Marcus' Model Railway Journey

14th October 2023

Steam locomotive preservation group granted charity status​

New life was breathed into efforts to restore ex-Great Western Railway light prairie steam locomotive No. 4566 in May when the 4566 Preservation Group was officially granted charity status.

The Group was formed in the preservation fervour of 1968, and has now been resurrected with it officially becoming a charity. At the moment 4566 is in The Engine House Visitor Centre at Highley but the group's ambitious plans mean it will need to move out from there.

A boost to the Group's fundraising has come from a collaboration with the Kidderminster recycling company AG Recycling which is allowing supporters to drop off scrap metal at their premises at Finepoint Way in Kidderminster and ask for the proceeds to be paid directly to the 4566 Preservation Group.

Two can-recycling bins have also been installed at Kidderminster Town station to provide further contributions to the fund.

Trustee Sheena Strevens said: “A new board of trustees has been formed with current or former SVR volunteers from diverse departments bringing a wealth of experience. Three are original team members and another trio has deep ties to the successful ‘Friends of Hagley Hall' project. Now with a presence on social media, the group are promoting both the project and the wider SVR.

“The urgent need to support the SVR with the costs of an overhaul of 4566 has prompted the group to set an ambitious fundraising target of £500,000, and both one-off donations and regular giving can be set up at 4566.org.uk .

“We kicked off with a sales stand raising more than £4,000 over the spring and autumn steam galas. The momentum will continue at the upcoming Winter Steam Gala, with a treasure trove of goodies and rare pieces for enthusiasts!”

Sheena added: “It's not just about reliving the past; it's about preserving it too. We will focus on both the restoration of the locomotive and educating future generations, for whom free-to-print educational resources will soon to be available on the website. Get ready for a ride through time as this group starts out towards its £500,000 goal, fuelled by community support and a shared love for the railways.”

14th October 2023

Inside The Train Shed

Continuing with the work on the platforms.

Platform 1 has had the ramps cut at either end and a coat of paint applied on it's bottom surface and the ramp ends to seal the MDF.

Due to the points from platform 1 to the goods shed and the goods bay on the other side of platform 1, the MDF section has to be shaped for clearance to accommodate LWB rolling stock.

I've chosen a MK3 coach, though it's use of the good shed and bay is pretty unlikely.

But you never know if a LWB freight would ever be needed.

To get the basic shape, a piece of paper is laid over the trackwork and the edges of the track is marked on the paper.

The marked out area is cut out from the paper to form a template.

Platform 1 section laid on top of the track to show the reason for the shaping of the ramp area requirement.

The end of a MK3 coach can be seen.

The template is used to mark the rough area of the required shape.

Here's the platform after its first rough cut.

The SE ramp section of platform 1 has been shaped for clearance for LWB rolling stock, it will have to be checked for clearance using locomotives as well.

IRL locomotives were known to have had their piston cylinders scraped by platforms where running clearance checks had not been carried out.

It's actually a requirement IRL that locomotives, that have not been used on a particular route, have a physical clearance route check before being put into service on that route.

A view of the track, from between the mainlines, looking NW.

A view of the track, from between the mainlines, looking SE.

15th October 2023

Transport for Wales seeks views on station plans as well as additional rail services​

Five new stations could be built in South East Wales and new rail services introduced, provided funding is made available.

The public is being invited to comment on the proposals.

Transport for Wales (TfW) is keen to seek feedback on designs for potential new stations at Cardiff East, Newport West, Somerton, Llanwern and Magor and Undy, especially what facilities people would like to see at each station.

TfW is also seeking views on new train services between Cardiff, Bristol and Cheltenham Spa.

Stations could see up to four trains per hour, along with increased frequencies at existing stations.

The services proposed include one TfW train per hour between Cardiff, Newport and Cheltenham Spa, which will call all stations.

An additional one train per hour service between Cardiff, Newport and Cheltenham Spa, calling all stations.

A 30-minute interval service between Cardiff, Newport and Bristol Temple Meads calling at all stations will be introduced to complement the existing two trains per hour ‘fast' services.

The proposals have been developed with funding from the UK Government, part of the Union Connectivity Review. Funding for the consultation has been provided by the Welsh Government.

Further funding needs to be secured to continue the development and delivery of the final plans.

If that funding becomes available, new opportunities will be unlocked for direct local and cross-border travel between both sides of the Severn.

The proposals are the backbone to key recommendations of the South East Wales Transport Commission, delivered as part of the South Wales Mainline Programme.

TfW is hosting a range of drop-in events, to allowing the public opportunities to discuss the designs and service proposals with the project teams behind them.

These include:
Somerton station at Lliswery Baptist Church on 23 October, 13:00 – 19:30
Llanwern station at Llanwern Village Hall on 24 October, 12:00 – 19:30
Cardiff East (Newport Road) station at St Peters Rugby Football Club on 26 October 2023, 12:00 – 19:30
Newport West station at Maes Glas Community Centre on 6 November, 12:00 – 19:30
Llanwern station at Glan Llyn Primary School on 7 November, 16:45 – 18:30
Magor and Undy station at Magor and Undy Community Hub on 9 November, 12:00 – 19:30

The consultation is also available on: Haveyoursay.tfw.wales/sew-new-stations-and-services

Geoff Ogden, Chief Transport Planning and Development Officer, said: “Our vision for Wales is one in which we all have more opportunities to live healthier and happier lives. For us, unlocking the capability of the South Wales mainline is key to changing how people travel in the region. We're proud to share our proposals for five new stations between Cardiff Central and Severn Tunnel Junction that together with the new services will offer more people the opportunity to travel on the railway.

15th October 2023

Stadler wins order for more hydrogen trains for California​

Stadler has signed an agreement with the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) and Caltrans to supply four state-of-the-art hydrogen-powered trains as a step towards creating a sustainable, emissions-free future for the state.

The agreement also has an option for the provision of an additional 25 train sets and follows Stadler's agreement with the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) for North America's first hydrogen-powered train, which was unveiled at InnoTrans 2022 and at APTA EXPO 2023 in Florida earlier this year.

When they went on display, the new train captured the attention of industry partners, transit agencies, rail enthusiasts, and environmental advocates.

After extensive testing in Switzerland and the USA, it was proved that the train had exceptional performance and reliability, which led to the decision by CalSTA and Caltrans to sign the new agreement with Stadler.

The latest contract further develops the SBCTA model with a train offering an increased capacity, which reinforces Caltran's unwavering commitment to investment in cutting-edge technology to help California meet its ambitious zero-emission target for rail transport.

With California making large investments in rail transport, the deployment of these hydrogen trains across the state marks a revolution in the rail industry as they make significant reductions in carbon emissions helping the drive for California's commitment to a zero-emission rail network.

That will build on Stadler's innovative technology and its unrivalled expertise in alternative drives where the company is at the forefront of sustainable transportation solutions.

Stadler's ground-breaking partnership with the Californian authorities will make a lasting impact on the environment and the future of rail transportation.

Ansgar Brockmeyer, EVP of Marketing and Sales, Stadler Group, said “Stadler's goal is to help make travel in North America environmentally friendly through the vehicles and services we provide. Only very few rail lines in the US are electrified, which is why solutions like the FLIRT H2 are so important here.”

Martin Ritter, CEO Stadler US said “Our design of the battery fuel cell train is changing the US rolling stock industry for alternative propulsion systems, combining the typical Stadler top quality and reliability. We're driving innovation that's not just transforming railways, but the very essence of sustainable transportation in America.

“This contract is a testament to our relentless pursuit of sustainable, eco-friendly transportation solutions, and we are thrilled to play a pivotal role in California's journey towards a cleaner, greener future.”

15th October 2023

Rare public appearance made by steam locomotive No. 686 ‘The Lady Armaghdale’ for 125th Anniversary​

The six-coupled side tank locomotive was displayed at Kidderminster Town station on Saturday the 7th of October​

Hunslet Works No 686 ‘The Lady Armaghdale' is the oldest engine at the Severn Valley Railway and has recently made a rare public appearance at Kidderminster Town station.

The special appearance took place between 1pm and 3pm on Saturday the 7th of October with locomotive owners, The Warwickshire Industrial Locomotive Preservation Trust present to discuss the loco's history alongside cutting a birthday cake to mark the special occasion.

Following the display at Kidderminster Town station, the locomotive was returned to the Severn Valley Railways' Autumn Steam Gala, where a ceremony was carried out on the dock platform.

The stunning little locomotive was built by Hunslet of Leeds for the Manchester Ship Canal where it worked for 65 years. In 1963, the locomotive moved to ICI in Manchester, where it took on the name of ‘The Lady Armaghdale' prior to moving into preservation at the Severn Valley Railway in 1969.

Nigel Cripps, Chair of the Warwickshire Industrial Locomotive Preservation Trust, said: “The ‘Lady Armaghdale' isn't historically very significant, but its life story is much more interesting. During its life it has changed gender four times, had three owners and has twice escaped the scrapyard. In preservation, it is well-travelled, having visited the continent on three occasions on ‘Thomas' duties.”

“The birthday event for Lady Armaghdale created a lot of interest. We used the Shrewsbury observation saloon (ex-WR inspection saloon 80972) serviced by staff from the King and Castle, which was very successful. David Cooke, secretary of the predecessor group founded in 1966, cut the cake… or more accurately, what was left of it. Earlier, one of our members brought his one-year-old twin daughters, and they refused to go home without some of the cake to share with their mum!”

15th October 2023

Severn Valley DMU Group launches fundraiser in a bid to return Diesel Multiple Unit to traffic next month!​

The two-car unit could be back in service in November at the Severn Valley Railway as huge progress is made on its overhaul​

The DMU Group (West Midlands) has revealed it is launching a fundraiser in a bid to see a two-car DMU return to service in November at the Severn Valley Railway.

The plan by the charity has come about following impressive progress made on its overhaul, which has seen work on door locks, bogies and engines undertaken.

James Cooper, chair of the DMU Group (West Midlands), said: “We have a staged plan to return the other three cars into traffic soon. We're therefore excited to announce a campaign which aims to raise £100,000 to cover all planned works to return the five-car unit to full working order, including a repaint of all the vehicles.”

“Each £10 donated can be worth up to £25 thanks to both a generous offer of matched funding from a supporter for the first £6,000 and Gift Aid, which can enhance donations by 25%. If you can support the fundraising in any way, please go to www.justgiving.com/campaign/svr-dmu .”

“Since then, a dedicated small team of volunteers have continuously been at work on the units. If you wish to learn more or join our membership, please visit www.svr-dmu.org.uk .”

The charity owns and operates two and three-car Class 108 DMU vehicles that can be combined to create a five-car train. Despite the current increase in fuel costs, the DMU is an important vehicle at the Severn Valley Railway as it offers excellent fuel economy whilst providing passenger capacity equivalent to that of six Mark 1 carriages.

The DMU also features further facilities to support passenger experience, including:

• Train Heating
• Disabled Access
• Toilets
• Bar Facilities
• Excellent panoramic views

The DMUs are the first-generation units which were first used by British Railways back in September 1958 until the last passenger service before closure which took place north of Bewdley, on the 8th of September, 8.30pm Hampton Loade to Snow Hill.

The DMUs truly offer an authentic line experience for those visiting the railway.

1991 To 2018 saw the DMU carry out regular rostered diesel turns at the Severn Valley Railway including some very well-loved services, including Fish and Chip trains, Christmas Carol trains and staff trains, alongside being part of the ever-popular SVR Diesel galas.

15th October 2023

Severn Valley Railway announces festive diesel date​

Severn Valley Railway (SVR) has announced that on Friday 29 December, it will hold a ‘diesel day' to help bring its year's activities to a close

The event will feature SVR's own locomotives, with two trains running, one hauled by 40106 ‘Atlantic Conveyor', the other by Class 46 D182 on the other, both providing steam heat.

The Railway plans for trains to be ‘top-and-tailed' with other locomotives during the day.

40106 is one of twenty class 40s which were built at Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns factory in Darlington.

The Class 46s, including D182, were built at British Rail's Derby Works between 1961 and 1963.

Standard fares will apply, with passengers able to use their free return tickets and vouchers.

This is the first time that SVR has run this event, so is hoping for a good turnout from visitors.

Further details will be announced on the SVR website.

15th October 2023

Brand new campaign and loyalty programme launched by Eurostar​

The "Together we go further" campaign brings together Eurostar and Thalys and sees brand new branding, website, app and loyalty scheme!​

The joining of Eurostar and Thalys has seen a new campaign launched marking the first stages of the merger and includes new branding, a new website, a new app and a new loyalty scheme.

The new Club Eurostar programme is the new loyalty programme launched by Eurostar and marks a joint loyalty scheme for members of MyThalysWorld and Club Eurostar.

The scheme will see more than 2.5 million members continue to enjoy the existing benefits of the programme alongside a new feature, which allows clients to earn points more quickly as part of the new scheme under its four statuses:

• Classique from 0 to 499 points
• Avantage from 500 to 2899 points
• Carte Blanche from 2900 to 4999 points
• Etoile from 5000 points.

The scheme sees 1 point earned for each euro/US dollar spent alongside 1.2 points for GBP.

The programme will also maintain its no hidden fees, no deadline and no taxes features.

As part of the company's new image, a new symbol and logo has been created which has been inspired by the North Star, which was the original train service connecting Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam.

The new design celebrates the very first Eurostar logo alongside a new company tagline ‘Together We Go Further” which marks the company's expanded network covering five countries.

Monday the 16th of October will also see Eurostar launch its latest advertising campaign, which will be rolled out across destinations in Europe.

As Eurostar and Thalys crossed European borders by high-speed train for the first time almost 30 years ago, this new campaign aims to capture the imagination of a new generation of business and leisure passengers.

The campaign will celebrate Eurostar's reinvention of the concept of sustainable travel in Europe in a fresh and visually stunning new animation/film and European advertising rollout.

Gwendoline Cazenave, CEO of Eurostar, said:

“Today, with our teams and for our customers, we are writing a new page in the history of high-speed rail travel in Europe. With Eurostar, our customers will have Europe at their fingertips. Our ambition is clear: more Europe for a unique and sustainable travel experience.”

François Le Doze, Chief Commercial Officer at Eurostar, said:

“Travel inspires us and renews our sense of creativity, which we wanted to bring to life in our new campaign. We wanted to create the feeling of excitement customers feel when they are about to embark on a journey to discover Europe. We have packed the commercial and OOH ads with hidden details for the public to enjoy and discover the more they revisit, in the same way we explore our destinations,” comments

Richard Brim, Chief Creative Officer at communication company adam&eveDDB, said:

“Travelling with Eurostar is always exciting — a way to open your eyes to new experiences and vibrant cultures. Our new campaign ‘Together we go further' visualises that excitement in a really engaging way — fusing real-life imagery with creative illustrations and animations that bring to life the unique character of the individual locations and of the brand as a whole.”.

15th October 2023

Inside The Train Shed

Today I cut the strips for platform 1.

The first to cut were the platform sides approximately 17mm in width.

Next cutting job was the strips of paving used for the edging.

16th October 2023


RAIB

News Story:​

Collision at Aviemore station, Strathspey Railway

Published: 16th October 2023

Investigation into a collision at Aviemore station on the Strathspey Railway, Highland, 29 September 2023.

At around 18:05 hrs on 29 September 2023, the steam locomotive ‘Flying Scotsman’ collided with a set of stationary passenger coaches at Aviemore station.

The collision occurred at approximately 7 mph (11 km/h).

The part of Aviemore station where the collision happened is operated by the Strathspey Railway, which is a heritage railway.

The collision resulted in injuries being caused to a number of passengers and staff, with one passenger and one member of staff being taken to hospital.

No rail vehicles derailed as a result of the accident, although some damage was caused to the vehicles involved.

Our investigation will seek to identify the sequence of events leading up to the accident.

It will also consider:

• the actions of those involved and anything that may have influenced them
• the management of the railway staff involved in the accident, including their training and competence
• the method of operation in use when the collision occurred and the policies and procedures in place for managing such operations
• the extent and type of any injuries and damage caused, and how they occurred
• any underlying management factors.

Our investigation is independent of any investigation by the railway industry or by the industry’s regulator, the  Office of Rail and Road.

We will publish our findings, including any recommendations to improve safety, at the conclusion of our investigation.

16th October 2023


TRANSPORT FOR WALES

Plans for five new railway stations in South East Wales and more cross-border services​

Transport for Wales’ ambitious plans to improve public transport move one step closer, with public consultation on designs for five new railway stations in South East Wales and new train services launched today.


Members of the public are being invited to share their views as part of a 13-week consultation which runs from today (16 October) to 14 January.

The consultation is available on: Haveyoursay.tfw.wales/sew-new-stations-and-services

Transport for Wales is looking for feedback on the designs of potential stations at Cardiff East, Newport West, Somerton, Llanwern and Magor and Undy, including the types of facilities that people would like to see at each station.

Members of the public are also being asked for their views on new train services between Cardiff, Bristol and Cheltenham Spa that could provide the new stations with up to four trains per hour and increase frequencies at existing local stations on the route.

If funded, the proposals will create new opportunities for direct local and cross-border travel on both sides of the Severn by public transport.

The proposals are key recommendations of the South East Wales Transport Commission, delivered as part of the South Wales Mainline Programme, which aims to greatly improve how people access and travel on the railway.

A series of drop-in events are being hosted by Transport for Wales, to allow members of the public opportunities to discuss the designs and service proposals with the project teams behind them.

These will take place on:

• Somerton station at Lliswery Baptist Church on 23 October, 13:00 – 19:30
• Llanwern station at Llanwern Village Hall on 24 October, 12:00 – 19:30
• Cardiff East (Newport Road) station at St Peters Rugby Football Club on 26 October 2023, 12:00 – 19:30
• Newport West station at Maes Glas Community Centre on 6 November, 12:00 – 19:30
• Llanwern station at Glan Llyn Primary School on 7 November, 16:45 – 18:30
• Magor and Undy station at Magor and Undy Community Hub on 9 November, 12:00 – 19:30

Geoff Ogden, Chief Transport Planning and Development Officer, said: “Our vision for Wales is one in which we all have more opportunities to live healthier and happier lives. For us, unlocking the capability of the South Wales mainline is key to changing how people travel in the region.

We’re proud to share our proposals for five new stations between Cardiff Central and Severn Tunnel Junction that together with the new services will offer more people the opportunity to travel on the railway.

We know that these designs will improve with public feedback. That’s why we’re asking people to share their thoughts.”

The proposals have been developed with funding from the UK Government, as part of the Union Connectivity Review.

Funding to deliver the consultation has been provided by the Welsh Government.

Further funding needs to be secured to continue the development of the work, and the delivery of the final assets.

In 2019, the South East Wales Transport Commission, chaired by Lord Burns, investigated sustainable ways to tackle congestion on the M4 in south-east Wales.

Lord Burns found many people do not have good transport alternatives to the motorway and significant new transport options were needed.

The South Wales Mainline Programme is a programme led by Transport for Wales to take forward plans for improvements to the South Wales Mainline.

More information can be found at: South Wales Mainline | Transport for Wales (tfw.wales)

Service proposals detail:

One train per hour TfW services between Cardiff, Newport and Cheltenham Spa, which will call all stations.

An additional one train per hour service between Cardiff, Newport and Cheltenham Spa, calling all stations.

A two trains per hour (30 min internal) service between Cardiff, Newport and Bristol Temple Meads calling all stations*.

This is in addition to existing two trains per hour ‘fast’ services.

(*except pilning)

Llanwern Aerial View

Cardiff East Street View

Cardiff East Aerial View

Somerton Street View

16th October 2023

Clun Castle steam locomotive to mark 60 years since its record-breaking run​

To celebrate 60 years since Castle Class No. 7029 Clun Castle achieved the then-fastest-ever non-stop run from Plymouth to Bristol in 133 minutes 9 seconds, with a top speed of 96 mph, next May the same locomotive will once again stretch its legs over the line.

This time the tour will take place over two days, starting on Friday, 10th May from Birmingham and travelling via Oxford and the Great Western Main Line via Bristol to Plymouth.

The return trip on Saturday, 11th May is from Plymouth via Bristol to London Paddington where a diesel locomotive will take over for the final leg to Birmingham.

The tour will provide a chance to be part of history as Clun Castle will be unassisted both ways over the Devon Banks and between Bristol and London Paddington, whilst the Restaurant Car will have a recreation of a menu from the 1964 tour.

The performance of Clun Castle on that epic run secured its place in history, and preservation at Tyseley where it is now operated by Vintage Trains

Clun Castle was the last member of the Castle Class to remain in service and on 27th November 1965 it hauled the final advertised steam-hauled train from London Paddington.

Next 11th May will be the first time since then that it has run to Paddington.

On that famous run in 1964, the crew of Clun Castle had not been notified that a speed restriction at the foot of Wellington Bank had been relaxed.

Had they been notified, the driver, Harry Roach, was convinced that he would have achieved the magic 100 mph.

Next May's tour starts at Birmingham Snow Hill, and picks up at Birmingham Moor Street, Widney Manor, Warwick Parkway, Banbury, Oxford, and Bristol.

Tickets can be booked online through Vintage Trains website at www.vintagetrains.co.uk, with Pullman dining at 450, First Class 325, and Tourist Class 250 and cover the rail travel only.

Passengers will responsible for making their own hotel arrangement in Plymouth.

A memory of the 1964 tour is that “as the train nears the summit at Whiteball the sensation is almost overpowering. The dining car attendants are serving tea but even the gourmands are finding it difficult to continue eating. Every seat is occupied with stopwatches, calculators, and speed tables on every hand as the scenery flashes by. Just before entering the portal the shadow of the engine cast by the western sun shows two plumes of steam still maintained after twenty-three long miles of climbing culminating in two miles at 1 in 115. The drop in speed is no more than 75 to 67 mph and they go over the summit with the lever at 25 per cent. As Clun Castle roars into the tunnel the light dims and the thunderous pandemonium of sounds makes it seem that this simply cannot last.”

16th October 2023

Inside The Train Shed - Well.....The Kitchen - Too cold in the shed today!

Today, the strips for platform 1 were given a coat of paint to get rid of the plastic shine.

17th October 2023

Model railway buildings benefit Welsh heritage narrow-gauge railway​

The Ffestiniog Railway was recently presented with a cheque for £1,500 from model railway manufacturer Bachmann Europe following the release of its Scenecraft models that depict Porthmadog Harbour Station.

Bachmann models based on Ffestiniog Railway locomotives are popular examples in its Narrow Gauge range, with in recent years the Ffestiniog Double Fairlies, Mainline Hunslets and Quarry Hunslet all being offered in OO9 scale.