News

A COLLECTION of industrial narrow gauge and monorail equipment, amassed over 40 years by Rich Morris at Blaenau Ffestiniog, started its relocation to a site near Oswestry in late July, writes Peter Nicholson. The equipment, sited on land adjoining Mr Morris’s former home, was subject to an eviction notice, giving only weeks for its removal.…

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THE most northern US State Alaska has two rail systems operated by separate companies on different gauges – and both are experiencing a boom in passenger numbers. The systems offer stunning scenery and run multiple passenger trains daily in summer, catering mainly for passengers on cruise ships, which call at the ports of Skagway and…

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THE reconstruction of Ecuador’s 1,067mm gauge rail network is now largely complete and much of it is now regularly visited by the new ‘Tren Crucero’ (‘Train Cruise’) tourist train. Following years of decline, exacerbated by damage from bad weather, most of the network was out of use only a decade ago, with tourist trains operating…

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SIX Douglas Bay Horse Tramway trams were sold by auction on August 27 for a combined total of £9,200, reports Cliff Thomas. The sale was announced, at short notice, by Douglas Borough Council, with removal from Strathallan Depot by purchasers required by September 30. The trams, not currently in use and all needing restoration, were…

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ROGER Daltrey, lead singer in legendary rock band The Who, opened Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway’s rebuilt Dungeness station with RH&DR board chairman, Sir William McAlpine, on August 2, reports Cliff Thomas. The 15in gauge line’s station at Dungeness, located on a National Nature Reserve, was closed for renovation in winter 2015. The project hit…

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THE partial failure of the parapet of a two-arch brick bridge over the Midland Main Line closed the line north of Leicester on August 1 for just over 24 hours. Passengers were bussed between Leicester and Loughborough. Grove Lane bridge at Barrow-upon-Soar, Leicestershire, provides access to the station. The exact age of the bridge is…

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THERE seems no end in sight for the long-running dispute on Southern over driver-only operation (DOO) after further talks with the RMT union and the conciliation service Acas broke up without agreement. Recognising passengers are frustrated by the ongoing dispute, Southern has vowed to move forward with its modernisation plans. In a statement, Southern’s passenger…

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