Features

Ray Churchill – 21st century main line steam driver

by

Sam Hewitt

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11th September 2017

One of West Coast Railways’ most respected drivers has retired. Don Benn met him and discussed Ray’s long career on the footplate. When Ray Churchill stepped off the footplate of LMS ‘Black Five’ 4-6-0 No. 44871 at Crewe in the early afternoon of Thursday April 28 it brought to an end 59 years working on…
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Camping coach holiday 1966

by

Sam Hewitt

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28th August 2017

Fifty years ago, a remarkable variety of steam power was still in control of passenger and freight workings in the North-West. Trevor Gregg looks back to a camping coach holiday at Grange-over-Sands. Our annual summer holiday was always something that I looked forward to especially as a young trainspotter. Two memorable holidays were spent in…
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New build steam – Georgina debuts at Scarborough

by

Sam Hewitt

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21st August 2017

Mark Smithers reports on the launch at Scarborough’s North Bay Railway of its first steam locomotive. Billed in its 2010 souvenir brochure as ‘Britain’s biggest miniature railway’, Scarborough’s 20in-gauge North Bay Railway has constituted an important part of the town’s tourist industry for a period of more than eight decades. Unusual, but not unique in…
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All aboard the Jumbo Express

by

Sam Hewitt

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17th August 2017

The Whipsnade Zoo railway leads a quiet existence and is rarely reported on. Peter Brown visited the railway for an update. The last time I visited the Whipsnade Steam Railway, I vividly recall seeing a giant Rhodesian steam locomotive and sleeping car in a siding towering above the much smaller-sized trains running past. Having learnt…
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South African steam: Western Cape steam revival

by

Sam Hewitt

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17th August 2017

The recent reopening of an 11-mile, formerly closed railway through Mitchell’s Pass in the Western Cape, South Africa, has resulted in new steam excursions by Ceres Rail using two British-built locomotives. Rodney Towers tells the story. The increasing activities of the Ceres Rail Company are generating excitement amongst steam enthusiasts in the Western Cape, South…
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WITH FULL REGULATOR LOCOMOTIVE PERFORMANCE THEN AND NOW

by

Sam Hewitt

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17th August 2017

By Don Benn The week to Sunday, July 9, saw three main line special trains commemorating the 50th anniversary of the end of steam worked trains on the Southern, plus a big gala at the Mid Hants Railway over two weekends, which included four working Bulleid Pacifics. The weather was generally fine and warm throughout…
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Remembering Geoff Bird – an LNER premium apprentice

by

Sam Hewitt

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14th August 2017

The death of Geoff Bird, York shedmaster between 1965 and 1980, was announced just before Christmas. Phil Marsh was fortunate enough to meet Geoff several times to record a fascinating railway career that spanned five decades. Geoff was born in Essex but his family were evacuated to Harrogate in 1939. He recalled the Tilbury tanks…
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PRESERVATION HISTORY: 94 of the best

by

Sam Hewitt

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10th August 2017

Fifty years ago, there was only one standard gauge preserved railway running timetabled steam services and time was running out to save any more main line steam engines for posterity. Brian Sharpe pays tribute to the steam engines purchased from BR during the 1960s to carry on steaming in the first wave of heritage railways…
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Coal Fear is no smoke screen

by

Sam Hewitt

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5th August 2017

Friday, December 18, 2015 saw the end of deep coalmining in Britain when Kellingley Colliery was closed, and with it came fears from steam enthusiasts that the heritage railway movement was going to suffer as a direct result. Peter Brown canvasses opinion from the industry. Suggestions from some enthusiasts were rife and equally gloomy that…
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East Coast Pacifics to the rescue!

by

Sam Hewitt

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31st July 2017

Flying Scotsman’s last run for BR was in the ‘Big Freeze’ in January 1963. Robert Anderson recalls that at the time many of Scotsman’s sister A3 Pacifics had a last spell of frontline express service as a result of the new diesels on the East Coast Main Line not taking kindly to the freezing temperatures…
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