News

A legendary name among railway historians and enthusiasts, Old Oak Common shed signed off with its last-ever open day on September 2, when locomotives and traction units of the past, present and future came together to pay tribute to 111 proud years of history, in a showpiece event organised by the modern-day Great Western Railway,…

Continue reading »

TWO LNER icons took rival Great Western Railway territory by storm over the August bank holiday weekend. More than 6000 people from across the country decided to forego a trip to the beach on the sunny, summer bank holiday weekend and instead turned up to Didcot Railway Centre to see A3 Pacific No. 60103 Flying…

Continue reading »

The LMS is set to take centre stage ahead of the other Big Four railway companies at Great Northern Railwayana’s auction on October 7, when Royal Irish Fusilier, with its regimental badge from No. 46123 will be going under the hammer. The Royal Scot was built by the North British Loco Co in Glasgow in…

Continue reading »

A worksplate from Deltic D9003 Meld led a diesel one-two at Talisman’s August 12 sale at Newark, selling for £5500. The Class 55 was built by English Electric in 1960 and after strutting its stuff on the East Coast Main Line it was withdrawn as No. 55003 in December 1980 and cut up at Doncaster…

Continue reading »

ON FRIDAY, August 25, Ironbridge’s Blists Hill Victorian Town’s replica of Richard Trevithick’s 1802 Coalbrookdale locomotive was transported to the August 27-28 Shrewsbury Steam Rally using a Fowler steam road locomotive. The Coalbrookdale locomotive is thought to be a collaboration between the Cornish mining engineer and Shropshire ironmaster William Reynolds. In 1802, 27 years before…

Continue reading »

THE North Yorkshire Moors Railway’s York Area Group – which raises vital funds for the line through recycling paper and aluminium products – has closed down after 30 years. In that time, the volunteers have recycled over 3100 tons of waste paper and cardboard, seven tons of aluminium cans, 32 tons of aluminium foil and…

Continue reading »

ON AUGUST 7, WR 4-6-0 No. 7820 Dinmore Manor, ran its 100,000th mile in preservation at the West Somerset Railway, where it is on hire for the summer season. At a fuel consumption rate of circa 30 miles to the ton of coal, that represents over 3300 tons of coal and equates to the equivalent…

Continue reading »

TEN more coaches on the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway will now be protected from the elements following the completion of a £37,000 new instant carriage shed. The 164ft long storage facility, which adjoins the line’s 20-year-old sheds, was designed and built by Spanlite UK Ltd in just 10 days from start to finish.…

Continue reading »

By Phil Marsh AS REPORTED in HR issue 231, the first stage of the so-called ‘redevelopment’ of Wolverton Works by property developer St Modwen commenced on July 3. This involved land clearance of a former workshop and traverser area revealing rail, hawsers and other related materials. Parts of the famous mile-long 10ft-high works brick wall…

Continue reading »

DIMINUTIVE 2ft gauge 1½ ton, four-wheel Lister petrol locomotive No. 6299 returned to operation on August 28 after 45 years of static display and storage. The R-type locomotive, powered by a 600cc JAP engine, re-entered service at the Westonzoyland Light Railway at Westonzoyland Pumping Station near Bridgwater in Somerset following an extensive overhaul by member…

Continue reading »