Making Tracks Railway Podcast

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Welcome to a special episode of Making Tracks Railway Podcast as  Alasdair Stewart and producer Laura Raymond go on a mission to trace family railway history. They share their own family's stories and chat to others along the way.

Alasdair meets Ruth Willmore of the Society of Genealogists to get some tips on where to start looking for Railwaymen and women antecedants.

They also discuss with volunteers and railway staff with several generations of railway workers in their family, if being a railway fan is nature or nurture?

Join us to find out if either Laura and Alasdair are lucky in their search for long lost information!

#SoG #familyhistory #genealogy #railwayfamily #railwaymen #FamilyHistoriesPodcast  #londonmidlandscottishRailway #Genealogy

Programme Recorded in memory of Railwayman James (Jimmy) Raymond 1926 - 1998 in what would have been his 100th birthday year and his brother Stephen Raymond a lifelong Railwayman and ASLEF member 1924 - 2015.

Links to rescources mentioned in this episode

UK National Archives Railway Workers Records

The Society of Genealogists

Network Rail Where to find Railway Records

LondonMidlandScottishSociety

Please get in touch via comments or via Making Tracks Railway Podcast  Facebook page if you would like a pdf of Stephen Raymond's memoirs his family are happy to share his story.

This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart and Sharon Gregory.

Radio Presenter and Diesel Fan Paddy Range regularly guests. Young Rail Enthusiasts George Woodward and Cynan Hughes (plus parents!) report back from interesting railways and events.

 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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Welcome to another episode. In this episode Sharon takes a Railway Rideout to the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway in Scotland.  Paddy Range has been on a record breaking commuter journey – the shortest branch line in the UK in Stourbridge in the West Midlands and a we hear from Matt Hall who spotted the first day of service for Steam Hauled Auto Train being used as a Commuter Service on the ‘Bewdley Express’ Commuter Trial Service on the Severn Valley Railway.

Alasdair Stewart visits Romania to catch up with developments at the Sibui Agnita Railway and Laura happens upon a familiar loco to Making Tracks Railway Podcast Chevalier at the Welshpool and Llanfair Railway, one of the Kent Papermill locos!

Plus a young railway enthusiasts 20 year old Morgan Mace who is the running for a BBC Wales Make a Difference award for his work lobbying and working with politicians to bring back the Caernarfonshire Railway between Bangor and Afon Wen, which Morgan says would bring economic benefits and reconnect communities.

#Stourbridge #SevernValley #Bo'ness&kinneilRailway 

Links to the Railways and Organisations mentioned in this episode 

Stourbridge Junction West Midlands Railway

Bo'wness and Kineal

Romania Sibiu Agnita Railway

HRH the Prince of Wales’ message to the volunteers of The Ambulance for Monuments

Update on Tan y Bwlch Station House - Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways Moving Pictures 

Welsh Pool and Llanfair Light Railway

This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart and Sharon Gregory.

Radio Presenter and Diesel Fan Paddy Range regularly guests. Young Rail Enthusiasts George Woodward and Cynan Hughes (plus parents!) report back from interesting railways and events.

 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 Fan Mail

Welcome aboard another episode of Making Tracks Railway Podcast with  Alasdair Stewart and Sharon Gregory. 

In this episode we are travelling vicariously to The Zig Zag Railway in New South Wales in Australia with Michael Cunningham and Sean Maxwell They meet up with Operations and Assets Manager Andrew Fairweather 

Alasdair talks to author and photographer William Cope about his new book – title Branch: Lost Railway Lines of New South Wales and Victoria"

Back in the UK Producer Laura Raymond visits the Gloucester and Warwickshire Railway and talks to Andy Smith and find out about their new signal box due to be commissioned in November and the railways resilience during a tinder box of a hot summer . 

Young reporter George Woodward talks to Paul Lewin in his capacity as  the Vice Chair of the Heritage Railway Association about new guidelines from the Office of Rail and Road. They are  designed to help heritage railway and tramway operators give young volunteers, aged from 14 to minimum school leaving age, the chance to learn new skills while making sure the right safeguards are in place.

**

Links to the Railway and subjects mentioned in this episode

The Zig Zag Railway

William Cope's Branch: Lost Railway Lines of New South Wales and Victoria.

Jack Boskett Photography 

Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway

This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart and Sharon Gregory.

Radio Presenter and Diesel Fan Paddy Range regularly guests. Young Rail Enthusiasts George Woodward and Cynan Hughes (plus parents!) report back from interesting railways and events.

 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 Fan Mail

In this episode we feature a Baldwin loco -  590 – a war veteran in its own right as it returns to traffic on the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway.  Young reporters Cynan Hughes, George Woodward and Alasdair Stewart go along to find out more.

Sharon Gregory heads on a railway rideout by train this time to the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Railway in Yorkshire.

Producer Laura Raymond calls in to have a chat at Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway, a standard gauge rural line. 

Young Reporter Cynan, whose on an episode take over this time it seems,  recently went along with Dad Steve to meet another dad and young son team: Railway Social Media Influencer, Andy Miller, who works full time in the bus industry and young son. 

And Alasdair calls in for a behind the scenes tour at the Bluebell Railway in East Sussex.

Here are links to the Railways and Organisations mentioned in this episode.

The Welsh Highland Heritage Railway

Andy Miller - you can follow him on social media here.

Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway

Embsay and Bolton Abbey railway

The Bluebell Railway

This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart and Sharon Gregory.

Radio Presenter and Diesel Fan Paddy Range regularly guests. Young Rail Enthusiasts George Woodward and Cynan Hughes (plus parents!) report back from interesting railways and events.

 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 Fan Mail

In this episode Alasdair Stewart heads to Holland to visit the VSM - Veluwxce Stoomtrein Maatschappij. The VSM is a heritage line that connects with the Dutch national network – and where volunteer operated steam trains run beneath electric wires at Apeldoorn. Its also home to an impressive collection of locos and rolling stock and a 'get your hands dirty approach to teaching young people about coal fired steam. A little further East, he also calls in at the Museum Buurtspoorweg at Haarksbergen to see an exquisitely restored German railbus. 

Young reporter George Woodward and Dad Tony travel to the English Seaside town of Cleethorpes for a Gala Weekend at the fifteen inch / 381 mm gauge line The Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway. George catches up with the owners of the Perrygrove railway who are there with a visiting loco.

Alasdair also visits  a heritage Railway line with a difference; the Bristol Harbour Railway, a standard-gauge industrial railway that served the wharves and docks near the centre of that city. Its also featured in several feature films, including 'The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Pie Society'.

And how about a train called Norman? A choice of names for a Southeastern Mainline train being given a new livery to mark the return of the Bayeux Tapestry to England after 900 years. 

Links to the Railways and Organisations Mentioned in this Episode:

Homepage - VSM - Stap in en reis mee! - Dutch heritage railway Apeldoorn to Erbeek

Museum Buurtspoorweg - Een eersteklas dagje uit - Heritage railway in the eastern Netherlands, between Haaksbergen and Boekelo

The Bristol Harbour Railway and Museum.

The Cleepthorpes Coast Light Railway

This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart and Sharon Gregory.

Radio Presenter and Diesel Fan Paddy Range regularly guests. Young Rail Enthusiasts George Woodward and Cynan Hughes (plus parents!) report back from interesting railways and events.

 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 Fan Mail

This week we had some excellent news..we've made the Longlist of the #BritishPodcastAwards 2026 in the factual category.. your time listening and suggestions for stories are really appreciated! 

Welcome to this episode where young reporter George Woodward and dad Tony catch up with Paul Middleton aka 'Piglet' the Director of Mechanical Engineering at North Yorkshire Moors Railway during filming for his new Channel 4 television series 'Steam Train Diaries'

Sharon Gregory  takes a 'Railway Rideout' to Amerton Railway in Staffordshire and finds out about the 'Railway that never was' and Alasdair Stewart heads to one of London's hidden railway gems The Kempton Waterworks Railway to find out about its origins carrying coal to feed the triple expansion steam pumping engines that supplied water to London, through to the dedicated volunteers who are operating and developing it today!

LISTENERS' CHOICE AWARDS #BRITISHPODCASTAWARDS

We are thrilled to be on the this year's Longlist of the British Podcast Awards 2026.

If you would like to vote for us in the Listener's Choice Category you can do so  HERE . The first round is open until July 23rd 2026

Links below to the Railways and Organisations we have mentioned:

Steam Train Diaries Channel 4

Paul Miller aka 'Piglet' - North York Moors 

Amerton Railway 

Hampton & Kempton Waterworks Railway

MWB No4 - Project website

This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart and Sharon Gregory.

Radio Presenter and Diesel Fan Paddy Range regularly guests. Young Rail Enthusiasts George Woodward and Cynan Hughes (plus parents!) report back from interesting railways and events.

 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 Fan Mail

In this episode we are delighted to have been made so welcome at the Mornington Tourist Railway, a broad gauge railway in Victoria , Australia, as Mikey Cunningham rides the footplate and chats to Secretary Robert Read. 

Regular listeners will know most of us are based in the top left hand corner of Wales and at the same time Mikey was in Melbourne, volunteers from Queensland were working on the Welsh Highland Railway. Producer Laura Raymond catches up with Darrell McCulloch ,Mary Ann Martin, Ben Gardener and Chris Banks who are involved with the Mary Valley Rattler back home.

Sharon Gregory visits her favourite London Undeground Stations - designed by architect Leslie Green.

Ffestiniog Railway Volunteer Carol Younger tells us about her new life in 'Scarlets' as a Chelsea Pensioner – a prestigious army veteran role in the UK !

Alasdair Stewart  goes to a wonderfully restored art deco railway station in Sussex ahead of the summer open days to meet the friends of Bishopstone Station. It is one of the only stations with gun emplacements in the UK!

Social media content for Mornington Railway kindly produced by Sara Walker and can be viewed on our facebook page

Links to the Railways and organisations mentioned in this episode below:

Mornington Tourist Railway

Mary Valley Rattler 

Leslie Green Tube Stations  - Tiles of the Unexpected by Douglas Rose

Friends of Bishopstone

The Chelsea Pensioners

The Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways

This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart and Sharon Gregory.

Radio Presenter and Diesel Fan Paddy Range regularly guests. Young Rail Enthusiasts George Woodward and Cynan Hughes (plus parents!) report back from interesting railways and events.

 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 Fan Mail

In this  episode Alasdair Stewart visits the Southwold Railway in Suffolk on the day the volunteers mark the  first public steaming of the replica engine 'Blyth'.  Alasdair finds out about the  Manning Wardle Project being run by The 762 Club from Martin Greenland. The group formed in 2009 to initially manage the rebuilding of replacement locomotive No. E762 LYN for the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway.

The MC is back in the house ...welcome back to Paddy Range, Radio Presenter and Drum and Base MC and train aficionado in particular diesels who reports from the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway in Kent.

Young reporter Cynan  Hughes took dad Steve – on a rail tour all of his own across North Wales and to Manchester to spot Pendelinos on a mainline detour and end up on a detour themselves!  If you are the parent or guardian of a young train enthusiast then this will be a familiar weekend activity to you !! 

Links below to the railways and organisations mentioned in this episode:

Southwold Railway Trust

762 Club 

Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway

390 BluePeter Pendelino

#Devon #Suffolk #Cymru # Kent #PaddyRange #Alasdair Stewart 

This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart and Sharon Gregory.

Radio Presenter and Diesel Fan Paddy Range regularly guests. Young Rail Enthusiasts George Woodward and Cynan Hughes (plus parents!) report back from interesting railways and events.

 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 Fan Mail

This episode celebrates the contribution of young people in heritage railways ...both in the past and present day, as Alasdair Stewart and Producer Laura Raymond, sitting in for Sharon Gregory, visit three charming railways: Barton House in Norfolk, The Talyllyn Railway, as they mark the 75th anniversary as the  world's oldest preserved railway and Leighton Buzzard Railway.  Alasdair also talks to Michelle Bartram one the leaders of the young people's group at North Norfolk Railway. Young reporter Cynan Hughes enjoys a trip to the Talyllyn 75th Gala Weekend to travel on some of the night trains (along with dad Steve!)

Please find links below for the organisations and Railways mentioned in this episode.

The Talyllyn Railway

We chat to Railwayman volunteer Chris Parrott in the Talyllyn Segment. You can find out more about his story in his book: Argentine Adventure is available from Amazon.

Leighton Buzzard Railway

Barton House Railway

North Norfolk Railway

This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart and Sharon Gregory.

Radio Presenter and Diesel Fan Paddy Range regularly guests. Young Rail Enthusiasts George Woodward and Cynan Hughes (plus parents!) report back from interesting railways and events.

 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 Fan Mail

In this episode Alasdair Stewart travels on an iconic Intercity 125 Class 43 rail tour from Euston to the north Wales coast . He meets up with travel journalist Tom Bright, Tom  is the news and features editor of Steam Railway Magazine. We hear how the love of telling stories and steam landed him a pretty ideal job.

We have an update from Rother Valley Railway in Kent as they open a new station building in a million pound prjoect to link the village of Robertsbridge with the Kent and East Sussex Line and the mainline to London.

Sharon Gregory reports back on her Railway Rideout to Crich National Tramway Museum in Derbyshire. 

The Young reporters meanwhile have been busy - George Woodward – tells how 'My Dad Saved a Railway' a model one but very much a Railway and Cynan Hughes rides on the Fairbourne scouting out the best places to photograph the upcoming Gala.

Links to the Railway and organisations mentioned in this epsiode.

National Tramway Museum in Crich

Rother Valley Railway

Branch Line Society Railtours

Vintage Trains 

Fairbourne Miniature Railtours

Do follow us Facebook for photos from our adventures! 

This podcast is produced by Laura Raymond and presented by Alasdair Stewart and Sharon Gregory.

Radio Presenter and Diesel Fan Paddy Range regularly guests. Young Rail Enthusiasts George Woodward and Cynan Hughes (plus parents!) report back from interesting railways and events.

 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.