Sam Hewitt

CLASSIC narrow gauge locomotives took centre stage at the annual Warley National Model Railway Exhibition at the National Exhibition Centre near Birmingham on November 24/25. Attendance increased by more than 10%, giving the highest visitor numbers at the show for five years, a Warley spokesman said, who added that the boost in numbers was encouraged…

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THE occupants of a car whose driver failed to heed the warning signs at a North Norfolk Railway level crossing escaped unhurt after it collided with a steam locomotive and was wrecked. At around 11.20am on Saturday, November 17, GER Y14 0-6-0 No. 564 collided with the Mercedes A-Class on Sweetbriar Lane AOCL (Automatic Open…

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The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust is offering members of the public the chance to jump on board throughout the 12 days of Christmas – and sponsor a component for Britain’s newest and most powerful express passenger steam locomotive in the £5 million Gresley P2 2-8-2 No. 2007 Prince of Wales. For a limited time only,…

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By Geoff Courtney Meg Gooch is a dab hand in the kitchen, having cooked for royalty, but she has another skill that is serving up a treat for visitors to the Kent & East Sussex Railway – that of signwriting rolling stock, an art which requires a steady hand and a lot of patience. Tenterden-born…

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By Geoff Courtney AS HE bid farewell to No. 31430 Sister Dora in October, Mangapps Railway Museum boss John Jolly feared he would suffer from withdrawal symptoms, for the Class 31 was the sole remaining ‘big’ diesel on site. However, within days he was his usual ebullient self, for through the gates of his Essex…

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By Paul Appleton A STATION in the remote Highlands of Scotland which saw its last train in November 1968 has reopened as the Highland Heritage and Culture Centre following complete refurbishment of the original buildings and the laying of short sections of track. Grantown East was on the former Great North of Scotland line between…

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Oliver Cromwell – the named star of the ‘Fifteen Guinea Special’ which marked the end of BR steam-hauled passenger trains half a century ago – sent attendances soaring at its final Great Central Railway mini-gala appearance. BR Britannia Pacific No. 70013 headlined ‘The Last Hurrah’ on November 17/18 – with visitor numbers 30% up on…

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NEW West Somerset Railway plc chairman Jonathan Jones-Pratt has vowed to make a complete spring clean of the line in order to bring it into the 21st century. Appointed as acting chairman two months ago but now having taken on the position permanently, Jonathan has arranged for Britain’s longest standard gauge heritage railway (22¾ miles)…

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