Brake Standard Open (BSO) No. 9406

The flooring of the carriage continues to be restored, with new steelwork being fitted where it has rotted/rusted away. Seat brackets have been installed and the area cleaned ready for a second coat of varnish and new vinyl flooring to be added. Painting of the guard's area has started, and a dividing panel at the rear of the coach put in place ready for the end plate with window to be installed. Guards' doors fettled so that they now shut correctly, and damaged panels replaced. Interior window surrounds are also being fitted.

Brake pads have been replaced where required

BR Class 08 diesel 08757 "Eagle"

An electric oil pump has been fitted which means no more hand pumping the oil to the right pressure before starting the locomotive 

The oil (more of an oil/water mix really) has been drained out.

Class 144 Pacer No 144013

The electrical issue has been identified (faulty passenger communication, and air pressure switches) and repaired. Everything taken apart to find the fault just needs to be put back together now.

Permanent Way

More rail has been recovered from the undergrowth on the track bed between Horsehay and Dawley and Doseley halt and brought back to the yard. Lineside clearance continues with another stretch by the old station master' cottage cut back and burnt.  This is making a big difference in 'opening up' the railway more.

Old Sleepers have been de chaired and will be put under the containers when we have a sort out in the rear yard. The ground has also been prepared and levelled where they are going to go.

New emergency lighting has been installed into the loco shed.

More tidying continues throughout the site, with the storerooms at Railway House being the latest to be sorted. 

Thank you to Ben and Doug for the additional information used in the update
Please 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


Our 2023 special events are now on our website: www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/events


The railway is currently closed to the public. We reopen on the 8th April with our Alice’s Adventures to Wonderland event.

MK2 Brake Standard Open (BSO) No. 9046

Progress on the Disabled access coach is doing well with us currently getting quotes in for the vinyl floor which will be installed. The brackets for seating have been installed in the seating area and the disabled access compartment is being painted in BR Cream.

MK2 Tourist Standard Open (TSO) coaches

Post Polar deep cleaning continues in the coaches in preparation for the running season.

BR Class 08 diesel 08757 "Eagle"

The No. 2 head has been removed and inspected.  There is a visible crack in it so a new one is now being sourced.

Class 144 Pacer No. 144013

An issue has arisen with the motors not taking power. Members of the traction department are currently identifying where the problem is.

Ruston and Hornsby 0-4-0 diesel mechanical No. 382824 "Hector"

Work on the overhaul continues. A new trolley has been acquired to house an engine and compressor.

Permanent Way (P-Way)

Rail is being uncovered and brought back to the yard from the track bed between Horsehay and Dawley station and Doseley Halt. Once in the yard the rail will be sorted into useable and scrap.

More lineside vegetation clearing and burning has taken place.

Tidying up of the back yard and 'Cosford' shed continues in preparation for a container move in the next couple of weeks

Wood has been stacked at the woodstore, ready to be cut into the right size for lighting up our steam engine.

Thanks to Ben, Martin and Dave for the additional information used in this update.

The dates for our 2023 driver, guard and footplate experiences are now available on our website.

http://www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/store/c21/Experiences.html


Please book early as these tend to sell out fast!
Please 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


Our 2023 special events are now on our website: www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/events


The railway is currently closed to the public. We reopen on the 8th of April with our Alice’s Adventures to Wonderland event.

MK2 Brake Standard Open (BSO) No. 9406.

 A progression plan has been agreed and put in place. This will give our volunteers the necessary structure to enable them to plan ahead and work in various areas of the coach at the same time.

The floor at the end vestibule has been cut out to be replaced. A new leak has been found!  However, this should be repaired in the week.

MK2 Tourist Standard Open (TSO) coaches

Deep cleaning continues after Polar Express

North British 0-4-0 diesel hydraulic No. 27414 "Tom"

This loco has had a custom-made prop shaft fitted to it and is now operational again. It has already been put to use shunting locomotives in and out of the shed.

BR Class 08 diesel 08757 "Eagle"

Repairs are continuing. The fault with the oil and water mixing has been identified, and parts are now being obtained.

Permanent Way (P-Way)

Rail and wooden sleepers from close to the Barrow Crossing have been recovered and brought back to the yard. This is to get the track bed ready for drainage work.

Jacking and packing of the running line has continued near the summit not far from Heath Hill tunnel.

More wood and brash from lineside clearing has been burnt. 

Other areas

Tree saplings have been planted in the hedge at Lawley.


Tidying/clearing in the yard and the 'Cosford' shed continues.

The disused children's climbing frame in the rear yard has been dismantled to create more space.

A start has been made on repairs to the volunteer's crew room. 

Christmas decorations have been removed from Horsehay and Dawley platform.


Thanks to Ben, Shaun, Marian, Martin and Ian for the additional information used in the update.
Please 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


Our 2023 special events are now on our website: www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/events


The railway is currently closed to the public. We reopen on the 8th April with our Mad Hatter's Tea Party event.

MK2 Tourist Standard Open (TSO) No. 5220

Having had a full refurbishment of the seating areas last year, work has now moved on to the toilet spaces. These have now been stripped ready for the floors to be replaced.

MK2 TSO No. 5221

A new project in 2023 for our carriage restoration team. This coach will have a full internal refurbishment with the floor being replaced and new vinyl installed. External body work will also take place where required.


MK2 Brake Standard Open (BSO) No. 9406.

Restoration will start up again after the break to deliver the Polar Express. It is hoped that this coach will be operation during the 2023 season.

These coaches have been shunted into to platform at Spring Village so work can start/continue.

All TSO's continue to have their Christmas decorations removed and cleaned

The ex-Ironbridge Power Station 'Weight Wagon' and Metro Cammel 24T Dogfish No. DB993353 have been moved back to Lawley Station.


Peckett and Sons W6 0-6-0 No.1722 'Rocket' 

Has been moved back into the shed for winter maintenance.

BR Class 08 Diesel 08757 'Eagle'

Has also been moved into the shed so that repairs can be started. 

BR Class 37 Diesel 37263

This loco is currrently being repaired.

BR Class 08 Diesel 08511

This loco, which arrived in December to assist with the Polar Express trains, has now left the railway. It's last job was to assist (along with Ruston and Hornsby diesel hydraulic No. 525947 'Rusty' and Ruston and Hornsby diesel mechanical 0-4-0 No 313394 'Jammo') with a major shunt of Spring Village yard and shed to get stock and locomotives in the right places as set out above. 

Our thanks to Andrew Goodman and Rail Support Services for their their help and support in providing us with 08511 at short notice, to enable our Polar Express trains to contine.

Thank you to Ben for the additional information included in the update.

Please consider supporting Telford Steam Railway through the Telford and Wrekin Community Lottery. This weekly draw is open to anyone in the UK (aged over 16)  and 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


Our 2023 special events are now on our website: www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/events


The railway is currently closed to the public. We reopen on the 8th April with our Mad Hatter's Tea Party event.

​Telford Steam Railway wishes all our valued volunteers and supporters a very happy new year. We are again looking forward to bringing you news of our exciting plans and developments throughout 2023.

During November and December, the railway delivered the Polar Express to thousands of excited believers. The commitment and hard work of our volunteers to provide this service cannot be underestimated, and our grateful thanks is given to everyone who was involved.

We have received so much positive feedback from our passengers this year. This is great, is really appreciated, and makes all the hard work worthwhile.

A lot of work has continued over the Christmas and New Year period removing the Marquee and Polar Set and returning the railway to its 'normal' appearance. There is still work to be done however which will carry on throughout this month.

Andrew Barclay 0-6-0 ST No. 2138 'Swordfish' performed excellently throughout Polar, providing 100% availability. Our thanks again to Swordfish's owner and Buckinghamshire Railway Centre for the hire of the loco.

It was with our diesels that we had issues to deal with. Both of our available resident diesels,  08757 'Eagle' and 37263 failed with various ailments. We are very grateful for Andrew Goodman and Rail Support Services for getting their class 08 diesel 08511 to the railway to enable us to continue running the Polar Express. Many thanks Andrew!

With those two diesels being repaired, it is great to report that Ruston Hornsby 0-4-0 No. 525947 'Rusty' is now operational again, having her engine fired up on 30 December.

The Road Railer BUG has also been repaired and is serviceable again.

Permanent Way (P-Way) has continued with pan clips being fitted to three panels of concrete sleepers between No. 1 point and Horsehay and Dawley station. The dogfish wagon has been brought down from Lawley to Spring Village and some more of its load of ballast bagged up for some imminent track work. Branches and brash that was cut down in December has now been burnt. Clearance of the embankments will continue as available manpower allows.

Work has also continued on the overhaul of Ruston Hornsby 0-4-0 DM No. 382824 'Hector'

Please consider supporting Telford Steam Railway through the Telford and Wrekin Community Lottery. 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


Our 2023 special events are now on our website: www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/events

The railway is currently closed to the public. We reopen on the 8th April with our Mad Hatter's Tea Party event.