Marcus' Model Railway Journey

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13th March, 2025

London freight terminal becomes UK first Net Zero terminal​

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Cricklewood depot's acoustic wall


DB Cargo UK is boasting that it has created the country’s first ‘net zero’ rail freight terminal at Cricklewood in North London.

The rail terminal, which opened in 2020, is used as a base for transporting aggregates and waste construction material in and out of London.

Moving this material by rail rather than road significantly reduces traffic congestion in the capital.

Each of DB’s freight trains carries the equivalent of up to 129 HGVs and emits 76% less carbon dioxide.

DB Cargo has highlighted the benefits of moving freight by rail rather than road with its ‘Freight Belongs on Rail’ campaign.
 
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Cricklewood depot


The company has taken several other measures to significantly cut the ‘carbon footprint’ of the depot, including:
  • Building one of Europe’s largest green acoustic barriers, which minimises the impact of dust and noise on local residents. The barrier faces south and is eighteen metres high. It is planted with about 3,520m2 of native green foliage, which attracts birds, insects and other wildlife.
  • Planting nine species of native trees and rewilding unused land.
  • Recycling and reusing water used on site.
  • Hydro-treated vegetable oil (HVO) instead of white diesel is used to fuel on-site machinery.
  • Using more modern and fuel-efficient machinery.
  • Installing a drive-through wheel wash to reduce water consumption.
  • Installing electric vehicle charging points.
 
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DB Cargo loco class 66


“For years now we have talked about the environmental benefits of transporting freight by rail rather than road, however we can make an even bigger contribution towards helping the UK meet its carbon reduction targets by the way we operate our sites.

“At Cricklewood we’ve tried to incorporate as much mitigation as we possibly can into our operations which not only has an environmental benefit, but a significant social value too in terms of improving the quality of life for those residents who live nearby.”

“Throughout the development of Cricklewood we have consulted closely with the council’s planning department, residents and their elected representatives, to not only minimise the risk of any disturbance caused by our operations but to enhance the area too, added Stacie.”

Stacie Scullion, Sustainability Manager, DB Cargo UK
 
13th March, 2025

Steam locomotive 45212 to visit Cheshire this Saturday​

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Ex LMS Black five 45212 is seen at Bonishall lane between Prestbury and Macclesfield 8th March 2025. Working Manchester Piccadilly to Stratford upon Avon railtour at 8am on a stunning spring morning on March 8, 2025


LMS Black 5 No. 45212 is to visit Chester this Saturday (15th March 2025) as it hauls The Cheshireman.

Departing London Euston at 06:52, the train will pass through Wembley Central (07:06), Watford Junction (07:20), Bletchley (08:02), Milton Keynes Central (08:11), Northampton (08:40), Rugby (09:08), Nuneaton (09:51), Stafford (10:50), Crewe (11:40) and Chester at 12:59.

After time in Chester, the train will depart at 15:16 and will pass through Crewe (15:44), Stafford (16:54), Nuneaton (17:37) and Rugby at 18:08, where steam is replaced by a diesel locomotive.

The diesel will then head back to London via Northampton (19:22), Milton Keynes Central (19:42), Watford Junction (20:26) and London Euston at 20:51.
 
13th March, 2025

Steam locomotive 6880 Betton Grange to visit the Severn Valley Railway​

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6880 Betton Grange at Tyseley Locomotive Works


The Severn Valley Railway has announced that 6880 Betton Grange will be visiting them for their Spring Steam Gala.

Taking place between the 18th and 21st of April 2025, the gala will see an intensive timetable in operation.

Whilst trains will run to Hampton Loade only due to the landslip, Bridgnorth will play its part with 7714 in steam, offering footplate rides for an extra charge.

7802 Bradley Manor should be in service for the gala, alongside 7812 Erlestoke Manor, 75069 and already announced 45596 Bahamas.

‘We’re excited to be hosting this very special locomotive and are grateful to the 6880 Betton Grange Society for agreeing its long-awaited first appearance at the Valley. Alongside our already-announced guest LMS Jubilee No 45596 ‘Bahamas’, we think ‘Betton Grange’ will attract plenty of attention.

‘We’ve still got one more guest locomotive to announce, and all being well, we’ll have news of that very soon!’

‘This is likely to be the only time both locos are seen together at the SVR. That’s because 7812 goes off on hire to the West Somerset Railway for an extended period after our event.

‘For the Gala, this gives us three Great Western ‘mixed traffic’ locos, alongside 45596 ‘Bahamas’, BR 75069 and one more visiting main line locomotive, still to be announced. We expect to have six locos in steam, operating a busy timetable between Kidderminster and Hampton Loade, supplemented by the DMU running shuttle services between Kidderminster and Highley. Trains will run from 7.55am until the evening, with later trains on the Friday and Saturday.’

Gus Dunster
 
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13th March, 2025

Class 52 is first guest locomotive announced for Somerset diesel festival​

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Class 52 No. D1015 Western Champion


The West Somerset Railway has announced the first guest locomotive to appear at its Summer Diesel Festival from Thursday, 5th to Saturday, 7th June.

The first guest locomotive to be confirmed is Class 52 Western No. D1015 Western Champion, one of seven preserved Westerns from 74 built by British Railways at Swindon and Crewe.

Western Champion was rolled out from Swindon Works in January 1963.
 
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D1015 Western Champion at Bewdley on the Severn Valley Railway


Western Champion was in charge of the return working of Sir Winston Churchill’s funeral train on 30th January 1965, when it returned mourners from Handborough station near Oxford to Paddington.

Withdrawn from traffic on December 13, 1976, after it sustained damage in a derailment at Castle Cary five days earlier, it was purchased for preservation by the Diesel Traction Group from Swindon Works in January 1980 when it appeared to be in derelict condition.

After being overhauled to mainline standard, which was completed in 2000, Western Champion was certified for mainline running in 2002 and is currently the only Western certified for main-line operation.

A wide selection of locomotives is expected to be seen during the Festival, including visiting and home fleet locomotives looked after by the Diesel and Electric Preservation Group at Williton.

Last year’s Festival was a resounding success, with sales increasing by 10 per cent compared to the 2023 festival.

A second Western on view at the Summer Diesel Festival will be No. D1010 Western Campaigner which is currently under restoration at Williton.
 
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Hymek D7018 on the West Somerset Railway


All three days will feature an intensive timetable where visitors can hop on and off as often as they like.

Some trains will travel beyond Bishops Lydeard to the very end of the West Somerset Railway where it meets the West of England main line at Norton Fitzwarren, a stretch of the line that is rarely used by passenger trains.


Sunday, 8th June, will be an extension of the Summer Diesel Festival with a Mixed Traction Day featuring both steam and diesel locomotives hauling passenger trains.

‘Kids for a quid’ will be available on this day, but tickets must be pre-booked, and are only available for Child One Day Rovers.

At Williton, the Diesel Electric Preservation Group’s depot centre which helps the Group to maintain and restore its fleet of vintage machines will be open, with admission by donation.
 
13th March, 2025

London Underground stock to visit The Greatest Gathering​

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4TC London Transport push-pull carriage set Corfe Castle


The latest announcement for The Greatest Gathering is the 4TC set

The locomotive will be on display over the three-day event and visits thanks to Transport for London

The Greatest Gathering is set to take place this August to celebrate 200 years of passenger railways.


The event will take place at Alstom‘s Derby Litchurch Lane Works between the 1st and 3rd August.

The locomotives confirmed to attend are (Alstom have also noted that examples from the same class may substitute):

Steam
  • LNER A4 No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley – courtesy of the Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Trust and Locomotive Services Group
  • SR Merchant Navy No. 35018 British India Line – courtesy of West Coast Railways Co
  • LMS 6P No. 46115 Scots Guardsman – courtesy of West Coast Railways Co.
  • LMS Jubilee No. 45596 Bahamas – courtesy of the Bahamas Locomotive Society
  • SR Merchant Navy No. 35028 Clan Line – courtesy of the Merchant Navy Locomotive Preservation Society
  • LMS Black 5 (specific loco TBA) – courtesy of West Coast Railways Co.
  • Furness Railway No. 20 – courtesy of The Furness Railway Trust
  • Coal Tank No. 1054 – courtesy of the Bahamas Locomotive Society
Diesel
  • BR Class 37 No. 37501 ‘Teeside Steelmaster’ – courtesy of Rail Operations Group
  • Class 50 No. 50049 Defiance – courtesy of the Class 50 Alliance
  • Class 57 – courtesy of Direct Rail Services
  • Class 66 No. 66301 – courtesy of GB Railfreight
  • Class 69 – courtesy of GB Railfreight
  • Class 60 – courtesy of DCRail
  • Class 108 DMU – courtesy of the Severn Valley Railway
  • Class 47 – courtesy of West Coast Railways Co
  • Class 50 No. 50033 ‘Glorious’ – courtesy of the Class 50 Alliance
  • Class 35 D7076 – courtesy of the East Lancashire Railway and Bury Hydraulic Group
  • Class 55 No. 55009 “Alycidon” – courtesy of Deltic Preservation Society
  • Class 55 No. D9015 “Tulyar” – courtesy of Deltic Preservation Society
  • Class 55 No. 55019 “Royal Highland Fusilier” – courtesy of Deltic Preservation Society
  • Class 40 No. 40106 – courtesy of the Class 40 Preservation Society / Severn Valley Railway
  • Class 43 No. 43159 (2+4 Formation – other powercar TBC) – courtesy of The 125 Group
  • Class 33 No. 33012 – courtesy of 71A Locomotive Group
  • Class 31 No. 31108 – courtesy of A1A Locomotives Ltd
  • Class 57/0 – courtesy of West Coast Railways Co.
  • Class 26 No. 26007 – courtesy of Victor Korzeniewicz
  • Class 58 No. 58023 – courtesy of Edward Stevenson
Electric
  • Class 507001 – courtesy of the Class 507 Preservation Society
  • Class 390 Pendolino No. 390119 in its Pride livery – courtesy of Avanti West Coast
  • Class 91 No. 91110 Battle of Britain Memorial Flight – courtesy of London North Eastern Railway
  • Class 331 – courtesy of Northern
  • 4VEP No. 3417 – courtesy of the Bluebell Railway
  • Class 91 No. 91101 Flying Scotsman – courtesy of London North Eastern Railway
  • Class 465 No. 465908 James Green – courtesy of Southeastern
  • Class 720 No. 720506 – courtesy of Greater Anglia
  • No. 12 Sarah Siddons – courtesy of Transport for London
Bi-Mode
  • Class 93 – courtesy of Rail Operations Group
  • Class 755 – courtesy of Greater Anglia
Hydrogen Power
  • Class 799 Hydroflex No. 799201 – courtesy of Porterbrook
Coaches / Wagons
  • JNA-T Wagon – courtesy of DCRail and Cappagh Group
  • Gold IIA-D wagon – courtesy of Drax Group
  • Railway 200 Exhibition Train – courtesy of GBRTT / National Railway Museum / Railway 200 Team
  • LMS Saloon No. 45029 – courtesy of Transport for London
  • 4 car 4TC set – courtesy of Transport for London
 
Friday 14 Mar 2025

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A day of triumph and collaborative success for Wales and Borders’ railway​

Region & Route: Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

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Delighted Rail Industry employees from the Wales and Borders route celebrate their successes for improving the railway


Rail employees in Wales and borders are celebrating today after receiving two prestigious awards recognising improved performance over the last year.

Transport for Wales picked up a Silver Whistle award for the most improved regional on-time performance, whilst industry partners Network Rail were also successful in winning a Silver Whistle award, in the “minimising delay minutes” category for reducing passenger delays, making them the most improved route across the UK.

This financial year not only has the route reduced delays by over a staggering 90,000 minutes but has also achieved 300,000 extra station stops!

This is particularly impressive considering twelve named storms have happened during the last year.

This has meant the railway has not only had to work on its recovery, including removing hundreds of fallen trees at times, but also to keep trains running safely and getting people to their destinations.

The Golden Whistle Awards is an annual event organised by the Chartered Institution of Railway Operators (CIRO) in partnership with Modern Railways, to celebrate excellence in railway operations.

This year's awards took place at the Marriott Grosvenor Square in London.

The awards recognise outstanding train performance across the UK and the two silver whistles reflect the dedication of the teams across both TfW and Network Rail that work tirelessly day and night to provide a better journey for passengers in and around Wales

The successes can be attributed to several factors, including:
  • Increased number of new trains and carriages in service per day
  • The introduction of last year’s June and December timetables for the mainline and CVL
  • Closer collaboration between TfW and Network Rail including our tripartite performance strategy and our local railway partnership
Transport for Wales Head of Performance Adam Terry said:

“We’re delighted to have been recognised with this award for most improved regional on-time performance.

We're very much aware that our performance is still far from perfect and there are certain parts of the country in which things are simply not good enough.

There is, therefore, still lots of work to do to drive further improvements, but it’s really pleasing to see the success we’ve had so far recognised and it was a privilege to share success on the day with our colleagues at Network Rail”

Rachel Heath, Network Rail Route Operations Director for Wales & Borders, said:

"We’re thrilled to be formally recognised for the commitment we’ve made to improving rail services for passengers and are continuing to work hard to improve further.

We’ve had some serious challenges over the last year, but this award clearly shows the insight, skills, professionalism and team spirit that our people bring to work with them every single day.”
 
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14th March, 2025

Class 45 locomotive to visit the West Somerset Railway​

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Class 45 No. 45108 on the East Lancashire Railway


Following yesterday’s announcement that Class 52 Western No. D1015 Western Champion would make a guest appearance at the West Somerset Railway‘s Summer Diesel Festival from Thursday, 5th to Saturday, 7th June, is the news that Class 45 No. 45108 will be making a welcome return to the railway.

45108 will be a familiar sight hauling trains between Minehead and Bishop’s Lydeard, as in the mid-1990s it was based on the West Somerset Railway.

With its BR Blue livery, 45108 will be a perfect complement to Western Champion.

Built at Crewe Works in 1961, 45108 was originally numbered D120 and based at Toton depot near Nottingham until withdrawn from service in 1987 and purchased for preservation under the care of Waterman Railways.

After restoration, it was repainted into BR Green and renumbered to its original BR number of D120.

In 2008, the Peak Locomotive Company took ownership of 45108 and is still a member of its fleet, being based at the Midland Railway – Butterley.

Class 45s are outwardly similar to the Class 44 and Class 46 diesel locomotives and informally known as ‘Peaks.

Ten Class 44s, 127 Class 45s, and 56 Class 46s were built, of which two Class 44s, 12 Class 45s, and three Class 46s have been preserved.

Until 1989, Class 45s were a familiar sight past the end of the West Somerset Railway at Fitwarren on the West of England main line as they were the mainstay of cross-country services from the southwest to Birmingham, Leeds and Newcastle until being replaced by Class 47s.
 
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D6575 at Minehead


Plans for the festival are gathering pace, and there promises to be a wide selection of locomotives hauling trains.

The railway is hoping that this year’s festival will repeat the resounding success of last year, with sales increasing by 10 per cent compared to the 2023 festival.

With an intensive train service and visitors being able to hop on and off as often as they like, the festival promises to be very busy.

There is also the added incentive that some trains will travel beyond Bishops Lydeard to Norton Fitzwarren, which is the very end of the West Somerset Railway where it meets the West of England main line.
 
14th March, 2025

March 2025 progress report on overhaul of Maunsell Q Class 541​

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30541 at Sheffield Park in 2017


The Maunsell Locomotive Society is reporting further progress is being made with the overhaul of Southern Railway Q Class 0-6-0 No. 541, formerly British Railways No. 30541.

Work has finished on completing the final snagging jobs on the new tender tank that has been constructed by the 4253 Locomotive Company, based at Rolvenden Locomotive Works in Kent.
 
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New parts for 541’s front dragbox and a new section of inner frames


Arrangements are now being made to transport the new tender tank by lorry from Rolvenden to Sheffield Park on the Bluebell Railway.

The society hopes that transport can be arranged before the end of this month. The Maunsell Locomotive Society is contributing funds to the tender overhaul and construction of a new tank.

In the workshops at Sheffield Park, the fabrication of a new front dragbox for the tender chassis is progressing, and the journals of the brake beam shaft have been machined.

Painting various parts of the chassis is continuing, as well as cleaning and painting various parts of 541’s cladding.
 
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541’s inner firebox, with new copper stays being fitted


At Leaky Finders in Devon, where other work is being carried out, good progress is being with re-staying the left-hand side of the firebox, and new monel stays are being machined in-house and made ready for fitting in due course.

Some of the smaller items on the chassis have been tidied up so that the chassis could be prepared for optical alignment work which is now well advanced.

Optical alignment allows measurements to be taken so that the whole chassis can be aligned before new sections of frames are inserted where the horn guides are located.
 
14th March, 2025

ScotRail to trial Vegetable Oil on Class 156 train​

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ScotRail Class 156 No. 156 436 to trial Vegetable Oil


Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil is going to be trialled as a diesel alternative on a ScotRail Class 156 train.

The trial began on the 19th of February and will run for 12 weeks in partnership with Angel Trains and Crown Oil.

ScotRail says that HVO could reduce carbon emissions by up to 16%.

Weekly deliveries of HVO will be made to Corkerhill Depot, which has a dedicated HVO fuel tank.


Class 156 No. 156 436 will remain in passenger service throughout the trial.


“This trial is an exciting step forward in our commitment to reducing the environmental impact of Scotland’s railways.

“HVO has the potential to significantly lower our carbon footprint while allowing us to continue using existing diesel trains more sustainably.

“We’re eager to see the results and assess how this fuel could be part of a greener future for rail travel.”

Poul Wend Hansen, ScotRail Head of Sustainability
 
14th March, 2025

London Northwestern Railway Class 350 train to visit The Greatest Gathering​

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A London Northwestern Railway Class 350 is to visit The Greatest Gathering.

The unit will be on display over the three-day event, subject to operational requirements

The Greatest Gathering is set to take place this August to celebrate 200 years of passenger railways.


The event will take place at Alstom‘s Derby Litchurch Lane Works between the 1st and 3rd August.

The locomotives confirmed to attend are (Alstom have also noted that examples from the same class may substitute):

Steam
  • LNER A4 No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley – courtesy of the Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Trust and Locomotive Services Group
  • SR Merchant Navy No. 35018 British India Line – courtesy of West Coast Railways Co
  • LMS 6P No. 46115 Scots Guardsman – courtesy of West Coast Railways Co.
  • LMS Jubilee No. 45596 Bahamas – courtesy of the Bahamas Locomotive Society
  • SR Merchant Navy No. 35028 Clan Line – courtesy of the Merchant Navy Locomotive Preservation Society
  • LMS Black 5 (specific loco TBA) – courtesy of West Coast Railways Co.
  • Furness Railway No. 20 – courtesy of The Furness Railway Trust
  • Coal Tank No. 1054 – courtesy of the Bahamas Locomotive Society
Diesel
  • BR Class 37 No. 37501 ‘Teesside Steelmaster’ – courtesy of Rail Operations Group
  • Class 50 No. 50049 Defiance – courtesy of the Class 50 Alliance
  • Class 57 – courtesy of Direct Rail Services
  • Class 66 No. 66301 – courtesy of GB Railfreight
  • Class 69 – courtesy of GB Railfreight
  • Class 60 – courtesy of DCRail
  • Class 108 DMU – courtesy of the Severn Valley Railway
  • Class 47 – courtesy of West Coast Railways Co
  • Class 50 No. 50033 ‘Glorious’ – courtesy of the Class 50 Alliance
  • Class 35 D7076 – courtesy of the East Lancashire Railway and Bury Hydraulic Group
  • Class 55 No. 55009 “Alycidon” – courtesy of Deltic Preservation Society
  • Class 55 No. D9015 “Tulyar” – courtesy of Deltic Preservation Society
  • Class 55 No. 55019 “Royal Highland Fusilier” – courtesy of Deltic Preservation Society
  • Class 40 No. 40106 – courtesy of the Class 40 Preservation Society / Severn Valley Railway
  • Class 43 No. 43159 (2+4 Formation – other powercar TBC) – courtesy of The 125 Group
  • Class 33 No. 33012 – courtesy of 71A Locomotive Group
  • Class 31 No. 31108 – courtesy of A1A Locomotives Ltd
  • Class 57/0 – courtesy of West Coast Railways Co.
  • Class 26 No. 26007 – courtesy of Victor Korzeniewicz
  • Class 58 No. 58023 – courtesy of Edward Stevenson
Electric
  • Class 507001 – courtesy of the Class 507 Preservation Society
  • Class 390 Pendolino No. 390119 in its Pride livery – courtesy of Avanti West Coast
  • Class 91 No. 91110 Battle of Britain Memorial Flight – courtesy of London North Eastern Railway
  • Class 331 – courtesy of Northern
  • 4VEP No. 3417 – courtesy of the Bluebell Railway
  • Class 91 No. 91101 Flying Scotsman – courtesy of London North Eastern Railway
  • Class 465 No. 465908 James Green – courtesy of Southeastern
  • Class 720 No. 720506 – courtesy of Greater Anglia
  • No. 12 Sarah Siddons – courtesy of Transport for London
  • Class 350 – courtesy of London Northwestern Railway
Bi-Mode
  • Class 93 – courtesy of Rail Operations Group
  • Class 755 – courtesy of Greater Anglia
Hydrogen Power
  • Class 799 Hydroflex No. 799201 – courtesy of Porterbrook
Coaches / Wagons
  • JNA-T Wagon – courtesy of DCRail and Cappagh Group
  • Gold IIA-D wagon – courtesy of Drax Group
  • Railway 200 Exhibition Train – courtesy of GBRTT / National Railway Museum / Railway 200 Team
  • LMS Saloon No. 45029 – courtesy of Transport for London
  • 4 car 4TC set – courtesy of Transport for London
 
Friday 14 Mar 2025

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Collaboration the key as Cardiff Central gears up to welcome thousands of rugby supporters on 'Super Saturday'​

Region & Route: Wales & Western | Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

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Queueing system in place at Cardiff Central before Foo Fighters' June 2024 concert at Principality Stadium


Wales take on England in the second of their two home Six Nations matches for 2025 tomorrow – which means tens of thousands of rugby supporters will be passing through Cardiff Central station before and after the match.

Any regular eventgoer to the Principality Stadium who uses the station will hopefully have seen a marked improvement in the event-day experience in recent years, notably when it comes to getting home afterwards.

Months of planning go into every ‘Category A’ event day – that is any event at the stadium with an attendance of more than 50,000 people.

Much of the work around timetables and platforms that will come to fruition this weekend was being planned back in the autumn, even before the November international matches took place at the stadium.

And not only do the numbers suggest train performance around big events at the stadium is going in the right direction, but the anecdotal feedback from those using the station on such days is constantly improving.

Sam Wilmott, Network Rail Wales and Borders’ business continuity project manager, explained: “I think it’s fair to say that, if we go back two years, the event-day operation at Cardiff Central needed some improvement.

“We started looking at how we could do things better. We tried to identify what was causing problems – and primarily it came down to communication at all levels.

“We looked at off-the-shelf plans, but given the variations in event days, event times, and crowd demographics, that wasn’t possible. Every event now has its own, tailored plan.

“Take Billy Joel last summer, for example; Cardiff was his only European show, so the ticket heatmap was unlike what we’d typically see for a rugby match or an artist who might be touring the UK. Having sight of this information is valuable and is a sign of the kind of cooperation and collaboration that is contributing to the smooth-running of these events.”
 
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WATCH VIDEO:
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Watch our video to get a glimpse behind the scenes on a Category A event day – recorded at Cardiff Central station and Network Rail’s Wales Rail Operating Centre on the day of Wales’ match against Ireland in February.

To watch video clink the link: "https://fast.wistia.net/embed/iframe/tri8x2f7cy"

The cross-border passenger numbers are again likely to be high this weekend as England supporters travel to and from the match, which is why it is important Network Rail works closely not only with Transport for Wales (TfW) but train operators such as Great Western Railway and CrossCountry.

While TfW manages the station itself and operates the largest number of trains at the station on any given day, it is important to keep every queue moving after a big event – and services to Bristol, Gloucester, London and other parts of England will play a crucial role in determining the success of Saturday’s operation.

The 2025 calendar at the stadium is looking incredibly busy.

Although there is one fewer Wales match in the Six Nations, additional rugby matches come in the form of both European club cup finals in May and Bristol Bears’ match against Bath in England’s Gallagher Premiership.

The summer is then full of huge events, with the first Oasis concerts since 2009, two Stereophonics shows, and concerts from Lana Del Rey, Kendrick Lamar and SZA, and Catfish and the Bottlemen.

Wales will also play four matches in November; against Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa.
 
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15th March, 2025

Steam locomotive to pass through Lancashire and Yorkshire this Monday​

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LMS Black 5 No. 44871 is to pass through Lancashire and Yorkshire this Monday (17th March).

Departing the East Lancashire Railway at 10:41, the locomotive and its support coach will pass through Rochdale (10:56), Todmorden (11:11), Accrington (11:37), Blackburn (11:51), Clitheroe (12:36), Hellifield (13:08), Skipton (14:41) and Keighley at 15:07 before heading onto the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway ready for their gala.
 
15th March, 2025

Steam locomotive 61306 Mayflower to pass through Manchester this Monday​

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61306 Mayflower


61306 Mayflower is to pass through Manchester this Monday (17th March) as it heads back to Crewe.

Departing the East Lancashire Railway at 13:21, the locomotive and its support coach will pass through Castleton (14:01), Manchester Victoria (14:24), Warrington Bank Quay (14:58) and Crewe at 15:31.
 

British Rail Class 22​

The British Rail Class 22 or "Baby Warship" was a class of diesel-hydraulic locomotives designed for the Western Region of British Railways and built by the North British Locomotive Company.

They were very similar in appearance to the Class 21 diesel-electrics, although shorter in length by almost five feet.

The nickname Baby Warship related to the similarity in appearance (and internal equipment) to the British Rail Class D20/2 or Class 41 Warship Class.

The Class 22s were numbered D6300-D6357.

D6300 was introduced to traffic in 1959 and deliveries continued until 1962.

The Class 22s were allocated to Bristol Bath Road, Laira Plymouth, Newton Abbot and Old Oak Common.

The majority of the class always operated in the West of England, on a range of local passenger and freight work, with smaller numbers of the later units operating on local work in the Bristol area and around London Paddington (notably moving empty carriages between the main station and Old Oak Common yard).

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D6300 at Truro on 7 May 1966​

 
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D6343 and D7072 at Old Oak Common in 1965


Initially the locomotives had some problems with engine and transmission faults, but could be returned to North British Locomotive Works (NBL) for repair under the contractual agreement.

By 1961, reliability had improved, but with the more powerful locomotives of Classes 35, 42, and 43 now being available, the locomotives were displaced onto more secondary duties, including work on the former Southern Region lines west of Exeter.

By the mid 1960s, the locos had settled down to give reliable service, with availability over 85%.


NBL went bankrupt in 1962 and, by the late 1960s, withdrawn locomotives were being used to provide spares.

Attrition was inevitable and the withdrawals, which had commenced in 1967, finished with the withdrawal of 6333, 6336, 6338 and 6339 on 1 January 1972.

Ex-London Midland Region Class 25 diesel-electrics were drafted in as replacements.


All Class 22's were scrapped.
 
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North British Locomotive Company Class 22 - D6343​

D6343 at its home shed, Plymouth Laira MPD. The loco was introduced into service with the Western Region in May 1962 and was withdrawn at Laira in October 1971. The loco was cut up at Swindon Works in January 1972 having only spent 9 years and 4 months in service. The photograph was taken in July or August 1971.​

 
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