 |
Contents Listing - Articles & Features in this issue
EATURES
CHURNET VALLEY WINNERS!
The best entries from the recent Churnet Valley Railway photographic contest, sponsored by Heritage Railway.
NEWS FOCUS SPECIAL: THE DUKE OF CREWE
Its restoration is widely regarded as the greatest miracle achieved in the steam preservation business. Its performance in its first session of main line running was staggering. No 71000 Duke of Gloucester is now well into its second stint on the main line and the past few months have shown that its magic is still working. If anything, this time round it is even better than before. Perhaps many years too late, Duke of Gloucester is demonstrating that the last 8P Pacific to emerge from Crewe Works really was the pinnacle of British steam locomotive design, writes Britain Sharpe, in a special feature to mark the locomotivea€ s centre-stage appearance at the biggest event of the preservation year, the Heritage Railway-sponsored Great Gathering at Crewe on 10-11 September.
STEAMa€ S ENDLESS SUMMER
Despite the fact that most people today travel to their UK holiday destinations by car, there is still very much a place in the 21st century for the seaside branch line, as the West Somerset Railway has so often shown. In words and pictures, long-time supporter Don Bishop looks at this classic branch, which is still carrying holidaymakers today and which has potential to do even more for its local economy in years to come.
WIN YOUR OWN LIVE STEAM FLYING SCOTSMAN!
Market-leading model-maker Hornby is set to launch its latest venture into 00-scale live steam, in the form of none other than Flying Scotsman itself! Enter our special competition held to coincide with the appearance of No 4472 at the Crewe Works open weekends, and a complete set could be yours!
NEWS FOCUS SPECIAL: A MIDSUMMER NIGHTa€ S STEAM!
Will a new quarter-roundhouse and servicing shop, which the Birmingham Railway Museum Trust plans to build at Stratford-upon-Avon, not only enhance the a€~Shakespeare Expressa€ trips to and from Birmingham, but become the centre-piece of Britaina€ s main line steam charter market in years to come? Robin Jones reports.
INDUSTRIAL SCENE: STEAMING BACK TO PORT PENRHYN
The roots of a major plan to revive one of the legendary lost great narrow gauge lines of north Wales, the freight-only Penrhyn Railway, have been sown. Not only has trackbed been bought but a steam locomotive has arrived on the scene, and the line is all set to revive the fortunes of the slate quarrying locality it once served, as a major tourist attraction, writes Robin Jones.
THE CHANGEOVER YEARS: IRISH STEAM FINALE
Modern traction came early to Ireland, a land with little coal, and with even the narrow gauge lines converted to diesel, the railways of Eire saw little steam after 1960. Yet, as late as 1970, a Derby-built 2-6-4T could still haul a passenger train on Ulstera€ s drastically reduced railway system. The Changeover Years in Ireland were long and complicated. Jeff Colledge unravels the story.
NEW GENERATION LINES: TESTING TIMES FOR WIRKSWORTH REVIVAL
The Wirksworth branch was the Midland Railwaya€ s line to nowhere, and could so easily have closed half-a-century ago, but for its limestone traffic and use as a test track for pioneering forms of traction designed and built at the great Derby Works. Revived as the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, it is the role of the branch as a secret testbed that is spearheading its drive to become one of Britaina€ s top heritage lines. Neil Ferguson-Lee reports on how modern-day business MyTestTrack.com is keeping alive a tradition of testing on the line that has continued for more than a century.
REGULARS
HEADLINE NEWS
York bomb alert holds up Scotsman; Swanage deal for main line link struck; LBSCR a€~Terriera€ Martello resteamed at Bressingham following overhaul; steam to return to Derbyshire cement works; AC Electric Group secures two Class 86s; replica Tattoo debuts on Corris passenger services and Alan Pegler donates his No 4472 scrapbook to National Railway Museum.
NEWS: THE WIDEST COVERAGE OF THE UK PRESERVATION SCENE
Bittern aims for Santa specials; Romney trains halted as preservation mourns Suzanne Martin; FM Rail in charter operatorsa€ buy-out bids; first new parts for A1 Tornado boiler and tender unveiled; Britaina€ s a€~earliesta€ turntables discovered in Devon; Great Central finances improved under previous regime despite Ã
CHURNET VALLEY WINNERS!
The best entries from the recent Churnet Valley Railway photographic contest, sponsored by Heritage Railway.
NEWS FOCUS SPECIAL: THE DUKE OF CREWE
Its restoration is widely regarded as the greatest miracle achieved in the steam preservation business. Its performance in its first session of main line running was staggering. No 71000 Duke of Gloucester is now well into its second stint on the main line and the past few months have shown that its magic is still working. If anything, this time round it is even better than before. Perhaps many years too late, Duke of Gloucester is demonstrating that the last 8P Pacific to emerge from Crewe Works really was the pinnacle of British steam locomotive design, writes Britain Sharpe, in a special feature to mark the locomotivea€ s centre-stage appearance at the biggest event of the preservation year, the Heritage Railway-sponsored Great Gathering at Crewe on 10-11 September.
STEAMa€ S ENDLESS SUMMER
Despite the fact that most people today travel to their UK holiday destinations by car, there is still very much a place in the 21st century for the seaside branch line, as the West Somerset Railway has so often shown. In words and pictures, long-time supporter Don Bishop looks at this classic branch, which is still carrying holidaymakers today and which has potential to do even more for its local economy in years to come.
WIN YOUR OWN LIVE STEAM FLYING SCOTSMAN!
Market-leading model-maker Hornby is set to launch its latest venture into 00-scale live steam, in the form of none other than Flying Scotsman itself! Enter our special competition held to coincide with the appearance of No 4472 at the Crewe Works open weekends, and a complete set could be yours!
NEWS FOCUS SPECIAL: A MIDSUMMER NIGHTa€ S STEAM!
Will a new quarter-roundhouse and servicing shop, which the Birmingham Railway Museum Trust plans to build at Stratford-upon-Avon, not only enhance the a€~Shakespeare Expressa€ trips to and from Birmingham, but become the centre-piece of Britaina€ s main line steam charter market in years to come? Robin Jones reports.
INDUSTRIAL SCENE: STEAMING BACK TO PORT PENRHYN
The roots of a major plan to revive one of the legendary lost great narrow gauge lines of north Wales, the freight-only Penrhyn Railway, have been sown. Not only has trackbed been bought but a steam locomotive has arrived on the scene, and the line is all set to revive the fortunes of the slate quarrying locality it once served, as a major tourist attraction, writes Robin Jones.
THE CHANGEOVER YEARS: IRISH STEAM FINALE
Modern traction came early to Ireland, a land with little coal, and with even the narrow gauge lines converted to diesel, the railways of Eire saw little steam after 1960. Yet, as late as 1970, a Derby-built 2-6-4T could still haul a passenger train on Ulstera€ s drastically reduced railway system. The Changeover Years in Ireland were long and complicated. Jeff Colledge unravels the story.
NEW GENERATION LINES: TESTING TIMES FOR WIRKSWORTH REVIVAL
The Wirksworth branch was the Midland Railwaya€ s line to nowhere, and could so easily have closed half-a-century ago, but for its limestone traffic and use as a test track for pioneering forms of traction designed and built at the great Derby Works. Revived as the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, it is the role of the branch as a secret testbed that is spearheading its drive to become one of Britaina€ s top heritage lines. Neil Ferguson-Lee reports on how modern-day business MyTestTrack.com is keeping alive a tradition of testing on the line that has continued for more than a century.
REGULARS
HEADLINE NEWS
York bomb alert holds up Scotsman; Swanage deal for main line link struck; LBSCR a€~Terriera€ Martello resteamed at Bressingham following overhaul; steam to return to Derbyshire cement works; AC Electric Group secures two Class 86s; replica Tattoo debuts on Corris passenger services and Alan Pegler donates his No 4472 scrapbook to National Railway Museum.
NEWS: THE WIDEST COVERAGE OF THE UK PRESERVATION SCENE
Bittern aims for Santa specials; Romney trains halted as preservation mourns Suzanne Martin; FM Rail in charter operatorsa€ buy-out bids; first new parts for A1 Tornado boiler and tender unveiled; Britaina€ s a€~earliesta€ turntables discovered in Devon; Great Central finances improved under previous regime despite Ã
Article Snippets
Awaiting Entry
Adverts and Links based on this content
Advertisement