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Good progress has been made on preparing 5619 for its overhaul. The floor of the cab is being removed, the concrete has been taken out from the smokebox, and fittings from underneath the boiler removed. The radiator has been removed from 08757 “Eagle” as preparation for the engine lift continues. Thank you to Sarah, Caroline and Niamh from Beaverbrooks who spent a day volunteering at the railway. They were fantastic help, cutting the grass and putting together and staining our new picnic tables. Thank you so much for your help again this year! The guards door on BSO No. 9406 has been fully renovated, and now just need painting. The exterior has had more coats of gloss paint added and it has started to be lined out. The guards lookout panel has had the lights and control assemblies trial fitted, with linking conduit for the wiring. Unfortunately both our remaining Pacer units have been vandalised after attempted break ins. The emergency door release glass has been broken and operated. Replacing this will take time and money away from the railway that we can ill afford. The railway is next open on Sunday 12th April when diesel 08784 will be hauling our trains. With thanks to Shaun, Dave J, Dave A and Mike for the additional information and photographs used in this update.
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The railway reopened on Easter Sunday and Monday for our Easter Specials with steam loco “Cranford” operating our standard gauge trains and steam tram “Thomas Telford” on the narrow gauge. We welcomed hundreds of visitors over the two days, and have received very positive feedback about the great value we offer and how friendly we are. The command bunker (where the volunteers sign on/off and drink tea! has had one of its sides painted cream. Hopefully this will continue around the other sides as well Spring Village platform fencing is being repainted. On BSO No. 9406, work has continued on the disabled access door, the end corridor connection painted and one side of the outside wall marked out for lining. Gardening at Spring Village and Horsehay & Dawley station is in full swing, with bedding plants added and weeding taking place Some more narrow gauge rail has been delivered. 4 tons of soil has been placed in front of the museum. This will be used to raise the ground up to the level of the new path which has been built to the new door and entrance to the museum. The door and frame are being painted. A picket gate has been added and painted. A clock has been fitted to the outside wall Work is continuing on the narrow gauge box van. The roof is being taken apart and examined to see which bit can be reused and what needs replacing. A new cable has been run upto the distant signal at Heath Hill to power the lamps. The brambles behind the loco shed has been cleared to create more parking spaces. The railway is next open on Sunday 12th April when diesel 08784 will be hauling our trains. Thank you to Allan, Shaun, Jacob and Ian for the additional information and photos used in this update. The internal ceiling in the guards area on BSO No. 9046 has received another cost of paint Our Museum is due to open on Easter Sunday and Monday, bringing more value to the price of your ticket. The museum is currently a work in progress, so please bear with us as we continue to improve the visitor experience. However, there are lots of interesting local railway exhibits on show and our railway historian Allan will be on hand to tell you about what is on show. There is a lot covered in a small space so make sure you visit our new museum in the rear yard at Spring Village (opposite the tram station) The tram station platform has been relaid with new paving slabs 5619 is being stripped in the shed ready for its 10 yearly overhaul. Steam loco crew familiarisation on Cranford has been completed The floor has been relaid on 08670 The waiting room and station masters office at Horsehay & Dawley station have been made ready for the start of the season. The electric tram has been moved off the narrow gauge track until the new siding has been completed. This will reduce the amount of shunting required to allow the steam tram to operate. The railway reopens to the public on Easter Sunday 5th April with our Easter Specials, with free Easter Egg hunt for the Children. Our visiting steam locomotive No.1919 “Cranford” is planned to be hauling our trains on Easter Sunday and Monday. See https://www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/easter-egg-hunt.html for more details and to book tickets Thank you to Dave, Jacob, Jae and Allan for the additional information and photographs used in this update. Avonside Co. Ltd No. 1919 was in steam on Sunday 22nd March for driver and fireman familiarisation training in preparation for Easter The museum is being created, with historic local railway items being put on display. The museum is due to open in 2026. More soil has been removed from the loading dock, and the bay has been levelled to receive track. A new chimney has been fitted to steam tram “Thomas Telford” to help improve its steaming capabilities. The railway reopens to the public on Easter Sunday 5th April with our Easter Specials, with free Easter Egg hunt for the Children. Our visiting steam locomotive No.1919 “Cranford” is planned to be hauling our trains on Easter Sunday and Monday. See https://www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/easter-egg-hunt.html for more details and to book tickets Thank you to Ian, Jacob, Shaun and Allan for the additional information and photographs used in this update. More trees have fallen down at the summit of the line at Heath Hill. These have been cut up, chipped and bagged. The line is now clear to Lawley but the bags and remaining logs will need to be moved. March’s Veterans Breakfast took place in the tearoom on Sunday, with another great turnout of people. The bridge metal work that no one wanted to buy was cut up and put in the scrap skip The BSO No. 9406 roof had another coat of paint More parts were removed from 08757 ‘Eagle’ in preparation for its engine to be lifted. The second hand books were returned to the waiting room at Horsehay & Dawley station ready for the new season. The narrow gauge rail and pint work have been moved to the inside of the tram track, close to where the first point will be installed. The car park continues to be cleared The railway reopens to the public on Easter Sunday 5th April with our Easter Specials, with free Easter Egg hunt for the Children. Our visiting steam locomotive No.1919 “Cranford” is planned to be hauling our trains on Easter Sunday and Monday. See https://www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/easter-egg-hunt.html for more details and to book tickets Thank you to Ian, Miles, Jae, Ben and Jacob for the additional information and photographs used in this update. MK2 BSO No. 9406. The ceiling in the accessible area has been painted. The coach body has been welded and filler added. The double doors will now close but need a bit more work to make them lock properly. The lookout door (for when the coach is being propelled) has had the composite wasp board cut out and dry fitted. Platform railings at Spring Village Station have been repainted The Telford Town Tram was highly commended at the Heritage Railway Association awards held in Llandudno. The tram was shortlisted in the steam locomotive category, and although not winning outright, it was a great recognition of all the hard work by our volunteers in restoring her back to operational use. 08757 “Eagle” is being stripped at the railway ready for the generator to be lifted and sent away for repair. The chipper was moved back to Lawley to break up some more trees, and the bags of chippings collected and also moved to Lawley. The car park has begun to be cleared ready for the start of the season The railway reopens to the public on Easter Sunday 5th April with our Easter Specials, with free Easter Egg hunt for the Children. Our visiting steam locomotive No.1919 “Cranford” is planned to be hauling our trains on Easter Sunday and Monday. See https://www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/easter-egg-hunt.html for more details and to book tickets Thank you to Shaun and Dave for the additional information and photographs used in this update. The roof of BSO No. 9406 has had another coat of primer added. The exterior continued to be painted until it started raining. Inside, the painting of the corridor by the guards compartment, and the ceiling in the accessible has been completed. New hinge bearings on the double doors have been fitted. A 2ft narrow gauge RNAD box can has arrived on the railway, and once restored, will form part of our narrow gauge freight train. The van is expected to be operational at our narrow gauge gala on 7th June. The van is privately owned. The buffer stop has been reinstalled at Spring Village station to protect the gift shop/ticket office. The exhauster cover doors have been refitted on 08670. The repairs to 37263 have been completed, and the loco is now fully operational. More trees at Heath Hill tunnel have been cleared and chipped. Pacer No 144013 has been started and the motors warmed through 4 narrow gauge points, and some spares, have arrived. These will be used initially to create more siding space for the additional rolling stock now on site. Cleaning of the MK2 TSOs is nearing completion The railway reopens to the public on Easter Sunday 5th April with our Easter Specials, with free Easter Egg hunt for the Children. Our visiting steam locomotive No.1919 “Cranford” is planned to be hauling our trains on Easter Sunday and Monday. See https://www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/easter-egg-hunt.html for more details and to book tickets Thank you to Jacob, Shaun and Dave for the additional information and photographs used in this update. Mk2 BSO No. 9406 The roof of the coach has been sanded and painted in primer. The window frames, doors and the bodywork on the platform side have received their first coat of gloss paint. Internal panels and trims have continued to be refitted inside the coach. Wood in the bay platform at Spring Village has been burnt and the wood on top of the loading dock cut down. There is still lots of clearing required to enable track to be put down to create more storage space. BR Class 08 diesel No. 08757 ‘Eagle’ has been moved to the loading road. She will leave us this week to go for repairs. The interiors of the MK2 TSOs continue to be cleaned ready for the 2026 season Pacer No 142004 was started up. The embankment between the foot crossing and Doseley Halt has been flailed before the bird nesting season starts Doseley Halt continues to be cleared of wood by our friends at Smallwoods The Ruston narrows gauge loco continues to be worked on. A bottom plate for the spark arrestor has been fabricated and test fitted. Thank you to Jae, Mike and Shaun for the additional information and photos used in the update. The pile of broken branches and wood at Lawley had now been chipped and bagged. The remain debris from the storms (stored on the sturgeon wagon) will be chipped and bagged next weekend if it’s not raining! A successful and busy Veterans Breakfast took place on Sunday, with many new attendees along with our regulars. Everyone enjoyed their breakfast, along with the opportunity to catch up with each other. MK2 BSO No. 9046. Two new inside steps have been cut and fitted for the double doors in the accessible area. The bench seat has been completed Interior cleaning of the MK. 2s continues with 3 of the 4 coaches completed. The remaining 4 rubber mats have been installed in the 4 foot where our steam locos are coaled. There are 7 mats in total, and sleeper have also been placed and covered with ballast. This will enable our plant machinery to get into the track easier and safely when coaling. A shunt took place to allow the MK2 bogies to be moved on to loading road. They will be taken away this week, reunited with their coach body, and the whole vehicle return to the railway. Initial investigation into the wiring of the new battery tram has taken place, and the front and rear lights are working. The tram may require a total re wire, but we are confident that it will be able to work under its own power. Thanks to Mark and Dave for the additional information and photographs used in this update. The BR class 144 Pacer 144013 has been started up and checked over. It is now operational and is planned to be in use on Sunday 14th June and Sunday 23rd August. Keep an eye on our social media channels and website for further updates BR Class 08 diesel 08670 has had a replacement exhauster fitted. When the casing was removed, some original BR blue paint was discovered! The cab floor has been cleaned and prepared for it to be recovered. 08670 is not currently available for working public trains but it is hoped that it will be at some stage this season. Look out for updates on our social media channels. Branches from the fallen trees are now being chipped and bagged. We started at No. 1 point (where trains either go to Spring Village or onto Horsehay & Dawley stations). We will moved towards Lawley Halt where the majority of wood to be chipped is stored. We will use the chipping as mulch. More sleepers have been dechaired. The majority of chairs will be reused, but the obsolete ones are being scrapped. The sleepers this weekend were broken up for recycling but we do have sleepers on sale for use in the garden. Ruston & Hornsby LSSH No. 382824 “Rusty” has had its coolant drained. Then next step is to take off the water rails before removing the pistons and block. The roof door pins on BR class 37 diesel No. 37263 has been refitted. The MK2 TSOs continue to be deep cleaned ready for the operating season. The 2ft steam tram has been cleaned. MK2 BSO No.9406 has started to be sanded down again ready to be reapinted. Thank you to Dave and Andrew for the additional information included in this update. |
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April 2026
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