tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2478779271666064002024-03-27T10:04:41.510+00:00Jan Ford's WorldThe occasional and probably unreliable recollections of an aging female.Jan Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629634827697853421noreply@blogger.comBlogger1564125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247877927166606400.post-33181475201769746422024-01-05T10:36:00.003+00:002024-01-08T15:48:29.815+00:00Review of the Year 2023<span style="font-family:arial;">
<em>It would be nice to preface this year's report with a more optimistic outlook than last year's (which you can see <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2023/01/review-of-year-2022.html">here</a>) but I'm not sure that would be justified. Although the special measures imposed during the Covid 19 Pandemic are no longer in force in the UK, new variants of the Coronavirus and 'Long Covid' remain a threat. 'Working from Home' remains popular and, whilst inflation has reduced under the effect of raised bank borrowing costs, the UK economy struggles with low growth. Energy costs, food prices and continued high taxation lower the mood. The UK experiences various poorly-performing public services, not helped by continuing strike action. Whilst initially many counties, including the UK, provided support to Ukraine as Russia attempted to annexe its neighbour, the continuing attrition is causing this support to wane. This year in Israel, the Hamas organisation launched a lethal, bloody attack on Israelis which has provoked a violent response (ongoing at present) with an increasing death toll. Other counties and organisations in the Middle East are also implicated in this conflict. I'm very glad to still be here but my health has definitely deteriorated over the last year. This is the 18th annual review since I started this blog.</em>
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<strong>FORD ELECTRONICS LIMITED</strong>
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I'm still running the small electronics business I set up a long time ago. It normally doesn't feature much in this blog although there are currently 36 posts under the heading 'Work' (you can find them all <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/search/label/Work">here</a>). But in 2023, quite a lot of my energy was taken up in organising the completion of five equipment cubicles for a Transport for London order to provide emergency traction discharge facilities on the London Underground. Happily, this equipment was tested and delivered on schedule.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53047022486_c4c2169722.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53047022486_c4c2169722.jpg" width="500" height="375" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="375" /></a><br>
<em>Five cubicles during Factory Acceptance Testing</em>
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<strong>OVERSEAS TRAVEL IN 2023</strong>
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Alas, none (unless you count trips to the devolved country of Wales, (currently asserting its independent powers through all sorts of legislative distinctions). To find more about overseas visits I've made in earlier years, see:-
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<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/jan-fords-travels.html">Jan Ford's Travels</a> (2001 onwards).<br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/jan-fords-travels-early-trips.html">Jan Ford's Travels - The early trips</a> (before 2001).<br>
<a href="http://janfordsworld.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/jan-fords-travels-around-world-in.html">Jan Ford's Travels: Around the World in pictures</a><br> (alphabetic list of countries with links to pictures).
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<strong>Myanmar (Burma)</strong>
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My last visit was in 2019 (described <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/search/label/Burma-2019">here</a>), after which Covid 19 prevented travel and then the powerful army in Burma, the Tatmadaw, seized power from the democratically elected representatives in a cruel and continuing putsch. With peaceful protest met by violence, many groups have turned to armed struggle against the junta. Western countries and international organisations have expressed disapproval of the army junta and imposed some sanctions but the civil war continues and the junta receives some support from Russia and China. Western investment in Burma has reduced, for instance, luxury tour company Belmond have disposed of the river cruise ship 'Road to Mandalay' and the hotel 'The Governor's Residence' in Yangon, both of which have given me many happy memories.
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<strong>TRAVEL IN THE UK BY TRAIN</strong>
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The situation on the railways deteriorated further. With the franchise model failing, a number of services have been re-nationalised by the U.K. in a crazy manner which still allows train operators to remit profits to foreign government owners (Germany, Holland). Cancellations with short- or no-notice seem commonplace and various railway Trades Unions have carried out strikes in 2023 (with further strikes being planned for 2024). After my winter hibernation, my first railway trip in 2023 was to Liverpool on 23rd March. The success of this trip (despite suffering a fall) encouraged me to use rail to Liverpool again on 15th April, to attend the OLCO A.G.M. (although this trip, by London North Western Trains EMUs didn't produce a post). Just four posts chronicle the trips I made during the year:-
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<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2023/05/merseyside-in-march.html">Merseyside in March</a> posted 13-May-2023<br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2023/05/trade-show-at-national-exhibition.html">Trade Show at the NEC (Railtex 2023)</a> posted 21-May-2023<br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2023/08/by-train-to-newport.html">By Train to Newport</a> posted 28-Aug-2023<br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2023/12/more-train-travel.html">More Train Travel</a> posted 21-Dec-2023
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52772406483_d8507df828.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52772406483_d8507df828.jpg" width="500" height="375" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="375" /></a><br>
<em>Merseyside in March: View from 'Snowdrop' approaching the re-opened Seacombe Landing Stage, showing one of the new linkspans connecting the pontoon to the land.</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53145052678_38570b5ffb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53145052678_38570b5ffb.jpg" width="500" height="375" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="375" /></a><br>
<em>Newport Station: Platform 2 buildings viewed from Platform 1</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53383086002_f89c801efb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53383086002_f89c801efb.jpg" width="500" height="375" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="375" /></a><br>
<em>Euston Station Concourse following introduction of new Passenger Information system, viewed from Avanti First Class Lounge on 28-Nov-2023. Note Christmas tree</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53371562432_37b6bcd9d7.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53371562432_37b6bcd9d7.jpg" width="500" height="375" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="375" /></a><br>
<em>Bangor Station: View looking east from Up platform (No. 1) with signal box in background</em>
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<strong>RAILWAYS AND PRESERVATION</strong>
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Although less active in 2023, I continued as a member of the Old Locomotive Committee and The Battlefield Line and also attended a most interesting Open Day at the embryonic Global Centre of Rail Excellence in South Wales.
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<strong><em>The Old Locomotive Committee</em></strong>
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On Saturday, 15th April 2023 the Old Locomotive Committee (OLCO) held its 36th Annual General Meeting at the Museum of Liverpool where the locomotive 'Lion' is on public display. A full report on the A.G.M. itself has been circulated to OLCO Members.
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In May, OLCO was shaken by the unexpected death of its energetic and knowledgeable Chairman, John Brandrick. The denuded Executive Committee agreed to carry out the two events planned by John for later in 2023 but the future of the organisation is in some doubt and will be determined by the Membership in 2024.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52922640303_0c48dc99f7.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52922640303_0c48dc99f7.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>John Brandrick at 'Lionsmeet', Worcester, in 2022.</em>
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OLCO has a day of running live steam models of 'Lion' at a different venue each year. In 2023, the event was overshadowed by the death of the Chairman, John Brandrick. However, since the Birmingham club had been John Brandrick's 'home club' some years ago, it was considered appropriate to proceed with the arrangements John himself had made for our visit which took place on 1st July at the Illshaw Heath Road site of the Birmingham Society of Model Engineers. There's a report on the event <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2023/08/lionsmeet-2023-birmingham-society-of.html">here</a>.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53024844526_4ebfb73e8a.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53024844526_4ebfb73e8a.jpg" width="500" height="375" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="375" /></a><br>
<em>Lionsmeet 2023: The Steaming Bays at Birmingham Society of Model Engineers</em>
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OLCO also booked a stand at the Warley National Model Railway Exhibition on 25th and 26th November 2023 at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, displaying a 7.25 inch gauge live-steam model of 'Lion' owned by John Hawley, a working oval of '00' gauge track showing both the Rapido 'Lion' (in 1930 livery) with an appropriate train and the Rapido 'Thunderbolt' with the train from the film 'The Titfield Thunderbolt' and archive video of the full-size 'Lion' in steam in 1988. My pictures are <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72177720312963290/">here</a>.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53360092714_bbf9fa5ff7.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53360092714_bbf9fa5ff7.jpg" width="500" height="375" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="375" /></a><br>
<em>Warley National Model Railway Exhibition 2023: John Hawley on the OLCO Stand.</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53359581101_a5ea437e56.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53359581101_a5ea437e56.jpg" width="375" height="500" data-original-width="375" data-original-height="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53359581101_a5ea437e56.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Warley National Model Railway Exhibition 2023: OLCO Stand public view, with 7.25 inch 'Lion', video of full-size 'Lion' in steam in 1988 and Rapido 'Lion' head-to-head with Rapido 'Thunderbolt'.</em>
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All my posts about the Old Locomotive Committee are <a href="http://janfordsworld.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/OLCO">here</a> and you can find more information on the OLCO website <a href="http://www.lionlocomotive.org.uk/">here</a>.
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<strong><em>The Battlefield Line</em></strong>
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Days operating the Diesel Multiple Unit are always enjoyable and I had turns on 6th May (Coronation of King Charles III), 20th May and 3rd June. You can find all my posts about Diesel Multiple Units <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/search/label/DMU">here</a> (or refer to the 'Index' <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2018/04/diesel-multiple-units-index.html">here</a>).
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52907537645_08239fe7c8.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52907537645_08239fe7c8.jpg" width="500" height="375" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="375" /></a><br>
<em>Coronation Day service at Shenton 6-May-2023 (Battlefield Line 2022 and 2023)</em>
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The railway held an excellent Models Weekend on 19th and 20th August at Market Bosworth. I attended with Dean on the second day and my report is <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2023/11/battlefield-line-models-weekend-2023.html">here</a>. There was a splendid range of layouts on display, in various scales. I found the layout featuring Birmingham Railway Museum very evocative, having previously been a volunteer there for many years.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53130005558_c160298612.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53130005558_c160298612.jpg" width="500" height="375" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="375" /></a><br>
<em>Birmingham Railway Museum Layout: This detailed 4mm layout of the Museum was displayed as a static exhibit: Battlefield Line, Models Weekend 2023</em>
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<strong><em>Global Centre of Rail Excellence</em></strong>
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The Nant Helen Opencast Mine and associated Onllwyn Washery in South Wales finally closed in 2022. The Welsh and English governments, together with Councils in the area, developed an ambitious scheme to convert the site into a world-class test site for railway rolling stock and advanced railway infrastructure construction techniques called the Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE). The ambitious plan calls for a single, high-speed, overhead-electrified, standard-gauge continuous circuit. On 12th June I had a fascinating (if exhausting) tour of the site, which is described <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2023/10/global-centre-for-rail-excellence-open.html">here</a>. The truncated Neath and Brecon branch is currently mothballed and will connect GCRE to the South Wales Main Line, via indirect connections at Neath. There's a short history of this railway <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2023/12/the-neath-and-brecon-railway.html">here</a>.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971811193_a6c0ea207d.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971811193_a6c0ea207d.jpg" width="500" height="375" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="375" /></a><br>
<em>GCRE: View from bridge over the railway serving Nant Helen and Onllwyn Washery.</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971813193_da702d88dc.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971813193_da702d88dc.jpg" width="500" height="375" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="375" /></a><br>
<em>The continuous circuit will be built around the former opencast mine site.</em>
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<strong><em>Myanma Railways</em></strong>
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As explained in 'OVERSEAS TRAVEL' above, my last visit to Myanmar allowing study of the interesting railway system there was in 2019 and no new posts on the topic were added in 2023.
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You can find all my earlier posts about Myanma Railways (in reverse date-of-posting order) <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/search/label/Myanma-Railways">here</a> or refer to the 'Index' <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2018/03/myanma-railways-index.html">here</a>.
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<strong>BREWOOD HALL</strong>
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On 25th July 2023, Brewood Garden Party was held, for the ninth time, in the garden at Brewood Hall. In 2023 we had heavy, intermittent rain throughout the day so visitor numbers were somewhat down but most people seemed determined to enjoy the event, rain or no rain! There's a report <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2023/09/brewood-hall-garden-party-2023.html">here</a>.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53083971684_d0aa1f35e2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53083971684_d0aa1f35e2.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Not all rain! In the background (L-R) Coconut Shy, Hot Dog Stall, Beer Tent: Brewood Hall Garden Party 2023</em>
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There's an album of pictures showing the 1-acre garden at Brewood Hall through the seasons in 2023 <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72177720307980781/">here</a> with a separate album (covering a number of years) showing the fungi which appear annually <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/sets/72157636240773674/">here</a>.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52989389438_5088be65e2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52989389438_5088be65e2.jpg" width="500" height="375" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="375" /></a><br>
<em>Brewood Hall Garden 2023: June brought prolific roses</em>
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During the year, as every year, various repairs were carried out around the property. External repainting, started in 2022, continued in 2023, with a small album of pictures <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72177720308370937/">here</a>. Various posts exist in draft but I'm afraid completing and issuing them currently eludes me.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53442152869_f280c6ae6b.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53442152869_f280c6ae6b.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Brewood Hall: The 2022-2023 repainting successfully used a portable access tower.</em>
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You can find all the posts about Brewood Hall which I have managed to complete (in reverse date-of-posting order) <a href="http://janfordsworld.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Brewood%20Hall">here</a>.
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<strong>TY GWYN</strong>
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Ty Gwyn is a small commercial woodland around 27 hectares in area near Corwen in Wales. I made a brief visit on Monday, 21st August with Alex and Steve, who'd not previously seen the woodland. This visit is mentioned in the post <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2023/10/to-wales-by-car.html">here</a>.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53138009627_1ef9d18153.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53138009627_1ef9d18153.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Alex and Steve at Ty Gwyn</em>
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I made a second visit to Ty Gwyn with Dean on 25th October to discuss the maintenance plan for 2024 with the forest manager, Matthew Whitehead. Pictures of both these visits are <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72177720310705451/">here</a>.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53304982983_8b3ebd5116.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53304982983_8b3ebd5116.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Ty Gwyn 2023: Matthew assisted in collecting a young, rooted spruce to be installed in a large pot at Brewood.</em>
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To see all my posts on Ty Gwyn, click <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Ty%20Gwyn">here</a>.
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<strong>PREVIOUS ANNUAL REVIEWS</strong>
<blockquote>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2023/01/review-of-year-2022.html">2022</a><br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2022/01/review-of-year-2021.html">2021</a><br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2020/12/review-of-year-2020.html">2020</a><br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2020/01/review-of-year-2019.html">2019</a><br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2019/01/review-of-year-2018.html">2018</a><br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2018/01/review-of-year-2017.html">2017</a><br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/review-of-year-2016.html">2016</a><br>
<a href="http://janfordsworld.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/review-of-year-2015.html">2015</a><br>
<a href="http://janfordsworld.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/review-of-year-2014.html">2014</a><br>
<a href="http://janfordsworld.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/review-of-year-2013.html">2013</a><br>
<a href="http://janfordsworld.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/review-of-year-2012.html">2012</a><br>
<a href="http://janfordsworld.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/review-of-year-2011.html">2011</a><br>
<a href="http://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2010/12/review-of-year-2010.html">2010</a><br>
<a href="http://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2010/01/review-of-year-2009.html">2009</a><br>
<a href="http://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2009/02/review-of-year-2008.html">2008</a><br>
<a href="http://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2007/12/review-of-year-2007.html">2007</a><br>
<a href="http://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2006/12/review-of-year.html">2006</a>
</blockquote>
<em>[Date of Models Weekend corrected 8-Jan-2024]</em>
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</span>Jan Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629634827697853421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247877927166606400.post-60824225030682435482023-12-28T16:02:00.014+00:002024-01-05T10:49:20.903+00:00The Neath and Brecon Railway<span style="font-family:arial;">
<em>My visit to the Open Day of the Global Centre for Rail Excellence in June 2023 (described <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2023/10/global-centre-for-rail-excellence-open.html">here</a>) led to curiosity about the story of one of the minor standard-gauge railways of South Wales, the Neath and Brecon.</em>
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<strong>A very brief history</strong>
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The geology of Wales gave the country massive deposits of coal and other minerals. The Dulais Valley north of Neath had a number of mines which, in turn, prompted the establishment of a number of iron and copper works in the area. Initially, tramroads were used to assist mineral extraction but the growth of steam power (in manufacturing, railways and steamships) increased demand for coal and this led to the building of a number of railways in Wales with virtually each valley producing its own railway. The Dulais Valley spawned the standard gauge Neath and Brecon Railway (N&B). At Neath, the railway ended in a junction with the broad gauge Vale of Neath Railway (VoN) from where a third rail was added for a short distance so that N&B trains could terminate at the VoN station initially called Neath Low Level. This station also formed an end-on connection with the broad gauge Swansea and Neath Railway which in 1863 merged with the Vale of Neath. The first ten miles of the N&B route, from Neath to Onllwyn, was a reasonable proposition because of the established mining industry. But continuing to Brecon, via an arduous route through largely barren uplands made matters problematic. The line opened in 1864 from Neath to a colliery at Onllwyn and in 1867 was extended initially to Brecon Mount Street station, then, in 1874, to an end-on connection at Free Street joint station with the Brecon and Merthyr Junction Railway which also served the Mid Wales Railway (giving connections to the Cambrian Railway) and, via the junction at Three Cocks, the Hereford, Hay and Brecon Railway. There are links to articles on these other railways in the 'Related articles on other websites' below.
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The early days of the Neath and Brecon were not unusual amongst many railways of the period in being associated with various enthusiastic amateurs and dishonest men, resulting in bankruptcy narrowly averted. Improbably, an agreement with the Midland Railway was to provide a lifeline. The Midland was seeking a route from the Midlands to Swansea and this was achieved by a complex web of agreements. The Swansea Vale Railway (SVR), a standard gauge line, was seeking investment and their terminus at Swansea St. Thomas with access to the docks appealed to the Midland. The SVR line passed through Ynysgeinon and the construction of a new Neath and Brecon Junction line from here for seven miles on a rising gradient of 1 in 50 and 1 in 55 to join the N&B at Colbren Junction gave the Midland Railway a route from Swansea to Hereford and beyond. The Junction line opened in 1867 (and was finally closed to all traffic in 1967). Through traffic from the Midland Railway secured the railway's future but local passenger traffic remained poor. The demand for coal and anthracite allowed the Neath and Brecon to continue as an independent company until absorbed into the GWR in 1922 by the Grouping. In the 1920s Neath Low Level was first renamed Neath Bridge Street and finally, a couple of years later, Neath Riverside.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53327001493_c1957a6787.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53327001493_c1957a6787.jpg" /></a><br>
<em><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/53327001493/sizes/l/">Click for larger view</a><br>
Neath and Brecon Railway Map in 1871. The N&B Junction line is shown dotted (National Archives)</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53326775471_c97310ea14.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53326775471_c97310ea14.jpg" /></a><br>
<em><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/53326775471/sizes/l/">Click for larger view</a><br>
Neath and Brecon Railway Gradient Diagram (Tudor Watkins Collection)</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53418191493_b406fd3709.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53418191493_b406fd3709.jpg" /></a><br>
<em><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/53418191493/sizes/l/">Click for larger view</a><br>
Map of Swansea Vale Railway, 1875, showing how the Swansea Vale Railway (in red) paralleled the Neath and Brecon Railway (shown in green) and part of the N&B Junction line which joined the two routes. (By Afterbrunel - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0)</em>
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<strong>The Railway after Nationalisation</strong>
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The railway was the haunt of the various classes of 'Pannier' tank. Although demand for coal remained strong, by 1954 there were only two passenger round trips daily from Neath to Brecon, worked by one locomotive based at Neath. In 1958 this had reduced to one round trip on weekdays. By 1961, passenger services beyond Colbren Junction ceased with three round trips daily between Neath and Colbren Junction. The line between Craig-y-Nos and Brecon was closed to all traffic in 1962 and the remaining passenger services were withdrawn in 1964. From 1970, the quarry at Craig-y-Nos started to supply limestone to Llanwern steelworks.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53420264234_c9c9c85636.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53420264234_c9c9c85636.jpg" /></a><br>
<em><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/53420264234/sizes/l/">Click for larger view</a><br>
A Brecon train prepares for departure from Neath Riverside on 14 July 1962, a few months before closure. The South Wales main line crosses on the overbridge in the distance (Photo: Flying Stag, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)</em>
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<strong>Change to Opencast Mining</strong>
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Over time, underground mining in the area gave way to opencast mining. Excavators first remove topsoil which is stored in soil mounds to be reused in remediation work when mining is complete. Excavators then remove the unwanted material ('overburden') to access the coal-bearing layers beneath, resulting in a large pit or void. A network of roads allows the coal extracted by excavators to be hauled away. Remediation of areas once extraction ceases can start in some areas even as opencast mining continues in others. Opencast coal is frequestly "washed" to meet the customer's requirements by removing impurities. In a typical industrial Coal Washing process, water is added so that different particles in the coal sink to various depths depending on their densities, allowing separation. The Nant Helen Opencast Mine, near Onllwyn was authorised in 1985 and Onllwyn Wahery was built to process the product which was then transported by rail. The UK commitment to 'de-carbonise' the economy meant that fossil fuel burning needs to be eliminated and friction has arisen with the mining companies. More information can be found on the Coal Action Network site and a report specific to Nant Helen is <a href="https://www.coalaction.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Nant-Helen.-Brief.-DIGITAL.pdf">here</a>. A similar report on the nearby East Pit is <a href="https://www.coalaction.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/East-Pit.-Brief.-DIGITAL.pdf">here</a>. The refusal by the Coal Authority (a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) to issue a license for continued extraction at Nant Helen precipitated closure of the mine and Washery and the railway was mothballed.
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<strong>Recent history of the line to Onllwyn</strong>
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Until 2022, coal from Nant Helen was loaded onto rail wagons at Onllwyn Washery and carried away using the former Neath and Brecon Railway via the remaining connections to the South Wales Main Line in the Neath area. In the future, it is intended that the branch to Onllwyn be used to provide a railway connection to the proposed Global Centre for Rail Excellence. Before closure at Onllwyn Washery, for a time coal was also brought from Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen (situated on the branch diverging from the Central Wales Line at Pantyfynnon which had served East Pit) to Onllwyn, as shown in the picture below.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53327119854_252e7885ba.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53327119854_252e7885ba.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Class 60 No. 60054 arrives at Onllwyn Washery on 26-Oct-2018 with the second train of the day of loaded coal wagons from Swansea Burrows sidings (the wagons having arrived the previous day from Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen opencast site). Once unloaded all the empty wagons will return to Swansea Burrows as one, long train (Photo: Gareth Jones)</em>
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<strong>Signalling</strong>
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The Neath and Brecon was signalled following Great Western practice. All the signal boxes are abolished but the much-altered and modernised signal box at Neath Riverside was retained to control the remains of the Neath and Brecon (the 'long siding' to Onllwyn) and the remains of the Vale of Neath (the 'long siding' to Cwmgwrach). There's a very informative illustrated report by the Branch Line Society <a href="https://www.branchline.uk/fixture-report.php?id=1369">here</a> describing their visit to Port Talbot Power Signal Box and the Neath Riverside Box.
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<strong>Book references</strong>
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[1] 'Track Layout Diagrams of the Great Western Railway: Section 52 Neath and Brecon 2nd edition'' by R A Cooke, published Lightmoor Press (ISBN 9781871674507).<br>
[2] 'The Neath and Brecon Railway: A History' by Gwyn Briwnant Jones, Denis Dunstone & Tudor Watkins, published Gomer (ISBN 1-84323-452-1).<br>
[3] ‘A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain: Volume 12 South Wales' by D. S. M. Barrie, published by David & Charles (ISBN 0-7153-7970-4).
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<strong>Related articles on other websites</strong>
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neath_and_Brecon_Railway">Neath and Brecon Railway</a> (Wikipedia)<br>
<a href="https://wrrc.org.uk/n&brc.php">Neath and Brecon Railway (and related lines)</a> (Welsh Railways Research Circle)<br>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vale_of_Neath_Railway">Vale of Neath Railway</a> (Wikipedia)<br>
<a href="https://www.railscot.co.uk/companies/S/Swansea_and_Neath_Railway/">Swansea and Neath Railway</a> (Railscot)<br>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brecon_and_Merthyr_Tydfil_Junction_Railway">Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway</a> (Wikipedia)<br>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-Wales_Railway">Mid-Wales Railway</a> (Wikipedia)<br>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swansea_Vale_Railway"></a> (Wikipedia)<br>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hereford,_Hay_and_Brecon_Railway">Hereford, Hay and Brecon Railway</a> (Wikipedia)<br>
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<a href="https://www.railscot.co.uk/locations/O/Onllwyn_No_1_Colliery/">Onlwyn No.1 Colliery</a> (Railscot)<br>
<a href="https://www.branchline.uk/fixture-report.php?id=1369">Branch Line Society Signal Box visit 12/12/2019</a> (Branch Line Society)<br>
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<a href="https://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/GlamWest/Onllyn.htm#:~:text=In%201947%20the%20mine%20became,drift%20followed%20in%20April%201964.">History of Onllwyn Collieries</a> (Welsh Coal Mines)<br>
<a href="https://www.coalaction.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Nant-Helen.-Brief.-DIGITAL.pdf">Report on Nant Helen</a> (Coal Action)<br>
<a href="https://www.coalaction.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/East-Pit.-Brief.-DIGITAL.pdf">Report on East Pit</a> (Coal Action)
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Usual disclaimer: the above links worked when this post was published but may cease to work in the future if the site owner makes changes.
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<strong>Related posts on this website</strong>
<br><br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2023/10/global-centre-for-rail-excellence-open.html">Global Centre for Rail Excellence Open Day</a>
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<strong>My pictures</strong>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72177720309032864">GCRE: The Neath and Brecon Railway</a>.
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</span>Jan Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629634827697853421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247877927166606400.post-9634205255475232242023-12-21T16:57:00.002+00:002023-12-22T10:43:30.917+00:00More Train Travel<span style="font-family:arial;">
<em>In 2023, my rail trips have been reduced due to my poor mobility, but I thought I'd mention a recent flurry of activity.</em>
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<strong>25-Nov-2023: Wolverhampton-Birmingham International (return)</strong>
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The 'Lion' supporters group 'The Old Locomotive Committee' (OLCO) took a stand at the Warley National Model Railway Exhibition on 25th and 26th November held at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC). There are a few random pictures of the event <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72177720312963290/">here</a> which may trigger a post at some point. To reach the Exhibition on Saturday 25th November, I travelled with John H. and Geoff H. from Wolverhampton to Birmingham International to man the OLCO Stand. The outward journey was by TfW Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU), rather noisy and crowded but at least fairly fast. The connection from International station to to the NEC by a long, covered footbridge is quite convenient, particularly compared with access by road which I'd undertaken on the previous day (when we'd been setting up) and the following day (when we'd stripped down after the event). Road transport scores when you're transporting all the materials for a small stand (including a 7.25 inch gauge live-steam model!). On Saturday evening, the tired trio walked back to international and caught an Avanti 'Pendolino' service back to Wolverhampton.
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<strong>28-Nov-2023: Wolverhampton-London Euston</strong>
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On Tuesday 28th November, I had a Trustee meeting in London so I had booked on-line to travel on the 09:45 Avanti service from Wolverhamton to London (Euston). Sadly, on arrival at Wolverhampton station, I learnt that the train was cancelled at short notice. As far as I could gather from a barely-audible platform announcement this was due to 'equipment failure' and travel to Birmingham by the next available service was recommended. This was the inevitable TfW DMU, noisy and fairly crowded. Birmingham New Street seemed to be fairly disorganised that morning and, failing to find any clear guidance, I reluctantly boarded a West Midland Trains Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) bound for Euston but via the Northampton Loop and stopping everywhere. When the lady train manager came round on ticket inspection, she suggested changing at Coventry as she'd already confirmed that the following Avanti service from Birmingham was running. For some reason, I'd failed to find mention of this at New Street, although I'd expected to find it. This meant about 45 minutes waiting on a rather cold Coventry station but, eventually, I was able to board First Class on a warmer Avanti 'Pendolino'. Of course, I was too late to take breakfast which, in any case, is a very diminished experience compared with a few years ago but with tea and a nicely-presented cheese platter, the day rapidly improved.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53384185893_0399249311.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53384185893_0399249311.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>A nicely-presented cheese platter, Coventry-Euston by Avanti</em>
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Being used to the unreliability of British trains, I'd fortunately allowed a margin in my timings so my later arrival at London still allowed me time to walk the one mile to Victoria House in Bloomsbury Square where the Trustee meeting took place and arrive on time. Following the meeting, I retraced my walking route to Euston.
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<strong>28-Nov-2023: London Euston-Bangor (Gwynedd)</strong>
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I had some time to wait before my next booking - the 19:02 Avanti service to Holyhead, alighting at Bangor. I was able to wait in the Avanti First Class Lounge on the Mezzanine Floor, with views of the busy Concourse. It was the first time I'd seen the new Passenger Information System, white-glowing electronic screens arrayed in two banks in the centre of the concourse, at right engles to the north west wall which gives access to the 16 platforms. Previously, that north-west wall hosted a long array of yellow-glowing electronic screens (the black area on the right in the picture below).
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53383086002_f89c801efb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53383086002_f89c801efb.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Euston Station Concourse following introduction of new Passenger Information system, viewed from Avanti First Class Lounge on 28-Nov-2023. Note Christmas tree</em>
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Modest refreshments were available in the lounge and the staff were helpful so I was content to wait to be joined by Steve M. Late arrival of the incoming train to form our departure and the need for staff to perform some cleaning/servicing before passenger loading meant that no early announcement of departure platform had been made. With a clue from the lounge receptionist and the Railcam.UK 'app' on my mobile phone (there's a brief explanation of Railcam.UK <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2019/02/watching-trains-go-by.html">here</a>), I'd worked out the platform number and our train's reporting number (1D93). Steve and I were already en route when the announcement of platform was finally made, only a few minutes before scheduled departure. Steve and I became swept up in the all-too-common rush to join the train. As expected, the train was formed of two Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) 5-car 'Voyagers' where one end carriage of each unit provides First Accommodation and a Kitchenette. We found our reserved seats fairly readily. I was sure departure would be late but, in fact, we were not more than one or two minutes adrift setting off up Camden Bank on a cold, dark evening. I remembered that, in 2008, I wrote a brief review of King's Cross, St. Pancras and Euston stations (<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2008/02/londons-terminal-stations.html">here</a> which was rather scathing about Euston. Over the following years many changes have occurred at Euston but I'm afraid a more up-to-date review would be no kinder.
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Modest refreshments were provided during our journey. I was very tired so I was inattentive on the journey. We lost six or seven minutes to Tring but I couldn't work out why - we didn't seem to be following a slower train, as often happens. The lady Train Manager made an apology over the public address but without a full explanation. But, as we approached Milton Keynes, Railcam.UK revealed that we were now closing up to an earlier Euston-Manchester train We were about thirteen minutes 'down' passing Milton Keynes without a scheduled stop and I expected slow progress onwards to Rugby but the Manchester train scooted ahead and showed us a clean pair of heels (or, more accurately, a series of green signals). We didn't stop at Rugby either and picked up some lost time along the Trent Valley line. The train then made a series of scheduled stops at Tamworth, Lichfield and Stafford, arriving at Crewe's platform 12 only about five minutes late. Our diesel-powered train had just come 158 miles 'under the wires' of the 25kV a.c. electrification system. Whereas in some parts of the world even minor lines received some form of electrification following World War II, the particularly blinkered politics of the U.K. have resulted in vast deserts of non-electrified lines, including the whole of the North Wales route. I don't find the appearance of Overhead Line Equipment (OLE) attractive but the extensive use of diesel power when we are supposedly committed to reducing carbon dioxide emissions seems, at the very least, odd. The 'wheeze' of going 'bi-mode', providing trains which are both overhead electric and diesel power as in Class 800 does not appeal either, saddling designs with extra weight, complexity and costs.
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Soon, we were off on the Chester line (non-electrified, except in the vicinity of Crewe) for the short 'hop' to Chester. The North Wales line is a fairly 'easy' route, as shown by the gradient diagram below.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/40728939483_20f9afed05.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/40728939483_20f9afed05.jpg" /></a><br>
<em><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/40728939483/sizes/l/">Click for larger view</a><br>
Historical Gradient Diagram: Crewe-Holyhead</em>
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With stops at Flint, Prestatyn, Rhyl, Colwyn Bay and Llandudno Junction, the train picked up and then lost occasional minutes along the way but was very close to right time when Steve and I left the train at Bangor after our 239 mile journey from London in reasonable comfort at an average speed of around seventy miles an hour.
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<strong>Background to the TfW 'Premier Service'</strong>
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At the end of 2008, Arriva Trains (Wales) introduced a locomotive-hauled 'Premier Service' from Cardiff to Holyhead funded by the Welsh Government. Originally, this operated via Crewe with a pair of Class 57 locomotives top-and-tailing four Mark 2 coaches. Later, a single 57 was used, replaced in 2012 by DB Schenker Class 67s when the coaches were upgraded to Mark 3.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/7237/7070354993_8fdd50f49f.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7237/7070354993_8fdd50f49f.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Arriva Trains (Wales) Class 67 002 in between platforms 11 and 12 at the North end of Crewe on 11-Apr-2012</em>
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The addition of a Driving Van Trailer (DVT) to the formation later in 2012 allowed push-pull operation and the routing was changed to use the former Great Western route between Shrewsbury and Chester, introducing a reversal at Chester. The Covid pandemic caused suspension of the service between March 2020 and June 2021 when the service was re-introduced using Mark 4 coaches and DVT. A similar service between Cardiff and Manchester, operating via Crewe was also inaugurated.
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I'd not managed to plan a journey on the Premier Service but, as explained in the post <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2022/02/rail-travel-in-january-2022.html">here</a>, on 27-Jan-2022 I unexpectedly found myself a passenger from Rhyl to Shrewsbury on one of the trains.
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<strong>30-Nov-2023: Bangor (Gwynedd) - Wolverhampton</strong>
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Both Steve and I were keen to sample the TfW 'Premier Service' so, when our business was concluded on 30th November, a taxi took us the Bangor station to see what was possible.
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It's many years since I passed through the main entrance to Bangor station on the North side of the line and I was delighted to see that the original features in the booking hall are largely intact, including two large, round L.M.S. monograms on the walls. Travel, however, remained rather problematic. Although the Holyhead-Cardiff service is nominally three 'Premier Service' trains a day each way, this does not always happen. The suggestion the lady booking clerk made was to travel First Class on the Avanti Holyhead-Euston service departing at 13:15 as far as Crewe where we could join a TfW 'Premier Service' from Manchester to Cardiff, in my case just for the short 'leg' to Shrewsbury, in Steve's case to Newport.
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Tickets were booked and we made our way to the Up platform (now No.1). This involved leaving the booking office on the railway side at ground level, crossing the access road to station car parking via a zebra crossing markings and ascending a ramp to the platform itself. This really 'spooked' me because I'd known and been impressed by Bangor station from childhood. Then, the station had two island plaforms giving four main platform faces. Two through lines were provided for non-stop trains with loops serving the inner faces of the island platforms whilst additional tracks served the outer faces of the island platforms. Originally, the booking hall led to a footbridge across the additional track on the up side leading to steps down to the Up island platform or to a further footbridge across the through and platform loop lines with steps descending to the Down island platform. What confronted me was a mere ghost of what I remember. I get this sense of loss in many places on our emasculated railway system, I'm afraid.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/5527/12196173814_4dbd9b7d4e.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/5527/12196173814_4dbd9b7d4e.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Bangor station, showing Up platform. Cars now park in the area where an additional track formerly served the outer face of the Up island platform</em>
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I think the booking hall and footbridges date from the 1927 expansion of facilities (hence the 'LMS' monograms). I'd assumed the remaining station building on the Up platform was earlier but I'd not realised that, although modified over the years, it is the original 1848 Chester and Holyhead railway building designed by architect Francis Thompson of Derby in Italianate style with a hipped, slate roof. I'm pleased to report that the building is now listed Grade II: there are more details <a href="https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/300004122-railway-station-original-building-bangor">here</a>. It was completed to serve the opening of the railway from Chester to Bangor in 1848. Two years later, with the opening of the Britannia Tubular Bridge, Bangor became a through station and facilities were expanded in 1852. I'm afraid I'd not spotted the various Chester and Holyhead monograms set in the outside walls of the building (although four are just visible in my 2014 picture below, snatched from a Down train).
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/12151808605_5580fdf497.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/12151808605_5580fdf497.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Bangor station buildings on Up platform. </em>
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Steve introduced me to the Refreshment Room on the Up platform, with its magnificent wooden counter and fittings. Sadly, the various modernisations render the overall effect rather nondescript.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53372789224_f7fec94500.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53372789224_f7fec94500.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Bangor Station: Counter and fittings in Refreshment Room on Up platform</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53371562432_37b6bcd9d7.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53371562432_37b6bcd9d7.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Bangor Station: View looking west from Up platform (No. 1) with signal box in background</em>
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My view looking east from the Up platform does gives a poor view of the imposing West Portal of Bangor Tunnel. The Resident Engineer for this section of the line, Mr. Forster, adopted an Egyptian style portal using coursed stone forming a square headed opening with tapered sides, a wide swept entablature and cornice. Happily this,too, is listed and you can find brief details <a href="https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/300004124-portal-at-the-entrance-to-bangor-railway-tunnel-bangor">here</a>.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53372789379_b629640ed4.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53372789379_b629640ed4.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Bangor Station viewed from Up Platform (No. 1) looking east showing West Portal of Bangor Tunnel</em>
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Our train arrived, a 5-car 'Voyager', and we found accommodation in the leading First Class coach. Modest refreshments were provided during the journey. I tried the cheese and onion 'toastie' which I found excellent. Once east of Abergele, I was able to track our progress on Railcam.UK (our reporting number was 1A50). We made the usual stops and approached platform 3 at Chester very cautiously, which did not surprise me, but the final stop was very firm with a metallic 'clang' which suggested that we'd coupled to another set standing on front of us, using the Dellner autocouplers. This seemed to be confirmed as, on Railcam.UK, our reporting number flickered on and off for a few seconds, presumably as the driving cab next to us was closed and the driving cab now at the head of the train was opened. A brief 'sprint' took us to Crewe, where we arrived at platform 6.
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The platform was very busy with people getting off, getting on and trying to work out their next train but I was able to confirm that we'd acquired another 'Voyager' trainset in front of us at Chester. We determined from the passenger displays that the Manchester - Cardiff 'Premier Service' was expected at platform 5, departing at 15:10, so we headed for the lift and made our way to the indicated platform. Before long, the headlights of a class 67 appeared, heading a short train of Mark 4 coaches looking quite smart in black livery. Railcam.UK gave the reporting number as 1V46 and arrival at Shrewsbury at 15:44. The last vehicle was the Driving Van Trailer (DVT) with the First Class/Kitchen car last but one. We were welcomed on board by a young, enthusiastic Chief Steward and settled into the comfortable seats as our train set off from Crewe on the Shrewsbury line. I didn't see much of the unfamiliar route as it was already dusk but mainly because, as I enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate, I chatted to the Chief Steward about the 'Premier Service' of which he was clearly proud. He agreed that the original Holyhead-Cardiff service had been affected by poor availability of trainsets but said that the Manchester-Cardiff service was establishing a strong following. TfW have eight trainsets to cover both routes with two trainsets out of service awaiting repairs on that date, he said.
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All too soon, we arrived at Shrewsbury, ending my sampling of the 'Premier Service'. I said goodbye to Steve, who was continuing to Newport, and the Chief Steward, descending onto a cold, dark, windswept platform. I took a few pictures of the train as it left and then faced a wait until 16:34 when a West Midland Trains service from Crewe to Birmingham International (reporting number 1I22) would complete my journey back to Wolverhampton after an interesting, if exhausting, odyssey.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53372829664_e0e0f885e4.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53372829664_e0e0f885e4.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Shrewbury: 'Premier Service' 1V46 in platform 7 on 30-Nov-2023</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53371602602_d7679ef589.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53371602602_d7679ef589.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>TfW 'Premier Service' from Manchester to Cardiff at Shrewsbury: 1V46 in platform 7 on 30-Nov-2023</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53372514731_5d850398e4.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53372514731_5d850398e4.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>TfW 'Premier Service' from Manchester to Cardiff leaving Shrewsbury showing DVT at rear</em>
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<strong>Related posts on other websites</strong>
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_Service">TfW Premier Service</a> (Wikipedia)<br>
<a href="https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/300004122-railway-station-original-building-bangor">Bangor Station Building</a> (British Listed Buildings)<br>
<a href="https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/300004124-portal-at-the-entrance-to-bangor-railway-tunnel-bangor">Bangor Tunnel Portal</a> (British Listed Buildings)
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Usual disclaimer: the above links worked when this post was published but may cease to work in the future if the site owner makes changes.
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<strong>Related posts on this website</strong>
<br><br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2022/02/rail-travel-in-january-2022.html">Rail Travel in January 2022</a>
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<strong>Historical Gradient Diagram, North Wales Line</strong>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72157708172970754/">BR Gradient Diagrams published by Ian Allen</a>
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<strong>My pictures</strong>
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Whilst I added very few pictures on the journeys described above, there are a number of earlier pictures in albums covering areas passed through which are linked below:-
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<a href=""></a>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72157626913146058/">Crewe Area Rail</a><br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72157626802053524/">London & Birmingham Railway</a><br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72157626534219927/">London: Euston Station</a><br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72157640178990634/">North Wales Line (Llandudno-Holyhead)</a><br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72157628187189105/">North Wales Line (Crewe-Llandudno)</a><br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72157626797894197/">Nuneaton Station</a><br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72157626897663838/">Rugby Station</a><br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72157641604060743/">Shrewsbury Area Railways</a><br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72157626874405376/">Stafford area rail</a><br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72157626781499277/">Wellington, ex-Great Western Railway</a><br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72157626817757226/">West Midland Railways</a><br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72157626906677932/">Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury Line</a><br>
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</span>Jan Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629634827697853421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247877927166606400.post-16976841069425388662023-11-10T11:34:00.034+00:002023-11-10T11:52:35.444+00:00Battlefield Line, Models Weekend 2023<span style="font-family:arial;">
In 2023, the Battlefield Line held a Models Weekend on Saturday 19th August and Sunday 20th August. I attended on the Sunday with Dean and we were most impressed.
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The venue was Market Bosworth station and, on arrival, we found the car park had 'spawned' a dedicated Bus Stop because a free bus service was being provided in connection with the event between Nuneaton Bus Station and Market Bosworth Station, calling at Nuneaton Railway Station.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53129522031_ddffa11978.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53129522031_ddffa11978.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Dedicated Bus Stop: Battlefield Line, Models Weekend 2023</em>
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The service was being operated by a preserved bus in the azure blue and ivory livery of Midland Scottish, successors to W. Alexander and Son. The vehicle also carried the Bluebird Logo which originated in Alexander's coaching operations.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53128932972_70bc7986f3.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53128932972_70bc7986f3.jpg" /></a>
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Near the bus stop, a group of live-steam model traction engines was on parade.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53129732249_cf06dac659.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53129732249_cf06dac659.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>A handsome group of live-steam model traction engines: Battlefield Line, Models Weekend 2023</em>
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For a very modest charge there was an opportunity to ride behind live a steam live steam locomotive on the adjacent 5 inch gauge portable track.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53130002553_9bb94cb7d7.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53130002553_9bb94cb7d7.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Stephen Wallbank with his vertical-boilered live steam model on the portable track: Battlefield Line, Models Weekend 2023 </em>
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The Goods Shed at Market Bosworth had been significantly expanded by erecting a large marquee end-on to the goods shed. Just inside this annexe was the admission desk and the Battlefield Line information and recruitment desk.
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The marquee had an interesting mixture of trade stands (including John Sutton Models, Ravenstone Model Railways and Thunderbolt Models), special stands (including the 4-SUB Association and Railriders) and model railway layouts. Some stands also offered a variety of railway books. The far end of the marquee opened into the brick-built goods shed, through the large doorway which originally accommodated a rail siding. The goods shed housed more stands with an absorbing selection of working model railway layouts in various gauges together with the cafe run by the Battlefield Line which offered a wide range of hot food and drinks. In no particular order, I add my notes below.
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<strong>Pen-y-Bont:</strong> Steve Howard's live-steam narrow gauge layout on 32mm gauge, very effectively using live plants for scenery.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53128930792_6990040237.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53128930792_6990040237.jpg" /></a>
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<strong>Cowley Yard:</strong> William Plant's 7mm scale beautifully weathered, compact layout. The first time I've seen wooden shunting scotches appropriately dropped in the six foot.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53129935645_c9201c9ba3.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53129935645_c9201c9ba3.jpg" /></a>
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<strong>Snowy River Rail Road:</strong> Daventry MRC showed this very detailed American-outline 0n30 layout ('0' scale using 16.5mm gauge track to represent narrow gauge). Full DCC control.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53129735784_5eb0edd4d7.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53129735784_5eb0edd4d7.jpg" /></a>
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<strong>Ella Road:</strong> Alan Maclachlan exhibited this impressive modern-image Traction Maintenance Depot layout in 00 gauge with DCC control.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53129934300_63338509b8.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53129934300_63338509b8.jpg" /></a>
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<strong>Marston Jabbett:</strong> This double-track mainline with a single-line branch in N gauge (1:148 scale) was shown by the Anker Railway Modelling Society which meets in Chilvers Coton, Nuneaton.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53129732579_ed88e83b41.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53129732579_ed88e83b41.jpg" /></a>
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<strong>Roofers Lane:</strong> South Wigston MRC exhibited their N gauge (1:148 scale) layout.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53129732929_9d7a218c73.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53129732929_9d7a218c73.jpg" /></a>
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<strong>Wheal Kist:</strong> Darren Carter's narrow-gauge granite and china clay quarry layout in 009 (4mm to the foot scale using 9mm gauge 'N' track).
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53129523976_df8f902e32.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53129523976_df8f902e32.jpg" /></a>
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<strong>North Rokeby:</strong> Heart of England Narrow Gause Modellers displayed their interesting steam-outline layout combining standard gauge (00) and narrow gauge (009) lines.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53128931942_a73458f6f4.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53128931942_a73458f6f4.jpg" /></a>
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<strong>Norman Colliery:</strong> Geoff Brain's atmospheric 0 gauge layout depicting the dereliction common to mines towards the end of their lives.
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<strong>Ashbridge:</strong> A Network South East station and yard layout in 00 gauge, carefully detailed with DCC control and some effective locomotive sounds, displayed by Mark Miller.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53129934635_b75f04a9fe.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53129934635_b75f04a9fe.jpg" /></a>
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<strong>Rush Green Colliery:</strong> This very nicely-detailed colliery layout in 00 gauge was displayed by Alex Rushton.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53130004683_169eef54e3.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53130004683_169eef54e3.jpg" /></a>
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<strong>Hornby Dublo:</strong> Ray Poxon and the Hornby Railway Collectors Association showed a third-rail table-top layout.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53128932762_d1c97ee6b3.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53128932762_d1c97ee6b3.jpg" /></a>
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<strong>Triang:</strong> David White's layout featured Triang Railways in 00 gauge, Triang Minic Motorways and Triang Model-land figures and buildings.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53129937040_8f18e8fa80.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53129937040_8f18e8fa80.jpg" /></a>
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<strong>: Birmingham Railway Museum Layout</strong> This very detailed (if a little careworn) 4mm model of the Museum was displayed as a static exhibit. I found it very evocative, having been an operating volunteer at the Museum for many years.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53130005858_6d80bc66f9.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53130005858_6d80bc66f9.jpg" /></a>
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Further attractions included an elaborate layout for young people using sectional wooden track from the Swedish company Brio (now part of the German Ravensburger group), a working 'Thomas and Friends' layout in G scale and a large Lego Harry Potter display (complete with a Quidditch Match in progress). There was even the opportunity to pay for a short drive on the full-size battery electric locomotive 'Spondon No. 1' along the siding opposite the Goods Shed (the 'Turnback Siding' when some services terminate at Market Bosworth).
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Finally, the normal Battlefield Line weekend service operated, hauled by a Class 33 diesel electric locomotive. This provided four trips from Shackerstone to Shenton and return during the day, calling at Market Bosworth in both directions. Overall, the various attractions provided a splendid and most enjoyable event.
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<strong>Previous posts describing modelling events on the Battlefield Line</strong>
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The 50th Gala in 2019 included a wonderful layout Gauge 1 layout which I briefly describe in my post <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2019/11/shackerstone-railway-society-50th.html">Shackerstone Railway Society 50th Anniversary Steam Gala</a>. Previously, I'd been to a couple of model weekends at Shackerstone, both enjoyable but neither on the scale of the 2023 event. In June 2017, working a 'split shift' on 'Cumbria' gave me a chance to study the Model Steam Weekend exhibition. My report is <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2017/06/battlefield-line-model-steam-weekend.html"> here</a>, with links to pictures. During the May 2012 event, I was driving the DMU and I only managed a 'whistle-stop' tour of the models on display. My post is <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2012/05/battlefield-line-modellers-weekend-2012.html">here</a>, with a link to my pictures.
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<strong>My pictures of the 2023 event</strong>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72177720310610536">Battlefield Line, Models Weekend 2023</a>.<br>
</span>Jan Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629634827697853421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247877927166606400.post-43079382867565193002023-10-31T15:19:00.002+00:002023-12-08T13:05:23.359+00:00Penrhyn Quarry Railway<span style="font-family:arial;">
I'm normally alert to any railways I may encounter in my travels but the significance of the location for a business meeting at Felin Fawr near Bethesda on Tuesday 22nd August 2023 (described in the post <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2023/10/to-wales-by-car.html">here</a>) had failed to register until my friend said "There's an abandoned railway out the back!". After the meeting here wasn't much time to explore, but I made sure of a few pictures to prompt further study later. This post reports what I found.
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I knew that the meeting location was near Penrhyn Quarry, which was once the largest slate quarry in the world. But I didn't know that Felin Fawr was the processing site for slate and the building which had hosted my meeting was formerly a Slab Mill producing sawn slate for building purposes. There are useful Wikipedia articles on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slate_industry_in_Wales#">the slate industry in Wales</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penrhyn_quarry">the quarry</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felin_Fawr_Slate_Works">Felin Fawr Slate Works</a>.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53139093278_6f0acc5609.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53139093278_6f0acc5609.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Railway sidings at Felin Fawr in 2023. The meeting was located in the building on the left.</em>
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Slate from Penrhyn was used locally from the 16th century but development of the industry in the 1770s was due to Richard Pennant (see 'Notes on the Pennant family' below). Initially, slate was carried in panniers by horse down the mountain to the docks at Port Penrhyn for onward shipment.
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Around 1800 the Penrhyn Railroad was constructed, using oval rails fitted at 2 foot and half an inch centre-to-centre, apparently incorporating the somewhat earlier Llandegai Tramway. Haulage was by horses and the most difficult sections were provided with inclined planes operated as a gravity balance cable railway with two tracks. A cable attached to an ascending empty wagon wound around a drum at the top of the incline and attached to a loaded wagon descending means no external power was required. Control was provided by braking on the drum.
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In 1878 the operation was transferred to a new, parallel railway using steam locomotive haulage throughout. The inclined planes were eliminated by deviations in the route, increasing route length but easing the grades. Trackwork was conventional and track gauge (measured in the normal way, between inner edges of rails) became 1 foot 10 3/4 inches. In this form, as the Penrhyn Quarry Railway, the system operated until 1962. In 2012, enthusiasts reinstated the trackwork around Felin Fawr which I'd found on my visit. Various galas and operating days were held between 2012 and 2017 when, sadly, the initiative ceased.
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Wikipedia has notes on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penrhyn_Quarry_Railway">the railways</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cable_railway">various cable railways</a> There's an excellent, detailed history of the Penrhyn Quarry Railway in posts by Roger Farnworth <a href="https://rogerfarnworth.com/2022/12/29/the-penrhyn-railway-part-1/">here</a> and <a href="https://rogerfarnworth.com/2023/01/30/the-penrhyn-quarry-railway-part-2/">here</a>.
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I also found three interesting articles and photographs by Graham Stephen about the Felin Fawr site. The <a href="https://geotopoi.wordpress.com/2011/11/16/felin-fawr-works/">first</a> clarifies the layout of the Slate Mill. The <a href="https://geotopoi.wordpress.com/2012/03/18/felin-fawr-waterwheel/">second</a> shows what remained around 2012 of a waterwheel which powered the mill. The <a href="https://geotopoi.wordpress.com/2012/03/20/felin-fawr-locomotive-shed/">third</a> shows the locomotive shed during the sadly short-lived attempt to restore the railway as a preserved line. The waterwheel was of the suspended pattern, built by De Winton of Caernarfon (who also supplied some of the early steam locomotives for the Penrhyn Quarry Railway). An article by Steve Mills for the Gloucestershire Society for Industrial Archaeology <a href="https://gsia.org.uk/sites/files/nq/gsianq_suspension_water_wheels_and_rim_gearing_20210106.pdf">here</a> outlines the advantages of suspension water wheels and rim gearing.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53259404064_be6791446e.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53259404064_be6791446e.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Former Penrhyn Quarry Railway 'Blanche' restored (and heavily modified) at Festiniog Railway (Photo: A.M.Hurrell, CC BY-SA 3.0)</em>
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<strong>Notes on the Pennant family</strong>
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Thomas Pennant (died 1522) was the Abbot of Basingwerk Abbey, Holywell. His grandson Gifford Pennant became a successful sugar planter in Jamaica. On his death the profitable sugar plantations, worked by slave labour, passed to Gifford's son Edward Pennant (1672-1736) who further developed the holdings whilst rising in the Jamaican establishment. On Edward's death, the estates passed to his sons John, Samuel and Henry (with care provision for a fourth son). Despite the family wealth, life in Jamaica could be challenging and the three brothers returned to England, leaving the plantations to be administered by agents and entered English society. John Pennant became a successful Liverpool merchant. Liverpool was, of course, the port of entry for Jamaican sugar. Samuel and Henry died without heirs, leaving their estates to John. Through a partnership in the salt trade with Colonel Warburton John became interested in the medieval estate of Penrhyn which was part owned by Colonel Warburton's wife. John, with his second son <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Pennant,_1st_Baron_Penrhyn">Richard Pennant</a> (1739-1808), started buying up the remainder of the Penrhyn estate. Richard Pennant's political career started in 1761 when he became the Member of Parliament for Petersfield but, when a vacancy arose in Liverpool in 1767 he was returned unopposed. He married Colonel Warburton's daughter Anne Susanna in 1767.
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Upon the death of John Pennant in 1781, the Penrhyn estate effectively became reunited, Richard inheriting part from his father and the balance through his wife. He also became absentee owner of the sugar plantations in Jamaica. In the election of 1780 he lost his seat in the House of Commons and was subsequently created !st Baron Penrhyn in 1783. Because this new creation was an Irish peerage, he was not allowed to sit in the House of Lords but able to stand for the House of Commons, allowing him to regain the Liverpool seat in 1784. Richard spoke in the House of Commons about trade and Liverpool concerns and remained opposed to the abolition of slavery. He was an enthusiastic supporter of projects to develop his Welsh estates and created the massive Penrhyn quarry. Previously, individuals would pay the landowner for the right to extract slate which was brought out by packhorses. Richard created an industry where the landowner took control of extraction and transport, paying employees a wage. He expanded the market for slate by building Port Penrhyn, Bangor, connected to the quarry by horse-drawn railroad.
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On Richard's death in 1808, since he had no children, his Baronetcy lapsed and the ownership of the estates passed to his second cousin provided he added 'Pennant' to his name, becoming <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Hay_Dawkins-Pennant">George Hay Dawkins-Pennant</a> (1764-1840). George married for the first time in 1807 and had two daughters. He continued to develop the Penrhyn estate and received government compensation for the freeing of his slaves when slavery was abolished. In 1833, his elder daughter and co-heiress Juliana Isabella Mary Dawkins-Pennant married a Grenadier Guards officer, Edward Gordon Douglas (1800-1886).
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By Royal licence, Edward Gordon Douglas changed his name to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Douglas-Pennant,_1st_Baron_Penrhyn">Edward Douglas-Pennant</a>, allowing him to inherit the Penrhyn estate from his wife's father, George. In 1866 Edward Douglas-Pennant was raised to the peerage in a second creation of the title Baron Penrhyn, this time as an 'English' peerage. Developments at Penrhyn quarry and the Penrhyn estates continued. By his first wife, Juliana Isabella Mary Dawkins-Pennant, he had two sons and three daughters. During the 1868 general election, 80 quarry workers declined to vote for the Baron's son George who, at that time, was pursuing a political career and were sacked. After the death of his first wife, the 1st Baron re-married and had further children
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The 1st Baron died in 1886 and his elder son <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Douglas-Pennant,_2nd_Baron_Penrhyn">George Douglas-Pennant (1836-1907)</a> became the 2nd Baron, thereafter concentrating on the running of the various businesses. Penrhyn quarry workers went on strike in 1896, leading to closure of the quarry for 11 months. The 2nd Baron was unrelenting and the strikers resumed work on the same terms. A second strike in 1900 lasted for three years, earning <a href="https://tuc150.tuc.org.uk/stories/the-great-penrhyn-quarry-strike/">'The Great Strike of Penrhyn'</a> a special place in the history of the Trades Union Congress. The 2nd Baron was clearly a complex man of strong convictions, hinted at in the biography in the <a href="https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Dictionary_of_National_Biography,_1912_supplement/Douglas-Pennant,_George_Sholto_Gordon">Dictionary of National Biography</a>. After reading about the turbulence of the nineteenth century, I decided not to pursue the Pennant history into the 20th century.
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<strong>Notes on Penrhyn Castle</strong>
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penrhyn_Castle">Penrhyn Castle</a> was clearly important to the Pennant family and although externally the castle gives the appearance of being ancient, it is not. Between 1822 and 1837, the architect <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Hopper_(architect)"> Thomas Hopper</a> (1776-1856) created the imposing appearance. The castle is regarded as his finest work and listed Grade 1. As a National Trust site, it is open to the public and the former Stables houses a railway museum including Penrhyn Quarry Railway artefacts. There's an article about the railway museum on Wikipedia <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penrhyn_Castle_Railway_Museum">here</a> and there's an entertaining record of the railway museum activities written by one of the former museum volunteers, Keith Jaggers, <a href="https://www.jaggers-heritage.com/resources/PCRM%20vol%202.pdf">here</a>. There's lots more about the Jagger's family history and Keith's interest in railways <a href="https://www.jaggers-heritage.com/">here</a>. Over 2,000 documents from Penrhyn Castle have been archived at Bangor University, providing a valuable insight into transatlantic slave trade and plantation slavery. <a href="https://www.mariangwyn.com/">Dr. Marian Gwyn </a> has researched these areas and there's an interesting article by her outlining the connection between Penrhyn Castle and slavery <a href="http://www.spanglefish.com/sugarandslaverythepenrhyncastleconnection/pennants.asp">here</a>.
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<strong>List of referenced posts on other websites</strong>
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slate_industry_in_Wales#">Slate Industry in Wales</a> (Wikipedia).<br>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penrhyn_quarry">Penrhyn Quarry</a> (Wikipedia).<br>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felin_Fawr_Slate_Works">Felin Fawr Slate Works</a> (Wikipedia).<br>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penrhyn_Quarry_Railway">Penrhyn Quarry Railway</a> (Wikipedia).<br>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cable_railway">Cable railway</a> (Wikipedia).<br>
<a href="https://rogerfarnworth.com/2022/12/29/the-penrhyn-railway-part-1/">Penrhyn Quarry</a> Roger Farnworth: Penrhyn Quarry Railway (Part 1).<br>
<a href="https://rogerfarnworth.com/2023/01/30/the-penrhyn-quarry-railway-part-2/">Penrhyn Quarry</a> Roger Farnworth: Penrhyn Quarry Railway (Part 2).<br>
<a href="https://gsia.org.uk/sites/files/nq/gsianq_suspension_water_wheels_and_rim_gearing_20210106.pdf">Suspension water wheels and rim gearing</a>
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<a href="https://geotopoi.wordpress.com/2011/11/16/felin-fawr-works/">FELIN FAWR WORKS</a> Graham Stephen (GeoTopoi).<br>
<a href="https://geotopoi.wordpress.com/2012/03/18/felin-fawr-waterwheel/">FELIN FAWR WATERWHEEL</a> Graham Stephen (GeoTopoi).<br>
<a href="https://geotopoi.wordpress.com/2012/03/20/felin-fawr-locomotive-shed/">FELIN FAWR LOCOMOTIVE SHED</a> Graham Stephen (GeoTopoi).
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Pennant,_1st_Baron_Penrhyn">Richard Pennant, 1st Baron Penrhyn</a> (Wikipedia).<br>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Hay_Dawkins-Pennant">George Hay Dawkins-Pennant</a> (Wikipedia).<br>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Douglas-Pennant,_1st_Baron_Penrhyn">Edward Douglas-Pennant, 1st Baron Penrhyn</a> (Wikipedia).<br>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Douglas-Pennant,_2nd_Baron_Penrhyn">George Douglas-Pennant, 2nd Baron Penrhyn</a> (Wikipedia).<br>
<a href="https://tuc150.tuc.org.uk/stories/the-great-penrhyn-quarry-strike/"> The great Penrhyn quarry strike</a> (TUC).<br>
<a href="https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Dictionary_of_National_Biography,_1912_supplement/Douglas-Pennant,_George_Sholto_Gordon">Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement</a>.
<br><br>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penrhyn_Castle">Penrhyn Castle</a> (Wikipedia).<br>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Hopper_(architect)">Thomas Hopper (architect of Penrhyn Castle)</a> (Wikipedia). <br>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penrhyn_Castle_Railway_Museum">Penrhyn Castle Railway Museum</a> (Wikipedia).<br>
<a href="https://www.jaggers-heritage.com/resources/PCRM%20vol%202.pdf">Penrhyn Castle Railway Museum: Vol 2</a> (Keith Jaggers).<br>
<a href="https://www.jaggers-heritage.com/">Keith and Elizabeth Jaggers Family Heritage</a>.<br>
<a href="http://www.spanglefish.com/sugarandslaverythepenrhyncastleconnection/pennants.asp">Penrhyn Castle and Slavery</a> (Dr. Marian Gwyn).
<br><br>
<strong>My pictures</strong>
<br><br>
My pictures at Felin Fawr Cyf (showing the reconstructed trackwork) are <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72177720310717849">here</a>.<br>
</span>Jan Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629634827697853421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247877927166606400.post-91116695807557860932023-10-13T12:30:00.008+01:002023-10-31T15:30:47.869+00:00To Wales by Car<span style="font-family:arial;">
I'd agreed to attend a business meeting near Bangor on Tuesday 22nd August, 2023. The people we're working with on this project were travelling from the south-west on Monday to be at the meeting and they suggested that we might travel together by car and that they would collect me around 1 p.m. This allowed me to work in the office in the morning, before they arrived at lunchtime.
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The weather was good, so there was time for a brief tour of the garden and the Hall before we set-off together. It was agreed that we'd take the 'pretty route', using the A5 through Llangollen. Since this would take us near the commercial woodland at Ty Gwyn, it was further agreed that we'd make a short detour to Ty Gwyn as neither of my friends had previously visited the plantation.
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After a pleasant journey, the weather remained mild on arrival at Ty Gwyn and we were able to explore the forest roads on foot.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53138009627_1ef9d18153.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53138009627_1ef9d18153.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Alex and Steve at Ty Gwyn 2023</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53139016225_01ed6ce445.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53139016225_01ed6ce445.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Ty Gwyn 2023: Progress achieved by the sitka spruce which was replanted in 2016.</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53139078113_c5b4fc0198.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53139078113_c5b4fc0198.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Splendid Rowan berries: Ty Gwyn 2023</em>
<br><br>
Leaving Ty Gwyn, we headed on through the spectacular scenery around Snowdonia as the weather rapidly deteriorated. Having negotiated heavy rain, conditions improved as we approached Bangor at dusk. Overnight accommodation had been arranged at The Management Centre operated by Bangor University. The main university campus at Bangor is at the summit of a hill overlooking the town and the Menai Strait. The Management Centre is a Residential Training, Conference and Events Venue housed in three buildings built in 1910 on the slope below the main campus. After restoration and refurbishment, these three buildings were re-opened with their present role in 2010. My pleasantly-situated room in one residential block gave a view of the main Management Centre building to the left, faced a similar residential block and revealed the Menai Strait looking to the right.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53138046297_43d0d02ba8.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53138046297_43d0d02ba8.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Main Management Centre building, Bangor</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53139053535_0ce01f60a4.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53139053535_0ce01f60a4.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>View of the Menai Strait from The Management Centre, Bangor</em>
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We'd arrived early enough to take dinner in the '1884' restaurant at The Management Centre (1884 was the founding date of Bangor University). Informed that fish had run out (my usual choice), I opted for vegetarian tagliatelle which was very good. After the enjoyable meal with my friends, I was happy to retire to my well-appointed bedroom for a good night's sleep. On Tuesday morning, we took the buffet breakfast at the '1884' before setting off for our meeting.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53139053330_f9ffed0edf.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53139053330_f9ffed0edf.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Bedroom at The Management Centre, Bangor</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53139053375_56b0aa6a76.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53139053375_56b0aa6a76.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Breakfast at '1884' Restaurant, The Management Centre, Bangor</em>
<br><br>
Since our meeting was scheduled to last all day, we made a brief stop on the way at the large Marks and Spencer's supermarket to select sandwiches, snacks and drinks to sustain us. The meeting was near Bethesda at Felin Fawr Cyf. Here, a series of early industrial buildings have been converted into 'Units' for small business use. Concentrating on the business of the meeting, my antenna failed to alert me to the significance of the location until Steve said "There's an abandoned railway out the back!". When the meeting finished, Steve was hoping to drive back to South Wales, dropping me off on the way so there wasn't much time to explore, but I made sure of a few pictures to prompt further study later. I was puzzled that the truncated trackwork, with a gauge of around two feet, included some modern sleepers, indicating fairly recent (say within 10 years) maintenance. Well, that was a puzzle for the future. I was returned home safely by car after an interesting couple of days and eventually added a post about the Penrhyn Quarry Railway <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2023/10/penrhyn-quarry-railway.html">here</a>.
<br><br>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53139093278_6f0acc5609.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53139093278_6f0acc5609.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Railway sidings at Felin Fawr</em>
<br><br>
<strong><em>Related posts on other websites</em></strong>
<br><br>
<a href="https://www.bangor.ac.uk/management_centre/">The Management Centre, Bangor</a>.<br>
<br><br>
<strong><em>Related posts on this website</em></strong>
<br><br>
My posts on Brewood Hall are <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/search/label/Brewood%20Hall">here</a>.<br>
My posts on Ty Gwyn are <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/search/label/Ty%20Gwyn">here</a>.
<br><br>
<strong>My pictures</strong>
<br><br>
My pictures of Brewood Hall are <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/collections/72157626974422504/">here</a>.<br>
My pictures of Ty Gwyn are <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/collections/72157626974422504/">here</a>.<br>
My pictures of The Management Centre are <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72177720310718034">here</a>.<br>
My pictures at Felin Fawr Cyf (showing the reconstructed trackwork) are <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72177720310717849">here</a>.<br>
<br><br>
<em>[Link to Penrhyn Quarry Railway post added 31-Oct-2023]</em>
</span>Jan Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629634827697853421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247877927166606400.post-44386505040609850522023-10-06T11:57:00.004+01:002023-10-06T12:12:42.830+01:00Global Centre for Rail Excellence Open Day<span style="font-family:arial;">
<em> On Monday 12th June 2023, I visited the former Nant Helen Opencast and associated Onllwyn Washery site (extending to 550 hectares) which is to become the Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) in South Wales to attend their 'Open Day'. I travelled by rail to Newport the previous day with an overnight stay in Newport (described <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2023/08/by-train-to-newport.html">here</a>). before the 'Open Day' visit.</em>
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<strong>A liitle background</strong>
<br><br>
The geology of Wales gave the country massive deposits of coal and other minerals. Initially, early tramroads were used to assist extraction but the growth of steam power (in manufacturing, railways and steamships) increased demand and led to a series of railways being created. The Dulais Valley had a number of mines, giving rise to various local iron and copper works.
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Over time, underground mining gave way to opencast mining. Excavators first remove topsoil which is taken away by large dump trucks (called 'Haulers') and stored in soil mounds to be reused when mining is complete. Excavators then remove the unwanted material ('overburden') to access the coal-bearing layers beneath, resulting in a large pit or void, equipped with a network of roads allowing the coal extracted by excavators to be hauled away. Remediation of areas once extraction ceases can start in some areas even as opencast mining continues in others.
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Until 2022, coal from Nant Helen was loaded onto rail wagons at Onllwyn Washery and carried away using the former Neath and Brecon Railway. The refusal by the Coal Authority (a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) to issue a license for continued extraction forced closure of the mine and Washery and the railway was mothballed.
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The Welsh Government, Powys County Council and Neath Port Talbot County Council developed an ambitious scheme to convert the Nant Helen site into a world-class test site for railway rolling stock and advanced railway infrastructure construction techniques called Global Centre for Rail Excellence (GCRE). GCRE will compete with existing facilities at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wegberg-Wildenrath_Test_and_Validation_Centre">Wildenrath</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velim_test_centre">Velim</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Dalby_Test_Track">Old Dalby</a> (Wikipedia)<br>
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<strong>The Open Day</strong>
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Invitees to the open day were representatives from organisations who'd been involved in Innovate UK Phase 1 Bids at the site and were interested in bidding for further support on twelve projects during Phase 2 of this project. The meeting point was Onllwyn Welfare Hall (formerly Onllwyn Miners' Welfare Hall). After brief introductions given by GCRE staff, participants were divided into a number of parties to be escorted on a tour of the site using a fleet of Land Rovers. The site of GCRE is currently a building site where remediation work is being carried out using heavy plant, so the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, usually referred to as 'CDM Regs', apply requiring invitees to use full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during the tour.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971811378_e495f11eb1.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971811378_e495f11eb1.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>GCRE: Onllwyn Welfare Hall, GCRE 'Open Day'</em>
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The Land Rovers were lined up in the car park outside the Welfare Hall and, once loaded, a short drive on public roads took us to the road overbridge where the currently-disused single-line railway from Neath enters the Nant Helen site near Onllwyn Washery.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971811193_a6c0ea207d.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971811193_a6c0ea207d.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>GCRE: View from bridge over railway on Onllwyn Road, looking towards former Washery. Note trap points, operated from single-lever ground frame incorporating a keylock</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971811153_ba882c201a.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971811153_ba882c201a.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>GCRE: View from bridge over railway on Onllwyn Road, looking towards Neath. In the distance, note the level crossing on an internal site road formerly used by mining vehicles.</em>
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We then continued on a surfaced internal site road towards the offices of the former opencast complex.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52970757362_48f0a62395.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52970757362_48f0a62395.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>GCRE: Land Rover Site Tour approaching offices/car park through land restored L: 1995-2000 R: 1980-1990</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971737330_a724575703.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971737330_a724575703.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>GCRE: Land Rover Site Tour passing the Offices/Car Park</em>
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We continued past the offices to the northern boundary of the site where we stopped to see the result of remediation work, including tree planting, carried out between 1993 and 1998.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971358321_09d2347ffa.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971358321_09d2347ffa.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>GCRE: Land Rover Site Tour paused to show the land towards the north of the site restored between 1993 and 1998.</em>
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Looking north, there were impressive view towards the Brecon Beacons with Abercrave village in the foreground (served by the A4221 road hidden in the trees).
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971737545_b344265af3.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971737545_b344265af3.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>GCRE: Land Rover Site Tour showing Abercrave to the north of the site.</em>
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The Land Rovers returned to the office complex and turned west, past rows of parked heavy plant left and right and what I assumed were the vehicle maintenance workshops. From here, we continued on what had been named the Haul Road - a feature of mining sites where massive vehicles bring back the extracted material from the working face to a central point for processing or distribution. Some heavy plant was in use but many vehicles appeared to be in store. Presumably some of the plant previously used in the extraction of coal has been re-purposed for the ongoing remediation work.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971737285_7ca02bef06.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971737285_7ca02bef06.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>GCRE: Land Rover Site Tour showing tracked excavators in store. They appear to be Komatsu PC 2000. CAT 'Dozers' are also parked</em>
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Our Land Rovers started to prove their worth as we entered a grey 'moonscape' where the surface, frequently wide enough for a motorway, had been rolled but not surfaced.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52970759667_9983999f36.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52970759667_9983999f36.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>GCRE: Land Rover Site Tour on the Haul Road</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971357956_336c4ec03d.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971357956_336c4ec03d.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>GCRE: Land Rover Site Tour showing a 20-ton tracked excavator (JCB 220X LC) operated by Walters with a number of Volvo A30G Articulated Haulers parked</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971813263_ab039095c6.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971813263_ab039095c6.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>GCRE: Land Rover Site Tour on the Haul Road showing a CAT 'Medium Dozer' being refuelled from a Fuel Bowser</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971736410_70ca032aa6.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971736410_70ca032aa6.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>GCRE: Land Rover Site Tour passes a Volvo A30G Articulated Hauler ('Dump Truck') which can carry a 29 tonne net load</em>
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I was fascinated as we approached an unfamiliar-looking tracked machine being loaded onto a trailer. By the time we passed the scene, the machine had been left halfway up the trailer ramp. It appeared to be a drilling rig but, knowing nothing of groundworks, it took a little searching to conclude it was a Eijkelkamp Fraste CRS XL140 DUO multi-purpose sonic rig.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971737105_a547320fd7.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971737105_a547320fd7.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>GCRE: Land Rover Site Tour on the Haul Road with plant at work and Drilling Rig about to be loaded onto low loader hauled by tractor </em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971737000_7c55d6c09c.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971737000_7c55d6c09c.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Eijkelkamp Fraste drilling rig: It appears to be a CRS XL140 DUO multi-purpose sonic rig (GCRE)</em>
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Mining operations had left a large Void and the tour paused to allow the appearance, somehat softened by remediation work and fringed by spruce trees, to be viewed.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971813033_25e90705d5.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971813033_25e90705d5.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>GCRE: Land Rover Site Tour paused to view the Void</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52970759342_24f482e0fc.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52970759342_24f482e0fc.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>GCRE: Land Rover Site Tour at The Void</em>
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At the highest point on the site, we passed a battered-looking self-supporting telescopic antenna which had been used for site communication using hand portables or private mobile radios.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52970758807_8641b11320.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52970758807_8641b11320.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>GCRE: Land Rover Site Tour passes a rather battered transmission tower which supported site communications</em>
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The Land Rovers then returned us to the Welfare Hall for welcome refreshments.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52970758642_f399e051c0.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52970758642_f399e051c0.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>GCRE: Onllwyn Welfare Hall, GCRE 'Open Day'</em>
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In the afternoon, we had a walking tour, proceeding on foot to the railway bridge on Onllwyn Road. After some discussion regarding the planned work to renew the rusting structure and adjust the railway track level, we took the internal site road to the level crossing on the Neath site of the bridge. It looked as if the level crossing and associated site roads had been provided to allow heavy road traffic from the mine to reach the Washery without crossing the rather fragile-looking road bridge.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52970758652_ea592a5ce0.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52970758652_ea592a5ce0.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>GCRE: Washery-Depot Area Walking Tour, GCRE Open Day, showing party joining the branch line at the level crossing</em>
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The tour continued along the railway track towards the Washery, passing under the Onllwyn Road bridge.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971356321_06f6985477.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971356321_06f6985477.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>GCRE: Washery-Depot Area Walking Tour, GCRE Open Day, showing Onllwyn Road bridge with stone-built pediments.</em>
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We passed the original trap points, operated from a key-locked single-lever ground frame, which controlled movements from the Washery area onto the single line to Neath. Two original turnouts remain, as the single line fans out, but further on all permanent way has been lifted with a few panels of track neatly piled.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971811533_2039f36f21.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971811533_2039f36f21.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>GCRE: Washery-Depot Area Walking Tour, GCRE Open Day, showing two turnouts and stop block. Note spare track panels in background.</em>
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Beyond here, the original sidings have been lifted and earthworks have been carried out, leaving a solitary abandoned CCTV camera (fitted in what appears to be a Dennard pan and tilt housing with windscreen wiper).
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971735330_cb93a30de9.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971735330_cb93a30de9.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>GCRE: Washery-Depot Area Walking Tour, GCRE Open Day, showing abandoned CCTV camera. Note tripod for surveying equipment in background.</em>
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Although the walking had tired me, it was disappointing that we didn't go further into the Washery area but instead cut through a car park near the security building and site entrance from Onllwyn Road to regain the public road and return to the Welfare Hall.
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An unusual and absorbing visit.
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<strong>Introduction to other Test Centres on other websites</strong>
<br><br>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wegberg-Wildenrath_Test_and_Validation_Centre">Wegberg-Wildenrath Test and Validation Centre</a> (Wikipedia)<br>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velim_test_centre">Velim test centre</a> (Wikipedia)<br>
<a href="https://www.cdvuz.cz/en/page/zkusebni-centrum-vuz-velim">VUZ TEST CENTRE VELIM</a><br>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Dalby_Test_Track">Old Dalby Test Track</a> (Wikipedia)<br>
<a href="http://www.old-dalby.com/">The Old Dalby Test Track</a>
<br><br>
<strong>Related articles on other websites</strong>
<br><br>
<a href="https://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/GlamWest/Onllyn.htm#:~:text=In%201947%20the%20mine%20became,drift%20followed%20in%20April%201964.">History of Onllwyn Collieries</a> (Welsh Coal Mines)<br>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Centre_of_Rail_Excellence">Global Centre for Rail Excellence</a> (Wikipedia)<br>
<a href="https://www.efrigs.co.uk/_files/ugd/a099f7_68be8e03150a43dc9f8b1e520643fbb9.pdf">Eijkelkamp Fraste CRS XL140 DUO</a><br>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_Authority">Coal Authority</a> (Wikipedia)<br>
<br><br>
<strong>Related posts on this website</strong>
<br><br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2023/08/by-train-to-newport.html">By Train to Newport</a> (Getting to Wales for the Open Day)
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<strong>My pictures</strong>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72177720309032864">GCRE</a>.
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</span>Jan Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629634827697853421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247877927166606400.post-72342397493485221952023-09-09T15:17:00.006+01:002023-09-09T15:26:22.925+01:00Brewood Hall Garden Party 2023<span style="font-family:arial;">
<em>On 25th July 2023, Brewood Garden Party was held, for the ninth time, in the garden at Brewood Hall. In 2023 it was a rather different experience as we had heavy, intermittent rain throughout the day (and the preceding and following days). Visitor numbers were somewhat down on previous years but the organisers were gratified that most people seemed determined to enjoy the event, rain or no rain!</em>
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Earlier in 2022, the organising committee (representing <a href="http://www.2ndbrewoodscouts.org.uk/">2nd Brewood Scouts</a>, Brewood Parish Church and the informal group Friends of Brewood Hall) met a number of times to plan the event.
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<strong>Setting Up</strong>
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During the two days prior to the event, the marquees, tents, tables, chairs and other items needed were brought to Brewood Hall from various locations using cars towing trailers. Brewood Scouts and other volunteers erected the tents and arranged the seating areas. On the day of the Garden Party, despite the indifferent weather, all the work was completed in time for the public to be admitted at noon. The Garden Party, lasting just four hours, requires a lot of commitment from those involved before, during and after the event.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53083971189_ec9e3fe225.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53083971189_ec9e3fe225.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Setting-up the event during rather indifferent weather: Brewood Hall Garden Party 2023</em>
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<em>Erecting the marquees: Brewood Hall Garden Party 2023</em>
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<em>Plenty of marquee space offered some defence against inclement weather: Brewood Hall Garden Party 2023</em>
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<strong>The Event</strong>
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The weather prior to the Garden Party had been unusually cool with rain but the organisers decided that cancellation was not an option, although it was feared that, if wet, nobody would come. The morning of the garden party was a mixture of heavy rain, light rain with periods when the rain stopped and optimists cried "I think it's clearing up!". But the weather didn't improve much during the afternoon. To the relief of the organisers, at noon visitors started to arrive, seemingly determined to enjoy the event whatever the weather.
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Once again, Peter Plowright was a welcoming presence on the admissions table, this time with rather limited protection from a gazebo.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53083781716_e009db0865.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53083781716_e009db0865.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Peter Plowright handled admissions: Brewood Hall Garden Party 2023</em>
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During the rainy periods, the refreshment tent provided plenty of tables and chairs under cover to enjoy the selection of drinks and food, ensuring the catering volunteers were kept busy throughout the afternoon. The adjacent Beer Tent offered locally-brewed Enville Ale, lager, Pimms and soft drinks and the next tent offered Burgers and Hot Dogs which proved very popular. Although the weather was less than ideal, a mobile ice-cream van made a visit during the afternoon and appeared to do reasonable business.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53084186200_2b75f3670c.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53084186200_2b75f3670c.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>The Refreshment Tent was always busy: Brewood Hall Garden Party 2023</em>
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<em>Enville Ale, Lager, Pimms and soft drinks at the Beer Tent: Brewood Hall Garden Party 2023</em>
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<em>Burgers and Hot Dogs were available throughout: Brewood Hall Garden Party 2023</em>
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Young visitors were well looked after by the attractions with a large marquee with games and Tuck Shop. Outside, there was the ever-popular coconut shy, they could closely examine the locomotive 'Phoenix' (although, sadly, not in steam) and Brewood's big red Fire Engine.
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<em>A large marquee housing games and attractions for children was always busy: Brewood Hall Garden Party 2023</em>
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<em>The steam locomotive 'Phoenix', although static, was popular with youngsters: Brewood Hall Garden Party 2023</em>
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<em>The Fire Service displayed the impressive Brewood equipment: Brewood Hall Garden Party 2023</em>
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We welcomed back local group 'Hubbub' who entertained during the afternoon. As usual, there was a Tombola stall and members of the parish church had produced a wide range of Plants and Produce for sale.
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<em>'Hubbub' provided a variety of music throughout the event: Brewood Hall Garden Party 2023</em>
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<em>Left: Extra refreshment stall seating, Centre: Music group 'Hubbub', Right: Tombola stall. The Hall watches all the activities impassively at Brewood Hall Garden Party 2023</em>
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<em>The Plants and Produce Stall attracted plenty of interest: Brewood Hall Garden Party 2023</em>
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Established favorites Chase Ferrets returned with their animals. Ferrets are part of the weasel family and were first domesticated over 2,500 years ago. Brighter Days Dog Rescue made their first appearance.
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<em>Established favorites Chase Ferrets attended again: Brewood Hall Garden Party 2023</em>
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<em>Brighter Days Rescue made their first visit: Brewood Hall Garden Party 2023</em>
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The Brewood Community Hub now has a wide range of activities and clubs including Baby Sling, Bouncing Bunnies, Dementia Support Group, Sewcialise and Table Tennis. Rooms are used by Scouts, Cubs, Beavers, Guides and Brownies and are available for hire. In connection with the Community Hub Art Club, Hannah Broadhead Art arranged an extensive display of her art.
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<em>Crochet, knitting and other crafts on a Brewood Community Hub stall: Brewood Hall Garden Party 2023</em>
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Despite the less-than-ideal weather, all reports from visitors were encouraging. Not only did people enjoy the activities but funds were generated for the supported charitable initiatives.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53083971684_d0aa1f35e2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53083971684_d0aa1f35e2.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Not all rain! In the background (L-R) Coconut Shy, Hot Dog Stall, Beer Tent: Brewood Hall Garden Party 2023</em>
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<strong>After the Event</strong>
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The Event closed at four o'clock leaving lots of work for the volunteers. Admissions money and stall takings were counted on the day with Geoff H. then arranging refund of agreed expenses and distribution of nett proceeds to the beneficiary charities. Dismantling the stalls and Marquees was started on the day but loading up trailers and returning equipment to storage was spead over a couple of days.
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<strong>Reports on previous garden parties at Brewood Hall</strong>
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<a href="http://janfordsworld.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/brewood-vintage-garden-party-2013.html">Brewood Vintage Garden Party 2013</a>.<br>
<a href="http://janfordsworld.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/brewood-vintage-garden-party-2014.html">Brewood Vintage Garden Party 2014</a>.<br>
<a href="http://janfordsworld.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/brewood-garden-party-2015.html">Brewood Garden Party 2015</a>.<br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/brewood-garden-party-2016.html">Brewood Garden Party 2016</a>.<br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2017/08/brewood-garden-party-2017.html">Brewood Garden Party 2017</a>.<br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2018/07/brewood-garden-party-2018.html">Brewood Garden Party 2018</a>.<br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2019/07/brewood-hall-garden-party-2019.html">Brewood Garden Party 2019</a>.<br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2022/11/brewood-garden-party-2022.html">Brewood Garden Party 2022</a>.
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<strong>Related posts on other websites</strong>
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<a href="http://www.2ndbrewoodscouts.org.uk/">2nd Brewood Scouts</a><br>
<a href="https://www.chaseferretrescue.com/">Chase Ferret Rescue</a><br>
<a href="https://brighterdaysrescue.com/">Brighter Days Rescue</a>
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<strong>Pictures of the event in 2023</strong>
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Depending on the display device, the right hand edge of pictures may not display. To see an uncropped image, click on the picture. Alternately, you can find the image by following the link below and display or download the image in various resolutions.
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72177720310146775">Brewood Garden Party 2023</a><br>
</span>Jan Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629634827697853421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247877927166606400.post-22600487650033629322023-08-28T14:17:00.006+01:002023-12-09T12:20:53.435+00:00By Train to Newport<span style="font-family:arial;">
<em>A visit to the site which is to become the Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) in South Wales to attend their 'Open Day' involved a Sunday journey to Newport on 11th June 2023, returning the following day after a visit to the extensive GCRE site.</em>
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Sunday travel is rarely convenient on the British Railway Network as it's a favourite day for Network Rail to carry out engineering works, frequently substituting Rail Replacement Bus Services for part or all of the route of scheduled trains. I expected to find a Cross Country service via Bristol Parkway but, instead there appeared to be a number of trains running between Nottingham and Newport via Gloucester, with a bus service forward to Cardiff. I pre-booked tickets online.
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On Sunday, Dean took me by road to Wolverhampton station in plenty of time to catch my first train to Birmingham New Street. At Birmingham, I made my way to the wide concourse area connecting the different platforms. The station was very busy but I easily located the Passenger Information Screens which showed my train approaching platform 12 on time. After purchasing food for the onward journey, I made my way to the platform which was crammed with passengers. Platform 12 is the highest-numbered platform, sharply-curved on the southern side of the station.
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The first station in Birmingham was the 1838 Curzon Street, equipped with a suitably grand building by the London and Birmingham Railway. Although the grade 1 listed building survives, it has been neglected for years. It's to become subsumed into the ridiculous new terminus being built for the unwanted and expensive HS2 railway.
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<em>Curzon Street station building in 2007</em>
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Curzon Street was relegated to a goods depot when New Street Station was built, one kilometre to the south-west. The rail approaches to New Street were all by tunnel so the cramped station was built in a 'hole in the ground' between the North and South tunnels. The London and North Western Railway managed to get straight platforms but the Midland Railway had to settle for curved platforms which are little changed today. Glazed, arched train shed roofing originally covered the platforms. That on the London and North Western side was lost, I think to bombing in the second world war, so I only remember the utilitarian umbrella roofing which replaced it but I remember the Midland side train shed which survived the war in a dingy and delapidated state. British Railways rebuilt the station by burying the whole area beneath a multi-storey building and its approaches. Even after electrification (and still today) many of the services remained diesel powered, ensuring an unpleasant environment for waiting passengers. Birmingham New Street held my 'Britain's most unpleasant station' award for many years until it was decided to rebuild the station again, creating years of additional confusion for passengers as the work proceeded. Unfortunately, because of the site constraints, few of the fundamental defects could be remedied, although I think platform ventilation is improved. The station now boasts an even larger shopping centre, styling itself 'Grand Central'. Having visited the rather better-known Grand Central in New York, I think the appropriation of the name at New Street is unjustified.
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<em>Grand Central, Birmingham New Street: Atrium showing retail outlets at Concourse Level and around the Gallery.</em>
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My train, a Class 170 3-car diesel multiple unit, arrived on time and a stream of passengers got off, to be replaced by the hordes waiting on the platform. I gratefully found my reserved seat and tucked myself in the corner. If I'd noticed just how many young people had boarded, I might not have been surprised when, at our first stop at University after just five minutes travel, a large number of passengers abandoned the train. Even after the exodus, the train remained pretty crowded. The next stop was Worcestershire Parkway. This is a recent addition, opened 2020, with a large car park. In addition to the two platforms on the former Midland route to Bristol (now called the 'Cross Country Line'), the station has a third platform on the Oxford and Worcester line which crosses over at this point. The Oxford and Worcester is marketed as the 'Cotswold Line' and is single line between Norton Junction (a little to the west of the new station) for the ten miles to Evesham.
<br><br>Our next stop was Cheltenham Spa. Because of the Byzantine complexity of the pricing structure for train tickets, 'Split Ticketing' is now commonplace. For instance, it is often cheaper to buy a Birmingham-Cheltenham Spa ticket and a separate Cheltenham Spa-Newport ticket, rather than a combined Birmingham-Newport ticket. Many of the online booking services now incorporate this feature in their pricing automatically, requiring me to print and manage two tickets for the journey from Birmingham to Newport on one train. Leaving Cheltenham Spa, we bowled along happily until Barnwood Junction, where we diverged right onto the northern leg of the triangular junction leading to Gloucester. Once again, there was quite an interchange of passengers before we continued on our way, showing a decent turn of speed in between stops at Lydney, Chepstow and Caldicot.
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Just after Caldicot, our route converged with the Great Western Main Line, rising up from the Welsh portal of the 4 mile 628 yard long Severn Junnel. It was clear from the 'Freightliner' Class 66 on a ballast train and the collection of yellow-liveried track machines that the tunnel route was under an Engineering Possession and not available to normal trains that day.
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<em>Ballast train and Track machines on the Great Western Main Line just east of Severn Tunnel Junction station viewed from Caldicot line</em>
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Continuing west from Severn Tunnel Junction, there are four running lines, paired by direction. The Bishton Flyover re-arranges the order of the lines into paired by use. This was presumably to facilitate freight traffic entering and leaving the massive Llanwern Steelworks site. Steelmaking ceased some years ago and much of the site is being re-developed by St. Modwen. Spain's CAF are assembling Class 197 'Civity' diesel multiple units for Transport for Wales at a thirty million pound new factory here. My train negotiated Maindee East Junction and Maindee West Junction where the Welsh Marches line to Hereford and Shrewsbury makes a triangular junction with the the South Wales Main Line, crossed over the River Usk and quietly came to a stand in platform 1 at Newport. On that day, the service was terminating at Newport, rather than continuing to Cardiff, so passengers for Cardiff were forced to complete their journey by a Rail Replacement bus.
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<em>Newport Station Platform 1, after arrival of Class 170 from Nottingham</em>
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I was booked into the Mercure Hotel for the night and had arranged that Steve M. would meet me later at the hotel for an evening meal. I toyed with the idea of a taxi for the short distance to the hotel but the weather was fine and I only had a small pull-along case so I decided to continue on foot. My route took me through what I imagine is now called the 'Hospitality Quarter' - pedestrianised streets of colourful bars and restaurants. Judging by the amount of litter I waded through on that Sunday afternoon, the previous night had been a commercial success. The hotel entrance was an unassuming affair in pedestrianised Upper Dock Street opposite Friars Walk Shopping Centre and Leisure Complex. Steps and a ramp led through glass doors to a spartan reception with a reception desk at the far end and lift doors on the left led to the rest of the hotel. Checking-in was quick and friendly and the lift took me to my room on the eighth floor. The room was well-appointed with a decent bed and an excellent en-suite shower, wash basin and W.C. The large window gave a splendid view across the River Usk and the east of the city. Upstream, to the left, the river was crossed by the arched road bridge called Newport Bridge, adjacent to the remains of Newport Castle, with the railway bridge beyond.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971336726_3c6aea1499.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971336726_3c6aea1499.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Newport, Wales: View from 8th floor, Mercure Hotel showing railway and road bridges over the Usk</em>
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Downstream, I could see the stark, modernist Newport City Footbridge, opened in 2006. This cable-stayed bridge is supported by two tubular steel 'A'-frames 80 metres and 69 metres in length giving the bridge a span of 145 metres. In the foreground, I had a detailed view of the flat roof of Friars Walk, covered with all sorts of heating and ventilating equipment and ducts. I took a leisurely shower and relaxed. My inclination is always to get out and explore an unfamiliar location but, tired from the travelling, I decided to settle for a 'virtual tour' by studying the book 'Newport History Tour' given to me by Steve. In the evening, I enjoyed a good meal in the hotel's restaurant with Steve and his partner before they returned home and I retired as I knew the following day would prove taxing. Steve arranged to return next morning in time for us to both have breakfast at the hotel before setting off for GCRE.
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After a good night's sleep, I arose early and decided there was time for a brief exploration before Steve arrived for breakfast. My interest had been piqued by a reference in the 'Newport History Tour' book to Early Power Transformers in Park Square and I judged there was time to walk there and see for myself. It was a fine morning and the city centre was just starting to awake. I was delighted to see contractors scrubbing and washing pavements ready for the new day. I found a disused, preserved transformer near the top of Park Square. I'm used to cast iron cabinets installed on pavements mounting substantial fuses to protect street mains but the cylindrical, decorated pillar I found was a much grander affair. At some point, it had been nicely repainted in blue, with detailing picked out in pale blue and although there was obvious damage, it still looked quite handsome. I believe this relic dates from around 1894 when a power station in Llanarth Street, Newport distributed alternating current at 2,000 volts via rubber insulated cables to a series of these pillars where transformers extracted power at 200 volts a.c. for domestic use.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53144591881_1a74ab26ef.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53144591881_1a74ab26ef.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Newport, Wales: Park Square Transformer</em>
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There were tall, hinged doors at low level and smaller doors at high level. One of the larger doors had been opened and rusting on the hinges now prevented it from being closed, resulting in a collection of litter and leaves inside. The original transformer was still in situ, as shown below, but further study is needed to better understand the design.
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Excited by what I'd found, I hurried back to the hotel for a sustaining English buffet breakfast with Steve before checking out. Steve and I then set off for the visit to GCRE.
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<strong>Book references</strong>
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[1] 'Newport History Tour' by Jan Preece (Amberley Publishing 2019) ISBN: 978 1 4456 9292 0.
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<strong>Related posts on this website</strong>
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<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2012/08/lionsmeet-2012.html">Lionsmeet 2012</a> (A live-steam model event at Newport in 2012)<br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2014/08/a-trip-to-south-wales-part-2.html">A Trip to South Wales (Part 2)</a> (A visit to Newport in 2014)<br>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52971336726_3c6aea1499.jpg">Caldicot by Train</a> (Travel on the same route in 2019)<br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2023/10/global-centre-for-rail-excellence-open.html">Global Centre for Rail Excellence Open Day</a> (Visit to GCRE)
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<strong>My pictures</strong>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/sets/72157626817757226/">West Midland Railways</a>.<br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/sets/72157645554514847/">Newport, Wales</a>.<br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/sets/72157631030175002/">Newport area rail</a>.
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<em>[Link to GCRE Visit post added: 9-Dec-2023]</em>
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</span>Jan Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629634827697853421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247877927166606400.post-31907261600064191522023-08-13T12:00:00.001+01:002023-10-06T11:59:21.812+01:00Lionsmeet 2023: Birmingham Society of Model Engineers<span style="font-family:arial;">
<em>The Old Locomotive Committee (OLCO) normally visits a different model engineering society each year for a day of running live steam models of 'Lion'. In 2023, the event on 1st July held in Solihull at the Illshaw Heath Road site of the Birmingham Society of Model Engineers was overshadowed by the unexpected death of John Brandrick, the Chairman of OLCO, a few weeks earlier. However, since the Birmingham club had been John Brandrick's 'home club' some years ago, it was considered appropriate to proceed with the arrangements John himself had made for our visit.</em>
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<strong>The Birmingham Society of Model Engineers</strong>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53081014176_3a7b0c2b2a_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53081014176_3a7b0c2b2a_n.jpg" /></a><br> <br>
The club was founded in 1936 with the aim of bringing together people from all walks of life who share a common interest in model engineering and its heritage, in miniature. It operates from a splendid track at Ilshaw Heath, Solihull. There is a continuous elevated track for 3.5" and 5" gauge models 319m in length (steel rails with recycled platic sleepers), an outer ground level circuit for 5" and 7.25" gauge models 342 metres in length (steel rails with wooden sleepers) and an extensive garden railway catering for Gauge '0' and Gauge '1' models. The elevated and ground level tracks each have their own station for loading and unloading passengers with overbridges for access and awnings and features in G.W.R. style. Two signal boxes in G.W.R. style are provided and each circuit has colour light signalling. Steaming bays (with built-in power for both 12 and 24 volt electric blowers) and all the usual facilities including toilets are provided. There is a fine purpose-built clubhouse, well fitted-out for providing refreshments. The whole site has been landscaped, forming an attractive venue.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53097177309_ee8fea3b5d.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53097177309_ee8fea3b5d.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>This Aerial view of BSME Ilshaw Heath track gives an impression of the extensive faciliites (Google)<br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/53097177309">Click for larger view</a></em>
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Ilshaw Heath Halt, with its GWR appearance, is situated just outside the clubhouse. The impressive footbridge provides pedestrian access to the grassed area enclosed by the running tracks.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53024264412_fe83385b4d.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53024264412_fe83385b4d.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Ilshaw Heath Halt on the elevated track, with footbridge in the background and the clubhouse just visible to the right: Lionsmeet 2023: Birmingham Society of Model Engineers</em>
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Kingswood station serving the outer, ground level track was not in use during 'Lionsmeet' but it provided an impressive 'backdrop'. It also has a GWR appearance with umbrella roofing along the island platform, parachute water tank and brick-built signal box.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53024264132_430fde18e2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53024264132_430fde18e2.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Kingswood station on the ground level circuit with Signal Box in the distance and elevated track on the right: Lionsmeet 2023: Birmingham Society of Model Engineers</em>
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<strong>Live steam running</strong>
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Fortunately, the weather was good throughout the day. The steaming bays quickly became the focus of interest as 'Lion' models were unloaded and prepared for operation. There was parking for visitors with models near the loading point where models are moved between road vehicles and a manual traverser. This traverser allows interchange of locomotives between two sidings leading to and from the steaming bays and to and from the elevated continuous track.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53025327673_bfa91a6292.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53025327673_bfa91a6292.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Adrian Banks on 'Thunderbolt' near the substantially-built manual traverser which links two sidings from the steaming bays with with the elevated track. Note the hinged multi-gauge 'transfer flap' in the raised position: Lionsmeet 2023: Birmingham Society of Model Engineers</em>
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Adjacent to the traverser, an electrically-powered elevator is available to allow heavier models to be lifted from a road vehicle onto the traverser.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53024840691_6374bf52db.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53024840691_6374bf52db.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>The electrically-powered Elevator provided for lifting larger models: Lionsmeet 2023: Birmingham Society of Model Engineers</em>
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At the steaming bays, a '2-into-1' traverser selects which of the two sidings from the loading point connects to the turntable.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53024844526_4ebfb73e8a.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53024844526_4ebfb73e8a.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Activity at the Steaming Bays with the Carriage Shed beyond: Lionsmeet 2023: Birmingham Society of Model Engineers</em>
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A further outlet from the steaming bay turntable feeds the carriage shed, recognisable as a pre-cast sectional garage. To allow the doors of this shed to close, a removeable section of track is used to 'bridge' between the turntable and the carriage shed.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53025014079_6d146a979d.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53025014079_6d146a979d.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Interior of the Carriage Shed: Lionsmeet 2023: Birmingham Society of Model Engineers</em>
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The original format for 'Lionsmeet' featured a fairly good-natured competition between 'Lion' models to determine the most "efficient" (determined by measured work done in ten minutes). But, some few years ago, the competition was abandoned in favour of a more relaxed, informal style which allows plenty of time for congenial conversation between locomotive drivers, non-drivers and members of the host club in an atmosphere infused with the attractive odour of warm oil and steam. Four 'Lion' models were steamed and, in addition, various models were on static display, some under construction. John Hawley's splendid 7.25" gauge 'Lion' (built by Harrye Frowen) was much admired but, sadly, not in steam.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53024261492_935880d917.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53024261492_935880d917.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>"Brewing up": Lionsmeet 2023: Birmingham Society of Model Engineers</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53025015379_24ec30d38d.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53025015379_24ec30d38d.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Bryan Buckley offers comments to the driver of Bryan's 'Lion' (which carries a 'Worcester and District' headboard). A second 'Lion' waits to follow into the station and, in the backgound, 'Thunderbolt' approaches: Lionsmeet 2023: Birmingham Society of Model Engineers</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53025328228_702088e2e3.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53025328228_702088e2e3.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>John Hawley's splendid 7.25" gauge 'Lion', built by Harrye Frowen): Lionsmeet 2023: Birmingham Society of Model Engineers</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53024841191_b2c98bd54e.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53024841191_b2c98bd54e.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Adrian Banks lets a member of BSME try 'Thunderbolt': Lionsmeet 2023: Birmingham Society of Model Engineers</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53025231570_da2326b081.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53025231570_da2326b081.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>'Thunderbolt' and three 'Lions': Lionsmeet 2023: Birmingham Society of Model Engineers</em>
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<strong>BSME Clubhouse</strong>
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Hot and Cold drinks with snacks were available at the refreshment area within the large clubhouse throughout the day. A fine buffet lunch was served, finishing with strawberries and cream.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53024844466_c8d632df85.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53024844466_c8d632df85.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>The purpose-built clubhouse viewed from the Footbridge at Ilshaw Heath Halt: Lionsmeet 2023: Birmingham Society of Model Engineers</em>
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<strong>Overall Impression</strong>
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Of course, the unexpected death of John Brandrick, the Chairman of OLCO, just a few weeks before cast a long shadow over the event but I believe he would have approved of enthusiasts coming together to operate and discuss live steam models which had always been so important to him. OLCO extend warm thanks for the generous welcome shown by B.S.M.E. They have a well-established site with an impressive range of facilities which I'm afraid this report only hints at.
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<strong>Related posts on other websites</strong>
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<a href="https://www.birminghamsme.com/">Birmingham Society of Model Engineers Ltd.</a>
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<strong>Related posts on this website</strong>
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To find all my posts about the Old Locomotive Committee and the locomotive 'Lion', <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/search/label/OLCO">click here</a> or select 'OLCO' under 'Labels to select a blog topic'.
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<strong>My pictures at Lionsmeet 2023</strong>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72177720309560337">Lionsmeet 2023: Birmingham Society of Model Engineers</a>
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Depending on the display device, the right hand edge of pictures may not display. To see an uncropped image, click on the picture. Alternately, you can find the image by following the 'My pictures' links and display or download the image in various resolutions.
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</span>Jan Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629634827697853421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247877927166606400.post-66965905079859092192023-05-29T13:03:00.002+01:002023-05-29T13:03:41.434+01:00Manchester-Sheffield-Wath Electrification<span style="font-family:arial;">
Long before the Euston and Manchester Electrification Project brought 25 kV a.c. traction to Manchester, the city was host to various electrified railways. The innovative Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, after a pilot scheme, electrified the Manchester Victoria to Bury commuter line which I hope to describe in the future. Overhead electrification at 1500 volts d.c. was next introduced on the Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Railway in 1931 (there's a short post <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2023/02/manchester-south-junction-altrincham.html">here</a>).
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Manchester London Road station (since renamed Manchester Piccadilly) was opened as a railway terminus in 1842 to serve two main line railways: the Manchester and Birmingham (from the south) and the Sheffield, Ashton-under Lyne and Manchester Railway (from the east). The Sheffield, Ashton-under Lyne and Manchester Railway had opened as far as Godley by 1842 and, when fully opened, was always a challenging route, as the gradient diagram below reveals. The single-bore Woodhead Tunnels, each 3 miles long, added to the difficulties. For more about the tunnels, see the Wikipedia article <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodhead_Tunnel">here</a> and the 'Forgotten Relics of an Enterprising Age' article <a href="http://www.forgottenrelics.co.uk/tunnels/woodhead.html">here</a>.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52756915861_859f3a7969_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52756915861_859f3a7969_b.jpg" width="500" height="206" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="206" /></a><br>
<em><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/52756915861/sizes/c/">Click for larger view</a><br>Gradient Diagram: Sheffield - Manchester via Woodhead</em>
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In addition to passenger traffic, the line was an important freight route, conveying coal west across the Pennines to the factories of Lancashire. Coal originated both further south in the Nottinghamshire coalfield and from the South Yorkshire mines. Marshalling yards at Wath, north of Sheffield, consolidated the South Yorkshire traffic and a branch line from Wath joined the main Manchester to Sheffield line just east of Penistone. The branch from Wath included the fierce Worsborough Bank with a gradient of around 1 in 40 for which Gresley provided his massive U1 2-8-0+0-8-2 Beyer-Garratt as a banking engine (see the LNER Encyclopedia <a href="https://www.lner.info/locos/U/u1.php">here</a> for a brief description).
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The success of the electrification of the Manchester South Junction & Altrincham railway in 1931 (briefly described <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2023/02/manchester-south-junction-altrincham.html">here</a>) encouraged the L.N.E.R. to proceed with their plans for electrification of the main line between Manchester and Sheffield via Woodhead and the branch to Wath but after the first locomotive had been built, World War II suspended completion.
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After World War II, the long-planned scheme introduced main line overhead electrification at 1500 volts d.c. Full electric operation throughout the line was deferred until completion of the replacement double-line Woodhead tunnel large enough to accommodate the overhead line equipment. The double-line tunnel opened in 1953 and the majority of the electrified line finally opened in 1954, providing a modernised freight and passenger route across the Pennines. There's a Wikipedia article <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester%E2%80%93Sheffield%E2%80%93Wath_electric_railway">here</a> and a Metropolitan Vickers publicity brochure from 1954 on the Railways Archive website <a href="https://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/MetroVickers_MSWLocos1954.pdf">here</a>.
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Between 1971 and 1973, a massive coal-fired power station was commissioned at Fiddler's Ferry, near Warrington. There's a Wikipedia article <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiddlers_Ferry_power_station">here</a>. This power station produced a staggering 1,989 MW of power from its four 500 MW alternators. The Manchester-Sheffield-Wath route was used to transport coal to this facility.
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Plans to rationalise British Railways by eliminating duplicate routes originally slated the former Midland Railway Hope Valley line from Manchester to Sheffield for closure with the Manchester-Sheffield-Wath line being retained. But the plans were reversed and the Manchester-Sheffield-Wath line was closed in 1981. Following closure, the later double-line Woodhead Tunnel and the two original tunnels have been re-purposed for National Grid power cables.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52926734222_fa45bf2b14.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52926734222_fa45bf2b14.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Class 76 locomotives 76033 and 76031 at Woodhead on 24th March 1981 (Photo: Kevin Cooke CC BY-SA 3.0)</em>
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Fiddler's Ferry Power Station continued in operation after closure of the Manchester-Sheffield-Wath line in 1981, obtaining coal via other routes. Final decommissioning of the power station was not until 2020.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51977970407_5205818ef2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51977970407_5205818ef2.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Fiddler's Ferry decommissioned power station viewed from train approaching Runcorn in 2022</em>
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<strong>Electric Traction</strong>
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Two classes of electric locomotive and one class of electric multiple unit were produced for the line. Freight trains were hauled by one or two of the class of fifty-eight 'EM1' Bo-Bo locomotives. Express passenger trains were hauled by the class of seven 'EM2' Co-Co locomotives until they were withdrawn in 1968, after which 'EM1' locomotives were used until closure of the line. Eight 3-car Electric Multiple Units were built for suburban services from Manchester as far as Hadfield.
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<strong><em>EM1:</em></strong>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51950194405_2cbdb07db4.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51950194405_2cbdb07db4.jpg" width="500" height="274" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="274" /></a><br>
<em><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/51950194405/sizes/l/">Click for larger view</a><br>
'EM1' Electric Locomotive (from 'Metro-Vick Locos 1954' in Railway Archive)</em>
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The 'EM1' (later class 76) locomotive had four 467 horse power Metropolitan Vickers d.c. motors. Pair of motors on each bogie were permanently in series. For starting, all four motors were in series with 15 starting resistors in series. 'Notching-up' progressively removed these resistors. The two pairs of motors were then placed in parallel with the starting resistors re-instated. Further 'notching-up' progressively removed the resistors. Final acceleration was achieved by weakening motor fields by switching-in a resistor. The drawing below includes the mechanical drawing, wiring drawing and control table.
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See also the Wikipedia article on Class 76 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_76">here</a> and LNER Encyclopedia article <a href="https://www.lner.info/locos/Electric/em1.php">here</a>.
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<strong><em>EM2:</em></strong>
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The 'EM2' was designed for 90 mph running, not possible on the Manchester-Sheffield-Wath route and was intended to serve as the prototype for use on further overhead d.c. electrified schemes which did not occur because of the decision to use overhead 25 kV a.c. in the future. See the Wikipedia article on Class 77 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_77">here</a> and LNER Encyclopedia article on EM2 <a href="https://www.lner.info/locos/Electric/em2.php">here</a>.
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<strong><em>Class 506:</em></strong>
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See the Wikipedia article <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_506">here</a> and LNER Encyclopedia article <a href="https://www.lner.info/locos/Electric/glossop.php">here</a>.
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<strong>Book References</strong>
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[1] ‘British Electric Trains’ by H. W. A. Linecar (Ian Allan) 2nd edition 1949.<br>
[2] ‘DC Electric Trains and Locomotives in the British Isles’ by R. L. Vickers (David & Charles) ISBN 0-7153-8674-3.
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<strong>Related posts on other websites</strong>
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester%E2%80%93Sheffield%E2%80%93Wath_electric_railway">Manchester–Sheffield–Wath electric railway</a> (Wikipedia).<br>
<a href="https://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/MetroVickers_MSWLocos1954.pdf">Metro-Vick Locos 1954</a> (Railway Archive).<br>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_76">British Rail Class 76 (Wikipedia)</a>.<br>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_77">British Rail Class 77 (Wikipedia)</a>.<br>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_506">British Rail Class 506 (Wikipedia)</a>.<br>
<a href="https://www.lner.info/locos/Electric/em1.php">The Electric Bo-Bo Class EM1 (BR Class 76) Locomotives (LNER Encyclopedia)</a>.<br>
<a href="https://www.lner.info/locos/Electric/em2.php">The Electric Co-Co Class EM2 (BR Class 77) Locomotives (LNER Encyclopedia)</a>.<br>
<a href="https://www.lner.info/locos/Electric/glossop.php">The Glossop Line Class 506 Electric Multiple Units (LNER Encyclopedia)</a>.<br>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LNER_Class_U1">LNER Class U1</a> (Wikipedia)<br>
<a href="https://www.lner.info/locos/U/u1.php">The U1 Garratt</a> (LNER Encyclopedia)<br>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodhead_Tunnel">Woodhead Tunnel</a> (Wikipedia)<br>
<a href="http://www.forgottenrelics.co.uk/tunnels/woodhead.html">The story of the Woodhead Tunnels</a> (Forgotten Relics)<br>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiddlers_Ferry_power_station">Fiddler's Ferry Power Station</a>
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<strong>Related posts on this website</strong>
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<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2023/02/manchester-south-junction-altrincham.html">Manchester South Junction & Altrincham Railway</a><br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2023/02/class-em1-dc-electric.html">Class 'EM1' D.C. Electric</a><br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2023/02/class-em2-dc-electric.html">Class 'EM2' D.C. Electric</a>
</span>Jan Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629634827697853421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247877927166606400.post-47020539175737230312023-05-28T10:53:00.001+01:002023-05-28T11:05:13.951+01:00Class 'EM1' D.C. Electric<span style="font-family:arial;">
The success of the 1931 project to electrify the Manchester South Junction & Altrincham railway (briefly described <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2023/02/manchester-south-junction-altrincham.html">here</a>) encouraged the L.N.E.R. to proceed with their plans for electrification of the main line between Manchester and Sheffied but World War II delayed completion of this project. After World War II, the long-planned scheme introduced main line overhead electrification at 1500 volts d.c. The majority of the electrified line was opened by 1954. Freight trains were single-headed or double-headed by one or two of the original class 'EM1' Bo-Bo locomotives (later TOPS classification was Class 76). Passenger trains were hauled by class 'EM2' Co-Co locomotives (later TOPS classification was Class 77).
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I was a volunteer at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester (MOSI) for many years (you can find all my posts about the Museum <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/search/label/MOSI">here</a>). A complete cab from an 'EM1' locomotive was displayed in the Power Hall at MOSI. However, on my last visit to the museum in 2022 (described <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2022/08/manchester-by-rail.html">here</a>), many exhibits, including 'Ariadne' were not viewable because of a 'multi-million-pound restoration programme' in progress.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/5067/5786468684_64a048877a.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/5067/5786468684_64a048877a.jpg" width="500" height="375" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="375" /></a><br>
<em>One cab of the ex-Manchester, Sheffield, Wath 'EM1' electric locomotive 76039 has been preserved in British Rail blue livery.</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/3569/5786470640_33185a2caf.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/3569/5786470640_33185a2caf.jpg" width="500" height="" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="" /></a><br>
<em>Ex-Manchester, Sheffield, Wath 'EM1' electric locomotive 76039 preserved cab in British Rail blue livery with later running number and worksplate</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/3610/5786472528_e71d20a217.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/3610/5786472528_e71d20a217.jpg" width="500" height="375" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="375" /></a><br>
<em>Driving desk of preserved cab. The reflections from the various surfaces produce a rather confused result, sorry.</em>
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The 'EM1' Bo-Bo locomotives had four 467 horse power Metropolitan Vickers d.c. motors. Pair of motors on each bogie were permanently in series. For starting, all four motors were in series with 15 starting resistors in series. 'Notching-up' progressively removed these resistors. The two pairs of motors were then placed in parallel with the starting resistors re-instated. Further 'notching-up' progressively removed the resistors. Final acceleration was achieved by weakening motor fields by switching-in a resistor. The drawing below includes the mechanical drawing, wiring drawing and control table.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51950194405_2cbdb07db4.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51950194405_2cbdb07db4.jpg" width="500" height="274" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="274" /></a><br>
<em><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/51950194405/sizes/l/">Click for larger view</a><br>
'EM1' Electric Locomotive (from 'Metro-Vick Locos 1954' in Railway Archive)</em>
<br><br>
<strong>Related posts on other websites</strong>
<br><br>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_76">British Rail Class 76 (Wikipedia)</a>.<br>
<a href="https://www.lner.info/locos/Electric/em1.php">The Electric Bo-Bo Class EM1 (BR Class 76) Locomotives (LNER Encyclopedia)</a>.<br>
<br><br>
<strong>Related posts on this website</strong>
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<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2023/02/class-em2-dc-electric.html">Class 'EM2' D.C. Electric</a>
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</span>Jan Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629634827697853421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247877927166606400.post-44632849679076397632023-05-24T16:00:00.000+01:002023-05-24T16:00:04.442+01:00John Brandrick, R.I.P.<span style="font-family:arial;">
It is with great sadness that I report the death of John Brandrick on 22nd May 2023. Amongst his many interests he was Chairman of the Old Locomotive Committee and well-known as a railway enthusiast, railway historian and live-steam modeller.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52922640303_0c48dc99f7.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52922640303_0c48dc99f7.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>John Brandrick at 'Lionsmeet', Worcester, 13th August 1922.</em>
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</span>Jan Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629634827697853421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247877927166606400.post-87172869475878316202023-05-21T13:10:00.007+01:002023-05-21T13:21:00.829+01:00Trade Show at the National Exhibition Centre (Railtex 2023)<span style="font-family:arial;">
<em>In 2021, the Trade Show 'Railtex' resumed resumed after the interruption caused by the Covid-19 Pandemic (there's a brief report <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2021/09/trade-show-at-national-exhibition-centre.html">here</a>). The once every two years format continued so it was next staged in May 2023. </em>
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On Wednesday 10th May 2023 I attended the show at the National Exhibition Centre near Birmingham, together with one of my friends from Bath who travelled independently by train. We both alighted at Birmingham International station which is a short walk under cover from the Exhibition Centre.
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<strong>Getting there from Bath</strong>
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My friend had an interesting journey so I've added a few notes. Bath to Gloucester was by a GWR diesel multiple unit. According to the Railcam.UK 'app' (there's a brief introduction to this 'app' <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2019/02/watching-trains-go-by.html">here</a>), this was reporting number 2E53 from Warminster to Great Malvern, making 14 intermediate stops (including Bath), taking just under 2 hours for the whole journey. At Bristol Temple Meads, he was surprised to find 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' with its support coach standing on the siding adjacent to platform 3. Afterwards, we found out a little more about this steam working (see 'The Welsh Marches Express' below). On arrival at Gloucester he had a short wait before catching a Cross Country 'Voyager' - the 08:45 from Cardiff, reporting number 1M01, 09:49 Gloucester, due in Birmingham New Street at 10:45 before going forward to Nottingham (due 12:04). The final leg was another Cross Country 'Voyager' - the 09:25 from Manchester, reporting number 1O12 leaving Birmingham New Street at 11:05 and due at Birmingham International just seven minutes later.
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<strong>Getting there from Wolverhampton</strong>
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I took the bus from Brewood to Wolverhampton at 09:35 and walked to the railway station. I suppose I have given up expecting to see much progress on the tram extension to the railway station but it was notable that Railway Drive was not teeming with the usual orange-clad workers. In fact, railway drive had been cleared of construction debris and the flangeways of the track were clean. Near the station, the area had been paved over, making it much easier for pedestrians to reach the station buildings, and the double-track tramway now swept right before the lines converged on a headshunt provided with a rather basic platform with awning. A few workmen with plant were still present in the headshunt area. There was no evidence of any overhead electrification so I decided it would be premature to imagine that actual running trams were imminent.
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My rail journey was simple as the 09:25 from Manchester was routed via Wolverhampton, due 10:39. Just before the train arrived, the platform was swopped from 2 to 3 (to allow a down train into platform 2) but since platforms 2 and 3 form an island, it was no great inconvenience to passengers. We had a signal stop in New Street North Tunnel for a couple of minutes, waiting for a platform. Passengers waiting to board, including my friend, found that the platform announced previously had suddeenly swopped but my friend and I met up for the short journey to Birminham International.
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<strong>The Welsh Marches Express</strong>
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I don't follow main line steam specials but a quick check with the Railcam.UK 'app' showed movement 5Z65 leaving Bishops Lydeard at 05:43 so I presumed the locomotive had been prepared on the West Somerset Railway and made its way with the Support Coach to Bristol.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52909054716_01b3e2b1df.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52909054716_01b3e2b1df.jpg" /></a>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52909441125_f8e0e97a2f.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52909441125_f8e0e97a2f.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' and Support Coach at Bristol Temple Meads on 10th May 2023 prior to 'Welsh Marches Express' (Photo: S. Morris): Bristol Area Rail.</em>
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My friend found the piece in the 'Shropshire Star' detailing the Paignton-Shrewsbury and return 'Welsh Marches Express'. As 1Z65, this had left Paignton at 05:45, diesel hauled, picking up passengers at various stations to Bristol. With the steam locomotive taking over, 1Z65 was due to leave at 09:14, head north through Filton then joining the Great Western Main Line west at Patchway, through the Severn Tunnel and continuing almost to Newport where the train was to take the eastern leg of the Maindee Triangle to reach the route to Abergavenny and Hereford. The schedule allowed two hours to Hereford, where the train was to pause for 50 minutes (a 'water stop' I assume). Another hour was allowed to reach Shrewsbury, due 13:05.
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The 'Shropshire Star' had helpfully added a link to the detailed timings on the RTT 'app' (a similar 'app' to Railcam.UK, also using Open Rail data provided by Network Rail) so I was able to look at how the journey to Shrewsbury turned out. The diesel-hauled train arrived in Bristol just 5 minutes late but by the time 60007 was attached and joining passengers boarded, departure was 15 minutes late. Arrival at the Maindee Triangle was only 7 minutes late but, since the steam special had been booked to pause at Maindee North Junction whilst a conflicting movement cleared, the steam special was 'right time' setting off on the Welsh Marches Line. However, the train had lost 20 minutes by Abergavenny, with no improvement by Hereford. Further time was lost during the stop at Hereford and departure was 41 minutes 'down'. By Craven Arms, the arrears had increased to 50 minutes and arrival at Shrewsbury was at 14:01, 56 minutes late. And, later that day, the return journey would operate! Nobody should imagine running main line steam specials is easy.
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<strong>The Exhibition</strong>
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'Railtex' and 'Infrarail' had resumed after the Covid-19 Panemic in 2022 and there's a brief post <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2021/09/trade-show-at-national-exhibition-centre.html">here</a> on that event.
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In 2023, security personnel were again positioned on the broad, covered overhead walkway connecting the railway station to the Exhibition Centre, checking bags and the indications from two metal detector portals. As both my friend and I were pre-registered, admission merely required do-it-yourself scanning of the pre-registration 'QR' code which immediately printed card visitor badge for attachment to a lanyard selected from an adjacent dump bin. A number of ladies in formal suits were on hand to provide assistance, if required.
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'Railtex', bills itself as an 'international exhibition of railway equipment, systems and services' and the stands occupied around 3/4 of Hall 3 (which is around 121m x 90m). The term 'Infrarail' seems to have been discontinued. Stands covered the range of topics I expected although a number of familiar names were absent and there were many unfamiliar names, often from Europe. My friend and I spent a few hours touring the stands, taking in one of the presentations in the Conference Zone. As my friend had specific further meetings planned, we split-up and I returned home by train.
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We both found the visit useful but there's not the air of excitement which once seemed to permeate these exhibitions (or am I just getting old?). One exhibitor commented that the previous day had been quiet but the day we attended, it was busy without being 'jammed'.
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<strong>Getting back to Wolverhampton</strong>
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From a rail and air point of view the National Exhibition Centre has an excellent location. A few minutes walk and you're at a main-line railway station. A few more minutes on the Air-Rail Link and you're at the International Airport. The Air-Rail Link is an automatic, cable-hauled people mover which replaced the original 'Maglev' system. There's a Wikipedia article on the Air-Rail Link <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air-Rail_Link">here</a>. The location is perhaps not quite so ideal from a road transport view, requiring large numbers of vehicles each with few passengers to have access to and from the location together with parking facilities.
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When I got back to Birmingham Unternational station, information displays showed all sorts of trains (most with delays posted), but I couldn't discern a simple answer to the question "which is the best train to get me back to Wolverhampton?". There were lots of passengers around, but I couldn't see any staff. Without much confidence, I selected the 15:08 Holyhead service, off platform 5. I found a TfW class 158 (reporting number 1D15) standing at the platform and joined the few passengers aboard. As departure time neared, quite an influx of passengers boarded and we left, a few minutes late quite well-loaded.
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At Birmingham New Street, we stood for a few minutes and, when a 'Pendolino' which had followed us ran in to an adjacent platform, I fully expected it to precede us to Wolverhampton before I realised it was terminating at New Street. I was surprised when a class 66 appeared from the Holliday Street tunnel with a long freight train and sedately made its way through the station and into New Street South Tunnel. Railcam.UK identified this working as 6E11 starting from Appleford at 11:07 routed via Didcot, Swindon, Gloucester, Birmingham and Derby ultimately reaching Milford Junction West, south of York. Further research later showed that Hanson Asphalt have a manufacturing site at Appleford which imports coarse aggregate by rail, so the train was probably 'empties' returning north.
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We left Birmingham New Street with just one booked stop at Sandwell and Dudley before Wolverhampton but we were following the Walsall-Woverhampton 'all stations' reporting number 2W36 which slowed our progress, eventually bringing us to a brief standstill at Monmore Green. Once 2W36 had 'tucked himself' into bay platform 5, I expected us to move into the station, but we were held again at the final signal before the station (4271) whilst a 'Pendolino' running as Empty Coaching Stock (ECS) was crossed in front of us from platform 1 to the Up Main towards Birmingham. With platform 1 now available, my train was finally able to proceed into the station.
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<strong>My local railway pictures</strong>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/sets/72157626817757226/">West Midland Railways</a>.
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</span>Jan Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629634827697853421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247877927166606400.post-72112358919010625642023-05-13T12:45:00.002+01:002023-05-21T13:19:05.877+01:00Merseyside in March<span style="font-family:arial;">
Spring 2023 started on 20th March. Although we'd had some snow during the winter, we escaped bad snows where I am. But it had been cold by U.K. standards, made more painful by staggering recent increases in energy costs, so I was cheered by the prospect of better weather. The local birdsong also became more optimistic, encouraging me to make the first 'pilgrimage' of the year by train on the 24th March. I chose to visit Liverpool and the Wirral (a favourite destimation) and booked a First Class return ticket online.
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In the past, I've often used the West Midland service which requires no changes and gives the shortest overall journey time although it makes a number of stops. But I decided to see how I fared with Avanti who have been getting heavily criticised for poor service and large numbers of cancellations at short notice. In general, I believe these criticisms are justified (as are the wider complaints about our expensive, pathetic railway services) but, on 24th March, all my Avanti trains were on time and provided a decent service.
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The plan was to catch a Euston to Glasgow via Birmingham 'Pendolino' service as far as Crewe, waiting there for a Euston to Liverpool via the Trent Valley Line 'Pendolino' train. The first train arrived on time and I quickly found my reserved seat in coach J at the rear. With major engineering works around Carstairs, I discovered that the train would be terminating at Preston where onwards passengers would probably be decanted onto a Transpennine service to continue their journey north. During my half hour non-stop journey to Crewe (depart Wolverhampton 08:32, due Crewe 09:07) I was the only passenger in the coach so the friendly catering staff had time to serve a reasonable cooked English Breakfast with white toast, butter and jam, together with a mug of tea and a glass of orange juice. I was intrigued by the rather small oval plates but the food was good and at least the crockery was glazed pottery not plastic and the cutlery steel so I forgave the relative lack of refinement and alighted at Crewe platform 11, right time, in a good mood.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52771388597_7f7fa365f9.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52771388597_7f7fa365f9.jpg"></a><br><em>Merseyside in March: Breakfast on Avanti 'Pendolino' Wolverhampton-Crewe</em>
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I'd about 20 minutes to wait for my connection, also from platform 11 but before that was due, a single unit DMU from Chester arrived in platform 11 from the north, discharged its passengers, re-loaded and scuttled off back to Chester. Although Crewe station is now a shadow of its former days, I still enjoy looking at what remains. There's a short post about a visit I made in the 1950s <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2008/07/railways-at-crewe-in-50s.html">here</a>. Although the station buildings have been repeatedly modified over the years, some of the grandeur of the LNWR expansion of the station in 1907 remains, particularly in what's left of the overall roof. The post <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2008/07/crewe-station.html">here</a> talks about the station buildings. On time, my connecting service came snaking in through Crewe South Junction and I boarded coach J at the rear of the 'Pendolino'. This train, reporting number 1F12, had left Euston at 07:43 and on leaving Crewe at 09:26 had one stop at Runcorn with a scheduled arrival at Liverpool Lime Street at 10:04.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52772332140_2e8f1774e4.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52772332140_2e8f1774e4.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Merseyside in March: Liverpool-bound 'Pendolino' on Avanti service 1F12 arriving at Crewe platform 11.</em>
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Catering was once again promptly offered and I accepted white toast and an orange juice as we sped along the familiar route to make a 'right time' arrival at Liverpool, where the weather was dry with patchy sun. Disembarking, I paused to record another view of the elegant train sheds and then some details of a conveniently located 3-aspect colour light signal supplied by Unipart Dorman before purchasing an All Areas 'Saveaway' day ticket which would give me flexibility to change my plans during the day.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52772175329_82502af677.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52772175329_82502af677.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Merseyside in March: Train Sheds at Lime Street viewed from platform 9.</em>
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I made my way to the underground Merseyrail station, unsure of my initial destination. With four trains an hour currently to New Brighton, West Kirby and Chester, plus two trains an hour to Ellesmere Port, I knew I should have less than five minutes to wait for a train. The first train was for New Brighton and I was tempted to stay on it all the way but uncertainty over the weather made me alight at James Street with the aim of taking a Mersey Ferry Trip before the possible deterioration of the weather. At street level, the sun was encouraging but there was quite a breeze coming from the river. Guessing that the next ferry would still be at 11 o'clock, I decided that I'd time to call in at the Museum of Liverpool to check on the preserved locomotive 'Lion' before continuing to Pierhead. Well, the exhibit was safe, if a little dusty, but I was pleased to see that the associated audio-visual screens which had been out of order on my last visit were working again. There's a short post about the audio-visual systems as originally installed <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2011/12/audio-visual-installations-at-museum-of.html">here</a>.
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A short walk took me from the Museum to the ferry booking office. I knew that Seacombe landing stage had re-opened after a recent lengthy refurbishment. There's a brief mention of this work in the post about my trip in August 2021 <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2021/08/a-day-trip-to-liverpool.html">here</a>. But I hadn't realised that Birkenhead Woodside landing stage had now closed for two years whilst it, too, was refurbished. In the past, I have used the ferry to Seacombe and walked to New Brighton (<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2016/01/merseyside-in-december.html">in 2016</a>) or the reverse (<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2019/03/new-brighton-by-rail.html">in 2019</a>). But walking seemed ambitious and bus did not appeal so I booked a round trip 'River Explorer' which involved a modest extra payment. I boarded the waiting 'Snowdrop' (still in its 'dazzle' livery which I hate) and took up my customary position on the outside upper deck towards the bow. With the tide coming in, we were moored facing the sea. A combination of wind and tide made the water surge between the landing stage and the hull, giving the ferry an unpredictable motion which fortunately subsided once we were under way.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52771917271_74835a17e3.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52771917271_74835a17e3.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Merseyside in March: View from 'Snowdrop' at Pierhead looking downstream. Bunkering vessel 'Mersey Endurance' at Cruise Terminal on the right.</em>
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As the electronic chimes of the Liver Building clock struck eleven, the usual group of late passengers rushed to board and we cast off. The ferry initially headed downstream while the recorded commentary described some of the notable features of Liverpool North Docks, then we turned across channel and headed for Seacombe Landing Stage, finally turning to approach facing downstream.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52772406483_d8507df828.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52772406483_d8507df828.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Merseyside in March: View from 'Snowdrop' approaching the re-opened Seacombe Landing Stage, showing one of the new linkspans connecting the pontoon to the land.</em>
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We moored and the new powered gangway was lowered to let passengers off and on. I've always been amazed that the previous counterbalanced, manually operated gangways (usually requiring quite strenuous attention) have survived so long.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52772332030_4bb436aeb0.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52772332030_4bb436aeb0.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Merseyside in March: View from 'Snowdrop' berthed at the refurbished Seacombe Landing Stage. Note the new, hydraulic gangways.</em>
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The original method of positioning the pontoon with multiple anchor chains at each end has been retained. The lively sea in the picture below suggests the skill needed by the ferry skippers dock repeatedly without incident.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52772406478_bb23c2ba8f.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52772406478_bb23c2ba8f.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Merseyside in March: View from 'Snowdrop' at the re-opened Seacombe Landing Stage, showing pontoon anchor chains.</em>
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'Snowdrop' moved away from the landing stage and performed a 180 degree turn to starboard to continue upstream. We passed the entrance to the Great Float and Birkenhead Docks and the unoccupied Twelve Quays landing stage, used principally by Stena 'Ro-Ro' vehicle and passenger ferries to Belfast. It was a new experience to continue past Birkenhead Woodside landing stage without stopping. The only river traffic we saw was a tug heading downstream near the Liverpool shore and a dredger. Dredgers, of various types, are a permanent feature. The action of the tide and river flow continually shifts massive amounts of sand and keeping marked channels to adequate depths means dredgers are always required.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52772406443_a8b557af97.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52772406443_a8b557af97.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Merseyside in March: View from 'Snowdrop' heading upriver in choppy conditions with the Liverpool Shore and Anglican Cathedral in background. Note tug going down river and dredger.</em>
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On the Birkenhead shore to starboard (our right) we then passed the Cammell Laird shipyard with its large Wet Basin and Dry Docks used for ship repair work. The picture below gives an idea of the layout.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49669300083_acb7f6d775_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49669300083_acb7f6d775_n.jpg" width="320" height="198" data-original-width="320" data-original-height="198" /></a><br>
<em>Aerial view of Cammell Laird shipyard: River Mersey top left, Wet Basin top right, various dry docks in the centre (Photo: Cammell Laird Ltd)</em>
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One of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary 'Tide' class tankers, 'Tiderace' A137 was dry docked.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52771917091_6d2de385ac.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52771917091_6d2de385ac.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Merseyside in March: View from 'Snowdrop' of Cammell Laird docks showing Royal Fleet Auxiliary Tanker 'Tiderace' dry-docked.</em>
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'Ben My Chree' was in an adjacent dry dock. She is a 'Ro-Ro' vehicle and passenger ferry built 1998 (125m long, 40m beam) operated by Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, normally on the Heysham - Douglas route. The Company refer to her as a 'Ro-PAX' and cite her as a reliable performer.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52772175134_bb0922cc20.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52772175134_bb0922cc20.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Merseyside in March: View from 'Snowdrop' of Cammell Laird docks with 'Topaz Tangaroa' multi-purpose offshore vessel (background) and 'Ben My Chree' Ro-PAX ferry (foreground). </em>
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As 'Snowdrop' continued upstream, I had a better view of 'Topaz Tangaroa' in the Wet Basin. Her whole foredeck is enclosed to provide accommodation for 82 crew and blended into the bridge giving her a bullet-like appearance, somewhat diminisheded by the helicopter deck mounted above on columns. The rear of the ship is a flat workdeck, dominated by a massive side-mounted crane. Length is 98m, breadth is 20m. She was built in 2019 by Vard in Norway as a multi-purpose offshore vessel for Topaz Energy and Marine in Dubai. Registered in the Marshall Islands, she is operated by P&O Offshore Logistics, based in Dubai. There's brief information <a href="https://www.vard.com/shipbuilding/references/topaz-tangaroa">here</a>.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52771388447_328854a417.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52771388447_328854a417.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Merseyside in March: View from 'Snowdrop' of Cammell Laird docks with 'Irish Sea Pioneer' drill ship (visible left) and 'Topaz Tangaroa' multi-purpose offshore vessel (centre).</em>
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But the award for the oddest-looking vessel went to 'Irish Sea Pioneer', also in the Wet Basin. Built in 1996 by Bollinger in the USA for Halliburton-BHP and 55m (or perhaps 47m) long with 24m beam, she's a type of Offshore Support Vessel variously termed a 'drillship', a 'giant liftboat' or a 'four legged jack-up boat'. There's a fascinating article <a href="https://www.marinelink.com/article/offshore-oil/irish-pioneer-generation-liftboat-824">here</a> and more than you need to know about designing such a vessel in a Conference Paper <a href="https://stewart-usa.com/docs/Structural%20Design%20of%20a%20Harsh%20Environment%20-%204%20Legged%20Jack-Up%20Boat,%201995.pdf">here</a>.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52771917071_51c3c03fe5.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52771917071_51c3c03fe5.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Merseyside in March: View from 'Snowdrop' of Cammell Laird docks with 'Irish Sea Pioneer' drill ship (left) and Topaz Tangaroa' multi-purpose offshore vessel (right).</em>
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Leaving Cammell Laird astern, we approached Tranmere Oil Terminal with its oil storage tanks one of which, I noticed, has acquired a partial geodesic-domed roof. As we turned across river towards the Liverpool shore, there were two oil tanker berthed at Tranmere, each attended by a tug. I assumed the tugs were there as fire precautions because all modern tugs have powerfull water pumps and and water monitors for firefighting. I was unable to identify any of the vessels visually. I've explained in the post <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2018/02/watching-ships-go-by.html">Watching The Ships Go By</a> how ships with Automatic Identification System (AIS) operating can be identified and tracked. The whole of the river area 'Snowdrop' had cruised can be displayed in real time <a href="https://shipais.uk/currentmap.html?map=docks MAP OF DOCKS">here</a>.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52771388412_5c33f78b9b.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52771388412_5c33f78b9b.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Merseyside in March: View from 'Snowdrop' of Tranmere Oil Terminal showing two unidentified, berthed oil tankers, each attended by a tug.</em>
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Now heading downstream, 'Snowdrop' passed the re-development of the former South Docks, the remarkable preserved area of Albert Dock, the offensive modern architecture of the Museum of Liverpool and berthed back at Pierhead in the shadow of the Three Graces as the iconic Custom House, Cunard Building and Liver Building are known. UNESCO awarded Liverpool World Heritage Status in 2004 for the “outstanding universal value” of its waterfront but this accolade was lost in 2021 because of “irreversible loss” to the historical value of its Victorian docks caused by insensitive redevelopment which continues with the construction of a new football stadium for Everton Football Club at the former Bramley-Moore Dock. I left the ferry after an interesting cruise, passing the long queue of passengers waiting on the landing stage to board the 12 noon cuise.
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I walked back to James Street Merseyrail station, intending to catch a train to New Brighton. That didn't prove quite as straightforward as I hoped. The first train to arrive was for Chester, so I remained on the platform, looking at the artwork applied to the original patterned tiling on the normally-unused platform 2. I'm afraid I preferred the original, tiled decorations.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52771388307_ae9ac51fc2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52771388307_ae9ac51fc2.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Merseyside in March: View of Merseyrail James Street station showing artwork on the normally-unused platform 2, looking towards Birkenhead. </em>
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The next arrival was for New Brighton train so I boarded. Like the Chester train, it was a Class 507, a 40-year old veteran, not one of the new Stadler Swiss-built Class 777 currently being introduced. We made the usual rather noisy progress under the river via the Mersey Tunnel and stopped at Birkenhead Hamilton Square. After a flurry of passenger activity, we set off, taking the flyunder to reach New Brighton/West Kirby line. We stopped at Conway Park, an unattractive, modern sub-surface construction in a deep 'station box', open to the sky. The doors opened. A few passengers alighted and boarded. The doors closed. Then nothing. Squinting through the window, I could just see reflected light from the colour light signal at the end of the platform. It was red. After a few minutes, the lady driver announced over the public address a delay because the traction current had been disconnected. No comment about reason (usually a fault or an accident) or likely delay so we all waited in silence. After a few more minutes, another announcement invited us to continue our journey by other means, if we wished and the doors were released. Nobody moved at first, then a trickle of passengers left the train which turned, lemming-like into a flood which I joined, pausing only for a picture of the stranded train and to note a poster saying that the Kirkby Line was the first to be operating Class 777 trains. I just managed to join an already-crammed lift to the surface.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52771916871_1148fd7231.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52771916871_1148fd7231.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Merseyside in March: View of Merseyrail Conway Park station from platform, with my train stranded by an unexpected traction current interruption.</em>
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I started to form a plan to walk back to Hamilton Square station, where I hoped trains to other destinations would still be running. The local area map in the booking hall didn't give me a clear idea of the roads I needed to get to Hamilton Square and even Google Maps on my mobile phone had trouble giving me details, but after a while, I decided on a route to take. The Conway Park station is next to a roundabout on Europa Boulevard, a dual carriageway with a broad central reservation of well-established trees. The area is partially redeveloped but with little traffic. I followed the dual carriageway north to a rather abrupt T-junction with Price Street. Turning right, I came to a railway bridge over what had been two parallel, double-line railways, long disused. I realised this would have been the goods lines to Birkenhead Docks which formerly diverged from the main Chester - Birkenhead Woodside L.M.S. & G.W.R. joint line at Blackpool Street signal box. An earlier post <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2014/02/railways-around-birkenhead.html">here</a> gives a little background on the railways around Birkenhead. I decided a photograph of the location would be useful and, whilst framing the shot, stumbled on an uneven pavement and crashed to the floor, falling painfully on my left arm. A concerned lady came over to see if I needed help but nothing appeared broken (although everything hurt). I dragged myself upright and assured the lady I would be fine, making sure I had taken the picture.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52772331775_1444ffd8dd.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52772331775_1444ffd8dd.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Long-disused Goods Lines to Birkenhead Docks at Price Street, Birkenhead.</em>
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I slowly continuing along Price Street to Hamilton Square itself where I rested on one of the seats in the gardens before continuing to nearby Hamilton Square station.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51977978322_cc02401280.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51977978322_cc02401280.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Hamilton Square Gardens, Birkenhead (Return to New Brighton)</em>
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I caught a train back toward Liverpool with thoughts of changing to the Northern Line and visiting Kirkdale (where the depot servicing the Kirkby Line is located) but when the public address announced that, after traversing the Liverpool Loop, the train was for New Brighton, I decided that I was happy to just stay on the train and be taken to my original destination. I felt a sense of deja vu, as my train left James Street, made a brief stop at Hamilton Square Station and arrived at Conway Park. This time, after a normal delay, we carried and called at Birkenhead Park.
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On the way to the next station, Birkenhead North (where the New Brighton line diverges from the West Kirby line), my hope that I'd soon be in New Brighton was dashed by a announcement from the lady driver that the service would terminate at Birkenhead North. She explained that extreme late running caused by the earlier traction current disconnection meant that, in an attempt to get back to schedule, the train would return to Liverpool. At Birkenhead North, platform 3 filled with disappointed passengers decanted from my train. I noticed a loaded train in platform 1, which I assumed was about to leave for Liverpool but, after a couple of minutes, these passengers got off and used the overbridge to get to platform 3 and joined the train I'd just abandoned. I'd not previously noticed the trailing crossover and position light ground signal on the main line at the Liverpool end of platform 3. The ground signal came 'off' and my train set off through the reversed crossover to reach the correct line and scuttled off back to Liverpool. The passenger information screen (an orange scrolling LED display capable of detailing the next three departures) displayed some rather unlikely timings for a while but eventually settled down to show the next train for West Kirby with the second train for New Brighton. The West Kirby train arrived and departed and, eventually, the promised New Brighton arrived, allowing the waiting passengers to pile aboard for the ten minute journey to New Brighton, stopping at Wallasey Village the Wallasey Grove Road.
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So, despite the delays and my fall, I made it to New Brighton. I turned left on leaving the station and made my way north down Atherton Street towards the Marine Promenade. Liverpool Businessman James Atherton (1770-1836) is credited with developing the North Wirral and New Brighton.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51979264774_890858a805.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51979264774_890858a805.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Looking north down Atherton Street from the station (Return to New Brighton)</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52879522692_fea7d7991b.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52879522692_fea7d7991b.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>James Atherton (Williamson Art Gallery and Museum)</em>
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I explored along the main road parallel to the promenade, King's Parade, as far as RNLI's New Brighton Lifeboat station but decided not to navigate the car parks and modern retail and hospitality developments to reach the sea wall itself, thinking I'd probably had enough excitement for one day and that I should focus on getting home. It was quite a stiff climb back up Atherton Street to the station and, when the train arrived, I was quite content to flop on board and wait for departure. The journey back to Liverpool Lime Street Low Level was without incident then escalators and walking took me to the main line concourse where I could select my return train.
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At 15:33 there was a direct Birmingham service (a Class 350 'Desiro' reporting number 1G59) but I decided to see what the catering was like on Avanti's London service at 15:43 (reporting number 1A58) which meant at least a change at Crewe. The inbound Avanti 'Pendolino' arrived in platform 9, discharged its passengers and departing passengers immediately started to board so I trekked almost the length of the train to reach First Class. I was surprised at how many passengers had already boarded but I found a suitable table and almost immediately the attendant appeared although we were not due to leave for over ten minutes. I explained that I was only going to Crewe with them and studied the menu, ordering an orange juice and a Mushroom and Cheese Croque with Bechamel Sauce which I'd not tried before. The jolly attendant said he'd get the toasted sandwich started, to make sure I had plenty of time to enjoy it. In fact, the hot food and cold drink arrived before we set off up the 1 in 93 bank to Edge Hill and were excellent, ensuring a relaxing journey to Crewe. I monitored the journey on my mobile phone using the Railcam.UK 'app' (there's a brief introduction to this 'app' <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2019/02/watching-trains-go-by.html">here</a>). My express only stopped at Runcorn before Crewe whereas 1G59 which had left Liverpool just ten minutes ahead of us made stops at Liverpool South Parkway, Runcorn, Acton Bridge, Hartford and Winsford before Crewe.
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Although the Working Timetable suggested that my train would not be 'baulked' by the preceding Class 350, watching the live display on Railcam.UK suggested that we were catching up and we were actually brought to a stand briefly before Winsford. The rest of the journey to Crewe was a bit subdued and we stopped again at signal 0144 outside Crewe. After a couple of minutes, the signal cleared and, as we moved away, I caught a glimpse of a Class 66 with a train of yellow-painted, loaded bogie stone wagons moving from the Up Slow to the Up Liverpool Independent and descending the gradient to enter the tunnel under Crewe North Junction before emerging in a cutting on the Down side of the station. In steam days, this cutting was always referred to as "The Muckhole" by the army of trainspotters always to be found around the footbridge used by enginemen between the station and Crewe North Shed. Railcam.UK identified the Stone train as 6K06, Shap to Basford Hall. As we stopped in platform 5, the train which had slowed our approach to Crewe, 1G59, was still in adjacent platform 6, awaiting the 'right away'.
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I left the Avanti train (1A58 was next stop Milton Keynes then Euston) to look for a service stopping at Stafford and discovered another Avanti London service due in platform 1 in a few minutes with a Stafford call. The train arrived and, with only a 20 minute dash to Stafford, I was happy to join the Quiet Coach at the rear with just one other passenger.
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At Stafford, I left the station and took a taxi home, very tired but pleased with the trip.
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<strong>Previous similar Liverpool trips/strong>
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<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2022/04/new-brighton-again.html">Trip on 1st April 2022</a><br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2016/01/merseyside-in-december.html">Trip on 9th January 2016</a><br>
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<strong>My pictures from this trip</strong>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72177720307021023">Merseyside in March</a><br>
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</span>
Jan Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629634827697853421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247877927166606400.post-3067536225770970862023-02-13T15:53:00.002+00:002023-02-13T16:02:01.863+00:00Old Liverpool Postcards and the 'Lion' Pumping House<span style="font-family:arial;">
My first visit to Liverpool was over seventy years ago and my early experiences are described in the posts <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2009/07/liverpool.html">Liverpool</a> (2008) and <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2014/06/liverpool-again.html">Liverpool (again)</a> (2014). Since then, I've continued to publish posts about the area, grouped as <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/search/label/Merseyside">Merseyside</a>.
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I only recently discovered the website <a href="https://historic-liverpool.co.uk/">Historic Liverpool</a>) with old maps and a blog run by Martin Greaney and Sue Greaney. They offer framed maps and Martin's book 'Liverpool: A Landscape History'. In the blog, there's a post 'Postcards from Edwardian Liverpool' and two of these particularly interested me.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51377605573_f3e9616f8c.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51377605573_f3e9616f8c.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Liverpool: Edwardian postcard view of Princes Dock, looking north, showing in the foreground the pump house where 'Lion' was used to empty the Princes Graving Dock seen immediately behind the pumphouse (Photo: 'Historic Liverpool')</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51377605058_f5547ee260.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51377605058_f5547ee260.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Liverpool: Edwardian postcard view of Princes Dock, looking north, showing 4-funnel liner at the Landing Stage and New Brighton Tower in the background (Photo: 'Historic Liverpool')</em>
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Apart from the general interest of any old photographs, I found three features of special note.
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<strong>Princes Graving Dock Pumping House</strong>
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The first postcard shows the Graving Dock emptied and with a cargo vessel receiving attention. In the foreground, the pumping house where 'Lion' was used to drive the chain pump used to empty the Graving Dock is visible. The details are not too clear but, by reference to the 1873 drawing below, the elaborate chimney associated with the Pumping House is definitely visible.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52683934486_9138d6a585.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52683934486_9138d6a585.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Liverpool: Drawing of Princes Graving Dock Pumping House circa 1873 (National Museums & Galleries on Merseyside)</em>
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It's assumed that, following electrification of the Graving Dock pumping in the 1920s and donation of 'Lion' to the Liverpool Engineering Society, this chimney was demolished. Certainly, it's gone in the 1961 colour image I included in the post <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2018/04/lion-locomotive-lost-years.html">'Lion' Locomotive - the Lost Years</a>, copied below.
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<a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/814/39551430760_749726ba03.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/814/39551430760_749726ba03.jpg" width="500" height="252" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="252" /></a><br>
<em>Liverpool Pierhead in 1961 with the 'Empress of Britain' dominating the scene. Of interest to rail enthusiasts is the rare view of the Pumphouse (to the left of the 'Belfast' hoarding) from where the locomotive 'Lion' was rescued (Photo: N.P.B. collection from 'Reflections on a River').
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<a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/814/39551430760_745a691d3e_o.jpg">Click for larger view.</a></em>
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In 1992, National Museums & Galleries on Merseyside documented the remaining Pumping House in drawings and photographs prior to demolition. This information was published in 'Lionsheart', the newsletter of the Old Locomotive Committee (No. 29 April 1993, No. 31 Sep 1993 and No. 61 June 2005) and some of which is reproduced here. All issues of 'Lionsheart' are available online to Old Locomotive Committee members via the OLCO website <a href="https://lionlocomotive.org.uk/">here</a>, which also includes membership application details.
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<strong>Four funnel liner</strong>
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The second postcard shows a four funnel steamship moored at Liverpool Landing Stage. I was intrigued about the identity of this ship and was surprised to discover that only 14 liners were ever built with 4 funnels.
<blockquote>
Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse (launched 1897, scuttled 1914)<br>
Deutschland (launched 1900, scrapped 1925)<br>
Kronprinz Wilhelm (launched 1901, scrapped 1923)<br>
Kaiser Wilhelm II (launched 1902, siezed by USA 1917 finally scrapped 1940)<br>
Lusitania (launched 1906, torpedoed 1915)<br>
Mauritania (launched 1906, scrapped 1935)<br>
Kronprinzessin Cecilie (launched 1906, siezed by USA 1917 finally scrapped 1940)<br>
France (launched 1910, scrapped 1935)<br>
Olympic (launched 1910, scrapped 1935-1937)<br>
Titanic (launched 1911, sank 1912)<br>
Aquitania (launched 1913, scrapped 1950)<br>
Britannic (launched 1914, mined 1916)<br>
Arundel Castle (launched 1919, scrapped 1959)<br>
Windsor Castle (launched 1921, torpedoed 1943)<br>
</blockquote>
The above and much more can be found on the Maritime Quest website <a href="https://www.maritimequest.com/misc_pages/four_funnel_liners.htm#:~:text=Only%2014%20four%20funnel%20liners,ship's%20listed%20in%20order%20launched.%22">here</a> which has a marvellous collection of historic photographs.
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This was the period when transatlantic companies vied to provide enhanced facilities to their First Class clientele. Of course, it wasn't just the rich and famous who travelled on these luxurious leviathans. Liverpool was the port of departure for many emigrants seeking a better life in the United States, usually travelling more modestly in 'Steerage' as Third Class was often called.
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<strong>New Brighton Tower</strong>
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In both the aboce postcards, New Brighton Tower is visible in the distance on the other side of the river. This tower, outlined in a Wikipedia article <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Brighton_Tower">here</a> had a fairly short existence (1898-1921), defining the possible range for the date of the two original photographs.
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Following the success of Blackpool Tower, opened in 1894, New Brighton acquired its own tower in 1898. The tower itself (like Blackpool) surmounted an impressive brick-built ballroom. The tower was closed during World War I during which maintenance stopped and, after the war, it was decided to demolish the tower and sell the low carbon steel used in its construction for scrap. The Tower Ballroom remained in use until destroyed by fire in 1969.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52683866426_2b5c9388bc.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52683866426_2b5c9388bc.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>New Brighton Tower (Photo: Historic England Archive)</em>
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<strong>Related posts on other websites</strong>
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<a href="https://lionlocomotive.org.uk/">Lion & The Old Locomotive Committee</a> (OLCO website)<br>
<a href="https://www.maritimequest.com/misc_pages/four_funnel_liners.htm#:~:text=Only%2014%20four%20funnel%20liners,ship's%20listed%20in%20order%20launched.%22">Four Funnel Liners</a> (Maritime Quest)<br>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Brighton_Tower">New Brighton Tower</a> (Wikipedia)
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<strong>Related Pumping House posts on this website</strong>
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<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2008/05/lion-and-pumphouse.html">'Lion' and the Pumphouse</a><br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2018/04/lion-locomotive-lost-years.html">'Lion' Locomotive - the Lost Years</a><br>
To find all my posts about the Old Locomotive Committee and the locomotive 'Lion', <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/search/label/OLCO">click here</a> or select 'OLCO' under 'Labels to select a blog topic'.
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To find all my posts on Liverpool, The Wirral and Merseyside, click <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/search/label/Merseyside">here</a>.
</span>Jan Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629634827697853421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247877927166606400.post-76362257912566968432023-02-04T13:47:00.004+00:002023-02-04T13:50:34.687+00:00Manchester South Junction & Altrincham Railway<span style="font-family:arial;">
Long before the Euston and Manchester Electrification Project brought 25 kV a.c. traction to the Manchester, the city was host to electrified railways introduced by the innovative Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, which I hope to ruminate on in the future. Electrification was next introduced on the Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Railway. Manchester London road station (now renamed Manchester Piccadilly) was opened as a terminus in 1842 to serve two main line railways: the Manchester and Birmingham (from the south) and the Sheffield, Ashton-under Lyne and Manchester Railway (from the east, then opened as far as Godley). The need to link-up with other railways around Manchester, particularly the Liverpool and Manchester was recognised and the two companies promoted a line to the west of Manchester London Road on a brick viaduct linking up with the Liverpool and Manchester (known as the South Junction Line), together with a branch to Altrincham. The Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Railway (MSJ&A) originally opened in 1849 using steam traction, extending from new through platforms adjacent to Manchester London Road station, Oxford Road station and Knott Mill and Deansgate station, the line then splitting to serve Altrincham or join the Liverpool and Manchester Railway at Ordsall Lane.
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<strong>Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Electrification</strong>
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Following the 1923 Grouping, ownership and operation passed to the MSJ&A Railway Committee representing the L.M.S and L.N.E.R. The L.N.E,R. were keen on electrification; the L.M.S. perhaps less so. After a difficult period, an electric service using 1500 volts d.c. finally started operation in 1931, using standard 3-car electric trains of a design already in use on the L.M.S.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52667172640_e42c542cab.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52667172640_e42c542cab.jpg" width="500" height="334" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="334" /></a><br>
<em>MSJ&A overhead electric unit at Altrincham circa 1930 (Public Domain)</em>
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In 1971, following conversion of the line to the British Rail standard of overhead 25 kV a.c. electrification, a modernised service was introduced on the line using Class 304 Electric Multiple Units. This class, introduced in 1960, was built in three batches as 4-car sets and were widely used. Maximum speed was 75 m.p.h. and I enjoyed some spirited runs travelling on this class, particularly after 1984 when refurbishment of the class reduced them to 3-car sets.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52668525443_6209ebd826.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52668525443_6209ebd826.jpg" width="500" height="375" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="375" /></a><br>
<em>3-car Class 304 near Sale (Photo: Wikimedia Creative Commons)</em>
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This electric service continued until the end of 1991 when the line was closed to allow Manchester Metrolink to take over much of the line. Many of the existing overhead supports were retained as part of a new 750 volts d.c. scheme using modern trams. Towards Manchester, significant re-routing was made and the Metrolink trams now use part of the abandoned C.L.C. route, including the listed 'Birdcage' viaduct as far as the site of Manchester Central (whose arched train shed remains, converted into the G-MEX exhibition centre, forming part of the Manchester Central Convention Complex) before descending to street level through the centre of the city then passing through the Undercroft of Piccadilly Station. Piccadilly was the original terminus of Metrolink but the success of the project has led to a number of new extensions.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/5560/29819478654_d35256e41e.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/5560/29819478654_d35256e41e.jpg" width="500" height="375" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="375" /></a><br>
<em>Manchester Metrolink: Deansgate-Castlefield with a 'double' unit arriving from St. Peter's Square direction.</em>
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<strong>Related posts on other websites</strong>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_South_Junction_and_Altrincham_Railway">Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Railway</a> (Wikipedia).<br>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_505">British Rail Class 505</a> (Wikipedia).<br>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_304">British Rail Class 304</a> (Wikipedia).<br>
<a href="https://www.lner.info/locos/Electric/msja.php">The Manchester South Junction & Altrincham (BR Class 505) Stock</a> (LNER Encyclopedia).<br>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altrincham_Line">Metrolink Altrincham Line</a> (Wikipedia).
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Usual disclaimer: the above links worked when this post was published but may cease to work in the future if the site owner makes changes.
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<strong>Related posts on this website</strong>
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<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2018/08/to-altrincham-via-former-clc.html">To Altrincham via the former C.L.C.</a><br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2022/08/manchester-by-rail.html">Manchester by Rail</a><br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2014/10/the-cheshire-lines-committee-routes.html">The Cheshire Lines Committee Routes Today</a>
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<strong>Book References</strong>
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[1] ‘British Electric Trains’ by H. W. A. Linecar (Ian Allan) 2nd edition 1949.<br>
[2] ‘DC Electric Trains and Locomotives in the British Isles’ by R. L. Vickers (David & Charles) ISBN 0-7153-8674-3.
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<strong>My Pictures</strong>
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Depending on the display device, the right hand edge of pictures included in this blog post may not display. To see an uncropped image, click on the picture. Alternately, you may find most images by following the links below which allow display or download in various resolutions.
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/sets/72157638142984376/">Manchester Metrolink</a>.<br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72157626796451305/">Manchester Area Rail</a>.<br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/sets/72157660955080999/">Altrincham Station</a>
</span>Jan Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629634827697853421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247877927166606400.post-28898387436661007672023-02-04T10:24:00.014+00:002023-05-29T11:40:29.202+01:00Class 'EM2' D.C. Electric<span style="font-family:arial;">
<em>An undetected text error resulted in this post claiming to describe the 'EM1' class for some months. I'm sorry.</em>
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The success of the 1931 project to electrify the Manchester South Junction & Altrincham railway (briefly described <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2023/02/manchester-south-junction-altrincham.html">here</a>) encouraged the L.N.E.R. to proceed with their plans for electrification of the main line between Manchester and Sheffied but World War II delayed completion of this project. After World War II, the long-planned scheme introduced main line overhead electrification at 1500 volts d.c. The majority of the electrified line was opened by 1954. Freight trains were single-headed or double-headed by one or two of the original class 'EM1' Bo-Bo locomotives (later TOPS classification was Class 76). Passenger trains were hauled by class 'EM2' Co-Co locomotives (later TOPS classification was Class 77).
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A complete 'EM2' named 'Ariadne' is preserved at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester (in addition to one at Midland Railway Centre and one at Utrecht Railway Museum). The Manchester locomotive is 27001 (later E27001) built at Gorton in 1953 which when withdrawn was sold to the Dutch railways, Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) in 1969 for further service in Holland. On withdrawal by NS, the locomotive returned to Manchester where it is displayed with its NS running number (1505) and in NS livery. However, on my last visit to the museum in 2022 (described <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2022/08/manchester-by-rail.html">here</a>), many exhibits, including 'Ariadne' were not viewable because of a 'multi-million-pound restoration programme' in progress.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/5264/5785920941_fe2390d809.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/5264/5785920941_fe2390d809.jpg" width="500" height="375" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="375" /></a><br>
<em>Ex-Manchester, Sheffield, Wath type 'EM2' electric locomotive 'Ariadne' in its NS (Dutch Railways) livery.</em>
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I was a volunteer at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester for many years (you can find all my posts about the Museum <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/search/label/MOSI">here</a>). On rare occasions, it was necessary to shunt 'Ariadne' from its normal location in the Power Hall for one reason or another by coupling the electric to another locomotive, either the battery electric shunter or a steam locomotive. I was involved a few times as Shunter or Driver. I never saw 'Ariadne' move under her own power.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/5230/5552319773_3b3072fb54.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/5230/5552319773_3b3072fb54.jpg" width="500" height="" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="" /></a><br>
<em>Preserved Battery Electric locomotive: General view in Central Electricity Generating Board livery.</em>
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A few of the volunteers had made sure that all the auxiliaries, switchgear and the pantograph (the locomotive was parked under a short section of 'dead' overhead contact wire) were kept in working order so that everything could be exercised and 'driving' practised, without actually moving the locomotive. I was told that, before I became a member, an enterprising volunteer had rigged cables from the batteries in the site's battery electric shunter to 'Ariadne', coupled the two together and had driven the combination from Ariadne's cab up and down the site, to the consternation of The Powers That Be, who quickly put a stop to that sort of adventure. I can testify that in the 1990s the locomotive was complete and maintained by volunteers. One of my friends would periodically check the general functioning of the controls by exercising everything except actual motion, going through the start-up routine, accompanied by all sorts of mysterious sounds from the equipment room, the pantograph could be raised and the motor contactors energised. The sequence of 'notching-up' the motors could be carried out, followed by coasting, braking, shutting down and lowering the pantagaph, all without moving.
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Just once, my friend let me "drive", without moving. I found it an eerie experience and the 'notching-up' so different from a steam locomotive. The locomotive had four 467 horse power Metropolitan Vickers d.c. motors. Pairs of motors on each bogie were permanently in series. For starting, all four motors were in series with 15 starting resistors in series. 'Notching-up' progressively removed these resistors. The two pairs of motors were then placed in parallel with the starting resistors re-instated. Further 'notching-up' progressively removed the resistors. Final acceleration was achieved by weakening motor fields by switching-in a resistor.
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<strong>Related posts on other websites</strong>
<br><br>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_77">British Rail Class 77 (Wikipedia)</a>.<br>
<a href="https://www.lner.info/locos/Electric/em2.php">The Electric Co-Co Class EM2 (BR Class 77) Locomotives (LNER Encyclopedia)</a>.
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<strong>Related posts on this website</strong>
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<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2023/02/class-em1-dc-electric.html">Class 'EM1' D.C. Electric</a>
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<strong>My photograph album</strong>
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Where necessary, clicking on an image above will display an 'uncropped' view or, alternately, pictures may be selected, viewed or downloaded, in various sizes, from the albums listed:-
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72157626859696940">Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester</a>.<br>
<a href=""></a>.
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<em>[Class number corrected, EM1 data moved to separate post: 28-May-2023]</em>
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</span>Jan Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629634827697853421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247877927166606400.post-6054826987306400742023-01-21T13:26:00.014+00:002023-01-22T13:17:29.851+00:00Caledonian Railway preserved 0-4-4 tank engine No. 419 at the Battlefield Line<span style="font-family:arial;">
The attractive former Caledonian Railway preserved 0-4-4 tank engine running number 419 provided steam traction for the main 2022 season at the Battlefield Line. My only driving 'turn' on this interesting locomotive was on 18th June 2022 June when I was on a shared turn with Adrian L. Sadly, this was interrupted during the Footplate Experience Course which preceded the public services by the development of a serious steam leak on the locomotive. This resulted in my spending most of the day 'baby-sitting' the failed locomotive whilst a Class 33 diesel operated the passenger trains.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52157900740_6149b228d6.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52157900740_6149b228d6.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Preserved Caledonian Railway '439' Class No. 419 leaving Shackerstone with the Footplate Experience service. Note the pronounced steam leak at the front end.</em>
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Following a previous problem, a gasket in the main steam pipe had been replaced and this was initially suspected as the cause of the new problem. However, when the locomotive had cooled sufficiently to determine the source of the leak, we found that the front left cylinder cover was the culprit. Nothing further could be done then, so I completed the day as 'second-man' on the Class 33 performing the last passenger round trip of the day. I subsequently learnt that, once cold, the cylinder cover had been successfully tightened up and the locomotive restored to traffic. Apparently, this locomotive has a history of this problem reccurring periodically.
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Limited access to the cylinders and valve chest front covers is via the hinged 'piano front' underneath the smokebox door. Accommodating two 18 inch diameter inside cylinders resulted in some of the front cover fixing studs being shared between the valve chest front cover and the adjacent cylinder front cover, as shown in the picture below.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52156393577_552b7df31a.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52156393577_552b7df31a.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Preserved Caledonian Railway 439 Class No. 419: View showing cylinder front covers, divided by the front cover for the vertical valve chest.</em>
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<strong>Design evolution of the 0-4-4T on the Caledonian Railway</strong>
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Preserved locomotive 419 is the sole survivor of the Caledonian Class '439' 0-4-4T, introduced by McIntosh in 1900 and the standard suburban and branch line locomotive throughout the Caledonian Railway. But its origins go back to Dugald Drummond who had learned the importance of simple, rugged design through his experiences keeping locomotives running on the harsh routes within Scotland. For general use, a four-coupled tank engine with a bogie at the back appealed to him and, in 1884, Drummond had introduced the '171' class of 0-4-4T. Following rebuild, the last of these survived until 1944. Dugald Drummond's influence on subsequent Scottish locomotive design should not be underestimated. His successor, Lambie, saw fit to continue the design with some changes as the '19' class of condensing 0-4-4T and, in turn, when McIntosh took over in 1895, production of 0-4-4T carried on, first with the '92' class condensing 0-4-4T and then, in 1900, with the '439' class (very similar to the '92' class with boiler pressure raised by 10 p.s.i. and slightly better water capacity). Each of these classes used 5 foot 9 inch diamter coupled wheels but McIntosh also produced 12 locomotives with 5 foot 6 inch diameter coupled wheels giving better performance on the more demanding Cathcart Circle (Glasgow) and Balerno branch (Edinburgh) lines. So successful was the '439' class that production (with minor changes) continued from 1915 under Pickersgill with the final batch of ten emerging in 1925, with the majority of the class remaining in service until the 1960s.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52157901410_65110bd695.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52157901410_65110bd695.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Preserved Caledonian Railway '439' Class No. 419: Overall view during preparation outside Shackerstone Shed.</em>
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<strong>Braking</strong>
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The Caledonian Railway was one of a number of UK railways which opted to fit the Westinghouse Air Brake System as the 'automatic brake', rather than the vacuum brake system used by many UK railways. Locomotive 419 retains its working steam-operated reciprocating air pump (mounted outside the cab on the fireman's (right) side. The pump charges an air receiver fixed below the bunker of the fireman's side. Via the Driver's Brake Application Valve in the cab, brake blocks on the coupled wheels are applied or released by air applied to the air brake cylinder. Flexible air brake hoses at each end of the locomotive allow the locomotive to be connected to an air brake system on suitably-equipped vehicles. After the Railway Grouping, the LMS additionally fitted a vacuum ejector, brake application valve and standard vacuum brake hoses to enable vacuum-braked trains to be controlled but the power brake on the locomotive remained air-operated. There is also a conventional handbrake, operated by a screw at the rear of the cab.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52157411241_656b594b06.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52157411241_656b594b06.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Preserved Caledonian Railway 439 Class No. 419: Westinghouse Air Pump immediately outside cab on fireman's side.</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52157417428_d956357608.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52157417428_d956357608.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Preserved Caledonian Railway 439 Class No. 419: Driver's air brake application valve fixed to cab sheeting, left side.</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52157648189_525eb7d057.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52157648189_525eb7d057.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Preserved Caledonian Railway 439 Class No. 419: Davies & Metcalfe Vacuum Ejector and Brake Valve in front left corner of cab. Just to the right, the vertical black tube with a white top is the mechanical control for the blower valve in the smokebox.</em>
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<strong>Locomotive Regulator</strong>
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'Double-beat' or 'balanced' locomotive regulators are employed to reduce the effort required to open and close a steam valve against high pressure steam. The Wikipedia article <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_beat_valve">here</a> explains the principle, invented by John Hornblower around 1800. The arrangement was subsequently adapted for use as a locomotive regulator valve. There are a couple of posts in this blog about locomotive regulators - <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2007/07/locomotive-regulators-part-1.html">Part 1</a> talks about early type of regulators and <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2016/09/locomotive-regulators-part-2.html">Part 2</a> shows a modern type of locomotive 'double-beat' regulator. Whereas unbalanced regulators usually have one (or sometimes two) long handles so that the driver can produce sufficient leverage to adjust the valve, this shouldn't be needed with a 'balanced' design. Locomotive 419 is fitted with a 'balanced' regulator, controlled by a short, dual, red-painted handle.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52157411496_33d696e023.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52157411496_33d696e023.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Preserved Caledonian Railway '439' Class No. 419: View of boiler backhead showing red-painted regulator handle and other driving controls from fireman's side.</em>
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<strong>Cab layout</strong>
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Because of the dual vacuum/air braking, there's a satisfying array of Bourdon gauges on the front spectacle plate inside the cab. The whistle is operated by a round plunger extending through the front spectacle plate, which produces the satisfying sound of a "Caley Hooter". The deep-toned, dignified sound of the "Caley Hooter"is my favourite whistle. When Stanier moved from Swindon to the LMS, he was asked to agree the whistle to be used on his new designs. A series of whistles were set up on a 'whistle bar' for demonstration and he chose the "Caley Hooter" so, brought up in LMS/GWR West Midlands, I became accustomed to the slightly mournful sound of Stanier engines. Many of my friends prefer 'chime whistles' but I always thought them rather 'foreign' (since I was not exposed to Gresley 'Pacifics' until later!).
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More features of the cab layout can be gleaned from the collection of pictures <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72177720299911565/">here</a>.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52156393807_252a3f1454.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52156393807_252a3f1454.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Preserved Caledonian Railway '439' Class No. 419: Gauges mounted on spectacle plate, L-R Train Pipe Vacuum, Boiler P{ressure, Duplex Air Brake, Carriage Warming. The round, polished steel plunger below is the whistle valve.</em>
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<strong>John Farquharson McIntosh</strong>
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McIntosh was responsible for many Caledonian Railway designs. He was apprenticed at Arbroath in 1860 and, completing his apprenticeship in 1867, was appointed to Montrose Works where he spent 10 years. Returning to work following the loss of his right hand in an accident, he became Inspector of Lines from Greenhill to Aberdeen. In 1882 he became District Locomotive Superintendent at Aberdeen, taking a similar role at Carstairs in 1884. Next, he took charge of Polmadie running shed in 1886, next becoming Chief Inspector of the Caledonian Railway Locomotive Department at St. Rollox works in 1891 under Lambie. On Lambie's death in 1895, McIntosh became Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon Superintendent of the Caledonian Railway until 1914.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52638905285_4a82724a94.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52638905285_4a82724a94.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>John Farquharson McIntosh
Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon
Superintendent Caledonian Railway
1895 - 1914</em>
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<strong>Book References</strong>
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[1] ‘The McIntosh Locomotives of the Caledonian Railway 1895-1914’ by A. B. Macleod (Ian Allan 1948).<br>
[2] 'An Illustrated History of L.M.S. Locomotives: Volume Three Absorbed Pre-Group Classes, Northern Division’ by Bob Essery and David Jenkinson (Oxford Publishing Co 1986) ISBN 0 86093 383 0.<br>
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<strong>Related articles on other websites</strong>
<br><br>
At the time of publication of this post, the following links were valid but, regrettably, with the passage of time, they may become 'broken'.
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._McIntosh">John F. McIntosh</a> (Wikipedia)<br>
<a href="https://www.steamindex.com/people/mcintosh.htm">John Farquharson McIntosh</a> (Steamindex)<br>
<a href="http://www.srpsmuseum.org.uk/10006.htm">SRPS Collection Pages: 439 Class 419</a><br>
<a href="https://www.srpssteam.com/locomotives/loco-no-419-55189/">No. 419 (55189)</a><br>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caledonian_Railway_439_Class">Caledonian Railway 439 Class (Wikipedia)</a>
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There's a YouTube video of No. 419 at the Battlefield Line by Damien le Maistre Video <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMTm107zyVk">here</a>.
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<strong>My pictures</strong>
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Depending on the display device, the right hand edge of pictures included in this blog post may not display. To see an uncropped image, click on the picture. Alternately, you can find the image by following the link below which allows display or download in various resolutions.
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72177720299911565/">Preserved Caledonian Railway 439 Class No. 419</a>
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</span>Jan Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629634827697853421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247877927166606400.post-52488331150772423932023-01-15T12:51:00.002+00:002023-01-15T13:05:54.518+00:00Review of the Year 2022<span style="font-family:arial;">
<em>The United Kingdom started 2022 no longer in mandatory lockdown because of the Covid 19 Pandemic but still with an odd combination 'special measures' either advised or imposed voluntarily which persisted throughout the year. The practice of working from home introduced during the Covid 19 pandemic has become standardised (now called simply 'WFH') resulting in lowered productivity and other problems. The Russian Federation decided to attempt to annexe adjacent democratic Ukraine in what it called a 'special military operation', which is being pressed with astonishing cruelty but resisted by the people of Ukraine. Overall annual inflation exceeds 10% but food price inflation varies from 15% to 50%. Because of the situation in Ukraine compounding a series of poor decisions by governments here, gas and electricity prices have increased by 300% or more. Since the economic crisis of 2008, bank borrowing costs had been artificially kept at 0.5%, encouraging imprudent borrowing but during 2022, following months of political instability in the United Kingdom (three prime ministers in as many months), borrowing costs have risen to 5 or 6% even for secured borrowing and unsecured borrowing costs are much higher. Covid has not gone away and influenza and other infections (like 'Strep A') are at high levels. The National Health Service (NHS) has been struggling for years and is currently experiencing strikes of nurses, midwives and ambulance workers. Taxes have been raised here to the highest level in about 70 years in an attempt to deal with the effects of the costs of furlough during the worst of the pandemic. Railway workers, Postal workers and some civil service workers are on strike at the end of 2022 and this is currently likely to continue into 2023.</em>
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This is the 17th annual review since I started this blog and the prospects for the year ahead the least optimistic. Also, my apologies that it's taking me longer than ever to produce and publish individual posts.
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<strong>OVERSEAS TRAVEL</strong>
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Although overseas travel is once again possible, my impaired mobility has discouraged me from trips in 2022. To find more about overseas visits I've made in earlier years, see:-
<blockquote>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/jan-fords-travels.html">Jan Ford's Travels</a> (2001 onwards).<br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/jan-fords-travels-early-trips.html">Jan Ford's Travels - The early trips</a> (before 2001).<br>
<a href="http://janfordsworld.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/jan-fords-travels-around-world-in.html">Jan Ford's Travels: Around the World in pictures</a><br> (alphabetic list of countries with links to pictures).
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<strong>Myanmar (Burma)</strong>
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My last visit was in 2019 (described <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/search/label/Burma-2019">here</a>), after which Covid 19 prevented travel. Democratic elections in Myanmar at the end of 2020 resulted in a landslide victory for the National League for Democracy (NLD) but, on February 1st 2021 the result was repudiated by the Myanmar army who seized power alleging voter corruption. This spawned a peaceful Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) which was met with ruthless violence by the junta. Although Myanmar is a union of partially-devolved states representing different ethnic groups, there have always been Ethnic Armed Organisations (EAO) harrying central government for full independence. This has expanded to produce People's Defence Forces (PDF) or civilian militia in a number of areas to counter the agression of the junta. I would very much like to visit my friends in Myanmar (Burma) but this is not currently possible. For instance, Belmond's river cruise on the 'Road to Mandalay' ship is not currently in operation and Belmond's 'Governor's Residence' in Yangon is closed at present.
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<strong>TRAVEL IN THE UK BY TRAIN</strong>
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Railways the united kingdom are in a more perilous position than at any time since privatisation of government-owned British Rail was started in 1994. The deregulation of the industry was initiated in 1991 by EU Directive 91/440, which aimed to produce a more efficient rail network by creating greater competition. In my view, the result has been an unmitigated disaster, with poor service and high fares. In a normal year, I would expect to make a number of trips (mainly by rail) to various destinations in the UK. Despite most of the Pandemic restrictions being lifted, passenger numbers remained depressed, 'emergency' timetables seem commonplace, cancellations occur at short notice, and Trades Unions have regained an appetite for strikes. Rail travel remains unattractive but I persevered and made a few trips:-
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<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2022/02/rail-travel-in-january-2022.html">Rail Travel in January 2022</a> posted 12-Feb-2022<br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2022/04/new-brighton-again.html">New Brighton, again</a> posted 18-Apr-2022<br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2022/05/return-to-croydon.html">Return to Croydon</a> posted 9-May-2022<br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2022/06/llandudno-in-april.html">Llandudno in April</a> posted 9-Jun-2022<br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2022/06/retrieving-my-camera.html"> Retrieving my Camera</a> posted 27-Jun-2022<br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2022/08/manchester-by-rail.html">Manchester by rail</a> posted 6-Aug-2022<br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2022/08/old-locomotive-committee-annual-general.html">Old Locomotive Committee Annual General Meeting, 2022</a> posted 7-Aug-2022<br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2022/08/blackpool.html">Blackpool by rail, Fleetwood and Knott End</a> posted 26-Aug-2022<br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2022/08/book-buying-in-morecambe.html">Book-buying in Morecambe by Train</a> posted 30-Aug-2022
</blockquote>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51979535280_b4c8a645de.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51979535280_b4c8a645de.jpg" width="500" height="375" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="375" /></a><br>
<em>New Brighton Beach: Fort Perch Rock, Lighthouse and Seatruck Ro-Ro ferry departing for Dublin (Return to New Brighton)</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51998004790_45e18103a0.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51998004790_45e18103a0.jpg" width="500" height="375" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="375" /></a><br>
<em>My visit to Croydon included a river trip on the RiverThames: The Houses of Parliament and Westminster Pier</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52088312761_c7844fa395.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52088312761_c7844fa395.jpg" width="500" height="375" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="375" /></a><br>
<em>Llandudno trip: The East Shore at Llandudno viewed from a descending Great Orme Tramway car</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52240412586_b36253cbb6.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52240412586_b36253cbb6.jpg" width="375" height="500" data-original-width="375" data-original-height="500" /></a><br>
<em>'A Quiet Afternoon in the Cloud Cuckoo Valley' by Rowland Emett: Science+Industry Museum, Manchester</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52187025337_f0c2420172.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52187025337_f0c2420172.jpg" width="375" height="500" data-original-width="375" data-original-height="500" /></a><br>
<em>Blackpool Tower, viewed from North Pier (Trip to Blackpool)</em>
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<strong>RAILWAYS AND PRESERVATION</strong>
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Preserved railways continued to be adversely affected during 2022. I continued as a member of the Old Locomotive Committee and remained a volunteer at The Battlefield Line although my activities were on a reduced scale.
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<strong><em>The Old Locomotive Committee</em></strong>
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The Old Locomotive Committee (OLCO) was able to orgainise the customary two events in 2022. The Annual General Meeting was held at the Museum of Liverpool where the locomotive 'Lion' is on public display on Saturday, 7th May 2022. There's s short post on my journey there <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2022/08/old-locomotive-committee-annual-general.html">here</a>. A full report on the A.G.M. itself has been circulated to OLCO Members. The second event was 'Lionsmeet' where live-steam models of 'Lion' are run and members can meet up. In 2022, the event was hosted at the running track of Worcester and District Model Engineers, situated in Diglis, Worcester. There's a report <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2022/09/lionsmeet-2022-worcester.html">here</a>.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52285295785_70b7e17622.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52285295785_70b7e17622.jpg" width="500" height="375" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="375" /></a><br>
<em>Four 'Lion' models steamed at 'Lionsmeet' 2022, Worcester. In the foreground, John Brandrick is a passenger as 'Thunderbolt' pauses, with Jon Swindlehurst waiting behind and A J Reynolds also stopped near the marquee. Meanwhile, John Dalton has the inner track to himself.</em>
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All my posts about the Old Locomotive Committee are <a href="http://janfordsworld.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/OLCO">here</a> and you can find more information (including how to become a member) on OLCO's website <a href="http://www.lionlocomotive.org.uk/">here</a>.
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<strong><em>The Battlefield Line</em></strong>
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New Year's Day found me on 'Foxcote Manor', carrying out the Mince Pie services. There's a report <a href="">here</a>. The next steam turn was not until June when I was on a shared turn with Adrian L, which was interrupted by a serious steam leak on the locomotive, resulting in my spending most of the day 'baby-sitting' the failed locomotive whilst a Class 33 operated the service. The full report is still in preparation but there are some pictures of the day <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72177720299911565">here</a>. Days operating the Diesel Multiple Unit are always enjoyable (and less strenuous than steam!) and I had turns on Wednesday, 10th August, Saturday 10th September and Wednesday 26th October. There are a few pictures of October working in the album <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72177720295689772">here</a>. I was supposed to operate a DMU 'Mince Pie Special' service on 30th December. Traction was changed to 'Foxcote Manor' still allocated to me but, to my immense disappointment, I succumbed to a nasty seasonal infection on Christmas Eve and was unable to perform the duty on 30th December.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51891239700_96b2c209ba.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51891239700_96b2c209ba.jpg" width="500" height="375" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="375" /></a><br>
<em>'Foxcote Manor' on Mince Pie Specials (Photo: D. Mould)</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52157901410_65110bd695.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52157901410_65110bd695.jpg" width="500" height="375" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="375" /></a><br>
<em>Preserved Caledonian Railway 439 Class No. 419: Overall view during preparation outside Shackerstone Shed.</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52481301953_56fb5915ff.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52481301953_56fb5915ff.jpg" width="500" height="375" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="375" /></a><br>
<em>DMU turn, Battlefield Line, 26-Oct-2022: "Waiting for the Road" (Photo: G. Hopwood)</em>
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You can find all my posts about the Battlefield Line <a href="http://janfordsworld.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Battlefield%20Line">here</a>.
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Incidentally, you can find all my posts about Diesel Multiple Units <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/search/label/DMU">here</a> (or refer to the 'Index' <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2018/04/diesel-multiple-units-index.html">here</a>).
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<strong><em>Myanma Railways</em></strong>
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As explained in 'OVERSEAS TRAVEL' above, my last visit to Myanmar allowing study of the interesting railway system there was in 2019 and no new posts on the topic were added in 2022.
You can find all my earlier posts about Myanma Railways (in reverse date-of-posting order) <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/search/label/Myanma-Railways">here</a> or refer to the 'Index' <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2018/03/myanma-railways-index.html">here</a>.
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<strong>BREWOOD HALL</strong>
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Early in 2022, the organising committee (representing 2nd Brewood Scouts, Brewood Parish Church and the informal group Friends of Brewood Hall) met and agreed that we should, if possible, re-start the Annual Garden Party in 2022. I'm pleased to report that the event was held on 16th July 2022 and there's a report <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2022/11/brewood-garden-party-2022.html">here</a>.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52380565925_a6e297e8e8.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52380565925_a6e297e8e8.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Brewood Garden Party 2022</em>
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There's an album of pictures showing the 1-acre garden at Brewood Hall through the seasons in 2022 <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72177720296303149">here</a> with a separate album (covering a number of years) showing the fungi which appear annually <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/sets/72157636240773674/">here</a>.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52140229078_dd827a8659.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52140229078_dd827a8659.jpg" width="500" height="375" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="375" /></a><br>
<em>The Major Yew: Brewood Hall Garden 2022</em>
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During the year, as always, various repairs were carried out around the property. In 2022, permission was obtained from the Local Authority for tree maintenance which was carried out in July. There's an album of pictures showing the work <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72177720301785912/">here</a>. Fairly extensive external repainting was carried out, repairs to the front doors and entrance porch, various roof and guttering work and some internal redecoration. You can find all my posts about Brewood Hall (in reverse date-of-posting order) <a href="http://janfordsworld.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Brewood%20Hall">here</a>.
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<strong>TY GWYN</strong>
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Ty Gwyn is a small commercial woodland around 27 hectares in area near Corwen in Wales.
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I made one visit in November 2022 with Dean to see the 're-spacing' work in progress. The weather was kind. There's a report <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2022/12/ty-gwyn-2022.html">here</a>.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52500119858_8dfce7799a.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52500119858_8dfce7799a.jpg" width="500" height="375" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="375" /></a><br>
<em>Ty Gwyn 2022: Looking east from the link road showing the 2016 planting</em>
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To see all my posts on Ty Gwyn, click <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Ty%20Gwyn">here</a>.
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<strong>PREVIOUS ANNUAL REVIEWS</strong>
<blockquote>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2022/01/review-of-year-2021.html">2021</a><br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2020/12/review-of-year-2020.html">2020</a><br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2020/01/review-of-year-2019.html">2019</a><br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2019/01/review-of-year-2018.html">2018</a><br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2018/01/review-of-year-2017.html">2017</a><br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/review-of-year-2016.html">2016</a><br>
<a href="http://janfordsworld.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/review-of-year-2015.html">2015</a><br>
<a href="http://janfordsworld.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/review-of-year-2014.html">2014</a><br>
<a href="http://janfordsworld.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/review-of-year-2013.html">2013</a><br>
<a href="http://janfordsworld.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/review-of-year-2012.html">2012</a><br>
<a href="http://janfordsworld.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/review-of-year-2011.html">2011</a><br>
<a href="http://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2010/12/review-of-year-2010.html">2010</a><br>
<a href="http://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2010/01/review-of-year-2009.html">2009</a><br>
<a href="http://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2009/02/review-of-year-2008.html">2008</a><br>
<a href="http://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2007/12/review-of-year-2007.html">2007</a><br>
<a href="http://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2006/12/review-of-year.html">2006</a>
</blockquote>
</span>Jan Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629634827697853421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247877927166606400.post-79698159383743506562022-12-24T13:48:00.000+00:002022-12-24T13:48:03.596+00:00Ty Gwyn 2022<span style="font-family:arial;">
On Saturday, 12th November 2022 I visited the woodland at Ty Gwyn in Wales with Dean. Dean had studied the weather forecasts and picked the date for our trip. After a number of days of high winds and heavy rains, the day of our visit enjoyed sunshine and only mild breezes, giving us a very enjoyable day. We made good time on the drive from Brewood to Wales and, as is something of a habit, stopped at the 'Country Cooks' cafe on the A5 a few miles short of our destination for tea and teacakes. Suitably fortified, we continued to Ty Gwyn, pausing at the farmyard on the way to the woodland to chat to the farmer, Mr. Jones and one of his farming neighbours.
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The woodland is accessed through a single gate which has recently been replaced.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52499078022_2da0342828.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52499078022_2da0342828.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Ty Gwyn 2022: The entrance gate and adjacent fencing has been recently renewed</em>
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The site includes a shallow valley which runs from the south-west to the north-east. The southern part of the site is served by the 'southern' road leading south-west from the gate, with a parallel 'northern' road accessing the northern sections. The two main roads are linked by a short road across the valley, resulting in a layout like an 'H' on its side. All the roads are of rolled, crushed stone (quarried from just outside the woodland boundary boundary by agreement) and are intended to be suitable for the large lorries employed in removing logs during felling.
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But the productive phase of forestry is a once-in-a-generation event. Since I became involved in the already-mature woodland at Ty Gwyn in 1988, I have seen two major felling operations, resulting in most of the site area having been re-planted once. The proceeds of that felling then have to pay not only for re-planting but for maintenance for many years until it is economical to carry out further felling. What determines when felling is worthwyile depends upon many factors - not only tree growth rates, attrition from disease and pests, adverse weather events (particularly fire and windblow) but also on global economic conditions. Because Ty Gwyn was already mature in 1988, an early investment was made in installing the road system described above, in anticipation of early timber sales. But in 1991 the Soviet Union collapsed, bequeathing to a nummber of newly-independent countries well-managed Soviet forests. Seeking foreign exchange, the aggressive selling of this timber by these countries delayed felling at Ty Gwyn for a number of years. Further complications have arisen from the United Kingdom's devolution of powers to Wales (Government of Wales Act 1998, Government of Wales Act 2006 and The Wales Act 2014) with ever-changing legislation.
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After the harvesting described in various earlier posts, re-stocking involved manually planting nursery-grown Sitka seedlings. But this intentional planting is augmented by self-regeneration as already-established trees on site go through their cycle of growth. This means that young trees of different ages can be seen everywhere growing conditions are favourable, which is often the roads themselves. Periodic flailing is necessary to keep the roads open to ordinary vehicles. Being unsure of the state of the forest roads, we decided to park at the gate and conduct our inspection on foot.
The picture below shows a healthy-looking self-set Sitka at the roadside near the fascinating horizontal webs we found around the site
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52500119433_0b8f47fb68.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52500119433_0b8f47fb68.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Ty Gwyn 2022: Sitka self-regeneration and horizontal disc-like webs on the heather, highlighted by water droplets</em>
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The view below shows the satisfactory growth of the 2010 planting on the left. The taller trees in the left background are the unfelled remains of the 1995 planting. The later 2016 planting is on the right and not really visible here because of the inclined ground.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52499847509_25e45800f6.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52499847509_25e45800f6.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Ty Gwyn 2022: Looking south-west on the southern road from just inside the access gate, with the 2010 re-stocking on the left </em>
Although growth rates are good, it will be many years before these trees are as mature as those shown below, which shows the previous trees to occupy this area in 2006, prior to felling, again looking south-west along the southern road but from a position outside the access gate.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/5025/5838530941_49aa788c2d.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/5025/5838530941_49aa788c2d.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Ty Gwyn 2006: Looking south-west on the southern road, before harvesting of timber</em>
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We took the link road across the valley to get a better view of the 2016 planting which lies on both sides of the link road, filling the valley floor. Because of satisfactory growth rates, a programme of 'respacing' is currently being implemented where weaker trees are removed to improve the growth of the remaining trees. This is discussed further in a Forestry Commission publication linked in 'References' below.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52499564736_3eb1a57827.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52499564736_3eb1a57827.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Ty Gwyn 2022: View looking east from the link road, giving a better idea of the progress of the 2015 planting. Note the wind turbines in the distance</em>
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We first inspected the eastern end of the northern road, leading to the Pool.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52500120293_e6a40148ea.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52500120293_e6a40148ea.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Ty Gwyn 2022: View fronm the eastern end of the northern road, looking down the track leading to the Pool</em>
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On the western arm of the northern road, we found two types of fungus. The first seemed to be a mature puffball, wuth the dark central pore open to allow wind and rain to disperse the spores - possibly Apioperdon. The second had a traditional 'toadstool' shape with a red cap - perhaps Fly Agaric or a Russula? We were not tempted to snack.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52500119248_9ccd4249e5.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52500119248_9ccd4249e5.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Ty Gwyn 2022: At various locations along the northern road, we found this interesting fungus </em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52500119928_1a7727111d.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52500119928_1a7727111d.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Ty Gwyn 2022: At various locations there were examples of this fungus </em>
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Returning to the link road, I took this shot looking east.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52499078552_3b075540ce.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52499078552_3b075540ce.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Ty Gwyn 2022: View looking east along the northern road, with the 1995 protective strip on the left and the 2016 planting at lower level on the right, together with various broadleaves</em>
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Finally, we inspected the west end of the south road. Dean went to the end of the road but I stopped a little short, as I was tiring.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52500119788_a85dbb28fc.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52500119788_a85dbb28fc.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Ty Gwyn 2022: Looking west along the south road with the 2016 planting on the right.</em>
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Walking back to the car, Dean suggested collecting one of the 'respaced' trees which had been cut down by chainsaw to allow adjacent trees to thrive so, for the very first time, Brewood Hall has had a (modest) Christmas Tree actually grown at Ty Gwyn!
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjaa-7htAEf7jbeLtOIaxhu3UF8-2jyjbEQqmY0aRBMiQAbMhSrBV7wBqDSm_LTjZp0LgWiQbKWr3blyNSYnHceO414BWr5g5yQEtEzXM-lvC46l3DjwTwbl8SsO1QJyMCjXPnPEa7gaONstyYr95YKip-s6ywsKp3VTBYEO-eqeAVgwqhUUyxll-w/s4160/IMG_20221217_140945318.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjaa-7htAEf7jbeLtOIaxhu3UF8-2jyjbEQqmY0aRBMiQAbMhSrBV7wBqDSm_LTjZp0LgWiQbKWr3blyNSYnHceO414BWr5g5yQEtEzXM-lvC46l3DjwTwbl8SsO1QJyMCjXPnPEa7gaONstyYr95YKip-s6ywsKp3VTBYEO-eqeAVgwqhUUyxll-w/s320/IMG_20221217_140945318.jpg"/></a></div>
<strong>Reference</strong>
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<a href="https://cdn.forestresearch.gov.uk/2022/02/fcpn016-1.pdf">Respacing naturally regenerating
Sitka spruce and other conifers</a> <br>(Forestry Commission)
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<strong>My posts about Ty Gwyn</strong>
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You can find all my posts about Ty Gwyn <a href="http://janfordsworld.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Ty%20Gwyn">here</a> (in reverse date-of-posting order), with links to albums of pictures.
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<strong>Pictures of Ty Gwyn</strong>
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Pictures from this visit are at <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72177720303677477/">Ty Gwyn 2022</a><br>
You can find all my albums of pictures of Ty Gwyn <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/collections/72157626974422504/">here</a>.
</span>Jan Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629634827697853421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247877927166606400.post-88750572802309412702022-11-20T14:10:00.016+00:002022-11-20T14:23:07.856+00:00Brewood Garden Party 2022<span style="font-family:arial;">
<em>On 16th July 2022, Brewood Garden Party was held, for the eighth time, in the garden at Brewood Hall.</em>
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The previous garden party had been in 2019 and, although intended to be annual, planned events in 2020 and 2021 had been cancelled because of the Covid19 pandemic. Early in 2022, the organising committee (representing <a href="http://www.2ndbrewoodscouts.org.uk/">2nd Brewood Scouts</a>, Brewood Parish Church and the informal group Friends of Brewood Hall) met and agreed that we should, if circumstances allowed, run the event in 2022. A series of meetings were held in the following months to plan the details.
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<strong>Publicity</strong>
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As in previous events, a 'flyer' was printed and distributed to households around Brewood by the Scouts. In 1922, the local free magazine 'Villager' published an illustrated article in their June edition.
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<strong>Setting Up</strong>
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On the evenings of Thursday 14th July and Friday 15th July, the marquees, tents, tables, chairs and other items needed were brought to Brewood Hall from various locations using cars towing trailers. Brewood Scouts and other volunteers erected the tents and arranged the seating areas. This work was completed on the morning of the Garden Party, with the children's games, refreshment tent and temporary electrics being completed in time for the public to be admitted at noon. The Garden Party, lasting just four hours, requires a lot of commitment from those involved before, during and after the event.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52240893920_91b7eff8ac.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52240893920_91b7eff8ac.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Just some of the materials brought in on trailers for the event: Brewood Hall Garden Party 2022</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52240405301_82769e6ffa.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52240405301_82769e6ffa.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>One of the tubular-framed marquee being erected: Brewood Hall Garden Party 2022</em>
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<strong>A Little Local Difficulty</strong>
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Two days before the event, the writer tested positive for Covid19. I'd had the three inoculations specified for a person of my age at the time and it was the first time I'd contracted Covid so it was a bit of a surprise. Not wishing to be the cause of a "Brewood Super-spreader Event" I realised that I would be self-isolating in Brewood Hall during the Garden Party, just able to watch through the windows! So my report is rather second-hand this time and largely relies on pictures taken by others. My infection was fairly benign with symptoms similar to a bad cold persisting for a little over a week.
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<strong>The Event</strong>
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The weather leading up to the Garden Party had been unusually hot, giving rise to the fear that the event might be unpleasantly warm. On the morning of the Garden Party, there had been a very brief, light shower after which the weather became perfect with bright sun, warm but not oppresive.
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Peter Plowright was a welcoming presence on the admissions table throughout the afternoon.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52224983174_69bf872b9a.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52224983174_69bf872b9a.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Peter Plowright manning the Admission Desk: Brewood Garden Party 2022</em>
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The event was opened by the Staffordshire Corps of Drums, in their impressive, colourful ceremonial uniforms, with a precision, musical display.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52224907243_fce260d554.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52224907243_fce260d554.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>The event opened with a display by Staffordshire Corps of Drums: Brewood Garden Party 2022</em>
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The Refreshment Tent, with its selection of drinks and food, quickly became a focus and remained well-patronised throughout the afternoon.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52224708281_ce45d6b71d.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52224708281_ce45d6b71d.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Some of the volunteers from Brewood Post Office and Brewood Co-op who helped to staff the Refreshment Tent: Brewood Garden Party 2022</em>
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The ideal weather encouraged visitors to relax in the open air at the numerous tables outside the Refreshment Tent or wander around the variety of stalls.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52380565925_a6e297e8e8.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52380565925_a6e297e8e8.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Brewood Garden Party 2022</em>
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For a number of years, the Cannock Performing Arts Centre provided music at the Brewood Garden Party with two talented bands. Their activities had not yet recovered from the malign effects of the Covid Pandemic and they were unable to appear in 2022. However, we were able to welcome a local group, Hubbub, on their first public appearance and, with guitars and keyboard, they provided mellow music during the afternoon well-matched to the relaxed mood of the event.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52223704007_37475d4be7.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52223704007_37475d4be7.jpg" /></a><br><br>
<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52380567140_c01899d47d.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52380567140_c01899d47d.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>A newly-formed local group, Hubbub, provided mellow music at Brewood Garden Party 2022</em>
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For the first time, <a href="http://www.greensforge.org/">Greensforge Sailing Club</a> (who are based at the nearby Gailey water reservoir) displayed the popular RS Tera dinghy they use for training. This created a lot of interest.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52223704407_041232b5f4.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52223704407_041232b5f4.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>The popular RS Tera dinghy displayed by Greensforge Sailing Club at Brewood Garden Party 2022</em>
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Also for the first time, local charity Bethany Children's Home, based in Wombourne, had a stall to promote their work in connection with the orphanage they built in Dhading, Nepal.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52379211682_8de8cf87b0.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52379211682_8de8cf87b0.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Bethany Children's Home stall: Brewood Garden Party 2022</em>
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In 2019, a Pizza Van had been a popular innovation. In 2022 Al's Pizzas offered wood-fired pizzas from a striking customised van parked on the grass just outside the entrance.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52380145846_3b445f9a0a.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52380145846_3b445f9a0a.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Al's Pizzas: Brewood Garden Party 2022</em>
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The Village Pantry provided a stall and, in addition, a mobile ice-cream van made a visit.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52380569985_e0e3bc0db3.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52380569985_e0e3bc0db3.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>The Village Pantry Stall at Brewood Garden Party 2022</em>
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The beer tent made a welcome return and was kept busy, offering cold soft drinks, lager, Pimms and, until stocks ran out, Greene King's craft 'Level Head' ale.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52380461994_03d435350b.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52380461994_03d435350b.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>The Beer Tent: Brewood Garden Party 2022</em>
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We were pleased to welcome back Chase Ferret Rescue, with their attractive animals. Some readers may be unaware that Cannock Chase (or simply 'the Chase') is a nearby area historically connected to Brewood.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52380378128_0b0ec683da.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52380378128_0b0ec683da.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Dean and ferret friend: Brewood Garden Party 2022</em>
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This was the first Garden Party since the opening of Brewood Community Hub and they provided a stall to display the variety of activities on offer there. They advertise regular clubs called Baby Sling, Art Club, Bouncing Bunnies, Dementia Support Group, Sewcialise, Weight Watchers, Yoga, Table Tennis. Rooms are used by Scouts, Cubs, Beavers, Guides and Brownies and are available for hire for children’s parties or meetings.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52380459634_54d978167c.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52380459634_54d978167c.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>The Sewing Club at Brewood Community Hub: Brewood Garden Party 2022</em>
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Once again, Brewood Parish Church provided an imposing Plants and Produce Stall, which was sited along the front elevation of the Hall.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52380380503_dc6756a0aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52380380503_dc6756a0aa.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Plants and Produce stall: Brewood Garden Party 2022</em>
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A wide range of prizes was on offer for the lucky winners at tombola.
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<em>Tombola prizes displayed behind the tombola drum: Brewood Garden Party 2022</em>
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Our many younger visitors were well-catered for. The ever-popular Coconut Shy was kept busy, as were 'Hook-a-Duck' and Teddy Tombola. There was a colourfully-decorated Tuck Shop, a Book Stall and a 'Soft Archery' range.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52380461714_9416cc98b0.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52380461714_9416cc98b0.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>The ever-popular Coconut Shy: Brewood Garden Party 2022</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52380382723_48c7bc1d47.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52380382723_48c7bc1d47.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Tuck Shop: Brewood Garden Party 2022</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52224890436_098f7d867e.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52224890436_098f7d867e.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>'Hook-a-Duck' and Teddy Tombola: Brewood Garden Party 2022</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52223885162_6a8deb85eb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52223885162_6a8deb85eb.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Archery for Children using arrows tipped with rubber suckers: Brewood Garden Party 2022</em>
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As in 2019, the 2-foot gauge steam locomotive 'Phoenix' appeared as a static exhibit, this time with smoke curling from the distinctively-shaped chimney.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52380575195_9bf138c57f.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52380575195_9bf138c57f.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>'Phoenix' at Brewood Garden Party 2022</em>
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As an innovation in 2022, John Groves, a local farmer, displayed a classic farm tractor for young people to admire.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52380455219_cda17812a9.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52380455219_cda17812a9.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>John Groves, a local farmer, displayed a classic tractor: Brewood Garden Party 2022</em>
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A section of the front lawn had been marked out with a series of parallel white lines, forming a short running track, allowing a number of Children's Races, with small prizes, to be held during the event.
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<strong>After the Event</strong>
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The Event closed at four o'clock but, of course, there was still lots of work for the volunteers. Admissions money and stall takings were counted on the day by Marion and the writer with Geoff then arranging refund of sums advanced by volunteers and distribution of nett proceeds to the benefiicary charities.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52240405241_f56ddb9f31.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52240405241_f56ddb9f31.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Brewood Hall Garden Party 2022: Marion counting cash</em>
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Dismantling the stalls and Marquees was started on the day but loading up trailers and returning equipment to storage was spead over a couple of days.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52240405136_c36457cfc5.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52240405136_c36457cfc5.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Brewood Hall Garden Party 2022: Dismantling marquees after the event</em>
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It was naturally disappointing that Covid prevented me from attending the eighth Brewood Hall Garden Party but I was touched that members of the organising committee afterwards presented me, as current chatelaine of Brewood Hall, with a magnificent floral display.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52239424892_5e55358471.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52239424892_5e55358471.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Brewood Hall Garden Party 2022: The writer, as owner of Brewood Hall, was presented with a magnificent bouquet</em>
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<strong>Reports on previous garden parties at Brewood Hall</strong>
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<a href="http://janfordsworld.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/brewood-vintage-garden-party-2013.html">Brewood Vintage Garden Party 2013</a>.<br>
<a href="http://janfordsworld.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/brewood-vintage-garden-party-2014.html">Brewood Vintage Garden Party 2014</a>.<br>
<a href="http://janfordsworld.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/brewood-garden-party-2015.html">Brewood Garden Party 2015</a>.<br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/brewood-garden-party-2016.html">Brewood Garden Party 2016</a>.<br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2017/08/brewood-garden-party-2017.html">Brewood Garden Party 2017</a>.<br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2018/07/brewood-garden-party-2018.html">Brewood Garden Party 2018</a>.<br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2019/07/brewood-hall-garden-party-2019.html">Brewood Garden Party 2019</a>.
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<strong>Related posts on other websites</strong>
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<a href="http://www.2ndbrewoodscouts.org.uk/">2nd Brewood Scouts</a><br>
<a href="http://www.greensforge.org/">Greensforge Sailing Club</a><br>
<a href="https://www.chaseferretrescue.com/">Chase Ferret Rescue</a><br>
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<strong>Pictures of the event</strong>
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Depending on the display device, the right hand edge of pictures may not display. To see an uncropped image, click on the picture. Alternately, you can find the image by following the link below and display or download the image in various resolutions.
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72177720300624916">Brewood Garden Party 2022</a><br>
</span>Jan Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629634827697853421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247877927166606400.post-53991756329878397312022-09-19T18:03:00.004+01:002024-01-04T11:27:31.356+00:00'Lionsmeet' 2022 Worcester<span style="font-family:arial;">
<em>The Old Locomotive Committee (OLCO) normally visits a different model engineering society each year for a day of running live steam models of 'Lion' (and similar elderly prototypes up to around 1850) combined with friendly discussions of the joys and problems of this type of model building. The event is known as 'Lionsmeet'. However, following the event held at Bournemouth in 2019 (report <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2019/08/lionsmeet-2019.html">here</a>), the Covid19 pandemic prevented events in 2020 and 2021. On 13th August 2022, the event resumed, accepting the invitation from Worcester and District Model Engineers</em>
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<strong>History of the Worcester and District Club</strong>
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The club was founded in 1946 and a straight multi-gauge track (2 1/2, 3 1/2 and 5 inch) 100 yards long was built in Gheluvelt Park, Worcester.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52366293669_cc42569878.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52366293669_cc42569878.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>First day of public opening in 1948 at Gheluvelt Park, with Alf Castle driving 'Lady Rosalie' (Photo: Worcester News)</em>
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Expansion at Gheluvelt Park (the name commemorates the 2nd Battalion, Worcester Regiment's role in the World War I Battle of Gheluvelt, Belgium) was not possible but the local council offered the present site in Waverley Street, Diglis to allow a continuous run to be constructed.
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The continuous raised track (3 1/2 and 5 inch gauge) 230 yards long was opened in 1954 but, after long service, was renewed and re-opened by the Mayor of Worcester in 1999. Latterly, 2 1/2 inch gauge running has been added to the continuous track.
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The adjacent club house was originally built as a workshop only, but as tea and cakes became popular on public running days, a kitchen extension was added in 1963 to improve refreshment facilities.
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In 1968, a second, continuous ground level track (3 1/2, 5, and 7 1/4 inch gauge) was built inside the original, raised track. The inner, ground level track is looped over a bridge (with gradients of around 1 in 100 approaching and leaving the bridge) to give a length of 350 yards. In 2002, refurbishment of the bridge decking was completed. More recent projects for the ground level circuit include sleeper replacement, re-ballasting and new 7 1/4 inch gauge rolling stock.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52188511505_aafbe0536e_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52188511505_aafbe0536e_n.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Aerial view of Worcester & District Model Engineers track (Photo: WDMES)</em>
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<strong>Getting there</strong>
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I'd originally arranged transport by road with a relative but, at short notice, a difficulty arose. Then I thought "I can go by train!", until I discovered that strike action affecting a number of Train Operating Companies made that impossible. The Chairman of OLCO, John Brandrick, came to my rescue, as he was driving down from Lancashire on the morning of 'Lionsmeet 2022' and offered to detour to my home to pick me up. We had an enjoyable drive to Worcester, discussing various railway matters.
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<strong>Refreshments</strong>
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We were made very welcome by the host club and Hot and Cold drinks with various cakes were available at the refreshment area throughout the day. An excellent buffet lunch was served at lunch time.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52284816483_1598dbebb5.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52284816483_1598dbebb5.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>OLCO members enjoying the refreshment facilities, WDMES: 'Lionsmeet' 2022, Worcester</em>
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<strong>Informal Running</strong>
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OLCO members who ran their models enjoyed exclusive access to both the elevated and ground level circuits. Until, I think, Lionsmeet 2013 OLCO members would engage in a not-too-serious competition to see which model could perform the greatest 'work done' in ten minutes. In the following year, the format changed to 'informal running' which seemed well-received by members and so, to date, the competition has not been reinstated.
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John Dalton from Chelmsford was first into steam and he had the inner, ground-level circuit to himself with his splendid 7 1/4 inch gauge 'Lion'. His attractive driving truck is in the form of a Great Western open wagon and it's equipped with a vacuum brake.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52284816848_9f54552bba.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52284816848_9f54552bba.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>John Dalton's 7.25" 'Lion' with multifunction Driving Truck on the inner circuit at 'Lionsmeet' 2022, Worcester</em>
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Lifting the hinged seat on the driving truck reveals the'works' - a sealed rechargeable lead-acid battery powering a vacuum pump for the brake cylinder. A small control panel has pushbuttons for 'Brake Off' and 'Brake On' (it is not designed as a 'proportional' brake) and a brake gauge. During preparation, the battery can be used to power an electric fan as a blower, so as to be independent of 'shore supplies'.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52285293545_08283fdd8a.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52285293545_08283fdd8a.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>John Dalton's Driving Truck incorporates a battery to power both an electric blower during lighting up and a vacuum pump for the brake cylinder on the Driving Truck during running: 'Lionsmeet' 2022, Worcester</em>
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Three 5 inch gauge 'Lion' models were steamed on the outer, elevated track - A J Richards' 'Lion', Alan Banks' 'Thunderbolt' and Jon Swindlehurst's 'Lion'. They were prepared on elevated steaming bays (5 inch or dual 3 1/2 and 5 inch gauge) radiating from a dual gauge turntable which allows locomotives to be transferred to and from the outer, elevated circuit via a traverser.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52283824312_d65ff60e4f.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52283824312_d65ff60e4f.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>A J Reynolds readies his 'Lion' in the steaming bays: 'Lionsmeet' 2022, Worcester</em>
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<em>Alan Banks preparing 'Thunderbolt' in the steaming bays: 'Lionsmeet' 2022, Worcester</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52285290230_024b26d763.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52285290230_024b26d763.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Jon Swindlehurst preparing his 'Lion' in the steaming bays: 'Lionsmeet' 2022, Worcester</em>
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<em>John Dalton, with his 7 1/4 inch gauge 'Lion', crossing over the bridge: 'Lionsmeet' 2022, Worcester</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52283823867_8259269273.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52283823867_8259269273.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>A J Reynolds 'Lion' setting off: 'Lionsmeet' 2022, Worcester</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52285074519_079ab140fb.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52285074519_079ab140fb.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Alan Banks driving 'Thunderbolt' on the outer, elevated circuit: 'Lionsmeet' 2022, Worcester</em>
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<em>Jon Swindlehurst pauses for a chat whilst running his 5 inch gauge, well-known model of 'Lion'. The Exhibition marquee is in the background: 'Lionsmeet' 2022, Worcester</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52285295785_847035d190.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52285295785_847035d190.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Four 'Lion' models steamed at 'Lionsmeet' 2022, Worcester. In the foreground, John Brandrick is a passenger as 'Thunderbolt' pauses, with Jon Swindlehurst waiting behind and A J Reynolds also stopped further back near the marquee. Meanwhile, John Dalton has the inner track to himself.</em>
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<strong>Exhibition Tent</strong>
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To enable various models and models-in-progress (many from members of the host club) to be shown, a large marquee, provided with tables and chairs, had been erected. It was a few moments before I realised that the rather curious profile of the tent was because an even larger marquee, ingeniously, had been only part assembled. A fascinating selection of models was displayed here, including Jon Swindlehurst's nearing-completion 7 1/4 inch gauge 'Lion', which he tells me has been run successfully on air.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52284810516_5d88e8f393.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52284810516_5d88e8f393.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>General view of marquee display, showing two 'Lion' models with ballast trains, displayed by Jackie and Bryan Buckley at 'Lionsmeet' 2022, Worcester</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52285291140_63c51990e8.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52285291140_63c51990e8.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>L: 3.5" 'Lion' and (behind) 'Rainhill', R: two 'Lion' models with ballast trains, all displayed by Jackie and Bryan Buckley at 'Lionsmeet' 2022, Worcester</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52284818418_426ef12762.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52284818418_426ef12762.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Cylinders and valve gear for 5" gauge 'Lion', displayed by Will Taylor at 'Lionsmeet' 2022, Worcester</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52283829222_1f5a19120e.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52283829222_1f5a19120e.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>5" gauge 'Lion', displayed by Tim and Neil Bottle at 'Lionsmeet' 2022, Worcester</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52283829102_5b81620977.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52283829102_5b81620977.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>7.25" gauge 'Lion', displayed by Jon Swindlehurst at 'Lionsmeet' 2022, Worcester. This new model has already been satisfactorily run using air.</em>
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<strong>Overall Impression</strong>
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It wasn't the best attended 'Lionsmeet' that's been run (I suspect the Covid19 Pandemic may still be exerting a lasting effect) but it was certainly one of the more memorable, partly because of the opportunity to meet face-to-face after being restricted to remote communication for so long, partly because of the good weather but mainly because of the welcome Worcester and District Model Engineers gave us.
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<strong>Related posts on other websites</strong>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/worcestermes/">Worcester and District Model Engineers</a> (Facebook)
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<strong>Related posts on this website</strong>
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To find all my posts about the Old Locomotive Committee and the locomotive 'Lion', <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/search/label/OLCO">click here</a> or select 'OLCO' under 'Labels to select a blog topic'.
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<strong>My pictures at Worcester</strong>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72177720300248457/">Lionsmeet 2022</a>
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Depending on the display device, the right hand edge of pictures may not display. To see an uncropped image, click on the picture. Alternately, you can find the image by following the 'My pictures' links and display or download the image in various resolutions.
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</span>Jan Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629634827697853421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247877927166606400.post-6968910662718057202022-08-30T17:43:00.002+01:002022-11-06T13:15:35.978+00:00Book-buying in Morecambe by Train<span style="font-family:arial;">
Events of Thursday, 26th May 2022
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There's a rather special second-hand bookshop in Morecambe called Old Pier Bookshop. Because of the pandemic, I'd not made a visit since 2019 (see post <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2019/03/morecambe-by-rail.html">here</a>) but in May 2022 I determined to venture back.
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I took the familiar Avanti 'Pendolino' service from Wolverhampton to Scotland as far as Lancaster. The weather forecast hadn't been very good and, as we headed north, the skies darkened and we went through patches of rain. At Lancaster, it was dry but not very warm and, having walked the short distance to the north end bays, I was happy to board the waiting Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) to Morecambe.
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We set off on time for Morecambe and, crossing the River Lune. I noticed the poor visibilty on the seaward side with the Heysham Power Stations a looming, grey presence in the distance. At Morecambe South Junction we left the West Coast Main Line, swinging left onto the single line to Bare Lane where we were joined by the single line from Hest Bank which completes a triangular connection with the West Coast Main Line. The route immediately splits into two parallel single lines which continue to serve the two platform faces of Morecambe's modern station. Ten minutes are allowed from Lancaster to Morecambe, including a brief stop at Bare Lane.
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It was raining in Morecambe but, undismayed, I set off along Northumberland Street to the seafront, turning east along Central Marine Road. In good weather, the location commands impressive views of Cumbria to the north. There's an exhibit called 'Lakeland Panorama' to assist visitors in identifying what they can see but it was rather redundant on my visit as only low, grey cloud was visible. I passed the Clock Tower and soon reached my destination, the family-run Old Pier Bookshop named after the older of Morecambe's two now-lost piers, which opened in 1869 and was named the Central Pier following the opening of the West End Pier in 1896. According to Wikipedia, the West End Pier was demolished in 1978 while the Central Pier closed in 1986 and was demolished in 1992.
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In the bookshop, books crowd in from all directions with shelves fitted in every evailable space. A step ladder is provided to reach high-level shelves. An aisle between bookshelves will often turn a right angle, left or right to reveal more books. The convoluted layout of the bookshelves is reminiscent of ancient rectilinear key patterns (which I believe are strictly called 'meanders') used in geometric borders, sometimes referred to as 'Greek Key' designs. The overall effect is pleasingly eccentric and visitors should not be surprised to come across mannequins browsing the shelves.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52106166877_04732a94f8.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52106166877_04732a94f8.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Old Pier Bookshop, Morecambe</em>
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<em>Old Pier Bookshop, Morecambe (The framed print shown includes a quote from Terry Pratchett's writing)</em>
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Did I find a book? Yes, I left the bookshop much later loaded with two large carrier bags of books (mainly from the transport section, as you might have imagined). Fortunately, the rain had stopped but the day remained overcast and none too warm. Fortified by a snack at the Clock Tower Cafe (which I consumed seated at one of the seats conveniently built into the base of the adjacent Clock Tower). I decided to cut short my trip to Morecambe and concentrate on transporting my rather heavy haul of books home. For variety, I took an alternative route through the pedestrianised town centre and Market Street onto Central Drive, quite near the station so this route proved a good choice as I was encumbered with my book purchases. Since I was travelling back earlier than anticipated, I was a little vague about available services but a well-patronised DMU was waiting in the platform so I was soon returned to the bay platforms at Lancaster station.
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A number of passengers leaving the train were exiting the station by a pedestrian 'back gate' I'd not seen on previous visits so, despite being loaded with books, I decided to see where it led. Most of the passengers were walking towards the more modern, mainly residential area of the city to the west of the station but I followed the few who were taking West Road over a narrow road bridge, now only available to pedestrians, which crossed the railway revealing new views of the station.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52107440804_978367ab31.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52107440804_978367ab31.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>View of Lancaster Station from West Road Bridge looking south</em>
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I trudged up the steep hill leading towards Lancaster Castle, where the Crown Court elevation was covered in scaffolding and the maintenance workers were just packing up for the day. I continued into the graveyard of Lancaster Prory Church of St. Mary. It was very peaceful and pleasantly warm so I rested for a few minutes on the steps adjacent to a memorial whilst quickly scanning my recently-acquired books.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52107189326_f50af4a32b.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52107189326_f50af4a32b.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Outside Lancaster Priory Church of St. Mary</em>
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Deciding it was time to return to the station, I made my way downhill to a pedestrian entrance to the up side of the station, just east of the West Road Bridge. This charming entrance features substantial, carved stone pillars and retains an elaborate iron gate. Of course, the current custodians of this feature, Network Rail have seen fit to adorn one pillar with a modern sign declaring 24-hour CCTV surveillance. They even managed to mount the gharish notice off-centre.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52107189386_05ddf21729.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52107189386_05ddf21729.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Pedestrian entrance to Lancaster Station (Up side) from West Road</em>
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Through the gate, a short, nondescript alley leads to the small, cobbled road access on the Up side of the station and the entrance to the buildings which now lead passengers through automatic doors to the overbridge with both steps and lifts leading to island platforms 4/5 on the Up side and platforms 1/2/3 on the Down side.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52107226303_45da6b7da1.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52107226303_45da6b7da1.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Lancaster: Entrance to station on Up Side</em>
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A Northern Class 195 DMU heading for Manchester Airport preceded my train in platform 4. These CAF-built units were introduced to finally dispel the abyssmal 'Pacers'and are the diesel-powered version of the electric Class 331. My Avanti 'Pendolino' followed and, having struggled aboard with my books, I flopped in First Class for the uneventful journey back to Wolverhampton, tired after a productive day.
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<strong>Book References</strong>
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[1] ‘A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain: Volume 10 The North West’ by G. O. Holt, revised Gordon Biddle published by David & Charles (ISBN: 0946537 34 8).<br>
[2] ‘Wennington to Morecambe and Heysham via Lancaster’ by Roy Davies (Middleton Press 2021) ISBN 978 1 910356 58 6.
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<strong>Related articles on other websites</strong>
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancaster_Priory">Lancaster Priory</a> (Wikipedia)<br>
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<strong>Related Railway posts on this website</strong>
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<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2009/01/steam-around-morecambe.html">Steam around Morecambe</a><br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2013/12/return-to-heysham.html">Return to Heysham</a><br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2013/12/railways-around-morecambe.html">Railways around Morecambe</a><br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2019/03/morecambe-by-rail.html">Morecambe by Rail</a><br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2020/05/my-introduction-to-railways-around.html">My Introduction to the Railways around Morecambe</a>
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<strong>My pictures</strong>
<br><br>
All my Lancaster and Morecambe pictures:-<br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72157644888570100">Lancaster</a> (All pictures)<br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72157638729347974">Morecambe</a> (All pictures)
<br><br>
All my rail transport pictures showing areas passed through:-<br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/sets/72157678601555438/">West Midland Metro</a><br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/sets/72157626817757226/">West Midland Railways</a><br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/sets/72157626874405376/">Stafford Area rail</a><br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/sets/72157626913146058/">Crewe Area rail</a><br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/sets/72157629434883668/">Warrington Area rail</a><br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/sets/72157639144128726/">Wigan's Railways</a><br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/sets/72157626357848895/">Railways around Preston</a><br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72157638725409264">Lancaster area rail.</a><br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/sets/72157638728664643">Morecambe Area Rail</a>
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Depending on the display device, the right hand edge of pictures may not display. To see an uncropped image, click on the picture. Alternately, you can find the image by following the 'My pictures' links and display or download the image in various resolutions.
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</span>Jan Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629634827697853421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247877927166606400.post-26052109741257672192022-08-26T16:51:00.002+01:002022-09-29T09:10:29.735+01:00Blackpool by rail, Fleetwood and Knott End<span style="font-family:arial;">
<em>On Thursday, 30th June 2022, I made a trip by rail to Blackpool, Fleetwood and Knott End. This was largely a 're-run' of an earlier trip in 2021 described <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2021/08/blackpool-by-electric-train.html">here</a></em>
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I caught the 07:30 bus to Wolverhampton, walked towards the station and, once again, marvelled at the slow progress of the tramway extension to the railway station. For some time, the double tramway track from the existing route stopped at Victoria Square. Then, tracks were laid along railway drive, stopping just short of the destination. Special rail joints were provided either side of the bridge over the Ring Road, presumably to allow for some bridge movement.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/7862/40105293613_71942f4dd0.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7862/40105293613_71942f4dd0.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>West Midland Metro: Flexible rail joint on bridge over Ring Road in Railway Drive, Wolverhampton.</em>
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However, recently a number of deep, square holes have been dug adjacent to the tracks along this section, with groups of orange-clad workers often in attendance but the reason for these excavations isn't obvious. Work has also continued with tracklaying on the final section extending to the site of the tram station adjacent to the railway station entrance. This tracklaying is enclosed by two adjacent sets of fencing separated by a narrow walkway to allow public access to and from the railway station. The worksite gates are continually opened and closed as workers and materials move between the two areas.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52187025887_777b2d0e69.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52187025887_777b2d0e69.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Wolverhampton Station: View from station towards the City showing tramway tracks under construction on Railway Drive (Trip to Blackpool)</em>
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The obstacle race involved in getting to the station gives an unwelcoming feeling to the area which is compounded inside the building by the bleak internal finish of painted building blocks more suggestive of a prison than a modern transport hub. But I suppose it serves as preparation for the high fares and frequent train cancellations on offer.
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The displays showed my train, the 08:37 Edinburgh, as 'On time'. Once on the platform, I used my mobile phone to interrogate Railcam UK (described <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2019/02/watching-trains-go-by.html">here</a>) to show the approaching train, reporting number 9S44, near Coseley, but preceded by an all-stations local, terminating at Wolverhampton. As frequently happens, my train was slowed or stopped near Monmore Green, waiting for the local to tuck itself into bay platform 5 before the route could be reset and signal BW4271 cleared for my train to follow into through platform 1, arriving 2 minutes late.
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The trainset was an 11-car unit, 390117 named 'Blue Peter', re-liveried since the days of the Virgin Trains franchise but without the re-furbishment carried out by Avanti on some of the sets. I found my seat in coach J near the rear of the train and, as we sped north, I was quickly provided with a cooked breakfast. The staff were friendly and the food was good quality, promptly supplied so I enjoyed the journey. I still consider modern arrangements fall short of earlier standards although my experience of railway restaurant cars only extends back to the 1980s, when many travellers already thought on-train catering a lost cause.
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We were back on time approaching Crewe but were brought to a stand briefly at signal CE107 (again, as frequently happens), making our arrival in platform 11 one minute in arrears. Our departure was seven minutes late but I didn't discover the cause. On our journey north with brief station stops at Warrington and Wigan, some time had been made up before Preston where I alighted but I never found out whether I would have made the advertised connection with the 10:09 departure to Blackpool as the platform displays indicated that the train had been cancelled. Following the Covid19 pandemic, typically no apologies are made for frequent cancellations. Fortunately, there was another service at 10:25.
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I walked along the straight, broad platform 3 towards the footbtidge admiring, as always, the gabled overall roof. Such structures are often called 'train sheds' which seems a rather mean description. The airiness and sense of space combined with generous admission of daylight I find very appealing. The arched structures at, for instance, Liverpool Lime Street, Manchester Piccadilly and York are perhaps better-known but the Preston design is very effective.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52188042621_7fff378286.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52188042621_7fff378286.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Platform 3 at Preston with 9S44 preparing to leave: Trip to Blackpool</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52188052268_f89363dab7.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52188052268_f89363dab7.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Preston platform 3, view looking south from the footbridge with platform 2 on the right: Trip to Blackpool:</em>
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The train forward to Blackpool arrived on time from the south comprising two 4-car sets of Class 331 EMU built by CAF in Spain. Although I'd seen Class 331 in various locations this was only my second chance to ride on this class introduced in 2019 (the first was a short trip from Edge Hill to Lime Street described <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2021/08/a-day-trip-to-liverpool.html">here</a>). The modern interiors are decent standard but I didn't find the ride particularly good on the way to Blackpool. The train formed part of a regular Northern Trains electric service between Hazel Grove (the limit of electrification on the Buxton branch from Stockport) and Blackpool North. My train (reporting number 2N63) had left Hazel Grove at 09:03 and travelled via Stockport, Manchester Piccadilly, Bolton, Horwich and Chorley before joining the West Coast Main Line to reach Preston. Our arrival at Blackpool North was on time at 10:47.
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The pedestrian route from the station to the town remained initially via the rather inconvenient arrangement of narrow ramp and stairs to reach the Talbot Gateway area still dominated by building work. The tram station at Blackpool North was still under construction but, having noted the overhead conductor system had been installed and that the tram signals were lit, I was not surprised as I walked along Talbot Road to the seafront when a tram marked 'Not in Service' passed me. Afterwards, I found out that my visit coincided with a week of testing the new line with empty trams running every ten minutes during the day.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52188042076_6409fd04a6.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52188042076_6409fd04a6.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Tram carrying out test running on the new extension along Talbot Road: Trip to Blackpool</em>
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There had been a little light rain on my journey along Talbot Road, ignored by lightly-dressed holidaymakers, but this soon stopped as the sun emerged and the day warmed. I joined a few passengers waiting for a northbound tram at the North Pier Tram Station and, after a few minutes wait, one of the fleet of Bombardier 'Flexity' trams arrived. I secured a seat at the front offering a view ahead and, having purchased a return ticket to Fleetwood Ferry from the friendly conductor with a rapid contactless payment, settled down for the eight mile journey punctuated by frequent stops to the northern terminus.
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It's just a few yards from the tram terminus across the Esplanade to the ferry and, despite just missing a departing ferry, I couldn't resist wandering around the area whilst waiting for the next departure thirty minutes later, finding one of the 'Heritage' trams awaiting its next trip and then exploring Euston Park, with the North Euston Hotel in the background.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52188294984_b1533d2ecf.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52188294984_b1533d2ecf.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Blackpool 'Heritage' tram on loop line at Fleetwood Ferry: Trip to Blackpool</em>
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52188042441_6e0cb7df02.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52188042441_6e0cb7df02.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Euston Park, Fleetwood with the North Euston Hotel background left and the Lower Light background right: Trip to Blackpool</em>
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Fleetwood Ferry Port is a substantial square-ended dock which towers over the modern Wyre Estuary Ferry 'Wyre Rose'. A long ramp leads passengers down to board the ferry via a short power-operated gangway mounted on the port side of the ferry.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52188052108_6941d0d334.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52188052108_6941d0d334.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Fleetwood Ferry Port and 'Wyre Rose': Trip to Blackpool</em>
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The ferry is operated by two men - the 'skipper' has an elevated 'pilot house' giving improved visibility, the other looks after mooring, the gangway and collecting fares (cash only, collected in a white plastic bucket).
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52188526425_1170681d1d.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52188526425_1170681d1d.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Wyre Estuary Ferry during the crossing showing gangway in raised position, raised 'pilot house' and white cash bucket: Trip to Blackpool</em>
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The crossing takes only a few minutes to Knott End (or Knott End-on-Sea to give its full title) on the far side of the Wyre Estuary where the ferry moors alongside a long concrete slipway leading to the expanded village forming part of Parish of Preesall and Wyre Council. It's an odd mixture of old, not-so-old and modern. There's a cafe and shop aimed at tourists, the Bourne Arms public house and restaurant and a long esplanade looking across the bay with Cumbria to the north but my eye is always drawn to the incongruity of the view of the two nearer nuclear power stations at Heysham.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52188042326_1aeef9ae86.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52188042326_1aeef9ae86.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Knott End-on-Sea: View looking north showing Heysham Nuclear Power Stations with Cumbria in the background (Trip to Blackpool)</em>
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A nearby postbox carried a 'postbox topper' celebrating crimefighting in Lancashire, which reminded me of my last sighting of these knitted adornments in Wallasey (mentioned <a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2022/04/new-brighton-again.html">here</a>).
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52187025602_054f4f3a56.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52187025602_054f4f3a56.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Postbox Topper 'You can run but you can't hide' celebrating Lancashire Constabulary in Knott End-on-Sea (Trip to Blackpool)</em>
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I decided not to explore beyond the esplanade with its modern apartment buildings facing the sea so, having recorded the Bourne Arms, I made my way back to the Knott End Cafe and indulged in a vanilla ice cream cornet.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52188526470_12867fb9e6.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52188526470_12867fb9e6.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>The Bourne Arms, Knott End (Trip to Blackpool)</em>
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Although I was well aware that Knott End had formerly been connected to the West Coast Main Line via a single line railway to Garstang, it wasn't until I started to write this report that I realised the Knott End Cafe is actually on the site of Knott End Station. I believe the disused station buildings served as Knott End Cafe for some years before being rebuilt and expanded into the current structure. Refreshed by the ice cream, I hurried to the slipway, just in time to catch up with the last of the passengers boarding the next ferry for the short return trip.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51393032165_13f3374c39.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51393032165_13f3374c39.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>View in 2021 from Knott End Slipway showing Knott End Cafe and H. M. Coastguard</em>
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At Fleetwood Ferry, a modern tram was waiting at the terminus, with the crew enjoying the warm sunshine on the adjacent pavement. After exchanging a few friendly words, I secured a seat at the front for the return journey and we set off almost immediately. Although we didn't have to stop at every tram station, plenty of passengers boarded and alighted on the way back to Blackpool.
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As we neared Blackpool, work in setting up the annual Illuminations (sometimes called 'The Lights') was in progress. The website for the 2022 Illuminations (2nd September 2022 - 2nd January 2023) is <a href="https://www.visitblackpool.com/things-to-do/blackpool-illuminations/">here</a>. The major displays are largely mounted on substantial long steel tubes mounted vertically in prepared foundations in the margin on the seaward side of the tramway, held in place by wooden wedges. At least some of these tubes appeared to be re-purposed supports for the tramway catenary or similar. We passed a Blackpool Council articulated flatbed lorry at work, fitted with a serious-looking Atlas crane (probably from their 'medium' range). Atlas manufacture in Germany but there's a UK website <a href="https://www.atlas-cranes.co.uk/">here</a>.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52188294724_6a9a46fbda.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52188294724_6a9a46fbda.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Blackpool Illuminations being erected (Trip to Blackpool)</em>
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A few of the large displays were already in place, featuring Sooty and friends (who were appearing at Blackpool North Pier in 2022).
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52188526350_48d756990a.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52188526350_48d756990a.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Blackpool Illumination 2022 being erected (Trip to Blackpool)</em>
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I left the tram at North Pier and, spotting another Heritage Tram waiting in the loop at North Pier, went across to take a picture. It was a rather attractive open top, 'Gondola' style tram with a driver, conductor and a couple of passengers on board.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52188051898_27d81fd160.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52188051898_27d81fd160.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Heritage Tram, open top, 'Gondola' style, waiting in the loop at North Pier (Trip to Blackpool)</em>
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The tram didn't seem about to move so I then spent a short time on the pier, taking yet one more picture of Blackpool Tower viewed from the pier.
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<a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52187025337_f0c2420172.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52187025337_f0c2420172.jpg" /></a><br>
<em>Blackpool Tower, viewed from North Pier (Trip to Blackpool)</em>
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It was so warm, I'd ended up carrying my coat. I'd intended to travel home on a 'Pendolino' from Blackpool later in the afternoon not requiring any changes but knowing I could travel an hour earlier with a single change at Preston and starting to get tired and feeling warm, I crossed to Talbot Road and started walking towards the station. The walk took longer than expected and, for a moment, I wondered if I'd catch the earlier train but all was well. As I hurried through Blackpool station, I noticed that the later, direct train I'd intended to catch had been cancelled so I gratefully flopped onto the 14:28 Blackpool North to Hazel Grove, another Class 331. This made stops at Leyton, Poulton and Kirkham. The reporting number was 2H00. On arrival at Preston, I crossed to platform 4 and found a station seat, having around half an hour to wait for my connaction.
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The connection was a 'Pendolino', reporting number 9M56, timetabled to depart Preston 15:18, Wigan 15:30½, Wigan 15:41½, Crewe 16:01½, getting to Wolverhampton at 16:33½. The train was a few minutes late into Preston and, with plenty of passengers boarding and alighting, the computer logged departure as 8 minutes late. I settled myself in First and there was amusement when the catering lady came to take 'orders from Preston' as we each recognised the other from the Down journey that morning. After I'd left the train at Preston, trainset 390117 'Blue Peter' had continued to Edinburgh and returned on its London-Edinburgh-London diagram to pick me up again. The service was friendly and attentive, although I found the afternoon menu rather limited. I'm afraid I didn't pay a lot of attention on the journey. The Openrail computer logged us 8 late at Wigan, 5 late arriving Crewe (we'd been brought to a stand outside Crewe North Junction) and I made us 7 late into Wolverhampton. The earlier than planned train home meant that I was in time to catch the last bus to Brewood (at 17:10!). The warm weather and the walking had left me tired but I'd had a very enjoyable day.
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<strong>Garstang and Knott End Railway</strong>
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Although I never saw the railway operating, I made one brief visit by road some years after closure of the line. For a rather obscure railway, I was surprised how much history was readily available on the internet and I list a few sites below:-
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garstang_and_Knot-End_Railway">Garstang and Knot-End Railway</a><br>
<a href="https://rogerfarnworth.com/2020/01/28/the-garstang-and-knott-end-railway-part-1/">The Garstang and Knott End Railway – Part 1</a><br>
<a href="https://rogerfarnworth.com/2020/02/08/the-garstang-and-knott-end-railway-part-2/">The Garstang and Knott End Railway – Part 2</a><br>
<a href="https://transportsofdelight.smugmug.com/RAILWAYS/LOCOMOTIVES-OF-THE-LMS-CONSTITUENT-COMPANIES/GARSTANG-KNOTT-END-RAILWAY/">THE GARSTANG & KNOTT END RAILWAY</a><br>
<a href="http://disused-stations.org.uk/k/knott_end/index.shtml">Disused Stations Site Record: Knott End</a>
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<strong>Related posts on this website</strong>
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Previous trips to Blackpool are linked below. Note that the dates below are posting dates, not the date of the events described.
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<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2008/07/halfex-to-blackpool.html">Halfex to Blackpool</a> 5-Jul-2008<br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2014/01/a-trip-to-seaside.html">A Trip to the Seaside</a> 17-Jan-2014<br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2014/01/railways-around-blackpool.html">Railways around Blackpool</a> 18-Jan-2014<br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2016/02/return-to-blackpool-and-fleetwood-part-1.html">Return to Blackpool and Fleetwood (part 1)</a> 19-Feb-2016<br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2016/10/return-to-blackpool-and-fleetwood-part-2.html">Return to Blackpool and Fleetwood (part 2)</a> 15-Oct-2016<br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2019/02/blackpool-by-train.html">Blackpool by Train</a> 17-Feb-2019<br>
<a href="https://janfordsworld.blogspot.com/2021/08/blackpool-by-electric-train.html">Blackpool by Electric Train</a> 28-Aug-2021<br>
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<strong>My pictures</strong>
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Pictures taken on this trip:-
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/albums/72177720300255419/">Blackpool Trip</a><br>
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All my rail transport pictures showing areas passed through:-
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/sets/72157678601555438/">West Midland Metro</a><br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/sets/72157626817757226/">West Midland Railways</a><br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/sets/72157626874405376/">Stafford Area rail</a><br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/sets/72157626913146058/">Crewe Area rail</a><br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/sets/72157629434883668/">Warrington Area rail</a><br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/sets/72157639144128726/">Wigan's Railways</a><br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/sets/72157626357848895/">Railways around Preston</a><br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/sets/72157639382251956/">Blackpool's Railways</a><br>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/sets/72157639383694846/">Blackpool Trams</a><br>
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All my Blackpool, Fleetwood and Knott End pictures:-
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/janfordsworld/sets/72157639388448404/">Blackpool and Fleetwood</a><br>
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Depending on the display device, the right hand edge of pictures may not display. To see an uncropped image, click on the picture. Alternately, you can find the image by following the 'My pictures' links and display or download the image in various resolutions.
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</span>Jan Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17629634827697853421noreply@blogger.com