Sam Hewitt

GREAT Northern Railway (Ireland) ‘Q’ class No. 131 passed the final stages of commissioning its electrical systems on May 21 with a day of electronic testing at Whitehead. Two test engineers from Thales Ground Transportation Systems UK were on hand to issue a ‘First- in-Class’ certificate for the Train Protection & Warning System (TPWS) on the…

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AUSTIN Motor Company Bagnall 0-6-0ST No. 401 Thomas Burt MP (2994/1950), known to generations as Vulcan, is on course for a return to traffic later this year at the North Tyneside Steam Railway/Stephenson Railway Museum. On May 17, the Bagnall’s overhauled frames were reunited with the wheelsets at Middle Engine Lane, the wheels having been re-tyred…

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BARROW Hill-based British Sugar Corporation (BSC) Peckett 0-6-0ST No. 2000 is close to a return to service as its 10-yearly overhaul by David Wright at Locomotive Maintenance Services (LMS) at Loughborough nears completion. At the time of writing, Peter Kennan’s 1942-built ‘B3’ type was awaiting the fitting of its regulator casting, which had returned from Cast…

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A newly restored BR 20T brakevan has been dedicated to railwaymen past and present of the LMS/BR Bescot shed and Bescot TMD. Built at Doncaster in 1958, No. B953827 has been resident on the Chasewater Railway for some years, but had lain out of use and unrestored at Chasewater Heaths station. Last year it was sold…

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IVATT ‘2MT’ 2-6-2T No. 41313 was formally launched into Isle of Wight Steam Railway (IoWSR) traffic over the weekend of May 26-28 during the line’s Three Island Ivatts’ celebration. The gala was conceived as a ‘thank-you’ event for all those who have helped return the three Ivatt ‘2MTs’ – Nos. 41313, 41298 and 46447 – donated…

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DERBYSHIRE’S Peak Rail has told its shareholders the railway made a financial loss in excess of £110,000 during the year up to December 31, 2017. In the Peak Rail plc summary financial statements for the year, which have been issued to shareholders ahead of the June 28 AGM, joint managing directors Roger Hallatt and Jackie…

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THE family of well-known railway photographer H C (Henry) Casserley has decided to offer his 1935 Morris 12/4 light saloon for sale. The car, which was the property of both Henry and his late son Richard, was used regularly for photographic expeditions to far-flung locations. The Morris is not as well-known as the Bentley owned…

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THE latest milestone in the construction of the Llangollen Railway’s Corwen East station was reached on June 12 when the new 2,000-gallon pillar-type water tower was installed. The five-tonne tower, fabricated by Barnett Engineering Ltd of Rhosllanerchrugog, was erected at the eastern end of the new platform 2 onto a pre-prepared concrete base, and serves…

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THE Stephenson Railway Museum’s star attraction – Killingworth Colliery 0-4-0 the Killingworth Billy (or simply Billy) – can claim to be the world’s oldest surviving standard gauge locomotive after an archaeological survey revealed the loco was 10 years older than originally thought. It had previously been believed Billy had been built by Robert Stephenson &…

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