Swindon Works
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Class 90 visits Swindon for electrical testing
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ONE of the most unusual movements this year has seen freshly painted Class 90 No. 90035 move from Crewe to Swindon. The train has been put together by Network Rail’s electrification project team in order to carry out mechanical and electrical testing of the OLE between Bristol and Cardiff, although initial tests were between Swindon and…
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New cylinders delivered for Gloucs-Warks’ No. 3850
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THE new cylinders for ex-GWR ‘2884’ 2-8-0 No. 3850 were delivered to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway on December 6 following machining by Roach Precision of Brierley Hill. The delivery followed the arrival of the new front-end extension frames in mid-September, which had also been completed by the Brierley Hill firm. Having the cylinders on site will…
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Churchward No. 4270 marks its centenary at Gloucs-Warks line as Foremarke Hall turns 70
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JEREMY Hosking’s Churchward ‘42XX’ 2-8-0T No. 4270 celebrated its 100th anniversary at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway (GWSR) over the weekend of September 14-15. There was no telegram from HM Queen for this particular centenary, but the GWSR acknowledged the milestone with the production of a special headboard, which the heavy freight tank carried all weekend. The…
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Quiet progress has ‘Grange’ on coursefor 2020 debut
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PROGRESS on the project to construct the 81st Collett ‘Grange’ – No. 6880 Betton Grange – continues at Tyseley and Llangollen, with a view to having the 4-6-0 in traffic next year. Work on the loco at Tyseley Locomotive Works is running slightly behind the original schedule, but the rebuild of the ‘Swindon No. 1’ boiler…
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Dinmore Manor makes it a Western 4-6-0 pair for Battlefield Line’s October gala
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LEICESTERSHIRE’S Battlefield Line has further cemented its reputation as an unofficial GWR outpost by securing a return visit from No. 7820 Dinmore Manor for its 50th anniversary gala on October 18-20. The ‘Manor’ becomes the second Western 4-6-0 confirmed for the event, joining ‘Modified Hall’ No. 6989 Wightwick Hall on its first post-restoration visit away…
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Great Western railcar progresses at KESR
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GWR diesel railcar No. W20W is receiving a thorough overhaul at Tenterden on the Kent & East Sussex Railway (KESR). No. 20 was built at Swindon in 1940, withdrawn in 1962, and after four years of storage was bought by the KESR. It arrived by rail as an ‘out-of-gauge load’ in April 1966. Years of restoration followed,…
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Restoration of former Barry Prairie continuing at Barry
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The project originally began at Llangollen, but the loco moved with Mr Pearce when he relocated to South Wales.
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Swindon Works horse dray found
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A GWR horse dray has been discovered in a domestic garage in Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, having been stored there since the early 1960s. It was among the property of a deceased gentleman who formerly worked for the railway at Swindon Works. An ideal museum or large collection item, the sprung-mounted dray bears the works…
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Swindon & Cricklade launches appeal to refurbish Mk.1 disabled coach Laura
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THE Swindon & Cricklade Railway has launched an appeal for funds to renovate one of its most important and popular Mk.1 carriages. For many years, the line has run a modified 60ft carriage, built in Swindon Works, for disabled passengers and wheelchair users. It was named Laura at the request of the Hills Group, the…
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In 1950 Leo helped build Clun Castle: now he rides behind it!
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FOR 68 years, Leo Leeney kept a very dark secret all to himself. During his five years with the Royal Engineers, Leo served a three-year apprenticeship as a boilersmith. That work would see him labouring inside the blackest interiors of brand new boilers, riveting them, with only a pair of earmuffs to drown out the…
