Ex-LBSCR E4 Class B473

With Bachmann’s eagerly anticipated 00 scale model of the LBSCR E4 radial tank hitting our shores and layouts, it seems a good time to have a look at the only survivor of the class on the Bluebell Railway.

Steaming into Newport

Good morning,  I came across this article this morning and as a big fan of the Isle of Wight Railway I am delighted at this news.  Steam will soon be returning to the town of Newport thanks to a very generous donation by a group of businessmen based on the Island. It’s long been the…

Colne Valley Railway to move

Good afternoon, Last night we learnt of the sad news coming of the Colne Valley Railway. Members were devastated when the railway’s management broke the news at the preservation society’s AGM last weekend that the railway will close once its lease expires on December 31 unless it can find a new home or come to…

Stuck in a Rut

Good evening, Long term readers might remember that I am a keen model railway enthusiast and have completed several locomotive reviews over the years for the blog. However recently I have got stuck in a rut and my layout has been sadly neglected as I struggle to get going on some of my various projects. It…

The Y14 Returns!

The North Norfolk Railways’ stalwart, the J15 has returned to the railway in its new (or should that be old guise of a Y14). The restoration, which commenced in July 2013 has finally been completed, with one of the most thorough overhauls the loco has ever had.Teases had been seen on the M&GN’s Facebook page…

U Class 1638

As with most visits to the Bluebell Railway, last Sunday proved to be an absolute Southern Railway delight!  Working alongside S15 class 847 was U class 1638, another machine owned by the Maunsell Locomotive Society.  The locomotive is in it’s final year of operation, with its’ ten year boiler certificate coming to an end soon. …

S15 847

    I was happy on Sunday to catch the Bluebell Line’s S15 class 847 in action.  It had been many years since I had seen it in action before and it was as impressive as I remembered it!  The S15 class is a classic British two cylinder 4-6-0 design with its origins in pre-grouping…

Steam flowing with watercolour

Tonight we have a very special guest blog post from a fantastic artist, Stephen Bedser.  Stephen has previously written for LocoYard about how he became an artist who specialises in heritage scenes (click here) and he has now kindly agreed to write a mini series looking at how he does his paintings. I would strongly…