News

DERBY businessman Don Amott said he wants to save the city council’s closed Markeaton Park Light Railway. The 15in gauge line, which was first opened in 1989 and was extended to its present length of nearly a mile in 1996, is currently being dismantled after the previous tenant, John Bull, said the city council, which…

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A LONG-lost locomotive that was re-created from a single photograph has received its official launch at the Beamish Museum in County Durham. As previously reported, the new-build 0-4-0WTG Samson has been mainly built by 79-year-old Beamish volunteer David Young, who spent 5000 man hours on the project. The original Samson was built in 1874, the…

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GB RAILFREIGHT raised a record £125,100 for charity following a four-day nationwide charity charter train tour which included a visit to the Swanage Railway. The tour, which set out from london Victoria on September 8, marked 15 years of operations for the company. Using a mixture of the company’s Class 20s, Class 59s, Class 87s…

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The controversial restoration of one of the world’s flagship express locomotives has received a boost with the signing of a contract to repair the Pacific’s boiler, leading to a bullish forecast by a spokesman for the team working on the frequently delayed project that the engine will return to service next year. Former New South…

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THE Betton Grange Society marked the 80th anniversary of the introduction of the Collett Grange 4-6-0, when in 1936, No. 6800 Arlington Grange rolled off the Swindon production line, the first of a class of 80. The ticket-only event at the Llangollen Railway on Saturday, September 24 included a full programme of Grange activities, starting…

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Dennis Robinson started work at Lower Darwen shed (coded 24D) on December 27, 1961 as a cleaner aged 15. He carried on with footplate work and retired in December 2011 after completing a 50 year career ending up at Manchester Longsight depot as a Cross-Country Voyager driver. Within a month of retiring, he joined West…

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THE landmark reopening of the entire Swanage branch moved a step closer with the official opening of the new £500,000 Norden Gates level crossing by the High Sheriff of Dorset. During Victorian times, the family of Sir Philip Williams were among the promoters who brought the 1847-opened railway from Southampton to Dorchester via Wareham –…

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WHAT has been hailed as the world’s most successful traction of all time celebrated its 40th birthday at the National Railway Museum. On Sunday, October 2, visitors had the unique chance to see the original HST Class 43 power car in its now-restored blue/yellow livery, as it would have been seen for the first time…

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A Kent & East Sussex Railway volunteer whose early role was to prepare the line for a royal visit 34 years ago has been appointed commercial manager. André Freeman’s interest in railways started at an early age while living opposite Whitstable & Tankerton station on the Faversham-Margate route. Canterbury-born André became a KESR volunteer in…

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