Tabla de contenidos para Issue 311 en Heritage Railway

OPINION IN his Ode to Autumn, the Romantic poet John Keats wrote about the “season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, close bosom-friend of the maturing sun; conspiring with him how to load and bless, with fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run, to bend with apples the moss’d cottage-trees, and fill all fruit with ripeness to the core.” Our sector will reap the ripe fruits of an autumn that may well be better than all autumns that have gone before in its 72 years… not just the magnificent hues brought out earlier than usual by the exceptionally hot summer to enchant visitors to heritage lines - along with a host of lineside photographers (see John Titlow’s seasonal feature on pages 76-81) - but also the appearance in unique, rapid…

THE West Somerset Railway was among the places that bore the brunt of thunderstorms and monsoon-like downpours on the tail end of Hurricane Lee, an Atlantic storm which hit the south west on Sunday, September 17, bringing the late summer mini-heatwave to an abrupt end. There was flooding at many places along the line, particularly at Blue Anchor station, where rainwater gushed in waterfalls off the platform and where the museum building was damaged as two inches of rain fell in just a few hours. There was also a landslip, and the locking room was affected, leaving the line with signalling issues. As an immediate response to the unprecedented deluge, which left several streets in Minehead submerged by flood water, most of the line’s services were suspended. However, one train…

THE National Railway Museum has unveiled designs for its new permanent exhibition in Station Hall,featuring many items that have never been on public display before Created by exhibition designer Drinkall Dean, the concept images highlight how the exhibition at the York venue will look when it opens to the public in 2024. It aims to enhance the visitor experience with new stories, objects and interpretation, while also retaining many of the hall’s much-loved features and atmosphere. The exhibition has four main themes to guide visitors through it. ‘The Station is a World in Itself’ will explore the unique landscape, rules and experiences of stations. In this theme, the museum’s Waterloo station WH Smith bookstall kiosk will be displayed for the first time following an extensive restoration process. ‘Innovation, Influence and…

HIGHLIGHTING the multi-faceted dilemmasfaced by conservationists who aim to save historic railway bridges, September saw two condemned while one was saved thanks to a local authority grant. The Isle of Wight has decided to remove Bridge 12, built in 1875 by contractors constructing the Ryde & Newport Railway, because of its worsening condition and the fact that it is not needed. The overbridge, which stands 700 yards to the west of Haven street station, was the only means of crossing the line until the extension to Smallbrook opened. It was designed to allow the landowner to cross. However, being built on clay subsoil, it has been susceptible to ground movement. During the last 35 years, the railway has devoted much resources to maintain it, rebuilding it in 1990/91. With the…

A PRESERVED Class 31 that became Network Rail’s oldest working diesel is to be named Radio Caroline, after the pioneering former pirate radio station that has delighted music fans for decades following its launch during the 1960s Beatlemania era and is currently broadcasting legally off the coast of Essex. The diesel is newly-restored No. 31105, which entered service as D5523 in March 1959, was renumbered under the TOPS system in February 1974, and after its withdrawal five years ago was bought by Mangapps Railway Museum, of Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex. Mangapps’ owner, John Jolly, highlights the strong connection between the diesel and the radio station. “Having been allocated to 32B Ipswich from late 1959 to 1972, it almost certainly hauled trains carrying the DJs and other staff from Liverpool Street to Ipswich…

THE Minister of State for Rail and HS2, Huw Merriman MP, made an informal visit to the Swanage Railway via its trial DMU service from Wareham. He was accompanied by South Dorset MR Richard Drax and Dorset Council transport portfolio holder Cllr Ray Bryan. Arriving at Wareham station on August 22, the minister was hosted by Purbeck Community Rail Partnership chairman Mike Whitwam and Dorset Council councillor Beryl Ezzard, of the Friends of Wareham Station, who conducted a tour of the 1880s-built station. Accompanied by Swanage Railway Trust chairman Gavin Johns, Mr Merriman then boarded the line’s 11.19am heritage diesel service to Swanage. The service is operated by overhauled and main line-upgraded 1950s Class 117 and Class 121 DMUs. At Swanage station, the minister met volunteers and took a footplate…

THE Plym Valley Railway has launched a £40,000 appeal to buy Barclay 0-4-0ST No. 2248 of 1948 Albert, which is the current mainstay of its steam-hauied services. Albert’s owner has decided he would like to sell the engine. “We would really like to be able to purchase it and allow steam at the PVR to continue for many years to come,” said the line’s marketing director, Steve Fry. “After hiring locomotives from private owners, we have been offered the chance to purchase an operational steam locomotive.” Albert was built for the British Sugar Corporation and worked at its Worcester and Somerset plants. It was at the Nene Valley Railway and East Kent Railway before being privately purchased and coming to the PVR in 2004. Its last boiler ticket expired in…

TYSELEY Locomotive Works is seeking to hire more staff to cope with the growing demand for its engineering services. With a full order book until 2025, Tyseley has had further enquiries for new work valued at more than £3 million. Tyseley wants to employ fitter/machinists, welder/fabricators and boilermakers to handle this extra workload and is offering market salaries. Ten new staff were taken on between the works and Vintage Trains earlier this year following the award of a European Regional Development Grant to expand facilities. However, even more staff are now needed. A statement said: “We are experiencing an increasing demand for our engineering services. “Steam locomotives continue to get older and require more extensive repairs. “The interest in building new locomotives continues apace.” As reported in issue 309, the…

FROM a steam perspective, the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway gala on September 1-3 tookon an Austrian theme, with two of that country’s locomotives in operation. The event (which I always consider to be the curtain-raiser for the autumn gala season) was the first gala appearance for Franco-Beige 0-8-0T No. 699.01 Sir Drefaldwyn following its recent overhaul and its first weekend back in public service in July, as reported in issue 308. Working alongside it was Krauss U class 0-6-2T No. 2 Zillertal, which is on hire from the Zillertalbahn, for which it was built in 1900. Following a major overhaul, No.2 arrived in Wales on August 13, 2019, and entered service at the end of that month - running at times with former Zillertalbahn carriages which arrived on the…

A DEAL by which the Ayrshire Railway Preservation Group has purchased a piece of freehold land from Milestone Developments Limited behind its station at Dunaskin has enabled the group to look forward to a stable future for the Doon Valley Railway, Scotland’s premier industrial heritage railway. The deal was clinched on Sunday, August 27, the last day of operation for a curtailed 2023 season, when 1200 people visited a steam and vintage fair and 11 trains operating behind Andrew Barclay stalwart, 0-4-0ST No. 2244 of 1947 National Coal Board Ayrshire Area No. 10 were sold out. The railway’s unique Barclay fireless 0-4-0 Shell Mex No. 8 was also in steam for demonstration runs. As reported last issue, the heritage line’s future was thrown into doubt after it failed to meet…

THE 2ft gauge Westonzoyland Light Railway at Westonzoyland Pumping Station Museum, on the Somerset Levels, held a gala on August 28 that saw newly-delivered Clayton Equipment Ltd 21hp battery-electric 4Te No. B0402A of 1974 displayed alongside Planet Y Type No.1830 of 1933. No. 1830, which was officially launched into traffic at the event, has been named Boothby in recognition of its last industrial use by the Boothby Peat Company before being bought for preservation by Peter Nicholson and sold to trustee Jason Keswick in 2015 after years of storage. It called passenger trains during the gala. No. B0402A has been purchased straight out of industry from Specialist Plant of Wellingborough, Lister Railtruck No. 6299 hauled a rake of three tipper wagons and Lister No. 42319 on loan from the Somerset…

AN 80-year silence was broken on August 26 when the Churnet Valley Railway ran its first train over its new extension towards Leek. With track laid and connected, the opportunity presented itself to conduct the first tests over Leek Brook Junction triangle using USATC S160 2-8-0 No. 5197 and a carriage. A railway statement said: “This fantastic development is all part of the Churnet Valley Railway’s project extending its line to link up with the charming market town of Leek as part of Reconnect Leek. We are thrilled to be a part of reviving history and bringing a new chapter to rail travel in the Staffordshire Moorlands.” Substantial work still remains to be completed, including ballasting and tamping, before the line can be opened to the public, but the test…

The Severn Valley Railway’s last big steam event of 2023, the September 1417 autumn gala, featured the welcome return of night running and a special focus on freight, including a genuine pick-up goods. The four guest locomotives - Bagnall 0-6-0ST No. 401 Vulcan, B1 4-6-0 No. 61306 Mayflower, USATC 2-8-0 2253 Omaha and Ivatt Standard 2 2-6-2T No. 41312 - ran alongside SVR regulars GWR pannier tank No. 7714, flagship No. 4930 Hagley Hall, rebuilt Bulleid West Country light Pacific No. 21C127, Standard 4MT 4-6-0 No. 75069 and Ivatt 4MT ‘Flying Pig’ 2-6-0 No. 43106. Mayflower came from LNWR Heritage at Crewe, No. 41312 from the Mid-Hants Railway, No. 401 from the North Tyneside Steam Railway, and Pete Best’s No. 2253 from the Dartmouth Steam Railway. No. 401 (works No.…

THE restoration of LNER Peppercorn A2 Pacific No. 60532 Blue Peter has taken significant steps forward following the boiler passing the first two major tests ahead of its impending return to service. During the afternoon of August 21, the hydraulic test was successfully carried out. Under the watchful eye of the boiler inspector, it was taken up to 340psi (which is over its normal working pressure but a necessary part of the certification to ensure it is safe for use) and that has “effectively started the clock on the life of the boiler,” a statement by Locomotive Services Group said. Four days later, an historic moment took place when the first fire in 21 years was lit in the firebox. Boilersmiths Bradley Smith and Danny Lovatt, who have been responsible…

MAJOR milestones in the overhaul of Peppercorn A1 Pacific No. 60163 Tornado’s overhaul were passed in late August. At Locomotive Maintenance Services in Loughborough, the driving wheels were returned to the frames following months of hard work reassembling mainly smaller components. Installation of the hornstays and spring gear was being finalised, before moving on to fitting the inside valve gear, pipework and sanders. The bogie and cartazzi have been initially left out to aid fitting springs and other remaining equipment to the frames so as not to restrict access. The frames will then be lifted again to receive these wheelsets. In Darlington Locomotive Works, the boiler is now complete following successful hydraulic and steam tests. Darlington workshop volunteer George Bee spent two weeks testing each of the superheater elements before…

MAIN LINE NEWS THE Branch Line Society has announced a railtour in partnership with Merseyrail to mark the impending withdrawal of the Class 508. The tour, planned for Sunday, October 29, under the title of ‘The 5:08 Sunset’, will give customers a chance to travel across the entire Merseyrail network to honour more than 44 years of service from the EMUs. Starting from Chester, the excursion is planned to pick up additional passengers at Hooton before heading to Ellesmere Port, back to Hooton, then on to Rock Ferry and Birkenhead Central for a further pick-up of passengers. Leaving Birkenhead, the tour wiil pass James Street and on to the Stock Interchange Line for the first highlight of the trip. The final passenger pick-up will be at Liverpool Central and then…

Walking along the platform at the Middleton Railway was a trip down memory lane for Gordon Crapper. Seeing Sentinel Y1 0-4-0VB No. 68153 in steam, an engine he previously worked with during his days as traffic manager at what is believed to be the world’s oldest continuously working railway, was particularly poignant. Built in 1933 as Sentinel works No. 8837 for the LNER, the engine has had several running numbers, starting out as LNER No. 59. It was the first steam locomotive to arrive at the Middleton in 1961, after having been withdrawn by BR earlier in the summer from working in the Geneva permanent way yard at Darlington. At that time, it was Departmental Locomotive No. 54 - its running number when Gordon was working with it. It has…

ON August 23, Bachmann Europe PLC attended the 60th anniversary celebrations of York’s Monk Bar model shop (which in 2007 was named Bachmann Retailer of the Year), at which the manufacturer announced two new sales area exclusive models. Utilising the Class 20 tooling, the models depict Scottish duo Nos. 20048 and 20100; both sport disc headcodes and carry the West Highland Terrier logos as applied by Eastfield Depot during the mid-1980s, where the pair were allocated. No. 20048 went on to be preserved and can now be found running on the Severn Valley Railway - again carrying BR Blue livery with West Highland Terrier logos, however, No. 20100 was scrapped in 1991. Fittingly, as the models depict two Scottish prototypes, these will be available from Bachmann retailers in Scotland, the…

BUILDING new steam locomotives was not a priority when war broke out. Munitions were the order of the day, and factories and fitting shops around the country were adapted to the task from the outset of the war. By 1942, however, change was in the air. There was to be a counter-invasion of Europe, to recapture ground from the Nazis, and for this it was clear that the railways would have an important part to play. It was decided that two types of engines were needed for the task - a strong main line goods engine and a heavy duty tankengine. The task of developing these plans fell to Robert Riddles. Riddles was an LMS man through and through. He trained at Crewe under the LNWR and oversaw the reorganisations…

SOUTH EAST Amberley Museum 2ft gauge, ¼ mile. Arundel, West Sussex. Tel: 01798 831370. Open: Weds-Suns. Bluebell Railway Standard gauge, 11 miles. Sheffield Park, East Sussex TN22 2QL. Tel: 01825 720800. Running: Weds-Suns + sch hols. Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway 2ft gauge, ½ mile. Bredgar, Sittingbourne, Kent. Tel: 01622 884254. Running: Weds, Thurs + Oct 1,27-29. Chatham Historic Dockyard Standard gauge, one mile. Chatham, Kent. Tel: 01634 820800. Open: Daily. East Kent Railway Standard gauge, two miles. Shepherdswell, Kent. Tel: 01304 832042. Running: Suns until Oct 29. Eastleigh Lakeside Railway 10¼in & 7¼in gauge, 1½miles. Running: W/Es, sch hols. Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway 12¼in gauge, 1½ miles. Exbury, Southampton. Tel: 023 8089 1203. Open: Daily until Oct 29. Hayling Light Railway 2ft gauge, one mile. Hayling Island, Hants.…

DAVID and Katherine Nelson-Brown, who own the Perrygrove Railway, have agreed the purchase of a second 15in gauge line in the form of the Evesham Vale Light Railway. The couple will take over the 1¼mile line, originally built by Jim and Helen Shackell, from current owners Adrian and Sandra Corke, who have run it for 12 years, on March 1. David and Katherine have also been involved in the heritage railway sector for many years. Before moving to Perrygrove in 2014, Katherine worked for the Dartmouth Steam Railway and River Boat Company. Since David was young, he has volunteered at the Bodmin & Wenford Railway, where he is now the managing director. A statement said: “David and Katherine will continue to live onsite at Perrygrove and are now actively looking…

ON September 8,1963, the last steam train under British Railways auspices ran on the Severn Valley line. It departed Bridgnorth at 6.28pm, running to Birmingham Snow Hill double-headed behind pannier tanks Nos.9624 and 4665 and carrying a Special Last Train headboard. The week before, there was a regular daily steam passenger service over the cross-country line from Shrewsbury to Kidderminster and two short workings from Shrewsbury to Bridgnorth. At the time, Shrewsbury shed had a wide variety of motive power, ranging from panniers, BR Standards, GWR Counties, Halls, Castles, Granges, Manors and 8Fs to LMS Jubilees. On Saturday, September 7,1963, Shrewsbury shed provided BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T No. 80102 on a four-coach train to Kidderminster for the market and Ivatt 2-6-2T No.41207 for the short working to Bridgnorth. Sunday trains…

WHILE enthusiasts focused on the heritage traction rumbling up and down the Dee Valley on Saturday, September 16,’a national treasure’ was being transported aboard one of the Llangollen Railway’s diesel gala services - a replica 44-inch sword of the Welsh national leader Owain Glyndwr’s weapon used during a Welsh rebellion against English rule in 1399 and 1400. Corwen has long been closely associated with Glyndwr, his father being Lord of Glyndyfrdwy, another stop on the heritage line a few miles away. A bronze statue in Corwen's town square commemorates his exploits. The weapon, the Sword of the Nation, weighs more than eight pounds and was originally unveiled at Cardiff Castle, having been paid for by an anonymous donor and commissioned by Embassy Glyndŵr, who said in 2004 that it would…

MIDLAND and Southern regions will dominate Bury when the East Lancashire Railway runs its annual steam gala on October 13-15, with a ‘doubling up’ of air-smoothed Bulleid light Pacifies set to be one of the highlights. Following expiry of its boiler certificate on January 2 this year, the ELR workshops have pulled out all the stops to undertake a fast-track overhaul on the boiler of West Country No. 34092 City of Wells in order to bring it back into service. With a substantial amount of bottom end work having been completed just a few years ago, the focus was purely on the top half. Unusually, the boiler was not lifted from the frames, with retubing and other work carried out with it in situ, resulting in a successful steam test…

A ‘LOST’ worksplate from Quarry Hunslet 0-4-0ST No. 763 Dorothea, which resides on the Launceston Steam Railway in Cornwall, has been reunited with the locomotive following its discovery amid the extensive collection of the late Peter Rampton. Following his death, much of the collection passed into the care of the Vale of Rheidol Railway. While it was being sifted through, the left-hand worksplate was discovered. Since entering service in Cornwall, Dorothea ran with two replica plates until the right-hand one surfaced in South Wales a few years ago and was reunited with the locomotive. Now, thanks to the generosity of the VoR board, the second original has been presented to the LSR and will be refitted, completing Dorothea for the first time in many years. LSR director Jonathan Mann said:…

NEWS THE Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway revived ‘The Cornishman’ for regular Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday services, which began at the end of March and will continue until the first week of November. On August 30, services ran with a slight twist because ‘The Cornishman’ headboard with a pixie on a toadstool was used on all steam services that day - and is historically appropriate for the line. The line’s purple timetable was in operation, comprising two full-line steam-hauled return workings starting from Broadway at 9.55am and Cheltenham Racecourse at 10am, stopping at all stations. Two Western Region 4-6-Os were in use, No. 7903 Foremarke Hall and 7820 Dinmore Manor, which have been hauling the majority of these services. SR Merchant Navy 4-6-2 No. 35006 Peninsular & Oriental S.N.Co. and BR Standard…

HUW Merriman was not the only cabinet member to make a trip to a UK heritage railway in August. Six days earlier, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited the Great Central Railway on August 16 during a trip to the East Midlands to meet MPs and discussed the heritage sector’s current coal supply issues. General manager Malcolm Holmes, who, along with Loughborough MR Jane Hunt, accompanied Mr Sunak, said that he seemed delighted at visiting the heritage line, meeting staff at Loughborough Central and Quorn & Woodhouse and passengers on board the 11.55am departure from Loughborough. “As you might expect, such a visit is shrouded in secrecy given the security requirements of such a highprofile visitor and was preceded by several meetings with organisers and his security detail,” said Malcolm. “You’ll…

OPERATING along a former colliery line through industrial landscape, Blaenavon’s Heritage Railway (formerly the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway) is the highest standard gauge heritage railway in the UK, and over the weekend of September 8-10 it held a three-day steam showcase to celebrate 40 years since it first reopened the initial section of line between Furnace sidings and Whistle Stop Inn. Headlining the occasion was LNWR Webb 0-6-2 Coal Tank No. 1054, courtesy of its base at the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway and the Bahamas Locomotive Society, its custodian on behalf of the National Trust. Previously visited in 2013, No. 1054 worked around Abergavenny twice during its career and could have been seen in the valleys surrounding the BHR, making its appearance appropriate for the occasion. It is the…

A NEW owner has taken over Hythe Pier, giving a welcome reprieve to the 2ft gauge electric pier railway that had feared closure. As reported in issue 302, a day before New Year’s Eve 2022, when the Hythe Ferry was due to sail for the last time due to mounting losses, a potential buyer came forward and has now been identified as Red Funnel, which has completed the purchase. The 2100ft-long third-rail electric railway on the 16ft-wide pier connects Hythe with Southampton via the associated Blue Funnel ferry at the end of the pier. The ferry berths at Southampton Town Quay, adjacent to the Red Funnel fast service to Cowes on the Isle of Wight. Blue Funnel has operated the service since 2017 and performs a genuine public transport service…

WR 4-6-0 No. 7828 Odney Manor was taking on water at Bishops Lydeard after arriving with the 12.20pm West Somerset Railway service from Minehead on September 12 when a modern-day Great Western Railway Castle class High Speed Train set, including Class 43 power cars No. 43122 Dunster Castle and No. 43094 St Mawes arrived with an empty stock move from Laira. The HST 125 was the second of two such sets being stored on the heritage line - which has agreed to store them in return for being able to use them in passenger service, as was due to happen on September 23/24. A HST was scheduled to undertake two return trips from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard, at 10am and 2.30pm and timed so passengers can make a return journey…

THE authentic sight of a well tank in an appropriate setting will soon be enjoyed once more - after the Bodmin & Wenford Railway and the National Railway Museum struck an agreement that will see LSWR 0298 2-4-0T No. 30587 return to its former home turf on the Cornish line it once worked. Built in 1874, the Beattie locomotive originally worked at Nine Elms in London but was earmarked for scrap as early as the 1890s as part of the company’s modernisation of city and suburban services. It was instead transferred to the Bodmin SWadebridge Railway in 1895, where it arrived by sea as the railway had no physical connection to the LSWR at the time. Its class became synonymous with the railway and the Wenfordbridge branch clay traffic, returning…

THE ongoing restoration of the Deitic Preservation Society’s Class 55s D9015 Tulyar took two monumental steps forward in August and September when finally, after some false starts, the body was once again lowered onto the bogies to create a mobile locomotive once more. Initially planned to take place earlier this year, on August 29 six DPS volunteers assembled at the group’s Barrow Hill depot with contractors from Rampart Engineering, which was facilitating the body lift. D9015 was then lifted off of the stands on which it has been sat and the first bogey was pinch-barred into position. Careful observation was required as it passed below the water tanks, which are approximately four inches lower than the fuel tanks, but with mere millimetres to spare it made it into position under…

PECKETT 0-4-0ST No. 2130 of 1951 Dunlop No. 7 has returned to action on the Northampton Ironstone Railway in Hunsbury Hill Country Park, tackling its gradientfor the first time in two years. The locomotive-one of a pair of class W7s built for CWS Soap Works near Irlam - gave brake van rides on September 10 to mark Heritage Open Days 2023. After the line at Irlam closed in 1966, both were sold to work at Fort Dunlop in Birmingham, where they became Dunlop No. 6 and No. 7. No. 2130 ended its career at Fort Dunlop in late 1971 and was taken to Hinckley for storage until moving to the Battlefield Line at Shackerstone in 1974. It left its long-time home and restoration base at the Battlefield Line’s Shackerstone headquarters…

WHILE hauling the Steam Dreams ‘Sunset Steam Express’ evening diner on its regular circular tour around the Surrey hills, BR Standard 7MT Pacific No. 70000 Britannia suffered a rare catastrophic failure of its crosshead, which fractured into two pieces. With the piston disconnected, the crosshead -the connecting point from the piston to the main driving connecting rods and wheels - was pushed through front of the cylinder cover breaking it. Websites carried a video of No. 70000 passing Chilworth three minutes early, with all going well, working hard and sounding very good. However, just after the train had cleared the station, a loud bang was heard in the twilight.The crew immediately performed an emergency brake application. With the train stopped in section, due to a live third rail and passing…

THE Saphos Trains ‘Welsh Marches Express’ on Thursday, August 31 was unexpectedly diesel-hauled on the return leg after A4 Pacific No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley was declared a failure at Shrewsbury. The tour, which started at Woking and was diesel-hauled until Bristol, took passengers to Shrewsbury, with No. 60007 working the section from Temple Meads. During the layover period at Coton Hill, Shrewsbury, the A4 was undergoing routine maintenance and inspection prior to the return trip when it was found that a crack had developed in one of the locomotive’s brake blocks - an extremely rare occurrence. With no replacement block to hand, the decision was taken to remove Sir Nigel Gresley from the train. The excursion then returned to Woking diesel-hauled, leaving Shrewsbury later than planned due to the…

ONE of the last GWR Hall class locomotives to remain in service that, having been saved for preservation, is now enjoying a high-profile and new lease of life in Japan, and a former LMS engine that ended its days in military use, are in the spotlight in Great Northern Railwayana’s online eight-day sale that ends on October 1. The Hall is No. 4920, one of whose Dumbleton Hall nameplates is headlining the auction. The engine was built at Swindon in March 1929 and was named after a 19th century Grade II*-listed building in Gloucestershire that is now a hotel. After nearly 37 years with the GWR and BR, it was withdrawn from the Bristol shed of St Philip’s Marsh (82B) in December 1965, and having avoided the cutter’s torch, is…

SEASONS play a huge part in the hobby of steam railway photography. Winter brings the best light with the low sun, frosts and (sometimes) best of all, snow. In spring, we still get cold, frosty mornings and leaves appearing in variations of green. During summer days, the sun is too high apart from early morning and late evening, and greens tend to be uniform, but generally it’s too warm to get any genuine exhaust. Autumn, however, is without doubt the most colourful season of the year, especially when all the deciduous trees and lineside vegetation have turned into a wonderland of yellows, browns and reds. Years ago, autumn could be relied on and you could book your holidays at regular times to coincide with the best of the colours -…

FROM SOUTHERN SUSSEX… A year later than planned and six years following its previous visit to the line, Flying Scotsman once again pulled the crowds at the Bluebell Railway during its 12day stay, with a week working trains between Sheffield Park and East Grinstead and the remainder on static display, with footplate access on offer. The visit in 2022 was unfortunately put off owing to the A3 breaking a piston ring, which had subsequently damaged the cylinder. Disruptions in the supply chain meant that although it had been discovered in good time, it was not possible to execute the repair work in time to meet the dates of the visit. Twelve months on and the visit was almost in question once more - with the cylinders the culprit yet again!…

SEPTEMBER ■ 29/30-AUTUMN DIESEL GALA, Severn Valley Railway ■ 30 - END OF SEASON AND SMALL LOCOS GALA, Eastleigh Lakeside Railway ■ 30-VINTAGE BUS RALLY, Great Central Railway ■ 30 - EN D OF SEASON GALA, Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway ■ 30 - FLYING SCOTSMAN TRAINS, Strathspey Railway OCTOBER ■ 1 - STEAM GALA, Bredgar & Wormshill Railway ■ 1 - AUTUMN DIESEL GALA, Severn Valley Railway ■ 1 - END OF SEASON GALA, Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway ■ 1 - FLYING SCOTSMAN TRAINS, Strathspey Railway ■ 5-8 - AUTUMN STEAM GALA, Great Central Railway ■ 6-8 - BYGONES WEEKENDS, Ffestiniog & Welsh Flighland Railway ■ 6-8 - AUTUMN STEAM GALA, MidHants Railway ■ 7/8 - RAILCAR GALA, Llangollen Railway ■ 7/8 - AUTUMN SHOWCASE GALA, North Norfolk…

ITS overhaul may well be one of the most highly requested among enthusiasts, and now that is to become a reality with confirmation that LSWR Adams 4-4-2 radial tank No. 488 is to move into Atlantic House at the Bluebell Railway this coming winter. The team of volunteers behind the construction of the replica LBSCR H2 4-4-2 No. 32424 Beachy Head have revealed that despite previously dropping plans to overhaul No. 488 in favour of GWR 4-4-0 Dukedog No. 9017 Earl of Berkeley, the stage has been set once more for a return to steam for the former Lyme Regis branch locomotive. Beachy Head, which is currently in the final stages of assembly, will be moved out of Atlantic House at Sheffield Park this coming winter and transfer into the…

WHILE the new Corris Railway Falcon 0-4-2ST No. 10 became the world’s latest new-build project to be completed and steamed, that treasured accolade will be swiftly handed over to three other UK locomotives one by one in the coming weeks. As highlighted in issue 306, Mr Hallworth, an 0-6-0ST based loosely on a Peckett design and named in honour of the late Bodmin & Wenford Railway stalwart Tony Hallworth, has been built by North Bay Railway Engineering Services in Darlington for the Perrygrove Railway, where it will become the latest addition to the 1 Sin gauge Forest of Dean line in 14 years. Inside the North Bay workshops, the locomotive ran on air for the first time on September 11 - and was scheduled to steam by the end of…

Didcot Railway Centre has taken delivery of Class 31 No. 31270 Athena, which will remain there for at least the next three years. Owned by Colne Valley Diesels Ltd, it is on extended loan to supplement Didcot’s existing diesel fleet and will operate on the museum's short passenger lines following commissioning and completion of crew training. It was previously based at Peak Rail but recently emerged from Nemesis Rail’s workshops at Burton upon Trent, where it has undergone a major engine overhaul. It currently carries Regional Railways livery, but with bodywork repairs provisionally set to take place over the winter months, it may be repainted. No. 31270 entered service on June 1,1961, carrying the number D5800, and was allocated to March depot. In February 1974 it was renumbered under British…

THE overhaul of the Talyllyn Railway’s namesake Fletcher Jennings 0-4-2ST No.1 continues apace, with the locomotive fully assembled by the middle of September-and it could be running before the year is out, sporting lined Great Eastern blue, a scheme never before seen on the pioneering heritage line. The boiler’s out-of-frames hydraulic test was passed on September 14, after which the engineering team lifted it into the frames the following day. While most boilers require a steam test to be conducted before this stage, due to the small size and accessibility of the boiler when in situ, the steam test for Talyllyn can be performed with it in the frames. Accordingly, the tank, bunker and cab sheets were also affixed on September 16, presenting the first glimpses of what the finished…

ON September 17, the Yorkshire Wolds Railway has proudly unveiled a1961-builtBR 20-ton brake van at Fimber Halt following a five-year outdoor restoration in all weathers. The restoration team’s Andy Barwick said: “When the goods brake van arrived, the railway had no wagon shed, so the restoration had to take place outside in the open, under a makeshift weather shelter built from old lorry tarpaulins. None of the existing members at the YWR had any previous experience of restoring a railway wagon, so advice was sought from other heritage railway experts relating to the overhaul of the safety-critical components and to obtain engineering drawings. “The restoration team grew, and a plan was put together to ensure that things happened in the correct order. The team, which consisted of skilled and unskilled…

FOLLOWING much speculation regarding its final livery, the Llangollen Railway’s freshly overhauled 5700 class 0-6-0PT No. 7754 has been outshopped in the Nationalisation GWR/BR transitional livery, a scheme no other pannier in preservation has worn to date. With Nationalisation happening on January 1,1948, Western Region locomotives continued to be turned out in Great Western colours, but with the company lettering and logo initially being replaced on some with ‘British Railways’ lettering in the GWR’s Egyptian font. Though shortlived, it was applied to a large number of ex-GWR locomotives, primarily tender and large tank engines, and only a handful of the various 0-6-OPTs. In preservation, there are only two locomotives that can carry this livery authentically, namely 5101 class ‘Large Prairie’ 2-6-2T No. 4160 (undergoing overhaul on the South Devon Railway)…

THE Great Central Railway’s autumn steam gala will have a dominant Western flavour following the announcement of its two star visitors. Headlining the October 5-8 event will be new-build GWR 4-6-0 Saint No. 2999 Lady of Legend, appearing courtesy of the Great Western Society and Didcot Railway Centre. No. 2999 has been notably absent over the summer months, having been undergoing a period of maintenance at its home base. In addition to whistle and water valves being looked at following leaks developing, some of the connecting rods were removed to allow the bearings to be re-metalled. A new brick arch has also been fitted in the firebox. During August, the locomotive also underwent a repaint; by the end of 2022, its livery had become worn, and although work began to…

THE Kent & East Sussex Railway has launched a quarterly award scheme in recognition of the importance of the heritage line’s 500 volunteers, who general manager Robin Coombes describes as “truly remarkable” and whose dedication is “the heartbeat” of the organisation. Announcing the award, Robin, who joined the railway in August last year, told the volunteers: “I find myself reflecting on the countless extraordinary contributions made by each and every one of you. “Your selflessness and dedication to preserving our heritage, serving our visitors, and building a vibrant future for the railway are truly remarkable. “Each volunteer embodies the true spirit of our railway, creating an unforgettable experience for our visitors and ensuring the preservation of our cherished history. “Your dedication is the heartbeat of this organisation and without your…

IT will be a return to preservation roots and a Somerset & Dorset partnership this autumn when Peckett R3 0-4-0ST No. 1788 Kilmersdon heads to Midsomer Norton station - just a short distance from where it was originally employed by the National Coal Board. Built in 1929, the locomotive was delivered new to its namesake colliery, which was located between Radstock and Frome in Somerset, and worked there for the majority of its life. When that closed in 1973, the NCB placed the Peckett - the last steam engine to work the Somerset coalfield - into the care of the Somerset & Dorset Railway Museum Trust; it moved to Radstock by road via an appearance at the Camerton Traction Engine Rally. In 1983, ‘museum’ was dropped from the charity’s title…

RECENT months have seen many lines instigate clear-outs of surplus, unrestored or unwanted rolling stock and in early September, the Strathspey Railway saw several of its own vehicles depart. On September 6, the first of two Class 26 locomotives departed, having been sold by the Highland Diesel Group. The ‘McRats’, the class’s nickname, were on the railway for about 25 years. Although it was rumoured that they had been bought by the Caledonian Railway at Brechin, both have been purchased by a private individual nearby, who intends to return them to active service. Both D5302 (No. 26002) and D5325 (26025) were built in 1958 by the Birmingham Carriage & Wagon Company, the former first being allocated to Hornsey before transferring to Haymarket in April 1960, Eastfield in May 1988 and…

THE Vale of Berkeley Railway Charitable Trust has launched a bold five-year plan to develop its facilities in advance of reopening Gloucestershire’s Sharpness branch as a heritage railway. The group has been working towards reinstating a four-mile section of line from its current base at Sharpness Docks through to Berkeley Road station, where it would link with the Gloucesterto Bristol main line. The development plan involves moving the VoBR’s facilities from its current base in an old diesel shed at Sharpness docks to the nearby former freight transit sidings at Oldminster, which the VoBR currently leases from Network Rail. The plan includes a 60-yard two-road shed and restoration facility combined with a generously proportioned machine shop, to be followed by the arrival of a Midland Railway signalboxand other facilities. The…

BIG changes have been made to this year’s Christmas season on the Severn Valley Railway, with the illuminated trains rested and regular weekend workings from either end of the line. SVR visitor engagement manager Lewis Maddox said: “We have decided to concentrate our efforts on providing the Enchanted Express services only from Bridgnorth this year. This will help alleviate the substantial demands on volunteers that Steam in Lights entailed, and extremely long operating days over a sustained number of weeks.” The SVR Christmas season starts on October 28/29 with its annual gift fair at the Engine House from 10am to 5pm. Admission is free. A freedom of the line ticket on the day is £25 per adult, and £75 for a large family of two adults and up to four…

FIFE Heritage Railway has taken custody of a historically important Class 313 EMU. The Leven-based group has received Class 313 test train No. 313121 after it was taken out of service by Network Rail. It had been used to support testing and validation for projects on the national network and to support the deployment of digital signalling using the European Train Control System (ETCS). Earlier this year, the Rail Heritage Designation Advisory Board gave the set special heritage status to protect it for future generations because its seats - the originals from when it was built - have remained intact and are considered to be of historical interest. NR senior portfolio manager David Thomas said: “We are pleased that the train, which has been a crucial part of our research,…

IN his autumn update to supporters, Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways general manager Paul Lewin outlined vital work being carried out during the upcoming winter months, ranging from toilets to trees, as the line seeks to improve both visitor facilities and operating conditions. After an initially uncertain start to the year, where the first few months of the operating season were quieter even with the careful management of train services that was implemented to combat this, the summer months have seen a healthy number of visitors travelling - to the point that sales tickets will exceed budget. Paul cited the excellent work of the railway’s marketing department for part of this upsurge, the team having been working hard on numerous advertising avenues. He paid thanks to volunteers and staff for…

RAILWAY Heritage Trust chairman Andy Savage officially reopened Billingshurst signalbox at Amberley Museum on August 30, following the recent completion of the rebuilding of the timber stairs. The stairs needed to be replaced and the ‘box was closed to visitors and volunteers pending extensive repairs, funded by the Friends of Amberley Museum. The ‘box is a very rare Saxby & Farmer Type 1b example, dating to before 1876. Built for the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway, it stood at Billingshurst level crossing. The structure became listed, and when Network Rail decided to widen the level crossing and modernise the signalling system, it was decided to save the ‘box by offering it to the museum. On being moved, listed buildings lose that status, but Amberley, a registered charity and an…

THE Railway Touring Company is offering customers the opportunity for early Christmas outings with seven railtours in November, including one with A3 Pacific No. 60103 Flying Scotsman. ‘The Christmas White Rose’ ort Saturday, November 18 is planned to be steam-hauled from King’s Cross, picking up at Stevenage, Huntingdon and Peterborough before heading fora stop in York of three-and-a-half hours. A locomotive from the Carnforth pool will have the chance to stretch its legs on the Great Northern route, and there is even the promise of seeing Father Christmas on board! The next day, Flying Scotsman will be in charge of ‘The Waverley’ from York to Carlisle, Passengers can join at York, Leeds, Keighley or Skipton, before No. 60103 tackles the Settle and Carlisle line. There will be just over one-and-a-half-hours…

September 30 Castle from the Cross King’s Cross, Lincoln and return. Loco: 7029 Clun Castle. VT 30 ‘The Cumbrian Coast Express’ London Euston, Carlisle and return. Steam-hauled Carlisle-Carnforth (return only). Locos: Electric: Class 86 TBA, Steam: TBA. RTC 30 ‘The Lakelander’ Hereford, Carlisle and return. Steam hauled from Preston (outward). Loco: TBA. ST October 4 ‘The Golden Arrow’ Peterborough, Canterbury and return. Steam-hauled from Southall (outward). Loco: No. 34046 Braunton. ST 5 ‘The Dalesman’ York, Carlisle and return. Steam-hauled between Hellifield and Carlisle. Loco: No. 35018 British India Line. WCR 7 ‘The Yorkshire Explorer’ Swindon, Scarborough and return. Locos: 2X WCR Class 47. PT 7 ‘The Cumbrian Mountain Express’ London Euston, Carlisle and return. Steam-hauled from between Carnforth (outward) and Preston (return). Locos: Electric: Class 86 TBA, Steam: TBA. RTC…

FIVE gauge 1 locomotives from a single collection, four in live steam built by Paul Forsyth of Northampton and one clockwork by Marklin of Germany, were the star turns in a Vectis model train auction on August 31. At their head was Highland Railway Class A ‘Castle’ 4-6-0 No. 146 Skibo Castle, which went for £2200, followed by Great Central Railway 8B class 4-4-2 No. 192 at £1900. Next up was the Marklin clockwork model of GWR’s only Pacific locomotive, No. 111 The Great Bear (£1800), and it was then back to live steam, with the two further gauge 1 Paul Forsyth models of GCR Class 1A 4-6-0 No. 445 and Midland Railway 4-4-0 Class 3 No. 2782, at £1600 and £1500 respectively. The £1500 realisation was matched by the…

1: USATC S160 There is not much that can escape eagle-eyed visitors, and when it was announced that some secret projects had been sent to tooling, people were quick to mention that Rapido engineers had been seen measuring up USATC 2-8-0 S160 No. 5820 Big Jim at the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. Rather than let speculation run away, the manufacturer confirmed it was indeed working on an all-new OO gauge model of the class which has been in the top 10 of various wishlist polls for many years, and additionally highly requested of the manufacturer too. There were countless variations between examples even when new, as they were supplied by several different builders. Postwar, they saw service all over the world and were modified further to suit specific operator…

KERNOW Model Centre has released two new Scenecraft commissions from Bachmann, drawing inspiration for its local region. The North Cornwall Railway waiting room shelter (also known as ‘waiting shed’) is based on the smaller of the two NCR standard designs of waiting shelter, the stations for which often followed LSWR designs, and were used at stations including Ashwater, Port Isaac Road and St Kew Highway. The price is set at £31.50. The LSWR North Cornwall Railway Number 1 Goods Shed was slightly larger than the very similar No. 2 design, incorporating a small internal office with fireplace, chimney and additional windows on the road side, and was used at Padstow, St Kew Highway and Camelford. Price is set at £75. Both products can be purchased in store or online via…

THE Railway Correspondence and Travel Society and Mortons Media have launched ‘Steam or Modern; People and the Environment.The 2023/24 RCTS Photographic Competition.’ The contest will offer existing and fledgling photographers of all ages the chance to showcase their work and win one of a great range of special prizes. It builds on the long-established precedence of excellence in railway photography, which survives and thrives in railway publications such as Heritage Railway and the RCTS’s inhouse title, The Railway Observer. There are four possible categories to enter: ■ Heritage railways and main line steam ■ Modern traction ■ People and the railways ■ The environment and the railway In choosing these categories, the joint organisers have sought to embrace both current railway operations and the enthusiasm and nostalgia for steam, be…

WHILE reading Transport Treasury’s new publication about the Standard 9F class for review in last month’s issue, a light bulb moment illuminated my thinking and led me back more than six decades, writes Geoff Courtney. A search through photographs I took during my steam era trainspotting days uncovered what I was looking for - an image of the frames of one of the 2-10-0s outside Swindon Works. Taken on September 10,1959, the frames were a sorry sight, looking forlorn and seemingly close to being a candidate for the works’ scrap line which, of course, they weren’t as this was a modern class and at that time was still in full production literally a few yards away. I noted that the frames were from No. 92079, as this was clearly chalked…