The RAILWAY Magazine

WATERWORKS SUNSET: Half-term running at the Bluebell Railway

Government says that rail is key to its national growth strategy

East West Rail to Cambridge, Portishead reopening, and completion of the Mid Cornwall Metro have all been given Government backing.

Severn Valley appeals for funds after line washout

DISASTER struck the Severn Valley Railway before daybreak

No decision yet on TfW Class 231 conversion programme

DESPITE a proposal to progress the scheme being

SIDELINES

Bluebell gala to host new-build quartet THE

Green Line launch for ‘555s’

New Tyne & Wear Metro units spread their wings despite Sunderland track-height issue.

Closure threat for Doncaster Works

A view of the Wabtec site adjacent to

SPA VALLEY FUNDING WALK

Supporters undertook a five-mile ‘Stride the Track’ walk

TRACK RECORD

The Railway Magazine news digest

TRACTION & STOCK PORTFOLIO

The Railway Magazine • MARCH 2025 87

Unprecedented demand

THERE is nothing like an open day at

Class 08 converted for hydrogen fuel

Shunter is powered by batteries charged by an onbaord hydrogen fuel cell.

Hopetown stages line-up of early locomotives

Historic engines come together in free exhibition at Darlington museum.

Public to vote for favourite UK railway artworks

A Diesel Train on the Shore of Bassenthwaite

GTR offers 9000 train tickets

GOVIA Thameslink Railway has joined forces with the

Industry veteran takes train down memory lane

OPEN access operator Hull Trains has worked with

SIDELINES

Narrow Gauge temporary exhibition ALTHOUGH celebrations this

DIARY

Ongoing to May 4 Grimsby Fishing Heritage

It’s a full house for Derby event!

This summer’s three-day ‘Greatest Gathering’ event sold out within days, following unprecedent demand for tickets.

Railways in Parliament

Flexible fares TUNBRIDGE Wells MP Mike Martin asked

First of 13 viaducts completed for West Midlands Delta Junction

HS2 Ltd shows off the finished River Tame West structure, one of 13 structures that will form the triangular Delta Junction connecting the HS2 main line and the spurs linking it with Birmingham.

HS2 News

HEAVY WORK: A four-day operation which involved sliding

POMA and Dopplemayer invited to tender to supply and operate APM

TENDERS have been invited by HS2 Ltd from

Excellence and innovation

This year’s Heritage Railway Association annual awards were held in Gateshead on February 8, recognising excellence and innovation in almost every aspect of heritage railway and tramway restoration, preservation and operation.

The heroic age

In Part 3 of our Railway 200 series examining key periods in rail history, Dr Joseph Brennan looks at the mania and monuments of 1840s railway expansion.

Talking ’ bout my ‘G-G-Generators’

Trials on the East Coast Main Line in 1962 pitched a brand-new Brush Type 4 against a one-year-old ‘Deltic’. Who better to sift through the results than John Heaton FCILT.

A man of many parts

Robert Humm reviews the life of George Behrend –a notable travel writer, contributor to The Railway Magazine , and leading authority on luxury trains.

Keeping in trim

IN your February issue I was delighted to

Railways and footpaths

I HAVE enjoyed your coverage of footpaths next

Readers’ Platform

House has own railway AS the owner

MEETINGS

THURSDAY, MARCH 6 Bath Railway Society. Museum

From the archive

Subscribe and read previous issues at www.railwaymagazine.co.uk/archive

RCTS

Britain’s leading Railway Society

PANORAMA

A showcase for the best in railway photography

Michael Mensing Railway Photographer West Midlands 1959

FOR those of a certain age, the name

No Stopping in the North of Britain – From Multiple Railway Stations to None

MANY towns and cities ended up with more

Warwickshire Railways

ANOTHER valuable publication from Transport Treasury. Martin Creese

The Railway Magazine binders and bound volumes

Binders High-quality binders to store your copies of

THE LONG VIEW: MARCH

1 LYMINGTON PIER: A view of the

CROSSWORD & NEXT MONTH

‘Can Pac’ to return this month

Bulleid Pacific No. 35005 Canadian Pacific set for mid-March return to traffic.

General Steam Navigation to move home

THE owners of‘Merchant Navy’No. 35011 General Steam Navigation

‘Eddystone’ mainline prep continues

PROGRESS to fit Southern Locomotives Ltd’s‘West Country’ No.

Salisbury shedmates to reunite in the Cotswolds

No. 34092 City of Wells departs Cheltenham Racecourse

Tornado to feature in ELR ‘Legends of Steam’

‘A1’ Pacific to star alongside ‘Black Five’ and two ‘Spam Cans’.

Bodmin ‘Austerity’ progress

No. 75178 after its runaway incident at Maesteg

Setback for GWSR-based ‘4MT’

THE last-remaining BR ‘4MT’ to undergo restoration hit

Butterley reroofing project needs help

WINTER storms in mid-January have set back ongoing

Darlington RPS opens its new home

Open day showcases work at society’s new home.

‘Steam icons’ to headline West Somerset Spring Gala

THE West Somerset Railway’s Spring Steam Spectacular on

L&Y loco to become second 0-6-0at Spa Valley Railway

L&YR ‘Ironclad’ No. 52044 attacks the gradient out

Betton Grange to star at Llangollen Spring Gala

New-build ‘Grange’ to return back to where it all began.

Mid Hants Railway to host ‘Gala of Firsts’ in April

THE Mid Hants Railway has announced its spring

Sir Berkeley goes on tour

MANNING Wardle Class L 0-6-0ST Sir Berkeley (Works

CAB AND TANKS FITTED:

OWEN HAYWARD The overhaul of Hunslet 0-6-0ST Newstead

SIDELINES

Please check with railways before travelling to events

Earliest-numbered production MGR wagon preserved at Chasewater

National Wagon Preservation Group becomes the custodian of HAA No. 350002.

SRPS teak carriages expected back in service this year

THE Scottish Railway Preservation Society says it expects

South Tynedale Railway drops aspiration to reach Haltwhistle

Ambitious extension no longer achievable or desirable.

New Year steam at Bredgar for beginning of anniversary year

Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway’s O&K 0-4-0WT No.

‘Quarry Hunslet’ work at Llanuwchllyn

THE Bala Lake Railway finished the 2024 season

Corris annual gala will focus on railway’s home locomotive fleet

THE Corris Railway’s (CR) May 25 annual gala

60th anniversary of the end of Penrhyn steam commemorated at Apedale

Ogwen and Stanhope, former residents at the slate quarry, hauled slate wagons to mark the occasion.

MER Winter Saloons – one restored, another in progress

STATFOLD Barn Railway completed repainting of Bagnall 0-4-2T

SINGLE LINES

■ THE bodywork of Kerr, Stuart 6wDM 4415/1928

Guest locomotives announced for Ravenglass anniversary gala

Green Goddess and Bonnie Dundee to be guests at R&ER 150th anniversary event.

Twins Reunited at old home for Fairbourne gala

THE Fairbourne Railway’s May 24-26 steam gala is

Further attractions for FR 70th anniversary gala

IN addition to the‘200 Wheels on the Cob’cavalcade

Handy Man cosmetic restoration in final stages

COSMETIC restoration of Statfold Narrow Gauge Museum Trust’s

Talyllyn’s 2024 set out in numbers

THE Talyllyn Railway (TR) operated 1,010 trains during

W&LLR secures big grant for building repairs

THE Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway (W&LLR) has

April opening target for new railway venture at Severn Beach

10.25in gauge line aims to attract visitors of all ages, and recapture the spirit of the resort’s glory days.

Refurbishment of Seaton’s Works Car No. 2 progresses

Project aims to ensure the vehicle’s longevity for use by the team which maintains the three-mile long tramway.

EATM launches new season volunteer recruitment drive

EAST Anglia Transport Museum has launched a ‘Your

Southampton No. 11 truck gets attention

THE truck from Southampton No. 11 was moved

LCCT posters exhibited

A SERIES of London County Council Tramway posters

Tram line relaid for display

A SECTION of old tram line discovered in

Tulyar returns after 28 years

DPS’s third ‘Deltic’ moves under its own power

Wensleydale Railway’s Class 33 stars in locally made film set in the North East

THE Wensleydale Railway-based Class 33 No. 33035 took

125 OUTING AT NENE VALLEY

HAYDEN SHEPPARD The 125 Group’s two HST power

350HP WASHING LINES:

DAVID STAINES After weeks of wet weather, a

‘Brighton Belle’ EMU set returns to the main line with a test run from Crewe to Chester

The 5BEL Trust’s ‘Brighton Belle’ EMU at Chester

LIVERY REFRESH FOR KESR DMU:

T he Kent & East Sussex Railway’s Class

Guest engines confirmed for Chinnor Spring Gala

THE full line-up of guest engines for the

Preservation first as Bahamas tackles Shap

In a scene which is rather a contrast

LSL ‘Peak’ to reprise ‘Master Cutler’

LOCOMOTIVE Services Class 45‘Peak’No. 45118 The Royal Artilleryman

LSL Class 20s head to Llandudno

A NEW tour on the Inter-City calendar is

Branch Line goes for five-day Class 50 marathon tour for children’s charity

IF five days of Class 50 haulage appeals

SRPS gets Mk.1 stock temporary exemption

THE Scottish Railway Preservation Society (SRPS) has been

EAST WEST FIRST:

West Coast Railways Class 33 Nos. 33029 and

STEAMTOURS: MARCH/APRIL

DIESEL AND ELECTRICTOURS: MARCH/APRIL

Bitumen tanks head for storage from Preston Docks

Colas Rail Freight Class 56, No. 56049 Robin

FREIGHTLINER QUARTET:

With Nos. 90047 and 90049 behind them, ‘dead

Direct Rail Services rolls stone across Cumbria from east to west

First phase of aggregate movements between Shap and Drigg will see loaded trains running for four days per week.

SIDELINES

Track work at Weaste METROLINK services between

Work imminent on long-awaited’ phase of Black Country tram line extension

Construction teams are preparing to make a start on building the West Midlands Metro route between Dudley and Merry Hill.

Step-free progress for Northolt and Leyton Tube stations

TRANSPORT for London announced on February 10 that

SIDELINES

More than 70% using digital tickets on Northern

‘Pay-as-you-Go’ fares expansion in the South East

THE use of contactless technology to pay train

Work under way on new AVA bridge for Stowmarket

An artist’s impression of an AVA footbridge. GREATER

Cambridge South station shaping up

WORK on the construction of the new Cambridge

New timeline for Botley Road bridge reopening

WORK on Botley Road bridge, adjacent to Oxford

Next phase begins on Mid-Cornwall Metro project

GWR No. 150202 is seen after terminating at

TfW serves up a new menu for its loco-hauled services

AN upgrade of catering on Transport for Wales’

‘Yellow card’ idea for ticket offences

PASSENGER watchdog Transport Focus (TF) is calling for

Atherstone services resume

PASSENGER services in the London direction resumed from

£5 million improvement for Class 730 maintenance facilities in Coventry

Modernisation and more staff will allow six units to be cleaned simultaneously at the Midlands city’s North Yard.

New colours for stalwarts of c2c’s train fleet

THE first members of c2c’s Class 357‘Electrostar’electric multiple

FIRST ‘99’ SENT FOR CZECH TEST

No. 99001, the first of GB Railfreight’s Class

Huge relief – toilets to be retrofitted to Southeastern’s Class 707 ‘City Beams’

Southeastern Class 707, No. 707012 is pictured at

Class 195 and 331 cab simulator delivered to Northern

The prototype semi-immersive simulator delivered to Northern is

SIDELINES

Preparing battery train for passengers THE chief

Scottish Hydrogen Train and Class 19 moved from Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway

Former Class 314 unit will be used for training at Gibson’s Engineering, but No. 19001 has gone to a scrapyard in Edinburgh.

Wagon Report

PROBABLY the shortest revenue-earning bogie wagons in use

Stock update

Former Transport for Wales DMU No. 175002 at

The network’s notable moves

Avanti West Coast It is reported that

Connemara Railway among areas hit by Storm Éowyn

Main line services also disrupted across the network.

RETRO LIVERY DUO

Over the weekend February 15-16, the up line

Translink proposes ballast cleaning depot in Ballinderry

TRANSLINK has announced plans to establish anew railway

Spring railtours

ON April 5, Táilte Tours will operate the‘The

First minister for rail appointed to new Irish Government

ALANDMARK development for the new Irish Government, established

Vintage European diesels still in daily suburban use in Argentina

Built in Spain in the 1960s and 1970s,

Alcos on tour in Spain

One of the highlights of the trip detailed

Regio Panter BEMUs enter service in Czech Republic

In a special green and white livery for

Tallinn to Vilnius achievable by rail in eight and a half hours

AFTER years of discussion, the national rail companies

‘Traxx’ locomotives take over in Hamburg

GERMAN national rail operator DB has reallocated multiple

STEAM PORTFOLIO

1 PACIFIC PAUSE: After taking part on

Significant step towards Portishead line reopening

West of England Combined Authority is expected to approve the remaining £30 million needed for the project.

Cambrian route closures planned to take place in March

AS part of a £15 million investment on