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Send us a text We visit the UK's only public rack and pinion line, Snowdon Mountain Railway which is also the highest railway route, going to the Summit station from the foot of Snowdon – or Y Wyddfa its official name in the Welsh language. Sharon heads to England on her Harley on a 'Railway Rideout' to explore a tranquil corner of the birthplace of the industrial revolution, IronBridge Gorge Museum in Telford. Paddy Range goes to Kent, for a ride on the Spa Valley railway behind a Class 33 from Tonbridge Wells…. Alasdair catches one of the new Chiltern Railways Explorer trains, offering greener services every 30 minutes between the West Midlands and London on weekdays. And we catch up with a friend of the podcast Bluebell Railways' Permanent Way volunteer John Deane, now in his eighties, who for the second year running will be walking the ballast for the full length of the line raising money for a charity close to his heart. We also meet heritage volunteer and fomer mainline staff, Clive Wallace with some turntable advice! Links below to stories and Railways in this episode: Snowdon Mountain Railway Chiltern Explorers Ironbridge Gorge Museum under ownership of National Trust Spa Valley Railway Ironbridge Kinlet Engine John Deane's fundraiser for Heart  Valve Voice UK Bluebell Railway Rother Valley Railway - blog - turntable #SnowdonMountainRailway #Spavalley #IronbridgeGorgemuseum #ChilternRailways #paddyrange #Sharongregory #alasdairstewart #railwaypodcast #railways #railenthusiast  This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart and Sharon Gregory. Our 'Making Tracks' music is with kind permission of composer and musician Richard Durrant. It is a unique piece inspired by the rhythm of the historic rolling stock on the Ffestiniog Railway on the scenic journey from Harbour Station to Tan y Blwch. You can listen and download the full 'Tan y Bwlch' Ukulele Quartet here: Thank you to voice artist David King - for the Railway Ride outs voice over. Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Richard Durrant · Single · 2019 · 3 songs.

Send us a text We've revamped for 2026 with new branding, featuring presenters Sharon Gregory and Alasdair Stewart marking our 4th year of chatting about Railways. In this episode Alasdair meets a couple of UK Railway volunteers Dan Holbrook & Caleb Lovegrove, They, and a group of friends and colleagues have recently been on what we could refer to in the UK as a bus man's holiday, taking a tour of railways in India.  Sharon travels to Oswestry this time to catch the steam train on the Cambrian Heritage Railway. Alasdair calls in at a Locomotive  Club of Great Britain Meeting and we hear about a delightful Dapol model launched to celebrate #WorldBookDay. #CambrianHeritageRailway #Darjeeling #railwaymodelling #Dapol #Oswestry Here are links to the Railways and Organisations mentioned in this episode: The Cambrian Heritage Railway The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway  Nilgiri Mountain Railway (Wikipedia link) The Dapol Model Railway Company  including links to the World Book Day fundraising wagons. Browsers Book Shop,  Porthmadog Facebook Page World Book Day Charity The Locomotive Club of Great Britain This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart and Sharon Gregory. Our 'Making Tracks' music is with kind permission of composer and musician Richard Durrant. It is a unique piece inspired by the rhythm of the historic rolling stock on the Ffestiniog Railway on the scenic journey from Harbour Station to Tan y Blwch. You can listen and download the full 'Tan y Bwlch' Ukulele Quartet here: Thank you to voice artist David King - for the Railway Ride outs voice over. Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Richard Durrant · Single · 2019 · 3 songs.

Send us a text In this episode, Mr Hornby himself, Simon Kohler chats to Alasdair about his new book 'My life at Hornby' and his career at the model manufacturer. Alasdair travel to Manchester to visit an exhibition put on by one of the most senior railway modelling societies in the world and young rail enthusiast Cynan Hughes reports from a grassroots model railway club exhibition in north Wales, Sharon Gregory leaves her bike in the garage and a very looong day trip, to Scotland . And I catch up with one of the footplate crew of Locomotion number one, to hear his reflections on the 200th anniversary celebration runs on the Stockton & Darlington railway.  And his hats off to a Southern Railway train driver Matthew Staniforth who tells us how he spreads Christmas cheer to passengers! Links to the Railways mentioned in this episode: Simon Kohler 'My Hornby Life' Manchester Model Railway Show Colwyn Model Railway Club in Abergele, north Wales. Southern Rail 'X'  post about Driver Matthew Staniforth who wears his Christmas hat to spread cheer at what can be a difficult time for many. Carnog Working Horses / Ceffylau Gwaith Carnog – specialist land management using horsepower Locomotion Number 1 The Grand Finale of the Awdry Extravaganza in summer 2025 at the Talyllyn Railway. This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart and Sharon Gregory. Our 'Making Tracks' music is with kind permission of composer and musician Richard Durrant. It is a unique piece inspired by the rhythm of the historic rolling stock on the Ffestiniog Railway on the scenic journey from Harbour Station to Tan y Blwch. You can listen and download the full 'Tan y Bwlch' Ukulele Quartet here: Thank you to voice artist David King - for the Railway Ride outs voice over. Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Richard Durrant · Single · 2019 · 3 songs.

Send us a text Welcome to this episode of Making Tracks Podcast with  Alasdair Stewart and Sharon Gregory. In many episodes you will have heard us welcoming opportunities for young railway enthusiasts...so we thought we should practice what we preach and in this episode we welcome  two  teenage guest presenters. Rail enthusiasts , George Woodward and Cynan Hughes, accompanied of course by their parents and with all permissions given, went out to report for Making Tracks Railway Podcast George reviews collections X and the Making Tracks layout at the Vale of Rheidol in Mid Wales and Cynan goes on board 'Inspiration' – the Railway 200 train as it stops off in North Wales Sharon has been out in the border lands of England and Wales again on her Railway Rideouts, I hear about an ambitious community led scheme in Yorkshire to rehabilitate the currently disused Queensbury railway tunnel . I talk to Graham Bickerdike from the Queensbury Tunnel Society. And Alasdair  hears from some of those involved in a recent blockade of the London Hastings line about a part of the successful renewal scheme carried out by Network Rail in autumn 2025. Links below to the Railways mentioned in this episode: More dates announced for Railway 200 Inspiration Train in the UK as it becomes a runaway success!  Queensbury Tunnel Society  National Highways Queensbury Tunnel Information. National Highways statement below in response to our interview aired on this podcast with the Queensbury Tunnel Society. "We didn’t receive any money for the feasibility study.We are not infilling or demolishing the tunnel. We will be filling the open shafts and providing support under the shafts, but there’s an important difference between ‘filling in’ and ‘infilling’." The definition of the latter can be found here.  "We are due to meet with planners from the local authority in the coming months." Tanat Valley Railway Vale of Rhiedol Collection X Pete Waterman's Making Tracks Model Railway Layout visits Vale of Rheidol This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart and Sharon Gregory. Our 'Making Tracks' music is with kind permission of composer and musician Richard Durrant. It is a unique piece inspired by the rhythm of the historic rolling stock on the Ffestiniog Railway on the scenic journey from Harbour Station to Tan y Blwch. You can listen and download the full 'Tan y Bwlch' Ukulele Quartet here: Thank you to voice artist David King - for the Railway Ride outs voice over. Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Richard Durrant · Single · 2019 · 3 songs.

Send us a text In this episode we’ll be visiting two national railway museums, in Utrecht and York, a gala event at the East Lancashire railway, and riding on standard and narrow gauge heritage lines, the Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway, run entirely by volunteers in Kent, and the STAR museum railway in the Netherlands, and along the way, discovering a replica broad gauge pioneer, running on rails 1945mm apart... Links to all the railways and museums below: Home Page - The East Lancashire Railway Home of 80097 BR 4MT Restoration and Ivatt 46428 - Bury Standard 4 Group The Class 56 Group – Class 56 Locomotive Preservation National Railway Museum - York Eurostar.com: Book Europe train tickets and holidays Kom naar het Spoorwegmuseum | Het leukste station van Nederland - Dutch National Railway Museum in Utrecht, Netherlands Home - Museumspoorlijn STAR - STAR Museum Railway, Stadskanaal, Netherlands Sittingbourne and Kemsley Railway  This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart and Sharon Gregory. Our 'Making Tracks' music is with kind permission of composer and musician Richard Durrant. It is a unique piece inspired by the rhythm of the historic rolling stock on the Ffestiniog Railway on the scenic journey from Harbour Station to Tan y Blwch. You can listen and download the full 'Tan y Bwlch' Ukulele Quartet here: Thank you to voice artist David King - for the Railway Ride outs voice over. Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Richard Durrant · Single · 2019 · 3 songs.

Send us a text In this episode of Making Tracks with Alasdair Stewart, Sharon Gregory and Laura Raymond, we’ll be visiting Welshpool and Llanfair Railway a rural, narrow gauge light railway, built to develop the economy of a marginal hinterland in Welsh border country, hear from  competition winner George Woodward, who at 14 years old, got to try his hand on the regulator of a steam locomotive for the first time. George won a driver experience in a Facebook competition run by the Rudyard Lake Railway.  Sharon Gregory is riding the rails in Yorkshire and taking in a theatrical spectacle, and I talk to one of the team for responsible for maintaining preserved multiple units, at Hastings Diesels, that occasionally tours the national railway network from its depot on the south coast….. Links to the Railways and events mentioned in this episode: Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway Sierra Leone National Railway Museum Bishops Castle Railway - bcrailway.co.uk The current run of the Railway Children at Keighley and Worth Valley Railway has sold out  ( finished on Sept 7th 25 ) click here for link to the promo video for the event. Rudyard Lake Railway Driver Experience Course ( the course included in our podcast had been won as a prize by our young person interviewed with no commercial link to this podcast)  Hastings Diesels Ltd  This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart and Sharon Gregory. Our 'Making Tracks' music is with kind permission of composer and musician Richard Durrant. It is a unique piece inspired by the rhythm of the historic rolling stock on the Ffestiniog Railway on the scenic journey from Harbour Station to Tan y Blwch. You can listen and download the full 'Tan y Bwlch' Ukulele Quartet here: Thank you to voice artist David King - for the Railway Ride outs voice over. Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Richard Durrant · Single · 2019 · 3 songs.

Send us a text In this episode of Making Tracks we’ll take you behind the scenes of the 'Greatest Gathering' in Derby, England for a prestigious piece of the UK's Railway 200 celebrations. Engineer Alasdair Stewart meets some of those who made it happen, and speaks with a variety of people representing a fraction of the variety and scope of the UK railway family as the movement looks forward to the future. All aboard for the Greatest Gathering! Sharon Gregory goes on another 'Railway Rideout' to visit a rural tramway museum in the Glyn Valley in north East Wales. Also in this episode, we pop along to a Rail Fair in the Sussex town of Lewes and chat to Nicholas Owen – the well-known broadcaster and former BBC and ITV newsreader. Away from the news desk, Nicholas has a lifelong passion for railways and is a dedicated volunteer on one of England’s pioneering electric railways. We’ll hear about his love of trains, his volunteering experiences, and what keeps him coming back to the rails. On the way north to visit the Greatest Gathering, Alasdair passes through Kings Cross station – and between the statue of Sir Nigel Gresley and Platform 9 and 3 quarters…..visits an exhibition display of an LNER carriage of the future. Links to all the events and railways mentioned in this episode below: The Making Tracks Facebook page - please like our page and please do  send any comments directly to Alasdair.  All Aboard The 'Train of the Future' | LNER Glyn Valley Tramway - Museum at Glynceiriog The Greatest Gathering Event Website including gallery Enspired - Consultant engineers working to de-carbonise rail Railway Challenge - IMechE Loram - Leading the digital transformation of railway maintenance. Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways Prince 1863 at Alstom Greatest Gathering The Ashover Light Railway Society DB Cargo UK opens new ETCS training facilities - Digital signalling. This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart and Sharon Gregory. Our 'Making Tracks' music is with kind permission of composer and musician Richard Durrant. It is a unique piece inspired by the rhythm of the historic rolling stock on the Ffestiniog Railway on the scenic journey from Harbour Station to Tan y Blwch. You can listen and download the full 'Tan y Bwlch' Ukulele Quartet here: Thank you to voice artist David King - for the Railway Ride outs voice over. Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Richard Durrant · Single · 2019 · 3 songs.

Send us a text Welcome aboard this episode of MAKING TRACKS RAILWAY PODCAST with Alasdair Stewart and Sharon Gregory – no tickets are required to travel with us and there is no fare to pay! In this episode we’ll be hearing from a teacher at one of Ukraine’s Childrens' Railways , an enthusiast and preservationist from Kiev tells me something of the current challenges in that country……Bill Parker of Flour Mill fame reflects on the two year working holiday of one of his engines in Transylvania, and the arrival of another industrial machine from further east;  Sharon Gregory visits a Manchester attraction with some similarities to the lauded ‘high line’ in New York City…. Plaid Cymru MP Liz Saville Roberts reveals an extraordinary statistic about her constituency in Wales and what relevance it has to the world of heritage railways, and Lord Faulkner is concerned that a law from the 1920s threatens to restrict the activities of youngsters on UK heritage railways. We also hear from historian and broadcaster Tim Dunn and Stephen Wiggs of New Europe Heritage Railway Trust, (NEHRT) a small British NGO that has forged links with a number of heritage railway organisations across Central & Eastern Europe since the end of communist rule more than thirty years ago.  Alasdair also meets Mimmi Mickleson, President of FEDECRAIL whilst in Romania at a steam gala event featuring a locomotive that used to haul paper and wood pulp in Kent and has been on the Sibiu Agnita Railway in Transylvania for nearly two years. Links to Railways and Organisations mentioned in this episode: New Europe Heritage Railway Trust or NEHRT  FEDECRAIL - European Federation of Museum & Tourist Railways Read about the Lviv Children's  Railway in Railway Supply online Mocănita - Sibiu - Agnița - Romania Castlefield Viaduct, Manchester The Continental Railway Circle Facebook Page You can contact Cristian Marinescu here:  and follow him on X @ x.com/AFeroviara for Romanian railway content This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart and Sharon Gregory. Our 'Making Tracks' music is with kind permission of composer and musician Richard Durrant. It is a unique piece inspired by the rhythm of the historic rolling stock on the Ffestiniog Railway on the scenic journey from Harbour Station to Tan y Blwch. You can listen and download the full 'Tan y Bwlch' Ukulele Quartet here: Thank you to voice artist David King - for the Railway Ride outs voice over. Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Richard Durrant · Single · 2019 · 3 songs.

Send us a text In this episode of Making Tracks with Alasdair Stewart, we hear cherished memories of growing up at a remote station house in rural north Wales from Lynette Tucker... daughter of  John Harrison—fondly known as 'Lord North'. His great uncle, John Wills and his acquaintance with Bassett Lowke, who employed him to convert the #Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway from a derelict 3ft gauge railway to “15 “inch Gauge. We also visit  a uniquely gauged tramway in Devon,  call in at the Telford Steam Railway where a truly whimsical narrow gauge steam tram has just returned to service alongside their conventional trains, and the famous resort of Blackpool as  Sharon Gregory and her Railway Rideouts visit the seaside town. And we catch some of the 70th celebrations of the Ffestiniog Railway’s revival. Links to the content mentioned in this episode. Link to watch John Harrison on Steam is Everything 1975 You Tube if you would like to contact Lynette Tucker regarding her father's memoirs she can be contacted on [email protected] Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Fairbourne Railway Blackpool Tramway  Blackpool Tramtown Museum Seaton Trams Telford Steam Railway #FFWHR #Ravenglass #Telford  #BassettLowke #Blackpooltrams #cavalcade  This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart and Sharon Gregory. Our 'Making Tracks' music is with kind permission of composer and musician Richard Durrant. It is a unique piece inspired by the rhythm of the historic rolling stock on the Ffestiniog Railway on the scenic journey from Harbour Station to Tan y Blwch. You can listen and download the full 'Tan y Bwlch' Ukulele Quartet here: Thank you to voice artist David King - for the Railway Ride outs voice over. Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Richard Durrant · Single · 2019 · 3 songs.

Send us a text In this Episode of Making Tracks, engineer and podcaster  Alasdair Stewart learns about modern methods of marketing heritage railways with the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways' Osian Hughes. Helen Leslie explains how a museum is a fundamental part of the visitor experience at the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway in Porthmadog, and Sharon Gregory has been on tour on her motorbike  visiting some of her favourite lines and meets the S4C TV dragons at the Talyllyn Railway  on a week long ride-out across Wales. #Gwili #Ffwhr #whhr #Talyllyn  The Gwilli Railway The Talyllyn Railway S4C Dreigiau Cadi - Chidren's TV show The Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways The Welsh Highland Heritage Railway This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart and Sharon Gregory. Our 'Making Tracks' music is with kind permission of composer and musician Richard Durrant. It is a unique piece inspired by the rhythm of the historic rolling stock on the Ffestiniog Railway on the scenic journey from Harbour Station to Tan y Blwch. You can listen and download the full 'Tan y Bwlch' Ukulele Quartet here: Thank you to voice artist David King - for the Railway Ride outs voice over. Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Richard Durrant · Single · 2019 · 3 songs.

Send us a text In  this episode of Making Tracks Podcast I visit some of England's most charming, bucolic countryside to join in celebrations at the Kent and East Sussex Railway, as they mark 25 years since Bodiam station was reopened. The 'Railway 200' anniversary is marked in Hastings, with an exhibition at the town's museum and gallery, and I went to meet the , former Railwayman Kevin Boorman. We speak about his collection of railway memorabilia and some of region’s rich railway history. Sharon Gregory visits the Llanberis lake railway in north Wales in her 'Railway Rideouts' series, as she tours the nation’s heritage railways by motorcycle!  Back in Season 2, Episode 1, we visited  Amberley Museum in West Sussex, and saw some of their  Narrow gauge collection - Peter Egdeler  gives us an update on the restoration of one of the original feature structures on the site and how evidence has come to light for its maritime origin. I join the crowds on the platform in Hastings to catch a glimpse of the Sussex Steam Special as it stopped off at the station.  Here are links to the Railways featured in this episode: Kent and East Sussex Railway The Llanberis Lake Railway Railway 200 exhibition Hastings Museum until 29th June 2025 Hastings Museum  This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart and Sharon Gregory. Our 'Making Tracks' music is with kind permission of composer and musician Richard Durrant. It is a unique piece inspired by the rhythm of the historic rolling stock on the Ffestiniog Railway on the scenic journey from Harbour Station to Tan y Blwch. You can listen and download the full 'Tan y Bwlch' Ukulele Quartet here: Thank you to voice artist David King - for the Railway Ride outs voice over. Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Richard Durrant · Single · 2019 · 3 songs.

Send us a text In this episode our travels to uncover Railway stories take us to Anglesey to meet Walter Glynn Davis, the 81 year old chair of Lein Amlwch – Anglesey Central Railway Ltd, a group who are working to bring the Amlwch to Gerwen line back into service.  Walter, retired teacher travelled, on the last passenger train in 1964 and being a local man from Amlwch the line has been his passion ever since.  We talk to the new job share General Managers: Liz Porrett and Lorraine Simkiss at the Talyllyn Railway on International Women's Day, discussing the challenges facing Welsh Railways with the tourist tax and looking ahead at the fabulous season they have planned. I made a visit to longest public narrow gauge railway in the Baltics, the Siaurukas  line in Lithuania and hear from its Director, Darius  Sharon Gregory heads off on another Railway Rideout, this time to the Churnet Valley Railway in Staffordshire, and we go to Sussex where 86 year old Bluebell Railway lineside volunteer John Deane has walked the length of the line, on the ballast, for a charity close to his heart. #ChurnetValley #BluebellRailway #Talyllyn #IWD #AngleseyCentralRailway ' Links to the Railways mentioned in this episode: The Tallylyn Railway  Llein Amlwch / Anglesey Central Railway Limited Link to story of the damaged railway bridge 2019  Churnet Valley Railway  Voluteer in Lithuania: Contact  [email protected]  Director of the Siarukas Railway to find out about volunteering opportunities. The Bluebell Railway John Deane's fundraiser for the British Heart Foundation  This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart and Sharon Gregory. Our 'Making Tracks' music is with kind permission of composer and musician Richard Durrant. It is a unique piece inspired by the rhythm of the historic rolling stock on the Ffestiniog Railway on the scenic journey from Harbour Station to Tan y Blwch. You can listen and download the full 'Tan y Bwlch' Ukulele Quartet here: Thank you to voice artist David King - for the Railway Ride outs voice over. Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Richard Durrant · Single · 2019 · 3 songs.

Send us a text Two cities and two very different electric railway stories: one still thriving with its original Victorian vintage vehicles and the other, a fading memory, with just a few tangible remains left around the city. I go to Brighton beach to visit Volk's the oldest operating Electric railway in the world and we head to  the National Museum of Liverpool to speak to the curator of Land, Transport Works and Industry, Sharon Brown to find out about the former Liverpool Overhead Electric Railway. The line was demolished in 1957 but fondly remembered in the city as the Dockers Umbrella for being exactly that. And Sharon Gregory is back with her Railway Rideouts to Bala and Keighley and Worth Valley Railways and a chat about workplace volunteering with Carl Burns Links below to everything we mention in this episode. Volks Electric Railway Brighton, Sussex - operating daily from 5th April 2025 for the summer season. Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Bala Lake Railway Trust appeal to build the extension  National Museums Liverpool Overhead Railway Gallery - the museum is within easy walking distance of St James Street Station.  Liverpool Overhead Railway Facebook Page - created and researched by the late Steven Paul Wheeler. Steven Wheeler's CGI recreation of the Liverpool Overhead Railway can be seen on this link.  Shared here with kind permission of his sister Danielle in tribute to a man with a passion for the history of  Liverpool's Overhead Railway. Rother Valley Railway  #Liverpool #Brighton #Magnus Volk #Bala #Keighley  This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart and Sharon Gregory. Our 'Making Tracks' music is with kind permission of composer and musician Richard Durrant. It is a unique piece inspired by the rhythm of the historic rolling stock on the Ffestiniog Railway on the scenic journey from Harbour Station to Tan y Blwch. You can listen and download the full 'Tan y Bwlch' Ukulele Quartet here: Thank you to voice artist David King - for the Railway Ride outs voice over. Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Richard Durrant · Single · 2019 · 3 songs.

Send us a text Welcome to the first episode of making tracks of 2025 the start of a special year in the  Railway calendar – Railway 200 Railway 200 is a cross sector, government backed, partner led campaign to celebrate Two centuries since the start of the modern era of rail travel marked by the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825  The bi-centenary Celebrations started with a New Years Day 'Whistle Up' across the UK and beyond. Alan Hyde joins us from the Railway 200 campaign, we talk to to the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways General Manager Paul Lewin to get his take on the bi centenary and hear about their combined Railway 200 and FR Platinum Jubilee celebration... and historian Dafydd Gwyn puts the whole anniversary into perspective. Sharon Gregory swaps biker boots for walking boots this time and explores disused railway lines across north Wales on foot.  We also visit the narrow gauge Corris Railway in Powys and talk to to David Coleman about their Southern extension which could eventually double the length of the running line. ** Please find details of the Railways, books  and Events mentioned in this episode below: Railway 200 The Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways Whistle up Reel with Paul Lewin GM. The Volks Electric Railway Whistle Up Reel (with kind permission Ludwig Tails) Volks Electric Railway North Yorkshire Moors Railway Author and Historian  Dafydd Gwyn's book The Coming of the Railways available at Railway specialist book stores and on Amazon. The Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways Special Event - Railway 200 and the FR Platinum Jubilee Part of the Caernarfon to Llanberis railway route walked by Sharon Gregory -  Lon Las Peris and Lon Las Ogwen from Bangor towards the Penrhyn quarries.  Corris Railway and the southern extension  This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart and Sharon Gregory. Our 'Making Tracks' music is with kind permission of composer and musician Richard Durrant. It is a unique piece inspired by the rhythm of the historic rolling stock on the Ffestiniog Railway on the scenic journey from Harbour Station to Tan y Blwch. You can listen and download the full 'Tan y Bwlch' Ukulele Quartet here: Thank you to voice artist David King - for the Railway Ride outs voice over. Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Richard Durrant · Single · 2019 · 3 songs.

Send us a text The UK winter is a good time for indoor hobbies, and like many others, my thoughts are turning to the model railway kits I have stockpiled but haven't got around to making!  Instead of getting on with the job, I went to the National Exhibition Centre for the inaugural National Festival of Railway Modelling for some inspiration... organised by Warners Group Publications,  who have taken over the slot from Warley model railway club.  With more of a family friendly appeal, the show attracted thousands to the NEC over the weekend of November 22nd - 24th. Sharon Gregory returns with another of her motorbike ‘Railway Rideouts’, this time visiting narrow gauge pioneer of preservation in mid-Wales, the Talyllyn railway.  There's also a chat with Peter Waterman during visit to Chester Cathedral to see the record breaking Making Tracks layout, designed to encourage youngsters to drive the trains and attract a new audience into the historic building.    Finally, fellow modellers discuss their layouts and share thoughts on various aspects of the hobby. Links to the organisations, businesses and layouts mentioned in this episode: National Festival of Model Railways (2024 ) The Wirral and North Wales Model Group -facebook page Organisers Warners Railway Modelling Events Children's railway book illustrator and author Pauline Hazelwood (including Welsh Pony, Alice the Little Welsh Engine etc ) The Military Railway Study Group Islinglass Models - CAD and 3d printing services The Railway Children Charity Hornby Rapido Trains Talyllyn Railway - contact the youth group on [email protected] Making Tracks -Pete Waterman LUKR: LEGO UK Railway - LEGO Train Club - LUKR This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart and Sharon Gregory. Our 'Making Tracks' music is with kind permission of composer and musician Richard Durrant. It is a unique piece inspired by the rhythm of the historic rolling stock on the Ffestiniog Railway on the scenic journey from Harbour Station to Tan y Blwch. You can listen and download the full 'Tan y Bwlch' Ukulele Quartet here: Thank you to voice artist David King - for the Railway Ride outs voice over. Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Richard Durrant · Single · 2019 · 3 songs.