An update on progress of the Heritage Lottery Funded Canadian Pacific Project has been published. Work continues in cleaning the driving wheels (that reveals something of interest), the frame extensions are straightened and the bufferbeam support welding repair is completed. Please click on the following link to read the report in full: http://preservation.watercressline.co.uk/blog/entry/wheely-interesting Please help support the Canadian…
Some great layouts on show, I have always thought about adding snow to my layout as it does give the layout a rather unique apperance. On Saturday the Norfolk and Suffolk Narrow Gauge Modellers held their second Open Day. I went to their first Open Day last year and I’m very pleased it is becoming…
The oldest surviving Bulleid Pacific was withdrawn from service on the Watercress Line on the 6th March 2016. No 34007 Wadebridge now requires a full overhaul before she can run again. She will also need her original tender restored, as the tender she uses will be returned to 35005 Canadian Pacific (albeit with a new…
Today is International Womens Day and as part of the Heritage Lottery Funded Canadian Pacific Project we have a very special article that looks at some of the earliest women to work on railways. It is fascinating to read the level of inequality in society at the time – women had to masquerade as men and…
On Saturday 5th March, I visited the annual Spring Steam Gala, and once again, what an event! The weather was cold, miserable and on the other days of the event, the weather had been quite sunny. The visiting locomotives for the event were; LMS Ivatt Class 4, No. 43106, 2-6-0 ‘Flying Pig’, courtesy of the…
Originally posted on sgoldswoblog:
Last Thursday morning I was rushing down to my local station early. For once, this wasn’t because of an early morning meeting, but rather because something special was about to happen. In this case, the something special was the visit of a steam train (locomotive), the Flying Scotsman. Once a holder…
Today, 5th March 2016 is the 80th anniversary of the first flight of the legendary Supermarine Spitfire. The Spitfire is often described as being one of the most famous aircraft types in the world and its elliptical wings are still one of the most instantly recognisable of any aeroplane. The first Spitfire was originally designed by RJ Mitchell…
As part of the Heritage Lottery Funded Canadian Pacific Project, we are researching and exploring the social history of the railway covering a wide range of topics. The following link provides a fascinating insight into the Southern Railway Orphanage at Woking. That’s right, there’s more to railways than trains! http://preservation.watercressline.co.uk/blog/entry/the-childrens-orphanage Photographs provided by Roy Smith and the Bishopstoke History Society…
Some great Throwback Thursday photos from the Bristol Harbour Railway looking at when the GWR 813 Saddle Tank visited the line. Another Throwback Thursday to 29th July 2001, when GWR 813 was visiting Bristol. This locomotive has just celebrated its centenary, having been built in June 1901. You can learn more about GWR 813 ……
Here are a series of pictures I took in Rogiet, Gwent on May 4th 2013 of 34067 Tangmere, an SR Battle of Britain Class 4-6-2 steam locomotive as it stopped to take on water. This was actually the first time I ever got to see a steam locomotive up close. I was sat at home…
Loco Yard 