Headline News

 

 

 

 

 

Stagecoach disqualified from franchise competitions over pensions issue, Abellio wins East Midlands franchise, TPE accepts first‘Nova 3’set, RAIB investigates near miss at Essex level crossing, DB considers selling Arriva to plug funding gap, LNER‘801s’and LO‘710s’gain approval, GBRf reveals Class 69 plan, Class 91 withdrawals to start in June.

 

 

 

 

 

On the cover

 

 

 

 

 

MAIN IMAGE:

 

 

Approaching the end of its boiler certificate, BR '9F' No. 92212 was used for an early-morning photo charter at the Mid-Hants Railway on March 30. The Riddles 2-10-0 passes Bishops Sutton with a demonstration goods train. DAVE BOWLES

 

 

 

 

 

INSET 1: How the North Warwickshire Line was saved.

 

 

 

 

 

INSET 2: Coaling Towers - the ultimate guide

 

 

 

 

 

INSET 3: Broadway - a record year for the GWSR.

 

 

 

 

 

Track Record

 

 

70 Steam & Heritage

 

 

Wightwick Hall to visit Battlefield Line, South Devon celebrates half century, ‘V4’ design changes revealed, East Lancs buys City of Wells, ‘Lizzie’ back on the main line, funding sought for 'Terrier' overhauls, Didcot launches ‘Saint’.

 

 

76 Industrial

 

 

78 Steam Portfolio

 

 

81 Irish

 

 

82 Narrow Gauge

 

 

84 Miniature

 

 

86 Metro

 

 

88 Network

 

 

92 Classic Traction

 

 

95 Classic Traction Portfolio

 

 

98 World

 

 

100 Railtours

 

 

104 Traction & Stock

 

 

Caledonian Sleeper Mk5 interiors unveiled, first Class 313 goes for scrap, GWR HSTs down to five diagrams, EMUs start testing on Chase Line, Maritime blue for DB ‘66s’, Colas Class 37s for Rhymney trains?

 

 

107 Stock Update

 

 

108 Traction Portfolio

 

 

110 Operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regulars

 

 

 

 

 

38 Years Apart

 

 

54 Railways in Parliament

 

 

55 Readers’ Platform

 

 

58 Reviews

 

 

60 Meetings

 

 

62 Subscription Offer

 

 

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

 

 

64 Panorama

 

 

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

 

 

68 From The RM Archives

 

 

118 Heritage Diary

 

 

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

 

 

129 Reader Services

 

 

130 Crossword and Where Is It?

 

 

 

 

 

Features

 

 

 

 

 

14 Towers of Strength - Part 2

 

 

Nick Pigott concludes his study of the steam-era coaling towers that once stood at more than 100 loco depots across the UK.

 

 

24 Diversionary Tactics

 

 

The recent closure of Whiteball Tunnel for repairs gives John Heaton a perfect opportunity to compare the performance of GWR HSTs and IETs over less familiar routes.

 

 

 

 

 

32 Sentry at the Gate

 

 

Fraser Pithie recounts the extraordinary story of how the North Warwickshire Line between

 

 

Tyseley and Stratford-upon-Avon was rescued from 'closure by stealth' in the late-1960s.

 

 

 

 

 

40 Building on Broadway

 

 

The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway has enjoyed a record-breaking year since its Broadway extension opened in 2018. Gary Boyd-Hope visits to discover what lessons have been learned.

 

 

 

 

 

46 Hugh Le Fleming

 

 

Robert Humm charts the life and career of a notable locomotive engineer, writer and artist.

 

 

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