Marcus' Model Railway Journey

28th January, 2026

Experience Flying Scotsman travelling on the main line​

Flying Scotsman at twilight


The thrill of travelling behind the world-famous London & North Railway A3 Class Pacific Flying Scotsman at main line speed on the national railway network is on offer for three days in February.

Vintage Trains has organised the special event, with Flying Scotsman making five return trips from Birmingham Moor Street station on Wednesday, 18th, Thursday, 19th, and Friday, 20th February.

Journeys depart from Birmingham Moor Street station every two hours, with the first departure at 10.30 am and the last one at 6.30 pm.

By travelling on the national railway network, Flying Scotsman will show passengers what it is capable of, and allow them to experience the thrill of travelling behind a steam locomotive at around three times faster than on heritage railways.

Flying Scotsman crosses Eckington Bridge in Worcestershire


Accommodation will be in First or Standard Class. The First Class carriages date from the 1960s, and all guests will be welcomed with a glass of Prosecco or a soft drink, and there will be grazing snacks throughout the journey.

Standard Class accommodation is in comfortable seating at tables for four.

A Buffet Car will be available during the journey.


Standard Class tickets cost £48.76, First Class at tables of up to 4 people cost £80.66, and First Class at a guaranteed table for two people cost £177.02.

Full details and booking information can be found here.

Flying Scotsman at Barrow Hill


Flying Scotsman will also be performing at various heritage railways in 2026, including at the Mid Hants Railway in March and the East Lancashire Railway in June.

28th January, 2026

Class 66 to visit Chinnor Diesel Gala​

GBRf Class 66 No. 66754


The Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway have announced the next guest locomotive which will be visiting for their Annual Diesel Gala.

The gala is being held on the 20th – 22nd March.

Joining their first visitor, Class 26 ‘26043’, will be a Class 66, courtesy of GB Railfreight.

Class 26 No. 26043


The specific Class 66 locomotive is currently unknown, but it will hopefully be a rarer visitor, which will be a great opportunity for diesel fans.

The two visitors will join 37227, 97808 (08825), D1501, D2069, and 47715.

There will also be driver experiences on the Class 26 available during the gala.

Further information on the gala will be available on their website.

28th January, 2026

Further dates announced for Inspiration tour​

Inside Inspiration - bridge making exercise


New dates and locations have been announced for the Railway 200 Inspiration train’s tour.

Dates were announced up until the 15th March at the end of last year, with another month’s worth of locations announced today.

Some of these fall between the existing March locations.

The train will tour until June, and is free to enter, with some fees applying at private locations.

More dates will be announced, and if you miss out on visiting Inspiration, you can always view the virtual tour online.

The interactive train will be visiting 6 more locations:



“Railways are one of history’s most important inventions and inside this train you can explore the story of rail in a fun and family-friendly environment.

“Inspiration has already travelled thousands of miles across Britain – from Scotland to Southampton – and we are hugely excited to welcome even more people aboard in these six fantastic destinations.”

Emma Roberts, Programme Manager for Railway 200

Transport Heritage NSW, based in Sydney, New South Wales (NSW), Australia, is running The Vintage Tramway Festival Express on Sunday, 22nd February.

Vintage electric train, Set S28

Sydney Tramway Museum

East West Rail has confirmed that its preferred location for a new Train Maintenance Depot (TMD) will be at Bletchley West.

First test train on East West Rail

An East West Rail test train at Steeple Claydon

28 January, 2026

‘Chiltern Explorer’ trains enter service​

Chiltern Explorer at London Marylebone


Following the unveiling of Chiltern’s new trains last October, on Monday, the 26th of January, the first MK5a coaches officially entered front-line passenger service with Chiltern Railways.

To mark the occasion, special events were held at the major stations between Birmingham Moor Street and London Marylebone on Tuesday, 27th January.

Passengers were greeted with live music, and goody bags were handed out to commemorate the launch of the first of 13 “Chiltern Explorer” sets into service.

The name “Chiltern Explorer” was selected by customers from a public shortlist.

The name will be applied to the coaches and class 68 diesels.

The name will also be used in station announcements before the arrival and departure of trains.

Chiltern Explorer at Birmingham Moor Street


Local leaders and business leaders turned out to witness events and to see how these trains will improve connectivity into and out of the West Midlands.

The trains are part of a major investment aimed at increasing the number of seats by 10,000 per week by the end of 2026.

Featuring comfortable seating, enhanced Wi-Fi, USB charging ports, air conditioning, more luggage and bike storage, accessible toilets and wider seating areas for those with wheelchairs, the new trains will be a welcome sight for regular passengers on long-distance services on the Chiltern mainline.

These trains are replacing the MK3 stock, which has been in service for almost half a century since their construction in the British Rail era in the late 70s and early 80s.

The last of the MK3 sets will be withdrawn from service by the start of April. All 13 ‘Chiltern Explorer’ trains will be phased in during the year.

Richard Allan and Laura Shoaf CBE at Birmingham Moor Street


“The arrival of the first Chiltern Explorer is a major milestone in delivering a more modern, accessible and reliable railway.

These new trains will transform journeys for customers from the West Midlands through to London, strengthening connections for work, leisure and the region’s growing economy.

They also demonstrate the kind of long‑term, customer‑focused investment we are working to embed by building a simpler, more joined‑up rail system that delivers for communities.

Crucially, the fleet’s improved efficiency and design support our wider sustainability goals, helping create a greener railway for the future.”

Laura Shoaf CBE, Chair of Shadow Great British Railways

28th January, 2026

Two South African steam locomotives arrive at Welsh railway​

Unloading Renishaw No. 4.


The Vale of Rheidol Railway has taken delivery of two locomotives that once worked at the Renishaw Sugar Mills in South Africa.

The locomotives, Renishaw No. 4, an unusual Avonside ‘Heisler’, and a Bagnall articulated, Renishaw No.5, were purchased in 1969 by Peter Rampton, a secretive but avid collector of all things railwayana, for his ‘Collection X’ at his farm in Surrey.

Renishaw No. 4.


Peter was a very private and passionate collector of narrow gauge locomotives, and his story is told in a book, Narrow Gauge Enigma – The Story of Peter Rampton and his Collection X, released by the Vale of Rheidol Railway.

As well as telling Peter’s remarkable story, the book has information and photographs from his private archives, and interviews with people who knew and worked with and for him.


Peter John Rampton was born in 1934 and died in 2019, and was the heir to the Freemans’ mail-order business.

He was well-known among railway enthusiasts for his dedication to rescuing and restoring rare narrow-gauge steam locomotives and coaches from around the world, and for many years, his collection was shrouded in secrecy.

It was stored in agricultural sheds on his Surrey farm, and those who knew of its existence nicknamed it Collection ‘X’.

Renishaw No. 5


In December 2025, another locomotive from Southern Africa arrived at the Vale of Rheidol Railway to join the late Peter Rampton’s expanding Collection X.

This was a 4-4-0 Lawley locomotive No. 266 M’Dundo, which was built by the Falcon Engine and Car Works in Loughborough in 1897 for the Beira Railway in Mozambique.

28 Jan 2026

Hidden security cameras prevent railway cable theft​

OLE


An attempted cable theft was stopped in its tracks with Transport for Wales working with South Wales Police and British Transport Police to prevent crime on the railways with successful arrests made.

In the early hours of New Year’s Eve 2025, hidden security cameras positioned along the Core Valley Lines (CVL) detected three individuals trespassing on the tracks near Pentre-bach.

The system alerted Transport for Wales (TfW) security teams, who coordinated a response with South Wales Police. Officers intercepted the suspects at the scene, who were then arrested on suspicion of theft. The case has now been transferred to British Transport Police to investigate.

Over 125 metres of cables were cut and removed with an estimated scrap value of £2,000.

The true cost of such thefts is significantly higher, with similar incidents last year costing the taxpayer over £750,000 in repairs, causing hundreds of hours of delays and cancellations to passengers.

With 99% of the South Wales Metro network now electrified, Transport for Wales is warning the public that cable theft now carries a significantly higher risk and all overhead line equipment and cables next to the railway must be treated as live at all times.

Loren Curry, Project Director for the Core Valley Lines, said:

“These arrests send a clear message that cable theft on our network will not be tolerated. Thanks to the decisive actions of our security teams and our strong partnership with police, we’ve prevented a significant theft.

“Cable thefts not only cost TfW and the taxpayer hundreds of thousands of pounds in repairs, but they also cause major disruption for the communities who rely on our services. We hope this incident acts as a strong deterrent to anyone considering similar criminal activity.”

TfW continues to work closely with the BTP and reminds all passengers and local communities, especially those who live near the railway, to stay alert and report anything suspicious, such as broken fencing or people on the tracks.

Anyone witnessing any suspicious behaviour should contact the British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016 for non-emergencies. If a crime is in progress, call 999.

444015 at Bournemouth

An Avanti West Coast Pendolino train

29th January, 2026

Leicestershire railway to host special Steam Weekend​

Spring Steam Weekend


The Great Central Railway is hosting its Spring Steam Weekend from the 28th February to the 1st March.

They have announced that BR 9F No. 92134 (courtesy of the Self family and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway), 3809/18 Hunslet ‘Austerity’ (courtesy of Locomotive Maintenance Services), and No. 34072 ‘257 Squadron’ (courtesy of Swanage Railway and Southern Locomotives Limited (SLL)) will be joining their home fleet for the event.

These three visiting locomotives also starred in their recent Winter Steam Gala.

Visitors can enjoy steam-hauled journeys and have time to explore and enjoy food at the cafes.


Varied tickets are available to purchase, with the ability to hop on and off with a runabout ticket.

Passengers with restricted movement can also benefit from their recent station upgrade at Loughborough, allowing everyone to enjoy the weekend.

Tickets and further information can be found here.

29th January, 2026

‘Challenging but positive’ year for Vale of Rheidol Railway as plans made for 2026​

No. 9 Prince of Wales at Devils Bridge


The Vale of Rheidol Railway has reflected on 2025, stating it was a ‘challenging but positive’ year for the narrow gauge railway.

2025 presented a long period of dry weather, which restricted the railway’s steam operations and at times even saw services suspended.

With this in mind, 11% fewer trains ran in 2025 when compared to the previous.

The railway says that passenger numbers per train was up 8% but finished the season just 3% down on the previous year, showcasing a strong demand for services when they were able to operate.


The visit of Making Tracks and the ever popular Ticket to Christmas experience brought in a combined 6,000 visitors.

Other highlights of the year saw the launch of No. 9 into its BR Blue livery at the annual Steam Festival.

The launch of Collection X – The Narrow Gauge Enigma along with an improved retail representation, resulted in a 31% increase in retail revenue and saw the railway record a 5.6% increase in turnover.

Looking ahead to 2026, No. 9 will be converted to oil firing to provide further resilience during dry periods.


Collection X Bagnall locomotive is also expected to enter service to provide more flexibility.

New elements will be introduced at the Aberystwyth Museum to tell the story of the Vale of Rheidol Railway and Collection X.

Major improvements have been completed at Devil’s Bridge, with the toilet block replaced.

The driver experience line will be extended in 2026 with an improved catering offer.

Work is underway at Capel Bangor to support more Collection X displays, with behind-the-scenes tours planned for later in the year.


Full services will resume in March, with half term services running to Capel Bangor whilst P-Way work takes place further up the line.

Also in 2026, the railway anticipates that the acquisition of the Brecon Mountain Railway will be completed, which will allow for closer collaboration between the two railways.


“2025 presented some real operational challenges, particularly due to the prolonged dry conditions, but it also demonstrated the resilience of the railway and the strength of public support for what we do. With major projects underway, new exhibits coming on stream and continued investment across the line, we are looking forward to a very positive and productive 2026.”

Stuart Williams, General Manager of the Vale of Rheidol Railway

29th January, 2026

East Sussex railway release Spring Steam Gala timetable​

2999 Lady of Legend


The Bluebell Railway announced its Spring Steam Gala last year, and the timetable is now available!

The Gala runs from the 20th to the 22nd March, featuring a fantastic line-up with visiting locomotives including BR Standard 4MT No. 75069, 2999 Lady of Legend, W8 ‘Freshwater’.

75069 and 92214 at Goathland, North Yorkshire Moors Railway


These locomotives will join their home fleet for an exciting few days with an intensive timetable.

Tickets are available in one-, two-, or three-day options.


The gala timetable can now be viewed, along with tickets, on their website.

29th January, 2026

Staffordshire light railway to host Motor Rail Mania​

Locomotive 20 at the Apedale Valley Railway


The Apedale Valley Light Railway in Staffordshire has issued an update about its Motor Rail Mania event on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 June.

The event is being held in celebration of the Motor Rail locomotive.

A Bedford engineering company built the first of these locos 110 years ago, in 1916.

The company, Simplex, became a leading manufacturer of narrow-gauge, internal-combustion locos.

The Apedale Valley Light Railway has a significant collection of these locomotives.

Locomotive 42 at the Apedale Valley Railway


During the Motor Rail Mania event, frequent train services will operate using Motor Rail diesel and petrol locos.

The Railway is inviting Motor Rail owners to bring their locos to the event, and is asking them to contact them in advance.


As part of the event, the Railway will be hosting its first diesel-centred photo charter event.

This will be themed around the Leighton Buzzard sand railway, and will feature some of the Railway’s home fleet, and possibly some visiting locomotives.

The Railway, which is currently undergoing maintenance work while it is closed for the winter, is a 2’0″ gauge railway operated by the Moseley Railway Trust.

It is currently only a few hundred metres long, but hopes to extend in the future.

The Railway runs both steam and diesel trains, and in 2024 added Bagnall ‘Moto’ to its steam fleet.

For the Motor Rail Mania event, the action will start early, at 07.30, with trains running until 10.30. At 11.00, the gala will commence.

Diesel Locomotives at AVLR


A £40 ticket includes access to the photo charter, a return train ride and access to the site during the Saturday.

Fares for this event will be:

• Admission and one ride – Adults £8, children £1.
• Day Rovers – Adults £25, children £12.

The Apedale Valley Light Railway is located next to the Heritage Centre in the Apedale Country Park, which is near Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire.

The Country Park is about a fifteen-minute walk from Chesterton Village, and can be reached by road or by public transport.

The railway has several other events planned for the coming season, including April’s Easter Egg Hunt and Drive-it Day.

Thursday 29th January 2026



ETHNONRAIL UPDATE

FLEET AND ROLLING STOCK UPDATE

Today I received my late Birthday and Christmas present from Neo.

He pre-ordered them last year, in May, and they have arrived at last.

R30450 OO Gauge Hornby RailRoad GWR Class 800 Train Pack 800001​

R40491 OO Gauge Hornby RailRoad GWR Class 800 MC Coach 813001​