News - Network Rail faces investigation over Rugby, Glasgow & Liverpool St over-runs. Grand Central starts operation. DRSa€ 37515 in Scottish truck smash.

News in pictures - Class 47/8s used on mail train drags via Oxford. LULa€ s East London Line closes for two-year upgrade. Ex-Gatwick GLVs out on de-icer test runs.

Reviews - RE takes a look at an excellent new album which remembers Staffordshire rail operations in the 1980s. Also includes the latest other book releases.

2007 Diary - The last year has seen great change on the railways but do you remember the top traction and news stories? Ita€ s all here with stunning images!

Preservation - More Class 37s are saved for posterity but a second Class 56 is sold for a return to mail line freight work. Features updated 2008 event dates.

Time Traveller - 1998 saw Heathrow Express services to Paddington station start up. All the railway and current affairs news from 5, 10, 20, 30 & 40 years ago.

Time Traveller Extra - 20 years ago, Tynesiders waved goodbye to the Class 03s. RE presents a pictorial reminder of the shunters at their Gateshead home and at work.

Railtours - Our columnist reports from the a€~Electric Scot Farewella€ tour, which ended in disarray. There is news that 86259 will make its main line return in March.

Traction & Rolling Stock - 34 years of service come to an end as the Class 87s are withdrawn ready for a new life in Bulgaria. Includes a special two-page stored location listing.

Mess room - The NRM reveals the first a€~trainspottera€ , plus, see the new theme park a€~Thomaslanda€ . Meanwhile, Europe welcomes Voitha€ s first diesel-hydraulic.

Rail Express Modeller:

Comment: Kit makers squeezed - Recent model announcements from both Dapol and Hornby have targeted wagons already produced in plastic kit form. We argue for more common sense choices for new wagons.

News: Trade developments - The big news this month is the REM announcement of a brand new version of the Bachmann refurbished Class 37 to be produced exclusively for us. For more details, see below.

Reader offer: Class 37/5s - The ex-split headcode refurbished Class 37s have not been produced in 4mm since the demise of Lima. RAIL EXPRESS has teamed up with Bachmann to present this variant.

Review: More Hornby a€~Gridsa€ - Hornby has completed its 2007 programme of new Class 56 models with EWS 56059 and Trainload Coal 56128. With the class being a detail a€~minefielda€ , we see how they stack up.

Review: Heljan Class 58 update - Last issuea€ s coverage of the Heljan BREL Type 5 looked at the manufacturera€ s samples of the new product. We now have production Class 58s and present our results here.

Special: Review of the Year - 2007 was a packed 12 months of new model releases that saw some big gaps filled and a few surprises. REM recounts the year and we give our verdict on the best and worst.

Review: Bachmann 141/181 Class - After a long development process, Murphy Modelsa€ specially commissioned Bachmann model of the Irish a€~Baby GMa€ 141/181 Class locomotive is now out. Read on for our review.

Serial: Mostyn - The boys from Barrowmore reflect on a busy 2007 and look forward to the challenges that this year will bring, which may or may not include a massive Mostyn extension project!

Exhibitions: Spanner - The Hornby catalogue reveals a few surprises, not least the invention of a new Railfreight sub-sector. Also, check here for the best exhibition events with D&E era representation.