Best of 2024 | UK Mainline and Heritage Railway Highlights

As we welcome the start of 2025, and the 200th Anniversary of the railways, here's a look back at the last 12 months on the railways, with some of our favourite moments and events across the mainline and heritage railways:

This year saw the largest gathering of Bulleid Pacifics in preservation history, with the Strictly Bulleid II event at the Swanage Railway showcasing eight of Bulleid's finest, including two Merchant Navy locomotives running together; A first for preservation. Following this, Southern Locomotives Ltd owned Battle of Britain Class 34053 'Sir Keith Park' saw a temporary renaming as '303 Squadron' in a dedicated ceremony at the Spa Valley Railway, as an honor to Polish and Czech pilots who fought valiantly in the RAF during the Battle of Britain.

GWR Castle Class 4079 'Pendennis Castle' celebrated her centenary year, with the loco appearing at numerous galas in the first half of the year, including at the Keighley & Worth Valley's Spring Steam Gala. Additionally, 7029 'Clun Castle' made her first visit to London Paddington since 1965, running the 60th anniversary train of the 1964 1Z48 tour, and 5043 'Earl of Mount Edgcumbe' put on a strong performance up 1:76 gradient at Shap in March.

Two notable locomotives to debut this year was a pair of new-builds, in the form of GWR Grange Class 6880 'Betton Grange' making it's first public appearance at the Cotswold Festival of Steam, and LBSCR H2 Atlantic 32424 'Beachy Head', which launched in August following completion at the Bluebell Railway. 2024 also welcomed back a wide selection of locomotives into steam, including LNER Peppercorn A2 60532 'Blue Petter', Peppercorn A1 60163 'Tornado' and LMS Stanier Mogul 13268, whilst farewells were made to LMS Ivatt 4MT 43106, Jubilee Class 45690 'Leander' and Rebuilt Royal Scot Class 46100 'Royal Scot.

The Diesel preservation scene also enjoyed some high moments in the year, including the BR Class 14 Teddy Bears celebrating 60 years at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, BR Class 55 Deltic D9015 'Tulyar's engines being started for the first time in 25 years, and the first public runs of a Class 58 in the UK since 2002 at the Severn Valley Railway with 58023 'Leicester Depot'.

LINKS
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LOCOS & STOCK
LMS Ivatt 4MT 43106
LMS Black Five 44806
LNER A4 Pacific 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley'
LMS Jubilee Class 45690 'Leander'
BR Britannia Class 70000 'Britannia'
GWR Castle Class 5043 'Earl of Mount Edgcumbe'
GWR Castle Class 4079 'Pendennis Castle'
BR(W) Modified Hall Class 6990 'Witherslack Hall'
BR Standard 4MT 4-6-0 75078
LMS Jubilee Class 45596 'Bahamas'
LMS Stanier Mogul 13268
GWR 1366 Class Collett Pannier Tank 1369
BR(W) Castle Class 7029 'Clun Castle'
GWR Grange Class 6880 'Betton Grange'
GWR Manor Class 7820 'Dinmore Manor'
SR Merchant Navy Class 35006 'Peninsular & Oriental S.N. Co'
SR Merchant Navy Class 35018 'British India Line'
SR Bulleid Light Pacific 34070 'Manston'
SR Bulleid Light Pacific 34028 'Eddystone'
SR Bulleid Light Pacific 34072 '257 Sqaudron;
SR Bulleid Light Pacific 34053 'Sir Keith Park'/'303 Squadron'
British Rail Class 37 37250
British Rail Class 37 37075
LMS 3F Jinty 16440
LNER Peppercorn A2 60532 'Blue Peter'
British Rail Class 14 D9523, D9529, D9551, D9525, D9504, D9553 & D9537
British Rail Class 55 Deltic D9015 'Tulyar'
LBSCR H2 Atlantic 32424 'Beachy Head'
LNER Peppercorn A1 60163 'Tornado'
GWR Hall Class 4390 'Hagley Hall'
GWR 5700 Class Pannier Tank 7714
Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Class 23 11456
LNER P3 Class 2392
British Rail Class 58 58023 'Leicester Depot'
British Rail Class 20 20142 'Sir John Betjeman'
LBSCR A1X Terrier No.72 'Fenchurch'
BR Standard 9F 92134
LMS 3F Jinty 47298
Furness Railway No.20
LMS Rebuilt Royal Scot Class 46100 'Royal Scot'

VIDEO CONTENTS
0:00 - 43106 - SVR
1:25 - 44806 - NYMR
2:55 - 60007 - East Lancashire Railway
4:33 - 45690 - East Lancashire Railway
5:50 - 70000 - East Lancashire Railway
7:13 - 5043 - Shap Wells
10:33 - 4079 & 6990 - KWVR
12:00 - 75078 & 45596 - KWVR
14:24 - 13268 - SVR
15:51 - 1369 - SVR
17:17 - 7029 - Swindon
18:33 - 7029 - London Paddington
19:28 - 45690 - Epping Ongar Railway
20:54 - 6880 & 7820 - GWSR
22:05 - 35006 & 35018 - Swanage Railway
23:19 - SSL Lineup - Swanage Railway
24:44 - 37250 & 37075 - KWVR
25:52 - 16440 - Midland Railway, Butterley
27:26 - 60532 - Doncaster
29:24 - Class 14 Cavalcade - Ecclesbourne Valley Railway
30:31 - 45596 - Matlock Station/Peak Rail
32:35 - D9015 - Barrow Hill Roundhouse
33:46 - Railways at Work - GCR
35:20 - 32424 - Bluebell Railway
36:39 - 60163 - GCR
37:44 - 34053 - Spa Valley Railway
38:52 - 4930 - SVR
40:25 - 7714 - SVR
41:51 - 4930 - SVR
43:06 - 11456 - SVR
45:00 - 2392 - NYMR
46:08 - 58023 & 20142 - SVR
48:11 - 72 - KWVR
49:20 - 92134 & 47298 - East Lancashire Railway
50:47 - FR20 - East Lancashire Railway
51:28 - 60007 - Doncaster
52:14 - 46100 - Tamworth