News

MID-NORFOLK Railway’s March 16-18 diesel gala was organised by a new team following challenging, last-minute problems, which had dogged recent diesel events, affecting visitor numbers. However, in addition to clashing with two other events, severe weather conditions had to be contended with. Visiting were Class 26 No. D5343 from the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway and ‘Crompton’…

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THE Bodmin & Wenford Railway’s recently acquired Class 121 ‘Bubble’, No. 55020 (121020) (RM Dec, p81) made its first revenue-earning trip in preservation on March 14.Despite wet weather, plenty of people turned up to sample the railway’s latest acquisition, which is still in Chiltern Railways’ blue livery. The previous week, on March 8, it was…

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SNOW covered much of the country over the weekend of March 17-18, coinciding with three major diesel galas at Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway, Oxfordshire; Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, Derbyshire; and the Mid-Norfolk Railway. Despite freezing conditions all three were able to provide a good service thanks to the dedication of railway staff and volunteers, with…

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New main line railtour operator Saphos Trains has announced nine of its first 12 trains are now fully booked with the remaining three being more than 50% sold. Peter Watkinson, marketing manager for Saphos, commented: “The public support for the launch of our new trains has been overwhelming. “The surge of bookings and feedback indicate…

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Reviving a classic old railtour name, UK Railtours is heading for rare freight lines in the West Midlands on August 11. The first ‘Walsall Concerto’ ran in 2003, and this new ‘Forgotten Tracks’ train will traverse some rarely used lines in the Black Country and beyond, including Wolverhampton Steel Terminal, the Birch Coppice branch and…

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An overheated ‘big end’ followed by disruption to rail services caused by heavy snow in East Anglia prevented No. 70013 Oliver Cromwell from fulfilling all of its planned ‘farewell’ tours, as scheduled in March. Despite an unplanned inspection stop just short of its destination, the ‘Brit’ was able to make it to Norwich with February…

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Railway Touring Company will run two steam-hauled specials over the Settle-Carlisle Line on August 11 to mark the 50th anniversary of the legendary ‘15 Guinea Special’ of 1968. One of West Coast Railways’ Stanier ‘Jubilee’ 4-6-0s, either No. 45690 Leander or No. 45699 Galatea, will haul the ‘Cumbrian Mountain Express’ from Carnforth to Carlisle via Shap, returning…

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THE Midland Metro Alliance has started work on extending the tram route from Wolverhampton St George’s to the city’s railway station via Pipers Row. This follows the installation of a new triangular junction at St George’s, which was completed in December 2017 after a six-month closure of the stop. Initial work on the £33million extension…

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HEATON Park-based Stockport Corporation No. 5 has entered the final stage of its overhaul, with the finishing touches now being made ahead of its return to service. The Dick, Kerr open-top four-wheeler received a partial repaint by Heritage Painting last November (RM Dec). Manchester Transport Museum Society (MTMS) volunteers have undercoated and painted the platform canopy…

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BEAMISH Museum has published its annual tram mileage figures for 2017, with several members of the fleet surpassing the 6,000 miles mark and one topping out at more than 7,600 miles. The total combined mileage covered by the five cars during the year was 27,550 miles – the equivalent of a trip around the world…

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