Sam Hewitt

COULD St Austell station’s landmark GWR Victorian footbridge be found a new home on a heritage railway? That is the question being posted by St Austell councillor Tim Styles, who is welcoming Network Rail’s plans to move the Grade 2-listed bridge despite local opposition. The covered cast-iron lattice footbridge was built after the GWR took…

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By Geoff Courtney Locomotive owners Tony and Glynnis Frith are celebrating the return to service of their beloved former Rowntree diesel after the couple carried out an ambitious DIY repaint that returned the 0-4-0 to its original ex-works livery. Built at Ruston & Hornsby’s Lincoln plant in 1960 for Rowntree & Co of York, it…

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By Phil Budd THE Gwili Railway’s October 7 gala was the first since its southern extension to Abergwili Junction was opened in July – with visitor numbers and the financial return described as ‘very healthy indeed’. The day saw both resident steam locomotives, RSH 0-6-0STs No. 7849 Moorbarrow and No. 71516 Welsh Guardsman alternating on…

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By Geoff Courtney Many railway enthusiasts of a certain age also have a passion for heritage buses, especially those that plied the streets of London in the 1950s/60s, such as the RTs and Routemasters. Often the twain – steam and buses – do meet, a fine example being the Epping Ongar Railway. As a youngster…

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By George Jones A REPRESENTATIVE roster of five locomotives with an ‘Along South-Western Lines’ theme was assembled for Llangollen Railway’s October 13-15 autumn gala. Star of the show was undoubtedly visiting Bulleid Battle of Britain Pacific No. 34053 Sir Keith Park, representing the Southern Railway, and effectively marking the last gap of this year’s headline-grabbing…

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THE railway world has been in mourning following the deaths of John Edgington and Peter Gray, two of the country’s best-loved lineside photographers. Peter, who lived in Torquay, has died at the age of 89 from complications following pneumonia. He was particularly renowned for his colour pictures of main lines and branches in the West…

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BARRY wreck GWR 2-8-0 No. 2859 has been sold by the Llangollen Railway Great Western Locomotive Group to a private buyer for £38,000. The sale, completed on October 6, came after three separate groups expressed an interest in buying the 1918-built locomotive, which came minus a tender and many other fittings. The new owner, Paul…

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WHAT will be Britain’s most powerful steam locomotive has been ‘twinned’ with the country’s largest warship. A ‘bond of friendship’ between new aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales and new Gresley P2 2-8-2 No. 2007 Prince of Wales has been forged between builder The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust and the Royal Navy. HMS Prince of…

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THE Foxfield Railway-based North Staffordshire Railway Rolling Stock Restoration Trust has been awarded £89,600 from the Heritage Lottery Fund for its accessible brake coach project. The £150,000 project involves the restoration of the remains of a unique 1880s North Staffordshire Railway four-wheeled brake third coach, built locally in Stoke-on-Trent. It will provide additional seating for…

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FORMER BR driver Jeff Madge has taken his last turn on the footplate on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway – after 65 years in the rail industry. Jeff, who lives in Caerphilly, joined Cardiff Canton depot in August 1952 aged just 15, the following year moving to Old Oak Common in London, where he passed…

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