SINGLE LINES

■ FAIRBOURNE Railway’s historic 15in gauge stock, including recently acquired Lister Auto Truck 20886/1943 Gwril and two carriages purchased last year by volunteer Graham Billington, were moved into the refurbished museum at Fairbourne in mid-June. Following work undertaken some 18 months ago the building is rail accessible, enabling the stock to be easily rolled out for special events utilising the length of dual gauge (12.25in and 15in) track.

■ HALESWORTH to Southwold Narrow Gauge Railway Society held an Open Day at Blythburgh Station on June 21 in conjunction with the county-wide Suffolk Day. Three panels of 3ft gauge track (about 45 yards) were laid to demonstrate to the public how track is laid, additional fencing was erected and replicated Southwold wagon No. 18 received a top coat of paint.

■ TALYLLYN Railway has ordered 89 lengths of BS 50 rail from a Spanish rolling mill. The material will enable replacement of 500metres of track on a section between Pendre and Hendy Halt. It had been believed BS 50 rail was no longer available but GB Rail in South Wales had suitable rolls available.

■ THE boiler from O&K 20hp 0-4-0WT (5744/1912) Rebecca returned to Devon Railway Centre on June 15 following its 10-year overhaul by Israel Newton. Reassembly of the loco is now progressing at Devon Railway Centre.

■ SCAPA Flow Visitor Centre and Museum has transferred ownership of 1941-built Wickham target trolley works No. 3030 (MOD No. RTT/767091) to The Rail Trolley Trust. It will be relocated from Orkney to the trust’s site at the Tanat Valley Railway later this year.

■ SCARBOROUGH North Bay Railway was unable to operate between June 26-29 after a tree fell around the engine shed area, blocking all locos in the shed. Hudswell Clarke 4-6-2DH Neptune, on display outside the building, was struck resulting in some damage to the bodywork and dome.

■ RAVENGLASS & Eskdale Railway Museum Trust’s appeal to overhaul 1912-built Bassett Lowke 4-4-2 ‘Little Giant’ Synolda has reached its funding target. The loco has been subject to an ongoing three-stage overhaul project for several years. The boiler was overhauled in 2019 then followed by stripping down for attention to the running gear. The final phase, building a new tender, is now in progress.

■ WEST of Fife Munitions Railway has announced dates for Sunday steam operations behind its new-build 2ft gauge Bagnall ‘Sipat’ 0-40ST Big Dave through to October. These will be the first regular steam operations in Dunfermline for 50 years. Diesel trains will also be running on the standard gauge line at the Lathalmond site.