News

Two express locomotive nameplates – Holland-Afrika Line and Lord President – tied for top spot in the railwayana section of a collectables auction held by Tennants of Leyburn, North Yorkshire, on November 24, each going under the hammer for £18,000. The former was from Oliver Bulleid-designed Merchant Navy Pacific No. 35023, built by BR at…

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When nameplate combines with badge – regimental, coat-of-arms, or whatever – the hammer invariably falls in the upper echelons of an auction’s realisation list, and Great Central’s sale at Stoneleigh on December 2 was no exception, when Isle of Man from LMS Patriot No. 45511 sold for £26,000, almost double that of the runner-up. That…

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By Cedric Johns The Yeovil Railway Centre is set to enjoy a memorable start to its new season of operations when Stanier 4-6-2 No. 6233 Duchess of Sutherland is booked to make four visits to the junction between March 8 and April 5. It will be the first – and only recorded – visit by…

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By Cedric Johns Following the announcement that Riley & Son is likely to remain the custodian of the ‘world’s most famous engine’, A3 4-6-2 Flying Scotsman, for the next six years, Steam Dreams plans to take the engine to Edinburgh for the third year in succession in the coming months. When the A3 returned in…

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Following weeks of speculation about the future management of A3 4-6-2 No. 60103 Flying Scotsman it is understood that Riley & Son has been offered a new contract to operate and maintain this popular, crowd-pulling locomotive for the next six years. According to the National Museum’s press office, the contract includes a clause which requires…

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A combination of engineering work, signal failures, a breakdown and severe weather conditions all conspired to adversely affect several main line charters over the period December 2-10, Steam Dreams bearing the brunt of the disruptions. On Saturday, December 2 a ‘Cathedrals Express’ running from Southend to Alton and Winchester via Upminster and Barking was the…

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By Cedric Johns Fifty years ago – on Saturday, August 11, 1968 – the glorious history of British steam ended when a ‘Fifteen Guinea Special’ running over the Settle & Carlisle line brought down the curtain on steam on the national network. For the record, the special involved no less than four locomotives; ‘Black Five’…

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Hosking announces bargain steam tours programme By Cedric Johns ThE UK’s country’s newest Train Operating Company, Locomotive Services (TOC) Limited, part of Jeremy Hosking’s growing influence in the world of charter train operations, has announced details of its main line tour programme for 2018. Operating under the name of Saphos Trains – a division of…

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By Hugh Dougherty AN AMNESTY has been launched by the Loch Lomond Steamship Company to help retrieve vital parts of Britain’s last railway-built paddle steamer, PS Maid of the Loch, as the push goes on to raise steam in it once again. Chairman John Beveridge said that anyone returning any relics of the ship, whether…

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