News from April 2007

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Brynglas station roof – 6 April 2007

Market Day Special Train - Easter Monday – 6 April 2007

DHR No 19 Running on the Leighton Buzzard Railway

INDIAN HILL RAILWAYS SPECTACULAR IS ON!
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway No 19 completed a set of successful trial runs at the Leighton Buzzard Railway on Thursday 5th April. It is now set for a month of regular operation, culminating in an Indian Hill Railways Spectacular on Monday 7th May.

Subject to availability, it is planned to run No 19 on every Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday in the meantime. On Easter Sunday and Monday, and the Sunday and Monday of the May Bank Holiday weekend, it will share a two-train service with our resident Indian “big beast”, No 740 from the Matheran Light Railway, near Mumbai.

For the 7th May event, the diminutive “Rishra”, formerly owned by Calcutta Corporation, will also be in steam. We expect the line-up to be completed by the return from overhaul of No 778, the World War 1 Baldwin, which finished its active career at a sugar mill in Uttar Pradesh. Additional activities are expected from the Indian Tourist Office and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Association.

Please see link for more information LEIGHTON BUZZARD RAILWAY

Posted by Peter Mead on 7 April 2007

Moving up a gauge!

I would like to offer the following items FOR SALE:

1 ‘Trojan’ 5” gauge Battery Electric locomotive (Ride on Railways), black powder coated frame, Brunswick green ‘industrial’ body. Fitted with speedometer, twin horns, battery indicator, ‘Maxitrak’ industrial couplings, ‘dead mans handle’, 4QD controller and battery isolator switch. £850:00.

2. ‘Hercules’ 5” gauge Battery Electric locomotive (Ride on Railways), black powder coated frame, Royal Blue custom body, (all with rust inhibiting undercoat). Fitted with twin horns, battery indicator, 4QD controller, sprung buffers. £1050:00.

3. 5” gauge Driving Truck, fitted with ‘ROR’ sprung bogies. £250:00.

4. 5” gauge Passenger Truck, based on Lynton & Barnstable open wagon, with removal padded seats, ‘ROR’ sprung bogies, two adults or 4 children. £300:00.

5. 5” gauge Passenger Truck, based on Lynton & Barnstable open wagon, with removal padded seats, ‘Maxitrack’ standard bogies, two adults or 4 children. £250:00.

Ray Armstead.

Posted by Ray Armstead on 17 April 2007

No. 1 Out and about – 27 April 2007

No. 1 First revenue trip – 27 April 2007

Baldwin Back in Steam in The UK After 50 Years

THE BALDWIN IS BACK!

An important gap Britain’s railway and military history will be filled at the Leighton Buzzard Railway later this year, with the launch of War Department Light Railways No 778, following a major overhaul.

Built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in the USA in 1917, it was one of 495 similar locomotives supplied to work on the thousands of miles of narrow-gauge tracks which supplied the trenches in France and Belgium. After war service, it worked in India until the 1980s.

The last British survivor was scrapped in 1951, after the closure of the Ashover Light Railway in Derbyshire. No 778 will therefore provide a living link with the past, that has not been experienced for over 50 years.

After a static appearance at the Indian event on 7th May (see below), it will work in public for the first time later in the summer—watch this space!

Baldwin 778 Site

Posted by Peter Mead on 30 April 2007

Track Laying Commences on Moseley Railway Trust’s new railway at Apedale – 4 April 2007

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