Railway Blog

Railway blog about heritage railway including steam and diesel locomotives. Other subjects include today's railways and model railway.

Reviews of heritage railways in the UK.

Biographical recounts of journeys taken in the 1970's and 1980's.

A railwayman's thoughts on today's modern railways.

Detail from my model railway.

The Railway to Merhead

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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 […]

Can You Help Preserve Railway History?

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Historically, railway accidents were common and many of the health and safety rules that we have today did not exist. Volunteers are now being sought to help tell the sad and costly story behind Britain’s railway age – the deaths and injuries suffered by many thousands of mainly men who operated the railways. Historian Mike […]

Railway Memories Through The Years

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by Stuart Whitter – Chairman, Northern Steam Engineering Limited I am very pleased to welcome as guest blogger Stuart Whitter who I first met in the very early 1980’s when we were involved in the restoration of Class 9F 92212 at the Great Central Railway, Loughborough. During our time in the railway industry we have […]

Hunt for Railway Paintings by David Shepherd

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A major new worldwide search has been launched, to track down hundreds of original artworks by world famous railway artist David Shepherd– just over a year since his death. It’s believed his paintings have ended up all over the world and now owners of originals by the renowned railway enthusiast and painter are invited to join […]

Testing Diesel Locomotives at Crewe Works

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The last period of my duration in the erecting shop at Crewe Works included a time spent in the company of the Finished Work Inspectors ( FWI ). They conducted sequence testing of the electrical control systems on the locomotives. One Inspector I remember was Joe Beadle. The purpose of these tests was to ensure that […]

Steam Locomotive Restoration of Merchant Navy 35011

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I’m pleased to be able to welcome back as guest blogger Simon Shutt to give an update on the steam locomotive restoration of Merchant Navy locomotive 35011 General Steam Navigation Since the first report on this steam locomotive restoration, the Society has made excellent progress towards returning 35011 to her pre-rebuilding condition. Locomotive Nameplates One of […]

Vintage Trains Limited is Britain’s Newest Train Operating Company

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Vintage Trains Limited has announced the granting of its passenger charter licence by the Office of Rail and Road. It is the UK’s first and only Train Operating Company to be owned by the public and charitably controlled. The start of an exciting journey On Friday 1st June 2018, the history of the Great Western […]

‘I Would Have Done The Job For Nothing’ – Book Review

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Over 40 years ago when I was Engineering Apprentice in Crewe Works, I had the opportunity to travel on a brand new High Speed Train (HST) set on a test run from Derby Litchurch Lane to York and Darlington. The engineer in charge who I met on arrival at Litchurch Lane Works was John Forrest.

The Remarkable Survival of Steam Locomotive 80150

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Steam locomotive 80150 is a remarkable survivor. She nearly did not make it into the world. 80150 was part of the last batch of five Standard 4 Tanks ever built. British Railways tried to cancel this build due to the impending dieselisation. However, the construction was so far advanced that this final batch had to be […]

Steam Locomotive Dating Rewrites History

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A recent archaeological survey carried out on Stephenson Railway Museum’s star exhibit, Billy, reveals that the locomotive is even older than previously thought. In March 2018, railway experts Michael Bailey and Peter Davidson wrote a very interesting report. It concludes that Billy was built in 1816, not 1826 as previously thought. This establishes the locomotive as […]