Diminishing and ever more costly supplies of steam coal are threatening a major crisis in the heritage railway sector. A new book traces in depth the story of the fuel that fired the railway revolution, from early times to the present day.
It is now over 200 years since the world’s first steam railway locomotive made its maiden voyage along a primitive plateway in South Wales – in 1804 Richard Trevithick’s high-pressure steam locomotive successfully hauled a loaded train a distance of nine miles at an average speed of two mph.
The Severn Valley Railway has confirmed that USATC No 2253 ‘Omaha’ and BR 2MT 2-6-2T No. 41312 will join the line-up of its Autumn Steam Gala next month.
On August 21, the boiler for A2 Pacific No. 60532 Blue Peter passed a significant milestone in its overhaul when the boiler successfully passed a hydraulic test at Locomotive Services Group’s Crewe works.
From The Railway Magazine, December 2005: At Nationalisation, the GWR feared it would lose its unique character, but as it turned out, those worries weren’t to be realised for more than a decade and the 1950s and early ‘60s thus proved to be the era of the ‘Great Western Region’!
Postal strikes planned with the Royal Mail on Friday, September 30 and Saturday, October 1. With this in mind would you please allow extra days for delivery of your favourite magazine.
Covid-19 Update 😷
Due to Covid isolation issues at the finishing house, the next issue of Heritage Railway 288, will be arriving with you slightly later than planned. We apologise for this but ensure you it will be worth the wait.
