Tracks the monthly magazine of the Inter City Railway Society websites: icrs.org.uk & icrs.fotopic.net FL 86613 + 86609 catch the last rays of the setting sun on a southbound liner Carlisle, 11 February 2010 Volume 38 No.4 April 2010 Inter City Railway Society founded 1973 The content of the magazine is the copyright of the Society No part of this magazine may be reproduced without prior permission of the copyright holder President: Simon Mutten (01603 715701) Coppercoin, 12 Blofield Corner Rd, Blofield, Norwich, Norfolk NR13 4RT Chairman: Carl Watson - [email protected] 14, Partridge Gardens, Waterlooville, Hampshire PO8 9XG Secretary: Gary Mutten - [email protected] (01953 600445) 1 Corner Cottage, Silfield St. Silfield, Wymondham, Norfolk NR18 9NS Treasurer: Gary Mutten - [email protected] details as above Membership Secretary: Trevor Roots - [email protected] (01466 760724) Mill of Botary, Cairnie, Huntly, Aberdeenshire AB54 4UD Editorial Manager: Trevor Roots - [email protected] details as above Website Manager: Mark Richards - [email protected] (01908 520028) 7 Parkside, Furzton, Milton Keynes, Bucks. MK4 1BX Editorial Team: Sightings: James Holloway - [email protected] (0121 744 2351) 246 Longmore Road, Shirley, Solihull B90 3ES News: John Barton - [email protected] (0121 770 2205) 46, Arbor Way, Chelmsley Wood, Birmingham B37 7LD Wagons & Trams: Martin Hall - [email protected] (0115 930 2775) 5 Sunninghill Close, West Hallam, Ilkeston, Derbyshire DE7 6LS Europe (website): Robert Brown - [email protected] (01909 591504) 32 Spitalfields, Blyth, Worksop, Notts. S81 8EA Magazine Distribution: Peter Britcliffe - [email protected] (01429 234180) 9 Voltigeur Drive, Hartlepool TS27 3BS Publications Team: UK Combine / Pocket Book: Carl Watson - [email protected] details as above UK Wagons: Scott Yeates - [email protected] Paul Eveleigh (contact via Scott) Name Directory: Eddie Rathmill Publications Distribution: Carl Watson - [email protected] details as above Website Assistant: vacant Contents: Officials Contact List ........................................ 2 Traffic and Traction News ............................ 7 Society Notice Board .................................... 3-6 Wagon Corner ........................................... 27 Publications ............................................. 6 & 28 Feature Articles: Current News / Sightings: Location ‘Spot’Light ..............................16 -22 Gloucester / Stirling Sightings .............. 12-15 Railtour News ............................................ 12 Light Rail and Metro News ........................ 26 Railway Globetrotters ........................... 23-26 Open Day News ........................................ 15 Ramblings of a Rail Enthusiast .................... 8 Out and About Sightings ........................ 9-11 Slam Door Finale ....................................... 22 Stock Changes / Liveries .......................... 26 £1.50 where sold separately (post free) Printed by Ords Group, Progress House, Usworth Road Industrial Estate, Hartlepool TS25 1PD 2 Society Notice Board Editor’s Comments: Sadly we have to report the death of Alan Gilmour, a long time stalwart of the society (see obituary below). He was still active, providing editorial assistance in dealing with articles under All Our Yesterdays. I know he also loved finding quiet and unusual lineside spots to enjoy his hobby, some of which have appeared recently. If any members have sent in articles, which have not yet appeared in Tracks please contact me to see whether I have received them from Alan. I will in future deal directly with All Our Yesterdays articles. Obituary: Alan Gilmour It is with deep regret that I write to inform you all that Alan Gilmour sadly passed away on 13th March following a short illness. Alan was one of the guiding lights of the Society for over 30 years. During that time he held a number of senior positions within the organisation, including Magazine Editor, Secretary and Chairman, and as you all know has remained a regular contributor to the magazine. He was also instrumental in forging contacts and relationships with many departments and depots within BR and later the myriad of companies which sprang up after privatisation. Approved visits by the Society to Eurostar’s North Pole depot and the MoD site at Kineton were typical of his achievements. Those of us who knew him were aware of his passion for the Society and whilst Chairman, he laid some of the groundwork for the change in fortunes of what was at the time an organisation suffering from declining interest and membership. Alan raised the profile of ICRS nationally within the railway industry and it was he who persuaded Pete Waterman to become our first president. Officials of the Society are, and always have been, unpaid volunteers who give their time freely for the benefit of all members (and others) to enjoy their interest in the modern railway scene. Alan in particular put in many hours of work to ensure that we still operated professionally and that the interests of members were protected. He was instrumental in drafting the first major update of our original rules and constitution. Alan was also a man who stood by what he believed in. The Society’s later decision not to obligate itself to trip running within its Constitution was one that Alan strongly disagreed with and led at the time to his resignation as Chairman. It did not however alter his affection for, and continued support of the Society. Alan Gilmour is someone who will always be remembered with affection by those within the Society who worked with him and knew him. Our condolences go to his wife Gill and daughter Victoria. Simon Mutten ICRS President Obviously after such sad news it seems rather hollow to report that spring appears to have arrived, even up here with the last of my snow melting by the 18th, fully 3 months after first falling. No daffodils yet but a couple of crocuses and the snowdrops are out in their full glory from under a suffocating blanket. However not much warmth yet and now more snow forecast ! Managed to write another Location ‘Spot’Light but unfortunately that has left less room for other regular articles I have waiting. Hopefully the pleasant situation of too much for the present 28 pages will be addressed soon...watch this space ! Seems the network is going to be thrown into disarray with an impending national strike threatened, which if it goes ahead will scupper my planned journey south prior to the AGM. This comes hard on the heels of Jarvis going into administration. At least preliminary work has started on restoring the northern part of the Waverley route and HS2 was announced...mind you how many of us will see that, certainly I’ll be needing a zimmer by the time it reaches Scotland. Unfortunately with the national debt as it is, it is likely that transport projects will have to be cut back, whatever promises are made. 3 It has been great to see Railways featuring heavily on the small and big screen lately. The new British film ‘Cemetery Junction’ uses the Great Central Railway to depict the 1970s, whilst the Ecclesbourne Railway and its Cl.101 DMU 51505+51188 was used in the BBC TV drama ‘Five Days’. Also being repeated straight after its first run is the 20 part ‘Great British Railway Journeys’ with Michael Portillo, which whilst interesting in a light and fluffy way is also annoying for its continuity issues. Why is that the media think any shot of a train will do ! The one I enjoyed the most was however the first in a 3 part series on Indian Hill Railways. This featured the Darjeeling Hill Railway and health and safety must have had kittens if they watched it. The best bit, if any of you spotted it was the manual sanders on the steamers...two lads sitting on the bufferbeam throwing sand out front. Hope to see as many of you as possible at the AGM, details of which are again shown below. AGM by Carl Watson: Saturday 17th April is the planned date and the location will be the Kidderminster Railway Museum at Kidderminster on the Severn Valley Railway. There is access by road with free parking and by mainline rail services (see below) to Kidderminster, so access shouldn't be a problem. I hope you'll agree that this will give plenty of interest on the day for everyone. In order to ensure everyone can take advantage of the venue we are looking to make an 11.00 start to finish by 14.00. This will allow time for a full round trip of the line in the afternoon for those wishing to do so. (see timetable below). The first service after finish of AGM leaves at 14.20 arriving back at 17.15. The next service to allow a full round trip is the 15.35 arriving back at 18.27. The start time will also allow time beforehand at Kidderminster. Personally, I've not visited the SVR but I've heard a lot of good reports about it so I think this will be a good day out for all. Can those intending to go to AGM please contact our Secretary, Gary Mutten, to whom apologies should also be sent Road Access: Kidderminster is 10 miles west of the M5. For those who use such things, the sat nav directions are, Kidderminster Station, Comberton Hill, DY10 1Q. Both stations are situated off the A448. Rail: Frequent services leave Birmingham Moor St (Snow Hill is 3 mins later) at the following times in the hour 44, 55, 01, 09, 29 & 39, with the journey taking 40 mins. Smethwick Galton Bridge is passed on the way 13 mins from BMS, where the connections can be made with the Birmingham New Street to Wolverhampton line and the WCML at Stafford beyond. Times from Wolverhampton are 09/19/28 & 49 in the hour, the journey taking 15 mins. From BNS, the times are 01, 08, 24 & 38, the journey being just 8 mins.