Marcus' Model Railway Journey

30th July, 2025

Marcus & Cleo Have Another Bus Adventure into Cardiff!

We went to 'The Great Western' for a couple of drinks.

I popped into my model railway shop afterward, nothing of interest today.

Then we went for lunch at 'The Flight Club'.

It was our first ever visit, so we had a good exploration of the three floors there, which included the roof-top bar.

We tried some burgers. Tasty!!

Then it was the bus home.


The bus into Cardiff was a Cardiff Bus/Bws Caerdydd No. 253, ADL Enviro200, CE63 NZH

The bus home from Cardiff was a Cardiff Bus/Bws Caerdydd No. 251, ADL Enviro200, CE63 NZF

It was Cleo's and my first ever visit to 'The Flight Club'.

If you ever wondered why it got it's name from, well...........


Every inch of Flight Club Cardiff is filled with unexpected, ridiculous, joy.

Throughout all three floors, you'll find nods to the wonderful city, lights that dance in time to the music, Bella and Astrid, our fairground horses, and incredible bars to enjoy a cocktail or three at.

And that's not all!

You're guaranteed to feel like the Champion of the World on our heated roof terrace that's fit with cosy cabins and a traditional caravan.

Oh, and did we mention the disco phone box?

Give it a ring; you never know who might answer!

1st August, 2025

Mid Hampshire railway to welcome Class 150 Sprinter​

Class 150 in its original livery


The Watercress Line in mid-Hampshire is to become the UK’s first heritage railway to add a Class 150 Sprinter train to its running fleet.

The second-generation ‘Sprinter’ Diesel Multiple Unit dates back to 1987 and has its engines and seating all within one structure.

Leasing company Porterbrook has donated the unit, numbered 150231.

It is currently at ‘The Greatest Gathering’ in Derby, a ‘Railway 200’ celebration of railway heritage.

The team at Greatest Gathering team has organised for the unit to return to its original 1987 external livery.

Northern class 150 train


For its second generation of diesel Multiple Units (DMUs), British Rail considered two designs: the lightweight ‘Pacer’ type using mainly bus technology, and the more substantial ‘Sprinters’.

One of the most significant changes from the first generation DMUs was the replacement of traditional ‘slam doors’ by power sliding doors.

British Rail Engineering Ltd built a total of 137 Class 150 units at York works between 1984 and 1987.

Each coach has a six-cylinder 286hp Cummins 4-stroke diesel engine, driving a Voith transmission. the units have a top speed of 75 mph.

Class 150s are still in use with Transport for Wales, Northern and First Great Western.

However, they are being withdrawn as replacements enter service

TfW Class 150 at Cardiff Central


During its career, 150231 worked from Manchester and then Norwich, a brief spell on ‘Silverlink’, Central Trains and Arriva Trains Wales in November 2007.

Its last working day was Wednesday 9 July 2025, when it worked 2V30 18:35 Shrewsbury to Swansea and then empty stock 5V30 23:03 Swansea to Cardiff Canton Depot.

The unit will now enable the Watercress Line service to fill a gap in its service, enabling it to offer an earlier departure from Alton than the current 11.50 steam service.

The Class 150 will arrive at The Watercress Line for operational induction and training at the end of the summer.

It will enter service later in the year.


“Since our previous multiple unit, the Class 205 ‘Hampshire Unit’ came out of service in 2004, we have been looking out for an opportunity to fill in the service for our visitors from the Alton and London end of the Watercress Line. We hope to start restoration of the 1959 ‘Hampshire Unit’ to be our mainstay for the Alton service, with this Class 150 in support.”

Rebecca Dalley, CEO, Mid Hants Railway – The Watercress Line

1st August, 2025

65 years of Class 37s to be celebrated at North Yorkshire Moors Railway​

37264 near RAF Fylingdales


To celebrate 65 years of the legendary Class 37 diesel locomotive, in August, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) is running a series of special Sunday services hauled by one of Britain’s most iconic engines.

Since first appearing on the British railway scene in 1960, the rugged and reliable Class 37s have been a firm favourite on Britain’s railways.

To mark their 65 years of service, on Sundays 17th, 24th, and 31st August 2025, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway will be running a series of scheduled services with trains hauled by Class 37 locomotives, both single and double-headed.

The special celebratory services are:

• 10:50 Grosmont to Whitby: No. 37688 Great Rocks.
• 13:15 Whitby to Grosmont: No. 37688 Great Rocks.
• 13:50 Grosmont to Pickering: double-headed with No. 37264 leading and No. 37688 Great Rocks.
• 15:20 Pickering to Grosmont: double-headed with No. 37688 Great Rocks leading and No. 37264.

37688 Great Rocks


No. 37688 Great Rocks was built at the Vulcan Foundry in 1963, and originally numbered D6905.

During its mainline career, it operated throughout Wales and Scotland until being withdrawn in 2017.

Now owned by D05 Preservation Ltd, Great Rocks is now based at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, where it has since seen active heritage service

37264 at the annual Diesel Gala


No. 37264 was also built at Vulcan Foundry, emerging in 1965 as No. D6964.

Its BR service saw it operating in South Yorkshire and East Anglia until being withdrawn from mainline operations in 1999.

Since 2010, 37264 has been based on a long-term loan at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.


“The Class 37s are more than just locomotives; they’re legends of British engineering. This anniversary is a great opportunity for us to honour their lasting impact and give passengers the chance to relive an unforgettable era of rail travel.”

Nick Simpson, Head of Mechanical Engineering at the NYMR

From my book of 'British Railway Locomotives'
BR Class 4, 2-6-0 No.76000

4th August, 2025

New look for Patriot project​

LMS Patriot 'The Unknown Warrior'


The LMS-Patriot Company has announced a new look to its branding and identity.

The company has adopted a new logo, on the theme of the ‘Unknown Warrior’, which will feature in its marketing and on sales items in the future.

When it started, the initiative to build a new LMS Patriot locomotive named itself ‘The LMS-Patriot Project’.

However, the company has concluded that in order to appeal to a wider audience, it needs a rebrand.

To anyone other than railway enthusiasts, the name ‘LMS-Patriot’ means very little.

The company has benefited from great support from the railway fraternity, but wants to widen its audience, particularly to former service personnel.

The LMS ‘Patriot’ is a class of express locomotive built in the 1930s.

The first of the class was named ‘Patriot’ in honour of railway workers who were killed in the 1914-18 War.

When the project began, it named its new-build locomotive LMS Patriot Class No. 5551 ‘The Unknown Warrior’.

Its choice was inspired by the Great War Centenary commemorations, Armistice Day and the repatriation of the Unknown Warrior to Westminster Abbey.

The naming was carried out by the company’s Patron Simon Weston CBE, the well-known Falklands War Veteran, at a ceremony at Crewe Heritage Centre in 2018, the year that it had initially been expected to be completed.

The company says that the name ‘recognises its special Remembrance role as a national memorial engine, in memory of servicemen and women who lost their lives in the First World War and all subsequent wars.’

The locomotive 5551 ‘The Unknown Warrior’ is being constructed at Tyseley Locomotive Works in Birmingham.

Many of the new parts it requires have already been manufactured.

Heritage Boiler Steam Services of Huyton, Merseyside, have almost finished the brand new boiler.

More information, membership details and the full range of new branded  merchandise is available on the LMS-Patriot website.


“With assembly of ‘The Unknown Warrior’ loco now underway at Tyseley, we decided to refresh our branding and identity. The name change better reflects where we are now and our aim of achieving wider recognition as the new national memorial loco. The use of ‘The Unknown Warrior’ in our branding provides an instant link to service personnel whom we are remembering”.

Colin Hall, Chair, The LMS-Patriot Company

6th August, 2025

Marcus & Cleo Have Another Bus Adventure into Cardiff!

We went to 'The Great Western' for a couple of drinks.

I popped into my model railway shop afterward, nothing of interest today.

Then we went shopping, well Cleo did., she bought more clothes and footwear.

After Cleo's 'retail therapy' we popped into 'The Gatekeeper' and had some more drinks and a meal.

For 'desert' we went to the 'Be At One' cocktail bar and had a couple of cocktails each.

Then it was the bus home.


The bus into Cardiff was a Cardiff Bus/Bws Caerdydd No. 268, ADL Enviro200, CN64 FWS

The bus home from Cardiff was a Cardiff Bus/Bws Caerdydd No. 268, ADL Enviro200, CN64 FWT

Our drinks at the 'Be At One'

'Cuban Zombies' on the left, 'Singapore Slings' on the right.

Wednesday 6 Aug 2025

Railway heritage spotlight: 175 years of Britannia Bridge​

Region & Route: Wales & Western: Wales & Borders


Britannia Bridge 2021

From Victorian visions and fiery foes to foraging falcons and future-proofing fortifications - we dive into the rich history of Britannia Bridge as part of the Railway200 celebrations

Isn’t it supposed to be trolls that live under bridges?

In fairy tales, maybe, but not in Wales.

Not on the way in and out of Anglesey, anyway. Instead, you’ll find four stone lions, a pair on either side, vigilantly watching over the borders to their lands.

Above them, spanning the Menai Strait, you’ll find the resurrected Britannia Bridge.

Britannia Bridge over taken during its construction in 1848 showing partially completed piers in background


Originally opened in 1850, the Britannia Bridge was a pioneering structure of the Victorian age.

Designed by Robert Stephenson, it was constructed as part of the Chester and Holyhead Railway, creating a direct rail route from London to Holyhead and onwards via ferry to Dublin.

Its ground-breaking design featured massive rectangular iron tubes through which trains travelled.

The tubes, each weighing 1,500 long tons, were constructed on the Caernarfon shore, floated into position, raised using hydraulic jacks, then joined to form a continuous structure over 1,500 feet (460 m) in length.

At the time, these were the longest wrought iron spans in the world.

The tubes were supported by three masonry towers, the middle of which was constructed atop Britannia Rock, giving the bridge its name.

Stephenson’s bold design met Admiralty requirements for shipping clearance, including a headroom of 105 feet (32 m); enough for a fully rigged man-o-war ship to pass beneath.

For over a century, the railway bridge excelled at connecting communities and providing a vital artery for trade.

Britannia Bridge - Robert Stephenson and celebrated engineers raising the tubular bridge conference, by John Lucas, circa 1858


Phoenix from the flames

On 23 May 1970, disaster struck.

Children playing inside the bridge accidentally ignited the timber-lined roof, causing a fire that severely damaged the structure.

The intense heat warped the iron tubes, rendering them structurally unsafe.

Rather than demolish the bridge, a redesign was commissioned, resulting in the innovative two-tier steel arch bridge we see today.

Rail traffic resumed in 1972, and by 1980, a road deck for the A55 Expressway was added above the railway line, transforming the bridge into a vital multi-modal transport artery.

Britannia Bridge Lions standing guard - circa 1849 artwork

Lion in wait
Along with the preserved original masonry towers, another element of the original bridge remains.

Four limestone lions guard the bridge, sculpted by John Thomas.

Each stand 25 feet (7.6 m) long and 12 feet (3.7 m) tall, weighing around 30 tons.

They were immortalised in local verse:

Four great lions, without any hair,
Two on this side, and two over there.

The lions are decorative sculptures symbolising strength and protection, meant to emphasise the bridge’s durability and grandeur.

Though now obscured from road view, they still stand proud at the base of the towers.

Ongoing care and conservation

Network Rail Wales and Borders is responsible for maintaining the bridge and balancing modern operational demands with heritage conservation.

In 2011, a £4 million joint project by Network Rail, the Welsh Government, and the Highways Agency strengthened the structure and restored key elements, including parapets and steelwork.

2014 saw the addition of movement and vibration sensors to monitor the bridge’s condition.

In 2021, fibre-reinforced plastic beams were carefully installed beneath the historic lintels to preserve the Grade II-listed towers, safeguarding their stability for years to come.

Notably, work on the central tower was briefly paused to protect a pair of nesting peregrine falcons, highlighting the balance between preservation and nature.

An epitaph to genius

Britannia Bridge plays a vital role in carrying transport from Wales to Anglesey, with the changing shape of rail and road traffic marking the passage of time.

Stephenson’s professional rival and friend, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, upon viewing the completed Britannia Bridge, reportedly remarked:

“If your bridge succeeds, then mine have all been magnificent failures.”

Robert Stephenson's engineering legacy lives on in a memorial in Westminster Abbey.

A stained-glass window in the Abbey’s north choir aisle features a medallion depicting the bridge standing proud over the straits.

6th August, 2025

Awake The Giant Project release update on steam locomotive 92240​

First top coat of paint applied to the driver's side of the tender


The Awake the Giant group actively restoring 9F No.92240 on the Bluebell Railway has released an overhaul update ahead of the Bluebell Railway’s 65th Anniversary Weekend, taking place from Friday 8th to Sunday 10th August 2025.

The 2-10-0 locomotive, which has been out of traffic since the Giants of Steam gala of 2002 (23 years ago), is currently being restored to full working order, with much of the work so far being undertaken on the locomotive’s tender.

Since their last report in March 2025, this update covers the work undertaken during the spring and summer months.

Most of the work has involved continuing to sand down and paint the outside of the tender tank.

Several coats of undercoat and top coats need to be applied to give an even, smooth, gloss finish to the paintwork.

A four-shot montage showing the smallest chamber inside 92240’s tender. The montage shows the chamber as found at the beginning of the overhaul through to completion, including cleaning and painting


Work has also been progressing inside the tender tank, painting the water spaces consisting of 17 connected chambers made up of approximately 116 separate surfaces.

Work on this is nearly complete, with just 14 surfaces left to paint.


The Awake the Giant Team has also undertaken several other projects, besides treating and painting the tender; these have included:

March 2025: The group secretary and a few of the team members designed, created and installed a new display/information board and donation box in Steam Works at Sheffield Park. This enables visitors to learn about 92240’s history and progress on the locomotive’s overhaul.

April 2025: The gang briefly turned their attention to repairing a shed roof at Sheffield Park, which in turn enabled them to have a temporary secure space to keep some of their merchandise.

First red undercoat paint on the rear buffer beam


May 2025: Work on the rear buffer beam began with the arduous task of drilling out the studs that hold the footpads on the buffer sleeves. This took a lot longer than expected, with the toughest carbide drills struggling to make progress. Work then began sanding down the buffer beam and treating it with green anti-oxide paint before painting it in undercoat red, which was completed by the end of the month.

une 2025: The sale stand was in operation at the Bluebells Members’ Day and Model Railway Weekend. Since the sad loss of their stand manager last summer, the group has had to sacrifice working days on the loco to man the sales stand. The group have now launched an appeal to try and find a new sales stand manager.

July 2025: In mid-July, the team removed the tender brake rigging. A visual inspection shows that the brake blocks themselves are very worn. The pins are also worn and will most likely be replaced, along with their bushes. All these parts will need to be NDT (Non-Destructive Testing) before being replaced on the tender.

At the end of July, the driver’s side of the tender tank had received its second layer of top coat black, while the rear and fireman’s side of the tender had received their first layer of top coat black.

The Awake the Giant team will be at the Bluebell Railway with their sale stand across all three days of the Bluebell Railway’s 65th Anniversary this weekend, raising funds for the next stage of 92240’s overhaul.

An intensive timetable will be in operation with several working locomotives and a wide and diverse selection of rolling stock from many decades of railway operation across the South of England.

6th August, 2025

WATCH: Concept designs revealed for new HS2 trains​

Early visualisation of an HS2 train


Concept designs for the new Class 895 trains being built for HS2 were on display at last weekend’s The Greatest Gathering event at Alstom’s works in Derby.

As part of the event, visitors could take a tour of a life-size model carriage fitted out to illustrate the concept design for the train, which is being built by Hitachi-Alstom High Speed.

Concept design interior


The initial design concepts came after 20 user groups and a consumer focus group of over 500 people collaborated with HS2’s future operator, West Coast Partnership Development (WCPD).

New design features will ensure the train is accessible and inclusive for everyone, with step-free access at new HS2 stations and audio announcements and visual display screens in the toilet cubicles.

WATCH VIDEO:




Design features include:

• More legroom than in the current Standard Class.
• Improved overhead and under-seat luggage storage.
• Baby changing tables, clothing/bag hooks and a pull-down child seat in toilet cubicles.
• Saloon seats have drop-down tray tables and a shelf for placing devices when viewing video content.
• Multiple power and charging options, including 3-pin plugs and USB-C.
• Bicycle storage with horizontal racks to maximise space for quicker and easier boarding and alighting.

Bathroom in the concept design


Contracts worth around £2bn to build the trains were awarded to the Hitachi-Alstom High Speed joint venture in 2021.

They will be designed and built at three key UK sites, with the bogies being manufactured in Crewe, body shell welding and electrical installation being carried out in County Durham, and the interior fit-out taking place at Derby.

It is estimated that around 2,500 jobs, including new apprenticeships, will be created in the Midlands and the North.

Passenger testing of the concept design


The trains will be designed to operate on both HS2 and the existing railway network, and have a maximum speed of 225 mph.

They will be maintained at a new depot at Washwood Heath in Birmingham.

The first section of a station platform has recently been installed at the line’s current terminus in London at Old Oak Common.


“As we progress towards delivering the next generation of high-speed trains for HS2, the feedback from passengers has been invaluable. Their insights have helped us develop and refine the design concept, to ensure that our trains not only meet but exceed expectations for accessibility, comfort and convenience. Engaging with a diverse range of future passengers, including those who may not typically consider train travel, has been crucial in shaping the features that will make a real difference to their experience.”

“Hitachi-Alstom High Speed is committed to putting passengers at the heart of every decision. Working with our stakeholders and closely with the public, we are confident that we’re creating a fleet of trains that will set a new standard for intercity travel in the UK. When HS2 is operational, this collaborative approach will underpin a transformative and stress-free journey for a wide range of people.”

James Grundy, Project Director for Hitachi-Alstom High Speed

7th August, 2025

Steam locomotive 73082 Camelot to visit the Severn Valley Railway​

The Severn Valley Railway has announced that Class 5 No. 73082 Camelot will be visiting them for their Autumn Steam Gala.

The Autumn Steam Gala will take place between the 18th and 21st September and will be the first time Camelot has visited the railway.

73082 will join 35006 Peninsular and Oriental S N & Co at the gala alongside the home fleet of 813, 4930 Hagley Hal, 7714, 7802 Bradley Manor, 13268, 75069 and 1450.

The gala will also feature overnight running on the Friday and Saturday nights, with trains running continuously for 60 hours.


Jonathan ‘Gus’ Dunster, the SVR’s managing director, said: “We’re delighted that the Bluebell Railway and the 73082 Camelot Locomotive Society have agreed to the loco’s appearance at our event. It looks like we’re in for a very exciting event, and it is set to be an impressive collection of first-time visitors. We have another two ‘new to the SVR’ guests in the pipeline, and we will confirm these as soon as we can.