Indholdsfortegnelse for Issue 332 i Heritage Railway

S&DR200 DARLINGTON'S Northgate conservation area is be expanded and renamed to celebrate its railway heritage. The site will be rebranded as the Stockton & Darlington Railway: Northgate Conservation Area following consultations with residents and heritage experts. The area is identified as a designated heritage asset of international significance due to its structures and associations directly linked to the early years of the S&D starting in 1825. A conservation area is ‘an area of special architectural or historical interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance.’ Historic buildings and structures within the conservation area consist of buildings within the multiple award-winning Hopetown Darlington museum attraction, including a carriage works and goods shed, Skerne Bridge, Railway Tavern and Edward Pease House, TV star's support Despite Northgate's…

IMAGES of how Manchester's Science and Industry Museum's reimagined Power Hall: The Law Family Gallery may look when it reopens this summer have been released. Created by award-winning designers Studio MUTT, the computer-generated images give an idea of what visitors can expect to see in advance of the reopening of the hall, which was closed to the public for urgent repairs in 2019. The museum has collaborated with architect and lead designer Carmody Groake to reimagine and improve the Power Hall experience and conserve the building's history, and with Studio MUTT to create an engaging interpretation of the historic collection through the exhibition design. This reimagined space will allow visitors to rediscover their favourite objects from fresh perspectives and uncover the stories behind those who powered and continue to power…

HERITAGE railways have been hit by vandal attacks in recent weeks. On April 20, the Spa Valley's Class 207 DEMU No. 1317 was attacked, leaving both the motor and trailer carriages covered in graffiti. The only surviving original unrefurbished three-car Class 207 left in the world, No. 1317 formed the last public shuttle service from Eridge to Tunbridge Wells West when the line closed on July 6, 1985, and was obtained by the railway in 2004. The entire unit will now have to be repainted, diverting vital funds from other SpVR projects. More than 28 windows were smashed in coaches and in a privately-owned DMU currently undergoing renovation at the East Lancashire Railway's Baron Street engineering workshop in Bury on April 12/13. Three carriages were broken into and severely damaged,…

A UNIQUE piece of artwork has started a year-long tour of Hampshire, telling the history of rail travel through a series of metre-tall embroidered panels. Brought about through a collaboration between the Mid-Hants Railway and almost 200 contributors, the vibrant celebration of 200 years of the modern railway is depicted through the mediums of textiles, sewing and embroidery. Those who have helped to create this unique masterpiece have included local artists, students, and members of community groups. Each of the panes, which all stand at a metre in height, have been intricately designed and embroidered, capturing two centuries of the story of rail in a piece entitled 200 Community Textile Timeline of Train Travel. Participants have been meeting each month at the MHR's Ropley station and remotely online since May…

ALSTOM has appointed Nottinghamshire-based painter, author and tutor Tim O'Brien as the official artist in residence for The Greatest Gathering, Britain's biggest-ever grouping of historic rail vehicles, to be staged at the firm's Litchurch Lane plant in Derby on August 1-3 as one the primary events of Railway 200. Visitors to the sold-out event will get to see Tim painting outdoors as he captures the rolling stock, atmosphere, and architecture on show. He said:“I feel very privileged and honoured to be invited by Alstom to be their official artist in residence and capture this bicentennial celebration in art. I have always beena fan of Terence Cuneo's railway art and as a childI practiced drawing using my Hornby OO gauge steam engines as subjects, so this opportunity is off the scale.…

THE idea that collaboration is the key to success is something which the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway and Peak Rail have proven first-hand in recent years, and 2025's annual joint diesel gala weekend has outperformed previous events – with a winning combination all round in the line-up. Undoubtedly for many, the highlight of the April 11/12 Twin Peaks gala was exactly that – the appearance of twin ‘Peaks’ – with Matlock-based Class 44 D8 Penyghent being joined by Midland Railway – Butterley-based sister No. 44004 Great Gable, the first time in more than four decades that that two 44s have been seen working together, the pair being the only survivors of a class that numbered only 10. The ‘Peaks’ were synonymous with fast expresses in the region, the nickname derived from…

Steam driving – a job for life! A NEW exhibition at Swindon's STEAM – Museum of the Great Western Railway explores the career path of railwaymen, starting as an engine cleaner and graduating to a fireman and a driver. Becoming an engine driver was the dream of many young boys, but only a few made it a reality. Progression through the ranks was a slow and rigorous process, requiring years of dedication, skill, and patience, especially for those who aimed to drive express locomotives. The new exhibition, A Job For Life, examines the long and challenging journey to the footplate. It focuses on the vital role of mutual improvement classes, giving insight into how railway workers developed their knowledge and skills. Visitors will also learn about the role of Swindon's…

VOLUNTEERS turning out for a maintenance day on the Doon Valley Railway on Saturday, March 29 were ‘disgusted’ to find that their crew room, known as The Bothy, had been entered and deliberately set on fire. Those responsible broke panes of glass in the room's window in the latest assault by arsonists and vandals on heritage railways around the country. Police Scotland was following a line of enquiry following the attack and the arson incident is being jointly investigated by the force's forensics officers and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Minimal damage Thankfully, the damage was confined to the window area and the room was able to be put back into use. Its loss would have meant the line cancelling its first open day of the season on Monday,…

THE opening of the new Severn Beach Miniature Railway has been delayed until July following a planning mix-up. Work on rebuilding the line – active in various forms at the ‘lost’ coastal resort of Severn Beach from 1936 to 1976 – with the aim of having services running by Easter, as reported in Heritage Railway issue 326, was paused after it was discovered that an application for planning permission was required. Last October, Pilning & Severn Beach Parish Council agreed to take on a lease of Promenade Gardens from South Gloucestershire Council and at the same meeting approved the principle of a sub-lease for the site to allow the miniature railway project to go ahead, subject to necessary approvals. It was assumed that as a railway had run on the…

A BLUE plaque honouring the first locomotive driver has been unveiled by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander as part of the 200th anniversary celebrations of the modern railway. James ‘Jim’ Hurst, who worked closely with railway pioneers George Stephenson, Daniel Gooch and Isambard Kingdom Brunel, was appointed as the first shunter for the GWR, taking to the tracks on December 28, 1837. His plaque was unveiled by Heidi Alexander, the MP for Swindon South, in a ceremony hosted by the modern-day GWR. The commemorative inscription sits above the front door of the last place Jim called home, in Taunton Street, Swindon, located in the heart of the Railway Village. Esteemed career Born in Lancashire in 1811, Jim began his life in the railway at the age of 14 when he assisted…

AWARD-WINNING Cornish company Railholiday will be opening its doors alongside St Germans main line station to visitors on Sunday, June 8, between noon and 6pm as part of a community open gardens event. It will present a rare opportunity to look at the restoration of a GWR royal saloon built for Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee train in 1897. Visitors will also be able to look around a GWR brake third coach adapted as accessible holiday accommodation and enjoy the private garden that occupies the site of the old station cattle yard. Admission to the event costs £5, which includes eight other village gardens.…

THE Scottish Railway Preservation Society is to run a three-day excursion between Saturday, June 21 and Monday, June 23 under the title of ‘The Lochalsh Chopper.’ Departing from Crewe, it will pick up passengers at Preston, Lancaster and Carlisle. Ascheduled stop at Carlisle for a leg-stretch of about an hour will see the motive power changed to a pair of Class 20s. Leaving Carlisle, the tour heads on to Perth to pick up the final passengers for the tour and for an opportunity for another leg-stretch. Taking the Highland Main Line passing through Pitlochry, Blair Atholl and Aviemore, an overnight stop will be had at Inverness. The final day will see the tour head towards Aberdeen, passing through Forres, Elgin and Inverurie, before heading south through Montrose to Dundee. Crossing…

VINTAGE Trains will once again tackle the South Devon Banks with double-headed steam – with WR Castle No. 7029 Clun Castle and LMS Jubilee No. 45596 Bahamas unassisted! Following departure from Birmingham New Street on September 6 behind diesel traction, the 4-6-0s will take over ‘The Mayflower’ for the run between Bristol Temple Meads and Plymouth, with the train running without any diesel on the rear. This routing will see Clun Castle and Bahamas working hard over the challenging gradients of South Devon, as well as thundering along the sea wall at Dawlish. Alex Knudsen, VT's sales and marketing manager, said: “We are delighted to bring back ‘The Mayflower’ for a second year following its incredibly successful introduction in 2024. “Like last year, we are sure this will a highlight…

“These are excellent power figures and perhaps the best achieved yet by a 5XP.” In his latest column, Don Benn covers the recordbreaking performance of LMS Jubilee 4-6-0 No. 45596 Bahamas on the Vintage Trains ‘Shap Mountaineer’ back on March 29. Also covered is a run with double-headed Class 37s on the ‘Capital Highlander’ and two steam runs from 1965 in Scotland. VINTAGE Trains ran ‘The Shap Mountaineer’ from Birmingham on Saturday, March 29 with No. 45596 on 10 coaches, with no diesel assistance involved after Carnforth. My good friend Sandy Smeaton was on the train and he tells the story: “Vintage Trains was rewarded for organising Bahamas’ first public tour over Shap in preservation with a full train. Class 47 D1755 worked the first section from Birmingham New Street…

Wartime black may not have been the most flattering livery for express steam locomotives, but aWrenn OO-gauge model of LMS streamlined Princess Coronation Pacific No. 6237 City of Bristol in this guise caught the eye at aVectis railwayana and model trains sale on March 27 by achieving the top realisation of £900. Behind at £440 was anotherWrenn OO-gauge model of a streamlined Pacific, SRWest Country class No. 34004 Yeovil. The live online auction was held over two days, and on March 26 a 16mm scale live steam 0-6-0ST constructed from Roundhouse Engineering of Doncaster components achieved the highest realisation of £540. Prices exclude buyer's premium of 22½% (+ VAT). A pre-FirstWorldWar O-gauge model of Great Northern Railway C1 class 4-4-2 No. 1442 made by Carette of Germany took top spot…

APRIL 17 saw all three of the Deltic Preservation Society's Class 55s in action on the same day at two different locations, when D9015 Tulyar commenced testing as its protracted overhaul nears conclusion. On April 13, 1997, Tulyar was powered down at the Midland Railway – Butterley for what was expected to be a two-year overhaul, which has taken substantially longer than that original forecast. Just four days beyond 28 years since it last worked under its own power, Tulyar was started up at the DPS depot at Barrow Hill and made its first moves unassisted to check that its control systems were operating as intended. During these tests around the site, it towed classmate No. 55009 Alycidon out of the shed into the yard, where it too was started…

THE Wensleydale Railway has appointed its youngest train driver. George Stephens, 21, from Darlington, has passed his driver training and is now qualified to drive the line's Class 142 and Class 143 DMUs. He studied travel and tourism at Darlington College and began working for the railway as a travelling ticket Inspector at the beginning of 2022, progressing to become a qualified guard in 2023. He then became a secondman on the railway's diesel locomotives, a signaller and responsible officer, and started driver training in 2024. “Learning to drive a train has been an ambition of mine since I was a child,” he said. The railway is hosting its fourth annual model railway show at Leeming Bar station on May 10/11. Passenger services during the weekend will be operated by…

THE Isle of Wight Steam Railway's BR Standard 2MT No. 41313 is set to make its second trip over the Solent this year, having been booked to star at another two galas – including one in East Anglia! The 2-6-2T will return to star in the Spa Valley Railway's June 13-15 Cuckoo Line gala, commemorating 60 years since the closure of the Tunbridge Wells to Hailsham route. It will run alongside visiting U class 2-6-0 No. 31806 and previously-announced BR Standard 4MT No. 80078, which will run as scrapped classmates. The Ivatt will then head to Dereham for the Mid-Norfolk Railway's Southern Steam Gala on June 27-29, with SR Battle of Britain Pacific No. 34053 Sir KeithPark (currently running as 303 Squadron) following from Tunbridge Wells West to also appear.…

THE Warwickshire Industrial Locomotive Preservation Trust's treasurer, Robin Jones, stepped down at the organisation's annual general meeting after a marathon 60 years of service. Robin, who had held the post since the organisation began in 1965, said: “I've been asked how I was persuaded to take on the role. The organisation was formed by a group of friends and needed a treasurer. They suggested that I could do the job, but carefully avoided mentioning for how long! I had no idea what was involved, but I learnt quickly how to organise a paper leger system before taking on the complexity of VAT and Gift Aid.” The packed meeting on April 13 saw Robin presented with a commemorative plaque. Robin has agreed to continue as a trustee to help his successor…

THE public has been invited to help choose Britain's favourite rail artwork as part pf the Railway 200 celebratory programme. Art education charity Art UK has joined up with the Railway 200 campaign for the vote, and together with its museum partners has assembled 200 artworks dating from the 1830s to the 21st century from 94 public collections to select from. The 20 best-loved railway artworks in the UK were unveiled on April 15, World Art Day, followinga global vote in which nearly 4000 were cast. Art lovers and rail enthusiasts are now invited to choose an outright winner, which will be announced on June 9, the birthday of‘Father of the Railways’ George Stephenson. Artistic choices The shortlist of 20 highlights work by 14 artists including JMW Turner and Eric…

COMPLETED restoration work has been unveiled at the Grade II-listed Cambrian Railway headquarters at Oswestry station as part of a £900,000 project. Funded by Shropshire Council and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the work completed by craftsmen from local building conservation specialist Phillips and Curry Ltd has included fixing and restoring the building's exterior to prevent falling masonry, removing dangerous asbestos tiles and replacing them with Welsh slate, and painting windows and doors in Cambrian Railway colours. The scaffolding was removed in time for Easter. Nesting boxes for swifts and roosting tiles for bats have also been installed at the station, which is used by the Cambrian Heritage Railway. The council's senior project management office, Peter Gilbertson, said:“This building holds significant cultural value and these essential repairs ensure that it…

LNER A3 Pacific No. 60103 Flying Scotsman will be hauling passenger services on the West Somerset metals in late June and July. Following agreement with the National Railway Museum and Northern Steam Operations, the world's most famous steam locomotive – which, as reported in Heritage Railway issue 330, proved a sell-out attraction during its recent visit to the Nene Valley Railway – will haul trains between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead on June 28-30 and July 1/2, 8/9, and 10-12. It will be on static display at Bishops Lydeard on June 26/27 and July 3-7 and 13/14. On the days where services behind Flying Scotsman are running, the railway will offer excursions behind the A3 for one full-length journey of the line and a return journey behind one of it home…

THE North Yorkshire Moors Railway has announced its exclusive luxury rail charter experience for 2025, offering passengers the opportunity to hire GWR saloon carriage No. W80974W for a memorable occasion. Whether for a personal celebration or a business gathering, the unique venue allows up to 18 guests to enjoy a scenic rail journey. Built by Swindon Carriage Works in 1948 as Western Region Track Inspection Saloon No. W80974W, it was withdrawn in 1972 after 24 years’ service. Carrying chocolate and cream livery, it boasts two luxurious seating areas, fine furnishings and large observation windows. New for this season, the NYMR is enhancing the experience by expanding the menu options for charter guests. In addition to the classic Signalman's Buffet, guests can now enjoy a selection of freshly prepared side dishes.…

IN its 40th anniversary year, the Downpatrick & County Down Railway is celebrating yet more awards success – with a double victory after its chairman Robert Gardiner and finance officer John Noble, were honoured at the CO3 (Chief Officers 3rd Sector) Awards, held at Belfast's Europa Hotel on March 27. Robert Gardiner was named Leader of the Year in the Small Organisation category, while John Noble took home the Trustee of the Year award, recognising their dedication and exceptional contributions to the heritage railway, voluntary sector, and social enterprise sector in Northern Ireland. The ceremony, hosted by former broadcaster Sarah Travers, were part of CO3's 40th anniversary celebrations, recognising outstanding leadership within the sector. The latest accolades follow the DCDR winning Team Of The Year at the Heritage Railway Association…

A WARNING that heritage railways are standing at a crossroads and risk fading into irrelevance if they fail to engage the younger generations has been issued by Kent & East Sussex Railway general manager Robin Coombes in a major speech. Robin highlighted his concerns at a ‘youth in heritage’ conference held on March 12 at Chatham dockyard by Heritage Watch, a group that includes representatives from Kent police, Historic England, and the security and insurance sectors. “Heritage railways are not just about nostalgia – they are living, breathing institutions that preserve skills, history and identity, but we stand at a crossroads,” he told his audience. “Our volunteer force is ageing, young people are not engaging in the same numbers as before, and the world we live in today is vastly…

THIEVES who raided the North Tyneside Steam Railway and stole track components could have caused a major derailment, the operating group said. Around 1200 metal screws and keys used for securing the track were taken from around 250ft of track in the Mercy Main area while the railway was closed. It will cost an estimated £2500 to repair the missing items and make the track safe. Volunteers worked round the clock to repair the damage so that the line could reopen for the new season on April 6. Trustee Michael Darling told the BBC: “The main risk is that we could have suffered a serious derailment.” Security measures include daily random track patrols and CCTV have been stepped up following the thefts while occurred during March. Northumbria Police said inquiries…

THE Fife Heritage Railway (FHR) has been granted permission to expand its visitor facilities at Kirkland Yard, Leven. Fife Council has approved planning permission for the heritage line – which at its Burnmill Road site operates, maintains and restores items previously housed on the former Lochty Private Railway – to reuse one of three temporary construction buildings left behind by Network Rail after the completion of work on the Levenmouth Rail Link. Levenmouth Area Committee councillors agreed to allocate up to £80,000 from the Community Recovery Fund towards buying the temporary units. As reported in Heritage Railway issue 329, the FHR aims to use the largest building for a reception, cafe, bookshop, museum display area, a model railway exhibition, research and reading space, toilets and staff spaces. The other buildings…

PLANS for the return of unique BR Standard 8 Pacific No. 71000 Duke of Gloucester to the national network have been announced. As this issue closed for press, the BR Class 8 Steam Locomotive Trust was set to move its locomotive to the Severn Valley Railway on May 1/2, prior to testing and running-in. All being well, it will move under its own power from Kidderminster to Crewe – its 1954 birthplace – on May 27. The locomotive was withdrawn from service in 2012 when its boiler ticket expired. As reported in Heritage Railway issue 217, the trust has a 10-year agreement with The Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust Limited for Locomotive Services Limited to run the Duke on the main line. On June 4, it is scheduled to head…

ON Saturday, July 5, Pathfinder Tours is running ‘The Ffestiniog Slater behind two Class 37s to various locations in Wales. Starting from Swindon, the train will take the Great Western Main Line to Didcot and then divert onto the Cherwell Valley Line to the first passenger pickup of Oxford. Continuing north, the plan is to pick up at Banbury, before taking the Chiltern Main Line for further passengers to join the train at Warwick Parkway, Dorridge, Birmingham New Street, Wolverhampton and Stafford. Continuing to Crewe, the train will take the North Wales Main Line via Chester to the first stop of Llandudno Junction prior to reversing to pick up the Conwy Valley Line. Those who decide to stay on the train can alight at Betws-y-Coed or continue to Blaenau Ffestiniog,…

A TOUR from England to Wales behind a pair of Class 20s will be run by Intercity Tours under the title of‘The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobes'on Saturday, July 12. Starting from Crewe and having nothing whatsoever to do with the CS Lewis novel, the train will take the Welsh Marches Line to Shrewsbury and then travel onto Craven Arms to pick up additional passengers. Taking the Heart of Wales Line, it will head to Llandrindod Wells for a leg-stretch of about 45 minutes. It will then continue through Garth, to Sugar Loaf Summit and through Llandovery, Llandeilo, and Ammanford, before arriving at Hendy Junction, taking the Swansea District Line to avoid the city, and then head to the destination of Cardiff on the South Wales Main Line. After…

YORK'S oldest-surviving railway structure is to be restored by Network Rail as a brass band rehearsal space. The Grade II-listed water tower, with a 5000-gallon tank on its roof, was built in 1839 when the city's first main railway station was under construction. It is now one of the oldest-surviving railway water towers in the world but has fallen into a state of disrepair in recent years. Approved by City of York Council, Network Rail's plan to restore the structure will create a new base for the York Railway Institute Band and a second unit available to let. The early Victorian-era building sits within the multi-million-pound York Station Frontage transformation project, a wider scheme which requires the demolition of the band's rehearsal space – just next door – and the…

STATION totem signs from a variety of BR regions went under the hammer at a collectables online auction held by Cullens of Wallington, Surrey, that ended on March 30. The leading realisation was achieved by BR(W) Reading General at £880, followed by a Scottish Region representative, Dumfries, the location of shed 68B, that went for £660. Next in line was BR(E) Becontree, which fetched £620. This former London Tilbury & Southend Line station was opened by the LMS in June 1926 as Gale Street Halt, renamed Becontree in July 1932, and is now on the District Line as part of the London Underground network. Further prices included BR(S) Abbey Wood (£500) and a second Western Region totem, Whitland, which went for £470. Prices exclude buyer's premium of 25% (inc VAT).…

SIR Wiliam Stanier's LMS Jubilee class turned up trumps in Great Northern's March 27-April 5 online auction when nameplate Perseverance from No. 45731 celebrated its auction debut by going under the metaphorical hammer for £4700, while the smokebox numberplate from classmate No. 45581 Bihar and Orissa joined in the fun with a realisation of £3000. Lower down the nameplate order came St. Dunstan from a colliery 0-6-0ST built by Avonside Engine Co of Bristol in 1927, whose price of £1220 was matched by a pair of safety valves from an unknown locomotive. Just below the four-figure barrier at £980 was a 1920 LNER/Kitson & Co of Leeds works numberplate from K2 class 2-6-0 No. 61792, and for £620 the smokebox numberplate from LMS Class 4F 0-6-0 No. 44000 found a…

MISSION accomplished was the message on April 9 from the Elmdon Model Engineering Society after a 7¼in gauge live steam model of GWR No. 6011 King James I sold in a closed auction for £40,000, with every penny being donated to Alzheimer's Research UK. The model was built over a period of nine years by society member and retired BR steam driver Dennis Herbert, who decided to put it up for auction in memory of his wife Iris and several colleagues who had succumbed to Alzheimer's. Denis Chick, a trustee of Transport Museum Wythall near Birmingham, where the society is based and operates a miniature railway, said the successful bidder was a member of the society. “Dennis was very keen to ensure the model would raise a significant amount for…

AN LNWR office brass paperweight engraved‘Loco.Works.Manager.'was the top seller with a price of £1000 in Great Central's ‘Bloxham’-style sale of general railwayana held on March 13/14, while two ex-military railway artefacts, a Railway Signal Co signalbox hand generator and bell, and a Railway Signal Co miniature staff machine key configuration‘A'No. 12845, went under the hammer for £980 and £680 respectively. Between this pair at £740 was a Great North Eastern Railway presentation brass carriage crest. The GNER was a postprivatisation train operating company owned by Sea Containers that held the ECML franchise from 1996 to 2007. The prices quoted exclude buyer's premium of 15% (+ VAT). These GCRA general railwayana sales originated pre-Covid as fast-flowing ‘no frills’ auctions that do not take telephone bidding and were originally held in Bloxham…

THE Midlands Model Engineering Exhibition will take place on October 16-19 at the Warwickshire Event Centre and will feature a diverse array of models, including a 10 ¼in gauge Class 60 diesel electric locomotive, a unique hightech model that has taken 30 years to build, weighs 1.5 tonnes, and measures 13.5 feet in length. There will be talks from experts and live demonstrations, and more than 30 clubs and societies with hundreds of exhibits. For full details, head online and visit www.midlandsmodelengineering.co.uk…

THE 1722 Waggonway Heritage Group is to mark Railway 200 by celebrating Scotland's first railway. The community heritage project was created to interpret, preserve and enhance the route and associated industries and environments of the Tranent-Cockenzie Waggonway. The group has arranged a free evening at The Battle of Prestonpans Jacobite Museum in Prestonpans Town Hall, East Lothian, at 7.30pm on May 16 with a talk by historians Anthony Dawson and Ed Bethune, who will discuss the latest research and archaeological findings relating to the waggonway and its place in Scottish railway history. On Saturday, May 17, the group is planning a special day at its heritage centre on West Harbour Road, Cockenzie, from 10am to 11pm, with traditional skills activities including making trenails, quill and ink writing, donning historic costumes…

TWO North Eastern Railway locomotives and a former regional resident will help the Stainmore Railway celebratethe bicentenary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway at a gala on August 23-25, with 0-6-0 J27 No. 2392 the final visitor to be announced as heading for Kirkby Stephen for the occasion. Once a part of the S&DR route, the 200th anniversary of which is being celebrated throughout 2025, the line was taken over by the NER in 1863. While No. 2392 is not recorded as having ever run over the S&DR itself, it is one of the few surviving examples of locomotives with origins in the company that took over the line, the class being derived from Wilson Worsdell's P3s. Local connection It will join previously announced LNER Y7 0-4-0T No. 985, which…

CLASS 50 No. 50015 Valiant has joined the line-up for the West Somerset Railway's June 5-8 summer diesel festival. Loaned by Bury Valiant Group and the East Lancashire Railway, No. 50015, which last visited the line in September 1998, will be joined by fellow guests Class 45 ‘Peak’ No. 45108, Class 52 D1015 Western Champion and the home fleet of Class 03 D2133, Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ D9526, Class 33s D6566 and D6575 and Class 35 ‘Hymeks’ D7017 & D7018 A two-day cider festival will be held on Minehead Station on the Saturday and Sunday, while the Sunday will be a mixed traction day with both steam and diesel locomotives in action. To book, visit https://westsomersetrailway.digitickets.co.uk/event/23719207…

BOOKINGS are now open for visits to the unique exhibition train which will tour the UK as part of the Railway 200 celebrations. As reported in Heritage Railway issue 330, the train, named Inspiration, will be launched at Kidderminster Town on the Severn Valley Railway on June 27 at the start of a 12-month journey to 60 locations, showcasing rail's past, present and future in new, fun and engaging ways. Curated in partnership with the National Railway Museum, Inspiration aims to help attract the next generation of pioneering talent to the railway. It will comprise four reconditioned Mk. 3 carriages. Rail's pioneering pedigree will be explored in a Railway Firsts coach, highlighting landmark moments in rail's development. Alongside will be Wonderlab on Wheels, inviting visitors to test their engineering skills…

A NEW mural reflecting local railway heritage has been unveiled at the newly-refurbished Normanton Market in Wakefield. It is the work of West Yorkshire artist Harriet Colours, who throughout last September worked extensively with the local community to engage them in her design process. She attended coffee mornings at the library, went along to heritage talks, and engaged young people at the market site to find out how locals feel about the place where they live and what is important to them. She also ran creative workshops with Normanton All Saints Church of England Infant School, during which the children helped create tapestries which were then displayed at Normanton Library for three months. In total, 228 people helped create the artwork, including the schoolchildren and people attending The Well Youth,…

LONDON Transport Museum has commissioned a new series of posters for the Underground to celebrate iconic cultural venues. Created by award-winning artist Eliza Southwood, the series marks the return of contemporary artists being commissioned to create Transport for London travel posters for the first time since 2020, continuing the tradition of commissioning talented artists to create inspiring poster artworks that promote attractions in the capital. Part of the museum's Transported by Culture initiative to bring more art, music and theatre programming to its visitors, Eliza's four posters depict Dulwich Picture Gallery, the Royal Albert Hall, London Zoo and LTM itself. In 2019, Eliza won the Poster Prize for Illustration, a competition hosted LTM in partnership with the Association of Illustrators, for her artwork London Is The Place For Me, a…

THE Yeovil Railway Centre has launched a £100,000 appeal to lay rails along a trackbed created by the GWR in 1864 – but which never had track laid on it. The centre has for years wanted to reroute and extend its third-of-a-mile demonstration line along the South Chord at Yeovil Junction, creating a new platform. On June 13, 1864, a broad gauge freight line was opened from the GWR's Wilts, Somerset and Weymouth line up to a new Clifton Maybank goods station located on the south side of the LSWR's Yeovil Junction station so broad and standard gauge wagons could be brought alongside each other to allow goods to be transhipped between them. The intention was to create a triangle. However, due to an economic downturn, the original track along…

THE Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways has carried off the Best Attraction prize at the recent National Tourism Awards for Wales ceremony. Hosted by Visit Wales, the event held at Venue Cymru in Llandudno celebrated the best of the tourism industry throughout the principality. Last November, the railway was awarded the Go Attraction of the Year award at the Regional Go North Wales Tourism Awards and accordingly qualified for these national awards. Huge honour The event was attended by Ff&WHR general manager Paul Lewin and visitor experience manager Stephen Greig. Paul said: “Receiving this award is a huge honour and is testament to the hard work of all our staff and volunteers. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their hard work.” Stephen added: “This is…

THE National Railway Heritage Awards is looking for a new trustee after Malcolm Wood decided to retire after many years’ service. Malcom will stand down after the charity's 2026 annual general meeting. His duties have involved procuring and designing the award plaques each autumn and then arranging ceremonies to unveil the plaques with the winners after they are announced in December, as last highlighted in Heritage Railway issue 327. Fellow trustees would like to have a successor identified by the end of 2025, and Malcolm has offered to work with the new appointee throughout 2026, so they are fully aware of what is involved in the role. Anyone interested in taking on this role is invited to contact chairman Andy Savage at andy. savage@nrha.org.uk, giving details of why you would…

GWR 2-8-0T No. 4247 is planned to star in the East Somerset Railway's May 31/June 1 gala subject to the completion of its overhaul. Entering the Cranmore workshops in January 2022, the ex-Barry locomotive passed its hydraulic test on March 17 and its out-of-frames steam test on March 28, and the boiler was returned to the frames on April 11. On the boiler, the copper firebox laps have undergone weld repairs and had patch screws fitted, the large areas of quilting from BR days have been addressed and star cracking welded, 200 copper stays and all foundation ring rivets were renewed, and new tubes and flues fitted, as well as a new smokebox and door. Ready to roll New tyres have also been fitted to the driving wheels, all horn…

PASSENGERS on the 7¼in gauge Strathaven Miniature Railway are enjoying a comfier ride this season thanks to six new carriages receiving cushioned seats, replacing the hard wood of the 35-year-old rolling stock. The carriages were bought during the line's winter closed season and fitted out with air brakes by society volunteers as an upgrade for the railway, the oldest continually-operating miniature railway in the UK, which marked its 75th year in action last May. Built by Abbots Model Engineering of Telford, the coaches were fitted with air tanks and brake gear, compatible with the line's locomotives steam, diesel and battery-electric, at Strathaven in time for the new season starting on Mother's Day, Sunday, March 30. Company secretary Ian Samsom said: “We saved up the £11,000 purchase price over the last…

CRICH Tramway Village has halted the commissioning of newly-restored London County Council tram No. 1 ‘Bluebird’ for safety reasons. As reported in Heritage Railway issue 324, 1932-built No. 1 was officially launched on September 13 following the conclusion of a £500,000 restoration project that lasted 10 years. A statement from the National Tramway Museum said: “As a living heritage attraction, the NTM always prioritises the safety of visitors, staff and volunteers who work here or come to visit us. “Maintaining these standards involves tramcar commissioning at the start of every season and the monitoring and checking of the state of all our operational fleet at regular intervals throughout the year. “It was during the commissioning of LCC1 that our team discovered unusual electrical readings from the motors which had not…

UK Railtours is advertising a tour with the chance to visit The Greatest Gathering from London on Saturday, August 2. From August 1-3, as previously highlighted, Alstom is opening its Litchurch Lane Works in Derby to the public for the largest temporary assembly of railway rolling stock and artifacts in a generation as one of the major Railway 200 events. ‘The Greatest Gathering Special Train’ will run from Paddington, with a Class 57/3 and a Class 69 expected to be the motive power, via the Great Western Main Line to pick up additional passengers at Slough, Reading and Didcot Parkway, before heading to Oxford for the final passenger pick-up. From Oxford, the tour will run via the Cherwell Valley Line and the Chiltern Main Line to Birmingham, and then on…

THE Railway Touring Company is to run ‘The Swanage Belle’ from London Victoria to the Purbeck resort on Wednesday, June 25 from London. Steam-hauled from Victoria, the tour will head over the Thames at Battersea, before turning west and crossing the river again at Barnes to pass through Feltham for the first passenger pick-up at Staines, next taking the South Western Main Line for a pick-up at Woking. Following a water stop at Winchfield, the final passenger pick-up point is planned to be Basingstoke. Taking the West of England Line through Andover to Salisbury, the train will head to Southampton for a change of locomotive. Having swapped steam for diesel, the remainder of the journey to Swanage is planned to run along the South West Main Line via Bournemouth to…

THE completed £9.9 million overhaul of Grade II-listed Keighley station, which Network Rail shares with the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, was officially unveiled on Friday, April 4. The 1885-built station had been showing signs of age, with parts closed off because of safety concerns. An 18-month overhaul has seen it restored in its classic colours of yellow vanilla and ‘Keighley maroon.’ Furthermore, the project has included the complete refurbishment of the station forecourt, frontage, waiting room, footbridges, drainage and masonry, repair and renewal of timber in the ramps and roofs at the premises – including stabilising the café's gable end, extensive structural strengthening, work to allow the western elevation link bridge to reopen, and masonry and drainage repairs to the western corner at the Skipton end of the car…

ONE of the cabside numberplates from GWR‘Night Owl'2-8-0 No. 4706 sold for £3000 (exc buyer's premium of 22½% +VAT) at a vintage toys and model trains sale held by Excalibur Auctions of Kings Langley, near Hemel Hempstead, on March 29. This engine was one of nine in a class introduced in 1919 for mainly overnight fast freight operations – hence their nickname – but were also occasionally rostered for passenger trains during busy summer Saturdays, in which role I logged Nos. 4708 on the Down ‘Royal Duchy’ and 4704 on a Down Weston-Super-Mare express at Reading General on August 30, 1958. Railwayana Auction Calendar ■ May 17 Talisman Railwayana ■ May 19-26 JustaClickago (photographs, slides and negatives) ■ May 29/30 Vectis (model trains) ■ Ends May 30 Paddington Ticket Auctions…

A COLLECTION of 131 locomotive images in five continents will be one of the highlights in the quarterly online sale being held by railway photographs, negatives and slides specialist JustaClickAgo from May 19-26. They were taken by American Richard Pennoyer, an Anglophile diplomat who was number two at the US embassy in London during the First World War. Pennoyer, who married the Dowager Countess of Shrewsbury in 1917 and died in London in November 1968 at the age of 82, photographed steam in Europe, South Africa, Asia, Australia and North America, featuring locomotives built between the 1860s and the 1950s. Another collection going under the hammer comprises 33 glass plate black-and-white negatives of mainly GWR steam taken by CG Oldham in the 1940s, while a second glass plate negatives collection…