Misc steam railway, traction, station and rail-related news

[T & P]

it's called a wickham trolley (more here) - can't remember the last time i saw one other than at a preserved railway.

it was filmed on the longmoor military railway - the 'real' railway wouldn't let them piss about that much, from what i gather.

Cheers. Interesting to learn about Longmoor as well. There must be at least twenty minutes of the film taking place on rails, which I guess would have taken an unacceptable amount of time to film on live network lines.

I was also impressed by the close-up train chases between different trainsets, and the two schoolgirls being allowed to operate the manual pump wagon thingy. I suspect these days it would have all been CGI’d.

 

[StoneRoad]

There's a Wickham on the Snaefell Mountain Railway that's used out of "normal operating hours / months" by the team that maintain the ATC equipment at the top of Snaefell. Quite a while ago I saw it on the webcam at Bungalow. Will check with a mate if it's still used.

Yeah, I'm another fan of the LMR appearance in the St T GTR film, it always has me in stitches laughing at their antics.
I would love to see the "call sheet" for those days when the filming was done.
Although I suspect it would have been along the lines of ... "Just do what the director wants, but don't get de-railed or actually hit anything, there's a good chap !"

 

[editor]

Seen from my window last week. Luvverly!

Royal Scot steam engine powers through Brixton on a Golden Arrow service between Bristol and Canterbury

Seen crossing Brixton’s viaducts this morning was the steam hauled Golden Arrow charter service, transporting passengers from Bristol Temple Meads to Canterbury West station. The original Go…

www.brixtonbuzz.com

 

[Dogsauce]

Seen from my window last week. Luvverly!

Royal Scot steam engine powers through Brixton on a Golden Arrow service between Bristol and Canterbury

Seen crossing Brixton’s viaducts this morning was the steam hauled Golden Arrow charter service, transporting passengers from Bristol Temple Meads to Canterbury West station. The original Go…

www.brixtonbuzz.com

We saw it go through Shepherds Bush, it was fun seeing the surprise on the face of people just waiting for a regular overground service there, a blast of the whistle and there’s a fancy old-fashioned train clattering through. A few families with small kids appeared super excited by it.

 

[StoneRoad]

On Friday 60007 was doing a positioning move, including along the Tyne Valley.
Quite a few people came to watch Sir Nige pass by.
my pictures weren't any good, too much camera shake.

 

[Bus Honeygun]

We had the preserved Hastings unit come to Exeter on Saturday. Quite pleased with my shot of it climbing through the cutting between Central and St James Park on its return.

 

[existentialist]

On Friday 60007 was doing a positioning move, including along the Tyne Valley.
Quite a few people came to watch Sir Nige pass by.
my pictures weren't any good, too much camera shake.

I expect your excitement got the better of you

 

[StoneRoad]

I expect your excitement got the better of you

It was also cold, wet and windy, neither my camera nor I actually like / do well with those !

 

[hash tag]

An excellent insight into German railways

BBC News - The Travel Show, Germans and Their Trains - A Love Story

Emeline Nsingi Nkosi explores the German rail network.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[editor]

Rail routes in Europe vs USA

 

[Storm Fox]

I went to the Watercress line today and took a few photos


Class 08 in British Railways Livery



Alresford station




And I found my camera has a built in 'miniature' filter.

 

[hash tag]

This poor old girl is not ageing very well. Such a shame considering the amazing technology that she has. A huge powerful engine and, she runs on narrow guage. Quite frightening I imagine.

South African Class 25NC 4-8-4 - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[T & P]

There's renewed talk about building an underwater train tunnel linking Spain and Morocco, due to the 2030 World Cup that will take place in both countries and Portugal. That would be a great thing, though I am not sure if they could have up and running in time for the tournament even if the project was given the green light tomorrow

An Underwater Train Could Link Europe and Africa by 2030

The train would travel between Madrid and Casablanca in under six hours.

www.cntraveler.com

 

[editor]

There's renewed talk about building an underwater train tunnel linking Spain and Morocco, due to the 2030 World Cup that will take place in both countries and Portugal. That would be a great thing, though I am not sure if they could have up and running in time for the tournament even if the project was given the green light tomorrow

An Underwater Train Could Link Europe and Africa by 2030

The train would travel between Madrid and Casablanca in under six hours.

www.cntraveler.com

The chance of that being operational by 2030 is sheer fantasy!

 

[hash tag]

I see Fawley Hill and it's railway museum is open again this weekend; even better, there are due to be buses laid on from Henley Station.

Fawley Hill Railway - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

NTTVTF – Fawley Hill

fawleyhill.co.uk

 

[hash tag]

A fantastic day out at Fawley Hill yesterday, even if the food and drinks were very expensive. At a time when this type of event is in decline, there was a great turn out of vehicles. Was this the last fair if it's kind there?
Some people collect name plates, station signs etc. not McAlpine

 

[Elpenor]

There was a house well mansion really near Shiplake called Thameside Court which had a huge miniature railway in

https://www.invertedsheep.com/thames-path-henley-to-reading/

I used to see it as I ran past on the Thames path

 

[Puddy_Tat]

some gratuitous 'thumper' (southern region 'hampshire' diesel electric unit) action (needs sound on)

video got posted on a bus forum thread that had started about something completely different, drifted in to fare collection systems, and got on to on-train fare collection in the 60s / 70s when it was a relative rarity, and that led on to thumpers...

 

[Bus Honeygun]

Speaking of Thumpers, never had a run on these raucous things, but they're of a similar ilk. Remember seeing them around Brittany and I've just found they have one at a heritage line there. The railway looks like a right pain in the arse to get to unless you've got a car, though, unfortunately.

 

[teuchter]

For double-arrow fans - spotted this afternoon in Brixton

 

[davesgcr]

For double-arrow fans - spotted this afternoon in Brixton

View attachment 425531

Very nice - there is a 455 repainted for it's last few years on South Western , in proper 2 tone BR with double arrow symbols etc. Need to see it in the flesh - and Merseyrail have done the same on one of their units ..........

 

[teuchter]

Yes, have seen the 455 a couple of times but haven't been on it so far.

 

[davesgcr]

Yes, have seen the 455 a couple of times but haven't been on it so far.

Back in the late 1980's - LUL brought back in some red 1938 stock on the Northern line and they would randomely appear on my daily commute. Always cheered me up no end. (and they obviously kept them safe from the graffiti vandals too)

 

[hash tag]

Following on from last post, this is too good to miss Book signing with Francis Bourgeois

This is a great watch. Coast to coast by British trains with Francis Bourgeois. Such a lovely enthusiastic guy.
The Travel Show, 24/05/2024: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001zl23 via @bbciplayer

 

[davesgcr]

Liverpool: Man buys 1970s train for £1 to save it from scrap

Robert Hampton now hopes to raise the £10,000 needed to move it to a railway museum in Shropshire.

www.bbc.co.uk

Great stuff.....

 

[hash tag]

Liverpool: Man buys 1970s train for £1 to save it from scrap

Robert Hampton now hopes to raise the £10,000 needed to move it to a railway museum in Shropshire.

www.bbc.co.uk

Great stuff.....

Bless. What a star.

 

[StoneRoad]

Oooh. glad that 507 001 has been saved.
and I hope that the move money etc all happens.

 

[davesgcr]

Bless. What a star.

That man deserves several pints , and were I in charge of Merseyrail I would ensure he got a days cab riding on that unit with a Traction Inspector !

That BR initiative of the "Merseyrail" brand was just superb .....one Ron Cotton I believe , later asked to shut down the Settle and Carlisle line , but instead used his marketing skills to promote it with considerable success. He died not long ago , and was properly remembered for his work.

 

[teuchter]

Nigeria!

 

[StoneRoad]

Miss those !
Glad to find that some are finding new life instead of being scrapped.