MK2 Tourist Standard Open (TSO) No. 5220
The centre aisle arm rests have been fitted to the chairs. The shelving has been added to the centre vestibule and another two of the doors have been repaired and painted.
Painting the outside of the carriage, where the windows have been resealed will take place shortly.
A thorough cleaning has been done in preparation for the polar express decorations being put up.

MK2 Brake Standard Open (BSO) No. 9046.
Panelling continues to be cut, stained and fitted.
A thorough cleaning has been done in preparation for the polar express decorations being put up.

Restoration of the dumper continues, with a topcoat of bright yellow being applied. It won't be long now before this will be back in service.

Saturday

Class 144 pacer, No. 144013 was in action, hauling its first public trains in preservation. It was pleasing to see lots of enthusiasts enjoying the experience. The plan is to run special events in 2023 using both the 144 and 142 Pacers. Look out for further information on the website and Facebook pages in due course.

Sunday

A working party continued with the Spring Village platform extension. Great progress was made, with a lamppost erected (with new LED bulbs), MOT (brought down from Lawley) has been spread and levelled. More bricks have been removed from the old retaining wall bringing it down to platform level. This will enable the last of the edging slabs to be laid over the next couple of weeks.

Peckett & Sons class W6 steam engine No. 1722 'Rocket' was hauling the trains today for our last day of the 2022 season. Again, lots of passengers enjoying the model railway exhibition, tearoom and Phoenix Miniature railway in addition to the trains. 

Attention will now turn to preparing the railway for the Polar Express trains.

Volunteers have also been at Stafford Model Railway show over the weekend, spreading the TSR news and telling people about us and what we do. We will be attending the Telford Model Railway Show next weekend so come and say hello if you are there!

Thank you to Nigel and Ben for the additional information used in this update


The 2022 season has now finished. We would like to thank all of our passengers and volunteers for such an amazing season, we can't wait to see you next year!

Our next event is the Polar Express, starting on Friday 25th November. Tickets can be purchased here: ​https://telfordsteamrailwaypolarexpress.digitickets.co.uk/tickets

A lot going on as we come to the end of the season.

Mid-week work
MK2 Brake Standard Open (BSO) No. 9046
The modified door for the toilet was cleaned and varnished by Doug whilst John was busy putting up the luggage racks. Sean continues cutting and fitting more wooden panels and Mike has painted the end vestibule walls and roof.

MK2 Tourist Standard Open (TSO) No. 5220
Nigel, Dave and Tracy have been working on, and varnishing the external doors. Ben and AJ repaired a stuck window and finished off bolting on the seat headrests.

The A-exam was undertaken on the Pacer ready for the Driver and Guard training.

The brakes have been adjusted on the Class 108 Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU).

Paul and John were in the old loco shed,  working on the buffers for Ruston & Hornsby diesel mechanical No. 382824 'Hector'.

Paul and Grahame continue to maintain the station gardens. They have had some assistance this week from volunteers from a local council group.

Weekend work

Work continues on the Spring Village platform extension. More edging slabs have been laid, and MOT aggregate has been added to build up and level the ground ready for tarmacing.

The MOT aggregate is being reused from Lawley platform, as this needs to be removed before the platform can be dug out and realigned. On Sunday the Permanent Way group took the road/rail digger and mini digger to the station were bagging up of MOT aggregate tool place. Around another 8 tons was brought back to Spring Village. Any MOT not required by the platform extension will be used to level the car park. 

Guard and Driver training on the Class 144 Pacer No. 144013 took place over the weekend with lots of classroom and practical activities and exams. All of the trainees passed with flying colours, and the Pacers can now be used on public service trains. Many thanks to Paul Dore, who provided the training.

Great Western Railway Class 56XX 0-6-2 steam engine No. 5619
On its last washout one of the washout plugs was found to be badly corroded resulting in it being withdrawn from service. We have had it inspected to scope the extent of necessary repairs and are waiting for a program of works to be drawn up. Once this has been done then we can authorize repairs to have it back in steam this season.


Telford Steam Railway is working in co-operation with Severn Partnership, who are using our line to test out their rail and embankment monitoring systems at Lawley. This was installed this week and we look forward to working together, and seeing the results.

Telford Steam Railway was deeply saddened by the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and we send our thoughts and condolences to King Charles III and the Royal Family at this difficult time.

After discussion with the board and volunteers,   it was decided that the weekend services would go ahead, with a minutes silence held at 11am on Saturday, and the use of the 'Royal Special' headboard on both days as a mark of respect. 

MK2 Tourist Standard Open (TSO) No. 5220
New wood has been fitted to all of the doors, which now just need to be painted. 

MK2 Brake Standard Open (BSO) No. 9406
Access doors to the toilet end vestibule have now been fitted. The ceiling has been painted, with the carriage walls being prepared for painting, and more wood panels cut ready to be fitted. The next job is to put up the luggage racks.

A Great Western Railway (GWR) bench has been fixed to the platform at Horsehay and Dawley station, just in front of the station name board as it was in GWR and British Railway days.

At the Spring Village Platform extension, edging stones are now being laid. This project is still in track to be completed before the start of our Polar Express operations.

Dummy vacuum plugs have been fitted to GWR Fruit Van No. 79240 which will enable it to be used vacuum fitted on its own when required.

More lineside clearance has taken place at the headshunt, and at Heath Hill tunnel.

Severn Trent and Forkers Ltd, who are currently undertaking major sewage works around our site, have donated a community defibrillator to Telford Steam Railway and the residents of Horsehay. This is now fitted to the Old Loco Shed, and we thank both companies for their very generous gift.

On Tuesday 6th September the railway welcomed over 80 members from the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing. They were enjoying a night out during their 4-day annual conference being held at the Telford International Centre. This was a truly international group, with attendees from Norway, Austria, Germany, America, Australia, India and Malaysia to name a few.
They enjoyed a trip over the line in the Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU), shed and yard tours led by volunteers, a ride on the Phoenix Miniature Railway, a visit to the model railway exhibition and a fantastic buffet laid on at the Furnaces Tearoom. 
Some guests even had the chance to drive Ruston & Hornsby 0-4-0 diesel mechanical No. 313394 'Jammo' over a short distance in Spring Village yard.
It was a great evening, finished off with a fish and chip supper. Our guests really enjoyed themselves and we have received very positive feedback for how the event was organised. It was a pleasure to host them, and we hope to  see them again in the future.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the railway will be CLOSED on Sunday 18th September and no public services will run.  We will, however, be putting the time to good use running training sessions for our diesel crews on our recently acquired Pacer trains. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Our next running days are Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th September, which is the last weekend of our operating season. Peckett & Son W6 steam engine 0-4-0 No. 1722 'Rocket' will be hauling trains on both days. The first train leaves Spring Village at 11am. Tickets are just £8 for adults, £5 for Children and Seniors and a family ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children) for only £23. Pay once and ride all day. Free car parking at Spring Village (TF4 2NF). Furnaces Tearoom, Model Railway exhibition and Phoenix Miniature Railway (additional charges apply) will also be open.

All attractions are subject to availability. Telford Steam Railway reserves the right to amend, cancel or substitute any advertised services, attractions or locomotives if required. 

Midweek

MK2 Brake Standard Open (BSO) No. 9406

Mike has been progressing with the toilet end vestibule, and trial fitted the access door. This was found to be too wide so it has been cut down ready for fitting. More panelling has been added to the guard's vestibule. Ben and Sean sorted out the remaining panels required for the disabled area. Ben then took the opportunity to clean out all the rubbish that has congregated here, which allowed a lot more space to work in. Kevin varnished all the wood that will cover the blinds. 

 MK2 Tourist Standard Open (TSO) No. 5220

Nigel has been working on the central vestibule, trying to stop the draft getting in! He and Dave then successfully fitted new wood to one of the doors. 

MK2 TSO No. 5221

A new pull cord for the vacuum system has been fitted by Dave

Ruston and Hornsby 20 diesel 2-foot gauge 

Sean continues to work on his loco when time allows. He has finally got the radiator apart and is now cleaning it up. 

Grahame and Paul were busy gardening and cutting down some big branches around Horsehay and Dawley station. Trevor has built the first of the new benches for the platform (donated by Paul S.) He then replaced more of the cladding on the tearoom counter.

Glynn has been working on the new car park area behind the Furnaces room. Old fences have been removed, and new gate posts installed.

Ian collected the first batch of edging stones for the platform extension at Spring Village.

The block paving by the toilet block has been replaced where the new sewer pipe has been dug and placed in the yard.

AJ has finished priming the dumper so it is now ready for the undercoat.

Saturday 

 The mini Road Railer has had its new track fitted and was put to work straight away lifting a buffer off Ruston and Hornsby diesel mechanical 'Hector'.  The 'big' Road Railer was lifting the platform edgers into place at Spring Village as well as (hopefully) clearing the last of the spoil. 

A shunt also took place to get Peckett and Sons W6 steam engine No. 1722 'Rocket' out of the shed ready for the public services on Sunday.

Sunday

Rocket was in steam hauling trains with the Phoenix miniature railway and model railway also open for our visitors. Passengers numbers remain steady and it is great to have the opportunity to say hello and show them all the progress that is going on. 

Permant Way continues, with Martin, Andy and Miles doing a track walk to replace keys and check chairs and fishplates.

Thanks to Ben and Ian for the additional information used in this update.