issue 45 3rd october 2014

3RD OCTOBER 2014
ISSUE 45
Sam Batcheler
Welcome...
3RD OCTOBER 2014
Here at UKHH, we like to prove to you that there is
more to mid-September than just the SVR Autumn Steam Gala,
so much so that we dedicate an entire special edition issue to
that gala and make your regular reading material the only SVR
gala free heritage magazine in Britain!
That is not to say that this is an SVR-free magazine; it
says a lot about a railway and all those who make it what it is
when you can almost guarantee that you will never produce a
magazine without at least two images of that railway!
Happily we can say the same about our superb and
dedicated team at UKHH who we can always bank on providing
us with at least one superb feature per issue, but usually multiple
ones and on this occasion in multiple issues! We are very
grateful and indebted to all of our contributors who make the
UKHH and this magazine what it is. I obviously can’t list all of
you by name, but I hope you know who you are and how valued
your work is. I would however like to echo Rowan’s appraisal of
dedicated photographer, videographer and article writer Joe
Connell or Mr. SVR as he should probably now be known who
has overseen, co-ordinated and created the wonderful SVR
special edition magazine which accompanies this month’s issue.
On a personal note, I also wish to thank Matt Evans who took
over a lot of my workload this issue to allow you not one, but
two stunning issues to enjoy; which in the space of three weeks
is not bad going! Hopefully all the sleepless nights and 35 hour
days our editor has been putting in will be appreciated by you all.
Issue 45 is a bit of a wow issue from the outset, with James
Corben’s cover picture possibly being our best cover ever. The
low light and steam are evocative of the wonderful autumn
season which we are now enjoying, with much more still to
come before the close of play for the winter. When you
eventually look beyond it, you will find all the usual latest news,
images and features which you have come to expect from
UKHH, but once again, the times are changing and our new ‘Big
Four’ themed regional news section over an unprecedented 8
pages brings you the most comprehensive coverage of all the
latest goings on in the heritage world thanks to our 4 dedicated
roving reporters: Sam Shenton, Jordan Mossom, Matt Evans and
James Corben. Please note that their e-mails have changed to
reflect this, but that you can still send in your news pieces to the
new addresses at the top of each section of regional news.
The Bulleid on the cover continues a theme which sees
34046 ‘Braunton’, 34067 ‘Tangmere’ and 35028 ‘Clan Line’
appearing throughout the issue, reflecting the vast quantities of
excellent mainline work which these locos have seen in recent
weeks. LMS “Duchess” 46233 ‘Duchess of Sutherland’ also
makes frequent appearances as she has done alongside LNER
‘A4’ 60009 ‘Union of South Africa’ on the WCML in recent
weeks, hopefully it will not be too long now before steam
returns to the ECML.
With September seeing the end of the main Railtour
season, we have several features and images of the
unprecedented number of railtours and excursions which have
run this September. Perhaps most notable were the ‘Atlantic
Coast Express’ commemoration using 34067 ‘Tangmere’ and
34046 ‘Braunton’ piloting GWR ‘Castle’ 5029 ‘Nunney Castle’
and the ‘West Highlander’ railtour; taking in Scotland with the
regular “Jacobite” fleet of recent years: Riley “Black 5s”: 45407
and 44871 and LNER ‘Moguls’ 62005 and 61994 ‘The Great
Marquess’.
It is of course gala season and gala reports in this issue
include the both the Epping Ongar Railway’s Diesel Gala and
their ‘End of the Tube’ event as well as the NYMR’s GWRthemed Autumn Steam Gala and this year’s final instalment of
Sam Shenton’s gala previews.
As ever, there is far more to our British Heritage than
just trains alone and this issue brings you more variety in our
features than ever, with vintage buses and preserved fire
appliances coming to the fore. Boats are also to be found nestles
with in these pages (spot the ‘PS Waverly’) and we have a plane
too! Traction engines also see extensive coverage thanks to
another excellent article from Thomas Freeman, providing a
detailed review of the Great Dorset Steam Fair (the SVR gala for
traction engines!) and images of the 60th anniversary of the
National Traction Engine Trust event at Shuttleworth in
Bedfordshire, courtesy of Sarah Tindall.
We hope you can relax and enjoy the fruits of your
labour at this busiest time of year. One thing is for certain, it is
not all over yet and there is plenty more to see around the
heritage world in the coming weeks.
Issues 46 due for release:
24th October
Front Cover: With glints of the late summer sunlight, SR WC 4-6-2 34067 ‘Tangmere’ is seen with the returning ‘Atlantic Coast Express’. James Corben
Rear Cover: Back on home territory, 46233 ‘Duchess of Sutherland’ races towards Shap summit with SRPS Railtours’ ‘The Caledonian’. Shep Woolley
Twitter
Facebook
Website
Google+
YouTube
News From The London & North Eastern Region
COMPILED BY SAM SHENTON - [email protected]
41241 Overhaul Progress
James Horrell
There has been considerable activity
on Ivatt Class 2 2-4-2 Tank Number 41241
in readiness for its return to steam in time
for the 50th Anniversary of the Keighley and
Worth Valley Railway, in 2018. Recently,
work has begun on the removal of the side
tanks with the help of the recently restored
Grafton steam crane. The boiler was
removed and has been prepared for
going away to Bridgnorth, on the Severn
Valley Railway, for major work, which
will include a new inner firebox. The
locomotive
has
been
prepared
for dispatch to Bombardier works for
tyre turning on their ground lathe. This
preparation work has included removing
most of the motion parts, sanding
equipment and other items below
running plate level. The water tanks have
been removed for detailed assessment and
repair or renewal. Heavy clean of the frames
in readiness for assessment and repaint has
been completed, before Assessment/Repair/
Repaint of removed parts in readiness for
assembly of the loco at a later stage. It
anticipated that the boiler will go to the SVR
in the latter part of this year, with a
return project for 18 months – 2 years. The
frames are due to go for tyre turning later
this year. Following this work will start on
the suspension system.
There is much to do to meet the
target of a return to steam during 2017,
ready for the 2018 Anniversary so if anyone
would like to help out then please do get in
touch with Noel Hartley, the Ivatt’s project
leader,
at
the
following
address: [email protected]. The
working group normally meets on the third
weekend of every month and every
Wednesday evening. During the winter
months they will be meeting on the first
Saturday of the month also. New helping
hands are always welcomed, especially when
the project is to return to steam such an
icon Worth Valley Locomotive.
Darlington Jazz Event
The Middleton Railway, Leeds, is to
host a Model Railway exhibition for the
second time this year. “Model Mania”, over
the weekend of 18th and 19th October, will
feature the engine house museum,
transformed into a heaven of modelsranging from railways to model watercraft.
Meanwhile, “Driver for a Fiver” will be in
operation throughout the day on one of the
railway’s many industrial steam locomotives,
while the railway will also be running its
standard timetabled steam services on both
days of the weekend- meaning that the real
thing can be both driven and ridden
alongside the tiny models in the engine
house- once again this an event for any
steam or model enthusiast in the area.
New Station For Wensleydale
A family jazz and beer evening is
being held at the Head of Steam Museum in
Darlington, on the 11th October, in order to
encourage residents, businesses, and the
local community to ‘Get on Board’ and
share their views on railway heritage in
Darlington, as well as how they wish to see
it in the future. It is to run from 11am to
6pm, with entertainment, music, food and
drink all provided. There will also be extra
activities for children. The North Eastern
Locomotive Preservation Group
(NELPG) workshops in Hopetown will
also be open to the public as part of the
event, as well as its usual open day on
the 18th of October.
Model Mania at Middleton
Chris Ball
The Wensleydale Railway has
officially begun construction of its new
station at Northallerton West. The first sod
on the site was cut at 08.30am on the 23rd
September, at a site which, it is envisaged,
will improve the railway’s connectivity- being
near to the mainline station at
Northallerton, providing a connection
between Network Rail services and the
North Yorkshire Heritage railway. The
construction is part of the 22- mile long
line’s future ambition of running all the way
from the East Coast Mainline, at
Northallerton, to the Settle to Carlisle line,
at Garsdale, as the line once did.
KWVR Unified Once More
The Keighley and Worth Valley
Railway has returned to being a single joined
railway after being severed in two for two
weeks. Bridge 17, near Oakworth, had its
track and ballast lifted in order for its
decking to receive serious attention,
meaning that the line was severed between
Oakworth and Haworth. Train services
were therefore altered, meaning that a
diesel service operated between Oakworth
and Keighley, a steam shuttle service
operated Haworth to Oxenhope trains,
while heritage buses ferried passengers
between Ingrow West and Haworth, so that
people could catch three forms of heritage
transport throughout their day. Work has
now finished, and train services returned to
normal over the weekend of 27th and 28th
September.
Other projects included the
repairing of the point at Haworth sheds,
which will eventually allow locomotives to
leave Haworth without the lengthy reversal
which is required to move onto the main
running line from the MPD. The water
tower at Keighley also received some
attention, with the line now in top shape for
their ‘Autumn Steam Spectacular’ in a few
weeks’ time (see separate story).
Caley Tank Back Soon - And In Blue!
Caledonian Railway 0-4-4T No. 419
is set to return to service at the Bo’ness and
Kinneil Railway next year. The news comes
as the boiler for the locomotive was steam
tested after being overhauled at Bury by Ian
Riley’s Bury works, and the ‘bottom end’
overhaul continues to progress back in
Bo’ness. The locomotive is to receive newlycast big- end brasses, after the original parts
were stolen last year, as well as new axle
boxes.
The Scottish Railway Preservation
Society hopes to have it working again by
summer 2015, with the hope to have it
wearing the lighter shade of ‘Caley’ blue,
which was assigned to it in its last boiler
ticket. The society has also said that the
next priority will be getting Neilson Reid 0-6
Matt Ditch
-0T No. 1 “Lord Roberts” ready to steam
North Yorkshire’s Western Affairs
for Bo’ness’ spring ‘Thomas the Tank
The NYMR Gala was blessed with its trip to the Mid Hants and could see a
Engine’ event, after they have launched
Hunslet ‘Austerity’ 0-6-0ST No. 19 back to good weather and very busy. The visiting gauging run for a possible Whitby trip.
Unfortunately, Hawksworth Pannier
traffic at this year’s 18th/19th October steam Western locos were very popular with
gala.
crowds, many commenting that they'd “never Tank No. 1501 was examined after unloading
seen anything like it before”! GWR 2-8-0 No. and found to have sustained damage to its
2807 ran very well and made light work of the springs during road transportation. This
7 coach trains up the banks, although it was limited the loco to 15mph running as
out of gauge for Pickering on arrival, but re- Grosmont station pilot, where the loco put in
aligning the trackork overnight on Friday some loud and crowd pleasing runs with the
Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway for their own solved the problem and the loco will now run goods train.
Autumn Steam event over the weekend of on the NYMR for the rest of the main season,
On a sad note, LNER A4 60007 “Sir
October 18th/ 19th. “Morayshire” will attend most likely to include the War Weekend. Nigel Gresley” has now entered its final year
both the gala and a series of photo charters GWR Castle No. 5029 “Nunney Castle” also of its 10 year boiler ticket, with it officially
on the GCR, all ran by Timeline Events. This performed well and looked good on the ending before next year’s Autumn Steam Gala,
is probably the first and last time that complete sets of Blood and Custard and meaning this was its last. To support the
Morayshire will be seen in England in 2014. Maroon coaches which were used over the overhaul, a “Sponsor a boiler tube” appeal has
gala weekend. “Nunney Castle” is to stay for a been launched to help with its overhaul, which
couple of weeks for some maintenance before many will hope to be speedy and solid.
Morayshire To Make First Trip South In Black
LNER D49 4-4-0 No. 62712
“Morayshire” is to make its first trip south
of the Scottish border with its visit to the
Great Central Railway’s Autumn Steam Gala
over the weekend of October 2nd – 5th. This
will be the first time the Locomotive has
been seen in England in BR black in
preservation, and will be at the GCR for a
few weeks only- as it is set to return to the
News From The London & North Western Region
COMPILED BY JORDAN MOSSOM - [email protected]
Sponsored Loco Pull At East Lancs
The staff and many volunteers at the
East Lancashire Railway undertook a
“sponsored pull” of their flagship LMS
“Crab” 2-6-0 No.13065 locomotive on the
30th of September, to begin a kickstart of
their campaign that aims to raise around £¼
million for three key and significant projects
at the Bury based railway.
Teams of volunteers and employees
plan to drag the 108-ton locomotive in an
event at Bury Bolton Street Station on
September 30 to mark the triple launch of
the “Bury Station Canopy” appeal, the
“Standard Tank 80097” appeal and the
“Coaches for our Future” appeal. This is
only the second time in the ELR’s illustrious
27-year history that it has made such an
appeal to its 4000 members, as well as the
general public, for donations.
The “Canopy Appeal” will be
launched with the intention to raise an
estimated £90,000 to rebuild a canopy from
the closed Oldham Mumps Station, to it's
new location at Bury Bolton Street Station.
The canopy will bring Platform 2, and the
outside seating of the Trackside Bar, under
cover. The “Standard Tank Appeal” heralds
the end of a 30 year restoration project. An
estimated £120,000 is needed to complete
the locomotive within the next few months.
“Coaches for our Future” will strengthen
the East Lancashire Railway’s existing
coaching stock
Richard Barnett, Sales Manager for
the East Lancashire Railway, said; “We think
this will be a great platform to launch our
new fundraising appeals and that this will
represent a real turning point for the
fundraising future of the railway. By getting
our volunteers directly involved in the
process we are cementing the sense of
community that makes the heritage railway
industry so unique, as well as securing the
future of this vital heirloom of British
history”.
Chang Of Livery For 108
Fairburn Tank Returns To Service
Telford Steam Railway's resident
Class 108, 51950 & 52062 has been recently
cosmetically restored into a new livery. The
livery chosen for the DMU is Chocolate &
Cream, a livery that British Rail adopted for
the Great Western Railway 150
celebrations back in 1985, almost thirty
years ago. The units have been finished to a
high standard, with high quality roundels,
numbers and lining finished for one side of
the two car unit. The Telford Steam Railway
managed to get majority of the unit
completed before the end of the 2014
operating season at the Shropshire based
railway.
On Friday the 12th of September,
two weeks ahead of schedule, Fairburn
2-6-4T, 42073 hauled its first few passenger
trains after a lengthy overhaul on the
Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway.
Until now, both of the two
preserved Fairburn 2-6-4T engines have
been in bits in the motive power department
on the railway having their respective
overhauls completed, with this being the
first locomotive to finish.
The locomotive can now be seen in
regular service on the railway. The sister
locomotive will now move to the top of the
overhaul queue.
Shep Woolley
New Loco For Chasewater
A recent purchase to the
Chasewater Railway is Hunslet 0-6-0st
‘Darfield No.1′ . This will be the first time a
six coupled company owned steam loco to
operate at the Chasewater Railway. She will
continue to work in the current
Staffordshire blue livery as ‘Holly Bank’ after
her boiler overhaul.
This work will be carried out by our
preferred contractor in consultation with
our boiler inspector. There is hope that
Darfield No.1 will be back in traffic for the
Santa Trains in December.
Shunter Gala At Ribble
On the weekend of the 4th and 5th
of October, the Ribble Steam Railway at
Preston Docks will be having one of their
annual diesel galas, utilising their operational
fleet of diesel shunter locomotives. The
locomotives in use for the weekend consist
of D2148, D9539 and NS663 and Stanlow
No.4, the Railbus will also be in service.
There will also be a chance to travel behind
the Ribble Rail Sentinels, Enterprise and
Energy, which only ever see service shunting
the bitumen tank trains. Trains will be
running in a 50 minute frequency
throughout the day. The Prototype Deltic
will also be open for cab tours between
14:00 and 16:00.
East Lancashire Steam Extravaganza
On the 18th & 19th October the 3rd
Steam Gala of the year for the East
Lancashire Railway takes centre stage as two
LNER A4 steam locomotives visit the
railway. These famous steam engines were
part of the Mallard 75 celebrations at
National Railway Museum during 2013
starring alongside the world renowned
‘Mallard’. One of the visiting locomotives is
named after its designer, ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’
and will be visiting the railway for the
second time Our other visiting A4 steam
locomotive, ‘Union of South Africa’, will be
making its foray on the ELR and will be a
welcome addition to the two day event
Visitors to the steam gala will notice the
streamlined look of our visiting steam
locomotives, this was inspired from by a
Bugatti rail-car which Sir Nigel Gresley had
observed in France and was impressed by
the need for streamlining, although he
realised it was only useful at the highest
speeds.
Both of these engines will be welcome
additions to our line-up which includes: LMS
Crab No.13065 (First gala appearance),
LNER K4 No.61994 ‘The Great Marquess’,
BR Standard 4 No.80080, LMS ‘Jinty’
No.47324, WD Austerity No.132 'Sapper'
and Peckett No. 1370 ‘May’
On both days of the two day gala, the first
train will leave Bury Bolton Street for
Rawtenstall at 9:30am, which heralds the
commencement of the main event.
Throughout the day there will be an
intensive passenger service will connect
Bury will all the stations on the line. The
Observation Saloon will be added to one of
passenger trains for the duration of the gala
– with a small supplement, you can travel in
this coach. This will be added to the 09:35
departure from Bury on both days and stay
coupled to the service throughout the
weekend.
A freight train consisting of various wagons
and vehicles will also be out on the line
between Bury and Ramsbottom with various
engines taking their turns on this throughout
the event. There will also be opportunities
to experience two locomotives double
heading up and down the line throughout
the day. For further excitement, a non-stop
service will run at the end of each day. May
will also be acting as station pilot throughout
the weekend, and will be seen at Bury
Bolton Street.
Launch of New Duke Trust At GCR Gala
During the Great Central Railway's
steam gala on the 4th and 5th of October,
the new trust in charge of the operation and
maintenance of the unique 71000 'Duke of
Gloucester', the BR Class 8 Steam
Locomotive Trust will give all interested
parties the opportunity to meet the new
Trustees and Company Directors at both
Loughborough Central and in the board
room at Lovatt House, just a stones throw
from the railway.
Ken Grubb, the Trust Membership
Principal, explained that "The new Trust
welcomes the opportunity to talk to
potential and existing members regarding
the overhaul of the Duke of Gloucester.
The Trust will also have on display a fiveinch model of 71000 and a seven-and-aquarter inch model that is being rebuilt.
Both models are unique in the model
engineering world, just like the full size
locomotive. The Great Central Railway was
the center of excellence for the 'Duke's'
rebirth and it is important to have the first
major event of the new Trust at the GCR.
We welcome the help and assistance that
the the GCR has given to us to hold this
event."
Application forms both to join the
BR Class 8 Steam Locomotive Trust and
purchase shares will be fully available during
the weekend of the GCR Steam Gala. Mr
Grubb also concluded with "The 'Duke' will
always be a special locomotive in the railway
arena and the Trust's objective is to bring
the locomotive back to the main line in
three years' time. Shares in No.71000 are
available to buy for anyone who wishes to
support the Trust to this end and own a
rather unique piece of history."
More information can be found on
the new website for the Trust, located at
www.theduke.uk.com
Jordan Mossom
News From The Western Region
COMPILED BY MATT EVA NS- [email protected]
Ffestiniog Carriage Returns to Service
The latest addition to the Ffestiniog
& Welsh Highland Railways' carriage fleet
has entered service thanks to a generous
donation
from
a
supporter.
Born in 1945, Margaret Ritchie died in 2013
and had been a regular visitor to the railway
over a period of many years. She and her
friend David Ward loved the area, the
railway and the people of North Wales. She
left £100,000 in her will for the carriage and
David subsequently launched an appeal
which generated a further £30,000, allowing
work to start on another new carriage
based on the same design.
Built at the F&WHR's workshops at
Boston Lodge – the oldest working railway
workshop in the world - the new carriage,
119, makes use of the maximum available
loading gauge of the narrow and winding
Ffestiniog Railway to provide more
comfortable and spacious accommodation
for passengers and features a laser-etched
map of the entire 40 mile railway on each
table.
On Thursday September 18th, a
special train ran from Porthmadog to
Blaenau Ffestiniog for Margaret's friends and
family. On the return trip, the train paused
at Dduallt to scatter her ashes and for the
dedication of the carriage by the former
Bishop of Carlisle, Graham Dow.
Kristian Gough
Rocket To Bodmin
Bridges To Broadway
The large steel railway bridge that
crosses Station Road at Broadway,
reopened to road traffic on 8 September
after 12 weeks of work and nearly £250,000.
The bridge will eventually carry the
Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam
Railway's (GWSR) trains running between
Cheltenham and Broadway.
Located just south of Broadway
station and with a 43ft span, it is the largest
of five bridges that are being repaired as part
of a major effort to reopen a further two
miles of line into Broadway.
The five bridges lie between
Laverton, currently the northern end of the
GWSR and Broadway. The repairs are
being funded by a special 'Bridges to
Broadway' share offer to raise £500,000.
Alan Bielby, chairman of GWSR Plc,
commented: "This has been one of the
biggest engineering
tasks that the railway
has faced.
"The
work
involved replacement
of a huge amount of
steelwork which had
both corroded and had
been
damaged
following strikes from
lorries taller than the
14ft 3ins headroom over many years.
"There was significantly more work
than anticipated and our contractors,
George Law Ltd and their sub-contractors,
have done a fantastic job in getting the work
finished ahead of programme to the point
that we were able to reopen the road on
Monday 8 September."
The next bridge to be overhauled
crosses Childswickham Road and as a result,
this road was closed to vehicular traffic on
15th September. However, this bridge is in
a much better condition and the work is
expected to take no more eight weeks.
The railway and its work on the
extension to Broadway were featured on
BBC News ‘Midlands Today’ on 18th
September. It featured 2800 class 2-8-0 on a
service train, scenes at Laverton - the
current northern terminus of the line and
Broadway station site.
The NRM’s Replica new build,
Rocket, will be making a visit to the Bodmin
and Wenford Railway in October for there
Victorian weekend. The replica Stephenson
design will feature in the gala along side
home based Southern Railway 4-4-0 T9 No
30120 and Southern Railway Beattie Well
Tank No 3298. An Intensive timetable will
be in place using the railways own Vintage
stock. The gala will also feature miniature
and full sized Traction engines.
Lyd On Home Turf
The Lynton and Barnstaple railway
celebrated 10 years of running trains out of
Woody Bay by holding their autumn gala at
the end of September featuring the entire
working home fleet and special guest Lyd from
the Ffestinogg Railway. The Railway have
confirmed that this gala weekend has broken
all previous records and has been a great
success and have thanked all visitors and
everyone who made the visit of Lyd possible.
Manor Returns To Somerset
As a replacement for GWR 2-8-0
no 3802 the West Somerset Railway is
pleased to welcome back Dinmore Manor for
the Autumn Steam Gala. Built at Swindon in
1950 BR(W) 4-6-0 no 7820 was the first of
ten of these 4-6-0s to be built by British
Railways following the original construction
of 7800 to 7819 by the GWR in 1938.
Initially purchased from Barry Scrapyard by
the Gwili Railway it was subsequently
bought by a West Somerset based group,
which eventually became Dinmore Manor
Locomotive Ltd. After initial restoration, no
7820 ran for a decade on the WSR and after
its second major overhaul in preservation it
is currently based on the Gloucestershire
Warwickshire Railway.
Alongside this news, the WSR has
also announced that there very own
Taunton engineer’s inspection Saloon no
W80976W will make a number of trips out
during the gala.
A full report on the event will be
available in the next UKHH e-zine.
The Return Of Steel, Steam & Stars
The Betton Grange new build group
is delighted to announce Steel, Steam &
Stars IV that will be held in March 2015 at
the Llangollen Railway.
Following on from the hugely successful SSS
events in 2007, 2009 and 2012 the 6880
Society are to hold a fourth event in 2015.
For 6 days the Dee Valley will be alive to the
sound of steam locomotives working their
way along the 9-mile line from Llangollen to
the newly built station at Corwen.
The dates for your diary are 6, 7,
8th March and 13, 14, 15th March. It is
expected that the Llangollen Railway will be
operating to its temporary terminus at
Corwen and that they will be operating a
variety of trains to Corwen during the
event. As at other Steel, Steam & Stars
events there will be evening trains and a
beer festival at Llangollen.
So far confirmed for this event is the
visit of the South Devon Railways Collett
goods locomotive, 3205, which will be
making a return visit to the Dee Valley line.
Other guests will be announced by the
organizers when they are confirmed but the
home fleet is likely to be built up by GWR
Manor class, 7822 Foxcote Manor, GWR 28-0 3802, LMS Stanier 5MT class 45337 and
GWR Large Prairie 5199. There will be
plenty of side attractions too, including a
variety of miniature railways to enjoy, visits
to Llangollen shed & opportunities to ride a
Freight train.
As said above, this is hoped to be a
chance to travel along the full length of the
line to the Temporary station at Corwen.
On Thursday 25th September, Llangollen’s
own GWR Heavy freight locomotive, 3802,
was the first steam engine to work into the
newly erected platform at Corwen East
whilst working a gauging run. This is the
Railway's largest engine in terms of cab
profile and width across cylinders and is
understood to have been a success and as of
28th September a number of route
familiarization runs had been complete with
the home based DMU.
Progress has been made on affixing
the wooden palings to the rear of the
platform and is now almost complete. The
temporary station portacabin is looking all
the better for its chocolate and cream paint
job and now awaits its internal fittings.
Dan Gosling
Patriot Project Progress
The LMS-Patriot Company is
delighted to announce that it has entered
into an agreement with Rowlescourt
Engineering Ltd. of Alfreton, Derbyshire
who will be refurbishing the frames and
building a new tank for the ‘Fowler' tender
for ‘The Unknown Warrior'. The extremely
generous terms of this agreement will
require the project to pay only for the
materials, estimated at around £10,000 and
Rowlescourt Engineering will provide all the
labour required for the construction of the
tender, for which most parts including
refurbished wheelsets and springs already
exist. This will save the project around
£40,000 and will speed up construction of
‘The Unknown Warrior' significantly as it
will allow three workstreams to operate
simultaneously - the boiler at L&NWR
Heritage at Crewe, the locomotive frames at
Llangollen and the tender at Alfreton. Target
completion date of the tender is August
2016, though it is hoped that this might
come forward a little as the project
progresses. All existing components will be
delivered to Rowlescourt Engineering during
early September and work is expected to
begin on the refurbishment of the frames
immediately. The tender will be modified
slightly with an increased capacity water tank
to enable around 4,000 gallons of water to
be carried, and will have the necessary
modifications added for the equipment
needed for mainline running. The distinctive
feature of the Fowler tender, being
narrower than the 7'10 ½" ‘Patriot' cab, will
be retained.
News From The Southern & Great Eastern Regions
COMPILED BY JAMES CORBEN - [email protected]
Steam Railmotor Returns To The Mainline
The freight-only line from Southall to
Brentford will see a Steam Railmotor return
to the line for one weekend only on the
18th and 19th October. The Great Western
Society’s Railmotor No.93 (and Trailer
Coach No.92) will traverse the line seven
times on each day, with passengers alighting
from the disused platform at Southall.
On top of this, First Great Western
have announced that they will offer other
attractions in the London area for the
heritage railway enthusiast. As well as a
shuttle service between West Drayton and
Colnbrook Oil Terminal with a Class 150,
First Great Western are operating some
loco-hauled circulars from London
Paddington to the Greenford loop and back
using their Sleeper stock, one of their Class
57s and the Class 20 Loco Society’s 20048.
For more information on all three events,
visit https://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/
Destinations/Events-and-Attractions/GreatWestern-Heritage-Weekend
65462 On The Comeback Trail
The M&GN Joint Railway Society
have announced that the boiler of their
Great Eastern Railway J15/Y14 No.65462
has successfully passed an ‘out of frames’
steam test on the 9th September. Significant
work has taken place on the boiler, the
inner firebox and the fire-hole door, all of
which have been paid for by the Society’s
members.
James Corben
Extra work has been identified
during the test, which include the
manufacture and machining of new
expansion links, which have now expired.
Hopefully it won’t be too long before the
much loved locomotive returns to the
North Norfolk Railway...
70013’s Bad Luck Continues
While on the return leg of a
Cathedrals Express railtour on the 28th
September from Canterbury to Reading, BR
Standard 7MT 70013 ‘Oliver Cromwell’
suffered a lubricator failure shortly before a
pick up stop at Bromley South.
The 1951-built ‘Britannia’ was sat in
platform 1 at Bromley South for nearly 80
minutes as the support crew made a
temporary repair to the locomotive. The
repair apparently held, as the train
continued on to it’s next passenger stop at
Clapham Junction, where the train was
terminated. The passengers de-trained and
were taken back to Reading on a service
train, with 70013 continuing on to Southall
with the empty coaching stock for repairs,
which, according to the locomotive’s
custodians, the 5305 Locomotive
Association, should have been completed by
the time this magazine is released.
45132 Moves To Epping
On the 14th September, BR Class
45, 45132, left the Mid Hants Railway for the
Epping Ongar Railway, where it’s restoration
will be completed. The locomotive arrived
just in time for the line’s diesel gala, where
the ‘Peak’ was on display.
45132 was built in 1961 at Derby
Works, and spent the next 26 years on the
main line. Withdrawn in May 1987, the
locomotive was sent to March in
Cambridgeshire for storage. Since then, the
locomotive was restored and ran for a few
years at the Mid Hants Railway before being
withdrawn for an overhaul.
The ‘Peak’ is 9-12 months away
from completion, and the Class 45 will run
at the Epping Ongar Railway once it’s
overhaul is completed.
KESR Celebrates 40th Anniversary
The Kent and East Sussex Railway
(K&ESR) celebrated 40 years of preservation
on the 20th of September, as 80 founder
members met 40 years after the organisation
reopened the x mile line. After the line was
closed in 1961, the line was saved and in 1974,
the K&ESR reached Tenterden - 20 years after
the last passenger train.
A special train was chartered to look
back at the 40 years, hauled by no.3 ‘Bodiam’,
which was one of the original locomotives
running on the line in the pre-preservation
era. The founding members met the Chairman
of the railway at Tenterden on the 20th
September, before departing on the chartered
train, which was expected to include onward
travel to Robertsbridge.
Before the event, chairman Geoff
Crouch said: "The Railway has come a long
way since it was saved and restored by
volunteers 40 years ago. This historic reunion
will be a unique opportunity to remind
ourselves of the achievements of the last 40
years but also talk about the exciting future
which will see trains steam back into
Robertsbridge again after the restoration of
another part of the original line between
Bodiam and Robertsbridge.
"For this 40th Anniversary of the
public re-opening of our railway, we have
invited as many people as we could find who
were here in the pioneering years, 196174. We tracked down 113 people - of whom
79 are delighted to be able to join us. Of these
79, it has to be said, 34 are still volunteering
here, after forty years!”
The Travels Of 1501 Continue...
The Severn Valley Railway’s 15xx
‘Pannier’ tank, 1501, will head to the
Swanage Railway for their Autumn Steam
Gala on the 17th, 18th and 19th of October.
The ‘Pannier’ will join Metropolitan Railway
No.1 for the gala, which has a ‘South of
London’ theme.
This will be the first time that 1501
and ‘Met 1’ have visited the Swanage
Railway, and they will be joined by the line’s
resident locomotives, including the recently
arrived Southern Railway U Class, 31806.
The other locomotives running at
the gala should include Southern Railway
‘Battle of Britain’ class 34070 ‘Manston’,
Southern Railway M7 30053 and Great
Western Railway 56xx class 6695. The
railway will be operating an intensive
timetable throughout, including evening
trains and double heading.
Future Of ‘C’ 592 Secure
The long-term future of ex-SECR C enough time for the Wainwright
Class No.592 was secured when the Preservation Society to raise the £1,420
Wainwright Preservation Society gifted the needed to purchase the engine.
locomotive to the Bluebell Railway Trust on
The ‘C’ class was purchased on the
the 20th September at Sheffield Park. 12th December 1966, and in the following
Although never in real doubt, the Society few years, a complete restoration was
decided to donate the locomotive, as a carried out by the society’s members in
result of a diminishing and aging Ashford.
membership.
In 1972, a long-term loan agreement
No.592 is one of the few engines was reached with the Bluebell Railway, and
Mid Hants Gala Alterations
bought straight from British Railways in No.592 has remained at the railway ever
The Mid Hants Railway have
As a result of these two locomotives working order, being used as snow-plough since.
announced that two visiting engines to their being withdrawn from the gala, the Mid with two of it’s classmates. This have
Autumn Steam Spectacular, Great Western Hants have announced that the line’s
Railway ‘Manor’ 7812 ‘Erlestoke Manor’ and resident locomotives will run instead.
Epping Ongar London Transport Event
BR Standard 7MT 70000 ‘Britannia’, will not
This is still an incredible line up, with
The Epping Ongar Railway played and so the Cravens set was being hauled by
be taking part in the event, which takes 4 visiting locomotives in the form of 5029
place on the 24th, 25th and 26th of ‘Nunney Castle’, GWR ‘Modified Hall’ 6960 host to a number of visiting locomotives and the Schoma locomotives, courtesy of
October.The ‘Manor’ is needed at the ‘Raveningham Hall’, GWR 42xx class 4270 rolling stock on the 26th, 27th and 28th London Underground.
September. To commemorate 20 years
Roger Wright, the
Severn Valley Railway, while ‘Britannia’ is and GWR 14xx class 1450.
since
the
cessation
of
Underground
services
Managing
Director
of the Epping Ongar
still sidelined in Ropley yard with a wheel set
between
Epping
and
Ongar,
the
line
Railway,
said
“We’ve
been working with the
missing.
welcomed Metropolitan Railway No.1, a 3- owners and London Underground on
car Cravens ‘Tube’ set and two Schoma bringing this together for months and are
Diesel locomotives for a gala event that really pleased that it has been possible to
recreated the last train on the 30th make the Cravens the centre piece of our
September 1994.
event. We’re very proud of our heritage and
The line between Ongar the links with the London Underground and
and North Weald is no longer electrified, Cravens Heritage Trains.”
46447 Returns To Steam
Matt Toms
A mere 99 weeks after the start of a
restoration from Barry Scrapyard condition,
‘Ivatt’ Class 2 46447 moved under it’s own
power for the first time as a complete
locomotive on the 27th September. The
1950-built 2-6-0 last moved under it’s own
power in December 1966, before being
withdrawn and sent to Barry Scrapyard in
South Wales.
The locomotive, which is currently
on loan to the East Somerset Railway from
the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, is currently
being painted and fettled ahead of it’s official
launch date at 11:00am on Sunday 26th
October at the East Somerset’s
headquarters at Cranmore.
46447’s first moves were short, as it
edged it’s way around the yard outside the
workshops at Cranmore. In the coming
weeks, the 2MT will undergo running in
before it hauls it’s first passenger train.
James Corben
James Batcheler
Jordan Mossom
Matt Evans
Late News...
Talyllyn President To Step Down
The Annual General Meeting of the Talyllyn Railway
Preservation Society on Saturday 27 September 2014 marked the
end of an era as Richard Hope OBE stood down as President of
the Society. Richard, formerly editor of the Railway Gazette, has
been involved with the railway for well over 50 years. He held
the post of Society Secretary for thirty years between 1966 and
1996, before becoming President in 2006 a post he had held ever
since.
However, Richard has not just been involved in the
administration of the Society, but continues to play an active role
in the track gang and other activities. He also spent many hours
working on the extension from Abergynolwyn to Nant Gwernol
in the 1970s. In addition he and his wife Audrey also starred in
the Talyllyn Railway publicity film Talyllyn Holiday.
To commemorate his time in office Richard was
presented with an especially commissioned painting by Nick
Harling. This showed Richard helping install a siding in 1964 for
the old Tea Van that used to serve refreshments at Abergynolwyn
station, along with his trademark sledgehammer and dog.
His successor as President is David Mitchell, who also
has been involved with the Society for over fifty years, and has
served the railway in a number of roles including Managing
Director.
David commented:
‘Richard is going to be a tough act to follow, and we are
enormously grateful for all the work he has put in through the
years. We hope that he will continue to be involved for many
years to come. Thanks must also be due to his wife, Audrey, for
all the support she has given Richard during these years, and also
for the contribution she has made in her own right’.
Llangollen To Celebrate Railcar 60 With Trains To Corwen
With work continuing apace on the new platform at
Corwen and gauging and crew training trials having already seen
resident steam locos BR Standard 2-6-4T 80072 and GWR 2-8-0
3802 return steam to Corwen on light engine runs for the first
time in over 50 years, this year it is the turn of the DMUs and
passenger trains!
With the line’s Wickham Class 109 DMU having already
ventured into Corwen for training purposes ahead of the event,
this weekend (4th and 5th October) sees the rest of the fleet also
venturing further down the Llangollen Railway extension than any
passenger train has before, with all of the home fleet running a
regular service with every train running as far as Colomendy near
Corwen.
Although work on the platform is far from complete and
passengers will not be able to board or alight at Colomendy
(Corwen) just yet, it will be the furthest west that passenger
services in the Dee Valley have run in over 50 years.
Much work is still required before the extension is ready
to accept trains to Corwen on a more regular basis; however, this
event is historic in many ways. First of all, by its theme it
celebrates 60 years since railcars were introduced on British
Railways; co-incidentally, the event also marks the 30th anniversary
of railcar operation on the Llangollen Railway. Although the line’s
original Cravens Class 105 DMU is currently receiving a much
needed major re-build after over 20 years of excellent service on
the line, the four units of the line’s unrivalled DMU fleet will be
out each day running an extremely intensive half hourly timetable
throughout the event, with Llangollen departures from 9.30am –
5pm on the Saturday and from 10am – 4pm on the Sunday.
All the units involved will be prototypical two car
formations and every unit carries a different livery to help
illustrate the history of DMUs on BR. The unique Wickham Class
109 is in early BR lighter shade of green, its condition as built in
1956 when it was used on the North Eastern Region of BR. The
Derby Class 127/108 hybrid unit unites the two stereotypical
DMUs which enthusiasts have grown to love. Paired up in the
standard BR dark green livery and complete with “cat’s whiskers”,
the unit offers the chance to experience suburban and branchline
travel as it was in the 1960s. Showcasing the late 60s and 70s:
Birmingham Class 104 DMU, the only DMU in the country in all
over BR blue and Llangollen Railway stalwart Derby Class 108
complete the line up, with the 108 in final blue and grey livery
with the all over yellow ends which have become synonymous
with DMUs of the modern era.
An evening celebratory Fish and Chip train will also run
on the Saturday night, leaving Llangollen at 7pm and working
down the extension to Colomendy. This will provide a rare
opportunity for passengers to sample the Dee Valley at dusk and
after dark. Using the Class 104 DMU, the train will stop at
Glyndyfrdwy on the return trip to allow for refreshments and the
annual Llangollen Railway Railcar Convention to take place.
Tickets are the standard price of a return down the line with fish
and chips to be purchased separately from Llangollen station’s
restaurant before the journey.
Additional attractions throughout the event include a
Saturday morning tour of Llangollen Railway Engineering’s
workshops and the steam shed at Llangollen, giving visitors the
chance to view the progress on the line’s three new-build
projects which are currently in house: GWR ‘Grange’ 4-6-0 6880
‘Betton Grange’, LMS ‘Patriot’ 4-6-0 (4)5551 ‘The Unknown
Warrior’ and Didcot’s large GWR 2-8-0 4709. The shed tours
will also allow visitors to view progress on Llangollen Railway’s
own overhauls, including long-term projects: “Small Prairies” 5532
and 5539 and “Pannier” 7754, as well “Large Prairie” 5199 which
should return to service early next year and of course the line’s
flagship loco 7822 ‘Foxcote Manor’ which is progressing through
an expensive boiler repair and re-paint which will hopefully be
complete in time for the loco to star at the recently announce
“Steel, Steam and Stars IV” event organised by the Betton Grange
Society which is to take place over two weekends in early March
next year (see the ‘Western News’ section of this magazine for
more details.)
The Annual conference of the Railcar Association will
take place in the Henry Robertson Suite at Llangollen Station will
take place on the Saturday afternoon and there will also be a sales
stall in aid of the lines’ DMU group at Llangollen station.
Offering something a bit different, the Sunday morning
will see a tour of Pentrefelin Railcar depot and the Carriage and
Wagon works on the same site, giving visitors the rare chance to
see the line’s latest carriage and wagon restoration work;
including GWR Collett auto coaches No. 174 and No. 167 and
the line’s original Cravens Class 105 DMU.
The exhibition coach in the bay platform at Llangollen
station will be shoeing topical film shows during the course of the
weekend and standard fares are in operation with adult day
rovers at just £14 and return tickets available. More event
information can be found on the Llangollen Railway website at
http://www.llangollen-railway.co.uk/event/railcar-60/ where
excellent the BR timetable poster style public timetable with unit
diagrams can also be downloaded.
Autumn Half Term To See Trains Run To Corwen
Inspection of work on the Railway’s extension has allowed the
General Manager, Kevin Gooding, to issue the following
announcement:
“The track inspection was successfully completed, with
requirements for specific items to receive attention in order to
allow for the extension to Corwen to open for public services
with effect from 22nd October 2014.”
On Wednesday, 22nd October, special trains will run to
accommodate those who have fully contributed to the project to
claim their commemorative ticket for a place on the first day of
trains to Corwen.
The General Manager will shortly be contacting those
qualifying for a seat, by post, with details of the ticketing
arrangements for these special trains. Unallocated tickets on the
day will subsequently be on offer to the general public at a
premium fare.
The Public service to Corwen will operate as per the
published timetable during the half term week from Monday, 27th
October and at weekends until 9 November. Additionally, during
the Railcar 60 weekend of 4th -5th October, trains will be
extended to Colomendy Curve, just short of the Corwen station
site.”
The erection of the 100 metre (330ft) platform by
contractors Grosvenor Scaffolding has provided an eye catching
structure as seen from the A5 road, with plenty of work already
undertaken to fit it out with decking and rear fencing.
The platform level stands some 5 metres (16 ft) above
ground level and pedestrian access to it has required the
provision of a graded ramp. This has required a complex design
and the structure now in place extends for 38 metres (125ft) to
provide the modern standard of access for the mobility impaired.
Decking of the upper length and intermediate landing has been
completed and the lower length is being finalised with fencing still
to be installed.
The approach to the access ramp from the town car
park is through the trees by the area of the Flood Alleviation
Scheme’s water catchment installation, where a Portacabin is now
installed thanks to grant aid from the Area of Outstanding Natural
Beauty. Painted externally in chocolate and cream, the interior is
being fitted out to provide AONB information about the Dee
Valley and offer facilities for station staff. A formal all weather
path through to the station site is due to be installed by the
Countryside Services of Denbighshire County Council shortly.
After a site visit by Llangollen Railway Vice-Presidents, Bill
Shakespeare and Gordon Heddon, work was sufficiently complete
to invite members of the Corwen Community and Denbighshire
County Council to an inspection visit on 24th September. They
were pleased to see the elevated view from the platform which
provides a new aspect to Corwen town and the surrounding
countryside, dominated by the mountains of Pen-y-Pigyn to the
south and Caer Drewyn to the north.
After the gauging train ran with the Wickham Railcar in August,
the platform has since been visited by the Standard Tank 80072
and GWR Heavy Freight 2-8-0 3802 in order to check clearances.
Route learning for operational staff has been undertaken with the
Wickham Railcar and a visit by the Class 26 and coaches is
envisaged this week.
There has been plenty of other work to keep the volunteers busy
too, with the installation of the occupational level crossing at Plas
Bonwm Farm now complete and formal warning signs and notices
in place. The track length has been extended beyond the end of
the new platform at Corwen East and the buffer stop now resides
adjacent to the gates above the access to the Welsh Water
Sewerage Farm. This points to the solid intention to progress on
to the Phase 2 site with a formal terminus station as soon as
finances permit.
George Jones, a spokesman for Llangollen Railway, said, “We have
made tremendous progress this summer and trains will operate
to Corwen in the tail end of the 2014 season. This short period
of train services will provide vital experience in operating the
extension prior to the formal opening on 1 March 2015 and a full
season of trains once again linking Llangollen with Corwen during
2015”, the year of the line’s 150th anniversary, for which
commemorative events are currently in the planning stages.
C.J. Sutcliffe
Graeme Watson
Matt Ditch
Dan Gosling
Jaymz Griffiths
Flyer season is drawing nearer each day to a close
and with it will come Christmas and the winter, a welcome
respite for our staff members who plan and run all our
events themselves. At the end of this winter, the Flyer will
emerge as an even stronger fighting force to raise
awareness of autism and Asperger's. With a new marketing
strategy provided by our new marketing gurus, the Flyer
will build on it's following as Britain's Leading Charity Steam
Railway Special!
Don't worry, though, the Flyer will continue to fly
the flag over the winter, just on a reduced intensity. Our
friends at the Great Central are the hosts of Flyers in
Aspergers Flyer
November and December on the 8th and 27th respectively.
This double track mainline is a great place for the Flyer to
really stretch it's legs and is a perfect place for our the
'Frosty Flyers' of the winter.
Our team went to Wales early this year and, on the
31st of July, enjoy huge successes when our first dedicated
charter train ran behind preservation's 'Old Lady', Dolgoch.
Our train ran up to Abergynolwyn where I had the honour
of launching the Dolgoch Union, an agreement between
organisations that the Flyer would be supported there for
many years to come. Our team also took the brave steps to
make this trip completely free to the public and marketed it
Epping Ongar Diesel Gala
Following the success of the Spring event in April,
the teams at EOR worked hard to make the second of the
year’s diesel galas just as big of a hit.
To have a class 73 at one of these events has been a
long-term aim, and that came in the shape of 73134
“Woking Homes” courtesy of Nemesis Rail. 73134 is still in
her original InterCity livery, albeit slightly faded after so
many years. However, operationally she is superb and
worked without fail.
The second visiting attendee was 33202 “Dennis G.
Robinson”, making a welcome return to the line after
spending the last 12 months touring other heritage lines
following her appearance at last year’s
September event. As she did back then, she ran
without fault and was enjoyed by crews and
public alike. She will be off again to private
facilities for winter maintenance in due course.
The gala was also a chance to show off
the branch’s latest addition to the diesel fleet.
45132 (D22) arrived from her former home at
the Mid Hants Railway just in time to be part of
the weekend. Privately owned, there is still
work to be done on her before she becomes
operational, being in the midst of a heavy
overhaul. She was, however, open for cab and
engine room tours. Much interest surrounded
her, and numerous offers of help to restore
this big beauty to operating condition were
made. The owners were overwhelmed by the
as much as we could to ensure that lots of people could
turn up, travel and enjoy a relaxing evening at our expense.
With this success in mind, our team have chartered
another FREE FLYER at the Kirklees Light Railway on
October 25th, leaving at 7:00pm. The train will be headed
by the railway's first engine, Fox, and will be completely
free. All you have to do is to turn up on the night and enjoy
the ride! Our team will be collecting donations to fund the
evening but with such a fantastic chance for a free steam
ride in the dead of night, why not come along and join in
the fun? Travel By Flyer!
OWEN HAYWARD
popularity she had.
The railway’s home fleet was represented once
again by 37029, 31438, 205205 and, celebrating 50 years of
service, 47635 “Jimmy Milne”. The 47 bore a range of
headboards throughout the weekend to mark this
milestone.
The event, including the Saturday evening Beer
trains, proved popular, and received many favourable
comments from delighted passengers – not least with the
chance to ride a triple-headed service at the close of each
day.
Two Railways - One Day
JORDAN MOSSOM
Ste Marsh
Simon Beedie
Mat Yardley
Shep Woolley
Leeds City Transport Vintage Bus Running Day
It’s always nice when a new event takes place in the
area, and since this one was in West Yorkshire, it was
doubly pleasing, because the renovation of the Piece Hall at
Halifax meant that one of the best annual events in this
area, the ‘Nocturnal Bus Gathering’, which is usually held on
the last weekend in October when the clocks have gone
back, was not taking place this year (and may possibly never
take place again).
The new event featured a number of buses from
the Pennine Bus Rallies Group, and was held in the city of
Leeds on Sunday 31st of August. The event consisted of
buses running as the number 46 service between locations
at Bramley Town End, the Leeds Industrial Museum at
Armley (this also has a few small diesel locos on display
there), New York Street (outside the main Bus Station in
the City Centre), and the Thwaite Mills Watermill near
Hunslet - one of the last remaining examples of a water
powered mill in this country.
As well as riding for free on the buses, passengers
could also visit both museums for the price of just one,
which was a good incentive for anyone wanting to make
their first ever visit there, and
probably one of the reasons why
the buses were well loaded
throughout the entire day. Along
with the enjoyment of riding on the
buses, the locations served also
provided much of interest to the
heritage enthusiast, with the Leeds
Industrial Museum now being
housed in what was once the
world's largest woollen mill, and
featuring much of the industrial
history of Leeds from the
manufacturing of textiles, to
engineering and locomotives, and
the Hunslet locos, which the city
was also famous for, are very well
known to most rail fans.
At the other end of the
route,
t h e
Thwaite Watermill site also
includes Thwaite House, a fine
Georgian Grade II listed
building, which was built in
1823, and was formerly the
mill managers’ house. Now
restored to its former glory, it
gives displays and exhibitions
and shows what it was like to
work at a mill without any
electricity or any of the
modern appliances we now
take for granted. A well
equipped engineer’s workshop
also shows how they repaired
the wheels and machinery
there.
Buses in service
throughout the day, which
were mostly well loaded and
carrying passengers between
ALAN GALE
the two locations, included: Leyland Atlantean CUB 331C,
Daimler Fleetline HNW 131D, Bristol Lodekka NWU
265D, AEC Regent V 2D2RA 3916 UB, AEC Regent 952
JUB, Leyland PD2/11s UUA 207 and UUA 212. Daimler
CVG6LX/30 574 CNW completed the line up.
It’s always good to see older the buses running
through the centre of a major city, and it was great to see
the attention that these old Leeds buses, in their familiar
green and red liveries, got from many of the pedestrians as
they passed by, with many camera phones frequently
produced as they captured the sight. This provided a real
trip down memory lane to the days before bus deregulation, when such buses were always a regular sight
there.
As I was writing this I was pleased to discover that
the event will definitely be taking place again next year, this
time on Sunday 23rd of August 2015, and I am sure it will be
every bit as successful as this first event was.
The Darker Side Of Museum Displays
James Batcheler
Sam
Kristian
MattShenton
Evans
Gough
KITOLA STARR
James Batcheler
Dan Gosling
The Steam Elephant
JAYMZ GRIFFITHS
Located in County Durham, Beamish open air
museum is a fascinating place for anyone interested in our
industrial heritage from the early Victorian days through to
the 1940s. There are four distinctly different parts to the
site, all connected by a regular tram service which circles
the museum and connects with vintage buses that do the
same.
There are three separate sections of railway line, all
representing different aspects and eras. The main part is
Rowley station, which is a faithful representation of a small
North Eastern Railway station complete with working signal
box and waiting room/booking hall and this is part of the
main town set in the years just prior to the First World
War. The Colliery has its own section of railway running
up to the pit-head workings and engine sheds with a large
amount of sidings which it is not hard to visualise at the
turn of the 20th Century being filled with empty wagons
ready to be filled with coal from the mine workings. There
is a full colliery village alongside, complete with miners’
cottages, church, school, pit pony stables and authentic fish
and chip shop (coal fired and well worth a visit!)
The oldest railway line is a representation of the
early days of rail travel complete with replica locomotives.
The large engine shed houses three locomotives, all of
which are full working replicas of early iron horses;
Stephenson’s ‘Locomotion No.1’ of 1825, Hedley’s ‘Puffing
Billy’ of 1813, and Chapman & Buddle’s ‘Steam Elephant’ of
1815. The Steam Elephant replica was built using two
paintings of the locomotive as no original drawings or
technical references survive.
The demonstration line is only a few hundred yards
long, but it’s enough to give a hint as to the very early days
of rail travel. Before setting off the driver explains that
‘there are no brakes on the passenger vehicles, so setting
off will be uncomfortable, stopping will be bumpy and the
bit in the middle won’t be much of a picnic either!’
Watching the locomotive with it’s cylinders mounted atop
the boiler begin to move is fascinating. There is very little
noise in the way we would now expect from a steam loco,
the motion being a smooth and quiet as a beam engine
(which is what it basically is). The vertical pistons move
what looks like a clothes horse up and down and this
motion drives a crank mounted under the boiler which in
turn turns a series of cogs between the wheels providing
the drive to the wheels. Other than the bumping and
rattling of the train behind it, the only other sounds from
the Elephant are the support rods for the tall chimney
which rattle as the loco sways, and the occasional sniffs
from the weighted safety valve which sounds a little like the
sneezes of an excited cat!
Ride quality aside, it is a very peaceful experience,
and it is easy to see why it quickly caught on. Even though
it was a drizzly afternoon the open truck wasn’t an
unpleasant experience though that was probably partly due
to the novelty of it, modern waterproofs were helpful too!
Stopping was a bit of hair raising experience as the lack of
brakes caused every vehicle to buffer up, then bounce back
and forth on the couplings a few times, oh for the addition
of a brake van!
I can thoroughly recommend a trip to Beamish to
anyone with an interest in our industrial and social history.
It’s certainly not the sort of place you can scoot round in an
hour or so, a full day is definitely needed. There are a
number of ticket options available,, all of which cover travel
on the trams, buses and trains, and each ticket is valid for a
calendar year from the day of purchase, so if you miss
something during your visit, you can always come back for
free!
Matthew Collier
Alan Sedgwick
Joe Connell
Kristian Gough
Matt Evans
Jaymz Griffiths
Sam Batcheler
The Atlantic Coast Express Reborn
JAMES CORBEN
The Atlantic Coast Express was widely regarded as
one of the Southern Railway’s most prestigious named
trains, along with the Golden Arrow and the Bournemouth
Belle. Between 1926 and 1964, the ‘ACE’, as it was
affectionately known, would head out of London
Waterloo, bound for seaside towns in Devon and
Cornwall.
Its name was chosen in a staff competition in 1926
by a guard from Woking, and later that year, the first
Atlantic Coast Express departed Waterloo. Although the
ACE was popular from its concept, it really came to the
public eye in 1951, when Oliver Bulleid’s Pacifics took over
from the Lord Nelsons and King Arthurs. In the mid1950s, the timings for the ACE were re-written, and the
94 minute schedule from London to the first stop at
Salisbury were changed to an 84 minute schedule - a start
to stop average of 60mph.
Passengers were not only in Salisbury in less than
90 minutes, they could be in Exeter in under 3 hours. At
Exeter Central, the Bulleid Pacific that brought the ACE
down would be detached and the train split up. From
there, a smaller engine, such as a Southern Railway N
Class, would take over and continue to the seaside towns
along the ‘Withered Arm’ (the collective name of the
Southern Railway routes west of Exeter). Destinations
included Bude, Padstow, Bideford, Ilfracombe, Wadebridge
and Plymouth (via Tavistock Junction).
Unfortunately, the early 1960s would be the end of
the ‘golden’ years of the ACE, as the invasion of the motor
car meant that members of the public could get to the
West Country in their own time. And then, in the March
of 1963, Dr Richard Beeching released his report on the
future of British Railways, in which he called for the
closure of 7,000 stations and 5,000 miles of track. This
included the North Cornwall Lines, and on the 5th
September 1964, the last Atlantic Coast Express departed
Padstow for London Waterloo behind ‘West Country’
34023 ‘Blackmore Vale’, and with the end of steam now
only 3 years away, that was the end of the ACE.
2014 marked 50 years since the last Atlantic Coast
Express departed London Waterloo, and Steam Dreams
announced that they would be celebrating this prestigious
train with a commemorative multi-day railtour from
London to the West Country.
The original plan for the first day (Friday 5th
September) was to have a fast run from London Waterloo
to Exeter St Davids with a Merchant Navy at the helm,
before changing to two of Bulleid’s ‘Light Pacifics’ in charge
for an equally fast run down to Penzance. Unfortunately,
the train would depart London Victoria on a 3 hour
schedule to Salisbury, before taking nearly 4 hours to
negotiate the remainder of the journey to Exeter St
Davids, with pathing and water stops at nearly every loop.
The schedule picked up quite a bit after Exeter, with a fast
schedule to Plymouth and Penzance.
At 8:45am on the 5th September, the first leg of
the train departed London Victoria, with ‘Battle of Britain’
class 34067 ‘Tangmere’ in charge. The slow schedule
around the suburbs of London allowed the train to remain
on schedule and just before 10am, the Atlantic Coast
Express reached the main line at Byfleet and New Haw.
Following a pick up stop at Woking and a water stop at
Winchfield, 34067 was finally allowed to stretch its legs,
with a difficult schedule to keep to with 12 coaches and a
class 47 on the rear. Having accelerated away from
Worting Junction and reached its maximum speed near
Andover, ‘Tangmere’ had a difficult task ahead of it - the
westbound climb to Grateley, a gradient of 1in100.
75mph through Andover turned into 47mph at the
top of the bank, with Tangmere struggling with a poor
batch of coal. The water stop at Salisbury was reached
around 3 minutes late, and the support crew could set
about sorting out the fire.
Departure from Salisbury was on time at 11:51,
and then came a short run to a pathing stop at Gillingham.
After passing a service train at Gillingham, the train faced
the 1in100 climb to Buckhorn Weston, before the 1in80
climb through the speed-restricted station of
Templecombe. For an unknown reason, the ACE was
delayed by 15 minutes between Templecombe and Yeovil
Junction, but this meant it could have a clear run at the
1in80 gradient from Yeovil to Crewkerne Tunnel.
A water stop at Chard Junction eliminated the
deficit, and this meant that Tangmere would have a clear
run through Axminster and the now disused station of
Seaton Junction, where the ACE would normally have
stopped to detach a couple of coaches for Sidmouth. The
climb of Honiton Bank was disappointing, with the class 47
assisting throughout, though it did mean that the train
reached its pathing stop at Honiton on time.
From Honiton, it was downhill all the way to Exeter
St Davids, and nearly 7 hours after the train had left London
Victoria, the Atlantic Coast Express rolled into Exeter St
Davids.
Just over an hour later, and it was time for the
second leg of the journey to Penzance, hauled by Southern
Railway ‘West Country’ class 34046 ‘Braunton’ and Great
Western Railway ‘Castle’ class 5029 ‘Nunney Castle’.
Departure from Exeter was a couple of minutes late, a
result of a late running service to Plymouth. The speed was
up at 75mph as the pair raced through Exminster and
Starcross, before slowing for the 60mph restrictions
through Dawlish and Teignmouth.
With the service train to Plymouth now back on
time, the ACE could attack the 1in38/57 Dainton Bank and
the 1in45/65 Rattery Bank. With a clear run up both banks
and the service train now well clear, the Bulleid and Castle
could get up to line speed and eventually they reached
Plymouth 15 minutes early.
More good running followed, after the pair had
crossed the Royal Albert Bridge (and into Cornwall), but
another late running service held the train up at Truro.
After numerous signal checks between Truro and Penzance,
the ACE rolled up to the buffer stop at Penzance 12
minutes late.
On Monday 8th of September, the Atlantic Coast
Express would return to London, again with ‘Braunton’ and
‘Nunney Castle’ at the head of the train as far as Exeter,
and with ‘Tangmere’ taking the train back to London
Victoria. Departure from Penzance was 6 minutes late, and
this deficit was carried through until Liskeard, where the
two locomotives started to make up time. In fact, as the
pair crossed the Royal Albert Bridge and back into Devon,
they were nearly 10 minutes early - the ACE had completed
the journey in 111 minutes, the fastest steam run between
t h e
t w o
i n
p r e s e r v a t i o n .
After a 90 minute water stop, the ACE was ready
to tackle the Devon Banks once again, though this time
heading east. First up was the 1in42 gradient to Hemerdon
summit, and after a fast run past Laira, the two locomotives
were never going to be in real trouble over this gradient.
And indeed they weren’t, as they cleared the gradient on
time and at a minimum of 25mph. A fast run through
Totnes meant that they were a couple of minutes early as
they cleared the 1in60 gradient up to Dainton.
Back on the flat through Newton Abbot and
Teignmouth, the two locomotives should have been up to
75mph, though a late running stopping service through
Dawlish meant that the ACE was held back along the sea
wall. With the stopper now looped at Dawlish Warren, the
excursion could get up to their maximum speed of 75mph,
and arriving into Exeter St Davids slightly early.
At Exeter, a reshuffle took place ahead of one of
the highlights of the trip - an ascent of the 1in37 gradient
from Exeter St Davids to Exeter Central. With the ‘Castle’
now detached from the train, and ‘Tangmere’ now back on
the front, the slog to the summit could begin. Departing
Exeter St Davids 3 minutes late at 14:40, the two Bulleid
Pacifics started the climb well, but the twisting nature of the
1in37 meant the speed dropped dramatically as it
approached the tunnel, approximately half way up the bank.
On exiting the tunnel, the speed was down to
10mph, and in the next 500 yards, the speed continued to
drop. After nearly 10 minutes, they made it to the top of
the bank at 4mph, and into Exeter Central station.
At Exeter Central, ‘Braunton’ was detached,
allowing ‘Tangmere’ to continue on to London unassisted.
The departure from Exeter Central was about 5 minutes
late, but by the time the train had reached the first pathing
stop at Honiton, the delay was up to 10 minutes. The climb
to Honiton Tunnel from Honiton station is 1in90 for nearly
2 and a half miles, but ‘Tangmere’ was up to the challenge
and lifted the 12 coach train up the gradient and on towards
the first water stop at Chard Junction. The departure from
Chard Junction was delayed again, as a result of a late
running service train, and at Yeovil Junction, the deficit was
now 25 minutes.
A 5mph speed restriction at Sherborne meant that
Southern Railway fans could enjoy the sound of ‘Tangmere’
accelerating away from the speed restriction on the 1in100
gradient through Milbourne Port, and with the sun starting
to set, the Bulleid didn’t disappoint, reaching 23mph where
the track levelled out.
With service trains around the ACE becoming
delayed (a result of a level crossing failure in the Axminster
area), the ACE was stuck at Gillingham for nearly 90
minutes, and on leaving Gillingham, the delay was now 40
minutes. A good fast run through Tisbury meant the deficit
was back down to 30 minutes, and on reaching the water
stop at Salisbury, the delay was now just 20 minutes.
Unfortunately, the delay meant that ‘Tangmere’
wouldn’t be allowed out ahead of a stopping service to
London Waterloo. ‘Tangmere’ was in no hurry, it seemed,
as it reached the summit of Porton Bank (1in100) at 50mph,
and glided through Grateley and Andover at 60mph.
After numerous signal checks around Overton, the
ACE was put onto the slow line at Basingstoke, but this
allowed for a fast run up the South Western Main Line to
the water stop at Brookwood. The delays earlier in the day
on the single track sections between Exeter and Salisbury,
however, meant that 34067 would be sat in the platform at
Brookwood at the wrong time, meaning the service train
behind it would be delayed in turn.
Having passed through Woking, the ‘Battle of Britain’
turned left at Byfleet and New Haw and onto the line
through Staines, for a gentle run back into London Victoria.
12 hours after the train had left Penzance, the Atlantic
Coast Express pulled into platform 2 at London Victoria 25
minutes late.
So although this railtour wasn’t quite what Steam
Dreams had originally hoped for, it was still a weekend to
remember, with the incredible scenes at Exeter Central
being the highlight of my weekend to the West Country. I
hope the tour was a success for Steam Dreams, and my
thanks to everyone involved in making this weekend a great
one.
Sarah Tindall
Alan Sedgwick
C.J. Sutcliffe
Jaymz Griffiths
Jordan Mossom
Matt Ditch
C.J. Sutcliffe
Dan Gosling
Simon Beedie
The West Highlander
With the summer season over and done with,
autumn was kicked straight into action with a number
Preserved line galas and events. The Railway Touring
Company also had their own way of closing the summer
season, a 4 day steam tour of the West highlands of
Scotland. The West Highlander Steam Express is an Annual
4 day tour started in the North West of England taking in
some of the most beautiful lines in the country, including
the Oban branch and the well-known Fort William – Mallaig
branch. Motive power came from a whole host of ex
Highland engines including the unexpected addition of a
Highland Class 37! Working with West Coast Railway and
the loco owners, Railway Touring Company have organised
a trip that can be thoroughly enjoyed whether on board or
chasing by roadside.
Day 1 was kicked off in the capable hands of 61994
‘The Great Marquees’ with Gordon Hodgson on the
regulator, departure from Preston was on time with 47245
tagged behind to be dropped off at the Carnforth water
stop. She passed us at Bay Horse a couple of minutes late
due to a late running Inter Model in front but had soon
caught this up by Carnforth leaving 1 minute early for the
attack of Shap. We had placed our self not far from Shap
Wells for this and got a good view of 61994 curving along
the gorge in the distance listening to the crisp 3-cylinder
beat. The 7 coach load was nothing too strenuous for the
K4 and reported topping the summit at 32MPH and making
a quick decent down the other side including missing out a
pathing stop in Penrith leaving the with a 26 minute early
arrival into Carlisle. She was then held at Carlisle to right
time with a crew changeover, Peter walker taking over
from Gordon Hodgson, and passed our group again at
Mossband hard on the tail of another freight train but
putting in a great performance. After jumping another
pathing stop at Quintinshill goods loop, arrival into
Lockerbie was 20 minutes early allowing a bit extra time for
water and getting Marquees ready for the climb to Beattock
summit. Departure from Lockerbie goods loop was 7
minutes late due to late running service trains but
nonetheless 61994 kept as close to time as possible and
managed a steady climb of Beattock topping the bank at
24mph, still only 7 minutes down, before pulling into the
loop to allow further services to pass. Leaving the loop 10
minutes late due to further service delays, 61994 made a
quick sprint to Carstairs to have another drink before the
final sprint to Glasgow Central arriving in to the Terminus
of the WCML 17:06, only 10 minutes down, a brilliant
achievement for an engine that was built for the steep
climbs of the West Highland mainline. Once all passengers
were off the train 37516 was attached to the rear of the
train and the 2 locos worked the Empty stock to Bo’ness
for an overnight stop.
The second day was kicked off with a bit of sad
news to hear that 61994 had to be left behind at Bo’ness
due to a few boiler issues. However this news was taken in
light, a 37 on the West Highland line used to be a regular
occurrence in BR days before they were withdrawn and
DMUs took their jobs over. So we continued as planned
and headed to Dumbarton for the first shot of the day.
37516 ‘Loch Laidon’ was seen working through Dumbarton
East station only 3 minutes late after catching up from a 26minute late departure from Glasgow Queen Street.
However pathing stops were kept to and we once again
met her at Ardlui where she powered over the viaduct and
up the bank. That was it then, quick running allowed her to
arrive nearly 10 minutes early into Crianlarich where her
job was over and she handed over the train into the
Capable hands of Ian Riley’s 2 black 5s 44871 and 45407.
The 2 engines were to top and tail the train up the Oban
branch with 44871 working the Crianlarich – Oban Leg and
45407 working the Oban – Crianlarich, both engines faced
Glasgow for this run and both managed well with the run
and were seen working hard on the climbs out of the
stations, plenty of stops along the way to collect the Radio
token and allowing services to pass. The line speed of the
route allowed our self on the road to catch up quite a bit
and as road and rail run parallel for a lot of the run, there
was a lot of parallel running in sections. Arrival into Oban
was 7 minutes early at 1:20pm, which allowed the
passengers a good hour to explore the small fishing town
and get some food before departure 2:14pm. 45407 took
charge of the return leg back to Crianlarich with 44871
assisting on the rear. We caught the pair at Kilchurn Castle
crossing the girder bridge over the river Orchy in fantastic
MATT EVANS
light, both engines making great time. Arrival into
Crianlarich was 12 Minutes early at 4:05pm, now 44871
took charge again with 45407 assisting on the other end for
the final leg to Fort William. The pair rolled down the
gradient past us at Horseshoe curve and kept to time right
down the line as we watched them disappear from the A
Road and on to Rannoch and Corrour. We met them again
at dusk as they rolled into Spean Bridge station to collect
the Radio token, both weren’t sat for long and as soon as
the token was acquired, one final sprint took place to Fort
William where they arrived 2 Minutes early allowing for the
passengers to rest there head before another busy day!
As the mist hung over Fort William on the Morning
of day 3, K1 62005 rolled out of the yards at Fort William
and into the station ready to take charge of the RYTC’s
trip. 44871 was also being prepared on shed to work the
daily Jacobite tour for WCRC which would depart an hour
later once the tour had cleared. Departure was right on
time and as we waited at Corpach, you could watch her as
she coasted along in the far distance. She slowed down for
the station and coasted over the level crossing before the
driver opened her up across the Loch wall and back up to
line speed. A quick dash to the car allowed us the chance to
experience her over Glenfinnan viaduct, of course famous
for its part in the Harry potter films but there was no Ford
Anglia’s in sight this time! She took the gradient off the
viaduct with ease and arrived into the station on time and
departing after the token was collected and we caught her
again on the other side once again working hard up the
gradient. She was caught several more times on some of the
well-known locations along the line before an on time
arrival in Mallaig after a sterling performance on Beasdale
bank. We backtracked a bit to just after Glenfinnan again to
catch 44871 work the Jacobite up and made an equally
brilliant performance on the gradients and was seen again
working into Morar station before dropping down into
Mallaig for a break. Not long had 44871 arrive, 62005 was
ready to head south again, the atmosphere at Mallaig was
unimaginable with 2 steam tours taking up the platform
space and no modern units in site. Departure was on time
and once again there was a no fuss effort made of the
gradients out of Mallaig and made quick work of the return
to Fort William arriving 7 minutes early where 45407 was
ready and prepared to take the tour back to Glasgow. After
attaching, the black 5 had a short wait whilst the Sleeper
train to London was being prepared for a later departure
that evening. Departure was at 3:30pm right on time and
she quite quickly disappeared off into the Hills of Rannoch.
However we soon found her again running nearly 20
minutes early at Bridge Of Orchy working hard around the
Horseshoe gradient and up the climb towards County
March Summit. A quick run up the road to Crianlarich
allowed us the chance to watch her coming in which
amazed many of the onlookers in the hotel next to the line.
On arrival at the station, they then had a 2 hours break,
which allowed the Passengers a chance to stretch their legs
and walk down to the nearest pub for a drink. It gave the
crew chance to water 45407 and attach 37516, which had
been idling in the head shunt since the day before, to the
rear of the train for assistance with the empty stock to
Bo’ness that night. We left the tour to it at that point and
headed for the hotel in Glasgow. 45407 made easy work of
the route back and arrived on time at Glasgow Queen
Street before heading with the ECS to Bo’ness and would
make a Light engine move back to Fort William the
following day. We had been greeted with the news that a
lot of hard work by the support crew has been done and
61994 was repaired and ready to take charge of the final
day of the tour!
For day 4, passengers had to make their way across
Glasgow to the suburb station of Barnhill where they were
met by 61994 fit and ready for the final day and a sprint
along the rarely used Glasgow and South Western Railway
to Carlisle with Mr. Hodgson back in the driver’s seat. We
met her at Prestwick town where she made a quick sprint
through behind a service train to Ayr. They soon arrived at
the water stop at Falkland a couple of minutes early and had
an hour and a half to top up the tanks. From here they
curved off at Ayr junction and headed for Annbank. None
of the gradients on this stretch affected her and she arrived
at Mauchline 7 minutes early for a pathing stop leaving again
on time. Keeping to line speed most of the way they
arrived in Dumfries 2 minutes late and left 2 late for a the
final leg to Carlisle. They passed us at a level crossing not
far outside Dumfries making a good effort on the gradient
and then started dipping down onto Gretna Junction
officially entering the tour back into England for the first
time since Friday morning. Arrival into the Citadel station
was 1 minute late before she moved off into the goods loop
leaving the passengers a good 2 and half hours to explore
the border city and get some lunch. At 3:53pm, 61994
departed Southbound over Shap with the final leg of the
epic 4 day trip in the capable hands of Mick Rawling, we saw
her working hard on the grade past Southwaite before she
entered the goods loop at Plumpton for a brief stop to
allow further services to pass which were hot on her toes
at Southwaite. She left the loop 3 minutes late due to a
number of services delayed and
started well, unfortunately the
late running trains in front kept
her meeting amber and red
signals till Penrith where she
passed through 5 minutes late.
Still able to make a spirited run
to Shap summit they reached
the top at 48.5MPH before
dropping down through the
Lune Gorge. They kept a steady
60mph down the other side of
Shap before arrival into
Carnforth Goods loop 9
minutes late for a quick water
stop. A quick turnaround got
them out of the loop only 4
minutes down. Marquees made
easy work and kept at her limit
for the rest of the run keeping
good distance from the services
in front and behind her. She passed us one final time at
Outbeck Goods Loop before arriving into Preston only 5
minutes late. 37668 and 37518 arrived at Preston behind
the tour and were attached to the rear of the stock to take
the empty stock and 61994 back to Carnforth for a rest.
Despite her boiler issues taking her away from Day
2 and 3 of the tour, 61994 had put in a brilliant
performance and delayed no services on the busy West
Coast Mainline on Day 1 and 4 taking on some of the
steepest gradients in the country.
The tour that took in over 700 miles of railways
ranging from that major WCML to the short Crianlarich –
Oban branch and that used 4 different steam locomotives
and 1 diesel locomotive has ended, and was a success. A full
train of passengers enjoyed exactly what they were
promised through stunning scenery and on some very tough
gradients. A big hand is deserved to all loco crews, support
crew, on train staff and everyone behind the scenes from
WCRC, Network Rail and RYTC for this tour as even at
the time where things were looking down, they still kept
the tour running to time and to the correct destination.
Here’s to next year, which will hopefully be just as
successful!
James Corben
Matt Toms
Joe Connell
WITH APOLOGIES TO ‘THE JAM’ BUT NOT QUITE…
Down In The Tube Station At Midnight
The last few years have seen some magnificent
activities happening on the London Underground , whether
it be the return of steam underground or steam on the
Chesham Branch . The public have embraced it and
tremendous interest has been shown . Photographically
though its been down to what can be obtained as opposed
to something more photographer focused. The visit of both
Met 1 and the preserved 1960’s Cravens Set to the Epping
and Ongar Railway at last provided the opportunity for that
omission to be corrected .
The Epping and Ongar railway has both steam and
London Underground credentials . Originally opened by
the Great Eastern Railway in 1865. In 1957 the line was
electrified become part of the Central line. Services ran
until 1994 when LT closed the now loss making section. Its
initial post LT history makes an interesting story in its right
with DMU services initially returning in 2004 and running
until 2007 when a change of ownership saw significant
investment to create the line you see today . To mark
Twenty years since the end of London Underground trains
the railway ran a celebration “End of the Tube” event.
Cravens Heritage Trains Limited has its origins in
efforts to preserve the Epping Ongar section of
the Central Line. In the early 1990s when the
closure was first proposed local rail enthusiasts
formed the Ongar Railway Preservation Society
(ORPS). In 1994 a small group of ORPS
members decided to purchase 1960 Stock cars
3906, 4927 and 3907, the train that operated
the last Epping - Ongar service. The Motor cars
were built not surprisingly by Cravens of
Sheffield . The trailer car actually dates from
much earlier . The group also own a set of
1962 stock as well , plus are endeavouring to
restore Epping Signal Box . It is also worth
noting that the Cravens set was also moved
from its normal home at Ruislip depot and
actually being delivered by Rail , the stop blocks
being removed between the end of LT metals
and the EOR on the
Thursday evening.Met 1
(or L44) is far better
known from its home at
Buckinghamshire Railway centre and
many visits to preserved railways
and star performances on the Steam
on the Met events.
So the stage was set for our
event . A very rare opportunity to
see LU electric and steam stock side
by side . I hope you will indulge this
little illusion as in my mind it is the
early 1960’s , an early autumn
evening and Neasden’s “pet” steam
loco has been rostered for PW
duties . With a short train of Lt flat
brake van, ballast and
sleeper
loaded rectank it can look forward
to a busy night. At North Weald the
tube train is ready to go . A few
passengers await a night in the city
momentarily distracted by the sight
of steam once again on the branch
and with little coertion they appear
MARTIN CREESE
in our images. With a London Bus out side at the front plus
and with an era shift a 1978 Auston Allegro we set up a
number of little cameo's. All too soon our night comes to
an end and I have to bid farewell to the scene . Lights
packed away , wagons in the sidings and Met 1 back on shed
it is time to confront the 130 mile journey back to 2014.
My thanks go to Dave Horsley for inviting us to
have this unique evening shoot, Tony Goulding and the
crew on Met 1 for appearing in the images , the nocturnal
runpasts and patiently positioning the engine to our needs.
To everyone else involved not least Ron who having stayed
up all the preceding evening to see the Craven arrive then
kept the refreshment stall running for us . As always our
events are open to all regardless of photographic ability. To
follow
us
our
Facebook
page
is
www.facebook.com/30742charters
Mat Yardley
Sarah Tindall
Martin Creese
North Eastern Goes Great Western
CHRIS BALL
Great Dorset Steam Fair 2014
How many countries in the world can you think of,
where people will willingly spend 6 days in a muddy field, in
a caravan, praying that the ground will dry up to watch
steam engines at work?
Well they do say that the British are slightly mad,
and perhaps that is why every year, 600 acres of Dorset
fields become the largest steam rally in the world - the
Great Dorset Steam Fair!
The date for the 2014 show was Wednesday 27th
to Sunday 31st of August, providing enthusiasts with no
fewer than 5 days to enjoy the gigantic show.
As per usual with the shows, 2014 had a special theme to
base the events of the week around, and appropriately for
the 100th anniversary, this year’s theme was the First World
War. A lot of effort is always put into the Great Dorset’s
theme, and this year was no exception. Authentic trenches
complete with dug outs and field kitchens were dug into the
showfield, a huge variety of authentic War Department
vehicles and machinery were assembled into the displays,
and there was even a remembrance service to
commemorate the fallen men of the conflict was held on
the Friday.
Undoubtedly the highlight of the wartime theme for
most steam enthusiasts was the debut of Neil Gough’s
10NHP McLaren road locomotive No 1332 ‘Gigantic’.
Having bought the engine a few years ago, the owner took
the large decision to replace the unauthentic 8NHP cylinder
block that was atop the engine with a brand new 10NHP
block, bringing the engine back to its original state. Along
with his team of engineers, Neil completed the engine less
than 1 day before No 1332 was due to head to Dorset, and
indeed the 1st or low gear had not been fitted in time for
the show. Just as incredible, was that ‘Gigantic’s first
movements with her new cylinder block was the Great
Dorset’s publicity heavy haulage road run, during which No
1332 and a fellow McLaren hauled a very heavy Holt gun
Tractor from the Bovington Tank Museum, through the
town of Blandford Forum, and to the GDSF site, a great
achievement indeed, especially without low gear! The
second McLaren on the road run was the Searle families
well known 10NHP road locomotive No 1652 ‘Boadicea’ of
1918, an engine that is no stranger to road runs. McLarens
are well known for their fast turns of speed when in top
gear, which makes them extremely popular when on road
runs. But what is the relevance of the McLarens to the First
World War? That connection lies, ironically, with the Holt
Gun tractor that was on the trailer behind the ‘Mac’s, as
that was what ended the McLarens’ War Department
career’s. During the war, McLaren and several other
manufacturers were given the contract by the WD to
design and build a large and powerful steam gun tractor to
haul the heavy 20-pount Howitzer guns to and fro the
western front. McLaren’s solution was the 10NHP
locomotives on the road run. With large straked back
wheels and an enormous amount of power, the McLarens
were unfortunately too heavy for the job, regularly sinking
in the mud, and so the War Department sold the 4 engines
in their ownership back to the United Kingdom.
That point takes us nicely back onto the main site,
and onto the 3rd 10NHP McLaren present at Dorset this
year. This was Mike Dreelan’s immaculate showmans style
10NHP road locomotive No 1625 ‘Goliath’. No 1625 was
in fact one of the original McLarens supplied to the War
Department in 1917. Following her
national service in France, No 1625
along with three other working and
one bomb damaged engines were sold
to the well-known Showman Pat
Collins of Bloxwhich, who presented
the three converted engines in
immaculate condition, and there is no
doubt that No 1625 is still kept in
fabulous condition, with gleaming
paintwork and polished brass all
making the engine a real credit to the
owners.
The highlight of any Great
Dorset for most steam enthusiasts has
got to be the heavy haulage arena,
undoubtedly the best rally for such
events. Commonly known to most as
‘the play pen’, the heavy haulage arena
THOMAS FREEMAN
never has a dull moment. There is normally always a road
locomotive of some form hauling a load such as a generator
or a lump of granite through the Watford Gap and up the 1
-in-12 hill to the top of the hill. Amongst the usual
participants in this year’s heavy haulage arena was the Wing
families 7NHP Burrell road locomotive No 3257 ‘Clinker’ of
1911. ‘Clinker’ was brought by the family up from its
normal Cornwall base for the Road Run the week before,
and could often be seen on a load of some form. Another
popular Burrell road locomotive at most Great Dorset’s
was Nick Baker’s 6NHP No 3593 ‘Duke of Kent’, and
engine that is always seen in immaculate conditions. As per
usual, some of the Searle families collection of engines that
form ‘Horsham Traction’ were in attendance, to accompany
their McLaren no 1652 ‘Boadicea’. This year, Burrell crane
engine No 3829 ‘His Majesty’ and Fowler No 8920 ‘The
Great North’ were the chosen two, and they could also be
seen running around the site. One of the more distant
travellers to the show was Chris Wedgewood’s Fowler
single cylinder traction engine No 11352 ‘Roland’ brought
over to the event from the Isle Of Man for the Great
Dorset, following its appearance at Lady Judy McAlpine’s
70th birthday party at Fawley Hill. Another long distance
traveller was Alfie Cheyenne’s Double Crank Compound
Burrell road locomotive No 3455 ‘Semper Fidelis’, 6NHP
compound of 1913, and an engine that recently emerged
from a heavy restoration by Jimmer Marsh.
Another regular engine at Dorset this year was Paul
Scholley’s 10NHP Fowler B6 crane fitted road locomotive
No.17106 ‘Duke of York’, supplied new in 1928 to
Marston’s Road Services. Interestingly, the canopy of
No.17106 also bears the name of another famous haulage
company, E.Box Ltd. When Edward Box sold his haulage
company off upon his retirement, Marston’s bought the
company and began to use the highly regarded name upon
their engines, with the canopies reading “Associated with
E.Box LTD” along side the usual “Marston’s Road Services.”
However, this did not go down well at all with fellow
Manchester based haulage firm Norman Box, Edwards son,
who was furious that Marston’s were using the Box name.
A court case followed, which Norman Box lost, and so
Marston’s were allowed to use the name. No.17106 was
used by Marston’s until the advent of diesel heavy haulage,
and proved to be very useful, especially thanks to the
addition of her very hefty crane attached to the smokebox,
the biggest Fowler’s would supply from the factory at a
12ton lift capacity.
Crane engines are not in short supply at Great
Dorset, and another engine making use of the drawbar pins
in the playpen was Dave Allen’s beautiful Burrell Double
Crank Compound crane engine No. 3197 ‘Old Tim’. This
immaculate 7NHP engine of 1910 was supplied new to
Screen Bros’ Limited of Oldbury, Birmingham. The engine
received a major overhaul back at Burrell’s Thetford works
following the wearing out of several parts in the 1920’s, and
then went back to work with the company until they gave
into other diesel haulage firms in the 30’s. The engine has
had many owners in preservation including well know
Wolverhampton engineer Leonard Crane, who sold the
engine to Mr Allen in the 90’s. Following a few years of
rallying, the decision was taken to give the engine another
thorough overhaul, as she was beginning to become tired.
This included a total repaint, which unfortunately lost the
1926 applied original Burrell paint. However, the engine is
now a fine example of Burrell’s work, and is certainly a firm
favourite.
But it’s not just the big road locomotives that enjoy
themselves at Great Dorset – Several agricultural and
general purpose traction engines, road rollers, steam
wagons and steam tractors could be seem within the
arena. Frequently seen on the charity trailer rides was
Foster 5NHP single cylinder general purpose engine
No. 14638 ‘The Little Gem’, out shopped from their
Lincoln works in 1933 and used for, as the name
suggests, general purpose tasks during her working
life. Ever popular at most rallies, the Burrell ‘Gold
Medal’ tractors were not in short supply at Dorset.
Two of the light, fast 4NHP tractors in attendance
were No.3786 ‘Tiger’ of 1918 and the Sarah Marsh’s
earlier compound of 1911 No.3442 ‘Harry’, both of
which could often be seen darting around the
playpen.
The various different marquees at the gigantic
show are always worth a look around, with the
National Traction Engine Trust’s restoration Marquee
being one of those with a wide array of exhibits that
normally evolve into a talking point. This year’s
highlight, for me anyway, was the inclusion of the two
engines that started the entire rally preservation
movement, Wallis & Steevens General Purpose
Engine No.7683 ‘Eileen The Erring’ of 1919 and
Marshall General Purpose Engine No.37690 ‘Old
Timer’. In 1950, July 30th to be exact, Arthur Napper
and Giles ‘Doc’ Romanes challenged each other to a
race between their two engines, all for a firkin of ale.
As it turned out, the Marshall won and, and Doc
Romanes had to leave without his ale, but he did
leave with National Traction Engine Trust
membership car number 2, and the entire movement
should be thankful to those men for starting our
diverse hobby’s prime showcases.
It’s all very well reading articles about the
Great Dorset, but there really only is one way to get
a taste of the show – Visit it yourself! People say you
can’t do it all in a day, which to a certain extent is
true. But normally it is possible to choose the areas
you’re most interested in, for example the heavy
haulage, or the working section or indeed the trade
stands or fair. So, if you’re looking forward to
something to do over the week of Wednesday 2nd to
Sunday 6th September 2015, head over to Blandford
Forum. You won’t be disappointed!
Matty Anderson
Thomas Freeman
Jaymz Griffiths
Thomas Freeman
C.J. Sutcliffe
James Horrell
Epping Ongar Railway’s End Of The Tube Event
September 30 1994; Ongar. It is late evening and
crowds have gathered at Ongar to witness the last
departure before the line between here and Epping is closed
to revenue-earning (or in the then case of the branch,
losing) service by London Underground. The service on this
occasion is operated with a 1960s Cravens unit. Central
Line Business Manager Leo Solosy gives the right away,
guard Malcolm Parker waves the green flag, and driver Jim
Quirk drives the vintage unit out of the station at 20:20, for
the very last time, setting a sequence of detonators off on
the viaduct. The train pauses at the summit of the line to
announce that here was the highest point on the Great
Eastern Railway, before continuing on to its journey’s end.
Station supervisor Brian Witham, with the aid of Mr
Solosy, emptied the ticket machines at Ongar. He then
pulled the station doors shut and locked up for the last
time. It was the end of an era.
September 25 2014; Ruislip Depot. An odd-looking
consist emerges at approximately 11:23pm and headed
towards the opposite end of the Central line. At 2.30am, a
familiar looking unit crosses the boundary between London
Underground’s and the Epping Ongar Railway’s limit at
Epping. Signalman Steve Gibson is on duty to receive this
movement at North Weald.
September 26 2014; Ongar. 9.30am and crowds are
gathering to see the first tube train arrival since the line was
closed, almost exactly 20 years ago. The very same Cravens
unit is being run in with the aid of no less than four LU
Schoma diesel units. History has been made…
The fact the EOR is the only heritage line to run on
former LU metals was always something special, and its
roots are still present in the marker posts along the line,
which remind all that Ongar is still the starting point for the
underground. However, with it being twenty years, a special
celebration was in order, and working with London
Underground and Cravens Heritage Trains, the Ongar
branch was able to put on a spectacular show that had
never been previously seen and may never be seen again in
the preservation era. A former London Underground tube
train running on heritage railway metals is indeed very
special and crowds once again flocked to branch to witness
this piece of history.
The line no longer being electrified, the Cravens
unit was operated by Schoma diesel locomotives; elusive
machines that are usually confined to depots or engineering
trains. The fact the four of these were in attendance,
providing the only opportunity to ride behind such
locomotives, was an added bonus for some.
In true Underground style, many services with the
Cravens were ‘standing room only.’
Representing the steam side, Metropolitan 1 was in
attendance. In addition to passenger services, she also
operated demonstration engineer’s freight services in the
North Weald Station limits, putting on an impressive show
for the railway’s first such public runs. The freight consisted
of a former LU Flat-brake, ballast hopper, and a sleeperloaded resident rectank flatbed.
OWEN HAYWARD
Friday 26 saw LU Managing Director unveil a replica
0.0km mark at Ongar, celebrating the link between LU and
the EOR.
Saturday 27 saw some services run right down to
the railway’s boundary with LU, stopping safely short of the
fence that divides the two operating companies.
On Sunday 28th, as part of the ”Year Of The Bus
Celebrations” marking 60 years of the Routemasters, a bus
rally was also held, with various designs of buses from
throughout the years in attendance.
An immensely popular, and truly unique, event in
the heritage sector, it is almost a shame for it to be over.
The Cravens will soon return to its home depot; the
Schomas due for battery-electric conversion; Metropolitan
1 back off on her travels, starting with her home at
Quainton Road. But the show will never be forgotten.
Dan Gosling
Kristian Gough
Mat Yardley
Matt Ditch
Autumn Gala Preview - Part III
For the final time this year, we bring you our
Autumn Steam Gala preview… October brings a wealth of
events up and down the country, featuring high profile
events from the Worth Valley and Mid Hants, to the lesser
known galas at the Avon Valley, and low key events at other
railways like the Bodmin and Wenford and Avon Valley, so
let’s get going!..
The ‘Volcano’ is launched!
The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway is to use its
Autumn Steam Spectacular over the weekend of 10th – 12th
October to welcome back into traffic an old favouriteSouthern Railway designed West Country Class 34092
“City of Wells”. This loco’ re-entered traffic back in August,
but the gala marks its official launch into full traffic. The
loco’ will still be running without nameplates, before its
official naming and rededication next year. This will star
alongside a visiting loco which is currently TO BE
ANNOUNCED, as well as LMS ‘Black 5’ 45305, making its
final appearance in its BR Black livery, and the KWVR home
fleet of Midland 4F 43924, returning home after its recent
sting at the Severn Valley Railway, WD 8F 90733, USATC
S160 5820 ‘Big Jim’, and the Bahama’s Loco Society’s LNWR
Coal Tank 1054 and Hudswell Clarke 1704 “Nunlow”. The
usual series of the action packed timetabling will once again
be in appearance, while there will also be a number of
enthusiasts’ events, including a night shoot on the evening of
Friday the 10th of October at Keighley station, which will
feature 34092 “City of Wells” and 43924 on a mixture of
goods and freight trains, and a Sunday morning freight
charter which will feature 45305 on a BR goods train, for
the final time in its BR livery. This looks to be a top notch
gala, with the return of an old friend making it truly special
and something to look forward to!
Bodmin goes Victorian and Branchline
The Bodmin and Wenford Railway is to hold two
very special events throughout two weekends in October.
The first, to be held over the 11th and 12th of October, will
feature Victorian locomotives working to an intensive
timetable over the steeply graded line. Visiting will be the
NRM’s replica of Stephenson’s “Rocket”, which will provide
rides within the limits of Bodmin General Station. The
home fleet will feature LSWR T9 30120, fresh from its visit
to Didcot Rail Centre for the summer season, and LSWR
Beattie Well Tank 3298, both of which will be operating a
train service along the two branchline from Bodmin
General.
Fast forward a week and you come to the Cornish
Railway’s ‘other’ event- the branchline weekend. This will
feature a 1960s feel, with Auto fitted Pannier Tank 6435
working with the line’s Autotrain on some services, while
others will be worked by the resident DMU. An intensive
timetable will be in use, with running over both of the
railway’s branch lines.
Swanage Autumn Steam Gala – October 17th – 19th
The Swanage Railway will also be heading away
from its usual “territory” for its Autumn Steam Gala. Star
visitors will be GWR 15xx 1501 from the Severn Valley
Railway, which will make a fine sight powering up the line
from the seaside on the Isle of Purbeck, while a fellow
London loco’ will also be visiting, in the form of
Metropolitan Railway E Class ‘Met No. 1’. The home fleet of
Light Pacific No. 34070 “Manston”, U Class 31806, M7
30053, and 56xx Taffy Tank 6695 will also be in service,
allowing the lovely locomotives to be seen in full light. An
intensive service will, as always, be in use, while this gala will
SAM SHENTON
be overshadowed by the fact that SR Light Pacific 34028
“Edystone” has recently been withdrawn, and thus, will not
be in attendance- a quite depressing note.
East Lancashire Streaks – October 18th and 19th
After York[shire]’s A4 fest in 2013 and winter
2014, Lancashire is buying in on the game with the East
Lancashire Railway’s Autumn Steam Gala! Two of Gresley’s
finest express passenger engines will grace the line over the
two day gala, with 60007 “Sir Nigel Gresley” and 60009
“Union of South Africa” being the two visiting locomotives
to this exciting gala. As well as this, the eastern region feel
will be further enhanced with the presence of K4 61994
“The Great Marquess”, which will be returning to the
railway for the gala. The home fleet, featuring Austerity
WD132 “Sapper”, BR Std 4 80080, and Pecket “May” will
be in service, while the newly- overhauled Fowler/ Hughes
‘Crab’ 13065 will complete the superb line up of
locomotives. The gala be alive with the usual morning photo
charters, which will feature K4 61994 “The Great
Marquess” on the Saturday, and A4 60009 “Union of South
Africa” on the Sunday, while the 3P20 Parcels Group will be
operating a night shoot on the Friday evening prior to the
gala at the Sheds, featuring a number of locomotives. The
week prior to the gala will feature an “Eastern Day” with
Deltic D9009 “Alycidon”, A4 60009 “Union of South
Africa” and K4 61994 “The Great Marquess” all featuring.
Tanks a lot at the Avon Valley – October 18th and
19th
The Avon Valley Railway, near Bristol, is to hold its
annual end of Season Gala, with this year’s being an allsteam event for the first time! The resident steam
locomotive, Austerity “Earl David”, will be joined by a trio
of visiting BR steam locomotives for one weekend only.
This will be joined by an even smaller locomotive in the
form of Beattie Well Tank 30585, meaning that a
locomotive or more than 100 years of age will be in
attendance. Also visiting will be London Transport ‘Small
Prairie’ L.150 (5521), as well as the recently returned to
Graeme Watson
traffic Heavy Freight Tank 4270, courtesy of the
Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway and Jeremy Hosking,
and on its way down to the Mid Hants Railway. This quad of
steam locomotives will be seen at work on demonstration
freight and passenger trains, running to the line’s popular
intensive gala timetable- an event truly not to be missed!
The Watercress Line goes West – October 24th –
25th!
The Mid Hants Railway is to extend westwards with
its Autumn Steam Gala, which will feature a wide array of
western locomotives. Star visitor will be ‘Castle’ 5029
“Nunney Castle”, which will be visiting after taking part in
the also western themed NYMR Steam Gala. Jeremy
Hoskings’ GWR Express passenger machine will be running
alongside three other of its stalemates, including GWR
Modified Hall 6960 “Raveningham Hall”, from the West
Somerset Railway, Heavy Freight Tank 4270, from the
Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway and fresh from a
visit to the Avon Valley, and home based BR 9F 92212. Also
visiting, courtesy of the Severn Valley Railway, will be both
14xx Autotank 1450 and Autocoach “Chaffinch”.
Complementing the line-up of visitors will be the railway’s
two Southern Railway beauties, Nos. 850 “Lord Nelson”
and 925 “Cheltenham”, ensuing that an amazing gala is held
with a wide array of locomotives, many of which will make
beautiful sights and sounds (but mostly sounds) on ‘the
alps’!
James Corben
Sam Batcheler
Matt Evans
Kristian Gough
The View From Locoyard
It has been an interesting few weeks on
Locoyard.com. An interesting development came from
someone who used the contact facility on the website.
Occasionally requests are received, usually to ask whether
someone can use one of the (almost) 5000 images to be
found on the site (and incidentally the answer to these
requests is almost always yes, providing we hold the
copyright and that the website be credited.) The request I
refer to came from a media consultant representing a
“major retailer’s campaign”.
After a few emails going back and forth I agreed to
support the campaign and write a piece on the website
timed to coincide with part of the retailers campaign. It
turned out that the retailer was John Lewis Insurance
whose campaign “toy Story” (for which you may have seen
commercials on TV) was focussing on model trains.
Like it or hate it, there is a link between toy trains
and high fidelity scale models, although it is not something
we might like to admit. This does not diminish the great
work of some railway modellers. In my view it is not a bad
thing that there is such a link, because toy trains provide a
vital link and stepping stone that introduces the children of
today to the hobby of model railways and will lead them on
a path to become a model railway enthusiast. If you think
of the enjoyment, the skills and sense of achievement that a
model railway can give you, it would be such a shame if the
younger generations did not have the stepping stones to
enjoy the hobby.
The fantastic model layouts that we see at
exhibitions and published in model railway publications are
not toys and can be better described as works of art. But
in the same way that someone can become an artist after
being a child who enjoyed using crayons on colouring-in
books, toy trains can provide that foundation needed for
the youth to be hooked in to this fantastic hobby.
It is often said by many commentators in the UK
that a healthy Hornby is good news for everyone in the
industry. This is largely down to the brand of Hornby being
synonymous with toy and model trains. In the UK market,
they still offer a large range of trains that are better
described as toys than scale models. Some of these toys
can be improved into something pretty decent when their
owner grows out of them, if they ever do! The great thing
about a 00 scale train set is that the components of it are
mostly compatible with the super-detailed products,
allowing the hobby to become as involved as you wish and/
or afford.
It was with some pride that locoyard supported the
campaign and flew the flag for model trains as being the
greatest toys in the world. I hope you agree that they are!
More details can be found on the website.
In other news (although not the most exciting of
things) you may have
noticed that the look of
the
website
has
changed.
The new
format should be a little
more reliable and easier
to navigate then before.
Much more exciting was
the Severn Railway’s
gala coverage by Alex
and Simon’s reports
capturing some great
mainline steam action.
Meanwhile, I am
enjoying researching
ideas for my new model
railway.
This has
involved finding out
much and has given an insight into how difficult it is to
recreate a scene accurately. If you want to get it right,
there are so many details you have to consider. It remains
to be seen how much of an accurate recreation I will make,
inevitably it will fall somewhere between an exact replica
and a toy. But the level of detail I will be happy with, I’m
not too sure at the moment… watch this space to find out!
As ever, do come to Locoyard.com, as there is
much more ranting and reporting to be found there! We
have over 1,000 blog posts for you to browse through and
we hope that you will find much of interest! This includes
pictures, videos and articles including model locomotive
reviews and DCC Fitting Guides.
Until next issue, thanks for reading, from
Locoyard.com, proud to be the blog of UK Heritage Hub!
Matt Toms
Don Brundell
Daniel Gosling
James Corben
Locomotive No. 1 - 150 Years Young
Talyllyn Railway Locomotive No.1 Talyllyn was the centre
of attention on Wednesday 24 September when it celebrated 150
years to the day since it was completed at the Lowca works of
Fletcher Jennings & Co. in 1864. A special train was arranged for
invited guests and members of the public on the day. This started
with No.1 shunting some of the railway’s original slate and other
goods wagons at Tywyn Wharf station for the benefit of the
cameras.
Following the departure of the first public train of the
day hauled by the line’s newest steam locomotive, No.7 Tom Rolt,
No.1 was then joined by the railway’s other original locomotive
No.2 Dolgoch. No. 2 had brought down the railway’s original
passenger stock to form the special train.
After further photographs No.1 departed with the slate
wagons, breaking through a special celebration banner as it did so.
It was then followed by No.2 with the train carrying the guests.
At Brynglas, three miles from Tywyn, the trains were combined
and Nos.1 and 2 doubleheaded the train to Abergynolwyn.
Here there were words of welcome from the Talyllyn
Railway Preservation Society’s Chairman, Jane Garvey, and its
President, Richard Hope. There was also the launch of a new
book on the history of the Locomotives of the Talyllyn and Corris
Railways by Society Member, Martin Fuller. Then a special cake
was cut by Dwyfor Meirionnydd Assembly Member Lord Dafydd
Elis-Thomas, a long-time friend of the Railway who had opened
the extension from Abergynolwyn to Nant Gwernol in 1976.
Following this the guests adjourned for a buffet meal before the
return to Tywyn.
Locomotive No.1 was built by Fletcher Jennings and Co.
as an 0-4-0 saddle tank locomotive, although it was not delivered
to Tywyn until April 1865. Then it was probably floated across
the Dyfi Estuary to Aberdyfi, before being transported to Tywyn
by the section of the coast railway open at that time. Later it was
rebuilt as an 0-4-2 tank due to its rough riding.
It remained in service with the Talyllyn Railway until
1945, when it made its last journey under the old company. When
the Preservation Society took over, No.2 was the sole working
locomotive, and No.1 was moved out of the loco works to be
stored on a siding under a barn roof.
However, in the late 1950s it was transported to the
West Midlands to the firm of Gibbons Bros., who restored the
locomotive to running order. It returned to service in 1958. Since
then it has continued to haul trains, except for repairs and
overhauls. However, its availability for its 150th birthday was
under threat earlier this year when a mechanical failure led to
severe damage to its motion. But with help from the Ffestiniog
Railway’s Boston Lodge Works the locomotive was available to
celebrate its 150th birthday.
Jane Garvey, Chairman of the Talyllyn Railway
Preservation Society, commented: ‘There are only a few
operational steam locomotives in the world that are 150 years
old. Therefore it is fantastic to have No.1 in steam on the exact
date it was completed in Whitehaven 150 years ago, particularly
after the events of earlier this year. Today we can celebrate
No.1’s birthday with pride and also look forward to many more’.
This event was the first in a series to mark the 150th
Anniversary of the Talyllyn Railway. In 2015 there will be five gala
weekends these will be on:
May 2nd to 4th
The Quarryman Experience
July 3rd to 5th
The 150th Party
August 7th to 9th
The 1865 – 2015 Gala
August 29th to 31st
The Heart of Gold Weekend
Sept. 25th to 27th
The Heritage Weekend
Don Brundell
James Batcheler
Matt Toms
Matty Anderson
Jaymz Griffiths
Matt Evans
James Batcheler
Dan Gosling
Kristian Gough
Mat Yardley
Graeme Watson
Preserved Fire Appliance Event
The Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service
have their own Fire Service Museum, which is located at the
rear of the old (and recently vacated) Rochdale Fire Station
on McLure Road in Rochdale. The museum is just a very
short walk from Rochdale’s Railway Station, and the
recently opened Metrolink Stop just at the front of the
station. The museum is open to the public on the first
Sunday in every month (or by prior
appointment), and often holds ‘special
events’, such as the ‘Preserved Fire
Appliances from across the Region’ event,
which was held there on Sunday 3rd of
September 2014.
Many tram enthusiasts may be
very familiar with the Fire Station
building, but not realise that there is a
museum located just to the rear of it, but
on open days, access can be easily gained
from the gates at the front side of the
main building, and visitors arriving by car
can park at the rear of the site on
Richard Street with little difficulty (though
there is also a very large car park just a
short walk away if required). Entry into
the museum is free, and as well as the
various permanent exhibits which are
always on display, books and other fire service related
souvenirs can be purchased from the museum shop, or food
and drinks (and lovely home made cakes) can be obtained
from the museum’s own café.
As this was a ‘special event’, a number of visiting
emergency service related vehicles were also in attendance,
as well as the usual ones which are based there, and this
being a lovely sunny day, all of these vehicles were out on
display in the station yard. Also attending that day where
two pumps from Rochdale’s current Fire Service, which has
recently re-located to a new Fire Station at Hamer, and the
fire personnel were happily giving demonstrations of the
equipment stored inside their vehicles to any of the visitors
that showed an interest.
The museum, which opened in 1983, is always well
worth visiting, and you will find the staff members (mostly
retired Fire personnel, and members of the Greater
Manchester Fire Service Museum Trust, who run the
museum) are very friendly and knowledgeable, and will be
only too happy to answer any questions that you may have,
or demonstrate the equipment to you. Different event are
held at regular times throughout the year, so it’s always
ALAN GALE
worth keeping an eye on their webpage for details of any
upcoming special events, and this can be found at the page
listed below:
http://www.manchesterfire.gov.uk/about_us/
fire_museum.aspx
Matt Evans
Jordan
Matt
Mossom
Ditch
Martin
Creese
Mainline Charters
Dates
Locos
Route
03/10/14
WCR class 47
Leicester - Sheffield - Shipley - Skipton - Settle - Criagendoran - Crianlarich - Fort William
WCRC
04/10/14
WCR class 47
Crewe - Wakefield Kirkgate - Northallerton - Darlington - Durham - Chester-le-Street - Oban
WCRC
04/10/14
86259/46115
London Euston – Milton Keynes– Crewe – Preston– Shap – Carlisle (break/return)
WCRC
04/10/14
TBA
Fort William – Mallaig – Fort William
WCRC
04/10/14
5043
Tyseley Warwick Road - Stourbridge - Cheltenham – Swindon – Oxford (break/return)
WCRC
04/10/14
45699
Hellifield – Carnforth – Preston – Blackburn – Hellfield – Settle – Carlisle (break/return)
WCRC
05/10/14
WCR Class 47
Aberdeen - Huntly - Keith - Elgin - Plockton - Kyle of Lochalsh (break/return)
WCRC
05/10/14
WCR Class 47
Fort William - Carlisle - Normanton - Sheffield - Loughborough - Leicester
WCRC
06/10/14
TBA
Oban - Darlington - York - Wakefield Kirkgate - Huddersfield - Stalybridge - Crewe
WCRC
09/10/14
GBRF class 73
09/10/14
70013
11/10/14
Crewe – Birmingham New Street – Wembley Yards c – Oxted– Sheffield Park (break/return)
TOC
GBRF
Tonbridge ion - Chiswick - Egham - Bath Spa - Bristol Temple Meads (break/return)
WCRC
WCR class 47
Carnforth – Preston – Copy Pit– Hull Docks – Doncaster– Barnetby – Copy Pit - Preston
WCRC
11/10/14
DRS class 20
11/10/14
46115/45690
Derby - Nuneaton - Cheltenham Spa - Cardiff - Hendy Junction - Llandeilo - Llandrindod Wells - Abbey Foregate Curve - Nuneaton
- Derby
Leicester– Sheffield– Hellfieild – S&C – Carlisle – Hexham – York – Sheffield - Leicester
WCRC
11/10/14
WCR Class 47
Newport - Great Malvern - Kidderminster - Stafford - Crewe - Aviemore - Inverness
WCRC
11/10/14
WCR Class 47
Cleethorpes - Barnetby - Scunthorpe - Thorne - Arundel - Chichester (break/return)
WCRC
12/10/14
12/10/14
13/10/14
70000/61264
TBA
WCR Class 47
WCRC
WCRC
WCRC
16/10/14
17/10/14
18/10/14
18/10/14
18/10/14
18/10/14
18/10/14
19/10/14
19/10/14
20/10/14
70000
WCR Class 47
WCR Class 47
46233
Steam TBA
45407/44871
4464
WCR Class 47
TBA
WCR class 47
London Kings Cross – Stevenage – Cambridge – Ely – Norwich – Lowestoft (break/return)
Inverness - Kyle of Lochalsh (break/return)
Inverness - Warrington - Crewe - Rowley regis - Stourbridge - Worcester - Great Malvern - Ledbury - Hereford - Abergavenny
- Cwmbran - Newport
Newbury - Reading - Ealing Broadway - Cambridge – Ely (break/return)
High Wycombe - Coventry - Birmingham International - Crewe - Carlisle - Fort William
Holyhead - Flint - Alrincham - Bolton - Preston - Carlisle - Aviemore – Inverness
Nottingham – Sheffield – Hellfield – S&C – Carlisle (break/return)
Westbury - Torquay - Paignton – Kingswear (break/return)
Fort William – Mallaig – Fort William
Tyseley Warwick Road - Evesham - Didcot Parkway - Bristol Temple Meads (break/return)
Inverness - Kyle of Lochalsh (break/return)
Fort William - Shap - Stafford - Birmingham International - Haddenham - High Wycombe
Inverness - Carlisle - Delamere - Chester - Llandudno Junction - Llanfairpwll - Holyhead
DRS
WCRC
WCRC
WCRC
WCRC
WCRC
WCRC
WCRC
WCRC
WCRC
WCRC
North Eastern Goes Great Western
SHEP WOOLLEY
Locomotive Allocations
Here are a selection of locomotives expected to be working at a few heritage railways. It is advised
that you check that railways website before making any special journeys for a given locomotive.
South Devon Railway
GWR 0-6-0 3205
GWR 0-6-0PT L92 (5786)
GWR 2-6-2T 5542
BR Class 37 D6975
BR Class 33 D6501 (33002)
West Somerset Railway
GWR ‘Manor’ 4-6-0 7828 ‘Odney Manor’
GWR ‘Hall’ 4-6-0 6960 ‘Raveningham Hall’
GWR ‘Hall’ 4-6-0 4936 ‘Kinlet Hall’
GWR ‘5101’ 2-6-2T 4160
GWR 2-6-2T 5542
SDJR ’7F’ 2-8-0 88
BR(W) Class 35 D7017
BR(W) Class 42 D832 ‘Onslaught’
BR Class 33 D6575
Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway
GWR 2-8-0 2807
GWR 2-8-0T 4270
GWR ‘Manor’ 4-6-0 7820 ‘Dinmore Manor’
LMS ‘8F’ 2-8-0 8274
BR Class 45 45149
BR Class 37 37215
Mid Hants Railway
SR ‘Schools’ 4-4-0 925 ‘Cheltenham’
SR ‘LN’ 4-6-0 850 ’Lord Nelson’
BR 9F 2-10-0 92212
BR Class 37 37905
North Norfolk Railway
GER ‘B12’ 4-6-0 8572
LNER ‘B1‘ 4-6-0 61306 “Mayflower“
LMS ‘5MT’ 4-6-0 44767
BR ‘9F’ 2-10-0 92203 “Black Prince”
Epping Ongar Railway
GWR ‘5101’ 2-6-2T 4141
BR Class 205 DEMU 205205
BR Class 33 33202
BR Class 37 D6729
BR Class 47 47635
BR Class 31 31438
Talyllyn Railway
Fletcher Jennings 0-4-2ST No. 1 ‘Talyllyn’
Fletcher Jennings 0-4-0WT No. 2 ‘Dolgoch’
Kerr Stuart Corris 0-4-2ST No. 4 ‘Edward Thomas;
Barclay 0-4-0WT No. 6 ‘Douglas’/“Duncan”
TR 0-4-2T No. 7 ‘Tom Rolt’
Keighley & Worth Valley Railway
SR ‘WC’ 4-6-2 34092 ‘City of Wells’
LMS ‘5MT’ 4-6-0 45305
WD ’8F’ 2-8-0 90733
USATC ‘S160’ 2-8-0 5820
MR 4F 0-6-0 43924
North Yorkshire Moors Railway
LNER ‘A4’ 4-6-2 60007 ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’
LNER ’B1’ 4-6-0 61264
LMS ‘5MT’ 4-6-0 44806
LMS ‘5MT’ 4-6-0 45428 “Eric Treacy”
BR ‘4MT’ 4-6-0 75029 “The Green Knight”
LHJC 0-6-2T No. 29
GWR 28xx 2-8-0 2807
GWR ‘Castle’ 4-6-0 5029 ‘Nunney Castle’
BR Class 25 D7628 “Sybilla”
BR Class 37 37264
BR Class 37 D6700
Kent & East Sussex Railway
GWR 0-6-0PT 1638
LBSCR ‘A1X’ 0-6-0T 32670
LBSCR ‘A1X’ 0-6-0T 32678
SR/USATC 0-6-0T No. 65
Hunslet ‘Austerity’ 0-6-0ST No. 23 “Holman. F. Stephens”
Great Central Railway
SR ‘King Arthur’ 4-6-0 777 ‘Sir Lamiel’
LMS ‘2MT’ 2-6-0 46521
LMS ‘8F’ 2-8-0 48624
LMS ‘3F’ 0-6-0T 47406
GNR ‘N2’ 0-6-2T 1744
BR ‘4MT’ 2-6-0 76084
BR ‘2MT’ 2-6-0 78019
BR ‘9F’ 2-10-0 92214
LNER D49 4-4-0 62712 ‘Mrayshire’
BR Class 20 D8098
BR Class 45 D123 “Leicestershire and Derbyshire Yeomanry”
Severn Valley Railway
LMS ’4MT’ 2-6-0 43106
SR ’WC’ 4-6-2 34053 ’Sir Keith Park’
GWR 2-6-2T 4566
GWR 0-6-0PT 1501
GWR 2-8-0 2857
GWR ’Manor’ 4-6-0 7812 ’Erlestoke Manor’
BR(W) Class 52 D1062 ‘Western Courier’
BR Class 20 D8059
BR Class 55 55019 ‘Royal Highland Fusilier’
Llangollen Railway
LMS ‘5MT’ 4-6-0 45337
GWR 2-8-0 3802
BR ‘4MT’ 2-6-4T 80072
BR Class 26 D5310
Editor
Rowan Jackson
I N YO UR N EX T UK HE RI TAG E H UB E - Z I N E ;

THE SMU TAKES TO THE CAPITAL
Deputy Editor
Matthew Collier

WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE AUTUMN’S KEY EVENTS

WE TAKE THE ANNUAL PILGRIMAGE TO FORT WILLIAM FOR THE STEAM BASH
P.R Officer
C.J. Sutcliffe

GALA REVIEWS FROM KEIGHLEY, LOUGHBOROUGH, SWANAGE & MORE

A PROFILE OF THE LEG ENDARY CONCORDE

ALL THIS, TOGETHER WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS AND IMAGES FROM THE HERITAGE WORLD AND
MUCH MORE BESIDES!
D UE F OR R EL E AS E: 2 4 T H OC TOB E R
Editorial Team
James Corben
Matthew Evans
Joseph Connell
Jordan Mossom
Brian Dominic
Simon Beedie
Sam Shenton
© Copyright
UKHH 2014
The copyright of all photographs featured within this magazine remains with the photographers credited.
No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any way without prior written consent from the editorial team.
Ste Marsh
Twitter
Facebook
Website
Google+
YouTube