Marcus' Model Railway Journey

Status
Not open for further replies.
11th December 2023
image.png

TRANSPORT FOR WALES

Sherpa’r Wyddfa shines at UK Bus Awards​

Transport for Wales (TfW) in partnership with Cyngor Gwynedd, Eryri National Park and Conwy County Borough Council have celebrated success for the revitalised Sherpa’r Wyddfa bus service at this year’s UK Bus Awards.

image.png

Sherpar-Wyddfa​

Sherpa’r Wyddfa relaunched in July last year offering more services and better integration for passengers travelling in Eryri National Park (Snowdonia) and received a silver award in the Buses for Leisure category at the UK Bus Awards in The Troxy, London on Tuesday 28 November.

The service was also highly commended as part of the Going for Growth category.

With thousands of visitors to Eryri National Park every year, Sherpa’r Wyddfa operated by Gwynfor Coaches, supports the national park socially, economically and environmentally by linking the main walking paths, car parks, villages, and attractions in the area.

TrawsCymru, fflecsi, rail and active travel also support the Sherpa service, linking Caernarfon, Porthmadog, Bangor and Betws-y-Coed, substantially reducing the number of vehicles in the area.

The new Sherpa’r Wyddfa service has delivered huge improvements by offering a regular service for over 12 hours of the day in peak times connecting directly to main rail stations, delivering a consistent cost approach for customers and a fresh re-branding that identifies with its surroundings and celebrates the Welsh language.

Following the rebrand and relaunch of the new and improved service, patronage has increased by 64% for April 2023, compared to April 2019 (pre COVID).

Lee Robinson, Executive Director for Regional Transport and Integration at Transport for Wales, said: “We’re incredibly proud of the success of the Sherpa’r Wyddfa service since its relaunch and to have this recognised at the UK Bus Awards is a testament to the hard work and collaboration between TfW, local authorities, the national park authority and the operator.

“Sherpa’r Wyddfa is an important part of the transport network in Eryri National Park and is key to our ambitions of driving sustainable tourism in an area which attracts thousands of visitors each year. Our partnership with Cyngor Gwynedd, Conwy County Borough Council, Eryri National Park and the operator Gwynfor Coaches has seen us improve the frequency, routes, and integration of the service, which has delivered better connections for communities in the national park as well as visitors to the area.

“I would like to extend my thanks to the team who’ve delivered the Sherpa’r Wyddfa service in such a short space of time and I’m looking forward to us building on this success in the coming years.”

Edward Jones, Head of Property at the National Park Authority said: "Receiving the prestigious Silver Award in the Buses for Leisure category is a testament to the value and impact of Sherpa'r Wyddfa in Eryri and also highlights the importance of working in partnership.

“This achievement not only celebrates sustainable transport but also our commitment towards providing visitors with alternative ways to visit Yr Wyddfa region and surrounding communities.”

Councillor Dafydd Meurig, Cyngor Gwynedd Cabinet Member for Environment said: “This recognition for the Sherpa’r Wyddfa shows what can be achieved when we work together to modernise a service to meet the needs of the customers.

“Cyngor Gwynedd’s transport team have work closely with our partners to transform the service. The new Sherpa’r Wyddfa combines journeys that enable Gwynedd residents to make important day-to-day journeys, with a useful travel resource for people visiting the area.

“Thanks to that careful planning, many more people are now making the most of an excellent network of bus services to transport them around Eryri in a sustainable way.”

Cllr Goronwy Edwards, Conwy County Borough Council Cabinet Member for Environment, Roads and Facilities - Infrastructure, said: “We’re delighted that the Sherpa bus has been recognised with this award at the UK Bus Awards. The Sherpa is an important service to the region and offers improved public transport access in Eryri National Park for visitors as well as the communities in the south of Conwy County.”

image.png
 
11th December 2023

York museum ‘carefully considering’ future operation of Flying Scotsman​

image.png

60103 Approaching Ramsbottom on March 18, 2023
The National Railway Museum has released a statement regarding the maintenance contract of world-famous steam locomotive 60103 Flying Scotsman.

Currently, Riley and Sons (E) Ltd in Lancashire are contracted to maintain the locomotive when it is out on the mainline.

However, this contract runs out in December 2023, and the NRM says it is ‘considering' the future of Flying Scotsman's operation after this date.

The NRM has also said that Flying Scotsman will travel to Shildon later this month to be on display between the 16th December and 7th January, and after this date, the locomotive will remain in Shildon (though it will not be on display).

An NRM spokesperson said “The National Railway Museum is focused on the delivery of Flying Scotsman's centenary celebrations which will conclude with a visit to Locomotion in Shildon between 16 December and 7 January.

“The current contract to maintain and operate Flying Scotsman runs until December 2023. After the success of Flying Scotsman's centenary year, and the locomotive's two popular visits to the NRM, the future operation of Flying Scotsman after this date is being carefully considered.

“Future arrangements will ensure people have the opportunity to see and experience one of the collection's star objects and will conserve and safeguard the locomotive's future. The National Railway Museum is committed to making Flying Scotsman as accessible to all and this includes building on the success it's had in our museums in the centenary year and operating it up and down the country.”
 
11th December 2023

Alstom’s Innovia monorail starts trial run on Bangkok’s MRT Pink Line​

image.png

Monorail city​

Alstom has announced that Bangkok's MRT Pink Line has begun trial passenger service.

Thailand's Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, launched the line on Tuesday 21 November, and it will run as a free public trial until 30 December.

If the trial proves successful, the MRT Pink Line will enter revenue service on 31 December.

The Northern Bangkok Monorail Company Limited operates the Pink Line, and contracted Alstom to supply the turnkey Innovia monorail system for the line in 2017.

Alstom had previously supplied a monorail system for Bangkok's MRT Yellow Line, which entered service in July this year.
 
image.png

Alstom Thailand team celebrate the opening (trial passenger service) of Bangkok MRT Pink Line with Alstom Innovia monorail system- (November 2023)​

The Pink Line extends over 34.5 kilometres and features thirty stations across Chaeng Wattana and Ram Intra.

It integrates with five other rail lines, which will improve access to city's east-west transport corridors.

Two further stations will open by 2025, improving connectivity between Bangkok and Nontaburi province.

Alstom's Turnkey regional hub in Bangkok led the project, overseeing system integration, installation and test and commissioning of the Innovia monorail trains, Cityflo 650 GOA4 driverless signalling, communication systems, power supply and conductor rail, track switches, platform screen doors and depot equipment.

The Alstom joint-venture CRRC Puzhen Alstom Transportation Systems Ltd. (PATS) in China manufactured the Innovia monorail trainsets.

Alstom will service the project for twenty years, having secured the contract to do so in 2018.

The contract includes using Alstom's advanced predictive maintenance tool, HealthHub, which it also uses on its commuter railcars in Dublin.
 
image.png

Bangkok MRT Pink Line with Alstom Innovia monorail system on first day of passenger trial service (November 2023)​

Alstom believes that its products are well-suited to Bangkok's urban transport needs.

It designed the Innovia monorail systems to serve rapidly-growing cities and dense urban areas.

Innovia systems are elevated and run on dedicated guideways, which ensures a smooth service and does not interfere with road traffic.

The company aims for its products to provide “exceptional route flexibility, outstanding availability and high efficiency in terms of passenger capacity, energy consumption and land use”.

The monorail features spacious and open designs, with low interior noise and vibration.

The vehicles have large windows to allow a bright atmosphere and passenger comfort.

As both Pink and Yellow Lines are now in service, more than five million residents of eastern and northern Bangkok, Samut Prakan and Nonthaburi provinces have access to the service, which has cut travel time by up to 50%.

Alstom has also supplied Innovia to locations including Dallas Airport,

Toby Tiberghien, Managing Director for East Asia at Alstom, said, “The inauguration of the Pink Line marks another critical milestone for Alstom in Thailand, as our second monorail system starts operation and showcases our expertise in delivering state-of-the-art mobility solutions. Through the Pink Line, we are proud to have supported our customer NBM and the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) in extending Bangkok's urban transit network to new city areas. This accomplishment reflects our ongoing commitment to innovating for more connected and efficient urban transportation.”
 
Last edited:
11th December 2023

Steam locomotive 4144 to visit The Battlefield Line​

image.png

The Battlefield Line has announced that GWR Large Prairie No. 4144 will be visiting them for their Winter Gala.

Taking place on the 3rd and 4th February 2024, the gala will see an intense timetable in operation.

4144 will join 5199 at gala, with two large prairies making a fine sight for visitors.

4144 will be visiting The Battlefield Line thanks to The Didcot Railway Centre.

More information will be released in due course.

A Battlefield Line spokesperson said “We think a pair of large prairie's will be a fine sight double headed at the battlefield line.
 
12th December 2023

Ceremony marks 35 years since Clapham Junction rail disaster​

image.png

Wreath laying at Clapham memorial​

It's 35 years to the day since the Clapham Junction rail disaster claimed the lives of 35 people.

To commemorate the event, rail industry partners laid wreaths and held a two-minutes silence in memory of those who lost their lives in the south-west London train crash.

The disaster unfolded at 08:10 as three trains collided on their approach to the station, the result of faulty wiring in the signalling system.

Network Rail representatives joined colleagues from South Western Railway and rail unions ASLEF and the RMT at the Spencer Park memorial site.

The annual service of remembrance was also attended by relatives who lost loved ones in the incident.

Later in the day a ‘lessons learnt' talk was held, hosted by Network Rail and Siemens Mobility.

The event, which took place at Network Rail's Wessex Delivery Unit (WDU) shared technical briefings as well as interactive sessions which also took place at nine other locations across the UK.

Matters under discussion included the reasons why the disaster had such a big impact on the rail industry, how it happened, what has been learnt as a result of the crash and what can be done to prevent similar incidents taking place in the future.

Representatives from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) and the Rail Safety and Standards Board were also present.

Plans are also being put in place for a series of signalling events around the region in spring next year.

Those events will discuss what can be learnt from all relevant incidents, thus minimising the possibilities of future disasters from taking place.
 
Last edited:
image.png

12th of December 1988​

On the 12th of December 1988 Mister McClymont is approaching Clapham Junction at the controls of the 7:18am train from Basingstoke to London-Waterloo (referred to from here on as the “Basingstoke”), a 12-car train crowded with commuters.

At approximately 8am he is approaching the signal WF138 at just over 97kph/60mph.

Suddenly, with the train less than 28m/92ft from the signal, he sees the green light turn off as the signal jumps to red, ordering a stop.

McClymont triggered an emergency stop, obviously speeding past the red signal, before realizing that the emergency stop would bring the train to a standstill short of the following signal (WF47) from where he intended to use a track-side telephone to report the incident.

As such he eased up on the brakes as the train slowed, stopping in front of WF47 right as it turned from red to yellow (“proceed at caution”).

He is sure that WF138 behind him has remained red as his train occupies the section beyond it, even after figuring out that it jumped to red without reason as there obviously was no train occupying the zone along with his.

After coming to a stop McClymont exited his train and headed to two track-side telephones (the first one turns out to be out of service).

However, as he reported a possible faulty red he was told that the system reported no such thing and that he had apparently stopped under a green signal.

As McClymont is on the phone with dispatch two trains are approaching his location.

The “Poole” train was following behind McClymont’s Basingstoke at 97kph/60mph.

Usually the Poole started at Poole station, but due to a minor derailment caused by vandalism it ran on a shortened connection on the day of the accident, having started at Bournemouth station a few kilometres down the line.

Riding in the rear cab was Mister Flood, an off-duty train driver using the train to shuttle into London. He was watching the gauges out of habit, despite having gained a good skill in estimating train speeds during his lengthy career. The conductor on the Poole had taken a seat in his “office” in car 7, being unable to check the tickets as he had dropped his clippers between the train and platform at a previous stop.

Coming the other way out of London and also approaching Clapham Junction the day of the accident was the “Haslemere”, an empty train that was returning from dropping its load of commuters off at London-Waterloo.

The driver aboard the Haslemere train would later report seeing the stopped Basingstoke train at WF47 with Mister McClymont at the telephone next to the tracks.

At 8:09am the Poole train is coming around a long left hand bend at approximately 80kph/50mph just south of Clapham Junction.

The driver suddenly sees the fully stopped Basingstoke ahead of him and triggers an emergency stop, but the impending disaster is already unavoidable.

At 8:11am, while McClymont is still on the phone, the Poole strikes the back of the stationary Basingstoke at approximately 56kph/35mph, ripping through the rearmost car as it’s deflected off to the right.

The forces of the impact rip the Basingstoke’s rear car off the train and throw it several feet in the air, causing it to end up atop a 3m/10ft wall not far from Mister McClymont.

Moments earlier Mister Alston is passing the stopped Basingstoke in the empty Haslemere as he sees the Poole on the same track, instantly realizing the two trains are on a collision course.

The Basingstoke and Poole collide just as the empty Haslemere comes level with the Basingstoke’s rear car.

The Poole train running straight into the back of the Basingstoke train throws debris every which way, derailing the Haslemere train.

Flying off its track to the right the Poole narrowly misses the cab of the oncoming Haslemere, dealing a glancing blow to the side of the empty train before continuing down the gap between the two trains, alternating between scraping along either train.

Eventually the trains come to a stop with the remains of the Poole and the rear part of the Basingstoke jammed between the forward section of the latter and the stopped Haslemere, having largely turned into an unrecognizable heap of broken and bent wood and metal that fills the gap between the two other trains.

In under a minute 35 people are dead and 484 are injured, 69 of which severely.

Matt Pocock, Network Rail's Wessex route director, said: “Today is a really important day for the rail industry across the country as we come together to remember those who sadly lost their lives in the Clapham rail crash, 35 years ago. The railway serves millions of customers every year and our priority is to always keep customers moving and get them to where they need to be safely.

“Days like today are important for us to continue having open discussions to reflect on what lessons we have learnt as an industry and how we can continue moving forward to prioritise customer and colleague safety and prevent incidents like this ever happening again. Our thoughts are forever with the families who lost loved ones as well as the survivors and those who were injured during the horrific incident that took place 35 years ago.”

Claire Mann, South Western Railway's managing director, added: “We're very grateful to our colleagues for organising today's commemoration and to those from the wider railway family who came together in remembrance. Today is a day to remember the 35 people who tragically lost their lives, to think about their families, and to recognise the efforts of all those who played a part in the rescue and recovery operation on Monday 12 December 1988.”

Rob Morris, Siemens Mobility's joint CEO and managing director of rail infrastructure and software UKI, said: “It is heart-warming to know there is such a diverse representation, with individuals ranging from apprentices to CEOs, standing united in our pursuit for zero harm. Safety is not a rhetoric for us; it is the foundation upon which our operations are built, and these industry events are proof of that.”

Andy Lewis, deputy chief inspector at RAIB, noted: “The Clapham accident was a tragedy. Events like today's help us remember the dreadful impact of this accident and those lost, but also the considerable amount of safety learning and change that came as a result. The RAIB is pleased to be able to participate today so that the railway continues to learn the lessons of the past.”
 
Last edited:
12th December 2023

Steam locomotive 60103 Flying Scotsman to pass through Peterborough this Wednesday​

image.png

60103 at chester on June 10, 2023

60103 Flying Scotsman will be on the mainline this Wednesday (13th December) as it hauls a tour to Worcester.

Departing Cambridge at 06:25, the train will pass through Ely (07:20), Manea (07:38), March (07:47), Peterborough (08:10), Oakham (08:45), Melton Mowbray (09:00), Leicester (09:56), Nuneaton (10:21), Water Orton (10:47), Barnt Green (11:14), Droitwich Spa (11:30) and Worcester Shrub Hill at 11:40.

After time in Worcester, Flying Scotsman will depart at 15:40 and will pass through Longbridge (16:22), Coleshill Parkway (17:10), Nuneaton (17:30), Leicester (18:00) and Humberstone Road, where Flying Scotsman is replaced by a vintage diesel locomotive.

The vintage diesels will return to Cambridge via Oakham (19:23), Peterborough (19:53), March (20:38), Ely (21:04) and Cambridge at 21:25.
 
13th December 2023

South Western Railway guard finds hedgehog on board train​

image.png

Hedgehog found on train
​
On Monday (11 December) lunchtime, South Western Railway (SWR) staff found an extra passenger on board one of their trains – a hedgehog!

A guard found the wild mammal under a seat on a lunchtime service travelling from Weybridge to London Waterloo.

Hedgehogs would usually be hibernating at this time of year, but this one decided to travel instead.

The operator kept the animal at Waterloo station and will take it to a wildlife rescue centre.
 
image.png

SWR tweeted, “This afternoon an unexpected customer was found hogging a service from Weybridge to London Waterloo. When challenged, they were a little prickly about their ticket too! Still, we can't blame them for hedging their bets… and they quill soon be on their way to somewhere safe.”
 
Last edited:
13th December 2023

London’s Santa Steam Express to be hauled by steam locomotive 45231 The Sherwood Forester​

image.png

45231 The Sherwood Forester
​
LSL operated LMS Black 5 No. 45231 The Sherwood Forester will haul Steam Dreams' Santa Steam Express this Friday (15th December 2023).

The Santa Steam Express runs 4 times on Friday, with part of the trip being operated by a diesel locomotive.

The first trip will depart London Victoria at 09:26 and will pass through West Brompton (09:51), Kensington Olympia (09:54), Shepherds Bush (09:57) before reversal at Willesden No7.

From here (expected to be diesel hauled with 45231 on the rear of the train), the train will pass through South Acton (10:37), Barnes (10:46), Clapham Junction (10:54) and London Victoria at 11:08.
 
image.png

45231 the Sherwood forester near Chester returning to Crewe on crew training duties on May 23, 2019​

The second trip will depart London Victoria at 11:44 and will pass through West Brompton (12:00), Kensington Olympia (12:03), Shepherds Bush (12:06) before reversal at Willesden No7.

From here (expected to be diesel hauled with 45231 on the rear of the train), the train will pass through South Acton (12:26), Barnes (12:53), Clapham Junction (13:01) and London Victoria at 13:20.

The third trip will depart London Victoria at 15:31 and will pass through West Brompton (16:00), Kensington Olympia (16:03), Shepherds Bush (16:06) before reversal at Willesden No7.

From here (expected to be diesel hauled with 45231 on the rear of the train), the train will pass through South Acton (16:36), Barnes (16:46), Clapham Junction (16:54) and London Victoria at 17:04.
 
image.png

45231 The Sherwood Forester hauling The Jacobite

The final trip will depart London Victoria at 18:20 and will pass through West Brompton (18:37), Kensington Olympia (18:40), Shepherds Bush (18:42) before reversal at Willesden No7.

From here (expected to be diesel hauled with 45231 on the rear of the train), the train will pass through South Acton (19:12), Barnes (19:29), Clapham Junction (19:38) and London Victoria at 19:51.
 
14th December 2023

Appeal to be launched to raise £50,000 for steam locomotive 3840 County of Montgomery​

image.png
image.png

3840's front end​

The Churchward County Trust is putting together the last details of its next big fundraising drive, in which it wants to raise about £50,000 to complete the assembly of the front end of the new-build County Class 4-4-0 No. 3840 County of Montgomery.

If the appeal is successful, the trust will have a complete set of frames for the new County Class locomotive ready for wheeling, including the extension frames, cylinders, racking plate, and bufferbeam, etc.
 
image.png

3840 County of Montgomery​

The frames are an integral part of any locomotive, so it is vital that they exist in the early stages of construction.

Although the main frames have already been erected, they need to be fitted to the front-end frames.

On all Churchward two-cylinder locos, twelve fitted bolts on each side joined the front-end frames to the rear of the cylinders.

Great Western Railway practice was to assemble the front end as a single unit, consisting of machined cylinders and extension frames, racking plate and front buffer beam, and the bogie, and bolt it to the main frames.

The Trust is currently not in a position to progress to this stage as it would need to have the new bogie erected, completing this unit will enable the front and rear frames to be aligned and united into a complete unit so that the driving wheels can be fitted at a later date.
 
image.png

Wheelsets for 3840 County of Montgomery​

Churchward County Trust is in the process of constructing the 41st Great Western Railway County Class 4-4-0 No. 3840 County of Montgomery.

It is working closely with the Great Western Society at Didcot so that it is built to the pattern of the ten original ‘Counties' erected at Swindon in 1911/12 with Holcroft curved frames and a screw reverser.

The locomotive will incorporate both original Great Western Railway and new components, including the ‘Standard No. 4' boiler currently fitted to the unrestored 2-8-0T No. 5227 and the patterns for the 6ft 8½in driving wheels that were used for Didcot's re-creation of Saint Class 4-6-0 No. 2999 Lady of Legend.
 
Last edited:
14th December 2023

Steam locomotive to pass through Kent this Saturday​

image.png

BR(SR) Jarvis rebuild of SR Bullied 'West Country' 4-6-2 No.34046 'Braunton' (ex-SR No.21C146), in BR green at the head of a special from Bristol Temple Meads to Rugby, 15 April 2023.

A steam tour will take passengers from Gloucester to Canterbury this Saturday (16th December 2023).

Departing Gloucester behind diesel locomotives, the train will pass through Stonehouse (06:43), Stroud (06:52), Kemble (07:11), Swindon (Wilts) (07:29), Didcot Parkway (08:13), Tilehurst (08:30), Reading (08:37), Maidenhead (09:02), and Southall at 09:27 before 34046 Braunton is attached the train at Hanwell.

34046, the expected locomotive for the day, will then pass through Acton Main Line (10:06), Clapham Junction (10:42), Crystal Palace (11:25), Bromley South (11:39), Maidstone East (12:19), Ashford International (13:19) and Canterbury West at 13:36.

After time in Canterbury, the locomotive will depart at 15:55 and will pass through Sandwich (16:32), Dover Priory (16:52), Headcorn (17:36), Paddock Wood (18:03), Redhill (18:56), East Croydon (19:08), Clapham Junction (19:22), Shepherds Bush (19:36), Acton Main Line (19:49), Hanwell Bridge Loop (19:59 – Diesel Hauled From Here), Maidenhead (21:03), Reading (21:20), Tilehurst (21:26), Didcot Parkway (21:44), Swindon (Wilts) (22:10), Kemble (22:29), Stroud (22:49), Stonehouse (22:57) and Gloucester at 23:14.
 
Last edited:
14th December 2023

Freightliner calls on government to aim to treble rail freight​

image.png

Railway freight operator Freightliner has called on the government to set a long-term target to increasing rail freight threefold by 2050.

Describing the target as “ambitious”, Freightliner believes that it would give confidence to private companies to make significant investments in long-term assets that would enable the sector to grow.

Trebling rail freight would remove twenty million Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) journeys from motorways each year, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 2.5 million tonnes – the equivalent of flying around the world 300,000 times.

A major shift of freight from road to rail would also reduce congestion and road traffic accidents.
 
image.png


Only around nine per cent of freight is moved by rail in Great Britain, even though rail can quickly and efficiently transport many essential goods and supplies, including carrying containers to and from deep-sea ports and inland terminals and moving bulk freight such construction materials, aggregates and cement.

Shifting freight from road to rail is crucial to meeting the target of net zero greenhouse gas emission by 2050.

Each freight train removes up to 129 HGVs from Britain's roads. Container trains remove up to 52 HGVs.

For each tonne of freight moved by rail instead of road, carbon emissions reduce by more than three-quarters (76%).

Where operators use electric locomotives, this contributes to net zero emissions as the national grid decarbonises.
 
image.png

Freightliner is calling on the government to financially support private operators in three key areas:
  1. halving the track access charges that freight operators pay to run trains on the network
  2. doubling the modal shift grant that businesses can access to support using rail
  3. investing in the rail network to ensure sufficient capacity on busy rail corridors to allow more freight trains to run.
Freightliner plans to showcase opportunities and challenges facing the rail freight sector during the Climate Show, including the impact of climate change on the resilience of the rail network, the impact of high electricity prices, and the need for more capacity across the UK rail network, especially in the aftermath of the abandonment of HS2 north of Birmingham.

Louise Ward, Safety and Sustainability Director, G&W UK/Europe comments, “We're not just calling on the government for support, we are also setting our own sustainability targets and roadmaps within Freightliner, for the benefit of our customers and our organisation”.

“This includes expanding our use of electric freight trains as well as investments in alternative fuels, such as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), and developing new technologies for future locomotives. As the largest freight operator of electric trains in the UK, we want to increase the number of electric services, but to do so requires electricity costs to be affordable and some of today's gaps on the rail network to be electrified”.
 
14th December 2023

Steam locomotive 4079 Pendennis Castle visit East Lancashire in 2024​

image.png

4079 Pendennis Castle

The East Lancashire Railway has announced that they will be welcoming GWR Castle No. 4079 Pendennis Castle in April 2024.

The locomotive, which will visit the ELR thanks to the Didcot Railway Centre, was made famous when it was chosen to represent the UK at the British Empire Exhibition in 1925.

4079 Pendennis Castle's retirement mainly took place in Australia, running on preserved lines alongside Flying Scotsman until 1994.

Pendennis Castle came back to the UK in 2000 and returned to steam in 2021.

Pendennis Castle will be hauling normal trains in April as well as hauling a range of dining trains.

Trains hauled by Pendennis Castle will run on 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28 April 2024.

Apart from the dining trains, normal fares will apply when Pendennis Castle is running.
 
14th December 2023

Didcot Railway Centre set to welcome steam locomotive 5199​

image.png

5199 at Minehead on August 14, 2022

The Didcot Railway Centre has announced that GWR Large Prairie No. 5199 will be visiting them in 2024.

The visit of the locomotive will take place in February 2024 and will see the Prairie operating alongside home based loco 4144 and 6106 (the latter on static display) on the 10th, 11th, 14th, 17th and 18th February 2024.

Didcot is home to a vast variety of GWR locomotives and rolling stock, and this is a rare chance to see a 51XX class of locomotive line up with a 41XX and a 61XX together.

The visit of 5199 is thanks to its owners, The 5199 Project.
 
14th December 2023

Great Central Railway welcomes two Class 153s​

image.png

Class 153 at Quorn and Woodhouse​

The Great Central Railway (GCR) is taking delivery of two Class 153 single-car diesel units.

However, the units are not for preservation, but for GCR's Testing and Training department to use in supporting local train operating companies to train their train crew.

The GCR has been providing this service for some time, and it provides a valuable source of income.

It has been using Diesel Railcars for this purpose, but their technology is outdated, so they are limited in their suitability for training drivers of modern trains on the national railway.

The new units are more up-to-date and suitable, and will provide a more relevant training experience.

British Rail Class 153 ‘Super Sprinters' were converted from two-coach Class 155 diesel multiple units in the early 1990s, and intended for use on rural branch lines.

The Class 153s will also allow the GCR to run more training, and may be used to carry out tests for other technology testing contracts in the future.

The Railway is looking forward to using the units to increase the services it offers to the rail industry.

The Great Central Railway is a heritage railway that runs along 8.25 miles of track between Loughborough and Leicester, and is named after the company that operated between 1897 and 1923 and originally built this stretch of railway.
 
14th December 2023

Steam locomotive 44871 to visit York this Saturday​

image.png

Stanier "Black 5" loco 44871 approaches Filton Abbey Wood station with the Railway Touring Company excursion 'The Christmas Chesherman' - 25.11.23.​

LMS Black 5 No. 44871 is set haul a Norwich to York tour this Saturday (16th December 2023).

Departing Norwich at 06:02, the steam locomotive will pass through Thetford (06:38), March (07:42), Whittlesea (07:55), Peterborough (08:22), Sleaford (09:13), Gainsborough Lea Road (10:26), Doncaster (10:59), Church Fenton (11:47) and York at 12:27.

44871 will then head to the KWVR, with diesel locomotives hauling the train back to Norwich via Doncaster (17:41), Sleaford (18:57), Peterborough (19:59), March (20:21), Thetford (21:21) and Norwich at 21:59.
 
15th December 2023
image.png

TRANSPORT FOR WALES

Quakers Yard reopened as Metro works progress​

Quakers Yard railway station will reopen to passengers on Monday 18 December following infrastructure upgrade works.

image.png

Quakers Yard​

Quakers Yard railway station will reopen to passengers on Monday 18 December following infrastructure upgrade works.

As part of the South Wales Metro project, Transport for Wales (TfW) has upgraded the station from a single platform to double, installed a brand-new step and ramped footbridge and installed additional railway track.

The extra track and creation of a doubled railway line will allow TfW to run four trains per hour from Merthyr Tydfil into Cardiff in the near future, as electrification of the line continues.

The transformation of the Core Valley Lines for the Metro has been part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through Welsh Government, and will enable faster, more frequent services between Cardiff and the heads of the valleys.  

A TfW spokesperson said: “We’ve carried out some extensive work at Quakers Yard as part of our South Wales Metro project and we’re pleased to be reopening the station to the public.

“We’re continuing to move forward with delivering South Wales Metro and this is another key milestone. We’ll be seeing our brand-new tram-trains running on these lines soon, providing faster, greener and more frequent transport for the people of south Wales.”

“I’d like to thank our customers and railway neighbours for their understanding and patience while we continue to deliver this huge transformation project.”
image.png
 
15th December 2023
image.png

TRANSPORT FOR WALES

Have your say on plans for five new railway stations in South East Wales and more rail services​

There is just a month left to respond to a consultation by Transport for Wales’ on plans for five new railway stations in South East Wales and improved cross-border train services.

image.png

Proposed new SE Wales stations​

There is just a month left to respond to a consultation by Transport for Wales’ on plans for five new railway stations in South East Wales and improved cross-border train services.

Members of the public have been invited to share their views as part of a 13-week consultation which will close on 14 January.

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.

The consultation is available at: tfw.wales/sew-new-stations

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 were hosted by Transport for Wales last month allowing members of the public opportunities to discuss the designs and service proposals with the project teams behind them.

Geoff Ogden, Chief Transport Planning and Development Officer at Transport for Wales said:

“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 and that's why we’re asking people who haven’t to date to share their thoughts and complete the survey.”

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)

More images available here Plans for five new railway stations in South East Wales and more cross-border services (tfw.wales)
image.png
 
15th December 2023

Steam locomotive gifted to the West Somerset Railway Association​

image.png

80064 in steam​

The owners of BR Standard Class 4MT steam locomotive No. 80064 have decided to transfer ownership of it as a gift to the West Somerset Railway Association.

During is time in the steam era 80064 never worked over the West Somerset line as it spent its early days allocated to various engine sheds in Kent.

However, it did finish its BR days in the West of England after it was transferred to Exmouth Junction shed in June 1962 before moving to Bristol (Barrow Road) in May 1965, just three months before its withdrawal in August 1965.

The Standard Class 4MT 2-6-4 tank engines were considered to be one of the best designs of the early British Railways era. Being built in 1953, they had a relatively short period in use on the main network before they succumbed to dieselisation.

The West Somerset Railway is Britain's longest standard gauge heritage railway.

It consists of all of the former branch line from Taunton via Bishops Lydeard, Dunster, and Watchet to Minehead, operating regular heritage steam and diesel-hauled trains regularly over most of this line.

It is a registered charity that supports the heritage of the line, and has its own fleet of steam locomotives and rolling stock.

Geoff Garfield, Chair of Trustees of the WSRA said “It is our intention to restore 80064 as soon as possible, so that it can see regular use as part of the home fleet of WSR locomotives. We see it as ideal for that purpose, well able to cope with the challenging gradients and heavy loadings on our line.

We have been working for some time on plans to restore the locomotive. Our current restoration project, WSRA owned 4561, is well under way: we are planning to restore 80064 in tandem. We are currently finalising our plans and will share more details as soon as we can. We are very grateful to Colin Turner, Martin Nichols, and the other members of the 80064 group for this opportunity and look forward to welcoming them into our railway family”.

Jonathan Jones-Pratt, Chairman of the West Somerset Railway plc, which operates the railway said: “We are delighted to receive 80064 onto WSR metals, having operated a standard tank on the WSR before. It meets our needs very well and we are very thankful to the owning group for choosing the WSR to take the engine's future forward. The PLC is working hard with the WSRA to deliver the restoration plan which will be completed at Williton.

“This is a landmark moment for the Railway we are really excited to deliver this project. This engine will form part of the WSR home fleet and is more than capable of managing our loads and needs, we are all very excited at the prospect of seeing this engine operating in the future.”
 
16th December 2023

Battlefield Line to welcome steam locomotive 6880 Betton Grange​

image.png

6880 "Betton Grange" at Tyseley on display​

The Battlefield Line has announced that new-build locomotive, GWR ‘Grange' No. 6880 Betton Grange, will be visiting them for their Winter Warmer Gala.

The ‘Grange' will be arriving soon at Shackerstone and will begin running in trials at the railway after its build was completed.

Once this is completed, it will star alongside GWR Prairie's No. 4144 and 5199 at the Winter Warmer Gala.

6880 will be visiting thanks to The 6880 Betton Grange Society Limited and Tyseley Locomotive Works and will appear subject to the completion of successful tests at both Tyseley and Shackerstone.

Tickets for the gala, which will take place on the 3rd and 4th February 2024, will be available soon.
 
17th December 2023

Progress update on fitting ETCS to steam locomotive “Tornado”​

image.png

ETCS wiring ​

The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust has provided an update on progress with the installation of European Train Control System (ETCS) to A1 Class Pacific No. 60163 Tornado.

A number of outstanding electrical tasks have been completed including:
  • Fitting a protective cover to the cable joints between the inside front left lighting frame lighting strips, as this is an area that is prone to impact from tools;
  • Installing flexible conduits, wiring, and an LED strip for the front buffer beam lighting, with just final fitting of the LED strip and connection to the system to be completed;
  • Surveying around the reverser stand ready for refitting the sander indicator wiring, boxes and air pipes.
 
image.png

Tornado undergoing tests​

The apparently simple task of installing front buffer beam lighting was made more complicated because of the need to install new wiring in the conduit that runs from the under-running plate box past the cylinder and down to the turbogen connection box.

Different methods were tried without success until a combination of a nylon and a tubular steel rod were able to be pulled through the conduit.

The next challenge was to get the wiring through the frame and finalise the position of the LED lighting strip, but the conduit for the front buffer beam umbilical wiring provided a path for the strip gave it good physical protection.

The sander indicator pressure switch box that flashes an LED to remind the driver when the sanders are operating used to be located in an unsuitable location under the floor on the drivers side.

A new location has been identified for it on the left of the reverser stand, which will provide a better connection to the forward and reverse air pipes, near to the sander lever, and will be easier to connect into the LED box and the rest of the electrical system.
 
image.png

Tornado in action​

Most of the more complex and problematic electrical work on Tornado has now been completed, with electrical jobs yet to be completed including:
  • Final fitting, connection and testing of the front buffer beam LED lighting strip;
  • Reconnecting the wiring to the Turbogen Switch Box wiring that had been disconnected to allow welding on the engine frames;
  • Connection of all electrical systems between the engine and cab once the cab has been fitted, which will include a few modifications to make sure everything fits in some very confined spaces;
  • Making a new sander indicator box and wiring, refurbishing the LED box, and final fitting of the boxes to the reverser stand and air brake bracket;
  • Refitting and rewiring the front-top marker lamp on the top of the smokebox;
  • Refitting front-lower marker lamp after the front buffer beam footplate has been fitted;
  • Refitting the front-right and -left marker and tail luminaires;
  • Testing all of Tornado s electrical systems as far as possible without the tender;
  • Making up and testing new umbilical cables between the engine and tender, which are required because of the higher electrical current due to installation of ETCS.
 
18th December 2023

Ex-Sierra Leone carriage returns to Welsh narrow gauge railway​

image.png

SLR Carriage No. 1066​

The Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway has announced that its ex-Sierra Leone Government Railways carriage No.1066 has returned to the railway after being completely refurbished.

The refurbishment was carried out by Statfold Engineering Ltd. at Tamworth in Staffordshire, and included changing the configuration of the original bench seating into upholstered seating bays and tables, which has increased the level of comfort for passengers.

A former toilet and guard's compartment has been converted into a small servery complete with storage and refrigerator to support the range of on-train catering activities the railway can offer to passengers.

To make the carriage suitable for year-round operations, it has now been fitted with steam heating and LED lighting.
 
image.png

Refurbished interior of carriage No.1066​

The Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway is looking forward to bringing the carriage back into service, and welcoming passengers onto it next year.

Services fo 2024 will be announced in the 2024 timetable that is being released in January.
 
image.png

Carriage No. 1107, one of the same batch as Carriage No. 1066, on its way for export to Sierra Leone soon after leaving the works of Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company in March 1962

Carriage No.1066 was built by the Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company in March 1962.

It Travelled by rail from the company's works in Gloucester, but because of the carriage's narrow gauge, it had to be transported from the works on a wagon.
 
18th December 2023

Siemens Mobility delivers hydrogen-powered trains to its test centre​

image.png

Mireo Plus​

Siemens Mobility has completed an order of seven hydrogen-powered two-car Mireo Plus H trains for the German operator Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn (NEB).

They were built at Siemens Mobility's factory in Krefeld, and after undergoing basic electrical and mechanical tests, the last of them was delivered to its test centre at Wegberg-Wildenrath near Mönchengladbach on 30 October.
 
image.png

Mireo Plus H hydrogen train for Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn (NEB)​

More extensive tests are now being carried out at the Wegberg-Wildenrath Test and Validation Centre, including electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and brake tests which are required for official approval of the trains.

Their operational stability is also being tested, both statically and dynamically, before they are granted final approval by the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) and the German Federal Railway Authority (EBA).
 
image.png

Siemens Mobility Mireo Plus H trains​

Driver training will also be carried out at the test centre starting next summer, to ensure they are full trained before the trains are rolled out to the Heidekrautbahn in the Berlin-Brandenburg metropolitan region next December.

The trains were ordered in 2022, and marked Siemens first order for a train hydroge-powered trains.

Work is also progressing on an order for 31 battery-powered Mireo Plus B trains for the East Brandenburg network: The first of these is scheduled to leave the Siemens plant at Krefeld in the new year and will also be transferred to the Wildenrath centre for final testing.
 
image.png

Mireo Plus B train​

The states of Berlin and Brandenburg are jointly funding a scientifically-supported pilot scheme for the use of the hydrogen-powered trains on the Heidekrautbahn.

This aims to set up a regional, sustainable hydrogen infrastructure, including a hybrid power plant and a hydrogen storage facility.

The Heidekrautbahn will be the first network in the Berlin-Brandenburg region to operate hydrogen-powered trains, but eventually all train on the RB27 route will be exclusively use renewable and regionally produced green energy.

Switching from diesel fuel to hydrogen on the Heidekrautbahn will reduce annual CO2 emissions by about three million kilograms and save 1.1 million litres of diesel.

Albrecht Neumann, CEO Rolling Stock Siemens Mobility, said “Our first Mireo Plus H hydrogen fleet left our plant in Krefeld right on time and will be thoroughly put through its paces at our test centre in Wegberg-Wildenrath.

“The Mireo Plus H is a powerful hydrogen train that combines innovation with sustainability. Thanks to its long range, fast acceleration, and state-of-the-art technologies, it will set new standards for emission-free passenger transportation in the Berlin-Brandenburg metropolitan region.”

Detlef Bröcker, CEO Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn (NEB), said “We're especially pleased that we are on schedule with the hydrogen trains.”

“This gives our employees sufficient time to familiarize themselves with the new trains and their innovative technology. Our customers in the Berlin and Brandenburg region can look forward to boarding new, environmentally friendly, hydrogen-powered trains on the Heidekrautbahn at the end of next year.”
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top