News

DRS has released images of the first Class 88 to be branded in its colours No. 88002 has been completed at the Stadler Rail works in Valenica (formerly Vossloh) and given the DRS ‘Compass’ branding. The first loco, No. 88001, has been on test in the Czech Republic in a plain blue livery. Based on…

Continue reading »

FIFTY years ago on July 23, 1966, one of the most bizarre trains to be devised was tested in the USA and attained a new North American speed record. The New York Central System (NYC) tested a jet-powered railcar over a 68-mile section of line between Butler, Indiana and Air Line Junction (near Toledo), Ohio.…

Continue reading »

APRIL saw the arrival of three more Class 68s locomotives for Direct Rail Services, which completes the second batch of locos ordered. More 68s complete as Class 88 heads for Velim The first Class 68 visit to Swansea came on April 1 when Nos. 68004 and 68002 top-and-tailed a Network Rail track assessment train from…

Continue reading »

THE now unmistakable outline of the new Fowler 4-6-0 The Unknown Warrior has returned to Llangollen as the rate of construction accelerates. First steam move for phoenix ‘Patriot’ ‘Patriot’ No. 45551 The Unknown Warrior won’t be able to move itself for a couple of years, so ‘4MT’ No. 80072 – six decades its senior, but…

Continue reading »

AVONSIDE 0-6-0ST Cranford (1919/1924) made a triumphant return to working order at the Scunthorpe base of the Appleby Frodingham Railway in mid-April, bringing to a close a restoration which began in earnest in the 1990s. Cranford steams at Scunthorpe Avonside 0-6-0ST Cranford makes its first moves since the completion of its restoration at the Appleby…

Continue reading »

A ‘FUNCTIONING’ locomotive is one of the distinctive proposals outlined as part of the Bluebell Railway’s improved offering. Bluebell reveals steam shed exhibition plans An idea of how the new steam shed exhibition will look should the Bluebell win favour with the Heritage Lottery Fund. MATTHEW COUSINS/BLUEBELL RAILWAY Using Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) money, the…

Continue reading »

A HUGE stride towards the realisation of a two-mile extension for the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway has been made, with its £1.25million share issue already a fifth of the way to its target. Broadway… here we come! The new station building (based on the original) and the former Henley-in-Arden footbridge take shape on April 6. ALL:…

Continue reading »

THE new premises of Riley & Son (E) Ltd is already a hive of activity. Riley’s settles into new workshops Having vacated the shared workshop-cum-shed with the East Lancashire Railway (ELR) at Buckley Wells, Bury, Riley’s is now up-and-running at a non-rail-connected factory site in Heywood. Current contract work includes the boiler overhauls of ‘King’…

Continue reading »