Marcus' Model Railway Journey

Points heating


The measures identified will achieve a saving of over £3.6m, as it will no longer be necessary to upgrades power networks due to the lower power consumption now required.

This will also mean that track upgrades will not be delayed.

Network Rail expects the policy change to save millions of pounds each year, with average savings of £190,000 per site.

The initiative also reduces safety risks, as workers will not need to physically install new Distribution Network Operator (DNO) and lineside equipment.

Network Rail’s Eastern region has removed the need for DNO upgrades at Northallerton and Black Carr, with existing supply capacity able to meet the demand.


“This initiative demonstrates our commitment to collaborative working, stakeholder engagement and what can be achieved through a collective approach to finding more efficient solutions and ensuring we spend public money wisely, while continuing to operate a safe, efficient and reliable railway. Recognising that track cannot be 100% resilient to the extremes of cold weather, this approval of this variation will continue to maintain our high standards of safety and performance, in putting passengers first, whilst reducing costs and our carbon footprint.”

Steve Hughes, Network Rail project director

9th April, 2025

Marcus & Cleo Have Another Bus Adventure into Cardiff!

After arriving in Cardiff Centre we started off in 'The Great Western' and I had a couple of pints of 'Abbott Ale', Cleo was initially being good and had a cup of tea, then she had a double G&T.

I popped into my model railway shop and I bought a couple of great items.

Then we went to 'McDonalds' and bought us some burgers and fries.

We went to the indoor market and Cleo bought herself a couple of silver rings.

After that we went to the 'Gatekeeper' for some more drinks, unfortunately it was packed and very noisy [it was a Swansea and Cardiff universities Varsity match], so we left and went back to the 'The Great Western' and I had a few more pints of 'Abbott Ale' for the road home.

Cleo had another double G&T.

Then it was the bus home.


The bus into Cardiff was Cardiff Bus/Bws Caerdydd 254, Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro 200 Classic, CE63 NZJ

Welsh Varsity 2025 Live: Thousands of students descend on Cardiff​

If you've wondered why there are so many people in red and green t-shirts wandering around Cardiff today, the answer is Welsh Varsity.

Today is the day Cardiff and Swansea's student population descends on one city for a fiercely competitive day of sporting action.

The annual event, which has been going since 1997, sees the two universities congregate to compete in over 50 sports.

The day culminates with the showpiece events, the rugby matches between the men's and women's sides.

Varsity is the country’s biggest student sporting event and arguably the most important day in both universities’ calendar.

Students travel in their thousands to support their peers in the fiercely competitive contest.

This year the competition is taking place in Cardiff with events being held at Llanrumney, Talybont sports pitches, Maindy velodrome, Sport Wales, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff International Pool and Cardiff Lawn Tennis Club.

The rugby will then kick-off at 3.30pm and 6pm at the Principality Stadium


Sporting venues and bars in Cardiff are set to be rammed for Welsh Varsity

The bus home from Cardiff was Cardiff Bus/Bws Caerdydd 121, Mercedes-Benz Citaro O295, CN65 ABF

Wednesday 9th April 2025



ETHNONRAIL UPDATE

Second-hand items purchased.

Hornby R2036 Limited Edition LNER A3 4-6-2 St. Frusquin 60075 in BR Experimental Blue

10th April, 2025

Steam locomotive No. 65 set to visit the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway​

65 at the Bluebell Railway


SECR O1 No. 65 is to visit the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway as part of their Cotswold Festival of Steam Gala in May.

Taking place between the 24th and 26th May 2025, the gala will feature an intensive timetable and it is rare that 65 is seen away from its home line, the Bluebell Railway.

It is also believed to be the first time that the locomotive has worked outside of the South East.

Joining the O1 will be 2807, 35006 Peninsular & Oriental SN Co, 3850, 34092 City of Wells, 7903 Foremarke Hall and 75069 – with more visiting locomotives to be announced soon.

Tom Willson, chairman of the Cotswold Festival of Steam organising team commented: “No. 65 truly is an elegant addition to the Festival and will be the headline act for what is shaping up to be a spectacular show."

10th April, 2025

Steam locomotive 45596 Bahamas to haul The Cathedrals Express​

Jubilee Class No 45596 Bahamas


After conquering the challenges of Shap and the Settle and Carlisle line at the end of March, in July, Jubilee Class No 45596 Bahamas is set to explore the northern banks of the Bristol Channel.

On Saturday 29th March, Bahamas was unassisted when it hauled The Shap Mountaineer from Birmingham to Carlisle via the West Coast Main Line and stormed over Shap summit at speeds recorded by those on the train at between 37-40 mph, among the fastest recorded by a Jubilee on this route.

On Saturday, 5th July, Bahamas will have a different challenge when it hauls Vintage Trains‘ “The Cathedrals Express” via the Lickey incline from Birmingham New Street to Swansea.

The Lickey incline is Britain’s steepest main line gradient, and in steam days, northbound trains used to have up to four banking engines assisting them from Bromsgrove to Blackwell.

From Birmingham, Bahamas will stop to pick up passengers at Barnt Green at 9:20 am, Worcestershire Parkway at 9:40 am, Cheltenham at 10:10 am, and Gloucester at 10:30 am.

It then follows the banks of the Severn Estuary to Chepstow, where it crosses into Wales and follows the northern banks of the Bristol Channel via Newport and Cardiff, and arrives at Swansea at 12:40.

The return journey departs from Swansea at 17:00 arriving at Gloucester at 19:00, Cheltenham at 19:20, and Worcestershire Parkway at 19:45 before ascending the Lickey incline to arrive at Barnt Green at 20:45 and Birmingham New Street at 21:05.

In October 2024, Bahamas took a different type of rail tour when it travelled from Derby to Stratford-on-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare.


“We are delighted to be able to confirm Bahamas for The Cathedrals Express to Swansea, following its storming run over Shap and the Settle & Carlisle on 29th March. Once again we would like to thank the Bahamas Locomotive Society for allowing us the use of their locomotive and look forward to running with her again in July.”

A Vintage Trains spokesperson

10th April, 2025

World first as intelligent freight wagons introduced​

Clare Soper, Heidelberg Materials UK and Marc Hurn, VTG Rail UK, inspect the first of the wagons being retrofitted with iWagon technology


Heidelberg Materials UK has introduced wagons incorporating wheel slide protection and real-time tracking to transport the company’s cement.

They are the first operational freight wagons fitted with VTG Rail UK’s iWagon technology, and entered service last Monday, 7th April.

Heidelberg started retrofitting the system to their entire fleet of JPA wagons, which are on lease from VTG Rail UK, at the company’s Ribblesdale Cement Works at Clitheroe in Lancashire on Friday, 4th April and at Padeswood in North Wales from Monday, 7th April.

Heidelberg Materials has also ordered a further 35 new JPA wagons from VTG, all to be fitted with iWagon technology.

That will mean all the company’s wagons will incorporate iWagon technology.

The wheel slide protection and real-time tracking was developed by engineers and innovators from VTG Rail UK and Knorr-Bremse Rail Systems UK by integrating state-of-the-art sensors, data analytics, and automation.

Together, these work to improve the safety and reliability and increase the performance of the company’s freight wagons.

Clare Soper, Operations Director, UK Supply Chain Cement Distribution for Heidelberg Materials UK commented that it is very exciting that Heidelberg Materials is the first company in the world to adopt the iWagon technology and is looking forward to seeing the wheel protection and additional data that is produced.

Heidelberg Materials is passionate about safety and adopting VTG’s iWagon system was a no-brainer, as it is clear this technology will make the fleet even safer by giving critical data to prevent incidents from happening in the future and to further increase operational performance.

VTG Rail UK has also received orders from several other major UK operators for its wagon technology, including Breedon Group, Tarmac, and Alvance British Aluminium.

In January, Heidelberg Materials placed an order for a 600kWh battery-powered Class 08e locomotive.


“Seeing the first iWagons roll onto the UK rail network is a very proud moment for everyone involved in its development. I congratulate Heidelberg Materials UK for becoming the first of many companies to be operating wagons with this game-changing technology. It marks a significant milestone in the UK rail freight industry and sets a new standard. The iWagon gives our customers enhanced safety, performance and reliability of rail freight wagons and allows for cost efficiencies in the commercial environment.”

“Marc Hurn, Managing Director of VTG Rail UK

10th April, 2025

‘Royal Oak’ to visit Kent & East Sussex Railway for Summer Diesel Gala​

‘Royal Oak’


The Kent and East Sussex Railway (K&ESR) has announced the first guest locomotive for its three-day Summer Diesel Gala in July.

Class 50 50017 ‘Royal Oak’ will be visiting the K&ESR courtesy of the Great Central Railway. The locomotive is currently sporting Network South East livery.

At 68 feet long, this will be the longest diesel locomotive ever to visit the Kent & East Sussex Railway.

Class 50 diesel locomotives began operating in 1967 and 1968.

Number 50017 entered service in April 1968 as D417.

Fifteen years later, in 1973, it was renumbered 50017, and five years after that, in 1978, it was given the name ‘Royal Oak’.

By the time it was withdrawn in 1991, Royal Oak had served British Rail for twenty-three years.

Class 50s hauled express passenger trains at speeds of up to 100mph, but Royal Oak will only be allowed to travel at 25mph on the K&ESR.

Four locomotives from K&ESR’s home fleet will also appear at the Gala, which takes place on 18th, 19th and 20th July.

• BR Class 03 D2023, courtesy of Tenterden Railway Equipment & Traction Company Ltd
• BR Class 08 08359, courtesy of The Diesel Electric Shunter Company Ltd
• BR Class 14 D9504 ‘Jon Grimwood’, courtesy of Tenterden Railway Equipment & Traction Company Ltd
• BR Class 20 20087 ‘Reginald T Latham’, courtesy of Road & Rail Steam Services

K&ESR will announce more Gala guests soon, and will also release a full timetable and details of other attractions at both ends of the line.

The Railway will also provide a heritage bus service to take visitors to and from their mainline rail connection.

Further information and tickets can be obtained from the Kent & East Sussex Railway’s website.