150 years ago the Hunslet Railway Company built their first steam locomotive – an 0-6-0 saddle tank. The company would continue to build around 7000 locomotives that would be exported and used all over the world. Until 1995 they built locomotives in their works at Jack Lane, Leeds and the city and the company name are synonymous with…
Good evening, Tonight we are pleased to report that yesterday 35006 Peninsular & Oriental S.N. Co, passed her formal steam test with her insurance company. She has had a few trial steamings of her boiler over the last few months, enabling a number of minor niggles to be identified and corrected.This is a very significant…
We reported back in May that the East Lancashire Railway were looking for votes in Aviva Community Fund and we’re very happy to report that they were successful in obtaining £10,000! The funds will be used towards completing the canopy of platform 2 at Bury Bolton Street Station. Naturally the railway is elated with the news as…
Just a very short blog post this evening to let you all know that this weekend (11 and 12th June 2015) 4464 Bittern is planned to be in service on the Watercress Line. So it is a great time to visit the Mid-Hants Railway as you can be hauled by the fastest steam engine to run in preservation…
From the 3rd to 16th August 2015, the Kent and East Sussex Railway will become home to the South Devon Railway’s London Transport liveried pannier tank engine L.92. This will be the first time a London Transport liveried locomotive has worked on the rural light railway and will therefore no doubt attract many visitors! To…
The Bluebell Railway’s U class no 1638 has officially been retired from service. The locomotive was withdrawn due to it requiring repairs that although minor would have needed a hydraulic test and with just six months remaining on it’s boiler certificate, the line have sensibly been decided that resources should instead be put into the completion of the overhaul of British Railways…
Tonight we have a quick Flying Scotsman update. Progress towards arguably the most controversial overhaul of a steam locomotive are making more significant and positive steps that should help see it returned to steam in 2015. Flying Scotsman’s tender has now left the NRM and joined the locomotive at the workshop of Riley & Son (E) Bury, where…
2016 will be 175 years since Daniel Gooch recommended to Isambard Kingdom Brunel to locate the Great Western Railway’s main locomotive works in Swindon. Located half way between Bristol and Reading, Swindon was an ideal location. The developments associated with the GWR accelerated development of the town that is now the biggest in Wiltshire. A…
Stanier’s 8F 2-8-0 class were built as important upgrades for dated 0-6-0 Midland engines and at the beginning of the Second World War when railways were effectively nationalised they were the most modern class of freight engine. As a result they were chosen as the best freight design to be produced as a standard for War Department use until…
This week the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway launched an appeal aimed at returning Ivatt 2MT Tank 41241 back into running order in time for the preserved railway’s 50 Anniversary celebrations that will take place in June 2018.
Loco Yard 