features

38 NEWS FOCUS SPECIAL: TON UP FOR TODDINGTON!
With the fires from the big West Somerset gala hardly thrown out, the preservation world is gearing up for the next big event of 2006 - the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway centenary celebrations from 27 May to 4 June. The landmark event, the biggest in the line’s history, will also mark a quarter-century of revival under preservationists, who set out with the aim of linking Stratford-upon-Avon to Cheltenham by train again. GWR fireman Ian Crowder, its Press officer and former commercial director, takes us on a journey through the Cotswold railway’s past, looking at what is now being achieved and where the line will head in years to come.

42 NEWS FOCUS SPECIAL: WORKING THE BLUEBELL SPOIL TRAIN - BY STEAM
Former London Underground steam driver Kirk Martin took a busman’s holiday at the Bluebell Railway - helping to drive the train taking spoil from the Imberhorne Lane landfill site that blocks the line’s extension to East Grinstead. As the ‘steam only’ railway hires in diesel traction to take over the job, Kirk reminiscences about his Indian summer.

46 NEWS FOCUS SPECIAL: NOW THAT’S WHAT WE CALL A SPRING STEAM GALA!
The West Somerset Railway’s ‘Somerset & Dorset’ spring steam gala broke all records as it recreated the legendary trans-Mendip line in a way like never before. We present highlights from some of the country’s top photographers.

60 NEWS FOCUS SPECIAL: LAST PUSH FOR PORTHMADOG
One of the most exciting projects in the history of railway preservation is now under way in Snowdonia - the rebuilding of the last section of the Welsh Highland Railway. As a fresh appeal for extra rolling stock for the new line is issued, Barrie Hughes looks at the construction work well under way on the length between Rhyd Ddu and Porthmadog.

66 BRITAIN’S MOST POPULAR HERITAGE LINE - WITH NO TRACK?
Completed in 1831, the Cromford & High Peak Railway was one of the first in Britain, and it lasted up to 1967, after which the tracks were torn up. Yet, apart from the track, much remained in place, and today, probably more people travel along the superbly maintained High Peak Trail than on many heritage railways. Brian Sharpe walks the line.

72 THE CHANGEOVER YEARS: CORBY: A DECADE OF CHANGE
Harringworth Viaduct remains the best-known structure on the Midland Railway’s ‘slow line’ across Northamptonshire, but not only has Corby lost almost all trace of the steel industry, its passenger train services also disappeared, despite an unsuccessful revival attempt. Fred Kerr recounts the fascinating story of steam’s last days and the coming of the diesels in this part of the East Midlands.

78 OUT AND ABOUT
Spring is back again at last - and here is a mountain of steamy suggestions for days out at ‘must visit’ locations.

regulars

5 HEADLINE NEWS
Fleetwood branch revival announced; fresh wave of optimism in wake of fears over Colne Valley sale; National Railway Museum unveils new York Eye wheel; First BR diesel for Bluebell Railway arrives and the funeral train which ran on a back garden miniature railway.

10 NEWS: THE WIDEST COVERAGE OF THE UK PRESERVATION SCENE
Steam and fireworks kick-start Brunel 200; broad gauge revival plan for Faringdon branch; Swansea Harbour steam resurrected at Chatham; signalbox boost for Telford Steam Railway’s Severn Valley extension bid; Princess Anne to open Dean Forest’s Parkend terminus; Rhyl Miniature Railway museum plan in £500k Lottery boost; complete Royal Train assembles at Embsay; ‘Barry 10’ prairie for main line rebuild; councillors block Sheringham supermarket bid - for now; Scotsman girls back together for exhibition launch; Snowdon summit station rebuild agreed; Hunslet unveils new Quarry Hunslet and Indonesian steam fleet; Nene Valley’s new Yarwell terminus takes shape; new home for Brunel’s first iron bridge; Pixie departure for Hollycombe marks Cadeby farewell; Lottery earmarks £600k for West Somerset’s ‘second’ line; angry Flying Scotsman shareholders ‘will not be silenced’; the latest on Leighton Buzzard terminus threat, ‘Barry shed’ could become Welsh NRM’, and claim that heritage group ‘might have saved lives’ as eight die in Uruguayan reality TV show tragedy.
40 CARRIAGE & WAGON NEWS
Red SECR ‘birdcage’ for 1950s Kent & East Sussex mixed train, and second Beavertail moves to Great Central.

44 PLATFORM
Where your views matter the most!

45 OFF THE SHELF
The lowdown on the latest book and DVD releases.
52 MAIN LINE NEWS compiled by Cedric Johns
‘Somerset & Dorset ’ railtour in wheelslip at Exeter; Leander tackles Lickey unassisted; non-stop southern tours with Tangmere; six engines for ‘Dalesman’ Settle & Carlisle trips and Standard 4 to explore Cornish and Devon branches.

57 SUBSCRIBE TO HR TODAY!
How you can get Britain’s top preservation news magazine before the rest!

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

59 RAILWAYANA with Geoff Courtney
A common Starling’s bid for auction stardom!

59 DAVID MORGAN MBE - the man you can't ignore
British transport technology still alive in Uruguay!

86 SCALE HERITAGE RAILWAY
The magnificent new Peak diesels in N gauge by Graham Farish, and some welcome old Hornby favourites reappear in new guises.

88 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.

93 VIDEO VIEW
Alan Price, from Heritage Railway’s sister company Heritage Media Digital Productions, outlines his recent exploits in bringing you the top action both from our premier heritage lines and the national network.

98 NEXT ISSUE