UK heritage lines are united in response to the coal crisis

HERITAGE lines throughout the country are reviewing their operation of steam locomotives in response to the ever-changing coal supply crisis and the results of trials with some of the available alternatives.

As reported last issue, with the Ffos-y-Fran coal mine in South Wales no longer supplying the heritage sector, UK coal supplies have all dried up.

Combined with Russian-based ships carrying supplies being refused entries at ports worldwide, and the alternative Colombian and Kazakhstan supplies being both more expensive and containing a higher volatiles content, the East Lancashire Railway became the first to announce its intention to reduce the amount of steam operating days.

Since then, the Severn Valley Railway has also