Features

  • District Line 150

    District Line 150

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    Christopher Westcott looks back over the complicated history of London Underground’s District Line, which is celebrating 150 years of operation.

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  • Strangers in town

    Strangers in town

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    A prominent feature of the privatised railway is the rich variety of liveries and colours applied by individual train operators, often at great expense, to its rolling stock.

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  • HST enters service with Hull Trains

    HST enters service with Hull Trains

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    A HIRED-in 2+5 HST set entered service with Hull Trains on February 15, when ex-GWR power cars Nos. 43010 and 43190 worked the 1A92/08.23 Hull to King’s Cross and 1H03/11.48 return. The move follows a long period of problems with the HT Class 180 ‘Adelante’ fleet, which has led to multiple cancellations and bad press…

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  • ‘Hoover’ arrives at new home

    ‘Hoover’ arrives at new home

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    CLASS 50 No. 50017 Royal Oak – bought by the Great Central Railway from Boden Rail (see last month) – has been delivered to the line and is set to make its debut at the April 13/14 spring diesel gala, writes Robin Jones. The ‘Hoover’ was brought by road from Boden Rail Engineering’s Nottingham Eastcroft…

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  • Unboxing of Hornby’s King George VI and Duchess of Hamilton

    Unboxing of Hornby’s King George VI and Duchess of Hamilton

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    Here’s the latest unboxing of Hornby’s LMS Princess Class Locomotives, the Duchess of Hamilton and King George VI.

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  • GOS completes ‘ElecLink’ wagon

    GOS completes ‘ElecLink’ wagon

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    AN interesting contract to create a second HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current) electrical connection between the UK and France via the Channel Tunnel has required the creation of a battery-powered specialist construction train on behalf of Balfour Beatty. Known as ‘ElecLink’, the 1-Gigawatt connector, comprising two 30-mile cables, will be laid through the North Running…

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  • ‘50s’ to gain GBRf colours

    ‘50s’ to gain GBRf colours

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    THE close working relationship between the Class 50 Alliance and GB Railfreight took a major step forward on January 18 when it was announced that Nos. 50007 Hercules and 50049 Defiance are to be repainted in GB Railfreight colours. The new colour scheme, to be applied by Arlington Fleet Services at Eastleigh Works, has been…

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  • Throwback to LBSCR becoming wired for power

    Throwback to LBSCR becoming wired for power

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    As early as 1903, the London Brighton and South Coast Railway (LBSCR) began to electrify local routes.

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  • A glimpse into the future

    A glimpse into the future

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    SPAIN’s high-speed rail network has been steadily growing since 1992 and today, with more than 2000 route miles built and a further 1500 miles on the way, its AVE network is the largest in Europe. Spain’s high-speed network is impressive and puts Britain in the shade. More than 90% is built for 186mph operation, and…

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  • Fate or coincidence?

    Fate or coincidence?

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    DECEMBER 9, 1983 witnessed one of the most unusual events in locomotive history, which would probably be classified under ‘whimsy’ had it not also led to the loss of life. The loco was Immingham-based No. 47299, which collided with a DMU at Wrawby Junction, west of Barnetby, while hauling an oil train – an event…

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