NEWS FOCUS SPECIAL: A premier line extends
The opening of the modern-day East Lancashire Railway’s Heywood link to passenger services from Bury (Bolton Street) scheduled for September 6 is somewhat ironic in view of the fact that the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway built the line to DENY the original ELR that access. Fred Kerr looks at the long-awaited extension to the heritage line which now offers visitors a round trip of 24 miles.

WHEN PAIGNTON PAVED THE WAY
In 1972, the Paignton to Kingswear line made preservation history when it became the first part of the national network to be sold off as a going passenger-carrying concern! With the summer debut of its latest acquisition BR Standard 4MT No. 75014 Braveheart. Robin Jones looks back at the BR years prior to its rebirth as one of Britain’s most financially-successful heritage lines, the Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway.

NEW GENERATION LINES:
Plans announced for a £6.5m revival of the legendary 3ft gauge Southwold Railway, and Britains newest seaside line now up and running.

NEWS FOCUS SPECIAL:The most outrageous railtour ever?
Two Deltics topping and tailing a train of maroon Mk. 1 coaches round the Scottish Highlands, even running from Aviemore to Mallaig via Stranraer overnight! Brian Sharpe reports on a five-day railtour with classic diesel traction, which would have been inconceivable a few years ago.

RETRACING THE ‘ACE’
As a ‘warm up’ to his summer break in North Cornwall, Robin Jones boarded the sell-out July 6 Steam Dreams trip from Clapham Junction to Exeter St. Davids to relive the days of the legendary and much-lamented ‘Atlantic Coast Express’ - with first class service, great food, and a storming ascent of Honiton bank thrown in for good measure!

END OF THE LINE!
Photographer Stuart Hall throws caution and colour film to the wind in his search for a decidedly abstract approach to railway subjects.

THE CHANGEOVER YEARS: Last of the summer wine vintage ‘68!
In the summer that he came of age, Alan Earnshaw discovered the freedom to travel around the country and enjoy his three main hobbies, hill-walking, football and the railways. All three were oddly and inextricably linked in that year when the sound of BR steam was ostensibly silenced on the network in Britain, as he recounts in a special feature to mark the 35th anniversary of the end of main line steam.

OUT & ABOUT SUMMER EVENTS
A host of ideas for heritage venues and events to visit during the peak summer season and school holidays.

INDUSTRIAL SCENE: A corner forever England!
A delightful destination for summer Channel hopping, the Chemin de fer Froissy-Cappy-Dompierre, which has its origins in the World War One trench and field railways, is a remarkable piece of British military transport history, as John Titlow highlights.

HEADLINE NEWS
Why Beattie well tank No. 30587 became the first steam engine to run at a secret army base in 60 years; BR Standard 9F 2-10-0 No. 92214 in surprise steam comeback at Butterley; Nene Valley Railway launches £750,000 bid to buy and restore old Wansford station building; prototype Deltic may visit Barrow Hill; D9000 Locomotives Ltd. banned by EWS, and the moment two steam trains passed at Basingstoke on July 9.

NEWS
North Eastern railway petrol railcar to be restored by Stephen Middleton; Prince Charles to open Welsh Highland extension; report of big GWR roundhouse gala at Barrow Hill; big name opening for Welsh Highland on July 30; William Hague launches first Wensleydale train; Lottery grant for ‘lost’ LNWR engine to resteam; Class 50 Thunderer to stay in Britain; steam returns to Ketton cement; Severn Valley launches £300K bid for Kidderminster buffet; Braveheart debut at Paignton; Bodmin benefactor now helps J21; Beattie well tank revisits South Devon Railway but this time in steam; new rumpus over Paignton cinema conversion bid are among our latest avalanche of essential news.

SHOWCASE
sponsored by London Camera Exchange
Our £100 photographic voucher prize this month goes to Neville Wellings for his sweeping view of LMS Princess Coronation Pacific No. 6233 Duchess of Sutherland in Huddersfield station.

MAIN LINE NEWS compiled by Cedric Johns
Scottish photo charter sell-out organisers now look at Kyle line for next year; steam demise anniversary steam train picks up ‘regular’ passengers; Canadian Pacific to stay with Steam Dreams; flying Scotsman tour stopped by p/way gang; steam shuttles banned from Whitby branch; Newquay/Fowey Bank Holiday tour off and inquiry into injury on Class 40 tour are among the many items in our definitive round-up.

MAIN LINE TOUR ITINERARY
Brian Sharpe’s guide to steam and diesel tours.

DAVID MORGAN MBE the man you can’t ignore.
Heritage Railway Association chairman David Morgan looks at the exclusion of over 70s and budding young enthusiasts from taking active roles in preservation.

PLATFORM
The pages where your views matter the most!

OFF THE SHELF
The latest book, DVD and video releases.

SCALE HERITAGE RAILWAY
Paul Appleton reviews Hornby’s new Stanier 8F and a peek preview of the Class 50 ‘Hoover’, plus a stunning model village collection.

CARRIAGE & WAGON DEPARTMENT
Moves to recreate a ‘Flying Scotsman’ cinema car on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and Kent & East Sussex Railway Maunsell coach back in traffic.

HERITAGE NET
Roger Melton visits websites devoted to wagons.

UP AND RUNNING
Brian Sharpe’s alphabetical listing of all standard, narrow and minimum gauge lines with dates of special events, details of driver training courses, wine and dine specials and locomotives in operation.