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THE STEAM RAILWAY AWARD: Your chance to vote

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Blue Peter’s first public railtour for 23 years

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The train at the top of the world

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Locos large and small shine at East Lancs gala

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Magnificent ‘Seven’ stars at Bluebell ‘Giants of Steam’

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Mid-Hants goes Great Western for autumn event

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Slieve Gullion steams for first time in over 20 years

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The official voice of preservation

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The right person for the job…

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Change at the top at North Norfolk

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Dinting when it ran out of steam

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Blue Peter hauls first railtour in over 20 years

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David Buck (1944-2024)

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Tornado steams – but Nene Valley visit delayed again

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Nene Valley welcomes ‘fantastic’ response to appeal

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Beachy Head is the star at Brighton-themed weekend

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Steam Railway SR565 – out now!

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2024 has been a blockbuster year for heritage steam, whether it is the completion of not one but two standard gauge new-build locomotives, the return to steam of engines that have spent decades on the side lines, or the opening of a railway’s extension – the last 12 months have had the lot. So much so that whittling down the list of potential candidates for the _Steam Railway_ readers’ award was an immense challenge, with over 20 possible nominees in the running at one point. Therefore, if your railway, organisation or project did not make the shortlist then we can only apologise, but the competition was fierce. If anything, such an abundance of award-worthy projects shows just how vibrant the preservation movement is right now, despite the many storms it has been forced to weather in recent years.

Ahead of the Heritage Railway Association’s annual awards ceremony in February, we are once again calling on you, our loyal readers, to choose the winner of the coveted _Steam Railway_ magazine award. Remember, this is the only HRA award decided by you, so make sure you vote, make your voice heard, and celebrate the preservation industry’s finest accomplishments from the last 12 months. To the candidates, we wish you the very best of luck; you are all worthy of winning and to be shortlisted is an achievement in itself.

**These are the nominees in alphabetical order:**

**6880 Betton Grange Society** for the completion of 81st Collett ‘Grange’ No. 6880 _Betton Grange_.

The **Bluebell Railway Atlantic Group** for the resurrection of LBSCR ‘H2’ No. 32424 _Beachy Head_.

The **Bluebell Railway** for the restoration and conversion of 1923-built Third Class Pullman Car No. 54 as Britain’s first wheelchair-accessible Pullman vehicle.

The **Carmyllie Pilot Company** for returning Ivatt ‘2MT’ 2-6-0 No. 46464 to steam for the first time since 1980 at the Strathspey Railway.

The **Ffestiniog Railway** for the overhaul and re-boilering of ‘Quarry Hunslet’ _Velinheli/Felinheli_.

The **Fisher family** for the overhaul and re-boilering of De Winton 0-4-0VBT _Chaloner_ and reversion to as-built condition.

**Locomotive Services Group** for the £5 million overhaul of LNER ‘A2’ No. 60532 _Blue Peter_.

The **Northampton & Lamport Railway** for the completion of its long-awaited southern extension to Boughton.

The **Swanage Railway** for its record-breaking ‘Strictly Bulleid II’ gala and first gathering of eight Bulleid ‘Pacifics’ since the end of Southern Region steam.

The **Vale of Rheidol Railway** for its restoration and transformation of the former GWR standard gauge shed at Aberystwyth into a flexible, undercover exhibition space.

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Votes close Friday 10th January 2025 11:59pm.

NEWLY OVERHAULED Peppercorn ‘A2’ No. 60532 _Blue Peter_ hauled its first public, revenue-earning railtour for over two decades on November 20.

The BR blue 4‐6‐2, which returned to steam in March this year following a comprehensive £5 million overhaul at Locomotive Services Group’s base at Crewe, was at the head of Saphos Trains’ Rugby-York ‘Christmas White Rose’.

Although the three-cylinder ‘Pacific’ returned to national network metals on July 13, that train – which ran from King’s Cross-York – was for invited guests only, whereas the ‘Christmas White Rose’ was its first railtour for fare-paying passengers since its previous main line ‘ticket’ expired in September 2001.

Joining the train at Crewe, taking over from LSG’s Intercity-liveried Class 87 No. 87002, _Blue Peter_ and its crew braved the icy conditions, with snow on the ground for much of the route, to take the train to York. _Blue Peter’s_ previous main line outing was the North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group-organised ‘Blue Peter

Farewell’ on June 9 2001, with No. 60532 – then painted in BR lined green – travelling from Crewe to Darlington via Shap and Carlisle.

With Christmas just around the corner, Steam Railway wraps up warm to explore a steam locomotive that is closer to the North Pole than any other on Earth.

Ny-Ålesund, an international scientific research station, is the northernmost place on Earth that is inhabited 365 days a year. Located on the 79th parallel on the island of Spitsbergen in the Svalbard archipelago, it is fringed by the Greenland and Barents seas, and nudges the Arctic icecap. For four months of the year the sun never sets; for four months it never rises.

Ny-Ålesund has everything that you might expect. Polar bears roam its perimeter. Walruses, seals, and beluga whales patrol its coastal waters. Skuas and fulmars sweep overhead.

It also has something you might not have anticipated – a steam train. Now a static exhibit, the narrow gauge locomotive and wagons are relics of Ny‐Ålesund’s coal mining days.

An English whale hunter, Jonas Poole, first spotted coal in Spitsbergen’s then uninhabited King’s Bay back in 1610. Three centuries later, a polar sea captain, Peter Brandal, was struggling to source coal to fuel his steamships as the First World War gathered momentum. In 1916, he and three partners established the Norwegian King’s Bay Kull Kompani to mine coal at King’s Bay. The company’s headquarters were based at Ålesund on the Norwegian mainland and the King’s Bay mining settlement was accordingly named Ny‐Ålesund (New Ålesund).

The settlement’s infrastructure included a simple 900mm gauge light railway covering the kilometre between the mine and the port. At one end, branches ran to two of the mine entrances. At the other, the line branched again to reach both the coal-loading quay and the main quay. Only traces of this system survive. The most visible is a length of track on which is displayed, as a static exhibit, an 0‐4‐0 well tank engine and five coal wagons.

The locomotive was manufactured at the Borsig factory in Tegel, Berlin, in 1909 for a steelworks in Silesia and was subsequently acquired by an iron ore mining company in Salangsverket in northern Norway. When that mine closed in 1912, the locomotive appears to have been stored before being sold to the King’s Bay company. It was built for 891mm gauge use but adjusted to 900mm gauge before entering service at Ny‐Ålesund in 1917. It carries the company number 2 and the Borsig works number 7095.

The King’s Bay company published the following information about the locomotive:

(a) Originally built for the Palsboda-Finspangs 891mm gauge railway in Sweden. (b) Originally for the Finspangs-Norsholms 891mm gauge railway in Sweden. (c) Originally built for the Vetlanda-Savsjo 891mm gauge railway in Sweden. (d) Originally built for the Donnersmarck Steelworks in Zabrze, Silesia. (e) Delivered initially to Niedermeyer & Goltze GmbH in

Waltrop, Germany. (f) Delivered initially to Hermann Moller GmbH in Bauunternehmung, Wilhelmshaven, Germany. (a), (b) and (c) were constructed for use on 891mm gauge lines and may have run unmodified at Ny‐Ålesund, where gauging was variable. (d) was converted from 891mm to 900mm gauge before going into service at Ny‐Ålesund. (e) and (f) were constructed for 900mm gauge use.

The history of the locomotive is bound up with that of the colliery and of the King’s Bay company. As mining ramped up, No. 2 was joined by a second German locomotive, Orenstein & Koppel Works No. 4286, and two older Swedish locomotives, Nydqvist & Holm Works Nos. 56 and 197 (see panel). In 1926, Ny‐Ålesund attracted global attention when the famed explorer Roald Amundsen and 15 others departed from there in the airship _Norge_ on the first transpolar flight, passing directly over the North Pole and landing in Alaska. However, for Ny‐Ålesund the reflected glory was short-lived. Coal production was halted in 1929 when collapsing prices made mining in remote areas unprofitable. The King’s Bay company went bankrupt and was nationalised in 1933.

The two Swedish locomotives were scrapped but No. 2 and the O&K locomotive survived. The settlement became a fishing port and No. 2 was converted for the steam distillation of cod liver oil.

With the outbreak of the Second World War, the Norwegian government decided to restart coal production at Ny‐Ålesund but the German occupation of Norway in May 1940 put a stop to that. Instead, the Allies evacuated the Ny‐Ålesund community in August 1941 along with the rest of Spitsbergen’s sparse population. Critical infrastructure was blown up, but No. 2 and its O&K stablemate were unharmed. The assumption is that the locomotives were left in covered storage in the otherwise deserted settlement.

Coal production restarted at Ny‐Ålesund in 1945, with output reaching 61,000 tonnes in 1947 and 81,000 tonnes in 1951. No. 2 and the O&K returned

to service and were still running in the 1950s. The records suggest that two further locomotives were delivered (see panel). One was manufactured by Motala Verkstad in Sweden, back in 1889, with the works number 107, but was not purchased for the Ny‐Ålesund colliery until 1945. The second was another O&K well tank, Works No. 13301, built in 1940 in Germany. It was probably shipped from Wilhelmshaven to mainland Norway in the early 1940s, making it available for transfer to the Ny‐Ålesund mine when the war ended.

Tragedy was to strike Ny‐Ålesund repeatedly after 1945. Mining was hazardous because of concentrations of methane gas and a series of fatal accidents culminated in an explosion in November 1962 that killed 21 miners.

The decision was then taken to close the mine.

Far from being the end, this was a new beginning for Ny‐Ålesund. In 1964, the European Space Research Organisation established a satellite telemetry station there and triggered the settlement’s development as an international research centre.

Today, 11 institutions from ten countries have a permanent presence researching fields such as atmospheric physics, biology, geology, glaciology, and oceanography. Renamed King’s Bay AS, the nationalised company has survived and serves as facilitator for the research station. Its remit includes protecting Ny‐Ålesund’s historic buildings and artefacts, including the little train. In 2016, the locomotive was transported to Sørumsand on the Norwegian mainland for restoration by Urskog-Hølandsbanen, while the wagons were restored by Kings Bay AS. Within a year, the train was back on display.

No. 2 and its wagons will never run again, but neither will they ever lose the distinction of having operated on the world’s northernmost railway. No train has ever got closer to the North Pole!

Stephen Evans is chairperson of the Watercress Line Heritage Railway Trust and was lucky enough to visit Ny‐Ålesund in July 2024. He is indebted to the Director of the Svalbard Museum, Eystein Markusson, and the Research Adviser at King’s Bay AS, Solveig Roti Dahl, for their help in researching this article. He has drawn on publications by King’s Bay AS, as well as on the valuable research conducted by James Waite and Richard Bowen and published on the International Steam website.

As 2025 approaches, excitement builds for Railway 200, especially with the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways’ plan to assemble nearly all its engines for a 200-wheel cavalcade on the ‘Cob’ this June—a historic spectacle not to be missed. The upcoming ‘Whistle Up’ on New Year’s Day also promises a thrilling start to the year, with railways across the country sounding their whistles in unison. Fond memories of old railway traditions, like engines in Stafford’s Castletown greeting midnight with roaring whistles, add to the anticipation. Read all of this and more in the new issue.  
  
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LOCOMOTIVES FROM opposite ends of the power and size spectrums were in action at the East Lancashire Railway’s Autumn Steam Gala on October 11-13.

Fresh from its exploits masquerading as Lickey banker ‘9F’ No. 92079 (see separate story, pages 22 ‐23), North Yorkshire Moors Railway-based single-chimney BR 2 ‐1 0‐0 No. 92134 was the star guest at the ELR’s three-day event. It was a homecoming of sorts for the ‘Spaceship’, which had been based at the railway from 2016 until 2018, when it moved to the NYMR, returning to steam there in September 2019. The 1957-built ‘9F’ showed its strength on the Saturday night, hauling a mammoth 15-coach train from Bury to Rawtenstall and back. No. 92134 carried a ‘C797’ BR reporting board for this train; in the 1960s, a batch of ‘9Fs’ were allocated to Newton Heath shed for working Blackpool specials during the summer, for which they carried the ‘C797’ reporting number. The board used on No. 91234’s run was an original item, made available for the event by enthusiast Steve Leyland.

The opposite end of the scale was a pair of smaller guest locomotives: Furness Railway No. 20 and recently overhauled Andrew Barclay 0 ‐ 4‐0ST Works No. 1969 _J.N. Derbyshire,_ both attending courtesy of the Ribble Steam Railway, having recently starred in the Preston line’s own gala two weeks previously (see pages 28 ‐29). The pair were primarily employed on short-line brake van shuttles during the event, while mechanical problems that arose on the Friday evening briefly side-lined No. 20 on the Saturday morning, with ex ‐Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway ‘Pug’ 0 ‐ 4‐0ST No. 11243 taking its booked turns until the 1863-built locomotive returned to service later that morning.

Also in action from the ELR’s home fleet were ex-Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway ‘Class 23’ 0 ‐ 6‐0ST No. 11456 (in its recently applied LMS livery), air-smoothed ‘West Country’ No. 34092 _City of Wells,_ ‘Jinty’ 0 ‐ 6‐0T No. 47298, and rebuilt Hunslet ‘Austerity’ 0 ‐ 6‐0 No. 2890 ‘Douglas’.

The ELR described the gala as “another well attended, well planned and well run event”, with positive visitor numbers and revenue over 2023’s autumn steam gala. It added: “The brake vans rides and Furness 20 were popular over the three days, so congratulations to the event organisers and steam department for their efforts.”

WHILE ENTHUSIASTS flocked to the north west for the East Lancashire Railway’s Autumn Steam Gala on October 11 ‐13 (see separate story), there was plenty to see at the opposite end of the country the same weekend at the Bluebell Railway’s ‘Giants of Steam’ gala.

The sole guest locomotive was ‘A4’ No. 60007 _Sir Nigel Gresley_ (which itself graced the ELR earlier this year). The BR blue locomotive provided a proper 1950s throwback during the gala, paired with the Bluebell’s carmine and cream BR Mk 1s. As well as participating in ‘Giants of Steam’, the Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Trust-owned ‘Pacific’ stayed on at the West Sussex line after the event to haul both regular passenger services and ‘Golden Arrow’ dining trains on October 19/20, before returning to its current Crewe base on October 23.

However, it was arguably the Bluebell’s home fleet that stole the show. In the run ‐up to the gala, on October 7, the railway became the Somerset & Dorset line for a Jon Bowers photo charter, featuring BR ‘5MT’ No. 73082 _Camelot_ running as scrapped classmate No. 73087 _Linette._ The Riddles 4 ‐ 6‐0 was allocated to Bath Green Park at various times from 1956 until 1960, and was a frequent sight on the Bath-Bournemouth West line. During the charter, it was paired up with rebuilt ‘Battle of Britain’ No. 34059 _Sir Archibald Sinclair,_ emulating the double-heading of BR Class 5s and rebuilt Bulleid ‘Light Pacifics’ on the famed ‘Pines Express’ over the route in BR days.

Both No. 73082 (subsequently reverted to its true identity) and _Sir Archibald Sinclair_ were in action during the ‘Giants of Steam’ weekend, alongside newly completed LBSCR ‘H2’ No. 32424

_Beachy Head_ and on-loan ‘Modified Hall’ No. 6989 _Wightwick Hall._ There was more double-heading of various combinations throughout the event, with ‘Number Seven’ hauling a non-stop express from Sheffield Park-East Grinstead and return each day.

There were two ‘A4s’ running at the gala, as the 10¼in gauge version of _Sir Nigel Gresley_ (in LNER Garter blue as No. 4498 minus its side valances) was brought over from the Eastleigh Lakeside Railway. The miniature machine has now met two of its full-size counterparts, having encountered No. 60009 _Union of South Africa_ at ‘Giants of Steam’ in 2018.

‘THE ALPS’ were partially transformed into the South Devon banks on October 4 ‐6, with a pair of Great Western Railway locomotives starring at the Mid-Hants Railway’s Autumn Steam Gala.

The Swindon-designed visitors were ‘Large Prairie’ 2 ‐ 6‐2T No. 4144 and ‘56XX’ 0 ‐ 6‐2T No. 6695 from Didcot Railway Centre and the Swindon & Cricklade Railway respectively, with the pair bringing a decidedly GWR feel to what is ordinarily a steadfastly Southern Region line. Western designs did not predominate, however, with a third visiting locomotive – air-smoothed ‘Battle of Britain’ No. 34072 _257 Squadron,_ attending courtesy of Southern Locomotives Ltd and the Swanage Railway – staying true to the ‘Watercress Line’s’ 1950s Southern Region character, as did MHR residents ‘S15’ No. 506 and former Southern Region-allocated Ivatt ‘2MT’ 2 ‐ 6‐2T No. 41312. One interloper was the MHR’s Hunslet 0 ‐ 6‐0T Works No. 3781 (originally built as an ‘Austerity’ 0 ‐ 6‐0ST in 1952 but rebuilt in side tank form as ‘Thomas the Tank Engine’ in 1994). The former National Coal Board locomotive performed a single Ropley-Alresford trip each morning before providing driver experiences within Ropley yard during the rest of the day.

Visitors could also ride in the brake van on the demonstration goods train, while _257 Squadron_ hauled re ‐creations of the ‘Atlantic Coast Express’ each day.

EX-GREAT NORTHERN Railway (Ireland) ‘S’ class 4 ‐ 4‐0 No. 171 _Slieve Gullion_ returned to steam for the first time in two decades at the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland’s Whitehead headquarters on July 27.

Last steamed in July 2002, the overhaul of the 1913-built locomotive originally began in January 2014 when it was sent to Railway Restoration North East Ltd in Shildon. However, No. 171 returned to Ireland after the company ceased trading in February 2015, and it was temporarily re-assembled for display inside the RPSI’s Whitehead Railway Museum. Work resumed in September 2019, when it was moved to the RPSI’s Dunleath workshops.

The society said: “We now need to work our way through 30 minor defects and other matters identified during the test. And there are also two major items – painting and the electrical work.”

The first steam test took place in January last year, while the wheels and frames were reunited in May 2023. At present, the RPSI is unable to operate on the main line in Northern Ireland, but plans are afoot to move No. 171 to Dublin for trials.

#### **HERITAGE RAILWAY ASSOCIATION CHIEF EXEC STEVE OATES TACKLES STEAM’S BURNING ISSUES**

WHEN JOE Biden announced he was withdrawing from the race to be President of the United States, it inevitably hit the headlines the world over. It even knocked a Heritage Railway Association story out of one of the tabloids! But that’s not why it resonated with me as relevant to our sector.

It’s easy to forget that someone with such a huge place in the world – arguably the most influential man on the globe – is still a mere mortal. Despite all of the advisers, media circus and speculation, the decision to call it a day must still have been a deeply personal one – and actually quite an honourable one, praise for which has been widespread.

Because how many people, when sat in the top chair or at the ‘top table’, would be able to decide that it’s time for someone else to have a go? Perhaps someone with different ideas and experiences; maybe a bit younger or from a different background; even someone who might need a bit of trial and error to find their feet, but ultimately with fresh perspectives and very capable of making a better job of things than you.

And sadly, here’s the point. I think parallels exist around the boardroom tables of heritage railways up and down the country.

Of course, some longevity of relevant experience and corporate knowledge is vital, but how much stronger would our sector be if some of our elder statesmen took a more Biden-esque approach?

As a sector, we’re very good at saying that we need ‘new blood’, ‘younger people’ and different demographics to come and get stuck in. But what we’re not so good at is giving those people of different ages, sex, background or skill sets a chance at the higher levels.

There are many cases where the founding fathers of our heritage railways are still to be found in senior positions and on their boards all these decades later. And, yes, I understand the temptations and the thought processes that go on in the minds of longstanding directors and trustees. They’re the people who have put in decades of hard work and often put their hands in their pockets during those early years. In the eyes of many, it’s ‘their’ railway.

Some could scarcely have imagined 40 or 50 years ago what their railway would become… probably a sizeable (often multi-million pound) business, an employer, a key part of the local and regional visitor economy, a charity with public benefit obligations, and subject to a wealth of compliance and safety obligations. It’s much more than just ‘your’ railway now.

And there’s the rub. Running a heritage railway in 2024 is very, very different to running one in 1974, 1984 or even 1994. I know, I was there (albeit as a youngster). The skills needed are completely different and the responsibilities placed on boards and trusts are certainly not reduced.

If you’re an elder statesman of heritage rail, are you genuinely having those difficult discussions and thinking about what’s really best for ‘your’ railway – even if it’s an internal monologue for now? Can you be certain that you’re still the best person to occupy a board position? And even if you might still be the best person for the job today, have you worked out how to ensure a sensible and structured transition in the not-too-distant future?

None of us got involved with railway preservation to take it to the grave with us. The only way we can avoid doing that is by truly embracing succession planning – and well before we need to emulate President Biden.

#### **FOR SOME, MANAGING A HERITAGE RAILWAY CAN BECOME A POISONED CHALICE.**

A LOT OF vacancies have been advertised at heritage railways over the past few years, including some pretty senior positions. Things are tough, with nearly all railways wondering how to make ends meet yet, and all the while the ORR seems to be tightening its grip on railway safety.

This is understandable. With incidents on heritage lines niggling away and refusing to reduce year on year, management of competence is so very important. Management of competence also means competent managers and the expectations of (and demands on) senior management grow. Try recruiting someone with the right skills and the chances are they are already in a role of equal standing, but almost certainly earning quite a bit more than the heritage sector can offer.

For most, it is by far the easier and better option to stay in ‘mainstream’ employment, particularly as once you jump ship it’s hard to get back on. The most successful recruiting scenario is of someone who has done volunteer work at a heritage railway, is passionate about it, has amassed the skills and experience needed and is prepared to give up salary and pensions in return for following their passion. Such people are in short supply.

We have seen railways using recruitment consultants and reaching out to sectors such as the museum sector as they try to find someone who has a fighting chance of leading the team. Sometimes this works, but I suspect the failure rate is a bit higher than one might expect. Take a few steps away from the arena of railway management and it can be really difficult to see why it is such a problem. Surely it is a great job and a lifestyle choice, away from the rat race and doing something really rather nice? Get closer though and there are challenges well beyond any ‘normal’ management job. For managers drawn from within the ranks, the job can be a very lonely one. Things usually start well enough with the new manager heralded as being just the person and the one who ‘knows how we tick’ etc. The honeymoon period soon passes, however, when two people at odds with each other and possibly both considered to be friends of the new manager have some sort of disagreement. Things end up with that senior manager being called upon to make a decision. It suddenly becomes apparent to the manager that of the two friends in the room, one will no longer be such a firm friend. With experience, one can envisage such circumstances emerging and possibly find a solution, but ultimately making those decisions is a tough job.

Over time, the number of difficult decisions can take its toll, and there will always a cohort of people that really don’t like the person making them. Normally, managers are not there to be liked, and those who primarily seek popularity will struggle to win through. Paid staff can bring challenges for railway managers too. Money is not everything in life, this we know, and responsibility and the satisfaction of a job well done is motivating. However, a lack of money is a big issue as anyone who has struggled to make ends meet or to bring up a family will tell you. Low wages mean employees looking for ‘side hustles’, becoming weary of doing it, or having their minds occupied by working on some deal that will earn a few extra pounds. Some will feel awkward doing this, some will try to hide it and, for some, it will become a normal part of what they do.

All this costs the organisation in one way or another and can build animosity towards the leaders and managers. It can be rather painful when these matters come to a head and an employee has to leave. Management feels angry about the behaviours and the employees feel they were driven to it. It’s hard to maintain your fascination for railways/locos/history when things like this are going on all around you. Minimum wage legislation that drives us away from a low ‐wage economy can help with some of these problems, but with many heritage railways reliant on manual labour (well, we are preserving both railways and working practices of bygone times) it brings further problems in balancing the books and the stress that goes with that. A railway manager once remarked that it was necessary to grow skin thicker than a rhinoceros hide to be able to run a heritage line.

Another protection mechanism is for the manager to build some distance between themselves and the people they manage. All too quickly, however, this can go wrong. The manager may seem distant and detached, ultimately losing that all ‐important link with the people and things that make the railway tick, and typically this has terminal consequences for that leader. Surely it is all worth it though, and great fun to be part of all those projects and events? Well, yes, it is to a degree, but it would be interesting to peer into the diaries of some of those managers. Ever heard volunteers complaining that the managers are not around at the weekends while all the volunteers are working? Managers are, of course, required to attend committees and members’ meetings, event planning and local business link ‐ups. The list goes on and, of course, if the manager does have to work all weekend then they can always have a couple of days off in the week, right? Except many of the staff who, most unreasonably, would like to work a regular working week expect the manager to be around when they are to get stuff done. Those Monday morning meetings can be so important for getting things done, but not so effective if the manager is not in until Wednesday.

So, back to recruitment, what can we do? The long list of vacancies tells us we have to do something if we want to keep enjoying our railways. As I have said before, a heritage railway is a very expensive hobby. We have to face up to the fact that if we want them to survive, which means competent people managing them safely, then we need to attract managers and leaders to work for the sector in a fair and reasonable way.

Some folk liken railway leaders to football club managers, both subject to huge amounts of opinion on social media about how the job should be done. The difference is, of course, that those football managers get paid a king’s ransom, but heritage railway managers don’t. There has been much talk of the railway preservation bubble bursting. I have commented that it is happening if we could but recognise the signs. One of the signs is that some people simply walk away because they don’t like running them any more.

Recently overhauled Giesl ejector-fitted Hunslet ‘Austerity’ 0‐6‐0ST NCB East Fife Area No. 18 (Works No. 3809) departs from Sheringham with a Holt-bound drain during the NNR’s ‘Vintage Week’ on July 10. Previously based at the NNR from 1988 until 2006, the 1954-built locomotive will remain at the NNR for the rest of the year. HAYDEN SHEPPARD

GRAHAM HUKINS has been appointed as the North Norfolk Railway’s full-time general manager. Hukins has been on the ‘Poppy Line’s’ senior management team since August 2021 when he was appointed commercial manager, but for the last few months has been in the post of interim general manager. NNR chairman Steve Allen said that since joining the railway, Hukins had “demonstrated a clear understanding of the particular challenges associated with the heritage railway sector and the NNR in particular and has provided the leadership and stability needed in recent months as Interim GM. He is the right person for the job.”

Hukins’ appointment comes as the NNR’s managing director, Hugh Harkett, has decided to step down from the role after 17 years. Harkett was taken ill earlier this year and is recuperating with his family in Wales.

Commenting on Harkett’s departure, Allen said: “Hugh’s management of the finances has helped us keep our head above water – especially during Covid.”

Meanwhile, the NNR has reported that the last financial year was a “marked improvement” on the previous year, with the line posting an operating profit of £58,798 – a turnaround of £267,816 compared to 2022/3. Trading performance was also good, with fare income exceeding expectations. In addition, trains ran on 30 fewer days in 2023 compared with 2022 to reduce pressures on staff and volunteers, and while overall passenger numbers fell from 152,322 to 148,801, passenger loadings per day were up 9%.

This year, the railway has carried 46,330 passengers as of the end of June, which is within a day’s loadings of 2023, and income was reportedly above budget and ahead of last year.

#### PETE SKELLON offers a personal view of a much-missed preservation pioneer.

We often muse over recollections and nostalgia for the days of steam or, perhaps, the diesel era of our youth. Such emotions have formed the basis from which grew the success of our heritage railway industry. However, rarely is this attribution proffered to a lost venue, one created specifically for the preservation of those days of old. The Dinting Railway Centre, however, is one such location. Its closure in 1990 has left some observers wistful over past memories of attending with family or friends in, what was then, the rarefied atmosphere of steam.

The growing fondness for Dinting tends to manifest itself as ‘chat’ on various media sites. Some propose that the centre should be revived, while others express conjecture as to the reasons for its closure, or astonishment at how quickly nature has taken over what was once an important setting for nurturing embryonic enthusiasts.

Two views of Hudswell, Clarke No. 1704 Nunlow and the ex‐Baddesley Colliery Avonside No. 1883, being prepared on the ash pit. This activity was visible to observers from the car park, thus providing the ideal advertisement for any teenager wishing to emulate the young cleaners such as Nick Morgan and Tony Smith, here cleaning Nunlow’s wheels and frames. PETE SKELLON

Why should that be? What was the allure of the place to cause this reaction? And why did it close when all around were apparently prospering?

The railway press has reported on the rise and fall story on a number of occasions. Usually these have focused on the negotiations over the rent, the subsequent dispersal of the collection, and the move and rebirth of the Bahamas Locomotive Society – the centre’s operator – together with the transfer of its core objects to Ingrow on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway.

The return to steam of No. 6115 Scots Guardsman was a major milestone in all that was achieved at Dinting. On the occasion of its first main line outing on October 14 1978 it is seen here receiving a quick clean at York in the days before such support crew activities became formalised. PETE SKELLON

But what of the people, those volunteers who built, maintained and developed the site, and the visitors who came along to enjoy the fruits of all that labour? What was the effect on those who built the place and witnessed its demise?

We often overlook that ‘railway preservation’ is a product of people. While the majority will record the spectacle portrayed by locomotives, rolling stock, signalling, etc, there is less recorded about the people, a key component of all railway systems.

In a previous article (SR560) I recounted the purchase of ‘Jubilee’ No. 45596 _Bahamas_ and the group who would create a home for it at Dinting. It highlighted how circumstance and personality often affect the outcome of any enterprise, in particular where volunteers and ‘authority’ negotiate across the table. It was, of course, the volunteer who created the heritage railway movement, not the entrepreneur. Back in the late 1960s and early 1970s, nobody had the cash to invest in place, product, and people to inaugurate and build the industry in which we now luxuriate, and what little investment was available was harnessed by the efforts of those volunteers.

Brake van rides were a highlight for any visitor to Dinting and offered what is now referred to as an ‘immersive experience’. Here Hudswell, Clarke No. 1704 Nunlow propels the NE brake van and slows at the crossing for the driver to take instruction from Harold Moss, this no doubt with regard to the shunting arrangements required at the end of the day. BILL SKELLON

Enthusiasm, skills and luck were required to succeed. Those three facets fortunately shone sufficiently to establish the Dinting Railway Centre in 1968. The venture was as remarkable as those at Carnforth, Didcot or Tysley; if not more so when it is considered Dinting had little in the way of infrastructure in the beginning.

While other railways began to evolve and were rising from the ground (literally), the concept of a ‘working museum’ was new. These ‘centres’, where visitors could get close to a large operational express engine without it departing out of view for an hour or so before returning were, and remain, few in number. Dinting forged its place among the growing railway preservation scene. The place was not unique, but it was sufficiently different that its closure, now almost 35 years ago, left something of a vacuum that has never effectively been filled.

It’s Enthusiast’s Day 1981 and the caretaker, Harold Povey, is in conversation with chief engineer Steve Allsop by the side of ‘Austerity’ 0 ‐ 6‐0ST WD150 Warrington. PETE SKELLON

From the outset, Dinting was created to attract the general public, with one member of the founding society, Eddie Hoskins, noting in 1969 that it would be they, the visitors, who would pay for the privilege of allowing members to enjoy their hobby. The building of the exhibition hall in the early 1970s, partially erected as a DIY job by volunteers and enabling all the locomotives to be under cover, was a primary aim; a souvenir shop to maximise income being part of that facility. Next would come a picnic area where families could gather adjacent to the demonstration line, a setting enhanced by views across Dinting Vale and the surrounding Derbyshire countryside, an attraction in its own right. Eddie’s Lawn, as it was known by some members, was cheap and easy to create, but it would be many years before funds became available for the construction of a dedicated refreshment room and adequate toilet facilities, amenities that came to be expected by a more demanding public in a growing tourist industry.

In today’s world of lottery funding or grant aid from specialist agencies, it is hard to recall that in the 1970s these game-changing sources of income were all but unheard of. That the highpoint of visitors attending Dinting was in 1979 is all the more noteworthy because this had been achieved solely by the combined efforts of society volunteers who created the attraction to entice them. The effort expended formed a strong spirit of camaraderie among the working members, a trait that no doubt existed in many similar enterprises, but it was nevertheless a key feature of survival through all that was to come.

Andrew Barclay 0 ‐ 4‐0ST No. 2258 Tiny, freshly repainted in a livery typical of the GER. In the foreground is one the LNWR ground signals controlling yard operations. This signal was operated by the ex ‐GCR electropneumatic interlocking system equipment installed by S&T engineer Pete Essex. BILL SKELLON

This sense of community should not to be underestimated. It made achievable such goals as the overhaul of rebuilt ‘Royal Scot’ No. 6115 _Scots Guardsman_ and its return to the main line in 1978\. This helped the team to develop the skills necessary to tackle the overhaul and return to steam of the LNWR ‘Coal Tank’ – a task completed in two years, and one which received numerous plaudits for the standard of it restoration.

With the completion of the ‘Coal Tank’, and its inclusion in the ‘Rocket 150’ event at Rainhill, greater things were envisaged for 1980. Yet despite the array of visiting engines working to or from Dinting for the event assembly site at Bold colliery, a decline in public attendance began to cause concern to those who managed the centre.

The working week of 1986 with the steam breakdown crane in use to help replace the bogie beneath No. 45596 Bahamas. It’s all smiles from Steve Peach, Gordon Greenhalgh and George Bowler, although Garry Howard appears to be more concerned perhaps over some scratches in the paintwork on the bogie wheels. STEVE ALLSOP

The management committee, supported by two or three sub-committees, ran the business to the best of their abilities, albeit within the confines of the time each had available from the usual pressures of personal life.

Peter Beebe, an engineer, took on the honorary position of treasurer in 1980 and in his report to the society newsletter pointedly remarked, “…we could describe ourselves as a bunch of amateurs running a business and, so far, we have not made a bad job of it, but as trade is becoming more difficult I sometimes feel we could benefit from certain specialist advice or guidance. Unfortunately, none of the committee is a banker or an accountant, or runs an advertising agency, or is a marketing director…”

The effect of competition from other tourist venues was having a negative effect. The nearby Alton Towers had just opened as a theme park and the growth of industrial museums was under way as a reaction to the demise of engineering and manufacturing industries. Also, what would be a two-year economic recession began in 1980. And then the landlord, Jack Warburton, raised the rent by 50%.

A mid ‐1980s view from the veranda of the NE brake Van, as it is propelled towards Platform 2. The site had reached what turned out to be the high point of its maturity with the fully signalled demonstration track, the installation of a rare telephone box with stamp dispenser and direction signage in traditional railway style. LNER No. 532 Blue Peter is in the yard on No. 3 road, being cleaned by Garry Howard. BILL SKELLON

Recovering some of the permanent way and S&T equipment in September 1990. Chairman Simon Bryant, on the right, oversees the group whose smiles belie the trauma of uprooting all that had been achieved over the previous 21 years. GORDON COLTAS/BLS ARCHIVE

One way to overcome rent increases is to purchase the land. Despite this proposal, the offer was declined for the landlord had no wish to sell. Maybe this was not too much of a concern; Jack was a friend, a vice-president and, as a solicitors clerk, undertook on behalf of the centre all the legal negotiations with BR over siding and bridge maintenance agreements; he was trusted. One drawback with the rent agreement was that it was for a period of five years, with the option to renew. Such a short-term agreement was not conducive to attracting grants. Long-term tenure of venue was, and is, usually a stipulation for any grant support. This source of funding, which was then becoming available at the behest of a government wishing to support tourism, was unattainable to the society. Income could only be generated by visitors coming through the gate or by outreach (a term then unknown, but what we referred to as ‘outside sales’).

The former signal box from Rushton station was refurbished and used to control the signalling system on No. 4 Road. Here No. 6115 Scots Guardsman sets back to pick up its brake van while crossing keeper Eddie Rutter controls his gate and Mike Stevens converses with Harold Moss. STEVE ALLSOP

The rural aspect of the site was used to advantage in good weather. Here some of the lads have their lunch break on the plateau behind the ‘old shed’. This was a useful vantage point to view operations in the yard or, as here, ideal for hurling abuse at any passing photographer eager to record their spirit of fun. PETE SKELLON

If these economics appeared gloomy to the few responsible for overseeing the ‘business’, then for others the day-to-day (weekend-to-weekend) tasks were not only enjoyable they were ‘fun’. The hard core of volunteers centred on the locomotives. With engines being prepared for the Sunday steaming, or at Bank Holidays, these activities were very much in public view. Visitors would see engines being cleaned, often by youngsters. This unhindered view, that was even ‘hands on’ for some, became a magnet to others wanting to join in. The result was an almost constant supply of teenagers willing to become involved and experience something new, different, and ‘fun’. And although an older and experienced group undertook their responsibilities to the full, they also took under their wing these ‘enginemen of tomorrow’, nurturing them in the ways of locomotives and the world, with discipline and mutual respect – but still with an air of fun.

Following the completion of the ‘Coal Tank’, a start was made on the overhaul of _Bahamas._ As the raison d’être for establishing Dinting, a start on _Bahamas_ was significant. The engine had last steamed seven years previous, following the open day at Reddish Electric Depot in September 1973 and the expiry of its boiler certificate. With the restoration team having gained substantial experience, the original concept of having others undertake the known significant boiler repairs was modified. Steve Allsop, as chief engineer, considered the task could now be achieved in ‐house, bringing in specialist contractors only when required. And with the purchase of the Allerton breakdown crane, the members had the necessary lifting capability to handle the job, albeit subject to the vagaries of the Derbyshire weather as all the boiler work was undertaken outside. Repairing boilers in the snow! Told you it was fun!

And while the job would endure for the next eight years, development of the site to improve the amenities continued as the limited funds and labour would allow. Use was made of social assistance from groups such as ‘Manpower Services’ and the ‘probation lads’, whose past misdemeanours would hopefully be changed for the better by such public service. These groups were put to work on development projects, such as the construction of the platform at the end of the demonstration track or renewing boundary and lineside fencing.

This input was just what was needed, for throughout the 1980s there was a gradual decline in volunteers willing to undertake the innumerable maintenance tasks. This decline continued right through to the end of the decade when, on many Saturdays, there was nobody available to collect entrance fees, and on some Sundays, when the shop remained closed because of unavailability of staff, each resulting in loss of income.

And income was needed. The expenditure on essentials such as rents and rates was growing at an alarming rate. Negotiations over the renewal of the lease had broken down in 1983 and the society was given notice to quit the site by the landlord. The action by the society’s solicitors failed in their duty to respond and so the protection of the Landlords and Tenants Act was lost. The landlord could and did increase the rent as he wished, the 500% increase over the ten years from 1978 was substantial. The only comeback was to take action against the solicitors. The resulting payout came just in time to fund the move away from Dinting and prepare for setting up at Ingrow.

The acrimony with the landlord over rent turned to hostility following damage to a model car racing track that he had laid on the car park. This track was much larger than had been envisaged and, after some visitors used it to park their cars during a busy ‘Santa’ weekend, the damage so caused resulted in a notice to vacate the site.

This was received only a few months after the society celebrated its 21st birthday, an event in which the overhaul of No. 45596 _Bahamas_ was completed. Talk about highs and lows!

The refreshment room constructed on the car park and opened in 1983. This allowed the Enginemen’s Room, adjacent to the ‘old shed’ to revert to its former purpose, having previously been used to serve the public cups of tea and sandwiches amidst the needs for the members mess facilities. BILL SKELLON

The packing of the ‘thousand ton suitcase’, the hunt for a new home, the acrimony over what items could be taken and what had to be left behind, was faced, endured and accomplished in a most remarkable manner. The fortitude shown proved the value of community embedded in the members. For some of an older generation, the upset was too much for them to consider starting all over again. And for those younger?

Well, we had grown up together; we had worked, rested, played, even dated. We mocked our committee, we mocked our competitors and we mocked establishment. Moreover, we mocked ourselves. We were family. It bred a special kind of humour, one not always understood or appreciated by others, but it was ours, something we owned. We were young, eager, bursting with life and ideas, with a common cause, a sense of satisfaction of a job well done for each project completed. We were like sponges, soaking up the knowledge of others who had been there, done that, until the time came to squeeze the sponge and show those coming up behind how it should be done.

Would the like ever happen again? In view of the way society changes, it’s doubtful. It was the right place at the right time with the right people. Things don’t last forever and the business at Dinting just ran out of steam. And the people? Well, we keep on keeping on. What other way is there?

As Simon Bryant, 36 years our chairman and subsequently our president, has stated, “We’ve survived because of our love of the steam locomotives we look after and – dare I say it – our love of each other. That’s how we’ve survived, and if you have both those things, then you’ll succeed.”

KING’S CROSS was the perfect backdrop to the start of Peppercorn ‘A2’ No. 60532 _Blue Peter’s_ first railtour since 2001, on July 13.

The 1948-built 4‐6‐2 was formally rededicated at the former Great Northern Railway terminus in London to celebrate the completion of its overhaul, which took seven years and cost an estimated £5 million. After the ceremony, the BR blue ‘Pacific’ hauled a special train of trustees of the Royal Scot Locomotive & General Trust and other invited guests from London to York.

Trust founder and chairman Jeremy Hosking said: “Today marks the return to main line service (after a 22-year absence) of locomotive 60532 _Blue Peter,_ one of the most powerful steam locomotives ever built in this country. I would like to thank my fellow trustees at Royal Scot Locomotive & General Trust for bringing this seven-year, £5m, project to completion, and to our engineering colleagues at Crewe. All of us are also indebted to the Drury family, who rescued _Blue Peter_ from the scrapman’s torch in 1968.” Richard Drury – son of the late Geoff Drury who originally purchased _Blue Peter_ from BR, and an RSL & GT trustee – added: “It is wonderful and incredibly moving to see _Blue Peter_ restored to such immaculate and, dare I say, ‘better than new’ condition. I know that my late father Geoff, who stepped in to help save the engine, would be thrilled and delighted to see 60532 in such a magnificent and ‘in steam’ state, perfectly rebuilt. _Blue Peter_ was saved to inspire new generations of enthusiasts and now, in its stunning new livery, it will certainly achieve that goal. Both I and my fellow trustees wish to express our enormous thanks to Jeremy and all in LNWRH, who have been involved in restoring this magnificent locomotive.”

Fully restored to working order in late 1991 by the North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group, _Blue Peter_ was a regular sight on main line railtours until its ‘ticket’ expired in September 2001, after which it ran at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway until the end of the 2002 season. Purchased by Jeremy Hosking in October 2014, it returned to steam at Crewe in March before moving to the Severn Valley Railway for running-in ahead of its full-time return to the national network (SR557).

#### **‘Mayflower’s’ main line champion dies**

DAVID BUCK, who died at his home in Oxfordshire on August 24 aged 80, and after a long illness, achieved his ambition of owning a main line LNER locomotive – although he actually wanted two, writes HOWARD JOHNSTON

The former Ipswich station trainspotter became well-known as the owner of Thompson ‘B1’ 4 ‐ 6‐0 No. 61306 ‘Mayflower’ for eight years, and enjoyed cab rides when it became the flagship locomotive of the Steam Dreams railtour company that he also bought, innovating regular steam specials from London to Windsor.

A highly successful self-made businessman, David was foiled when his cash offer for one of the two Gresley ‘A4s’ returned to Britain from North America in 2013 for display at the ‘Mallard 75’ line-up at the NRM was rejected, and thus both engines went back across the Atlantic. He had not been too fussed over whether it was No. 60008 _Dwight D. Eisenhower_ or No. 4489 _Dominion of Canada,_ simply that he wanted to restore one of them to a high standard for use on the main line. Acquiring ‘Mayflower’ had been an easier proposition, and he welcomed the idea of repainting it in lined BR black – the only colour that he remembered as a child – but it never happened during his ownership because the engine’s British Railways lined Apple green always seemed to be in too good condition.

David Peter Buck was born in Ipswich, close to the East Suffolk Line, in January 1944, and picked up his keen interest in locomotives from his father, who was secretary of the local Hornby Railway Society and worked from an office close to Ipswich station. He would idle away many hours on the platform, where he witnessed the final years of Great Eastern main line steam, which included BR ‘Britannia’ 4 ‐ 6‐2s, Gresley ‘B17’ and Thompson ‘B2’ 4 ‐ 6‐0s, and of course numerous Thompson ‘B1s’.

David spent many years working for the BBC as a television engineer before setting up on his own business in Slough in 1975 to make copies of films for the cinema. The company’s success and its eventual sale allowed him to seriously develop his railway interests, which included acquiring rolling and laying track of various gauges on his estate at Fifield in Berkshire. He also collected railwayana, and was proud to have a nameplate from almost every Ipswich ‐based ‘B17’.

David’s big opportunity to honour his East Anglian roots and go main line arrived in 2014 following the decision of the family of the late Gerald Boden to sell No. 61306 ‘Mayflower’. David said he was always in awe of Gerald’s tireless efforts to keep his engine in immaculate external condition.

The 4 ‐ 6‐0, the last of the original fleet of 410 to be withdrawn from Low Moor (Bradford) shed in September 1967 along with two others, was not then an Eastern Region engine, but already famous for being the last ‘B1’ to run over the Great Central line to Marylebone, and also was in charge of the last steamhauled portion of the ‘Yorkshire Pullman’ from Bradford Exchange to Leeds on its final day in service. It was taken to Steamtown Carnforth for storage (when it also acquired the ‘Mayflower’ identity carried by scrapped classmate No. 61379) and was then based variously at Loughborough, Hull Dairycoates, and Wansford on the Nene Valley Railway. Under David’s ownership, the ‘B1’ was overhauled for its main line debut in February 2015 on a special from Norwich to Windsor. However, it was soon sidelined for an extensive boiler overhaul that took three years. By this time, David had also developed a close working relationship with Steam Dreams owner Marcus Robertson, which would last for the next two decades. David took over the business at the end of 2018 (keeping Marcus on board), and refocused it to primarily operate regular trips out of London, with occasional forays to other locations and preserved lines.

David was a director of the National Transport Trust between 2015-18, and in early 2020 agreed to become patron of the Standard Steam Locomotive Company, succeeding the late Sir William McAlpine and supporting the construction of the 11th BR ‘Clan’ 4 ‐ 6‐2 No. 72010 _Hengist,_ which is planned to be completed in 2029 if £4 million can be raised.

Aware that he had cancer and had to scale down his activities, David sold Steam Dreams to Locomotive Services Group boss Jeremy Hosking in June 2022. ‘Mayflower’, which had undergone extensive work on its boiler and cylinders, was part of the package, along with a support coach and kitchen car. The ‘B1’ was already undergoing maintenance at LSL, which included the fitting of air brake equipment for the firm’s stock. The stated intention was to run Steam Dreams independently under the LSL banner, with its own booking office and staff.

David then spent much of his time at his home, which he had reputedly acquired because the land it occupied was flat and capable of accommodating railway track. It was where he kept his 5ft gauge Finnish ‘Hr1’ 4 ‐ 6‐2 No. 1016 which, it was claimed, was the largest operational steam locomotive in the UK. He had acquired it from Nigel Sill, whose ambitions to open a theme park never got off the ground, and it was stored for many years at Epping.

During its 14-month overhaul when it lost much of its ugly external pipework, the ‘Hr1’ was repainted Apple green, given the fictitious number 91016, and named ‘Lady Patricia’ after his wife. David also owned other smaller locomotives – both steam and diesel – including Aveling & Porter 4wWT Works No. 8800 _Sir Vincent,_ Hunslet 0 ‐ 4‐0ST Works No. 287 _Vigilant,_ and Peckett 0 ‐ 4‐0ST Works No. 1756 _Hornpipe,_ as well as a variety of rolling stock and at least one traction engine.

David was a popular local figure, generously opening up his estate every year to host the Fifield Fun Day, which raised thousands of pounds for local children’s and adult charities. His final brief public appearance was in a wheelchair at this year’s event on August 4, when he had the satisfaction of knowing that almost 2,000 visitors were thinking of him. David is survived by his wife and four children, Simon, Suzie, Sara and Sophie.

PEPPERCORN ‘A1’ No. 60163 _Tornado_ returned to steam for the first time in over two years at the Great Central Railway on August 23, marking the end of its much-delayed £1 million overhaul. However, plans for the 2008-built ‘Pacific’ to visit the Nene Valley Railway have been delayed yet again, until October.

Withdrawn at the GCR for its ‘ten-year’ overhaul in January 2022, the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust had originally hoped to return the new-build 4 ‐ 6‐2 to steam by June that year, using one of two new Diagram 118a boilers being built by DB Meiningen in Germany for use on both _Tornado_ and under-construction ‘P2’ No. 2007 _Prince of Wales._ However, owing to delays in completing those boilers, No. 60163’s existing boiler was instead sent to Meiningen for overhaul in February 2022.

Further delays in completing the overhaul of the boiler, as well as the complexities of installing the European Train Control System to the locomotive as part of the Network Rail-funded ‘Pathfinder’ project to fit digital in-cab signalling to a steam locomotive, forced the trust to cancel planned railtours for the rest of 2022. Although the overhauled boiler returned to Darlington in December that year, concerns raised by British Engineering Services over the quality and installation of the small tubes forced the trust to replace both the small tubes and flue tubes. The overhaul was further delayed when problems were discovered with these replacement tubes, necessitating the fitting of a third set.

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