Marcus' Model Railway Journey

It's that Police Telephone Box again!

After unloading the track sections, the train is slowly propelled to collect more track and point assemblies

12th September 2023

Survey shows high levels of dissatisfaction with Welsh rail services​

The latest Rail User Survey by Transport Focus shows a decline in overall satisfaction amongst those taking journeys on Transport for Wales (TfW) services.

The survey asks passengers throughout Great Britain about their experience of rail travel and their level of satisfaction with their most recent journey.

Overall, Transport Focus – the independent watchdog for transport users – has found that overall satisfaction with TfW services has declined in the past year and now stands at 72 per cent.

Satisfaction with punctuality, reliability and service frequency has fallen further over the last quarter. TfW now finds itself bottom of all train operating companies on all three measures.

TfW has suffered issues with its fleet of trains and new rolling stock which has been due to go into service has been delayed.

Engineering work on the Valleys Lines out of Cardiff, in preparation for the South Wales Metro will also have played a part.

Transport Focus has spoken about its concerns and has kept a close eye on the performance of TfW, which provides services throughout Wales as well as along the Marches line between Newport and Chester, as well as services from Welsh stations to Manchester, Manchester Airport, Liverpool and Birmingham International.

TfW is a not-for-profit operator owned by the Welsh Government.

There have been improvements in some areas of service delivery, but Transport Focus will continue to challenge senior management at TfW as well as the Office for Road and Rail (ORR) to press for action over the key aspects which matter to passengers.

There has been a positive reaction to improvements in Avanti West Coast in recent months with customer satisfaction at 87 per cent, the highest level for more than a year.

However, satisfaction with punctuality, reliability and service frequency has improved, though it remains below previous levels.

In Wales, Avanti provides services from London Euston to Holyhead and Wrexham, via Chester.

Nationally, strikes and overtime bans have hampered travelling for more than a year and vital engineering work also brings disruption.

In Wales, ticket office closures are not due to take place.

Despite some additional services and better connections being provided after the May 2023 timetable change, much work remains to be done with many passengers feeling that they are getting a raw deal.

12th September 2023

149-year-old steam locomotive returning to its Cornish home​

In the next few weeks, the London and South Western Railway 2-4-0T No. 30587 will be returning to its iconic home of Bodmin in Cornwall.

The news of 30587's return was announced at Bodmin and Wenford Railway's China Clay Gala last weekend.

For many years, the 149-year-old locomotive was synonymous with the area, hauling china clay traffic on the original Bodmin and Wadebridge Railway.

It is a survivor of the area's railway heritage and has been deeply missed since it has been on display at the National Railway Museum in York.

After many months of negotiations, an agreement has been reached between the Bodmin Railway and the National Railway Museum for 30587 to move from York to Bodmin on an initial 3-year static loan agreement.

The Bodmin Railway hopes that in the future this could lead to an overhaul and running agreement

For now, the Bodmin Railway is pleased that 30587 will be returning to Bodmin, where for the next 3 years it will be displayed on Platform 2 on selected days.

When not on display, will be housed under cover in the running shed.

30587 was originally delivered to Bodmin by sea in 1895, as at that time the Bodmin and Wadebridge Railway had no connection to London and South Western Railway Its route to Bodmin now will be by road and a lot easier route.

However, transport costs are not cheap, with the first move being extracted from the National Railway Museum at York via the mainline.

It is estimated the cost to move 30587 from York to Bodmin will be around £7,000, and the Bodmin Railway has set up a fundraising appeal for this purpose.

Donations can be made via this link, or if anyone wishes to donate in a different way they are asked to contact the railway by email at enquiries@bodminrailway.co.uk

Before 30587 went on display at the National Railway Museum, it went on loan to the Avon Valley Railway, and the Bluebell Railway.

12th September 2023

Nene Valley Railway to see 37714 attend its Diesel Gala this October!​

The heritage railway has revealed that 37714 will also be available for Driving Experience Courses taking place on Friday the 5th of October​

Nene Valley Railway has revealed that special guest 37714 Cardiff Canton will be operating during its Diesel Gala ‘British Rail 1980s' on Saturday the 7th and Sunday the 8th of October.

The special visit marks the locomotive's first visit to another heritage railway after entering service at the Great Central Railway some 7 years ago.

The event will celebrate a decade of change for railways across the country through the 1980s, which saw rapid growth in passenger numbers and the corporate blue of the 1970s slow move to vivid liveries as the industry stepped closer to privatisation.

The evening of Saturday the 6th of October will see 37714 operating the railway's extremely popular ‘Jolly Fisherman' fish and chip dining train, which has sadly already sold out.

To find out more about the ‘Jolly Fisherman' operating on other dates hauled by steam or heritage diesel locomotives, please click here.

Friday the 5th of October will also see the Nene Valley Railway's Driver Experience Course run using 37714, which includes theory and practical driving, click here to find out more.

37714 Is visiting Nene Valley Railway thanks to the Heavy Tractor Group, which is a volunteer-run organisation dedicated to keeping the locomotive in operational preservation.

12th September 2023

Inside The Train Shed

More track has arrived

And points.....

The larger crane was brought in for this task.

The Crew Bus has arrived with rest of the permanent way crew.

What the?............

Cleo and her crocs crash the party!

13th September 2023

Varamis Rail links up with Carousel Logistics to boost pan-European operations​

Carousel Logistics, the night delivery specialist, has linked up with Varamis Rail to boost its pan-European operation.

The news follows a successful trial period.

The freight operation runs out of Birmingham on Varamis Rail's midnight service five nights a week in both directions from a depot just two miles away from the airport.

It is scheduled to arrive at Mossend rail hub terminal in Scotland at 04.00.

Varamis Rail is the first electric-only express rail freight operator and uses former passenger trains which have been covered to carry cargo at a top speed of 100mph.

The company's trains are powered by the overhead line infrastructure owned by Network Rail, with all electricity generated from environment-friendly sources.

Varamis estimate that 1,350 tonnes of carbon dioxide will be saved each year.

Carousel Logistics' introduction of the electric train follows its recent investment in Electron, a battery-run electric aircraft.

This will allow the company to start zero-emission, point-to-point air freight deliveries across Europe.

Andrew Lowery, Managing Director UK for Carousel Logistics, said: “The introduction of this zero-emission route out of Birmingham, our primary UK hub, is a real win-win for us” said Andrew Lowery, Managing Director UK, Carousel Logistics. “Not only does this high-speed electric train drive our journey toward carbon neutrality, it is also faster than the diesel-fuelled alternatives.

“We're looking forward to expanding our partnership with Varamis Rail as they add more capacity to this route, and sustainably connect more British cities.”

Phil Read, Managing Director, Varamis Rail, added: “Carousel Logistics has been instrumental in helping us design a route that meets the needs of time-critical delivery services – for this venture to be successful, it must serve the industry. Like ourselves, they're pioneers – their team is innovative and exploring new, green alternatives in a bid to make cargo transport more sustainable.

“From the onset, we knew that our electric route had to be faster, more cost-effective, and greener to be viable – and Carousel Logistics is helping us prove to the freight industry that we are all of the above.

13th September 2023

Terrier steam locomotive is first visitor announced for Severn Valley Railway Spring gala​

The Severn Valley Railway has announced that 672 Fenchurch is to visit in 2024 as part of the 2024 Spring Steam Gala.

The Class A1 Terrier locomotive is the first locomotive as part of the guest line up, and appears thanks to its home railway, the Bluebell Railway.

Tickets for the gala, set to take place from the 18th and 21st April 2024, are set to become available in the coming months.

“We're extremely pleased that we've secured an early agreement with the Bluebell to host their locomotive,” said Duncan Ballard, the SVR's head of steam engineering. “It's a great opportunity to start making a stir with what promises to be one of the most significant enthusiast events in 2024's calendar.

“Having a 152-year-old engine on the Valley is going to be quite something. We're actively negotiating for other guest locomotives for the event, so stay tuned for further announcements!”

13th September 2023

Dame Vera Lynn steam locomotive wont burn coal when it returns to service​

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway has confirmed that WD 2-10-0 will burn ‘liquid' fuels when it returns from overhaul

Chris Price, current CEO of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, says that liquid fuel can take a number of forms, including heavy oil to recycled cooking oil.

Mr Price also said that the main driving factor behind using liquid fuels rather than solid fuels, such as coal, is the ability to maintain a steam locomotive during hot weather periods, and the accompanying fire risks related to this.

WD locomotives, like 3672 Dame Vera Lynn, were designed to be used using coal firing or oil burning, and Chris Price says that there is evidence that 3672 was originally built as an oil fired variant.

Chris Price, CEO of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, said “The NYMR has made the decision that the WD 2-10-0 locomotive Dame Vera Lynn will return, after its overhaul, as a liquid fuel burning locomotive. It is our intention to raise the remaining amount of money require to complete the overhaul on this basis. Liquid fuel can take many forms from heavy oil to recycled cooking oil (although there are legislative requirements to be met to do this) which will increase the fuelling options available to us. The main driving factor is the need to maintain a steam locomotive presence during the ever increasing frequency of hot weather periods, and the accompanying high fire risks these bring.”

“This locomotive is the perfect locomotive to convert as the WD locomotives were designed to be either coal or oil fired, and there is evidence this locomotive was originally supplied as an oil fired variant. Therefore, the heritage integrity will not be compromised with this conversion. Both the Railways CEO and Director of Mechanical Engineering have already been over to Florida to witness an similar sized liquid fuelled locomotive in operation. At this moment in time the American company FMW Solutions are our preferred contractor to supply the expertise required to help us fit a tailored liquid fuelled firing solution for this locomotive.”

“It is planned that Dame Vera Lynn will be the next locomotive in our fitting shop following the completion of Black 5 locomotive 44806.”