News

WENSLEYDALE Railway shareholders have backed a controversial plan to sell off its westernmost station in order to clear debts. At the company’s annual general meeting held in Leyburn Methodist church hall on Saturday, September 9, shareholders voted in favour of selling off the currently isolated Aysgarth station, which is yet to be connected to the…

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THE Leighton Buzzard Railway is to hold its 50th anniversary gala over the weekend of September 30 and October 1, with up to 10 locomotives in steam. The event will celebrate 50 years since the initial formal meeting held in October 1967 that led to the formation of the preservation society. A special train service…

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TWO Bulleid Battle of Britain light Pacifics are set to join the Swanage Railway’s operational fleet. Fifteen years after it last steamed, Battle of Britain No. 34072 257 Squadron will be making its comeback imminently. Following the completion of its overhaul at Herston Works, the locomotive was taken by low loader back to the heritage…

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SEPTEMBER 30 will see the £650,000 replica Baldwin 2-4-2T Lyn officially launched at the start of Lynton & Barnstaple Railway’s two-day autumn gala. Lyn is a new-build replacement of the original locomotive built in 1898 to operate the railway. It passed a steam test at Alan Keef’s Ross-on-Wye works on September 7. The first Lyn…

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WORLD famous steam locomotives Flying Scotsman and Tornado (pictured) have arrived at Barrow Hill Roundhouse ahead of this weekend’s celebrations to mark the reopening of the iconic visitor attraction following its £1.2million refurbishment. Sir Peter Luff, chairman to the board of the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Heritage Lottery Fund, will visit Barrow Hill Roundhouse…

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There is no doubt that diesels are an integral part of railway preservation but this was not always the case. Brian Sharpe delves into the increasingly complex world of British main line diesel preservation. On May 24, 1973, WR Warship B-B diesel-hydraulic D821 Greyhound became the first BR main line diesel locomotive to be purchased…

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The final 18 months leading to the end of BR steam operation in the North East saw many last steam workings. Maurice Burns recalls his memories of that time, and the efforts of many enthusiasts to clean up some of the worn-out old engines ensuring steam bowed out in style. Steam in the North East…

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NEW-build A1 Peppercorn Pacific No. 60163 Tornado has landed a starring role in Paddington. Tornado will be appearing at the legendary GWR terminus in the new Paddington 2 movie, about the famous abandoned bear which was left at the station. The film, due to be released on November 10, will see the A1 paired with…

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VINTAGE Trains has announced the first main line tours for its iconic flagship – WR 4-6-0 No. 7029 Clun Castle. A high-profile recommissioning ceremony of Clun Castle will take place at Tyseley Locomotive Works on Sunday, October 29, and following its seven-year restoration, will undergo further tests before embarking on a series of main line…

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By Geoff Courtney A George Cross awarded to hero steam express driver Wallace ‘Wally’ Oakes, who 52 years ago sacrificed his life saving his passengers from a potential catastrophic accident, was bought for £60,000 by the National Railway Museum at an auction in Warwickshire on September 2. The price equalled the world record railwayana realisation,…

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