Winter maintenance of GWR 56XX 0-6-2T No 5619 continues in the old loco shed. Most of the tubes have been now been swept clean. The old fire bars have been removed from the firebox, and a new set have been purchased. The ash pan has also been cleaned and with the loco being over the pit, the opportunity was taken to steam clean the frames. The mudhole doors have been removed in preparation for a boiler wash out.
Another 300 yards or so of the route of Coronation Walk has been cleared. The tram boiler continues to be prepared to be installed back into the tram body for its steam test. Two new containers were delivered, and set up in position in the rear yard. These will provide additional storage area for the railway. The ladies toilets at Spring Village are being repainted. The Guards seat has been reinstated in the MK2 BSO No. 9406. Class 108 DMUs No 52062 and No. 51950 (privately owned) have been sold. Both units had left the railway in 2023. Thanks to Jacob, Antony and Dave for the additional information and photos used in the update. Our latest news video, Railway Roundup 3, is now available to watch on our YouTube channel https://youtu.be/74ZM28bWlc4?si=3rLOnQfAEjj12S_u Our 2024 special events can be found here https://www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/events. We are asking our supporters to complete the following nomination form to hopefully receive a donation of £1000. The more nominations we receive, the more chance we have of getting it. It takes less than a couple of minutes to complete so please help us if you can https://movementforgood.com/index.php?cn=1003150&ct=heritage_arts#nominateACharity Our website, www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk has been given an overhaul and now contains more up to date information about our railway, rolling stock, what to see and do, and special events. Tickets are on sale and already selling for our Fish and Chip specials, and Alice’s Adventures to Wonderland event on 5th, 6th and 7th April. Please take a fresh look at our website and let us know what you think. The railway reopens to the public on Sunday 31st March. Our online shop has been revamped and enlarged to include railway books, soft toys and other items for sale. Please visit http://www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/store/c44/Freight_Stop_Gift_Shop.html We currently have an appeal to buy a new boiler for our narrow gauge steam tram. You can help us greatly by donating at https://gofund.me/093e7130 As a thank you, we are offering rewards for certain levels of donations, although every single one is gratefully received and will help put our tram back into operation. Please also consider supporting Telford Steam Railway through the Telford and Wrekin Community Lottery, which is open to anyone in the UK over 16 years old. This weekly draw gives you the opportunity to win prizes up to £25,000. Tickets cost £1 per week and 50p from each ticket sale goes directly to the railway. Sign up at https://www.twincl.co.uk/support/telford-steam-railway
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The tram boiler is almost ready for the boiler inspector. All the cladding and insulation has been removed and we are just waiting for a fuseable plug and some fittings and it will be good for the inspection.
The tram body has been steam cleaned, removing over 30 years of accumulated grease and dirt. The trams original green livery has been uncovered in a few places. Sentinel 0-4-0 VBT No 9366 has gone on hire to The Chasewater Railway from 7 February. The tubes of GWR 56XX No 5619 are being swept clean as part of its winter maintenance The air brake distributor from the RUDD ballast wagon has been removed, repaired and refitted. On testing, the air brakes were now found to be working perfectly. Lineside clearance continues along the route of Coronation Way. (The new pathway we are installing alongside the trackbed to Doseley). Good progress was made but there is still along way to go. More metal work on 12T Ventilated Fruit Van No. B758542 has been prepared and given a coat of primer Another Military Veterans breakfast took place on Sunday in the tearoom. It was great to welcome our friends to the railway again. Our latest news video, Railway Roundup 3, is now available to watch on our YouTube channel https://youtu.be/74ZM28bWlc4?si=3rLOnQfAEjj12S_u Our 2024 special events can be found here https://www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/events.html Thank you to Ian, David and Josh for the additional information and photographs used in this update. We are asking our supporters to complete the following nomination form to hopefully receive a donation of £1000. The more nominations we receive, the more chance we have of getting it. It takes less than a couple of minutes to complete so please help us if you can https://movementforgood.com/index.php?cn=1003150&ct=heritage_arts#nominateACharity Our website, www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk has been given an overhaul and now contains more up to date information about our railway, rolling stock, what to see and do, and special events. Tickets are on sale and already selling for our Fish and Chip specials, and Alice’s Adventures to Wonderland event on 5th, 6th and 7th April. Please take a fresh look at our website and let us know what you think. The railway reopens to the public on Sunday 31st March. Our online shop has been revamped and enlarged to include railway books, soft toys and other items for sale. Please visit http://www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/store/c44/Freight_Stop_Gift_Shop.html We currently have an appeal to buy a new boiler for our narrow gauge steam tram. You can help us greatly by donating at https://gofund.me/093e7130 As a thank you, we are offering rewards for certain levels of donations, although every single one is gratefully received and will help put our tram back into operation. Please also consider supporting Telford Steam Railway through the Telford and Wrekin Community Lottery, which is open to anyone in the UK over 16 years old. This weekly draw gives you the opportunity to win prizes up to £25,000. Tickets cost £1 per week and 50p from each ticket sale goes directly to the railway. Sign up at https://www.twincl.co.uk/support/telford-steam-railway Some unfortunate news to start this weeks update.
Our class 144 Pacer No. 144013 was broken into last week and vandalised. Two windows were broken, fire extinguishers set off, a fire axe was stolen and a number of seats slashed. Despite having security measures in place, this is sadly an ongoing issue affecting us and many other heritage railways and will be an unnecessary drain on our finances and volunteer labour that we could well do without. Much better news is that we now have a boiler for our steam tram. It is 2nd hand, but we don’t think it has ever been used before. The wooden cladding has now been removed as we prepare it for the visit of the boiler inspector. Once it has passed its steam tests, the boiler will be adapted to fit the tram. The tram body continues to be worked on with the water tank now removed for cleaning and painting. Work is also continuing on the tram shed. Many thanks to everyone who has, and continues to generously donate to our tram appeal. Every penny given helps to bring our steam tram closer to being operational again, which we hope will happen in 2024. Dismantling of Peckett & Sons W6 steam engine No. 1722 “Rocket” continues. All of the insulation has now been removed from the boiler. In the smokebox, the concrete layer (which seals the smokebox so that a vacuum can be created) was broken up and removed, together with the bricks and sand that were underneath. A good clean with a vacuum cleaner and dustpan and brush finished the job. The bricks were retained for possible reuse. Only a couple more jobs to do and the boiler will be ready for lifting. The privately owned Sentinel 0-4-0VBT. No. 9366 is due to leave the railway on Wednesday to go on hire to the Chasewater Railway. Taking advantage of it currently being in the shed, the roof of BR Goods Van No. 767478 is being repaired and made watertight again. Painting of the metal work of 12t Ventilated Fruit Van No. B758542 continues outside. Deep cleaning of the MK2 TSOs that will be used during the season has been completed. Following work started on MK2 TSO No. 5221 last weekend, to identify what repairs are needed, some of the seats have been removed so that the floor can be lifted up and repaired. More brash and wood has been cleared to open up the view of Horsehay Pool from the picnic area. The rear yard continues to be prepared for the arrival of new storage containers. When in position, this will allow us to create an additional covered area for the storage and maintenance of plant machinery. Filming for the next edition of our railway round YouTube video was completed Thanks to Ian, David, Jacob and Ben for the additional information and photographs used in the update. Our latest video (a review of 2023) has been uploaded onto YouTube. https://youtu.be/UtrRAtJ5udo?si=g4bhDqCfFcpUVg1B We are asking our supporters to complete the following nomination form to hopefully receive a donation of £1000. The more nominations we receive, the more chance we have of getting it. It takes less than a couple of minutes to complete so please help us if you can https://movementforgood.com/index.php?cn=1003150&ct=heritage_arts#nominateACharity Our website, www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk has been given an overhaul and now contains more up to date information about our railway, rolling stock, what to see and do, and special events. Tickets are on sale and already selling for our Fish and Chip specials, and Alice’s Adventures to Wonderland event on 5th, 6th and 7th April. Please take a fresh look at our website and let us know what you think. The railway reopens to the public on Sunday 31st March. Our online shop has been revamped and enlarged to include railway books, soft toys and other items for sale. Please visit http://www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/store/c44/Freight_Stop_Gift_Shop.html We currently have an appeal to buy a new boiler for our narrow gauge steam tram. You can help us greatly by donating at https://gofund.me/093e7130 As a thank you, we are offering rewards for certain levels of donations, although every single one is gratefully received and will help put our tram back into operation. Please also consider supporting Telford Steam Railway through the Telford and Wrekin Community Lottery, which is open to anyone in the UK over 16 years old. This weekly draw gives you the opportunity to win prizes up to £25,000. Tickets cost £1 per week and 50p from each ticket sale goes directly to the railway. Sign up at https://www.twincl.co.uk/support/telford-steam-railway Dismantling of Peckett & Sons W6 steam engine No. 1722 “Rocket” for its 10 yearly overhaul continues with the ash pan now removed. The boiler plates and lagging have started to be taken off and stored.
Work has begun on MK2 TSO No 5221 to identify what maintenance and repairs are required. This coach will not be used during the season, but will be needed for the 2024 POLAR EXPRESS TM season The MK2 TSOs that will be in use for the 2024 season have been deep cleaned ready for use. The brakes have been tested on the TTA and RUDD wagons. Some additional work is required on the RUDD before it can enter traffic More work has been done to the roof and sides of the Tram shed The tram body panels continue to be prepared and painted More seats have been assembled for the BSO coach No 9406 More pallets have been broken up to refill the wood store Thanks to Doug, Marianj and Jacob for the additional information provided for this update. Our latest video (a review of 2023) has been uploaded onto YouTube. https://youtu.be/UtrRAtJ5udo?si=g4bhDqCfFcpUVg1B We are asking our supporters to complete the following nomination form to hopefully receive a donation of £1000. The more nominations we receive, the more chance we have of getting it. It takes less than a couple of minutes to complete so please help us if you can https://movementforgood.com/index.php?cn=1003150&ct=heritage_arts#nominateACharity Our website, www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk has been given an overhaul and now contains more up to date information about our railway, rolling stock, what to see and do, and special events. Tickets are on sale and already selling for our Fish and Chip specials, and Alice’s Adventures to Wonderland event on 5th, 6th and 7th April. Please take a fresh look at our website and let us know what you think. The railway reopens to the public on Sunday 31st March. Our online shop has been revamped and enlarged to include railway books, take n play Thomas and Friends models, soft toys and other items for sale. Please visit http://www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/store/c44/Freight_Stop_Gift_Shop.html We currently have an appeal to buy a new boiler for our narrow gauge steam tram. You can help us greatly by donating at https://gofund.me/093e7130 As a thank you, we are offering rewards for certain levels of donations, although every single one is gratefully received and will help put our tram back into operation. Please also consider supporting Telford Steam Railway through the Telford and Wrekin Community Lottery, which is open to anyone in the UK over 16 years old. This weekly draw gives you the opportunity to win prizes up to £25,000. Tickets cost £1 per week and 50p from each ticket sale goes directly to the railway. Sign up at https://www.twincl.co.uk/support/telford-steam-railway Peckett & Sons steam engine No. 1722 ‘Rocket’
Dismantling of the loco continues for its 10 yearly overhaul. The chimney, cab and water tanks have now been removed to enable final preparations for the boiler to be lifted. BR 09 Diesel No 09107 returned to the Severn Valley Railway on 16 January. Our grateful thanks to Severn Valley Railway for the loan of this locomotive for our POLAR EXPRESS TM trains. TTA - A Kerosene Tank Wagon No. 60580 arrived at the railway on 16 January. This wagon has come from Gascoigne Wood and will be used as a water tank at POLAR EXPRESS Interior cleaning of the MK2 carriages continues. The Rudd wagon has had the missing air hose and valve refitted with a new gasket. The wooden frame of the temporary tram shed has been erected. Metal work continues to be prepared, and re painted. Branches and brash have been cleared at Lawley. The poolside land by the picnic area has also started to be cleared and open up to improve the view. The storage area in Railway House has been enlarged and more racking has been installed which will make a big difference in keeping the area tidy and more accessible. Some filming for the next Railway Roundup video has taken place. This is hoped to be released in February. Thanks to Ben, David, John and Andrew for the additional information used in this update. Our latest video (a review of 2023) has been uploaded onto YouTube. https://youtu.be/UtrRAtJ5udo?si=g4bhDqCfFcpUVg1B We are asking our supporters to complete the following nomination form to hopefully receive a donation of £1000. The more nominations we receive, the more chance we have of getting it. It takes less than a couple of minutes to complete so please help us if you can https://movementforgood.com/index.php?cn=1003150&ct=heritage_arts#nominateACharity Our website, www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk has been given an overhaul and now contains more up to date information about our railway, rolling stock, what to see and do, and special events. Tickets are on sale and already selling for our Fish and Chip specials, and Alice’s Adventures to Wonderland event on 5th, 6th and 7th April. Please take a fresh look at our website and let us know what you think. The railway reopens to the public on Sunday 31st March. Our online shop has been revamped and enlarged to include railway books, take n play Thomas and Friends models, soft toys and other items for sale. Please visit http://www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/store/c44/Freight_Stop_Gift_Shop.html We currently have an appeal to buy a new boiler for our narrow gauge steam tram. You can help us greatly by donating at https://gofund.me/093e7130 As a thank you, we are offering rewards for certain levels of donations, although every single one is gratefully received and will help put our tram back into operation. Please also consider supporting Telford Steam Railway through the Telford and Wrekin Community Lottery, which is open to anyone in the UK over 16 years old. This weekly draw gives you the opportunity to win prizes up to £25,000. Tickets cost £1 per week and 50p from each ticket sale goes directly to the railway. Sign up at https://www.twincl.co.uk/support/telford-steam-railway Brake Standard Open (BSO) No. 9406
The carriage has been cleared of rubbish, the bar area has been rebuilt and the seat carcasses are being refitted. 2ft gauge steam tram The tram’s side panels have been rubbed down in preparation for painting. Post holders for the uprights of the tram leanto shed have been concreted into position. Ruston & Hornsby DM Class 88DS No. 382824 “Hector” Hector was started up for the first time since last year’s diesel gala. After the engine was warm, some injector cleaner was added into the fuel mix which, together with a new filter, to clear the injectors and try to cut down on some of the smoke issues. BR Class 03 No. D2051. The cab door locks have been fixed and the doors secured. With regard to the seized engine, the injectors have been removed and the piston rings in the bores have been soaked in diesel. The owners plan is to start work on the engine in April, when the weather (hopefully) starts to improve. 12t Vanfit (Ventilated Fruit Van) No. B758542 The box van was jet washed to remove as much flaky paint and debris as possible The new lathe has been wired in The crane wagon was brought back into the shed to move the milling machine More sleepers were dechaired and stacked in the car park and are now for sale Six more dumper loads of top soil were moved to the Phoenix Miniature railway to help with their landscaping. The first Veterans breakfast of 2024 took place on Sunday, with around 20 military veterans and their families enjoying a cooked breakfast and cups of tea or coffee in the Furnaces Tearoom. Pallets continue to be broken up to restock the wood store after Polar. Thanks you to Doug, Ben, Jacob and Andrew for the additional information used in this update. Our latest video (a review of 2023) has been uploaded onto YouTube. https://youtu.be/UtrRAtJ5udo?si=g4bhDqCfFcpUVg1B We are asking our supporters to complete the following nomination form to hopefully receive a donation of £1000. The more nominations we receive, the more chance we have of getting it. It takes less than a couple of minutes to complete so please help us if you can https://movementforgood.com/index.php?cn=1003150&ct=heritage_arts#nominateACharity Our website, www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk has been given an overhaul and now contains more up to date information about our railway, rolling stock, what to see and do, and special events. Tickets are on sale and already selling for our Fish and Chip specials, and Alice’s Adventures to Wonderland event on 5th, 6th and 7th April. Please take a fresh look at our website and let us know what you think. The railway reopens to the public on Sunday 31st March. Our online shop has been revamped and enlarged to include railway books, take n play Thomas and Friends models, soft toys and other items for sale. Please visit http://www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/store/c44/Freight_Stop_Gift_Shop.html We currently have an appeal to buy a new boiler for our narrow gauge steam tram. You can help us greatly by donating at https://gofund.me/093e7130 As a thank you, we are offering rewards for certain levels of donations, although every single one is gratefully received and will help put our tram back into operation. Please also consider supporting Telford Steam Railway through the Telford and Wrekin Community Lottery, which is open to anyone in the UK over 16 years old. This weekly draw gives you the opportunity to win prizes up to £25,000. Tickets cost £1 per week and 50p from each ticket sale goes directly to the railway. Sign up at https://www.twincl.co.uk/support/telford-steam-railway Peckett & Sons steam engine No 1722 ‘Rocket’ Stripping of the loco has started in preparation for removing the cab, water tank and boiler over the next few weeks for her 10 yearly overhaul. De chairing of sleepers has begun again. Chairs etc will be reused, with the wooden sleepers being sold to the public for garden use. There is a large pile of sleepers that require de chairing, so members of the P-Way gang will be kept busy for a week or two. A tree that had blown down during the recent storms onto the tram track has been cut up so that the track is now clear again. The MK2 coaches that were in use for the POLAR EXPRESS TM are having their Christmas decorations removed. The coaches will then be deep cleaned ready for the 2024 season. The yard and shed were cleared of stock to allow North British No. 27414 ‘TOM’ to take the crane wagon into the shed to pick up a lathe that has been sold. This move saw the now rare occasion of a locomotive being outside the rear of the locomotive shed. The class 142 and 144 Pacers have been checked over and started as part of their maintenance checks. The opportunity was taken to move the Pacers to allow the 12t Ventilated Fruit Van No. B758542 to be moved so that its restoration can continue. Top soil has been moved to the Phoenix Miniature Railway so they can landscape the area where the new track has been laid and our platform extension. Our latest video (a review of 2023) has been uploaded onto YouTube. https://youtu.be/UtrRAtJ5udo?si=g4bhDqCfFcpUVg1B We are asking our supporters to complete the following nomination form to hopefully receive a donation of £1000. The more nominations we receive, the more chance we have of getting it. It takes less than a couple of minutes to complete so please help us if you can https://movementforgood.com/index.php?cn=1003150&ct=heritage_arts#nominateACharity Our website, www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk has been given an overhaul and now contains more up to date information about our railway, rolling stock, what to see and do, and special events. Tickets are on sale and already selling for our Fish and Chip specials, and Alice’s Adventures to Wonderland event on 5th, 6th and 7th April. Please take a fresh look at our website and let us know what you think. The railway reopens to the public on Sunday 31st March. Our online shop has been revamped and enlarged to include railway books, take n play Thomas and Friends models, soft toys and other items for sale. Please visit http://www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/store/c44/Freight_Stop_Gift_Shop.html We currently have an appeal to buy a new boiler for our narrow gauge steam tram. You can help us greatly by donating at https://gofund.me/093e7130 As a thank you, we are offering rewards for certain levels of donations, although every single one is gratefully received and will help put our tram back into operation. Please also consider supporting Telford Steam Railway through the Telford and Wrekin Community Lottery, which is open to anyone in the UK over 16 years old. This weekly draw gives you the opportunity to win prizes up to £25,000. Tickets cost £1 per week and 50p from each ticket sale goes directly to the railway. Sign up at https://www.twincl.co.uk/support/telford-steam-railway Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year. We hope to see you all in 2024.
Our 2023 POLAR EXPRESS trains have been a resounding success. Between November 24th and December 23rd the railway was open for 25 days, running 95 trains which carried 20,300 excited passengers to meet Santa at the North Pole. GWR 56XX 0-6-2 Tank No. 5619 hauled all the POLAR EXPRESS trains in a top and tail formation with either BR Class 08 diesel No. 08757 ‘Eagle’ or BR Class 09 diesel No. 09107 (on loan from our friends at Severn Valley Railway). All locomotives performed faultlessly. The taking down of the shop, set and decorations began as soon as the last passenger left the railway on the 23rd December and has continued over the Christmas period. Special thanks must be given to our hard working volunteers who not only gave up their time to run the POLAR EXPRESS but also came in on the days we were closed to prepare 5619 and the railway for the next days services. We could not run without their hard work and commitment. 09107 is due to return the SVR shortly, a move which should see a TTA wagon arrive at the railway (not from the SVR). 5619 is now in the loco shed for winter maintenance and preparation for the 2024 season Peckett and Sons steam engine No 1722 “Rocket”, which was used during Polar as a water carrier, has also moved into the loco shed where stripping down for her 10 yearly overhaul will now take place. Work on BR Class 03 diesel D2051 continues, with the cab being made water tight and the motion being oiled and greased. Some work has been undertaken on the privately owned 12t Ventilated Fruit Van No. B758542, with a vacuum cylinder being removed and its overhaul started. Our friends at the Phoenix Miniature Railway have been busy laying new track at Spring Village which will be available to travel on when reopens in March. The tunnel will be rebuilt throughout the season. Our website, www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk has been given an overhaul and now contains more up to date information about our railway, rolling stock, what to see and do, and special events. Tickets are on sale and already selling for our Fish and Chip specials, and Alice’s Adventures to Wonderland event on 5th, 6th and 7th April. Please take a fresh look at our website and let us know what you think. The railway reopens to the public on Sunday 31st March. Our online shop has been revamped and enlarged to include railway books, take n play Thomas and Friends models, soft toys and other items for sale. Please visit http://www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/store/c44/Freight_Stop_Gift_Shop.html We currently have an appeal to buy a new boiler for our narrow gauge steam tram. You can help us greatly by donating at https://gofund.me/093e7130 As a thank you, we are offering rewards for certain levels of donations, although every single one is gratefully received and will help put our tram back into operation. Please also consider supporting Telford Steam Railway through the Telford and Wrekin Community Lottery, which is open to anyone in the UK over 16 years old. This weekly draw gives you the opportunity to win prizes up to £25,000. Tickets cost £1 per week and 50p from each ticket sale goes directly to the railway. Sign up at https://www.twincl.co.uk/support/telford-steam-railway Andrew Barclay 0-4-0 ‘Fireless’ No 1944
This locomotive has been sold, and left the railway on Thursday 23rd November. The locomotive was built in 1927 and worked at Colemans Mustard and also at Croda Synthetic Chemical Works Ltd. It arrived at Telford Steam Railway in 1994 and had been on static display ever since. The new owner plans to return the locomotive to operational condition 2ft gauge Ruston Diesel. Its restoration is progressing well and the owner is hopeful that it will be operational in time for our 2024 season. Telford Steam Railway attended the Warley National Model Railway Exhibition at the NEC, Birmingham. Our stand was extremely busy over the weekend, and it was great to meet up with friends old and new. The Polar Express trains are now up and running with GWR 56XX No. 5619 top n tailing with either BR Class 08 diesel 08757 ‘Eagle’ or BR Class 09 diesel 09107 from the Severn Valley Railway. Feedback from our passengers has been very positive and it is brilliant to see so many happy families enjoying themselves at the railway. Thank you to Andy. Mark and Doug for the additional information and photographs used in this update. As the railway is now focusing 100% on running the Polar Express until 23 December, this will be the last news update until the new year. Thank you to everyone who has read the updates and supported the railway during 2023. Services resume at Easter 2024. Our online shop has been revamped and enlarged to include railway books, take n play Thomas and Friends, soft toys and other items for sale. Please visit http://www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/store/c44/Freight_Stop_Gift_Shop.html We currently have an appeal to buy a new boiler for our narrow gauge steam tram. You can help us greatly by donating at https://gofund.me/093e7130 As a thank you, we are offering rewards for certain levels of donations, although every single one is gratefully received and will help put our tram back into operation. Please also consider supporting Telford Steam Railway through the Telford and Wrekin Community Lottery, which is open to anyone in the UK over 16 years old. This weekly draw gives you the opportunity to win prizes up to £25,000. Tickets cost £1 per week and 50p from each ticket sale goes directly to the railway. Sign up at https://www.twincl.co.uk/support/telford-steam-railway |
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