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