Sarah Wilkinson

NEW MANCHESTER LINE OPENS

by

Sarah Wilkinson

–

21st December 2017

Passenger services started using Manchester’s Ordsall Chord on December 10, which provides a direct connection between the city’s two main Victoria and Piccadilly stations for the first time. The inaugural service was the 08.40 Victoria to Oxford Road formed of DMUs Nos. 150142+158909, which then formed the 08.57 to Leeds via Bradford. The chord opens…
Continue reading »
Sub-sector customisation

by

Sarah Wilkinson

–

20th November 2017

THE first half of the 1980s had been characterised by a rapid expansion of depots sprucing up their locomotive fleets, be it by means of an emblem or, more obviously, paintwork adornments. While some of these were more successful and memorable than others, the often colourful additions were at odds with the new Railfreight brand…
Continue reading »
Warming up the ‘Bones’

by

Sarah Wilkinson

–

20th November 2017

THE Class 58s have always represented something of an unsung workhorse, quietly getting on with their day-to-day job of hauling merry-go-round coal trains from collieries to power stations, a role for which the Type 5s were designed from the outset. Often overlooked by enthusiasts at the time in favour of older or more vocal classes,…
Continue reading »
LOST IN THE POST

by

Sarah Wilkinson

–

20th November 2017

WHILE nosing around at the Nene Valley Railway recently, I was amused to find this Class 325 mail unit tucked away in the back of a shed at Ferry Meadows station. All is not quite what it seems, however, as this is just a demonstration cab (number No. 325000) that I believe used to be…
Continue reading »
‘Bubble Car’ bound for Bodmin

by

Sarah Wilkinson

–

20th November 2017

THE Bodmin & Wenford Railway has been successful in its bid to purchase Chiltern Railways ‘Bubble Car’ No. 121020 (55020), which was put up for sale after being retired from main line service in May. Its final run on the main line took place on October 13 when, together with classmate No. 121034 (55034), it…
Continue reading »
NVR ‘Goyle’ gala celebrates diamond jubilee

by

Sarah Wilkinson

–

20th November 2017

WHEN was the last time it was possible to see and ride behind eight different Class 31s in one day? That was the tempting prospect offered by the Nene Valley Railway for its ‘Class 31s @ 60’ gala on October 13-15, which brought together locos from around the country to work singly and in pairs…
Continue reading »
West Midlands franchise will revive LNWR for long routes

by

Sarah Wilkinson

–

20th November 2017

THE new operator of the West Midlands franchise is to revive the London and Northwestern name for services operating on longer distance routes between Euston, the Midlands and the North West. Trains operating elsewhere will use the West Midlands Railway brand, which reflects those services that could come under the control of Transport for the…
Continue reading »
‘DELTIC’ HAULS FREIGHT

by

Sarah Wilkinson

–

20th November 2017

Following its appearance at the Knottingley open day on October 28, the next day saw the Deltic Preservation Society’s main line-certified No. 55009 Alycidon make an extremely rare appearance at the head of a freight train. Special arrangements were made for the loco to run light engine from Knottingley to nearby Milford West Sidings…
Continue reading »
Knottingley celebrates 50 years

by

Sarah Wilkinson

–

20th November 2017

THERE was a rare opportunity to peek behind the scenes at Knottingley depot, West Yorkshire, on October 28, as staff there took the initiative to arrange for 100 members of the public to have a guided tour of the facilities. Knottingley is a purpose-built diesel depot that opened in July 1967, meaning this year marks…
Continue reading »
‘Goyles’ on film

by

Sarah Wilkinson

–

20th November 2017

WHEN I think about Class 31s, one of the strongest memories for me is of the second batch of ETH conversions in the early 1980s. These allowed a mini-renaissance in loco-hauled workings around where I lived at the time in West Yorkshire, filling a gap between the withdrawal of first generation DMUs and the start…
Continue reading »

Sarah Wilkinson

Latest Issue

Free Digital Issue

Search

Tags