News

BR locoman drives Aln Valley train 53 years on

by

Sam Hewitt

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15th March 2019

Nearly 53 years ago, in June 1966, BR fireman Kenny Middlemist from Alnmouth shed last worked on a steam locomotive over the Cawledge Viaduct on the Alnwick branch. Alnmouth-allocated K1 2-6-0 No. 62011 hauled the branch passenger train set on the morning of the last day of steam-hauled passenger services on the line. His driver…
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In 1950 Leo helped build Clun Castle: now he rides behind it!

by

Sam Hewitt

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15th March 2019

FOR 68 years, Leo Leeney kept a very dark secret all to himself. During his five years with the Royal Engineers, Leo served a three-year apprenticeship as a boilersmith. That work would see him labouring inside the blackest interiors of brand new boilers, riveting them, with only a pair of earmuffs to drown out the…
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West Somerset rescued from the brink of collapse

by

Sam Hewitt

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15th March 2019

THE West Somerset Railway has been saved from closure by a whisker – after failures were found in its finances, infrastructure and safety systems. In an open and frank meeting, 320 supporters gathered at the Oake Manor Golf Club, Wellington, Somerset on March 2 to hear first-hand of the plc’s dire position, as well as…
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New beginning for Blaenau & Trawsfynydd group

by

Sam Hewitt

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13th March 2019

THE Blaenau Ffestiniog & Trawsfynydd Railway Society is set for a new dawn, after members came together to vote on a fresh beginning and a new approach to returning trains to the line between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Trawsfynydd Lake Halt. The outcome of their voting on Sunday, February 3 resulted in the creation of a…
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Summer season at Launceston for Darjeeling engine 10 years on

by

Sam Hewitt

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13th March 2019

DARJEELING Himalayan Railway Sharp Stewart 0-4-0STT No. 19B is to return to the Launceston Steam Railway after 10 years for a summer visit hauling passenger trains. The only DHR locomotive outside India, and owned by former Chiltern Railways chairman Adrian Shooter, No. 19B ran on the Cornish line in August and September 2009. At Launceston,…
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Caley Blue 419 adds Broadway to English tour

by

Sam Hewitt

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13th March 2019

Caledonian Railway 0-4-4T No. 419 has added the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway’s Cotswold Festival of Steam to its biggest-ever tour of England. No. 419 will star in the May 25-27 festival alongside another blue guest, GWR 4-6-0 No. 6023 Edward II from Didcot Railway Centre. A third guest will be B1 4-6-0 No. 1260 from the…
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Terrier finale

by

Sam Hewitt

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13th March 2019

By Martin Creese A SOUND synonymous with a little corner of England will fall silent for a while during March, as former LBSCR ‘Terrier’ No. 32678 is being withdrawn from traffic for its 10-yearly overhaul. That corner of England is the Kent & East Sussex Railway, a line which has featured locomotives of the class…
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Two Barry locomotives return in one weekend!

by

Sam Hewitt

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13th March 2019

PRESERVATION history was made over the weekend of March 2/3 when two steam locomotives that have been restored to working order from Barry scrapyard condition were officially launched into traffic. It took a total of 77 years for BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T No. 80097 and WR 4-6-0 Modified Hall No. 6989 Wightwick Hall to be…
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British India Line ‘farewell’ tribute to charter pioneer Nigel Dobbing

by

Sam Hewitt

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13th March 2019

King’s Lynn-based The Railway Touring Company organised the tribute to Nigel, who established the company in the town 22 years ago.
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Second Duchess joins line-up at Dreweatts’ transport sale

by

Sam Hewitt

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11th March 2019

A second LMS Duchess has joined the ranks of the Dreweatts’ Transport Sale of live steam models on March 12. It is No. 6231 Duchess of Atholl, built in 5in gauge by gold medal-winning model engineer John Richardson of Halifax using works’ drawings and is in the livery the Pacific carried when it emerged from…
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