NEWS 2008 – page 1
2008 has been a phenomenal year for the railway, with news coming in buckets, aided and abetted by our keen member-photographers. In order to limit the size of these archive pages we have divided 2008’s news into three smaller (but still large) pages – use the links below.
2008 - page 1 | 2008 - page 2 | 2008 - page 3
YET MORE COMINGS AND GOINGS (added 29
April 2008 )
After the flurry of ‘goings’ we are pleased to
report an even larger ‘flurry’ of comings – three wagons, and a loco to
boot. The three wagons were threatened
with scrapping at Gloucester Docks so a quick rescue bid was launched, with the
first one arriving on Friday 25 April and a further two the following day. The first was a buff-painted van with wooden solebars,
lettered as belonging to ROF and numbered ROF30450. It was however registered with the GWR as
No.85152, and built by Charles Roberts of Wakefield
Perhaps more importantly was the arrival of 03 141 from the Swansea Vale
Railway. This is an example of the
classic Class 03 shunter but with a cut down cab to suit the limited height
clearances on the Gwendraeth Valley Line where it worked coal trains from
various small collieries until replaced by cut down Class 08s and withdrawn
(from Landore in 1985. Its preservation
history is complex, but it appears to have been preserved at the Dean Forest
Railway in 2003 before being purchased by its current owner in 2005, who took
it to the ill-fated Swansea Vale Railway.
|
|
Left: Loco 03 141 looks a bit
vacant, with its cab windows and doors blanked off, and its paintwork is well
overdue for some attention. We are
assured that the coupling rods have come with it, but so far we have not been
told of the whereabouts of its characteristic flower pot chimney.
|
THE DMU GALA – WE THINK (added 29
April 2009 )
We think we had a Diesel Gala on the weekend of the
19/20 April, though dense fog ensured that we saw little or nothing of it. What we DO know was that there was lots of
hooting from various sources, a whole lotta Thumping going on from our Class
205, DMU headlights peering warily through the fog, and passengers staying away
in droves. A pity really because the
event was operationally perfect with a neatly executed single token exchange
regime which ensured safety and a regular supply of different trains throughout
each day. Apart from performances from
‘Thumper’ Class 205, and Derby 108 DMU, the privately owned Pressed Steel 117
DMU made its public debut – though even this was marred by some serious loss of
adhesion, whilst slipping up the bank to the Whistle Inn on the greasy rails.
Right: There’s a train there
somewhere! On day two of its entry into
service, Class 117 DMU waits for the off at Furnace Sidings, ready to carry a
few passengers up to the Whistle Inn.
(photo:Alistair Grieve)
|
|
EXTENSION DEVELOPMENT BEGINS – AND
IT REALLY HAS THIS TIME! (added 21
April 2008 )
Whilst development at Furnace Sidings (Step 1.3) has
been going well since early Summer 2007, supported by donations from our
members and proceeds of the shop, the railway’s REAL ambition – the 1.25mile
(2km) extension southwards to Blaenavon (High Level) (Step 1.2) has finally got
under way. The start was heralded by
receipt by TCBC of a formal letter from HoV programme on 15 April, which allows
expenditure to begin. Although HoV
announced the award internally last October, and to the public in January (see
below), it has taken six months for the award to become a reality. The work divides into four distinct steps:
Step 1.2.1 – Track relaying and re-positioning of points
Step 1.2.2 – Lineside fencing
Step 1.2.3 – Refurbishment of platform at Blaenavon (High Level), and provision
of small shelter / ticket office
Step 1.2.4 – Repair / renewal of Bridge 13 (Old Pit road bridge), Bridge 14
(New Pit road bridge), Bridge 16 (Low cycleway bridge), Bridge 17 (Doncaster’s
stream), Bridge 19 (Varteg Road bridge)
Step 1.2.5 – Ecological survey
Step 1.2.6.1 – Repair of Bridge 12
(Rail-over-Rail) bridge to permit passage of trains underneath
Although the overall project is being managed by TCBC, Capita Symonds are
handling Steps 1.2.4 and 1.2.5 with PBR handling the remainder. Confident that the award would finally
materialise, Capita Symonds were instructed to start work by TCBC, and they
have already completed the inspection work and are now well into the design
phase. The ecological study is also
complete. The project is not without its
problems. The costs of repairing Bridges
13 and 19 are significantly greater than expected, so that repairs to Bridge 19
have been deferred for the moment. This
is not expected to delay public train services to Blaenavon (High Level) in
April 2010. However, PBR volunteers have
completed Step 1.2.6.1. In case you
wondered, step 1.2.6.2 is the repair of Bridge 12 to permit the passage of
trains OVER it, and has been allocated to another project (don’t worry – it’s
all part of a wider scheme!). Two images
of the exercise are shown below
Step 1.2.6.1 in
action! Bridge 12, the unique
rail-over-rail bridge was propped by two massive pontoons, which, in later
years have sunk and shrunk and no longer supported the deck. Amongst other things, removal of the pontoons
was required to provide access to the underside of the deck, for further
assessment. Following a detailed risk
assessment a Safe System of Work was generated, and enacted shortly after. Here, on 7 October 2007 , one of the pontoons in seen making its way increasingly rapidly to
earth! The remains of the first pontoon
are already on the ground.
(photo: Alastair Warrington)
It’s one thing knocking them down, quite
another to get rid of them. The mortal
remains were finally moved by a heavy works train on a cold and misty day on 20
April. Viewed from above, well wagon
Weltrol B90080, is attached to loco ‘Llanwern’ on its south side. The wagon is probably loaded close to its 20
ton limit
(photo: Alistair Grieve)
... AND THEN THERE WERE TWO (added 19 April 2008 )
With the departure of GWR 3855, the ‘Rippingale
Five’ have now been reduced to two, and at present, so far as we know, there
are no further plans for either of them to leave Blaenavon. After 21 years dormant at Furnace sidings,
GWR 3855 really gave the impression that it didn’t want to go. Much oil, hammering and profane language,
together with a tug of war fought out with one of our members’ Scammells, finally
saw 3855 woken from its slumbers. It
finally left on 17 April bound for the East Lancs railway
GWR 3855 does battle with a Scammell Pioneer. Despite appearances it was no one sided
affair, but 3855 finally yielded
|
GWR 3855 stands ready for the journey north to the East Lancs Railway,
waiting for clearance to cross the
|
Space at last! The areas vacated
by the three exiles will allow the Top Shed to be extended northwards by
88ft. The following day the area was
cleared and the old sleepers condemned to the pyre. Rippingale GWR ‘Jumbo’ tank No. 5668 already has its space
booked in the new extension, so that real restoration can start. photo: Andy
Knock
|
GWR 2874 LEAVES FOR THE WIZZER (added 4 April 2008)
First it was Monday, then it was Wednesday, and
finally Thursday 3 April, but the privately-owned GWR 28xx class No.2874 was finally
dragged onto the back of Allely’s low loader for the trek off down to the West
Somerset Railway, where, after 21 years in the open at Blaenavon, serious
attempts to restore her to her former glory will be made. The loco is the second of the Rippingale
collection to leave Blaenavon, following ‘Hall’ class No.5967, which left in
late January, and is unusual in retaining inside steam pipes. Negotiations for its sale were protracted
with one or two false dawns, but finally she has gone –and unquestionably to a
good home. There are rumours also that
the Class 38xx will be sold soon, and
will leave Blaenavon, leaving the way open for a much needed 88ft extension to
the Top Shed.
2874 is loaded on, and turned
round, waiting for the long journey ahead
|
Looking in remarkably
good nick after 21 years suffering a diet of howling gales and horizontal
rain, we had rather forgotten just how elegant these GWR tenders are.
|
All lined up for the off,
with the support van in pole position, 2874 sits in front of its tender. The procession was to leave shortly
afterwards
|
EASTER BUNNY OUTRAGES DECENT PEOPLE
ONCE AGAIN (added 4
April 2008
How sad we are, to report that, once again the Easter Bunny has been out
and about upsetting the decent travelling public, by wiggling his ears,
squeaking in a threatening manner and thoroughly embarrassing them. It didn’t help that he then tried to buy off
his victims by offering them easter eggs.
But the kids loved it, and the annual competition to ‘spot’ Idris the
Dragon, Griff the Egg, and Megan the cuddly Bunny from our trains went without
a hitch. Of course, all our young
passengers are very bright indeed, and not one failed to complete the
competition and collect a small prize.
Our resident bean-counters in their dusty garrets, were cock-a-hoop with
our passengers, who, despite the presence of that rabbit creature, increased their
number form 583 over the Easter Weekend last year to 672 this year – an
increase year over year of 22%.
Oh, alright – here he is
again, making at least one young passenger smile. Guard Barry bravely smiles in the face of
adversity, having tried unsuccessfully to evict a certain rabbit from the
railway.
SILVER JUBILEE
NAMED... (added 22 March 2008 )
We formally celebrated our first quarter century of
operations on Saturday 22 March, when, in a bitingly cold northerly wind, the
leader of Torfaen County Borough Council formally unveiled the nameplate Silver Jubilee / Jiwbili Arian on the
side of Class 73 loco 73 128. We say
‘unveiled’ advisedly, since test unveilings simply caused our national flag to be
hurled down the valley in a force seven – not the way to treat Y Ddraig Goch by any means! After an introduction by Traffic Manager Alex
Hinshelwood, the leader, Bob Wellington gave a short speech as the plates were
affixed. He and his civic party consisting
of the Mayor of Blaenavon and his wife, borough and town councillors and other
invited guests boarded the train for the journey up to the Whistle Inn. On board, the leader cut a large celebratory
cake, whilst tea and smaller cakes were absorbed in profusion.
It all raises the question: where will we be in another twenty five years, and
will we have a main line connection by then?
That’s it then, job
done! Leader, Bob Wellington buttons his
coat against the wind, driver Roger Lewis jumps off, under the eye of Traffic
Manager Alex Hinshelwood. On the
leader’s right, Cllr John Marshall, Mayor Lewis Evans, Cllr Neil Lewis, Mrs
Marshall, Mrs Whitcombe, our Chairman Dave Haylins, Cllr Stuart Evans (with the
back of Cllr Brian Whitcombe’s head just visible) and the mayor’s wife Mrs Evans
THE NEXT TOAD ARRIVING... (added 17 March 2008 ) It seems that
the pace of arrivals and departures seems to continue without respite at
Furnace Sidings. The latest acquisition
is a privately-owned example of that most characteristic Great Western goods
brake van, which for reasons lost in telegraphic history, was code-named
Toad. It arrived during the afternoon of
Saturday 15 March, largely unrecorded.
This was, in part, because Furnace Sidings was suffering from one of its
unremitting downpours, but mainly because all proper Welsh folk were glued to
the telly watching a worthy victory in ‘the match’. The van, which was previously at the Gwili
Railway in West Wales put up quite a fight to stay there, and several weekends
work were undertaken by PBR volunteers to get it out sideways from a siding
onto an adjacent line from which it could be moved. The van, numbered W35978 was built in 1946 to
diagram AA23, and is currently branded ‘Aberayron’ which we believe to be
spurious. Any clues to its original
branding would be gratefully received.
PONTYBEREM ARRIVES (added 17 March 2008)
This elderly lady
was built by the Avonside Engine Company in 1900 for work on the Burry
Porth and Gwendraeth Valley Railway. She
was rescued from the BPGV in 1970, and has spent many years at the Great
Western Society in Didcot. Privately
owned, and sporting the number 2, she arrived here quietly, without fuss on
0930 Wednesday 12 March. In fairness her
journey from the Great Western Society HQ at Didcot was not without incident
due to clearance problems around the Didcot triangle, and so Pontyberem
had to have her chimney removed.
And if that wasn’t indignity enough they then had to surgically remove
her cab - in two pieces. Still, the ol’
girl is back in Wales now, and a few weeks in
the Blaenavon sun (!) this summer and she’s sure to have her chimney
back on, and her cab? Well that’s hardly
the most difficult thing in the world, now, is it?
|
Oh, the shame of it, no chimney and no cab, No.2 Pontyberem sits on her dedicated piece of track shortly after arrival. |
From the rear see a cab
full of bits – including the offending chimney. The No.2 is painted on the bunker in true Swindon
style, though, on the tanks, vestiges of No.11 appear |
Don’t worry – the cab is
here too, and here’s the front part.
It’s not clear whether the old cab can be re-constructed, or whether a
new one might suit the loco better |
A LOCO FOR ALL SEASONS (added 11
March 2008)
Following from the successful 6 month season operating electro-diesel 73
133 from June 2006, yesterday saw delivery, in lashing rain and howling winds
of sister loco 73 128, looking very modern in EW&S livery. We are told this IS a heritage livery, since
the current style is simply EWS, not EW&S!
Partisans should not fear, the influx of BR(S) stock does not herald a
takeover though we may have a few more surprises in store.
|
Cosying up to its relative from the Southern
Region, Class 73 No.73 128 stands by awaiting the fuelling bowser, and is
coupled and connected to Class 205 ‘Thumper’ 205 018 (or Class 3H, No.1118 in
old money!). |
We’ve brightened this picture of the opposite side of
73 128, since it was taken under dark scudding cloud in the middle of a
storm. The loco is to be formally
named ‘Silver Jubilee’ on the 22 March to commemorate the railway’s 25th
year of continuous operation. |
|
PBR
GETS LISTED (added 11 March 2008)
|
|
BICKMARSH
HALL LEAVES
BLAENAVON (added 28 January 2008)
Following months
of uncertainty and failed deals, GWR ‘Hall’ class loco 5967 ‘Bickmarsh Hall’ finally
left the PBR’s yard at Furnace Sidings, Blaenavon today, bound for the
Northampton and Lamport Railway. The
loco, which was privately owned by member Terry Rippingale, has been purchased
by another private owner, who has clear plans to restore the loco to running
order. The five ex-Barry locos that
formed the ‘Rippingale Collection’, came to Blaenavon in 1987 (not 1994 as
reported earlier). It was never intended
that they be restored to working order, but would form a static display. In the event, PBR’s requirement to extend the
‘Top Shed’ 88ft further north led to a request that the collection be reduced
in size in order to provide space. There
are also expressions of interest in two of the remaining four locos, and if
these are sold, only two of the Rippingale locos will remain at Blaenavon. At present it is not clear which locos these
will be but the archetypal valleys loco 6658 seems likely to remain.
|
|
|
|
|
Inch by inch ‘Bickmarsh
Hall’ is hauled up onto the low loader |
Safely on, and in one
piece, after more than twenty years at Blaenavon |
Shackled down, ready, and
eager to go! Perhaps a new chimney and
safety valve bonnet will be in the offing All photos : Andy Knock |
PBR – THE RAILWAY THAT’S GOING DOWN HILL
(added 24 January 2008)
It’s true!
After many years of negotiations, the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG)
has, today, finally announced a £526,000 funding package to support the railway
in its endeavours to extend 1 ¾ miles southwards (and downhill) to the one time
LNWR station at Blaenavon (High Level).
The station, which closed to passengers on 5 May 1941 – 67 years ago! –
will, for the time being serve as the railway’s southern terminus (five minutes
into town on foot – ten minutes back up the hill!), and provide relatively easy
access to the town centre. It will also
provide a unique experience for PBR loco crews – level track. The full press release appears below:
|
After months
of uncertainty, volunteers at the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway were
overjoyed to hear news that their local authority, Torfaen County Borough
Council (TCBC) have secured £526,000 from the Heads of the Valleys programme
to underpin a southward expansion from
their current centre of operations at Furnace Sidings 1¼ miles to Blaenavon
High Level station. Currently
passenger operations extend ¾ mile northwards to Whistle Inn, so that the
extended line will have a total length of two miles. The project will be managed by TCBC and
their term contractors Capita Symonds, who will serve as consultants. The cost of the extension is high because
no less than seven bridges along the route need more or less extensive repairs.
Operations will be undertaken by DMUs or DEMUs, until further investment
capital can be raised to finance the construction of a run-round loop which
will permit loco-hauled trains. The
Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway Company has worked closely with other
stakeholders in the World Heritage Site town of Blaenavon over the last five
years or so, particularly with the Tourism and Economic Development sections
of the local authority Said
PBR’s Development Director Dr. John Down, ‘This investment will fund the
first real step in our ambitious plans to develop a comprehensive tourism and
community railway. We very much hope
we will be able to deliver a railway with vitality and a future to our
partners in Torfaen. There are many
agencies and individuals who have helped make this happen, but above all,
we’d like to thank the people of Blaenavon town who have unstintingly
supported us through thick and thin over the last twenty five years’. The
Railway Company has ambitious plans for the future involving substantial
infrastructure improvements, and a short branch to a halt at Big Pit which
will be operated by short ‘Collier’s Trains’.
At present the Railway Company is in early but regular discussions
with members and officers of both TCBC and neighbouring Blaenau Gwent CBC,
together with officers of the Heads of the Valleys programme with a view to
re-opening the railway back to Brynmawr, via Waunafon (which, at 1400ft, is the highest main-line station in the
UK). Although this would extend the
tourist railway by a further 2 .75 miles, the emphasis would be to operate it
as a community railway. Passenger trains to
Blaenavon (High Level) are planned to start from 3 April 2010 – 69 years
after they were withdrawn on 5th May 1941. |
PHIRST PHOTOCHARTER (added 20
January 2008)
The PBR has regularly dipped it’s toe into the idea
of a photocharter, but it was 12 January that a full-blown charter was finally
organised by Company Director and Traffic Manager Alex Hinshelwood in
association with photocharter expert Simon Hopkins, set up a demonstration freight train to desport
itself ‘on and about’ the line. By a
remarkable stroke of good fortune for January in Blaenavon, morning dawned to
an almost cloudless sky, and flecks of snow which had fallen the previous
evening still hung around the trackbed, and festooned the nearby mountain tops.
|
|
|
|
Loco 813 pretending to be
816 (see ‘Santa breaks all records’, below), stands at the north end of
Furnace Sidings awaiting the dictates of assembled photographers a little
further up the line |
More masquerades as BR
China Clays bear GW insignia, and the BR GBV proclaims itself ‘LMS’ – not
that it seemed to bother the photographers |
Nearly forty photographers attended the event, which, as a first attempt,
was not widely publicised. However, one
photographer was the redoubtable Geoff Silcock who displayed slides and photos
the previous evening at a well-received talk given in Blaenavon Workmans
Hall. Unlike Geoff, your webmaster has
no pretensions to being able to take anything other than holiday snaps with
missing heads and feet, and thus we can do no better than to direct you to the
work of some of the visitors whose work has subsequently appeared on the
fotopic site. No doubt there will
shortly be others.:
http://paulmartin.fotopic.net/c1442609.html
http://philtpics.fotopic.net/c66338.html
-and our very own ace photter, Alistair Grieve:
http://aligrieve.fotopic.net/c1440362.html
-also young member Aled:
http://37430.fotopic.net/c1442333.html
A HAPPY NEW YEAR IN 2008. (added 3 January
2008)
This year, 2008, sees our Silver Anniversary – 25 years of non-stop passenger
operations. We have an exciting events
programme lying ahead, coupled with an intense development program over the
next few years. Looking back, 2007 was
another memorable year, and, as is usual we publish our passenger figures about
now. They may need marginally tweaking
after our finance wallahs have adjusted them but they will vary by no more than
one or two:
- Summer Season - 5402, 41.0 up on 2006
- Santa Season - 1943, 21.3% up on 2006
- Mince Pie Specials – 53 (new event)
- Overall - 7398, 36.1% up on 2006
