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News Archive  November - December 2010                      Back to News Archive index

National Network

National Network

 

On-loan 90s bolster NXEA fleet

Hired-in Class 90 no 90018 has been a regular performer on Norwich - London trains since late August, its EWS red a striking contrast with the regular NXEA colours. In October it was joined by Scotrail-liveried classmate no. 90021. The pair, both owned by D B Schenker, are reported to have been hired because of the NXEA home fleet's unreliability.

    Both locos were observed in action on October 22: 90018 worked the 06.40 up from Norwich, 09.00 down, 11.30 up, 14.00 down, 16.30 up and 1900 down, while 90021 worked the 06.10 up,  08.30 down, 11.00 up, 13.30 down, 16.00 up, 18.20 down, 21.00 up and 23.30 down.

 

Ely-Norwich semaphores on borrowed time

Photographers wanting to capture semaphore signalling along the Breckland line have only a few months left. It is reported that the project to install colour-light signals between Ely and Norwich (NRS NL 55/4) was approved by Network Rail's budget committee on November 26. Work will begin in Spring 2011 and is scheduled for completion by July 2012. 

 

DfT's approval of Felixstowe - Nuneaton upgrade means Ipswich chord will be built

On November 23 the Department for Transport gave the green light for the Felixstowe to Nuneaton rail freight upgrade. It will entail three capacity enhancement projects in East Anglia: a new 1km chord north of Ipswich goods yard, enabling freight to travel from Felixstowe to Ely without reversing at Ipswich; two 775m sections of track east of Ely station to enable better regulation of trains through the junctions there; and signalling works at Kennett and Bury St Edmunds.

 

Extra Fen Line services

The start of the December timetable saw a number of improvements on the Fen Line to and from King's Lynn. The Fen Line Users' Association reports that:

·        Mondays-Fridays:    the 05.26 Ely - King's Cross starts back at King's Lynn, calling at all Fen Line stations (Watlington, Downham Market, Littleport, Ely, and Waterbeach); the 17.44 and 18.14 King's Cross - King's Lynn trains both stop at Royston (the 18.14 dropping a 4-car set there to call at all stations to Cambridge); the 20.45 King's Cross-Ely is extended to King's Lynn (as it is now Fri. only) calling at all Fen Line stations.

·        Saturdays:    a new 18.15 King's Cross - King's Lynn calls at Cambridge, Ely and Downham Market only.

·        Sundays:   a new 17.58 King's Lynn-King's Cross calls at all Fen Line stations to Cambridge, then runs non-stop to King's Cross. 

 

Leaf busters get back to work

DRS Railhead Treatment Trains returned to our region in October to deal with fallen leaves. On October 12 a massive five-loco combination (two Class 37s and three Class 57s) arrived at Stowmarket, and was joined two days later by a four-loco working (two Class 66s and two Class 37s).

    RHTTs began in earnest on Monday October 18. Locos seen working out of Stowmarket this year have been:

            20308, 20309

            37409, 37607,37510, 37667

            57003, 57004, 57008, 57010

            66431, 66432

 

Ipswich footbridge lifted into place

Rail engineers and a 450-tonne crane worked around the clock over the weekend of November 13/14 to lift Ipswich station’s new footbridge into place. The footbridge and associated lifts will provide passengers with step-free access between the station entrance and all four platforms. The new facilities are expected to open in spring 2011. 

 

Tornado remembers Armistice Day

The recently-built A1 Class 4-6-2 60163 Tornado paid its second visit to Norfolk on November 11, when it headed an Armistice Day excursion from London Waterloo via Whittlesford Parkway (for Duxford Imperial War Museum), Ely and Norwich. 

 

New package of improvements from NXEA

National Express East Anglia has announced new £1m investment in a package of improvements. Measures to be introduced include:

•20 additional cleaning staff to work on board trains and between journeys

•A new Customer Information Manager and welcome hosts at key stations including Ely, Ipswich and Norwich

•Free weekend travel for partners of NXEA annual season-ticket holders

•Senior Citizens 2-for-1 travel offer on Wednesdays in the New Year

    NXEA is also to introduce wi-fi facilities on its Norwich – London Intercity services early in the New Year. The company secured a grant of £346,000 from the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) and Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils towards installation of the equipment. A preview demonstration for guests and the media was held at Ipswich and Norwich stations on November 24.

    Combining broadband satellite and multiple mobile data connections, the system will automatically select the best connection in the area, giving wi-fi capability throughout the journey. There will be a small charge in standard class accommodation, but it will be free in first class.

 

Minister's green light for Beccles loop

The government has given the go-ahead to the Beccles passing loop scheme.

    Network Rail had said it would meet three-quarters of the £4m cost if it had Government approval after the Comprehensive Spending Review. On October 28 Secretary of State for Transport Philip Hammond said that the project can proceed providing local stakeholders stump up the remaining £1m.

    The loop will enable NXEA – or its successor – to run hourly trains between Ipswich and Lowestoft instead of the current, much-criticised, two-hourly service.

 

140-year-old EDP gets its own loco

The Eastern Daily Press (EDP) was founded in 1870, and NXEA has marked its 140th anniversary by naming Class 90 locomotive no. 90004 after the newspaper.

  The ceremony was held at Norwich station on October 22. It continued the tradition of naming locomotives which operate the Norwich to London trains after people and organisations living and working in East Anglia.

    No. 90004, which was smartly-painted for the occasion, has previously borne the names The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company and City of Glasgow. After the naming ceremony it travelled light to Diss on a test run.

 

Desiros to run north of Ipswich

The new timetable which began on December 12 contains a number of service improvements (NRS Newsletter Sep/Oct 2010). Among them are two Monday - Friday morning peak trains which start from Stowmarket at 07.05 and 08.11. Both are formed of Class 360 Siemens Desiro emus. The 360s were not previously cleared north of East Suffolk Junction at present, but clearance to Norwich was put in place by the time the timetable started. As work is needed at Stowmarket's up platform before the 360s can work there, the two trains start from the down platform.

A new evening departure leaves Liverpool Street for Norwich at 17.02. Unusually for a Norwich train, it calls at Stratford, Shenfield, Chelmsford, Witham and Colchester and is formed of three  4-car Class 321 units.

 

LM 153s cover for smashed unit

London Midland Class 153 'Super Sprinter' single-car dmu nos.153354 and 153364 formed the 5Z20 14:16 Tyseley - Norwich Crown Point  on October 15. They are on hire to cover for no.156417 which is undergoing repairs following the Sudbury branch collision in August (NRSNewsletter Sep/Oct 2010).

They run either singly, or as a pair to cover one of Norwich's 156 diagrams when required. On October 27 they worked the 08.43 Cambridge - Ipswich, and after a spell back at Crown Point were seen on evening Sheringham branch duty.

 

Has Somerleyton saga swung to a conclusion?

In October two of the region's century-old swing bridges underwent much-needed repairs.

  Somerleyton bridge could only swing on a limited number of occasions each week because of mechanical problems , causing friction between Network Rail and the Broads Authority. Between October 18 and November 5 Network Rail engineers replaced the central swing bearing and renewed the wheels which carry the bridge as it swings. In addition corrosion surveys were carried out at both Somerleyton and Reedham bridges to assess the need for future repairs.

  To allow the work to take place the line between Reedham and Lowestoft was closed to trains between October 23 and 31, with alterations to services between Norwich and Lowestoft/Great Yarmouth. 



Bittern and Wherry grants under threat

Norfolk County Council, which is currently considering how to reduce its spending because of reduced funding from government, may axe its grants to the Wherry Lines and Bittern Line Community Rail Partnerships. The Partnerships each receive £20,000 a year as well as office support from County Hall.

    NRS member Peter Lawrence chairs the Wherry Lines CRP. Claiming that such a move would 'impact on what we can do' Peter plans to contact local councillors and MPs in a bid to retain the grants.

 

100 years of refreshments
The Country Line buffet at King's Lynn station has been serving travellers for over a century.

With buffet cars and snack trolleys on Fen Line trains now just a memory, the café provides a vital service for passengers. For the past 24 years it has been run by Alan Gajdzik and his wife Betsy.
    A special reception to mark the centenary, attended by West Norfolk Mayor Zipha Christopher, was held at the buffet on November 9. 



Ticket office back in business

The ticket office at Wymondham Station, closed since mid-April because of staff shortages elsewhere, has re-opened. The office is scheduled to open on Mondays to Fridays from 05.45 to 10.15.

 

 

Heritage, Narrow-gauge and Miniature

 

King Edward II to 'run in' on MNR

The Mid Norfolk Railway has confirmed reports that it has held discussions with the Great Western Society about using its locomotive no. 6023 King Edward II on MNR trains during the summer of 2011. The plan would be for the 'King' to undertake much of its mileage accumulation programme on the MNR before it is certified for main line running, and discussions are said to be at an advanced stage.

    Withdrawn in 1962 and later rescued from Barry scrapyard, King Edward II has been the subject of a long-term restoration project at the GWS's Didcot Railway Centre.

  The MNR has also announced that regular visitor 0-6-0PT no.9466 will return next summer. The railway plans to stage its first ever two-engine Steam Gala, using both Swindon engines and taking advantage of the MNR’s new passing loop at Thuxton.

 

Norfolk Heroine unveiled

Lady Leicester of Holkham Hall has inaugurated the Wells & Walsingham Light Railway's newest loco, a 2-6-0+0-6-2 Garratt named Norfolk Heroine. The naming ceremony took place in front of 200 guests at Wells station on October 16.

    The new locomotive commemorates Edith Cavell. In Belgium during World War 1 the nurse from Swardeston helped some 200 Allied soldiers escape, for which she was found guilty of treason and shot by firing squad. 

    Norfolk Heroine is a sister loco to the WWLR's Norfolk Hero which has pulled 450,000 passengers through the north Norfolk countryside for the past 24 years. Lady Leicester, who also named Norfolk Hero in 1986, said: 'This railway really has become one of the treasures of north Norfolk and it is down to the passion and determination of one man:  Lt-Cmdr Roy Francis'. 

 

Restoration plan for Mk 1 suburban set

The M&GNJRS has announced that it intends to restore its four Mk 1 coaches.

  BR introduced Mk1 non-gangwayed stock for its suburban services between 1954 and 1956. In the M&GNJRS's collection are the following types, all withdrawn when the lines out of Kings Cross were electrified in the 1970s: Second (S), Brake Second (BS), Second Lavatory Open (SLO) and Lavatory Composite (CL). They are now suffering water ingress at their seams and require heavy body repairs.

    The restoration is expected to cost at least £200,000. It is intended to apply for Heritage Lottery funding to support match funding donations. 

 

Southwold team secure carriage for Wenhaston scheme

Members of the Southwold Railway Trust have bought a 3 ft-gauge Belgian tram carriage from the Fintown Railway in County Donegal. The carriage arrived at the yard of Southwold building firm Duncan & Son on October 18. Southwold members now plan to assess the work that needs doing to restore the carriage to working order. They have raised close to £1,000 towards the purchase and transport costs, and would welcome donations and offers of help with restoration.

    For several years the Trust has sought without success to recreate all or part of the old 3-ft gauge line. It has now presented plans for a heritage site close to the original Wenhaston station (NRS Newsletter Jul/Aug 2010). A detailed model showed how a station, engine shed, workshop, visitor centre and offices could be incorporated. Local residents' comments will be taken into account before a planning application is submitted. The application will also have to wait for the results of a wildlife survey at the start of the 2011 breeding season.

    Plans for a Steam Railway Park in Blyth Road, Southwold ((NRS Newsletter Nov/Dec 2009) have been shelved, as the site is not now available.  It still has planning permission in case circumstances change, but energies are now being channelled into the Wenhaston project.

 

Middy earns quality standard

The Mid-Suffolk Light Railway Museum has been officially accredited by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.

    As well as its collection of rolling stock, the museum has developed a collection of photographs, artefacts and documents relating to the 'original' MSLR, which closed in 1952.

    Rob Murray, MSLR chairman, commented: “The award is the result of many hours of work by our archivist, David Chappell, and his team. To most of our visitors we are a steam railway, but we are always very careful to ensure that what we do is directed towards the aims of the museum as a museum.”

 

Ashmanhaugh team can now get under

The 7¼-gauge Ashmanhaugh Light Railway now has an inspection pit which the ALR team will find invaluable for maintenance and repairs. The railway is pleased to report that its steam locos, Hunslet-type 0-4-0ST no. 3 Lucille and 0-4-0 no. 6 Hotspur had their boilers inspected in October and 'steam tickets' for both were renewed.

 

The next departure is for Weybourne, Sheringham......and York

North Walsham-based Nenta Traintours is to operate its first train over the reinstated Sheringham level crossing. A special excursion to York and Scarborough will leave Holt station at 06.00 and pick up at Weybourne, Sheringham and Cromer before proceeding to Yorkshire via Norwich and Ely.

    The excursion runs on Saturday July 9, and the adult fare from Holt is £68.75. More details from Nenta Traintours, tel. 01692 406152 or www.nentatraintours.co.uk 

 

'Park and Ride' from Holt

The North Norfolk Railway is running extra Christmas Shopping Park and Ride services this December, with visiting class 37 no. D6737 in charge of trains. Free parking is available at Holt station, allowing passengers to catch special trains to and from Sheringham. The non-stop Holt – Sheringham trains (£6 adult return) run on three Saturdays in December: 4, 11, and 18, with four trains each way. The NNR warns prospective travellers that as no. D6737 is not fitted with train heating, the coaches may be cold.

 

 

Away from the Tracks

 

Crossing keeper heaven

There's a chance for a volunteer crossing-keeper on the Mid-Norfolk Railway to live 'over the shop' in this three-bedroomed former railway cottage, just across Cavick Road from the MNR's Wymondham Abbey station. It is being offered for sale at a guide price of £300,000.

    The cottage used to provide accommodation for the crossing keeper, but Barry Stevens has discovered evidence that it once enjoyed a more prestigious role. A report on the line's opening in the Norfolk Chronicle of December 12 1846 describes the building as 'Church Lane station', and Barry has also found traces of what may well be a low-level platform.

    More details of Crossing Cottage from agents Fine and Country Norwich (tel: 01603 221888)

 

Vauxhall bridge fails the test

Structural defects in the disused Vauxhall railway bridge near Great Yarmouth station suggest that returning it to use is unlikely.

    Mott MacDonald checked the components of the Grade II-listed bridge using ultrasound, materials analysis and a 3-D laser scan, and discovered sufficient corrosion to rule out the option of repairing it. The inspection cost around £40,000, funded mostly by Norfolk County Council but with contributions from Runham Vauxhall Fair Share Trust, 1st East and Sustrans/Railway Paths which owns the bridge.

 

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