News

  • Argentina to preserve historic ‘Chessie’ train

    Argentina to preserve historic ‘Chessie’ train

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    TEN of the coaches originally built for a planned express service in post-war USA have been moved for secure storage prior to potential restoration in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires. The coaches were never used as intended in the USA and had been in service in Argentina from 1951 to 2015 when they were replaced…

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  • Rother Valley – a railway in waiting

    Rother Valley – a railway in waiting

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    THE Rother Valley Railway has been created to reconnect the Kent & East Sussex Railway (KESR), currently running to Bodiam, with the main line at Robertsbridge, on the Tonbridge to Hastings Line, a distance of two miles. A new station and platform and other facilities with extensive trackwork have been installed alongside the main line…

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  • A ‘Whistler’ takes up duties on the SVR

    A ‘Whistler’ takes up duties on the SVR

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    CLASS Forty Preservation Society’s No. 40106 Atlantic Conveyor travelled from the East Lancashire Railway on August 2 for a short spell at the Severn Valley Railway, until replaced by No. 40135. The Type 4 is seen at Bridgnorth ready to work the 11.50 service to Kidderminster on August 11, its first day in service at its new…

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  • DMU services operating on Mountsorrel branch

    DMU services operating on Mountsorrel branch

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    A DMU will be operating on the Mountsorrel branch as part of the GCR’s diesel gala on September 8. This triangular service runs from Quorn to Nunckley and Mountsorrel stations, then down to Rothley, before returning to Quorn. This is similar to the service run in July. It is also planned to run a DMU on…

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  • Vale of Berkeley restorations in airfield display

    Vale of Berkeley restorations in airfield display

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    THE Vale of Berkeley Railway (VofBR) project put on a good display of restored stock at the Gloucestershire Vintage & Country Extravaganza, South Cerney airfield, from August 3-5. Class 03 No. D2069 was present along with two Wickham rail trollies: Type 27A MkIII No. 7509 of 1956, restored in green, and diminutive 8S-type No. 156W (Wickham 4165 of…

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  • The first Gloucs-Warks diesel event to Broadway

    The first Gloucs-Warks diesel event to Broadway

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    THE Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway’s Back to Broadway gala on July 27-29, was the biggest diesel event staged by the railway. It was the first diesel gala to run over the recently opened northern extension to the Cotswold tourist village of Broadway (RM May, p90). The mileage for Cheltenham Race Course-Toddington-Broadway is 14 miles. Despite the…

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  • Spa Valley gala success

    Spa Valley gala success

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    THE Spa Valley Railway, a leader of high-quality classic traction events, stages more special diesel days than most other major heritage railways. The August 2-5 diesel gala featured an impressive timetable, with a wide selection of locos and trains, including several rare and unusual workings (RM Aug, p91). Stars of the event were the two…

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  • Restored ‘Wembley’ coach launched at Toddington

    Restored ‘Wembley’ coach launched at Toddington

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    NORTH Gloucestershire Railway (NGR) launched its restored Gloucester Carriage & Wagon Company ‘Wembley’ carriage into service on August 11. It was originally used on the road-rail line at the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley in 1924/5, and after 90 years in the open it was donated to NGR by the Overbury Estate, and recovered from…

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  • Amberley marks Peter’s centenary with boiler appeal

    Amberley marks Peter’s centenary with boiler appeal

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    AMBERLEY’S Rail Gala on July 14-15 centred on marking the 100th anniversary of the museum’s Bagnall 0-4-0ST Peter (2067/1918). Peter was acquired by the Narrow Gauge Railway Society in 1954, and in 1965 became part of the Brockham collection, which relocated to Amberley in 1982. Following a lengthy restoration Peter became operational at Amberley in…

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  • New old-style station building for Waunfawr

    New old-style station building for Waunfawr

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    CONSTRUCTION of a station building in the style of the original structure is expected to begin at the Welsh Highland Railway’s (WHR) Waunfawr station in September, with completion anticipated next spring. The original building survived in a ruinous state until revival of the WHR in the 1990s. Prior to construction of the new platform at…

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