Contents
October 2016. No. 1,387. Vol 162. A journal of record since 1897.

Headline News

GB Railfreight launches 'Maritime' Class 66 – p11.

First Eurostar Class 373s poised for scrapping; two
injured after Watford derailment; Brush (Wabtec) to
build new locos for Hong Kong; Romney loco derailed
after level crossing collision; first Class 385 arrives in the
UK; review ordered into Borders Railway; double-deck
concept unveiled for UK market; Southern faces 14 more
days of strikes; Class 313 derails at Welwyn.

On the cover
MAIN IMAGE: Colas Rail
Class 60 No. 60096 brings
track panels from Bescot to
Bathampton for relaying.
It is seen near Bath on
August 12, 2015 with
No. 70807 at the rear.
Photo taken with full
permission during a
possession.
JOHN STRETTON

INSET 1: Class 158
No. 158704 at Stow -
see p46. CHRIS M ILNER

INSET 2: LNER 'C1' Atlantic
at Tuxford North - p34. RICHARD DEAS

INSET 3: Celebrating 40 years in service, dual-voltage
No. 313056 leaves Hertford North for Moorgate back in 1988 -
see p37. BRIAN MORRISON

Track Record The Railway Magazine’s monthly news digest

62 Steam & Heritage
Tyseley plans for Defiant's comeback; steam returns to
Birmingham's Curzon Street; Bluebell's 'Q' leaves the
Southern for the first time; '4MT' re-creates Somerset &
Dorset heyday; crimson 'Crab' for Severn Valley finale.

68 Industrial Steam

71 Steam Portfolio

72 Network
Calls increase for second Brighton main line;
Government's £20million station fund.

74 Narrow Gauge
Easter opening for South Tynedale extension; Gartell
unveils new loco; Hudswell guests at Leighton Buzzard.

76 Irish News

77 Railtours

80 Railtours Portfolio

82 Metro

84 Freight

86 Classic Traction
Hood rededicated at Severn Valley; Peak Rail becomes
home to LMS 10000 project; Colne Valley '03' returns.

90 World

94 Traction & Stock
DRS Class 88 on display in Berlin; 1,400 more seats as
GWR Class 387s enter services; DBC dumps its Class 08s.

97 Traction Portfolio

98 Operations
Our round-up of news from the train and freight
operating companies.

Regulars

12 Multiple Aspects

12 Railways in Parliament

20 Readers’ Platform
Your thoughts on the topics that matter to you.

40 Meetings
Details of railway society meetings near you.

54 Subscription Offer
Subscribe today and receive your monthly copies of
The Railway Magazine for 22% off the cover price!

56 Panorama
Our monthly gallery of the best railway photography.

60 From The RM Archives
What The RM was reporting 20, 50 and 100 years ago.

104 Heritage Diary
Full details of when heritage railway, steam centres and
museums are open.

114 Prize Crossword and Where Is It?

Features

14 Taking Control
Nicola Fox takes a look at the growing appeal of
the often financially lucrative 'Driver Experience
Course', exploring the popularity of the sessions
with participants and the many types being offered
by preserved lines across the UK.

22 Western Pathfinder
For this month's Practice & Performance
John Heaton looks back at a non-stop sprint by
Western Campaigner 50 years ago, and travels on an
anniversary railtour that set out to emulate that run.

30 Growth and Decline of Tuxford
Robin Stewart-Smith investigates the rise and fall of
a forgotten railway town that once boasted three
stations and a locomotive works.

36 Dual-Voltage Pioneers
The Class 313 EMUs are now 40 years old.
Quentin Williamson tells their story.

42 Steel for Paris
Nick Brodrick goes in search of 'real' steam in Germany
as this year's 'Plandampf' includes a 900-ton steel train
heading to the French capital.

46 Borders Railway: One Year On
A year after it opened amid great hype and publicity,
Chris Milner talks to Borders Railway campaigner Allan
McLean about the highs and lows experienced during
the first 12 months, whether it met with expectation,
and examines the route's future potential.

50 The Other BR
It has been almost 65 years since the General Motors
'B12' diesels entered service with the East Bengal
Railway. Still at work with Bangladesh Railways, Richard
Gennis takes a closer look at these veteran locomotives.