Didcot Railway Centre

It's too wide for most of the network these days sadly, so I doubt mainline running will occur with it, unless it gets drastically altered as per 6024. The reduced height fittings were used when it went to Derby a few months ago, so even getting it out of Didcot is a struggle.

 

It wasn't about "too much bother". It basically just came down very very expensive for a very small annual mileage. The Mainline decision was - I recall - based on a number of factors:
- Not being a TOC, realistically any mainline running would need to be in conjunction with another organisation - probably VT.
- With the King and anything 2-cylindered out of gauge almost everywhere, the pool of viable locos was (and will continue to) shrink.
- Mainline would not cover costs, so a long-term income stream (aka fund raiser) would need to be in place.

The King has to go into cut-down mode to leave Didcot as it travels under the electrification through Didcot station to the loading bay in Milton Park. There are a couple of exhibits that - realistically - cannot now leave again post electrification.

I share the previous comments about "might just need a re-tube". I would love to be positively surprised!

I think I posted way back on this thread, but ideal is a 4-6-0 "namer" coming on stream every 5 years. S0 something to replace the Saint as she goes out of ticket is next up.

 

Does anyone know what's gone on with the DRC Facebook page? It seems to have vanished.

 

Got a conscience and decided not to have anything to do with American "tech bros"?

 

Usually, hacked and renamed.

 

Below from the GWS FB page

Hi everyone
You may have noticed that our official ‘Didcot Railway Centre’ Facebook page is out of action at the moment due to technical issues.
Whilst we attempt to recover this, please visit us here and like and share this information so we can get the word out.
Thank you!

 

It's back up and running with some new "on this day in history" articles

 

Didcot in miniature spotted earlier at a Lego festival in Bedford!

 

Any insights into what is going on re the Chief Executive post at Didcot? Railway museum head resigns amid reported power struggle

Oxford Mail 11th February 2026:
"The head of an Oxfordshire railway museum has resigned amid a reported power struggle at the organisation.
After five years as chief executive of Didcot Railway Centre, Clive Hetherington stood down on January 22 and has today (Wednesday, February 11) said this was because of a “change in governance”.
He added this change would have prevented him from delivering an agreed five-year plan, which he believes is vital to the charity’s success."