60007 will not steam again until 2012, the NYMR has confirmed

A4 No.60007 "Sir Nigel Gresley standing outside Grosmont shed

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway has confirmed that due to various mechanical problems, the resident A4 Pacific No.60007 "Sir Nigel Gresley" is not likley to return to steam again until the Spring of 2012. The locomotive was rostered to make an apperance at the Mid Hants Autumn Steam Gala this weekend, however that is no longer possible. A4 No. 4492 "Dominion of New Zealand" AKA 60019 "Bittern" is billed to take the place of "Gresley".

The A4 was also scheduled to take part in a run to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of the A4's being constructed. However, Marcus Robertson has put this on hold, with a view to making it a run to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of HM Queen Elizabeth II next year. All of its Christmas mainline runs have been cancelled as a result of these problems. They are now rostered for other locos, 60019 being the new loco. 

We are in contact with the NYMR and hope to see "Sir Nigel" back on the rails in 2012.

Good Luck and Haste ye back!

Regards,

Chris Nelson,

Mainline correspondent 

NRP Review 2011 update



SE&CR Double Headers are common on the Bluebell. Here, "P" class locos No's 178 & 323 "Bluebell" make an attractive sight teamed with Southern green coaches



SE&CR "P" Class No.323 "Bluebell" looking stunning in her her new blue livery, seen here during the Bluebell's "Branchline Gala", held over the weekend of the 12th/13th March 2011

2011 has been a busy year of filming for the NRP crew. The new "NRP Review 2011" DVD is nearly complete, with a few more months worth of filming to go. The Bluebell Railway will be holding their Vintage Trains Gala during the weekend of 4th/6th November. The new RH&DR DVD is also nearing completion. However, you will be able to view extracts of the footage in the Review DVD. In December, we will be venturing out onto Kent's mainline network filming various runs with Bullied No.34067 "Tangmere" and A1 No.60163 "Tornado", now in her fabulous new Brunswick Green livery. The full NRP Review will feature:

New year services on the Bluebell Railway

Extracts from the February services on the RH&DR

The West Somerset Railway 35th Anniversary Steam Gala

6023 "King Edward II" on her return to steam at Didcot Railway Centre

2 King class loco's together for the first time in 49 years

Extracts from a wonderful year at the RH&DR

The Superpower Weekend at the wonderful Welsh Highland railway

Vintage steam delights on the Bluebell Railway

Plus 34067 & 60163 in Kent

The programme wil also feature promo's for the 2012 programmes, full details of next year's itinirary will be published later.

Regards,

Chris Nelson,

2nd Cameraman

NRP to present RH&DR in a new light

0-4-0- Tender engine "St Egwin" is paired with another 0-4-0- No.4 "The Bug" during the 2006 "Double Header Day"

We are very pleased to announce the edition of a new video magazine to our NRP Video Magazine series. "Romney Rail", the chosen name for the magazine, will be produced twice monthly. Each issue of the magazine will highlight some of the most important stories and events throughout each month. "Romney Rail Issue 1" will be available in December. n this Issue:

RH&DR May services

The RH&DR May Wartime weekend, with "Black Prince" and others

The 80th Birthday of No.10 "Doctor Syn" with 6 locos in steam

The lead up to the end of the running season

A major feature filmed during the 2011 Steam & Deisel Gala, includes 2 0-4-0 tender loco's

We hope you will enjoy our first issue.

Regards,

Chris Nelson,

2nd Cameraman



Removal of No.4492 "Dominion of New Zealand" from NYMR stuns Rail Enthusiasts

A4 No.4492 "Dominion of New Zealand" powers up hill through Helpston on the outskirts of Peterbourugh


The performance gets even more volcanic in this classic A4 territory


Breasting the summit, "Dominion" approaches Peterbourugh

Unfortunately, New Romney Productions has learned that No.4492 "Dominion of New Zealand" never made it to the NYMR on Thursday due to a mechanical problem. The NYMR is very sorry for the dissapointment this may cause, as we ourselves were looking forward to the sight of a blue streamlined A4 on a set of Teak coaches. However, it is due to make its scheduled appearance at the Mid Hants Railway alongside "Tornado" and "Britannia" next weekend.

Watch this space for more information.

Regards,

Chris Nelson,

2nd Cameraman

Steam to return to the Met in 2013



L99 & L90 storm onto the main Metropolitan line



London Transport Panniers L99 (GWR No. 7752) & L90 (GWR No.7760) During "Steam on the Met 1993" at Amersham



Met No.1 paired with GWR Pannier No.9466 during "Steam on the Met"

Steam will return to London's Metropolitan line in 2013, to celebrate the 100th birthday of Met No.1, the vintage steam locomotive based at the Buckingamshire Railway Centre, Quainton Road. The loco's restoration is due to begin in late 2011/early 2012. In 2013, the special "Met" event, organised by members of London Underground and Tyseley Locomotive Works will feature Met No.1 and London Transport Panniers L99 & L94. Steam has been absent from the "Met" for nearly 10 years and we are very much looking forward to its return in 2 year's time.

One thing is certain: We'll be there!!
Regards,
Chris Nelson,
2nd Cameraman



Festrail helps out with "Cob 200 Celebrations"

George England 042T "Palmerston" & Penrhyn Quarry Hunslet "Blanche" storm away from Tan Y Bawlch on the FR

Another historic day for Festrail today as it helps out with the "Cob 200 Celebrations" being held in Porthmadog today. George England 042T "Palmerston" has been running vintage shuttle trains between Porthmadog and Minfordd and hopefully, these will have attracted some publicity by the end of the weekend.

Helping to operate the service trains into Porthmadog were Double Fairlie's "David Lloyd George" and "Merddin Emrys", supported by "Blanche" and 2 Garretts, 87 & 143. This has been another succesful event for the Festrail team with their traffic figures going up 62 0/0 this year.

Please note that "Palmerston" will be in operation again during the "Vintage Weekend" on the 15th/16th October 2011.

Regards,

Chris Nelson,

2nd Cameraman

King of the Hill, The results.....

A Garrett Triple Header over Britannia Bridge

Double Farlie's "David Lloyd George" & "Merddin Emrys" storm away from Pont Croesor

"Linda" & "Blanche", seen soon after completing their King of the Hill run

The 3 NGG16 Garratts are seen heading for Pont Croesor.

Jung Mallet No. 9 and Darjeeling "B" No.19 cross the Britannia Bridge on Sunday 11th september

The Gala, staged at the Welsh Highland Railway, was a competetion run by Festrail to see which locos could climb the hill between Beddgelert and Rhyd Ddu in the fastest time. This included some strange visitors and Multiple Headed combinations as seen in the photo's above.

The results showed that "Linda" and "Blanche" won, completing the climb in 1 minitue 15 seconds.

A brilliant weekend,

Chris Nelson,

2nd Cameraman