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Capturing the very best of Britain's mainline and preserved railways.

30/05/2026

‘Atlantic Star’

LB&SCR Marsh H2 32424 ‘Beachy Head’ is currently the UK’s latest operational new-build steam locomotive. Making her debut visit away from her base on the Bluebell Railway, the recreated ‘Atlantic’ curves around the main demonstration line at Didcot Railway Centre. 24/05/26.

26/05/2026

'Beachy Head's Heatwave!'

Recreated LB&SCR H2 'Atlantic' 32424 'Beachy Head' was the star attraction at Didcot Railway Centre's 'Heritage In Motion' gala this weekend, wowing the crowds despite scorching temperatures reaching over thirty degrees!

Watch the full video now on Youtube:
https://youtu.be/QH6RXWEm9HY?si=da7ET4kvW98XBgcX

Didcot Railway Centre

21/05/2026

- ‘Cotswolds Festival Of Steam’

This weekend sees the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway stage their annual ‘Cotswolds Festival Of Steam’, starring a vast array of visiting locomotives including GER Class 209 ‘Coffee Pot’ 229, CR McIntosh 439 15189 and the surprise return of LMS Stanier ‘Black Five’ 45110.

Unfortunately, I am unable to attend this year, but I can wait to see everyone’s photos and videos from this incredible event. Looking back to 2023, LMS Aspinall ‘Pug’ 11243 (visiting from the East Lancashire Railway) speeds around Chicken Curve with a short freight for Toddington.

Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway

16/05/2026

‘Steam On The Met’

On a visit to the capital last weekend, I popped into the London Transport Museum to see the sole-surviving Metropolitan Railway Beyer Peacock A Class No.23.

While highly unlikely to ever run again, she continues to draw customers as the only steam locomotive amongst a plethora of buses, trams and electric units. #23

London Transport Museum

14/05/2026

- ‘75 Years Of Preservation’

On this day in 1951, the Talyllyn Railway in North Wales became the first in the world to be reopened and operated entirely by volunteers, kickstarting the railway preservation movement as we know it.

They may have only had one working engine, antique rolling stock and an aincient permanent way, however, the plucky band of enthusiasts kept the line running against all odds, cementing the fact that a volunteer-run railway was feasible.

The railway is hosting it’s ‘75th Anniversary Gala’ this weekend, featuring double-headers, historic recreations and 24-hour services. Sadly, I am unable to attend, but I highly encourage all of you to head over to Tywyn and join the party!

Talyllyn Railway

12/05/2026

- ‘Scottish Pocket Rocket’

It was recently announced that BR Standard 4MT ‘Mogul’ 76079 has been sold to the Strathspey Railway, following almost twenty years based on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

The Cairngorms’ line, best known for featuring in BBC’s ‘The Traitors’, plan to overhaul the engine in due course, providing the railway with another reliable and rugged workhorse.

Strathspey Steam Railway

09/05/2026

‘Northern Rock’s Golden Jubilee Gala’

The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway in Cumbria celebrated a hundred-and-fifty years of passengers services last weekend, as well as the fifty years since Smith 2-6-2 ‘Northern Rock’ first entered traffic.

The Saturday of the gala ended with an incredible nine locomotive cavalcade across Barrow Marsh. ‘Northern Rock’, ‘River Irt’, ‘Whillan Beck’, ‘River Mite’ and ‘River Esk’ run light up to Miteside Halt to prepare for the parade. #150

Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Co.Ltd

05/05/2026

- ‘Happy Birthday ‘Clun Castle’’

7029 ‘Clun Castle’ is legendary among GWR puritans. Despite being a later example built in May 1950, she was the final ‘Castle’ to remain in BR service. Furthermore, she hauled the last steam services from London Paddington and Birmingham Snow Hill in 1965.

Purchased for preservation by Patrick Whitehouse, she moved to the former locomotive works at Tyseley, going on to help establish Vintage Trains. Following overhaul in 2019, 7029 can be found hauling passengers on the mainline around the West Midlands.

Vintage Trains

04/05/2026

'Northern Rock's Mini-Me!'

'Northern Rock' celebrated her fiftieth anniversary this weekend, having first steamed into life back in 1976. Eighteen years later, a 7.25-inch gauge version of her design took shape as 'Sir Arthur Heywood' on the Eastleigh Lakeside Miniature Railway. The two engines finally met last weekend, seen here forming part of a multi-headed service storming up Hollin How Bank.

Watch the full video now on YouTube, including a spectacular nine-loco whistle war! https://youtu.be/NN90dvhn0O8

Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Co.Ltd

02/05/2026

‘Judy’ and ‘The Duke’!

The Severn Valley Railway staged one of the most unusual double-headers in preservation when BR Standard 8P 71000 ‘Duke Of Gloucester’ teamed up with Bagnall ‘Port Of Par’ ‘Judy’ during their ‘Spring Steam Gala’.

The pair are seen here storming out of Bewdley on Sunday morning. This shot will soon disappear due to the installation of palisade fencing, which can be seen to the right of the image. 19/04/26. #71000

Severn Valley Railway
BR Standard Class 8 Steam Locomotive Trust
Bodmin Railway

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