Marcus' Model Railway Journey

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Class 230​
 
3rd April 2023

Swanage to Wareham: Last passenger becomes first conductor driver​

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Peter Frost & SR Wareham Class 117 heritage diesel train Corfe Castle

A dedicated volunteer who travelled on the last British Rail train from Swanage to Wareham as a child in 1972 is to be the conductor driver on the first Swanage Railway passenger train into Wareham using the heritage line's 1950s diesel train.

Peter Frost, from Swanage, was one of the first to start rebuilding the Swanage Railway, and will be in the cab of the former British Railways diesel multiple unit on Tuesday 4 April.

The four-carriage train will form the 10.44am Corfe Castle to Wareham train and the return 11.19am Wareham to Corfe Castle and Swanage train.
 
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Swanage Railway Class 117 Wareham heritage diesel train Corfe Castle

Tuesday marks the first day of a four-day-a-week trial heritage diesel train service from the main line at Wareham into the heart of the Isle of Purbeck between 4 April and 10 September 2023.

Swanage Railway Trust chair Gavin Johns describes the trial as “working in partnership”.
 
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Last BR Swanage train at Wareham 1 January 1972

For the first time, the Swanage Railway will be using its restored and upgraded 1950s heritage diesel trains, which British Rail used across its network from the 1950s to the 1990s to operate the eleven mile service from Swanage.

One mile of the journey will be on the Network Rail main line from Worgret Junction into Wareham station.
 
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Also on the 11.19am train from Wareham to Swanage on Tuesday will be Swanage Railway Trust director Peter Sills who, as a 13-year old, travelled on the last British Rail passenger train from Swanage to Wareham on the evening of Saturday 1 January 1972, and who still has his ticket from that last diesel train.

65-year-old Peter, who is from Wareham, travelled on that last British Rail train with his late father Frederick.

Now, 51 years later, he will be travelling on the first train from Wareham to Corfe Castle and Swanage with his 16-year old son Frederick who is a keen member of the Swanage Railway's popular Sygnets youth group.
 
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Last day of BR trains Corfe Castle with 13 yr old Peter Frost 1 January 1972​

The ninety-day trial Wareham service operates on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays until 10 September 2023.

The first train will depart Wareham at 11.19am and the last train will leave Swanage for Wareham at 4.20pm, thus enabling visitors to spend four hours in Swanage or Corfe Castle.

The timetable may be different on Swanage Railway special event days.

From the end of April, tickets for the Swanage Railway's Wareham service will also be available from South Western Railway, so passengers will be able to buy tickets for Corfe Castle and Swanage to add on to their main line tickets.

This will be the first time in 51 years – since British Rail controversially closed and lifted the Swanage branch line in 1972 – that such a main line ticket facility for train travel to Swanage has been made available.

The Wareham trains will be operated and staffed for the Swanage Railway by West Coast Railways, one of Britain's leading main line charter and special train operators.

A Swanage Railway conductor driver and conductor guard are required to be on the Wareham trains with the West Coast Railways driver and guard.
 
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Last day of BR trains Corfe Castle 13 yr old Peter Frost 2nd from right 1 January 1972​

The four-trains-a-day service from Wareham will be formed of a three-carriage heritage Class 117 diesel multiple unit that can have a one-carriage heritage Class 121 diesel multiple unit added at busy times, giving a total of 292 seats.

The two heritage diesel trains have been restored and upgraded for the Swanage Railway by specialist contractors who fitted the same technical, signalling and safety equipment that is installed on trains running on the national railway network.

The conductor guard on the first day of the Swanage Railway's Wareham heritage diesel train service will be volunteer guard and signalman Trevor Parsons.

Trevor is chair of the Swanage Railway Company – which runs the heritage trains – and a director of the Swanage Railway Trust which manages the volunteer-run heritage line.

During the summer of 2017, the Swanage Railway operated a 60 selected day trial train service from Wareham using hired-in diesel locomotives and carriages operated and staffed by West Coast Railways.

The Swanage Railway had hoped to operate a second year 90 selected day trial train service from Wareham during 2018 but this was delayed and then the Covid pandemic hit with further delays caused its practical and economic effects.

Tickets for the trial heritage diesel train service between Wareham, Corfe Castle and Swanage are available at the Swanage Railway website.

Peter Frost said:

“It will be a great moment when our 1950s heritage diesel train runs into Wareham for the first time and then out ten minutes later bound for Corfe Castle and Swanage – something that several generations of dedicated and determined Swanage Railway volunteers have worked towards since 1972.

“As a 13-year old, I rode on the last British Rail train from Swanage to Wareham on that cold night in January, 1972, and watched the depressing sight of the track ripped up for scrap during that hot summer when it seemed the Swanage branch line would never come back. Rebuilding the line and returning trains to Wareham seemed impossible.

“I remember the first day of restoration work at a disused and boarded up Swanage station in February, 1976, when most people thought we were mad. We ran our first fledgling diesel trains in 1979 and the first steam trains over a few hundred yards of hand-laid track at Swanage in 1980,” added Peter who grew up in Corfe Castle and drives steam locomotives on the Swanage Railway.

Peter Sills said:

“Riding on the first train from Wareham in the Swanage Railway's heritage diesel train with my son – 51 years after riding on the last British Rail train from Wareham to Swanage in 1972, with my late father – will be a very special piece of history and rather poignant. It will be like turning back the clock.”

Gavin Johns, the volunteer chairman of the Swanage Railway Trust, said:

“This trial train service is the result of working in partnership with the Government's Coastal Communities Fund, the Department of Transport, the former Purbeck District Council, Dorset Council, British Petroleum, Perenco, Network Rail and South Western Railway.

“I would like to thank our valued stakeholders for their far-sighted investment of £5.5 million to re-connect Swanage and Corfe Castle with the main line at Wareham which included £1.8 million from the Government's Coastal Communities Fund so we could restore and upgrade our 1950s heritage diesel trains for running on the main line directly into Wareham station,” added Gavin who is also a volunteer Swanage Railway signaller.

Trevor explained:

“I would like to thank our stakeholders for their help and patience over many years with a complicated and historic project that has been as ambitious as it has been challenging.

“The Wareham service would not be possible without Purbeck District Council committing £3.2million from housing developers' transport improvement contributions for re-signalling improvements between Wareham, Worgret Junction and the Swanage Railway as part of Network Rail's Poole to Wool re-signalling scheme,” added Trevor.

Purbeck Community Rail Partnership chairman, Councillor Mike Whitwam, said:

“This trial train service to Wareham marks an important opportunity to return to a fully-functioning and sustainable rail service that meets the needs of local communities, visitors and businesses.

“The trial service holds the prospect of Isle of Purbeck residents travelling anywhere possible by rail, leaving their cars at home and taking traffic off the congested A351 road,” added Mike who is a Swanage Railway Trust trustee and Swanage town councillor.
 
4th April 2023

Colas Rail/Alstom consortium to build part of new Paris Metro line​

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Alstom Line

A contract for the second section of Grand Paris Express Metro's line 17 has been awarded by Société du Grand Paris to a consortium between Colas Rail and Alstom, with Colas Rail leading the contract to supply the track, rigid overhead catenary system, and linear equipment.

When the line is complete, trains will take less than 25 minutes to travel the length of the 26.5 km line through 13 municipalities.

There will be nine stations between Saint-Denis Pleyel and Le Mesnil-Amelot, making travel easier for nearly 565,000 inhabitants.
 
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Artist's impression of Alstom's Metro Line 17 train

In the second section of line 17, the Colas Rail / Alstom consortium will supply and install 10 km of track, the rigid overhead catenary system, and the linear equipment between Le Bourget Airport and Parc des Expositions located near Roissy.

This section of line will include work in a tunnel, on embankments, and on a viaduct over 3 km.

Up to 200 employees will be involved in the project, and the first work will start by mid-2024.

Awarding this contract to Colas Rail / Alstom consortium demonstrates Société du Grand Paris's confidence in the consortium and confirms their expertise in this type of integrated infrastructure contract.

It also demonstrates both companies' ability to work together on multidisciplinary projects in railway equipment and systems.
 
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Colas Rail Alstom consortium tunnelling on another Metro line

Colas and Alstom have previously worked together on several significant projects including the southeast section of the Grand Paris Express line, tramways in Reims, Nice, and Bordeaux, and the Nimes-Montpellier high-speed line bypass.

They have also recently won a contract to supply an integrated rail system to extend the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project in the Philippines.
 
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Interior of Alstom's Metro Line 17 train

During construction, particular attention will be paid to environmental and social impacts, such as limiting greenhouse gas emissions by using low-carbon concrete made from cement produced by reducing energy consumption, and rolled rails made from steel produced from a low energy-consumption process.

Other initiatives include using electric vehicles, LEDs for tunnel lighting, treating rainwater, and establishing a treatment and recycling station for residues from the tracks' concrete.

To promote employment opportunities, the site will facilitate access to training for young people through apprenticeship contracts, work-study programmes and internships at all levels including training for workers, supervisors and engineers.

To promote professional inclusion on site, a large proportion of the labour hours will be reserved for people on long-term unemployment. In addition, a percentage of the supply of work and systems will be reserved for VSEs and SMEs.
 
4th April 2023

Amey Rail fined £533,000 after worker suffers electric shock injury​

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Track outside London Paddington Station, near Kensal Green​

Following an investigation and prosecution by the industry regulator the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), Amey Rail Limited (ARL) has been fined £533,000 for an offence under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

Amey Rail Limited pleaded guilty to the offence and has been issued with a fine of £533,334, ordered to pay costs of £41,000, and a victim surcharge of £181.

The incident happened on 25 December 2019, when Mr Allister Hunt who was a self-employed senior linesman working for Amey, was carrying out remedial ‘snagging' works to overhead lines 2.5 miles outside London Paddington Station, near Kensal Green.

Whilst the on-site team were working they were unaware that they were outside an area that had been electrically isolated.

As a result, when Mr Hunt touched a contact wire it was still live carrying 25,000 volts.

That caused electric-shock injuries, with Mr Hunt suffering 55% burns that have since required skin grafts; Mr Hunt's eyesight and hearing were also both affected.

In its report, the Office of Rail and Road found that:
  • Amey Rail Limited did not have an effective and adequate system in place to ensure that the process of planning the works was carried out in a way that ensured the health and safety of those working on electrical lines;
  • Amey Rail Limited had not implemented effective systems to supervise the safe conduct of the works;
  • Amey Rail Limited had failed to ensure that a Test Before Touch regime had been properly and adequately carried out. Test Before Touch is a method of proving that electrical conductors are dead before persons are allowed to work on or near them and is a fundamental safety requirement that is included in Network Rail's Life Saving Rules.
In his report, Ian Prosser, Chief Inspector of Railways, said:

"Mr Hunt suffered terrible, life-changing injuries, and could have died because of Amey Rail Limited's inadequate measures."

“We welcome this judgement and we hope it sends a clear message to anyone responsible for work on the railway about the need to safeguard those working on it.”
 
4th April 2023

London North Eastern Railway research shows UK’s best spring scenes​

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Azuma train on mainline​

According to recent research by London North Eastern Railway (LNER), the historic city walls that surround York's city centre, picturesque green woodland at Kew Gardens, and idyllic glades in Hampshire's New Forest are some of the best spring scenes in the UK

These locations accounted for 56 per cent of the most peaceful settings in the UK, whilst Ullswater, the second largest lake in the Lake District, and London's St James's Park and Richmond Park were among the top ten spots for beautiful displays of spring.
 
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York – a ‘Green Guide' city​

When questioned on why these natural hotspots ranked highly, 42 per cent of Brits said they provided a beautiful backdrop to help clear the mind, 34 per cent helped them feel at ease, and 32 per cent said they were underrated areas of natural beauty.

Half (51 per cent) of those questioned noticed an improvement in their mood when they were outdoors, 34 per cent intended to get into nature more after the long winter, and 32 per cent were keen to discover and share ‘hidden gems' with their loved ones this spring.

Almost half (43 per cent) have fewer feelings of stress, 31 per cent feel less anxiety, whilst 27 per cent have more time to process their thoughts when they are immersed in natural surroundings.
 
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Durham – a ‘Green Guide' city

The research was commissioned to launch the third issue of London North Eastern Railway's free ‘Green Guides' tourist guide series and found that spending just small bursts of time with nature can help, with it taking just 14 minutes to feel the benefit.

The Green Guides series provides details of eco-friendly places to eat, drink and stay.

The latest edition focuses on Dundee, Durham, and York, whilst previous editions have recommended places in Inverness, Harrogate, Lincoln, London, Edinburgh, and Newcastle.
 
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Dundee – a ‘Green Guide' city

Over a third, (38 per cent) of those surveyed believe it's important to preserve and protect natural scenes.

To this end, all destinations covered in the guides are easily accessible by train, which is the most sustainable mode of transport and helps reduce the impact on the environment.

Among other top reasons for immersing themselves in the great outdoors, 45 per cent of Brits stated taking a break from screens, 67 per cent mentioned breathing in fresh, cool air, 45 per cent listed spending quality time with family and friends, and 44 per cent for spotting animals in their natural habitat.

Contributors to the ‘Green Guide' series include London North Eastern Railway's colleagues and customers, Dundee City Council, Visit Durham and Make it York, with them all revealing their local hotspots and hidden gems. The ‘Green Guide' series can be downloaded free at www.lner.co.uk/greenguides

Top 10 ‘Spring Scene' locations uncovered by the research are:
  • Kew Gardens, London (17%)
  • New Forest, Hampshire (13%)
  • Ullswater, Lake District (11%)
  • St. James' Park, London (10%)
  • Richmond Park, London (9%)
  • The North York Moors, York (8%)
  • Greenwich Park, London (7%)
  • York City Walls, York (7%)
  • York Minster, York (7%)
  • Castle Howard and Yorkshire Arboretum, York (7%)
David Horne, Managing Director at LNER, said:

“Getting out into nature whether near to home or further afield makes us all feel better and our research has shown that your physical and mental well-being can decline if you don't venture outside for at least 23 minutes a day, on average.

“For those looking to explore the UK this spring, our LNER Green Guides feature distinctive natural hotspots and historic and cultural attractions that are working hard in their pursuits to become more environmentally friendly. We know trains are the most sustainable form of transport, so visitors to Dundee, Durham and York can use these free, downloadable tourist guides and be safe in the knowledge that they're also having a positive impact on the environment, as well as their own personal wellbeing, when out exploring.

For those who really want to see the environmental impact of their travel through different modes of transport – LNER's carbon footprint calculator calculates the CO2 emissions for each trip, showing the difference that a journey made by rail could have.”
 
5th April 2023

Epping Ongar Railway welcomes on-loan carriage​

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MK 1 35207 BSK brake corridor second built at wolverton in 1958 has also carried the number 99544 seen at Sheffield park on the blue bell railway in carmine and cream livery​

The Epping Ongar Railway will run an additional passenger carriage during its 2023 season, having received it on loan from Torrington Coastal Restorations.

The British Railways Mark 1 carriage, dating from 1958, numbered 35207, is of a type known as a Brake Corridor Second (BSK).

It seats 32 passengers in four compartments and will allow the Railway to offer more of the popular ‘compartment' tickets on certain event days and for its Santa Special and Winter lights trains.

It also contains a parcels area and an area for the guard.

The carriage, which is usually based at the Bluebell Railway, will be used on the Railway's regular services during the year as well as at special events.

However, another vehicle has left the Railway temporarily.

Brake Corridor Composite (BCK) number 21059 has departed for completion of its restoration back to serviceable condition.

The restoration was started by Epping Ongar's volunteers, but it will now be completed away from the Railway ration to allow the coach to return to traffic quicker.

Marco Carrara, member of the Railway's Management Committee said of number 35207:

“The loan of the carriage enables the railway to undertake essential maintenance work on some of its own rolling stock more efficiently as stock under repair can remain out of service for longer periods”.
 
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5th April 2023

North Norfolk Railway welcomes steam locomotive 34028 “Eddystone” for Easter​

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BR(SR) Jarvis rebuild of SR Bullied 'West Country' 4-6-2 No.34028 'Eddystone' (ex-SR No.21C028) in BR green with 1956 emblem at Toddington awaiting it's next turn of duty, G-WR, 4 June 2022.

Bulleid West Country Pacific No. 34028 Eddystone will be a great attraction at the North Norfolk Railway as it will be working trains next weekend, the Easter bank holiday from 7th to 10th April, and the line's Spring Steam Gala on 14th, 15th, and 16th April.

Eddystone is visiting the North Norfolk Railway from its home at the Swanage Railway in Dorset, and will be sharing duties with two other steam locomotives during the Poppy Line's Easter Bank Holiday Weekend.

The railway hopes that the other locomotives in action will be Standard Class 9F No. 92203 Black Prince and British Railways Standard 4MT No 76084.
 
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Bulleid Pacific No. 34028 “Eddystone”​

As well as Eddystone, another attraction next weekend is the reappearance of the line's unique 1920s London and North Eastern Railway Quad-Art articulated teak-bodied carriages, which will be in service for passengers to travel on throughout the weekend.

The Quad-Art set has returned to the line after work at a state-of-the-art engineering facility in Leeds where its metal tyres were reprofiled.

It is normal for carriage wheels to suffer uneven wear during use, which causes vibrations that can be uncomfortable for passengers but could also cause damage to the carriages and even the tracks.
 
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Quad Art set at Weybourne station​

Originally built to work express trains on the Southern Railway, Eddystone returned to service on the Swanage Railway after an extensive three-year overhaul, and when it is not on loan to other railways, as during the next two weekends, it usually hauls services between Norden, Corfe Castle, and Swanage.

For younger visitors during the Easter Bank Holiday Weekend, there will be the chance to take part in the railway's free Easter Explorer's Trail, where they can help Morgan the Railway Cat to decipher clues and save the day.
 
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Bulleid Pacific No. 34028 “Eddystone” being delivered to the North Norfolk Railway​

For the rest of this year, the railway's standard services will run on most days until October, running through 5½ miles of wonderful scenery between the Victorian resort of Sheringham and the Georgian town of Holt.

Full details and timetables are available at www.nnrailway.co.uk, and passengers who book online in advance receive a generous discount on ticket prices.
 
5th April 2023

Northern reveals new ‘supersonic-cryogenic’ Autumn leaf-busting Technology​

The impressive leaf-busting technology was demonstrated by Northern and The University of Sheffield at Wensleydale Railway​

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The dry ice technology being demonstrated at Wensleydale Railway

Northern's new ‘supersonic-cryogenic' autumn leaf-busting technology sounds like something from a Marvel film however the incredible innovation could well be excellent news for passengers as it could bring an end to Autumn disruption.

The impressive technology which is small enough to be fitted onto passenger trains in order to clear leaves from the track was recently demonstrated at the Wensleydale Railway by Northern and The University of Sheffield.

Each year substantial disruption is caused across the rail network as leaves stick to damp rails which passing trains compress into a smooth and extremely slippery layer which reduced the ability of the train to grip.

This issue not only causes delays for services and therefore disruption for passengers it can also compromise braking ability.

Currently, railway lines are cleaned in Autumn using railhead treatment trains (RHTTs) however there are only a limited number of these trains and so it is impossible to treat the entire network.

Railhead treatment trains are also costly to run and the new technology is able to provide better treatment at a lower cost.

Northern has teamed up with the very best engineers and experts at The University of Sheffield for the trialling of the new rail-head treatment tech which may well save the rail industry millions of pounds each year.

The University Department of Mechanical Engineering researchers have developed the fascinating system which fires dry ice pellets in a stream of air at supersonic speed at the railhead which freezes leaves on the line, the frozen leaves are then blasted away as the dry ice pellets return back to a gaseous state.

The dry ice pellets are created from waste CO2 from other industries.

Funding via Network Rail's Performance Innovation Fund has enabled the trails with Northern to take place.

The research team have used two retired Pacers at Wensleydale Railway to carry out the testing of the new design and also to work on a plan which will see the system fitted throughout the train operator's fleet next year.

Rob Cummings, seasonal improvement manager at Northern, said:

“This is a game-changer for the industry – the next step in finding a solution to tricky autumn conditions.

“One of the biggest risks to our performance during October and November is ‘leaves on the line', but by helping to develop new innovative technology we aim to deliver the very best service for our passengers.”

Professor Roger Lewis, who has led the team at the University developing the technology, said:

“This is a great example of a University testing and proving an idea in a lab-based experiment and then scaling it up to be trialled and implemented in the field to make impact. This can only be done through good teamwork and having champions in the railway industry such as Rob and his team at Northern.”
 
5th April 2023

Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton rail delays after suspected metal theft​

Passengers are being advised to check ahead of making their journey after the suspected metal thieves caused signalling cables to catch fire​

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Cable fire composite​

Suspected metal thieves have caused signalling cables to catch fire on the Shropshire railway leading to delays for passengers making their way from Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton.

Passengers are advised to check their travel ahead of making a journey.

The damage took place today (Wed 5th April) and Network Rail has now released images which reveal charred cable remains.

The fire has knocked out the traffic lights for trains travelling between Shrewsbury and Telford.

Railway response teams attended and dealt with the incident shortly before 3am where they discovered concrete troughing which houses the cables burning.

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service were called in order to safely extinguish the fire.

Initially, all services had to be stopped however limited trains are now able to run whilst engineers work quickly to fix the damage.

Anyone travelling between Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton are advised to check their travel plans via www.nationalrail.co.uk before leaving and should expect delays throughout the day.
 
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Inside cable troughing which caught fire near Telford​

Kevin Siddell, Network Rail's North West and Central region head of crime and security, said:

“We're sorry to passengers impacted by signalling problems between Shrewsbury and Telford after a suspected metal theft. Cabling which controls traffic lights for trains have been badly damaged by fire. We'd like to thank Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service for their swift response to extinguish the flames and prevent any more damage being caused.

“A limited number of trains are now running while our engineers continue to make emergency repairs. As delays are expected for the rest of today, we'd urge people to check National Rail Enquiries before they set off on their journey.”

Jonny Wiseman, customer experience director at West Midlands Railway, said:

“I'd like to thank passengers travelling between Shrewsbury and Birmingham today for their patience while Network Rail makes emergency repairs following a suspected metal theft incident overnight. Services may be impacted for the rest of the day, so I would urge passengers to check their train is running before setting out.”

Network Rail is working alongside British Transport Police whilst the incident is investigated.

Witnesses of any suspicious behaviour on or around the railway are asked to report it to British Transport Police by calling 0800 40 50 40 or texting 61016.
 
5th April 2023

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TfW customers advised to check before travelling this Easter​

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Class 230​

Rail passengers are being urged to plan ahead and check before they travel this Easter with some timetable amendments in place across the Wales and Borders network.

Transport for Wales (TfW) will be carrying out infrastructure upgrades across the Core Valleys Lines network for the South Wales Metro, resulting in buses replacing rail services on some routes.

Buses are replacing trains between:
  • Pontypridd and Cardiff Central on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 April.
  • Pontypridd and Treherbert late on Sunday 9 until Thursday 13 April.
  • Ystrad Mynach and Rhymney from late on Monday 10 to Thursday 13 April.
This is the start of a series of closures to lines across the Valleys network over the coming weeks for transformation work to take place, including the closure of the line between Pontypridd and Treherbert from 30 April until early 2024.

Throughout April and May, as part of the commissioning of new signalling as part of South Wales Metro, there will also be significant changes to services affecting Cardiff to Pontypridd, Merthyr and Aberdare lines.

For more information visit tfw.wales/projects/metro/service-changes


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Class 230​

TfW is also advising customers throughout other parts of Wales and the Borders region that services may be very busy, with a reduced timetable in operation on other routes.

This is due to engineering work and ongoing maintenance on their fleet of Class 175 trains.

Jan Chaudhry-Van der Velde, Chief Operations Officer at Transport for Wales, said:

“We’d like to thank our customers for their continued patience while the vital transformation work takes place on the Valleys lines and as we continue to work to resolve the issues with our Class 175 trains.

“Our Class 175 trains have been receiving urgent safety checks and engine repairs, which has left us with a temporary shortage of rolling stock across the network. This has meant we have had to redistribute rolling stock to affect the minimum number of passengers possible, leading to replacement buses on some routes.

“As the Class 175s work through the repair programme over the next two weeks, the rolling stock shortages should ease, and the timetabled service can be restored.”

TfW has restarted rail services on the Borderlands Line between Wrexham and Bidston after the entry into service of its first Class 230 battery-hybrid trains on Monday 3 April, and has also reinstated services on the Chester-Liverpool route from today (5 April).

TfW is aiming to reinstate services on the Conwy Valley Line from Saturday 8 April with additional brand-new Class 197s entering service.

Rail passengers using services in the Conwy Valley and Pembrokeshire are being encouraged to use the popular fflecsi service to visit some of Wales’ most famous tourist locations.

The ‘from station to location’ campaign details how to get to places such as St David’s (Pembrokeshire) or Betws-y-Coed by booking a fflecsi bus.

TfW is also working with Visit Wales as part of their Year of Trails campaign, highlighting fantastic walking routes across Wales which can be accessed from a local railway station. You can find out more about ‘from rail to trail’ here.
 
6th April 2023

Steam locomotive 78019 to visit the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway​

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78019 at Loughborough Sheds, Great Central Railway​

Next month's Cotswold Festival of Steam at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway's (GWSR) is to feature the Standard Class 2 2-6-0 No. 78019, which featured in the 1955 British Transport documentary Film Snowdrift at Bleath Gill.

In the film, 78019 rescued sister No. 78018 that had got stuck in a snowdrift at Bleath Gill near Stainmore Summit on 24th February 1955 while hauling a goods train with 20-ton wagons of limestone and minerals.
 
WATCH:

Snowdrift at Bleath Gill (1955)​

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Snowdrift at Bleath Gill (1955)

Snowdrift at Bleath Gill (1955) | BFI National Archive . Subscribe: http://bit.ly/subscribetotheBFI.A freight train travelling between Kirkby Stephen and Ba...
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Snowdrift at Bleath Gill (1955) | BFI National Archive.

A freight train travelling between Kirkby Stephen and Barnard Castle has become snowbound in the Westmorland Hills in this short documentary, one of the most popular British Transport Films.

The Motive Power, Operating and Engineering Departments go to work with snowploughs to reach the trapped train.

The team eventually dig clear and thaw out the moving parts, and finally rescue the train - four days after becoming stranded.
 
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78019 undergoing overaul at Loughborough​

The festival, to be held from Friday, 12th to Sunday, 14th, May, will also feature Standard class 4 4-6-0 No. 75014 Braveheart, Castle Class No. 4079 Pendennis Castle, and Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway ‘Pug' No. 11243.

Altogether there will be up to eight steam locomotives running at the Festival to provide an action-packed timetable of trains, with goods trains and shunting demonstrations to add to the passenger services.

Visitors will also be able to view the locomotive and carriage & wagon workshops, which will be offering rare behind-the-scenes tours, and there will also be plenty of other activity at the railway's stations.

The festival will provide a wonderful opportunity to travel between two visiting Standards.
 
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GWR Hawksworth "Modified Hall" 4-6-0 No.7903 'Foremarke Hall' (with 3-row superheater, Improved Draughting and Hawksworth 4,000 gll tender), at Toddington on a service to Cheltenham Race Course, G-WR, 4 June 2022.

Further information about the Festival and tickets are available online at www.gwsr.com.

78019 is one of 65 BR Standard 2 2-6-0s that were constructed at Darlington Works between 1952 and 1956, and were virtually identical to the earlier LMS Ivatt 2-6-0s from which they were derived.

They were mainly used for hauling light passenger trains on branch lines.

The class was no stranger to Gloucestershire, as between 1962 and December 1965, 78001, 78004, 78005, 78006 and 78009 were allocated to Gloucester Barnwood Horton Road sheds, (85B).

A regular working for one of the locomotives was the daily goods on the ex-Midland branch from Stonehouse to Stroud, Dudbridge, Woodchester, and Nailsworth.

The class was also used on passenger workings between Hereford, Gloucester, and beyond.
 
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BR Standard 9F class 2-10-0 No. 92203 'Black Prince' on June 2, 2022

After withdrawal by British Railways, 78019 was sold to Woodham's yard in Barry, South Wales where it remained until March 1973, when it was purchased by Charles Newton. It was initially moved to a private site, before being transferred to the Severn Valley Railway where it remained for over 20 years until 1998, following a deal was reached between Loughborough Standard Locomotive Group Ltd and Charles Newton that agreed for joint equal ownership of the locomotive.

It was moved to Loughborough where it was restored before returning to steam on the Great Central Railway in 2004 and appearing at its Summer Gala.

Proving itself to be both an economical and capable locomotive, operated successfully for ten years with just routine maintenance, until its boiler ticket expired in May 2015.

A heavy overhaul at Loughborough then ensued, with some of the work including the boiler being carried out at Tyseley.

This was completed in 2022 and 78019 returned to traffic last November in time for the Great Central Railways ‘Last Hurrah' Gala, where it worked alongside sister locomotive no 78018.
 
6th April 2023

Tickets available for centenary celebrations of Welsh Highland Railway​

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RUSSEL at Porthmadog, Welsh Highland Heritage Railway​

This year is the centenary of the founding of the Welsh Highland Railway.

To celebrate this momentous milestone in the railway's history, the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways and the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway and their supporting societies have organised suitable centenary celebrations.

A three-day event will be held over the long weekend of Friday, 23rd to Sunday, 25th of June. Scenes from the original Welsh Highland Railway operation will be recreated, and the history of this iconic line will be showcased right through to the scenic tourist trains that operate today.
 
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The beauty of Snowdonia

On Friday, 23rd June, the focus will be on the years leading up to the railway's opening in 1923, including:
  • An inspection Train from Porthmadog to Pont Croesor;
  • Slate wagons through Porthmadog and on to Pont Croesor Hafod y Llyn;
  • A vintage train between Porthmadog and Beddgelert;
  • Reconstruction of a test train to Rhyd Ddu;
  • Evening vintage trains to Beddgelert for photo opportunities.
 
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Departing from Caernarfon​

Saturday, 24th June will be devoted to demonstrating the Welsh Highland Railway “Just Like the Photos”, and its untimely closure, and will include:

Vintage trains running from Porthmadog to Rhyd Ddu and Porthmadog and Beddgelert;

A demolition train to Pont Croesor.

Sunday, 25th June will celebrate the revival of the railway to how it is known today in the 21st century and will include:
  • Garratt-hauled trains between Porthmadog and Caernarfon, with double-headed Garratts on the Dinas – Porthmadog return leg of the journey;
  • Garratt-hauled trains between Caernarfon and Porthmadog, with double headed Garratts on the Porthmadog to Dinas leg of the journey and a mixed goods train between Pont Croesor – Dinas;
  • Lyd and Russell on a double-headed hauled service between Porthmadog and Caernarfon.
 
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Porthmadog​

There will be many highlights across all three days, including the eagerly anticipated visit of locomotive Russell to Harbour Station, and work its first public Welsh Highland train from Harbour station since 1936.

The railway has a dedicated Welsh Highland Railway 2023 Centenary Celebrations webpage at https://www.festrail.co.uk/whr-centenary/ that provides all the details about the weekend and where tickets can be booked.

Ticket prices for the weekend are:
  • Day Rover – £75
  • Three-Day Rover – £150
  • Child tickets (aged 3 to 15 years inclusive) are £10 for a Day Rover or £20 for a Three-Day Rover.
 
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