Indice dei contenuti per Volume 39 No 5 - May 2025 in Backtrack

By late 1980 Speedlink had been established as the core element of action plans to solve the British Railways Board’s wagonload problem. Although the country was in the grip of an economic recession and traffic volumes were down on some routes, the Freight team at HQ had produced Development Plans which had identified market opportunities for growth and a path to profit by the end of 1982. In a letter dated 20th January 1981 the Chief Executive R. B. Reid wrote to the Under-Secretary Railways at the Department of Transport assuring him that profit maximisation would remain central to the development of Speedlink services. He emphasised that “only by being selective in the traffic sought and areas served would the Board be able to secure the essential improvements in quality…

For the first few Christmases after the end of World War II, my aunt used to organise a family gathering for herself and the families of her two brothers, one of whom was my father. On this particular Christmas, I was a somewhat disappointed to learn that Uncle Eric and family would not be coming. He had been a padre during the war and had travelled with the troops through France into Germany. During that time he would send me little items he had come across in his travels. My disappointment was added to by seeing not a parcel with my name on it under the Christmas tree, but an envelope with my name on. Inside was a note from my aunt saying would I like to go with her…

It is 50 years since the county of Dorset lost its last branch line. The Maiden Newton to Bridport branch line closed officially on 5th May 1975 with the last trains running two days before, on Saturday 3rd May. This line will always occupy a priceless place in my heart because it’s the line which I grew up with and from where all my interest in railways began. I was six years old when this railway closed and I have retained a strong interest in it ever since. In this article, I outline the basic timeline of the Bridport line, my own memories of its last years and how a heritage railway the other side of the country helps keep the memory of this line alive by preserving a rail…

While researching the erstwhile ‘Sprat & Winkle’ line from Andover to Kimbridge Junction in Hampshire and its associated ‘Nile Valley’ Longparish branch (see Backtrack Vols.38/12 and 39/2), I happened across an intriguing nearby railway. This was the branch which linked the historic village of Botley, on the London & South Western Railway (LSWR) line from Southampton to Salisbury, with the medieval town of Bishop’s Waltham situated at the source of the River Hamble some twelve miles south east of Winchester. Fascinated as I am by the railway politics and manoeuvrings of the mid-nineteenth century, I had to delve further into its genesis and operation. Background Bishop’s Waltham can trace its history back to Anglo-Saxon times. It experienced steady growth, becoming become one of Hampshire’s largest villages, despite being burnt to…

In the March 2024 edition of Backtrack, the photograph of ‘Britannia’ No.70052 Firth of Tay at Nottingham Midland station in 1965 has for me, special memories as chronicled below, not necessarily because I was married in October of that year to the niece of Toton driver William Webb, but because of an excuse to write the following. On 24th April 1965 the Locomotive Club of Great Britain ran a steam-hauled ‘Parspec’ (Party Special) from London St. Pancras to Skegness and return. The motive power from London to Nottingham and back was BR ‘Britannia’ Pacific No.70052 Firth of Tay. From Nottingham the Thompson B1 Class 4-6-0 No 61406 would work the train forward to Skegness and return, with Fowler Class 4F 0-6-0 No.44401 providing assistance from Nottingham as far as Shirebrook…

The months of May and June 1965 were undoubtedly the most eventful and the most significant two successive months in the history of the railways of Dumfries. After 117 years in the southerly direction, 115 years northwards, and 106 years to the west, most of it came to an end at Dumfries in 1965. It was not all doom and gloom that year for there were two events that delighted, but these were merely fleeting and transitory, and served only to lighten the effect of the four events which generated despair, for these events smacked of catastrophe and in contrast unfortunately they were permanent. Five of these six events took place in the months of May and June. With the 60th anniversary now upon us, it is appropriate to recall…

The thrust of the ‘guest editorial by Roger Backhouse in the April 2021 issue of Backtrack 2021 was the importance of making provision for one’s archive material before we die. This coincided with a short article my fellow railway historian friend John McCrickard and I had been putting together as a memorial to our friend Geoff Webb who died suddenly in November 1991, at the age of 67. He had been to Reading to a meeting of the Signalling Record Society and had been unwell during the day. By good fortune John was also at this meeting and was able to accompany Geoff on the way home. John got off at St. Albans and alerted the staff who contacted Bedford. Geoff was taken to hospital and died shortly afterwards. I…