With Heritage Railway magazine, you can keep up to date with essential railway news, days out and lots more! You won’t want to miss issue 318 of Heritage Railway magazine.
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Blue Peter pulling trains again – after 22 years!
A2 Pacific No. 60532 Blue Peter has been undergoing loaded test runs on the Severn Valley Railway after moving under its own power for the first time in 22 years. After it arrived by low-loader from Locomotive Services Group’s Crewe works, the week commencing March 25 saw it haul six air-braked carriages from the Mk.3 sleeper set stored at Kidderminster.
Prime Minister visits A1 Trust’s Darlington base
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited Darlington Locomotive Works on April 2 to meet staff and volunteers of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust and see for himself the progress made on developing its new base. Accompanied by Darlington MP Peter Gibson, Mr Sunak was given an update on the project to build the seventh example the most powerful express passenger steam locomotive to operate in the UK, Sir Nigel Gresley P2 2-8-2 No. 2007 Prince of Wales – and at one stage, lent a helping hand to its construction.
Britannia and Sir Nigel Gresley will headline two Sussex galas
A pair of steam era icons will visit two Sussex heritage lines to headline hugely different gala events – with one set to be a significant preservation first. As the Kent & East Sussex Railway prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary on June 1/2, the first visitor announced, BR Standard 7 4-6-2 No. 70000 Britannia, will be operating trips along the currently isolated Rother Valley Railway at Robertsbridge end of the original line throughout the weekend. Meanwhile, A4 Pacific No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley will star in the Bluebell Railway’s October 11-13 Giants of Steam weekend, its first-ever visit to the line.
Talyllyn’s vision for a sustainable future
The year 2026 will mark 75 years since a small group of dedicated enthusiasts ran the first volunteer-driven railway services that marked the start of the heritage era. While the scene has changed much since then, those at the Talyllyn Railway now know it is the time to get the railway fit to survive the next three quarters of a century. Seeking to raise a minimum of £500,000 over the next five years, the newly launched 75 Appeal, entitled ‘Preserving our Past, Building our Future’, will help fund work that is crucial to ensuring the world’s first preserved railway can thrive long into the future. But just what is involved, and why does it need to happen now?
Extension opens after 17 years of hard graft
The Northampton & Lamport Railway’s new southern terminus at Boughton was formally opened by Daventry MP Chris Heaton-Harris on March 30. A four-coach train headed by Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST No.3193 of 1944 Norfolk Regiment and top-and tailed by Hawthorn Leslie No. 3718 of 1928 Swanscombe No. 4 took VIP guests from the northern terminus of Brampton & Pitsford via the new half-mile extension to the new station at Boughton for the ceremony.
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