Marcus' Model Railway Journey

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19th September, 2025

Steam adventure this weekend at the Epping Ongar Railway​

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34072 257 Squadron


This weekend (19-21st September) is the Epping Ongar Railway Southern Giants Steam Gala.

This gala sees three days of steam action, with three visiting locomotives joining 4953 ‘Pitchford Hall’.

34072 ‘257 Squadron’ visits courtesy of Southern Locomotives Ltd, and 926 ‘Repton’ will be making the visit from North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

Finally, Hunslet 3781 will visit for the weekend courtesy of The Watercress Line.
 
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926 Repton


An intensive timetable will be in operation, with trains running into the evening on Saturday.

With parking limited at both stations, the railway will be running a fleet of vintage London buses to provide connections to Epping Underground and Shenfield railway stations.

Want more out of the day? The railway is running footplate passes throughout the weekend as well as various exhibitions at Ongar station and a display of Malcom Root’s artwork.

For an additional charge, you can also travel in the Shark Brake Van, which will be attached to one of the coaching sets.


A timetable can be found by clicking here, and tickets for the weekend can be booked here.
 
19th September, 2025

Myfanwy diesel locomotive to visit Tanfield this weekend​

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Myfanwy diesel locomotive to visit Tanfield


Myfanwy, a striking yellow and black locomotive, will be making an appearance at Tanfield Railway’s ‘Diesel Pioneers’ event this weekend (20th and 21st September).

The locomotive is usually based at the Foxfield Railway and underwent a full restoration in 2019.

This is an interesting locomotive to have at the event due to its history.

Construction on three identical locomotives, including Myfanwy, began in 1961 by W.G. Bagnall, the firm, shortly after stopping their construction.


These parts were sent off to Darlington and completed by Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns in 1962.

The work done here was less known due to each of the locomotives keeping their ‘Bagnall’ builder’s name on the front.
 
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Myfanwy diesel locomotive to visit Tanfield


Myfanwy is the only remaining survivor and spent time at Royal Ordnance Factory at Pembrey in South Wales, and had an industrial career on the Jubilee line tube extension project in London.

Myfanwy will be joining three of Tanfield’s own diesel locomotives – Ribblesdale Cement No. 6, Tyne Improvement Commission No. 35, and Reyrolles No. 2.


Trains will run from 9 am til 4 pm, with tickets available in advance on Tanfield’s website and on the day.


“The North East pioneered commercial locomotive building. During 140-years or so the region built engines of all different shapes and sizes for railways across the globe. But Myfanwy is one of the most unusual stories.

“We’re here to celebrate the North East’s railway history, so it’s great to be able to tell Myfanwy’s story here in the North East where it was actually built … despite appearances.”

“Everyone knows the North East played a pioneering role with steam locomotives, but in reality the region also had a massive part to play in the early development of diesel and electric railway locomotives too”

Tanfield Railway General Manager David Watchman
 
22nd September, 2025

N2 Class steam locomotive passes steam test​

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N2 No. 1744 being overhauled at the North Norfolk Railway


A six-year overhaul of Gresley N2 Class No. 1744 is nearing completion, and passed its steam test in August, with a return to service planned for next spring.

No. 1744 is the oldest surviving locomotive designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, and is being overhauled at the workshops of the North Norfolk Railway at Weybourne.

Withdrawn from service for overhaul in late 2018, that has proved to be considerably more extensive and costly than expected.

The overhaul began in 2019, but both timescales and costs were impacted by the COVID-19 lockdown and the war in Ukraine.
 
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N2 No. 1744 at the North Norfolk Railway


After 1744 was stripped down, it was soon obvious that considerably more work was required than expected.

This has led to extensive mechanical and boiler work, culminating in a final overhaul cost of around £650,000.


It was in mid-December 2024 that 1744 arrived at the North Norfolk Railway.

Since then, the two carbon steel steam pipes from the superheater header to the steam chests have successfully undergone non-destructive testing and examination, all the historic welds have undergone magnetic particle inspection, and the thickness of the pipe wall was measured with an ultrasonic thickness gauge.
 
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1744 during an out of frame steam test last January


A hydraulic pressure test was carried out after clamping the two pipes together to form a single unit, then subjecting it to a hydraulic pressure test of 255psi, equivalent to 1.5 times the boiler’s safe working pressure.

Seventeen new washout plugs that have already been procured will now be fitted to the boiler; the superheater header is being prepared for hydraulic testing to 255psi, and all the lubrication pipework and fittings are being prepared for fitting to the locomotive during its reassembly.

Once everything has been reassembled, a final hydraulic pressure test of the boiler will be carried out, which will mark the start of the boiler’s ten-year boiler certificate.


The overhaul is initially being funded by the North Norfolk Railway, with the cost being recovered later through operation of the locomotive for a period without charge, although there is still a substantial funding shortfall to meet the final overhaul cost.

To meet this cost, the Gresley Society has launched The N2 Overhaul Completion Club to raise £100,000, with 100 people each donating £1,000 in up to eight instalments.
 
22nd September, 2025

Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust’s former colliery locomotive returns home​

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Kilmersdon


This autumn, 0-4-0 saddle tank Kilmersdon will be returning home when it hauls trains on the Somerset & Dorset Railway at Midsomer Norton in Somerset.

Kilmersdon is an R3 Class locomotive built in 1929 by Peckett & Sons, in Bristol, for the Somerset coalfields.

Although it is owned by the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust, it normally operates on the Watercress Line in Hampshire.

Kilmersdon was originally owned by the National Coal Board and spent most of its working life at Kilmersdon Colliery near Radstock, just a few miles from Midsomer Norton.
 
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Kilmersdon in Ropley Yard on the Watercress Line


After the colliery closed, the National Coal Board agreed that it should go to the Somerset & Dorset Railway Museum Trust, and in 1973, it was moved by road to Radstock.

In 1983, Kilmersdon spent time on the West Somerset Railway, and was usually to be found shunting at Washford, but also made occasional runs along the full length of the line.

By 2021, Kilmersdon was due for an overhaul, which took place in the Mid Hants Railway’s workshops at Ropley.

On weekends from October to Christmas, Kilmersdon will be the star of the Somerset & Dorset Railway at Midsomer Norton’s autumn steam season, where it will make nostalgic journeys through the Mendips with its whistle again echoing through the valleys.
 
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Kilmersdon passing colliery incline drum shed on 16th July 1969


At Halloween, there will be a choice of trains, with Kilmersdon offering a more relaxed ride through the steam-filled countryside, whilst a Haunted DMU will provide a spooky experience.


In December, Kilmersdon will star in the Santa Express services where carriages will be decked in festive finery, the scent of mince pies will permeate the air, and Santa will be in his grotto handing out gifts to the little ones.
 
22nd September, 2025

New livery for DRS Class 68 locomotive​

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68007 with 30 Years of DRS wrap


Direct Rail Services (DRS) was formed in 1995 and has celebrated 30 years of revolutionary work in the rail freight and nuclear industry.

What was previously a small and niche operator has now transformed into a well-known and respected company.

Earlier operations saw them focus on specialist freight services before moving into broader logistics.

These specialist services and safe transportation of nuclear material have covered millions of miles over the years.


Some key moments in their 30-year history have included the first intermodal services, the First nuclear service, and Kosovo Train for Life

To celebrate the 30th anniversary, a ceremony was held at Kingmoor depot in Carlisle on Sunday, 21st September.

During the ceremony, a “30 Years of DRS” locomotive wrap was unveiled, which was placed on 68007, complete with a new nameplate.


“DRS started with just seven employees, with the sole purpose of moving spent nuclear fuel, and has grown to a company of over 400 staff members and diversified into many different markets over the years.

“It now boasts some of the biggest names in retail as customers but remains committed to its core function of ensuring nuclear material is transported safely, securely and reliably.

“I was thrilled to be able to unveil this nameplate in the presence of everyone who makes this company such a fantastic place to work.”

Gottfried Eymer, DRS Rail Managing Director
 
22nd September, 2025

No. 778’s Last Appearance At The Leighton Buzzard Railway​

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No. 778


An event at the Leighton Buzzard Railway on the 26th October will be Baldwin 10-12-D 4-6-0T WDLR No. 778’s last appearance in steam before withdrawal.

It will appear at the railway’s end-of-season Halloween Jamboree alongside LBR-based Chaloner, together with Kerr Stuart ‘Wren’ 0-4-0ST Peter Pan and De Winton 0-4-0VBTs Taffy

No. 778 has been running on the Leighton Buzzard Railway since it was restored in 2007; however, its boiler ticket expires at the end of November, when it will go for overhaul.

Donations will be open to help with the cost of the overhaul.

For your chance to see this loco beforehand, you can book tickets online.


“We aim to ensure the overhaul of No. 778 is undertaken as rapidly as possible,”

“The Leighton Buzzard Railway, a line built with WW1 surplus equipment and opened in 1919 with its extensive collection of WW1 era locomotives and stock is the perfect home for No. 778 and doubtless will remain so into the foreseeable future. Our loco has been pulling LBR trains since 2007 and the trustees hope the required overhaul can be completed as quickly as possible to enable that to resume. The one factor which could hold up its return is available finance so any help people can contribute would be hugely appreciated by the trust and the railway.”

Greensand Railway Museum Trust chairman, Cliff Thomas.
 
22nd September, 2025

French shipping company acquire Freightliner UK​

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CMA CGM, a French shipping company, has announced that it has acquired Freightliner UK and includes the rail and road operations as well as the Freightliner brand.

CMA has confirmed that Freightliner will remain a standalone operator but says that it supports CMA’s shift from road to rail.

The acquisition is expected to be completed in early 2026.

Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the CMA CGM Group, said: “The acquisition of Freightliner, a leading rail freight operator, strengthens our intermodal presence in the United Kingdom, a strategic market for CMA CGM. It enables us to connect sea, rail and road more efficiently, delivering better solutions for our customers. It is also a concrete step in expanding lower-carbon transport options, supporting both their needs and the decarbonisation of global trade.”


Commenting on the divestment, Tim Shoveller, Chief Executive Officer of Freightliner Group, said: “This transaction marks an exciting new chapter for Intermodal and Heavy Haul, allowing each to focus on their distinct markets under separate ownership. The Intermodal business will become a stand-alone business within CMA CGM’s portfolio, with opportunities to collaborate with other arm’s length CMA CGM companies. Heavy Haul will continue its growth journey in the bulk materials sector under a new brand with a clear focus on strengthening its position as a key freight operator. Our customers will continue to receive the same high-quality leadership and operational teams, and we have robust plans in place to ensure a smooth transition of ownership.”
 
23 Sep 2025

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Transport for Wales sees rail punctuality improvement​


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TfW Class 756 FLIRT Radyr


Transport for Wales (TfW) continues to show an improvement in passenger service punctuality across the Wales and Borders network.

The latest figures published by the ORR reveals TfW achieved the greatest improvement in punctuality among all UK train operators between April and June 2025.

During this period, data shows that 83.7% of its services ran on time*- an increase of 1.5 percentage points compared to the same period in the previous year.

TfW was one of only five operators to show an improvement in punctuality during this period.

This improvement is following the introduction of the brand-new Class 756 trains on the Core Valley Lines (CVL) earlier this year, part of Welsh Government’s £800 million investment in new trains.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates said: “I am really pleased to see more evidence showing the benefit our £800m investment in new trains is having. It’s another milestone on our mission to transform our railways.

“I look forward to seeing more passengers in North Wales using reliable and on time TfW services on the North Wales Main Line, with the 50% increase in services from May 2026 thanks to Network North Wales.”

Marie Daly, Chief Operating Officer at TfW added: "Improving the customer experience has always been at the heart of what we're trying to do at TfW.

"Over the last few years, we've been continuously introducing brand-new trains to our network in a phased approach as part of Welsh Government's £800 million pound investment into brand-new trains in Wales."

"These new trains transform the customer experience onboard for our customers and we are now at a stage where they are having a really positive impact on our rail performance.

"The £800 million pound investment into brand-new trains is providing tangible improvements for all those who travel with us and we're looking forward to further improvements when we welcome our tram-trains to our network next year”.

​

  • The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) is an independent government body that oversees the economic and safety regulation of the UK’s railway network and monitors the financial performance of National Highways.
  • The period April – June 2025 represents the first quarter of the financial year.
  • *This data is collected using the Time to 3 method, which measures the percentage of station stops where trains arrived either early or within three minutes of their scheduled time.
  • The latest passenger performance figures from the ORR can be found here.

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Tuesday 23 Sep 2025

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£1.4m upgrade: Major work planned on the Conwy Valley line to improve resilience ahead of autumn weather​

Region & Route: Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

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Vegetation management


Buses will replace trains during the four-week closure, from the end of September, to remove high-risk trees and improve safety.

Network Rail and Transport for Wales will carry out essential work on the Conwy Valley line this autumn to reduce the impact of storms and high winds on train services.

From Monday 29 September to Sunday 26 October, the line between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Llandudno Junction will be closed for four weeks while engineers remove high-risk trees and vegetation close to the railway.

This proactive work will help prevent fallen trees and branches blocking the track during extreme weather.

Over the last decade, the Conwy Valley line has been closed for more than 500 days due to storm damage and fallen trees - one of the highest rates of weather-related closures anywhere on the Wales and Borders network.

To keep passengers moving during the closure, buses will replace trains between Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog.

This £1.4 million investment is part of a wider campaign to strengthen resilience against extreme weather caused by climate change, improve safety, and provide a more reliable railway for passengers and our freight customers.

The work will also create a safe walkway for railway workers and ensure the line is fully compliant with safety standards.

Passengers are advised to check before travelling at www.journeycheck.com/tfwrail and allow extra time for journeys.

Nick Millington, Route Director at Network Rail Wales & Borders, said:

"The Conwy Valley line is one of the most vulnerable sections of railway in Wales, with storms and high winds frequently causing long closures.

“By taking this proactive step to remove high-risk trees, we’re protecting the safe operation of the line for the future, reducing disruption for passengers and supporting communities who rely on this vital connection to North Wales and beyond."

Colin Lea, Planning and Performance Director at Transport for Wales, said:

“We support the removal of trees where they are potentially dangerous to railway operations. This follows numerous incidents of trees on the line, particularly following strong winds.

"This work shows the strength of our partnership with Network Rail in delivering long-term improvements for customers. While there will be some short-term disruption, once complete, the Conwy Valley line will be much more resilient to the challenges of autumn and winter weather."

We would like to thank passengers and local communities for their patience and understanding while this important work takes place.
 
Wednesday 24 Sep 2025

Marcus & Cleo Have Another Bus Adventure into Cardiff

We first popped into 'The Great Western' for a couple of drinks.

Then we went to my model railway shop and I bought a few things.

Cleo wanted to treat herself so we popped into a jewellery shop and bought two silver pendants.

One was an octopus and the other a symbolic design of a lotus flower, the flower of life.

Then we went to 'The Gatekeeper' for a few drinks.

I had a few pints of a different IPA - Wimbledon brewery's Quartermaine.

Then it was the bus home.


The bus into Cardiff was Cardiff Bus/Bws Caerdydd No. 257, ADL Enviro200, CE63 NZN
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24th September, 2025

Llanberis Lake Railway run shorter journeys until November​

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Dolbadarn at Llanberis


The Llanberis Lake Railway has announced that it will be running shorter passenger journeys temporarily due to the ongoing National Grid’s essential electricity cable replacement project.

The project has been ongoing since 2021 and will see a section of the railway handed over while cables that run under the railway are replaced.

This will see shorter services run from the 8th September until the 1st November.

The services will run from the main station at Padarn Country Park to their Llanberis station, which is a journey of around half a mile.


Both of their shops and cafe will remain open as planned, and the tickets offered will allow unlimited travel on the day of visiting.
 
24th September, 2025

Northern to trial Cryogrip this Autumn​

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Cryogrip technology


To help combat fallen leaves on the line, Northern is trialling a train fitted with cryogenic cleaning equipment known as Cryogrip.

The train, which will not carry any passengers, will be running between Bishop Auckland and North Road station in Darlington between scheduled services to help clear the line.

The Cryogrip train works by firing dry ice pellets at the railhead in a stream of air at supersonic speed, and was developed by engineers from the University of Sheffield
 
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Cryogrip


Once the leaves are frozen, they are then moved away from the line as the pellets return to gas form.


While the technology has been tested already on the Wensleydale Railway, this marks the first time it will be tested on the main line used by northern services.

Should the trial be successful, Northern plans to use it on trains which carry passengers in the future.


“Some people like to make jokes about wet leaves on the line. But when you have steel wheels running on a steel rail, any slippery substance that affects the grip is a big problem.

“There is a comprehensive plan in place to help our train crews deal with this, which includes forecasting, extensive mapping, railhead treatment trains and sanders.

“We are also keen to find out whether the cryogenic cleaning equipment is another effective tool which can be used on other parts of our network.”

Rob Cummings, Northern’s seasonal performance improvement manager
 
24th September, 2025

North Yorkshire Moors Railway to hold popular Steam Gala​

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No.41313


The North Yorkshire Moors Railway’s popular Steam Gala starts tomorrow (Thursday 25th September 2025).

The weekend will see an intensive timetable in operation for all four days, with popular visiting locomotives in action alongside the home fleet.

The first visiting locomotive is 34072 257 Squadron which is visiting from the Swanage Railway / Southern Locomotives Ltd. Next, 78019 will visit thanks to the Charles Newton Trust and the Loughborough Standard Locomotives Group Ltd.

Two tank engines also head to Yorkshire for the gala, with 41313 visiting from the Isle of Wight Steam Railway and 80078 visiting from the Mid Norfolk Railway / S Robinson.


These four visiting locomotives will join 44806, 5428 Eric Treacy, 926 Repton, 80136, 92134, 29 Peggy and No. 8 Lucie in operating trains at the gala.

Lucie will be operating brake van rides at Levisham, whilst the steam crane will be in action at Grosmont MPD.

1,2,3 and 4 day tickets can be booked online and a timetable can be found by clicking here.
 

200 Years of The Modern Railway 2025 UK £2​


Celebrating 200 years of the modern railway and the seminal journey that changed the world
William Webb’s reverse design portrays the revolutionary journey that took place on 27 September 1825
In tribute to the original locomotive, the coin features the edge inscription ‘ACTIVE · LOCOMOTION NO 1’

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Diameter: 28.4mm / Weight: 12.0g / Thickness: 2.50mm
Outer Composition - Nickel-Brass (76% copper, 4%)
Inner Composition - Cupro-Nickel (75% copper / 25% nickel)
Portrait - Martin Jennings

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September 25 2025

POST OFFICE STAMPS - NEW ISSUE

Steam Locomotives​


2025 (September 25 2025)
Commemorative

The steam locomotive was the machine that enabled the Industrial Revolution to advance, moving goods and people around the United Kingdom as never before.

Key to its development were Richard Trevithick and the father-and-son team of George and Robert Stephenson.

Trevithick was the first to have a steam locomotive pull a train, while George Stephenson designed both locomotives and the routes on which they could run.

Designed by Steers McGillan Eves
Size 60mm (h) x 30mm (v)
Printed by Cartor Security Print
Print Process Lithography
Perforations 14.5 x 14.5
Gum PVA

Locomotion No. 1​

1st
Opened the first steam-powered railway, 1825

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