Heritage Railway Issue 276

WITH Britain in the throes of its worst crisis since the darkest days of the Second World War, and coronavirus rates reaching an unprecedented high in January, requiring the imposition of a third lockdown, there has yet emerged much cause for hope in the form of the development and distribution of multiple vaccines. The control and eradication of the virus has to be given undivided priority by us all: only after it is defeated can we afford ourselves the luxury of assessing the long-term collateral damage to the nation. However, as Heritage Railway Association chief executive Steve Oates states in Headline News this issue, our sector must prepare itself to restart operations as soon as the lifting of lockdown restrictions permit. Working within the parameters of the Government guidelines, we…

A NEW campaign group is fighting plans by Highways England to demolish or infill hundreds of disused railway structures which could potentially be given a second life in generations to come. Following the abolition of BRB (Residuary) Ltd on September 30, 2013, the Government agency became responsible for managing the Department for Transport’s Historical Railways Estate (HRE), a collection of around 3200 bridges, tunnels and viaducts. However six years ago, a Highways England report made it clear that it wished to progressively reduce its liabilities to care and maintain the structures by knocking them down or infilling. The HRE’s budget is being increased in order to reduce the artefacts in its care by between 320 and 480 over the next decade. However, an alliance of engineers, cycling campaigners and greenway…

ANDY Savage, executive director of the Railway Heritage Trust, was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List. The honour was bestowed for services to the railway industry and heritage. Before he joined the trust in 2010, Andy, 68, was deputy chief inspector of the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB), following a long career in railway civil engineering and, more recently, contractor safety. Between 1970 and 1996, he worked for BR’s civil engineering department, and from 1996 until 2005 he worked at GTRM/Carillion where he was director of engineering and safety. He has a long involvement in railway heritage, and in the building aspects of it. He has been associated with the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways since 1968, and held various director roles there between 1973 and…

CHRIS Hunford stood down as Bluebell Railway plc chairman and locomotive director from January 1. Company secretary and former plc chairman Graham Flight has taken over as interim board chairman as a new leadership structure was provided at short notice. Steve Bigg (non-executive plc director and acting chairman, Bluebell Railway Preservation Society), Roy Watts (acting society vice-chairman) and Vernon Blackburn (chairman, Bluebell Railway Trust), will provide strategic guidance and support as part of their current roles. The board recorded the railway’s appreciation and thanks for the way in which Chris had led the organisation since taking over as interim chairman in August 2019 and, in particular, during the last nine months when it faced difficulties never before seen in its 60 years.…

WITH access to its project at Tyseley Locomotive Works (TLW) hampered by Covid-19 restrictions, the 6880 Betton Grange Society has commissioned TLW to complete the outstanding work on the new-build GWR locomotive with a target date for its first public steaming in September. The boiler work was completed in November and it is now fitted into the frames with the new smokebox also in place. However, work is still needed to complete the superheater header and fit the main steam pipes, work which would have been completed last year had it not been for the pandemic. Volunteer working parties have been suspended since the initial lockdown in March last year, frustrating the efforts of Chris Moore and the engineering team with voluntary work limited to preparation of components off-site. Tasks…

HERITAGE railways must do their utmost to ensure that they are ready to restart services as soon as lockdown ends. Government rules clearly state that paid or voluntary work should be carried out at home wherever possible but, if not, paid staff and volunteers can continue to work on site if the task is considered “reasonably necessary.” Heritage Railway Association chief executive Steve Oates said: “Whenever lockdown ends, our members need to be ready to go, managing visitors and running services. “To do that, locomotives and rolling stock need to be maintained and overhauled. Track, lineside and buildings have to be maintained, repaired and renewed, and kept secure. Competence and fitness standards need to be maintained. “Even when a railway isn’t operating, or open to the public, there’s a big…