A Moody Morning

On the final day of the Watercress Line’s Open Weekend, I arrived early at Ropley and took a few photographs in the thick fog that make for a short but moody slideshow that I hope you enjoy!

Scotsman 2016

The National Railway Museum have published details of plans for the world’s most famous steam locomotive’s first year of operation after completion of its major overhaul.  According to the latest official Flying Scotsman overhaul blog entry* to-date (as this article is published,) Riley and Sons still plan to complete the Flying Scotsman’s overhaul later this…

A Weekend Touring Ropley

The 19th and 20th September 2015 the Watercress Line are holding their open weekend.  As well as running an intensive service of four trains (consisting of two steam hauled passenger, one steam hauled demonstration freight and one heritage diesel DEMU) the railway have opened up most of the works in Ropley.  My task for the day…

Spartan Appeal

The Swindon and Cricklade Railway have launched an appeal to secure the future of Spartan.  Spartan is a Polish Tkh 0-6-0 tank engine built in 1953 by the Fablok Company in the town of Chzanov.  Remarkably, 3135 Spartan is the first steam locomotive owned by the preserved railway, despite it being established in 1978.  It moved to the…

Queen Elizabeth II Longest Reigning UK Monarch

Today Queen Elizabeth II became the United Kingdom’s Longest reigning Monarch.  In 2012 when locoyard’s model railway was in operation, her Diamond Jubilee was marked by a special Royal Train.  The model was chosen because the prototype was built in the same year the Elizabeth II was crowned, giving an idea of how long her 23,226 days 18…

Icons of Steam Update September 2015

Icons of Steam have a collection of remarkable steam locomotives. Where possible the locomotives are kept in working order and where possible on the mainline.  The locomotive in the collection that is in the news currently is world famous 46100 Royal Scot.  Today Royal Scot was delivered to the Severn Valley Railway, where it will run a…

Hastings DEMU – Early Days of Preservation

Tonight we have yet another picture from the Kent and East Sussex Railway in the 1990’s.  For a short period of time, the light railway was home to a 3 car ‘Hastings’ Diesel-Electric Multiple Units (DEMU.)  The Hastings DEMU was a class built specifically to run through from London to Hastings, a feat made difficult for…