SINGLE LINES
■ FOLLOWING extensive work by Welsh Highland Heritage Railway (WHHR) volunteers on the valve gear and timing, Hunslet 2-6-2T Russell was successfully tested at the end of June when it steamed into WHHR’s Porthmadog station for the first time since December 2019. Russell is set to be the star attraction for the July 30-31 WHR 100 event when it will haul WHHR’s heritage train on Welsh Highland Railway metals between Dinas and Rhyd Ddu.
■ APEDALE Valley Light Railway is holding a Kerr, Stuart Day on August 21 when Graham Morris’ Kerr Stuart 0-4-0ST ‘Wren’ Peter Pan will visit from Leighton Buzzard Railway to run with John Rowlands’ Kerr, Stuart 0-4-2ST Stanhope, which will have returned to its base following a spell running at West Lancashire Light Railway. Kerr, Stuart and Company’s works was at Stoke was just a few miles from Apedale.
■ ROMNEY, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway’s (RH&DR) 1938-built Motor Rail Simplex 4wDM No. PW1 was tested at Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway on June 29 following an extensive overhaul undertaken by John Fowler Engineering. The loco was built for use at the Duke of Westminster’s Eaton Hall Railway and purchased by RH&DR in 1947. The evening tests at Ravenglass mean the loco has now run on just its third line in an 84-year career! ■ COSMETIC restoration of ex-Eastwell Iron Ore Company 3ft gauge Hudswell Clarke 0-4-0ST Lord Granby (633/1902) by Eastwell History Group has reached the rolling chassis stage with springs, motion and rods in position. Brake gear will be added before lifting the boiler into position.
■ OLD Kiln Light Railway has taken delivery of a new carriage body constructed on an ex-Ramsgate tunnel railway chassis at Moors Valley Railway. The roof, doors and seats need to be fitted at the Old Kiln line near Tilford, Surrey.
■ THE 2ft gauge railway at Lancashire Mining Museum now has a ticket office, reconstructed from an old BR ventilated van.
■ THRELKELD’S July 30-31 annual steam gala was to feature visits by Martyn Ashworth’s Avonside 0-4-0T Ogwen and Statfold Barn Railway’s Avonside 0-4-0T Marchlyn with further guest locos possibly to be added.