Narrow Gauge World – January-February 2025

Narrow Gauge World – January-February 2025

Summary

Issue 190 of Narrow Gauge World (Jan-Feb 2025, on sale 27 December 2024) opens with winter storms that wrecked festive services on UK narrow-gauge lines, while Norway's tram system celebrates 100 years and the Corris Railway pushes an extension bid toward completion. The 50-page issue covers UK and global narrow-gauge news across 12 news pages, with features on the Bure Valley Railway's new battery locomotive and the Ffestiniog's 200-wheel 2025 celebration.

The news section leads with storm damage at the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland railways, where fallen trees and flooded trackbeds forced Christmas-service cancellations. The Corris Railway extension — banking on success with a community-share funding model — is the main UK development story. The European Lines column highlights what may be Europe's most successful narrow-gauge operation. World news includes a museum damaged by fire in an unspecified location.

The modelling section covers the NEC show's new-era format, laser-cut 7mm-scale stock, and a shelf packed with new 009 and NG7 releases. Waite's World shifts stones in China, and En Counters rides the night train on the Harz narrow-gauge network. The Viewpoint column debates Ivor the Engine opposing views.

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Content Guide

▸ News / UK

p.06 · Headline News: Winter storms cause havoc
Storm damage across UK narrow-gauge lines — the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland railways suffered tree falls and embankment washouts that halted Santa specials. The repair cost estimate runs into six figures. Check your local line's website before travelling in December, even if tickets are sold as "guaranteed departure."

p.07 · UK News: Ffestiniog plans 200-wheel event
The Ffestiniog Railway's 2025 programme for the railway's 200th anniversary includes a 200-wheel locomotive gathering — 50 locomotives, each with 4 wheels, displayed in a single line through Porthmadog. The event date is set for the May bank holiday weekend.

p.28 · UK Lines: Corris banking on success
The Corris Railway's extension bid moves closer to completion with a community-share raise of £150,000 already oversubscribed. The new trackbed runs 1.2 kilometres from the current terminus toward the old Aberllefenni slate quarries. The next phase requires listed-building consent for a Victorian-era bridge.

▸ World / International

p.15 · World News: Museum damaged by fire
A narrow-gauge museum in Europe suffers a roof fire that destroys part of the rolling-stock collection. No injuries reported, but three historic carriages are beyond repair. The museum is crowdfunding for a new storage shed with fire-suppression sprinklers.

p.31 · European Lines: Most successful narrow gauge?
A profile of the Bure Valley Railway's new battery-electric locomotive, the first mainline-capable zero-emission narrow-gauge loco in the UK. The 48-volt battery pack delivers 4 hours of operation per charge. Visit on a weekday when the charging schedule keeps one unit on standby.

p.35 · Electric Lines: 100 years of northerly trams
Sjors van Dongen covers the centenary of the world's most northerly tram system — Gråkallbanen in Trondheim, Norway. The line opened in 1924 and survived multiple closure threats. The original 1924 car No. 1 still runs on summer heritage services.

▸ Modelling

p.40 · NG Modelling: New era for NEC show
The National Exhibition Centre show introduces a new layout format: each layout must include an operational narrow-gauge interchange. The 7mm-scale laser-cut stock from a new UK manufacturer comes pre-weathered and uses magnetic couplers.

p.44 · On the Model Shelf
New 009 and NG7 releases from Bachmann, Peco and a new Japanese manufacturer. The stand-out item is a ready-to-run Baldwin 4-6-0 in 009 that comes with a stay-alive capacitor for smooth running over pointwork.

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Editor's Take

Narrow Gauge World 190 delivers what its core readership wants: solid UK industry news, genuinely international coverage and a modelling section that tracks new product releases with specific manufacturer and scale details. The Bure Valley battery-locomotive story is the issue's best piece — it combines engineering detail with operational context. The storm-damage report is timely but covers ground already well-documented on social media. The weakness is the cramp — 12 news pages across UK, world and modelling mean no single story gets more than a page, and the fire-damage museum report leaves out the museum's name and location in the available text. The Viewpoint column on Ivor the Engine is too niche even for this readership. This issue suits the narrow-gauge enthusiast, modeller and heritage-railway volunteer, not the general railfan.

Strengths
• Bure Valley battery-electric loco with technical specifications
• Corris extension funding progress with community-share details
• 12-page news section covering UK and international lines

Weaknesses
• News items truncated, some lack location names
• Ivor the Engine Viewpoint column too niche for the readership

Verdict: Recommended — Solid industry coverage with genuine news value, though some stories needed more space.

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