Britain’s best-selling rail title The Railway Magazine is back for another month of award-winning photos, news, features and exclusives from the rail industry, past and present. This month’s The Railway Magazine covers the devastating news about the COVID-19 pandemic as the rail industry is hit hard. Plus, we take a closer
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What’s inside the April issue of The Railway Magazine?
Britain’s best-selling rail title The Railway Magazine is back for another month of award-winning photos, news, features and exclusives from the rail industry, past and present. This month’s The Railway Magazine covers the devastating news about the COVID-19 pandemic as the rail industry is hit hard. Plus, we take a closer
Talyllyn Railway to host Titfield Thunderbolt ‘Watch Party’ online while 1950s classic film is on TV
Former Corris Railway 0-4-2ST No. 3 Sir Haydn is seen slowing to stop at Pendre station on December 29, 2018. GARETH EVANS As part of the BBC’s programme of Classic Films being aired during the Covid-19 lockdown period, the classic Ealing Comedy ‘The Titfield Thunderbolt’ is being shown on BBC2 this Wednesday
Thieves targeting railway signalling cables
Metal thieves have disrupted the journeys of key workers after ripping out hundreds of metres of railway signalling cable. Several locations have been targeted by thieves taking advantage of the coronavirus pandemic to carry out their crimes. Network Rail says that this has jeopardised journeys for key workers like doctors and nurses,
WIN! Selection of railway books worth £100 up for grabs!
WIN a selection of rail books from Gresley Books to keep you entertained while you’re stuck at home! We’ve teamed up with Mortons Books to offer you the chance to win a selection of rail reads worth over £100. You will win: British Railways Stinks British Railway Disasters Before Rocket Flying Scotsman On the Iron Road to the
Grand Central to suspend services during COVID-19 restrictions
Grand Central ‘Adelante’ No. 180105 approaching Frinkley Lane, north of Grantham on May 23, 2019. Photo: Chris Milner. Grand Central will temporarily suspend all its train services from the end of today as coronavirus restrictions continue to affect passenger numbers. The York-based operator, which runs services between Sunderland, Bradford and London Kings
Grand Central expected to withdraw services
SPECULATION is growing that Grand Central is about to become the second open access operator to suspend its services. Hull Trains has already withdrawn its timetable until further notice. According to the RMT and other sources, the last Grand Central trains will run today. The services between London, Bradford and Sunderland are
West Somerset Railway funding appeal hits the right notes!
BR ‘Manor’ 4-6-0 No. 7828 ‘Odney Manor’ and No. 7802 ‘Bradley Manor’ pass near Blue Anchor with a 14-coach train during the 40th Anniversary Gala on June 8, 2019 Well-wishers have responded rapidly to the West Somerset Railway (WSR) plc’s urgent appeal for desperately-needed funds to help the 22-mile line heritage
Over £100k raised in Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Trust’s appeal
Photos: GWSR Over £100,000 has poured in to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Trust’s (GWRT) emergency appeal fund – just 10 days after the railway called out for help. The funds will help the popular heritage railway cover the cost of £500,000 to repair an embankment landslip and comes at a time when
Severn Valley Railway emergency appeal hits £100,000 milestone
GWR 0-6-0PT No. 7714 approaches Orchard Crossing with a Kidderminster-bound service on October 27, 2019. IAN MURRAY The coronavirus pandemic has forced the closure of the Severn Valley Railway, one of the country’s leading heritage attractions. In a turn of fortunes however, the railway’s emergency appeal has already raised more than £100,000. The
Heritage charities offer facilities to Network Rail during coronavirus period
Didcot Railway Centre and Swindon Panel Society are helping Network Rail prepare for rail service delivery during the coronavirus outbreak. The two heritage charities made their facilities available to enable Network Rail prepare for train service delivery in the event of a shortage of regular signallers due to coronavirus or the
National Lottery Heritage Fund announces £50m emergency fund to support heritage sector
Merddin Emrys head towards Blaenau with a mixed Passenger & Slate Empties in 2005 Photo: Robin Stewart-Smith. The National Lottery Heritage Fund is making £50m available in response to the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the UK’s heritage. The new Heritage Emergency Fund will help those most in need over
National Lottery Heritage Fund announce £50m emergency fund to support heritage sector
Merddin Emrys head towards Blaenau with a mixed Passenger & Slate Empties in 2005 Photo: Robin Stewart-Smith. The National Lottery Heritage Fund is making £50m available in response to the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the UK’s heritage. The new Heritage Emergency Fund will help those most in need over
A2B Model Railways continuing to support modellers during difficult times
Although the retail premises is temporarily closed to the public, popular railway modelling store A2B Model Railways in Derbyshire is doing everything possible to support modellers during these difficult times. A2B continues to trade online at www.a2bmodelrailways.co.uk and customers can also shop over the phone or via a new Skype service. Customers
A2B Model Railways continues to support modellers during difficult times
Although the retail premises is temporarily closed to the public, popular railway modelling store A2B Model Railways in Derbyshire is doing everything possible to support modellers during these difficult times. A2B continues to trade online at www.a2bmodelrailways.co.uk and customers can also shop over the phone or via a new Skype service. Customers
Network Rail appeal for former signallers to keep vital rail services moving
Network Rail is appealing for former professional signallers across the country to help keep the railway running during the coronavirus crisis. Network Rail is working hard to keep signal boxes and control centres across the region open round the clock. This allows key workers such as doctors and nurses to travel
1 April: news in brief
Labour publishes ‘shadow rail white paper’ THE Labour Party is reported to be calling for public ownership of the passenger railway to continue after the coronavirus crisis is over, under the title ‘GB Rail’. Its recommendations come in the form of a ‘white paper’, of the type which governments use to
Mortons Books launch brand new book catalogue brimming with new titles
The people who bring you The Railway Magazine, Heritage Railway and Rail Express have just launched their latest book catalogue – brimming with fantastic new titles to explore while you’re stuck at home. Among the many new books included is Locomotives of the National Collection by Heritage Railway editor Robin Jones.
Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways in emergency appeal
Photo: Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways The general manager of Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways is urgently appealing for public help, after the railway closes amid the coronavirus situation. Paul Lewin, who appears in a video message, made the difficult decision to suspend train services in light of government advice. In a statement
Blackpool trams to be suspended from Sunday
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Thieves target East Lancashire Railway after forced closure
Industrial Locomotives & Railways of Wales
By Gordon Edgar THE ‘Industrial Locomotives & Railways of…’ series by Gordon Edgar has made fascinating reading, but this latest volume covering Wales may arguably be the best yet. For this book covers the many industries that made Wales famous the world over – namely steel, slate and coal. After a short introduction
Great Northern Railwayana Auctions update
Great Northern Railwayana Auctions would like to update you on their forthcoming auction. The closing date for their main postal/email/telephone auction will be on Saturday April 18 2020 at 4pm. If you visit their website at www.gnrauctions.co.uk you will see the reserve prices for their items next to the lot number and
Great Northern Railwayana Auction update
Great Northern Railwayana Auctions has announced the closing date for their main auction will be Saturday 18 April at 4pm. The auction will be exclusively via postal, email and telephone, and are asking potential buyers to visit their website to peruse the items and their reserve prices. In a statement, GNRA said:
Heritage railways trade body welcomes today’s government support – but detail remains to be clarified
The Seven Valley Railway is among the heritage railways which have ceased operations until further notice. GWR 0-6-0PT No. 7714 is seen arriving at Bewdley station. GARETH EVANS The Heritage Railway Association (HRA) has reacted warmly to the package of measures announced by chancellor Rishi Sunak (Conservative, Richmond (Yorks)) this afternoon
UK railway news roundup
Coronavirus continues to cause chaos in the rail and transport industry. Services are being slashed as demand collapses, social distancing measures are introduced and events and runnings are postponed. Here’s this week’s roundup: UK rail services to be reduced as demand plummets Rail services in the UK will be reduced from next week
Coronavirus: UK rail services to be reduced as demand plummets
Rail services in the UK will be reduced from next week as demand dramatically drops during the coronavirus outbreak. The Department for Transport (DfT) said it had agreed with rail operators across the country to scale back timetables from Monday as people change their travel habits to help stop Covid-19 spreading. Cores services will continue
Can’t get to the shops? The magic railways will come to you!
Stuck indoors and can’t pick up your favourite magazine? No problem! Thanks to these unmissable offers on a digital subscription, you can enjoy instant access to Britain’s most popular railway magazines on your favourite device without having to leave the front door. Subscribe today and you’ll pay only £9.99 for the first
Three million passengers and counting…
Sitting in the shadow of Snowdon in North Wales, Cliff Thomas tells the story of Llanberis Lake Railway, whose foundations stem from a former slate quarry line. A check list of ingredients for a successful heritage railway might include: mountain landscapes (Snowdon, obviously!); running beside a lake; steam locomotives with local
From the archive: Three million passengers and counting
Sitting in the shadow of Snowdon in North Wales, Cliff Thomas tells the story of Llanberis Lake Railway, whose foundations stem from a former slate quarry line. A CHECK list of ingredients for a successful heritage railway might include: mountain landscapes (Snowdon, obviously!); running beside a lake; steam locomotives with local
From the archive: First batch of class “508” electric multiple-units in service
The Railway Magazine Archive: March 1980 Apart from the underground trains on the Waterloo and City line, the Southern Region of British Railways has, until now, exclusively used hinged doors on its suburban trains; with the advent of 43 four-car sets of class “508” electric multiple units to the South Western
Statesman Rail and Saphos Trains cancel tours for “wellbeing of customers”
Rail tour promoters Statesman Rail and Saphos Trains have cancelled all trains due to operate between 20 March and 10 May due to coronavirus. In a statement, Statesman Rail said: “As a professional travel promoter, we take the current situation regarding the Covid-19 virus very seriously and as everyone is aware
The Great Central Railway Model Event 2020 is cancelled
Rethinking the Mobility Culture of the Future
By: Anu Tuominen, Principal Scientist, D. Sc. (Tech.), Foresight for Sustainable Mobility, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd. Anu Tuominen Climate change is clearly the largest of the contemporary challenges the transport sector is facing. Transport in considered as one of the ten main points in the ambitious European Green
Coronavirus adds pressure to franchise finances
TALKS are reported to be underway between train operators and the Department for Transport about the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on passenger revenue. Franchise finances are already frail, with the future of South Western Railway in particular doubt. The DfT is also believed to have been negotiating franchise extensions with
Mangapps Railway Museum closes over coronavirus
Mangapps Railway Museum has announced that the museum is closing until further notice. In a statement on social media, Mangapps Railway said: “In view of the rapidly developing Coronavirus outbreak and constantly changing official advice, we believe it would be irresponsible to expose our staff and visitors to unnecessary risk. “We have
Modelling basics: A decision on size
Transport for London worker tests positive for coronavirus
An office-based Transport for London (TfL) employee has tested positive for coronavirus, the government body has confirmed. In a statement released by TfL, the organisation said: “We are working closely with Public Health England and are following their advice after a member of staff tested positive for Covid-19. “The safety of our
The Golden Age of the ‘Big Four’
No. 6201 Princess Elizabeth near Mossley Hill, Liverpool, on an express to London Euston in 1938. The 1930s were the golden age of the ‘Big Four’ railway companies that arose from the Railway Act of 1921 following the experience of placing the country’s many diverse railway companies under government control during
GOLDEN AGE OF RAIL AND THEATRE EVOKED IN NEW BOOK
Nostalgic memories from the 1950s and 1960s golden age of steam and music hall entertainment are recalled in By Rail to the Music Halls – a new book written by Lancashire-based historian David John Hindle, featuring a foreword by the son of comedian Eric Morecambe. Hindle explains the early forging of
Inside the March issue of The Railway Magazine
Britain’s best-selling rail title The Railway Magazine is back for another month of award-winning photos, news, features and exclusives from the rail industry, past and present. This month’s The Railway Magazine features the all important news that HS2 has been given the green light, plus the Department for Transport takes control
From the Archive: Railway Personalities: George Dow
The story of railway historian supreme George Dow
An official portrait of railwayman and author George Dow. The life of the great communicator and railway historian supreme, George Dow, is recounted by Robert Humm. George Dow was a man of many parts. Professionally he was a career railwayman for his entire working life, much of it spent in public relations
Chinese HS2 letter was ‘fake news’
A LETTER which was widely reported to contain an offer from the China Railway Construction Corporation to build HS2 within five years has been disowned by the Chinese ambassador to the United Kingdom, who commented that the original reproduction of a letter in Building magazine amounted to ‘fake news’. However, there
Protestors demand government keep Northern Rail under public control
Rail passenger groups and union leaders are staging protests today, calling for the Government to keep Northern Rail under public control. The northern franchise was taken away from Arriva Rail North on Sunday after months of complaints about poor service and commuter chaos. The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said the franchise had “collapsed” after years
‘No quick fix’ warning as Arriva surrenders Northern
THE Northern franchise operated by Arriva Trains North passed back into public ownership in the small hours of Sunday morning. The franchise is now being run by the Operator of Last Resort, which is a subsidiary of the Department for Transport. Northern has been terminated after a long period of poor performance
Passengers evacuated as smoke billows over major railway station in Paris
£20m funding for new railway stations across the country
Severn Valley Railway faced with extensive flooding in video footage
Photo: Screenshot from footage by Daniel Maxwell for the SVR Extensive flooding on the Severn Valley Railway can be seen in recent footage taken by Daniel Maxwell for the SVR. The video was captured from a Severn Valley Railway train window on Tuesday, February 18. The view shows how water-logged the fields have
Tube services hit by strike linked to dispute over timetable changes
Photo: Nick Ansell/PA Wire London Underground drivers are starting strikes on Friday in a dispute over timetable changes, causing travel misery for passengers. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport on the Bakerloo line will walk out for 24 hours at noon and again from noon on Sunday. The union said it had made
Two killed and several injured after Sydney to Melbourne train derails
Two people have been killed and several more injured after an XPT train derailed close to Melbourne, Australia. One of the deceased is believed to be the driver. Those injured were being treated by emergency services and one person was airlifted to a hospital in Melbourne. Five carriages and the locomotive left the
HS2 releases new images of Old Oak Common station
Photo: HS2/PA Wire HS2 has released new images and designs of its west London station. Old Oak Common will have six high-speed platforms and eight platforms for conventional trains such as Crossrail and services to Wales and the west of England. The platforms will be linked by a bridge while the station concourse
Win a Hornby Harry Potter modelling bundle worth over £540!
Storm Dennis: Rail passengers urged to check before travelling due to floods
Storm Dennis is continuing to cause transport chaos as train lines and roads are blocked by flooding and fallen trees. Network Rail is assessing the repairs needed to reopen parts of the railway damaged by torrential downpours and strong winds over the weekend. CrossCountry, Great Western Railway, Northern, South Western Railway, Southern, Thameslink and Transport for Wales
Scrap dealers targeted as railway metal thefts cost taxpayers £1.4m
Scrap metal dealer visits February 2020. Photo: Network Rail Scrap yards in Greater Manchester are being visited by Network Rail and the British Transport Police to ensure dealers are not trading stolen metal. Latest figures reveal more than 400 incidents of metal theft on the railway between London Euston and Carlisle in the
Passengers warned of rail disruptions as Storm Dennis approaches
Tree blocking all lines at Four Ashes in Staffordshire. Photo: Network Rail Following Storm Ciara last weekend, Storm Dennis is forecast to hit Britain this Saturday and Sunday. Dennis is likely to disrupt some rail journeys between London Euston, the West Midlands and Chilterns, Manchester, Liverpool, Lancashire and Cumbria. With river levels high,
Didcot’s Saint to star in Severn Valley Railway spring steam gala
From the Archive: Britain joins the European high-speed network
Didcot Railway Centre gala to ‘deliver the goods’ this weekend
1913-built Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0ST Sir Robert McAlpine & Sons No. 31 is seen with a goods train on Didcot’s branch line. Photo: Frank Dumbleton The new Didcot Railway Centre season opens this weekend (February 15-16) with the ‘Delivering The Goods’ steam and diesel gala event. Demonstration freight trains and wagon movements will
Long-awaited Oakervee HS2 review is published
► Primary advantage is capacity, not speed► Costs remain uncertain, particularly for later phases► HS2 must be part of national rail network► Frequency should drop to 14tph, perhaps 16tph later THE review of HS2 from former HS2 chairman Doug Oakervee has been published, to coincide with the Prime Minister’s statement to
Why does snow stop trains running?
Storm Ciara travel disruptions set to continue
Danny Lawson/PA Wire Parts of the UK continue to brace for blizzards and up to 20cm of snow in the wake of Storm Ciara, with travel disruptions set to continue. Trains, flights and ferries all saw cancellations and delays on Sunday, while drivers faced treacherous conditions with floodwater, fallen trees and other
Franchise crisis deepens with ‘£20m shortfall’ at c2c
West Midlands Trains ordered to invest £20m
February 2020 issue on sale!
Britain’s best-selling rail title The Railway Magazine is back for another month of award-winning photos, news, features and exclusives from the rail industry, past and present. This month’s The Railway Magazine the story that Northern are very much in crisis as Arriva lose franchise. Plus, the first ‘Pacers’ are preserved and
Chancellor Sajid Javid expected to back HS2 rail project
Chancellor Sajid Javid is set to throw his support behind HS2 ahead of a key meeting with Boris Johnson and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps. It is understood that having reviewed costs and alternatives the Chancellor will “broadly back” the high-speed line from London to Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds. Downing Street declined to rule
Chancellor Sajid Javid backs HS2 rail project
Chancellor Sajid Javid has thrown his support behind HS2 in a key meeting with Boris Johnson and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps. It is understood that having reviewed costs and alternatives the Chancellor “broadly backs” the high-speed line from London to Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds. Downing Street declined to rule out that Mr
Railtrail Tours: Focus on Steam 2020
Railtrail Tours’ brand new ‘Focus on Steam’ 2020 programme features over 25 UK and Europe steam tours, including a new USA option. There will be a variety of short five-day trips of UK steam railways, including miniature to standard gauge. The UK programme kicks off at Easter with two tours departing
Scrapping HS2 ‘would cause 30 years of delays’
A LEAKED letter from Network Rail is said to be warning the Government that abandoning HS2 would mean expensive upgrades of existing classic lines, some of which could take almost 30 years to achieve. The letter from Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haines adds that without HS2 planned improvements to the
Stadler to build new Tyne & Wear Metro trains
East Midlands: Preserved railways, museums and centres
The East Midlands is a large and varied area, and its contribution to railway preservation is equally eclectic. The premier preserved steam railway is undoubtedly the Great Central Railway, with its length of double-track mainline. The line should one day connect with the GCR Nottingham to give a heritage line from
£500m promised by Government to restore historic rail lines
Whisky Nine Six: LNER’s Highland Lifeline
As one of Britain’s longest distance trains prepares for the arrival of new rolling stock, Ben Jones takes a trip on LNER’s ‘Highland Chieftain’ to experience the changing atmosphere onboard as it speeds north. The Up ‘Highland Chieftain’ is seen shortly after passing Dalwhinnie on July 10. The usual stacks of
Holocaust Memorial Day: 75 years since liberation of Auschwitz camp
Photo: Keith Fender/The Railway Magazine Today marks Holocaust Memorial Day, 75 years since 27 January 1945, when Soviet troops entered and liberated the Auschwitz death camp. The darkest episode in the history of world railways undoubtedly centres around the role they were forced to play in the transport of civilians to Nazi death
Complexity and risks of HS2 were ‘under-estimated’
Photo: HS2/PA Wire HS2 is over budget and behind schedule because its complexity and risks were under-estimated, according to the Whitehall spending watchdog. The National Audit Office (NAO) warned that it is impossible to “estimate with certainty what the final cost could be”. It published a report urging the Government and HS2 Ltd
Great Central Railway to restore Thornbury Castle
Unrestored Collett ‘Castle’ No. 7027 Thornbury Castle is to be restored for operation at the Great Central Railway (GCR) following its sale to a private buyer by Jonathan Jones-Pratt. The 1949-built 4-6-0 was purchased by Mr Jones-Pratt’s firm, JJP Holdings, from music mogul Pete Waterman in 2016, but has not received
From The Archive: Sir Allen Sarle
Original article excerpt from The Railway Magazine, January 1898 Illustrated interviews: Sir Allen Sarle, General Manager, London, Brighton and South Coast Railway. The retirement of Sir Allen Sarle in the course of the next few weeks means the disappearance of an old familiar face from the management of the London, Brighton and
Arriva settles legal dispute with DfT over East Midlands franchise
ARRIVA has come to terms with the Department for Transport over the rejection of its bid for East Midlands on the grounds that its submission was ‘non-compliant’ in its attempt to modify pensions risks. Stagecoach was also refused for the same reason, and the East Midlands contract was awarded to the
Rail passengers urged to start conversations on Blue Monday
Dame Julie Walters supports the campaign start conversations on Blue Monday. Photo: Yui Mok/PA Wire More than 150 events are being held at railway stations across the UK to encourage people to talk to each other on Blue Monday – described as the most depressing day of the year. The Samaritans’ Brew Monday
From the Archive: A Dales delight
Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway going from strength to strength
HS2 could destroy irreplaceable natural habitats, report warns
Glyn Davis Wood in Warwickshire, more than half of which will be lost to HS2 development. HS2 risks destroying “huge swathes” of irreplaceable habitats, including 108 ancient woodlands. The Wildlife Trusts have said HS2 will damage the ecosystems that could solve the climate emergency. The organisation said in its new report – which
Union threatens national rail strike as pensions row flares
Ten handy gadgets for rail travellers
For the regular commuter or avid traveller, trains are not always the most convenient of places. Seats can be uncomfortable, amenities are often limited and long journeys can be boring. Here’s a selection of handy gadgets to make those tiresome train journeys just a bit more manageable. 1. Rest in comfort with
LNER says farewell to HST sets as ‘Azumas’ sweep in
Avanti West Coast secure £642m deal with Alstom to upgrade Pendolinos
Avanti West Coast have secured a major seven-year deal worth £642 million with Alstom to upgrade all 56 of their electric Pendolino trains on the West Coast Mainline. As well as covering a £127m upgrade of the Pendolinos, which is believed to be the biggest train upgrade programme ever undertaken in
Caledonian Sleeper train has a number of major shortcomings
TranPennine introduces ‘Nova 2’ into service
SATURDAY, November 30 saw the third and final TransPennine Express (TPE) train fleet finally entering passenger service, when Class 397 ‘Nova 2’ set No. 397007 worked the 08.10 departure from Manchester Airport to Edinburgh. An incident-packed journey saw the train finally arriving at Edinburgh significantly behind time because of an overhead
From the archive: Restoring an armoured Simplex
Greensand Railway Museum Trust (GRMT) was formed in 2000 and completed restoration of Baldwin 4-6-0T WDLR No. 778 to steam in 2007 – the only operational Baldwin class 10-12-D in Britain, indeed the world, in as-built steam locomotive form. Now, the GRMT has its eyes firmly fixed on another ‘war veteran’
Stadler sets spread their wings in the east
Class 90 visits Swindon for electrical testing
ONE of the most unusual movements this year has seen freshly painted Class 90 No. 90035 move from Crewe to Swindon. The train has been put together by Network Rail’s electrification project team in order to carry out mechanical and electrical testing of the OLE between Bristol and Cardiff, although initial tests
Locomotive Services buys Class 86 and 87 from ETL
TWO former West Coast AC electric locomotives have been bought by Locomotive Services Limited from Electric Traction Ltd (ETL). The last mainline Class 87 – No. 87002 Royal Sovereign – along with 86101 Sir William A Stanier FRS had been hired by ETL to GB Railfreight for working empty stock from the Caledonian
‘Pacers’ to work with PRM compliant units
GWR and Northern have indicated how they will combat restrictions placed on the use of Class 142-144 ‘Pacer’ units from January 1, 2020. Both will run a non-compliant ‘Pacer’ with a compliant unit of another type to provide accommodation for passengers with limited mobility and also access to a fully accessible
‘Black Fives’ back in the Hope Valley
IAN Riley’s Stanier ‘Black Five’ duo of Nos. 44871 and 45407 pass through the remains of the old Masborough station with the Railway Touring Company’s ‘South Yorkshireman’ on November 3. The tour, which replaced a previously advertised but cancelled ‘Tin Bath’, took the two Class 5s from Blackburn to Manchester Victoria, then
New cylinders delivered for Gloucs-Warks’ No. 3850
THE new cylinders for ex-GWR ‘2884’ 2-8-0 No. 3850 were delivered to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway on December 6 following machining by Roach Precision of Brierley Hill. The delivery followed the arrival of the new front-end extension frames in mid-September, which had also been completed by the Brierley Hill firm.
Hitachi wins £350million order for new West Coast trains
HITACHI’S Newton Aycliffe factory will deliver a new fleet of 23 trains for Avanti West Coast in 2022. The completion of Intercity Express Programme (IEP) and ScotRail Class 385 EMU orders are on the horizon, and the £350million deal is a further boost for the County Durham facility after securing the
January 2020 issue on sale!
Britain’s best-selling rail title The Railway Magazine is back for another month of award-winning photos, news, features and exclusives from the rail industry, past and present. This month’s The Railway Magazine features an insight into the retro look for LNER’s HST finale! Plus, Pacers and Mk4s are scrapped and we have
Tornado’s 2020 tour diary takes shape
PEPPERCORN ‘A1’ Pacific No. 60163 Tornado looks set to have another busy year on the national network in 2020 as more dates are added to the locomotive’s main line calendar. The first confirmed booking is the ‘Fen & Fells Flyer’ on April 4, which starts diesel-hauled in Cambridge, running via Ely, March
Canadian National celebrates centenary
Retro livery for rebuilt Canadian Pacific locos
CANADIAN Pacific (CP) has given several recently rebuilt locomotives its original original Tuscan red, grey, and gold livery, the first locos appearing in mid-October. The ‘new’ SD70ACU locos are rebuilds of earlier EMD SD9043MAC locos, retaining an overhauled EMD 16-cylinder 710 engine, uprated to 4,500hp, but with new electronics, cabs,