KeithMacdonald

Some time ago (on the N&SWR), the surveyors were admonished by @Northroader (from the Legal Department I think)

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Also if you surveyor persists in using a felt-tip pen on an inch map, you’re going to be involved in a lot of unnecessary surplus land purchasing.

I wouldn't say the surveyors threw their toys out the pram, but they've certainly responded. You might need a magnifying glass to find the C&H on the latest plans for Marlborough.

Somewhere in there is

• Red for the M&SWJR (double tracked)
• Yellow for the GWR
• Green for the C&H (double tracked, east of Marlborough)
• A connection from Marlborough Station to the C&H

Notice to Trustees of the N&SWR

Wilkins Micawber (Assistant Secretary of the N&SWR)

Has sent a copy of the annual accounts, with his summary comments.

Annual income twenty thousand pounds, annual expenditure nineteen thousand nineteen and six, result happiness.

Annual income twenty thousand pounds, annual expenditure twenty-one thousand pounds, result misery.

It appears we are in the latter category.

Oh dear, what are we to do?

On 15/09/2023 at 13:52, Northroader said:

What, what ... what on earth is that?

5 hours ago, TheQ said:

Meanwhile your requests for a full English breakfast are denied due to rationing

That could certainly hit the civilian members of our team quite hard, if we didn't look after them. Fortunately (or not) most of us are on army-issue "Haversack Rations". Sometimes it's just a tin of bully beef and a packet of biscuits. Sometimes it's a meat or cheese sandwich with thickly-cut bread with butter or margarine, sometimes we get a meat pie or pasty instead, often accompanied by a slice of fruitcake or an apple. But always with plenty of tea. So (usually) we're better fed than the civilians.

By the way, we've been wondering why we've not seen or heard from Mrs Miggins for some time. It turns out she's helping Wiltshire Constabulary with their enquiries into black market supplies. So sausages and pork pies are off the menu for a while. Or until C&T Harris agree to some kind of barter for protecting their supplies. It's a dangerous job, but someone's got to do it.

Edit:

Young Norman Stanley has volunteered to help with the catering supplies.

Some appropriate posters have arrived.

"Careless talk costs lives" by Reeves

We now have evacuee children being hosted by families in and around Marlborough.

Every spare patch of land can grow something.

Gather round chaps, we've got a bit of a security briefing today.

It seems our Major @The Johnster has been called away on another one of his hush-hush missions to some far-away land of which we know little. He will tell us what he can, when he can.

Meantime, we've been instructed to give highest priority to the movement of materials for "Last Ditch" sites. As you may already know, it's being coordinated by their HQ at Coleshill. Officially, it's known as the "Auxiliary Unit". We've just been told to cancel any planning for an extention from Highworth to Coleshill, as Coleshill's supposed to be a Top Secret HQ and we don't want any German aerial reconnaisance to get wind that there's anything special going on there. Mum's the word.

I have, however, been permission to tell you some of what's happening. It's started with the arrival of a whole bunch of highly irregular chaps, from all over Britain and beyond. There's another new unit we need to know about - it's the Special Operations Executive (SOE) - and they are also using the Coleshill facilities.  It's expected that some Auxiliary Unit personnel will transition into the SOE.

@Mikkel is coordinating the arrival is some new SOE personnel by train after their escape from Copenhagen. We are to give them every assistance possible - they will be taking the fight back to Herr Hitler - and we wish them every success in their highly dangerous missions.

If we have any deliveries via Highworth station, orders are to send a runner to Highworth Post Office and report to the postmistress, Mabel Stranks. 

@CME and Bottlewasher will brief you on arrangments for that.

Some more "domestic" arrangements. I'm told the SOE is acquiring a whole load of people with "unusual skills". Some have even been released from prison especially to join the unit! Shocking, but unusual times. We've been assigned one as a "trustee" - between you and me I would trust 'em as far as I can throw 'em. Our "trustee" is some chap called Stanley Fletcher; he's even bought his young son with him - Norman Stanley Fletcher. Stanley said to me - and I quote - "Norman has got a heart of gold, he'll do you for anything, I mean do anything for you".

Watch out, and keep your wallets buttoned up.

Carry on chaps.

GWR Swindon has sent us an update.

They say they could spare one of their Steam Railmotors.

This one has destination boards for Swindon, Bath, Bristol, Avonmouth and Weymouth.

Can we make extra boards for Avebury and Salisbury?

https://www.kernowmodelrailcentre.com/p/50708/K2303-DJ-Models-GWR-Steam-Railmotor-number-63-in-GWR-Brown

28 minutes ago, Mikkel said:

it raises the wider issue of what the N&SWR stock actually looked like

A good question. Perhaps like the M&SWJR it was older GWR stock that had been relegated?

Another question; would the N&S have had any through-workings from the SR? Perhaps specials to Avebury?

West Overton Halt and quarry sidings

This is approximately half-way between Avebury and Marlborough. To preserve goodwill and harmony with the local populous, a small halt is recommended. To be of wooden construction, to the pattern of the Cannings stations, with locally-sourced timber. It needs to be no larger than necessary for a small auto-train.

More important for the war effort, our surveyors have also recommended the construction of sidings and a tramway. To facilitate the quarrying and extraction of the unused Sarsen Stones (or “Grey Wethers” as they are locally known) that are littering the flood plain and stream bottoms. Our geologists report that these Sarsens are of a type of rock known as “concreted alluvial deposits”. Not especially decorative, like Bath or Portland Limestone, but still a useful building material in this time of shortages and rationing.

Talking of shortages and rationing, that reminds me – some concern has been expressed about the supply of coal for our C&H steam locos. Fortunately, Calne is only about 25 miles from Radstock, a hub of the Somerset coalfields. Although the production from the coalfield is in some decline, and now regarded as economically marginal, in the current State of Emergency we must use what we can!

I expect that at least one of the stations on the C&H should have some kind of coal storage or bunkering facility. But which station(s) would be best? Do we need our own coal wagons, or can we rely on Private Owners wagons?

Avebury Junction (continued)

Here’s an enlargement of Avebury Junction station, turned 90 degrees for easier viewing. Top of plan is east of the actual site.

On top in yellow is the original N&SWR station site. When that was built they allowed space alongside for a Calne to Hungerford line as well. Our Victorian railway engineers often had more vision and foresight than we give them credit for.

The construction of the C&H station in recent weeks has, however, given the opportunity to make some improvements to the N&SWR station. These include:

1. Extension of the passing loop to allow longer troop trains and freight movements.
2. Relocation of the N&SWR platform and station buildings to the east of the passing loop (top of plan). This also gives easier access for passengers from Avebury itself
3. A longer siding with a platform for local sheep and farm produce (the “home grown” mutton and wool are still valuable commodities, plus the local potatoes and carrots, all of which are helping us “Dig For Victory”! We are looking forward to some locally produce Shepherd’s Pie at the Red Lion this evening).
4. Moving the N&SWR platform also gave the C&H enough space for another double-ended siding. We are including provision for “stacking” – just in case of any interruptions in traffic mean trains can be held here instead of blocking the line.
5. Bottom left of the plan is the bay platform for the auto from Calne.
6. Bottom right is another slightly longer bay platform, which allows us to run a matching auto service from Hungerford.

In conversation with the Grand Druid of Avebury, during which he kindly shared his best mead, the venerable and kindly druid shared his hopes that these bay platforms will soon be well-used. Just as soon as the Druidic University of Avebury (DUA) has opened. They are hoping many members of the London Lodges will send their sons and daughters to study at DUA. A special platform (platform 12 and a half) may be opened at Paddington for their exclusive usage. This is not to be confused with another special platform at Kings Cross.

The Grand Druid also explained that the Order of Bards Ovates & Druids (to give it its full title) also welcomes many traditional musicians and story-tellers for the Festive Events, who journey to Avebury on the N&SWR. Here’s some we prepared earlier.

Avebury Junction

The original N&SWR station is in yellow, with sidings. The newly-built C&H line is double-tracked here, with 1500 yards between north and south junctions. Notice the two C&H bay platforms (as promised).

It appears that news of the plans for the N&SWR have already leaked to the press in Salisbury.

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Plans to reopen northern entrance to Salisbury Railway Station

https://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news/23784254.55k-put-toward-reopening-north-entrance-salisbury-railway-station/

11 hours ago, Mikkel said:

To which we must add the risk of subsidence caused by centuries of lard mining in the area.

There are certainly some genuinely strange things in this part of Wiltshire (and I don't just mean the people). There really are geological fault lines - the "Heywood Fault" is one of several.

Then there's :

Trowbridge Fault

Great Hinton Fault

Heywood Fault

and the Steeple Ashton coral bed

Plus the Westbrook - Calne fault

and the Rowde Faults

More here:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/292950724_The_stratigraphy_and_geological_setting_of_the_Oxfordian_Corallian_Group_around_Steeple_Ashton_and_Westbury_Wiltshire_UK

That black and white diagram shows "Site of Seend Ironworks". Which was only a short distance west of Devizes (as mentioned in Option A)

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17.2&lat=51.35180&lon=-2.09447&layers=178&b=1

Then there's the Wootton Bassett Mud Springs (not far from Lyneham)

https://swindonian.me/2021/02/27/royal-wootton-bassett-mud-springs/

With unique microfossils

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228534717_Microfossils_from_the_Wootton_Bassett_Mud_Springs_Wiltshire_UK

Who knows what strange and wonderful geology might be discovered during the construction of the N&SWR?

Perhaps an outcrop of the Somerset Coal Fields? (It's not far to Radstock)

Or even the Dorset Oil Fields?

Latest version.

As before, the grid is 50 yards.

We've even managed to acquire a turntable from somewhere.

Compulsory Purchase Order

Dated: 32nd June 1940

With immediate effect

Compulsory purchase of land.

Between the existing Calne branch line and north of the line from grid cordinates ST 98599 70496 to ST 99630 70528

(also located in Ordnance Survey field numbers 272, 242, 278, 279, 280, 64, 63 and 65)

To be made available for construction of additional sidings and facilities for the Calne & Hungerford Railway.

With realignment of the existing Calne branch line.

By Order of War Office

Reference: https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17.4&lat=51.43418&lon=-2.01388&layers=168&b=1

Objections to made in writing to:

CPO Appeals Department

c/o The Penal Colony

St.Kilda

Outer Hebrides

Thank you Major!

Telegrams were immediately despatch to the War Office, with special pleading, emphasising the logic and forcefulness of the case you presented. There was, inevitably and predictably, some grumbling (budgets, resources, committee meetings, new orders, etc, etc). But after applying bit of judicious arm twisting (along with Mr Churchill's axiom of Action This Day), they have agreed! Huzzah!

As the priority "despatching" station, Calne will be the first to be upgraded to a minimum standard of 400 yard sidings. RAF Compton Bassett and Avebury Junction to follow suit.

The news must be spreading. The owners of the stables at Beckhampton have just sent us a Recorded Delivery letter, so we better respond ASAP. They say they want a halt or siding suitable for their racehorses. Just like their good friend Major Edwards has for his stables in Ogbourne St.Andrew. They've enclosed a photograph and copy of a plan of that.

That's not a passing loop is it? More like a siding with points at both ends? Would that be worked with a small ground frame and levers?

They also want to know how much we would charge for providing a N&SWR horsebox and does that include fresh hay. Or should they order a private horse box from the Gloucester Carriage and Wagon Company? Like Major Edwards' one.

Has the N&SWR ordered any horseboxes?

17 hours ago, 2E Sub Shed said:

Reference,  Bishops Cannings and facilities, due to the presence of a racing stables near by, have the directors considered the provision of suitable facilities to handle horse traffic in order to tap into this lucrative traffic ?  A short loop to enable traffic to be worked in either direction ?

An excellent point, which should have been a "lesson learnt" from the M&SWJR. Some parts of that earned more from horse box movement than they did from passenger traffic. I will issue an order to update all station plans to include a docking bay suitable for both horse boxes and cattle wagons.

Yatesbury Station

Chief Surveyor said the rest of the Surveying Team had been sent on to Yatesbury to survey what's required there for a small station, and a siding for the RAF airfield. Their report has just arrived, although I'm not sure why the envelope also contained a few beer mats from the Red Lion in Avebury. And there's what looks like beer stains on the envelope. Hmm, looks like they must still be billeted there.

I hope things at RAF Yatesbury are simpler than at RAF Compton Bassett? Well, so far, it looks simple enough...

Let’s see what the notes say:

1. RAF Yatesbury has requested sidings of sufficient length to handle supply trains of aviation fuel and other essential supplies like munitions.
2. The village of Yatesbury will require one small station, with a passing loop of sufficient length to enable a local passenger service to wait while express freight trains are given priority.
3. Please note on the attached map the area called “Little London”. We have been reliably informed this place name can also be found in many rural locations across England. It’s traditional significance is a place where travellers and drovers would regularly meet each year, to gather or rest cattle, or provide water, before continuing their droving journey towards London.
4. A loading dock has been included for the loading of the said cattle, as a more expedient way of moving cattle to market.
5. A longer siding has been included for incoming agricultural supplies and outgoing produce, like hay and straw. The airfield, although operational, is still mostly grass, and the mown grass is still very useful for winter silage.
6. A wooden platform may be provided to the same specification as used by the N&SWR for All Cannings. We understand that timber can be locally sourced from Honey Street sawmill.

Have they missed anything?

4 hours ago, The Johnster said:

ROD locos mentioned earlier may not be the best choice for fast war traffic.  ... So, I would envisage 2884s and War Department Stanier 8Fs doing the heavy goods work on our line. 

Noted.

Scrap that ROD suggestion.

GWR Research Centre (Didcot) just sent a Technical Notice.

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The (2884) class was designed to handle long distance Heavy Freight trains, so their average job would have been to haul large rakes of wagons (probably around 500 tons) at speed around 20-30 mph over distances of 100-200 miles.

Any idea how many wagons would be in a 500 ton load?

Is it fast enough good for us?

Swindon Works says they've just been ordered to build some of the LMS Stanier Class 8F, but they won't be available until 1942.

4 hours ago, The Johnster said:

'Auto trains' already work on the Calne branch, and may well be suitable for runs out as far as Avebury Jc to connect with trains on the N&SW line

Another excellent suggestion. Avebury Junction should be well within range, and we can make sure there will be a suitable bay platform.

Ah, I clearly spoke to soon, the Chief Surveyor has just got back from RAF Compton Bassett, looking bemused and confused, with a very strange tale.

Now, as you all know, our level of security clearance let's us know the Boffins there are working on some Top Secret stuff called “Radar”, but that’s all. I don’t pretend to understand how it works, it's some kind of bouncy radio thing, but it’s clearly exactly the jolly fine kind of Top-Top British Inventiveness we all need.

Anyway, Chief Surveyor was “Doing The Due Diligence” and had to have a meeting with some of the Boffins, to confirm what kind of sidings and special facilities they needed for all the Top Secret comings and goings. One of the boffins was extraordinarily tall, and had to keep ducking his head to go through doorways and under roof beams. Al the other boffins called him the  @Ducking Giraffe

This strange chap was most insistent that they must have a continuous loop of high-speed track on site, separate from the C&H sidings, for them to do some of their hush-hush experimental work. The Chief Surveyor was alright about that, but then, to cap it all, this strange chap insisted it needed to be doubled track! Quite rightly, Chief Surveyor asked "Why?" The strange chap started to say something like “It’s for the tracing …” but then all the other boffins hushed him up and said we (that’s us) don’t have the right security clearance.

Chief Surveyor reckons the strange chap will either get a Nobel Prize or end up in HMP Slade.

Anyway, here's the Chief Surveyor survey plan, with their special loop. The three-track arrangement is starting to become a theme. Do we need extra security clearance, or should we just give them the double-loop? And how big?

Another excellent and very thorough report there from the Major, with a lot for us to digest. It's clearly well worth the effort of keeping in close contact with GWR HQ in Swindon, to know what's available, we'll need to keep a close eye on their daily briefing sheets.

I don't have a lot to add at the moment; the Chief Surveyor was due to report back now from the surveying work for RAF Yatesbury, but he's not turned up yet. Strange, he's usually punctual. What has turned up? Oh yes, here's a possibility for the local passenger workings, in today's briefing sheet.

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With the current "unpleasantness", the GWR is expecting reduced demand for holiday traffic to & from Devon and Cornwall. At the same time, has been anticipating the need for coaching stock for troop movements. Accordingly, have started withdrawing some of their Suburban B sets and making them available for alternative use.

Here's a picture of one of the sets: "Vehicles no.6453 & 6454 ‘Kingsbridge Branch No.2’" - it's just been nicely refurbished by Rapido Trains.

Shall we say yes to that?

5 hours ago, Mikkel said:

At least now I have some sort of excuse for the retaining walls at Farthing. It will probably still require one eye closed though, given the real-world appearance of the land around Woodborough

Oh, has nobody mentioned the "Great Landslip of 1785"?

Allegedly, it was partly due to the peculiarities of the geology in that part of Wiltshire, and partly due to the still-ongoing isostatic rebound from the last Ice Age, 11 thousand years ago. Apparently there's a little known geological fault line that runs right along the Vale of Pewsey, and right through Woodborough! People still find small cliff-like features in unusual places, and retaining walls are surprisingly common. Allegedly.

That black band of Gault Clay is nearer Devizes.

https://www.wiltshiregeologygroup.org.uk/geology/

10 hours ago, The Johnster said:

This is less than a quarter of a mile, but not significantly so; without measuring it out on the ground, which could arouse suspicion of my being a fifth columnist in these 'interesting' times

I've asked the surveyors to check their measurements. They say their plan is on a 50-yard grid, and they've just stuck-on an extra length of track, I'm still not sure they've got the track long enough yet? It would be good if you could go down to Calne and check. The trick is to wear a flat cap, carry a clipboard with some paperwork, and complain loudly about Jobsworth if anyone challenges you. Don't forget to get a chitty from Doris in Reception for the motor pool and the fuel ration!

10 hours ago, The Johnster said:

Should the loop proposed for Calne (on one of the sausage platform roads, I note) be of insufficient length to serve this purpose, allowing for a locomotive, possible assisting locomotive, and the brake van, I would suggest that the loop be extended eastwards; it is possible that more land will need to be requisitioned for this purpose. 

A man just arrived from C&T Harris to complain about loosing one of their sidings. Don't we know that sausages are a vital part of the war effort? I'm not sure the pigs that arrive there would neccesarily agree; I've been there on days when they arrive, and from the sound they make, they seem to know Mr Harris isn't sending them to a holiday camp.

Anyway, we've moved it sideways a bit, to give space back to C&T Harris, but it give us an extra siding for our own marshalling and shunting as well.

Still waiting to hear from GWR Swindon on what kind of locos are going to be assigned to us. Anyone heard anything?

At last!

The station plans are starting to come through. Here's the "before and after" for Calne.

Before, as a terminus.

After, with a few things to note:

1. The track to Chippenham has been doubled
2. The track has been reconfigured to allow express through-trains, with local traffic turning off the main line.
3. We have a long passing loop that (I trust) will be long enough for the 60-wagon trains we're expecting.
4. Provision for some stabling of locomotives near the signal box