Marcus' Model Railway Journey

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Rosa ‘Peace’​

1st

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27th February, 2026

Apedale to welcome Motor Rail Mania guest locomotives this summer​

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Leighton Buzzard No. 43


Apedale Valley Light Railway’s Motor Rail Mania is gearing up for an exciting weekend on June 27 – 28, with the announcement of its first two visiting locomotives.

Making the journey from the Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway are Motor Rail 8695 and 10409, better known to enthusiasts as Leighton Buzzard No. 30 and 43.

No. 43’s appearance is set to be especially notable, marking the first time in its 72-year history that the locomotive will venture beyond its home county of Bedfordshire.

Across the gala weekend, both engines are expected to haul demonstration freight and passenger services, offering visitors plenty of action. Subject to availability, they will also feature in a dedicated Leighton Buzzard-themed photo charter on the Saturday.
 
27th February, 2026

UK’s first HydroShunter unveiled at Severn Valley Railway​

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HydroShunter at Severn Valley, 26th Feb 2026


Vanguard Sustainable Transport Solutions and Severn Valley Railway have marked a significant step forward in railway decarbonisation with the official market launch of the UK’s first hydrogen-powered railway shunting locomotive.

The HydroShunter was unveiled at Kidderminster Town station on Thursday, 26 February, showcasing a practical pathway to zero-emission shunting.

The locomotive has been rebuilt in the SVR’s workshops using the body of a redundant Class 08 diesel shunter.

Rather than requiring entirely new rolling stock, the HydroShunter demonstrates how existing vehicles can be retrofitted with clean propulsion technology.


Its hydrogen and battery powertrain was delivered through a collaboration between the heritage railway and Vanguard, a West Midlands-based company specialising in hydrogen traction systems and spun out from the University of Birmingham.
 
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Dr Alexander Burrows of Vanguard and Gus Dunster of the SVR


Guests, including representatives from mainline rail operators, attended the launch to learn more about the project’s ambition to decarbonise shunting operations nationwide.

Attendees also took part in a demonstration run along the heritage line.

The project was recently shortlisted for Innovation of the Year at the Rail Business Awards 2026, underlining its importance to the wider industry.


“This is an exciting day for the Vanguard team. To launch the UK’s first commercial hydrogen/battery railway locomotive powertrain as a retrofit solution is a great achievement and I am hugely proud of the joint project team from Vanguard and our wonderful partners at the Severn Valley Railway.

“There is already a lot of real interest from potential customers who want to benefit from zero emissions, reduced noise, and improved operating costs in a retrofit solution. We have made this investment in innovation to drive transport decarbonisation and enable railway locomotives to move to zero emissions without the need for significant upfront capital investment.”

Dr Alexander Burrows, CEO of Vanguard Sustainable Transport Solutions.


“Working on this project places the Severn Valley Railway firmly at the forefront of innovation within the heritage sector. We are proud to have helped develop a shunting solution that is emissions-free at the point of use and we are looking forward to seeing it in regular use at the railway.

“I am immensely proud of our team of young volunteers who have worked tirelessly to bring this locomotive to the advanced stage we’re seeing today. Their skill, commitment and determination demonstrate the very best of the heritage railway movement. We may be a heritage organisation, but this project shows our vision is firmly fixed on the future.”

Gus Dunster, managing director of the Severn Valley Railway.
 
27th February, 2026

Northampton and Lamport Railway to celebrate with Easter Egg Specials​

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The Northampton and Lamport Railway (NLR) is inviting families to celebrate Easter in style with its popular Easter Egg Specials, running on Sunday, 5th and Monday, 6th April.

Visitors can enjoy scenic train rides through the Northamptonshire countryside, with departures every hour from 10 am to 3 pm on both days.

Every child travelling on the Easter Egg Specials will receive a free Creme Egg, adding a sweet treat to the experience.

Young visitors will also have the chance to meet the Easter Bunny in person and take part in a special Easter Bunny Hunt.

In addition to the train rides and Easter activities, the railway offers free on-site parking, a souvenir shop, and a buffet serving drinks, snacks, and freshly prepared food.

Families whose children do not eat chocolate are encouraged to inform the railway in advance, and a suitable substitute will be provided.
 
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Easter Egg Specials 2025 Poster


Tickets for the Easter Egg Specials can be booked online via the North Norfolk Railway’s website.

The railway notes that in the unlikely event the scheduled steam locomotive is unavailable, services will instead be hauled by one of its vintage diesel locomotives, ensuring the experience goes ahead as planned.
 
27th February, 2026

Two locomotives set to visit Ravenglass for Northern Rock’s Golden Jubilee Gala​

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Sian


Between 2 and 4 May, two guest locomotives from the Whistlestop Valley are set to visit the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, for Northern Rock’s Golden Jubilee Gala.

‘Sian’, in her signature maroon livery, is a familiar face at Ravenglass, having previously called the line home, and is a frequent visitor.

Built by Guest Engineering & Maintenance Co Ltd, as an Ernest W. Twining design, for the Fairbourne Railway in 1963, she was acquired in 1994 by the Sian Project Group.
 
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Katie


Joining ‘Sian’ will be her sister locomotive, ‘Katie’.

Built in 1954 for the Dudley Zoo Railway, Katie enjoyed a long tenure at Fairbourne before joining Whistlestop Valley.

Recently overhauled, the locomotive last visited Ravenglass in 2015.
 
27th February, 2026

Severn Valley Railway to support new multi-sport challenge this summer​

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Arley station on the Severn Valley Railway


The Severn Valley Railway is supporting a brand-new multisport challenge, Steaming Down the Valley, at the Severn Valley Country Park, set to take place on Saturday, 6 June 2026.

Hosted by Shropshire Council and organised by local volunteers, the event invites participants to race alongside the heritage railway by land or water.

Competitors can choose between a 5km or a 10km off-road run, beginning to the tune of a steam train whistle, at the historic Country Park Hall.

Runners will follow woodland paths and riverside trails, with the 5km finishing at Arley railway station and the 10km returning to the start point.

For those more interested in watersports, a paddle sports race will launch from Miner’s Bridge, with canoeists, kayakers, and paddleboarders invited to sign up to chase the steam locomotive downstream to Arley.
 
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2857 in the sun in a dining car train on the Severn Valley Railway


Race HQ at Severn Valley Country Park will be offering refreshments at No.92 Coffee Lounge.

All finishers are set to receive medals and goody bags. Early booking is recommended due to limited places.


“We’re thrilled to be supporting Severn Valley Country Park for the return of Steaming Down the Valley. The heat is on, and not just in the firebox! We’ll be sure to get our steam locomotives in tip top shape to give the participants a run for their money, from platform to podium!”

Lewis Maddox, Visitor Engagement Manager at the Severn Valley Railway.


“This stretch of the Severn Valley is a great area for a scenic, off-road run. Add to that the thrill of racing against a steam train, and it’s going to be a race you don’t want to miss. I would urge people to enter early to avoid disappointment.”

Edward Andrews, Parks and Countryside Manager at Shropshire Council.
 
27th February, 2026

Severn Valley Railway to hold Branch Line event this weekend​

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Crossing Falling Sands viaduct, 7802 'Bradley Manor'


The Severn Valley Railway is to hold a Branch Line Weekend this weekend (28th February and 1st March 2026) to showcase what the line might have looked like back in its hey day.

The railway will also be celebrating 35 years since the arrival of the first DMU with an intensive timetable and a number of locomotives and units.

The weekend will see a Class 101 DMU operate alongside a Class 108, 1450 on auto trains, 7714 and 7802/75069, which will operate on Saturday and Sunday only, respectively.

The hidden gem that is Eardington station will be open with Lampman talks and 23 trains stopping at the station.

Timetables and tickets are available by clicking here.
 
27th February, 2026

Alstom trains and signalling enter service in India​

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The Meerut Metro trains will be India’s fastest urban metro


Alstom has brought into operational service trains and ETCS signalling on the last part of India’s first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), the Namo Bharat corridor, and the Meerut Metro near Delhi in India.

The Namo Bharat corridor connects Delhi, Ghaziabad, and Meerut, with the Meerut Metro, and includes the sections between connecting New Ashok Nagar and Sarai Kale, Meerut South and Modipuram, as well as the Meerut Metro, which is the first in the world to use European Train CoNtrol System (ETCS) Hybrid Level 3 over Long Term Evolution (LTE) 4G signalling, and will be India’s fastest metro, operating up to 120 kmph.

Designed at Alstom’s engineering centre in Hyderabad, the new trains are part of Alstom’s Adessia commuter train family, with overhead luggage racks, passenger information screens, USB sockets, and wheelchair and stretcher space.

They are being constructed at Savli in Gujarat, with the propulsion and electrical systems being manufactured by Alstom at Maneja in Gujarat, which aligns with the Indian government’s 100% ‘Make-in-India’ and Aatmanirbhar Bharat ambition.

The 21km Meerut Metro line from Meerut South to Modipuram has 12 stations, four of which provide connections with the Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat RRTS.

Alstom secured the contract in 2020 to design, manufacture, and supply 30 Adessia six-car trainsets for the Namo Bharat corridor and ten three-car Adessia trainsets for the Meerut Metro.

The contract also includes 15 years of comprehensive maintenance services.

Alstom is also providing train-control and signalling solutions for several lines on Delhi’s metro network.


“NCRTC created a breakthrough with RRTS, and now Meerut Metro and we are proud to be their preferred partner in this journey. The opening of the complete corridor for RRTS, and commencement of revenue service for Meerut Metro, will unlock inter- and intra-city growth opportunities through this advanced urban rail network. It will be our endeavour to support NCRTC in this feat in every possible way.”

Olivier Loison, Managing Director, Alstom India
 
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27th February, 2026

Frame assembly complete on George the Fifth steam locomotive​

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Jamie installs the first Huckbolt


The LNWR George the Fifth Steam Locomotive Trust has announced that on Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 February, it finished assembling the permanent frame for its replica locomotive.

The work took place at the Keyte Smith Ltd works in Nottinghamshire, and followed the Trust’s frame restoration campaign.

The restoration team brought the locomotive to the shop and carefully levelled it on stands.

They then replaced the temporary bolts they had installed previously with 191 Huckbolts, which will permanently secure the parts in place and in alignment.

They had to hire specialist tooling in order to install the Huckbolts, so they carried out all the installations in one session.

Once its construction is completed, the locomotive will be the only pre-World War 1 express loco available for main line operation.
 
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View of the frame from the mezzanine floor right above the buffer beam


The following day, the team worked on inserting thread inserts and spraying primer paint on the parts of the locomotive that were unprotected.

They also made preparations for the next stages of building the replica locomotive.

They will need to withdraw various items of platework from storage and check them over before painting them and reassembling them onto the frames.

The Trust will place contracts for the outstanding platework items.
 
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Far left: two Huckbolts covering unwanted holes. Left: three countersunk head Huckbolts for brake pivot. Right: four Huckbolts holding reverser shaft brackets on the other side of plates


The Trust hopes that by the end of this month, it will have taken delivery of the hornblocks, which are currently in the process of being machined.

The part-built locomotive was placed on display at the Crewe Heritage Centre in 2023.
 
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