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Exciting developments for the Nene Valley Railway - Steam into a city! Jeremy Godbolt describes how the Nene Valley Railway intends to extend its line to Peterborough's city centre — and has already lengthened its run at the other end, too.
The "Midnight Sun Special' - In Britain, main line steam has become a trifle predictable. Not so in Sweden, and Martin Beckett recounts the story of the enterprising 'Midnight Sun Special' which saw double headed steam working across the Arctic Circle.
Buses in the valley - Preservation means diesel traction as well, and the BR diesel railbuses of the late 1950s have now seen more service on preserved railways than with their original owner. B. S. Hancock unfolds the story of the Keighley 81 Worth Valley Railway's German railbuses.
Scotsman's year - 1983 will be known for many things, but not least it was 'A3' Pacific No 4472 Flying Scotsman's Diamond Jubilee year, as portrayed in this photo-feature.
How to improve your standards - If you've ever wondered how the preservationists keep their coaches serviceable, H. J. McOuade will tell you what's involved in making better coaches out of BR Mark 1 s, using the Severn Valley's experience.
The Cornwall Railway Museum - From derelict land to a flourishing railway museum and operating line — that's the objective of the Cornwall Locomotive Group for part of the former Chacewater-Newquay branch. Chris Tankard
Editor's choice — steam photographers - To finish the series, the Editor indulges himself, by courtesy of a gallery of steam photographers.
ARPS Briefing
Where should railway preservation be going? - DavidHubbard, Chairman of The Grimsby Louth Railway Preservation Society responds to Martin Bairstow's article in 7748.
Cover: Hunslet 0-6-OST No 25 Northiam at Rolvenden, Kent and East Sussex Railway, with the 17.15 Wittersham Road-Tenterden of 19 June 1983.
Not surprisingly, the editors of the journals of the various railway preservation societies have found that articles dealing with railway history are extremely popular, more so than morale-boosting editorials! What does seem to be true is that people are less keen to read about the preservation of railway equipment. Books on railway preservation, however lavish the illustrations, have not been a success, as the tables in bookshops loaded with tomes on the subject at knock-down prices illustrate all too 25 Rolling stock preservation report
clearly. Instead, people vote with their feet, by visiting preservation sites and patronising main line steam excursions, instead of buying books or magazines. Railway preservation can contribute to the study of railways, and indeed expand the knowledge of their history. What seems a certain 'turn-off for all concerned is the sort of speculative, wish-fulfillment that in the last few years, by virture of its failure to achieve results, has brought railway preservation into disrepute in some quarters.
