UK Mainline and Heritage Railway Highlights 2023

With the year drawing to a close, here's a look back at some of our favourite railway events and moments from over the past 12 months.

2023 coincided with a number of anniversaries, with major centenary celebrations for the Big Four railway companies, LNER A3 60103 'Flying Scotsman' and the Collett designed GWR Castle Class locomotives. The Big Four was widely represented across heritage railways and the mainline, with one of the stand-out events being the Keighely & Worth Valley Railway's Steam Gala in March, with a quintet of Stanier LMS locos running through the snow covered landscape of West Yorkshire.

LNER A3 60103 'Flying Scotsman' pulled the crowds at numerous heritage railways across the country, meanwhile the Castle Class Centenary was celebrated with a gathering of four of the eight surviving class members at Didcot, with home-fleet locos 4079 'Pendennis Castle' and 50501 'Drysllwyn Castle' joined by Vintage Trains' 7029 'Clun Castle' and 5043 'Earl of Mount Edgcumbe', the latter of which having recently returned to traffic.

Another locomotive to return to mainline traffic this year was BR Class 55 Deltic 55009 'Alycidion', having been off the mainline since 2019 following a major failure. In August, No.9 took on the guise of scrapped classmate 55013 'The Black Watch', to commemorate former Deltic driver Harry Wilson, who celebrated his 100th Birthday this year.

Away from the British Mainland, the Isle of Wight Steam Railway celebrated 150 Years since the opening of the line from Douglas to Peel. Across the week long Transport Festival of the Isle, the line hosted a number of special events, as well as special train services featuring lesser seen stock, boat train recreations and doubled headed running.

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway and the Great Central Railway both celebrated 50 years of heritage operations, with the GCR's milestone marked with a 50 wagon goods train hauled by BR Standard 9F 92214. The railway also presented a re-enactment of protests against Dr Beeching's Report at their highlight event, 'Railway's at Work', marking 60 years since the publishing of the infamous report which saw the closure of lines up and down the country, including the Great Central Railway itself.

LINKS
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrickishRailYT/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brickishrail/

LOCOS & STOCK
GB Railfreight Class 56 56081
GB Railfreight Class 56 56098
LMS Black Five 44932
BR Standard 9F 92214
GWR Castle Class 4079 'Pendennis Castle'
GWR Castle Class 5043 'Earl of Mount Edgcumbe'
GWR Castle Class 5051 'Drysllwyn Castle'
BR(W) Castle Class 7029 'Clun Castle'
LMS Black Five 44871
LMS Black Five 45212
LMS Jubilee Class 45690 'Leander'
LMS Jubilee Class 45596 'Bahamas'
LNER A3 Class 60103 'Flying Scotsman'
SR Bulleid West Country Class 21C127 'Taw Valley'
GWR Manor Class 7812 'Erlestoke Manor'
Beyer Peacock No.4 'Loch'
Beyer Peacock No.11 'Maitland'
BR Class 55 Deltic 55009 'Alycidion' (AS 55013 'The Black Watch')
BR(E) Thompson B1 61306 'Mayflower'
BR Standard 9F 92134
LNER A4 Pacific 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley'
GWR Saint Class 2999 'Ladfy of Legend'
BR(W) Modified Hall Class 6990 'Witherslack Hall (As 6988 'Swithland Hall')
BR Standard 5MT 73082 'Camelot'
SR Bullied West Country Class 34070 'Manston'

VIDEO CONTENTS
0:00 - 56081 & 56098 - Chesterfield
0:51 - 44932 - Clifton Station
1:56 - 92214 - Great Central Railway
2:57 - 4079, 5043, 5051 & 7029 - Didcot Railway Centre
4:11- 5043 & 7029 - Yarnton
5:01- 44871, 45212 & 45690 - Keighley & Worth Valley Railway
6:34 - 45212 & 45596 - Keighley & Worth Valley Railway
7:34 - 45596 & 45690 - Keighley & Worth Valley Railway
8:44 - 60103 - East Lancashire Railway
9:51 - 4079 - Severn Valley Railway
11:05 - 21C127 - Severn Valley Railway
12:05 - 7812 - Severn Valley Railway
13:27 - 4079 - Severn Valley Railway
14:49 - 92214 - Great Central Railway
16:32 - No.4 & No.11 - Isle of Man Steam Railway
17:39 - No.4 & No.11 - Isle of Man Steam Railway
18:50 - 55009 (As 55013) - Newark Northgate Station
19:37 - Beeching Protests - Great Central Railway
20:52 - 61306 - Severn Valley Railway
22:17 - 92214 & 92134 - North Yorkshire Moors Railway
23:12 - 60007 - North Yorkshire Moors Railway
25:20 - 2999 & 6990 (As 6988) - Great Central Railway
27:03 - 73082 & 34070 - Bluebell Railway