Modern Railways Pictorial Magazine, Issue 6

OVER THE YEARS the variously described Motive Power Miscellany, Traffic Report and Rail Report columns of Railway World and Modern Railways have detailed a wide variety of interesting workings by British Rail locomotives and yet few reports from readers are accompanied by a relevant photograph. Taking a photograph of any interesting or unusual happening on our railway system has a number of advantages. The fact that the event ever happened is positively established and removes any possible doubt which may exist in some minds as to its authenticity. Also, the event is permanently recorded for posterity and if the photograph is suitable for reproduction thousands of other enthusiasts are able to share the spectacle. Finally, recording such an event on film, and thereby securing a 'scoop', generally gives far more satisfaction than taking what could be termed the everyday scene on a certain line in a specific area. While railway enthusiasts may spot scores of unusual workings, only a comparatively small percentage of these are reported to the railway press. Even if every rare sighting were reported it would be interesting to know how many other workings of an unusual nature occur in the hours of darkness, on a day when most enthusiasts are at work, or on a remote line which attracts little attention from the general railfan. Of course there is no definitive description of what is deemed to be rare or unusual. Some workings occur on one occasion only while others may be news one day but routine within a matter of weeks. For example, locomotive hauled 1C 125 units (which are either failures or partial failures) over the South Devon banks are now becoming commonplace; Sunday diversions on. the WCML when, due to engineering works, express trains are diesel-hauled over non-electrified lines are a weekly occurrence; the "off the beaten track' workings of the Scottish Region's Class 47/7 push-pulls are frequent and wide-ranging; Class 56s regularly haul failed passenger trains on routes which see them employed on merry-go-round trains and Class 55s have now worked York to Liverpool trains throughout on several occasions. Although no longer novel, photographs of such events make interesting pictures and good quality examples stand a reasonable chance of being included in MRP's Photonews feature.

Some enthusiasts have an eye for detail. To them newsworthiness may be a Southern Region emu having an incorrect headcode on the blind, or perhaps a train which is normally comprised of Mark 1 rolling stock turning up with a rake of air-conditioned coaches behind the locomotive. Unless exceptional, photographs of such events are less likely to find a place in railway periodicals. There are numerous other events which can produce newsworthy photographs such as inaugural runs, the last train on a branch which is closing, test trains, failures, trains affected by the weather, locomotives fitted with new modifications, etc. Good quality photographs of any unusual happening, or of an event featuring modern traction on BR should be submitted for publication in the MRP Photonews feature, or in any other lan Allan publication in accordance with the general conditions shown on this page. In the final analysis editorial selection decides what is of interest, as influenced by the photographic material received from readers and from official sources.

The next issue of MRP will include features on the Hope Valley line, china clay movements, the North-East coast line and Andover. There will be other items of interest including Picture Parade, Special Spot and Photonews.