Double Headed "Hall" class locos to Cardiff..... Via the Lickey!



Vintage trains have planned yet another assault of the Lickey next year and this time it is with 2 "Hall" class locos. For details, see the plan below:


4965 "Rood Ashton Hall" and 4936 "Kinlet Hall" are paired together for this journey to Newport along the Welsh side of the Severn Estuary. Our outbound route takes us from Tyseley Warwick Road station, through Birmingham’s Jewellery District and down Old Hill through Kidderminster and Worcester Shrub- Hill, before a water-stop at Gloucester. Unusually, we continue through Gloucester, crossing over the River Severn, then following the Welsh side of the Severn Estuary all the way through Chepstow and Caldicot to the city of Newport. The origins of Casnewydd-ar-Wysg (New Castle on the Usk) can be traced back to the Bronze-age when fisherman settled around the fertile estuary of the River Usk. Newport obtained its first charter in 1314, and grew to a large market town protected by the first of several castles, completed in 1386. The industrial revolution saw a huge expansion in the nation’s appetite for coal; Newport was well positioned to supply these needs and by 1830 had become Wales’ leading coal port.
After a luncheon break in Newport, we return to the Midlands along a similar route, pausing again at Gloucester and stopping at Worcester. However, here we turn back towards the Midland Mainline for a double-headed assault on the Lickey Incline! Coming to a stand at Bordesley Junction, the lead Hall will run-round as the train reverses for a tender-first, top-and-tailed return to Tyseley Warwick Road.
Commencing at Tyseley Warwick Road platform, with additional pickups at Worcester Shrub Hill and Gloucester.

We hope the tour goes well.
Chris Nelson

44767 to miss Titfield Thunderbolt trip



44767 digs in to the steep climb at Blackbrook on the Cauldon Lowe Branch with West Country No.34028 "Eddystone" working hard at the rear.

Steam Railway Magazine confirmed over a month ago that the unique Stephenson link Black 5 No.44767 "George Stevenson" will miss its mainline run on the "Titfield Tunderbolt" excursion as the owning group have discovered cracks in the firebox and have therefore had to stop the locomotive for repairs.

The train is to be hauled as far as Norwich by Battle of Britain No.34067 "Tangmere", where 44767 was to attach to the rear for a scurry along the branch to Cromer. GWR Pannier No.9466 will now undertake the Nowich-Cromer part of the excursion. After the run to Cromer, "Tangmere" will take charge again for the journey from Cromer to Sheringham, where the train will join the North Norfolk Railway for its journey to Holt. This will provide a unique oppurtunity for photographers to catch a Battle of Britain Pacific performing against the spectacular backdrop of the North Sea. Following this, the train will return to London. 

Despite the problems, the trip still goes ahead as planned.

Chris Nelson,

Steam Correspondent

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New RH&DR DVD available

Mountain class 4-8-2- No.5 "Hercules" comes off the turntable at new Romney after being turned.

The new Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway DVD will be available on Sunday 1st April 2012. "RH&DR Review 2011" was filmed between May and June 2011 and features much action from New Romney station itself, with the first chapter being shot during a pleasant afternoon in  May 2011.

We also cover the celebrations marking the 80th Birthday of locomotive No.10 "Doctor Syn", plenty of action with lots of multiple heading. Also featured are sequences from the May Wartime Weekend when a half hourly service was in operation providing some unique photographic oppertunities.

All the steam locos are featured in this 30 minute programme offering a delightful souveneir of your visit to the line.

If you wish to purchase this DVD please contact one of the email addresses below:

chrisnelson77@hotmail.co.uk

stevenelson77@hotmail.com

We hope you will get as much pleasure watching this DVD as we did in making it.

Best wishes,

Chris and Steve Nelson,

New Romney Productions camera crew