S&D booklist

Nick Howes has produced the following booklist of all books published with the S&D as the main or incidental subject. This is a work in progress and any other titles can be added to this list. Please email details to leysiner@aol.com

53808 a somerset and dorset engine

a souvenir of evening star

all about midsomer norton

bath to bristol

bath to evercreech

bournemouth to evercreech

branch lines of somerset

bristol and bath railways

britains railways in colour br steam in the 1950 and 60s

british railway centres no 3 - bath green park

burnham to evercreech

colour of steam - somerset and dorset line

district controllers view 4 bath to bournemouth in the 1950s

district controllers view 5 - somerset and dorset railway summer Saturday 1957

donald beales somerset and dorset

double headed more tales from the footplate

down memory lane

golden age of steam - locomotives of the great western and somerset and dorset railways

gw pryer somerset and dorset

heart of the somerset and dorset

heyday of the somerset and dorset

highbridge in its heyday

historical survey of the somerset and dorset railway

history of the somerset and dorset wimborne to blandford - for bailey gate

images of bristol somerset and dorset railways

ivo peters classic steam

jinty

last days of steam in bristol and somerset

last years of the somerset and dorset

legend of the somerset and dorset

life of a steam railway photographer alan newman maggs

life on the railway

life on the somerset and dorset

lines on an s&d branch

london midland steam twilight

lost railways of somerset

mangotsfield to bath branch

mangotsfield to bath branch

maritime activities of the somerset and dorset railway

mendips engineman

midland railway system maps 4

on somerset and dorset lines

organised chaos

picture history of the somerset and dorset railway

ra cooke somerset and dorset

radstock coal and steam 1

radstock coal and steam 2

railways into wells

railways of bristol and somerset

railways of bristol and somerset martin smith

reminisces of the somerset and dorset

right away with the pines

s&d booklist

s&d memories

sabotaged and defeated

sabotaged and defeated revisted

somerset - british railways past and present

somerset and dorset - aftermath of the beeching axe

somerset and dorset an english cross country railway

somerset and dorset at midford

somerset and dorset engineman f e stickley

somerset and dorset files 1

somerset and dorset files 2

somerset and dorset files 3

somerset and dorset files 4

somerset and dorset files 5

somerset and dorset files 6

somerset and dorset in colour

somerset and dorset in the fifties vol 1 1950-1954

somerset and dorset in the fifties vol 2 1955-1959

somerset and dorset in the sixties vol 1 1960-1962

somerset and dorset in the sixties vol 2 1963-1966

somerset and dorset joint 1852-1948

somerset and dorset joint railway locomotives and rolling stock registers 1886 1930

somerset and dorset life on the bath to bournemouth line 2 eds

somerset and dorset line - british railway pictorial

somerset and dorset railway - opening of the bath extension 1874

somerset and dorset railway 1935 1966

somerset and dorset railway a view from the past

somerset and dorset railway atthill

somerset and dorset railway barrie and clinker

somerset and dorset railway in public archives

somerset and dorset remembered 1 bath the evercreech

somerset and dorset remembered 2 evercreech to bouremouth and branches

somerset and dorset steam finale

somerset and dorset sunset

somerset and dorset then and now 1986

somerset and dorset then and now 1995

somerset railway stations

somerset railways

somerset railways

somerset railways - britains railways in old photos

somerset steam

somewhere along the line - 50 years love of trains

southbound with the pines

southern way special issue 4 - southern colour to the west, dorset somerset devon and cornwall

spirit of the somerset and dorset

splendour of the somerset and dorset

steam - tales from the footplate

steam around bath

steam in somerset

steam on the somerset and dorset

stories of the somerset and dorset

tales of somerset steam

wiltshire and somerset - a railway landscape

working somerset and dorset steam

working timetables of the somerset and dorset railway 1921 and 1930

working timetables of the somerset and dorset railway june 5th 1950

happy 137th!

Midsomer Norton South

Midford

Happy 137th birthday to the Bath Extension, which opened on this day in 1874. This section of line now has one restored station running trains (Midsomer Norton South), one restored privately (Masbury) and one cleared and ready to start rebuilding (Midford). That'll be the Ms done!

This stretch of the line was probably the finest section of railway in England and certainly the most missed. With its fantastic scenery and huge variety of trains it was really the jewel in the crown of the heritage movement - but seemed to be missed first time round!

The glory days of the Bath Extension are really ahead of us. As more and more of this stretch of line reopens the reality of its return will become clear to everybody. Towns and villages along the route will once again have a modern transport system on their doorstep, linking them to the outside world once again and protecting them from the worst effects of Peak Oil. And the heritage movement, particularly locomotive owners, will have available the finest line on which to fully show off their magnificent machines.

The S&D community should stop 'celebrating' closures, and start celebrating openings and reopenings - there are going to be very many ahead of us. The tables really have turned and the S&D is very clearly on its way back after 45 years of that ridiculous and now obviously temporary closure.

cole

Just added to the Rail Thing archive is this evocative late 60s shot of Cole station. This station now has new houses in the area which will need to be purchased by the New S&D and demolished. The short sighted scandal of putting houses etc on essential trackbeds will become a major talking point in future years. Ironically the very act of publicising the opening of new railways on old trackbeds will suppress the prices of houses and buildings in this strange situation, making them cheaper to buy, a virtuous circle if ever there was one! I suspect that many buildings now on trackbeds are already seeing the first signs of this blight, whilst houses built NEAR trackbeds (especially where new stations are to be built) will be seeing rising prices.

memories - let's 'ave 'em!

(Photo copyright Rail Thing)

Don't forget that the New S&D does have an excellent website and content is ALWAYS required. One of the sections covers all the S&D stations and as well as historical, current and future information we also have a section on 'memories' which is gradually filling up. Latest is for Henstridge, this from Tony Wiles.

I love the picture. My brother and sister used to spend our summer holidays with our grandparents in Henstridge, they lived in Vale View and we could see part of the line from there. My brother and I were keen train spotters and the then Station Master Mr Wareham, who was a friend of my grandfathers who himself was once a train driver, would often allow us to stand on the platform. I remember how every day we would arrive in time to watch the Pines Express roar through. The station use to vibrate as it did so. We would also travel to Templecombe and spend all day on the platform noting steam train numbers.

Recently on a visit I walked around the area where the station used to be and really wished it could have still been there. Also went to Templecombe which although still open looked so small.

So if you do have memories and/or pictures of any S&D station please allow us to share them. Even after closure memories are more than welcome as it will all form part of the historic record of this amazing line. Simply email any info and pictures to leysiner@aol.com All info and pictures will of course be fully acknowledged.

The photo is from the Rail Thing archive collection which is gradually building up a full record of Britain's railways.

scaremongering - let's consign it to the dustbin

(What's really happening - 70 005 at Bristol Parson Street 21.6.2011 copyright Steve Sainsbury)

This month's Railfuture Rail User Express carries a feature on the Ayr-Stranraer line. It mentions that Stena is switching its ferry service from Stranraer to Cairnryan soon and, to quote -

When one considers that the Stranraer line provides the only rail link with the other part of the UK Scotland has a direct connection with – Northern Ireland – it seems strange in this era of climate change that the Scottish Government is overseeing the continual run down of the Stranraer line. It may now only be a matter of time before the railway to Stranraer is closed. The Stockton Haulage Yard has been taken out of use and the Stranraer Town Yard offered for sale.

(see highlighted)

What utter rubbish! No railway is ever going to close again in the UK, or anywhere else for that matter, and this is plain, ignorant scaremongering. If anything not only will this existing route flourish but the line to Cairnryan will eventually reopen (it was a military route) and also the far more important Stranraer to Dumfries line, amazingly closed in 1965 even though it was the direct route to Stranraer.

Note that the quote only mentions Climate Change and totally ignores Peak Oil! Are the Scots really that far behind? I don't think so.

Rail closures were a 50s, 60s and 70s thing. That was FORTY years ago. Since then lines have reopened (particularly in Scotland!) as have hundreds of stations. It is idiotic to talk of closure - whilst the shipping route across to Larne will almost certainly survive Peak Oil the roads definitely won't, so the ONLY way to get to Stranraer will be by rail.

Rail supporters' groups should NEVER employ this tactic. It is forty years out of date and only serves to set up a feeling of hopelessness which will hardly bring activists in. And not to mention Peak Oil is unbelievable in 2011.

I look forward to travelling to Stranraer and Cairnryan by train in 2031 and afterwards I'll travel up to Ayr and Glasgow to travel on Glasgow's high speed trams!
Rail

hard figures

(Bristol Parson Street 21.6.2011 - copyright Steve Sainsbury)

I was googling 'reduced traffic levels fuel prices' but soon reached this which is a useful chart of energy efficiencies. Some of the text also underlines what we've been saying for years!


Transport - source

At the end of 2002, the UK government admitted that its target reduction of 6% in road congestion by 2010 would not be met. The increase in road use was explained by the growth in the economy. The number of new car registrations peaked in 2003 falling by 7% by the end of 2007. The number of commercial vehicle registrations, remained virtually at the same level from 2004 to the end of 2007. Bus and coach registrations peaked in 2006, falling 6% by the end of 2007, bringing the total vehicles on UK roads to around 31 million cars and 4¼ million commercial vehicles.

To control congestion local authorities have been granted powers to apply various charging schemes to limit traffic in cities and in London a successful scheme was introduced. Perhaps if the fuel escalator tax had not been abandoned in 2000, but had been increasingly applied, sales in cars might have fallen and congestion restricted by higher costs. Indeed, the escalator could have been ramped up until it had a demonstrable effect on congestion. However, it has been suggested that it would take an increase of 5 times in fuel prices to make a noticeable effect on road use. The fall in new car registrations over the 5 years to 2008 was probably due to lack of road space more than high fuel prices.

But air traffic has increased and the skies are also congested, while the railways struggle to cope with more passengers than their carrying capacity. Two of the three principle forms of transport currently rely on oil-based fuels, the amount of which is finite. By consuming fuel at an ever increasing rate, the time when the roads and skies will empty is brought forward. Congestion will be exacerbated by increases in road and runway capacity, but will eventually be relieved when the fuel sustaining it runs out. Paradoxically the very increase in demand encouraged by road and runway building will bring forward the final turn-down, leaving empty motorways and abandoned airfields. The exception to this is the railways which could eventually be powered by sustainable wind and tidal power.

Comparison of surface transport motive energy efficiencies

Before considering various forms of transport, it is useful to estimate the relative efficiencies of those operating on the surface, i.e., roads and railways (including trams).

<><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><>

Method	Overall %
Renewable electricity -> Transmission 90% -> Electric traction 85% (Rail and tram)	76
Diesel -> 46% ->Electricity 90% ->Electric traction 82% + 21% (Diesel-electric-battery train) *	55
Diesel engines; Average 46% (Road and train)	46
Diesel -> 46% -> Electricity 90% -> Electric traction 82% (Diesel-electric train)	34
Petrol engines 30-38%; Average 34% (Road)	34
Fossil fuels -> Electricity 40% -> Transmission 90% -> Electric traction 85% (Rail and tram)	30
Renewable electricity -> H2 44% -> Fuel cell 40% -> Electric traction 85% (Road)	15
Fossil fuels -> Electricity 40% -> Transmission 90% -> H2 44% -> Fuel cell 40% -> Electric traction 85% (Train)	5

* Hitachi diesel-electric multiple unit with battery storage enabling regeneration

From the above rough estimated stage efficiencies, it is evident that rail and tram make the best use of renewable sources of electricity, whereas the use of hydrogen as a "mobile" fuel able to be carried on a vehicle is the least efficient. It is also evident that renewable electricity offers 2½ times more useful work energy that the primary energy used for fossil fuel electricity generation.

gartell event

The Gartell Railway has their big Steam and Vintage show at the end of the month. This is the Facebook page.

the rail revival message spreads

This is a press release issued today from the group that plans to reopen SALTFORD station - please try to attend!

Saltford Station Campaign.

Saltford Environment Group was formed about four months ago by a group of like minded residents to raise awareness of a nationwide initiative called 'Transition Towns' which aims to prepare communities for a 'post oil' world. With fossil fuels becoming more scarce and prices rocketing, many experts feel we have reached 'Peak Oil' and need to adapt quickly in order to reduce the shock of a post oil economy.

In the last six months the government announced it is going to electrify Brunel's Great Western Mainline from London Paddington through to Cardiff. This will be a massive infrastructure project, and will eventually see electric trains running through Bath, Keynsham and Saltford.

This is an opportunity that is too good to miss for Saltford. Electric trains mean faster acceleration and deceleration which means quicker timings and gaps in the timetable for re opened stations. We as a group felt the time was right to start a campaign to get our station back. Indeed, Paul Crossley, the new leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council, has already mentioned Saltford as one of the stations he'd like to see re opened! I have spoken to Roger Symonds who is a cabinet member with the transport brief and he is very keen also.

 With the ever increasing cost of private motoring, a re opened station gives the residents of Saltford a vital and environmentally friendly transport asset that will 'future proof' the village. Many residents commute to Bath, Bristol, London and beyond. Saltford has quite a large student population who attend universities all over the country, Portsmouth, Birmingham etc.. Many people visit the village, a railway station will give people the option to visit without using the car.

We see the station as a small community facility. Not a vast 'Park and ride' set up. Many people will be able to access the station on foot as there is a comprehensive network of footpaths that the victorians put in place when the station was opened in 1841. It could open up the station site and turn it into a small business park or other village amenity.

 It is with all this in mind we would like to give notice of a public meeting at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 26th July at Saltford Hall to discuss the possibility of a re opened station and to invite residents of Saltford along to express their support. Roger Symonds will be there as will members of Saltford Parish Council.

There will be a question and answer session too.  [T]here will be available soon a 'Saltford' mug, bearing the original British Railways Western Region chocolate and cream Totem, which will be sold to raise funds for the campaign.

midford today

All photos copyright Tom Seale.

Midford is looking FANTASTIC. We should soon be on stage two which is putting the buildings etc back.

Tom Seale's report for today.

As the weather significantly improved we decided to head down to Midford again today, this time to clear more of the platform.

We made far more progress than I'd anticipated, only a small portion of the platform now remains to be cleared. The tarmac and guttering were again in remarkably good condition despite having been buried. We've also uncovered the base and foundations of the oil store. The concrete base has unfortunately succumed to time and is in need of replacement; however with the foundations unearthed I can start taking some measurements for planning drawings. Should need only one more visit to finish clearing the platform, then its on to moving that pile of rubble off the parcels office.

REMEMBER - all members are welcome to help out in the restoration of Midford!

meeting - at last!

At last we are able to hold a meeting! With all the work at Midford there hasn't been a lot of time for meetings, but the vital thing now is to consolidate and develop the management team, so it's time for us to all get together again! Wd are particularly keen to find members who will take on various roles at committee and board level. We're still looking for a Right Lines editor, a treasurer, a social manager, a sales manager and members of the sales/promotion team(s). We also still need a few more trackbed stewards, general committee and board members.

We've chosen Bournemouth as most of our members live in the area and it is accessible by modern transport (ie rail).

The meeting will be held in the bar area (if wet) or pool area (if dry) at the Cumberland Hotel, which is situated in East Overcliffe Drive, BOURNEMOUTH, BH1 3AF. Date and time is Saturday 20 August 2011, 12 midday. Please try to come.

This is a pre-AGM meeting, the AGM will be in November, probably in Templecombe which is equidistant for members from both the north and south of the S&D. More details later.

midford 3 july

(All pics copyright Stuart Seale)

Latest report from the Midford Team.

There were a few of us at Midford on Sunday when we went down for the express purpose of getting rid of the huge pile of cuttings that had built up. Unfortunately no sooner had we got the fire going well when one of the neighbours asked us if we would put it out as the smoke was causing him a nuisance. It is a bit ironic that this same person also wishes us to clear the trees behind his property. In the interests of harmony we let the fire die out and then re-commenced work digging out the platform and clearing up the area where the Scouts had cut down some trees.

It was satisfying to see the gutter appear from under the composted matter on the platform and it appeared very deep and in good condition. The newly exposed tarmac surface was in similarly good condition.

common sense approaches portishead - at last!

The Avon Gorge - old form of transport on the right, the future on the left (in the trees!)

Thanks to Brian Clarke for this.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-13977534

Meeting backs £43.3m Portishead to Bristol rail link

Transport leaders from councils around Bristol have met despite plans for a partnership board to be closed down.

The West of England Partnership is to be shut with some roles taken over by a Local Enterprise Partnership.

At a meeting in Weston-super-Mare the group decided to put forward a bid for £43.3m of government cash to reopen the Portishead to Bristol railway line.

Plans were also announced for a rail summit in the autumn as part of a drive to tackle rail issues across the West.

An Integrated Transport Authority (ITA) could give councils greater power over buses and railways and the power to set fares was also discussed.

Network Rail said it would also be looking at doubling the number of tracks between Parson Street, in Bedminster, Bristol, and Temple Meads railway station.

'Key priority'

Commenting on the proposed Portishead to Bristol railway line, a North Somerset Council spokesman said morning rush hour journey times were typically 45 minutes but claim it would take just 17 minutes by rail.

If funding and planning issues are solved the council believes a realistic opening date for the line would be by 2017.

Councillor John Calway, who chairs the partnership, said the councils would continue to meet and bid for projects such as new bus routes.

"Transport remains a key priority for both residents and businesses in the West of England," said Mr Calway, the leader of South Gloucestershire Council.

"In recognition of this, the hugely successful West of England Joint Transport Executive Committee will continue in its current form."

The partnership was formed by Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire councils in 2003 and could be closed by the autumn.

scotland leads the way

Of course only an idiot would now say that the Beeching cuts were necessary. We need to forget that time and get on with rebuilding our rail network - firstly to reverse all the Beeching cuts, then start filling in the gaps with interurbans, light railways and industrial routes, ready for an oilless future. Not only does rebuilding and extending the network need to happen quickly but so does electrification of the entire rail network - and yes I do include heritage routes, narrow gauge lines etc!

Scotland is starting the process, albieit very slowly. Take a listen to this http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0120783/Reversing_Dr_Beeching/

more embedded stuff

Mystery location - any ideas?

The following was from Brian Clarke triggered by the earlier RAE post.

Many of New S&D Rly blog followers may appreciate some, or even all, of this information if you can find space to show it.

Farnborough Royal Aerospace Establishment (RAE) railway archive piccies at,

http://www.historicfarnborough.co.uk/raerailway.html

Unfortunately, this source wrecks good quality material by showing each to infuriatingly small size, when click on thumbnail for "tour". Using keyboard "ctrl+" to enlarge makes the pic go fuzzy. Thats stupid, we are not ruddy "tourists". We care more than that.

 Two of those pics stated to be from "Railway World" magazine, issue June 1968 which a lucky dip trawl in car boot sale or preservation society stall junk box stacks might turn up for a few pennies. These are directly reproduced with GM Kitchenside caption, here:

http://www.historicfarnborough.co.uk/1968raeclosure.html

One short bit of the old track may yet be in place if you know which spot of grassy roadside to poke at discreetly with probing boot. Maybe worth a mosey some time. This natter page says was still there (with pic of it on) Aug 2008:

http://farnborough.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=train&action=display&thread=1226

Also at above address, archive pic of Andrew Barclay loco "Lord Fisher" at work on Farnborough RAE line. This loco got preserved at Cranmore, was exhibited 1991 out front on public roadside at Bath Green Park Station This in support of artyfarty BS within train shed, curtained off area you paid money to get in, with bogus chuffing noises & puffs of "steam" emanating therefrom. Loco Name plate had moved from tank side to just above footplate, since the above archive pic taken.

 Copies of photos this 1991 event herewith

copyright Brian Clarke. P&J Barnfield were doing vintage camera stuff to add the period flavour. Peter is a very talented artist, examples his work enquire to Simon Castens, "The Titfield Thunderbolt" shop, you may like the humour,

http://titfield.co.uk/Barnfield/PB_main.htm

Other loco "Invincible" ( the one you excited about on blog), shown parked up on Isle of Wight in recent time which may interest some. In colour, one I think quite nice could help inspire model makers. Its red now but someone remembered was definitely painted green when at Farnborough.

A video of the last train on RAE Farnborough line is offered for five quid (customary disclaimer from bozo of course) at,

http://www.rae-apprentices.co.uk/mementos1.htm

 Video of "last steam" at RAE Farnborough also offered (disclaimer) for fifteen quid bundled with other stuff, no idea if its same footage or not, at,

http://www.video125.co.uk/acatalog/Classic_Railway_Newsreels_1___2.html

Most entertaining general natter (with "time waster" alert from me) on your favoured topic of "street running" railways includes enthusiasm for Farnborough RAE rly at,

 

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=41385&start=50

You can watch monochrome British Pathe News film (as video) of loco "Invincible" operating on Farnborough RAE rly, at,

http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=44598

Beware this footage just might be the stuff hawked by vid vendors above, I really dunno.

Theres a Wikipedia entry that looked pants to me, however to be fair I only skimmed so may have missed a useful clickable link thats not prominent.

Farnborough airfield as a Heritage Location may be of interest to some, I not paused to check it out proper but one building shown (demolished since photo) looks suspiciously like seen in rly archive pic, make your own mind up on it at,

http://www.transportheritage.com/find-heritage-locations.html?sobi2Task=sobi2Details&sobi2Id=272

Various other sources checked on internet proved a bit rubbish however I only tried one search engine (google) so others might find more, a few less obvious ones proved the most rewarding.

My search also turned up stuff on Littlehampton Miniature Rly which at or near Farnborough but decided is "off topic" here. (Littlehampton Miniature Railway is at Littlehampton on the Sussex coast - my old stamping ground! It may show up in searches because of the Surrey Border and Camberley Railway which was near Franborough - the LMR took some SBCR engines - ed)

btw googy spiders were real quick crawling your posting on this, shows up already in search results !

Brian 19-6-11

yesterday at Midford

Here's the latest report from Tom Seale re work at Midford (yesterday 23.6.2011. Photos copyright Tom Seale)

Good day yesterday, we had Will, dad and myself there for most of the afternoon. We took Dad's strimmer to the top bank which now looks suitably subdued and tidier. We also made a start on digging out the layer of dirt and roots on the platform. The tarmac and gutter look in remarkably good condition considering they were buried for years, hopefully we can have the entire platform exposed in a matter of weeks. In the evening we were joined by the last group of Scouts, who have made quite a nice clearing half-way between the bridge and the end of the platform, some natural light should encourage some wild flower growth. It was dissapointing to see some more fly tipping on the parcels office, Will has moved the rubbish out of sight for now in an effort to discourage further contributions. Hopefully when the site is a bit tidier this practice will stop altogether.

gartell open day

Steam trains pass on the S&DJR at Pinesway Junction



Steve Rodd polishes up GLR No.9 'Jean' prior to a days action.

(Both pics copyright Mike Lucas)

.... this weekend, Sunday 26 June 2011.

First train is at 10.30 with the last at 16.30.  Dont forget, buy your ticket and travel on as many trains as you like.  With the Pines open all-day, why not make a day of it and stop for lunch?

something a little different

This is about as far removed from the S&D as possible. But I love this shot. It shows the railway that used to link Farnborough station in Hampshire with the RAE about a mile away. Much of the route ran through the streets. The line closed in 1967 or 1968. I remember reading an article on this route in an ancient Railway Magazine but there were no pictures. This is the first picture I've ever seen of the line and it's an absolute gem!

I'm very familar with street running from my many visits to Switzerland, and there are still many miles of street running in Switzerland with long and regular passenger trains.

Street running is likely to make a big comeback in the UK as rail expands, We've already seen the first small stretch at Porthmadog on the Welsh Highland Railway, and it has been suggested as a cheaper way of reconnecting Wadebridge with Padstow. Tramways are likely to spring up in all medium sized towns and cities, many which will have an element of freight transport as well. It's also likely to be used to connect factories and other industrial locations to the network without a passenger element - it is far cheaper than using a dedicated route. As the roads empty it will become a commonplace sight. It may even be used on parts of the S&D, who knows?

that's the way to do it

This is the amazing restoration of Consall station on the North Staffordshire Railway.

Look at this carefully. Ignore the quality of the picture and this could have been taken 50 or 60 years ago. There are no anachronisms and none of that kitschy heritage mix and match of eras and sales outlets that sap all the atmosphere from a location.

This is EXACTLY how New S&D stations will look! As well as being easy on the eye they will be practical and built to last. Okay, when a (non heritage) train pulls into the station the illusion will be lost for a moment but this is a small price to pay. Whilst we'll hardly need to encourage passengers (expensive fuel and crumbling roads will do that) the fact that our stations will feel like real stations, will be staffed and have refreshment and other facilities, will make customers value the whole experience. There will be an excess of the feel good factor.

Thanks to Nick Howes for this. Sorry I couldn't print your comments re Ernest Marples. Whilst I share the sentiment this is, after all, a family blog site!