Innehållsförteckning för September 2025 från Railways Illustrated

THE NEW Inspiration exhibition train was launched at Paddington on June 26 prior to its public launch at the Severn Valley Railway the following day at the start of its year-long tour of Britain. As previously reported, the free to-enter and family-friendly Railway 200 exhibition train will visit 60 locations in Britain over the next year to promote railway innovation and careers, celebrating a British invention that changed the world. More than 160 people, including Rail Minister Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, Lady Victoria Borwick, chairman of VisitEngland, and students from Paddington Academy, joined a rail industry event at Paddington to signal the start of the train’s 12-month tour. Inspiration is part of Railway 200, marking this year’s bicentenary of the modern railway. The exhibition was designed and created in…

BUCKINGHAM PALACE has announced that the Royal Train will be decommissioned as a cost-saving measure in 2027 due to its high cost and infrequent use. Helicopter travel is seen as cheaper and quicker. The first Royal Train ran in Queen Victoria’s reign, and it was favoured by the late Queen Elizabeth II because she could sleep on the train, allowing her to be at engagements early in the morning. However, the nine-coach train has been used just twice by King Charles III in the last year. A farewell tour by the train, which is operated by DB Cargo and based at Wolverton, is due to be planned. Ironically, just a few months ago, DBC repainted both dedicated Royal Class 67s, renaming 67005 as King’s Messenger in the process. 67006 Royal Sovereign…

• With half of the Class 379 fleet now in traffic on Great Northern lines for GTR, namely 379001/002/006/010/016/017/020/022-029, there have been 11 Class 387s transferred to Southern so far, namely 387119/121/123/126-129, 387301/302/305/306. • A tender has been issued by Transport for Wales for the corrosion repairs, overhauls and repaint of three rakes of its Mk. 4 coaches used between Swansea and Manchester/Holyhead. The £8 million contract will last just under 2½ years, with delivery expected between September 15 and January 31, 2028. • Class 47s visited Oban for only the second time on July 4 when West Coast Railways’ 47815 Great Western arrived on 1Z57, the 07.15 from Northallerton, via Saltburn. 47848 was on the rear. On July 7, they returned on 1Z57, the 09.35 Oban-Middlesbrough, via the Settle…

Transport for Wales repairs damaged Mk. 4 coaches Following the level crossing collision near Leominster on May 22 that involved Transport for Wales Mk. 4 set HD02, damaged DVT 82229 was transferred by road from Crewe to Worksop in early June. A month later it was still in the yard with its cab sheeted over, awaiting repairs. The two Mk. 4 coaches that were immediately adjacent to it in the set, 11324 and 12447, subsequently made the same journey for drawgear repairs. DB disposals All the remaining vehicles from DB Cargo’s company train have been disposed of following the sale of ‘sleeper’ 10546 to Locomotive Services earlier in the year and its transfer to Crewe. On June 17, silver DVT 82146 was removed from Toton by road to the Attercliffe…

CLASS 144 12/6 – 55828 from 144005 Worksop to A1 Metal Recycling, Retford, by road for scrapping. CLASS 150 21/6 – 150219 5V83 09.37 Wolverton-Exeter St David’s, overhauled and repainted in GWR green. 22/6 – 150232 5H71 08.32 Exeter St David’s-Wolverton, for overhaul. CLASS 156 26/6 – 156513 5S07 10.15 Wolverton-Corkerhill, ex-overhaul. 26/6 – 156507 5N09 20.07 Corkerhill-Carlisle, 5N3023.01Carlisle-Preston. 27/6 – 156507 5H70 12.05 Preston-Wolverton, for overhaul. CLASS 195 25/6 – 195104 Wolverton to Brodie Rail, Kilmarnock by road for derailment damage repairs, had been at Wolverton since 12/7/24 and has been out of service since derailing at Grange-over-Sands on 22/3/24. CLASS 197 17/6 – 66541 + 197038 6G97 10.06 Donnington RFT-Crewe Carriage Sidings. 10/7 – 197027 into passenger service, debuting on 1H78 04.55 Chester-Manchester Airport. CLASS 321 25/6 –…

AS THIS issue of Railways Illustrated closed for press, the Severn Valley Railway was due to reopen fully through to Bridgnorth. The was closed north of Hampton Loade following a landslide, as reported, meaning trains could not traverse the full 16 miles. The repair, undertaken by contractor CML, is likely to avoid the need for a temporary speed restriction, through the SVR said it will be monitoring the whole structure using remote technology. The first route proving test runs began on July 21. Reuniting the line will be a major boost to the railway in time for the lucrative school holiday season. The line was, however, like so many railways, subjected to a steam ban in mid-July due to the excessive hot weather, meaning diesel traction was needed to work…

MANY OF the vehicles stored at the Long Marston yard of International Metals & Cable Recycling were moved away during June. This has included unrestored Mk. 1 Travelling Post Office stowage vans 80411 and 80432, which have joined 80434 at the Wishaw yard of Moveright International. Less fortunate is former Network Rail and Chipman weedkilling coach 99019, which was dispatched to Beaver Metals at Water Orton for scrapping at the end of the month. Built as Mk. 1 RMB 1870 before conversion in the early 1990s, its condition had deteriorated significantly after years in open store.…

FREIGHTLINER HAS bought 90021/039 from DB Cargo, following on from the sale of 90026 to Locomotive Services. They will bring Freightliner’s Class 90 fleet up to 27 locos, 90003-016/018/021/039-049, although 90046 is currently stored. The sales leave DBC with just nine Class 90s on its books, all available for sale–90019/020/024/028/029/034-037–after it decided to stop using the 25kV AC electric locos two years ago. Freightliner acquired 90018/040 from DBC in April 2024, which were offered for sale in September 2023 along with 10 heavily stripped locos, 90017/022/023/025/027/030-033/038, which all ended up being sold for scrap. 90026 joins 90001/002 in the LSL fleet, the only other user of Class 90s. Of the fleet of 50 locos built in 1987-90, 90050 is preserved at Crewe Heritage Centre, although it is not operational.…

THE NORTH Norfolk Railway has expanded its DMU fleet with the arrival of Class 10151505 on June 30. Previously at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, the DMCL has been taken on long-term loan from the East Anglian Railway Museum and will increase the versatility of the resident fleet as it will allow a power-twin formation to be deployed instead of the usual power-trailer combination. Currently in BR blue with an experimental 1960s warp-round yellow cab, the Met-Cam requires repairs before it can be used. Meanwhile, Waggon und Maschinenbau railbus 79960 returned to the Ribble Steam Railway on July 1 to continue its loan spell following its month-long return to the North Norfolk for the line’s 50th anniversary celebrations. The restoration of the North Yorkshire Moor’s Class 101 set 101685 has commenced…

Suggestions that 89001 would be ready to make its first main line test for LSL in July have been dismissed. “There’s still a lot to do on the loco,” says one source * But it will be cleared to places it rarely, or never, went in its previously main line days, including Euston and Glasgow Central * With the 701 debacle, and it is a debacle, still ongoing, there is talk that the five-car sets may now be used by Southern rather than SWR * Issues with EMR’s 810s overheating while on test means their entry into traffic could be put back, which could have severe repercussions for Lumo, which is waiting in the wings for some Class 222s to become free * Class 66s will work the Britannic Explorer…

Swietelsky GB Railfreight has awarded a second new shunter contract to Swietelsky at the expense of RSS following on from the deployment of 08799 Ian Goddard to Peterborough on June 9. The latest change has come at the south terminal at Felixstowe, where GBRf orange/blue 08818 was delivered from Worksop on June 19. Meanwhile, former MoD ‘Vanguard’ 01547 has joined several of its sisters at Worksop, making the journey north from Shackerstone, again on June 19. Positive Traction Battery conversion 08308 spent much of June at Peak Rail undergoing tests following repairs to its traction motors and upgrades to its battery charging system. July 2 saw it depart for the Rolling Stock Networking exhibition at Derby Arena, where it was displayed the following day on the low-loader outside the exhibition…

THE TYPE One Locomotive Company Limited, owner of D8098, 31463 and 1705 Sparrowhawk, has confirmed it has terminated its agreement with the owner of 31210 to complete the restoration of Class 31. It said: “An unexpected decline in the number of volunteers available to undertake the restoration is solely to blame for this decision. The company thanks the owner for his understanding and also our hosts at Ruddington for their kind assistance throughout. We wish the owner all the best in finding a new home for 31210 with a team that can complete the necessary works.” The Railfreight grey loco is one of the few preserved locos that has never run in private ownership. Withdrawn by BR in August 1991, It was bought in June 1995 and moved to the…

This issue’s 10 Pictures comes from railfreight follower and photographer Paul Shannon. Having spent his early childhood in Gloucestershire, Paul lived on the outskirts of Manchester from 1963 until 1971, and it was towards the end of that time that he joined the group of trainspotters looking out eagerly for Peaks, ‘Big Ds’ (Class 40s) and Sulzer Type 2s (Class 25s) on the journey to school. Railfreight caught his eye right from the start; early memories include a Class 40 shunting steel wagons in the goods yard at Bredbury and trainloads of ICI hoppers passing through Romiley. Moving to St Albans in 1971 brought commuting by train to an end, but Paul’s railway interest was firmly established. Many an evening was spent on the platform end at St Albans City,…

WHAT IS HERITAGE RAILWAY? Heritage Railway magazine is the brighter steam news magazine, the only publication in its field to concentrate on every aspect of Britain’s wonderful network of preserved railways. Whether the motive power be steam, diesel or electric, we are trackside providing exclusive news and features, and stunning photography for every issue. Message from the Editor… Welcome to Heritage Railway magazine, renowned for page after page of news, with hard-won exclusive stories in every edition. The magazine also boasts some of the finest atmospheric trackside photography in the business, and well-researched historic features leave no stone unturned. Regular sections cover main line news, modern-day revival schemes, railwayana, tour listings, young volunteers, carriages and wagons. Plus, get the latest news from the world of modelling, and much, much more.…

DB CARGO has created a new WQNC pool which is used for locomotives that are pending repairs and merely in a ‘strategic store’ state prior to being repaired and returned to traffic. Initially, 66040/075/076/083/089/095 and 66119/121/140 were all allocated to the new pool, and all of these had been in the WQAA stored pool but soon some moved back into active pools, with 66083 moving back to the WBAT pool and 66119/121 to the WBAI fleet. However, during mid-July, 66014/024/069/080/115/165/197 all moved to WQNC, of which 66009/024 had a brief spell in the WQAA pool. DBC has placed a second Class 66, 66070, into the WBET pool for locos fitted with ETCS, and it joins initial testbed loco 66039 in this sector. However, 66039 has yet to return into traffic…

THE GOVERNMENT’S Spending Review has confirmed £3.5 billion to drive forward the delivery of the TransPennine Route Upgrade to improve connectivity and reduce journey times between Manchester and Leeds. It has also confirmed £2.5b for the delivery of East-West Rail across the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor, plus funding to progress the next stage of Midlands Rail Hub, strengthening connections from Birmingham across the West Midlands and to other regions. There is also £445 million for rail investment in Wales to progress Cardiff Central modernisation, South Wales Relief Lines upgrade, Wrexham to Liverpool line congestion relief, Cardiff West Junction capacity, new stations in South Wales (Burns stations) and accessible footbridges on North Wales Mainline. Other projects to receive funding will increase capacity at Oxford, improving Leeds Station and the services in the…

THE OFFICE of Rail and Road (ORR) has rejected applications from three companies seeking track access contracts with Network Rail to run Open Access passenger trains on the West Coast Main Line (WCML). The ORR concluded there is insufficient capacity on the West Coast Main Line southern section for the introduction of any of the proposed services from East Coast Trains Limited (Lumo NW), the Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway Company Limited (WSMR) and Virgin Management Limited (Virgin). It said that to introduce any of these proposals would be detrimental to performance on the WCML and therefore all passengers and freight customers. The ORR determines all track access applications in accordance with its statutory duties. It said: “In the case of these three applications, lack of capacity and the anticipated…

FOLLOWING ITS return from Northern Ireland in early June, prototype railbus R3 (RDB977020) has initially gone to the Wishaw yard of Moveright International for further storage pending regauging and delivery to the Gwendraeth Valley Railway. As part of the same sequence of moves, former Irish Rail Mk. 3 buffet 6402 has also returned to the UK, having spent more than 10 years in open store at the West Clare Railway, Moyasta, following withdrawal. Now believed to be owned by Andrew Goodman, the former HST kitchen coach and then lounge car 40513 has initially gone to Carnforth for cleaning and cosmetic attention.…

UNRESTORED MK. 1 Corridor Composite 15997 departed the North Norfolk Railway on July 1, having been offered for sale last year but ultimately swapped for a set of B4 bogies. Delivered to the Mid-Norfolk Railway later that day, the coach remains in as-withdrawn departmental condition, it having last seen use in the 1980s Doncaster Works test train as ADB977054. A week later, sister CK 15943 departed Peak Rail bound for an engineering firm in the Leek area, its partly completed restoration having stalled, with BR blue/grey still carried in places. Mk.1SK25693 departed Ruddington on June 17, it initially headed to the East Lancashire Railway to be cosmetically prepared for use on a filming contract. Also with a new home is Mk. 1 57ft suburban 43024, which arrived at the East…

Shock as Deltic runs without any headbords… in public! The Deltic Preservation Society has launched an investigation after one of its locos was seen hauling a train without a single headboard. The incident occurred at a recent Great Central Railway diesel gala, when 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier was seen without the mandatory plethora of headboards, some of which mean absolutely nothing to the majority of passengers. The DPS apologised for this oversight and is putting procedures in place to ensure no Class 55, even when sat on shed or in bits undergoing overhaul, is ever allowed to be seen again without a headboard. It has arranged a deal to take the cab from scrapped classmate 55021, which will be the test bed for developing a new system that will prevent…

THE SEVERN Valley Railway’s Class 14 D9551 will be attending the Great Central Railway’s September 4-6 diesel gala, where it will be joined by fellow visiting diesel-hydraulic Hymek D7018, from the West Somerset Railway. The GCR has also hinted that another guest loco could attend, while resident 27056 will make a welcome return to traffic after a lengthy overhaul. Other home fleet locos D6535, D6700, 37714 Cardiff Canton and 50017 Royal Oak, plus the DPS’s 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier, are also due to take part. This will be D9551’s second visit away from the SVR this year, having also attended the Kent & East Sussex Railway’s July 18-20 diesel gala. It has been marooned at Bridgnorth during the SVR’s six months of being severed due to a landslide, so it…

If you want to catch up on Railways Illustrated, or need to make your collection complete, visit ClassicMagazines.co.uk. Loads of great features are there just waiting to be read and still available to buy online from our collection of back issues. £5.40 EACH (inc p&p) For EU and ROW, please see www.classicmagazines.co.uk GET IN TOUCH WITH OUR TEAM TODAY JANUARY 2025 ■ Breaking those photo rules ■ East-West test trains run ■ How you can drone on! FEBRUARY 2025 ■ Vintage EMU revived ■ Tri-mode 756s in Wales ■ GTS in at Elizabeth Line MARCH 2025 ■ Pioneering diesel work ■ Getting autumn treatment ■ Class 50s’ freight trial APRIL 2025 ■ Managing the Moors ■ New life for subway fleet ■ Modern Castle tales MAY 2025 ■ Severn’s landslip…

Have you ever thought, ‘I dodged a bullet there’? Well, for anyone who chose not to travel on the Branch Line Society’s ‘Tytherington Quarrier’ charter of July 12, you most certainly did. This was one of those trains where, if it could go wrong, it did. And no one is really to blame! But the fact it all went wrong on one of the hottest days of the year simply exacerbated the problem. I have to admit though, I felt from the off that the BLS was trying to do too much in one day. The itinerary was a 04.45 start from Derby and a 23.56 return. The mutual pick-up and set-down stations were limited to Derby, Clapham Junction and, eventually, East Midlands Parkway, although anyone boarding at the latter…

Results On Saturday, May 17, Talisman Railwayana Auctions held its latest live auction. Steam nameplates: Trinidad (45634), £4800; Repulse with worksplate (45725), £4500; Persimmon (60050), £4400; and Pyrland Hall (4961), £3300. GWR cabside numberplates: 5044 (Beverston Castle/Earl of Dunraven), £2500; 1422, £880; 4961 (Pyrland Hall), £860; 6147 (CI), £620; 6379 (CI), £620; and 2875 (CI). £440. Diesel nameplates: Yes Tor(60043),£2700; and Freightliner Evolution (57003), £2100. Diesel worksplate: Brush Sulzer No. 648 1965 (47367), £360. Depot plaques: Ripple Lane Flame, £580; Stewarts Lane Battersea Power Station, £400; Crewe Eagle, £320; Toton–Cooling Towers, £320; and Cardiff Canton Goat, £300. Diesel & electric emblem: BR Double Arrow, £120. Headboards: The Thames-Clyde Express, £4400; Butlins Express, £1500; Tees-Tyne Pullman, £220; The Whitehaven Mews, £100; and The Silver Jubilee 1952-1977, n/s. Hawkseye: Linby, £340. SR targets: Sidmouth…

PRODUCT OF THE MONTH GBRf Class 50 celebration AUTHOR: Gawtrey & Burr PUBLISHER: The Fifty Fund ISBN: 978-1-8384369-9-5 PRICE: £14 WEBSITE: www.fiftyfundalliance.co.uk THIS IS a 68-page card cover, perfect-bound A4 book looking at the five years that the Class 50 Alliance’s 50007 Hercules and 50049 Defiance spent in GB Railfreight colours and were occasionally hired by the freight operator. The two locos were outshopped in March 2019 in time for them to work the Class 50 Terminator rerun tour some 25 years after the original train had said farewell to the type on BR. The book kind of grew. It was initially only supposed to be a pamphlet, and then the C50A decided to expand it a little further to capture another chapter of the class. With more than 100…

They were only little engines, but boy, were they big! For a long time could there ever have been seven more elusive engines for haulage than Haymarket’s dual-braked, non-boilered merry-go-round Class 26s? Steve McFarlane recalls his challenges in getting rides behind 26001-007 in the 1980s. The Greatest Gathering: Billed as the railway event of the decade, Pip Dunn reports on the highlights of the 200-plus exhibits, the visitors, the unveiling, and he talks to the people behind this amazing occasion taking place in the first week of August at Alstom’s Derby Litchurch Lane Works. Early ’80s blues: Respected photographer Kim Fullbrook presents a selection of images featuring rail blue livery taken in 1980-82 from all around the country and depicting sorts of trains – from unfitted freights and Highland passenger…