BROADLINES In association with Sidelines 110 10 Hurdeswell Editor: John Crane Long Hanborough E-mail: [email protected] Witney E-mail: [email protected] No. 19 OCTOBER 2010 Oxfordshire Tel: 0800 756 5111 Ext. 702 OX29 8DH Tel/Fax: 01993 883384 MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION DERWENT VALLEY RAILWAY. The Society is preserving a short section of the Derwent Valley Railway. This is the former independent line that escaped nationlisation and ran from York to near Selby. Located at Murton Park next to the Yorkshire Museum of Farming, with whom the railway is in partnership. There is a running line of approximately 1/2 mile. A run round loop at the far end has recently been installed. Although never signalled when the line was operating, a former North Eastern Signal box from the Bridlington line has been re-erected and signalling is being installed. The railway has an industrial steam locomotive, several diesel locomotives, including an 03 which used to operate the line in the latter days before complete closure in the 70s. A mark 1 coach is currently on loan from the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and a variety of wagons complete the collection. Good workshop facilities are also on site. The jewel in the crown is the re-erected station building, the original building from Wheldrake, which houses a small museum. The Society has approximately 80 members and runs the railway on behalf of the Museum. The aim is to become a Limited Company. Current projects include a new engine shed. It is also hoped to extend the line towards York in the future. Any queries should be directed through Steve Wood, Corporate Membership Secretary, within the prescribed 28 day time period at, 15 Croftlands Drive, Ravenglass, Cumbria, CA18 1SJ Tel/Fax 01229 717080 Email: [email protected] THE ENVIRONMENT John Crane The HRA Board has asked me to take the lead position on this topic with a small working party consisting of four members; Reinhard Serchinger, Tony Tomkins, David Morgan and myself. The explanation for my position is that although I spent my entire working life looking at television pictures, my basic qualification was in physics. The reason for the change of direction was that having one’s name at the end of a famous television series seemed to be more exciting than being credited as the discoverer of the ‘craneon’ elementary particle. (Professor Hawking may have invented the universe but his big bang in becoming a star was when he wrote a book and got his own TV show). Those of you who have attended meetings will also know that I like to approach things from the more light hearted point of view and that my knowledge of steam locomotives amounts to the fact that they consist of a big drum on wheels. Please also note I am not a chemist and likewise I am not an expert on the environment, I leave those aspects to Reinhard and Tony. Hopefully what I can give is an understanding of the principles to those less technically minded and do some of the HERITAGE RAILWAY ASSOCIATION - BROADLINES No. 19 OCTOBER 2010 1 OF 6 background research. I actually started on this work about a year ago and my thanks are due to a representative of the eglgroup, suppliers of Eagle Coal who visited my home and spent a considerable time passing on relevant information. However the majority of the real work has been, and will continue, to be done by Reinhard. Each country seems to have it own pet area of concern and in the U.K. it strikes me that this is global warming and the implications thereof. So what is the purpose of our work? The simple answer is that in addition to the obvious point that no one actually wants to harm the environment we do want to bring about an improvement. A bad public image can obviously be highly detrimental to our businesses. The use of fossil fuels is a ‘hot’ topic and whether you regard us as being in the transport or attraction business, we are using transport items with all that implies. At the time of the Icelandic volcano causing chaos to air traffic, a reporter on Radio 4 was making his way home to the UK and tried using several modes of transport and came to the conclusion that transport is just ‘not good for the environment’. I think we all realise that travelling and communication are now basic facts of human life. However communication can be done by other means but already there are people, presumably those that think we should not go walking in case we wear out the hills for future generations, that are looking at the energy consumption of the communications industry. We therefore have to admit we are not blameless but the problems we do create are outweighed by the benefits brought about by pleasure and education and giving people an understanding of our past technology and industry so that they can move modern technology forward. Our activities also bring benefit to many in the areas in which we are based. I tried to do comparisons between our activities and those undertaken by others but given the differences, comparative figures of similar pursuits are not altogether meaningful. I have to admit that this led to a certain amount of despair as to the way forward but it was Mark Smith that came up with the suggestion of showing the improvements we have and can still make. Everyone quotes low energy light bulbs but the range is far greater than that. For example how well do we insulate our buildings, make use of energy saving devices or even use pollution free power sources. However what about the main source of our being an attraction to the public? What do we do to make our locomotives more fuel efficient? Are they better insulated nowadays? If they are being used for several days running, do we minimise heat loss over night – yes this is not my field as previously stated but the aforementioned big drum must lose a lot of heat during the hours of darkness, possibly with air flow not just passing around but also through it. Mark suggested that the exhaust outlet could be covered. Surely this would reduce the preheat period time from initially setting fire to the locomotive and actually taking power. If we don’t there must be a good reason why, like working at heights or the risk of injury if the cover falls off or would it harm the locomotives themselves – replies please especially from anyone who does it and has detected a saving. (Sorry about that Eagle Coal but better a smaller sale than none at all because the railway is facing a reduction in visitors). Do we shut down our diesel locomotives when they are going to be idle for a reasonable time – yes we need to charge the batteries (for this read ‘we are scared that if we stop it, then it won’t restart’ – been there – done that) and does the air leak away so quickly that a quick restart will take too long. So an initial task, based on my working life that everything needs to be done ten seconds ago, is to compile some facts and ideas that support our cause. Please let me know what you are doing in terms of reducing emissions, pollution and the like. We can show that a modern heritage railway presents a very different impact on the environment to that of the railways of old whilst still retaining the features we wish to demonstrate. What practices have you developed that may be unusual to you so that we can publish suggestions that will benefit all members and ultimately give us a long and secure future? Our pleasure and in some cases our jobs, may depend on it. HERITAGE RAILWAY ASSOCIATION - BROADLINES No. 19 OCTOBER 2010 2 OF 6 HRA 2010 AUTUMN GENERAL MEETING. John Crane The Autumn Meeting took place from Saturday 11th to Monday 13th September based on the Bluebell Railway. Although some members arrived on the Friday, the first visit was to the Spa Valley Railway on the Saturday morning. I arrived somewhat late and was greeted by members completing a tour at the Tunbridge Wells West Station. We then joined their class 33 hauled train for a return trip to Groombridge enjoying coffee and biscuits from the buffet car. Coach travel was then provided to the Chequer Mead Community Art Centre at East Grinstead. The meeting was opened by HRA Vice Chairman, Mark Smith who introduced HRA ‘President Elect’, Lord Faulkner of Worcester to delegates. As explained in Sidelines 109 a formal hand over of the presidency will be held at a suitable occasion when Dame Margaret Weston will take up the role of HRA Patron. Lord Faulkner then addressed the meeting before the actual business was begun. A range of reports from HRA officers on business concerned with the HRA were presented, some of which are covered in this issue of Broadlines and the associated Sidelines. Fascinating presentations were then given by Richard Gibbon and Michael Cope on the Railway Heritage Registers and a separate item is included below. Presentations were then made by members of the Bluebell Railway namely Roy Watts (Preservation Society Chairman), Roger Price (HRA delegate), Chris White (Infrastructure Director) and Sam Bee (Society Vice Chairman with responsibility for Museums and Education). Amongst other things covered was the future plans for the railway which was of major interest to those present. We all knew about the clearing of the tip and the reopening of the cutting that would allow trains to run to East Grinstead.