Marcus' Model Railway Journey

Gus the Asparagus Man and St. George on the Asparagus Express


Two years ago, the Asparagus Express from Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse ran on St. George’s Day, 23rd April.


“On St George’s Day, the official start of the British Asparagus Festival, the first ‘hundred round of gras’ is auctioned in aid of charity and taken on a different promotional trip each year. A few years ago, this included a journey on the GWSR’s steam trains, which was so popular that we have decided to make this an annual special celebration. “Steam trains and asparagus are equally popular. This is a great way to celebrate both and to promote this very special crop and encourage people to make sure they buy British.”

Nigel Smith, Chairman of the British Asparagus Festival CIC

25th May, 2026

Somserset-based steam locomotive to visit the East Lancashire Railway​

7828 Odney Manor at Williton


The East Lancashire Railway has announced its first visitor for its Autumn Steam Gala.

GWR Manor 7828 Odney Manor is set to visit the line for its gala between the 16th and 18th October 2026.

7828 visits courtesy of the West Somerset Railway, and returns back to its old home, having been a resident between 1993 and 1995 and has not visited for more than 30 years.

Tickets and more details will be available soon but are not yet available.

25th May, 2026

Tyne and Wear Metro control room upgraded in multi-million pound project​

Tyne and Wear Metro’s upgraded control room


The Tyne and Wear Metro’s control room has been upgraded, and its layout improved, in an £8.8 million project.

The control room now has some of the most advanced technology in the railway industry, with the upgrade including the renewal of the system that manages key parts of Metro’s infrastructure.

Among the items renewed were the high-voltage power supply and the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA), which monitors power, fire and intruder alarms, lighting, lifts, escalators, and tunnel drainage pumps.

(l-r) Steve Duchar, Nexus Head of ICT, Chris Elliott, Sella Controls, and Paul Welford, Nexus Major Projects Director.


The new digital technology installed provides faster, more effective fault finding and helps reduce disruptions to Metro services.

The new SCADA system incorporates the latest SCADA and RTU (remote terminal unit) products already in use across the UK’s mainline network, with the RTUs feeding live data into the SCADA.

Together, these provide the Infrastructure Controllers with a continuous real-time view of the network, and also calculate the network’s live power load.

Instead of relying on incomplete or delayed information, operational staff can now see the network’s real-time state and make decisions based on what is actually happening.

Tyne and Wear Metro’s upgraded control room


Sella Controls carried out the project on behalf of Metro operator Nexus, which has over a hundred years of experience in Traction Power SCADA in the rail industry.

Earlier this month, the Tyne and Wear Metro received its second consecutive Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) Gold Award for its continued commitment to health and safety.


“This major upgrade of our control room technology is a vital investment in Metro’s long-term future. I’m delighted to say the project is now complete. The new SCADA system transforms how we monitor key assets, including the power supply, and allows us to respond more effectively when issues arise, which means less disruption for customers.“What we have installed is the very latest digital technology, which is the most advanced currently in use in the UK railway industry. It enables us to remotely manage the high and low voltage power supplies and other key things like lighting, lifts, escalators and fire alarms.

Paul Welford, Major Projects Director, Nexus

26th May, 2026

Overrunning engineering works causes major disruption to services across Wales​

Cardiff Central


Transport for Wales engineering works have been ongoing across the network over the Bank Holiday Weekend.

Unfortunately, some of the works have overrun, affecting services going to, from or through Cardiff Central.

Some lines are blocked, causing a number of cancellations, delays and revisions.

The disruption is expected until later this morning (26th May), with tickets being accepted on local bus services (Stagecoach, Cardiff Buses, and First Buses).

Passengers are advised to check before they travel via Transport for Wales or National Rail.

Additionally, passengers should remember that Pay As You Go cannot be used on local buses and should tap out at the earliest opportunity.

A Southern train at Hastings station

Flying Scotsman crosses Stanford Viaduct on the Great Central Railway

Stanford Viaduct rope survey work

26th May, 2026

Two new steam drivers qualify at Welsh heritage line​

Lady of Llangollen will be the name of the loco for Mothers Day Weekend


Two long-serving volunteers at the Llangollen and Corwen Railway have officially qualified as Steam Locomotive Drivers after more than a decade of experience.

Matthew Carty, 27, from Chester, and Tim Hines, 27, from Llangollen, achieved the qualification over the Bank Holiday weekend following extensive assessments and hands-on training at the railway’s Motive Power Depot in Llangollen.

Both began volunteering at the heritage railway aged 17 and have progressed steadily through the ranks over the past 10 years, taking on key leadership and operational responsibilities.

Their final assessments were overseen by senior driver Dave Owen, a former railway boss and one of the UK’s most experienced steam locomotive drivers, alongside nationally recognised rail engineer Andy Maxwell, a leading figure within the depot team.

Tim Hines and Matthew Carty


The achievement comes as the railway sees a growth in passenger numbers and volunteer interest along its 10-mile Dee Valley route between Llangollen and Corwen.


“This is something I’ve worked towards for ten years and it still hasn’t quite sunk in. The railway has become a huge part of my life and I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped me along the way. There is such a depth of knowledge within the Motive Power Depot and the support from the whole team has been unbelievable.”

Matthew Carty


“To qualify as a steam locomotive driver on the railway I grew up volunteering on is incredibly special. We are very lucky at Llangollen to have decades of experience amongst our volunteers, and everyone is always willing to pass on their knowledge and skills. I’d like to thank everybody who has supported us over the years.”

Tim Hines

ScotRail 156 crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct on the West Highland line

ScotRail Class 156 at Dumfries

75069 on the Spa Valley Railway

27th May, 2026

Steam locomotive 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley set for more Somerset services​

This is the Sir Nigel Gresley (60007) visiting the North Yorkshire Moors Railway passing through Goathland Station


The West Somerset Railway has announced that 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley will be hauling passenger trains this July.

It isnt long since the locomotive visited to haul services during the line’s Spring Steam Gala, but will be making a return.

60007 visits thanks to the Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Trust and will haul trains between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead for one direction on the 3rd, 4th and 5th July.

The return direction will be behind one of the WSR’s locomotives.

On the 4th July, a round trip will operate where passengers can enjoy a fish and chip meal from Bishops Lydeard.

Tickets for the visit are now available via the West Somerset Railway website.

Wednesday 27th May 2026

Marcus & Cleo Have Another Bus Adventure into Cardiff!

This time we're joined by Neo!

Our first 'port of call' was the 'Great Western' where I had a couple of pints of 'Abbot'

Then we went to Tesco's and Cleo bought a meal deal, Neo and I went to KFC for and then we to the balcony of the indoor market to eat together.

We went to 'The Gatekeeper', where I had a 4 pints of 'Wainright Gold'.

Then we walked to 'Yo Sushi! for dinner, Cleo's belated birthday treat from us.

After all that we caught the bus home which was a brand new electric one, still had the new smell too.


The bus into Cardiff was Cardiff Bus/Bws Caerdydd No. 274, Volvo B8RLE MCV EvoRa, BU26 WMG

The bus home from Cardiff was Cardiff Bus/Bws Caerdydd No. 286, Volvo B8RLE MCV EvoRa, BU26 WMF