WR 4-6-0 Manor class No. 7812 Erlestoke Manor will be returning with a Cornish flavour from its current overhaul, being turned out in BR lined green with a Truro shedcode to represent its September 1959/1960 allocation to the West Country. Recent wor

THE crisis at Crich Tramway Village – that saw services suspended from May 18 at the popular working museum following the issue of a prohibition notice by the Office of Rail & Road inspectors who detected dangerous traction poles at two locations, as

THE Queen’s Platinum Jubilee bank holiday saw celebrations for quite a different reason in Essex – as the Epping Ongar Railway marked its 10th anniversary with a four-day extravaganza. Originally set to take place between May 27 and 29 but delayed du

THE last steam locomotive to run on the Hetton Railway returned to the route of the line for a special event to mark its 200th anniversary. The eight-mile Hetton Colliery Railway was opened in 1822 by the Hetton Coal Company at Hetton Lyons in County

AT A time when Britain is in the grip of a cost of living crisis, unprecedented in recent times, there will be few in the country who will not be looking at ways in which they must make savings on personal spending. Sadly, the home tourist market is

CONTRACTOR Willmott Dixon has been appointed by Darlington Borough Council to deliver its £35 million Railway Heritage Quarter. The project will transform the Head of Steam museum in North Road, which includes the goods shed and carriage works, as a

WHILE the nation celebrated The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, a group of Talyllyn Railway volunteers marked their own silver jubilee. The Talyllyn Tracksiders allows family groups to work together on the line in mid-Wales, and since the first working par

FORMERLY known as the Scottish Industrial Railway Centre, the Doon Valley Railway has opened to the public for the first time under its new name. The relaunch had been planned for spring 2020, but the Covid-19 lockdown scuppered it, leaving the Ayrsh

If you love the idea of hopping on a steam train to explore the River Dart valley and meet some fascinating creatures along the way, then the South Devon Railway has the perfect day out for you! Suitable for all the family, this offers a peaceful hav

THE Midland and Great Northern Society (M&GN) has purchased Gresley Brake Third Open No. 43556/E16631E from the Epping Ongar Railway, made possible by a large legacy from the estate of late society member Keith Anthony Porter. Built in 1938 by Craven

ON June 11, a Metropolitan Water Board locomotive returned to Hampton Waterworks for the first time in nearly 80 years – although the 0-4-2TT in question was a 7 ¼in gauge miniature version. As reported in last issue’s Next Stop column, the miniature

TICKETS are now on sale for the North Yorkshire Moors Railway annual Light Spectacular autumn event. The hugely popular audio and visual sensory experience will depart from Pickering station every evening during the October 22-30 half term at 6pm and

In issue 254, Heritage Railway highlighted the Churnet Valley Railway as it geared up to begin its long-hoped-for extension to Leek. The European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development had provided £1,427,906.83 of funding and the first 200 yards of

CLASSIC British-built steam that once served on India’s legendary hill railways took pride of place at the Statfold Barn Railway’s June 11/12 enthusiasts’ weekend. Sweet Indian Steam brought the railways of the great subcontinent into focus, held to

THIS issue of Heritage Railway is published on July 8, which happens to be the 55th anniversary of the last Saturday of steam on the Southern and one day before the very last day of steam in normal service. Therefore, I have picked a few of the best

BRITAIN’S railway heritage engineering sector has reached a new high point, with the three cylinders for new Gresley P2 2-8-2 No. 2007 Prince of Wales placed together for the first time prior to welding to create the locomotive’s monobloc – a first s

BEATLEMANIA returned to Somerset in June – 58 years on. The West Somerset Railway’s June 9-11 diesel gala celebrated 1960s services on the branch and included a Beatles Special. It was in 1964 that the Fab Four travelled on a special train from Paddi

THE Rhyl Steam Preservation Trust has bought partially restored 1922-built Albert Barnes 4-4-2 Billie from Austin Moss, of the Windmill Farm Railway. Billie, one of six built in Rhyl by Barnes for the Dreamland Miniature Railway in Margate, has not h

LMS Princess Coronation Pacific No. 6233 Duchess of Sutherland will be hauling the Saphos Trains September 24-26 ‘Coronation Scot’ tour rather than motive power from the Locomotive Services Limited pool. Inaugurated in 1937, the‘Coronation Scot’ was

9 English Riviera Express High Wycombe, Kingswear and return. Diesel-hauled between High Wycombe and Taunton. Loco: TBA. ST 9 The End of Southern Steam London Victoria, Weymouth and return. Diesel-hauled Yeovil-Weymouth. Loco: 35028 Clan Line. RTC 9