Marcus' Model Railway Journey

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Azuma train passing by Newcastle
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Sunday 16 Nov 2025

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Storm Claudia – Hereford – Newport update​

Region & Route: Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

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Pandy 16 Nov 25


Since Friday 14 November, alongside our colleagues at Transport for Wales, we’ve worked tirelessly to re-instate the track between Hereford and Newport, where the overflow of water from the River Monnow, which was announced as National Emergency, saw the river reach its highest ever recorded levels.

This washed away the track stone near a level crossing at Pandy, leaving the railway tracks suspended by a two metre void.
 
WATCH VIDEO
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To watch video click link https://fast.wistia.net/embed/iframe/r3oznxln47


The rock armour in place from our resilience work in 2021, saw several boulders which alone weigh eight tonnes each, moved by the sheer force of the water from River Monnow, which you can see in the pictures attached, however the £4 million investment on this line in 2021 to reduce extreme weather impacts has held true to its commitment, preventing further spread and damage to the area.

To add to intricacy of the situation, many local roads have also been flooded, which meant moving materials to site using arctic lorries to deliver specialist plant and 500 tonnes of ballast (track stone) is an enormous and very complex challenge.

Our teams continue to work around the clock, with over 100 skilled people in attendance, we have already re-laid 150tonnes of ballast, with another 300tonnes to go.

Thank you to all our passengers and freight operators for your patience while we do all we can to get the railway open again as quickly and safely as possible for passengers and freight – we’re working towards the line re-opening by Tuesday 18 November.

Transport for Wales travel update -

The railway between Newport and Hereford remains closed until at least Tuesday, with limited rail services running between Hereford and Shrewsbury, and limited replacement road transport so we cannot guarantee customers can reach their destination.

Conwy valley line has now reopened

Passengers with tickets dated 14, 15. 16 and 17 November can travel at no extra cost on Tuesday 18.

Please continue to check your travel plans http://journeycheck.com/tfwrail/ and @national rail
 
17th November, 2025

Colas Rail to operate and maintain New Measurement Train fleet​

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43277 hauling the New Measurement Train


Colas Rail UK’s Freight division has announced that they have been awarded a contract with Network Rail.

The contract includes the operation (which they have already been doing) and maintenance of the New Measurement Train (NMT) fleet.

These trains help to monitor and record track conditions at high speeds to identify faults before they cause any safety issues.

The contract begins next month, and while Colas has been involved with the fleet since 2015, they will now be responsible for carrying out light and heavy maintenance duties, as well as operating the fleet.

The fleet includes two Class 43 Power Cars and five Mark 3 coaches, which allow it to complete the analysis as it impacts the track, just like a standard passenger service.

A previous maintenance contract was held with Loram UK.


“This contract is a fantastic addition to our portfolio of Infrastructure Monitoring services for Network Rail.

“The award of this contract demonstrates Network Rail’s confidence in our ability to deliver top-notch Infrastructure Monitoring services.

“It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team.”

Speaking on the success of the contract award, Freight Operations Director, Sep Semsarzadeh
 
17th November, 2025

Volunteers sought ahead of working party on steam locomotive Una​

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Una at the Mseum


Wales’ National Slate Museum (Amgueddfa Llechi Cymru) is offering an opportunity to volunteers to work on repairs to its quarry engine, Una.

The engine is currently at Boston Lodge in Minffordd, the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways’ engineering works, undergoing essential repairs, and help is needed to get it back into good condition.
 
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Boston Lodge Works


The Museum is keen for Una to return in time for its reopening. It closed for refurbishment a year ago, on 4 November 2024.

The refurbishment will conserve and renovate the Museum’s Grade 1 buildings and will improve facilities for visitors, adding new play areas, learning centres, a shop and a café.


The National Slate Museum is located at Gilfach Ddu, workshops built in the 19th century for the now disused Dinorwic quarry. It is located within the Padarn Country Park in Llanberis in Gwynedd.

The museum preserves and displays relics of the slate industry in Wales.

Una is a Hunslet engine that was built in 1905 by the Leeds-based company.

It worked at Pen-yr-Orsedd quarry until around 1960, where it was mainly used to haul wagons of rubble within the quarry.

The National Slate Museum is used as a base for the locomotives that operate on the Llanberis Lake Railway, which is currently running shorter journeys than usual because of work being done as part of the National Grid’s ongoing essential electricity cable replacement project.

Una failed its safety tests a few years ago, so it has been out of action, which the Museum says has been disappointing for both staff and visitors.
 
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Una’s nameplate


The Museum has released the following information about the volunteering opportunity:
  • Location: Boston Lodge works, Minffordd.
  • Minimum age for volunteers: 16
  • No previous experience required
There is a limited number of places for volunteers.

More information is available here.

Volunteers can reserve a place by contacting chloe.ward@museumwales.ac.uk by 9 December.
 
Monday 17 Nov 2025

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VIDEO: Hereford-Newport line set to reopen just 60 hours after Storm Claudia damage, thanks to rapid round-the-clock repairs and resilience investment​

Region & Route: Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

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Rock armour marches line

The Marches Line between Hereford and Newport will reopen to passenger and freight services on Tuesday 18 November after repairs following an isolated track wash out near Abergavenny.

Teams from Network Rail Wales and Borders have worked intensively, day and night, to safely reinstate the railway and reopen this vital passenger and freight corridor, after the biggest flooding event ever recorded in this area.

Floodwater completely washed away the ballast – the stones that support the track – near a level crossing at Pandy, on the Marches Line, leaving a two-metre void and the rails suspended.
 
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Marches line wash out


Despite significant local road flooding, engineers managed to quickly transport specialist equipment and materials to the site to undertake the repairs, including:
  • 600 tonnes of ballast, moved by 30 articulated lorries
  • 4 rail-road cranes
  • 2 tamping machines
  • Over 100 staff working across multiple shifts
Thanks to a resilience investment completed in 2021 – where 8,000 tonnes of rock armour was installed along this vulnerable section of line – the wider route avoided far more severe damage.

Historically, an incident like this could have closed the line for three to four weeks. This time, it has been repaired in under three days.
 
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Marches line wash out


While several eight-tonne rock armour boulders were shifted by the sheer force of the floodwater, the £4m project, four years ago, significantly limited the impact of the storm and prevented damage spreading hundreds of metres along the railway.

In 2019, an unnamed storm dropped 80mm of rain and caused 15 washout sites on this line.

In comparison, Storm Claudia dropped 120mm – but the rock armour meant the line suffered just one washout, at a level crossing, where it couldn’t be installed.
 
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Hereford to Newport line workers


“Our teams have worked methodically and safely to fix the damage caused by the flooding near Pandy level crossing in just 60 hours”, said Nick Millington, Route Director for Network Rail Wales and Borders.

“Before our resilience work and the rock armour being placed, this would have taken potentially four weeks to complete.

“We’ve used 600 tonnes of ballast and around 100 people in this recovery operation.

“A number of our people weren’t rostered to work this weekend but came in voluntarily to help, and I’m proud of their efforts and what we’ve managed to achieve.

“I would like to thank our passengers and freight customers for their patience during this time.”
 
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Hereford to Newport line tampers


Marie Daly, Chief Operating Officer at TfW said: "We're pleased to confirm the railway line between Hereford and Newport has re-opened with services resuming on Tuesday morning, 18th November.

"We appreciate our customers' patience while we worked with Network Rail to reopen the affected line.

"We strongly advise all fans heading to Cardiff for the World Cup qualifier to check their journey details before travelling, as services are expected to be exceptionally busy while we work to get our trains back into their normal scheduled locations."
 
18th November, 2025

Steam locomotive 35028 Clan Line to visit Sussex this Wednesday​

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35028 Clan Line will be on the mainline tomorrow (19th November) as it hauls The Christmas Sussex Belle.

Departing London Victoria at 10:45, the train will pass through Clapham High Street (10:52), Crystal Palace (11:120, Norwood Junction (11:16), Redhill (11:40), Salfords (11:45), Haywards Heath (12:18), Lewes (13:19) and Eastbourne at 13:48.

From Eastbourne, a diesel locomotive will lead the train (with 35028 on the rear) and will head to Hastings via Pevensey Bay (15:28) and Bexhill (15:37) before arriving in Hastings at 15:53.

Another reversal will take place at Hastings, with 35028 Clan Line now at the front of the train. 35028 will depart at 16:06 and will return to London Victoria via Battle (16:18), Tunbridge Wells (16:52), Tonbridge (17:11), Swanley (17:44), Bromley South (17:56), Bellingham (18:12), Denmark Hill (18:26), Wandsworth Road (18:34) and London Victoria at 18:45.
 
Wednesday 19 Nov 2025

Marcus & Cleo Have Another Bus Adventure into Cardiff

Firstly we popped into 'The Great Western' for a couple of drinks.

We then went to my model railway shop and I bought a couple of things.

Took Cleo shopping and she bought a new coat.

I treated her to a couple of silver bracelets - 'spoilt brat!' Lol

Our last call was 'The Gatekeeper' where we had some more drinks.

There were two very good ales there, I had a pint of Clootie Dumpling and three pints of Exmas.

Then it was the bus home.


The bus into Cardiff was Cardiff Bus/Bws Caerdydd No. 557, ADL Enviro200, CN17 BGZ
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19th November, 2025

New stations and more planned for Oxford to Cambridge railway line​

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The first train on East West Rail at Bletchley


Today, the East West Railway Company (EWR Co) has revealed the next steps for the second phase of the Oxford-Cambridge corridor.

With freight and charter trains already using the line, the first public passenger trains are due to start running on the Oxford to Bletchley section of the line in the coming months.

The next phase of the project focuses on growth along the length of the East West Railway (EWR), focusing more on the Bletchley – Bedford – Cambridge section.

After lengthy discussions, they have confirmed they are exploring the same transformative plans which could see the frequency of trains rise from 3 or 4 up to 5 per hour.
 
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First freight train EWR Winslow station


Potential plans could add 70% more seating on the route, improving service quality.

Other aspects have been confirmed, including 4 new stations along the Marston Vale Line and new station entrances at Bletchley, Cambridge and Bedford.

The new stations on the Marston Vale Line will better serve the surrounding communities, with faster, more frequent services that should increase usage.

A station at Stewartby will help serve the upcoming Universal theme park.


An additional 7 new stations elsewhere are also under discussion.

A new eastern entrance is planned at Cambridge Central, and there are also plans for a new Cambridge East station to help reduce congestion.
 
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The East West Rail test train at Winslow


There are also plans to add a spur line to join up with the Newmarket Line, which will enable direct services onward to Ipswich, Felixstowe and Norwich, which will also benefit cross-country freight services.

The plans also state that bi-mode and or rapid charging electric trains are being considered for use along the route.


This will not only keep costs down in terms of fully electrifying the whole line, but with advancements in both forms of railway motive power, both types of train still have the potential to develop further, offering faster and greener journeys by the time the route opens throughout.

Over the last decade, the East West Rail Project has received £27.5 billion of investment and created over 43,000 jobs.


“East West Rail is more than a railway – it’s a catalyst for growth, more jobs and opportunity, and this project will make rail travel faster, greener and more reliable for millions of passengers.

By investing in modern infrastructure, we’re laying the foundations for long-term prosperity in one of the UK’s most dynamic regions while ensuring that the UK has a rail network passengers can be proud of.”

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander
 
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