News

The Bodmin & Wenford Railway’s (BWR) GWR prairie No. 5552 has been reunited with its smokebox numberplate that was lost during a 25-year period in Barry scrapyard. The 1928-built locomotive was withdrawn from Truro shed in Cornwall in 1961, and ended up at Dai Woodham’s scrapyard in Barry. It languished until 1986 when it was…

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THE Rother Valley Railway welcomed local MP Huw Merriman to Robertsbridge station in August to hear about progress on its plans to link the line to the Kent & East Sussex Railway. The Conservative MP for Bexhill and Battle also officially opened the first building construction at Robertsbridge, in the form of new heritage washroom…

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The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust have announced plans for a new multi-million-pound main line-connected base in Darlington, ending months of talks and speculation. The trust aims to move into the four-track Whessoe Road engine shed, which was built in 1861 by the Stockton & Darlington Railway, and which in 1825 became the world’s first public…

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By Geoff Courtney The world of railway preservation has paid tribute to Roland Kennington, who died on September 17, after a career in engineering that included nearly two decades working with No. 4472 Flying Scotsman during its ownership by firstly Sir William McAlpine and then Tony Marchington. Roland, who was 80 and leaves wife Chris,…

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THE return of the Severn Valley Railway’s popular autumn steam gala got off to a flying start – with the announcement that the heritage line had scooped a major local tourist award. The railway was named Best Visitor Attraction 2017 in the Visit Worcestershire Awards for Excellence, which aims to highlight the best tourism businesses…

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The Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway operated its first steam-hauled public passenger train at its present base at the Skegness Water Leisure Park on September 17, with a record number of passengers being carried on the day. Peckett 0-6-0ST No. 1008 Jurassic, built by Bristol company Peckett and Sons for Southam lime works in Warwickshire, was…

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By Phil Marsh The Government may be asked to rule on the fate of historic Wolverton Works. A repeat of a court case concerning demolition at Wolverton is looming after Milton Keynes Council’s development control committee held a third hearing to decide the future of the LNWR works in September. This hearing was required because…

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AN APPEAL to raise £200,000 to buy 101mph Peppercorn A1 Pacific No. 60163 Tornado’s tender has reached its target. The 163 Pacifics Club – The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust’s fundraising facility – was launched in September 2013 to buy the locomotive’s tender from principal sponsor William Cook Cast Products Ltd, and has reached its initial…

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A plaque was unveiled on the site of Bundoran station at 2.30pm on Saturday, September 30, at the exact time and on the same date as the last passenger train left the station in 1957 for Bundoran Junction, bringing down the curtain on 91 years of railway operations in the County Donegal seaside town. Paddy…

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JOHN Cameron’s LNER K4 2-6-0 No. 61994 The Great Marquess has moved to the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway for static display. The West Highland Line veteran is set to take pride of place in the Museum of Scottish Railways at Bo’ness station. The locomotive has been in storage at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway since…

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