News

DEVON’S Tarka Valley Railway has installed veloSTRAIL level crossing panels for the foot crossing at Torrington station. The panels, installed onNovember 20, have sealed flangeways which provide an uninterrupted path over the crossing so that cycle tyres, dog paws and buggy wheels do not get stuck. The same day, 16 tons of 50/20 limestone ballast…

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THE last few stays and rivets went into the refurbished boiler that will operate with new-build GWR 4-6-0 No. 6880 Betton Grange, at Tyseley Locomotive Works in November. All three sections of the boiler were assembled in time for trial-fitting in the locomotive’s frames on December 3. It had originally been hoped that a fire…

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THE Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway has boosted its diesel fleet with the acquisition of 0-6-0DM Rachel. Built in 1959 by Guest Engineering, Rachel was originally designed for the Shillingstone Light Railway as a 10¼in gauge locomotive, but was eventually completed as a 15in gauge machine. Rachel is best known for running between 1961 to 1984…

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By Jonathan Webb FOLLOWING the death last year of owner Esmond Lewis-Evans, the Bulleid 4DD Group has purchased Bulleid EMU driving motor car No. 13003 from the receivers appointed to manage his estate. The vehicle is stabled in a corner of the private locomotive restoration site at Sellindge in Kent and is balanced rather precariously…

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A major milestone was achieved by Vale of Berkeley Railway volunteers on November 9, when the first of four 880ft sidings was sufficiently cleared of undergrowth to run their first ‘train’ – in the form of a hand trolley. Volunteers have been working at Oldminster Sidings for many months, to clear undergrowth and trees from…

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THE project to create a new GWR County 4-4-0 – potentially to be based at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway – can now claim to have a ‘real’ locomotive. The Churchward County Trust’s No. 3840 County of Montgomery officially came into being on November 13 – after the main frame plates were cut by TATA Steel…

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Words and pictures by John Titlow No gala – no visiting star guests – it was just the home fleet in operation on the Severn Valley Railway, but amidst some of the most wonderful autumn colours we have seen for many years. After the long hot summer when steam was banned many times throughout the…

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CLASSIC narrow gauge locomotives took centre stage at the annual Warley National Model Railway Exhibition at the National Exhibition Centre near Birmingham on November 24/25. Attendance increased by more than 10%, giving the highest visitor numbers at the show for five years, a Warley spokesman said, who added that the boost in numbers was encouraged…

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THE occupants of a car whose driver failed to heed the warning signs at a North Norfolk Railway level crossing escaped unhurt after it collided with a steam locomotive and was wrecked. At around 11.20am on Saturday, November 17, GER Y14 0-6-0 No. 564 collided with the Mercedes A-Class on Sweetbriar Lane AOCL (Automatic Open…

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The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust is offering members of the public the chance to jump on board throughout the 12 days of Christmas – and sponsor a component for Britain’s newest and most powerful express passenger steam locomotive in the £5 million Gresley P2 2-8-2 No. 2007 Prince of Wales. For a limited time only,…

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