Sam Hewitt

A FORMER Belgian Railways diesel railcar has been restored to working order condition at Stoomcentrum Maldegem . The vehicle – number 553.12 – was built in 1941 during the Second World War by Germain of Monceau, and is equipped with an engine and mechanical transmission (crash gearbox/clutch) made by Belgian bus and truck manufacturer Brossel.…

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OPEN access freight operation has started in Greece after the launch of services by logistics firm Goldair Cargo, working with Austrian Railways (ÖBB) subsidiary Rail Cargo Group. The new operator currently has two locos, both formerly with Greek national operator OSE, which now carry a version of ÖBB’s red Rail Cargo livery. From July, the…

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LOCOS built or designed by ALCO, several more than 60 years old, remain in service with multiple freight and some heritage operators in Australia. More than 400 locos built to American Locomotive Company (or ALCO) designs were constructed under licence by Australian firm A E Goodwin between mid-1955 and 1972 before Goodwin became insolvent, and…

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FORMER Danish Railways (DSB) ‘NoHAB’ diesel MY 1125 is now in use with private operator Kárpát Vasút in Hungary, numbered as 459 021. The same operator has a second ex-Danish MY loco – No. 459 022 (ex-MY 1156). The Danish MY design was based on the classic EMD ‘F’ unit and used the EMD567 engine. Fifty-nine…

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TEN of the coaches originally built for a planned express service in post-war USA have been moved for secure storage prior to potential restoration in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires. The coaches were never used as intended in the USA and had been in service in Argentina from 1951 to 2015 when they were replaced…

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THE Rother Valley Railway has been created to reconnect the Kent & East Sussex Railway (KESR), currently running to Bodiam, with the main line at Robertsbridge, on the Tonbridge to Hastings Line, a distance of two miles. A new station and platform and other facilities with extensive trackwork have been installed alongside the main line…

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CLASS Forty Preservation Society’s No. 40106 Atlantic Conveyor travelled from the East Lancashire Railway on August 2 for a short spell at the Severn Valley Railway, until replaced by No. 40135. The Type 4 is seen at Bridgnorth ready to work the 11.50 service to Kidderminster on August 11, its first day in service at its new…

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A DMU will be operating on the Mountsorrel branch as part of the GCR’s diesel gala on September 8. This triangular service runs from Quorn to Nunckley and Mountsorrel stations, then down to Rothley, before returning to Quorn. This is similar to the service run in July. It is also planned to run a DMU on…

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THE Vale of Berkeley Railway (VofBR) project put on a good display of restored stock at the Gloucestershire Vintage & Country Extravaganza, South Cerney airfield, from August 3-5. Class 03 No. D2069 was present along with two Wickham rail trollies: Type 27A MkIII No. 7509 of 1956, restored in green, and diminutive 8S-type No. 156W (Wickham 4165 of…

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THE Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway’s Back to Broadway gala on July 27-29, was the biggest diesel event staged by the railway. It was the first diesel gala to run over the recently opened northern extension to the Cotswold tourist village of Broadway (RM May, p90). The mileage for Cheltenham Race Course-Toddington-Broadway is 14 miles. Despite the…

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