Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2021 i The Railway Magazine

So there we have it. The Williams-Shapps has finally arrived and tells us in black and white what many of us knew was wrong with the railways – the style of privatisation adopted in the 1990s was flawed, and the fare-paying passenger was never at the heart of anyone’s thinking. The solution is the creation of Great British Railways, which from 2023 will oversee the infrastructure, award contracts for train operations, set fares and collect most of the revenue. Pity it took so long to realise past mistakes, but now is not the time for the blame game. The report is very fair and comprehensive, not only identifying past problems – such as over-complication, over-specification and chaotic timetables – but also sets out a way forward covering the next 30…

IRISH Rail has selected Alstom as the preferred manufacturer for the new trains to be used on the Dublin Area Rapid Transport network (DART). Based on the Alstom Xtrapolis articulated multiple unit platform, the order will be for a mix of five- and 10-car sets with the first deliveries expected to be hybrid battery-electric units. There will allow services to be extended to destinations identified as part of the DART+ project which will see an extension of the 1500v DCelectrification to Maynooth, M3 Parkway, Hazelhatch and Drogheda over what is expected to be a €2 billion 10 year programme of improvement work. Add to capacity The award of the framework contract gives Irish Rail the option to call down as many as 750 vehicles, not only adding to capacity but…

JOINING The Railway Magazine team are Gareth Evans as deputy editor and Graeme Pickering as news and features writer. Gareth moves from sister title Heritage Railway where he has been deputy editor for three years. In his spare time, Gareth is a heritage railway volunteer. He also part owns a locomotive, and started contributing news and photographs to The Railway Magazine when he was a teenager, having been a reader since childhood. The RM also gives a warm welcome to Graeme Pickering, an experienced journalist and broadcaster, who will add a new dimension to The Railway Magazine team. When not writing or travelling by rail, Graeme enjoys walking around the North East.…

ROUTINE inspection has revealed a crack in the mountings for the ETS (Electric Train Supply) module under a Class 68 on hire from DRS to Chiltern Railways. Inspections of the all locos on hire to Chiltern revealed cracks in seven out of eight locomotives and as a result loco-hauled workings using two diagrammed sets ceased, and would be covered by DMUs. This would mean some trains are formed of fewer carriages. Chiltern, which is adopting a safety first approach, is working with DRS, owner of the Class 68s which were built by Vossloh between 2013-15. Vossloh was subsequently bought by Stadler. Class 68s from a second order are also used by TransPennine Express on passenger duties where there is an ETS requirement, and these were being checked as we closed…

TRANSPORT for London’s funding deal with the Government, which was due to expire on May 18, was extended for afurther 10 days at the last moment as negotiations on the details of a longer-term funding settlement continued. The £65 million top-up grant allowed the capital’s transport network to continue operating until May 28 on the same terms, as rumours circulated that more of the London area commuter rail network could be transferred to TfL control. The Department for Transport said: “Support for London needs to be balanced with the national recovery and ensure fairness and value for money for the taxpayer.” However, critics argue that such short-term funding deals create unnecessary uncertainty in a sector that requires long-term planning and consistent funding to ensure it operates efficiently. The situation beyond…

FIRSTGROUP is the first operator to sign new National Rail Contracts (NRCs) with the Department for Transport. The new two-year deals came into force on May 30, ensuring continuity for TransPennine Express and South Western Railway after the end of the previous Emergency Recovery Measures Agreements (ERMAs). NRCs represent a new structure for agreements between train operating companies and the DfT, replacing the previous revenue risk-based franchising system. Under NRCs, the Government holds all revenue risk and almost all cost risk for the former franchises, with the operator paid a fixed management fee plus performance incentives for punctuality, cleanliness and other customer-facing measures. Targets First’s share of the SWR fee is £3.3 million per annum (70% with MTR holding the other 30%) and a further £9.9m possible if it exceeds…

FOUR trains per hour have been operating through Crossrail’s central London tunnels since May 10 as the new railway gears up for full operation. The Trial Running programme will see train frequencies through 26 miles of tunnels increase to the planned 24 trains per hour (tph), then focus will switch to Trial Operation ahead of the line’s opening in the first half of 2022. Trial operation is expected to start later this year and will include a range of mandatory exercises,with emergency evacuations of trains and stations. The trial running has been made possible by the completion of integration work, linking the new railway’s signalling and safety systems with the Great Eastern and Great Western main lines at either end. The programme involves integrated trials of the railway to demonstrate…

THE first Class 769 bi-mode units, modified from Class 319 EMUs, finally entered service with Northern at the start of the new timetable on May 17 – considerably later than envisaged when the project was launched. Initially the sets are being used on Southport – Hazel Grove services with a few diagrams between Southport and Stalybridge also worked by 769s. Able to work on 25kV AC and powered by newly-fitted diesel engines, the sets change between power systems at a number of locations including Bolton, Manchester Victoria and Salford Crescent, depending on the service and route. Changeover itself is very quick, with no obvious extensions to station dwell times; the diesel engines powering up and switching off when not required. The first service to be operated by a Class 769…

BORN in 1971 in Buxton, Derbyshire, and then living in Whaley Bridge, to the south of Manchester, Mark recalls being taken to the nearby railway line at a very young age by his paternal grandparents. “I think it was when I was about two, and they told me that it grew up from there, really,” he says. “I also used to visit my maternal grandparents in South Wales, travelling by train, and my grandfather wouldn’t even allow me to step foot in the house until I’d recited every station from Cardiff Central to Ystrad Rhondda in the correct order.” Station rides When Mark was about two-and-a-half, the family relocated to Marlow in the Thames Valley, an area he has come to know well and has spent most of his life.…

THE pandemic has seen a vast drop in rail passenger journeys and if pre-pandemic service levels are to be maintained, it is essential that the number of travellers rises quickly as restrictions are reduced. It has been suggested by some that the operators should launch cheap fare offers to tempt the public back. Forty years ago the country was in the grip of a severe economic depression and then the railways took initiatives to try to fill the trains, one such being the offer in late 1980 of £1 tickets for holders of Senior Citizen Railcards to travel anywhere in the country after 09.30. The Railway Observer recorded the activities of one member who clocked up more than 6000 miles for the princely sum of £15. The person concerned was…

THE West Somerset Railway plc board has dismissed proposals for a radical organisational restructure, involving the creation of a new incorporated charity to own the line’s physical assets, with a controlled subsidiary to operate the railway. The plans were developed following the initial report by John Bailey in May 2020 on behalf of the Heritage Railway Association into conflicts and acrimonious disputes between different groups within the WSR umbrella. In a statement the WSR plc said: “Although much sound progress has been made with our earlier financial recovery plans from 2017-2019, the railway has not yet fully recovered from the challenges of these years before Covid-19. “Attempting to re-position the WSR plc now as a subsidiary organisation of abrand-new charity, complete with all the attendant financial risk around assets, accountability…

ERNEST Elsworth-Wilson has been appointed as the the South Devon Railway’s new general manager. Ernie, 27, has been a volunteer on the South Devon Railway for over 15 years – including operating, permanent way and locomotive departments. After nearly two years employed full-time in the SDR’s operations management team from 2011-13 as a management trainee, he moved to First Great Western (now GWR) as a guard. He progressed to area operations manager and to train service delivery manager for the West of England before progressing to lead area operations manager – Central and West, with GWR. While working at GWR, he has completed an HND in Railway Operations Management with the Institute of Railway Operators.…

WITH the resumption of working parties in a Covid-19 secure area at Tyseley Locomotive Works (TLW), physical volunteer activity is now underway once again on No. 71000 Duke of Gloucester, which is being returned to main line action. This allows four people to attend on each Wednesday and six on each Saturday. BR Class 8 Steam Locomotive Trust volunteers are currently working on the Pacific’s cab, Caprotti boxes and the tender. Meanwhile, TLW staff are progressing with the completion of the machining of the piston heads and rods – plus the front and rear cylinder covers. This will mean that the cylinders can be reassembled and connected to the slide bars, which is one of the improvements being carried out during the Pacific’s current rebuild.…

Kerr, Stuart well tank moves to Barry BILL Parker’s Kerr, Stuart 0-4-0WT Willy (3063/1918) moved to the Barry Tourist Railway on April 23 as the line’s second resident steam loco. The former National Shipyard, Chepstow, loco worked the line’s reopening brakevan rides on May 2 and will share future duties with Sentinel 4wVBT Susan (9537/1952). Willy is expected to stay in South Wales until its boiler certificate expires next year. Cover at last for Scolton Manor’s Margaret FORMER Great Western Railway Fox Walker & Co 0-6-0ST No. 1378 Margaret (410/1878) has finally been given protection from the elements as part of its ongoing cosmetic restoration at Scolton Manor Museum in Pembrokeshire. A specially-built canopy and platform has been constructed over and around the ex-Kidwelly Tinplate Company survivor, which will help…

THE Railway Preservation Society of Ireland’s (RPSI) activities have been severely disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic yet, behind the scenes, progress has continued to be made on its project to recreate an LMS-NCC ‘W’ Class Mogul at Whitehead. Despite the lockdowns, some contract work on the new No. 105 has continued, along with pattern-making and light machining. Amajor milestone saw the completion of the main frames, which have now been shot-blasted at Whitehead and await the next stage in the project. Traditional patterns The locomotive’s two cylinders were also cast last year at Taylors Foundry near Glasgow using traditional patterns made using original 1932 drawings. Machining has been completed by Cooke Bros, near Newtownards, leaving only the valve liners to be fitted. Additional progress has seen the motion brackets, crosshead…

DETAILS of the first phase of a two-year project to refurbish and develop the Foyle Valley Railway Museum in Derry/ Londonderry have been released by Destined, the charity that took over the museum back in 2016. Destined, which supports adults and children with learning difficulties, was awarded a grant of £242,100 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund last year, which will help revitalise and transform the west bank of the River Foyle (to the south of the Craigavon Bridge) and will also go towards community events, and a cultural research project. This includes undertaking vital repairs to the existing museum building which occupies the site of the Great Northern Railway (Ireland)’s Foyle Road station, the development and construction of a new Interpretive Centre and exhibition space, and the delivery of…

CORRIS Railway has contracted Statfold Engineering to build the traverser which forms an essential element in the reconstruction of Corris station. The traverser will enable locomotives to run round trains at the Corris terminus for the first time since the revival of the line. The shortfall in funding due to a reduced grant award has been made up by generous donations. Work on the new track and platform layout at Corris, incorporating the traverser at the north end of the site and a newly ordered point for the south end, will be undertaken between the end of December 2021 and the end of March 2022. The railway still needs to raise £14,000 to fully finance the works, which will cost almost £58,000. New carriage Volunteers have resumed work on the…

NOTE: All subject to Covid-19 restrictions in force at the time. Please check with railway before travelling. June  6 Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway open day 12/13 Bala Lake Railway Town station site ‘re-railed’ 12/13 Statfold Barn Railway (SBR) Trangkil 50 July  10/11 Apedale Valley Light Railway (AVLR) classic diesels and steam 10/11 Evesham Vale Light Railway (EVLR) annual gala 10/11 SBR 150 years of Quarry Hunslets 17/18 Amerton Railway steam gala August  7/8 AVLR military trains 28-30 Bala LR steam gala 30 AVLR cars and steam trains September  TBC Alan Keef open day 4/5 Corris Railway No. 4 100th anniversary 11 Amerton Railway Everything Goes Gala 11/12 SBR Road, Rail and Ale 11/12 Talyllyn Railway No. 4 100th anniversary 25 EVLR diesel day October  2/3 AVLR steam gala 17…

EDINBURGH-BASED 7N Architects has won a competition held by Network Rail and the Royal Institute of British Architects to encourage new approaches to station design. More than 200 entries were received from around the globe. Designers were asked to address how passenger experiences could be improved by looking at new concepts for small and medium-sized stations. 7N’s entry included a clock tower designed to serve as a local landmark and meeting place. The station’s modular design is intended to allow it to be integrated into a variety of locations and complement its surroundings. It also incorporated capacity to generate renewable energy through translucent photovoltaic panels, which form the roof to the platform canopies. Unique opportunity The judging panel highlighted that, as well as aligning with Network Rail’s plans to be…

A SIX-WEEK public consultation began on May 24 on a plan to increase rail capacity through Ely, which aims to improve reliability and connectivity for passenger services and trains serving the Port of Felixstowe. Changes to the Soham branch line and Ely Dock Junction as well as track and platforms at Ely station are planned, as are upgrades to Stutney Road bridge and two bridges over the Great Ouse at Ely Marina. Kiln Lane level crossing could be closed, although there are options to maintain pedestrian and vehicle access to the eastern side of the railway.…

ARCHAELOGISTS working for HS2 have discovered almost 900 years of history at the former St Mary’s Church in Stoke Mandeville, Buckinghamshire. The original church in Stoke Mandeville was built in 1080AD and renovated in the 13th, 14th and 17th centuries before being demolished and largely forgotten after it was replaced by a new church in the 1880s. The original site sits on the route of HS2 and is being carefully removed by a team from LP-Archaeology working with HS2’s enabling works contractor, Fusion-JV. A team of 40 archaeologists are constructing a picture of the role of St Mary’s in the community, from its construction in the 11th century through to its decline in the late 19th century.…

NEWELL & Wright’s container depot on the site of the old Tinsley Yard is now open, and welcomed its first train on May 5. Although some trains ran to a temporary facility last year, the permanent concrete hard standing and access roads are now complete. The facility occupies part of what was the reception sidings of the old marshalling yard, opened in 1965. It features a single transfer siding, capable of handling 750m-long trains. Trains are propelled into the siding as a run-round loop is provided further down the yard. As the Treeton Junction end of the Sheffield District Line has been closed for many years, trains are routed via Aldwarke Junction and Rotherham Central to Tinsley South Junction and Shepcote Lane East Junction. GB Railfreight (GBRf) is now operating…

MARCH 2021 saw Freightliner haul a record volume of aggregates for Mendip Rail. The operator surpassed its own monthly record of 761,000 tonnes set a year earlier, moving a total of 796,000t in an average of 120 trains per week. Freightliner took over the Mendip Rail haulage contract from DB Cargo in November 2019, and has continued to move large tonnages of aggregate from Somerset to London and the south-east of England despite the Covid-19 pandemic. During that time Freightliner has also run trials with 4000t trains – the longest and heaviest on the UK network with a single locomotive – using hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) rather than diesel fuel. The operator’s Merehead depot has also recently been awarded ISO14001 Environmental Management Systems standard.…

WASTE management specialist Biffa and GB Railfreight have opened a new rail terminal near Barking in East London. The £4.2 million Renwick Road site despatched its first train on May 6 and occupies previously disused railway land between Barking and Dagenham Dock. More than 14,000 tonnes of fly-tipped waste and material was removed from the land before it could be redeveloped. Five trains a week are now moving waste from North and East London to sites at Roxby near Scunthorpe, Leeds and Manchester. Biffa expects to transport 250,000t of waste a year from London by rail, and plans to shift 50% of all its waste traffic to rail by 2025. Since its partnership with GBRf was launched in 2018, Biffa has shipped more than one million tonnes of waste by…

THE unmistakable sound of a ‘Deltic’ is set to return to the East Coast Main Line (ECML) at the end of July as part of Saphos Trains’ ‘Elizabethan’ charter from London to Edinburgh. On Saturday, July 24 the distinctive Napier roar will echo at King’s Cross as the excursion heads north, picking up at Potters Bar, Stevenage, Huntingdon and Peterborough. Traction ‘Deltic’ No. 55022 Royal Scots Grey is due to work the excursion to York, where it will hand over to steam traction – which is expected to be LMS ‘Royal Scot’ 4-6-0 No. 46100 Royal Scot or LMS Princess Royal Pacific No. 46233 Duchess of Sutherland. Passengers can then enjoy a two-night break in the Scottish capital – although overnight accommodation must be booked separately by individuals. Excursion If…

BEL – Belmond 0845 077 2222 BLS – Branch Line Society www.branchline.org.uk IC – Intercity 0800 038 5364 MP – Midland Pullman 0800 038 5360 NB – Northern Belle 0844 840 4525 RCS – Rail Charter Services https://railcharterservices.info RTC – Railway Touring Company 01553 661500 SD - Steam Dreams 01483 209888 SR – Statesman Rail 0345 310 2458 SRPS – Scottish Railway Preservation Society 0131 202 1033 ST – Saphos Trains 0800 038 5320 TR – Tornado Railtours 01325 488215 UKR – UK Railtours 01438 715050 VT – Vintage Trains 0121 708 4960 WCRC – West Coast Railways 0333 996 6720…

THE Scottish Railway Preservation Society (SRPS) has announced the resumption of its railtours operation after being put on ice due to Covid-19. The new programme is due to kick off on Saturday, July 10 with an excursion from Dunfermline Town to Scarborough – with York as an optional. Pick-ups are Glenrothes with Thornton, Kirkcaldy, Dalgety Bay, Dalmeny, Edinburgh Waverley, Drem and Berwick-upon-Tweed. Details of the locomotive remained to be confirmed as this issue went to press. Steam July 20 is due to see the first of three tours hauled by A1 Pacific No. 60163 Tornado – when the 4-6-2 has been booked to work the return northbound leg from York. Organised jointly with Tornado Railtours, the charter’s outward leg is due to be diesel-hauled from Linlithgow, calling at Haymarket and…

THE Severn Valley Railway is running a further series of ‘Pioneer’ diesel-hauled trains in June. Pre-booking is advised to guarantee travel, with tickets on sale until 15.30 the day before. Private compartments or reserved table seats are available. Trains depart Kidderminster at 09.45 with final return at 18.40 or 19.05, after three return runs. All trains on Fridays run to Bridgnorth and return, while some trains work between Bridgnorth and Bewdley during the day on Wednesdays and Sundays. Dates are: June 6 ‘Warship No. D821 Greyhound; 11th and 15th, Class 50; 18th, Class 17 No. D8568 + Class 14 No. D9551; and 20th , Class 52 No. D1015 Western Champion. Your reports and pictures are most welcome. Highly competitive rates are paid, especially if exclusive to The RM.…

Great British Railways GREAT British Railways will be a new public body which will own the rail infrastructure, run the rail network and receive fare revenue. As well as succeeding Network Rail, it will absorb many functions of the Rail Delivery Group and Department for Transport. In the majority of cases, it will contract private companies to operate trains to timetables and fares which it specifies. The brand identity will be built around a slightly revised version of the double arrow logo, originally introduced by British Rail, with regional sub-identities. It will also see the introduction of network-wide signage using an updated version of the Rail Alphabet font which was also first used by BR. Ticketing AT the heart of the plans is an easier and more flexible system for…

TWO major long distance operators, GWR and LNER, were thrown into chaos in the early hours of Saturday, May 8, as they were instructed to stop all movements of their Class 800, 801 and 802 units with immediate effect after the discovery of cracks during maintenance. What became afast developing situation began shortly after 04.00 and actions included urgent messages to signallers and station staff “not to depart” services being worked by Hitachi units. By 04.20 a further message had been issued stating: “Hitachi has suspended both LNER and GWR fleets due to severe cracks found on welds on the jacking points on an 80x unit at Stoke Gifford. No 80x units will leave depot or stations until inspected.” Disruption Within minutes both TransPennine Express and Hull trains had also…

THREE-class trains were reintroduced to the British rail network by Avanti West Coast on May 17 after a gap of more than a century. The new Standard Premium class sits between Standard and First Class on AWC’s Pendolino services, offering declassified First Class seats with more legroom, greater space and a guaranteed table. Standard Premium passengers also have the option to purchase refreshments via the new ‘at-seat order’ feature. Following market research and successful trials in 2020, the new class is initially available to buy as an upgrade on the day of travel, with advance purchase tickets on sale from July for travel from September. Upgrade prices range from £15 for Birmingham to London, to £30 for Glasgow to London (one way). Enhanced offer AWC is also introducing an enhanced…

EUROSTAR announced in mid-May that after months of uncertainty it has secured new financial backing from a consortium of banks. The financial rescue worth £250 million avoids any direct contribution by governments in the UK or France, although in several cases companies owned by both governments are either lending money or guaranteeing the loans. Insolvent fears The collapse in passenger numbers due to the pandemic had led to its own chief executive saying it could be insolvent by June. Unlike most other European rail operators or airlines, Eurostar has received no government assistance beyond staff furlough schemes. Eurostar’s shareholders have agreed to fund £50 million of additional capital; 60% of that will come from French and Belgian railways which are owned by their respective governments, primarily France’s SNCF as the…

A VIADUCT collapsed on Mexico City’s Metro Line 12 on May 3 which led to derailment has left at least 26 people dead and 70 injured, writes Keith Fender. The accident near the Olivos station resulted in two carriages of an FE10 train partially falling onto a busy main road. One of those killed and several of the injured were in vehicles on the road. Line 12 is the most recent part of the Mexico City Metro which opened in October 2012.…

THERE is something rather condescending (and discriminatory) about the statement general manager Helen Smith has made about the Severn Valley Railway ending photo charters and lineside passes. Simply because she expects other preserved railways to follow suit does not mean that her decision is the correct one! Speaking as a qualified railway safety auditor, I would have expected a proper risk assessment to have been carried out before I labelled any activity as ‘high risk’, yet there is no mention of the SVR having undertaken one for photographic activities. How strange that the quoted safety incidents are unrelated to photography. The SVR’s response is a lazy one and clearly all about trying to show the ORR it is ‘doing something’ about safety. Photo charters have generated a lot of goodwill…

THE Llangollen Railway Trust (LRT) hopes public services will be able to resume by August. It follows the collapse of the Llangollen Railway plc, some of the assets of which were sold at auction on May 12. On April 28, the trust announced it had completed a deal with the plc’s administrator, Cowgill Holloway Business Recovery LLP, for an undisclosed sum, to purchase certain assets belonging to the railway along with the right to use the railway. This was the first key step towards recovery. Thoughts then turned fully to the task of preparing for reopening. The trust said talks have been initiated with the Welsh Government, Business Wales, Denbighshire County Council and the National Heritage Lottery Fund, all of which have been positive. Approval The Safety Management System is…

Bridgnorth upgrade THE Severn Valley Railway has launched a £425,000 Home & Dry appeal to transform Bridgnorth locomotive works. It will fund a new roof with insulated panels, at least 15% of which will be translucent to maximise daylight. People, rolling stock and machinery will be properly sheltered and protected. Energy-efficient LED lighting will be installed, saving electricity and providing well-illuminated conditions. An overhead travelling crane is also part of the plans. Donations of any amount are welcome, but those giving £75 or more will received a signed, limited-edition print depicting Bridgnorth locomotive works by resident artist Alan Reade, and donations of £1,000 or more will be acknowledged on a permanent scroll of honour within the building. Details at www.svrtrust.org.uk Nene Valley visitor DIDCOT Railway Centre-based GWR large prairie No.…

Workshop open days THE G5 Locomotive Company is hoping to resume its open days, starting on July 3at 10am. Covid-19 measures will be in place, including masks and contact details for track and trace. The workshop can be found at Hackworth Industrial Park, Shildon, DL4 1HF. More details from www.g5locomotiveltd.co.uk or 07764 304210. Bluebell trademarked THE Bluebell Railway is now a registered trademark after a successful application to the Intellectual Property Office. The railway’s logo now appears with the letter R inside a circle to show it is a registered trademark. Tanfield refresh GREAT Northern Railway carriage No. 1441 (TR No. 6) has returned to the Tanfield Railway following its renovation at Stanegate Restorations in Haltwhistle. No. 1441 has had its compartments reinstated, returning it to its original design. In…

THE Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust (SDRT) at Midsomer Norton has boosted its wagon fleet with the acquisition of an ex-British Railways ‘SNCF’ 16T mineral wagon from the National Railway Museum. Built for use in liberated France post-Second World War, these wagons were imported back into Britain in 1950 and became a part of BR’s coal wagon fleet. The trust says it has photographic evidence of these wagons around the Somerset coal fields and S&D, often being hauled by a Fowler 7F 2-8-0. No. B 192437 arrived on April 21 and following cosmetic restoration, it will join the line’s demonstration freight train. Work has recently started on the restoration of PalVan No. B779696, donated by the Swanage Railway last year. Meanwhile, BR Mk.3a restaurant car No. 10023, which previously served…

Cavan & Leitrim re-lay passes half-way stage A MAJOR re-lay of the 3ft gauge Cavan & Leitrim Railway (C&LR) between Dromod and Clooncolry has passed the midway point. The small p-way team has steadily been lifting the 60lb rails, replacing rotten sleepers and re-fixing the rail with screws instead of the previous dog spikes throughout. Fishplate bolts are also being renewed. The C&LR is hoping to take delivery of extra rail from Bord na Móna during the year, including some crucial point work. This will allow run-round loops to be installed at Clooncolry and Dromod, helping to increase the line’s operational flexibility. The material is not being donated by Bord na Móna and needs to be purchased; a fund has been created for donations at www.cavanandleitrimrailway.com/covid New fencing installed at…

Narrow Gauge Track Record NOTABLE examples of further lines reopening following coronavirus lockdowns include Heatherslaw Light Railway, which managed to reopen earlier than projected on April 12 following efforts to deal with the significant landslip that occurred in January. Old Kiln Light Railway reopened following a lengthy closure, with Jim Haylock’s 0-4-0T Emmet providing steam services over May 1-3. Amberley anticipated running steam and offering passenger rides for the first time in over six months during an Industrial Trains Day on May 23. Lynton & Barnstaple Railway resumed operating on April 13 and Amerton Railway on April 17. Launceston Steam Railway anticipates reopening on June 21, with Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway hoping to reopen on July 24. Welsh updates In Wales, Teifi Valley Railway recommenced operating on May 1 and…

SOUTH Tynedale Railway Preservation Society (STRPS) has confirmed that earlier proposals to modify the cab of Thomas Green & Company 0-6-2ST Barber (441/1908) will be progressed while the loco undergoes work at Alston. As-built Barber had a distinctive low rounded cab to provide clearance for working through confined tunnels at Harrogate gasworks, together with an escape hatch in the cab backsheet. This appearance was retained when Barber was returned to steam in 2015 for the first time since retirement from industrial service in 1949. Raise the roof STRPS has prepared a Conservation Management Plan which identifies modifications, including raising the cab roof and chimney height by 35cm, placing a metal baffle between the raised whistle and the cab front, and fitting safety chains to the cab openings. The changes are…

SWR’s 442 upgrades halted EASINGTON MP Grahame Morris asked what assessment has been made of the value for money for the public purse of the South Western Railway’s (SWR) decision to withdraw the Class 442 fleet. Transport Minister Chris Heaton-Harris said: “The impact of Covid-19 on passenger numbers travelling on SWR services has been significant and is not expected to return to previous levels for some time when restrictions are lifted. “The 442 fleet is no longer needed to deliver SWR’s planned timetable. SWR decided to withdraw it with immediate effect and cease the programme of modifications that were underway to avoid incurring further costs to the taxpayer to reintroduce and operate these trains. “The withdrawal of the fleet is expected to save circa £8 million a year in operational…

THE re-elected Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, is seeking £1 billion from the Government to extend Metrolink into Bolton, Middleton and Stockport. He said that replacing trains with trams on the Oldham loop to Rochdale had led to a six-fold rise in the number of passengers, and that further expansion of the network would help meet his goal of creating a London-style transport system in Manchester, integrating bus and tram operations under one brand.…

CONSTRUCTION of a 209m-long extension to a rockfall shelter over the railway between Dawlish and Holcombe is expected to begin in August after Network Rail was granted approval by Teignbridge District Council. Morgan Sindall Infrastructure has been awarded the contract, worth £28 million, to construct the extension north of Parsons Tunnel, which will take around a year to complete. Unlike the previous extension a century ago, the new section will be open-sided and constructed with modern materials. Network Rail says that preparation work on top of the cliffs, which began in March, is being closely monitored to minimise disruption to wildlife and biodiversity. The shelter extension is the third phase of work being carried out as part of the South West Rail Resilience Programme following the creation of new sections…

BUSES will replace trains between Maidstone East and Ashford International for nine days in August while landslip prevention work takes place on the 150-year-old Bearstead cutting. Engineers will use soil nailing, a stabilisation technique which involves inserting steel bars into the slope face and attaching mesh to them. Improvements to other earthworks, drainage, flood mitigation and track and signalling work will also be carried out while the line is closed. The most recent landslip in the area happened following heavy rain on New Year’s Day. Although major work will take place between August 7-15, there will also be weekend closures on July 3/4 and July 24/25.…

ON May 14 HS2 Ltd signed an agreement with leading infrastructure research centres in UK universities, which will enable it to access world-leading research capability, knowledge and facilities. The agreement with the UK Collaboratorium for Research on Infrastructure and Cities (UKCRIC) means HS2 Ltd can draw on key centres of British academic excellence across a broad range of disciplines. Co-ordinated by the Universities of Loughborough and Southampton, the agreement will enable HS2 Ltd to commission research from across the whole of UKCRIC and provide a channel for academic institutions to put forward findings that could be employed on the project.…

A NEW report has concluded that rail freight contributes £2.5 billion in economic and social benefits to the UK every year, with the highest benefits in the north of England, Wales and Scotland. The report, prepared by Deloitte for the Rail Delivery Group, is designed to inform future decisions about how capacity is allocated. For example, an intermodal train travelling 200 miles contributes about £1.5m per year in benefits to the UK economy.…

LMS ‘Jubilee’ No. 45596 Bahamas is set for a busy few months with 11 main line charters in the diary, the vast majority of which will see the popular 4-6-0 in London, plus a visit to a main line connected heritage line. Signed up by two tour operators – Steam Dreams (SD) and Railway Touring Company (RTC) – the popular 4-6-0 will stretch its legs ‘down south’ away from its traditional north of England stomping ground. Having worked its last main line tour on February 22, 2020 from the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway to Carlisle, the bookings provide welcome news for the locomotive’s owner, the Bahamas Locomotive Society (BLS). “This is the most ambitious programme we have ever undertaken in the 49 years since No. 45596 returned to the…

Scotrail conductor retires after 42 years OBAN-BASED conductor Angus MacColl worked his last shift on May 6 after 42 years’ service. He was the fourth generation of his family to have worked on the Oban line, all having the same first name and going as far back as 1896. Angus was the conductor in both derailments at the Falls of Cruachan in 1997 and 2010. DRS rebrands DIRECT Rail Services has released a new logo now it is part of the Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS) brand. The company is also looking at developing options with a view to changing the livery on its locomotives, but in a cost-effective way. DRS is also aiming to increase its freight operations. Persistent fare dodger pays back £3000 A SCOTRAIL passenger who avoided paying…

AN interim solution has been agreed to deal with the cracks found in the yaw damper mounting brackets on the CAF Class 195 and 331 sets at Northern. This has been supported by data provided from strain gauges fitted to No. 195002, which carried out a number of e.c.s. workings with the equipment in place. As it appears that the principal issue is the level of stress where the yaw dampers connect to T-slots underneath the CAF bodies, spreader plates will be fitted between the yaw dampers and the T-slots which will distribute the load evenly over a much greater length of the slots. In the meantime Northern has been able to maintain most of its timetable, even following the service increase from May 17, while several damaged CAF sets…

GB Railfreight (GBRf) has called for the new dedicated rail freight ‘guiding mind’ to push the case for recovery and growth in response to the structural changes to Britain’s railways announced on May 19. The new position, which will oversee all British rail freight operations, was unveiled in the Williams-Shapps White Paper and will be part of the Great British Railways organisation led by Network Rail. GBRf wants the ‘freight evangelist’ to commit to a five-point manifesto to ensure the sector can continue to grow and support the UK economy. The five point plan calls for the holder of the new role to champion the economic value of rail freight so that it is on an equal footing with passenger traffic; to put decarbonisation at the heart of their plan…

IT was a brief encounter near the former GCR Calvert station between the author and an anti-HS2 protester that resulted in the unlikely invitation to visit to the nearby Poors Piece camp. Making the offer was a very articulate 21-year-old who gave his name as Goldi, and who had been living there since February. Goldi had been furloughed from the brewing industry, enabling him to join the anti-HS2 protest camp in Buckinghamshire. When the tree he was occupying was surrounded by men with chainsaws, he made the instant decision to stay to protect the tree, forfeiting his job when his furlough ended. The three-hour interview took place within the protest camp adjacent to the East West Railway line – just east of Claydon Loop on one side, and fenced off…

Give us on-board ticket checks, not pay-as-you-leave farce IT HAS long been the case that conductors on certain routes simply do not collect fares due to a total lack of discipline. For example on April 27, my wife and I took the 09.29 North Berwick to Edinburgh service and the conductor only got out of his seat at the rear of the train to close the doors at each station stop. It was the same on the 11.42 return from Waverley. On arrival at Waverley we were met by three revenue protection officers, complete with ticket machines and they were joined by the conductor who then took some fares. This created a delay of 10-15mins before passengers were cleared but on busier trains (with six-car Class 385 units) delays can…

100 YEARS AGO JUNE 1921 The New Grouping Scheme AS first promulgated, the Government proposals for the grouping of railways met with very limited approval and were condemned in nearly every quarter of importance. As an alternative, the Railway Companies’ Association produced a four-group scheme. The new proposals of the Government Bill represent in some degree a compromise between the two, by combining the Eastern with the North Eastern instead of isolating the North Eastern and Hull & Barnsley Railways into a group by themselves. There will be four English groups: Southern (L&SW, LB&SC, SE and LC&D), Western (GW and Welsh railways), North Western and Midland (L&NW, L&Y, Midland, North Staffs, Furness and Maryport & Carlisle), and North Eastern and Eastern (GE, GC, GN, NE and H & B Railways).…

Bitton break-in A NUMBER of specialists parts were stolen from the Avon Valley Railway (AVR) on May 5 – including a South African chime steam whistle; a Gresham & Craven vertical injector & water valve; a Gresham & Craven backhead injector; a new copper main steam pipe; three BR Class 08 push-button whistle valves; several BR Standard washout plugs of various sizes; several BR/Nabic fusible plugs of various sizes; several gauge glass fittings & valves; several BR Mk. 1 steam heat traps; several coupling rod brasses of various sizes; and a large quantity of brass and bronze billets and offcuts. Any information should be passed to Avon & Somerset Police using crime reference RAC-4RQKN. Although many AVR assets are protected with Smart Water forensic tagging, unfortunately these items weren’t included.…

THE only standard gauge Manning, Wardle 0-4-0ST remaining in the UK, No. 14 E B Wilson (1795/1912), is being offered for sale by its owner for offers in the region of £40,000. The Barrow Hill-based locomotive has been the subject of an extensive yet incomplete restoration, which has seen much of the heavy engineering already completed. However, progress halted owing to the owner’s other commitments, and consequently the reluctant decision was made to sell the loco rather than see it deteriorate. Repairs The 1948-built boiler is in a good state of repair, with all work complete apart from re-tubing. It has a full set of (mostly) original boiler fittings with it, including new Manning, Wardle injectors, non-ferrous and other mechanical parts. Below the running plate new tyres have been fitted,…

THE Talyllyn Railway (TR) has secured a £300,000 Coastal Communities Fund grant towards a £450,000 project to construct three new bogie carriages. These vehicles will allow TR to withdraw its original four-wheel carriages and restored pair of Glyn Valley Tramway coaches from everyday traffic and limit their use to special appearances. When not running they will be displayed in the planned new heritage building at Tywyn Wharf. The new carriages will look similar to current TR standard bogie carriages. Two will be first/third class composites, and the other third class only. All will have wheelchair-accessible compartments. The intention is for them to be constructed in Wales (Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway and Vale of Rheidol Railway seem obvious contenders for the contract), with the aim of the first being delivered…

■THE East Suffolk Light Railway’s completed extension – which doubles the length of the 2ft gauge line at the East Anglia Transport Museum – was brought into operation on April 18. The new western terminus of the line is named Mutford Thorpe station (RM March 2020). ■ PRIVATELY-OWNED ex-Dinorwic Hunslet 0-4-0ST 678/1898 Jonathan will be displayed at Statfold Barn Railway’s ‘150 Years of the Quarry Hunslet’ event on July 10 and 11. Originally named The First and later Bernstein, this will probably be its first public appearance since leaving West Lancashire Light Railway in 2004. ■ LYNTON & Barnstaple Railway’s Chelfham station building returned to its original 1898 form following removal on April 24 of the extensions added to the platform side of the building after the railway closed in…

WORK on laying new track foundations for the Tyne & Wear Metro’s new £70 million depot at South Gosforth in Newcastle is to start during June. The current depot at the site is being demolished in four phases. Phase one, which began in March, involved the demolition of a section of the main building. Around a third of the old sidings have been removed in preparation for new track foundations, which will be laid by boring hollow steel tubes into the ground and filling them with concrete. Recycled material Foundation work on the new main building is due to be carried out in July, with demolition of an old stabling shed to the west of the depot expected later this year. Rubble from the demolition will be recycled and used…

A CORONER’S inquest has begun into the fatal accident on November 9,2016, when Croydon tram No. 2551 overturned on the sharp bend at Sandilands. Proceedings began with a minute’s silence for the seven victims of the crash, which also injured a further 51 people. A jury was sworn in on May 17. An investigation by the RAIB found the tram derailed while travelling at almost four times the speed limit for the bend. Driver Alfred Dorris was arrested, but all charges were dropped.…

THE Anglesey Central Railway announced at the end of April that it had agreed a 99-year lease with Network Rail for the disused Amlwch branch following six years of detailed negotiations. ACR has been carrying out vegetation and drainage clearance work. It plans to bring the 18-mile route, which joins the North Wales Main Line at Gaerwen, back into passenger use. Passenger services ceased in 1964, although the line remained open for chemical traffic to the Octel plant at Amlwch until 1993 and rails are still in place.…

NETWORK Rail is inviting the private sector to invest £1 billion in upgrades to Britain’s railway telecommunications network. Companies would be able to put spare capacity to commercial use in return for the stake in modernising the trackside fibre-optic cable network. NR says this would improve reliability, safety and communications for passengers. There are 16,000km of data cables running alongside the railway, carrying information for signalling, trackside sensors, CCTV, and internet connections for trains, depots and railway offices. NR believes using the railway infrastructure will cut costs for communications firms and support them in supplying faster broadband services to harder to reach areas. The upgraded system could also be connected to lineside masts to improve passenger internet services. NR is seeking to finalise plans with a preferred bidder by the…