The Branch Line Society
Guest
Moreton-on-Lugg & Titley Junction
As forecast the morning rain fortunately cleared and a dry day followed for our visits, rather important as an open wagon is used at Moreton!
The first group gathered at the delightfully remote Titley Junction station and, after enjoying tea/coffee and a goodly supply of delicious freshly home-made cakes, a DMU trailer was boarded, hauled by the resident Class 03 No. D2158 'Margaret Ann', this being used for the main ¾ mile runs. The access to the sidings was covered as far as available and all four routes through the double-slip at the station throat with Vanguard 0-4-0 No10 'Bressingham' and a brake van. Further rides sitting on benches on an ex-BR Lomac well wagon were given behind a Fowler 0-4-0 (also a No10) in the yard, including the loading line. The fourth motive power available was a diminutive petrol lawn mower engined Wickham trolley car (one at a time with the driver up and down a platform line).
The rural isolated Titley Junction shown above the centre of this 1947 'New Poplular' 1" to the mile map once had passenger services in four
directions. The village itself is 1½ miles north of the station. The current 'Kingfisher Line' runs over ¾ mile west towards Kington (to just before
the now removed River Arrow bridge in the woods). The concrete platform from Burlish Halt (formerly on the Bewdley to Stourport-on-Severn
line) is stored there in sections with a view to future reassembly. This line once continued beyond Kington to New Radnor just inside Wales
which section CP 4 June 1951, as did the branch north from Titley Junction to Presteign(e) (also just inside Wales), the actual divergence
was to the east. The Kington to Leominster line (continuing east of Titley Junction) CP 5 February 1955 and like the Presteigne branch CG
from 28 September 1964. Titley Junction to Eardisley (on the Hereford to Three Cocks Junction/Brecon line) via Lyonshall to the south shown
above as a 'track of old railway' CA 17 April 1917, was re-laid and RO 11 December 1922 and CP/CA again as long ago 1 July 1940.
In April 1910, there were 4 passenger trains each day SuX, the same number as at New Radnor on Saturdays (3 ran in the week).
Presteign(e) had 4 on weekdays with a fifth WSO early evening.
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The organiser went over to Moreton after the 11.00 train had left Titley in good time for the 12.00 first
trip there; top and tailed by Class 04 D2302 (its debut in passenger service after a long restoration
period) and Class 05 D2578. The usual professionally operated comprehensive tour of the railway
followed, covering literally every line available. This included the run beside the main Leominster to
Hereford line to the catch points (the former exchange sidings, there were at least 4 in MOD days) and
both roads of the Tarmac sidings where Class 66s now work right in, but not the 'cripple siding' which
was occupied for its intended purpose.
During the shed photo break whilst the locos were changed round, it became apparent that all was not well with D2302 (apparently an exhaust fault). It was detached and 03 145 (the standby loco) was hastily summoned from the starting point where it had been out on display but not intended to be used. This enabled haulage with all three locos on site which was appreciated by a good number of those present, (even if unplanned). The 03 and 05 gave a second run beside the main line before returning to the starting point via a couple of stubs of sidings formerly to the yard here and 'C Shed' which was being refurbished. By now most people had arrived for the 14.00 train and a swift change-over was effected. Meanwhile, temporary repairs had been made to D2302 and it was used for part of the second trip, again giving haulage by all three locos and similar line coverage. This was the Society's 9th visit to Moreton-on-Lugg so it was very creditable to have a total of 98 participants on the two trains and we are grateful to the D2578 Group for the trips. |
The start of the Tarmac branch at Moreton from the cab of D2578.
The stone loading pad is left and the run round loop is right, see (BLN 1226.218) for the site track plan.
[© Ian Mortimer 2015]
The organiser returned to Titley Junction after seeing off the 14.00 train at Moreton and a similar trip to the first ran, starting at about 14.45, with rides on the Wickham between trains and after our final 'normal' run with the 03 hauled DMU trailer. A total of 68 participated in the Titley visits (mostly also visiting Moreton). We are grateful to the owners, Mr. & Mrs. Hunt, for hosting us and running a variety of trains on their ¾ mile section of the former Leominster to Kington/New Radnor branch at a station that once had railways going off in four different directions! Special thanks again to our local member Stephen Phillips for the excellent arrangements, allowing so many to visit both lines on the same day.
For some superb pictures of the whole day see: http://goo.gl/hjX3aB