My 10TH ANNIVERSARY RAIL /ROAD TRIP

Hey Folks,
As i will be celebrating my tenth year in railways i'm planning to do a trip to see new engines around the United Kingdom.
And i was wondering what are the best preserved lines to go to as i dont really know where to go as of yet.

My Main passion of railways lies with standard gauge railways,
On my trip if it does happen I've kinda worked out i could see about 200 + standard gauge engines.

I have only been to ten preserved railways and museums including
The West Somerset Railway, The Great Central Railway, The Severn Valley Railway, The GWR STEAM Museum Swindon, The National Railway Museum York, Didcot Railway Centre, The Bodmin & Wenford Railway ,The Swanage Railway, The South Devon Railway, The Paignton & Dartmouth Railway & The Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway

so if anyone can help it would be much appreciated.

Many Thanks
YRM.

 

Echoing what Ralph has said, I wouldn't exclude narrow gauge. I made another visit to the Ffestiniog at the weekend, and you'll be surprised at just how much bark those engines have on the line. With one of the fairlie's having a Stanier Hooter fitted, and looking towards Meolwyn tunnel in the highland scenery, you could be forgiven for thinking you were near Glenfinnan Viaduct believing you were hearing a Black 5 on the Jacobite!

As for standard gauge, I'd personally recommend both the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway, and Strathspey Railway, in Scotland. Both are very different railways of different scenery. And it becomes quite likely that you'd find yourself hauled by the sole-Surviving LNER D49 No. 246 'Morayshire' at the B&KR, and the sole surviving Caledonian Railway 'Jumbo' No. 828 at the SR.

 

I apologise for the pedantry but 828 is a '812' class, not a 'Jumbo' .

 

Oh no worries Neil, I was just under the impression that the '812' class were often referred to as 'Jumbos' too?

Oh, and another referral, as much as it isn't a heritage railway, try fit in the 'Jacobite' between Fort William and Mallaig too. No UK steam sight seeing trip would be complete without that.

 

It's been a very common myth that's mainly been perpetrated by the mainsteam magazines. The Drummond 2Fs are 'Jumbos' but not the Macintosh '812' class.

 

I'd suggest the Bluebell, especially if you are after copping lots of locos that will be new to you (from your implied list of places you haven't been) - you should fairly easily be able to find about 30 steam engines, including seven which are unique survivors of their class, with build dates ranging between 1872 and 1959. Plus plenty of variety of coaching stock and four nice stations to wander round.

Also, have you thought about going abroad? Can't beat a bit of Isle of Wight action for atmosphere The connection with the ferry from Portsmouth makes it a very easy day trip for anywhere within striking distance of Portsmouth.

Tom

 

Your list of lines visited, and a lot of the suggestions, is biased towards the South. Notable omissions are the North York Moors Railway and the Keighley and Worth Valley. The former gives you a very long ride, through proper scenery, plus, on occasions the chance of an extended trip over Network Rail track to Whitby. Just make sure they have some coal on the day you visit [sorry about that dig - I was talking to one of their members recently!]. While 'oop North' you could call at the Yorkshire Dales Railway, not a long hop from Keighley, for a good selection of industrials. In the North East a visit to Beamish offers more limited numbers but some quite exotic locos, running on a waggonway, preserved coal pit etc. While in the vicinity you could also visit the Tanfield Railway for another helping of industrials.

 

Hey,
Thanks for all your suggestions so far.
I was thinking about including the Welsh Highland Railway & Ffestiniog railway but i was unsure.
The Bluebell Railway Seems to be a good suggestion and i was going to include The Isle Of Wight Railway.

Many Thanks For All Your Help So Far.

YRM,

 

Hey
A Good Suggestion There about including the NYMR & KWVR Railways.

And also i'm mainly interested in Ex Mainline Engines that survive in preservation
Many Thanks Yrm

 

Mid Hants, Epping-Ongar, Swanage, KESR and Bluebell should figure on your list in the south.

each one is very distinct from each other.

 

hey all,
Thanks ADB968008 For the suggestion of including swanage but since the one engine was 80078 left.
But the suggestion of including The Mid Hants Railway, Epping & Ongar Railway, Kent & East Sussex Railway.
all of which will be included into the trip.

Many Thanks
Yrm,

 

Hey Railway Folks With This Trip I'm Planning To See 234 EX- Mainline Steam Engines
Including The Following List.
73050 City Of Peterborough
73082 Camelot
73096
73129
73156
75014
75027
75029
75078
75079
76017
76079
76084
78018
78022
80002
80064
80080
80098
80100
80135
80150
80151
92134
92207 Morning Star
92214 Cock O' The North
92219
92240
92245
84030
90733
90775
3672 Dame Vera Lynn
1638
2859
2861
2885
3802
3814
3855
3862
5080 Defiant
7027 Thornbury Castle
7029 Clun Castle
4253
4270
4555
4588
5532
5538
5539
5541
4979 Wooton Hall
5952 Cogan Hall
5967 Bickmarsh Hall
6984 Owsden Hall
6989 Wightwick Hall
4110
4121
5199
5224
5227
5619
5637
5643
5668
5775
7115
7754
7760
9600
9629
9681
6435
7200
7229
7822 Foxcote Manor
6880 Betton Grange
41241
41298
41312
41313
41708
41966
42073
42085
42765
43924
44027
44123
44806 Kenneth Aldcroft
44901
44932
45163
45212
45293
45337
45428 Eric Treacy
45491
45593 Kolnaphur
45690 Leander
45699 Galatea
46203 Princess Magaret Rose
46235 City Of Birmingham
46428
46441
46447
46521 Blossom
47279
47298
47324
47327
47357
47445
47493
47564
48151 Gauge O'Guild
48173
48431
48624
48518
49395
51218
52044
52322
53809
58850
60008 Dwight D Eisenhower
60010 Domion Of Canda
60532 Blue Peter
61624
61306 Mayflower
61572
61994 The Great Marquess
62005 Lord Of The Isles
506 Butler Henderson
62785
63395
63460
65033
65462
65894
68077
68078
68088
68153
69023 Joem
30096 Normandy
30102 Granville
30541
30499
30506
30825
30828
30830
30847
30064
30065 Maunsell
30070 Wainwright
30072
30075
30076
30926 Repton
30928 Stowe
30583
30585
31592
31263
31874
31065
31027
31178
31323
31556
31618
31625
31638
31806
672 Fenchurch
W8 Freshwater
W11 Newport
32650 Sutton
32670 Bodiam
32678 Knowle
E473 Birch Grove
34016 Bodmin
34023 Blackmoor Vale
34058 Sir Frederick Pile
34059 Sir Archiblad Sinclair
34073 249 Squadron
34081 92 Squadron
34092 City Of Wells
34101 Hartland
34105 Swanage
35005 Canadian Pacific
35006 Peninuslar & Orient Line
35009 Shaw Shavil
35010 Blue Star
35018 British India Line
35022 Holland America Line
35025 Brocklebank Line
35027 Port Line
45170
6686
32110
4709
563
1310
68012
68030
46115 Scots Guardsman
567
670
11456
11243
158A
2271
3020 Cornwall
1439
49 Columbine
FR25
57 Lion
5 Cecil Rakes
910
2253
5820
1631
32424 Beachy Head
3278
30841
80097
45551 The Unknown Warrior
4709
4115

If Anybody Can Help Out With Any Information On Current Statuses Or Current Locations
Many Thanks
YRM.

 

A couple of observations - I don't think the replicas constitute 'ex-mainline', more 'pre-mainline'! Some are still a collection of parts. The last two 'USA's are not ex British mainline - they are Yugoslavian imports numbered in the Southern Region series. Best of luck seeing some of Mr Smith's locos unless you have a personal invite.

 

YoungRailwayman, It seems to be a long way from many places but you have to visit the North Norfolk railway on a sunny summers day as it is also quite distinct.

Agree that NYMR & KWVR have to be on your list as both are great.

You also should visit the original Heritage railway the Talyllyn and while in Wales it would be rude not to visit the Vale of Rheidol which has great scenery.

 

Hey the helpful gang of railway bloggers
just need a few questions answered concerning the trip.
1. Is it possibly to go into say locomotive workshops and see engines like say at the mid hants railway or nymr
2. Will 35005 Canadian Pacific be possible to see at Eastleigh or will it be Moved back down to the Mid Hants Railway Anytime soon.
3. In order to view engines that are say stored out of public view like say 80100 at the bluebell railway would i say need to phone and ask if i could get like a member of staff to like give me a tour of like areas that aren't really public accessible.
4. Are the public allowed to view Ian Riley's works at bury.

Many Thanks.
Yrm.

 

1. Depends on the railway however most locomotive works are out of bounds at railways excluding the occasions when they are open for special events. Sometimes there will be a kind volunteer about to give a quick tour but i wouldn't go asking at every railway for visits into sheds. If you are indeed lucky that someone offers, they would no doubt appreciate some form of donation for their trouble. From memory i can't think of many places that allow you into the workshops unsupervised. East Anglian Railway Museum does and i'm sure NNR used to do guided tours at certain times. I believe at times you are allowed to enter part of Loughborough works on some days?
2. Not really in the know about Eastleigh but it would seem unlikely you can go and see her there and i believe the intention will be to do the overhaul at Eastleigh anyway?
3. Same as No. 1 really, if it's in an out of bounds area then railways might not want you to go in places that may be considered too dangerous, specially if they are just to tick a locomotive off your rather long list.
4. Not normally.

As a side note, some of the locomotives in your list are a bit random. 841 is just a set of frames now so you may aswell just see 825! 35025 is at a private site, 35009, 35022, 35027 are at Rileys works so little chance with those, 34058 is also out of public access at MHR and i doubt you would get to see 35018. Just seems you've listed the majority of locomotives but not thought fully about it considering several of those have yet to steam anyway! Granville is based at Bressingham, a location that at the moment only runs smaller gauged railways. However they also have other locomotives in their sheds you don't seem to have listed such as 32662 'Martello', the beautiful GER E4 No. 490, J69 & the Tilbury tank. But you wouldn't get any standard gauge running there.

There are a great number of heritage railways to visit though, some of which have been mentioned already however you get some great atmosphere from some of the smaller places. Mid Suffolk Light railway has a lovely charm about it as does Chatham Docks. They may not run ex mainline locomotives but they have some extremely interesting and different shaped industrials there!

 

Can't really speak for anywhere other than the Bluebell, but except on special occasions, the loco workshop is out of bounds; however, generally if the weather is nice in the summer, the roller blind is up and you can at least see in from a public vantage point. See e.g. http://www.flickr.com/photos/bluebellrailway/8891879228/in/set-72157633811617565 (not my photo) for roughly what you might expect to see.

Taking the Bluebell locos on your list:

32424 - that is in a shed to which there is no access (unless you choose to visit on an open day); however, the wheels are visible from a public vantage point at the end of the loco shed.

847 and 592 (and 541's boiler) are in the works, so whether you see them depends on whether the shutters are up. 541's frames and wheels are visible in the loco yard in plain view.

73082 and 84030 are in bits but I think the frames at least are in the loco shed.

27 is pretty well dismantled - you can see it from the edge of the loco works but only if you really know what you are looking for.

80100 is in plain view in the dock siding at SP, but it's under a tarpaulin. Look for a big fabric lump looking like a standard tank...

Any loco listed as "in service" on the Bluebell's web page (1638, B473, 263, 178, 323, 55, 3, 92212) could either be in the loco shed, or the loco yard, or out and about on the line, depending what exactly is running. It is possible that one of those locos could be on the washout pit, which is basically not in public view. 847's tender was on the washout pit last time I looked.

All the others should be easily visible, either in the loco shed at SP, in various dock sidings or at HK. Currently (as I recall) Sharpthorne, 75027, 92240, Camelot's tender and I think the Yankie tank are at HK; the NLR tank is in the "down" dock road at SP; 21C123 and 80100 are in the "up" dock road at SP and the rest are I think in the loco shed.

Finally, out of curiosity, why did you convert most (but not all?) of our locos to their BR numbers? If you go looking for 31638, you'll struggle (and even more so if you try and find 30096 Normandy - it's Normandy or 30096, but not both! Also, the E4 is B473 (B for Brighton), not E473 (E for Eastleigh).

Tom

 

Only things you'll see at Bury is whats running, and maybe 80097 in the shed and 46428 amongst the railways scrap lines.
You can walk to Buckley Wells but only expect a distant view of diesels and stock outside and more decay along the side of BQ depot.
They don't really have facilities to display anything, other than the transport museum, which isn't much in the way of mainline rolling stock.
There are often other locos stored by the siding north of Bury station.
Still if you haven't been.. It's a long line in the urban commuter belt, most lines are in the country side, so it has a different feel.

 

Hi Railway Folks,
I'm hoping to get to Tysley Locomotive Works Open Day In October, And next week i'm hoping to see wcr based black 5 44932 on the royal duchy railtour
and whilst i'm hoping to go to Birmingham i'm hoping to see 46235 City Of Birmingham at the Thinktank Museum.
And i'm going to york next month to see both 60008 Dwight D Eisenhower & 4489 Dominion Of Canada.
and then planning to go on a road / rail trip in order to celebrate my 10TH Anniversary in railways.

And i'm hoping for new visiting engines for the West Somerset Railway's Autumn Gala 2013.

Many Thanks
YRM.