Marcus' Model Railway Journey

Ivatt Class 2 2-6-2 tank locomotive No 41313


More visiting locomotives for the gala will be announced in the coming weeks, but Severn Valley locomotives scheduled to appear include GWR No 813 0-6-0 Saddle Tank, GWR No. 4930 Hagley Hall, GWR 0-6-2 tank No. 7714, LMS Stanier Class 6P/5F 2-6-0 No. 13268, and BR Standard Class 4 4-6-0 No. 75069.

One locomotive expected to appear is the recently restored Great Western Railway (GWR) 2-6-2 Prairie Tank No 4150, provided it completes its final snagging work and testing.

This locomotive is expected to appear at a gala for the first time since preservation.

Its return to operational condition is significant because it is the last locomotive in Severn Valley Railway’s fleet to have been rescued from Dai Woodham’s scrapyard at Barry in South Wales and restored.

Although the gala is not till September, later this month, the Severn Valley Railway is stepping back to the 1940s with two weekends of wartime nostalgia.


“We’re delighted to announce our first guest locomotive for the Autumn Steam Gala so early in the planning process. No 41313 will be making history as the first locomotive from the Isle of Wight Steam Railway to visit the Severn Valley Railway, and we’re very grateful to our colleagues there for making this possible. “Combined with the anticipated gala debut of our newly restored Prairie tank GWR No 4150, and a strong home fleet line-up, 41313 is a fantastic addition to the event. We’re continuing to work hard behind the scenes on further guest locomotive arrangements and hope to be able to share more exciting news with enthusiasts very soon.”

Gus Dunster, Chief Executive Officer, Severn Valley Railway

10th June, 2026

Europhoenix Rail locomotive appearance at Yorkshire gala cancelled​

37218


Later this month, on the 18th-21st June, the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway is hosting their summer Diesel Gala, with special railtours running to the event.

Originally, both 37218 and 37407 were planned to attend courtesy of Europhoenix Rail; however, Europhoenix ceased trading earlier this week.

The railway has been working away behind the scenes and can confirm that 37218 will still appear, thanks to Hanson & Hall.

The railway has expressed immense gratitude to Europhoenix Rail for their support and friendship, which helped the gala to go ahead.


The costs of the changes to the planned movements mean that 37407 will not appear, and thus locomotive allocations will likely change.

Further information on locomotives in attendance, tickets and timetables can be found on their website.

Lumo East Coast electric train

10th June, 2026

Class 37 haulage on rail tour to Stratford-on-Avon​

Class 37 haulage on a Retro Railtours tour


For the first time in five years, Retro Railtours is running a rail tour hauled by an English Electric Class 37.

Two Class 37s have been requested as haulage for the “Retro Cestrian Bard” on Saturday 22nd August, which will depart from Stalybridge at 7 am to Stratford-on-Avon.

Unusually, the train will pick up at Reddish South, which is normally only served by one train a week on Parliamentary Northern Rail service, then stop to pick up at Stockport, Altrincham, Knutsford, Northwich, and Chester, with an arrival in Stratford-on-Avon at 11.30 am.

After a three-hour break at Stratford-on-Avon, the tour will return via Worcester and Hereford along a line that nowadays sees very few loco-hauled trains, and the Marches, with an arrival back at Stalybridge at 9.20 pm.


Refreshments on board will be available from a buffet serving hot and cold snacks, and a ‘Real Ale Bar’ will serve a variety of hand-pumped Real Ales, wines and hot snacks.

Both First and Class accommodation, tickets can be booked online at www.retrorailtours.co.uk.

Other rail tours running to Stratford-on-Avon this year include the regular Shakespeare Express, operated by Vintage Trains.

Last year, Vintage Trains won the Heritage Railway Association’s Manisty Award for Excellence, which is named after preservation pioneer Captain Peter Manisty, and a Silver award in the West Midlands Tourism Awards’ ‘Experience of the Year’ category for its Shakespeare Express service.

10th June, 2026

Steam locomotive 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe to visit Newcastle​

5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe will head to Newcastle this Friday, 12th June 2026.

Departing Birmingham New Street at 06:30, the train will head to Newcastle via Coleshill Parkway (06:47), Tamworth (07:36), Burton-on-Trent (07:55), Derby (08:14), Chesterfield (08:46), Pontefract Baghill (09:39), York (10:48), Northallerton (11:59) and Newcastle at 12:57.

After time in Newcastle, 5043 will head back to Birmingham. Departing Newcastle at 16:40, it will head back to the Midlands via Durham (17:21), Darlington (17:47), York (18:46), Swinton (South Yorks) (20:20), Derby (21:20), Burton-on-Trent (21:58), Tamworth (22:15), Coleshill Parkway (22:36) and Birmingham New Street (22:58).

10th June, 2026

Leighton Buzzard Railway’s Diesel Gala a success​

A gang of original Leighton Buzzard Light Railway locomotives on the Sand Train


The Leighton Buzzard Railway staged its annual Diesel Gala on Sunday 7 June, bringing a range of historic diesel locomotives into operation alongside the line’s regular main-line fleet.

Among the highlights was a rare end-to-end run by the 44hp Fire Engine ‘Ruston’, built in 1939 as part of the Ministry of Defence Fire Train at MoD Chilmark.

Visitors also saw the 1938 20hp Simplex ‘Caravan’ traverse the full railway, its cab recently repainted in its original green livery.

The Chilmark Fire Train 44hp Flameproof Ruston


Additional diesel traction from the railway’s collection operated on the demonstration line at Stonehenge Works, including the protected First World War-era Simplex locomotive 3098, on loan from the National Railway Museum.

A recreation of the sand trains that prompted the construction of the railway in 1919 also ran several times during the event.


Fundraising efforts were supported by ‘Driver for a Fiver’ experiences aboard the locomotive ‘Beaudesert’, a diesel locomotive formerly used during Channel Tunnel construction.

Proceeds are helping fund the return to steam of the railway’s long-serving Orenstein & Koppel locomotive P.C. Allen.

Attention now turns to upcoming events.

On Father’s Day, Sunday 21 June, fathers will be offered a complimentary footplate ride on ‘Chaloner’, the railway’s vertical-boiler steam locomotive built by de Winton at Caernarfon in 1877.

A Vintage Vehicle Rally follows on Sunday, 28 June, with a two-train service operating alongside displays of classic cars, motorcycles, and commercial vehicles.

Preparations are also underway for a dinosaur-themed day to enjoy on 19 July.

Minffordd Station, Ffestiniog Railway

Avanti West Coast Pendolino 390155

11th June, 2026

Great British Railways update released by Government​

Train in the new Great British Railways livery


An amendment to the Railways Bill introduced on Wednesday, 10th June, has enshrined Great British Railways (GBR) in public ownership.

The amendment requires that GBR must be publicly owned, meaning that a full Act of Parliament would be required to privatise the railways in the future.

It will not affect the ability of Great British Railways to attract private investment or work in partnership with the private sector.

The Railways Bill is set to bring about the greatest change in Britain’s railways since the 1990s.

The Third Reading of the bill took place yesterday, 10th June, and will now move to the House of Lords.

The establishment of Great British Railways will make it responsible for coordinating all of Britain’s railway network, including the tracks, trains, expenditure, and revenue.

It is expected to be fully established next year, about 12 months after the Railways Bill receives Royal Assent.


Although Great British Railways is not yet fully established, 80 per cent of Britain’s train services have been transferred to public control, with Govia Thameslink Railway the latest, being transferred on 31st Monday.

Passengers are starting to feel the benefits, with services operated by publicly owned operators now showing better performance figures than operators still in private hands.

Among these are South Western Railway, which has introduced into service around 40 new Arterio trains, pay-as-you-go is being expanded to provide simpler and cheaper ticketing, and a simpler fare structure is being implemented.


“For too long, decisions on our railways were made for private profit. This Government made a promise to change that, to build a railway run for the public good not private gain. Today we strengthened that promise, futureproofing Great British Railways to ensure it will always be in public hands. GBR will be run by industry experts and publicly owned – open to private investment with the flexibility to grow, but its founding purpose will always be the same: to serve passengers, not shareholders. Today takes us one step closer to delivering this lasting change and a railway this country deserves.”

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander

12th June, 2026

Avanti celebrates major milestone for its Class 805 Evero fleet​

New Class 805 train at Penmaenmawr


Avanti West Coast’s Class 805 Evero fleet has reached five million miles on the West Coast Main Line since entering service in June 2024.

Class 805s form part of Avanti West Coast’s Evero fleet, which includes 13 Class 805 units and 10 electric Class 807 trains, introduced to support timetable growth and decarbonisation goals, including net zero by 2031.

Trains switch between electric and diesel after Crewe, allowing up to two-thirds of the route to be operated under electric traction.

From April 2026, they produced almost two-thirds less carbon per vehicle kilometre than Class 221s.

The most mileage has been recorded on London to North Wales services to Holyhead, with the five million miles equating to around 40 journeys around the Earth.

Avanti West Coast Evero train on the Ribblehead Viaduct


They have also operated between London and the West Midlands, and during West Coast Main Line closures between Preston and Carlisle in January and April this year.

Bi-mode operation enabled Settle and Carlisle diversions, covering 59,620 miles during engineering works.

Service enhancements on the London to Chester route included two additional weekday services in September 2025, creating an hourly frequency.

Each five-car set provides 16% more seats than the Class 221, with extra legroom, luggage space, and accessibility features – including Braille and large-print seat labels.


“The achievement of five million miles by our Class 805 Evero fleet is a significant milestone and testament to both the performance of the fleet and our colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure their reliability each and every day.

“The introduction of a brand-new intercity fleet across our network has represented a real step change in both the service we offer and customer experience, particularly for communities across North Wales.”

Owain Morgan, Senior Performance Manager at Avanti West Coast

14th June, 2026

Two GWR steam engines will welcome summer at North Wales railway​

7754 and 3802 steam away from Berwyn


The Llangollen and Corwen Railway plans to welcome the school summer holidays with a special “Steam into Summer” event, with two of its Great Western Railway (GWR) steam engines.

Timed to coincide with the start of the summer holidays, and held on Saturday, 18th July, it will feature five return services stopping at all stations between Llangollen and Corwen.

Special Day Ranger Tickets costing £30 when purchased online will allow passengers to experience nostalgic steam travel, while they can hop on and off trains as they wish.

Tickets for accompanied children cost just £6.

7754 and 3802 Fisherman’s Crossing


The two locomotives working that day will be Great Western Railway 0-6-0 Pannier Tank No. 7754, which spent most of its BR days working from Wellington in Shropshire until being withdrawn in 1959 and sold to the National Coal Board (NCB) for use at Talywain Colliery and Mountain Ash in South Wales.

It has since been restored to full working order and painted in a traditional Great Western livery.

The second locomotive is GWR Heavy Freight 2-8-0 No. 3802, which will make an unforgettable sight steaming along the picturesque Dee Valley.

The café at Llangollen Railway Station will be open for the sale of breakfasts and refreshments, and will also launch its new Summer Menu.

7754 and 3802 in service on the Llangollen Railway


Two weeks after “Steam into Summer”, a major event in the railway’s calendar will be the much-anticipated 1960s Weekend on Saturday, 1st and Sunday, 2nd August, when the railway will recreate the golden age of British Railways, with heritage traction, a vintage atmosphere, and music and period displays along the line.

Visitors can also enjoy a traditional Afternoon Tea in a beautifully restored heritage carriage at Llangollen station, with views from the carriage of the stunning River Dee, a historic bridge, a famous Corn Mill, and the spectacular ruins of Castell Dinas Brân.

Last Saturday, 6th June, as part of a volunteer recruitment event, local residents enjoyed free travel for the day, and could find out what goes on behind the scenes.

Babydoll from 'Suckerpunch' played by Emily Browning​

London Paddington main line station

15th June, 2026

Miniature Steam Gala at Ropley this Weekend​

'Pulborough' on the South Downs Light Railway


The 10 1/4″ miniature railway at Ropley is holding its 6th annual Steam Gala this coming weekend on Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st June 2026.

Alongside home resident ‘Ivor’, two locomotives will be visiting the miniature gala, ‘Pulborough’ from the South Downs Light Railway and ‘Edmund Hannay’ from the Hastings Miniature Railway.

Operating from 10 am to 4 pm on both Saturday and Sunday, rides on the trains are free, with donations warmly welcome to ensure the upkeep of the miniature railway.


The railway is situated next to Ropley station on the Watercress Line in Hampshire.

It can be reached by car or by travelling on the standard-gauge 11-mile Watercress Line from either Alton, Meadstead and Four Marks, or Alresford stations, which will also be operating over the course of the weekend.


Tickets will be required to travel on those services; they can be pre-booked in advance or bought on the day.

Since its first Steam Gala in 2021, this event has become one of the most anticipated fixtures in Ropley Miniature Railway’s calendar.

Switches and crossings work

34046 Braunton passes through Ingrow West with the express shuttle to Damems

15th June, 2026

Fundraising appeal launched for accessible carriages at Dorset railway​

Mark One carriage 4842


A fundraising appeal has been launched by the Swanage Railway to help overhaul and convert two carriages.

The railway aims to transform two Mark One carriages to facilitate accessible features, such as extra-wide doors and accessible toilets, to allow wheelchair users access to the railway.

Wheelchair users will be able to ride comfortably in these carriages along with any companions.


To help cover costs, alongside the public appeal, the railway has applied to the National Heritage Lottery Fund for a £249,000 grant.


The carriages being converted will be number 4842, built in 1958, and number 4961, built in the early 1960s.

For further information on the railway plans and to donate, visit their website.


“Our £249,000 National Heritage Lottery Fund application is a huge opportunity but we need to raise at least £25,000 towards the project to make it happen.

“Every donation to the Swanage Railway Trust’s Access for Everyone initiative – no matter the size – brings us closer to a railway that is truly open to everyone, a railway where no-one feels like a second class visitor and a railway that reflects our values of respect, inclusion and community.

“Any donation will make a real difference because every pound gets us closer to creating a more inclusive railway for everyone to enjoy.

“If donors are able to add Gift Aid then that’s even better because Gift Aid costs donors nothing extra. If donors are UK taxpayers, it allows the Swanage Railway to claim an extra 25 pence for every £1 donated – making the support of donors go even further”

“The Swanage Railway has always been about people. It’s about families making memories, volunteers giving their time and a community coming together to keep something special alive.

“But, right now, the truth is that not everyone can experience the Swanage Railway in the way they should be able to and that needs to change.

“This project is a major step forward and the conversion of the two 1950s former British Railways carriages will not be token adaptations.

“They will be developed to the same high standard seen on leading heritage railways; allowing wheelchair users and those with additional needs to travel comfortably, safely and alongside their families. This is about dignity, it’s about inclusion and it’s about doing the right thing.

“For too long, some of our visitors have had to travel in the guard’s carriage – where they are often separated from their families and with a much more limited experience due to the smaller windows. That is not the Swanage Railway we want to be.”

Swanage Railway Chief Executive Officer Abbie King

A Lumo train

Class 37 No. 37025

Marcus of Ethnon Coin

I have been taking a little break on Railway matters recently.

It's just so hot here temperature wise and it tires you out.

I will still post something every now and then, so keep an eye out.

18 June 2026

Joint statement from Transport for Wales & Network Rail​

Safety remains our highest priority for both our customers and colleagues.

Our thoughts continue to be with the family and loved ones of David Tudor Evans and those passengers injured in the incident, and we continue to support our colleagues who were injured or affected.

Network Rail and Transport for Wales welcome the publication of the Rail Accident Investigation Branch’s final report into this incident and have cooperated fully with the investigation throughout.

While incidents of this nature are extremely rare on our rail network, we remain committed to working together as an industry to carefully consider the report’s recommendations to help prevent a similar incident in the future.

At around 19:26 on Monday 21 October 2024, train 1J25, the 18:31 Transport for Wales passenger service from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth, collided with train 1S71, the 19:09 Machynlleth to Shrewsbury passenger service, also operated by Transport for Wales.

One passenger died and four other people were seriously injured.

Eleven more people sustained injuries which required hospital treatment.

Neither train derailed in the collision, although significant damage was caused to the leading vehicles of both trains.

This video provides an overview of the accident at Talerddig, 21 October 2024, along with an explanation of RAIB's investigation and the recommendations we've made.

Read the full report, including our recommendations, at www.gov.uk/raib

23 June 2026

Red Extreme Heat Warning​

TfW Barry


Travel Advice for South Wales. A joint statement from Transport for Wales & Network Rail.

The Met Office has issued a red extreme heat warning from 09:00 on Wednesday 24 June to 21:00 on Thursday 25 June across parts of the Midlands, South Wales and Southern England.

We are advising passengers that are travelling into, through or out of the red warning area to only travel if absolutely necessary.

Passengers travelling across the rest of the network are advised to check before they travel.

Temperatures could reach up to 38°C, which is likely to cause significant disruption to train services.

Extreme heat can affect tracks, overhead power lines and trains, meaning services may be delayed or cancelled at short notice, or may take longer than usual due to speed restrictions.

Please check your journey before setting off using our live map, app or website.

Allow extra time as journeys may take longer than usual and bring plenty of water to stay hydrated.

If you feel unwell, seek help from onboard or station staff.

Services to coastal destinations are expected to be very busy, and The Cure event at Blackweir Fields in Cardiff on Wednesday 24 June mean queuing systems will be in place at key stations.

If you no longer wish to travel on Wednesday 24 or Thursday 25 June, your ticket can be used on Friday 26 June.

If you choose not to travel, these tickets are eligible for a full refund from the point of purchase, as long as the claim is made before 23:59 on the day before the ticket’s date.

You may also travel earlier than your scheduled travel time on these dates.

Please be patient and follow staff guidance whilst travelling with us.

For the latest information, visit http://tfw.wales/plan-a-journeyor http://livemap.tfw.wales

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• Tickets dated 23, 24 or 25 June can be used at no extra cost on earlier services on the same day, or alternatively on Monday 22 June or Friday 26 June.
• If passengers choose not to travel, these tickets are eligible for a full refund from the point of purchase, as long as the claim is made before 23:59 on the day before the ticket’s date.

​

Latest Special Stamp Issue​

Waterfalls​

June 23 2026
Commemorative

Ten new stamps celebrate some of the UK’s most enchanting and spectacular waterfalls, from the Isle of Skye to Snowdonia, and from Devon to County Antrim.

Stunning photography captures the majestic power and beauty of these awe-inspiring spectacles of nature.

Five Second Class and five First Class portrait stamps.

Designed by Studio Mean
Size 35mm (h) x 37mm (v)
Printed by Cartor Security Print
Print Process Lithography
Perforations 14.5 x 14
Gum PVA

Stamps​

Rogie Falls, Scottish Highlands​

2nd

Travellers on the road between Inverness and Ullapool find it hard to resist a side trip to the Rogie Falls.
Here, in a dramatic forest location, the Black Water comes crashing down tiers of jagged rock.
Hiking trails and a suspension bridge are provided for human visitors while the salmon have a fish ladder.
From June to October, the fish throw themselves up the cascades on their arduous journey from the North Sea to their Highland spawning grounds.

Pollnagollum Cave, County Fermanagh​

2nd

There is something magical about this waterfall hidden away in County Fermanagh’s forests.
From the cave’s strange-sounding name – which translates from Irish to ‘hole of the doves’ – to the way the stream tumbles over the fern and moss-cloaked limestone cliff and vanishes into the dark cavern below, it exudes mystery.
It is maybe not surprising then that Pollnagollum Cave was used as a setting in the TV fantasy series Game of Thrones.

Aysgarth Falls, North Yorkshire​

2nd

Aysgarth Falls form as Wensleydale’s River Ure spills down tiers of rock formed from horizontal layers of hard Carboniferous limestone alternating with bands of softer shale.
The river’s sudden drop in height is a result of differential erosion caused during the last glacial period.
Sketched by JMW Turner, visited by William Wordsworth and used as a setting in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, the falls remain a popular Yorkshire Dales attraction.

Pistyll Rhaeadr, Powys​

2nd

Plunging from Y Berwyn (the Berwyn range of hills), Pistyll Rhaeadr consists of three falls dropping a massive 75 metres in total.
Birch, oak and pine trees cling to the steep cliffs, while the base of the waterfall is littered with boulders that were dropped, according to legend, by a giant called Cawr Berwyn.
One of Pistyll Rhaeadr’s most unusual features is the eroded rock about halfway up, forming a natural ‘bridge’ across the stream.

Becky Falls, Devon​

2nd

Becka Brook is a tributary of Dartmoor’s River Bovey, located in ancient oak woodland that is home in springtime to dazzling bluebell displays.
Just before entering the river, the brook tumbles down a boulder-filled section of this enchanting side valley.
It splits on myriad occasions as it flows between the enormous, moss-clad lumps of granite spread across the 10-metre-wide channel.

Hardraw Force, North Yorkshire​

1st

Reputedly England’s highest single-drop, above-ground waterfall, Hardraw Force plummets more than 30 metres over a limestone lip, eroding softer rocks below to create an overhang.
In 1799, William Wordsworth described the resulting recess as “lofty and magnificent”.
Today, visitors to this dark amphitheatre are warned not to walk behind the veil of water because of the precarious nature of this overhang.

Rhaeadr y Graig Lwyd, Conwy​

1st

On the eastern edge of Eryri (Snowdonia), where the volcanic rocks of the mountains give way to a gentler landscape associated with sandstones and other sedimentary rocks, the River Conwy forces its way through a narrow, snaking gorge.
It splits as it loses height, the two white-water arms of Conwy Falls divided by a chunk of rock – hence the Welsh name, Rhaeadr y Graig Lwyd, which translates as ‘Falls of the Grey Rock’.

Fairy Pools of Glen Brittle, Isle of Skye​

1st

The Black Cuillin, one of the UK’s most spectacular mountain ranges, form the dark backdrop to the waterfalls and plunge pools along the Allt Coir’ a’ Mhadaidh.
With the sawtooth ridge rearing up behind them, the crystal-clear pools are popular with cold-water swimmers.
In 1601, the glen was the site of a battle between two Skye clans, the MacLeods and the MacDonalds – with fighting so fierce, locals claim, the river ran red with blood.

High Force, County Durham​

1st

As the River Tees comes hurtling down from its North Pennines source, it plunges about 21 metres over an almost vertical cliff. After heavy rain, the peat-laden river splits, forming two falls divided by a protruding buttress, but even this rock can be covered in exceptional weather.
England’s most powerful waterfall in terms of volume, High Force is slowly moving upstream as it erodes the sedimentary rocks beneath the Whin Sill – the hard-wearing layer of rock over which the River Tees initially flows.

Ess-na-Larach, County Antrim​

1st

Ess-na-Larach consists of two slender ribbons of white water, one above the other, punching their way through a narrow cleft in the almost-black rocks – one of many waterfalls associated with the streams emanating from Glenariff’s basalt escarpment.
This ancient valley, known as the ‘queen’ of Antrim’s nine glens, was deepened by the action of ice during the last glacial period.
It is now home to lush woodland, where ferns, mosses and liverworts thrive.