Railway Mania

Coal for the heritage sector is becoming harder to source, and the railway where I volunteer has, like many others, been trying 'ovoids'. This is manufactured coal using a variety of materials to create something that looks and acts like coal. In this episode I give my initial thoughts on my first experience firing with ovoids, as well as an overview of how the Bristol Harbour Railway works and wh...

In this episode of KINGS OF THE STEAM AGE, we welcome back historian and author Anthony Dawson to explore the life and legacy of Richard Peacock, co-founder of Beyer, Peacock and Company. From his beginnings in Swaledale to becoming a leading figure in locomotive engineering, all the way through to being a 'bloody good bloke'. Join us as we delve into his dual legacy as an engineer and a progressi...

Mental health issues can affect anyone in the world and rail workers are no exception. In this episode, we welcome Paul Stanford, railwayperson of 40 years and founder of HEAD-SHUNT, the mental health charity for the railway family. Paul tells us not only about the challenges to mental health that come from working on the railway, but also the attitudes in the industry, how the scene is changing,...

Welcome to a new mini-series on the Railway Mania channel, where we are giving guests the challenge of putting forward their candidate for KING OF THE STEAM AGE. First up is friend of the show, Graham Muspratt, making the case for Oliver Vaughan Snell Bulleid. Thanks to Graham for coming on the podcast again!

The Titfield Thunderbolt is one of my favourite films and I’m so chuffed to have been able to work on the recent train pack we made at work in conjunction with StudioCanal and the 70th anniversary of the film. Ever since I first saw it, I’ve always wondered how I would go about remaking the film in the modern era.

Our guest is author David Grimshaw, talking about articulated locomotives, but not the sort that immediately come to mind. These machines were built in America long before Fairlie or Meyer's creations. Horatio Allen's articulated locomotives were built in the 1830s for the South Carolina Canal and Rail Road Company, at the time the longest railway in the world! Thanks to David for joining us on th...

Today’s podcast guest is Lawrie Rose, creator and star of popular YouTube channel Lawrie’s Mechanical Marvels. We’re talking about what it’s like to realise every railway enthusiast’s dream: having your very own locomotive. Lawrie explains the the circumstances that led to the purchase, how he went about it, and shares his experience and advice for anyone wishing to try the same. Thanks so much to...

100 years ago, a luxury express sleeper train was en route to Peking, travelling through dangerous territory. In the middle of the night, the train is deliberately derailed and the passengers are kidnapped. The hostages include a journalist, the wealthy daughter of an a Rhode Island Senator, a French businessman, a gangster and a US Army Major. The kidnappers are a made up of several bandit factio...

Nick joins us again for the second half of this double-bill about collieries and coal railways of North East England. Nick goes into detail on 3 distinct railway systems; The Bowes, Lambton and Harton lines. Thanks again to Nick for being an excellent guest!

The birthplace of the railway is often said to the be coalfields of North-East England. We are joined by Nick Richardson in this first half of a two-part episode. Nick sets the scene as we discuss the landscape, the technology, and the people of the coal mining communities. If you're interested in learning Geordie, here is a handy affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3wBNUTv

To celebrate 10 years of 'Steam Locos in Profile', Chris Eden-Green embarked on a mammoth mission across America, to publish 10 new episodes all about American steam locomotives. Chris joins us on the podcast to discuss the (literal) highs and lows, the logistics of such a feat, and the steam scene in the USA. Purchase your copy of the USA special edition of 'Steam Locos in Profile' here: https://...

Joining us today is Dan Fox of the Signals to Danger podcast, which takes an in-depth look into the history of rail crashes in Britain. Dan talks us through the genesis of the show, key developments and learnings in British railway safety and how changing practices and technologies have affected it. We also answer some questions sent in by listeners! Thanks to Dan for taking the time to come on th...

The summer of 2022 has seen the return of the #LoveYourRailway campaign to social media. The North Yorkshire Moors Railway's Marketing Manager Luke Hudman joins us today to tell us the idea behind the campaign, why we should love our railway, and how to get involved. 'Love Your Railway’ brings together over 80 organisations from as far afield as Scotland, Snowdonia, Leighton Buzzard, and the Lake...

Composer, musician and singer Cheryl B. Engelhardt may be the first person to have created an entire album start-to-finish whilst on a transcontinental railway trip. Travelling from her home in New York to Los Angeles and back, Cheryl used this time to create ‘The Passenger’, a new-age album reflecting her personal experiences. This episode, we welcome Cheryl onto the show to discuss how the idea...

We are joined by none other than Jonathan Guilbert, whose YouTube channel ‘Gandy Dancer Productions’ has been an incredible source of inspiration for me and many others over the years. Jonathan has digitised and edited his colour 8mm and 16mm films, taken during the final years of British steam railways, and used his filmmaking knowledge and experience to make interesting narratives that provide a...

In episode 24 of the Railway Mania podcast we welcome Matt, Will and Nathan from the 563 locomotive group to talk about a special loco that's spent a good deal of time treading the boards starring in 'The Railway Children' stage play and is soon to be restored to working order on the Swanage Railway. We talk about the loco's history, how it escaped the cutter's torch, its life at the NRM and then...

'Steam Locomotives in Profile' is back in 2021, in the form of a feature length special focusing on IMLEC, The 2021 International Model Locomotive Efficiency Competition. Model engineers from around the country came together to test the mettle of their creations in a head-to-head 3-day competition.   Chris Eden-Green returns to the podcast to tell us about it.  Check out the IMLEC special here: ht...

Welcome to this special episode of Railway Mania. Our guest is the author of numerous books on trains and railways and whose latest publication 'All Aboard!' is now on sale, it's Julian Holland! We talk about the huge variety of railway-related topics covered in the book, and Julian's own experiences of trainspotting during the 1950s and 1960s. Thanks so much to Julian for coming on the podcast. '...

Ben Powell and Rob Rossington of The 009 Society join us for another look at narrow gauge modelling. They tell us about what the society can offer and the scope of what it covers (not limited to just 009 but 1:76 narrow gauge modelling in general). We also look at how the modelling scene is changing for narrow gauge as more and more manufacturers offer ready-to-run examples. Check out The 009 Soci...

The Big Smoke is a city full of stories and our podcast guest for this episode is none other than Tom AKA Jago Hazzard, who has been making a hugely popular series of videos on London’s transport and history. ‘Tales from the Tube’ is a fascinating look at London’s Underground. We’re going to talk about where it began, how the stories come about and (of course) time travel. Thanks to Tom for being...

The birth of steam traction and the modern idea of the railway came at a time of great social change in Britain, when groups of religious dissenters were carving out their own niches in the world in order to prosper. Our guest for this episode is historian, author and all-round expert in early 19th Century railways Anthony Dawson. We shall be looking in to the circumstances of the people involved...

Spring is here and it's time to get some fresh air. Joining me on this podcast episode is Garden Rail's very own Phil Parker. We're going to go into the ways you can get started with playing trains in the garden, from flat pack kits to live steam Garratts and everything else in between. A HUGE thanks to Phil for coming on the podcast, remember to check out Garden Rail magazine if you are intereste...

At the height of World War Two, the Southern Railway introduced its first pacific tender locos, the Merchant Navy Class. Bulleid was always seeking to push the envelope with locomotive development, and the 3-cylinder Merchant Navy was packed full of features and innovations to enable more power, different maintenance regimes, and to lessen the effect the locos had on the permanent way. The locomot...

The ongoing global pandemic has seen the cancellation of nearly all model exhibitions across the country. To keep the spirit of the event season going, several 'virtual exhibitions' have been organised. This episode, I sit down with Andy York, Phil Parker, Debbie Wood and Howard Smith from the World of Railways team to talk about their upcoming second virtual exhibition, plus the highs and lows of...

Thomas Cook ceased trading in 2019, 178 years after Mr. Cook organised his first excursion train. This podcast episode looks into the early years of excursion travel and the explosion in popularity of ‘cheap trips’ opening up a world of experiences for the working classes throughout the mid 19th Century. Who were these people, how did it come about, what was the experience like?  (Please note ther...