Heritage Railway - 208 - 22nd Oct 2015 - Preview

MALLARD RECORD PLATE FOR AUCTION

Issue 208 Issue 208 Issue 208 October 22 –

October October 22 22 –– November November 18, 2015 November18, 18,2015 2015

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BLUEBELL CAMELOT BACK FOR GIANTS OF STEAM

OPINION

GWR 2-8-0 No. 3850’s boiler certificate expired at the end of September. It is seen near Dixton on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway on one of its last runs before overhaul. MALCOLM RANIERI EDITORIAL

Editor Robin Jones 01507 529305 rjones@mortons.co.uk Deputy editor Brian Sharpe bsharpe@mortons.co.uk Senior contributing writers Geoff Courtney, Cedric Johns Contributors Fred Kerr, Roger Melton Designer Tim Pipes Reprographics Paul Fincham, Jonathan Schofield Production editors Sarah Palmer, Sarah Wilkinson Publisher Tim Hartley Editorial address Heritage Railway magazine, Mortons Media Ltd, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6LZ Website www.heritagerailway.co.uk

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ISSN No 1466-3560

Published Every four weeks on a Thursday Advert deadline November 5, 2015 Next issue on sale November 19, 2015

Member of the Professional Publishers’ Association

An autumn forest of spring green shoots T

HE return of any item of rolling stock to regular use in the heritage era is always a great cause for celebration, none more so than the comeback of Royal Scot at the Severn Valley Railway gala.

Listed as one of the headline locomotives for ‘Great Britain IX’ next year, I have no doubts that after half a century away, it will take the main line by storm.

At the Vale of Rheidol Railway’s autumn gala, we saw the return of two locomotives, Diana and Margaret, that have not steamed since the 1950s, and have ‘been away’ so long that most enthusiasts could be forgiven for thinking that they never existed.

In this issue we report in depth on the completion of two stupendous Manchester, Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway wooden-bodied coach restorations, one at the Great Central Railway (Nottingham) and the other at Quainton Road.

Furthermore, we have the public opening of a complete railway – and a standard gauge one at that – over which we can ride for the first time, in the form of the Great Central’s Mountsorrel granite quarry branch. The restoration of this line has been a phenomenal community effort, involving many local residents and groups who would not otherwise be interested in railway history.

For me it brings back memories of the early 1960s, when any bus ride through a big city and its suburbs would highlight many an industrial line twisting and turning between factories, mills and along canal basins, their purpose not always clear to the untrained eye. The Mountsorrel revival has not only added a major new dimension to the world’s only heritage trunk railway, but will become a significant attraction in itself.

Elsewhere, the old philosophical question of whether we are truly preserving the entire spectrum of railway history, or just cherry-picking which bits have a second-hand reuse value, has reared its head again.

The East Lancashire Railway has said that unless a new home can be found in the near future, it will scrap the sole-surviving Class 504 EMU because nothing has been done to stop its deterioration over the past 12 years.

The problem here is that it is not only an electric unit – a factor which so often leads to interest by potential saviours instantly evaporating – but it is of a type that because of its unique third-rail pick-up system was used only between Manchester and Bury, owing to a legacy of the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway. Its only potential use would be in nonauthentic manner as locomotive-hauled stock.

Understandably, siding and storage space is always at a premium; the land needed to store a redundant EMU could roughly occupy the same space as would be needed to build a house. Yet surely the Class 504s are part of the heritage of Greater Manchester and worth saving by someone?

For electric stock today, read broad gauge locomotives and coaches in 1892 and diesel hydraulics in the 1970s: unloved, unwanted at the time, yet we will come to regret their passing en masse.

Closer to home, we can’t say for definite that our www.facebook.com/heritagerailway page is now the biggest railway enthusiast site in the world. But try as we might, we can’t find one that has more followers.

As we closed for press, more than 129,000 people liked our Facebook page, that is around 6000 over and above the largest similar site we know about, and more than 21 times bigger than any of those of our direct UK competitors.

Our site covers all aspects of railway news and views, not just preservation, with daily updates, stunning pictures from around the world and details of forthcoming events. Is your railway featured there?

Like us today – or lose out!

Robin Jones Editor Heritage Railway 3

CONTENTS ISSUE 208

October 22 – November 18

News

6

HEADLINE NEWS

6

BR Standard 9F Black Prince bought

by North Norfolk Railway; Mallard steam speed record plate for auction; Camelot back for Bluebell Railway’s Giants of Steam gala; former National Railway Museum director Steve Davies joins Bala Lake extension team, King George V and City of Truro for Tyseley’s open weekend, and Mountsorrel Railway opens.

7

NEWS

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Tickets on sale for first Flying Scotsman events as National Railway Museum announces more details of comeback celebratory year; Witherslack Hall running again on Great Central; Hinton Manor makes it four for big Severn Valley Manor 50 gala; judicial review may be sought over Gresley statue duck controversy; Tornado takes Minehead by storm; new P2 steams past £2 million mark; unique EMU threatened with scrapping; Somme centenary to be marked in Apedale trenches; Lottery £1.6 million backing for Volk’s Electric Raiilway; extra coach added to North Norfolk vintage set, unique Clayton diesel on Severn Valley, steam back at Barrington for the last time and South Devon marks 50th.

CONTENTS: LMS Jubilee 4-6-0 No. 45699 Galatea heads north along the Cumbrian coast at Cat Gill near Harrington with Steam Dreams’ ‘Lakes Explorer’ on September 16. BEN COLLIER COVER: Newly returned to service, GWR Modified Hall 4-6-0 No. 6990 WitherslackHall passes Woodthorpe with WR chocolate & cream coaches on October 4. BRIAN SHARPE

Regulars

Features

Railwayana

52

Centre spread

54

Main Line Tours

66

Geoff Courtney’s regular column.

88

MAINLINE

Mark Fielding’s study of Rood Ashton Hall at Ponthir.

Steam and heritage diesel railtours.

56

Scale Heritage Railway 85

Full itinerary for the Railway Touring Company’s ‘Great Britain IX’ starring Royal Scot, Britannia, Oliver Cromwell, Leander, Galatea and Braunton; St David’s Day debut for ‘Lizzie’; troubled Tangmere at Carnforth for attention; police warning over ‘Harry Potter’ line trespassing, and Tyseley suffers two steam failures.

Celebrating an icon’s 60th.

WITH FULL REGULATOR 62

The Month Ahead

Don Benn reports on Tornado’s epic run from King’s Cross to Newcastle.

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Off the Shelf

86

Platform

88

Up & Running

92

Latest book and DVD releases.

Where your views matter most.

Guide to railways running in October and November.

Upcoming galas and events.

106

Famous British locomotive engineers Sir William Stanier of the London Midland & Scottish Railway

In the latest in our the series about ‘Big Four’ chief mechanical engineers, Cedric Johns looks at the career of Sir William Stanier.

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Severn Valley ‘Scot’ and ‘Brit’

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Gas, teak, epilepsy and Victorian coaching stock  Quintinshill examined 100 years on Britain’s worst railway disaster was compounded by the type of woodenbodied coaches still in use at the time.

Andrew David tells the story of the completion of restoration of similar vehicles, coinciding with the centenary of the disaster.

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72

* THAT’S JUST

Royal Scot made its debut in passenger service in September at the Severn Valley Railway’s four day spectacular, where it ran alongside BR Standard Pacific Britannia.

Brian Sharpe reports on another successful autumn gala weekend.

Rheidol’s ‘Forgotten Engines’ gala

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Gala events frequently see visiting engines but it is not often that such events give enthusiasts the opportunity to see ‘new’ engines which they have never seen before.

Mark Smithers reports on an event where narrow gauge engines made their first public appearance since the 1950s.

Moors Line goes Southern

Brian Sharpe reports on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway’s threeday steam gala in September... an event with a Southern theme.

Heritage R Railway 5

HEADLINE NEWS Black Prince sold to North Norfolk

By Robin Jones

INTERNATIONAL wildlife artist David Shepherd has sold his BR Standard 9F 2-10-0 No. 92203 nearly half a century after buying it straight out of BR service.

North Norfolk Railway has bought the locomotive and it will become its flagship.

At the line’s late September board meeting, directors agreed to a proposal for the NNR to buy it from David on a specially-structured deal over the next nine years.

No. 92203 was one of a pair of locomotives for which David set up the East Somerset Railway on which to run them, the other being BR Standard 4MT 4-6-0 No. 75029 The Green Knight, which he sold to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway several years ago.

Service life

Outshopped from Swindon on April 6, 1959, No. 92203 spent less than nine years in BR traffic before it was withdrawn in November 1967, which was the month it worked the last steam-hauled iron or train from Bidston Dock at Birkenhead to Shotton steelworks.

After David bought it for £3000, he moved it to Longmoor Military Railway, then a preservation base, and named it Black Prince. When the LMR closed, he moved it to Eastleigh depot and then to Cranmore on the ESR. On May 19, 1973 it hauled the ‘Royal Giants’ tour from Oxford to Hereford and on to Worcester. On April 20, 1975 it ran from Westbury to Eastleigh and return.

Withdrawn from service on November 5, 1978, No. 92203 had a

BRStandard9F2-10-0No.92203BlackPrinceatHoltduringtheNorthNorfolkRailway’sSeptember4-6steamgala. TREVOR EADY boiler overhaul at Husbands Shipyard, Marchwood, near Southampton and was returned to Cranmore in September 1979. It hauled the heaviest freight train in Britain – 2198 tonnes – in September 1982 at Foster Yeoman’s nearby Tor Works. In 1985 it visited the Westbury open day.

No. 92203 was based at Cranmore until 1998, when it went to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway on extended loan.

Overhauled at Bill Parker’s Flour Mill workshops at Bream in the Forest of Dean in 2004, it worked there until 2011, when it moved to Sheringham on loan. Following another overhaul,

Pioneer King George V at Tyseley open weekend GWR 4-6-0 No. 6000 King George V – the engine which pioneered a return to main line running in 1971 – will head a memorable line up of main line steam during Tyseley Locomotive Works’ upcoming open weekend of October 24-25.

The King will be supported by another Great Western favourite, No. 3717 City of Truro, both en route from the National Railway Museum to the STEAM museum at Swindon where next year they will take centre stage in celebrations to mark the 175th anniversary of Brunel’s great works.

They are set to line up alongside resident main line 4-6-0s No. 4965 Rood Ashton Hall and No. 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe.

Visiting 4-6-2s will be represented by Stanier Princess Royal No. 6201 Princess Elizabeth and BR three cylinder ‘one off’ No. 71000 Duke of Gloucester, which has been moved to Tyseley from LNWR Heritage at Crewe so its overhaul can be completed.

‘Lizzie’ is nearing the end of its own overhaul and will probably be in steam over the weekend.

Churchward 2-8-0 No. 2885 will outsize visiting LNWR 0-6-2 ‘Coal Tank’ No.1054, which will be the star guest at this year’s Warley National Model Railway Exhibition at the National Exhibition Centre on November 28-29.

The line-up will be completed by Tyseley’s panniers and the rolling chassis of new-build LMS Patriot No. 45551 The Unknown Warrior.

Toddington’s ‘balloon’ tank in place A ‘BALLOON’ tank water tower has been installed in the shed yard at Toddington on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, meaning locos

6 Heritagerailway.co.uk

can be watered in the yard without having to be moved to the platforms.

Also, a new pit has been excavated and completed in the David Page shed.

it re-entered traffic there last year, when David placed it on the market.

NNR managing director Hugh Harkett said: “We have ensured that this iconic locomotive will stay in North Norfolk. In effect, we will be paying for the 9F over the next few years through its steamings.”

Support facilities

“The board felt confident in taking on such a large engine given that we now have the engineering facilities that can support and look after it.

“Naturally, the detail of the deal struck between David Shepherd and ourselves is confidential, but I can tell

you that it is an arrangement which is mutually beneficial to both parties.

“It also goes without saying that David, who brought his engine here some years ago, will be welcomed onto Black Prince in the same way as he has in the past. We are hoping to organise a handover event with David later this year.

“We are delighted that we now have Black Prince to complement the B12, Y14 and WD, not forgetting the sterling roles played by Ring Haw and Wissington.

“Effectively we now have enough ‘home’ engines to carry us through a whole season if needs be.”

Fifteen trains scheduled to run over Mountsorrel opening weekend THE Great Central Railway’s new branch, the Mountsorrel Railway, is set to run 15 trains during its opening weekend of October 24-25.

The opening ceremony, performed by Lord Richard Faulkner, will take place at the new Mountsorrel station in Bond Lane, Mountsorrel at around 1111.30am on the Saturday, with the first public train along the restored granite quarry spur to Swithland sidings departing at 12.30pm.

Guest engines

Mountsorrel station is the only one on which visitors can board the trains, which will run at 12.30pm, 1.10pm, 1.50pm, 2.30pm and 3.10 on the Saturday and 9.30am, 10.10am, 10.50am, 11.30am, 12.30pm, 1.10pm, 1.50pm, 2.30pm, 3.10pm and 3.45pm on the Sunday.

The GCR is bringing in two guest industrial steam tank engines for the weekend.

The train will run with two coaches so space will be limited.

Advance booking is recommended at www.gcrailway.co.uk/specialevents/mountsorrel-railway-openi ng-weekend-24-25-oct

Parking available

Parking is limited at Mountsorrel station and the car park will not open to cars until after the opening ceremony. Additional overflow parking will be available in the neighbouring farmer’s field (weather permitting) and also at the new heritage centre site just 300 yards away.

Visitors should allow at least 20 minutes to park.

It will be possible to buy tickets on the day but they can only be paid for in cash.

Fares for the historic occasion are £5 per adult and £3 for children aged two to 15. Under twos will not be allocated seats and must sit on parents’ laps.

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Steve Davies joins Bala extension push EXCLUSIVE

by Robin Jones STEVE Davies – the man who made the Mallard 75 celebrations happen – has joined up with the Bala Lake Railway to help its town centre push.

The former head of the National Railway Museum, who left to develop an inland surfing resort in the unlikely setting of the mountains of Snowdonia, as highlighted in issue 206, will act as an advisor to the railway, which is seeking to build an extension into Bala town centre.

The railway, which is trying to raise money to buy a key building next to the town’s main car park as the site for its new terminus, says the project is a “win-win” scheme for the town, the railway and enthusiasts and the mid-Wales economy.

Contacts

Steve, who organised the temporary repatriation of LNER A4 Pacifics No. 60008 Dwight D. Eisenhower and No. 60010 Dominion of Canada for the celebrations to mark the 75th anniversary of sister No. 4468 Mallard’s 126mph world steam speed record on Stoke bank, and which turned in a sizeable profit for the Science Museum group, will use his contacts in Welsh political and tourist circles to help make the extension happen.

He said: “After being introduced to the charm and delights of the Bala Lake Railway by Julian Birley, and having been briefed on the plans to extend the line by 1200 metres in order to reach the town of Bala, it seemed obvious to me that the considerable skills, contacts and extensive understanding of the Welsh political, planning and tourism landscape I have developed bringing Surf Snowdonia to fruition in Dolgarrog could be put to good use helping the railway to realise this important project.

“I therefore look forward to playing my part in helping the Bala Lake Railway to achieve this ambitious goal, which of course will have significant benefits both for the railway and the people and businesses of Bala.”

Railway chairman Julian Birley said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won the support of Steve Davies fresh from his outstanding success of creating Surf Snowdonia.

“It demonstrates that the project of extending the Bala Lake Railway into the town really will be the significant economic enhancement that we set out to make it.

“With Steve on board we will be able to talk directly to grant bodies and stakeholders at the very highest level.”

Four Quarry Hunslets – Winifred, Alice, JackLane and MaidMarian – were in action during the Bala Lake Railway’s August bank holiday gala. JULIAN BIRLEY The extension project is linked with the railway’s bid to become a centre of excellence for the study of the part that steam traction played in the Welsh slate industry, and Quarry Hunslets in particular.

Gala success

The first gala to be held at the railway for many years was declared an outstanding success.

The line-up of engines drew a sizeable crowd, breaking all records for visitors over an August bank holiday weekend.

New-build Hunslet 0-4-0ST Jack Lane was loaned by Graham Lee at the Statfold Barn Railway. Fully-loaded passenger trains were interspersed with demonstration freight working depicting authentic slate trains from the world’s biggest slate quarries, Dinorwic and Penrhyn.

➜ Anyone who would like to support the extension project by offering a donation is invited to visit www.thebalalakerailwaytrust.org and follow the ‘Just Giving’ link.

BR Standard 5MT No. 73082 Camelot undergoes its insurance steam test at Sheffield Park on September 29. JULIAN HEINEMANN/BR

Michael Portillo visits Sheffield Park

Camelot lined up for Giants of Steam A RACE against time is underway to have BR Standard 5MT No. 73082 Camelot ready for the return of the Bluebell Railway’s Giants of Steam October 31-November 1 gala.

The 1955-built ex-Barry scrapyard locomotive, which last ran in service in 2005, passed its test on September 29 following its latest overhaul, during which it moved within the confines of Sheffield Park station.

It then returned to the workshop to deal with an issue with the superheater header that needed partial dismantling of the contents of

Steve Davies. NRM

the smokebox to gain access. The sheet metal dome cover was bolted down and the locomotive and tender cleaned in advance of the final painting, lining and lettering, while other minor pipework adjustments and repairs were carried out.

Camelot is the only survivor of the Southern Standard 5s given the names of withdrawn N15 King Arthur 4-6-0s.

Modern engines with roller bearings, highly capable and easy to maintain, they were withdrawn long before they were worn out because

of modernisation. Camelot was named in August 1959.

The Giants of Steam event is returning after an absence of several years, when the railway did not have any ’giants’ in its operational fleet.

However, guest engines will more than fit that bill, in the form of BR Standard Pacific No. 70000 Britannia and SR V Schools 4-4-0 No. 925 Cheltenham from the Mid Hants Railway.

These will run alongside the home fleet of SR S15 No. 847, SR Q class No. 30541 and hopefully Camelot.

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

FORMER cabinet minister Michael Portillo visited the Bluebell Railway on October 1 to film an episode in his latest series of Great British Railway Journeys.

He arrived by train at East Grinstead, interviewed driver Mick Blackburn and then rode on the service train, interviewing preservation society chairman Roy Watts while travelling to Hosted Keynes. There, he climbed on the footplate and chatted to Liz Groome, who was driving the Q class with her dad Clive firing for the occasion.

At Sheffield Park, Michael chatted to passengers outside the Bessemer’s Arms, then walked through the running shed to the washout pit. He climbed into the cab of LBSCR ‘Terrier’ 0-6-0T No. 472 Fenchurch and was filmed starting a washout, dressed in a boiler suit. The episode is planned to be broadcast in January on a Tuesday evening to be scheduled.

Heritage Railway 7

HEADLINE NEWS

Keith & Dufftown in main line link bid THE Keith and Dufftown Railway Association has launched a campaign to relink the heritage line to the national network.

The railway wants to re-establish a direct link from its separate station in Keith back to ScotRail’s main line platform at the top of Station Road, saving travellers a 20-minute walk.

KDRA chairman Rod Furr said: “The old Glen line platform still exists at ScotRail’s station and to get to that platform would mean we could provide a connection for some of the trains on the Inverness-Aberdeen line.

“The thing about tourism is you have to make it worthwhile for them to come to the area and it has got to be relatively easy to do so.

“Getting into Keith main line station is a simple improvement on our services with the potential for wider destinations for tourism in this particular area, which is the hub of the whisky trade.”

Moray MSP and Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead has already held talks with Transport Scotland officials over the plans.

A Transport Scotland spokesman said: “We were happy to hear from the Keith and Dufftown Railway Association about their aspirations for the preserved line, and have agreed to share these with relevant partners within the rail industry.”

Tornado to haul ‘Red Rose’ replay A1 Peppercorn Pacific Tornado will haul a Valentine’s Day excursion from Paddington to Worcester and back via two different routes on February 14.

No. 60163 will depart with ‘The Red Rose’ at 9.25am, calling at Slough and Reading, before heading through Swindon to Bristol East Loop for a water stop after a fast run to the city.

The train then traverses the Rhubarb Loop and heads north via Bristol Parkway and Yate to join the Midland Railway line through Charfield.

Avoiding Gloucester and diverging left at Abbotswood Junction, it arrives at Worcester Shrub Hill at around 1.30pm.

Passengers will have around three hours in Worcester, with the option of a visit to the Elgar Birthplace Museum.

The train will return via Sapperton bank.

The original ‘Red Rose’ was specially named in celebration of the Festival of Britain and ran from Euston to Liverpool from 1951-66. ➜ For details of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust trip visit www.a1steam.com or email enquiries@a1steam.com

8 Heritagerailway.co.uk

Mallard speed record plaque set for auction

World record-holder at rest: Gresley A4 No. 60022 Mallard shows off its handsome profile on Grantham shed in 1961, about 15 miles from the location where it had recorded its world speed record 23 years earlier. As is clearly visible, the Pacific carried plaques on its boiler cladding recording the landmark, one of which is coming up for auction on December 5. NORMAN PREEDY EXCLUSIVE

By Geoff Courtney AN original plaque recording the worldwide pinnacle of steam locomotive performance will be going under the hammer at auction in December, with some observers forecasting that it may sell for £30,000.

The plaque was carried by Gresley A4 No. 60022 Mallard and records the Pacific’s world speed record of 126mph achieved on July 3, 1938. It was fitted to the Pacific by BR in March 1948, shortly after Nationalisation, and remained on the locomotive until its withdrawal in April 1963.

After its withdrawal, BR restored No. 60022 in its record-breaking LNER blue livery as No. 4468, and research indicates that the original plaques were replaced with replicas, although this was historically incorrect, as it never carried plaques in its LNER days.

The two originals were rechromed and BR retained one for display in the divisional manager’s offices in Gresley House, Doncaster, and presented the second to the Eastern Region assistant chief mechanical engineer.

The first plaque is understood to have become part of the National Collection, while the second was bought privately from the assistant CME by a leading railwayana collector in the late 1960s. He bequeathed the plaque to another collector in 1996, who, in turn, soon sold it on to a collector who has owned it ever since, and it is this example that is coming up for auction.

Such is the interest the plaque is expected to generate it is thought that it could set a record for an item of railwayana other than a nameplate or poster, with £30,000 having been mooted, although Great Central Railwayana, the auction house selling the plaque, is expected to place a more conservative estimate.

Dave Jones, a director of Great

Steam history: The world speed record plaque that was carried by No. 60022 Mallard from 1948 until its withdrawal in 1963 and is coming up for auction in December.

GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAYANA Central Railwayana, said: “It is one of the most significant and historic items ever to have come up for auction.”

His fellow director Mike Soden, who will be the auctioneer on the day, added: “I am looking forward to auctioning it, not only for the historical landmark it records, but because it is the sort of unique item I never thought I would sell.”

Mike said he did not realise until recently that one of the plaques designed by George Dow, who in 1948 was PR and publicity officer for BR’s Eastern and North Eastern regions, was in private hands.

When told that the plaques currently on Mallard were understood to be replicas, senior press officer Cath Farrell said: “Our file on Mallard does not refer to the plaques being replicas, and at the present time we have no reason to believe that they are not original.

However, we would be really interested to hear of any new research in this area.”

The belief by both Great Central Railwayana and the vendor that the plaque set to go under the hammer is

one of the originals is based on its historical provenance and by confirmation given to the current owner in July 2005 by David Wright, who at that time was curator of collections at the NRM. David, who retired from the NRM in 2007, was asked by the plaque’s owner for confirmation that the two plaques on Mallard in the museum were replacements, and that one of the originals was removed from the locomotive when it was taken out of service, rechromed, and passed to Gresley House, while the second original was in his possession, having been presented to the assistant CME at Doncaster and then bought by a collector.

David Wright emailed a reply the same day saying that as far as he was aware what the owner said was correct. He also told the owner he presumed the replacements were made “in Clapham days”, referring to the Clapham Transport Museum, where Mallard was originally displayed after withdrawal.

With 61-year-old driver Joe Duddington, fireman Thomas Bray and inspector Jenkins on the footplate, Mallard achieved the world record near milepost 90 on the East Coast Main Line between Little Bytham and Essendine, south of Grantham, on the slightly downward gradient of Stoke Bank.

In a BBC interview in 1944, the year he retired from the footplate, Joe said: “Once over the top I gave Mallard her head and she jumped to life like a live thing. If I had pushed her a bit more I think we could have done 130mph.”

He died in April 1953 aged 76.

No. 60022 was built at Doncaster in March 1938, just four months before entering the history books, and withdrawn from King’s Cross (34A) in April 1963. The auction is being held at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, on December 5.

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Above: BR Standard Pacific No. 70000 Britannia runs through Folkestone Warren at Samphire Hoe with the Victoria-Dover leg of the Railway Touring Company’s London to Paris ‘Golden Arrow’ on October 9. On the French side, the train was due to be hauled by SNCF Pacific No. 231K 8. The empty train to Calais ran perfectly, without a diesel attached, but in the evening it was ruled out of the return passenger working to Paris. JOHN TITLOW Right: French Pacific No. 231K 8 was failed with a blown fusible plug at 8.15pm on October 9, when it was due to haul the Calais to Paris leg of the Railway Touring Company’s ‘Golden Arrow’. The train stopped in Abbeville, where the locomotive was removed. The rest of the journey was completed using a diesel, borrowed from a service train. The empty coaching stock working is pictured at Noyelles on the successful outward journey to Calais earlier in the day. CHRISHTOPHE MASSE

New GWR runs first train to Buckfastleigh

By Robin Jones THE new Great Western Railway has run its first train over a classic branch line that was part of the old one.

On October 10, in conjunction with the Branch Line Society, the company formerly known as First Great Western ran a charity railtour – ‘The First Devon and Exeter Explorer HST Special’ – from Paddington to Buckfastleigh on the South Devon Railway, and two trips to the disused Heathfield station, at the westernmost point of the truncated Moretonhampstead branch.

Using newly liveried power cars Nos. 43188 and 43187 on set No. LA15, the tour was in aid of the First Devon and Exeter Prostate Cancer Fund, which is trying to raise £20,000 for a portable scanner.

Local people were allowed to board the train at Totnes for Buckfastleigh and also travel on the Heathfield trips.

The first HST to have run to Heathfield, it might well have been the farewell railtour over the mothballed Heathfield branch that has had no booked traffic since the timber trains to Chirk were transferred to Exeter Riverside on April 3.

The newly liveried modern-day GWR HST is seen at Woodville working the 1Z69 3.02pm Buckfastleigh-Paddington. COLIN WALLACE The trip involved memories of the first attempt to preserve a railway in South Devon.

After the nascent Bluebell Railway preservation scheme had generated much national publicity, a campaign for the reintroduction of passenger trains to Moretonhampstead was launched under the banner of the South Devon Railway Society, set up by the Rector of Teigngrace, Canon OM Jones and Torquay enthusiast EG

Parrott. On June 6, 1960 a PaigntonMoretonhampstead special, ‘The Heart of Devon Rambler’ carried more than 200 people, and shortly afterwards the society leased Teigngrace Halt as its headquarters.

Sadly, few people in the corridors of power shared the members’ vision, and the branch north of Bovey Tracey was closed to goods from April 6, 1964, being further cut back to Heathfield in 1970, and left to

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serve ball clay traffic and an oil terminal.

Would-be revivalists then looked at the Kingsbridge branch, before the Ashburton line was finally chosen, although unfortunately the section to the north of Buckfastleigh was lost to the building of the A38 trunk road.

Meanwhile, the new Great Western Railway has promised that the rebranding of FGW will not just be a cosmetic exercise. A total investment of £7.5 billion is under way to modernise the network as the company embraces the ‘Brunelian’ heritage of the name.

GWR sales and marketing director Diane Burke told the South West Tourism Conference at Watergate Bay Hotel, near Newquay, on October 2: “A mere name change would do absolutely nothing. This is not a name change and it’s not a rebadging exercise.

“We will be going from having the oldest fleet in the country to having the newest. It’s like the move from steam to diesel.

“This is £7.5 billion. That is stations, trains, track work, resignalling. It is the single largest investment programme since Victorian times.”

Heritage Railway 9

NEWS

Flying Scotsman: a year of celebration takes shape

By Robin Jones

THE National Railway Museum has announced more details of its celebrations to the long-awaited return of steam celebrity Flying Scotsman to the main line, plus the release of more tickets for its preview appearances.

As previously reported, a lateFebruary inaugural run between King’s Cross and York – the date to be confirmed, but likely to be at premium ticket prices – will mark the start of its comeback season following its record £4.2-million overhaul.

The museum’s public events manager, Kate Hunter, said: “Although we think it is likely to be late February we have a number of logistical details to work out before we can announce a date for the inaugural run, the first chance for the public to see and ride behind Flying Scotsman in its latest guise as BR green No. 60103.

“This historic occasion is a chance to thank many of our generous supporters for their patience during this challenging decade-long project to bring a 1920s-built cultural icon back to life, and there will be around 100 tickets available to the public.

NRM special events

“We expect its first outing as the oldest working locomotive on the main line to be the ultimate experience for the dedicated Scotsman fan. However, we are sure that hundreds more will attend its welcome-home party at the museum where it will be displayed for a number of days after its arrival.

The exhibition, Scotsman in the Spotlight, which will run from February to June 19 will highlight the A3’s celebrity career, while a six-week display in the Great Hall will tell the story of the luxury service on the London to Edinburgh route throughout the eras, from the 1890s through to the Sixties. Visitors will be able to get on board the cabs of four locomotives that hauled the iconic

Rail operations manager Noel Hartley looks out of FlyingScotsman’s cab window at Ian Riley’s Bury works. NRM train, which departed at 10am from the capital.

The locomotive line-up within the free Stunts, Speed and Style display will explore the beginnings of the highspeed service in the 19th century with GNR Stirling Single No.1 through to Deltic No. 55022 Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.

An LNER dynamometer car behind Flying Scotsman will tell the story of its record-breaking reputation, capturing the world speed record on a London to Leeds run on November 30, 1934.

Jamie Taylor, who is working on the two headline exhibitions at York said: “Service with Style uses three carriages of the kind that travelled the ‘Flying Scotsman’ route to create a sensory experience. Using set dressing, film and audio it will tell a story of speed, innovation, fame and luxury right up to the present day with the modern London to Edinburgh service run by Virgin Trains East Coast.

“The flagship ‘Flying Scotsman’ service was known for innovations such as the cinema car, cocktail bar and hairdressing salon and all of this along with continual publicity stunts helped it grab the headlines from the very first mention of the ‘Flying Scotchman’ in 1864, and long before the locomotive that took its name was built in 1923.

“Visitors will embark on a fascinating

Staff changes at NYMR

NEWLY appointed North Yorkshire Moors Railway managing director, Chris Price, took up his post on September 29, although his predecessor, Philip Benham, remained in office until mid-October in order to allow him to circulate and introduce himself to staff and volunteers, and familiarise himself with its operational needs and practices.

By coincidence, two other senior posts have fallen vacant at the same time, giving Chris the opportunity to build his own team. The first of these was that of traction and rolling stock engineer and this has been filled by Edwin Knorn, who has been offered and has accepted the post. Ed, a chartered mechanical engineer, is currently employed by TransPennine Express as fleet standards engineer. He has a wealth of very relevant experience and will be taking up his new role in January.

The second key post needing to be filled is that of marketing manager. A very suitable candidate has been offered the post, but at the time of writing had yet to confirm that they would accept the offer.

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Charlie Bird fitting the lighting in Flying Scotsman’s cab at Bury. NRM journey with each carriage giving a different sensory experience, using a variety of methods including archive newsreel footage to evoke the opulence of each era.”

Stunts Speed and Style and Service with Style will run from March 25 to May 8.

Return home

The season’s finishing flourish will be the chance to see Flying Scotsman in light steam at a Sixties-style ‘shed bash’ at the Locomotion museum in Shildon.

Throughout the season, there will a family-friendly Scotsman science show on the theme of speed, craft activities during the school holidays, a schedule of photography events, and a programme of fascinating talks.

The museum’s events will follow on from the East Lancashire Railway’s Scotsman in Steam Preview event which takes place on January 9-10 and 16-17.

Still in the wartime black livery as No. 103 which it has carried during the completion of its overhaul at Ian Riley’s adjacent works, it will be hauling public passenger trains on the heritage line during both weekends.

Tickets for the event, as highlighted on our www.facebook.com/heritagerailwayp age, went on sale on October 16.

ELR general manager, Andy Morris, said: ““Flying Scotsman is an important part of our railway heritage and is widely known as ‘the people’s engine’.

We have done our utmost to reflect this ethos by keeping a return journey behind the locomotive at our standard Freedom of the Line ticket price to make this special event accessible and attractive to all.”

Tickets for the previously-reported A3’s star appearance in BR green on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway from March 12-20 (apart from the 14th and 18th) will go on sale of October 26. It will make three daily return trips from Grosmont to Pickering.

Culture minister, Ed Vaizey, said: “Aside from the three museum showcases, Flying Scotsman can be seen in its black undercoat during January test runs at the East Lancashire Railway and on the Railway Touring Company’s scenic Manchester-Carlisle route (January 23) and then resplendent in its BR green livery at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway in March, on the main line to Scotland in May and the Severn Valley Railway in September.

“Fans can now plan when and where they ride behind or view Flying Scotsman. Anticipation is building across the UK that the prodigal steam locomotive’s return home can now be counted down in months and weeks.

That is certainly the case in Scotland where the loco will be returning for the first time in 16 years, and Doncaster, where the engineering icon was built.” ➜ To book tickets for the Scotsman in Steam Preview, visit www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk or call 0161 764 7790. Tickets for the North Yorkshire Moors Railway trips can be reserved at www.nymr.co.uk or on 01751 472508. Details of the NRM events can be found at www.nrm.org.uk/flyingscotsman

‘Black Five’ back in NYMR service for 2016 THE North Yorkshire Moors Railway’s most recently acquired engine, ‘Black Five’ No. 44806, ran more than 12,000 miles in its debut season, 2014, but saw no use in 2015 as its tender tank was condemned.

A replacement is being fabricated for the former Llangollen Railway engine as efforts to borrow one from a classmate were unsuccessful, while other demands posed by the in-service engines delayed work on essential maintenance, including a valve and piston exam and attention to the driving axleboxes.

These jobs are all but finished now, and with the new tender body expected to be fitted to the chassis by the end of November, the locomotive should be in good condition for

the start of the 2016 season.

Other overhauls are progressing well at Grosmont, with boiler work on Schools 4-4-0 No. 30926 Repton well under way. A new throatplate pressing has been acquired in collaboration with the Bluebell Railway-based Stowe group and will be fitted along with a new smokebox tubeplate and backhead inserts, plus replacement firebox crown stays.

Work on Bulleid West Country light Pacific No. 34101 Hartland is also progressing and its rebuilt boiler is expected to be ready for hydraulic and out-of-frames steam testing around April next year. It is hoped that it will be available for the 2016 peak season, giving the NYMR a flagship engine to stand in for under-overhaul A4 No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley.

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LNER A1 Pacific No. 60163 Tornado crosses Oldbury viaduct on the Severn Valley Railway with a photo charter on October 9. JACK BOSKETT

The Tornado effect on the Severn Valley Railway TRAINS were filled to standing room only as Peppercorn ‘A1’ ‘Pacific’ No. 60163 Tornado hauled trains on the Severn Valley Railway for the first weekend of a three-weekend stint working public trains during October.

In a busy week at the SVR that also saw the return of Churchward 2-8-0 No. 2857 and No. 7812 Erlestoke Manor from the West Somerset Railway’s gala, the £3-million new-build machine arrived on October 6 and was used on

the Friday for a private photographic charter, the apple-green liveried ‘A1’ creating a striking combination matched with the SVR’s Gresley teak set of coaches.

Trains were filled to capacity as Tornado ran two round trips on Saturday, October 10, with further public trains using The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust’s machine the following day and subsequent two weekends. And things were set to get

even better with No. 46100 Royal Scot joining Tornado on public service trains over October 17-18 and 24-25, tantamount to gala events in themselves by any standard!

The visit of Tornado comes as the SVR’s 50th anniversary celebration year draws to a close, with just the ‘Manor 50’ event in November (see separate story) left to round off a season of special events, followed by the annual Santa train season in December,

completing what could be a recordbreaking year for the railway.

No. 46100 Royal Scot was also set to be tested at speeds of up to 50mph during October, along the section of railway between Bewdley and Kidderminster as the BR green-liveried ‘Scot’ clocks up the miles as part of the preparations for its heritage-era main line debut. ➜ Severn Valley September steam gala highlights: see pages 72-73.

HeritageRailway to sponsor big Somerset & Dorset 50 gala HERITAGE Railway publisher Mortons is to sponsor the West Somerset Railway’s big spring steam gala, which will mark 50 years since the closure of the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway system.

The event will be held on March 56 and 10-13 – and the dates of the first weekend coincidently fall the same as the closure weekend 50 years ago.

The WSR ran similar events in both 1996 and 2006 to mark 30 and 40 years since closure, when a number of visiting locomotives ran on the Minehead branch, alongside homebased S&D 7F No. 53808 (88), to recreate some of the unusual combinations that ran on this quintessential cross-country route, with its long single-track sections graced by double-headed trains, Bulleid Pacifics and BR Standard 9Fs. The event will see WSR stations renamed to well-known ones from

the S&D line to help create a feel of the old system, and both local and express trains will run, as will some of the special traffics also carried over the line.

There will, of course, be appearances by the ‘Pines Express’ which ran daily from Manchester to Bournemouth (and reverse) and was routed until September 1962 over the S&D. Side attractions such as model railways with an S&D theme, shunting demos and photographic displays will also take place at the event.

The WSR’s special events planning team is currently working hard to plan suitable timetables and seek agreement with owners for visiting locomotives with an S&D theme to join home-based S&D No. 53808, which will be out-shopped from a 10-yearly overhaul at Minehead in time for the gala and will this time be presented in BR Black with late

Midland 4F No. 44422 & 7F No. 53809 passing Nethercott with a Mineheadbound train during the West Somerset Railway’s March 2006 Somerset & Dorset gala. DON BISHOP crest, as opposed to the S&D Prussian blue that it previously carried.

It is also planned to have LMS 4F 0-6-0 No. 44422, which was based on the S&D in its working career, at home on the WSR where it is to be based for the next 25 years. The

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engine is also currently undergoing a 10-year overhaul, which is being carried out at Crewe.

The team is looking to source both original and rebuilt Bulleid light Pacifics, BR Standard 4s and a suitable branch and local stoppers engine for the event.

Heritage Railway 11

NEWS

Welcome back Witherslack!

By Brian Sharpe THE Great Central Railway staged its autumn steam gala over four days from October 1-4. With no visiting main line engines, the star of the show was undoubtedly GWR Modified Hall 4-6-0 No. 6990 Witherslack Hall, which had just returned to steam after a longrunning overhaul.

The engine had first arrived on the railway on November 29, 1975 and first steamed in August 1986, in GWR green livery. Following a repaint into BR black, it had last steamed in 1997 before retiring for overhaul.

Resplendent in BR green livery this time and with a Hawksworth flat-sided tender, No. 6990 had undertaken some running in but had to be withdrawn from the first day of the event after running a hot tender axlebox bearing.

Repairs saw it back in service on Friday afternoon and it fulfilled its commitments over the weekend.

One visitor was Peckett 0-4-0ST Teddy, once owned by the Rev Teddy Boston, which shunted at Quorn & Woodhouse during the event. Its main role will come later in the month at the formal opening of the Mountsorrel branch on October 24-25, where it will be more in keeping with its surroundings.

SR King Arthur 4-6-0 No. 777 Sir Lamiel was back in service after repairs, and making its last gala appearance in BR black livery was LMS ‘Black Five’ 4-6-0 No. 45305 which is due for a repaint into LMS black livery, not seen on a working ‘Black Five’ for many years now.

A notable highlight for many was the appearance of Avro Vulcan bomber XH558, which flew low over the railway on Sunday afternoon en route from its base at Robin Hood airport, Doncaster, to an air show at Gaydon; expected to be one of its last flights.

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Above: GWR Modified Hall 4-6-0 No. 6990 Witherslack Hall passes LMS 8F 2-8-0 No. 48624 at Swithland on October 4. ALAN WEAVER Top right: Avro Vulcan XH558 flies over LMS Ivatt mogul No. 46521 as it crosses Swithland reservoir on October 4. GRAHAM WIGNALL Bottom right: LMS ‘Black Five’ 4-6-0 No. 45305 heads away from Loughborough with a mixed goods on October 1. ROBERT FALCONER Left: Perhaps the most incongruous sight on a double track main line in 2015: Visiting Peckett 0-4-0ST Teddy steams flat out at about 10mph from Loughborough to Quorn on Saturday, October 4. DUNCAN LANGTREE Below: SR King Arthur 4-6-0 No. 777 SirLamiel rounds the curve at Kinchley Lane. PAUL BIGGS

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Heritage Railway 13

NEWS

Hinton makes it four for Severn Valley ‘Manor 50’

By Paul Appleton

ONE of the Severn Valley Railway’s ‘forgotten’ engines, No. 7819 Hinton Manor, is to be wheeled out of its longterm display berth at the McArthur Glen-owned Swindon Designer Outlet, and dusted down to take part in the big ‘Manor 50’ event to be held over the weekend of November 14-15.

Cosmetically restored in 2008 for display in Swindon, No. 7819 replaced No. 4930 Hagley Hall there when it was returned to Bridgnorth to take its turn in the railway’s overhaul queue. The initial loan of Hinton Manor was for four years, but it has now been there for nearly eight. Officials at the SVR were still negotiating the move as Heritage Railway went to press in early October, but were able to confirm that No. 7819 will appear at the event as a static exhibit “subject to ongoing negotiations” with no date set for transporting the 1939-built locomotive.

If all goes to plan, SVR-owned Hinton Manor will line up with three other classmates, all veterans of the former GWR/BR Cambrian line, including the famous ‘Cambrian Coast Express’; Nos. 7802 Bradley Manor, 7812

Erlestoke Manor and 7820 Dinmore Manor. ‘Manor 50’ marks the end of ‘Manor’-hauled ‘Cambrian Coast Express’ trains between Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth/Pwllheli in November 1965.

With officials trying to secure the movement of No. 7819, workshop fitters and engineers at Bridgnorth locomotive works were in a race against the clock to get sister No. 7802 Bradley Manor ready to play its part in the big ‘Manor Party’.

A fire was lit and steam raised in the newly overhauled boiler over October 13 during the railway’s diesel gala. With some minor adjustments, the boiler passed its steam and insurance test and by the following Thursday was already back in the boiler shop being lowered into its frames.

On Friday October 9, the locomotive was back in the main shed, where a framework of scaffolding was erected around it for completion of piping, boiler lagging and other fittings to get the locomotive ready for testing and

running in.

Duncan Ballard, the SVR’s boilershop and locomotive hire manager told Heritage Railway that he was “delighted with the work done on the locomotive and the progress being made in putting it back together” and was “confident” that it would be ready for the big event.

A four-train service will be on offer during the weekend, using all three operational Manors, with the fourth featuring Churchward small prairie No. 4566 and the line’s GWR Churchward ‘Toplight’ coaches.

‘Cambrian Coast Express’ headboards will be dusted off for the event and there will be a ‘Cambrian Coast Express’ dining train.

Other attractions include the chance to drive each of the Manors on a series of specially arranged footplate experience sessions, a Cambrianthemed photographic display at Bridgnorth and an evening film show at Kidderminster Railway Museum. It is also planned to bring together a number of former Cambrian

“Manor 50 marks the end of the Manor-hauled trains in 1965”

railwaymen during the event for a special reunion.

The footplate experience opportunities include all three Manors on Friday, November 13 for what the SVR bills as a ‘Special Footplate Experience Day’, while also available are two ‘intermediate footplate experiences’ between Kidderminster and Highley using either Bradley Manor or Dinmore Manor, with the latter also available the following Saturday, November 21. Taster footplate sessions between Kidderminster and Bewdley using Erlestoke Manor are also part of the package – go to www.svr.co.uk or call 01562 757900 for availability and pricing.

It is hoped that No. 7802 Bradley Manor will be run-in over the preceding couple of weeks and any gremlins ironed out in good time. It and No. 7812 are owned by the SVRbased Erlestoke Manor Fund, while No. 7820 is appearing courtesy of Dinmore Manor Locomotive Limited.

No. 7819 Hinton Manor is in good overall condition and will need little work to create a convincing line-up for photographers of four former Cambrian stalwarts.

WDAusterity2-8-0No.90733headsagoodstraintowardsOakworthduringtheKeighley&WorthValleyRailwayonOctober9oftheautumngalaweekend.Despitethegalalineupbeinghitbythenon-availabilityofBulleidWestCountryPacificNo.34092WellsowingtoweightrestrictionsonaKeighleybridge,andGWR4-6-0No.4936beingdeclaredout ofgaugebyNetworkRailintheKeighleyarea,thegalawasoneofthebestever,saidtheline’snewoperationsmanagerRichardJones.“We’vebeenrunningsix-carriagetrainsall weekendandthey’veallbeenprettyfull,”hesaid.“Thefactiswehaveaveryimpressivefleetofourownwhichwewereabletoshowcasefully.” JOHN WHITELEY

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Next in queue at Bridgnorth Works

AT the Severn Valley Railway’s Bridgnorth Works, the completion of GWR 4-6-0 No. 7802 Bradley Manor’s boiler means that attention has now moved to completing GWR 0-6-0PT No. 7714.

The boiler, as previously used on fellow ‘pannier’ No. 5764, is currently a kit of parts with most new platework completed. Work will concentrate on marking out, drilling and final assembly with a target of spring or summer 2016 to complete the work.

The bottom half is also nearing completion in the workshops with the chassis re-wheeled and new cylinder liners fitted.

The boiler from BR Standard 4MT 4-6-0 No. 75069 is also now moving into the boilershop for assessment and to establish the scope of repair work needed. New barrels have already been made off site and it is the firebox inner and outer wrapper that are going to require the lion’s share of the work as these are in quite poor condition and the reason the previous proposed restoration of the locomotive some years ago was shelved. Work is already underway on the locomotive’s bottom half and the tender is completed and painted in BR black with early ‘cycling lion’ emblem.

The contract repair of the Isle of Man Railway boiler from No. 13 Kissack is about to be hydraulic tested, although

The smoke and steam issuing from No. 7802 BradleyManor’s boiler on Saturday, October 3, tells us that a return to steam for the locomotive isn’t far away. PAUL APPLETON

Less than a week later on October 9 and the boiler is back onto No. 7802’s completed chassis as Severn Valley fitters set about piping up and the last remaining jobs before BradleyManor returns to service. PAUL APPLETON it is possible the boiler will be used in the restoration of 2-4-0T No. 11 Maitland. The firebox from the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway’s Ivatt 2MT No. 41241 has had its foundation ring removed and new steel platework is being ordered along with copper for the replacement firebox.

The boiler for Beamish museum’s new-build narrow gauge locomotive Samson, has been completed and hydraulic tested before delivery Beamish for final testing.

Gresley duck: judicial review may be sought

By Robin Jones CAMPAIGNERS fighting to include a mallard duck in the proposed £95,000 bronze statue of Sir Nigel Gresley on the Western Concourse at King’s Cross may seek a judicial review.

Controversy has raged since the Gresley Society Trust decided to discard the symbolic duck from the statue in deference to the wishes of Gresley’s grandsons Tim and Ben Godfrey, both vice-presidents, who complained that the inclusion of the bird – representative of a species that gave its name to the world’s fastest steam locomotive – was demeaning to Gresley’s memory.

Pro-mallard campaigners consider there will be a breach of planning law if the Gresley Society does not seek a variation in the planning permission for the statue in order to discard the duck.

They have said that they will go to judicial review on planning grounds if need be.

The campaign to overturn the society’s decision and create the statue to sculptor Hazel Reeves’ original design is now being backed by Sir William McAlpine, who once owned one of Gresley’s most famous locomotives, A3 Pacific No. 4472 Flying Scotsman, and is president of numerous heritage railways.

He said that he believes that the duck would attract attention to the

statue, while showing Gresley as “human” with interests other than railways, and has asked the society council to reconsider its decision.

“Future generations will not know who Sir Nigel Gresley was, but would ask about the duck and discover what he achieved,” he said.

A petition to save the duck at http://www.gresleyduck.org/gresleyduck-petition has attracted nearly 2500 signatures. One of those who signed it wrote: “There is a Gresley Close in my area, but few residents know about the significance of the name despite being metres away from the East Coast Main Line at Welwyn Garden City. Keep the duck and link!”

There is also a Save Gresley’s Duck Facebook page.

As previously reported, several railway authors and artists are backing the campaign, including writers Don Hale and Christian Wolmar, Malcolm Root, Fellow of the Guild of Railway Artists (FGRA), Philip D Hawkins FGRA, Jonathan Clay GRA and Matthew Cousins GRA. The society has said that claims that the deletion of the duck would invalidate the listed building consent obtained for the statue on the concourse are “erroneous.”

The crowd-funded 7ft 4in sculpture is due to be unveiled on April 5, 2016, the 75th anniversary of Gresley’s death.

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Heritage Railway 15

NEWS

Historic UK-built US civil war loco sells for £132,000

By Geoff Courtney

A STEAM locomotive that was built in Britain for a US railroad in the earliest days of the 19th-century railway boom and saw service in the American Civil War, has been sold for £132,000.

The 0-4-0, named Mississippi, was built by Braithwaite & Ericsson of London in 1834 and shipped to New Orleans as a kit of parts. After reassembly it operated on the Natchez & Hamburg Railroad and subsequently became embroiled in the civil war of 1861-65, being used by the Confederate army during the siege of Vicksburg in 1863 then, after capture, with the opposing Union forces.

After a return to traffic it was withdrawn in 1891 and passed into the ownership of the Illinois Central Railroad, eventually becoming part of the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry collection. On October 5 the historic engine was put up for auction by the museum at a sale in Philadelphia, and went under the hammer for $200,000 (£132,000), a price inflated to $220,000 (£145,000) by the addition of buyer’s premium.

Bidding ‘active’

The realisation was half of the estimate of up to $400,000, but Eric Minoff, of Bonhams, the British auction house running the sale, said: “Bidding was active between buyers in the room and on the telephone up to around $150,000. It continued between a few bidders until the hammer finally fell.”

As is the tradition in the world of auctions, the successful bidder was not identified. “It was bought by an institutional buyer, and I am sure an

All eyes on this: Mississippi takes centre stage at a Bonhams’ auction in Philadelphia on October 5, when it sold for £132,000. The 0-4-0, built by Braithwaite & Ericsson in London in 1834 for export to the US, was the very first locomotive to operate in the southern state of Mississippi and probably the first to work in the whole of the deep south. It was restored in 1965 to as near an appearance as possible to its as-built condition, although with commercial photography not existing at that time, its restorers relied on contemporary sketches of similar engines for authenticity. BONHAMS

announcement will be made in due course,” said Eric, speaking from Bonhams’ New York office.

The post-civil war history of the 0-4-0, which is believed to have been the first locomotive in the deep south of the US and certainly the very first engine to operate in the state of Mississippi, was thought to have been lost in the mists of time, but details of the latter days of its working life have now emerged, revealing a chequered life of service and mishap.

Following the civil war it operated on a five-mile line between Vicksburg and Warrenton, Mississippi, but is understood to have been derailed in 1874 near Warrenton and lay forgotten, submerged in mud.

That could have been an ignominious end for a pioneering locomotive that was part of both British and American railway history, but salvation came in 1880, when railroad contractor, J A Hoskins, bought both the engine and the line.

Gravel duties

Hoskins repaired Mississippi – it is not recorded whether he did so because of its history or simply for operational reasons – and, with his son, used it for hauling gravel on a railway near Brookhaven, Illinois.

This line was purchased by Illinois Central Railroad in 1891 and Hoskins donated the 0-4-0 to the company as an historical artefact. Illinois Central recognised its significance and, after restoration, the locomotive was

exhibited at the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago, to which it travelled under its own steam.

Over the next 40 years it made numerous high-profile public appearances, including Chicago’s Century of Progress Fair in 1933 and 1934 – a fitting exhibition for a 100-year-old locomotive – and in 1938 it became part of the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry’s permanent collection.

In 1965 Illinois Central, still mindful of the engine’s historical importance, used contemporary sketches of similar locomotives to restore Mississippi to how it was believed to have looked when built in England 131 years previously, and it was in this condition that the venerable 0-4-0 was sold on October 5.

Two more milestones are reached for Betton Grange THE 6880 Betton Grange Society was celebrating the realisation of two significant landmarks at the end of September in its project to create the 81st GWR Grange 4-6-0.

Its 225 Boiler Club appeal, launched at Steel, Steam & Stars IV in March this year, and which Heritage Railway was a main sponsor of, passed the quarter-way mark of its target to raise £225,000 with £60,000 in the pot towards the cost of overhauling the boiler for No. 6880.

Meanwhile, the boiler from donor engine WR 4-6-0 No. 7927 Willington Hall was moved from its long-term storage place in Pentrefelin sidings, on to a well wagon so that it can be moved to the locomotive yard at Llangollen.

It will then be cleaned and prepared for a detailed examination, with companies who have expressed an interest in overhauling the boiler able to tender their quotations. The boiler was new in 1960 and has never had a The footplating on No. 6880 BettonGrange almost complete at the Llangollen Railway workshops.

MICK PRIOR

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heavy general repair, so is thought to be in very good condition for an exBarry scrapyard locomotive.

New-build basis

No. 7927 was one of the ‘Barry 10’ locomotives where agreement was reached with owner Glamorganshire County Council for some to be used as the basis for new-build schemes to create locomotive types that have otherwise been lost.

The frames from No. 7927 have gone towards the creation of a Hawksworth County at Didcot Railway Centre, with the cylinder block and wheels recycled for other projects.

Work on overhauling the boiler will not start though until half of the required funds have been secured, but 6880 fundraising director, Lynne Moore, said the target should be reached within two years.

Meanwhile, in the Llangollen Railway’s workshops construction of Betton Grange continues steadily with the remaining footplating made and

fitted around the front end and over the cylinders. Machined motion brackets from Harco Engineering will be permanently fitted when final alignment, pressure testing and securing of the cylinder assembly takes place, work is scheduled to get underway at the beginning of November.

A complete set of sandboxes has been made and will be fitted shortly.

Llangollen Railway Engineering has machined a set of bearing caps for the rocker-arm supports using steel castings supplied by Johnson Porter from a pattern made by working member Bill Hall. Bearings and rocker arms have also been fitted to the supports and the completed assemblies will be fitted to the chassis in the very near future.

The cylinder relief valves, draincocks, and their operating mechanism are currently under construction. Harco Engineering has also manufactured a new set of slidebars, which were delivered at the end of September.

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The stained glass window celebrating Mallard’s world speed record. ROBIN JONES

World speed record recalled in stained glass THE world speed record set by LNER A4 Pacific No. 4468 Mallard 77 years ago has been celebrated by the unveiling of a stained glass window in the waiting room at Grantham station’s Platform 2, on September 30.

The window was created by Nottingham artist, Mike Brown, who has worked with stained glass for nearly 40 years. When he saw Mallard on display at the station in September 2013, the year of the National Railway Museum’s celebrations to mark the 75th anniversary of its 126mph record on nearby Stoke Bank, he decided to make something special for station users and the local community.

He said: “All the avenues seemed to come together at the same time – the celebration of steam engineering, its

travel from Grantham, the record being made at Stoke Bank, just south of the town, and the sheer number of people who came to see it.

“I hope the window will give people travelling through Grantham as much pleasure as I got from creating it.”

The window was unveiled in a ceremony organised by Virgin Trains, which manages the station.

Virgin Trains’ major projects director, Tim Hedley-Jones, said: “Mike has created a lasting tribute to the great steam locomotive that means so much to the people of Grantham and its surrounds.”

Grantham mayor, Coun Jacky Smith, said: “It’s lovely to have it for all the people who come through Grantham station to see it.”

Design team sought for museum LEICESTER City Council is seeking a design team for the Great Central Railway’s new £17-million museum.

Scheduled to complete in 2019, the National Railway Museumbacked project will see a new museum built at Leicester North station.

As previously reported, the Heritage Lottery Fund-backed museum will house locomotives

and stock from the National Collection.

Specialists are sought covering project management, cost consultancy, architecture and exhibition design. The deadline is noon on October 28.

Details from Andy Button, Leicester City Council, City Hall (4th Floor), 115 Charles Street, Leicester, LE1 1FZ: andy.button@leicester.gov.uk

Tyseley Locomotive Works is overhauling a brake cylinder and will also be supplying new piston castings and piston valve assemblies.

A full set of cylinder end and valveend covers are now in the group’s possession and it is intended to place the order for the overhaul of the piston rods and crossheads soon.

The refurbished screw reverser is now sitting next to the locomotive awaiting its turn for fitting, along with a new handle manufactured by the group.

Tender talk

Consideration is now also being given to providing a tender to pair with Betton Grange.

Initial investigations are being carried out into the production of a new 3500-gallon Collett tender tank, which can be used, along with various chassis parts in the group’s ownership, although it is initially intended to run the Grange with a loaned tender.

The No. 6880 Betton Grange ‘On the Shelf’ list of parts sponsorship has proved to be a great success and this

The boiler from WR 4-6-0 No. 7927 WillingtonHall is lowered on to a well wagonatPentrefelinonSeptember17.

QUENTIN McGUINNESS is kept up to date on the group’s website. Part sponsorship starts from as little as £80 making it reasonably affordable for most people to ‘own’ their very own little bit of Betton Grange. ➜ More details can be found at www.6880.co.uk

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

Heritage Railway 17

NEWS

Peckett 0-4-0ST Kilmersdon near Blue Anchor with the SDJR coach.

EDWARD DYER.

GWR 4-6-0 No. 4936 KinletHall passes Muddymoor on October 1. RICHARD WARREN

Tornado takes Minehead by storm

By Robin Jones MORE than six years after it was officially launched into traffic by Prince Charles at York station, you might have thought that the pulling power of new-build A1 Peppercorn Pacific No. 60163 might have diminished.

However, that was certainly not the case at the West Somerset Railway’s big October 1-4 autumn steam gala, where the apple-green liveried £3 million locomotive topped the bill.

WSR general manager Paul Conibeare said: “The loadings on the train behind Tornado showed that there is still a great appetite to see and travel behind it.

“From the time we began to get the word out that it was coming the phones were ringing with requests for information, there was plenty of online interest and bookings rose in the 12 days before the gala started.

“As a result of Tornado appearing, many families travelled to the railway and rode on train who otherwise would not have come.

“We had four days of sunshine and packed trains.”

Tornado, making a return visit to the Minehead branch, was a late addition to the gala line up, being booked only after WSR plc directors agreed on September 19 to hire it.

Delightful guests

Other guest engines in action included a Great Western pairing from the Severn Valley Railway in 2-8-0 No. 2857 (making its West Somerset debut) and 4-6-0 No. 7812 Erlestoke Manor.

They joined WSR residents large prairie No. 4160 and 4-6-0s Nos. 4936 Kinlet Hall, 6960 Raveningham Hall, and 7828 Odney Manor at the head of the trains, while the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust’s Peckett saddletank

Kilmersdon gave short shuttle train rides out of Minehead station on the Saturday and Sunday, hauling both brake vans and the trust’s Prussian blue-liveried restored S&D coach.

A total of 4955 passengers travelled over the four days – around 300 more than at the corresponding event last year.

Paul added. “Although many of our visitors came for the day out we also welcomed enthusiasts from all parts of Britain and some from Holland and Germany who also stayed in the area and used other local businesses to eat and drink during their stay.

“We’re already receiving bookings for our Spring Steam Gala which will take place on March 5-6 and 10-13, which will mark 50 years since the closure of the Somerset and Dorset line and no doubt local accommodation providers are beginning to see the resultant business also.”

Right: LNER A1 Pacific No. 60163 Tornado heads towards Minehead at Ker Moor. LEE ROBBINS Below: Resident WR 4-6-0 No. 7828 OdneyManor pilots visiting No. 7812 ErlestokeManorat Castle Hill.

SIMON WEBB

Visiting GWR 2-8-0 No. 2857 works a Bishop Lydeard bound train at Muddymoor, shortly after departing from Blue Anchor on October 3. RICHARD WARREN

18 Heritagerailway.co.uk

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