Headline News

Green light for IEP construction; GW electrification approved to Bristol and Cardiff; Freight plan for HS1 moves closer; Vigin could retain West Coast, but NatEx out of favour for Anglia; Bridgnorth cliff railway for sale; FGW ­may not take franchise extension’; ‘Scotsman’ bolier re-fitted’.

Track Record
The Railway Magazine’s monthly news digest

64 Steam & Heritage
Fantastic support after second G-WR landslip; NRM loco departs for Canada; Slieve Gullion overhaul plan.

74 Railtours
Freight line tour frenzy; Leander withdrawn; Round Britain railtour rivalry.

78 Traction & Stock
New Stansted Express launched; DRS buys all Schenker’s 37/4s; Repaints planned for GBRf locos.

84 Network
Job loss fears at London Midland; Weardale prepares for coal; Highbury link opens three months early.

86 Freight

89 Narrow Gauge

92 Classic Traction
Diesels and beer for Swanage gala’; Leyland railbus stars at Llangollen; Fifth car for 5-BEL.

95 Metro

98 World
Second quake hits New Zealand railways; Bangladesh rail improvements; Hungarian favourites fade out.

100 Operations News
A round-up of news from the train and freight operating companies.

107 Traction Update
Scrapped, repainted, named or sold? Full details here.

Regulars

32 Subscriptions Offer

54 Panorama
A selection of the best in railway photography in our monthly showcase.

61 Reviews
A selection of the latest books and DVDs are reviewed.

108 Meetings
Details of railway society meetings that are near you.

109 Heritage Diary
A comprehensive listing of the dates when heritage railways and steam centres operating during Spring.

110 100 Years Ago
A look back to what Britain’s senior rail title was reporting 20, 50 and 100 years ago.

Features

16 All Change at Duffield
Neil Ferguson-Lee explains the effort needed to resurrect the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway prior to the start of services from Wirksworth to Duffield.

20 Hymek Half-century
They were arguably Britain’s most successful hydraulic locos, Paul Bickerdyke recalls the life of a class that lasted just 14 years in BR service.

27 The Storming Standard Fives
In this month’s Practice & Performance, Keith Farr concludes his analysis of the BR Standard 5MTs, looking at the Scottish and Caprotti valve examples.

36 Small is Beautiful
A number of the Heritage Shunter Trust’s collection are up for sale; Andy Flowers records for posterity the ‘other’ HST?fleet at its height.

40 Dreams really do come true!
April marks the full opening of the Welsh Highland Railway. David Bateman, who worked on the project, tells how the impossible was achieved.

48 ‘Class 67’ Heaven in Bible Land
Nick Pigott visits Israel to report on the railways in a troubled part of the world that’s grown into a vibrant, modern transport system.

On the cover

MAIN IMAGE:
GB?Railfreight unveiled a new look for its Class 92s at Barking on March 23 - a far cry from the ‘plain jane’ grey they carried before. CHRIS MILNER

BELOW:
Also debuting was the replica Great Western Railmotor, seen in the beautiful scenery of the Llangollen Railway on March 21. DAVID WILCOCK