News

TO promote the return of the TV drama ‘Game of Thrones’, London Underground Tube stations took part in a one-day ‘experiential advertising campaign’ on July 17. This included themed wall and floor vinyls at King’s Cross St Pancras, plus an ‘Iron Throne’, where passengers could have their picture taken. Elsewhere, characters from the show –…

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TRANSPORT for London has released a new version of its Tube map aimed at helping passengers who suffer from claustrophobia or anxiety. The map shows which sections of the network are above ground and which are in tunnels, thus helping journey planning for those wishing to avoid going underground. There are around 270 stations on…

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REBUILT Blackpool ‘Balloon’ No. 718 re-entered traffic as part of the Blackpool Transport B fleet on May 26 following a full repaint into green & cream at Rigby Road depot. The 1934-built car was rebuilt with a flat front in 2002, but since then has not carried a fleet livery in favour of advertising and vinyl…

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AT A private location, deep in the heart of the Leicestershire countryside, one of the most ambitious tramcar restorations yet seen in the UK is getting underway. For inside sit the mortal remains of ex-Leicester Corporation double-deck car No. 31, which the Leicester Tram 31 Group has set on the comeback trail after the car spent…

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STATFOLD Barn Railway’s June 10 open day featured 16 locomotives in steam, plus rides on the Goose railcar and Burton & Ashby Light Railway Tram No. 14 (battery-electric). Peckett 0-6-0ST Harrogate 2050/1944 is away operating at the South Tynedale Railway, while Hudswell, Clarke 0-6-0WT 1643/1930 Surrey County Council No. GP 39 was in workshops with the…

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WELSHPOOL & Llanfair Light Railway (W&LLR) hoped its machine shop would be accessible by the time this issue of The RM was published, although not all equipment was expected to be available. Returning the main workshop to use will take longer. The works and machine shop sections of the building were closed at the end…

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AN ISSUE concerning the boiler paperwork for Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway-based ‘Austerity’ No. 71515 Mech Navvies Ltd meant the RSH-built 0-6-0ST missed the first day of the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway’s inaugural Little Engines Gala on July 7. The problem was rectified with the insurers later that day, and the loco (7169/1944) was cleared to…

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NEW faces, returning stalwarts and popular regulars made up the seven steam locomotives that starred in the Foxfield Railway’s anniversary gala on July 14-16. It was an event that commemorated the line’s 50th anniversary in typical ‘volcanic’ style! It would be fair to say the build-up to the event was a little fraught at times…

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THE boiler belonging to Stanier ‘Jubilee’ No. 45596 Bahamas is expected to undergo hydraulic testing at about the time this issue of The RM goes on sale. Tyseley Locomotive Works has now fitted, expanded and beaded the new tubes, and was completing the caulking at the time of writing. The overhaul of the boiler has also…

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NEW-BUILD Fowler ‘Patriot’ No. 5551 The Unknown Warrior had some of its motion trial fitted for the LMS-Patriot Project’s members’ day at the Llangollen Railway on July 8. Supporters of the locomotive were given the opportunity to see the 4-6-0’s left side in as near complete condition as possible, with much of that side’s valve gear…

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