Heritage Railway Issue 230

IT is certainly ironic that in the same year that we are holding many excellent events to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of steam traction on the Southern Region, one of its most picturesque seaside branches has been reopened throughout for regular passenger traffic, albeit operated in the first instance by diesels. Full credit must go to two or more generations of Swanage Railway revivalists, who started out by running short industrial diesel-hauled trips over a few hundred yards of relaid track, and now have every inch of the 10-mile LSWR branch in their hands. The services are being run on behalf of the Purbeck line by ‘Jacobite’ operator West Coast Railways, which successfully launched the North Norfolk Railway’s main line diners to Cromer last summer. The ‘normal’…

FOR the first time since their withdrawal on January 1, 1972, ‘ordinary’ public services – as opposed to heritage, tourist or special charter trains – are now running over the entire length of the LSWR Swanage branch. Operated by West Coast Railways and, for this season, topped and tailed by diesels, the trains are part of a grant-funded two-year trial, and are running over paths between Swanage Railway heritage services. The initial take-up of seats on the trains in the first week has been encouraging, according to Swanage Railway director Mark Wooley. The 10.23am from Swanage on Tuesday, June 13, was the historic first train to Wareham. History repeated itself as Purbeck Community Rail Partnership chairman Coun Bill Trite again sounded the brass horn, which was first used in May…

THE Locomotive Conservation and Learning Trust, which seeks to restore 1889-built NER J21 0-6-0 No. 65033 to steam over the line it used to work, has been awarded £954,900 by the Heritage Lottery Fund, it was announced on June 19. The award will also be used to develop a heritage and interpretation centre within a currently derelict 1902-built 50ft stores van and on the enclosed platform area at the Stainmore Railway’s Kirkby Stephen East station. Trust chairman Toby Watkins said: “This is fantastic news for the Trust, our partners the Stainmore Railway Company and for the town of Kirkby Stephen. This superb investment by the HLF will transform the centre within an Edwardian railway stores van and on the enclosed platform area at the Stainmore Railway’s Kirkby Stephen East station…

THE NORTH Yorkshire Moors Railway has been managing to maintain most of its steam services since the start of the season using just four home-based engines – ‘Black Five’ No. 44806, BR Standard MT4s Nos. 76079 and 80136 and B1 No. 61264 – because the service normally requires three locomotives, allowing the fourth to be stopped for its 28-day washout and exams. The peak season is getting closer, with four steam locomotives needed daily, so it was with considerable relief that the overhauled boiler’s official hydraulic test was passed at the first attempt on Friday, June 16. Installation of the grate and other fittings was carried out rapidly and by the end of the next day the boiler had a fire in it and had reached boiling point. The safety…

THE Great Central Railway has launched an appeal to raise another £100,000 to fund its bridge over the Midland Main Line at Loughborough after the discovery of unexpected problems below ground. Contractors have begun work to drive concrete piles that will support the abutments into the ground. However, the piling machine has encountered water, which was not revealed in test drillings that took ground samples around the site of the northern and southern bridge abutments in January 2014. The piling machine currently on site needs to be switched for a much larger one that can tackle the water. Larger piles will also be needed. The GCR has appealed to its supporters and to the general public for donations towards this unforeseen extra cost. Donations may be made online at www.gcrailway.co.uk/unify…

THE UK’snewest, and one of its most innovativeever, railway restoration projects received royal approval on June 13when PrincessAnne unexpectedly rode its tracks, tothe delight of everyone connectedwith the £26-millionscheme. Theprincesswasat the RoyalMail’s MountPleasant centre inClerkenwell, near King’s Cross station, to openanew postalmuseumand launchMail Rail, whichfromJuly 28 will providevisitors with the unique experienceof travelling 70ftbeneath the streets of the capital on a railway that operatedfor 76 years but wasvirtually unknowntomembersof the public. As the date of her visit approached itwas thought that safetyconcerns would prevent the princess either riding on the unfinished railway or even viewing it.However, those fearswere dispelledshortly beforeJune 13, with a Mail Rail spokeswomanexplaining that ‘procedureswere put in placetoenable it to happen.’ Thus, after formally unveiling a plaque at themuseumrecording its opening by theQueen’s daughter, she walked across…