Coronavirus
 

The Mangapps Railway Museum has closed indefinitely due to the Coronavirus outbreak. The railway says it is to prevent any unnecessary risk to their staff and visitors.

http://www.mangapps.co.uk/

The North Norfolk Railway has also called off it's Spring Steam Gala over 27-29 March. The NNR will still operate a special service on this weekend including the LNER Quad-Art set and goods train and featuring 4 home-based locos. The railway will also continue to run as normal on all other days.

https://www.nnrailway.co.uk/spring-gala/

Tony

The whole season of railway events, as with many other planned events, will take a big financial hit.
Let's hope that things can quickly return to normal after the virus subsides.

Vintage Trains has announced that it is cancelling it's railtour programme for April, because of uncertainty whether they will be allowed to operate due to changing advice around coronavirus. In practice, they only have one railtour scheduled for April - a trip over the Settle & Carlisle line with 7029 'Clun Castle' on April 18th, which appeared to have been a virtual sell out.

http://www.vintagetrains.co.uk/newsi...avirus/35.aspx

Tony

The Mid Norfolk Railway has also postponed it's Diesel Gala, which was scheduled for 3-5 April, and it has been put back to 3-5 July.

https://www.mnr.org.uk/coronavirus

Tony

How many of us will be affected by this ?

Coronavirus: Isolation for over-70s 'within weeks'

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51895873

I'm ONLY 69 (till mid June) but I need to look after my 93 year old Mum at least once a week. (90 mile return journey).

What does one do ?

The details are still a bit sparse, so who knows yet what the best thing to do is. All we can do is be sensible and listen to the advice as and when it comes.

I do appreciate that the thread I started here about how the railways are being affected is pretty trivial compared to the wider problems that Coronavirus is causing in the community at large, this is merely intended to give information for anyone who may have been planning to visit any of the affected events.

Hope everyone can see this out and keep well. Take care everyone.

Tony

I have to agree with you Tony. It's not something I would wish on anyone, so, it is better to be safe than sorry, we have had our first death here in Bristol.

I would have to ignore any isolation. I will try to remain sensible, but I will still need to visit food shops every 2 weeks or so, otherwise I would starve. Occasional visits to a cash machine would also be needed.

More cancellations of events and open days including:
Chasewater- all events until further notice
Churnet Valley- Easter event & footplate experiences
Great Central- Goods Galore & Model Railway events
Clan Project- the group building the new BR Clan No.72010 'Hengist' has cancelled their open day.

www.railadvent.co.uk

Tony

More updates:

Saphos Trains and Statesman Rail have both suspended their mainline trains until May 10th.
The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway has cancelled it's 'Cotswold Festival of Steam' over the 23-25 May.
The East Lancs has cancelled it's Britannia weekend.
The Downpatrick & County Down Railway has cancelled it's Mothers Day event.
And the Mid Norfolk Railway has closed completely, until at least April 4th.

Tony

Railadvent has posted what it describes as a complete list of all railway closures, postponements etc. which are due to the Coronavirus outbreak, covering heritage railways, railtour operators and other events:

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2020/03...-covid-19.html

Tony

Life's getting quite surreal. Worked an evening train out of Kings Cross yesterday. Normally it's rammed, but there were only about 20 people on it.

Perhaps people are just going straight home after work, but it was very eerie.

Hope you all are keeping safe.

Cheers, BW.

Let's hope, as in China, the virus soon peaks an subsides giving us a chance to quickly get back to some form of normality.

Railadvent has updated the list:

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2020/03...-covid-19.html

This now includes main line cancellations from UK Railtours, Belmond British Pullman, Saphos Trains, Statesman Rail, Railway Touring Co., Vintage Trains, Hastings Diesels Ltd. & the A1 Locomotive Trust's Tornado Tours.
Complete closures at Didcot, Dean Forest, Llangollen, Bala Lake, Churnet Valley, Severn Valley, Mid Norfolk, Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway, Gwili Railway, Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, Mangapps Railway Museum, the NRM & Locomotion at Shildon, Romney Hythe & Dymchurch, Statfold Barn, Swindon & Cricklade Railway and Hampton & Kempton Waterworks Railway.
Other railways have cancelled events or are running a reduced train service.

Tony

The list has been updated again today:

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2020/03...-covid-19.html

In addition, some of the TOCs are considering or are already running a reduced service due to staff illness and the advice to avoid unnecessary travel.

Tony

I think every heritage railway in the country will be shut down within the fortnight. Those who are staying open for this coming weekend will more than likely notice a drop off in volunteers and a large drop in the number of visitors.

Cheers John

Another update from railadvent:

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2020/03...arch-2020.html

There's still a few railways running, but most seem to be closed.

Tony

:mad:Even WW2, something I can remember, didn't stop us going out I can still remember seeing, the Streamlined Coronations running up/down the Wesrt Coast mainline, yes the late 30's/early 40's we couldn't do all What we wanted but were not confined to being indoors for 12 weeks.
It is going to send me up the wall, no outings to see the steam Excusions,
As you will now have realised when you get into your 80's life is precious to you, still I have a lot of happy memories as I said at the beginning.
Hopefully we will get over this and win through


davat.:mad::mad::(:

I was in Alton for a few days, the Watercress Line is closed until who knows when. They were still shunting though.

Lockdown II
 

Heritage Railways will be closed again during the second lockdown, currently scheduled to run from 5th November to 2nd December. Some railways were already closed for the remainder of the year anyway (including some who had decided not to reopen following the first lockdown) and for others it is already a quieter period. However, it has impacted some railways including late season galas (including the GCR) and the beginning of Santa Specials and other seasonal trains such as the 'Train of Light' services at many railways. Of those affected, they are planning to reopen from Saturday 5th December, unless the month-long lockdown is extended at either a national or regional level.

https://www.therailwayhub.co.uk/3813...onal-lockdown/

Tony

Oh footle. There was me about to volunteer as traincrew at the NNR. Guess it'll be next year now. :rolleyes:

Stay safe everybody.

On the mainline, Northern Belle & the Railway Touring Co. have cancelled/postponed all of their November railtours & Statesman Rail have postponed this Saturday's Settle & Carlisle Lunch Circular train.

http://www.railwayherald.co.uk/railtours
http://railwayherald.com/railtours/whatsnew

Tony

We were scheduled to move 45337 from Llangollen to Bury today and tomorrow. Unfortunately with Wales going into lockdown last week, and England in lockdown for four weeks we've decided to postpone the move until mid January.

Cheers John

Shame it's disrupted your plans John, fingers crossed it goes smoothly in January instead.

Tony

Update on Railway Herald today is showing that all November railtours operated by Steam Dreams, Intercity, Midland Pullman, Saphos Trains & Statesman Rail have also all now been postponed or cancelled.

http://railwayherald.com/railtours/whatsnew

Tony

Railadvent are reporting that Hull Trains have cancelled all services from Thursday 5th November and Grand Central are cancelling all trains after Friday 6th November until Thursday 3rd December.

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2020/11...-lockdown.html
https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2020/11...to-london.html

Tony

It is worth pointing out that Scotland is not affected by the national lockdown (it applies to England only at this stage), so 'The Jacobite' is continuing to run between Fort William and Mallaig at present - scheduled to run Monday-Friday until 13th November.

Tony

This has now been updated! WCRC have decided to end the Jacobite season on Friday 6th November, a week earlier than planned.

Tony

New Tier 4
 

Due to the new Tier 4 restrictions announced yesterday, several railways have now closed for Christmas. Down here in Kent & Sussex, the Romney Hythe & Dymchurch, East Kent and Spa Valley Railways have all closed.
The RH&DR and the EKR are wholly in Tier 4 areas and whilst the start point for the Spa Valley is in Tier 2 (Eridge, East Sussex) the majority of visitors and, crucially, volunteers live in Kent (Tier 4) who have now been told to stay indoors except for very limited purposes - I understand that further North, the Nene Valley Railway is in the same position running from Tier 2 (Wansford) into Tier 4 (Peterborough) & has also closed.
The Epping/Ongar Railway (Essex), the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, the Ruislip Lido Railway (Middlesex) and the Leighton Buzzard Railway (Bedfordshire) have also had to close as they are all now in Tier 4 as well.
The Colne Valley Railway had already taken the decision to close when most of Essex was placed into Tier 3 last Thursday, whilst the East Anglian Railway Museum remains open as it is in a part of Essex which is still in Tier 2.
Elsewhere in the South East corner Mangapps Farm (Essex), the Sittingbourne & Kemsley Railway (Kent), the Kent & East Sussex Railway and the Hampton & Kempton Waterworks Railway (Middlesex) had already taken the decision to close earlier in the winter.

Tony

This may be the first railway to announce it's reopening plans:
The Severn Valley Railway has announced firm plans to reopen ready for Easter on 2nd April. They also have two special events planned in the first two months of opening - a Spring Steam Up from April 15-18 featuring seven locos from the home fleet, plus an as-yet unannounced guest loco; then a Spring Diesel Bash from May 13-16, again featuring locomotives from the home fleet.

https://www.therailwayhub.co.uk/5446...ter-reopening/
https://www.svr.co.uk/SEItem.aspx?a=174
https://www.svr.co.uk/SEItem.aspx?a=175

Tony

The Spa Valley Railway have just released their 2021 timetable leaflet, showing that they do not expect to be running trains until the late May Bank Holiday weekend (29-31 May). The now-usual caveats of the lifting of lockdown restrictions apply, but all being well they have a steam gala planned for 17-18 July amongst other events.
https://www.facebook.com/SpaValleyRa...type=3&theater

Tony

The special guest locomotive for the SVR's Spring Steam Up has been announced as GWR 'Saint' No.2999 'Lady of Legend'. The new-build 'Saint' had been scheduled to make a gala appearance at the SVR in 2020, which was cancelled due to the Covid outbreak. This year's visit to the SVR will be the first time No.2999 will have operated away from her Didcot home.

Tony

I thought, and hoped, this might happen Tony

I was looking forward to going to see the Saint last year at SVR then the World went belly up. It's a rare event to be able to see a class that we've not had the chance to see before

Hopefully. I'll be in a position to visit this time round, vaccine roll out and travel restrictions permitting.

I've not seen anything that looks or sounds like a steam loco since this time last year. No doubt there are quite a few Forum members in a similar situation I hope we are all able to get back to enjoying our hobby very soon

Following Boris Johnson's announcement yesterday re: coming out of lockdown, it appears that the earliest that heritage railways could reopen is 12th April.
To this end, the Severn Valley Railway has announced that it will resume services on 12th April (later than the previously planned date of 2nd April) and it still intends to run it's Spring Steam Up (15-18th April) and it's Spring Diesel Bash (13-16th May).

Tony

The Spa Valley Railway has announced on it's Facebook page that they will be reopening on Saturday 22nd May.

Tony

Didcot Railway Centre is planning to reopen on Wednesday 14th April and then on Weekends and Wednesdays thereafter.
https://didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/p...ring-steam-day

Tony

The Somerset & Dorset Railway Heritage Trust at Midsomer Norton will be reopening on 22nd May.

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2021/03...reopening.html

https://sdjr.co.uk/

Tony

Swanage Railway has announced that it will reopening on 12th April.

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2021/03...firmation.html

https://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/new...e-steam-trains

Tony

East Lancs are starting up again on the 1st May. The annual forties weekend at the end of May has been cancelled due to the uncertainty of social distancing rules.

http://www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk/p...ouncement.aspx
http://www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk/p...ouncement.aspx

Cheers John

The Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway is planning to reopen on 12th April, but details are still being finalised and with the caveat that they are still waiting on further government announcements.

Tony