Built at around the turn of the nineteenth century, the E4 class were an 0-6-2 Tank engine built for the London Brighton and South Coast Railway. 75 E4 tank engines were built from 1897 to 1903 to a design by Robert Billinton. They were a development of the E3 class that had its roots in an…
Gordon the Big Engine is not just a large blue steam engine to be found in the literary works of the Reverend Awdry’s and subsequent tv and film episodes, but also a real big and blue locomotive. The Longmoor Military Railway was a complex system of railway lines in and around Woolmer Forest in Hampshire, used for training…
Tonight we have something a little different – a picture of Austerity 8F no. 90151 doing what it did best – hauling a heavy goods train. The class were designed by Robert Riddles (based on Stanier’s 8F class) whilst he held the position of Deputy Director of Royal Engineering Equipment during the Second World War. …
Having only caught a glimpse of her on my trip on the Severn Valley Railway in 2015, I was very hopeful that I would get a good look at Ivatt 4MT 43106 this year and fortunately I wasn’t disappointed!
Last week we had a special double header for our (Almost) Wordless Wednesday and today we have another. The Bluebell Railway Preservation Society ran “The Blue Belle” special in 1963 when preserved Caledonian Railway single No. 123 piloted Drummond T9 4-4-0 120 painted in LSWR pea green.
The Severn Valley Railway’s open day in July 2016 gave a rare opportunity to look behind the scenes in the railway’s locomotive works in Bridgnorth. The railway has a large fleet of steam locomotives and there are several ongoing overhauls/restorations and two new-builds, so plenty to keep the staff and volunteers of Bridgnorth busy!
The Watercress Line’s carriage shop has just posted their July 2016 update, that includes an update of the two Bulleid carriages being restored – 1456 and 4367. The restoration of these two carriages is being undertaken as part of the Heritage Lottery Funded Canadian Pacific Project. Please click on the following link to read the article: preservation.watercressline.co.uk/blog/entry/varnish-varnish-everywhere With…
BR Standard class 4MT 2-6-0 76017’s long anticipated return to working order is nearly open us. The locomotive will become the Watercress Line’s newest addition to its operating fleet. It has been painted immaculately and really looks the part! In contrast to its last period of operation, it will be running with an early British…
Looking for something to keep the kids amused? Why not pop along to the Watercress Line on 30th and 31st July for a ride behind a steam engine and stop at Ropley for a Family Workshop, at no extra cost! We will give you a tour around the viewing galleries, locomotive yard and inside both the carriage and…
Specially for our (almost) wordless Wednesday we have a picture of an unusual double header! USA dock tank 30064 pilots a Bulleid Q1 class Austerity locomotive. The “yankee tank” is preserved on the Bluebell Railway, but has been out of service for some time. The plan is to give 30064 a cosmetic restoration and use it on a…
Loco Yard 