Railtours
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With full regulator: LOCOMOTIVE PERFORMANCE THEN AND NOW
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In his latest column, Don Benn describes the performance of Clan Line on December 20’s ‘Carols in Sherborne Abbey’ trip – and also February 2’s ‘Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express’ double-header of Mayflower and British India Line, which hauled the train between Carnforth and Carlisle and return to Preston via the Settle and Carlisle route. THIS…
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Plaque unveiled for Railway Touring Club founder
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NIGEL Dobbing, the founder of the Railway Touring Company, whose vision pioneered the ‘Great Britain’ steam tours, was remembered with the operation of a memorial train on March 17. Members of Nigel’s family, his friends, colleagues and people, who supported him over the years until his death last October, travelled from the RTC base in…
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Class 50s unveiled in GB Railfreight livery
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THE close and growing relationship between the Class 50 Alliance and GB Railfreight has been underlined with the repainting of two of the former’s locomotives in GB colours as part of an on-going hire agreement. No. 50007 Hercules and 50049 Defiance were unveiled on March 20 at Eastleigh Works after the repaint by Arlington Fleet Services.…
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Tornado returns to action with Scottish adventures
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There was disappointment later in the day when Class 55 No. D9009 Alycidon failed on the return leg.
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British Line Society secures Thunderer for railtour return after 28-year gap
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THE Branch Line Society has scored a major coup by securing Garcia Hanson’s No. 50008 Thunderer for a railtour on July 27. The ‘50’ has been active on the main line for several years, but to date has only hauled passenger trains on heritage railways. Its last railtour outing is thought to have been in October…
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Unusual pairing sparkles in sunshine and snow
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THE rare combination of a Thompson ‘B1’ 4-6-0 and a rebuilt ‘Merchant Navy’ was the highlight of February 2’s ‘Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express’. No. 61306 Mayflower and No. 35018 British India Line worked north to Carlisle via the West Coast Main Line and returned later in the day via the Settle to Carlisle Line, enjoying glorious conditions…
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Bahamas returns in style
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IT WAS a close-run thing, but ‘Jubilee’ 4-6-0 No. 45596 Bahamas made a triumphant return to the main line on February 9. The immaculate Stanier ‘5XP’ passed a late trial to ensure its new and overhauled equipment was in full working order, and then worked through from Oxenhope on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway (KWVR)…
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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…
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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…
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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>), have an agreement, which will see the Pacific operate as part of the Crewe-based…
