News

A STEAM locomotive type not seen running in Britain in more than half a century will be one of the stars of the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways’ Hunslet 125 event. The railways will be celebrating the 125th birthdays of former Penrhyn Railway pair Linda and Blanche during the June 22-24 event, at which it…

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INSTEAD OF reaching the end of its line, this locomotive has gone way over it, when around 47 years after it was left hanging over a cliff edge, it has since entered regular service on the Bodmin & Wenford Railway following restoration. Maesteg Comprehensive schoolgirl Linda Paschali, one day in 1971, heard what she thought…

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THE Ecclesbourne Valley Railway’s March 17/18 spring diesel weekend was saved from the sudden and severe winter storms and snow that comprised the second ‘Beast from the East’ to hit the UK last month. Commercial manager Leigh Gration said: “Our team of volunteers worked as one throughout the weekend and made sure we delivered a…

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THE cylinder block for new Gresley P2 2-8-2 No. 2007 Prince of Wales is now fully funded two months earlier than schedule, and considerable progress has been made on its redesign, builder The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust has announced. In October 2017, the trust launched The Cylinder Club to raise £100,000 from 100 supporters each…

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ISLE of Wight Steam Railway chairman Stephen Oates has been appointed as chief executive officer of the Heritage Railway Association. Stephen, who has been with the IoWSR for more than 30 years, has wide commercial experience, having founded and managed a number of commercial radio stations, and served as economic development manager for Chichester District…

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THE award-winning Lynton & Barnstaple Railway is planning to raise £16.5 million to extend its running line to Blackmoor Gate and Wistlandpound Reservoir after being given the green light by the Exmoor National Park Authority. On March 6, at its meeting in Lynton Town Hall, members of the park authority voted 15-0 to give the…

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By Geoff Courtney While nostalgia and memories are at the very heart of the ever-popular railwayana movement, there are many different strands that pull collectors to its core. Geography is one of them, albeit not the sort that was taught at school, but instead where one lived, where the   only ‘uncopped’ locomotive of a large…

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By Geoff Courtney While much of the recent attention about the fatal fire on the footplate of Britannia No. 70051 Firth of Forth has understandably and rightly centred on the driver, Wallace Oakes, some thoughts of railwaymen from the time of the tragedy have also turned to the fireman, Gwilym Roberts. Wallace died from terrible…

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FURTHER tributes have been paid to international wildlife artist, East Somerset Railway founder and locomotive owner, David Shepherd, during a memorial service at London’s Southwark Cathedral on March 2. Nearly 400 people turned out despite the wintry weather to pay their respects to David, who died on September 19 last year following a 10-week fight…

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