News

OVER the years we have recorded the reduction in steam operation in China, but at current rates the reports won’t continue much beyond this year. The recent policy of the Chinese government to restrict coal production and to close unsafe mines means that locations that used steam locos during early 2016 no longer do. The…

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ONLY one of the 20 1800 Class Co-Co diesel locos built between 1963 and 1964 by La Brugeoise et Nivelles (BN) remains in service in Luxembourg with state operator CFL. The locos are fitted with an EMD 16-567C engine and were based upon the very similar Class 55 design, also built by BN for neighbouring…

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THE long-term strategy of Indian Railways to convert almost the entire network to broad gauge (1,676mm) – known as Project Unigauge – is leading to the conversion of some of the few remaining truly narrow gauge 2ft 6in/762mm lines. Prior to this the plans had seen the closure and subsequent conversion of thousands of miles…

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RZD has introduced a variety of double-deck coaches and sleeping cars in the last few years as it modernises the stock used on some routes. The new coaches are built by the Tver carriage works north of Moscow and are air conditioned and wi-fi equipped. They operate in 15-coach rakes at up to 160km/h on…

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RUSSIAN Railways (RZD) has announced some of its Class EP20 or ‘Olympus’ electric locos have accumulated one million kilometres in traffic – within three years of entering service. RZD ordered 200 of the Bo-Bo-Bo locos from leading Russian rail engineering firm Transmashholding (Transmash) in 2010. The first EP20 locos entered service in time for the…

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TYSELEY’S ‘Castle’ No. 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe has stepped in to deputise for ‘Hall’ No. 4965 Rood Ashton Hall on Vintage Trains’ ‘Red Dragon’ (‘Y Ddraig Goch’) to Cardiff on March 11 after the g-word (gauging) raised its head once more. The route would have taken the ‘Hall’ from Tyseley (Warwick Road) to Worcester…

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STANDARD 4MT 2-6-0 No. 76084’s main line comeback will continue on March 18 when it works the Railway Touring Company’s ‘Whitby Flyer’ excursion from York with ‘B1’ 4-6-0 No. 61264. The two mixed traffic locomotives will depart the Yorkshire city at 08.30 and head first for Darlington, picking up at Thirsk (09.20) and Northallerton (09.35), before…

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LUXURY train operator Belmond has awarded the Severn Valley Railway (SVR) a 10-year contract to service and stable its ‘Northern Belle’ carriages at Kidderminster. The 11 operational vehicles and two spares are currently serviced by LNWR Heritage at Crewe and will be housed on Carriage Siding No. 1 at Kidderminster between trips. The SVR will also…

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CONSTRUCTION work to modify the former Waterloo International for domestic suburban trains is well underway, as this view shows. The former Eurostar concourse has been demolished and around 50ft of the concrete platform deck has been cut away to accommodate an elevated walkway connecting the new platforms to the station. Between 1994 and 2007, the…

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