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In this episode of Making Tracks we visit the Cheshire town of Crewe, once dubbed the ' Railway Capital of the World ' -and see how the the town's railway and industrial inheritance is being preserved at the Crewe Heritage Centre,

We meet three trustees and take a walk around the museum, sit in the cab of the only remaining APT – Advanced Passenger Train and explore a signal box transplanted from Exeter, carefully rebuilt, complete with a 100 plus lever frame with working interlocking. There's a chat with the present day Crewe Railway Station management – Avanti West Coast and Sharon Gregory sets off on more Railway Rideouts to Corris and Fairbourne.

Links below to the organisations and Railways mentioned in this episode.
Crewe Heritage Centre
Avanti West Coast
Corris Railway
Fairbourne
Cambrian Main line
Bala Lake Railway Planning Permission

This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart

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.

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In this episode of Making Tracks, Alasdair Stewart goes over old ground, or rather underground, as he revisits the Post Office railway – or Mail Rail as it has become known in recent decades, which is part of London's Postal Museum. Alasdair was keen to take a journey on the railway after working as a contracting engineer on the track upgrade underground nearly 10 years ago.

Welcome to new contributor trainee fireman Sharon Gregory, Sharon's Railway Ride outs will give you some top tips on visiting railways starting with The Severn Valley , Bridgenorth cliff railway and the Welshpool & Llanfair, travelling between them by motorcycle.
In a previous episode we heard about Darjeeling B class, 19B, in this episode we hear about the loco's home railway and an update on the loco herself from Peter Jordan of the Darjeeling and Himalayan Railway Society. Producer Laura Raymond was lucky enough to be invited to travel on the Ffestiniog Railways Gravity Train, we hear her report from the FfWHR.

Links below to all the railways and organisations mentioned:
Postal Museum London
The Bridgenorth Cliff Railway
The Severn Valley Railway
Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway
The Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways Gravity Train
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Society
The Darjeeling Tank Locomotive Trust - 19B

This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart

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

This episode is a tale of two railways both celebrating milestones.
A new beginning of the final stretch the two mile missing link that will join Robertsbridge to Tenterden and the Kent and East Sussex Railway and the Ffestiniog Railway Society marking 70 years.

The inauguration of the RVR's new turntable coincided with the K&ESR 50th We meet volunteers from both railways and I get to speak to a former politician and Railway Royalty, Michael Portillo, Sir Peter Hendy, Chair of Network Rail and Chris Green a former Intercity director.

Mainline steam locomotive 'Britannia' travelled down from Crewe, and provided motive power on shuttles between Robertsbridge Junction and Northbridge Street.

A return to north Wales and the Ffestiniog Railway Society's 70th anniversary.
This summer at the Ffestiniong and Welsh Highland Railways, National Lottery Heritage Funding has enabled new 'experience' tours at Boston Lodge. They are additional offers over and above train rides. We go behind the scenes to view the newly restored buildings, and learn some of the fascinating history of the site, before learning about how steam engines work on a very much ‘hands on’ experience

You will find links to the Railways mentioned below:
The Boston Lodge Tours and 'How a Steam Locomotive Works
Ffestiniog Railway Society
Rother Valley Railway
Kent and East Sussex Railway

This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart

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.