Contents

June 2009. No. 1,298. Vol 155. A journal of record since 1897

Headline News DfT draws up emergency plans in case franchises fail; Hitachi drops out of Thameslink stock race; Lord Adonis tours Britain by train; HS1 prepares for freight; Sinking peat bog forces closure of a main line; Welsh Highland opens to Beddgelert; Llangollen stages mega nine-day gala; Fares rise 11 per cent.

Right: There’s a new Bulleid Pacifi c on the scene – see p7.

On the cover

MAIN IMAGE : DRS Class 57 No. 57010 approaches Whiteball tunnel with a Keyham (Devonport) to Crewe Gresty Bridge nuclear fl ask train on April 8. DRS could win more nuclear traffi c – see page 6. QUENTIN HAWKES

B R I T A I N ’ S B E S T S E L L I N G R A I L T I T L E

S o u v e n i r p r o g r a m m e i n s i d e – i n c l u d e s t h e E a s t l e i g h W o r k s s t o r y

S o u v e n i r p r o g r a m m e i n s i d e S o u v e n i r p r o g r a m m e i n s i d e – i n c l u d e s t h e E a s t l e i g h W o r k s s t o r y – i n c l u d e s t h e E a s t l e i g h W o r k s s t o r y

INSET : A pair of Peppercorn Pacifi cs. See pages 56/57. DAVID TILLOTSON

P o w e r s t a t i o n b o o s t f o r fl a s k t r a i n s ?

P e r f e c t i o n : P a i r o f P e p p e r c o r n P a c i fi c s

A l s o i n s i d e :

T h a m e s l i n k c o m e s o f a g e S u p e r m a r k e t t r a i n s T h e R o y a l S c o t s t o r y L o r d A d o n i s ‘ o n t o u r ’

Track Record The Railway Magazine’s monthly news digest 48 Steam & Heritage Record WSR gala; East Lancs train stoned; Mid-Hants 5MT’s catastrophic cylinder failure; Plans for GWR 175. 59 Railtours Class 59 to Carmarthen; First through tour to Swanage; Cambrian charity charter.

63 Narrow Gauge Fresh hope for SKLR; Fairbourne loco’s new look. 67 Traction & Stock Loco-hauled back for Virgin; Chinese win African DMU order; PPM approved; New EMUs for Stansted. 72 Network Quadrupling for West Anglia; Frinton gates removed; £55m viaduct for Hitchin; New Stratford platforms open. 74 Classic Traction First DMU for Gwili; ‘Deltic’ for Swanage gala. 77 World News Delhi metro car fl ies in; Russian railway expansion. 78 Operations Our monthly round-up of news from the train operating companies. 85 Disposals and Stock Spot Repainted, sold or scrapped? Full details here.

Class 321s to move to NXEA. See Traction & Stock– p67

Regulars 29 Readers’ Platform Will history repeat itself on the Welsh Highland? Plus a further drawback regarding tender-fi rst running. 35 Subscription Offer More and more readers are subscribing. Why not join them and never worry about The RM being sold out. 37 Heritage Diary Where to go for steam and classic traction this spring. 37 100 Years Ago A look back to what The RM was reporting 20, 50 and 100 years ago. 43 Multiple Aspects Columnist Lord Berkeley shares his opinions on the state of Britain’s railways. 45 Location, Location, Location Our linesider’s guide tells you how to reach the best locations for railway photography.

Location, Location, Location this month pays a visit to Eckington on the Bristol-Birmingham route – p45.

46 Events Diary A summary of club meetings and fi lm shows of interest to railway enthusiasts. 90 Prize Crossword Your chance to win £100 worth of books in our popular prize crossword.

PACIFIC-PERFECTION: LNER afi cionados were in seventh heaven at Barrow Hill in the fi rst weekend of April when the roundhouse staged the fi rst line-up of A1, A2 and two A4s since circa 1965. From left, Nos. 60163 Tornado, 60532 Blue Peter, 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley and 60009 Union of South Africa. ROBIN STEWART-SMITH

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our latest offers Features 16 Thameslink comes of age Visible signs of the £5.5billion Thameslink project are starting to show in and around London. Phil Marsh explains how this vital project will transform travel for millions of passengers.

24 Royal Scot Revival Cliff Thomas on the restoration of a loco that cost three times the estimate and took four years longer.

T H E T H A M E S L I N K S T O R Y

TH E £ 5 . 5 b i l l i o n T h a m e s l i n k u p g r a d e p r o g r a m m e – f o r m e r l y k n o w n a s T h a m e s l i n k 2 0 0 0 – w i l l t r a n s f o r m t h e r o u t e w h e n i t o p e n s f u l l y i n 2 0 1 5 , e n a b l i n g 1 2 c a r t r a i n s t o r u n e v e r y t w o t o t h r e e m i n u t e s a n d m o r e t h a n d o u b l i n g c a p a c i t y t h r o u g h c e n t r a l L o n d o n .

T h a m e s l i n k C O M E S O F A G E W i t h t h e r e b u i l d o f t h e c o r e n o r t h s o u t h r o u t e t h r o u g h L o n d o n n o w u n d e r w a y , r e c a l l s t h e fi r s t 2 1 y e a r s o f o n e o f B r i t a i n ’ s m o s t s u c c e s s f u l r a i l w a y b r a n d s

A s a b r a n d , T h a m e s l i n k i s n o w 2 1 y e a r s o l d a n d h a s p a c k e d s o m u c h i n t o i t s s h o r t l i f e t h a t i t c a n t r u l y b e s a i d t o h a v e c o m e o f a g e . T h e c o r e s e c t i o n b e t w e e n K i n g ’ s C r o s s / S t P a n c r a s a n d B l a c k f r i a r s / L o n d o n B r i d g e h a s b e e n o p e n t o p a s s e n g e r s u n d e r t h e p r e s e n t b r a n d o n l y s i n c e 1 9 8 8 , b u t t h e l i n e i t s e l f i s s t e e p e d i n h i s t o r y d a t i n g b a c k t o t h e 1 8 6 0 s . I n f a c t , s o m e o f t h e ‘ n e w ’ s e r v i c e s t o b e o f f e r e d w i l l r e p r e s e n t a r e t u r n t o t h e d a y s w h e n o n e c o u l d t r a v e l d i r e c t t o s o u t h L o n d o n f r o m t h e E a s t C o a s t M a i n L i n e . F o r e x a m p l e , t h e G r e a t N o r t h e r n R a i l w a y ( G N R ) o p e r a t e d o n a t h r o u g h r o u t e f r o m K i n g ’ s C r o s s t o V i c t o r i a w h i l e t h e G r e a t W e s t e r n u s e d

1 6 T h e R a i l w a y M a g a z i n e J u n e 2 0 0 9

G N R l o c o m o t i v e s f o r s o m e o f i t s o w n s e r v i c e s o v e r t h e l a t t e r ’ s l i n e s u n d e r c e n t r a l L o n d o n . E v i d e n c e o f s u c h h i s t o r y c a n b e f o u n d a t F a r r i n g d o n s t a t i o n , w h e r e a n 1 8 6 8 G N R b o u n d a r y s t o n e i s s t i l l i n p l a c e a t t h e s o u t h e n d o f t h e n o r t h b o u n d m a i n l i n e p l a t f o r m , a n d a t K i n g ’ s C r o s s a n d S t P a n c r a s , u n d e r w h o s e f o u n d a t i o n s l i e t h e d i s u s e d M a i d e n L a n e a n d H o t e l C u r v e t u n n e l s .

T h e o l d s t e a m h a u l e d p a s s e n g e r s e r v i c e s h a d m i x e d f o r t u n e s a n d t h e l i n k b e t w e e n t h e G N a n d t h e G W R v i a M a i d e n L a n e t u n n e l w a s c l o s e d i n 1 8 6 8 a f t e r o n l y fi v e y e a r s w h e n t h e ‘ W i d e n e d l i n e s ’ t o M o o r g a t e w e r e q u a d r u p l e d t o i n c l u d e U n d e r g r o u n d s e r v i c e s . I n t h o s e d a y s , t h e r e w e r e

a l s o p a s s e n g e r s e r v i c e s f r o m t h e s o u t h t o M o o r g a t e , b u t t h o s e c e a s e d d u e t o w a r t i m e t r a f fi c c o n s t r a i n t s i n 1 9 1 6 w h e n a n e a s t e r l y c h o r d f r o m S n o w H i l l t o M o o r g a t e ( s e e m a p o n p 2 1 ) w a s c l o s e d . R e g u l a r p a s s e n g e r s e r v i c e s f r o m t h e M i d l a n d R a i l w a y t o s o u t h o f t h e T h a m e s h a d s t o p p e d i n 1 9 0 8 .

W h e n s e r v i c e s t h r o u g h K i n g ’ s C r o s s Y o r k R o a d s t a t i o n e n d e d i n 1 9 7 6 , B R t o o k o v e r s e r v i c e s o n t h e f o r m e r L U L r o u t e f r o m F i n s b u r y P a r k t o M o o r g a t e ’ s o t h e r t e r m i n a l p l a t f o r m s ( 9 & 1 0 ) v i a D r a y t o n P a r k o n A u g u s t 1 6 a n d t h a t s e r v i c e , n o w o p e r a t e d b y F i r s t C a p i t a l C o n n e c t , s t i l l o p e r a t e s .

C o n f u s i n g a n a l r e a d y c o m p l e x s i t u a t i o n e v e n

m o r e i s t h e f a c t t h a t t h e r e h a v e b e e n t h r e e s e p a r a t e s t a t i o n s c a l l e d B l a c k f r i a r s . T h e fi r s t w a s o p e n e d i n 1 8 6 4 b y t h e S o u t h E a s t e r n R a i l w a y a f e w h u n d r e d y a r d s s o u t h o f t h e T h a m e s ( c l o s e t o w h e r e S o u t h w a r k ’ s J u b i l e e L i n e s t a t i o n i s n o w l o c a t e d ) . T h i s r e m a i n e d o p e n f o r j u s t fi v e y e a r s u n t i l W a t e r l o o E a s t o p e n e d i n 1 8 6 9 . T h e s e c o n d B l a c k f r i a r s s t a t i o n w a s o p e n e d a s B l a c k f r i a r s B r i d g e n e a r e r t h e s o u t h b a n k b y t h e L o n d o n C h a t h a m & D o v e r R a i l w a y a n d b e c a m e a g o o d s s t a t i o n a f t e r S t P a u l ’ s s t a t i o n o p e n e d o n t h e n o r t h b a n k i n 1 8 7 0 .

I t i s t h i s f o r m e r S t P a u l ’ s w h i c h i s t o d a y ’ s B l a c k f r i a r s s t a t i o n . I t w a s r e n a m e d B l a c k f r i a r s i n 1 9 3 7 a n d w a s c o m p l e t e l y r e b u i l t b e t w e e n 1 9 7 3 a n d 1 9 7 7 , t h e d e v e l o p e r s l e a v i n g a l i t t l e b i t o f h i s t o r y b y i n c o r p o r a t i n g i n t o a w a l l i n t h e n e w s t a t i o n a s e r i e s o f s t o n e t a b l e t s p o r t r a y i n g p l a c e n a m e s o f 5 4 d o m e s t i c a n d c o n t i n e n t a l d e s t i n a t i o n s o n c e s e r v e d b y t h e s t a t i o n v i a b o a t t r a i n s . I n t h e o l d d a y s , t h e p o t e n t i a l o f a c r o s s T h a m e s l i n e a s a d i r e c t t h r o u g h p a s s e n g e r r o u t e l i n k i n g t o w n s a n d c i t i e s m a n y m i l e s f r o m t h e c a p i t a l w a s n o t f u l l y a p p r e c i a t e d a n d t h e S n o w H i l l K i n g ’ s C r o s s s e c t i o n w a s l a t t e r l y u s e d m a i n l y b y c r o s s L o n d o n t r a n s f e r f r e i g h t s , w h i c h a l s o s e r v e d s e v e r a l g o o d s s i d i n g s e n r o u t e , S m i t h fi e l d m e a t m a r k e t f o r e x a m p l e .

T h e s e c t i o n w a s c l o s e d b y B R i n t h e 1 9 6 0 s a n d S n o w H i l l t u n n e l r e m a i n e d o u t o f u s e u n t i l t h e 1 9 8 0 s ( t h r o u g h t r a i n s a t B l a c k f r i a r s i n t h o s e d a y s t e r m i n a t e d a t H o l b o r n V i a d u c t s t a t i o n , w h i c h c l o s e d i n 1 9 9 0 a n d w a s l a t e r d e m o l i s h e d ) . I t w a s i n t h e N e t w o r k S o u t h E a s t d a y s o f t h e 1 9 8 0 s t h a t t h e b r i g h t i d e a o f r e o p e n i n g S n o w H i l l t u n n e l f o r t h r o u g h t r a i n s l i n k i n g t h e n o r t h e r n H o m e C o u n t i e s w i t h S u r r e y a n d t h e S o u t h c o a s t w a s t h o u g h t o f . I t w a s r e a l i s e d t h a t f o r a r e l a t i v e l y s m a l l o u t l a y , e x i s t i n g c o m m u t e r

BRIDGING GAPS: Thameslink – p16

J u n e 2 0 0 9 T h e R a i l w a y M a g a z i n e 1 7

30 The ‘Tesco Flyer’ In Practice & Performance, John Heaton takes a cab ride in a DRS Class 66 over the Highland main line from Grangemouth to Inverness.

40 Carlisle – Mecca of Steam David Eatwell tells how his life led him to Carlisle, the ‘Gateway to Scotland’.

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

FO U L D U B S J u n c t i o n s o u n d s m o r e l i k e a p r o d u c t o f J . K . R o w l i n g ’ s i m a g i n a t i o n t h a n t h e c e n t r e o f S c o t t i s h r a i l f r e i g h t ’ s r e n a i s s a n c e . T h e m a n u a l s i g n a l b o x i s t u c k e d a w a y o n t h e G r a n g e m o u t h b r a n c h , w h i c h w a s c o n s t r u c t e d i n 1 8 6 0 a n d m a k e s a t r a i l i n g c o n n e c t i o n i n t o t h e E d i n b u r g h S t i r l i n g l i n e e a s t o f F a l k i r k G r a h a m s t o n s t a t i o n . I n i t s h e y d a y , t h e b u s y d o c k s t r a f fi c e v e n j u s t i fi e d a F a l k i r k a v o i d i n g l i n e , b u t d e c l i n e e n s u e d w i t h o n l y o i l r e fi n e r y t r a i n s s u r v i v i n g . . . u n t i l t h e i n t e r m o d a l a g e r e s u l t e d i n a r e m a r k a b l e r e v e r s a l o f f o r t u n e s . T h e r e s u r g e n c e w a s b a s e d o n G r a n g e m o u t h ’ s l o c a t i o n a t t h e h e a r t o f c e n t r a l S c o t l a n d ’ s d i s t r i b u t i o n n e t w o r k a n d r a i l ’ s a b i l i t y t o s a t i s f y t h e d e m a n d f o r c o s t e f f e c t i v e , r e l i a b l e t r a n s p o r t , b u t i t n e e d e d p u m p p r i m i n g w i t h G o v e r n m e n t g r a n t s , m o s t r e c e n t l y f r o m a s y m p a t h e t i c S c o t t i s h p a r l i a m e n t .

T h e c u r r e n t r e q u i r e m e n t f o r u p t o s e v e n i n t e r m o d a l r e t u r n s e r v i c e s p e r d a y , o n t o p o f t h e n o r m a l t h r e e r e t u r n o i l t r a i n s , h a s c a u s e d N e t w o r k R a i l t o r e e x a m i n e t r a i n h a n d l i n g a r r a n g e m e n t s a t t h e p i v o t a l F o u l d u b s J u n c t i o n . T h e M a l c o l m G r o u p p u r c h a s e d t h e f o r m e r G r a n g e m o u t h l o c o m o t i v e d e p o t s i t e i n 1 9 9 9 , o b t a i n i n g a £ 9 0 0 , 0 0 0 g r a n t t o w a r d s t h e t e r m i n a l ’ s £ 1 . 5 m i l l i o n c o s t . I n s t e a d o f t h e J 3 7 s a n d t h e W D 2 1 0 0 s t e a m l o c o m o t i v e s o f t h e 1 9 5 0 s , t h e 2 0 0 9 y a r d i s b u s y w i t h c o n t a i n e r s t a c k e r s s e r v i c i n g D i r e c t R a i l S e r v i c e s ( D R S ) t r a i n s a n d h a n d l i n g u p t o 2 3 0 u n i t s o n p e a k d a y s .

D R S o p e r a t e s s e r v i c e s t o D a v e n t r y a n d I n v e r n e s s f o r t h e S t o b a r t G r o u p w i t h T e s c o t r a f fi c , D a v e n t r y a n d E l d e r s l i e f o r M a l c o l m a n d A b e r d e e n f o r A s d a . T h e E l d e r s l i e t r a f fi c i s a t t a c h e d t o a t r a i n t h a t o r i g i n a t e s a t F o r t h P o r t s , f u r t h e r d o w n t h e b r a n c h , b u t h a s c u r r e n t l y b e e n s u s p e n d e d t o m o p u p s p a r e c a p a c i t y i n t h e M a l c o l m r o a d fl e e t . M a l c o l m ’ s d e v e l o p m e n t m a n a g e r , J o h n H o l w e l l , i s c o n fi d e n t t h a t t h i s i s o n l y a t e m p o r a r y e x p e d i e n t , q u o t i n g s e c u r i t y , r e l i a b i l i t y a n d t h e e n d e m i c s h o r t a g e o f h i g h q u a l i t y H G V d r i v e r s a s t h e k e y f a c t o r s i n fl u e n c i n g a r e t u r n t o r a i l .

N e x t d o o r i s t h e D B S c h e n k e r ( D B S ) t e r m i n a l , w h i c h f o r m e r l y b e l o n g e d t o T G D N e x u s a n d h a s b e n e fi t e d f r o m a £ 9 . 5 m g r a n t t o w a r d s t h e £ 1 4 m c o s t . A 4 5 t o n n e c a p a c i t y g a n t r y c r a n e h a n d l e s t r a f fi c f o r T r a f f o r d P a r k a n d M o s s e n d .

N e t w o r k R a i l ’ s r o u t e d i r e c t o r f o r S c o t l a n d , D a v i d S i m p s o n , a n d l o c a l o p e r a t i o n s m a n a g e r ‘ J . J . ’ C u n n i n g h a m e s c o r t e d m e t o F o u l d u b s J c t s i g n a l b o x , w h e r e s i g n a l l e r I v o r G r a h a m w a s e n g a g e d i n s e t t i n g u p t h e D R S 1 2 . 2 0 d e p a r t u r e f o r A b e r d e e n . M o s t o f t h e s h u n t s r e q u i r e a c c e s s t o t h e t h r o u g h l i n e a n d a l l D R S a n d D B S t r a i n s n e e d t o u s e t h e r u n r o u n d l o o p i m m e d i a t e l y e a s t o f t h e ’ b o x .

I v o r e x p l a i n s t h a t t h e d o u b l e l i n e t o a n d f r o m G r a n g e m o u t h J c t i s a b s o l u t e b l o c k b u t d e p a r t i n g t r a i n s a r e c o n s t r a i n e d b y e m p t y D M U s t h a t o c c u p y t h e b r a n c h f o r a 2 5 m i n p e r h o u r t u r n r o u n d o n G l a s g o w F a l k i r k G r a h a m s t o n s e r v i c e s . T h e o i l t e r m i n a l i s w o r k e d b y t r a c k c i r c u i t b l o c k f r o m F o u l d u b s J c t , d e m o n s t r a t i n g t h a t , e v e n i n a p e r i o d o f d w i n d l i n g t r a f fi c , i n v e s t m e n t w a s a v a i l a b l e f o r fl o w s d e e m e d t o h a v e a l o n g t e r m f u t u r e . B P h a s a l s o r e c e i v e d a s i g n i fi c a n t g r a n t t o i m p r o v e i t s f a c i l i t i e s . N e t w o r k R a i l i s k e e n t o i m p r o v e t h e r e l i a b i l i t y o f t h e c u r r e n t p l a n a n d t o e n s u r e c a p a c i t y e x i s t s f o r f u r t h e r e x p a n s i o n . T h e u p s e c t i o n s i g n a l i s t o b e m o v e d t o w a r d s G r a n g e m o u t h J c t t o p r o v i d e 8 7 5 m ( 2 2

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

T h e ‘ T e s c o F l y e r ’ r e p o r t s o n t h e i n t e r m o d a l r e v o l u t i o n r e j u v e n a t i n g S c o t t i s h f r e i g h t a n d r i d e s a D R S 6 6 o v e r t h e H i g h l a n d m a i n l i n e

M e g a f r e t v e h i c l e s ) c l e a r a n c e , a l l o w i n g a c c e s s t o t h e l o o p s a n d p e r m i t t i n g s h u n t s t o b e m a d e w h i l e a n o u t b o u n d t r a i n a w a i t s a c c e p t a n c e . T h e l o o p s a r e a l s o t o b e e x t e n d e d s o t h a t t r a i n s i z e c a n b e i n c r e a s e d a n d u n i t c o s t s r e d u c e d , p r o m o t i n g c o m p e t i t i o n , e s p e c i a l l y f o r s o u t h b o u n d t r a f fi c w h e r e r o a d h a u l a g e b a c k l o a d i n g r a t e s a r e o f t e n b a s e d o n s h o r t t e r m m a r g i n a l c o s t s .

M o r e t r a c k c i r c u i t s a r e t o b e i n s t a l l e d t o i n c r e a s e s a f e t y a n d t h e D B S y a r d l i m i t s a r e t o b e e x t e n d e d s o t h a t m o r e s h u n t i n g i s s e l f c o n t a i n e d . A m e r i c a n s t y l e s w i t c h s t a n d s w i l l r e p l a c e

c o n v e n t i o n a l p o i n t l e v e r s a n d t h e r e m a i n i n g p a r a f fi n l i t s i g n a l s w i l l b e e l e c t r i fi e d . T h e o v e r a l l m o d e r n i s a t i o n p a c k a g e w i l l c o s t £ 2 m i l l i o n , a c o m m i t m e n t f r o m N e t w o r k R a i l t o i t s f r e i g h t c u s t o m e r s t h a t d e m o n s t r a t e s c o n fi d e n c e i n t h e f u t u r e o f t h e t r a f fi c .

D R S i n t e r m o d a l a c c o u n t m a n a g e r T o m C u r r y h a s b e e n c l o s e l y i n v o l v e d i n s e c u r i n g t h e A s d a a n d T e s c o s u p e r m a r k e t t r a f fi c t o r a i l . A n a t i v e o f F a l k i r k , h i s c o m m i t m e n t t o e n s u r i n g t h e s u c c e s s o f t h e v e n t u r e i s p a l p a b l e . S t o b a r t m a n a g e s t h e c o n t r a c t t o h a n d l e m a r k e t l e a d e r

T e s c o t r a f fi c f r o m t h e r e t a i l e r ’ s L i v i n g s t o n d i s t r i b u t i o n d e p o t t o i t s H i g h l a n d s t o r e s . T h e r o a d h a u l i e r w a s q u i c k t o a p p r e c i a t e t h e a d v a n t a g e s D R S h a d t o o f f e r o v e r t h e p a r a l l e l A 9 r o a d , c o o p e r a t i n g w i t h r i v a l W . H . M a l c o l m b y u s i n g i t s G r a n g e m o u t h t e r m i n a l . A t I n v e r n e s s N e e d l e fi e l d , D R S s e c u r e d a l e a s e f r o m N e t w o r k R a i l a n d s u b l e a s e d a p u r p o s e b u i l t t e r m i n a l t o J o h n G . R u s s e l l T r a n s p o r t , w h i c h u n d e r t a k e s d e l i v e r y . T h e c o o r d i n a t i o n a c h i e v e d b y fi v e m a j o r c o m p a n i e s t o b u i l d a s u p p l y c h a i n t h a t s a t i s fi e s t h e r i g o r o u s r e q u i r e m e n t s o f T e s c o s h o u l d n o t b e u n d e r e s t i m a t e d .

T h e t e n M e g a f r e t t r a i n c o n v e y i n g 2 0 4 5 f t s w a p b o d i e s ( t h e c o r r e c t t e r m f o r c u r t a i n s i d e d c o n t a i n e r s ) s i x d a y s p e r w e e k r e l i e v e s t h e A 9 o f 1 3 , 0 0 0 o n e w a y H G V s p e r y e a r . A n d S t o b a r t , s y n o n y m o u s w i t h l o n g d i s t a n c e l o r r i e s , i s p r o u d t o e m b l a z o n ‘ S t o b a r t R a i l ’ i n l a r g e l e t t e r s o n

SUPER-MARKETING: P&P – p30

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

T A B L E 1 : F O U L D U B S I N V ’ N E S S

J u n e 2 0 0 9 T h e R a i l w a y M a g a z i n e 3 1

PLUS: Eastleigh Works Centenary Souvenir Programme A special 16-page programme for the RM-backed Eastleigh Works Centenary event on May 23-25, explaining the history of the works and what role it performs today – All you need to know for the top rail event of the year.

A N E N T H U S I A S T ’ S T A L E

AS a y o u n g ( i s h ) l o c o s p o t t e r a n d r e s i d e n t o f B e d f o r d i n t h e 1 9 4 0 s a n d ’ 5 0 s , t h e v e r y w o r d ‘ C a r l i s l e ’ – e s p e c i a l l y i f c o u p l e d w i t h t h e w o r d ‘ K i n g m o o r ’ – p o s s e s s e d a m y s t e r i o u s c o n n o t a t i o n f o r m e . I t r e p r e s e n t e d t h e h o m e o f m a n y o f t h e m o s t d i f fi c u l t l o c o s f o r u s t o c o p a t t h e s o u t h e r n e n d o f t h e M i d l a n d M a i n L i n e a t t h e t i m e . . . ‘ J u b i l e e s ’ w i t h m a g i c a l n a m e s s u c h a s R e n o w n , S w i f t s u r e a n d P e r s e v e r a n c e , a l l o f w h i c h I w a s l u c k y t o fi n d i n C a r l i s l e d u r i n g m y fi r s t v i s i t t h e r e i n 1 9 5 9 .

M y l i f e l o n g f a s c i n a t i o n w i t h s t e a m b e g a n a t t h e h e i g h t o f t h e S e c o n d W o r l d W a r i n 1 9 4 2 w h e n I w a s 1 2 . M a n y o f m y s c h o o l p a l s h a d s u c c u m b e d t o t h e l u r e o f r a i l w a y s a n d t h e b r e a t h t a k i n g m a c h i n e s t h a t r a n o n t h e m a n d I

w a s a f a r f r o m u n w i l l i n g d i s c i p l e . B e f o r e l o n g , m y j a c k e t l a p e l p r o u d l y d i s p l a y e d t h e f o u r I a n A l l a n s p o t t e r b a d g e s . E a c h o n e r e l a t e d t o a s p e c i fi c p r i v a t e c o m p a n y a n d a l t h o u g h t h e m a r o o n b a d g e r e p r e s e n t e d o u r ‘ h o m e ’ r a i l w a y , t h e L M S , n o n e o f u s s a w a n y s h a m e i n s p o r t i n g a b l u e o n e f o r t h e L N E R , g r e e n f o r t h e S o u t h e r n a n d b r o w n f o r t h e G W R , e v e n t h o u g h o u r c o n t a c t w i t h t h e o t h e r s w a s n o n e x i s t e n t .

A l o n g w i t h t h e b a d g e s w e r e t h e i n v a l u a b l e I a n A l l a n A B C s . . . t h e r a i l w a y ‘ b i b l e s ’ , w h i c h a p p e a r e d f o r t h e fi r s t t i m e d u r i n g t h e w a r . F o r m e i n i t i a l l y , t h e L M S e d i t i o n h a d t o s u f fi c e , a l t h o u g h b e t t e r o f f f r i e n d s w e r e w i l l i n g t o h a n d t h e i r c o m b i n e d v o l u m e s r o u n d f o r u s t o l o o k a t . T h u s I b e c a m e f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e g r e a t

n a m e s i n r a i l w a y p h o t o g r a p h y a n d I a l w a y s l o o k e d u n d e r e a c h i l l u s t r a t i o n t o s e e w h o w a s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r i t – a h a b i t t h a t c o n t i n u e s t o t h i s d a y . W . J . V . A n d e r s o n a n d t h e R e v d ( l a t e r B i s h o p ) E r i c T r e a c y w e r e t h e t w o w h o s e p i c t u r e s a p p e a l e d t o m e t h e m o s t , a l t h o u g h m a n y o t h e r s r a n t h e m c l o s e i n m y a f f e c t i o n s : H . C . C a s s e r l e y , D e r e k C r o s s , M . W . E a r l e y , F . R . H e b r o n , O . S . N o c k , I v o P e t e r s , P . R a n s o m e W a l l i s , R . C . R i l e y a n d E . R . W e t h e r s e t t t o n a m e j u s t a f e w . . . a n d l a t e r i n m y l i f e I w a s h o n o u r e d t o b e a b l e t o m e e t s o m e o f t h o s e g r e a t p e r s o n a l i t i e s , a l l o f w h o m h a v e n o w s a d l y p a s s e d o n .

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

C A R L I S L E M e c c a o f s t e a m P h o t o g r a p h e r t e l l s o f h i s l i f e l o n g f a s c i n a t i o n w i t h r a i l w a y s a n d h o w h e a c h i e v e d a s c h o o l b o y a m b i t i o n t o v i s i t t h e f a b l e d ‘ G a t e w a y t o S c o t l a n d ’

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

f a t h e r g a v e m e a B r o w n i e b o x c a m e r a – b u t a l l t h e ‘ J u b i l e e s ’ I t r i e d t o c a p t u r e r u s h i n g r o u n d t h e a v o i d i n g l i n e b e h i n d B e d f o r d M i d l a n d R o a d s t a t i o n w e r e b l u r r e d . N o b o d y h a d e x p l a i n e d t o m e t h a t t o ‘ s t o p ’ a f a s t m o v i n g t r a i n , a h i g h s h u t t e r s p e e d w a s r e q u i r e d , s o t h e 1 / 3 0 t h s e c s h u t t e r i n t h e B r o w n i e w a s w o e f u l l y i n a d e q u a t e .

I d o n ’ t k n o w w h y , a n d t o a c e r t a i n e x t e n t I n o w r e g r e t i t , b u t r i g h t f r o m t h e o u t s e t I w a s o n l y i n t e r e s t e d i n ‘ n a m e r s ’ . T h e fi r s t o n e I c o p p e d i n 1 9 4 2 w a s N o . 5 6 1 1 H o n g K o n g ( a p l a c e I c a m e t o l o v e w h i l e s p e n d i n g 1 8 m o n t h s o f m y A r m y l i f e t h e r e i n 1 9 5 1 a n d 1 9 5 2 ) . S t a n i e r 8 F s a n d e v e n t h e m i g h t y 2 6 6 2 B e y e r G a r r a t t s w e r e n o t f o r m e , n o r w e r e t h e u n n a m e d ‘ P a t r i o t s ’ o r t h e v a s t m a j o r i t y o f t h e ‘ B l a c k F i v e s ’ . L i t t l e b r a n c h l i n e e n g i n e s m i g h t j u s t a s w e l l n o t h a v e e x i s t e d a s f a r a s I w a s c o n c e r n e d , s o w h i l e m y f r i e n d s w e r e b u s y l o g g i n g e v e r y t h i n g t h a t m o v e d , I c o p p e d p e r h a p s o n e i n 2 0 d u e t o m y s e l f i m p o s e d r e s t r i c t i o n .

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

E v e n t o d a y , I w i l l n e i t h e r d o g e a r n o r w r i t e i n a b o o k o r m a g a z i n e .

T o e n s u r e m y c o m p l i a n c e w i t h h i s ‘ r u l e ’ , h e g a v e m e a n o t e b o o k i n t o w h i c h I l a b o r i o u s l y c o p i e d o u t p a g e a f t e r p a g e o f l i s t s : L o c o n u m b e r i n t h e l e f t h a n d c o l u m n , n a m e i n t h e m i d d l e c o l u m n , a n d t w o c o l u m n s o n t h e r i g h t , o n e t o t i c k o n c e I ’ d s e e n i t a n d t h e o t h e r t o i n d i c a t e w h e t h e r I ’ d p h o t o g r a p h e d i t . O n c e I ’ d g o t i n t o t h e s w i n g o f t h i n g s i n t h e e a r l y 1 9 4 0 s , e x c u r s i o n s b y b i c y c l e t o M i d l a n d R o a d s t a t i o n , a b o u t a m i l e f r o m m y h o m e , w e r e m a d e m o s t d a y s a f t e r s c h o o l a n d a t w e e k e n d s . B y t h e t i m e I w a s 1 4 , I w a s a l l o w e d t o c y c l e t o B l e t c h l e y t o s e e m y fi r s t ‘ P r i n c e s s C o r o n a t i o n s ’ , ( s o m e s t i l l s t r e a m l i n e d a t t h a t t i m e ) , ‘ P r i n c e s s R o y a l s ’ a n d ‘ r a r e ’ W e s t C o a s t ‘ J u b i l e e s ’ . I a l s o c y c l e d i n t h e o p p o s i t e d i r e c t i o n t o S a n d y t o s e e a l l t h o s e l o v e l y n a m e d E a s t C o a s t P a c i fi c s ( m m m ! ) .

D e s p i t e t h e w a r , s u m m e r s a t t h a t t i m e s e e m e d t o c o n s i s t o f u n b r o k e n s u n s h i n e , s o m u m , d a d , s i s t e r J u d y a n d I u s e d t o s p e n d a l o t o f t i m e a t t h e o u t d o o r N e w n h a m s w i m m i n g p o o l , a d j a c e n t t o t h e B e d f o r d S a n d y l i n e . O n e n a m e r I r e c a l l s e e i n g t h e r e r e g u l a r l y w a s ‘ P r i n c e o f W a l e s ’ 4 6 0 N o . 2 5 6 7 3 L u s i t a n i a . B e d f o r d S t J o h n ’ s N o . 2 s i g n a l b o x w a s n e a r b y , w h e r e t o k e n s w e r e e x c h a n g e d , s o a l l

“ I w o u l d c l i m b o u t o f t h e d o r m i t o r y w i n d o w a t 3 a m , c y c l e t o t h e m a i n l i n e a n d g e t b a c k i n t i m e f o r b r e a k f a s t ! ”

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

U n t i l t h e m i d 1 9 4 0 s , I h a d t r i e d ‘ d i s h d e v e l o p i n g ’ a n d p r i n t i n g m y 1 1 6 s i z e d fi l m s i n p i t c h d a r k n e s s a t h o m e , b u t i n t h e a b s e n c e o f a t a n k o r t e m p e r a t u r e c o n t r o l , s c r a t c h e s a n d s t r e a k s w e r e i n e v i t a b l e . O n c e I g o t t o b o a r d i n g s c h o o l i n D u n s t a b l e , I w a s i n t r o d u c e d t o ‘ p r o p e r ’ d a r k r o o m t e c h n i q u e s ( i . e . a d e v e l o p i n g t a n k a n d e n l a r g e r ! ) b u t I ’ m a f r a i d t h o s e e a r l y f r u i t l e s s a t t e m p t s w i t h m y B r o w n i e b o x h a d p u t m e o f f r a i l w a y p h o t o g r a p h y a n d I w a s n o t t o r e t u r n t o i t u n t i l a f t e r m y m i l i t a r y s e r v i c e i n 1 9 5 7 . O c c a s i o n a l l y i n t h e s u m m e r t e r m , I w o u l d c l i m b o u t o f t h e s c h o o l ’ s d o r m i t o r y w i n d o w a t a b o u t t h r e e i n t h e m o r n i n g , s h i n d o w n t h e d r a i n p i p e a n d c y c l e t o C h e d d i n g t o n t o s p o t a s m a n y o f t h e o v e r n i g h t a n d e a r l y m o r n i n g e x p r e s s e s a s I c o u l d b e f o r e h u r r y i n g b a c k f o r t h e 8 a m b r e a k f a s t . I w a s n e v e r m i s s e d b y t h e m a s t e r s a n d I a l w a y s g o t b a c k i n t i m e , h a p p y b u t k n a c k e r e d !

H i s t o r y a n d p h y s i c s j u s t c o u l d n ’ t c o m p e t e w i t h t h e l u r e o f ‘ S c o t s ’ a n d ‘ P r i n c e s s R o y a l s ’ ! O t h e r e n t e r t a i n m e n t w a s t o b e f o u n d r i g h t n e x t t o t h e s c h o o l , w h e r e t h e D u n s t a b l e c e m e n t w o r k s s i d i n g s h a d a t r i a n g u l a r

J u n e 2 0 0 9 T h e R a i l w a y M a g a z i n e 4 1

MEMORIES: David Eatwell’s story – p40

June 2009 • The Railway Magazine • 5