Marcus' Model Railway Journey

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Miniature Sheet​

A Miniature Sheet celebrating four of the UK’s Royal castles.

Windsor Castle in Berkshire, Dover Castle in Kent, Caenarfon Castle in Gwynedd and Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire are all captured in delightful illustrations by British artist Robert Ball.

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21st May, 2026

Lumo’s London to Stirling service launches with photos from Press Train​

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222601 arrives into Preston with the preview train


Lumo’s brand new service between Stirling and London Euston is launching in just a matter of days.

222601 has the pleasure of operating the press preview train, which was 1M01 0850 Stirling to London Euston.

The train from Preston was doing a round trip to London Euston.

Services from Stirling to London Euston will call at Larbert, Greenfaulds, Whifflet, Motherwell, Lockerbie, Carlisle, Preston (Lancs), Crewe, Nuneaton and Milton Keynes Central

The train has had new carpets installed, providing a lovely ambience.
 
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Carriage on 222601


Alstom has completed the new livery and work at their Widnes facility.

Lumo says that it wanted to establish itself in the market first, hence why the operator has chosen Ex-East Midlands Railway Class 222s for the service, which are leased from Beacon Rail.

The operator plans to have Hitachi battery trains on the line as soon as possible, but the 222s provide the cheapest and quickest way to have services running for passengers.
 
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Destination board on 222601


222s for Lumo have an extra carriage on each trainset, meaning their number allocation has been changed to be a 222/6


The new service launches on the 25th May, and Lumo says that the first services are all but sold out.

Lumo is an open-access operator, not a franchise, so income is vital to the operator.

Two ambassadors per train will check tickets, provide customer announcements, as well as take the refreshment trolley through the train.

Staff will be based at London Euston, Preston and Stirling, with a crew change taking place at Preston.
 
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Plug sockets with Type C ports


The seat backs aren’t too high, meaning the cabin feels airy, and it is really good to see USB Type C ports in the refurbished carriages (carriages with original seating have just a 3-pin socket).
 
21st May, 2026

Welsh railway to host photo charter this month​

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Running Well Photo CharTR


The Talyllyn Railway is holding a Photo CharTR ‘Running Well’ on the 31st May.

No.9 ‘Alf’ will feature in the photo charter for the very first time.

The day begins at 7:30 am at Tywyn Wharf Station and arrives back around 3 pm.

Tickets still remain for the charter, with only 25 total spaces available.


Tickets cost £40 per person, with tickets available here.
 
21st May, 2026

Tornado set to conquer the Settle & Carlisle line in September​

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60163 Tornado brings The Northern Belle into Hellifield


A1 Class Pacific no. 60163 Tornado is set to storm the Northern Fells in September for a journey along the iconic Settle & Carlisle line.

On Saturday, 26th September, Tornado will haul the Vintage Trains “Great Northern” rail tour from Birmingham New Street to Carlisle.

After an early-morning departure from Birmingham New Street, the tour will pick up at Coleshill Parkway, Tamworth, Derby and Wakefield Kirkgate, before joining the Settle & Carlisle in its 150th anniversary year of passenger services for the climb to Carlisle.

After a short break, the return journey is along the Tyne Valley to Newcastle, where Tornado will head south along the East Coast Main Line before a diesel locomotive takes over for the last part of the through Midlands.

Adult tickets cost £125 for standard class, £240 in First class, and Pullman dining is £355 per person.

Private first-class compartments accommodating up to four people are also available at a cost of £1,080.

Tickets and further information about the tour, which Vintage Trains describes as one of the highlights of its 2026 programme, are available online at https://vintagetrains.co.uk/the-great-northern/.

Tornado was built by the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust in Darlington, North Yorkshire, and completed in 2008, when it became Britain’s first new mainline steam locomotive service since 1960.

During high-speed testing in 2017, Tornado travelled at 100mph, which no other British steam locomotive had matched since the 1960s.

Tornado has since made guest appearances, hauling Royal Trains, appeared in Paddington 2, and on Top Gear.

Before starring on the “Great Northern” rail tour, next Thursday, 28th May, Tornado is hauling a special fundraising train for the Great Central Railway (Nottingham), and on Saturday, 4th, and Sunday, 5th July, it will be hauling trains between Yarwell Junction and Peterborough on the Nene Valley Railway.


“Tornado on the Settle & Carlisle in its 150th anniversary year is a combination that deserves to be marked properly. We’re very pleased to be making it happen.”

Nick Ralls, Managing Director, Vintage Trains
 
21st May, 2026

RAIB report released following Herefordshire trailer collision​

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Nordan Farm crossing collision


The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has released a report following a collision between a passenger train and an agricultural trailer at Nordan Farm in Herefordshire on the 22nd May 2025.

The train was travelling at around 80 mph when the accident occurred, resulting in 6 passengers and a member of staff receiving minor injuries.

Significant damage was caused to the train and trailer but the train did not derail.

The signaller gave permission for the tractor driver to use the crossing, having forgotten about the train and did not check the signal box equipment.

The accident may have occurred due to an interrupted routine and increased work load resulting in fatigue.

The investigation found that the risk assessment for the level crossing did not recognise the high risk or consider vehicles crossing which may be large and slow.

RAIB have made two recommendations for Network Rail including improving the effectiveness of the risk management process and how this may vary across seasons.

The second recommendation is at the actions taken by Network Rail and further assisting signallers and crossing users on vehicle size considerations.


Learning points identified reminds staff to comply with mobile phone policies and asses fatigue levels.

Signallers should also be utilising available indicators when considering level crossing requests and follow the correct processes.
 
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