Great Western Railway (GWR) is proudly showcasing the history of their network and celebrating the rich heritage of Britain’s railways with brand new animated images By delving into the historical railway image archives and commissioning a photographer to capture the stations in their present-day glory, GWR has successfully showcased the gradual development of Britain’s railways over […]
The Railway to Merhead
Recently, I contacted Pete Briddon, an industrial railway engineering specialist, regarding a quotation for fitting a vacuum train brake system to an English Electric diesel hydraulic locomotive. The locomotive is kept on the old Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway at Midsomer Norton. During this process I became aware that Pete had written a book titled […]
Top UK Steam and Diesel Train Trips
Steam train trips in the UK are offered by an abundance of heritage and tourist railways. We are very fortunate to have the choice of visiting a steam railway in most parts of the country. Indeed, the Heritage Railway Association report that an incredible 185 of member organisations regularly open to the public.
Railway memory lives on with anniversary walk
On the 4th of March 1967, the Budleigh Salterton Railway branch line closed. It ran from Sidmouth Junction (now called Feniton) to Budleigh Salterton and Exmouth, Devon. The wave of manic railway closures in the 1960’s included this branch line. It was believed that its main users were holiday makers rather than local residents. This was probably true because the timetable was so poor that it didn’t meet the […]
North Norfolk Railway Review
I recently visited the North Norfolk Railway with some railway friends. I hadn’t been to this heritage railway since the early 1970s although I always follow its progress in the media.
Relaxing on the Caledonian Sleeper Train
Over recent years the overnight sleeper train has made a significant comeback. Many people have opted to travel this way over other methods. Not only is it a very civilized and stress free way to travel, it can be cost-effective.
An Enthusiast Reviews The Epping Ongar Railway
I paid an interesting visit to the Epping Ongar Railway on Sunday 23rd April 2017. History of the Epping and Ongar Railway The Great Eastern Railway built the branch from Loughton Junction to Ongar and it opened in 1865. Before World War II, plans existed for London Transport to take over the branch as an […]
Behind the scenes at Herston Works
Some time ago, Nick Thompson one of the directors from Southern Locomotives Ltd (SLL) invited me to Herston Works at Swanage to assist with the restoration of their locomotives. SLL own five Bulleid Pacifics and a BR Standard Tank. Restoration is primarily undertaken at Herston Works adjacent to, but not rail connected, to the Swanage Railway. The Swanage Railway also use the facility to carry out overhauls on locomotives. Herston Works […]
A Railway Enthusiast vists the Llangollen Railway
I have always wanted to visit the Llangollen Railway but had never been. Finally, the chance came to see this beautiful scenic railway and check out the progress they were making on various locomotive projects.
Kings Cross Suburban Railway DVD Review
Recently, I saw an advert for a video by Transport Video Publishing called . We all reminisce about our childhoods and when we see something that provokes a memory, we often explore it further. This DVD took me back to my childhood where I lived at Stevenage on the East Coast Main Line. I used […]
Are you sitting comfortably?
Getting a seat on a train is one of the primary objectives when we wisely decide to travel by rail. The design thinking that goes into a seat is something most of us take for granted. That is, unless you’re restoring a railway carriage which requires the seats to be refitted after an absence of forty years and the seats need to be reupholstered. […]
GSN Locomotive Restoration Society
With the recent 50th anniversary of the end of steam traction on British Rail Southern Region the railwayblogger is delighted to bring you a guest post by Simon Shutt from the General Steam Navigation Locomotive Restoration Society. Over to Simon: Doesn’t it seem like a crime that the only UK steam locomotive to bear the word ‘steam’ […]