News archive September/October
2005
National Network
Heritage, Narrow-Gauge and
Miniature
Away from the tracks
National Network
Railfest
brings out rare traction en masse
The Community Rail Festival on September 24 and 25
(NRS Newsletter July/Aug 2005)
produced an abundance of unusual locos, both on static display and at work.
On the Saturday Class 87s no. 87019 ACoRP and 87007 top-and-tailed
a special bringing visitors to the event.
Four return loco-hauled trips along the Wherry Lines were due to run on
the Saturday, powered by FM locos nos. 31452 and 33103. However the Class
31 failed and was replaced by no. 47832. The following day’s four Norwich
– coast shuttles did go according to plan, with Anglia-liveried 47714 on
one end and two Harry Needle Co. Class 20s on the other.
Norwich station played host to several rare-to-the-area locomotives, among
them 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier, 45112, 89001, D1023 Western
Fusilier and electro-diesel 73138.
A fuller report of the weekend, which was organised by the Association
of Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP), appears in the Sept/Oct issue of
the NRS Newsletter.
October steam weekend postponed
An eagerly awaited October weekend of main-line steam in Norfolk has been
put back to next year. There had been considerable local advertising by
the Railway Touring Company for its three days of special trips on October
15-17, using B1 class 4-6-0 no. 61264. These included a Norwich – London
return excursion and three journeys along the Bittern Line to Sheringham.
Now the company has re-scheduled the programme to the Bank Holiday weekend
of April 29 – May 1 2006.
Stowmarket becomes leaf-busting centre
During this October/November leaf-fall season three rail-head treatment
trains (RHTTs), each top-and-tailed by DRS Class 20s, will be based at Stowmarket’s
new Marsh Lane depot. Network Rail has advised people living close to the
railway that track is to be relaid on the site of the old Stowmarket goods
yard, and that maintenance and storage facilities are being developed there.
Other than in extreme conditions requiring Sandite, the RHTTs will rely
on high-pressure water jets. Mains pressure will not fill the trains’ tanks
quickly enough, and on September 20 the depot took delivery of trackside
water storage tanks. Two days later DRS nos. 20311/312 took a trial train
(1Z23/1Z24) from Stowmarket – Colchester – Stowmarket – Ely – Stowmarket.
Fatality near Attleborough
On October 4 an Attleborough man was killed after being hit by a dmu near
Hargham Heath level crossing. Police said he appeared to have stepped out
of undergrowth into the path of Central Trains’ 12:57 Norwich – Liverpool
train. The train proceeded to Eccles Road station, from where passengers
were taken by bus to Ely. The line was closed to traffic for more than two
hours.
Halesworth and Acle are the best
one’s Best Unstaffed Station awards were presented on October 4.
The scheme rewards the efforts of station adopters, community volunteers
and one’s in-house buildings team. To reach the final, stations were
required to meet certain standards including adopter involvement and cleanliness.
For the second year running Halesworth came top in the ‘medium-sized’
category, beating Wymondham and Attleborough into second and third place.
Acle won the ‘small’ category. Last year’s winner, West Runton, and Trimley
came close behind.
A special ‘outstanding volunteer contribution’ award was given to James
Dennis, the adopter of Berney Arms station. James, a keen birdwatcher, lives
in Scunthorpe but travels to Great Yarmouth by train three times a week and
regularly visits Berney Arms.
TOCs mark Nelson anniversary
Both one and Wagn have joined the celebrations surrounding the 200th
anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. On September 29 the Bishop of Norwich,
the Rt Rev Graham James, named Class 90 loco no. 90005 Vice-Admiral Lord
Nelson at Norwich station in the presence of local authority representatives
from across the county.
On the same day Wagn unveiled a Nelson-themed train at King’s Lynn. Using
the tag ‘Nelson’s County, Norfolk – a Great Place to Live & Work’, unit
no. 365531’s all-over design carries views including Bircham windmill and
Sandringham House.
90005 is the third of one’s Class 90s to carry a name, and the
company says that eventually the whole fleet will do so. Its Sprinter dmu
no. 150213 bore the name Lord Nelson until the 150s were transferred
away from the area earlier this year.
Blow for NatEx as bid for TLGN is referred
National Express’s bid to run the Thameslink/Great Northern franchise has
been referred to the Competition Commission.
The tentacles of TLGN will stretch from King’s Lynn to Brighton, and it’s
south of the Thames that competition concerns arise. NatEx also operates
Gatwick Express, and so winning TLGN would hand it control of two of the
three Central London – Gatwick operators, and almost 90 per cent of the passenger
traffic.
The Competition Commission is expected to report by January 2006.
Farewell to the 86s – once more!
We thought the Class 86 locos were on their way out at the end of last year
– but the last in their series of farewell runs has only just taken place.
A spruced-up no. 86235 Crown Point, the final locomotive in traffic, traffic,
powered three return journeys between Norwich and London on Saturday September
17. The last departure from Norwich was filmed by Anglia TV. Meanwhile
classmate no. 86246 Royal Anglian Regiment, a non-runner due to a
blown transformer, was put on display in the centre road between platform
4 and 5 at Norwich.
The Class 86s were due to come out of regular service last December.
In October an all-day “Farewell Special”, also powered by no. 86235, marked
their departure. Then on December 31 the same loco was given the honour
of powering the 17.00 London – Norwich, the “last scheduled duty” for a Class
86.br>br> Since then 86s have still been used from time to time,
but now one claims it has enough Class 90s for its needs.
one takes silver in rail award
At this year’s National Rail Awards, one gained the runner-up position
in the Passenger Operator of the Year award. The company was described as
having made “fantastic progress against a major challenge” and was second
only to South West Trains. The awards ceremony took place in London on
September 1.
The judges praised one’s efforts in implementing its complex franchise
merger, managing the Ipswich tunnel blockade last summer, achieving its overall
punctuality target and introducing service frequency improvements across
a number of routes.
More Norwich – Yarmouth trains on winter Sundays
A major improvement to winter Sunday services on the Norwich – Great Yarmouth
route is on the way. In December the service will become hourly all day from
07.30 to 22.30, giving 16 trains each way throughout the year (at present
there are 14 each way in summer and 10 each way in winter). And there’s
good news for Lingwood and Acle where trains haven’t stopped on winter Sundays
for 40 years: they’ll now have a 2-hour-interval service all year round.
Also gaining from the changes is the Bittern Line. Currently the last
Sunday train is the 18:45 from Norwich, which returns from Sheringham at
19:54, but the last train will now leave Norwich at 20:36 and return from
Sheringham at 21:43.
On weekday mornings a Great Yarmouth (dep. 06:42) – London through train
will reappear.
There will be more significant changes on one’s West Anglia routes
including a new off-peak service between Stratford and Stansted Airport.
Full details can be found on
www.onerailway.com/latestinformation/serviceupdates/
Fridge vandals scared off
A possible rail disaster was staved off on the morning of September 13,
when a passer-by spotted youths attempting to push dumped refrigerators on
to the Norwich – London line at Caistor St Edmund. Despite being threatened,
the man summoned the local council and the police, and the group disappeared.
Curtain up on rail initiative
A new ‘Theatre-Rail’ scheme, which aims to encourage people to enjoy a car-free
evening of local entertainment, has been set up by the Bittern and Wherry
Lines Community Rail Partnerships. Theatre-goers who travel by rail to
Cromer Pavilion, Sheringham Little Theatre, Lowestoft Marina or Great Yarmouth’s
St George’s Theatre will receive a free tea or coffee during the interval,
as well as before and after the show. On September 20 ‘Widow Twankey’ launched
the scheme at Norwich station.
Rail is an easy and convenient way to go to local shows, says one
, because trains from Norwich are frequent, and from each town there is a
train back to Norwich after 11pm (Mon-Sat).
Better catering facilities at Norwich
Hungry and thirsty passengers on Norwich – London trains should now enjoy
an improved service, thanks to one’s upgrading of its on-board catering
operation. The department has left its Portacabin and moved into a brand
new facility at Norwich station. The food store is air-conditioned and its
larger chiller cabinets have room for more stock. The small motorised vehicles
which ferry supplies to and from trains can now drive into the store, making
the process much quicker.
Award for “outstanding” rail chef
National Express, one’s parent company, has given restaurant car
chef John Smith an excellence award for serving up meals despite having no
water, working hob or microwave oven.
Preparing the kitchen of the 07:40 Norwich – London Liverpool Street train
on March 14, John discovered that an electrical fault had put most of the
equipment, including the cooker and boiler, out of use. The train was close
to departure and the 24 restaurant car passengers were expecting cooked breakfasts.
Refusing to cancel the restaurant service John managed to provide every
meal on the menu.
Darren Fennah, one Business Manager (Catering) described John’s
service John as “really outstanding” and commended his dedication and professionalism.
Heritage, Narrow-Gauge and Miniature
‘Truro’ heads stunning gala
line-up
A spectacular line-up of ex-main line motive power – with not an industrial
in sight! – made this year’s North Norfolk Railway Autumn Steam Gala (Sept
9-11) probably its best ever. Star guest was the NRM’s ex-GWR 4-4-0 no.
3440 City of Truro, working alongside SR Bulleid Pacific no. 34081
92 Squadron in malachite green and WD 2-10-0 no. 90775. More traditional
NNR motive power came in the form of LNER N7 0-6-2T no. 69621, B12 4-6-0
no. 61572 and J15 0-6-0 no. 65462.
The N7, on long-term loan from the East Anglian Railway Museum in return
for restoration, appeared in unlined BR black livery. Full lining will be
applied over the winter period.
In Weybourne shed, dismantling of privately-owned LNER Y7 0-4-0T no. 68088
has begun in preparation for boiler repairs. The loco is expected to return
to steam in 2006.
Kimberley Park reopens – 11/2
years late!
It was in May 2004 that the Mid-Norfolk Railway’s Kimberley Park station,
complete with GER-style timber waiting shelter, was formally reopened by
Lord MacGregor, the railway’s President. However HMRI issues have prevented
the railway from using it for regular passenger services. On October 1 the
railway received news that the Inspectorate’s approval had at last been granted,
and trains at once began calling there.
There are now three intermediate stations between Dereham and Wymondham:
Yaxham, Thuxton and Kimberley Park.
Wissington’s boiler progress
The boiler of 0-6-0ST Wissington had its outer wrapper fitted for
the first time in August. The Friends of Wissington report that the workload
at the NNR has delayed smokebox construction, but a front section pressing
and smokebox door have been ordered.
A fragment of the old chimney top, from which it is hoped to create a
casting mould, is to be delivered to the foundry.
Wissington’s restoration and return to steam was the NRS’s “charity
of the year” in 2003/4.
A new arrival at Wells
A brand-new steam-outline loco has been delivered to the Wells Harbour Railway.
Named Howard, the loco resembles an 0-6-0ST, but is powered by a
Perkins 3-cylinder diesel engine through a hydraulic drive. It was built
by Alan Keef Ltd of Ross-on-Wye and is mechanically similar to the WHR’s
Densil, also built by Alan Keef, which has been at Wells since 1998.
Southwold fans press on with revival project
Undeterred by the storm of criticism which arose when its original plan
was mooted (NRS Newsletter Aug 2003,
Oct 2003,
Feb 2004)
the Southwold Railway Society has published a new plan to rebuild the narrow-gauge
line. The replica line, costing £6.5m, would have four underpasses
and avoid environmentally-protected reedbeds. The seaside terminus would
be located at Easton Bavents to the north of Southwold, some distance from
the original site. The society intends to submit planning applications by
the end of the year.
Bressingham “Terrier” back in steam
The lottery-aided restoration of Bressingham’s “Brighton Terrier” no. 62
Martello came to fruition on August 16 when Anglia TV presenter Helen
McDermott ceremonially returned it to service.
Bressingham’s engineering department carried out the overhaul which involved
dismantling the loco to its frames and retubing the boiler.
Martello, an ex-LB&SCR Class A1X 0-6-0T, was built at Brighton
works in 1875 and remained in service until 1961, when, as BR no. 32662,
it was withdrawn. It was then displayed for several years at Butlin’s Ayr
holiday camp.
Accolade for Weybourne craftsman
When the NRS visited the North Norfolk Railway’s Weybourne shed on July
7, one of the highlights was the teak-bodied LNER pigeon van, which is nearing
the end of a lengthy rebuilding. The work has nearly all been carried out
by the M&GNJRS’s Fred Poynter, and the Transport Trust judged the standard
of restoration worthy of a £750 award. In July Fred was presented
with the award certificate by HRH Price Michael of Kent.
It is hoped that the van will enter service next year.
Film crew goes to School
The rural nature of the Mid-Norfolk Railway’s County School station is attractive
to film-makers, and on September 5 Capriol Films used its platforms, booking
hall and ex-GER carriage as sets for a film about the life of composer Philip
Heseltine (a.k.a. Peter Warlock).
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