Essential reading for today's rail enthusiast

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Sam Hewitt

  • Performance: 0 to 60!

    Performance: 0 to 60!

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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    Just how nimble are today’s locos and units, and what’s the quickest off the mark? A Virgin ‘Pendolino’ is this month’s target for Neville Hill in the shadow of the Jodrell Bank radio telescope. COULD Britain’s most sophisticated squadron service InterCity set, the Class 390 ‘Pendolino’, challenge the EMU leaders of our 0-60 table? Well…

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  • STORM DORIS BONUS

    STORM DORIS BONUS

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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    Disruption caused by Storm Doris across the country on February 23 led to some additional loco-hauled services in East Anglia. Both the Norwich-based ‘short sets’ were pressed into service on the main line instead of their usual trips to Yarmouth and Lowestoft. Nos. 37423 and 37419 are pictured arriving at Colchester with the 15.30 from…

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  • CHILTERN ‘BUBBLES’ TO GO

    CHILTERN ‘BUBBLES’ TO GO

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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    Class 121 DMUs Nos. 121020 and 121034 are to be withdrawn by Chiltern Railways when the timetable changes in May. The first generation DMUs are the oldest still in passenger service on the main line, and are used for off-peak services between Aylesbury and Princes Risborough. It is understood the units need new tyres, but…

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  • SEVERN VALLEY WINS HRA MODERN TRACTION AWARD

    SEVERN VALLEY WINS HRA MODERN TRACTION AWARD

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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    The Severn Valley Railway has been presented with the annual Heritage Railway Association Modern Traction Award, which is sponsored by Rail Express, for the purpose-built diesel depot at Kidderminster that was officially opened in May last year. Jonathan Dunster (right) accepted the trophy from RE’s editor Paul Bickerdyke at the HRA Awards ceremony, held at…

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  • Revolution projects make progress

    Revolution projects make progress

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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    IN addition to the KFA container flats pictured opposite, February saw Revolution Trains make significant progress with several more of its under development models. In ‘N’ gauge, tooling work has commenced on the Class 92 while manufacture of the Class 390 ‘Pendolino’ is now underway at the Rapido Trains factory in China. The latter models…

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  • Kernow unveils decorated Clay Tiger hopper wagons

    Kernow unveils decorated Clay Tiger hopper wagons

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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    The retailer has received the first decorated samples of its long-awaited ‘OO’ gauge china clay carrier from DJ Models. NEWLY received by Kernow Model Rail Centre are the first decorated versions of its PBA/JIA ‘Clay Tiger’ bogie hopper wagon, the 4mm scale model being produced exclusively for the retailer by DJ Models. Both of these…

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  • Patriot goes into production

    Patriot goes into production

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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    FEBRUARY saw Dapol commence manufacturing of the first ‘N’ gauge limited edition Class 66 under the Project Railway Honour banner. This followed the approval of the second decorated sample of No. 66418 Patriot at the start of the month. Pictured here, this now features the correct amount of grey and black around the cab fronts,…

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  • C=Rail plans pocket wagon in ‘N’

    C=Rail plans pocket wagon in ‘N’

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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    A ready-to-run GE Rail Services KQA/KTA container wagon is due to be released in 2mm scale next year. THE range of container wagons available in ‘N’ gauge is to be expanded once again with C=Rail Intermodal announcing its intention to produce the distinctive KQA/KTA pocket wagons in ready-to-run form. Due for release in early 2018,…

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  • Bidding mania will create a glut of surplus stock

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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    The practice of promising new trains to win franchise bids is set to make some existing stock redundant – including a number of relatively recent introductions. By ‘Industry Witness’ ANALYSIS of the new train orders promised by recent successful franchise bids indicates that a greater amount of new rolling stock is being purchased than is…

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  • Freight grant cut will mean reduction in rail traffic

    by

    Sam Hewitt

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    Loss of financial support could see more short-run freight workings switch from rail, leading to increased pollution and more road congestion. By ‘Industry Witness’ OPPORTUNITIES for rail to compete in the movement of freight traffic over shorter distances have been reduced as a result of a cutback in the budget available to operators applying to…

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