Heritage Railway 'Queen Edition' 2015

‘LIZZIE’ TO CELEBRATE QUEEN’S 90TH BIRTHDAY

ISSUE ISSUE 207 ISSUE207 207 September 24 –

September September 24 24 –– October October 21 October 21 2015 October21, 212015 2015

BORDERS OPENED! ROYAL SOUVENIR ISSUE

AUTUMN

GALA SPECIAL

FLYING SCOTSMAN

FIRST TOUR AND GALA DATES

■ WATFORD UNDERGROUND STEAMTWILIGHT SUCCESS ■ ■ DARTMOOR RETHINK OVER ASHBURTON STATION ■

ROYAL OPENING SPECIAL

The Queen opens Bord – and becomes Britain’s longest-

The Queen alights from Pullman carPegasus, her royal carriage for the day, at Newtongrange station. PRESS ASSOCIATION SPECIAL REPORT

By Robin Jones WEDNESDAY, September 9 was for many reasons an historic day, when HM The Queen officially opened the new £294 million Borders Railway.

Firstly, the event marked the partial rolling back of one of the biggest closures of the Beeching era – that of the Waverley Route from Edinburgh to Carlisle.

Secondly, it was held on the day that Queen Elizabeth became the longestreigning monarch in more than a millennium of British history.

Thirdly, the day was a golden moment for the UK heritage sector.

Not only was LNER A4 streamlined Pacific No. 60009 Union of South Africa – a representative of the world’s fastest

class of steam locomotive – rostered to haul the royal special over the 30½mile line from Edinburgh Waverley to Tweedbank, but the royal train largely comprised stock supplied by the Scottish Railway Preservation Society, and was stewarded by its volunteers.

The line between Tweedbank and the capital had been opened to the public three days before, on Sunday, September 6.

On the Wednesday, the Queen arrived in the Scottish capital by helicopter, which touched down at Holyrood Palace shortly before 11am.

Her arrival had been delayed by about 40 minutes owing to fog at her summer residence of Balmoral.

For several hours beforehand, people had gathered beneath grey skies to line the streets of Edinburgh as a

The Queen meets John Cameron, owner of A4 No. 60009 UnionofSouthAfrica, which he bought in 1966 and initially ran on his now-defunct Lochty Private Railway in Fife. PRESS ASSOCIATION procession made its way to Waverley station to greet her. Some of the onlookers had come from as far away as Canada and Australia with the hope of glimpsing her on this momentous occasion.

At Waverley, a guard of honour on the platform, a performance by the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland, a chocolate model of A3 Flying Scotsman on display and masses of bunting bedecked with union flags contributed to a carnival atmosphere.

The band had previously performed for the Queen at her Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Stealing the show at Waverley before Her Majesty’s arrival was John Cameron’s No. 60009, the booked appearance of which had been thrown into doubt after it ran a hotbox in

The train passes the former Lady Victoria colliery, which opened 1895 and closed in 1981 and is now the impressive National Mining Museum of Scotland. A few hours later the Queen broke Victoria’s record to become Britain’s longest-serving monarch.

MAURICE BURNS

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south Devon in August, as we reported in issue 206.

It had been speculated that sister No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley or Peppercorn A1 Pacific No. 60163 Tornado might deputise, but repair works carried out in a race against time – as detailed in Main Line News, pages 62-63, ensured that ‘No. 9’ would claim the place in history.

Before the arrival of the royal party, Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon climbed into the cab of the locomotive, which pulled into Waverley shortly after 9am, driven by Steve Hanczar, the other two members of the DB Schenker footplate crew being Jim Smith and Tony Jones.

The stock that the A4 – sister to world-speed record holder No. 4468 Mallard – was to haul was not the official Royal Train, as many had expected, but nonetheless had been deemed fit for a Queen. In a major feather in the cap for the SRPS, a rake of British Railways Mk.1 carriages that it uses for its railtours had been chosen for the big day. It comprised three FOs, an FK, a BSK and an TSO, the rake being coupled behind Pullman bar car Pegasus, which was borrowed from Jeremy Hosking’s Locomotive Services Ltd, and in which the Queen rode.

Pegasus was built in 1951 for the ‘Golden Arrow’ and was the last of a line of traditional Pullman cars built by the Birmingham Carriage & Wagon Company at its Smethwick works.

Complete with 14 dining seats and the unique Trianon Bar, the coach represented in its day the height of luxury.

It was withdrawn in 1972 and spent many years out of use, stored by Tyseley, until it was bought by Isle of Man-based Railfilms in 1995.

In one of the most elaborate reconstruction projects ever undertaken, Railfilms upgraded it to modern main line running standards by contracting Fabrications Leith to replace the original wooden frame with a modern steel structure. The exterior appearance and high-quality

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ers Railway

serving monarch

The Queen waves to the crowds on the lineside at the royal reopening train prepares to depart from Waverley station. PRESS ASSOCIATION interior finish reflects that of the original, which had Mk.1 specifications – yet the new steel frame has all the properties of a modern Mk.3 coach.

Pegasus returned to the main line in 2000, after being painted by West Coast Railways at Carnforth that May. Among its first duties was running on Wessex Trains charters.

For the Borders Railway royal special, Pegasus was decked out with white tablecloths and white flowers on the tables. Each passenger in the royal carriage was also given a bag of flapjack to eat during the journey.

Pegasus was coupled immediately behind No. 60009’s support coach. On the rear of the train was Class 67 No. 67026 Diamond Jubilee.

The train was also stewarded by Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway-based SRPS Railtours volunteers, as were the Abellio/ScotRail Borders Railway steam specials.

First stop Newtongrange

As the royal motorcade arrived, there were cheers and cries of “congratulations” as the Queen, dressed in a Karl Ludwig turquoise and indigo blue wool coat with a turquoise silk and wool dress and matching hat, and the Duke of Edinburgh, stepped out of their car and were greeted by Ms Sturgeon. The pipe band struck up a rendition of Scotland the Brave.

The Queen’s jewellery was chosen in recognition of her great-great grandmother Queen Victoria, whose reign she was to overtake that same day. Her bow brooch is part of a set of three which was made for Victoria in 1858 from her own diamonds. They were later worn by Queen Alexandra and Queen Mary at their coronations.

Queen Elizabeth inherited them from Queen Mary in 1952.

After a quick wave to the crowds, the royal couple were soon aboard the train – along with around 150 invited guests – and which at 11.15am departed on its landmark journey to Tweedbank, the terminus of the new line 31 miles to the south.

The Queen sat at the window next to

the First Minister and opposite Prince Philip and the royal couple both waved to the crowds as the train travelled through the borders towns.

The train’s first stop was at the small intermediate station of Newtongrange, both for local celebrations and to help promote Scotland’s national mining museum at the adjacent Lady Victoria Pit. The brass band played Pharrell Williams’ song Happy as the train arrived. The royal couple alighted and around 1000 well-wishers, many of them schoolchildren, greeted the Queen with flowers and cheers during a brief walkabout.

The Queen then unveiled a plaque to mark the opening of the new station before reboarding the train to continue her journey.

For the last leg to Tweedbank, the royal couple and First Minister were joined by individuals who had a connection with the railway’s history.

Walter Bell, 88, who joined the railway during the Second World War and was promoted to a fireman on D-Day, June 6, 1944, before going on to become a driver in a career that lasted 50 years, sat with the royal couple for part of the journey and told her about his working days.

“She said to me we’ve both got a special day. It was out of this world to meet her, it’s a great honour, it’s very special,” said Walter.

“She was really interested in what I was telling her. I was discussing about where I worked and the mishaps on the railway and other stories.

“I thought I was talking too much but the Duke said ‘Carry on, sir, you carry on’.”

Tweedbank back on line

The train slowed through Galashiels station and the Queen got up from her seat to go to a window to wave to the crowds.

Bands, including Galashiels Ex-Service Pipe Band, entertained the crowds at Tweedbank as they waited for the train to arrive. The celebrations were compered by Alasdair Hutton,

The Borders Railway royal reopening train of September 9 passes Tynehead.

BRIAN SHARPE

The Queen unveils one of two plaques to mark the opening of the Borders Railway, the first at Newtongrange station. PRESS ASSOCIATION the voice of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

The Queen’s party arrived at the Tweedbank terminus for the opening ceremony just after 1pm and was greeted by dignitaries headed by the Lord Lieutenant of Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale Captain Gerald Maitland-Carew.

Accompanied by Ms Sturgeon the

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royal couple ascended a podium as a band played God Save The Queen.

In her welcoming speech, the First Minister said: “Your majesty, throughout your reign, supported at all times by the Duke of Edinburgh, you have carried out your duties with dedication, wisdom, and an exemplary sense of public service. You are held in esteem around the UK, across the Heritage Railway 7

CONTENTS ISSUE 207

September 24 - October 21

News

6 ROYAL OPENING

6

HEADLINE NEWS

10

NEWS

10

HM The Queen opens the £294 million Borders Railway, riding with the Duke of Edinburgh and Scotland’ss first minister Nicola Sturgeon behind A4 No. 60009 Union of South Africa from Edinburgh to Tweedback, on the day the Queen became the longestserving monarch in British history.

Full coverage of the occasion.

Flying Scotsman’s first gala date; Royal Scot steams on Severn Valley Railway; Dartmoor National Park Authority orders rethink over Ashburton station; British-built US civil war locomotive to be auctioned; Ivatt 2MT booked for big Barrow Hill LMS gala; second royal visitor for Severn Valley 50; Forestry Commission backing for Dean Forest ’extension’ station plan, and rare snakes take over the bay platform at new Swanage Railway destination.

Last industrial steam locomotive in South Africa may return to UK; Prince Charles donates to vandal-hit Royal Deeside Railway; Great Central supporter pays £350K to repair key bridge; Vatican City launches own railtours with steam tip; gala action from North Norfolk, Welshpool, Ravenglass and Mangapps; engineer in legal challenge to save Liverpool & Manchester heritage; focus on Kent & East Sussex LBSCR ‘Terriers’; Network South East 4CIG EMU back after 11 years, and does a steam locomotive lie buried with Nazi gold?

CONTENTS: LMS ‘Black Five’ 4-6-0 No. 45231 passes Stokesay Castle on the Welsh Marches route with the Railway Touring Company’s ‘Cheshireman’ returning from Chester to Bristol on September 12. ALAN CORFIELD COVER: LNER A4 Pacific No. 60009 UnionofSouthAfrica approaches Newtongrange with the royal train conveying Her Majesty the Queen to Tweedbank for the official opening of the Borders Railway on September 9. MAURICE BURNS

Regulars Centre spread

Features

52

54

Union of South Africa heads the Border Railway royal reopening train, by Julie Rodgers.

64 MAIN LINE NEWS

Main Line Tours 62

Steam Dreams scoops Flying Scotsman for 12 tours in 2016 – full details; how Union of South Africa won the race to haul Borders Railway royal opening train; Princess Elizabeth to celebrate Queen’s 90th birthday and Duke of Gloucester moved to Tyseley Locomotive Works.

WITH FULL REGULATOR 62

Don Benn reports on Rood Ashton Hall’s recent run along the Welsh Marches.

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66

Steam and heritage diesel railtours.

Railwayana

72

Geoff Courtney’s regular column.

Platform

88

Where your views matter most.

Up & Running

92

Guide to railways running this month.

The Month Ahead

106

Welcome back Waverley

Is the opening of the £294 million Borders Railway the dawn of a new railway age? As one of the biggest cuts of the Beeching era is reversed, in a special report to mark its opening to the fare-paying public on September 6, Robin Jones and Brian Sharpe look at the reborn section of the route, hopes for the future and Waverley steam tours past and present.

Upcoming galas and events.

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Nene Valley goes back to its roots

78

The Nene Valley Railway saw its first visits by pre-Grouping locomotives in the preservation era. Brian Sharpe reports on a weekend when not just one, but two appropriate engines worked the line’s services.

Steam twilight at Watford Metropolitan

A dazzling display of steam and professionalism by footplate crews, combined with unpredicted late summer sunshine, made this year’s much-anticipated steam forays on the London Underground another magnificent success. However, the Watford 90 weekend may have seen the last steam specials to run into the town’s Underground station.

Editor Robin Jones was there...

MerrygoRound at Chasewater

86

Where does railway nostalgia end and when is it just too recent? Is a 1960s-built locomotive on rail blueera wagons too modern to be nostalgic? Martin Creese reports on a popular event in Staffordshire.

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A decade of dockside delights

The current year sees the culmination of a decade of public operation of the Ribble Steam Railway. Mark Smithers reports on the anniversary celebrations.

Heritage R Railway 5

LNER A4 Pacific No. 60009 UnionofSouthAfrica approaches Tynehead with the Borders Railway reopening train conveying Her Majesty The Queen and HRH the Duke of Edinburgh from Edinburgh Waverley to Tweedbank on September 9. JULIE RODGERS

THE MONTH AHEAD

NER Q6 0-8-0 No. 63395 is back in service on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and is seen on arrival at Pickering. MAURICE BURNS

The height of the autumn gala season The autumn gala season is in full swing from September into October, with events large and small, up and down the country every weekend; in some cases the enthusiast is spoilt for choice at this time of year. As always Heritage Railway will be bringing you all the action.

SPECIAL EVENTS September 25-27: Barrow Hill Roundhouse: Barrow Hill 50 ■ This three-day event, supported by Heritage Railway’s publisher, Mortons, will see an unprecedented line-up of LMS steam power, many of which, including No. 46233 Duchess of Sutherland, will be in steam.

25-27: North Yorkshire Moors Railway: Autumn Steam Gala ■ The star of this year’s three-day event will be SR Maunsell U class 2-6-0 No. 31806 from Swanage which will join the home fleet of ‘Black Five’ No. 45428, NER Q6 0-8-0 No. 63395, and BR Standard 4MTs Nos. 75029 and 76079, plus possibly another visiting engine.

26, 27: Avon Valley Railway: 1940s Weekend 26, 27: Bure Valley Railway: Steam in Miniature 26, 27: Colne Valley Railway: Days Out with Thomas ■

Issue 208 is out on October 22 Catch up with the latest news, views and great features every four weeks.

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26, 27: East Lancashire Railway: September Diesel Gala ■ 26, 27: Ecclesbourne Valley Railway: Multiple Memories ■ 26, 27: Foxfield Railway: Autumn Steam Gala 26, 27: Lynton & Barnstaple Railway: Autumn Gala 26, 27: Middleton Railway: Autumn Gala 26, 27: Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway: Birthday Celebration 26, 27: Sittingbourne & Kemsley Railway: End of Season Gala 26, 27: Vale of Rheidol Railway: Enthusiasts’ Weekend 27: Lincolnshire Wolds Railway: Steam & Diesel Day

October 1-3: Severn Valley Railway: Diesel Enthusiasts’ Gala ■ 1-4: Great Central Railway: Autumn Steam Gala ■ This will be a four-day event which will see the welcome return to service of GWR 4-6-0 No. 6990 Witherslack Hall for the first time in 15 years. Six other locomotives from the home fleet – Nos. 48624, 92214, 45305, 777, 46521 and 47406 – will work an intensive service of passenger and freight trains, travelling post office trains, with doubleheaders and more than 80 movements per day.

1-4: West Somerset Railway: Autumn Steam Gala ■ The four-day event marks the 40th anniversary of the opening of the railway.

KEY ■ Major or featured galas

Visiting engines will be GWR 2-8-0 No. 2857 and 4-6-0 No. 7812 Erlestoke Manor, joining GWR 2-6-2T No. 4160 and 4-6-0s No. 4936 Kinlet Hall, No. 6960 Raveningham Hall and No. 7828 Odney Manor.

3: Bodmin & Wenford Railway: China Clay Day 3, 4: Cholsey & Wallingford Railway: 1940s Weekend 3, 4: Colne Valley Railway: Days Out with Thomas ■ 3, 4: East Lancashire Railway: Days Out with Thomas ■ 3, 4: Lavender Line: Gala Weekend 3, 4: Ribble Steam Railway: Diesel Gala ■ 4: East Anglian Railway Museum: Small Trains Day 4: West Lancashire Light Railway: Autumn Steam Gala 9-11: Ffestiniog Railway: Victorian Weekend 9-11: Keighley & Worth Valley Railway: Autumn Steam Spectacular ■ Star guest for this year’s event is GWR 4-6-0 No. 4936 Kinlet Hall, which will line up alongside SR West Country Pacific No. 34092 Wells, BR Standard 4-6-0 No. 75078, 4F 0-6-0 No. 43924, WD 2-8-0 No. 90733, USATC S160 2-8-0 No. 5820, LNWR 0-6-2T No. 1054 and Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0T Nunlow.

Taff Vale Railway O2 0-6-2T No. 85 will be in light steam in Haworth yard after overhaul.

There will be an intensive service from 8.30am with freight trains, express trains and doubleheaders.

■ Diesel and/or electric galas

10: Gwili Railway: Steam Gala 10, 11: Bodmin & Wenford Railway: Victorian Gala 10, 11: Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway: Autumn Diesel Weekend ■ 10, 11: Nene Valley Railway: Mixed Traffic Weekend 11: Colne Valley Railway: Colne Valley at War 16-18: Peak Rail: Railways in Wartime 16-18: Swanage Railway: Autumn Steam Gala ■ Another feast of Southern steam power is lined up with King Arthur 4-6-0 No. 777 Sir Lamiel joining the home fleet of M7 No. 30053, U 2-6-0 No. 31806, No. 34070 Manston, Standard 2-6-4T No. 80104 and summer visitor LSWR T9 4-4-0 No. 30120.

There will be an intensive timetable of both passenger and freight trains, and on display will be newly repainted U class 2-6-0 No. 31625 raising money for the Swanage Moguls Fund.

17, 18: Avon Valley Railway: End of Season Gala 17, 18: Spa Valley Railway: Thumper, Shunters and Brakevans. ■ 18: Tanfield Railway: Coals to Newcastle

RAILWAYANA October 17: David Lewis, Crewe Heritage Centre

■ Thomas and family events Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway