FEATURES

NEWS FOCUS SPECIAL: MOVE THAT TIP!
A few days after the Bluebell Railway held a successful spring gala weekend to mark the 50th anniversary of the first closure of their line by British Railways, visiting Ivatt 2-6-2T No 41312 was pressed into service to take the line into the next half-century - by helping to move the Imberhorne landfill site blocking the way to East Grinstead. Robin Jones looks at the uphill task facing one of Britain’s ground-breaking lines in the months ahead.

NEWS FOCUS SPECIAL: LONG LIVE THE KING!
On 2 July, 75 years to the day that it entered service, GWR 4-6-0 No 6024 King Edward I will haul a special charter from Paddington to Kingswear in celebration of the event. Robin Jones looks back at the history of the class and the locomotive that has earned many heritage-era accolades by travelling farther over the national network than any other member of its illustrious class, and asks: is this now the greatest King of them all?

A PHOTOGRAPHER’S GUIDE TO THE CAMBRIAN COAST
Steam will cross Barmouth Bridge again in August for the first time in 14 years. With six days of steam, there will be the opportunity to ride and photograph, but where are the best locations these days? Brian Sharpe looks for the answer.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE: ALE ON THE RAILS 2005
At last summer is here again - and, after a day out at your favourite railway, you will probably head for the nearest watering-hole to quench your thirst with a pint or two. Beer festivals have been big business for many heritage lines in recent years, with visitors who enjoy the sight and sound of a steam engine or heritage diesel from yesteryear also relishing the finest in traditional ales.

CHANGEOVER YEARS: A DAY AT THE SUMMIT
With the widespread dieselisation of the BR system in the mid-1960s, one place in the UK remained a stronghold for steam - north-west England. Yet, even here, many famous express steam types were all withdrawn, including the entire class of Duchesses, and Princess Royals and the remaining handful of the last Jubilees and Royal Scots were hard to find. Having seen the dramatic images captured by the late Eric Treacy, a determined young photographer, Maurice Burns, was keen to capture the last steam workings over this spectacular route before it was too late. This is his story of one unforgettable weekend in 1965 and just one day’s photography 40 years ago that produced so many unrepeatable classic views.

NEWS FOCUS SPECIAL: SAVING THE LAST FOR BEST
Not only has the last ‘real’ steam locomotive built in Britain - Hunslet 0-4-2ST No 3902 of 1971 - been repatriated and restored to as-built working order, but it has been given a railway of its own on a private green field site in Staffordshire. Meanwhile, its manufacturer has set the steam production lines rolling again in earnest next door, after an absence of more than a third-of-a-century, as Robin Jones discovered on a visit to Graham Lee’s amazing new Statfold Barn Railway.

REGULARS

HEADLINE NEWS
LNWR ‘Super D’ unveiled after overhaul; GWR 4-6-0 No 7821 Ditcheat Manor leaves Great Central Railway for Churnet Valley; Llangollen teenage apprentice pays for new Grange cab to be built; police ‘arrest’ heritage train; A4 nameplate sells for £41,000, Leander stopped before main line comeback trip and new Ribble Steam Railway opens.

NEWS: THE WIDEST COVERAGE OF THE UK PRESERVATION SCENE
Great Central Railway ‘Black Five’ to steam to the Heritage Railway-sponsored Great Gathering at Crewe; second Vale of Glamorgan line reopens to passengers at Barry; Welsh Assembly First Minister tests out new Corris Railway steam engine; Sheffield’s ‘Mr Railwayana’ steps down; West Somerset Railway celebrates as Minehead office block scheme axed; Dartmoor Railway Company’s takeover of Weardale line ‘complete’; new-build engine for Darjeeling Himalayan Railway makes debut; Cambrian Railways Trust starts Llynclys DMU trips; Cornwall conquers Wales in Llangollen steam gala stunner; volunteer group aims to restart unique Class 15 overhaul; Beattie well tank turns Swanage Railway clock back 120 years; Big Pit beats Locomotion to £100k arts prize; first steam engine for Penrhyn revival arrives; last ‘Thumper’ finds Welsh valleys bolthole; Welsh Highland director’s bequest boosts Baldwin rebuild; truce called in Friends of the Settle-Carlisle Line rift; Churnet Valley Railway plans new museum at Froghall copper works; and the sell-out Thomas event where the star failed to show.

PLATFORM
The place where your views matter the most!

MAIN LINE NEWS compiled by Cedric Johns
Flying Scotsman’s Spring Bank Holiday Scarborough runs ends in failure; Duchess of Sutherland to replace delayed Princess Elizabeth; plans to run a Western over Shap and Settle-Carlisle line; Kingfisher Tours buys Wessex Trains stock; King Edward I marooned after helping stricken diesel; and seaside specials banned from Community Rail pilot line, plus a fabulous Duke of Gloucester centre spread.

MAIN LINE TOUR ITINERARY
Brian Sharpe's guide to steam and heritage modern traction tours.

CARRIAGE & WAGON NEWS
‘Burned-out’ GNR coach wins second national award; rebuilt KESR Pullman offers laptop facilities; and Mid-Suffolk Railway aims to recreate original train.

NEW GENERATION LINES
Wensleydale Railway launches £100k appeal to avert financial crisis before it happens; and doubts expressed over costs of Wisbech-March revival; plus first rolling stock arrives at Dolgarrog.

DAVID MORGAN MBE - the man you can't ignore
Where Continental museums are showing us the way.

OFF THE SHELF
Latest book, video and DVD releases - the honest opinion.

SCALE HERITAGE RAILWAY
Robin Jones reviews a whole town full of marvellous 00 scale buildings from three leading manufacturers.

UP AND RUNNING
Brian Sharpe's listing of operational standard, narrow and minimum gauge lines with dates of special events, details of driver training courses and locomotives in operation.