The Barrow Hill Engine Shed Society Magazine Spring 2014 Price £2.50 Issue 44

A historic weekend for the Roundhouse - “East Coast Giants” Review See page 11

Vignoles returns Roundhouse See page 35 mysteries See pages 38-40 OpeningOpening Shot...Shot...

Another atmospheric shot from one of the photo charters for “East Coast Giants” in February 2014. Photo: Duncan Langtree

ABOVE: Top Shed 2014 - A4 4464, A4 4489 and A4 60008 line up for “East Coast Giants” during one of the photo charters in February. Photo: Duncan Langtree

BELOW: Class 20 20142 shunts the GBRF barrier wagons used for hauling London Underground S-stock around the country. Photo: Dale Holford CONTENTS A proud day for the Roundhouse! East Coast Giants lined up in the Chairman’s Chinwag 4 yard in February 2014. Headline News & Newslines 5 Photo: Chris Milner - Your Roundhouse Needs You! - I’ll Huff and I’ll Puff…. - Tornado, the P2 and the BBC - Commercial Activity - Comings and Goings - Electronic Newsletter - Reboarding of Pits - 100 Years of Service Events Update 11 - Membership Evenings 2014 - Christmas Social - “East Coast Giants” - Rail Ale Preview - Roundhouse Open Days and “Barrow Hill Live!” Dave Darwin remembers 17 The Archives 18 Locomotive Department 24 DPS Report 27 Volunteers’ Report 31 Money Matters 32 Membership Secretary’s Report 34 Historical Corner 35 Other Items 38 - Caption Competition - A Mystery Window - And Finally…another Mystery? front cover: A4 60008 Dwight D Eisenhower on shed at Barrow Hill during “East Coast Giants” in February 2014. Photo: Fred Kerr by thanking all of you who helped and be continuing to develop the commercial Have you got a memory From the Manager attended and made it such a success; your side as well as maintaining, repairing of barrow Hill in support is always appreciated. and developing the heritage side of our steam or diesel days? Welcome to the first operations. Please tell everyone about all Newsletter of 2014. We are now planning for the rest of 2014 the events at Barrow Hill so we can attract Do you have photographs at the Roundhouse which includes “Rail even more people this year than last! of the depot which you think we’d Ale” in May (with a Thursday evening like to use in future issues And what a start to 2014 it has been! of the Newsletter? The “East Coast Giants” event over the session being added to this year’s event I look forward to seeing you all at Barrow weekend of 8th and 9th February was a – along with some other improvements), Hill in 2014. Here is to another excellent Please get in touch with us at: year, full of surprises no doubt! Barrow Hill Roundhouse, far greater success than we could ever “Roundhouse Open Days” in association Campbell Drive, Barrow Hill, have hoped for - and it didn’t snow! There with our friends at the Chesterfield Canal Chesterfield, Derbyshire S43 2PR is a more detailed report further in in Festival in June and “Barrow Hill Live” in this Newsletter but I would like to start September. Alongside these events we will Mervyn Allcock, April 2014 Designed and printed by

design print web signs Tel: 01777 860579 www.burgessdesignandprint.com 2 3 chairman’s chinwag HEADLINE NEWS Writing these notes just a few days detailed expressions of how those Aims Your Roundhouse Needs Email: [email protected] after “East Coast Giants”, I am still will be achieved. The Committee has You! Post: Simon Hartshorne, VLO, Barrow astounded by how lucky we were with come up with a list of what we think is the weather and how many people the way we want to go, but this is your The need for a Volunteer Liaison Officer Hill Engine Shed Society, Campbell Drive, turned out to view our display. We Society, and we want to see whether you (VLO) was identified some time ago as Staveley, S43 2PR share our views. So please have a look at had initially been concerned about part of an ongoing process to improve the the supplement to this Newsletter where I will then send you a survey form either the possibility of being snowed off and the Aims and Objectives are set out and ‘lot’ of volunteers at Barrow Hill. It has by return email, or by return of post, then later rained off. We need not have let me have your comments. been clear to me for a while that some whichever you prefer. I look forward to worried. As I tell all our visitors “the discontent is present within the ranks The second major activity is putting working with you to improve and develop sun always shines on Barrow Hill”. and I have offered to establish and fulfil together an application for a £1m grant your role at Barrow Hill; remember – if the role of VLO for a period of one year There is more elsewhere about the event, for the Heritage Lottery Fund. This you don’t contact me I can’t help you. only – until the next AGM. This should but it is worth pointing out how much time covers two main activities. The first is goes into planning and preparing for these for an extension to the Roundhouse allow sufficient time for the Committee to I’ll Huff and I’ll Puff events, and how much time is spent by to provide better facilities for visitors, establish my successor. including a new entry point, better and I’ll Blow Your volunteers over the weekend. There is also Some of you may be aware that I already a significant cost in staging something like catering and eating facilities, a shop better House Down placed to encourage sales and some occupy a position within the management “East Coast Giants”. All of which makes our Well it might have been some dynamite admission costs pretty reasonable. A fact new toilets. We also want to be able to structure at Barrow Hill, having held the recognised by most of our visitors. provide better facilities for conference/ position of Compliance Manager for some rather than a big bad wolf and there training events for the rail industry. seven or so years. As part of this I have certainly weren’t three little pigs but I try to thank all involved in putting on The second major activity is to encourage carried out some training (predominantly 12th December 2013 was the day the these events but to those of you I missed, more non-rail enthusiasts to visit Barrow ‘Initial Safety’ and ‘Responsible Officer’) brick yard chimneys – after many months can I say how much your efforts are Hill and learn about the history of the and many of the competence assessments of rumours – finally came down in a appreciated. Without you such events depot. This we hope will include many on site. I may also be familiar as one of thoroughly professional and organised way, would not happen. of the local people who are descendants the ROs at events and open days. For this as evidenced by the video footage that you of former workers at the depot. One of can find on the Barrow Hill website and Turning to Committee activities, there the ways we are thinking of doing this I receive a nominal remuneration – the are two issues which are taking up a fair is to tell the story of the shed through additional duties of VLO will not incur any Facebook page. bit of our time at present. The first is the lives of the people who worked here additional expense. Dave Darwin looks back at the history of the need to get our Accreditation return from its opening in 1870 right through these iconic local landmarks. to Arts Council England so that we can to the current day. We hope to do this In order for this to be a productive 12 maintain our status as an Accredited by means of a theatrical production months I need your help. I have a list of 12 noon on the 12th day of the 12th Museum. This is useful for marketing in the Roundhouse using professional those of you who either (in one form or month. purposes and ensures that we remain actors and local people, music, film another) have undertaken, or continue to eligible for grants. So it is a worthwhile and most importantly of all, steam and undertake, volunteer activities on site. I This was the exact moment when the if laborious exercise. One thing we need diesel locomotives. It is potentially a would very much like to hear from you as silent sentinels which have overlooked to do is to produce a Forward Plan for very exciting project, and would involve soon as possible so that I can establish a the Roundhouse and shed yard for 84 the next five years. This sets out what many people in researching the story, and years were demolished, without ceremony, we want to do and how we are going devising and putting on the show. starting point for the programme. to do it, and it covers all aspects of our by controlled explosion. The brick yard I have developed a short survey which I’d operations. A key part is the section on The next few months look like being very chimneys, built in 1929 and in use by 1931 Aims and Objectives. Aims are the broad busy but very rewarding, which is in itself like you all to complete, please contact me took just seconds to be razed to the ground. headings of the sort of things we would the story of Barrow Hill! in one of the following ways to set the ball like to do and Objectives are the more Mike Kennedy, Chairman rolling:

4 5 HEADLINE NEWS continued... Many railway photographs can be instantly The coal for the kilns was delivered by rail. recognised by their backgrounds, none The wagons would be placed in position by more so than the pictures taken at the Barrow Hill local tripper, T130, known Barrow Hill, sometimes cursed by the as the “Rambler”. Access to the brick yard photographer for spoiling a shot which was via two sidings which came away from would have the chimneys appearing to the head shunt, now the site of the Gun grow out of a locomotive. Club car park. Nevertheless they were part of our In the 1970s Innes-Lee-Bricks took over industrial past and a reminder of why the brick yard operations. The kilns were Barrow Hill Roundhouse is here. A converted to gas fired and, the original clay brick yard has been on the site for many pit having been worked out, a new supply years, named after the owner Campbell. of clay was found and brought in by road When the Staveley Company took over from an open cast site near Newbold, in the late 1920s it was enlarged with Chesterfield. The old clay pit became a new kilns and the chimneys. It became land fill site for domestic refuse accessed Side tipper trucks as used on the a major producer of good quality bricks. from Hall Lane. Campbell Brickyard Line, Midland The company built the nearby village of Railway Centre, Swanwick. Another company, Phoenix Brick Works, Hollingwood for some of its workforce took over the working of the brick yard using its products and anyone drilling those until it finally closed in the early part of 2013. BELOW: Campbell Brickyard Simpley loco, built 1968, withdrawn 1972. Preserved in running order walls today for a wall plug will testify just on the Golden Valley Railway, Swanwick, Midland Railway Trust. Photos: Dave Darwin how hard they are. What will become of the site now? One thing is for sure, Barrow Hill will never The clay for the brick making came from look the same again now the silent the land north of the works, being brought sentinels have disappeared. down from the clay pit on a 2ft narrow gauge railway in side tipping wagons which were loaded by an ancient Ruston Tornado, the P2 excavator. They were then hauled to and the BBC the works by a Simplex loco with an old As reported in the last Newsletter, Tornado Dorman engine built in 1968. This replaced has been in residence at the Roundhouse a smaller loco which was underpowered for annual winter maintenance. Prior to the after the deepening of the pit made the locomotive’s arrival in November 2013, The incline much steeper. This loco ran for four A1 Steam Locomotive Trust had formally years until 1972 when it became worn out launched their next new-build project – a and beyond economical repair, the wheels Sir Nigel Gresley designed P2 Mikado steam being the main culprit. From then on, the locomotive which is to be called Prince of clay was moved by dumper trucks. The Wales. As happened during the construction loco is now preserved and running on the of Tornado a BBC film crew is following the Golden Valley Railway at Swanwick, part of new project for a documentary programme. the Midland Railway Centre, thus keeping alive the memory of the brick works. 6 7 newslineS BBC journalist Tom Ingall, who is a good track interfaces to prevent derailments in friend of the Roundhouse, spent a day railway yards and on the main line. Over An East Midlands Trains’ HST arrives at Barrow with Tornado at the Roundhouse in early the next few months visitors from all over Hill from London with a full train of people looking forward to the “East Coast Giants” January filming for “Inside Out” and on Europe will come to the Roundhouse to preview day on 7th February 2014. 17th February the Roundhouse starred in be part of this project. Photo: Chris Milner the piece he had recorded. It is anticipated that we will take delivery In late March nearly 40 A1 Trust volunteers of the new fuelling point during April. This gathered at Barrow Hill for a merchandise will be commissioned and available for use training course, making use of all the by the commercial companies from the training facilities on site. With the main line by the end of May. locomotive having recently completed This is a very important investment for its winter maintenance it was also an the Roundhouse and part of the ongoing opportunity to give Tornado a run out on development of the site as a commercial the Springwell branch. venue. Tornado has now left Barrow Hill to commence her 2014 main line operating Comings and Goings season but will be back later in the year for “Barrow Hill Live!” One of the attractions of the Roundhouse is the ever-changing locomotive display. Commercial Activity Just before Christmas 45110 returned to the Severn Valley Railway but we now Barrow Hill was once again able to have large Prairie 5164 in its place. Vulcan Another advantage is that the electronic demonstrate its ability to respond quickly has gone to Beamish on loan and Peckett version – unlike the printed Newsletter and appropriately to the requirements of 2000 will once again spend the summer at – will be in FULL COLOUR throughout. main line operators when a Freightliner Elsecar Heritage Railway. Not that there is If you would like to opt to receive the class 66 and class 70 top and tailed two any space in the Roundhouse because we Newsletter by email rather than post, of the company’s coal wagons, one of are delighted to announce that the Midland please email: which had a defective wheelset, onto the Compound 1000 will be arriving in May. site. The wheelset was exchanged by [email protected]. Freightliner staff and the consist was able Newsletter in Electronic to leave site the same day. Format Reboarding of Pits Further commercial activity has been seen Many of you will be aware that Royal Mail The project to replace the pit boards on site with increased use by GBRf using has put its prices up again! So, following throughout the Roundhouse is now nearly the site for access off the main line and in the footsteps of many newspapers and complete. During the refurbishment maintenance of class 20s and class 47s. railway magazines, the Roundhouse is an original identification number from NewRail (the rail research facility of now offering the option to receive the BR days, painted on the side wall, was Newcastle University based at the Newsletter in electronic format, delivered uncovered. The plaque commemorating A4 Bittern’s 90mph Roundhouse) is about to embark on its to your computer for you to flick through runs in 2013, unveiled during “East Coast Giants”. latest project – D-Rail – testing wheel and at your leisure. Photo: Chris Milner 8 9 Events update IMPORTANT - Members Over 100 years of service Social Evenings – CHANGE OF DATE Please note that, due to the Rail Ale Festival extending its opening to in-a-lifetime opportunity to host A4 4489 Thursday 15th May, Keith Marshall’s Dominion of Canada and A4 60008 Dwight talk – The Journey Home from Skye D Eisenhower, it would be difficult to – will now take place on Thursday 8th refuse despite the risk of bad weather. May and not the 15th as previously advertised. But once again the weather gods looked down on the Roundhouse and although it Christmas Social was a little blustery, the wind blew any rain clouds through very quickly and the sun The last Newsletter came out just as we was out for much of the time. celebrated the end of another successful year for the Roundhouse with our ever- The two trans-Atlantic A4s were joined by popular Christmas Social. A4 4464 Bittern, A2 60532 Blue Peter and A1 60163 Tornado. The A1 was undergoing More than 40 members enjoyed mince winter maintenance so made an unusual pies and wine and of course the delicious display on the turntable with visitors able pies and peas served by Bill and Ellen, who to see much of the engineering which is were also presented with gifts and flowers normally hidden by cladding and the cab. in thanks for all their hard work in the café It all added to the story of a ‘Top Shed’ during the year. working railway depot as it would have During the course of the evening member been in the 1940s, locomotives in the shed Dave Darwin and Brian Wragg (‘Wraggy’) enjoy a moment of nostalgia during shunting operations for Howard Ward entertained the crowd with undergoing maintenance, others in the the “East Coast Giants” event at the Roundhouse. an excellent firework display, accompanied yard waiting for the next working. by much oohing and aahing! This pair of Barrow Hill stalwarts have over 100 porter before becoming a signal box lad at Barrow The public days of the event were years of railway service between them, both on Hill Junction, he then moved on to be a signal Mervyn then gave a review of the preceded by two photo charters on the British Rail and in privatisation, and on heritage man in various signal boxes in the Barrow Hill and successes of 2013, a taster of more to Thursday and Friday. These produced railways. Shirebrook area. A transfer to a goods guard at come in 2014 and thanked everyone for an extremely high quality range of Barrow Hill was next before moving to Sheffield as their support. photographs, many of which have been Dave is in his 59th year as a loco man, 49 years a passenger guard. shared with the Roundhouse and we are for British Rail and EWS and 10 years here at the Roundhouse. The next move saw him transferring to the East Coats Giants on 8th pleased to publish in this edition of the Newsletter. footplate, then to a driver at Hull, before a final and 9th February 2014 Brian has had a more varied career for his 42 years move as a driver with Central Trains at Nottingham All who attended agreed that the with British Rail, Regional Railways North East and before he retired. Like Dave, however, railways is Fingers, toes, knees, arms: if you could opportunity to photograph all the Central Trains. in the blood and he was soon back at Barrow Hill cross them, they were crossed! February locos – and particularly the A4s – in a Roundhouse helping out with the shunting before is not the best month of the year to hold a Starting at Chesterfield Midland Station as a junior and after events. genuine working environment was one gala but when presented with the once- 10 11 Events update continued... not to be missed. Also on the Friday the And so on to the event itself. As Nigel Roundhouse team was proud to welcome Atkinson reports in his piece for this many friends of the Roundhouse to a Newsletter, we knew that the pre- specially organised VIP day. bookings for the two days were amongst the highest we had ever had so we were Amongst the guests were the Mayor of confident that a good number of people Chesterfield, representatives of Derbyshire would visit. However, we were all amazed County Council, Chesterfield Borough at the queues on both days which never Council and Staveley Town Council. Peter seemed to end as people who had not Townend, retired King’s Cross ‘Top Shed’ pre-booked also decided to come along. Shedmaster, looked on with pride as his This might have had a little to do with former charges were lined up for everyone all the press and TV coverage over the to take photographs. weekend, including BBC Look North, David Horne, Managing Director of East three interviews on Radio Sheffield Midlands Trains was delighted to welcome and photographs and editorial in The into the site one of his HST sets, which Derbyshire Times and Sheffield Star. had come up from London on a specially Visitors were greeted by the sight of East organised UK Railtours tour for “East Coast power as soon as they entered Coast Giants”. The HST was lined up with the event with Deltic D9009 on display the powerful East Coast Pacific power in the bay platform. The Roundhouse line up, demonstrating how Sir Nigel regular Peckett 2000 provided a steamy Gresley’s streamlined A4s were 50 years welcome as it top and tailed with Bittern ahead of their time; the HST cab looking a on the passenger trains which left at remarkably similar shape to the front ends regular intervals from Roundhouse Halt And so to the stars of the event – At the recent “East Coast Giants” event Barrow of the A4s! throughout both days thousands of people Hill was once again proud to welcome Mr Peter on trips up the Springwell Branch. Moving Townend. Two ceremonies took place during on into the Roundhouse visitors could walked along the coal stage and, in some cases, up into the signal box too, to view the course of the day. Firstly a plaque view all 35 original LNER liveried A4s on Peter was a premium apprentice at Doncaster commemorating the three 90mph runs the “Grantham – the Streamliner Years” Dominion of Canada and Dwight D Works when the A4s were being built in 1938 and undertaken by A4 4464 Bittern in 2013 00-gauge exhibition layout. During the Eisenhower in the authentic setting that Mallard broke the world record for steam traction in celebration of the 75th anniversary course of the weekend all 35 A4s ran on the Roundhouse provides. It was a very which still stands today. of A4 Mallard’s record breaking speed the layout. Also in the Roundhouse was a proud moment for all the Roundhouse team – joining the exclusive Club which Peter rose to be Shed Master at King’s Cross run was unveiled by Richard Corser, good range of railway-related merchandise (34A), in charge of a fleet of A4s and other Gresley has only three members (the other two General Manager of Locomotive Services stalls and locomotive society stands for Pacifics. His love of these magnificent and iconic Limited, owners of Bittern, assisted by people to spend time browsing around. being the National Railway Museum and its machines has never left him and to come to the Roundhouse’s Alexa Stott. Later on Moving on into the yard itself people could sister museum at Shildon) that has hosted Barrow Hill to see a gathering of East Coast power the chime whistle used on the runs was take a ride on the Roundhouse brake vans all six surviving A4s. is always a pleasure for him and Barrow Hill. presented to the winners of a special draw which were hauled by newly restored As with all events, there is a very long Photo: Dave Darwin which had taken place at the end of the Vulcan and the 03. Passengers were able list of thank yous to everyone who third run. to get a very good view of the line up helped make “East Coast Giants” such further up the yard during their trip. a great success. We should start with

12 13 Events update continued...

Exporail, the Canadian Railway Museum information on the event, including ticket year’s Festival! and celebrate the industrial transport in Montreal, Quebec, and the National outlets, which bands are performing when, Tickets are now on sale at numerous heritage of the local area with train rides Railroad Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin, beer lists and how to volunteer. Of course, outlets throughout Derbyshire, and canal boat trips. for allowing 4489 and 60008 to visit there will still be information on the main Nottinghamshire and South the Roundhouse. And of course to our Barrow Hill website and up-to-the-minute “Barrow Hill Live!” returns on the Yorkshire. A full list of outlets can friends at the National Railway Museum information will be provided on the weekend of 27th and 28th September be found on the new website. Entry at York for helping to facilitate the visit Roundhouse’s Facebook and Twitter feeds with its popular mix of the best in model prices over the three days are: by recommending that the two North for those of you who follow us in this way. railway layouts in all gauges alongside American museums accept our invitation. • Thursday £4.50 for advance and on their 12” to the foot steam, diesel and The Festival welcomes three new sponsors Then, at the event itself, the magnificent the gate tickets electric counterparts. We are delighted this year – the very popular Oakham contribution of the volunteers – in the to announce that this year’s event is being Ales from Peterborough and Navigation • Friday £6.50 for advance tickets; £8.00 car parks, gatehouse, on the platform and supported by our new sponsor, Warners Brewery from Nottingham and a new for on the gate tickets trains, in the café and the shop, throughout Shows and BRM. Having the backing sponsor for the Cider Bar: Cornish the site guiding visitors, cleaning out bins • Saturday £6.50 for advance tickets; of such a major player in the railway Orchards. The real ale selection on offer and generally keeping an eye on things, all £8.00 for on the gate tickets modelling world – Warners Shows run the will be our largest yet – more than 230 the way up to the top of the yard in the Alexandra Palace and Doncaster Model different ales at the last count! This is in Opening times are: signal box and on signalling duty at the Railway shows – is a huge honour for addition to over 70 different ciders and Gun Club crossing. Our thanks also to Thursday 6.00pm to 11.00pm Barrow Hill and we are looking forward to perrys as well as a bigger Craft Keg Bar the locomotive owners and their footplate making “Barrow Hill Live!” even bigger and and a wide range of world bottled beers Friday 12.00noon to 11.00pm and support crews, the bus drivers bringing better than it has been for the past four and fruit wines. visitors from Chesterfield and the minibus Saturday 12.00noon to 11.00pm years! drivers looking after the car parks. Finally As to music, we have another great Entry includes a specially commissioned We are still in the process of confirming but by no means least thank you to the selection to entertain you. With jazz and Rail Ale 2014 glass, programme and train the standard gauge locomotives for the 6,000 visitors who enjoyed themselves so brass in the afternoon in the marquee rides (Friday and Saturday until 5.00pm). event but it is planned that A1 60163 much during the event. followed by acoustic sessions in the early CAMRA members are entitled to a £1.50 Tornado, the Coal Tank from the Keighley evening; the atmosphere really warms up voucher towards beer when they register & Worth Valley Railway and another – Rail Ale 2014 on 15th, at night with some great bands on offer. at the CAMRA stand in the Roundhouse. yet to be confirmed – locomotive will 16th and 17th May On Friday we have “Redwood”, a semi A free bus service will operate on all three be present. Of course our resident acoustic trio playing contemporary classics days calling at Chesterfield Railway Station, locomotives Vulcan and the Peckett will be We hardly had time to draw breath before followed by “Black Hands”, a brilliant local Poundstretcher in Chesterfield and the part of the show. moving on to the final planning of our next band playing rock and blues classics. On Roundhouse. event, the ever popular Rail Ale Festival and Saturday, we have a real treat for visitors – More detailed and up-to-date information there are two important announcements the amazing “Doc Marten and the Ill Fitting on all these events will of course appear A reminder of other to make: Suits” – a comedy punk rock cabaret band on the Barrow Hill website and on our who have to be seen to be believed. dates for the diary in Facebook and Twitter pages as they draw First of all, this year Rail Ale will take place 2014 closer. over three days, opening on the Thursday With all this plus our friends at Wells & evening for the first time. Young with their world famous Bombardier On 28th and 29th June, we will once again be holding our Roundhouse Open Days in Secondly, the Festival now has its own Routemaster bus and bar, train rides and a great selection of good food stalls, there association with Chesterfield Canal, giving website www.railalefestival.com, where visitors young and old a chance to explore you will be able to find all the latest really is something for everyone at this

14 15 Dave Darwin Remembers...

When carriages had pictures This photo is a picture of Alnmouth on place”. Two years later on a Free Travel Ticket the Northumberland coast. Behind the made out to Edinburgh, I broke my journey at photographer is the Newcastle to Berwick this lovely spot, to which I have returned many East Coast Main Line. times since. In 2013 I took this image from as near as I can remember to the same place as It takes me back many years to a Basford- the picture on the railway carriage wall. based Thompson suburban coach which was ABOVE: A rare view of Tornado under maintenance with its cab and cladding removed. Photo: Chris Milner part of the consist of a Chesterfield Central- A branch line ran from Alnmouth to Alnwick, a Sheffield Victoria local which I boarded at distance of about 3 miles, until closure in 1968. BELOW: A fantastic picture of East Coast Giants under a moody sky. Photo: Duncan Langtree Renishaw Central in 1954 to go for my railway The Aln Valley Railway Society are restoring medical exam before starting at Barrow Hill. the branch and have already built a two-road On the carriage wall was a very similar picture. loco shed. Access to Alnwick town centre cannot be achieved now because of the A1. I was looking at this picture, taking my mind off However the station still stands in Alnwick – it worrying about whether I would be fit enough is now a large second hand book shop called to pass. On arrival at Sheffield I took one last Barter Books and occupies the platforms and look and said to myself “I am going to visit this waiting rooms.

Good News for a Class 56 depots to operate them when they entered traffic, 56006 being the first to do so. But the 56006, which has been part of the collection of Class 56 is also involved in another little piece locos at Barrow Hill since 2004, was once part of Roundhouse history. of the EWS heritage fleet until it became surplus to their requirements and was bought by EMR Until the arrival of the new locos, the shed of Kingsbury. Fortunately it was not scrapped turntable was still operated as it had been in but sold on again, this time to the Class 56 steam days: by hand or by the loco’s vacuum Group who are now working to get it in running equipment. However, with the arrival of the order. It will be kept at the Roundhouse but will air brake-only Class 56s something had to be available to visit other heritage railway galas. be done. And so the electric motor that is still used today was installed around 1977. It The Class 56 loco is very much part of the certainly saved shed crews having to wind a Roundhouse story, as it was one of the first 125 ton loco around by hand!

16 17 the archives The first in a new series of articles the items are then officially marked with from our Archives team. Graham an official BHESS reference number with Holland explains the importance indelible ink or paint. This process is well of the Archives and the work on the way to completion by June 2014. the team does to keep them As part of the review of over up to the standards required 1,050 items, the process includes for accreditation. And find out determination of the relevance of each how you can help the team in an item to the Barrow Hill collection – important task. those which could be used for display interest, educational purposes, handling Some would say that it is the for interest or experience, and which can locomotives that are the most important, be used for locomotive, line or building others the track work, others the repairs or use within the site, such as buildings, some the income generating generic signage. businesses on site, and yet more the community outreach and events. Items falling outside those categories are being set aside for future consideration But the truth is that all these elements for transfer to more relevant museums and more are equally important, or organisations, return to donors or including the Archives, historical transfer to other charities. This process ABOVE: The crowds gather to view the once-in-a-lifetime sight of Dominion of Canada and Dwight D information and artefacts. will take place at a much later date and Eisenhower at Barrow Hill Roundhouse. Since June 2012, concerted efforts to which future articles will refer. BELOW: A4 4464 Bittern stretches her legs on the passenger shuttles at “East Coast Giants”. have been ongoing to grade, record Of interest and importance at this stage Photos: Ralph and accession (register) the historical is to accept that now the team is well on artefacts and documents and the with accessioning items and the proper paperwork, processes and procedures storage and care of the collection, it is for the Museum in order to obtain re- time to convert items originally loaned accreditation of Barrow Hill Roundhouse into formal permanent gifts or donations Museum. to the collection. Accreditation is important to retain, It is understandable that in the early secure and conserve important heritage days of the museum, collectors were items and historic artefacts. Amongst cautious to ensure their precious items other issues, the successful re- would be looked after properly. It is accreditation should also pave the way now important to secure the long-term to future opportunities for grant aid and future of historical and heritage items donations. and documents by formal accessioning. Week by week, work has been going on This cannot be done in respect of any to assess the condition and relevance loan items. of all the items held and then accession So here is the plea! If you have those items fitting the Barrow Hill previously loaned items to the Archives, Collections Policy. Once accessioned, please consider now converting

18 19 Bittern, Blue Peter, Dominion of Canada and Dwight D Eisenhower at rest in the Roundhouse Picture This. . . yard prior to “East Coast Giants”. Photo: Fred Kerr the archives continued...

that loan into a permanent gift or trying to marry up items to donors and donation. You can do this in one of will be trying to contact the surviving two ways. Contact the Archive team in donors to complete the process and person on Wednesdays between 10am paperwork. and 3pm or on event or open days. Where donors wish to retain ownership, Alternatively email the Archive team at: then items may need to be returned. This [email protected]. will result in important items being lost Many donations have of course come to the historical heritage of Barrow Hill from those no longer with us and will and should be seen very much as a last be a lasting memorial to their generosity resort. towards Barrow Hill. It is also worth So please make the Barrow Hill collection noting that as items have been donated the best it can be by converting your over many years, it will not always be previous loan to a permanent donation. possible to locate them immediately – so please bear with us. Whilst the Archive team are asking those able to convert loan items into donations to contact them, the team will also be

. A line-up never to be seen in this country again? Photo: Chris Milner Photo: Chris Milner

22 23 Locomotive REPORT The latest list of locomotives to have been based at or visited Barrow Hill since 1998 marks an Departures and Arrivals Residents important landmark in the history of the Roundhouse – as we can now proudly declare that all six surviving A4s have visited the site. There’s not many places that can say that! We are also Board Peckett 2000 plods on as our faithful drawing ever closer to the magic 100 mark – and Mervyn and Martyn’s plans for the next few The pseudo Southern Railways “Yankee working resident steam loco. She years will hopefully see that figure being reached with aplomb. tank” 30075 (ex-Yugoslavian Railways was available again all through 2013 Early locomotives (4) Southern locomotives (6) 61994 62-669) has now moved away from followed by a period of winterisation Rocket 662 “Martello” 62005 Barrow Hill for restoration elsewhere. in November 2013-January 2014, after Furness 20 30075 63601 45110 returned to the Severn Valley which she was used for “East Coast “Catch Me Who Can” 30096 “Normandy” 65462 Railway in October 2013 and is now on Giants” in February. 2000 spent most “Puffing Billy” 30587 65567 display in the Engine House at Highley. of 2013 on loan to the Elsecar Heritage 30777 “Sir Lamiel” 68005 Sharp eyed readers will have noticed Railway in South Yorkshire and they liked Industrial locomotives (12) 35005 “Canadian Pacific” 68006 that another out-of-ticket SVR loco has her so much they have requested her MW 1207 “The Welshman” 68009 now taken her place on display in the presence again for the summer of 2014. MW 1210 “Sir Berkeley” Midland/LMS locomotives 68030 Roundhouse. So she will go back to the HER after “Rail Ale” in May but will be back in time MW 1795 “No 14” (17) 68088 This is “large prairie” class loco 5164 for “Barrow Hill Live!” Time flies, as Peckett 1163 “Whitehead” 41312 68846 owned by the 5164 Preservation Group. they say, and Peckett 2000 is now in year Peckett 2000 41708 69023 The arrangement worked so well with eight out of a ten year cycle so we will YE 2521 “Clipstone” 42700 69621 45110 that the SVR asked us if we need to prepare for her next overhaul Hawthorn Leslie 2491 “Henry” 44422 60163 “Tornado” could host this loco for a while to take soon. Hawthorn Leslie 3718 45110 60800 “Green Arrow” some pressure off valuable shed space “Swanscombe” 45231 60532 “Blue Peter” at Bridgnorth and also to ensure that Work is now complete on Vulcan and HE “Thomas” (Brookes No 1) 45407 60007 “Sir Nigel Gresley” she stays under cover until it is her turn the Vulcan Loco Trust succeeded in Sentinel “Isebrook” 45593 “Kolhapur” 60008 “Dwight D Eisenhower” to be overhauled. It really does make getting her restored and back in steam HC MSC number 70 45690 “Leander” 60009 “Union of South Africa” a massive difference to the time and again in time for 2013’s “Barrow Hill VF 3272 “Vulcan” 47298 60010 “Dominion of Canada” expense involved in a loco overhaul if Live!” as promised. Andrew Whitehead’s 47406 60019 “Bittern” the loco has been kept under cover or HL loco Swanscombe has been lifted off GWR locomotives (16) 48151 60022 “Mallard” not. We were happy to agree to this her wheels as these needed the tyres 813 48773 request to help out our SVR colleagues turning. These have now been turned 1420 49395 BR Standard locomotives and to help vary the loco displays seen and the wheelsets are back at the 3440 “City of Truro” 51218 (8) at the Roundhouse. Roundhouse. The axlebox overhaul is 4936 “Kinlet Hall” 52322 (1300) 70000 “Britannia” now almost complete so we should soon Plans are well advanced for the 4953 “Pitchford Hall” 58850 70013 “Oliver Cromwell” be able to re-wheel this powerful loco September 2014 “Barrow Hill Live!” 4965 “Rood Hall” 71000 “Duke of Gloucester” and get her back in the Roundhouse for event and all being well we will host at 5051 “Drysllwyn Castle” GNR locomotives (2) 76079 re-assembly to get underway. The boiler least two more new steam locomotives 5164 251 78019 is being professionally overhauled off site to the Roundhouse, one of which will 5199 1744 80135 and work is going well on it. The plan be the superb LNWR “Coal Tank” loco 5224 92203 is to have this loco back in steam again 1054 lovingly cared for by the Bahamas 5553 LNER locomotives (27) 92214 before the start of the 2015 operating Locomotive Society (BLS) based at 5637 1310 season as another resident operational Ingrow on the Keighley & Worth Valley 6430 62660 “Butler Henderson” London Transport steam loco. 7754 61264 locomotive (1) Railway. 7822 “Foxcote Manor” 61306 MET 1 9600 61572 24 TOTAL 93 25 Locomotive REPORT continued... DPS REPORT

Work is going well on Steve ’s Stop Press! An exciting period of activity for the North Yorkshire Moors Railway Hunslet Austerity loco number 68006 has continued for the DPS Diesel Gala. The Kidderminster to York leg saw the convoy reach the National and restoration is also well underway For us Midland men (and women! - Ed) through to the end of 2013 and there will be a treat in 2015 as we are Railway Museum at York at 19.30 and on Jon Pridmore’s unique and historic into 2014. it then stabled overnight and set off Manning Wardle 0-4-0ST number 1795 now all agreed that after several big LNER galas it is time the Midland region again next morning at 06.00 to arrive at (as featured in Newsletter No. 42). We pick up the story after the 15,000 Grosmont at 09.29. These recent additions reflect the wide was given a chance. After all, Barrow people who attended the Grantham appeal of Barrow Hill – each locomotive Hill always was a Midland shed. So event had gone home and the strange Arrival at Grosmont meant that we could hold a DPS Members Day on in the Roundhouse has its own story to watch out for an exciting line up of LMS convoy containing 4468 Mallard and Deltic 55019 had managed to snake its Saturday 14th September and D9009 tell and a varied history. machines at our themed gala at the end of September 2015. This event will way out of the siding at Grantham on was rostered for Grosmont/Whitby/ 41708 is still patiently awaiting the day commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of Monday 9th September and straight Battersby/Whitby/Grosmont/Pickering/ Grosmont. What a shame when a lorry we can start on her overhaul, which the closure of Barrow Hill shed to steam across the East Coast Main Line to head north at a sedately 45mph to Doncaster hit a bridge at Egton before the Whitby hopefully will not be too long away now. on 5th October 1965. via . The convoy ended to Battersby leg could be completed. I The rest of the locomotives on display up at Wabtec in Doncaster and by 12th suppose it could have been worse and remain unchanged but all are kept clean September there was a great photo a trainload of Deltic supporters could Martyn Ashworth and oiled on a regular basis. taken of 55019 back at The Plant by have been stuck at Battersby! Mervyn Allcock (see the DPS Twitter After the diesel gala D9009 was feed). rostered to return the convoy from After the Wabtec event 55019 and Grosmont to Kidderminster on 17th Vulcan manages a short Mallard were hauled to Freightliner September. All was going well until demonstration freight Doncaster at The Carr for a show D9009 was started up at 5am in a train with ease during on the weekend of 21st and 22nd quiet valley at Grosmont much to the the “East Coast Giants” September, organised by Doncaster annoyance of some members of the photo charter. Council. local population. It is a working railway, Photo: Duncan Langtree air has to be up in the locos and it 55019 left Doncaster, still with Mallard, doesn’t happen in 5 minutes and we get on 17th September and travelled to Network Rail delay minute penalties if Barrow Hill for display at the “Barrow we delay other services! Anyway, they Hill Live!” event on the weekend of 28th were not happy bunnies. and 29th September. 55019 was in the yard and D9015 on display in the DPS 21st September saw the 10th Depot for that event. We also had the anniversary of the opening of the DPS 5 inch gauge model of DP1 and a model Depot. There has been some criticism layout “Deepcar” on display along with lately on the lack of progress with the the DPS sales stand. This was a great museum at the depot. I counter that event and much enjoyed by everyone by saying “give us a break – we are all who attended. volunteers”. A limited number of active volunteers can only do so much. On the So what of D9009 whilst all this was museum front I am delighted to report happening? D9009 left Bury at 06.08 that Robin Gray has offered to become on 10th September and travelled light the Curator and will project manage engine to Kidderminster to pick up the development of that area of the D1062 Western Courier and D821 DPS Depot. We are very grateful to Greyhound to take them to Grosmont Robin for agreeing to take this forward. 26 27 DPS REPORT continued... Amongst the things we hope to do are the main line until fairly recently and it is to offer monthly tours of the depot. felt that they will be suitable for use at These will be advertised and should help 100mph under D9015 Tulyar. The lorry us to explain the Deltic story to more disappeared off back to Booths with our interested people. old scrap set of bogies and from having a problem of getting bogies for Tulyar, So D9009 was now at the Severn Valley we now have an opportunity to overhaul Railway and we agreed that the loco a set of serviceable bogies to go under could stay there for their Diesel Gala D9015. Thanks to everyone who made on 4th and 5th October. 55002 Kings it possible, especially to C F Booth who Own Light Infantry also attended and did their very best to ensure we got this was another great event. 55002 them. was made to do the heavy lifting on 7th October and conveyed D9009 to the A day later and something else! The East Lancashire Railway at Bury. D9009 new DPS website was launched AT LAST. was then rostered for a Footplate Many months in the making, and thanks Experience course on 11th October and to David Russell for sticking with it. I D9009 at Northwood Lane during the a passenger diagram on 12th October. hope you agree when you check out SVR Diesel Gala. Photo Peter Marsh www.thedps.co.uk that we now have Meanwhile back at Barrow Hill a 70 a more modern website that is fit for ton crane had appeared and a lorry or purpose. We still intend to develop it two turned up with some bogies – not next item is that a new organisation The next job for D9009 was to join further with other modules over time, just any bogies but a set of cast bogies - The Association of Heritage Diesel a convoy from the ELR in Bury to but it is up-to-date technology and formerly from a class 37 that had Operators - was formed at a first Tyseley via Barrow Hill with the two should last us for a few years. ended up in C F Booth’s scrap yard in meeting in Peterborough on 12th class 40s D335 and 40145. At Tyseley Rotherham. They had been in use on As if all that was not enough but the October and our Chairman Murray D9009 underwent tyre turning and Brown attended. This group is aimed speedometer calibration and returned to at trying to represent all heritage diesel Barrow Hill on 8th November. D9009 at Warmsworth with the Winter groups to give us more of a voice. We We were very pleased to see all the Settler railtour on 28th December 2013. will see how it develops. Photo Nick Green coverage of the Society in the December 19th October saw D9015 Tulyar being issue of Traction Magazine. Two articles lifted on jacks at the DPS Depot and by – one to do with the depot and one to the beginning of November the loco was do with the return of D9009 to the main on stands so that work can continue on line. We have thanked the magazine the wiring and other work where access editor for his support. The articles can is needed under the loco. be viewed on the DPS website. There was a flurry of activity on Work is now progressing on a Facebook and Twitter about what colour programme to get the new bogies Tulyar should be when returned to the overhauled including the traction motors main line. The majority of the votes now and hopefully further reports will follow favour Finsbury Park blue and so this as matters progress. matter will be tabled at the 2014 AGM. You could say it is premature with so So, attention turned to the last event of much left to be done but it is important 2013. No, not the volunteers Christmas to keep thinking about the end which party but a Pathfinder rail tour from is now nearer thanks to the bogie Crewe to Carlisle via Sheffield with acquisition. D9009 hauling the train from Derby to 28 29 DPS REPORT continued... volunteers REPORT Carlisle on the outward leg and back the staff in Sheffield Power Box having Those of you who have visited the to watch the trains. A contract joiner to Sheffield on the return. What a day a good nosy (after moving their tomato Roundhouse in the last few months will then built us a new Midland Railway style it was on 28th December with glorious plants) about their unusual visitor. It was have seen quite a lot of movement with fence, a much safer option. Although we weather for photography with a low over. How many more days like this will the locos in addition to what you would didn’t have time to paint it due to adverse winter sun leading to some spectacular we be able to enjoy? Can it go on or normally see in the lead up to an event. weather it looked great for the event and it shots of the loco in a full cry all the way is time running out for the power units We have been uncovering the pits one by will get painted when weather allows. to Carlisle over the Settle & Carlisle line. in our locos. How could a full works one so Eddie our joiner and his team could overhaul ever be funded? inspect the boarding and renew them We took the trouble to pipe up a The return was delayed by poor where necessary. We always knew that secondary water supply to the recycled operating by Network Rail at Carlisle So to 2014. What can we say about they were susceptible to rot because the rain water tank to use in case of reduced leading to a departure that was just the “East Coast Giants” event at roof drains run through most of them and rain fall, but since we did that it hasn’t under one hour late. Fortunately Barrow Hill? Having been privileged the air flow is not very good. So Eddie has seemed to stop raining! and fortunate to see 60008 at Green Network Rail control at York got us been replacing all the boards showing signs The trees opposite the station platform out of Carlisle just in front of a Carlisle Bay Wisconsin in 1999, did I ever of rot as well as fitting air vents to each imagine that the loco would one day were trimmed back over several weekends to Newcastle stopping train and that end to try to alleviate any future problems. as they were overhanging the stored gave us a clear run all the way to Low be at Barrow Hill? It is still incredible. And of course the pits are all getting a Whilst paying thanks to Mervyn and carriages. This created several car loads of Fell, just south of Newcastle where we good clean out as they are exposed. fire wood for some of our volunteers. joined the East Coast Main Line. Then the Barrow Hill team who made the it all came together in spectacular event possible, the occasion cannot Our “Wet Weather Project” in the form of Then there was the usual build up to fashion with D9009 being given the pass without mentioning Steve Davies, the Clay Cross wagon is now well under prepare for “East Coast Giants”: massive road in front of an Edinburgh to London former Director of the National Railway way and it has had several coats of paint. shunts, site clear up, exhibitions to set up class 91 hauled service and we rapidly Museum, who had the vision to organise I am not sure if the final livery has been in the Archives. The Archive team really accelerated up to the magic 100mph. the repatriation. A Deltic supporter in decided on yet but it will be finished off pulled out all the stops and it was nice to Now these days this does not sound a his own right, Steve took a risk and it appropriately. see them and the shop team working as has proved a massive success. lot but you perhaps forget that we are Another job that has been tackled was to one unit with all doors open and a nice talking about a loco that is 52 years old All the stories mentioned here have get rid of a lot of the accumulated rubbish flow through of visitors. We had a lot of with Mk1 rolling stock with opening been covered in detail on the DPS in the store rooms. When we started off positive feedback for this. windows. It is awesome and spectacular Twitter account http://twitter.com/ in the early days we accepted all kinds The event itself went very well from a to re-live the 1960s on the East Coast DelticPS. No log-in is needed to of things to get jobs moving: old paint, volunteers’ point of view. We had a small Main Line and we are privileged to be view that. Alex Williams also has an wood, tools of all kinds, etc. A lot of it problem with boggy ground in the disabled able to still have the experience, which is engineering focussed Twitter account hasn’t been touched for nearly ten years. car park but people were quite satisfied just a total joy. http://twitter.com/SuttonOak8g. The Nowadays if, for example, we need Midland that we were trying our best and were DPS also has a Facebook group https:// red paint, we buy the correct colour and Despite a signal check just outside Thirsk parking any elderly or disabled people as www.facebook.com/DelticPS. You may don’t try and mix it like we used to. The (as a Trans Pennine unit crossed onto close to the bus pickup as possible. The need to register to get on that. The same goes for engineering things: with a bit the fast lines following a stop at Thirsk), mini bus drivers were great as well, even DPS Twitter account latest postings also of forward thinking we can get the correct we reached York and then thought – well dropping people off as close to their cars appear on the home page of the DPS items for the job in hand. Although there as possible if they thought people were wasn’t that great – now let’s wait for website. There are lots of photos in all will always be room for a few spare bolts, infirm. the Edinburgh to London class 91 to these places. and tools, there is no need to accumulate overtake us. Wrong! To the amazement vast quantities and the space can be used For the first time we had Eckington Scouts of everyone, we were given the road Peter Kennan more efficiently. helping us on the car park which was great and proceeded to Doncaster on the fast for us and for them too as it gave them lines with the class 91 still behind us! Before “East Coast Giants” we removed much needed funds. all the old cable ducting hoops that made Arrival back in Sheffield was 4 minutes Don Cambridge, Volunteer Co-ordinator late. Standing in the evening air at the up the barrier between the yard and the end of Platform 6 at Sheffield station, running line as people, and particularly nostalgia was everywhere with even children, were tempted to stand on them 30 31 money matters There is only one place to start this time: The gatehouse was primed for a busy day on Expenditure already selling well is “On Either Side”, a the Saturday, as two-thirds of the bookings 1939 guide to the LNER route from King’s East Coast Euphoria! were for that day, but creditably all queuing Spending over the past few months has been Cross to Scotland. Still on the LNER theme, ticket holders were admitted in the first concentrated on making the site and the we have a limited number of the excellent Many months ago in Committee meetings Roundhouse safer for the public by erecting we debated long and hard about the fifteen minutes. Those paying cash on the “Mallard and the A4 Pacifics” book from day took a little longer to process; it was the new fence along the running line near the Friends of the National Railway wisdom of staging a major steam gala the mess room and the ongoing task of in February when the weather can be an hour and a half until the ticket windows Museum, available at £9.95. were clear for the first time. Sunday was boarding the pits in the Roundhouse itself. particularly unpleasant and in some years I have sourced some good quality the snow has been so severe that travel expected to be quieter, judging by the lower We have engaged the services of an number of bookings and the experience of products featuring old National Railway was extremely difficult at best. Throw architect to offer various options on Museum posters on greetings cards, mugs, into the mix the fact that two of the 15 years of galas. Although the cash queue the design of the proposed new building was not as long at opening time as it had fridge magnets and notepads from Star stars of the show were to be stationary mentioned in the last Newsletter, which we Editions. Most of the designs are LNER or exhibits and you will appreciate our been the day before, the visitors just kept envisage will include a new kitchen, eating on coming and it was over two hours until Derbyshire themes, and I will add more reservations. However, these were not area and shop and more space for museum variety if sales are successful. two ordinary stationary exhibits and we achieved empty ticket windows. Slightly and archive activities. Incidentally, I thought February was the only time we would unusually, and to our surprise, the number the Archive team’s display at the February We have had no new Barrow Hill T shirts be allowed to borrow them, so we bit of Sunday cash payers exceeded Saturday’s. gala was exceptional. Well done to all on sale since the “Fab 4” version in 2012 the bullet, advertised our “East Coast I suspect that the Friday night TV exposure involved. so it is about time for a new design. I Giants” gala, crossed our fingers for a boosted our Sunday numbers. have ordered 100 direct from the fashion At Barrow Hill we have always recognised houses of … Oxfordshire! The shirts will healthy turnout and good weather, but As ever, the vast majority of visitors were that we should not put all our eggs in one also spent a thousand pounds insuring most impressed by the range of attractions be maroon with a familiar builder’s plate basket. Exhibits like three A4s are not very (please see the accompanying photograph) against cancellation of the event due to on offer for the modest admission price, often available, and visitors will not turn bad weather, thereby ensuring that the with some people even making additional and will be on sale in the shop at £12, our up in such large numbers too often, so we 2012 T shirt price. weekend enjoyed the best weather we donations. We were aware that our event know that we cannot rely on gala income had seen for many weeks! clashed with The Festival of British Railway alone. We have paid a deposit against the Watch out for the next Barrow Hill DVD After another good performance in selling Modelling in Doncaster, something else to manufacture and installation of a fuelling from GB Productions who were filming at tickets for September’s “Barrow Hill worry about we thought, but some visitors tank, having identified a commercial both “Barrow Hill Live!” last September Live!” weekend, we again used The Ticket managed a day at each event, and the three opportunity to supply fuel to visiting and and “East Coast Giants”. It should be on Factory as sole supplier of advance tickets model railway traders in the Roundhouse resident diesel locomotives. We already have sale for the beer festival, our next event. for this event and, reading their weekly were ecstatic because they were the only a “fuelling point” for steam, so why not add ones selling model railway equipment to our I am looking forward to the remaining 2014 sales reports, soon realised that we were one for the diesels? We will also be able to Barrow Hill events and a further interesting on to a winner. Ticket sales started on visitors; all the others were at Doncaster fuel our own shunters more cheaply. competing with each other! episode in the Barrow Hill locomotive 1st December and by the early days of exhibit rotation policy! January we had more than achieved the “East Coast Giants”, comprising the shop budgeted numbers with several weeks to photographers’ charters on Thursday and Nigel Atkinson, ACMA, CGMA spare. Our visitors appeared to be inspired Friday, the inbound rail tour on the Friday Recent additions to the shop’s sales lines Treasurer by the advantages of booking tickets, and the public days at the weekend, was a naturally enough centred around items namely cheaper prices and admission great success financially and an unforgettable appropriate to the “East Coast Giants” half an hour earlier than the advertised experience for visitors and volunteers event. These included 600 greetings cards opening time. By the time sales closed alike. We certainly made the most of our from Rothbury Publishing, great value at on the Monday before the event, the opportunity to host the three A4s, with our only £1.80 with several new designs and numbers sold were over three times our café trading well on all four days and our many old favourites. Look out for the budget! We could now look forward to shop and book sales showing good takings “A4” column on one of the stands – eight the weekend with great confidence, and during the visit by the Friday rail tourers and different A4 images (why stop at six?). even smile at the odd call to our office to over the weekend itself. What an incredible We also took delivery of more “Shire” check if Dominion of Canada or Dwight coup! books, very reasonably priced at £5.99 and Becky modelling the D Eisenhower would be in steam over the £6.99. A new “Shire” book just out and new Barrow Hill T shirt weekend! 32 33 Atmospheric Historical Corner No. 35 photographs inside the Roundhouse on After a short break – for the purpose of work Shale Coal mine and the surface. On a sunny day in early we are assured – we welcome back Vignoles the 16th of August, the two divisions of spring. with his eagerly awaited article on Springwell the tunnel met exactly. It is now and will Photos: Dale Holford Colliery. continue to be used for the workmen to walk into and out of the mine; the men At Barrow Hill our modern-day running thereby avoiding shaft accidents and having line follows the former alignment known a secure outlet under all circumstances. to the Midland Railway as the Springwell branch and at the end of this line, was the The tunnel is about 300 yards long, in colliery of the same name. The Springwell rock, and dips from the surface 6 inches branch was completed in 1853 and this in the yard. It was recommended to coincided with the opening of the colliery. Mr Barrow by Messrs. Woodhouse and By 1896, the colliery was worked out and Jeffcock, of Derby, and has been done closed. Taking some contemporary reports, under the direction of Mr W.F. Howard, we can produce below a “potted history” surveyor, Staveley, and Mr W. Buxton, the which traces the key developments. resident viewer. The supper, provided by Mr G. Bamford, the Miners’ Arms, New Whittington, was excellent and abundant. 6th September 1862 The evening passed agreeably with toast and song. On Saturday last, a supper was given by Mr Barrow, the liberal proprietor of the 27th September 1862 Springwell Colliery, to workmen and We stated recently that Mr Barrow, of others, numbering nearly 50, upon the Staveley, had made liberal engagements completion of a tunnel, commenced in with the Midland Railway Company for April last, simultaneously from the Black the conveyance of the wives and families

Membership Secretary’s Report For those of you who were at the AGM, this As happens every two years I proposed a report will seem very familiar… small rise in membership fees, to continue to cover the ever-increasing cost of postage The membership at the time of writing is up and magazine production, at the AGM, which by 14 from last year’s AGM at 400 members approved the following new membership which is made up as follows: rate, applicable from 1st January 2015: Adult 121 (up 8 on last year’s AGM) Adult £20 Concession 123 (down 3) Concession £15 Junior 2 (down 1) Family £30 Family 22 (up 5) Junior £8 Life 132 (up 5) Life £240 A Beyer-Garratt approaches the road During the year we had 49 new members OAP Life £150 bridge on the main line connection into the and therefore lost 35 members. However Roundhouse site. Date unknown. Martyn Brailsford, Membership Secretary there are currently 26 outstanding renewals Photo: Unknown from 31st December 2013. 34 35 Historical Corner No. 35 continued... are sure to prosper. On Friday the new as Chairman until his death in 1865. company paid a visit of inspection to their property. The bulk of the shareholders Collieries in the nineteenth century were are Manchester gentlemen, and they of not of course without their accidents arrived about twelve o’clock, and were and the records of coroner’s courts met at the station by a party of their make interest reading. One in particular brother proprietors. A special train was in event which occurred in 1862, is worth readiness to convey them to the different mentioning and concerns the gunpowder pits, and, as soon as the party were magazine. comfortably seated, the train proceeded “On the 1st. inst., two men named James to Springwell Colliery, Mr Martyn Seymour, Hardy and John Simster, went to Mr the resident viewer acting as the conductor. Barrow’s store for powder and on their Coal is drawn from an engine-shaft and return each man lit his pipe and began an open drift, the shaft and the drift smoking, when by accident the ashes from raising about 500 tons per day each. After the pipe of one or both of them fell upon a examining the pumping engine, of 80 h.p., parcel of powder and it exploded sending the party returned to Staveley Station. one of them into the brickworks”. We Charles Markham later became managing know that smoking is bad for your health! director of the Staveley Company when Vignoles eventually Richard Barrow sold off his interest in the company, but he stayed on Maps: Zoe Elizabeth Hunter. Full size versions of the maps can be viewed in the archives.

of those in his employ to Chesterfield purchased the pit from Robert Wright market and back on the Saturday, to enable and promised to give an allowance of them to take advantage of making their wages to the men “provided they agreed purchases on the most advantageous not to holiday on Mondays and Tuesdays”. terms. The effect has been to nearly Barrow’s ownership included other ruin the shopkeepers and dealers at collieries adjacent to Springwell, which Staveley, trade having been almost literally were Hollingwood, New Hollingwood and removed. An attempt has been made by Speedwell. All four collieries collectively the tradesmen to induce Mr Barrow to came under the management of the discontinue the train, but he has positively Staveley Coal and Iron Company in 1864. declined. It is now intended by some of the tradesmen to remove their business to Chesterfield, so as to preserve their 24th September 1864 connection. The prosperity of Staveley is so intimately bound up with the commercial interests of this town and neighbourhood that we 8th November 1863 are glad, therefore, that these extensive Richard Barrow has become the new works have been purchased by a company, owner of Springwell pit, at Staveley. He and with Mr Barrow at their head, they 36 37 other items Caption Competition These two images show the shed and window referred to in Thanks for your contributions to the Don’s article. Photos: Don Cambridge Caption Competition in the last Newsletter. C Gregory came up with: ‘Embarrassment as members of the Village People tribute band turn up in the same costume!!’ And this from Graham Holland: “New boy band formed – ‘Take Them’ – and the sooner the better”!” Think you can do better? Well how about a caption for this photograph – send your suggestions to: [email protected]. Carriage Trust at Butterley and I was the correct place. I have also asked the given contact details. So I contacted the Vintage Carriage Trust to let me know Vintage Carriage Trust. Again, I received if they do find out the pedigree of the a quick response saying they would love door. The Mystery it but at the present time they had no idea where it was from. So, do any Barrow Hill members think Window they know what logo is? If so please let Part 1 When I replied saying I was waiting to the office know and they will pass it on My next door but one neighbour, Stuart, As the house was going to be sold, I hear from Crich, they said they had no to me. objection to it going there if it proved to had the unfortunate experience of his asked Stuart whether I could try and Don Cambridge mother passing away before Christmas. find a home for the window, which he be tramway-related. I went up to his mother’s house on agreed. I was still waiting for a response from Brimington to help him with Crich when, one day, Stuart appeared The Mystery Window a few things in early January and whilst Now email is a wonderful thing but Part 2 you have to find the starting point for with the whole door! I think it was I was there he said he wanted to show made of oak as it was very heavy. I Shortly after Don sent in his article me something up the garden. This contacts. So I started with the National Railway Museum at York and Crich contacted Crich again and received a about the mystery window he received turned out to be a shed made from, quick response: Butterley would be the this email from Simon Evans of the he said, railway carriage doors: four on Tramway Museum – I thought the ‘E’ could be for Electric. There were no best place for it. So I emailed my contact Midland Railway Trust (Historic Carriage the sides and two on the exposed end. at Butterley and we made arrangements and Wagon): There may have been more before his clues as to the origins of the window because, as far as Stuart knew, his father for me to leave it at Butterley station father extended the shed. There was where he picked it up for safe keeping. We currently wonder if it is a tramcar one remaining original window (far left had always worked for the NCB. saloon door as it has the obvious sign of photo), the other having succumbed I soon got a reply back from York that Since I have become involved with the of a brass rubbing strip across it which to a football. The remaining window they had contacted someone else in Archives I have discovered that once would have been for a roller as part of appeared to be etched with, what looked the organisation and would get back to something is put into a museum system, the sliding mechanism. It could therefore to me, like a Midland Railway ‘MR’ with me, which they did within a week. I was it is in safe hands. If the mystery window be ex - Burton & Ashby Light Railway. a smaller ‘E & T’ at each side in the advised that the best place to identify/ is found to be tram, narrow gauge or These were built and operated by monogram. give the window to would be the Vintage anything else it will be transferred to the Midland Railway until about 1927 38 39 other items continued... HNRC locos line up in the Roundhouse yard for a publicity shot. but several cars were sold off after Photo: Paul Warren withdrawal. Preserved car No. 14 went to America, but the photos of its recovery show no glass so there is no proof of the etching. However, the proportions of the window look right, as does the position of the brass sliding strip. You can also see where the handle was attached (there is quite an extensive repair of this visible). The door has obviously been cut down, so its overall size is smaller now. I will have to do some more searching to see what I can find. The theory could be proved utterly wrong! We will be quite happy to keep and display the door, as it is almost certainly of Midland origin from the style of the letters. If we are still not certain of its origin, we will just say so on any display material! BELOW: Sleeping giants the night before thousands descended on the Roundhouse to admire them. Have a look at the picture of car 14, which Photo: Duncan Langtree shows the shape of the window and the position of the brass strip. Simon Evans

And finally…. Who was very brave and bold another Mystery? Going out without his trousers On those days that are so cold The Lost Trousers Well we went and asked everybody We found this pair of trousers Even left them out on show Lying on the chair But who those trousers belong to Although we searched for their owner No-one seems to know? He simply wasn’t there! Now we can’t sell them in the shop It might have been an alien They’re second-hand you see Beamed down from outer space But if they are still here next weekend Who took off in a hurry We are going to – for 50p! Leaving his trousers in his place Ann Ward It could have been somebody

40 TOP: An unusual shot from the signal box during “East Coast Giants”. ABOVE: Vulcan pictured up the Springwell branch with a short freight during one of the “East Coast Giants” photo charters. Photos: Duncan Langtree