Did the founders of the preservation movement in the 1950s and 60s ever imagine that railway heritage would look like this in 2023? RailAdventure power cars Nos. 43480+43468 haul a rake of Mk.3s and Type 3 diesel No. 37401 at Haworth on June 24 during the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway’s diesel gala.
TOM MCATEE
WHAT a month it has been for railway heritage! First of all there was the royal duty for Flying Scotsman, as the 100-yearold locomotive was tasked with hauling King Charles from York to Pickering for the new monarch to help celebrate the North Yorkshire Moors Railway’s 50th anniversary (page 12). The King has a long association with railways, as does Scotsman with royalty, so it was only fitting that the two should be brought together in both their special years.
Also celebrating a half century this year is the Great Central Railway (page 15), which from humble beginnings around Loughborough Central is now one of the country’s premier lines, with its unique section of double-track running and the exciting prospect of more to come once the missing link over Loughborough Midland has been rebuilt. A special gala was held in mid-June, with one highlight being a 50-wagon goods train – one for each year of operation – a truly magnificent sight and a credit to the line and vehicle owners.
Other standout moments elsewhere have been the opening of Llangollen’s fantastic new station at Corwen (see page 20), which is great news after the line’s troubles of recent years, while the Welsh Highland Railway has also been marking its centenary year (page 28).