Essential reading for today's rail enthusiast

Subscribe
The Hub Logo

Essential reading for today's rail enthusiast

Subscribe
Buy Latest Issue

News

  • Sarah Siddons receives pre-overhaul inspection

    Sarah Siddons receives pre-overhaul inspection

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    The vintage Metropolitan Railway loco is to be made fit for its centenary. FOLLOWING its move from Ruislip to Acton Works in May (see page 3 last month), preserved Metropolitan Railway electric loco No. 12 Sarah Siddons is currently undergoing inspection as part of preparation work for a heavy overhaul. A full specification and understanding…

    Continue reading »

  • Class 68 TransPennine preparations underway

    Class 68 TransPennine preparations underway

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    JUNE brought tangible signs of the Class 68 fleet being prepared for use on the upcoming TransPennine Express loco-hauled services. The early hours of June 13 found No. 68025 powering a short rake of Riviera air-conditioned Mk.2s on a fuel consumption trial for TPE. Running as the 5Z08/01.00 Crewe Down Refuge Siding-York Holgate, this travelled…

    Continue reading »

  • Class 88s make revenue debut

    Class 88s make revenue debut

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    DRS’ new electric locos are now in service on Anglo-Scottish intermodals and coping well over the northern fells. THE long-awaited revenue-earning debut of the Class 88s finally arrived on June 12, with No. 88003 Genesis taking the honour. The early hours of that day saw it and No. 88002 Prometheus run light from Crewe Gresty…

    Continue reading »

  • GM diesels star on charters

    GM diesels star on charters

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    071 Class locos in demand for railtours and land cruises. A SERIES of three return trips between Dublin Connolly and Howth ran on May 28 to celebrate the 170th anniversary of the arrival of the railway at the present terminus at Howth in May 1847. Steam traction in the shape of Railway Preservation Society of…

    Continue reading »

  • Grand Hibernian sees range of diesel traction

    Grand Hibernian sees range of diesel traction

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    The Belmond Grand Hibernian train (BGH) has been active during the period under review on its regular programme, with an 071 Class locomotive continuing to be booked for the Connolly to Waterford and return (to Heuston) via Bagenalstown legs. No. 077 was noted on this duty on May 28 and also the following day. Retro-liveried…

    Continue reading »

  • New ‘shorty’ HRA enters traffic

    New ‘shorty’ HRA enters traffic

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    Now freshly repainted in DB red, the cut-down former coal hopper has gained a new 12-digit number and is currently being trialled in service for a possible follow-on fleet. FORMER HTA bogie coal hopper No. 310711 – which has been reduced to around 80% of its original length by the removal of one hopper bay…

    Continue reading »

  • Riviera revives another Mk.2a TSO

    Riviera revives another Mk.2a TSO

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    OUT of traffic since 2015, Mk.2a TSO No. 5366 has been returned to traffic by Riviera Trains. It made its first appearance on June 17, when it was included in the formation of Pathfinder’s ‘Welsh Central Liner’ from Burton to Shrewsbury and back. The vehicle had previously been offered for sale by Riviera Trains, but…

    Continue reading »

  • WEST MIDLANDS ‘GRONK’ TRIPS

    WEST MIDLANDS ‘GRONK’ TRIPS

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    REGARDING the article ‘A Trip Down Memory Lane’ (May issue), which looked back at some of the Class 08/09-powered local shunting trips in the 1980s and 1990s, it reminded me of similar such workings around the West Midlands at this time, when ‘Gronks’ were often let loose on the main line. During the Speedlink era,…

    Continue reading »

  • Report highlights Southern woes

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    Too many trains and too few depots are just some of the reasons behind the problems faced by Southern. By ‘Industry Witness’ PASSENGER fury on the Southern part of the Thameslink Southern and Great Northern (TSGN) franchise prompted the Department for Transport to commission a report into service reliability from Chris Gibb, a non-executive director…

    Continue reading »

  • Bidders announced for West Coast and South Eastern franchises

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    West Coast bidders must partner with an established high-speed operator to oversee the first HS2 services, while those for South Eastern are asked to consider new routes. THE Department for Transport has announced the list of qualified bidders for the next two franchise competitions. The West Coast Partnership is the franchise that will run inter-city…

    Continue reading »

Latest Issue

Subscribe
Buy Latest Issue

Next Issue On Sale:

Loading data…

Free Digital Issue

Search

Tags

ASLEF Avanti West Coast BOTW COVID-19 Department for Transport Editor’s Intro Elizabeth Line eurostar Great Western Railway Heritage Railway HS2 Latest issue Latest issue RE Letters LNER London Underground modeller Modelling model railways Model trains Mortons Books National Railway Museum Network NETWORK RAIL News Office of Rail and Road Rail Delivery Group Rail Express Rail strikes Railway Round-Up Railways Illustrated RMT RMT union round-up Scotland ScotRail South Western Railway Sponsored Content steam Strike The Railway Hub The Railway Magazine TransPennine Express Transport for London TSSA