* Dore & Totley Station
This second mosaic of 4 pictures, shows the scene over-looking the site from the Twentywell Road bridge, the two at left looking east and the two at right, upper, looking west along the Hope Valley line'S', can say that now, and, lower, looking east showing the new signal next to the bridge; no number visible yet.
At upper left, GBRf 66780, 'The Cemex Express' with 66716, 'Locomotive & Carriage Institution 1911-2011' at the back, stand with a rake of 'JNA box Wagons', part full of spent ballast. This train came in early, 00:45, Saturday morning on the 6G40, Belmont Down Yard to Dore Station Junction working. This was 1 of three GBRf workings in the possession on Sunday morning, the other two being, at left 66749, 'Christopher Hopcroft MBE - 60 Years Railway Service', and out of sight at the back around the corner towards Sheffield, 66753, 'EMD Roberts Road'. This working had come in from Doncaster, Belmont Down Yard, as 6G41, to Dore West Junction. And, to the left of 66780, is the rear of the 2nd working, with 66719, 'Metro-Land' in view at the rear and stretching south-west along the line, a long rake of 'Wascosa FEA-W Track Panel Carriers' followed by a rake of Network Rail 'HQA Autoballaster Wagons' all that's needed to lay new track and with 66776, 'Joanne' at the front of the train near Dore West Junction. This came into the possession as 6G42, Belmont Down Yard this time to Dore Station Junction. Just in front of 66780, 2 track-workers are on down main line working between the rails on what looks like an A.W.S. ramp, which gives warning to the driver of ta train, regarding the aspect of signal ahead. This old-style signal, S0057, standing on the platform, can be seen over the top of the back of 66780. The two track-workers are on the bridge of the River Sheaf, the origin of Sheffield's name, flows under the station site just here and passes under all 4 tracks, coming out at the west side of the station. It then winds its way south-west to cross under the Hope Valley line just at the other side of the Road bridge and then continues west passing not far south of Totley Tunnel East box. It then crosses the line once more, this time on an Aqueduct, after which the water course is now named the 'Oldhay Brook' which meanders on west to its origin around the Peak Park's, Dore Moor, in the west.
At upper right, the long rake of Network Rail 'HQA Autoballaster Wagons' can be seen curving around under Twentywell Bridge, the loco, 66776, around the corner parked up at Dore West Junction where, on this day, all the other action is taking place, as the next set of shots will show. It's hard to believe, looking at this, that this formation should only have been used for one line when clearly there was space enough to make train passage much the easier on two tracks, like it used to be and, now will be once more. At top right, near the front of the train, a darker band of trees marches down towards the tracks, this is the line of the Dore South-to-West curve along which is the short, about 60m, long Curve Tunnel, this is a single track formation and used for freight only, it taking moves from the quarries at Hope and Peak Forest in the west, to all points south, as required; a footpath, when its accessible again, passes over the top of the tunnel.
At lower left, a tele-shot over the action going on in the distance around the curve where it looks like the yellow JNA wagons are being filled up with spent ballast. Just under the new station footbridge and its two passenger lifts, another new signal stands at the end of platform 1, with a black bag over it and a 'X' indicating 'not in use', yet, but maybe only 10 days to go; the 'old order', signal S0056', unlit, stands to its left, now destined for the scrap-heap I suppose.. The old platform 1 line is now in full-re-ballast and replace mode all the way through the station and the, new, platform 2 line at right having already been installed is being used to carry materials where they are required for the other line, the usual sort of operation for this sort of work.
At lower right The long rake of new materials consisting of, at the rear in the distance, 66719 and then a rake of 'Wascosa FEA-W Track Panel Carriers' with the Quattro unit scurrying along to pick up the panels and place them carefully in the right place and orientation. Whilst in front of the camera, the 1st of the 'HQA Autoballaster Wagons' which stretch all the way along to the Dore West Curve Junction with 66776 at the front. The new signal under the bridge can be seen and I had though this may be a triangular unit, but looking at it in the station and in the video, I think its a square 'job'.
What changes are happening here, the picture of the old Dore and Totley Station with steam traction passing on both lines and the Station in use for all 4 lines, there were no-less than 3 stations more on the main line between here and Sheffield, Beauchief & Abbey Dale, Millhouse & Eccleshall and Heeley, just outside Sheffield... shame that there's not a platform on the main lines here., a cost too far I guess.
