INTERCITY RAILWAY SOCIETY Monthly Magazine

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First ScotRail 158723+158706 with its coupling cover dragging behind and kicking up the snow on departure from Huntly (12.08 to ) on a completely calm and sunny 2 February 2008 (what a difference a day makes !!)

VOLUME 36 No.2 February 2008 INTER CITY RAILWAY SOCIETY President: Dr. Pete Waterman O.B.E.

The content of the magazine is the copyright of the Society No part of this magazine may be reproduced without prior permission of the copyright owner

Vice Presidents: Peter King 65 Long John Hill, NR1 2LX (01603 616298) Jeff Hall – [email protected] 3 Ingham Grove, Hartlepool TS25 2LH (01429 421175) Chairman: Simon Mutten Coppercoin, Blofield Corner Road, Blofield, Norwich NR13 4RT (01603 715701) Secretary/Treasurer: Gary Mutten – [email protected] 1 Corner Cottage, Silfield Street, Silfield, Wymondham NR18 9NS (01953 600445) Editorial Managers: Trevor Roots – [email protected] Mill of Botary, Cairnie, Huntly, Aberdeenshire AB54 4UD (01466 760724) Peter Britcliffe – [email protected] 9 Voltigeur Drive, Hartlepool TS27 3BS (01429 234180) Editorial Assistants: Sightings: James Holloway – [email protected] 246 Longmore Road, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands B90 3ES. Lincoln/Local Areas: John Barton – [email protected] 46, Arbor Way, Chelmsley Wood, B37 7LD Wagons & Trams: Martin Hall – [email protected] 5 Sunninghill Close, West Hallam, , Derbys. DE7 6LS (0115 930 2775) European: Robert Brown – [email protected] 32 Spitalfields, Blyth, Worksop, Notts. S81 8EA (01909 591504) Membership Sec/ Maurice Brown – [email protected] or [email protected] Publication Manager: 192 Alvechurch Road, West Heath, Birmingham B31 3PW (0121 624 8641) Pub. Researchers: Euro/Preserved/Trams: Martin Hall – [email protected] – details as above Wagons & Engineers: David Sharpe – [email protected] 25 Lynfield Road, Great Harwood, Blackburn, Lancs. BB6 7TS (07944 718429) Pub. Compilers: European: Bryan King – [email protected] 34 Anchor Street, Norwich NR3 1NR (01603 440432) Chris James – [email protected] UK / Ultimate Sight File: Carl Watson – [email protected] Web Site Manager: Mark Richards – [email protected] 7 Parkside, Furzton, Milton Keynes, Bucks. MK4 1BX (01908 520028) East Anglia Branch: Simon Mutten – details as above

Contents: Officials Contact List...... 2 Traffic and Traction News...... 14 Society Notice Board ...... 3-4 Wagon Corner...... 15-16 Current News / Sightings: Feature Articles: European News...... 20-21 Diary of a Loco Spotter...... 17-18 European Trips...... 22 Gosport Railway Station ...... 18-19 Lincoln Sightings...... 10-11 ICRS / HB Publication Review...... 4 Light Rail and Metro News...... 15 Location ‘Spot’Light ...... 23-28 Out and About – Sightings ...... 5-8 Preservation News / Photo Spot...... 9 Railway Cuttings ...... 19 Railway Globetrotters ...... 12-13 Rolling Stock Changes...... 22 Where in the...? ...... 10

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2 Society Notice Board

Editor’s Comments: No time for waffle this month…as more importantly I must bring to your attention the upcoming AGM, the website refresh and a new feature, reviewing the latest ICRS / HB Publications. Thanks should go to Mark Richards for his work on revamping the website.

Annual General Meeting: The AGM is to be held on Saturday 5th April at the Arms Hotel (as per 2007) in the Albert Room at 12.00 noon. It is important that as many members as possible show support by attending, so please try your best..…couple it with a bit of spotting on Crewe, most of the Committee do !! For those members planning to attend, PLEASE notify the Secretary, Gary Mutten by 10th March so that we know how many will be attending. Similarly please notify any apologies for absence by same date and/or if you wish to add an item to the agenda.

ICRS Web Site refresh: by Mark Richards The ICRS web site was refreshed on 22nd January and anyone who has visited the site recently will have noticed the changes to the design and layout of the pages, in particular the homepage. The reason for the change is to keep the web site looking as fresh and visually enticing as possible, whilst also applying a consistent and more interesting theme to all the pages. Navigation should also be easier around the new-look web site with changed menus and more logical links between pages.

Some of the other changes made, include: • A standardisation of the font used across the site so that all pages have a similar look • The title bar on the homepage and all other pages within the site have been redesigned. The homepage is instantly more recognisable as a railway web site • The homepage has been ‘cleaned up’ with some of the unnecessary information removed and the layout enhanced so that less scrolling is required • A News & Information page has been added, which will be updated regularly • The Photo Gallery has been redesigned so that only the four most recently updated galleries are now shown

Another important change is a regular update schedule, which will mean that the web site is updated every Sunday, Wednesday and Friday, information permitting! Please help make the ICRS web site as interesting and informative as the magazine by providing your news, information, sightings, photos or articles so that we can provide a resource that stands out amongst other UK railway web sites. It’s easy to contribute – there are photo submission guidelines on the web site – and for anything else drop an e- mail to [email protected].

In addition to the refresh, please note that from 24th February the password to the Members Section is to change, please therefore access the Members Section before that date to find new password. There will be a notice on the website to confirm when the change takes place and advising members what they will need to do.

Membership Matters: Membership Rates: Annual: £15.00 Five Year Rate: £70.00 (currently discounted)

New Members: The following new members have joined this month B. Allsop (Tamworth), David Croft (Stoke-on-Trent), Brian Derricote (West Midlands), Peter Hart (Reading), Mike Machin (Stafford) Darren Smith (Wolverhampton), Walter Stafford (Lancashire), Mark Turner (Chesterfield), D.E. Williams (Harrow), A.S Woodcock (Halifax) - A warm welcome to you all

Obituaries: It is with regret and sadness that we have to announce the passing away of two ICRS members: Philip Gause from Bury, Lancashire and A. Humpage, from Market Drayton, Shropshire. Our condolences and sympathies go to both families.

3 Magazine Submissions: Any information / article on any railway related item will always be most welcome for inclusion in the magazine. Your travel stories / anecdotes about far flung parts of the railway network, past or present can give pleasure to others or inform of places to visit. This railway hobby of ours is made all that more enjoyable by the sharing of information, so please consider sharing your knowledge and experiences. Please note that contributions for Out and About Sightings only should be sent to James Holloway, items for European News (and Sightings) to Robert Brown and for Wagon Corner and Light Rail & Metro News to Martin Hall. All other items should be sent to Trevor Roots / Peter Britcliffe. Neatly typed submissions are perfectly acceptable, but if you have a PC with Microsoft Word or Excel, then a document on CD is a bonus or better still e-mail them to the appropriate official. Good quality photographs are always welcome for inclusion in the magazine, colour or black and white clear prints of any railway subject will be considered but preferably high resolution digital photographs via e-mail. To credit members correctly please include your name with any submissions.

The latest date for articles / info for the next magazine is Friday 29th February 2008. Items for Out and About Sightings should be sent in to James a few days earlier if possible please.

Magazine Contributors: Thanks to Mark Richards, John Palin, Cassandra Sweeting, Eddie Rathmill Michael Hillier, Dennis Dey, Derek Sneddon, Paul Tarrant, Mike Rumens, Nigel Hoskins, Kenneth Pryce, Mark Turner, Ray Smith, Bob Brown, Martin Hall & Trevor Roots. We are sorry if anyone has been missed. All photos by Trevor Roots unless shown otherwise.

ICRS / HB Publications Review by Trevor Roots

Pocket Datafile 2008: This new publication has just been released and is the perfect companion to the Combined Volume, but in a cheaper handy pocket sized form. It contains all the same essential spotting information, but in abbreviated form. As with all ICRS publications it is well produced and size wise, occupies the same market as spotting books from Platform 5 and the NREA. (the former in its similar combined form is twice as thick and expensive). As I personally collect and use the two aforementioned books I can definitely recommend the Pocket Datafile. Loyalty apart, from now on I will use it as it contains far more information than its competitors. Whatever rolling stock you are interested in, whether it be on the national network, preserved lines or light rail/underground…it is all listed. Locomotives, DMUs, EMUs, Coaching Stock, Light Railways / Metros and Underground Railways. With its clear format and comprehensive content, the Pocket Datafile is sure to be a winner and the more that are bought then the more ICRS will benefit.

4 Out and About Sightings & News by James Holloway

Dennis Dey: 1st January: 60500 6S36 5th January: 3rd January: 60048 6S36 66402 4M30 Selhurst: 31452/602, 171804 66427 4A66 60100 0A30 Street 08.45-08.52: 90001, 170201 4th January: 66030 6A31 315803/32/58/61, 317509/510/709/881/886 5th January: 60013 6K26 60048 6S36 321320/442, 360108/14/16 7th January: 60048 6L49 66404 4S43 Stratford 09.35-15.05: 66176/197/503/536/546 66417 4A66 66004 6A30 66592/620/701/702/704, 90001/02/05-07/10/12 8th January: 60068 6S36 66423 4A66 90018/20/48, 170202/03/05/07/08, 313101/103 66429 4S43 66094 6A30 313104/06/14/23, 315806/13/17/28/32/35/36/39 9th January: 60047 6S36 664052 4S43 315843/50/54/58/60, 317671, 321301/03/04/07 66415 4A66 60068 6L49 321308/10/14/23/28/32/39/43-45/47/59/60/63 10th January: 321438/42/45, 357016/023, 360101/03/05/08 60047 6M67 66094 6L49 66415 4M30 360113/14/18-21 60068 6S36 66107 6A31 66416 4A66 DLR 05/12/31/34/43/46/57/58/65/69/83/85/92/97 11th January: 60068 6M67 66240 6N44 Liverpool Street 15.15: 317650/54/881/83/86 66416 4A66 66112 6H44 14th January: 66039 6A30 66240 6L49 66408 4A66 15th January: 60068 6S36 66004 6A30 66415 4A66

Mark Wallace: 28th December: Peteborough 09.59-13.32: 09.59 66145 0L76 P'borough-Bury-St Edmunds 10.17 66240+66172 0H06 Wembley-P'borough 10.34 66522 4M94 Felixstowe-Lawley Street 10.42 92019 6O25 Scunthorpe-Ebange

10.43 66511 4L89 Coatbridge-Felixstowe 317650 Liverpool St, 11 Dec 2007 11.04 60090 6E84 Middleton-Barnby Dunn 12.17 66712+66713 L/E P'borough-Eastleigh Derek Sneddon: 12.49 66592 4M81 Felixstowe-Ditton Carmuirs West Jnct. and Camelon Station: 12.59 66571 4L93 Lawley Street-Felixstowe 16th December: 66423 4A11 13.32 66525 4M88 Felixstowe-Basford Hall 17th December: 60025 6S36 66405 4A66 43067/077/080/095/108/111/117/119/306/318 66427 4N72 66066 6N44 66426 4S43 91102/07/10-12/14/15/22/27/28/31, 153308/57 18th December: 60025 6N44 66220 6A30 153381, 158774/783/846/847/856/857, 170105 66417 4A66 66066 6S36 66407 4S43 170111/113/116/203/205/519/521/636/638 222102, 317341/45/46, 365528/529 66419 4N72 th 19th December: 66405 4N72 26 January: 61994+60009 steam 5Z94 Crewe-Aberdeen 09.45-13.45: 66003 6A30 66406 4S43 66417 4R77 66085 4D56 Biggleswade-Heck at 11.32 20th December: 66094/113/126/149/150/719/721, 67001/20 60025 6S36 66180 6A30 66417 4N72 86101, 91102/08-10/12-15/19/21/24-26/29/32 66003 6A31 66414 4R77 66423 4A66 91129 ‘Queen Elizabeth II’ name but no number 21st December: 66003 6D84 66103 6H44 22nd December: 66405 4A66 Nigel Hoskins: th Gloucester: 24 December: 66414 4A66 th 27th December: 60500 6M34 66204 6N44 20 November: 60021 6E41 66068 6V92 66414 4A66 60038 6M81 66124 6M38 66196 6M96 28th December: 37417 6H44 60048 6D84 60093 6B13 66175 6V05 66111 4V82 66414 4A66 60048 6A31 60500 6S36 66230 6M08 66087 6X51 66078 6M71 29th December: 60500 6S36 66414 4A66 47847+9490+44000+42254+42262+42258 31st December: 66427 4A66 +41186+41147+57375 Z90 Laira-Derby 47375+6338 5Z61 Gloucester-OOC

5 21st November: 6th December: (cont) 60093 6B47 60007 6M96 60062 6E41 47813-0Z00 Gloucester-Worcester 60034 6V07 66166 6M41 66201 4V09 47805+9481+44011+42035+42034+42033 66144 6V06 60007 6V93 66228 6V35 +42007+41024+5740 5Z91 Derby-Laira 60035 6E20 66154 4V28 7th December: 47703+5679 5Z86 Gloucester-Landore 66046 6V92 66221 4V09 66009 4V28 47703+5679+43180 5Z44 Landore-L’borough 66019 0E20 66082 4V17 66152 6X52 47703+47375+6338+43012 5Z45 L’borough- 66219 6M16 60093 6B47 66165 6V06 Gloucester 66108 6M71 60043 6V07 66157 6E50 31105/285 1Q06 Derby- 60096 6E41 47237 0Z70 Oxley-Gloucester 22nd November: 47237+11013+11033 5Z84 Gloucester-Oxley 66228 6X52 60094 6E20 60034 6V92 47813+43172/188 5Z86 L’borough-Landore 66047 6V07 60007 6M41 66077 4V09 8th December: 66154 4V28 66020 6M42 66056 6E30 66003 6V68 66009 6M38 60091 6E41 66141 7E10 66041 6V68 66214 6M04 66121 4V22 66058 0Z97 31105/285 1Z06 Cardiff-Gloucester 158863 5Z74 Haymarket-St Philips Marsh 47703+5698 5Z45 Gloucester-Landore 9th December: 47703+6338+43195 5Z40 Landore-L’borough 66135 6M42 66094 6E47 60043 6E30 37605/606 4Q10 Didcot-Barton Hill 60083 6M41 66084 4V17 25th November: 31106/459 4Z08 Derby-Barton Hill 60018 6E47 66163 6M42 66068 6V61 10th December: 26th November: 66512 4Z74 66124 4V28 66027 6V35 66068 6V05 60091 6E41 66163 6V54 66551 4Z73 66078 6E20 66217 6E47 60023 6V92 66147 6M38 66163 6M42 66181 6M02 60093 6B47 66176 6X52 66141 4V17 66189 6X52 66068 6E20 60093 6E30 66124 4V28 66220 6V06 66198 6V31 66047 6V35 60054 6V93 47813+6338 5Z50 Gloucester-Loughborough 66020 6V61 66157 6M74 66047 6E50 47813+6338+43190 5Z46 L'borough-Landore 60038 6B13 60034 0A53 Bescot-Margam 47813+63385Z80 Landore-Gloucester 27th November: 12th December: 60046 6E41 60093 6B13 66077 4V82 66088 6M81 66248 6V54 60051 6E50 66079 6X51 66076 4V29 60023 6V92 60093 6M96 60023 6B13 60083 6V05 60051 6M81 37515 6M67 66107 4V17 60035 6E41 60014 6V92 66088 6V76 66076 6M46 66198 7M12 66545 4Z73 47839+6330+44004+42014+42013+42360 66250 7E10 66144 6E20 66157 6V68 +42012+41010+41009+6336 5Z90 Laira-Derby 60054 6V93 66188 6M72 47375 6Z74 Station sidings and depot: 47853 5Z91 Derby-Laira Locos: 47033/200/237/375/703/813 28th November: Coaches: 9488/9490/94101 60093 6B13 66189 6X51 66108 4V29 13th December: 60023 6V92 66047 6V05 66047 6E20 66149 6V32 66119 6M81 60023 6B13 66081 6V68 66187 6M02 66068 6V61 66027 6V05 60021 6E41 60007 6V92 47813+6721+43004+43041+43146 5Z40 60091 6Z94 47813 0Z47 Loughborough-Gloucester 47839+6336+44035+42281+42280+42265 29th November: +42279+41135+41116+6330 5Z91 Derby-Laira 66250 6V32 66079 6X51 66108 6M03 14th December: 60093 6B13 66088 6M38 66157 6M81 66248 6V54 66127 6E50 60076 6M94 66163 6V54 60042 6V92 66068 6V05 66214 6M08 66046 6M98 60066 6V05 60062 6E41 60023 6B13 60037 6E41 47375 0Z45 5th December: 15th December: 60014 6M96 60012 6Z35 66047 6E77 66170/703+5350+4902+5040+4927+5009 66219 6M71 66084 4V81 66181 4V09 +5322+1863+3098+3140+3112+21272+6310 66119 6V92 60031 6V07 66068 6M41 5Z08 Bristol-Gloucester 66140 6V51 60093 6B13 37229/609 6M56 16th December: 47813+11033 5F80 East Ham-Gloucester 60051 6E47 66065 6M42 60014 6E30 6th December: 66158 5Z19 Stoke Gifford-Old Oak Common 66094 6V07 66237 6M41 60096 6E41 31105/459 4Z08 Derby-Barton Hill 66219 4V81 66221 4V09 66089 4V17 66248 6W05 66219 6M16 60100 6X52 66068 6E30 17th December: 66018 4V82 66065 6V54 66127 4V28 66145 7M12 60076 6M42 60042 6M96 60091 6V92 60023 6B13 66116 6E10 60083 6E20 66165 6V68 60017 6V05 66018 6M71

6 17th December: (cont) 8th January: 66061 6M98/6V01 47375+9490 5Z40 Gloucester-Laira 66016 6M38 66119 6V54 60018 6V92 47237 0Z86 Gloucester-Worcester 66152 6Z72 60051 6M96 60056 6X51 47237+43015+6721 5Z86 Landore-Gloucester 60059 6E41 66164 4V81 60091 6B13 DR73935 6J42 Cardiff-Worcester 66155 6M71 60042 6M41 66024 4V09 18th December: 37265/510 6M67 66183 6M81/6V07 66053 4V48 66127 6V61 60091 6V92 20901/905 0Z74 Long Marston-Bristol 60042 6V07 60022 6E41 66181 7E10 37259/612 4Z08 Derby-Barton Hill 66213 6V01 66135 6X52 66137 6E30 66719 0G66 Old Oak Common-Gloucester 60007 6E20 60043 6B13 66230 4V28 66189 6W50 Wolvercote Junction-Hinksey 60065 6M42 66119 6M12 66188 6M22 9th January: 60014 6M81 66155 6M38 47703 0Z47 Gloucester- 66180 6A32 60022 6M96 66164 4V81 47237 0Z80 Gloucester-Meldon Quarry 66057 6E77 66232 6E50 66240 6X51 47237+31437+31301+31423+31439 5Z80 60091 6B13 66189 6W55 66719 0Z90 Meldon Quarry-Gloucester +6168+5866+1211+ 66719 5Z90 Laira-Derby +5737+44008+42026 9497+5797+5906+5958 +42024+41018+41017+44059+6336 66228 6Z44 Aberthaw-Lindsey 66184 6M11/6V05 20315/37308 6V73/6M56 60083 6Z68 Bedworth-Robeston 47375/237 0Z81 Gloucester-Derby 21st December: 66951 4Z73 66170 4V48 10th January: 66090 7X36/6A32 66510 4Z74 66220 6M81 66016 6M38 66189 6W60 47237/375+9490 5Z80 Landore-Gloucester 60091 6B13 66164 6M71 60021 6E41 22nd December: 60043 6B13 47375 5Z46 L’borough-Landore +43134/189 23rd December: 60017 6M41 60076 6E30 13th January: 24th December: 60017 6V35 66193 6M16 60025 6E30 66147 6V49 66137 6M42 66248 6V01 60022 6M94 66057 6V50 66183 6V61 25th December: 14th January: Station sidings and Depot: 66061 6M98 60012 6E41 66115 6E50 47033/200/237/316/375, 150219, 153370 60091 6B13 66057 6M96 66152 6M41 158745/747/750/763, 6721/9488/9490/94101 66127 4V82 66137 6V54 60022 6V92 28th December: 66008 6Z72 66248 6E50 66220 6V07 66561 4Z74 60062 6E47 60012 6E41 66221 4V09 66198 4V17 66057 6V93 66152 6V61 66183 6V05 66422 4Z73 60043 6B13 Stabled in sidings: 29th December: Locos:47200/237/316, 57005/006 66044 4V20 66616 4Z82 60018 6B13 Coaches: 6721/9488/9490/94101 60089 6E41 66085 6M38 66194 6M04 15th January: 30th December: 66199 4V17 60034 6E47 66198 6V68 66100 6V93 66137 6V61 66068/091/160 0A53 Bescot-East Usk 66511 4Z71 66197 4M20 66109 6V51 2nd January: 66173 6V32 60089 6E41 47237 5Z80 66221 6M71 66127 4V81 60091 6M41 47237+6721+9490 5Z77 Gloucester-Laira 66221 4V82 60018 6B13 60021 6E41 57005/006 0Z74 Gloucester-Bristol ret. as 0Z80 66726/73201 0Z47 Wimbledon-Long Marston 16th January: 66152 6V05 66061 6V51 3rd January: 66012 4V81 60091 6V05 66173 6V32 60018 6V07 66200 6W57 60018 6B13 66221 6M71 66061 6Z37 66093 6Z72 60089 6E41 66164 4V48 20302/311 6V73/6M56 66137 6E30 66100 6E20 66001 6M72 4th January: 66525 4Z71 66555 4Z74 66506 4Z73 66018 6M71 60034 6V54 66061 6E50 47237+57006/006+6330 5Z46 Gloucester- 66093 4V81 66018 4V82 60014 6V05 Loughborough 60018 6B13 60014 6E41 66726 5Z91 43014/062 1Z21 Old Oak Common Mike Rumens: 47237 0Z86 Gloucester-Landore 16th January: 47237+43002/003 0Z44 Landore-L’borough Nuneaton 14.35-16.00: 47237 0Z80 Loughborough-Gloucester 66005/024/414/535/570/723/726, 90046 5th January: 66152 6Z71 60031 6E41 153333, 170108/115/397/522/523 66078 4Z03 -Avonmouth 60018 6B13 390005/06/10/11/23/28/39/40/47/51/52 7th January: 66046 6M81 66020 6E50 21st January: 60014 6M96 60018 6V92 66061 6M98 Nuneaton 12.25-12.40/14.45-16.30: 60091 6B13 66016/093 4V81 60062, 66089/174/217/425/426/540/564/727 DR73805 6J94 Maindee-Gloucester 90045, 153375, 170114/518/522/637/639 47727 0Z47 Tavistock Junction-Tyseley 390013-15/21/28/30/32/38/41/49/52

7 Mark Richards: Mark Turner: Cosham: 25th January: 29th December: 158761, 377163/441, 444025 Stourton FLT: 31st December: 66516/593 with 66706 passing southbound 158746/763, 377409/416/456, 450100/118 Midland Road Depot: 66586/612 with 66422 being dragged onto the depot by 66524 Hunslet down sidings: 66582 on hoppers with 66015 passing northbound on containers. 26th January: Barrow Hill: D2302, D2868, D4092, D8000/132 D9500, 06003, 20119/121/904, 26011, 33035 37201/275/672, 45060/105, 47488/707/744, 56006, 58001, Network Rail liveried Cl.37 97301 E3035, 84001, 85101 DPS Shed: 55009/015/019 28th January:

Hatfield Colliery: 66526 FGW 158761 & Southern 377163 Trevor Roots: Cosham, 31 December 2007 th Mark Richards 10 January: Elgin 09.00-11.00: 158711/713/740 12th January: Inverness Station / Depot 12.15-14.00: Milton Keynes Central 12.40: 57307 08788, 66615 on PCAs, 158718/719 18th January: 170394/395/422 Bletchley 10.30: 57301 Millburn yard: 37411, 67030 Rugby 13.30-14.30: 60093, 66004/240/410, 350105/20 390014/15/20/25/27/29-32/36/40/43/48 26th January: Didcot Parkway 09.40-10.55: 08664, 66110/217, 43041/145, 165101/104/110/113/210/211/217, 220009/029 Oxford 11.20-11.50: 66531, 165110/113/212/214, 221141 Banbury 12.00-12.35 &13.30-14.00: 66504/200, 165002/006/015/031/032/038/039 168110/112/113, 220004/008/026/033, 221134 Reading 14.40-15.30: 43022-024/063/127/174/181/186/187, 165104 165105/108/134/202/207/214, 220004/028 Paul Tarrant: Freightliner 66615 (above) 22nd January: 08788 shunting the ScotRail sleepers (below) Stratford 11.48-14.30: Inverness, 10 January 2008 59001, 66117/536/541/593/727, 86613/627 90001/02/04/05/11-13/16/36/41/45/46 24th January: Stratford 12.03-14.34: 59201, 66214/567/722/727, 67029, 90001/02/05 90008/12/20/36/41/44/46/47/49

Kenneth Pryce: 23rd January: Stockport 13.50-15.50: 92034, 142033/35/48, 150136, 156455/466/472 156481/486, 158783/812/813/858/862/866 175008/103/104/112, 18531/41/42/48 220027/031, 221117/128/130/135, 323224-26 323228/30-34/37, 390004/13/19/34/35/47/53

8 Preservation News

Moneystone Quarry: by Cassandra Sweeting

Moneystone Quarry in Whiston, North Staffordshire, which is connected by conveyor belt to the Leekbrook – Oakmoor branch is set to close by 2009. There was talk of ESW running trains from Stoke – on - Trent to both Oakmoor (sand) and Caldon Lowe (stone) which must now be in doubt. There is a mature forest which has destroyed the remaining trackbed at various locations e.g. Milton Leekbrook and Bradnop. The cost of removal and relaying would be prohibitive and not worth the standalone stone traffic. The sand went to glass making in St. Helens and Barnsley, the last use of traffic from Caldon was road chippings to Witton, Birmingham and previous traffic was large stone blocks for Thames Barrier and before that for refurbishment of Euston in 1930’s.

The last sand train locomotives used were Cls.24, 25, 40 & 47. Last stone trains, c1985 used loco Cls. 24, 25, 40, & 47 (plus 37’s on a rail tour)

The loading site was once home for ex – Southampton Docks CL.07 (07003 in Jun 1985…ed) The site is on the former North Staffordshire Railways line from North Road to Uttoxeter, opened 13 July 1849. Last section closed 4 January 1965

The section from Leekbrook to Froghall is owned by the preserved (CVR) which wishes to extend to Leek. The temptation to extend towards Alton (Towers), whilst keeping access to Stoke-on-Trent (the CVR would be isolated from the system without this line) and reopening to Waterhouses may lead to ‘Choice Paralysis’ and only the leek extension actually happening (it has got council encouragement) A previous council allowed a supermarket to be built over the trackbed at Leek station, so denying access to the trackbed past the scenic Rudyard Lake which compliments the splendour of the line.

The Churnet Valley Railway operate a 33/1, 37 and 47/3, while steam reigns supreme on the (miniature) Rudyard Lake Railway.

Preservation Photo Spot

th : Giants of Steam Gala, 20 October 2007 by Mark Richards

West Country 4-6-2 21C123 ‘OVS Bulleid’ West Country 4-6-2 34007 ‘Wadebridge’ (actually ‘Blackmoor Vale’) Horsted Keynes Horsted Keynes

9 Where in the…?

Last month’s location was Station, on the Spa Valley Railway. The former station is now in use as private commercial premises.

Resplendent with semaphores and standing by a river estuary, this signalbox is on the southern approach to which similarly named station, (seen behind to left) ? as seen on 11 January 2008 Bob Brown

Lincolnshire Sightings by John Palin

16/12 18/12 (cont) 20/12 (cont) 23.10 60039 6V70 LR-CB 14.15 66617 6E54 KY-HR 08.40 60089 6M57 LR-KY 17/12 14.37 60028 6E82 CK-LR 09.20 66016 4K91 WP-IM 14.05 66607 6E54 KY-HR 15.07 66219 6E11 RY-IM 13.05 66136 6F90 IM-CM 14.35 60062 6E82 CK-LR 17.32 60022 6E41 WH-LR 13.40 66607 6M00 HR-KY 17.40 60097 6E41 WH-LR 18.05 66122 6F95 IM-CM 13.53 66122 4R17 CM-IM 18.40 60089 6M06 LR-KY 18.35 60047 6M06 LR-KY 13.55 66016 6F91 IM-CM 20.03 60022 6E59 KY-LR 19.12 66211 4K77 WP-IM 14.12 66617 6E54 KY-HR 20.45 60039 6E38 CL-LR 20.01 60002 6E59 KY-LR 21/12 22.42 60047 6E55 TH-LR 20.47 60082 6E38 CK-LR 06.22 66422 6M66 IM-RU 22.50 66211 6F77 IM-CM 23.10 66219 6M86 IM-RY 07.55 66133 4R1 CM-IM 23.07 66133 6F79 IM-CM 23.25 60028 6V84 LR-TH 08.32 60009 6E46 KY-LR 23.26 66228 6Z94 LR-AT 23.35 66211 6F77 IM-CM 09.15 66016 4K91 WP-IM 18/12 20/12 12.13 66133 6F90 IM-CM 13.44 66122 4R17 CM-IM 05.02 66011 4K87 WP-IM 12.55 66607 6M00 HR-KY 13.53 66128 4Z53 TO-IM 07.55 66136 4R11 CM-IM 13.37 66122 4R17 CM-IM

10 21/12 (cont) 2/1(cont) 5/1(cont) 13.52 66016 6F91 IM-CM 17.45 60059 6Z75 IB-LR 20.48 66012 6Z78 IM-TO 13.55 66053 4Z53 TO-IM 18.00 66034 6B72 IM-WB 6/1 14.10 66617 6E54 KY-HR 18.40 60009 6M06 LR-KY 23.10 60082 6V70 LR-CB 22/12 18.41 60021 6E41 WH-LR 7/1 05.40 66011 4K90 WP-IM 2/1 13.40 66065 4R17 CM-IM 07.50 66133 4R11 CM-IM 19.25 66196 4K56 WP-IM 14.10 66606 6E54 KY-HR 08.35 60009 6E46 KY-LR 20.50 60007 6E38 CB-LR 15.10 60026 6E82 CK-LR 08.45 60012 6M57 LR-KY 21.03 60082 6E59 KY-LR 16.42 66196 4K77 WP-IM 09.40 66016 4K91 WP-IM 22.00 60028 6E55 TH-LR 17.56 66065 6B72 IM-WB 12.55 66219 6M86 IM-RY 22.50 60059 6Z94 LR-AW 18.43 60089 6M06 LR-KY 13.39 66617 6E54 KY-HR 3/1 19.37 60028 6E41 WH-LR 24/12 13.43 66034 4R17 CM-IM 20.00 60077 6E59 KY-LR 05.00 66132 6F84 IM-CM 14.10 66084 6F90 IM-CM 20.50 60082 6E38 CK-LR 05.15 66011 4R11 WP-IM 14.40 66219 6E11 RY-IM 20.55 60034 4K56 WP-IM 05.26 66506 4R12 WB-IM 15.20 60007 6E82 CK-LR 22.00 60089 6E83 KN-IM 05.40 66524 6M66 IM-RY 17.35 66127 6Z78 IM-RC 22.10 60012 6E55 TH-LR 07.24 66151 6F85 IM-CM 18.33 60012 6E41 WH-LR 22.45 66196 6F77 IM-CM 08.57 60031 6M57 LR-KY 18.48 66034 6B72 IM-WB 8/1 09.36 66016 6R09 IM-CM 19.22 66065 4K56 WP-IM 13.50 66127 4Z53 TO-IM 09.50 66951 6R10 IM-DX 20.00 60028 6E59 KY-LR 14.22 66128 4R17 CM-IM 10.55 66506 6R12 IM-FB 20.50 60021 6E38 CB-LR 14.40 66174 6E11 RY-IM 11.35 66011 6B65 IM-WB 22.45 66219 6M86 IM-RY 15.10 60021 6E82 CL-LR 11.45 66624 4R16 HN-IM 23.05 60009 6V84 LR-TH 18.43 60059 6E41 WH-LR 12.38 66132 4R17 CM-IM 4/1 19.05 66128 6B72 IM-WB 13.35 66561 4R18 WP-M 13.46 66084 4R17 CM-IM 20.00 66050 4K56 WP-IM 27/12 14.10 66065 6F90 IM-CM 20.05 60012 6M06 LR-KY 08.30 66016 4R11 WP-IM 14.15 66606 6E54 KY-HR 20.12 60077 6E59 KY-LR 08.50 60082 6M57 LR-KY 15.10 60028 6E82 CK-LR 20.32 66127 6Z78 IM-RC 10.54 66057 6D31 LR-WB 16.15 60059 6D32 WB-LR 22.45 66174 6M86 IM-RY 12.10 66016 6F90 IM-CM 17.35 66012 6Z78 IM-RC 23.15 60009 6V84 LR-TH 12.52 66612 6M00 HR-KY 18.10 60012 6E41 WH-LR 11/1 13.35 66133 4R17 WP-IM 18.15 66034 6B72 IM-WB 08.00 66034 4R11 CM-IM 13.54 66606 6E54 KY-HR 19.30 66084 4K56 WP-IM 08.25 60077 6E46 KY-LR 28/12 19.31 60026 6M06 LR-KY 08.40 66128 6F86 IM-CM 08.25 66151 4R11 CM-IM 20.02 60021 6E59 KY-LR 08.54 60009 6M57 LR-KY 08.40 60026 6E46 KY-HR 22.32 66174 6E11 RY-IM 11.35 60077 6D31 LR-WB 08.42 60021 6M57 LR-KY 23.01 60059 6V70 LR-CB 12.55 66617 6M00 HR-KY 10.10 66219 6M86 IM-RY 23.01 60089 6E27 BW-HR 13.40 66034 6B65 IM-WB 10.48 60089 6D31 LR-WB 5/1 13.50 66625 6E54 KY-HR 12.00 66151 6F90 IM-CM 14.36 66034/015 6B65 12/1 13.37 66133 4R17 CM-IM IM-WB 07.20 66128 4R11 CM-IM 13.40 66606 6M00 HR-KY 14.36 66012 4Z53 TO-IM 08.37 60020 6E46 KY-LR 13.48 66093 4Z53 TO-IM 14.42 60041 6E82 CK-LR 08.39 60021 6M57 LR-KY 2/1 15.17 66174 6M86 IM-RY 09.50 66034 4R94 WP-IM 13.42 66034 4R17 WP-IM 15.40 66129+60089+60077 10.35 66194 6K92 WP-IM 13.55 66196 6Z65 IM-WB +60026+60021 0H05 IM-PB 12.01 66128 6B65 IM-WB 14.10 66612 6E54 KY-HR 15.48 60041 6M84 IM-KN 12.55 66181 6M86 IM-RY 14.34 60089 6E82 CK-LR 18.25 60031 6E41 WH-LR 13.45 66125 6E54 KY-HR 17.35 66128 6Z78 IM-RC 19.43 60009 6E59 KY-LR

Location Codes: AW Aberthaw DR Doncaster IM Immingham PB Peterborough TO Toton BH Bedworth DX Drax KN Ketton RE Ratcliffe WB West Burton CK Colnbrook EB Eggborough KY Kingsbury RP Rugeley PS WD Washwood H CM Cottam EU East Usk LN Lincoln RY Rugby WH Westerleigh CW Colwick FN Foxton LY Lindsey SA Swansea WJ Watford Jnct CY Corby HM Healey Mills NC Norwich SB Swinderby WN Welton DP Didcot PS HR Humber NT Newport SN Spondon WP Worksop

11 Railway Globetrotters by Ray Smith

The following completes last months article on Russia with a look at two railway museums. All photos taken by Ray Smith.

West-Siberian Railway Museum, Novosibirsk: The West-Siberian Railway general manager, V.I.Starostenko recognised the importance of preserving for posterity the significant contribution the railways played in the history of Russia. Novosibirsk is the capital of Siberia. The Governor for this region, V.A. Tolokonsky and the Mayor of Novosibirsk, V.F. Gorodetztky both realised the importance of bringing to the younger generations of the city the heroic labour of the scientists, engineers, managers and workers who constructed the railways. So it was agreed and the site chosen was adjacent to Seyatel railway station. It was to be an open air display with all forms of motive power as well as coaches, wagons and track machines. It opened on August 3rd 2000. A brilliant ChME3 4542 collection, well spaced out. My only complaint class still active throughout Russia was certain exhibits were covered in flags and West-Siberian Railway Museum bunting that spoilt some photographs. 9 May 2007

M62 1739 Co-Co ChS2 039 St Petersburg Railway Museum West-Siberian Railway Museum 23 August 2007 9 May 2007

St. Petersburg Railway Museum: (known as the Varshavsky Express and Railway Museum). This is another wonderful museum but it is off the beaten track and unless you know where to look you could miss it. It is the old Warsaw Station and holds a large collection of locomotives. The main building will serve as the new centre for Contemporary Culture. Warsaw (Varshavsky Vokzal) was built in the neo-Renaissance style between 1858 and 1859, by Piotr Salmanovich (1833-1898). It closed to traffic on August 5th 2001. The replacement for this station on the St. Petersburg rail network is Ladozhsky Vokzal (Ladoga Train Station) and is thought to be Europe’s largest railway station. In August 2001 no time as wasted in bringing exhibits from other locations to this new museum. On display there are around 85 locomotives. These are displayed on the old platforms but there are so many

12 that the lines continue well after the platforms have ended. One slightly different exhibit is the rail transported rocket launcher. As well as the museum, if you look over the wall to the north, you can see locomotives on one of St. Petersburg’s depots (to right of T37 013 below)

2-10-0 L2298 Co-Co+Co-Co T37 013 St Petersburg Railway Museum St Petersburg Railway Museum 23 August 2007 23 August 2007

what about this for something different

Russian rail rocket launch train St Petersburg Railway Museum 23 August 2007

The two steam locos below were seen at other locations.

2-10-0 L4657 2-6-2 CY205.91 plinthed at Port Baikal, 13 May 2007 Ulan Ude, 14 May 2007

13 Traffic & Traction News by John Barton

December 31 The following Grand Central sets were noted at Egmanton near Tuxford. 43095 / 43108 southbound at 14:36 43320 / 43102 northbound at 14:44 43039 / 43053 northbound at 14:40 43067 / 43080 southbound at 14:46 January 2 66726 was seen dragging 73201 en route to Long Marston west through Slough at 08.06. 170116 is to be the first of the ex-MML/Central units to be painted in the new Cross Country livery. It ran from Tyseley to Toton TMD, running as 5F54, the unit is now in the Paint Shop at Toton in readiness for its new coat of paint. This will be a regular move as all the 2 Car 170's will be going to Toton for painting. Apparently all the 3 Car 170's are possibly to go to Marcroft at Stoke for painting. 31459 & 31190 top & tailed 977969+999605+6262 south through St Albans at 13.21 DRS 37218 & 37259 top & tailed a test train north through Langley, Stevenage at 22.45 off the Hertford loop. 37688+87022 passed through Birmingham International at 12:30. January 4 DRS 37059 worked 6Z40 10.20 Shirebrook - Carlisle Upperby on refurbished log wagons today. 57311 with 325001+325011+325008 on 1M55 Warrington to Wembley passed through Lichfield at 15.06 47727 towed D1015, Tavistock Yd to Tyseley 10:00 off Tavistock Jnct. for tyre turning. 66587+66501+57003 passed Didcot station at 17:56 heading north on short liner.

January 5 January 21 66427+37515+66429 passed very gingerly 57005 working the 6Z98 12.40 Long Marston - through Larbert at 19:12 on 0Z27 Blackford - Bescot, arrived at Evesham at 13.11 with 15 Mossend having been held in Dunblane and TDA tank wagons complete with red backed then Stirling for at least half hour. headboard. January 10 January 23 150247 worked the 2O94 14.51 Great Malvern - Newly refurbished 158751 worked the 1A14 Weymouth starting from Worcester Foregate St 11.00 Bristol TM - London Paddington due to late running 1V94 09:00 Brighton - Great throughout due to no available HST !! Malvern terminating at Worcester Foregate St. 66701 and 66704 worked the 4E31 Fairwater- January 12 Peterborough sleepers through Slough at 09.48. 86101 was observed propelling 1G03 north 47237 was seen hauling 43079/143 at Bishton through Yaxley (south of Peterborough) at 10.20 with the 5Z45 Brush - Landore. January 13 January 27 DRS 37259+37612 top & tailed 4Z08 1421 The following photo shows EWS 60068 at Derby RTC - Bristol Barton Hill test train seen walking pace with an engineers train at from Osmaston Road Bridge, Derby Montrose North working ‘wrong road’ during an January 14 all line possession. 66425+66564 double headed the 6Z87 Taunton – Crewe through Patchway (Bristol) at 12.12. January 18 47375 was noted heading south through Tamworth H.L at 14.51 on Shirebrook - Margam move. January 19 47237+45112+31454 passed Ashchurch at 10:25 heading to Derby. January 20 37517+37668+37710+37712 are due to be transferred from Healey Mills to Carnforth tomorrow by rail. It is envisaged that 37517 will be top & tailed on its own as one transfer whilst 37668, 37710 and 37712 will be going in convoy, again top & tailed, as another transfer. Bob Brown

14 Light Rail and Metro News by Martin Hall

TRAM NEWS: London CRT: The Cross River Tram idea is now up and running but there are still discussions going on as to where exactly it will run. London DLR: Docklands Light Rail has confirmed the numbers of its new fleet of metro cars from Bombardier as 101-155. The new station at West India Quay has now been completed and the new line looks well on schedule. Blackpool: The trams will have to be stopped for five months while essential maintenance on the track- work is carried out. The cost will be some £11M but lets hope it will not be wasted investment. : The Manchester Metrolink was brought to a stop after thieves ripped out cables containing copper, which they will re-sell as scrap for a fraction of its value. But this is not just happening on the tram systems. This problem is the biggest headache at the moment for the Transport Police over the whole rail network. So if you see anything suspicious or suspect anything phone the Transport Police and let them know.

Wagon Corner by Martin Hall WAGON NEWS:

EWS and ECR (Euro Cargo Rail) have ordered some 255 new wagons from Greenbrier and Arbel Fauvet Rail. Also EWS has ordered 105 low sided open box ‘MLA’ wagons for its infrastructure haulage contracts for Network Rail. These 90 tonne wagons will be built by Greenbrier in Poland. Meanwhile Euro Cargo Rail (part of EWS in France) has ordered 150 aggregate wagons. W. H. Davis has started to convert some well wagons to transport imported nuclear flasks from Barrow Docks to the nuclear recycling plant at Sellafield. The first of these to be completed is BNFL96901.

Re-Numberings: JSA Covered Steel Carriers [JS050A] These JSA wagons are constructed from redundant iron ore tippler underframes VTG4100 [26635] VTG4103 [26727] VTG4106 [26697] VTG4109 [26644]] VTG4101 [26731] VTG4104 [26589] VTG4107 [26739] VTG4102 [26571] VTG4105 [26586] VTG4108 [26590] KFA Timber Carriers [KF056A] GERS97106 [33 70 2797 106] GERS97214 [33 70 2797 214] GERS97276 [33 70 2797 276] GERS97112 [33 70 2797 112] GERS97229 [33 70 2797 229] GERS97309 [33 70 2797 309] GERS97168 [33 70 2797 168] GERS97235 [33 70 2797 235] GERS97171 [33 70 2797 171] GERS97266 [33 70 2797 266]

WAGON REVIEW:

ZFV 24t BR Departmental Ballast Hopper ‘Dogfish’

An interesting group of wagons are the ‘FISHKIND’ series of BR departmental vehicles. The ‘Dogfish’ was a ballast hopper which was an enlarged version of the ‘Catfish’ and it became by far the most numerous BR 4-wheeled ballast hopper. They had outer ballast chutes and were used to deposit ballast in given areas at either side of the track. The first wagons were fitted with oil boxes but later designs were changed to roll bearings. They were fitted with standard vacuum-brake equipment and each lot was allocated to a specific Region. They had three main liveries. The first was bauxite, then dark green and finally the usual grey with yellow stripe. The later designs were also fitted with Oleo pneumatic buffers. Number series: DB983000-DB983309 Chas Roberts,1959 DB992859-DB993058 Metro-Cammell, 1959 DB983577-DB983626 Shildon, 1960 DB993059-DB993148 Chas Roberts, 1959 DB983897-DB983920 Shildon, 1961 DB993149-DB993507 Metro-Cammell, 1959 DB992711-DB992858 Chas Roberts, 1959

15

ZFV 24t Ballast Hopper ‘Dogfish’ DB992904 Ecclesbourne Valley Railway 9 June 2006

Martin Hall

ZFV 24t Ballast Hopper ‘Dogfish’ DB993309 Dufftown, Keith & Dufftown Railway, 28 February 2007

ZFV 24t Ballast Hopper ‘Dogfish’ DB993624 Bolton Abbey, Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway 17 February 2007

16 Diary of a Loco Spotter by Eddie Rathmill 1983 – Part 2

I now had to make a decision. Should I search for the Cl.33 until I found it, or should I concentrate on my list of wanted DMUs? I chose the latter in an attempt to avoid obvious prolonged frustration. So, the list:

50178 NR 51320 LA 53114 NR 56435 NR 50373 NR 51634 CW 53142 NR 56469 AY 51273 NR 51637 CW 54281 RG 59078 NR 51277 NR 52006 AY 54373 NR 59302 AY 51303 LA 53055 TS 55015 HA 59470 LA 51305 LA 53106 TS 56419 NR 59616 CW 51318 LA Total: 25

There were dozens of re-numbered units though, and I made several trips to the known DMU areas to clear as many as I could - and Doncaster on July 9th, Doncaster again on the 30th and London on August 10th. These were followed by Newcastle on August 23rd where eight Metro cars were copped as a bonus. Then a visit to Croxley Green on August 24th. What a place to find and clearance of my 501s. 53106 was also seen at Birmingham en route. Doncaster on the 26th and Liverpool on the 28th and then it was off to Devon to find the Laira allocation, I didn't see one!

Toton was next on the 10th of September followed by a free trip to Ramsgate (I had been given a complimentary ticket for anywhere in Britain and I chose ). Several EMUs were copped on the depot and I saw unit 1111 for the first time at Ashford. The next special event was Norwich Open Day on September 24th. I headed down to London on the early train to arrive at Euston with only 15 minutes to cross to Liverpool Street. I started to run down Euston Road when an empty taxi drew up by my side. I jumped in asked the driver to go as fast as he could. With three minutes to go before my train was due to leave we hit a traffic jam. I jumped out of the taxi and ran to the station to find that the train was delayed for fifteen minutes! Still, it was a good day at Crown Point, 58003 was copped together with DMUs 50178/50373/51277/53142/56419/56435/59078.

56126 and 56127 were my next loco cops at Crewe Works on October 1st and the class was now nearly complete. I decided to wait until 56135 was in traffic before I started searching for any I had missed. Nothing else was seen that day and I began to look forward to my next trip in four days time, which would see me back in , DMU hunting. October 5th at Falkland Yard and a line of withdrawn DMUs, amongst which was 56469. Seven underground units were also copped at and I added a few Cl.303s to my total. Leeds on October 10th was followed by London on the 19th where I spent most of the day on the Eastern Region looking for Cl.307s and Cl.305s, 23 numbers were copped in all.

Doncaster on the 29th and Derby 5th November next and just three class 58s to show for my efforts and then back to London again on November 9th, this time to cop 51634 and 51637 at Cricklewood. Also 77048 from unit 317301 was at the back of the depot and although I didn't normally record the side numbers of emus I made an exception in this case. I was glad I did as this car was cut up and a new one took its place in the unit (bearing the same number). I also took a photo, which I still treasure to this day.

the ‘bent’ original car 77048 from 317301,Cricklewood, 9 November 1983 Eddie Rathmill

17 There had been a spate of Cl.31 and Cl.47 re-numberings and I now found that I wanted quite a large number of locos in their new guises, also several engines had received names and so I added these to my list. In fact, I seemed to be adding more than I was deducting. (that’s why I never bothered with different names…thank goodness…ed) Four Metro cars were copped at Newcastle on November 19th and this left me wanting only 5 and then a visit to Crewe Works on December 3rd gave me two more Cl.56s. Nearly the end of another year and I was running out of numbers to collect. I didn't even seem to be copping many EMUs these days.

I checked my books. One loco still required, I began to wonder if 33118 still existed, 14 dmus, and surprisingly, only 47 emus - one off the Midland Region (317310), one off the Scottish (314213), 11 off the Southern and 34 off the Eastern. Another unit that I hadn't been able to find was 140001, which at the time was moving about all over the country on trial. Off to Glasgow on December 7th, and an unusual DMU at the back of Eastfield shed: 977177. It was a fortnight later that I found this to be 55015, one of my missing units, I was down to 13. Ten days later I did even better, copping 53055, 53114 and 59616 at Birmingham and the year was finished off perfectly with 54373 being seen at Cambridge on December 28th; I was in single figures...!

Gosport Railway Station by Mark Richards

Gosport is situated on a peninsula on the western side of Harbour, opposite Portsea Island and the City of Portsmouth. It is now one of the largest urban areas in Britain without an operational railway station although it was here that railways first arrived in the area, when the Bishopstoke (renamed Eastleigh 1923) to Gosport line opened in 1841.

The magnificent terminus at Gosport built in the ‘Italianate style’ popular at the time was designed by Sir William Tite, architect of many other stations for the L&SWR (London & South Western Railway) such as Southampton Terminus, Barnes, Barnes Bridge, stations on the and further afield, Carnforth and Carlisle Citadel stations. The station site was not particularly convenient for the centre of the town and its location was decided following lengthy discussions with the Board of Ordinance who did not want the railway to penetrate what were at the time substantial defences guarding against a French invasion that never came.

Gosport station cost £10,890 to construct but it was closed almost immediately after opening following a landslip near Fareham, which blocked the line and did not reopen until 7 February 1842. Until the arrival of the railways from London at is near neighbour in 1858, passengers from Portsmouth had to cross the harbour to Gosport (since 1953 the opposite has been true!). An alternative, albeit a lengthy journey to London from Portsmouth, was possible from 1847 via Brighton on the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway (LB&SCR). Following Prince Albert’s purchase of Osborne House on the Isle of Wight an extension was built from the Gosport terminus into Royal Clarence Yard in 1846. From here the royal party would embark for the crossing to the Isle of Wight. The station at Royal Clarence Yard last saw passengers in 1901 when Queen Victoria’s coffin and funeral entourage were conveyed.

In addition to the main line through to Fareham, branches to Stokes Bay (opened 1863, closed 1915) and Lee-on-the-Solent (opened 1894 and closed in 1930 to passengers and completely in 1935) were served from the Gosport line. The line to Fareham, originally built double-track was singled in the 1930s as an economy measure.

The Portsmouth area, being a key military target due to its large naval base and defence industries, was heavily bombed during World War II and Gosport did not escape the destruction either. The station was bombed during a raid on 10 March 1941 and lost most of its roof in the incendiary attack; damage that was never completely repaired.

18 Following World War II traffic declined and closure to passengers eventually came on 6 June 1953 with Maunsell ‘Q’ class locomotive 30546 hauling the last passenger train from Gosport. There was though enough freight traffic to justify keeping the line and station open until January 1969 although a number of rationalisations took place during this period. Despite the disappearance of regular passenger services in June 1953, a number of steam-hauled passenger specials ran along the line up until closure. The line was cut back to Bedenham after 1969 – this stub from Fareham remained in use for some time but is now completely out of use and has been so for a number of years. The junction at Fareham remains although it is now overgrown and recently fenced off from the operational railway. There were plans to reuse some of the former track bed and Gosport station itself would have featured in a proposed Light Rapid Transit system. However the lack of government backing and moreover funding for the scheme saw these proposals abandoned in 2006.

Gosport Station, 31 December 2007 Mark Richards

The future for Gosport Railway Station however seems assured. It has Grade II listed status and there are proposals to incorporate the derelict remains into a small residential and office development. Details of the proposed development and artists impressions can be viewed here: http://www.formatmilton.co.uk/news_gosport_aug07.html

Railway Cuttings

Wales: (by Michael Hillier) A teenager brought rail services to a halt after stealing £51,000 of copper wire used to control railway signals. A failsafe system turns signals to red when a cable is cut. James Michael Hexter, 19, admitted taking the cable from the railway line behind TG1 Friday's restaurant on Newport Road, Cardiff, on July 31. He bundled 250 meters of the valuable metal wire into wheelie bins, after it was cut by an accomplice whom he refused to name. Helen Gambrill, prosecuting, said the fault was reported to the police, who arrested Hexter on November 8. He admitted the offence during interview and said he went there with a hacksaw and gloves, to cut the wire up into smaller lengths. He sold the wire to a dealer for £180. In a statement to the court, Derek Holmes, head of operations for Network Rail, which is responsible for the railway network, said: "It's a priority offence for the British Transport Police because of the disruption to the network that's caused by it. The points and signals are affected. Offences have increased in recent years because the price of copper has gone up. Many of the delays passengers experience are down to thefts such as these." In August, Hexter, was given a 12-month community order, ordered to attend an enhanced thinking skills course and pay £60 costs, after he admitted stealing £200 worth of laminate flooring from English, Welsh and Scottish Railways on Sunday, June 10. Magistrates gave Hexter an extra 12 hours at an attend- ance centre, and told him to pay £500 compensation to Network Rail. Tony Lewis, defending, said Hexter was due to start an enhanced thinking skills course in January. A spokeswoman for Network Rail said: "Cable thieves risk not only a prison sentence but also their lives; the railway is used 24 hours a day and the electricity is never turned off. We are working closely with the British Transport Police to prevent thefts and catch culprits and the Network Rail helicopter is constantly at work, protecting storage locations and pursuing thieves”.

19 European News by Robert Brown

1st to 31st January 2008

Belgium On the 4th January 2316 had charge of P8215 the 16:31 Antwerp Noorderdokken to Aarshot. Moving on to the 7th the morning Antwerp ‘P’ trains employed 2602 on P7281 the 05:44 Aarschot to Antwerp Noorderdokken and 2357 on P7282 the 06:55 Aarschot to Antwerp Noorderdokken while 2352 was noted on P7741 the 07:55 Binche to Schaarbeek. Evening peaks included 2510 hauling P8066 the 15:45 Brussels Midi to Gent St Pieters, 2221 powering P8723 the 16:16 Schaarbeek to Châtelet, 2362 with P8067 the 16:23 Brussels Midi to Aalst, 2503 working P8741 the 17:02 Schaarbeek to Binche, 2371 topping P8095 the 17:12 Brussels Midi to Dendermonde and 2214 heading P8010 the 17:21 Schaarbeek to Saint Niklaas. Noted on the 8th were 2602 heading P7282 the 06:55 Aarschot to Antwerp Noorderdokken, 2357 leading P7283 the 07:38 Antwerp Berchem to Brussels Midi and 2323 on P8066 the 15:45 Brussels Midi to Gent St Pieters. Euro City trains noted at Brussels on the 16th included 2003 on EC97 the 13:09 Brussels to Luxembourg, 2007 leading EC295 the 17:27 Brussels to Luxembourg and 2004 leading EC96 the 19:44 Luxembourg to Brussels. The following day 2004 worked EC91 the 07:33 Brussels to Luxembourg, 2002 worked EC296 the 10:24 Luxembourg to Brussels and 2003 powered EC97 the 13:09 Brussels to Luxembourg. On the 18th the ‘Bergland Express’, Rotterdam to Innsbruck was hauled by 2553 from Rotterdam to Brussels Midi, where 2703+2705 worked forward to Aachen.

Germany Not previously reported 110284/329/331/332/403/465/479/485 were all withdrawn on the 18th December, with 140504 following on the 22nd of the same month. The first day of the year produced the occasional ‘Rabbit’ with among those noted being 218423+218426 on EC196 the 07:12 Munchen Hbf to Zurich Hbf, 218467 leading RE32647 the 07:58 Ulm Hbf to Oberstdorf, 218239 heading IC2084 the 09:27 Oberstdorf to Augsburg Hbf, 218156 powering IC2012 the 09:51 Oberstdorf to Leipzig Hbf (to Immenstadt) and 218410 with the 12:12 Ulm Hbf to Lindau. Over the first two day on January all EC & EN trains between Berlin and Rzepin were hauled by ‘Ludmillas’, two of these being double headed. The trains involved were 234551 on EC47 the16:29 Berlin Hbf to Rzepin, 234647 hauling EC44 the 17:26 Rzepin to Berlin Hbf and 234468+234246 working EN346 the 00:02 Rzepin to Berlin Ost on the 1st, while the 2nd produced 234467 on EC4106:29 Berlin to Rzepin, 234346+234368 working EC48 the 09:26 Rzepin to Berlin Hbf, 232472 powering EC45 the 12:29 Berlin Hbf to Rzepin and 234467 (again) heading EC46 the 13:26 Rzepin to Berlin Hbf. The following day 232690, the last DB 232 still in the old DR livery, was seen heading IC144 the 06:10 Szczecin to Amsterdam Schiphol which it did to Berlin, it returned later on IC143 the 19:35 Amsterdam Central to Szczecin again from Berlin. On the evening of the 17th a trainload of ‘scrap’ locos left Dortmund for Benders scrapyard in Opladen, I understand these were 110492 143101/161/167/187/188/202/208/214/234/282/290 (but I am open to correction on these numbers) just why the 143s are being scrapped when 60 140s are to receive overhauls this year does not seem to make sense, but they do belong to different sectors of course. Class 103 On the 19th January 103245 worked D1280 the 08:55 Zell am See to München throughout, the train was rather full, mainly of German cranks leaving little room for punters.

France Sightings from Friday 18th included 26161 on the 10:14 Strasbourg to Lyon PD, into Belfort for 22323 to take over and 26144 leading the 11:53 Strasbourg to Basel. 26007 had a passenger turn on the 25th, it was noted heading the 13:35 Paris Austerlitz to Tours out of Paris. Noted arriving at Paris on the 28th were 16042 leading train 12010 the 07:47 Amiens to Paris Nord and 16015 on train 12012 the 08:12 Amiens to Paris Nord. BB67000 On the 18th 67436 worked train 3354 the 14:24 Caen to Paris and train 3357 the 19:40 Paris to Caen, both with 15003 dead in train then load 9 corail stock, this must be pushing the limit for a single 67400. On the 28th 67451 headed RE49904 the 05:32 Laon to Paris Nord into Paris.

20 C72000 On Saturday 5th January 72042 failed just after starting from Tours on train 4403 the 08:45 Tours to Lyon part Dieu, it was rescued by 72065 and both locos seem to have stayed on the front all the way to Lyon, all be it running 2h30mins late. The same train was in better shape the previous day when 72061 made it all the way. Two ‘accidents’ to report, on the 12th 72005 ‘caught fire’ near Chalindrey, I understand that this was actually a ‘hotbox’ and caused little damage, while on the 13th 72026 was derailed at Vierzon causing massive delays, this may mean it’s withdrawl. Noted on the 18th were 72175 heading the 05:09 Troyes to Paris Est, 72130 hauling the 07:11 Paris Est to Belfort and 72166 leading the 12:46 Mulhouse to Paris Est. On to the 25th, 72130 was found on the front of the 07:11 Paris Est to Belfort and 72151 did the 07:45 Mulhouse to Paris Est. Portugal BIG NEWS on the 14th January locomotive 1805 entered Barreiro works, it is to receive a minor service and be started up then a report on its condition is to be made to CP Board, we are trying to find out more! It also it appears that between 4 and 6 of the other 1800 series locomotives are to be overhauled and sold to Argentina, most likely candidates are 1802/07/10 plus possible 1803/08 it is very unlikely that 1801/04/06 will be chosen. Meanwhile operational today were 1413 on the 07:25 Campanha to Pochino and 1455 with the 11:25 Campanha to Regua then the 14:52 back again.

Holland Lets start with a word of warning, this summer will be the last for ACTS 1250’s 6700’s and the ex BR class 58’s it’s not altogether clear when operations will cease, so get them while you can. You have been warned! Late news, but worth a mention was the use of 1601 and 1612 at the head of CNL301 the 17:03 Amsterdam Central to Milano Central on Sat the 22nd December 2007.

Switzerland In addition to 11101, electric loco 11120 is now confined to empty stock working in the Basel SBB station area and not permitted on the main line, both 11108 and 11109 will become due for R3 overhaul this year which will not be authorised. They are likely to be withdrawn after the European Football championships finish. In the meantime they are being confined to low mileage diagrams on peak hour Olten or Aarau to Zurich trains. Sightings at Chur from the 19th included 460107 heading the 07:07 Basel to Chur, 460029 leading the 09:16 Chur to Hamburg, 11172 with the 09:22 Chur to St Gallen, 460114 on the 11:09 Chur to Basel, 460116 powering the 11:11 St Gallen to Geneve Aeroport, 460032 hauling the 12:36 Zurich to Basel, 11205 heading the 13:40 Zurich to Wien, 11154 topping the 14:04 St Gallen to Chur and 11192 on the 15:22 Chur to St Gallen.

Spain Engineering works at Zaragoza means these overnight trains will not stop there until 30th April (if these trains last that long which is unlikely), at least this confirms "Costa Brava" is a train again and not a bus! As mentioned earlier, 334015 is now working off Salamanca, and ‘TRANVIA’ discussion suggest two more 334's will follow soon. As a result of this some changes to the remaining 333's. Meanwhile 333012 has been transferred north to Ourense, 333076 is withdrawn for components, 333101 is now back at Salamanca and 333007 & 333091 remain with the Cargas sector, but it is understood that 333091 will go soon. Action from Friday the 25th includes 334004 on Arco train 694 the 07:15 Badajoz to Alcazar, 334014 with Talgo train 197 the 07:35 Badajoz to Madrid, 333408 heading Talgo train 200 the 08:55 Bilbao to Madrid and 333403 powering Talgo train 201 the 15:50 Madrid to Bilbao. The following day 333064 arrived at it’s destination with train 923 the 20:00 (Fri night) Barcelona to A Coruna, which it took over at Monforte and 319321 headed Talgo train 623 the 07:03 Barcelona to A Coruna, which, again, it worked from Monforte. Poland A session at Krakow Glowny on Sunday the 20th produced, among others, ET22-175 powering R83101 the 07:55 Sczwcin Glowny to Prezemysl Glowny, ET22-527 heading R73103 the 08:00 Poznan Glowny to Przemysl Glowny, EU06-18 hauling R35510 the 11:56 Krakow Plaszow-Olsztyn/Grudziadz, EU06-17 topping TLK3710 the 11:58 Przemysl-Poznan Gl (to Krakow Plaszow) and ET22-322 working R32102 the 16:54 Krakow Plaszow to Lublin. The following day EU06-20 did R36103 the 08:53 Krakow Glowny to Wroclaw Glowny, ET22-517 worked R61500/61100 the 11:06 Jelenia Gora to Warszawa Wsch and ET22-555 hauled R61106 the 16:12 Krakow Glowny to Warszawa Wsch. On to At Wroclaw on Tuesday 22nd ET22-937 handled R61117 the 08:15 Wroclaw Glowny to Suwalki and ET22-735 passed through with R48101 the 05:34 Katowice to Slupsk..

21 European Trips and Visits organised by Robert Brown

Fri 29th February - Mon 3rd March to Germany: By Air from Leeds / Bradford (with Jet2) to Amsterdam, then by road to Henglo, Bad Bentheim Rheine & Osnabrück (overnight) Saturday: Osnabrück Depot, Lehrte (SP & lineside), Brunswick Depot, Hannover (Overnight) Sunday: Seelze Depot, Hamm SP (if time), Wanne-Eickel SP, Oberhausen depot and Yard Köln Gremberg depot and Yard, Köln Eifeltor Yard & Dusseldorf (overnight) Monday: By train into Köln for a days passenger / freight observation (do as you please) before return flight to Leeds / Bradford. Target Fare: under £250, which will include 3 nights hotel accommodation.

Dates to be confirmed once open day date is known to Germany: By road from Chesterfield (05:00), Worksop (05:40) & Blyth (05:55) to Dover and the 12:20 sailing to Calais, the trip will be build around the planned open day at Hermerskeil, and will include the depots at Trier, Manheim and Saarrbrucken, plus linesiding at Meinz. Target Fare: under £250 NB: this trip is limited to 6 people, first come, first served.

Fri 11th to Tue 15th July to Austria, Switzerland and Germany: (subject to change, one day either way, with regard to depot permits) By air from Stanstead (with Ryanair) To Innsbruck depot (permit) & station, Landeck and Wolfurt depot (Overnight in this area). Chur, Zurich and St Gallen (overnight), Kempton, Muldorf, Munich Noord, Saltzburg, Linz (overnight). The Monday and Tuesday (not necessarly in this order) Linz Works (permit permitting), St Pollten works (permit permitting), Wels depot, Amstetten depot, Whiedhofen and as may other depots, plus linesiding as we can fit in. Further details will be announced at a later date (once we have confirmation of permits and times). Target Fare: TBA

Fri 12th to Mon 15th September to Eastern Germany: By air (we are currently looking at flights into Berlin from Luton) then by road to Stendal works (permit applied for) and depot Wustermark SP, Seddin Depot and Schoenfeld Station (overnight). Saturday: Frankfurt an der oder, Guben, Cottbus works, Depot & Station (View of works only), Senftenberg, Hoyerwerda, Bautzen and Dresden Station (overnight). Sunday: Dresden Depot (Permit applied for), Zwickau, Saalfeld, Halle & Magdenburg (overnight) Monday: Lineside at Magdenburg then to Berlin Schoenfeld for further lineside or optional train into Berlin before return flights. Target Fare: under £350, which will include 3 nights hotel accommodation. NB: The exact order of this trip may change depending on the times / places that we receive permits for.

Fri 3rd to Sun 6th October to Belgium, Luxembourg & Germany: By road from Chesterfield (05:00), Worksop (05:40) & Blyth (05:55) to Dover and the 12:20 sailing to Calais, then Liege, Stockem, Luxembourg and Koln depots (days to be adjusted once permits received) plus a session linesiding at a major station will be included. Target Fare: under £200, which will include 2 nights hotel accommodation. NB: this trip is limited to 6 people, first come, first served.

Rolling Stock Changes

Unfortunately, Ken was unable to provide info for January 2008.

22 Location ‘Spot’light by Trevor Roots

This feature is intended as a guide to various popular spotting locations around the country and will include how to get there and what rolling stock you might see in a constantly changing railway scene. If anyone can provide similar details on other locations please let me know or if you want a particular location reviewed in future editions. Please also let me know if any details are wrong or you have updates. Contact [email protected]

READING STATION

Location: OS Map Ref: SU714 738 Reading is in the County of Berkshire about 36 miles west of Paddington, London. The station is on the north side of the city centre just south of the River Thames. Nearby towns are Newbury, 16 miles west, Maidenhead 12miles east, Oxford 24 miles northwest and Basingstoke 14 miles south. It lies on the Great Western mainline and is a major rail / transport hub with north / south cross country services. The line west splits at Westbury Line Jnct heading south, past Reading Depot (on west side of line in triangle of lines) through Reading West to Southcote Jnct where separate lines head east to Westbury and south to Basingstoke. To the east of Reading a separate terminating runs south of the GW mainline towards Wokingham where it splits, westerly through Bracknell and eventually London Waterloo and south towards .

FGW 43023 with on-hire Midland Mainline liveried set (both liveries now defunct) waiting to head west from platform 4, showing footbridge as seen from east end of platform 5, Reading, 30 March 2007

Access: Rail: There are frequent direct and stopping services from London Paddington and numerous services from all other points of the compass. These are operated by FGW, SWT & Cross Country. Bus: Adjacent to south side entrance is a bus interchange providing connections with regional and local services. There is an express service operated by FGW to Heathrow Airport. Road: The station is situated inside and just off the city centre ring road to the north. The ring road is connected to the original through trunk route, the A4, now ‘bypassed’ by the M4, 3 miles to south The most direct connection, being via the A33 and Jnct 11. The A33 leads to Basingstoke and the M3 to the south. Numerous other ‘A’ roads lead into the city centre including from two other M4 Jncts, 10 & 12. A large multi-storey car park is situated north of and adjacent to the station and ring road.

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Virgin XC (now Cross Country) Voyager 221141 terminating in bay platform 7 (just long enough for 5 car unit) as seen from west end of platform 8, Reading, 30 March 2007

Station Layout: Reading lies on an east / west alignment with the main entrance to the south of the station incorporated into a new shopping centre. An enclosed modern footbridge leads from outside of the ticket barriers connecting all platforms to a multi-storey car park and entrance on the north side. Whilst the footbridge is slightly more to the eastern side of the station, there is also an original subway to the western end. Reading has 12 platforms with a mixture of 4 through and 8 bays, the latter amongst the highest number of any non-terminal station in Britain. Unlike some other large stations, there are no redundant disused platforms, which means there are a high number of trains constantly leaving and departing from both the east and west ends in addition to the through services. At the western end, from south to north, the platforms are numbered 1-3 (bays), 4 & 5 (through), 7 (bay) and 8 & 9 (through). At the eastern end, from south to north, the platforms are numbered 4b & 4a (isolated North Down bays), 4 & 5 (through), 6 (bay), 8 & 9 (through) and 10 (bay). Between the through platforms of 4 & 5 is an additional track commonly used for freight and ecs movements. Additional tracks also run to the north of the station, used occasionally by freight.

FGW 165133 & 165124 in bay platforms 2 & 1 FGW 165107 in bay platform 6 to Basingstoke & Newbury to Paddington west end of Reading, 30 March 2007 east end of Reading, 30 March 2007

24 Due to the lack of through platforms for such a major station on a busy route, Reading has long been established as a bottleneck preventing expansion of services. In July 2007, a government white paper announced investment to cure the problem. The plan is to provide an additional 4 through platforms partly making use of the available space to the north of the station.

FGW 158744 (now SWT 158883) & FGW 165136 to Brighton (no longer running) and Basingstoke in bay platforms 3 & 2 respectively FGW HST at through platform 4 on left, Reading, 30 March 2007

Passenger Traffic: The station is extremely busy with a constant stream of through and terminating passenger trains. First Great western (FGW) are the main operator using a large fleet of HSTs for long distance services, which are coming to the end of a refurbishment programme. Though in use at the time by FGW, Adelante Cl.180s are coming off lease and being handed back concurrent with the HST upgrade. Local services are in the hands of FGW 2 & 3 car Cl.165 / 166s as are the twice hourly services. South West Trains (SWT) operate twice hourly London Waterloo services from the eastern bay North Downs platforms 4a & 4b with Cl.450 / 458s. Cross Country, formerly Virgin XC, operate both through and terminating services with Cl.220 / 221 Voyagers. North/south through services to Bournemouth, reverse in and out of the western end. The only exception is the Brighton Voyager (to be withdrawn), which runs through. Other passenger traffic is occasional loco hauled charters formed by a variety of rolling stock.

First Great Western 166219 First Great Western 166201 heading west from platform 8 waiting to head east from bay platform 10 Reading, 30 March 2007 north side freight lines & footbridge to multi-storey car park visible to right Reading, 30 March 2007

25 Freight Traffic: There are a limited number of freight trains during the day, most of which are stone behind Mendip Rail Cl.59s. Other freights are commonly behind Cl.66s & 60s, mostly EWS & Freightliner. On the day of my visit, only 6 freights passed through between 11.40-18.15. (Cl.59 x 3, Cl.60 x 1 & Cl.66 x 2)

Mendip Rail 59104 in Hanson livery approaching from the east on centre track between platforms 4 & 5 as seen from end of platform 8 / track to bay platform 6 (centre), Reading, 30 March 2007

Mendip Rail 59004 in Yeoman livery approaching from the west through platform 5 (59104 was about to pass in the opposite direction) as seen from west end of platform 5, Reading, 30 March 2007

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SWT 458003 FGW 165135 approaching from the east into bay platform 4a on the Gatwick Airport service FGW HST in platform 5 on left approaching from the east into bay platform 4a Reading, 30 March 2007 Cl.458 in bay platform 4b to right Reading, 30 March 2007

Best Spotting/Photography Sites: Being very busy and with numerous bay platforms, Reading is one of the most difficult stations to see everything from one position and requires constant movement along platforms and across tracks. This is especially so if trying to get good photos, for which there are many possible vantage points. The accompanying photos give a flavour of where and what is seen in each platform but it’s really a matter of choice and sometimes luck as to where to stand. Because of the frequent HSTs, views across the whole station are more often than not obstructed. On a dull dreary day, as I found, the position of the sun for photos didn’t play a part. But with an east/west alignment, a sunny day will dictate your position, with platforms 1-4 probably being better.

Freightliner 66555 heading east through platform 9, Reading, 30 March 2007

Facilities: There are facilities around the main entrance and on the two island platforms. There are many more facilities outside of the ticket barriers in the adjacent shopping centre.

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FGW 180114 approaching platform 5 from west bay platforms 1-3 on extreme left and 7 on right, Reading, 30 March 2007

Virgin XC (now Cross Country) 220016 waiting to reverse back west from platform 8, platform 9 on right, Reading, 30 March 2007

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