Marcus' Model Railway Journey

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After walking to the venue and we knew the wrestling would be finishing relatively late.

We decided not to take a train home.

So we walked from Roath to the City Centre and caught a bus home.

The bus home was Cardiff Bus/Bws Caerdydd 549, Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro 200 Classic, CN17 EYV
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Sunday 23rd March 2025

4917


UPDATE FROM THE TRAIN SHED

Started work on one of the baseboards for the Goods Yard.

Marked out and drilled for attachment of legs.

Made sure the baseboard was level.

Picture below shows attached leg at one end.

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24th March, 2025

Extra pickups for Shakespeare Express steam train​

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Shakespeare Express at Stratford


Vintage Trains has announced that they have added two more joining stations to its Shakespeare Express on Sunday 6th April.

Birmingham Snow Hill and Tyeseley have been added to the joining stations.

Tourist Class tickets for both stations are now on sale, with passengers travelling in BR Mark 2 carriages on their way to Stratford-upon-Avon.


For those wanting to make the day extra special, a Pullman Dining service is available but that is only available for those joining at Worcester Shrub Hill, Droitwich Spa, Stourbridge Junction or Stratford-upon-Avon.
 
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24th March, 2025

Steam locomotive 60163 Tornado ‘passed’ for mainline running​

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60163 Tornado on test


The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust has announced that 60163 Tornado has been fully certified for use on the mainline.

This great news follows on from the 7th March light engine move from the Nene Valley Railway to Carnforth.

The trust says that the locomotive is now in fine condition, adding that it may be the ‘best’ it has ever been.

The locomotive is now fully fitted with European Train Control System – the digital signalling system that allows it to be used on the East Coast Main Line.

Tornado will run with West Coast Railways on Northern Belle trains as well as tours with Railway Touring Company.

The locomotive will appear in BR green to ‘harmonise’ with the rest of the fleet, which helps fill the need for an air-braked Class 8 locomotive at Carnforth.
 
Monday 24th March 2025

4917


UPDATE FROM THE TRAIN SHED

Completed the last of the baseboards for the Goods Yard extension.

Marked out and drilled for attachment of legs.

Made sure the baseboard was level with the other baseboards.

Next jobs are to secure the extension boards to the main layout using nuts and bolts for ease of removal when required for accessibility.

Then lay track temporarily to visualise the goods yard trackwork and paint the baseboards grey to match the other baseboards.

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25th March, 2025

Overhaul update on steam locomotive Beddgelert​

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Beddgelert


Following its previous update in December, the Fairbourne Railway in Wales has issued a further update on the overhaul of steam locomotive Beddgelert.

The Railway, which is on the west coast of Wales, report that it has made “some real progress” on the overhaul during the winter months.

Railway volunteers have stripped the few remaining items from the frames and sent all the various foot-plating, steps, valance, and so on for grit blasting.

The Railway has also cleaned the locomotive’s frames back to a sound surface.

Most of the parts have now been reassembled.
 
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Beddgelert


The Fairbourne Railway has a lot of the materials that it needs to continue the overhaul.

However, it still does not have enough money to complete the work on the engine, as it requires expensive plumbing and fitting.

The Railway estimates that it needs around ten thousand pounds to pay for all the outstanding items.

Beddgelert is a 0-6-4 saddle tank locomotive.

It was built in 1979 and has been a resident of the Fairbourne Railway since 1984.

Beddgelert has not run since 2008.

An overhaul was started then, but paused when the Railway experienced a financial crisis.

While the overhaul was on hold, the locomotive was on display in the Railway’s museum.
 
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Work on Beddgelert’s frames in 2024


The Fairbourne Railway is a 12-and-a-quarter-inch gauge railway at Fairbourne, on the Mid Wales Coast.

It runs from the village of Fairbourne to the mouth of the Mawddach estuary.

From there, passengers can get a connecting ferry to the town of Barmouth.
 
25th March, 2025

Class 70 locomotive to be on display at The Greatest Gathering​

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A Class 70 from Freightliner


A Class 70 locomotive is to visit The Greatest Gathering.

The locomotive will be on display over the three-day event, subject to operational requirements and visits thanks to Freightliner.

It is expected that the locomotive will be 70008.

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
  • Class 20 No. 20007 – courtesy of Michael Owen
  • Class 20 No. 20205 – courtesy of Michael Owen
  • Class 70 No. 70008 – courtesy of Freightliner
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
 
25th March, 2025

Steam locomotive 60163 Tornado to pass through Yorkshire and Lancashire tomorrow​

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LNER Peppercorn Class A1 No.60163 "Tornado" plus support coach on March 7, 2025


60163 Tornado will be heading on a test run tomorrow, 26th March 2025.

The locomotive will depart Carnforth Steamtown at 12:00 and will pass through Carnforth (12:24 and 14:39), Bentham (14:23), Long Preston (14:58) and Hellifield at 15:00.

From Hellifield, 60163 Tornado will pass through Clitheroe (16:37), Blackburn (17:04), Preston (18:07), Lancaster (18:40) and Carnforth at 19:48.
 
26th March, 2025

Steam locomotive 35028 Clan Line to visit Kent this Friday​

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35028 'Clan Line' on the Belmond British Pullman


35028 Clan Line is set to pass through Kent this Friday (28th March 2025) as it hauls a Belmond British Pullman train.

Departing London Victoria at 10:59, the train will pass through Denmark Hill (11:10), Bellingham (11:23), Swanley (11:42), Rochester (12:09), Rainham (Kent) (12:19), Canterbury East (12:56) and Dover Priory at 13:20.

After half an hour in Dover, the train will depart back to London at 13:51 and will pass through Headcorn (14:32), Tonbridge (14:56), Orpington (15:18), Kent House (15:47), and London Victoria at 16:11.
 
Three years ago on 26 March 2022 I started a forum thread that became a big hit within TNP.

Sadly, these days it's popularity has declined.

But I haven't given up on it, as I use it as an everyday blog that has extended far from it's original concept.

The subjects that are reported here vary from cat's to wrestling.

Of course the main subject are railway matters, especially my model railway.

I would love you to support this thread by liking the posts here, but I don't want you to feel obligated to do so.

I hope to see you here in the future.

All the very best

~Marcus
 
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25th March, 2025

Marcus & Cleo Celebrate Their Wedding Anniversary In Cardiff

After arriving in Cardiff Centre we started off in 'The Great Western' and I had a couple of pints of 'Abbott Ale' and Cleo had a large G&T.

We then went to have lunch in the 'Ask Italian' restaurant, we had Calamari to start and a side order of garlic bread.

The main course was Linguine Con Frutti Di Mare and to finish Cleo had White Chocolate & Pistachio Tart and I had the Tiramisu.

To accompany our meal we had a bottle of Pinot Grigio Rose.

Then we went around the indoor market where Cleo had spotted a silver pendant, she had said I could buy it for her if it's still there next week for our wedding anniversary.

Well it was, so I left a little poorer. :lol:

After that we returned to the 'The Great Western' and I had a few more pints of ''Abbott Ale' and Cleo had a couple more large G&T's.

Later we saw Neo who popped in to join us for a drink.

Then it was the bus home.


The bus into Cardiff was Cardiff Bus/Bws Caerdydd 252, Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro 200 Classic, CE63 NZG.
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26th March, 2025

Marcus & Cleo Have Another Bus Adventure into Cardiff!

Our second trip to Cardiff this week!

After arriving in Cardiff Centre we started off in 'The Great Western' and I had a pint of 'Speckled Hen', Cleo was being good and stuck to a of tea.

I popped into my model railway shop but there was nothing there of interest to me.

Then we went to 'Greggs' and bought a couple of baguettes and two packets of crisps, it was a lovely day so we went to the castle to eat them.

We went shopping and I bought a new denim jacket, a t-shirt, a really nice short sleeved shirt and a pair of shorts.

Cleo bought some more wool for her crochet.
After that we returned to the 'The Great Western' and I had a couple of pints of 'Abbott Ale'. :toast:

Cleo stuck to her cups of tea.

Then it was the bus home.


The bus into Cardiff was Cardiff Bus/Bws Caerdydd 549, Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro 200 Classic, CN17 EYV
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Wednesday 26 Mar 2025

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£1m vegetation management programme on Heart of Wales line nears completion​

Region & Route: Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

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Heart of Wales line


A £1 million programme of work aimed at reducing train delays and cancellations caused by fallen trees and branches on the Heart of Wales line is nearing completion.

Work started on the project in early January, and teams are set to finish their work this week, having cut back and removed vegetation including overhanging branches that could fall onto the 60 miles of track between Craven Arms and Llandovery.

To minimise the disruption to passengers, teams have been working overnight when trains are not running, in all weather conditions, to clear the vegetation.

The benefits of the work will be felt immediately but will be particularly beneficial when the weather is worst in autumn and winter. Last winter, during Storm Darragh, the line was closed for almost a week as Network Rail dealt with more than 70 fallen trees in total, of which around 30 were uprooted.

At least 56 trees fell within one 10-mile section of the line alone.

The work on the Heart of Wales line is part of a significant five-year investment to make the railway safer, more resilient, and more reliable across the whole Wales & Borders route, with teams using cutting-edge methods including Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) to safely manage lineside vegetation.

By using a camera on-board a train to take pictures of the vegetation as the driver sees it, the programme then evaluates which areas are at risk/in need of attention, and highlights them for action.
 
WATCH VIDEO:

To watch video click link: "https://fast.wistia.net/embed/iframe/1r6no06j3h"

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Mathew Gore, Network Rail project manager, said: “As we approach the end of this project, it's satisfying to see the efforts the whole team have put in during the past 12 weeks.

“Carrying out this work during the night in winter and early spring, the conditions have often been challenging, but by working in this way we have managed to keep the disruption to passengers to a minimum.

“We would like to thank our teams for their hard work and dedication, and we also thank our lineside neighbours for their patience and understanding.

“This is a hugely significant project to us, because we saw during Storm Darragh the importance of managing the lineside vegetation on this line.”
 
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27th March, 2025

Essex heritage railway announces guest loco for Diesel Gala​

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73133


The Epping Ongar Railway (EOR) has announced that class 73 electro-diesel locomotive E6040 (73133) will attend its diesel gala next month.

The gala takes place on Friday 25, Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 April, at the heritage line that runs along a disused stretch of London Underground’s Central line.

BR Class 73 No. 73133 ‘The Bluebell Railway’ is based at the Bluebell Railway in Sussex, and its visit to the Epping Ongar Railway will be its first trip away from home.

Two years ago, it was renamed The Bluebell Railway as it completed its refurbishment at Eastleigh Works.

The locomotive will be only the second class 73 to visit the EOR.

Its visit has been arranged with help from the 73133 Supporters Group.
 
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E6040 “The Bluebell Railway” outside Eastleigh Works


Class 73 locomotives were built for the Southern Region’s third-rail system.

They have a 1,600 hp electric engine, and also incorporate a 600 hp diesel engine.

This means that they can be used in sidings and other non-electrified areas as well as on electrified mainline.

Locomotive 73133 was one of a batch of forty-three Class 73s ordered by British Railways from English Electric’s Vulcan Foundry at Newton-le-Willows in St Helen’s, Merseyside.

The order followed the successful running of six prototypes built during 1961-62.

73133 escaped being scrapped in 2004.

It returned to main-line operation in 2013, and was used for shunting at Bournemouth Depot and then at Eastleigh Works.

A member of the Bluebell Railway’s locomotive department bought the loco in December 2022 and paid for its refurbishment before bringing it to the Sussex heritage line.
 
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Also visiting: BR Class 50 No. 50021


Also visiting the gala will be 50021 “Rodney” and class 14 D9529.

The Railway’s own locomotives include 47635 and 20227.

73133’s visit brings the number of locomotives due to appear at the Epping Ongar Railway’s Spring Diesel Gala to seven.
 
27th March, 2025

Steam locomotive 45596 Bahamas to visit Carlisle this Saturday​

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45596 Bahamas on March 21, 2025


45596 Bahamas is to visit Carlisle this Saturday as it hauls a Vintage Trains tour.

Departing Birmingham New Street on the 29th March at 06:56, the tour will begin hauled by a diesel locomotive and will pass through Wolverhampton (07:14), Stafford (07:43), Crewe (08:16), Warrington Bank Quay (08:49) and Preston (Lancs) at 09:21, before heading to Carnforth North Junction, where 45596 Bahamas is attached.

From Carnforth North Junction, 45596 Bahamas will pass through Penrith North Lakes at 11:31 before arriving into Carlisle at 12:05.

After time in Carlisle, 45596 Bahamas will depart at 15:08 and will pass through Appleby (15:58), Kirkby Stephen (16:36), Ribblehead (17:05) and Hellifield, where the locomotive is taken off the train, at 17:27.

From Hellifield, the diesel locomotive will take the train back to Birmingham via Clitheroe (18:25), Blackburn (19:05), Warrington Bank Quay (19:52), Crewe (20:38), Stafford (21:03), Wolverhampton (21:31) and Birmingham New Street at 21:51.
 
27th March, 2025

Dutch locomotive group donates traction motors to LMS 10000 group​

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The traction motors waiting to be unloaded


A locomotive group in the Netherlands has donated traction motors to the Ivatt Diesel Recreation Society.

The society has developed links with Werkgroep 1501 in the Netherlands, which has donated traction motors from former Class EM2 No. 27003, which had been operating for many years as NS Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) No. 1501, and is now in the Dutch national railway collection in Utrecht.

Because of Brexit, their transport to the UK was made more difficult, but those problems have now been overcome and the motors have now arrived at the project’s base.
 
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