Popular ‘Streak’ to be overhauled by Sir Nigel Gresley’s team with Locomotive Services Group for use on the main line.
Your reports and pictures are most welcome. Highly competitive rates are paid, especially if exclusive to The RM.
SIDELINES
Coal mine appeal
THE extraction of steam coal from the Ffos-y-Fran open cast mine in South Wales looks set to continue after an appeal was lodged against an enforcement notice issued by Merthyr Tydfil Borough Council (MBCC) ordering production be stopped.
On June 26, mine operator Merthyr (South Wales) Ltd, which has supplied steam coal to the heritage sector – the last of its kind in Britain – submitted an appeal to the Welsh Government against the notice. This will result in production continuing until the appeal is heard, which could take several months.
As previously reported (RM June 2023, Steam & Heritage Track Record), an application to extend the life of the mine near Merthyr Tydfil until March 31, 2024 was turned down by members of MBCC’s planning committee on April 26. This came after the Welsh Government issued “a direction” to the local authority that unless authorised by the Welsh ministers, the council was prevented from granting permission to extend the period of time coal extraction is allowed at Ffos-y-Fran.
Bridgnorth shed tours
SEVERN Valley Railway (SVR) is offering guided tours of its Bridgnorth motive power depot on selected dates on a trial basis.
At the time of going to press, dates announced included July 8/9 and July 15/16. Tours can be booked online at svr.co.uk – the price being £4 per person when purchased with a train ticket, or £8 as a stand-alone experience.
Participants must be aged at least 16 and stout footwear must be worn. The hour-long tours will take in the yard, works, machine shop and paint shop. If the tours are successful, SVR said it plans to offer further dates in the coming months.
Pannier dismantling
THE overhaul of GWR 0-6-0PT No. 5775 continues to progress at the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway’s Haworth workshop. Over the weekend of June 17/18, volunteers and staff lifted the frames and removed the wheelsets.
The buffer beam was removed in readiness for extracting the cylinder block. The ‘57XX’is well known for its appearance in the 1970 EMI film The Railway Children when it carried the fictitious Great Northern and Southern Railway livery.