Sam Hewitt

Patriot progresses to rolling chassis

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Sam Hewitt

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24th July 2018

A rolling chassis for LMS Patriot No. 45551 The Unknown Warrior is on course for completion by late August, according to The LMS Patriot Project, the organisation behind the new-build steam locomotive. The Unknown Warrior is expected to leave Llangollen in October for the trial fitting of the boiler – the target being to steam…
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Cleethorpes unveils extension plan at 70th birthday bash

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Sam Hewitt

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24th July 2018

THE Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway celebrated its 70th birthday by announcing a £250,000 plan to build a southern extension to boost its appeal to the tourist market The 15in gauge line is to extend by about two thirds of a mile to the Thorpe Park caravan site, crossing Buck Beck, while building a new station…
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Going all potty over SVR’s Arley station

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Sam Hewitt

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24th July 2018

MASTER stonemason Philip Chatfield has again been contributing his skills at the Severn Valley Railway, in a volunteer capacity at Arley station. He carefully researched the history and construction of an unusual floral chimney pot dating from 1904, so an exact replica could be produced. The original pot was unfortunately broken some years ago. Philip…
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Diesel power replaces steam as heatwave hits heritage railways and main line tours

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Sam Hewitt

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24th July 2018

THE heatwave in late June and early July has hit the heritage sector on both the national network and preserved lines with diesel traction replacing steam because of ‘tinderbox’ conditions on the lineside. On all routes affected by the dry weather, a Network Rail protocol has come into force whereby a steam locomotive must have…
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Lost Lines: Railway Treasures

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Sam Hewitt

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23rd July 2018

By Nigel Welbourn (hardback, Crecy, 224pp, £25, ISBN 978 0 66093, 691 6). Here is a magnificent volume that will both inspire exploratory visits to half-forgotten locations and many hours browsing through it. The author has previously written 15 volumes in his Lost Lines series, each covering a different region. This one takes a national…
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Three Island Ivatts

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Sam Hewitt

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23rd July 2018

The Isle of Wight Steam Railway celebrated the restoration of three Ivatt locomotives, types which never ran on the island in BR days. Brian Sharpe reports on the gala weekend, which saw the 2MT trio in steam together for the first time. Over the May Bank Holiday weekend, the Isle of Wight Steam Railway staged…
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Eardington 150

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Sam Hewitt

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23rd July 2018

One of the Severn Valley Railway’s forgotten gems recently celebrated its milestone with an open weekend. Paul Appleton went along to find out more. Eardington station on the Severn Valley Railway celebrated its 150th anniversary in style over June 2/3, with a special open weekend to mark the occasion. The actual anniversary would have been…
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Midland 0-4-4T information required

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Sam Hewitt

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23rd July 2018

I was given the enclosed postcard during my travels for work but regrettably cannot remember any detail. It is a Midland Railway 1262 class 0-4-4T built by Neilson in 1876 and withdrawn in 1927, but no other details have come to light. Can any readers shed any light as to the location, date or other…
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In praise of Chinese railway museum

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Sam Hewitt

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23rd July 2018

Thanks to the magazine and Paul Stratford for the article and pictures of the China Railway Museum. How gratifying it is to see the Chinese are taking their heritage seriously with this impressive museum. I visited China on an organised tour in 1988 and visited a ‘museum’ at Shenyang, next to Su Jia Tun depot,…
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Boom times at Broadway!

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Sam Hewitt

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23rd July 2018

The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway’s opening of the long-awaited northern extension to Broadway has not only reaped rich dividends for the heritage line, but it has generated an extra major income stream for the Yellowstone tourist honeypot. Robin Jones visited the landmark Give My Regards To Broadway spring bank holiday Cotswold Festival of Steam. The impact…
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Sam Hewitt

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