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  • Steam returns to Greek rack line

    Steam returns to Greek rack line

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    THE only rack railway in Greece – Diakoftó to Kalávryta on the Peloponnese Peninsula – celebrated its 120th birthday last year. And for the first time in a decade one of the original steam locomotives was restored for use and operated special trains. The 750mm-gauge Abt rack-equipped line opened on March 10, 1896 after four…

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  • Last years for French passenger diesels

    Last years for French passenger diesels

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    FRENCH Railways SNCF bought hundreds of diesel locos in the 1960s and 70s to replace steam on lines that were not electrified. Several types were introduced, but the majority of those which have remained in use into the 21st century, operating passenger services, are the BB67400 Bo-Bo design, once found all over France; 232 were…

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  • Eastleigh ‘Merchant Navy’ in traffic

    Eastleigh ‘Merchant Navy’ in traffic

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    EASTLEIGH Lakeside Steam Railway’s new 10¼in-gauge loco – re-built Bulleid ‘Merchant Navy’ No. 35004 Cunard White Star – was officially named on December 3. A small ceremony was attended by the deputy mayor of Eastleigh, Coun Sollitt and her escort, Roy Sollitt; guest of honour Paul Atterbury, an expert on BBC TV’s Antique Roadshow; and members…

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  • Annuals brought back memories

    Annuals brought back memories

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    I was most interested in the article in the December issue about Trains Annual and Locospotters’ Annual. What immediately caught my eye were the two colour illustrations from the 1950 edition of Trains Annual, stated to be the first to include colour plates.  I was sure I recognised the plates from another publication which I received…

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  • No end in sight for the Southern dispute

    No end in sight for the Southern dispute

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    SO, AFTER two days of talks before Christmas, there’s still no agreement in the long-running and bitter dispute between Southern and the rail union ASLEF over who presses the door buttons. The strikes continue, the sides as far apart as ever. Southern’s passengers are desperately fed up with the saga of having their working lives…

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  • Fire damages Vivarail DMU

    Fire damages Vivarail DMU

    by

    Chris Milner

    –

    PROTOTYPE Vivarail DMU No. 230001 has been damaged after a fire broke out on December 30. The fire occurred during a test run from Tyseley steam depot – where the DMU is being based – to Nuneaton via Leamington Spa and Coventry. The train had ten staff on board. Warwickshire Fire & Rescue service reported…

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  • Khrushchev’s Cold War loco in action

    Khrushchev’s Cold War loco in action

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    IN JUNE 1961 the leaders of the two world superpowers – the USA and the USSR – met in Vienna. US President John F Kennedy flew to Austria but the leader of the USSR Nikita Khrushchev came by train from Moscow. His train was hauled from Bratislava, then in Czechoslovakia, to the Austrian border station…

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  • LMS-built shunters in Italy: Could UK preservationists bid to bring them home?

    LMS-built shunters in Italy: Could UK preservationists bid to bring them home?

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    IN 1939 the first of a batch of 40 0-6-0 diesel locos ordered by the LMS appeared from Derby Works. Unusually, they featured an English Electric 6K 350HP diesel engine and the single-motor jackshaft drive developed by Armstrong Whitworth. Both manufacturers had previously built prototypes for the LMS earlier in the 1930s and the new…

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  • ROG takes Brush Type 2s on festive trip to Norfolk

    ROG takes Brush Type 2s on festive trip to Norfolk

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    DERBY’S Rail Operations Group is to take the last two main line-certificated Class 31s on a festive jaunt from King’s Cross to the Mid-Norfolk Railway’s winter diesel gala on December 30. The ‘One Last Task’ tour is being operated in conjunction with Vintage Trains. It will feature Devon & Cornwall Railways’ No. 31452 working together with…

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  • St. Cadfan named and blessed by ‘Bishop Andy’

    St. Cadfan named and blessed by ‘Bishop Andy’

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    TALYLLYN Railway’s ex-RNAD Trecwn 99hp Baguley Drewry diesel No. 12 St. Cadfan (3779/1983) was officially named by The Bishop of Bangor, the Rt Revd Andrew John, on October 30. Saint Cadfan established a Christian community in Tywyn 1,500 years ago and the ceremony formed part of this year’s celebrations marking that event. Bishop Andy, as he…

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