Features

38 TANK GANG
The tanks in question are those of Robert Riddles, designer of locomotives for the nationalised British Railways. Even more specifically, this article is about the 3MT 2-6-2Ts he designed, numbered 82000 to 82044. Designed and built at Swindon Works, these locomotives began to enter traffic from 1952, with the last one No 82044 entering service in 1955. Dave Wilson worked on them, while Chris Proudfoot is involved in building a new one.

50 WEARDALE’S WHEEL TURNS FULL CIRCLE
The North Eastern Railway branch line built to tap the rich mineral sources of County Durham¹s Wear Valley will see the return of regular daily passenger services on 23 May, financed by heavy freight traffic, including coal. Robin Jones looks at the latest boost to the fortunes of the Weardale Railway in a unique Anglo-American community rail partnership, with heritage steam the icing on the cake.

70 THE END OF STEAM AND A NEW BEGINNING
At the end of 1964, there was one preserved standard gauge steam line; five years later, there were only two more; a grand total of 15 miles of heritage steam railway. Yet BR steam had now finished. Fortunately, a fantastic start had been made in preserving locomotives and rolling stock during BR¹s rapid modernisation process, and with preservation schemes now proliferating across the country, the stage was set during the late 1960s for the extensive railway preservation movement we all enjoy today. Robin Jones and Brian Sharpe tell the story of one of preservation's most dramatic five-year periods.

78 SUMMER GALA GUIDE
Many superb galas will be taking place in the weeks ahead - and here is another choice selection.

82 OURS WAS THE NIGHT...
Lamenting the disappearance of the Travelling Post Office, Pete Kelly is uplifted to meet the characters involved in an ambitious Night Mail Museum plan at the Nene Valley Railway.

86 RAILWAYS ON THE FRONT LINE
Narrow gauge WW1 veterans are a familiar part of the heritage scene, but what was life like on the front line for these machines and their crews? David Vaughan tells a story of courage, perseverance and humour in the face of adversity.

Regulars

6 HEADLINE NEWS
Three dead in steam trip crash: Mid-Hants exchanges a turntable for a Barry wreck; Queen officially names Welsh Highland Pullman; new Lynton & Barnstaple Manning Wardle Lyd steams and locomotive engineer Kim Malyon dies.

10 NEWS
Toddington GWR 175 gala goes north after landslip blocks line; Turkish 8F back in action; Tornado to appear in BR Brunswick green; LMS Patriot Llangollen Railway gala success; Didcot and Bodmin GWR 175 and Ffestiniog Railway ‘Quirks & Curiosities’ gala picture specials; A1 builder begins study for Gresley P2 Mikado project; bid to preserve Class 58 diesel launched after DB Schenker announces fleet sale; royal coach makes Beamish gala debut; major safety review on Severn Valley following derailment; July aim for Didcot’s blue King and Flying Scotsman saviour Alan Pegler celebrates 90th birthday on Ffestiniog.

44 THE THIN RED LINE
David Wilcock explains why David Smith cannot see the economics of regular steam to Kyle ever adding up, recounts the history of Ivo Peters' famous Bentley, now in the hands of Julian Birley, and remembers locomotive engineer Kim Malyon who passed away this month.

54 MAIN LINE NEWS compiled by Cedric Johns
The best pictures from the ‘Great Britiain III’ tour - and the itinerary for next year’s ‘GB IV’; the brilliant ‘Bristolian’ and Paignton-Dartmouth railway turns down incoming charter request.

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

66 PLATFORM
The pages where your views matter the most.

69 MORGAN
Let’s dismantle nanny state regulations that inhibit UK preservation, argues the Heritage Railway Association chairman.

89 OFF THE SHELF
Reviews of latest books and DVD releases.

90 SCALE HERITAGE RAILWAY
Bachmman’s splendid upgraded Western Region Class 42 Warship with directional lighting, and more of those magnificent Hornby Pullmans.

94 RAILWAYANA
Geoff Courtney’s definitive round-up of the auction scene.

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