News Archive  January - February 2010                      Back to News Archive index

National Network

 

DMU shortage brings TnT coastal workings

NXEA became so short of working dmus in February that it introduced an ad-hoc loco-hauled set.  Out-of-service units included nos. 156416 (undergoing repairs); 170202 (stopped after a fatal incident at Swainsthorpe on February 1); 153335 (awaiting transfer to Tyseley for C4 overhaul; and 170205 (undergoing a scheduled engine change).

  As a result a Mon-Fri loco-hauled diagram between Norwich, Yarmouth and Lowestoft began on Friday, February 5.  It consisted of a three-carriage (inc. a DVT, for its brake compartment) hauled set, top-and-tailed by DRS nos. 47712 and 47832.  However the latter loco failed on February 8, and the hauled set was replaced briefly by unit no. 153322.  The next day DRS no. 20304 appeared and worked the day's diagram with no. 47712, much to the delight of traction fans, but that arrangement only lasted one day and both 47s were back at work on February 10.

 

Defective coach plays havoc with Nenta trip

Passengers on Nenta Traintours' excursion on December 5 had their patience tested after a defective coach had to be removed, delaying the departure from Norwich.

The Yorkshire Christmas Festivities excursion started from North Walsham, but at Norwich a binding brake on coach B (no. 6103) meant that it could not continue the journey.  Removing it cost some 90 minutes, and to make up time the train reversed at Stowmarket instead of calling at Ipswich.  With the train now one coach short, some passengers were forced to stand to York.

While participants were enjoying Yorkshire, the train returned to Carnforth to collect a replacement coach (no. 5478) and the train's return to Norfolk, although routed direct to Leeds instead of Castleford, was uneventful.

 

Ring out the old bridge, ring in the new

Engineering work over the Christmas and New Year period caused considerable disruption to the Norwich – London timetable.

  One major project, accomplished in just 72 hours, was the removal and replacement of the bridge carrying the railway over Victoria Road at Diss.  According to Network Rail, the bridge was near the end of its life span.  Once the last train had passed through on Christmas Eve, engineers dismantled the OHL and removed the tracks and ballast, enabling the bridge deck to be lifted out by a giant crane.  The pre-fabricated replacement deck was then inched into place.  Finally ballast was replaced and tracks and OHL re-connected.

  Elsewhere on the GEML buses replaced trains between Ingatestone and Liverpool Street on December 27 and 28, and January 1 to 3.   Between December 29 and 31 OHL was renewed between Liverpool Street and Stratford, requiring trains to start and finish their journey at Stratford. 

 

Improvements to Greater Anglia from 2014

Longer trains, station enhancements, better security: these are some of the improvements which passengers in East Anglia could see after a new franchisee takes over the 'Greater Anglia' franchise in 2011.  Rail Minister Chris Mole announced on January 21 that, as part of the process to find a new train operator, the DfT has set up a consultation process which could result in bidders offering a number of improvements(see panel).

The Invitation to Tender will be issued this summer.

 

Greater Anglia franchise:

possible improvements

•Options for faster London – Norwich journey times

•Improving the performance and reliability of long distance services

•Increasing the number of ticket machines

•Minimum standards for catering on InterCity trains

•Making smartcards available across the franchise

•Better CCTV coverage at stations

•All new rolling stock to have CCTV

•Setting targets on environmental performance

•Tackling fare dodging

•Increasing car parking and cycle storage facilities

•Providing more modern passenger information facilities on platforms and on trains

•Making the operator set National Passenger Survey targets for trains, stations and customer service.

 

Motorist injured in Tunstead level crossing collision

A 25-year-old car driver was seriously injured after he hit a Class 156 dmu at the half-barrier Tunstead level crossing north of Wroxham.

  The collision happened on December 10.  The train involved, the 08:54 North Walsham – Norwich service, was travelling at about 60mph and carrying around 60 passengers.  The car driver was taken to hospital, and the damaged dmu, ex-Central Trains liveried no. 156416, travelled ecs to Crown Point depot for repairs.  The Bittern Line service was already curtailed between North Walsham and Sheringham because of track repairs, and it closed completely until early afternoon.  Preliminary investigations indicated that there was no fault with the crossing barriers.

The damaged dmu travelled to Wolverton Works for repairs on January 8, forming an ecs movement with classmate no. 156412 which then continued to Tyseley for a C4 overhaul.

 

Class 365 – by Royal appointment

For her Christmas break at Sandringham, the Queen chose to travel to Norfolk on a regular First Capital Connect service.

She travelled to King's Lynn on December 17 in the first-class section of the 10.45 service from King's Cross, formed of a class 365 unit.  According to royal aides she paid £44.40 for an off-peak first class single.  In November she also used a FCC train from King's Cross to Ely for an engagement at the cathedral.

 

Keep Lowestoft station where it is, say passengers 

If Lowestoft station were to be moved 450m up the line from its present site, 21% of existing users would use the trains less often if at all, and just 3% of passengers might travel more.  Four out of five passengers want the station to stay where it is.  These were key findings of a survey carried out by the East Suffolk Travellers' Association in 2009.

The survey results are contained in a 40-page report which ESTA has sent to the regeneration company 1st East, local councils, the train operator, Network Rail and politicians. 

 

FLUA laments King's Lynn car park sell-off

Last-minute pleas by the Fen Line Users' Association to Transport Secretary Lord Adonis failed to stop British Rail (Residuary) Ltd selling the land used as the overspill car park for King's Lynn station.  The land at St. John's Walk, King's Lynn was auctioned by Allsops on December 15 and sold to property investor Nicholas de Savary, who paid £360,000, outbidding Network Rail.  Mr de Savary told the Lynn News that he has no plans to change the site from its use as a car park.

 

Neal Lawson to head up FCC

To replace Elaine Holt, who left to head the state-owned East Coast rail company, First Capital Connect has appointed Neal Lawson as Managing Director.  Neal has 25 years of rail experience, both in the UK and internationally, and was previously FCC's Engineering and New Trains Director.

 

Platform clean-up at Beccles

Network Rail has called for volunteers to restore Beccles station to its former glory before the passing loop is laid in 2012. Once trains begin using the loop, the disused island platform will also return to use, and it needs vegetation to be cleared and flower beds replanted.  Anyone interested in helping is asked to contact Beccles Town Council on 01502 712109.

Meanwhile, both the Ingate and Grove Road level crossings in the centre of Beccles were closed for a week from February 5 while NR carried out signalling and track renewal work on the East Suffolk line.  Buses replaced NXEA's service between Halesworth and Lowestoft.

 

Rail ASBO for Norfolk bike thief

In an unusual judgment, a King's Lynn man has been banned by the court from travelling by train with a bicycle.  42-year-old James Leonard received a two-year anti-social behaviour order  after he used bolt croppers to steal two bicycles from cycle racks at Kings Lynn station.  Leonard was also ordered to undertake 54 hours of unpaid community work. 

 

New footbridge plan for Downham Market

Network Rail has submitted a revised planning application to build a footbridge at Downham Market station. An application was lodged with Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Council in August, but it was withdrawn after the design of the footbridge attracted criticism (NRS Newsletter Nov/Dec 2009).  Now English Heritage has suggested some amendments which would lessen its impact.

  A footbridge would enable NR to close the current barrow crossing, described as one of the highest risk crossings on the rail network. 

 

Heritage, Narrow-gauge and Miniature

 

Pete Waterman to open Sheringham  crossing

Work on linking the North Norfolk Railway with the national network began in January, when Poppy Line volunteers started to lay track across the footpath on Otterndorf Green and install a footway level crossing.

  The crossing will be ceremonially reopened on Thursday March 11, at around 14.00.  The NNR has secured well-known enthusiast Pete Waterman OBE to perform the opening ceremony ceremony, when the first passenger train to cross the road will be a Railway Touring Co. special from Liverpool Street hauled by no.70013 Oliver Cromwell. (A HMRI/NR inspection train may make an earlier crossing).

  The reopening will be followed by a Steam Gala on March 12-14.  The Gresley Society's condensing tank, N2 class 0-6-2T no. 1744, which was a popular visitor in 2009, is set to make a return for that event.  With the M&GNJRS's B12 4-6-0 no. 8572 unavailable, the NNR is negotiating for another main-line loco.

Between May and September ex-LMS 'Black 5' no. 44767 George Stephenson will be a guest on the NNR.

 

Sirapite steams again

For the first time in around 45 years, Aveling & Porter 0-4-0WT Sirapite has moved under its own steam at Leiston.

Built in 1906, the unusual geared loco was used by Leiston firm Richard Garrett and Sons until 1966 to convey goods and materials between its works and the nearby station.  In a four-year project, the Trustees of the Long Shop Museum at Leiston have returned Sirapite to full working order, helped by a £50,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (see NRS Newsletter Nov/Dec 2005, p.3).  On October 2 the loco finally ran up and down a short stretch of line for the first time.

Sirapite's public launch will come on Saturday March 27 as part of the Long Shop Museum's Open Day.

 

'Mail by Rail' at Bressingham

From April the main exhibition hall at Bressingham is to feature a 'Mail by Rail' display.  Accompanied by a continuous showing of the classic film Night Mail, the impressive centrepiece will be a LNWR Travelling Post Office carriage.

The carriage, which belongs to the British Postal Museum & Archive, was built at Wolverton in the early years of the 20th century.  It was used for the 'day up' and 'night down' between Euston and Holyhead until at least 1940.  Restored with funding from Royal Mail, it has been on display at Crewe Heritage Centre since 2007.

David Madden, Collections Manager, told the NRS Newsletter that he anticipates 'Mail by Rail' staying at Bressingham for about five years.

 

Historic moment at Thuxton

The Mid-Norfolk Railway's new passing loop at Thuxton station is all but complete, with just a short gap in the rails where they cross the road.  On January 30, shunter no. 08631 Eagle and its ballast wagons became the first train to enter the up platform at Thuxton since the line was singled in 1965.

 

Mystery donor to rescue 91 Squadron?

Heritage Railway magazine reports that an anonymous benefactor has agreed to pay around £50,000 towards the overhaul of ex-SR 4-6-2 No 34081 92 Squadron.  The locomotive, which belongs to the Battle of Britain Locomotive Society, has been out of service at the North Norfolk Railway's Weybourne shed since failing a boiler examination in May 2008.

 

Military name for Norfolk J94

Work is well under way on the Norfolk Heritage Steam Railway Limited's 0-6-0ST which arrived in Norfolk last May (NRS Newsletter Mar/Apr 2009).  A new bunker has been built and sent for painting, while over 600 old firebox stays have been drilled out.  A new inner firebox and a new set of tubes should produce a boiler fit for ten years' work. 

The NHSR's intends the loco to work on the Mid-Norfolk Railway. It will carry black livery and its builder's number 3193, and is to be named Norfolk Regiment. 

 

 

Away from the Tracks

 

Marriott's Way bridge in a worse state than thought

As reported in NRS Newsletter Sep/Oct 2009, the old M&GN bridge which carries Marriott's Way across the River Wensum at Hellesdon is closed for major maintenance work.

Norfolk County Council has found that more repairs are needed than it thought, and it was to stay closed until mid-February.

 

Two-station Yarmouth sign offered for sale

A highly-prized BR-era enamel sign which once pointed the way to two of Yarmouth's stations came up for auction in January.  The dark blue sign, reading Vauxhall & South Town Stations, had probably been attached to a lamp-post near Yarmouth's third station, Beach.  It was one of 300 items of railway memorabilia due to be offered for sale at Stafford on January 9.

However, wintry weather caused the auctioneers to postpone the sale and to change it from a 'live' event to a telephone auction.  There is some uncertainty over the final price, but it is likely to have been well over £1,000. 

 

Farmers' pallets recycled for lineside improvement

Local farmers are helping restoration of the March – Wisbech line by donating old pallets, which volunteers use to create trackside fencing.

Working mainly on Sundays, the Bramley Line volunteers have replaced decaying fencing at Elm Road crossing in March and at Waldersea. One of the Waldersea level crossing gates has also been repainted and its red warning circle rebuilt with wood from the pallets.  The volunteers will soon move on to upgrade the crossing gates and fencing at Coldham.  Explained Bramley Line chairman Brian Baylis,"The new fencing makes the railway more secure and improves the visual appearance of the area around the crossings for local residents. We are very grateful for the donations from local farmers that have enabled us to do this work.”

The line is still owned by Network Rail but Bramley Line volunteers are allowed access. 

 

Vauxhall bridge to become bus link?

The historic but dilapidated bridge near Yarmouth station (NRS Newsletter Sep/Oct 2009) may be renovated for use by buses and taxis as well as pedestrians, it has emerged.
Norfolk County Council has examined five options for the Grade II-listed Vauxhall bridge, which is now used only by pedestrians.  Current thinking is that the structure should be part of a public transport link connecting the station to the town centre, and an application for a grant to the National Lottery's Fair Share Trust is being prepared.

Engineer and industrial archaeologist Peter Cross-Rudkin claims that the bridge's historical importance comes from the ingenious way it was strengthened in the 1880s.