News archive October 2004
National Network
Heritage, Narrow-Gauge and
Miniature
Away from the tracks
National Network
More main-line
trains – but they’ll take longer
The number of daily trains between Norwich and London is set to rise from
65 to 70, with nine departures from Norwich for the capital between 06.10
and 08.30. one’s new timetable, to be launched on December 12, will
be the first major revision since the line was electrified in 1987 and comes
as the direct result of merging three train operators into a single company
– one.
Evening peak-time departures from London will be spaced more evenly (at
present three trains leave at 18.27, 18.30 and 18.42). All main-line trains
except two will call at Diss, recognising the town’s importance as a transport
hub.
The changes will extend journey times by about 15mins, and trains out
of Liverpool Street will still not call at Stratford because of causing congestion
there.
Elsewhere on the one network, Class 170 dmus will operate between London
and Lowestoft (6 up trains and 7 down each day), and between Peterborough
and London via Bury St Edmunds (6 up, 5 down). On the Norwich to Cambridge
service, which has now carried more than a million passengers since it opened
in October 2002, Brandon has so far been ignored, but under the new timetable
every other train will call there.
one gets a double yellow from Competition
Commission
NATIONAL Express’s operation of the Greater Anglia franchise has been “provisionally
cleared” of infringing competition policy.
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) had referred the deal to the Competition
Commission in May – a full five months after National Express was named preferred
bidder for the franchise. NatEx's coach services and its overlapping rail
routes were cited as causes for concern.
On September 17, Paul Geroski, Commission chairman, said. “After studying
evidence not available to the OFT (how extraordinary!), our provisional
conclusion is that the acquisition may not be expected to lead to a substantial
lessening of competition.”
Making its case against this bizarre and delayed referral is said to have
cost National Express about £700,000 in legal fees.
It’s a “Getaway Giveaway” - but Norfolk watches
from the sidelines
Norfolk appears to have been excluded from a huge National Express “free
tickets” promotion. In what it called “The Getaway Giveaway” NatEx distributed
leaflets and took out press ads, both containing a coupon exchangeable for
a free day-return rail journey on a single TOC’s system, to be taken before
the end of September. The company claimed that it might issue as many as
seven million free tickets.
Taking part in the promotion were the three TOCs which cover our region:
Central Trains, one and WAGN. However, Central’s door-drop concentrated
on the west and east Midlands, and came no further east than Peterborough.
On the WAGN route, 500,000 leaflets went out in August, but only to highly
populated areas and no further north than Cambridge along the Fen Line route;
its press ads were restricted to the London Evening Standard, on
August 3. one stayed tight-lipped about leaflet distribution, although
its offer was seen in the Evening Standard on August 5. Did any NRS
member see it advertised locally?
one has also launched a £500k "Enjoy London" advertising campaign,
aimed at promoting the frequency of train services and ease of access to
the capital, across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex and Hertfordshire.
New Passengers' Charter aims to be fairer
September 26 saw the launch of one’s “new and improved” Passengers’
Charter, which has a uniform compensation policy for all ticket holders,
single-journey as well as season-ticket. Passengers delayed between 30
and 59 minutes can get compensation of at least 50% of the ticket cost for
that journey, while a delay of over 60 minutes entitles a passenger to claim
the entire cost. Compensation will usually take the form of rail travel
vouchers.
Norwich clinches “station of the year” title
Not just “best large station”, but “station of the year” as well! That’s
what Norwich became at this year’s National Rail Awards. The awards ceremony
was held at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, where the two prizes were presented
to Clive Morris, one’s rural routes business director, and group station
manager Anita Miles. Ms Miles paid tribute to the commitment of the station
staff as well as the improvements brought about by the recent refurbishment.
Meanwhile, Wymondham was named Best Station in the 2004 Anglia In Bloom
Awards. The judges found it “a joy to visit” – clean, tidy and well looked
after, with good baskets and containers. Runner-up was Brundall, and the
bronze medal went to West Runton. And in a scheme to acknowledge station
“adopters” and company maintenance personnel, one is to present an
annual award to its best small- and medium-sized unstaffed stations. Judging
criteria will be: adopter involvement, cleanliness, appearance and standards
of maintenance.
Near-fatality at West Runton
A 33-year-old woman lost part of her foot – it could have been her life
– when she was hit by a train at West Runton. On September 6 the woman,
who is thought to have been drinking, left the 22.45 Norwich – Sheringham
train one stop too early at West Runton. Walking down the track, she attempted
to flag down the 23.47 return service, but was hit, badly injuring her right
foot and grazing her face and arms. Paramedics took her for treatment at
the N&N University Hospital.
Tunnel re-opens on time - with the help of
a Norwich firm
The £14m project to lower the track in Ipswich tunnel as part of improvements
to the freight route between Felixstowe and the Midlands was completed on
schedule. First to pass through the tunnel northbound on September 4 was
an engineers’ train, and carriage sets which had spent their time working
south of the tunnel “block” were then returned to Crown Point for catering
facilities to be reinserted.
Regular traffic began using the tunnel on September 6. Early-morning
commuters at Norwich, Diss, Stowmarket and Ipswich were perplexed at the
way Network Rail chose to compensate them for eight weeks of delays and inconvenience:
they were handed a small box of mints bearing the message “Thank you”.
During the work a 20m length of protruding brickwork was discovered in
the tunnel wall. Norwich firm Period Property Preservation were engaged
to stabilise the area with steel pins before grinding away the bulge. The
firm, based in Hellesdon Business Park, specialises in structural repairs
to ancient and modern structures.
Class 86s will bow out in style
With the reign of the Class 86 electric locos about to end, one is
to run an all-day farewell tour to commemorate the class which powered most
Norwich – London route trains for nearly twenty years. The tour, on Saturday
October 30, will start from London Liverpool Street at around 08.30 and run
to Cambridge and back, covering both the Seven Sisters and Tottenham Hale
routes. It will go on to visit Southend Victoria, Shenfield, Clacton (1
hr break), Colchester, Harwich, Ipswich and Norwich (1 hr break). It will
end with a non-stop run from Norwich to London, due to arrive around 20.10.
The special will have a Class 86 at each end except for the final non-stop
leg. Fares are £45.00 (standard class) and £70.00 (first class).
Tickets can be booked only on the special booking line: 01603 675102. Timings
will be confirmed and commemorative tickets sent out about 10 days beforehand.
Introduced by BR in 1965, the Class 86s were once stalwarts of the West
Coast Main Line. In the 1980s a batch of the 100-mph locos was refurbished,
given new suspension and modified for push-pull operation between Norwich
and London. They are due to be superseded completely by Class 90s by the
end of 2004.
one moves out of Norwich and Ipswich
one is vacating its Norwich and Ipswich offices, moving 50 personnel,
marketing, corporate affairs and IT staff to a building near Liverpool Street
station. About 70 other posts, including the press office, are being transferred
to Colchester. However business route directors and customer service staff
will continue to be based at appropriate points around the one network.
Detonators stolen from train
On-train security measures have been reviewed after a box of detonators
was stolen from a driver's cab. Norwich magistrates were told that 18-year-old
Karl Skyring of Aspland Road, Norwich was found with the potentially-lethal
explosives after being seen throwing bricks at them to make them explode.
Skyring admitted theft and was sentenced to 150 hours of community work
and ordered to pay £40 costs.
King’s Lynn and Wroxham bridges under repair
A King’s Lynn footbridge over the single-track Middleton Towers line, used
exclusively by WBB Minerals’ sand trains, closed from August 23 for repairs,
cleaning and repainting. Health and safety reasons precluded the 1.8m wide
bridge remaining open during the work, and Network Rail declined to provide
a temporary level crossing. As a result, for six weeks pedestrians and cyclists
crossing between the Fairstead estate and the Hardwick industrial area had
to take a 11/2-mile signposted detour.
Meanwhile road users at Wroxham are facing delays while Network Rail brings
the bridge which carries the A1151 road over the Bittern Line up to new European
standards. There will be partial and total road closures until December
11s.
Rail boost for East Suffolk line
The East Suffolk Community Rail Partnership, formed by one along
with Suffolk County Council and district councils, has at last come into
being. Following the successes of similar bodies which support the Bittern
and Wherry Lines, the Partnership aims to raise awareness of the Ipswich
– Lowestoft route and develop its train service and stations.
Trowse bridge in a jam again
Two months after reopening to river traffic, Trowse swing bridge threatened
to cause another wrangle between the Broads Authority and Network Rail when
it jammed in the “open-to-rail” position. An electrical storm damaged the
bridge's computer system on August 8, and it was not scheduled to be repaired
for a week.
The bridge was immovable from October 2003 to June 2004, preventing larger
boats and those with fixed masts from reaching Norwich (NRS Newsletter
October 2003
, June 2004
).
Face-lift for Beccles station at last?
Work to revitalise the run-down area around Beccles station, voted the town’s
worst eyesore last year, could begin early in 2005. Plans to be submitted
to Waveney District Council in September include a landscaped courtyard in
front of the station; a new car park and bus bay; better pedestrian access
to the station; and new homes nearby. The old maltings may become homes
or business premises.
Heritage, Narrow-Gauge and Miniature
B12 to launch Mid-Norfolk steam
service?
There are reports that the long-awaited steam service between Dereham and
Wymondham may be launched by North Norfolk Railway-based B12 no. 61572.
Most enthusiasts had envisaged the MNR hiring in a “cheap and cheerful” saddle
tank, but officials of the two lines are said to be discussing a loan agreement
for the ex-LNER 4-6-0.
Experimental railcar on loan to NNR
A prototype hybrid vehicle which was eventually to spawn the Pacer dmu fleet
has arrived in Norfolk. In June LEV1 (RDB975874) was unloaded at Sheringham,
on “long loan” from the National Collection. If repairs can be completed
on time, it is hoped that it may be on duty during the North Norfolk Railway’s
diesel gala (October 2/3).
Lightweight Experimental Vehicle no. 1” was built in 1978 by BR Research
and British Leyland as a double-cabbed bus body mounted on a BR two-axle
underframe. It began life as an unpowered trailer car before an underfloor
engine and mechanical transmission were fitted, and then operated along routes
such as the East Suffolk line. LEV1 also had a spell of trial running in
the USA.
Help us with Norfolk Hero’s repair bill, pleads
WWLR
Bearing the brunt of the Wells & Walsingham’s Light Railway daily service
is 2-6-0+0-6-2 Garratt Norfolk Hero. The loco runs around 6,500 miles
each season and over its 18 years has clocked up 117,000 miles – possibly
a record for a 101/4" gauge locomotive, suggests the WWLR.
In the middle of this summer season Norfolk Hero was discovered
to have a cracked axle, which had to be sent away for repair. The loco returned
to service on August 12 but the repairs and the cut in takings while running
shorter trains behind 0-6-0 diesel no. 2 Weasel (and no trains at
all for the first weekend in August) has cost the WWLR £3,000.
The Railway is asking well-wishers to help with the cost of these unexpected
repairs. It asks donors to send cheques to:
Brian Landale, Treasurer, WWLR Support Group, Westgate Farm, Great Walsingham,
Norfolk NR22 6DY.
Live from Sheringham!
Two webcams have been installed at the North Norfolk Railway’s Sheringham
station, providing real-time views of trains in action. They can be found
on the NNR’s site: www.nnrailway.co.uk
.
“Village Experience” railway shuts for good
Another Norfolk railway has passed into history.
On September 12 the Village Experience at Fleggburgh, near Yarmouth, whose
attractions included a 2ft-gauge railway circuit, closed for the last time.
However collectors and enthusiasts arrived en masse on October 15 and
16 when the Cambridge-based auctioneers Cheffins conducted a sale of the
entire contents.
Managing director of the Village Experience, “Happy” Hudson, who built
the Bure Valley Railway in 1986 and also helped establish the Pleasurewood
Hills attraction at Lowestoft, said it had become difficult to make enough
money to keep the 35-acre park going. He plans a housing development for
the site.
Under the auctioneer’s hammer, alongside fairground rides, vintage cars
and other bygones, went the mile-long line, its steam-outline Severn-Lamb
diesel-hydraulic 0-4-0 Busy Basil and three passenger carriages.
The park’s many other railway items included a number of “E&MR” (Eastern
& Midlands Railway – one of the M&GN’s forebears) spandrels supporting
the station canopy, platform seats bearing ex-LNER cast nameplates and a
quantity of cast-iron notices, enamel signs, signalling instruments telephones,
handlamps and demonstration signal arms.
Among the 2ft-gauge rolling-stock was a 4-wheel Motor-Rail diesel Oliver
which once worked at the Yaxham Light Railway. Standard-gauge items included
a Swedish diesel railcar dating from 1958, and a derelict Fowler 0-4-0 diesel
shunter.
New boxes for Hardingham and County School
On September 25 Snettisham signal box – preserved by signalling enthusiast
Roger Bell after the Hunstanton branch closed in 1969 – arrived at the privately-owned
Hardingham station on the Mid-Norfolk Railway. However there are no plans
to return it to signalling duties. Once the rotten lower section has been
rebuilt, owner Nigel Teulon intends to use it for storage and display.
Meanwhile Halesworth box could soon be “swapping schools”. When semaphore
signalling ended on the East Suffolk line, retired signalman Peter Punchard
saved the box from demolition. He moved it to the grounds of Halesworth
Middle School, since when he and a team have maintained it. To assure its
survival in a more appropriate site, it has been offered to the Mid-Norfolk
Railway which plans to use it at County School.
Holt shed and Sheringham extension get go-ahead
Despite the Council's planning officers recommending rejection (
NRS Newsletter August 2004
), the North Norfolk Railway has received approval to construct a carriage
shed at Holt. The conditions to be met include tree planting, hedging re-instatement
and the use of the shed solely for storage of rolling stock - including,
of course, the quad-art set once it returns from restoration. The two sheds,
100m and 60m long, will accommodate a total of 16 Mark 1 coaches or their
equivalent.
The Council have also agreed that the NNR can use part of Ottendorf Green
to improve the run-round facility and enable Sheringham station to handle
six-coach trains. It is hoped to complete the work before next year’s peak
traffic season.
92 Squadron misses gala
Although “Battle of Britain” class 4-6-2 no. 34081 92 Squadron (
NRS Newsletter August 2004
) arrived at the NNR in time for the September 3 - 5 Steam Gala, the loco
did not pass its steaming test in time to take part. It made its debut on
the September 18/19 “1940s Weekend”.
The NRM’s ex-GWR 4-4-0 City of Truro is to be a guest on the NNR
between July and September next year.
MNR coach arrives the right way
With most movements to and from heritage lines made by road, it’s pleasing
to report that a coach has reached the Mid-Norfolk Railway in the correct
manner. Early on the morning of August 17, Cotswold Rail locos nos. 47200
and 47316, working back to Norwich after excursion duties, towed Mk 2A BFK
(brake corridor first) no. 35515 from Old Oak Common to Wymondham for the
Mid-Norfolk Carriage Group. At Wymondham the Regional Railways-liveried
coach was propelled just on to MNR metals, from where it was hauled to Dereham
by 31235. In due course the BFK should form part of a three-coach dining
set.
The train’s arrival was delayed several hours because of a threatened
suicide at Cambridge. All ohl power had to be switched off for several hours,
throwing the timetable into chaos – as well as giving two stranded NRS members
an unscheduled overnight stay in Cambridge.
Another new arrival at Dereham is dmu trailer car no. 59539, which will
expand the MNR’s 2-car ex-ScotRail class 101 dmu to a 3-car unit.
“L&M” tank gets the nod from HMRI
The Bure Valley Railway reports that its newest steam locomotive has obtained
HMRI approval. The Leek & Manifold-type 2-6-4T Mark Timothy was delivered
in July 2003 from Alan Keef Ltd (NRS Newsletter,
October 2003
).
Away from the tracks
“Hidden” Norfolk loco collection
sold at Goodwood
Several live steam miniature locomotives have emerged after years of storage
in a north Norfolk barn. Few people knew that George Milligen of East Ruston,
near Stalham, who died earlier this year at the age of 94, had amassed dozens
of classic cars and fire engines, as well as a number of locos. His collection
was auctioned by Bonhams at Goodwood on September 3. £45,500 was paid
for a 40-year-old finely-detailed 101⁄4” gauge model of LMS
4-6-0 no. 6100 Royal Scot (whose prototype is under restoration at
Bressingham). A 71⁄4” gauge model of SR ‘Schools’ class 4-4-0
no. 920 Rugby realised £9,775, and £4,370 was paid for
a 31⁄2” gauge model of a LTSR 4-4-2T. (All prices include
the buyer's premium).
The collection’s most historically interesting loco was GNR-style 4-4-2
Peter Pan. Built by Bassett Lowke in 1908 to 91/2”
gauge, it originally belonged to Capt. Howey of RH&DR fame. It hauled
George V and Queen Mary at the Wembley Exhibition in 1925, and was later
converted to 101⁄4”. After a period at J A Holder’s line
in Worcestershire it moved to Bressingham and in the 1950s Mr Milligen bought
it. Peter Pan fetched £33,350.
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