Marcus' Model Railway Journey

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March 1, 2026
Full results from “That’s Cool”. 1/3/26

Hunter Maul d. Vincent Michaels

Big D, Oliver Sudden & Kenny Mantra d. Luca Romeo, Leo Silva & Eli Blake

CJ Rawlings d. Chicago Desailly

Slammasters Tag Team Championship
The Blockbusters (c) d. Ghalus

Slammasters Women’s Championship
Myla Grace d. Lil’ Marz & Diana Strong (Three Way Dance) – NEW CHAMPION!

Carlito d. “The Brilliance” James Ellis
 
1st March, 2026

Derbyshire heritage railway issues loco update​

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Derbyshire’s Midland Railway – Butterley has issued an update on work on two of its locomotives.

3883 “Lord Phil”​

Lord Phil joined the Railway in 2016, having previously been at the Epping Ongar Railway.

Last weekend, volunteers completed an important stage of the work needed on the locomotive, with the final tubes annealed, cut to length, and slotted into the tube holes.

The next stage will be expanding the tubes, and the Railway – which praised the “fantastic effort by our new volunteers” – is hopeful that it will not be long before the locomotive is ready for its hydraulic test.
 
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No. 15 ‘Eustace Forth’​

Eustace Forth is a Roberts, Stephenson and Hawthorne 0-4-0ST loco.

Previously numbered 7063, the loco was built in 1942 at the Forth Bank Works in Newcastle.

It worked shunting coal wagons at Gateshead, until it was saved for preservation and added to the National Collection in 1978.

While at the National Railway Museum, it played the role of Percy in Thomas the Tank Engine events.

In 2014, Eustace Forth was given to the Foxfield Railway, and in late 2018 was used for steam heating duties on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

In May 2019, it moved to the Northampton and Lamport Railway on loan.

Its next move was to the Peak Rail, before joining the Midland Railway – Butterley in December 2023.

The Railway has drained the loco’s boiler, stripped the safety valves and removed the boiler plugs and mud hole doors.

This work was necessary to prepare for the loco’s washout and boiler examination, which will take place later this week.

The volunteers also emptied ash from the pit (which took an hour), and chopped wood in preparation for the Railway’s forthcoming running days.
 
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Midland Railway – Butterley​

Midland Railway – Butterley runs from Hammersmith to Ironville, via Butterley, Swanwick Junction and Riddings, a distance of 3 1⁄2 miles (5.6 km).

The Midland Railway Trust operates and maintains the line.

The Railway includes a museum, and is also home to the Golden Valley Light Railway, a 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge line which opened in 1991.
 
2nd March, 2026

Agreement will see steam locomotive 30120 return to steam​

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Locomotive No. 120


The 563 Locomotive Group has announced the next stage in its project to return London & South Western Railway T9 Class 4-4-0 steam locomotive No. 120 to steam.

The Group has made an agreement with the National Railway Museum which will enable it to press ahead with the overhaul of the loco.

The work will be carried out at two sites: the Swanage Railway’s Herston Works in Dorset, and the Flour Mill at Bream in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire.

This announcement comes six months after the last update on the progress of the project, which revealed that the Group had submitted a detailed plan for the locomotive’s overhaul to the National Railway Museum.
 
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Locomotive 120


The Group aims to have No.120 back in steam in time for 2029, the 130th anniversary of its original construction.

The loco, which was designed by Dugald Drummond, was built at Nine Elms in 1899.

More than sixty years later, it was withdrawn from operation in 1963.

The restoration work on the locomotive will involve:
  • a complete overhaul of the engine, which will include replacing the cylinder block that had previously been repaired
  • overhauling the boiler
  • fully refurbishing the tender, which is the only surviving LSWR watercart tender.
The first of these will be carried out at Herston Works, the Swanage Railway’s main restoration and maintenance facility, and the other two at the Flour Mill.

The Group estimates that the restoration project will cost around £750,000.

It has already raised around half of this figure from donations and a substantial bequest.

This has enabled the work to start immediately, but leaves the Group still needing to raise the rest of the money.
 
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Locomotives 120 and 562


The 563 Locomotive Group aims to bring locomotives No. 120 and No. 563 together in steam for the first time in preservation.

In October 2023, after restoration work by Swanage Railway volunteers, Adams T3 Class 4-4-0 No. 563 hauled its first two passenger trains since 1945.


More information about Project 120 is available on the project’s website, which has recently been improved.
 
2nd March, 2026

St David’s Day celebrated in style at Llangollen and Corwen Railway​

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Llangollen and Corwen Railway's volunteers will be taught some Welsh Phrases as part of the plan


Llangollen and Corwen Railway has marked St David’s Day in style with steam, song, and community spirit.

The heritage Dee Valley line welcomed passengers for heritage steam journeys between Llangollen and Corwen, along with Welsh music, bilingual announcements, and a speciality menu.

Welsh language and culture were proudly showcased, with volunteers delivering announcements in Welsh throughout the day.

Stations bloomed with daffodils and Welsh flags, while the award-winning Llangollen Silver Band provided the day’s soundtrack.

The success signals a strong start to the railway’s 2026 season, with anticipation building for the Branch Line Gala on 10 – 12 April.
 
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Llangollen Silver Band performing St David’s Day 2026


“We are immensely proud of our Welsh roots. St David’s Day gives us the opportunity to celebrate not just our history, but our place within the community today. The support from passengers, performers and volunteers made it a day to remember.”

Bethan Wyn Hughes.


“It was a real privilege to help mark St David’s Day on the railway. This line runs through the heart of North Wales, and celebrating our language and culture is incredibly important. Hearing Welsh spoken across our stations and trains, alongside the music and the steam, created something truly special.”

Joel Whittaker, a local Paramedic.
 
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