STOP PRESS
• LLANGOLLEN CEASES ‘PATRIOT’ WORK
The Llangollen Railway has decided not to tender for any further work to complete newbuild ‘Patriot’ The Unknown Warrior. The announcement follows a dispute between the LMS-Patriot Project and the railway (SR484). The part-built ‘5XP’ will depart the line on October 29 for Crewe, to have its boiler trial-fitted. LR Chairwoman Liz McGuinness said: “Llangollen Railway has a full order book and... is unable to meet the very tight timescale of the project.”
• FIRST ‘V4’ PARTS ORDERED
The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust has already ordered the first parts for its proposed ‘V4’, No. 3403. The trust has ordered a set of brake hangers for its tender, as part of a bulk order placed by Network Rail for its fleet of ex-LNER tender snowploughs. The B17 Steam Locomotive Trust, builders of Spirit of Sandringham, has also benefitted from this order.
• ‘THE BLUE CIRCLE’ UP FOR SALE
One of Britain’s most unusual steam locomotives, Aveling & Porter railway traction engine ‘The Blue Circle’, is up for sale. Built in 1926, the unique 2-2-0WT was the last of its kind built by the Rochester firm and has been in the care of owner Mick Smith for three decades. Interested parties should contact 07593 389924, or via mick.smith53@yahoo.co.uk
7714 GOES ‘HOME’ •
Former Birkenhead and Wrexham pannier tank No. 7714 is to return to its one-time home turf after over 60 years for the Llangollen Railway’s steam gala on October 12-14, visiting from the Severn Valley Railway. The other guest engine is equally appropriate – former Machynlleth Ivatt ‘2MT’ 2-6-0 No. 46521 from the Great Central Railway, living up to the event’s title of ‘Along Cambrian Lines II’.
EKR STEAM REVIVAL •
Steam is to return to the East Kent Railway in 2019 after an absence of nearly two decades, to mark the preserved line’s 30th anniversary. Peckett 0-4-0ST Works No. 2087, owned by Martin Staniforth and based at Mangapps Railway Museum, will operate at special events and bank holidays throughout the season.
TORNADO WENSLEYDALE VISIT •
‘A1’ No. 60163 Tornado will visit the Wensleydale Railway from the end of May into June next year, although exact running dates have yet to be confirmed.