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Tomorrow sees BR Standard Class 8 71000 'Duke of Gloucester' run her first public service for the first time in over 13 ...
05/11/2025

Tomorrow sees BR Standard Class 8 71000 'Duke of Gloucester' run her first public service for the first time in over 13 years, having failed at Eastleigh on a run from Poole to Oxford in August 2012. Here is a look at the 'Duke' back in 2023 during the open weekend at Tyseley Locomotive Works, with the locomotive entering the final stages of overhaul, 18/06/23.

BR Standard Class 8 Steam Locomotive Trust.
Locomotive Services Group

Today, BR(W) built Castle Class 7029 'Clun Castle' made a return to London Paddington and the Great Western Mainline, re...
01/11/2025

Today, BR(W) built Castle Class 7029 'Clun Castle' made a return to London Paddington and the Great Western Mainline, recreating the 27th November 1965 British Railways "Farewell to Steam", which marked the end of steam on British Railway's Western Region.

Here is a look back at 11th May 2024, when 7029 returned to London Paddington station for the first time since 1965, hauling the 60th anniversary special of 1Z48; An Ian Allen tour which ran in 1964, itself marking the 60th anniversary of 3440 'City of Truro's supposed 100mph speed record run in 1904.

Vintage Trains

in 1987, BR Class 43 HST Powercars 43102 and 43159 set a world speed record for a diesel locomotive, reaching 148mph o...
01/11/2025

in 1987, BR Class 43 HST Powercars 43102 and 43159 set a world speed record for a diesel locomotive, reaching 148mph on a test run of Mk4 bogies along the East Coast Mainline between Northallerton and York.

Both powercars remain today in preservation, following the end of their mainline careers: 43102 exists as part of the National Collection, having been repainted into InterCity Swallow livery and named 'The Jounrey Shrinker' by East Midlands Railway prior to retirement in 2021. Today she can be seen on display at the Locomotion museum in Shildon.

43159 meanwhile ended her service with Great Western Railway in 2019, still carrying First Great Western blue livery. She was later donated by Porterbrook to the 125 Group in 2021, and has since been repainted into Midland Mainline "Project Rio" livery, named 'Rio Warrior'. 43159 is now based at the East Lancashire Railway, and can frequently be seen running tours for the 125 Group on the mainline.

National Railway Museum
Locomotion
125 Group
East Midlands Railway

South Wales to West Yorkshire: Taff Vale Railway O2 Class No.85 sits on Platform 3 at Keighley Station, 21/03/25. No.85 ...
31/10/2025

South Wales to West Yorkshire: Taff Vale Railway O2 Class No.85 sits on Platform 3 at Keighley Station, 21/03/25.

No.85 was the first of nine O2 Class locos to be built by Neilson, Reid & Co. for the Taff Vale Railway in South Wales in 1899. In 1922, the TVR was amalgamated into the Great Western Railway, with 85 remaining in GWR service until 1927. In 1929, she would be sold to the Lambton Colliery in County Durham, where she remained in service until being withdrawn again by the National Coal Board in 1968.

She is the only surviving member of the class, having been acquired by the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway in 1970. She is also only one of two TVR locomotive to survive into preservation, alongside 1897 built O1 Class No.28. The 1990s saw 85 returned to as near to original built condition, followed by an initial return to steam in 2000. 2026 will see 85's boiler ticket come to an end next year, having last returned from overhaul in 2016, at which point the locomotive will enter back into the Haworth MPD overhaul queue.

The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway

Soon to be rivaled?News today that the Office of Road & Rail (ORR) have given the greenlight for Virgin to run passenger...
30/10/2025

Soon to be rivaled?

News today that the Office of Road & Rail (ORR) have given the greenlight for Virgin to run passenger services through the Channel Tunnel between London and Mainland Europe, with Virgin aiming to begin Channel Tunnel services in 2030.

This will mark the first time since the tunnel opened in 1994 that Eurostar, currently the sole operator of services between St Pancras International and mainland Europe, will see direct competition for cross UK-Continental services.

Eurostar e320 4034 passes through Stratford International, approaching the capital from the continent, 09/08/25.

New Build BeachyThe Bluebell Railway's new build of LBSCR H2 Atlantic 32424 'Beachy Head' entered into service in the su...
28/10/2025

New Build Beachy

The Bluebell Railway's new build of LBSCR H2 Atlantic 32424 'Beachy Head' entered into service in the summer of 2024, instantly becoming a firm favourite amongst visitors to the railway, and currently is the UK's only operational example of a 4-4-2 Atlantic locomotive.

32424 was the last surviving example of the six LBSCR H2s, being withdrawn and scrapped in 1958. Her loss prompted efforts to preserve what remained of the LBSCR, and became a driving force behind the formation of the Bluebell Railway Preservation Society. In October 2000, the Bluebell Railway announced plans to rebuild an example of 'Beachy Head', utilising a Great Northern Railway Atlantic boiler and an LBSCR B2 tender chassis. After a 24 year construction, 32424 would be seen to grace the rails once more.

Recently, for the railway's Giants of Steam, 32424 appeared alongside three other new-build standard gauge engines, each one representing a class lost to time: LNER Peppercorn A1 60163 'Tornado', GWR Saint Class 2999 'Lady of Legend' and GWR Grange Class 6880 'Betton Grange'.

Bluebell Railway

Award winners and memories of the East Coast MainlineThere are few places today where you can find a refence to GNER or ...
27/10/2025

Award winners and memories of the East Coast Mainline

There are few places today where you can find a refence to GNER or National Express, but eagle eyed visitors to either the Severn Valley Railway or Great Central Railway may spot these plaques at Northwood Halt and Rothley Station.

Both plaques note the GNER and National Express Volunteer awards, as part of the National Railway Heritage Awards, presented to each railway in 2007 and 2008 respectively, in recognition of restoration efforts to both stations. The award presented in 2007 was joint won alongside Corfe Castle station footbridge on the Swanage Railway, and in 2008, was joint won alongside Kingsley & Froghall Station on the Churnet Valley Railway.

Severn Valley Railway
Great Central Railway

27/10/2025

A month ago, we were fortunate enough to join the crowds of thousands in Darlington to celebrate 200 Years of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, with the 1975 replica of Locomotion No.1 crossing Skerne Bridge, recreating the opening day train of 27th September 1825. Were you there for this once in a generation event?

S&dr200
Railway200
Hopetown Darlington

BR BrillianceBR Class 55 Deltic 55009 'Alycidion' is posed next to Large Logo liveried Class 37 37424 outside the Deltic...
26/10/2025

BR Brilliance

BR Class 55 Deltic 55009 'Alycidion' is posed next to Large Logo liveried Class 37 37424 outside the Deltic Preservation Society's depot at Barrow Hill Roundhouse. Note the plaque on No.9's headcode box, noting her appearance at The Greatest Gathering in August. 11/10/25

The Deltic Preservation Society
Barrow Hill Roundhouse Railway Centre

A4: Black & BlueHere's a look back at LNER A4 Pacific Class 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' over the past decade; Withdrawn fo...
25/10/2025

A4: Black & Blue

Here's a look back at LNER A4 Pacific Class 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' over the past decade; Withdrawn for heavy general overhaul in September 2015 following expiry of the boiler ticket, 60007 subsequently moved to the National Railway Museum in York for work to commence. The boiler was lifted in 2016 and transported to the Llangollen Railway, meanwhile work on the A4's frames was carried out in the NRM's Workshop.

Whilst the boiler returned to York in late-2019, completion of overhaul was set back as a result of the Covid-19 Pandemic shortly thereafter. In 2021, with the NRM announcing the closure of their workshop facilities, a largely visually complete 60007 emerged from the NRM's North Shed, having received a black top coat for protection from the elements, reminiscent of LNER Wartime Black. As a result, the loco was temporarily turned out with LNER lettering and renumbered 4498.

Following completion of overhaul at Crewe by Locomotive Services Ltd in 2022, Gresley moved to the Severn Valley Railway for running in, and subsequently made a guest appearance at the Spring Steam Gala. For the remainder of the year, the LNER Black guise remained, with 4498 running a handful of mainline tours, in addition to visiting the North Yorkshire Moors Railway for their annual Steam Gala event.

2023 saw 60007 return to its more familiar BR Express Blue livery, with the Gresley Pacific continuing to make regular appearances on the mainline and heritage railway circuit, including the East Lancashire Railway, Bluebell Railway & most recently, the Mid-Hants Railway. This year also saw 60007 displayed at The Greatest Gathering in Derby, marking the first time in preservation examples of LNER's A1, A2, A3 and A4 had been seen together in one place, with 60163 'Tornado', 60532 'Blue Peter' & 60103 'Flying Scotsman' all in attendance.

National Railway Museum
Locomotive Services Group
North Yorkshire Moors Railway
The Greatest Gathering

Caerphilly does it...First of Charles Collett's Castle Class, 4073 'Caerphilly Castle' sits on display at STEAM Museum o...
24/10/2025

Caerphilly does it...

First of Charles Collett's Castle Class, 4073 'Caerphilly Castle' sits on display at STEAM Museum of the GWR, located part of the former Swindon Works.

Withdrawn in May 1960, 4073 forms part of the National Collection, representing the Castle Class and the first of Collett's 4-6-0 designs, with the Castles being a development of Churchward's Star Class. Following withdrawal, the locomotive was cosmetically restored at Swindon Works before initially going on display at the Science Museum in Kensington, with 4073 being handed over to the museum by Dr Richard Beeching in a ceremony at London Paddington Station.

Steam - Museum of the Great Western Railway
National Railway Museum

Bulleid at BuryWhilst the East Lancashire Railway saw a gathering of LMS and Midland Region locomotives for their Autumn...
22/10/2025

Bulleid at Bury

Whilst the East Lancashire Railway saw a gathering of LMS and Midland Region locomotives for their Autumn Steam Gala, a hint of the Southern wasn't far, with Bulleid Battle of Britain Class 34081 '92 Squadron' on static display in the bay platform at Bury Bolton Street Station, complete with Golden Arrow regalia, 18/10/25.

East Lancashire Railway
East Lancashire Railway - Steam Department

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