Features

  • A new generation of engineers

    A new generation of engineers

    by

    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

    Tanks for the memories

    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

    A brighter future for Mangapps trailer

    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

    To Norwich, non-stop

    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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  • ‘Roarers’ remembered: The Euston ECS years

    ‘Roarers’ remembered: The Euston ECS years

    The reinstatement of several AC electrics to main line duties last year, ostensibly for sleeper train movements into and out of Euston, is reminiscent of the 1980s when a small fleet of Class 82s and 83s were returned to use for empty coaching stock (ECS) duties, as David Russell recalls. ‘Roarers’ remembered: The Euston ECS…

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  • Skeletons in the closet

    Skeletons in the closet

    This site in Alizay, near Rouen in northern France, stores an incredible 23 examples of the Class 58 fleet – nearly half of the original 50 and more than half of the remaining 42. Visible in the left-hand line in April are Nos. 58006, 58049, 58004, 58011, 58040 and 58026, with No. 58033 at the…

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  • District Railway ‘Boxes’

    District Railway ‘Boxes’

    Two unidentified District Railway locos double-head a through train from Ealing to Southend at East Ham in the 1930s. The coaches are corridor bogie types introduced by the LT&SR in 1912, which replaced a motley collection of older vehicles. The headboard reads ‘Southend Corridor Express’. DC Collection A fleet of 10 bogie electric locos was…

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