News

THE only surviving Class 105 two-car Cravens DMU is nearing completion of an extensive restoration at the East Lancashire Railway (ELR). DMBS No. 51485 and DTCL No. 56121 are seen on March 5 and are due to make their debut on the ELR at the Scenic Railcar Weekend on November 4, following completion of interior work. More…

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The £6million revamp of the ticket halls and concourse at Newcastle Central Metro station was officially completed in March after 18 months of work. The station is the third busiest on the network after Monument and Haymarket, and is used by more than five million passengers every year. Improvements have been made to disabled access,…

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MANCHESTER Metrolink opened its Second City Crossing (2CC) on February 26, which doubles the capacity in the city centre by providing an extra route between Manchester Victoria and St Peter’s Square. 2CC runs via Exchange Square, which opened as a terminus from Victoria in December 2015, then along Cross Street to the town hall before…

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RAVENGLASS & Eskdale Railway Preservation Society’s (RERPS) 1929-built Krauss 4-6-2 No. 8457 is to be named Whillan Beck. It was bought at the beginning of 2016. The name derives from the water course which passes under Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway (R&ER) at its Dalegarth terminus and ties in with R&ER locos named after local rivers: River…

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THE Cavan & Leitrim Railway at Dromod has launched a fresh appeal to raise the £40,000 (€45,000) required to complete the restoration of its Avonside 0-6-0T Nancy. A support group known as the Avonside “Nancy” Restoration Group has been established by volunteers from some of Ireland’s narrow gauge lines to oversee the project and return…

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NORTHERN Ireland’s newest tourist attraction – the Whitehead Railway Museum – has quietly opened its doors to the general public, ahead of a more formal opening at a later date. Contractors finished work on the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland’s £3.1million project in early March. The museum will open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. It…

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FORMER Aberdeen Gas Works Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST Mr Therm (2239/1947) has returned to its home in the Granite City’s Seaton Park Playground. The move follows cosmetic renovation by David Ogilvie Engineering of Kilmarnock. The colourful ‘Pug’ arrived back in pieces on February 15, and was reassembled in-situ over the next three days. The loco has…

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KENT’S Spa Valley Railway (SVR) will be able to call upon three operational steam locomotives this year when Hunslet 0-6-0ST Ring Haw (1982/1940) joins the working fleet on hire from the North Norfolk Railway. The ex-Nassington Quarry locomotive will be making its first foray to the south-west of England from May 22, and is expected…

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THE East Lancashire Railway held its spring gala just a week after the Keighley & Worth Valley, hanging a Lostock Hall tag on the proceedings. Around 3,000 passengers turned out to pay homage to the famous North West shed, the theme strengthened with the presence of Riddles ‘4MT’ No. 76084, ‘Black Fives’ Nos. 45212 and…

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THE presence of Hughes-Fowler ‘Crab’ No. 13065 at the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway’s (KWVR) season-opening gala on March 3-5 added a welcome bit of colour to what was largely a dull and wet weekend. It was the Crimson Lake Mogul’s first foray onto KWVR metals, having made the journey from the East Lancashire Railway a…

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