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HAVING attended the 44th National Railway Heritage Awards in London, I could not fail to have been impressed not only with the high standard of the 58 entries but also the contest itself, as reported in News, pages 26-28. The heritage railway revival movement has worked miracles over the past 75 years, the heights this year being the debuts of two standard gauge mainline type locomotives, Brighton Atlantic No. 32424 Beachy Head and GWR 4-6-0 No. 6880 Betton Grange, both filling gaps in our fleets. However, the awards reinforce the concept that the UK's justifiably proud rail legacy is far from limited to locomotives and rolling stock, but encompasses a rich wealth of buildings too. Sadly, the Beeching era cuts led to so many classic railway structures bulldozed without a…
THE Severn Valley Railway has announced a radical plan to merge its three separate companies into one in a bid to build a solid foundation for the future. Shareholders and members will be asked to approve the organisational restructure, which officials have described as a "bold and essential move" that through a stronger, more vibrant and efficient operation will bring multiple benefits to one of the UK's leading heritage lines. Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) plc chairman Chris Walton said: "For the past two years, a working party of people who care deeply about the future of the SVR has been carrying out a strategic review of how the railway might be better organised and positioned. Its conclusion is that the SVR urgently needs a new type of company structure to…
ON loan to the Nene Valley Railway to haul festive season services, LMS Jubilee 4-6-0 No. 45596 Bahamas received an early Christmas present with newly-manufactured worksplates fitted. Boxing Day 2024 marks the 90th anniversary of when Bahamas was outshopped in Glasgow. The new plates show the correct build date of 1934, and correct the previous date as displayed on the first 'replica' worksplates which inadvertently displayed 1935, often stated as the year when 5596 was built. It was this information, provided by BR at the time Bahamas was purchased, that led Bahamas Locomotive Society member Fred Barnes to create new worksplates in 1969 in his desire to replace the 'rebuild' plates provided by the Hunslet Engine Co. The discrepancy in the date was noted only much later. While the LMS…
BUCKLEY Wells depot on the East Lancashire Railway is now to be home to two Bulleid light Pacifics following the announcement of Battle of Britain class No. 34081 92 Squadron's departure from the Nene Valley Railway to head to Bury indefinitely. Built in 1948, 92 Squadron arrived at Wansford on November 7, 1976. Purchased by the Battle of Britain Locomotive Society, it was originally planned for it to be based at the Dean Forest Railway for restoration, but negotiations broke down and a subsequent approach was made to the NVR. The locomotive was delivered to the sidings of the nearby British Sugar's Peterborough factory and towed to Wansford by a Barclay 0-4-0ST. Nene Valley stalwart After a lengthy restoration, the locomotive's first moves under its own steam came on March…
THE start of the nationwide Railway 200 celebrations of the Stockton & Darlington Railway bicentenary as the world's first modern line will, as previously reported, see a mass Whistle Up of locomotives at noon on New Year's Day. However, the event, spearheaded by the Heritage Railway Association, may now feature more than 200 locomotives - steam, diesel and electric - taking part around the UK and further afield, such has been the popular response. As we closed for press, more than 60 lines had confirmed their participation in the event, which draws heavily on the steam-age tradition of locomotive crews sounding their whistles on January 1, and the numbers were growing on a daily basis. With several lines committing multiple locomotives - such as the Volks Electric Railway's fleet of…
THE recently-opened Hopetown Darlington has now won four awards and accolades in a row. A week after landing the prestigious North East Culture Award for Best Museum or Cultural Venue 2024, Hopetown carried off the Visitor Economy Award at the County Durham Together Awards 2024 on December 5. These awards followed in the wake of Hopetown's recent Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme and Welcome accolades, both bestowed by VisitEngland, which, as highlighted in Heritage Railway issue 323, gave the attraction top marks in a recent inspection. The North East Culture Award recognised the impact that the venue has had in both Darlington and the wider region and is viewed as a testament to all of the staff and partners who tell the story of the town's pioneering railway heritage. Other…
