News

RED Rose Steam Society volunteers hope to offer passenger rides on the railway at Lancashire Mining Museum (former Astley Green Colliery) by mid-summer. Some 400metres of track has been relaid and a small passenger platform constructed. A further 400m of track will also be relaid and ballasted. Three locos were in action providing shunting demonstrations…

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THE original Dorman 4JO four-cylinder petrol engine in Greensand Railway Museum Trust’s (GRMT) 40hp petrol ‘Armoured’ Simplex LR2182 (MR 461/1917) was started for the first time in more than half a century on May 27. The engine was seized after decades out of use (RM March 2017) and when stripped found to have suffered significant…

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MAY 19 was an historic day for the Downpatrick & County Down Railway as it was able to have both of its former Cómhlucht Siúicre Éireann Orenstein & Koppel 0-4-0Ts in steam together for the first time since they arrived at Downpatrick in 1987. Former Cómhlucht Siúicre Éireann (Mallow) Orenstein & Koppel 0-4-0T No. 3 (12662/1935)…

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GREAT Northern Railway (Ireland) ‘Q’ class No. 131 passed the final stages of commissioning its electrical systems on May 21 with a day of electronic testing at Whitehead. Two test engineers from Thales Ground Transportation Systems UK were on hand to issue a ‘First- in-Class’ certificate for the Train Protection & Warning System (TPWS) on the…

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AUSTIN Motor Company Bagnall 0-6-0ST No. 401 Thomas Burt MP (2994/1950), known to generations as Vulcan, is on course for a return to traffic later this year at the North Tyneside Steam Railway/Stephenson Railway Museum. On May 17, the Bagnall’s overhauled frames were reunited with the wheelsets at Middle Engine Lane, the wheels having been re-tyred…

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BARROW Hill-based British Sugar Corporation (BSC) Peckett 0-6-0ST No. 2000 is close to a return to service as its 10-yearly overhaul by David Wright at Locomotive Maintenance Services (LMS) at Loughborough nears completion. At the time of writing, Peter Kennan’s 1942-built ‘B3’ type was awaiting the fitting of its regulator casting, which had returned from Cast…

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A newly restored BR 20T brakevan has been dedicated to railwaymen past and present of the LMS/BR Bescot shed and Bescot TMD. Built at Doncaster in 1958, No. B953827 has been resident on the Chasewater Railway for some years, but had lain out of use and unrestored at Chasewater Heaths station. Last year it was sold…

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IVATT ‘2MT’ 2-6-2T No. 41313 was formally launched into Isle of Wight Steam Railway (IoWSR) traffic over the weekend of May 26-28 during the line’s Three Island Ivatts’ celebration. The gala was conceived as a ‘thank-you’ event for all those who have helped return the three Ivatt ‘2MTs’ – Nos. 41313, 41298 and 46447 – donated…

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DERBYSHIRE’S Peak Rail has told its shareholders the railway made a financial loss in excess of £110,000 during the year up to December 31, 2017. In the Peak Rail plc summary financial statements for the year, which have been issued to shareholders ahead of the June 28 AGM, joint managing directors Roger Hallatt and Jackie…

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THE family of well-known railway photographer H C (Henry) Casserley has decided to offer his 1935 Morris 12/4 light saloon for sale. The car, which was the property of both Henry and his late son Richard, was used regularly for photographic expeditions to far-flung locations. The Morris is not as well-known as the Bentley owned…

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