, Arundel, West Sussex. Tel: 01798 831370. Running: Dec 19, 20.

Bluebell Railway

Standard gauge, 11 miles, footplate experience, wine and dine, Sheffield Park, East Sussex TN22 2QL. Tel: 01825 720800. Engines: 263, 178, B473, 323, 592, 847, 30541, 73082. Running: Dec 19, 20, 22-24, 26 - Jan 3.

East Kent Railway

Standard gauge, two miles, Shepherdswell, Dover. Tel: 01304 832042. Running: Dec 19, 20, 22-24.

Eastleigh Lakeside Railway

Narrow gauge, 1¼ miles, footplate experience. Running: W/Es + sch hols. Santa: Dec 19, 20.

Hastings Miniature Railway

Narrow gauge, 600 yards, Rock-a-Nore Road, Hastings, East Sussex. Running: W/Es + sch hols.

Hayling Seaside Railway

Narrow gauge, one mile, Hayling Island, Hants. Running: W/Es, Weds + sch hols.

Isle of Wight Steam Railway Standard gauge, five miles, Havenstreet, Isle of Wight. Tel: 01983 882204. Engines: 8, 11, 24, 41298. Running: Dec 19-24, 26, Jan 1.

Kempton Steam Railway Narrow gauge, ½ mile, Hanworth. Tel: 01932 765328. Running: March.

Kent & East Sussex Railway

Standard gauge, 10½ miles, footplate experience, wine and dine, Tenterden, Kent. Tel: 01580 765155. Engines: 32670, 32678. Running: Dec 19-24, Jan 1.

Lavender Line

Dartmoor Railway

Standard gauge, one mile, footplate experience, wine and dine, Isfield, East Sussex. Tel: 01825 750515. Running: Dec 19-23.

Standard gauge, seven miles, Okehampton, Devon. Tel: 01837 55164. Running: Dec 15-23, 27, 28.

Standard gauge, 10 miles, footplate experience, wine and dine, Alresford, Hants SO24 9JG. Tel: 01962 733810. Engines: 34007, 925, 45379, 92212. Running: Dec 19-24, 26 - Jan 3.

Standard gauge, seven miles, wine and dine, Paignton, Devon. Tel: 01803 555872. Engines: 7827, 5239, 4277. Running: Dec 27-31. Santa: Dec 19-24.

Mid Hants Railway

Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway

Narrow gauge, 13½ miles, footplate experience, New Romney, Kent. Tel: 01797 362353. Running: Dec 19-24, 29 - Jan 1.

Royal Victoria Railway

Narrow gauge, one mile, Netley, Southampton. Tel: 02380 456246. Running: W/Es + sch hols. Santa: Dec 19, 20.

Sittingbourne & Kemsley Railway

Narrow gauge, 1¾ miles, Sittingbourne, Kent. Tel: 01795 424899. Running: Dec 19-21.

Spa Valley Railway

Standard gauge, five miles, footplate experience, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Tel: 01892 537715. Running: Dec 19-24, 26-28, 31- Jan 3.

SOUTH WEST Avon Valley Railway

Standard gauge, three miles, footplate experience, wine and dine, Bitton, Bristol. Tel: 0117 932 7296. Engine: L150. Running: Dec 19, 20, 23, 24, 26-28, Jan 1.

Bodmin & Wenford Railway Standard gauge, 6½ miles, footplate experience, wine and dine, Bodmin, Cornwall. Tel: 01208 73666. Engines: 6435, 4247, 4612, 30587, 5619, 6412. Running: Dec 19-24, 27, 28, 30 - Jan 1.

Dartmouth Steam Railway

Devon Railway Centre

Narrow gauge, ½ mile, Bickleigh, Devon. Tel: 01884 855671. Running: 2016.

East Somerset Railway

Standard gauge, two miles, Cranmore, Somerset. Tel: 01749 880417. Engine: 46447. Running: Dec 5 19, 20, 22-24.

Helston Railway

Standard gauge, Helston, Cornwall. Tel: 07875 481380. Running: Dec 20-23.

Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Narrow gauge, one mile, Woody Bay, north Devon. Tel: 01598 763487. Running: Dec 19-24, 26 - Jan 1.

Moors Valley Railway

Engines: 30053, 31806, 34070, 80104. Running: Dec 19-24, 26 - Jan 3. Jan W/Es.

Swindon & Cricklade Railway Standard gauge, three miles, footplate experience, Blunsdon, Wiltshire. Tel: 01793 771615. Running: Dec 19, 20.

West Somerset Railway

Standard gauge, 20 miles, footplate experience, wine and dine, Minehead, Somerset TA24 5BG. Tel: 01643 704996. Engines: 7828, 6960, 5541, 4936. Running: Dec 19, 20, 22-24, 27 - Jan 1.

EAST ANGLIA Bressingham Steam Museum Narrow gauge, one mile, Diss, Norfolk. Tel: 01379 686900. Running: Dec 19, 20, 22-24.

Bure Valley Railway

Narrow gauge, nine miles, footplate experience, Aylsham, Norfolk. Tel: 01263 733858. Running: Dec 18-24, 27 - Jan 3.

Colne Valley Railway

Narrow gauge, one mile, Ringwood, Hants. Tel: 01425 471415. Running: Dec 20.

Standard gauge, one mile, footplate experience, wine and dine. Castle Hedingham, Essex. Tel: 01787 461174. Running: Dec 19, 20, 22.

Standard gauge, 1½ miles, Marsh Mills, Plymouth. Running: Dec 19, 20.

Standard gauge, ¼ mile, Wakes Colne, Essex. Tel: 01206 242524. Open: W/Es. Running: Dec 20.

Narrow gauge, three miles, Harbour Road, Seaton, Devon. 01297 20375. Running: Dec 18-24, 27, Jan 1.

South Devon Railway

Standard gauge, one mile, near Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex. Tel: 01621 784898. Running: Dec 19, 20, 24.

Swanage Railway

Standard gauge, 11½ miles, footplate experience, Dereham, Norfolk. Tel: 01362 690633. Running: Dec 19, 20, 23, 24, 27, Jan 2, 3.

Plym Valley Railway

Seaton Tramway

East Anglian Railway Museum

Mangapps Railway

Standard gauge, seven miles, footplate experience, wine and dine, Buckfastleigh, Devon. Engines: L92, 3205, 6412. Running: Dec 18-23, 26 - Jan 3.

Mid-Norfolk Railway

Standard gauge, six miles, footplate experience, wine and dine, Swanage, Dorset. Tel: 01929 425800.

Mid-Suffolk Light Railway Standard gauge, ½ mile, Brockford, Suffolk. Running: Dec 20.

Prospective passengers should note that Santa special trains need to be booked in advance on the majority of railways. For more details when planning your day out, visit the HRA website: heritagerailways.com 92 Heritagerailway.co.uk

Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

Heritagerailway.co.uk 93

Nene Valley Railway

Standard gauge, 7½ miles, footplate experience, Wansford, Peterborough, Cambs. Tel: 01780 784444. Engine: 45337. Running: Dec 19, 20, 21, 24, 27, Jan W/Es + 1, 2.

North Norfolk Railway

Standard gauge, 5½ miles, footplate experience, Sheringham, Norfolk NR26 8RA. Tel: 01263 820800. Engines: 564, 92203, 76084. Running: Dec 19-24, 26 - Jan 4.

Wells & Walsingham Railway

Narrow gauge, four miles, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk. Tel: 01328 711630 Running: 2016.

Whitwell & Reepham Railway

Standard gauge, ¼ mile, Reepham, Norfolk. Tel: 01603 871694. Running: W/Es, steam first Sun. Santa: Dec 18-21, 24.

HOME COUNTIES Buckinghamshire Railway Centre

Standard gauge, ¼ mile, footplate experience, Quainton Road, Bucks. Tel: 01296 655720. Engines: 30585, Met 1. Running: Dec 19, 20.

Barclay 0-4-0ST No. 984 of 1903 Darent at work on the Hampton and Kempton Railway, where the Hanworth loop opened to the public in 2013, and where work will start shortly on reinstating the original line. JAMES HAMILTON Tel: 01827 880754. Engine: 3803. Running: Dec 19, 20, 23, 24, 27, Jan 2, 3.

Chasewater Railway

Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway

Standard gauge, two miles, Walsall, West Midlands. Tel: 01543 452623. Running: Dec 19, 20, 22-24, Jan 1.

Cholsey & Wallingford Railway

Standard gauge, 5¼ miles, footplate experience, wine and dine, Cheddleton, Staffs. Tel: 01538 750755. Running: Dec 19, 20, 22-24, 26-28, Jan 3.

Northampton & Lamport Railway

Standard gauge, two miles, Pitsford, Northants. Tel: 01604 820327. Running: Dec 27.

Standard gauge, 3½ miles, Chinnor, Oxon. Tel: 01844 353535. Engine: 1369. Running: Dec 19, 2027, 28, Jan 2, 3.

Churnet Valley Railway

Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre

Standard gauge, 2½ miles, Wallingford, Oxon. Tel: 01491 835067. Running: Dec 19, 20.

Dean Forest Railway

Peak Rail

Didcot Railway Centre

Standard gauge, footplate experience, Didcot, Oxon. Tel: 01235 817200. Engines: 93, 3650, 4144. Open: Dec 27-31. Running: Dec 19, 20, 22, 23.

Standard gauge, 4¼ miles, footplate experience, wine and dine, Norchard, Lydney, Glos. Tel: 01594 845840. Engine: 5541. Running: Dec 19, 20, 24, 27, 31.

Ecclesbourne Valley Railway

Epping Ongar Railway

Standard gauge, eight miles, Wirksworth, Derbyshire. 01629 823076. Running: Dec 19, 20, 23, 29, 30.

Leighton Buzzard Railway

Narrow gauge, 1¼ mile, A46 north of Evesham, Worcs. Tel: 01386 422282. Running: Dec 19-24, 27 - Jan 1. Jan W/Es.

Standard gauge, five miles, Ongar, Essex. Tel: 01277 365200. Running: Dec 19, 20, 22-24, 27, 28, 31 - Jan 2. Narrow gauge, 2¾ miles, Leighton Buzzard, Beds. Tel: 01525 373888. Running: Dec 19, 20, 22, 23.

MIDLANDS Amerton Railway

Narrow gauge, one mile, Stowe-by-Chartley, Staffs. Tel: 01785 850965. Running: Dec 19, 20.

Apedale Valley Railway

Narrow gauge, ½ mile, Apedale, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffs. Tel: 0845 094 1953. Running: Dec 19, 20 Barrow Hill Roundhouse Standard gauge, ¼ mile, Chesterfield, Derbyshire. Tel: 01246 472450. Open: W/Es.

Battlefield Line Railway

Standard gauge, five miles, Shackerstone, Leics.

94 Heritagerailway.co.uk

Evesham Vale Railway

Foxfield Railway

Standard gauge, 5½ miles, Blythe Bridge, Staffs. Running: Dec 19, 20, 23, 24

Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway

Standard gauge, 12 miles, footplate experience, Toddington, Glos. Tel: 01242 621405. Engines: 2807, 4270, 5542. Running: Dec 19, 20, 22-24, 26-31.

Great Central Railway

Standard gauge, four miles, Ruddington, Notts. Tel: 0115 940 570. Engine: 8274 Running: Dec 19, 20, 24, 27.

Standard gauge, four miles, Matlock, Derbyshire. Tel: 01629 580381. Running: Dec 19-24, Jan 9, 10.

Perrygrove Railway

Narrow gauge, B4228, Coleford, Glos. Tel: 01594 834991. Running: Dec 19-24, 27 - Jan 1. Jan W/Es.

Rocks by Rail

Standard gauge, ¼ mile, Cottesmore, Rutland. Open: Tues, Thur, Sun.

Rudyard Lake Railway

Narrow gauge, 1½ miles, Leek, Staffs. Tel: 01995 672280. Running: TBA.

Rushden Transport Museum

Standard gauge, ¼ mile, Rushden, Northants. Running Dec 28.

Severn Valley Railway

Standard gauge, 16 miles, footplate experience, Bewdley, Worcs DY12 1BG. 01299 403816. Engines: 1501, 4566, 7812, 2857, 43106, 1450, 34027, 34053, 7802, 7820. Running: Dec 19-24, 26 - Jan 3.

Standard gauge, eight miles, Loughborough, Leics LE11 1RW. Tel: 01509 632323. Engines: 48624, 47406, 46521, 92214, 45305, 777, 6990. Running: Dec 19 - Jan 1. Jan W/Es.

Narrow gauge, ½ mile, footplate experience, Wirksworth, Derbyshire. Running: Easter.

Standard gauge, 3½ miles, footplate experience, wine and dine, Ripley, Derbyshire. Tel: 01773 570140. Engine: 73129. Running: W/Es + Dec 21-24, 27, 28, Jan 1.

Standard gauge, one mile, footplate experience, Telford, Shropshire. Email [email protected] Tel: 01952 503880. Running: Dec 19, 20.

Midland Railway-Butterley

Steeple Grange Light Railway

Telford Steam Railway

NORTH WEST East Lancashire Railway

Standard gauge, 12 miles, footplate experience, Bury, Lancs. Tel: 01617 647790. Engines: 60103, 80080, 13065, 12322, 34092. Running: Dec 19-24, 26-28. Jan W/Es.

Eden Valley Railway

Standard gauge, two miles, Warcop, off A66 Cumbria CA16 6PR 01768 342309. www.evr-cumbria.org.uk Running: TBA.

Heaton Park Tramway

Standard gauge, half mile, Manchester. Running: Suns pm.

Isle of Man Steam Railway Narrow gauge, 15½ miles, Douglas, Isle of Man. Tel: 01624 662525. Running: Dec 18-20, 28-30.

Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway

Standard gauge, 3½ miles, near Ulverston, Cumbria. Tel: 01539 531594. Engines: 42073, 42085. Running: Dec 19, 20.

Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway

Narrow gauge, seven miles, Ravenglass, Cumbria. Tel: 01229 717171. Running: Dec 19-23, 26 - Jan 3.

Ribble Steam Railway

Standard gauge, one mile, Preston, Lancs. Tel: 01772 728800. Engine: 5643 Running: Dec 19-21.

Stainmore Railway

Standard gauge, ½ mile, Kirkby Stephen East Station, Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria CA17 4LA. Open: W/Es. Running: Easter.

West Lancashire Light Railway

Narrow gauge, Hesketh Bank, Lancs. Tel: 01772 815881. Running: Dec 19, 20.

Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

Heritagerailway.co.uk 95

SECR P Class 0-6-0T No. 323 Bluebell passes the rock cutting on the Bluebell Railway on November 22. NICK GILLIAM

NORTH EAST Aln Valley Railway

Standard gauge, half mile. Lionheart station, Alnwick, Northumberland. Running: Easter.

Appleby Frodingham Railway Preservation Society Standard gauge, 15 miles, Tata Steelworks, Scunthorpe. Tel: 01652 657053. Running: TBA

Bowes Railway

Standard gauge, one mile, Springwell, Tyne & Wear. Tel: 01914 161847. Running: TBA.

Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway

Narrow gauge, two miles, Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire. Tel: 01472 604657. Running: Dec 19-24.

Derwent Valley Railway

Standard gauge, ½ mile, Murton Park, Layerthorpe, York. Tel: 01904 489966. Running: Dec 19-22.

Elsecar Railway

Standard gauge, one mile, Elsecar, South Yorks. Footplate experience. Tel: 01226 746746. Running: Dec 19, 20, Jan Suns.

Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway

Standard gauge, five miles, Embsay, Yorks. Running: Dec 19, 20, 26, 27.

Keighley & Worth Valley Railway

Standard gauge, five miles, footplate experience, wine and dine, Keighley, West Yorks BD22 8NJ. Tel: 01535 645214. Engines: 43924, 90733, 1054, 5820, 75078. Running: Dec 19, 20, 24, 26 - Jan 3. Jan W/Es.

Kirklees Light Railway

Narrow gauge, four miles, Huddersfield, West Yorks. Tel: 01484 865727. Running: Dec 18- 20, 22-24.

Lincolnshire Wolds Railway Standard gauge, 1½ miles,

96 Heritagerailway.co.uk

Ludborough, Lincolnshire. Tel: 01507 363881. Running: Dec 19, 20, Jan 1.

Middleton Railway

Standard gauge, 1½ miles, Hunslet, Leeds. Tel: 0113 271 0320. Engine: 1310. Running: Dec 19, 20, 23, 24, Jan 1.

North Tyneside Railway

Standard gauge, two miles. North Shields. Tel: 0191 200 7146. Running: Dec 19, 20-22.

North Yorkshire Moors Railway

Standard gauge, 18 miles, wine and dine, Grosmont, North Yorks. Tel: 01751 472508. Engines: 45428, 75029, 76079, 63395. Running: Dec 19-22, 27 - Jan 3.

South Tynedale Railway

Narrow gauge, 3½ miles, Alston, Cumbria. Tel: 01434 382828/381696. Running: Dec 19-21.

Tanfield Railway

Standard gauge, three miles, near Gateshead, Tyne and Wear. Tel: 01913 887545. Running: Dec 19, 20, 23, 24, 26, 27. Jan Suns

Weardale Railway

Standard gauge, five miles, Stanhope, Bishop Auckland, Co Durham. Tel: 01388 526203. Running: Dec 18-23, 27, 28.

Wensleydale Railway

Standard gauge, 22 miles, Leeming Bar, North Yorkshire. Tel: 0845 450 5474. Running: Dec 19, 20, 22-24, 27-30, Jan 1, 2.

WALES Bala Lake Railway

Narrow gauge, 4½ miles, Llanuwchllyn, Gwynedd. Tel: 01678 540666. Running: Easter.

Brecon Mountain Railway

Narrow gauge, 3½ miles, Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan. Tel: 01685 722988. Running: Dec 15-23, 27-31, Jan 2, 3.

Cambrian Heritage Railways

Standard gauge, ¾ mile, Llynclys station & Oswestry station. Tel: 07527 107592. Running: (Llynclys) Dec 20. (Oswestry) Dec 19.

Corris Railway

Narrow gauge, ¾ mile, Corris, Machynlleth. Tel: 01654 761303. Running: Easter.

Fairbourne Railway

Narrow gauge, two miles, Fairbourne, Gwynedd. Tel: 01341 250362. Running: Dec 19, 20.

Ffestiniog Railway

Narrow gauge, 15 miles, Porthmadog, Gwynedd. Tel: 01766 516000. Running: Dec 23, 26 - Jan 1. Santa: Dec 19, 20, 22.

Gwili Railway

Standard gauge, two miles, Bronwydd Arms, Carmarthenshire. Tel: 01267 238213. Running: Dec 19, 20, 22-24.

Llanberis Lake Railway

Narrow gauge, three miles, Llanberis, Gwynedd. Tel: 01286 870549. Running: Dec 19, 20.

Llangollen Railway

Standard gauge, 10 miles, footplate experience, wine and dine, Llangollen, Denbighshire. Tel: 01978 860979. Engines: 5199, 6430, 80072. Running: Dec 19, 20, 22-24, 26 - Jan 3.

Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway

Standard gauge, two miles, Blaenavon, Torfaen. Tel: 01495 792263. Running: Dec 19, 20.

Rhyl Miniature Railway

Narrow gauge, Rhyl, North Wales. Running: Dec 19-22.

Snowdon Mountain Railway

Narrow gauge, 4½ miles, Llanberis, Gwynedd. Tel: 01286 870223. Running: March.

Talyllyn Railway

Narrow gauge, 7½ miles, footplate experience, Tywyn, Gwynedd. Tel: 01654 710472. Running: Dec 26 - Jan 2.

Vale of Rheidol Railway

Narrow gauge, 11¾ miles, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion. Tel: 01970 625819. Engines, 8, 9. Running: Dec 19-23.

Welsh Highland Heritage Railway

Narrow gauge, one mile, Porthmadog, Gwynedd. Tel: 01766 513402. Running: Easter.

Welsh Highland Railway

Narrow gauge, 26 miles, Caernarfon, Gwynedd. Tel: 01766 516000. Running: Dec 19, 20, 22, 23, 27 - Jan 1.

Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway

Narrow gauge, eight miles, Llanfair Caereinion, mid-Wales. Tel: 01938 810441. Engines: 822, 823. Running: Dec 19, 20.

SCOTLAND Almond Valley Railway

Narrow gauge, ¼ mile, Livingston, West Lothian. Tel: 01506 414957.

Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway

Standard gauge, five miles, Bo’ness, West Lothian. Tel: 01506 822298. Running: Dec 19, 20, 30, 31.

Caledonian Railway

Standard gauge, four miles, Brechin, Angus. Tel: 01356 622992. Running: Dec 19, 20.

Keith & Dufftown Railway

Standard gauge, 11 miles, Dufftown, Banffshire. Running: Dec 19, 20.

Leadhills & Wanlockhead Railway

Narrow gauge, one mile, Leadhills, South Lanarkshire. Tel: 0141 556 1061. Running: Easter.

Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

EVENTS

Heritagerailway.co.uk 97

Royal Deeside Railway

Standard gauge, one mile, Milton of Crathes. Kincardineshire. Running: Dec 19-24, 27, 28.

Ayrshire Railway Centre

Running: Dec 16-20, 23, 24, 26, 27, 30 - Jan 3.

IRELAND

Standard gauge, 1⁄3 mile, Dunaskin, Dalmellington Road (A713), Waterside, Ayrshire.

Cavan & Leitrim Railway

Standard gauge, 10 miles, Aviemore, Inverness-shire. Tel: 01479 810725. Engine: 46512.

Downpatrick & County Down Railway

Strathspey Railway

Narrow gauge, ½ mile, Dromod, County Leitrim. Tel: 00353 71 9638599. Running: TBA.

Standard gauge, four miles,

Downpatrick, County Down. Running: Dec 19, 20.

Giant’s Causeway & Bushmills Railway

Narrow gauge, two miles, Bushmills, County Antrim. Tel: 0282 073 2844. Running: TBA.

Waterford & Suir Valley Railway

Narrow gauge, two miles, Kilmeadan, County Waterford.

Recently overhauled GWR 2-6-2T No. 5541 works a real ballast train at Tufts Junction on the Dean Forest Railway on November 7 ,2015, which also performed run-pasts for a Steamscenes photo charter. DON BISHOP Running: Dec 19, 20, 22, 23.

West Clare Railway

Narrow gauge, Moyasta Junction, Co Clare. Running: TBA.

Railway Museums Beamish

County Durham. The Living Museum of the North. Open: Daily.

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

Museum Of Scottish Railways

Manchester Museum of Science & Industry

Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust

Irchester Narrow Gauge Railway Museum

Midsomer Norton

STEAM – Museum of the GWR

Bo’ness. Open: April. Tel: 01506 825855.

Near Wellingborough, Northants. Open: Sun. Tel: 01604 675368.

Kidderminster Railway Museum

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

Locomotion: The National Railway Museum at Shildon

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

Co Durham. Open: Daily. Tel: 01388 777999.

Head of Steam

London Transport Museum

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

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

Castlefield, Manchester. Open: Daily. Tel: 0161 832 2244.

Silver Street, Midsomer Norton. Open: Sun/Mon. Tel: 01761 411221.

Washford, Somerset. Open: Weekends. Tel: 01984 640869.

Swindon, Wilts. Open: Daily. Tel: 01793 466646.

Monkwearmouth Station Museum

St Albans South Signalbox & Museum

National Railway Museum

Ulster Folk & Transport Museum

Sunderland, County Durham. Open: Daily. Tel: 01915 677075.

Leeman Road, York. Open: Daily. Tel: 01904 621261.

Penrhyn Castle Industrial Railway Museum

St Albans City station. Tel: 01727 863131.

Cultra, Co Down. Open: Tues-Sun.

Vintage Carriage Museum

Bangor, Gwynedd. Open: Daily except Tues.

Ingrow, West Yorks. Open: Daily. Tel: 01535 680425.

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

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

Shillingstone Station

Yeovil Railway Centre

Prospective passengers should note that Santa special trains need to be booked in advance on the majority of railways. For more details when planning your day out, visit the HRA website: heritagerailways.com 98 Heritagerailway.co.uk

Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

EVENTS

Heritagerailway.co.uk 99

100 Heritagerailway.co.uk

WEB WATCH

Heritagerailway.co.uk 101

STAY A WHILE

Twyford Farm Guesthouse Ashdown Forest

Located in the beautiful Ashdown Forest, and within easy access to all of the Bluebell Railway stations, Twyford Farm provides a perfect base from which to explore this world renowned line. AFTER a busy day travelling the railway line and exploring the many attractions this beautiful area has to offer, relax with a cup of tea on the terrace overlooking the lake before heading out to sample some of the excellent food at the many local restaurants and pubs. Our beautiful Sussex farmhouse, dating back to the 1600s, has three luxury en suite guest rooms including one suite/family room, all with spectacular views over farmland and woods. Each room has a Harrison bed made inYorkshire, renowned for comfort and support and designed to give a memorable night’s sleep. On the ground floor, guests are welcome to relax in the drawing room which has views over the lake, as well as a television and a log fire. Leading off the drawing room is the library – a triple aspect room where guests can browse the varied book collection at any time. Accessed from the back door, our boot room has a dehumidifier to make sure that your wet outdoor clothes are dry and ready for the next day. For those who need to check in to work or home, free wi-fi is

CORNWALL/DEVON BORDER

available in all rooms. The summer of 2016 will see the opening of our fully renovated 17th century holiday let which will sleep six including a ground floor bedroom and wet room for the less able. What better present for the rail enthusiast than a weekend atTwyford?

CARMARTHEN PEMBROKE BORDERS

To advertise on this page please call Helen on 01507 529310 102 Heritagerailway.co.uk

The Bluebell Railway is based at Sheffield Park station, just five miles fromTwyford Farm. And Horsted Keynes is three miles as the crow flies www.bluebell-railway. com For more information or to book a room atTwyford Farm, call Liz and Bob on 01825 740726 or visit www.twyfordfarm.com

CUMBRIA

STAY A WHILE FFESTINIOG/WHR

WEST HIGHLANDS

WORTH VALLEY

Bronte Hotel

B&B Trawsfynydd, Snowdonia 17th Century farmhouse. En-suite converted farm buildings, excellent garden railway. Central for the narrow-gauge railways. Llamas.

Haworth

YTB ★★★

Short walk to K&WVR line, ample free parking. Comfortable lounges and restaurant.

Double rooms from £45, Singles from £25, En-suite available.

Tel: 01535 644112 Tel: 01766 540397 www.oldmillfarmhouse.co.uk

email [email protected] www.bronte-hotel.co.uk

MID NORFOLK

NORTH YORKSHIRE

WEST SOMERSET

NORTH NORFOLK

GIFTS

BRIDGE COTTAGES

• Very comfortable cottages • Beside NNR • Quiet rural location • Holt Station 5 mins • Short breaks • Open all year

www.bridge-cottage-holidays.co.uk

Tel: 01263 577847

BARN P AINT

FO R BA R N S,STA BLES, O U TBU ILD IN G S,SH ED S A N D FEN C IN G

Idealfor w orkshops, sheds,garages etc.O ne can does it all!

BED EC A C RY LIC W A TER BA SED BA R N PA IN T is a revolutionary product,ideally suited to the protection of exterior w ooden,m etaland plastic cladded buildings. • • • •

Easy to apply Excellent colour retention M ulti-surface application U se on:w ood,galvanised steel,plastic, concrete,brick and cladding

For excellent resistance against: • C racking,blistering & flaking • R ain and severe w eather • R ot and algalbuild-up • Long lasting finish U LTIM A TE PR O TEC TIO N W ITH TH E U LTIM A TE SU R FA C E C O A TIN G SY STEM ! A vailable nationw ide through Travis Perkins,R idgeons,Brew er & Sons, Brom borough Paints,D ulux D ecorator C entres and Ernest D oe & Sons Ltd.

THE SA FE A LTERNA TIV E TO TA R V A RNISH,BITUM EN A ND C REO SO TE

C all01279 876 657 Fax 01279 876 008 Em ail:sales@ bedec.co.uk w w w .bedec.co.uk Heritagerailway.co.uk 103

CLASSIFIED

EXPRESS GOODS

Contact Helen Martin on 01507 529310 • [email protected] BOOKS

BARRY JONES

Specialist in the sale and purchase of secondhand railway and steam road transport literature.

Railway timetables, posters, maps, publicity photographs and official items. Model railway and railway collectables always sought.

28 Marine Crescent, Worthing BN12 4JF

Tel: 01903 244655 Email: [email protected]

DVD

EVENTS

Deadline for the next issue of Heritage Railway is Monday December 21 On Sale Thursday January 14 104 Heritagerailway.co.uk

FOR SALE

ENGINEERING

WANTED

WEB DIRECTORY

MODELS

RAILWAYANA

SPECIALIST PAINTS

TILED MAPS

Get in touch

[email protected] facebook.com/heritagerailway

WANTED

Heritagerailway.co.uk 105

THE MONTH AHEAD

The big event in January will be Flying Scotsman’s debut on the East Lancashire Railway. The supporting acts will include Bulleid West Country Pacific No. 34092, now City of Wells, which is seen heading one of the railway’s seasonal trains on December 6. ROBERT FALCONER

Scotsman’s comeback begins

ONCE Santa has returned to Lapland, the heritage lines will be able to relax a little... but among all the mince pie services, there are a handful of enthusiasts’gala events over the NewYear period. Many lines are then having a quiet January, but the East Lancashire Railway is expecting bumper crowds for the two weekends when LNER A3 Pacific No. 60103 Flying Scotsman hauls its first passenger trains for 10 years. Heritage Railway will be bringing you all the action from this and other events.

SPECIAL EVENT December

26, 27: Mid Hants Railway: Christmas Leave 28: Bodmin &Wenford Railway: Winter Steam Up ■ Three locomotives will be working an intensive train service, expected to be GWR

Issue 211 is out on January 14. Catch up with the latest news, views and great features every four weeks. 106 Heritagerailway.co.uk

2-8-0T No. 4247 and 0-6-0PTs Nos. 4612 and 6435.

January

2, 3: Mid-Norfolk Railway: Festive Diesel Gala ■

28:SwanageRailway:WinterWarmer ■

1, 2: Epping Ongar Railway: NewYear Gala

9, 10: East Lancashire Railway: Flying Scotsman ■

With both steam and heritage diesel locomotives in action, and a demonstration freight train, this event will recall years past when the railways were the backbone of our transport network, especially during the winter months.

1: Chasewater Light Railway: Mini Gala

2, 3: Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway: Winter Diesel Gala ■

In wartime black livery, the world-famous Gresley Pacific will be hauling its first passenger trains since its overhaul after purchase by the National Railway Museum 10 years ago.

2, 3: Llangollen Railway: WinterWarmer ■

16, 17: East Lancashire Railway: Flying Scotsman ■ 16, 17: Midland Railway – Butterley: Caprotti Crescendo

This mixed traction event will see two days of intensive steam and diesel running.

This event will see a steam and diesel hauled passenger, goods and parcels trains. Locomotives expected to be in traffic will be; GWR large Prairie No. 5199, 0-6-0PT No. 6430, BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T No. 80072, Class 26 diesel D5310 and the Class 109 Wickham DMU. The journey will also be a journey back through the years as stations along the line will be transformed to resemble different decades.

KEY ■ Major or featured galas

■ Diesel and/or electric galas

■ Thomas and family event

28, 29:West Somerset Railway: Winter Steam Festival ■

This will be a treat for lovers of the old Great Western with a quartet of steam engines heading the trains; large Prairie No. 4160, making its last gala appearance withdrawal for overhaul, and 4-6-0s No. 4936 Kinlet Hall, No. 6960 Raveningham Hall and No. 7828 Odney Manor.

29, 30: GloucestershireWarwickshire Railway: Christmas Cracker ■

2, 3: Battlefield Line Railway: Start ofYear Steam Gala

RAILWAYANA February

13: Solent Railwayana,Wickham 20: Great Central Railwayana, Bloxham

27: LondonTransport Auctions, Croydon

Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

Heritagerailway.co.uk 107

108 Heritagerailway.co.uk