Innehållsförteckning för Issue 313 från Heritage Railway

OPINION THE official presentation of an MBE toTalyllyn Railway pioneer John Bates on October 26, awarded inThe King's Birthday Honours, was a glowing tribute to the entire heritage railway sector. In 1951, during the latter days of post-Second World War austerity, John and a group of likemined visionaries set about rescuing a remote narrow gauge line in a far-flung corner of mid-Wales, making regular trips from their homes across the border in England to undertake the necessary hard slog purely on a voluntary basis. Swimming against a tidal wave of seemingly insurmountable odds, the world's first heritage railway came into being – and set the blueprint for others to follow. Had it not been for the members of that group who were prepared to give up their spare time to…

A £25 million scheme which will involve reopening the moribund Elsecar Heritage Railway as part of a major visitor attraction with a new-build locomotive was unveiled by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council on November 6. The scheme, which has been developed over the past two years based on extensive public consultation in collaboration with Historic England, centres around the site of the former site of the Elsecar Ironworks, now a scheduled ancient monument. It includes a new heritage railway destination, including a reconstructed 1849 Fitzwilliam locomotive to run on the revived line, powered by sustainable fuels. The locomotive will be a replica of the first built by manufacturer Isaac Dodds & Son, an 0-4-2 named Fitzwilliam, constructed in 1849 for the SouthYorkshire Railway. Dodds had taken over part of the works…

ONCE host to the groundbreaking Steel, Stars and Steamevents, the Llangollen Railway is set to host its first steam gala since October 2019 – with provision in place for a starring guest locomotive. After Llangollen Railway plc entered administration in March 2021, the LRTrust (which took over operations that summer) has focused on rebuilding the line's stability with a gradual phasing in of enthusiast events“when the time is right”. With the recent opening of the Corwen extension firmly placing the railway back on the map, along with the return to service of flagship GWR pannier No. 7754, the managing team has given the green light to the return of a steam gala event. With No. 7754 now completed and due to share Christmas duties with Roger Hibberd's Hudswell Clarke Austerity…

DOWNPATRICK & County Down Railway volunteers said that they were down, but not out–after devastating floods hit on Thursday, November 2. Flood waters inundated Downpatrick after several consecutive nights of heavy rain, causing the River Quolie to burst its banks and wreak havoc on the railway terminus, workshops, and historic carriage gallery, undoing years of work and effort. As an immediate consequence, the popular and, crucially for the railway, revenue-generating ‘Lapland Express’ events, usually held on the weekends in the run-up to Christmas, have been cancelled, although the D&CDR was exploring the possibility of hosting alternative events with a Christmas theme. An even greater casualty was the cancellation of the line's January 6 New Year Diesel Gala, to which Dublin-based Tailte Tours was planning to run a bus to widen…

DEVON-BASED engineering firm Leaky Finders is renowned for its high-quality overhauls, having recently been entrusted with projects such as Maunsell Q No.541 from the Bluebell Railway and main line-registered Merchant Navy Pacific No.35028 Clan Line. Now the firm of boilersmiths and engineers has a project of its own to tackle–after purchasing WR pannier No.9629. As reported in issue 310, the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway Locomotive Group offered the unrestored 5700 0-6-0PT for sale, sparking much interest with potential buyers. Built at Swindon in 1945 and withdrawn in 1964, in 1981 it became the 128th locomotive to be rescued from Barry. It was bought by the Marriot Hotel Group and sent to Carnforth for a five-year cosmetic restoration, after which it went on static display outside the Cardiff Holiday Inn for…

WILL the real James Spooner please step forward? Following its debut at the Ffestiniong & Welsh Highland Railways’ October 6-8 Bygones weekend, the current holder of the mantle for ‘newest steam locomotive in the world’ was officially named at a ceremony hosted at Blaenau Ffestiniog on October 20. The naming was carried out in the presence of not only the local community and invited dignitaries, but also descendants of both the man responsible for overseeing the Ffestiniog Railway's construction and one responsible for the iconic double Fairlie design. Born in 1790 in Powick, Worcestershire, James Spooner was employed as a surveyor when he first went to North Wales. He lived in Morga Lodge, Porthmadog, when he was tasked with surveying a route from there to the slate mining town of…

NEWS PHOTOGRAPHIC charters often present unique opportunities to recreate lost scenes, and on October 30 the Nene Valley RailwayWagon Group once again pulled out the stops for its final event of the year – using not only visiting Hunlset Austerity 0-6-0ST No. 3193 Norfolk Regiment, but also the railway's own out-of-service classmateWD75006 as the volunteers set out to recreate Lincolnshire's Boston Docks. Both Nos. 3193 (on loan from the Northampton & Lamport Railway until January 2024) and 75006 were renumbered as Nos. 68018 and 68070 respectively for the occassion, which were two of a fleet of shunting locomotives allocated to Boston's shedcode 40F. In addition to the change of identities, both were heavily weathered to give the impression of a pair of careworn shunters, with locomotives like these often being…

A SMALL but dedicated team of Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway volunteers are celebrating after raising more than £250,000 towards the overhaul of the line's Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST No. S112 Wheldale. The £300,000 appeal was launched by the line and the locomotive's owner, the Yorkshire Dales Railway Museum Trust, in 2015. A team led by Mike Walsh raised the money by informing passengers about the appeal and seeking donations on board trains, through a display in the former Cabman's Shelter at Embsay station, an annual draw, and sales through the station's popular Brica-Brac shop. The 1944-built locomotive entered Ministry of Defence service as No. WD75118 and worked at several locations including the army base at Bicester before it was sold to the NorthYorkshire Area of the National Coal Board…

UNION Pacific ’Big Boy'articulated 4-8-8-4 No. 4014, the world's largest operational steam locomotive, will star in a‘Four Corners'tour in 2024 to celebrate the railroad's history and connection to communities and its employees. The tour is expected to reach all four corners of Union Pacific's 23-state system, with anticipated stops in Chicago, Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston in Texas, Nampa in Idaho, Portland in Oregon, Roseville in California and Salt Lake City, Utah. A total of 25 ‘Big Boys’ were manufactured by the American Locomotive Company between 1941 and 1944 and operated by UP in revenue service until 1962. Only eight survive, the other seven being on display around the United States. Weighing 1,100,000lb, No. 4014 was restored in 2019 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the transcontinental railroad's completion. UP…

THE Hythe Pier Heritage Association wasted no time in starting the first phase of its track restoration projectonce planning permission was given at the end of September. The old station had already been closed, with a temporary platform installed 50 yards down the pier to allow the work area to be isolated. The original Victorian beams have been painstakingly cleaned by hand and painted with several coats of a highquality protective paint. They will remain in place but will no longer be loadbearing. The old track has been removed, revealing several decades of detritus. A large crane was used to lift into position the three new steel beams that had arrived on a flatbed lorry. All three beams lined up with the pre-prepared bolt holes – even though very little…

A CLASS 37 diesel which spent six years on hire in Spain has been given a new life on England's ‘sunshine’ line. Outshopped from English Electric's Vulcan Foundry at D6767 in November 1962, No. 37703 has been bought by a private individual from the Harry Needle Railroad Company and moved to the Dartmouth Steam Railway on October 17. It will become part of the DSR running fleet and work alongside classmate D6975. First allocated to Thornaby, the locomotive was later based at Gateshead, Thornaby again, and Cardiff Canton, where it was renumbered 37703 in January 1987. Later shedded at Toton and Eastleigh, following privatisation it became part of the EWS fleet, and in May 2001, as part of a contract hire agreement, it departed for Spain, where it was renumbered…

THE Corris Railway's new-build Falcon 0-4-2ST No. 10 completed its first spell in public service on October 21, almost bringing the end to what has been a 16year project–but a new chapter in the heritage line's story has begun as it now sets its sights on completing its southern extension project to Pont Y Goedwig. When completed, this section of line will double the current length of the railway; of the 1380ft distance being built, the railway has so far completed 492 feet in two sections, with 177 feet of trackbed offits current limit of operations (including about 180 feet of laid rail), plus 492 feet on the southernmost end. However, the main obstacle that prevents their linking is the need to rebuild an embankment that spans a distance of…

THE Difflin Lake Railway is marking its 10th year of operation during its 2023 season, the 15in gauge line having opened at Oakfield Park estate in County Donegal in 2103. Since then, during the summer, at Christmas and at Easter, its steam and diesel-hauled trains have carried an estimated 300,000 passengers over its two-and-a-half miles of track, offering unique views of the estate from the comfort of a railway carriage. Director David Fisher said: “We are very proud to have completed our first decade in service. This year we will carry about 60,000 passengers, whereas five years ago it was 20,000, so our popularity is growing. “We are the busiest heritage railway in Ireland and the longest miniature line, and, of course, being situated just outside Raphoe, which was served…

THE Isle of Man steam railway locomotive fleet could be back up to four-strong in 2024 following the return of one of its fleet of Beyer Peacocks from Bouth to the Douglas locomotive sheds. Built in 1908 as a one-off order, Hutchinson was similar in design to the 1905 locomotives Nos. 10 G.H. Wood and 11 Maitland. As was common at the time, the same treatment having been applied to its predecessors, the locomotive was named after company director William A Hutchinson. Reboilered shortly after the Second WorldWar in 1946, No. 12 saw regular service until the Manx Government takeover in 1978. By 1977 the condition of the boiler was poor, and the locomotive saw limited use; the decision was soon made to order a new one, which was delivered…

MAIN LINE PERFORMANCE ONE of the first trains I timed seriously was the Ian Allan excursion to Ashford and Eastleigh works on Wednesday, April5, 1961, during the Easter break. The first leg from Charing Cross to Ashford (Table One) was headed by BR(S) T94-4-0 No.30117, then based at Eastleigh and Stewarts Lane's E1 4-4-0 No.31019. With 10 coaches for 360 tons, these veterans did well after recovering from early delays and pulled back four minutes of lost time from Swanley to Ashford by dint of some fast running up to 75mph, causing much excitement to this young, fresh train timer. After visiting the shed and works, during which the 4-4-0s were turned, they took us sedately to Redhill, losing five minutes on the 60-minute booking for the 46.05 easily graded…

THE Standard 2MT was a vision of the future that never quite happened. When British Railways was formed, it inherited a hodgepodge of varied equipment drawn from a host of companies that had each had their own standards. For such a large system, standardisation of parts would beparamount. In many ways, it was the best time to do this.The Big Four (GWR, LMS, LNER and SR) had struggled through the Second World War. Although trains kept running, the system was decimated by the challenges of conflict. Life-expired stock was pushed to its limits, and the entire network needed major investment. Something had to be done, but there was no money and no time. Enter Robert A Riddles. Appointed to the role of Member of the Railway Executive for Mechanical and…

PLATFORM READING issue 312, on page 22 there is a photograph of a recreation ofWestern diesels on the turntable at Old Oak Common at the Severn Valley Railway. Here is a picture I took at Old Oak Common turntable in June 1967 when I was touring the south of England to catch photographs of the last week of steam on the Southern. Two Hymeks, threeWesterns, and two Brush diesels around the turntable can be seen.…

IN,Opinion issue311,yousaid“that theurgencyofturningawayfrom themassburningoffossilfuels isbringing…” Perhaps you would like to know coal production for 2022? China, 4,430,000,000 tons; India, 937,000,000 tons; Indonesia, 690,000,000 tons; USA, 540,000,000 tons; Australia, 459,000,000 tons – and production is increasing year by year. Not much of a turning away in the evidence. And then, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway is tackling climate change with an oil-burning conversion plan forWD Austerity 2-10-0 No. 3672 Dame Vera Lynn. Seriously? Isn'toil a fossil fuel? If you believe in all that unscientific nonsense, at least get things in perspective. CO2 is about 420ppm, man producing about 4%. Let's call in 20ppm. Then, the UK is ‘responsible'for 1%, 0.2 of 1%, that is one part per 5,000,000. And the heritage sector's contribution?Too small to register.…

GRESLEY A3 Pacific No.60103 Flying Scotsman returned to Doncaster, the city of its birth, for Remembrance Weekend on November 11/12. Thousands of people attended the ticket-only two-day reception for the A3 at Freightliner Railport. The Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, said: “It is testament to the hard work and determination of many people in our city that we can now welcome Flying Scotsman back home. “I am delighted that thousands of visitors got the opportunity to see Flying Scotsman for themselves, as I know how much this means to local people.” In honour of the visit, and to recognise Doncaster's award of city status, which was given in 2022, Freightliner marked the occasion by naming Class 66 No. 66508 City of Doncaster. ‘Honour’ Tim Shoveller, the chief executive officer of…

THE sole-surviving Stanier mogul is poised to make its Severn Valley Railway comeback hauling festive season services during late November and December. As reported last issue, No. 2968 returned to steam for the first time in more than 10 years following overhaul. After passing all static test and its full boiler inspection on October 19, the opportunity was taken to give it a light engine test to Highley and its first full journey over the line to Kidderminster in a decade on October 21 to attend the Stanier Mogul Fund's annual general meeting. It was the surprise guest, the trip made possible by close cooperation with the SVR engineering staff. Members viewed the locomotive in the dock outside Kidderminster Railway Museum and it ran along the adjacent siding several times…

NEWS AS ITS daily operation drew near to its end,on October 30 the Vale of Rheidol revealed that two of its iconic 2-6-2Ts had undergone a repaint, one being outshopped in unlined BR black for the first time since the 1950s. No. 8 Llywelyn now carries the plain livery with the early BR crest‘cycling lion’ logo displayed on its tanks below the nameplates, which have been refitted for the first time in more 30 years. Its previous livery since 1996 was GWR green, with‘Great Western'lettering on the water tanks and no nameplate. The new livery was never carried by this exact locomotive, with only sister No. 9 Prince of Wales adopting the colour post-Second World War. Rheidol tank No. 7 has also seen its livery change, it too having carried…

THE Dean Forest Railway was left counting the cost after an arsonist caused £45,000 damage to a GWR Siphon Gvan parked at Lydney Junction awaiting restoration. At about 6.45pm on March 24, 2022, emergency services were called to the fire in the wooden-bodied vehicle, which was parked next to nine carriages. Fire crews found that the van had collapsed, and smoke was billowing across the nearby main line, triggering emergency signalling to warn train drivers to slow to a crawl, causing delays. Police found that a digger on the site had been tampered with, and two men and a woman were hiding beneath a canopy. At Gloucester Crown Court, Paul Irving, 26, of Steel Avenue, Lydney, was sentenced to a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to…

THE Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, hit by landslips and embankment erosion in past years, recently completed two separate remedial works that saw the line avoid the excesses of storms Babet and Ciarán. Unnoticed by many passengers on trains leaving Winchcombe station for Broadway, the River Isbourne now flows freely beneath the high railway embankment following the completion of the projects by Walsh Construction, which, as reported last issue, has also been contracted to carry out repairs to the railway's Stanway Viaduct. The works have eliminated the risk of the embankment being eroded which, left unchecked, could eventually have led to significant stability problems. G/WR infrastructure manager Ian Scholey, a professional civil engineer, said: “This is an area with a history of flooding, which has caused erosion of the banks at the…

TALYLLYN Railway stalwart volunteer John Bate was formally presented with his MBE on October 26 at Tywyn Wharf station in the presence of family and friends from the line which he has been involved in for more than 70 years. As reported in issue 308, John was recognised in this year's King's Birthday Honours for services to the pioneering heritage railway and the wider sector. He has been an integral part of the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society since it was formed in 1951, when he started as a volunteer on the decrepit line, helping to mend the trackwork to an acceptable standard to successfully commence running passenger trains on what would become the first volunteer-run heritage line in the world, setting the precedent for all that followed. After a major…

IN A move which would reunite both lines after 28 years apart, the Vale of Rheidol Railway has been negotiating to buy its previous owner, the Brecon Mountain Railway. “This merger represents an historic milestone for both railways and safeguards the future of the BMR for future generations to enjoy,” said a VoR statement. The VoR, which dates from 1902 and was the last steam railway to be operated by BR, was bought by the much newer BMR in 1988. The BMR, built by Tony Hills and his business partner Peter Rampton as a narrow gauge railway using the trackbed of the former Brecon & Merthyr Railway, ran its first passenger trains in June 1980. Both lines operated under unified management until 1996, at which point a decision was made…

THE long-term future of sole-surviving GWR Collett Goods 0-6-0 No. 3205 has seen its long-term future secured in a 50-year deal with its owner, the 2251 Locomotive Fund, which has seen the South Devon Railway take on custodianship. One of the 2251 class which was numbered 120, the 1946-built locomotive was preserved by the 2251 Fund in 1965, which purchased it not long after it was withdrawn by BR. It arrived at Buckfastleigh on the Dart Valley Railway (later the SDR) that same year. In February 1967 it was towed, with motion dismantled, to Stourbridge, where it hauled a four-coach train to Bridgnorth the following month and became the first locomotive on Severn Valley Railway. On Saturday, May 23, 1970, No. 3205 hauled the first public passenger train, comprising six…

BILLED as‘three days, three legends’, the East Lancashire Railway's March 15-17 gala will see LNER streamlined A4 No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley visit Bury for the occasion, courtesy of the Sir Nigel Gresley LocomotiveTrust Ltd. The A4 has recently been starring on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, where it ran at that line's 50th Anniversary steam gala in September, subsequently working some of the Moorsline's daily service trains throughout October and November. Another Eastern Region icon, BR Standard 7MT No. 70000 Britannia is also set to star at the East Lancashire gala. It made heritage sector headlines when, during a Steam Dreams tour of the Surrey Hills on August 22, it suffered a failure of its crosshead, which fractured in two and was thrust through and broke the cylinder cover.…

WITH many heritage railways having completed daily running or their main operating season by early November, this quieter month often provides an ideal opportunity for photographic charters to take place, benefitting from stunning autumn colours. With Caledonian Railway Class 439 0-4-4T No. 419 currently running in BR black as No. 55189, charter group In Search of Steam arranged a spectacular weekend with the McIntosh locomotive that saw a dazzling finale on Bonfire Night. Established by Jonny Gourlay and Andrew Fowler, the 0-4-4T was renumbered for a long weekend over November 3-5 as scrapped classmate No. 55260, operating with a set of Mk.1 coaches box vans to recreate scenes of the Killin branch line, which connected its namesake town to the nearby Callander & Oban Railway main line. Opened in 1886,…

VOLUNTEERS and staff at the Spa Valley Railway raised a glass to their October 19-22 Real Ale and Cider Festival after a record number of visitors travelled on the steam-hauled trains. Commercial manager Jonnie Pay said: “A total of 1924 tickets were sold over the four-day event for travel to Eridge, which is the highest-ever number for the beer festival. In addition, many more enjoyed the live entertainment and food stalls, sampling some of the 169 different beers and ciders available.” The railway's 1891-built steam depot, the lastremaining LBSCR engine shed still in railway use, became the‘pub’ for the festival, so providing a nostalgic venue that added to the attraction for railway, real ale and cider enthusiasts. Praising the joint effort that led to the successful event, Jonnie said: “It…

NEWS AWARD-WINNING live steam 5in gauge models representing two contrasting steam locomotive eras are set to be the stars in a Transport Sale being held by Dreweatts auction house at Donnington Priory, Newbury, on December 13. With estimates of up to £10,000, they comprise a preserved ex-LMS 0-6-0T dock shunter and a BRS tandard Class 2MT. The 0-6-0T on which the shunter model is based was Glasgow & South Western Railway Class 5 No. 9, built by the North British Locomotive Co. of Glasgow in November 1917. On Grouping, it became LMS Class 2F No. 16379, and after withdrawal in April 1934 was sold to Haford Colliery near Wrexham. Its second withdrawal came in 1962, but as the last-surviving GSWR locomotive, it was saved for preservation and is now on…

A FORMER railway building that once faced demolition until its owner discovered that the new Darlington Rail Heritage Quarter would be developed next door is now to be turned in to a house of multiple occupation. Darlington Borough Council has granted planned permission for the curiously-shaped Signal House, inWhessoe Road, which stands next to an engine shed built by the Stockton & Darlington Railway in 1861 and is currently being restored as a part of the Head of Steam Museum for conversion into a house for 22 people. It stands alongside the site of the level crossing that linked the SDR's North Road workshops, where about 3000 locomotives were built, to its main line. Following the conversion, the ground floor of Signal House, currently occupied in part by Harry's Handcrafted…

HERITAGE RAILWAY THE COMPLETE PRESERVATION NEWS MAGAZINE MAIN LINE NEWS PEPPERCORN A1 Pacific No. 60163 Tornado was booked to undergo test runs at the Rail Innovation and Development Centre at Melton Mowbray before Christmas at the conclusion of its overhaul, which has cost more than £500,000. Tornado will then return to operation both on the main line and heritage railways in the spring. The A1's boiler was moved from Darlington Locomotive Works to Locomotive Maintenance Services (LMS) in Loughborough on September 26 and was immediately reunited with the frames. On arrival, the ashpan was fitted beneath the firebox and it was lifted as one onto the frames. Minor adjustments were needed to best position the boiler. Having been steamed to appreciate expansion, the boiler was then secured on the frames. To…

THE Railway Touring Company's first trip for 2024 is ‘The Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express'on Saturday, January 27. Starting from Euston behind a Class 86 electric locomotive, the train will be hauled north along the West Coast Main Line to pick up passengers at Watford Junction, Milton Keynes, Rugby, Nuneaton, Crewe, and Preston. Continuing through Lancaster to Carnforth, the locomotive will then be changed for steam from the West Coast Railways Carnforth pool. Heading north once again, the train will pass through Penrith and on to the destination of Carlisle. There will be about two hours for passengers to explore the city before the return trip, this time via the Settle and Carlisle line. After a brief water stop at Appleby, the locomotive will make the climb to Ais Gill summit,…

WEST Coast Railways’ ‘The Jacobite’ season has ended on a positive note, despite an interruption by the Office of Rail and Road at the start of the peak period. As reported in Heritage Railway issue 309, the ORR imposed a prohibition notice on the West Highland Extension daily summer service, a plank of the local tourist economy, on July 15 – six days after ORR inspectors found issues with the hinged doors on the BR Mk.1 carriages. A second ORR inspection of proposed safety arrangements for ‘The Jacobite’ led to the issue of a temporary exemption certificate. A West Coast Railways spokesman said: “Bookings remained very good throughout the season, with most days sold out in advance. “The ORR intervention didn't help, but bookings rapidly recovered as soon as the…

WINGFIELD station has been taken off Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register following the completion of the Derby shire Historic Buildings Trust's flagship renovation project. The station, which was built in in 1836-40 by the North Midland Railway on its line between Derby and Leeds, and which has been hailed as one of the word's first purpose-built passenger stations, was closed in 1967. Designed by architect Francis Thompson, the structures survived alongside the railway, which is still use as part of the Midland Main Line. In private ownership, the station fell derelict and in 2019 was compulsorily purchased by Amber Valley Borough Council and passed on to the trust. The Victorian Society recognised Wingfield station as one of the top 10 most important buildings in the country at risk of…

FOUR additional name plates have been added to Great Central's December 2 auction, bringing to 13 the line-up in this category. As reported in last month's column, the early declared runners comprised nine LNWR, GCR, GWR, SR and LNER plates, and these have now been joined by two further examples from the SR, one more from the LNER, and a Britannia plate representing the Standard era. The Southern Railway additions are Wellington from Schools 4-4-0 No. 30902 and Wadebridge with Cornwall badge and scroll from West Country class Pacific No. 34007, that from the LNER Loch Morar from K2 class 2-6-0 No. 61781, while the ‘Brit’ is Flying Dutchman from No. 70018 No. 30902 was built at Eastleigh in April 1930 and withdrawn from the London shed of Nine Elms…

RENOWNED for its high-quality OO gauge models, Accurascale has revealed it is rejoining the O gauge market following its initial release of the BR 24.5-ton HUO hopper wagon four years ago. For its first locomotive in the scale, the manufacturer has selected the Ruston and Hornsby 88DS diesel mechanical shunter. A model Accurascale began work on in the days before the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ruston 88DS has been an exciting project for the manufacturer as it looks to further develop its range in O gauge. Following extensive surveys of a couple of prototype subjects, not to mention Accurascale's trademark extensive archive research and development, tooling was initiated following plotting out of the detail differences to cover the major variants of this venerable locomotive.This process began earlier this year and the…

The Brecon Mountain Railway, one of the 12 Great Little Trains of Wales and the only one located in the south of the principality. Like the others, it runs through stunning scenery; in this case, climbing into the Brecon Beacons National Park. The BMR is one of the newest and least-known Welsh narrow gauge railways and is certainly worth visiting for the ride up the scenic valley behind steam. The railway is unique in the UK because of its transatlantic American flavour and use of Baldwin steam locomotives. It is operated by the Brecon Mountain Railway Company Limited with paid staff and no volunteers, but this does not mean the employees are not enthusiasts. Originally, the BMR trackbed was part of the standard gauge Brecon & Merthyr Railway, which opened…

WHILE it has been celebrating its half centenary this year, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway is not letting up on safeguarding its future with the launch of a new £50,000 fundraising appeal. With its director of mechanical engineering and TV star Paul ‘Piglet’ Middleton as its face, this fundraiser is an appeal with a difference. One of the stars of Channel 5's Yorkshire Steam Railway and Big Steam Adventure programmes, Piglet has worked tirelessly at the railway since he was 16 years old. With base costs to run the railway spiralling ever upwards, now more than ever it needs help to ensure that it will continues to entertain visitors for the next 50 years. To run daily services across its 18-miles, steam locomotives require three tonnes of coal each per…

EXCLUSIVE ONE of the world's largest private collections of GWR railwayana, including no fewer than 37 nameplates, 47 brass numberplates, and‘combined’ name and worksplates that are regarded by many as the ‘Holy Grail’ of GWR memorabilia, is to go under the hammer at auction in the USA on November 30. The sale, which is being held by Leonard Auction, of Addison, Illinois, is set to excite the vast army of GWR aficionados in the UK, many of whom may have been unaware of the collection's existence. It was amassed over decades by the late Tom Jones, who was born and brought up in northern England and developed a love of trains from an early age. He progressed from collecting model trains to railwayana, and this lasted for much of his…

THE Somerset&Dorset Railway Trust's 7F2-8-0No. 53808 formally bowed out of service at the Mid-Hants Railway on November 4. Built in 1925 for the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway, for which it was numbered 88 and later became LMS No. 6978, it spent its entire working life allocated to Bath Green Park shed working local goods between Bath and Evercreech Junction, and after the Second World War it hauled summer Saturday holiday services to Bournemouth. Withdrawal came in March 1964, after which it was taken to Barry scrapyard alongside classmate No. 53809, now based on the North Norfolk Railway. In 1970 a price of £2500 was agreed with the then-named Somerset & Dorset Circle, which became the S&D Railway Museum Trust three years later.The 7F was towed to Bristol in October…

BURY Transport Museum has been sent a new locomotive exhibit–and is on track to receive a second. On October 30, four-wheel battery electric locomotive works No. 1378 moved from the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester to the East Lancashire Railway's locomotive depot at Bury Bolton Street, prior to the 1945 English Electric shunter joining the museum displays. The locomotive worked at Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) in Bolton for 45 years before it moved to the Science and Industry Museum, where it had resided for more than 30 years. While at the ELR depot, it will receive a new battery charge before moving into the museum at the opposite end of the station. Museum chairman Keith Whitmore said:“We are delighted to have this operational piece of Lancashire history to…

STORMS Babet and Ciaran brought chaos to the British Isles and left their mark with flash flooding and fallen trees on heritage railways. Staffordshire's Amerton Railway was closed on October 20/21 when the Amerton Brook burst its banks and flooded the surrounding fields and main station yard. Although the water level receded by the Saturday afternoon, the railway remained closed on the Sunday to let it reduce further and for inspections to be carried out. The Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway cancelled services on October 21 as local river levels rose; overnight from the day before, the A458, which follows much of the line, was closed after being flooded by the Afon Banwy neu Einion.The railway decided to suspend services for safety reasons, but after the water level lowered and…

BRITAIN'S first re-engineered batterypowered shunter was launched at Barrow Hill Roundhouse on October 19. Invited guests from the rail freight sector and facility operators, the UK Government and local authorities, and rolling stock owners joined Positive Traction for the launch of the groundbreaking 08e prototype. Free from carbon, nitrogen oxides and particulate emissions, the 08e can fulfil day-to-day operating needs as well as meet the demanding environmental, social, and governance requirements of shareholders, customers, employees and neighbouring communities. Chosen for the job The 08e began life as a Class 08 shunter, built by BR at Derby Works in 1958. Later renumbered 08308, it last saw service for the Caledonian Sleeper at Inverness. Since then, it was stored at Wolsingham on the Weardale Railway,then selected by Chesterfield-based Positive Traction for the…

THE North Yorkshire Moors Railway celebrated a second 50th anniversary on November 5. The day marked half a century since LMS ‘Black five’ 4-6-0 No. 5428 Eric Treacy arrived on the line, and to mark the milestone, it was rostered for traffic for the day. The locomotive initially left Tyseley on November 3, 1973, with the Great Western saloon in tow. It stayed in York on the way up, where GNR J13 (LNER J52) No. 1247 from the National Collection was added to the train. Together, they arrived on the NYMR on November 5, 1973, and Eric Treacy has been there ever since. Long-standing NYMR volunteer John Hunt said: “I can't believe it's been 50 years! A group of us went down to Tyseley in 1973 to repair the locomotive…

DAVE Steinle, a highly respected and popular supporter of the country's steam preservation scene for more than half a century, whose many roles included accompanying No. 4472 Flying Scotsman to Australia as a member of the Pacific's support crew, has died at the age of 80. A Merchant Navy professional engineer in his early days, Dave became part of the preservation movement in the early 1970s, when he helped to restore SR S15 class No. 841 at Chappel & Wakes Colne, following which he started his association with No. 4472, then owned by Sir William McAlpine and based at Southall in west London. This led to him becoming part of the A3's support crew during its visit Australia in 1988/89, a hugely successful tour that included a 422-mile non-stop run…

SANTA specials are not only an opportunity for heritage railways to introduce the joy of steam operations to a young audience, but they are also a vital source of income that has become even more welcome since the Covid-19 pandemic. That is certainly the case at the Kent & East Sussex Railway, but this festive season's operations at the Tenterdenbased line have taken on an even greater significance, with the news that the specials are to pick up the railway's second prestigious tourism award of the year. Whether that award is gold, silver or bronze will be revealed at a ceremony in Brighton on December 15, but whatever the outcome, a medal is a certainty due to the railway having made the shortlist of three in the 2024 Beautiful South…

CUSTOMERS of the Kent & East Sussex Railway's‘Wealden Dining'services will be able to step aboard two more historic Pullman cars from 2024 following the announcement that privately-owned vehicles Nos. 246 Lydia and 247 Isle of Thanet are to be based on the former Colonel Stephens light railway route for the foreseeable future. Both cars date from 1925. Lydia is a kitchen vehicle, while Isle of Thanet (originally named Leona) is entering traffic as a parlour first. Both saw out their first years of life based overseas; initially allocated to the Milan to Nice ‘Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits’ trains, they were based in Italy until 1928, when they were moved back to the UK and renovated and debuted on the prestigious ‘Golden Arrow’ trains. During the Second World War, Lydia had…

I AM very sorry to report that the well-known railway author, journalist, and photographer Peter Nicholson (my grandfather) passed away on Monday, October 30 at the age of 75 following a long battle with cancer. Peter, who was born in 1948, was a frequent visitor to many heritage railways in the UK of all gauges, from miniature and narrow to standard gauge. He had a huge interest in narrow gauge railways, owning many diesel and steam locomotives and rolling stock since the 1960s, and still owned several items of standard, narrow gauge and miniature railway equipment right up until the very end of his life. Peter had worked for The Railway Magazine since 1999, compiling the Classic Traction and Miniature pages, and also the Narrow-Gauge Diary every month. Peter was…

AMEMORIAL day to bid farewell to Severn Valley Railway driver John Price senior and celebrate his 60-year rail career was held onthe line on Sunday, October 29. John, 76, who died on August 1, began his career as a cleaner at Tyseley shed on January 1, 1962. He quickly progressed through the ranks to become a fireman and spent the last few years of BR steam firing locomotives including GWR Kings, Castles, Halls, prairies and Panniers. He even managed to get a trip on an LNERV2, a journey he loved very much and talked of on many occasions. He became a driver at Saltley shed during the diesel era, before moving on to Worcester Shrub Hill. He also fired and drove several steam locomotives on the main line. He later…

FESTIVE LINESIDE FUN As the shadows lengthen and the days grow short, the year approaches its end. We naturally start to take stock at how well the year has gone with all the busy steam action, including splendid galas, many of which have attracted bumper attendances in 2023. However, the year is not over yet, and in many ways the best is still to come as heritage railways are busy displaying their Christmas trees and lights for festive fun. Now is a crucial time for heritage lines to make money before the quieter months, with many trains full of excited children (and adults). Being a lineside photographer, it is also a time when I get excited too. With many trains in operation as the colder weather arrives, there can be…

MAIN LINE NEWS UK Railtours has announced a tour to fill the gap between Christmas and New Year's Day. Under the title of‘Another Awkward Week Adventure’, the tour, like ones of previous years, is planned to start from Peterborough on Saturday, December 30, with the motive power of two Class 66s courtesy of DB Cargo. Heading south on the East Coast Main Line, the tour will pick up additional passengers at Huntingdon, Stevenage, Potters Bar and Finsbury Park, before heading across London to the final pick-up at Staines. From Staines, the tour is expected to take in some rare metals on route to Eastleigh for the first set-down of passengers who have booked one of the off-train options. These will be taken by coach to Beaulieu for three hours to…

In August 1942, the North British Locomotive Company received order No. L943 to build 350 locomotives. Four months later, in the darkest of dark days, January 1943, the first of Robert Riddles’ ‘Austerity’ 2-8-0s rolled off the production line – and nine more were built before the end of February. When the Second World War ended, a total of 935 2-8-0 Austerities had been built, along with 150 2-10-0s. All of these locomotives were built by just two companies: the North British at its Hyde Park and Queens Park works in Glasgow, and Vulcan Foundries in Newton-le-Willows. Both firms continued to construct the War Department locomotives throughout the remaining years of the conflict, with the final 10 2-8-0s being outshopped in March 1945, by North British, and in May 1945,…

SOUTH EAST Amberley Museum 2ft gauge, ¼ mile. Arundel, West Sussex. Tel: 01798 831370. Open: Weds, W/Es until Dec 20. Bluebell Railway Standard gauge, 11 miles. Sheffield Park, East Sussex TN22 2QL. Tel: 01825 720800. Running: Weds-Suns until Dec. Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway 2ft gauge, ½ mile. Bredgar, Sittingbourne, Kent. Tel: 01622 884254. Running: Dec 2/3, 9/10. Chatham Historic Dockyard Standard gauge, one mile. Chatham, Kent. Tel: 01634 820800. Reopens: Feb 2024. East Kent Railway Standard gauge, two miles. Shepherdswell, Kent. Tel: 01304 832042. Running: W/Es until Dec 24 + Dec 21/22. Eastleigh Lakeside Railway 10¼in & 7¼in gauge, 1¼ miles. Running: W/Es until Dec 17. Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway 12¼in gauge, 1½ miles. Exbury, Southampton. Tel: 023 8089 1203. Reopens: March 2024. Hayling Light Railway 2ft gauge,…