On a leisurely weekend break, the last thing I expected to be wearing was a hard hat with a headlamp, a battery pack and a pair of wellingtons. But there I was, fully togged up – along with seven othe

Although born in Doncaster during the Second World War, Peter Fitton was brought up in the Fylde, hence his interest in the L&Y – his bedroom in St Annes overlooked the then main line to Blackpool Cen

BARRING ANY unforeseen changes, December 13 was the last day of HST operation on the Western Region after 49 years of use when Great Western Railway ended its use of its Castle Class 2+4 HSTs. The tra

It is probably fair to say that the transition from private to public ownership very likely had a greater effect on shareholders and railway enthusiasts than it did the workaday railwaymen for whom ma

03145 – Moreton Park: In September, the reduced-height 03 received a layer of polish from the top down to give it some protection during the winter. Some rust spots on the cab end and sides were treat

A small ceremony at London’s Marylebone station on Saturday, February 24, 1996, marked the start of privatisation for British railfreight. That was the moment when Wisconsin Central, led by the charis