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In this Episode of Making Tracks, engineer and podcaster  Alasdair Stewart learns about modern methods of marketing heritage railways with the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways' Osian Hughes. Helen Leslie explains how a museum is a fundamental part of the visitor experience at the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway in Porthmadog, and Sharon Gregory has been on tour on her motorbike  visiting some of her favourite lines and meets the S4C TV dragons at the Talyllyn Railway  on a week long ride-out across Wales.

#Gwili #Ffwhr #whhr #Talyllyn 

The Gwilli Railway

The Talyllyn Railway

S4C Dreigiau Cadi - Chidren's TV show
The Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways

The Welsh Highland Heritage Railway

This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart

Our 'Making Tracks' music is with kind permission of composer and musician Richard Durrant. It is a unique piece inspired by the rhythm of the historic rolling stock on the Ffestiniog Railway on the scenic journey from Harbour Station to Tan y Blwch.

You can listen and download the full 'Tan y Bwlch' Ukulele Quartet here:

Thank you to voice artist David King - for the Railway Ride outs voice over.

Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch"

Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Richard Durrant · Single · 2019 · 3 songs.

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In  this episode of Making Tracks Podcast I visit some of England's most charming, bucolic countryside to join in celebrations at the Kent and East Sussex Railway, as they mark 25 years since Bodiam station was reopened.

The 'Railway 200' anniversary is marked in Hastings, with an exhibition at the town's museum and gallery, and I went to meet the , former Railwayman Kevin Boorman. We speak about his collection of railway memorabilia and some of region’s rich railway history.

Sharon Gregory visits the Llanberis lake railway in north Wales in her 'Railway Rideouts' series, as she tours the nation’s heritage railways by motorcycle! 

Back in Season 2, Episode 1, we visited  Amberley Museum in West Sussex, and saw some of their  Narrow gauge collection - Peter Egdeler  gives us an update on the restoration of one of the original feature structures on the site and how evidence has come to light for its maritime origin. I join the crowds on the platform in Hastings to catch a glimpse of the Sussex Steam Special as it stopped off at the station. 

Here are links to the Railways featured in this episode:

Kent and East Sussex Railway

The Llanberis Lake Railway

Railway 200 exhibition Hastings Museum until 29th June 2025

Hastings Museum 

This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart

Our 'Making Tracks' music is with kind permission of composer and musician Richard Durrant. It is a unique piece inspired by the rhythm of the historic rolling stock on the Ffestiniog Railway on the scenic journey from Harbour Station to Tan y Blwch.

You can listen and download the full 'Tan y Bwlch' Ukulele Quartet here:

Thank you to voice artist David King - for the Railway Ride outs voice over.

Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch"

Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Richard Durrant · Single · 2019 · 3 songs.

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In this episode our travels to uncover Railway stories take us to Anglesey to meet Walter Glynn Davis, the 81 year old chair of Lein Amlwch – Anglesey Central Railway Ltd, a group who are working to bring the Amlwch to Gerwen line back into service.  Walter, retired teacher travelled, on the last passenger train in 1964 and being a local man from Amlwch the line has been his passion ever since. 

We talk to the new job share General Managers: Liz Porrett and Lorraine Simkiss at the Talyllyn Railway on International Women's Day, discussing the challenges facing Welsh Railways with the tourist tax and looking ahead at the fabulous season they have planned.

I made a visit to longest public narrow gauge railway in the Baltics, the Siaurukas  line in Lithuania and hear from its Director, Darius 

Sharon Gregory heads off on another Railway Rideout, this time to the Churnet Valley Railway in Staffordshire, and we go to Sussex where 86 year old Bluebell Railway lineside volunteer John Deane has walked the length of the line, on the ballast, for a charity close to his heart.

#ChurnetValley #BluebellRailway #Talyllyn #IWD #AngleseyCentralRailway '
Links to the Railways mentioned in this episode:

The Tallylyn Railway 

Llein Amlwch / Anglesey Central Railway Limited

Link to story of the damaged railway bridge 2019 

Churnet Valley Railway 

Voluteer in Lithuania: Contact  [email protected]  Director of the Siarukas Railway to find out about volunteering opportunities.

The Bluebell Railway

John Deane's fundraiser for the British Heart Foundation 

This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart

Our 'Making Tracks' music is with kind permission of composer and musician Richard Durrant. It is a unique piece inspired by the rhythm of the historic rolling stock on the Ffestiniog Railway on the scenic journey from Harbour Station to Tan y Blwch.

You can listen and download the full 'Tan y Bwlch' Ukulele Quartet here:

Thank you to voice artist David King - for the Railway Ride outs voice over.

Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch"

Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Richard Durrant · Single · 2019 · 3 songs.

Send us a text

Two cities and two very different electric railway stories: one still thriving with its original Victorian vintage vehicles and the other, a fading memory, with just a few tangible remains left around the city.

I go to Brighton beach to visit Volk's the oldest operating Electric railway in the world and we head to  the National Museum of Liverpool to speak to the curator of Land, Transport Works and Industry, Sharon Brown to find out about the former Liverpool Overhead Electric Railway. The line was demolished in 1957 but fondly remembered in the city as the Dockers Umbrella for being exactly that.

And Sharon Gregory is back with her Railway Rideouts to Bala and Keighley and Worth Valley Railways and a chat about workplace volunteering with Carl Burns

Links below to everything we mention in this episode.

Volks Electric Railway Brighton, Sussex - operating daily from 5th April 2025 for the summer season.

Keighley and Worth Valley Railway

Bala Lake Railway Trust appeal to build the extension 

National Museums Liverpool Overhead Railway Gallery - the museum is within easy walking distance of St James Street Station. 

Liverpool Overhead Railway Facebook Page - created and researched by the late Steven Paul Wheeler.

Steven Wheeler's CGI recreation of the Liverpool Overhead Railway can be seen on this link.  Shared here with kind permission of his sister Danielle in tribute to a man with a passion for the history of  Liverpool's Overhead Railway.

Rother Valley Railway 

#Liverpool #Brighton #Magnus Volk #Bala #Keighley 

This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart

Our 'Making Tracks' music is with kind permission of composer and musician Richard Durrant. It is a unique piece inspired by the rhythm of the historic rolling stock on the Ffestiniog Railway on the scenic journey from Harbour Station to Tan y Blwch.

You can listen and download the full 'Tan y Bwlch' Ukulele Quartet here:

Thank you to voice artist David King - for the Railway Ride outs voice over.

Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch"

Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Richard Durrant · Single · 2019 · 3 songs.

Send us a text

Welcome to the first episode of making tracks of 2025 the start of a special year in the  Railway calendar – Railway 200

Railway 200 is a cross sector, government backed, partner led campaign to celebrate Two centuries since the start of the modern era of rail travel marked by the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825 
The bi-centenary Celebrations started with a New Years Day 'Whistle Up' across the UK and beyond.

Alan Hyde joins us from the Railway 200 campaign, we talk to to the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways General Manager Paul Lewin to get his take on the bi centenary and hear about their combined Railway 200 and FR Platinum Jubilee celebration... and historian Dafydd Gwyn puts the whole anniversary into perspective.
Sharon Gregory swaps biker boots for walking boots this time and explores disused railway lines across north Wales on foot. 

We also visit the narrow gauge Corris Railway in Powys and talk to to David Coleman about their Southern extension which could eventually double the length of the running line.

**

Please find details of the Railways, books  and Events mentioned in this episode below:

Railway 200

The Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways Whistle up Reel with Paul Lewin GM.

The Volks Electric Railway Whistle Up Reel (with kind permission Ludwig Tails)

Volks Electric Railway

North Yorkshire Moors Railway

Author and Historian  Dafydd Gwyn's book The Coming of the Railways available at Railway specialist book stores and on Amazon.

The Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways Special Event - Railway 200 and the FR Platinum Jubilee

Part of the Caernarfon to Llanberis railway route walked by Sharon Gregory -  Lon Las Peris and Lon Las Ogwen from Bangor towards the Penrhyn quarries. 

Corris Railway and the southern extension 

This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart

Our 'Making Tracks' music is with kind permission of composer and musician Richard Durrant. It is a unique piece inspired by the rhythm of the historic rolling stock on the Ffestiniog Railway on the scenic journey from Harbour Station to Tan y Blwch.

You can listen and download the full 'Tan y Bwlch' Ukulele Quartet here:

Thank you to voice artist David King - for the Railway Ride outs voice over.

Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch"

Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Richard Durrant · Single · 2019 · 3 songs.

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The UK winter is a good time for indoor hobbies, and like many others, my thoughts are turning to the model railway kits I have stockpiled but haven't got around to making! 
Instead of getting on with the job, I went to the National Exhibition Centre for the inaugural National Festival of Railway Modelling for some inspiration... organised by Warners Group Publications,  who have taken over the slot from Warley model railway club. 
With more of a family friendly appeal, the show attracted thousands to the NEC over the weekend of November 22nd - 24th.

Sharon Gregory returns with another of her motorbike ‘Railway Rideouts’, this time visiting narrow gauge pioneer of preservation in mid-Wales, the Talyllyn railway. 

There's also a chat with Peter Waterman during visit to Chester Cathedral to see the record breaking Making Tracks layout, designed to encourage youngsters to drive the trains and attract a new audience into the historic building. 
 
Finally, fellow modellers discuss their layouts and share thoughts on various aspects of the hobby.

Links to the organisations, businesses and layouts mentioned in this episode:
National Festival of Model Railways (2024 )

The Wirral and North Wales Model Group -facebook page
Organisers Warners Railway Modelling Events

Children's railway book illustrator and author Pauline Hazelwood (including Welsh Pony, Alice the Little Welsh Engine etc )

The Military Railway Study Group

Islinglass Models - CAD and 3d printing services

The Railway Children Charity

Hornby

Rapido Trains

Talyllyn Railway - contact the youth group on [email protected]

Making Tracks -Pete Waterman

LUKR: LEGO UK Railway - LEGO Train Club - LUKR

This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart

Our 'Making Tracks' music is with kind permission of composer and musician Richard Durrant. It is a unique piece inspired by the rhythm of the historic rolling stock on the Ffestiniog Railway on the scenic journey from Harbour Station to Tan y Blwch.

You can listen and download the full 'Tan y Bwlch' Ukulele Quartet here:

Thank you to voice artist David King - for the Railway Ride outs voice over.

Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch"

Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Richard Durrant · Single · 2019 · 3 songs.

Send us a text

This episode focusses on engines from Africa. The first returned to steam after 20 years of restoration work and fundraising from dedicated volunteers – the NG 15 134. Alasdair talks to volunteer project leader Adrian Strachan and some of the volunteers and staff

Now you know many a gem is found browsing a Railway Second hand book stall – a pastime Sharon from our Railway Ride Outs and Alasdair have in common.

Well our second story from Africa this episode came to light when Alasdair was looking through books with a colleague John Gardener now retired and volunteering in Sussex.

And to round off the heritage railway season and this episode more Railway Ride outs from Sharon Gregory as she visits four Welsh lines by motorbike; the Gwili, Teifi Valley, Llangollen and the Welsh Highland Heritage. 

Links to the railways mentioned below: 

Watch- NG15-134 in Steam for the First Time Sept 24
on the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways You Tube Channel - credit John Wooden
NG15-134 Restoration website


Norgrove Railway, California

Sharon Gregory's Railway Rideouts visited:
Gwili Railway
Llangollen Railway
Teifi Valley Railway
Welsh Highland Heritage Railway

This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart

Our 'Making Tracks' music is with kind permission of composer and musician Richard Durrant. It is a unique piece inspired by the rhythm of the historic rolling stock on the Ffestiniog Railway on the scenic journey from Harbour Station to Tan y Blwch.

You can listen and download the full 'Tan y Bwlch' Ukulele Quartet here:

Thank you to voice artist David King - for the Railway Ride outs voice over.

Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch"

Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Richard Durrant · Single · 2019 · 3 songs.

Send us a text

In this episode of Making Tracks we visit the Cheshire town of Crewe, once dubbed the ' Railway Capital of the World ' -and see how the the town's railway and industrial inheritance is being preserved at the Crewe Heritage Centre,

We meet three trustees and take a walk around the museum, sit in the cab of the only remaining APT – Advanced Passenger Train and explore a signal box transplanted from Exeter, carefully rebuilt, complete with a 100 plus lever frame with working interlocking. There's a  chat with the present day Crewe Railway Station management – Avanti West Coast and Sharon Gregory sets off on more Railway Rideouts to Corris and Fairbourne.

Links below to the organisations and Railways mentioned in this episode.
Crewe Heritage Centre
Avanti West Coast
Corris Railway
Fairbourne
Cambrian Main line
Bala Lake Railway Planning Permission

This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart

Our 'Making Tracks' music is with kind permission of composer and musician Richard Durrant. It is a unique piece inspired by the rhythm of the historic rolling stock on the Ffestiniog Railway on the scenic journey from Harbour Station to Tan y Blwch.

You can listen and download the full 'Tan y Bwlch' Ukulele Quartet here:

Thank you to voice artist David King - for the Railway Ride outs voice over.

Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch"

Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Richard Durrant · Single · 2019 · 3 songs.

Send us a text

In this episode of Making Tracks, Alasdair Stewart goes over old ground, or rather underground, as he revisits the Post Office railway – or Mail Rail as it has become known in recent decades, which is part of London's Postal Museum. Alasdair was keen to take a journey on the railway after working as a contracting engineer on the track upgrade underground nearly 10 years ago.

Welcome to new contributor trainee fireman Sharon Gregory, Sharon's Railway Ride outs will give you some top tips on visiting railways starting with The Severn Valley , Bridgenorth cliff railway and the Welshpool & Llanfair, travelling between them by motorcycle.
In a previous episode we heard about Darjeeling B class, 19B, in this episode we hear about the loco's home railway and an update on the loco herself from Peter Jordan of the Darjeeling and Himalayan Railway Society.  Producer Laura Raymond was lucky enough to be invited to travel on the Ffestiniog Railways Gravity Train, we hear her report from the FfWHR.

Links below to all the railways and organisations mentioned:
Postal Museum London
The Bridgenorth Cliff Railway
The Severn Valley Railway
Welshpool and Llanfair Light  Railway
The Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways Gravity Train
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Society
The Darjeeling Tank Locomotive Trust - 19B

This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart

Our 'Making Tracks' music is with kind permission of composer and musician Richard Durrant. It is a unique piece inspired by the rhythm of the historic rolling stock on the Ffestiniog Railway on the scenic journey from Harbour Station to Tan y Blwch.

You can listen and download the full 'Tan y Bwlch' Ukulele Quartet here:

Thank you to voice artist David King - for the Railway Ride outs voice over.

Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch"

Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Richard Durrant · Single · 2019 · 3 songs.

Send us a text

This episode is a tale of two railways both celebrating milestones.  
A new beginning of the final stretch the two mile  missing link that will join Robertsbridge to Tenterden and the Kent and East Sussex Railway and the Ffestiniog Railway Society marking 70 years.

The inauguration of the RVR's new turntable coincided with the K&ESR 50th  We meet volunteers from both railways and I get to  speak to a former politician and Railway Royalty, Michael Portillo, Sir Peter Hendy, Chair of Network Rail and Chris Green a former Intercity director.

Mainline steam locomotive 'Britannia' travelled down from Crewe, and provided motive power on shuttles between Robertsbridge Junction and Northbridge Street.

A return to north Wales and the Ffestiniog Railway Society's 70th anniversary. 
This summer at the Ffestiniong and Welsh Highland Railways, National Lottery Heritage Funding has enabled new 'experience' tours at Boston Lodge. They are additional offers over and above train rides. We go behind the scenes to view the newly restored buildings, and learn some of the fascinating history of the site, before learning about how steam engines work on a very much ‘hands on’ experience 

You will find links to the Railways mentioned below:
The Boston Lodge Tours and 'How a Steam Locomotive Works
Ffestiniog Railway Society
Rother Valley Railway
Kent and East Sussex Railway

This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart

Our 'Making Tracks' music is with kind permission of composer and musician Richard Durrant. It is a unique piece inspired by the rhythm of the historic rolling stock on the Ffestiniog Railway on the scenic journey from Harbour Station to Tan y Blwch.

You can listen and download the full 'Tan y Bwlch' Ukulele Quartet here:

Thank you to voice artist David King - for the Railway Ride outs voice over.

Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch"

Ukulele Quartet No. 1 "Tan y Bwlch" Richard Durrant · Single · 2019 · 3 songs.