Marcus' Model Railway Journey

11th April 2023

Severn Valley Railway launches £1.5m Survival Fund Appeal​

Making an appearance after a 36-year absence, newly-overhauled Great Western Railway 4-6-0 No. 4930 ‘Hagley Hall’ heads towards Bridgnorth during Severn Valley Railway’s autumn steam gala on 15th September 2022.

A £1.5 million Survival Fund appeal has been launched today by the Severn Valley Railway.

The railway, which runs from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster, has issued a stark warning that unless there is an urgent injection of cash, the viable future of the railway could be at risk.

Writing to more than 25,000 shareholders, members and donors, the railway has explained how the cost-of-living crisis, supply issues and the war in Ukraine have all affected the railway.

“We're facing the double whammy of escalating costs and lower revenue,” said Chris Walton, who recently took on the role of interim chairman of SVR (Holdings) Plc, the railway's operating company. “Costs across the railway have spiralled, including utilities, coal, diesel, steel, copper, catering supplies and interest rates. For example, in the past 12 months alone, our electricity bill has more than doubled, and this year it will not be far short of £500,000. All of these factors are outside our control. Put this against the fact that passenger numbers were down last year by about a third, compared to pre-Covid. That equated to around £1.5 million in lost revenue, which has left us badly weakened.”

Launched jointly by the three companies that form the Severn Valley Railway – SVR (Holdings) Plc, the SVR Company Ltd and the SVR Charitable Trust, the Survival Fund appeal has been comes after a number of cost saving measures have been put in place. This includes recruitment freezes for non-essential roles as well as voluntary and compulsory redundancies.

Fewer running days have been part of plans for the first months of the season, to help cut costs, and will be reviewed in May.

Jonathan ‘Gus' Dunster is the SVR's interim managing director.

He gave a reassurance that despite the challenges being faced, he believes the railway will attract and impress visitors this year:

“Our programme of events and services this year is as vibrant as ever. It is crucially important to us to continue to attract visitors, as this will play a huge part in getting us through the challenges we face. We're confident we can deliver on and surpass visitor expectations. However, operating a heritage railway is a cyclical business,. For several months at the beginning of each year, there's very little income, because we're not open to the public. Pre-Covid, we got ourselves through this lean time by having a cash reserve in the bank. But that option has been taken away by the combined financial challenges of the past three years. Unless we address this situation urgently, we won't be able to lift the railway out of the financial difficulties it's now facing. The Survival Fund will help us through the coming, very difficult year, in order to start 2024 with a sufficient ‘reserve'. Then we'll stand a real chance of getting the railway properly back on its feet, so it can thrive and be fit for the future.”

“We place huge value on the support the SVR has received over the years,” added SVR interim chairman Chris Walton. “This has helped it to grow from its humble beginnings in the 1960s into one of the UK's leading, award-winning and much-loved heritage railways. It's meant the preservation of our buildings, infrastructure, locomotives, rolling stock and artefacts for future generations to enjoy, and it brings pleasure to many thousands of people each year, generating tremendous economic benefit for the surrounding communities. We would not be making this appeal if it wasn't completely necessary for the survival of the Railway, and we hope our supporters will understand the difficulties we face, and give us their backing.”

Other plans include a structure with charitable status at its heart, and new income streams such as Gift Aid and grant funding.~

To enable the restructuring work to take place, an application for funding has been made to National Lottery Heritage Fund

Donations of any size can be made over on the dedicated Severn Valley Railway Survival Fund Appeal website

In addition, the Severn Valley Railway are holding their Spring Steam Gala on 14th-16th April, so is a perfect opportunity to visit and support the railway.

WATCH:

The SVR’s £1.5 million Survival Fund appeal – why is it needed?​

Apr 11, 2023 SEVERN VALLEY RAILWAY - (BRIDGNORTH, STATION)

We urgently need to raise £1.5 million to enable the SVR to overcome the current financial crisis and implement longer-term plans for its future.

Without this help, the SVR may not survive into next year.

In this film, managing director Jonathan ‘Gus’ Dunster explains how the Railway’s financial challenges have come about, what steps it’s already taken to mitigate these, and how a cash injection is urgently needed to ensure the SVR’s future viability.

We want to reassure our supporters and visitors that our programme of events and services this year is as vibrant as ever.

It is crucially important to us to continue to attract visitors, as this will play a huge part in getting us through the challenges we face.

We’re confident we can deliver on and surpass visitor expectations in 2023.

To donate to the Survival Fund appeal, please visit https://my.svr.co.uk/donate/q/34

11th April 2023

West Somerset Railway’s Free Volunteer Recruitment Train this Saturday​

The West Somerset Railway (WSR) is inviting potential new volunteers to take a ride on Saturday 15 April to learn about opportunities to help out.

The train will run this Saturday (15 April), with one service leaving Minehead Station at 10:00am and another leaving Bishops Lydeard Station at 12:30pm.

Ticket will be free of charge and include a return journey for the same day.

WSR, which recently appointed two new directors, is the Steam Heritage Railway that runs from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard.

It is a popular tourist attraction that is busy throughout the year.

In spring, summer and autumn, it carries visitors and local people on an exciting day alongside the Quantocks, down to the sea at Watchet and along the coast to Minehead.

At Christmas, it carries adults and children on its popular Santa trains.

All year round, its the stations, line, engines and other equipment also have to be maintained.

The Railway is run by a very small team of permanent staff and over 800 regular volunteers, with new volunteers always welcome.

Last month, the Heritage Railway Association awarded it the Rising Star Award.

Volunteers do everything including running the trains (drivers, stokers, guards and ticket inspectors), running the buffets and cafés, managing and maintaining the stations, working the signal boxes, and helping to maintain the track, locomotives and coaches.

The Railway points out that while some of the jobs are highly skilled and require training, in other roles, “you can start pretty much from scratch, as long as you are enthusiastic and happy to work as part of a team”.

Many of our volunteers have worked on the line for several years, but there is always work to do and we are always looking for new volunteers to join our friendly team.

People can be of any age (16 or older), and are equally welcome regardless of gender.

Applicants can choose what they are interested in doing, and where.

If you, or someone you know, are interested in volunteering with the West Somerset Railway and would like a better understanding of the possibilities available, then sign up for the potential volunteers train.

11th April 2023

Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway hosts a successful promotional event​

The event saw a mix of local businesses and community representatives attend in a bid to foster support and develop relationships​

The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway has hosted a successful promotional event which saw local businesses and associations attend alongside councillors and MPs The event's purpose was to promote the heritage railway, building awareness in a bid to create support and develop working relationships within the local community.

Taking place on Tuesday the 4th of April, the attendees were treated to a steam-hauled trip from Cheltenham Racecourse to Winchcombe and return, in the railway's first-class coach ‘Mary'.

The train was hauled by the stunning BR Standard Class 4 No. 75014 ‘Braveheart' which is currently visiting the railway.

Once the guests had arrived in true steam style at Winchcombe, Richard Johnson, Chairman of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway PLC gave a presentation about the railway.

Richard was also joined at the event by other directors from the railway who were eager to answer questions, offer helpful information and listen to ideas which could lead to future collaborations and events for the well-loved railway.

BR Standard Class 4 Locomotive No. 75014 ‘Braveheart' arrives at Winchcombe station on 4th April 2023

Richard Johnson, GWSR PLC Chairman, said:

“It was excellent to see so many local businesses join us for the event and to understand our railway and how we operate. Networking with individuals from a variety of backgrounds really helps us promote the railway with the local community and forge stronger relationships. We look forward to many more opportunities in the future.”

12th April 2023

A bit breezy today!

12th April 2023



NetworkRail:

Network Rail engineers work around the clock to repair Nuneham viaduct with the line expected to be closed until early June​

Region & Route: Wales & Western: Western | Wales & Western


The railway between Didcot Parkway and Oxford will not reopen until early June following the closure of Nuneham viaduct in Oxfordshire for safety reasons on Monday 3 April, as Network Rail engineers work around the clock to repair the structure.

The line was shut after Network Rail installed monitoring equipment detected increasingly significant movements of the viaduct, which crosses the River Thames between Culham and Radley, despite Network Rail carrying out stabilising works in recent weeks.

Monitoring equipment is routinely installed across the rail network to provide data on the infrastructure and detect when any issues may arise.

The structure had been monitored with such equipment since 2018, with extra equipment installed earlier this year.

Prior to the recent rapid deterioration of the viaduct, its condition posed no risk to trains or passengers.

The viaduct, like other rail infrastructure, undergoes regular inspections, including with divers below the water every three years.

Manual inspections have been carried out at the viaduct every three months since 2021, with full inspections of the stability of the southern bridge support structure in 2019 and 2022.

These inspections led to a planned low intrusive ground stabilisation scheme in March 2023.

Unfortunately, these interventions in March 2023 were not successful, resulting in the closure of the line once the condition of the viaduct rapidly and unexpectedly deteriorated.

The cause of the rapid decline in the condition of the southern support structure is currently unknown, however engineers will be in a better position to assess this once the old support has been removed.

Engineers have been working around the clock since the line was closed and are now working to replace the southern support structure with a new one, which will provide a long-term fix and allow for both passenger and freight trains to run again between Didcot Parkway and Oxford by Saturday 10 June.

The work to replace the support structure will be complex and challenging owing to ground conditions at the site, including the proximity to the River Thames and the heavy clay soil in which the new support will need to be secured.

Network Rail has been working closely with its rail industry partners to help keep passengers moving while the line is closed.

As part of this partnership, GWR, CrossCountry, Chiltern Railways and Network Rail have implemented a revised timetable for the duration of the line closure, with a rail replacement service and local shuttle services running.

Those travelling between London Paddington and Oxford/North Cotswolds will need to change at Didcot Parkway for replacement bus services, adding about 45 mins to journey times.

A non-stop bus shuttle will run between Didcot and Oxford, with another calling at intermediate stations.

Trains will continue to operate largely as planned between Hereford/Worcestershire and Oxford.

Stuart Calvert, Network Rail’s capital delivery director, said: “Our teams have been working 24/7 since the line has been closed to determine how best to repair the structure so that we can run trains across the viaduct safely once again.

“We can now confirm that we’re working towards a reopening date of Saturday 10 June and will be replacing the old southern support structure in order to start running trains safely again.

“We are sorry for the disruption this has caused for passengers and advise them to continue to check before they travel.”

Huw Margetts, CrossCountry’s regional director, said: “We’re sorry that passengers’ journeys will be disrupted until early June while Network Rail carries out this urgent work. The plans we introduced to help people keep travelling have worked well, and we will work closely with our industry partners to ensure this continues until the line reopens. Until then, we encourage anyone travelling to check their journey carefully before departing or visit our website for further information.”

Mark Hopwood, GWR’s managing director, said: "It is very disappointing to hear this key route will be out of action for some considerable time, but it's important Network Rail are given the time to make the necessary repairs.

"We at GWR are working hard with our colleagues at CrossCountry and Chiltern to ensure we can give passengers as many journey options as possible and will continue to see what more we can do over the coming weeks to improve that situation."

12th April 2023

Travel advice for Grand National racegoers​

Liverpool Lime Street

Network Rail has issued advice to people travelling by rail to Liverpool Lime Street for the Grand National.

Aintree's horse racing festival returns this Thursday, and large crowds are expected.

Railway racegoers are encouraged to:

• plan their journey and check the national rail website before travelling
• allow extra time to catch the train home – later services will be extremely busy with queuing systems in place
• remember Network Rail's motto of ‘Be safe, be patient, be kind' when travelling.

Network Rail hopes that these tips will help racegoers “stay ahead of the pack and avoid a fall at the first fence”.

The day of the 2022 Grand National Final – Saturday 9 April – was Liverpool Lime Street's busiest that year with more than 81,000 passengers travelling through the station.

Additional staff will be on hand at Liverpool Lime Street station to help passengers over the weekend from Thursday 13 until Saturday 15 April.

The station team has been planning for weeks to get ready for the thousands of extra passengers expected.

A queuing system may be in use for people to safely board trains, to avoid any “jockeying” for position.

WATCH:
Click the link to watch video: https://fast.wistia.net/embed/iframe/g6t2kdf325

Regular Merseyrail services will run to and from the racecourse.

Kyla Thomas, Liverpool Lime Street station manager, said:

“We're really looking forward to welcoming Grand National-goers back to Liverpool Lime Street in what's shaping up to be a very busy Spring for us at the station.

“I've got three top tips for passengers travelling to Aintree: firstly, plan ahead and know what train you want to catch before the day of the races. Secondly, allow more time than you might do usually to get on the train – there may be queues. And thirdly, please respect each other and our staff while travelling – we want everyone to enjoy their rail journey to and from the races free from any bad behaviour.”

12th April 2023

Fenchurch steam locomotive to visit Isle of Wight Steam Railway​

Fenchurch in A1 form at Horsted Keynes

The Isle of Wight Steam Railway has announced that Fenchurch will visit for their Gala Weekend on the 23rd to 25th June.

The recently overhauled steam locomotive will be a colourful sight along the line during the Gala.

The locomotive, which was built in 1872, is now looking magnificent in ‘Stroudley Improved Engine Green' (a yellow ochre).

The Isle of Wight Steam Railway is delighted to have Fenchurch for the event, who is normally a resident at the Bluebell Railway in Sussex.

The Gala will celebrate 100 years of the Southern Railway and will see special services such as double-headed trains.

Alongside A1 ‘Terrier' Fenchurch at the gala will be their flagship locomotive W24 Calbourne and resident ‘Terrier' W11 Newport.

More information on the gala can be found at Spring Gala – Isle of Wight Steam Railway (iwsteamrailway.co.uk)

12th April 2023

Maryland Transit Administration awards Alstom further operations and maintenance contract​

The global giant in smart and sustainable mobility won the contract which features extensions of as much as €1.2 billion over a period of 15 years​

MARC Locomotive

Alstom has been awarded a further operations and maintenance contract by the Maryland Department of Transportation – Maryland Transit Administration.

The contract features a base term which is made up of an initial five-year contract with a budget of approximately €367 million which could see two extensions added for 2028 and 2033 which would round up the value of the contract to roughly €1.2 billion.

Alstom was previously awarded a service contract in 2012 for the Maryland Area Rail Commuter Camden Line and Brunswick Lines and this latest agreement will see this work continue and is a mark of Alstoms expertise and extensive experience.

The contract will see Alstom responsible for:

• Train operations
• Customer service
• Crewing
• Maintenance of locomotives and railcar fleet
• Station and facilities management.

The Maryland Area Rail Commuters fleet is made up of 42 diesel locomotives, 60 MARC II passenger cars and 54 Alstom BiLevel coaches, MultiLevel II MARC IV coaches.

The vehicles will see maintenance carried out at the Maryland Transit Administration's MARC Train maintenance facilities and will include daily inspections, equipment servicing, and preventive and corrective maintenance.

The new contract will also cover the trialling of a fuel-saving programme alongside digital innovations which will support Alstom's aims to provide more sustainable and smarter mobility and will include:

• ‘Digital Twin' is a virtual tool for both facilities and equipment and allows efficiencies to be achieved by reducing travel time, linking data and maintenance information alongside improving training capabilities.
• 3D printing will be utilised to allow certain maintenance procedures and replacement of parts to be carried out in an extremely efficient manner.
• The Remote Assistance platform will offer real-time analysis and problem-solving in the work environment by local and regional teams despite their current location.

Michael Keroullé, Alstom Americas President said:

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to strengthen our long and proud relationship with the Maryland Transit Administration, and very proud of our performance since we initiated services in 2013,”

“We look forward to serving MARC with the continued high-performance standards we have demonstrated in the past decade.”

12th April 2023

Vintage Trains receives £168,000 grant to support locomotive works expansion​

The ERDF grant has been awarded by the City of Birmingham in a bid to support employment and engineering skills within the heritage rail sector​

A grant for £168,369 has been awarded to Tyseley Locomotive Works via the European Regional Development fund by the City of Birmingham.

The funding will support the expansion of the locomotive works, creating further employment as demand increases for heritage engineering design, manufacture and skills in repair.

Currently, Tyseley Locomotives Works are undergoing an extraordinary demand for the services it provides within the heritage rail sector including design, manufacture, repair and maintenance.

The Works are currently booked up right through to the end of 2024 and are now moving forward with a staggered expansion of its facilities and increased staff in order to keep up with demand.

Owned by Vintage Trains Charitable Trust, Tyseley Locomotive Works is located at the original Great Western Railway locomotive depot at Tyseley.

The depot is very special as it has remained operational since 1908 and marks the very last of such significant size from the steam era and will now play a part in its current development which will see more than 1,000 people employed.

A brand new carriage works will be built by Tyseley Locomotive Trust and will see a further 10 full-time new staff members employed under a £340,000 project which will be match funded by VTCT using reserves from a recently launched donor scheme called the Patrons Club.

At present, the Locomotive Works turns over approximately £1.4 million each year and employs 19 full-time and 31 part-time positions alongside 155 active volunteers.

In February, Tyseley Locomotive Works appointed Springfield Steel Building Limited of Hull with the job of constructing a further 1,550 sq metres of commercial floor space which will house stage two of its carriage works project allowing more commercial work to be taken on.

Stage one of the expansion is currently in use as a single carriage repair shop.

Stage three will bring further expansion in the future which will support additional maintenance facilities and will include original carriage lifting jacks from Great Western Railways Old Oak Common depot.

Further future announcements will reveal more stages yet to be progressed as part of the depot's transformational upgrades which will be funded via the Tyseley Depot Master Plan which will see the facilities improved for engineering, operations, and community participation alongside being the home for the Tyseley collection.

Vintage Trains Charitable Trust has acquired Metropolitan Railway Carriage & Wagon Co which will become the brand which promotes the carriage works and will perpetuate the renowned name which previously built railway carriages in Birmingham which were exported around the world including four of its Pullman Cars which were manufactured in 1960.

The building work of stage two of the project will be finished by the 30th of April 2023 and fitting out will take place through the following months.

Tyseley Locomotive Works Chairman, Michael Whitehouse, said:

“We are delighted that this support from the City of Birmingham's ERDF fund will enable us to increase employment and skills training for a new generation of engineers, at the heart of the Tyseley community, which has a long and proud history of railway engineering excellence.”

Ashfaq Ashraf, Principal Business Officer for the City's Business Enterprise and Innovation team said:

“We are pleased to be able to support Tyseley Locomotive Works to continue its engineering growth and employ more people in Tyseley.”

12th April 2023

Mid Norfolk Railway to reopen this April​

The Mid Norfolk Railway will reopen on Saturday 29 April with trains initially running the twelve-mile round trip from Dereham to Thuxton, which has recently been rebuilt and is scheduled to fully open later this year.

Trains will run on the Saturday, Sunday and Monday with tickets available on the day from Dereham station.

The station has plenty of free car parking, and children may travel for free with a paying adult on standard operating days this year.

During the Coronation weekend, trains will run on the Sunday and extra Bank Holiday Monday.

The station buffet will be open for hot and cold food and drinks, as will the shop on standard running days.

Saturday 29 April will see the first ‘Heart of Norfolk' afternoon tea service of the season.

This will be followed by a Coronation Tea Service on Sunday 7 May.

Tickets for the tea service must be pre-booked via the MNR Website.

Standard ticket holders can still travel but will not be able to enjoy the tea service.

The first trains to run will feature the return to service of Mk 1 First Class Compartment coach, M13225, which has completed its rebuild.

The work, the most extensive that the MNR has ever attempted, was made possible following a Government Heritage Fund Covid Recovery Grant.

The refurbished coach ready for service

The previously announced programme is being updated, but the majority of announced events will run.

Details can be found on the Railway's website. In addition to the special events, the Railway is launching ‘The Brecklander Ploughman's Luncheon' on selected weekends.

This will be in addition to the return of the ever-popular ‘Breckland Fryer' fish-and-chip trains during the evening of selected Saturdays.

The railway will announce ticket details for this year's Polar Express shortly.

Supporters may donate to the Railway here.

Charlie Robinson, Chair of the Mid Norfolk Railway said:

“We are all excited and also relieved to be running services again. The last few years have been difficult, but the hard work is beginning to pay off. There is still lots to do and I am pleased to say the ‘Back on Track Appeal' has got off to an excellent start with £15000 raised in the first few weeks. There is lots more to raise before the key issue of the bridge at Crownthorpe can be tackled and the eventual return to Wymondham”.

12th April 2023

Progress report on restoring steam locomotive No. 2874​

In its latest update on progress with restoring ex-Great Western Railway 2-8-0 No. 2874, the 2874 Trust reports that sometime this year it will become a rolling chassis, but the main aim now is to get the boiler up to working pressure.

That aim will be the trust's theme for its fundraising over the next few months, and it is arranging for a pressure gauge to show how much has currently been raised.

Some time ago the trust arranged for specialists Fraser Nash to carry out a full “Non Destructive” examination (NDT) on the boiler, which confirmed that although it had lain unused and in the open air for 60 years, it was generally in good condition.

However, the lower firebox sides, throat plate and lower door plate all require replacement, as well as all tubes, the front tube plate, and many stays, both steel and copper.

That work will require a significant six-figure sum to be raised before the first fire can be lit.

It is planned to undertake the work in stages, with the first one establishing exactly how much the cost will be, and therefore needs to be raised.

This first stage will be to establish a work programme, which will require FOUNDATION FUNDING, as all boilers start at the foundation ring.

Once the extent of work and a realistic price is known, external grant funding will be sought, but the exact detail of applications will become clear once it is known how much of the work can be done by volunteers.

The trust's previous success in external fundraising has been based on its preservation and development of heritage engineering skills, and it will try to build on that experience.

It is known that whatever success is achieved, the trust will have to inject “match funds” so that the more it can raise will improve its chances.

To encourage more people to take an active part in the heritage movement the trust is providing different ways for existing friends to help, and opportunities to attract new supporters.

For the last three years, the trust has taken part in “The Big Give” each December and raised some very useful sums, but has now decided to do its own thing and go for a month-long match-funded campaign.

£2500 has already been pledged to match fund donations.

From Monday, 8th May to Monday, 5th June this year, and at the GWSR Gala, it will be trying to attract donors.

Full details will be on the trust's website at www.2874trust.org in early May.

The trust has also collaborated with model makers Dapol has produced a Limited Edition box van in clean and lightly weathered finishes.

Only 50 of each have been produced, they come with a uniquely numbered limited edition certificate and will be available at the GWSR Gala.

They are only available from trade stands or the Trust online and cost £18.50 each plus £4 delivery, and all proceeds go to the Trust.

Other ways to support the trust are by giving 20p per day, with several supporters already donating in this way, which provides a regular income for the Trust, or by becoming a member, with every new member making the aim of reaching the target a little closer.

Application's to join the trust can be made online through the membership page at www.2874trust.org.

12th April 2023

HS1 claims regenerative braking saves enough energy to power 375 homes​

South Eastern High Speed, a Javelin on HS1 near Detling

HS1 Ltd has today released figures which it claims show that regenerative braking technology introduced on its high-speed railway linking London, Kent and East Sussex is saving enough energy annually to power more than 375 homes.

Regenerative braking was introduced on Southeastern trains in October 2022, and converts the energy used to slow trains into electrical energy that can either be used by other trains on the network or directed back to the National Grid.

Analysis of the savings secured by the technology suggests that the system may save £1.7m in energy costs per year at current prices.

The Southeastern high-speed service opened in 2009.

The technology, which is also used by other operators, reduces the amount of power needed to drive trains and so reduces overall emissions and carbon footprint, contributing to efforts by the rail sector to achieve its sustainability goals.

The system was installed over a period of eighteen months, during which HS1 Ltd worked with Network Rail High Speed, Southeastern Trains and UK Power Networks Services.

The company sees the implementation of regenerative braking on domestic services as an example of its efforts to make the line more sustainable.

In Autumn 2020, HS1 Ltd launched its sustainability strategy, setting out its mission to provide what it calls “a world-leading experience that encourages people to choose a green and sustainable international transport option”.

Pre-pandemic, the line removed the equivalent carbon emissions of 60,000 short-haul flights annually.

Richard Thorp, Director of Engineering & Sustainability at HS1 Ltd, said:

“Now more than ever, it's important for the rail sector to work towards delivering innovations that are both environmentally friendly and financially sensible. This project does just that and shows the agility of the HS1 system to respond to challenging circumstances quickly with solutions that bolster our sustainability and cut costs.”

13th April 2023


TRANSPORT FOR WALES

TfW train cleaner still going strong at 80​

It’s 8pm on a mild spring evening and at Carmarthen railway station the cleaning team are setting up ready to get to work.

Amongst them is stalwart William Gwyn Thomas who has just reached the landmark age of 80.

Despite his age, Gwyn, as he prefers to be known, is still working hard as ever. With broom and mop in hand he and the team will get anywhere between 18 and 26 carriages hygienically cleaned and back to their best ready for the next morning.

“I love the job,” says Gwyn, who has been cleaning trains at Carmarthen for the past 25 years.

“It the people I work with and knowing you are doing something important for the customers.

“Pride is everything and we are really proud to get the trains looking good for the people using them the next day.”

Having worked as a dairy farmer near Lampeter until he was 55, Gwyn decided it was time for a change in the late 1990s, joining what was at the time a much smaller team at Carmarthen.

“I didn’t think I’d get the job but I was delighted when I did and it means a lot to me to be part of the Carmarthen team because it’s a really special station.

“I didn’t expect I’d still be working at 80 but I really love it and I’ll finish when I’m ready and when I feel I can’t do it as well,” added Gwyn who has three children – two of his own and a stepdaughter, three grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Gwyn credits his long working life to “eating well, not drinking anything stronger than a shandy and cutting down on smoking”.

Working from 7:30pm to 2:30am, the team will clean each carriage from top to bottom, leaving the cabs, toilets, tables and floors spotless.

While the worst nights tend to be Saturdays when the toilets can be challenging and the amount of rubbish left out tends to increase, Gwyn says they take it all in their stride.

“It’s annoying but there’s no point moaning about it because that’s the job and we just have to get on with it. Someone has to get it looking nice for customers again.”

TfW’s Cleaning Operations Manager Wendy Jones and Carmarthen Station Manager James Nicholas paid tribute to Gwyn, describing him as “part of the fabric of Carmarthen”.

“The standard of work Gwyn puts in night after night is a true example to us all on how to show pride in your work,” they said.

“We’d like to thank Gwyn for everything and to wish him a very happy birthday.”

13th April 2023

Progress update on steam locomotive No. 92240​

The Bluebell Railway's Awake the Giant project has issued its latest update on the progress to restore Standard Class 9F 2-0-0 No. 92240.

The locomotive returned to Sheffield Park on the Bluebell Railway last December, and at the start of this year, the first working party started work on the tender, with the first task being to remove algae and lightly rub down the tender sides by applying an etched primer to any areas of exposed metal.

The lockers in the cab also received the same treatment.

A second point of access has also been made into the water tank to aid the removal of dust, rust and water scale from the tank.

Last month, 92240 was moved undercover for the first time in many years so that the locomotive could dry out and further clearing of the water tank could take place to prepare it for rubbing down.

The tank is in very good condition, so to ensure the tank is fit for purpose for the foreseeable future with only minimal work required, the project is working with the specialist paint company that worked with Clan Line.

On the tender, the coal space has been completely cleaned out and is ready for wire brushing and its first coat of protective paint.

At the front of the coal space are two drains cocks, one completely blocked with coal dust that the team is trying to clear to get it back into operation.

On the outside of the locomotive, all running plate bolts have been loosened, greased and refitted, which will reduce the amount of time needed to remove the cladding.

The project is being helped by the Bluebell Railway's 9F club, have been rubbing down and cleaning the footplate steps.

To help fund the restoration of 92240, as well as monthly direct debits that provide a steady flow of income, the team has a range of merchandise range including bottle openers, pens, t-shirts, mugs, and hoodies.

This year the project will be publicising its work at major events including Flying Scotsman's visit, Bluebell on Parade, Branch Line Gala, Road Meets Rail, Steam Fair, and many others.

If anyone would like to be involved with the project, either by joining the team, signing up to monthly donations, or supporting the overhaul and restoration of 92240, then send your contact details and your interest to Andy Taylor at andy.taylor@bluebell-railway.com or awakethegiant@outlook.com.

Besides working on the locomotive, the team welcomes volunteers to work on the stall and to promote the project around the railway.

For the third year running, there is an Awake the Giant photography competition with categories for all ages:

• ‘Bluebell at its Best' – any photo of the Bluebell (under 16);
• ‘Bluebell in Bloom' – any photo of Bluebell's home fleet (over 16s);
• ‘Visitors and Galas' – any photo representing visiting locomotives and galas at the Bluebell (all age groups);
• ‘Flying Scotsman Flies South' – Flying Scotsman at the Bluebell Railway 2023 (all age groups).

All details are on the ‘Awake the Giant' page on the Bluebell Railway's website.

The competition opens on the opening day of the ‘Branch Line Gala' and closes on 1st December, with winners being announced in January 2024.

There are plans for a new publication about 92240, and if anyone has any materials relating to 92240 at Barry, its arrival at the Bluebell Railway, or its working days and is willing to add them to the archive and publication, please contact Tom N at awakethegiant@outlook.com.

13th April 2023

Steam locomotive 4936 Kinlet Hall on track for mainline return next year​

Jonathan Jones Pratt, Chair of the West Somerset Railway, has posted an update about Great Western Railway steam locomotive 4936 Kinlet Hall.

With the WSR having begun its 2023 season, Jonathan has been able to focus on getting the loco back into service, and last week visited the team that is working on it.

He reports that a plan has been agreed with Tyseley Locomotive Works and the budget signed off to complete the final stages of the engine overhaul.

The scope of overhaul cost is almost twice the expected figure.

Progress has been make on the boiler, with work completed on the copper stays and permission being given for work on the tubes.

The next step is work on the chassis to facilitate a complete rolling chassis, for which new boxes have been machined, and then to allow the boiler to be dropped into the frames for trail fitting.

Jonathan hopes that the work will be completed by March next year, at which time test runs will be carried out.

The engine, which was built in June 1929 at Swindon Works, will return to mainline specification and the plan will be to return it to The West Somerset Railway by rail rather than by lorry.

4936 Kinlet Hall hauling trains

Jonathan concluded,

“I know a lot think it's taken a long time to do. Yes it has, but the truth is the whole project is funded by my own pockets, we have a small team, and with everything else that goes on I can't do it all. Kinlet is in my heart and a loco that I class as a family engine to us. There's one thing for sure and that is when she does come out there won't be much that hasn't either been checked or sorted, she will be a very good engine.”

14th April 2023



NetworkRail:

Protecting our wildlife from becoming still life: Network Rail unveils new artwork at London Paddington​

Region & Route: Wales & Western: Western | Wales & Western


Today (Friday 14 April) Network Rail has revealed a new artwork at Paddington station to highlight the company’s commitment to protecting wildlife and biodiverse habitats alongside the railway.

The artwork is a print of five oil paintings done by Cindy Powell, an artist based in Wiltshire and a MA student at Falmouth University, depicting a Great Western Railway Class 800 IET alongside images of British wildlife in a surrealist style reminiscent of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland.

The piece celebrates the diversity of habitats and creatures found along rail corridors and Network Rail’s work to protect them.

Jane Austin, Network Rail’s director of engineering and asset management for the Western route, said: “The railway provides a rich and diverse tapestry of habitats for biodiversity and is home to many species of plants and animals, including some that are rare or endangered.

“We’re committed to protecting these biodiverse habitats and achieving no net loss of biodiversity on railway land by 2024, with a net gain on each route by 2035.

“Cindy’s artwork encapsulates the joy that nature and wildlife can inspire and centres Network Rail’s ambitious biodiversity targets in the larger rail context, with trains, plants and animals co-existing with all the benefits that they bring to one another.

“I hope the piece inspires passengers as they travel to and from Paddington so that we can all do our bit to protect our wild landscapes and the creatures that inhabit them.”

Cindy Powell, who created the paintings, said: “I wanted to highlight Network Rail's environmental strategies and biodiversity action plans by painting a Pentaptych, with a tea party theme, that had all sorts of creatures and a train intertwined into it. I strive to encourage a symbiotic and harmonious relationship between humans and all of earth's creatures by creating fun, colourful figurative and surrealistic type paintings.''

Passengers will find the new artwork near the entrance to the Hammersmith and City line and Paddington taxi rank.

To find out more about Network Rail’s commitment to biodiversity, visit https://www.networkrail.co.uk/sustainability/biodiversity-on-britains-railway/