From the archive

The Bluebell Railway-based Maunsell Q 0-6-0 No. 30541 was the star guest at the Great Central Railway’s winter steam gala, making its first-ever appearance on Britain’s only double track heritage main line, with nine other locomotives in steam, writes Robin Jones. Around 5000 people attended the Great Central Railway’s winter steam gala over January 27-29,…

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In a constantly changing and uncertain world, the farmer who set up the Mangapps Railway Museum in rural Essex has revealed exclusively to Peter Brown that the site he has transformed into a working environment with standard gauge stock is to continue, although there will be no track expansion beyond the boundaries of his fields.…

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By Brian Sharpe The Great Central Railway’s winter steam gala at the end of January is always popular and the three-day spectacular generally heralds the start of the new gala season. The 2016 event was no exception and it is reported that it was the most popular event since new-build A1 Pacific No. 60163 Tornado…

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In October, Czech steam power took to the Austrian main line. Dave Rodgers captured it along with the reopening of a narrow gauge line with Yugoslavian steam power. The premier Austrian rail enthusiasts’ group ÖGEG arranged a special weekend at its depot at Ampflwang, over the weekend of October 3/4. Two guest locomotives visited from…

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It is unusual for a well-established preserved railway to be forced to close, but fortunately, in one case, this proved not to be the end of the story. Don Benn reports on the revival of one of France’s best-known heritage lines. We have visited The Chemin de Fer du Vivarais, or the Le Mastrou as…

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The pairing of the sole surviving Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway locomotives, 7F 2-8-0s No. 53808 and 53809, now both liveried in BR black, was the highlight of the West Somerset Railway’s immensely-successful spring gala, which marked the 50th anniversary of the closure of the legendary line across the Mendip Hills. However, it might not…

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The venue formerly known as the Rutland Railway Museum continues to undergo a drastic transformation. Mark Smithers reports on recent developments and examines the history of its locomotives. In order to appreciate the contribution made over many decades to the nation’s prosperity by the industrial railway, any relevant museum attraction should make its best efforts…

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With ‘Terrier’ No. 32670 being withdrawn from service at the end of the year, Geoff Silcock reminisces about the 12 consecutive days in August that saw two of the class rostered for more than 500 miles of timetabled running. No. 3 Bodiam has been on the Rother Valley/Kent & East Sussex Railway (KESR) since 1901,…

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