Sam Hewitt

THE Branch Line Society (BLS) and Chiltern Railways ran a special train from Aylesbury on June 10, raising money for The Royal British Legion. Visiting rare track, including the Calvert waste terminal and the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre at Quainton Road, three-car Class 165 DMU No. 165034 worked ‘The Sopwith Camel’ from Aylesbury to Bicester Village via…

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ON A weekend of locomotives in unusual places, the Scottish Railway Preservation Society (SRPS) took four former Southern Region Class 73s to Kyle of Lochalsh – the first time the electro-diesels have visited the West Coast port. GBRf/Caledonian Sleeper Nos. 73967 and 73966 hauled the train north early on June 9 from Paisley Gilmour Street to…

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JUNE saw Colas Railfreight diesels drawing in the punters at the head of popular railtours. On June 7, No. 70811 was the first of its type to haul a passenger train when it topped West Coast Railtours’ ‘Scarborough Spa Express’ from Dumfries to York, with WCRC No. 47804 coupled behind to provide electric train supply (ETS). None…

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THE Mid-Norfolk Railway officially reopened its next section on May 19, heading north to a temporary terminus at Worthing level crossing. This is about 15 miles from the southern terminus at Wymondham Abbey.The first timetabled service to reach Worthing since closure of the Dereham to Wells-next-the Sea line on October 5, 1964 was 1Z01, the…

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THE Avon Valley Railway ran an intensive Class 31 top-and-tail service on June 1-2, in conjunction with a beer festival at Bitton station. The first day promised ‘90 miles of thrash’ on the line, which is a little over 2.3 miles in length. There were 19 return trips between Oldland Common and Avonside, some passing…

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THE West Somerset Railway’s June 7-10 diesel gala was declared a success, with more than 2,000 visitors carried and receipts well up on previous diesel events. The loco line-up was enhanced from recent years with five visitors: ‘Deltic’ No. 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier, Class 50 No. 50035 Ark Royal, Class 45 No. 45041 Royal Tank Regiment, and Class…

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THE Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway now operates its sole-surviving Swindon-built Inter-City DMU once every month. It is used on the 15.35 from Bo’ness to Manuel and return on the last service of the day, and is seen on June 10 following return to Bo’ness. Once the passengers have alighted the set runs back out of…

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THE Mid-Hants Railway’s June 1-3 diesel gala featured three visiting locos: Class 20s Nos. 20001 and D8059 and Class 26 No. 26043. Also in operation were current residents Class 47 No. 47579 James Nightall G.C. and Class 33202 Dennis G. Robinson. Unfortunately, Class 50 No. 50027 Lion, which had been repainted on one side, failed during the event. Much-travelled…

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AT FIRST sight, this is a typical Severn-Lamb ‘Rio Grande’ steam-outline 2-8-0DH with dummy loco and powered tender. However, Severn-Lamb 526 6 93 is one of only two known ‘Mini Rio’-type locos built, this being a 7¼in-gauge version of the familiar 10¼in- and 15in-gauge type.This one ran at Pickie Family Fun Park, Bangor, County Down,…

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