Heritage Railway Issue 309

EDITORIAL Editor Robin Jones rjones@mortons.co.uk Staff Writer Owen Hayward OHayward@mortons.co.uk Senior Contributors Geoff Courtney, John Titlow Contributors Hugh Dougherty, Tim Hobman, Roger Melton, Luke Ryan Designer Tim Pipes Production editor Lucy Wood Publisher Tim Hartley Editorial address Heritage Railway magazine, Mortons Media Ltd, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6LZ Website www.heritagerailway.co.uk ADVERTISING Advertising representatives Craig Amess 01507 529537 camess@mortons.co.uk Fiona Leak 01507 529573 fleak@mortons.co.uk Group advertising manager Sue Keily skeily@mortons.co.uk CUSTOMER SERVICES General Queries & Back Issues 01507 529529 Monday-Friday 8.30am-5pm Answerphone 24H help@classicmagazines.co.uk www.classicmagazines.co.uk DISTRIBUTION & PRINTING Distribution Seymour Distribution Ltd, 2 Poultry Avenue, London, EC1A 9PU Enquiries Line: 0207 429 4000 Printing William Gibbons & Sons Ltd. Magazine & Catalogue Printer 26 Planetary Road, Willenhall West Midlands, WV13 3XB MORTONS MEDIA GROUP LTD Sales and distribution manager…

BRITAIN gave the railways to the world and changed the face of the globe, and the heritage sector has spent decades pulling out all the stops to ensure that its seminal landmarks and milestones do not disappear forever into the back pages of history. We have saved steam, diesel and electric locomotives, carriages and rolling stock from eager scrap men, historic structures from the demolition contractor, and many a country branch line – all for the enjoyment, enlightenment and education of future generations, not to mention multiple benefits to local economies. Now we have been handed yet another part of the story for save for active posterity: the ticket office! Widespread dismay has loudly echoed from many sectors of the population around the UK in the wake of modern-day train…

BRITAIN’S newest locomotive, the Ffestiniog &Welsh Highland Railway’s double Fairlie No. 8 James Spooner, is set to be unveiled to supporters at the line’s October 6-8 Bygones Weekend. Although the weekend is traditionally dedicated to celebrating the line’s heritage rolling stock, all eyes will be on James Spooner, which has been designed with many modern aspects to overcome issues that have affected locomotives in the past, the boiler being one such component that was once prone to problems. The new-build boiler fitted to James Spooner has a tapered barrel at the firebox end for added strength; a typical locomotive boiler is normally secured to the frames by the attached smokebox, with the firebox end mounted but not bolted down so it can slide along the frames when the metal expands…

FOR the first time in 41 years, timetabled trains will once again stop at the Severn Valley Railway’s Eardington station during the September 14-17 Autumn Steam Gala. Eardington, often referred to as the SVR’s hidden gem, will open for limited business on occasions, but only for trains that fit into the platforms. Stopping will be limited to trains with a maximum of four carriages, but for the gala and as an introduction it will be three, allowing for a safety overrun. Steve Downs has volunteered at Eardington since the 1980s, officially gaining the title of stationmaster in the last 18 months. He said: “Our last timetabled train stopped in 1982 and it’s no exaggeration to say that it’s a dream come true that we are back on the map again…

EXCITEMENT around the return to operational condition of LSWR William Adams T3 4-4-0 No. 563 is continuing to mount, with another major landmark in its restoration passed as it turned a wheel under its own power for the first time since 1948. It was at the Waterloo station centenary celebrations 75 years ago that No. 563 was steamed for the last time. It has been hoped to have the locomotive return for the Waterloo 175 celebrations on July 11 (see feature, pages 86/87), but it missed the date but only by a day! Following further painting and the application of a handpainted LSWR crest, on July 12 the locomotive’s steam test took place at Bill Parker’s Flour Mill workshops at Bream in the Forest of Dean, witnessed by 563 Locomotive…

WELSH Highland Railway flagship Hunslet 2-6-2T Russell is to be the star guest at the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway’s September 23/24 autumn gala. “Seeing Russell in action with the L&B’s new Baldwin 2-4-2T Lyn in the glorious Exmoor scenery will be particularly exciting,” said L&B spokesman Tony Nicholson. “Its visit to Woody Bay will further the links between North Wales and North Devon.”  The gala will see all engines in steam, with 7 ¼in and 16mm garden railways in operation, displays of classic motor vehicles, children’s games, and an appearance by Laurel and Hardy at Woody Bay on the Saturday.…