■ JAMES Gordon,one of the founders of the AlfordValley Railway in Scotland,received an MBE in the recent honourslist. The steam outline 0-4-0 diesel locobuilt by Alan Keef Ltd forthe railway in 2001was named in his honour. Efforts to revive the Aberdeenshirerailway, which closed in early 2018, have been boosted by the new organisation Alford ValleyCommunityRailway becoming acommunity benefit society.Shares will be offered for sale in due course.
■ RESTORATION of Isle of Man Steam Railway’s(IOMSR) ‘Pairs’coach No.F.62 is almost complete at Stanegate Restorations &Replicas,where it was sent in July 2018 to be rebuilt.When it returns it willbe the second restored‘Pairs’bogie coach on the IOMSR,joining No.F.54.