HERITAGE DIARY

Where to go for steam & classic traction in March and April

ABBEY PUMPING STATION Open daily until October 31 Abbey Pumping Station, Corporation Road, Leicester LE4 5PX (0116 299 5111). Open daily 11.00-16.30. Free admission except for events.

AMBERLEY WORKING MUSEUM Open Tuesday-Sunday & Bank Holidays until November 1 Amberley, Arundel, West Sussex, BN18 9LT (01798 831370). email: offi ce@amberleymuseum. co.uk websites: www.amberleynarrowgauge. co.uk or www.amberleymuseum.co.uk Museum is open 10.00-17.30, with the last entry at 16.30pm. Event: April 26 Spring Industrial Trains Day.

AUDLEY END RAILWAY Ring railway for running dates Audley End House, Saffron Walden, Essex (01799 541354). www.audley-end-railway.co.uk

AVON VALLEY RAILWAY March 22, April 5, 7-16, 19, 26 Bitton station, Bath Road, Bitton BS30 6HD (0117 932 5538/7296). Weekend driver training courses in March and April.

BARROW HILL ROUNDHOUSE March 7/8, 14/15, 21/22, 28/29 April 4/5, 11/12, 18/19, 25/26 Campbell Drive, Barrow Hill, Chesterfi eld (01246 472450). www.barrowhill.org.uk Open: 10.0016.00. Admission by donation except for special events. Event: April 4/5 Barrow Hill presents Tornado, Blue Peter, Sir Nigel Gresley and Union of South Africa.

BARTON HOUSE RAILWAY April 13, 19 Barton House, Hartwell Road, Wroxham, Norfolk NR12 8TL (01603 782470/722858). www. bartonhouserailway.org.uk Open: 14.30-17.30 on the third Sunday of the month until October and Easter Monday.

BATTLEFIELD LINE March 28/29, April 4/5, 10-13, 18/19, 25/26 Battlefi eld Line Railway, The Shackerstone Railway Society Ltd, Shackerstone station, Shackerstone, Leics CV13 6NW (01827 880754). www.battlefi eld-line-railway.co.uk Event: Apr 2526 Spring diesel gala.

BLUEBELL RAILWAY March 1, 7/8, 14/15, 21/22, 28/29 April 4-November 15 Sheffi eld Park stn, East Sussex (01825 720800). www.bluebell-railway.co.uk Events: March 22 Mothers’ Day. April 4/5 Toy and Rail Collectors Fair, 20-24 & 27-May 1 Spring observation car specials (ring 01825 720800 to book).

BODMIN & WENFORD RAILWAY March 14/15, 18, 22, 25, 28-29 April 1, 5-19, 22, 26, 29 Bodmin General station, Cornwall (01208 73666). www.bodminandwenfordrailway.co.uk Events: March 14/15 Half-price weekend, 22 Mothers’ Day dining train, 28/29 Spring diesel gala. April 10-13 ‘Easter Egg-Travaganza’, 17-19 ‘Spring Steam Spectacular’, 26 Lunch dining train.

BO’NESS & KINNEIL RAILWAY April 4/5, 7-16, 18/19, 25/26 Bo’ness stn, Bo’ness, W Lothian EH51 9AQ (01506 822298). Event: Apr 10-13 ‘Easter Egg Specials’.

BOWES RAILWAY Ring railway for operating dates in April Bowes Railway, Springwell Village, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear. (0191 416 1847).

BRECON MOUNTAIN RAILWAY March 21/22, 24-26, 28/29, 31-April 2, 4/5, 7-19, 21-23, 25/26, 28-30 Pant Station, Merthyr Tydfi l CF48 2UP (01685 722988). www. breconmountainrailway.co.uk

BRISTOL HARBOUR RAILWAY March 28/29 April 11-13 Bristol. Operating from the ss Great Britain during building works on the new Museum of Bristol throughout 2009.

BRISTOL OLD STATION Open daily Bristol Temple Meads station, Bristol (0117 925 4980). www.empiremuseum.co.uk Open daily 10.00-17.00.

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE RAILWAY CENTRE March 8, 22, April 4-17, 19, 25/26 Quainton Rd, Quainton, Aylesbury, Bucks HP22

4BY. (01296 655720). Website: www. bucksrailcentre.org Events: Mar 8 Wedding Fayre, 22 Mothers’ Day, April 5, 8, 15, 18, 26 Steaming Days, 10-13 ‘Days out with Thomas’, 25 Food at Quainton.

BURE VALLEY RAILWAY March 7/8, 14/15, 21/22, 28-November 1 Aylsham station, Norwich Road, Aylsham, Norfolk (01263 733858). Events: March 8 Volunteers’ open day, 22 Mothers’ VIP Day. April 4/5 Macmillan Charity sponsored walk, 10-13 ‘Easter Eggspress’. May 2-4 ‘Everything Goes’.

CHASEWATER RAILWAY March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 April 5, 8, 10-13, 15, 19, 26 Chasewater Country Park, Pool Rd, Brownhills, Staffs (01543 412121). Website: www. chasewaterrailway.co.uk Events: Steam days on April 5, 12, 19, 26.

CHINNOR & PRINCES RISBOROUGH RAILWAY March 22, 29 April 5, 10-13, 19, 26 Chinnor station, Oxon OX39 4ER. Timetable 01844 353535. Website at www.cprra.co.uk Event: March 22 Mothers’ Day Steam Specials. April 10-13 Easter Egg Steam Specials, 26 Spring Diesel Gala, May 2-4 Teddy Bear Days.

CHOLSEY & WALLINGFORD RAILWAY April 11-13 Wallingford station, Hithercroft Road, Wallingford (01491 835067). email: CWRail@ Yahoo.co.uk Events: April 11-13 ‘Ivor the Engine’.

CHURNET VALLEY RAILWAY March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 April 4/5, 10-13, 15, 18/19, 25/26 Station Road, Cheddleton ST13 7EE (01538 360522). Website: www.churnet-valley-railway. co.uk Event: Apr 25/26 ‘When The Lights Go Again’ 1940s Wartime Weekend.

CORRIS RAILWAY April 1, 10-13, 19, 26 Station Yard, Corris, Machynlleth SY20 9SH. Event: March 21/22 Operational training weekend. April 1 Gravity goods trains, 11/12 Horse worked freight trains.

CRICH TRAMWAY VILLAGE

March 7/8, 14/15, 21/22, 28/29 April 4-November 1 National Tram Museum, Matlock, Derbyshire DE4 5DP. Open 10.30-16.00 (March), 10.00-17.30 (April-November). Event: April 12/13 Easter 1940s Weekend.

DEAN FOREST RAILWAY March 7/8, 15, 21/22, 29 April 5, 8, 10-13, 15, 17-19, 26 Norchard, Forest Road, Lydney (01594 845840).

DIDCOT RAILWAY CENTRE March 6-8, 14/15, 21/22, 28/29 April 4-19, 25/26 Didcot, Oxon OX11 7NJ (01235 817200). www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk Events: March 6-8 ‘Days out with Thomas’. April 10-13 Easter Steamdays (Broad gauge Fire Fly locomotive operating), Radstock signalbox visits (Saturday/Sunday), 19 Steamday (Broad gauge Fire Fly locomotive operating).

EAST ANGLIAN RAILWAY MUSEUM Open daily Chappel station, Wakes Colne, Colchester, Essex CO6 2DS (01206 242524). Museum open daily for static viewing. Website: www.earm.co.uk Events: April 10-13 ‘Days out with Thomas’. May 3/4 Vintage Trains Operating Day and secondhand book sale, 24-25 Family fun days.

EAST KENT RAILWAY April 10-13, 19, 25-26 The White Cliffs Colliery Line, Station Road, Shepherdswell, Dover, Kent CT15 7PD (01304 832042). www.eastkentrailway.co.uk

EAST LANCASHIRE RAILWAY March 7/8, 14/15, 21/22, 28/29 April 4/5, 8-13, 15-19, 25-26 Bolton Street station, Bury, Lancs BL9 0EY (0161 764 7790). Website: www.east-lancs-rly.co.uk Events: Mar 14/15 Diesel event and ‘Nightrider’. April 4/5 Class 5 Event, 12 Classic Motor Bike Rally.

ECCLESBOURNE VALLEY RAILWAY March 8, 15, 22, 29 April 5, 10-13, 18/19, 25/26 Wirksworth station, Station Road, Coldwell Street, Wirksworth, Derbyshire DE4 4FB (01629 823076). Website: www.e-v-r.com

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From The Railway Magazine archives

Jon Longman looks at what our railways were doing 100, 50 and 20 years ago

ABOVE The accident at Tonbridge Jct on March 5, 1909, with portions of the Redhill train in the foreground.

April 1909

THE fatal collision at Tonbridge Jct, on March 5, attracted more notice as the accident delayed the King’s train: indeed, it was the desire to keep a clear road for the Royal train that was the initial cause of the fatality. Many readers are aware that west of Tonbridge station two lines converge, the direct line via Sevenoaks running into the old main line on a sharp curve, the main line being straight. The second or mail portion of the morning Dover boat train was approaching the junction on the Sevenoaks line, whilst a slow train from Charing Cross to Dover was running towards the same spot via the old main line from Redhill. The signalman says the signal was against the train from Redhill and off for the mail. At the inquest, it was stated that the signal for the Redhill train was partly off, and the driver appealed to the loco inspector (who was riding on the engine for the purpose of seeing that the train ran to time and did not delay the King’s train) who, the driver says, told the latter, that the signal was ‘off,’ and that he could proceed. The driver committed a breach of the rule which says a signal imperfectly exhibited must be treated as a danger signal. The slow train driver shielded himself behind the authority he claims the inspector gave him to treat the signal as ‘all right’. The inspector and fi reman, both of whom jumped from the engine, were killed, so that there can be no contradiction of the driver’s statement.

April 1959

THE closure of almost the whole of the Midland & Great Northern line is the largest economy measure of that kind so far undertaken by British Railways. It emphasises the frequency with which services are being withdrawn from secondary routes, branches and wayside stations, and is yet another instance of a movement that began in the fi rst world war, and was accelerated during the depression of the 1930s. When the railways were nationalised, it was clear that further closings would be necessary, and machinery was set up intended to ensure that communities did not suffer unduly by the loss of railway facilities. Under the Transport Act of 1947, it was the duty of the BTC to pay its way, taking one year with another, and today the emphasis is on this fi nancial aspect rather than on the provision of services.

ABOVE E5001 passes Balham on February 13, 1959, on a test run of 12 coaches from London Victoria to Newhaven.

April 1989

ABOVE Class 14 No. D9516 became a fi re engine for members of the Peterborough fi re brigade on December 22, 1988.

FOLLOWING their arrival at the Nene Valley Railway from Great Central Railway in earlyDecember, two Class 14 diesels D9516 and D9529 (alias 14029) are seeing a lot of use on the NVR, although by the end of January had yet to pull a passenger train. Duties have included permanent way trains and stock movements, as well as featuring in an episode of a forthcoming London Weekend Television series ‘London’s Burning’. However, the most bizarre use was on December 22, 1988, when D9516 was pressed into emergency service to transport members of Peterborough Fire Brigade to attend a lineside fi re. Six members of the brigade rode on the engine a short distance from Wansford station, and D9516 has now become known as the ‘Green Goddess’.

April 2009 • The Railway Magazine • 57