News

A NEW-build working replica of one of Southwold Railway’s original locomotives is set to be built in Darlington – and it could bring steam to the Suffolk resort within two years. As we closed for press, NBR Engineering Services, the engineering arm of Scarborough’s North Bay Railway, was set to sign a contract to finish…

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TYSELEY Locomotive Works – a rare and precious bolthole for standard gauge steam following its end on the national network in 1968 – is to celebrate 50 years since its first open day. On September 29, 1968, Tyseley Depot opened its doors to the public for the very first time with a display of steam…

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EXCLUSIVE By Geoff Courtney AN original nameplate from No. 60103 Flying Scotsman that was controversially withdrawn from sale by leading auction house Bonhams in 2016 after an intervention by the late Sir William McAlpine, a former owner of the legendary locomotive, is returning to market. The plate was carried by the 1923-built Pacific until 1996,…

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By Cedric Johns Coinciding with the change of ownership, Steam Dreams has announced an Alan Pegler commemorative special train to honour the man who saved Flying Scotsman from the scrapyard in 1963. The special, which will run from Kings Cross to York on Sunday, October 13 behind the A3, will fulfil Pegler’s wishes that his…

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By Cedric Johns FOLLOWING a keynote statement released on July 9, the railway fraternity especially steam Train Operating Companies, railtour promoters and enthusiasts, were astonished to learn that Marcus Robertson had sold his Steam Dreams operation to David Buck, owner of B1 4-6-0 No. 61306 Mayflower. David said that he was delighted at becoming the…

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THE Aln Valley Railway (AVR) has scooped £146,000 to build a new halt and run-round loop. The railway has been successful in its bid to get a Rural Development Programme for England grant to support local rural tourism infrastructure. The grant, together with 20% match funding from cyclepath organisation Sustrans, amounts to £146,600. The project…

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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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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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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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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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