TWO of the last steam locos built by Vulcan Foundry (Newton-le-Willows) are used in the Malaysian state of Sabah to operate regular tourist trains.  The train between Tanjung Aru (Kota Kinabalu) and Papar runs normally on Wednesday and Saturday, and is a joint venture between the Sutera Harbour Resort, near

THE railways in Myanmar (formerly Burma) are being slowly modernised with assistance from Japan, in particular.  The state railway retains a handful of operational steam locos, although many more are plinthed or stored at depots.  Above: 2-8-2 YD No. 967, Vulcan Foundry UK (5732/1949), passes Bago North signalbox

The only remaining diesel loco supplied by British Thomson-Houston (BTH) still in service anywhere in the world is in use with Alliance Group in New Zealand, where it works as a shunter at their Pukeuri Works, north of Oamaru, on the South Island.  The loco – DSC 2067 – was

AROUND half the route operated by Florida tourist train Orlando & Northwestern Railway – which runs as ‘The Royal Palm Railway Experience’ – was closed to passengers in April.  The move came after the route’s owner, shortline freight operator Florida Central Railroad, decided it would no longer maintain the Tavares

IN LATE-May it was announced Bombardier was ‘preferred bidder’ for a major contract, with local partners, to build and operate two monorail lines in Egypt. Bombardier also announced the 280 ‘Innovia’ vehicles required would be built in the UK at Derby.  Bombardier’s share of the contract is

MAJOR changes to operating contracts in southern Germany on June 9 mean Go-Ahead’s German subsidiary is now operating multiple routes from Stuttgart, replacing DB Regio push-pull trains.  Abellio also took over routes in the area on the same day, and more routes will switch from DB in December. 

MALAYSIAN United Plantations Berhad’s (UP) use of rail transport meant it became the first palm oil producer to gain a sustainable palm oil producer certificate.  UP uses a fleet of 700mm-gauge modified Motor Rail Simplex locomotives, originally built in Bedford, which have had their original Dorman engines replaced by more

BALDWIN-built 2ft- (610mm) gauge 4-6-2 Class NG10 loco No. NG61 was the star of the recent Sandstone Estates 2019 Festival in South Africa – 59 years after it was last steamed. The loco was restored earlier this year and operated as a pair with Beyer, Peacock-built Class NG G11 ‘Garratt’

CZECH REPUBLIC: Infrastucture manager SŽDC has begun the installation of ETCS Level 2 on the 108 km Česká Třebová – Přerov route which connects the country’s two principal corridors 1 and 2. The work is being carried out by AŽD Praha at a cost of KC386m, with €11·9m to be provided

THE Dartmoor Railway held an English Electric weekend on June 8-9.  In use were Class 31 No. 31452 with a five-coach set of stock, ‘Berkshire’ DEMU set No. 1132 (Nos. S60150+S60831), and Class 08 No. D4167.  The plan was to run two trains on the Saturday, one from Okehampton towards the