Heritage Railway Issue 250

TORNADO TO WOW WENSLEYDALE FOR TWO MONTHS

ISSUE 250

January 18 – February 14, 2019

ROYAL HONOURS FOR

PRESERVATION POWERHOUSES 2019 GALA GUIDE

WHICH WILL YOU VISIT?

■ COMMUTER PLAN

‘THREAT’ TO EAST LANCASHIRE?

■ AUSSIE A4

‘PURCHASE’ EXPOSED AS HOAX

■ MARCH 3 LAUNCH FOR 150TH BARRY REBUILD ■ URIE SOCIETY PREPARES 506 COMEBACK ■ PADSTOW STATION BECOMES MUSEUM

Fifty years and nearly five months after Britannia Pacific No. 70013 Oliver Cromwell helped haul the BR’s last main line steam passenger train, the ‘Fifteen Guinea Special’, it has bowed out again. Returned to steam on the Great Central Railway in 2008 by the 5305 Locomotive Association, it ran for the last time on the line on December 31, before its 10-year boiler ticket ran out.

Seen departing Loughborough, it carried ‘The East Anglian’ headboard, just as it would have done in BR days. A decision by owner the National Railway Museum about the possibility of a next overhaul is awaited. ROBERT FALCONER

EDITORIAL

Editor Robin Jones 01507 529305 rjones@mortons.co.uk Deputy editor Gareth Evans gevans@mortons.co.uk Senior contributing writers Geoff Courtney, Cedric Johns, Brian Sharpe Contributors Fred Kerr, Roger Melton Designer Tim Pipes Reprographics Paul Fincham, Jonathan Schofield Production editor 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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OPINION

Credit where credit is long overdue W E join with everyone in the heritage railway sector in congratulating two truly outstanding recipients of New Year’s Honours for 2019.

When local lad Mervyn Allcock set out to preserve the behemoth that is Barrow Hill roundhouse and turn it into a major heritage venue, there were many who remained unconvinced. How on earth could an old brick shed full of static locomotives be a visitor draw with the same appeal as an operational heritage line?

However, over many years, Mervyn and his Barrow Hill Engine Shed Society confounded such critics time and time again. What the powers that be had declared redundant and a prime candidate for the bulldozer became not only a multi-use facility for rail activities across the board, but a unique and phenomenal historical and educational resource.

And yes, not only does the venue have its own running line for passenger rides and photographic opportunities, but the interior of the former Staveley Midland shed has been transported back to the steam era with the addition of the trademark smoke hoods and other fittings. Not only that, but as Britain’s last rail-connected roundhouse, the venue can now accept incoming charters, which can but enhance the superb gala events that have been staged there. Mervyn has elevated what was once an everyday piece of local transport infrastructure into a national treasure and his MBE is richly deserved indeed.

London Underground is the oldest and best subway system in the world, and under Sam Mullins, it has the finest museum of its kind to showcase that fact. If not the beating heart of the capital, the Underground provides the essential facilitating veins and arteries, and the Covent Garden museum and its Acton depot are testament to that fact.

Indeed, LTM is a museum with attitude: I will never forget the marvellous spectacle that was Metropolitan Railway 150, when classic steam locomotives and wooden-bodied coaches returned to the tunnels beneath the city in 2013, running heritage services interspersed between the standard electric ones, and such events have been repeated, albeit on a smaller scale, at annual intervals, in joint ventures between the Underground and the museum.

I am sure that Sam will give due credit in receiving his much-merited OBE to his marvellous museum staff who time and time again visibly pull out all the stops to help him make things happen.

December 2018 saw a new star born in the form of WR Modified Hall 4-6-0 No. 6989 Wightwick Hall, which ran for the first time in 54 years, at its restoration at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre.

Bought from Dai Woodham’s scrapyard in January 1978, it has taken nearly 41 years to become the 150th steam locomotive from Barry to be returned to running order.

This is Heritage Railway’s 250th issue, and in early spring we celebrate our 20th anniversary. It was only a few months after our launch that we reported that WR pannier No. 9682, which as reported in our News section this issue, has just been bought by the Dean Forest Railway, had become the 100th ex-Barry wreck to steam again!

Fifty ‘scrap’ locomotives brought back to life in two decades by spare time volunteers lacking the facilities of the major railway company workshops of the steam era and their financial resources, is a stupendous achievement, one that has helped make the UK railway heritage sector a major player in the tourist industry and indeed the best anywhere.

Robin Jones Editor Heritagerailway.co.uk 3

CONTENTS ISSUE 250

January 18, 2019 – February 14, 2019

News

9

Headline News

■ Mervyn Allcock and Sam Mullins

6

recognised in New Year’s Honours ■ East Lancashire vows to forge on despite commuter train threat ■ A4 Dominion of Canada not sold to Australian enthusiasts as claimed ■ Tornado to spend two months on the Wensleydale Railway ■ West Somerset main line shuttles this summer?

12

News

■ Wightwick Hall to be formally

10

launched into traffic in March ■ Hugh Napier to remain active at Ff&WHR for another 10 years ■ Chinnor’s new steam servicing pit bolsters main line offering ■ Bogies purchase boosts LMS No.10000 diesel recreation project ■ Bahamas and visiting B12 to pull in crowds at Keighley’s March gala ■ Restoration of unique J21 starts after Heritage Lottery Fund approval ■ Bumper year for Talyllyn Railway as ridership and retail numbers all up ■ Dean Forest Railway buys second pannier tank ‘in sequence’

Regulars Subscribe Today Centre

Main Line News

63

Pacific’s 70th birthday marked ■ Bahamas remains on course for its forthcoming main line tours ■ Vintage Trains’ ‘Polar Express’ declared an outstanding success

With Full Regulator

70

Don Benn describes the performance of Clan Line on November 24’s ‘The Chilterns and Downs’ railtour

4 Heritagerailway.co.uk

30

Britannia crosses Dutton viaduct on December 8 with ‘The Pennine Moors Explorer’ charter.

54

66

■ Clan Line hauls Royal Train and

Features

Main Line Itinerary

69

Railwayana

74

Platform

97

Steam and heritage diesel railtours.

Geoff Courtney’s regular column.

Where your views matter most.

Off the Shelf

100

Up & Running

102

The Month Ahead

106

Latest book and DVD releases.

Guide to the railways running in the autumn.

Returning Ropley’s S15s to action

Gareth Evans talks to volunteers of the Mid-Hants Railway-based Urie Locomotive Society and learns about the group’s two Urie S15 4-6-0s – Nos. 506, which is set to return to action in the coming months and 499, which is currently being restored to original condition.

42

CONTENTS: In 2018 the North Norfolk Railway ran non-stop dining trains between Sheringham and Holt at weekends in addition to its Santa specials. Making a welcome return to passenger service on a dining train on December 16 was Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway 7F 2-8-0 No. 53809, which had moved from the West Somerset Railway in the spring and had been receiving attention to its valves in Weybourne Works. The 2-8-0 is to star in the NNR’s August 3-4 Somerset & Dorset-themed event, alongside 9F No. 92203 and 4MT No. 76084. BRIAN SHARPE COVER: In atmospherically-lit, crisp conditions, A4 No. 60009 Union of South Africa departs Ramsbottom on the East Lancashire Railway with a Santa special on Christmas Eve 2018. ROBERT H FALCONER

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See page 30 2019 Galas and Special Events Guide

Have you decided which railways you wish to visit this year? Would you prefer to attend an enthusiast or family event? Our definitive list of events at heritage railway venues across the British Isles will help you to choose your very own ‘hit list’.

Great steam engineers of the 19th century part four: The 1840s

As the railway building mania continued unabated, Brian Sharpe outlines how the role of the chief mechanical engineer developed during the 1840s with the emergence of several interesting characters.

The Spirit of Sandringham

Peter Wright and John Peat of the B17 Steam Locomotive Trust outline the story behind new-build No. 61673 Spirit of Sandringham, reflecting on the past as well as the future of the LNER-designed 4-6-0, which is currently under construction at the Llangollen Railway.

84

Countdown to carriage compliance

In the first of a new series examining the issues of operating special trains on the main line with heritage rolling stock, Andy Castledine examines the effects of forthcoming legislation into the heritage sector – this time on passenger carriages.

Tours Guide

92

Do you fancy a railway-themed holiday or two this year? If so, read our guide from a host of operators, offering a range of itineraries, covering the British Isles, Continental Europe and other corners of the globe, providing some truly unforgettable experiences.

Find the latest news, images and discussion online only at: Like us facebook.com/ heritagerailway Follow us @HeritageRailMag Heritagerailway.co.uk 5

HEADLINE NEWS

Barrow Hill saviour and champion becomes MBE

By Robin Jones MERVYN Allcock, who 30 years ago founded the campaign to save Britain’s last rail-connected roundhouse – the former Staveley Midland shed at Barrow Hill – and turned it into a major heritage venue, is to be appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire.

The appointment in the 2019 New Year’s Honours List was made for “services to railway preservation and development”.

The 1870-built roundhouse is just a short bike ride from Mervyn’s childhood home at Inkersall, near Chesterfield, and was a favourite place for trainspotting when he was a child.

Mervyn learned of the plans to close the site in 1989, which led him to set up the campaign to prevent its demolition. Built in 1870, it was threatened with demolition in 1991 when the site was closed by British Rail.

Since its reopening in 1998, thanks to Mervyn’s vision and passion, the roundhouse has not only become an award-winning museum and events venue capable of accepting incoming charter trips, but also a highly-successful commercial railway depot and home for other

rail businesses, generating more than 60 jobs and making a valuable contribution to the local economy. It also serves as a base for preservation groups, including the Deltic Preservation Society.

Adaptable setting

Some doubted whether an engine shed could become a sizeable visitor attraction in its own right, on the same lines as a conventional heritage railway, but Mervyn showed that the roundhouse could be quickly adapted to recreate any number of scenes from the steam age, and the diesel and electric era too.

The grimy interior of steam sheds, with their high windows lighting the gloom, and smoke hoods standing above filthy engines waiting to be cleaned, is nowhere better represented in the heritage sector.

Any period or region can be replicated inside and out, providing that you have the locomotives and stock. The Midland Railway roundhouse inside and out can so easily be adapted to suit another company’s products. For example, on May 4-5, 2009, the LNER II gala featured a unique preservation first: a line-up of new-build A1 Pacific

No. 60163 Tornado, A4s Nos. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley and 60009 Union of South Africa, and A2 No. 60532 Blue Peter.

Mervyn said: “I am very pleased and proud to have received this honour. I accept it on behalf of everyone who has helped me over the last 30 years.”

Professor Mark Robinson, chairman of Barrow Hill Engine Shed Society, the charity set up by Mervyn, said: “I am absolutely thrilled that Mervyn’s vision, dedication and passion in creating our award-winning attraction has been recognised with this honour.

“He fully deserves it, as his drive and entrepreneurial abilities have resulted in a sustainable future for Barrow Hill roundhouse. I am certain that many in the heritage and preservation fields will celebrate this great achievement with him.”

The roundhouse was awarded museum accreditation by the Museums Libraries and Archives Council in 2010.

In March 2016 the roundhouse was awarded £1.2 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund for its Moving Forward project, the aim of which was to broaden the roundhouse audience to include families, a range of learners, the local community and corporate use. This was done through essential

Barrow Hill visionary Mervyn Allcock.

ROBIN JONES conservation repairs, a new café and entrance building and improved access to the site and collections, bringing the roundhouse to life with new interpretation.

The site reopened in September 2017 with a celebration gala, including A3 No. 60103 Flying Scotsman and No. 60163 Tornado.

Visitor numbers

Last April a £1-million overhaul of the site’s rail infrastructure was undertaken

by Network Rail and East Midlands Trains to provide servicing facilities for the latter’s intercity rail services between Sheffield and London during the temporary closure of Derby station over the summer of 2018.

In November, the roundhouse was awarded the prestigious Institute of Mechanical Engineering’s 123rd Heritage Engineering Award.

Now the venue for several major events every year, it attracts over 23,000 visitors annually.

Further details of forthcoming events can be found at www.barrowhill.org

OBE for London Transport Museum director Sam Mullins

Rheidol No.7’s return to kick-start new season VALE of Rheidol Railway 2-6-2T No. 7 is to make a comeback by pulling the line’s first train of the new season after a 20-year restoration.

The 1923-built locomotive (pictured), which has previously carried the name Owain Glyndwr, will return to revenue-earning service on February 16 following restoration by the line’s craftsmen and apprentices Trains will run on February 16-28 and March 1-3, 9-10, 16-17, 23-24, and 30-31.

Also, phase one of the £1.2 million redevelopment work at Aberystwyth station (HR248) will be open. This project includes the new accessible platform alongside the car park, new toilet facilities and an interim booking office.

6 Heritagerailway.co.uk

SAM Mullins, the director of London Transport Museum in Covent Garden, has received an OBE in the New Year’s Honours List.

Having been appointed as director in 1994, Sam, who comes from Salisbury and now lives in Dalston, is credited with transforming it into the world’s premier urban transport museum.

He played a pivotal role in the award-winning Metropolitan Railway 150 celebrations in 2013, which marked the anniversary of the world’s oldest underground line.

He also opened the museum’s depot at Acton, the UK’s first publicly accessible museum storehouse that houses Transport for London’s outstanding and nationally designated heritage collection, from trains, trams and buses, to the design archive of signs, maps and posters.

TfL said that under Sam’s leadership, LTM has engaged and delighted millions of visitors, as well as engaging with young people in every London borough through its outreach programmes, encouraging

them to travel safely and to pursue careers in the transport and cultural industries.

When LTM became a charity in 2008, Sam played a key part in leading the development of an enterprising culture in service of its educational and cultural values.

Furthermore, Sam has made a significant contribution to the museum sector as past chairman of the Association of Independent Museums, editor of the Social History Curators Group, board member and professional development mentor for the Museums Association and trustee of

Sam Mullins inside the Covent Garden museum. TFL

the Royal Logistics Corps Museum.

He is currently a trustee of SS Great Britain in Bristol, the Museum Prize Trust and chairman of the Museum Advisory Board of the Canal & River Trust and will later this year become president of the International Association of Transport Museums.

Sam said: “It’s fantastic to be recognised in the New Year’s Honours and a privilege to be the director of LTM. “It is now the world’s leading museum of urban transport and brings so much joy and learning to so many people.

“Museums play a huge part in London’s reputation, as the cultural capital of the world, and I want to thank everybody at LTM for their long-term dedication and creativity in making it such an enjoyable experience for visitors.

“I look forward to seeing our outreach programmes across the capital continue to shape tomorrow’s citizens and our museum exhibitions and events engage and spark our visitors’ curiosity.”

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North-east locomotive on north-east tracks: Q6 No. 63395 makes a fine sight at Moorgates between the North Yorkshire Moors Railway stations of Goathland and Newton Dale Halt on December 28 with the seven-coach 1.30pm Grosmont-Pickering Pullman dining train. The heavy freight 0-8-0, which returned to service last autumn after an overhaul that included boiler work, was built at Darlington Works in December 1918 as No. 2238, one of 120 in the T2 class designed for coal traffic by NER chief mechanical engineer Sir Vincent Raven. It was withdrawn from Sunderland (52G) in September 1967, just over a year short of giving 50 years’ service to the NER, LNER and BR, and was saved for preservation by the North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group. GEOFF COURTNEY

Tornado to spend two months in Wensleydale

By Robin Jones FOLLOWING its return to traffic following repairs, crowd-pulling A1 Peppercorn Pacific No. 60163 Tornado is to spend two months on the Wensleydale Railway.

Providing that all goes well with its imminent main line test runs (see separate story below), Tornado will arrive on the line via its main line connection at Northallerton on Saturday, February 9.

The primary purpose of the visit is to use the heritage line as a layover at Leeming Bar in between jobs and to conduct maintenance.

However, it may also be used to run

some trips over the heritage line for the general public before its departure on Saturday, March 2.

Tornado will, however, return on Saturday, May 11, and will stay until Friday, June 7. It is scheduled to run trips there on May 18, 19, 21, 24-28 and 31 and June 1-4.

Track upgrade

WR officials hope that the visit will highlight many of the significant improvements that have been made to the line in recent months.

The passing loop at Leyburn has been reinstated with a new set of points installed at the west end of

the station. Old bullhead rails on the main line were replaced with new flatbottom rail, giving a complete run of flatbottom rail right through the platform and connecting to the points. Three full Dogfish hoppers of ballast weighing more than 50 tons were dropped on the points and distributed into the voids between the sleepers and then tamped all by hand to complete the installation. A Volker Rail Tamper visited the WR in January to give the loop and points a final tamping.

A new insulated block joint was fitted at the Yafforth level crossing, making it fully automatic again. Worn-

out sleeper and broken chairs have been replaced at Crakehall, Bedale Curve east of the station and also close to Primrose Farm near Newton-le-Willows.

Volunteers welcome

Vegetation clearance has also taken place to improve sightlines and to allow sunlight in to dry up the trackbed.

The railway has been further boosted by volunteer recruitment, with the numbers rising from 220 to 250 in recent months. The railway says it would like to hear from anyone who would be interested in joining the teams.

No. 60163 set for main line return in February

By Cedric Johns

TORNADO is now on the brink of returning to traffic after its failure on the ‘Ebor Express’ last April and subsequent ‘hospitalisation’ on the Nene Valley Railway for extensive repairs, which included outside contractor’s manufacture of replacement parts.

As part of the A1’s running-in and as a thank you for the Nene Valley Railway’s hospitality, the 4-6-2 worked driver experience trips on January 5 and 11 and scheduled passenger trains on January 6 and 12.

All that remained was a main line proving run or two to establish the locomotive’s credentials in time for it to be available to work the first of a series of ‘North Briton’ charters from Doncaster to Carlisle via Shap, trains returning over the Settle and Carlisle line. The first departure is booked for Saturday, February 9.

A trust spokesman said Tornado was being prepared for a proving run on January 15, after we closed for press.

Other A1 Trust excursions include ‘The Auld Reekie’ which, on Sunday,

March 3, runs from Doncaster to Edinburgh via Wakefield, Leeds and York; ‘The Aberdonian’ from Edinburgh to the Granite City, on Thursday, March 14; and ‘The Bard of Avon’ from Manchester to Stratford-upon-Avon, stopping at Stockport, Wilmslow, Crewe and Shrewsbury en route on Saturday, March 23.

On Saturday, April 6, the A1 heads ‘The Devonian’ out of Birmingham to Plymouth, picking up at Stourbridge Junction, Kidderminster, Worcester and Bristol Temple Meads.

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

Most notably perhaps is the Manchester-Berlin trip to mark the 70th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift, worked as far as Harwich by the 4-6-2 on Tuesday, June 11, as reported in issue 249.

Saturday, June 15 offers ‘The Yorkshire Pullman’ formed by the Belmond Pullman set. Departing King’s Cross, the train heads for York and Scarborough.

Further details and tickets for these trips are available from UK Railtours, which is acting on behalf of the A1 trust.

Heritagerailway.co.uk 7

HEADLINE NEWS

ELR visitor numbers rocket –

but council calls for commuter trains

By Gareth Evans

AT a time of continued growth in visitor and volunteer numbers on in its heritage services, Rossendale Borough Council, one of the three East Lancashire Railway local authority partners, is driving forward plans to introduce commuter trains on the heritage railway.

Despite two previous in-depth surveys by respected consultancies having ruled out the idea on economic grounds, questions are being asked about the proposals, which remain at an early stage, but could inevitably be to the detriment of the much-loved heritage operation.

The commuter plans appear to fly in the face of the ELR’s growth.

Carrying 200,000 passengers in 2018, it is now Greater Manchester’s second most-visited paid-for attraction after Old Trafford football stadium tours.

What has become the UK’s third largest standard gauge heritage railway in terms of turnover enjoyed its first ever sell-out Santa specials, carrying 41,000 passengers. The ELR’s ‘Dining with Distinction’ operation successfully retained its No. 1 status across Greater Manchester’s thousands of restaurants on TripAdvisor throughout 2018, carrying 14,000 passengers per annum.

The ELR’s Bury Transport Museum attracted 47,000 visitors alone.

According to a report produced independently for the ELR Trust board, the ELR is now the UK’s fastest-growing heritage line.

The desktop report on the commuter trains was commissioned

by Rossendale BC in partnership with Lancashire County Council (LCC) and was carried out by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) consultants.

The report describes a peak period shuttle service as a ‘promising option’ between Rawtenstall and Bury using the ELR and a new heavy rail link from a disused platform at Bury Bolton Street station to Castleton.

Rossendale BC leader, Coun Alyson Barnes, said: “The ELR is an incredible success story, bringing visitors and tourism into the Rossendale economy and we don't want to lose it – but the current commuter network between Rossendale and Manchester isn’t working. At peak periods, both car drivers and bus passengers find themselves in nose to tail traffic.

“We therefore want to see the rail link treated as a high priority scheme in the forthcoming Transport for the North (TfN) Investment Programme 2020-50. This would be a precursor to funding a Strategic Online Business Case and the remaining development and planning stages needed to take the project forwards.”

However, an LCC report conducted

by Jacobs in 2016 found commuter trains would “most likely result in the loss of the existing ELR heritage asset”.

Ruling out Tram-Train operation linking the Metrolink network with the ELR, it found the project would also have a high (£50-million-plus) capital cost and would not address Transport for Greater Manchester’s (TfGM) concerns with regard to network capacity. An hourly rail service would require a £600,000

annual operating subsidy from LCC – approximately 30,000 additional homes would be needed to meet the shortfall in demand.

In 2015, LCC controversially consulted on plans to end all bus service subsidies. As of November 2018, the budget is £4.3 million.

Political football

From the outside looking in, one can’t avoid observing that the ELR has found itself as an innocent political football – the Rossendale and Darwen constituency being a key marginal seat.

In the 2017 General Election, Jake Berry MP (Cons) had a majority of 3126 over Labour.

Coun Barnes is the Labour candidate for the seat, which the party has to win if it is to get into Number 10.

Berry, who has been campaigning for the commuter rail service since at least 2014, did not respond to Heritage Railway’s enquiry as to whether he has met with ELR representatives and also what impact he considers the commuter proposals may have on the future of the line.

On January 6, Berry, who is also the Northern Powerhouse Minister, posted on his Facebook page: “I was pleased to get a positive response from Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, signalling his support for improving connections between Rossendale & Greater Manchester.”

According to the MP, the Mayor’s letter stated: “I have asked TfGM to engage with the work underway… and to keep an open mind in looking

at all options, while also recognising the value of the ELR heritage asset.”

Railway reaction

ELR chairman Mike Kelly said: “The ELR understands the ambitions of Rossendale BC to improve transport links, in particular, a rail connection from Rawtenstall to Manchester.

“The ELR is a major regional heritage leisure attraction built up by thousands of volunteers over the past 31 years.Because of this, we have to be concerned as to the potential impact of any commuter service on the successful continuation of our heritage operations, with jobs, schools, suppliers and continuing support to the visitor economy.

“Most importantly, our ability in retaining the passion and loyalty of our many hundreds of volunteers, where many have become disconcerted by previous transport studies commissioned by TfGM in 2012 and by LCC in December, 2016. The results of which found a commuter service to be wholly uneconomical. The latest desktop study by CEBR highlights the same modal options previously ruled out.

“It’s difficult to speculate on what happens next, as it will be up to TfN to decide whether to fund a further detailed study costing around £250,000. The ELR will focus on doing what it does best: running an award-winning heritage railway.” ➜ TfGM’s Transport Strategy 2040 Draft Delivery Plan (2020-2025), dated January 11 mentions completing the business case for a Metro/tram-train from Bury to Rochdale via Heywood.

Main line shuttles to WSR in May? THE West Somerset Railway has asked train operator Great Western Railway to run a shuttle train service connecting Taunton and Bishops Lydeard on peak days during this summer.

The bid has been made to GWR’s Customer & Communities Improvement Fund and faces competition with hundreds of others from around the Great Western network.

The results should be known in the coming weeks and if successful, the service could start at the end of May. Under the proposals Great Small can often be best: LMS 3F ‘Jinty’ 0-6-0T finds regular employment on the Great Central Railway’s ‘Elizabethan’ dining train. It passes the new housing estate at Woodthorpe Lane on January 6. The road over the railway has now been closed to all traffic at this point. BRIAN SHARPE

8 Heritagerailway.co.uk

Western DMUs would connect with steam trains from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead.

Great Western already offers through ticketing from staffed stations to the WSR, including the connecting service provided by Buses of Somerset route 28 from Taunton station.

WSR general manager Paul Conibeare said: “With the refurbishment of Taunton station, a new car park and refurbished Great Western Hotel, there is no better time to start the new shuttle service.”

The Brighter Steam News Magazine www.heritagerailway.co.uk

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‘Dominion of Canada has not been sold and is not for sale’ say officials after online claim in Australia EXCLUSIVE

By Geoff Courtney A claim by an Australian syndicate that it had bought a “certain English locomotive” – widely believed to have referred to preserved No. 60010 Dominion of Canada – has been exposed as a hoax, after a ‘true or false’ mystery worthy of an Agatha Christie novel.

The locomotive was donated by BR to the Canadian Railroad Historical Association after its withdrawal from Aberdeen Ferryhill in May 1965 and, until recently, had been on display at the Canadian Railway Museum in Saint-Constant, Quebec, since its arrival in the country in mid-1966.

It returned to these shores for the award-winning Great Gathering of the six preserved A4s at the NRM in 2013, when it was cosmetically restored as No. 4489, its LNER number when it entered traffic in the summer of 1937. On its return to Canada it was again placed on display, but last year it was placed in storage, leading to reports that it could be sold.

In recent months the preservation movement in Australia had become awash with rumours that the Gresley Pacific, which in 1937 achieved 109½mph down Stoke Bank south of Grantham, would be coming to a new home down under.

However, a statement from the Canadian Railroad Historical Association just before Christmas revealed that the rumours were baseless, but not before they had

reached fever pitch following a posting on Facebook in Australia in December under the identity of Joshua Ralston of the ‘NSWGR steam locomotive fleet’.

The post claimed: “For those that have noticed lately, there has been talk about the possibility of a certain English locomotive coming to our shores. As much as we wanted to remain quiet on the situation, our tongues got the better of us, and we started to make a few jokes.

“But now that the tendering process has closed we are pleased to announce that a syndicate of Australians has been successful in our application for the engine. We won’t say which one but I think you will be able to figure it out if you have been following the jokes lately. It’s still a long process to go before we can announce the official plans for what we plan to do with her, but there will be updates from time to time.”

Fuel was added to the rumour fires by the hashtag at the end of the message: “#DoC2020,” which, unsurprisingly, was taken by many to indicate that the loco concerned was Dominion of Canada.

Multiple inquiries

However, Robert Robinson, president of the Canadian Railroad Historical Association, said on December 20: “It is true that we have received multiple inquiries and unsolicited offers regarding both of these pieces (No. 60010 Dominion of Canada and LBSCR A1

English resident in Scotland: No. 60010 Dominion of Canada of King’s Cross shed on the East Coast Main Line at Longniddry between Edinburgh and Berwick. The date is unrecorded, but the Pacific carries the British Railways name on its tender, indicating late 1940s/early 1950s. The Canadian Pacific Railway bell above the smokebox numberplate was fitted in 1938 and removed in 1957, when the engine was fitted with a double chimney. JOHN ROBERTSON/TRANSPORT TREASURY class 0-6-0T No. 54 Waddon), but I do not intend to either confirm or deny the source or detail of any of them.”

The CRHA, he said, had not made any decisions regarding the ‘deaccession’ of either of its two British locomotives, and had no firm timetable to do so, and that were any such decision ever made, it would be made public. He also said the speculation and rumours in the UK had become a distraction.

Prior to Mr Robinson’s comments, opinions in Australia were split about the veracity of the Facebook claim

by Ralston. There was little doubt among the preservation movement that Dominion of Canada was the locomotive concerned, and several enthusiasts took the post seriously, with one blogging: “It concerns me that Australian money, which could be used to restore an Australian locomotive, is being wasted on something from overseas,” to which another responded: “It’s their money and they can spend it how they choose.”

However, one source, who described Ralston as a “player in the New South Wales preservation scene” but had no contact details for him,

told Heritage Railway: “I thought it was a wind-up, but why? I have two thoughts there. Firstly, the loss of Pendennis Castle is still raw to a lot of Australian enthusiasts, and secondly the reports of your NRM thinking of buying Garratt No. 6029.”

The two locomotives the source referred to are GWR 4-6-0 No. 4079 and UK-built Beyer-Garratt No. 6029.

The former was shipped to Australia in 1977 after being bought by an iron ore company and was a resident there until 2000, when it returned to the UK and is currently under restoration at Didcot Railway Centre.

The Garratt, which was built by Beyer Peacock in Manchester in 1953 for New South Wales Government Railways, became the centre of heated debate in 2016 due to the unexpected closure of its Canberra Railway Museum home.

Fears were expressed that the 4-8-4+4-8-4 would be sold, and reports emerged that our own National Railway Museum was interested, but these proved to be unfounded and the locomotive remains in Australia and is now owned by enthusiast Phil Davis and businessman David Sommerville.

Pathfinder’s ‘Waverley Reunion’ trip ran from Birmingham New Street to Tweedbank via Carlisle on January 5. Hauled

by Class 50s Nos. 50007 Hercules and 50049 Defiance, renumbered on one side as Nos. 50006 Neptune and 50011 Centurion respectively, the train marked the 50th anniversary of the last passenger train on the legendary Carlisle to Edinburgh route. The ‘50s’ replaced Deltic No. D9009 Alycidon, which was originally intended to run as D9007 Pinza, which hauled the last train half a century ago. Pictured is No. 50007 (50006) leading the train from Bowshank tunnel to Tweedbank.

ALAN MITCHELL

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

Heritagerailway.co.uk 9

NEWS DBC’s TI Gareth Jones retires

By Cedric Johns Respected by main line steam operators, DB Cargo’s traction inspector Gareth Jones was given a celebratory retirement presentation organised by the firm’s special trains manager, Richard Corser at its Doncaster headquarters before Christmas.

Renowned for his professionalism, being well prepared for each job on the footplate and route knowledge second to none, the former Bescot man often solved problems to keep steam locomotives and their tours on the move.

DB Cargo’s CEO officer Hans-Georg Werner presented Gareth with a model Class 66 and a glass plaque to mark 65 years of railway service. His final duty saw him on the footplate of No. 34052 Lord Dowding working Pathfinder’s ‘Chester Chuffer’ on December 15.

Growing up in Tywyn, Gareth became a volunteer on the Talyllyn Railway at the age of 12 before starting his main line career as a cleaner at Machynlleth at 15. “He’ll be sorely missed,” said 6024 Locomotive Society spokesman Davis Fuszard. DBC has asked Gareth to stay on for another six months.

Hertford East ’box given to Wensleydale THE Wensleydale Railway has been given the Victorian signalbox from Hertford East.

The heritage line plans to install and renovate the 1888-built GER timber-framed and weather boarded structure at Constable Burton between Bedale and Leyburn, in a two-year project by volunteers.

Network Rail needs listed building consent before it can dismantle and relocate the ’box, which comes complete with the original lever frame and many of the internal instruments necessary to operate it.

WR volunteer co-ordinator Helen Ashworth appealed for more volunteers to help with the project to email volunteercoordinator@ wensleydalerailway.com or call 01677 425805.

10 Heritagerailway.co.uk

Two icons of Britain’s railways: A3 Pacific No. 60103 Flying Scotsman crossing the S&DR Skerne Bridge of 1825, the world’s oldest continually-used railway bridge. In a separate story, on Friday, January 11, No. 60103 headed the ‘Scotsman’s Salute’ memorial tour honouring the late Sir William McAlpine from King’s Cross to the NRM at York, where Class 90 No. 90028 was officially named after him. PETER GIROUX

Could live steam be back on Stockton & Darlington for 2025?

By Niall Hammond

AMBITIOUS plans to conserve and promote the route of the Stockton & Darlington Railway – the world’s first modern locomotive-powered line – in the lead up to major celebrations for its 200th anniversary are now taking shape.

A partnership of the three local authorities, the Tees Valley Combined Authority, the National Railway Museum, Historic England, Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway and industry partners such as Network Rail, Hitachi Rail (whose state-of-theart train factory sits next to the 1825 line) and train operating companies LNER and Northern Trains, are now all working together as a rail heritage board for the sole purpose.

Studies have been commissioned to examine what survives of the 1825 line and what needs conserving, how to improve access, the overall interpretation and what the celebrations of 2025 look like.

In 2018, Historic England designated the full length of the track as a Heritage Action Zone, providing extra focus and resources.

The Friends not only want see major celebrations in 2025, but also to look at the long-term care of and access to the line.

Plans are developing to establish a walking and cycling rail trail using the route of the 1825 S&DR from Witton Park to Stockton-on-Tees, to ensure that the physical remains of the S&DR are protected, recognised and conserved.

Opportunities to reintroduce live steam are being explored and relationships being forged with local communities to engage with the

care of the line, as with the recent volunteer conservation work at Brusselton Incline supported by Durham County Council.

Every 50 years since the S&DR was engineered by George Stephenson, in 1875, 1925 and 1975, there have been major celebrations to mark the ‘invention’ of the modern railway.

Of the original 26 miles of the S&DR, around 17 miles is still operating railway, running in large part through cuttings and over embankments and bridges that are nearly 200 years old.

At Darlington, occupying the 1840 North Road station, the Head of Steam Museum contains treasures including Locomotion No.1, the Stephenson engine that pulled the first train on the opening day – September 27, 1825. Shildon, the world’s first railway town, has Locomotion, the NRM’s outreach station, while at the east end of the line, Preston Park Museum also tells part of the story.

Sadly, between these high points much of the rest of the line and its original branches lie neglected, uncared for and inaccessible.

Partnership approach

The 1825 S&DR line crosses three modern local authorities (Stockton, Darlington and County Durham) and while each had an awareness of the importance of its rail heritage, what was really needed was a co-ordinated approach to tell the story of the ‘birthplace of the modern railway’. In 2013 the Friends was formed and has since become a registered charity.

The Friends, with support from the NRM, held a conference at Shildon in 2015, bringing together the three local authorities and other interested

parties to start the process of working together in the lead up to 2025, and began piecing together an accurate understanding through new research of why the S&DR has, for nearly 200 years, been seen as the birthplace of the modern railway.

The S&DR was not the first public railway, but the 1821 and 1823 Acts of Parliament that allowed the line to be built were clear that this was a public railway, which from its inception was to carry not just coal, but passengers and an extensive list of goods on a permanent main line with branches, providing almost a ‘manifesto’ of what a railway should be.

Innovative technology and the perseverance to make steam locomotives reliable by the company’s engineer Timothy Hackworth and founding father Edward Pease, meant that by 1830 much of what we recognise as a modern railway not only was in place, but turning a handsome profit.

Stephenson took his experience to the design of other railways and Hackworth, at the instruction of Pease, shared his knowledge with engineers from Prussia, France and the US, igniting the railway revolution overseas and marking County Durham as the place where the modern railway age was born. ➜ More information is available at http://www.sdr1825.co.uk or at www.facebook.com/ groups/304912612980375/ The Friends hold a regular monthly meeting on the first Thursday of the month, at 7.10pm, usually at Darlington Cricket Club, Feethams.

Email info@sdr1825.co.uk for information.

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Irish Santa special stops trains – but picks up extra passengers!

By Cedric Johns AMONGST all the family excitement and hustle and bustle created by the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland’s sell-out main line Santa specials, one train brought Iarnród Éireann public services to a halt. According to a brief report issued by the main line operator, passenger services on Saturday, December 15 were subject to 30 minute delays because of a problem with a steam locomotive heading a Santa train returning from Maynooth to Dublin.

The engine involved was Dublin Connolly-based Northern Counties 2-6-4T No. 4. On the second trip of the day with driver Ken Fox and fireman Connie O’Gara, steaming issues halted the train at Navan Road Parkway for 20 minutes. As a result of this delay, the Irish Rail Regulator diverted the train to M3 Parkway as there were a number of extra trains running to the Leinster v Bath rugby match at Lansdowne Road.

Arrival at M3 Parkway was 30 minutes late on the Maynooth times. As No.4 is prohibited from running round at M3 Parkway, other than running light to Clonsilla Junction and returning, it was agreed that a diesel from Connolly, General Motors 071 Class No. 082,

would take the train back there.

Accordingly, the Santa train departed M3 Parkway. Meanwhile, a local train from Clonsilla Junction to M3 Parkway was running very late, due to a driver issue, so the special took on seven ‘ordinary’ passengers, who were trying to get to Dublin. The train arrived back in Connolly just 48 minutes late, despite the problems.

However, all was well on the next day’s specials. The Santa trains from Dublin were also operated by Great Southern 2-6-0 No 461. Those departing Belfast were worked by GNR(I) V 4-4-0 No. 85 Merlin and GNR(I) Q 4-4-0 No. 131.

Steam returns to Ireland on April 22/23, when the traditional ‘Easter Eggspress’ trains run twice daily between Belfast and Whitehead. It is tradition that a similar programme will operate out of Dublin.

The RPSI’s annual international railtour kicks off on May 9 and runs between Whitehead, Belfast and Dublin. The following day, a diesel-hauled trip departs Dublin for Galway. On Saturday, May 11, the tour runs from Dublin to Waterford, and from Waterford to Limerick on the Sunday. On the Monday, May 13, it leaves Waterford for Dublin, Belfast and Whitehead.

On December 28, Hugh Napier was taken out for a run to recover Baldwin Moelwyn from Tan y Bwlch. GARETH EVANS

Hugh Napier to remain active on Ff&WHR for another 10 years

By Gareth Evans THE agreement between the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways and the National Trust for the loan of Quarry Hunslet No. 855 of 1904 Hugh Napier has been extended for a further 10-year period.

The deal was confirmed to Heritage Railway by Ff&WHR director and general manager Paul Lewin, who said: “Hugh Napier has been a great addition to the Ff&WHR fleet. While clearly not suitable for our passenger services, like Lilla and Britomart this locomotive gives a lot of pleasure to our visitors, regularly affording the opportunity for hands-on experience and adding to the rich tapestry of the scene on the railway.

“The agreement going forward includes carrying out the 10-year boiler overhaul of the locomotive.

We will be conducting an appeal

during the course of the year to fund materials for this project. We are very pleased that Hugh Napier will be maintained in an operable state and based in North Wales.”

Preserved at the NT’s Penrhyn Castle Industrial Railway Museum in 1966, the locomotive’s restoration to working order was completed at the Ff&WHR in 2012. The 0-4-0ST has since become a roving ambassador for the NT and Ff&WHR alike. Along with numerous heritage lines, Hugh Napier has visited Shrewsbury Flower Show, Bristol Temple Meads and King’s Cross station, where for February half-term 2018, it was displayed alongside Velinheli and FR carriage No. 10.

The locomotive, which has been restored to Penrhyn Quarry condition, regularly gives footplate rides at the Ff&WHR during special events or on summer Saturdays.

Programme of talks in the BLS Ingrow West Learning Coach

GNR(I) Q 4-4-0 No. 131 at Kernan with the 2.50pm Santa train from Portadown to Lisburn on December 9. The locomotive has visited Portadown for the first time in 60 years. GORDON HAWKINS/RPSI

Free rides on Mid-Hants CHILDREN aged four and under will be able to travel free of charge on the MidHants Railway’s standard service for the first time from February. General manager

Jason Houlders said:“I hope that by making our standard travel free for those aged four and under, we can secure even more‘little engineers’for the future.”

THE Bahamas Locomotive Society is opening its Heritage Lottery Fundbacked Learning Coach at Ingrow West station on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, for a series of free illustrated talks.

The talks are: Sunday, January 20, 11-11.45am: Rebuilding Ingrow station – a walking talk and tour (David Pearson); Sunday, January 27, 11-12pm: Bradford’s railway that never was – the Midlands’ lost route to the north (David Pearson); Sunday, February 17, 2-3pm: Preserved steam locomotives Stateside (Richard Greenwood); Sunday, February 24, 11-12pm: Rocket to Metrolink – Greater Manchester Transport heritage

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

and operation (Keith Whitmore); Sunday, March 3, 11-12pm: Steam Locomotive No. 1054 – A mobile National Trust property (Pete Skellon); Saturday, March 9, 5pm-6.30pm: The artistry of Eric Treacy and other rail cameramen (John Hillier); Saturday, March 16, 11-12pm: Island tracks – Railways on the Isle Of Wight part 1 (preDecember 1966) (Ian Purkis) and Friday, April 5, 5.30-7pm: The Bahamas Locomotive Society – a preservation pioneer (John Hillier).

Attendees are invited to register their interest to attend by calling 07825 632123, emailing learning@ ingrowloco.com or turn up on the day.

Heritagerailway.co.uk 11

NEWS

Wightwick Hall set for big March launch at Quainton

By Robin Jones THE Buckinghamshire Railway Centre received an early Christmas present when WR 4-6-0 No. 6989 Wightwick Hall became the 150th locomotive rescued from Barry scrapyard to be returned to steam.

The fruits of a restoration project which has taken nearly 41 years of hard graft by volunteers, saw No. 6989 pass its formal in-frames steam test, before heading down the Quainton Road running line in glorious sunshine on its first movement under its own power since 1964.

The movement paved the way for an official public launch on Sunday, March 3, to welcome No. 6989 into the centre’s fleet.

Wightwick Hall was completed at Swindon Works on March 25, 1948 and entered service the same month at Hereford shed, replacing one of the Saints that was withdrawn, and spent 10 years there.

No. 6989 was the second last steam locomotive to be ordered by the GWR before BR took over. It was named after Wightwick Hall, which is located near Wolverhampton.

Working life

No. 6989 was outshopped in GWR lined green livery with the number on the front buffer beam and British Railways in capitalised GWR-style letters on the tender. It was repainted black at a heavy general overhaul in October 1950 and returned to green at the intermediate repair in September 1956.

The locomotive covered 640,645 miles in 16 years of service, and spent its entire working life in the Welsh border country, spending four years allocated to Worcester and its final two at Gloucester (Horton Road).

A mixed traffic locomotive, Wightwick Hall hauled the ‘Cambrian

Wightwick Hall makes its first run at Quainton Road on a sunny December 11. The 150 numerals were borrowed from Didcot Railway Centre. BEN JACKSON Coast Express’ and the ‘Cathedrals Express’ and ran to Wembley on football specials. In September 1962, No. 6989 was taken off a freight train to replace failed Class 52 diesel hydraulic D1000 Western Enterprise, which was only nine months old at the time, on a Birmingham to Paddington express.

The locomotive was condemned on June 1, 1964, and sold to Woodham Bros scrapyard at Barry. It made its last journey on the national network on August 6 that year as part of a special train from Gloucester

No. 6989 undergoes an earlier unofficial steam test. CHARLIE JONES

12 Heritagerailway.co.uk

to Barry along with No. 6960 Raveningham Hall, 7F No. 53809 and Stanier 8F No 48431, all of which have been preserved.

The Wightwick Hall Appeal Fund was launched in 1975 and within two years had raised enough to buy the locomotive and Collett tender No. 2825, that had last been coupled with No. 7927 Willington Hall.

Preservation

The 88th locomotive to leave Barry scrapyard, it arrived at Quainton Road on January 9, 1978, six months after the tender. As the 4-6-0 was over the weight limit for the Severn Bridge, it had to be transported from Barry to Quainton via Chepstow and Gloucester with an overnight stop at Cheltenham.

The boiler was finally reunited with the frames in 1996, and the engine and tender were joined together in 2008. In June 2012, the 6989 Restoration Group was awarded a Highly Commended Certificate by the Transport Trust for the restoration work thus far.

April 2014 saw the boiler successfully hydraulically tested and signed off by the boiler inspector.

A fire was lit in the boiler in August 2014 and the relief valves lifted for

the first time in around 50 years.

On October 6, 2014, the boiler inspector signed off the out offrames steam test and the following March the boiler was returned to the frames.

June 5, 2017 saw the profile of the driving wheel tyres confirmed as being fit to run by a qualified inspector, and on September 26 last year, the lining out was completed.

The locomotive is owned by the Quainton Railway Society, but its purchase and restoration has been financed exclusively through individual members and fundraising.

Wightwick Hall is likely to be made available for hire to other heritage lines, but at present there are no plans to upgrade it for main line running. It is currently running with a tender borrowed from sister No. 6984 Owsden Hall which is being restored at the Swindon & Cricklade Railway, while its own is being completed. ➜ Anyone who would like to contribute to the cost of rebuilding the tender is invited to contact Chris Tayler, Hon Treasurer 6989 Group, Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Station Road, Quainton, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP22 4BY or email christayler1@virginmedia.com

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Hunt may face legal action after hound hit by Santa Special THE Llangollen Railway is set to prosecute a foxhunt after a pack of hounds ran into the path of a Santa Special, killing at least one dog.

Young children on board the train running back from Carrog to Llangollen behind GWR 2-8-0 No. 3802 around 4pm on December 9 were said to have been left traumatised after witnessing the incident near Deeside Halt, which was reported by media across the world.

The footplate crew made an emergency brake application after spotting the dogs running over the track. The crew and several of the hunters then removed the dogs from the line, delaying the journey by about 45 minutes.

The mother of a seven-year-old girl who was on the train, said: “I have to say the Llangollen Railway staff were wonderful. It was a great day with a sad ending.”

The North Wales Police rural crime team is undertaking an investigation into why the hunt and its pack of 28 dogs were running over the railway line.

Insp Rob Rands said: “Statements have been taken from the railway staff and other witnesses are being sought. Our enquiries are continuing in order to identify those in control of the dogs at the time of the collision.”

The railway’s business manager Liz McGuinness said that once the police have reported back following their investigation, a private prosecution may be taken against the hunt.

She said: “I sincerely apologise to everyone on the Santa Special. The hunt does not have permission to be on Llangollen Railway property.

“The driver and crew were obviously badly shaken by this highly-regrettable incident.”

Second SVR gala visitor revealed

By Paul Appleton THE Severn Valley Railway’s spring steam gala is taking on something of a Great Western tank engine theme, with the announcement that former GWR large prairie No. 4144 is the second guest engine, joining fellow ‘Western’ visitor 0-6-0PT No. 6430.

The Didcot-based 2-6-2T last visited the SVR in 2001 and is a type that was once a familiar sight along the Severn Valley Railway in GWR and BR steam days.

No. 6430 visited the SVR as recently as 2016 when it starred at the spring steam gala alongside classmate No. 6412. It will make the short journey from the Llangollen Railway and as an auto-fitted engine, will allow two auto-trains to operate along with resident Collett 0-4-2T No. 1450.

Add to these the other resident GWR tank locomotives available for

the March 15-17 event: Port Talbot Railway/GWR 0-6-0ST No. 813 and panniers Nos. 7714 and 1501 and already there and due to appear are six tank locomotives with GWR pedigree, with the potential for two further examples as another two guest locomotives are yet to be announced.

Add to the mix the availability of resident tender locomotives Nos. 7812 Bradley Manor and 2-8-0 No. 2857 and the GWR-theme could be further expanded.

However, it is thought that newlyoverhauled BR Standard 4MT 4-6-0 No. 75069 (see separate story, News, pages 20-21) could also make its gala debut and yet-tobe-announced guest locomotives may not necessarily be of a GWR persuasion! For full details about the gala, including savings available on advanced ticket purchases, visit: www.svr.co.uk

Tom is Cornwall’s newest steam locomotive driver TOM Blight received an early Christmas present on December 15, when he was passed out as a fully-qualified Bodmin & Wenford Railway steam driver.

Tom, 24, from Roche in Cornwall, joins the select group of volunteers nationwide who have achieved this milestone before their 25th birthday.

The responsibility of being in charge of a steam locomotive weighing up to 80 tons, pulling a 150 ton train, with up to 200 passengers on board, on the steep BWR gradients, does not seem to phase him.

Known to all his friends and colleagues as ‘Blighty’, Tom’s credentials are impressive. He started volunteering at Bodmin aged 16, and quickly showed his enthusiasm and aptitude as a trainee fireman.

As soon as he was old enough, he became an apprentice engineer in Loughborough, which led to him becoming part of the support crew for A1 Peppercorn Pacific No. 60163 Tornado. He was on board the train when the locomotive achieved 101mph between Darlington and York in 2017 (as reported in issue 228), and in June that year he was with the team

Tom (left) on the footplate of GWR pannier No. 4612 at Bodmin General with traction inspector Tony Hallworth after passing his practical exam on December 15. BWR that brought Tornado to Cornwall.

He moved on to the Severn Valley Railway as a boilersmith, and is now employed at Bodmin in a similar role.

RTC offers rare chance to take steam to Hindlow THE Railway Touring Company is set to operate a steam-hauled passenger train to Hindlow on March 30, making it only the second such train to run over the former LNWR route between Buxton and Ashbourne since 1968.

Originating at Carnforth, ‘The High Peak Explorer’ will be double-headed for the trip to Buxton, running along the West Coast Main Line before making its way, via Chat Moss, for its final pick-up at Manchester Victoria.

After tackling the 1-in-49 bank at Miles Platting, the train then makes its way to Buxton via Chinley, rather than the direct route via Chapal-enle-Frith.

Upon arrival at Buxton reception sidings, one of the locomotives will

uncouple from the train, to operate in top and tail mode, before it reverses and digs in for the gruelling climb along the short but steep 1-in-60 Hindlow Quarry branch.

Traction for the tour has yet to be announced, but will be drawn from a pool containing Jubilees Nos. 45690 Leander and 45699 Galatea, Stanier 8F No. 48151 and Ian Riley’s ‘Black Fives’ Nos. 44871,45212 and 45407.

The last steam-hauled service along the branch was on March 17, 2018, when No. 45407 (running as 45157) and banked by 45690 Leander made the journey through a snowy landscape with ‘The High Peak Explorer’. Prior to that, the previous steam run was on March 3, 1968.

K1 hoping to be fit for another season of ‘Jacobite’ runs

By Cedric Johns

THE North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group’s K1 2-6-0 No. 62005, the boiler ticket of which has expired, is back at West Coast Railways’ Carnforth base for examination prior to overhaul back to main line condition.

Stripped of its outer casing and cladding, the boiler has been lifted and confirmed to be in

good condition. A work schedule has been prepared for a speedy turnaround of Thompson’s versatile two-cylinder engine.

Apart from repairing a small mudhole door steam leak, a retube and the replacement of a handful of firebox stays, the locomotive’s boiler is said to need little attention – and it is on course for a quick return to traffic.

It was expected that work will be stepped up, with hope that the 2-6-0 will be fit for yet another ‘Jacobite’ season’s work, hauling trains between Fort William and Mallaig.

Originally designed by Thompson, some for use on the West Highland Line, K1s were modified by Peppercorn and built by the North British Locomotive Company between 1949-50. Although only

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two-cylinder locomotives, the K1s packed quite a punch, delivering a tractive effort of 32,000 lb at 85% of boiler pressure.

After withdrawal in 1967, No. 62005 was the last of its class to be condemned, the locomotive was used as an emergency boiler at ICI North Tees Port Clarence works until early 1968, prior to its acquisition

by NELPG. Heritagerailway.co.uk 13

NEWS

Bogies purchase boosts project to re-create UK’s first main line diesel

By Andrew Hoseason

THE Ivatt Diesel Recreation Society – which is re-creating the first UK main line diesel locomotive, LMS No. 10000 – has taken a major step forward in the groundbreaking project, with the purchase of a suitable set of bogies.

The bogies have been bought from the EM2 Locomotive Society, following a successful fundraising campaign among charity members and supporters.

The society obtained the EM2 bogies on December 31. They previously ran under Nederlandse Spoorwegen No. 1503, formerly BR Class 77 No. 27004 Juno which operated on the Woodhead Route, and were originally obtained by the EM2 Locomotive Society as spares for its No. 27000.

LMS Nos. 10000 and 10001 were the first main line diesel locomotives built in the UK. They were built in association with English Electric at Derby Works, using an English Electric 1600hp diesel engine, generator and electrics.

Filling the void

Following Nationalisation they became Class D16/1, and they were initially operated primarily on main line express passenger services on former LMS lines, both in single and in multiple. In 1953, they were transferred to the Southern Region for comparison with Bulleid’s Class D16/2 diesels.

Finally allocated to Willesden, they were then laid up at Derby in 1963 with Bulleid’s diesels. No. 10001 was made functional using parts of both, and continued operating until 1966,

fitted with a yellow warning panel.

However, No. 10000 was withdrawn in 1963 and its sister in 1966.

They were both scrapped in January 1968, leaving a major void in UK railway heritage.

The bogies used on the EM2/ Class 77s are very similar to those used on Nos. 10000 and 10001, and also the similarly extinct North British D600 ‘Warships’.

The two diesel classes had stronger suspension fitted in view of the heavier weight of the locomotives.

During their decades of use in The Netherlands, following their sale to the Dutch operator in 1969, various modifications were made, including changes to the braking system and the addition of new sandboxes. These alterations will be reversed during the refurbishment process.

The society was formed in 2011 and had early initial success in 2013 when a genuine 1947-built English Electric 16SVT Mk.1 power unit was obtained following the public ‘Buy-a-litre’ appeal. In 2016, the charity made further progress when it obtained Class 58 No. 58022 after a generous donation by a member.

No. 58022 will form the chassis for the new locomotive.

Progress

Following the death of society secretary Stuart Smith, who was behind much of the early success of the group, the society underwent a quiet spell.

However, in late 2017 a new group of trustees was appointed and they set about reinvigorating the charity.

After a year of research, fundraising and awareness-raising, the purchase

New 17-metre servicing pit bolsters Chinnor as main line destination

By Phil Marsh THE Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway has completed its new locomotive and stock servicing pit – making the heritage line an even more attractive destination for main line charters.

The lack of this vital piece of infrastructure was identified as a top priority after the railway’s main line connection was commissioned Left: David Wale, training manager at Chinnor, ashing out GWR 2-6-2T No. 5526 on the new servicing pit at Chinnor. PHIL MARSH

14 Heritagerailway.co.uk

18 months ago and despite a last minute snag, was made available in December.

The 17-metre pit at Chinnor represents a substantial investment by the railway and follows the opening of its main line interchange station at Princes Risborough on August 15, as reported in issue 245.

A two-month delay in completing the pit was caused by the discovery of high-voltage power cables near the pit, after official plans had shown there were none.

However, several were found and work had to stop immediately. An investigation found that the cables

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