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Marcus' Model Railway Journey
- Thread starter Marcus Antonius
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30th July, 2025
Marcus & Cleo Have Another Bus Adventure into Cardiff!
We went to 'The Great Western' for a couple of drinks.
I popped into my model railway shop afterward, nothing of interest today.
Then we went for lunch at 'The Flight Club'.
It was our first ever visit, so we had a good exploration of the three floors there, which included the roof-top bar.
We tried some burgers. Tasty!!
Then it was the bus home.
The bus into Cardiff was a Cardiff Bus/Bws Caerdydd No. 253, ADL Enviro200, CE63 NZH
Marcus & Cleo Have Another Bus Adventure into Cardiff!
We went to 'The Great Western' for a couple of drinks.
I popped into my model railway shop afterward, nothing of interest today.
Then we went for lunch at 'The Flight Club'.
It was our first ever visit, so we had a good exploration of the three floors there, which included the roof-top bar.
We tried some burgers. Tasty!!
Then it was the bus home.
The bus into Cardiff was a Cardiff Bus/Bws Caerdydd No. 253, ADL Enviro200, CE63 NZH
- TNP Nation
- Ethnon
The bus home from Cardiff was a Cardiff Bus/Bws Caerdydd No. 251, ADL Enviro200, CE63 NZF
- TNP Nation
- Ethnon
It was Cleo's and my first ever visit to 'The Flight Club'.
If you ever wondered why it got it's name from, well...........
Every inch of Flight Club Cardiff is filled with unexpected, ridiculous, joy.
Throughout all three floors, you'll find nods to the wonderful city, lights that dance in time to the music, Bella and Astrid, our fairground horses, and incredible bars to enjoy a cocktail or three at.
And that's not all!
You're guaranteed to feel like the Champion of the World on our heated roof terrace that's fit with cosy cabins and a traditional caravan.
Oh, and did we mention the disco phone box?
Give it a ring; you never know who might answer!
If you ever wondered why it got it's name from, well...........
Every inch of Flight Club Cardiff is filled with unexpected, ridiculous, joy.
Throughout all three floors, you'll find nods to the wonderful city, lights that dance in time to the music, Bella and Astrid, our fairground horses, and incredible bars to enjoy a cocktail or three at.
And that's not all!
You're guaranteed to feel like the Champion of the World on our heated roof terrace that's fit with cosy cabins and a traditional caravan.
Oh, and did we mention the disco phone box?
Give it a ring; you never know who might answer!
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- TNP Nation
- Ethnon
- TNP Nation
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- TNP Nation
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- TNP Nation
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- TNP Nation
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- TNP Nation
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1st August, 2025
Class 150 in its original livery
The Watercress Line in mid-Hampshire is to become the UK’s first heritage railway to add a Class 150 Sprinter train to its running fleet.
The second-generation ‘Sprinter’ Diesel Multiple Unit dates back to 1987 and has its engines and seating all within one structure.
Leasing company Porterbrook has donated the unit, numbered 150231.
It is currently at ‘The Greatest Gathering’ in Derby, a ‘Railway 200’ celebration of railway heritage.
The team at Greatest Gathering team has organised for the unit to return to its original 1987 external livery.
Mid Hampshire railway to welcome Class 150 Sprinter
Class 150 in its original livery
The Watercress Line in mid-Hampshire is to become the UK’s first heritage railway to add a Class 150 Sprinter train to its running fleet.
The second-generation ‘Sprinter’ Diesel Multiple Unit dates back to 1987 and has its engines and seating all within one structure.
Leasing company Porterbrook has donated the unit, numbered 150231.
It is currently at ‘The Greatest Gathering’ in Derby, a ‘Railway 200’ celebration of railway heritage.
The team at Greatest Gathering team has organised for the unit to return to its original 1987 external livery.
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Northern class 150 train
For its second generation of diesel Multiple Units (DMUs), British Rail considered two designs: the lightweight ‘Pacer’ type using mainly bus technology, and the more substantial ‘Sprinters’.
One of the most significant changes from the first generation DMUs was the replacement of traditional ‘slam doors’ by power sliding doors.
British Rail Engineering Ltd built a total of 137 Class 150 units at York works between 1984 and 1987.
Each coach has a six-cylinder 286hp Cummins 4-stroke diesel engine, driving a Voith transmission. the units have a top speed of 75 mph.
Class 150s are still in use with Transport for Wales, Northern and First Great Western.
However, they are being withdrawn as replacements enter service
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TfW Class 150 at Cardiff Central
During its career, 150231 worked from Manchester and then Norwich, a brief spell on ‘Silverlink’, Central Trains and Arriva Trains Wales in November 2007.
Its last working day was Wednesday 9 July 2025, when it worked 2V30 18:35 Shrewsbury to Swansea and then empty stock 5V30 23:03 Swansea to Cardiff Canton Depot.
The unit will now enable the Watercress Line service to fill a gap in its service, enabling it to offer an earlier departure from Alton than the current 11.50 steam service.
The Class 150 will arrive at The Watercress Line for operational induction and training at the end of the summer.
It will enter service later in the year.
“Since our previous multiple unit, the Class 205 ‘Hampshire Unit’ came out of service in 2004, we have been looking out for an opportunity to fill in the service for our visitors from the Alton and London end of the Watercress Line. We hope to start restoration of the 1959 ‘Hampshire Unit’ to be our mainstay for the Alton service, with this Class 150 in support.”
Rebecca Dalley, CEO, Mid Hants Railway – The Watercress Line
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1st August, 2025
37264 near RAF Fylingdales
To celebrate 65 years of the legendary Class 37 diesel locomotive, in August, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) is running a series of special Sunday services hauled by one of Britain’s most iconic engines.
Since first appearing on the British railway scene in 1960, the rugged and reliable Class 37s have been a firm favourite on Britain’s railways.
To mark their 65 years of service, on Sundays 17th, 24th, and 31st August 2025, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway will be running a series of scheduled services with trains hauled by Class 37 locomotives, both single and double-headed.
The special celebratory services are:
65 years of Class 37s to be celebrated at North Yorkshire Moors Railway
37264 near RAF Fylingdales
To celebrate 65 years of the legendary Class 37 diesel locomotive, in August, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) is running a series of special Sunday services hauled by one of Britain’s most iconic engines.
Since first appearing on the British railway scene in 1960, the rugged and reliable Class 37s have been a firm favourite on Britain’s railways.
To mark their 65 years of service, on Sundays 17th, 24th, and 31st August 2025, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway will be running a series of scheduled services with trains hauled by Class 37 locomotives, both single and double-headed.
The special celebratory services are:
- 10:50 Grosmont to Whitby: No. 37688 Great Rocks.
- 13:15 Whitby to Grosmont: No. 37688 Great Rocks.
- 13:50 Grosmont to Pickering: double-headed with No. 37264 leading and No. 37688 Great Rocks.
- 15:20 Pickering to Grosmont: double-headed with No. 37688 Great Rocks leading and No. 37264.
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37688 Great Rocks
No. 37688 Great Rocks was built at the Vulcan Foundry in 1963, and originally numbered D6905.
During its mainline career, it operated throughout Wales and Scotland until being withdrawn in 2017.
Now owned by D05 Preservation Ltd, Great Rocks is now based at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, where it has since seen active heritage service
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37264 at the annual Diesel Gala
No. 37264 was also built at Vulcan Foundry, emerging in 1965 as No. D6964.
Its BR service saw it operating in South Yorkshire and East Anglia until being withdrawn from mainline operations in 1999.
Since 2010, 37264 has been based on a long-term loan at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
“The Class 37s are more than just locomotives; they’re legends of British engineering. This anniversary is a great opportunity for us to honour their lasting impact and give passengers the chance to relive an unforgettable era of rail travel.”
Nick Simpson, Head of Mechanical Engineering at the NYMR
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617 SQUADRON - PANAVIA Tornado by Paul Couper AGAvA
Re-formed on the Tornado GR.1 in 1983, 617 Squadron were assigned to the ground-support and nuclear strike roles until the WE.177 nuclear bomb was retired after which the squadron took over the maritime strike role relinquished with the retirement of the Blackburn Buccaneer.
Based at RAF Lossiemouth, the unit was frequently dispatched to war zones during their use of Tornado, including during Operation Southern Watch and the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Aircraft of the unit were also the first to fire the Storm Shadow cruise missile and was stood down in 2014 to become the first unit equipped with the F-35 Lightning II.
Re-formed on the Tornado GR.1 in 1983, 617 Squadron were assigned to the ground-support and nuclear strike roles until the WE.177 nuclear bomb was retired after which the squadron took over the maritime strike role relinquished with the retirement of the Blackburn Buccaneer.
Based at RAF Lossiemouth, the unit was frequently dispatched to war zones during their use of Tornado, including during Operation Southern Watch and the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Aircraft of the unit were also the first to fire the Storm Shadow cruise missile and was stood down in 2014 to become the first unit equipped with the F-35 Lightning II.
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From my book of 'British Railway Locomotives'
BR Class 4, 2-6-0 No.76000
BR Class 4, 2-6-0 No.76000
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4th August, 2025
LMS Patriot 'The Unknown Warrior'
The LMS-Patriot Company has announced a new look to its branding and identity.
The company has adopted a new logo, on the theme of the ‘Unknown Warrior’, which will feature in its marketing and on sales items in the future.
When it started, the initiative to build a new LMS Patriot locomotive named itself ‘The LMS-Patriot Project’.
However, the company has concluded that in order to appeal to a wider audience, it needs a rebrand.
To anyone other than railway enthusiasts, the name ‘LMS-Patriot’ means very little.
The company has benefited from great support from the railway fraternity, but wants to widen its audience, particularly to former service personnel.
The LMS ‘Patriot’ is a class of express locomotive built in the 1930s.
The first of the class was named ‘Patriot’ in honour of railway workers who were killed in the 1914-18 War.
When the project began, it named its new-build locomotive LMS Patriot Class No. 5551 ‘The Unknown Warrior’.
Its choice was inspired by the Great War Centenary commemorations, Armistice Day and the repatriation of the Unknown Warrior to Westminster Abbey.
The naming was carried out by the company’s Patron Simon Weston CBE, the well-known Falklands War Veteran, at a ceremony at Crewe Heritage Centre in 2018, the year that it had initially been expected to be completed.
The company says that the name ‘recognises its special Remembrance role as a national memorial engine, in memory of servicemen and women who lost their lives in the First World War and all subsequent wars.’
The locomotive 5551 ‘The Unknown Warrior’ is being constructed at Tyseley Locomotive Works in Birmingham.
Many of the new parts it requires have already been manufactured.
Heritage Boiler Steam Services of Huyton, Merseyside, have almost finished the brand new boiler.
More information, membership details and the full range of new branded merchandise is available on the LMS-Patriot website.
“With assembly of ‘The Unknown Warrior’ loco now underway at Tyseley, we decided to refresh our branding and identity. The name change better reflects where we are now and our aim of achieving wider recognition as the new national memorial loco. The use of ‘The Unknown Warrior’ in our branding provides an instant link to service personnel whom we are remembering”.
Colin Hall, Chair, The LMS-Patriot Company
New look for Patriot project
LMS Patriot 'The Unknown Warrior'
The LMS-Patriot Company has announced a new look to its branding and identity.
The company has adopted a new logo, on the theme of the ‘Unknown Warrior’, which will feature in its marketing and on sales items in the future.
When it started, the initiative to build a new LMS Patriot locomotive named itself ‘The LMS-Patriot Project’.
However, the company has concluded that in order to appeal to a wider audience, it needs a rebrand.
To anyone other than railway enthusiasts, the name ‘LMS-Patriot’ means very little.
The company has benefited from great support from the railway fraternity, but wants to widen its audience, particularly to former service personnel.
The LMS ‘Patriot’ is a class of express locomotive built in the 1930s.
The first of the class was named ‘Patriot’ in honour of railway workers who were killed in the 1914-18 War.
When the project began, it named its new-build locomotive LMS Patriot Class No. 5551 ‘The Unknown Warrior’.
Its choice was inspired by the Great War Centenary commemorations, Armistice Day and the repatriation of the Unknown Warrior to Westminster Abbey.
The naming was carried out by the company’s Patron Simon Weston CBE, the well-known Falklands War Veteran, at a ceremony at Crewe Heritage Centre in 2018, the year that it had initially been expected to be completed.
The company says that the name ‘recognises its special Remembrance role as a national memorial engine, in memory of servicemen and women who lost their lives in the First World War and all subsequent wars.’
The locomotive 5551 ‘The Unknown Warrior’ is being constructed at Tyseley Locomotive Works in Birmingham.
Many of the new parts it requires have already been manufactured.
Heritage Boiler Steam Services of Huyton, Merseyside, have almost finished the brand new boiler.
More information, membership details and the full range of new branded merchandise is available on the LMS-Patriot website.
“With assembly of ‘The Unknown Warrior’ loco now underway at Tyseley, we decided to refresh our branding and identity. The name change better reflects where we are now and our aim of achieving wider recognition as the new national memorial loco. The use of ‘The Unknown Warrior’ in our branding provides an instant link to service personnel whom we are remembering”.
Colin Hall, Chair, The LMS-Patriot Company
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