Readers ’ Platform

Rail projects in doubt

THE Conservative Party’s leadership election was due to

Controversy over proposed fate of Thornbury Castle

Partially restored ‘Castle’ set to yield components for new-build ‘Night Owl’ and ‘Star’ locomotive projects.

EDINBURGH TURNTABLE UNCOVERED:

The remains of a turntable at St Margaret’s

Bowes Railway makes volunteer plea

AN APPEAL for volunteers and specialist assistance has

Mayors’ anger as Avanti slashes West Coast ser vices from Euston

A dispute means staff are refusing to work rest days, so the operator can only guarantee four services an hour to the North.

Locomotive Services runs extra Friday Euston charter

No. 87002 heads the down LSL working

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‘Crompton’ tour cancelled PATHFINDER’S railtour ‘The Canterbury Venturer’,

BARROW HILL CELEBRATES ‘150+2’:

On August 26-28, the Derbyshire Roundhouse celebrated its

DfT confirms £78m for Ox ford

Station to be redeveloped ahead of East West Rail services starting in 2024.

NEWQUAY LASH-UP:

A 14-car IET is pictured at Goonbarrow on

SPA VALLEY LASH-UP:

GBRf’s No. 73141 leads Nos. D5054/24054, D7612/25262, 73140,

First of ScotRail’s request-stop kiosks goes live

THE first of eight request-stop kiosks at stations

Management buys out Abellio UK from Dutch

East Midlands Railway and shares in Greater Anglia, WMT, and Merseyrail to be transferred to new UK company.

Tornado out until 2023

More work found to be required than expected during overhaul.

SIDELINES

KWVR’s hub plan THE Keighley & Worth Valley

New Government faces tough decisions over rail’s future

The new Conservative Government is faced with resolving a £2 billion hole in the rail budget, ongoing industrial action and deciding just what sort of railway we need post-pandemic.

Prison for protesters

COMPILED BY GRAEME PICKERING Your reports and pictures

Footbridge design

A STANDARD design of lightweight footbridge, made of

Problems found in tunnel’s concrete segments

‘Quality issues’ have been identified with some of the precast pieces for the first of HS2’s ‘green tunnels’, and remedial work may be required.

SUBSTATION PROGRESS:

To make way for the construction of the

DOROTHY’S BREAKTHROUGH:

Members of the tunnelling team celebrate after HS2

Railways in Parliament

Resilient railways IN the wake of record UK

We’re honoured!

Freightliner ‘66’ rededicated to mark our 125th anniversary.

Inside Leeds Midland Road

After No. 66503’s rededication ceremony (see previous page), Freightliner offered The RM team a tour of its Leeds servicing and repair facility, which features a maintenance shed, bogie shop, wheel lathe, fuelling shed, and sidings.

A CENTURY OF MET ELECTRIC LOCOS

Exactly 100 years after The Railway Magazine’s first article about the Metropolitan Railway’s rebuilt Metropolitan-Vickers electric locomotives, Christopher Westcott looks back over their service career and the status of the two surviving examples.

A Single from The Cross

Using some recently rediscovered logs, John Heaton FCILT looks back to the three specials trips in 1938 that featured the reactivated Stirling Single No. 1 on runs from King’s Cross to Stevenage, Cambridge and Peterborough.

ALL ABOARD FOR ASHINGTON

A 15-mile stretch of freight railway linking south east Northumberland with Newcastle is being transformed into a route with six stations and a half-hourly train service. The Northumberland Line will be the second reopening to passenger services as part of the Department for Transport’s ‘Restoring Your Railway’ programme, as Graeme Pickering reports.

25 YEARS OF MAIN LINE PRESERVATION

In November 1996, ‘Deltic’ No. D9000 returned to the main line as a preserved loco. The intervening years have had many trials and tribulations, as David Russell recounts, but after several years out of service it should soon embark on another main line career.

Readers ’ Platform

NB. Publication of a letter does not imply that the Editor or staff of The Railway Magazine necessarily agree with its contents.

FROM THE RAILWAY MAGAZINE ARCHIVES

READ THESE ISSUES AND HUNDREDS MORE IN THE

The RCTS: then and now

Britain’s leading Railway Society PAGE 159 of the

Panorama

A COOLER CLIME: Leaving the heat of Llandudno

Reviews

Books, v ideos and other items for possible review should be sent to: The Railway Magazine, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle Lincs LN9 6JR

Rails Across the Harbour Folkestone and its Branch Line

PACKED with carefully-selected images, this book charts the

Railways of the East Midlands/ Railways of Derbyshire/ Railways of Leicestershire

THIS trio of Amberley titles gives a good

A detailed history of the LMS Royal Scot 4-6-0s

THIS superb publication must surely be the definitive

Rail Guide 2022

THE latest volume of this annual reference staple

Chance to win a great read

Here at The Railway Magazine we’ve got some superb books which must be won... these top railway titles could be yours.

The Railway Magazine news digest

Lumo set No. 803005 passes Lamberton, approaching Berwick-upon-Tweed,

Autumn steam gala season kicks off

A wealth of interesting events begins across England during the season of steam.

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Didcot facilities’ upgrade on course – and access project ramps up

RESTORATION of the water tank at Didcot Railway

‘Patriot’ driving wheels cast

ALL the replacement driving wheels for new-build LMS

Standard 4 overhaul to be completed for the Moors

BR ‘4MT’ 2-6-4T No. 80135, which last ran

Midland loco boost for Barrow Hill

Stabled outside awaiting road transport from County Durham

TWO BULLEIDS BACK AT 75F:

No. 34092 City of Wells is stabled with

DIARY

September 6-10 East Anglian Railway Museum: 35th Chappel

SIDELINES

Swanage milestone THE 50th anniversary of the Swanage

Government recognises role of young railway volunteers

The Heritage Railways and Tramways (Voluntary Work) Bill will cement the legal position for young people volunteering at heritage railways and tramways.

Benefactor backs fast-track overhaul of Wadebridge

THE overhaul of Mid-Hants Railway-based Bulleid ‘West Country’

‘Big Large Prairie’ appeal launched – and Erlestoke Manor planned for festive return

THE Erlestoke Manor Fund has formally launched its

Preservation pioneer leaves huge and varied legacy

ROY Bruce Miller (Roy Miller 1931-2022) could claim

Bury ‘4MT’ back after boiler repairs

BURY Standard 4 Group’s (BS4G) 2-6-4T No. 80097

Historic station saved for Peterborough

Wansford Road station building is to be relocated

‘B17’ progresses

New-build loco project heads towards a rolling chassis.

Grey is proving the way

HERITAGE WAGONS TRACK RECORD

Hastings set for KESR return af ter cylinder repairs

Hunslet loco’s commissioning due to continue after set back.

SINGLE LINES

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Kilmersdon entertains the crowds

Note the ‘coal rail’ on the rear of

Lewin to be back in Beamish service in 2023?

No. 18 is seen on display at Pockerley

Steam Portfolio

MEIRIONYDD MAGIC: Quarry Hunslet 0-4-0ST George B (680/1898)

SINGLE LINES

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DIARY

September 10/11 Old Kiln Light Rly 40th anniversary

Russell returns to Rhyd Ddu

First stage of Welsh Highland 100th anniversary celebrations.

First World War battery-electric locos reunited after 100 years at Hythe Pier

THE centenary of the Hythe Pier Railway was

Passenger trains at Mountsorrel in 2023

THE 2ft gauge line at Mountsorrel & Rothley

Premier visit to Welshpool & Llanfair gala

SITTINGBOURNE & Kemsley Light Railway’s (SKLR) newly overhauled

Four locos expected in steam for Alan Keef event

THE first Alan Keef Ltd Open Day for

MER overhead cable theft

LAUNCESTON Steam Railway’s Hunslet 0-4-0ST Covertcoat pictured at

Handy Man restoration progresses

THE cab, water tank, running boards and other

Douglas Bay Horse Tramway reopens – over truncated route

FEARS that Isle of Man’s Douglas Bay Horse

Donations to Colo nel Stephens related projects

THE Colonel Stephens Society (CSS) has donated an

Sneak preview of Manx 2023 steam festival plans announced

THE Isle of Man Steam Railway will mark

Narrow Gauge

The warm temperatures on July 17 resulted in

SINGLE LINES

■ FFESTINIOG & Welsh Highland Railway’s new-build Manning

Hybrids halted

Clayton hybrid battery-diesel locomotives will not enter Snowdon Mountain Railway service.

Vertical boilered Pacific sold by auction

Exmoor Steam Railway-built 0-4-0TT No. 312 St. Egwin

The rapid growth of portable miniature railways

Several factors have led to there probably being more portable lines in the UK than ever before.

SIDELINES

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Tram poses availabilit y challenges for Beamish

Hopes of a late summer return to action for Sheffield 264 and Blackpool 31 following failures.

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Set-back for 125 Group’s Valenta restoration plan

The returning of HST power car No. 43044 to Paxman Valenta power with a Marston cooler has suddenly run into a problem, which is now being addressed.

Roving ambassador role for Class 40 cab at Cynheidre

THE latest arrival at the South Wales Cab

‘Deltics’ make a spectacular debut in the Cotswolds

CLASS 55 No. 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier has

Epping Ongar Railway gears up for September diesel gala

THE Epping Ongar Railway’s (EOR) second diesel gala

The Rail Trolley Trust confirmed as a charity

THE Charities Commission is satisfied the Rail Trolley

SIDELINES

SVR gala attractions THE Severn Valley Railway’s September

DIARY

September 16-17 East Lancashire Railway (ELR) diesel gala

Electric train stars at Mid-Hants diesel gala

The operation of an all-electric train on a heritage railway provided a unique spectacle and experience.

WSR DMU returns to traffic

PACER POWER: The Keith & Dufftown Railway, Britain’s

Classic Traction Portfolio

PRESERVED ‘PACER’ #2: The Midland Railway Centre-Butterley’s No.

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BLS to take a ‘37’ and ‘50’ to Whitby

JUST ahead of Halloween, the Branch Line Society

EE traction for two new Pathfinder specials

‘Tractor’ and a ‘Whistler’ haulage expected on excursions

Mix of lines and Class 31 for ‘Hoover and Holly’ tour

Class 33s returned to Weymouth on August 6,

Steam Dreams outlines this year’s Christmas market steam specials

The unmistakable location of Redcar steel works in

SEPTEMBER: STEAM RAILTOURS

SEPTEMBER: DIESEL & ELECTRIC RAILTOURS

BOOKING CONTACTS

BEL – Belmond 0845 077 2222 IC –

NOTES

■ Please note that advertised traction, routes, times

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Strike delays ‘Ayrliner’ A RAIL strike on July

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Funding in place for Portishead line rebuild

Development Consent Order expected to be granted by February 2023.

Work restarts on St Albans City station enhancement

A CGI of the new footbridge for

Plans approved to upgrade Har tlepool station

Looking north, an artist’s impression showing how the

Impressions released of proposed new Oxford stations

WITH proposals for the reintroduction of a passenger

Steam loco highlight for Glasgow Central tour?

ONGOING discussions between the Museum of Scottish Railways

Northern staff being trained on spotting vulnerable passengers

AROUND 7000 staff at Northern Rail are to

£5m refurbishment gets underway at Stirling

WORK began in mid-July on a £5m refresh

Business case submitted for Shrewsbury route enhancements

MIDLANDS Connect, an organisation which researches, develops and

Northern installs water dispensers

NORTHERN has embarked on a plan to install

New toilets open after size error

NEW toilets on the down platform at Market

Sink hole line repaired

FOLLOWING the discovery of a sink hole under

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Maritime anchors new Tilbury rail service

DB Cargo-operated trains will provide a link to Trafford Park Euroterminal.

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Brierley Hill link to be built in two phases

Councillors vote to split West Midlands Metro scheme due to rising costs.

Contract awarded for Piccadilly line power upgrade

AN electrical infrastructure upgrade to prepare London Underground’s

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RMS Locotec unveils HVO-fuelled Class 08

‘Gronk’ is the trailblazer as RMS Locotec markets ‘low emissions shunting solution’.

DCRail-owned Class 60s to benefit from modifications

On August 1, a week after its return

Nottingham Eastcrof t upgrade completed

£2.56 million depot investment has increased stabling capacity and improved facilities.

WAGON REPORT

STONEBLOWERS are permanently coupled twin units that derive

LOCOMOTIVES

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MULTIPLE UNITS

Class 66 No. 66002 and Stadler ‘Flirts’ Nos.

HAULED COACHING STOCK

Liveries LNER InterCity: NL15/17 + 82214/25 Named 46014

Operations

Call: 01507 529589 email: railway @ mortons.co.uk Your

DART + West Railway Order submitted

Your reports and pictures are most welcome. Highly

Foynes Line reconstruction tender set to be let

Mothballed route which saw its last train in 2003 will be brought back to life.

Enterprise service marks 75th anniversary

AUGUST 11 marked the 75th anniversary of the

Passenger self-evacuation causes suspension of DART services

A WELCOME RETURN: On July 31, the Railway

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Demand sparks debate

Over 40 million €9 tickets sold in German summer promotion.

US tourist railroads reopen after Covid-19 pandemic

AFTER a two-year period of interrupted operation or

Branch Line Society tours Poland

The tour was rare passenger work for rebuilt

Paris gains western orbital tram-train line – and further expansion approved

A NEW 18.8km long tramtrain route opened west

V/Line standard gauge loco fleet replaced in Victoria

V/Line No. N464 with the very last locomotive