Marcus' Model Railway Journey

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Denis and Barbara being interviewed during their recent poppy selling marathon


They attended a Scottish Poppy Appeal Reception in Edinburgh and even got the attention of a content creator who started an online campaign for them, raising an additional £6,000.


“Wow. I’m blown away by our final total for the Poppy Express this year and genuinely can’t believe we’ve raised so much money. The generosity of customers never fails to amaze us, with people kindly donating whatever they can as they travel.

“We marked our tenth anniversary this year with a very special poppy selling marathon with our friends at Lumo and Hull Trains. I’d like to thank all the rail operators’ who kindly welcome us on board every year, along with their customers who always show real kindness and support for us. Of course, we couldn’t do any of this without our amazing team of volunteers, many of whom are veterans themselves. This money will go to incredibly important causes.”

Denis, a former Non-Commissioned Officer (sapper) with the Corps of Royal Engineers
 
12th November, 2025

Investigation launched after Avanti West Coast train hits landslip at 83mph​

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Avanti West Coast Pendolino after derailing


The Rail Accident Investigation Branch says it has launched an investigation after the derailment in Cumbria last week.

An Avanti West Coast service travelling from Glasgow Central to London Euston derailed at around 06:10 on the 3rd November, south of Shap in Cumbria.

The train was travelling at 83mph when it hit debris that had been washed onto the track.

The train’s first bogie was lifted off the rails and ran derailed for around 560 metres.
 
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Avanti West Coast Pendolino following a derailment


9 members of staff at 86 passengers were onboard at the time of the incident, with four people being treated for minor injuries.

The landslip occurred after a period of heavy and sustained rainfall.

The preliminary examination found that the drainage channel, which runs across the slope above the washed-out material, was not big enough for the amount of water that was present, leading to the landslip.

Our investigation will determine the sequence of events which led to the derailment and will include consideration of:
  • the design, maintenance and management of earthworks and drainage in this area
  • the effectiveness of on-site monitoring equipment
  • the operational response to adverse weather warnings
  • the performance of the train during the derailment
  • any underlying factors which might have contributed to the derailment.
 
12th November, 2025

Steam locomotive 60163 Tornado to visit York with special Christmas trip​

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60163 "Tornado" at Nene Valley Railway on April 22nd 2017


Vintage Trains has announced that next month it will be running two steam-hauled trips through the East Midlands to York, with dining service options aboard authentic vintage carriages.

York is a medieval city that celebrates the festive season with award-winning markets and is also known for its cobbled streets, Gothic Minster, and 13th-century city walls.

Passengers will have five hours to explore York, which allows enough time to visit the city’s major attraction for railway enthusiasts, the National Railway Museum.
 
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60163 Tornado seen at Wansford on the Nene Valley railway.


The Christmas White Rose rail tour will run only twice this year. It will depart from multiple stations across the Midlands, including Birmingham New Street, Leicester, Nuneaton, Derby, Widley Manor and East Midlands Parkway. Full details of stations and departure times are available from Vintage Trains.
  • On Wednesday, 3 December, a Castle Class locomotive will haul the train from Birmingham and the East Midlands to York. The 4073 or Castle Class are 4-6-0 type steam locomotives, built between 1923 and 1950 and run on the Great Western Railway.
  • On Wednesday, 10 December, the train will be hauled by 60163 ‘Tornado’. This will be the final mainline trip of the year for Tornado, the first mainline steam locomotive built in Britain since 1960, with its construction completed in 2008 by The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust. Tornado is a modern Pacific-type locomotive.
 
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LNER Peppercorn A1 No.60163 "Tornado" departs Grosmont


Passengers will have a choice of how they enjoy the experience:
  • If they choose Pullman Dining, they will be served a full English breakfast and a four-course evening dinner at their seat in original Pullman cars.
  • If they choose First Class Dining, they will be offered bacon rolls, pastries and afternoon tea, served at tables for four people in restored First Class coaches.
  • Choosing the Tourist (non-dining) class will give them comfortable seating and access to the onboard buffet.

"For anyone who’s been meaning to experience authentic steam travel, or looking for a Christmas day out that goes beyond the ordinary, this is the one."

Vintage Trains
 
Thursday 13 Nov 2025

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Video: Major accessibility upgrades coming to Tenby Station providing step-free access to both platforms for the first time​

Region & Route: Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

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Tenby AfA digital mock up


Passengers using the popular West Wales station are set to enjoy easier, more accessible journeys thanks to Network Rail’s upcoming upgrades.

Supported by the Department for Transport’s Access for All programme, and the Welsh Government, the project will see the construction of a brand-new fully accessible footbridge complete with lifts.

Once complete, the upgrades will make a real difference for disabled people, parents with pushchairs, and those carrying luggage in the busy town - helping to make rail travel more inclusive and convenient. The investment also supports wider goals to encourage public transport use and reduce carbon emissions across the region.

Network Rail’s contractor, AmcoGiffen, will begin setting up the site compound in December 2025.

This will include fencing off an area of the station car park near the air cadet huts, resulting in a temporary reduction in parking spaces.

“We’re delighted to be improving accessibility at Tenby Station, ensuring that all passengers can travel with confidence and independence,” said Helen Hodgson, Senior Sponsor, Network Rail Wales and Borders route.

“These upgrades will make a real difference for everyone using the station and reflects our commitment to building a more inclusive and sustainable railway for the communities we serve.”
 
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Tenby AfA digital mock up


Most work will take place during the day, though some overnight activity will be required while the railway is closed, for safety reasons. The station will remain open to passengers while work takes place. Planned working hours are as follows:

Daytime: 7:30am to 6:00pm

Overnight: 10:00pm to 6:00am

Work will continue throughout 2026, with the new facilities expected to open by Christmas 2026.

Community engagement event

Network Rail will host a public drop-in event for anyone wishing to learn more about the plans on Wednesday 19 November, between 3:00pm and 7:00pm, at St Mary’s Church, High Street, Tenby (SA70 8AP).

Members of the project and contractor teams will be available to answer questions and discuss the planned improvements.

Network Rail is committed to keeping disruption to a minimum and will provide regular updates to the community through a bi-monthly newsletter.

Anyone wishing to receive updates can email CRWales@networkrail.co.uk, referencing AFA Tenby in the subject line.
 
13th November, 2025

Steam locomotive 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley to visit York this Saturday​

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60007 Sir Nigel Gresley departs Grosmont, North Yorkshire Moors Railway


60007 Sir Nigel Gresley will be visiting York this Saturday (15th November) as it hauls The Christmas White Rose for Saphos Trains.

Departing Potters Bar at 07:25, the tour will start out diesel-hauled, passing through Welwyn Garden City (07:34), Stevenage (07:48), Hitchin (07:56), St Neots (08:22), Huntingdon (08:34) and Peterborough at 08:56.

Here, 60007 will take over the train. Departing Peterborough at 10:03, the train will pass through Grantham (10:30), Doncaster (11:38) and York at 12:09.

After time in York, the train, with 60007 on the rear, will depart at 16:05. The train will then head to Milford Junction via Church Fenton (16:18).

At Milford Junction, the train reverses, and 60007 takes charge of the train again. 60007 will now head to Peterborough via Doncaster (16:52), Retford (17:44) and Grantham at 18:16.

Here, 60007 is taken off the train and will be replaced by a diesel locomotive, heading back to Potters Bar via Huntingdon (20:17), St Neots (20:31), Hitchin (20:57), Stevenage (21:07), Welwyn Garden City (21:24) and Potters Bar at 21:36.
 
13th November, 2025

Appeal launched to overhaul former WWI locomotive​

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'Axe'


The Lynton & Barnstaple Trust has launched an appeal to raise funds for the overhaul of its Kerr-Stuart ‘Joffre’ locomotive Axe.

A special episode of the YouTube video Steam on the Moor was shown at a Members Forum in Lynton last Saturday, November 8th, when the appeal was launched.

The last time that Axe was in steam was at last year’s Remembrance Service.

By then, Axe had been in service since 2009, but its boiler ticket expired soon afterwards.
 
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‘Axe’ in War Department livery


Built by Kerr, Stuart & Co Ltd at Stoke-on-Trent in 1915, Axe is owned by the Lynton & Barnstaple Trust.

Among the work required to restore Axe to running order is lifting the boiler to enable it to be inspected, replacing the boiler tubes, stripping down and refurbishing the running gear and improving the pipework in the cab.

However, as when any steam locomotive is overhauled, unexpected work may be required, and it is very difficult to estimate the final cost.

Axe is one of seventy 60cm gauge Joffre Class side and well tank locomotives ordered by the French government for service on the Western Front, the class being named after the French First World War Commander.

In 1924, it is known to have been owned by the Kent Construction & Engineering Company Ltd., and was later owned by Ets. Riffier at Macon in Saone et Loire.

By 1932, it was known to be working for Carrières de la Vallée Heureuse et du Haut Banc at Marquise Rinxent in Pas de Calais.

Around 1956, British train enthusiasts discovered Kerr, Stuart 2451 (Axe) and four sister locos, 2405, 2442, 3010, and 3014, at Rinxent, where they had been out of service for almost ten years.

These five locomotives were thought to be the only survivors of the class, and in 1974, they were repatriated to the UK.
 
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Two Joffre Class locos derelict at Marquise Rinxent in 1963


No. 2405 went to the West Lancashire Light Railway near Southport, and by 1976, the other four had been placed in storage at the Pen-yr-Orsedd Quarry Museum in North Wales, before moving in 1978 to Gloddfa Ganol at Blaenau Ffestiniog, where 2442, 3010 and 3014 were painted.

Axe, still as No. 2451, remained unpainted and in 1983 was purchased by the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Association for £2,750.

The Association named it Axe, following the policy of naming its locos after three-letter Devon rivers, and hoped it would be in steam by September 1985.

That proved a false hope, and Axe was moved to the Gartell Light Railway at Templecombe in Somerset for the restoration to be completed.

On Remembrance Day, 11th November 2008, AXE finally returned to steam as part of its dedication ceremony by the Bishop of Exeter on November 11th 2008.

Two months later, in January 2009, Axe returned to the railway for steam trials, culminating in hauling her first operational passenger service on 1st March 2009.


Other restoration projects recently undertaken by the railway include a Lynton and Barnstaple Railway observation saloon. In 2022, locomotive Lyd made a guest appearance on The Lynton and Barnstaple Railway.
 
13th November, 2025

Steam locomotive 35028 Clan Line to visit Hampshire this Saturday​

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35028 Clan Line will be visiting Hampshire this weekend as it hauls UK Railtours’ Portsmouth Pullman on the 15th November.

Departing London Victoria at 09:32, the train will pass through Tulse Hill (09:48), Wimbledon (10:01), Woking (10:41), Basingstoke (11:18), Botley (11:57) and Havant at 12:38.

Here, the train reverses. With a Class 67 leading the train, it will pass through Fratton (12:52) before arriving at Portsmouth Harbour at 12:59.

After time in Portsmouth, 35028 Clan Line will depart with the train at 16:11 and will pass through Fratton (16:19), Havant (16:40), Ford (17:14), Worthing (17:37), Preston Park (18:00), Three Bridges (19:00), East Croydon (19:35), Clapham Junction (19:47) and London Victoria at 20:06.
 
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