E08E - Steam loco types

Did You Know?

Personal recollections of railways

Dec 9, 20223 min read

Old Timers and Youngsters Nearing the End

Keeping steam going throughout over half of the 20th century. . . . . . . There was a mix of longevity and novelty towards the end of...

Nov 10, 20223 min read

Heavy Lifting!

Crane locomotives working in locomotive works. . . . . In April 1922 the last of the Great Western Railway’s three crane locomotives...

Sep 1, 20224 min read

Still Steaming

The legacy of GWR CME Charles Collett. . . . . . . . Looking at the locomotive designs of Charles Collett, it’s amazing how many of them...

Aug 11, 20224 min read

The Great Western Railway Broad Gauge in Colour

A colour scheme for early locomotives. . . . . . . . In January 1842, “Fire Fly” class locomotive “Acheron” was delivered to the Great...

Jul 21, 20223 min read

Adding Character

Giving absorbed locomotives the GWR look! The Great Western Railway (GWR) was renowned for using brass and copper adornments on its...

May 19, 20225 min read

A brief flirtation with Oil - Firing

Short-lived programmes for oil-fired steam locomotives stopped by costs. . . . . . 28XX class 2-8-0 number 2854, renumbered as...

Apr 10, 20224 min read

The Bodmin and Wadebridge Railway

Famous ‘Well Tank’s in rural Cornwall. . . . . . . . . It’s spring in Cornwall and what better way to enjoy the season than to walk the...

Feb 28, 20224 min read

The End of the Great Western Railway's Broad Gauge

Brunel’s vision for speed and stability comes to an end. . . . . . . 130 years ago in 1892, the Great Western Railway (GWR) finally...

Aug 23, 20212 min read

Six years old - and redundant!

No longer needed – pannier tank 3404 at Swindon Works in April 1962. Photo: Mike Peart. I was on one of my many visits to Swindon Works...

Apr 2, 20212 min read

Built to last

In the summer of 1961, my travels took me to Winchester, ostensibly to repaint my great uncle’s kitchen. Drying time between coats was...