Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 312 i Heritage Railway

OPINION THE warmer and sunnier than expected weather produced a rich, ripe crop of stunning autumn galas and a welcome windfall for the lines that staged them. Attendances across the board have, in most cases, exceeded expectations, with the Great Central Railway’s passenger figures more than 35% up on those for the corresponding event in 2022. Despite the current cost-of-living crisis, the gala season has again proved that special events on heritage railways continue to be a‘must visit’, not only for the enthusiast following, but for the general public too. As our series of autumn gala features in this issue highlights, the rich and varied programmes devised by the lines to maximise the appeal of these special events have reaped big dividends. However, while the leaves are changing hues and…

GWR Churchward heavy freight 2-8-0 No. 2807 returned to steam at Toddington depot at its Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway home on September 21 following a three-year overhaul. Owned by Cotswold Steam Preservation Ltd, which rescued it from Barry in 1981, making it the first locomotive from DaiWoodham’s scrapyard to arrive at the formative G/WR, No. 2807 was brought into steam at about 6pm and ran a few miles within the yard confines during the evening. CSPL chairman Brian Gamlin said: “There was, of course, that moment the team members held their breath when steam issued from the cylinder drain cocks as the regulator was opened, watching for the first movement – which generated a huge cheer!There remain outstanding tasks, as well as the inevitable snags to be fettled, that showed themselves…

A SPECIAL day at the Statfold Barn Railway – when Darjeeling Himalayan Railway 1889-built Sharp Stewart 0-4-0WT No. 19B made its last runs before its 10-yearly overhaul – has been declared a major success. As reported in issue 310, the event at the line near Tamworth allowed readers of Heritage Railway and other titles published by Mortons Media Group Ltd to ride in the two replica DHR carriages behind No. 19B, provided that they produced a copy of their Mortons magazine. Also in action on the Statfold main line was Hunslet 0-4-2ST No. 1842 of 1936 Howard, which, on some trips, double-headed with No. 19B. Peter Jordan, treasurer of the Darjeeling Tank Locomotive Trust, said afterwards: “On behalf of the trust, I would like to thank Mortons readers for their…

NEW research by the Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway and Historic England has‘rediscovered’the world’s oldest railway station. The Heighton & Aycliffe station building in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, was long thought to date from the mid-1830s, but it has been found to have been completed in 1827. Experts now believe that it is the earliest-ever example of a station, although it was not officially referred to as one until the late 1830s. It was here that George Stephenson’s Locomotion No.1 (then known as Active) was placed on the rails in 1825 for the inauguration of the SDR. When the building was commissioned, the concept of the railway station had yet to be developed. Its original purpose was to function as a tavern to provide shelter and refreshment for…

EIGHT-YEAR-OLD Severn Valley Railway enthusiast Alfie Hewish has now ‘bagged’67 footplates and cabs in his quest to raise vital money for the line he loves. The youngster from Telford, in Shropshire, has so far raised nearly £800 for the SVR’s Survival Fund appeal. He set himself the challenge of having his photograph taken on as many steam locomotive footplates and in diesel locomotive cabs as he could, and his adventure has included attending both the SVR’s Autumn Steam Gala (as highlighted last issue) and the Autumn Diesel Bash (News, pages 22/23), in addition to those much further afield. Mum Louise said: “In the summer we managed to catch Sir Nigel Gresley at Shrewsbury. Then a holiday to Cornwall meant we could visit the narrow gauge railway at Lappa Valley and…

Having been away in the Highlands to assist with West Coast Railways’‘Jacobite’services, LMS ‘Black Five’No. 45212 returned to Haworth on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway late on October 3 -but will be home only for a brief spell before setting off again, this time for Peterborough. To help combat a shortfall in operational steam locomotives, the Nene Valley Railway will welcome No. 45212 in early November to operate its first-class Santa specials. With West Country Light Pacific No. 34081 92 Squadron still stopped awaiting repairs, including new flexible firebox stays, Polish 0-8-0T TKP No. 5485 also undergoing maintenance work, and completion of the overhaul for F class 0-6-0T No. 656 Tinkerbell still ongoing, the railway has turned to hiring locomotives to provide a steam service. No. 45212 will take…

THE Severn Valley Railway’sWestern Region-themed Autumn Diesel Bash -The Magnificent Severn - on September 28 to October 1 proved a resounding success – with visitor numbers soaring by 28% compared to the corresponding event last year. More than 3660 fare-paying passengers attended the four-day event, as well as with additional passholder visitors such as shareholders. The gala generated more revenue than expected, along with a very healthy secondary spend. Two separate photographic charters and an excursion day using locomotives from the event line-up brought in extra income. SVR managing director Jonathan ‘Gus’ Dunster said: “We’ve seen a great atmosphere around the railway, with a timetable that ran almost perfectly to time. A couple of minor delays were soon made up. “All in all, I am delighted with how well-planned and…

THE phase one contract for essential repairs to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway’s landmark 120-year-old Stanway Viaduct has been awarded toWalsh Construction. Funding for the contract has been provided the charitable Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Trust, which has so far raised more than £275,000 of the total £1.5 million needed over the next two years. The first phase, which will begin in November and take about four months to complete, involves removing the track, installing a new concrete surface and then a bituminous waterproof membrane before the track and ballast is replaced. The viaduct will then be allowed to dry out before brickwork repairs are carried out. New RPS secretary is only the fourth in more than a century BAHAMAS Locomotive Society stalwart John Hillier has become only the fourth secretary in…

TEAMWORK will make the dream work! On October 4, the Royal Deeside Railway’s 0-6-0ST Andrew Barclay No. 2139 Salmon departed for overhaul at the Strathspey Railway, the move coinciding with the return of 0-4-0ST No. 807 Bon Accord from Aviemore, where it had spent the majority of September carrying out shunting demonstrations as an additional attraction during the line’s Flying Scotsman running days The overhaul of Salmon, which takes its name from an S class submarine sunk in 1940, will be a collaboration between the Strathspey and Deeside volunteers, sharing expertise and manpower, while benefitting from suitable facilities in which to conduct the work. Built in 1942, the Barclay spent its entire working life with Stewart & Lloyds at both Harlaxton and Woolsthorpe ironstone quarries. It arrived at the RDR…

THE Keighley & Worth Valley Railway has been awarded £1 million from the Government’s Community Ownership Fund toward the costs of its biggest-ever heritage-era civil engineering project – the rebuild of Bridge 27. The bridge is vital to the ongoing operation of the railway. The original structure was built in 1867 and the current bridge dates from an 1889 reconstruction. Two separate structures carry the line over Bridgehouse Beck at Haworth, but the pair share the same abutments and pier. Decade-long plan The upstream structure, known as the siding span, carries the line into Haworth Yard, and as it underwent significant work in the late 1970s is not part of the upcoming scheme. The downstream structure, described as the main line span, now needs replacement because of its condition, not…

THE Ffestiniog &Welsh Highland Railways‘doubled up’to help make the Lynton and Barnstaple’s 125th anniversary September 23/24 autumn gala a success. As reported in issue 310, the Ff&WHR was due to send large England 0-4-0STT No. 5 Welsh Pony as a replacement for original guest, Welsh Highland Heritage Railway flagship 2-6-2T Russell, which became unavailable due to the discovery of a crack on a connecting rod. However, WelshPony was subsequently also found to have a crank pin issue. As a replacement at short notice, the Ff&WHR loaned Hunslet 0-4-0STs No. 554 of 1891 Lilla and No. 855 of 1904 Hugh Napier to run alongside the L&B fleet. The event, which celebrated the line’s opening on May 11, 1898, also featured First World War re-enactments, visitors dressed in Victorian costume, and classic…

CRICH Tramway Village was the setting for an emotional reunion of a former tram conductor and some of the vehicles on which he worked. Dennis Roberts was a conductor for Leeds Corporate Tramways, which ran the electric lines in and around the city centre until its closure in 1959. During his time employed there, Dennis met his future wife, Margaret, during one of his many journeys in 1954 and two years later the pair married. Long since retired, their family approached CTV to ask if there was a possibility that one of the former Leeds trams would be running ahead of their visit to the Derbyshire attraction on September 26, for which staff and volunteers obliged by running two of the fleet for the day, Nos. 180 and 339. Dennis…

A UNIQUE ground-breaking partnership has been set up between the Severn Valley Railway and Network Rail – and could provide a blueprint for similar deals at other heritage lines. The agreement is the first of its kind between the national railway provider and a heritage railway operator, allowing both organisations to benefit from each other using expertise, technology and facilities to help maintain and improve their networks. Network Rail’s Central route will offer the SVR professional skills, advice and redundant railway materials to help keep the volunteer railway safe and operational. In return, the SVR will provide much-needed support, training and facilities to help NR staff operate and maintain more traditional railway technology, such as semaphore signalling and lever frame signalboxes, which are still in use in parts of Worcestershire…

THE preservation of a complete Class 309 EMU is in jeopardy after negotiations with several heritage groups and individuals proved unsuccessful and the storage agreement between its custodian – the Clacton Express Preservation Group – and its current base at the Lavender Line in Sussex expired. The three-car set faces the cutter’s torch if no solution is found by the end of October. On October 1, group chairman Brad Wright said in a statement: “Despite many months of positive, detailed discussions and proposals to multiple heritage groups, unfortunately all of our proposals have been unsuccessful. Our storage contract with the Lavender Line ends today and no new agreement has been able to be reached. This now means we have no choice but to start the process of removing the vehicles…

FOR its first season operating out of its new southern terminus station at Abergwili Junction, the Gwili Railway has seen passenger revenue rise by 60% on 2022 figures. The line has had to add extra coaches to trains to cater for the increase, with plans afoot to develop the new station further still. Chairman Matt Bowen said: “We have had a very good first season working out of Abergwili Junction. Overall, passenger revenue is 60% up on last year’s figures, which we can at least partially put down to the changeable weather, the new location adjacent to a main A road, and better and more spacious parking. The regular set has been increased to five coaches to allow for demand and also providing an on-train catering option. “The carriage shed…

FORMER Barry scrapyard BR Standard 4MT 2-6-0 No. 76077 could run on the GloucestershireWarwickshire Railway in three years’time, visitors to an open day at its restoration base at Locomotive Maintenance Services in Loughborough on September 10 heard. The December 1956-built locomotive, which spent most of its BR career based at Sutton Oak shed and running in the Liverpool & Manchester area, was withdrawn in December 1967. In May 1987 it became the 186th locomotive to be rescued from Dai Woodham’s scrapyard for heritage purposes. Its owner, Toddington Standard Locomotive Ltd’s engineering director, Andrew Meredith, said a vast amount of work on the chassis had been completed in the past year. “The assembly of the valve gear is imminent, with the slide bars trial-fitted and the weighshaft and expansion links now…

LNER A3 Pacific No. 60103 Flying Scotsman resumed its centenary year programme bookings – days after being involved in a low-speed shunting impact with Belmond’s stationary ‘Royal Scotsman’carriages as it was being coupled to them at Aviemore station on the Strathspey Railway. The incident, which occurred on Friday, September 29 at 6.15pm, led to the emergency services being called. Two people attended hospital and were later released, while others were treated at the scene. Preparations for a full investigation began immediately, as per standard procedures. Photographs indicated that several kitchen items inside the rake were damaged and bottles smashed. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch was notified as an independent investigator began work on behalf of the heritage line and locomotive’s owner, the National Railway Museum, and its collections and rail…

A GROUP of 20 respected architects has made a last-minute nationwide plea for the Ayr Station Hotel to be saved from demolition after it was severely damaged by fire on September 25. In a letter published in The Times on October 4, the architects and conservationists argued strongly that the hotel is capable of being saved and repurposed, despite the damage caused by the fire, which saw its steeple collapse and, as revealed in drone footage published by South Ayrshire Council, destroyed most of the roof, ceilings and floor in the building’s south range. The council said it is assessing the extent of the damage and has appointed contractors to deal with loose timbers and stonework before arriving at any final decision, although councillors previously decided in December 2022 to…

October 28 ‘The Midland Venturer’ Ilkeston, London St Pancras and return. Loco: HST 43159/43089. BLS 28 Settle & Carlisle Steam Special Nottingham, Carlisle and return. Steamhauled between Carnforth (outward) and Preston (return). Loco: 34067 Tangmere. NB 28 Settle & Carlisle Pullman Paignton, Carlisle and return. Loco: Midland Pullman HST. MP 29 ‘The Buxton Spa Express’ Preston, Buxton, Hindlow Quarry and return. Diesel-hauled between Buxton and Hindlow Quarry. Loco: TBA. RTC 29 ‘The 5.08 Sunset’ Chester, Southport and return. Loco: Class 508 EMU. BLS November 3 Blenheim Palace Excursion Liverpool Lime Street, Oxford and return. Loco: Class 47 & 57 TBA. NB 3 Golden Age of Travel by Steam Circular tour from London Victoria. Steam-hauled throughout. Loco: TBA. BEL 4 Fireworks Dinner Preston, Manchester Victoria and return. Loco: Class 47 & 57…

LONDON’S eastern suburbs featured strongly in a 251-lot railwayana auction held by TW Gaze of Diss, Norfolk, on August 10. A 1947 LNER three-lever signal frame, believed to be ex-Stratford, sold for £1600, a BR(E) Wanstead Park totem fetched £1100, a BR Mile End goods and coal depot enamel sign went under the hammer for £850, and a wooden nameboard from Leyton signalbox, which was opened by the GER in 1899, achieved £750. Not that the capital’s East End had all its own way, for a SR targett sign from the ex-LSWR station of Cosham, on the PortsmouthBrighton line, realised £1300 and a BR(S) Sleaford totem £800. The highest price in the auction was £3200 for a 7¼in gauge live steam model of an 0-4-2T in LMS livery built by…

IN what is surely an unprecedented selection in such a narrow timeframe, no fewer than 29 main line steam nameplates will go under the hammer in three auctions within the space of three weeks in November and December. As reported in this column, GW Railwayana has 16 in its November 11 sale and Talisman four on November 30, and Great Central Railwayana has now added nine to that line-up following the release of early details of its December 2 sale. The Great Central selection comprises three preGrouping plates, two from the post-Grouping GWR, a single SR representative, and three from the LNER, the oldest of which are Narcissus and Lord of the Isles from LNWR locomotives and Lady Faringdon from the GCR. The first of this elderly trio, Narcissus, is…

The East Lancashire Railway’s autumn gala 12 months ago was praised for being a ‘show’ as Lancashire & Yorkshire railway ‘Pug’ No. 19 undertook shunting displays not only at Castlecroft Yard, but also at Ramsbottom sidings with a specially set-up viewing area open, demonstrating what was once a common sight across the network and showing off just what heritage lines can do at their galas. For this year’s season closer, the line took that concept one step further – even if it was not all entirely planned. Kicking off a three-day weekend on October 13, the railway ran its longest-ever heritage era freight, comprising 30 vehicles with LMS ‘Jinty’ No. 47298 banking at the rear. Departing Bury Bolton Street at 8.15am, up front was Stanier 8F No. 48305 (visiting from…

THE lure of GWR Saints, Stanier 8Fs and Bulleid Pacifics may well play a part in the success stories of many steam galas, but for the Mid-Hants Railway’s annual autumnal steam spectacle, tank engines stole the show as the line tackled the event from a slightly different angle to the norm. As enthusiasts and visitors scrutinise spending and look for the best-value events to attend, the days of locomotives merely travelling up and down the line in turn on a set of coaches all day may become a thing of the past, paving the way for timetables that provide both the intensive service that has come to be expected of galas with an interesting and engaging ‘performance’ that shows off engines at their best. To that end, the railway introduced…

IT was a sight that until a few years ago nobody thought would ever be repeated – a double Fairlie named James Spooner running out of Porthmadog. However, on October 6, and seven years after the project was announced in March 2016, it became a reality once more when the Ffestiniog Railway’s replacement for the retired Earl of Merioneth (aka‘The Square’) made its debut as part of the annual BygonesWeekend. Many visitors and enthusiasts braved the harsh weather conditions to catch a glimpse of the highlyanticipated locomotive and soak up the history of the line, the weekend being one of the main fixtures of the its annual calendar that sees it bring many of its‘toys out of the box’to show off the 13 ½ miles at its very best. Whether…

MONEY saved from the Government’s controversial decision to scrap plans to extend the High Speed 2 rail link beyond Birmingham will be spent of restoring regular public services to several routes closed under the Beeching axe – including at two heritage lines. Following widespread speculation about the proposed £36 billion northern leg of HS2, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed during his speech at the Conservative Party conference on October 4 that HSR will not continue to Manchester. A Government statement said that the money saved “will be used for reopening closed Beeching lines, including the Stoke to Leek line and the Oswestry to Gobowen line, with a new stop at Park Hall” under a new umbrella initiative known as Network North. Robert Williams, chairman of Cambrian Heritage Railways, which submitted…

THE overhaul of the Bluebell Railway’s Battle of Britain 4-6-2 No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair, which has been undertaken in partnership with the Bulleid Society, took a significant step forward on September 27 when the locomotive moved under its own steam for the first time in 12 years. Despite returning to steam in April 2009, the Light Pacific was withdrawn in October two years later following discovery of a leaking stay and star-fracturing platework, with a crack also found in the thermic syphons. With the likelihood of similar fractures developing, necessitating much replacement platework, the decision was taken to commence a full boiler overhaul a few years later that will see it return to active duty with a fresh 10-yearly certificate. On September 25, the boiler was brought up to full…

THE monobloc for new-build Gresley P2 2-8-2 No. 2007 Prince of Wales has been unveiled inside the new £4.5 million Darlington LocomotiveWorks. The £250,000 component, manufactured at Howco, Irvine, and the first monobloc produced since the 1940s, was revealed in front of the P2 to more than 130 supporters and their guests at builder The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust’s annual convention in Darlington on October 14. The day started with presentations at the town’s Hall Garth Hotel and relayed 12 months of engineering progress with a detailed presentation on Peppercorn A1 Pacific No. 60163 Tornado’s overhaul and a roadmap for moving forward towards the completion of Prince of Wales. Highlights included live images of No. 60163’s boiler in steam on the frames. A vintage bus ride later, and the afternoon…

THE North Norfolk Railway’s October 7/8 Annual Autumn Showcase proved a big winner, with almost 2000 passengers travelling over the weekend. Three steam locomotives, three diesels and the recently restored Class 104 DMU were rostered for the event, with carriages dating from Victorian times to the 1960s, freight trains, workshops tours and model railways, and the William Marriott Museum was open. The 1904-built Reedham Junction signalbox – which became redundant in 2019 when the Norwich to Yarmouth and Lowestoft lines were upgraded to a digital system and was relocated to Holt station in November 2022 – opened to visitors for the first time to allow them to view progress on its restoration. The Victorian train hauled by Y14 No. 564 proved very popular, as was the unusual sight of double-headed…

A BUSY start to autumn for the Spa Valley Railway’s steam department has seen two overhaul projects making substantial progress and quick responses required to deal with arising issues with the operational steam fleet. On October 1, the frames for Hunslet 0-6-0ST No. 1589 Newstead were moved within the shed to the Matterson lifting jacks, where, after four years of separation, the wheelsets were placed back underneath. This milestone has come after a monumental effort by the team working on the locomotive, with the axleboxes having been away to JM Engineering at Quainton Road for refurbishment, new horn blocks manufactured and fitted, and the coupling rods checked for alignment. The eccentric straps have also been despatched to the Flour Mill workshops at Bream for remetalling. Cleaning, filling and painting continues…

AN appeal for £100,000 to restore a SevernValley Railway-based five-car DMU set to full working order has been launched. The DMU Group (West Midlands) needs the money to cover all planned works to return its Class 108 set to full working order, including a repaint of all vehicles. A generous supporter has offered to match the first £6000 raised. The group was formed in the 1990s, and for many years the unit has been rostered to perform regular diesel turns, evening fish and chip trains, Christmas carol services and staff trains, and has featured at SVR diesel galas. Due to major overhaul work required, including door locks, bogies and engines, which were exacerbated by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the DMU has not been available for service since 2018.…

WHILE the timeless march of technological progress may have brought down the axe on steam in BR days, modern advancements will help bring the Bodmin &Wenford Railway and others to those who are not fit or able enough to visit in person – thanks to virtual reality. Earlier this year, Prof Robert (Bob) Stone, emeritus professor of XR and human factors within the school of engineering at the University of Birmingham, and also director of the university’s human interface technologies team, got in touch with the BWR, asking to film a trip along both stretches of the line using 360-degree camera technology. The footage could then be incorporated into hospice and care home visits, allowing those who are unable to take a trip in person the opportunity to enjoy all…

THE Talyllyn Railway paid homage to its wide and varied history on September 23/24 with its first Heritage Weekend event. Operating an array of passenger, goods and mixed services, the event celebrated much of the past of the world’s first volunteer-run heritage railway. Is history spans not only the 7 ¼ miles between Tywyn Wharf and Nant Gwernol, but also incorporates part of the nearby Corris Railway, Chirk’s Glyn Valley Tramway and even RAF bases, with items of stock surviving from each now to be found in the Fathew Valley. Each day commenced with a demonstration goods train, with Saturday’s worked by one of the railway’s two original locomotives in Fletcher Jennings 0-4-0WT No. 2 Dolgoch, and comprising the restored collection of heritage wagons from the line’s own examples and…

THIRTY volunteers from Colas Rail UK, Network Rail and the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway joined forces to create a play area for local children and a seating area using recycled wooden sleepers at Winchcombe station. The team recycled the sleepers from previous worksites as they aimed for a sustainable approach while sourcing materials. Colas Rail UK programme manager Dan Palmer said: “It was a great initiative that we were delighted to be a part of and support the community we are working in. “I would like to pass on my thanks to the teams within Colas Rail UK and Network Rail who attended during a particularly busy period within the signalling and telecommunications framework. A special mention to our supplier, Ground Control, which volunteered a day in cutting the logs to…

A FORMER lifting tower at Leeds Central station is being given a new lease of life as a mini museum and exhibition space. Wellington Place, a sustainable business community being developed in the city, is keen to hear from people with cherished memories and memorabilia from Leeds Central, to be displayed on the ground floor of the site’s Grade II-listed wagon-lifting hoist – one of the last remaining parts of the original station. Dating from 1850, the lifting tower was one of a pair that stood either side of the river and canal viaduct. Using steam power and large chains, it hoisted wagons from the higherlevel passenger line down to the Great Northern Railway goods yard at the original station. Leeds Central closed in 1967 and the entire complex was…

FORMER steam and diesel railwaymen from a variety of depots joined a reunion of ex-Stratford drivers and firemen on a sweltering-hot Saturday, September 9 at Mangapps Railway Museum in Essex. Organiser Dave Brennand, who rose through the ranks from engine cleaner to driver during a 40-year career at the East London depot before retirement in 2013, was delighted to also see ex-drivers from Southend Victoria, Ilford Car Sheds, Paddington and Euston make it to the working museum near Burnhamon-Crouch for what has become an eagerly-anticipated annual get-together of former colleagues. Among the 32 attendees, who came from as far as Aberdeen and Swindon, as well as many parts of Essex, was former King’s Cross and Southend Victoria driver Brian Eley, who got behind the controls of the museum’s newly-painted Class…

A HERITAGE railway revival project that despite being close to the centre of London remains unknown to millions of the capital’s residents and visitors, ran a weekend of steam on September 16/17 that included the rarity of a steam double-header. The project was launched by a group of enthusiasts in 2003, who formed the Metropolitan Water Board Railway Society to restore part of a 2ft gauge line that was opened by the MWB in 1916 and ran 3½ miles transporting coal from a wharf on the Thames at Hampton to waterworks nearby and at Kempton Park. The pumping engines in the two works consumed nearly 760 tons of coal a week that prior to the line’s opening was transported by horse and cart. Triple draw Motive power for the trains…

SLAPSTICK comedy, magic and mayhem will entertain Spa Valley Railway passengers on the Trick or Treat weekend of October 29/30, when the mad Dr Frankenslime joins them on return trips from Tunbridge Wells West to Eridge. The fun will start at Tunbridge Wells with an experiment or two by the wacky doctor, who once on board the steam-hauled train will hand out activity packs and colouring pencils to youngsters on the way to the haunted Eridge destination. Once there, he will show children – and adults – how to make glow-in-the-dark slime, a concoction they will be able to take home, and then it will be back to Tunbridge Wells, with the doctor offering a trick or treat on the way. Austerity 0-6-0 No. 2890 Douglas is rostered the haul…

VINTAGETrains flagship WR 4-6-0 No. 7029 Clun Castle is to reprise its historic record-breaking trip running over the South Devon banks on May 9, 1964, 60 years and one day after the event. May 9, 1904, was the day when GWR 4-4-0 No. 3440 City of Truro reportedly hit 102.3mpg during its descent of Wellington Bank in Somerset while hauling the‘Ocean Mails’from Plymouth to Paddington. To mark the 60th anniversary to the day of that legendary trip, and as a celebration of the Castle class prior to their withdrawal, publisher Ian Allan ran its famous 1Z48 ‘Great Western Railway High Speed’railtour from Paddington to Plymouth and back involving 4-6-0s Nos. 4079 Pendennis Castle, 5054 Earl of Ducie, 6999 Capel Dewi Hall, 7025 Sudeley Castle and 7029 Clun Castle – which…

TRIP TO THE MOVIES THE CAMERTON BRANCH: A 'SAVED' LINE LOST The Titfield Thunderbolt leapt onto screens in 1953 and has gone on to become synonymous with heritage railways, cementing itself in the heart of many an enthusiast with its dramatisation of the efforts to save a branch line connecting an idyllic village (Titfield) with its nearby large town (Mallingford). The story drew much of its inspiration from the book Railway Adventure, written by Talyllyn Railway’s former honorary manager, LTC Rolt, which tells the story of the work carried out by the early pioneers responsible for saving and running the railway. Indeed, many of the events of the film are drawn from those covered by Rolt’s memoir; the film’s screenwriter, TEB Clarke, even visited the TR in 1951 and spent…

AT the end of September, Rapido received decorated samples of its highly-anticipated OO gaugeWisbech & Upwell tramway bogie coaches.With 10 different carriages to choose from (including the Buffet car version from The Titfield Thunderbolt), a wealth of differences between each has resulted in a range of exceptional models that has additionally seen the preserved version – No. 7 on the North Norfolk Railway – added to the range. Extensive research has resulted in what is believed to be the closest match possible with the livery colours of the prototypes. RRP is set at £74.95 per coach and can be pre-ordered directly from the manufacturer or its network of retailers.…

OO scale manufacturer Hornby has released its new tooled LNER P2 Mikado 2-8-2 model, including No. 2007 PrinceofWales, which is currently under construction at the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust’s Darlington workshops. Ahead of its release in the summer, the manufacturer paid the workshops another visit and an opportunity presented itself to position one of the models on the running board of its currentlyincomplete full-size counterpart. The model of No. 2007 is a faithful replica of the engine being built at Darlington and has even been given the seal of approval by A1SLT chairman Steve Davies MBE. A new articulated coupling system to link locomotive and tender has been created by lead design engineer Phil Morley, which will make handling and connecting the model easier than before, with eight points of…

A FIRE was lit inside LMS Stanier mogul No. 2968 for the first time a decade on October 15 at Bridgnorth Shed on the Severn Valley Railway. The following day, it was slowly brought up to full pressure for the various steam tests to take place. With its extensive overhaul ending, subject to final testing, No. 2968 could be working trains once again soon. All Stanier moguls were built at Crewe Works and were a development of the Hughes ‘Crabs’, it incorporating a taper boiler and a higher boiler pressure which allowed smaller cylinders. As No. 13268, it entered traffic in 1934 and was allocated to Willesden shed. During its life it covered 713,561 miles for the LMS and BR to the end of 1960, when records ceased. Its last…

SWANAGE was filled with the sound of church bells on the morning of Saturday, October 7 as invited guests arrived at the seaside resort to witness an historic moment – the first public trains headed by London and South Western RailwayT3 4-4-0 No. 563 following an absence of three quarters of a century and the completion of a six-year £650,000 restoration. Among the guests was Swanage Railway Trust patron Sir Philip Williams, whose great-grandfather was a board member of the LSWR, which designed and built the steam locomotive. Generations of Sir Philip’s ancestors also played an important part in enabling the LSWR to reach Dorchester from Southampton in 1847 by helping to promote the required Act of Parliament and buying land over which the railway would need a right of…

The artists have enjoyed their annual Guild of Railway Artists’ exhibition at Kidderminster Railway Museum, the public have flocked in to see the paintings on display, and the winner and runner-up of the prestigious Picture of the Year award, voted on by visitors, have been revealed. They are John Austin, the guild’s president, who topped the poll with his ‘Great Western Night’ painting, with Rob Rowland’s ‘Middle Hill, Nottingham, Early 60s’ gaining the runner-up accolade. Anna Bastin, who as the guild’s exhibition organiser put together the five-week event that ended on September 24, said: “The visitors kept coming and coming, and many said they found it difficult to choose a favourite, probably due to the exhibits being so diverse, with all types of motive power, media, and sizes on display.…

NATIONAL Highways has been ordered to restore a disused Midland & Great Northern Railway overbridge which it filled with concrete. Members of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council’s planning committee voted unanimously at its meeting on October 2 to order the Government agency to restore Congham Bridge, which carries unclassified St Andrew’s Lane over the former King’s Lynn to Fakenham line and is earmarked to be turned into a greenway. National Highways used emergency powers to undertake the £126,000 infilling in March 2021, claiming it was a cost-effective solution to ensure the long-term safety of the bridge after it claimed that “serious structural issues” had been identified. However, the infilling was opposed by local people and the Heritage Railway Estate (HRE) Group, an alliance of engineers, sustainable transport advocates…

ACROSS the Devon/Cornwall border, on September 21 the South Devon Railway was also playing its part in supporting dementia sufferers by hosting a memory café aboard one of its service trains. Noticing an advert in a local newspaper that was seeking a venue for a new Buckfastleigh memory café, the SDR team contacted its organising body, Conversation Works CIC, and a meeting was arranged to discuss the feasibility of the proposal. Following this, CWCIC applied for and subsequently received funding from the National Lottery Community Fund to facilitate this unique concept. Founder Katherine Bailer said: “Thanks to the SDR and the National Lottery Community Fund, Buckfastleigh now has a new memory café for people living with dementia, but one with a very unique twist – on board a working steam…

LOOSE-COUPLED freight charters have finally returned to the Severn Valley Railway after an absence of several years. There are now completely different rules for holding these photographic charters, but the door is open again. On September 25, SVR flagship GWR 4-6-0 No. 4930 Hagley Hall was appropriately matched with a genuine set of GW wagons from the line’s collection, although one ‘foreigner’ crept in from the South Eastern & Chatham Railway to add to the length. Great attention was paid to the wagons and the way the consist looked by Matt Fielding, who worked closely with the SVR on the charter. It was Matt’s first since the Covid-19 pandemic halted them, and the subsequent change in the railway’s management encouraged the event. Safety was the major priority, and a totally…

SINCE its inception, the pioneering Talyllyn Railway has always made provision for younger members to be actively involved in activities – a factor that is unarguably more important now than it ever was as the heritage sector struggles to recruit new volunteers. With its Tracksiders group welcoming under-14s, the Navvies for those aged 11-18, and the Young Members Group for those aged 14 to 25 (each with a slightly different purpose and activity), they have resulted in several generations of volunteers starting out on the railway and climbing through the ranks. Now the YMG has set its sights on an ambitious project to fill a gap in the history of the railway’s rolling stock – the construction of a replica gunpowder van, for which the group has been awarded £5000…

ALREADY boasting an impressive GWR/Western Region collection of locomotives in an authentic shed setting, Didcot Railway Centre’s September 22-24 steam gala could have easily been a snapshot of a BR day, with a line-up of express 4-6-0s dominating the yard. Reciprocating the museum’s loan of flagship No. 4079 Pendennis Castle for its steam gala in June, the Epping Ongar Railway’s No. 4953 Pitchford Hall made the journey from Essex to headline the All In A Day’s Work gala, which attracted about 2000 visitors. Arriving at the nearby DB Schenker Didcot West yard by road a few days prior, as with all transfers in and out of the landlocked museum, No. 4953 was towed in across the national network – its first foray back onto such metals in more than a…

THE Llangollen Railway has been in mourning for founding father Bill Shakespeare MBE, who died on September 22 at the age of 95. Born William Reginald Shakespeare in October 1927, he was involved in the heritage line since its inception as the Deeside & Flintshire Railway Preservation Society in the late 1970s; the group later became the Llangollen Railway Trust. Bill had been responsible for collecting the keys to Llangollen station from the local council when the buildings were first leased to the line in 1975, and from the outset had the destination of Corwen in mind for the railway’s long-term goal – an ambition finally realised in June this year, as reported in issue 308. Bill became the first person to travel into the new Corwen station on June…

FOLLOWING the return of the original works plate of the Launceston Steam Railway-based Quarry Hunslet 0-4-0ST No. 763 of 1901 Dorothea, as reported last issue, another two plates have been reunited with their original locomotive at the Leighton Buzzard Railway. A Motor Rail & Tramcar Company No. 461 works plate dating from 1917 and a War Department 2182 identification plate, which were originally fitted to 40hp armoured Simplex No. LR2182, have been reunited with the locomotive after some 60 years apart. A unique example of its type with its armoured bodywork and original engine, the locomotive is owned by The Greensand Railway Museum Trust, which completed its restoration to operation in 2019. The restored locomotive carried works and number plates that were known to be reproductions made some time after…

THE unique LMS Rewley Road swing bridge has been officially launched following the completion of its restoration by Oxford Preservation Trust. As reported in issue 301, the project won the Railway Heritage Trust Conservation Award for the best restored structure, supported by funding from the trust. OPT director Debbie Dance was joined by Andy Savage and Tim Hedley Jones, from the RHT, and representatives of Network Rail and Historic England, together with the judges, funders and the specialist experts who made significant contributions to the project, as the award plaque was unveiled on September 7. Later in the day, Debbie was also joined by Peter, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, the chairman of Network Rail, on a boat to see the mechanism from below. The disused structure, the last physical…

HOT off the heels of the announcement that overhauls of its LSWR Adams radial tank No. 488 and B4 No. 96 Normandy were to go ahead, as reported in issue 311, the Bluebell Railway has decided that of flagship SECR P 0-6-0T namesake No. 323 Bluebell will follow. Writing to members and supporters on September 28, chairman Paul Churchman said:“I am very pleased to announce that after today’s plc board meeting and the previous society board meeting, we have approved that No. 323 Bluebell will go into the workshops in early 2024, and it is planned to have the loco back into service by the summer.” The last overhaul of 1910-built No. 323 was completed in 2011 and saw it run until March 5, 2019, when it was withdrawn with…

One of Europe’s most popular heritage railways celebrated its 50th anniversary in fitting fashion, with a gala stretching over four days rather than the North Yorkshire Moors Railway’s usual three. Double-headed BR Standard 9Fs, four visiting locomotives and freight trains drew large crowds to the lineside and the services, as passenger numbers soared by 15% from 6137 at the same event in 2022 to 6953 this time round. The landmark featured an intensive timetable, with services starting at about 9am every day from each end of the line, plus a late extended service on the Friday and Saturday, finishing at about 10.30pm. An impressive line-up of steam locomotives ran throughout. The home fleet consisted of BR 2-10-0 9F No. 92134, SR Schools 4-4-0 No. 926 Repton, LMS ‘Black Five’ 4-6-0…

OPERATOR CrossCountry ran a special charity railtour from Leeds to Swanage to celebrate the retirement of its Class 125 Inter-City High Speed Train fleet after more than four decades. The tour on September 26 – which called atWakefield, Sheffield, Derby, Burton-on-Trent,Tamworth, Leamington Spa and Reading en route to the heritage line, covering parts of the network that have not seen HSTs for many years – was also supported by the Branch Line Society. CrossCountry managing directorTom Joyner said:“Our much-loved HST fleet has served us well for more than 40 years and it’s important to take time to commemorate their contribution to the CrossCountry network, as well as the generations of colleagues who have worked tirelessly to maintain them. “We are also pleased to be able to supportThe Brain Tumour Charity…

STEAM Dreams is bringing its Santa Steam Express to London for a third season. Being promoted as the only festive steam train experience from the capital, the trips give families the chance to meet Santa Claus and his helpers on a 90-minute adventure aboard festively decorated carriages. The special journey will depart four times a day on Friday, December 15, Monday, December 18 and Thursday, December 21. Children will be welcomed on board with a drink and a sweet treat before meeting Santa and his elves with their bag of gifts, while adults receive a mince pie and mulled wine or tea and coffee. The company said that these tours are unsuitable for single passengers. Booking can be made at www.steamdreams.co.uk…

JUST four months after selling nameplate Barnsley from LNER B17 No. 61669 for £26,200 at its summer auction, Talisman Railwayana has a shot at another ‘Footballer’success when Bradford from No. 61667 goes under the hammer at Newark Showground on November 30. The Gresley-designed 4-6-0 was built by Robert Stephenson & Co in April 1937, a month before No 61669 was outshopped by the same works, and was withdrawn from Cambridge (31A) in June 1958. Another Gresley locomotive nameplate will also be involved in the action, Kinross-Shire from Class D49 ‘Shire’ 4-4-0 No. 62718, built at Darlington in May 1928 and pensioned off from the Edinburgh shed of St Margaret’s (64A) in April 1961, where it had been allocated for many years. Two LMS contenders will be City of St Albans…

ENGLISH manufacturer Minerva Model Railways has partnered with Chrezo of Royan, France, to pool resources into a new joint project that will see the USATC S1000-6-0Ts produced in O gauge. Built by the United States Army Transportation Corps in 1943, the S100 class was shipped to the British War Department ahead of the invasion of mainland Europe. With many seeing little use, and many shipped overseas, surplus locomotives were purchased by Southern Railways in 1946 to replace ageing locomotives working the Southampton Docks complex. Their short wheelbase made them ideally suited to the tight curves they would need to navigate, and boasted sufficient power to move heavy loads and passenger trains around the harbour area. The O gauge model will include an injectionmoulded body with more than 250 individual components…

THE rise of 3D printing in recent years has facilitated many locomotive and rolling stock prototypes to be produced in miniature, a number of which may have never been produced before. With Rapdio’s Metropolitan E class locomotives fast approaching, Vectis 3D models has completed a redesign of the ‘Chesham’ stock kits, based on those that survive on the Bluebell Railway. Printed in sturdy resin, they cover both composite and brake examples, with a three-pack set to be available priced at £150, and a single composite also due for release, costing £50. Kits will only come with the resin parts to build the main bodies, bogies and underframes and thus require wheels, couplings and paint to complete their construction to suit modellers’ tastes. Further versions of the brake – including push-pull…

FOLLOWING the initial release of their 0-4-0ST forms last November, OO9 scale modellers have been eagerly anticipating the time when Bachmann would release the main line quarry Hunslets Linda and Blanche in their current as-preserved condition. On October 6, that time arrived as the manufacturer revealed that both locomotives were not only joining the range, but were already in stock! With 2023 marking the 60th anniversary since the pair were purchased by the Ffestiniog Railway, the announcement was made during the line’s popular Bygones Weekend, at which Bachmann showcased its range of OO9 scale narrow gauge models. Affectionately known as the Old Ladies, Linda and Blanche were built for the Penrhyn Quarry Railway in 1893 and served until the railway closed in 1962. The following year, both were purchased by…