News

CONTINENTAL Railway Solution (CRS) of Hungary has announced a second, and possibly final, passenger outing for its ex-BR Class 47 diesel. The former No. 47375, now named Falcon, will make its Austrian debut, working the two-day ‘Semmering Falcon’ tour from Budapest to Mürzzuschlag via the world famous Semmering Railway on June 9-10, 2018. The Semmering was…

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MAIN line registered GWR Pannier tanks Nos. 9466 and No. 9600 joined forces to haul Vintage Trains’ ‘Valley Rambler’ from Tyseley to Bridgnorth via Stratford-upon-Avon on November 11. The nine-coach train, including Pullman Cars, was top-and-tailed on the Stratford to Kidderminster leg to permit easier access to the SVR, with No. 9466 leading and No. 9600 providing assistance. The…

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UK RAILTOURS’ ‘Passchendaele Javelin’ tour on November 11 raised more than £20,000 for the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal. The tour took specially decorated Southeastern Class 395 EMU No. 395017 to various locations away from its usual HS1 haunts. It ran from Ashford International (which it also visited several times during the day) to St Pancras…

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THE months of September and October proved to be busy ones for Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours (BHTT), with thousands flocking to the famous resort for the ‘Illuminations’ season. From September 1 until November 5 BHTT provided nightly tours of the illuminations, departing from the Pleasure Beach Loop at regular intervals. Much of the working fleet…

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SOLE-surviving Stockport Corporation tram – No. 5 – is on the cusp of its post-overhaul return to service at the Heaton Park Tramway. The 1901-built Dick, Kerr open-top four-wheeler is owned by the Stockport 5 Tramway Trust, but in the care of the Manchester Transport Museum Society (MTMS). It was first restored in 1996, and…

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THE Summerlee Transport Group (STG) is hopeful a Heritage Lottery Fund grant application will be successful, enabling it to complete the restoration of Glasgow Corporation ‘Coronation’ car No. 1245. The group is based at the Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life, near Coatbridge. The double-deck tram arrived in Coatbridge from Blackpool in 2003, but restoration…

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THE extension of London Underground’s Northern Line in South London took a major step forward on November 8 as tunnel boring machine (TBM) Amy broke through at Kennington to complete the job. A pair of two-mile (3.2km), 17ft (5.2m) diameter tunnels have been bored from the former Battersea Power Station to Kennington via Nine Elms.…

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CONFIRMED locos for the Mid-Norfolk Railway’s Winter Warmer diesel gala on December 29-30 include Class 50 No. 50026 Indomitable, on its last runs before leaving the railway following an extended stay. Indomitable will be backed up by residents Class 37 No. 37688 and Class 47s Nos. 47367 and 47596 Aldeburgh Festival. It is hoped a main line loco…

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BRIAN Stabler named his 88DS class 4wD No. 46 (Ruston & Hornsby 242868 of 1946) Heather, in honour of his wife, on October 15. He bought the loco in 2015 and moved it from the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway to the private site at Finmere station (ex-GCR), Oxfordshire, in 2016, following completion of restoration. It…

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THE star attraction at South Devon Railway’s (SDR) November 3-5 diesel gala was the Diesel Traction Group’s sole-surviving Class 17 ‘Clayton’ No. D8568. It is based on the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway, but came from its Gloucestershire debut at the Dean Forest Railway’s September 15-17 event (RM November, p83), making an equally welcome debut in…

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