Party in the Station

Kidderminster Town Station (on the Severn Valley Railway) has been substantially improved over the last 9-12 months. Gone is the porta-cabin restaurant, and the grotty staff facilities. Now the station buildings are complete, a new staff rest room has been added and to cap it all the whole concourse area has a glass roof.

To celebrate the Railway put on a bit of a do…. Live music on the concourse, steam engine cab-rides, and a concert party on the Saturday night (star turn was one of the Railway Directors on Sax as part of an excellent swing band).

Fantastic!

To top the whole thing off, on the Saturday, The Fifty Fund had arranged to get D444 rededicated by the Royal Navy. The honours fell to Lt Cdr Scott Sellers who unveiled new (1970’s BR Western Region style) nameplates. See this link for more details.

Guided tours of the inside of the specially cleaned out loco were then available to all.Well done to The Fifty Fund lads (and lasses on the sales stand) for showing how a diesel group can compliment the activities of a steam railway.

Photos from the Fifty Fund and Preserved Diesels Websites (Thanks!).

RSG With a Leg Out

It is with great sorrow that I received the news that 55022 has suffered a major engine failure while working a railtour this weekend. It is especially galling considering the amount of effort that has been put into her rebuild since being bought by its new owner.

It is my hope that she is repaired and can be returned to the mainline in the near future.