Marcus' Model Railway Journey

Status
Not open for further replies.
25th February, 2026

Leighton Buzzard Railway set to welcome in the 2026 season​

train.jpg

0-6-0T 'Doll'


The 2026 season at the Leighton Buzzard Railway is set to begin on Sunday, 15 March, following the early completion of major construction works at the Level Crossing over Stanbridge Road.

Finishing ahead of schedule has allowed the historic line to move into the new season with confidence.

The mayor of Leighton-Linsdale has been invited to perform the traditional duty of waving off the first train, with the Town Crier also set to mark the occasion in customary style.

Opening day coincides with Mother’s Day, and families can expect a celebratory atmosphere.

Mothers will receive a complimentary family photograph and a flowering plant.

Visitors can also explore the Stonehenge Works site to discover more about the town’s sand quarrying and transport heritage.

The volunteer-run railway will launch the season with two Andrew Barclay locomotives, ‘Doll’ and ‘Gertrude’, which will haul five departures per-day for visitors to enjoy.
 
train.jpg

Leighton Buzzard Railway


Services are expected to operate every Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday through to Halloween, with additional openings during school holidays.

Refreshments will be available at the on-site CuriosiTea Rooms.

During 2026, several special events are planned, including steam and diesel galas, a beer festival, a Vintage Vehicle Rally, and a pirate invasion.
 
25th February, 2026

County Durham Railway to host Easter events​

train.jpg

Easter adventures at the Weardale Railway


This Easter, visitors can enjoy a memorable day at the Weardale Railway.

Not only can visitors travel on the historic Autocar, but they can also enjoy some family-friendly Easter activities.

It’s an affordable trip with their Kids for a Quid offer running on the 3rd, 4th and 6th April.

Up to 2 children per paying adult can take advantage of the offer.

Visitors can take part in a giant Easter egg hunt, Easter bunny hunts at Stanhope with prizes available, and an egg decorating competition.

Bring a decorated hard-boiled egg to Stanhope station, with judging taking place at 2 pm each day.

The cafe and craft market will be open for people to enjoy, too.

Further information on their Easter plans can be found on their website.
 
25th February, 2026

0-4-0 well-tank locomotive joins gala line up at Lancashire railway​

train.jpg

Borrows No.48 “The King”


Ribble Steam Railway & Museum have announced a home fleet locomotive that will be joining the line-up at their Spring Steam Gala.

Borrows No.48 “The King”, built in 1906, will be part of the home fleet, which will appear at the gala with more planned for announcement soon.

The 0-4-0 well-tank locomotive is a rare survivor of Lancashire’s industrial steam era, having worked in the glass industry before moving to Charlton, London, until 1967.

The locomotive returned to Preston in June 2024 to undergo trials ahead of passenger services.

It will join Furness Railway No.20, Peckett 1935 “Hornet” and hopefully Hunslet 3155 “Walkden” at the gala on the 28th March.

Further information and tickets can be found on their website.
 
25th February, 2026

Welsh Railway to hold Special Reunion Gala​

train.jpg

No. 103 John at Evesham Vale Light Railway


The Rhyl Miniature Railway and Rhyl Steam Preservation Trust is celebrating Trust Chairman Les Hughes’ huge goal achievement with a special gala.

Hughes set himself a goal to get the six locomotives built in Rhyl back in Rhyl, and after 45 years, it has been achieved.

A recent purchase of steam locomotive No. 103 John got the goal met as it was built in 1921 by Albert Barnes & Co at the Albion Works, which is just under a mile away from the railway.
 
Last edited:
train.jpg

Railway Queen


Four of the six were purchased back in 1980, and the fifth – No. 106 Billy is owned by Rhyl Town Council and is currently on loan to the Trust.

The Reunion Gala will celebrate 103’s return to Rhyl between the 3rd and 6th April.

Each loco will be out at 2 pm for a line-up, with up to four in steam each day.

Further information on the Gala can be found on their website.


“All six locomotives built in Rhyl are now back in Rhyl. It’s an ambition achieved for me, and one I hope to share with everyone during our Reunion Gala on 3rd to 6th April.”

Trust Chairman Les Hughes
 
25th February, 2026

Greater London miniature railway to hold steam gala in May​

train.jpg

Christopher and Victoria


Following last year’s very successful Steam Gala, the Ruislip Lido Railway is repeating the event this year on the May Day bank holiday weekend, Sunday, 3rd and Monday, 4th May.

Located at Ruislip, in the London Borough of Hillingdon, this is a 12-inch miniature railway that always produces surprises.

This year, there will be two visiting steam locomotives, Victoria from the Statfold Barn Railway & Museum at Tamworth in Staffordshire, and Christopher from the Littlehampton Miniature Railway in West Sussex.
 
train.jpg

Victoria at the Ruislip Lido Railway


Victoria is a 2-4-2T that was built in 2007 by the Exmoor Steam Railway.

Originally destined for the Tintern Steam Railway in Monmouthshire, that venture never took off, and instead Victoria went on static display at the Scarborough Fair Collection in North Yorkshire, until being purchased in 2021 by the Statfold Narrow Gauge Museum Trust, and sent to Expoor for overhaul.

In March 2023, Victoria finally entered operational service at the opening of Statfold’s 12 ¼–inch gauge Mease Valley Light Railway.

This will be the second time Victoria has visited the Ruislip Lido Railway, following its visit there in 2025.
 
train.jpg

Christopher at the Ruislip Lido Railway


Christopher was also constructed by the Exmoor Steam Railway, but as a 0-6-2T. Originally named Lorna Doone in 1991, it hauled trains at Exmoor until 2000 before being sold to the Beale Park Railway near Reading, where it was renamed John Remy and modified to 10 ¼-inch gauge.

In 2017, Christopher was purchased by Tom Sanders, the Chief Engineer of the Littlehampton Miniature Railway, who rebuilt it as a 2-6-2T locomotive, which reflects its origins at Exmoor.

This will be Christopher’s fourth year as an attraction at the Ruislip Lido Railway.

The Steam Gala in May will feature three trains in operation, running a service every 15 minutes from 11:00 to 17:00.

The weekend will also allow visitors to look around the workshop and yard, and for £5, drive John Rennie and Bayhurst on a 750-metre section of the line.

Further information and booking details are online at https://tickets.ruisliplidorailway.org
 
26th February, 2026

GBRf “Settle & Carlisle 150” locomotive to attend gala at Peterborough Railway​

train.jpg

Class 66 No 66791 "Settle & Carlisle 150"


Nene Valley Railway has confirmed a visitor for their upcoming Diesel Gala in March.

GB Railfreight 66791 “Settle & Carlisle 150” will visit the railway on the 7th and 8th March.

Following being named in August last year, the commemorative locomotive will take centre stage at the gala.
 
train.jpg

66791 ‘Settle & Carlisle 150’


It was announced that a Class 66 would visit last month and will join the line-up, which includes HST power car No. 43048 “T.C.B Miller MBE”.

Further information, visiting locomotives, and tickets can be found on their website.
 
26th February, 2026

Hogwarts Express locomotive to appear at multiple events at Essex Railway​

train.jpg

6989 ‘Wightwick Hall’


Visiting locomotives attending Epping Ongar Railway’s Steam Gala have been slowly announced, with well-known 6989 ‘Wightwick Hall’ in attendance.

The Hogwarts Express locomotive is joining GWR Prairie No. 4144, 4953 Pitchford Hall and Hawthorn ‘Isabel’ at the gala.

The Railway has announced that 6989 will be appearing at other events alongside their Steam Gala, running services from 28 March and throughout April.
 
train.jpg

6989 ‘Wightwick Hall’


The locomotive will also appear at their Easter Eggstravaganza on the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th April; Wonderful Wizards and Fabulous Fairies on the 1st, 8th, and 12th April; and at their Kids for a Quid days on the 28th-29th March and 11th April.

Don’t miss out on the magic and book tickets now.

Further information on events and tickets can be found on their website.
 
26th February, 2026

Tyne and Wear Metro welcomes delivery of final class 555 trains​

train.jpg

New Tyne and Wear Metro train


All 46 new Tyne and Wear Metro trains have now been delivered, marking a significant milestone in the £362 million fleet renewal programme led by Nexus.

The final train arrived at the Gosforth depot in the early hours of 21 February, completing the order built by Swiss manufacturer Stadler.

The new fleet of Class 555s began entering passenger service at the end of 2024 and is already transforming the customer experience.

Nexus expects the entire Metro timetable to be operated by the new trains by the summer.

Each unit undergoes rigorous testing before entering service to ensure safety and reliability.

The remaining older trains are scheduled to be withdrawn between late spring and early summer, with further details about their final weeks due to be announced.

Much of the outgoing fleet will be recycled.

The rollout represents the largest and most complex project in Metro’s history.

Since February 2023, when the first train was delivered, all 46 units have travelled 1,800 miles from Stadler’s factory in Switzerland, hauled across Europe and through the Channel Tunnel to the UK.
 
train.jpg

Tyne and Wear Metro 555046


Designed following a public consultation that generated more than 23,000 responses, the trains feature linear seating, charging points, climate control, enhanced CCTV, battery technology, and improved accessibility, including automatic sliding steps for seamless boarding.


“I’m delighted to confirm that all 46 new Tyne and Wear Metro trains have been successfully delivered to our region.

“This is another significant moment for the project, which is getting closer to completion. It is the culmination of a huge amount of hard work by our own teams and by our colleagues at Stadler.”

Cathy Massarella, Managing Director of Nexus.


“We already have more than half of the new Metro fleet available for customer service, and we are on course for all 46 trains to be ready by the end of this year.

“The new Metro trains are already proving to be transformative for customers. They represent a bright future for the Metro service.

“Our focus is to get all of the remaining new trains through testing and kilometre accumulation and ready for service, so the hard work will carry on from here. “

Cathy Massarella, Managing Director of Nexus.
 

2011 Mary Rose​

The Mary Rose was one of Henry VIII's warships. Launched in 1511, and rebuilt in 1536, she sank in July 1545.

Although the cause of sinking is still unknown, the wreck was discovered in 1971, and was raised in 1982.

Artefacts were also found amongst the wreckage, such as weapons, sailing equipment and supplies.

The ship is now on display at the Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth, where she was first built.

The design of this £2 coin is by John Bergdahl, showing the Mary Rose on the sea, surrounded by stylised text of 'The Mary Rose' and the denomination.

The edge inscription states 'YOUR NOBLEST SHIPPE 1511', with the obverse design by Ian Rank-Broadley.


1772137987015.png
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top