Poole Park Railway further delayed

Local authority seeks traction and personnel to operate revamped line.

DESPITE all good intentions, the refurbished Poole Park Railway is not ready to open – although works trains have been run.

On June 3, Coun Mark Anderson, portfolio holder for Environment and Place at BCP (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council) said: “Good progress continues to be made and our contractors have completed works to both the engine shed and tracks. Works to improve the fencing, update various elements at the station and some minor groundworks are underway.

“We were recently informed that there will be a delay in us taking delivery of the fully electric engine, which is disappointing, but reflects the national picture in sourcing bespoke machinery. In light of this, we are already making enquiries to source a temporary loco which will allow us to open as expected later this year.

“The carriages are currently being built off-site and despite some delays in sourcing materials, we expect all of those to be with us very shortly.

“The local miniature train community continues to be highly supportive of the developments at Poole Park Railway. I would like to thank them all for their support, advice, and encouragement.”

BCP is also recruiting new team members to manage the running of the line.

It had been expected the railway, which dates back to 1949, would be changed from 10¼in to 12¼in gauge, but the new track has been laid to the original gauge. The route is generally the same, but with some realignment to reduce the number of pedestrian crossings.

Delivery of the £480,000 project is being undertaken by Track Systems UK Ltd, namely well-known miniature railway engineers Bruce Whalley and Chris Phillimore. Although a suitable loco for interim use has still to be found, former Wells Harbour Railway 0-6-0DH Howard (Keef 74 of 2005) has been in use on construction trains. It will return to its new home on the Lappa Valley Railway when the job is completed.

TOM MCATEE HORSE MEETS HORSEPOWER: A white horse – which we assume has not seen many Class 33s before – watches intently as visiting No. 33012 (D6515) Lt Jenny Lewis RN passes on the approach to Mytholmes Tunnel with the first train to Oxenholme on June 10, the first day of the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway’s threeday diesel gala.

IAN LOTHIAN BO’NESS ‘70’: Colas Rail’s No. 70816 and Freightliner’s No. 70010 were both visitors to the Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway’s diesel gala on May 28/29 – the Colas loco pictured at Bo’ness on the first day alongside home fleet Type 2 No. 27001, and EMU No. 303023 on display in the bay platform.

MEL THORLEY ‘WHISTLING SCOTSMAN’: The CFPS’s Class 40 No. D345 (40145) waits to depart Heywood, East Lancashire Railway, for Bury on May 29, carrying what is believed to be an original BR headboard for the ‘Flying Scotsman’ and headcode 1A16 for the down service in the early 1960s. The headboard was a 1940s King’s Cross steam example that was modified to fit the EE Type 4s when new in the late 1950s, only to be dumped (and rescued) from a skip when London’s Finsbury Park depot was demolished after closure in the 1980s.

Your reports and pictures are most welcome. Highly competitive rates are paid, especially if exclusive to The RM.