News

THE Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway has been in mourning for its founder and preservation pioneer Bill Woolhouse, who died at the age of 91. Bill, the 2ft gauge line’s company secretary and director, passed away on March 16, in the Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby. Nearly seven decades ago, he became member No.…

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By Paul Appleton THE Severn Valley’s own 4MT 4-6-0 No. 75069 has now become the firm focus of attention at Bridgnorth… and is set to return to action towards the end of the present operating season. It will further strengthen the ranks of operational former BR Standard types on Britain’s heritage railways, following the debut of…

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The Severn Valley Railway’s March 17-19 spring steam gala turned out to be a stunning success. A total of 4537 passengers travelled – exactly 1000 more than last year’s spring gala and ahead of estimates for 2017, so it got the new season off to a bumper start. The railway also enjoyed 100% availability of…

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by Phil Marsh THE 1991-built static replica LNWR 2-2-2 ‘Bloomer’ has been placed back on public display after a decade languishing inside Wolverton Works. The engine was built in 1991 and made by works apprentices as engineering training exercise. It was originally displayed outside Milton Keynes station to celebrate the town’s railway heritage. The non-working…

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TYSELEY Locomotive Works is aiming to complete its long-running new-build LNWR ‘Bloomer’ 2-2-2 replica in two years’ time. Not only that, but officials hope to have it haul special trains over the national network. The project has been boosted by a substantial gift of money which, hopefully, will enable the single driving wheel to be…

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By Roger Melton and Robin Jones THE eagerly-anticipated high-profile visit of LMS 4-6-0 No. 46100 Royal Scot to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway saw near sell-out services as crowds thronged the lineside. Royal Scot featured in a press launch for the visit on Friday, March 24, before hauling timetabled trains over the following weekend, and…

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GREAT Railway Journeys presenter and former cabinet minister Michael Portillo has launched a £30 million project to set up a new heritage line over the Manchester Ship Canal. Businessman and philanthropist Neil McArthur wants to reopen six miles of disused track between Irlam in Salford and Timperley in Trafford, while adding 8½ miles to the…

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AFTER decades of speculation, wishful thinking and hard fundraising, what is widely considered to be the biggest obstacle in the heritage railway sector is now being removed. In March, building work began on the bridge which will link the two heritage era Great Central railways at Loughborough. Contractors have been preparing the ground for the…

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By Geoff Courtney REVIVALISTS planning to restore a link between two heritage lines are celebrating a major step forward in their project, following a local council decision to grant approval for the £4½ million scheme and the decision of Highways England to agree in principle to the installation of a level crossing over a major…

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By Robin Jones FLYING Scotsman is to take part in a world first – when four trains will be run in parallel along the East Coast Main Line. The unique showpiece event on the morning of Sunday, April 23, has been organised by Virgin Trains to mark the launch of its new Class 800 Azuma…

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