8 News
RAIL EXPRESS is sold - the loco, not the magazine! Passenger figures hit new high and Network Rail is to take over six Class 57/3 ‘Thunderbirds’.

15 Reviews
We have some more publications for you to consider and you can rest assured that we tell you what’s good or could be better.

16 Top Man on Top Gear
The hugely popular motoring programme organised a stunt with caravans on rails and RE’s editor was invited to play a key role!

20 Time Traveller
We turn the clock back to this month from 10 to 50 years ago. Twenty years back we said farewell to the Bury Class 504 units.

21 Time for a PEP talk
How many of you remember the experimental PEP EMUs units on the Southern and in Scotland? This is the definitive story.

26 Life after Speedlink
The second part in this fascinating series looks at the exciting years from 1994 to the end of the century when wagonload traffic thrived.

34 Railtours
Our reviewer recalls his trip over the Cambrian with two Class 37/9s at the front. Plus a full listing of all September’s tours.

35 Preservation
A third Class 47 leaves preservation for TOC action, this time 47746. Also ‘Crompton’ 33035 makes a home at Ecclesbourne.

40 A Vision of Power
There’s a wealth of diesel attraction on the NYMR. We tell you what’s running and the best locations where to photograph the diesel fleet.

46 Traction & Rolling Stock
DRS takes on more Class 47s and Europorte takes delivery of its five Class 92s which have not turned a wheel for four years.

RAIL EXPESS MODELLER

VII Comment: Rise of the machines
Impressed by Bachmann’s MPV reviewed in the last issue, REM provides four suggestions for other track machines that manufacturers could target to follow the Windhoff vehicle.

IX Newsdesk: Trade developments
The latest news from the annual trade open day at Bachmann’s European headquarters at Barwell, including a look at the first pre-production sample of the Class 85 electric locomotive.

X Review: Hornby 4-VEP EMU
Southern Region fans are starting to get spoilt as another third rail product is released in the form of Hornby’s Class 423 4-VEP. The Margate company’s first Mk. 1 EMU, we take a closer look.

XII Review: Shawplan Class 20/3 parts
Extensively rebuilt from standard EE Type 1s in the mid-1990s, modellers can finally add the DRS Class 20/3s to their fleet thanks to Shawplan’s Extreme Etchings range. REM shows you how.

XIII Review: Latest products
We take a closer look at some of the new items to arrive in the office this month from Bachmann, Graham Farish and Hornby. Read on for our take on some exciting new models.

XIV Layout: Swinlees
One of the most popular layouts covering the present day on the exhibition circuit, the Ayr Model Railway Club’s Glasgow & South Western-based Swinlees is covered here, complete with snow!

XXII Reviews: Latest Hornby
Other than the 4-VEP, this month sees a selection of other releases from the famous Margate manufacturer. These include 50008 Thunderer in Laira departmental blue and a Railfreight HAA.

XXIV Serial: Elcot Road #8
Having described the construction of flatbottom trackwork from Exactoscale and Colin Craig components, our project team begins to lay the completed sections. The methods are described here.

XXVI Exhibition diary
There is a preview of Railex North East, which features around 11 modern layouts. There is also a full list of exhibitions with significant diesel and electric era content over the next month.