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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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In auction terms, it was close to a dead-heat. In sporting terms, it was two similarly talented rivals running neck-and-neck as they approached the finishing line. In economic terms, it was a success. Two West Country Pacifics were in the spotlight in the Railwayana.net internet auction from May 15-20, and eventually the nameplate, coat-of-arms and…

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If the diesel brigade wants to reinforce its message that the new order is on the march, it need look no further than Talisman Railwayana’s May 12 auction at Templecombe. The message will be nearly 4ft long and 10in wide, made in aluminium, look distinctly unsteam-like, and carry the name Implacable. You’ve got it –…

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HEREFORD may have been at the heart of GWR territory, but the cathedral city joined forces with the LMS at Great Central’s June 2 sale at Stoneleigh Park to demolish the opposition, when nameplate City of Hereford from Princess Coronation No. 46255 sold for £22,000. The plate from the 1946-built Pacific was the only five-figure…

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