Marcus' Model Railway Journey

22nd October, 2025

Double decker trains coming to Eurostar as order placed​

Eurostar new trains Note: Final design and livery not confirmed


Alstom and Eurostar have announced a €2 billion deal that will see up to 50 new double-decker trains built for use on the Channel Tunnel.

The initial order of 30 new trains comes with an option for a further 20.

The fleet will be named Eurostar Celestia and will be based on the Avelia Horizon platform.

The trains will have around 540 trains but if they operated in 400m formation (as they do currently), each service would have around 1,080 seats.

The trains will be interoperable across all five countries served today as well as Geneva and Frankfurt.

These new trains are expected to be in service by May 2031.

The new trains will operate alongside Eurostar’s fleet of 17 e320s.

Eurostar says it will maintain the entire fleet at Temple Mills depot in London, which will create 350 jobs at the depot.

The operator also says that they are the most sustainable fleet of trains that they have operated, with 97% recyclable components (25% made from recycled materials) and 20-50% energy savings compared to the current fleet.


“Placing this milestone order marks the concrete realisation of Eurostar’s ambitious growth strategy – to reach 30 million passengers by investing in a brand-new fleet. We’re particularly proud to bring double-decker trains to the UK for the very first time.

“Customers can expect a very special new train with Eurostar Celestia, which will offer exceptional comfort, a unique Eurostar experience and new surprises to be revealed. This is a golden age for international sustainable travel – and Eurostar is leading the race.”

Gwendoline Cazenave, CEO, Eurostar
“By choosing Avelia Horizon to renew its fleet, Eurostar is confirming its desire to combine technological performance, energy efficiency and passenger comfort. This new-generation train, designed to meet the demands of international very high-speed traffic, embodies our vision of sustainable and competitive European mobility,”

Henri Poupart-Lafarge, Chief Executive Officer of Alstom

22nd October, 2025

Inspiration virtual tour is now live​

Inspiration crosses Royal Border Bridge


The Railway 200 Inspiration Train has been travelling around the UK this year as part of the celebrations marking the birth of the modern railway.

It has visited numerous locations as part of the tour, with more set to be released for 2026 soon.

The unique exhibition train can now be viewed from anywhere in the world thanks to the release of a virtual tour.

Each carriage has been mapped in detail so that those who may not be able to visit in person can still experience the train.

People can now virtually see all of the artefacts and exhibits housed in the interactive train.

There is also some exclusive content on two of the National Railway Museum curators behind the train.

Inspiration comes highly recommended, with 9 in 10 people recommending it to a friend.

You can visit the tour online.

22nd October, 2025

‘Whistling Dragon’ to run on Welsh railway during half-term break​

Whistling Dragon


The award-winning Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways have announced that their popular ‘The Whistling Dragon’ steam service will return during this half-term holiday, in what it describes as a “mythical steam train adventure – where legends come to life.”

‘The Whistling Dragon’ will depart from Caernarfon Station, which will be decked out in spooky Halloween decorations, on Monday 27, Tuesday 28, Thursday 30 and Friday 31 October.

Caernarfon station was rebuilt in 2019 at a cost of £3.5 million.

The new Caernarfon station provides much-improved passenger facilities.

The building is designed to fit in with the spectacular surroundings, and is promoted by the railway as “a fitting gateway into the heart of the Snowdonia National Park”.

The Railway, which celebrated its platinum jubilee earlier this year, has created the steam train ride as a magical, dragon-themed adventure, which is inspired by the legendary Welsh Red Dragon.

Whistling Dragon passengers


After leaving Caernarfon station, which is adjacent to the historic Caernarfon Castle, the train will travel through the breathtaking landscapes and dramatic mountain views of Snowdonia.

Before the journey begins, young passengers will be given a special activity pack and will have the chance to take photos with the locomotive.

On board the train, passengers will be able to relax in dragon-themed carriages.

There will be fun activities which families can complete while the train winds its way to Rhyd Ddu, which is the railway’s highest station.

Hot, cold and alcoholic drinks and snacks will be available from the Buffet Carriage, and there is a toilet available on board for passenger use.

Whistling Dragon


The train will stop at Rhyd Ddu for half an hour, giving passengers the opportunity to explore, stretch their legs, and search for hidden dragons!

The train will return to Caernarfon after a trip lasting around three hours.

When the train gets back to Caernarfon, children will be able to exchange their completed sheets for a dragon sticker.

The railway also hopes that passengers will browse its gift shop’s themed souvenirs.


More information and tickets are available from the event’s web page.

Wednesday 22 Oct 2025

From steam to sustainability: how Taff’s Well continues to connect Wales’ transport past and future​

Region & Route: Wales & Western: Wales & Borders


Walnut Tree 1960s


Fifty years after the Walnut Tree Viaduct was dismantled, its legacy lives on in the Taff Trail just outside Cardiff - where history, sustainability and community now travel side by side.

Welcome to the latest in our series of heritage articles looking at buildings and structures across the Wales and Borders railway in celebration of 200 years of the modern railway.

Heritage can mean more than preservation and restoration.

At times, it’s more about remembering what came before, and making use of some of the remnants of the past today.

A fine example of this exists close to Wales’ only natural hot spring.

The village of Taff’s Well sits just north of Cardiff, nestled in the narrow Taff Valley between the steep slopes of the Garth Mountain and Craig yr Allt.

As well as being home to the spring, whose warm mineral waters have attracted visitors for centuries for their supposed therapeutic properties, the village also hosts a striking, slender brick monolith of a chimney.

It stands proud, and somewhat out of place, beside the busy A470 dual carriageway.

The faint lettering still visible on its side might mislead passers-by into thinking it is a modern folly, perhaps erected in 1977 to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.

In truth, it is neither chimney nor folly, and its story stretches back far beyond the 20th century’s royal celebrations.

What remains today of the Walnut Tree Viaduct, next to the A470

Taff's Well remains of old Viaduct

Taff's Well Walnut Tree Viaduct in 1960s


Turn of the century

For over 80 years, the imposing Walnut Tree Viaduct dominated the skyline over Taff’s Well, carrying heavy freight and passenger trains across the river.

Built by the Barry Railway Company in the 1890s, it was originally designed to carry coal and iron from the busy South Wales Valleys to the newly established Barry Docks - a port created to ease pressure on Cardiff’s overcrowded Bute Docks.

Its rural name contracts sharply with the industrial might the viaduct represented, and comes from a nearby farm and inn, which were well known coaching stops long before the railways arrived.

Completed in 1901, the viaduct was an imposing sight.

The design featured steel lattice girders resting on tall masonry piers, the longest span stretching 300 feet.

At over 1,200 feet in total length and rising 120 feet above the river, it was visible for miles around, the rhythmic clatter of steam locomotives part of daily life for the villagers living in its shadow.

It took three years and around seven million bricks to complete, and alongside the impressive seven girders, it earned the reputation as one of the finest railway spans in Britain.

Walnut Tree viaduct retained its strategic importance to the national rail system for decades.

The line it carried remained a vital artery until the 1960s, but then the shifting tides of industry and the Beeching-era cuts reshaped the rail map of South Wales.

The need for the viaduct dwindled, and between 1969 to 1974, piece by piece, entirely by hand (owing to the congested valley bottom below), it was dismantled.

Today, only two of its towering stone piers remain – monuments to the viaduct’s former glories.

One is mainly hidden by trees, while the other remains prominent and is adorned with well-wishes for the previous monarch.

The public watch the dismantling of the viaduct circa 1970

Back to today

You may think the loss of the line and the remnants of the viaduct are the end of this story.

However, the line’s former path through the landscape continues to be used, not by rail enthusiasts, but by walkers, joggers, cyclists, and more.

This is because much of the former railway alignment is now part of the stunning Taff Trail, a 55-mile traffic-free corridor from Cardiff Bay to Brecon that follows the track laid down at the height of the steam era.

In this way, the Walnut Tree Viaduct’s role as a transport link continues, albeit in a greener, quieter form.

Its transformation mirrors a broader shift across the UK, where disused railways are being reimagined as sustainable travel and tourism routes, preserving history while serving present-day needs.

An aerial shot of the Transport for Wales Metro depot in Taff's Well

And what about tomorrow?

Taff’s Well remains an important point on Wales’ active rail network.

The main Cardiff-to-Merthyr line still runs through the village, and Taff’s Well station is a busy commuter stop.

Network Rail and Transport for Wales are investing heavily as part of the South Wales Metro project, with a new depot, modernised station facilities, and improved services planned.

While the Walnut Tree Viaduct is gone, its legacy endures in the towering stone piers that frame the valley, and in the trail that follows its course.

Steel, stone and sustainability bind the past, present, and future of this village together, and long may that continue.

Avanti West Coast train

23rd October, 2025

Class 56 locomotives set for South Devon Railway gala​

56045 in its BR Blue livery


The South Devon Railway has announced that two Class 56 locomotives will be visiting for their upcoming diesel gala.

Class 56s 56045 and 56103 will be visiting courtesy of DCRail and will be first ever 56s to work the Totnes to Buckfastleigh line.

The Class 56s are usually seen hauling heavy freight trains.

56045 will be hauling its first train in its new BR Blue livery whilst 56103 will appear in DC company colours.

It is expected that one Class 56 will be in use each day, with the second on static display.

24th October, 2025

A weekend full of steam at the Vale of Rheidol Railway!​

No. 8 Llywelyn departs Aberystwyth for Devils Bridge on the Vale of Rheidol Railway


The Vale of Rheidol Railway is holding its Steam Festival this weekend (25th and 26th October 2025).

The railway says that it is one of its most ambitious events to date, with the headline news being No. 9 Prince of Wales returning from overhaul in BR Corporate Blue livery with cab-side double arrow branding.

The loco will also be running for the first time with its air pump concealed in its water tanks.

It will also mean that for the first time in many years, the railway has three Rheidol tanks all in steam.


Joining No. 9 in action will be:

• No. 7 “Owain Glyndŵr”, freshly repainted in BR lined green
• No. 8 “Llywelyn”, in BR black with lion-holding-wheel crest.
• NGG13 Garratt No. 60 “Drakensberg”

Five trains a day will run between Aberystwyth and Devils Bridge, with one service each day being double-headed by two Rheidol tanks.

At Aberystwyth, Pete Waterman’s Making Tracks layout will be in operation, and Wren will be providing driver experiences for visiting members of the public.

Completing the lineup will be Albatross Models in the Engine Shed and a lineup of model road steam engines.


“The return of No. 9 to traffic in BR Blue is a landmark moment for the Vale of Rheidol. It’s one of the only three steam locomotives ever to authentically carry this livery, and to see it back in Railway200 year – alongside Nos. 7 and 8 in green and black – makes this festival a real celebration of our unique BR heritage. Add in the Garratt, an intensive timetable and a host of model and road steam exhibits, and it promises to be a true festival of steam in every sense.”

Vale of Rheidol Railway Managing Director, Llyr ap Iolo

24th October, 2025

Volunteers to swap steam power for muscles for loco restoration appeal​

restored and repainted hand pump trolley


Volunteers from the Kent & East Sussex Railway (K&ESR) are to take part in a novel sponsored challenge to raise funds towards the restoration of GWR 0-6-0 Pannier Tank No. 1638.

Over the first weekend of November, the volunteers will swap steam power for muscles to record a cumulative 200 miles of travel along the railway, starting from Tenterden Town Station at 7 am on Saturday, 1st November, and finishing there at around 5 pm the following day.

Pannier Tank No. 1638


The challenge comes from using the railway’s recently restored and repainted hand pump trolley as their means of transport.

The trolley is the same one that achieved international fame in 1989 by setting a new world record for the fastest pump trolley run over a measured distance of 300 metres.

That run featured on the popular BBC TV programme Record Breakers, and is still thought to stand.

Mileage will be accumulated along a flat stretch of the line between Rolvenden and Wittersham Road stations.

Working in teams of four, including a qualified driver, the volunteers will take turns to power the trolley, running in timed slots between 7 am and 5 pm each day.

A target of £163,800 has been set to raise funds for the 1638 Appeal, with £56,000 already donated or committed in regular giving; No. 1638 is currently being restored at a site in Cornwall.

Team of Record Breakers with Roy Castle



Donations in support of the Challenge can be made on the K&ESR’s 1638 Appeal page https://kesr.org.uk/donate/anniversary-appeal/.

Last year, volunteers from the Kent & East Sussex Railway (K&ESR) planted some Elm trees along the line to help replace those lost by the ravages of Dutch Elm Disease in the 1970s.

The Pump Trolley in use at Northiam in 1912


“I wanted to combine a volunteer effort to raise money for the 1638 Appeal with doing something to mark Rail 200, and I thought using the pump trolley would be a fun way to do that. This year is also the 125th anniversary of the opening of the original Rother Valley Railway between Robertsbridge and Tenterden. The return to the rails of our Pannier Tank locomotive 1638 is a key part of plans for passenger services once the extended line from Bodiam and Robertsbridge Junction reopens.”

Sarah Tagart, a 29-year-old K&ESR volunteer, who came up with the idea for the challenge

Petersfield level crossing

Continued from https://forum.thenorthpacific.org/topic/9195683/post-10747868 and https://forum.thenorthpacific.org/topic/9195683/post-10748199​

Monopoly​

October 16 2025
Commemorative

Philatelic Numismatic Cover​

ETHNONRAIL UPDATE

TRAIN SHED LATEST

Track straightening and fishplate/joining checks carried out on 'Moira Yard Sidings'.

'Up' and 'Down' Mainlines in the centre, two loop lines on either side.

Bottom turnout/point leads to the branch line and traction depot.

After a bit of straightening and aligning of the track, an error is discovered and needs to be fettled.

It's the only problem using 'Flexi track' sections, the need to be cut to fit.

My Hornby R505 Hornby Fowler Class 4P 2-6-4T 2312 in LMS crimson lake on the layout​

Unpacking one of my latest acquisitions.

Coronation Scot Train Pack (Coronation Class - Princess Alexandra)​

Limited Edition Coronation Scot Train Pack consisting of a 4-6-2 Coronation Class Streamlined Locomotive number 6224 Princess Alexandra in LMS Blue.

There are two First Class Coaches numbered 1069 and 1070 and a First Class Brake coach numbered 5062.

All coaches carry Coronation Scot destination boards.

8P Coronation Class​

Type: Steam
Designer: Sir William Stanier
Weight: 161 tons (including tender)
Purpose: Heavy Express Passenger

Information: Introduced by the LMS in 1937, the Coronation / Duchess Class remains the most powerful steam locomotives built in Britain.

Early locomotives in the class were built with streamlined casings that were later removed; while later built locomotives never received the distinctive casings.

Details: Ever increasing train sizes, speed, and a very public race for prestige passenger traffic to the North were all factors leading to the highly distinctive streamlined Coronations developed for the Coronation Scot service.

The named service from London to Glasgow commenced with the highly distinctive blue and silver matched locomotive and coaching stock was inaugurated in 1937.
Sir William Stanier took over as Chief Mechanical Engineer with the LMS in 1932 and is credited with the success of only Pacific locomotive designs built by the LMS.

The LMS was the largest constituent of the four grouped railway companies.

Prior to the Princess Class being introduced in 1933, the LMS had relied on venerable 4-6-0 Royal Scot’s and Patriot classes, plus a multitude of dated 4-4-0 designs having to be double headed in order to haul their respective services.

The first batch consisted of five locomotives being built at Crewe and entering service during 1937.

Five more streamlined locomotives were turned-out between 1937 and 1940.

In total 24-streamlined locomotives were eventually built as construction continued during World War 2.

An additional 14-examples were turned-out with-out streamlined casings, prior to the final locomotive entering service in 1948.

The last two locomotives were built under the direction of H.G. Ivatt and featured differences in design such as roller bearings and larger super-heated grating surfaces.

Locomotives fitted with streamlined casings were stripped between 1946 and 1949.

The casings had little benefit and seen as a hindrance to maintenance servicing.

However, the distinctive appearance of the locomotives with their matched train sets was magnificent.

A number of liveries were carried by class members, some being repainted on numerous occasions.

Original streamlined locomotives were painted in Caledonian Blue with silver speed whiskers and horizontal lining.

The second batch was painted in similar fashion; but in maroon and gold.

During the war most were repainted utility black.

After the war ended and British Railways was formed most members were repainted in the Express Blue with white lining favoured for express passenger locomotives of the period.

By 1951 class members were being repainted in BR lined “Brunswick Green”.

Eventually all 38-members were repainted in this livery.

After 1957, a total of 16 class members all based south of the Scottish Region border were repainted in lined BR maroon livery.

The first three locomotives were with-drawn in December 1962.

By October 1964 the entire class had been removed from service.

Three members have survived into preservation.

In May 2009 No. 6229 Duchess of Hamilton re-entered active steam preservation status re-built with the streamlined casing.