Marcus' Model Railway Journey

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4th July 2023

Prince George steam locomotive goes on display at Crewe Heritage Centre​

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2013 Prince George leaves Kirby-In-Ashfield​

The part-built replica of a London and North Western Railway George The Fifth Class has gone on public display at Crewe Heritage Centre.

The replica is being built by the LNWR George The Fifth Steam Locomotive Trust.

It is to be named Prince George by the kind permission of Kensington Palace and will carry the number 2013.

Construction of the replica is to the standards necessary for it to be able to operate on main lines as well as heritage railways.
 
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Unloading the replica at Crewe​

In the years leading up to the First World War trains were becoming heavier and travelling faster.

As a result, Charles Bowen-Cooke designed the George The Fifth Class, and 90 were built between 1910 and 1915.

The class was named after King George V who came to the throne in 1910.

Despite their relatively small size, the George the Fifth class developed a reputation for sustained high power output on heavy and fast trains.

The last one was withdrawn in 1948.
 
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Initial position in the Main Hall​

The part-built replica of Prince George left the works of the Trust's contractor Keyte Smith Ltd. at Kirkby-in Ashfield in Nottinghamshire on a low loader for travel to Crewe Heritage Centre on a journey of a couple of hours, where it was manoeuvred into the Main Hall.

It is now the centrepiece of the Crewe Works area, where it is part of a Forging History exhibition that is celebrating the 180 years since Crewe Works was established.

The exhibition is being run in association with Crewe Town Council. Further information about the Crewe Heritage Centre can be found on its website at crewehc.co.uk/home
 
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Final position in the Main Hall​

The original locomotives were built by the London and North Western Railway in the former number 9 Erecting Shop at the west end of the Works, which now part of a housing estate.

The LNWR George The Fifth Steam Locomotive Trust's engineer started his working life in Crewe Works in 1961, so both he and the Trust are delighted that the locomotive has gone on display at Crewe.

Funds for building the replica come entirely from voluntary donations, and further information about the trust can be found on their website at newprincegeorgesteam.org.uk
 
4th July 2023

More and longer trains for Brighton and Hove LGBT+ Pride in August​

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Pride 2022​

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) is to run more frequent, longer trains on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 August to transport crowds to and from Brighton and Hove Pride.

Travel changes include:
  • On Saturday 5 August, all Thameslink services between London Bridge and Brighton, and all Gatwick Express services between London Victoria and Brighton, will be operated with twelve-carriage trains.
  • Extra trains will run late into Saturday evening from Brighton to London on the Brighton Main Line.
  • On the West Coastway, services that would normally run between Brighton, Portsmouth and Southampton will terminate at Chichester, where those wishing to travel to Southampton and Portsmouth will be able to board onwards connections.
  • On the East Coastway, many services will run with extra carriages throughout the day on Saturday in and out of Brighton.
  • Preston Park station and London Road (Brighton) station will be closed all weekend to help manage crowds safely.
 
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Network Rail float at Brighton Pride 2022​

GTR has been planning for the UK's biggest Pride event since the start of the year, alongside the event organisers, emergency services and the local council.

The festival of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights includes many different events held across the city during the weekend.

Last year, Brighton and Hove Pride returned from a two-year break caused by the Covid pandemic, with thousands attending to celebrate diversity and oppose discrimination.

GTR will be bringing back its rainbow queueing system at Brighton station, with colour-coded guidance helping passengers to follow the best route as they leave Brighton after the event.
  • The green queue will lead to the East Coastway for trains towards Lewes, Seaford and Eastbourne.
  • The purple queue will be for West Coastway services towards Shoreham-by-Sea, Worthing and Chichester.
  • The blue queue will be for trains on the Brighton Main Line heading up to Haywards Heath, Gatwick Airport and London.
 
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Pride Thameslink train at Brighton​

Brighton and Hove Albion's Amex stadium in Falmer will host a football match on Sunday 6 August, which may affect passengers' travel.

GTR is urging passengers to check the club's website for more information.

GTR will take part in the Pride Parade with a float fronted by workers from across the business.

Travel information can be found on the Pride section of the Southern and Thameslink websites.

Jenny Saunders, Customer Service Director at GTR, said: “Brighton & Hove Pride is a huge event for the city, where people from all over the UK travel to Sussex to celebrate LGBTQ+ artists and allies. We want everyone to be able to enjoy the city's diverse community and all that Brighton & Hove has to offer during this fun-filled weekend.

“We are also reminding passengers to be patient and courteous to other travellers and railway staff, who will be going above and beyond to make sure everyone gets home safely. Our services will be busier than usual during Pride, so passengers should allow plenty of time to travel home.”
 
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4th July 2023

Treasurer of 563 Locomotive Group gives update on 563’s progress​

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Inside the cab​

Steve Doughty, the treasurer of the Swanage Railway Trust – 563 Locomotive Group, has announced that its appeal to raise £40,000 for the restoration of Adams T3 Class 4-4-0 No. 563 was achieved in June.

During the last month, 563 has been transformed and now looks nearly ready to haul trains again.

At the Flour Mill in the Forest of Dean, where much of the work has been carried out, the engine has been painted to exhibition standard, whilst at Herston on the Swanage Railway overhaul of the tender is increasingly near to completion.
 
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563 outside Flour Mill​

As with most steam locomotive overhauls, it is not until the final phase of the project is reached that the exact amount needed to complete the overhaul becomes clear.

With 563, the funds required to complete its overhaul have been constantly reviewed so that the fundraising target is as near as possible close to the best estimate of the final cost.

Although the amount raised so far is near to what is required, more time and labour than originally anticipated have been needed for cosmetic jobs on both the engine and tender.

Until now the Trust has not compromised on quality and does not intend to start now as the final finish achieved by both the Flour Mill and Herston Works is outstanding.
 
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Inside the cab of 563​

However, some additional work has been required, and 563 still needs to be tested before it is ready for service.

The latest estimate is that just £10,000 is now needed to complete 563's overhaul, and the Trust is appealing for donations to get there.

Moving forward, the current plan is that 563's engine and tender will be reunited later this summer at the Swanage Railway, when commissioning, testing, and training will take place so that it will be ready to enter service this autumn, all being well.

A special launch event is being planned as well as 563's first public running dates, and those dates will be confirmed shortly.

At the Flour Mill work has continued on painting and lining, including hand-painting 563; LSWR crest of arms.

Besides the paintwork, a large number of fittings and pipe work such as the vacuum and steam brake have been refitted.

Although from a distance they may not affect the look of the locomotive, it is both important work and very time-consuming.

As at the Flour Mill, work at Herston on the tender has concentrated on the paintwork.

The tender tank has now received a first coat of LSWR passenger green, but that took longer than expected and it will now be another five weeks before the tank is ready to be lined out.
 
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Storm sheet as fitted to U class No. 31806​

After the Trust's recent call for supporters to sponsor various components, it has issued a request for a ‘storm sheet' which is an essential item, particularly when running tender first.

The sheet will make life much more pleasant for crews, and help keep them dry in the fairly exposed cab of 563.

For this, the Trust is seeking donations of £200.

Full details of how to donate to the Trust can be found on its webpage at 563locomotivegroup.co.uk/donate/
 
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4953 “Pitchford Hall”​

The gala will also feature photographic displays, including Great Western Railway 4-6-0 class engines which, it says, “may include” Pendennis Castle, King Edward 2, Cookham Manor, Hinterton Hall, Burton Agnes Hall and Drysllwyn Castle.
 
  • No. 4079 ‘Pendennis Castle', completed at Swindon in February 1924 and returned to traffic at Didcot Railway Centre in April 2022.
  • No 2409 ‘King George' (the Centre's newest finished restoration project), originally built in May 1942.
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4079 ‘Pendennis Castle' at Didcot Railway Centre​
 
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Engine shed​

The event will feature goods workings as well as passenger trains.

There will be demonstrations of the seventy-foot turntable in action, and the opportunity to see train crew coaling the locos under the newly restored Grade II Listed 1932 coal stage.

A coal truck will be propelled up the steep incline to the coal stage.

These are all sights that were commonplace at the steam depot in GWR days.

The centre will also demonstrate its original fifty-ton hoist in use to add and remove a bogey.

There are limited spaces for this, and visitors must book separately from the rest of the event.

Didcot Railway Centre's site includes painstakingly restored buildings, carriages and wagons.

Visitors can learn about the development of railways and get up close to the locomotives in the spacious Engine Shed, which has changed little since being built in 1932.

Visitors may even climb onto the footplate of some of the locos.

Visitors may also walk, or travel on the branch line, to the Transfer Shed, where they can view track from Brunel's Broad Gauge railway with replica locomotives and carriages.

The Carriage Shed will also be open, and houses coaches dating from Victorian times to the 1940s, including the VIP Saloon that is believed to have been used by General Eisenhower when preparing for D-Day, and was later used in the GWR Royal Train!

Tickets are available here.

Didcot Railway Centre is not asking members to pay a fee, but does welcome donations, pointing out that the costs of steaming four locomotives are significant.



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4th July 2023

Train services resume after JCB used in ram raid at West Sussex Co-Op​

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Barnham JCB​

Southern rail services are recovering following disruption this morning caused by a raid on a cashpoint close to Barnham station, bear Bognor Regis in West Sussex.

At around 03:20, there was an attempt to remove the cash machine located in the wall of the Co-op supermarket on Barnham Road.

The raiders used a JCB digger in the attack on the Co-op, which is part of the same building as the next-door traincrew depot.

The shop front was severely damaged, and police arrested a 43-year-old man who fled the scene on foot.
 
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Barnham station

Barnham's traincrew depot had to remain closed until 09:00, awaiting confirmation from a structural engineer that it was safe to enter.

Drivers and other on-train staff had to book on duty at alternative locations, which made it impossible for Southern to run its full service.

The delays continued into the afternoon.
 
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Southern's Customer Service Director Jenny Saunders said: “We were forced to close the depot until 9am when a structural engineer from the council confirmed it was safe to enter.

“Until then, our crew were being organised to sign on at alternative locations wherever possible but we could only run a reduced service and there has been a lot of disruption to our customers' journeys today, for which I apologise.

“We arranged ticket acceptance with other transport providers and we have been rebuilding the service. Regrettably, disruption due to the displacement of our colleagues and trains is expected to last into the afternoon.”

“Anyone whose journey was delayed by 15 minutes or more can claim Delay Repay compensation at southernrailway.com.”
 
5th July 2023

Train operating companies announce review of ticket offices​

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Train operating companies have begun passenger consultations about a review of ticket offices.

The Rail Delivery Group is presenting the plans as moving staff from ticket offices and into stations, offering more face-to-face support, but train operating companies have not ruled out staffing cuts and redundancies.

Ticket office staff will be replaced by a multi-skilled ‘customer help' role, which the RDG claims will be “better able to give advice about the best and cheapest fares, advise on journey planning and support customers with accessibility needs”, a service that is carried out by ticket office staff and station staff.

Despite the planned closures, the RDG claims that staff will be “more visible and accessible”.

The RDG's argument for closing ticket offices is based on changes in ticket-buying habits.

In the mid-nineties, 82% of all tickets were sold at ticket offices, a figure that has fallen to an average 12% today in what the body describes as a “generational shift in customer behaviour”, pointing out that other organisations, such as Transport for London and most airlines, have already closed ticket offices.

The public consultation will last for twenty-one days. It will be facilitated by independent passenger watchdogs Transport Focus and London TravelWatch, who are encouraging passengers who wish to participate to visit their website of those of their local train companies.

RDG admits that it is pressing ahead with its closure plan despite still being in dispute with the ASLEF and RMT trade unions, with RMT's dispute including a demand for jobs to be protected.

The union is campaigning against ticket office closures, and will broadcast its response this evening, with the public invited to watch the webcast via this link.
 
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Ticket office queue at London Victoria​

The train operators' organisation claims that revenue is 30% below pre-pandemic levels.

However, this figure refers to last year, and passenger numbers have increased significantly since then.

RDG promises to implement the ticket office closures smoothly, with changes phased in gradually.

It estimates that 99% of transactions made at ticket offices last year can be made at Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs) or online, and promises to improve and upgrade TVMs.

It also promises that ticket office facilities will remain open at the busiest stations and interchanges, selling the full range of tickets while the transition takes place.

Once the changes have been fully implemented, passengers who find that the ticket they need is unavailable at their departure station will be able to buy their ticket during their journey, at a ticket office en route, or at their destination.

However, RDG's statement does not clarify that this extends to passengers who are unable to buy tickets that are available, for example due to disability-related difficulties in using TVMs.

RDG claims that affected staff will have the option of moving to a new skilled role with re-training and re-skilling.

It says that train companies will “engage constructively with unions at a local level”.
 
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Southeastern Ticket Office​

After engagement with accessibility, safety and passenger groups, rail companies are unveiling a series of pledges for passengers about the proposals:
  • Across the network as a whole, there will be more staff available to give face to face help to customers out in stations than there are today
  • Customers will never have to travel out of their way to buy tickets
  • Those with accessibility needs will always be supported
  • All rail staff will be treated fairly and their new roles will be more engaging
Currently, 43% of stations do not have a ticket office, with a further 40% having ticket offices that are staffed part-time. In some cases, such as Bicester Village, the ticket office is purpose-built and supported by a passenger reception desk.

In others, closed ticket office facilities have been converted into community hubs, coffee shops and cafes.

RDG claims that “The reforms will not affect train companies' ability to provide assistance to those needing wheelchair and mobility support from staff, either on demand at the station or by booking in advance. New mobile assistance teams will be created to offer extra help where needed, including for stations which are currently unstaffed.”

Helen Rowlands, an executive council member of Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People (GMCDP), promised a summer of campaigning to save ticket offices. She said: “We explained to Rishi Sunak that ticket offices are a vital aspect of ensuring disabled travellers' safety, information and access needs. … It is with deep concern that we learn this week that he has chosen to disregard our warning.”

Jacqueline Starr, Rail Delivery Group chief executive, said: “The ways our customers buy tickets has changed and it's time for the railway to change with them. With just 12% of tickets being sold from ticket offices last year, and 99% of those transactions being available on TVMs or online, our proposals would mean more staff on hand on to give face to face help with a much wider range of support, from journey planning, to finding the right ticket and helping those with accessibility needs.

“Our commitment is that we will always treat our staff, who are hugely valued and integral to the experience our customers have on the railway, fairly, with support and extra training to move into new more engaging roles. We also understand that our customers have differing needs, which is why the industry widely sought the views of accessibility and passenger groups when creating these proposals, and will continue to through the consultation. We encourage those who wish to take part to go to their local train company website or visit Transport Focus or London Travelwatch.”
 
5th July 2023

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TRANSPORT FOR WALES

Rail Delivery Group proposals – Transport for Wales statement​


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TfW Class 230​

The Welsh Government and Transport for Wales (TfW) are not in scope of the ticket office announcement made today (5 July) by the Department for Transport train operators in England.

We do not have any plans to reduce the number of staff at our stations and we will continue to work in a social partnership with our Trade Unions as part of regular dialogue on how we deliver the best possible service to meet the needs of our customers.

TfW does not plan to make similar wholesale changes to ticket offices in Wales, to the ticket offices that we manage in England (Chester, Hereford, Leominster, Runcorn East, or Shrewsbury) or to the ticket offices operated by our retail agents.

Marie Daly, Chief Culture and Customer Officer at TfW.

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Sulzer Type 2 British Rail Class 25 No. D7659 ‘on shed' at Toddington​
One highlight will be the visit of Sulzer Type 2 / British Rail Class 25 No. D7659 (7659/25309/25909).

The Railway announced the loco's participation in the Gala in May, and has now confirmed its safe arrival at its locomotive base at Toddington last Friday (30 June), on loan from Peak Rail and the Waterman Railway Heritage Trust.

D7659 returned to traffic in late part of 2021 following a full restoration, hauling trains for the first time in twenty-three years.

It will also attended the West Somerset Railway's diesel festival in June and will appear at the Epping Ongar Railway's diesel gala in September.
 
5th July 2023

Flying Scotsman pays a second visit to Scotland this year!​

Monday the 3rd of July saw the iconic locomotive make her way to Aberdeen for the first time since 1964!​

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Flying Scotsman on the Forth Bridge, 3rd July 2023

Scotlands Railway saw a return visit from the world-famous, 60103 Flying Scotsman on Monday the 3rd of July, marking its second visit this year following a visit to Edinburgh Waverley on the 24th of February to celebrate her 100th birthday.

This latest visit saw the well-loved locomotive visit Aberdeen for the first time since 1964 with the journey starting at Edinburgh Waverley at 9.41am, before crossing the iconic Forth Bridge and heading north to the Granite City.

The Railway Touring Company hosted the rail tour, which saw a round trip enjoyed by hundreds of passengers as Flying Scotsman travelled from London Kings Cross to Aberdeen.

The much-celebrated locomotive also paid a visit to Ferryhill Railway Heritage Trust in Aberdeen in order to make use of its recently restored turntable in order for the turnaround for the return leg of the journey.

Those visiting the heritage centre got the amazing opportunity to see the locomotive, which is almost 100 tonnes in weight, being turned 180 degrees from a safe location.
 
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Flying Scotsman at Edinburgh Waverley Station​

Flying Scotsman has a full itinerary this year in order to celebrate her centenary, including excursions and exhibitions, to find out more, click here.

Due to the popularity of Flying Scotsman, Network Rail is also reminding those heading out to see the famous locomotive of the importance of staying safe, as regular train services will be operating as usual on the rail network at speed and therefore it is important to:
  • Never trespass on the railway.
  • Always watch from a safe location.
  • Always stay behind the yellow line on the platforms.
  • Follow instructions from railway staff and Police officers.
  • Remain aware of your surroundings and keep back from the platform edge.
Alan Ross, Director of Engineering and Asset Management for Scotland's Railway, said: “It's been a pleasure to see Flying Scotsman on Scotland's Railway doing what it's done best for a century – hauling passenger trains at speed along the East Coast Main Line.”

“The world's most famous locomotive always draws a crowd and we're already looking forward to the next visit. A huge thanks and well done to all railway staff involved in the visit, who've worked hard to make it a success and keep trains running on time.”

Designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, Flying Scotsman was built at Doncaster in 1923 and was officially the very first steam locomotive to achieve 100mph.

The locomotive gained its well-known name because of her continued service on the ‘Flying Scotsman' service.

1963 saw the icon of steam move into preservation and is now owned by the National Railway Museum and operated by Riley & Son (E) Ltd.

Flying Scotsman's centenary programme has been made possible thanks to support from Hornby, the National Heritage Memorial Fund and players of the People's Postcode Lottery.
 
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