Contents

July 2009. No. 1,299. Vol 155. A journal of record since 1897

Headline News Streamlined ‘Coronation’ Pacifi c unveiled; Sir Richard Branson outlines his 2020 vision; Carriage delivery dates slip; Welsh Highland opens another section; Consultation launched on electrifi cation; Accident fi gures prove safety of railway; plus a four-page report on the Eastleigh Works centenary weekend.

Right: Chinese enter London Midland race – see p9.

On the cover

MAIN IMAGE : An iconic cover for an iconic image . . . a frontend view of the newly-streamlined Duchess of Hamilton. See p6. JOHN WHITEHOUSE

INSET : Class 50 No. 50135 Ark Royal in its striking Loadhaul livery at Eastleigh. PAUL BICKERDYKE

E A S T L E I G H T R I U M P H F u l l r e p o r t a n d p i c t u r e s o n o u r w o r k s o p e n w e e k e n d

F O R E V E R Y T H I N G T H A T R U N S O N R A I L S

S t r e a m l i n e r !

G l a m o r o u s ‘ D u c h e s s ’ r e v e a l e d i n 1 9 3 0 s fi n e r y

R a i l M i n i s t e r

R a i l M i n i s t e r L o r d A d o n i s t a l k s t o T h e R M

R a i l T o u r e r s ’ G u i d e 2 0 0 9 R a i l T o u r e r s ’ R a i l T o u r e r s ’ R a i l T o u r e r s ’ R a i l T o u r e r s ’ G u i d e 2 0 0 9 G u i d e 2 0 0 9

W e i r d &

W e i r d & W o n d e r f u l : t h e F a i r l i e l o c o m o t i v e s

W h e r e t o t a k e t h e b e s t r a i l h o l i d a y s

Regulars

28 Readers’ Platform More letters from readers, including one from a man hassled by station staff simply for carrying cameras.

31 Location, Location, Location Our linesider’s guide tells you how to reach the best locations for railway photography.

32 Subscriptions Ad Lots more readers are subscribing. Why not join them?

4 • The Railway Magazine • July 2009

39 Heritage Diary Where to go for steam and classic traction this summer 42 Reviews A selection of book and DVD reviews.

46 Events Diary A summary of club meetings and fi lm shows.

106 Prize Crossword Your chance to win £100 worth of books in our popular prize quiz.

Track Record Yo

A trio of Terriers helped celebrate 35 years of the K&ESR – p64.

The Railway Magazine

is Britain’s top-selling

rail title

Subscribe today and save money

Call 0845 676 7778 or see page 32 for

our latest offers An overall view of The Railway Magazine-promoted open days at Eastleigh Works, showing the range and depth of traction on display over the weekend of May 23-25. (Note the four Bulleid Pacifi cs on the left.) This picture was deliberately taken at a quiet time in the evening to show the exhibits more effectively, but the event attracted a huge total crowd of 19,000. See pages 10-14. COLIN BOOCOCK

rd Your monthly news digest

64 Steam & Heritage Kent & East Sussex celebrates 35 years; Tornado stars at NYMR gala; Thousands welcome Tangmere to Swanage; Maroon for Stanier 8F. 74 Railtours Tornado to fl y around Kent; ‘King’ below par. 78 Narrow Gauge Horse-worked freight at Corris; Baldwin back in Wales after 70 years. 80 Miniature News New line at Cranmore; Dobwalls rejection. 81 Traction & Stock Class 380 mock-up unveiled; GE invests $100m in hybrid technology; Class 20s stored. 89 Network £7.6m makeover for Rotherham; Arriva supports Kenilworth; Wrexham opts for fi xed price fares. 91 Classic Traction Dartmoor Railway reopens; ‘Western’ for GCR. 94 World News Indian heritage steam at risk; Iraqi revival begins. 95 Operations Our monthly round-up of news from the train operating companies. 101 Disposals and Stock Spot Repainted, sold or scrapped? Find it here.

Features 18 A Friend in a High Place In an exclusive interview, Transport Minister Lord Adonis talks candidly to Editor Nick Pigott about his proposals – and his passion – for railways.

22 Fairlie Unusual Robert Humm looks at some of the more quirky variants of the Fairlie patent double-bogie design.

34 VHF – on the right wavelength John Heaton samples Virgin’s new VHF (very high frequency) timetable with nine departures an hour from London.

P R A C T I C E & P E R F O R M A N C E

T h e w o r l d ’ s l o n g e s t r u n n i n g r a i l w a y s e r i e s , e s t a b l i s h e d 1 9 0 1

V H F o n t h e r i g h t w a v e l e n g t h

W i t h n i n e d e p a r t u r e s a n h o u r f r o m L o n d o n , V i r g i n ’ s H i g h F r e q u e n c y t i m e t a b l e i s t h e m o s t a m b i t i o u s U K l o n g d i s t a n c e s c h e d u l e e v e r . e x a m i n e s i t f r o m t h e i n s i d e

WH E N V i r g i n T r a i n s p r o m i s e d i t s V H F ( V e r y H i g h F r e q u e n c y ) t i m e t a b l e f r o m D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 8 , i t r e a l l y m e a n t i t . T h e n e w o f f p e a k s e r v i c e c o m p r i s e s n i n e h o u r l y d e p a r t u r e s f r o m L o n d o n E u s t o n , i n c l u d i n g o n e e v e r y 2 0 m i n t o b o t h B i r m i n g h a m a n d M a n c h e s t e r . T h i s c o m p a r e s t o j u s t fi v e i n 1 9 9 0 .

A d d t h e c u r r e n t t w o L o n d o n M i d l a n d ‘ D e s i r o ’ s e r v i c e s t o a n d v i a N o r t h a m p t o n t h a t r u n f a s t l i n e t o H a n s l o p e J c t , w h e r e t h e y c r o s s t h e u p s e r v i c e o n a fl a t j u n c t i o n , a n d t h a t m a k e s 1 1 t r a i n s a n h o u r , a l l i n t h e 1 0 0 1 2 5 m p h s p e e d b r a c k e t . V i r g i n T r a i n s h a s d a r e d t o d i f f e r f r o m m o r e c o n s e r v a t i v e o p e r a t o r s b y a d d i n g t o t h i s m i x a s e r i e s o f fl a g s h i p b u s i n e s s s e r v i c e s o f f e r i n g n o n s t o p a n d n o n s t a n d a r d r u n s , s u c h a s B i r m i n g h a m N e w S t r e e t E u s t o n , S t o c k p o r t E u s t o n a n d R u n c o r n E u s t o n . T h e B i r m i n g h a m r u n t a k e s 7 2 m i n f o r 1 1 2 . 9 m i l e s a t a n a v e r a g e

3 4 T h e R a i l w a y M a g a z i n e J u l y 2 0 0 9

s t a r t t o s t o p s p e e d o f 9 4 . 1 m p h . T h e S t o c k p o r t fi g u r e s a r e 1 0 9 ½ m i n f o r 1 7 7 . 7 5 m i l e s a t 9 7 . 4 m p h a n d t h e R u n c o r n j o u r n e y t a k e s 1 0 5 m i n f o r 1 8 0 . 5 m i l e s a t n o l e s s t h a n 1 0 3 . 1 m p h .

I n r e c e n t y e a r s , t h e h i g h e s t a v e r a g e s p e e d b e t w e e n B r i t i s h s t a t i o n s t o p s h a s b e e n t h e 1 0 7 . 7 m p h a c h i e v e d b y t h e 1 5 . 0 0 f r o m K i n g ’ s C r o s s t o Y o r k , i t s fi r s t c a l l , 1 8 8 . 4 m i l e s , t a k i n g 1 0 5 m i n . W e s t C o a s t m o d e r n i s a t i o n w o r k a l l o w e d t h e E a s t C o a s t t o d o m i n a t e t h e R a i l w a y G a z e t t e I n t e r n a t i o n a l B r i t i s h s p e e d t a b l e i n i t s 2 0 0 7 b i e n n i a l s u r v e y . T h e i n s e r t i o n o f 4 m i n t o a l l s c h e d u l e s b o o k e d t o p a s s n o n s t o p t h r o u g h R u g b y d u r i n g t h i s e x t e n s i v e r e m o d e l l i n g e x e r c i s e s e r v e d t o s c u p p e r V i r g i n ’ s c h a n c e s o f m a k i n g t h e B r i t i s h t o p t e n , b u t t h e c o m p l e t i o n o f t h i s w o r k h a s n o w t r a n s f o r m e d t h e s i t u a t i o n .

I a m i n d e b t e d t o a c o r r e s p o n d e n t f o r d r a w i n g m y a t t e n t i o n t o t h e h i g h l i g h t s o f t h e c u r r e n t V T t i m e t a b l e w h i c h , h e c a l c u l a t e s , h a s n o f e w e r t h a n

1 8 W e s t C o a s t s t a r t t o s t o p s e c t i o n s t h a t a v e r a g e o v e r 1 0 0 m p h e v e r y s t a n d a r d o f f p e a k h o u r . T h e t a b l e i s u n e x p e c t e d l y h e a d e d b y t h e X X . 4 5 W o l v e r h a m p t o n E u s t o n t r a i n s t h a t r e e l o f f t h e 7 6 . 6 m i l e C o v e n t r y t o W a t f o r d J c t s e c t i o n i n 4 2 ½ m i n a t 1 0 8 . 1 m p h . B u t j u s t a s V i r g i n T r a i n s h e l d o u t i t s h a n d t o c l a i m t h e b l u e r i b a n d , i t w a s s n a t c h e d b a c k b y N a t i o n a l E x p r e s s E a s t C o a s t ’ s 1 5 . 0 0 K i n g ’ s C r o s s , w h i c h h a s h a d a f u r t h e r m i n u t e p a r e d f r o m i t s s c h e d u l e t o a t t a i n a 1 0 8 . 7 m p h a v e r a g e . I f b o t h t r a i n s r a n u n c h e c k e d i n t h e i r n e t t i m i n g s , t h e W e s t C o a s t r u n w o u l d h a v e t h e a d v a n t a g e a t 1 1 3 . 4 m p h c o m p a r e d t o 1 1 3 m p h , s o t h e r e m i g h t b e s c o p e f o r f u r t h e r c r e a t i v e t i m e t a b l i n g o n f o r m e r ‘ P r e m i e r L i n e ’ m e t a l s . T o s o m e e x t e n t , t h e C o v e n t r y W a t f o r d J c t s e c t i o n i s a q u i r k b e c a u s e i t s d o w n l i n e c o u n t e r p a r t t a k e s 1 m i n l o n g e r d e s p i t e b e i n g a b l e t o fl y t h r o u g h R u g b y a t 1 2 5 m p h a n d m a i n t a i n t h a t s p e e d t o t h e o u t s k i r t s o f C o v e n t r y . I n c o n t r a s t , t h e

u p t r a i n m u s t o b s e r v e 7 5 m p h o n t h e B i r d s w o o d fl y o v e r a n d i n fi l t r a t e t h e i n t e n s i v e u p s e r v i c e . T h e W a t f o r d J c t C o v e n t r y s e c t i o n a v e r a g e s 1 0 5 . 6 m p h t o s i t t h i r d i n m y c o r r e s p o n d e n t ’ s l e a g u e t a b l e . O n a r e c e n t t r i p t o C o v e n t r y , a c c o m p a n i e d b y m y c o l l e a g u e K e i t h F a r r , w e e n j o y e d a s p l e n d i d r u n w i t h t h e 1 0 . 2 3 f r o m E u s t o n . S t a r t i n g ½ m i n l a t e a n d l o s i n g a f u r t h e r ½ m i n t o t w o m i n o r t e m p o r a r y s p e e d r e s t r i c t i o n s ( T S R s ) b e f o r e t h e W a t f o r d J c t s t o p , t h e d r i v e r w a s t h e n f a c e d w i t h a 1 1 0 m p h T S R a t C a s t l e t h o r p e a n d a n 8 0 m p h T S R a t B a n b u r y L a n e . W i t h t h e h e l p o f 2 m i n r e c o v e r y a n d ½ m i n p a t h i n g , w e s h o t t h r o u g h R u g b y 1 m i n e a r l y a t f u l l s p e e d a n d , w i t h a f u r t h e r 1 m i n r e c o v e r y a l l o w a n c e , r e a c h e d C o v e n t r y 2 m i n e a r l y i n 4 0 m i n 3 2 s e c – a n e w R a i l w a y P e r f o r m a n c e S o c i e t y ( R P S ) r e c o r d . S e e T a b l e 1 .

O u r u p r u n w a s l e s s f o r t u n a t e a s a n o n t i l t s e t w a s p r o v i d e d , a r o u t i n e i m p e d i m e n t o n t h e B i r m i n g h a m l i n e a s C o n t r o l a t t e m p t s t o s e g r e g a t e

t i l t i s o l a t e d u n i t s t o t h e s e t r a i n s . L e a v i n g C o v e n t r y ½ m i n e a r l y o n w o r k i n g t i m e s t h e r e w a s a 7 5 m p h T S R a t B l e t c h l e y b u t w e w e r e o n l y 3 m i n l a t e a t W a t f o r d J c t . A f u r t h e r 2 m i n a l l o w a n c e b r o u g h t u s i n t o E u s t o n 1 ½ m i n l a t e o n w o r k i n g t i m e s b u t ½ m i n e a r l y o n t h e a d v e r t i s e d s c h e d u l e d e s p i t e h a v i n g s u c h a t i g h t l y t i m e d i n t e r m e d i a t e s e c t i o n . T a b l e 2 s h o w s a t i l t i n g t r a i n b e a t i n g t h e 4 2 ½ m i n s c h e d u l e , t i m e d b y R P S m e m b e r D a v i d A d a m s . T h e r e a r e m a n y w h o c o n s i d e r s u c h d i f f e r e n t i a l s t o b e ‘ f e a t h e r b e d d i n g ’ a l l o w i n g m a n i p u l a t i o n o f t h e P u b l i c P e r f o r m a n c e M e a s u r e ( P P M ) fi g u r e s , b u t r e a s o n a b l e a m o u n t s c a n b e j u s t i fi e d . T h e a l t e r n a t i v e o f i n c l u d i n g r e c o v e r y t i m e a p p r o a c h i n g b u s y t e r m i n a l s c a n i m p a i r c a p a c i t y , t h e d e n s i t y o f t h e s e r v i c e c a n p r e v e n t g a t h e r i n g t i m e i n h a n d b y e a r l y r u n n i n g a n d m i n o r p e r t u r b a t i o n s c a n e a s i l y r e s u l t i n t r a i n s s l i p p i n g b a c k o n e p a t h . W i t h s u c c e s s i v e t r a i n s o n 3 m i n h e a d w a y s , i n t h e c a s e o f t h e E u s t o n a p p r o a c h , w o r k i n g a n d p u b l i c

d i f f e r e n t i a l a r r i v a l t i m e s a m o u n t t o p r a g m a t i s m . O n t h e s u b j e c t o f B i r m i n g h a m l i n e t r a i n s , a d e p o t c o l l i s i o n b e t w e e n ‘ P e n d o l i n o s ’ N o s . 3 9 0 0 0 6 a n d 3 9 0 0 0 8 r e s u l t e d i n t h r e e r o u n d t r i p s b e i n g w o r k e d b y C l a s s 9 0 s o n a M k 3 / D V T s e t f o r a n i n d e fi n i t e p e r i o d f r o m e a r l y A p r i l . T r a v e l l i n g o n t h e 1 3 . 3 0 f r o m B i r m i n g h a m N e w S t r e e t o n A p r i l 1 7 , N o . 9 0 0 3 6 m a n a g e d t o m a k e a ½ m i n i m p r o v e m e n t o n ‘ P e n d o l i n o ’ t i m e s t o l e a v i n g C o v e n t r y a n d m a d e E u s t o n 7 m i n l a t e o n w o r k i n g t i m e s , w i t h i n P P M . T h e 1 2 . 4 8 f r o m L i v e r p o o l a n d 1 2 . 5 5 f r o m M a n c h e s t e r w e r e d e l a y e d a s a r e s u l t b u t b o t h w e r e c o m f o r t a b l y w i t h i n P P M . V i r g i n s h o u l d b e c o n g r a t u l a t e d f o r a d o p t i n g t h e l o c o h a u l a g e i n i t i a t i v e w h e n t h e c h e a p e r a l t e r n a t i v e o f i s s u i n g a t e m p o r a r y t i m e t a b l e s h o r n o f t h r e e r o u n d t r i p s ( a n d s h r u g g i n g t h e i r s h o u l d e r s a t t h e c o m p l a i n t s ) m u s t h a v e b e e n e n t i c i n g . T h e s e c o n d f a s t e s t W e s t C o a s t s e c t i o n i n t h e V H F t i m e t a b l e i s w i t h t h e X X . 0 7 E u s t o n

J u l y 2 0 0 9 T h e R a i l w a y M a g a z i n e 3 5

ON THE RIGHT LINES: Virgin’s VHF timetable – p34

41 A New Inspector on ‘the Special’ In an exclusive interview, Phil Marsh talks to Stephen Cornish, the outgoing head of special trains at Network Rail . . . and also to Rachel Gilliland, the woman taking over from him in one of top heritage rail jobs in the land.

T H E N I C K P I G O T T I N T E R V I E W

A F r i e n d i n a h i g h

p l a c e T r a n s p o r t M i n i s t e r L o r d A d o n i s h a s a l r e a d y m a d e a b i g i m p a c t o n t h e r a i l i n d u s t r y . I n a n e x c l u s i v e i n t e r v i e w w i t h e d i t o r N i c k P i g o t t , h e t a l k s c a n d i d l y a b o u t h i s p a s s i o n f o r r a i l w a y s a n d h i s h o p e s f o r t h e f u t u r e

RA R E L Y i n t h e h i s t o r y o f B r i t i s h t r a n s p o r t c a n a p o l i t i c i a n c h a r g e d w i t h o v e r s e e i n g b o t h r a i l w a y s a n d r o a d s h a v e b e e n s o o p e n l y p a s s i o n a t e a n d p o s i t i v e a b o u t t h e f o r m e r .

I n i n t e r v i e w s w i t h o t h e r G o v e r n m e n t M i n i s t e r s o v e r t h e y e a r s , I h a v e c o m e t o e x p e c t t h e s t o n e w a l l a n s w e r , t h e e v a s i v e a n s w e r , t h e n o n c o m m i t t a l a n s w e r a n d t h a t p l o y m o s t f a v o u r e d o f p o l i t i c i a n s – t h e q u e s t i o n i n r e s p o n s e t o a q u e s t i o n .

I h a v e a l s o i n v a r i a b l y c o m e a w a y f r o m s u c h m e e t i n g s w i t h t h e n a g g i n g f e e l i n g t h a t , d e e p d o w n , m o s t M i n i s t e r s v i e w t h e i r T r a n s p o r t D e p a r t m e n t p o r t f o l i o a s a m e r e s t e p p i n g s t o n e t o g r a n d e r p o s i t i o n s i n g o v e r n m e n t .

B u t L o r d A d o n i s s e e m s d i f f e r e n t . N o t o n l y w a s h e r e f r e s h i n g l y f o r t h c o m i n g i n m o s t o f h i s r e p l i e s b u t I g a i n e d t h e d i s t i n c t i m p r e s s i o n t h a t ( a t l o n g l a s t ! ) w e h a v e s o m e o n e i n a u t h o r i t y w h o h a s a p e r s o n a l i n t e r e s t i n t r a i n s a s w e l l a s a p r o f e s s i o n a l o n e . H e i s g e n u i n e l y e n t h u s i a s t i c i n t h e r a i l n e t w o r k a n d w a n t s i t t o s u c c e e d . T h e f a c t t h a t h i s b r i e f a l s o i n c l u d e s r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e U K ’ s t r u n k r o a d n e t w o r k m a k e s t h a t p a s s i o n a l l t h e m o r e r e m a r k a b l e . H o w l o n g A n d r e w w i l l b e g i v e n t o u s e h i s p e r s u a s i v e c h a r m s o n T r a n s p o r t S e c r e t a r y G e o f f H o o n a n d P r i m e M i n i s t e r G o r d o n B r o w n r a t h e r d e p e n d s o n t h e m o o d o f t h e e l e c t o r a t e n e x t y e a r , b u t ‘ F r i e n d s i n H i g h P l a c e s ’ a r e e x t r e m e l y v a l u a b l e a t a n y t i m e a n d f o r t h e m o m e n t , h e i s p r e s s i n g o n w i t h a n e n e r g y a n d a v i g o u r t h a t h a s t o b e a d m i r e d . I n h i s r e l a t i v e l y s h o r t t i m e a t t h e D e p a r t m e n t f o r T r a n s p o r t , h e h a s s h o w n h i m s e l f t o b e u n a f r a i d t o c r i t i c i s e N e t w o r k R a i l a n d t r a i n o p e r a t i n g c o m p a n i e s , h a s c h a m p i o n e d p a s s e n g e r s ’ r i g h t s a n d r e c e n t l y s u r p r i s e d r a i l f a n s a n d p o l i t i c i a n s a l i k e b y u n d e r t a k i n g a w e e k l o n g ‘ f a c t fi n d i n g ’ t o u r o f m a i n l i n e s a n d b r a n c h e s – t r a v e l l i n g o n a £ 3 7 5 A l l L i n e s

1 8 T h e R a i l w a y M a g a z i n e J u l y 2 0 0 9

‘ R a i l r o v e r ’ n o l e s s . ( A r e p o r t o n t h i s o d y s s e y , t h e i t i n e r a r y h e f o l l o w e d a n d h i s t h o u g h t s o n w h a t h e f o u n d a p p e a r e d i n t h e H e a d l i n e N e w s s e c t i o n o f l a s t m o n t h ’ s R a i l w a y M a g a z i n e ) . T h e f a c t t h a t m a n y r o v e r t i c k e t s a r e n o t a c t i v e l y m a r k e t e d b y t r a i n o p e r a t o r s w a s t h e s u b j e c t w e fi r s t d i s c u s s e d .

“ R o v e r t i c k e t s a r e a g r e a t w a y f o r p e o p l e – e s p e c i a l l y s t u d e n t s – t o g e t t o k n o w a c o u n t r y ’ s r a i l s y s t e m . O n e o f t h e t h i n g s t h a t s t r u c k m e o n m y t o u r t h i s y e a r w a s t h e r e a l i s a t i o n t h a t h a l f t h e p o p u l a t i o n o f B r i t a i n i n a g i v e n y e a r n e v e r t r a v e l o n a t r a i n a n d I t h e r e f o r e fi n d i t h a r d t o u n d e r s t a n d T O C s ’ r e l u c t a n c e t o m a r k e t R o v e r t i c k e t s m o r e w i d e l y . F o r i f a p e r s o n c a n

F A C T P A N E L

b e f a m i l i a r i s e d w i t h r a i l w a y s a t a y o u n g a g e , h e o r s h e b e c o m e s a p a s s e n g e r f o r l i f e . “ T h e o p e r a t o r s s e e m w o r r i e d t h a t p e o p l e w i l l b u y r o v e r s i n s t e a d o f fi r s t c l a s s o p e n t i c k e t s a n d t h a t t h e r a i l w a y s w i l l t h e r e f o r e l o s e m o n e y , b u t , t o b e h o n e s t , a n y o n e w h o i s t h a t c o s t c o n s c i o u s a n d h a s t o t r a v e l m o r e t h a n t h r e e t i m e s a w e e k o n l o n g d i s t a n c e j o u r n e y s w i l l k n o w t h e y c a n g e t a b e t t e r d e a l b u y i n g t i c k e t s i n a d v a n c e . ”

A d d e d L o r d A d o n i s , w h o t r a v e l l e d a c r o s s E u r o p e o n a n I n t e r R a i l p a s s w h e n h e w a s a y o u n g m a n : “ I r e a l i s e t h a t e n c o u r a g i n g m o r e p a s s e n g e r s w i l l l e a d t o c a p a c i t y p r o b l e m s o n m a n y l i n e s , b u t t h a t w o u l d n ’ t b e a p r o b l e m b e c a u s e t h e n e w c u s t o m e r s w o u l d p r o v i d e t h e r e v e n u e t o e n a b l e u s t o d o e n l a r g e t h e n e t w o r k . ”

T h e T r a n s p o r t M i n i s t e r w a s g e n u i n e l y c o n c e r n e d t o l e a r n t h a t m a n y e n t h u s i a s t s a r e b e i n g d e n i e d a c c e s s t o g a t e d p l a t f o r m s a n d b e i n g p r e v e n t e d f r o m t a k i n g p h o t o g r a p h s o f t r a i n s b y o v e r z e a l o u s a n d p o o r l y t r a i n e d s t a f f . “ I a m t h o r o u g h l y i n f a v o u r o f r a i l w a y e n t h u s i a s t s b e i n g o n p l a t f o r m s , ” h e t o l d m e . “ T h e y a r e a n e s t a b l i s h e d p a r t o f t h e r a i l s c e n e . “ N o t r a i n o p e r a t o r h a s c o m e t o m e a n d s a i d t h a t o n p r i n c i p l e t h e y d o n ’ t w a n t n o n t r a v e l l e r s t o b e a b l e t o g e t t h r o u g h g a t e s b u t i t i s a q u e s t i o n o f r e c o n c i l i n g t h e T O C s ’ g e n u i n e c o n c e r n s a b o u t r e v e n u e p r o t e c t i o n w i t h t h e n e e d s o f t h e p u b l i c .

“ I t n e e d s s e r i o u s d i s c u s s i o n s w i t h t h e A s s o c i a t i o n o f T r a i n O p e r a t i n g C o m p a n i e s a b o u t h o w i t c o u l d b e t a k e n f o r w a r d a n d h o w t h e i r c o n c e r n s a b o u t f a r e e v a s i o n c o u l d b e m e t , b u t I a m h a p p y t o e n c o u r a g e t h e T O C s t o l o o k f u r t h e r i n t o t h i s .

“ R a i l e n t h u s i a s t s w h o s t a n d a t t h e e n d o f p l a t f o r m s a n d k e e p a c l o s e w a t c h o n t r a i n p u n c t u a l i t y a n d r e l i a b i l i t y a n d o n t h e m o v e m e n t o f r o l l i n g s t o c k a r e t h e P r a e t o r i a n G u a r d o f t h e r a i l w a y s . I t ’ s m a r v e l l o u s . . . a n d t h e i n d u s t r y s h o u l d n ’ t s e e t h e m i n a n y w a y a s a t h r e a t .

“ O n t h e q u e s t i o n o f p h o t o g r a p h y , I a m g e n u i n e l y a s t o u n d e d t o h e a r t h a t p e o p l e a r e b e i n g f o r b i d d e n t o t a k e p i c t u r e s o f t r a i n s ! G e n e r a t i o n s o f y o u n g s t e r s h a v e g r o w n u p w i t h t h a t h o b b y a n d i n f a c t , m a g a z i n e s s u c h a s y o u r s c o u l d n ’ t e x i s t w i t h o u t t h e m !

“ I w a n t t o s e e r a i l s t a f f t a k i n g a c o m m o n s e n s e a p p r o a c h t o t h i s i n f u t u r e . U n l e s s t h e r e i s a g e n u i n e s e c u r i t y i s s u e – w h i c h I a m s u r e

p h o t o g r a p h e r s w o u l d b e s e n s i t i v e t o o a n y w a y – t h e r e s h o u l d n ’ t b e a n y n e g a t i v e a t t i t u d e . “ Y o u c a n c o u n t o n m y s u p p o r t o n t h i s . ”

“ R a i l e n t h u s i a s t s c o m e i n d i f f e r e n t c a t e g o r i e s . I ’ m a n e n t h u s i a s t b u t I w a s n e v e r a t r a i n s p o t t e r , I w a s i n s t e a d a v e r y a c t i v e m e m b e r o f t h e C o t s w o l d L i n e p r o m o t i o n g r o u p b e c a u s e I s a w i t a s a v i t a l c o m m u n i t y i n s t i t u t i o n . P e o p l e w h o b e l o n g t o s u c h g r o u p s m a y n o t l o g r o l l i n g s t o c k n u m b e r s b u t t h e y ’ r e e v e r y b i t a s e n t h u s i a s t i c a n d c o m m i t t e d t o t h e f u t u r e o f t h e r a i l w a y s . T h e y ’ r e f u l l o f g o o d w i l l a n d t h e t r a i n o p e r a t o r s s h o u l d e n g a g e w i t h t h e m m o r e .

“ O n e t h i n g t h a t s t r u c k m e o n m y t o u r w a s t h a t v i r t u a l l y e v e r y l i n e I v i s i t e d h a d i t s o w n

( p a s s e n g e r s ’ l u g g a g e i n a d v a n c e ) . T h a t w a s s u c h a c h r o n i c a l l y i n e f fi c i e n t s e r v i c e ; q u i t e o f t e n t h e t r u n k s w o u l d a r r i v e a f t e r w e d i d a n d o n o n e o c c a s i o n I h a d t o w a i t t h r e e w e e k s f o r m y c l o t h e s !

“ D e s p i t e t h a t , I b e c a m e e x t r e m e l y i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e C o t s w o l d L i n e – e s p e c i a l l y w h e n a n a t t e m p t w a s m a d e t o w i t h d r a w t h e t h r o u g h t r a i n s t o W o r c e s t e r . B R u s e d f a l s e d a t a t o s h o w t h a t i n s u f fi c i e n t n u m b e r s o f p e o p l e w e r e u s i n g t h e m , b u t I k n e w o t h e r w i s e , s o I c a r r i e d o u t s o m e p a s s e n g e r h e a d c o u n t s a n d w r o t e t o B R c h a i r m a n S i r P e t e r P a r k e r w i t h t h e e v i d e n c e . I r e m e m b e r b e i n g v e r y u n i m p r e s s e d b y t h e b l a n d n e s s o f h i s r e p l i e s . “ I s u p p o s e I w a s q u i t e p o l i t i c a l f o r a s c h o o l b o y , b u t I f e l t s t r o n g l y t h a t t h e y s h o u l d n ’ t b e d i s m a n t l i n g p a r t s o f B r i t a i n ’ s

i n f r a s t r u c t u r e t h a t d i d n ’ t n e e d d i s m a n t l i n g a n d i t g i v e s m e g r e a t s a t i s f a c t i o n w h e n I l o o k a t h o w b u s y t h e l i n e i s t o d a y .

“ E n t h u s i a s t s w h o k e e p a w a t c h o n t r a i n p u n c t u a l i t y a n d r o l l i n g s t o c k m o v e m e n t s a r e t h e P r a e t o r i a n G u a r d o f t h e r a i l w a y s . . . t h e i n d u s t r y s h o u l d n ’ t s e e t h e m a s a t h r e a t ! ”

p r o m o t i o n g r o u p . T h e r e w e r e s i x i n E x e t e r a l o n e , f o r e x a m p l e – o n e f o r e v e r y r o u t e l e a d i n g i n t o t h e c i t y ! ”

A n d r e w ’ s o w n e n t h u s i a s m s t e m s f r o m s c h o o l d a y s : “ K i n g h a m H i l l w o u l d c h a r t e r a w h o l e c a r r i a g e o f t h e 5 . 2 2 p m P a d d i n g t o n W o r c e s t e r t o g e t i t s L o n d o n b a s e d p u p i l s t o O x f o r d s h i r e f o r t h e b e g i n n i n g o f e a c h t e r m . T h o s e j o u r n e y s i n l o c o h a u l e d s t o c k o n t h e C o t s w o l d L i n e i n t h e 1 9 7 0 s a r e a v i v i d m e m o r y f o r m e a n d I c a n a l s o r e c a l l t h e r i g m a r o l e o f s e n d i n g o u r t r u n k s t o t h e s c h o o l a w e e k b e f o r e b y w h a t w a s k n o w n a s P L A

“ I n f a c t , t h e C o t s w o l d L i n e i s a g o o d m o r a l i t y t a l e f o r t h e r e n a i s s a n c e o f t h e r a i l w a y s a s a w h o l e . I n t h e 1 9 7 0 s , t h e i s s u e w a s

w h e t h e r t h e l i n e ( a n d m a n y l i k e i t e l s e w h e r e i n t h e c o u n t r y ) w o u l d s u r v i v e a t a l l b e c a u s e l o s s o f t h e t h r o u g h s e r v i c e s w o u l d h a v e l e f t t h e w h o l e r o u t e i n t h e h a n d s o f c l a p p e d o u t , u n r e l i a b l e D M U s o n s t o p p i n g s e r v i c e s a n d t h a t , c o u p l e d w i t h a c h a n g e o f t r a i n a n d p e r h a p s a l o n g w a i t a t O x f o r d o r D i d c o t w o u l d h a v e k i l l e d t h e c o m m u t e r t r a f fi c . I t w o u l d t h e n h a v e b e e n o n l y b e e n a m a t t e r o f t i m e b e f o r e B R t r i e d t o c l o s e t h e e n t i r e l i n e .

“ I w a s d e l i g h t e d w h e n n e w g e n e r a t i o n t r a i n s w e r e i n t r o d u c e d a n d n o w , o f c o u r s e , t h e r e a r e m o r e t h r o u g h s e r v i c e s o n t h e l i n e

J u l y 2 0 0 9 T h e R a i l w a y M a g a z i n e 1 9

GOOD LORD: Baron Adonis tours the UK by train – p18

43 Panorama ‘People Special’ This month, our photography showcase makes a departure from the norm, featuring some of the people who make the railways tick and without whom, no trains would run. We include black & white photos from the ‘good old days’ too .

PLUS

R a i l T o u r e r s ’ G u i d e 2 0 0 9 R a i l T o u r e r s ’ R a i l T o u r e r s ’ R a i l T o u r e r s ’ R a i l T o u r e r s ’ G u i d e 2 0 0 9 G u i d e 2 0 0 9 47 Rail Tourers’ Guide 2009 Despite the recession, the number of rail holiday adverts placed this summer has hit an all-time high, necessitating this special 16-page supplement.

July 2009 • The Railway Magazine • 5