IN BRIEF

• BLUEBELL APPEAL EXTENDED

With £175,000 raised towards its £250,000 target, the closing date for the Bluebell Railway’s ‘Double Donations Dash’ for Horsted Keynes carriage shed (SR486) has been extended to December 31. Donations can be sent to ‘Cash for Cover Double Donations Dash’, Bluebell Railway Trust, Sheffield Park Station, East Sussex TN22 3QL or made online at https://mydonate.bt.com/ events/op4/453366 (quick link: https://bit.ly/2DU2JaS )

• NEWTON ABBOT SHED FIRE

Newton Abbot’s former Carriage & Wagon repair shop has been demolished following a fire on October 21, believed to be arson. Formerly home to railway publishers David & Charles in the 1970s, the building had been empty for many years and was already due for demolition to make way for an Aldi supermarket.

• WHISTON TO CHURNET

Foxfield-based ‘Austerity’ Whiston is on hire to the Churnet Valley Railway for its Santa Specials and will stay for the February 23/24 gala, when No. 7827 Lydham Manor is also visiting. For a ‘Winter Warmer’ event on December 27, Whiston will double-head with resident Polish ‘TKh’ No. 2944 ‘Hotspur’.

• 80078 RETURNS TO ONGAR

BR ‘4MT’ 2-6-4T No. 80078 is making a return visit to the Epping Ongar Railway for the festive season. As well as working the line’s Santa Specials, it is also due to haul Mince Pie Specials on December 28-30 and will be in steam on New Year’s Day.

• WOODHEAD REVIVAL SCHEME

A businessman has proposed to reopen a surviving section of the Woodhead route for steam and commuter services. David Breen’s South Yorkshire Woodhead Heritage Railway group wants to revive the freight-only stub between Stocksbridge, Deepcar and Sheffield.

• BLAENAVON THEFT

Thieves stole a safe containing nearly £14,000 from the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway following its Halloween event in October. An appeal to repair the damage from the break-in and replace the funds has raised over £6,000.

• AWARD FOR MIDDLETON

The Middleton Railway received a Highly Commended certificate in the Small Attraction of the Year category of the Visit Yorkshire White Rose Awards 2018.