Issue no. 37 — Summer 2008
Cover photograph : John Edginton captured No. 58100 on 31 August 1958
as it drifted light down the incline in a photograph that again gives
emphasis to its massive appearance. This photograph shows the
locomotive in service during the latter days of its life. We are
fortunate in being able to publish (p.14–19) in this issue a sequence
of photographs that show its being built in 1919/20. Peter Witts has
written an introduction to this and detailed captions for the
photographs. The booklet from which the photographs came is in the Roy
F. Burrows collection at the Midland Railway Study Centre. Further
information by Peter Witts on the cover photograph is at the bottom of
p.13.
Back cover : This poster, dated August 18th 1890, advertised the
opening of the Doe Lea Extension branch of the Midland Railway. Glynn
Waite refers to it in his article that deals with the complexities of
the Midland's passenger services between Chesterfield and
Mansfield. The Midland ran three Mondays to Fridays services via the
Doe Lea Extension line. That was also the case on Saturdays, though in
later years services were enhanced on that day. [Glynn Waite
collection]
- Passenger Services Between Mansfield and Chesterfield
- Some Effects of Implementing the Midland and LNWR Traffic Agreement of 1908
- The Midland's 0–10–0 Banking Locomotive
- Big Bertha's Mainline Run
- Items from the Study Centre — 1
- Locomotive Aesthetic
- Query Corner
- Comments on Items in Previous Journals
Issue no. 38 — Autumn 2008
Cover photograph : This photograph, rich in fascinating Midland
Railway detail, was taken at Lancaster Green Ayre station some time
after 1908. The photographer was standing between the lines to
Morecambe that can be seen curving off to the left and about to cross
the Lune viaduct near where the camera was. This was a nine-chain
curve, necessitating the check rails. The line straight ahead of the
train, past Lancaster North signal box with the signal-man looking out
of the window, would take it on the steeply graded (1 in 89 maximum)
single track to Lancaster Castle station. The structures for
supporting the catenary and the catenary itself that supported the
electric power lines can be clearly seen. It looks as though the whole
complement of station staff had turned out for the picture. The train
standing at the station was of the standard composition, with the
motor car (in this case, the Westinghouse unit, No. 2236, with the
pantograph) flanked by two of the driving trailers. One can see,
looking towards the train, the driver behind the glass of the right
hand window of the leading trailer. If anyone knows anything about the
staff pictured here, I would be delighted to hear from them. [Roy
F. Burrows Trust, No. 60807: MR Study Centre/Kidderminster Railway
Museum]
Back cover : This is the cover of a brochure issued in July 1898 by
the Midland Railway to potential passengers from Liverpool or
Manchester to London. They would have travelled through the Peak
District on their journey; hence the company's claim of having the
"Pictureque Route". The brochure was a tourist timetable, attractively
produced on quality paper. The Midland was, at that time, strongly
pursuing the potentially profitable traffic from the Atlantic liner
trade that docked at Liverpool. [Roy F. Burrows Trust, No. 18020: MR
Study Centre]
- Midland Electrification: The Lancaster, Morecambe and Heysham Lines
- Items from the Study Centre — 2
- Miller's Dale Widening
- The Last Days of Steam
- Locomotive Aesthetics
- Midland Expresses Through the Peak
- Query Corner
- Comments on Items in Previous Journals
Issue no. 39 — Winter 2008
Cover photograph : Our cover photograph comes from the collection of
Midland Railway postcards assembled over the years by John
Alsop. John, working with Roy Burrows, has recently made available
copies of these at the Midland Railway Study Centre. There are four in
John's collection that depict work going on for the Midland
electrification of the Lancaster, Morecambe and Heysham lines and the
subsequent rebuilding of Greyhound viaduct. The article on page 10,
and the centre spread are based on them. The cover photograph was
taken at the same time, possibly by the same photographer.
The charming image on the cover shows a three-car Siemens set at
Platform 3 of Morecambe station at the end of 1908, the year that the
lines were electrified. The leading driving trailer car was
No. 2241. Unfortunately, it is not possible to read the numbers of the
motor car and the other trailer. Both bow collectors on the motor car
were up, and the wind deflectors for each can be seen in the
photograph. The ladies ready to board the train were dressed in warm
winter clothing, and had clearly spent some money on it. At the time,
Morecambe was a place where the wealthy came to spend their leisure
time. Other passengers included a bowler-hatted man behind the women,
and an elderly gentleman in a naval cap.
The train guard appears to have been unlocking the door of the
carriage for the waiting passengers to enter. Whilst this was
happening and the picture was taken, someone behind the ladies moved
to form the shadowy figure there. The young man in the cloth cap and
working clothes with a cane under his arm was probably a
passenger. His confident stance is rather appealing. [Roy F. Burrows
Trust, No. 67824: John Alsop collection]
Back cover : The date (1869) of this form letter about debenture loans
makes it unusually interesting. The Midland Railway was financially
very extended at that time. The London extension was in place, but it
had hardly had time to generate significant new revenue, whilst the
Midland Grand Hotel was still being built. The expensive Chesterfield
and Sheffield line was under way, and the cripplingly expensive Settle
and Carlisle line had just started. Even though the Midland Railway
Company was experienced in riding financial trouble, they needed
unprecedented amounts of cash. This letter was part of the essential
money-raising activity of the time.
Mr. J. Williams, the Secretary of the Midland Railway had written to a
Mr. William Simpson of Malton, in reply to his enquiry about loans to
the Midland Railway Company. The hand-written note in the right hand
margin refers to the (Little) North Western Company (leased in
perpetuity to the Midland), and Williams offered debentures against
its security giving similar rates of return to the higher Midland
debentures.
The reverse of this document says "North Eastern Railway Co, Circulars
of Letters" It has, I presume, come from a collection of similar
documents put together by a clerk in the North Eastern Company. I have
no idea why they did so. [Ian Howard collection]
- Derby 'A' Box - Part 1: Basic Operation
- Midland Electrification - Men at Work
- Accident at Shefford, 1899
- Locomotive Aesthetics
- Unusual Train Working from Gloucester
- Items from the Study Centre — 3
- Chapel Milton Viaducts
- Query Corner
- Comments on Items in Previous Journals