News archive August
2002
National
Network
Heritage, Narrow-Gauge
and
Miniature
Away from the Tracks
National Network
SRA
boss
sees Norwich - Cambridge preparations gather pace
In early August SRA chairman Richard Bowker visited Norwich. He
inspected
one of the 2-car Class 170/2 Turbostar dmus which will operate Anglia Railways’ new
Norwich - Cambridge service, and toured Crown Point depot.
“The two cities are very important regional centres”, he said “and the
service will help to improve transport links between them. It will also
offer
passengers a real alternative to travelling by road and help to ease
congestion
as well as provide economic benefits to both cities”.
To prepare for the service which begins on September 29th, dmu no.
170270 made several return trips to Cambridge for driver training and
gauge
clearance. The first trip was on July 4th. Of the four 170/2 units
ordered
from Bombardier specifically for the Cambridge runs, 170270 was the
first
to arrive, but the others started to appear later in July.
A roadshow promoting the service toured the region’s towns during July,
beginning at Ipswich on 5th and finishing at Cambridge on 21st.
The off-peak Norwich - Cambridge return fare will be £9, using
the
Anglia Plus Pass. Once the new service starts, Norwich station’s “Royal
Dock”, recently resurfaced and with fresh white lining on the platform
edges,
is likely to be used to clean and maintain the 170/2s between trips.
Loadings on the eastern leg of Central Trains’ Norwich - Liverpool
service
may be expected to suffer, but the company told the NRS Newsletter
that it is not planning major timetable changes.
Class 90s and D9000 raise eyebrows on
Norwich
- London line
Forget the constant diet of ageing Class 86s! Local observers have been
enjoying a few motive power treats recently.
Looking to replace its electric loco fleet,
Anglia Railways is in the process of testing Class 90s. A
preliminary trial began on July
27th when hired-in Freightliner
no. 90042 made several return trips between Norwich and Stowmarket with
an empty DBSO set. In a second stage which started on August 12th, a
Class
90 began working three round trips a day on service trains between
Norwich
and Liverpool Street. Subject to the results of the test, AR plans to
use
three Class 90s in passenger service during November, with a view to
extending
this still further in 2003.
The Class 90s were built by BREL at Crewe and are about 20 years
younger
than the 86s. Apart from Freightliner, other operators using them are
Virgin
West Coast and EWS. This is not their first appearance on Norwich -
London
passenger services: during the mid 1990s Res Class 90s, used on the
nightly
TPO, were occasionally "borrowed" to cover for a Class 86.
And on Sunday August 11th the main line resounded to the Napier roar. 21/2
years since it was last used by Anglia Railways, Deltic
D9000 Royal Scots Grey hauled two scheduled services: the 10.30
London
- Norwich and the 14.00 return journey. The trips, on which normal
ticket
prices applied, were run by Anglia in conjunction with Deltic 9000
Locomotives
Ltd.
Freak Essex road accidents close main
line
- twice
Twice in the space of a month trains on the Norwich - London line were
halted
by road vehicles crashing on to the track from the same road overbridge
in
Essex.
On July 1st at 5.20 am, an articulated lorry skidded, overturned and
smashed
into the bridge, at Lawford near Manningtree, sending the cab section
down
the embankment on to the up line. A
Freightliner train headed by Class 66/5 no. 66536 ploughed into the
cab and pushed it
for half a mile. The lorry driver managed to escape from his cab before
it
was hit, and the Freightliner driver was shocked but uninjured. Two of
the
wagons contained potentially hazardous chemicals but none was damaged.
Thirty
road coaches ferried rail passengers between Ipswich and Colchester
while
the line was blocked, but rail services resumed in time for the evening
peak.
Then late at night on July 26th a Mazda car crashed through the
approach
to the same bridge, but this time from the opposite side. Fortunately
no
trains were passing at the time. The line suffered a five-hour closure
while
the wrecked car was recovered. The car driver later pleaded guilty to
drink-driving.
The main line was again closed on July 18th for most of the day, this
time
after overhead lines came down at Bethnal Green. AR trains were turned
round
at Shenfield.
Crosslink axed as SRA pulls plug
Anglia Railways
’ innovative London Crosslink service is to end later this year.
Crosslink,
a fleet of Class 170 dmus linking Norwich with Basingstoke, began in
May
2000. It was the first new service to receive funding from the SRA’s
Rail
Passenger Partnership scheme, and was aimed at travellers who would
otherwise
be deterred by “Liverpool Street-tube-Waterloo” journey patterns.
However
it has seen insufficient passengers for the SRA to justify further
funding,
and the last trains will run on September 28th.
Crosslink Explorer, a £10 return fare at weekends between
any
two stations on the Norwich - Basingstoke route, remains on sale until
the
service ends (but note that engineering work will cause Crosslink
services
to be suspended on Sat 24/Sun 25 Aug and Sun 1st Sept). Bookings can
only
be made on 01603 724880.
To commemorate the ground-breaking but short-lived London Crosslink
service,
several Norfolk Railway Society members plan a Crosslink Requiem
journey
on Saturday 17th August using the Explorer ticket.
“Central Value” reduces cost of travel
to
Midlands and North-West
The cost of a Norwich - Liverpool return journey has been brought down
to
£46, thanks to Central
Trains’ new Central Value fares. Central Value tickets, which
provides savings
on certain long-distance return journeys, must be bought at least three
days
in advance. Trains must be specified when buying the ticket, but no
seat
reservations are necessary. In addition, Railcards qualify for a
further
third off the price. Central Value tickets can be bought from booking
offices
or from CT telesales on 0870 0006060.
Some Central Value return fares from Norwich:
Leicester
£23
Liverpool £46
Manchester £42
Birmingham £33
Sheffield £31
Peterborough £9
Stockport £42
GB Railways turns down Freightliner/GBRf
move but joins Connex in franchise bid
A plan to combine two railfreight companies which are both prominent in
the region appears to have foundered. On 10th July
Freightliner
's owner, Management Consortium Bid (MCB) announced that it had
proposed
linking up with GB Railways
subsidiary GB Railfreight
; however GB had been lukewarm about the idea. MCB said it was now
talking
to possible partners about launching a full bid for GB Railways.
When GB reported its annual results in June (pre-tax losses reduced
from
2001’s £3.3m to £1.2m, with Anglia Railways’ passenger
volumes
now above pre-Hatfield levels) it stated that the company’s bid for the
Wales
& Borders and Greater Anglia franchises might be in partnership
with
other companies. On July 12th came a formal announcement: GB and Connex
Transport UK Ltd are to join forces as Rail Wales Ltd to bid for Wales
&
Borders. So could we soon see a joint bid for the Anglia franchise as
well?
Central Trains quiz passengers
Travellers on Central Trains
between Norwich and Peterborough in July may have found themselves
taking
part in CTs’ biggest-ever survey. Results released in early August
showed
that passengers from Thetford rated their journey as "good". Nearly one
in five said that their journey was better than expected, with the
highest
scores given for the politeness of CT staff and train punctuality.
Class 86 revives “Union Jack” livery....
Following a suggestion from a member of the company’s catering team,
Anglia Railways has revived the “Union Jack” livery which a
Stratford-based Class 47 once
carried to mark the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977. On July 17th, the
day
the Queen visited Suffolk as part of her Golden Jubilee tour, no.86227
with
the national flag on its bodyside was officially named Golden
Jubilee by three Felixstowe schoolchildren. 86227 was previously
named Sir Henry
Johnson. The naming comes as a surprise as AR’s sister company
GB Railfreight has also given the name Golden Jubilee to
no. 66705.
....and Suffolk replaces Priestley
Anglia Railways
’ class 86 loco no. 86234, previously J B Priestly OM, was
renamed Suffolk – Relax, Refresh, Return at Liverpool Street’s
Platform
8 on July 2nd. The ceremony was performed by Olympic swimmer Karen
Pickering
who hails from Ipswich. The Suffolk branding marks Anglia Railways’
support
for the Suffolk Tourism Partnership, which represents the county’s
attractions
and local authorities.
Camera prize on offer for Bittern and
Wherry
Line photos
To encourage leisure travel, the Bittern
Line and Wherry Lines
Community Rail Partnerships are running photographic competitions. In
each,
a Jessops APS camera outfit will be awarded for the best 35mm slide or
colour
print, taken during 2002, which shows a scene or a train (not at a
station)
along the Bittern or Wherry Line. A 3-day Family Anglia Plus
ticket is the second prize.
Closing date is 10 March 2003. Photographs and details of location and
date should be sent to:
Bittern
Line
(or Wherry Lines) Destinations Competition
c/o PTU Room 327, County Hall, Norwich, NR1 2SG.
Competition rules can be
found on a Days Out leaflets, available at staffed stations.
Update on Norwich TPOs
The last NRS Newsletter’s report “Last Post for Norwich Mail Trains”
appears to have jumped the gun regarding the withdrawal of Royal Mail
trains. David Pearce now sets the record straight:
“...the trains are booked to run until October 2003 when the
cutbacks by Consignia will take effect. This is partly due to their
reluctance
to invest in new rolling stock to replace the life-expired Mark 1s, as
well
as the intention to withdraw them from the whole of the national
network.
The official excuse is that they have capacity to sort the mail at the
sorting
offices without having to resort to the TPO, coupled with late running
of
trains due to engineering work etc, and the feeling that the train can
no
longer be relied upon. However, the impression from the postal workers
who
man the TPO is that this 'capacity' is imagined and that the withdrawal
will
inevitably mean more delays to the mail rather than less.
“As far as Norwich is concerned there are two mail trains on weekday
evenings
that run up to Willesden. They are :-
1M29 19.50 Norwich to London vans (contains already sorted
and bagged mail)
1M62 21.59 Norwich to London TPO (mail sorted on the train and labelled
as the East Anglian TPO)
The 'returns' are :-
1L92 23.15 London to Norwich vans (again with already
sorted mail) arriving around 02.00
1L90 00.12 London to Norwich TPO (mail sorted en route) arriving around
03.05
“It is the TPO that will disappear. The vans will remain as there is no
requirement for 'on board' sorting. Incidentally the TPO still accepts
first
class mail which arrives hand stamped with 'East Anglian TPO' on the
items
so it’s well worth posting a first class letter or post card to
yourself
to get the stamp - it'll soon be history!”
Cotswold 47 joins Anglia fleet, powers
Lowestoft specials
Cotswold Rail
-owned Class 47 no. 47714 has been hired to
Anglia Railways
. After undergoing repairs at Brush Traction’s Loughborough plant, it
travelled
to Crown Point depot under its own power on June 8th. Reportedly due to
receive Anglia livery, it still retains its old Res colours. On August
1st
and 2nd it was one of the locos which top-and-tailed special trains
from
Norwich for the Lowestoft Seafront Airshow. Anglia Railways and the
Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership jointly funded these extra
trains for the third year running. Paired with
47714 on the Lowestoft specials were Freightliner 47s nos. 47309 (1st
Aug)
and 47197 (2nd).
Radio masts planned for local branches
As part of a new national radio system giving driver-to-signaller
communication,
a line of 30m-high radio masts is proposed for the Norwich to
Sheringham Bittern Line. Railtrack has named Worstead Station
as one
site, and admits that three more - Antingham Hill, Roughton Road and
Sheringham
Station - could be erected. Railtrack has told planners at Waveney
District
Council that it may wish to erect masts along the East Suffolk line
too.
Facelift for AR main stations
With just 18 months - possibly less - to go before
Anglia Railways’ current franchise ends, structures and signs at
Norwich station are sporting
fresh white-and-Anglia-corporate-green paint. AR’s current programme to
improve principal stations includes repainting station interiors at
Norwich,
Diss, Stowmarket and Ipswich, fitting waiting rooms with new carpets
and
seats, and refurbishing toilets.
Lowestoft firm angry at Railtrack
access charge
When Lowestoft firm Godfrey’s Plumbing & Heating Supplies wanted to
repaint their premises which adjoins railway land near Lowestoft
station,
they needed access to Railtrack property. Railtrack asked for nearly
£4,000,
claiming that rail specialists would be needed to monitor the project,
though
later the figure was reduced to £2,400. The firm has asked
Waveney
MP Bob Blizzard to help resolve matters.
Heritage, Narrow-Gauge and Miniature
New railway for
Broadland....
Just north of Wroxham a new railway is shortly to take shape. Using
material
from the late Bob Brett’s 71/4” Little Melton Railway, a
group
of enthusiasts are building the Ashmanhaugh Light Railway on a site
close
to the popular Wroxham Barns Craft Centre. A clubhouse is under
construction
and the first track panels will be laid soon. It is hoped to run the
first
trains next year. NRS member Alan Ball (tel. 01603 714837) has more
details
for anyone interested.
....but Mendham line shuts its gates
A 71/4” line on the Norfolk-Suffolk border will no
longer
open to the public. The Mendham Priory Railway near Harleston has held
occasional
open days to raise money for charity, but Sunday 4th August saw its
final
Fun and Steam Day. The line’s resident LMS Black Five 4-6-0 was joined
by
several visiting locos.
Royal visitors, film stars at North
Norfolk Railway
The Bernard Amies Carriage Shed at Weybourne was officially opened by
the
Earl and Countess of Wessex when they visited the
North Norfolk Railway on June 27th. The royal couple also toured
Sheringham station museum,
and the Earl rode on the footplate of B12 4-6-0 no. 61572.
Ten days earlier Weybourne was the setting used to film The Lost
Prince
, starring Gina McKee. The railway’s recently-returned J15 0-6-0 saw
action
during the filming, although as it was not ready to work under its own
steam
it had to be propelled by a diesel, and have artificial exhaust.
More dmu arrivals at Mid Norfolk Rly
The variety of dmu types at the Mid
Norfolk
Railway
’s Dereham base has increased yet again with the arrival at the end of
June
of a unit which once saw BR service in Norfolk. The Metro-Cammell 3-car
Class 101 unit (L836(51434)/59117/51503) belongs to the Class 50
Locomotive
Association, and was previously at the Swindon & Cricklade Railway.
It made its first test run to Garvestone and back on 7th July. Another
arrival
is Pressed Steel Class 117 engine-less DMS no. 51386.
New cylinders for Blickling Hall
In a bid to make ZB 2-6-2 no. 6 Blickling Hall more economical
to
operate, the Bure Valley Railway
has ordered two new cylinders, as well as Lempour exhaust pipework and
nozzles,
from Alan Keef Ltd of Ross-on-Wye. It is hoped that No. 6 will return
to
traffic in time for December’s Santa Specials.
NNR seeks funding for Weybourne
improvements
The North Norfolk Railway
has made a funding application to the European Development Fund,
Norfolk
County Council and the East of England Development Agency. The railway
wants
to improve Weybourne yard, replace Weybourne station canopy and make
alterations
to support the planned developments at Holt. The NNR also hopes to run
a
small-gauge passenger-carrying railway at Holt.
A formal opening date - Easter Sunday 2003 - has been fixed for Holt’s
new
station building which was dismantled and moved from Stalham earlier in
the
year. Playing there on the day will be Stalham Brass Band, who will
re-enact
a photograph they hold of the band performing at Stalham station in
1931.
WWLR to hold first Steam Gala
Many railways feel they need a Steam Gala to complete their season -
now
the 101/4” Wells & Walsingham Light Railway is
joining
their ranks. The weekend of 14/15 September will see a five-train
timetable
in force, with a further evening service subject to demand. The extra
attractions,
most of which will be found at the Wells end of the line, are likely to
include
model steam road vehicles, a steam launch (not in steam) and a 15”
demonstration
line with a loco on loan from the Bure Valley Rly.
Highest bid to win ticket for NNR
double-header
On August 31st the North Norfolk
Railway will run a special train for specially invited guests to
commemorate the
restoration of its J15 0-6-0 no. 65462. The train will be the first to
be
double-headed in preservation by the J15 and the railway’s B12 4-6-0
no.
61572. The NNR is auctioning a day hosted by manager Geoff Gowing,
which
will include a seat on the inaugural train, a short footplate ride on
the
J15 and a cab ride on the B12 for the full length of the line, as well
as
several other “perks”.
The highest bid received before August 20th will win the special day.
Bids,
together with bidder’s name and postal address should be sent to
mcjw95@dial.pipex.com
. As at August 9th the top bid was £150.
Away from the Tracks
Norfolk man sells
Hornby-Dublo
collection
A collection comprising “one of everything Hornby Dublo ever made” has
been
sold. Built up over the last ten years by King’s Lynn civil engineer
Mike
Calvert, on August 3rd and 4th it was offered in 133 lots by Barry
Potter
Auctions at the Benn Hall, Rugby. A LMS Duchess of Atholl from
the
early 1950s realised £1,100, while a green Mallard
(“version
with Mazak driving wheels”) made £900. Both locos were boxed and
complete
with original contents such as instructions and oil. Even a boxed rail
cleaning
wagon, complete with instructions, unused filter pads & packing
rings,
fetched no less than £620.
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