The only magazine specialising in narrow gauge railways. We recall the past, and offer comprehensive, in-depth coverage of today’s narrow gauge scene. We speak with authority to our readers, many of whom run narrow-gauge railways.
“It would only take one less than sensible participant to put the running of any gravity trains at risk…” Welcome to NGW189, ourpre-Christmas issue, which still after many years appears a strange thing to be writing in October, as I am now… But it does serve as a reminder that the On The Shelf pages of this issue include the wide selection of Christmas cards and calendars on sale from various railways – if you need to buy such supplies prior to the Festive overload then please consider buying from your favourite line. Particularly in today’s challenging economic environment, every penny of revenue makes a difference… So, as regular readers might have guessed from the cover picture, in the last couple of weeks your editor has enjoyed one of the…
Send UK NEWS stories to Andrew Charman by email, editor@narrowgaugeworld.co.uk, or by post to 12 Maes Gwyn, Llanfair Caereinion, Powys, SY21 0BD. Tel: 01938 810592 The Vale of Rheidol Railway has unveiled plans for redevelopment of its upper terminus at Devils Bridge, with the aim of improving heritage aspects of the site. However the scheme has sparked controversy as the development will see the current tea room removed and its operators, who have run the facility for 34 years, have been served notice. The plans include the construction of a new building with high-quality toilet facilities and an engine shed, replicating structures present in the early 20th century. The station will also see the recreation of the former timber yard, a key feature of the VoR’s commercial past, and a…
The Vale of Rheidol Railway has described its Steam Festival, held from 24th to 26th August as a “tremendous success”. The event attracted close to 1,400 passengers over the three days, marking a 27 per cent increase in attendance compared to 2023 and generating a 60 per cent rise in revenue. For the first time since the 1980s, the festival featured three passenger trains running simultaneously, with 15 out of the railway’s 16 carriages in operation. Six locomotives were in steam – the 2-6-2Ts ‘Owain Glyndwr’ and ‘Llywelyn’, NGG13 Garratt ‘Drakensberg’, visiting England 0-4-0ST ‘Palmerston’ from the Ffestiniog Railway and Kerr Stuart 0-4-0ST ‘Wren’ and quarry Hunslet 0-4-0ST ‘Margaret’, both providing driver experience opportunities. The event also saw the first public appearance of 4-6-2 no 762, as reported in NGW188.…
The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway has submitted its planning application to extend the line to Cricket Field Lane. As reported in NGW188 the half-mile extension, which was agreed following proposals put to members of the L&B Trust, will take the Devon line from its current limit of operations at Killington Lane to just short of Parracombe village. Engagement sessions held in July with both the Parish Council and local residents were considered a success with the line taking steps to provide answers to many questions raised. The application was submitted to the Exmoor National Park Authority at the end of September and the railway is encouraging supporters to make their views known to the planning authority. Full details and all documents relating to the application can be viewed at https://planning.agileapplications.co.uk/exmoor/application-details/25033…
PHOTOS are welcome, either digital images on memory stick or CD/DVD or by e-mail, prints or transparencies. The Corris Railway has agreed to purchase three ballast wagons from its mid-Wales 2ft 3in gauge neighbour the Talyllyn Railway, as part of preparations for the eventual start of tracklaying on its extension south of Maespoeth. With siding space at a premium on the line, even allowing for the carriage shed and wagon shelter at Maespoeth Junction, the Corris has also agreed to donate three of its existing fleet to Glyn Valley Tramway revivalists at Chirk, the revival project having also adopted the 27-inch gauge. The three are all Robert Hudson wagons numbered 205, 206 and 219 in the Corris fleet – two have been on the line since 1984 while the third…
The Zillertalbahn’s U2-class 0-6-2T ‘Zillertal’, which has been on hire to the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway since 2019, was expected to be on its way back to its Austrian home in October. The loco proved a boon to the Welsh line at a time when it was suffering a loco shortage, due to several delays in the overhaul of Societe Franco-Belge-built 0-8-0T ‘Sir Drefaldwyn’. With work to Sir Drefaldwyn completed earlier this year and the loco re-entering service, the hire of Zillertal was expected to end soon, though there were hopes that the two, which both previously worked in Austria, could appear together for a while. Unfortunately having returned to service in May after the latest of several repairs to its firebox stays, Zillertal then suffered further firebox issues…
