Marcus' Model Railway Journey

The boiler is now nearly ready for its tubes to be fitted, but before this can be done all the necessary certification paperwork, material tests, and other sign-offs must be completed.

Once Technischer Überwachungsverein is satisfied that all necessary activities have been completed satisfactorily, work can quickly proceed with installing the tubes followed by a full hydraulic test.

At Darlington, the monobloc is expected to be delivered shortly, followed soon after by the boiler.

Once these are in place, the considerable progress made on constructing Prince of Wales will be clearly visible.

As the Trust works towards the planned delivery date, it is still fundraising, and the best way to support the project is through joining the Trust's The Boiler Club.

This is the backbone for the construction of the locomotive as each donation takes it one step closer to steaming of the locomotive.

One-off donations are welcome, and the Trust thanks all those who have already made a donation.

The Trust has an online donations system here for signing up as a P2 Covenantor, whilst support for the project can be shown by joining any of the P2 Clubs here, or contributing to The P2 Support Coach Appeal at https://www.a1steam.com/p2supportcoach/.

A Boiler Club is also running with a target of 300 members, which has nearly been reached 90% of the money needed to fund the boiler, which is Prince of Wales' most expensive component, has already been raised.

The Trust needs to reach its target of 300 members by this autumn and is appealing for support who wants to see the project complete.

Applications to join The Boiler Club can be made here.

28th September 2023

Severn Valley Railway to host life-saving CPR event​

Severn Valley Railway is to host an event on Sunday 15 October to encourage understanding of cardiac arrest and how people can use cardiac pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation to save lives.

The event will take place at both Kidderminster and Bridgnorth stations.

St John Ambulance volunteers will show members of the public how to deliver CPR and how to use a defibrillator.

They will also attempt a non-stop ‘CPR-athon' on board one of SVR's heritage trains as it travels between the two stations, carrying out continuous CPR on a practice dummy for the one-and-a-quarter-hour journey.

Unit manager Brandon Keechan said: “We wanted to replicate the amount of time you might need to do CPR for, depending on how long it takes for an ambulance to reach the scene. It can be very strenuous, but we'll be working in tandem and taking turns to give chest compressions. Effective bystander CPR provided immediately after a cardiac arrest, can double a victim's chance of survival.”

The Europe-wide Restart a Heart Day takes place on Monday 16 October, aiming to spread awareness, education and training among members of the general public, so that they are able to save the life of someone having a cardiac arrest.

Brandon Keechan, manager of St John Ambulance Kidderminster unit, explained that, “The early moments are critical. It really can make all the difference to have someone there who knows what to do. By delivering first hand care and treatment, with CPR or defibrillation, you're essentially keeping someone alive until an ambulance arrives.

“Members of our unit frequently carry out community first responding, and we've attended many incidences of cardiac arrest. We know that it really makes a difference when there's someone who knows how to act quickly. Quite simply, someone's life could depend on it.”

St John Ambulance volunteer Christine Nicholls added, “We'll be on hand at Kidderminster and Bridgnorth stations, to demonstrate what to do in a life-threatening emergency. You don't need medical training to do CPR, and we want to help people understand that anyone can do it. You never know when you might need it and it's proven to save lives.”

SVR volunteer Martin Eaton, who runs basic first aid training courses for SVR staff, and who works as a paramedic for the West Midlands Ambulance Service, commented, “Many customer-facing volunteers at the SVR are trained in first aid, and we have defibrillators located at Kidderminster, Bewdley, Highley and Bridgnorth stations.

“Because we're operating in a mainly rural setting, it is often volunteers and bystanders who are on scene first at medical emergencies. Knowing the basics, how to carry out CPR and the availability of a defibrillator saves lives. I've witnessed this many times and it's always down to members of the public getting the basics right before the ambulance service arrives. It's great that the SVR is getting involved in Restart a Heart Day.”

28th September 2023



NetworkRail:

Network Rail on track to deliver final stage of multi-million-pound upgrade to the Ebbw Vale line​

Region & Route: Wales & Western: Wales & Borders


Network Rail is reminding passengers that buses will replace trains on the Ebbw Vale line on Saturday 30 September and Sunday 1 October as work on the £70m upgrade enters its final stage.

This weekend, Network Rail will be installing brand new track at Newbridge station and in the Crosskeys area, when a bus replacement service will run between Ebbw Vale Town and Cardiff Central. The work will enable Transport for Wales to launch new services from December, including a new hourly passenger service between Ebbw Vale Town and Newport.

Before the introduction of new services, there will be a 19-day closure of the line from Wednesday 15 November to Sunday 3 December (inclusive) to allow for the final stage of work to take place. Once complete, the line will see the introduction of two trains per hour – one to Cardiff and one to Newport – opening up leisure and business travel opportunities and boosting the local economy.

The transformation of the line has been funded by Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council via a loan from the Welsh Government, with the Department for Transport and Network Rail providing a further £17m to deliver signalling upgrades and track renewal.  Work on the line has taken place throughout the year, including the construction of two new platforms at Newbridge and Llanhilleth stations this spring, the installation of new signal posts, and track work in various locations along the route.

Nick Millington, Network Rail's route director for Wales and Borders said: “I’m delighted that we are now entering the final phase of work which will transform how passengers travel on the Ebbw Vale line.

“We are proud to provide low carbon journeys and support Welsh Government ambitions including its modal shift away from private cars. It will also help connect communities and boost the local economy.

“I’d like to again thank passengers and our neighbours for continuing to bear with us as we complete these vital improvements.”

Colin Lea, Transport for Wales performance and planning director said: “We’re pleased to see the Ebbw Vale line improvements reaching their final phase. This will provide two trains an hour all the way to Ebbw Vale Town, half to Cardiff and half to Newport.

“We’d like to thank customers for being patient while our partners at Network Rail have been delivering the work over the last 18 months.

“While these last bits of engineering work take place there will be road replacement services in operation and customers should check their journeys before travelling.”

Passengers are advised to check www.tfw.wales or www.nationalrail.co.uk before travelling from Monday 11 December, as the introduction of new services will mean that a new timetable will be in place.

28th September 2023


TRANSPORT FOR WALES

One bus ticket for the whole of North Wales extended​

The 1Bws ticket available for bus services across North Wales now offers a one price weekly ticket as well as daily.


The 1Bws ticket is a partnership project between the six local authorities and 27 local bus operators, and offers customers the opportunity to pay one price and travel on nearly 200 routes across North Wales, using tap on tap off technology or with a ticket bought on board.

This month, to celebrate ‘catch the bus month’, TfW and partners have extended the offer so customers can now also pay one price and travel for a week.

A weekly 1Bws ticket costs £28 for adults and £19 for children and concessionary pass holders.

A daily adult ticket costs £6.50, a child’s ticket (or young person with a My Travel Pass) is £4.50 and holders of English and Scottish concessionary bus passes also pay £4.50.

A daily family ticket is available for just £14.20.

1Bws ticketing whether daily or weekly, enables customers to travel throughout Anglesey, Gwynedd, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham using multiple bus operators.

Lee Robinson, TfW Director for Mid, North and Rural Wales said: “At TfW we are working hard to improve our public transport network and we’d like to encourage people to leave their car and opt to use more sustainable forms of transport.

“The 1Bws project is a collaboration between TfW, local bus operators and local authorities and provides customers with the opportunity to pay one price and use as many buses as they need to travel throughout North Wales. We’re excited that we now offer a weekly as well as daily ticket option, which provides value for money and a great alternative to using the private car.”

1Bws is valid on all local bus services operating in North Wales (the counties of Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey and Wrexham) with the exception of service 28 between Mold and Flint.

It is also not valid on tourist services operated by open top buses, on National Express coach services and park and ride services.

For more information visit Use the 1Bws ticket in North Wales - Transport for Wales (traws.cymru)

29th September 2023



NetworkRail:

Network Rail thanks passengers after work in 170-year-old Dinmore Tunnel is completed between Hereford and Shrewsbury​

Region & Route: Wales & Western: Wales & Borders


Network Rail is thanking passengers for their patience and understanding today after the completion of work to renew the track inside the historic Dinmore Tunnel on the Marches line.

A planned reduced service had been operating on the line between Newport and Shrewsbury since the evening of Saturday 23 September, following 11 days of round-the-clock work during a temporary closure of the line between Hereford and Shrewsbury.

The line fully reopened this morning (Friday 29 September) after engineers finished their work to replace the track, drainage and ballast in the London-bound side of the tunnel, which was built in 1853.

A team of 450 staff worked a total of 16,600 hours to replace 1,016 metres of track, 1,217 metres of drainage and 4,333 tonnes of ballast – the stones that support the track.

The new track will boost reliability of journeys on the Marches line – an important rail link that connects South Wales to the Midlands and beyond.

Network Rail project director Brian Paynter said: “We would like to thank our passengers for their patience and understanding while this essential work took place.

“Unfortunately, the line between Hereford and Shrewsbury was closed for longer than planned when work near the tunnel overran on the 22 and 23 September and we would like to apologise for the additional disruption this caused.

“We’d also like to thank our lineside neighbours for their patience while we worked close to their homes around the clock to safely complete the track renewal, which will secure the future of this vital transport link.

“The next time we return to renew this stretch of track, we expect it to be around the tunnel’s 200th anniversary in 2053.”

Follow-up work in the tunnel will take place on Saturday nights between 30 September and 19 November, which includes using engineering trains to consolidate the new track stone.

29th September 2023

New research sheds light on first passenger steam locomotive​

Early railway experts Dr Michael Bailey and Peter Davidson have revealed new information about the first steam locomotive to carry passengers on a public railway.

Their research into one of the world's most recognisable steam engines, Locomotion, is the most definitive archival and mechanical study of the locomotive.

The report is 225 pages long, and has 399 notes and references, and provides the first full account of Locomotion's history in operation and in preservation.

The National Railway Museum, which owns the locomotive, commissioned the research and published it on Wednesday (27 September), the 198th anniversary of the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, when the loco set off from Shildon to haul the Railway's first train.

The locomotive was introduced in 1825, one of five original Stephenson-built locos to work on the Stockton and Darlington Railway.

It was withdrawn from service in 1841 and was valued at £100.

The Stockton and Darlington Railway first considered preserving Locomotion in 1856, as the report states: ‘The Directors of the Stockton and Darlington Railway have determined to preserve their No 1 Locomotive Engine, the first to run on a public railway, and have accordingly appropriated for the purpose a piece of ground in front of the station, at Darlington, where it will be placed on a pedestal…'.

In 1857, Locomotion became the first engine in the world to be preserved. It was followed by other, sometimes earlier, locos entering national collections.

Michael and Peter have worked with nine early locomotives over the last thirty years.

The report reveals that the locomotive on display today contains no identifiable parts dating back to 1825.

However, its boiler barrel dates from 1827 and was originally from sister locomotive Diligence, making it the world's oldest known standard-gauge boiler in existence today.

Like many working steam engines, Locomotion's parts were replaced over the years, but it seems to have been substantially rebuilt several times, and to have had four distinct phases.

The last of these, which began in 1856/57, is how the locomotive appears today.

While resembling its original appearance, there had been several changes, including to its flue, chimney and boiler endplates.

Its distinctive parallel motion was added at this point.

Locomotion's original name was ‘Active', and it acquired its number in 1827.

It was renamed Locomotion in summer 1833, which is likely to be when it acquired cast nameplates on each side of the boiler.

The brass nameplates that it has now were added later.

The report also examines:

• the quality of wrought iron used, based on independent metallurgical analysis
• every mechanical component of the loco
• archive material about Locomotion's operation and performance.

It includes the first definitive list of drivers and some firemen known to have worked on Locomotion.

It is hoped that further research will identify living relatives of those workers.

One driver was John Cree,who was killed in 1828 when the loco's boiler flue collapsed.

This was the third serious accident involving the early locomotives within seven months.

The report records every location that the loco visited in preservation.

Its journeys included trips to Chicago in 1883, where it acquired its bell, and Paris.

It was displayed at Liverpool, Newcastle, Edinburgh, York, Manchester, London, Darlington and Shildon.

However, the report reveals that there is no record of Locomotion attending the 1876 centennial event in Philadelphia, USA, which it was previously thought to have done.

Michael has previously investigated other historically significant early locomotives such as Rocket, Hetton Lyon, and Killingworth Billy.

He has worked with Peter on many of these projects.

Dr Michael Bailey said: “This study reveals that Locomotion played a full and successful pioneering role in the creation of the world's railway system. Until now our knowledge of Locomotion's story has been dictated by the appearance of the artefact itself and by the writings of Victorian historians seeking to provide their readership with stories they wished to read without the detail of its actual life experiences.

“Locomotion remains an icon of locomotive history and is the early locomotive form that is instantly recognisable today. We hope that railway curators and historians will find these results informative for a locomotive that is about to begin its third century of existence.”

Sarah Price, Head of Locomotion, said: “LOCOMOTION has become an important symbol of enterprise, engineering and innovation at a time when railways were very much a developing technology. It is incredibly important to the people of the north east as a link to our railway heritage. This research adds to our shared knowledge of LOCOMOTION and the Stockton and Darlington Railway as we prepare to celebrate the bicentenary in 2025. I would like to thank Michael and Peter for their work to produce this thorough and comprehensive research.”

As the bicentenary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway approaches, the rail industry has confirmed that it will run a programme throughout 2025 to mark the occasion.

‘Railway 200' will examine the huge impact of railways and train travel, and will focus on the future and inspiring the next generation.

As a national public engagement programme, it will include a wide variety of activities, initiatives, partnerships and merchandise.

Further information can be found here.

Railway 200 is also working with Stockton & Darlington Bicentenary Festival (S&DR200) to stage a nine-month international festival developed locally.

Stockton-on-Tees, Darlington and Durham County Councils are planning events.

30th September 2023

Flying Scotsman involved in shunting incident at Strathspey Railway​

Flying Scotsman has been involved in a shunting incident at the Strathspey Railway in Aviemore, Scotland.

The incident took place around 18:15 today, 29th September, when the A3 locomotive was being coupled to the Royal Scotsman carriages.

According to emergency service statements, two people have been taken to hospital, their injuries are not thought to be serious, and three others have been treated at the scene.

ScotRail has resumed services after having cancelled them earlier this evening as it is away from the mainline network.

The Strathspey Railway has said that this weekend's services are cancelled, with refunds being processed.

A spokesperson from the Strathspey Railway said “We can confirm that on Friday 29th September at 18:15, a shunting incident occurred when the Flying Scotsman locomotive was being coupled with Belmond's Royal Scotsman train carriages, which were stationary on heritage railway line, Strathspey Railway. Flying Scotsman was visiting the railway as part of a planned excursion. Emergency services attended the site to provide assistance. Two people are attending hospital with others being treated at the scene. Appropriate authorities were notified immediately, and we are co-operating with their investigations.”

A spokesperson for the National Railway Museum, who own Flying Scotsman, has said “We can confirm that steam locomotive Flying Scotsman has been involved in a shunting incident at Aviemore Station. We will provide further information once more details are known.”

A spokesperson for Police Scotland has released an updated statement, saying “At around 7pm on Friday, 29 September, 2023, we received a report of two trains colliding at low speed at Aviemore Railway Station. As a precaution, two people – a man and a woman – were taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness by the Scottish Ambulance Service for treatment. Their injuries are not believed to be serious. A number of other passengers were assessed by the ambulance service at the scene and did not require hospital treatment. Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.”

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have also released a statement saying “We were alerted at 7.10pm on Friday to reports of a collision involving two trains at Aviemore Railway Station. We sent eight appliances to the scene, where firefighters worked to support partners.”

30th September 2023

Heritage railway pub earns listing in Good Beer Guide 2024​

The selection and quality of beers on offer at The King and Castle pub and restaurant, based at the Severn Valley Railway's Kidderminster station, has been rewarded with a listing in the Good Beer Guide 2024 issued by CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale.

The 2024 edition of the guide was issued on Thursday, 28 September, and by securing a listing in the hallowed pages of the beer-drinkers bible recognises The King and Castle as one of the best pubs in the country, especially as it was chosen by independent consumers.

The pub's menu has recently updated and now includes basket meals and Sunday lunches.

Its inclusion in the pub was largely down to its range of real ales supplied by a range of local brewers, including Bewdley Brewery, Hobsons, Bathams, and Brew 61.

On the non-food side, the pub is now staging fortnightly quiz nights, with the next one taking place next Tuesday, 3 October.

Although The King and Castle is already a well-known Kidderminster pub, by being listed in the CAMRA Guide 2024 will give an extra boost to the pub, which is enjoying a welcome resurgence in popularity.

As manager Paul Corner explained: “Being in the Good Beer Guide gives us an opportunity to be highlighted to a wider range of people who are interested in high quality real ale.

Manager Paul Corner explained: “Like many pubs, we struggled post-Covid, but now we're really seeing things pick up again. Local trade is also really important to us, and we're getting great support from our regulars. I'm feeling excited about the future, and looking forward to a very busy time leading up to Christmas this year.

“The King and Castle is fortunate in its location, as part of the Severn Valley Railway. Our local trade is added to every week by people coming to travel on the heritage line. Right now, we're in the middle of the Autumn Diesel Bash, which is bringing lots of people, many of whom are very keen to sample real ales that are local to this area.”

30th September 2023

Florida Expo to feature California electric train from Stadler​

Next month, Stadler and Caltrain will be showcasing Stadler's new electric multiple unit (EMU) vehicle for the San Francisco Bay Area at APTA EXPO in Orlando, Florida.

APTA EXPO is a premier event for the public transportation industry that provides a platform where suppliers and customers can exchange ideas and information.

Caltrain is a commuter rail line that serves the San Francisco Peninsula and Santa Clara Valley in California.

Caltrain has ordered 23 of the seven-car units from Stadler and has recently added a bi-level battery-powered EMU to the fleet in production.

The vehicles are intended to replace Caltrain's diesel-powered fleet in autumn next year on the route between San Francisco and San Jose.

The EMUs are being built at Stadler's US headquarters in Salt Lake City.

Four vehicles have already been completed, and are undergoing testing on the Caltrain network.

Stadler bi-level EMUs have been proven in use in both Europe and elsewhere for several decades.

This is the first time that they will see service in the United States.

Commonly referred to as the KISS, which is the German abbreviation for Comfortable, Innovative, Fast, Regional Train, the new units combine high performance with high passenger capacity, and will allow a faster and more frequent service to solve the problem of a rapidly growing ridership.

They have seating for around 600 passengers and standing room for additional riders.

The seats are fitted with power sockets, digital passenger information displays real-time journey information, and each train is equipped with a toilet.

The new trains will form the bases for California's first modern, electrified railway which is a transformational project that is creating jobs across the USA, will combat climate change, and significantly improve service for users.

With their associated infrastructure the trains represent a keystone in California's transit and sustainability future, and is a critical component of the state's future high-speed rail system as the two systems will share a corridor.

The electrification lays the foundation for Caltrain's 2040 Service Vision that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 110 metric tons every day, and support tripling the number of users to 180,000 passengers every weekday, which equates to adding 5.5 new freeway lanes to US Highway 101.

Caltrain's new EMU will be exhibited at Stadler's booth #1340 on the show floor at APTA EXPO, and will officially unveiled at a vehicle presentation on Monday, Oct. 9th at 1:30 pm.

It will be open for visitors to tour during EXPO hours from Monday, 9 October to Wednesday, 11 October.

Just two months ago Stadler announced it had secured an order from Austria for 35 of its KISS double-decker trains.

30th September 2023

New Items for ETHNON RAIL

Popped to my local model train shop.

I wanted some paints but Cleo wanted a windmill.

I looked at a kit which needed to be built and painted.

The shopkeeper suggested a Hornby one.

Cleo said it would save her a job, so I bought it.

I also picked up some 250ml paint tester tins which were mixed for me in the paint shop.

Dulux 2030Y40R = GWR light stone No.1

Dulux 4030Y70R = GWR dark stone No.3

1st October 2023

Sorry No Posts Today!
Away at the wresting!

2nd October 2023


TRANSPORT FOR WALES

More than half a million take the train to the seaside​

Customers have been flocking to the seaside by train across Wales this summer according to new figures this week.


Barmouth, Barry Island, Tenby and Llandudno all saw a significant rise in customers traveling on Transport for Wales services in July and August, despite the changeable conditions.

Llandudno was the top single destination for the summer with 65,046 people visiting the town.

This summer, the Cambrian Coast line saw the return of four-carriage for the first time in six-years thanks to a collaboration between Transport for Wales and Network Rail.

As a result, the Cambrian Coast saw a 16% rise in journeys with 106,000 people traveling to key destinations on the line, up from 90,000 last summer.

Pwllheli at the north end of the Cambrian line saw a huge 63% rise in customers while Flint on the North Wales Coast saw a 58% rise against summer 2022.

Network Rail’s Performance and transformation director for Wales Gwyn Rees is a Director of the Cambrian Local Railway Partnership.

He said: “Wales is blessed with some of the best seaside and coastal destinations in the world so it’s great to see people jumping on the train to take advantage of that.

“On the Cambrian line we worked hard to ensure four carriage trains could run up the coast where we know people want to be traveling.”

Barmouth saw a rise from 30,786 in summer 2022 to 34,452 this summer, while Aberystwyth welcomed 36,121 compared to 32,857 the previous year.

Down in south Wales, Barry Island saw 57,015 travel in by train and Tenby welcomed 19,809.

Transport for Wales Planning and Performance Director Colin Lea said: “As a rail operator we play a massive part in getting people off for their holidays and days out. We know that being able to run good, reliable services to these key destinations is vital for the growth of those local economies.

“On the Cambrian line we have some breathtakingly beautiful spots and the four-car operation has allowed more people to take full advantage of those.”

2nd October 2023



NetworkRail:

Network Rail celebrates World Habitat Day with biodiversity bonanza for rare butterfly​

Region & Route: Wales & Western: Western


This World Habitat Day (Monday 2 October), Network Rail is celebrating a partnership with Natural England and Somerset Wildlife Trust that’s working to restore and enhance the habitat for a rare butterfly, the Large Blue, at Welham Cutting in Somerset.

Large Blue butterflies were declared extinct in the UK in 1979 but were successfully reintroduced at a handful of sites across the south of England during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

They particularly thrive in grassland habitats like Green Down, which is adjacent to Welham Cutting and part of East Polden Grasslands Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Successful habitat management for the Large Blue involves providing suitable conditions for their unique lifecycle.

The caterpillars feed on wild thyme and marjoram, which are vital for supporting the species.

These caterpillars are then carried away by a specific species of red ant that mistake them for grubs and take them to their nest.

The caterpillars feed on the ant grubs in the nest until they are big enough and turn into a chrysalis.

One of the main priorities for supporting the Large Blue population is ensuring that these ant nests are at a suitable temperature.

Network Rail has removed 40 ash trees on the rail embankment at Welham Cutting, as they were casting heavy shade across the grassland and reducing the temperature inside the ant burrows, negatively impacting the lifecycle of the Large Blue.

The limited sunlight also affected the butterfly’s habitat quality, by reducing the number of flowering plants and insects.

Many of the trees had ash dieback disease, so their removal also improved safety on the railway line and enabled easier maintenance of the infrastructure.

WATCH: VIDEO
To watch video click this link: https://fast.wistia.net/embed/iframe/xs85dixf0x

Angharad Owen, Network Rail environment manager, said: “We have worked with a number of different stakeholders including Somerset Wildlife Trust, Natural England, and Large Blue Partnership to ensure that the habitat at East Polden will remain viable for these rare butterflies for years to come and I’d like to thank them for their efforts.

“Any work that takes place at the site has to factor in a number of other environmental considerations, owing to the potential presence of protected species such as dormice and great crested newts, as well as the Large Blue. The location of the site also posed a number of challenges, with steep embankment sides. Together with our partners we have overcome these ecological and logistical challenges in a way that will benefit wildlife in the area into the future.”

Mark Green, of Somerset Wildlife Trust, said: “We’re pleased that Network Rail has felled a section of ash trees along the railway adjacent to our Green Down nature reserve, which is home to a wonderful variety of plants, insects and birds, including the globally threatened Large Blue butterfly.

“The tall trees were casting a heavy shade on an area of herb-rich, chalky grassland, with the effect of reducing plant and invertebrate species diversity in the vicinity. The reduction of the shading will enable the grassland to recover to a more optimal condition.

“The work has been the result of a collaboration between Network Rail, Somerset Wildlife Trust, Natural England, Habitat Designs (ecologists with expertise in Large Blue butterfly conservation), and Ground Control, who carried out the felling, and is an example of how a partnership approach and carefully considered vegetation management can enhance biodiversity along the rail network.”

To find out more about what Network Rail is doing to support biodiversity on the railway, visit www.networkrail.co.uk/sustainability/biodiversity-on-britains-railway/

2nd October 2023

Flying Scotsman: York railway museum releases update statement after shunting incident​

The National Railway Museum in York has released an update after the shunting incident at the Strathspey Railway last week involving Flying Scotsman.

The NRM says that following the incident, as is standard procedure, they have begun an investigation to find out exactly what happened.

An investigation is now underway to find out if any damage has been caused to the locomotive, with the museum saying that a further announcement regarding the running calendar will be made as soon as the investigation is complete.

The RAIB has been notified about the incident, who released a statement saying “The RAIB is aware of the accident at Aviemore that occurred over the weekend. We are reviewing available evidence and deciding what further action to take.”

In their full statement, the National Railway Museum said “Following the shunting incident involving Flying Scotsman and the Royal Scotsman train carriages at Strathspey Railway on Friday 29 September, immediate action was taken by teams on the ground to alert the emergency services and prepare for a full investigation of the incident.

Standard procedures are being followed to assess what happened during the incident and inspections are taking place by an independent investigator on behalf of Strathspey Railway, and the NRM's collections and rail operations teams. In addition, the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has been notified.

The museum's aim is to understand what happened and to determine if there is any damage to Flying Scotsman as its owner.

We will make further announcements about Flying Scotsman's operating calendar and future dates, once investigations are complete.

The National Railway Museum wishes to thank the emergency services who attended the scene on Friday for their prompt response and to the staff and crew of the Strathspey Railway and the Royal Scotsman train.”

2nd October 2023

Video shows Northern train using water to clear fallen leaves​

To solve problems with trains braking during the autumn leaf-fall season, Northern is testing cutting-edge technology that blasts leaves from the path of its trains.

Significant disruption and delays to services is often caused to services by leaves falling on railway lines.

This is because the leaves stick to damp rails and are compressed by passing trains into a smooth, slippery layer, which reduces the grip of trains' wheels on the rails.

WATCH: VIDEO

FIRST LOOK: GoPro footage shows water technology fitted underneath Northern passenger train​

FIRST LOOK: GoPro footage shows water technology fitted underneath Northern passenger train

New footage has been released by Northern showing the cutting-edge technology they are testing that blasts leaves from the path of their trains. Fallen leav...

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New footage has been released by Northern showing the cutting-edge technology they are testing that blasts leaves from the path of their trains.

Fallen leaves can cause significant disruption to the network.

Leaves stick to damp rails and passing trains compress them into a smooth, slippery layer, reducing trains’ grip.

This can cause delays to services, which lead to disruption for passengers.

But Northern has partnered with top engineers and experts to trial what they are calling ‘rail head treatment technology’ this autumn that is attached to the undercarriage of passenger trains and could save the rail industry millions of pounds every year.

The technology – called Water-Trak - discovered that leaf-coated rails only become slippery if damp, noting that trains still stop safely in heavy rain.

Water-Trak simply creates rainy-day conditions on the rail surface by spraying a small amount of water from the train onto the track when a slippery rail is detected.

As a solution to the problem, this autumn Northern has partnered with top engineers and experts to test what rail head treatment technology that is fixed to the undercarriage of passenger trains.

If the solution proves practical it could save the rail industry millions of pounds each year.

The technology is called Water-Trak and was developed after it was discovered that leaf-coated rails only become slippery if they are damp, as it was found that trains can still stop safely during heavy rain.

Water-Trak works by simply creating conditions that replace those found during rainy-days.

Water-Trak does this by when it detects a slippery rail is, a small amount of water is sprayed from the train onto the surface of the track., which cleans the rail and improves braking conditions for the train.

Leaves on most railway lines are currently cleaned by running special trains called Rail Head Treatment Trains (RHTTs), which between September and December travel regularly over the main parts of the railway network to treat the rails.

However, these trains are unable to treat the whole of the British rail network as there are only a limited number of these trains available.

In consequence, these trains are mainly used to treat lines carrying a lot of traffic, such as intercity lines. Inevitably, lines with little traffic such as rural and branch lines often remain untreated.

These lines would therefore greatly benefit from the installation of Water-Trak to more trains.

Network Rail's Performance Innovation Fund is providing funding for the trials, and this autumn five Northern trains have been fitted with Water-Trak and are operating between Liverpool, Wigan, and Manchester, and between Leeds, Harrogate, and York.

Eleven more trains should have been fitted with the Water-Trak system by next autumn.

Northern first tested the technology in 2021 when two of its Class 319s were fitted with the system and last autumn when 16 of its Class 170s were also fitted.

Rob Cummings, seasonal performance improvement manager at Northern, said: “We're pleased to be working with Water-Trak to try and provide a better, more reliable service in tricky autumn conditions.

“This is the next stage of this trial that we hope will take us closer to our goal.”

John Cooke, co-founder at Water-Trak, said: “Slippery rails are a massive problem for the rail industry, and we hope to play a big part in resolving this issue.

“We're hoping that by working with Northern we can make autumn disruption a thing of the past.”

2nd October 2023

Pendolino named Asquith Xavier after guard who beat ‘whites-only’ policy​

Avanti West Coast has named Pendolino 390103 after Asquith Xavier, a Black guard who fought the railway's ‘colour bar' in the 1960s.

The locomotive's nameplate was officially unveiled on September 28 at London's Euston station.

There is already a plaque in Chatham station paying tribute to Asquith, who lived locally, which was unveiled in 2020.

In 1966, after a lengthy battle and with the support of the National Union of Railwaymen (NUR), Asquith became the first Black guard to work from Euston Station, after successfully fighting a decision not to employ him because of his colour.

Back then, it was lawful to refuse to employ an individual on the grounds of their race, but Asquith's case helped to bring about an amendment to the Race Relations Act in 1968, which made it unlawful.

Asquith arrived in the UK from the Caribbean island of Dominica in 1956, and worked at Marylebone station before applying for the job at Euston.

Designers at Avanti West Coast consulted with Asquith's family on the train nameplate which captures him at work as a train guard.

Taking part in the unveiling were members of Asquith's family and representatives from the train operator, Network Rail and the RMT union (successor to the NUR).