Steam

  • Saving a main line railway: a remarkable achievement!

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    50 years ago this year, the first seeds were sown in a bid to save a section of the Great Central Railway in Leicestershire. Graham Oliver, the railway’s former chief executive, recalls those early days of an embryo scheme which has subsequently blossomed into the country’s only double-track main line preserved railway.  As 1968 progressed…

  • LOCAL LOCO TRIALS: 1931 style

    LOCAL LOCO TRIALS: 1931 style

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    In this month’s Practice & Performance, John Heaton FCILT recalls loco trials undertaken by the LMS to assess locomotive coal consumption in a bid to discover whether trains of lower overall weight could cut costs on lesser used lines.  Any casual lineside observers on September 9, 1931 at Chellaston (some four miles from Derby on…

  • Cohen’s: A Northamptonshire railway graveyard

    Cohen’s: A Northamptonshire railway graveyard

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    The volume looks at one of the scrapyards which, sadly, locomotives did not get away to start a new life.

  • ‘I thoroughly enjoyed it’ says last-minute Talisman Railwayana stand-in

    ‘I thoroughly enjoyed it’ says last-minute Talisman Railwayana stand-in

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    Sandra Phipps delivered the goods at Talisman Railwayana’s November 24 auction at Newark.

  • Two weeks on and the tills ring at Stoneleigh

    Two weeks on and the tills ring at Stoneleigh

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    Just two weeks after GW Railwayana achieved a world record £64,500 for a nameplate from LNER No. 60103 Flying Scotsman, as reported in last month’s issue, the tills were also ringing at Great Central’s December 1 sale at Stoneleigh Park, with the top five realisations achieving a combined £142,200 before the addition of buyer’s premium.…

  • The lady is not for turning

    The lady is not for turning

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    By Brian Sharpe In December 2017, the Railway Touring Company ran its usual series of steam tours to York during the festive season. A major selling point was the use of two Class 8 Pacifics – LMS Princess Coronation No. 46233 Duchess of Sutherland and LNER A4 No. 60009 Union of South Africa; one in…

  • Mayflower: March target

    Mayflower: March target

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    By Cedric Johns THOUGHTS of B1 4-6-0 No. 61306 Mayflower returning south for Steam Dreams’ duties in December were dashed following its second main line (loaded) proving run around the West Coast Railways circuit on December 6. The 4-6-0 is still at Carnforth receiving mechanical adjustments to problems thrown up during the locomotive’s second run.…

  • Clan Line hauls Royal Train and  Pacific’s 70th birthday marked

    Clan Line hauls Royal Train and Pacific’s 70th birthday marked

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    By Don Benn December was an unexpectedly special month for Clan Line – for it hauled the Royal Train, in addition to the owning group, the Merchant Navy Locomotive Preservation Society (MNLPS) celebrating the locomotive’s 70th birthday of its release into traffic on December 23, 1948. During November, the society received a special request for…

  • Your Gallery | Swanage Railway Autumn Steam Gala

    Your Gallery | Swanage Railway Autumn Steam Gala

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    Roger Smith sent in this photo of the BR Standard Class 7 70000 Britannia departing Paddington Station.

  • Former Talyllyn Railway chief wins at Heritage Railway Association awards

    Former Talyllyn Railway chief wins at Heritage Railway Association awards

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    Talyllyn Railway’s former Chief Engineer, John Bate, was honoured in the recent Heritage Railway Association awards ceremony.

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