Marcus' Model Railway Journey

Status
Not open for further replies.
Concorde - Simply The Best - painting by Timothy O'Brien
train.jpg
 
10th June, 2025

London Northwestern Railway launches new fleet of five-car trains​

train.jpg

New Class 730/2 train


The first of 36 new Class 730/2 trains built by Alstom in Derby for the London Northwestern Railway entered service yesterday, Monday, 9 June.

The first service operated by a Class 730/2 was with units 730213 and 730233 on the 4.19 pm departure from London Euston to Northampton.

This followed an official launch last Friday, 6th June at Euston attended by Alstom’s UK and Ireland Managing Director Rob Whyte, UK and Ireland Rolling Stock and Components Managing Director Andy Butters, UK and Ireland Commercial Director Peter Broadley, and Customer Director Adrian Grigg.
 
1749570381379.png

Alstom’s Andy Butters and Rob Whyte at Euston to launch the Class 730/2


The Class 730/2 electric multiple units have five carriages, and the 36 new trains will provide an overall increase of 20% in seating capacity on routes to and from London Euston railway station.

There are charging points at every seat, and with open gangways and intelligent air conditioning, passengers will have a more comfortable journey.

The new trains will initially be used on services between London Euston and Northampton, with stops including Watford Junction, Tring, and Milton Keynes Central, but later this year will be introduced on services on the Trent Valley line to Crewe, calling at stations including Rugby, Nuneaton and Lichfield Trent Valley.
 
1749570471353.png

Interior of a new Class 730/2 train


The new Class 730/2s are part of the Aventra family of electric multiple-unit trains, and with 406 seats, the five-car Class 730/2 has significantly more seats than the average of 233 seats on the Class 350 trains they are replacing.

Many services will see Class 730/2s operating in pairs, to provide ten carriages with 812 seats, considerably more than a 12-carriage Class 350.

London Northwestern Railway is part of West Midlands Trains, which also operates West Midlands Railway services.

Three-carriage versions of the Class 730/2, Class 730/0s, are already in use across the West Midlands Railway network, operating services on the popular Cross-City Line in Birmingham, between Wolverhampton and Walsall, and between Rugeley and Birmingham International.
 
1749570555593.png

New Class 730/2 train


A Class 730 train will be among a host of other exhibits at the ‘Greatest Gathering’ at Alstom’s Litchurch Lane works in Derby in August.


“Our fantastic Class 730/2 fleet is the cornerstone of our £1 billion investment into the railway. They will make a real difference, bringing more capacity and modern features to the millions of commuters and leisure travellers who use our services to and from London each year. We are excited to bring these new electric trains onto our network, with the whole fleet expected to be rolled out by the end of 2026.”

Ian McConnell, Managing Director at London Northwestern Railway.
 
10th June, 2025

Steam locomotive 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley to visit Carlisle this Wednesday​

train.jpg

Sir Nigel Gresley (60007) waiting at Grosmont station for the final journey of the day to Pickering on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway on March 27, 2025


60007 Sir Nigel Gresley is to visit Carlisle this Wednesday, 11th June 2025, as it hauls The Fellsman.

Departing Crewe at 06:38, a diesel locomotive will take the train to Chester (07:09) before reversing at Chester South Junction.

60007 will haul the train from here and will return to Chester at 07:24 before heading to Carlisle via Frodsham (07:47), Warrington Bank Quay (08:02), Wigan North Western (08:18), Euxton Balshaw Lane (08:35), Blackburn (09:12), Clitheroe (09:41), Hellifield (10:46), Ribblehead (11:20), Garsdale (11:35), Appleby (12:01) and Carlisle at 13:15.

After time in Carlisle, the train will depart at 16:32 and will head back to Carlisle via Appleby (17:21), Garsdale (17:51), Ribblehead (18:08), Settle (18:22), Hellifield (18:58), Clitheroe (19:31), Blackburn (19:56), Euxton Balshaw Lane (20:24), Wigan North Western (20:36), Warrington Bank Quay (20:56), Frodsham (21:22), Chester (21:42), and Crewe at 22:13.
 
10th June, 2025

Eurostar announces new services to Germany and Switzerland with new €2 billion fleet of trains​

train.jpg

Eurostar


Eurostar has announced new destinations that it intends to operate with its new fleet of trains.

Up to 50 new trains could be in service from the early 2030s and these new trains will operate on new services between London and Frankfurt, London and Geneva and Amsterdam / Brussels – Geneva.

The 50 new trains will operate alongside 17 e320s and will see an investment of €2 billion.


Gwendoline Cazenave, Eurostar CEO, said: “We’re seeing strong demand for train travel across Europe, with customers wanting to go further by rail than ever before and enjoy the unique experience we provide. Despite the challenging economic climate, Eurostar is growing and has bold ambitions for the future. Our new fleet will make new destinations for customers a reality – notably direct trains between London and Germany, and between London and Switzerland for the first time. A new golden age of international sustainable travel is here.”

Alain Krakovitch, President of the Eurostar Group, Director of TGV-INTERCITÉS at SNCF Voyageurs, said: “2024 is an exceptional year, crowned by the successes of the Olympic Games.  Eurostar is in good shape to serve 30 million passengers and the ambition to develop our European services remains strong.”

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “I am pleased to welcome this exciting investment into Eurostar services, which is a huge step in promoting green travel across Europe and boosting our international rail connections.”

“Last month, I signed a landmark agreement to deliver a direct rail link between London and Switzerland, paving the way for direct commercial services. Today’s announcement by Eurostar shows that the government’s plan for change is rapidly strengthening the links between major cities in counties across Europe, creating more opportunities to travel, work, and socialise.”
 
11th June, 2025

Marcus & Cleo Have Another Bus Adventure into Cardiff!


When we arrived at the bus depot in Cardiff centre we were greeted with the sight of fire engines and emergency vehicles outside of Cardiff Central Railway Station.

All the passengers were evacuated outside of the station.

We wondered what had happened there, more later on this story.

We went to 'The Great Western' for a couple of drinks, Cleo is still drinking Vodka Raspberry Crush with lemonade.

I had a couple of pints of 'Reverend James'.

I popped into my model railway shop afterwards and I found an item to buy.

Then we went to 'Greggs' and bought a couple of baguettes to eat for lunch.

After lunch we returned to the 'The Great Western' for some more refreshment.

I had a couple of pints of 'Abott', then it was the bus home.


The bus into Cardiff was also the same bus back home it was Cardiff Bus/Bws Caerdydd 254, Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro 200 Classic, CE63 NZJ
train.jpg
 

Person hit by train​

Transport for Wales has confirmed there are a series of delays to rail services as a person has been hit by a train.

train.jpg

The entire station has closed as police, fire and ambulance deal with the incident
 
1749682309610.png

South Wales Fire Service has been called reports a person has been hit by a train at Cardiff Central


Man suffers life-changing injuries​

British Transport Police has confirmed the man hit by a train has suffered life-changing injuries.

A spokesperson said:

Officers were called to a report of a casualty on the tracks at 12.16pm today (11 June) at Cardiff Central Railway Station.
Officers, alongside fire service and paramedics, are in attendance and a man is being treated for potentially life changing injuries.
The incident is not thought to be suspicious.
 
11th June, 2025

First GB Railfreight Class 99 locomotives arrives in the UK​

train.jpg

Railing Class 99s


GB Railfreight has welcomed two of its new Class 99 locomotives into the UK, marking a major milestone in the project to bring 30 bi-mode Co-Co locomotives to the mainline.

The locomotives arrived in the UK at the Port of Bristol and will soon be taken to Leicester depot.

The locomotives will then undergo testing and driving training before entering service by the end of 2025.

The rest of the fleet will begin arriving in the UK in late 2025 and continue throughout 2026.
 
train.jpg

Class 99 with the cranes


Iñigo Parra, CEO of Stadler Valencia, said: “The arrival of the first two Class 99s in the country that will become their home represents a critical milestone in a project that will deliver a host of benefits to the UK economy. These vehicles will take freight transport to the next level, making the rail industry greener and heightening efficiency overall.”

John Smith OBE, Chief Executive Officer of GB Railfreight, said: “The new locomotives will enable businesses to transport their freight more efficiently. With both renewable fuels and electric capability, our Class 99s are built for a changing network and to meet the evolving demands of our customers.”
 
Wednesday 11 Jun 2025

1749683228716.png

Railway upgrade works between Bridgend and St Fagans, Cardiff​

Region & Route: Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

train.jpg

Generic Track Maintenance


Network Rail (Wales and Borders) is undertaking an essential programme of track renewal and maintenance work between Bridgend and St Fagans.

The works - which include renewing rails, sleepers, and stones under the track - are critical to maintaining the safety and reliability of the rail network. The work will involve a combination of day and night-time shifts to minimise disruption to passenger journeys as much as possible.

To allow teams to work safely and efficiently, St Fagans level crossing will be closed with a diversion in place for vehicles and pedestrians.
  • Saturday 21 June, 11pm until Monday 23 June, 6am
  • Saturday 5 July, 11pm until Monday 7 July, 6am
Please allow extra travel time.

During the works, some Great Western Railway (GWR) and Transport for Wales (TfW) services will be affected:
  • GWR trains will be diverted via Barry, extending journey times by up to 35 minutes and skipping stops between Bridgend and Cardiff.
  • A shuttle train service will operate between Swansea and Carmarthen.
  • Most GWR trains will depart earlier from Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot Parkway, and Bridgend.
  • TfW services will also be diverted via Barry.
  • A rail replacement bus service will run between Cardiff Central and Bridgend.
Up-to-date news for your journey plans can be found at www.journeycheck.com/tfwrail

Thank you to passengers and residents for their patience while this important maintenance takes place.
 
12th June, 2025

Narrow gauge steam locomotives to visit The Greatest Gathering​

train.jpg

Prince at Beddgelert


Four narrow-gauge steam locomotives are to visit The Greatest Gathering.

First up are Prince and Trangkil No. 4, courtesy of the Ffestiniog Railway and Statfold Barn Railway, respectively.

Completing the set of four locomotives are Anne from the Perrygrove Railway / Evesham Railway Adventure as well as Katie, thanks to the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway.

Both 2ft gauge and 15 inch gauge track will be installed at the Litchurch Lane site to offer passenger rides.
 
train.jpg

Ravenglass loco Katie


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
  • GWR Hall No. 4930 Hagley Hall – courtesy of the Severn Valley Railway
  • LMS Stanier Mogul No. 13268 – courtesy of the Severn Valley Railway
  • GWR King No. 6023 King Edward II – courtesy of the Didcot Railway Centre
  • LMS No. 46203 ‘Princess Margaret Rose’ – courtesy of the Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust
  • BR Standard 5MT No. 73129 – courtesy of The Midland Railway – Butterley
  • BR 9F No. 92214 – courtesy of the Great Central Railway
  • Locomotive No. 1 – courtesy of the National Railway Museum
  • Midland Railway No. 1000 – courtesy of the National Railway Museum
  • LMS Jubilee No. 45699 Galatea – courtesy of West Coast Railways Co.
  • George England ‘Prince’ – courtesy of the Ffestiniog Railway
  • Trangkil No. 4 – courtesy of the Statfold Barn Railway
  • Anne – courtesy of the Perrygrove Railway
  • Katie – courtesy of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway
Diesel
  • BR Class 37 No. 37501 ‘Teesside Steelmaster’ – 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
  • Class 58 No. 58023 – courtesy of Edward Stevenson
  • Class 20 No. 20007 – courtesy of Michael Owen
  • Class 20 No. 20205 – courtesy of Michael Owen
  • Class 70 No. 70008 – courtesy of Freightliner
  • Class 42 No. D821 – courtesy of the Diesel Traction Group
  • Class 47 No. 47715 – courtesy of Rail Engineering Solutions
  • Class 67 No. 67005 ‘Kings Messenger’ – courtesy of DB Cargo UK
  • Class 52 No. D1015 ‘Western Champion’ – courtesy of the Diesel Traction Group
  • Class 66 No. 66004 – courtesy of DB Cargo UK
  • Class 44 No. 44004 ‘Great Gable’ – courtesy of Peak Locomotive Company Ltd
  • Class 66 – courtesy of Freightliner
  • Class 37 – courtesy of West Coast Railways
  • Class 23 No. D5910 – courtesy of The Baby Deltic Project
  • Class 142 No. 142013 – courtesy of Midland Railway – Butterley
  • Class 40 No. D213 – courtesy of Shaun Wright / Andania Engineering
  • Class 43 HST Powercars x2 – courtesy of RailAdventure
  • Class 37 No. D6700 – courtesy of the National Railway Museum, Great Central Railway and Heavy Tractor Group
  • Class 50 No. 50035 Ark Royal – courtesy of the Class 50 Alliance
  • Class 50 No. 50044 Exeter – courtesy of the Class 50 Alliance
  • Class 47 No. 47593 Galloway Princess – courtesy of Locomotive Services Ltd
  • Class 45 No. 45118 The Royal Artilleryman – courtesy of Locomotive Services Ltd
  • Class 57 No. 57003 – courtesy of Locomotive Services Ltd
  • Class 24 No. D5054 – courtesy of the East Lancashire Railway
  • Class 56 No. 56301 – courtesy of DC Rail / Cappagh Group
  • Class 37 No. 37401 ‘Mary Queen of Scots’ – courtesy of Locomotive Services Group
  • Class 17 No. D8568 – courtesy of Diesel Traction Group
  • Class 46 No. 46045 – courtesy of Peak Locomotive Co Ltd
  • Class 57/3 – courtesy of West Coast Railways Co.
  • Class 55 No. D9000 – courtesy of Locomotive Services Group
  • Class 37 No. 37418 – courtesy of Loram UK
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
  • No. 12 Sarah Siddons – courtesy of Transport for London
  • Class 350 – courtesy of London Northwestern Railway
  • Class 92 No. 92011 – courtesy of DB Cargo UK
  • Class 323 No. 323221 – courtesy of Porterbrook
  • Class 90 No. 90040 – courtesy of Freightliner
  • Class 85 No. 85006 – courtesy of AC Locomotive Group
  • Class 83 No. 83012 – courtesy of AC Locomotive Group
  • Class 730 – courtesy of London Northwestern Railway
  • Class 87 No. 87002 – courtesy of Locomotive Services Ltd
  • Class 86 No. 86101 – courtesy of Locomotive Services Ltd
  • Class 86 No. 86401 – courtesy of West Coast Railways Co.
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
  • LMS Saloon No. 45029 – courtesy of Transport for London
  • 4 car 4TC set – courtesy of Transport for London
  • Inspection Saloon 975025 ‘Caroline’ – courtesy of Loram UK
Locomotive Groups
  • Front bogie and pair of driving wheels for 72010 Hengist – courtesy of The Standard Steam Locomotive Company
Other / Non-Rail Based Exhibits
  • G-NLSE, a Aerospatiale AS355F2 Ecureuil II – courtesy of Network Rail
  • Train Sim World Exhibit – courtesy of Dovetail Games
 
Thursday 12 Jun 2025

1749833257567.png


Bookings open for ‘Inspiration’, Railway 200’s unique exhibition train​

Region & Route: Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

train.jpg

R200 Inspiration PR Manager banner


Bookings have opened for visits to a unique exhibition train, part of a national celebration of the 200th anniversary of the modern railway called Railway 200.

The schedule for the train, named Inspiration, now covers 27 locations across England, Scotland and Wales to the end of the bicentenary year.

The train opens to the public on 27 June at the Severn Valley Railway in Worcestershire and will criss-cross Britain for 12 months, visiting 60 locations and showcasing rail’s past, present and future.

The tour for 2026 will be unveiled later this year.

Free tickets to board the train are now available to book for 27 June to 17 August and registrations of interest are open here for visits from 23 August to 20 December 2025.

Those who register their interest will be the first to be informed when new bookings open.

Curated in partnership with the National Railway Museum, Inspiration will be the only exhibition train on the rail network and will help to attract the next generation of pioneering talent to the railway.
 
train.jpg

Artist impression of Inspiration carriage Your Railway Future


Inspiration will comprise four eye-catching carriages.

Rail’s pioneering pedigree will be explored in a ‘Railway Firsts’ coach, highlighting landmark moments in rail’s development.

Alongside will be a ‘Wonderlab on Wheels’, inviting visitors to test their engineering skills with hands-on exhibits.

Next will be a ‘Your Railway Future’ carriage, showcasing some of the more hidden roles in rail and encouraging people to join the railway to shape the next 200 years.

The final coach is a ‘Partner Zone’, offering free, flexible exhibition space.

The carriages are currently being fitted out, supported by a £250k grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

More than 200,000 people, including many schoolchildren, are expected to visit by prior booking.

Admission to the train will be free, but normal entry charges to heritage railways and private sites where it is located will apply.

The train will visit the North East of England in September - rail’s 200th anniversary month - as part of S&DR200, a nine-month international festival inspired by the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR) in 1825, a journey that changed the world forever.
 
train.jpg

Artist impression of Inspiration carriage Wonderlab on Wheels


Bookings are now open for visits to:

DateDestination
27 June – 6 JulySevern Valley Railway, Kidderminster, Worcestershire
8 - 10 JulyBirmingham Moor Street station
12 - 15 JulyLondon Euston station
18 - 19 JulyLondon Waterloo station
20 – 21 JulyMargate station, Kent
23 – 29 JulyBluebell Railway, Sussex
1 – 3 AugustAlstom’s Litchurch Lane site, Derby (for The Greatest Gathering)
7 – 10 AugustNorwich station, Norfolk
11 – 14 AugustLowestoft station, Suffolk
16 – 17 AugustFreightliner Doncaster Railport, South Yorkshire
23 – 31 AugustNational Railway Museum, York (as part of the NRM’s 50th birthday)
10 – 17 SeptemberDarlington station, County Durham (as part of S&DR200)
20 September – 1 OctoberLocomotion museum, Shildon, County Durham (as part of S&DR200)
4 OctoberNewton Aycliffe, Hitachi Depot, County Durham (for the Hitachi Rail Open Day)
5 – 7 OctoberNorth Yorkshire Moors Railway, Grosmont
11 – 12 OctoberGlasgow Central station
13 – 14 OctoberBo’ness and Kinneil Railway
16 – 17 OctoberStrathspey Railway
19 – 20 OctoberAberdeen station
22 – 23 OctoberEdinburgh Waverley station
25 October – 2 NovemberKeighley and Worth Valley Railway, West Yorkshire (as part of Bradford UK City of Culture)
4 – 7 NovemberBlackpool North station, Lancashire
24 – 29 NovemberWest Somerset Railway, Bishops Lydeard
8 – 13 DecemberLondon Paddington station
14 – 16 DecemberSouthampton station
18 – 20 DecemberLondon Victoria station
 
1749834254098.png

Artist impression of Inspiration carriage Your Railway Future


Llandudno in North Wales will be added to the tour in November once dates are confirmed and further destinations are being explored for Wales in 2026.

No passengers will be carried on the train as it travels to its exhibition sites.

Booked visits will begin at 10am and the last entry will be at 4pm.

The train will close at 5pm.

Visits are expected to last up to an hour.

A virtual tour of the exhibition experience is planned for those who are unable to visit in person.

Emma Roberts, programme manager for Railway 200, a cross-sector, Government-backed bicentenary campaign, said: “This special exhibition train is set to become a new, national visitor attraction, providing an unforgettable experience for hundreds of thousands of people across Britain, including many schoolchildren. It will excite, enlighten, entertain and inspire them to take a fresh look at the railway, as part of its anniversary celebrations.”

To book and find out more about Inspiration visit www.railway200.co.uk/inspiration

For more on Railway 200 and how to get involved visit www.railway200.co.uk
 
train.jpg

Hero banner Artist impression of Inspiration carriage_Railway Firsts


About Railway 200

2025 marks the 200th anniversary of the modern railway, inspired by the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825, a journey that changed the world forever.

Under the banner of Railway 200, nationwide celebrations are planned throughout the year, showcasing how the railway shaped Britain and the world and how its pioneering pedigree continues today and is shaping tomorrow.

Railway 200 encourages everyone to join in this once-in-a-generation opportunity, whether that’s by displaying the Railway 200 logo, organising events and activities, running competitions, or sharing rail stories.
 
WATCH VIDEO:

Inspiration - Railway 200's Exhibition Train


train.jpg


About the National Railway Museum and Locomotion
  • The National Railway Museum in York has the largest collection of railway objects in the world and is the most visited free attraction in the region. It celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2025.
  • Locomotion hosts the largest undercover collection of historic railway vehicles in Europe, showcasing highlights of the national collection of railway vehicles in Shildon - the world’s first railway town.
  • The National Railway Museum in York and Locomotion in County Durham form part of the Science Museum Group.
  • Admission to both museums is free and visitors are encouraged to book in advance, visit: www.railwaymuseum.org.uk and www.locomotion.org.uk
For information about S&DR200 visit www.sdr200.co.uk
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top