Sam Hewitt

GREAT Central Railway directors have spent the festive season investigating the possibility of saving the scheme to build an £18 million national-standard landmark museum at Leicester North, after the project was delivered a pre-Christmas ‘body blow’ by principal backer the Heritage Lottery Fund. On December 13, both the railway and the heritage sector in general…

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By Geoff Courtney Two medals awarded to hero steam train driver Wallace Oakes, who died saving his passengers on a Euston-Carlisle express, have been put on permanent display by the National Railway Museum, while a memorial at his grave, which has been unmarked since his burial 52 years ago, is to be dedicated at a…

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STEAM passenger trains have returned to the Alnwick branch after two decades of effort by revivalists. The last BR steam passenger trains ran from Alnmouth to Alnwick on June 18, 1966 when the Standard 9F 2-10-0 No. 92099 hauled two-coach trains on the branch. However, the clock was put back on Thursday, December 28, when…

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Christmas came two days early for the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway when a 35 year dream of returning trains to the Cotswold tourist honeypot of Broadway finally came true. On December 23, the last rail on the line’s northern extension was fixed into position, linking it to the rails already laid between the platforms of the…

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Unbeknown to the vast majority, Flying Scotsman was in danger of being declared a failure for the second time, 24 hours after having its re-metalled centre driving wheels returned from Riley Engineering and refitted at Wansford on the Nene Valley Railway. Having arrived at Norwich on the evening of November 10 the A3’s footplate crew…

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Following a lengthy bottom end overhaul by Riley Engineering, A4 No. 60009 Union of South Africa has enjoyed a good season running down south until recent weeks. The A4, accompanied by Merchant Navy 4-6-2 No. 35018 British India Line, travelled from York to Carnforth on October 12 and on to the East Lancashire Railway for…

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Currently stabled at Butterley, after being ‘stopped’ suffering with cracked flues, Stanier 4-6-2 No. 46233 Duchess of Sutherland has been withdrawn from traffic for winter maintenance. As part of the engine’s fettling process, the 4-6-2’s chief mechanical engineer, Simon Scott, confirmed that the Duchess will be returned to main line duties repainted in LMS maroon,…

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By Cedric Johns Jeremy Hosking has bought two Deltic diesels to add to his growing steam and diesel fleet based at Crewe. Purchased under the name of Diesel Locomotives Limited, a division of Locomotive Services Limited, the Class 55s are D9016 Gordon Highlander and No. 55022 Royal Scots Grey, both previously owned by Beaver Sports…

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