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2007

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Silverlink Swansong - The Beeches - Fawley - Bletchley - Wembley


The Silverlink Swansong II Railtour

37410 at Euston

Euston, 10 November

To mark the end of the Silverlink franchise, two farewell specials were run on consecutive weekends at the beginning of November, covering as much of the Silverlink Metro and Silverlink County network as was possible to arrange. Five members took part in the second of these - on the last day of the franchise - four as participants and one (Mark Hopwood - MD of Silverlink) heavily involved in the organisation of the tour! The train ran with 37 410 and 50 049 top-and-tail because much reversing was required en route. Here 37 410 is seen in platform 11 at Euston before departure, with a Pendolino on the left.

(Tim Edmonds)
50 049 at Tring

Tring, 10 November

The first reversal took place at Tring, after a run from Euston which was routed via the link at Willesden Junction onto the DC line, returning to the AC line at Watford Junction. Here Mark Hopwood poses with 50 049 after arrival.

(Mike Walker)
37410 at Clapham Junction

Clapham Junction, 10 November

From Tring, the class 37 led the way back to Kensal Green Junction, thence to Gospel Oak, Camden Road and Stratford to Barking. After another reversal the class 50 headed to Gospel Oak via South Tottenham, then to Willesden Junction and over the West London line to Clapham Junction. Here the sun shone as 37 410 waited to head back to Willesden and thence to Bletchley.

(Tim Edmonds)
08874 and 50049 at Bletchley

Bletchley, 10 November

At Bletchley the train took the line into the depot (visited by MDRS earlier in the year) and after reversal the depot shunter 08 874 double-headed 50 049 back into the station. The two locos are seen there in the last of the daylight. Alas the remainder of the tour took place mainly in darkness - including a return trip to Bedford, crossing both forks of the Bletchley flyover, a run to Northampton and the new Kings Heath EMD before returning up the main line to Euston.

(Tim Edmonds)

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The Beeches Light Railway

Number 19 climbing past the garden

The Beeches, 26 August

We were privileged to spend an afternoon as guests of Adrian Shooter to experience his private two-foot gauge 'garden railway'. The layout is like a table-top model - a figure-8 which can also be operated as a large oval or two separate circles. Here former Darjeeling Himalayan Railway B class number 19 climbs round the garden towards the loco shed running anti-clockwise on the bottom circle of track while running round the oval.

(Tim Edmonds)
Number 19 on the driveway level crossing

The Beeches, 26 August

Later DHR 19 switched to running clockwise on the oval and is here seen crossing the driveway on the bottom circle.

(Tim Edmonds)
Number 19 arriving at the station

The Beeches, 26 August

DHR 19 runs into the station clockwise on the bottom circle. Note the crossovers in the foreground which provide the link to the top circle and allow for changes in direction.

(Tim Edmonds)
Jack Lane on the top circle

The Beeches, 26 August

Also in steam was new-build Quarry Hunslet 'Jack Lane', with owner Graham Lee on the footplate, here seen breasting the summit of the top circle with a train of two wagons.

(Tim Edmonds)
Adrian Shooter supervises the shunting

The Beeches, 26 August

Adrian Shooter was very much the hands-on railwayman. After a spell on the footplate of DHR 19 he was involved in other operations, such as here supervising the shunting of 'Jack Lane' and train into the carriage shed.

(Tim Edmonds)
Jack Lane passing loco shed

The Beeches, 26 August

DHR 19 developed a problem with air pressure during the afternoon and retired to the loco shed with one of the coaches, 'Jack Lane' taking over passenger duties with the one remaining coach - here seen passing the shed.

(Tim Edmonds)

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30th Anniversary Event at Fawley Museum

The Shooters and Sir William arrive

Fawley Museum, 21 June

Guest speaker Adrian Shooter and his wife Barbara enter the wonderful setting of the museum with host Sir William McAlpine.

(Tim Edmonds)
Chairman, President and guest share a joke

Fawley Museum, 21 June

MDRS Chairman Tim Speechley chats with Sir William and Bob Hatfield, Chairman of Fawley Museum Society Limited.

(Tim Edmonds)
Bob Hatfield recalls the early days

Fawley Museum, 21 June

Bob Hatfield, one of the founder members of the MDRS, recalls the origins of the society and of the links with Fawley Museum.

(Tim Edmonds)
Members enjoy refreshments in the museum setting

Fawley Museum, 21 June

Our host Sir William had laid on superb refreshments in the setting of the museum, where members could chat with old friends and new.

(Tim Edmonds)
John Sears chats to MDRS Secretary Malcolm Margetts

Fawley Museum, 21 June

Some had travelled long distances to be at the event - here John Sears from Preston chats to MDRS Secretary, Malcolm Margetts.

(Tim Edmonds)
Coffee in the station

Fawley Museum, 21 June

Coffee was served in the Fawley Hill Railway station, a Great Eastern Railway building relocated from Somersham. Here hard-working Malcolm serves former MDRS Chairman Gordon Rippington and members Brian Sparrow and Mike Hyde.

(Tim Edmonds)
Chairman enjoys a well-earned drink

Fawley Museum, 21 June

Tim Speechley toasts a successful evening and enjoys a well-earned drink.

(Tim Edmonds)

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Bletchley Traction Maintenance Depot

Pendolino speeding past the Bletchley train

En route to Bletchley, 12 May

The MDRS visit to Bletchley was arranged for us by our member Mark Hopwood, Managing Director of Silverlink, who met us at the entrance to platform 8 at Euston. We travelled first class on one of his class 321 units forming the 09.54 Northampton service. During the journey pairs of members were able to travel in the cab for parts of the journey and here a Pendolino is seen overtaking us on the section between Berkhamsted and Tring.

(Tim Edmonds)
Speeding down from Tring

En route to Bletchley, 12 May

The class 321 was managing a constant 75mph up the bank to Tring, but after cresting the summit the speed crept upwards. Here the speedo is seen at 95, approaching the maximum of 97 - alas we didn't quite make the ton!

(Tim Edmonds)
Line up of units in the depot

Bletchley TMD, 12 May

After arrival at Bletchley it was a short journey to the depot, where two class 321 units are seen along with a 313 EMU and a 150 DMU, representing the classes maintained there.

(Tim Edmonds)
The depot class 08 shunter

Bletchley TMD, 12 May

Also present inside the depot was Silverlink shunter 08 874 'Catherine', named after an employee.

(John Tuck)
Class 150 from underneath

Bletchley TMD, 12 May

The group had the opportunity to inspect the underside of DMU 150127 from the pit - there wasn't as muchheadroom as the picture might suggest...

(Mike Walker)
MDRS members emerging from an inspection pit

Bletchley TMD, 12 May

The depot has inspection pits under all four roads. Here MDRS members emerge from the pit under the class 150 DMU.

(Tim Edmonds)
The MDRS visiting group

Bletchley TMD, 12 May

The official Silverlink record of the visit, with Mark Hopwood on the left of the MDRS group.

(Silverlink)
Nameplate on class 150

Bletchley TMD, 12 May

The unit that members inspected, 150127, is appropriately named after its home depot. The plate is carried on vehicle 55127 and was placed there in 2000 when the class 150s took over working the Bedford branch.

(John Tuck)
Mark Hopwood serves lunch

Bletchley TMD, 12 May

The cook had prepared extra food so that the visitors could have a lunch in the depot canteen. It was a hot lunch in more than one way, with a selection of excellent curries being provided. Here Mark Hopwood shows his versatility by acting as waiter.

(Mike Walker)
Class 321 forms a special at the depot

Bletchley TMD, 12 May

At the end of the depot visit, 321407 sports a 'Special' in the destination blind ready for a 'test' working back to the station. On the right is 08 874 'Catherine'.

(Tim Edmonds)
The depot from a class 321

Bletchley TMD, 12 May

General view of the depot, seen through the cab windows of 321407.

(Tim Edmonds)
MDRS members in the Bletchley Control Centre

Bletchley Control Centre, 12 May

After the depot visit, under our host's guidance we were able to watch the action in the Control Centre, located at the station. While the staff worked to restore services on the Marston Vale line following a ponts failure at Bedford St Johns, Mark Hopwood is seen answering questions from MDRS members.

(Tim Edmonds)
MDRS group boarding Bedford train

Bletchley station, 12 May

With the points failure apparently solved, the group decided to take the 13.57 DMU to Bedford. Running a few minutes late, and having been turned round at Stewartby to minimise the disruption to services, MDRS members prepare to board 150128.

(Tim Edmonds)
66044 passing Bedford station

Bedford station, 12 May

The points at Bedford St Johns were still causing problems, which delayed the groups return to Bletchley. However, there was action to be seen on the Midland main line, including EWS 66044 on a Radlett - Mountsorrel train of empty hoppers.

(Mike Walker)
Class 319 units at Bedford

Bedford station, 12 May

Bedford is the northern terminus of First Capital Connect electric services, worked by class 319 units. Here two are seen awaiting departure.

(Tim Edmonds)
Class 350 passing Bletchley station

Bletchley station, 12 May

The group split up to return to London by different trains. Some travelled on the impressive Silverlink class 350 units, one of which is seen passing Bletchley station.

(Mike Walker)

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Wembley Signalling Control Centres

Members at the mainline signalling centre

Wembley Main Line SCC, 29 March

During their visit Wembley, members were fortunate to spend over an hour in the Main Line Signalling Control Centre, where the staff answered numerous questions and demonstrated operation. Here members are seen at the four signallers' workstations, covering the line from Euston (right) to beyond Hatch End (left).

(Tim Edmonds)
One of the signallers' workstations

Wembley Main Line SCC, 29 March

This is one of the four workstations used by the signallers and covers the northern part of the route controlled by the main line centre. Wembley Central station is in the centre with the yard on the right.

(Tim Edmonds)
Diagram of Euston station

Wembley Main Line SCC, 29 March

This is the diagram of Euston station in the current signalling centre.

(Tim Edmonds)
Diagram from old Euston box

Wembley Main Line SCC, 29 March

When Euston Power Signal Box closed in August 2000, the panel diagram was preserved in the new Signalling Control Centre.

(Tim Edmonds)
The Chairman at the DC line control

Wembley Main Line SCC, 29 March

Although the DC suburban lines are controlled from the main panel in the vicinity of Euston, from SOuth Hampstead to Watford Junction they are under a separate signalling system based in the same building. Here MDRS Chairman Tim Speechley gets a demonstration of the system.

(Tim Edmonds)
Signaller Isaac explains the Yard panel

Wembley Yard SCC, 29 March

There is a separate Yard Signalling Control Center at Wembley to look after the yard, including the diesel refuelling sidings and the Railnet terminal. This is an older type of panel than the main line one and when Signaller Isaac was asked to explain it to the MDRS group he gave an excellent ad hoc presentation.

(Tim Edmonds)
The society group and the Yard panel

Wembley Yard SCC, 29 March

At the end of the evening the MDRS visitors lined up for a group shot in front of the diagram of Wembley Yard. With the group are signaller Isaac and our Silverlink host and escort, Tom Joyner.

(Silverlink)

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