Marcus' Model Railway Journey

75029 The Green Knight on the NYMR


To kick off the fundraising appeal, the NYMR is asking people to share their memories of the locomotive, either from steam days or in preservation.

Originally brought straight from British Railways by renowned railway artist the late David Shepherd, 75029’s active years in preservation have far surpassed its short working career on the national rail network in the late 1950s and 1960s.

In preservation, The Green Knight has been to many heritage railways across the country and will be known to a lot of people and staff on other heritage railways.

Its most recent highlight was carrying the Olympic torch as part of the nationwide procession in the build-up to the London 2012 Olympics.

“The Green Knight is an essential locomotive for us. It’s a true workhorse, capable of a wide range of haulage tasks, including running on the mainline to Whitby. With some of our other locomotives set for full overhauls in the coming years, getting No. 75029 back in steam is more crucial than ever. We need the support of our community to make this happen.”

Paul ‘Piglet’ Middleton, Director of Mechanical Engineering at NYMR

4th March, 2025

Steam locomotive 35028 Clan Line to visit Dover this Thursday​

35028 Clan Line


35028 Clan Line is set to pass through Kent this Thursday (6th March 2025) as it hauls a Belmond British Pullman train.

Departing London Victoria at 10:59, the train will pass through Denmark Hill (11:10), Bellingham (11:23), Swanley (11:42), Rochester (12:09), Rainham (Kent) (12:19), Canterbury East (12:56) and Dover Priory at 13:20.

After half an hour in Dover, the train will depart back to London at 13:51 and will pass through Headcorn (14:32), Tonbridge (14:56), Orpington (15:18), Kent House (15:47), and London Victoria at 16:11.

5th March, 2025
Class 70 locomotive to visit the Severn Valley Railway

Freightliner's 70005 made a Class 70 debut at the SVR


The Severn Valley Railway has announced that a Class 70 locomotive will be visiting them for the Spring Diesel Festival.

The Class 70 visits thanks to Freightliner, who are also sending a Class 66 to the gala.

Taking place between the 15th and 18th May 2025, the gala will feature visiting and home locomotives as well as an intensive timetable between Kidderminster and Hampton Loade.

5th March, 2025

New Shinkansen train for Japan designed in UK​

The new E10 Shinkansen train


UK Consultancy firm Tangerine has designed a new high-speed Shinkansen train for the East Japan Railway Company.

The new train, called the E10 Shinkansen, will revolutionise high-speed rail travel in Japan for the 2030s, and will replace the existing E2 and E5 trains on the Tohoku route.

The project will now progress to the design implementation phase, and the first trains are scheduled to enter service in 2030.

Privacy seats in the new E10 Shinkansen train


This is the first time that a non-Japanese company has been commissioned to design one of Japan’s iconic bullet trains.

Tangerine has designed both the train’s striking exterior livery and the sophisticated interior of the different passenger classes.

Tangerine’s design for the E10 Shinkansen is rooted in Japanese aesthetics and based on creating a train that is user-centred, brand-aligned, and business-focused.

The design has been inspired by Japan’s landscapes, seascapes, and cityscapes, which the East Japan Railway Company hopes will be a source of national pride and a point of intrigue for overseas visitors.

Standard class seats in the new E10 Shinkansen train


The exterior livery pays homage to the different regions through which the train will travel.

A mid-green colour palette reflects the lush mountain forests and coastlines along the route, while the graphics are inspired by a silhouette of Japan’s iconic symbol of Sakura flowers.

Internally, the design focuses on the Japanese tradition of hospitality, and has been inspired by the country’s aesthetic traditions and craftsmanship.

The result is a refined and inviting environment, with careful consideration given to the interior lighting with indirect wash lights to create a soft, calming ambience.

All classes feature variations in seating and layout, and provide operational efficiency for the railway company.

Green-upholstered seats in the new E10 Shinkansen train


East Japan Railway Company is the largest of seven companies that comprise the Japan Railways Group.

Consultancy company Tangerine has studios in London and Seoul and has 30-years experience working with brands such as Apple, JAL, Nikon, LG, and Toyota.

Another company with connections to building trains for both Britain and Japan is Hitachi.

Its factory at Newton Aycliffe in County Durham is building a range of IET trains for UK operators, and a world-wide division of the company is building trains for Japan, including a new fleet of trains for service between Tokyo, Nikko and Kinugawa in Japan and new high-speed trains for Taiwan.

“The E10 Shinkansen represents a milestone in UK-Japan collaboration within the rail sector, setting new benchmarks for hospitality-focused design and sustainable travel. With its blend of Japanese spirit, innovation, and user-centric design, the E10 Shinkansen is poised to redefine high-speed rail travel for decades to come.”

Matt Round, Chief Creative Officer at Tangerine

5th March, 2025

DB wins Northern Class 333 upgrade work contract​

Northern Class 333s at Bradford Forster Square


DB ESG has announced that they have won the contract for the turnkey materials supply and installation of the upgrades to the Passenger Information Screens and Energy Metering on Northern Class 333s.

16 Class 333 EMUs will be upgraded at Northern’s Skipton Sidings Facility.

Each unit will be completed in three days, thanks to DB’s experience.

It is expected the work will be finished by June 2025.

“Our team is thrilled to partner with Northern Trains on this significant project. We are committed to delivering high-quality installations efficiently and safely, leveraging our expertise to enhance the passenger experience and operational efficiency of Northern Trains’ Class 333 fleet.”

Nick Goodhand, Managing Director of DB ESG

5th March, 2025

First Class 170 returns to service as part of multi-million-pound refurbishment​

Refurbished unit No. 170101


The first unit to be completed during a multi-million pound refurbishment of CrossCountry’s Class 170 ‘Turbostar’ fleet has returned to service with a bold new livery and brighter interior.

Arriva TrainCare is carrying out the refurbishments at its Crewe depot and is being funded by Porterbrook, the UK’s leading rolling stock financier and asset management company, which owns the fleet.

The return of Class 170 unit No. 170101 to CrossCountry’s inter-regional fleet marks a vital milestone in the programme, which will see the refurbishment of 29 trains totalling 80 carriages.

To provide increased capacity and help alleviate crowding on some services, the dedicated First Class section of the trains has been removed.

Other improvements include:

• Replacement of tables, seats, and carpets.
• Fitting new mains and USB plug sockets at all seats.
• Completely repainting inside and outside of all carriages.
• Refreshing the on-board toilets.
• Enhanced passenger information screens with more destination information.
• Increased Standard Class seating with the removal of the First Class area.
• New CCTV and automatic passenger counting equipment.

Refurbished unit No. 170101 at Birmingham New Street


All Class 170 Turbostars are due to have been refurbished by 2028, and later this year work is due to start on refurbishing CrossCountry’s Voyager fleet.

CrossCountry started leasing the trains in 2007, and will operate inter-regional routes between Cardiff and Nottingham via Birmingham, and between Birmingham and Stansted Airport via Leicester.

They will be maintained by West Midlands Trains at its Tyseley depot in Birmingham.

Shiona Rolfe, CrossCountry’s Managing Director expressed the view that it’s fantastic to deliver its first refurbished Turbostar train for passengers on inter-regional routes.

Knowing that these trains provide the bulk of the train service for a good portion of its network, they hope passengers enjoy the significant improvements in convenience and comfort.

Interior of refurbished unit No. 170101


Ben Ackroyd, Chief Operating Officer at Porterbrook, commented that as passenger needs evolve, it’s important that their trains do too, which is why they continue to invest in their fleets to ensure they meet customer expectations.

“We’re delighted to be supporting CrossCountry with this significant refurbishment project. The team at our Crewe depot have been working hard to deliver the major fleet overhaul, which will greatly improve the passenger experience – benefitting existing customers at the same time as encouraging even more people to travel on CrossCountry’s services.”

Russell Fletcher, Business Development Director at Arriva TrainCare

5th March, 2025

Steam locomotive Taliesin goes on test in North Wales​

Taliesin at Minffordd


Single Fairlie, Taliesin, has gone on test today on the Ffestiniog Railway.

The 1999-built 0-4-4-T locomotive is a replica of the Single Fairlie that was built in 1876 at the Vulcan Foundry.

The locomotive has been out of service since 2020, when the boiler expired and has been undergoing overhaul at Boston Lodge Works.

It is expected that the locomotive will enter service in 2025 and ahead of this, it has today gone on test to Minffordd.

5th March, 2025

Class 26 locomotive set for The Greatest Gathering​

Class 26 26007 at Barrow Hill Round House on March 1, 2025


In the latest announcement for The Greatest Gathering, Class 26 No. 26007 will be making the trip to Derby.

The Greatest Gathering is set to take place this August to celebrate 200 years of passenger railways.

26007 visits thanks to Victor Korzeniewicz and is subject to operational availability.


The event will take place at Alstom‘s Derby Litchurch Lane Works between the 1st and 3rd August.

The locomotives confirmed to attend are (Alstom have also noted that examples from the same class may substitute):

Steam

• LNER A4 No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley – courtesy of the Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Trust and Locomotive Services Group
• SR Merchant Navy No. 35018 British India Line – courtesy of West Coast Railways Co
• LMS 6P No. 46115 Scots Guardsman – courtesy of West Coast Railways Co.
• LMS Jubilee No. 45596 Bahamas – courtesy of the Bahamas Locomotive Society
• SR Merchant Navy No. 35028 Clan Line – courtesy of the Merchant Navy Locomotive Preservation Society
• LMS Black 5 (specific loco TBA) – courtesy of West Coast Railways Co.
• Furness Railway No. 20 – courtesy of The Furness Railway Trust
• Coal Tank No. 1054 – courtesy of the Bahamas Locomotive Society

Diesel

• BR Class 37 – courtesy of Rail Operations Group
• Class 50 No. 50049 Defiance – courtesy of the Class 50 Alliance
• Class 57 – courtesy of Direct Rail Services
• Class 66 No. 66301 – courtesy of GB Railfreight
• Class 69 – courtesy of GB Railfreight
• Class 60 – courtesy of DCRail
• Class 108 DMU – courtesy of the Severn Valley Railway
• Class 47 – courtesy of West Coast Railways Co
• Class 50 No. 50033 ‘Glorious’ – courtesy of the Class 50 Alliance
• Class 35 D7076 – courtesy of the East Lancashire Railway and Bury Hydraulic Group
• Class 55 No. 55009 “Alycidon” – courtesy of Deltic Preservation Society
• Class 55 No. D9015 “Tulyar” – courtesy of Deltic Preservation Society
• Class 55 No. 55019 “Royal Highland Fusilier” – courtesy of Deltic Preservation Society
• Class 40 No. 40106 – courtesy of the Class 40 Preservation Society / Severn Valley Railway
• Class 43 No. 43159 (2+4 Formation – other powercar TBC) – courtesy of The 125 Group
• Class 33 No. 33012 – courtesy of 71A Locomotive Group
• Class 31 No. 31108 – courtesy of A1A Locomotives Ltd
• Class 57/0 – courtesy of West Coast Railways Co.
• Class 26 No. 26007 – courtesy of Victor Korzeniewicz

Electric

• Class 507001 – courtesy of the Class 507 Preservation Society
• Class 390 Pendolino No. 390119 in its Pride livery – courtesy of Avanti West Coast
• Class 91 No. 91110 Battle of Britain Memorial Flight – courtesy of London North Eastern Railway
• Class 331 – courtesy of Northern
• 4VEP No. 3417 – courtesy of the Bluebell Railway
• Class 91 No. 91101 Flying Scotsman – courtesy of London North Eastern Railway
• Class 465 No. 465908 James Green – courtesy of Southeastern
• Class 720 No. 720506 – courtesy of Greater Anglia

Bi-Mode

• Class 93 – courtesy of Rail Operations Group
• Class 755 – courtesy of Greater Anglia

Coaches / Wagons

• JNA-T Wagon – courtesy of DCRail and Cappagh Group
• Gold IIA-D wagon – courtesy of Drax Group
• Railway 200 Exhibition Train – courtesy of GBRTT / National Railway Museum / Railway 200 Team

5th March, 2025

Hydrogen powered train set for The Greatest Gathering event in Derby​

The UK’s first passenger-ready Hydrogen train is set to visit Alstom’s works in Derby for The Greatest Gathering.

HydroFlex unit, 799201, will visit thanks to Porterbrook.

The Greatest Gathering is set to take place this August to celebrate 200 years of passenger railways.


The event will take place at Alstom‘s Derby Litchurch Lane Works between the 1st and 3rd August.

The locomotives confirmed to attend are (Alstom have also noted that examples from the same class may substitute):

Steam

• LNER A4 No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley – courtesy of the Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Trust and Locomotive Services Group
• SR Merchant Navy No. 35018 British India Line – courtesy of West Coast Railways Co
• LMS 6P No. 46115 Scots Guardsman – courtesy of West Coast Railways Co.
• LMS Jubilee No. 45596 Bahamas – courtesy of the Bahamas Locomotive Society
• SR Merchant Navy No. 35028 Clan Line – courtesy of the Merchant Navy Locomotive Preservation Society
• LMS Black 5 (specific loco TBA) – courtesy of West Coast Railways Co.
• Furness Railway No. 20 – courtesy of The Furness Railway Trust
• Coal Tank No. 1054 – courtesy of the Bahamas Locomotive Society

Diesel

• BR Class 37 – courtesy of Rail Operations Group
• Class 50 No. 50049 Defiance – courtesy of the Class 50 Alliance
• Class 57 – courtesy of Direct Rail Services
• Class 66 No. 66301 – courtesy of GB Railfreight
• Class 69 – courtesy of GB Railfreight
• Class 60 – courtesy of DCRail
• Class 108 DMU – courtesy of the Severn Valley Railway
• Class 47 – courtesy of West Coast Railways Co
• Class 50 No. 50033 ‘Glorious’ – courtesy of the Class 50 Alliance
• Class 35 D7076 – courtesy of the East Lancashire Railway and Bury Hydraulic Group
• Class 55 No. 55009 “Alycidon” – courtesy of Deltic Preservation Society
• Class 55 No. D9015 “Tulyar” – courtesy of Deltic Preservation Society
• Class 55 No. 55019 “Royal Highland Fusilier” – courtesy of Deltic Preservation Society
• Class 40 No. 40106 – courtesy of the Class 40 Preservation Society / Severn Valley Railway
• Class 43 No. 43159 (2+4 Formation – other powercar TBC) – courtesy of The 125 Group
• Class 33 No. 33012 – courtesy of 71A Locomotive Group
• Class 31 No. 31108 – courtesy of A1A Locomotives Ltd
• Class 57/0 – courtesy of West Coast Railways Co.
• Class 26 No. 26007 – courtesy of Victor Korzeniewicz

Electric

• Class 507001 – courtesy of the Class 507 Preservation Society
• Class 390 Pendolino No. 390119 in its Pride livery – courtesy of Avanti West Coast
• Class 91 No. 91110 Battle of Britain Memorial Flight – courtesy of London North Eastern Railway
• Class 331 – courtesy of Northern
• 4VEP No. 3417 – courtesy of the Bluebell Railway
• Class 91 No. 91101 Flying Scotsman – courtesy of London North Eastern Railway
• Class 465 No. 465908 James Green – courtesy of Southeastern
• Class 720 No. 720506 – courtesy of Greater Anglia

Bi-Mode

• Class 93 – courtesy of Rail Operations Group
• Class 755 – courtesy of Greater Anglia

Hydrogen Power

• Class 799 Hydroflex No. 799201 – courtesy of Porterbrook

Coaches / Wagons

• JNA-T Wagon – courtesy of DCRail and Cappagh Group
• Gold IIA-D wagon – courtesy of Drax Group
• Railway 200 Exhibition Train – courtesy of GBRTT / National Railway Museum / Railway 200 Team

5th March, 2025

Marcus & Cleo Have Another Bus Adventure into Cardiff!

After arriving in Cardiff Centre we started off in 'The Great Western' and I had a couple of pints of 'Up And Under', Cleo was on her Gin & Tonic.

I had to pop into 'Slaters' to get measured up for a suit for my sister's wedding.

We had a look around some shops and Cleo bought some bread pudding from the market.

We then went to the 'Gatekeeper' for some food, we had some pizza, chicken wings and loaded chips.

The Wetherspoon Beer Festival has started again, so I tried two pints of a festival stout.

Then it was the bus home.


The bus into Cardiff was Cardiff Bus/Bws Caerdydd 252, Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro 200 Classic, CE63 NZG - seen here on April 13, 2024
We took the same bus No. home.