Sam Hewitt

EAST Anglian Railway Museum-based Bagnall 0-6-0ST Lamport No. 3 (2670/1942) is on the road to a return at Chappel & Wakes Colne station, having not steamed for almost 15 years. The ex-Stewarts & Lloyds loco is undergoing a major overhaul at the museum, following its move from the Battlefield Line in March 2013. ‘Lamport’ has been…

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‘SMALL but perfectly formed’ is the hook for the Chasewater Railway’s Industrial Gala on March 18-19 when steam and diesel locomotives of varying four-wheeled types take over the railway’s operation. Chasewater’s steam operation will be largely reliant on its fleet of 0-4-0STs this year following the withdrawal for overhaul of Hunslet 0-6-0ST Holly Bank No. 3…

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‘MODIFIED Hall’ No. 6989 Wightwick Hall will operate with the tender belonging to Swindon & Cricklade Railway-based classmate No. 6984 Owsden Hall when it makes its first preservation runs. The decision by the 6989 Wightwick Hall Restoration Group will enable the 1948-built Hawksworth 4-6-0 to undergo testing and revenue-earning service while the group completes the loco’s own…

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THE Bluebell Railway-based BR-liveried ‘Q’ class 0-6-0 No. 30541 ventured north to the Great Central Railway in late January to take part in the railway’s popular winter steam gala. Around 5,000 people turned out for the three-day event on January 27-29, an upturn of almost 5% compared to last year’s event. Undoubtedly, the debut of the…

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A LONG-HELD ambition to extend the running line of the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway finally got the go ahead at the end of January when Mid-Suffolk District Council planning committee formally approved the railway’s plans. The extension will more than double the MSLR’s current length to almost three-quarters of a mile and will follow the original…

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MORE than £1million has now been raised in the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway’s Broadway: The Last Mile share offer, only 10 months after the appeal was formally launched. On February 1 the fund sat at £989,000, but a generous share application from Phillip Bowden took it past the £1m mark the next day. This now leaves…

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FORMER Cefnstylle Colliery Peckett 0-4-0ST Whitehead (1163/1908) has been confirmed as the visiting engine for the Ribble Steam Railway’s April 1-2 steam gala. The ‘M5’-type loco is no stranger to Lancashire, having once been resident at the Southport Railway Centre. Today, it is owned by Eugene and Marni Wheelwright and based at the Midland Railway–Butterley.…

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THE much-anticipated return to main line service of Great Western ‘King’ No. 6024 King Edward I may only be around 12 months away, according to 6024 Preservation Society chairman Richard Abbey. The four-cylinder 4-6-0, which is owned by the Royal Scot & General Locomotive Trust, but maintained and operated by the society, continues to be re-assembled…

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  THE visit of the National Railway Museum’s Gresley ‘A3’ No. 60103 Flying Scotsman to the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway (KWVR) this spring has prompted the 4¾-mile branch to make a temporary alteration to its rulebook in order to allow steam banking to take place. The KWVR will be turning out an eight-coach train to…

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