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  • Golden ‘Teddy Bear’ to star at Didcot event

    Golden ‘Teddy Bear’ to star at Didcot event

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    CLASS 14 No. D9551 arrived at Didcot by road from the Severn Valley Railway (SVR) on March 8.  The golden ochre-liveried loco is seen at DB Cargo’s fuelling point prior to being taken across the tracks to enter Didcot Railway Centre. Behind is DBC Class 66 No. 66057. The 0-6-0DH will be used on three weekends…

  • What’s in the Shops: Classic Freightliner wagons from Bachmann

    What’s in the Shops: Classic Freightliner wagons from Bachmann

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    Nigel Burkin reviews Bachmann’s OO-gauge FFA and FGA container flats in pre-TOPS condition, complete with early BR Freightliner containers. A revolution in railway wagon design took place during the 1960s, when inefficient standard wagons started to be replaced with modern long-wheelbase and bogie air-braked stock. The wholesale containerisation of goods was also on the horizon…

  • Darstaed Finescale BR Mk 1 suburbans from Ellis Clark

    Darstaed Finescale BR Mk 1 suburbans from Ellis Clark

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    One of the recently announced Set A packs of Darstaed Finescale O-gauge BR 57ft suburban coaches comprising two brake seconds (BS), a single second (S) class and a composite with lavatory (CL) is expected during the first quarter of this year, and is available to pre-order at £665 from Ellis Clark Trains of Skipton, North…

  • Main line makes presence felt at London sale

    Main line makes presence felt at London sale

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    The main line in a variety of shapes and sizes will be making its presence felt at the Transport Auctions of London sale on February 23, headed by the smokebox numberplate from LSWR Class T9 No. 30705, a Dübs & Co of Glasgow product that entered traffic in January 1899 and was withdrawn by BR…

  • Two ‘Thumper’ tours planned

    Two ‘Thumper’ tours planned

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    Hastings Diesels, which operates St Leonards depot-based ‘Thumper’ Unit No. 1001, has announced it is progressing plans for two day trips in the coming months. However, the group stressed the tours are currently only outline plans and may unavoidably be subject to change or cancellation. The first is hoped to operate on Saturday, April 6…

  • GBRf and Class 50 Alliance agree reliveried ‘Hoover’ partnership

    GBRf and Class 50 Alliance agree reliveried ‘Hoover’ partnership

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    The Class 50 Alliance has been operating railtours on the national network with its locomotives since 1997. In recent years, the alliance has been working with rail freight operator GB Railfreight (GBRf), enabling a return to the main line for its locomotives in 2017 and subsequently through a programme of railtours during 2018, as part…

  • A4 Sir Nigel Gresley signs up with Saphos Trains

    A4 Sir Nigel Gresley signs up with Saphos Trains

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    GRESLEY A4 No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley will spend the next 10 years on the main line working Saphos Trains’ railtours. The engine’s owning group, the Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Trust (SNGLT) and the Royal Scot Locomotive & General Trust (RSL&GT), have an agreement, which will see the Pacific operate as part of the Crewe-based…

  • Tornado test run problem solved: Wensleydale trips on

    Tornado test run problem solved: Wensleydale trips on

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    THE A1 Steam Locomotive Trust was forced to cancel Tornado’s main line comeback trip after it sustained minor damage while on its eagerly-awaited test run. No. 60163 had been undergoing repairs at Wansford shed on the Nene Valley Railway following its failure while hauling ‘The Ebor Flyer’ on Saturday, April 14 last year because of…

  • With Full Regulator: LOCOMOTIVE PERFORMANCE THEN AND NOW

    With Full Regulator: LOCOMOTIVE PERFORMANCE THEN AND NOW

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    In his latest column, Don Benn describes the performance of Ian Riley’s ‘Black Five’ No. 44871 on two main line trips in December 2018 and May 2010 – plus some additional information about Bulleid Pacific No.35028 Clan Line’s on November 24’s ‘The Chilterns & Downs’ tour. It HAD been some years since I had a…

  • Designated charter network capacity

    Designated charter network capacity

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    In the latest in our series examining the issues of operating special trains on the main line with heritage rolling stock, Andy Castledine looks at what the future is likely to hold for pathing – and the processes and implications required in planning. He also shares the view of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust’s Graeme…

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