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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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 meet Railwaymen and Women from Germany and France, that work at two contrasting iconic European metre gauge railways, 'twinned' with UK heritage lines.

'Dampflok' is the common language in the regular Harzer Schmalspurbahnen / Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Exchange established in 2003. Alasdair Stewart joins the group in north Wales on their familiarisation train and chats to the visiting staff and organiser and originator of the exchange Driver John Bell.

Alasdair also joins a trip from the Kent & East Sussex Railway in the south east of England over to their twin railway line in France: The Baie de Somme Railway in Saint-Valery-sur-Somme.

Sharon Gregory gives us an insight into one of her favourite pastimes combining biking and spotting her favourite locos in the stunning Welsh countryside.

Links to railways and organisations mentioned in this episode:

Baie de Somme railway

Harz Narrow Gauage Railway Tourist information

Harzer Schmalspurbahnen Brochure

French Railways Society

Infos Utiles - P'tit train de la Haute Somme - 600mm French line celebrating fifty years of heritage operation in 2026.

Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme - Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme - the main french railway in the piece

Accueil - La Suzanne - Le train touristique de la Voie Sacrée à Bar-le-Duc - 'Suzzane'

Kent and East Sussex Railway

Ffestiniong and Welsh Highland Railways

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

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 find out how a conversation with a Kent poet Nick Russell and his poem ' Connections' led to taking a look at a well established campaign to bring Euro trains back to Kent after Eurostar ceased serving Ashford International during Covid. Alasdair Stewart speaks to Bring Back Euro Trains campaign spokesperson Diccon Spain and we include a statement from Eurostar.

Sharon Gregory takes two Railway Rideouts on her Harley to Borth in mid Wales to a rare museum open day and discovers the south Wales line: Pontypool and Blaenavon.

There's an impromtu report from Radio Presenter Alex Baker as he happens upon the The 34028 Eddystone loco at Victoria Station.

We get an update on how a model railway show went which was organised by probably one of the youngest railway enthusiasts to do so!

And producer Laura Raymond visits the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway's museum and talks to young volunteers on a sunny Easter Saturday.

Links to Railways and organisations mentioned in this episode:

Campaign group Bring Back Euro Trains.

Eurostar's statement:

“Eurostar has no plans to resume stops at Ashford International and Ebbsfleet International. Demand at these stations has historically been very limited, with the vast majority of UK passengers travelling via St Pancras International. In 2019, Ashford and Ebbsfleet accounted for just 4% of our total passengers. Even at peak times, Ashford saw an average of only 50 passengers per 900-seat train. Over the decade to 2019, St Pancras traffic grew by 20%, while Ashford and Ebbsfleet saw no growth.

Eurostar remains focused on offering city centre to city centre services, to reach our 30 million passenger goal. Any reopening would require significant additional investment in border infrastructure, particularly as new EU border systems are introduced.”

Virgin Trains statement on plans to run a service through the Channel Tunnel

**

Poem featured by Nick Russell of the Rye Harbour Writers from a book called The Station Poems. Poems at stations courtesy of the South East Community Rail Partnership.

The Southern Locomotives 34010 Eddystone Locomotive Railtours

Welsh Highland Heritage Railway

Borth Railway Museum

Blaenavon's Heritage Railway

#poetry #Blaenavon #narrowgauge #modelrailways #WHHR #Bringbackeurotrainstokent #Eddystone

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

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 is very much one of Rockstars and their Model Railways as Alasdair Stewart attends the official launch of the Ashford International Model Railway Education Centre in Kent. The new centre is supported by Patron Jools Holland, well know for their modelling nearly as much as their music, Roger Daltry and Peter Waterman.

Sharon Gregory gets her Harley out for the proper first Railway Ride-out of the season to the Gloucester and Warwickshire Railway. Producer Laura Raymond find just some of the railway highlights on a holiday to the Lombardie region of Italy visiting the Brunate Furnicular, the Rail Collection at the Leonardo da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology and takes a ride on the 1928 #Ventotto trams in Milan.

Alasdair get the lowdown on the new take on teaching Rail Safety from Network Rail's Safey Manager, Kent: Nicola Dooris with an engaging model layout. He also gets a chance to visit the wonderfully successful Railway 200 Inspiration Train as it visits Hastings at one of its last few stops of its extended tour of the UK.

Links to the Railways and Organisations mentioned in this episode:

Ashford International Model Railway Education Centre, Kent

Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway

Network Rail's Rail Safety Manager for Kent, Nicola Dooris can be contacted on her email nicola.dooris@networkrail.co.uk if you would like to find out more about the learning rescources available for schools or visit the layout in Margate, Kent.

Leonardo da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology

Brunate Furnicular, Como

Railway 200

New dates for the Inspiration Train

Follow us on Facebook for photos of the places and people we meet making these episodes.

Thanks for listening!
#VentottoTrams #GloucestershireandWarwickshireRailway #Milan #AIMREC #NetworkRail #AlasdairStewart #SharonGregory #joolsholland #Rogerdaltry #Petewaterman

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

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.