News

By Cedric Johns Coinciding with the change of ownership, Steam Dreams has announced an Alan Pegler commemorative special train to honour the man who saved Flying Scotsman from the scrapyard in 1963. The special, which will run from Kings Cross to York on Sunday, October 13 behind the A3, will fulfil Pegler’s wishes that his…

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By Cedric Johns FOLLOWING a keynote statement released on July 9, the railway fraternity especially steam Train Operating Companies, railtour promoters and enthusiasts, were astonished to learn that Marcus Robertson had sold his Steam Dreams operation to David Buck, owner of B1 4-6-0 No. 61306 Mayflower. David said that he was delighted at becoming the…

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THE Aln Valley Railway (AVR) has scooped £146,000 to build a new halt and run-round loop. The railway has been successful in its bid to get a Rural Development Programme for England grant to support local rural tourism infrastructure. The grant, together with 20% match funding from cyclepath organisation Sustrans, amounts to £146,600. The project…

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A rolling chassis for LMS Patriot No. 45551 The Unknown Warrior is on course for completion by late August, according to The LMS Patriot Project, the organisation behind the new-build steam locomotive. The Unknown Warrior is expected to leave Llangollen in October for the trial fitting of the boiler – the target being to steam…

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THE Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway celebrated its 70th birthday by announcing a £250,000 plan to build a southern extension to boost its appeal to the tourist market The 15in gauge line is to extend by about two thirds of a mile to the Thorpe Park caravan site, crossing Buck Beck, while building a new station…

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MASTER stonemason Philip Chatfield has again been contributing his skills at the Severn Valley Railway, in a volunteer capacity at Arley station. He carefully researched the history and construction of an unusual floral chimney pot dating from 1904, so an exact replica could be produced. The original pot was unfortunately broken some years ago. Philip…

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THE heatwave in late June and early July has hit the heritage sector on both the national network and preserved lines with diesel traction replacing steam because of ‘tinderbox’ conditions on the lineside. On all routes affected by the dry weather, a Network Rail protocol has come into force whereby a steam locomotive must have…

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The Isle of Wight Steam Railway celebrated the restoration of three Ivatt locomotives, types which never ran on the island in BR days. Brian Sharpe reports on the gala weekend, which saw the 2MT trio in steam together for the first time. Over the May Bank Holiday weekend, the Isle of Wight Steam Railway staged…

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One of the Severn Valley Railway’s forgotten gems recently celebrated its milestone with an open weekend. Paul Appleton went along to find out more. Eardington station on the Severn Valley Railway celebrated its 150th anniversary in style over June 2/3, with a special open weekend to mark the occasion. The actual anniversary would have been…

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