FROM THE RAILWAY MAGAZINE ARCHIVES
YEARS AGO
FEBRUARY 1920
Spark arresting smokestacks
A LIVERPOOL reader, Mr R. F. Legget, sends an interesting photograph
(below) showing Lancashire & Yorkshire 0-6-0 locomotive No. 416 fitted with a spark-arresting smokestack of the kind associated with wood-burning locomotives in other countries. This engine is one which, during the war, was engaged on special duties involving working in the neighbourhood of inflammable or explosive stores or buildings.
YEARS AGO
FEBRUARY 1970
BR relic shop opens
COLLECTORS Corner, British Railways’ first London railway relic shop, was opened in Cardington Street NCL Depot, Euston, London, NW1, on December 2. Located on the first floor, the shop contains railway relics from closed stations depots.
East Lincolnshire withdrawals
THE Minister of Transport has now given consent to proposals by British Railways, Eastern Region, to withdraw passenger train services between Lincoln Central-Firsby; Peterborough-Boston; Firsby-Grimsby and WilloughbyMablethorpe, and for the closure of stations at Five Mile House, Bardney, Southrey, Stixwould, Woodhall Junction, Coningsby, Tumby Woodside, New Bolingbroke, Stickney, Midville, Firsby, Burgh-le–Marsh, Willoughby, Alford Town, Louth North, Thoresby, Mumby Road, Sutton-on-Sea and Mablethorpe. The date from which the services will be withdrawn and the stations closed is to be announced later. Freight services will be retained.
YEARS AGO
FEBRUARY 2000
Virgin bid for ECML
IN A shock move, Virgin Trains has entered the fray as a possible contender for the East Coast Main Line franchise, currently held by Great North Eastern Railway. No details of the proposed bid had been released, but Virgin confirmed that it had submitted an ‘expression of interest’ to the shadow Strategic Rail Authority. If successful Virgin would almost certainly introduce a version of its 140mph Fiat ‘Pendolino Britannica’ tilting to replace GNER’s rapidly ageing BR-built lC225s.
Waterman buys
MILLIONAIRE record producer Pete Waterman has bought the majority of shares in the pioneer BR Standard locomotive, Class 7 Pacific No. 70000 Britannia. The surprise purchase by the founder of the Waterman Railways empire ends the long-running saga over the future of the celebrity loco which will now return to Crewe, where it was built in 1951.
Rochdale-London services axed
FIRST North Western’s Rochdale-London services will become one of the first casualties of the privatised era when they cease in May. Greater Manchester PTA claimed FNW didn’t do enough to renew its access rights.
Franchises in trouble
THE shadow Strategic Rail Authority is reported to be ready to take over the Northern Spirit and Merseyrail train operating franchises. According to newspaper reports, their parent company, MTL was experiencing financial difficulties. A company spokeswoman denied a crisis, but it is understood that the company’s bankers are concerned about the cash-flow situation.