Making Tracks Railway Podcast

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In this episode of Making Tracks we’ll take you behind the scenes of the 'Greatest Gathering' in Derby, England for a prestigious piece of the UK's Railway 200 celebrations. Engineer Alasdair Stewart meets some of those who made it happen, and speaks with a variety of people representing a fraction of the variety and scope of the UK railway family as the movement looks forward to the future.

All aboard for the Greatest Gathering!

Sharon Gregory goes on another 'Railway Rideout' to visit a rural tramway museum in the Glyn Valley in north East Wales.

Also in this episode, we pop along to a Rail Fair in the Sussex town of Lewes and chat to Nicholas Owen – the well-known broadcaster and former BBC and ITV newsreader. Away from the news desk, Nicholas has a lifelong passion for railways and is a dedicated volunteer on one of England’s pioneering electric railways. We’ll hear about his love of trains, his volunteering experiences, and what keeps him coming back to the rails.

On the way north to visit the Greatest Gathering, Alasdair passes through Kings Cross station – and between the statue of Sir Nigel Gresley and Platform 9 and 3 quarters…..visits an exhibition display of an LNER carriage of the future.

Links to all the events and railways mentioned in this episode below:

The Making Tracks Facebook page - please like our page and please do  send any comments directly to Alasdair. 

All Aboard The 'Train of the Future' | LNER

Glyn Valley Tramway - Museum at Glynceiriog

The Greatest Gathering Event Website including gallery

Enspired - Consultant engineers working to de-carbonise rail

Railway Challenge - IMechE

Loram - Leading the digital transformation of railway maintenance.

Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways Prince 1863 at Alstom Greatest Gathering

The Ashover Light Railway Society

DB Cargo UK opens new ETCS training facilities - Digital signalling.

Contact Us - Steam Workshop Services - Modern minimum gauge traction designers & builders, in addition to traditional miniature railway suppliers.

Lewes History Group | Discovering historical Lewes - Lewes History Group

The Signalman by Charles Dickens performances in Brighton Station tunnels.

Nicholas Owen coverage on You Tube - launching the Railway 200 celebrations at Brighton's Volks Electric Railway.

Wiki link to Nicholas Owen Biography

#railwayenthusiast #railwayhistory #Railways #trains #Thesignalman #NicholasOwen #Railway200

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 aboard this episode of MAKING TRACKS RAILWAY PODCAST with Alasdair Stewart and Sharon Gregory – no tickets are required to travel with us and there is no fare to pay!

In this episode we’ll be hearing from a teacher at one of Ukraine’s Childrens' Railways , an enthusiast and preservationist from Kiev tells me something of the current challenges in that country……Bill Parker of Flour Mill fame reflects on the two year working holiday of one of his engines in Transylvania, and the arrival of another industrial machine from further east; 

Sharon Gregory visits a Manchester attraction with some similarities to the lauded ‘high line’ in New York City….

Plaid Cymru MP Liz Saville Roberts reveals an extraordinary statistic about her constituency in Wales and what relevance it has to the world of heritage railways, and Lord Faulkner is concerned that a law from the 1920s threatens to restrict the activities of youngsters on UK heritage railways. We also hear from historian and broadcaster Tim Dunn and Stephen Wiggs of New Europe Heritage Railway Trust, (NEHRT) a small British NGO that has forged links with a number of heritage railway organisations across Central & Eastern Europe since the end of communist rule more than thirty years ago.  Alasdair also meets Mimmi Mickleson, President of FEDECRAIL whilst in Romania at a steam gala event featuring a locomotive that used to haul paper and wood pulp in Kent and has been on the Sibiu Agnita Railway in Transylvania for nearly two years.

Links to Railways and Organisations mentioned in this episode:

New Europe Heritage Railway Trust or NEHRT 

FEDECRAIL - European Federation of Museum & Tourist Railways

Read about the Lviv Children's  Railway in Railway Supply online

Mocănita - Sibiu - Agnița - Romania

Castlefield Viaduct, Manchester

The Continental Railway Circle Facebook Page

You can contact Cristian Marinescu here: 

and follow him on X @ x.com/AFeroviara for Romanian railway content

#railwayenthusiast #railwayhistory #Railways #trains #Romania #Europeanrailways 

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 of Making Tracks with Alasdair Stewart, we hear cherished memories of growing up at a remote station house in rural north Wales from Lynette Tucker... daughter of  John Harrison—fondly known as 'Lord North'. His great uncle, John Wills and his acquaintance with Bassett Lowke, who employed him to convert the #Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway from a derelict 3ft gauge railway to “15 “inch Gauge.

We also visit  a uniquely gauged tramway in Devon,  call in at the Telford Steam Railway where a truly whimsical narrow gauge steam tram has just returned to service alongside their conventional trains, and the famous resort of Blackpool as  Sharon Gregory and her Railway Rideouts visit the seaside town. And we catch some of the 70th celebrations of the Ffestiniog Railway’s revival.

Links to the content mentioned in this episode.

Link to watch John Harrison on Steam is Everything 1975 You Tube

if you would like to contact Lynette Tucker regarding her father's memoirs she can be contacted on [email protected]

#railwayenthusiast #railwayhistory #Railways #trains

Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway

Fairbourne Railway

Blackpool Tramway 

Blackpool Tramtown Museum

Seaton Trams

Telford Steam Railway

#FFWHR #Ravenglass #Telford  #BassettLowke #Blackpooltrams #cavalcade 

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 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 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 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 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 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 #railwaypodcast #railwayhistory
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 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

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 #railwaypodcasters #history #Liverpooloverheadrailway

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 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.
#Railway200  #FFWHR #oldrailwaylines #Corris #railwaypodcasters #railhistory 
**

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 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

The UK winter is a good time  for indoor hobbies and like many others Alasdair's thoughts  turned  to model railway kits he has bought but hasn't got around to building!
Instead of getting on with the job we went to the NEC to the inaugural National Festival of Railway Modelling for some inspiration... organised by Warners after taking over the slot from Worley.
With more of family friendly appeal the show attracted thousands to the NEC over the weekend of November 22nd - 24th.
There's also a chat with Peter Waterman and a visit to Chester Cathedral to see the record-breaking Making Tracks layout.
Along with some ideas and passions from some fellow modellers, chatting  about their layouts, how they got into the hobby and what they find most rewarding about the hobby.
#Petewaterman #Chestercathedral #modelrailways #railwaymodellingpodcast #NationalFestivalofRailwayModelling

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

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 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: 

#Africanrailways #standardgauge #Gwili #llangollen #Welshhighlandheritge #narrowgauge #railwaypodcasters #railhistory
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 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.