Sam Hewitt

THAI State Railways (SRT) has three diesel locos still in service that were built 65 years ago by long-defunct American manufacturer Davenport Locomotive Works. In late 2017, the three locos were reported to be operating in the centre of the country: Nos. 525 at Nakhom Ratchasima, 530 at Uttaradit, and 540 at Nakhom Lampang. The…

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MOROCCAN national operator ONCF (Office National des Chemins de Fer ) announced in March it plans to open Africa’s first high-speed line in late 2018, although the exact date has yet to be agreed. The new 183km Tanger (Tangiers) to Kenitra high-speed line is complete, with final testing underway. Alstom has delivered all 12 double-deck…

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THE Weardale Railway is staging a Brush Type 2 gala on April 21-22, the railway currently being home for nine examples. The event will feature Nos. 31106 and 31190, which have not been seen on passenger trains for many years. A naming ceremony on the Saturday will see Howard Johnston’s No. 31106 reunited with its…

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THE mainstay of passenger services on the Eden Valley Railway (EVR), Cumbria is Class 205 DEMU No. 205009. It carries an attractive, although non-authentic livery. When No. 205009 arrived at the EVR it was painted matt black on one side to cover graffiti received in the south of England prior to delivery to the EVR.…

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THE first loco to arrive on the embryonic Swanage Railway in around 1975 was moved to Corfe Castle from Swanage on February 27, following cosmetic restoration. Beryl (Hibberd 2054 of 1938) is a 4wP loco fitted with a 54hp four-cylinder Dorman 4JORX petrol-paraffin engine. It was used in the relaying of the first sections of…

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MID-NORFOLK Railway’s March 16-18 diesel gala was organised by a new team following challenging, last-minute problems, which had dogged recent diesel events, affecting visitor numbers. However, in addition to clashing with two other events, severe weather conditions had to be contended with. Visiting were Class 26 No. D5343 from the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway and ‘Crompton’…

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THE Bodmin & Wenford Railway’s recently acquired Class 121 ‘Bubble’, No. 55020 (121020) (RM Dec, p81) made its first revenue-earning trip in preservation on March 14.Despite wet weather, plenty of people turned up to sample the railway’s latest acquisition, which is still in Chiltern Railways’ blue livery. The previous week, on March 8, it was…

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SNOW covered much of the country over the weekend of March 17-18, coinciding with three major diesel galas at Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway, Oxfordshire; Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, Derbyshire; and the Mid-Norfolk Railway. Despite freezing conditions all three were able to provide a good service thanks to the dedication of railway staff and volunteers, with…

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New main line railtour operator Saphos Trains has announced nine of its first 12 trains are now fully booked with the remaining three being more than 50% sold. Peter Watkinson, marketing manager for Saphos, commented: “The public support for the launch of our new trains has been overwhelming. “The surge of bookings and feedback indicate…

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Reviving a classic old railtour name, UK Railtours is heading for rare freight lines in the West Midlands on August 11. The first ‘Walsall Concerto’ ran in 2003, and this new ‘Forgotten Tracks’ train will traverse some rarely used lines in the Black Country and beyond, including Wolverhampton Steel Terminal, the Birch Coppice branch and…

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