Sam Hewitt

AS THE £14.5million restoration of Carlisle station roof draws to a close, passengers are once again enjoying lighter, brighter platforms as natural daylight pours in again. The 1847-built overall roof has been refurbished with safer, easier-to-maintain plastics replacing the previous glass panes, the metalwork is receiving a complete repaint, and new lighting is being installed…

Continue reading »

THE Lee Valley route through north-east London will be receiving a major upgrade over the next few years. The route forms a key section of the proposed Crossrail 2 route, and is also part of extensive regeneration plans for the area. To cope with the predicted increase in demand, a third track is being built…

Continue reading »

THE Chasewater Railway held its annual Burton Brewery Locomotives Day on July 9 to showcase some of its many locos – steam and diesel – originating from the local industry. Four diesels were in operation, including these two four-wheel ‘Simplex’ types. Left, is Worthington’s No. 21 (Kent Construction 1612 of 1929) and right, No. 15099 Morris, Motor…

Continue reading »

THE East Kent Railway (EKR) was recently rather lacking in the Class 08/09 department, but this has now been rectified, thanks largely to HN Rail. On Friday, August 4 the railway hosted a joint visit by the Preserved Locomotive Enthusiast Group (PLEG) and the Branch Line Society (BLS). In action were Dutch English Electric 0-6-0DE…

Continue reading »

THE Great Central Railway will be running two special trips from the main line on to the Mountsorrel Branch on both days of the September 9-10 diesel gala. This is the first time the branch has been open to passengers during a gala. The Class 101 DMU departs Loughborough at 11.30 and 13.45, calling at…

Continue reading »

MEMBERS of the Bodmin & Wenford Railway (B&WR) have restored 0-4-0 diesel shunter Peter. It was built by Fowler in 1940 and bought by the North Devon Clay Co in 1950 to work ball clay trains on the extensive network of lines connecting Peters Marland clay works to the main line between Halwill Junction and…

Continue reading »

THE Spa Valley Railway’s August 3-6 diesel gala saw the first non-preserved main line diesel loco to visit the railway for an event. GB Raifreight’s Class 73 No. 73136 Mhairi was a substitute for Class 55 No. 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier. Despite the best efforts of Deltic Preservation Society volunteers to complete the work required on the…

Continue reading »

THE Lakeshore Railroad marked its 45th anniversary on June 24-25 (RM May, p102). It runs around the lake in South Marine Park, South Shields, and is the UK’s only public 9½in-gauge steam line. Owner Michael Henderson cut a ribbon re-creating the scene from 1972 when the Lord Mayor of Shields did the honours. Resident locos…

Continue reading »

THE 10¼in-gauge Poole Park Railway reopened on July 22 under new management, the Friends of Poole Park (FPP). Professional advice and assistance has been provided to the FPP by Dan Radcliffe of RVM, Hastings. The line is in regular operation, daily when possible, for which more volunteers are required. RVM has also supplied a loco…

Continue reading »