Marcus' Model Railway Journey

11th March, 2026

Norfolk railway to run services with High Speed Train​

Ex GWR Castle class HST at Dereham


Visitors to the Mid Norfolk Railway on Sunday, 22nd March, can experience a taste of recent West Country railway history with a journey on a former Great Western Railway (GWR) high-speed train (HST).

The HST, now owned by the ROMIC Group, moved to Dereham Station on the Mid Norfolk Railway from the GWR’s depot at Laira in Plymouth.

The ROMIC Group is a specialist railway company, with a base at the Mid Norfolk Railway’s yard at Dereham.

It is mainly concerned with the procurement and sale of new and used locomotives and rolling stock, most recently purchasing redundant HSTs and then exporting them to Nigeria and Mexico.

The group also maintains an HST set and two Class 20s for hire in the UK.

Ex-GWR Castle class HST at Dereham


On Sunday, 22nd March, the HST will operate services between Dereham and Wymondham, and will include an in-train trolley service, similar to what was once a familiar sight when these units were in use by GWR.

The unit will be a cut-down version of a full-length HST, known as a ‘Castle’ set, which was used by the GWR for secondary mainline services in southwest England after their replacement by IETs on services between Penzance and Paddington.

Further information and booking details are online at www.midnorfolkrailway.co.uk.

HST power car No. 43093 at Dereham


“We are delighted to be able to offer another special HST running day to the MNR following the success of our running day last year. The HST used last year (43094/43122) is now back running on the mainline, and we are really pleased to have been able to acquire one of the last GWR Castle sets. We hope to see it in use for many more years to come, either in the UK or abroad.”

Simon Lowe, ROMIC Group’s Marketing & Hire Manager


“We are extremely grateful to ROMIC for giving us this special opportunity to share with our visitors the experience of travelling on these iconic trains. The HSTs were such an important part of British railway history. I am sure the day will be a great success, and everyone at the railway is looking forward to welcoming our passengers on the day.”

Samantha Tailor, General Manager of the Mid Norfolk Railway

11th March, 2026

Steam locomotive 6880 Betton Grange to visit the Swanage Railway​

6880 Betton Grange


The Swanage Railway has announced that GWR Grange No. 6880 Betton Grange will be visiting them for their Spring Steam Gala.

The gala will run from the 27th March until the 29th March.

6880, which is usually based at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway, visits thanks to the 6880 Betton Grange Society.

Betton Grange will haul trains alongside already announced visitors, 68067 and WD152 Rennes, as well as the home fleet of 34072 ‘257 Squadron’, 34070 ‘Manston’, 31806 and 563 as well as mainline resident, 34028 Eddystone.


“We are delighted to be hosting the first steam locomotive to be built to a Great Western Railway Company design since the early 1950s. Constructed between 1998 and 2024, No. 6880 ‘Betton Grange’ is a remarkable engineering achievement and a fine steam locomotive.

“Built in the early 1940s, the two wartime saddle tank Austerity steam locomotives also have a fascinating history and played an important part in hauling vital freight trains during the Second World War before going on to have busy railway careers with the coming of peace.

“We are delighted to be able to offer enthusiasts, and the public, such a wide variety of steam locomotives at work through the beautiful Isle of Purbeck countryside and past the dramatic ruins of Corfe Castle.

“I would like to thank all the dedicated volunteers who have worked so hard to plan and stage such a complicated event as our seven steam locomotive Spring Steam Gala which promises to be a wonderful and evocative taste of yesteryear,”

Spring Steam Gala organising committee chairman Alexander Atkins

11th March, 2026

Luxury £1,000 train ticket to take passengers to Cheltenham Gold Cup​

Northern Belle Class 57s at Blackburn


Around 300 passengers have paid up to £1,000 each to travel to the Cheltenham Gold Cup on the 13th March 2026.

Passengers will board from London Paddington on Friday morning, with a caviar brunch being served during the journey, as well as a five-course dinner on the way home.

The train will be hauled by West Coast Railways diesel locomotives throughout.


“Who says there’s a financial crisis – we sold out in record time and could have sold twice as many tickets.

“We’ve been running the train for several years, but we’ve never had such a response before.”

David Pitts

11th March, 2026

Yorkshire railway completes bridge repairs​

Ready for the 2026 season, Wensleydale Railway volunteers have been carrying out some essential maintenance to ensure they are ready for opening.

The line has numerous bridges along it, and the volunteers have been making repairs to a bridge at Stoop House Farm, near Leyburn.

The bridge had water damage, which was worsening and needed to be repaired as soon as possible due to its vital nature.

Volunteers removed vegetation, along with sections of rail and ballast, so that they could access the bridge deck and work on some masonry repairs.

A specialist contractor was then called in to install a waterproof membrane to protect the bridge, and then the ballast and rail could be reinstalled.


“This project took 5 weeks to complete and involved volunteers from our Vegetation, Direct Works and P-Way teams, as well as Operations and Office staff. We had a short window of time to complete this work, before our first scheduled train services of the year were due to start. The work required considerable co-ordination across our volunteer teams and much of the work was done in very poor weather. I would like to thank everyone involved in successfully completing this work”.

Graham Boyd, who led the project

11th March, 2026

New locomotive trial to potentially enhance performance and reduce emissions​

From left to right, Oliver Rumford-Warr, Managing Director at Fuelcare Ltd, Shaun Bayliss, Project Engineer at GB Railfreight, Graeme Bunker, Director at Treyarnon Consulting Ltd


A new partnership has begun this week to see if a new fuel additive can help boost diesel engine performance and reduce emissions.

The partnership is between GB Railfreight and Fuelcare, who specialise in fuel biocides and additives, and Treyarnon Consulting.

The additive could also extend the distance that GBRf locomotives can travel before needing to refuel.

The trial will run for 2 weeks until the 22nd March. GB Railfreight says that this is the largest fuel additive trial completed by a freight operator in the UK.

GBRf says that if it is successful, it could support other improvements across the fleet.

Maiden Newton Junction

Work taking place at the Evershot Tunnel