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BR Good Van No. 764478 (AKA the gift shop/ticket office) is in the shed for an external and internal repaint, now that the roof has been repaired, ready for the new season. The interior roof will be painted white, with the walls painted a creamy white. The exterior will be painted bauxite. The chassis will also be cleaned and inspected. GWR 4w Manual Hand Crane No.792 has been brought down to Spring Village Yard for cleaning and an assessment for future use. We believe that this is the first time in 6 years that it has moved from Lawley. The remainder of the blue bricks kindly donated to the railway by our neighbour Ian have been collected and moved to Horsehay & Dawley (H&D) platform. These will be used in the rebuilding of the signalbox. Thank you Ian. The drain cocks on 08757 ‘Eagle’ have been cleared and cleaned out. This will allow for further repairs to take place. The cab interior is also receiving a coat of paint and the coolant leak on No.1 cylinder has been fixed. The buffer stop at H&D has been removed. This will allow easier access to the trackbed by plant machinery to prepare for more track laying. Rubber pads continue to be cut and fitted at the loco shed to create safe walking routes. Donations of second hand books are being sorted ready for selling in the H&D waiting room during the season. The seat cushions have been removed from MK2 TSO No.5219 and stored in the sleeper coach. The new kitchen roof has been built at the tearoom. Lower panels on the steam tram coach have been prepared and trialled fitted. Thank you to AJ, Sean, Ben and Miles for the additional information and photographs used in this update. Thanks to Shaun and Dave for the additional information used in this update. Our latest Railway Roundup video is available on YouTube. Highlighting the work happening at the railway and our ambitions for 2025 https://youtu.be/N-k97axq92E?si=vVghEN5_gttqJE88 Our 2025 special events are also now on our website. We have lots of favorites returning, plus a new family event - Dinosaur Adventure on 1 June. https://www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/events.html More information and booking details will be added to our website soon. The railway reopens on Easter Sunday. We look forward to seeing you in 2025.
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Class 144 Pacer No 144013 has been externally cleaned on the bodywork and the chassis. 144013 is the pacer planned to be used by the railway when required for public services and Pacer driver experiences. GWR 56XX No. 5619 has had a boiler washout. All plugs and mudhole doors have been refitted and the mechanical lubricator removed, cleaned and inspected. Around 300 blue bricks (possibly from the demolished signalbox and/or station) have been collected, and will be used to rebuild the signalbox at Horsehay & Dawley. The repairs to the roof of the gift shop have now been completed. Focus will now turn to repainting the inside. MK2 TSO No.5219. The windows and frames have been removed and stored. The wooden floor and insulation has been removed allowing us to inspect the metal flooring. This coach will be restored by an external contractor. The electrics were also repaired. GWR 4w Manual Hand Crane No.792 has been brought out of the siding at Lawley. It is now ready to come down to Spring Village for assessment. Thanks to Shaun and Dave for the additional information used in this update. Our latest video highlights the signal box rebuild at Horsehay & Dawley station https://youtu.be/MDVYaZIptKk?si=b8jeIEUGhsbqDYSI All the Polar decorations and set have been dismantled and stored away until November. Planning is already underway for 2025 and we have had many requests already asking when tickets will be on sale. Our 2025 special events are also now on our website. We have lots of favorites returning, plus a new family event - Dinosaur Adventure on 1 June. https://www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/events.html More information and booking details will be added to our website soon. The railway reopens on Easter Sunday. We look forward to seeing you in 2025. GWR 56XX No. 5619. The firebox fuseable plugs have been removed, inspected, polished and replaced. The safety valves have been lifted back on and reconnected. The ashpan has been sketched to identify where repairs are required. The MK2 TSO’s continue to be cleaned on the inside. The outsides will be cleaned when the weather improves. Further wooden panels have been cut, preserved and trial fitted to MK2 TSO no. 5193, to replace those that are worn. 8 more lengths of rail (some 60ft) have been brought up from Doseley. These rail will either be used to extend our line towards the foot crossing or in sidings or be scrapped. A cable trench has been dug for the distant signal at Heath Hill tunnel. The signal lamp has also been fitted, and the signal post painted. BR Class 08 diesel 08784 left the railway on 30th January to return to The Great Central Railway (Nottingham). Our thanks to both them and the owners, the English Electric Preservation Group, for the hire of the loco. Pacer No. 144013 has been started up and has run to Lawley to ensure all is working properly. The Pacer is not at Spring Village platform for cleaning and winter maintenance. No. 144013 is the only current vehicle which is wheelchair accessible, and is planned to be in service on the following dates in 2025 (all Sundays), May 11th, June 8th, June 29th, August 10th and August 31st. A platform trolley has been donated to the railway. Originally from Craven Arms station, we are very grateful to the previous owner for their very generous donation. We now have bee hives at the railway. We are doing our bit to help save these important insects, and to encourage learning about their lifestyle and habitats, with hopefully some “Horsehay Honey” as well! Thank you to Ben, Ian, Dave and Shaun for the additional information and photographs used in this update. Our latest video highlights the signal box rebuild at Horsehay & Dawley station https://youtu.be/MDVYaZIptKk?si=b8jeIEUGhsbqDYSI All the Polar decorations and set have been dismantled and stored away until November. Planning is already underway for 2025 and we have had many requests already asking when tickets will be on sale. Our 2025 special events are also now on our website. We have lots of favorites returning, plus a new family event - Dinosaur Adventure on 1 June. https://www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/events.html More information and booking details will be added to our website soon. The railway reopens on Easter Sunday. We look forward to seeing you in 2025. BR Class 08 diesel No. 08874 has been shunted onto the loading road ready for departure. New tyres have been purchased for the road/rail gator. The wheels have been removed so they can be fitted. Winter maintenance on GWR 56XX No 5619 continues with the smokebox being thoroughly cleaned. She was brought out of the shed so that the safety valves could be removed for inspection and cleaning. More bull head rail has been brought up from Doseley. The current plan is for bull head rail to be used to extend the line to the foot crossing, and then flat bottomed rail to extend to Doseley Halt. The restoration of MK2 BSO No. 9406 continues. External doors are being removed for repair with temporary replacement doors fitted. Colour lenses have been fitted to the distant signal at Heath Hill tunnel. Next jobs are to repaint the signal and add the signal lamp. Our latest video is a review of the 2024 season. We had a great year, and looking back, it is amazing just how much we get done with our small band of working volunteers. If you like what you see, please consider joining us. Can you imagine what we could achieve with you on board! https://youtu.be/8Hg-wt5qijE?si=qMzN7kptIU3eENWW All the Polar decorations and set have been dismantled and stored away until November. Planning is already underway for 2025 and we have had many requests already asking when tickets will be on sale. If you are interested, please join our mailing list to receive information on when tickets will be available. https://www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/thepolarexpress.html Our 2025 special events are also now on our website. We have lots of favorites returning, plus a new family event - Dinosaur Adventure on 1 June. https://www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/events.html More information and booking details will be added to our website soon. The railway reopens on Easter Sunday. We look forward to seeing you in 2025. Work has begun on MK2 TSO No 5219, with one end stripped down for inspection and identification of repair work. Worn interior panels have been removed from MK 2 TSO No 5193, and will be replaced with new wood. Some lengths of rail, that were stored at Doseley, have been brought up to Horsehay & Dawley. These will now be assessed, and if suitable will be used to extend the line towards the foot crossing. North British 0-4-0 diesel hydraulic No. 27414 “Tom” is being worked on in the loco shed, identifying the best way to tackle the gearbox repairs. Clearing and tidying of the Cosford Shed and rear yard continues. Restoration of signaling equipment continues in the shed. These will be used for spares and for repairing the distant signal at Heath Hill tunnel. Telford Steam Railway wishes all our readers a very happy, healthy and peaceful New Year. The 2024 Polar ExpressTM season has been very successful and popular with our passengers. Over 6 weeks we ran 102 trains, taking over 22,000 excited passengers to meet Santa at the North Pole. GWR 56XX No. 5619 performed faultlessly with 100% availability. Storm Darragh unfortunately caused the cancellation of three trains (two additional trains were added the following weekend), but other than that every train ran as advertised. 5619 is now in the shed taking a well earned rest. She is 100 years old in 2025, and our dedicated volunteers are now undertaking planned maintenance in order to get her ready for service and her celebrations this year. BR Class 08 diesel 08874 arrived at the railway on 14th November to assist with our Polar Express trains. 08874 shared the duties with resident 08 diesel 08757 “Eagle” and performed very well on our trains (Thanks to English Electric Preservation Group and Great Central Railway (Nottingham) for the hire of 08874). 08874 also starred in our “Gronk Winter running day with added Ruston and Hornsby” a new event for 2024. 08757 and 08874 topped and tailed the days services with Ruston and Hornsby class 88DS No. 382824 “Hector” providing brake van rides within Spring Village station. The last train of the day was double headed by 08874 and 08757. This event was very popular and well attended, with enthusiasts coming from Swindon, Banbury and Warwick and elsewhere, specifically to ride behind the Gronks. 08874 is due to leave our railway in mid January. Rebuilding of the signalbox at Horsehay & Dawley will restart again in January after pausing whilst the Polar Express trains TM were running. Our latest video is a review of the 2024 season. We had a great year, and looking back, it is amazing just how much we get done with our small band of working volunteers. If you like what you see, please consider joining us. Can you imagine what we could achieve with you on board! https://youtu.be/8Hg-wt5qijE?si=qMzN7kptIU3eENWW All the Polar decorations and set have been dismantled and stored away until November. Planning is already underway for 2025 and we have had many requests already asking when tickets will be on sale. If you are interested, please join our mailing list to receive information on when tickets will be available. https://www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/thepolarexpress.html Our 2025 special events are also now on our website. We have lots of favorites returning, plus a new family event - Dinosaur Adventure on 1 June. https://www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/events.html More information and booking details will be added to our website soon. The railway reopens on Easter Sunday. We look forward to seeing you in 2025. The timetable for our Anything Goes Diesel Gala is now available.  Mk2 TSO No 5219 arrived at the railway from the Mid Norfolk Railway on 15 August. This coach had already visited the railway in 2016 when it was hired in for the Polar ExpressTM. It has now been purchased and will be restored to operational use. This will then allow us to start a structured management plan for our TSOs, whilst allowing to maintain enough carriages for our service and Polar ExpressTM trains. We now have TSO Nos. 5219, 5220 and 5221 at the railway. Thank you to our friends at Eastern Rail Services who donated seats and shells from their MK2 No 5797 which we will use to refit 5219. The wooden flooring is being installed in MK2 No 5221 and has nearly been completed. The Lightmoor Junction signal box, which was sadly vandalised, has had all the broken glass panes replaced and the box is now weather tight. Further cleaning and replacement of broken instruments is required. North British DH No. 27414 "TOM" has been moved into the shed for repairs. 150 litres of oil have been drained to allow access to the gearbox. Further inspection is required to identify what the problem is. The platform at Lawley Village station continues to be worked on. The platform face is now complete and most of the steel work is now in place ready to be welded. Planning for the rebuilding of Horsehay & Dawley signal box has been submitted to Telford and Wrekin Council for their approval. The gift shop at Spring Village is being painted and has received some grey undercoat. Weeding and tidying of the gardens continue at Horsehay & Dawley station Thanks to Paul, David and Shaun for the additional information used in this update. MK2 TSO No 5219 has arrived at Telford having been purchased from the Mid Norfolk Railway. 5219 has been to our railway before as it was hired in 2016 to run with our first Polar ExpressTM trains. In 2019 its overhaul started but was then paused due to the COVID 19 outbreak. Apart from the last 12 months, it has been kept in dry storage. This coach will now be overhauled by the railway and when in service, will give us more flexibility with our carriage maintenance program, allowing us to take a TSO out of service for repairs whilst still keeping our Polar ExpressTM formations. The window panes are stored in pride the coach, which now has a tarpaulin covering it to protect the insides from the weather. The new metal flooring on MK2 TSO No. 5221 is being welded into position. Preparation is taking place in the rear yard at Spring Village ready to receive some hives and bees! We are very excited to offer them a home at our railway. No date has been set yet for their arrival but we will keep you updated. A new outlet has been fitted to TTA -A Kerosene Tank Wagon No. 60580. This will allow it to be used as a water carrier during the Polar ExpressTM season. Water can be pumped from the TTA into the tanks of GWR 56XX steam engine No 5619 when required in between trips at Spring Village station. The brick paving in front of the toilets at Spring Village have been weeded and tidied up. Branches overhanging the line at Heath Hill tunnel have been checked for nests and then cut back. The wood has been moved to Lawley. The hand pump for the steam tram has been rebuilt. Thanks to Ian, Andrew, Shaun and Paul for the additional information and photos used in this update. We are next open to the public on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th August for our brilliant 1940s weekend. See website for full details Monday 26th August sees our final kids for a quid offer FREE car parking at the Bridges Industrial Estate (TF4 3EE) which is less than 5 mins walk from the railway. Please note that no parking will be available at Spring Village station. GWR 56XX steam engine 5619 will be hauling our trains. First departure from Spring Village is at 11am, with further departures at 12pm, 1:30pm, 2:30pm and 3:30pm. Fares for the 1940s weekend.- £15 Adults, £10 children (2-16 yrs), £45 Family (2 adults and 2 children) Fares for Monday 26th August. £10 Adults, £1 children (2-16 yrs)* *on Monday 26th August up to 2 children (2-16 yrs) can travel for £1 each when accompanied by a full fare paying adult. Full children’s fare £7 Also available Furnaces Tearoom selling hot and cold drinks, meals, chocolate, snacks, cakes and ice creams to eat in or take away. Drinking water for dogs also provided. Gift shop at Spring Village selling new and nearly new books, Thomas take-n-play, second hand OO gauge models, dinosaurs, toys, fridge magnets, flags, train sets and much much more. Huge OO gauge model railway exhibition based in part of Stafford Station with DC and DCC locos in operation with smoke and sound. Railwayana on display at Railway House. Secondhand book stall in Horsehay and Dawley waiting room. Rail Camera Club photographs on display at Spring Village waiting room. Picnic area overlooking Horsehay Pool. Free children’s quiz to find all the creatures hiding amongst the trees. The Phoenix miniature railway will also be open and offering their ‘driver for a fiver’ deal. (Additional charges apply) All attractions subject to availability. Our latest news video, Railway Roundup 4 is now available to watch on our YouTube channel https://youtu.be/r-NiZP3X7Ss?si=jEaBkkURMrPFGYDV 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. Please take a fresh look at our website and let us know what you think. 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 5 new volunteers successfully passed their PTS exams on Sunday. 1 volunteer undertook their induction assessment as well and will hopefully start volunteering with us. It is alway great to welcome new people to work with us on the railway. The ‘Chocolate Shack” was emptied ready to be cleaned and prepared for the Polar Express TM season. Some more railwayana was put up in Railway House, including some from Wellington. We have had a lot of railway books recently donated to the railway, many in excellent condition. These will be sold in our ‘nearly new’ section of the gift shop at Spring Village station, or in our second hand bookstore at Horsehay & Dawley station waiting room. Please come and grab yourself a bargain or two! Lawley station platform continues to be rebuilt. Steel pillars have been concreted into position, with concrete sleepers creating the platform ‘front’. This will now be backfilled and the platform surface (originally from Cosford Station), fitted on top. The frame of the tram coach has had its first coat of cream paint added. GWR 56XX steam locomotive No. 5619 is being cleaned and maintained ready for its next appearance at our 1940s event on the 24th and 25th August. Restoration of the LNER brake van has started with one of the guard’s ’look outs’ being removed and repainted. The railway operated another sold out Fish’N’Chip special on Saturday. Lots of happy customers enjoying their meals as we rode up and down the line. One final Fish’N’Chip special for this year has been added for 14th September. Tickets are now on sale from our website. Thanks to Allan, Mark and Ian for the additional information and photos used in this update. We are next open to the public on Sunday 18th August with the Creation Station crafty coach and Kids for a Quid offer. See website for full details. FREE car park at Spring Village Station (TF4 2 NF). BR Class 142 Pacer No 142058 will be hauling our trains. First departure from Spring Village is at 11am, with further departures at 12pm, 1:30pm, 2:30pm and 3:30pm. This train is wheelchair accessible. Fares.- £10 Adults, £1 children (2-16 yrs)* *up to two children can travel for £1 each when accompanied by a full fare paying adult. Children’s fare (if not included in the offer) £7. Also available Furnaces Tearoom selling hot and cold drinks, meals, chocolate, snacks, cakes and ice creams to eat in or take away. Drinking water for dogs also provided. Gift shop at Spring Village selling new and nearly new books, Thomas take-n-play, second hand OO gauge models, dinosaurs, toys, fridge magnets, flags, train sets and much much more. Huge OO gauge model railway exhibition based in part of Stafford Station with DC and DCC locos in operation with smoke and sound. Railwayana on display at Railway House. Secondhand book stall in Horsehay and Dawley waiting room. Rail Camera Club photographs on display at Spring Village waiting room. Picnic area overlooking Horsehay Pool. Free children’s quiz to find all the creatures hiding amongst the trees. The Phoenix miniature railway will also be open and offering their ‘driver for a fiver’ deal. (Additional charges apply) All attractions subject to availability. Our latest news video, Railway Roundup 4 is now available to watch on our YouTube channel https://youtu.be/r-NiZP3X7Ss?si=jEaBkkURMrPFGYDV 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. Please take a fresh look at our website and let us know what you think. 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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