Autumn Railway Open Days and Galas come to an end

Published: 17th October 2014

Final open days of 2014 Streamlined ‘Streak’ for Tyseley Autumn Open Day

A4 No. 4464 Bittern will be the guest attraction for the October 26 Tyseley Locomotive Works Autumn Open Day. The appearance is linked to two Vintage Trains steam rail tours, the first of which (October 18 ‘Western Streak’) effectively forms a positioning move to get the ‘Streak’ to Birmingham’s Tyseley works. The Open Day appearance is followed by the A4 working the November 1 ‘Merseyside Streak’.

No. 4464 is, of course, a sister of A4 No. 4468 Mallard, holder of the world steam record of 125.88m.p.h. set on Stoke Bank on July 3 1938 – but Bittern is a record-breaker in its own right. No. 4464 achieved a sustained 90m.p.h. run over the East Coast Mainline in 2013 which stands as the official fastest speed for a steam locomotive in preservation.

Tyseley turntable display

The Open Day will naturally also feature Tyseley locos in steam and on static display with passenger shuttle rides and loco cavalcades. The turntable will be demonstrated, workshops open for visits (see the latest progress on the overhauls of No. 7029 Clun Castle and LMS Pacific No. 6201 Princess Elizabeth) and trade, railwayana & society stands.

The gates open at 10.00 with limited car parking available. Admission costs £10.00 with accompanied children (under 15 years) free!

Narrow Gauge seaside gala

The World famous Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway is bringing its 2014 season to a spectacular close on November 2nd. The 15 inch gauge line will be operating every available locomotives and running an intensive extra-special timetable.

An intensive service will operate between Hythe and New Romney and there will be parallel and non-stop running. The Heywood Buffet at New Romney station will be offering Kentish Ales and warming fayre – just in case the weather is bad!

The line has operated for 87 years and runs through some spectacular Romney Marsh scenery in a remote part of Kent and is known as “Kent’s Mainline in Miniature” with the line running for 13½ miles of track from the Cinque Port town of Hythe running to Dungeness which is located on National Nature Reserve and on one of the largest shingle landscapes in the world.

All the lines’ four stations are within walking distance of a beach offering coastal and country walks which take in medieval churches and an iconic Lighthouses next to a Nuclear Power Station. The line is line-third full size scale and operates school trains the year round.

External Links

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• RH and DR Railway