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 […]
Heritage Railway
The Unique History of Railway Restaurant Carriages
Ever thought about using converted railway carriages to make a restaurant in your back garden? How about adding a platform and a station? Find out how Michael Attle has done just that! But first, let me tell you how I became aware of this amazing place:
How to rebuild a Mark 1 carriage
Understandably many railway enthusiasts focus on locomotives. For this Blog post though I should like to consider M34527 – a British Railways (BR) Mark 1 BSK carriage. British Railways introduced Mark 1 carriages in 1951 and they now form the backbone of heritage railways rolling stock. M34527 is based at the Somerset and Dorset Heritage Railway Trust’s Midsomer Norton station.
Progress on Mark 1 Carriage Restoration
Back in March I blogged about BSK M34527 at Midsomer Norton and its transfer over to Cranmore Maintenance Services for the fitting of gangways. I would like to update you on the progress made on the Somerset and Dorset railway Mark 1 carriage since then.
How to go on holiday via the West Somerset Railway
I mentioned in another one of my blogs about going on holiday by train when I was a child. Trains are still a big part of our family today. Last Summer, we had a walking holiday with HF holidays at Selworthy near Minehead. My wife suggested that we travel there by train alighting from the mainline […]
Locomotives at the Nene Valley Railway
A visit to the Nene Valley Railway at Wansford in 2017 with photos of the steam locomotives and Deltics that were running on the railway that day.
A volunteer with Tornado 60163 Steam Locomotive
A guest post by Michael Abbott, volunteer with the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust 60163 Tornado about what it is like to be a volunteer working with this famous steam locomotive.
Mid Norfolk Railway Review
I visited the Mid Norfolk Railway with a group of working volunteers from the Somerset and Dorset. This was my first visit to this line which operates between Dereham and Wymondham Abbey station. British Railways closed the line in 1969.
The locomotive BR preferred to forget
For some reason the Metropolitan Vickers Co-Bo Class 28 locomotives have always held a fascination for me. Perhaps because it is one of the few BR 1955 modernization plan locomotive types which I have never seen operating. Maybe it is the unique look of both the front end. It could be the different bogies – one has three […]
Volunteers bring new life to the Somerset and Dorset railway
After a 40 year absence I had the opportunity to work on the P-Way again relaying track. This time it was actual reinstatement of a line closed in March 1966. The much lamented Somerset and Dorset Railway. Mourned by huge numbers of people and now at least part being reborn.