Features

What future for the last ‘306’?

by

Sam Hewitt

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17th November 2016

Christopher Westcott reports on the sole surviving Class 306 unit No. 306017, which is owned by the National Railway Museum but currently on loan to the East Anglian Railway Museum at Chappel & Wakes Colne in Essex. A VISIT to the East Anglian Railway Museum in early August reacquainted me with preserved EMU No. 306017,…
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A second chance to see…‘MacRat’ 26038

by

Sam Hewitt

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31st October 2016

Neville Hill visits the North Yorkshire Moors Railway to see how the performance of BRCW Type 2 No. 26038 compares to its former British Railways days in Scotland. EVEN in the busiest days of British Railways, it would have been unusual to see a ‘60A’ Inverness shed-plate anywhere near Pickering, North Yorkshire, and considerable imagination…
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Rugby Cement on rail

by

Sam Hewitt

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31st October 2016

For many years until the start of the 1990s, Rugby Cement wagons were a common sight around the country in mostly wagonload trains, as David Ratcliffe describes. THE Rugby Portland Cement Company was established in 1872 and was an important railfreight customer until 1990, contributing about 15% of British Rail’s total cement tonnage. Railbourne cement…
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The ‘Journey Shrinker’

by

Sarah Wilkinson

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19th September 2016

AUGUST 2016 marked the 40th anniversary of HSTs starting in regular passenger service. Initially operated at 100mph until the timetable change on October 4, 1976, they were quickly taken to by the travelling public. However, HSTs were less readily accepted amongst the rail enthusiast community. They were seen as being responsible for the withdrawal of…
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Derby Trainman: Like a limestone cowboy

by

Sam Hewitt

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19th August 2016

One of the toughest, but most tedious, jobs for a 1990s Derby trainman was the stone train to Washwood Heath, as Tim Helme explains. “WHOA!” came the urgent shout, crackling through the walkie-talkie wedged on the driver’s desk of the lead Class 37. This partially garbled transmission had issued from our guard, having just set…
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Working with ‘Grids’

by

Sam Hewitt

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19th August 2016

Steve Morris recounts his time on British Rail’s Western Region in the 1980s, trying to get the newly introduced Class 56 fleet up to scratch. THE Class 56 fleet was born out of the need to move more coal to Britain’s power stations following the 1973 oil crisis. The country had become reliant on imported…
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A new generation of engineers

by

Sam Hewitt

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19th August 2016

Young volunteers are becoming involved in railway preservation, and the recent ‘Deltic’ tour to Tweedbank saw an 18-year-old among the support crew. David Russell reports. THERE are many people who believe the average age of volunteers involved in railway preservation is rising and that there is very little ‘new blood’ getting involved in the hobby.…
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Tanks for the memories

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13th July 2016

The once extensive network of fuel oil deliveries is now reduced to a few as required workings. David Ratcliffe looks back at the history of these services, which peaked in the early 1970s. Tanks for the memories A pair of unidentified Class 47s head east through Manchester Victoria in May 1989 with the 6E48/07.09 Stanlow…
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A brighter future for Mangapps trailer

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13th July 2016

Christopher Westcott talks to the Mangapps Railway’s John Jolly, and the new owner of 1959 Stock trailer No. 2044, which now has a brighter future. A brighter future for Mangapps trailer External shot of 1959 Stock car No. 2044 at Mangapps Railway in Essex on May 8. Ian Allington LAST year, former Northern Line trailer…
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To Norwich, non-stop

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13th July 2016

The railtour organised by Greater Anglia at the end of April offered the rare combination of two ‘37s’ on just four coaches and the chance of a non-stop run from Liverpool Street to Norwich. To Norwich, non-stop ‘The EACH Express’ at Liverpool Street on April 30 after arriving from Norwich. No. 37405 was at the…
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