Episodes
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In episode 24 of the Railway Mania podcast we welcome Matt, Will and Nathan from the 563 locomotive group to talk about a special loco that's spent a good deal of time treading the boards starring in 'The Railway Children' stage play and is soon to be restored to working order on the Swanage Railway.
We talk about the loco's history, how it escaped the cutter's torch, its life at the NRM and then the process of de-accessioning which means it will soon be able to turn a wheel in anger once more.
Visit the website for the 563 locomotive group here to find out more:
https://563locomotivegroup.co.uk/
Thanks to the team for coming on the podcast! -
'Steam Locomotives in Profile' is back in 2021, in the form of a feature length special focusing on IMLEC, The 2021 International Model Locomotive Efficiency Competition.
Model engineers from around the country came together to test the mettle of their creations in a head-to-head 3-day competition.
Chris Eden-Green returns to the podcast to tell us about it.
Check out the IMLEC special here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYiVhVhV21U
If you would like to donate to the 'Steam Locos in Profile in the USA' crowdfunder, follow this link:
https://www.e-gmedia.co.uk/slipsintheusa -
Missing episodes?
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Welcome to this special episode of Railway Mania. Our guest is the author of numerous books on trains and railways and whose latest publication 'All Aboard!' is now on sale, it's Julian Holland!
We talk about the huge variety of railway-related topics covered in the book, and Julian's own experiences of trainspotting during the 1950s and 1960s.
Thanks so much to Julian for coming on the podcast.
'All Aboard: Remembering Britain's Railways' is published by Times Books and available from all major booksellers. -
Ben Powell and Rob Rossington of The 009 Society join us for another look at narrow gauge modelling. They tell us about what the society can offer and the scope of what it covers (not limited to just 009 but 1:76 narrow gauge modelling in general).
We also look at how the modelling scene is changing for narrow gauge as more and more manufacturers offer ready-to-run examples.
Check out The 009 Society here:
https://009society.com/
Thanks to Ben and Rob for coming on the podcast! -
The Big Smoke is a city full of stories and our podcast guest for this episode is none other than Tom AKA Jago Hazzard, who has been making a hugely popular series of videos on London’s transport and history.‘Tales from the Tube’ is a fascinating look at London’s Underground. We’re going to talk about where it began, how the stories come about and (of course) time travel.
Thanks to Tom for being a great guest!
See Jago Hazzard on YouTube here:https://www.youtube.com/c/JagoHazzard -
The birth of steam traction and the modern idea of the railway came at a time of great social change in Britain, when groups of religious dissenters were carving out their own niches in the world in order to prosper.Our guest for this episode is historian, author and all-round expert in early 19th Century railways Anthony Dawson. We shall be looking in to the circumstances of the people involved in promoting the idea of steam locomotives, their religious leanings and how this may have played a crucial role not just in the spread of railways but the industrial revolution as a whole.
Anthony’s latest book ‘Locomotives of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway’ is available from Pen and Sword:https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Locomotives-of-the-Liverpool-and-Manchester-Railway-Hardback/p/18771
Anthony on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC75PkfxmwyEM6RrVStVwqwQ
On Historical Lines on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/OnHistoricalLines
RailStory on Twitter:https://twitter.com/RailStory -
Spring is here and it's time to get some fresh air. Joining me on this podcast episode is Garden Rail's very own Phil Parker. We're going to go into the ways you can get started with playing trains in the garden, from flat pack kits to live steam Garratts and everything else in between.
A HUGE thanks to Phil for coming on the podcast, remember to check out Garden Rail magazine if you are interested in getting started! -
At the height of World War Two, the Southern Railway introduced its first pacific tender locos, the Merchant Navy Class.
Bulleid was always seeking to push the envelope with locomotive development, and the 3-cylinder Merchant Navy was packed full of features and innovations to enable more power, different maintenance regimes, and to lessen the effect the locos had on the permanent way.
The locomotives were extremely powerful and capable of incredible performances, but drew criticism for several issues, notably fires which broke out within the air-smoothed casing around the boiler, a tendency for high coal and water consumption, and the restricted visibility from the casing.
Between 1956 and 1960, British Railways extensively rebuilt all 30 members of the class, removing the distinctive casing, and replacing the Bulleid chain-driven valve gear with three sets of independent Walschaerts.
11 rebuilt Merchant Navies still exist today. 35011 ‘General Steam Navigation’ is one of the preserved members, but the owning group has a rather different plan to the other members of the class. ‘Number 11’ is going to have the rebuilding reversed, and be returned to its as-built condition.
Thanks to Andy, Graham and Steve for coming on the podcast!
Find out more:
https://35011gsn.co.uk/ -
The ongoing global pandemic has seen the cancellation of nearly all model exhibitions across the country. To keep the spirit of the event season going, several 'virtual exhibitions' have been organised. This episode, I sit down with Andy York, Phil Parker, Debbie Wood and Howard Smith from the World of Railways team to talk about their upcoming second virtual exhibition, plus the highs and lows of real-life exhibiting.
HUGE thanks to the team for coming on the podcast, be sure to tune into the show on 7th and 8th November 2020 at:
https://www.world-of-railways.co.uk/ -
Thomas Cook ceased trading in 2019, 178 years after Mr. Cook organised his first excursion train. This podcast episode looks into the early years of excursion travel and the explosion in popularity of ‘cheap trips’ opening up a world of experiences for the working classes throughout the mid 19th Century. Who were these people, how did it come about, what was the experience like?
(Please note there was an error in uploading which caused episode 1 to be played instead of episode 15. This has now been corrected, apologies!) -
Callum Willcox (SDJR7F88) and Adam Ashford (82A Studios) return as guests on the podcast. This time we are talking about railway channels on YouTube, Callum and Adam have both been in the game for many years and share their insights on how it came to be, and what the future holds.
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Children are the future of modelling, and we as a community need to nurture their interest. How to help them move up a gear and go from playing trains to building their own models?
Maggie Gravett has been running children's modelling sessions for 21 years joins us to explain how it's done and why it's so important.
Thanks so much to Maggie for taking the time to come on the show!
Please subscribe to listen to more Podcast episodes.
https://www.railwaymania.net/ -
Anorak Rating: 4/5
009, which features 1:76 scale models on 9mm gauge track, has undergone something of a boom in recent years. I sit down with 009 fans Daniel Thomas and Pat James to talk about their personal experiences, and how the fact 009 was not served in ready-to-run form until recently pushed them to build their own stock.
Thanks to Pat and Daniel for coming on the show!
Daniel's instragram:
https://www.instagram.com/d_j_thomas517/
Pat's instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/pats.ng.work_bench/?hl=en
A tribute to Pat James:
https://www.railwaymania.net/pat-james-a-tribute
Pat James was one of the most interesting and talented people I’ve ever met. Pat and I interacted online for several years before we met in early 2019, but he was one of those people who you instantly felt like you’d known for years. We’d talk about trains for hours on end and he was kind enough to be the first guest on the Railway Mania Podcast, as well as contributing the artwork for this and the 3rd episode.
Sadly, Pat passed away in March 2020, well before his time. The modelling world lost one of their brightest and most promising people, a loving husband and father, and a good friend. I wanted to keep a record of his work for all to enjoy. I will miss him greatly. -
In Episode 11 of RAILWAY MANIA we sit down with Chris Eden-Green, creator and presenter of long-running series Steam Locos In Profile, and chat about how Chris came up with the show, the production process, views on preservation and volunteering, as well as producing online railway video in general.
Many thanks to Chris for being on RAILWAY MANIA!
Visit Chris’s YouTube Channel to see Steam Locos in Profile and many more videos:
https://www.youtube.com/user/ChristheXelent
https://www.railwaymania.net/
Thanks for listening! -
Garratts were one of the most successful articulated locomotive types worldwide. In this episode, we briefly cover the history of Herbert W. Garratt's brainchild, followed by a chat with Huw Jones of the Welsh Highland Railway, who works full time keeping the NGG16s in traffic. Huw tells us about the idiosyncrasies of the Garratt design, and what makes them different to a regular loco.
Anorak Rating: 4/5 -
Season 2 of Channel 5's Great Model Railway Challenge has drawn to a close. The show has been divisive amongst enthusiasts, but what is it like to be part of such a programme and what do the contestants think of it? I sat down with Callum Willcox and Adam Ashford of The Railway Video Division, runners-up in Season 1, to find out.
Anorak Rating: 2/5 -
Expert modeller Gordon Gravett joins us in this episode of Railway Mania as we discuss scenery on model railways, how to construct a scene, good methods and tips, what to do when a project goes wrong, among many other topics...
Anorak Rating: 4/5 -
Steam railways are often run by armies of volunteers, but some people can be paid for it!
Today we're talking to Will Stratford, who has been working on the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways (often branded as 'best railway in the world') on his day-to-day experiences.
Anorak Rating: 2/5
RAILWAY MANIA is a podcast covering everything to do with trains and railways. Each episode, Corwin takes you on a bite-sized journey through many topics and tales of the Iron Road, including everything railway modelling to railway history, interviews with fellow enthusiasts and experts. Pop the kettle on and let's talk about trains! -
In 2017, 60163 Tornado made history by being the first steam locomotive to officially hit 100mph in the UK since 1967. Huw Parker of the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust tells how this came about, what it was like on the night, and what's been going on since the speed run.
Anorak Rating: 2/5
RAILWAY MANIA is a podcast covering everything to do with trains and railways. Each episode, Corwin takes you on a bite-sized journey through many topics and tales of the Iron Road, including everything railway modelling to railway history, interviews with fellow enthusiasts and experts. Pop the kettle on and let's talk about trains! -
Every story from history has its 'goodies' and 'baddies', but how much of our perception of these events is influenced by the storytellers?
Today I'm joined by Simon A.C. Martin, who is working on a book about the engineer Edward Thompson, who took over from Sir Nigel Gresley as Chief Mechanical Engineer on the London and North Eastern Railway at the height of World War Two. Thompson has often been criticised for his designs and decisions, but how much of this is justified?
Simon is looking to set the record straight using contemporary reference material.
Anorak Rating: 4/5
RAILWAY MANIA is a podcast covering everything to do with trains and railways. Each episode, Corwin takes you on a bite-sized journey through many topics and tales of the Iron Road, including everything railway modelling to railway history, interviews with fellow enthusiasts and experts. Pop the kettle on and let's talk about trains! - Show more
