features

34 NEWS FOCUS SPECIAL: BODMIN, WENFORD... AND MUCH, MUCH MOORE!
Alan Moore remains a modest and mild-mannered figure in the shadows of preservation, best known for his involvement with the Bodmin & Wenford Railway, yet has shown himself to be more than willing to bankroll projects at several heritage lines 'to make things happen' in their hours of need. Geoff Courtney presents the first full interview that Alan has given to a railway magazine.

40 GALA SPECIAL: CAPROTTI FIVE SHINES AT GCR GALA
BR Caprotti Standard Five No 73129 made its first loan visit from its Butterley home when it took a starring role in the Great Central Railway's stupendous 8-9 October autumn steam gala, where it lined up alongside BR Standard 9F No 92212 on Britain's only double-track heritage main line, to woo the crowds. We present the first pictures from this hugely successful event.

46 GALA SPECIAL: THE ORIGINAL - AND STILL THE BEST?
The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway claims to have run the first enthusiasts' weekend or steam gala as we know it today back in 1970 - and this year's big autumn bash held on 14-16 October harked back to those heady days, with bumper crowds and the appearance of two National Collection locomotives, City of Truro and 'Super D' No 49395.

50 GALA SPECIAL: TAW VALLEY BOWS OUT AT SEVERN VALLEY ANNIVERSARY BASH
Forty years since it was founded, and 30 since it held its first enthusiasts' weekend - the Severn Valley Railway has a double cause to celebrate. The 23-25 September gala also marked 20 years since BREL announced the closure of Swindon Works, and among the GWR-dominated line-up were WR 4-6-0 No 7903 Foremarke Hall, while making its first loan visit to another line was the West Somerset Railway's 'new' mogul No 9351, and our centrespread shows that Great Western engineering is still very much alive. The event also included the billed 'last' public run of Taw Valley before its 10-year boiler certificate expired.

66 GALA SPECIAL: 'SUPER D' LIFTS MINEHEAD TO NEW HEIGHTS
More than 5500 passengers rode on the West Somerset Railway during its 30 Septmber-2 October gala spectacular - and the first pictures from the event serve to highlight exactly why the line has won two top national awards in successive years, while playing an increasingly pivotal role in the region's tourist economy. Visitors were also able to see for the first time Somerset & Dorset 7F No 88 in that controversial Prussian blue livery...

70 WHAT'S LEFT OF... THE FURNESS RAILWAY
Geographically out on a limb, but independent, the Furness Railway reflected the area it served, and its isolation has led to its main line remaining remarkably intact. While its locomotive type and stock have not survived well, it can boast the oldest working standard gauge steam engine in Britain, based on the sole preserved section, the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway. Brian Sharpe looks into the story of this unique railway company and what remains.

74 THE CHANGEOVER YEARS: WELCOME TO THE GALA AGE!
Had it been left to the powers-that-be, the only operating steam we would have seen after 1968 would have been BR's Vale of Rheidol Railway. The enthusiast sector, however, had other ideas, and has provided us with a massive portfolio of heritage lines. Each year, its workers are rewarded for their tireless and often unpaid sterling service throughout the year, by holding special weekends of their own. Robin Jones and Brian Sharpe look back at the origins and growth of the enthusiast gala, the real jewel of the preservation calendar.

76 GALA SPECIAL: MORE MOORS ACTION!
This year's North Yorkshire Moors Railway early October steam gala had an extra-special bonus - for it spilled over on to the main line to Whitby!

94 GALA SPECIAL: TWO 9FS OVER THE ALPS!
The rare preservation-era pairing of two BR Standard 9Fs - Nos 92203 Black Prince and No 92212 - ensured that the Mid-Hants Railway's 24-25 September gala was unmissable!

96 NEWS FOCUS SPECIAL: CREWE - THE AFTERGLOW
Following the acknowledged success of the Heritage Railway-sponsored Great Gathering event at the Bombardier Crewe Works site on 10-11 September, the question on everyone's lips is: will there ever be another one? There is a will but is there a way, asks our man on the scene, Keith Langston.

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5 HEADLINE NEWS
Engines destroyed in museum roundhouse inferno; West Somerset Railway takesHeritage Railway Association's 2005 annual award - with top honours for Ribble Steam Railway, Fire Fly and Corris Railway; LMS 4-6-0 No 6100 Royal Scot could return to the main line with Flying Scotsman-style German smoke deflectors; Bluebell Railway to steam six LBSCR 'Terriers' at gala and Eddystone moves to NYMR.

10 NEWS: THE WIDEST COVERAGE OF THE UK PRESERVATION SCENE
Preston Docks steam line opened; first Lynton & Barnstaple gala; terminus station gutted in Southend pier inferno; Merddin Emrys reappears in original livery for Ffestiniog Victorian gala; NYMR buys The Green Knight; Bluebell Brighton Atlantic boiler identified; no Santa specials - but Weardale gets a Class 37; double boost for Amman Valley revival; 'Super D' visits Barrow Hill; Lord Nelson's boiler back at Eastleigh; Paignton station in £1.5m facelift plan; restored Barry locomotives' imminent debuts at Minehead, Llangollen and Haverthwaite; back to steam for starving Zimbabwe; major success for Norfolk community rail 'gala' first; Stratford & Broadway group running again after five years; Hope Valley cement works turns clock back; electric group 'sceptical' over Eastleigh plan - and still no date set for the Flying Scotsman plc 2004 AGM!

44 PLATFORM
The pages where your views matter the most!

49 VIDEO VIEW
Alan Price, of our sister company Heritage Digital Media Productions, introduces his latest steam DVD releases for Christmas.

56 MAIN LINE NEWS compiled by Cedric Johns
'Black box' recorder fitting deadline may be extended; K1's season ended by cracked firebox; last special for southern Region slam-door EMUs to run in November, four class 33s acquired by West Coast; and why Alan Pegler intended to give Flying Scotsman away

62 MAIN LINE TOUR ITINERARY 64 SCALE HERITAGE RAILWAY
Hornby brings out LMS 'Black Five' No 45157 The Glasgow Highlander - and atrio of the finest Class 08 shunters yet to appear on the shelves.

86 OFF THE SHELF CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
Top gift ideas for the festive season - and that Philip Hawkins print produced especially for the Heritage Railway-backed Great Gathering event at Crewe is now available!

93 DAVID MORGAN MBE - the man you can't ignore
Much can be learned from preservation in Australia.

98 UP AND RUNNING
Brian Sharpe's listing of operational standard, narrow and minimum gauge lines with dates of special events