News archive November/December
2005
National Network
Heritage, Narrow-Gauge and
Miniature
Away from the tracks
National Network
Norwich –
Liverpool trains under threat as DfT redraws map
Travellers between Norwich and Liverpool may have to change trains at Nottingham,
under proposals released by the Department for Transport.
On October 18 the DfT announced that the abolition of Central Trains
will see three new franchises created. The East and West Midlands will each
have their own TOC, and a new Cross Country franchise will incorporate some
inter-regional (‘Citylink’) Central Trains routes into the existing Cross
Country network. To enable the new specifications to be developed, Central
Trains’ franchise will be extended yet again, until Autumn 2007.
The new East Midlands franchise will combine Midland Mainline with part
of Central Trains’ network, including the Liverpool – Norwich service. However
the DfT says that the Liverpool – Nottingham portion may be operated by Trans-Pennine
Express “if this demonstrates better value for money”. Quick to react was
Railfuture, which demanded that the important long distance service should
be kept intact.
Two die in level crossing crashes
The vexed question of safety at the rail-road interface has been raised
once more after two fatal crashes at Norfolk level crossings.
On November 13 Darrell Sheens, 45, was killed on the Norwich – London
main line when 3-car dmu no. 170207 struck his Ford Fiesta at the level crossing
at Church Road, Swainsthorpe. The car burst into flames and became wedged
under the front of the dmu which carried it around 400 yards up the track
before coming to a halt. The crossing is an automatic half-barrier one,
and reports said that the car was stationary when it was hit. Several passengers
on the train, the 13:00 one service from Norwich, received injuries. The
line was closed while an investigation was carried out, and reopened the
next morning. The dmu was in use on weekend Norwich - Diss shuttles because
engineering work was being carried out south of Diss.
Less than a month earlier, on October 19, farm worker David Muffett was
killed when the tractor he was driving was hit by a train at Black Horse
Drove, 5m. north of Littleport. The 10:45 King's Cross to King's Lynn Wagn
service collided with the tractor on a occupational level crossing. The
air ambulance was dispatched but Mr Muffett was declared dead at the scene.
Of the 32 passengers on the train, just one was taken to hospital.
The crossing had gates on either side of the lane as well as warning lights
and audible warnings. A Network Rail spokesman said that the lights appeared
to have been in good working order.
The unit involved was WAGN’s no. 365531, whose pictorial bodyside vinyls
were unveiled in September (NRS Newsletter
Sept/Oct 2005)
.
The crash followed a previous one involving a tractor at an occupational
crossing. On August 7, Central Trains dmu no. 170101, forming the 10:48
Norwich – Liverpool, hit a tractor crossing the line near Stonea.
Fen Line station wins CPRE award
Downham Market station has won an Architectural & Environmental award
from the Campaign To Protect Rural England (CPRE). The station lies on Wagn’s
King’s Lynn to Cambridge “Fen line”.
In a ceremony held at County Hall, Norwich, on November 9 the CPRE judges
praised the restoration of the station, and its new café, shop and
post office – creating, they said, a new social centre for the town’s eastern
fringe. A certificate and ceremonial plaque were presented to Andrew Archibald,
the tenant and former commuter behind the scheme.
Attleborough box goes back to the fifties
Attleborough’s 120-year old signalbox once again looks smart after a refurbishment
which included repainting it in BR 1950s colours of cream and green. Work
to the ex-GER box, adjacent to the town’s station and level crossing, was
carried out by May Gurney Rail Services for Network Rail.
Now Wymondham is staffed too
Following a similar scheme at North Walsham, a part-time ticket booth has
opened at Wymondham station. Heather Connors sells tickets and provides
information to passengers from 06.45 until 10.10 on Monday to Friday mornings,
and also on the Saturdays when Norwich City FC has a home match.
The ticket office was a store room of the station’s ‘Brief Encounter’
restaurant. It was officially opened on November 4 by Peter Smith. Peter
was one of Wymondham’s last relief ticket office clerks before the station
became unstaffed about 40 years ago.
November bus replacements
During the weekends of November 5/6, 12/13 and 19/20, engineering work on
the line between Stowmarket and Diss saw buses replace trains between Ipswich
and Diss and between Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds.
Heritage, Narrow-Gauge and Miniature
WD moves in for good
WD 2-10-0 no. 90775 has been on long-term loan at the North Norfolk Railway
since Summer 2003. Now an anonymous gift has enabled the M&GNJRS to
buy the loco outright from the Essex Locomotive Society.
No. 90775 was one of 150 “Austerity” 2-10-0s built by the North British
Locomotive Co in Glasgow towards the end of WW2. After service in Egypt,
it was sold to Hellenic State Railways at the end of the war. Enthusiasts
brought it back to the UK in 1988, since when it has run on the Mid-Hants,
North Yorkshire Moors and Great Central Railways. Although its number has
an “ex-BR” ring to it, 90775 was never a BR locomotive.
92 Squadron, a favourite with crews and visitors alike, will remain
at the NNR until at least the end of 2006. B12 no. 61572 needs its tyres
turning, and loco and wheels have recently been parted.
Leiston’s Sirapite gets funding for
return to steam
Restoration plans have been announced for a historic geared locomotive which
was a familiar sight in Leiston for over thirty years.
The Long Shop Project Trust has been awarded £50,000 by the Heritage
Lottery Fund to help restore Aveling & Porter 0-4-0WT Sirapite
. After working in a Sussex quarry, Sirapite arrived at Richard Garrett’s
Leiston works in 1929 where it took over shunting duties from Suffolk Punch
horses. It could be seen hauling trucks between the works and Leiston station
until 1966, when it was removed to the north-east for preservation.
In 2003 the Trust purchased the deteriorating Sirapite with the
help of a £15,000 grant from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.
Now the HLF grant will see the Trust restore the 100-year-old engine to
steam and operate it on a track behind the Long Shop Museum.
More dining facilities for the Mid-Norfolk
Railway
A Mk 2F buffet coach, only recently displaced from main line duties, has
arrived at the Mid-Norfolk Railway. No. 1218, wearing Anglia colours, was
moved from Norwich to Dereham on November 10 by EWS ‘Royal’ loco no 67005
Queen’s Messenger. No. 67005 appears to have visited Norfolk purely
to carry out this undemanding move, and it left Norwich for Wembley the following
evening.
Meanwhile BR Mk 1 restaurant car no.1984 has a new home at the privately-owned
Hardingham station yard adjacent to the MNR. The green-liveried coach arrived
by road in September after a period in store at the former MOD depot at Long
Marston. Owner Nigel Teulon plans to restore it with the eventual aim of
running it on the MNR.
HLF cash top-up for Bressingham pair
The Heritage Lottery Fund has given the Bressingham Steam Preservation Company
an extra £200,000 towards restoring its LMS 4-6-0 no. 6100 Royal
Scot and LB&SCR Stroudley ‘Terrier’ 0-6-0T Martello. This
brings the total grant for the two locos to £547,000.
Three years ago the museum was awarded £339,000, but the price of
steel has since rocketed and Royal Scot must now have additional safety
equipment fitted if it is to return to the national network. It should be
back in steam in 2007.
Martello, whose restoration was recently completed
(NRS Newsletter July/Aug 2005)
, is soon to travel to the North Norfolk Railway, where it will take part
in the Winter Gala on December 31 – January 2.
“Strength and determination” required for
Bramleyline project
Network Rail would be “more than pleased” to see the March – Wisbech Bramleyline
reopened, according to Jerry Swift, Network Rail’s Accounts Director for
Community Rail. At a public meeting held in Wisbech on October 26, Mr Swift
said a ground frame and end-on connection at the March end could maintain
the freight link, while the rest of the line to Wisbech would be available
to the Bramleyline.
A basic service agreement would be the first step. NR would then decide
whether to sell or lease the line, and draw up a legal agreement. When the
deal was imminent, NR would reinstate the level crossings at its own expense.
In the meantime volunteers could not be allowed to carry out any track
maintenance on NR property. Scrub clearance or fence repair might be permitted,
though.
Mr. Swift stressed that the group needed strength and determination to
overcome any obstacles.
North Norfolk Railway – top tourist attraction
The North Norfolk Railway has reinforced its status as one of the county’s
top attractions by winning the Archant “Tourism in Norfolk” Community Award.
It was also named runner-up in two other categories. The railway’s success,
says marketing manager Colin Borg, is a tribute to its staff, most of whom
are volunteers.
This year’s NNR passenger numbers have hit record levels. By the end
of 2005 the railway expects to have attracted over 140,000 visitors.
Away from the tracks
Modellers move to Showground
An annual highlight for local railway modellers is the March exhibition
organised by the Norwich Railway Heritage and Model Society (Norwich Model
Railway Club). However the exhibition’s usual home, the Norwich Sport Village,
is undergoing an extensive rebuilding programme which will not be complete
until next May. The Society’s 2006 exhibition, on the weekend of 18/19 March,
will now take place in the Summer Pavilion at the Norfolk Showground, Costessey.
End in sight for Burnham Market station?
A planning application has been lodged with West Norfolk Council to demolish
the old station at Burnham Market. The station, on the Heacham – Wells line,
closed to passengers in 1952, and twelve years later its daily goods service
to Heacham ended too. At present it serves as a residential annexe to the
nearby Hoste Arms and was put up for sale earlier this year at around £695,000
(NRS Newsletter Mar/Apr 2005)
.
What should Norfolk’s transport priorities
be?
Norfolk County Council is asking for views on the next draft Local Transport
Plan, which will determine the amount to be spent on transport improvements
between 2006 and 2011.
The Government sets four categories for this plan: accessibility; congestion;
environment, especially air pollution; and safety. The Council wants residents’
views on their preferred type of transport improvements – for example new
roads, improved public transport, or cutting back car parking spaces.
Opinions can be submitted on line at
www.norfolk.gov.uk
(Have Your Say – Consultation Finder). A leaflet and questionnaire is
also available at libraries and Council Information Centres. An exhibitions
is touring around the county, with Council staff on hand to answer questions;
it was at Norwich station on October 26.
The consultation period ends on December 16.
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