British Railways

  • Severn Valley supports £50m scheme which could reopen Eardington Halt

    Severn Valley supports £50m scheme which could reopen Eardington Halt

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    THE Severn Valley Railway has backed a £50 million holiday venue plan which could see Eardington station reopened. General manager Nick Ralls has written to Shropshire Council in support of multi-million pound plans for the leisure development on the Astbury Estate near Bridgnorth, drawn up by the FCFM Group. The estate, which already includes a…

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  • South Devon confirms golden anniversary celebrations

    South Devon confirms golden anniversary celebrations

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    While there will be many activities and events going on throughout the year to mark 50 years since part of the GWR Ashburton branch reopened as the Dart Valley Railway, the key centrepiece events are the April 6-14 steam gala and the July 19-21 diesel gala, the South Devon Railway has confirmed. Two locomotives which…

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  • Impromptu ‘gala’ brings in the crowds

    Impromptu ‘gala’ brings in the crowds

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    By Paul Appleton THE first day of the Severn Valley Railway’s 2019 operating season, February 16, had the air of a gala event, with former BR Standard 4MT 4-6-0 No. 75069 making its public debut on the 10.30am ex-Bridgnorth and the first train off Kidderminster double-headed by GWR/PTR 0-6-0ST No. 813 and Collett 0-6-0PT No.…

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  • BR locoman drives Aln Valley train 53 years on

    BR locoman drives Aln Valley train 53 years on

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    Nearly 53 years ago, in June 1966, BR fireman Kenny Middlemist from Alnmouth shed last worked on a steam locomotive over the Cawledge Viaduct on the Alnwick branch.  Alnmouth-allocated K1 2-6-0 No. 62011 hauled the branch passenger train set on the morning of the last day of steam-hauled passenger services on the line. His driver…

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  • Caley Blue 419 adds Broadway to English tour

    Caley Blue 419 adds Broadway to English tour

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    Caledonian Railway 0-4-4T No. 419 has added the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway’s Cotswold Festival of Steam to its biggest-ever tour of England. No. 419 will star in the May 25-27 festival alongside another blue guest, GWR 4-6-0 No. 6023 Edward II from Didcot Railway Centre. A third guest will be B1 4-6-0 No. 1260 from the…

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  • It’s high fives as GW Railwayana lives up to its name

    It’s high fives as GW Railwayana lives up to its name

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    With a selection of five GWR nameplates, supported by six GWR cabsides and five smokebox numberplates from named locomotives, GW Railwayana will be living up to its name at its March 16 auction, although both the LMS and Southern Railway get a slice of the action. The five GWR nameplates are Wardour Castle and Neath…

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  • Plain sailing for Cornwall railway poster as it sells for £3600

    Plain sailing for Cornwall railway poster as it sells for £3600

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    A 1950 BR(W) poster by Jack Merriott (1901-68) illustrating Penzance harbour in Cornwall realised £3600 at Onslows’ winter online vintage poster auction on December 14. London-born Merriott was a member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours, the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, the Royal Society of Marine Artists, and the Royal Watercolour…

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  • Main line makes presence felt at London sale

    Main line makes presence felt at London sale

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    The main line in a variety of shapes and sizes will be making its presence felt at the Transport Auctions of London sale on February 23, headed by the smokebox numberplate from LSWR Class T9 No. 30705, a Dübs & Co of Glasgow product that entered traffic in January 1899 and was withdrawn by BR…

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  • Locomotive Services to stage Virgin charity open day at Crewe

    Locomotive Services to stage Virgin charity open day at Crewe

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    AROUND 30 main line steam, diesel and electric locomotives are being lined up for an open day to be staged at Locomotive Services’ modernised former Crewe diesel depot on Saturday, June 8. The event is being organised by Virgin Trains staff based at Crewe station – supported by our sister publication The Railway Magazine –…

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  • With Full Regulator: LOCOMOTIVE PERFORMANCE THEN AND NOW

    With Full Regulator: LOCOMOTIVE PERFORMANCE THEN AND NOW

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    In his latest column, Don Benn describes the performance of Ian Riley’s ‘Black Five’ No. 44871 on two main line trips in December 2018 and May 2010 – plus some additional information about Bulleid Pacific No.35028 Clan Line’s on November 24’s ‘The Chilterns & Downs’ tour. It HAD been some years since I had a…

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