Celebrations ongoing in Freetown to mark the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Sierra Leone National Railway Museum and the 200th anniversary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway.

A great little book - brilliant value at £5!!!

We have had a very productive week testing the replica 1825 train. Learnt a lot and a variety of modifications required but all straightforward. The revelation is that the locomotive is very well suited to ‘eco’ coal briquettes!!

Noticed how some politicians refer to ‘raw materials’ being delivered to Scunthorpe? Can’t bring themselves to call it coal!!!

We will be operating the replica 1825 train at the Weardale Railway on a day in May to introduce potential volunteer support crew members to the delights of this amazing creation. If interested please DM me with name, number and email address.

Today I had the huge pleasure of accepting the Locomotion No1 replica into traffic after an extensive overhaul conducted by Locomotive Maintenance Services (LMS) at Loughborough and running in trials at the Weardale Railway. Andy Meredith (right) did the honours on behalf of LMS

youtu.be/GnRatZaRToU Hope you enjoy this short ‘taster’ for the forthcoming operation of the replica 1825 Train during the Stockton & Darlington Railway bicentenary celebrations.

Testing the 1825 replica train continued today with a 23 mile round trip from Wolsingham to Bishop Auckland, including a stop on the incredible Etherley Viaduct over the River Wear to take in the breathtaking views!

The Veterans Living History Museum are selling the original Ken Howard painting depicting the presentation of Colours to 4 QLR by HM The Queen in 1979 in Preston. They have written authority to do so. Funds will go towards other projects. DM me if you wish to make an offer.

Absolutely brilliant!!!😀

RUE DE BOIS WW1cemeteries.com Keith Bugden Steve Davies MBE Commonwealth War Graves Western Front Services Here you go Steve. An example from this very afternoon on the Somme. AIF Burial Ground, Flers. No excuse for June. Absolutely none. The whole place was in desperate need of work. So sad to see. It’s wilful neglect. Management entirely culpable.

Further testing of the 1825 replica train today on the beautiful Weardale Railway. 32 miles in total.

Testing of the replica 1825 train continues. A few foibles identified but pretty close to as efficient as we can get it.

Testing of the replica 1825 train continues at the Weardale Railway concentrating on grades which emulate Shildon to Stockton. Departing Wolsingham Depot tomorrow at 1030 hrs for a 32 mile round trip to Bishop Auckland. Hope the burger van at BA station car park is open!!

Recent modifications to the Locomotion No1 replica to improve steaming: 10 inch stainless steel sleeve Inside the existing 17 inch chimney; blast pipe choke from 3” to 2.5”; improved blower ring. Result is a supercharged locomotive with vastly improved performance.

In the Norman Wisdom film “There Was a Crooked Man”, Darwen (my home town) masquerades as Sleath-On-Sea. Norman arrives by train driven by my grandfather, Jim Kenyon of Lower Darwen Shed. Pity the loco wasn’t running chimney first!

Unexpected emotional reunion with 46203 Princess Margaret Rose at the Greatest Gathering Preview. First saw her in the summer of 1965 at Butlins, North Wales!

Preparations for the 1825 replica train’s mainline runs in September are close to completion. Hill climbing trials successful (6 miles of 1in240 and 1in150 achieved non-stop) emulating some of the less severe grades on the route we will be taking.