Chris Turnbull

It's a exhibition train apparently - see page 21 post dated Feb 5 2015 et seq. The older photos have been posted before and I have repeated them here to show the "Then" of "Then and Now". Chris Turnbull

More "Then and Now" from Cambridge, Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich. Cambridge on 6th June 1981. Note a switch blade of the famous scissors crossover at the bottom right. A similar scene on 12th January 2008 before the island platform was built. Bury St Edmunds on 8th March 1969 with an unidentified class 31 and D6752. The same view on 30th December 2004 Ipswich on 22nd April 1969 with D1778 leaving the tunnel. Ipswich on 11th July 2015 with 90010 headed towards London. Chris Turnbull

No, nothing planned at the moment in gauge 0. I still have quite a bit of gauge one stuff and will be concentrating on that. Chris Turnbull

I thought I would do something a little different today so here is "Tourist Railways around the World" We start with the Huvosvolgy Childrens' Railway near Budapest on 6th August 2013. Apart from the actual driving of the locomotive the railway is run by children. It's very impressive, they stand on the platform and salute the passengers. Moving west to Switzerland, this is the Bernina Express on 7th August 2014 North now to Norway and the Flam Railway on 18th June 2018. Snow in June you'll note, but then this is Norway. Over the pond to the USA, this is Hill City depot on the Black Hills Central Railroad on 12th September 2007. For those of you not familiar with this railway it is in South Dakota in Custer State Park. Back to the UK and a railway I have only been to once on 12th September 2018. I'll leave to work out where it is. And finally one of my favourite railways, the North York Moors, with 45428 on its way to Goathland (I think) on 17th August 1999 Chris Turnbull

My colleague, Geoffrey Howe, and I have decided that the time has come to retire Cromer from the exhibition circuit. We are not getting any younger which our first exhibition after the Covid hiatus has brought home to us. The MI0G show at Crewe will be our last and it would be nice to see as many of you as possible. I intend to put Cromer up for sale - layout, stock. the lot - so if anyone has any spare cash and feels like taking it on then please make yourself known, either in person at the show or you can PM me and I will provide details. Chris Turnbull

I think that's enough Felixstowe for the time being. Let's go to the other side of the UK - Wales. I have only been to Cardiff twice and both times the weather has been absolutely glorious although I believe that this is not always the case in South Wales, Cardiff Central on 24th May 2010 with 43134 and 57306. Three days earlier on the 21st I was at Queen Street with 150306 disappearing into the hills. Here we are in the hills on the same day, 21st May. This is Aberdare looking down the freight only line to Hirwaun Back into Cardiff and a shot of the old water tower at Cardiff Canton taken from a window of the Control Centre. Again 21st May The next day, 22nd was again glorious. This is Ebbw Vale Parkway Five years later on 7th May 2015 in altogether different weather, here is Blaneau Ffestiniog with 150280 in the platform Chris Turnbull

We left the last selection with a train leaving the south docks at Felixstowe and heading towards Trimley. And here is Trimley on 23rd September 2018 looking towards Felixstowe. The left hand track continues straight on to the Town station and the south docks and is the line that 66729 would have come along. The right hand line curves to the right in the distance and heads down towards the north docks. A month later on 24th October 2018 153322 stands at Trimley with a Felixstowe to Ipswich working. Looking the other way on 23rd September we see the new double track section ready for installation of the second track. This was a Sunday when the line was closed and replacement buses ran and was a regular occurrence and lasted for over a year, IIRC. This double tracking resulted in the closure of several foot crossings and the diversion of the rights of way to this enormous bridleway bridge. Network Rail have avoided universal use of security fencing here, its a shame they couldn't have done something similar at Soham. Looking towards Ipswich from the top of the bridge we can see the end of the double track section. The last two photos were taken on 18th August 2019. Chris Turnbull

Another Felixstowe fest this evening. Firstly the passenger facilities: Here is 153306 at the truncated platform of what used to be a much larger station, Felixstowe Town, on 3rd May 2003. A dismal remnant of what used to be, sadly. Felixstowe is one of those rare places, nowadays, where the freight traffic is of far more importance than the passenger. The is the north end of the docks on 21st October 2017 with 66524 reversing onto its train. The entrance to the south docks crosses Walton Avenue / Beach Station Road on a level crossing and this is 66144 headed towards the docks using that crossing on 9th August 2019. This is a busy road and the congestion and delay to road traffic is considerable. I, however, regard this as good sport unless I mistime my journey and get caught myself. 66729 heads away from the south docks towards Trimley. This chord of the triangular junction was reinstated by BR in 1970 when the chord to Town station was closed. Chris Turnbull

I am now back from an enjoyable but exhausting Gauge 0 Guild show at Kettering. It was great to see so many people there, a combination of poor weather and release from Covid restrictions I think. It was good to get back to normal once again. Anyway, I thought a visit to London might be a treat for this evening. On 17th April 2004 I was at Barking with 357007 in the platform. Beckenham Junction on 12th July 2008 with 465044 Canary Wharf DLR on the same day. Charing Cross on 28th June 2008 with 465213 No trains but loads of passengers at Clapham Junction, again on 12th July 2008 And finally, Dalston on 15th December 2007. Chris Turnbull

On 28th June 2002 Modern Railways organised a visit to the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, then under construction. This is Beechbrook Farm looking north and,,, ...this is Beechbrook Farm looking south. Dollands Moor in the distance with the trackbed of the CTRL ready to receive track. A jump to St Pancras where we see the foundations for what will become St Pancras International. Four years later on 19th June 2006 Modern Railways returned to see how they were getting on. This shows the CTRL on the right running alongside the LT&S where 357029 is on its way to Fenchurch Street. There will now be a short intermission as I am off to the Gauge 0 Guild show at Kettering tomorrow (Friday) with my Cromer layout. All being well I shall resume on Sunday. I expect you all to attend the show and to say hello when you can. It will be nice to put faces to you all. Chris Turnbull

More photos of Ely today. 60057 passes through on 27th October 2001 317654 stands at platform 1 on 19th July 2003 170397 also at platform 1 on 11th August 2005 170515 on 8th May 2007 Over on the other side of the station 158857 is at platform 3 on 7th March 2009 66606 passes through platform 1 southbound on 2nd August 2012. Not how the tracks are signalled for bi-directional working. Chris Turnbull

I thought I'd do "Manchester then and now" today. The "then" photos have appeared earlier in this topic but I am sure you will forgive me if I repeat them here. Piccadilly on 8th May 2007 and... Piccadilly on 17th April 1968 with E3104 and E3127. Manchester Victoria on 20th June 2015 and... A similar shot on 17th April 1968 with 44803. Finally 155345 at Victoria on 20th June 2015 and... 45206 in a similar position (as far as I can tell) on 17th April 1968. Chris Turnbull

Today I thought I show a few shots of heritage / tourist railways all of which begin with B. First off, this is Birkhill on the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway on 7th May 2006. On a lovely sunny day this is Pant on the Brecon Mountain Railway. 23rd May 2010. Still in Wales we have Big Pit Mining Museum at Blaenavon, again on 23rd May 2010. Later the same year (on 30th October) I visited the Bluebell Railway. This is 34059 at Sheffield Park. And here we have Beamish on 4th June 2005. I am sure you all know the locomotive. At this point I was going to show the Bure Valley Railway when I remembered that I have covered that quite well only recently (although I will return to it in the future). So instead, here's the only photo I can find of Bressingham on 28th September 2008. I have a feeling I was there with "Cromer". Chris Turnbull

Cromer will be at the Gauge 0 Guild's Kettering show on Saturday 5th March. Please do say hello if you are going. Chris Turnbull

I've spent this morning checking my layout of Cromer and getting it ready for transportation to it's first exhibition after Covid so I thought a few photos of the prototype would be in order. The first visit I made was on 3rd May 2004. This is the view which, for some inexplicable reason, caught my imagination and inspired me to build the layout. Turning around this is the view back along the platform. As you can see it was a very wet day so I didn't stay long but the idea had taken root (probably all the rain). I did, however take a detail shot of one of the buffer stops. before I got back, soaked, into my car. I returned on a much drier day (4th July) and took many more photos including this one of a Midland Railway style buffer stop - presumably original - with a brick wall built over the rear section. Both these buffer stops have been faithfully replicated on my model. I took many photos on that warm July day including this one of the brick wating shelter. Note the two types of brickwork on the platform wall. Presumably it had been rebuilt at some time. Fifteen months later on 23rd October 2005 I returned again to gather more detail photos. I discovered that someone had erected another shelter which cried out to be modelled. Although I have loads of detail photos I won't bore you with any more. If you are interested, the layout will be at the Gauge 0 Guild's Kettering show next Saturday, 5th March. See the Guild's website for details. I will be there with my colleague, Geoffrey Howe, so please do say hello. We are easy to tell apart. He's the good-looking one. For details of the layout see the link below. Chris Turnbull

Yes, you are quite right. Chris Turnbull

A trip around East Anglia in 2003 today - but not necessarily on the same day. Starting at Ely with my Anglia Day Ranger clutched in my hand, this is 317341 on 12th April 2003 Catching the train to Ipswich, DBSO 9711 leaves the tunnel with a Norwich-bound working on 12th April. No visit to Ipswich would be complete without a look at the loco yard - one month later on 3rd May. Up the East Suffolk line to Lowestoft, this is 150227 on 12th April. Across to Norwich, here is 86215 on 19th July. And back to Ely just in time to catch 66709 - also 19th July. Chris Turnbull

A return to the North Norfolk Railway for today. There are not many preserved lines in East Anglia so a visit to Sheringham is always a pleasure for me. WD 2-10-0 90775 at Sheringham on 19th July 2008. It was a bit of a surprise for me to see this as I had no idea that any WDs had been preserved. Apparently this was repatriated from Greece in 1984. Another 2-10-0 at Sheringham. 92203 on 7th July 2012. Not a loco that would have worked through Sheringham in BR days but who cares? It's just great to see such a magnificent machine. Of course there is more to the North Norfolk than just Sheringham, impressive though it is. This is Holt on 19th June 2013 with the B12, a class of loco that was native to East Anglia. Here is the B12 again (I think) departing from Weybourne on the same day. Just to show that it isn't all steam locos, here's 47367 on 13th October 2007. Chris Turnbull

A good point. I came across this website which makes interesting reading: https://www.drycargomag.com/prototype-funded-to-electrify-uk-rail-freight-terminals Chris Turnbull

A trip to London today but avoiding all the usual termini. Firstly, Fenchurch Street on 17th April 2004. Yes, I know I said "avoiding al the usual termini" but this station does not feature very often on RMWeb. Earls Court on 2nd August 2012. Acton LT museum on 18th October 2008. I'm not very knowledgeable about LT stuff but I'm sure someone knows what this stock is. The Post Office Railway at Mount Pleasant on 15th March 2003 shortly before closure. This was organised by Modern Railways with proceeds being donated to the Railway Children charity. And finally Hackney Wick on 12th July 2008. Chris Turnbull

Back to East Anglia and its capital city, Norwich 90048 with 37114 and 37047 on 3rd March 2003 90007 and 90015 on 24th March 2017 156418 on the same day The magnificent buildings, March 2017 37419 on 16th July 2018 90002 again on 16th July 2018 Chris Turnbull

As a break from East Anglia and the Southeast I thought a visit Scotland would make a change Glasgow Central on 5th May 2006 Turning around this is 156495 entering Central station. Across to Queen Street a day later - 6th May 2006. A few year later on 18th May 2013 this is Paisley Canal with 314205 in the platform. On the same day at Paisley Gilmour Street this is 380016 Finally Wemyss Bay, again on 13th May. Chris Turnbull

I apologise for not posting any photos for the last few days but I have been spending that time re-organising my collection into locations as well as dates. It took a lot longer than expected! Anyway, here's a few shots of Stratford in the early 2000s when I was working on the Westfield Shopping Centre. Whenever I had to go to site I would take my camera with me and, with luck, I would be able to take a few photos. As well as the GE Main Line, Stratford is also home the Gospel Oak line, the Tottenham Hale line, the Central and Jubilee underground lines and the DLR. Here's a sample. From right to left, 378009 at the Gospel Oak line platforms, two 317s on the Tottenham Hale line and 66543 on the main line on 13th July 2010 This is an aerial view of Stratford with the Gospel Oak platforms at the bottom left on 7th May 2009 Central Line and and a 315 together which gives a good idea of the respective sizes, 25th February 2009 Stratford Jubilee Line platforms also on 25th February 2009. And lastly the DLR platforms on the same day Chris Turnbull

Ipswich tonight - one of my favourite stations. There is always something going on. The loco yard on 16th July 2018 The same view on 2nd November 2013 90015 brings up the rear of a Norwich-bound service on 24th March 2017 66504 in the yard and 170272 in platform 4 on 2nd January 2016 70011 is framed by 360104 and 170271 on 11th July 2015 Passengers wait for a train on 11th July 2015 The same view in August 1969 Chris Turnbull

For today's photos I thought we would have a selection taken over the years at Ely, "The Crewe of East Anglia". On 24th March 2017 365536 and 317668 stand at platforms 2 and 3 respectively. 37244 gives something for a steam loco to haul on 22nd August 1998 It could have been this one 34027 "Taw Valley" Three years earlier on 25th june 1995 70000 "Britannia" attract the usual crowd of admirers. More recently on 2nd August 2019 66566 passes under the new Ely Southern Bypass bridge. Chris Turnbull