steam

Jacobite service could be halted amid health & safety row

by

Alex Bestwick

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29th November 2023

The popular ‘Hogwarts Express’ service could be at the end of the line as it awaits a ruling after challenging a safety rule.
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Coal: The complete story from start to finish

by

Alex Bestwick

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19th September 2023

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.
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Britain’s Steam Locomotives: 100 of the best from Penydarren to Tornado

by

Alex Bestwick

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19th September 2023

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.
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Fundraising bid to get steam locomotive back on track after 75 years

by

Alex Bestwick

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23rd June 2023

Railway fans have launched a £40,000 fundraising appeal to see a Victorian steam locomotive hauling passenger carriages for the first time in 75 years.
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Overnight running returns to the SVR’s Autumn Steam Gala

by

Alex Bestwick

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19th June 2023

The Severn Valley Railway will reintroduce overnight services as part of its Autumn Steam Gala this September.
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4079 Pendennis Castle to visit Epping Ongar Railway in June

by

Alex Bestwick

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16th May 2023

Epping Ongar Railway has announced that Great Western Railway Castle class steam locomotive 4079 Pendennis Castle will visit its Steam Gala in June.
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Spring Steam Gala ‘a triumph’, says SVR

by

Alex Bestwick

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19th April 2023

The Spring Steam Gala, held last weekend, was a huge success for SVR, exceeding its budget for paying passengers by almost 18%.
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Book of the week: More memories of a Didcot Steam Apprentice by Patrick Kelly

by

Alex Bestwick

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27th February 2023

Our latest book of the week is a follow up to Kelly’s memoir published in 2008 and digs even deeper into the day-to-day details of an unexperienced 15 year old thrown into the uncompromising world of working men.
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Simon Armitage writes new poem to mark Flying Scotsman centenary

by

Alex Bestwick

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24th February 2023

Poet Laureate Simon Armitage has written a poem in honour of 100 years since the Flying Scotsman first entered service.
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Lancashire Glory: ELR’s autumn steam gala 2022

by

Alex Bestwick

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17th January 2023

The East Lancashire Railway outdid itself by going one step further for its end-of-year steam event.
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