No. 4 brings the last down train past Cynfal on Saturday 2nd April

The new CCTV security system also, conveniently, allows the Platform Inspector to check whether loco crews have finished coaling and watering their locos

Inside the Railway Shop

Customers in the new cafe

The new cafe servery

Testing out the new lift

Upstairs in the new offices

Sorting the post

Managing Director David Mitchell in his new office – David has some way to go before his desk clutter can emulate the famous Picture Post photo of Sir Henry Haydn Jones.

Dismantling the temporary platform extension used last year

Source: Talyllyn Railway: Latest News

Posted by Peter Bowyer on 5 April 2005

Bye Bye Russell!

Russell’s heavy overhaul begins soon – join us over the May Bank Holiday Weekend to give him a fitting sendoff!

Source: Welsh Highland Railway – News

Posted by Peter Bowyer on 7 April 2005

LCLR STOCK TO GO ON VIEW

Ref: LCLR 6924

LINCOLNSHIRE COAST LIGHT RAILWAY

ADVANCE INFORMATION FOR THE MEDIA

FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO SEE RENOVATION OF NARROW GAUGE LOCOMOTIVES AND CARRIAGES FOR LCLR, SKEGNESS
Lincolnshire Heritage Open Days 2005

The Lincolnshire Heritage Open Days in September this year will offer a first opportunity for the public to view the renovation of the narrow gauge locomotives and carriages used on the Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway.

The railway is under construction at the Skegness Water Leisure Park in Walls Lane, Skegness (near Butlins Funcoast World, off the A52 Skegness to Sutton on Sea road). It was moved to the site 10 years ago after closure of the original line at Humberston, near Cleethorpes in 1985.

Since then, a small group of volunteers have worked to lay a 60-cm gauge track and plans are in hand to build a station and eventually open the line to passenger service.

The site is not normally open to visitors so the Lincolnshire Heritage Open Days on Saturday and Sunday 10 and 11 September will offer an ideal opportunity to allow people to see for the first time what has been achieved so far, and what has still to be done.

Guides will be available to explain the history and background of the equipment to visitors, who will be welcome from 11.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.

In addition to the locomotives and carriages owned by the LCLR, the collection of railway wagons and a unique railway ambulance used to transport men and supplies during World War One which is owned by the Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway Historical Vehicles Trust will also be on view.

Ends

Issued April 2005

Media enquiries: Chris Bates 0121 472 6739; CBates7147@aol.com

The Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway Limited is a company registered in England, Registered Number 655803 England. The Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway Historical Vehicles Trust is a Charity Registered in England number 514443.

Further information about the LCLR is on the website of the Skegness Water Leisure Park on www.skegnesswaterleisurepark.co.uk (follow links to Light Railway) and background information is attached.
NOTES TO EDITORS: BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
LINCOLNSHIRE COAST LIGHT RAILWAY
The Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway is the only true narrow gauge railway (as distinct from a miniature railway) on the East Coast of the British Isles. It is based in the Skegness Water Leisure Park in Walls Lane, Ingoldmells, three miles north of Skegness, opposite Butlins Funcoast World on the A52.
The 60 cm (1 115/8) gauge line has a unique and historically important collection of early English narrow gauge railway carriages and wagons, diesel locomotives and one steam locomotive.
Construction has been under way since the mid-1990s by a small group of volunteers, following the closure of the original LCLR at Humberston where from 1960 to 1985 it transported holidaymakers to a holiday camp and beach.
The railway has origins in the network of narrow gauge railways which before the development of modern roads served Lincolnshires potato growing industry. The largest was the Nocton Estates Light Railway, seven miles south of Lincoln: track and rolling stock came from trench railways built by the British military in the First World War. When the Nocton system was replaced by improved roads, a group of railway enthusiasts decided to preserve some of the equipment and convert it for use by passengers. They built and opened the LCLR to achieve this.
Social and economic changes affecting the holiday industry and the need to plan for a secure future, made the LCLRs directors decide to relocate and rebuild. The site at Skegness Water Leisure Park now houses the companys locomotives, carriages and wagons.
The site also hosts the important collection of WW1 trench railway vehicles owned and restored by a registered charity, the LCLR Historic Vehicles Trust.

The LCLRs rolling stock is of special interest.
The most spectacular are the two large bogie carriages built by the Gloucester Rail, Carriage and Wagon Company in 1924 for the Ashover Light Railway which ran for seven and a quarter miles from Clay Cross to Ashover in Derbyshire. They had eventually become static sports pavilions but were bought by the LCLR in 1961 and restored for passenger service in 1962 and 1963.
The only passenger carriage ever owned and operated by the Sand Hutton Light Railway on its line near York, opened in 1922 but closed in 1930, is also on the LCLR, undergoing renovation. It too had been used as a sports pavilion and was restored and returned to service on the LCLR.
Equally unique is the passenger carriage from the Nocton Estates Light Railway, built on the frame of one of the War Department Light Railways Class D bogie wagons. It had been used for inspections of the estates and to transport shooting parties and was purchased by the LCLR in 1982 from owners who had used it as an office upon closure of the Nocton system. Restoration continues.
The frame of one of the WDLRs Class D wagons (once used by the LCLR as an open top passenger vehicle), a Class P four-wheeled ration wagon and a modified example are also on the railway.
The importance of the four vehicles owned by the LCLR Historic Vehicles Trust has been recognised by the Science Museum and the Transport Trust who have contributed to the cost of their restoration. For many years they were displayed in the Museum of Army Transport at Beverley, East Yorkshire. They include the only surviving ambulance van built for the WW1 trench railways, two Class D bogie wagons and a Class P four-wheeled ration wagon.
Locomotives
The companys initial locomotive, Paul, was a four wheel Simplex diesel built by Motor Rail of Bedford in 1926 (works number 3995) which had operated on the Nocton railway and was given a new all over metal body when purchased by the LCLR.
The other four diesel locomotives are also Simplexes: Wilton (works number 7481, built 1940) acquired from Humberston Brickworks; Nocton (works number 1935, built 1920); Major (works number 8622, built 1944) and an unnamed example, (works number 8874, also from 1944).
The steam locomotive Jurassic , purchased by the LCLR in 1961, is awaiting restoration. It is an 0-6-0 saddle tank built in 1903 by Peckett & Sons (works number 1008) for lime works at Southam in Warwickshire.

The LCLR Company is owned by a group of private shareholders and volunteers are welcome to assist under supervision in the operation, construction and maintenance of the line and its equipment. Access is only by permission of the owners and operators of the Skegness Water Leisure Park.
Except where open days and future operating days are advertised, intending visitors should go first to the Parks office in Walls Lane, Ingoldmells, Skegness, Lincolnshire PE25 1JL (Tel: 01754 899400, website www.skegnesswaterleisurepark.co.uk, e-mail enquiries@skegnesswaterleisurepark.co.uk).

The Skegness Water Leisure Park is open from March to the end of October and facilities include the Barn Inn, a play area, a touring caravan park, coffee shop, camp shop, the airfield of Skegness Aero Club, a fishing lake, water sports lake and a launderette.

The LCLR Historic Vehicle Trust may be contacted at 12 Giles Street, Cleethorpes DN35 8EA.

Posted by CHRIS BATES on 7 April 2005

Congratulations to the Corris Railway - No. 7 steams

Congratulations to our friends at the Corris Railway, whose new loco No. 7 has passed its boiler test. Corris No. 7 is a replica of Corris No. 4, was bought by the Talyllyn in 1951 and became our No. 4 "Edward Thomas". Photos and video and a press release are available on the Corris Railway’s web site.

Source: Talyllyn Railway: Latest News

Posted by Peter Bowyer on 12 April 2005

Narrow Gauge Railway Museum progress

Work continues on fitting out the new Narrow Gauge Railway Museum at Wharf Station, and the museum has posted this news article about the latest progress on their web site.

Project Curator Brian Owen has also kindly supplied these photographs of some of the major exhibits returning to Wharf – there are more photos in the museum’s news pages.