Sam Hewitt

What is billed as the first publicly-owned British railway company to be created in a century has been launched by Tyseley-based Vintage Trains as a major and ambitious step in the expansion of its Vintage Trains railtour arm. The public is being offered the chance to buy community shares – minimum subscription £500, maximum £100,000…

Continue reading »

SWANAGE Railway Trust officials have been “staggered” by the overwhelming public response to their £50,000 appeal for money to return LSWR T3 4-4-0 No. 563 to steam – after nearly £43,000 was raised within just six weeks. As of December 3, the appeal fund stood at £42,397.22 – with more money coming in by the…

Continue reading »

By Cedric Johns FOLLOWING protracted discussions which have taken years to reach fruition, the future of British Railway’s only example of a three cylinder 8P 4-6-2, No. 71000 Duke of Gloucester, has been secured for a period of at least 50 years. Currently undergoing heavy overhaul at Tyseley, the 4-6-2 is now in the ownership…

Continue reading »

By Cedric Johns ACCLAIMED by thousands of fans worldwide, Flying Scotsman, the iconic locomotive which draws crowds wherever it goes, ran into trouble and was reduced to the ranks of also-rans when a hot axlebox stopped the A3 in its tracks. Working the return leg of a Steam Dreams’ dining trip from York to Peterborough…

Continue reading »

It WAS a close bout, but the Southern Railway won on points against the GWR at Great Northern’s October 7 sale at Poynton, followed by the LNER and a second GWR contender on the undercard. Top of the quartet was Robert Blake from Lord Nelson No. 30855 (£12,800), ahead of the £12,200 for Diamond Jubilee…

Continue reading »

A trio of GWR Halls joins a Grange, Star, SR West Country, and LMS Patriot and the inevitable Jubilee in the headline nameplate category at Great Central’s December 2 sale. The Halls are Rood Ashton Hall, Haydon Hall and Kingsthorpe Hall, from Nos. 4965, 5932 and 6950 respectively, a trio built between 1929 and 1942…

Continue reading »

BULLEID Merchant Navy Pacific No. 35005 Canadian Pacific, undergoing a £1.5 million overhaul, has taken another major step towards returning to steam at the Mid Hants Railway. On September 26 the frames were lifted back onto the driving wheels at Eastleigh. Railway engineering firm Arlington Fleet Services provided overhead cranes to complete the preparation work…

Continue reading »