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Sam Hewitt

  • Next steps for the Borders Railway

    Next steps for the Borders Railway

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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    In the three years since it reopened, the Borders Railway has become one of the great success stories, and an inspiration to other rail revival projects. Ardent Borders Railway supporter Ashley Butlin, who reported on the construction and opening of the line to Tweedbank, takes a look at the prospects for extending the line south…

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  • Concrete and China Clay

    Concrete and China Clay

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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    John Heaton FCILT samples loco-hauled trains in the north and the new short-formation HSTs in the west of England to provide a potpourri for this month’s Practice & Performance. The introduction of Great Western Railway’s 2+4 HST formations reminded train timers belonging to the appropriate age group of the April 1965 No. 1 hit Concrete and…

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  • Radical reform for operators and passengers cannot come soon enough

    Radical reform for operators and passengers cannot come soon enough

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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    IT’S been another summer of discontent for rail passengers. Strikes because of industrial disputes over driver-only operation are still affecting four train operators. Timetables remain in a mess on several routes, with passengers having to wait up to an hour for a through train to their destination. Electrification projects still lag behind schedule. Cancellations because…

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  • DIESEL RENAISSANCE: Old Dogs, New Tricks

    DIESEL RENAISSANCE: Old Dogs, New Tricks

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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    One of the most surprising developments of recent years is the return of many ex-BR diesel locomotives to the main line. Ben Jones talks to some of the major players in this ‘re-emergence’ and finds out why it is happening. FLICKING through the pages of The RM every month, one of the most obvious trends…

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  • More West Midlands multiple units receive a fresh new look

    More West Midlands multiple units receive a fresh new look

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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    INCREASING numbers of West Midland Railway multiple units are appearing in a revised branding. Class 172 ‘Turbostar’ No. 172342 has been given a substantially revised version of the launch livery applied to sister unit No. 172339 that features a high-gloss purple bodyside finish with a gold-coloured cab front, doors and carriage ends. The version on 172339 had…

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  • Government gives go-ahead for Werrington Junction dive-under

    Government gives go-ahead for Werrington Junction dive-under

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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    SECRETARY of State for Transport Chris Grayling has approved Network Rail’s plan to construct a new junction burrowing under the East Coast Main Line (ECML) at Werrington, just north of Peterborough. The junction is part of a package of improvements designed to increase capacity on the ECML. It will allow freight and local passenger trains…

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  • Tyseley to restore ‘Castle’ No. 7027 for the main line

    Tyseley to restore ‘Castle’ No. 7027 for the main line

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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    TYSELEY Locomotive Works (TLW) is adding a fourth ‘Castle’ to its allocation after an agreement was reached for the Birmingham workshop to complete the restoration of Jonathan Jones-Pratt’s No. 7027 Thornbury Castle. The BR(W) 4-6-0 was expected to arrive in the West Midlands at the end of August following its appearance at the August 23-27 Great…

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  • Chinnor opens Risborough platform – and looks west towards Aston Rowant

    Chinnor opens Risborough platform – and looks west towards Aston Rowant

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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    AUGUST 15 was a big day in the history of the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway (C&PRR) as it saw the opening and first use of the new platform 4 at Princes Risborough station. It also means the railway is publicly accessible from the national network for the first time in 61 years. Hauling the…

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  • Wolverton demolition review rejected – Knorr-Bremse sold

    Wolverton demolition review rejected – Knorr-Bremse sold

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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    A JUDICIAL review in the High Court into the decision to build 375 houses on part of the Wolverton Works site has been dismissed. Although Milton Keynes Council approved planning consent for the homes last year, the project has been controversial, with campaigners having accused the council of ignoring the historical importance of Wolverton, it…

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  • Valiant makes it 11 ‘Hoovers’ for SVR Class 50 Golden Jubilee event

    Valiant makes it 11 ‘Hoovers’ for SVR Class 50 Golden Jubilee event

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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    No. 50015 Valiant has been confirmed as part of the impressive line up for the Severn Valley Railway’s (SVR) upcoming Class 50 Golden Jubilee gala event, at which 11 Class 50s could be in operation. Volunteers are working against the clock to ensure all available locos are operable in time for the event, which takes place between…

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