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COULD a decision to refuse planning permission to change six windows in Wolverton’s historic workshops signal an end to the threat to demolish it? Will window planning refusal save Wolverton Works? A Mk.1 carriage inside Wolverton Works on April 20. PHIL MARSH The future of the works, operating continuously since 1838, has been mired in…

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AN electric preservation group, which can run its stock without the need for a lineside pick-up, has been ordered to quit its long-time East Kent Railway home. Electric stock scrap fears after order to quit One of the EPB Preservation Group’s vehicles at Southall following restoration. BOB BAINES The EPB Preservation Group, which has been…

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THE return of Flying Scotsman has helped boost visitor numbers at the National Railway Museum. Flying Scotsman comeback helps museum visits soar Explainer Chris Walker prepares to welcome visitors on to Flying Scotsman’s cab in the Great Hall of the National Railway Museum. NRM The York venue saw a 3.1% rise in visitors over the…

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THE 20th anniversary has been celebrated of a twinning link between heritage lines on opposite sides of the English Channel – England’s Kent & East Sussex Railway and the Baie de Somme Railway. Sea bathers’ line marks KESR twinning link The KESR Norwegian mogul No. 376 and Chapelon Pacific No. 231.K8 make a bizarre double-headed…

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A ‘lost’ tube station where Winston Churchill may have made key decisions during the blitz is one of the centrepieces of a new series of Hidden London tours. The tube station that saved the world One of the forgotten tunnels beneath Euston, showing the remains of posters from the Sixties. LTM Visitors are being invited…

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Crowds flocked to Beamish Museum for its April 7-10 Great War Steam Fair – but the real showstopper for many railway enthusiasts was the first public appearance of Britain’s newest steam locomotive. Beamish Museum remembers First World War a century on The Beamish narrow gauge lines became a hive of military and mining activity during…

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When local and national media picked up the story that Network Rail had banned Flying Scotsman from travelling over the Borders Railway and later, crossing the Forth Bridge, Scotland’s transport minister, Derek Mackay, stepped in with pressure to reverse the decision. Transport minister steps in after Network Rail bans Flying Scotsman No. 60103 crosses the…

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THE Swindon & Cricklade Railway has launched an SOS appeal after a suspected arson attack left the mainstay of their passenger timetable gutted. Appeal launched after arsonist destroys Swindon & Cricklade ‘Thumper’ DEMU The wrecked ‘Thumper’ driving trailer at Hayes Knoll on May 21. SCR Class 207 ‘Thumper’ DEMU No. 1302 (207203) arrived at Blunsdon…

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The Severn Valley Railway unveiled its new £600,000 dedicated diesel maintenance depot on Friday, May 20. Severn Valley diesel depot launched John Smith, GBRF managing director, and Phil Swallow, SVR Holdings vice president, following the naming of No. 66763 Severn Valley Railway at Kidderminster’s new diesel maintenance depot. PAUL APPLETON Completed on schedule and to…

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THE Severn Valley Railway’s spring diesel gala held over May 19-21, was arguably the biggest and most extensive event of its kind held in the heritage era. Spring diesel gala breaks all records Deltic D9002 Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry passes a service headed by Class 50s Nos. 50008 Thunderer and 50049 Defiance at Bewdley…

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