Sam Hewitt
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Steam heat returns (briefly) to main line in Spain
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STEAM-heated mainline trains are now almost extinct across Europe but for a few days in late-January a charter train in Spain re-created the old atmosphere. UK rail holiday operator PTG Tours celebrated the 20th anniversary of its first rail tour by running the train in Spain. It was operated by open access operator ALSA Rail,…
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Didcot’s diesel shunter clocks up 40 years’ service
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A SMALL celebration was held on December 29 to mark the 40th anniversary of Hunslet 5238 of 1957 – a 264bhp 0-6-0DM, now known as No. DL 26 – arriving at the Didcot Railway Centre. A cake was cut by former Great Western Society locomotive manager Ron Head, who had arranged the purchase of the locomotive. He…
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Restoration of West Somerset’s little-known diesel ‘shunter’
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RUSTON & Hornsby 200793 of 1940 has been beautifully restored and is used as yard shunter by West Somerset Restoration, the commercial engineering arm of the West Somerset Railway Association at Williton. The 48DS-type arrived on the West Somerset Railway from South Wales in 2016, but as far as is known, has never made a…
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Diesel days on the Swindon & Cricklade Railway
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THE Swindon & Cricklade Railway ran diesel services on Sundays in February. On the 10th, haulage was provided by ex-BR Departmental 0-6-0DE Ruston & Hornsby No. PWM651, making a special appearance in its 60th year. It is seen at Taw Valley Halt carting a headboard commemorating well-known and active diesel enthusiast Andrew ‘Brillo’ Wilson, who passed…
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Swindon Works horse dray found
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A GWR horse dray has been discovered in a domestic garage in Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, having been stored there since the early 1960s. It was among the property of a deceased gentleman who formerly worked for the railway at Swindon Works. An ideal museum or large collection item, the sprung-mounted dray bears the works…
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Swindon & Cricklade launches appeal to refurbish Mk.1 disabled coach Laura
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THE Swindon & Cricklade Railway has launched an appeal for funds to renovate one of its most important and popular Mk.1 carriages. For many years, the line has run a modified 60ft carriage, built in Swindon Works, for disabled passengers and wheelchair users. It was named Laura at the request of the Hills Group, the…
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Mystery boiler dug up in Omagh could be from GNR(I) loco
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By Hugh Dougherty A STEAM locomotive boiler dug up by contractors working at the site of the former locomotive shed at Omagh, County Tyrone, on February 8, might have come from a Great Northern Railway of Ireland locomotive. However, a mystery now surrounds the find, for Omagh shed – which closed 54 years ago on…
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It’s safety first for Kent & East Sussex’s new board member
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By Geoff Courtney NEIL SIME, the founder and managing director of UK train operator Victa Railfreight, has been appointed safety director of the Kent & East Sussex Railway, the second senior post to be filled by the heritage line this year. The 57-year-old has been involved with the KESR as a volunteer since it ran…
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New chairman for the Great Western Society
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RICHARD Preston has been welcomed as the new chairman of the Great Western Society. At its board meeting on January 27, he replaced Richard Croucher, who retired as chairman and a director after 18 years. Richard Preston has been active in railway preservation since 1968 – both at Didcot Railway Centre, where he was locomotive…
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Boiler for new Southwold Blyth now taking shape
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RAPID progress on building a boiler for replica Southwold Railway 2-4-0T Blyth is now being made – and the locomotive could steam by the end of next year. As reported in issue 244, NBR Engineering Services, the engineering arm of Scarborough’s North Bay Railway, has been contracted to build the new version of 3ft gauge…
