BROADLINES

In association with Sidelines 111 10 Hurdeswell Editor: John Crane Long Hanborough E-mail: [email protected] Witney E-mail: [email protected] No. 20 DECEMBER 2010 Oxfordshire Tel: 0800 756 5111 Ext. 702 OX29 8DH Tel/Fax: 01993 883384

THE FOLLOWING CLIFF RAILWAYS HAVE APPLIED FOR MEMBERSHIP.

Aberystwyth Cliff Railway – Constitution Hill A funicular cliff railway built in 1896, with various attractions including the famous camera obscura. A registered charity since 1998.

Folkestone Leas Lift One of three remaining water-balance lifts in the country, this recently re-opened lift has been established as a Community Interest Company having taken over responsibility from Shepway District Council. A full business plan is in place.

Babbacombe Cliff Railway This well established cliff railway continues its successful operation at the Devon resort

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] ______

NATIONAL RAILWAY HERITAGE AWARDS Robin Leleux Chairman of the Judges The Awards competition this year attracted a strong field of 51 entries, with a pleasing 13 from heritage railways and a further 11 from private bodies, individuals and contractors. Our thanks to all who entered and our congratulations to all those who won or were short listed. The Awards were presented by Pete Waterman at the annual ceremony at Merchant Taylors’ Hall in the City of London on Wednesday 1st December. This is always a popular “do” and is well attended by all sectors of the rail industry. The full list of winners is

The ATOC Station Environment Award First Great Western

The FirstGroup Craft Skills Award Bridgnorth Locomotive Works Wheel Drop (Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) plc)

The Accessibility Award Settle Station (Settle - Carlisle Railway Development Co.)

The Modern Railways Restoration Award Sheffield Tap (Pivovar Tap Ltd)

The NRHA Volunteers Award Rowsley South Engine Shed Turntable (Peak Rail Turntable Restoration Group)

The Network Rail Partnership Award Etchingham Bistro at the Station (De Etchingham Community Interest Co.)

HERITAGE RAILWAY ASSOCIATION - BROADLINES No. 20 DECEMBER 2010 1 OF 3 The Railway Heritage Trust Conservation Award Brading Station (Brading Town Council)

The for London Award The East London Line Central Stations (Rotherhithe, Shadwell, Quays, Wapping) (Transport for London (London Rail))

The Invensys Rail Signalling Awards

a) signal box structure St Albans South SB (St Albans Signal Box Preservation Trust)

b) operational signalling Woody Bay Ground Frame and Signalling (Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Co.)

The Publishing Award (this is for the best overall winner in the whole competition) Wolverton Park Triangle Building (Places for People)

Also short listed were the Bobby’s Box at Porthmadog, the improvements at Ropley station and two new signals, at Levisham and Rothley. All received appropriate certificates. At the same time the annual Ian Allan Publishing Heritage Railway of the Year Award is made. This year it went to the newly operational Helston Railway Preservation Society Ltd in deepest Cornwall.

WARLEY NATIONAL MODEL RAILWAY EXHIBITION NEC. 20 – 21 NOVEMBER. John Crane This event had been suggested to us as worthy of attendance of the publicity stand so Colin Brown, my wife Margaret and myself duly booked the days in our diaries. Our attendance was by way of an experiment as we had not been before although the exhibition was well known. The organisers had been extremely helpful to us in the run up with plenty of help and advice, not least in their tolerance when we took their words to heart and altered our various requirements to follow their suggestions. Do have electricity for lights but not the fancy stuff, pop down to your local builders’ merchant or DIY store and get the sort of work lights that they stock. I have to say that following the gloss of the World Travel Market the view of the rather stark Hall 11 at the NEC was rather a shock when I took the various items up for the set up day. However I was immediately struck by the friendly atmosphere and the welcome given by officials and fellow exhibitors. Those that knew the show had warned us that the actual days would be hectic and that there would be a mad rush when the show opened to ‘early birds’ at 09.30. They were not wrong. As soon as the official opening was completed by Steve Davies from the National Railway Museum we were inundated. The basic item was to be the Steam Guide, publicising our various members but we also had a stock of leaflets and timetable from about 40 HRA members. It is a shame that more members did not reply to the requests to supply leaflets. All credit to the Corris Railway, the Severn Valley and the Talyllyn who presented us with stocks of their 2011 leaflets actually at the exhibition. The show was attended by a range of people including the great and the good such as Sir William McAlpine and Pete Waterman. However it is worth noting that it was not just model railway enthusiasts who visited us, although we were obviously preaching to the at least partially converted. There were families who would obviously be making use of the information we provided for their 2011 holidays. Some were people checking on railways that they still had to visit, others were checking details of locations and the like for obviously, in the majority of cases, we were only able to give out 2010 literature. I think this was the first show ever when I have gone home exhausted through being kept busy but there again, I have to admit that an hour and a quarter drive during the weekend is somewhat easier than the 05.45 – 21.00 hour days involved in going to Excel. Overall I would think we gave out in the region of 1,100 individual Steam Guides which hopefully will result in quite a few visitors to members in 2011.

HERITAGE RAILWAY ASSOCIATION - BROADLINES No. 20 DECEMBER 2010 2 OF 3 RAILWAY CHILDREN It seemed an appropriate time of year to include an item from this railway associated charity

Railway Children supports children alone and at risk on the streets in India, East Africa and the UK. For the past 15 years we have focused on early intervention, getting to the street kids before the street gets to them. Last year we contacted over 25,000 children with 16,891 of those contacted on the platforms in India. These children face a life of abuse and exploitation on the streets unless we can contact them and get them to a place of safety, with the hope that they can be reunited with their family. Every year over 100,000 children under 16 run away from home or care. 30% of these are 12 or younger. 1 in 6 will sleep rough. Our research ‘Off the Radar’ detailed the experiences of over 100 children from across the UK, before they left home and whilst they survived on the streets. We address the issue through our three-step change agenda, which seeks to provide sustainable interventions for the care and protection of children. Meeting the immediate needs of children on the streets – we work with local organisations to provide shelter, education or vocational training, counselling and if possible, reintegration to family life. Shifting perception in the local context – we work with local stakeholders to ensure that street children are not viewed as commodities to be abused and exploited – but as children in need of care and protection. Holding Governments to account – if we are to see a long-term, sustainable change for the children with whom we work, we must influence key decision makers, ensuring that provisions for safeguarding children are made within their policies and budgets. Railway Children are committed to raising awareness and funds to protect these invisible children. Real change takes time to achieve. However, if we act today we can make a real difference for the children of tomorrow. Please help us by donating at www.railwaychildren.org.uk

INSTITUTION OF RAILWAY SIGNAL ENGINEERS from Press Release Signalling Maintenance Workshop Initiated. The weekend of September 4th / 5th saw thirteen signal engineers from various minor railways around the UK come together for the first time to take part in a workshop for signalling maintenance, with specific emphasis on legal requirements, record keeping and maintenance best practice for points, signals and track circuits. This event was organised by the Minor Railways Section of the IRSE, delivered by Signet Solutions Ltd at their training facilities in Derby, and supported financially by Eldin Management Ltd and Green Dragon Rail. Ian Allison, Chairman of the Minor Railways Section said “The Section aimed to provide an initial training workshop to gauge interest and obtain feedback. The workshop needed to be accessible and affordable to interested individuals who are involved within the minor railway sector giving them a basic understanding and getting them more technically involved with signal engineering”. James Redfern, who heads up the S&T Group for the Stainmore Railway Company said after attending the event “This event, as far as my personal experience goes, was a great success and I would like to offer my thanks to everybody concerned with the inception, planning and organisation of the workshop project. The weekend events ran faultlessly and were extremely well-managed by Isobel and Andy at Signet Solutions. The content was very well thought-out and from the training delivery I have gained a much wider knowledge of the basics of signal operating principles from manual and power-assisted operation of points right through to track circuit installations and even colour light signal operation”. It is now a Section aspiration to run this workshop on an annual basis and for individuals who wish to do more than assist in signal engineering on a minor railway and who will undertake this workshop as a baseline before being assessed to undertake a safety critical role as per the particular minor railways competency management procedures. It will also help individuals begin to work towards an appropriate IRSE licence and participate in the Institution of Railway Signal Engineers activities.

BROADLINES. Articles of interest to HRA members, be they technical, commercial, or just news of successful ideas are welcomed. Email contact preferred [email protected] ______© 2010 The Heritage Railway Association, Limited by Guarantee, is Registered in England and Wales No. 2226245 Registered office: 2 Littlestone Road, New Romney, Kent, TN28 8PL

HERITAGE RAILWAY ASSOCIATION - BROADLINES No. 20 DECEMBER 2010 3 OF 3