10th December 2024 Branch AGM and Members’ Contributions
Chairman Robert Bartlett OBE opened the AGM at 7:30 pm, with notices and no apologies for absence. The minutes of the 2023 AGM were approved, and the Chairman thanked the Branch Officers for their work over the year, noting that the Branch had had an excellent year in all aspects of its operation. Reports were received from the Branch Officers, all of whom were unanimously re-elected. The AGM closed at 7.49pm and the minutes of the meeting can be found on the Branch website under ‘Branch Administration’.
Following the AGM, the web manager gave an overview of the Branch website, highlighting some of the excellent material that has been submitted by members and focusing on the Train Register for Woodford Halse No. 2 Signal Box. Branch Member Dave Goodyear then showed some fantastic cine film of the last day of operation of the internal railway at Barrington quarry and cement works, 25th February 2005. This featured Avonside 0-4-0 Saddle Tank ‘Dora’ and Thomas Hill Vanguard class locomotive No. 186V (delivered new into service on 22nd August 1967) working loaded tippler wagons from the quarry faces to the discharge hopper in weather conditions ranging from beautiful sunshine to blizzard conditions.
Following the break, Branch Member Alan Bampton delighted the audience with a 50-minute film entitled "The Country Branch Line”. Starting with the Cambridge to Mildenhall line in 1959, we journeyed with the last-remaining Class E4 2-4-0, No. 62785, as it left Cambridge station, swung right at Barnwell Junction (complete with run-past for the cameraman!) and had footplate views of Quy, Bottisham, Swaffham Prior (with slewed track for a loop that was never installed), Burwell and into Fordham on the Ely to Bury St Edmunds line. After loading fruit and vegetables at Fordham, we diverged from the Ely line for the run up to Isleham and Mildenhall. The relaxed atmosphere of the branch was seen throughout, with 62785 being turned by hand on arrival at Mildenhall. However, change was on the way as 62785 was withdrawn in December 1959 and the service replaced by diesel railcars. However, these were unable to recover the losses made by the branch and passenger services were withdrawn on June 18th 1962.
Next we covered the 3-mile Alnwick branch with K1 4-6-0 No. 62025 in the heavy snow of January 1966. Although short, the branch was very scenic and was unusual in that its signalling was colour light. Later in the Spring of 1966 we saw a very begrimed 62011, with the station now showing clear signs of run down and track rationalisation in the run-up to closure on June 18th 1966.
A section on ‘The Beeching Era’ then followed, with views of Derby Lightweight units at Middle Drove on the March-Kings Lynn line. We then spent some time at Dereham, in the signal box and on the station, observing Gloucester RCW and Metro-Cammell sets on services from Norwich to Kings Lynn as they reversed in the station.
Finally, we visited the still-operational Sheringham line, with lovely views of the undulating track bed as it crosses the Broads at Salhouse, token exchanges at Wroxham, the imposing Worstead church, several fine Great Eastern station canopies and the somewhat utilitarian new station at Sheringham.
All in all, a splendid evening was had by all and it was good to see the Branch going from strength to strength with the excellent support of its members and officers.