News Archive July - August 2011 Back to News Archive
National Network
EMT to cut back Sunday morning trains
After September 11 there will be no inbound Sunday morning services on East Midlands Trains' Norwich route. The 09.52 Nottingham – Norwich and 10.49 Sheffield – Norwich will no longer run, meaning that the first over the route will be 12.37 from Nottingham (arr. Norwich 15.30). Also, the 09.33 Norwich – Liverpool Lime Street will start its journey from Nottingham instead of Norwich.
However weekday services will see an end to the afternoon gap. On a date to be announced, EMT plans to extend the 13.52 (Mon-Sat) Liverpool Lime St - Nottingham to Norwich.
Delays and cancellations caused by sagging OHL
Abnormally warm temperatures on June 27 caused several NXEA London – Norwich trains to have speed restrictions imposed and others to be cancelled.
Network Rail imposed a maximum speed of 60mph – normal line speed is 90 mph – between 11.00 and 17.00, relaxing it to 80 mph before and after those times. A spokesman blamed the OHL between London, Chelmsford and Southend. It was installed many decades ago and is liable to expand and sag in extreme heat, increasing the risk of damage to and from pantographs. The new OHL which NR is stringing along the GEML can be adjusted to compensate for extreme temperatures.
More loco haulage to the coast
Already enjoying summer Saturday 'drags' (NRS NL 56/3) Great Yarmouth now sees more loco-hauled trains. A shortage of multiple units means that since June 20 NXEA has used two DRS Class 47s and a short three-car set to work three peak hour return trips between Yarmouth and Norwich. Details are:
Liverpool – Norwich service gets thumbs up from passengers
The three rail companies which provide services in Norfolk were given mixed verdicts in the latest survey by rail watchdog Passenger Focus.
Overall passenger satisfaction with East Midlands Trains' Liverpool – Norwich service increased to 92% an eight-point year-on-year increase. Satisfaction with the comfort of train seating, train cleanliness and the way EMT handled dealt delays on the line all showed healthy improvements.
However passengers weren’t as keen on First Capital Connect and National Express East Anglia, which each received an overall customer satisfaction rating of 78%. The national average for UK rail companies is 84%.
Soham reopening to be examined
Studies by Network Rail and Atkins have concluded that Soham station, on the Bury St Edmunds – Ely route, could be brought back into use. However Network Rail plans to double the line between Soham and Ely Dock Junction, and the report says that it would be sensible for this to happen first.
East Cambridgeshire District Council is now to investigate the proposal. Cllr Peter Moakes, chairman of the Council’s development and transport sub-committee, said: “This report is encouraging news for our plans to reinstate the railway station in Soham. We need to speak to train operators...to determine whether these levels of demand are commercially viable.”
Bressingham commemorated in loco naming
National Express East Anglia Class 90 loco no. 90010 has been named Bressingham Steam and Gardens.
On June 17 no. 90010 worked the 07.40 Norwich – London Liverpool Street, where TV gardener Peter Seabrook performed the naming ceremony. Guests then travelled on the 10.00 London – Norwich, again powered by no.90010, alighting at Diss, where a similar ceremony took place prior to a celebration lunch at Bressingham Gardens.
The naming marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of Bressingham, a unique mix of railway heritage and showpiece gardens created and developed by the late Alan Bloom. Present at the naming was Alan's son Adrian, who said he hoped the loco name would inspire travellers to detour from the main line in order to visit Bressingham. Talks are under way to see whether a shuttle bus service could be provided from Diss station.
Motorhome couple injured in Fens rail collision
Two people were injured on July 5 when their motorhome hit a train at Littleport.
The incident took place at the AHB level crossing on the A10 Littleport bypass, just north of Littleport station. The couple's vehicle struck the 16.15 Cambridge – Downham Market, formed of unit no. 365504. The train came to a halt a few hundred yards from the crossing, and none of the passengers on board was injured. Paramedics and firefighters took two hours to free the couple, who were taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital. The line remained closed for the rest of the day.
It was later claimed that the motorhome's brakes had failed, and that the driver had managed to avoid a stationary car ahead of him before hitting the train
Community service for graffiti vandals
A graffiti gang who caused nearly £70,000 worth of damage to trains across Cambridgeshire and Norfolk have been handed a total of 650 hours of community service.
Oliver Flatman (18) of Bluebell Road, Norwich and two Cambridge men targeted trains in and around Cambridge, Norwich, Kings Lynn, Colchester and Bishop Stortford. After being sentenced at Cambridge Crown Court on July 14, they were also ordered to pay £6,100 in compensation to First Capital Connect and National Express East Anglia,
Tony Holland, FCC’s Crime Prevention Manager, said: "Graffiti is nothing more than criminal damage which causes our customers delays as we take the trains out of service to clean. I hope this latest ruling will make other graffiti artists think twice before they consider vandalising the railways."
Rail's the life for us, say Bellchambers
Within NXEA and its predecessors one surname – Bellchamber – crops up time and time again. Four generations of the family have experienced life on the railway.
First to join the industry was Sidney Bellchamber who was a loco driver on the Norwich to London main line in the 1920s and retired after 44 years' service. Sydney’s son, John Bellchamber (senior), joined in 1952 as a fireman, later becoming a driver and finally senior conductor. He is now 75 years old still works part-time as an assistant ticket examiner, having completed an impressive 59 years' service.
John’s sons David and John (junior) both also work in the industry. David joined in 1979 as a driver and now has 32 years under his belt, whilst John joined in 1980 and is now NXEA's head of conductors.
The fourth generation to get a taste of the rail industry was John (junior’s) son Devin, who added to his family’s record during the summer of 2009 by working for NXEA as a student.
The Bellchamber family have racked up approximately 166 years' service in the industry. John (junior) says: “I really wouldn’t want to work anywhere else, it’s a great place to work.”
Half-hourly service on Fen Line?
Network Rail is examining whether it could upgrade the Fen Line, enabling the service between King's Lynn and Cambridge to be doubled to two trains per hour. Later this year NR will present a cost analysis for restoring the second track between Littleport and Downham Market.
Lynn Truss, Stephen Barclay and Henry Bellingham, the three MPs through whose constituencies the line runs, have pledged to support the upgrade ahead of NR's announcement of its 2014 to 2019 capital funding.
Ipswich councillor pushes for extra platform
Ipswich station's new £2.4m footbridge opened to the public on June 6, and now Network Rail has been urged to build a new island platform at the station. Phil Smart, Ipswich councillor with responsibility for transport, says that the new platform could be built on the site currently occupied by the Freightliner refuelling depot.
Once the new Ipswich chord is built, says Mr Smart, it would make sense for Freightliner to create a refuelling depot north of Ipswich station, freeing up space for a new platform 5 and 6 for trains heading to Cambridge and Peterborough. This would make rail operations at Ipswich far more flexible and less prone to delays. However, a NR spokesman said that, although the footbridge has been designed to allow for extension, increasing the number of platforms at the station was "not a top priority".
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Heritage, Narrow-gauge and Miniature
Black Prince to run with Class 5 tender
At the end of June an Allelys Heavy Haulage low-loader brought David Shepherd's 9F no. 92203 Black Prince from Crewe to Sheringham, where it was carefully unloaded under the watchful eye of owner David Shepherd. The 9F is on long-term loan to the North Norfolk Railway (NRS NL 56/2). The tender, which arrived separately from the Midland Railway Centre, Butterley, originates from BR Class 5 no. 73129 (currently withdrawn from traffic) as the 9F's tender is under repair at LNWR, Crewe.
Western pair make MNR history
History was made at the Mid-Norfolk Railway on July 9 when for the first time since the 1950s two steam-hauled passenger trains passed one another on the Thuxton loop. Locos involved were the Great Western Society's 'King' class 4-6-0 no.6023 King Edward II and BR-W pannier tank no. 9466.
The following weekend saw the MNR's first ever Steam Gala. Three locos shared duties on a two-train timetable, the Western pair being joined by ex-LMS 0-6-0T 'Jinty' no. 47406.
King Edward II and the Jinty were due to be transported away from Dereham soon after the Gala, leaving no.9466 to run steam services until August Bank Holiday Monday.
No.47406, whose restoration was completed last year, is normally based at the Great Central Railway.
'20' turns 50
Class 20 no. 20069 (D8069) celebrated its 50th birthday on June 30. To celebrate, the MNR arranged a special day on Sunday July 3, with hourly services operated alternately by the Class 20 and GWR 'King' no.6023 King Edward II
Norton Hill line opens for charity
Each summer the 7¼" gauge Norton Hill Light Railway, at Hall Farm near Snettisham, holds three open weekends with proceeds going to local charities. This year the weekends are: July 30/31 (Rotary Club of Hunstanton & District), August 6/7 (King's Lynn Round Table) and August 27/28 (King's Lynn Lions' Club).
The railway was completed in 1991 and is modelled on the 760mm gauge railways of the former Yugoslavia. On open weekends two four-carriage trains operate; one train is out on the 1600ft-long line whilst the other reloads with passengers. Admission to the site is £1 adults (children free) and the train fare is £1.50.
Conibeare to relinquish BVR's Spitfire
The Bure Valley Railway has agreed to purchase BVR-based ZB class 2-6-2 no. 7 Spitfire.
Based on the Indian Railways ZB design, Spitfire was designed and built specifically for the BVR by Winson Engineering and delivered in 1994. Its previous owner was Paul Conibeare, the BVR’s general manager from 1995 until 2002. Paul now occupies a similar post at the West Somerset Railway and has decided to sell the locomotive.
'Beavertail' moves north
The ex-LNER 'Beavertail' observation saloon, currently carrying passengers on the Mid-Norfolk Railway (NRS NL 56/3) is to move to the North Norfolk Railway from July 20 until September 18. The maroon-painted vehicle (E1719) will be in service on most, but not all days, and a return journey in it will cost a supplement of £2.50. The NNR invites people who intend to ride in it to telephone 01263 820800 to ensure it is in service on that day.
Giant diesel visits ALR
Normally the domain of rather smaller motive power, the Ashmanhaugh Light Railway welcomed a transatlantic visitor on June 25: a Santa Fe F7 A&B unit loco brought along by 7¼" Gauge Society member Ivan Hewlett and his family. The ALR team voted it a very impressive loco with a most professional control panel.
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Away from the Tracks
Cromer Box group plans for the future
With the project to renovate the ex-M&GN box at Cromer nearly complete, the Cromer Railway Signalling Society's committee is considering the next stage.
The CRSS intends to create a display of information and artefacts relating to the railway in Cromer, and to this end the p-way hut next to the signal box has been renovated. The Society also plans to open the box to visitors, so that they can experience a 1960s working signal box. It has entered the signal box and hut for the 2011 Heritage Railway Awards.
Although the main work is almost finished, the CRSS points out that the buildings will require routine maintenance and its two-acre site will also need regular attention.
First step towards Bramley bureaucracy
In order to establish an office for the railway, members of the Bramley Line have been busy preparing a site at Waldersea where they can place an office.
As with so many heritage lines, actual or proposed, the workforce is small. Pleads the Bramley line: "it would be nice to see a few more volunteers helping with this project, as the quicker we get it done, so the quicker we can get trains running again".
A new 'Claud' to rise from the ashes?
Such has been the success of Tornado that every month seems to bring the launch of yet another scheme to build a steam loco from scratch. Latest on the scene is the Claud Hamilton Locomotive Group, which intends to build and operate a GER D16/2 'Claud Hamilton' class 4-4-0 for use on heritage railways. To be numbered 8783, the loco would be named Phoenix and would appear in LNER apple green.
The CHLG plans to hold public meetings in Norwich and Derby to assess the level of support for the project.
Theatre at the Middy
After The Railway Children at Waterloo it's.....The Ghost Train at Brockford!
From August 11 to 13 the Tidy Theatre Company will stage an open-air production of Arnold Ridley's famous play at Brockford station. Performances start at at 8pm, and tickets can be booked on www.mslr.org.uk
Offers invited for Pleasurewood Hills' Victoria
The Hunslet-style 7¼"-gauge 0-4-0STT Victoria, which hauled trains of holidaymakers at Pleasurewood Hills for six years in the 1980s, is to be sold at auction.
Auctioneers Cheffins will offer the loco, which was last steamed in 1990 and needs a boiler test, at their sale at Sutton near Ely on July 23. It has an estimate of £6,000 – £7,000.
‘Thomas’ creator commemorated with plaque
A blue plaque has been unveiled at the west Norfolk house where Rev. Wilbert Awdry, creator of the Railway Series of children's books lived from 1953 to 1965.
On June 11/12 Mark and Flo Thatcher, current owners of the Old Vicarage, Emneth, held an 'open weekend' and invited people to visit the study where the Rev Awdry wrote 13 of his famous stories about Thomas the Tank Engine. Mark Thatcher's G-scale model railway in the garden was also operating for visitors.
The Rev Awdry’s daughter, Veronica Chambers, travelled to Emneth from her Devon home to help unveil the plaque.
'Brief Encounter' exhibits under the hammer
Some of the railwayana items which until recently adorned the walls of David Turner's 'Brief Encounter' restaurant at Wymondham station have been sold through the on-line auction house railwayana.net.
A signalbox diagram from Wymondham South Junction made £350, while £200 was paid for a large enamel 'Dereham' sign. A LNER-era cast-iron seatback name 'Attleborough' realised the surprisingly low price of £290.
In June three local artefacts were put up for sale at Sheffield Railwayana Auctions. Two were cast-iron oval bridge numbers from the M&GN: no. 321 from a bridge over the Cromer – Felbrigg Road, and no.319, from a road bridge at Newstead Lane Jct. They fetched a modest £50 and £60 respectively. A totem sign from Halesworth realised £370, despite its dark blue enamel being badly faded and the metal having creases at both ends.
Nameboard not all it seems
We reported in NRS NL 56/2 that the concrete nameboard at West Runton station has been designated by the Railway Heritage Committee. Mick Clark,editor of the M&GN Circle's Bulletin, wonders whether the RHC realises that M&GN expert Nigel Digby restored the board in 1995, supplying wooden letters in place of the original cast concrete ones which were removed in WW2 as an anti-invasion measure.
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EMT to cut back Sunday morning trains
After September 11 there will be no inbound Sunday morning services on East Midlands Trains' Norwich route. The 09.52 Nottingham – Norwich and 10.49 Sheffield – Norwich will no longer run, meaning that the first over the route will be 12.37 from Nottingham (arr. Norwich 15.30). Also, the 09.33 Norwich – Liverpool Lime Street will start its journey from Nottingham instead of Norwich.
However weekday services will see an end to the afternoon gap. On a date to be announced, EMT plans to extend the 13.52 (Mon-Sat) Liverpool Lime St - Nottingham to Norwich.
Delays and cancellations caused by sagging OHL
Abnormally warm temperatures on June 27 caused several NXEA London – Norwich trains to have speed restrictions imposed and others to be cancelled.
Network Rail imposed a maximum speed of 60mph – normal line speed is 90 mph – between 11.00 and 17.00, relaxing it to 80 mph before and after those times. A spokesman blamed the OHL between London, Chelmsford and Southend. It was installed many decades ago and is liable to expand and sag in extreme heat, increasing the risk of damage to and from pantographs. The new OHL which NR is stringing along the GEML can be adjusted to compensate for extreme temperatures.
More loco haulage to the coast
Already enjoying summer Saturday 'drags' (NRS NL 56/3) Great Yarmouth now sees more loco-hauled trains. A shortage of multiple units means that since June 20 NXEA has used two DRS Class 47s and a short three-car set to work three peak hour return trips between Yarmouth and Norwich. Details are:
- 2P06 06.50 Norwich - Great Yarmouth
- 2P07 07.35 Great Yarmouth - Norwich
- 2P12 08.36 Norwich - Great Yarmouth
- 2P13 09.17 Great Yarmouth - Norwich
- 2P32 17.36 Norwich - Great Yarmouth
- 2P33 18.17 Great Yarmouth - Norwich
Liverpool – Norwich service gets thumbs up from passengers
The three rail companies which provide services in Norfolk were given mixed verdicts in the latest survey by rail watchdog Passenger Focus.
Overall passenger satisfaction with East Midlands Trains' Liverpool – Norwich service increased to 92% an eight-point year-on-year increase. Satisfaction with the comfort of train seating, train cleanliness and the way EMT handled dealt delays on the line all showed healthy improvements.
However passengers weren’t as keen on First Capital Connect and National Express East Anglia, which each received an overall customer satisfaction rating of 78%. The national average for UK rail companies is 84%.
Soham reopening to be examined
Studies by Network Rail and Atkins have concluded that Soham station, on the Bury St Edmunds – Ely route, could be brought back into use. However Network Rail plans to double the line between Soham and Ely Dock Junction, and the report says that it would be sensible for this to happen first.
East Cambridgeshire District Council is now to investigate the proposal. Cllr Peter Moakes, chairman of the Council’s development and transport sub-committee, said: “This report is encouraging news for our plans to reinstate the railway station in Soham. We need to speak to train operators...to determine whether these levels of demand are commercially viable.”
Bressingham commemorated in loco naming
National Express East Anglia Class 90 loco no. 90010 has been named Bressingham Steam and Gardens.
On June 17 no. 90010 worked the 07.40 Norwich – London Liverpool Street, where TV gardener Peter Seabrook performed the naming ceremony. Guests then travelled on the 10.00 London – Norwich, again powered by no.90010, alighting at Diss, where a similar ceremony took place prior to a celebration lunch at Bressingham Gardens.
The naming marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of Bressingham, a unique mix of railway heritage and showpiece gardens created and developed by the late Alan Bloom. Present at the naming was Alan's son Adrian, who said he hoped the loco name would inspire travellers to detour from the main line in order to visit Bressingham. Talks are under way to see whether a shuttle bus service could be provided from Diss station.
Motorhome couple injured in Fens rail collision
Two people were injured on July 5 when their motorhome hit a train at Littleport.
The incident took place at the AHB level crossing on the A10 Littleport bypass, just north of Littleport station. The couple's vehicle struck the 16.15 Cambridge – Downham Market, formed of unit no. 365504. The train came to a halt a few hundred yards from the crossing, and none of the passengers on board was injured. Paramedics and firefighters took two hours to free the couple, who were taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital. The line remained closed for the rest of the day.
It was later claimed that the motorhome's brakes had failed, and that the driver had managed to avoid a stationary car ahead of him before hitting the train
Community service for graffiti vandals
A graffiti gang who caused nearly £70,000 worth of damage to trains across Cambridgeshire and Norfolk have been handed a total of 650 hours of community service.
Oliver Flatman (18) of Bluebell Road, Norwich and two Cambridge men targeted trains in and around Cambridge, Norwich, Kings Lynn, Colchester and Bishop Stortford. After being sentenced at Cambridge Crown Court on July 14, they were also ordered to pay £6,100 in compensation to First Capital Connect and National Express East Anglia,
Tony Holland, FCC’s Crime Prevention Manager, said: "Graffiti is nothing more than criminal damage which causes our customers delays as we take the trains out of service to clean. I hope this latest ruling will make other graffiti artists think twice before they consider vandalising the railways."
Rail's the life for us, say Bellchambers
Within NXEA and its predecessors one surname – Bellchamber – crops up time and time again. Four generations of the family have experienced life on the railway.
First to join the industry was Sidney Bellchamber who was a loco driver on the Norwich to London main line in the 1920s and retired after 44 years' service. Sydney’s son, John Bellchamber (senior), joined in 1952 as a fireman, later becoming a driver and finally senior conductor. He is now 75 years old still works part-time as an assistant ticket examiner, having completed an impressive 59 years' service.
John’s sons David and John (junior) both also work in the industry. David joined in 1979 as a driver and now has 32 years under his belt, whilst John joined in 1980 and is now NXEA's head of conductors.
The fourth generation to get a taste of the rail industry was John (junior’s) son Devin, who added to his family’s record during the summer of 2009 by working for NXEA as a student.
The Bellchamber family have racked up approximately 166 years' service in the industry. John (junior) says: “I really wouldn’t want to work anywhere else, it’s a great place to work.”
Half-hourly service on Fen Line?
Network Rail is examining whether it could upgrade the Fen Line, enabling the service between King's Lynn and Cambridge to be doubled to two trains per hour. Later this year NR will present a cost analysis for restoring the second track between Littleport and Downham Market.
Lynn Truss, Stephen Barclay and Henry Bellingham, the three MPs through whose constituencies the line runs, have pledged to support the upgrade ahead of NR's announcement of its 2014 to 2019 capital funding.
Ipswich councillor pushes for extra platform
Ipswich station's new £2.4m footbridge opened to the public on June 6, and now Network Rail has been urged to build a new island platform at the station. Phil Smart, Ipswich councillor with responsibility for transport, says that the new platform could be built on the site currently occupied by the Freightliner refuelling depot.
Once the new Ipswich chord is built, says Mr Smart, it would make sense for Freightliner to create a refuelling depot north of Ipswich station, freeing up space for a new platform 5 and 6 for trains heading to Cambridge and Peterborough. This would make rail operations at Ipswich far more flexible and less prone to delays. However, a NR spokesman said that, although the footbridge has been designed to allow for extension, increasing the number of platforms at the station was "not a top priority".
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Heritage, Narrow-gauge and Miniature
Black Prince to run with Class 5 tender
At the end of June an Allelys Heavy Haulage low-loader brought David Shepherd's 9F no. 92203 Black Prince from Crewe to Sheringham, where it was carefully unloaded under the watchful eye of owner David Shepherd. The 9F is on long-term loan to the North Norfolk Railway (NRS NL 56/2). The tender, which arrived separately from the Midland Railway Centre, Butterley, originates from BR Class 5 no. 73129 (currently withdrawn from traffic) as the 9F's tender is under repair at LNWR, Crewe.
Western pair make MNR history
History was made at the Mid-Norfolk Railway on July 9 when for the first time since the 1950s two steam-hauled passenger trains passed one another on the Thuxton loop. Locos involved were the Great Western Society's 'King' class 4-6-0 no.6023 King Edward II and BR-W pannier tank no. 9466.
The following weekend saw the MNR's first ever Steam Gala. Three locos shared duties on a two-train timetable, the Western pair being joined by ex-LMS 0-6-0T 'Jinty' no. 47406.
King Edward II and the Jinty were due to be transported away from Dereham soon after the Gala, leaving no.9466 to run steam services until August Bank Holiday Monday.
No.47406, whose restoration was completed last year, is normally based at the Great Central Railway.
'20' turns 50
Class 20 no. 20069 (D8069) celebrated its 50th birthday on June 30. To celebrate, the MNR arranged a special day on Sunday July 3, with hourly services operated alternately by the Class 20 and GWR 'King' no.6023 King Edward II
Norton Hill line opens for charity
Each summer the 7¼" gauge Norton Hill Light Railway, at Hall Farm near Snettisham, holds three open weekends with proceeds going to local charities. This year the weekends are: July 30/31 (Rotary Club of Hunstanton & District), August 6/7 (King's Lynn Round Table) and August 27/28 (King's Lynn Lions' Club).
The railway was completed in 1991 and is modelled on the 760mm gauge railways of the former Yugoslavia. On open weekends two four-carriage trains operate; one train is out on the 1600ft-long line whilst the other reloads with passengers. Admission to the site is £1 adults (children free) and the train fare is £1.50.
Conibeare to relinquish BVR's Spitfire
The Bure Valley Railway has agreed to purchase BVR-based ZB class 2-6-2 no. 7 Spitfire.
Based on the Indian Railways ZB design, Spitfire was designed and built specifically for the BVR by Winson Engineering and delivered in 1994. Its previous owner was Paul Conibeare, the BVR’s general manager from 1995 until 2002. Paul now occupies a similar post at the West Somerset Railway and has decided to sell the locomotive.
'Beavertail' moves north
The ex-LNER 'Beavertail' observation saloon, currently carrying passengers on the Mid-Norfolk Railway (NRS NL 56/3) is to move to the North Norfolk Railway from July 20 until September 18. The maroon-painted vehicle (E1719) will be in service on most, but not all days, and a return journey in it will cost a supplement of £2.50. The NNR invites people who intend to ride in it to telephone 01263 820800 to ensure it is in service on that day.
Giant diesel visits ALR
Normally the domain of rather smaller motive power, the Ashmanhaugh Light Railway welcomed a transatlantic visitor on June 25: a Santa Fe F7 A&B unit loco brought along by 7¼" Gauge Society member Ivan Hewlett and his family. The ALR team voted it a very impressive loco with a most professional control panel.
back to top
Away from the Tracks
Cromer Box group plans for the future
With the project to renovate the ex-M&GN box at Cromer nearly complete, the Cromer Railway Signalling Society's committee is considering the next stage.
The CRSS intends to create a display of information and artefacts relating to the railway in Cromer, and to this end the p-way hut next to the signal box has been renovated. The Society also plans to open the box to visitors, so that they can experience a 1960s working signal box. It has entered the signal box and hut for the 2011 Heritage Railway Awards.
Although the main work is almost finished, the CRSS points out that the buildings will require routine maintenance and its two-acre site will also need regular attention.
First step towards Bramley bureaucracy
In order to establish an office for the railway, members of the Bramley Line have been busy preparing a site at Waldersea where they can place an office.
As with so many heritage lines, actual or proposed, the workforce is small. Pleads the Bramley line: "it would be nice to see a few more volunteers helping with this project, as the quicker we get it done, so the quicker we can get trains running again".
A new 'Claud' to rise from the ashes?
Such has been the success of Tornado that every month seems to bring the launch of yet another scheme to build a steam loco from scratch. Latest on the scene is the Claud Hamilton Locomotive Group, which intends to build and operate a GER D16/2 'Claud Hamilton' class 4-4-0 for use on heritage railways. To be numbered 8783, the loco would be named Phoenix and would appear in LNER apple green.
The CHLG plans to hold public meetings in Norwich and Derby to assess the level of support for the project.
Theatre at the Middy
After The Railway Children at Waterloo it's.....The Ghost Train at Brockford!
From August 11 to 13 the Tidy Theatre Company will stage an open-air production of Arnold Ridley's famous play at Brockford station. Performances start at at 8pm, and tickets can be booked on www.mslr.org.uk
Offers invited for Pleasurewood Hills' Victoria
The Hunslet-style 7¼"-gauge 0-4-0STT Victoria, which hauled trains of holidaymakers at Pleasurewood Hills for six years in the 1980s, is to be sold at auction.
Auctioneers Cheffins will offer the loco, which was last steamed in 1990 and needs a boiler test, at their sale at Sutton near Ely on July 23. It has an estimate of £6,000 – £7,000.
‘Thomas’ creator commemorated with plaque
A blue plaque has been unveiled at the west Norfolk house where Rev. Wilbert Awdry, creator of the Railway Series of children's books lived from 1953 to 1965.
On June 11/12 Mark and Flo Thatcher, current owners of the Old Vicarage, Emneth, held an 'open weekend' and invited people to visit the study where the Rev Awdry wrote 13 of his famous stories about Thomas the Tank Engine. Mark Thatcher's G-scale model railway in the garden was also operating for visitors.
The Rev Awdry’s daughter, Veronica Chambers, travelled to Emneth from her Devon home to help unveil the plaque.
'Brief Encounter' exhibits under the hammer
Some of the railwayana items which until recently adorned the walls of David Turner's 'Brief Encounter' restaurant at Wymondham station have been sold through the on-line auction house railwayana.net.
A signalbox diagram from Wymondham South Junction made £350, while £200 was paid for a large enamel 'Dereham' sign. A LNER-era cast-iron seatback name 'Attleborough' realised the surprisingly low price of £290.
In June three local artefacts were put up for sale at Sheffield Railwayana Auctions. Two were cast-iron oval bridge numbers from the M&GN: no. 321 from a bridge over the Cromer – Felbrigg Road, and no.319, from a road bridge at Newstead Lane Jct. They fetched a modest £50 and £60 respectively. A totem sign from Halesworth realised £370, despite its dark blue enamel being badly faded and the metal having creases at both ends.
Nameboard not all it seems
We reported in NRS NL 56/2 that the concrete nameboard at West Runton station has been designated by the Railway Heritage Committee. Mick Clark,editor of the M&GN Circle's Bulletin, wonders whether the RHC realises that M&GN expert Nigel Digby restored the board in 1995, supplying wooden letters in place of the original cast concrete ones which were removed in WW2 as an anti-invasion measure.
back to top