Work has progressed with the shelving in the centre vestibules of all four of the Tourist Standard Open (TSO) coaches. They just need a few final finishing touches and tidying up prior to them re-entering service in a couple of weeks' time.

Brake Standard Open (BSO) No. 9406
Work continues on the buffet counter. Hopefully this coach will be in service for the 2023 season.

Railway House
Internal walls have been sanded and repainted ready for when the model railway exhibition re-opens to visitors for the Polar Express trains.

The car park at Spring Village has been cleared in preparation for some potential arrivals in the coming weeks (though nothing has been confirmed at this stage).

The new metal Christmas tree, that will stand at Lawley when it is transformed into the North Pole, is being welded together in the Shed.

The fibreglass reindeer have been fixed and now have their antlers and ears back where they should be. The next job is to get them repainted.

Permanent Way (P-Way)
The slight dip in the track at the summit of the line has been 'jacked and packed' with fresh ballast. More P-Way work will be done at Lawley over the next few weeks.

Class 144 Pacer No. 144013
The pacer was driven to Horsehay and Dawley station where it was cleaned inside and out.

The buffer stop in front of the shop at Spring Village station was taken out. This will enable the shop to be removed from its current position, allowing us to use the maximum length of the platform for Polar Express trains.

The platform extension is due to be tarmaced this week ready for an official opening before we open again on November 25th.

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

The railway is currently closed to the Public

Telford Steam Railway will have a stand at the Warley National Model Railway exhibition at the NEC Birmingham, on 26th and 27th November. If you are attending, please come and say hello.

Our next event is the Polar Express trains that start running on 25th - 27th November and then daily (except Mondays) from 2nd - 23rd December. Tickets are selling fast, but can be purchased from our website.

MK2 Brake Standard Open (BSO) No. 9406
Kitchen Units are in the process of being modified to make a buffet area for passengers.

All the MK2 coaches being used for Polar have had their Fitness to Run examinations (All have passed).

The new metal framed Christmas tree has been moved into the shed ready to be welded together. 

The waiting room at Horsehay and Dawley is being transformed into the 'hero boy's' bedroom ready for the Polar Express. The walls of the Station Masters office have also been painted.


The reindeers have been given some TLC and running repairs, especially around the antler and ear areas!

A lot of volunteer's time is now being spent on Polar Express matters.

The fence along the platform at Spring Village continues to be painted.

All the remaining 'Paddington' fence items have been loaded onto the flat wagons. Tidying up of the yard at Spring Village continues when time and volunteers allow.

Ramps to get the mini digger onto the trailer have been built and painted.

The class 144 Pacer has been started to make sure everything is working fine.

A delivery of MOT aggregate was delivered. This will be used on the platform extension and to level off the car park at Spring Village.

With regards the platform extension, the final platform edging stones have been concreted in place and the aggregate levelled and compacted. We are now ready for it to be tarmaced. It is still on track to be completed before the first Polar Express trains on 25 November.

Permanent Way (P-Way)
The three panels of track that had spot sleeper replacement work last weekend have now been clipped and tamped. The next job is to 'jack and pack' a small section of track at the summit of the line.

Ruston and Hornsby diesel mechanical 0-4-0 No. 382824 'Hector'
Work continues with the brakes being freed up and the painting of new bare metal. This is because Hector will shortly have to vacate the shed (I wonder what will be replacing it - I'm sure we will find out soon!)

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

The railway is currently closed to the public.

Our next event is the Polar Express which starts on 25th November. Tickets are selling fast and are available to buy from our website.

We had two new volunteers start working on the railway this week. It was great to welcome them to our group.

MK2 Brake Standard Open (BSO) No. 9046
Wood work in the interior continues and prep-work for painting in the disabled access area is progressing at a steady rate.

MK2 Tourist Standard Open (TSO) No. 5221
The final external door has been fixed and new plywood fitted to the floor where the original had rotted away. The chairs and tables over this area are now being refitted.

MK2 TSOs
More shelving continues to be built into the central consoles of the coaches to assist when running the Polar Express trains.
The lighting and sound systems in all the coaches are being tested and worked on (again for the Polar Express trains).

Horsehay and Dawley station
The waiting room floor is now finished and looks great. New doorsteps have been laid and the building given a good wash on the outside to remove dirt and soot. The remaining unpainted parts of the building are now being painted in 'GWR light stone'. The yellow line being painted on the platform has now reached the road over bridge and a new GWR bench has been built and painted, ready to be put into place over the next couple of weeks.

Spring Village Station platform extension 
A drainage channel has been put in and the area in now ready to be Tarmaced

Permanent Way (P-Way)
The P-Way gang were out in force on Sunday doing more spot sleeper replacement in two panels of track on the main running line. The old wooden sleepers were brought back into the yard where they will be dechaired.
The new Permanent Way container that was emptied last week has been moved to its new home in the yard.
The 'Paddington fences' (they came from Paddington Station) have been loaded onto flat wagons as we continue to tidy up the yard.

A three- phase power supply has been fitted to the toilet block.

Repairs continue on BR Class 37 No. 37263. with the batteries being upgraded.

A new starter motor has been fitted to the tele handler.

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

The railway is currently closed to the public.

Our next event is the Polar Express, which starts on 25th November. Tickets and further information can be obtained from our website.

MK2 Brake Standard Open (BSO) No. 9046
A new formica panel has been fitted inside the old toilet cubicle, and work has continued in the compartment that will be available for our less able visitors.
The control panel at the guards compartment has been wired and tested.

MK2 Tourist Standard Open (TSO) coaches
Shelving has been added to the TSO centres to assist with our Polar Express operations
A plan is now in place to deal with any kick board damage that occurs during Polar
Tech for the TSO's (lighting and sound) is also being checked and worked on were required

MK2 TSO No. 5193
A battery has been replaced.

Painting continues at Spring Village (fences) and Horsehay and Dawley (waiting room floor and platform edge).

Spring Village station waiting room has been emptied. The platform lights are being checked and repaired where necessary. 

The last edging slab has been laid at the platform extension at Spring Village. The rear edging stones are being concreted in and the first layer of breeze blocks for the Phoenix Miniature Railway tunnel have been laid.

Ruston and Hornsby diesel mechanical No. 313394 'Jammo' has been repaired and can now create vacuum again. This loco is needed to haul our engineers trains so it is great that it is working properly.

More lineside vegetation clearance has taken place trackside and at Lawley.

A small working party went to Llangollen Railway to carry out some preparation work on Great Western Railway 56XX 0-6-2 5619 so that the repairs can be progressed.

A container has been purchased for the railway and has been emptied and swept out. It is currently in Spring Village car park but will be moved to the yard shortly.

Six sleepers have been replaced on a panel of track on running line. The job was made a lot easier by having plant machinery available, but still required the ballast being dug out by hand.    Two more panels need to be worked on over the next couple of weekends before tamping can take place.

We had a stand at the Cradley Heath MRC 2022 Model Railway exhibition on Saturday, with another busy day promoting the railway and meeting lots of people.


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

If you want to read some history and look back to the past, why not check out our latest history posting, where we can hear memories from Volunteer Dave Angell when Llangollen Locomotive No. 6430 paid us a visit back in 2005 for our 21st Anniversary Gala!

MK2 Brake Standard Open (BSO) No. 9406
More wooden panels have been fitted to the guard's area.
The handbrake has been freed up 

MK2 Tourist Standard Open (TSO) No. 5220
Repairs to the inside of the external doors have continued this week.
The windows that were resealed recently have been prepped and received a first coat of paint.

The benches in the waiting room at Horsehay and Dawley station have had some TLC and a paint. For our Polar express trains, this will be transformed into the 'Hero boy's' bedroom as part of the theatrical performance.

The application for planning permission to rebuild the signalbox at Horsehay and Dawley station has been submitted to the council.

The platform extension at Spring Village continues to make good progress. Concrete  foundations for the new tunnel wall (for the Phoenix Miniature Railway) have went in on Sunday. The final (I hope!) brickwork has been removed from the retaining wall of the old dock and more platform edging slabs have been laid. Bags of MOT have been emptied and levelled ready to be tarmaced. Wiring to connect to a further lamppost will shortly be in place. The work is still on course to be completed in early November.

A broken chair was replaced on the track between No.1 point and Horsehay and Dawley station. Having the appropriate plant machinery makes the job so much easier and quicker. A track walk from Spring Village to Lawley also took place.

At Lawley station, the remainder of the platform MOT aggregate has now been bagged and brought back to the yard. Work here will continue where possible but will be reduced in the short term as more attention is given to getting the railway ready for the Polar Express Trains starting in November. 

Speaking of which, the fibre glass reindeer were released from their container and herded onto the lowmac. Ruston and Hornsby Diesel Mechanical 0-4-0 No. 313394 'Jammo' brought them back to Spring Village were they will be given some TLC ready for pulling Santa's sleigh.

The area by the wood store has been tidied with pallets stacked and rubbish being removed. This has made a big difference and improved access

Maintenance work has also continued on British Rail Class 37 diesel No. 37263 and Ruston and Hornsby Diesel Mechanical 0-4-0 No 382824 'Hector'

The railway had a stand at the Telford Model Railway exhibition at Charton School on Saturday. We attend many exhibitions throughput the year and it is a great way to promote ourselves discuss the great work we are doing, and our exciting plans for the future. We were busy all day meeting old friends and making new acquaintances. The next event we will be attending is the Cradley Heath Model Railway exhibition on Saturday 8th October at St Michaels Church of England High School (B65 9AN). If you are attending, please make sure that you come and say hello.

Thank you to Ben, Martin and Nigel for the additional information contained in this update