George davidson cbe: the man behind the centenary celebrations

When did railways begin? It certainly wasn’t 1825, says HOWARD JOHNSTON, as he concludes his round-up of the 1925 Stockton & Darlington centenary cavalcade.

ABOVE: On June 2, 1980, 20066 hauls a coal train from Markam Colliery formed of mineral wagons and hoppers at Barrow Hill, having just come off the line from Hall Lane Junction and Seymour Junction. C

Much has been written about the Stockton & Darlington Railway 150th anniversary celebrations in 1975. Now, for the first time, someone from the team that organised it all tells the inside story of how it was achieved. MAURICE BURNS – who represented the North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group on the organising Joint Committee, and also volunteered to help on subcommittees for events, selecting engines for the cavalcade and writing the guidebook – recalls his memories of that incredible time.

Overhauls, restorations and running notes

Stood alone inside Derby Litchurch Lane at 07.30 on Saturday, August 2, day two of The Greatest Gathering, the biggest railway event in decades, it was eerily quiet. It wouldn’t be like this in 30, 60

To the uninitiated, the ‘Y7’ 040T looks like a bit of a dockside lightweight… but they became regulars on passenger work, some of the longest lived ex-main line locomotives in industry, and even wartime heroes, as ALAN REET reveals.