NEWS 2007
SANTA BREAKS ALL RECORDS (added 31 December 2007)
With a Santa Season running for a record four
weekends, passenger numbers reached a record high of 1943, which is believed to
have broken the previous record of a little more than 1800, and which has stood
since the early nineties. Even more
remarkable was that this number was achieved despite very wet weather for the
first two weekends. For the first time
since 2004 Santa Specials were worked by steam, in the shape of regular visitor
ex-Port Talbot Railway 813. This not
only delighted our volunteers, but ensured that our passengers’ feet were
nicely warmed by our steam-heated coaches.
Just to confuse matters, loco 813 is now masquerading as loco 816. Loco 816 was a regular worker half a century
ago on the National Coal Board’s Talywain branch, and several of our older
visitors rubbed their eyes in disbelief at the sight – and one actually drove
the engine in those far off days. The
masquerade is in connection with a photocharter to be run on Saturday 12th
January – please ring 01495-792263 for details.
Just to round things off for 2007, we dipped our toe in the water and
ran our first post-Christmas ‘Mince Pie Special’ using our ‘Thumper’ unit. This was sufficiently successful to guarantee
a repeat performance in 2008.
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Above: Santa tests loco 813 (yet to receive its
816 plates) and declares it fit for duty |
Above: Station-master Colin emerges from the
steam-heating! Below: Volunteer Angela provides some suitably
festive music |
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SEASON ENDS WITH A TWANG! (added 19 October 2007)
Although our normally ticketed services finish in
late September we always have one more day of trains in early October – the
annual Blues Train on the Saturday 6 October.
This service has been chartered by Torfaen County Borough Council for
the last two or three years now, and all visitors are allowed to travel
free. Its appeal is growing as does the
mix – for what started as simply blues now encompasses jazz too, as well as
beers from local micro-breweries. The
good news is, that, compared with last year, passenger numbers increased from
76 to 136. These figures reflect an
astonishing 41% increase in passenger numbers during the summer season, from
5402 compared with 3832 last year. In
fact this is only 32 short of last years grand total and we have Santa Specials
yet to come. Verily is the PBR a growing
railway.
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Pleasant late summer fields drift by as the sound of blues permeates
the buffet car on the journey up to the Whistle Inn |
COMINGS AND GOINGS (added 19 October 2007)
’Twas like Clapham Junction here on 10 and 11 of October, with two
coaches going, one arriving and a whole lotta shunting going on. The first arrival was the 1939 Post Office
Tender (POT) No.S4958S, which arrived from the Mid-Hants railway where, since
withdrawal from the main line, it had served as a annex to the loco shed at
Ropley as a tool and spares store. A
failing roof covering and a rotten summer have conspired to cause significant
damage both inside and out but well within the capacity of the PBR to
correct. Now owned by a seven man
consortium, it is not planned to use the vehicle on service trains, but as a
static element in connection with our Santa Specials.
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POT 4958 touches down in Wales after the haul up from Hampshire -
almost certainly her first time in Wales, her east side has been painted in a
late Southern Railway livery. The
other side remains in blue and grey, but is likely to be returned to carmine
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Later on the same day the
rather rare GWR five-compartment brake third No.5539 left the top yard for the
Gloucester & Warwick Railway at Winchcombe.
The following day GWR brake third No.5500 left for the same
destination. No.5500 was recovered from
British Railways still in departmental black livery and bearing the livery ‘DCE
Newport Docks’. Although return to
Chocolate and Cream seems most likely, it would make a refreshing change to see
it returned to black. The PBR has been
criticised in the past for giving up space to store these vehicles which have
degenerating to little more than wrecks, but knights in shining armour do materialise. The knight in question has plans to spend
very significant sums of money on their restoration and certainly has access to
the necessary resources. Had these
vehicles not been given house room, they would have become motor car bits a
long time ago, and a precious item of heritage would have been lost. We are certain they now face a very promising
future. .
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Shrouded in tarpaulins to preserve her dignity (and to stop sundry
further bits dropping off), No. 5500 makes her way IN REVERSE along the half mile
or so from the bottom yard to the main road.
That half of the distance is down a steep hill makes the move all the
more remarkable |
PS. We should perhaps add that the skeletal remains
of the GWR Restaurant Composite No.9605 have also been sold and are due to
leave for the West Somerset Railway shortly – we hope before the winter weather
falls upon us. This is a unique vehicle,
and we will hopefully see it, some time in the foreseeable future, as part of
the WSR’s vintage train – all power to their elbow
PPS. Shame on our webmaster - the ‘glossies’ have beaten him to it by
providing news that most of our ‘Barry Five’ are up for sale and that GWR ‘Hall’ class 5967 ‘Bickmarsh Hall’ has
been sold to a buyer who wishes to remain anonymous. There is also a substantial ground swell of
interest in the 2-8-0s - next time he’ll
we’ll try and get you the news first!
WE’VE GOT THE BUILDERS IN! (added 19 October 2007)
OK, we’re kidding, it’s only us dressed up! Furnace Sidings is beginning to look like a
building site – but that’s because it IS a building site. Our passengers must have wondered what the
piles of earth were doing opposite the platform. We are busy building a second platform for
the extended line. The front wall of the
Platform 2 is now well advanced and we are confident that we will have it
complete by the year end. The start was
delayed due to the wet summer, but things are moving apace now, with completion
planned for the end of next Summer.
That’s not all – down in the yard the ‘Hinckley’ footbridge recovered
from Rushden, Northants is having new legs made and it is just possible that
one of the two support towers will be up before running begins next year. On the slightly further future, plans are
well advanced for the construction of a comprehensive station building on
Platform 1. We are fed up with what we
have to offer, and we imagine our passengers are too. There’s just the slight problem of cash – but
there are more than just glimmers on the horizon and marking out, and a start
on foundations is expected soon.
TRANSPORT RALLY 2007 (added 31 August 2007)
Although this event was intended to promote road
transport, a railway locomotive ‘carelessly’ left in the car park made this
very much a dual event. Notwithstanding
lost locomotives, changes in organisation allowed car-bound visitors to park
‘off-site’ this year, and enjoy being bussed in on vintage buses. The absence of parked cars gave visitors
considerably more room in which to admire the exhibits. This event grows from year to year, and with
exhibitors starting to set-up from Friday onwards there was a real feel of a
permanent encampment. Not only were
there more exhibitors than ever before, but visitors numbers exceeded last year
by a modest margin, all enjoying warm sunshine and the great social atmosphere
that this event enjoys. We just wish we
could distil this atmosphere into photos of the event, which appear below!
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Cars, cars; almost as far as the eye could see. A regular turnover of visitors ensured that
there was always something new to see |
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Militaries were significantly up in number this year – and we were able
to meet a number of new exbibitors, as well as old friends. Perhaps they are thinking that Furnace
Sidings needs some additional protection. |
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Just a few of the buses on display.
Some were displayed elsewhere in the arena, and some employed on the
vintage shuttle. Again we were able to
meet many more exhibitors from an increasingly wide geographical area, but
our friends from the valleys came up trumps once more. Star of the show though, was the 1949
Duple-bodied Guy Arab lowbridge double decker in Red & White livery. |
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The event finished with an unannounced finale involving the towing of
Hall class locomotive No.5967
‘Bickmarsh Hall’ from what had been its resting place for the last two
decades or so. It had resolutely failed
to budge, but the combined efforts of two Scammells from the show finally saw
it shifted. The display evoked loud
applause from a large crowd of visitors, exhibitors and volunteers as
Bickmarsh Hall was cajoled into moving a full five feet. As reported previously in the railway press, selected members of the
‘Barry Five’ are likely to move elsewhere for restoration in the fairly near
future, and it was part of the preparatory arrangements that Class 56xx
0-6-0T, No.5668 was moved into the car park. At present it seems that 5668 will be the most likely candidate for
retention and restoration at Blaenavon, though this is by no means certain. . |
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IVOR THE ENGINE COMES TO BLAENAVON (added 14 August 2007)
Furnace Sidings became Grumbly Town and Whistle Inn
became Tan-y-Gwlch as the real Ivor made his first visit to the spiritual home
of his fairy tale namesake
over the weekend 11 and 12 August.
Saturday was warm and sunny, with Sunday a little cooler, but the fine
weather did nothing to prevent over 1000 passengers coming to see the little
green engine, together with Jones the Steam, Dai Station and Mrs Porty peering
from under a large brimmed hat, and busy reading stories to the children. Idris was quieter than usual and spent the
day riding up and down on Ivor’s front bufferbeam. Bluebell the Donkey was nowhere to be seen,
despite having a comfortable straw-laden home in the shape of the station
building at Tan-y-Gwlch, neither was Alice, but she was heard regularly,
trumpetting – and making our passengers jump - from within the box van due to a
poorly foot. And that was all there was
– except Meredith Dinwiddy’s golden boots parked at Grumbly Town station.
The PBR has rostered some odd
train formations in the past, but none so odd as that put out for the ‘Ivor’
weekend – Ivor led the train, followed by a blue and white Class 108 driving
car – which served admirably as an observation car, so that passengers,
particularly the children could directly see Jones the Steam and his fireman at
work. This was followed by the buffet car and composite brake in maroon,
followed by good ol’ 104 provided any shove at the back that was needed. There was debate regarding the possibility of
Ivor working the bank alone with two up, but three would have been simply
impossible. If you missed this rather
unique weekend, a repeat performance next year seems very likely indeed
In a line-up sure to upset the purists, Ivor
hauls a Class 108 car ahead of the Restaurant Miniature Buffet and Brake Second
Composite, with English Electric No-104 supplying a bit of oomph at the
back. Purists or not, the novel idea of
using a DMU car at the front gave our youngsters an unrivalled view into Ivor’s
cab, so they could keep an eye on Jones the Steam. [Alistair Grieve]
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It’s unusual to see so many passengers at the top end of the platform,
but when there’s an engine at the front, especially one as famous as
Ivor.....well! |
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Little people like little trains! Ivor’s smoke drifts overhead, as lots of
little people queue for a ride on our miniature railway |
The
passengers have gone home and Ivor, with Idris still keeping a lookout from
the front bufferbeam, takes the empty wagon back to Smoke Hill after
delivering coal to Grumbly Town Gasworks, and Alice the Elephant, who had
been in her van nearly all day. She
had been on a trip to get her poorly foot looked at, and was looking forward
to be back home with keeper Bani Moukerjee and the Circus [photos: Alistair Grieve] |
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SWANSEA WAVE (added 14 August 2007, updated 31 August 2007) The tanks, boiler, and wheels for Llantarnam Abbey arrived on Sunday 4
August. A short length of isolated
track was been built to accommodate the loco, the frames of which arrived two
weeks later. The wheels are shortly to
go for turning. When they return the
rolling chassis can be built. This is
planned to be complete before Christmas. |
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DIESEL GALA 2007 (added 2 August 2007)
Notebooks were jotted, photographs photted,
and, through the blue haze, heads in great number were seen poking out of
windows as PBR launched its annual gricefest for anoraks from far and wide. The
sun shone, the birds sang as star of the show, 37216, made a faultless debut in
preservation. A much larger railway than ours would have been proud to display
the sheer variety of traction - both industrial and main-line - that was
displayed over the weekend.
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Passengers scurry to catch 37216's first train - the 1130 Furnace Sidings to Whistle Inn on Saturday 28 July. The first run was perfect - and perfectly uneventful!. Subsequent runs gave rise to significant readings on the Richter scale, to the delight of the attendant gricers. The railway is claiming some sort of record - eight days from scrap retrieval to running a public service. Guiness recorders - please contact our office! That said, it is obvious that a few body repairs are needed, and sundry bits which were previously broken off must be sourced and re-attached. Not unexpectedly there's trouble brewing, as arguments rage as to which colour will be used when cosmetic restoration starts in earnest. |
English Electric in Excelsis! 37216, starts up during the first
morning of her new job, with a massive yawn and twin plumes of black smoke
thrown heavenwards, but within seconds the exhaust is no more than a pale
blue haze. |
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The PBR is only a small railway, but we have an impressively varied
collection of stock - both industrial and main-line to suit all tastes. From
left to right: Class 205 'Thumper' DEMU, Class 108 DMU, two industrials
working ECS - English Electric and Hudswell Clarke, two more industrials on
shed - the venerable Fowler RT1, and the equally venerable Mclaren-Benz
engined Hudswell Clarke, Class 117 which finally moved, briefly, for the
first time under its own power at Blaenavon, late on Sunday, and, finally,
star of the show, Class 37 No.37216 photo: Alistair Grieve |
English Electric 0-6-0DH 'Llanwern' has more than sufficient oomph to
work two- and three-coach trains up to the Whistle Inn despite the steeper
than 1 in 40 grade. All the same, the gala provides sufficient excuse for the
smaller ex-NCB Hudswell Clarke 0-4-0DH to put in a banking performance.
Despite her size this loco is capable of punching well above her weight and
can shunt 105 tons of EE type 3 with ease photo: Alistair Grieve |
SHE'S ARRIVED! (added 20 July 2007, updated 22 July)
Class 37 No.37216 arrived at Furnace Sidings this morning at about 1130, after
an overnight stopover on the M5 during its journey down from Kingsbury. In typical
Blaenavon winter weather - that is low cloud and mist scudding across an angry
sky, together with wind and torrential rain (and in July too!) 37126 emerged
from incessant downpour and finally set foot back on home soil at 1331
precisely. Since then time has been spent getting her batteries charged and
freeing the engine of water that had got in during her period in storage.
Finally at 1835 on 22 July, the engine was succesfully started, probably the
first time since she went into storage, and she ran for eight minutes. A couple
more start-stop runs were made before she was shut-down at 1900, with concerns
about the lub. oil being contaminated with water. It's looking increasingly
likely that she will appear as a moving exhibit at the forthcoming Diesel Gala
on 28/29 July.
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Low cloud over the
Coity Mountain and heavy rain greets 37216 as she arrives at Furnace Sidings
after the two-day trip from EMR Kingsbury |
You
come all the way from EMR Kingsbury - and then can't find anywhere to park for
all the cars in the way! |
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Back home amongst old friends - she'll not be going far from Blaenavon in the foreseeable future! photo:Mark Henderson |
A NEW LOCO FOR THE PBR (added 15 July 2007)
It's been a rumour for a while around the net and amongst the loco
fraternity that a new loco is coming to the PBR, and we can now confirm
officially that arrangements to release Diesel Electric Class 37 Co-Co No.37216
from European Metal Recycling at Kingsbury are due to start today.
Complications with it being hemmed in by a Class 08 Shunter and a Class 47 will
make release difficult but delivery is expected at Furnace Sidings by late
Wednesday or Thursday. The loco will be resident at Furnace Sidings, and, like
much of the PBR's rolling stock is privately-owned. Except for the three 117
ton Class 50s that were ealier resident at Furnce Sidings, but which never
turned a wheel in anger during their stay, 37216, at 105 tons will be the
largest engine ever to come to the railway, and it is intended that she will
take a full part in our operations. The class 37’s were a product of the 1955
Modernisation Plan for British Railways when during the late 1950’s the British
Transport Commission decided that a diesel electric locomotive with a Type 3
(ie 1501 to 1999 hp) power output was required. An initial order was
placed with English Electric in 1959 for 42 locomotives to be powered by the EE
12CSVT engine developing 1, 750hp and building commenced at the Vulcan Foundry
in Newton-le Willows with the first locomotive D6700 being completed in
November 1960 and delivered to British Rail in December for inspection and
pre-running in trials. The class were originally referred to as 'English
Electric Type 3's)
The first class 37’s were delivered to Stratford in East London and soon found work on passenger services to Cambridge and Norwich. Following the delivery of D6729 to the Great Eastern Division the next batch went to the North Eastern Region being based initially at Hull Dairycotes. By 1962 the BTC had placed more orders and in July of that year the Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn Works at Darlington had also begun to build and deliver the type 3s. The Western region borrowed D6742/3 from the Eastern region for trials in the South Wales Valleys and begun to receive its own allocation from March 1963 with the last being delivered in 1965. 37216 (as D6916) was delivered during this time to Landore Swansea on 02/01/64, moving to Cardiff in the September, back to Landore in February 65 before departing for Healey Mills on the Eastern region in October 1967.
Following the TOPS renumbering in the 1970’s the locomotives were reclassified class 37 being renumbered 37001 – 37308 in sequence. The locomotives proved themselves to be strong and reliable performers and eventually worked to all points of the rail network from Penzance to Wick and even more recently abroad. During the 1980s many were refurbished to extend there life and usefulness. This included a complete engine refurbishment, replacement of the electrical system and changes to auxiliary equipment. Probably the most famous refurbished locomotives were the class 31 37/4’s as these were equipped with ETS (Electric Train Supply) for working passenger trains and could be found working in Scotland and Wales.
37216
wasn’t picked for refurbishment and carried on hard at work, primarily in East
Anglia. In 1992 however 37216 was plucked from obscurity and repainted into a
heritage green livery and given the name Great Eastern (rumour is that 37216
may wear this green again but with a different name). In the run up to
privatisation 37216 was allocated to the Mainline train company and repainted
in their aircraft blue with silver trimmings livery which it still carries. In
October 2003, 37216 was placed into tactical reserve and stored pending use if
required but this never happened and in May 2007 the Grim Reaper called and
37216 was sold for scrap being moved from Motherwell (Glasgow) to EMR
Kingsbury in June. But in July it was rescued and 37216 should soon see a
new lease of life at the PBR. Oh and if you hear anyone talking about a tractor
or a growler on the railway odds on they’re referring to a class 37. Come down
and listen to 37216 in action, you’ll see/hear what they mean.
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In between the showers, member Norman Clymer, admires the object of
his desire at EMR Kingsbury in early July. Photo: Alex Hinshelwood. |
COITY PIT TRAIL OPENS (added 15 July 2007)
A wet day on 14 June saw the formal opening
of the Coity Tip Trail after six monhs work by main contractors Blakedown and a
number of sub-contractors. The main thrust of the work was a programme of
environmental improvements along and around the 'link road' between the railway
and Big Pit. Much of the work was directed at preventing access to the road by
illegal and anti-social motor-cyclists who were dangerously cutting up 'Coity
Tip' a slag tip, which has emerged from its earlier life with a fragile crust
which now supports a wide variety of diverse plantlife and which is much valued
by virtue of the biodiversity of its flora. The downside of this, is that it is
no longer possible to reach the railway from Big Pit by car, but, in fair
weather, a stroll along the new path to the railway is a delightful experience.
A new raised causeway makes a circular diversion alongside the pond - teeming
which fish and tadpoles - and the stream and directs visitors round the back of
the tip, and via a signposted path to the top. The views from the top of the
tip are splendid, and give an unbeatable view of our yrad and the valley
beyond. As part of the programme the crossing at the railway was completely
rebuilt with new concrete sleepered track, new road and infill, new gates and
barriers, and a most attractive set of wing walls on the Big Pit side.
The actual opening ceremony was held at the Education Centre at Coity Baths,
Big Pit, and the proceedings were opened by Curator and Mine Manager, Peter
Walker. Speeches were made by Leader of Torfaen Borough Council, Cllr Bob
Wellington, and by President of National Museums and Galleries of Wales Paul
Loveluck CBE JP, before the party, suitably armed with waterproofs and
umbrellas, braved the weather for a walk along the trail. The state of our
crossing has long been a matter for concern, and its improvement has further
enhanced the impression we are able to give our visitors.
OUR WATER, LOOS (added 15 July 2007)
After being in a state of readiness since the start of the year (see our
earlier reports 15 November and 20 December below), and after months of
shilly-shallying, Dwr Cymru finally deigned to connect our water supplies ready
for the first REAL cup of fresh tea to be served on the railway in quarter of a
century. Over a cubic metre of water was used over the first weekend of the
Teddy Bear's Picnic which equals about 2000 cups of tea. Although our visitors
appeared to much appeciate our improved brew, it's unlikely they drank THAT
much, and we assume the balance was used in washing up and hand washing - and
what a novel luxury that was! Of course, with the prospect of water on the
horizon our intrepid civil engineering team were not slow in demanding a
comprehensive sewerage system, and to that end, and following advice from the
Environment Agency, a full-blown Package Treatment Plant was installed, and the
miles of trenches and pipe were certainly a view to behold. Further
developments in the pipeline, so to speak, will demand yet further
complications, so some trenches remain an open hazard for the inept trespasser.
The 'full-blown Package Treatment Plant' certainly lives up to its name, as it
is aerated by an electric pump. It malevolant humming and bubbling has put the
wind up quite a few courting couples who have arrived in the car for a bit of
canoodling!
PBR RECEIVES LANDSCAPING AWARD (added 23 January 2007)
The new car park has certainly
raised the tone of the railway, if our visitor's comments are anything to go
by. We were delighted to hear that we were to actually receive an award, the
more so since the visitors to the presentation were to include some very
influential people. It would be easy to get carried away by all this, of
course, the award was not for us, but mainly for contractors Blakedown, and for
TCBC in recognition of the work of their landscape architect Andrew Nevill.
The award was presented by David Spencer on behalf of the British Institute of
Landscape Industries (BALI), in front of an invited audience of local
politicians, and representatives of important funding agencies. The
award was received jointly by John Down on behalf of the railway Company and by
Cllr Bob Wellington on behalf of Torfaen County Borough Council. The
party were then installed on a special train where they enjoyed a buffet lunch,
and several rides up and down the line. On one of the downward journeys,
Cllr Bob Wellington was joined by Patrick Lewis of the Heads of the Valleys
(HoV) initiative to try their hands at a bit of driving – under the watchful
eye of our Inspector Bernard Morton, and regular footplate crews. The HoV scheme, which provided a portion of
the funding for the car park work, will be providing more funding for further
environmental improvement along the link road to Big Pit.
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Right: Leader of Torfaen County Borough Councillor, Bob Wellington, chats with Patrick Lewis of the Heads of the Valleys scheme |
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Left: John Down, doing what he does best – talking! Both he and Bob Wellington gave acceptance
speeches on behalf of PBR and TCBC respectively Below: Visitors to
the presentation (left to right): All photos courtesy of TCBC
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A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR READERS...
....is the usual greeting this time of year, but for the PBR it's the time of
year when we work out our passenger figures - and what figures they are! Whilst
it scarcely seems like news to post our endlessly improving figures, 2006 left
even us a little breathless. So here they are, in a nutshell :
1.
Summer
Season - 3832, 10.4% up on 2005
2.
Santa
Season - 1602, 42.5% up on 2005
3.
Overall
- 5434, 18.3% up on 2005
