FEATURES

MANUEL ON A MISSION
The Scottish Railway Preservation Society outgrew its original ‘museum’ at base at Falkirk. Dave Wilson recounts its rebirth as the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway, extending its running line to Manuel Junction on 27 March.

‘REKOLOKS’ BACK IN CHARGE ON EAST GERMANY'S ‘BROWN COAL’ TRAINS
The curtain raiser to Germany’s ‘175 Years of Railways’ turns back the clock to the days of steam and Communism, reports David Wilcock.

FALLING IN LOVE AGAIN
Pete Kelly pays a gala day visit to the locomotive works at Haworth, on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, and comes away wondering why he ever ‘moved on’ from railway journalism13 long years ago.

60 YEARS OF PRESERVATION: THE GREAT BEGINNING! RAILWAY HERITAGE
1940-1959 As we have seen, the idea of saving historic railway locomotives and stock for posterity began with the Canterbury & Whitstable Railway locomotive Invicta in 1839, and began a process which was stepped up as the end of main line steam appeared on the horizon.

TWO RAILWAYS CELEBRATE NORTH THORESBY OPENING!
The Lincolnshire Wolds Railway, joint winners of the Heritage Railway Association's 2009 Small Groups Award, is holding a major gala - sponsored by Heritage Railway - on 3-5 April, the Easter weekend, at which its extension to North Thoresby will be officially opened, with four engines in steam. Furthermore, a second line will be opening its doors to the public on Easter Monday to mark the occasion, as Martin Ashworth and Robin Jones report.

THE RESCUE OF EDWARD SHOLTO
On 27 March, a ‘new’ steam locomotive will proudly make its British heritage era public debut at an open day at the Statfold Barn Railway near Tamworth, in the form of repatriated Quarry Hunslet saddle tank Edward Sholto. Proud owner Andrew Neale tells the story of his personal obsession to repatriate a ‘forgotten’ British steam engine and restore it to the form in which it was originally made, a feat which has taken 45 years to accomplish.

GALA REPORT: Fairburn tank stars at Bluebell Railway branch line gala.

REGULARS

6 HEADLINE NEWS
First train movement from Network Rail on to North Norfolk Railway over new Sheringham level crossing - first pictures and special report; HM Railway Inspectorate investigates runaway train crash at Welshpool; Mallard returns to the main line; Lottery ‘concerned’ over Lord Nelson delay and Vintage Trains plans steam on the Looe branch.

10 NEWS
LMS Patriot: Tyseley now on board as Heritage Railway appeal hits £35,000; King Edward I heads 15-strong fleet for NYMR gala; Flying Scotsman delayed to 2011; main line charter heralds bright Weardale future; OldhamMumps canopies saved for Bury; Southwold Railway group launches new-build steam project; NYMR reopens after Bridge 30 renewal; preservation founder TomRolt’s centenary honoured at Tywyn; Blunsdon visit for City of Truro and Royal Scot repair cost doubles to £70k - and return again delayed, in what is the broadest news coverage of the preservation sector.

44 THE THIN RED LINE
David Wilcock pays tribute to the 'Peter Pan' of railway photography, Brian Morrison, who is celebrating his 80th birthday this month. In the early 1950s, Brian was photographing the procession of trains on the stiff climb out of King’s Cross between Gasworks and Copenhagen tunnels, and is still photographing trains today with the same energy and enthusiasm which have typified his life.

MAIN LINE NEWS compiled by Cedric Johns
Sir Lamiel to take ‘Cathedrals Express’ to Swanage, King and Tornado to doublehead over the South Devon banks and this year’s ‘Torbay Express’ season to start early, plus a stunning centre spread of Rood Ashton Hall and Earl of Mount Edgcumbe in full flight!

MORGAN
The Heritage Railway Association chairman believes the internet is shrinking the heritage world for the benefit of all.

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

RAILWAYANA
Geoff Courtney on the latest from the auction scene.

PLATFORM
The pages where your views matter the most.

SCALE HERITAGE RAILWAY
The Hornby sound revolution is here, and limited edition Silver Link in spring surprise list from the Margate manufacturer.

OFF THE SHELF
Reviews of latest books and DVD releases.

UP AND RUNNING
Brian Sharpe’s full listing of operational lines and museum venues.