News

THE future of the Class 20s that are on hire to GB Railfreight for the transfer of tube stock between Derby works, Asfordby test site and West Ruislip depot, now that the last trainset (in numerical order) has been delivered, remains unclear. There are still trainsets that are awaiting transfer from Asfordby to West Ruislip…

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NETWORK Rail chairman Sir Peter Hendy has cut the first sod of the Helston Railway’s short extension and new platform at Trevarno Farm. Nearly 135 years ago, in March 1882, the then mayor of Helston inaugurated work on the proposed railway between Helston and Gwinear Road by cutting the first sod. On Thursday, September 1,…

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By Mike Lucas and Robin Jones FIFTY years after the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway closed, the newest steam locomotive to be built in Britain has run over part of its trackbed. It took engineer John Uphill 17 years to build 0-4-2T Faith, mainly at the private Gartell Light Railway, near Templecombe, where it was…

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THE Severn Valley Railway(SVR) is set to launch a share issue in the coming weeks to raise funds for its £5million redevelopment of Bridgnorth station – the most significant project in the railway’s 51-year history – after Shropshire County Council gave the project the green light. The SVR’s Bridgnorth Development Project Team has been celebrating…

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THE Vale of Berkeley Railway Trust, which is working to revive the Midland Railway Sharpness branch, not only has a working diesel but also a second steam locomotive. The Rolls-Royce-powered, 1967-built Thomas Hill Vanguard shunter British Gypsum No 2 has become the first locomotive to move along track at Sharpness Docks since 1980. The locomotive,…

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The latest Barry scrapyard locomotive to be returned to steam is to make its heritage era debut at the Great Central Railway’s autumn steam gala between October 6 and 9. Bearing in mind the predictions for one of the warmest autumns on record, there is hardly likely to be any snow in sight. For BR…

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TICKETS to ride behind Flying Scotsman and Tornado during the Severn Valley Railway’s September 22-26 Pacific Power event may have sold out – but there are plenty of choice locations to watch them in action from the lineside. In one of the biggest heritage steam events that the SVR has ever hosted in its 51-year…

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THE organisers of the award-winning steam trips over London Underground are now looking towards holding events next year – despite the late cancellation of the planned September 10-11 runs from Wembley Park and Harrow-on-the-Hill to Amersham. The weekend’s programme was cancelled by London Transport Museum because of the threat of industrial action precluding access to…

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A Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway driver was hailed a hero after leaping from his cab seconds before his locomotive smashed into a tractor on a level crossing. Zak Clarke, who is in his early 20s, immediately picked himself up and went to help passengers from the train, which was derailed by the force of…

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