Heritage Railway Issue 295

AT A time when Britain is in the grip of a cost of living crisis, unprecedented in recent times, there will be few in the country who will not be looking at ways in which they must make savings on personal spending. Sadly, the home tourist market is likely to suffer in the wake of the massive hike in fuel costs. Heritage railways now need our custom like never before. Already they are faced by the steam coal shortage issue, with soaring prices leading to the prudent pruning of services wherever possible; the Severn Valley Railway has, for instance, postponed its footplate experience courses as a fuel-saving measure. Several venues have taken large hits through the cancellation of wartime weekends – a big annual earner for many – in an immediate response…

AT A time when Britain is in the grip of a cost of living crisis, unprecedented in recent times, there will be few in the country who will not be looking at ways in which they must make savings on personal spending. Sadly, the home tourist market is likely to suffer in the wake of the massive hike in fuel costs. Heritage railways now need our custom like never before. Already they are faced by the steam coal shortage issue, with soaring prices leading to the prudent pruning of services wherever possible; the Severn Valley Railway has, for instance, postponed its footplate experience courses as a fuel-saving measure. Several venues have taken large hits through the cancellation of wartime weekends – a big annual earner for many – in an…

SIX Mk.2 carriages were listed for sale by the Mid-Norfolk Railway Preservation Trust, including some from its award-winning blue-grey set – but were swiftly withdrawn when members voiced their objections and concerns. Four of the vehicles being offered were air-braked only and represent several of the variations of the Mk.2 design (types a, e and f). Two further vehicles were vacuum-braked only but required complete restoration. The decision to dispose of these caused much upset among the line’s supporting volunteer workforce, with the blue-grey stock having been a key factor in the MNR’s winning of the 2012 Heritage Railway Association Modern Traction Award, recognising the line’s excellence in portraying the BR 1970s era with matching locomotives and stock for the period. The sale of one of only two vacuum-braked vehicles – BSO No.…

THE National Railway Museum’s Locomotion ‘outreach station’ at Shildon has been granted planning permission for a new hall, allowing the venue to press ahead with the transformation planned for the site. Approved by Durham County Council’s planning committee at a meeting on June 23, this consent marks a key milestone in the museum’s Vision 2025 development, and will help Locomotion in its aim to increase visitor numbers by 50,000 to reach its target of 250,000 people per year. Housing more than 50 vehicles from the National Collection, Locomotion is now set to become the largest undercover collection of heritage rail vehicles in the world – a major accolade for both Shildon and County Durham, places so intimately connected to the origins of global railway history. The new hall will draw…

THE National Railway Museum’s Locomotion ‘outreach station’ at Shildon has been granted planning permission for a new hall, allowing the venue to press ahead with the transformation planned for the site. Approved by Durham County Council’s planning committee at a meeting on June 23, this consent marks a key milestone in the museum’s Vision 2025 development, and will help Locomotion in its aim to increase visitor numbers by 50,000 to reach its target of 250,000 people per year. Housing more than 50 vehicles from the National Collection, Locomotion is now set to become the largest undercover collection of heritage rail vehicles in the world – a major accolade for both Shildon and County Durham, places so intimately connected to the origins of global railway history. The new hall will draw on the aesthetic…

SIX Mk.2 carriages were listed for sale by the Mid-Norfolk Railway Preservation Trust, including some from its award-winning blue-grey set – but were swiftly withdrawn when members voiced their objections and concerns. Four of the vehicles being offered were air-braked only and represent several of the variations of the Mk.2 design (types a, e and f). Two further vehicles were vacuum-braked only but required complete restoration. The decision to dispose of these caused much upset among the line’s supporting volunteer workforce, with the blue-grey stock having been a key factor in the MNR’s winning of the 2012 Heritage Railway Association Modern Traction Award, recognising the line’s excellence in portraying the BR 1970s era with matching locomotives and stock for the period. The sale of one of only two vacuum-braked vehicles…