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…
Good evening, Tonight we have a quick post featuring the July update from the 35011 General Steam Navigation project. July 2016 Update T he General Steam Navigation Locomotive Restoration Society is proud to announce that they are now the owners of the Merchant Navy class locomotive General Steam Navigation. The Society that was set up…
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…
During the open day on the Severn Valley Railway last Saturday, I was given the opportunity to explore the carriage works in Kidderminster. As with most facilities on the preserved railway, this was an impressive set up within a relatively large building. Furthermore, it should be noted that this is a separate facility to a large carriage shed, also used…
More pictures from the 1990’s and another Throwback Thursday! This time the pictures were taken on the Bluebell Railway. Remarkably, with the exception of U class 1618, the other locomotives running in these pictures have since been overhauled and are in the running fleet in 2016.
Especially for our (almost) wordless Wednesday is Urie S15 class 30499, a locomotive happily preserved by the Urie group, based on the Watercress Line. They are working to return her back to original LSWR condition with stove pipe chimney for 2020, her 100th birthday. She is pictured here in British Railways service. Please see http://www.urieloco.co.uk for…
Last Saturday the Severn Valley Railway held an open day where by paying a small supplement of £5 the visitor got to have a look at what was happening behind the scenes. This was very much a busman’s holiday for me, but nonetheless very interesting! The first port of call was Bewdley where Mrs Locoyard and I…
Yesterday an update was posted on the Watercress Line’s blog detailing some of the special tours that have been arranged. These are free and fun, tailored to most age ranges so it’s well worth taking advantage of them whilst you can! Please click on the following link to read the article: preservation.watercressline.co.uk/blog/entry/take-a-walk-with-us With HLF funding, this project…
Tonight we’re back down memory lane (or should that be memory line?) with a few recently rediscovered pictures taken on the Watercress Line in the late 1990’s. Many pictures feature former resident BR Standard 5MT 73096, whilst Urie S15 class 30506 is seen in front of what is now the carriage and visiting 46229 Duchess…
Loco Yard 