■ New president for Cholsey & Wallingford Railway

GREAT Western Railway managing director Mark Hopwood CBE has accepted an invitation to become president of the Cholsey & Wallingford Railway.

Mark lives nearby to Wallingford and has said that he hopes to be involved in as many activities as possible, especially if one of his beloved Class 50 locomotives visits.

The position has been vacant since Sir William McAlpine passed away three years ago.

The only locomotive in steam anywhere on a public railway in Britain on February 1 was NELPG’s K1 2-6-0 No. 62005, which ran with its support coach from Carnforth to Grosmont after repairs, and is seen calling in to the National Railway Museum for a mid-journey break. See also Main Line News, pages 58-61 and Tours, page 62. BETH FURNESS/NRM