crecyrail.bsky.social
@crecyrail.bsky.social
Focusing on the railway titles of one of Britain's leading special interest publishers, covering Crecy's large range of railway books including the OPC, abc and Southern Way imprints, as well as sharing occasional images from our archives. Crecy.co.uk
The last hurrah for the A4s on express workings, after they had been displaced by diesels from most of the ECML, was on the services from Glasgow to Aberdeen. No 60009 Union of South Africa hauls one of these workings at Muchalls, north of Stonehaven, on 30 May 1966.
November 17, 2025 at 10:45 AM
The last hurrah for the A4s on express workings, after they had been displaced by diesels from most of the ECML, was on the services from Glasgow to Aberdeen. No 60009 Union of South Africa hauls one of these workings at Muchalls, north of Stonehaven, on 30 May 1966.
9F No 92245 storms out of Combe Down tunnel near Bath on 7 July 1962 with a Bradford to Bournemouth train. At 1,829 yards, it was the longest in Britain without ventilation shafts, it had tight clearances too. Now converted into a cycle/walking path, it cannot have been much fun for the enginemen.
November 13, 2025 at 10:43 AM
9F No 92245 storms out of Combe Down tunnel near Bath on 7 July 1962 with a Bradford to Bournemouth train. At 1,829 yards, it was the longest in Britain without ventilation shafts, it had tight clearances too. Now converted into a cycle/walking path, it cannot have been much fun for the enginemen.
We will be there! If you are going to the show at the NEC, do drop by our stand to see our latest railway titles, a wide range of books from our back list and railway titles from the publishers distributed by Crecy. Hopefully a special offer or two will be also be found on our stand.
November 11, 2025 at 3:42 PM
We will be there! If you are going to the show at the NEC, do drop by our stand to see our latest railway titles, a wide range of books from our back list and railway titles from the publishers distributed by Crecy. Hopefully a special offer or two will be also be found on our stand.
The LMS introduced the Princess Coronation class Pacifics in 1937 of which 38 were built. On 4 April 1961 No 46231 Duchess of Hamilton is seen at Bangor working the 9.50am service from Crewe to Holyhead.
November 11, 2025 at 2:10 PM
The LMS introduced the Princess Coronation class Pacifics in 1937 of which 38 were built. On 4 April 1961 No 46231 Duchess of Hamilton is seen at Bangor working the 9.50am service from Crewe to Holyhead.
I do like pictures of lines that are now heritage railways, before they were famous. There is little information with this print other than that it is a Drummond 0-4-4T, the number looks like 109, approaching Medstead station on what is now of course the Mid Hants Railway, in SR days.
November 6, 2025 at 3:23 PM
I do like pictures of lines that are now heritage railways, before they were famous. There is little information with this print other than that it is a Drummond 0-4-4T, the number looks like 109, approaching Medstead station on what is now of course the Mid Hants Railway, in SR days.
A lovely shot of Jubilee No 45567 South Australia accelerating away from Crewe on 3 April 1953 on an unidentified Up working. This type of angle was popular with photographers back then and was very effective. Nowadays, it'd probably be treated as a trespass incident.
November 4, 2025 at 1:47 PM
A lovely shot of Jubilee No 45567 South Australia accelerating away from Crewe on 3 April 1953 on an unidentified Up working. This type of angle was popular with photographers back then and was very effective. Nowadays, it'd probably be treated as a trespass incident.
An always agreeable task for me is having a quick read of Southern Way proofs before it goes to press. Just started on No 71 out this month. So as always, a taster, from a feature on the SR in 1965, Sir Winston Churchill's funeral train leaves Waterloo on 24 January 1965. crecy.co.uk/product/sout...
November 3, 2025 at 3:11 PM
An always agreeable task for me is having a quick read of Southern Way proofs before it goes to press. Just started on No 71 out this month. So as always, a taster, from a feature on the SR in 1965, Sir Winston Churchill's funeral train leaves Waterloo on 24 January 1965. crecy.co.uk/product/sout...
They weren't pretty, but the five impressive looking H16 4-6-2Ts, were built to Urie's design in 1921/22 for the LSWR. Used for freight exclusively, No 30517 is seen at Thorpe Lane Crossing between Egham and Staines in May 1952 on Up goods probably heading for Feltham yard.
October 31, 2025 at 10:17 AM
They weren't pretty, but the five impressive looking H16 4-6-2Ts, were built to Urie's design in 1921/22 for the LSWR. Used for freight exclusively, No 30517 is seen at Thorpe Lane Crossing between Egham and Staines in May 1952 on Up goods probably heading for Feltham yard.
This could be a scene from the last years of BR services on the Severn Valley branch, as steam and diesel trains cross at Arley.
October 28, 2025 at 6:40 PM
This could be a scene from the last years of BR services on the Severn Valley branch, as steam and diesel trains cross at Arley.
The Severn Valley line is at its very best at this time of year, the changing colours of the trees and the light can be stunning, as they were today.
October 28, 2025 at 6:38 PM
The Severn Valley line is at its very best at this time of year, the changing colours of the trees and the light can be stunning, as they were today.
Playing with the big train set today guarding the DMU, the original one, the ´new’ one in for maintenance this week. Proper DMU turnaround on the second departure from Bridgnorth station a full 5 minutes! We arrived and departed 5 late but got to Kidderminster 2 minutes early. #SevernValleyRailway
October 28, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Playing with the big train set today guarding the DMU, the original one, the ´new’ one in for maintenance this week. Proper DMU turnaround on the second departure from Bridgnorth station a full 5 minutes! We arrived and departed 5 late but got to Kidderminster 2 minutes early. #SevernValleyRailway
In this undated view, Castle No 5034 Corfe Castle pilots an unidentified classmate at Whiteball summit on what is noted as the 10.20am Paddington to Paignton service, passing 2-6-2 tank No 5157 which had assisted a previous express up from Taunton.
October 27, 2025 at 5:29 PM
In this undated view, Castle No 5034 Corfe Castle pilots an unidentified classmate at Whiteball summit on what is noted as the 10.20am Paddington to Paignton service, passing 2-6-2 tank No 5157 which had assisted a previous express up from Taunton.
Crewe Junction box’s GWR lower quadrant home signals on the line from Crewe at #Shrewsbury station, close to the site of the 1907 accident. There cannot be many like these left on the UK’s railway network.
October 18, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Crewe Junction box’s GWR lower quadrant home signals on the line from Crewe at #Shrewsbury station, close to the site of the 1907 accident. There cannot be many like these left on the UK’s railway network.
We are at the Frankfurt Book Fair this week, the biggest book trade event in the calendar with over 4,000 publishers from 90 or more countries attending. Pleasant change to be able to take a train to work, in this case the Frankfurt S Bahn.
October 16, 2025 at 8:46 AM
We are at the Frankfurt Book Fair this week, the biggest book trade event in the calendar with over 4,000 publishers from 90 or more countries attending. Pleasant change to be able to take a train to work, in this case the Frankfurt S Bahn.
Just published, our modest contribution to the celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Stockton & Darlington, a reprint of Cecil J. Allen's long out of print history of the NER, a bargain at only £9.99. crecy.co.uk/product/the-...
October 13, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Just published, our modest contribution to the celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Stockton & Darlington, a reprint of Cecil J. Allen's long out of print history of the NER, a bargain at only £9.99. crecy.co.uk/product/the-...
Ivatt 2-6-2T No 41226 passes Bangor No 2 Box on 3 August 1964 with a push/pull from Gaerwen. The train would've served Llanfair PG and Menai Bridge stations on its short journey across the Menai strait. The one other station on this route, Brittania Bridge, closed as long ago as October 1858!
October 13, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Ivatt 2-6-2T No 41226 passes Bangor No 2 Box on 3 August 1964 with a push/pull from Gaerwen. The train would've served Llanfair PG and Menai Bridge stations on its short journey across the Menai strait. The one other station on this route, Brittania Bridge, closed as long ago as October 1858!
From a file in the Archive on North Wales branch lines, No 78058 brings a goods train from Amlwch through Llangwyllog station on 21 May 1962. The branch lost its passenger trains in 1964, but freight survived into the 1990s. The line remains in situ and sporadic efforts to restore it continue.
October 9, 2025 at 3:51 PM
From a file in the Archive on North Wales branch lines, No 78058 brings a goods train from Amlwch through Llangwyllog station on 21 May 1962. The branch lost its passenger trains in 1964, but freight survived into the 1990s. The line remains in situ and sporadic efforts to restore it continue.
As well as the line from Rhyl to Corwen featured here previously, Denbigh was served by a lengthy branch to Chester via Mold which lost it passenger trains in 1962. An all stations train from Chester is seen on this line, in a stunning setting, in November 1961 between Caerwys and Bodfari stations.
October 8, 2025 at 10:19 AM
As well as the line from Rhyl to Corwen featured here previously, Denbigh was served by a lengthy branch to Chester via Mold which lost it passenger trains in 1962. An all stations train from Chester is seen on this line, in a stunning setting, in November 1961 between Caerwys and Bodfari stations.
Stanier designed 2-6-2T No 40084 is seen arriving at Rhudllan on 12 August 1955 with a train from Denbigh to Rhyl. Passenger services on this section of line ended the following month on 22nd September.
October 6, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Stanier designed 2-6-2T No 40084 is seen arriving at Rhudllan on 12 August 1955 with a train from Denbigh to Rhyl. Passenger services on this section of line ended the following month on 22nd September.
I hope passengers in the front coach of this Euston to Liverpool train, behind Royal Scot No 46146 The Rifle Brigade, had the windows closed, as the fireman hasn't raised the scoop in time on Whitmoor troughs in an undated, but post 1956 view, when the revised BR crest on the tender, was introduced.
October 1, 2025 at 10:21 AM
I hope passengers in the front coach of this Euston to Liverpool train, behind Royal Scot No 46146 The Rifle Brigade, had the windows closed, as the fireman hasn't raised the scoop in time on Whitmoor troughs in an undated, but post 1956 view, when the revised BR crest on the tender, was introduced.
A lengthy mixed train, consisting mostly of cattle wagons, leaves Ballinluig, on the former Highland Railway branch to Aberfeldy, on 23 August 1961, hauled by 0-4-4T No 55217, a Caledonian design dating from 1900. This line lost its passenger services in May 1965.
September 26, 2025 at 10:14 AM
A lengthy mixed train, consisting mostly of cattle wagons, leaves Ballinluig, on the former Highland Railway branch to Aberfeldy, on 23 August 1961, hauled by 0-4-4T No 55217, a Caledonian design dating from 1900. This line lost its passenger services in May 1965.
Our last look at the Kingswear line features another of its named trains. The Up Devonian, heading for Bradford probably, is seen between Churston and Goodrington Sands on 1 August 1953 headed by Castle No 5059 Earl St Aldwyn. An LMR loco would take over at Bristol Temple Meads for the run north.
September 25, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Our last look at the Kingswear line features another of its named trains. The Up Devonian, heading for Bradford probably, is seen between Churston and Goodrington Sands on 1 August 1953 headed by Castle No 5059 Earl St Aldwyn. An LMR loco would take over at Bristol Temple Meads for the run north.
Things weren't going quite as planned on 4 September 1958. A Castle hauling the Down Torbay Express failed en route from Paddington to Kingswear to be replaced by 2-6-0 No 5358, seen here climbing away from Goodrington Sands, whose extensive carriage sidings can be glimpsed above the rear coach.
September 24, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Things weren't going quite as planned on 4 September 1958. A Castle hauling the Down Torbay Express failed en route from Paddington to Kingswear to be replaced by 2-6-0 No 5358, seen here climbing away from Goodrington Sands, whose extensive carriage sidings can be glimpsed above the rear coach.
Continuing our brief look at the Kingswear line, this train is headed there from Exeter, passing under Shaldon bridge on the main line at Teignmouth. The loco is long time #SVR resident No 7812 Erlestoke Manor, allocated to Newton Abbot (83A)for most of the 1950s before moving in 1960 to Oswestry.
September 22, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Continuing our brief look at the Kingswear line, this train is headed there from Exeter, passing under Shaldon bridge on the main line at Teignmouth. The loco is long time #SVR resident No 7812 Erlestoke Manor, allocated to Newton Abbot (83A)for most of the 1950s before moving in 1960 to Oswestry.
There was one branch off the Paignton to Kingswear line, that from Churston to Brixham. Just over 2 miles in length, it opened as a broad gauge line in 1868 and closed in 1963. On 29 April 1958, a very clean No 1472 leaves Brixham propelling its single Autocoach towards Churston.
September 18, 2025 at 4:10 PM
There was one branch off the Paignton to Kingswear line, that from Churston to Brixham. Just over 2 miles in length, it opened as a broad gauge line in 1868 and closed in 1963. On 29 April 1958, a very clean No 1472 leaves Brixham propelling its single Autocoach towards Churston.