Heritage Railway May 2018

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FIRST PASSENGER TRAIN INTO BROADWAY STATION

ISSUE

ISSUE 240

April 6, 2018 – May 3, 2018

HELP SAVE SEVERN VALLEY VIADUCT!

THE FINAL STEAM JOURNEY OF

SIR WILLIAM

McALPINE

OLIVER CROMWELL REPRIEVE UNTIL DECEMBER 31

■ LOCOMOTIVE SERVICES RUNS FIRST PASSENGER TRAIN ■ STATFOLD BARN: THE FINEST NARROW GAUGE MUSEUM EVER?

OPINION

Lining up at Haworth on March 8 before the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway spring gala are Taff Vale Railway 0-6-2T No. 85, MR 4F 0-6-0 No. 43924, S&D 7F 2-8-0 No. 53808, LMS ‘Black Five’ 4-6-0 No. 44871 and BR Standard 4MT 4-6-0 No. 75078. ANDREW DENNISON 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 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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Well Worth the effort 50 years ago

T

HERE are many themed events from galas to railtours being held this year to mark half a century since the last steam-hauled passenger train under British Rail, 1T57, the legendary‘Fifteen Guinea Special’ on August 11, 1968 marked the end of a great era in British history. As we know, that train brought the curtain down on 166 years of steam traction, beginning with RichardTrevithick’s experimental locomotive in 1802.

For me, however, a far more important and hugely positive occasion to celebrate 50 years on is the opening of the Keighley &WorthValley Railway on June 29, 1968.

Ironically, on that date, the entire modernised UK network had ground to a halt because of a national rail strike, and only the KWVR’s steam trains were running.

However, that date proved to be a seminal moment in the history of the heritage sector.

The KWVR was by no means the first railway to be taken over by volunteers, nor was it the first standard gauge preserved line to open to passengers. But so much of what the KWVR volunteers achieved laid down a blueprint for the rest of the movement to follow, not least of all the way in which vast amounts of red tape were cut to buy theWorthValley branch from British Rail.

The branch was not saved by enthusiasts alone, but by local people who did not want it to disappear from their community and were prepared to pull out all the stops to save it, while groping their way in the dark.

The revivalists had a godsend when the BBC decided to film a 1968 serialisation of Edith A Nesbit’s classic novel The Railway Children on the line.That in itself showered the nascent heritage line with vast nationwide publicity.

EMI was watching with avid interest from afar, and soon afterwards went on to produce a big-screen version, which has gone down in history as one of the most successful children’s films of all time – again filmed on the KWVR. That was manna from heaven in a brave new steamless world.The schoolboy trainspotters of the Fifties may have been consigned to history with the passing of steam, but here was a film that turned new generations on to the romance and delight of the steam age. It appeared in 1970, just when everyone thought

steam traction would never return, and in my view gave a massive boost to revival schemes everywhere. Overall, the film engendered a positive attitude among the public towards heritage lines.

Today, there are more than 120 heritage railways, and still they come: in this issue, we report on the Hampton & KemptonWaterworks Railway in west London signing the lease for its trackbed, and we wish them luck.

At 4¾ miles, the KWVR may be one of our shorter standard gauge heritage lines, but proudly boasts that it is the only one to own every inch of the original route (plus another 4ft when the line at Oxenhope’s buffer stops was slightly extended!).

While researching the history of the KWVR’s revival for our new publication BronteSteam, I came to the conclusion there is no other heritage line with so much ‘railway per inch’. So many ancillary attractions have developed along the line, not least of all the Bahamas Locomotive Society andVintage CarriagesTrust’s museums at IngrowWest and the marvellous exhibition shed at Oxenhope, as well as the BLS’s ground-breaking LearningCoachatIngrow,whichweareproud tosupport.

So much of today’s preservation scene owes a huge debt of gratitude to what the KWVR achieved. For that reason the line’s 50th anniversary gala, June 24-July 1, which promises to be the biggest and best in the line’s history, is perhaps the biggest real cause for commemoration this year. ➜ In the meantime... we need your help!

We want to learn more about you, the Heritage Railway readers, so we can ensure the magazine and all our railway products are as relevant as they can be.

We’ve created a survey which can be found on our website www.heritagerailway.co.uk By way of thanks for completing the survey, all respondents will be entered into a FREE PRIZE DRAW to be in with a chance of winning a footplate experience on the GloucesterWarwickshire Railway.

I’d be grateful if you could give us your thoughts!

Robin Jones Editor Heritagerailway.co.uk 3

CONTENTS ISSUE 240

April 6, 2018 – May 3, 2018

News

8

Headline News

6

Preservation giant Sir William McAlpine makes his final journey behind a steam locomotive after his death at 82; help save the Severn Valley Railway’s Falling Sands Viaduct; new operator Saphos runs first passenger train.

18

News

10

First trains into Broadway run for Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway volunteers; Oliver Cromwell makes farewell main line run in the snow; new plan to restore Matlock to Buxton for freight and heritage trains; new £7.2 million Being Brunel museum opens in Bristol; lease for London waterworks railway signed; Princes Risborough interchange moves closer; ‘Red Devil’ comeback 15 years on; auction house livid over rare Underground map theft during viewing; May wheeling for new P2 and Lynton & Barnstaple gets green light for £16.5 million extension.

58

Regulars

Subscribe Today Railwayana

30 46

Geoff Courtney’s regular column.

Centre

54

Leander heading along the Cumbrian Coast by Andrew Bell

Main Line News

56

Duke of Gloucester joins Vintage Trains as Tyseley’s £800K share issue for Train Operating Company plan nears target; ‘Brighton Belle’ Pullman train set for September main line tests, and TPWS problem on A1 Pacific Tornado fixed.

With Full Regulator

Don Benn reports on the Bulleid Pacific performances on the Southern Region.

4 Heritagerailway.co.uk

64

Main Line Itinerary

68

Steam and heritage diesel railtours.

Platform

Features The brilliant ‘Mr Bill’

The heritage sector has been in mourning after the death of one of its greatest benefactors, Sir William McAlpine. Best known for rescuing Flying Scotsman from the US, Robin Jones looks back at the life and achievements of this remarkable powerhouse of preservation.

48

86

Where your views matter most.

Off the Shelf

92

Latest book and DVD releases.

Up & Running

94

Guide to railways running in May 2018.

The Month Ahead

106 Find us on www.facebook.com/heritagerailway

CONTENTS: Winter continued well into March this year. LMS Jubilee 4-6-0 No. 45699 Galatea climbs the 1-in-68 gradient towards Copy Pit summit, returning from Sheffield to Carnforth with the Railway Touring Company’s ‘Pennine Limited’ on March 10. ANDREW SOUTHWELL COVER: LMS Jubilee 4-6-0 No. 45690 Leander passes Parton with the Railway Touring Company’s ‘Cumbrian Coast Express’ on March 24. ALAN WEAVER

Statfold’s museum in a million!

Classic narrow gauge locomotives never die. Wherever in the world they extinguish their last fire, they are whisked away to the great steam hereafter also known at the Statfold Barn Railway. Robin Jones reports on the stunning new museum, opened to showcase the magnificent fleet.

70

Severn Valley beats the beast!

Some attractions closed their doors because of the second March wintry spell, but not the Severn Valley Railway. When snow and ice covered much of the West Midlands during the line’s spring steam gala, staff and volunteers ensured the trains ran, report Robin Jones and John Titlow.

76

Tram man puts rail vehicles back on track

82

A major challenge faced by heritage railways, railways and transport museums across the country is how to bring to life displays of locomotives, carriages and trams.

Hugh Dougherty meets a man who lets visitors know what they did, how they worked and what it was like to travel on them.

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See page 30

Tracking down the trust 88 For 30 years an organisation has been busy securing the heritage infrastructure of Britain’s national railway system. Peter Brown meets Andy Savage, director of the Railway Heritage Trust.

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Heritagerailway.co.uk 5

HEADLINE NEWS

Help save Falling Sands Viaduct

By Robin Jones A £275,000 appeal to save the Severn Valley Railway’s Falling Sands Viaduct has been launched – and is being backed by Heritage Railway and our sister title The Railway Magazine.

As we reported last month, the Heritage Lottery Fund has given the railway £71,800 to firm up a scheme to carry out repairs to the 141-year-old landmark viaduct which spans the Staffordshire &Worcestershire Canal half a mile from Kidderminster.

However, the railway must raise £275,000 by itself in order to secure the full Lottery grant of £1 million needed to carry out essential repairs to the spectacular 132-yard red-brick structure.

Water over many years has gradually seeped into the viaduct’s seven arches, causing the brickwork to crack and erode and the mortar joints to crumble.

The viaduct’s condition has deteriorated to a point where there is already a 20mph speed limit on trains crossing it and without major remedial work the situation will worsen.

If the viaduct ended up being closed on safety grounds, it could deal a

death blow to the railway, which has year on year recorded the secondhighest numbers of passengers on UK heritage lines after the NorthYorkshire Moors Railway.

Forced closure of the viaduct would cut off Kidderminster – the departure point for 88% of current visitors – from the rest of the 16-mile line.That would mean that the SVR’s main line connection, its carriage shed and diesel depot would be isolated

Unthinkable

An SVR spokesman said:“To lose this essential operational hub would compromise the entire future of the SVR. It would be simply unthinkable.”

The initial development grant from the Lottery will allow the SVR to carry out detailed research into the work that will be required to ensure the viaduct can continue to provide a vital link from KidderminsterTown station to the rest of the heritage line.

The railway intends to develop a programme of community engagement around the viaduct restoration project, with an emphasis on the social history and importance of steam in the region. It will work

Sir William carried to final resting place behind steam

The train that carried the coffin of Sir William McAlpine along the railway he built half a century ago to his final resting place in the wooded grounds of his Fawley Hill home on March 24. RHT Inset: Sir William McAlpine. ROBIN JONES

6 Heritagerailway.co.uk

closely with schools and local interest groups throughout and after the restoration project.

The spokesman added:“We’ve already spoken to dozens of organisations including community groups, schools, businesses, and arts, history and civic groups, not to mention around 700 railway volunteers, and we found overwhelming support for the viaduct’s restoration, and a strong desire for involvement from all quarters.

“There are busy times ahead as we shape and refine how we will put this ambitious project into practice.”

To raise the‘enabling’£275,000, Severn Valley Railway Holdings plc and the Severn Valley Railway Charitable Trust are joining together to launch an appeal called‘Helping hands for Falling Sands’.

By the time the final bid goes to the Lottery, the railway needs to have demonstrated significant progress in raising this match funding.

How the viaduct will be saved

The first step in the restoration and repair work at Falling Sands will be the removal of the track and ballast from the top of the structure.

By Robin Jones SIRWilliam McAlpine Bt, FRSE, FCILT – one of the most important figures in the history of railway preservation, and certainly one of the most loved – took his final journey behind steam.

The man, known at work as‘Mr Bill’ and to so many as just Bill, has long been hailed a national hero for rescuing FlyingScotsman from the United States, for founding the Railway HeritageTrust and for helping countless heritage lines and preservation groups. He lost a three-month battle against sepsis in the Royal Berkshire Hospital at Reading on March 4.

His funeral was held at the 12th century parish church of St Mary the Virgin in Fawley, Buckinghamshire, near his home at Fawley Hill, on the afternoon of Saturday, March 24.

The funeral was limited to family members and close friends only, with a marquee outside as the church was too small for everyone.Two uniformed members of the Household Cavalry were also in attendance, as SirWilliam had served in the Life Guards for two years national service.

Eulogies were given firstly by Judy, Lady McAlpine, entitled“a very special man”and then by his son, Sir Andrew McAlpine, now the seventh baronet, entitled“father”, both praising the doctors and nursing staff of the Intensive Care Unit at Royal Berks for caring so well for Bill for the three months that he was

Then the tons of sandstone rubble the Victorians placed above the arches to fill up the structure will be lifted out.

That will enable the restoration team to insert efficient drainage channels and refill the void, adding a modern waterproof membrane before replacing the ballast and track.

Around six months later, once the structure has properly dried out, the restoration team will replace cracked or missing bricks and repoint the mortar.

All being well, and the funding being in place, it is hoped to have the project completed in 2020, with the viaduct all set for another century of use.

Fundraising in earnest

The Lottery will make a final decision on the £1 million grant application in January.

The railway is tackling its contributory fundraising from several angles: Firstly, it is asking individuals to add their name to the railway’s first ever donation wall by giving £50, which can be Gift Aided, if the donor is a taxpayer.

Some people will add their own name, others will add the name of a friend or family member as a gift, and others will choose to remember loved ones

there. It was clear that SirWilliam was not only tremendously effective in getting things done, but that he was loved and appreciated by the whole community of railwaymen. Finally, DavidWard, the former British Rail InterCity Charter Trains Unit manager, described some of the contributions made by“the railway baronet”to railways.

Through Bill’s Regional Board memberships of British Rail, he became increasingly concerned about the fate and costs of the thousands of listed buildings and structures that the BR Board was responsible for.Working closely with the board, he founded the Railway HeritageTrust in 1985.

As president of theTransportTrust, he undertook many restoration projects and actively supported the current project to recreate a full set of the Brighton Belle electric stock for main line use (Main Line News, page 58).

After the service, the congregation accompanied the coffin to SirWilliam’s private standard gauge railway at Fawley Hill, where it was lifted aboard a train at the rebuilt GER Somersham station.

The funeral train was hauled by resident 1913-built Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0ST No. 31, which Bill bought for £100 in 1965 from the family business, Sir Robert McAlpine & Sons, which had owned it from new.

With close family members accompanying SirWilliam, the train slowly moved down the legendary 1-in-13.4 gradient into the valley below

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LNER B12 4-6-0 No. 8572 crosses the spectacular Falling Sands Viaduct during the Severn Valley Railway’s March 16-18 spring steam gala. MARTIN CREESE by adding their name.

Secondly, local businesses are being invited to get on board. The heritage line plays a key role in the regional economy, as every £1 spent directly at the railway generates a further £2 for businesses in the local area. Business

the house, where they alighted and walked up the hill, accompanied by a piper, to the wooded place where Sir William was finally laid to rest, within earshot of his beloved railway. As his grandson Archie McAlpine played the Last Post on a trumpet, balloons were released by the guests into the sky.

The train made another run down to the valley for the remaining guests, after which a wake was held in the house at Fawley Hill.

A statement from the Railway Heritage Trust said: “He helped bring a sense of purpose to the restoration and reuse of the most significant railway buildings and their interiors, as well as the revelation of architectural treasures within the railway estate that otherwise could have been lost. Bill championed initiatives, lobbied for support, encouraged diverse and effective participation from influential people, and used his own individual charm and wellbeing to supplement it all.”

“We will greatly miss Bill’s leadership, and his unflagging, courteous presence.”

Former BR director of civil engineering and managing director of Regional Railways Jim Cornell has been elected as RHT chairman following Sifr William's death. ➜ The brilliant ‘Mr Bill’ – special feature: pages 48-53. ➜ Tracking down the Trust – feature: pages 88-91.

sponsorship for the appeal costs £100 and in exchange the donor receives free travel tickets, a certificate and acknowledgement and promotion on the SVR’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

Thirdly, other grant-making organisations are being approached.

Here, the railway will tailor its requests for funding to meet its specific area of interest, whether that is heritage architecture, community engagement, education or skills training.

“We know that the more funds we raise in the coming months, the better

our chance of success with the final bid to HLF for Falling Sands,” added the spokesman. ➜ For details of how to donate and get involved in this vital project, visit svrtrust.org.uk

LMS 3F ‘Jinty’ 0-6-0T No. 47406, visiting from the Great Central Railway, departs from the Somerset & Dorset Heritage Trust’s Midsomer Norton station during a Timeline photo charter on March 23.

During its visit it headed the first passenger trains to run over the new extension towards Chilcompton Tunnel. JAMIE SQUIBBS

NYMR Channel 5 documentary triples passenger bookings THE three-part documentary series The Yorkshire Steam Railway: All Aboard, featuring the North Yorkshire Moors Railway has been well received by both the viewing public and the railway’s staff and volunteers.

The episode of the week commencing March 11 had the highest viewing figures of any Channel 5 programme that week, beating both the Jayne McDonald show and the Flying Scotsman documentary.

Although sometimes irritating to the enthusiast in its desire to make every drama a crisis, the railway was always

shown to work its way through the problems calmly, professionally and ultimately with minimal interruptions to the service.

The continuity left a lot to be desired at times, but the producers have explained that this was a consequence of having just two camera crews to do all the filming.

Channel 5 seem to have been well satisfied with its reception and has expressed an interest in filming a second series, with discussions for that now in progress.

From the NYMR’s point of view, an

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independent calculation has suggested that an equivalent amount of advertising time would have cost the railway in the region of £21 million.

It certainly has helped the NYMR. After one of the programmes, online bookings increased by 317%, against the same week last year, while bookings for the Pullman dining trains have seen a big increase, to the extent that most trains for the rest of the season are almost sold out and the railway’s management are looking at the possibilities of running extra trains to cope with demand.

Heritagerailway.co.uk 7

HEADLINE NEWS

Locomotive Services Ltd operates first passenger train

By Cedric Johns IN a move which took many by surprise, Locomotive Services (TOC) Limited operated its first passenger train – albeit a private charter – on Saturday, March 24.

Hauled by a pair of the company’s Class 47 diesels, the charter departed Crewe and travelling north, crossed the border at Berwick heading for the Highland Line and Kingussie.

It is understood that the train was organised for Jeremy Hosking and a party of friends.

Turning to Saphos Trains, Jeremy has said that the new venture is part of the expanding Locomotive Services group.

On Saturday, April 14, Saphos launches the first of its new series of 12 trains offering steam-hauled trips using the theme ‘Classic Steam’ departing mainly from local stations in the North West and the South West.

Crew training runs

The inaugural train of this series, composed of a rake of carefully refurbished coaches finished in carmine and cream livery, will most probably be hauled by 4-6-0 No. 46100 Royal Scot leaving Crewe at 9.30am and calling at Chester, heading for Holyhead via the North Wales coast line – passengers having the options of alighting at Llandudno Junction or Bangor.

Prior to the launch, crew training runs were made between Crewe and Chester on March 6/7/8 with No. 46100.

As commented previously all of these trains are being marketed on similar lines to retail superstore giants selling heavily discounted lines.

As an example, seats on the ‘North Wales Coast Express’ departing on April 14 – and June 2 – are offered at

Class 47 diesels D1935 and D1944 pass Bradley north of Wigan with a private charter returning from Kingussie to Crewe on March 25. This was the first passenger train to be operated by new Locomotive Services Ltd as a new Train Operating Company. MICK LANGTON standard class £45 (usually £95), first class £70 (£145) and premier dining £179 (£250). Needless to say this trip and others are sold out.

Whether these tactics will result in a future ‘price war’ between railtour promoters – which often operate trains on tight margins – remains to be seen.

On April 29 and June 10 the ‘Welsh Border Explorer’ leaves Crewe for a circular tour via Chester Gresford, Shrewsbury and Telford, joining the West Coast Main Line at Stafford returning to Crewe.

Departing Crewe and calling at Whitchurch and Shrewsbury on May 12 and June 16 the ‘Welsh Marches Express’ travels through Church Stretton, Ludlow and Hereford turning south via Abergavenny, Maindee

Junction and Newport to Cardiff for an afternoon break.

In a complete change of direction the ‘English Riviera Express’ starts from Bristol Temple Meads on Sunday, June 24 and stopping at Bath, Bradfordon-Avon, Westbury, Frome and Taunton heads for Paignton and Kingswear via Exeter St David’s and Newton Abbot.

Bulleid 4-6-2 No. 34046 Braunton is a likely candidate for this trip and a second on July 1.

Returned to Southall

Interestingly, the ‘Express’ stops at Bradford-on-Avon but not the much larger town of Trowbridge and after Westbury deviates to Frome before rejoining the former West of England Main Line at Clink Road Junction. The

second departure, from Temple Meads, on Sunday, July 1, picks up at Yatton, Weston-super-Mare, Bridgwater and Taunton.

On the locomotive front, Royal Scot and Braunton are stabled at Crewe, while ‘Black Five’ No. 45231 The Sherwood Forester has returned to Southall after its brief stint on the Mid Hants Railway.

BR 4-6-2 No. 70000 Britannia remains grounded awaiting rewheeling. The last of the wheels, containing new ball bearings should be delivered by the South Devon Railway’s workshops by mid-April.

Apart from the ‘Black Five’, all three engines mentioned are set to work Saphos Trains’ tours although the ‘Brit’ is not expected to be back in traffic for at least a month or so.

NYMR teak train vandals prosecuted

Christmas in March! Bagnall 0-4-0ST No. 2 in action at Chasewater on Sunday, March 18. With the previous two snowy episodes having resulted in cancelled services, the railway was determined not to be defeated a third time. The first two services ran with a Santa Special headboard as a bit of fun. ALISTAIR GRIEVE

8 Heritagerailway.co.uk

THREE of the six perpetrators of the vandalism inflicted on the LNER Coach Association’s teak carriages on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway last July have now been prosecuted and pleaded guilty.

They were sentenced to receive Youth Offending Panel contracts of between six and 12 months and fines ranging from £35-£350.

Although the fines may seem trivial compared to the cost of the damage done, from the individual’s point of view it is much more significant that all

now have criminal records.

Prosecution of the remaining three is due to follow shortly.

From the NYMR’s point of view, a significant outcome is that all the culprits were identified by CCTV footage, and it is now well known that the cameras are there, hence they are acting as a strong deterrent against further instances of vandalism.

The carriages were damaged in the early hours of Sunday, July 23, when they were parked in the siding at the far side of the main visitor car park at Pickering.

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Irish Q class survivor back after 55 years

By Robin Jones GREAT Northern Railway (Ireland) Q class express 4-4-0 No. 131 has been officially launched into traffic following the completion of a £400,000 overhaul.

No. 131, which was built by Neilson Reid in Glasgow in 1901, was withdrawn from traffic in Dublin in 1963, and after a period in storage, was first displayed on a plinth at Dundalk and then taken apart during an abortive first restoration attempt.

Irish Rail gave No. 131 to the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland after it arrived at the latter’s Whitehead base in 2003 as a kit of parts.

Generating Rural Opportunities within South Antrim (GROW) assembled a funding package for the inside-cylinder locomotive’s restoration via the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme, which is part-funded by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and the European Union.

Many new components had to be made to replace the missing ones.

The rebuilding project involved the professional staff of Heritage Engineering Ireland, the RPSI’s engineering subsidiary, as well as society volunteers.

The project included the rebuilding of a coal and water tender, which took place last year, while the engine needed

modern electronic safety equipment to comply with current regulations.

No.131 moved under its own steam for the first time in more than half a century on January 31, 2015. February 22 that year saw it return to the main line with a test run to Carrickfergus under a special licence, as it was yet to be fitted with OTMR equipment.

Its first public train came on July 25, 2015, on the Whitehead Festival train rides within the RPSI’s premises.

Its first loaded main line test run took place between Whitehead, Carrickfergus and Belfast on November 5, followed by a second a fortnight later.

The locomotive was officially relaunched at Whitehead by Emma Stubbs, manager of GROW, on Saturday, March 24.

Proud RPSI chairman Canon John McKegney said: “This was an engine which we thought we would never see back in operation.”

It is hoped that subject to approval from Northern Ireland Railways and the Department for Infrastructure, No. 131 will be back on the main line by the middle of May. At the ceremony, the HRA Peter Manisty Award for Excellence, which, as reported in issue 239, was presented to the RPSI for its new Whitehead museum at a ceremony in Birmingham on February 10, was re-presented.

Following the expiry of its main line ticket, BR Britannia 4-6-2 No. 70013 Oliver Cromwell has returned to the Great Central Railway, where it has just been granted an extension to its boiler certificate enabling it to run on the line for the rest of this year and to participate in the line’s commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the end of BR steam in August. To celebrate the granting of the extension, the locomotive was rostered to work GCR services over the weekend of March 24/25 and departs from Loughborough Central with the 11.20am service to Leicester North on March 25. See also News, 14-15. GRAHAM NUTTALL

Heritage Railway brings Baldwin to Tracks to the Trenches

Q class No. 131 at Whitehead after being officially relaunched into traffic on March 24. JOHN MCKEGNEY

July Underground steam trips off… for the moment THIS year’s planned steam trips over the London Underground have been postponed.

Organisers London Transport Museum had pencilled in July 28/29 for the trips, headed by Metropolitan Railway E class 0-4-4T No. 1 and backed by veteran Bo-Bo electric locomotive No. 12 Sarah Siddons.

It had been planned to run public steam trips from Ealing Broadway

to High Street Kensington on the District and Circle lines.

However, the trips have been postponed because Sarah Siddons – an essential part of the trains in the event of the steam locomotive breaking down on the Underground and bringing regular tube traffic to a halt, is unavailable.

Organisers were looking into the possibility of running the trips in February or March next year.

THE Moseley Railway Trust has agreed with the Greensand Railway Museum Trust and the Leighton Buzzard Railway for two century-old guest locomotives to appear at the July 13-15 Tracks to the Trenches 2018 event at Newcastleunder-Lyme.

Baldwin 4-6-0T No. 778 which was built in 1917 and served on the Western Front during the First World War, and ultimately ended its working career in a sugar mill in India, was repatriated in 1985 and starred in the previous two Tracks to the Trenches events at the Apedale.Valley Light Railway.

Its visit is sponsored by Heritage Railway and our sister title The Railway Magazine, which are the official media partners for Tracks to the Trenches.

The second visitor, a petrol locomotive, was also built in 1917, by Motor Rail of Bedford, and allocated number 2182 by the military. It is the only known survivor of the armouredtype 40hp petrol locomotives that were built to haul supplies to the front line.

It is currently being restored to as-new condition by the Greensand Trust – but it is touch and go as to whether

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it will be finished in time.

Also booked for the event is The War Office Locomotive Trust’s newly-restored Hunslet 4-6-0T No. 1215 of 1916 (military number 303) (see News, pages 38 and 39) which worked side-by-side with No. 778 under the control of the 14th Engineers of the US Army, near Boisleux-au-Mont in northern France during the war. Tracks to the Trenches will be the first time these two old war (iron) horses have been reunited in steam.

MRT chairman Phil Robinson said: “We would like to express our sincere thanks to the Greensand Railway Museum Trust, the Leighton Buzzard Railway and Mortons Media – publisher of Heritage Railway and The Railway Magazine for teaming up to make these visits happen.”

Details of the Tracks to the Trenches 2018 event are available at www.ww1event.org – advance tickets are now on sale.

As always, the Trust would be pleased to hear from organisations interested in sponsorship opportunities at this highprofile event, and also from potential exhibitors of items relevant to the 1914-1918 period.

Heritagerailway.co.uk 9

NEWS

First passengers into Broadway were those who made it happen

By Robin Jones THEY toiled for 36 years to reach this goal – and so the volunteers and shareholders were given the privilege of riding on the first Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway trains into the new Broadway terminus.

Around 2000 of them accepted invitations to board a series of private ‘Return to Broadway’ specials on March 21 and 22, headed by awardwinning Bulleid Merchant Navy Pacific No. 35006 Peninsular & Oriental SN Co. The line’s officials unhesitatingly decided that people who had sunk both money and elbow grease into the extension to the Cotswold tourist honeypot should have

the first fruits of their labours.

The trips were run prior to the official Broadway opening trip and first public services on Good Friday, March 30.

It was in 1981 that the G/WR founders took out a lease on derelict Toddington station prior to purchasing the trackbed of the present-day line from BR, which had ripped it up two years before. Since then, the line had been extended in phases, first southwards to Winchcombe and then to Cheltenham Racecourse, and then northwards.

G/WR plc voluntary chairman Richard Johnson, said: “This was the pinnacle of achievement for everyone who has played a part in making the dream of reaching Broadway again, a reality. These two days have been a way to enjoy the

fruits of all this hard work and be among the first to travel by train to Broadway after a gap of more than 58 years.

Connecting Broadway with Cheltenham by rail again was the vision of those early pioneers who first took over a derelict Toddington station in 1982. That was three years after BR had lifted the track and removed the infrastructure of the main line that once ran between Stratford-upon-Avon and Cheltenham.

Broadway station, along with most other stations on the line, had closed way back in March 1960.

“Embankments and bridges have been repaired, drainage fixed, new track laid and a brand-new station built on the site of the original – all by volunteers!

Lord Richard Faulkner of Worcester

accepted an invitation to formally open the station on Good Friday, after travelling on the footplate of f WR 4-6-0 No. 7903 Foremarke Hall as it departedfrpm Toddington at 9.40am with the first public train to Broadway.

West Worcestershire Conservative MP Mrs Harriett Baldwin and representatives from Wychavon District Council, which has been extremely supportive of the project, were also amongst VIPs also invited. ➜ The first non-stop steam train journey from Broadway to Cheltenham in more than 100 years will run at 10am on April 23, the first-ever National Asparagus Day,. Asparagus Express Steam Train, tickets are available at www.britishasparagusfestival.org

Left: No. 35006 runs round its train at Broadway. As at other stations on the Stratford-upon-Avon route, the GWR planted small ornamental conifers when the station was opened in 1904 – and now they tower above the tracks!

The original station buildings were demolished in autumn 1963 although the line through the site remained open for regular through passenger trains until 1968. IAN CROWDER

Heritage Railway mentioned in the Welsh Assembly HERITAGE Railway was mentioned in the Welsh Assembly after a member called on First Minister Carwyn Jones to boost the promotion of preserved lines and the benefits they bring to the principality.

Speaking in the Assembly Chamber on March 13, Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood said: “Writing in last November’s edition of Heritage Railway magazine, its editor Robin Jones referred to the Llangollen Railway big push into Corwen Central, as well as the Bala Lake Railway extension, highlighting the multiple economic benefits to local councils and others that heritage railways can guarantee.”

10 Heritagerailway.co.uk

Mr Isherwood asked: “What action will you therefore take to ensure better understanding, at all levels of Government and business activity, of the benefit that heritage railways, such as Llangollen Railway, can bring to the areas they serve?

“As Heritage Railway magazine’s editor said of the Llangollen Railway’s big push into Corwen Central, ‘It will not only be railway passengers who will benefit, being able to alight and visit the town centre’s shops and pubs, but coach operators who will see the line as a way of getting their customers into Llangollen.’“ In his reply, the First Minister said:

“The Llangollen Railway is really important, not just in terms of the tourist attraction that’s there, but also as a mode of transport. There are maintenance operations for a number of other heritage railways as well, and they, of course, are able to provide employment opportunities. We often think of heritage railways as employing mainly volunteers. Well, that’s no longer the case, and particularly what I saw in Llangollen.

“We know that heritage railways are an enormous tourist attraction, marketed, of course, at one time, as the Great Little Trains of Wales. Well, Llangollen is a standard gauge line,

as opposed to a narrow gauge line.

We know, of course, that Snowdon Mountain Railway is hugely important and a massive tourist attraction there.

“We see, of course, the link between the Ffestiniog Railway and the Welsh Highland Railway and the way that’s been done. So, from our perspective, we have funded heritage railways in the past. For example, the Welsh Highland Railway has had £420,000, Snowdon Mountain Railway £300,000 and Llanberis Lake Railway £400,000 for a line extension. So, we do understand how important heritage railways are, and we’ll look to support them in the future.”

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Above: First day of a new spring for the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway: Bulleid Merchant Navy No. 35006 Peninsular & Oriental SN Co. headed this pre-opening special into Broadway on March 21. MALCOLM RANIERI

G/WR plc chairman Richard Johnson beams with pride as Bulleid Merchant Navy No. 35006 Peninsular & Oriental SN Co. stands in the platform at Broadway. IAN CROWDER

Right: This superb painting by Nicolas Trudgian of GWR 4-6-0 No. 5031 Totnes Castle crossing Stanway Viaduct before approaching Broadway with the Up ‘Cornishman’ in 1961 was commissioned by the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway and published as official prints to raise funds for the northern extension.

Prints costing £35 each can be obtained from the shop at Toddington station or online at www.gwsr.com

Dinmore Manor turns BR lined black for Broadway

FOLLOWING an extensive winter maintenance programme, Collett 4-6-0 No. 7820 Dinmore Manor has been turned out in lined black livery – in time for heading the Cheltenham Festival race specials and for the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway’s Broadway opening over the Easter weekend.

When built new in 1950, Dinmore Manor first entered traffic in lined black, a livery that it wore until 1955 when it then appeared in unlined black. This is the first time that it has

appeared in lined black during the heritage era.

In keeping with the era that it wore lined black in BR service, it has retained the early lion and wheel crest on its tender.

DInmore Manor Locomotive Ltd has also found the time to do the preparatory work on the boiler from Collett 2884 class 2-8-0 No. 3845, which has just been transported to Riley & Son Engineering for refurbishment.

When finished, that boiler will be

used on sister locomotive No. 3850.

No. 3850’s original boiler, which was in the poorer condition of the two will eventually be used on No. 3845.

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

Above: Dinmore Manor now running in lined black on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway.

MIKE SOLLOWAY Heritagerailway.co.uk 11

NEWS

Peak Rail plans Buxton-Matlock reinstatement for stone traffic

By Robin Jones A MAJOR new initiative to rebuild the lost Midland Railway main line between Buxton and Matlock is to be launched

by Peak Rail.

The heritage line has joined forces with major limestone quarry companies in the Peak District to look at creating a new southern route for stone traffic.

Since its formation in 1975, Peak Rail has reopened four miles of the railway, from Matlock to Rowsley South, for heritage operation, after relocating from its original site at Buxton.

The reinstatement of the line, which closed on July 1, 1968, would not only provide a new route for the expanding stone traffic to the Midlands and the south of England, taking the pressure off the busy rail routes currently used, but

also allow Peak Rail to extend its services further into the national park, boosting tourism in the process.

Following several years of analysis, in the coming weeks Peak Rail will be issuing a tender for bids to examine the engineering and administrative feasibility of reinstating the rail link between Peak Forest and Rowsley. The tender is being issued in partnership with the quarry companies. The proposed study would also look at any costs involved over the wider network and continuing to cater for walking and cycling along the Monsal Trail, which runs over part of the disused route.

Project director Paul Tomlinson said that the relaid railway would take freight traffic off the Hope Valley line, freeing up more paths for passenger services between Manchester and Sheffield.

It was not intended to run regular passenger services over the route at the outset, but it would be used for freight on weekdays and heritage trains at the weekend.

The cost of the scheme would be financed by freight using it on a commercial basis, he added.

The bold new initiative that, if successful, would fulfil Peak Rail’s original ambition from 43 years ago, comes after a group of the line’s disgruntled shareholders recently formed the Peak Rail Action Group in the wake of legal action understood to have cost the heritage line a six-figure sum.

Grinsty Holdings, owner of Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST No. 3883 of 1944 Lord Phil, brought the action against Peak Rail for what it claimed were unauthorised steamings over five years

over and above the agreed amount.

The action group said that Peak Rail agreed to pay Grinsty £130,000 in an out-of-court settlement.

Furthermore, the action group claims Peak Rail failed to comply with an Improvement Notice from HM Railway Inspectorate to relay Darley Dale level crossing. The issue led to the crossing being closed for a weekend last August without explanation.

The action group has called on the Peak Rail board to explain itself to shareholders over these issues at an extraordinary general meeting – and for the directors to stand down.

There are several experts among the shareholders willing to take over if this happens, the action group has claimed.

Peak Rail was unavailable for comment on the group’s claims.

NYMR to build new copper inner fireboxes THE North Yorkshire Moors Railway is to build two new copper inner fireboxes for the first time.

It has long been known that the NYMR’s BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T No. 80135 is in need of a new copper firebox, following the unsuccessful experiment of replacing its life-expired copper firebox with a steel one, and 4-6-0 No. 75029 is now also in need of complete replacement.

A set of flanging blocks has been made for this job so that it is adjustable to accommodate the slightly different designs of the two classes. Copper welding is a particularly specialist technique but it is hoped good progress will be made on both shells in 2018, ready to start fitting in 2019.

Ashes of model fan carried on his own layout A LIFELONG model railway enthusiast has become part of his layout.

Peter Hurst, 88, a former customs and excise officer, who had a massive layout in his four-bedroom home in Leeds, which he began building in 1972, died from dementia on January 20.

His son Simon Hurst, 53, from Leeds, asked William Whitmey Independent Funeral Directors in Sittingbourne, Kent to place his father’s ashes inside a model seven-plank open wagon so it could be run on the GWR-themed layout.

Pete was evacuated to Blaenavon in Wales during the Second World War and had happy memories of the area.

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The Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway’s Train from Spain approaches Irton Road with a Dalegarth – Ravenglass train on March 24. Now painted in Caledonian blue livery, it entered service the previous weekend and will not be named Whillan Beck until its official unveiling on May 5, but was running on a gala weekend with a ‘Paw Patrol’ theme for children. DAVE RODGERS

First runs for the Train from Spain THE Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway’s Train from Spain has made a successful inaugural run for donors to the appeal that has supported its restoration.

Large crowds defied the weather to visit Ravenglass on May 17 to see the locomotive, which was on display for much of the morning, resplendent in its Caledonian Railway blue colours.

The Train From Spain appeal team was also joined by Neil Smith from BBC Radio Cumbria, who orchestrated three live interviews with TFS personnel during the

morning programming.

The locomotive is Krauss Pacific No. 8457, which was built in 1929 to work at the Ibero-American Exposition in Seville, Spain, but had not worked since 1932. It was bought last year by the 15in gauge Cumbrian line’s preservation society and imported to the UK from Barcelona following the success of the £126,000 Train from Spain appeal.

Set to be formally named Whillan Beck in a ceremony on May 5, the train shunted its own carriages into the

station for guests to see it at work.

The inaugural run was almost cancelled when fellow fleet member River Mite was failed at Dalegarth on its first trip of the day, but staff and volunteers rallied round to keep the other trains moving, such that the special train was not affected. River Mite made a full recovery to haul trains again the next day.

The run itself saw the engine glistening in the sunshine and battling through blizzards.

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