The Railway Magazine

DECEMBER 2018

by

Sam Hewitt

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5th December 2018

Headline News Northern denies crisis talks; Virgin scraps Friday ticket restrictions; ‘Scotsman’ nameplate sells for £64,500; Vintage Trains launches main line ‘Polar Express’; Talgo plans Scottish factory; West Somerset closes for three months; TPE’s ‘Nova 3’ delayed until May; Porterbrook ‘Flex’ sets for new year debut; Immingham coaling tower demolished; Days of lineside permit numbered?…
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Tyseley makes TOC debut with Birmingham ‘Polar Express’ festive trains

by

Sam Hewitt

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3rd December 2018

VINTAGE Trains (VT) was set to return to full main line steam charter operation as an independent train operating company on November 29 with the first of its new ‘Polar Express’ festive specials from Birmingham Moor Street. The trains are based upon the 2004 film of the same name, and are scheduled to run four…
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Falkland’s veteran Simon unveils new ‘Patriot’ crest

by

Sam Hewitt

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3rd December 2018

A NEW crest depicting a First World War ‘Tommy’ standing over the grave of a fallen comrade has been unveiled on the nameplate of new-build ‘Patriot’ No. 5551 The Unknown Warrior by Simon Weston CBE. The unveiling took place during a special Armistice commemoration event at Crewe Heritage Centre on November 10, which also provided a…
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Dual identity ‘Saint’ makes its public debut at Didcot

by

Sam Hewitt

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3rd December 2018

CLEAR skies and late-autumn sunlight provided perfect conditions for the public debut of the Great Western Society’s near-completed Churchward ‘Saint’ 4-6-0 No. 2999 Lady of Legend at Didcot Railway Centre on November 17-18. Plenty of visitors turned out during the aptly named Black Saint Weekend to get their first glimpse of the loco, albeit static and…
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WSR to close for three-month ‘re-group’ after investigation

by

Sam Hewitt

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3rd December 2018

THE West Somerset Railway (WSR) has made the unprecedented decision to voluntarily close for three months from January 2 to April 1, 2019 in order to ‘re-group’ following a visit by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) and the issuing of its findings. As a result there will be no running during the February…
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Virgin Trains USA launched

by

Sam Hewitt

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3rd December 2018

By Keith Fender VIRGIN group has announced it will become a minority investor in start-up inter-city passenger operator Brightline. Brightline started operation in Florida in January 2018 and will be renamed Virgin Trains USA, with rebranding starting in 2019. Brightline operates its Florida services using 10 new 125mph Siemens-built ‘Charger’ diesel locos, and has five…
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TransPennine Express delays ‘Nova 3’ introduction to May

by

Sam Hewitt

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3rd December 2018

TRANSPENNINE Express (TPE) is delaying the introduction of its ‘Nova 3’ loco-hauled sets until next May. The sets are being built by CAF in Spain and will be hauled by Class 68s sub-leased from DRS. They had been expected to be progressively introduced from the December timetable change, but acceptance testing has produced a technical…
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Talgo picks Scottish site for UK factory

by

Sam Hewitt

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3rd December 2018

LONGANNET in Fife has been selected by Spanish train builder Talgo as the site for its proposed UK factory. The location is currently occupied by a closed power station, and has been chosen as it is rail-connected, close to sea ports at Grangemouth and Rosyth, and in a region with a good supply of skilled…
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Railways call time on lineside photo permits

by

Sam Hewitt

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3rd December 2018

THE days of the lineside photography permit may be numbered as a number of preserved railways blame rising insurance costs and safety concerns for their decisions to end the issuing of permits to photographers. Lineside passes have traditionally been issued on an annual basis for a set fee. Successful applicants are then supplied with safety…
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REGENERATING RAILWAYS IN THE KINGDOM OF FIFE

by

Sam Hewitt

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3rd December 2018

Graeme Pickering looks at two reopening proposals in Scotland which could again connect the university town of St Andrews and the conurbation of Levenmouth to the national network, as well as another long-term scheme to link the newly electrified line at Alloa with Dunfermline. The Central Lowlands are the most heavily populated region of Scotland,…
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