Sam Hewitt

THE National Railway Museum has released an extensive programme of operations for No. 60103 Flying Scotsman this year. This follows news the NRM has extended its deal with Riley & Son (E) Ltd to operate and maintain the ‘A3’ for another six years. A weekend on static display at Rawtenstall at the East Lancashire Railway (ELR)…

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THE Railway Preservation Society of Ireland (RPSI) is operating a ‘071’-hauled train from Dublin on April 7. This charter follows the sell-out success of its diesel tours in 2017. ‘The Branchline Wanderer’ starts from Connolly station at 08.30, running via the Phoenix Park link to Kildare and on to Waterford via the Lavistown curve at…

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THREE countries, four steam locomotives and a journey of just over 1,000 miles from Manchester to Berlin are all part of a remarkable plan in June 2019 to mark the 70th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift. The train, billed as the ‘Very Last British Military Train’, will celebrate the role of the British armed forces…

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UK RAILTOURS is operating a special train from London to the annual Direct Rail Services (DRS) open day at Crewe Gresty Bridge Depot on July 21. Heading north from Euston, the train will be powered by one of the new Stadler-built Class 88 electro-diesels, arriving at Crewe late morning for a break of more than…

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GB RAILFREIGHT’S second four-day ‘mega-tour’ has been unveiled and will see a Class 56 making its passenger debut over the West Highland Line, a pair of Class 73s over the Forth Bridge, and AC electric locomotives running to London Paddington and Blackpool North. Living up to its name – ‘GBRf 2018 – Out of the…

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FEBRUARY’S announcement by the Government it wants to remove all diesel-only trains from the UK network by 2040 poses a serious challenge to the railfreight industry, which relies heavily on diesel traction. In response, Rail Freight Group (RFG) executive director Maggie Simpson said: “Rail freight is acknowledged for its superior environmental performance, and the rail…

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BARNET Council has given its approval for a new railfreight terminal on railway land at Cricklewood, north London. The extensive site, at the south end of the Midland Main Line, close to the North Circular Road, is regarded as one of the few remaining sites in the capital suitable to handle construction traffic for the…

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ISLE of Man Railways will celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Manx Electric Railway (MER) during September 1-8. Highlights include gathering a trio of in-service ‘No. 1s’ – MER No. 1, Snaefell Mountain Railway No. 1 and Douglas Bay Horse Tramway No. 1 – at Laxey station on September 2, with guided tours of Laxey and Snaefell tram sheds.…

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THE Ffestiniog Railway (FR) is celebrating the 125th birthdays of its Hunslet 2-4-0STTs Linda and Blanche with a June 22-24 Hunslet 125 event. This Great Little Gathering aims to produce the biggest assembly of Hunslet locomotives since the manufacturer closed. The centenary of the pair was marked in 1993 with a legendary FR Hunslet 100…

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THE Talyllyn Railway (TR) marked the centenary of Andrew Barclay 0-4-0WT No. 6 Douglas (1431/1918) on February 21 by the adoption of the locomotive by the Royal Air Force Association – and unveiling it in a new RAF blue livery. No. 6 carried a TR ‘standard’ green livery on arrival at Talyllyn, but for many years…

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