Sam Hewitt

DIESEL Traction Group’s sole-surviving Class 17 No. D8568 has made its first appearance at the Dean Forest Railway. It lined up at the September 15-17 diesel gala along with another first-time guest loco, the much-travelled Class 20 No. D8059. The ‘Clayton’ is seen heading a lengthy train of ballast hoppers passing Whitecroft with the 15.45 from Lydney…

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The Aberdeen to Inverness line was closed between October 7 and 16 to allow major engineering work, including the commissioning of a new station at Forres. Phase 1 of major infrastructure work on the 108-mile line includes the redoubling of track between Aberdeen and Inverurie, extended platforms at Insch and Elgin, signalling improvements and the…

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THE first phase of Network Rail’s programme to upgrade 25kV AC power supplies on the East Coast Main Line (ECML) is on track for completion in time for the introduction of new train fleets in 2018. Power Supply Upgrade Phase 1 (PSU1) is a £237million scheme to modernise and uprate traction power supply between Wood…

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THE 10¼in-gauge Stapleford Miniature Railway in Stapleford Park, near Melton Mowbray, held a successful three-day August Bank Holiday event. The railway is only open to the public twice a year, the second weekend in June and in August. This year’s August event saw three visiting locos working trains with just two of the residents. As…

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THE Kirklees Light Railway’s September 9-10 Annual Steam & Diesel Gala Weekend had a Giants on the Line theme. The event featured visits by Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway’s Davey Paxman 4-6-2 No. 8 Hurricane and YEC 4-6-2 No. 9 Winston Churchill, Bassett-Lowke Class 20 4-4-2 Prince Edward of Wales from Rhyl, and Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway’s…

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THE 762 Club’s re-created Lynton & Barnstaple Railway (L&BR) Baldwin 2-4-2T No. 762 Lyn was launched at L&BR’s Woody Bay station on September 29 at an event for 762 Club supporters. The nameplate on the fully painted locomotive was unveiled by Sir William McAlpine, with Lyn then starring in L&BR’s September 30-October 1 autumn gala.…

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SNAEFELL Mountain Railway (SMR) services have been indefinitely suspended amid safety concerns after tram No. 2 ran through Bungalow on August 4, apparently following a braking failure (RM Sept). Isle of Man Transport confirmed on September 25 investigations following the incident had “highlighted the challenges of operating heritage railway systems in a modern safety management environment”.…

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HUDSWELL, Clarke ‘PLA’ 0-6-0T No. S102 Cathryn may be reunited with its boiler before the end of the year if the pressure vessel’s overhaul is completed by Israel Newton & Son at Cromford. The former Newmarket Colliery locomotive (1886/1955) is currently under restoration at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway (EVR), just up the road from Cromford at…

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THE Avon Valley Railway’s restoration of ex-Fry’s Chocolate Sentinel 4wVBT No. 7492 reached a significant milestone on September 14 when it moved under its own power, albeit courtesy of an air compressor. It was the first time the 1928-built loco had moved under its own power in more than 60 years, having been taken out of…

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