Sam Hewitt

THE Spa Valley Railway, a leader of high-quality classic traction events, stages more special diesel days than most other major heritage railways. The August 2-5 diesel gala featured an impressive timetable, with a wide selection of locos and trains, including several rare and unusual workings (RM Aug, p91). Stars of the event were the two…

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NORTH Gloucestershire Railway (NGR) launched its restored Gloucester Carriage & Wagon Company ‘Wembley’ carriage into service on August 11. It was originally used on the road-rail line at the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley in 1924/5, and after 90 years in the open it was donated to NGR by the Overbury Estate, and recovered from…

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AMBERLEY’S Rail Gala on July 14-15 centred on marking the 100th anniversary of the museum’s Bagnall 0-4-0ST Peter (2067/1918). Peter was acquired by the Narrow Gauge Railway Society in 1954, and in 1965 became part of the Brockham collection, which relocated to Amberley in 1982. Following a lengthy restoration Peter became operational at Amberley in…

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CONSTRUCTION of a station building in the style of the original structure is expected to begin at the Welsh Highland Railway’s (WHR) Waunfawr station in September, with completion anticipated next spring. The original building survived in a ruinous state until revival of the WHR in the 1990s. Prior to construction of the new platform at…

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THERE were several visitors to the 10¼in-gauge Hastings Miniature Railway’s second 70th anniversary gala on June 30. Seen at Rock-a-Nore station are (left) Guest Engineering 4-4-2 of 1937 No. 1908 Ernest Henry Upton, from the Eastleigh Lakeside Railway, and from the private Ingfield Light Railway, ‘Schools’ class 4-4-0 No. 905 Tonbridge, built by Drummond Randall and Reg…

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THE 0-4-2T recently named Jools by entertainer Jools Holland OBE at the 7¼in-gauge Beer Heights Light Railway (RM Aug, p6) is possibly unique for a steam loco in having dual-control. It was built by Exmoor Steam Railway (300 of 2000) and was new to Nick Dodson, of Railfilms, for his Isle of Man railway, where…

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THE failure of GNR(I) ‘V’ No. 85 Merlin at Greystones on the return leg of the RPSI’s ‘Sea Breeze’ on August 8 blighted what was the first run for the Compound 4-4-0 over former Dublin & South Eastern Railway metals to Rosslare. The train had left Connolly at 10.40, but a late departure from Avoca, after…

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THE Downpatrick & County Down Railway (D&CDR) celebrated the return of steam operations after a three-week hiatus on July 21-22 by having two locomotives in steam at Downpatrick. While regular locomotive – ex-Cómhlucht Siúicre Éireann (Thurles) Orenstein & Koppel 0-4-0T+WT No. 1 (12475/1934) – was in charge of passenger trains between Downpatrick and Inch Abbey, its…

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