THE JOLLY FISHERMAN - FLYING SCOTSMAN RAILTOUR - SATURDAY 25th SEPTEMBER 2021

 

The Jolly Fisherman
 - Saturday 25th September 2021

Ride behind the famous Flying Scotsman on this unusual tour to the east coast of England and the popular seaside resort of Skegness. We plan to recreate the Jolly Fisherman experience that was a popular excursion planned by the Great Northern Railway. We will head northwards from London’s King’s Cross station with the world famous Flying Scotsman hauling us along the East Coast main line to Peterborough, Boston and then to Skegness. With contrasting scenery all the way, what better way to spend the day than travelling on a traditional seaside express to the bracing east coast.

We leave London King’s Cross in the morning, and head northwards along the ECML, picking up at Potters Bar, Stevenage and Peterborough. Here, we leave the ECML at Werrington Junction and head across rural Lincolnshire along the former Great Northern line towards Spalding, a town noted for its flower growing industry. We continue along the Great Northern & Great Eastern Joint line via Helpringham to the market town of Sleaford, where we will pause to run round our steam locomotive.  

Following a reversal, we now head eastwards along the former Great Northern line towards Boston, noted for its famous landmark of St Botolph’s church, otherwise known as the Boston Stump.  We take the remaining section of the former East Lincolnshire line that once went through to Louth and Grimsby, but now it only runs as far as the junction at Firsby with the Skegness line. The line is very straight and flat for miles and is pleasantly rural in outlook as we head for Firsby, where there is a sharp curve towards Skegness all that is left of the remaining side of a former triangular junction. We will make a stop at Wainfleet should you wish to visit this attractive town with its interesting Batemans Brewery visitors centre. It is then just a short distance to our afternoon destination at Skegness. Time will be available to visit the resorts many attractions, including the promenade, the clock tower and the Jolly Fisherman statue and fountain. There are ample restaurants and many typical seaside shops to visit, or just have a quiet stroll along the sea front.

After an afternoon in Skegness, we will retrace our earlier route back to Sleaford, where we will continue to Grantham and join the ECML. After a spirited climb up to Stoke tunnel, we now head for Peterborough, before heading back to London, setting down at our outward calling points. We can expect some fast running from Flying Scotsman as she runs up to her maximum speed along the ECML. Our arrival back in London King’s Cross will reluctantly bring to an end a splendid day out to the seaside on the Jolly Fisherman Express.

Flying Scotsman info;

60103 Flying Scotsman has been described as the most famous steam locomotive in the world. Built in 1923 for the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) at Doncaster Works to a design of H.N. Gresley, it was employed on long-distance express trains on the LNER and its successors, British Railways Eastern and North-Eastern Regions, notably on the London to Edinburgh Flying Scotsman train service after which it was named.

The locomotive set two world records for steam traction, becoming the first steam locomotive to be officially authenticated at reaching 100 miles per hour on 30 November 1934, and then setting a record for the longest non-stop run by a steam locomotive when it ran 422 miles on 8 August 1989 while in Australia. Retired from regular service in 1963 after covering 2,076,000 miles, Flying Scotsman gained considerable fame in preservation under the ownership of Alan Pegler, William McAlpine (seen below), Tony Marchington and finally the National Railway Museum (NRM). As well as hauling enthusiast specials in the United Kingdom, the locomotive toured extensively in the United States and Canada (from 1969 to 1973) and Australia (from 1988 to 1989).

SPA VALLEY RAILWAY - MODEL RAILWAY WEEKEND [11th - 12th SEPTEMBER 2021]

Spa Valley Railway

  - Model Railway Weekend

Saturday 11th - Sunday 12th September 2021
LOCATION:

Spa Valley Railway, Nevill Terrace

Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 5QY
OPENING TIMES:  Saturday & Sunday 10:00 to 17:30

ADMISSION:  Adults £12.00  Concessions £11.00  Children £6.00  Family £30.00 

We're operating our first Model Railway Weekend this September with a gathering of model railways in a variety of different scales, come along to see layouts at Tunbridge Wells West & Eridge with trade stands too! Our main area of layouts on display will be inside the engine shed at Tunbridge Wells West, access will be possible from 10:00 to 17:30 on Saturday 11th & Sunday 12th September, entry tickets can be purchased on the day.

List of Layouts Attending:

Badgers Mount - [OO Gauge, pictured above] depicting a small outer London terminus set in the Network South East era between the mid-1980s and mid-1990s or possibly very early privatisation and featuring third rail electrification.

Beside the Sea (Pier Railway) - OO Gauge
Paybury - [OO Gauge] 1960s Southern themed model railway
Tramlink - [OO Gauge]

Little Totston - Orpington and District Model Railway Society showing their children's / Thomas The Tank Engine inspired OO Gauge layout.

Blackgang - Gauge 3

Crown Electrolytic Plating Works
A small O Gauge Layout that suits any era with a change of stock and people.

Long Sutton - N Gauge

Beachlands - N Gauge by Andy Harlow

Popley Halt - N Gauge by Michael Wilkins

Groombridge - N Gauge

Childrens Layout - G Scale

Mining Model Railway - G Scale

Lego Model Railway - L Gauge

West Sussex N Gauge MRC Modular Layout

SPA VALLEY RAILWAY SERVICE

The heritage railway will be operating a two train service using 'Sir Keith Park', 'Douglas' and visiting Class 33/0 33002 'Sea King'. Trains will operate from 10:30 to 17:30 on both days of the event with evening Fish & Chip trains on Saturday 11th September. Trains will call at High Rocks & Groombridge throughout the day as they operate between Tunbridge Wells West and Eridge.

Train Fares:

Adult all day travel
Tunbridge Wells West Model Railways - £12.00.

Senior (60) all day travel
Tunbridge Wells West Model Railways - £11.00.

Child (2-15yrs) all day travel
Tunbridge Wells West Model Railways - £6.00.

Family (2A/2C) all day travel
Tunbridge Wells West Model Railways - £30.00.

The above ticket prices will give you access to see a range of layouts at our Tunbridge Wells West station as well as visit the Engine Shed and yard area. Brake Van rides will also take place throughout the day at Tunbridge Wells West and visitors with Model Railway Exhibition tickets will be able to enjoy rides in our Queen Mary Brake Van from the yard area down to one of our sidings.

Nearest Railway Stations:

Tunbridge Wells [1.39 miles]

High Brooms [2 miles]

Frant [2.26 miles]

Eridge [3.33 miles]

THE SWANAGE BELLE - LONDON VICTORIA -> SWANAGE [Thursday 9th September 2021]

The Swanage Belle
  Thursday 9th September 2021

A unique experience awaits those who join this day trip by steam train to Swanage. It uses the re-opened rail link from Wareham to the ‘Heritage’ Swanage Railway, which is available only to specially chartered trains. Swanage is a superb seaside destination where the railway station is situated close to the town centre.

Steam hauled, Black 5 [44871]
London Victoria (dep 08:45) - Staines (pu) - Woking (pu) - Basingstoke (pu) - Swanage

Return under Diesel from Swanage (pu) - Southampton Central.

Then Steam hauled again from Southampton Central - Redbridge - Romsey - Andover - Basingstoke (sd) - Woking (sd) - Staines (sd) - London Victoria

Due to leave London Victoria station at around 08:45, hauled by our LMS Black 5 steam locomotive [No 44871], and cross the river Thames at Battersea and at Barnes. We pass through Feltham and stop at Staines to pick up more passengers and then re-cross the river Thames. We join the South Western Main Line at Byfleet Junction and stop at Woking to pick up further passengers. At Winchfield, we stop for our steam locomotive to take on water. Our final stop to pick up passengers is at Basingstoke. 

We leave the West of England Main Line at Worting Junction and head through Winchester and Southampton to Bournemouth. We pass through Poole, where there are spectacular views of Poole Harbour, and continue to Wareham. We leave the Weymouth Line at Worgret Junction and take the re-opened link to Norden and the Swanage Railway. There are magnificent views of Corfe Castle as we head towards Swanage along this attractive Heritage Railway. There will be more than three hours for passengers to explore the pleasant seaside resort of Swanage, with its sandy beach and Victorian pier. Durlston Castle is in Durlston Country Park & Nature Reserve from where there are stupendous views along the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Park contains Anvil Point Lighthouse, the 40-ton stone Great Globe, fascinating artefacts from London, and an amazing diversity of wildlife. The Park is one mile from the town and can be reached by bus from the railway station or by walking via public footpaths. 

Our train leaves Swanage for the return journey at around 16:55 and is diesel hauled to Southampton where our steam locomotive takes over. We then take a different route from the outward journey, via Romsey to the outskirts of Salisbury where we join the West of England Main Line at Laverstock North Junction. We travel up the main line through Andover and then stop at Basingstoke, Woking, and Staines, to set down passengers. The train is due to arrive in London Victoria soon after 23:00.

Swanage Heritage Railway

Stations located at Swanage, Herston Halt, Harmans Cross, Corfe Castle and Norden, with a connection to the National Main Line network to Wareham which hopefully will be a regular operation from 2022?

To look at it now, you would never believe that the Swanage Railway has been rebuilt from nothing since 1976 – after almost seven miles of the line was demolished in 1972. The volunteer-led heritage railway that you see today has been the work of several generations of dedicated railway and community volunteers.

Now contributing more than £15 million a year to the Isle of Purbeck economy, the Swanage Railway was demolished in just seven weeks and it took volunteers 30 years to relay it. After the line to Corfe Castle Swanage was closed and demolished in 1972, British Rail ran oil, clay and gas trains to Furzebrook – on the remaining three-mile stub of the branch line – until 2005. A signalled connection between the Swanage Railway and the national railway network near Furzebrook came into use from 2007 with the first excursion trains running from London to Corfe Castle and Swanage during 2009. The summer of 2017 saw the Swanage Railway run a 60-day trial diesel train service from Swanage and Corfe Castle to the main line at Wareham. Sadly Covid brought an interruption to plans to run more regular services to Wareham itself but hopefully that will be something to look forward to in the near future.

SECOND HAND N GAUGE MODELS #9 -- CLASS 40 BR BLUE LIVERY [No. 40 150]

Manufacture - Graham Farish [Cat no - 371-178A]
Graham Farish (Poole) Class 40 fitted with later body, numbered 40150, in BR Blue livery with nicely detailed bodywork and all buffers, couplings intact. 

Purchased unboxed it arrived in good condition although it was apparent that the bodywork was slightly loose, suggesting to me that it was perhaps a new body on an older chassis. Wasn't a problem as purchased for a bargain price. Began life with us as a slow runner and didn't seem to enjoy the bends of my Kato test track, that's when I notice the body being loose and decided to take it apart for a closer look. Given a good inspection, cleaned and lightly oiled up, was pleased to see it taken back to my test track for an hour of slow but ideal running.

Runs well in both directions, even with a subtle increase of speed all I could do with is a longer track to test how this performs with half a dozen Mk1 coaches behind. Sadly my camera and skills are not the best, but I'm very pleased with the outcome now and has excellent condition throughout, no marks, no damage everything is still intact just the body is still a little loose but no shaking, needs careful handling when picking up that's all.

Head codes
Carries a four box head code block with the numbered end ['Front'] showing - IF 95 while the 'Rear' shows - IF 89.

BR CLASS 40
Locomotives in the range D210–D235 were to be named after ships operated by the companies Cunard Line, Elder Dempster Lines, and Canadian Pacific Steamships, as they hauled express trains to Liverpool, the home port of these companies. The only locomotive not to carry a name was D226 which was to carry the name Media but never did so. From approximately 1970, with Class 40s no longer working these trains, the nameplates were gradually removed. A series of unofficial names were applied to the Class 40s by enthusiasts and enthusiastic depot staff. Some locos ran in service with these names applied for many months, others were painted out within days. 

This included my model which according to my limited research 40150 would have carried the unofficial name of 'Crewe'. Our model would have been withdrawn as part of the final batch in 1985 and scrapped.

Class 40 Background
The British Rail Class 40 is a type of British railway diesel electric locomotive. A total of 200 were built by English Electric between 1958 and 1962. They were originally numbered D200-D399. They were, for a time, the pride of British Rail’s early diesel fleet. However, despite their initial success, by the time the last examples were entering service they were already being replaced on some top-level duties by more powerful locomotives. As they were slowly relegated from express passenger uses, the type found work on secondary passenger and freight services where they worked for many years. The final locomotives ended regular service in 1985.

Class 40 in Preservation
Seven locomotives and one cab end (40 088) have been preserved on heritage railways, including the first built, number D200, and the Departmental Locomotives, 97 406, 97 407, 97 408.  Of the seven class 40's to be preserved all except for 40118 have run in preservation and three have run on the main line in preservation, these being Nos D200 (40122), D213 (40013) and D345 (40145).

One of them, No. 40013 Andania (pictured above) was rescued from Vic Berry's Scrapyard in 1987.[36] D212 Aureol was briefly sent to Vic Berry's Scrapyard for asbestos removal before being moved to its new home at the Midland Railway Centre.

The original build D200 is part of the National Collection and displayed at York NRM (pictured below). Only two have Mainline registration D213 (LSL Diesel Fleet) and D345 (40 145) which is one of three owned by the Class 40 Preservation Society.