3/9/10

The Class 40 Appeal are appealing for the final £252 to achieve the required £10,000 total needed to lift D212 and repair the bogie cracks that have prevented the loco leaving Butterley by rail. More details are here

The Mid Hants Railway are holding a Mixed Traffic Event on September 17-19 featuring 33053, 37905 and DEMU 1125. More details are here

Updates WTT's for this weekends WSR event are here - Saturday Sunday

A gallery for the recent 55022 railtour is here

Recent photos of 24061 25235 25278 26004 26024 27001 27005 27024 & 31128 added

1/9/10

Timetables and loco diagrams for this weekends mixed traction event at the West Somerset Railway are now available - Saturday & Sunday

Details of the Mid Norfolk Railways plans for a celebration of 50 years of class 37's on September 24-26 featuring eleven members of the class are here

The NRM are also celebrating 50 years of the class 37 with an event on October 16/17 featuring newly repainted D6700. Details are here

Recent photos of 37108 37146 37250 37403 37413 & 37674 added

31/8/10

Electrical work on D1041 at Bury continues with the B-end cubicle removed in order to strip off all components, overhaul them and re-wire with new cable. Photos here here and here. The same will be done in A-end. The locos electrics have deteriorated badly in the last decade and so a detailed assessment will be carried out on the power circuits within the loco to determine whether a full re-wire is required. This level of work aims to tackle and resolve many of the problems Western Prince suffered in its latter years of preservation. However this is a very long and expensive job. Click here for more details and how to help.

50044 had a wheelset and traction motor change at Cardiff Canton over the weekend. A photo is here

33048 is rostered on the West Somerset Railway DMU diagram this week working the 0935 & 1505 from Bishops Lydeard and 1150 & 1655 from Minehead. The 33 will work these trains until Friday when the DMU is expected to return to traffic.

The Wensleydale Railway are holding their autumn diesel event on Spetember 24-26. The locos booked to work are 03144, 20020, 20166 & 47715 with 31271 and 47798 visiting.

Recent photos of D9521 33002 33002 46010 47579 50035 50035 50035 55022 and 73110 added.

27/8/10

D9521 has moved from the Gwili Railway to the Llangollen Railway for a short visit. The 14 will take part in the forthcoming GW175 event at the line on September 10-12 as well as appearing the the Diesel Event on October 2-3.

The KOYLI group have taken dilvery of the engine governor destined for power unit 457. The unit was found to be defective so has been sent for overhaul. The pledges to the overhaul fund have now reached £15,000. More details are here

D7017 has been withdrawn from the WSR event on September 4/5 so 33048 and 25173 will operate in its place. A timetable with loco rosters is here

Additional photos added to the Gwili Event gallery

Recent photos of 25278 31162 37025 47270 47292 47292 47580 50027 & 55009

22/8/10

The Bluebell will celebrate the opening of the new platform at East Grinstead over the weekend of September 4/5 with a special service formed of a class 73 and 4-Vep 3417. The train will shuttle throughout the day from the new platform to the line limit at Imberhorne. Full details are here. November 6th will see DEMU 1001 work shuttles over the new section after working a tour from Hastings - details here

An appeal has been launched to raise £2000 to fund bodywork repairs and the repaint of 50044 back into BR Blue. More details are here

55022 is planned to undertake some driver training runs between Crewe and Carnforth on Wednesday 25 August in preparation for forthcoming charter work. Times are here

The latest working party on 55002 at the NRM has been concentrating on the No.2 engine along with cleaning and painting the no.1 generator. Progress has been made in both nose ends. Photos here here and here

Photos of the recent events at the Gwili Railway and the Midland Railway Butterley added.

Recent photos of 31206 33053 45041 47840 50035 D1062 D1062 55009 55009 58016 & DH16

21/8/10

The West Somerset Railway are holding a late summer mixed diesel and steam event on September 4/5 featuring D7017, 47840 and D1010. More details with timetables are here. Allocations for diesel locos are here

Recent photos of 12049 20087 20087 20188 31207 33109 37009 40012 45149 45149 and 47840 added

20/8/10

37254 and 33063 will be operating the 'Stag & Syphon' Charter at the Spa Valley Railway this Saturday 21st August. The train is open to all for a £5 ticket. Timetable here

A timetable and loco roster for the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway Diesel Event on 28/29 August is here. The event will feature 26024, 27001, 37025 and 47643.

The confirmed line up for the North Yorkshire Moors Railways Autumn Diesel Event on 17th-19th September is visiting locos 20227, 31271, 31128, 37264, 45041 with D2207, 08556 or 08850, D5061, D7628, 50027 & 101 DMU from the home fleet. 20227 will work to Whitby and 31128 along the Esk Valley line.

The confirmed line up for the Nene Valley Railway Diesel Event on October 1-3 is visiting locos 33108, 47375, D1062, 50135, 50044, 37275, 37906 & a GBRf 66/7 and home fleet D9516, D9520, D9523, 31108, 40106. Day rovers will be £19.

Recent photos of D9521 D9521 31108 37116 45125 and 58016 added

11/8/10

20227 has moved by road from West Ruislip to Butterley where it will be prepared for its appearance at the NYMR Diesel Event next month.

The KOYLI Group have sourced an engine governor for the no.1 engine of 55002. This item has been missing from the loco after the aborted overhaul at Brush. The KOYLI group and the NRM would like to thank the DPS for the long term loan of this item which will now be sent for overhaul before fitting to the loco.

A statement from the DTG - The 'B' engine of D1015 suffered a massive failure on the ECS back to Eastleigh on Saturday 31st July, the locomotive is therefore out of traffic. The exact nature of the failure will not be assessed until the engine is removed from the loco and there is little point in doing this until the replacement engine is ready to fit in the loco. A replacement was and is already being worked on but there is no set date yet for its completion. The repairs will be onerous and expensive and it would be really nice if people who have enjoyed the loco in the past and wish to enjoy it again in the future have an opportunity to donate towards the cost. Any donations can be made through the sales page on our website

A timetable with loco diagrams for this weekends Diesel Event at the Gwili Railway can be downloaded here

55022 will deputise for D1015 on Pathfinders 'Western Wales Explorer' Tour on September 18th.

The 71A Locomotive Group are selling the latest issue of "Modern Railways illustrated" - Issue 184 - Class 33. Back issues are also available and are being sold to raise funds for the overhaul of 33012. Full details are here  

Recent photos of 25057 25173 37116 37219 47105 and 47580 added