The Stockton & Darlington Railway (S&DR) opened on September 27, 1825, connecting places, people, communities and ideas, and ultimately transforming the world. Railway 200 is a year-long nationwide campaign an wide range of events to celebrate 200 years, based whether you agree or or not, on the opening of S&DR being the birth of the … Continue reading Canute Road Quay to appear at Alstom’s The Greatest Gathering as part of Railway 200 celebrations
Category: History
80 years on – Marking VE Day – Putting the Southern Railways war effort into perspective
Today marks 80 years since Victory in Europe Day or VE Day. VE Day is the day on which Allied forces formally announced the surrender of Germany, which brought the Second World War to a close in Europe. The military surrender was first signed on May 7, but a slightly modified document with the final … Continue reading 80 years on – Marking VE Day – Putting the Southern Railways war effort into perspective
#OnThisDay… O.V.S. Bulleid passed away
Today marks 55 years since the passing of Oliver Vaughan Snell Bulleid CBE. He was of course Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Southern Railway between 27th May 1937 and 31st December 1947 and then briefly for the Southern Region of British Railways until 1st October 1949. On the 10th May 1937 Sir Nigel Gresley advised … Continue reading #OnThisDay… O.V.S. Bulleid passed away
#onthisday Anniversary of the “The Reshaping British Railways” – the Beeching report
It is sixty two years to the day when Dr Richard Beeching’s report “The Reshaping of British Railways” was officially published on the 27th March 1963. The report and its effects are still discussed with many opinions to this to this day. To read my hopefully balanced, thoughts and discussion about the report, with of … Continue reading #onthisday Anniversary of the “The Reshaping British Railways” – the Beeching report
SR/Southern Region ‘Tram/Trolley’ style overhead cantilever mast kits available from West Hill Wagon Works in 00 gauge
West Hill Wagon Works have released SR/Southern Region 'Tram/trolley' style lightweight overhead cantilever mast kits in 00 Gauge. To enable the Bulleid Raworth Booster and class 71 electric locos to pick up / drop off (rather than shunt) trains in a number of yards away from electrified 3rd rail and its obvious inconvenience and dangers … Continue reading SR/Southern Region ‘Tram/Trolley’ style overhead cantilever mast kits available from West Hill Wagon Works in 00 gauge
60th Anniversary of the State Funeral of Sir Winston Churchill
Today, 30th January 2025, marks the 60th anniversary of the solemn occasion of the State Funeral of one of our greatest statesman Sir Winston Churchill following his passing on 24th January 1965. Sir Winston Churchill was the only "commoner", i.e non Royal, in the 20th Century to be awarded the honour of a State Funeral. … Continue reading 60th Anniversary of the State Funeral of Sir Winston Churchill
Workbench Witterings #26 – A Friend in Hand – a West Wycombe pub
Now for something completely different... My local model railway Society, the High Wycombe and District MRS are currently building a new 00 gauge layout of West Wycombe station and its goods yard during the final years of steam haulage on the Great Western & Great Central (GW/GC) Joint line, 1955-66, when express trains from Marylebone … Continue reading Workbench Witterings #26 – A Friend in Hand – a West Wycombe pub
The Model Railway Club – November Lecture – the history of the LSWR Adams T3 locomotive and developing the RTR model for the EFE Rail range.
I am delighted and honoured to have been asked to present the November lecture at The Model Railway Club this Thursday 14th November. My presentation is on the history of the LSWR Adams T3 locomotive and developing the RTR model for the EFE Rail range. The lecture will start with background of producing a Ready-to … Continue reading The Model Railway Club – November Lecture – the history of the LSWR Adams T3 locomotive and developing the RTR model for the EFE Rail range.
#onthisday 60 years since the last Atlantic Coast Express the final ACE
Today is the 60th Anniversary since the final run of the Atlantic Coast Express, known as the ACE. This is a version of my Talking Stock #28 post here to mark the anniversary. The last ACE left Padstow in Cornwall on 5 September, on the last day of the 1964 summer timetable. The Southern Railway … Continue reading #onthisday 60 years since the last Atlantic Coast Express the final ACE
Workbench Witterings #25 Canute for Cantue Road Quay – a PD&SWJR inspired might have been
The Southern Railway inherited a small number of oddity locomotives including three from the Plymouth, Devonport and South Western Junction Railway (PD&SWJR) that were ordered from Hawthorn Leslie and Company . It was these locomotives, especially the 0-6-0T No. 756 "A. S. Harris" that first inspired this, albeit larger, quick win 'might have been' project … Continue reading Workbench Witterings #25 Canute for Cantue Road Quay – a PD&SWJR inspired might have been