Headline News 

Science Museum publishes operational strategy for National Collection, May start for LNER IETs, transport hub for Birmingham Moor Street, First Group buys Hitachi for East Coast open access operation, Electrification costs could be cut by half, Class 314s to head south for GOBLIN? . 

On the cover 

MAIN IMAGE: The Fifty Alliance's Nos. 50007 Hercules and 50049 

Defiance were rolled out in GB Railfreight livery at Eastleigh Works on March 20. The locos will be usedfor stock moves and charters as required by GBRf's new Rail Services division. 

INSET 1: Celebrating the humble SR commuter EMU. 

INSET 2: Coaling Stages - the ultimate guide.  

INSET 3: The Open Access story. 

Track Record 

70 Steam & Heritage 

Black Prince withdrawn for repairs, ‘B1’ and ‘Caley’ tank for Gloucs-Warks gala, quality control issues for new-build ‘Patriot’, £100k required to complete ‘Duke’ by 2020, Swanage launches ‘T3’ restoration appeal. 

76 Industrial 

78 Steam Portfolio 

80 Irish 

82 Narrow Gauge 

84 Heritage Trams 

86 Metro 

88 Network 

92 Railtours 

98 Classic Traction 

102 World 

107 Traction & Stock  

Refurbished Class 333 debut, ScotRail hands back Class 365s, GBRf and DCR buy stored Class 60s, GA receives first 12-car ‘FLIRT’, TfW Class 769 deliveries begin. 

110 Traction Portfolio 

112 Stock Update 

115 Operations 

 Regulars 

45 Up and Down Lines 

46 Heritage Diary 

Details of when Britain’s unique collection of heritage railways and railway museums are open. 

54 Readers' Platform 

58 Subscription Offer 

Subscribe today to receive your monthly copies of The Railway Magazine from only £20 

59 Meetings 

64 Panorama 

Our regular gallery of the best railway photography from around the world 

Features 

14 Towers of Strength 

In the first of a two-part survey on steam-era coaling towers, Nick Pigott looks back at the landmark structures that once stood at more than 100 loco depots. 

24 Back from the Brink 

Gary Boyd-Hope explains how the West Somerset Railway's new management team plans to tackle the line's current problems and work towards a brighter future. 

32 Access all Areas? 

Open access passenger operations are a controversial topic both in the UK and Europe with strong feelings for and against, as Ben Jones discovers. 

39 A Cinderella Story 

From anonymous commuter train to star of the National Collection, Locomotion's newly restored '2-HAP' car tells an important part of the railway story, writes Nicola Fox. 

48 Practice & Performance 

Is it a bus? Is it a train? No, it's Supertram. John Heaton reports from South Yorkshire where tram-trains now share the tracks with heavy rail trains between Tinsley and Rotherham.