Issue 124

38 THE 8.05AM DEPARTURE FROM LONDON VICTORIA IS... BOUND FOR SWANAGE!
British Rail last ran through steam to Swanage 42 years ago and were determined to close the line. Local people proved even more determined to get it back, and Saturday 2 May marked a major milestone in the heritage era, when Bulleid Battle of Britain 4-6-2 No 34067 Tangmere hauled the first through steam train to the Purbeck resort from London since 1967, writes Robin Jones.

50 GREAT BRITAIN II
Two years ago, they said it would never happen; when it did, they said it would never happen again. Brian Sharpe reports on the Railway Touring Company?s ?Great Britain II? with steam from Penzance to Kyle of Lochalsh and more.

64 GREAT NORTHERN: STEAM FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
Several ?new-build? steam locomotive projects are very familiar, but a company in Darlington looks likely to be at the forefront of what could become a trend towards building new steam locomotives for heritage lines. Brian Sharpe reports from the north-east.

68 ?STEEL, STEAM & STARS 2? ?120,000 ACT OF FAITH PAYS OFF
David Wilcock provides the definitive complete story on the ground-breaking nine-day mega-gala at Llangollen - in which Royal Scot appeared both with those controversial smoke deflectors and without.

74 THE SURPRISE CENTENARY!
For decades, Eastleigh Works turned out classic locomotive types for the LSWR and the Southern Railway. In the last days of steam, it took over responsibility for motive power across the Southern Region. However, it closed three years ago - only to be swiftly reborn for use by several modern rail companies. Accordingly, the locomotive works is able to celebrate its centenary in style with a high-profile open weekend on 24-26 May, attended by examples of the steam and modern traction classes that once passed through its production lines and maintenance shops. Report by Robin Jones, with pictures by Gavin Morrison.

82 A HUNDRED YEARS OF THE SLS
December 2009 marks the centenary of the ?Premier Railway Society?, a major pioneer in preservation and railtours. Mike G Fell and R A S Hennessey recount the story of the Stephenson Locomotive Society.

REGULARS

3 OPINION

6 HEADLINE NEWS
Tornado in ?race to the north? with a 1940s Jaguar and motorbike for BBC Top Gear - with Jeremy Clarkson wielding the fireman?s shovel; Peak Rail Stanier 8F runs for the first time and appears in LMS maroon livery; ?300K boost for North Yorkshire Moors Railway?s bridges and wheels appeal; and Tornado boiler builder turns out new steam locomotive.

10 NEWS: THE WIDEST COVERAGE OF THE UK PRESERVATION SCENE
Sir Archibald Sinclair?s grandson relaunches ?his? Bulleid Pacific on Bluebell Railway; ?first? new heritage line back after 24 years - 42 miles away; Welsh Highland all set for Aberglaslyn opening; Eastleigh 100 works open weekend set for sell-out; farewell to linesider and steam driver Paul Claxton; NYMR bids to cross Whitby trains at Grosmont; thieves scupper railway extension plans with ?80,000 track materials haul; a Baldwin runs again on the Welsh Highland at Porthmadog; BR ?closure? manager helps Settle & Carlisle triple celebration; Somerset & Dorset Sentinel steam shunter could be ready within a year; and a special three-page tribute to the man who many credit with making main line heritage steam possible - Bernard Staite.

44 THE THIN RED LINE by David Wilcock
Royal Scot - the LMS icon that?s famous for ... er ... what, exactly? How Bernard Staite outflanked David Ward in the ?battle of the window bars?.

58 MAIN LINE NEWS compiled by Cedric Johns
Tangmere?s 1000-mile jaunt; ?Lizzie? will not return to Bury; new ?Fellsman? for Settle & Carlisle; and King Edward I remains sidelined.

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

81 RAILWAYANA
Latest auction news and prices by Geoff Courtney.

88 SUBSCRIBE TO HERITAGE RAILWAY!
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89 SCALE HERITAGE RAILWAY

92 PLATFORM
Where your views matter the most.

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

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